We now arrive at the 12th and most important principle of wellness: live with passion. Instead of giving you my usual wellness tips, I thought I would share a story about two people who truly embody this principle. And as luck would have it, they happen to be my parents, who after 40 plus years have shared quite the adventure together.
Author: Erin Clifford Wellness
Principle 11: It’s Good to be “Bad” (once and awhile)
I began my wellness journey during college when I moved down the street from Evanston’s Whole Foods. I explored new foods (aka vegetables and fruits) and bought countless health books. I became instantly drawn to Dr. Andrew Weil’s masterpiece Spontaneous Healing.
Principle 10: Create a Social Support Network
Remember that old adage: you don’t have to go it alone! My whole life I’ve immensely admired the wonderful friendship my Mom shares with her two soulmates Pam and Jeanne. This dynamic threesome have stood together through thick and thin, and brought immense joy and lots of laughs to each other’s lives.
Principle 9: Live with Gratitude
Living with gratitude is at the heart of the 12 Principles of Wellness. I love this quote from Hall of Fame baseball player Wade Boggs: “A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events and outcomes. It is a catalyst and it sparks extraordinary results.”
Recipe of the Week: Skinny Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli-Rice Casserole
Bring chicken broth to a boil in a large pot then add rice. Cover then turn heat down to medium-low. Cook for about 45 minutes or until package directions. When rice has 5 minutes left to cook ad
Principle 8: Develop a Spiritual Practice
I began our wellness discussion by talking about the importance of eating whole foods, but “spiritual nutrition” is just as essential and can feed us on a deeper level. As Dr. Andrew Weil said, “the essence of spirituality is connectedness; an inner sense that we are not random, isolated creatures but part of something sacred and infinitely larger than ourselves.” Spirituality fosters positive relationships, higher self-esteem, a sense of optimism and meaning or purpose in life.
Recipe of the Week: Spring Shrimp Pasta Salad
Cook pasta according to package directions, drain, and rinse with cold water. Combine all dressing ingredients in a blender to make a vinaigrette dressing (refrigerate left-over). Toss pasta with vegetables and 1/2 cup of dressing.
Principle 7: Manage your Stress through Self-care
Do you spend a lot of time worrying about other individuals’ wants and needs, and in doing so, neglect your own??? We live in a society where this is extremely common place on both a career and personal level. But to live a healthy and fulfilling life, we must put ourselves first and not allow stress and anxiety to overpower us.
Sunday Night Dinner: Slow Cooker Mushroom Chicken and Vegetables
Place chicken breasts in the crockpot with onion, carrots, red potatoes and two garlic cloves. Cover with chicken broth, cream of mushroom soup and black pepper. Add in sliced mushrooms the last hour of cooking.
Recipe of the Week: Italian Cheeseburgers
Mix beef with garlic powder, pepper, Italian seasoning and parsley. Shape into 4 patties. Cook over medium-high heat, either in a skillet coated with olive oil spray, grill pan or on a grill, for at least 4 minutes on each side.