Gratitude After Thanksgiving

Happy Monday...I hope everyone had a nice weekend and holiday. I saw Stevie Nicks in concert last night and it was wonderful! 

Now that Thanksgiving has passed, what about the other 364 days of the year? 

This year will be coming to a close very soon. Why not create some new habits right now? Have a mindset of being grateful every day and not just on a holiday.  

It's easy to get caught up in this fast paced, busy  life we all live...It's easy to focus on what's wrong in our lives...The thoughts we think and what we choose to give our attention to, is the energy we send off into the universe...What we are attracting into our life. When we consciously focus on what we are thankful for, we are sending out positive vibes. Shift your way of thinking from what you are lacking, to the multitude of good that is already present in your life. 

Ready to have an attitude of gratitude? 

Each morning, start out your day by thinking about what you are grateful for.  - You can also create a gratitude journal where you physically jot down what you are thankful for. Click here to read my blog post on creating your own gratitude journal.

Be mindful - Many times throughout the day, I'll remind myself to observe my surroundings and appreciate the present moment. Staying in the NOW, eases our worries, and makes us feel more joy and happiness. 

Share your gratitude with others - There's always room for more love and appreciation. 

Here are few things that I am thankful for:

• Having such wonderful people in my life, who support and love me. 

• Traveling. I truly feel such freedom and my soul becomes more alive. 

• The life lessons I've learned from difficult moments in my life....It has made me stronger and wiser. 

• Sunsets and the changing of the seasons. 

• The unique perspective that each and every one of us brings forth. 

• And...Netflix because of the Gilmore Girls revival (I had to throw that one in there)!

What are you thankful for? 

Also, if you haven't listened to Alicia Key's new song, Holy War...I highly recommend you do so. It's a beautiful song about us all coming together and loving one another.

As always, if you have any questions, leave a comment below or feel free to email me at TheZenFashionista@Gmail.Com 

To subscribe to my blog, you can click the subscribe tab at the top of this page, comment, or give it to me personally. I really appreciate it!

Until next time,

XOXOTheZenFashionista

Pain, Pain Go Away...Please Don't Come Back Another Day!

You may have read my blog post on invisible illnesses, that talked about my neurological condition, CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) or RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy) as it was previously known. If not, you can click here. 

November is awareness month for the condition and so I wanted to make a post to commemorate that. 

CRPS/RSD is a chronic pain condition that generally affects a limb, but can be present anywhere in the body. The brain receives false pain signals and the body reacts as if it's under attack. It is rated higher on the the McGill Pain Index than childbirth. 

The most common symptoms are:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Changes in skin color or temperature 
• Sensitivity to touch/sensations

The pain can spread to another part of the body and is flared by stress. 

There is no cure, but there are many forms of treatments. 

I'm very into holistic healing and here are some things that help me...

• If you can calm the mind, and relax your body...you may be able to ease some of your pain. I like to meditate in the morning and before bed. Biofeedback is also quite helpful. 

• Regularly doing stretches, to ensure movement. Restricting blood flow only makes it worse. 

• Alternative medicine techniques such as Cranio Sacral, Reiki, and EFT. 

EFT is one of my favorite things to teach people how to do, since it is something    you can learn to do for yourself. 

EFT stands for Emotional Freedom Technique and is commonly referred to as Tapping. By tapping on meridian points, it has been said to help with pain, anxiety, negative thoughts, etc. I like to describe it as a mix of acupressure, self hypnosis, and energy medicine all wrapped into one. 

• I'm a big advocate for essential oils. Some great ones for inflammation and pain are; lavender, eucalyptus, frankincense, and peppermint. 

• If you can handle the sensation, a TENS unit can really help with the pain. 

• Diet plays a major part in our health and well-being. There are certain foods that inflame my body. I recommend staying away from...sugar, caffeine, processed foods, aspartame, and dairy products. Moderation is key! And everyone's body is different...so it may be trial and error for you.  

• I take a lot of natural supplements and I currently am working with a doctor who is the brain child behind Preleve. Preleve is an anti inflammatory supplement that combines six ingredients to help combat inflammation and pain. It contains Turmeric, Chinese Skullcap, Boswellia, Indian Frankincense, Ginger, and Undenatured Collagen Type 2.  

If you're interested in trying this supplement, send me an email (TheZenFashionista@Gmail.Com) and I'll tell you more.  

This blog post, I have a random question...What is your favorite candle scent?

As always, if you have any questions, leave a comment below or feel free to email me at TheZenFashionista@Gmail.Com 

To subscribe to my blog, you can click the subscribe tab at the top of this page, comment, or give it to me personally. I really appreciate it!

Until next time,

XOXOTheZenFashionista