Society tells us that the way to be happy is to achieve our goals. Graduate from college. Get a good job. Find a partner. Buy a house. Get fit. Get that promotion. Raise healthy + happy kids. Go on vacation. Buy a bigger house. And a nice car. And a boat. And… It’s true that if you achieve a goal there’s a feeling of happiness associated with it. It's also true that the feeling doesn't last very long. You quickly settle back at your baseline level of happiness and start thinking about the next goal. Seeking, searching, striving, pushing, reaching, climbing. This gets to be quite exhausting – and ultimately, unfulfilling. But there’s a different way to live your life. One that is rich and meaningful and fulfilling. Imagine you’re … [Read more...] about Values Driven Weight Loss
Three Movies to Lift Your Spirits
The holidays can be the most difficult time of year for many people. It's not always jingle bells and mistletoe and gleeful family gatherings. I'll keep this post short - because we're all overwhelmed with cluttered inboxes + requests + way too long to-do lists in December. If you're feeling stressed out, disheartened, a bit blue (or all of the above) - you're not alone. Which is why I want to share three documentaries I've watched recently that reminded me of just how much good there is in the world. That we can overcome our challenges and rise up. That we can take this precious life we've been given and choose to be a force of good. So grab a cozy blanket and a hot mug of tea and enjoy... Buck Mister Rogers & … [Read more...] about Three Movies to Lift Your Spirits
Is “I’m Fat” In Charge of Your Life?
Thoughts swirl around in our minds all day long. And not all of them are rose colored. I started keeping track of my non-rosy thoughts this morning (knowing that I would be writing this post)… My hair is a mess. I should have worded that email differently. She’s so much fitter than I am. I should get up earlier. …and it’s only 10:00. It's normal to have a wide variety of thoughts. What a relief, right? The key to creating desirable outcomes has nothing to do with eliminating all of our negative thoughts + feelings. That's im-fricken-possible! It’s about being able to step back and witness our unproductive thoughts + emotions without letting them run the show. When you can see the thought + not judge it + not buy into it, then you … [Read more...] about Is “I’m Fat” In Charge of Your Life?
Training Your Brain to Focus on the Good
My beautiful and wise friend Cindy sent me an email a few weeks ago. She registered for a 31-day mindfulness summit and thought I might be interested. It was free - as long as you watched each video the day it was posted. I’ve been experimenting with mindfulness practices lately – particularly mindful eating, so I signed up. We met for breakfast a few days ago - and I had to admit I didn’t watch a single video. It was day 15 of the summit. Sigh. That night, I bought the all access pass and watched the first video. The benefits of mindfulness and meditation are innumerable. If drug companies could turn mindfulness or meditation into a pill and make a profit, we’d see adds for it splashed everywhere. And the side effects – nada! Then … [Read more...] about Training Your Brain to Focus on the Good