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
How To Do Your Own Happiness Project and Whole30 Coconut Pistachio Crusted Chicken
As I am sure we have all experienced firsthand, being inspired to do something or thinking that a certain thing is worth doing can still be quite a distance from knowing exactly how to do it or getting started. Although I am full of good intentions, one constant struggle for me is taking the first step to get things moving. I am often paralyzed by the desire for perfection or afraid of making a mistake I’ll later regret, but I am continuing to learn that that it is often better to do it now and to get things going, rather than to get them perfect. And now that I described…
Learn to Flourish: Why Do a Happiness Project and a Whole30 Broccoli “Cheese” Frittata
"However much we resist acknowledging it, we humans are not static. We're either on a positive trajectory or a negative one. Either we're growing in goodness, becoming more creative and resilient, or we're solidifying our bad habits, becoming more stagnant and rigid. [Our] life trajectory is leading [us] to languish or flourish…. People who flourish function at extraordinarily high levels - both psychologically and socially. They're not simply people who feel good. Flourishing goes beyond happiness, or satisfaction with life. True, people who flourish are happy. But that's not the half of it. Beyond feeling good,
Conducting a Personal Mid Year Review With a Side of Whole30 Southwest Stuffed Avocados
Although I know firsthand that it requires a lot of extra effort on the part of the manager or supervisor, and that the feedback may not always be all that wonderful, I think I've always been someone who really enjoys regular performance reviews. For as long as I can remember, I've looked forward to report cards, parent-teacher conferences and both corporate/companywide and personal reviews on the job. It's nice to get a reality check or alternative perspective on what's going well and what can be improved upon. Far too often, I find for myself at least, that I can really beat myself up or minimize my successes and progress and…
Overcoming the WTH Effect with a Whole30 Smoked Salmon Stack on Sweet Potato Toast
So there's failing, and then there's failing big. And let's just say, when I do go wrong, I often do it BIG. And it ain't pretty. I'm feeling like I'm finally caught up now, but just recently there were a few consecutive weeks which were extra hectic with a lot of deadlines and time intensive deliverables plus an inordinate amount of "little things" here and there which just required a lot of time. It was one of those months in which everything that had to be done was just barely getting done at the last possible moment and anything else was moved to the backburner. The lack of downtime was…
