Hello and welcome to Breath of Balance where we talk about how to balance your personal health and wellness in our daily lives.

For the relatively short amount of time I have existed in this crazy thing we call life. I have come to understand that it is not the great declarations of change that move us forward on our journey of discovering who we want to be in this life. It is the small practices, the moments that we spend in the pure presence of self, with a deep breath and smile knowing we got this.

It’s in those moments that we turn another degree closer to our true life’s direction.

Thank you, for choosing to come along with me.

In this weekly newsletter I will talk about the small things. The practices that I have used that have allowed me to find balance and the new topics and practices I will continue to learn along the way.

Does anyone else hear voices?

Have you ever been going about your day and find yourself in a deluge of mental prattle. To eventually hit a hard stop however many minutes later when a voice of reason asks, “What the hell was that about?” Hey hey, welcome to the club. No membership fees required. Daniel Kahneman, a Berkeley educated psychologist and author of New York Times Bestseller “Thinking Fast and Slow”, helps explain this. Kahneman conceptualizes that the brain has two systems of thinking.

• System 1 is fast, automatic, and intuitive. It helps us make quick judgments with little effort, like recognizing faces or reacting emotionally.

• System 2 is slow, deliberate, and analytical. It takes more effort and is used for complex reasoning or decision-making.

System 1 = prattle ; System 2 = Reason.

Kahneman shows that while System 1 is efficient, it often leads to errors and biases because it jumps to conclusions. System 2 can correct these mistakes, but it's lazy and doesn’t always step in. The book “Thinking Fast and Slow” explores how these two systems influence everything from everyday choices to major judgments, often in ways we’re not aware of.

I remember reading this book and it tearing a gaping hole into my reality. I still try to look back now and I can’t say for certain how much of a role System 2 played in my younger life. Sometimes I wonder if it played any at all. If it did, than how could this be such an earth shaking revelation. I viscerally recall when my entire perspective changed in an instant.

I spent all of my twenties emotionally charged with fast automatic judgements. I played mental ping pong from one emotion to the next. My urges, needs, and wants ruled my mental faculties with little to no deliberate or analytical thought to what I was actually doing. Usually to the detriment of the emotional and physical well being of myself and the people I cared about.

Once I realized what was happening, things slowly started to change. I was able to stop myself from going to the rabbit hole. Thoughts would pop into my head, and for the first time I can remember I would take to time to analyze it. Making the decision if this was a thought that I found to be helpful or prattle. For the first time I chose what I thought about, that is when the true growth begins.

Reframing

Reframing is a psychological technique that involves changing the way you think about a situation, experience, or belief in order to see it from a different, often more positive or helpful, perspective. It doesn’t change the facts, but it changes how you interpret or react to them. For example, instead of seeing a mistake as a failure, you might reframe it as a learning opportunity.

To reframe your mental framework, you change the way you interpret thoughts, experiences, or beliefs to see them in a more constructive or empowering light. Here’s a simple process to help you do that:

1. Become Aware of Your Thoughts

• Catch negative or limiting thoughts as they arise.

• Ask yourself: What am I telling myself right now?

2. Question the Thought

• Is this thought 100% true?

• What’s the evidence for and against it?

• Am I assuming the worst or using all-or-nothing thinking?

3. Look for Alternative Perspectives

• How would someone else view this situation?

• What might a more balanced or compassionate version of this thought be?

• Can I see this as a challenge or opportunity instead of a threat?

4. Replace with a Reframed Thought

• Turn the negative thought into something more helpful or realistic.
  Example:

  • Instead of: “I failed, so I’m not good enough.”

  • Reframe: “This setback shows me where to improve. I’m learning.”

5. Practice Consistently

• Reframing is a skill—it takes repetition.

• Journaling or talking with a coach/therapist can help reinforce new patterns.

Quick Tip: Use "Yet"

Turn fixed beliefs into growth-oriented ones:

• “I can’t do this” → “I can’t do this yet.”

Book Nook

Weekly recommended reading from my bookshelf.

When we start new things it is often strange and uncomfortable. We sheepishly and somewhat clumsily dip our toe in the water. Fearing that if we try to launch ourselves and jump in with both feet, we will slip on the take off and land flat on our face. In this book Angela Duckworth argues that long-term success depends more on grit, a blend of passion and perseverance, than on talent alone. To me the ability to try new things and be completely fine with looking like a fool along the way is a superpower. No one knows what they are doing the first time they try something new. It’s the ability to laugh off the slips and trips and keep showing up for more is where true growth begins. She explains that effort counts twice: it builds skill and turns skill into achievement. Through research and stories of high achievers, Duckworth shows that grit can be developed through consistent interest, deliberate practice, purpose, and resilience. Ultimately, she emphasizes that grit, not innate ability, is what drives people to reach their full potential.

Healthy Recipe

Easy Refried Bean Tostadas

One thing you will realize as this news letter develops is that I LOVE food. I will try anything and everything that you put in front of me. At least once. Trying different food from different cultures is my favorite past time. If I could, I would do it all day everyday. Especially portable hand held foods like these tostadas. Though they are not traditionally served with meat. I would probably throw on some shredded chicken on these though.

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I hope you’ve found value in this newsletter, wisdom grows when it’s passed on. By spreading knowledge and inspiration, you’re not only supporting others on their journey, but also reinforcing your own path toward a bountiful and balanced life. When we uplift one another, we create a ripple effect of growth, connection, and well-being that benefits us all. Let’s thrive together—share today.