Wellness Blog

Helpful Tips to Transform Negative Thinking

Woman holding a daisy

Many of us go through our day with thoughts zipping around our brains like pinballs in a pinball machine.  Some of these thoughts are helpful and productive, and some are simply reactive, familiar thoughts that keep us stuck and unhappy.  The first step in creating any change in our thinking is to become aware of what thoughts we are thinking.  We can do this by engaging in mindfulness practices such as meditation, yoga, qigong, or tai chi which put an emphasis on begin in the present moment.  As you become more aware of your thoughts, you can redirect them to ones that are more helpful.

What is an unhelpful thought?

An unhelpful thought is one that triggers a negative feeling inside of you and often keeps us feeling stuck or helpless in our lives.

  • A thought about something in the future you have no control over
  • A thought judging or criticizing someone else or yourself
  • A thought comparing yourself to other people
  • Blaming
  • Frustration or stress about a situation you can’t control
  • Thinking about the past in any vein that isn’t learning from it
  • Catastrophizing
  • Complaining
  • Cursing (events, situations, people)
  • Wishing things were different

In contrast, helpful thoughts look more
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5 Factors to Increase Your Stress Resiliency

Remember a time in your life when you were feeling really good? What systems did you have in place that got you there? Perhaps you were doing a fantastic job at avoiding sugar, going on weekend hikes, and prioritizing getting to bed on time. Typically most of us at least have a few good routines in place that keep us from hitting rock bottom. Some of us have actually hit rock bottom and are looking for a change. Keeping a holistic and comprehensive lifestyle is key to supporting a strong resilience to stress, but the hard part is knowing what to prioritize for stress reduction.

  • Keep Moving
    • Experts recommend 150 minutes of physical activity per week for 10 weeks or more to greatly support mood health. Aside from the physical health benefits, exercise is core to making sure you have a strong resilience to stress. Exercise has been shown to aid tryptophan delivery to the brain. This amino acid is important for serotonin production which is associated with controlling mood and sleep.
  • Eat Whole Foods
    • Ensuring your body has enough protein from whole foods is so important when wanting to keep up a stable mood. Blood sugar swings can be
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Skin Health and the Holidays

We hope you’re feeling the joy and spirit of the holidays this December! Some of us may also be feeling the level of stress in our day-to-day lives creeping up. That stress, along with the drier air and more time indoors, can really take a toll on the skin. If you’re noticing the frown lines between your eyebrows seem a little deeper, you’re not alone. Did you know that facial acupuncture not only helps minimize the fine lines in your face and bring life back to your skin, it also helps your body deal with stress?

A truly holistic treatment, facial acupuncture benefits the whole body while it rejuvenates the skin. You will likely see increased energy and improved sleep, and you may even notice that you’re thinking a bit more clearly, and able to handle that stress a little bit better. The process of facial acupuncture is relaxing, giving you a deep rest, and the benefits build over time, including:

  • Diminishment of fine lines
  • Improved skin tone and texture
  • Firmer skin and tighter pores
  • More moisture and plumpness in the skin overall
  • Lifting in the eye and jaw areas
  • Reduction of Rosacea and Acne

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Coconut Oil Fudge (Paleo, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Vegan)

This recipe serves you health and wellness with your chocolate bomb craving. Quick and easy to make, naturally sweetened, and loaded with healthy fat, this fudge is perfect for sharing, stashing, and holiday treat plates.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup organic coconut oil, solid
  • ¼ cup canned coconut milk
  • ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ¼ cup raw honey or maple syrup
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp almond extract

 

Instructions

  1. Line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment or wax paper and set aside.
  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, mix the coconut oil and coconut milk together on medium-high speed for 5-6 minutes until glossy and thick. (Alternatively, use a hand-held mixer and a mixing bowl.)
  3. Add the cocoa powder, honey or maple syrup, vanilla extract, and almond extract, and mix thoroughly until smooth and well combined.
  4. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula or the back of a spoon.
  5. Place in the freezer for 20 minutes or until just set.
  6. Once set, remove the fudge from the pan and place on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, cut into small squares. Store in an airtight container
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