4 Unique Ways to Handle a Toxic Relationship

Hi, healers! Check out my new MindBodyGreen post here and pasted below.

"Toxic people – we all know them and some of us may be currently engaged in unhealthy relationships with them. They push you down instead of lifting you up, they drain you instead of enriching your life, and they require more from you than they will ever be able to give back. These people are often energy vampires, and before you know it, they have sucked the life out of you and have moved onto their next victim. The obvious remedy is to shield yourself from toxic individuals by ending or avoiding relationships with them, but often, there are toxic individuals that we cannot avoid. Does your family member always have something negative to say? Is your boss a Debbie Downer? Does your co-worker constantly complain and never have anything positive to say?

Believe it or not, there are effective ways to deal with toxic people when you are in a situation that does not allow you to cut ties with or actively avoid them. Below are four unique ways to handle a toxic relationship.

1. Learn to Take Responsibility for Your Feelings – No one can MAKE you feel anything. You always choose how you will react to someone. Most often, it is not the situation that needs changing, but it is us who need to change how we react to a situation. Just as your thoughts create your reality, the way you see the situation will create the situation that you see.

2. Send Love, Compassion, and Healing – During your daily meditations or prayer sessions, take some time to send thoughts of love, healing, and compassion to this individual. Hurt people hurt people. Individuals who are happy, love themselves, and find ease and balance in their lives do not cause other people misery. In fact, they spread love and good energy wherever they go. Toxic people need our love and compassion the most, and they often receive it the least.

3. Create and Maintain Healthy Boundaries – Boundaries are reflections of self-love and respect. Setting and maintaining healthy boundaries are not about getting the other person to change, but they are about communicating to others what you will and will not tolerate in your life. Give yourself the gift of healthy boundaries because they are the gifts that keep on giving, especially when dealing with toxic relationships.

4. Look for the Lesson – Why have you attracted these people into your life? All relationships are assignments from the universe to teach us more about ourselves. They are often mirrors showing us negative aspects or characteristics we possess or that which we judge in others and/or in ourselves. Relationships are one of the greatest opportunities for personal growth and spiritual development, so look for the lesson and learn something!

Happy Healing!

My Father, My Hero

Check out my new mindbodygreen.com post here and pasted below, and Happy Father's Day to the best father EVER!

"The father-daughter relationship is one of the most important relationships on earth, but many fathers often grossly underestimate their importance in the lives of their daughters, doubting their significance and influence and often withdrawing much too quickly from the essential bond formed in childhood and early adolescence. When a father checks out, whether that is through physical/emotional absence or abuse of any kind, his daughter’s sense of self-worth, ability to have healthy relationships, mental health, and ability to strive and achieve can profoundly suffer.

I’ve been incredibly fortunate, and sometimes, I wonder what I ever did to deserve all of the blessings in my life, the beautiful, strong bond I have with my father being just one of many. Throughout my life, my father has been a stable, loving presence, supporting and guiding me through my trials and tribulations, sharing in my triumphs, and being a shining example of how a man should act at all times and in all situations. I have fond memories of riding my bike beside my father, a marathon runner, while he ran, and then running with him, shoulder to shoulder, when I became old enough to dip my toe into the quickly consuming pool of long-distance running (I’ve been addicted to the sport ever since).

When he would go to the mall and bring home beautifully put together outfits for my mom (who is also one-of-a-kind) as a surprise gift, I was watching. When he would tell me that he loved me and that I was beautiful every single day, which he still does, I was listening. When he would write me notes and leave them for me to find, I was learning how to do the same. When he would tell me that everything would be OK, I believed him. Even if it wasn’t all OK, I felt, and still feel, protected by him. He is like my umbrella during a rainstorm – the rain is still falling, I can see it, touch it, and sometimes the wind blows it on me, but I am sheltered by his love and commitment to me as his child (no matter how old I become).

When we hear the word “hero,” it usually brings up images of super men (or women) with super powers, sweeping in and saving humanity from villains and natural disasters, but when I hear that word, in my mind’s eye, I see my father. The word “hero” to me is full of subtleties, small, quiet, stable, yet profound ways of making impacts and changing lives. A hero puts his best self forward and uses compassion, kindness, empathy, and non-violence to serve humanity, whether that is the entire world or his immediate family. Service without expectation of material gain or recognition is a true act of heroism, and my father is famous for his generosity. I only hope that someday I can repay him for all he has done and continues to do for me.

Dad, you’re my father and my hero. I love you."

Happy Healing!

How I Recover From PT

Hi, healers! I was asked what I do after PT to contain the flares and recover quickly. Right after PT, I have 16oz of Taste Nirvana coconut water followed by 24oz of green juice (kale, spinach, green apple, cucumber, and a few pieces of watermelon or cantaloupe). I follow that with a retention coffee enema. Then, I have a HUGE all raw salad (leafy greens, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, onion, tomato, couliflower, garlic, etc.) with flax oil, raw apple cider vinegar, some blueberries or mulberries, and usually 3tbsp of hemp seeds. Very anti-inflammatory. Throughout the day, I make an effort to rest from any other physical activity, and I eat fruits and another HUGE salad for dinner. I might add in some quinoa or something like that for dinner. I also do another retention coffee enema. This is what works for me.

Any questions?

Happy Healing! 

Progress!

(Me and Laura, one of my basketball players, at her graduation last week)

Hi, healers! I just wanted to give you a little update. I have been doing PT three times a week for 2-3 hours at a time (lots of strengthening and stretching along with elliptical and treadmill warm ups). On the off days, I am able to go for hilly walks that last anywhere from 25-45 minnutes. I have been taking the difficulty of PT so well that we even introduced running for a few minutes on the treadmill at the end of my sessions. It obviously hurts, but we take it right to the edge of a flare, and I go home and contain it with lots of alkaline and anti-inflammatory foods and drinks. By the next day, I am feeling back to normal.

If you have any questions, let me know. A raw vegan diet is EVERYTHING right now. It is helping me recover quickly and contain flares. Remember, I don't take any medication. Not even advil.

I have to jet, but I will write again soon with more information as I continue on this healing journey.

Happy Healing!