*Disclaimer – This article is very general and is not meant to be a substitute for advice from your healthcare professional for your particular situation. Please consult a healthcare professional before changing your exercise or diet routine.

1. The “Only If” Attitude – Usually it’s about money and sounds something like this: If only I had enough money to go that wonderful out of state healing retreat, buy organic produce, see practitioner/healer X . . . Or sometimes it’s about circumstances: If only my family/partner ate more healthfully, if only I lived in a warmer climate, if only I didn’t have to work . . .

Now these reasons may be very valid reasons but they can also trick us into thinking that we need to postpone our healing or our health until everything is “just right” and this simply is just not true. A little mantra I like to say to myself is:

Healing Starts Now, Healing Starts From Within (deep breath)

No matter what our circumstances, we can start the healing process by taking a few minutes to go inward to connect with the healing power within through meditation and visualization.

We can also choose to do our best with our circumstances and the things we do have control of, such as getting enough sleep, getting out in the fresh air, exercise, focusing on positive feelings and thoughts of love gratitude and joy while releasing negative emotions and thoughts, nurturing and pampering ourselves . . .and many of these things are for free!

And even on a low budget there are ways to create an affordable healing routine. For example, you might not have money for a gym membership, Tai Chi, or Qigong class, but what about a video you could watch everyday? You may not be able to afford seeing practitioner X, but what about asking for a payment plan, a trade, or if they could refer you to someone more affordable. Maybe you cannot afford to be on a 100% raw food diet, but what about a 50% raw diet, or another therapeutic diet that is more affordable such as the Macrobiotic diet. . .(etc.)

2. The “I Am Only My Physical Body” Attitude – We are multifaceted beings that each have 4 major bodies: the physical body, spiritual body, emotional body, and mental body. Most people focus only on the physical aspect of healing and ignore the rest. An example of this, would be eating a healthy diet and taking all the right supplements, but not doing anything to reduce the amount of stress in their lives!

Here are some examples of different things you can do to address healing on multiple levels:

Taking care of the physical body includes: improving your diet, starting an exercise program, getting a massage, having a nice living area, going to bed earlier . . .

Taking care of your spiritual body includes: meditation, prayer, qigong, tai chi, energy healing, some types of yoga . . .

Taking care of your emotional body includes: positive friendships and intimate relationships, pampering yourself and doing things that bring you joy, expressing and voicing feelings as they come up, releasing negative emotions through different exercises or therapies, focusing on and cultivating positive emotions through affirmations and gratitude lists . . .

Taking care of your mental body includes: learning something new, reading a new book, being involved in a project that you find exciting and fulfilling, using affirmations and gratitude lists to keep your mind focused on the positive . . .

3. The “I’ve Tried it All” Attitude – The “I’ve tried it all” (and nothing worked) attitude is the most self sabotaging attitude because it denotes an attitude of hopeless and resignation. What I’ve found is that most people’s definition of trying it all, includes trying a lot of different things for a short period of time.

Healing can take time. Changing your diet for a few weeks does not count. Going to see an acupuncturist for a month does not count. I’m not saying every healing modality you choose to pursue is going to work for you, but it’s important to really give it some time before you make your decision. Of course, this time period needs to be figured out between you and a health professional, but I would guess that most alternative therapies take at least 3 months, 6 months, or even a year to really see a difference.

Most people are still looking for the “magic pill” that will instantly heal them overnight and, yes, some medicines can do this in emergency situations, but when healing a chronic condition it usually takes a comprehensive holistic approach that requires commitment, dedication, effort, and time!

So my advice, don’t give up! And if all else fails remember:

Healing Starts Now, Healing Starts From Within (deep breath)

Comments are welcome below

♥,
C

P.S. Just a heads up that the What do Raw Fooder’s Eat, E-book special with the 400 dollars worth in bonuses is no longer going to be available after July 26th. Check out what people are saying about it here:

http://rawglow.com/blog/2011/07/15/what-do-raw-fooders-eat/

I was very lucky to be part of this ground breaking new e-book where I, along with 48 other high raw fooders, had to keep a meticulous food journal for an entire week! It was super fun writing down everything that I ate during the week and it was an amazing opportunity to share this information with others, as I often get asked what I eat!

Here is little video I made explaining the e-book, What do Raw Fooders Eat?

If you can’t see the video above you can watch it here:

http://youtu.be/RhDpL73A1rY

Here is my affiliate link if you would like more info about this exciting project! (is no longer going to be available after Aug. 23rd, 2011!)

http://rawgourmet.com/cmd.php?af=1286243

Here is what people are saying about the e-book What do Raw Fooders Eat?

I have to tell you that I bought your book immediately upon it’s release. Sweetie, you’ve outdone yourself and that’s saying a lot as The Raw Gourmet is still my favorite raw food uncook book.

Way to go! I wish you all the best luck with this amazing work of art you’ve put together. – Mary M

I want to thank you profusely for sending me this e-mail for it seems like a live fooder’s dream come true; ie real experiential stories of those who have succeeded in the live food lifestyle. I ordered it immediately on seeing the e-mail, and so I’m one of the first 300 getting the bonuses. I feel I now have everything I could possibly need to really live an optimal live food lifestyle. As you see, I’m already sharing this e-mail, and this info., with my friends and students. - Barry from Boston

I just ordered and downloaded your new book plus the bonuses…thank you for this generous offer. There are some books that I have wanted for quite some time I’m very much looking forward to kicking back and indulging.

Although I just briefly ran through a few of the highlights of what raw fooders eat. I have my favorites already. I was very impressed with David Kaplan. His story brought tears of joy to my eyes. I also enjoyed, and have always been impressed with Jinjee, The Garden Diet as well as Will Tuttle. Very interesting people and sincere to say the least - Wanda

I am writing to say THANK YOU for the special offer to purchase your e-book today and for the bonus books that came along with it! I was informed of the offer through the Living Light International newsletter and I am over joyed at all of the information you have provided for me today. I am amazed because it came at the perfect moment – I am morbidly obese and am on a journey to health through changing my lifestyle and incorporating more whole foods – and eliminating all meat, dairy and animal products from my diet. I am humbled and feel that this opportunity is more confirmation that I am on the right path to health and wellness. – Heather W

The e-book What do Raw Fooders Eat? is no longer going to be available after Aug. 23rd, 2011. Make sure to take advantage of this unique offer. Click my affiliate link below to learn more about What do Raw Fooders Eat?:

http://rawgourmet.com/cmd.php?af=1286243

Some of you may have already written your new year’s resolutions or perhaps you have been thinking about them. I would like to give you a different perspective on new year’s resolutions and perhaps encourage you to reevaluate the resolutions that you have made. Are they really what you want this year?

I’m asking you to sit with yourself in a quiet place and get in touch with your inner heart. I’m not talking about the heart organ, but a deep place in your being where some say connects you to the infinite and beyond. It is a sacred place to be entered in with great respect and gentleness.

From that place: if you were to ask your heart, right now, what it wants for 2011 what would it say?

What seed is in your heart that longs to bloom?

In our business we sometimes forget to really listen to what our body and soul is telling us. Most of the time, we create our resolutions from a place of ego. Our goals are reflections of what we think we should be like or look like or what we should have achieved. Should Should Should. . . We measure ourselves by outside standards; we compare ourselves to others and secretly compete with them in our minds. How authentic are our goals and how much happiness and fulfillment can they really bring?

For example, many people would like to lose weight this year. Their goal might be to lose x number of pounds by the end of the year. But if they were to ask their heart what it wants, it might say it wants unconditional love and self acceptance. Now loosing weight might very well be a side affect of cultivating feelings of self worth, but loosing x number of pounds is no guarantee that you will feel better about yourself and more self confident. The true goal of any goal is almost always joy and peace, and your heart will lead the way if you listen.

Another resolution might be to make more money this year, but if you asked your heart what it wanted, it might say that it wants an acknowledgment and unshakable faith in the abundance of the universe. The truth is, you could have millions but still live in fear and uncertainty that it could all be taken away at any moment. Which attitude do you think would attract more abundance: rock solid faith in the ability of the universe to provide for all living things, or fear, scarcity, and attachment?

Another goal on your list might be to “go raw”, but if you asked your heart what it wanted it might say that it wants you to slow down and listen to your body and make conscious food choices guided by the deep respect and reverence you have for yourself. This attitude might lead to some raw foods eventually, but can see how much more pleasant the journey could be?

Are you starting to see the difference?

An external ego based goal imposes a structure that you must conform to, an authentic heart based goal allows for growth and expansion based on fundamental universal truths.

Heart based goals feed and nourish your soul. Ego based goals feed your outer image, yet do not promise fulfillment. Heart based goals promise you satisfaction beyond your wildest dreams. After all, your heart will be where your treasure is and vice versa.

What might your heart want to tell you today? Do you have the courage to listen?

May you have the courage to follow the deep calling of your heart!

Happy 2011

♥,
C

*Above is a picture of some mineral vegetable broth I made with the left over juice pulp of celery, carrot, and beet juice. It was a beautiful red orange color that I then sprinkled with dulse flakes.

Last November I wrote a post about how to stay warm on the raw food diet and in the post I explained how I make mineral vegetable broth full of essential nutrients and electrolytes. The original post elicited a positive response and a few questions from readers, so now that the weather is cooling down a bit I decided to make a short video about how I make the (now famous!) mineral vegetable broth.

Click here if you can’t see the vegetable broth video above.

I’ve experimented with making mineral broths many different ways and I’ve found that they turn out the best when I make sure the broth has sweet, spicy, and salty elements.

Choose 3 or more from each category:

Sweet Elements

*Carrots
Beets
Sweet potatoes
Tomatoes
Bell peppers
Apples (without core)
Potatoes
Winter  or Summer squash

Spicy Elements

*Onions
Leeks
Ginger
Garlic
Scallions
Spicy Peppers (use sparingly)
Bay leaves
Thyme
Oregano
Rosemary

Salty Elements

*Kombu Seaweed
*Celery
Shitake Mushrooms
Miso Paste (optional)
Chard
Parsley
Cilantro
Kale
Collards
(any greens will do with the exception of dandelion greens which can make the broth too bitter)

You can also add any culinary or medicinal herb as well!

*Essential

Directions:

Rough chop the vegetables and put them in a large pot of water. Add a few sprigs of herbs, a few bay leaves, and at least 2-5 good sized pieces of seaweed. Kombu and Wakame work best, but any seaweed will do. Let the pot come to a boil and then simmer on low for at least 3 hours. You can then strain the broth and add a sprinkle of salt if desired. For a really clear broth you can use a sprout bag to strain it after it has cooled. Sip the warm broth like tea or use it as a base to make cooked vegetable soups and grain dishes. You can also freeze the broth to defrost for later.

Hope you enjoyed this recipe and stay warm!

♥,
C

I commonly get asked how to make green smoothie recipes that don’t taste, well, green. I can sometimes sense the fear in their voices, as if they are afraid to make a mistake and create a green mushy concoction that tastes like tar!

Okay so maybe I’m exaggerating a bit, but there is definitely a little trepidation when it comes to taking the green smoothie plunge! I take a no holds barred anything goes approach to making green smoothie recipes, but there are a few basic guidelines I abide by to make sure that my husband will drink his every morning (i.e. it has to taste good!). To learn my green smoothie basics, so that you can take a tasty walk on the wild (greens) side, watch the video below and let me know what you think:

Click here if you can’t see the green smoothie recipes video above.

If you want to delve a little deeper into the art of green smoothie making consider checking out Cecilia’s Green Smoothie Challenge Recipe Ebook.

Have a Great Day!

♥,
C