One of my favorite topics to talk about is the role that our mindset plays in our overall health and wellbeing.  Most of us are familiar with the fact that the mind body connection is a vital component for health; but did you know that our thoughts actually trigger chemical reactions in our bodies?  These chemicals, in the form of hormones and neurotransmitters, create biological changes in our cells.  Therefore, our thoughts are directly affecting us on a cellular level.

For this reason, I believe that a positive mindset creates the foundation for a healthy life.  But what I love most about this is the fact that WE are in control of our thoughts, which puts us in the driver’s seat and empowers us to take control of our lives!

So now that we’ve recognized our personal power to affect our mindset, how do we ensure that we remain positive?  The first step is to make a conscious choice to focus our thoughts on the positive aspects in life.  This does not mean that we burry our heads in the sand and ignore the fact that there are negative things happening around us.  It simply means identifying and focusing on the things in life that are within our control, this includes our reaction to the things that are outside of our control.   Then actively searching for positive aspects, and looking for the silver lining containing the hidden blessing or life lesson. This process can help us alter our perspective in life.

It’s important to realize that our perceptions have a huge effect on our mindset.  One way we can regain alignment is to shift our perceptions.  I like to refer to this action as changing the lens.  Dr. Wayne Dyer wrote many books about our ability to change our lives by simply changing our thoughts.  He would often say “change the way you look at things and watch the things you look at change”.  To me, this quote is all about perception, and our ability to shift our perceptions to change the landscape of our lives.

Perfectionism is simply a perception; our perception of ourselves, as well as our perception of others.  Our modern day culture, especially with the use of social media, lends itself to constant comparison.  We often find ourselves trying to live up to the perception of other people's perfect lives.  I recently watched Joel Osteen on Oprah's Super Soul Sunday and loved the analogy he used to combat the urge to compare ourselves to others.  He said "stay in your own lane and run your own race; no one can beat you at being you".  And Dr. Wayne Dyer used to say "only compare yourself to yourself.  Try to be just a little better version of yourself each day."

We are often our own worst critics, and get caught up in the “stinking thinking” that WE create in our heads.  But the good news is that we can take an active role in creating our own reality.  We can choose to give up the need to be perfect or to compare ourselves to others, and simply find joy in where we are in the present moment.

I’ve experimented with this quite a bit in my own life, and have been shocked at how effective this tool can be in enabling me to let go of things that are not serving me.  I’d encourage you to start small and celebrate the simple changes you are able to affect in your thoughts, actions and feelings.  Take pride in your ability to control your inner world and find joy in all aspects of your life!

If I had broccoli between my teeth, would you tell me? We’ve all been there. You’re at lunch with a friend or colleague and suddenly that green chunk becomes the elephant in her mouth but she doesn’t know it’s there! So you think, “maybe it will just dislodge on it’s own and I won’t have to say anything”. But 5 minutes goes by and then ten and it’s still there. You know that the second you tell her, she’ll be embarrassed, struggle to remove it, leave the table and there will be an awkwardness between you that wasn’t there before.

And listen, I’ve been on the other side of that conversation too. Someone has told me, “ahh…there’s something green between your teeth”. And of course, the first thing I feel is embarrassed. It’s ridiculous really. I didn’t plan to put the broccoli there and she was only trying to help.

Why do we do that? Why do we, as women, sometimes bristle at the thought of being in front of other women without being what we consider “perfect”? How many times have you said, “oh don’t come over, the house is a mess” or “I can’t meet you-I’m not put together”.  What have you missed out on because you didn’t want to take that chance that you wouldn’t appear right or pulled together or perfect?

If we’re friends, isn’t the most important thing that we have a real conversation? And if that’s the case, what does it matter if your hair isn’t styled or your countertops are cluttered? Why not focus on what really matters and let the rest fall away?

Think about it. And if we’re at an event together and you see something green in my teeth-don’t hesitate to tell me. It’ll just let me know you have my back!