One of the dangers of suffering is what happens when we distance ourselves from how we feel—when we numb the pain.
And it makes sense that we do this, right? We want to feel better. We need to feel better. We do whatever we can. What we know.
But with persistent suffering—the kind that comes with chronic pain, illness, depression, or trauma—(before we discover—and address—the root…
What if we think about self-care like this?
It doesn’t make us better. Not better versions of our selves. Not better than anyone else.
We may feel better, we may function at a higher level, we may experience life in a whole new and vibrant way, but we—who we truly are—was there all along.
Those savvy food plans and vigorous exercise regimens don’t make us stronger or more beautiful.
The…
We all know food is medicine by now. We know food has the molecular power to change our genetic expression, physiology, and function in infinite and profound ways. We know food is us at the most foundational level.
It works both ways. Food hurts. Food heals.
It’s easy to turn to foods that taste good, make us feel better, give us a “high,” a hit of pleasure to help us numb the suffering…
Sometimes we’ve just got to rest. Sometimes we’ve just got to go off grid. Sometimes we’ve just got to do nothing.
That’s what I’ve been doing this past week and it’s felt so dang good!
I turned my book into my editor last week… I was so ready to hand it off, so needing to disengage to put my brain somewhere else after the four month marathon of editing, following a four year creative…
The Foundational Intensive Nutrition Energy Food Plan (FINE)—a Real Food Plan for Energy Nutrition
This is your foundational energy nutrition healing food plan.
In some ways this food plan is about going back to our roots. To eating real food, grown in favorable conditions, prepared simply and deliciously, shared with those we love, eaten slowly, and just enough to meet our needs.
But its also…
I had a wonderful conversation with a friend the other day… We were both explaining the ways we’d been slowing down the pace of our lives. Doing just one thing at a time. Doing less. Working less. Playing more. Loosening expectations. Letting go of obligations that no longer feel like a good fit.
We spoke of this as if it were radical. Not quite whispering, or confessing (but close)—capturing…
True, we all want to be cured. We all want our pain to go away, our wounds to heal, our function to be restored, and our energy to soar.
But I think there’s more. I hear this in what my clients blurt out when I ask them about their goals and aspirations. How they want to feel like their true selves, to live their best lives, and reach their full potential.
They’re talking about healing.
And…
One of my greatest challenges as a physician is to get out of the way of my clients’ healing.
Inspired by wanting to help them feel better, to relieve their suffering, and achieve their goals, it’s tempting to try to “fix” things. To lock in on their pains and problems and employ every root cause-level magic bullet in the toolkit. When what they most need is for me to get out of their way.
What…
The secret to a happy life you ask?
Ah, yes, I have one of the answers.
Whistle.
Seriously. Whistle!
I come from a family of beautiful whistlers—my mom (a song bird!), her dad, me, and my oldest son. My mom taught me to whistle when I was a wee girl and I remember the immense pride I felt when I finally got it! And I’ve been whistling pretty much non-stop every since (apologies to my…
Aren’t those things we do—and say to ourselves—in those first minutes after awakening, the tone-setters for the whole day?
Jumping out of bed and racing out of the house, coffee in one hand, kid in the other—leads one direction. (Eek! The dreaded time pressure, high survival launching out the door—I remember those days! Oh my gosh—my chest is clenching!)
Versus slow. Slow start. Slow breaths.…
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