Nature's 5 Secrets to Walk In Beauty

What can we learn from nature? After all we are the masters of this planet! However sickness is on the rise, mental illness is growing rapidly and many things are left untreated or misdiagnosed.

So what can we learn from nature?

Have you ever watched a caterpillar or millipede in wonderment? All those tiny legs moving in unity.  Perhaps you fell victim to the lull of a flowing stream and stared aimlessly. Either way nature is calling for you to observe and learn how to WALK IN BEAUTY. 

It's a fascinating past time, observing plants, clouds and animals. Here are 5 things you can learn... 

“Our footprints have the ability to become a sad reminder or joyful celebration of our time here on earth.”

— Ho'omalamalama

Keep in mind that these are my views and I would love to hear your observations. In fact you can always comment below. (wink, wink)

To learn more about NATURE'S ability to teach us, check out chapter 9 & 10 in my eBook, "Walk In Beauty." Click here.

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FIT FOODIE

Main Dish

Tomato salad, Sesame Oil, Yakima Smoked Sea Salt, Alfalfa [Kimchi in the other dish.]

Protein

Canned Salmon (made by my friend) resting on a bed of Kale. No seasoning required.

Dessert

Steamed Sweet Potato with Furikake seasoning and Sesttle's Theo Chocolate. 70% cacao. 

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NATURE MOMENT

Why MLMs are not holistic.

Natural, organic and holistic are buzzwords. What I'm trying to say is if a company slaps on any of those titles people buy. 

I've noticed a lot of distributors, people who enroll for an MLM & sell or enroll others, claiming that their company is HOLISTIC. Hmmm... do they know what holistic means?

First of all, I've been a part of a nutritional MLM since 2002. I didn't sell my family or friends up the river, I bought it because I liked it & some of them, my Ohana, did too. 

My purpose is to share why MLM's aren't holistic. I've been to many meetings, hosted a few,  & listened to 3-way phone calls for every brand under the sun.

I've noticed a pattern, "I was destitute..., I sat where you are..., A friend told me..., I've lost __pounds... & I'm financially independent and you can be too, here's how ___ !" 

However when unlicensed professionals start using their MLM brand to diagnose & prescribe their most expensive kit, you have to step back and see what's really going on. Especially when some claims that it's holistic. *Note: MLM companies are governed by rules and they do not teach distributors to prescribe products.

“HOLISTIC: The treatment of the whole person, taking into account mental and social factors, rather than just the physical symptoms of a disease.”

— Medical Definition [Google]

Disclaimer #1- This post is based off my 15+year experience in the MLM &  holistic realm. It is possible that horrible Holistic Practitioners [HP] exist but I haven't met that person. *You can read about my background here. If you wanted my full history, well that dates back to my Kupuna [great-grandmother] who practiced la'au lapa au, Hawaiian healing arts.

Disclaimer #2 - I've met a lot of wonderful people through MLM networking groups. I connect with them through their professional attributes such as personal trainers, acupuncturist etc. Selling products is not their main focus, it allows them to offer simple solutions.

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Five reasons MLM's can not be considered holistic.

HP's are motivated by experiences, a wrong that must be made right.

Distributors are based off a no experience necessary. The company did the research and they need only to follow the cycle-of-success. Which is, ASK EVERYONE.  

Holistic practitioners don't want to eradicate the disease, they was to eradicate the lifestyle that caused the DIS-EASE.

If you purchase from a distributor, chances are that they have NO IDEA about the science or how it will interact with your system. You'll have to call customer service, someone you don't know.

Most MLM's have a script to simplify the sale.  They're taught to listen to the pain points & offer the best kit.

An HP is ALWAYS responsible for educating their clients. In fact they're life-long learners too.

Mentorship or connecting to a group of other HP's is important. With technology new information presents itself daily.

The distributor who sold you the kit or product is accountable for their numbers, potential clients & new enrollees. Also, the company can close their doors at any time. Zero accountability. 

In general HP's are socially empathetic to human suffering & want to offer an alternative. They're accountable to humanity.

Many of these practitioners live or hangout in the community they serve. They'll shop at the local farmers market, fish or hike along the same trails. In other words they're intentional.

In the world of homespun distributors it's all about network. Churches, social clubs are perfect for new recruits. Revisit #1

The holistic realm is woven into the fabric of connection. We are all connected & service is key.

HP's often give unto their last breath. They sense the urgency and will work at all hours to create a solution. Often leading into burnout. They're following the call to heal.

Distributors are answering the call to "Fire" their boss and travel the world without a care. Earn more passive income then they thought possible.

While holistic services can be lucrative, I've witnessed many working pro bono. The call to heal holistically has its challenges. 

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Why am I sharing this? Two reasons.

First, I came across a post that read, "Just because you sell Advocare, It Works, Xyngular, DoTerra & the like... it doesn't make you an expert Kelly!" I don't know who Kelly is but that was hilarious. I can't remember the details but the person who made the post had a good point. The truth is that these MLM nutritional companies forbid distributors from diagnosing, acting as an authority or prescribing products, but that didn't stop Kelly.

Secondly, My sister is a stage-4 cancer survivor. She was diagnosed December 18 or 19 and was given a clean bill of health April, four months later. A woman with the same diagnosis who went through the same treatment was buried a few months later. What made the difference was their very different lifestyles. Here's where it gets complicated... my sister's experience was so miraculous that people started to use her story to sell more products. However, her regiment was more complicated then a pill. Unfortunately my sister stopped telling her story. She was concerned at how people were using her example to make money, without being accountable to the process. They would ask, "How much of XYZ did you take & how long?" YIKES! What they were asking was illegal & wrong. [You can read her story here.]

MLM Con's - They control everything & can close their business without notifying you or your downline. Cashflow, your enrolled organization and compensation plan can be altered without your permission. Also, you're required to sign a contract and make monthly purchases for a certain dollar amount or point value.

MLM Pro's - Purchasing products at a discount, learning and earning is attractive. Each company differs but compensation plans usually include paid for vacations or vehicles. It makes shopping for nutritional products so much easier. It's usually online with video examples.

BOTTOM LINE

There are great products, companies & opportunities, however do your own research. Don't buy just because your friend loss 25-pounds. Weight-loss is highly overrated, take your time & read between the lines. Is it affordable without using a credit card?

Today the MLM we were previously with was purchased by another. We didn't follow protocol then or today, like I said earlier I fired my up-line. It's not about the sale, it's about the relationship. We're still using the products without pushing sales. If it happens then it happens. If not... life goes on.

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FITNESS

I spent Mother's day doing one of my favorite things, riding my bicycle along the Puget Sound.

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FIT-FOODIE

I created a new recipe. Unfortunately I don't measure anything, well I kinda do. I have various bowls and mason jars. It's typically two scoops and a bowl of this or that. I like to buy fresh and feel out the ingredients. Food inspires me.

CHICKPEAS WITH MANGO & COCONUT CURRY

Part 1

• Chickpeas - soaked the night before & boiled [main ingredient] 
• Mung Beans - after an hour of boiling the chickpeas, I gradually added each ingredient.
• Wild Rice [this was just for color and texture]
• Chopped onions
• Chopped or minced garlic
• Organic curry seasoning
• A dash of Yakima smoked salt
• A sprinkle of crushed black pepper 
• Organic chili powder [to taste]
• Coconut Cream [from Asian market]
• Mangos cut into cubes [turn off the heat before adding the mangos] - mangos or mangoes

Part 2 - The second dish is baked sweet potatoes & reds, drizzled in sesame oil and black sesame seeds.

Part 3 - The slaw is purple cabbage with a mixed glaze of coconut cream, agave & black pepper.

Part 4 - I rested the chickpeas with mango & coconut curry on a bed of alfalfa sprouts. Then topped it off with a lavender blossom for color.

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CHANGE IS COMING

I'm sure you've noticed that our world is going through some major transitions. From the volcanos in Hawaii to unexplainable weather changes. I too feel the shift as I take a deeper look at what it means to walk in beauty.

I originally wrote, "Walk In Beauty" and started this blog at the same time. Yet after a year I began to realize that WIB needs it's own .com so guess what? In June I will be launching WalkInBeautyLifestyle.com. 

I hope you're already a Mermaid as I share this journey with my newsletter group. 

TOP 5 Blog Post

For your reading pleasure...

Here are my TOP 5 blog post since I started blogging as WholelisticFit. If you would like to know more about me & what I look like, click here.

Shhh... I'm also going to let you in on a little secret, I will be focusing more on Walk In Beauty and making a few changes to this site. Stay tuned.

Join me and become a MERMAID

More information on the link below, PEACE Be the Journey.

See what I'm sharing on INSTAGRAM

5 Benefits of bulk buying 'Organic' beauty products

Things generally cost more when you have to piece them out into smaller containers. And there's one industry that benefits from repackaging, you've probably guessed it... our very own BEAUTY industry.

I was introduced to bulk buying organic beauty ingredients from a friend. Her shop was a haven for my imagination and after almost 10 years she closed her doors, but she sparked an interest.

I've been playing with mud since I was a child. And who knew that I would be working with it as an adult.

MY GOAL is to inspire you to bulk buy your organic ingredients and make your own. It's fun and sustainable.  

“Beauty is what we discover when we turn off the worlds expectations and listen to ourselves.”

— Ho'omalamalama

1. Less trash when you bulk buy.

I buy my clays in 1lb bags and create smaller (reusable) containers. Rhassoul Clay - high in minerals, great for the entire body with a luxe feeling. Bentonite Clay - is known to absorb toxins from the skin. French Green Clay - it purifies the pores and greatly improves the health of the skin, face & more. 

2. Better price for a higher quality.

Quality matters in the world of beauty products. Where the product was sourced and how it was created makes a huge difference. Remember that old saying, "You get what you pay for." Buying in bulk allows you to save in the end.

Sweet Almond Oil - rich in Vitamin E and ah-mazing for the skin. Grapeseed Oil - Keeps your skin looking young, and who doesn't what that.

3. You can create many combinations.

Variety is key, it adds a little pizzaz into your beauty rituals. And we could all use some self-care inspiration in our lives.

"I want a boring beauty routine" said NO one.

Both contain epsom, Himalayan and Dead Sea salt. Except one is infused with rose petals.

4. Many uses from one large product.

For example: This large Himalayan salt rock can be ground down to season food. You could also add it to your bath water or foot soak. The larger rock will take time to dissolve so you can enjoy it over time.

More of it's uses and benefits click here.

5. Makes gift giving so much easier.

I enjoy blessing my Ohana, family, with gifts that promote their self-care routine and enhance their natural beauty. Buying in bulk is the perfect companion for someone who loves giving signature gifts.

Incense will enhance your entire beauty ritual. It gives you a sense of the sacredness regarding your self-care. You can purchase a bunch of incense sticks and wrap a few to give away. I prefer Shoyeido because I'm sensitive to smells. This brand isn't smoky or dusty, it's actually the best.

When Caterpillar's refuse to become Butterflies.

Have you ever resisted something?

or you were faced with change and it felt uncomfortable.

Maybe letting go of something that’s comfortable to be confronted with an unknown risk?

Story Time

Once there was a field of caterpillars, of every shape and size. Each one excited to someday have their glorious prize.

A pair of wings like no other, with patterns to capture sunlight. But the thought of growing wings made a few feel uncomfortable and downright uptight.

"Calm down," said the senior Monarch, as he helped to ease their pain. "This change you fear is already near and you'll have nothing but joy to gain. The freedom to fly has no equal!" And with that they were gleeful. 

Settling into their chrysalis, they understood change is significance.

“The greatest of adventures aren’t in the destination but the journey to get there. EnJOY the journey.”

— Ho'omalamalama

Let’s Shift

Have you ever said, "I'm IN!" to realize that you might have taken on more than you can handle? [Let's all raise our hands in unity.] Don't feel bad, just keep moving. Often our first reaction to challenge is euphoric, that initial impulse of, "I CAN DO ANYTHING!" and you can. It's that same fearless attitude we had as children the difference is that we grew up. 

Unfortunately our adult-self has thoughts of negativity and limitations. We have the ability to fly but going into the chrysalis of change seem overwhelming. What if we remembered that wings of freedom are in our DNA. Is that enough to motivate us into positive change?

We have less restraints as our ancestors and more time saving tools at our fingertips. Today is a good day to take action on an idea, fitness program, new recipe, you name it. What areas in your life are waiting to sprout wings?______________________________________ [comment below]

NEWS YOU CAN USE   

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PODCAST

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FIT FOODIE + OHANA TIME

In previous blogpost I've shown you some of my homemade recipes for quick and easy FIT-FOODIE meals. Today I want to show you the fun side, I'm talking cupcakes and macaroons. Our weekends are called OHANA-TIME [family] which translates into relaxation, outings and treats. One of our favorites is a place called Trophy Cupcakes in Seattle. On a sunny day we'll pack a lunch, grab a few cupcakes and head towards Golden Garden Park. 

As a Mom I don't hide sweets from my Kamali'i [little ones] but I try my best to find the best. I look for locally sourced or organic products. I swoon over treats made in the PNW with an attention to Fair Trade and Quality assurance.    

This particular trip my Sister & I took our Mom to one of our fave spots. It just so happened to be our cheat-day. [Yippee for cheat-day's!!!] I'm so proud of my Mom, she's been doing ah-mazing on her WholelisticFit journey.

You'll never guess, but this delicious ALMOND JOY cupcake is gluten free. Oh my the flavor!  I apologize that the signs are out of focus, as you can see I was concentraiting on the cupcakes. 

Now this is the type of treat you get for a Walk In Beauty Party or Sip & Socialize. It's so delicious that you have to share the love. I feel that Macaroons should be expensive so that one may only buy a few. Talk about sabotage your way to success! Pick expensive treats to tame the tummy. Lol.

I let my Kamali'i pick one each, they had the hardest time choosing. Meanwhile I couldn't stop smiling. OHANA-TIME is so important! What do you do with your Ohana?

What if you don't feel like it!

I BELIEVE in your potential which is why I'm sharing these five tips you can do to stay MOTIVATED. I call it building your "Nest Of Positivity." It will support you during the volatile changes of a weary world, while offering you a place of refuge.

QUESTION: Have you ever hit snooze on the alarm [10x's] because you really don't feel like it.

No fitness, no meal prep, no nothing! Just lay in bed and cozy up with your PJ's.

What if you don't want to go into work? Well, then you don't get paid or worse... you get fired. So what does one do? If there's money or job related responsibility involved we often push past our feelings and drudge on!

But what if you don't get paid to workout or eat healthy? Now what?! That's when you need serious MOTIVATION, and it should happen daily. [Why] Because you're building a nest of positivity.

“Your “Nest Of Positivity” is a refuge from the volatile changes of a weary world. Whose purpose is to drain you of your vibrancy. ”

— Ho'omalamalama

HOW TO BUILD A NEST OF POSITIVITY

Imagine every branch, stick or twig as a positive thought or inspiration. You are building something for the future, and that's how motivation works. It's a curated collection of good-thoughts. And when the winds of persecution, hate, drama, negative thoughts and the like come to destroy you, you have nothing to fear. All they're blowing against is a nest fortified with twigs of thoughtfulness and branches of beauty.   

[Speaking of beauty I know just the place to start click here.]

There are two things you can do right now to start building that nest; Evaluate & Eliminate.

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HABIT TRACKER

Start a good habit or track one you want to change.

You can grab a free Habit-Tracker printable and get started right away. Don't forget to watch the tutorial.

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FIT-FOODIE

I often treat my quinoa like rice. Growing up in Hawaii we were heavily influenced by Asian cultures. So it's not uncommon to have a rice bowl. Now I substitute rice for quinoa & I usually have kimchi with it.

The Three R's of Spring!

SPRING is the perfect time to take a hint from Mother Nature. Follow the three "R's" to avoid burnout and shake off the shadows of a cold winter...

REJUVENATE

REFRESH

REVIVE

I'm sharing this because we become so busy, that we often forget to transition along with Nature.

Moments of regeneration are important, and if you follow these simple steps it will help you start the season off vibrantly.

Ready?

“Every so often you owe it to yourself to REJUVENATE & REFRESH your perspective. A lesson from Mother Nature.”

— Ho'omalamalama

As I take you through the 5 Tips remember that they're action steps. Be prepared to get up and do something after reading these. One more thing, you might notice that each step relates the Three "R's" to a physical space. The reason is that you can not obtain the value of rejuvenation, refresh or revival if your environment is cluttered. Part of holistic living is realizing that everything is connected.

Birds start chirping, tulips pop-up and Nature is excited to shake off their winter blues. No more hibernation, it's time to enjoy the warmth. 

RECIEVE the joy and feeling of the earths rotation as it warms up the soil and plants voluntarily sprout new petals.

SET ASIDE one day to prepare your home or a small space to reflect this transition.  

My favorite thing to do, because there are so many benefits, is get rid of clutter or organize something. You can start with a closet and pack away heavy sweaters, scarves and winter gear. 

IMAGINE clutter as both spiritual and physical weight, blocking the windows of possibilities. I wrote another blogpost about declutter called Subconscious Curating. Read more about it here.

Bring some LIFE into your space, office, kitchen, bathroom, dining room table... you got the idea. 

FRESH plants offer an organic way of aesthetically pleasing your eyes and environment at the same time. Greenery & lights can turn any stale space into a place of revival.

With so many options and variations, visit a Pinterest board I created called Beautiful Soul. Think about objects or accessories that are "soul beautiful.'

Once you've created a place to rejuvenate, refresh and revive, make sure you maintain it. This is so important.

AVOID BURNOUT by visiting this space often, maybe sip your favorite tea. Having this space won't prevent problems but it will offer you a safe haven.

INCLUDE art therapy, writing or reading, basically anything that inspires you can be included. The idea is to rejuvenate your MIND, BODY & SOUL.

The work is done! 

How does it feel to freshen things up in this space?

Do you feel energy, new ideas or totally relaxed?

Share your progress, I created the hashtag #SubconsciousCurating for moments like this.

Keep in mind that you can practice the Three "R's" in any area of your life. Need to revive your fitness routine? Need a [re]fresh approach to meal prep and healthy eating? Need to rejuvenate a relationship? Ahh... spring is an amazing time for positive change.

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WALK IN BEAUTY

FIT FOODIE

• Quinoa steamed in my rice cooker, basically 1 cup Quinoa to 2 cups water. 
• I usually prep 2 cups of Quinoa for the week.
• Greens are a kale, brussels sprout & broccoli mix, mines come from Costco. [Time saver.]
• Dressing was super simple, avocado oil with Yakima smoked salt & crushed black pepper.  

It doesn't have to be organic.

The title sounds controversial but let me explain, I've got a great case to build in favor of local farmers.

Who created the organic title? 

The term, "Organic Farming," was coined by Lord Northbourne in 1940, more here, and traced back even earlier, when according to Wiki they had to distinguish what was grown with... 

This form of ammonia had already been used to manufacture explosives, so after the war, it was implemented into the fertilization of agriculture.   

Certified organic foods are not necessarily pesticide-free, as certain pesticides are allowed. [According to a wikipedia article.]

I felt compelled to write this blogpost because I've been a participant and customer of my local farmers market for over 12-years, ever since I gave birth to my third child. It's funny how children will inspire you to review what you consume and how one lives. Anyway, back to the farmers market. Many of the local farmers practice organic farming. Their whole agenda is to provide safe and sustainable produce. But when I asked, "Why don't you use the ORGANIC label?" Their answer, "We can't afford it!"

“We owe it to ourselves to create a lifestyle that will support us through life’s up’s & down’s.”

— Ho'omalamalama

I couldn't wrap my mind around this and my brain was going through a mind-shift. So I did my own research and sure enough it's not even worth it for the small farms. What they have to do and subject their farms to doesn't add up, not to mention how it will drive the price up. And the average consumer would simply buy elsewhere. To be fair there are programs for small farms to register but is it worth it?

Here's where it get's tricky...

1. PROCESS

Each country regulates the term organic and for any farm, in USA, to carry the label it MUST apply, pay fees & undergo intense inspection.

2. COMPETITION

Let's be honest, small farms can't afford the expense of the organic label. Some have regular jobs while selling at the farmers market on weekends. 

3. SEASONAL

They practice responsible farming and can't produce on-demand. Their collection of seeds are often the most valuable possession. Seed-Time-Harvest.

Why do local farmers even bother?

I'll tell you why... they're driven by a deep responsibility to humanity. The true dreamers hoping that each seed will change a life for the better. Revolutionaries without celebrity endorsements or gratitude from the community they're trying to support.

I'ver heard people pass by beautiful produce and turn their noses up because of a blemish or color. Don't they realize that the perfect red and flawless apple was the creation of the evil witch on Snow White. 

What can we do?

During off season I shop at a store that sells local produce, when possible, then during spring to fall I'm at the farmers market or local co-op farm. Have you tried a co-op farm yet? I also like the farms that you pay a monthly fee for a box of fresh goodies. 

Today you can buy fresh from an app but I suggest that you support your community first. Here's my tips,

• Get to know your farmer.
• Connect with their story.
• Share where you shop.
• Tell everyone.
• Take pics and post.

Okay, I'll get off my soapbox and stop preaching but I really am concerned. Every time we exchange a local farmer for concrete and asphalt we expose ourself to a dangerous level of disconnect. If we can designate 5% to shop and buy local, imagine what we're doing for our backyard economy. You're supporting a family who enjoys growing and producing pesticide free product and I appreciate that, since I don't always have a green-thumb when it comes to growing veggies. [But I'm working on it.]  

If you're not a Mermaid and what to keep in-touch with my type of creative crazy then sign up for the newsletter and become a MERMAID, link below.  

The secret sauce of success

I'm going to keep it plain and simple. In fact I'll share the entire point of this blogpost in the next sentence. The secret sauce to success is to feed/nourish your mind, body & soul through habits & rituals.

The end.

Okay, I'm not really through because I have some pictures and a few videos to share, in fact producing these two minute videos below took all of two hours each. [WHY] Because I was in the middle of my habit when I realized, "Geez I should take a picture of this!" 

I'm not going to explain why you need healthy habits or the purpose of a ritual, since I've written about it before. You can click on the highlighted words above.

“Habits become a part of your subconscious living. Rituals become a part of your soulful living.”

— Ho'omalamalama

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FEED YOUR MIND

I know this might sound cheesy but you have to nourish your mind with positivity, inspiration, daily motivation. The same way our bodies need hydration your mind requires a healthy heaping of good thoughts. No one, not even Oprah, can exist without connecting, hearing or repeating something positive. What feeds your mind? [comment below]

FEED YOUR SOUL

I do this thing called, "mad art" where I shut out the world and create like MADNESS. I don't stop to take pictures of my creation process and rarely share what I make. [WHY] Because I set apart this time to nourish my soul. Art, for me, is a private moment to feed my soul through colors, textures and art supplies. Come to think of it art and nature share the spotlight in this arena. What feeds your soul? [comment below]

FEED YOUR BODY

We misinterpret this so much but never on purpose. There are industries who thrive upon our misinformed ideas concerning food. "Eat salt, don't eat salt" the list is endless and it will always contradicts itself.  I started a FIT-FOODIE Program to help my fitness members reconnect to FOOD and not fads. It is important to create habits around this area of your life because it will sustain the other two areas. Your mind and soul will excel in rituals of self-respect and self-expression but it is your body that requires a dedicated habit of self-care. What feeds your body? [comment below]

5 TIPS TO FEEDING YOUR WHOLE BEING

1. Get your habits in check. Find out what is serving you and what isn't. Watch the tutorial and download my habit tracker here.

2. Create rituals around the SOUL nourishing moments in your life. Do you start your day in prayer or end with a gratitude journal?

3. Schedule your inspiration! Nourish your MIND on a weekly, even daily basis. Because the mind is a terrible thing to loose.

4. Slowly adapt habits that will improve your BODY. Take time to introduce these habits so that your lifestyle will become accustom to it.

5. Influence someone else through your consistent self-nourishment. Your example will speak volumes to someone else so just keep swimming. [Dori's the ultimate positivity guru.]

The contentment happens when you're doing 1-5 on a regular basis, all of your needs are taken cared of. Therefore you have more energy, time and health to serve others and make a significant change in this world. Ready to feel content? If you want more help and connection checkout my eBook and follow through with the art journal prompts. 

PEACE Be the Journey, 

Comment below for connection and please share this blogpost and invite others to WALK IN BEAUTY.

The art of focus.

Five [5] tips to keep your eyes on the prize!

How many of us made a concrete decision to eat healthy, have positive self-talk, exercise more or quit something? [My hands are up.]  Then we come to a fork in the road and our simple decision get's challenged, we adjust our choices to include an amendment.

EX: I will eat clean in the New Year! Then something happens so we adjust.

EX: I will eat clean in the New Year on weekday's! Again, we're challenged and we make another adaptation.

EX: I will eat clean in the New Year on weekday's but only Monday and Wednesday.

“Focus is a muscle that is created through the flexing of choices. Every decision has the ability to impoverish or prosper you, in mind, body & soul.”

— Ho'omalamalama

Here's where the fun begins, let's dive into the, "5 tips to keep your eyes on the prize."

STOP! Breathe, and observe. Chances are that you already know what is getting in the way of your success. 

Is it a person, place, thing or any other noun? 

Do you have control over this particular situation?

Is this situation in control over you?

Now grab your trusty journal, I use my Make Mahalo planner, and write down,

"WHY"

that person, place or thing is distracting you.

Why are they or it allowed to distract you? For me it was my iPhone, all those push notifications, which I allowed to distract me. Children and spouse fall into this category sometimes.

There are three categories that every distraction will fall into.

1. Life threatening. This defines itself and I'm pretty sure that you won't need an example.

2. Avoidance. [One of my evils.] When you do everything except what you should be doing.

3. Out of your control. Not life threatening but it has put a hurdle in your smooth path. What other's do to you.

Counter all the negativity.

Write a list of all the things that are important to you. What get's you up in the morning?

Perhaps you feel compelled or called to complete a certain task. What is it?

Maybe you want to complete a task that someone else started but didn't get to finish.

For every "WHAT" you wrote on #4 write a "WHY. " Here lies the heart of your motivation. If you lack inspiration or feel shadowed by discouragement, then this step is extremely important.

I wrote a previous blogpost called, "How strong is your WHY?"

I'm doing a whole new series about FOCUS on my Instagram page. Using images that I've take to inspire the subconscious mind to persevere. If you're ready to surround your life with awesome intention and focus join here.  

View fullsize

READY TO FOCUS? HERE ARE THE BENEFITS

• Success

• Health

• Goals Reached

• Joy of Completion

• New Heights

• Career Improvement

• Business Growth

• And many more...

TIME TO INFLUENCE OTHERS

The best way to make sure that you've learned something is to go out and start teaching it to others. Share the 5-Tips with three other friends. Better yet, do the writing exercises with them. I've included a link below that you can click and it will send a message to your friends on twitter.

Tweet: Walk with me as I walk in beauty. Join the newsletter & get exclusive content. #WholelisticFit

Tell me about your experience with the 5-Tips, Comment below. 

The art of self-care.

I've been a self-care fanatic since I was young. Which was unusual for an 80's pre-teen or tween. I wrote about it before but basically I had a bad reaction to deodorants, which burned my skin, and there began my organic beauty journey, in a nut-shell.

It wasn't until I gave birth that my self-care regiment became obsolete. I was lucky to get sleep, and long showers were a thing of the past. I fell off the wagon and hit the ground hard. Eventually I started to regain my rituals. Which started with me spending on quality products.

The idea is to invest into your self-care, which your mind will internalize value. I'm not talking about shoes or purses but soaps, lotions and products that go onto your skin. Allow your skin to feel luxury. 

“The art of self-care is realizing that your body is the canvas, your mind wields the tools and your Soul will reap its benefits. Become SOUL BEAUTIFUL.”

— Ho'omalamalama

Is it expensive?

Not if you make your own. You can purchase basic ingredients that will last longer if you mix what you need. I love a good face mask but I can't handle the preservatives that goes into the store bought mixes. So I mix my own when I need to. Click here to see what I use.

Below are a few pointers, five to be exact, that address how you can adopt you're very own self-care ritual. Recognizing your body as a fresh canvas, full of life. 

I LOVE turning mundane things into marvelous habits. 

Items on a tray looks more luxe, rather than laying it all over the place.

Lavender & baby roses, great for baths and more.

A few of my go-to oils that make self-care feel like an art form.

Reading material that inspires me.

Making calendula oils and salves is part of my winter ritual. Oh yes, you can have seasonal rituals too.

The bottom line is that you have to invest time into reading, understanding and creating (or purchasing) items that promote the longevity of your beauty. Remember that we are on a journey to Walk In Beauty. 

Take back some time in your week to complete the ritual of your own self-care. Make it a priority! From one busy female to another, no one else will take care of you, unless you do first. Value yourself to make or keep a self-care, toxic-free, lifestyle.

Holistic Weight-Loss

Perceived beauty has created an industry, which is based on physical appearance. People perceive a certain hair style or body shape as beautiful. All of this equates to dollars and it's a beast of an industry. We're talking billions into trillions; if you add surgeries, drugs & equipment. Tools to make you look like a model in a magazine.

However if you've read Walk In Beauty, there's a chapter that talks about physical beauty being the weakest of the other realms. [Why?] Because it's subjected to the Laws of Nature which places a heavy tax upon every human. You and I call it AGING.

So if we set aside ego and vanity, weight-management is a really positive thing. It's an anti-disease lifestyle. Listen, we're all destined to age, but how we do it will make all the difference.   

“Weight is both a physical & spiritual mass. Be careful of what you consume in both ENERGY & FOOD.”

— Ho'omalamalama

I used weight-management instead of loss because we never really loose it. Our fluctuating bodies go through so much change that it would be unrealistic to imagine us loosing the weight and it never coming back. We manage our Moon [menstrual cycle] and environment while trying to balance a happy home. We will be forever managing the health of our bodies.

When choosing a program consider one or several systems that address the health of your mind, body and soul. For example I do a STRONG By ZUMBA® workout and practice Hula for some soul alignment. This combination allows me to focus on my entire wellness.   

5 TIPS TO HELP YOU CHOOSE

LET'S BREAK IT DOWN

1. It's important that you write out your goals are before looking into weight-management program. Be clear and take your time describing what you want.

2. Translate your goals into learnable subjects. Example: GOAL #1 - Tone my tummy. LEARN: What are targeted exercises for the core? 

3. Use a few key words and do a Google search or ask a friend. Example: Google search - Ab workout, toning tummy, best foods to burn fat, six-pack workout. 

4. Through your research you're bound to come across fitness and weight-loss programs that offer you a system. Before you commit check out reviews and read the science behind the brand. *FYI* I've come across programs with one sketchy review but a ton of good ones. Which is why I always suggest to read the science behind the brand. A lot of reviews are purely emotional.

5. The best way to choose a weight-loss program is if it's sustainable. Does it teach you lifestyle changes that you can duplicate? The worst type of programs are the ones that want you to rely and depend on them. They'll find ways to sell you one thing after another.

TREAT YOURSELF TO NATURE

In addition to adapting a weight-management program I like to treat myself to Nature. Talk about fitness for the mind, body and soul. The great outdoors offers you the opportunity to de-stress the mind, circulate the body and nourish the soul with gorgeous scenery. I wanted to share some of my Nature-Escapes and you can view more on my Instagram page. 

Detox Your Soul

Our souls, [deep breath] a wonderful connection to infinite & beyond our comprehension. It often goes unnoticed because it doesn't fit the usual standards.

It isn't like the mind, capable of expressing itself. Neither is it like the body where it has a physical presences. 

What is the soul?

The difficult part is that there isn’t a way to measure it. We often can't tell if the soul is starving or maybe we don't know how to feed it?

In my eBook, "Walk in beauty" I wrote about the Soul and how to maintain it. To be honest that was the hardest chapter for me because it’s intangible. You can learn more here.

“The SOUL is a bridge, to place far too marvelous to understand, one that connects the mind and body”

— Ho'omalamalama

Two things I would like to share before moving on. First this post is based off of my experiences. Secondly you are in control and have the power to choose.

If nothing in this blog resonates with you I hope this will... 

YOU ARE POWERFUL

Only you can remove, change or erase the toxicity in your life. Keep in mind that healthy routines offer a type of balance that you'll find helpful. Especially during stressful moments. Always make time for self-care, self-love and above all self-respect.

If you've read this and want to learn more about the soul check out walk in beauty. It covers the 5 Realms Of Beauty and the soul is one of them.

FIT FOODIE

I launched my MANA WAHINE Program, Hawaiian for strong woman. It's a type of strength connected to knowing who you are and valuing yourself. I combine holistic lifestyle + dance fitness + fit-foodie coaching. Eventually I will be offering the fit-foodie portion as an online program. The goal is to create thought patterns and lifestyles that are healthy not fad-ish. A community of MANA Wahine. 

Here's a simple drink that I shared on my Instagram feed. You can add a touch of stevia to this morning smoothie. As far as measurements go, I don't really measure any of it. I generally taste as I go.

If you haven't followed me on Instagram than you're missing out. There's food, nature and quotes to live by. It's positive inspiration that you can look forward to seeing. Much like the image below. It's part of my Words Of Beauty series. 

Feng Shui, KonMari & Minimalism, oh my!

Back in 2003 I was pregnant with my first child and after her *baby luau we were blessed with so much stuff. [*Hawaiian culture we celebrate their first birthday in a BIG way.] Over time the items felt overwhelming and her little world filtered into every space.

Then one day my Mom introduced me to a book she got from Barnes & Nobel. It was a declutter workbook and I got right to work. It didn't take long when I started researching more about the philosophy of FengShui. Eventually I started reading Asian Master's like Lillian Too, and dove deeper into it's culture.

For the next decade I would welcome and raise seven little ones, and boy was it messy, but it never stayed that way. Everything had it's place and some things had significant meaning in it's place. For instance; toys had a bin while a big leaf plant stood in a certain corner.

Every year the cycle would change and you would re-fresh your space, according to your astrological characteristic. Wow, that was a mouth full to say. 

“BALANCE is an earned trait, one that takes persistence, consistency and constantly letting go!”

— Ho'omalamalama

I stuck with my FengShui books for awhile until my Mom went home to Hawaii and met Master Lee. He's a Chinese man who moved to Hawaii to practice Feng Shui. Charts, numbers and ancient characters swirl in his brilliant mind. He has reasonable rates if your goal is peace and prosperity. I mean who can put a price tag on peace?

Eventually I began to venture outside of the FengShui realm because I wasn't interested in placing mini-figures or a smiling Buddha. That's when I opened my eyes to Minimalism. The beauty of less is more has a lot to do with value. Minimalism isn't a wall void of art, but it is a wall that defines space. It allows the viewer to rest their eyes on a simple image. I once met a woman who told me she was a Minimalist, I asked her about her practice. Basically her walls were bare and she had one couch. Yikes. And then she wondered why no one came over.  

After a few years I found myself in transition. I had teenagers and needed to teach them how to keep their space organized and tidy. Imagine teaching teens about minimalism. That didn't work the way I imagined. Then an angel appeared in the form of a fairy like Japanese woman, Marie Kondo. She made a manga book to help people understand the JOY of tiding up. In fact her catch phrase is, "Spark Joy!" This tiny manga book revolutionized my home life.

My family wanted to learn more so we watched Marie Kondo share her KonMari Method on YouTube. I also found a video by Lavendaire about the folding process that Marie Kondo describes in her book. Here's a playlist of a few of my faves. I've also included a few books below. 

I'd love to hear from you. What method do you use?

How hate affects HEALTH and 5 antidotes.

Believe it or not but this is an easy topic to write about. [Why?] Since I see the effects of this everyday. [Where?] Every time I step outside my door and head to my local grocery store. When I'm in a yoga session or visiting a gym, I see the affects of hate.

You're probably wondering, "Groceries & hate, fitness & hate... I don't see the connection Ho'o." You will once I point out a few things.

First of all hate is one of many emotions & all those feelings, positive or negative, affect us. Secondly, what affects us internally WILL eventually affect us externally.

Hate as an emotion, if hidden, festers like a boil & it will ooze a gamut of cray-cray. [Cray-cray is crazy on steroids.]   

Cray-cray looks like high levels of stress without a solution, passive aggressive tendencies to blame everyone or the inability to experience peace. Luckily, if you're reading this then it's not you. Because hate & cray-cray aren't proactive, they're reactive energy. 

“Energy is like gold coins in the vault of life. Spend it wisely.”

— Ho'omalamalama

I'm not a Chinese Medicine Doctor, Chiropractor or massage therapist but I have seen them on occasion. They can literally sense un-forgiveness, stress in my relationships or finances. It's not magic it's muscles. Our muscles react to tension and a typical fitness workout will result in muscle tension but it will heal. [If you stretch properly.] But feelings of hate, dislike and anger tenses our muscles and over time it can disfigure our outlook in life. That's why we all need the five antidotes to hate!  

5 Antidotes

1. Check your feelings towards someone. If you can't be in the same room or can't stand to see their post... there could be issues.
2. Forgiveness is the only medicine for hate or bitterness. It's also the toughest but you can Google some amazing reasons why you should forgive & it's benefits.
3. Release all desire to hold-a-grudge. It's really not worth it and your time is too precious to spend thinking about that other person.
4. Move. Movement is so important. Stagnant feelings & lethargic body are best friends, so you have to do the opposite. Join a dance fitness class and get lost in the music. You'll feel better and trim that waist line at the same time.
5. Repeat 1-4 as often as needed because in this day and age everyone is uptight. Those of us who are able to live in PEACE do so by letting go. It's part of the WALK In BEAUTY process.   

I had fun using the Hawaiian 

ALOHA,

in place of love. It sounds like music to the ears. 

Feng Shui

Next blogpost I'll be sharing my experience with Feng Shui, which I have been practicing since 2003, the year my daughter was born. She and my husband are both the year of the ram. I've been able to incorporate it into my lifestyle and spiritual convictions. I also blend it with my Hawaiian practice of Ho'oponopono and the more recent Konmari Method. You have to see it to totally understand how it flows.

2018 Challenge

Understanding the, "s Realms of Beauty" opens doors within our minds. It allows a natural shift to happen through our perspective. And there's no better way to experience this than to go through the pages of WALK IN BEAUTY with friends. The Challenge, should you accept, is to gather friends, commit to regular meet-ups and share the projects you create. The eBook is actually a manual/guide/workbook for holistic lifestyle. Ready to get started?  

Fit Foodie

With all the diets out there are you as confused as I was? Ketogenic, Vegan, Paleo, Vegetarian, South Beach, Raw Food,  Atkins, Zone, Mediterranean, Pescatarian and now Pegan Diet. Oh yes there's a new one. Obviously with my husband, 7 children, a dog and business to run I don't have time. Which is why I'm working on LIFESTYLE. Think about the following when you shop...

1. Do you know the person who raised or grew this product?
2. What's a fave & how do you feel after you eat it _______ ?   
3. Do you like the way you eat?

Here are my answers:

1. Most of the time or I read the labels.
2. I enjoy pancakes but I always want a nap after I eat them.
3. My goal is to eat clean 6 days a week and have fun on the last 1 day. I'm 5/6 So YES!

The real secret is to eat clean! I don't know why there's an urge to name eating styles but there isn't a one size fix all. I eat a lot of Asian fusion foods. Below is a pic of my lunch, local beef & kimchi with organic [probably hot house raised] romaine lettuce & portobello mushrooms. 

5 Reasons to have a planning system

“The goal is to create a visual blueprint, containing the many facets of your life to bring harmony & balance”

— Ho'omalamalama

Before you shop for a planner or calendar figure out what you need. Try answering this question: What do I want to accomplish in 1-day, 1-week, 1-month and 1-year?

Some planners offer weekly, daily or task management space. While other's are specially packaged like the "Mommy Planner" which has stickers that correlate to a busy moms lifestyle. I've noticed a trend in lifestyle bloggers and YouTubers who now promote their own planner. Which I think is awesome. [why] Because they're promoting what they use. I fall into that category.

I started planning in the 1990's, can you believe it! I was homeschooled by my Mom & she gave me a black leather planner to write out my subjects and plan my workload. Yes, I'm a nerd through and through. As I got older I developed my own style and eventually a system. I'm going to share with you my system.

Random picture, when someone asked me, "What's in your bag?" It's business mixed with creativity and health.

Below are my 5 reasons to create a system.

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Turn mundane calendars into marvelous creations. I had fun with my sumo stickers.

Personal washi-tape collection. And yes it's Totoro.

You can create sections for your...

• Fitness & Workout Schedule

• Menu Planning

• Birthday's

• Holiday's

• Event Planning

• Track a Habit

• Scrapbook a Memory

• Meetings & Follow-up

• Projections

• Affirmations

• and so much more+

The addiction is real, but it's my style. Find yours and don't apologize for it.

My workshops usually involve some type of planning strategy.

I even manage some art-journaling into my system.

Below is a vlog I created to show you my personal system and how I use each and every piece. I originally did a Facebook live and uploaded it to my YouTube channel. The actual "5 Tips" are in the description box in YT, don't forget to like and subscribe. [cheesy plug]

Want to Create a Holistic Lifestyle?

Join The 22 Day Beautiful Body Challenge

1. Get [3] three or more of your closest friends to join you. [Locally or virtually like Google Hangouts.]

2. Everyone sign up individually for the BBC below. Remember to join on the same day.

3. Over the next 22-Days you’ll get one simple task, every two days, to complete. Enjoy the journey.

Which path?

Have you ever wondered about your direction and if you’re on the right path? Have you ever felt super busy but never productive?

We all understand what fragmented, distracted and confusion feels like so imagine the opposite.

Have you put your gifts and talents on the shelf?

You might be suffering from the lack-of-vision or what I call, “Surrounded by needy people.” You keep putting yourself and ideas on the shelf with the I’ll-get-to-it mindset. Except it never happens.

My mentor told me that we are birth with solutions and come into this world prepared to follow through but we get distracted. Eventually loosing inspiration and energy, many of us end up taking jobs to pay the bills and get stuck.

Today it’s time to dust off those dreams a create a new and improved VISION. One that will stand the test of time. A pathway to help you make sound choices and keep you flowing in the right direction.

Here’s the secret cycle to achieve anything in life it starts with a vision. Then you make it visible or write it down and finally create what you desire. We are responsible to make it happen. [The problem with heroes.]

It's funny how the simplest things in life can make or break us. For example, an apple a day over 30-days has great merit. But eating 30 apples in 1-day won't give you the same value. In fact, the later, will make you sick. 

“Project what you desire and the Universe will use it as a blueprint. Vision your way.”

— Ho'omālamalama

The image above contains all the elements that I use when creating a vision board. You don't have to read the entire post if you don't have the time. I created that image to act as a cheat-sheet. If you're ready, you can jump into creating yours for the coming year... or read on to see more of my examples.

Here are additional reasons to make a vision board: relationship goals, health goals, career goals, education goals, desires, needs, expanding your current vision and anything els you can think of.

MEDITATE

This is to quiet the chatter in my head & slow down. I don't set a timer for this part because it varies. Somedays, I can become so distracted that it takes me an hour. Other days, I experience extreme clarity.

1. Calming Music

2. Receive LOVE

3. Reimagine Your Goals

[I share all of my  vision board creations on Instagram, link below.]

RED > My big-idea board

CREATE

I want to be completely authentic when creating. I've come to realize that I can over-think & over-complicate my vision. Timing my project forces me to cut out the distractions because I want to complete my vision board. Besides, that's why meditating in the beginning is so important. I use a 30min timer; 15min to gather and 15min to glue.

BLUE > My relationship board.

ENJOY

I usually pick a theme in the meditation process and focus on it. Then I gather what I need during the timed process. [Usually 15 minutes] I'll use a combination of images and words to convey the goal. The receiving part is super important and you don't want to forget it. Remember to receive what you're asking for by connecting to gratitude every time you look at the board.

ORANGE > My wellness board.

“The wealth comes from within. It’s the flow of abundance that comes from the mind, trickles to the heart, and is expressed in every action.”

— Ho'omalamalama

5 Questions to help you understand “IF” you’re headed in the right direction?

1st Question: What do you want more of in the new year? Does your VB reflect that goal?

2nd Question: What do you want less of in the new year? Does your VB have Images or words that look nice but it doesn’t align?

3rd Question: What are you willing to release to receive? To achieve what’s on your VB, is there something you have to let-go of? What is it?

4th Question + Action: What’s holding you back? Gather images or words that are opposite of the thing that’s holding you back.

5th Question + Action: Are you looking at your VB often? There’s nothing wrong with using it as your mobile phone’s wallpaper, by your bathroom mirror or on the fridge. #wholelisticfit

INSTAGRAM

E-BOOK

Maintaining YOU, Maintaining YOUR Mana

Self maintenance requires... 

• Time

• Investment

• Flexibility

• Awareness

I was chatting with a cousin, who's a project coordinator at Kamehameha Schools, about MANA! The Hawaiian rendition goes like this, "Remember where your MANA comes from!" and "You can feel the MANA!" Which is synonymous throughout Polynesia; Tahiti, Aotearoa, Samoa, Tonga and Fiji. So the proper title of this blogpost should be...

Maintaining MANA

So in essences the question is, "How do you maintain the MANA that resides within you?" My cousin, Kalani Hiapo, and I talked for hours, there is much to be discovered and uncovered. [WHY?] Because MANA is a deep seeded condition of balancing past and present. Honoring your heritage and yourself. This is how it's done...

• Time is what we all have, how you use it defines YOU.

• Investment into self-help tools & holistic living.

• Flexibility is the key to sanity, what to keep and release.

• Awareness allows you make adjustments and move on.

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#1 ENERGY

Your words are indicators. What type of words do you use to describe your life, Ohana [family], relationships, job, business, children, body and opportunities? After all, energy isn't seen but heard and felt. That's the same with your words. We can't see them trickling out of your mouth but we can hear and feel its impact. Energy comes from within, what you speak your mind reasons, and the result is a belief. Maintain your words.

#2 DRIVE

This is extremely practical and hands-on. If you want to stay engaged and complete what you started with determination you will need these items: a planner, colorful pens or pencils and a few embellishments. It's called planning with intention. Before you can have DRIVE you must first develop DISCIPLINE and the easiest way is to bullet journal or plan.

#3 HEALTH

With all the wealth and wisdom in the world it's nothing without wellness. I've known ah-mazing healers who died too soon because their own personal health wasn't maintained. The MANA they carried needed a foundation. Regular sleep, clean water + clean eating and fitness aren't fads they're facts. Holistic health is a whole living lifestyle.

#4 HAPPINESS/ JOY

Authenticity is the result of a person who lives their word. What they say is who they are. Feelings and the energy they put out into this world aligns with their plans that drive them towards success. They are the masters of their thoughts and happiness is what they create. The best way to maintain this level is to write in a gratitude journal. Gratefulness = Joy

#5 FUN FACTOR

You have to make time for fun! You weren’t born to pay bills. Fun allows us to make sense of this crazy world, while giving us something to look forward too. Living holistic means that your foundation is rooted in daily practices which support you during life’s trying moments.

If you're ready for change and want more, may I suggest my eBook, "WALK IN BEAUTY uncover its secrets & unlock your potential." I wrote about the 5 REALMS of BEAUTY and how it relates to you. This blogpost is a tiny summary of the 'aha moments' you'll receive in the eBook. 

The best part about my conversation with Kalani is connecting our knowledge from different sides of the Pacific Ocean. He's currently working on projects in Oahu and I've also included links for Shift Massage & Make Mahalo, because they deal specifically with two of the subjects I've mentioned. The goal of this blogpost was to light the way and give you tools.

Become an influencer and Tweet out this message, invite others to join the Mermaid pod and read the blog. 

Tweet: Join me & access to a password protected holistic lifestyle blog + newsletter + occasional printable #WholelisticFit

5 Steps to help children deal with loss.

Seasons

Embracing the passing of a loved one is an uncomfortable position. In one moment you're running errands then you get a text and your mind goes blank. The next breath hurts and this news changes everything. 

More importantly, what do you tell the rest of your family?

The biggest mistake most grownups make is that they assume that the children will get over it. Or that they're too young to understand. And like I said earlier, that's a mistake.

I'm not a psychologist or counselor so everything in this blog is based off of my experience and for educational purposes. After all, I am a mother. 

Children are naturally intuitive.

Unlike adults, children don’t have as many walls or barriers and they’re still forming their ideas. Much of the world is in front of them and they watch in observation of everything.

“The joy you create in this life, will honor them in the after-life.”

— Ho'omālamalama

These "5 Steps" are from my experience and I wanted to share it with you. And hopefully you will make it your own and translate this example into your holistic lifestyle. Keep in mind that these are only suggestions and ideas. The goal is to approach the next few steps with an opened mind.

FEEL it together.

The old saying, "You can't change what you won't acknowledge. Accepting the loss is helpful because you will have to translate the process through your body language. Why? Because every single child is good at reading body language. They're like mini mirrors, reflecting what influences them.

Your ability to feel the circumstances WITH THEM will help them flow through it.

Children learn from what you do and rarely from what what you say. Model the process and be the example.

Side Note: If you’re still dealing with childhood trauma, seek professional help.

ASK them, “How do you feel” then share memories.

What is it about this person that I want them to remember?

How do I want them to remember this person?

Communication is the key when dealing with grief, don’t let silence become a prison. Silence has a way of placing our emotions in solitary confinement.

Ask, share, remember… communicate. Let your child know that you're always available then listen when they speak.

Trust is built as they learn to rely on you. This will help eliminate the feeling of abandonment. Which many of us, adults, have felt before. Don’t let it happen to your child.

SHARE a meal together.

Good food can do wonders for the body while sustaining the mind. It hugs our senses with warmth and allows us to find peace.

Dealing with the loss of a loved one can be emotionally draining, and we might not want to eat. However, breaking bread gives us a chance to share in the grief and healing. Sitting face to face allows us to connect.

Within the confusion of hurt, sorrow and grief the last thing you’ll want to do is eat. But in my humble opinion that’s the first thing you’ll want to consider.

Through the grieving process; sharing a meal with your child teaches them to nourish through the pain. This is very holistic.

COMMUNICATE often through words and with gestures of love.

Once you’ve gone through the process together begin to open up the conversation.

Having a delicious meal opens the door for you to chat between servings. Maybe share a funny memory or the things you loved about that person.

Allow your child to feel comfortable with talking to you. Learn to LISTEN. You don’t have to solve everything but you do need to listen. Listening validates their feelings and shows how much you care.

A hug can do wonders!

REPEAT steps 1-4 as often as needed.

This is a process and it will take time.

Make sure that ALOHA or love is the foundation and be patient with your child. Burst of anger and fits of rage are part of the process. They’re still learning how to communicate their BIG feelings.

For my ‘Ohana, after all the tissues and tears we managed to make our plates. Fumbling over the meal and somehow found laughter in the midst of it all.

I know it's not over but this starts the process. The pain of loosing a loved one will never go away but new memories will fill our hearts. The goal is to create a ton of happy ones while honoring their light. And this is the circle of a holistic life.

Additional resources.

If I could offer you inspiration, motivation and hope that would be through my Instagram page. Connect with me on a weekly basis as I share prompts, quotes and mini-vlogs to help you live holistic. And even better, tag your friends and family because there's nothing like a good share.

peace be the journey, Ho'omālamalama 

How strong is your WHY and will is stand the test of time?

WHY and WILLPOWER, which do you need first?

What if I told you that willpower is nothing and your why is everything. First of all willpower is defined as self-control. Secondly, what if you don't have self-control? Yet?

Back in the day, I was trying to drink more water. I had a habit-trackers, water drinking app and an accountability partner. Yet I couldn't be consistent. 

Then one day I started doing some serious cardio, as in perfuse sweat and sloppy hair. As a result I consumed water. The motion [serious cardio] triggered the emotion [NEED water] and as a result I found my WHY. 

I needed the water because I created a WHY not a WILL. Does that make sense? Stay with me I'm adding more to this equation. 

Eventually...

My WHY turned into a WILL, becoming a habit, a natural part of my lifestyle.

The WILL came after I anchored my WHY through movement which linked to a feeling. There you go! My unofficial, official theory of WHY & WILL. [Now I can stop italicizing why & will.]

Below are five steps to developing your WHY. I've also included the original post that inspired this message here.  

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5 Steps to a strong "WHY"

#1

Movement solves a plethora of problems. First of all it helps you circulate and secondly it repositions you physically. In other words, if you sit in the problem you become stagnant. Movement allows you to gain new perspective by simply changing your physical point-of-view.

#2

Loss of focus has so many consequences. Most of them are felt after the situation has passed. Imagine the winning lap for a runner and they turn to look back. Taking their eyes off of the focus, which was the finish line. It might have been a split second but it caused her/him to fail.

Taking a time-out from mobile devices, digital expectations like social media, can help you find your focus and reconnect to your WHY. Nature is especially great at this task. Read: Fit to listen. 

#3

Your WHY will also go through seasons of change. It's important to notice how you feel because it can effect the strength of your WHY. 

Example: Around May I felt melancholy and rarely worked out. My WHY shifted, but how?  After deep reflection I remembered that May had some residual sorrow.

After realizing and releasing I changed my movement. As a result my fitness routine included a lot of outdoor adventures. It allowed me to workout, drink water and honor my feelings. 

#4

If you tried 1-3 and sense a wall of disconnection then this will be your best option. Seek out inspiration and guidance. This can be in the form of a book, YouTube channel or podcast.

Reaching for a solution is the perfect "ask" because it adds motion to your quest of creating a strong WHY.

#5

Most of us stop at number four but in all honesty it might take more. I purchased every book on the creative business topic and learned a lot. However once I engaged with an expert, their level of excellence gave me such a boost. 

A coach and mentor allows you to ride on the wind-of-their-wins. A good coach can outline steps but a great one will help you draw the blueprint, giving scope to your imagination. 

“The only difference between willpower and why is the emotion behind it. And emotion is triggered by motion!”

— Ho'omālamalama

I'd like to close with a comment from a Native American Elder, "You were given the gift of life, now you have to earn your living." [Below is an exerpt from another blogpost I wrote.]

In other words we don’t wake up winding a dial that’s attached to our heart. The heart has its own intelligence, that’s the gift of life. Yet how we take care of our heart is an example of us earning a living.

Your why is the emotional connection between appreciating the gift and earning it. It’s your anchor  into everything you do. This is the secret sauce to having a powerful why, the type that moves mountains.