Balanced Life Happy Life: 13 Weeks to Creating a Happier You

By Elizabeth Gavino

There are many types of relationshipsrelationships with yourself, others, your career, your creativity, and your money. When one or more of these kinds of relationships, called Soul Nourishing Foods, are out of balance, your health and happiness can be compromised. This book will help you understand the thirteen relationship types, how they affect your health, and how you can begin to nurture them on your path to a life of abundant joy.

This is a beautiful account of a personal journey from the painful depths of emotional crisis to the redemption of a life of fulfillment. Elizabeth takes the holistic approach and integrates the nourishment of the soul and body. Her message is simple yet powerful and poignant: be Oneto yourself and the harmonious Universe.

Marion Betancourt-Albrecht, MD

Elizabeths personal journey is inspiring, and from it, she has created a comprehensive and practical guide to bringing more balance into your life.

Nicole Egenberger, ND, Clinic Director, Remde Naturopathics Integrative Clinic for Natural Medicine

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press
• Release date: Apr 28, 2015
• ISBN: 9781504331395

Elizabeth Gavino

Elizabeth Gavino is an author and a Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach. She found her true calling after spending two decades working in the health insurance field; she knew there were better paths to health than those offered in the current disease-management system. As the founder of Tasting Wellness, she is deeply passionate about inspiring others to have balanced and fulfilling lives. It is through the balance of their thirteen Soul Nourishing Foods™ that her clients find vibrancy. She has written articles for The Huffington Post’s “Healthy Living” section and has been a speaker for various groups. When she is not writing and speaking, she is creating a specialty clothing line, strengthening her relationships, and enjoying life. For more information, visit her at www.tastingwellness.com.

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Copyright © 2015 Elizabeth Gavino.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-5043-3138-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5043-3140-1 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5043-3139-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015906076

Balboa Press rev. date: 04/27/2015

Contents

Forward

Preface

Acknowledgements

How to Use This Book

Part I

Soul-Nourishing Foods

Introduction: Soul-Nourishing Foods ™

      What Are They?

Chapter 1 Self Care/Inner Joy

      Taking Care of the VIP

Chapter 2 Socialization

      Why Can’t I Just Be Alone?

Chapter 3 Relationships

      Looking for Connection

Chapter 4 Spirituality

      What does it Mean to You?

Chapter 5 Career

      What is my purpose?

Chapter 6 Money

      Friend or Foe

Chapter 7 Enlightenment

      Who Needs It?

Chapter 8 Home

      Home Sweet Home

Chapter 9 Creativity

      Finding Your Inner Child

Chapter 10 Health

      What’s Wrong with Me, Doc?

Chapter 11 Movement

      No Couch Potatoes, Please

Chapter 12 Home Cuisine

      Feeding Your Body Gluten Free

Chapter 13 Dual Energies

      The Fine Dance between Masculine & Feminine

Part II

13 Weeks to Balance and Happiness

Practice

Soul-Nourishing Food One: Self-Care/Inner Joy

Soul-Nourishing Food Two: Socialization

Soul-Nourishing Food Three: Relationships

Soul-Nourishing Food Four: Spirituality

Soul-Nourishing Food Five: Career

Soul-Nourishing Food Six: Money

Soul-Nourishing Food Seven: Enlightenment

Soul-Nourishing Food Eight: Home

Soul-Nourishing Food Nine: Creativity

Soul-Nourishing Food Ten: Health

Soul-Nourishing Food Eleven: Movement

Soul-Nourishing Food Twelve: Home Cuisine

Soul-Nourishing Food Thirteen: Balancing Dual Energies

Part III

Design Your Life Blueprint

Journal

Financial Freedom Journal

Tools

Resources

Bibliography

To lost love – without you my life would have taken a different path.

Forward

By Tatiana Barrera, CHHC, Author of No Milk Please, and No Mas a La Leche

E lizabeth Gavino is to me much more than a peer author and health coach. Sharing a passion for healthy and enlightened living, Elizabeth and I have been good friends for years. Her giving personality and the high value she gives to friendship taught me more about the importance of feeding the soul for a healthy life than all the training I have received and the books I have read.

The book you have in your hands is a present, either from someone else, or from yourself; open your heart and receive it as the gift it is. Inside these pages you will find yourself traveling to the inside of your soul, and discovering untapped aspects of your own life and emotional health. As you read through it, you will open old doors and shine a new light on past experiences and lingering feelings.

As Elizabeth said to me in one of our long conversations, I wear my heart on my sleeve. She is an open book, and the way she shares her own real life experiences will serve as a fascinating way to look into your past and connect with the lessons it has left you. Her honest and uplifting words come backed by a wealth of knowledge and an unparalleled tone of reality.

The messages, the exercises, and the journal in this book will make for a life-changing 13 week adventure, but it doesn’t stop there. Get a copy for your night table, one for your living room, and one to keep at work. When in need of a word from a friend, open up Elizabeth’s book, and re-read a chapter, or just a couple of pages, allowing your soul to indulge in the kind of food it may be craving.

Each of us has a different story, and each story can be read in countless different ways. The tools in this book will help you understand yours and turn it into a propeller to the future instead of a weight from the past.

Elizabeth is an expert in Soul-Nourishing Foods™, not only as an eager reader and researcher, but as one who has lived, and personally experienced their benefits. She is sharing with us powerful tools and strategies to live better.

Once you start implementing Elizabeth’s recommendations, you will start to experience the kind of balance that promotes health and fulfillment. I have written about this balance from a perspective of alkalinity. The concept of alkalinity comes from the very chemical definition of the way our body functions at a cellular level. That delicate balance affects every function in our system. A body that maintains an alkaline balance is in a better position to regenerate, heal itself, and prevent disease and decay. And the opposite is also true. A body that is highly acidic is vulnerable to illness and accelerated aging, physical, mental and emotional.

You may have heard of the Alkaline Diet® and other nutritional theories that talk about alkalinity. They focus on the consumption of foods that are rich in water, oxygen and alkalizing minerals. These theories warn about acidifying foods like sugars, alcohol, caffeine and highly processed foods. I have studied, followed and recommended these principles for years. But it is not food alone that is responsible for attaining that healthy balance I call an Alkaline Lifestyle. Exercise, positive emotions, and stable relations are also key to maintaining balance and promoting a healthy environment in the body. There is no point in talking about alkaline foods alone, without considering these other important factors that affect our health.

Many times we hear of people who have tried countless diets with no luck. This frustrating yet common situation happens in part because not every diet is for everybody, but also because diet alone is never good enough. Even if you are on track with the proper nutrition for you, healthy eating is only one player in the team of elements that contributes to optimal health. Elizabeth’s Soul-Nourishing Foods® are an excellent compilation of those other players in this game. Her book not only reminds you of their importance, but offers you actionable tools to work them and reap their benefits.

Confident that you will enjoy and benefit from Elizabeth’s words as much as I have, I invite you to keep reading, and enjoy the journey.

It is a genuine honor and privilege for me to introduce you to a woman who will touch your heart and connect with you as only a real friend can do.

Preface

I f you are reading this, know that I am you. I go through the same highs and lows that you go through. Commenting on the universality of human experience, my father always told me, Know yourself; know the world. You are not alone in your feelings, and I hope knowing this brings you great comfort. Life is a journey and not an easy one, but I hope that through sharing my experiences, I can make the trip for you a little smoother and more fulfilling.

I had been hungry all my life. It was not a physical hunger, but rather a hunger within my soul for joy, peace, and a sense of completion. As I struggled to satiate that hunger, I was faced with many challenges. I suffered from an autoimmune disease which went undiagnosed until I was thirty-eight years old. Until that diagnosis, I had been prescribed unnecessary medications and suffered from malnutrition and mood swings. My health challenges were exacerbated by improper diet and a lack of balance in my approach to life. Business and other people’s needs took precedence over my own.

I am a huge believer that everything happens for a reason. When I began writing this book, I was going through one of the greatest heartbreaks of my life. I was grieving for the love that I had lost and for the dreams that I had imagined for that relationship. I came to realize the experience, however difficult and painful, was absolutely necessary for me to undergo in order to bring you the wisdom and knowledge that I learned and continue to learn for myself. As I struggled to find my higher purpose and my life’s meaning, I discovered my true self. As a result of this discovery, many of my health challenges have been overcome and I learned the importance of balance in my life. My hope is that through my story and experiences, you too, will come to find the inner peace and joy I am finally experiencing.

Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly -Anonymous

Acknowledgements

T hose I Need to T hank

Never in my wildest imagination did I think I would become an author. It is my firm belief that people come into your life at various times for specific reasons.

Eric, you were meant to come into my life in order for this book to be conceived. Thank you for sending me the first message that brought us together. Without our time together, I would not have been forced to learn the lessons I needed for my growth and happiness.

If you are surrounded by a loving and supportive family as I am, then you, too, are wealthy.

To my parents, Barbara and Joe, you are my rock and my compass. Thank you for giving me a strong foundation that continues to guide me through life.

To my sister, Tania, Thank you for advising me to enroll in nutrition school. Your advice changed the course of my life forever.

To my niece, Kat, thank you for coming up with the brilliant book title. As you reminded me, sometimes you have to see life through the lens of a child. You are brilliant beyond your years.

To my nephew, Andres, I enjoyed bouncing ideas for my book with you. Always remember to walk along your own path to your dreams. You have many talents and I look forward to your creations.

There are those special people who come into your life whom you love as if they were family. These people are part of my tribe.

Patty, my sister from another mother and my best friend. Thank you for all the hours you spent listening to me and helping me through the highs and the lows in my life. I am blessed by our long and unyielding friendship.

Colette Austin, my editor and my teacher who set me on my initial course of writing, thank you for taking this journey with me. It has been wonderful collaborating with you. I hope we can work on many other future projects.

Tatiana Barrera, my friend and peer coach, I am so happy to have made the journey with you. Thank you for your mentorship and friendship.

Robin Kappy, thank you for your endless supply of wisdom that has helped me work through various aspects of my life.

Noorindah Iskandar, it was just a few years ago that we sat at the little French café and dreamt of where creativity and life would take us. Thank you for creating the beautiful book cover and celebrating my dreams with me.

To the countless others who have blessed me with their support, love, and friendship. A big THANK YOU for without you, I would be a different woman. I am grateful every day for each and every one of my family and friends who enrich my life and broaden my heart.

When we become more fully aware that our success is due in large measure to the loyalty, helpfulness, and encouragement we have received from others, our desire grows to pass on similar gifts. Gratitude spurs us on to prove ourselves worthy of what others have done for us. The spirit of gratitude is a powerful energizer. — Wilferd A. Peterson

How to Use This Book

I n my quest to find a balanced life, I have learned that we live in a society that expects everything to be fast - fast food, fast cars, fast answers, and fast weight loss. Expecting immediate results may not result in a lifelong change. As a consequence, we find ourselves on a hamster wheel continuously dieting, searching for happiness externally, and perpetuating the cycle of an unhappy and unfulfilled life.

There are three parts to this book. Part I provides a description of each Soul-Nourishing Food. Part II is the 13-week practice to strengthening each Soul-Nourishing Food. Finally, in Part III, you will find the Balanced Life, Happy Life Design Your Life Blueprint, the Balanced Life,