The struggle is real…

“It is truly a great cosmic paradox that one of the best teachers in all of life turns out to be death.  No person or situation could ever teach you as much as death has to teach you.  While someone could tell you that you are not your body, death shows you.  While someone could remind you of the significance of the things that you cling to, death takes them all away in a second.  While people can teach you that men and women of all races are equal and that there is no difference between the rich and the poor, death instantly makes us all the same.  The question for you is, are going to wait until that last moment to let death be your teacher?”

-Michael A. Singer, The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself 

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In the face of death, we finally truly appreciate life.  

This experience hit very close to home for me when my mother passed away in 2016, and again when my two best fur-friends left my side not long ago.

The current pandemic and events of 2020 have also brought this teaching into the light for so many around the world; whether you’ve suffered the loss of a loved one or have feared for your life. 

Needless to say, this year has been mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausting, and it’s not over yet.

But today I’m going to give you hope and inspiration to be the healthiest and happiest you can be, despite what might be going on in the world.

Death is a part of life. Struggles and challenges are part of life.  These are things we can not avoid. Sometimes they are deeply sad and frustrating moments, and yet something we can learn so much from.

Typically it takes a catastrophic event such as a diagnosis or near-death experiences for someone to realize the current way of being isn’t sustainable and that they need to do things differently to improve or support their health. 

This year has created a global catastrophic event encouraging all of us to examine our lives, our health, and our environment.  It’s given us moments to pause, to reflect on what really matters, and to re-prioritize. 

In the midst of it all, I too have faced many inner challenges, most of them related to choosing something else over my health and myself…

The conflict to “push through it” and keep working even when I know I shouldn’t

Struggling to stay mindful and make healthy food choices when things feel chaotic

Should I exercise to relieve stress although I’m exhausted or rest?

Making time to meditate instead of retreating and getting sucked into TV or social media

Who or what should I believe in these very odd and unique times

The struggle is real on a daily basis. 

These inner challenges are so common for so many, even if death or struggle are not knocking at our door.  The hustle and bustle of life, the ever-evolving political climate, technology, and the upcoming holidays can make it difficult to put yourself and your health first. 

Within a few days, after my mom passed away in 2016, I came down with my first head cold in over 3 years.  I was so congested it felt as if my head was going to explode.

This is how stress showed up in my body – as a cold encouraging me to rest.

The signs were clear.  My body was telling me to rest, to not work, to not exercise as I normally would, and to create space for healing to happen.

The emotional load from what has been going on between the pandemic and other events this year could be taking a HUGE toll on your health and you may not even realize it.

For example, emotional stress can:

• Diminish digestive power and your ability to absorb nutrients from food resulting in nutrient deficiencies 
• Alter sleep quality leaving you feeling foggy-headed, irritable, and not fully recovered in the morning to bounce out of bed or get through the day
• Increase cortisol hormone production leading to other hormone imbalances, food cravings, and weight gain

The younger, less healthy version of me wouldn’t have listened to my body, in fact, I would have completely ignored it.  I would have shown up to work but wouldn’t really have been present.  I would have pushed myself to workout even though I was exhausted.  I would have drowned my sorrows in social events and wine, and meditation would have never even crossed my mind.

Our body will do what we ask it to do, but that doesn’t mean that we should.

The way I treated my body in the past largely contributed to the adrenal dysfunction, Hahsimotos, hormone imbalances, gut health issues, and fatigue I’ve worked to reverse over the years.  I used to push my body to the limits, overextend myself, and add stress to my already stressed out body.

None of us knows what the rest of 2020 or the future holds, and yet we have complete control over how we get to experience life today. 

Every choice you make is a chance to breakdown or build up your health.  

How you choose to take care of yourself NOW during these unique times will determine what the future holds for you, your loved ones, and the generations to come.

In this week’s video and blog, I’m going to give you hope and inspiration to be the healthiest and happiest you can be, despite what might be going on in the world.

The best way to care for others is to care for yourself.  When you care for yourself you can show up bigger, brighter and better for others.

The struggle of everyday life can consume you; the constant pinging of emails and texts, the endless list of “to-do’s”, running all over town picking up kids and doing errands, the daunting demands of work, and so on.  

All-day long you are confronted with tough choices that directly impact your health.  

Every time I have looked at struggle or death in the face, it has inspired me to live life differently, to make the most of every passing day, and to not take my health for granted.

This is what death and struggle have taught me…

Life is obviously too short so how can I live fully today

What I perceive to be more important than myself or my health really is not

My health is necessary for my happiness and in order to fulfill my purpose in life

Without my health, I wouldn’t have the energy or mental capacity to do all the things I want to do or to support my loved ones

The things we tend to prioritize over our health, that we create a sense of urgency around really don’t matter as much as we think they do.  They are just things or tasks that don’t necessarily fulfill our lives.

As Michael A. Singer says in his book The Untethered Soul, “While someone could remind you of the significance of the things that you cling to, death takes them all away in a second.”

This has been one of the biggest lessons along my health journey.

If I were to be stripped of all of my “things” tomorrow what would I have left?  I would still have my health, my memories, and self-love – these are things that no one could ever take away.

This year has motivated me, even more, to make choices to honor my health during tough times.  I chose to rest and not exercise when I feel exhausted.  I chose to meditate instead of self-medicate.  I chose to put work aside and create space to heal. 

Supporting my body in the ways it needs it most at any moment gives me the strength to take on the challenges of any given day and be the light for others. 

So as we roll into the last few months of this year, I want to ask you this…

What are you willing to let go of that you might value in order to..

…be more present in the moment and live every day to the fullest?

…to make more conscious decisions in alignment with your health?

…to feel like your best self so you can be the light for others?

Leave a comment below and let me know what you’re willing to let go of, no matter how small it might be, in order to make yourself and your health more of a priority.

To help keep you motivated, focused on your health, and accountable to feeling like your best self, follow me on Instagram and Facebook for regular tips, resources and bits of inspiration you can use to support your health.

I want to be a resource and of service to you during this time.  Please don’t hesitate to message me if you need a word of advice, encouragement, or resources to help you along your health journey.