Coffee Conversations
Yesterday I had a session with my Personal Trainer and we combined it with a bit of a social natter. There is always so much we have to talk about, we share ideas and philosophies in so many areas of life. This time it turned into what I will call 'coffee conversations', but in actual fact this was a pivotal moment in a lesson of context. We both come across this so many times with clients but it's often hard to see it for yourself.
This guy likes his coffee, I've always known that and he talks about 'having a coffee' in the morning. Yep, there's nothing wrong with that you might argue except he then goes onto mention that he often has another coffee after lunch, except this is a mug of coffee, except this is not just a regular size mug but a super large 500ml mug... That equates to 1 litre of coffee each day!
Mind blown. Reality check moment. He hadn't realised that had been happening at all. Seems crazy, but in his mind he just had 'one or two coffees'. It was a really interesting moment of discovery for us both.
This went on to chatting about the mindset of context and the notion of scale in general. Let's use me as an example... I have a bit of a 'problem' with dried dates. I sometime have 'a handful' but actually when I come to think of it, I can fit a huge amount dates in one handful if I'm really going for it and I know they are full of sugars. Yet when I say 'just a handful' in a flippant way it's not quantifiable, it's easy to gloss over and forget, and in my mind I think of it is just 'one or two'.
So many people do this with drink too.... a 'glass' of wine anyone?
We all know how dramatically different the size of a a glass can be!
Someone who makes sure they have their government guidelines of '8 glasses of water a day' may have a barely half filled stubby tumbler, or a full filled high top tumbler- a person drinking from one version would equate to drinking about three times the amount of the other!
I often ask clients when keeping a food and drink diary to take photos of the food and not simply write down what they've consumed. I may have two people who come to me and say 'I had spaghetti bolognese for dinner' yet those two people may have had such hugely different portion sizes to the extent that the food itself is not really the critical factor at play at all, it's the context of scale and of quantity that we really need to keep a check on and create awareness around.
What do you think?
Are you guilty of the same patterns? How have you created an awareness around your own context?
I'd love to hear from you!
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Behind the scenes... and in my head!
When I post recipes, there is always so much time and effort that goes into each one. First I research the recipe, then I draft up my own version of the recipe from various resources, then I test that recipe (and hopefully it works first time but often it doesn't). Then I have to grab my props and shoot the recipe, edit the photos, then finally write the recipe up into the form of the blog post you get to see. Thats not to mention all the social media so that I can hope to inspire any many of you as possible.
There's a lot that goes on behind-the-scenes.
My mind never stops turning, often running off at random tangents- it is both a blessing and a curse! In everyday life I have so many ideas that and conversations that never make it on to paper (so to speak). Not because they aren't worthy, but simply because I over-estimate and over-analyse the amount of effort it takes to grab an idea from the realms of my mind or from an enthusiastic, animated conversation with a friend or client, and then document it on paper, or as in the case of my blog, in a post. Sometimes quick and simple is best.
Not everything in life need to be slick and polished. I want to show up for you as ME. As raw and vulnerable as possible, and I want you to feel that you can show up here as YOU.
I want to hear your experiences, you stories, your quirks and your imperfections and in return I'll offer you mine.
From now on I'm going to empty the contents of my mind a little more frequently for you all. Raw and unpolished as notes jotted fresh from thought. I hope you're cool with that. I'll still be throwing in plenty of recipes, but since I am a health coach, a life coach and to a large great extent 'an agent of change and transformation' (sorry, I had to throw that in after I heard it in my course lecture recently!) ha ha, I want you all to be in on that.
I often say that my mantra is to 'Question Everything'. This is the philosophy I (try to) embody in my life and my business... yet I feel I haven't been showing up in that way for you. I need to get my mind on paper, so i'm gonna give it my best shot.
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Mantra for Monday no. 106
When you live in the moment there is no fear of failure as you just learn as you go, moment to moment, in a cumulative wave of knowledge. All experiences should be viewed in the positive as learning is growth and growth is a positive outlet that moves us forward in life.
The true learning experience has no deadline, has no finite plan, has no tick boxes and paperwork, no ‘should’s, would’s, could’s… it simply is. It’s the most natural source of your daily existence; an existence when lived mindfully and in the moment.
These last weeks and months and years as i’ve pushed further forward and out of the comfort zone, I've been battling with much more internal negativity. The little voice inside that strives for perfection, that fears the unknown, that won't give credit to putting myself out there before I'm ‘ready’. This little voice is also the creation of my own worst critic when others around me see the best in me and what I have to offer the world.
But all these things fall by the wayside when you learn to live in the moment and appreciate the learning experience with every challenge and every task and every goal you set yourself.
The past and the future may serve to centre you, to teach you and to guide you on you way BUT it’s the experience itself and the journey that matters, and then maybe the achievement of the goal itself should simply become the icing on the cake.
What is Mantra for Monday?
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Mantra for Monday no. 88
I love this quote and I love the book it came from.
I've been listening to A Life Without Limits on audiobook for the last couple of weeks when i've been out for a run (or a power walk) and it's so inspiring- it actually makes me want to run faster!
One thing that is slightly scary is that I identify with some of the things she says a little too much... the pursuit for perfection that can ultimately be self destructive. Whilst I will say that my mental and emotional perspectives are far less extreme than Chrissie's it does remind me that I still need to learn to cut myself some slack in order to gain the most joy from this life and the moments that make it.
When it comes to having an open mind, I'm definitely working on that and doing a pretty good job! I have come so far over these last couple of years and so many more opportunities have presented themselves during the process of 'opening up' that I wouldn't otherwise have 'seen' or have been approached with. What I need to now learn is to embrace those opportunities and see where they lead- that's the scariest part of all.... it's not the hard work, and not the open mind... it's following through with where it my all lead. The unknown!
Realising your true potential will always be a trek into the unknown.
What is Mantra for Monday?
A mantra...for life!
Ok so it's been a busy few days.... my Mantra for Monday didn't make it beyond my head but believe me I did have a lot of 'mantra's going on up there!
I've been making a few decisions! You know what....that's such a huge weight off my shoulders, crazy how indecisiveness can really weigh so heavy- I had no idea!
There is no going back now. Look to the future. The future is bright.
In the last week I've enrolled with the Institute if Integrative Nutrition to study their Health Coaching course and on top of that I have been awarded a scholarship to study with The Coaching Academy (back here in London) to become a Life and Personal Performance coach.
I have had both courses at the back of my mind for at least a year but simply couldn't decide which to go for...so in the end I went for both. What made me decide? I came to realise one morning that if I had made those decisions when i first became inspired then I would have been qualified by now....
Life doesn't wait around you know!
I'll be back with more recipes later this week- I have a huge stock pile all photographed and ready to go so i'm eager to share them with you! For know here is today's Mantra- a day late (forgive me). It was inspired by the words of the founder of IIN, Joshua Rosenthal, who in his opening lecture talked of creating a ripple effect in the world. It was particularly fitting that I remembered some years back I had taken a photo of a stone I threw in a lake....
Lastly a little something else I wanted to share.... the Circle of Life.
As one of the first pre-course assignments, we were encouraged to review out circle of life and map out positive areas with a dot towards the outside and areas needing more work with a closer to the centre...once joined up you can get a sense of where imbalances lie. Mmmmm...I have some work to do! The joy aspect may see low compared to how I come across on my blog, but I have big highs and lows (mostly due to overwhelm and self-doubt) and am working on building consistency and controlling my emotions and self belief. Seeing it on paper gives a much clearer sense of perspective.
What would your circle look like?
Last note for today...sorry i waffled (just feel like i haven't taked to you properly in ages!) I will be sharing more 'holistic' 'life' and 'nutritional philosphy' kind of stuff on here over the next few months as I delve deeper into my courses. I promise there wil still be at least a couple of recipes each week.... just hope you stick round for the ride and enjoy a few more thoughts thrown in the mix.
That ok?
As ever I love to hear your thoughts. You lot make this whole deal all the more worth while. :-)