When violence strikes close to home, the instinct to retreat and isolate can be overpowering. Fear and trauma can make us want to withdraw from the world and make us want to build walls around our hearts and minds, shielding ourselves from the harsh realities of an unpredictable world.
The consequence of living in fear and
deciding to isolate is horrific for our brains.
I'm writing this today because within the past 6 weeks our family in Tennessee, Texas and California have experienced the reality of being VERY VERY close to extreme acts of violence or to the perpetrators. Fortunately none of them were present at the various crime scenes, but all of them have been directly or indirectly affected. Anger, grieving and questioning are part of the immediate human response. As people process through that response, they makes choices about how to deal with what happened.
When we live in fear and isolate, it hurts us in so many ways. Here's how it affects the...
Read more...I LOVE spring these days, but I used to have terrible allergies! I suffered all year long, but springtime was the worst... and the the headache that came along with all the other symptoms typically turned into a sinus infection - putting me in a brain fog.
And then there's spring cleaning - well let's just say, it's not my fave. And it bothers me that most cleaning products are terrible for brain health and therefore bad for your mental health!
TIPS for Combatting Pollen & Spring Allergies:
Because I frequently got sinus infections as a result of allergies, and my husband and I both snore 💤 if our sinuses aren't really clear, our personal nighttime diffuser blend is 6 drops of Lavender, Peppermint, Eucalyptus and Thieves. This blend keeps us...
Read more...Cortisol is a valuable hormone. We need just the right amount! Too much or too little can make us miserable in many ways. Weight gain, type 2 diabetes, anxiety and depression, memory loss, high blood pressure, and inflammation are just a few of the negative effects of dysregulated levels of cortisol.1 And maybe, worse - ANGRY OUTBURSTS have been found to be problematic with those having both too little and too much cortisol.2
If you identify with some of the negative effects of chronically high cortisol, there are changes you can make to help naturally balance your levels. By reducing your...
Read more...Have you ever gotten a massage with a combo of Rosemary and Lavender Essential Oils in the massage lotion? It's glorious!! My body and all it's tension melts away as it absorbs all the goodness the oils are delivering to my muscles, ligaments and tendons while my mind is freed up from the stressors of the day.
People talk a lot about the benefits of Lavender but Rosemary should not be left out! It has plenty of benefits in it's own right and the medicine men, ancient healers, Chinese medicine and most of the pre western medical world used Rosemary in a...
Read more...ROSEMARY SHORTBREAD COOKIES
Dairy Free Shortbread - Heck yeah!! But don't tell people - just watch them gobble 'em up! They're gluten free and very low sugar too, If you don't want people to eat them - put out a sign boasting all these things. Or better yet, put them out, and let them be shocked when they ask for the recipe! I love educating people. A healthy lifestyle still has it's pleasures!! And you can make these in a snap.
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THE RESEARCH
What we expect to be true, is that, like most other essential oils, the historical uses will be proven once studied! What we know for certain is that Black Spruce essential oil is made up of many powerful, active ingredients including alpha-pinene, camphene, beta-pinene. And we know a LOT about these...
Hippies from the 60s used patchouli for a variety of reasons. It's unique, and pungent odor was unfortunately most well known for its use in incense in an effort to hide the smell of marijuana. They also used it to help calm them once the high wore off and they believed it helped with arousal. They were onto some things, but there is so much more. You should see the NIH research. . .
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The season that is magical for children, and supposedly filled with fun and family isn't joy, joy, joy all the time - for anyone. The idea that it 'should' be the most joyous time of year is flawed and leaves us feeling empty before the season even begins. . . 
Every month Young Living gives Gifts With Purchases. This graphic shows the gifts for the month and how you can meet the qualifications to receive all the gifts! For more info, click the link. I've shared an idea or two about how to make the most of your Young Living membership.You don't have to spend a fortune to let someone know you appreciate them. Thoughtful, inexpensive gifts can make a big impact. This DIY is the perfect hostess or teacher's gift! It's the easiest method for making scented pine cones and you'll love the results!!
Directions
1. Gather your pine cones in a gallon sized ziploc bag. Then start by soaking them for about an hour in water. I thought soaking them in the tub would be the easiest thing, but learn from me - not a great idea! Use a bucket or pan so that...
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