I always wake up early because it's the time of day where I am (mostly) guaranteed to have some quiet time. Quiet for my nervous system, my soul, and my sanity...

Today, we are near a river in North Carolina. I am sitting here, getting up with the sun, reflecting on why this is so important to me. I was tired this morning. I haven't been sleeping well for a few weeks now, and the comfy bed beckoned me to stay...

However, the importance of never missing a sunrise on the water, that pull, is much deeper. Once my eyes are open and I know there is water in my backyard and a sun rising, I can't resist.

My dad taught me about the beauty of sunrises. He used to wake me up when we'd be in Florida (his favorite spot) and we would sit on the balcony and watch the sunrise.

When I was making breakfast potatoes yesterday for my family, after watching the sunrise, it was exactly what he'd have been doing for us.

Wow, I am blown away with gratitude for how much his life has been infused in me. When he died in late January, in my arms really, I thought I lost him forever. But he's here. In my habits and what's important to me. He wasn't perfect, but those things live in me too.

I'm telling you all of this to ask you to take a minute to examine yourself. What habits and values are yours alone, and which ones have you borrowed from others? Which ones should stay, and which ones were never yours and have affected you in a negative way?

Here's one of mine: my dad had a lot of regret and self-doubt. He also lived with a lot of scarcity. I can see myself slipping into this and I see how it affected my life in a way that wasn't helpful. These are protective and based in survival. I get it, and I know why they were needed. His dad came off the boat from Italy and scrounged for every penny. He also had a ton of pain that he never talked about. These hard things are wired into my DNA. Do I keep them? Or maybe it's time for healing?

It's been said that some of our beliefs and even trauma can go back seven generations. Knowing this is powerful because we often blame ourselves for these difficult traits. We try and try to figure out why we are this way. Instead of spending a lot of time trying to define the why, we can choose to notice and heal.

Awareness is the key—remember Step 1 from my book. Now that I know and can see this, I can choose to heal this wound or allow it to continue seeping, infecting my whole life.

Which habits and values are you carrying? Which ones need to heal?

Examine what you do and why. How you think and why.

I am blessed enough to do this in life coaching sessions with clients. Huge breakthroughs happen for people. They wonder why self-sabotage has been affecting every health, career, or relationship goal. With the right questions, huge amounts of awareness come. Then the healing process can begin.

If this resonates with you, take the first step towards a healthier, more balanced life.

🌟Grab a copy of my book to dive deeper into self-awareness and healing.

🌟Join my coaching program where we combine nutrition, health, and mindset to achieve lasting transformations. This link will lead you to book a free call. Whether you're looking to enhance your well-being through diet and lifestyle changes, or seeking guidance to navigate life's challenges, I'm here to help.

🎯Click hereto learn more and get started on your journey to a healthier, happier you.

Lots of love,

Rachel Carta, RN

Your Functional Nutrition Counselor and Life Coach