8 Mindset Shifts that Changed my Health
December Reflections, Mindset Shifts and Seasonal Meal Inspo
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Goooood morning all of you lovely people. I hope you are having a wonderful Sunday. I am struggling a bit. I don’t know if you remember a couple weeks ago I was having issues with electricity and this whole week those issues have persisted, along with no hot water. Silver lining is I’ve been forced to take freezing cold showers which I typically would never have the willpower to do, so that’s been something.
Not having access to my kitchen appliances or lights or really anything in my home is so weird and makes me realize how much of my life is spent at home and in the kitchen. It really is a test of patience for me. I have no control over the situation itself, but I do have control over my reaction to the situation.
It also makes me slow down in general. I don’t have my typical resources - so my routine is flipped upside down. Instead of going with the flow as usual, I am forced to break out of that, which allows me to be grateful for so many things I usually take for granted. Hot water, lights, wifi, home cooked food. Little things I usually have every day without thinking about.
Also makes me realize how grateful I am to have my family so close by, where I can come here and spend time with them. I did not have my typical superhero coffee and slow wellness morning, but I did have a nice warm cup of coffee with my mom, some homemade sourdough with butter shared with my little brother and sister, and ofc snuggle time with beau beau. Really special moments that I would not have otherwise.
Monthly Reflections
As we’ve come to the last month of the year, I have been doing some reflecting on the past 11 months. What have I learned? How have I grown? I love doing these reflections at the beginning of each month. It is a perfect time to pause and really think. (These journaling prompts below really help me with this practice). Otherwise, we just go through the motions and time feels like it flies by and nothing has changed.
8 Mindset Shifts that have Completely Changed my Health
So much of life comes with obstacles that are out of our control, and the only thing we can do to make a situation better is to control our perspective on it. Shit happens…that’s life. Choose to complain, stress and spiral, or choose to look at the upsides and be grateful for what we have.
Helps me to think that there is always a plan in place with these situations and everything will end up how it is supposed to if we trust and are grateful for the process. In these situations ask, “Is there a lesson to be learned?”, “Does this present an opportunity I wouldn’t have otherwise?”… seek out a lesson in each challenge.
Abundance mindset will change your life. I stopped thinking about health through the lens of all the things I “can’t” do, and began to list all the things I CAN do (this works for more than just health too…) read more on my previous post about abundance vs. scarcity mindset.
Attach intention behind everything. Without intention, there is no motivation or purpose. Intention is the first step to making any new action sustainable. What is your WHY?
There is no such thing as instant gratification. Yes - that would make it easier, but it is the baby steps and consistency that make the biggest difference. It is a test of patience, but it is so worth it.
Focusing on how I FEEL versus how I LOOK. When I obsessed over my body image, was when my symptoms were the worst they had ever been. When I began to tune into my body, focus on my mood and energy, how my body and mind feels, listening, is when I started to become more intuitive with myself and in turn feel + look better.
What works for me may not work for you (& vis versa). You are your own unique individual. Your health and the way your body works is completely different to someone else. It is impossible to compare yourself to others, and that only takes away from time spent on learning your body and what works for you. Stop comparing, and start tuning into your own body and journey.
Choose passion over obsession. It is easy to get caught up in this world and begin to obsess over the little things - but stress is worse on your body than exposure to a toxic ingredient every so often. It is so important to release a little, not take everything so seriously, and prioritize balance, because in the end that is what health is all about.
The longer you entertain what’s not for you the longer you postpone what is. Health is more than food and working out. It is purpose, family, friends, community, nature, laughter - it is about the joy of each moment, who and what you surround yourself with. Start to notice things or people that give you energy versus drain your energy. Each day prioritize the things that give you energy more - when you make decisions with your values in mind, and do the things you love, you are guaranteed to be led in the right direction to your purpose, whatever that may be.
Now let’s get into the fun stuff… what I’ve been eating this week.
What I’ve Been Eating
First of all, new month, new seasonal produce!!!! It’s winter time, so it is colder outside, there is less sun, and we are spending more time indoors.
In this month I try to focus on warming, grounding, nourishing foods. Think root veggies, squash, sweet potatoes, cooked foods, warming herbs & spices, grass-fed proteins, bone broth, soups & stews, leafy greens, herbal teas, cacao, fermented foods and raw dairy.
Here are a few of my favorite foods so far…
Bean-less Chili: The perfect meal for a winter day. It is so warming + nourishing, I like to serve it with a dollop of greek yogurt and some sourdough bread with butter.
Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup: My hyper-fixation. Always. You really can’t beat it. It is the best comfort meal. I use sourdough bread, raw cheddar cheese, and tons of butter to make the grilled cheese. + then an heirloom tomato bisque….heavenly.
Cure-All Comfort Soup: It really is a cure all. I felt a sickness coming on and this gave my body all the nourishment I needed. I literally drank it for breakfast lunch and dinner.
Loaded Turkey Sandwich: Pre & Post thanksgiving I became obsessed with “Thanksgiving Leftover” sandwiches, and that obsession has not stopped. I change it up each time, but all you really need is some good bread, turkey, cranberry sauce, mayo, lettuce, cheese, sauerkraut, salt + pepper. Heavenly. If you want to upgrade it even more… make this recipe.
Stuffed Squash: Save a bowl, eat a squash, is my winter motto. I love this stuffed Acorn Squash Bowl.
Bone Broth Hot Chocolate: Winter comfort in a cup. This is grounding, nourishing warming and the perfect touch of sweetness. Makes me (& my digestion) feel wonderful. I crave it every afternoon.
Cranberry Salsa: This and cranberry sauce are two things I never thought I would continue outside of thanksgiving but they’ve been an absolute staple. I can’t stop eating either and I will not stop until it is no longer cranberry season.
Homemade Sourdough: Winter is the perfect time to dust up on your bread baking skills. Sourdough is a labor of love and the most rewarding process. It is the best bread - can’t argue with that. You can make sourdough from scratch (recipe below in my guide) or you can ask around local bakeries to see if they sell it! I’ve been having a ton of fun with sourdough discard recipes too, making sourdough baguettes, bagels, challah muffins, english muffins and more!
TIP: Sometimes sourdough struggles in the cold weather, so my favorite trick to help it grow is to turn the oven on & set the sourdough starter on top of the oven. Has really helped mine thrive. Also, make sure you are using warm water vs cold or room temp.
I want to thank you for being a supporter of this newsletter. I wake up every day so excited and passionate about what I do, and you make that possible. I hope that you have the best month ever, and I’ll talk to you soon. Xo - Ella
Thoughts and a positive mood are important, of course, but nevertheless no one has canceled the support of the body using various food additives. For me, the Gundry MD Bio Complete 3. I found it here https://www.gundrymdbiocomplete3.com/ , and you can read it here, and you can just read more about the composition, which is natural and safe, and also quickly buy with delivery.