Month: December 2018

8 Ways To Make Your New Year’s Resolution Stick

So you’ve made a New Year’s Resolution. Good on you! I love a person who is willing to continually work on themselves.

Resolutions do not have to be an exclusive New Year thing. If we have the resolve and commit to changing for our highest growth, it doesn’t matter what day we choose to start – as long as we start.

Now let’s talk about how to keep your resolution and prevent it from fizzling out after the first week or two.

7 Tips For How To Survive The Holidays

The holidays are a magical time of year. People are more filled with cheer. Love and peace are in the air. Maybe it’s all the Christmas blitzkrieg propaganda we are fed through advertising or maybe we should credit the drugs pumped through our air systems – possible? I kid on the latter, folks.

For those of us who celebrate the holidays, we embrace the music, the food, and altruistic giving wholeheartedly. We essentially get a vacation from our lives, and embody the person we wish to be. It’s the most wonderful time of year, no?

So here’s my beef with the holidays.

Creamy Mushroom And Baby Broccoli Orzo Recipe

A deliciously creamy vegan mushroom and baby broccoli orzo with basil, peas, and homemade garlic herb cashew cheese, coconut milk, jazzed up with hints of lemon and top notes of mint, topped with freshly chopped scallions.

This creamy orzo was so mouthwatering and satisfying friends! The lemon and mint combination definitely kicks up the flavor profile up a notch. The garlic, basil, and herbes de provence gave the cashew cheese sauce the perfect savoriness. I’m not usually a fan of black peppercorn, but it accented the flavors of this orzo incredibly well.

For the non-vegans out there who are looking for a healthier dairy-free alternative, this dish is ideal to try. I was told that you can’t even tell this dish is vegan! As for my vegan friends, I’m sure I don’t have to tell you about the miracle that is cashew cheese.

11 Ways To Change Your Mood

Along my early journeys, I struggled immensely with getting into these negative downward spirals and having no idea how to break out of them. It even got to the point where I was the one unknowingly perpetuating these energetic cycles – sinking to devastating lows and rising to alarming highs.

I would spend weeks in depressive states where I was intensely suicidal and then rapidly cycle into days of sleepless mania. Wash, rinse, and repeat. I had created quite the toxic cycle for myself.

As I began to awaken to the fact that we each are in control of our internal states, I began to claim full ownership of my part in the decline of my mental health. As I began to leave behind the mindset of helplessness and victimhood, I took back my power, which meant the challenging path ahead was only beginning.

America & Mental Health Systems

As a person who has experienced the ins and outs of the mental illness systems, I can confidently say that the issue of mental illness and how medication applies is one that is rooted in deep systemic dysfunction.

This is not so farfetched when you consider the main motivation of those running the mental health industry. It is important to analyze the intent of anything (be it person, industry, etc.) when trying to determine The Why of the way things are. I am a huge advocate for understanding the why in order to begin implementing desired changes.

In the case of the mental illness industry (yes, it is an industry), we first need to examine the intent of what they’re trying to accomplish.

In the case of most industries, the goal is to maximize profit. Why is this problematic for those of us trying to improve our mental health? Let’s look at the different cogs of the mental illness industry machine and how they fit together.

Edamame Spaghetti Primavera Recipe

A zesty edamame spaghetti medley with fresh kale, garlic, red onion, basil, succulent cremini mushrooms, roma tomatoes, green and orange bell peppers, edamame beans, sweet corn, and fresh squeezed lime juice, topped with chopped scallions for a delightful zing.

Top 9 Documentaries To Watch If You’re Curious About Going Vegan Or Vegetarian

So you’re curious about going vegetarian or even vegan? Whether this is due to personal health reasons, wanting to do your part in preserving our environment, or animal rights, this documentary list has got something for everyone!

The purpose of this list is not to convert anyone to vegetarianism or veganism nor is it to force any belief systems down anyone’s throat. However, it is important to acknowledge that much of the happenings in the animal agriculture have been purposely hidden from and distorted to the public. I simply want to make this information available to anyone who wants to be in the know.

5 Tips For How To Eat More Socially

In my post 5 Ways To Eat Mindfully, we examined the importance of eating with loved ones and its impact on our sense of belonging and community. Today we’ll be looking at five ways to eat more socially to cultivate a feeling of connectedness and establish a more collective journey towards health.

Saffron Rosemary Fried Rice Recipe

A savory saffron rosemary fried rice with napa cabbage, red bell pepper, Shanghai bok choy, red onion, and succulent oyster mushrooms, topped with scallions and black sesame seeds.

Hot damn you guys, this dish blew my mind and made my taste buds sing! The saffron and rosemary were an exquisite flavor profile and a great fusion twist on a traditional fried rice. Growing up in a Chinese-American household, fried rice was a family staple.

Consumerism And Self Worth: Part Four

In American culture, so much of our lives are dictated by a mirage – an image of what our lives “should” look like. According to Forbes magazine, the average American is exposed to 4,000 to 10,000 advertisements per day. Whether that’s via television programming or social media, the fact remains that we are being programmed to chase an unobtainable illusion. It’s no wonder that so many of us are unhappy and lacking fulfillment in our lives.

That gnawing feeling begins to feel natural and we seek to fill that emptiness with products – things, in hopes that it will make us feel something more akin to alive. So many of us become addicted to that small hit of serotonin we get when we buy something new. Ah, new – even just the word “new” brings about a feeling of fresh possibility with it.

5 Ways To Eat Mindfully

Mindfulness is the practice of becoming intensely present in the current moment. It sounds more challenging than it actually is. All mindful eating is, is to be conscious or aware of the what, how, and why of our eating behaviors.

What are we consuming? How are we consuming it? Why do we eat in the way we do? Be present in the present, my friends!