foodie friday: how to defeat portion distortion November 20, 2009

[read time: 2 minutes]

in the days that come after feasting, managing holiday leftovers can seem like using a soup spoon to chip away at the Washington Monument. that coupled with a tendency to repeat the gargantuan portions of the holiday helpings can, and will, exponentially increase your waist line.  there are a few things you can do to maintain and improve your physique through the year end glut.

better ingredients. when you cook this holiday season, do your best to use the highest quality ingredients you can afford.  don’t banish the sweet potato pie; use organic sweet potatoes. yes, they do cost more (pay now or pay later), are more nourishing, AND they taste better.  high quality foods nourish better you eat less and what you eat satisfies you for longer.

more fresh vegetables. lots of them.  even if there are already leftover greens or sweet potatoes, don’t stop there!  prepare another vegetable and add that to your plate too.  and by eating more raw veggies (my favorite raw treat: dino kale and grapes), you’ll get a leg up on seasonal cleansing.  remember: clear bowel, clear mind!

snack all day. no, not on those dusty-ass peppermint candies, and definitely not on those seasonally appropriate colored candy covered chocolate pieces.  eating very small snack-like meals every 2-3 hours and a similarly sized dinner can boost your metabolism: the rate at which your body is able to use food as fuel.

watch your attitude. do not justify nonsense.   clear red flags:  you say something like “f*ck it” or “i don’t care” or “i’m gonna eat it anyway” before the first bite; you maintain a defiant determination from the first through the last bite.  if you do any of that, you’ve just ruined any enjoyment you could have had from eating.  quit trying to get back at your mom through a piece of cake.

use your good sense. no one in a white lab coat has to tell you this: you know that feasting daily isn’t a good idea.  you ALWAYS intuitively know what is going to make you feel better or feel worse after eating it.  this is true whether you consider this physically or emotionally.  do better for yourself and in the process, you’ll set an example for others.

© Copyright 2009

got challenges? you need to kick it! November 17, 2009

[read time: 3 minutes]

enjoyment is a necessary part of life, NOT a guilty pleasure. the puritanical roots of our society have duped us into believing that it is only through hard work and struggle that anything worthwhile can be accomplished.   i would say “hogwash”, but there is a time when you will have some necessary effort.

please note: enjoyment is what gives you the oomph to carry on… to persist through challenges… trials and tribulations… amen.  life would be pretty wack if it were all work and no play, no dancing, no leisurely bike rides, no lavender blueberry dark chocolate bars, no good lovin’.

yeah, i said good lovin’ because, yes, orgasm does enhance spirituality and takes the edge off of life on the physical plane… unless you’re set on transcending it sometime soon through monastic lifestyle or deep devotional practice.  for the rest of us, a good hot, healthy, sweaty session works wonders.  and under the right circumstances, the divine act makes cute and happy kids like the one’s partying in the picture here.  [hmmm... digression eminent.  must get back on track.]

i know that you know exactly what it takes to create enjoyment in your life. i can just hear the i-don’t-know’s and i’m-not-sure’s just rearing their disempowering heads right now. you DO know… just check in with yourself and listen to your heart.

and don’t think so damn much… keep it simple! you could definitely come up with at least a few things to create enjoyment in the next few minutes if you took some time to ask yourself and listen.  these ideas come from your inner wisdom and would likely produce not only simple enjoyment, but deep satisfaction and joy.

unfortunately, far too often, we don’t listen to ourselves. we do what we “ought” to.  we are very obedient.  and all that obedience makes for very dull people. we justify the lackluster existence by demonstrating how well liked we are by other lackluster people who also don’t have anything going on: look at how my lackluster matches Pete & Jen’s lackluster.  or, look how my blinged-out my lackluster life with things that someone told me would show well.  ooohwee!  now THAT is hogwash!

look at how bright and shiny babies and children are are. what’s the difference between you and them?  well… perhaps a few years of crap you think you need to hold onto, but essentially nothing.   there is nothing lackluster or dull about you unless you have chosen to dull yourself down!
mindless obedience dulls people down.
memorization and scripted school lessons dull people down.
holding on to emotional baggage dulls people down.
standing in single file lines dulls people down.
self imposed obligation dulls people down.
predictable living dulls people down.
unfulfilling jobs dull people down.
un-fresh food dulls people down.

it is no wonder that observing the lifeless commuters on the metro is like a study in variations on drab. it actually hurts my heart to witness people living less-than-brilliant lives when i know so much more is possible for you.

what is it that makes you feel most inspired, vibrant, and alive?

build it into your life as a Compassionate Renegade.  to find out how, click here.

© Copyright 2009

foodie friday: adults too “smart” for their own damn good November 13, 2009

[read time: 4 minutes]

during the past week, i spent several rewarding hours teaching kids about real food in baltimore-area community centers.  the many hours i spent commuting were rewarded by the joy of hearing their fresh and candid takes on what i have to share.  and the heartwarming highlight: watching the young ones make up hilarious dances for oranges, cabbage, bananas, and sweet potatoes.

young people are smarter than adults think
when i talked about foods the kids got it.  they always get it.  because they still use their inner wisdom and have not fully accepted the conditioning of the outside world.

even kids know don’t need to read everything on nutrition to know what to eat. a lot of the nutritionists who write that stuff are either overweight, have an eating disorder, are addicted to diet cola, or some combination. trust me, i have worked with and went to school with these folks for years!

eating well is intuitive: real food, natural food that grows out of the ground, on a tree, bush, or plant is good for your body.  things found in bags, boxes, or bottles are probably not so good for you.  accessing beneficial foods might not be convenient, but think about it:  how often are worthy aspirations found at arms length,  in the drive-thru, or at the corner store?

when conventional food producers take that good stuff and f*ck around with it, your health pays for that shit. it does.  and there are more than a few 9 year olds with heart disease and diabetes that can attest to that.  when i explained to the kids i talked to that food processing takes all the good stuff out and puts some bad stuff in, so many of them got so furious or felt cheated.

and while listening to the SAME presentations, the adults kept asking… well what about this? what about that?  well… aren’t sports drinks and colored water with vitamins better than water?  hell to the naw!  first two ingredients… water, sugar.  this is a problem.

don’t let those monsanto bitches tell you anything different.  after all, monsanto is a damn chemical company that figured out how to get in the pocket of the regulators and enact global domination through control of the food supply.  sound far fetched?  i promise you that unless you eat all organic food all the time, you’ve eaten something that contains genetically modified corn or soybeans.

5 reminders to help you transcend agribusiness group-think & be smarter about your food:

1. justification of shitty food undermines inner wisdom. stop thinking so damn much, feel out your food, trust that your body knows what’s best for it.   before you take a bite, ask: will my body be nourished by and appreciate what i’m about to eat?  how will i feel after eating this?
2. if it goes bad, it is probably good for you.  if it doesn’t go bad, it is probably bad for you. fresh food has all the good stuff that mold, bacteria, and bugs want to eat.  this is a good thing.  the question to ask is if it doesn’t spoil, why would i want to eat it?  (please note: the single shining exception to this rule is honey, which naturally anti-viral and anti-microbial)
3. eat for the genuine pleasure of nourishing your body. take the reigns away your taste buds deadened and led astray by your crappy mood.  instead, fix your mood with a non-food emotionally nourishing activity.  then choose something to eat that is made from vegetables… bonus points for greens.  make it organic.
4. vote organic with your dollars. if you have the means to buy organic, local, seasonal foods, do so.  conventional food seems cheaper because of heavy subsidies on certain commodities and because profit over the public good.  conventional / factory farming taxes natural resources and our health.  the more dollars we put into sustainable organic agriculture, the more likely we are to have abundant food in the future.
5. let your kids pick a new vegetable and let them help cook it. this will serve a far greater benefit than quelling a temper tantrum by handing them a sweet or a sweetened cereal.

© Copyright 2009

unlike orgasm, joy cannot be faked November 10, 2009

orgasmatron settings - detail from the orgasmatron 3000

[read time: 2 minutes]

the original title to this post was “like orgasm, joy cannot be faked”. tragic that so many do fake orgasm.  how can you truly get your groove on if you’re fakin’ the funk?  and no, the fake-it-til-you-make-it abso-friggin-lutely ain’t gonna cut it here.  it just doesn’t serve anyone involved.

so i edited.

unlike orgasm, joy cannot be faked
it takes action authentic to the true self to experience real joy.  do something that you love doing.  do it today.  make time.  thank me later.

joy cannot be purchased
sure… momentary joy behind something you can purchase, but lasting joy must come from an experience true to you.

joy cannot be felt vicariously
it is not a spectator sport.  you must submit your own heart, have your own experience.  you must open up and loosen up to feel true joy.

joy cannot be restricted or confined
it is inherently buoyant, effervescent and is best when it is unbridled and free

success with out joy…
is like sex without enjoyment.
material success, sought by so many, achieved by some, is like a joke with a harsh punchline.  you might acquire a home full of trappings, but still never feel really satisfied or full of joy… kinda like going through the motions without of sex but being numb to the feeling.  so not worth it.

and like orgasm, you must be responsible for your own joy
take your joy (and/or genitals) into your own hands.  invite others to participate with you, but only if they are just as committed to their own joy and the shared joy between you.

joy is…
being who you truly are, doing what you truly love, and not giving a damn about what anyone else has to say about it.

joy’s call to action…
now turn off your computer and go out into the real world and do something joyful.  go ahead… because if you’re reading this, you’re probably already sidetracked, you might as well really get your joy on.  no, don’t check facebook on the way out the door.  you can do it.  go on and play… have some fun now.  go feel some joy.

© Copyright 2009

Foodie Friday: Completely Justifiable Indulgence November 6, 2009

[read time: 3 minutes]

everyone earns the right to indulgence once in a while, whether it be a celebration of an accomplishment or just trying to cope with a crappy day.  i am all in favor of infrequent, completely conscious self-medication with a mindful measure of moderation.

the only thing i find more miserable than austere dietary regimen is perhaps the subsequent self-degradation and the ensuing guilt that follow the inevitable infractions.  such intransigent behavior can only lead to more suffering.

to circumvent the aforementioned train wreck, i offer a few thoughts as you ponder options when the next moment of weakness arises.

1. feel what you are feeling. whether it be jubilation or consternation, let yourself feel it and get whatever wisdom the experience has to offer.  be fully aware that your feelings may precipitate an urge for sweets.

2. consider a non-food alternative. birthday cake, pizza parties, and good-girl / boy treats set up and reinforce a strong food-mood connection and response.  this would be fine except for the zillions of abysmal quality food products that fail to satisfy and increase the likelihood for binging.  add that to the constant stream of unpleasant news items peppered with ads designed to encourage inadequacy and you’ve got a real recipe for disaster.  choose an activity that improves your quality of life and it will help “crowd out” less beneficial food and lifestyle choices.

3. quality mitigates excess. if you’re gonna choose food, raise your standards for indulgent substances.  when you lavish in high quality luxuries that nourish, you’ll be satisfied quicker and “need” less of it.  so the crisis is managed (and a celebration enhanced) by a couple bites of chocolate rather than a entire family-pack of sandwich cookies.

and now for the good part…

completely justifiable indulgence
i would be remiss if i did not mention you know i’ve got to give some shout-outs to my favorite Renegade treats with Compassionate benefits:

chocolove: dark chocolate with crystalized ginger
dagoba: lavender blueberry dark chocolate
completely justifiable ingredient: dark chocolate (sorry, milk chocolate doesn’t count because dairy negates some of the beneficial properties of cacao)
justification substantiated: off-the-charts antioxidant power. boosts natural body chemistry toward love, happiness, and overall well-being. contains substances that reduce the risk for all kinds of non-communicable disease.

michelle’s granola: original, ginger hemp, & cherry chocolate macadamia
teaism restaruant, dc: salty oat cookie – original oatmeal raisin & oatmeal chocolate chocolate chip
completely justifiable ingredient: oats
justification substantiated: fiber for satiety and regularity (remember: clear bowels, clear mind). boosts cardiovascular health. stabilizes blood sugar.

food should taste good: sweet potato tortilla chips
my own kitchen: baked sweet potato
(bonus round: add lime juice, salt, and pepper; bonus bonus round: scrape the candy-like gooey goodness off the pan… ok… have i shared too much?)
completely justifiable ingredient: sweet potato
justification substantiated: fiber for satiety and regularity. beneficial carotenoids (the good stuff that makes orange veggies orange).  and just plain goodness!!! mercy!

for those of you who have been trying to be perfect, you may be disappointed (or relieved) to know there is no “food heaven”.  i can, however, reassure you that there is life after indulgence.

© Copyright 2009

Steps to heal money troubles November 3, 2009

[read time: 5 minutes]

this morning, i was fondly reminiscing about halloween night in Adams Morgan.  [cue cheesy soap opera flashback visual effects and music]

i was perched in the front window at Amsterdam Falafel, which is, quite possibly, the best place for people watching [Tryst: a close second] on the entire 18th St. NW strip. while enjoying a scrumptious bite of my falafel, a woman passes by in costume as the money you could be saving with Geico.

my LOL snapped me out of my daydream and back into the reality that i have got to finish this dang post on money that’s been hanging out in my drafts… looking at me, tapping it’s foot.  hmmmm… yeah, kinda like that stack of bills from the commercial!

one of the biggest challenges facing helpers, healers, and teachers is not actually making money, but rather the battle in their heads about money.  it is NOT possible to prosper while simultaneously holding the belief that you can’t make money doing what you love AND the desire to make money doing what you love.  this can be even more intense for those who have chosen full time self-employment.  this internal warfare is tiring at best and at it’s worst is wearing roller skates on a slippery slope to your ultimate financial destruction.

1. recognize beliefs incongruous with prosperity
conflicting thoughts about money foster civil unrest amongst the voices in your head and this is not sustainable.  far too often, we [myself included] make some proclamation… then life happens and we forget about the content therein and revert to a previous behavior/belief pattern.   you need a coup d’état, a revolution… AND a resolution to establish a new, sustainable way of thinking and being.

2. watch your mouth around your money
what is your language like with fiscal matters?  have you ever uttered “i can’t afford that” or “my money is funny right now” or “i’m broke”?  your language creates your life.  please know this: these statements are just fine if you WANT to spend the next few days, months, or years entrenched in a dismal financial experience.  let me make this even plainer:  keep talking about debt, you’ll keep experiencing debt.  keep talking about being broke, you are gonna be a broke-ass individual.  if you are, however, interested in financial freedom it is critical that you align your language with financial freedom.

3. charge a respectable fee for your service
when i say respectable, i mean it.  the monetary value you accept for your time, effort, and talent is directly tied to your self worth.  how much do you value, honor, and respect yourself and your time?  choose to honor yourself as you consider your rates.  and practice stating what you charge.  while  you’re at it, practice stating triple what you charge and observe the feelings that come up.

4. treat your money better
Janet Jackson inquires: what have you done for me lately? if you spend time and effort to earn income, but ignore fiscal affairs, reality may offer a harsh reminder of the neglect via overdraft fees and persistent debt.  does your money need some flowers and soft music?

if romancing your money sounds silly, consider the results of such actions if applied to an interpersonal relationship: you might spend lots time with others discussing how to improve your relationship with a certain someone, and only spend little time with the person in the relationship [especially because you're so worried about the relationship] until the person complains about not spending time together.   i am reminded of Michael Beckwith saying energy flows where attention goes. what kind of difference would more attention to monetary awareness make in your life?

a note on the metaphysics of money
yes, money is “a representation of exchanged energies.”  being cognizant of this energy relationship is important.   let us also acknowledge expanded access to certain types of choices that monetary wiggle room provides.  the choice to believe otherwise is to deny the reality that we live in a society that, for the most part, requires the use of legal tender to conduct the affairs of basic life maintenance.

let’s get metaphysical: i’d like to highlight an impactful relationship: that of physical tender to your physical body and it’s perceived reality.  when the senses of the body perceive the sight, smell, sound, and texture of a $20 bill, there is a ripple effect in your perception of reality.  the effects of that perception depend upon whether it is the last twenty you have or if it is one among many twenties.

into what kind of reality are your beliefs, language, and behaviors around money unfolding?

explore more on money through the Compassionate Renegade Mastermind 2010

© Copyright 2009

Foodie Friday: Snap, Crackle, and pop deserve a beat down October 30, 2009

[read time: 4 minutes]

and Rakim (of Eric B and Rakim) says “you could get a smack for this”

my friends and colleagues have heard me use the phrase “it’s like putting frosting on a dog poop cupcake” to refer to positive thinking without doing the underlying work.  another is to masquerade one’s hot garbage as something beneficial.

the picture to the right, my friends, is a proverbial chocolate frosted dog poop cupcake!

walk with me…
a couple weeks ago,  i subjected myself to the rare and exquisite self-torture of a stroll through the cereal aisle at my local conventional grocery store.

self-torture? absolutely: having worked for these fools, i know far too much about food companies, the source of the boxes that line these aisles, as well the implications of non-wholesome products housed therein. exquisite? yes, i kind of love working myself up around food issues and then ranting about it; hence this blog… god bless the internet.  please read on.

during said stroll, i encountered the perplexing [i may as well say, vexing] display evidenced at right and captured it on my phone’s camera with reasonable fidelity.  the confident and almost authoritative bold “true-blue” text on these labels reaffirmed that, not only have nutritionists and food scientists lost their “natural born minds”,  but they [at least the ones at this company] have also collectively decided to broadcast this tragic loss on millions of tiny billboards they refer to as packaging.

am i actually seeing this B.S.?!  are they friggin’ serious?!  who authorized this dumb-ass label?!

even worse than the label is the likely situation that produced the label:  employees tasked with product reformulation and health-claim package re-design project seeking a meager increase in already modest profit margins.  i can see them now: a team of overworked, underpaid, stressed-out dietitians, nutritionists, food scientists, marketers, and lawyers, in various states of dis-ease, deliberating over low quality cookies and overpriced coffee or addictive diet cola.   no wonder they lost their natural born minds; they need better cookies and some water!  [see last week's Foodie Friday post for more on high quality cookies.]

somewhere, from a distant memory, the UNCF reminds me that “a mind is a terrible thing to waste.” and i am certain it’s even terrible-er to waste several minds and hundreds of thousands of dollars for a marketing campaign to convince concerned moms of america that fighting the flu with natural and artificially flavored, chocolate-coated, sugar laden, extruded rice, and topping it with mucus-producing, hormone-filled conventional dairy milk is a good idea.  i’m thinking: not-so-much.

this product, clever readers, is NOT going to help you fight H1N1. and i know you know this.  my concern is for those who do not.  the mom, just trying to be a good parent, misled by snap, crackle, and pop.

you want to boost your immunity? the answer is nothing new:

1. eat vegetables – especially green ones
2. eat fruit – a lot more
3. drink water – use a reusable stainless container
4. get rest – go to sleep earlier
5. make love – both literally and figuratively
6. laugh – loudly and with people you care about
7. move your body – especially in nature

quit talking about doing better. raise the standards of how you treat your body today.  if you do the steps i mentioned, you’ll get a lot more crap out of your system, increase your energy, and your immune system will easily be able kick some H1N1 ass.

© Copyright 2009

know the difference between flourless cake and dog poop October 27, 2009

yes, this is an actual cupcake

[read time: 4 minutes]

my friends and colleagues have heard me use the phrase, “it’s like putting frosting on a dog poop cupcake”

over the years i have met a lot of people in my work… clients, colleagues, friends, and associates who have a problem,  a big problem.   perhaps the following will sound familiar to you.  full disclosure: know that i draw this amalgamation from personal and vicarious experience.

here we go…
the heart offers a an inspiration in alignment with the highest self. the third eye projects a beautiful sparkling vision in the minds eye: something really amazing you can really sink your teeth into… like when the server at a fancy-pants, “high-dollah”** restaurant produces a dainty round of flourless chocolate cake artfully plated against a dusting of powdered sugar… perhaps a stunning raspberry or mango syrup swirl. *yay! cake!* and yeah, “yay! cake!” IS the exuberance of moments when you envision your life through inspiration.

…then…
out of nowhere, Mr. Doubt, that sneaky rat bastard, does some wack alchemy and turns that lovely dessert into a turd.  it is still smooth, dense, dark, heavy… and it stinks to high heaven, but guess who can’t distinguish the damn difference? what’s worse is that our observer starts gurgling on about the elegantly presented turd in a real irksome kinda way.
“i’ve got a great plan. but… well, you know, i’m doing my best”
“i have clients. i’m bartering and offering discounts.  i have a sliding scale”
“things are hard, but i’m trying to keep it positive”
“i hope things work out, because i’ve gotta pay rent/the mortgage this month”

and even worse…
when asked about action to deliver the dream, nothing but wacktivity.  also known as procrastination, or in shit cupcake terms oh my… excuse me …dog poop cupcake terms it sounds something like:
“i’ve been working on plans for how i’m going to do my vision… oh yeah.  i’ve got crazy mind maps.  i redid my vision board.  and look at this awesome and most fabulous product i’m thinking about possibly getting to help me do what i’m going to do once i get started.  i wish i could get it now but i’m broke.”

what the hell?  ok… ok… i will lay off. for a bit anyway.

frosting on the dog poop cupcake refers to positive thinking without doing the underlying or supportive work. you must work.  just like muscles that don’t get worked get flabby,  plans that don’t get worked fade into shoulda/coulda/woulda–and those three don’t look good on anyone.  when i’d get into a funk, a girlfriend of mine would remind me: “don’t should on your self!”

you must also believe deeply and act in alignment with your goals to develop confidence. hmmm… seem backwards?  yes, it is counter-intuitive.  don’t take my blog for it.  experiment with it on your own.

steps to flourless cake vs. dog poop distinction

1. breathe deeply: conscious breath control will bring you into the present moment
2. clearly describe your vision in terms of what you want (turn around “don’t wants”)
3. focus on taking action and speak in terms of what you are actually doing
4. take imperfect action*** (also known as “do something” so that #3 isn’t a frosted dog poop cupcake. thanks!)
5. adjust and take more imperfect action (persistence counts)
6. feel more confidence
7. expand your vision
8. repeat as needed

follow my simple instructions and you’ll find things turning around.  and you’ll finally have something to believe in: yourself …you Compassionate Renegade, you.

…if support is something you think would be helpful during this process, check out the upcoming events.

© Copyright 2009

notes:
** -  a special thanks goes out to @ Meechie & her daddy for sharing their ever-entertaining carolina colloquial flair
*** – a special thanks to Kevin Nations for that phrase.  it has really helped me change what’s on my plate.

Foodie Friday: What to do when food isn’t food October 23, 2009

[read time: 5 minutes]

*breathe* so yeah… food industry sucks. and so does the food policy / food guidance camp… you know, the people from the government, or whoever, that tell you what you’re supposed to or not supposed to eat.  let’s get into it… shall we?

the (potato or chocolate) chips are stacked against you
the food industry wants you to stay hungry… very hungry.   above all else, the food industry seeks to make money.  they do so by increasing the value of food with two main factors in at play: fresh food spoils AND food you have to chew (more than 5 times) helps you feel full.  they also want to maximize the selling time so that old products will sell and be perceived as fresh.  hmmm… sound shady.  well, it is!

to “preserve” foods the industry usually either cooks the food or takes the best-for-you, freshest parts out of the food. how wack is that?!  the worst part is, there has been generational amnesia about what real, actual, natural food is supposed to taste like.  there is a thing i call product drift:  over the years, with the use of cheaper and cheaper ingredients and intensified processing methods, products have less and less food in them and more other stuff added in to simulate a fresh or better yet, a nostalgic food experience.  i am completely serious.

when food is not food
when “cheese” is less than 60% cheese and it can no longer be called cheese, there is a problem.  a worse problem is that there are folks who have trouble affording food that is actually food because of behind-the-scenes subsidies that help food producers preserve profit margins.  *furrowed brow & crossed arms*  [i worked at with a huge food company that re-formulated a new and cheaper cheese-like product to go with their cheap-ass pasta]

what you actually can do

1. take control of what you accept into your mouth (and all your orifices for that matter). you don’t have to eat the garbage the industry (any industry) is feeding people. and yes, that goes for food, media, and other consumables.  trying-not-to-eat certain things does not work and is not sustainable… ever.  it only creates more tension and stress around the item or group of foods.  you can be “doing so GOOD!” for a while and then that day (or night) comes and you lose it.

you don’t have to overhaul your entire system of eating, or completely buy into some food theory that worked for the person who wrote the book… which, by the way, might not work for you, your body, or your lifestyle.  you can start by changing one thing at a time.

2.  do eat higher quality food
yes, it’s gonna cost a little more.  pay now or pay later.  your choice.  if you have the means, do it.  if you don’t have the means, doing it as often as possible will help you have the capacity to have the means.  and that dumb-ass article that came out talkin’ ‘bout organic not much different for your health than conventional is some old hot garbage… i suspect was supported/promoted by the food industry.

if you eat cookies, buy ones made with better quality ingredients. [and by the way, i love oatmeal cookies and scones with big old rolled oats busting out and causing crumbs! ...but i digress]  if you don’t cook at all, learn to cook one thing that includes a fresh green vegetable.  if you already eat vegetables, buy organic.  if you already eat pretty well, make some of your good tasting, high-quality food and share it with people you know could benefit from having some better food… and whatever you do, do NOT tell them it’s “healthy”.  if they ask what’s in it, go ahead and tell them.

3.  do pay attention to how you feel
the more you eat better food, the better you feel.  if you add physical movement, something you actually enjoy, it helps keep you on track with the better food.  the bottom line is that you care more.  as you feel better, you’ll want to maintain it because feeling good feels good. plain and simple.

4.  do be patient
convenience has its place, but being at your best isn’t always convenient.  the current state of your life, body, and mental state are the culmination of choices you’ve made over your entire life.  just focus on improving one item per week.  before long, you’ll notice how different things are.  as things change with your food and fitness (and they absolutely will change), things will change in other areas of your life.

© Copyright 2009

4 things you should know about fulfillment and your cosmic contract October 20, 2009

[read time: 4 minutes]

get ready…

i am about to wag my finger about your cosmic contract.

what’s a cosmic contract?
your cosmic contract is the mission your soul (the unchanging, timeless true self) signed up to do this lifetime.  every soul has one.  if you look back at your life, there have been particular situations and conditions put in place for you, from the time you were born to this very moment (even you reading these words), that were designed for supreme and complete success in fulfilling your cosmic contract.  it is true.

1.   your life is perfect just the way it is
sum total of your experiences have given you tools and placed you in the perfect position to succeed… if only you choose to accept your mission.  fortunately, for you it is mission POSSIBLE.  your soul wouldn’t have signed the cosmic contract had it not been something you were prepared to achieve.

2.  you are perfect just the way you are
the interests, natural talents, and special peculiar idiosyncrasies make you the only person who can fulfill your divine purpose, your particular cosmic contract.  without the things that innately make you who you are, there would be no way for you to complete the mission.

3.  inaction is selfish
there is no better word than selfishness (except perhaps self-absorbed) that can describe a conscious choice of inaction around the soul’s purpose …regardless of reason.  and yes, i mean that in the worst possible way.

“why are you being so mean?” you might ask. let’s take a the interrogation light off of you for a moment…  shall we?

what if your favorite author or musician decided that writing or performing their work might be too risky? what if they had been so concerned about how it would be received that they chose instead to bury their inspired ideas back inside.  what if they gave little priority to their work and just did a little bit here and there… eventually abandoning efforts due to lack of resources or information.  what would be missing in the world had they let something, anything, get in the way of their work?

….and back to you…
guess what happens when you live out of alignment and prioritize everything else, or let your feelings or fears get in the way.  yep, that’s right…  the world misses out.  worse yet, you miss out on that incredible satisfaction and deep fulfillment that is waiting for you when you step into your purpose.

4.  fulfillment is a matter of choice
the quality of your life is all about your choices and how you perceive circumstances.
your level of satisfaction and joy depend on how you choose to use your time.
whether you fulfill your cosmic contract THIS lifetime is up to you.

choose be a Compassionate Renegade

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