“True perfection seems imperfect,
yet it is perfectly itself.”
-Tao Te Ching
“Every flaw, every virtue, every vice and everything beautiful is meant to be just the way it is. WE ARE IN FACT PERFECT. WE ARE PERFECTLY OURSELVES.”
-Lana Daniels
Friday, November 18, 2011
Taoism- Perfectly Imperfect
Thank you, Lana Daniels, for writing to us and submitting this guest post. We cherish our readers, and we are so thankful for the contribution.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Find Freedom in Food
In a world with a media landscape saturated with messages that attempt to define "sexy" by one's weight, it's no wonder I often hear people blaming food for their perceived shortcomings.
Everyone has an idea of what the "magic food" or the "one thing to avoid" is when it comes to achieving their ideal body. Making responsible decisions when choosing one's meal is certainly an essential part to maintaining a healthy body, but food is not the enemy nor the cure. It's the friend that helps guide you along the way. And at risk of sounding like another talking head, I will say this: The key to feeling your best, to looking your best, and to performing your best is all about the confidence you have in your own abilities.
There is freedom in the relationship you have with food, and it exists in the relationship you have with yourself. Food replenishes you, gets your blood flowing, feeds your brain the brilliant ideas you have every day. It gives you the strength to breath, to move, to love. It gives you life.
Setting realistic goals while truly believing in yourself will make your life-long journey toward health much more enjoyable! Don't beat yourself up on the days when you need a nap or perhaps want to indulge in your favorite treat. And celebrate the times when you choose nutrient-rich foods. These are experiences of life. The body and mind are your tools to fully experience everything life has to offer. You deserve to love them both, come rain or come shine.
Everyone has an idea of what the "magic food" or the "one thing to avoid" is when it comes to achieving their ideal body. Making responsible decisions when choosing one's meal is certainly an essential part to maintaining a healthy body, but food is not the enemy nor the cure. It's the friend that helps guide you along the way. And at risk of sounding like another talking head, I will say this: The key to feeling your best, to looking your best, and to performing your best is all about the confidence you have in your own abilities.
There is freedom in the relationship you have with food, and it exists in the relationship you have with yourself. Food replenishes you, gets your blood flowing, feeds your brain the brilliant ideas you have every day. It gives you the strength to breath, to move, to love. It gives you life.
Setting realistic goals while truly believing in yourself will make your life-long journey toward health much more enjoyable! Don't beat yourself up on the days when you need a nap or perhaps want to indulge in your favorite treat. And celebrate the times when you choose nutrient-rich foods. These are experiences of life. The body and mind are your tools to fully experience everything life has to offer. You deserve to love them both, come rain or come shine.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Risk curiousity, wonder and spontaneous delight!
"Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit."
-E.E. Cummings
What is possible once you believe in yourself? Anything I say! Because today I am comfortable in my own skin, and believe in my abilities I can take risks and let the full experience of life wash over me. Because letting yourself fully experience life can feel like a risk if you are unsure in your own abilities.
So be fearless. And go for it. Trust yourself. Risk curiosity, wonder and spontaneous delight!
How will you be fearless today?
So be fearless. And go for it. Trust yourself. Risk curiosity, wonder and spontaneous delight!How will you be fearless today?
Friday, November 11, 2011
I am a Tree
When I was 14-years-old, my mother took me into her yoga studio and showed me how to do tree pose (Vriksha-asana). Ever since, my understanding of the pose changes and grows every year - much like a tree.
My first idea of tree pose was that it was one of the easiest positions in yoga. Standing on one leg with my arms in the air? Sure, no biggie.
But lately, I've realized that tree pose is in fact one of the most difficult positions there is, because it challenges us to be a tree: extending our bodies up toward the sky as high as we can yet keeping our feet firmly on the floor- feeling both light as a feather and rooted into the ground simultaneously. Tree pose asks you to channel the energy of a tree - the spirit, the strength and sturdiness of it's bark and roots and the carefree, fragile beauty of it's leaves.
When I am in tree pose, I feel strong, centered - like no matter what comes my way, I am so sturdy that nothing will chop me down. But it also reminds me that I am vulnerable to my environment.
Starting now, my goal is to be a tree even when I'm off my mat. Because a tree stands through the wind, the rain, the storms that fall down hard on it's branches and leaves, and yet, when the storm is over, the tree remains. Maybe a branch or two is broken, and maybe some leaves have fallen to the ground, but it is alive and it's still just as beautiful as it was before.
This weekend, spend a little time in tree pose and see what you find.
Other than staying fit, why do you exercise? What type of physical activity causes you to be introspective?
Enjoy the weekend!
My first idea of tree pose was that it was one of the easiest positions in yoga. Standing on one leg with my arms in the air? Sure, no biggie.
But lately, I've realized that tree pose is in fact one of the most difficult positions there is, because it challenges us to be a tree: extending our bodies up toward the sky as high as we can yet keeping our feet firmly on the floor- feeling both light as a feather and rooted into the ground simultaneously. Tree pose asks you to channel the energy of a tree - the spirit, the strength and sturdiness of it's bark and roots and the carefree, fragile beauty of it's leaves.
When I am in tree pose, I feel strong, centered - like no matter what comes my way, I am so sturdy that nothing will chop me down. But it also reminds me that I am vulnerable to my environment.
Starting now, my goal is to be a tree even when I'm off my mat. Because a tree stands through the wind, the rain, the storms that fall down hard on it's branches and leaves, and yet, when the storm is over, the tree remains. Maybe a branch or two is broken, and maybe some leaves have fallen to the ground, but it is alive and it's still just as beautiful as it was before.
This weekend, spend a little time in tree pose and see what you find.
Other than staying fit, why do you exercise? What type of physical activity causes you to be introspective?
Enjoy the weekend!
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
Guiltless Recommends: Daily Muse
Being a twenty-something I feel like I soak up advice like a sponge. Everyone has opinions and wise words, and I bathe in it, taking what I need, discarding what I don't. I stumbled upon the website Daily Muse this weekend and love it's mission: to bring ambitious Gen Y woman, smart, practical, and inspirational advice career and life advice, from women who have been there. Who have had big, crazy dreams—and achieved them. Who saw the glass ceiling—and crushed it. An amazing line-up of role models contributes their two cents and there is plenty we can all take away. For example:
What is your muse today?
Cindy Gallop-Founder & CEO, If We Ran the World If she could step back in time she would remind her younger self that she’s beautiful—exactly the way she is. Read more:“Confidence is Beautiful—And So Are You”
- Joyce Kulhawik Arts & Entertainment Critic: "This I tell myself now, to love and have faith in ourselves; this is the source of our energy, our joy, and our real power—and will lead us to speak in our true voices to the world." “Love Yourself—Powerfully
What is your muse today?
Friday, November 4, 2011
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