My Loves
There is absolutely no way that I would be who I am and where I am today without the guidance and virtual hand-holding that I've received over the years from countless authors, podcasters, Ted Talks, courses, and phone apps. There are too many to note them all, but these are but a mere few that have made a profound difference in the trajectory of my life.
Beloved Authors
Without a doubt, these teachings have impacted my life the most! I highly recommend anything written (or spoken) by this Infinite Intelligence. If I could only own one book, it would be Ask and It Is Given. This book changed my life in the most powerful and positive ways—it’s a HUGE claim, but is so true. Again, I say, anything written by Abraham-Hicks is well worth reading and re-reading and re-reading and.… Oh, and be sure to sign up for their daily quotes to help keep you on an inspired track.
You Can Heal Your Life is a terrific book to read when embarking on The Self-Love Diet. I recommend it to all of my coaching clients and the students I mentor. Louise (who passed away in her 90th year) introduced me to the concept that when we Love ourselves unconditionally, everything else falls into place. She also introduced me to the mind-body connection and the power of affirmations. I will be forever grateful to Louise for all she has taught me about Self-Love.
I was drawn to the title and read The Power of Now when it was first published. Years later a friend gifted me with A New Earth because she "happened to have" an extra copy. She had no idea that I was in a pretty dark place at that time, giving it to me the day before I started what I called my spiritual sabbatical. The life affirming messages in this book were exactly what I needed—no surprise! If we’re awake and open to it, we can see that Life is always guiding us. I also Loved listening to Eckhart’s calming, melodious voice as he read his Stillness Speaks audio book. It’s true nourishment for the soul.
Katie, as she is referred to, has the most remarkable life story and how "The Work" came to her. I was introduced to the The Work, many years ago when I read her book, Loving What Is when I was hating what was. Years later I was reacquainted with Katie when a dear friend gifted me her book, A Thousand Names for Joy, in which accounts from her own life illustrates how Katie is able to see the good in the apparent not-so-good. Choosing to Love what-is has become one of my most profound and life-enriching practices. Wanting everyone to benefit from The Work, Katie generously offers free access to the process and work sheets.
The first new-age, self help book I ever read was Your Erroneous Zones. Wayne, has since passed and has left a legacy of many books, most of which I've had the privilege to read. I also learned so much from listening to his weekly radio program on HayHouse Radio and watching his PBS specials.
I was introduced to Marianne Williamson many years ago when I kept hearing about A Course in Miracles. Based on the teachings of "The Course," Marianne's book, A Return to Love, is where the passage “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.…” is found. It's such a powerful verse and has been often credited to Nelson Mandela, who recited it in his 1994 inaugural speech. Here's the full paragraph, which I encourage you to read every day to reinforce your worthiness.
When I went through what I called a “cancer scare” the two books that held me together during the middle of the night when I couldn’t sleep were Kitchen Table Wisdom: Stories that Heal and My Grandfather’s Blessings: Stories of Strength, Refuge, and Belonging. I don’t even know how I ended up with these treasures during that frightening period, but they were like a comforting friend when I really needed one—especially during the darkness that comes with the night. These books inspired me to write my own book: Something Showed up on my Mammogram…and How I Kept my Sanity While Waiting for the Results. I wrote my book to be a friend who's there 24/7, to hold the hand of any woman while she’s going through a rough or scary time. You can download a free copy of my e-book for those hard times when you may need it:
Beloved Podcasters
Though I've provided links to the websites of the hosts, you can listen to their podcasts through your preferred podcast provider.
The reason you're able to access this website at all is largely due to Cathy Heller and her podcast. Listening to her enthusiastic encouragement cut through all the self-doubt and noise in my head that had been preventing me offering my Self-Love Diet services to the world. Truly, it changed my life. And now it's my hope that I can help change yours.
Insights at the Edge
I've been a spiritual seeker since my early teens and Tami Simon, founder of Sounds True and an impeccable interviewer, has introduced me to a vast array of spiritual teachings and wisdom leaders.
Whenever I feel sad, depleted, or just need a warm hug, listening to Jack Kornfield is medicine for my soul. Jack has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and is a trained Buddhist monk. With a pure heart and much humour he weaves these disciplines into his message.
Grounded in Buddhist philosophy and LovingKindness, Tara's soothing talks are similar to Jack Kornfield's. In fact, they are friends and together they developed a couple of beautiful meditation courses with Sounds True.
Body Love Focused Podcasts
Listening to these podcasts were integral in undoing and re-programming old, negative, and untrue beliefs I held about food and diets. They played a pivotal role in loosening the grip that diet culture had on me and opened my eyes to my fat phobia, disordered eating, weight stigma, and how all of this is a social justice issue. I'm forever indebted to these courageous activists.
Christy Harrison, a registered dietitian nutritionist and certified Intuitive Eating counselor, is dedicated to helping people make peace with food and their body. Christy talks with inspiring guests about the body-positive movement, Health at Every Size (HAES), Intuitive Eating, body image, eating disorder recovery, weight stigma, fat acceptance, nutrition, and more. She calls out diet culture for the "life thief" that it is, and challenges it in all its sneaky forms—including the restrictive behaviors that often masquerade as wellness and fitness.
Hosted by Summer Innanen, body image coach and best-selling author of Body Image Remix.
This podcast, hosted by Julie Duffy Dillon, Nutrition Therapist and Eating Disorder Specialist with a Masters Degree in Mental Health Counseling, examines the complicated relationship with food in the form of a Love letter.
Beloved Ted Talks
♥ The Power of Vulnerability (be sure to watch this video before her next one)
♥ Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are
♥ The happy secret to better work
♥ Your Elusive Creative Genius
♥ Success, failure and the drive to keep creating
♥ Why we all need to practice emotional first aid
Beloved Courses
Based on scientific research, this fabulous in-depth audio program offers forty short (8 - 12 minutes) daily lessons to create the support and structure needed to establish and maintain life-affirming new habits. I've repeated the course to instill several new habits and it has truly changed my life.
Offered by Sounds True (and often for free!), this course is a fantastic way to ease into a meditation practice. For 40-days, two of the world’s most respected meditation teachers, Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach provide a 10–15 minute lesson, which includes a short talk and a guided meditation.
Beloved Phone Apps
Claiming to be the "# 1 meditation app for sleep, anxiety, and stress," this app offers a plethora of free (and paid-for) resources. It is truly outstanding. Check out anything by Sarah Blondin. Her guided meditations are the best I have ever experienced (and I've experienced a lot!)
For years I wanted to establish a consistent, daily yoga practice, but like a petulant little child, I just couldn't make myself do it (And, trust me, I really did wanted it.). I am beyond grateful to report that this app, together with the 40 Days to Positive Change course, changed all that. I started using this app when the premium version was being offered for free during the first several months of Covid-19. It's such an exceptional, highly customisable app, it's worth paying the annual fee.