Washington Wellness Associates

Well Being Newsletter

October 2007
Vol. 2 No. 10

WELCOME

Thank you for your wonderful response to my latest book, Wellness Wisdom: 31 Ways to Nourish Your Mind, Body & Spirit. I am appreciative of the support at the book signing events and through your email messages. The book is available at www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com and www.iuniverse.com. You can also order it at your local bookstore. Let me know if you want a signed copy to give to someone as a gift. I have two big boxes behind me as I write this!

Please mark your calendars for Wellness Wisdom (Seattle) workshop events at Discover U on Tuesday, November 12 at 6:30 pm and at East West Bookshop on Saturday, December 15 from 1:00 - 3:30 pm. The details are on my website. It feels so good to be sharing this body of work with others!

The article this month is on the topic of "Radical Trust." It is a concept that has served me well over the years, so I trust this piece will inspire the radical within who longs for a more peaceful way of thinking.

In wellness,

Susan Tate, M.A.
Editor
www.wawellness.com

RADICAL TRUST

Relinquishing control is the ultimate challenge for the spiritual warrior.

Ralph Blum

Seven years ago I packed up my possessions, resigned from a wonderful position at the University of Virginia, said tearful goodbyes to friends and family and began my 3,000-mile journey to Seattle. I had made a poignant choice to leave everyone I had every known and loved to follow my soul's yearning to live here. At the time, many people commented on how courageous my decision was, since I didn't have a job or a residence. I quickly found a home in Edmonds and after exploring university options, I decided I was ready to really trust and started my own consulting business. Washington Wellness Associates is now seven years old and I am filled with gratitude for my life here.

When I made that life-altering decision, I was full of faith and trust and yes, courage too. I somehow had moved through all the fears surrounding the "what ifs" and just kept working toward what I really wanted to do. This might be called radical trust--or on some days, it might be simply called crazy, but I have never looked back.

This memory comes to mind because my 27-year-old daughter is packing her earthly belongings (mostly sentimental treasures like tea cups from France and photos from her world travels) and moving to Seattle next week. Molly has just completed a unique master's degree program in International Disaster Psychology and she trusts she will land the perfect position here. Her goal is to work with refugees where she can best use her skills and share her passion for supporting women and children. Apparently Washington is the fourth largest refugee resettlement state in the United States. There is much work to be done. I already know she will find the perfect job.

I first heard the term radical trust when a good friend shared a story of a woman attending a Quaker meeting who stood up to say, "We just need to have trust." After pausing for a moment, she said, "No, we need to have RADICAL trust." I loved hearing this; it really applies to the times in life when we may need a little extra help as we move from fear to faith. During those times, radical trust provides a spiritual moving van that suddenly appears to connect us to a new home of answered prayer.

Is there a place in your life that might need a dose of radical trust? Are you expending so much time and energy trying to control something (or someone?) that you are losing sight of other possibilities? Are you disempowering someone by trying to do things for him? Having radical trust--in ourself and in God (or whatever you call the Divine) can be such a gift to sooth our angst and ease our journey.

I trust Molly will thrive here. I don't hope that she will, I trust she will. Hope implies that something good might happen, whereas trust involves a firm belief in something (or someone). Radical trust is like hope infused with faith.

I trust I will be the supportive parent that Molly needs right now. I trust I will remember this is her journey and not mine. A few weeks ago when I got caught offering unsolicited advice and sounding a bit too parental with my adult child, Molly grinned as she said, "Sometimes I need you to be a parent and sometimes I don't--and don't you know when?" Ah, with this clarity, insight and humor, I believe Molly will thrive in her new home. And I have radical trust that you too will step boldly on a path that honors all you are and all you want to be.

NOURISHMENT COACHING

I love supporting people who want to live, eat and move with grace. Through Nourishment Coaching, I provide innovative solutions and soulful support for highly motivated clients who want to:

eat with pleasure
shape shift (lose weight)
move for fitness and fun
enhance energy
manage stress
cultivate overall wellness

If this work calls to you, please call me for an appointment. (425) 238-2885

VISA and Master Cards accepted.

You can learn more at our website.

LOSE THE CRAVINGS

If you crave carbohydrates or sugar, you are not alone. When we consume high-glycemic foods, it causes an over stimulation of the release of insulin. The more we eat, the more we crave. Medical studies show that over 85% of the carbohydrates we consume in the Western world are foods that have a high-glycemic value. If you love bagels, breads, crackers, pasta, potatoes, rice and sugar--did I say, you are not alone? Fortunately, there is a way to reset the body at a cellular level to break the cycle.

I eat a good variety of wholesome foods, but for the last five years I have over-used chocolate to sooth my soul. My chocolate habit was clearly associated with the sweetness missing after experiencing a very painful divorce. I still LOVE chocolate, but I no longer need to eat it daily or in the amounts I was consuming. I finally realized that as high as my blood sugar spiked, it fell to a matching low and it did not fit in with my overall level of health and fitness. I was eating well, doing Nia several times week, enjoying a great spiritual practice and was still chasing down many meals with my favorite chocolate! It also kept me feeling constantly hungry.

Several months ago, I discovered a program that has successfully reduced my craving for high-glycemic foods. This clinically tested 5-day behavior modification program, recommended by Christiane Northrup, MD, has totally reset my metabolism. It's been four months now and I am sustaining its benefits. It is also proving to be successful in jumpstarting healthier eating habits in my clients. Please email me at susan@wawellness.com if you would like to know more.

NIA CLASS SCHEDULE

Nia Logo

I am delighted to be teaching Nia at The Dance Space in Greenwood on Monday and Wednesday nights at 6 pm, and on Saturday mornings at 9:30 and Gentle Nia at 10:45 am. We now have three teachers offering Nia classes six days a week!

Reminder: NO Nia classes Nov. 5 - 10 since many of us will be on the Mexican cruise.

Check out the e x p a n d e d class schedule at:
www.wawellness.com/Nia

Nia classes worldwide: www.NiaNow.com
Seattle classes: www.NiaSeattle.com

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS & SPECIAL CLASSES

Complete descriptions available on our website.

Cruisin' with Susan to the Mexican Riviera (Mexico)

November 4 - 11, 2007

Royal Caribbean - Vision of the Seas

31 Ways to Nourish Your Mind, Body & Emotions (Seattle)

Tuesday, Nov. 13

6:30 - 9:30 pm

Discover U - Seattle

Intro to Nia (Seattle)

Saturday, December 1, 2007

The Dance Space

Gentle Strategies for Enhancing Your Wellness (Seattle)

Saturday, December 16, 2007

1:00 - 3:30 pm

East West Bookshop

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

It is human nature to wish to compel others to do as we think they ought to do. It is divine to see that their own way is their true way.

~Emma Curtis Hopkins

COMMENTS

I welcome your comments and would love to hear how this newsletter supports your wellness journey. Please email me at susan@wawellness.com
Please take a few moments to add this address to your email address book in order to give the Well Being Newsletter a better chance of reaching you.

Disclaimer: This newsletter is meant to support and guide you as you make choices to enhance your well-being. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Contact a qualified healthcare professional if you need medical assistance.

Feel free to reproduce, copy or distribute this newsletter with people you know who want to enhance their well-being. When doing so, please forward it in its entirety, including our contact and copyright information. If any other use is desired, permission in writing from Susan Tate is required. Joyful wellness is communicable! Thank you for spreading the word.