How we handle stress is often a reflection of our character. Stress is toxic for our mind, our life balance and our health. There is no doubt that there are stress factors every day and every space of our life: work, relationships, health, training … the list goes on and on.

When you really sit back and think about it, there aren’t many things in life that we have full control over. However, there is one thing we can control that influences all of our actions – our thoughts.

Our brain processes about 50,000 thoughts per day, 40,000 of them are negative thoughts. Many of us have been taught “the power of positive thinking.” My wife and I both grew up in households where our parents preached positivity. So great. But not always the most realistic.

The Danger of Positive Thinking

What happens when we focus only on positivity? If you’re living in a giant bubble and never have to make contact with other humans, this is a perfectly viable strategy. However, when you have to make connections with the world, even if you strive to see the best in others, this isn’t going to allow you much flexibility.

The Danger of Negative Thinking

It has been said that once we voice a negative comment, it is now seven times more powerful. Have you ever said something like this to yourself? “So-and-so makes me so angry” or “I’m so tired, I have no idea how I’ll get through the day.” Wow! We are prisoners to our own thoughts. Our thoughts control our words and our actions, and we are the only ones who can take full accountability for ourselves.

The Power of Neutral Thinking

When we take a displeasing situation and are forced to insert positive thinking, or even worse, verbalize positive comments, this may seem forced or fake. What we are suggesting is that you take the same situation and look at it as cause and effect. Absolutely acknowledge what has happened, and then through neutral thinking, move past it.

Remember the quote: “For every action, there’s an equal and opposite reaction?” This is what we are talking about. Life is built of “actions” and “reactions,” and we are encouraging you consider the reaction. Instead of injecting purely positive or negative responses as reactions to events, try to find the variation in every situation.

Let’s take one of our earlier examples, “I’m so tired, I have no idea how I’ll get through the day.” Just to be clear, this is a negative statement. Now, how could we make this a neutral statement? First, think about cause and effect. You’re tired, no denying it, but how will you acknowledge it and then, step two – move past it. Maybe something along the lines of “I didn’t get enough sleep last night, therefore I am tired. Tonight, I will go to bed earlier so that I feel more rested tomorrow.” See there, that wasn’t so hard. This process of neutral thinking allows us to have conflict resolution in our own minds, and helps us move past situations without focusing on the negative.

This way of thinking creates an opportunity to filter your thoughts and consider the cause a bit more directly. Over time, you may find yourself less exhausted by the rollercoaster ride of positive and negative responses most of our days include.

Control What You Can Control

If you’ve ever heard the quote “control what you can control,” here is the ultimate opportunity. You can’t control how others react to you, how the traffic is flowing, what the weather is like, how the stock market closes… but you can control your thoughts about any and everything that comes your way. You’re in charge of how you think, and what you verbalize. Small steps create big changes over time. Start now and stay alert of how you’re thinking.

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Jose Suarez

Jose is an ambassador for many brands including Lululemon, SweatNet, and our very own Clean Juice. Follow him on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/josesuarez84/

Most of us derive our identities from what we “do” or what we have accomplished. I am not going to lie to any of you as I am a guy who has been working in corporate America for the past 16 years – and to be completely transparent – I really enjoyed it. I recently made the decision to leave the comfort of a great position with the “Fortune #1″ company in order to pursue things that truly excite me, one of which is helping to focus more of my time and abilities on the growth of Humankind water.

I am not new to HKW, as I have been passionate about this ministry and calling from basically day 1. What I do think I have to offer now is a deeper knowledge and understanding of how to help build a brand and grow sales of this “product” that I’m so passionate about.

In the business world we throw around plenty of terms that the average adult doesn’t commonly come across such as: margin, acv, market share, trade spend, promotional funds, slotting fees, fsi’s, pos, pdq’s, etc etc.

There are two terms that I have become familiar with, but are taking on a new significance in my current state of life: Residual and ROI (Return On Investment).

• A few definitions of residual are: “things that remain or that are left over after the main part of something is gone” or “something left behind”.
• ROI can mean: “the most common profitability ratio” or ” the concept of an investment of some resource yielding a benefit to the investor”.

What has me constantly in a state of introspection are the questions:

What in my life currently will create “residual ROI”?

What can I focus my time, talents, and earthly treasures on, that will produce for me a return (profit) that will far outlast my life here on this earth?

I can’t get away from these thoughts/questions as I am realizing the brevity and the “finiteness” of the time promised me here on earth. I don’t know how many years I will be fortunate enough to live before I close my eyes for the last time, but I do know that I have already lived 39 years and by worldly standards – have done pretty well. But what am I leaving behind that will last beyond my life even to eternity? That is what is “plaguing”me in a very positive yet troubling way.

Some of the earthly things that many of us strive for are: cars, houses, investment properties, annuities, stocks and bonds, 401k’s, 529 accounts, royalties, buildings and scholarships in our name, etc. These are all great things and none of them are wrong if maintained in the right balance, but are they what our minds should be focused on for the future? An accumulation of stuff and personal accolades? Those things are exactly what society tells me to target, and in reality are where my mind and heart are commonly stuck.

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Thus far, I have been privileged to play a small part in touching over 500,000 people with at least 1 year of clean drinking water. Watching a group of pastors and youth workers accomplish so much, with so little in regards to traditional business acumen, has been so inspiring to me. What if all the accomplishments of my past were all orchestrated purposefully so that I could spend the rest of my life skillfully attacking the greatest preventable physical problem our generation faces? What if with the remainder of my life I focus my attention on the quality of life we can provide for each of those precious people that we are able to facilitate sustainable clean water for? What if one of those lives that gets touched with clean water is a child who can make it to adulthood, and is the one who will find the cure for cancer and/or HIV? What if one of those lives that gets touched ends up reaching nation after unreached nation and proclaims the gospel to the places that I am too afraid to go?

• Is it worth it for me to give up more of myself – in pursuit of ending a problem that our world has basically chalked up to being “impossible to solve”?
• Is it worth it for you to believe that your support of Humankind water may be accomplishing a greater good than you could ever imagine?

Bill Gates, who is regarded as one of the richest men this planet has ever known, seems to have caught wind of what it means to focus his energy on accomplishing things for the world that will far outlive he or his family. Other billionaires are following suit and pledging to take their remaining years and focusing on eradicating some of the greatest issues our generation deals with globally. None of you who are reading this blog are billionaires, but the challenge is to be faithful with the “little” we have in the same proportion that a billionaire should.

There was a man who once said something impactful about having faith the size of a mustard seed. Was that statement meant to challenge us to step out of our comfort zones and cause us to go after the “seemingly impossible”? I firmly believe it was. Who wants to join with us and pledge to make such a dent in the clean water crisis? A dent so impactful that it could not be properly conveyed on your tombstone one day. That, to me, is a personal accolade worth wholehearted pursuit of, and one I feel called to for the remainder of my life.

We are assembling quite a team; and the miracles are getting bigger and better (some we can’t even share as of yet). All that is missing is what YOU can bring to the Humankind table…

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Ben is the COO (Chief Optimism Officer) of Humankind water and is a licensed pharmacist and serial entrepreneur.

His life was significantly affected by going on a mission trip to Zambia in 2007. It was there in Africa that he experienced first hand how life altering access to clean water can be.

Ben spent the first 17 years of his career working in various levels of management for Walmart Stores Inc, and recently “retired” as the Vice President for Health and Wellness at Sam’s Club.

Ben spends his free time cheering for the Philadelphia Iggles & Miami Hurricanes, and forcing his 2 beautiful children, Liliana and Beniah, to cheer for those same two perennial champions. He is married to the gorgeous love of his life, Liz, who has been blessed with an abundance of the many qualities he sorely lacks.

Ben, Liz, Lily and Niah live in a suburb of Charlotte, NC and are privileged to be able to partner with various ministries and organizations that help to empower the underservedacross the world.

I am the guy who is not like the others. I don’t have a fancy business title or job description. i must prove myself everyday by making something and hopefully creating an obsession you’re compelled to exchange money for. sometimes i feel like i can’t afford my own work. or that what i do or who i am does not matter. i feel like a 70’s shrinky dink experiment, wrapped up and packaged for show and a bit of entertainment, only to melt down when the temperature rises and the oven light goes on.

small talk is a big task. people persons are bacteria in my world. i am not one, and i tend to avoid them like the bird flu. i suppose we all have the same amount of words to use in a day – but i would gladly give you some of mine to use if you like.

i am awkward. but i have come to realize we all are in some way. that awkwardness has set me up for success to impact others in my own unique way. as i think upward while others may think down or go left when some go right i often create surprise and intrigue. my strong opinions have lead to precise and unusual ways of making something different than the next person. being the odd one out in a world of khaki’s and blue oxfords gives me enough attention to showcase my trade.

awkwardness in one season has set me up for success in another.

i am real. this is the most difficult thing for me to say. it’s difficult to type. it’s harder to say out loud. i want to say more and wow you with vernacular but i am at a loss.

but i am real, i can prove it.

i affect the mood of those who see my compositions of color every day. i know it because they tell me. i inspire. because is see others succeed after sending me a note of thanks.

i sweat. i bleed. my hands tear. my muscles ache. my heart beats and my breath is short. all things that tell me. . .

i am alive.

i am real. i am awkward.

i am real awkward.

be awkward with me.

i’m kent + i’m an artist, but not the tortured kind.

i live by one simple rule. every day.

WAKE UP.
GET OFF THE COUCH.
SHOW UP ON TIME.
WORK YOUR BACKSIDE OFF.
AND SURPRISE SOMEBODY.

EVEN IF IT’S YOURSELF.

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i’m kenT and i’m an artist and, but not the tortured kind.

i make one of a kind paintings, no two are exactly the same.  some are large, some are small.  some have words, some have none.

i am on a mission to make the walls of your home, office or secret lair as colorfully composed as you are.

@KENTYOUNGSTROM

I used to LOVE burning candles. Fireside S’more? Yep! BeachSide Vacation? Had it! Warm Christmas Cookie? I’ll take 5! I was always hitting up store after store and picking up candles constantly, can you say candle hoarder? I was obsessed you guys! If you came in my house, chances are there was a candle burning, plug-ins located in every room, and I probably just spritzed some artificial fragrance filled room spray in the air. I was all about everything smelling good, my laundry, my home, I even doused myself in some high dollar fragrance filled perfume before going anywhere. I was a little out of control with my candle addiction and the need for everything to have a certain “smell.”

Fast forward to February 2014, when we found out we were expecting our first bundle of joy. We were so excited, this was such a precious and joyful time and we couldn’t wait for him to get here. But, that’s when we really started to open our eyes to what we were putting in and on our bodies, and allowing inside the walls of our home. Babies change everything, right? We began researching these daily “necessities” and found article after article, study after study, testimony after testimony about artificial fragrances causing so many health issues and even the startling fact that burning a candle (other than soy or beeswax) in your home for one hour is equivalent to smoking a cigarette. That little word…“fragrance,” is allowed to be slapped on basically every label and is a blanket term for nearly 300+ chemicals. Chemicals that are illegal and banned in other countries, but yet here they are in our candles, shampoo, lotion, and yes even baby wash. We are all just trying to live our best life every single day not even realizing that we are poisoning ourselves and our families. These toxin filled products are absorbed into our bodies and bloodstreams, and may come out in the form of a headache, fatigue, sleep issues, inability to focus and more. We finally stood our ground and said, “NO MORE!” We became so much more aware of what we allowed into our home and into this new, precious little life. We decided to change our lives for a more clean environment with the use of essential oils and haven’t looked back since. It was by far one of the best decisions we could have ever made.

Essential oils are made from pure plants. They are basically the immune system of the plant and act the same way in our bodies. When you diffuse pure, therapeutic grade essential oils, you aren’t filling the air in your home with artificial fragrance, you are filling it with 100% pure plant matter. But, let’s get one thing straight, not all oils are created equal. I chose Young Living essential oils for several different reasons. One of which is that they own their own farms all over the world. They have a very open door policy in the sense that they let you actually go and visit at anytime to see the whole process. I’ve actually been to the Lavender farm in Mona, Utah and got to see everything first hand, it was an incredible experience. They also have a very rigorous testing process and the only company to have the “Seed to Seal” standard, which is so important. Not only does Young Living have the best essential oils on the planet, they also have oil infused products like make up, baby wipes, laundry detergent, personal care products, supplements and so much more. Having all these plant based and natural products in one place makes my shopping experience so much more easy and convenient, which for all my other mama bears out there, convenience is key!

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WE USE OUR OILS FOR SO MANY THINGS, BUT I WANTED TO GIVE YOU MY TOP 10 WAYS I USE ESSENTIAL OILS:

1. SCENTING OUR HOME. I love that I can diffuse Stress Away, and it instantly takes me to the beach! With hints of lime and vanilla, it helps everyone calm down.

2. CHEST RUB. I love using RC (respirtory comfort) as an all natural chest rub. I simply take a tablespoon of coconut oil with a couple drops of this oil and we are all breathing easy!

3. WATER ENHANCER. Young Living is the only company that has a whole line of essential oils specifically labeled for dietary usage. I love adding a drop of Lemon Vitality to my water or wellness tea. It gives it such a fresh taste and hello detox.

4. MUSCLE RUB. PanAway has hints of Wintergreen and Peppermint which makes it tingly and cooling at the same time. This is my go to for after work outs, carrying my toddler around all day, or if we’ve been out gardening. I love mixing it with coconut oil to make the best muscle rub ever.

5. SLEEP SUPPORT. Sometimes I find it a little hard to wind down in the evenings, but with Lavender by my side, all is right in the world. My room smells like a spa and I am sent off to “lavender land.”

6. TUMMY SUPPORT. You guys don’t get me wrong, I love a good Taco Tuesday, but queso, you do me wrong sometimes. Insert DiGize. This gem helps with all of the stomach things…I’ll just leave it at that.

7. IMMUNE BOOSTING. So thankful that I cleaned out my medicine cabinet and have a whole squad of wellness enhancers. From colloidal silver, to elderberry, to my Thieves essential oil, we are over here staying above the wellness line and staying healthy.

8. BREATH SPRAY. I use to be a major gum chewer until I discovered how to make my very own breath spray with oils. I use 8 drops of Peppermint Vitality mixed with some of the Thieves mouthwash in a spritz bottle and there you have it, no more coffee breath!

9. ODOR ELIMINATOR. One of the main reasons I had so many scented candles and plug-ins was to keep odors at bay. Certain foods we cooked seemed to linger, dirty diapers, stinky trash, no thanks! Enter Purification essential oil also known as odor be gone. A couple drops of this guy on cotton balls around the house and your home will be smelling so fresh and so clean.

10. PERFUME. I missed so badly not being able to smell like my favorite (at the time) fragrance. Now, I simply customize scents to create my very own scent. I love the earthy, grounding smell of Frankincense mixed with the fresh, floral scent of Lavender, add a splash of pure vanilla extract and mix with witch hazel, and there you have it, your very own safe, delicious smelling perfume.

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Making the switch to essential oils and ditching toxin laden, hormone disrupting, chemicals doesn’t have to be complicated or confusing. You don’t have to start out with a huge collection and feel like you need to be a brilliant aromatherapist. Just get a couple of the “basic” oils, a diffuser, and you’re set. I am also here to help you along the way, teach you, share with you, and encourage you. If you’re ready to take the leap, just follow these steps:

• Go to bit.ly/rosegoldwellness
• Select MEMBER
• Pick your diffuser
• Add in anything extra you have your eye on
• Put in your info and check out!

If you are curious to learn more I am constantly educating others via live Facebook events or in person coffee meet ups. Shoot me a DM on my wellness IG account (@rosegoldwellness) or email me here and we can connect! Cheers to learning + living better!

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Brittany Graham is a registered nurse turned stay at home mama and professional toddler wrangler. She loves health, wellness, and essential oils. Together she and her husband are building their oil empire — Rose Gold Wellness.

@BLONDEBRITTNEY

February 22, 2018

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! Guys can be the hardest people EVER to shop for, so we decided to ask a few of our favorite men to point us in the right direction. Check out their suggestions and count on a happy guy come the 14th!

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2018 is here and we are hoping that January has found you healthy and inspired! We love the New Year – it is filled with such promise and is such an awesome time to set the tone for what you want to get and give from the coming months.

In the spirit of living your best life, we put together 18 ways (2018..get it?) that you can help show kindness this year.

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1. Write (as in hand write) notes to your immediate family telling them what you love about them. We too often neglect those closest to us & everyone needs to hear those affirming words from the people that know them best.

2. Make dinner for a neighbor. (Bonus points: if they have kids, offer to have their children at your house so they can enjoy a nice dinner in together!)

3. Write a letter of thanks to a soldier overseas. Bonus points: Get your friends, coworkers, or small groups to join in too!

4. Bake some cookies and give them to a few hard working people that serve you in some recurring capacity – teachers, UPS delivery guy or gal (all you Amazon Prime-ers.. I’m looking at you), pastors, etc.

5. Use that social media stalking for good! Instead of just scrolling when you are laying in bed at night, take a second to comment some nice things on every (ok, ok…most) pictures that pop up.

6. Send a text to the first 5 people you think of after reading this.Something as easy as, “Just thinking of you!” has the power to change someone’s day.

7. Oldie but a goodie: pay for the person behind you in line.

8. Hop on to Go Fund Me and browse all the campaigns. Choose 1 (or a few) that really speak to you and donate what you can.

9. Let ‘your person’ (spouse, roommates, children) know that you love them. Cut out 10 (or more) hearts on construction paper, write things you love about them on them, and hang them up in the bathroom while they are sleeping. What a great way to start their morning!

10. Train your brain against hate. You know that one person that just gets to you? The one who makes you feel like this…

… Every time that you start to think about their brutal tendencies, stop and tell yourself something nice about them. It might be hard at first, but you can start with tiny things, literally like “One day they wore black jeans and I like black jeans.” Training yourself to let go of that negative energy will only help you in the long run!

11. Pack some Blessing Bags to keep in your car to hand out to homeless people you come across.

12. Call your parents! (Or Grandparents, or Aunt…)

13. Throw a post-it pad in your bag on the way to your next doctor’s appointment. Write quick encouraging notes while you are waiting and stick them in the magazines in the waiting room.

14. Donate blood at a blood drive.

15. Running ahead of time one morning? Pick up a special treat – donuts, coffee, bagels etc. for your class or office. Everyone loves a surprise treat! (Our favorite is  Clean Juice’s wellness shots!)

16. Double (or triple or quadruple) whatever tip you usually leave your waiter. Write a sweet note on the receipt to go with it, maybe mentioning something personal or a way they impressed you. Everyone loves to hear positive details about themselves!

17. Hold a door for someone every time you can in a day & compliment them on first thing that comes to mind

18. Make a list of the top 10 things you love about yourself. Because you need to be kind to yourself first!!

What are some of the ways you like to spread kindness? Leave yours in the comments below!!

At the end of every year, our church challenges us to pick a word that we are believe God will use in our life in the coming year. For 2019, I chose the word resilience – the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.

The end of 2018 was a tough season for me; I felt fragile and defeated. It was the culmination of all the basic everyday stuff: leadership, owning a business, wife-life, mom-life, trying to honor God correctly, and feeling insufficient to serve in all the other roles that matter to me: daughter, sister, neighbor, friend.

For the second half of 2018, I went to bed every night feeling inadequate.

At some point during this time, I watched a YouTube video of Chamath Palihapitiya, an early senior executive of Facebook, talking to Stanford University graduate students about the way social media changes the way our brains and society work. It was intriguing – and frightening; frightening in the I-gotta-make-a-change kind of way. The link between this brain change he was describing and my feelings of inadequacy was undeniable.

So, I decided to take action. I took a big step back; I decided to break-up with Instagram. This separation from social media was beneficial in so many ways.

Here are five important lessons I learned in the process.

CHAMATH PALIHAPITIYA, YOU’RE PROBABLY RIGHT.

Palihapitiya believes that we’ve all become trained by social media to rely on short-term dopamine hits that remap our respective brains. And that chemical reaction is changing the way we interact with one another.

In addition, he worries that when we choose to curate our lives for the validation of others, we are creating a vapid, empty population that spans the entire world – as in, billions of people. So, billions of vapid, empty beings craving validation from others. His main point: If you feed the beast the beast will consume you. If you push back on it, we have a chance to control it and reign it in. And he is right. We need to be aware that the process of filtering our lives for the eyes of others just isn’t natural. We need to internalize this truth, see the toxicity of social media, and be cautious as we use it in our daily life.

THAT DOESN’T MEAN IT HAS TO BE ALL OR NOTHING.

My personality tends to live in extremes at all times; so, after digesting Palihapitiya’s perspective, my instinct was to say – I’m out; I’m out of social media; I’m out of social media forever. And that’s what I did. I got out. And I loved it. I truly felt at peace and at rest; I hadn’t felt either – or the beautiful combination of both – in a long time. I found myself focusing on quiet time with God; enjoying quality time with my husband, kids, and closest family; seeking rest; serving in a way that was fully present. But as the holidays came, I began to miss the sense of feeling macro-connected and micro-connected. I missed the constructive things that the Instagram community provides: connection with friends who live far away, special inspiration from a sister in Christ, learning a new recipe, a fresh wellness tip.

I realized quickly that I am in relationship with Instagram. And just like a friendship, there are seasons when time spent with that sister is good, rich and fulfilling. But, just as real, are the problematic patterns in any relationship that can suck joy out of your life.

Personalizing that connection to Instagram can help us recognize these dangers and remind us to step back.

PAY ATTENTION, AND TAKE A BREAK.

So, what do you do when you find yourself sinking into unhealthy patterns? (And you will.)

First – get off your friggin’ phone. Seriously.

And do it the first time you have that little twitch in your spirit to do so. Don’t wait until it’s snowballed into something more. A lot of people take one day off a week –  i.e. No Social Media Sunday. Others delete the app from their phone for a week at a time when they start to feel too absorbed.

I, personally, love the new iPhone screen time feature that locks you out after a certain period of time. I set it at 20 minutes per day, and I don’t allow myself any longer than that. Game-changer.

Maybe you need an extended time of sanctuary. If so, you should suspend your account for awhile. If anything, just remember – you know you, and you know what you need. The only thing I know for certain is we all need a break sometime. Find yours.

WE NEED TO GIVE EACH OTHER GRACE AND LOVE.

Guess what – there are people who don’t like me out there. This used to eat me alive. During my break from Instagram last fall, I really began to understand the power of vulnerability. I came around to being okay with not being liked. It’s a little humiliating to admit that I’m really just now learning this as a mom of five at age 32; but, I am.

And guess what – there are people who like me out there! The little messages I received when I got back on Instagram were so special and uplifting to me. It was a great reminder to me of the power of our tongues and how much the little stuff matters. Instagram is a great tool to spread positivity – we should grab that chance whenever we can. The women I know who live this way, using social media to encourage others whenever they can, are truly the happiest, kindest, and most confident women I know. I want to live with that kind of alacrity, too.

LOVE YOUR OWN HIGHLIGHT REEL.

The #1 fan of my life is me! And you should be yours. #noshame

One of the things I missed most during my time off from Instagram was looking through my own page. While we are all busy curating and filtering our lives for the viewing of others, we’ve created a picture perfect album of the way God has blessed us.

Try this: after a long, hard day, scroll through your better moments preserved on Instagram and feel the gunk of the day melt away. You are blessed, my friend.

This is just my story; and only some of things I learned during my break from social media.

We’d love to hear from you! Tell us about your social media fast or a way you use these tools to spread positivity. Share in the comments below!

I am going to go on a little rant – I apologize in advance, but hang in there with me!  Not only am I sick of the bullying that goes if you’re overweight, but I am also sick of people putting others down for being small, fit or choosing healthy options to fuel their body instead of junk!

STOP JUDGING. IT IS NOT YOUR LIFE TO JUDGE. 
Let’s accept it. Healthy comes in all shapes and sizes.  Hormones, chronic stress, increased toxins in the body, genetics and autoimmune diseases are just a few issues that can make it difficult to lose or gain weight, but that does not make someone unhealthy.  Just because someone is a size 2 doesn’t mean they don’t eat, are unhealthy or “need a cheeseburger.”

BODY IMAGE & MENTAL HEALTH

Body image and mental health go hand in hand. Consider the stats.

• People who are overweight know they are overweight and most likely already regularly talk down on themselves, so saying just the slightest comment can truly break a person.
• The CDC has seen a 24% increase in suicide rates from 99′ to 2014, with a massive peak after 2006.
• On average there are 123 suicides per day, equating to the 10th leading cause of death in the US.
• Females attempt suicide twice as much as men; however, men are four times more likely to die from suicide than women.  Click here for more suicide awareness.

THINGS NOT TO SAY

Putting people down by saying some of the examples below can have serious effects on someone’s mental health. Don’t say:

• Anything that someone could take wrong or anything that you would not like someone to say to you (even in jest).
• Just because you observe that someone is “tiny” or “skinny” doesn’t mean that’s the right thing to say.
• “You could lose a few pounds.”
• “You should start working out.”
• “You need to eat something.”

Stop judging. Stop bullying. Lift one another other up. Empower one another.

THINGS TO SAY

We all know words have power. When considering body image, your words could have a tremendously positive impact on a person’s mental health. Say:

• “You’re beautiful.”
• “You look healthy.”
• “I am proud of your health decisions.”
• “You have good self-control.”
• “You look strong.”
• “You look happy.”

MY PERSONAL STORY

I work hard for the way I look. Even before I was told I have multiple food intolerances I led a highly active life and ate healthy. Sadly, for most of my life I heard “you’re too skinny,” “someone get her a cheeseburger,” and other defaming and isolating slander. Even after my “diagnosis” I lost weight, likely because I eliminated most processed dairy, grains and sugar from my diet.

However, just because I have a small waist and a flat stomach does not mean I do not work hard to be healthy.  I try and work out as often as I can; more so, I move my body as much as I can and feed my body with whole, non-processed foods. I am healthy. I am not “skinny,” and I will refuse to let my intolerances, size or other people’s comments define me.

For me, being healthy is eating whole foods, self care, gut health, sleeping well, removing toxins, and eating when you’re hungry.

OUR REALITY

So many Americans under-eat, which can often lead to weight gain. While nearly half of Americans are overweight or obese, there is more health-conscious food and information available than ever before.

So, why is it that so many of us feel forced to make unhealthy choices just to fit in? I think it all comes down to the mind-body connection: body image and mental health.

If you are struggling with self-esteem issues or any mental problems in regards to weight, here are some suggestions:

1. Take part in daily self-care:

– Decrease your stress levels and increase your sleep.

Find something you love to do and do it regularly.

2. Stay away from people who are constantly putting you down or pulling you down or away from reaching your goals. Don’t surround yourself with negativity

3. Stay away from weight magazines and watching runway shows; and don’t surround yourself with people who are obsessed with weight/dieting.

4. Avoid “dieting” or fad diets.  Diets usually aren’t sustainable, so try and focus on healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle overall by eating when you are hungry with healthy nutrients that your body needs.

5. If you are a mom, be sure to set a good example for your children at a young age. Self-love and intuitive, mindful eating is the best thing you could do for yourself and your children.

Remember the mind-body connection. Remove negative thoughts and replace them with uplifting, encouraging ones.

Confidence is key. Smile. Be brave. Yours is a beautiful body; embrace it.

Jordan Hostetler

Registered Dietitian and Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist who owns a blog where she encourages others to live their happiest and healthiest life through nutrition tips, recipes, and education.

Beautifull Profit Blog

Beautifull Profit Instagram

As an Interior Designer, walking into a well curated space sends my heart racing.  My eyes scan the room, trying to soak in and mentally catalog every detail. I observe how a room looks overall, how it is accessorized and even how it smells. Most rooms have one superstar item, but sometimes it is the details that set one room apart from the next. Here is a list of my favorite finishing touches that can elevate your room without breaking the bank.

• White Candles – Scent is the fourth dimension; walking into a room that smells good is great way to brighten your mood. I always look for white candles, which is not always as easy as it seems.  Why is it that candle manufacturers believe we need autumn candles to be brown and Christmas candles to be red? The fact is, scent has nothing to do with color, but that is how they usually roll!  Some of my favorite brands of seasonal smelling white candles are: Ella B. Candles (made locally in Charlotte), Jo Malone, and Diptyque.
• Fresh Flowers – Can I just say, nothing brings a dose of happy to a space like fresh flowers.  For one, they usually smell divine and for two, having natural things present in your decor is good for the spirit.  The right flowers can also add a bright pop of color to a neutral space. Of course, there is much to be said for keeping things neutral with white varieties – my favorite! Locally, I find Harris Teeter and Trader Joe’s to be wonderful sources for flowers.  I also enjoy ordering online from Farmgirl Flowers.
• Throw Pillows – If you follow me on Instagram @deenaknightdesigns, you know that I love to design with a neutral palette.  However I also believe in livening up a space with a pop of color. Color can create a happy vibe, and throw pillows are an economical means to achieving just that. Maybe hot pink floral in the spring, emerald green geometric design in the summer, rust velvet in the fall and jeweled burgundy in the winter? Some of my favorite places to purchase throw pillows are Home Goods, Pottery Barn, Pier1, Serena and Lily, and the list goes on. And here’s a secret tip: I purchase the large 26 inch inserts from Ikea, for $9.99. They also have a fun assortment of covers as well!

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Deena Knight is an Interior Designer based in Charlotte, NC who loves sharing design, style, and life on her Instagram. To view her portfolio, you can visit her website here.