July 2017

As you all know by now, I’ve been on a journey to re-wire and strengthen the Right side of my brain. Once I allowed myself to be open to a fun, creative, and stimulating world, I feel like my life has added a new kind of meaning and joy. This is a life-long journey for me. I am constantly looking for brilliant new ways to help me learn and grow. In this blog series, I want to share my findings with you. Every month, I will highlight three resources: one for your mind, one for your body, and one for your soul. I hope this carefully curated list of books, websites, YouTube channels, articles, podcasts, games, or just quick quotes will enhance your life, help you grow, and bring you joy and health as much as they did for me and my family. Here is July’s list:  

For Your Mind

1. Neural Path Therapy by Matthew McKay and David Harp

I’m always looking for practical ways to make change happen. Whether it’s your diet, your attitude, your behavior in a relationship, I believe successful change needs a more strategic approach, so having the right tools is pretty important. And I am a nerd who likes to understand how the brain really works when we try to change something we don’t like. But neuropsychology books are usually pretty stuffy and difficult to apply in day-to-day life. This book, however, is a short but effective therapy gem for anyone to use. It’s an actionable resource for all people struggling with anxiety, stress, chronic pain, or just unhealthy behaviors in general. It will help you build the mental muscle needed to take control of your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. And, if you read my post on the 5 Stages to Meaningful & Lasting Change, this book will really assist in the Planning Stage.

For Your Body

2. Salad in a Jar by Anna Helm Baxter

I’m not a big salad eater but I try and try again because I don’t want to be a hypocrite in front of my kids. I even tried a couple of salad in a jar parties, which only resulted in more complaining about salads. And then I came across this simple book. I like easy instructions and ingredients and very appetizing pictures when it comes to trying healthy foods. And this book totally delivered. It is a great tool to have in your healthy living arsenal.

For Your Soul

3. Kris Carr’s website: kriscarr.com

It is extremely difficult to maintain a positive outlook when faced with a diagnosis of cancer, but Kris Carr was able to turn her personal struggle into a story of inspiration and hope for millions of other women. Kriss was diagnosed with a rare form of an incurable but slow-growing cancer. Rather than allowing herself to sink into very normal emotions that come with such a diagnosis, such as fear, depression, and despair, she decided to create a very different experience. She to embark on a self-care journey that would bridge Western medicine and integrative care and turn her misfortune into a passionate cause to help others in the same situation. Her website, books, videos are full of empowering and moving stories, wellness tips, natural healthy beauty, plant-based recipes. Her inspirational revolution founded on her book and documentary, Crazy Sexy Cancer make her my July pick for your soul. ABOUT: Dr. Ruxandra LeMay is a private practice psychologist in Litchfield Park, Arizona with experience in family therapy, ADHD, stress and anxiety management, and executive coaching. She is the author of My Spouse Wants More Sex Than Me: The 2-Minute Solution For a Happier Marriage. Click HERE to check out her free resources on effective communication, emotional unavailability, intimacy, and anxiety management or join her at www.ruxandralemay.comfor monthly blogs posts.