Category — Healing

A few weeks ago my friend took  me to see a truly inspiring movie called, May I Be Frank, about a man who goes through a Raw Transformation.

Movie Synopsis from The May I Be Frank Website:

May I Be Frank chronicles the transformation of Frank Ferrante’s life. Frank is 54 years old, obese, depressed, and addicted. He stumbles into a local raw, organic and vegan restaurant in San Francisco, Café Gratitude.  When Ryland, a server at Café Gratitude asks Frank “What is one thing you want to do before you die?” Frank replies, “I want to fall in love one more time, but no one will love me looking the way I do”.

Ryland, his brother Cary, and Conor, his best friend, are inspired by the possibility of helping Frank.  For the next 42 days, Frank will eat only raw food, practice gratitude, visit local holistic practitioners, and get a weekly colonic.  Ryland, Conor, and Cary get to support Frank’s miraculous transformation.  Frank gets a new body, a clearer mind, and most importantly, a soaring spirit.  May I Be Frank documents the essence of the human condition and what it truly means to fall in love again.

 I was deeply inspired by the movie, May I Be Frank, and I decided to write a blog post about what we can learn from Frank Ferrante.

 7 Things We Can Learn From Frank Ferrante’s Raw Transformation

 1. Transformation Takes Commitment

One of the first scenes in the movie is when Frank signs a contract to eat all raw everyday, get regular colonics, drink 4 ounces of wheatgrass daily, do daily affirmations as well as many other lifestyle changes for 42 days.

Frank shows a strong commitment by being willing to hold himself accountable to making huge changes in his way of living for the next 42 days. Saying that you’re going to complete something and then following through takes a strong commitment.

 How about writing a contract with yourself about what changes you would like to make in your life. Exercising everyday for a month, juicing everyday for a week, or saying affirmations everyday in the mirror . .  . (etc.) Write a contract for yourself, sign and date it, and then follow through, you’ll be glad you did.

 2. Transformation Takes Courage

Frank shows tremendous courage by stepping into the unknown. He doesn’t really have any idea what he is signing up for, he just knows that he wants his life to change. He never had wheatgrass before or a colonic before and at first they seem foreign, almost scary to him, but by the end of 42 days he is an old pro:)

 Dysfunction can be comfortable, safe, and familiar. Any change is scary even if it leads to bigger and better things.

 Allow yourself to be scared, allow yourself to feel uncomfortable. Remember the Martin Luther King, Jr. Quote, You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.

 3. Transformation is Messy

 Halfway through the movie Frank is bubbling up with old anger which is demonstrated by a bitter fight he has with his ex-wife. He feels hopeless, like he wants to give up on the whole transformation thing, because it seems as if old patterns are remerging and nothing seems to be changing. For me, the best part in the movie was when one of Frank’s coaches reassures him, in his moment of desperation, that the universe is perfect and maybe he had just the perfect interaction in that exact perfect moment that he needed.

Transformation is never smooth. Old ugly patterns will rear their heads. A more accurate interpretation would be that you will become conscious of old patterns that have stopped you in the past so that you can change them.

 Don’t expect transformation to be a smooth ride; it’s ugly, emotional, vulnerable, and sometimes you will want to give up. Just know that everyone falls down, the trick is, getting back up.

 4. Transformation Takes Authenticity

 Frank’s team wouldn’t have been able to help him if he didn’t have the courage to be completely open. Frank risked showing his feelings and in the end, he gained deeper relationships with people that were able to accept him for who he was. He didn’t have to pretend anymore. With Frank’s willingness to be vulnerable he was able to heal some very deep family wounds and strengthen his relationship with his family.

How can you change if you can’t admit that anything is wrong? Transformation takes honesty, not just with the world but more importantly, with yourself. Are you in denial or lying to yourself about how bad things are? Are you afraid of what people might think if they knew the real you? Take that chance, maybe you will give someone the opportunity to love you and accept you more than you ever thought possible.

 5. Transformation is From the Inside Out

 Even though Frank’s physical transformation is notable, it wouldn’t have been possible if he didn’t work on the inner transformation. Through support and daily affirmations Frank is able to learn to love and accept himself. This new relationship with himself is what helped him to make intelligent food choices.

When embarking on any physical transformation remember that at the core, is learning to love and accept yourself. The more you love and accept yourself the more likely you are to eat a healthy diet that nourishes your body instead of harming it.

 What can you do today to love yourself a little more? Can you be gentle with yourself if you make a mistake?, can you believe in yourself a little more?, can you tell yourself you love yourself? Simple acts of love can be the most powerful.

 6. Transformation Never Ends

 I was lucky enough that I got to speak with Frank and he was very open about his life. He admitted that he had just broken up with his girlfriend and was having a tough time. He said he was a work in progress and that he was still learning how to be authentic.

I loved his message because it is easy to think that transformation has a final destination and the truth is, is that we are always evolving, some would even say eternally. So if transformation is a never ending process, that should take the pressure off a little bit right? Next time we are impatient with our progress we just have to remember that we have an eternity to get it right, or at least a lifetime

 7. Transformation Requires a Support Team

 I asked Frank what advice he would give to people wanting to transform their lives. And you know what he said? He said that seeking support was the most important thing you could do! Frank was lucky that he had three coaches and we may not be so lucky to have three coaches but we can always go to a raw food potluck, find an accountability partner, or work with a raw food coach such as myself. 

 I would be happy to support you on your next committed, courageous, authentic, messy, never ending, wonderful, beautiful, delicious raw transformation!

 Click here to schedule a raw food phone consultation with Cecilia to start your raw transformation!

Click here to learn more about the May I Be Frank Movie and to find a screening near you.

Click here for Frank’s Ferrante’s  honestly written and inspirational blog.

♥,
C

Tools for Healing and Self Actualization
AKA: What I’ve been Reading, Watching, and Listening to Lately.

I thought it would be fun to share with you some of the things I’ve been doing. I’ve just recently adopted a Chihuahua Mix puppy from a local dog rescue and that’s occupied a lot of my time. (Hence the break from blogging for a few weeks!)

Can you say awwwwww!

I’ve also been in an inward mode of self healing and self exploration and I wanted to share to with you a few of the tools I’ve been using.

What I’ve Been Watching:

I was lucky enough to come across the film, The Living Matrix : A Film On The New Science Of Healing

If you are interested in healing, energy medicine, the mind body connection, or if you are ill and would like some inspiration I highly recommend you watch the movie, The Living Matrix. It can be purchased online or you can see if a screening is coming to a town near you.

Many cutting edge leaders in the energy medicine field are interviewed including researchers, scientists, and healers as well as a few testimonies from people who have healed themselves of ailments using some of the techniques featured in the film. To see the complete list of participants in the film please go here: http://thelivingmatrixmovie.com/participants

Some of the techniques mentioned in the movie were NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming), NES , Reconnective Healing , Dream Healer , and Visualization. For a full list of resources from the movie please go here: http://thelivingmatrixmovie.com/resources

I was inspired by the movie because my passion in life has always been healing. I am in awe of the bodies ability to heal and of the spirit’s ability to transform. I believe that healing isn’t always just about the body. I believe that it first starts with the mind and emotions and illness is just the manifestation of chronic negative thoughts and stagnate emotions.  Healing can occur even if a person has no physical symptoms. Healing can be about forgiveness, letting go of grief, or changing a thought pattern. I say this because, just because you are not physically ill does not mean you can’t benefit from watching this movie or trying some of the healing modalities featured. I was so inspired that I actually have found local practitioners in my area and have tried a few of the modalities in the film including NES, Reconnective Healing, and I’m planning to go to a Dream Healer workshop in the Spring. I’ll keep you posted and write more about my experiences with these new healing modalities in the future.

What I’ve Been Reading

I came across this book at Café Gratitude called You Can Heal Your Life
Louise Hay. The beautiful illustrations caught my eye and as it turns out it’s a classic and Louise Hay is the founder of Hay House Publishing and Hay House Radio.  

In the book Louise explains how we are responsible for our own reality and that limiting beliefs are often the cause of illness, especially feelings of unworthiness and self hatred. She outlines how to change your thinking and improve your life with positive affirmations and mental exercises to foster self love and acceptance. The book has been redesigned with beautiful illustrations and it has been a pleasure to read. If you have a friend or family member into self growth, this might be a lovely a gift.

Here is my affiliate link to the book on Amazon:

 What I’ve Been Listening To:

Both my husband and I have been listening to this wonderful meditation/visualization CD: Journey Into Meditation by
Lisa Guyman. In this C.D. Lisa offers three meditations. The first is a chakra balancing waterfall meditation which is very relaxing and it is most often the one my husband and I listen to before we go to bed.  The second meditation/visualization is about accessing information from your guides and higher self, and the third meditation is about visualizing the things that you want to manifest in your life such as vibrant health and financial abundance.

Since listening to the C.D. both my husband and I noticed that we are sleeping better and more deeply and that we are generally calmer during the day. We also notice that in situations that used to frazzle us, we seem unfazed. My husband has told be things like: This is the calmest I’ve ever seen you putting on Thanksgiving, organizing a potluck . . .(etc.) We are so excited about the benefits we’ve found from meditating that we ordered a bunch of other meditation C.D.’s, but we must say that Lisa Guyman’s C.D. is our absolute favorite! Her voice is soothing, the music is not overwhelming, and the visualizations are pleasant.

Here is my affiliate link to the C.D. on Amazon:

Lisa Guyman
Journey Into Meditation

I hope you enjoyed my update and possibly find some of the tools I mentioned helpful. If you like my recommendations, please check out my recommendations page where I give my top picks for books, C.D.’s, and other useful things especially if you are gift shopping!

Don’t forget to nurture yourself this Holiday Season! We could all learn from these two R&R experts!

♥,
C