Choice vs. Decision :: What's Your Vision For Your Life

There is a distinction between a choice and a decision.

A choice is limited only by your creativity. A decision is made based on the available options, nothing more.

When applied to our lives, we can say that we choose our life. What we have or don’t have is only limited by what we can dream up for our lives. We then use that vision as the guide for how we make daily decisions.

If you want happiness, then choose in every situation to see the positive and be happy.

If you want financial stability, then choose to a career path that will supply you with the money and learn how to invest and save to have that.

It sounds simple - and it really is that simple.

Yes, life will come at you hard, but you have the power to determine how life impacts you. You alone are in control of achieving the vision or what you choose for your life.

“I Choose” by India.Arie drives this point home. In the song, she makes a bold declaration that she is taking full control of her life. She’s even tellin’ her momma that!

Let’s follow her lead and boldly take control of our lives by choosing the life we want.

Use this Life Vision Worksheet to help you start planning.

Need support? Schedule a free 30-minute consultation with me.

Meditation vs. Mindfulness

We hear about mindfulness and meditation all the time; but, what is the difference? Are they the same? Let me break it down for you.

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Mindfulness is the awareness of something, while meditation is the awareness of nothing. There are many forms of meditation. 

Mindfulness Meditation is a form of Clear Mind meditation that helps to do just as the name implies - clear your mind. Attention is paid to the natural rhythm of the breath while sitting, and to the rhythm of slow walking.

Mindfulness meditation is a mental training practice that teaches you to slow down racing thoughts, let go of negativity, and calm both your mind and body. Mindfulness techniques can vary, but in general, mindfulness meditation involves a breathing practice and awareness of body and mind.

You can be mindful and not meditate. This is the practice of sitting with your thoughts, asking yourself intentional questions about a situation to deepen your self-awareness, which will help you navigate difficult and triggering situations.

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Download Mindful Meditation Guide and Journal

Participate in a guided meditation for Black women, mamas and families

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Mindfulness requires ::

• Beginner’s mind :: Seeing things as a visitor in a foreign land, everything is new and curious.

• No judgment :: Becoming impartial, without any labels of right or wrong or good or bad. Simply allowing things to be.

• Acknowledgement :: Recognizing things as they are.

• Being settled :: Being comfortable in the moment and content where you are.

• Being composed :: Being equanimous and in control with compassion and insight.

• Letting be :: Letting things be as they are with no need to change them.

• Being self reliant :: Deciding on your own, from your own experiences, what is true or not.

• Being self-compassionate :: Loving yourself as you are with no criticism or self-reproach.

Types of meditation ::

• mindfulness meditation

• spiritual meditation.

• focused meditation.

• movement meditation.

• mantra meditation.

• transcendental meditation

• progressive relaxation.

• loving-kindness meditation

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How can these things help with stress?

• Proactively manage stress

• Reduce anxiety that comes from racing thoughts and projecting the future

• Increase your self-awareness, which can improve relationships, help identify triggers and create strategies to support stress reduction and improved mental health

How + when to use them to help with stress.

Bio-individuality | Each person is different, but these are general practice rules

• Begin your day | Center yourself and plan for your day | Help you anticipate stress of day

• In the moment | Center yourself + stop racing thoughts and anxiety

• Stop and ask questions to get to root cause + triggers

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Shots Anyone?

Getting the requisite vitamins and nutrients is extremely important to total health and wellness. Wellness shots and tonics are one way to secure these. Like juices, health-boosting power shots deliver a quick dose vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants in a concentrated dose. Check out the two recipes to help reduce increase weight loss and reduce inflammation below.

Also see ::

• Health-Boosting Wellness Shot Juice Recipes

• Inflammation-Fighting Tonics

• 3-Ingredient Turmeric Tonic
  

Sis, Get Your Money Right

According to the SoulMed Holistic Health survey, stress is the number one concern of Black women around the country.

One common cause of stress if money.

No matter your income, it’s important that you know how to manage what you have.

You can start to get your finances in order by implementing the 50/30/20 rule. The basic rule is to divide up after-tax income and allocate it to spend ::

• 50 percent needs

• 30 percent enjoyment 

• 20 percent savings

Get to the bag, sis!

Sometimes what you have just isn’t enough to move you forward. When that’s the case, you have to know how to get to that bag!

According to Nadia C. Vanderhall of Brands + Bands, getting to that bag is as simple as taking an inventory of your skills and using them to build a business or shift your career. To get started ask yourself the following questions ::

• What do I do well?

• What are business opportunities and/or careers that align with my gifts? If you don’t know or need ideas, try Google and God. Search Google for ideas and ask God for direction. Then wait on His response.

• How can I prepare for my come up? Strengthen your knowledge by taking classes that align with your gifts. There are several free skills-based certification classes available now. Again, Google can be your best friend when finding those opportunities.

Vanderhall also shared tips for getting to the bag through investing and managing your money. One of my favorite tips from this part of the conversation was - consume what you consume. If you want to know what it means, you will have to read her blog post Bill or Buy :: Consume What You Consume.

Get more tips by watching the replay of SoulMed presents Soul Sessions :: The Financial Edition below.

Don’t miss out on the good, good. Make sure you are at Soul Sessions each week.

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Wellness Wednesday :: 3 Tips To Better Health

Getting to optimal health is a journey. We often jump into diets and exercise routines and they fall flat. It is important to make small, incremental changes that we can support and sustain. There are actions you can take today that will jumpstart your wellness journey, putting you in position to have better health today. These three small steps will support increased immunity, cellular function and help you manage your body fluids and hormones.

Follow Friday :: Know Thy Self

I was scrolling through IG and found this little nugget on @quellyrue page :: Know your sources of rejuvenation: the people who light up your spirit, the activities that fire up your creativity and the amount of solitude you need to feel fresh again. Moving toward your goals is not linear. Sometimes you need a good break before taking a big leap forward.

It’s a good time to take an inventory of your primary health, the things OFF your plate that impact your health. Register for the BEAhealthy newsletter to get a free download of a tool to help you inventory your primary food. This is the first step to you being healthy.

Wellness Wednesday :: Remember Roseto

There is a tiny town in Pennsylvania that has changed the way we view health.

Doctors began studying the people of Roseto, Pennsylvania after it was discovered the people of the town had extremely low rates of heart disease. Their health success defied what doctors knew to be true at the time. The people of Roseto ate food cooked in lard, drank large amounts of homemade red wine and smoked cigars - all behaviors that negatively impact heart health. 

Dr. Stewart Wolf studied the people of Roseto, and what became known later as the Roseto Effect, from 1955 to 1961. He specifically was looking at the impact of social structure on health. What he concluded was Roseto's low rate of heart attacks and mortality compared to the rest of the region and the nation was attributable to the close-knit community and generations under one roof typical of Roseto at the time. As time went on and the culture of Roseto changed to match that of the rest of the world, their rates of heart disease became comparable to those of other communities around the nation. What can we learn today from the people of yesteryear Roseto? Primary food is important. Primary food is more than what is on your plate. It is having healthy relationships, a spiritual practice, a fulfilling career, and joy. Many times we focus on our diet and exercise when we really need to focus on our primary food. An imbalance in our primary food often shows up in what we eat and how we maintain our physical health. It can also cause negative internal body reactions. Take an inventory of your primary food today.

Register for the BEAhealthy newsletter to get a free download of a tool to help you inventory your primary food. This is the first step to you being healthy.