Experiences occur that cause us to reevaluate our lives.  Some events that I witnessed this week opened my eyes.  When I say witnessed I am referring to taking a step back and viewing my life as an outsider.  Although I struggled with setting my emotions aside, I had moments of complete clarity. Watching things unfold as a spectator allowed me to gain a different perspective. I understood, if even for brief moments, the role I had played in the creation of events. 

My absolute passion is the mind, the brain, the power of thought and how it affects our lives.  I am fascinated by the science  and in awe over how our thinking really creates the lives that we lead.  Even more profound is the fact that at any given moment we have a choice.  We have a choice to change our thinking and thus change our lives by becoming aware of our thoughts and choosing ones that are better suited to leading happier lives.  Sounds simple enough, right?

Well… not so simple for me.  Despite my very clear understanding and absolute love of the mind, my thoughts run like wild-fire creating some very interesting situations to say the least. These situations invoke such an intense amount of emotion that the challenge of choosing a different thought seems damn near impossible. I have gotten so wrapped up in the emotional pain that all I could do was blame and criticize proving that what you resist persist.  And on top of it, I have gotten stuck there. I feel like a prisoner trapped in my own self-defeating mind.

A friend of mine said to me, “You will teach what you need to learn the most.”  What  I love the most I seem to need to be reminded of the most.  This week I was reminded. I was reminded in profound ways of just how I powerful my mind is in creating my life.  I was reminded of exactly what I don’t want and because of that I can choose differently even if it for a brief moment.  It is during those moments that I am at the most peace. It is during those moments that I have a complete understanding of this world and have no need to change it.  True peace of mind seems to come when we can be surrounded by chaos and yet have peace in our hearts.

Peace of mind and love to all my friends and family!

Struggling to find a topic to write about today I “Googled” my favorite subject: Mind Power.  The power of the mind kept me curious as a child and as adult it has become my passion.  The complexity and power of thought is profound.  The power in the unfamiliar silence without thought just as magnificent and perhaps the place of most peace. Often it the place we seldom visit!!!  My fascination with the ability quiet the chatter as well as use the thoughts we do have for good continues to grow. My desire to teach this feels as though I have finally fine tuned a purpose in my life. Please email me for information on classes and private sessions @creativewellness@cox.net

The poem below caught my attention when looking to feel inspired and I found it @www.mahinth.blogspot.com  The site has some interesting information for those curious about the power of the mind.  Think about this poem:

Mindset

Mind is not a constant, its concentration waxes and wanes.  When the mind wanes the smallest you take action and follow through the next action.  Don’t let your spirit drop. Thoughts are at the top of a hill. Unchecked and attended the water will begin to flow down one part of the slope and will begin to form a well-worn gully. You’ve got to divert the spring at its source.

In my business I am bombarded by people who want to know the “right” way to become fit quickly.  I continually am offered opportunities to “sign up” for the next great supplement that promises to cure-all and it even comes with a great multi-level marketing plan for me to ensure I am compensated for letting the world know about the latest miracle.

My issue: everyone heals differently, everyone has unique needs and interests, and everyone needs to take care of their body, their thoughts, their emotions, and their spirit.  How on earth does one magic berry heal all of this? How could one protein shake create weight loss. How could one supplement, like HCG, cure health issues and build muscle. 

 AND THE BEST YET! My all time new favorite, something that appears to be a girdle, but is made of special fabric is like magic too! Just yesterday I had a woman say; “You are a Wellness Coach, you should get this.” I explained I was pregnant and due in 7 weeks AND she even had a garment for that! She told me that my stomach would go back easier because of “muscle memory.” The fabric apparently has a teaching certificate.  Seriously? My abdominal muscles that are housing a baby that is growing a half a pound a week need to be wrapped in “special” material? She explained to me how breathable the fabric was as well.  Apparently this woman had never experienced pregnancy. I am glad to breath and not be out of breath without anything but my uterus and baby in hindering that.  My skin itches, I get rashes,  I am hot without any clothes on, and I am way too educated to buy into some “miracle product.”

Needless to say, I was rather insulted and annoyed.  My experience as well as my continued education in multiple areas of wellness have allowed for me to understand healing and wellness on multiple levels.  You have the right to choose whatever path you like and you should. Just know that there are some basic things that promote healing and that healing comes from more than a “miracle” product. You need to think, eat, and move well.

Thinking- ( My Passion) Thoughts are energy and they create your life. They come first before absolutely everything -including emotions!  You have 50,000 thoughts a day!!! Your subconscious holds your emotions and beliefs and most us don’t even know what we are thinking and creating because we are too busy doing things.  You need to learn to relax, to become aware of what is really going on instead of simply  going through the motions. You do this by practicing meditation. This practice will change your life.

Eating- This is so basic!!!  You don’t need magic pills- you need real food. You don’t need the food pyramid or the government who puts hormones and antibiotics in your meat to tell you what to eat.  You need to pay attention to your body and follow your intuition.  Eat as close to nature as possible, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, buy local and organic when possible, and eat a variety of colors and do it all in reasonable portions. Drink lots of good, clean water and remember to splurge from time to time.

Move- Your body was designed to move.  As a personal trainer I learned that the basics include strength, flexibility, endurance, cardiovascular, and power. It also means using FITTR principles= vary the frequency, intensity,time, type, and rate.  That means mix it up! Do what you love! This is how you change your body, this is how you “train” muscles, not through special fabric. You will automatically boost your metabolism, alter your brain chemistry, and balance your hormones (no HCG needed).

Combine thinking, eating, and moving well and you will heal your body, mind, and spirit.  Keep it simple.  Some gadgets can be fun, but be realistic. Everything changes, everyones needs change, be flexible and keep positive.

Certain topics create a whirlwind of emotions for me, religion being at the top.  Christianity and the belief in Jesus dominate this country.  I grew up knowing no other possibilities outside of Jesus. I was also raised to believe that Jesus died so that I could be forgiven for my sins and go to heaven.  I never could make sense of this. How could something be outside of me and my world and watching me to make sure I was good and if I wasn’t make sure I suffered?

As an adult I researched other religions. I learned so much from simply being open to ideas. I learned how to differentiate between man-made religion and true spiritual principles.  Quantum physics supplied much of the reasoning my mind required to make sense of that which appears unexplainable.  I learned that there was way more to life on earth than what I learned in church as a child.

First of all, you are eternal.  The laws of physics state that energy can not be created nor destroyed only changed in form.  You are a big ball of electrical energy so you may surrender your body to what seems like death, but that which you truly are will always be, spirit. Your body is a vehicle for your spirit while you are on this beautiful earth. 

Second, the Bible has many interpretations; I have heard countless.  Explore and you will see! The Bible has been translated countless times. Consider the game children play when they sit in a circle and start with a secret and go from child to child and when it gets back to the original child that secret is not anything  how it started.  Consider that every person that reads the Bible or speaks of it is coming from their very unique perspective in this world.  I do believe the Bible is an amazing parable that can be used to understand much, it just gets abused.

Third, how could one religion be the right one?  I have not been able to make sense of people being critical of another’s religious choices.  I am going to pass judgment myself and say that it is arrogant. I am appalled at the history of some religions. Even very recent Catholic history that gets shoved under the rug. How could you ever justify child molestation by priests? How much more is there to the past of the church?

 Religion is just that, man-made politics that instill fear and collect a lot of money by causing you to fear that if you don’t follow their very specific man-made rules then you are sinful.  That is sinful.  Just the other day I was listening to the radio where the religious radio station was stating that we are not whole and we will not be until our savior Jesus Christ comes again. What?!

Not true. The Bible even states that you were made in the image and liking of God.  I interpret that as being of God. I am from God and God is within me. I know that science says I can not really even die, only transform. I know that there are many religions and therefore many paths to God. 

The teachings of Jesus dieing on the cross so that you could be forgiven for your sins and born into everlasting life is not true.  There is no sin to be forgiven.  We are not on this earth to be perfect. We are here to learn. We make mistakes. All of us “sin” and not one of us should judge if one person or one sin is worse than the other. 

 Your goal here should be to find God and do good.  The energy of God courses through your veins, through every part of your being.  You are spirit by nature. When you are connected to that source you do what you love, you love those around you, you are at peace and filled with joy.  Even when there is chaos around you, you can have peace within you. 

As you celebrate Easter, remember to create your own journey, love as much as you can, and explore all possibilities. MOST IMPORTANT: Remember that you are of spirit, that God is within you, that you need to do nothing but accept that and love, you are whole and complete just the way are.

“The goal of spiritual practice is full recovery, and the only thing you need to recover from is a fractured sense of self.” Marianne Williamson

I am always amazed at what is classified as food.  Listed are some common packaged “food” ingredients.  Try and see if you can guess what the “food” is and then check your answers the bottom. 

1. water, soybean oil, sugar vinegar, food starch-modified, salt, cellulose gel (microcrystalline cellulose), mustard flour, egg white, artificial color, sodium casinate, xantham gum, cellulose gum, spice, paprika, natural flavor, beta carotene (color)

What the heck is natural flavor? It was natural why is it added? Modified food starch? What does that mean anyway?

2.enriched macaroni, dried cheddar cheese, corn starch, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, dried tomato, salt, buttermilk, sugar, hydrolyzed vegetable protein and other natural flavors, dried onion, dried corn syrup, disodium phosphate, dried garlic, sodium caseinate, citric acid, dipotassium phosphate, FD&C yellow #5 and other artificial color, sodium sulfite and BHA

Enriched with what? Hydrolized, huh? Lots of other natural flavors, wonder what those are anyway especially since there seems to a number of things that go by that name?  Yellow #5? What in the world is that?

3. rolled oats with oat bran, rolled whole wheat, brown sugar, partially hydrogenated vegetable oil (soybean and/or cottonseed oil), non-fat milk, dried unsweetened coconut, oat bran, honey, corn syrup, raisins, crisp rice (rice, sugar, salt, malt), brown sugar, partially hydrogenated vegetable oil (soybean and/or cottonseed), corn syrup solids, glycerin, high fructose corn syrup, almonds, raisin juice concentrate, sorbitol, salt, cinnamon extractives, BHA, citric acid

How do you not know what kind of oil, and/or? How many types of sugar or items that contain sugar are listed?!?!

4. whole grain wheat flour, unbleached enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrite (vit B1), riboflavin (vit B2), folic acid), soybean oil, sugar, cornstarch, malt syrup (from barley and corn), salt, malodextrin, invert sugar, monoglycerides, monosodium glutamate (flavor enhancer), leavening (calcium phosphate and/or baking soda), spices (includes basil and paprika), garlic powder, tomato powder, sun dries tomatoes, onion powder, dried green and red bell peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, artificial color(contains red 40, yellow 5, blue 1), disodium inosinate and disodium guanylate (flavor enhancers), natural and artificial flavor, sulfur dioxide to preserve freshness

Monosodium glutamate is not a flavor enhancer, it is a known neurotoxin!!! Flavor enhancer, hmmm??? If you have to add vitamins what was it to begin with? Do you really absorb vitamins this way?

5. milled corn, sugar, malt flavoring, high fructose corn syrup, salt, sodium ascorbate and ascorbic acid (vit.c ), niacinamide, iron, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vit. b6),  calcium pantothenate, riboflavin (vit. b 2), thiamine hydrochloride (vit. b1), vitamin a palimate, folic acid, BHT (preservative), vit. b12 and vit. d.

Sugar, additives, so-called vitamins but who know where and how they got there?

I could go on forever listing so-called foods and there ingredients but honestly my head is spinning!  Please just take the time to read a few labels and ask a few questions. Maybe switch to a brand that you don’t have to take a breath while reading the list of ingredients.

1. Miracle Whip

2. Mac and Cheese Hamburger Helper

3. Quaker Chewy Granola Bars- Raisin and Cinnamon

4. Wheat Thins, sun-dried tomato and basil

5. Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes

The first three “food” list were taken out of a cookbook titled; “Nourishing Traditions” by Sally Fallon. The book is a rather advanced holistic nutrition cookbook but it really gets back to the basics of eating real foods. It is a great book to have around to really learn about real foods and get some new ideas. You certainly don’t have to use it every day but from time to time or for special occasions.

 P.S. The spell check on this was a nightmare. The computer does not know what this stuff is either!

With spring upon us I thought I would share a tasty and healthy summer dish. Quinoa essentially falls into the whole grain category although it can be considered plant-based. Although, it is packed full of protein and likely the only grain known to be a complete protein! Quinoa doesn’t contain gluten or any other high allergen and the health benefits will astound you! You can make a variety of dishes with quinoa, even breakfast cereal. I prefer it cold so I am sharing a relatively simple recipes that refrigerates fine for a few days.

Quick Lemon and Garlic Quinoa Salad

1 cup dry quinoa

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1 3/4 cups water

1/2 cup chopped carrots

1/3 cup minced parsley

1/4 cup sunflower seeds

Dressing

3-4 cloves minced garlic

1/4 freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1-2 Tablespoons tamari or shoyu

Rinse and drain quinoa (a must because it is bitter) Place in 2-quart pot with salt and water and bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and allow to simmer for about 15 minutes.  Drain water and fluff with a fork.

Mix ingredients in bowl and add quinoa. Then, mix dressing ingredients and mix in with quinoa. Although the recipe suggests room temperature or chilled, I’d definitely opt for chilled.

This recipe is from the book, “Feeding the Whole Family” and is a great introduction to cooking whole foods.  Most the recipes are simple, taste good, cost and time friendly, AND good for you too!!! The book even contains suggestions and substitutes babies and children.  You don’t have to use it every day or cook this way every time.  Setting a goal to try one new recipe a month is a great way to get started.  One recipe a month will have your taste buds curious, your boredom cured, and you will be well on your way to greater wellness.

Blessings!

Once a month I host a positive thinking, personal growth meeting.  The group discussions may include fitness and nutrition as well as dealing with every day life but the main topics include spirituality and the power of the mind.   (My true passions!)  I always learn so much from the members and mostly recently I have learned about 6 new senses. Although,  I am quite aware of intuition and of senses others don’t pay attention to, I never seemed to have the words to really express  what I meant.

Well… I do now.  As children we are taught that we can see with our eyes, hear with our ears, touch with our skin, smell with our noses, and taste with our tongues.  These are really physical senses that science has always been able to calculate and understand so they are east to teach. The things we don’t tend to talk about but clearly and real are our 6 intellectual senses: perception, will, reasoning, memory, intuition, and imagination. WOW!

How terribly unfortunate that we don’t pay more attention to these other 6 senses!  Your mind encompasses far more than the hunk of gray matter you call your brain.  Your brain does register your physical senses which helps you navigate through the physical world as well as enjoy it but there is so much more to the story. What would your life be like if you paid attention to your other 6 senses?

Your thoughts and emotions determine the outcomes in your life.  Science even agrees. Napoleon Hill knew this almost a century ago when he stated; “All achievement, all earned riches, have their beginning in an idea!” in his very famous book “Think and Grow Rich.” The issue is that we are still walking around paying attention to the 5 senses we were taught in grade school and ignoring the 50,000 thoughts we  have a day that dominate our  subconscious brains.

 The good news is that we  can change these patterns. Self-awareness can be learned through meditation and contemplation. Different choices can be made by recognizing patterns and feelings about events.  Emotions shift when perception is altered.  The mind is a powerful tool!! We are at our best when we quiet the chatter and pay attention to our 6 intellectual senses; perception, will, reasoning, memory, intuition, and imagination.

Manage Your Mind. Manage Your Life.

Achieve a new you, a new way of thinking, and peace of mind in my new 6 week class!!!

 April 16- May 21      10-11    @ Personalized Fitness     ONLY $249

Enroll now to reduce stress and realize your dreams!

Manage Your Mind.  Manage Your life.

If you can dream it, you can achieve it!!!

Are you stressed for time and energy?

Do you need to relax?

Do you want to be more successful?

For just one hour a week you can achieve a new you, a new way of thinking, and peace of mind.

ENROLL NOW TO LEARN HOW TO REDUCE STRESS AND REALIZE YOUR DREAMS!

April 16-May 21 from 10-11 a.m.

Personalized Fitness @ 15117 Industrial Road

$299.oo for 6 sessions

To register send email to Amy McCae

creativewellness@cox.net

Amy McCae is a certified personal trainer as well as a Silva and Ultra Silva Life/Mind graduate. She was featured on the Channel 6 news by LVCmag for goal setting strategies and was interviewed by Fox 42 for her opinion on meditation and relaxation.

Hurry!!! Discounts for early registration!!!

Gratitude. Hmmm…I seem to go in spurts in regards to just how thankful I am and exactly what I am thankful for. When I am able to be in state of being grateful a part of me is at peace. I am also able to give more move and receive more love. I also create joy remembering all that I am blessed with.  Sometimes I need to remember that some of the events and people in my life that seem to make me miserable are really blessings in disguise. Perception? Regardless, I intuition tells me it is time to make a list of what I am thankful for at this moment.  I am sure there is more, but this is what comes to mind first so these are the things I need to acknowledge at this moment.

I am thankful for my 8-year-old daughter. Because of her I want to do good things and live in a better world. She has taught me to follow my intuition and reminded me of who I truly I am when I have gotten lost in this world.  Because of her I know when my pants make my rear-end look fat. Because of her I know unconditional love.

I am grateful to have siblings that challenge me. Because of them I see how I unique and special we all are and I am reminded that part of my purpose is to teach without judgement.

However challenging this one is, I am also thankful for my husband.  A man who brings out every possible “dark side” of me. Without him I would not see the pain that lies so deep and because of that I can heal.

I am thankful for the time I had with my mother on this earth.  She taught to me to be an individual and to follow my dreams.  I have her spunk that some how makes me more determined to do whatever I need to in order to be successful

I am grateful for my father who taught me how important it is to be honest and to work for what you want. Although my husband doesn’t always appreciate my humor, my sarcasm comes from my father and it has helped many people to laugh.

I am also grateful for all of the usual things such as a the very beautiful home that kept me warm and will keep me cool, the comfy bed, the clothes I wear (although with my ever-expanding baby belly there are not to many of these that fit so maybe I should be thankful for the maternity store I will be visiting this week ), and of course the food I eat.

I am thankful for the new little person growing inside of me.  I am blessed to be a woman and get to experience the magic of creation. I am thankful to know life in a different way when I feel a little girl move inside of my body.

I am thankful for all of the amazing things my body does. I am blessed to be able to see,, hear walk, talk, and think. I am especially grateful for my brain and the power of my mind. I am so fortunate to understand the power we have when we understand that we are not merely physical beings that we are spiritual as well.  I am blessed to have the ability to learn and grow, to evolve.

I am thankful for all of the people who come into my life that allow me to be me.  I am grateful for all of those who accept me as I am. I am thankful for those who respect me and my choices. I am even thankful for those who don’t. Those who don’t remind me of the kind of person I don’t want to be and that pain and discomfort challenges me to follow my own path.

I am thankful for love, joy, and intuition.  When I incorporate these things into my life everything in this world becomes spectacular!

Thank you to all! Blessings to all!

What are you grateful for?

March not only suggest winter is nearing the end and spring is approaching it is also National Nutrition Month.  A good way to celebrate this would be to see nutrition as you see spring house cleaning.  When you get rid some things you no longer need both physically and emotionally and you replace them with new things, activities, or ideas you begin to feel relaxed and rejuvenated.

Nutrition encompasses more than what you eat. In fact, nutrition encompasses supplements as well detoxification. Changing your diet and detoxifying could change your life.  You don’t have to do a complete overhaul. Start with replacing a snack with fruit and nuts or adding fish oil and salmon to your diet.  Explore what is missing and determine if there are supplements or herbs that may support your wellness.  If needed, research detoxification methods. This could even be as simple as a getting a massage to stimulate your lymph system!

There are countless simple ways to “clean up” your nutrition. All you have to do do is be willing to try and simply take one small step towards greater wellness. The following website has a fantastic flyer you can upload and print off that includes some basic nutrition information on food.

www.honestfoodguide.org

Successful nutrition has nothing to with dieting. Wellness has everything to do with lifestyle.

Remember to view yourself as body, mind, and spirit. Supplement your life with fresh air and exercise. Detox your mind from negative thoughts. Nurture spirit and do what you love.