Food is much more than eating to stay alive.  For most of us food is symbolic for love, celebration and rewards. 
Other reasons we eat are for

• comfort, distraction, stuffing big emotions down;
• medication changes our taste, cravings, interest
• diseases and changes to our body alters our need, frustrations etc. 
• gut microbes, supplements and change in food choices 
  
• emotions, mood
  
• time of the day, week, month, seasons, routines
• hormones, 
• location - where we are at the time - work, home, hobby, sport relaxation, cafe, restaurant, take away etc. 
• who we are with
• other's expectations of what we should eat - the cook often determines the meal choice 
• holiday time or work week 
• beliefs - religious, spiritual, cultural, this = that, good vs bad, routines

These are only a few things, but, when we notice what, how and why we choose our food we can gain valuable insight what is driving the choice making process.   Reflect on why you do and you create leverage to make changes if the reasons are not healthy or wise. 

Stress, a word that is bantered around so easily and means so many different things to different people.
We can be

• emotionally stressed, 
• physically stressed, 
• mentally, 

and the triggers are as varied as a length of string.  Our emotions, food choices, internal and external sources, but above all, how we interpret our world around us.  Yes, we make our own stress, and often compound it by our lifestyle choices.  The upside is, just as we can create it, we can down regulate the processes too. 
This eBook introduces and touches on several of the key factors around stress, but it is not inclusive of all. 

If you find you are 'stressed', triggering anxiety, depression or even body changes or choices you know are not conducive to health then reach out.  You don't need to make changes alone and the best part is, you can change your mind/emotional triggers which also changes our body response and choices  A total win-wn. 

​Download the eBook and let me know your thoughts

Awareness is the first step to changing anything. 

• Awareness of how your body reacts to food,
• Awareness of one's feelings when being triggered
• Awareness of thoughts and self-talk
  
• Awareness of dreams, ideas, inspirations etc.

From experience, awareness at this intimate level only started to happen after I had to/chose to listen to the changes in my mind/body. 
Years of learning different modalities of belief change, because beliefs dictate your thoughts about self, the world view, how you 'see' others to be.
Remember the phase - rose coloured glasses? While in truth, the colour of the lens really is determined by your early life and how you interpreted life to be. So what colour are your lenses? Mine was grey to black, with a good dose of rose in there too.
How to do learn, become aware of new idea? Is it books, podcasts, individual sessions, group sessions, retreats etc. Trust that you will be introduced to the right person for you at the right time.
That being said, if you have read this far, I am going to suggest that I might be your right person in the now to help you work through what is bubbling up now.
To give you a head start, download and complete the self reflection activity, then reach out to clear your glasses to be more in alignment to what you want to be. 

There are so many parts to wellness, and they go way beyond food.  This ebook talks through parts of food and their interaction with the body in a very general way, but gives you the idea.   See what you think, and learn more as there are so many compounds in food, and also how our body digests foods that are linked to anxiety, depression, skin issues, weight management and inflammation.   

This goes way beyond Kilojoules in and out, but into the chemistry of what we eat. 

There are so many ways we tell ourselves what we think of ourselves.  What we say in our mind when we do good, or not; when people give complements, or critique; what we choose to do that is either health supporting or not. 
 
Life happens, but it is how we interact with life that determines how ‘well’ we live it.   It all occurs based on our choices and self respecting our needs at any given moment.  I am not promoting anyone to neglect commitments, or to ignore abuse or withhold from others. What I am promoting with this concept is,  first get clear of what is important to you, and from this space make choices that support your values, and those who are important to you.

  Compromise is part of this, but when they are consciously made and negotiated from a place of love, for self and the others involved. It creates a very different feel and outcome. 
 
If we continue to do what we have always done, as the saying goes, we will get what have always gotten.  Is this how you see the rest of your life?  There is no judgement here, and I will support people which ever way they choose, as long as the choices are not morally, ethically or against my personal value system. Just like you, I too have the choice to say no, and most certainly done so in the past, even when close family members expected me to participate in blackmail or other unsavory actions and thoughts.  There has to be a line in each person’s life where we stand for what they honestly believe in and while it is painful to let those people go with love to follow their chosen life path, self care, respect and honor is important and each of us are required to assess and stand for what we believe in.

The wheel of life is a useful tool to help you identify where you perceive yourself to be in your life in relation to the various life compartments such as Relationship, Work/Career, Relaxation, Health etc. 

Without knowing where you feel you are, and being honest about this with yourself, it can be a challenge to know what could be contributing to your health/wellness or your dis-satisfaction.  To start the process, download the Wheel of Life information and activity sheet

We all talk to ourselves, and beside the common thought that self talkers are going insane, I would suggest the opposite.  Each voice we hear is a messenger in disguise, and certainly holds pearls of wisdom if you are open to talking with them as you would talk to a pal or trusted friend. 

TO start the process, download the information and activity sheet and start really talking with yourself to learn, grown and heal.