Taking the stress out of self-care with the mindset model

I don’t know about you, but sometimes, I become overwhelmed with all the well-being decisions I’m called upon to make. The overload of opinions and options on what can fend off premature aging, make you regular, or improve your mood can be chaotic and, frankly, stressful. And isn’t stress bad for us?

Enter the mindset model

The mindset model is a paradigm that emphasizes intuition, self-discovery, and awareness in our journey toward health and wellness. Rather than being bogged down by endless lists, diets (and often failures), the mindset model invites us to tune into our bodies for the answers. Trusting our instincts and discovering what makes us feel our best. It’s about embracing nutrition not as a set of restrictions but as a source of joy, pleasure, energy, and vitality. Of course, I’m not suggesting you stop seeing your healthcare provider but just try this mindset model on for size and explore its power and potential to gently shift your well-being.

Mindset 101

It all starts with awareness. Before we do anything, we reflect.

For example, before we eat, we are aware. We are mindful.

We ask ourself, “Does this food make me feel good?” or “What else could I eat that’s on the menu or at the table would make me feel better rather than worse?

It’s simple.

Intuitive eating isn’t stressful. We’re simply listening to our bodies. Instead of feeling deprived, we feel grateful to know what our body needs and that we can fuel it with something else delicious and have much better results.

The mindset model and health habits

We hear a lot about establishing healthy habits but can’t seem to incorporate them into our lives, but healthy habits can flourish with this awareness and mindset model. When we want to lose weight or decide to work out or not, we tune in to how we feel. For example:

• Before we eat something, we ask, “Am I really hungry?” or “Is this processed food good fuel for my body?”.
• We live each day aware, knowing we feel better when we hydrate.
• We think about, and are grateful for, how we feel when we move our bodies.
• We savor our food and really enjoy the experience of eating.
• We discover our mindful balance and treat ourselves in moderation.

• Before we mindlessly watch that next show or dive down the IG rabbit hole, we think, “No, I’m prioritizing sleep because I’m worth it! I feel better when I do!”
• Before committing to a night with friends, we’re intuitively aware of our body. We can ask ourselves, “Have I over-extended myself this week? Do I need to just be with myself instead?” or “How do I feel when I’m with these people?”
• Before leaving the house for the day, we think how grateful we will be for taking our supplements and fortify our immune system.

This intuitive awareness can apply to absolutely every lifestyle decision we make and help take some of the stress out of making them.

As we wrap up our exploration of the mindset model, let’s be committed to listening to our bodies and practicing mindful living. Remember that our nutritional well-being is deeply intertwined with our mental and emotional well-being, encompassing our nutrition and how we connect with the world around us. The foods we eat can impact our mood and energy levels. We can support optimal brain health and emotional resilience by nourishing our bodies with wholesome foods rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and good-quality supplementation. As we start on this mindset model together, may we find soul nourishment, exceptional health, and well-being from the inside out.