Random Thoughts from October 2023

Ahhhh it's Halloween again!  I just love all the little kids coming to the door ... they are a close second to the pets that show up dressed as hotdogs and super heroes though.  SO DANG CUTE.    



COFFEE TALK 

It's totally not coffee time when I'm writing this ... but just so you know, I'm DEFINITELY not running no matter WHAT time of the day you're reading it.  


I'm more of a WALKER kind of a chick these days.  ;)  Speaking of exercise, I wanna chat about something that keeps coming up for people this month!!!  WORRY and FEAR.  

Let's start with a bit of background on where I'm at with this:  

My friend Terra and I travelled to watch the Scotties Tournament of Hearts (Canadian women's curling) a few times.  Each morning at the Scotties, they hand out a small newspaper called "The Heart Chart".  

I will NEVER forget this one particular morning, I was reading The Heart Chart and I read an interview done with one of the athletes.  She was asked for one piece of the best advice she had ever received.  It was:

99% of the things you worry about never happen

It was something that her grandmother had told her and she had never forgotten.  I don't remember the curler who said it and I DEFINITELY don't know her grandmother and the stats aren't actually 99% (research says it's 94%) but THIS changed my toxic relationship with worrying.

When I say toxic, I mean worry and fear to the point at which I would be a zillionaire if someone paid me for it ... I worried like it was my damn job.  And at times, I'll admit that I fall back into it.  We aren't immune to those defaults that (we thought) served us well ... but the goal is ALWAYS to spend less time there, less often, and this quote helps me to do that.



The other thing that has really helped me when I'm stuck in fear and worry is asking myself these 6 words:

What if it all works out?

Asking THIS question tricks our brain to start looking for possible responses for the question.  We are HARDWIRED to answer our own damn questions, so the key then is to ask better ones.  ;)

Try it and let me know how it goes!

FENG SHUI TIP OF THE MONTH 

My daughter and I are making mummy dogs (something we have made every Halloween since they were little ... we have never missed) in our partially renovated kitchen, next to our partially renovated living room and we are both blocking out the fact that the dining room looks like a bomb hit it.  



I have all of the stuff thats meant for my cupboards displayed not-so-nicely on my dining room table.  I have boxes of things that no longer feel like "us" sitting on the floor.  At times, this reno has felt uncomfortable.  I mean ... aren't we still the people with the caramel and blue walls and the dog-nail-damaged bamboo plank floors?

The simple answer is "No.  We aren't."

What I love so much about decluttering, redecorating or renovating is that they really bring up the stuff you were meant to leave behind.  I don't just mean the PHYSICAL stuff.   I mean the behaviours and the thoughts and the defaults and the BAGGAGE we carry around with us that weigh us down.  It's a time where we get to shed it all and it's uncomfortable as fuck at times.  

But it's a beautiful unearthing in the process.    We are MEANT to evolve ... so embrace it as often as you can.  

WHAT (or who) INSPIRES ME

My podcast co-host (Leigh) started listening to Abraham Hicks every morning and recently ... I've been drawn to it myself as well.  I listen to it when I can't sleep at night though!

While Abraham Hicks teachings (as delivered through Esther Hicks) is maybe a little "woo" for some, I really love how it feels like Divine Teachings to me.  Like TRUTH that comes from above.

One of the most pivotal things I've heard recently is on the difference between FEAR and RESISTANCE.

I actually had a client tell me recently that she always thought fear was a sign to NOT do something ... but what kind of fear IS it?

Is it fear that tells us "oh fuck something bad is about to happen?" or is it fear that tells us "Oh goodness ... don't do THAT ... what if you fail ... or fall ... or what if the new side dish you want to make for Thanksgiving dinner doesn't turn out?"

Abraham says that we do NOT move when in fear.  We DO move in resistance ... but then how do we determine which one we're in???

By asking the question:

If I DON'T do this ... how will I feel?

If it is true fear and we ask that question, we will feel relief (so then we know not to do it).  If it is resistance we are feeling, we will feel unsettled ... like we are missing out ... it will feel like regret for not taking a chance.  That's when we move anyway.

K ... see what I mean?  Some of the Abraham stuff is just mind-blowing, yet common-sense good goodness.



FUN STUFF from the INTERWEBS

Ok maybe this is not so much fun, but I'm in a contemplative mood and Rumi is incredible.



I've seen a ton of these "How old were you when you found this out" kinda memes.  Truthfully I've NEVER known any of them before the day I see them, but I'm starting to think that they are just made up nonsense.  Why would anyone think making the handle sticky on a measuring cup is a great idea?  Except ... why WOULD the handle be designed like that then????    Hmmmmmmmmm lol

 

I dropped my daughter and her friend off at the bar for a Halloween party and minus a ton of snow ... it PRETTY much looked like this!  We Canadians are tough!  ;)

Yep ... this is EXACTLY what we did!  


COOL SHIT
 
It was my birthday this month and my husband and kids bought me a Nespresso machine!


Now truthfully, I'm trying to cut back on coffee (caffeinated at least) but I do love an incredible cup of bistro-like coffee once in a while and with my new countertops, we have more room for a coffee bar soon!  
Plus I LOVE the branding, the quality and the ads.  ;)



What I love most?  The Nespresso store!  It felt like I was shopping Louis Vuitton, but for coffee.

There was a concierge/security dude guiding me straight to a wonderful woman who helped me choose the flavours of pods that I would like.  There was a coffee bar where they would make me any flavour of coffee I'd like to try (in a large cup, not a dixie size) in any way I'd like it.  

While I don't NEED to be pampered and guided to my own personal coffee expert, it's just FUN sometimes to be treated like royalty.  It reminds me of a meme I love that says something like "Walk like the ground beneath you is glowing".    

and p.s. the coffee IS unforgettable.  

WHAT'S COMIN UP?

Last month I talked about how I was going to run another round of The Power of You in January 2024.

Anyone who signs up now, will get access to my private coaching container and yes ... private sessions with me from the time they sign up, until the end of January.

I announced the course and then I had women who have taken in once or twice already message me wanting IN!!!  (Yes ... it's that transformational).  

Well ... a tech glitch happened so they couldn't sign up right away (and we KNOW I hate the tech shit) but it was the MOST magical thing ever!!!  

When I went to fix the sales page, I had the greatest of ideas pop through and new branding that I'm OBSESSED WITH.

Wanna sneak peek???



But ALSOOOOOOO ... 

I'm adding new modules and a PRIVATE PODCAST for the women who join!!



You'll get lifetime access to the podcast and the trainings in this round.  Life is too short to play small.  Life is also too short to fuck up your time here on earth with the bullshit stories you tell yourself.  (I know ... I spent a lot of my time doing it).

This course will be some oldies but goodies, some brand new stuff, the podcast and a whole bonus module on boundaries (which might actually be a whole course in itself ... a LOT of my clients are experiencing difficulty with boundaries and I have a unique and fun way of working through them!


NOTE:  Women currently in my coaching container (The Next Level) will be granted access to this course!!  SURPRIIIIIIIISE ladies!

SO ...

you can sign up for THE POWER of YOU (and get access to The Next Level from the time you sign up until end of January 2024).   ($1111)

OR

You can sign up now for any coaching package in THE NEXT LEVEL for at least 3 months and receive access.

Either way, the women who have attended this course have seen such huge shifts and if you're feeling stuck in your own stories, I'm about to blow your socks off!

Note:  To sign up for The Power of You, send me a reply to this email and I'll send you the BRAND NEW SALES PAGE and the secret podcast link when it's complete!

TASTY SHIT!

Well we are now in football playoffs and I've had to grab my big parka out of the closet.  As SOON as it starts to get colder (or when the kids would get sick) I would make this one particular soup with turmeric and tons of garlic in it.  The kids love it and I could puke just thinking about it I've made it so often.  HOWEVER ... I found the BEST new option!  It takes a bit of time but it's soooo worth it and it makes 8 servings.

Shea and I made it this week and BOTH of us noticed how at ease our stomach's were after eating it.  If you like curry ... this is your new go-to soup for fending off sickness AND inflammation!

If you're interested ... here are just SOME of the health benefits of a few of the ingredients in this soup!

Ginger:  reduces nausea and inflammation
Curry:  improves circulation
Garlic:  boosts immunity and has antibiotic properties
Cayenne:  improves circulation and helps improve appetite
Turmeric:  reduces inflammation 
Coconut Milk:  an antimicrobial that helps fight infection (WHO KNEW!?)

GOLDEN SOUP (recipe credit:  the Modern Proper)




Ingredients:

• 2 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1 medium head of cauliflower, cut into small florets (about 1¾ pounds)
• 3 large carrots, peeled, cut into ½-inch-thick rounds
• 3 tablespoons yellow curry powder
• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1½ teaspoon sea salt
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
• 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 small yellow onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 4 cups vegetable or chicken stock
• 1 (13.5-ounce) can full-fat coconut milk, shaken
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• Minced fresh cilantro, for serving

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F with a rack in the center position.

2. Pat the chickpeas dry with a paper towel. Combine the chickpeas, cauliflower and carrots to a rimmed sheet pan.

3. In a small bowl, combine 1 tablespoon of the curry powder, ½ teaspoon of the turmeric, ½ teaspoon of the salt, and ⅛ teaspoon of the cayenne (if using). Drizzle the vegetables with 3 tablespoons of the olive oil and sprinkle with the spice mixture; toss until coated. Roast until the vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large stockpot. Once the oil is glistening, add the onions and cook stirring until beginning to soften, 4 minutes. Add the ginger and garlic and cook, stirring until fragrant, 1 more minute. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons curry powder, ½ teaspoon turmeric, ½ teaspoon sea salt, and ⅛ teaspoon cayenne (if using) and stir until evenly coated. Stir in the stock, coconut milk, sugar, and lemon juice.

5. Add half of the roasted veggies and chickpeas to the soup. Using an immersion blender, blend the soup in the pot until very smooth. (Alternatively, transfer the soup to the base of a blender, let cool briefly, and blend until smooth.) Stir the remaining vegetables and chickpeas into the soup.

6. Divide the soup between 6 bowls and serve topped with cilantro.

Our Tips and Tweaks:

- The recipe says to stir the remaining vegetables and chickpeas into the soup but I chose to just put them on the top to look pretty.
 
- I drizzled a bit of olive oil on top too ... just cause I was feelin' fancy.  You certainly don't have to but with a thick soup like that, it will stay on top!

- it DOES seem like a lot of spice but follow the recipe!  It wouldn't be nearly as good (or healing) with less.

If you try it, or tweak it I'd love to hear what you do!  Post a pic on your social media and tag me!

***

Once again, from the bottom of my heart, thank you SO much to all of you who regularly email me, recommend my group, my courses, my coaching or this newsletter to your friends and colleagues, your biz besties and your family.  I appreciate every one of you and every message that I receive.  

OH AND ONE MORE THING!!!

If you're loving this email but you're wanting all the blasts from the past, you can now access ALL MY PRIOR NEWSLETTERS on my blog!!

www.thefengshuichick.ca/blog 

"Life is not meant to be an assembly line of tasks ... it's meant to be a masterpiece.  Only you can hold the brush".  

Sandra Priestley 
XO





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