There is a line we’ve been quoting lately from Suits: “Tell yourself whatever you want…as long as you tell it to yourself.”  Such a good show!  All hilarity aside, that line makes me think about our “silent” self talk.  The thing is, there is always someone listening – and that someone is you.  You can focus on what bothers you or you can focus on all of the good things in your life.  You can focus on the trials and tribulations of the past, or you can focus on creating the life of your dreams.   You can focus on the reasons you can’t live the life of your dreams, or you can plow right through the blockages! 

Do people and situations get you down?  People and situations are powerless without your reaction, so don’t give away your power by letting someone or something get under your skin.  Can you see how powerful you are?  Your thoughts are powerful messages to yourself, and you are responsible for how you feel.  How do you want to feel?

Powerful Questions

What are you telling yourself?  Is your mental chatter on the positive side or does it tend to be more negative?  On that note, what do you notice?  Are you constantly judging people and things or are noticing how beautiful our world truly is?  Your thoughts are shaping your reality.  Start paying attention to what floats around in your head!

Cheering myself on: My personal fitness quest

I have an intention to be fitter than I’ve ever been, which means I must take charge of my mental chatter in many, many areas.  What do I tell myself?  For starters, I know that I’m worth it.  I deserve the body of my dreams and I tell myself that I deserve to spend time on something that makes me happy.  No Mommy guilt.  I know that working out will make me happier and more energetic.  Increasing the heart rate increases the amount of oxygen that reaches the cells and working out at a moderate to high intensity will release natural endorphins that makes exercise feel great. 

Since working out makes me happy, I’m always figuring out how I can get my workout in for the day, no matter what the day brings.  If I don’t want to work out, then I know it’s imperative that I work out at the next available opportunity!  I always feel better after.

Today I found myself unable to get to the gym when I wanted so I decided to do some kettlebell swings while the kids played. 96 kettlebell swings, a firetruck repair, a baby down for a nap, 1533 stairs, and 3 Lego Batman car repairs later I finished my hour-long workout.  I did roughly 30 minutes of work, had 30 minutes of rest, burned roughly 525 calories, and managed to give all 3 of my kids attention!  Amazing.

I could have sat on the couch annoyed that I couldn’t go to the gym.  But those actions and emotions wouldn’t make me happy and they certainly won’t get me to my fitness goal.  I’m sure they would have been my modus operandi in the past, but my focus has shifted and I choose to be the best version of myself.  I choose to do things that make me happy.  When that doesn’t seem possible I look for the gratitude in whatever may be hijacking my bliss at that moment.  Trust me, even in the darkest of moments there is gratitude and light to be found, and finding it is definitely worth the effort.  If you’re in a mental rut, the only one who can dig you out of the deep abyss is you.  In these times you must shift your focus.  What you focus on expands, so focus on that which makes you happy.  What you tell yourself is shaping your future; You can either make excuses or you can make plans and follow your bliss.

This is one of my absolute favourite sides to make, and it’s not even for the kids (although they love them too).  They are so simple to prepare and they’ll make you go “mmm soooo good” when you eat them.  The spicy mayo is a grown-up addition.  Unless your kids like to eat fire, they’ll love to dip their fries in the regular cashew mayo instead.

I’ve always loved to eat my fries with mayo, so this recipe let’s me eat “mayo” in front of my kids with zero mommy guilt.  They eat what we eat so it forces us to come up with healthier options for old favourites, which is a very good thing.

Sweet Potato Fries

• 2 large sweet potatoes
• approx. 3 tbsp coconut oil
• 1/2 tsp sea salt

Preheat oven to 375 F.

Cut sweet potatoes into large chunky french fry shapes roughly the size of your thumb.  Chop off the pointy ends to avoid the ends burning in the oven.

Place cut fries into a large bowl and top with coconut oil and sea salt.  You do not have to melt the coconut oil first.

Here’s the fun part: Mix the fries with your hands, making sure they are all covered in sea salt and oil, and then dump them onto a large baking sheet.

Arrange the sweet potato as shown.

Cook at 375 F for 20 minutes, or until slightly browned on the bottom.  Flip the fries over and cook another 15 minutes until the opposite side is slightly browned.  When done, remove them from the oven and cover with tin foil until ready to enjoy.

 

Spicy Cashew Mayo:

• 1/2 cup cashew mayo (recipe below)
• 1/2 tsp chipotle chili pepper powder
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• Tabasco to taste

Put ingredients in a small bowl and stir until combined.  Refrigerate if you have time to let the flavours set, and enjoy with your sweet potato fries!  You’re welcome to use whatever combination of spice you like – I’ve always loved chipotle so it’s what I tend to use in all of my recipes.

 

Cashew Mayo:

• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 3 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 cup cashews
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tsp fresh thyme
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper

Place all ingredients in a high speed blender and blend until smooth.  Refrigerate.

If you don’t have a high-speed blender simply combine all ingredients and let sit for an hour or two before blending.

In every moment we have the opportunity to be present.  If you’re not careful, your life can pass you by in an instant.  I notice this with my kids every single day.  I am so busy trying to get through the day, making sure that everyone is fed and intact, that I have to remind myself to stop and smell the flowers, aka, find the joy.  It’s not so easy sometimes with 3 little boys who I swear are trying to kill each other off…  So, after I yell at them (I’m working on that, but seriously, 3 boys…) I make sure I tell them that I love them, even though I don’t like their choices sometimes.  Because, I love them, I want them to hear it every single day, and I want to be present with them as much as I can.

Who/what brings you joy?  Who do you love?  What do you love to do?  What are your goals?  What makes you happy?  If there is one thing that I have learned in life it is this: Find what you love, and love it now.  Show your loved ones that you love them, and show them now.  Daydream about your goals every day, and do something every single day that brings your goals closer to realization.  Be happy now.  I guarantee that if you start doing these things right now that you will bring more happiness into your life immediately.

Asking myself these questions pretty much always leads to me texting Yuri and telling him that I love him – unless he happens to be here, in which case I tell him in person, obviously.  At night, it leads me to the kitchen where I make a Turmeric Latte, and then it leads me to the couch with my computer where I sit down and write.  Before I started writing tonight, I pulled an oracle card from Doreen Virtue’s “Life Purpose” deck.  I was wondering why I even bothered to do so because I knew what card I was going to get.  Sure enough, I pulled the Writing card: “You heal, inspire, teach, and entertain with the words you write.”  Thank God that I know this.

I’ve always known that I loved to write.  It’s too bad that I didn’t think to declare English as my second major in University.  Nevertheless, I am finally listening to my inner voice that tells me to just do it.  I want to write a book.  I want to help people.  Do I know where to start?  Not exactly, but that doesn’t matter.  I’m happy just to write, however, that oracle card was spot on with my intentions.

Who knows what the future has in store for us.  It could be very different from the future we’re imagining.  Anything can happen, so don’t put anything off.  Do it now.  Be happy now.  There is no reason not to live your best life.  If you’re not living you’re best life, then there is something getting in the way, and that can only be you.  If you’re ready to step aside, let your Divine purpose in and let your light shine, then I invite you to try a little exercise before you go to sleep tonight: 

Sit in a quiet room and think about what your ideal life looks like.  Think about it as if it has already happened.  Believe it, and be grateful for this amazing life you lead.  Thank the Universe (or your angels, or God if you’re so inclined) for every aspect of your life as you have imagined it to be.  Give thanks as if it has already come to pass.  Feel how wonderful this feels.  Bring attention to your heart chakra and feel the love in your heart space.  Feel your entire body relax and fill with light.  Know that as you do this, your angels are working very hard behind the scenes to make your vision a reality. 

Be very clear with your vision and your intentions and things will begin to happen.  Make sure that you believe in your vision and most importantly that you believe in yourself.  Believe that you deserve this life.  I will say it a thousand more times until you hear me: You are WORTH it.

It’s no secret that what you think about, you bring about.  What you focus on, expands.  Focus on the bad things and you’ll get more of the same.  Focus on your best life ever and you’ll get more of the same.  This has proven itself to me time and time again.  So I invite you to use your NOW in the most positive and productive way possible, in each moment of each and every day.  And when you think about it, take a moment to envision and be thankful for the life of your dreams.  I can’t think of a better way to go to sleep each night.