Tag Archives: Nutrition

Brand, Essentially Lili Products, Health, Skincare Tips, Travels

When Stress Overwhelms Your Mind

Posted on by Lili Giglia
When Stress Overwhelms Your Mind Feb2020
21
Feb

When Stress Overwhelms Your mind

Stepping out of one’s comfort zone can cause
a staggering effect on our thought process.

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The topic of overwhelming stress has been cropping up in my personal and business feeds quite a lot lately.I had been reflecting on what life was like when I was single in the 90s. I used to travel a lot solo or with work, to various locations around the globe, with confidence and a little bit of angst about the unknown.I would research the places I was about to discover, collating as much information about what I wanted to see and do.

In 1999, whilst based for work in Houston Texas for 3 months, I used my 12 weekends to explore surrounding areas, both near and far, making the most of my limited stay in the US.Grabbing a small bag, I’d drive to various places in Texas, or catch a flight to New Orleans for my 30th, Miami or head to the Mexican border .I had very little fear and almost everything was so much fun!

From 2000 to the beginning of 2003, I was based in the UK. I spent many weekends exploring not only the UK but headed off with my ‘Lonely Planet Europe Book’ to discover different cities on the mainland.Enjoying the history and so much of what Australia didn’t have, I spent time locating long-lost family members who I reconnected with their cousins back in Melbourne! I was often asked, ‘What’s in that city you’re going to visit?’… My reply was, ‘Tell you on Monday when I get back!’ These were the days of city maps, internet cafes and 36mm film in your camera!

It might sound really dumb, but lately, this aspect of planning and booking has become something my husband has done since we got married in 2004. I can’t believe how ‘lost’ I feel, trying to find the right deal, or plan ahead. Whilst I have loads of ideas, I am often overwhelmed by doing it all myself for the family.

As mentioned in the newsletter, I recently went to secretly visit my Uncle for his 90th birthday in Sicily. I was about to book the trip when my husband found a better deal than I would have otherwise missed. But once it was reserved, I suddenly realised that there was no public transport on a Sunday morning, and the panic set in. As stupid as it sounds, the logistics became my stress – and it consumed my mind, thoughts and sleep.
Totally crazy, right?

The reality is that often something that seems so silly or insignificant to others is what throws you off your own game.It makes you feel weak, incapable, unsure and questioning your inner strength. Should I accept th e role as ‘guest speaker’?What would people think of me at an Exhibition or event that I’ve been asked to attend? How do we overcome these feelings, step out of our comfort zone into our fears and take the ultimate plunge?

Whilst I was having my moment about the trip, I reached out to my Sicilian friend and another connected with Sicily, asking for their advice and help. I felt bad imposing myself on my relatives to take me on the 2+ hour journey back to Palermo airport. I considered driving a car, but again my fear of being alone and behind the wheel in Italy was so consuming that my brain went into overdrive: ‘What if they have snow, what if there’s no snow-tyres on the car, what if I get lost, what if …?’

My husband found a ‘Get Transfer Service’ and booked the trip back on a Sunday morning, and suddenly my fears of being lost, stranded and driving alone all vanished.

Image: Rocks of Love, Breathe Easy & Blissful Minds Products, Lesley Calvo, Pots of Magic.

“Sometimes we just have to be brave enough to ask for help and admit that we are scared in order to be reassured, encouraged or find an alternative solution”

I recently spoke to a dear friend of mine who shared this story with me. Lesley was invited to guest speak in the USA to over 400 women.She explained how anxious she became, to the point of not wanting to step onto the plane in the first place.She just wanted to turn around and go back home, but instead, she proceeded.At her UK stopover, the fear came back, and Lesley tried to convince herself that remaining was better than completing the flight to LA, as this apprehension increased.She went and succeeded in delivering her speech to the 400+ women!! This feeling of fear can be also used as a sign that you are ready to move, and as a sign to take action. It becomes your body’s way of telling you to push outside your comfort zone and expand your limit line.

Quoting from Lesley’s Instagram page:
‘When you feel the chaos and overwhelm, know that your next move is still a choice you get to make. The darkness inside is not to be avoided or hated. That within it there is a gift.It is your soul calling you to courage. Through it there is a strength in you that you haven’t even met yet. A desire for greatness that is pulling you through.Breathe. You Will Make it!’

What powerful encouragement – we need to be in tune and listen to our own inner voice and gut instinct. It is usually right and steers us where we should be heading.

“Trust Yourself, You Know More than You Think You Do” – Lesley Calvo

Lesley mentioned that the concept of stepping out of our comfort zones can make us feel uncomfortable, self-doubt and scared. It can cause hidden feelings from our past to resurface. This overwhelming nervousness can cripple us into non-action, provoking and deceiving us into thinking that ‘we’re ok to stay put or make no alterations to what is necessary for change’.

If we take our health as an example: When we know we are not well, our body will constantly tell us we have pain or discomfort. Instead, we pretend, make excuses, ignore the warning signs that stop us from changing old habits which could eventually have longer-term and detrimental effects. Imagine if we all made small changes that could actually improve and extend our Healthy Life Expectancy? Here are some words of advice:
1. Be honest with yourself and admit you are unable to do certain things on your own;
2. Seek out those who can genuinely help you reach your goals, even if it’s one small step at a time;
3. Be kind enough to give yourself the time and space to reach what you’re capable of doing; and
4. Notice how much stronger, braver and capable you are of becoming.

What other techniques can we apply to help us overcome the stress that consumes our mind? There are a few things we can do to assist the improvement of our overall well-being:
1. Take on a relaxing form of exercise, like Yoga or Pilates. This can help release endorphins in the brain which not only lift our mood but act as natural pain-killers.
2. If you’re able to take on more, do dance-related exercise which will increase your heart rate and improve your overall fitness;
3. Some find meditation and prayer their personal choice for a peaceful mind, as well as dealing with anxiety and stress;
4. For those willing to try Acupuncture, this technique can free blockages to the energy flow in your body;
5. Having regular massage can assist with releasing knots and built-up tension, particularly the neck, shoulders and lower back;
6. Ensure your diet is full of the necessary nutrients, which will help your brain deal with stress, and assist your body’s total functionality;
7. Seek techniques like Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) to help deal with stress and depression that can have a negative effect on your body;
8. Write your thoughts and feelings in a diary to keep track of what is causing stress;
9. Connect with people, friends, nature, taking time out to be around and with those that make you happy;
10. Use your blends and essential oils to improve your overall well-being, reduce the feeling of anxiety and stress on the body.
11. Stress can affect our whole body, from digestion, skin and hair loss too.

Writing lists is something I have been doing for a long time, and I found that it frees my mind from stressing or over-thinking particularly whilst I sleep. Eating healthier and slower, being more conscious of what is consumed can also prevent your body from overworking and becoming sluggish. The food awareness tends to go out the window whilst we’re socialising, travelling and in company with others, enjoying what life and adventures have to offer, though the reconnecting element can be a wonderful key element to overcoming stress.

Pampering yourself with deep tissue massage can release built-up tension and relieve knotted areas. Speaking to friends who know you, offering words of encouragement and support during your time of anxiousness can be a huge step towards a peaceful mind.

Be aware that stress affects our bodies. Our hormones can become imbalanced as the blood flow to our skin, hair, teeth and throughout the body is hindered. A common reaction to stress is Eczema, Acne, Hives, Psoriasis, Rosacea, gum disease and hair loss. Trying to get our body back in control will help overcome this. Often, simply controlling the foods we eat can have a tremendous result for our body’s recovery process.

And for those that enjoy the natural things in life, there are the Essential oil blends I make, that can clear a congested nose and aid with breathing to allow a decent night’s rest. For the children, there’s the Kids Breathe Easy Concentrate, whilst for grown-ups, Adults Breathe Easy Concentrate. For headache sufferers, there’s the Blissful Minds concentrated serum, together with the Anxiety Pick Me Up inhalers. All of these products are made using 100% natural ingredients, containing no hidden nasties or chemicals in the blends.

This year I have decided to do some things differently. I will update you in the coming months, but for now, I’m writing my lists, seeking the help of those who know better than me, asking for advice, and taking one day at a time. I hope that 2020 becomes a different kind of year and that you all get to be part of it, right here! It’s time for me to overcome those fears and just go with it. Watch this space and keep you posted.

Should you need help with finding your feet, don’t ever hesitate to book the Consultation session to fast track your steps to wellness.

Should you wish to contact Lesley Calvo, please message me  support@essentiallylili.com

Images: Healthy Living Chart & Concentrated Serums Blissful Minds & Congestion for Adults/Kids

Health Flowchart

BLOG PARTICIPATION:

  • What part of this blog resonates with you?
  • Has your stress overwhelmed you so much that you stopped following an activity or event through?
  • What technique do you find is the best stress reliever for you and your family?

“Why I make Essentially Lili all-natural Products.”

About Lili & Essentially Lili
My 40 years of personal experience is the foundation of Why and What I do at Essentially Lili.
My aim is to help you get the results you want as I have already been on that hard journey to overcome the autoimmune disorder.If you wish to know more about Clinical Nutrition and how to kick start your health, book a Private Confidential Paid Consultation.
Please send an email to <a” href=”mailto:info@essentiallylili.com”>info@essentiallylili.com should you need further assistance.

My Health Studies include from 2016-2019 Diplomas in Aromatherapy, Holistic Skincare Products, Clinical Nutrition, Stress Management, Reflexology, Holistic Pain Management, Member of International College of Holistic Medicine.Currently studying Clinical Nutrition for Over 50s.

At Essentially Lili, the Products made are all using 100% Natural <a” href=”https://essentiallylili.com/ingredients/”>Ingredients. See the wide variety of Help Skin Assistance available on the webpage.

Should you need help in deciding, start by reading the Reviews & Testimonials about other Customers who have dared to try them out. We have had some amazing Before & After results with their using the All-Natural Skincare products. Please don’t forget to write your comments and reviews on our pages to share the love with others.

See the Blog Library for previous writings about how to deal with Anguish of Acne/Rosacea, How to deal with Cystic Acne and Understanding Your Body. Your feedback allows us to improve the content and information provided and products made. We look forward to hearing from you, With Much Love Essentially Lili.

Brand, Essentially Lili Products, Health, Skincare Tips

What’s In Your Fridge?

Posted on by Lili Giglia
What's in Your Fridge
27
Dec

What’s In Your Fridge?

Contains many All-Natural Goodies
which benefit & assist your body & skin!

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Have you ever thought of opening your fridge to have fun with what’s in there?
We often just associate the fridge with foods and drinks for consumption, but not for the other benefits they may contain.

When my sister and I were in our teens, we used to wait for our parents to leave the house for a few hours before raiding the fridge! Out came the yoghurt, eggs, lemons and more as we experimented with hair treatments, colouring, face masks and girly things. We had some hilarious incidents during these sessions, though often the clean-up was more challenging than the task we were trying to reach.

During my Holistic Skincare Product making Diploma course, we learned about the kinds of ingredients that are contained in Commercial products compared to what we put in our Naturally made products. I have chosen to only use Naturally sourced ingredients as it goes with our Brand, Integrity and stays true to the About Me Story.

A while ago I wrote to my Facebook friends what they could do for a quick remedial way of treating their skin.  I shared this because often we think that we should spend loads of money on expensive Masks and Treatments, which often contain a combination of synthetic chemically made nasties that do more damage than good.  I often say to my customers, if you can read the ingredients without needing a Dictionary, then you’re on the right track!

Typical ingredients found in Commercially bought Masks include: Aqua (Water), Cetearyl alcohol, Glycerin, Kaolin, Magnesium aluminum silicate, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Rosa damascena flower water, Cera alba (Beeswax), Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan stearate, Urea, Phenoxyethanol, Ceteareth-20, Xanthan gum, Pelargoneum graveolens (Geranium) oil, Parfum (Fragrance), Allantoin, Tocopheryl acetate, Benzoic acid, Althaea officinalis root extract, Dehydroacetic acid, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Mannan, Salix alba (White willow) bark extract, Citric acid, Polyaminopropyl biguanide, Potassium sorbate, Sodium benzoate, Citronellol, Coumarin, Eugenol, Geraniol, Butylphenyl methylpropional, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, Dipropylene glycol.

To be safe, just check the ingredients of the products you’re using, especially if you have sensitive skin and are prone to breaking out in red blotches or spots.

To end the year with something fun, here are some tips on taking care of your skin with what’s in your fridge.  Remember to wash your face with warm water before and after applying a face mask as this will help keep your skin clean and allows valuable nutrients to penetrate!

Let’s start with these:

Apple, Grapefruit, Honey, Lemon are all great for adding to your Mask.
Apricot – Fresh or dried is rich in Vitamin A.
Avocado – flesh of the fruit has high oil content, as well as lecithin, Vitamins A and B.
Avocado butter has Vitamins A, B, G and E.
Banana – Rich in Vitamin A, great to mash and put on your face.
Blackberry – use the fruit to make a mask, the leaves in a toner can help refine the pores.
Carrot – Rich in Vitamin A, use the juice with your face mask.
Cucumber – very similar pH to the skin, is soothing, cooling and healing. Use the juice in your face mask and slices on your eyes whilst relaxing;
Eggs – Use the Yolk to make a mask for dry skin and the whites to make it set!
Mayonnaise – the vinegar helps restore the acid balance of the skin whilst the oil is softening and moisturising.  I have found for me, products with Vinegar irritates my sensitive skin, so be careful if yours is the same.
Melon – added to face mask for cooling effect.
Oatmeal – is great added to masks!
Peach – the whole fruit can be used in a face mask.
Strawberries & Tomatoes both have astringent action on the skin, which is great for face mask.
Wheatgerm – Rich in Vitamin A, B and E, used dried for masks.
Yoghurt – Good for removing blackheads, great on your face.

Some other great ingredients for using in masks are: Green Clay, Kaolin Clay, Kelp, Pink Clay and Rhassoul Mud. The benefits of these ingredients is that they draw the impurities from the skin, they are rich in minerals, and are able to deep cleanse the face, body and hair during the mask cleansing process.

We will begin supplying Pink Clay in 2018 as part of our Essentially Lili Range.

Gallery: Fresh Ingredients, Bananas & Oats, Strawberries, Cucumber & Yoghurt, Avocados, Aloe Vera & Pink Clay.

How to Make Your Own Face Mask:

FIRST ONE:
1. Avocado Mask – is an excellent choice for making homemade face masks for dry skin, as it contains a has Vitamins A, B, G and E.  You only need half of the avocado, you can eat the other half and give your skin a boost from the inside as well!
2. Ingredients:½ very ripe, soft avocado &¼ cup honey
3. Directions: Mash the avocado in a bowl, then stir in honey. Apply to skin and leave for 10 minutes. Rinse face with a cool washcloth.

SECOND ONE:
1. Oat Bran Mask – is great added to masks!
2. Ingredients: 1 Tbsp Oat Bran or Oatmeal, 1 Tbsp Yogurt, 1 Tbsp Honey, 1 Teaspoon Olive Oil, 1/8 Teaspoon Bee Pollen (optional).
3. Directions: Combine all ingredients in a small dish, apply to you skin and leave it for 10 minutes or until it is dry. Rinse.Moisturize your skin with a good serum or argon oil.  Store any leftover homemade facial mask in the fridge in a sealed container. It should stay fresh for about one week.

THIRD ONE:
1. Banana, Honey and Oatmeal -For a deep moisturising Facial Treatment!
2. Ingredients:1/2 banana, 1/2 cup oatmeal, 1 Tbsp honey & Water
3. Directions: Cut the banana in half & mash it with a fork.Mix in the oatmeal, add honey & mix well. Then add water & mix until the mask’s consistency is creamy. Apply evenly to clean skin, leave it on for 15, then rinse with warm water and pat your face dry.

FOURTH ONE:
1. Cucumber & Yoghurt Mask – Cucumber has very similar pH to the skin, is soothing, cooling and healing, whilst Natural Yoghurt is good for removing blackheads, great on your face!
2. Remember to put 2 slices of cucumber on your eyes whilst relaxing.
3. Suitable for both oily & dry skin, depending on how you manipulate this versatile fruit!
4. Ingredients: 4 Tbsp of cucumbers mashed & 2 Tbsp Yoghurt.
5. Directions: Combine the mixture. Apply the mixture to your clean skin. Leave it on for 20 minutes. Rinse and dry.

LAST ONE:
1. Papaya and Strawberry Mask – Many commercial masks use fruit ingredients.Here you will find a lovely fruity recipe to make for your dry skin, if you can stop yourself from eating it!
2. Get yourself some extra strawberries, and you can make a fruit salad with the other half of the papaya.
3. Ingredients: 2 large fresh strawberries & 1 cooked peach, 1/2 ripe mashed papaya,1 Teaspoon organic honey & 1 Tbsp oatmeal
4. Directions: Place strawberries, peach, papaya, honey in a mixing bowl, and mix until the fruits are blended.Stir in oatmeal a bit at a time until a paste is formed.
5. Apply the mask to the face and leave it for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water and finish by applying a good moisturizer.

BLOG PARTICIPATION:

  • What has been your favourite fridge raid ingredients for your face, body or hair?
  • What benefits did you find using them or was it a total disaster?
  • I look forward to hearing your stories and what you’d share that’s not on the list. You can read more About Lili here, see the range of Products on offer at Shop Categories or refer to our Blog Library for more topics covered.Kind Regards Lili @ Essentially Lili