I'll be the first to admit...change is scary. The unknown is scary. But you know what is even scarier? Living your life with regrets because you stayed in the same place, afraid to make any changes.

For far too long, I was one of those people who thought I was right...about everything. I could no wrong (ha!). Everything had to be done my way or it wasn't done "right." Do you know what I'm talking about? I mean, I got mad at an ex-boyfriend because he went grocery shopping without me...like, seriously. Could he grocery shop wrong? Apparently, I thought so.

How completely and utterly ridiculous.

I also didn't think I needed to change anything. I would get into relationships and when the same thing happened again and again, I would blame the other person. Because how could it possibly be my fault? Right?!

Ugh - how could I ever be so wrong?

Call it growing up, maturing, learning about myself...call it whatever you want. All I know is that my last break-up caused me to really take a look at myself and what I was (or wasn't) doing in all my relationships. Because, I'll be honest, I thought that last relationship was it for me. And when it ended pretty similarly to all my other relationships, I started to wonder what my part in all of it was.

During this self-reflection, I realized I had a skewed view on relationships. I didn't have the greatest relationship role-models growing up and what I thought a "good" relationship looked like came from fairy tales (which, let's face it, are a load of crap). Can you be happy in and have a healthy relationship? Absolutely! Is it always going to be sunshine and birdies chirping outside your window? Nope! Keep dreaming!

But in my skewed head, that's exactly what relationships were supposed to look like! Talk about a heck of a lot of disappointment when my relationships didn't look like that! When the guys I dated didn't live up to those expectations (sorry guys!!). 

So I knew I needed to change that mentality and how I viewed relationships. Building my relationship with the Lord has definitely helped. I also recognized and realized that not everybody is going to think the same way I do...and that's okay. Just because someone has a different viewpoint doesn't mean they're wrong and I'm right. It simply means they have a different viewpoint.

And let me tell you, changing that little perspective has helped me TREMENDOUSLY!! I would get so hell-bent on being right and trying to win people over to my side of the table/viewpoint that it would cause knock-down, drag-out fights...okay, maybe not that bad, but it would lead to a lot of pointless arguments!

My point in all this is if we aren't open to growing and learning and changing our perspectives, we might miss out on a lot of opportunities God gives us. Part of growing and learning and changing for me included being vulnerable, trusting myself and my intuition, and learning to live with more compassion and grace and understanding, especially for others. After all, that's what God does for us...and we want others to do the same for us, as well. Give out to the world what you want to receive.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV

This bible verse says so much to me. I knew I needed my faith now more so than ever. So I made that change and came back to Christ. I also knew I needed hope...hope that everything would work out the way it was supposed to, hope that I was living my life to the best of my abilities and making the right choices, hope that love would eventually find me. So I made that change and opened my heart to feeling hope and receiving the lightness that comes with that.

But most importantly, I also knew I needed love....for myself, for my friends and family, for my enemies (if I have any), for people I barely know. We live in a world that is far too often devoid of love. We judge other people based on looks, circumstances, stories we've heard. I know I did. But that doesn't give us the opportunity to get to know someone who may be completely and utterly amazing!

Who are you missing out on meeting and having in your life because you're too busy judging them? I would have missed out on a lot of close friends had I not made this change!

Yes, the greatest of these is LOVE. Let's spread that love...open your hearts to other people, because in the end, it's the people in your life that will be there for you to hold your hand when you need it most. 

What are you resistant to changing right now? What areas of your life could use some reflection and growth? Comment below to let me know. I'd love to help you with this!

With love and wellness,
​Whitney

So last week/weekend, I attended the 2015 doTERRA convention in Salt Lake City. It. Was. Amazing. I can’t even begin to describe the experience or the atmosphere or the relationships that were built and solidified in just three short days!! I wrote this on the plane ride home, and I swear, it felt like we had just gotten there!!

My mom and I traveled out to SLC last Wednesday morning (holy crap! Has it already been a week?!). It was pretty non-stop from the get-go. We dropped our luggage at the hotel and went straight to the convention center to get checked in and get all our stuff. We then had a meeting with our team that afternoon, as well as a mini conference with a lot of truly motivating speakers. By the time we got back to the hotel and had dinner, we were completely done!

Over the next three days, we had speaker after speaker from the doTERRA executives to guest speakers such as Carey Lohrenz (seriously, check her out at http://careylohrenz.com. So inspiring!) provide us amazing information about doTERRA and leadership qualities. If you’ve never been to a doTERRA convention, I would highly advise you attend next year’s. I can’t even begin to explain how life changing it was. I won’t even try in this post, but I’ll tell you about three things that stood out the most for me.

doTERRA has a program they call the Co-Impact Sourcing. Now I knew about this program prior to attending convention, but I didn’t know many details about it. Hearing the executives, especially Emily Wright, talk about this program brought tears to my eyes (time and time again!). doTERRA partners with under-developed countries to source the indigenous plants from those areas. Not only do they create jobs for these people and use plants from where they are naturally grown (meaning they are the most potent), but doTERRA leadership (yes, including the executive leaders!) goes on these trips and meets and works with the individuals in those countries.

doTERRA also helps provide the necessary resources these countries need, such as schools and wells (yes, many of the places doTERRA visits have no running water!) and even homes. doTERRA leadership, including Emily Wright, recently visited (and continue to visit) Nepal to help rebuild after the horrific earthquakes devastated their country. Even writing about it here brings me to tears. There are no words to describe how amazing this company is…how thankful the people are for the opportunities doTERRA provides, but also how thankful the doTERRA leadership is for the heartfelt experiences they’ve had in these countries.

And of course, I can’t write about the convention without talking about the new products!! This was one of the most exciting moments of the whole convention! And they didn’t announce them all at once! We learned about the different products over the three days, leaving us on the edges of our seats the whole time! I am already an oil lover for life, but holy goodness, these new products made me fall in love even more! 

Here are a few pictures of the new products:

The first one I want to mention is the deodorant (yes, I know…weird). But I have been on a quest to find a natural deodorant that a) works!! And b) doesn’t irritate my underarms. I am super sensitive to a lot of different things, so it was a struggle to find one that fit the bill. Having doTERRA create and introduce an all-natural deodorant is a-maz-ing!! I’ve used it since Thursday (when we were first able to get it) and haven’t had any problems!! It works and my sensitive underarms are still clear and unblemished!! Woo hoo!! I count that as a win in my book!!

doTERRA also introduced several single oils and blends! The emotional aromatherapy blends are indescribable! These have been a long time in the coming and I’ll tell you, they couldn’t come any sooner! So many of us need some sort of assistance with emotions (really, ALL of us do!), and these oils will do wonders for helping with that!! There are also roller blends of 9 different oils and blends that come already diluted with coconut oil! Just open the bottle and roll it on where it’s needed!! And the new diffuser – it’s waterless!! Crazy, right?! Just plug in an oil bottle and start it up! It covers 600 square feet!! Oh. My. Goodness.

These products, as well as all the others already out there, will be life changing. I can’t wait to share them all with you! I mean, who wouldn’t want to learn about them? It’s natural medicine!! And better yet, it’s cheaper, safer, and more effective!! How much better can it get?! Oh wait – it does!! They smell heavenly!! Our bellhop walked in our hotel room the morning we left and said, “Oh, your room smells amazing.” LOL!

Want to know more? Click here to meet with me one on one to discuss how these oils could change your life.

Interested in attending a class? Check out my Facebook page for upcoming oils events! I offer several, so pick one that best fits your schedule!

I seriously can’t wait to share these oils with you. They have made such a difference in my life, as well as my family and friends’ lives. The biggest change for me has been maintaining my hormonal balance and being more regular (with less symptoms!!). For us women, that is truly life changing!!

I hope you have a beautiful week! And I can’t wait to meet you and share these oils!

With love and wellness,
Whitney

When it comes to food allergies, making a diagnosis is pretty black and white. The typical allergic reaction occurs immediately after you ingest a certain food, and the symptoms—often a rash, hives, or swelling—are unmistakable.

But food sensitivities are a much sneakier sort. In many cases, symptoms don’t occur until several hours or even days after you eat a problematic food, and even then, they can be vague and difficult to link to your diet.

In the United States, food sensitivities have become an epidemic, largely fueled by the process of genetically modifying food.  Gluten, dairy, corn and soy are among the most common culprits. An estimated 18 million Americans suffer from gluten sensitivity alone, and those are the people who have figured it out!  Millions more individuals experience symptoms suggestive of food sensitivities every day, and have yet to identify the cause.

Following are four signs you might have a food sensitivity, along with a brief explanation of how each symptom occurs.

Fatigue

No matter how much sleep you get, you are exhausted. You find yourself dozing off during the day and are constantly grabbing sugary and starchy snacks for energy.

When your body is sensitive to a certain food, it causes an inflammatory response in your digestive system, causing your adrenal glands to release cortisol as an anti-inflammatory. This puts extra stress on your adrenal glands and leaves you feeling fatigued.

Weight gain or inability to lose weight

You’ve tried every diet out there, but nothing seems to work for you. You’re constantly hungry, no matter how much you eat.

When you suffer from a food sensitivity, it causes chronic inflammation, which impairs your brain’s ability to communicate with hormones, One of these hormones is leptin, which is released after you eat so that you feel satisfied. Without the brain receiving messages from leptin, you continue to feel hungry even after a big meal.

Migraines and Headaches

You notice that your headaches tend to occur when you eat certain foods … several hours after a meal, or even when you wake up the next morning.

A headache of any kind is a sign of inflammation in your head—hence the reason you treat it with NSAIDs. It’s not surprising, then, that food sensitivities could be to blame. A recent study showed that 56% of people who had been diagnosed with migraine headaches actually had an underlying gluten sensitivity.

Joint pain

You’re all-over achy, but there doesn’t seem to be any logical reason. You’re too young for arthritis, but you’re not a hardcore athlete, either.

Here we go again: Food sensitivities = inflammation. Here, you’re experiencing an inflammatory response in your joints.

If any of these symptoms resonate with you, there’s a good chance food sensitivities are to blame.  On September 30, 2015, join me for a FREE live webinar where I’ll delve deeper into how food sensitivities can cause you to feel chronically fatigued, plus introduce simple strategies for eliminating problematic foods. Click here for more details and to sign up.

I hope to “see” you there!!

With love and wellness,
Whitney

Some days I’m not sure where to start…or what to do…or how to do it. And some days, the above thoughts are all that go through my mind. These are the days I struggle with the most. Because I know that I *can* do anything I want (it may not be easy, but I can [almost] always do it!). And because I know that I may not have all the answers, but even a baby step forward is enough to keep me moving in the direction I want to go.

One thing that makes me laugh is that I constantly receive compliments on how I have it all together…I wish I could say unequivocally that I do have it all together. But I struggle, just as everyone else does. I am a work in progress, and it becomes easier every day to focus on the positives and banish my negative thoughts!! 

Do you struggle with negative thinking too? Do you have those burning, negative thoughts racing through your mind? It’s time for you (and me!) to get rid of those pesky things!! Because all they are doing is hindering you from having an absolutely amazingly, beautiful life!!

Let’s think about it…when we hold onto negative thoughts, all we’re doing is bringing ourselves into that dark, negative place. Then we start to see the world from that point of view and EVERYTHING becomes negative. We then start to draw MORE negative things to us!! And what kind of fun is that?? Because this world should be anything but negative!!

Besides, who wants to be a Negative Nancy about everything? Have you ever been around someone like that? They bring everyone around them down with their negativity! Let’s be a Positive Patsy instead!! Let’s turn our own frown upside down so we can help others do the same!!

Sometimes it really is as simple as that…turn that frown upside down into a smile. Just that small act, whether it’s by yourself or to someone you’re passing by on the street, it can make all the difference in the world. When we are stressed or holding onto negative energy, we tend to hold onto that in our face, believe it or not. Feel that change when you flash your pearly whites to someone…your face releases the tension and lightens up how you feel (try it now, you’ll see!!).

One thing I’ve noticed is when I’m feeling down (for whatever reason), I like to look at funny videos (hello, YouTube!) or read funny texts from friends (yes, I save some of them!). An out-loud, from the belly, full-on laugh always makes me feel better and almost immediately changes my perspective. And sometimes that’s exactly what I need to start focusing on the positives in my life (instead of those pesky negative ones that tend to pop up at the worst possible time!).

I know you’ve heard it before (from me and everywhere else in this world!), but positive self-talk is one of the greatest things you can do for yourself! I am a firm believer that how we talk to ourselves is how we view ourselves and the world and is ultimately what will happen in our lives. So when we start heading down that negative path, look around you…list out all the beautiful, amazing things and people and circumstances in your life. Change those negative thoughts into positive ones with a simple list, like the one below.

1.     I woke up this morning (Hello!! Blessing number one!!).

2.     I have a roof over my head and a comfy bed to sleep in.

3.     I have delicious food on my table and in my belly!

4.     I have an awesome mom that I also get to call my best friend.

5.     I have supportive friends who, even if they think I have a crazy idea, always support and love me!

I could go on and on and on about all the blessings and positives in my life. Even just typing that, I could feel my mood being lifted (even though I’m already in a pretty good mood). I promise, the more you do it, the easier it will get and the more automatic it will become. You’ll start thinking something negative – for instance, that you don’t know what to do (in any given situation); change that thought to “I can do this. I’ve done this in X situation before.” Or “I can do the research and educate myself on how to do it.” And before you know it, you’ve banished those pesky negative thoughts and have started to view the world through rose-colored glasses (yes, I went there, LOL).

I’m not saying we won’t have down days, or that it’s not okay to have down days. But you don’t want to park there and stay for an indefinite amount of time. Allow yourself to feel your feelings, journal about them or talk to someone to help you get through them, and then re-focus on the positive aspects of your life. And if you need help with that re-focusing, talk to a friend or family member or yes, even a health coach!! Sometimes it’s hardest to see our own blessings and having someone else point them out is a great place to start learning how to shift your focus.

I’d love to help you focus on your positive attributes and aspects of your life! Schedule a free health consultation with me…let’s see how I can help you get rid of those negative thoughts!! Because you are amazing and have so many blessings in your life!!

With love and wellness (and lots of positive self-talk along the way),
Whitney

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