Happiness: What is it? How does one achieve it?

First of all, let me apologise for being so distant lately.  I’ve taken some time out and i've been thinking a lot about things, in particular happiness and how one achieves it. Sadly, I had to bid farewell to my dog, a family member that I’ve had for over 15 years… I was left in a state of confusion, despair, and sadness. Although a significant and saddening event, worse loss can occur in an individuals life and as I was grieving I couldn't help but think, how does one be happy, in a time of nothing but overwhelming despondency, when their mind is plagued by nothing but negative thoughts? I had to start at the basics, what actually is 'happiness'? 

What is happiness? Is it family, is it friends, is it soul mates? is it eating wholesome nourishing food, is it having all the money in the world or is it all of this, put together? What exactly is this feeling, that so many people spend most their lives searching for and wanting? Buddha, the man himself, one said "a person may say, "I want happiness" but if that person, eliminates the self and desire, the “I” and the “want” are taken away, and they are indeed, left with just that, happiness" So in simpler terms, what does this means? It means instead of constantly thinking about wanting and needing this happiness, rather take initiative 'to be' happy. As Jules O’Neill says, “Your life is your creation” So you, and yourself only can create this 'happiness'.

In our lifetime, we will all go through a number of traumatic experiences, that will leave us, empty, broken and lost, some that will even leave us feeling like we can't get back up and pick up the broken pieces. We just have to remember, that our experiences do not make us who we are, it is rather how we choose to learn from and react to what is thrown at us, that does; Because ultimately you decide, with your thoughts, how you feel, what you want and whom you want to be.

When looking to choose this “happiness” I’ve learnt over time with everything I’ve gone through, that there are a few steps one must take. Your choices, thoughts and actions influence your level of happiness.

1. Believe you are worth happiness.

You probably all have heard the saying “Love yourself first” well, it is true, the mind is so powerful and if you believe you aren’t deserving of being happy or achieving the happiness you are designed to feel, then you wont, no matter what you do. So believe it. No matter what you have done, what has happened to your or how you are feeling right now, you need to know you are worthy of happiness, you are worth love and you are so deserving and worthy of feeling nothing but spectacular for the rest of your life.

2. Don’t worry about what is currently happening in your life; choose to see the brighter side of the picture and live in the present moment.

Don’t postpone joy, or waste Mondays wishing they were Fridays. Don’t wait till you are less busy or less overwhelmed with life’s duties to do something, because that “time” may never come. Rather live and appreciate everything you are experiencing right now, not worrying about the past or the future.

3.  Be grateful and express gratitude for what you currently do have, rather then focusing on what you don’t have.

It’s so easy to move through life without realising how freaking great you have it. Often it takes something traumatic to happen to someone for them to become aware of just how much they are blessed in having. For example, at the darkest and saddest time of my illness, where death was literally staring at me right in the face... I hadn’t ever appreciated the small yet significant things that were apart of life and living, simple things we take for granted everyday, such as breathing and walking. Please do not wait for a wake-up call to make you appreciate every little thing life has to offer. Each day be grateful for something, you can start of small and then as time goes on work up to being grateful for bigger things. It can be anything, a good friend, a good meal, legs that function, or arms that move. Go to bed each night with gratitude on your mind.

4. Money really doesn’t make you happy nor does striving to meet society’s expectations

Yes it is a realistic goal to want money, as money makes life 'easier'. I hope to see myself in the future well off, enough money to be comfortable and to see what the world has to offer. But if I was without friends or family, pets or my sense of being, would money, or the “stuff” money could buy me, make me happy? No. People in today’s society constantly buy more and more “stuff” as they feel the “stuff” they previously purchased wasn’t the right “stuff” as it didn’t make them happy, or it only made them temporarily happy. People base happiness on many factors, a major and prominent one being, outer appearance. Girls and boys who have been influenced by society’s idea of “thin” have based their weight and how big the gap between their thighs is, on how happy they will be. To those dealing with or not dealing with an eating disorder, no matter how skinny you get, it will not make you happy. You have to have a healthy mind, before you can achieve anything close to happiness. Your body’s function is to be a home to your soul and mind. It doesn’t cultivate any emotional “feelings” that’s why you must nourish it with wholesome food.  An enduring state of happiness is your choice, you have to work hard to achieve it, it won’t be achieved from things you buy or the way you look, its achieving by what and how you choose to think.  

5. Forgive those who have mistreated you, in the past or currently and develop friendships that enrich your deepest being.

Holding onto grudges or not forgiving someone will do more damage to you, than the person. Forgive who ever mistreated you, for yourself and it will feel as if a weight has been lifted off your shoulders. Not forgiving someone will be more detrimental to your physical and mental health then it would be if you swallowed your pride and forgave them. Surround yourself with positive people as if you surround yourself with people who bring you down, you are bound to feel negative and unhappy. Let go of negative relationships and invest in positive ones. Be friends with people who uplift you and compliment you. With the positive relationships you do have or are developing (whether that be friends or family) you really need to nurture them, as it’s easy to take them for granted. Let them know you love them, do nice things for them, speak kind words, display kind actions and be generous. Remember to be the friend you would want.

6. Thoughts lead to feelings. Eliminate and counteract negative thoughts.
 
As the saying goes “thoughts lead to feelings” what you think is how you will feel. When sad or negative thoughts pop up in your mind, begging for attention, counteract the thoughts with positive ones. By eliminating the negative, all you will be left with is the positive. Cultivate positive thoughts, start to see the glass half full rather than half empty, see the good in every situation. If you are feeling down about yourself, think about the good parts of you, as the good always out ways the “bad”. It may take time to achieve a positive outlook, so just make a conscious decision every day to banish more and more negative thoughts.

7. Lastly, find an activity that brings peace to your mind, and start to search for as well as understand your purpose.

Setting goals and aligning activities with these goals will make you feel like you have purpose and will ultimately boost your overall self-esteem. These goals can be anything, ranging from running 10km rather than 5km, choosing to become a vegan,setting a window of time each day to enjoy something you love (paining, writing, reading, etc) achieving a full head stand in yoga or even growing an organic gardens (TIP: Start of with caring for one plant, if you lead a hectic lifestyle like myself, you may find that you can't even look after a cactus) Find something you enjoy or something you want to work towards, ask yourself what you love and enjoy, and where you want to be in a year’s time.

Ultimately you choose your happiness. Your life is what you make of it, love yourself first and know you are so deserving of feeling valued, worthy and loved, live in the present and be grateful for what you have right now, forgive people, not for them, but for you, change your mindset, counteract those negative thoughts with positive ones, set goals for your self and find things you enjoy, and know in your life, you can do anything you want to do. IF YOU BELIEVE IT AND WANT IT, YOU CAN DO IT AND HAVE IT. Happiness is achievable! You just have to choose it. And I am choosing happiness. 

Demi

Belated Foodie Friday: Raw Vegan Ice Cream or Nice Kream

Before becoming vegan and whilst being vegetarian and stuck in a rut with my eating disorder I wouldn't have dreamed about having ice-cream for breakfast. But hey, now I do, almost everyday. With this sickening heat in Queensland, it's all I want; something cold, refreshing and delicious. I'm not talking about your usual ice-cream though, not the dairy laden or coconut milk stuff, I'm talking about the low-fat fruit based stuff. After getting a high-speed blender for Christmas, I've made and created a fair share of fruitified ice-cream recipes, or as I like to say nice-kream recipes, which I have shared with you all below. However my all time favourite recipe in which I've created is my raw vegan banana and vanilla ice cream, with raw chocolate "ice-magic" and raw "cookie-dough" a little higher in fat then the other recipes, but boy this will take you back to your child hood. Instead of me babbling about how good this stuff is, let's just get straight to the recipes, that's what your here for right? (By the way, these are probably snack size, so increase the ingredients to your appetite, accordingly)

Blueberry-banana bomb diggity nice-kream

• 1 1/2 frozen banana
• Dash of coconut water or filtered water (literally a dash, it will become smoothie like, if you add to much)
• 1/2 cup of frozen blueberries 
• 1/2 medjool date 

Blend in a high-speed blender (vitamix or optimum) until thick and ice creamy, don't worry if there are bits of medjool date not 100% blended, it's adds a gorgeous texture. (Also top with more yummy fruit)

Pink pitaya hydro berry blast sorbet

• 3/4 frozen banana 
• 1/3 half a frozen red pitaya (or dragon fruit for you, Aussie folk)
• Dash of coconut water or filtered water
• 1/4 cup mixed frozen berries (preferably organic) 
• 1/3 medjool date

Blend in a high-speed blender (vitamix or optimum) until thick and ice creamy! Top with more fruit/buckinis/coconut whatever your heart desires

Raspberry kisses sorbet

• 1 1/2 frozen banana
• Dash of coconut water or filtered water
• 1/2 cup of frozen raspberries 
• 1/2 medjool date

Blend in a high-speed blender (vitamix or optimum) until thick and ice creamy (This one will dye your lips red)

Tropical papaya banana nice kream

• 1/2 cup red flesh papaya frozen 
• 1 1/2 frozen bananas 
• Dash of coconut water or filtered water
• 1/2 medjool date 

Blend in a high-speed blender (vitamix or optimum) until thick and ice-creamy, add more fruit, rawnola etc

And finally what you've all been waiting for,

Groovy raw choc chic cookie dough vanilla banana nice kream with ice-magic.

For the cookie dough

• 1/2 cup raw almond meal (I use almond pulp and make my own)
• 1 medjool date
• 2 tbs of cacao nibs 
• 1/2 vanilla bean pod 

Blend all ingredients in a high-speed blender till dough-like. Roll into balls using a teaspoon.

For the ice magic

• 2 1/2 tbs of raw cacao or carob powder
• 2 tbs of raw coconut oil
• 1 tbs of coconut nectar 

Melt coconut oil over very very low temp (I put mine on my dehydrator, but it's usually already melted because of this heat) makes about 8

Whisk in cacao or carob powder till smooth (you must whisk) 
Add coconut nectar and whisk, (adjust sweetness or bitterness accordingly to taste, adding less or more cacao or coconut nectar)

For the nice kream

• 1 1/2 - 2 frozen bananas
• 1/2 vanilla bean pod
• 1/2 medjool date

Blend the banana nice kream ingredients in a high-speed blender (vitamix or optimum) until thick and ice-creamy drizzle with "ice magic" it will go hard immediately and top with as many cookie dough balls as you like (or mix them in) seriously friggin delish.

I hope these recipes wow your taste buds like they do to mine, healthy, nutritious and full of carbs for essential energy, if you haven't already gotten on the banana nice-kream train, your gonna want to, especially after trying these recipes (specifically the cookie dough one)

Demi x

Foodie Friday: Raw Vegan Low Fat Unsweetened Almond Mylk

When people transition from a vegan diet, whether that be from a meat based or vegetarian one, one of the first things they ask is, What about milk? What will I do with out it? Well you don’t have to do with “out it” Because boy do I have a way more delicious, cruelty free, and low fat “mylk” recipe for you; A creamy, delicious and frothy almond mylk, which is not only incredibly easy to make but incredibly nutritious. Almond milk is one of the most nutritious milk alternatives available on the market today, it has a high number of vitamin and minerals, including vitamin E, manganese, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, selenium, iron, fiber, zinc and calcium. Almond mylk is dairy free, lactose free, cholesterol free and best of all it is saturated fat free. Even if you aren’t vegan, after trying my recipe, you will never be going back to dairy milk again.

Raw Creamy Unsweetened Almond Mylk

Makes approximately 1 litre

Ingredients 

• 1 cup of raw certified organic almonds
• 4 cups of filtered water
  
  (You will also need a nut milk bag)

 

Method

1. Soak almonds in 2 cups of filtered water overnight (this is a must, please do not skip this step, as it insures a delectable creamy texture)

2. Drain and rinse almonds.

3. Blend almonds with water in an optimum or high-speed blender till creamy



4. Strain through a nut milk bag into a jug; squeeze the nut milk bag to get the most “mylk” out of your almonds. (You can also use a mesh sieve, if you can’t get your hands on a nut milk bag)

5.  Variations:
For sweetened almond milk: add 1 tbsp of coconut nectar (or two medjool dates), a pinch of salt and 1 vanilla bean after the mylk Is strained and blend again until frothy.

For chocolate almond mylk: add 3 tbsp of coconut nectar (or 4 medjool dates) a pinch of salt, 1 vanilla bean and 3 1/2 tbsp or raw cacao or carob powder (can use ¼ cup cacao nibs also) after the mylk Is strained and blend again until frothy.

For strawberry almond mylk: add 2 tbsp of coconut nectar (or three medjool dates) a pinch of salt, 1 vanilla bean and 2 ½ – 3 cups of frozen or fresh organic strawberries, after the mylk Is strained and blend again until frothy.

Voila creamy, delicious and healthy almond milk! Alternatively you can add cinnamon, maca or any other super food you desire. It’s so versatile and easy. (You can use your leftover pulp, to make pulp crackers, or dehydrate it for 4 hours at 115 degrees Fahrenheit and blend it up to make your own almond meal)




Enjoy!
Smile always,

Demi

x

Well-Being Wednesdays: Madelyne Rose Lahey

In today’s current society, when a person thinks of “healthy” food, the term delicious definitely doesn’t come to mind.  But Maddy Lahey has taken instagram by a storm, showing people that indeed; healthy food can be delicious (as indicated in her username) Sporting a positive and a half-glass full kind of attitude it was no wonder that I was attracted to Maddy, and over the past two years we have developed a friendship, like no other.  In her nature she is happy, vibrant, healthy and positive (and don’t forget beautiful) however she was anything but this two years ago, when after taking a acne medication with a desire for clear skin, she developed depression and her mind was filled with negative thoughts, relating to her self and body image; This lead to her to development of anorexia nervosa. But with extreme hard word, positive actions as well as thoughts and implementing the power of healing HEALTHY DELICIOUS FOOD, Maddy overcame this triumph and is the most vibrant she has ever been. Maddy is one of the most inspiring women I have ever had the pleasure to come across, with a story that will bring tears to your eyes and an attitude that will make you think about your own, it will be more then hard to turn your eyes away when reading this post.

Say hello to my dearest friend, Maddy!

Name?
Madelyne Rose Lahey

Age?
17 years old born on the 17th May 1996 - Taurus

Where do you live?
Brisbane, Australia

What initiated your healthy life style? And/or how did it start?
Well it’s a long story…. It all started around 2 years ago, I had horrible acne and had tired every single product on the market. My doctor told me my best bet was to put me on a medication called Roaccutane. Some of you have probably heard of it if you have suffered from skin issues, as it is supposedly the best product out there to get rid of Acne for good. My doctor had warned me of the various symptoms such as dried eyes, lips, sore muscles and even depression, but I didn't really care at the time, as all I wanted was to have glowing beautiful skin!

After 2-3 months on the medication nothing seemed to be working, so the doctor doubled my intake so the medication had a more powerful effect on my skin. I began to experience the symptoms such as dried eyes and cracked lips and I would never leave the house without lip balm. A few months past and I was not feeling my usual happy self, the emotional side of me was just not right. I began to feel sad, lonely and more self-conscious then ever. I didn't want to see or be around friends anymore I felt like they hated me because I was 'Ugly, Fat and Not good enough' (well so I thought). I then started to focus my thoughts on becoming prettier and skinner, which led me to obsessing over calories and exercise. I started to control my life around what I ate and losing weight without realising I was pushing away some of my best friends and family. It was like my life had become worthless and I had nothing else going for me.

During the Christmas holidays my family and I visited New Zealand were we went on a road trip and spent time with other family. It was on this trip my mum realised how distant I had become, how little I was eating and the dramatic weight I had loss. When we got home she immediately took me to a doctor where she did some physiological & BMI tests. I was severely underweight and was diagnosed with depression/anorexia. It was then that I was taken off Roaccutane and sent to a psychologist and Nutritionist to help me recover from what could have potentially gotten worse. Today I thank my mum for forcing me to go to that doctor’s appointment, as I would probably still be on Roaccutane and potentially be in a worse place. It took time, effort and eventually determination to enable myself to get back to a healthy weight. A long year of shifting my mind set and realising I am beautiful, I have amazing friends, my life is worth living and I am happy & healthy. I also thank my Nutritionist Trish Russell for motivating me as she inspired me and help developed my loving interest in healthy food and cooking! So today I live an extremely happy life, I’m surrounded by amazing souls everyday, I nourish myself with healthy delicious food and I am so grateful for everything that has happened, as I would not be the person I am today.

What does health mean to you and why is it important?
Health means happiness, I believe it is the food we choose to eat, the relationships we have with others and ourselves that determines a long, happy and healthy life.

When on the run, what are your go to meals and snacks?
I love fresh juices, homemade cacao goodie balls, hummus with carrot sticks, crunchy apples, Kombucha, sprouted bread with avocado and tomato, avocado avocado avocado!!! I put it on everything! Quinoa with roast veggies is one of my favourite quick and easy meals to make, when there is nothing in the fridge. But right now in summer I’m loving lots of fresh fruit, especially mangoes!! 

What aspects are in adaptable when it comes to your diet?
NOTHING PROCCESSED OR OUT OF A PACKET!! Just look at the ingredients on the package and maybe you will change your mind about nourishing yourself with it! I eat a mostly vegetarian/vegan diet with the exception of sustainably caught seafood, free-range eggs and some organic yogurt. I think it is highly important to know where our produce is coming from and how the animals were treated. When I do chose to by animal products I make sure they are always raised in a safe and happy environment. I love vegetables and think that they should be the main aspect of any dish! There are so many and all have so much flavour! I also choose to now shop locally and at the farmers market, to ensure I am supporting our local farmers and getting the best quality produce possible!

Are there any people who inspired you to make this lifestyle choice and/or who you admire?
As I said Trish my nutritionist has inspired me so much along this journey, she was the one who believed I could get here and the one who taught me so much about nourishing our bodies with love and healthy food. Her guidance and positivity always gave me hope and inspiration to become the best me. I also admire Jess Ainscough. I found her website thewellnesswarrior.com at the beginning of my journey last year and was truly inspired by her story and way of living. I was amazed at what she had overcome and the challenges she had faced that has gotten her here today. I also admire health & wellness advocates such as Melissa Ambrosini, who taught me about the importance of self-love. Kris Carr, who has taught me that living a healthy lifestyle, is fun! And of course the close people around me who continued to support me along this journey. I have learnt so much from these inspiring souls, which I will continue to treasure for the rest of my life.

What is your favourite live-by quote?
There are too many!! But my favourite is "Love yourself first and everything will fall into place" its so true!!! 

What is your favourite way to stay active?

YOGA is my all time favourite thing to do. I started practicing it a few years ago and every since I started, I have been hooked! The whole practice is so amazing, the breath, the mind and the body can do such amazing things when you focus on nothing else but being present. It really lifts up my mood, and if I’m having a bad day it always leaves me feeling alive and glowing! I love practicing in a room filled with such like-minded people the vibes and energy of each person bounces off each other to create such peace and serenity. I also love walking in nature, it makes me feel grounded and can help realise any negativity that has been blocking me.

What are your top 3 tips to stay healthy, happy and positive?
1) Surround yourself with amazing people who you enjoy being with, as the special relationships you have with others can have a huge effect on your happiness

2) Accept and love yourself - As soon as I started to accept myself for who I am and telling myself I am beautiful, my life changed and I began to start living life with no fears or worries just pure happiness 

3) Nourish yourself with beautiful food & connect with nature - reconnect with yourself and know what’s best for you. Rather then following a restrictive diet follow a lifestyle where you feel and operate at your best. Whether that means you are a vegan/ raw vegan, vegetarian, pescetarian , choosing to eat meat or not, its about what works for you and listening to what your body needs. Also getting outside can bring more happiness into your life, reconnecting with nature whether it be gardening, walk on the beach/park or simply lying on the grass watching the clouds. I find that when I am in nature I am a more happier and positive me 

Why is self-love important?

Self-love is the most important step to creating a happy & healthy life. When you are filling yourself with negative thoughts you are truly damaging your health and well being. You were put on this planet for a reason and you should be every bit grateful for the beautiful life you are living! Finding some alone time to yourself everyday whether that be reading, having a cup of tea, facial/ massage or a yoga class, and giving yourself the freedom to do something you love is a great gesture and significance of self love. Telling yourself affirmations such as 'I am Beautiful' and 'I love and accept myself' is another great way to express the love you have for yourself.

What do you hope to achieve in the future/what are your goals?
I would love to teach people about the importance of real Health & Nutrition and eventually have my own business of some sort. I plan to study Nutritional Medicine & Naturopathy in the near future, so I can help people change their lives by fighting disease with Natural medicine & Nutrition. But right now I am learning to live in the present and accepting that the universe has my back! I plan to travel all around the world and learn about different cultures and how people live as I find that so interesting. I love adventures and hope to become more adventurous with everyday life decisions and try not to plan or worry about things as much.

If you were trying to persuade someone to join you on your path to a healthy lifestyle, how would you go about doing so?
I would never force someone to start living like me or preach them with crazy facts about factory farming, pesticides or any other health issues. It is when people ask about why I live the way I live, I tell them why and they choose to accept or decline the information I give them. Of course when someone brings up that they want to start living healthier I will give them a few tips but I would never force them.

Do you have any books, resources, or tools for someone aspiring to live a healthy lifestyle?
I love recipe books! I have so many and they are my guilty pleasure! My favourite is Janella Purcell; she has also inspired me to cook such yummy healthy food. All her recipes are so delicious! They are mostly vegetarian and vegan with some seafood. Instagram is a world of inspiration for recipes, health and wellness tips, being apart of such like minded people on instagram is a great way to connect and share amazing recipes with other people on the same journey as you! Various documentaries are also very eye opening and can help change your perception on the food we eat, I love 'Food Matters', 'Hungry for Change', 'Food inc.','Fat sick and nearly dead', 'Crazy sexy cancer' and 'forks over knives' have all had a huge impact on my lifestyle and health choices.

What do you think is the biggest issue with health in our society?
There are so many but the ones that stick out to me the most are fad diets, processed foods & Factory farming. People’s perception of getting healthy these days is being deprived on a fad diet. Whether it be Jenny Craig, weight watchers and The Atkins diet etc. All of them lack in nutritional value and encourage you to eat low calorie meals and snacks that are actually filled with harmful chemicals such as artificial sweeteners, which may be more long term damaging then good. Also factory farming has been a big issue in Australia and all over the world. Animals are being raised in rural and cruel factories, forced to eat grains and pumped with harmful hormones and antibiotics to make them bigger. These processed meats are found in supermarkets, fast food restaurants and all over Australia. Not only are these poor innocent animals being treated like prisoners; it is not healthy for us humans to be eating food filled with chemicals and hormones! Animals Australia have raised the issue to many supermarkets in plead to stop selling factory farmed meats, but it is only us consumers who can stop buying these products will help make a difference.

What has been your proudest moment on your journey and what has been your most challenging?
My proudest and most challenging moment on my journey would be when I finally overcame the darkness and started seeing life as a gift and a blessing. It took some time to regain the happiness I lost while having depression, but when I did overcome the negative thoughts and feelings I was stronger and happier then ever. I found a new sense of self-love and thank myself everyday for the beautiful life I am living.

How can we find you?

Instargram - @healthydeliciousfood
Email - maddylahey@hotmail.com
Blog - http://happyhealthymaddy.blogspot.com.au/

Share your favourite recipe?

I have experimented with many mueslis and granolas before but this is by far the tasty and healthy one I have made so far. I make a big batch every week and my family loves it, I have it for breakfast nearly everyday with some coyo (http://www.coyo.com.au/) yogurt and fruit. Enjoy

MADDYS YUMMY COCONUT GRANOLA
Vegan, Dairy Free, Gluten Free.

Ingredients:

• 2-3 cups Gluten Free Oats 
• 2-3 cups Chopped mixed nuts such as almonds, walnuts, brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts (whatever you like) 
• 1 cup Pepitas/pumpkin seeds 
• 1 cup coconut flakes 
• 1-2 tbsp coconut nectar
• 1/4 cup Coconut oil 
• 1/4 tsp Vanilla bean/ extract
  

Method:

1.     Heat oven to 180 degrees.

2.     On a baking tray or bowl mix all ingredients together until well combined. Bake in oven until lightly brown, you may want to flip over muesli halfway in-between baking to cook through each side.

3.     Once cooked let cool for 20 mins until transferring into a container.

4.     Serve with yummy coconut with berries, banana, papaya and any fruit you like!

Feel free to play around with the recipe to suit what you like. I don't measure the ingredients so this is just an estimate, be creative and enjoy.