However we choose to finish this sentence determines more than you may realize. What we believe manifests, and so if we complete this statement with words like "lazy", "lonely", or "unappreciated", then we are making a decision to harvest those feelings and keep ourselves trapped within them. We accompany those feelings with actions in order to secure their stay at our pity party. We find comfort in complaining, which only brings awareness to other possible negative endings to your "I am" views of life. Suddenly, on top of feelings of laziness, loneliness and being unappreciated, you are also telling yourself that you are stressed, that you are anxious, that you are unworthy. You bring yourself lower and lower until the weight of all these words becomes your own personal prison. But this is no one's fault but your own.
You are the one who gave these words their power. You are the one who created the hold they have on you. You are the one who got to finish your sentence, and didn't choose accordingly. We may not always be able to control our circumstances in life, and sometimes those times are going to flat out suck, but we can control how we approach them. We can chance the ending to our "I am" sentence to empower ourselves, to persevere through, to bring ourselves up and over the hold of our negativity. As Julie Tallard Johnson discusses in her book The Zero Point Agreement, by understanding what it means to "be that" ..."we create intentions and take steps associated with these declarations; the 'I am' statement becomes 'I am the one who...' "
During some grueling training runs, I found myself stuck in a negative "I am" rut. I am tired. I am struggling. I am incapable The more I thought these things, the more I became them. Every mile dragged on, each step was an effort, thoughts of stopping plagued my mind, and my day would be flooded with complaints of what a horrible run I had. It felt terrible, and I had the power to change it. I am tired became I am training. I am struggling became I am strong. I am incapable became I am able. And, in discovering what it means to "be that", I was able to remind myself of my strengths. I am a marathon runner. Every hill became proof of successful strength training. every mile became a reminder of my capabilities, and every empowered thought brought a lightness to my training, and even on the toughest days, created a powerful positivity that lead me to completion. I am the one who trains hard. I am the one who can do this.
Now of course, I had to find a way to apply my own "I am" statement to my food struggle. Reading the simplicity of Shannon Kaiser's words in her book Adventures For Your Soul had lead me to such a moving self discovery that it was nearly the entire source of healing my disordered eating and poor relationship with food. The statement was simply to accept who you are, and explained that she was simply someone who loved food. Boom, there it was. There I was. I didn't have to harvest these suffocating, negative feelings around my love for food, or even view it as negative at all; I could just love food. And so, my "I am" statement went from I am a victim of food to I am a food lover. What does it mean to be a food lover, then? Well, it means that I am the one who nourishes my body through the enjoyment of healthy foods.
I genuinely love eating. Through years of getting to know my body and it's needs, I have learned that I am a better big-meal-eater rather than a snacker; again, something I used to harvest heavy guilt around. Why did I need to eat such big portions? Why couldn't I graze throughout the day? Why couldn't I enjoy a banana without it needing to be accompanied by 5 other things? Once I changed the tune of my "I am" statement, I quickly realized that it was simply because that was not who I was. I am a meal-eater, I am a food lover and this means that I am the one who enjoys food so much that I want it to last. And, because of this, I enjoy meals or snacks that can last a while - especially at nighttime.
Nighttime is my bubble. The day is done, the kids are tucked in, the house is picked up, and I get to put my feet up for the first time since that morning's coffee ritual. And, being who I am, I like to make this relaxation that much more enjoyable with the addition of food. Once I was able to let go of the guilt and stress around my nighttime eating by simply identifying this as enjoyable, I did just that - enjoyed it. However, in knowing myself and my I-like-my-food-to-last-a-while eating, I knew that a small handful of nuts or little bowl of ice cream would be gobbled too quickly, sending me right back to the kitchen for what was sure to lead to some overeating (and more guilt, and more stress, and talk of skipping breakfast and over exercising; you know the drill...) And so, I choose snacks that I can munch on slowly and make last a while. Popcorn was the answer.
It's perfect, because you can adjust the taste to whatever you're craving -whether it be sweet or salty- and have the perfect bowl of snacking heaven to leave you feeling healthfully satisfied.
**You are able to make this popcorn on the stove top, but I prefer (and love) my air popper**
The Sweet Tooth Popcorn
1/4 cup organic popcorn kernels
melted coconut oil
cinnamon
coconut palm sugar
Himalayan salt
Salt-craving Popcorn
1/4 cup organic popcorn kernels
extra virgin olive oil
Himalayan salt
optional: black pepper
Pop kernels in air popper (or in your oil of choice over medium heat on the stove; don't forget the lid!) And simply pour the oil, add spices, and mix thoroughly.
Eating mindfully will have this bowl of foodie love lasting you satisfyingly long enough to be the perfect feel-good snack at the end of your day. You can feel good about these health benefits too:
Popcorn according to organicfacts.net aids in digestion, helps to reduce cholesterol levels, and contains dietary fiber, vitamins (thiamin, folate, vitamin B6, niacin) and minerals (manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc)
Coconut oil according to an article from Dr. Axe fights inflammation, boosts immunity, acts as a sleep aid, supports digestion, is a fat burning supplement and balances hormones.
Extra virgin olive oil according to an article from Top 10 Home Remedies lowers cholesterol, fights inflammation, aids in weight loss, protects your bones, improves brain function and reduces high blood pressure.
Cinnamon according to herbalremediesinfo.com reduces blood sugar levels, strengthens cardio vascular system, and builds immune system
Coconut palm sugar is an unrefined, natural sugar that has a low glycemic index, and provides antioxidants, minerals, and amino acids.
Himalayan salt according to pureformulas.com helps strengthen bones, improves circulation, promotes a healthy pH balance, and assists the intestines in nutrient absorption.
Black pepper according to herbalremediesinfo.com increases nutrient absorption, relieves gas, improves digestion, facilitates weight loss, and is a natural antidepressant.
So! Sweet or salty, you can reap all these amazing health benefits while enjoying your late night snacking experience. Listen to your body, know your cravings, create a positive "I am" statement, and discover what that means to you.
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