Random Acts
being open and receptive to all that is good in the world
 Exactly one month to the day I was walking my dog in the park. It was about 9:00 PM and it was the weekend of Gay Pride. I saw this woman walking towards me she looked at me like she knew who I was. She said I had a cool dog. An hour and a half later our conversation ended and we went our separate ways. Over the past month we have developed an extraordinary friendship that just keeps getting better with each moment we share together.
I tell you this in order to explain how random the world can be. And in this randomness… if you will… if we keep our hearts and minds open to the goodness that random has to offer. The results can be truly amazing.
The path of least resistance of course is buying into fear and negativity. Fear is what separates us as individuals. It divides us and prevents us from truly connecting with the people around us. I of course am guilty of this myself. But, everyday I try a little harder to let go of past blunders, reframe how I look at the world and extend and open hand to those around me. I find that each time I welcome in and embrace the random nature that surrounds us that my life and the lives of others I touch become richer.
Perhaps you may consider reframing whatever negative beliefs you may harbor and open yourself to the random nature of the world. You never know what you might discover. It is as simple as a walk in the park.
Have an excellent week.
Thom King
President
thom.king@steviva.com
Steviva Brands, Inc
YOUR MIND
Fear Is Overcome By Action
Max Steingart
One of the greatest surprises you'll experience,
is when you discover that you can do
what you were afraid you couldn't do.
Your obstacles will melt away,
if instead of cowering before them,
you make up your mind to walk boldly through them.
Do the thing you fear and fear disappears.
Confront your fears, list them, get to know them
and only then will you be able to put them aside
and move ahead.
When you face the things that scare you,
you open the door to freedom.
The only thing you have to fear, is fear itself..
YOUR BODY
Beautiful You - 7 Ways to Feel Great About Your Body
“The quest for a better body begins with an attitude adjustment.”
The quest for self-acceptance and a better body begins with an attitude adjustment. Here's how to start the process.
Make peace with your mirror. Too often, people say, "I hate my body," when it's far more motivating to think about what you like best - even if some things need improvement. Try this: Stand in front of the mirror and identify your best assets. Embrace them, even flaunt them. Only then should you ask, "What do I most want to change?" With a balanced body perspective, you can construct a reasonable plan to effect that change.
Get goal-setting help. Once you've defined what a better body means to you, run your views past your doctor or trainer. Professionals can not only provide a reality check (if the body you want is not attainable or healthy, they can help you come up with a more realistic focus) but also help you devise a workable way to meet your goals.
Rally the right support. Positive people can help you reach your goals and feel good about yourself; seek them out and surround yourself with them. Ask a trusted friend and confidante to help you stay on track and investigate the options in your community, local fitness facility or club. If you feel put-off by the fit bodies at a club you visit, ask about beginner-level classes and groups. Keep looking until you find a facility you're comfortable with.
Tune out toxic people. Just as positive people can help boost your body image, negative people can bring it down. "Energy vampires" suck the energy out of others just so they can feel better. While openly rude individuals are easy to spot, comments from apparently well-meaning friends or relatives might be subtler but have an even greater negative impact. Remember that a person who puts you down is the one with the problem.
Enjoy the journey. Your body is a work in progress; it gets better every day. Appreciate and embrace your journey rather than focusing on the final destination. As your fitness plan progresses, tune in to the ways your body is becoming stronger, more toned and more energetic. Celebrate your successes and reward yourself, whether it's with a new book, a bubble bath or just a mental pat on the back, as you accomplish each step on your path.
Create power from within. Feelings about yourself and your body should not be dictated by outside sources; they should come from within. You have the power to create a positive self-image of who you are and how you look. Developing a sense of self-worth and self-esteem is the foundation for appreciating your individuality and for making intelligent choices in all areas of your life.
Choose substance over form. Finally, exercise sensibly, eat a balanced diet and take care of yourself. Intelligent eating and exercise promote a longer, healthier, happier life. Always strive for your own optimal fitness and health levels, not society's definition of the ideal body. Remember to appreciate your own soul and personality rather than basing your self-worth on your appearance.
YOUR SPIRIT
Bringing Out The Best
Most of us have probably come across the universal wisdom that the people who irritate us the most are expressing qualities that we ourselves have. This is why family members can be so vexing for so many of us—we see ourselves in them, and vice versa. This isn’t always true, of course, but when it is, it’s a real opportunity for growth if we can acknowledge it, because it is infinitely easier to change ourselves than it is to try to change another person, which is never a good idea. For example, if we have a coworker who engages in some kind of negative behavior, like complaining or trying to control everything, we can look and see if we ourselves carry those traits.
We may have to look to other situations in our lives to see it, because we behave differently in different environments. Perhaps we don’t complain at work, because our coworker overdoes it, but maybe we do it with our friends. Maybe we aren’t controlling at the office, but we’re used to being in control at home, and this is why we feel so irritated not to be in control at work. Even if we look and find that we are not engaging in the same behavior that we see as negative in others, we can still learn from what we are seeing in this person. The truth is, human nature is universal, and we share many of the same tendencies. What we see in others can always help us to understand ourselves more deeply.
Having the ability to see something in another person, and automatically bring this observation back to ourselves, is like having a built-in system of checks and balances that enables us to be continually engaged in self-exploration and behavior change. When we see behavior we don’t like, we can make a concerted effort to weed it out of ourselves, and when we see behavior we do like, we can let it inspire us to engage in imitation. Through this process, we read our environment and let it influence us to bring out the best in ourselves.
YOUR RECIPE
All Natural Sugar Free Tropical Raspberry Smoothie
Serves: 4
Carbs Per Serving: 16 g
Prep Time:<10 minutes
Skill Level: Easy
Coconut milk adds an exotic twist to this refreshing morning shake. Be sure not to confuse sweetened “cream of coconut” with unsweetened coconut milk.
 Ingredients:
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk
4 ounces (scant 1/2 cup) silken tofu
1/2 cup fresh raspberries or berries of season, plus more for garnish
2 tb sp Steviva Brand Stevia Blend or a very small dash of Steviva Brand Stevia Powder
1 to 2 drops coconut extract, to taste
3 ice cubes
Whipped cream, for garnish
Directions:
1. Combine coconut milk, tofu, 1/2 cup raspberries, Steviva Brand Stevia Blend or a very small dash of Steviva Brand Stevia Powder and coconut extract in a blender; blend until smooth. (If you want to remove the seeds, you can strain the mixture through a sieve, then return it to the blender).
2. With the machine running, add the ice cubes, one at a time, and blend until smooth. Pour into a tall glass, and garnish with whipped cream and raspberries, if desired. Serve immediately.
Nutritional Facts Per Serving:
Serving Size: 1 cup
216 calories
8.3 g protein
32 g total fat (0.9 g saturated fat)
16.0 g carbohydrate
4.1 g dietary fiber
3.5 mg cholesterol
110 mg sodium
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