The Myth of Perfection

As I've mentioned, I'm currently working on my latest book (working title Health, Happiness & Home).  It's going to address how to live your best life by listening to your intuition, simplifying your life and home and seeking beauty in all things, including yourself.  Here is a taste of what I'm working on...

     The myth of perfection permeates our lives. We constantly measure ourselves and our lives against standards that no one (or at most very, very few individuals) can attain. Worse yet, when we fall short of these unrealistic ideals, we criticize ourselves and feel like failures. We believe that we have to be the perfect wife, sister, daughter, mother, employee, boss, lover, etc. in order for our lives to feel happy and complete.

     This idea that only perfection is acceptable; only perfection can be appreciated, only perfection can be loved drives many of our lifestyle decisions and goals. Yet, these goals, as important as they may seem, are often completely ego-centric and unattainable. We scrutinize every pound we gain and turn to unhealthy methods to lose weight, truly believing that if we could weigh a bit less (or a lot less), we would be able to get our lives on track and find that elusive harmony and true satisfaction we’ve been craving. We wish for more money, nicer clothes, a bigger home and better car, thinking that if we only possessed these tangible symbols of happiness, we would truly be happy. But, as physical as these emblems of success and happiness might be, they’re not real. They are not (and never will be) what truly makes us happier, healthier and saner.

     The problem is that the concept of perfection is flawed. The notion that only perfect, ideal, faultless beings are allowed to partake in what makes life miraculous and are the only ones deserving of true happiness is ludicrous! Nobody is perfect. No one has their act together all the time. The trick is to do the best you can with what you’ve got and have faith that if you believe that you deserve happiness, happiness will undoubtedly begin to make its way into your life.

So there you have it.  Just a little sample of what I'm working on.  Hope you enjoyed it!  And keep checking back for more : )

Maintain Your Motivation

Isn't it great when you first set a goal for yourself?  You're so pumped and ready to go and just know that you're going to succeed.  Nothing can stop you!  Fast-forward one week.  Still feel the same way?  If you're like most people, probably not.  After the first few "honeymoon" days, reality begins to set in.  You start to questions yourself and your resolve.  So, how do you power through when your motivation is fading fast?  Below are some simple, easy tricks to harness your motivation to reach all your healthy lifestyle goals!

1. Change your vocabulary. Saying "I want to workout" or "I choose to eat healthy foods" is much more empowering that victimizing yourself and saying "I have to..."

2. Make a list. Making a list of all the reasons why your healthy living goals are important is a great way to harness your motivation. List everything from "fitting into my 'skinny' jeans" to "being able to play with my kids". Reread the list whenever you need a motivation booster.

3. Share your goals. Sharing your goals with others is a great way to hold yourself accountable. Telling your family and friends what you're hoping to achieve is a wonderful way to motivate yourself because if you fail to reach your goals, you'll not only disappoint yourself, but you'll have to "explain" it to your friends and family.

4. Recruit a friend. So many of us aim to get healthier as one of our primary goals. So, why not reach out to a friend, sibling or spouse to accompany you on your journey. Teaming up is a fantastic way to get your butt in gear!

Best of luck : )

Secrets of a Skinny Chick

I recently created a HubPage filled with great information for achieving a happy, healthy lifestyle.  If you want some inspiration as to how to live a harmonious life, check it out! SKINNY CHICK!  Let me know what you think : )

Farm to Table

In my on-going quest to live better, I've decided to eat more local, whole foods and cut many processed foods out of my diet. That said, over the past week I've stopped at a local farm stand for fresh zucchini, corn and blueberries and made homemade granola and trail mix to replace my go-to granola bar. Even though it's only been a few days (and actual, physical benefits I'm sure have yet to take place), I already feel better.

Just the idea of eating farm-to-table makes you feel healthier. The concept that your food was locally grown and cared for by people in your community is completely cool. Not only are you eating healthy and DELICIOUS food, but you're also supporting your community and reducing your carbon footprint on the planet. You can't really beat that combo, can you?

If you're interested in becoming a "locavore" too, check out http://www.localharvest.org/ for the location of your nearest farmer's market. And remember, small changes can have big results. If we all just made a few small changes to our grocery shopping habits and diets, amazingly positive changes could occur.

So, next time you're hungry, think about eating something from nearby : )

You Decide How You Feel!

I know, I hate it too when people tell me "the only person who can make you sad/mad/happy is you!". Yet, as much as I may hate to hear it, I know deep down it's true. No one else has control over your inner workings and thoughts. You alone have the ability to dwell on the problem, seek the solution or let it go. You alone can decide whether or not to see the "silver lining" in any given situation.

As much as it may feel like other people are making you feel this or that. When it really comes down to it, you alone have the power to let their decisions and words affect you (or not). It's your choice.

Choose wisely : )