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How do you React?

Maria Mooney
Time and time again, I am faced with questions in cyberspace that go something like this: “My (insert relationship here) won’t stop (insert annoying habit here). How do I stop him/her from doing that?” The answer is that you don’t because you can’t change another individual. The only person you have total, absolute, and unwavering control over is yourself, and this is where the magic happens. Believe it or not, you actually have the ability to change the way you react to someone or something that makes you feel less than unapologetically blissful.

Anyone can change, but making a change takes time, effort, and patience. It won’t all happen at once, and that is OK. Below are five tips to change how you react.

1. Have Understanding and Compassion.

It can be difficult to offer individuals compassion when you assume they are the cause of a majority of your perceived problems, but if you can, take the time to put yourself in their shoes. Imagine what it is like to be them and reasons why they could be doing that thing they do that absolutely burrows under your skin and lives there only to annoy you time and time again. This way of viewing the situation doesn’t justify bad behavior, but it does explain it and make your life a heck of a lot easier.

2. See the Innocence in Them.

Beneath the neurotic behavior, the damaged ego, and the closed heart there exists an innocent soul, a living expression of the divine, just as it lives inside of you. When you are having a particularly difficult encounter, see the innocent child of God within him/her and remember that you are connected through the one energy that connects us all. Pretend you are meeting him/her for the first time with no past experiences or future expectations, and expect the best. You might be pleasantly surprised.

3. Understand Yourself.

Know what you are doing and why. Self-awareness is an important piece to the happiness puzzle because it is followed by the ability to make a lasting change. Pause. Thinking before you act never goes out of style.

4. Consider the Consequences.

Newton was spot on when he declared every action has an equal and opposite reaction, even in relationships. If you react out of anger or frustration, you are likely to receive just as negative of a reaction back, and you will get what you expect. Consider the consequences of your actions and work toward creating healthier, more positive, or at the very least, neutral exchanges.

5. Look for the Lesson. 

If life is a classroom and people are our teachers, look for the lesson hidden within a difficult situation, the diamond in the rough. Why are you attracting these individuals and situations into your life? Are you not living in alignment with your highest good? Is it a lesson in patience? Or maybe judgment? Possibly self-awareness? Every situation is an opportunity for growth, and when looked at through this rose colored lens, life becomes a lot more enjoyable.
Published April 5, 2012 at 11:50 AM
About Maria Mooney
Maria Mooney, MSW, LSW, (prefontaine44.blogspot.com) is a licensed social worker, high raw vegan blogger diagnosed with and healing from a progressive neurological disease, RSD/CRPS. She enjoys reading, writing, yoga, the sport of long distance running, spending time in nature, and being with her loved ones, especially her Goldendoodle, Shorter. You can find her on Twitter @HappyHealing44 and on Facebook at facebook.com/prefontaine44. More from Maria Mooney on
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Paleo Banana Loaf

Banana Loaf

  by our friend from http://

Ingredients

  • 3 ripe bananas
  • 1 cup almond flour
  • 1 cup almond butter
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 tablespoon baking soda
  • 2 tablespoon honey for sweetness

Cooking Steps

Preheat oven to 180 degrees,
Mash 3 over ripe bananas and then add:
1 cup almond flour, 1 cup almond butter and 2 eggs together.
Add 1 tablespoon of Baking Soda & Baking Powder and honey for sweetness
Poor into a greased loaf tin/pan and bake in the oven.
Enjoy!!

Ingredients

  • 3 ripe bananas
  • 1 cup almond flour
  • 1 cup almond butter
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 tablespoon baking soda
  • 2 tablespoon honey for sweetness
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Best Butt Workout

Workouts
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SunBeam Juice:Pumpkin

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DIY Lemon Sugar Facial Scrub


I use:
  • Olive oil or almond
  • Castor oil or a essential oil
  • Lemon extract
  • Sugar (& sometimes a bit of sea salt or kosher salt - it has great antiseptic properties and is an effective exfoliant)

Step #1: Fill a jar with sugar (and a bit of salt, if you'd like). This will gently keep all that flaky skin at bay!
Step #2: Add lemon extract. (You can substitute any scented extract, use actual lemon juice or put in a few drops of your fave essential oil.)

Step #3: Fill the jar with olive oil and a small amount of castor oil. The ratio that works well for me is about 8 parts olive oil to 1 part castor oil.

My advice is to start with a very minimal amount of castor oil and see how if your skin feels adequately moisturized. If it's dry or tight, try increasing the amount. Castor oil is a fabulous emollient, but too much can cause greasy skin and breakouts.

You can skip it altogether and still have a lovely facial scrub.

Step #4: Stir well, possibly adding more oil to reach your desired consistency. You'll want it to be loose but not liquid. 
Step #5: Use it! I throw mine in the shower - no mess, no fuss. I rinse thoroughly and then use a towel to dry my face well. (This ensures that no extra oil residue is left sitting on my face.)
Happy scrubbing!
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Shrimp and Chorizo "Rice"

Makes 6 servings

Recipe ingredients:

1/2 lb raw chorizo
1/2 cup white wine
1 Tbl butter
1 Tbl Cajun seasoning*
2 tsp garlic powder
2 Tbl prepared salsa
1 lb medium shrimp, raw
2 cups cauliflower, riced**
1/4 cup scallions, chopped
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
1 Tbl lime juice
salt and pepper to taste

Remove chorizo from the casing and cook in a large saute pan.  Add the wine and reduce by half.  Add the butter, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, salsa, and shrimp to the pan.  Cook for about 2 minutes.  Add the cauliflower and cook for another 5 minutes until the shrimp are cooked through.  Remove from the heat and add the scallions, cilantro and lime juice.  Season with salt and pepper to taste before serving. 


Recipe notes:

* Cajun seasoning is a blend and can be found in the spices section of most grocery stores.

** To "rice" your cauliflower you can chop it by hand with a knife, or rub it over a box grater, but the easiest way I've found is to use this method by Big Red Kitchen.  

Approximate nutrition information per serving:  297 calories, 18g fat, 3g net carbs, 25g protein
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Pumpkin Spice Cakes and Cookies-Paleo

Pumpkin Spice Cakes | Pumpkin Spice Loaf
Ingredients:
  • 1/2 cup coconut flour, sifted
  • 6 omega 3 eggs
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup yacon syrup, or maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup pure pumpkin puree
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt or kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon pumpkin spice blend
Process:
  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients.
  3. In a medium mixing bowl, combine wet ingredients and blend with a hand mixer.
  4. Pour wet ingredients into dry and blend with a hand mixer until evenly combined.
  5. Lightly grease mini cake or loaf pans with coconut oil.
  6. Pour batter into mini cake pans, or mini loaf pans.
  7. Bake for 25-30 minutes, check with a toothpick.
Cinnamon Frosting
Ingredients:
  • 1 cup palm shortening
  • 1 tablespoon raw honey
  • 1 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
Process:
  1. Blend all ingredients with a hand mixer until fluffy.
  2. Use immediately, or refrigerate for up to a week.

Pumpkin Spice Cookies, or Pumpkin Spice Squares with Toasted Coconut
Ingredients:
  • 2 cups blanched almond flour
  • 1/2 cup pure pumpkin puree
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup yacon syrup, or maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp salt, kosher or sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon pumpkin spice blend
  • Unsweetened shredded coconut (optional)
Process for Cookies:
  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  2. Blend all ingredients in a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer.
  3. On a parchment lined baking sheet, drop spoonful of batter (about 1-2 tablespoons in size)
  4. Bake for 30-35 minutes.
  5. Let cool and serve.
Process for Squares:
  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  2. Blend all ingredients in a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer.
  3. Pour batter into a 9×9 square baking pan.
  4. Sprinkle with shredded unsweetened coconut.
  5. Bake for 30-35 minutes.
  6. Cool, cut, and serve.
All of these pumpkin treats are not only delicious, but will make your house smell warm and sweet! They are a perfect dessert for Thanksgiving, or another fun healthy treat to serve on Halloween.
As always, enjoy!http://beta.primal-palate.com/blog/pumpkin-spice-cakes-and-pumpkin-spice-cookies/
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