Longview Yoga Wellness

But what if I could have my cake and eat it too…?

I’m not ready to give up reading at night.
And I’m certainly not trading intrigue for something mundane.

Enjoyable stimulation is deeply nourishing — and activating.

There are many areas of my life where I’m disciplined.
Excitement, fun, and giddiness? Not usually one of them.

Lately I’ve dipped my toes into those waters, and it feels like a fountain of youth. I feel lighter. Happier. I find myself daydreaming again.

And here’s the crux:

Things that are activating and enjoyable send a very specific signal to the nervous system.

Activation stimulates the sympathetic branch — the part that says “stay alert.”
Enjoyment triggers a reward response — dopamine — which says “more of that, please.”

So when I’m reading a suspenseful book at night, my body is hearing:

Stay awake.
Keep going.
Find out what happens next.

Even though a dopamine spike is brief, the brain can keep generating pulses as long as the stimulation continues.

That’s how one chapter turns into ten.

Dopamine is like our internal motivational speaker.
Every page turned reinforces the momentum.

So the real question becomes:

If I want to keep reading at night and protect my sleep…
how do I gently balance the signal that says “keep going” with one that says “it’s safe to rest”?

More to come…

Once we label a food as “bad”, we open ourselves up to judgement and self-criticism from consuming it.

Practicing mindfulness can support our mindset through the holidays, especially around our language and thoughts about food and consumption.

Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention, on purpose, without judgement.

Bringing this practice to eating helps us notice our physical and mental relationship with food. We become more sensitive to signals like fullness and hunger and learn to eat more from intuition and a need for nutrition.

I invite you to lead with mindfulness and gratitude this week.
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Self-Inquiry

🍂Can I let go of judgement and celebrate the warmth and abundance of the season?

🧡Can I let myself be guided by my heart and my gut?