Too Familiar

I would be lying if I said this journey has been easy. I am struggling. I think the hardest part about this change is being in a place where everything is already familiar. A place where you already have habits. A place where you've already slipped into a sort of routine you find comforting.

It's all about the first step. Be conscious enough to make that first passionate step in the morning, when you first wake up. Don't let familiar stand in your way.

You can't just have good intentions. You need to find certain things to back you up, on those days where you fall back into your old habits, because some of those habits do not do your journey well. Yes sometimes you could need them, but don't try to fool yourself. Know what is good for you, find a motivation to help you.

Try to put relaxation and motivation together. For me these movies always help:

Eat, Pray, Love
The Secret

Eat, Pray, Love

• This movie is an inspiration to me in many ways. Which is why when I was at home in London and I bought the books I mentioned before, when I saw this movie I knew I had to buy it as well. Every time I see it I feel inspired. Inspired to enjoy food! Inspired to find balance! Inspired to live passionately!

The Secret

• This movie is powerful. I completely agree with the fact that the universe corresponds to your song. It's all about learning to be conscious about your thoughts and making them positive. Positive attracts positive. If you can believe in your life, so much is possible for you!

Each of these movies is about you. Its about being in control and taking your life into your own hands. Doing things for yourself. Enjoying things in your life, gaining more things you enjoy in your life. Each of these movies is also a book, so if you find that tickles your fancy, go out and grab the books!

Today didn't start out as the best day of my journey, but the tide is turning. I am aware and that is pretty awesome. Eat, Pray, Love is in the DVD player, a cup of tea is on its way and The Subtle Body is sitting in front of me.

Be the change you wish to see in the world.- Ghandi

Just say "No Thanks"

The start to my journey has been exciting; figuring out what I want, starting to educate myself. But now I'm faced with actually making changes. I'm starting out slow, because as I've mentioned before I am taking my current lifestyle into consideration. I know this process is one that requires patience. I am taking what my mom calls "baby steps".
These are some goals I have to help modify my life in small ways so that I can evolve and graduate to bigger goals.


Fitness

• Stretching 3-4 times a week in the mornings. Establishing a routine will make me feel more in control of my day.
• Working out 3-4 times a week. Setting up the things I need for a workout the night before makes it easier for me to just get up, eat and go.

Finances

• Starting a money 'journal' to keep track of my money, where it comes from, where its going, what I'm saving. So that I can become conscious of how I am with my money and how I can improve in certain areas of spending and saving.

Nutrition

• Cutting out all junk food (i.e pop, chips, chocolate bars) and overall making healthier food choices. Making actual grocery lists with planned meals in mind will help with this!
  
• Drinking more water, instead of juice, alcohol, etc.
  
• Changing each travel water bottle to a glass bottle, plastic has too many chemicals.

The reason I titled this entry Just Say "No Thanks" is because there are many things that can get in the way of my journey. It is up to me to stop these things from getting in my way. They can be distractions like a person, unfamiliar setting, stress, etc. I have to decide to be conscious and aware of my journey at all times so that I can make choices that will benefit me. Being aware will make saying no to distractions easier. Being conscious will make creating a new stretching and or work out routine easier. But I also have to be aware of the fact that if I really want something, like a piece of dessert, I'm allowed to go for it. It's really just being conscious about what I truly want for myself and what I'm just used to saying yes to.

Do I truly want to sleep that extra fifteen minutes and forget stretching, yeah sometimes I do. But for the most part I've made these choices for myself for a reason, so it's up to me to keep my good intentions alive.

And so the journey continues, one day at a time! :)

Educating Myself

After creating this blog I was full of excitement. I was taking control of my life, and the next step was the book store. I was ready to educate myself, I followed the trusted advice of my brother Dax Wilcox and got the following books to help me start my journey:

Eat, Move and Be Healthy by Paul Chek
The Subtle Body: An Encyclopedia of Your Energetic Anatomy by Cyndi Dale
Rich Dad's Conspiracy of The Rich: The 8 New Rules of Money by Robert T. Kiyosaki
The Art of Non-Conformity by Chris Guillebeau

Eat, Move and Be Healthy by Paul Chek

• This book has always intrigued me, but I never put in the time. I've always been fascinated by what Paul Chek believes in and teaches. I'm expecting to get a lot of what I need from this book. I'm thrilled to finally giving it the time it deserves.
  

The Subtle Body: An Encyclopedia of Your Energetic Anatomy by Cyndi Dale

• I am extremely fascinated by chakras and the energy of the body. I really believe in balancing yourself through your chakras. I've educated myself previously on the subject but this book is really going to push me to a whole new level. So excited for this one!
  

Rich Dad's Conspiracy of The Rich: The 8 New Rules of Money by Robert T. Kiyosaki

• I can honestly say I know nothing about money. Well, alright I know a little. But compared to what I don't know, yikes! So I decided to educate myself. Since money is a huge part of my every day life, I'm surprised how undereducated I let myself become. I'm aware of the fact that I have to know what money is all about if I want to have my own business in the future.

The Art of Non-Conformity by Chris Guillebeau

• I'm reading this book to give myself a better idea of how I can live the life I want. From what I've heard about Chris Guillebeau, he seems to have what it takes to live the life he wants without 'conforming', which definitely interests me.

The key to change is knowledge. I've got to say, this feels amazing. I have an amazing light in my heart that before now I didn't know how to ignite. Very excited by this journey. I am putting it out there into the universe, I am at a very thrilling point in my life. I need to thank my family and friends for giving me great conversation so that I could realize how amazing my life can be!

Cheers!

The Beginning

I've created this blog to chronicle my journey of finding balance and wellness. Meaning I will be changing my lifestyle in ways that will help me to further achieve my goals and become closer to the person I want to be and see myself being. I expect this journey to be hard, tedious and exciting. It will be a long journey with many steps. I have good intentions, I am trying to view this change as one of pleasure and growth, therefore not putting stress on myself, seeing as stress is the last thing I've want to achieve within the lifestyle I wish to have.

This lifestyle is one where I have a close relationship with wellness so I may have a balance in my life regarding nutrition, fitness, finance, creativity and love.

Since I am a student I know very well that there will be times when the lifestyle I want seems far out of reach, however I am determined to keep a positive outlook and make these changes as easy as possible. Meaning taking my current lifestyle into account and understanding the patience I must have during this journey.

This is me, a twenty-three year old university student, taking control over my life physically, mentally, creatively and lovingly so that I may help others to do the same in the future.

I am Tori J Wilcox and this is my journey.