How to Cultivate Mindfulness

Photo credit: Oh Pioneer

I think a large portion of our unhappiness and discontent can be attributed to one simple culprit, mindfulness, or rather the lack thereof.

Mindfulness is the state of being conscious or aware. In other words it's the active acknowledgement of the present. When you exist in a state of mindfulness you live free from the distractions of the future and past, their demands and regrets, and instead you focus on the here and now. You shift into the tangible, make the leap into today.

It's strange to think that living for today would be a leap of any kind. It seems too obvious doesn't it? But then again think about your daily routine. How many times do you catch yourself taking shortcuts in favor of "saving time"? We multitask so as not to waste a single moment, and yet ironically in our quest to save time we completely forget to savor time. 

SALE, A Four-Letter Word

On a good day it goes by spontaneity, on a bad day, impulsiveness. In many ways spontaneity and impulsiveness are the same emotion, only with different consequences. Spontaneity typically leads to new adventures, unexpected twists, and memorable experiences. Impulsiveness on the other hand tends to leave you with a lingering sense of regret, shame, and those why did I do that thoughts. Today impulse got the better of me. And it was all because of the other four-letter word, S A L E. 

5 Reasons You Should See Food as Fuel

According to John Mayer "your body is a wonderland", but most days we treat it like a garbage dump. Imagine if those were the lyrics, not so sexy. And yet we're so willing to treat ourselves as such.

The most helpful change I've made on my journey to healthy eating is not physical, it's mental. I stopped seeing food as anything more than fuel.

And here are 5 reasons why you should too, because if food is fuel then:

1. You won't bite off more than you can chew, literally: When you stop seeing food as entertainment, a comfort, or an escape you see it for what it really is, fuel. Just like cars need gas to go, your body needs nutrients to run. But just like a car, our body has a fuel limit. If you learn to see food as fuel, you learn to listen to your limits. You wouldn't fill your tank with more gas than it needs, it's a waste of money. Well, same goes for your body. 
2. Quality becomes more important than quantity: If your tank takes Diesel you don't fill it with unleaded, you'll break the engine. Your body doesn't take unleaded, it takes premium. Yes it's true often times premium is more expensive than the cheap stuff (organic veggies cost more than a bag of Cheetos), but think of it this way, you're preserving your engine. Don't settle for lower quality when it comes to your body, invest in the good stuff. 
3. Mentally you become stronger: Strangely enough, by seeing food as nothing more than your body's fuel, you are giving your brain a chance to flex it's emotional muscles. Many of us turn to food for comfort, and by doing so we often don't deal with the issues that are actually plaguing us. However, if food is no longer your coping mechanism, you by default become more mentally capable. 
4. Eating becomes intentional again: When you are eating to fuel your body, you can no longer be lazy about what you eat. You have to make sure you are getting everything you need to keep your body running- vitamins, proteins, carbs, and sugars (try and stick to natural sugars, not added sugars). 
5. You will regain confidence and control: If food is fuel, then you are in control. Your weight and your lifestyle are no longer things that happened to you, but things that you have power over. You decide what goes into your body, you decide how you feel. 

The 3 Parts of Basic Budgeting

Here's the deal, plain and simple. 

If you want financial freedom, you must have a budget. 

In my opinion simple is better, even if it leaves out some of the details. If you are particularly OCD and absolutely must know where every last penny of your income is going, then this probably isn't the budget for you. The premise is simple: there are things you need, things you want, and things you have to save for. Therefore your budget will consist of these three simplified categories. Here's the breakdown.