So we can all ask ourselves...
What are you giving to your community?
What do you give to yourself,
to those around you to receive...
Spread love,
embrace your beautiful light.

Letting go
Let in
let begin.
Breathe deep,
it feels so good. 

Breeeaathe deep,
sing and let go. 
Pen to paper it releasessses.
A snapshot moment of that delightful here and now.
Connecting with spirit,
filling hearts with love and joy. 

Clap your hands and give praise.
Bring it down deep into your heart. 
Feel , see, hear believe it as so. 

Happy New Year Lovely Peoples. You are all so bright and beautiful to me. Feeling much gratitude these days. 
xoxo
Liz Myers
The organic minister ;-)
http://www.rootedlivingwellness.com

I've been learning quite a bit about the process of being a good advocate for oneself. It's a process, which is tied into feelings of self worth, security, as well as taking action. I've found we often do not advocate for ourselves because of a lack of our belief in one of the above aforementioned areas. 

Often, advocacy is needed at times when the outcome is of utmost importance to our ability to survive and thrive. Being an advocate for yourself may go against the grain of societal politeness. Being an advocate for yourself often means speaking up to someone who may hold some sort of power over you, say for example, your doctor or your boss. It can be nerve wracking to speak up to one of these people in a position of power, as they appear to hold so much of your fate in their hands. The trick to advocating for yourself comes from the depths of understanding your own self worth. I like to think of it as a poker game. If you were to determine the hand of cards you have, would you put mostly Aces in your hand?, or would you settle for a big ole bunch of 2's?! It's true that we are handed certain cards at times in our lives, but you always have the chance to trade in, trade up or trade away. What you do with your cards and how you play them is directly related to your own feelings of self worth and advocacy. You first have to believe that you are worth it before you can make your move. This process of becoming a strong self-advocate invites you to call upon the brave soldier that always resides deep down within. You can call upon this brave soul to support you in speaking up for your needs at any time. Remember, your advocacy voice lets others know that you are determined to shine and in doing so, you naturally invite others to shine and speak up for themselves as well. It is an absolute essential to speak up for your worth when you feel it is being diminished, disregarded, disrespected or otherwise. We all to often keep our mouths closed out of fear that what we speak will not be honored, heard or valued. We may fear we will lose our job, or our doctor will not give us the best care. However, you have to be willing to show your cards and trade up when you feel you've been given a bad hand. Nothing will change if you lay silent. 

When exploring tasty nutritious breakfast items, the chia seed is an excellent choice. Native to Mexico and Guatemala, these seeds are derived from a flowering plant of the mint family. They are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, which promote healthy brain function. They are high in protein, fiber, antioxidants, manganese (good for bone health), and phosphorus (good for cell and tissues growth repair). The chia seed appears to have a magic touch with its ability to soak in water and transform from a tiny crunch seed into an expanded gel like substance. 

Chia seeds provide a natural boost of energy and they tend to stave off hunger for extended periods of time. They have been suggested to those with Diabetes Type 2 as a natural way to help in stabilizing blood sugar levels. Simply put, these seeds are amazing! 

Try out this simple and delicious pudding recipe. You can have it for breakfast, dessert or anywhere in between to give you that stabilizing and energetic boost to your day!

The basic ratio of chia to liquid is 3 Tablespoons of Chia to 1 cup of liquid. This can vary a bit so you use your eyeball skills to get it right! You can change up the coconut and almond milk ratios. Or just use one or the other based on your tastebuds. 

Recipe:
1/2 cup chia seeds
2 1/2 cup coconut milk (thick kind)
1/2 cup almond milk
1/2 tsp Cacoa powder
1/2 tsp cinnamin
Pomegranate seeds on top just before devouring!

You will mix all the ingredients (except the pomegranate) and allow it to sit for 5 minutes. Then stir again and place in the fridge for at least two hours to let the seeds expand and the gel form. I tend to leave mine in the fridge to set overnight. 

Enjoy this magical mix of the mighty pomegranate with the power packed chia seed!


~ Liz Myers, Rooted Living Wellness Coach

If you have yet to delve into the sweet delight of this gorgeous fruit, then you better take advantage before the season ends in January! Pomegranates are one of the most powerful anti-oxidant fruits around. They contain high levels of flavonoids and polyphenols, which offer protection against cancer and heart disease. If you dare to believe, they even offer more antioxidants than green tea, blueberries, red wine and cranberries. Can I get a "wow" from the pomegranate lovers?!
 
Some people do not take advantage of these amazing benefits because you have to crack open the fruit and remove the ohhhh so gorgeous and delicious jewels inside. Breaking these bright red jewels free from the inside is beyond worth it! Also known as "arils", these sweet nutritious beauties contain punicalagins, which help to lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Additionally, they can help reduce inflammation in the body, giving your tissues a sense of comfort and relief.Within these arils lie the pungent juice and a small white crunchy seed. Many will eat the whole aril, which will give you an added boost of fiber. Some slurp the juice and spit out the seed; its up to you! 
 
When choosing a pomegranate, look for a firm and taught outer skin as well as a heavy weight. When the weight is heavy, it means the arils are filled to the brim with yummy juice. Pomegranates will keep well at room temperature if they are kept away from direct sunlight. If you decide to remove all red jewels upon opening, they will keep well for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
 
Pomegranates are a great addition to salad, greek yogurt and an unusual addition to baked goods. Enjoy! 
 
~ Liz Myers, MA, PCCI, Rooted Living Wellness Coach

Each moment is a practice. Viewing the moment as a practice allows for a more gentle attitude. It allows for an understanding that we simply practice as we go along in this life. This way of practicing in each moment can often be associated with a sense of curiosity and wonder. You may recognize these ways of being in children. They provide that sense of discovery and awe about the moment. Being in this childlike state of wonder, curiosity and practice allows for more depth of discovery and acceptance with each moment. 

When we step away from the idea of the moment as a practice, a certain pressured perfectionism can slip in; halting our ability to be with and accept ourselves and the moment just as it is occurring. Having patience and ease with each step allows for a greater ability for the moment to unfold with wonder and clear focus. 

Practice can also be seen as a cultivation.  Practicing what serves us well; cultivating that which we seek to grow. As the art of practicing is cultivated, the engagement in these practices becomes more familiar and a sense of ease naturally is invited to arise. 

I invite you to view each moment simply as a practice. One in which you carefully cultivate, with the understanding that with each moment of this practice, you increase the sense of ease that comes with time associated with this practice. We are all simply stepping and with each soft mindfully placed step, we can move with a sense of ease and clarity. 

~ Liz Myers, MA, PCCI, Rooted Living Wellness