three pillars.

I consider three pillars for living a wholesome, healthy, and lifestyle on the way to holiness.

These include maintaining mindfulness, movement, and nourishment through nutrient dense foods.

Pillar number one - Mindfulness.

Intentions. Reflections. Stillness. Repeat.

Let me preface by saying we are evolving every single day. I don’t know about you, but I am not the same person I was five years ago. I am not the same person I was yesterday, for that matter. We grow. We change. We evolve. The only way to recognize this growth, to truly understand who you are, and who you want to become… is by reflecting.

This may seem arbitrary, silly, or obvious even. But, in a world that is always go-go-go, success-driven, fueled by comparison, confusion, and outrageous information at our fingertips from wake to sleep, it is questionable if we are ever truly still.

Intention. About six years ago I remember hearing someone say, “who do you want to be?”. This person wasn’t directly talking to me, but it resonated deeply. Six years ago, I was in high-school, a time when you are just trying to figure everything out… everyone is asking “what do you want to be when you grow up?” “where are you going to college?” “when are you getting married” … it is an overwhelming season and I believe the stress at this age is underrated {an argument for another day} … but this question “who do you want to be?” … it sunk in my heart a little differently. I went home and grabbed an empty spiral and I thought “who do I want to be?” … After working on the “what” I want to be for years, I realized I hadn’t taken time to cultivate, in my heart, a clear vision of the kind of “person” I wanted to be. I couldn’t just be defined by my career choice. Yes, of course we all have our own unique personalities, but I wanted to be intentional. I wanted to be intentional in my encounters with other people, in my relationships, and within myself.

Intentions. I started listing out qualities I wanted for myself...

Trustworthy. Kind. Forgiving. Easy-going. Friendly. Honest. etc…

These qualities were from my seventeen-year-old self… do I still strive to uphold these qualities, yes… have my intentions changed, of course… but how did I ever realize I accomplished these intentions? How did I realize I desired new qualities?

 Reflection. We have an idea of who we think we are, who we want to be, and what qualities we hope to instill within us… but the only way to truly know if we are “who we say we are” is to reflect… Let me give you an example…

So let’s say one of your intentions is to be kind… but every day you are yelling down the highway at all the “bad drivers”, impatiently eying the customer in the “15 items or less” lane {who has 30 items} in front of you, withholding forgiveness for the smallest of transgressions… sometimes we just get stuck in a rut... and it’s okay. We are human, but the question is… do you recognize when your intentions are failing… and how do you respond?

Reflections. Once I had my intentions all written out, seventeen-year-old me started to reflect on the way I was living and compare it to the list in front of me. I started writing out ways I could improve in each intention… ways I could become “who I wanted to be”. I didn’t realize it then, but the habit I was creating then would be the best part of my wellness.

Stillness. It is easy to go fast. It is easy to look past that speed limit sign, drive through fast-food on the way home, read the spark notes, double tap, scroll, swipe… but it is hard to be still… and it is especially hard to be still with your thoughts. When was the last time you thought about a distant memory? When was the last time you went outside and just breathed… looked at what passed you… acknowledged the people that pass you… sat with your thoughts and listened? When we find stillness, when we find silence… away from the distractions, the noise, the stress of it all… we are able to find who the Lord is calling us to be, and who we want to be… when we listen, when we ask Him, He reveals to us just what we are going to do to get there.

Now. So, I am obviously no longer a seventeen-year-old high school student, but some of my list remains unchanged.  Most of it, however, has evolved and continues to evolve. My habits, too, remain the same in foundation {Intention. Reflection. Stillness. Repeat}, but have improved in practice.

 Intention. If you know me, you know that I am a morning person. I love to wake up and have time to meet the Father and delve into His Word. I like to call this time with Him my nonnegotiable time… some days this extended time is in the afternoon, or evening depending on the season of my life. I normally do a devotional of sorts and journal for awhile while I drink some coffee and water. Every few months I rewrite my intentions. Not just qualities I hope to instill, but also habits I want to change or add into my daily routine… I learn new qualities as I read through the blessed stories of the saints, like Saint Anna (Luke 2:33-38) or Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-45), or as I meet new people that radiate His light… some of my intentions are qualities specific to a relationship, who I am as a wife/friend/daughter, spiritually, or personally, etc. {some can be as simple and superficial as “less screen time” or “moisturize more”} As the years have progressed, my attention is captivated by the holiness of the saints and which qualities illuminate their stories on this earth… it inspires me and it inspires my intentions.

Reflection. During my prayer time, I reflect on my intentions and the way I’ve been living… have I been living out my intentions? If so, how? Could I improve? If so, how? Reflection doesn’t need to be structured or timed… it is just a means of dialogue between you and God, a place for self-improvement.

Stillness. The hardest of all… I feel like stillness has become harder as I’ve grown up. Maybe it is going from school, to a new city, a new job and all the crazy-stressful obstacles of this year…excuses aside, geez do I struggle in this category… but it is truly one of great importance. When I go for a walk without headphones, workout, drive with the radio off, unwritten journals… these are the times I discover the most about myself and when I am able to reframe my intentions with a heavenly perspective. He reveals to me where I’ve been, where I’m going, and most importantly “who I am becoming” with kind eyes… eyes of a loving Father.

These are just a few ways that I have incorporated mindfulness into my life, and how it has helped me become more aware of myself, this world, and my relationships. There are so many ways to practice mindfulness… ways to integrate into your day from prayerful meditation to yoga or walks… find what works for you and slowly incorporate little ways to be still, be quiet, and discover who He is calling you to be and “who you want to be”.

Pillar number two – Movement

Exercise! I love it! The recommended exercise is 150 minutes a week or about 30 minutes a day…. blah blah blah… so I used to think…

Exercise is definitely important, but there is too much a good thing.

We are going to keep this pillar rather simple, because I feel ideas about movement and exercise tend to become over-complicated and confusing.

Every day move your body. The smallest changes can increase your movement {take the stairs, park a little further from the door, etc.}. Choose to do activities that you enjoy! {biking, yoga, walking, swimming, bootcamp, weight training} There are so many options and opportunities… if you hate it, well, there is a good chance you won’t keep doing it… so find what you enjoy, find a buddy, and move intentionally as often as you can.

With that being said, when is it considered over-exercising? Here are my thoughts on “over-exercising”… if you feel exhausted, overly sore, not properly fed, in any sort of pain… do not exercise. Pretty simple. Rest is just as important as exercise… listen to what your body is telling you so you may avoid injury and unnecessary stress to the body.

Pillar number three –Nourishment

Nourish your body with nutrient dense food. Eat whole foods most of the time. Worry less about how much you are eating and worry more about WHAT you are eating. Eat lots of fruits and veggies. Do not follow any “fads” {you need all food groups to maintain a healthy diet}. Keep it simple. If you have any specific questions about nourishing foods send me a message or leave a comment! If you need inspiration, head to my page @foodxcourtney for tons of recipes - breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and more.

“Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life and what you will eat, or about your body and about what you will wear. For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. Notice the ravens: they do not sow or reap; they have neither storehouse nor barn, yet God feeds them. How much more important are you than the birds! Can any of you by worrying add a moment to your lifespan? If even the smallest things are beyond your control, why are you anxious about the rest?... Instead, seek his kingdom, and these other things will be given to you.” (Luke 12:22-31)

xx – Courtney