Love & Life Elevated

In the United States, the average American consumes 90 grams or more of sugar daily. A study that took place over thirty years investigated the level of sugar consumption that impacts our mental health - that number is 60 grams and above. No wonder mental health is at a crisis point.

Today's message is all about leadership of the heart and having the courage to Be the Change. Here are three practices to help build resilience and courage.

When we feel hopeful we want to do things for reasons bigger than ourselves. Hope can be created through goal setting, mindfulness, and more. Believe that you have the qualifications to be a leader and a pollinator for hope.

Nature helps us re-acquaint ourselves with beauty, grace, and peace. Do a little bit of good in the world today. Make eye contact. Give hugs. Let others know that you SEE them. Giving kindness and love to others helps boost energy - ours and theirs.

"Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them." - Marcus Aurelius. What does the good life look like for you? Get fixated on what brings you purpose, grace, and joy. Stay connected to what brings you more life.

One of the most powerful practices we can do each day is to look within. What can you control and what can you release control of? Rather than trying to change a person or a situation, reflect on what you can do in response to the situation. 

From Stoic philosophy - This is the very thing that makes up a happy and virtuous life. When we can reduce "the self" versus being a vehicle for the Divine to move through our "selves," we become a vehicle for love.

The power of love is real. Love really does win. Physiologically, physically, emotionally, spiritually - love is the elixir that will lift up everything.  "Love is an adventure and a conquest. It survives and develops, like the universe itself, only by perpetual discovery." ~Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Amori fati = Love of Fate.  Fate comes our way whether we want it or not. We get a chance to forecast what comes to our life. Much of our life is predictable. What are you willing to curate in your life that allows you to love what you have? Decorate your life with real friends, not deal friends. 

This is all about the intensity of exercise in relation to life extension. Two minutes of vigorous (intense) exercise, equivalent to just 15 minutes per week can cut overall mortality risk by up to 40%. Raise your vigor, your light, and your vibrancy with high-intensity training!

Nostalgia, music, connection, and memory help us stay connected to what brings us joy, peace, and love. Transmit a sense of love, connection, building bridges, and positive energy simply by surrounding yourself with images of those you love and connecting to a shared song.

What is the most powerful way to stay motivated? Motivation comes from within - from ourselves for ourselves. Studying the brain and what lights up during motivation revealed that by feeling good about ourselves, we step up and take better care of ourselves.

There are so many different hormones and neurochemicals that are released when we listen to sad songs that are deeply personal to us. Emotional resilience is fortified and a deeper level of intimacy can be formed with a loved one.  They open the channels that allow grieving to come.

Aristotle coined the term, Eudaimonia, which means full alignment with one's deepest values. Show up with conviction and live your deepest values. Eudaimonia helps us mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

Are you choosing drama or your dreams? Discipline is the channel to freedom. The more we lean into what we love, the more we give ourselves the freedom to choose a life we love. Choose a path of dharma.

This is all about leaving the space that is comfortable and moving into the space that is true. Don't be afraid to stand for principles and experiences that are yours to fulfill. We have the role of modeling permission and standing in our truth. 

Who do I want to be in the end? That all depends on how I choose to live today. I want to be fully awake, fully present, unafraid. We're not heroes at the beginning. We are heroes at the end of life - because we were present to what truly matters each day. Stay awake. Be present for life, for those you love. 

Einstein said, "The measure of intelligence is the ability to change." No change means no growth. Make sure human interactions are the fulcrum of all that you do. Allow your genius and eccentricity to shine.

There is a subtle sadness when we find ourselves playing a role that we no longer are. Epictetus encourages us to examine and uphold the standard we set for ourselves. Are your actions consistent with your dreams and desires? Love yourself into your highest potential.

Self-love is at the root of social activism. When we love ourselves, we naturally want to extend that love to others. We see the interconnectedness of all beings and we feel called to protect and defend those who are vulnerable. We become the change we want to see in the world. We show up. We can't help but want to be a part of the solution. Let's be better at being good humans. The world needs us...

Mayo Clinic experts say that gratitude may be one of the most important factors in achieving optimalism. Expressing gratitude has been linked with better physical health, improved psychological well-being, and increased resilience in the face of stress.

It is time to get out of our own way. Remember how much power you have to change your mind, your body, and the world around you through your living example of gratitude and thankfulness. When we do this, our hearts respond immediately. Blood pressure drops, oxytocin increases, and endorphins flow. Our bodies become calmer and our minds more clear. From this space of peace, we can make better decis...

We all have those days where we feel like we can't get out of bed, let alone face the day. We're tired, cranky, and just overall burned out. It's easy to see kindness as a waste of time in these moments, but new research is showing that even small acts of kindness can make a big difference.

Whether we're facing economic uncertainty, geopolitical turmoil, or any sort of adversity, keeping love alive during times like these can feel like an uphill battle. At the same time, though, there are certain things we can do to build oxytocin levels and strengthen our relationship with those we care about. One key is to cultivate a spirit of trust and empathy. By being unconditionally accepting...

We often find ourselves spinning our wheels, getting nowhere. If we want to change the things in our lives that are within our control, we must first take an honest inventory of what those things are. This is the first step in making any lasting change.