Originally I had planned to write about the topic of perfectionism today in light of some of the recent internal dialogue I have been having on the subject after recently reading Brene Brown's, I Thought It Was Just Me (But It's Not). I have been someone who has struggled with some relatively serious maladaptive levels of perfectionism for probably my whole life. In her typical penetrating style, Brown's insight on the topic was a bit deeper and more nuanced than the usual on the perils of perfectionism and it's been something which I have kept coming back to over the past few weeks. But as I sat down several times to try…
Learning How to Stay in Touch With Ourselves and a Whole30 Chicken Broccoli Casserole
Much has been written demonstrating the value of investing in experiences as opposed to things when it comes to boosting our satisfaction with life. And I know from personal experience I rarely regret spending money on meaningful or unique experiences which is especially true when they include the company of friends or family, a fact I was reminded of when my parents came to visit over the summer. Although we had many very memorable experiences together, one that I was considering lately was our night out in the West End to see Wicked. The production was fantastic. And it was fun to see it together because none of us were at…
Foundational Habits Part Three: How What We Eat Affects Everything Else
An idea which has always been a bit lost on me is the expression or admonition to "work smarter, not harder." Now I know intellectually what is meant, however, I cannot wrap my head around why there is necessarily a dichotomy. I have long thought that if only I could work both SMARTER and HARDER, then it would only serve to be all more advantageous no matter the endeavor. And in many ways this seems to have been the case (and in others it was my sanity and that of those around me to pay!). Certainly being strategic about one's efforts, in addition to being diligent, can really have a…
Foundational Habits Part One: Sleep and a Whole30 Butternut Squash and Sage Frittata
Although summer is my favorite, I do love September. The changing colors outside are gorgeous and (usually) the weather takes its time transitioning to full on freezing. I also love fresh starts and fall resolutions and getting back to routine, perhaps especially this time around when I've been out of it for so many weeks. I feel a bit behind in general as I attempt to catch up on everything personally and professionally in addition to preparing for a major move back to the States in just three months (that in and of itself is both exhilarating and anxiety-provoking simultaneously!). And while there's so much to do and I have…
If/Then Planning for Failure in Order to Succeed and a Whole30 Fall Salmon Salad with Avocado Poppy Seed Dressing
At the height of my "going out" phase, I was living with my sister Kyle and we noticed that it was quite common for us to excitedly make plans with each other or friends, go shopping to get the "perfect" new outfit, and even spend significant amounts of time getting ready the day of, only to realize that we didn’t feel like going out after all. Although I have already talked about some of the reasons how and why I try to do it anywaywhen it comes to the fun stuff, I've recently be considering how the phenomenon of affective forecasting errors can influence our ability to build and maintain healthy…
Willpower and a Whole30 “Mac and Cheese” Casserole
Something which will likely surprise no one is my proclamation that I really love the things that I love. I'm a Mile Deep person; once I get into something I often border on what some might consider obsessive. Clearly, I am a barre addict and intently interested in all things nutrition. I'll always love fashion and never get sick of reading. And I'll also probably never stop being completely enraptured by psychology especially as it relates to habits, mental strength, mindset, and willpower. Learning more about the way that we think and act and why we do what we do is absolutely fascinating to me. Things that seem so obvious…
Learning to Pause-and-Plan (While Savoring Whole30 Zuppe Toscana)
I know that time flies when you're having fun, but have really experienced that over the past few weeks. However, unfortunately for him, while my parents and I executed a nonstop travel and tourism itinerary, Jonathan was left at home - or more accurately, at work. His company has recently changed over their ERP system which in case you're not familiar with the term, is a very robust software system which controls jus
Knowing When It’s Worth It and a Whole30 Chicken Salad with Avocado Poppy Seed Dressing
Over the past few months, I have been trying to stop saying I am busy. I have probably always been somewhat aware of the extent to which "being busy" is often glorified in mainstream culture today, but have become increasingly convicted about this fact over time and also more cognizant of its ill effects. Besides, I acknowledge that "being busy" is relative and there are plenty of people the world over who actually are much more busy than I. All that to say, there are definitely seasons when my calendar is more richly scheduled than others and currently I am in the midst of one of those times. Thankfully, this time around…
The Flex in the City September Studio Whole30 and a Salmon Summer Salad
September is the new January. And as shocking as it may be, we are almost there already. As the summer draws to a close, the vast majority of us resume our usual schedule and routine, often focusing our efforts on new or revised goals and resolutions. I've shared before how just how powerful the shift in season can be due to the phenomenon of "fresh starts." Research shows that when we experience a change in season (metaphorically or literally) we experience a psychological clean slate which provides a unique and important opportunity to make considerable changes to our health and habits with less concerted effort. And I personally feel that…
For the Right Reasons and a Whole30 Shrimp Pomodoro Pasta
There's doing the right thing. And then there's doing the right thing for the right reasons. Lately, it seems that I am being reminded of this important fact everywhere I go. As I mentioned earlier this week, one of the benefits of reading fiction is that it allows us to see things from different perspectives - from that of the characters, their setting and situations, and also from a big picture. That, in combination with a powerful message last week at Grace Church, has prompted me to more closely
