Back to the Real World, Post-Holidaze.

Its that time people. The end of the Holiday season is drawing to a close. And with some trepidation and feet dragging, I am trying to pull myself together and get ready for an exciting and prosperous new year. I was lucky this year. I had a totally drama and stress-free holiday. The entire time. It's been wonderful. I grew up with a ton of holiday drama so to not have to deal with any of that is pure bliss. A total decompression and hangout with my husband. Some yoga, some walking, tons of tea with honey, too many sweets, and lots of lying about watching movies. But slowly and surely after a few good days of zero productivity, cabin fever and sugar toxicity begins to set in.
Now I am cleaning out and getting my house organized. Or at least figuring out what I want to organize. Baby steps. Right? Outlining some desires/goals for the New Year (read NOT a Resolution). Trying to bring some focus to all of the ideas buzzing around in my head.
I hope that you, who is reading this, had a wonderful holiday with low to no stress and that you too are ready for a good new year. My advice to you and myself is to pull yourself up by the bootstraps but do so kindly. Try not to get overwhelmed by all of your ideas and options. Trust that the right things happen when you follow what makes you truly happy and the timing is right. Do not let fear control your actions and reactions.
Do things which make YOU feel good, grounded, relaxed and energized. Say no to the things that don't. Have fun daydreaming but strive for what you want with an air of non-attachment, the Buddhist way.
I have started this new thing of looking at parts of my life like a science experiment. Almost like another person. It's pretty awesome and fascinating. You can really learn a lot about yourself when you let go of your self-limiting judgements. It's not right or wrong, it's data.
So..lets let go of the things that no longer serve us and rise up to meet our best year yet. Happy New Year everyone!
xoxox- McLean

New Years- The Middle Path Way! New article up!!! xxx

Body

8 Steps to Finding Your Middle Path for the New Year: Extremes Begone!

By McLean McGown

2011 is all about finding freedom in your body and mind, one peaceful step at a time...

Oh the holidays are fast approaching. Food, booze and more food leave most of us feeling stuffed and guilty. So we atone by way of the dreaded New Years Resolution. We set ourselves up by making a huge proclamation, shout it from the rooftops, and then thud, a few weeks of good intentions end in a downward spiral of depression, more junk food and feelings of failure. So I propose the Non-Resolution New Years Resolution! Instead of boxing yourself into a small harsh goal, which 9 times out of 10 doesn’t work, why not find true freedom in a fully recognized happy and healthy new YOU?

As someone who has spent the better part of her life running back and forth between the two extremes (of everything!), I can tell you that the sooner you can mindfully and lovingly look at your patterns, your agendas, your habits and truly observe them without hate or shame, the sooner you can forgive yourself and move on. Self-loathing is a waste of time. When you trip up don’t worry, that’s how you learn what no longer serves you. When you live in the extremes you are not present and nothing really “takes”. So to find true freedom we must learn to walk in the middle. To find the balance in all things -- food, drink, work, play, love, prayer, exercise, etc. -- will lead us to happiness.

Here are 8 steps to resolve to find your middle path in the New Year:

1. Do a bit of movement each day. Even 30 min. of stretching in front of the TV or walking on your lunch break. Just make time to be in your body.

2. Set mini-goals: small goals that can be met per week and make a large yearly goal: new dream job, diet shift, health as priority etc.

3. Focus on the positive. Do not give energy to the negative. Let yourself dream. It’s fun and beneficial. Let go of thinking "I can't." Try an exercise of thinking of all the things and changes you CAN DO and how to start implementing them into your daily life.

4. Start eating more raw fruits and veggies. You DO NOT need to throw out everything in your cupboards and fridge. I repeat, DO NOT throw everything out. Middle path is key. Perhaps try juicing if that is something that has fascinated you. Check out a nutritionist, take a fun cooking class, buy a great new food/recipe book. Get inspired. Reorganize your kitchen. Make the literal space to create healthy food.

5. Surround yourself with people / things who inspire you. Only you can clear out your life’s toxicity. Stand up for yourself. Nobody else authentically can do that job.

6. Listen to your gut. Stop worrying about what other people think of you. Because most of "their" judgments is just their "stuff" anyway.

7. Get rid of all the old stuff and clothes that you never use. You own your material objects, do not let them own you. Open up the flow.

8. Compile a list of all the things that you want to let go of from 2010 and then burn it. Feels really good!

I wish you all a Happy, Healthy and Fun New Year full of vibrancy and new adventures!!!

With peace and green juice, McLeanPublished 12.22.10 at 12:45 PM

About McLean McGown

McLean McGown is a Certified Clinical Nutritionist, Yoga and Pilates teacher, writer, actress and Buddhist. She has studied with Natalia Rose through her advanced training and full-heartedly believes in the healing power of fresh juice for every body! McLean has 10 years experience teaching in NYC, LA, the Hamptons, Nashville, Memphis and Amherst, Ma. Through her own journey of living between extremes, she has come to find true happiness on the middle path. Her aim is to help people find freedom in their own bodies and minds through meditation, movement, whole organic foods, juicing, and a sense of humor.

Website: McLeanMcGown.com
Twitter: @mcleanmcgown
Blog: McLeanMcGown.blogspot.com

Nail Toxic

There has been a lot of new discussion out there re: toxic nail polish. Fortunately there are tons of sites to google to find all sorts of vegan, animal friendly, non-toxic beauty products out there. I get so inspired by other peoples' blogs, posts, and websites which keep us all so informed!

I have only worn nail polish twice in the past 2 years, one was on my wedding day and the other was on a day when I just had to have black nails. But I took it off a few days later.
I like the clean crisp look of my healthy, strong, long (mostly raw vegan) nails. But for some reason over the past few days I have wanted to get into the holiday spirit via my nails. Hence my new interest.


Big 3 toxins- Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Formaldehyde and Toluene.

Here is an easy one for nail polish info: http://www.alllacqueredup.com/2008/04/go-green-healthier-polish.html

Great : Big 3 Free – butter London, Calvin Klein, China Glaze (black label), Color Club, Hard Candy, Maybelline, Nicole, OPI (green label) and Sally Hansen

Wonderful : Big 3 Free, No Formaldehyde Resin – MAC, N.Y.C. Colors, Nailtini (except Vodka), NARS, Nocti, Orly, PeaceKeeper, Rescue Beauty Lounge, SpaRitual, Wet n’ Wild and Zoya

Superb : Big 3 Free, No Formaldehyde Resin, No Camphor – Chanel, Dashing Diva, Estee Lauder, Lippmann, L’oreal, No-Miss, Nubar, Revlon, Sante and Sinful Colors

Amazing : Water based, Big 3 Free, No Formaldehyde Resin, No Camphor, No Ethyl Acetate – Acquarella- Honeybee Gardens and Suncoat

Yesterday I splurged on 2 new colors by Deborah Lippmann which are free of the Big 3. They are pricey at $16 a pop but for me, someone who is beginning to think of having a baby, I do not want to put any additional toxins on or in my body. I juice an obscene amount of organic veggies daily, lug them up from my car every few days, make the effort to juice and eat a mostly raw vegan diet...so why would I then just go "eh, toxins leeching in through my nails, whatever."
Living in this world in this time, in a city, you have to pick your battles. Nobody can do everything organic, local, non-toxic, unless you have a lot of free time and a ton of money, but I am trying to do the best that I can.
And as some research shows, among other things, the toxins found in nail polish worn by the mother leads to small penises in the forming baby boy. As if you could live that one down. It's not really a risk that I want to take.
So do your research, check labels, see what matters to you, pick you battles. I always like to have more options and more information. And luckily we live in age where answers are literally at our (hopefully non-toxic) fingertips.

Let it Breathe

Its funny how I can shift gears so quickly...I push push push wanting wanting, visualizing. Thinking, dreaming, plotting. But then the next day I pray/chant and wake up to the fact that no matter how hard I try to make something work or materialize itself it doesn't always work, and shouldn't always work. As the Buddha says, "we create our own suffering". Our attachments and desires and greed that we hold tightly in our minds and hearts, are often the very things that will lead us away from TRUE happiness. Like everything good in this life, it is a fine balance. The middle path. I have to work daily to find my middle. I can go high high full of adrenaline. And then drop to quiet, introspective, exhausted, somewhat agoraphobic, too much in my head. I am learning not to judge myself to harshly b/c with these mood swings comes inner knowledge and ultimately compassion for others struggling. Life is a struggle. There is a lot to do, always. Ones attitude truly makes a difference. And who you surround yourself with affects who you are. I have to watch myself to not get distracted or swayed by other peoples' highs and lows. I find this to be extremely difficult but everyday I am working on it and seeing the difference. This also leads to not judging others. Or being compassionate but somewhat detached from other peoples' "stuff". I am finally learning that I cannot fix anyone else. And you know what..they haven't asked me! I can be a bleeding heart wanting to make the world soft and sweet, but everyone must tend to themselves. I do not hold all of the answers and its not up to me to give other people answers anyway. Who am I ? I am just someone like you. Living in this world. Trying to be successful, happy, in love, healthy, and free. We are all in this together. But only by becoming 1 strong can we become strong together.
So lessen up on your grip. LET GO. Whether it be for finding love, a perfect job, a house, losing weight, or surpassing an addiction. Be gentle but disciplined in learning to love yourself. When you let if breathe, you let the flow in and open yourself up to an entire new world of possibilities.
Sweet dreamzzz...
xoxxmc