Willpower vs Empowerment

 In "High Raw" Kevin Gianni writes:

"Willpower is defined as self-control or controlling one’s actions or
impulses. It is what we are told we need to have in order to change our
habits. Stephen Covey describes habits as having a “strong gravitational
pull” in The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. So if you think about
it, when you apply willpower to change habits, it is a constant battle of
the gravitational pull of that habit against your own forces of self-control.
Imagine what it feels like to be in a constant battle. You may do well at
first, constantly pushing and pushing, but eventually, willpower crumbles.
And when it does, you might simply go back to your old habit, feeling
that it’s the more powerful force. Humans both desire and resist change.
While change may be desired, resistance to change is almost an
instinctual way to protect ourselves. Resistance to change is a common reaction because humans tend to want things to remain in homeostasis or balance, which can often translate into  wanting things to stay the same. In fact, resistance to change is so strong that the fields of change management and organizational development were created to help organizations reach big goals by helping employees adapt to change.

So how can you change successfully so that you can reach your health and wellness goals? Instead of focusing on the battle of willpower, imagine what it would be like to feel empowered? To be empowered means that you are equipped with ability or enabled. Think for a moment about the difference between imposing self-control to do something vs. feeling equipped and enabled to do something?"

Banana Pops

Chocolate-Peanut Butter Dipped Banana Pops

Ingredients:

• 3 bananas
• 1 cup chocolate-chips
• 2 tablespoons all-natural peanut butter

Materials:

• 9 wooden popsicle sticks
• parchment paper

1. Peel bananas and cut into three sections. Gently insert a popsicle stick into the center.
2. Place on a parchment paper lined tray and place in the freezer while you melt your chocolate.
3. Combine chocolate chips and peanut butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on medium (power 6-7) until melted. Stir with a spatula until smooth.
4. Pour melted chocolate into a tall, narrow glass or container. Remove bananas from freezer. Dip, one by one, into the chocolate, letting it ooze up the sides of the glass and coat the banana.
5. Place bananas on tray again and sprinkle with nuts, if desired. Freeze until solid.

To enjoy: remove from freezer and allow to sit at room temperature for about five minutes. Serve with a napkin.


This recipe comes via Aimee at Simple Bites
Not raw, but might be a wonderful treat for you to try for your littles (or yourself!)

Budding Artists

Kellsey's art

Gaelyn's art

Water Sports

Anything that looks like the beginning of summer requires quick action before the next cool day and rain.

Lots of sprinklers in the Gray's yard.

Lots of apparatus.

 

Bums looking for worms.

 My fav picture.

Laars is Three Today

He smiles as we sing "Happy Birthday To You" while we drive to Long Beach for the day.

It was cold when we arrived, or so we thought.  It was good to have some of our heavier coats along.  But it didn't take long to throw them off.

First duty was to eat, all huddled together.  We had a few children we needed to teach etiquette when surrounded by sand, like
~ don't shake your towel near where people are eating their food
~don't step over the eating area

But you can cover yourself up with sand, away from where the adults congregate.
And you can pretend you are a turtle digging a hole to lay your eggs.

And be thankful you have a kind sister to rub the wet sand off with dry sand.  Somebody is smart!

Thanks, Tov.

Lots of sun-bleached logs for building a shelter.  When it started to drizzle it was a good place to tuck some of our clothes and towels.

Everette invited me for a walk down the beach together, but the littles invited themselves along, and I got this cute huddle of the guys.

We drove up to Radar Hill for some Rock Climbing

some nice views

some sisterly attention & instructions

and a futile wait for some water to boil in a kettle we just bought today that Everette used an adapter for.  We need a different adapter to use for further travel.

Home for a hot bath, and a late movie since the children slept on the windy road, and it was a successful family day at Long Beach.  Laars was happy even without a cake.  We actually had over-baked organic brownies that were more like a tasty brownie biscotti.  Yummy!

A Girls Date

All week the girls have been planning to get Rauchelle to take them out for dinner. 

They picked Chinese food at Qualicum Foods.  And sugar!

A trip to the library because we all love books

and the playground to burn off some of the sugar.

A drive past the beach.....

a ride in the back of the truck

and home again.  A fun evening out.

Graveyard

A few years back we discovered this 'Graveyard' in the forest when we first were introduced to Geocaching.

There is art of all kinds here, with interesting quotes, much which has to do with religion, water, and over population.  I do not agree with all the philosophy represented in this forest, but I am including a variety of the art so you get an idea what was in this graveyard.

This one says "It appears as though the whole planet is infected with religion"

An old fashioned telephone

Love this one!!  Not sure who this Old Man is, though.

Then we went to a beach out at Ship's Point to eat supper.

We forgot the bowls, so we used some pails instead!