By Debi Silber, MS, RD, WHC The Mojo Coach®

If you’ve ever baked a cake, you know that if you put in fresh, delicious ingredients in the appropriate amounts at the appropriate time, you often create something delicious. You also know that while many ingredients may be available to you and within easy reach, like mustard, pepper, garlic or vinegar for example, while they may work well in other recipes, they simply don’t belong in your cake so you purposely and consciously choose to leave them out. If you were to add those ingredients into your mix, you’re completely aware that you’ll ruin your cake and you wouldn’t expect a positive result. It’s all very logical and rational when it comes to baking, isn’t it? So here’s a question. If our desire is to create a “delicious” life, why is it that we add the ingredients that don’t work and often leave out the ingredients that would make life…delicious?

So many areas of life impact our “cake” from the food we eat, to the people we spend our time with, to the thoughts we think and so much more. Here are a few to consider:

1. What you eat. If your diet is made up of fast food, takeout, foods high in sugar, high in fat, if they’re highly processed and if you drink too much alcohol, you can’t really be surprised if your body doesn’t look or feel it’s best, can you? Think of a car. If your goal is to have that car take you around for a few years, you treat it to quality gasoline and timely tune-ups. Well, your body is the only “car” you have taking you around for hopefully many, many years. What are you feeding it and hoping it takes you around effectively? If you wouldn’t consider putting sand in your gas tank, why would you put “sub-food” in your system? Is that really what you want to add to your “cake?”

Here are a few other “ingredients” that impact our recipes…

2. Your thoughts. If you think you’re unlovable, unworthy or incapable, and these are the thoughts that play continuously in your mind, can you really be surprised if these thoughts encourage you to act or carry yourself a certain way? Maybe they’ll prevent you from feeling deserving of a loving relationship, cause you to feel unworthy of something fabulous or incapable of achieving a goal or dream. If these or similar thoughts are playing in your mind, take a look at how they’re showing themselves within your life and how these thoughts are contributing to your “cake.”

3. Your feelings. If you feel overweight, unattractive or ill equipped in some way, take a look at the way you dress, the way you carry yourself, what you do (or don’t do) and the relationships you have. Notice how these feelings show themselves in the clothes you choose, the opportunities you may be avoiding and what you’re willing to tolerate in a coworker, friend or partner. These feelings are the equivalent of adding rotten eggs and sour milk to your “cake.”

4. What you hear. If you’re listening to people who are negative, critical, pessimistic and judgmental, can you be surprised when you feel deflated, depleted and uninspired? Of course you’re trying to be a good friend, you may even be the “go to person” when someone wants to gossip, needs to vent or complain. Notice however, how you feel once this negativity is dumped on you and see how it’s holding you back from creating a scrumptious result.

5. What you see. If you’re reading negative news or being “entertained” by shows filled with misery, pain, violence or vulgarity, are you surprised if that has an affect on you? Take TV news for example. Sure you may be up to date on the latest tragedies and misfortunes but how do these visuals resonate with you? After seeing them do you feel calm, serene and comfortable or nervous, vulnerable and afraid? Now consider how these ingredients are impacting your mix.

6. What you do. If you’re doing little more than chores or tasks when you’re home, errands and then head off to a boring and unfulfilling job when you’re out, can you be surprised if you’re not excited about your life? If your life is crammed with tasks leaving no room for self care, healthy eating, exercise, down time, fulfillment and fun, can you see how this may be showing itself in how you look, feel and live? Can you see how it’s creating an undesirable “cake?”

7. What you believe. Our belief system is created by the repetition of an idea from someone we trust. For example, let’s say you were told, “you can be, do or have anything.” This was said to you enough times so it becomes your belief system as well. But, let’s say you were on the receiving end of someone with limited beliefs themselves. They may have told you that you were not meant to be wealthy, happy, thin, carefree, etc. They may have told you that “life is a struggle, everyone in our family has a fiery temper, is prone to heart disease, has these thighs,” etc. When this was said to you enough times, it became your belief system as well. Are you surprised then when you go into your adult life, carrying this belief system and living within these limits? Take a look to see if you’ve unintentionally added these harsh ingredients into your “cake.”

It’s all of these factors that contribute to who we are, how we live and the results we can expect. The best part about it is that with awareness and a desire to change, whatever area doesn’t work well for us anymore can slowly and steadily be changed for one that does. It’s time to bake a scrumptious, mouth watering and flavorful “cake” bursting with ingredients that make it appetizing and appealing. I’m going for a beautiful, decadent, double chocolate, rich, creamy, 7-layer cake. You?


Debi Silber, MS, RD, WHC The Mojo Coach®, President of Lifestyle Fitness and the Founder of www.TheMojoCoach.com is THE secret behind some of the healthiest, most influential, charismatic and successful professionals today. Sign up for a free special report “The Secret to Becoming Your Personal and Professional Best,” a full year of Mojo Tips, videos and more. All free and all designed to inspire, empower and help you (and your company) reach your peak potential and ultimate success. Get yours now at www.TheMojoCoach.com