Some people find this concept a little New Age. They immediately think of movies like The Secret and Law of Attraction. However the power of thought is an idea that goes far being marketing gimmicks and “self help” talk.
As part of my practice, I work with thoughts and belief systems all the time. It’s usually one of the first steps in ensuring my clients get results. Our thoughts have the power to set us up for success or failure, even before we start. The beauty is: we get to choose.
If you’re still not convinced, consider this: When you think about biting into a juicy sour lemon, what happens to your body? There is a physical reaction right? What about when you focus on someone you dislike, or an event that happened that really upset you. Your body becomes tense or maybe you have a tightening feeling in your chest or stomach. The point is, our thoughts have the power to create a physical experience. And this phenomenon is constantly at work, whether you are conscious of it or not. So why not use it to your advantage? More
The number one thing I hear when I meet with clients for the first time is “please don’t make me give up coffee!!” As a former Starbucks “junkie” living on 2-3 venti size coffees per day, I don’t think there’s anyone that loves coffee more than I do. So I can definitely relate. If I can reform my caffeine habit down to one double espresso per day, I know anyone can do it.
Now this can be a controversial topic and you will find differing opinions amongst holistic practitioners. No doubt my own love of coffee is influencing my approach and opinion on this matter, however based on my knowledge and experience I generally take an “in moderation” approach to caffeine intake. I believe that for some of us it can be unrealistic to give up coffee forever. Not only do many people love the taste, but it is also a huge component of our social rituals. I think there are many other elements of our diet that can cause our health much more harm than a cup of coffee a day.
Now having said all that, for some individuals, there may be specific reasons to give up caffeine, such as during a detox or cleanse, or if they have certain conditions where caffeine may worsen or aggravate symptoms. Taking a ‘break’ from caffeine can also be a very good thing. But as a rule of thumb for the general population, 200-400 milligrams of caffeine per day is a tolerable amount. More
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. This is a cause that is very dear to my heart, as my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer twelve years ago. I am happy and grateful to say that today she is healthy and cancer free. She made a personal choice to pursue a holistic approach to her treatment. She is my hero – her courage, dedication and faith will forever inspire me. It is because of my mother that I know anything is possible, in health and in life.
As you can imagine, that experience changed my life in so many ways. It taught me to cherish each and every day and never take loved ones for granted. It also opened me to the world of holistic nutrition and the amazing ability of our body to heal itself when given the proper nutrition and support. Most importantly, it was an education in prevention. While no one can pinpoint the exact cause for cancer, we do know that a large percentage of the contributing factors are lifestyle related. Studies show that genes account for 15%-20% of all cases, which means we have some influence on the remaining 80%.
None of us have complete control over what will happen to us during the course of our lives, but we do have the ability to control how we eat, how we live and how we treat our body. There is no better method of prevention, than a combination of nutritional and lifestyle factors that support the body and the mind. More