beauty

I think a lot.

We all do. We think because that’s how our brain and minds are created, and if you don’t have any thoughts than you are probably dead. We have to think. We need to think. And have you ever stopped and thought (haha) about how many thoughts go through your head in any given minute? According to the people who sit around and figure this stuff out, the average person thinks around forty eight thoughts per minute, which adds up to seventy thousand thoughts per day. Seventy thousand thoughts per day. That, my dears, is a whole lot of thoughts going on.

I used to try this thing when I was younger to see if it was possible to be awake and not think anything. Was it possible to just think nothing??? I would sit and try this, but the harder I tried, the more I thought about not thinking and thus the more I thought. It made my brain hurt and finally I concluded that it was virtually impossible for me to not think.

I daresay that thoughts are one of the single most powerful driving forces in our life.

I was getting ready for church last week, and this is when these thoughts about thoughts popped into my head. Because my thoughts at that moment were a wreck…as there I was standing in front of the mirror endlessly critiquing myself for the way I looked (or felt i looked) and the way my hair was so dorky and why in the world won’t this random rash underneath my eye go away and stop making me look so haggard and tired? All I could think was how big and large and horribly unattractive I looked, and not necessarily because I’m pregnant, but because that is my particular battleground in general. Those were my thoughts and they felt so endlessly true.

And then in the midst of it came this sweet word quietly rolling into the mess of my heart and if it is possible to change in an instant, I believe that I did.

As you think in your heart, so are you.

I was thinking all these negative things about myself, and what it was literally doing to my perception was making me all those things. Because I thought I was huge and unattractive, that’s what I saw in the mirror. My thoughts were completely screwing up my perception of reality.

I’m not some happy-go-lucky guru who thinks you just need to think happy thoughts and burn incense and drink herbal tea in organic linen clothes to have a great life and never experience any problems or issues…it’s not like that. But I am absolutely convinced that the thoughts I let into my head about myself or someone else or a situation directly influences my perception of what is real. If I think negatively about myself, whether it’s about my body or my personality or whatever, I truly do become that in my mind. Thoughts obviously can’t change what really is true about me…but they change what I believe is true about me.

If I think I’m fat, I see fat.
If I think I’m ugly, I see ugly.
If I think I am dull and stupid, I will see dull and stupid.

But if I think that I am marvelously created, I will see a marvelous creation.
If I think I’m beautiful, I will see beautiful.
If I think that I have a life that has value and much to offer, I am able to engage my world and care for people in ways I never thought possible.

My thoughts are powerful. So what am I thinking?

What about you: how do you find your thoughts influencing your feelings and perceptions about yourself? How do you take control of them?

I’d love to hear your thoughts!

I like simple things.

If something is too complicated or requires too many steps or too much precision, it’s usually far off my radar. I cook really simple food, do really simple diy’s (if i do them at all, that is), wear simple clothes, read simple books (all speed readers raise your hand), and really just like to live simply. One day I would actually really like to undertake something extensive and un-simple…like a Master Chef worthy meal with a million ingredients or some big home project or something. But really, in my day to day, simple and easy is what I go for.

This yogurt and honey face mask fits that category perfectly. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has problems with that dry winter skin…hands, feet, face…nothing is safe from the harsh winter air. My friend Sarah has a great recipe for a body scrub to use on hands and feet that will exfoliate and soften wonderfully, and I like to use a simple yogurt and honey mixture on my face to do the same thing.

It might seem odd to put a milk product on your face, but actually yogurt is majorly beneficial for skin and hair. The lactic acid and enzymes found in natural yogurt help remove dead skin cells, which leave your skin feeling gloriously soft and fresh. I like to use this mask at least once a week, and I’ve noticed a big difference in the softness and moisture on my face.

Raw honey is also super good for your skin. It has natural antibacterial and probiotic properties that are actually gentle and nurturing for your skin cells, plus it’s full of antioxidants that help heal damaged skin and prevent acne. I also like that it makes the yogurt smell a little yummier when it’s on my face.

Yogurt + Honey Mask

1 T. unsweetened yogurt (greek, full-fat, or low-fat)
1/2 T. raw honey

Mix together in a small bowl and slather it all over your face and neck. Let the mask dry for fifteen to twenty minutes, then rinse with warm water and a clean cloth. Follow with your favorite moisturizer.

Enjoy!

What about you: do you have good remedies for extra-moisturizing during the winter months?

I’d love to hear your thoughts!