Tag Archives: gabriellebernstein

the weekend nurture menu: not enough time? make time expand!

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[As always, gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined-sugar-free!]

No time. I know. There are never enough hours in the day. What if you can make time expand?

In Gabrielle Bernstein’s Ted Talk, she explains her struggle with only eighteen minutes to do this Ted Talk. Her fear was overwhelming, then, in her words, her inner guide said, “Speak your truth and time will expand.” She proceeded to erase her outline, let go of the time frame, and speak her truth. When she spoke from an authentic place, time expanded.

This is possible for you.

What would you do if you had more time? Where is your energy going? Yes, we spend countless hours at work, commuting, doing dishes, etc. If you choose to make those things, however menial, part of your truth, when you focus your energy there, time will expand. In the other hours of the day, take energy away from things that drain you. Ask: is going for a run authentic or am I doing it to change myself? Is watching TV depleting me or energizing me?

When I have moments of panic, thinking I’ve over-committed myself, I ask a truly difficult question, where will I find time to bake cookies for the nurture menu? Though this is meant as a joke, things that give me pleasure, like baking cookies, cannot be lost in the mix. Instead, I clarify my truth. I focus my energy on the things that add to my life. Believe it or not, time expands.

Among the crazy moments this weekend, spending time with loved ones, practicing and teaching yoga, and finding my way around a new area of law, I cooked and baked. Time expanded. Part of my truth is experiencing joy from cooking and feeling nourished from my creations– I discovered more hours in day.

This weekend’s simplistic, easy meal is ideal for anyone on the go and looking for expanding time. Every element–rice, beans, seaweed, and vegetables–combine for optimal health, then you top it with divine dressing and you have a exciting feast. Inspired by my favorite New York City restaurant, Souen, when you put this macrobiotic meal in a to-go box you have the healthiest possible lunch!

the macro plate
serves 4

  • 2 cups rice, cooked (I used black rice here. Quinoa, short grain brown, or a combo of anything are great. Creativity!)
  • 2 cups beans, soaked overnight and cooked or one 15oz. can
  • head of kale
  • head of broccoli
  • 2 sweet potatoes
  • package of hijiki or arame seaweed
  • carrot-ginger dressing
  • miso-tahini dressing, see below
  1. Prepare the rice and beans. Set aside.
  2. Soak the seaweed. Set aside.
  3. Chop all of the vegetables and steam until cooked through, about 10 minutes.
  4. While the vegetables are steaming, prepare the dressings.
  5. Combine elements. Eat and live well.

miso-tahini dressing

  • 3 tablespoons sweet white miso paste
  • 1/2-1 cup water
  • 2-3 tablespoons tahini
  1. Mix miso and and water with fork until miso is mostly dissolved.
  2. Add tahini and mix.

keep going–sweetly…

Expanding time, without wasting time. There is no better dessert/snack that embodies this concept than healthy cookies. Is there a better to-go treat? Plus, watching these cookies come together brings back my baking joy.

strawberry shortcake cookies

  • 1 pound of strawberries, de-stemmed, cored and sliced thin
  • 1/3 cup and 1 tablespoon coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup and 2 tablespoons coconut flour
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup, grade B, or honey
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Lightly grease a cookie sheet.
  2. Rinse and clean 1 pound of strawberries. Remove the stems and cores, and slice thinly. In a thick bottomed pan, melt 1 tablespoon coconut oil, add the strawberries. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat until simmering. Stir regularly. Simmer at low heat reducing strawberries until they measure 1/2 cup. It will take about 50 minutes. Cool strawberry jam thoroughly before proceeding to the next step.
  3. Sift coconut flour and pack into 1/2 cup measurement. Place into a bowl, along with remaining coconut oil, eggs, maple syrup or honey, and vanilla. Blend. Allow cookie dough to rest for 5 minutes to allow coconut flour to absorb the liquids. The cookie dough will be very soft.
  4. Place cooled strawberry jam in with the cookie dough and lightly stir.
  5. Drop tablespoons onto the cookie sheet. Lightly pat and tap the cookie dough into a round shape.
  6. Bake for 10 minutes. Cookies will lose their shiny look when done, and will feel firm to the touch.
  7. Let the cookie melt in your mouth.

[adapted from freecoconutrecipes.com]

Where you put your energy, time will expand. Put your energy on your truth and time is in your control.

xo, S

take your own advice: connect with your inner guide

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When something in your life is off balance and you need guidance, who or what do you turn to? What if you can connect to yourself so that you always know how to find the answer to any life question?

Your magnificent inner guide…

Believe or not, we’re all wise. We all have this great depth of knowledge that speaks to every question we wish to answer. My truth may be different from your truth, but it is truth nonetheless.

Too often, though, the ego–the fear–drowns out truth. Fear can be so loud that we reach out externally–to others, to jobs, to substances, to facebook–to give us the wisdom that we seek. Because externals can’t give us the answers we need for self-love, resentment, self-hate, and doubt manifest.

For example, I used to berate myself when I didn’t enjoy going to crowded bars. For too long, I thought there was something wrong with me. I kept trying to change into someone else and listen to others advice. It was making them happy, why didn’t it work for me?

“When you’re trying to make something happen, you’re communicating with your ego. Your [inner guide] won’t ask you to change anything on the outside. Instead it will guide you to change your mind.” -Gabrielle Bernstein

Indeed, my inner guide was there the whole time just waiting to be heard. I was seeking some sort of external answer when really the only thing I needed was to listen internally.

I’m referring to the nagging voice deep down, the gut, the intuition, that is telling you something is off–that there is something more. That voice inside me was screaming!

When you can’t decipher between what your inner guide is saying and what your head is saying, the inner guide is likely the less popular, more uncomfortable choice.

How can you connect to your inner guide?

Begin by knowing that you have an inner guide. Notice times in your life when you feel at peace, when something feels wrong, when foods make you feel good. In others words, feel. We have a tendency to run from too much sensation, so if you struggle with this, start small. Feel the clothes you’re wearing. Feel the air on your skin. Try to get in touch with your body.

When you begin to connect with your reactions, move forward with the communication.

I recently began a daily practice of prayer, talking to my inner guide, and meditation, listening for the answer, inspired by Gabrielle Bernstein…

She recommends asking your inner guide, “Where would you have me go? What would you have me do? What would you have me say? And to whom? ” I like to tack on the question, “How would you have me live?”

Then I do a 5-10 minute meditation. On the inhale, I say “I welcome guidance.” On the exhale, I say, “I will receive guidance.” The prayer is putting energy into the universe that I am going to trust myself. The meditation is surrendering to my inner guide.

Every answer is inside of you. When you connect with your inner guide, you will discover that.

miracles happen

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Have you ever had one of those days where good things keep happening? You find a twenty-dollar bill on the sidewalk, the doors of your train open when you arrive to the platform, or someone contacts you when you were thinking of her… These are some obvious miracles. What if I told you miracles are the natural flow of life?

You may be able to relate to a natural flow of miracles in your career or health, but are baffled by this concept in romantic relationships. Or maybe the love of your life is constantly next to you, but you can’t lose weight or get your dream job. Maybe all three realms are a struggle…. I’ll let you in on a secret: there is no need to struggle.

Miracles will happen if you let them. They’ll flow with ease when you believe–when you stop getting in your own way!

Here is the problem, we create stories, which are often fearful illusions, of how the world works. These are ego belief systems that fundamentally say, “I’m not smart enough to have the career I want,” “I will always be overweight,” or “All men will hurt me.” These thoughts, whatever their form, stagnate the natural flow.

I like to imagine that my truth and miracles are ACHING to happen–like they need to get out! For example, people have been asking me how I come up with blog ideas. The answer is that I don’t. If I force them, I get stuck. Instead, I trust that an idea will organically come together when I let my truth flow.

Gabrielle Bernstein tells a great story of doing her Ted Talk. She said that the night before she was scheduled to talk, she woke up at 3am, freaking out. “Eighteen minutes! I only have 18 minutes! How will I say what I want in 18 minutes?” Then allowed herself to breathe into this experience and the fear that arose. Her inner guidance opened up inside of her and said,

“Speak your truth and time will expand.”

So Gabby got out of bed and went to her computer. She deleted her entire Ted-Talk outline. She then stood up the next day and gave a brilliant Ted Talk in 18 minutes. Why? Because she spoke her truth. When she trusted the universe and herself, the miracle just flowed.

How do you connect to your truth and to these miracles, you ask? You must believe in miracles. Believe in yourself. Know that you are beyond capable of living a miraculous life. When the egoistic, fearful thoughts arise, acknowledge them. Notice them, then separate the miracle you are from the ego thoughts.

Know that fearful thoughts are illusions. They are not you. When you put empowered, curious energy into the universe, the universe will give you miracles in return.

I started thinking about this post yesterday then a big miracle actually happened for me last night. For awhile, I’ve been getting emails from The Daily Love by Mastin Kipp (go sign-up! He is amazing!). On Sunday, Mastin sent out an email later in the day. Not unusual, except this one was some competition. I ignored it at first, then I realized all I had to do was send in my favorite quote. Well, of course I have a million quotes saved in a word doc… I could enter this competition in my sleep. Without expecting any results, I just decided to put the energy out into the universe.

Last night I just got an email saying that I won a three-day pass to The Tadasana Festival in Santa Monica, which is worth $300!! With yoga teachers from around world and awesome music–all on Santa Monica Pier– the hippie side of my dynamic self did a series of backflips. Unfortunately, the Festival is this weekend and I can’t make it happen. (Not to mention, the type A side to my dynamic self had a panic attack about money and logistics.)

While it is pretty amazing that I could go to a yoga and music festival in Santa Monica for free, the most amazing part is the miracle that I allowed to happen. The energy that I put into the universe manifested this miracle. I surrendered to faith that miracles like this happen. For the future, I trust myself and the universe enough to know that even though I am turning down this opportunity, there will be many more to follow. That is the natural flow.

Now are you wondering which quote won this little competition? I will tell you. Ironically, it is a miracle how appropriate the quote is in this context.

“If I could give you one key, and one key only to a more abundant life, I would give you a sense of your own worth, an unshakeable sense of your own dignity as one grounded in the source of the cosmic dance, as one who plays a unique part in the unfolding of the story of the world…” –Greta Crosby

Have a miraculous day!

xo, S.