A couple of days ago a friend posted on Facebook that she’d fallen and injured herself pretty badly. We’d only met once before through a mutual friend, but I felt a resonance with her. Do you know the feeling – you meet someone and there’s an instant rapport?

So, when she shared her plight I couldn’t help but respond with an offer to bring her some essential oils to help make her feel more comfortable and support her body’s ability to heal. As soon as I heard myself make the offer I also heard a little voice in my head that said, “really, you barely know this woman and you’re willing to do that today? What about all the other things you had planned?”

It was one of those situations where I observed myself making the offer without giving it any thought. And there was no question that that was what I was being guided to do. And this certainly should not come as a surprise given that I began my day with the daily prayer from A Course in Miracles: “Where would You have me go? What would You have me do? What would you have me say, and to whom?” Talk about surrender! So, surrender I did!

My friend gratefully accepted my gesture of kindness, so I packed up some supplies and headed off in my car to deliver them to her. What happened next was truly miraculous!

When I arrived, this woman who I barely know shared with me that, like so many women, she was wonderful and giving but not as practiced at receiving. As a single mom in a helping profession she’d learned how to manage without a lot of support. Well, apparently that needed to change because, given her injury, support was very much in order.

It was heartwarming for her to experience how friends were coming out of the woodwork to help her. And the more she was willing to break out of that old familiar pattern of self-sufficiency and receive that which was being offered, the more support came her way.

But here’s the really miraculous part. Prior to my arrival my friend had just returned from an appointment with a holistic practitioner whose very last words to her were to eat some lentil soup – that it would help her heal. Synchronistically I had made a big pot of lentil soup that morning and brought her some. Needless to say she was overcome with gratitude and appreciation and completely blown away by the level of support that was being made available to her on so many levels.

And I received the gift of knowing that I was listening to the promptings of my spirit in spite of my mind’s uncertainty. And it felt wonderful. Nothing says “you’re on the right track” like receiving instant feedback supporting your actions.

So, whether you are in need support or feel a strong prompting to offer support to another trust that and take action.

Spring is in the air and is signaling the end of winter’s hibernation. And, with weekend temperatures hitting 70 degrees here in our home town, you couldn’t keep us indoors. After spending Saturday morning at our first-of-the-season community garden work party, weeding the Hopelink garden, we spent the afternoon weeding our own front yard, installing some landscape lighting (alright, handy husband Mark did that part) and planting some herbs in pots on the back deck.

But for many, this can be a difficult time of year because of seasonal discomfort. Itchy, watery eyes and sneezing can really suck the joy out of en”joy”ing the great outdoors. This can be especially true if you live in an area such as California, where rain has been scarce and the pollen count is high.

So, if you find yourself having to choose between being outdoors in the sunshine or staying inside in order to breathe more freely, I’d like to offer you some strategies to ease your discomfort without the usual unpleasant side effects.

1. Neti pot – this little ceramic container that looks like “Aladdin’s Lamp” is used to perform nasal irrigation, an ancient technique from India, that rinses irritants like dust, pollen and mucus from your sinuses. You can buy one at most health food stores, natural markets or online. It comes with instructions but, basically, you boil a pint of purified water and let it cool down until it’s warm and then add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of quality sea salt. Some people also add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda but that’s optional. You fill the lamp with the solution, bend over the bathroom sink and pour it through one nostril and let it flow out the other. If you’re a visual person, there are “how to” videos on YouTube that you can search for.
2. Consume raw local honey – the “local” is important because the honey will contain the offending substances from your area and help your body to adapt to them. I think of it like homeopathy where the premise is “like cures like.”
3. Consider probiotics – Imbalanced gut flora can have a negative affect on the body’s ability to deal with airborne irritants. Make sure it’s a good quality probiotic.
4. Apple Cider Vinegar – this time tested folk remedy can help to reduce mucus. I like to enjoy it on my salad with some olive oil, but you can also mix a tablespoon of ACV with a teaspoon of raw local honey in a glass of warm purified water and drink it down. It tastes really good and has an impressive list of potential benefits easily revealed by a Google search.
5. Essential oils – for example, a combination of lemon, lavender and peppermint essential oils has been shown to help cleanse the body’s systems, calm, balance and promote clear breathing and healthy respiratory function. I’ve recommended this to a few people lately and the feedback has been extremely positive.

Wishing you all the joys of springtime!

If you’re part of my world, then you know that information is power. It supports us in making the best possible decisions for ourselves and our families. One of our best sources of information comes from our own intuition – that inner knowing that we all have access to but don’t always listen to. It takes practice, presence and strength to inquire within and then act on the information we receive. Sometimes that voice is drowned out by things like fear, public opinion, or an attachment to a specific outcome.

What I’m about to share has been swirling around inside of me for a while. It’s a very controversial subject that has generated some strong opinions, so it’s a pretty big boat to rock. But, I am compelled to speak because I’m committed to knowing the Truth and sharing what I discover. We are here to awaken and if we’re distracted by illness and suffering, well that’s not helpful. May the information I’m about to share empower you and those you love.

Suppose you bought a new car, and as it turned out, the car was defective and a family member was killed or permanently injured. It wouldn’t bring back your loved one or reverse the injury, but you would expect the manufacturer to be liable for the damage that their product caused, right?

Now suppose you took your child for a “well-baby” check-up and, after receiving the recommended immunizations, your previously healthy child became unresponsive, had seizures, brain swelling, high fever, uncontrollable screaming, or even worse, died. As with any other product or service you would expect that the manufacturer, in this case the pharmaceutical company, would assume liability for injuries caused by their product. Sadly you would be incorrect. Our laws in the US exempt the vaccine manufacturer from any liability. Instead, the government has set up fund for vaccine-damaged children, which is funded by taxpayer dollars. Say what? You heard me. And, according to online sources, the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) has paid out over $3 billion since the inception of the program in 1988. I find this extremely disturbing, especially since so many cases go unreported, misreported (as, for example, SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), and those collecting from this fund have to deal with an insane amount of red tape, delay, and resistance in order to receive the compensation they need to provide care for their injured child.

So, what’s the deal with this latest measles outbreak? It has been determined, although not widely reported, that the strain of measles found in the outbreak was related to shedding of the live vaccine. Translation: it was caused by exposure to those who were recently vaccinated.

What has ensued is a media frenzy like nothing I’ve seen in a while. Everyone’s getting into the act, including talk show hosts, newscasters, reporters, pundits and online bloggers.

When you consider the current aggressive vaccine schedule (49 doses of 14 vaccines before age 6 and 69 doses of 16 vaccines by age 18), the side effects listed on the vaccine package insert, and the unsavory and questionable ingredients (mercury, aluminum, eggs [a high-allergy food], aborted fetal tissue and God knows what else) it gives one pause to really consider on an individual basis whether the risks outweigh the benefits.

But the thing that really has my knickers in a twist is the 110 bills currently being proposed in 36 states that would remove parents’ rights to exemptions and instead, force vaccines and tracking. And all because of a few cases of measles at Disney? Seriously? My bullshit meter is way in the red zone on this one and yours should be too. Follow this link to learn more about what’s being proposed and how you can maintain your right to choose what’s best for your family. We are not one-size-fits-all individuals and that must be taken into account.

We also cannot ignore the manipulation of studies and data as illustrated by recent CDC whistleblower Dr. William Thompson. Google him if you want to learn more. Merck, the vaccine manufacturer, is facing a Federal investigation for fraud over the very same vaccines they want to make mandatory.

Brilliant MIT researcher Dr. Stephanie Seneff recently crunched the data available in VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System) and made an interesting discovery. Autism rates began to rise exponentially in 1992 with the increased use of Monsanto’s glyphosate (Round Up). If you’re a science geek, you can learn the details about how glyphosate negatively interacts with the vaccine ingredients here.

In my own circle of friends and family I have witnessed several vaccine-related injuries. What this really comes down to is that parents on both sides love their children and want to do what they believe is best for them. We need to stop the name-calling right now and respect one another’s well-researched decisions. As the number of doctors, scientists and parents of vaccine-injured children who are questioning the status quo continues to grow, we would be wise to do our own research in order to make informed, educated decisions, and resist any attempt to legislate that right away. With over 300 vaccines currently being developed, once a mandate is in place, it won’t be that easy to restore our rights.

 

There is a popular saying that goes “be careful what you wish for.” Why? Because you might actually get it. And “it” doesn’t always arrive as you expected it to, often upsetting a level of comfort you have grown accustomed to. Even if things have been uncomfortable, they are familiar. And there can be comfort in that familiarity.

Those of you who have worked with me or have been reading my musings for awhile may know that I don’t shy away from personal development. And there is something about the energy of this year to support forward motion that feels different than years past. It’s like a tipping point has been reached within the collective desire to shift into the next highest expression of ourselves and we’re pulling out all of the stops. I know that I am. And if you’re ready to climb the next wrung on your personal ladder to freedom, I’ve got a tip for you. Take a look at your mindsets.

So what exactly is a mindset? I think of it as a unique collection of ideas that each of us has adopted and told ourselves that’s the way it is. It’s been fascinating to see what is being revealed to me, personally, as I am exploring and questioning those ideas. Add to that a willingness to create space around what had been previously fixed and, wow, now that’s where the magic happens. So much has opened up for me around this exploration that I just had to share the concept with you.

The process is pretty simple. Just close your eyes, take some deep breaths and ask yourself what happens when you encounter a seemingly insurmountable obstacle. Does it make you more resolved to deal with the challenges you are facing or do you wave the white flag and retreat for the sofa with a bowl full of snacks. I don’t think it’s strictly one way or the other. How we react to different circumstances can depend on what else is going on in our life at the time and how ready we are to deal with what’s coming up. I will tell you that food choices will either help to move the energy along or slow it down. There’s no judgment around that, but rather a way for you to observe what’s going on in your own life. More raw and living food = more forward movement. And sometimes we just need to slow things down and eat a baked potato or a bowl of lentil soup–my version of comfort food.

I saw a video the other day that really highlighted the idea of mindset in a very dramatic way. It was of a guy with no arms sitting on a chair out in the street playing a guitar with his feet. He was really good, too. And I couldn’t help but think, wow, now that’s a mindset to aspire to. It would have been very easy for him to say, well, I’ve got no arms so I’d better just get used to my limitations. But no. Instead, he faced his challenge head on, inspiring many people in the process.

Having the courage to speak out for what you believe in can be like that, too. What you have to say might make people feel uncomfortable, especially if they know deep down that what you are sharing is true, but it can feel overwhelming for them to embrace it.

So what do YOU do when you are faced with what feels like an insurmountable obstacle? How do you react? What story do you tell yourself? Begin paying attention to these situations in your own life and you may be surprised at how things will shift and open up for you. It’s going to be a major focus for me personally this year, and I’d love to have you share the journey with me.

Have you ever committed to making a change in your life, be it a particular situation, a way of thinking or simply how you are showing up in the world? And then it happens: all hell breaks loose. No surprise really. Anytime we disrupt the status quo that’s bound to occur. Paradoxically, there is comfort in the discomfort of our habited patterns and situations. Perhaps because the “devil we know” is familiar.

It’s no wonder so many of us seek to maintain our status quo. But if we’re unwilling to look at what we’ve deemed to be our dark scary places, how can we ever expect to find the hidden gems that are there waiting for us to discover? It’s counter-intuitive, I know.

Several years ago when I journeyed to Egypt, we visited the temple known as Kom Ombo, which is reflective of this conflict. It is there that Sobek, known as the crocodile god (representing darkness) and Horus, the hawk (representing light) were said to reside.

As the story goes, those desiring to become Initiates were required to jump into a dark and muddy pool of water. There they would have to swim underwater towards one of two openings and make a split-second decision which one to swim through as their air supply dwindled. One was shrouded in darkness and the other had light streaming through it. They knew the wrong choice could lead to them being the main course for the crocs lurking below, and the other would lead to safety. Passing the test involved the student’s ability to intuitively discern between truth and falsehood (even under pressure), courage to face the unknown, and their desire above all else for spiritual advancement.

Today we don’t have to jump in any muddy pools. And the only crocodiles we have to face are our false ideas of who we think we are. Dangerous? Not really. Scary? Hell yeah. Although things are a lot less scary when you jump into the proverbial pool with a group of like-minded folks.

That’s where my friend and colleague, Denise Dee, comes in. A true innovator, Denise has created an opportunity for you to take a dive into your own dark and scary places. It’s called “Brouhaha” and it’s an online Festival like no other. With 13 online workshops, a variety of performances, interviews, opening and closing ceremonies and more, all designed to spur you into action it might be difficult to choose what to participate in. Denise has that covered too. In addition to having the option of registering for individual workshops, you can choose to snap up an All-Access pass like I did.

The Festival runs from October 22nd to November 4th. You get to attend from your own home and, if you have a schedule conflict, no worries as all of the workshops are being recorded. I will be interviewed as part of this event on October 30th at 11:00 a.m. Pacific and hope you’ll consider joining me in conjuring up some of the deep change that our souls long for. You can see the schedule and get all of the details here.

This post was conceived from the edgy title of a talk I am giving at an event next month. It stemmed from the idea that food is a metaphor for what feeds us and everything we simply swallow, like it or not.

For decades I’ve been “stirring the pot” in a variety of ways. It began, quite literally, in the kitchen when I was a kid. Thankfully, blowing up my mom’s pressure cooker while she was in the hospital and spewing tomato sauce all over the ceiling wasn’t a deterrent and I continued to experiment in the kitchen and beyond. (Apologies to my dad who I seem to recall had to wash the ceiling).

Later I could be found concocting my own flower essences and conjuring up intuitive blends of essential oils for family and friends. They were intended for healing and restoring balance minus any nasty side effects.

The more I explored and learned, the more I began to question so-called authority and what was being fed to me as true in other areas of my life as well. And what I learned pretty much went against everything I was being taught.

When the medical system failed to offer me relief for a serious case of childhood eczema, it inspired me to take matters into my own hands and look for alternatives. That was the beginning of my self-empowerment around health care and questioning the mainstream paradigm. It was a valuable lesson indeed and one for which I am extremely grateful. Today, at age 59, I am delighted to share that I remain free from the current medical system and its offerings, which are generally designed to treat symptoms rather than determine the root cause of an illness and bring about healing. In most cases, given what it needs to support the process, the body has an innate intelligence and ability to heal itself.

Likewise, the god of my Roman Catholic upbringing brought me no comfort. This punishing deity didn’t seem like such a nice guy, and the teachings that were rammed down our throats by well-intentioned priests and nuns were steeped in guilt and shame. Although this was undoubtedly a great way to achieve compliance, it felt misaligned with what I knew on some level was true and I wanted no part of it.

In addition to these major foundations that were being shaken at the core, similar concepts continue to permeate the planet in the most insidious of ways – from the advertisements telling us we need this or that beauty product to be more attractive, to the food companies that ply us with terms like “natural” and “healthy” when in reality their products are anything but. Then there are the pharmaceutical companies who tell us about their new pill for this or that ailment but the list of side effects is far worse than the dis-sease they are intended to treat. And the list goes on.

My passion around food stems from my deep knowing that it is a catalyst for great change. The way I now nourish my body continues to support me in ways that I never imagined possible, offering clarity and direction minus any interference caused by toxic overload. Eating well, combined with exercise, meditation and conscious deep breathing has made all the difference in my life and it can do the same for you if you choose it. It helps you to get more in touch with you – the real YOU that has a refined bullsh*t meter and is unwilling to swallow a bunch of crap — the YOU that has appropriate boundaries and doesn’t take on projects or agree to things you’d prefer not to do, leading to resentment and burnout.

What have you been swallowing? Is it time to spit it out? I’m here to support you.

Consider this your invitation to take your diet and your life to the next level. If you’re serious about moving forward please contact me to learn more.

It’s been quite a week. The death of beloved actor Robin Williams has stirred up a great deal of emotion within many of us, myself included. I personally spent three days crying and I didn’t even know the guy. Perhaps it was because his genuine heart-felt kindness was so apparent as he gave of his time and talent so freely. Or maybe the sadness I was experiencing had to do with my own appreciation for how challenging life on this crazy planet can be sometimes. I’m going to let you in on a little secret. There was a time in my life when I felt very much alone and lost in pain with no idea what to do about it. I was unsure about whether I wanted to even be here. So, although the thought of suicide never entered my mind, I was intimately familiar with feelings of hopelessness and despair. At that time I was married to a man who, based on my current understanding of things, very likely had un-diagnosed bipolar disorder with narcissistic tendencies. His mood swung like a pendulum and much of the time being around him was spent walking on eggshells. Needless to say living that way put a great deal of stress on our marriage and the well-being of the entire family.

After two decades of trying to make that marriage work I was faced with the realization that that just wasn’t going to happen. So, for the sake of our 15 year-old daughter, who I was determined to give an opportunity to witness a more loving relationship, as well as for my own sanity and health, I closed that chapter of my life and ended that marriage. It took years to recover from the emotional stress and the wear and tear on my adrenal glands from spending so much time in fight or flight mode. So, yeah, I get it. Sometimes we just can’t handle anymore and we do whatever we can to find an exit.

You may be wondering how I turned my situation around. Honestly I believe it was divine intervention. That spark of divinity inside of me was able to let enough light through to allow me to see that the pain I was feeling had everything to do with being mired in the illusion of separation. Once I made my decision to live my life fully, the fascination for the solutions of this world diminished and it became clear that the only way to end the pain was through divine union with spirit, source, a higher power or whatever you choose to call it. Personally I still have difficulty with the word “god” because of its association with my catholic upbringing, which was steeped in guilt and shame. Its god had a punishing nature that did not at all resonate with me.

Anyhow, once I decided that I was “all in,” everything I needed to support life started to show up, all carefully timed and orchestrated with my best interests always at the forefront. As part of my healing I began sponsoring events for different authors, healers and speakers, each of whom offered something to support my next steps. A few years and a good deal of healing later, I met my husband, Mark, who is truly the love of my life. He has stretched my ability to feel loved and supported beyond anything I could have imaged was possible and I am so grateful for this opportunity to be with him. I was also introduced to a raw food diet, which helped my body to heal from the extreme fatigue and heavy metal toxicity through detoxification and nourishment.

One of the things I observed quite clearly during those difficult years was the effect that certain foods had on my former spouse’s moods. I know without a doubt the impact that diet can have on a person who is struggling with depression and mental illness. And, while each and every situation is different, there are a few constants that can make a world of difference. Some of these include diet, exercise and finding ways daily to activate joy in your life. For me this includes things like singing, dancing, being out in nature, working in our garden, hummingbirds, interacting with babies and children and expanding my clients ideas of what’s possible and helping them to heal.

Thank you, Robin. Thank you for your joy, your laughter and your vulnerability. Thank you for allowing yourself to been seen and felt. May we each in our own way honor your memory by living our own version of the love you so joyfully embodied and so generously shared.

What’s on your joy list? How can you activate more joy in your life? Are you loving yourself as well as you could?

A couple of weeks ago Mark and I flew to New York to attend what had promised to be a deeply transformational sound healing event. We were not disappointed.

And, as if to confirm our sense of knowingness about participating in this co-creation, the moment we said YES, our plans effortlessly fell into place. Airline tickets were obtained in exchange for mileage points and a deeply discounted hotel room at a fine hotel in midtown Manhattan was also arranged (one of the perks of Mark’s corporate J.O.B.).

Airline travel was made easy and almost pleasant with the “random” TSA pre-approval stamp that magically appeared on my boarding pass. For those of you living outside of the US, this is the holy grail. You get to go through security with your shoes on and without removing your computer, liquids and half of your clothing just like old times. And our flights and connections were smooth and uneventful.

It didn’t stop there. We also got to enjoy a few “bonus” gifts as well. To the uninitiated, what I’m about to share may not feel so magical, which is why it’s so important to view things from a variety of perspectives.

After a smooth trip into NYC, we arrived at our hotel room to discover that the ventilation system wasn’t working. It was 75 degrees F and, for safety reasons, the windows didn’t open. No big deal. We simply called the front desk who sent someone up to investigate. The maintenance guy was unable to correct the problem so they upgraded us. Wow, really? Thanks so much. The Universe wanted to gift us with a much bigger room. How cool is that! I used to live and work in Manhattan and had never seen the inside of one of these rooms. Now that I’ve had a taste of what it feels like to be treated like a rock star (this years American Idol winners had just left the hotel the day before we arrived) it gives me a new reference point for creating what I desire. Oh, yeah, and there was a fabulous organic juice/raw food takeaway shop about a 5 minute walk from our hotel. Score!

But wait, there’s more! Being a Brooklyn girl born and bred, no trip to New York would be complete without a visit with the family. In my mind I had visualized a pleasantly memorable experience for my dad, so I suggested that we all get together in NYC. I remembered that dad had recently shared some stories about how much he enjoyed a couple of plays he’d attended so I thought he would enjoy it. Although dad has some mobility issues this hadn’t interfered with his adventures last time we spoke so I didn’t give it a second thought.

The next thing I knew things went south as the conversation was steered towards a gathering that would be centered around a meal, which I had deliberately tried to avoid. I choose to eat very differently than most of my family, and I didn’t want the focus of our get-together to be about the food. Ah, the best laid plans! In some of their eyes I was seen as having flown 3,000 miles but would not take a subway and a bus to visit our dad. Huh? Well I guess that’s one way to look at it but it certainly wasn’t my reality.

In the end some of us met at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, where my dad used to volunteer as a tour guide. He was truly in his element and enjoyed the day that graced us with beautiful sunshine and flowers. No guilt or manipulation required.

A few of my takeaways from this adventure:

• Overall, things flow smoothly when we are following our hearts
• We are loved and supported by the universe beyond our wildest imaginings
• Whatever we think we want, there is usually something even greater available to us. All we need to do is to stay open and receive.
• Sometimes what looks like an obstacle is really a blessing in disguise
• Gratitude and forgiveness can shift any situation

Have you noticed how well things tend to flow in your life when you are following your heart’s desires? Is there occasionally what may initially seem like a pile of poop that you can you turn into golden nugget? Consider this your challenge.

 

 

Try This Instead

With picnic season fast approaching I thought I’d share some of the best ways I know to ensure veggies that are as fresh and delicious as possible.

Many of us feel that carrot and celery sticks make excellent snack food. They travel well and taste great both on their own or as a carrier for your favorite hummus or dip du jour. Cutting them up in advance tends to dry them out pretty quickly though, making them far less tasty and appealing. And those pre-packaged baby carrots, while convenient, aren’t the best option. Here’s why.

Many baby carrots are actually not baby carrots at all. They are made by cutting large carrots that are specially bred for sweetness down to 2” sections and then polishing them with a machine. This process tends to dry the carrots out, which is why they often have a white film on them. Then they dip the so-called baby carrots into an antimicrobial bath to reduce possible contamination. And what is in that treatment? Usually chlorine. Yuk! No thanks, I’ll pass.

So what’s a carrot lover to do? To begin with, grow or obtain the freshest most local carrots available. Scrub them with filtered water, a veggie brush and a natural cleaner. Although there are other options to choose from, one of the simplest is to add a couple of drops of dōTERRA  lemon essential oil to the water. I trust lemon’s anti-bacterial properties and dōTERRA’s quality. In the past I’ve also used white vinegar, but have since learned that most white vinegar is made from GMO corn. Now I refuse to even wash my floors and windows with it, let alone ingest it. But I digress.

Once the carrots have been scrubbed, cut them into sticks (if they’re organic, which I highly recommend, there’s no need to peel them). Then submerge them in a bowl of cool purified water and put it in the fridge for about half an hour. Then remove the bowl from the refrigerator and pour the water into a container (a mason jar with a lid works well). The carrots will have absorbed some of the water (which is why it’s important to use purified water) helping them to remain crisp and fresh longer when stored in a sealed container in the fridge (or picnic cooler). And the leftover water? Delicious. It has a light, sweet carrot taste that is so refreshing. The same process works well for celery and probably other veggie slices as well.

The leftover soak water, or vitamin water as we like to call it, lasts for a couple of days in the fridge but we usually drink it by the following day. Fresh is best.

Enjoy your veggies!

There are so many ways that emotional eating is ingrained in our lives, often having its roots early in childhood as a way to soothe us. No doubt we’ve all sought comfort from Ben & Jerry or some other snack du jour in the midst of challenging emotions. It’s pretty common and can range anywhere from an occasional occurrence to being our default pattern.

Sometimes there is a cultural component too. Think about your well-intentioned grandma heaping your plate full of food and telling you to eat it all because, to her, food is love. And once that association has been made it’s easy for us to think that we are loving ourselves every time we overfill our plates and our bellies.

Our tendencies to associate emotions with food are widely recognized and often exploited by industry. Have you ever walked into a realtor’s open house and smelled the aroma of freshly baked cookies or vanilla extract simmering on the stove? It’s done deliberately to evoke an emotional response and it’s extremely effective, giving the house that homey, inviting feeling that says “buy me.”

The food manufacturers understand this too and do what they can to exploit our emotional connection with food, spending a great deal of resources to engineer their products to appeal to consumers’ feelings. Sadly, the majority of their products are devoid of nutritional value but because they have been designed to be addictive, they leave us craving more.

The Cinnabon stores found in many shopping malls around the U.S. are a perfect example of crafty marketing. Have you ever noticed how these shops are often located away from the main food court areas? This is done deliberately so that the aroma of these baked goods will arouse your senses as you walk around the mall without mingling with the scent of other foods. The net result is an increase in your desire for and a higher likelihood of purchasing their products.

It’s easy to see how habit-forming some of our behaviors are. Could it be that what calls you to visit to the fridge at 10 pm every night is actually that it’s habit, not hunger? In his book, The Power of Habit, author Charles Duhigg describes in great detail how habits are created. There is usually a cue, followed by a routine and then a reward.

My husband and I clearly fell into this pattern several years ago before giving up dairy products and caffeine. Every morning we would walk about a mile and a half downhill into town, enjoy a caffeinated beverage at our local Starbucks and then hike back up our steep hill to return home. For us the cue was the desire to exercise, the routine was our morning walk and the reward (for me) was a chai tea latte. And so the habit was formed. It certainly kept us motivated to go on our walks knowing that there was a “reward” awaiting us.

What looks like a habit can also be a pre-conditioned response to uncomfortable emotions bubbling up from within. This is where awareness is essential. If we truly desire to be free from the things that keep us separate from our innate joy and brilliance then these behaviors are valuable clues that can hold the key to our freedom.

So, if you’re ready to step up and take charge of your emotional eating, here are some strategies to help you get started.

 #1 – Awareness is key – Since emotional eating is largely unconscious, begin by stopping to notice how you are feeling as you head to the fridge. What is going on for you right in that moment? Shining a light on the behavior interrupts the habited pattern that we often don’t even realize exists. As with anything, awareness is the first step and it is crucial. Just be sure to observe without judgment, guilt or shame because those will only make you feel worse. This takes practice, so remember to be kind and compassionate with yourself as you are learning this new way of being.

Ask yourself some questions like “am I really hungry right now?”  Drink a glass of purified water since dehydration can be experienced as hunger and a glass of water may satisfy you. Pay attention to what types of snacks you are reaching for. For example, generally speaking, a desire for sugary foods can relate to a need to add more sweetness to your life. Crunchy foods can be related to unprocessed anger and salty foods can point to the need for more minerals in the diet.

#2 – Be willing to feel your feelings – It can be uncomfortable to experience the buried emotions that most of us spend a lifetime trying to suppress. Those feelings can seem all-consuming, and as though we may not come out the other side. But unattended emotions have a life of their own and will nag at you like a child trying to get your attention when you’re on the telephone until eventually they have their say. Like us, emotions are made up of energy and have a need to be expressed.

# 3 – Breathe – Our buried emotions always have a physical location in our bodies. With a little bit of willingness and some very focused deep breaths, we can often shift the energy before it overcomes us emotionally, or even worse, turns into a physical illness.

# 4 – Be prepared – It’s really important for emotional eaters to be prepared by having healthy food on hand that is enjoyable – food that is satisfying and nourishing on every level. There are many options to choose from, with the main focus being fresh fruits, veggies and leafy greens. Nuts, seeds, hummus, nut and seed pâté, raw crackers made in the dehydrator with flax and other seeds, kale chips, quinoa, steamed potatoes, raw chocolate bars, green smoothies, fresh vegetable juice, kombucha, sparkling water, nut and seed milks, etc. The possibilities are endless.

# 5 – Ask for help –If you’re serious about reclaiming your health and vitality, contact me to set up a no-obligation “strategy session” where together we can explore whether we might work together to help you reach your goals.