Hot Mess? I call BS.

Hot Mess? I call BS.

Unpopular opinion, perhaps, but when someone self-declares themselves as a hot mess, it makes me cringe. 
 
Yet, we see it all the time.  The hashtag “hot mess” has been used on Instagram over a million times.  
 
Declaring, or even thinking, that you are a hot mess is totally defeating.  It’s like you are putting on a brave face, by telling the world you don’t give a rip, yet you are labelling yourself which keeps you from having to reach for more or, more accurately, from wanting more.  
 
I know this “hot mess” feeling.  I know it well.  But sometimes we use trendy words without even realizing how much they play with our subconscious and keep us playing small.  
 
What does “hot mess” mean to you?  What is the woman who says this actually feeling?  Tired, wiped, barely holding on, needing a break, wishing she could feel like she’s got it all together, wanting to be energized and organized.  
 
This woman feels like there isn’t enough of her to go around, yet the Instagram photos would have her book-ending her day with “can’t function without coffee” and pouring a glass of red in the evening, talking about the crazy mom life, sporting a messy bun, and a cute oversized sweatshirt that says something witty, all while being praised for “keeping it real” and being relatable.   
 
Why is that more accepted than her saying, I’m really overwhelmed these days, but I know it will get better.  I’m doing what I can and being gentle with myself.  
 
Don't get me wrong, I like coffee and I enjoy a good glass of merlot once in a while. I get it, but we are missing the point with this surface level stuff that is actually hiding some bigger stuff.

It’s a crappy feeling to feel scattered and exhausted, but sometimes we announce it as a form of community building.  It’s like saying, hey all you other tired, overwhelmed women out there!  I’m here!  Let’s be this way together, so that it feels better.
 
But does it?  When you are down, does it feel better to be around others who are down or does it just feel more comfortable and safe?  When you are exhausted and depleted, does it feel energizing to focus on it?  Do you want to be in it longer, or do you want to move through it?
 
Let me be clear, I don’t think we always need to be pushing to be great, quite the opposite actually.  I do not believe in hustle culture whatsoever.  I believe strongly in healing and rest and honouring our feelings, but I do believe in refining ourselves and being resourceful in finding ways to feel better, to feel uplifted, to feel balanced and to feel peace.  I believe that we are meant to thrive and that life ebbs and flows.  We go through seasons of rest and hibernation, seasons of visibility and growth and seasons of abundance and flow.
 

You are not “a mess”.  You are so much more even if you are feeling like you are in a mess or feeling messy, or feeling messed up…it’s not who you are.  It is an experience you are having.
 
It’s an experience we’ve all had, but it doesn’t have to be something you label yourself as, and you can choose a different experience.
 
Imagine going to a conference and women could choose either “hot mess” as their name tag or “divine being”, what do you think most would choose?
 
What would you choose? 
 
How would each of those options feel?  How would you show up differently with each of those options?  

If you are going to declare something about yourself, let it be the truth of what’s really inside.  That’s keeping it real.  That’s showing up fully for your life.  That’s being in gratitude for another day on this earth.  
 
It’s time to start raising the bar for our well-being, wouldn’t you say?
 
I’d say so.  We are meant for so much more.
 
With so much love and belief for what’s possible for you,
Tina xo
 
Ps. And if you are feeling like you have no idea how to go from a “hot mess” in survival mode, to a divine being that is thriving, you need to be in the Glow with Your Flow program. 

I show you the path to feeling good again, to understanding yourself, to having better relationships with yourself and others, to remembering the truth of who you really are, to clarity, peace and balance for you specifically.

Want to make a change?  Check it out here. Our next round starts April 18th and it is currently $200 off, for a limited time!
 



What is Ayurveda?

What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is a complete healing system that originated over 5000 years ago.  It’s becoming more and more popular, just like yoga did, but it is certainly not new.  

If we break down the word Ayurveda, Ayus means knowledge or science and veda means life.  It is literally the science or knowledge of life.  It is a complete lifestyle that is focused on giving you tools and practises to create health on a daily basis by using your innate healing ability. I think intuitively we all know that our body is designed to heal and know what to do.  So by living this wisdom and these practises, you begin to thrive physically, emotionally, and spiritually. 

There are several principles that make up the foundation of Ayurveda and more and more, modern science is validating these ancient teachings.  

Let's go through some of them here below:

It is a holistic mind-body-spirit approach to health and well-being, so it gives you tools for thriving in all aspects of your life—physical, emotional, and spiritual.  You’ve heard about the mind/body/spirit connection and yet, so often we disregard what is important.  Why do we overlook it when we know it's so valuable?

Your mind, body and spirit are inextricably connected.  What you take in through your experiences (5 senses) creates thoughts, feelings, nourishment, toxins, that affect your body and your mind.  If you have a lot of toxic thoughts, your body won’t run optimally.  

Think about a time where you were in the presence of an intense argument, how did it feel in your body?  Was there tension, sweating, tears?  Or the opposite situation.  Imagine you’ve just been invited to an epic event or trip of your dreams, your friends are on their way to pick you up RIGHT NOW.  What does your body feel like?  Excited, energetic, you pick up the physical pace, perhaps you are smiling.  Now let’s bring it to the body first, you eat garbage food, your mind can't focus or get clear, you feel heavy physically, but also unmotivated, tired.    If you focus on only one aspect and expect to thrive, you may find yourself struggling. Research is confirming that when you address all these aspects of your life, you maximise your well-being. 

Secondly, it addresses all aspects of the person, not just a “problem area” it focuses on the root cause of the issue and teaches you how to reverse the disease process to heal what started it all rather than put a temporary, symptom-specific short-term solution on it.

It’s also preventative, so when you live an ayurvedic lifestyle, you are less likely to build up toxins (ama) and have tools to relieve stress, so that diseases are less likely to ever become present.

It’s important to understand that just because Ayurveda originated over 5000 years ago, it doesn’t mean its outdated.  It’s quite the opposite, because it’s based on the principles of nature which never change.

Ayurveda teaches that the five elements that make up the universe, fire, air, earth, space and water, are also within you, so when you align your daily habits with the rhythms of nature and your natural cycles, you eat colourful, nourishing foods, you have awareness of what you take in through your five senses, you sleep (heal) well and you connect to the deeper part of you, your body comes back into balance.  Not only that, but you can then reach your full potential to have fulfilment, joy and peace in your life.

Ayurveda is personalised, and this is my favourite part.  There is no one-size-fits-all approach to this healing wisdom.  Thank goodness!  We are so different and what is beneficial for one person, isn't necessarily what the other needs.

Remember those five elements that I said are within you? Those 5 elements are responsible for different aspects of your wellbeing and we all have them all within us, yes, but to varying degrees.  We each have a unique mind/body type, made up of those elements, which in Ayurveda we call Doshas.  There are three Doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

Vata is made up of space and air and is responsible for movement and transportation within the body. It is the principle behind all movement and the force that generates thought.

Pitta is made up of fire and water and Pitta is the principle of transformation. It represents energy, heat, or fire.

Kapha is made up of earth and water and is responsible for protection and structural integrity. It is the principle that holds the cells together and forms the muscle, fat, bone.

In Ayurveda, you learn about your mind-body type, our dosha, you recognize what being in balance or out of balance looks like for you specifically and we learn the tools to bring yourself back to balance. Not to even levels of all three doshas, but to the level of YOUR essential nature.

You know this to be valuable, because what works for your partner in their physical routine, might leave you depleted.  The foods that your friend has been eating, leave you feeling bloated even though they are “healthy” options.  You know you need more or less sleep than someone.  If you have kids, you can tell that some need naps and others don’t.  So you build awareness of what feels good for you.

Lastly, it’s very practical.  When you start to line up your daily life with the rhythms of nature, the circadian rhythms, the lunar rhythms, the seasonal rhythms, etc. you will see that you’ve naturally and intuitively been practising certain aspects of Ayurveda throughout your life.  You do simple, daily maintenance practises such as scraping your tongue, drinking warm water and walking to stoke your digestive fire.  You connect and create peace, by meditating, walking in nature, or breathing deeply.  You restore your mind and body through proper sleep, self-massage, essential oils, healing yoga., you release toxins through emotional release techniques, seasonal resets, switching out toxic self-care or household products.

It is a holistic, peaceful and joyful way to live that is available for anyone.  You get to decide what elements of Ayurveda you can incorporate in your life.  Just start small and add one bit at a time.  The benefits will be felt quickly and I'll bet the people around you will begin to ask themselves, "what's different about her...she's glowing". 

Tina xo

I teach you all that you need to know to start living an Ayurvedic lifestyle in my program, Glow with Your Flow.  Check it out here www.floatyoucork.com/flow.


4 Ways to Start Healing from Within

4 Ways to Start Healing from Within

Your body is always supporting you.  It so incredibly intelligent and it does so much for you, asking nothing in return.  Even though we live busy, intense and physically and emotionally toxic lives, our body still wants to heal.  It's up to us to get out of the way and let it do what it needs to do.  

Let's take a look at 4 simple ways to begin healing from within.

Heal While You Sleep

Sleep is the time that your body heals itself. While you sleep your organs rest and regenerate, wastes are metabolized and emotions are processed. Your body knows what to do, but when you go to bed late, you lose out on precious healing time.  Ayurveda teaches that going to bed around 10pm to get the most out of this transformative, healing time.  Between 10-2 is PITTA time.  
 
In Ayurveda, Pitta Dosha is made of the fire and water elements.  Fire is responsible for digestion and transformation.  If you wait to go to bed, you might find that you get a sudden second wind during this time and can have a harder time falling asleep after.
 
To support you in getting a good night’s sleep, try diffusing lavender and cedarwood essential oils, do a self-massage on your feet to give yourself a little self-love before going to sleep.  Stay off devices for at least an hour before bed, try to go to bed around the same time every night, journal and recapitulate your day or brain dump your thoughts without attachment or emotion.  As you go to sleep, breathe deeply, in and out.  Sink into your mattress.  Feel every part of you sinking deeper and deeper as you breathe.  Expect a deep, soothing sleep to follow.
 
 
Heal While You Go Within (Meditate)
 
When you meditate you connect with the deeper part of you that is connected to all things, a greater consciousness.  You connect to your subtle body, which is exactly how it sounds, more subtle than the physical body.  Meditation is where you practice just being.  It’s turning inward. It allows you to centre yourself and regroup your thoughts.
 
It has been said that when you pray, you are speaking to God, but when you meditate, you are listening to God.  
 
Now you can call that Universe, Source, whatever suits your choices, but you get the idea. It means that you are connecting to the part of you that holds the truths, the answers, the peace, the grace and limitless possibilities.  Meditation is often mistaken for “clearing your mind” or “pausing the thoughts in your head”, but that is not it at all.  It is about being aware of your thoughts without attachment. Just letting them go by.  Bringing your focus back to your breath, and image or a mantra, for example. 
 
Deepak Chopra says, “Meditation is not about forcing your mind to be quiet, it’s about finding the silence that is already there”.
 
Meditation can bring:

  • Relief from depression
  • Lowered blood pressure 
  • Stress relief
  • Helps you regain your inner calm and equilibrium
  • Improved digestion
  • Improved memory
  • Improved interpersonal relationships
  • Reduced anxiety
  • And overall healing to your body systems because you are turning down the stress response, which most people are currently always in.
 
Heal With Mother Nature
 
We often think of the environment as something outside of ourselves, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.  In Ayurveda, the environment is considered your extended body.  Part of the physical body.  This is why when we align ourselves with the rhythms of nature, we naturally come back into balance.  
 
The elements found in nature are what makes up the entire universe including you.  For example, the sun in the environment is the element of fire which in your body shows up as your digestive fire (the Sanskrit term for this is Agni) and it is responsible for transformation of everything we take in through our 5 senses.  
 
When you want to heal, you can replenish your mind, body and spirit by connecting with nature.  If you simply visit a natural area and walk in a relaxed way, you begin to calm & restore yourself, and feel rejuvenated.  Forest Bathing is an example of this.  Forest bathing is basically taking in the forest atmosphere.
 
  • Improved focus
  • Mood boost
  • Improved intuition
  • A sense of overall well-being
  • Stress reduction
  • Immune boost
  • Lower risk of disease
 They say to let hug a tree, but rather try letting the tree hug you.  Lean against the tree and feel the connection.  If it’s not winter where you are, stand barefoot on the grass, in the sand, in the water.  If it is winter, go out and breathe the crisp winter air.  Listen to the crunch as you step with your boots into the snow.  Observe the brightness of the environment.  Just spend time in awareness.

Even if you can’t get to a forest or getting outside is tricky, you can have plants in your home, spend time sitting near a window and feeling the sun, even looking at a desk fountain and listening to the sounds of nature or looking at a picture of nature and imagining the smells and the feelings.  If you have essential oils, grab a tree oil of any kind like pine or northern lights black spruce, my fave, and place a drop in your hands, rub your hands together and cup over your mouth and. Breathe in and breathe out.  
 
Heal While You Play
 
You need to make room for fun in your life.  To do things you love, laugh, have relationships, and interact with others.  This allows you to experience new things, grow, receive from others, give, explore and extract emotional nourishment.  
 
It allows you to feel good, despite any circumstances you might be facing which makes room for a new perspective or solutions.  It allows you to literally lighten up on your journey of enlightenment.

Be well,
Tina xo


Do THIS Before Setting Goals for 2022

Do THIS Before Setting Goals for 2022
We are at the top of a New Year.  There’s a lot of noise out there.

So many “shoulds” are popping up.  Whether you are looking around and what you see in others that you “want” or you feel like you need to be a certain way for others, the list goes on and on about all the self-improvements you want to make as a woman, a mother, in your career, your family life, your marriage, your body…I could go on.  Can you feel the heaviness in all of that?

This year, let’s simplify.  Before we start adding to all the lists, just as yourself this one question...

Am I just existing or am I thriving?

You might have been “just existing” for so long that you don’t even know what thriving looks like.  When we are in the noise and the business it’s hard to even have awareness of what something different might feel like.  

There is a massive difference between thriving and existing. 

Just existing can be very sneaky because it can even be a habit.  

Signs you are existing:

  • You make decisions that keep you small and safe

  • You don’t try new things

  • You react rather than respond

  • When you make a mistake, you look at is as failure rather than feedback

  • You can’t hear your inner voice and what others say and think about you is what you take as truth

  • You feel restricted rather than expansive

  • You feel like slowing down is wasting time

  • You push and push through the week rather than feeling the pull of peace and balance.

  • You feel like your body isn’t supporting you - low energy, poor digestion, lack of sleep and so on.

So WHY is it worth checking in with yourself, taking a breath and just listening?

Because you deserve to be happy.  A hamster wheel existence keeps you apart from remembering your wholeness.  Keeps you from experiencing  the potential of what this life has to offer.  Keeps you from being able to pour into others using your gifts.  Keeps you from feeling peace in your life and balance in your days.

So what now?  You’ve decided that perhaps you have been just existing.  How does that influence what you want for this year?

It means you should tune in and get choosy. Marie Kondo what is happening within you and around you.  Ask yourself, do you need it? Do you love it? Does it bring you joy?  Ask this about what you take in as food, how you spend your time, where you spend your money, what you watch, etc.

Start to live by the 80/20 rule…because it allows you to give yourself grace.  For example, you might not have a say in 20% of the people you surround yourself with, but for the other 80%, get choosy.

Get choosy about what you take in through your five senses.  It all affects you.  

Get choosy about what you put in your mouth…not based on the latest trend, but by how it makes you FEEL.

Slow down and begin to be aware of how you feel and it will change what you choose to hold on to, commit to, allow in, put out and spend time on.

This year, choose to start with awareness.  It’s the light on the path of thriving.

Burn bright,
Tina xo

I'd love to know, did you take time to reflect and ask yourself the question?  What came up for you? If this was helpful, share it with a friend and be sure to connect with me over on Instagram.