by Patricia | Nov 1, 2014 | Blog, Empowerment, Featured, Food, Wellness
Yesterday I had an intense sugar craving. I ate pretty well but my body kept calling for sugar, and I answered with one of these ice cream sandwiches. While eating the sandwich I questioned the purpose of the craving. Although what we crave might not be “necessary,” a craving signals that you’re in need of something. Maybe it’s a nutrient: for example, if you’re a lady, PMSing, and craving chocolate, you might be in need of magnesium (if this happens, try a small serving of raw cashews and see how it does the trick!). But maybe it’s an emotional need. After questioning and eating my ice cream sandwich, I meditated. (Meditation’s a great way to get answers to questions that only lie within. And the answer I got was… I’ve been feeling insecure, and using sugar as a security blanket. Ugh. I remembered the times in my childhood when I experienced actual danger, such as when I got hit by a car at 8 years old. I remember wanting to eat all things sweet after I got home from the hospital (mildly injured but shaken up, by the way). I am sure that the association between sugar and security started way before that, but it was the first time I’m aware of that the sugar craving was INTENSE! Next week will make 24 years since that happened, and to celebrate I think this security blanket should go. Ice cream sandwiches are great, but they do not protect me from experiencing pain or danger. So what’s better than an ice cream sandwich? Faith that the universe supports me. Knowledge that all is well. Belief that, even...
by Patricia | Oct 12, 2014 | Blog, Empowerment, Featured, Joy
Over on Instagram, I’ve been participating in Gala Darling‘s #lovetober photo challenge. The prompt for today was, “Jump!” I could have (and probably should have) taken a photo of me jumping, posted and kept it moving. But I’m under the weather, in no mood to physically jump and pose for a photo. So instead I’m using this as a blog prompt, because “jumping” is so relevant to my life right now. So there have been various times in my life when the decision to jump was before me, and I took it. For example, when I decided to go from artsy English major to artsy law student, the decision was a jump. When I bought my first LSAT prep book, I jumped off the cliff, and found wings that brought me to my life as an attorney. When I was at a cliff again, staring down at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and a career in coaching on the other side. I jumped, eventually. I stood at the cliff for about two years before I signed up for their health coaching program. This website and my business as it now exists started with a jump towards my dreams. The “jump” prompt is poignant because I’m at a big cliff right now. On the other side of the cliff is practicing in areas of law that are extremely different than what I’m used to. On the other side of this cliff is a rebranding of this coaching business I’ve started, and program ideas that I want to launch, and more speaking opportunities. I’ve spent the day recuperating from illness and contemplating what it means...
by Patricia | Jul 14, 2014 | Blog, Empowerment, Featured, Wellness
I just had a moment of panic. Someone important to me doesn’t approve of me in some way. The way they don’t approve doesn’t matter in the long run (or even in the short run) but still, she’s important to me, so it matters. I had a moment of panic. It happens, and not too often. But when it does happen… I take a deep breath. Air flows in through my nose, deeply through the lungs, into the diaphragm, and then up and out through the mouth. I remember that, yes, I still have breath. I still am here. Whatever’s wrong is not so wrong because I am here. And I am still. I tagged this #meditation because my meditation practice taught me how to come down from panic to stillness in less than a minute. No crossed legs and fingers touching. Just stop, and breathe. If you’ve read this far, and you don’t have a meditation practice, go here. Also join my meditation challenge,...
by Patricia | Jul 3, 2014 | Blog, Creativity, Empowerment, Featured, Joy, Wellness
There will be music and mantras. Bob Marley, and OMs. There will be sounds of nature. Raindrops and rainforests. There will be centeredness. There will be inner stillness. There will be peace. Starting on Sunday, July 6, I’ll be sharing my favorite meditation audios and videos everyday, for 30 days. The challenge is to use that audio or video and meditate everyday. The meditation audios/videos range in time, from a minute to about a half-hour. You’ll get a heads up in advance about the expected length of the week’s meditations. You are encouraged to use the shorter meditations if time doesn’t permit for the longer ones. You are encouraged to give the longer meditations a go! If you take the challenge, you’re very likely to gain a habit of finding stillness and centeredness. You will gain the ability to rein in your experiences with stress and anxiety. Commit to this challenge, and it’s quite possible that you will begin to experience a slice of serenity in your otherwise busy day. Commit, and get a taste of what meditation has to offer. Provide your email below, and/or like me on Facebook and follow along there. Summer Shine! Meditation Challenge * indicates required Email Address * First Name * Email Format html text...
by Patricia | Jun 24, 2014 | Blog, Empowerment, Featured, Wellness
When things in life go awry, it’s common to look outward Out at the problems and for the solutions. Nothing wrong with that, but I’m here to suggest something different. Dive inward. Take a look at yourself, before you look at anything or anyone else When things feel askew, start with you Look at yourself in the mirror and inquire What did I do? How did I get myself here? Don’t expect answers right away. Don’t expect a conversation with yourself. But ask the questions of yourself that you’d ask anyone else. Why did I do this? How did I get here? And then sleep on it. Or give yourself some quiet time, some calm, some meditative time But you can sleep on it. And see what comes up. As you are likely to contain the problem (As we tend to) You are likely to contain the solution. So dive inward. Then talk about what comes up for you With someone else who listens with their soul. A life coach tends to be a great person for this, But the listener could be your parent, it could be your partner, It could be your sibling, or a complete stranger. Talking out what comes up from inside with someone in touch with their inside Will help you get deeper inward. Do not be afraid to take responsibility for your contributions Even when that contribution lead to your discomfort It’s likely that, if you’re there, you were not a victim (Exceptions to this, of course) But if there’s shit of yours to be owned, then own it If there’s blame...
by Patricia | Jun 15, 2014 | Blog, Empowerment, Featured, Joy
My father and my forgiveness go together like macaroni and cheese, analogously. I’ve long eaten macaroni, alone and with lots of add-ons, but at this point in my life it’s not likely that I’ll eat it unless there’s cheese involved. Macaroni tastes so good and satisfying when its paired with cheese! I don’t speak to my father very often, though more often now than in many years. My childhood and 20’s were such that I had reason to distance myself from him, and he did not resist my distancing. I used to tell this story a little differently; the story used to put all the responsibility for this distancing on him, exclusively, with me as the hapless, helpless child and victim. Now, the cheese on the macaroni gives the story the flavor of empowerment. The story, and my personal truth, is that I distanced myself to protect me from further hurt, it was my choice to do so and I needed to do it to at least begin to heal. Even as a kid, I’ve had the power to take steps in the direction of my healing, and I was doing just that when I consciously chose to distance myself, at 13 years old. Today is the anniversary of the day I recognized that my healing was not complete, and this lack of healing would cause the relationship pattern set by me and my father to repeat. That point was brought home by a great deal of romantic relationship drama. It didn’t take much for me to see that the drama found its pattern in my relationship with...
