We are NOT Human DOINGS!!

So many people live in their head. In their ego. They define themselves and their worth by how much they have; how many friends, how many toys, how many jobs, how many 'things' they have to do. They feel as though, the busier they are...the more important they are. So they keep themselves busy! Over scheduling, over committing, over exaggerating. These are the ones that tend to be the most unhappy and the most disconnected from their heart, soul, and source. Yes we should be go-getters and take care of business but...we're also supposed to just BE. Stop, breathe, listen, and BE.

When you do, you are able to be more efficient in a shorter period of time.

There is a reason why we're called Human BEINGS not Human DOINGS. Just food for thought wink emoticon

XO Joy

You Are Light...Now Let You Shine!!

You are light.  The very essence of your being is light (not to mention your molecular structure contains star dust---light)! Many people either don't believe this fact or simply don't understand it. But it is true.  We are all light!  And what you do, every day, either allows your light to illuminate or blocks it.  When you set up your internal and external environment to illuminate your light you know it.  Life isn't a struggle but an adventure.  You don't feel chronic stress but instead feel happiness and joy.  You are grateful!  When your environment blocks your light you feel heavy, depressed, overwhelmed, and defeated.  Now...people allow their light to be blocked for many many reasons. Sometimes they are just so completely in their mind and ego that they don't even realize they're living this way.  They are utterly disconnected from their light and source.  The 'why's' are too many and too in-depth to list here but what is important is for you to identify in which way you are living from. From a source of illumination or a source of blockage.  Once you identify then you rectify (or continue on as you have if you're on the right path).

Everyone is different as is their journey to illumination and happiness.  That is one of the areas I work on with clients.  Identifying what works for them.  What allows them to experience quantum leaps into peace, love, and expressing their light.  Finding your path is essential to fully enjoying your life.

One Universal rule to allowing your light to shine is...never never never dim your light in an attempt to make someone else feel better.  Never dim your light for anyone else.  Be you and be ALL of you.
There is more than enough light in this Universe for every one of us to allow our badass light to shine to the max!!!

Love and Light :)
XO  Joy

What Is Your Essence?

What is your essence?  What is the essence...the energy that you bring to people?  What feeling do they have when you leave their presence?  Think about it.  How do people feel when they're around you?  Do you bring anxiousness, frustration, anger, jealousy?  Do you bring negative energy?  Or are you loving, compassionate, empathetic, kind?  What is your essence?

Take some time to think about that today.  Whether you acknowledge it or not, you bring it.  That reality does not need your recognition of it.  It exists whether you believe in it or not.  You bring energy to those you come in contact with.  Every day.  Every moment.  Be responsible for that energy.  Be conscious of it. Be aware of it.  And if you find yourself predominantly bringing negative energy or having a stressful essence, that is a sign that you have some work to do.  Well...we ALL always have work to do.  But it is a sign that you are misaligned.  You've lost connection with your true self so in turn you're not bringing your true self to any and all situations.  So take a few deep breaths today and check in with yourself.  What is your essence?

XO  Joy

A New "Dirty Dozen"....Food Additives

By now most of us have heard about the "Dirty Dozen" and the "Clean Fifteen".  If you haven't, it is a list of the 12 "dirtiest" foods that you should buy organic and 15 "clean" foods that are okay to skip organic.  The list was put out by the Environmental Working Group, EWG, a nonprofit research group.  They now have another list for us.  A 'Dirty Dozen' on food additives.

There are thousands of additives in our food system.  Some that have been cleared by the FDA but pose an inherent risk to our health.  The rapid rise in chronic disease and decline in public health makes it obvious that our food system (and what is allowed and deemed "safe") is clearly failing us. This is why eating clean whole foods free of pesticides and additives are best.  Organizations like EWG help us by making it easier to understand the worst offenders in certain categories.  Here's a list that they have deemed the worst additives:

• nitrites and nitrates
• potassium bromate
• propyl paraben
• butylated hydroxyanisole (BHT)
• propyl gallate
• theobromine
• secret flavor ingredients
• artificial colors
• diacetyl
• phosphate-based food additives (Watch List)
• aluminum-based additives (Watch List)

This list is based on scientific studies of hundreds of additives.  Foods with these listed in their ingredients should be avoided or kept to a bare minimum at the least.  You have to be your own health advocate.  Value your body and be selective of what you put in it. For more on this topic you can visit www.ewg.org/research/ewg-s-dirty-dozen-guide-food-additives.

XO   Joy

A Prescription For Produce! Love It!!!!

If you eat like this, your heart and soul will sing! :)

I've been saying (and living) for years...nutrition is the best medicine.  Now, I'm not saying that there aren't times when Western medicine is needed because there absolutely are.  Especially in acute situations.  BUT in general, we need to go back to nature.  Nutrition is what feeds our bodies as well as our mind and souls.  If we don't eat properly then the triad suffers.  Not an isolated element of it. Nothing works in isolation.  NOTHING!  My first response to any health situation is to 1) assess the situation (what's happening on all levels and how is it manifesting in the body) and 2) what can we do nutritionally to alleviate the underlying issue.  Not treat the symptom.  Yes, this approach may take longer because it doesn't involve using potent fast acting drugs.  But it's not only better for your body, it heals your body and it treats the issue not the symptom.  Okay, enough of my rant.  The reason I'm writing this is because I think FINALLY medicine (and doctor's) are starting to believe this.  I think there's a movement or a shift happening where doctor's are going back to our roots and to nature to look for cures or natural nutritional ways to alleviate physical symptoms.  Here's why I say this, I read an article the other day in the Houston Chronicle.  They did a piece on a doctor who is doing just what I said above!  The title of the article was 'Doctor writes prescriptions for produce'.  How freaking awesome is that!!!  I love this guy!  In the article he is quoted saying, "As physicians, we perform surgery or prescribe medications to our patients to make them well," said Davis. "Why not also educate them on healthy eating, and make fresh fruits and vegetables readily available?".  And here's the best quote....

"I think a few other doctors have written prescriptions," continued Davis. "I would like to get more doctors writing the prescriptions. Hippocrates said, 'Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food.' Produce is medicine. The vegetables and fruits are an alternative for use in treating diseases."

Did you see that where he said "produce is medicine"???? YES!!!!!! Finally a doctor saying something like this! Something like "this" that we in the holistic nutrition field have known for years.  And by the way, those 'prescription pads' he's referring to in his comment are prescription pads for produce!  Prescriptions for fruits and veggies!!! Words can't describe how awesome this is!!!  I just HAD to share it with you all!!

So the next time you're feeling a little under the weather, have a rash, feel exhausted, etc.  don't look for a pill to take.  Take a good look at your diet and lifestyle.  Change it from within.  Naturally.  And what will follow is a tidal wave of health, vitality, and awareness that you thought didn't exist.  I promise!

XO   Joy

Nutrition For Your Chakra's

Everything is energy.  Light can be traced down to the photon (a quantum particle of light).  Light IS energy.  Energy vibrates at different frequencies or speeds.  Stay with me on this because what I'm leading into has everything to do with nutrition, your body, and your health.

All colors on the spectrum vibrate at different rates.  The visible light spectrum (colors that can be seen by our eyes) vary from red to violet and increase in energy along a spectrum.  Red being 'slower' and longer wavelength to violet being shorter 'faster' wavelengths.  Energy!  I have said before how eating certain foods can help with balancing our chakras (also color associated energies).  Here's how;

Flowers, fruit, vegetables all develop their associated colors because those are the rays that they can absorb (the energy of that color).  So they inherently contain that energy frequency.  Are you starting to see the picture and get why I say eat for your chakras?  For example, let's say you've been feeling anxious, confused, maybe a little achey.  I would suggest increasing your intake of root vegetables, eat red foods like raspberries, strawberries, and increase your protein intake.  Why?  Because those symptoms are associated with in imbalance of your root chakra so including or increasing the foods I mentioned above can help balance your root chakra.  Here's another example, you've noticed you're having trouble communicating (whether scared to or can't find the words), your always tired, or extra hyper, maybe you've started having issues with stress in your neck, face, or tension headaches.  I would suggest eating foods that have a high water content, maybe adding soups to your diet, fruits/veggies, 100% juices (fruit and vegetable), as well as using sea salt (not table salt) and eating blueberries, blackberries, purple potatoes.  This is because based on the symptoms, the throat chakra (or 5th chakra) seems to be unbalanced and the foods I mentioned above would support its balance through nutrition.

I am not stating that nutrition is the only way to balance the chakras.  That is multi-layered.  But I am saying that through nutrition you can maintain balance or it can be a catalyst for balance.  Nutrition is the key to physiological health and wellness.  You can workout, practice yoga, and meditate but if you have poor substandard nutrition habits all that work is in vane.  We are multidimensional energy beings and because of that you can't acknowledge and nourish one area of your being and expect the whole to be well.  Address it all.  It's the only way to achieve optimum wellness.  And nutrition is an integral part of that.

XO  Joy

*Any serious symptoms or health conditions should be looked into by a doctor.

Pay Attention.....

THE SYNERGY EFFECT:

A polluted mind leads to a polluted body.  What is a polluted mind?  One that is filled with negative self-talk, criticism, negativity, doubt, and defensiveness.  The mind and body are intricately and undeniably connected.  You can work as hard as you want on your body, but if your mind is polluted so will be your body.

XO  Joy

Where is your Joy?

Joy.  It comes from within.  That may sound cliche but it's true.  You can't buy it (as many people unsuccessfully try to do with shopping).  You can't 'wish' it in your life.  You can't depend on someone else to bring it to you.  YOU are responsible for your joy.  It is a choice.  You have to choose to see joy in everything around you and in what comes to you.  Life is a blessing!  If you're reading this...you're alive a breathing.  What a JOY!  You were blessed enough to wake up this morning.  Be joyful!!  Money may be tight and we may live paycheck to paycheck.  But do you have food on the table?  A roof over your head?  In the end are you making it?  Then be JOYOUS!  Many don't have a roof over their head or food on the table.  Do you see what I mean by joy is a choice?  It is!  It's easy to be joyful when great things happen to you.  But to be joyful just because you're alive and well....that's a sign of your character and true spirit.  Don't let life or life's struggles smother that joy out of your spirit.  Find it!  Ignite it!  You're alive.   What a reason to be joyful!!  I promise once you make a conscious effort to find joy each and every day in your life, it will become automatic.  And soon you WILL be joyful and feel joyous for not only the obvious things but for things you used to consider mundane or took for granted.  Your spirit will soar with joy!!

Have a blessed and joyous day  <3

XO  Joy