Showing posts with label calm. Show all posts
Showing posts with label calm. Show all posts

Monday, February 23, 2015

Style your Success Contributor

Hi lovely!

Happy Monday! I want to share my new articles with you all that I am currently writing for "Style your Success" so I will be posting the links below as soon as they are officially published. This is a great site that welcomes success as confidence, positivity, and gratitude. Enjoy and let me know if you want me to write about something different as well!

My first article was inspired by Valentine's Day. On this particular day many people begin to feel uptight and tense about the whole idea of love. Rest assured, "love day" is occurring every single day, so this article will help you understand love in a more realistic manner--> How to Live with Love

My second article is about incorporating some healthy and tasty smoothies into your daily lifestyle. Check out these amazingly delicious recipes--> 3 Super Smoothies







XOXO-Lusciously Levi

Friday, May 24, 2013

Answers to some of your questions!

I am not a medical doctor, I'm just sharing my healthy routines in matters of stress and overall lifestyles, enjoy!

1) Is it true that by eating natural fruits you can increase your chance of getting diabetes?
Not necessarily. It is usually based on your genes and your lifestyle may influence it as well.  These days, Americans love fruits, so much so that we might actually be over eating them! When it comes to natural fruit, they have many benefits such as vitamins and antioxidants, but a lot of sugar comes with it as well. Therefore, moderation is key here. Like anything else, you should not overeat anything, as that is not healthy and can lead to health problems later on. With diabetes, there are two kinds: Type 1 diabetes is usually genetically based and Type 2 diabetes is possibly gained by lifestyle including diet and environment. Ultimately, the natural sugar in fruits can increase blood sugar so small portions should be fine for the average person. You can monitor your blood sugar, and ask your doctor if you have any specific questions. If you eat a lot of fruit consistently, you can possibly increase your blood sugar, which may or may not increase your chances for diabetes, depending on the individual. Basically, it is good to have personalized guidelines according to your daily fruit intake so that you can control how much sugar you are ingesting into your body. Also, it depends on the fruits you chose. Grapes and bananas, for example, have a lot of sugar in them, while berries have much less. So, you can modify your choices accordingly. Most importantly, every person is different. Some people just can not have too much sugar, as their previous diets might have been carbohydrate based. It is wise to test your blood sugar before and right after eating fruits, so you can see whether or not you have to be cautious about it affecting your overall health.

2) I have difficulty falling asleep at night, do you have any advice for it?
Some great things to do before you go to sleep is make a routine for yourself. It should not be a one time thing. Try to not watch television or go on the computer right before you sleep, as that will excite you and not clam you down. Also, maybe listen to some soothing classical music to calm your nerves. Yoga, meditation, and deep breathing are also great techniques that get you ready to sleep and reduce your stress that makes it hard to fall asleep in the first place. While there are teas that typically relieve stress, homeopathic remedies are also great. Some of those include, Escholtzschia Californica (Callifornia Poppy, which help you if you can not fall asleep of wake up in the middle of the night, and Passiflora Incarnata (Passionflower), which might help you if you have insomnia. So, overall, you will need to adjust your sleeping patterns in a way that benefit your sleeping and stress levels. A mix of yoga and homeopathy can benefit you as they both focus on the whole body as a way to heal and calm. 
3) I have a question about coconut oil, people say it is healthy but how exactly can you incorporate it into your daily diet?
Coconut oil is great and can be used in many different ways. You can take a table spoon with your meals, use it as body lotion, add some into your tea, or make treats with it. It can make you lose weight as well, as it has great digestive properties. You can even use it as makeup remover or make deodorant with it! It really is handy these days, as it is healthy and practical. Put it on your feet if and toes you have athletes foot. Enjoy your coconut oil, as it has many health benefits and increases brain function. 

4) What is the quickest way to calm down in an anxious or nervous situation?

Well, we all know that there are stressful and anxious situations that make us feel unstable. If we are internally strong, we would feel less of that nervous energy. That being said, we must be able to calm down our minds. Our minds can ultimately control how we react to anxiety. This tactic is a long term idea that can sustain our nerves. Therefore, the quickest way to clam yourself down in a stressful situation that has the potential to make you nervous might include deep breathing. This makes you focus on yourself. Next, try to put your attention and focus on something that does not make you nervous, like a good book, a comedy, or some homeopathic remedies (# 2 ^). Another quick way to cal down might be to take an old toy that you used to play in your childhood, and just play with it. Might sound odd, but its actually soothing. A piece of dark chocolate can also calm you down as it has a natural calming molecule (PEA). My favorite way to cal down quickly would be to inhale 3 deep counts positive energy and exhale 3 counts the negative thoughts and energy. 

5)  Lately I heard that adding Chia seeds to your diet can be healthy?

True, these days, more and more people are finding great and valuable health benefits to incorporating chia seeds into their daily diets. While traditionally we have been taught that flax seeds are great for our immune health, chia seeds can be a great addition. We know that flax seeds are great for us with the added omega 3 fatty acids, but sometimes it might be a bit harsh for us to digest that fiber with people who have sensitive digestion. While chia seeds also have that omega 3 component which can protect our immune systems against inflammation, it may also be easier on our overall digestion. Chia seeds are a whole-grain, which the body absorbs as seeds. Flax-seeds, however, do not get absorbed by the body that way. Weight loss is one major concern for people. Chia seeds have known to inhibit food cravings which is great for people who do not want to gain weight. In addition, chia seeds may reduce your blood pressure, possibly, if eaten over a long period of time. Chia seeds can also add some hydration to your body, which improves circulation, oxygen, etc. In terms of diabetes, these seeds might possibly even control your blood sugar. Overall, chia seeds should be considered as a new food to add to your lifestyle for healthy doses of protein, fiber, calcium, and antioxidants. Some great way to use your chia seeds would be to add them in your blended juice, eat them raw, or even add them to your main dish of  food at dinner time. Be creative here, and enjoy the healthy aspect of chia seeds!



6) Favorite food: healthy food is tasty food, my favorite snack would be almonds.

7) In terms of alcohol content, not sure which brand or amount for each, so I won't comment so as not to misinform you.

8) Singing or talking, we can say good things or bad things. Not all songs are happy songs. Therefore, we should treat our fellow humans with respect and be kind to one another and not speak or sing with violence.

9) Depending on the type of diet you have, when eating salad, it's better not to add salad dressing. An alternative could be to add a splash of apple cider vinegar once in a while for that added taste. While its not too bad, it really does depend on the type of dressing. I'd say stay away from the dressings that have unnecessary fats. Another good thing is to add some extra Virgin olive oil or a piece of organic cheese or chicken for protein into the salad to make it a complete meal!

10) For stiff joints, exercise can always be modified and the same positive result can occur. Depending on what kind of stiff joints you have, I would say when excising, try yoga in a seated position. There are many YouTube videos that can show you great exercises to strengthen your muscles and not really affecting those joints. Pilates can be another option. They make you more flexible, easing those joints. If you do not want to do excercise of cannot of the pain, walking is the best thing you can do. It increases oxygen to all the joints. Just half an hour a day at least, it will make your circulation better. Eating some coconut oil is also a great option, as it can alleviate the pain and add some comfort. Spreading that coconut oil on the stiff joints might also be good. Flax-seed oil is another great thing, as it gets absorbed and gives you many omega-3 goodness! Sometimes drinking a bit of Apple Cider Vinegar can help too. Physical therapy is another idea. There are many ideas and some things work better for different people. It is all about trying something healthy. While it is similar to exercise, they are professional and can help you in a positive way as well. Just be sure to talk to your doctor before trying something new if you are injured.

11) Many people have been asking about being skinny. This is not a big issue. If you are eating healthy and feel good, your weight will go according to plan. Everyone has a different body structure. The important thing would be to love yourself for who you are! After that, make sure you eat a healthy diet with lots of good protein (meat, cheese, beans, etc.) Also, to lose weight and keep it off do not eat after 6pm, as digestion decreases when the sun goes down. In addition, make sure to get movement in your day every day, whether that is walking, running, working out, yoga, etc. Make your body sweat a bit every day and you are doing a good thing.

12) Acne is a big issue these days. This is also a sign of imbalanced hormones, to an extent. Now you know why teens are so wild with acne running around. Their hormones are out of whack and they are just insane sometimes! Anyway, that is natural and it eases down as they get older. However, if it gets so extreme, it would be wise to get some sort of treatment for it. Therefore, you should try different things until you find one remedy that works great for you. Sometimes cleaning your face with soup and then putting a bit of coconut oil might actually help. Laugh, but it still can have some progress. Another thing would be to use baking soda. This has actually helped a few close friends of mine. You mix is with water and just dabble it on your face every day or so. Lemon juice is another great option. Put it on your face where needed. Organic mud masks sometime help too, as they could clean out the pores from within. Glam glow is a great product on the market for now. Do not forget that using make up can easily make you have more acne. Also, the foods you eat are also a big factor. Stay away from oily food such as fried and sweets such as sugar and chocolate.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Calm YOUR mind, calm YOUR soul

      A Healthy Mind is a Peaceful Soul


Buddha is a total peacemaker. This sense of calmness and peacefulness seems so hard to find for us as people, but with the right mind set and lots of practice and dedication, achieving that relaxed state of being may be attainable within reach. It basically has to do with emptying the mind in an effort to center the mind effectively and efficiently.  This includes freeing your mind of insufficient and invaluable information that holds you in one place and inhibits your overall growth and potential prosperous advances.

 Buddhism tends to focus on the very aspect of remaining at the center of your core. This means not desiring so much that you go insane if you do not receive what you so desperately desire. On the contrary, this practice proposes one to accept and ultimately appreciate one's life overall. This will definitely take time and effort. Once this energy is revealed in a positive light, one will feel secure and at peace. That being said, we must aim to live for now, work on ourselves, do good, and work hard. The rest is basically out of our hands, so we should not try to control every aspect of our lives, which can really end up being an exhausting task without plausible results.

Still, we are humans, with feelings and desires. Therefore, with that comes frustration and anger once in a while. Our feelings get hurt and people have misunderstandings. However, if you take out any negativity towards your fellow people, either actively or passively, you might become angry later i your life, without ever realizing why. Therefore, your anger should teach you to take a step back and really think about what it is you are really upset about, and try and communicate these situations with somebody you love.

We, as individuals, have the authority to actively partake in our destiny. We must take action and not passively look to our friends to guide us on our life's path. This concept is the true meaning of our lives. It is a sole conquest, where each soul is on a quest for purpose and meaning. This journey is a project that is individualistic, and must be applied to that particular person, but compared to nobody else. 

Be you, be real ❤ 

So people these days tend to compare themselves to each other. Whether it be their friends, family, siblings, or work associates. This kind of character benefits nobody. Also, it creates needless tension that manifests itself around you and your aura. It provokes this sense of uncomfort within, likely to make you feel inferior and extra competitive. Thus, we must not focus on out doing anyone. On the contrary, we should learn to follow our own lives, and fulfill our own destiny and desire. It makes no difference if you were to go look in someone else's plate, for instance. We need to take responsibility for what we have and build off from there. We must efficiently appreciate our lives and not be upset about what other people have. They are living their own lives, and you should live your life, on your terms. This is the beauty of it. You can essentially only compare yourself to who you were yesterday, and grow and evolve from there, accordingly. The main take-away from this post would be to ultimately focus on your own destiny truthfully and honestly and ignore the extra loud noises that may tend to temporarily surround you. Just breathe, appreciate, and do YOUR best to thrive and do good!


You have misconstrued my connotation! 





Such a familiar feeling these days, don't you agree? There are countless misunderstandings where we simply do not "get" what the other person who is speaking is specifically referring to. We get confused, angry, and annoyed. While this continues to happen, we must alternatively remember that we are human beings, who are not perfect. We make mistakes. However, we would like to carry out the outward appearance of seeming ideal to our fellow human beings. On the contrary, we should inevitably learn to accept people's points of view. Thus, if we wish to get along with others in a harmonious setting and manner, we should indubitably strive to see things from our fellow people's perspectives, even as they may be opposite to our beliefs. This is essentially is a gateway for feeling more content with ourselves.
We should remember that by hearing out the other person, we internally gain more knowledge and wisdom. The fact is that no two people's perspectives are identical. There are numerous ways to implore a given topic. In addition, it is our sole responsibility, as human beings, to attempt to listen to those views in an effort to treat others with respect and decency. This will minimize or possibly eliminate the potential for arguments, as once we do not comprehend the other persons motives, we get upset that they do not match how we are thinking.  So the next time you listen to someones views and you initially disagree with them, open up your mind and learn to be more accepting. 
 Just being aware of the fact that someone perceives a topic in a diverging way than you will catapult you onto a level where less arguments would arise and more peace would take place. This will additionally evoke a sense of contentment on your part as you will be able to get along better with other people. Finally, as a result, you will feel more confident within yourself!

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Cartoons, not just a Network, but a Family/Community!


Doug!
Hey Arnold !
~~Cartoons are not just distractions for children. They are a template for the future. Depending on which cartoon you discuss, typically older cartoons including Rugrats, Hey Arnold, Doug, etc., evoke positive characteristics and create a strong foundation for children's minds long term. In essence, these cartoons promote positive well being, family oriented living, moral interactions, and diversity galore. One common effect here is the underlying comrade feeling within the characters. Each possess his/her own role in the family, community, neighborhood. The characters represent real life contribution to society. With patience, understanding, and common courtesy, these characters develop and grow up to portray positive role models. Children growing up with these shows, in retrospect, should ultimately embody this proposition. Having grown up watching these shows, I can reminisce about them and evaluate how they altered my way of thinking. They are positive, with a sense of levity, and overall appealing charisma. I appreciate these cartoons and applaud them for their unique way of bringing children, adults, and everyone in between together to appreciate them, and learn from them as well.~~
Arthur!
Arthur is a rational, exceptionally caring and giving character, thoroughly examining life. This cartoon overall basis its' predominant purpose on searching and diversifying life. Each friend is a different animal, a bear, a rabbit, etc. The kids learn to grow and learn about life and each other. 
Scooby-dooby-doo! This unique gang with a dog on their side went on adventures as a united clan, typically mysteries that had to be solved. It was a team effort, each equally contributing to any given set of crisis. The common denominator here was that they worked together, fought together, and ultimately surpassed the evil monsters, together.  It can teach us a simple tactic in life's navigation: People need to stick together for the better good. Friends and family are only as powerful as they put in the effort. This is an "actions speak louder than words" concept. One that stresses communication, understanding, care, and appreciation for each other.  

A true Classic, this cartoon to this day identifies with the trajectory of progressed time. As much as Tom & Jerry appeal to myself and the younger  generation, it equally generates excitement for my parent and grandparents. The mischief, co-reliability, co-dependance, unique relationship between the silent cat and mouse, represent constituent forces that us Americans often times experience on a regular day to day basis.  

Disney Movies are also cartoons, but they are particular in that they tell a story of journey and destiny. Two of my favorite Disney Movies were on recently, so I thought I would share! 
 

Rugrats was one of those family cartoons most kids grew up watching. It had family values, morals, ethics, and adventure.  



A Whole New World-Aladdin
All you kids ready for some Aladdin tonight? Time for some fairytale fun and adventures with this magical love story. They are playing it on cable tonight. Just shows you the importance of happiness, freedom, choices, options, and chances. Time shows you when you're ready for any adventure you want to take. Enjoy! 


The Glass Slipper, also known as Cinderella is playing on television right now! It takes me back to childhood memories. When good and bad were so easily disputable and clearly identifiable. Ah so simple and enjoyable.

Through these kinds of magical movies we come to realize we all have challenges to overcome and need to become a better version of ourselves.







Cinderella ❤