Thanks for being here. If this was forwarded to you, you can subscribe here to join The Root 9 Community.
On Wednesdays, we’ll reflect: See below for some some of what I’ve learned from the week to inspire reflection, a well-being soundbite, and a view of my wish list / recs / things I’m currently obsessing over. 🙂
1/3. W.I.L.T.W (What I Learned This Week)
Panic is the enemy of the (internal and physical) forest
For the next installation of the book club I mentioned joining last week, we are reading The God of the Woods. The passage below profoundly impacted me this week:
For a bonus, she asked them: Who knew the origins of the word?
“Which word?” someone said.
“Panic,” said T.J. But no one raised a hand.
She explained. It came from the Greek god Pan: the god of the woods. He liked to trick people, to confuse and disorient them until they lost their bearings, and their minds.
To panic, said T.J., was to make an enemy of the forest. To stay calm was to be its friend.
On the surface, this speaks to the practicalities of navigating a physical forest: employing techniques like using a compass or the sun, and, crucially, maintaining composure if those methods fail. But I believe this analogy extends beautifully to our mental landscape.
Our thoughts, like trees, populate the forest through safe and well-charted terrain or unexplored terrain (that can make us feel either excited to explore or cautious):
Well-charted paths: Representing the comfort of neutral or positive emotions brought by thoughts which invoke feelings of joy, peace, confidence, gratitude, and tranquility (to name a few).
Uncertain terrain: Representing the unexplored and (sometimes) unwanted emotions brought by thoughts invoking anxiety, fear, stress, overwhelm, and hurt.
Sometimes, our mental forest is a place of serene beauty, a source of awe and wonder we want to keep exploring. Other times, we veer off the well-worn path and find ourselves surrounded by negative thoughts, becoming disoriented and losing our sense of direction.
This passage offers a powerful reminder: when we find ourselves in a less pleasant part of our internal forest, we have a choice.
Stay Calm: By remaining composed, we become aware of our surroundings, understand the origins of the thoughts driving unpleasant emotions, and begin to re-center ourselves, guiding us towards a more positive area of the forest. We choose to make friends with our thoughts, rather than enemies.
Panic: Conversely, we can allow negative thoughts to overwhelm us, leading to disorientation, emotional instability, and a loss of control over our mental bearings.
Whether navigating a physical forest or the forest of our minds, the most crucial lesson is this: Resist the urge to panic. Staying calm is not just a technique; it's the key to finding your way back to balance.
I thought it would be fun to share this with you. I find handwriting my thoughts and reflections helps me flush them out. Here’s how the section of today’s newsletter originated:
2/3. Well-being Weapons
My $12 Meal Prep Go To
My favorite way to feel in control of my week when I’m in the office is by prepping a satiating lunch that includes a protein and a side. I change my protein every week depending on what I’m feeling, but my butternut squash cauliflower rice blend is my staple side. I’ve been making it every week since December and I rarely stray away.
I personally get 4 meals from this for only $12 excl. protein cost. Since buying lunch at the office can run about $20 each time, you're saving at least $40 a week, depending on how often you eat out. More important than cost, I tend to ‘office snack’ if I don’t want have time to pick something up or want to avoid delivery fees. This helps me save money and make sure I feel good about what I’m putting in my body.
What You’ll Need:
1 packet cauliflower rice (~$3.79)
1 packet mixed veggies of choice (~$3.99)
TJs got rid of the peas and corn mix I used before, so now I am going with the Asian Style Vegetables with Stir Fry Sauce
16 - 20z of frozen or fresh butternut squash ($3.99)
I typically use Trader Joe’s Butternut Squash Zigzags or just cut butternut squash
Steps:
Roast the squash
I start here because it typically takes the longest, cooking at medium heat for 4-5 minutes (with the lid on) and another 4-5 minutes (with the lid off) until there is a slight char
Optional: I love adding some pumpkin spice to the squash itself to make it a bit sweeter. Tastes like Thanksgiving 🙂
Combine cauliflower rice & other veggies
I cook at medium heat for 4-5 minutes (with the lid on) to defrost and then remove the lid and stir occasionally for an additional 4-5 minutes.
I don’t add additional seasonings, I find the Mexican Style Riced Cauliflower from TJs has enough flavor for me, but you do you.
Put into your meal containers!
I don’t typically weigh each portion out…I just split into my meal prep containers and eye ball to have enough in each.
Tip: when reheating, add your protein to a plate and reheat for 3-4 minutes with a napkin covering the plate - last thing you want is making your home or office microwave filthy with cauliflower rice bits.
My favorite thing to do after reheating is adding 2 tbsp of the Herdez Guacamole Salsa and mixing. It’s just so so good.
Why I'm Obsessed:
Budget-Friendly: For just $12 (excluding protein), I get ~four lunches. That's a huge saving compared to daily $20 office lunches.
Healthy & Filling: No more mid-afternoon "office snacking". This meal keeps me focused and satisfied.
Easy & Customizable: It’s so simple to make, and you can easily adapt it to your taste.
3/3. What’s Wowing Me: Weekly Obsessions
Seriously, I buy this salsa every single week. I’ll detour to Safeway or stop at the local market which sells the salsa (albeit for an astronomically higher price) even after I’ve done my grocery shopping for the week just to grab it.
I love it so much that I just had to include it as a part of my gift for my friends’ “Favorite Things” gift exchange during the holidays.
Keep an eye out for it!
Want to live with intention and find more joy in your daily life? The Root 9 Community is for you. You’ll get inspiration, reflection, and mindful indulgence straight to your inbox three times a week. Unlock your potential for a more balanced, fulfilling life, one week at a time. Join The Root 9 Community here and find your balance.