Hi everyone!
Check out my latest contribution to Beauty of Becoming! This site is full of awesome health and wellness inspiration, tips, and motivation.
http://www.beautyofbecoming.com/9/post/2013/03/recipe-for-a-happy-healthy-day.html
Hope you enjoy!
Be Well.
Love, Julie
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Friday, March 15, 2013
12 Terrific Health and Wellness Books
Hi everybody!
I am constantly reading books! Since I became very interested in my health and well-being, I have been devouring all of the knowledge I can to educated myself. Here are a few of my favorites! I am sure there will be another post like this to come, as I will probably forget a few! If you have some free time, pick one up, and learn how to be an even better you!
1. Blue Zones by, Dan Buettner. I wrote an entire post on this book in December. Blue Zones tells of the regions in the world in which people live the longest, most quality lives. It discovers the reasons for this great level of longevity and develops a plan in which we can implement these practices into our daily lives!
I am constantly reading books! Since I became very interested in my health and well-being, I have been devouring all of the knowledge I can to educated myself. Here are a few of my favorites! I am sure there will be another post like this to come, as I will probably forget a few! If you have some free time, pick one up, and learn how to be an even better you!
1. Blue Zones by, Dan Buettner. I wrote an entire post on this book in December. Blue Zones tells of the regions in the world in which people live the longest, most quality lives. It discovers the reasons for this great level of longevity and develops a plan in which we can implement these practices into our daily lives!
2. Thrive by, Dan Buettner- Thrive does the same as Blue Zones, but examines the happiest people in the world, and what about their lifestyles makes them so happy. It is very interesting in that it contradicts many of America's social norms. However, the research doesn't lie! This book will definitely make you think.
3. The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by, Deepak Chopra . You know this is one of my favorites. We have one law left in our review of this book! A great resource in learning how to reach your fullest potential and manifest your dreams.
4. The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga by Deepak Chopra and David Simon- I am reading this book right now and absolutely love it. It teaches many of the basic principles of yoga philosophy. It then applies the Seven Spiritual Laws of Success to your yoga practice. In addition, it explains the many health benefits of yoga and why it should definitely be included somehow in your wellness routine!
5. Slim, Calm, Sexy Yoga by Tara Stiles- This book tells of how yoga can truly benefit our minds and bodies. It focuses on how yoga can eliminate stress in our lives, which is directly related to weight gain and disease. Yoga keeps you fit, while keeping your mind calm and centered, cultivating a sense of ease which overflows into every aspect of your life.
6. Thrive: The Vegan Nutritional Guide to Optimal Performance in Sports and Life by, Brendan Brazier- I've talked about Brendan Brazier before. He is an unbelievable resource for plant-based nutrition. This book focuses on the science behind how different foods fuel our bodies. It busts any myths that vegan's are weak and malnourished. A professional triathlete, Brendan shares how a plant-based diet provides our bodies with pure and efficient fuel to live life to its fullest.
7. Thrive Foods by, Brendan Brazier- Thrive Foods is Brendan's most recent book. It again offers tons of scientific nutritional and environmental information. The main purpose of the book is to provide wonderful cookbook of nutritious, performance enhancing, plant based recipes.
8. The Starch Solution by, John and Mary McDougall- This is another wonderful book on plant-based nutrition. It provides detailed scientific research and testimonials on the medical benefits of a plant-based diet and tips on how to eat towards better health. Dr. McDougall is very much connected to the group of medical professionals behind the film Forks Over Knives.
9. The Happy Herbivore Cookbook- Happy Herbivore is my absolute favorite plant-based cookbook series. The recipes are easy and delicious. They are all low fat and use no added oils. Also, nutritional information is included for each recipe! Check out Everyday Happy Herbivore, Happy Herbivore Abroad , and her website too!
10. The complete idiot's guide to Plant-based Nutrition by, Julieanna Hever- This one is pretty self- explanatory. The book provides a complete nutritional overview of a plant-based diet. It busts all of the protein and calcium myths, provides guidelines on how to cover all of your nutritional bases, and has special sections dedicated to exercise, pregnancy, and children! Great resource to have on hand.
11. The Alchemist by, Paulo Coelho- I also wrote an early post on this book. It is a simply beautiful allegorical tale about following your dreams. It will shake any beliefs that you are not in control of your own destiny. Wonderful, wonderful book.
12. Eat This, Not That Series- I wrote a post about these books in december, but never published it. Eat this, Not That educates readers about the nutritional information of chain restaurants and processed foods in America. Overall, I really advocate for a Whole Food, Plant Based diet which avoids most of these things. However, I did read these books before I became a vegan, and they were a great stepping stone in my wellness journey. The books reveal many of the nutritional downfalls of foods that so many Americans eat every day. If you do regularly go to chain restaurants and buy processed foods, this series will help you make the best choices. I hope it will open many people's eyes to what this kind of "food" really is. So, take a look, but strive towards natural, whole ingredients!
Whewf! That was a lot. Whenever I feel that I need a little extra push in my wellness motivation, I will pick one of these books up again to get back on track. I hope you read a few and find your own inspiration!
Be Well.
Love, Julie
Friday, March 8, 2013
The Law of Detachment
I am officially on Spring Break, woooo hooo!!! It's a bittersweet feeling at the moment. On one hand, it's been an outrageously busy and stressful semester, and I am so so happy for some time off. On the other hand, it means I only have about a month and a half left of college...
Wow.
I'm hoping this ten days off will help me regroup, so that I can truly enjoy, not just endure, my last bit of time as an undergrad. I wonder when this reality is going to sink in...
I am super excited for some much needed me time. I am not going on some $1000 dollar trip, as I do not enjoy drinking all day, getting exhausted, and not being able to chill and workout. Instead, I am taking a lovely weekend trip with some girlfriends and then spending the week in Miami, doing some catching up, blogging, reading, yoga, and relaxing during the days, and having fun at night with friends when I want! For me, the best vacation is all about balance (and sunshine!). Speaking of, step up Miami, it's been way too cold for March lately! (Ok, my mom just sent me a picture of the snow at home. I guess I can deal.)
Anyway, I am super excited that on Monday, Deepak Chopra begins another one of his FREE 21 day Meditation Challenges! This one is with Oprah! If you are new to meditation, and don't know where to begin, sign up (the link is in a post below)! All you have to do is press play on the link that is sent to you, and you will be guided through the rest.
I was hoping to finish The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success before the challenge began, but think it will likely be next week!
P.S did I mention how happy I am that I actually have time to blog right now? Yayy!
Ok and now,
Law 6: The Law of Detachment
This is another one of my absolute favorite laws of spiritual success. It kind of goes along with the Law of Least Effort .The law of detachment focuses on embracing something called "the wisdom of uncertainty". Let that phrase sink in for a moment. Uncertainty possesses a certain wisdom. The universe has a way of sorting everything out. There is no need for us to be obsessively anxious over every little thing. We can embrace the wisdom of uncertainty, knowing that as long as we are doing our best to be a positive presence in this world, things will come together as they should.
Deepak says, "in the wisdom of uncertainty lies the freedom from our past, from the known, which is the prison of past conditioning. And in our willingness to step into the unknown, the field of all possibilities, we surrender ourselves to the creative mind that orchestrates the dance of the universe."
To put the Law of Detachment into practice Deepak suggests:
" 1. Today I will commit myself to detachment. I will allow myself and those around me the freedom to be as they are. I will not rigidly impose my idea of how things should be. I will not force solutions on problems, thereby creating new problems. I will participate in everything with detached involvement.
2. Today I will factor in uncertainty as an essential ingredient of my experience. In my willingness to accept uncertainty, solutions will spontaneously emerge out of the problem, out of the confusion, disorder, and chaos. The more uncertain things seem to be, the more secure I will feel, because uncertainty is my path to freedom. Through the wisdom of uncertainty, I will find my security.
3. I will step into the field of all possibilities and anticipate the excitement that can occur when I remain open to an infinity of choices. When I step into the field of all possibilities, I will experience all the fun, adventure, magic, and mystery of life. "
Times of change and uncertainty pop up continuously throughout life, whether it is post-graduate plans for my age group, a new job search, decisions on where to live, challenges in how to transform into your best you, or a search for a partner in life. Although often times these things bring stress and anxiety, try to focus on the positive. They also bring incredible amounts of opportunity! Be open to all of the wisdom that uncertainty has to offer. Focus on your dreams, and new chances will arise. With relationships, being able to free yourself from expectation is liberating. Why obsess over how someone else is acting, hoping they will act in the way you wish for the relationship will go? Like in the Law of Least effort, you will likely end up trying to force a situation, which often results in a false sense of satisfaction. By embracing the wisdom of uncertainty, and the Law of Detachment, you simply let things and people be. Life will occur naturally and how it's supposed to. If that relationship is meant to work, it will. If we are meant to get that job, we will.
So what can we do? Just try to be the best you everyday. Make efforts towards your wishes, but do not force them. Put as much positive energy out there as you can. It's bound to come back!
Be Well.
Love, Julie
Wow.
I'm hoping this ten days off will help me regroup, so that I can truly enjoy, not just endure, my last bit of time as an undergrad. I wonder when this reality is going to sink in...
I am super excited for some much needed me time. I am not going on some $1000 dollar trip, as I do not enjoy drinking all day, getting exhausted, and not being able to chill and workout. Instead, I am taking a lovely weekend trip with some girlfriends and then spending the week in Miami, doing some catching up, blogging, reading, yoga, and relaxing during the days, and having fun at night with friends when I want! For me, the best vacation is all about balance (and sunshine!). Speaking of, step up Miami, it's been way too cold for March lately! (Ok, my mom just sent me a picture of the snow at home. I guess I can deal.)
Anyway, I am super excited that on Monday, Deepak Chopra begins another one of his FREE 21 day Meditation Challenges! This one is with Oprah! If you are new to meditation, and don't know where to begin, sign up (the link is in a post below)! All you have to do is press play on the link that is sent to you, and you will be guided through the rest.
I was hoping to finish The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success before the challenge began, but think it will likely be next week!
P.S did I mention how happy I am that I actually have time to blog right now? Yayy!
Ok and now,
Law 6: The Law of Detachment
Deepak says, "in the wisdom of uncertainty lies the freedom from our past, from the known, which is the prison of past conditioning. And in our willingness to step into the unknown, the field of all possibilities, we surrender ourselves to the creative mind that orchestrates the dance of the universe."
To put the Law of Detachment into practice Deepak suggests:
" 1. Today I will commit myself to detachment. I will allow myself and those around me the freedom to be as they are. I will not rigidly impose my idea of how things should be. I will not force solutions on problems, thereby creating new problems. I will participate in everything with detached involvement.
2. Today I will factor in uncertainty as an essential ingredient of my experience. In my willingness to accept uncertainty, solutions will spontaneously emerge out of the problem, out of the confusion, disorder, and chaos. The more uncertain things seem to be, the more secure I will feel, because uncertainty is my path to freedom. Through the wisdom of uncertainty, I will find my security.
3. I will step into the field of all possibilities and anticipate the excitement that can occur when I remain open to an infinity of choices. When I step into the field of all possibilities, I will experience all the fun, adventure, magic, and mystery of life. "
Times of change and uncertainty pop up continuously throughout life, whether it is post-graduate plans for my age group, a new job search, decisions on where to live, challenges in how to transform into your best you, or a search for a partner in life. Although often times these things bring stress and anxiety, try to focus on the positive. They also bring incredible amounts of opportunity! Be open to all of the wisdom that uncertainty has to offer. Focus on your dreams, and new chances will arise. With relationships, being able to free yourself from expectation is liberating. Why obsess over how someone else is acting, hoping they will act in the way you wish for the relationship will go? Like in the Law of Least effort, you will likely end up trying to force a situation, which often results in a false sense of satisfaction. By embracing the wisdom of uncertainty, and the Law of Detachment, you simply let things and people be. Life will occur naturally and how it's supposed to. If that relationship is meant to work, it will. If we are meant to get that job, we will.
So what can we do? Just try to be the best you everyday. Make efforts towards your wishes, but do not force them. Put as much positive energy out there as you can. It's bound to come back!
Be Well.
Love, Julie
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)