Being Your Best You: Total Package

Hello and Happy Thursday! 

For the whole month of July there's been a fun Thursday link-up over on my fitness blog along with the wonderful Chelsea and Rebecca. 

The theme? Being your BEST you!

While this series has been over on Not the Average Bear, I figured my JumpingJE readers/lovers would want in on a little bit of the fun! 

If you haven't already been able to check it out, here's the archives:

Be Your Best You: Balance

Be Your Best You: Energy

Be Your Best You: Strength

For the final day of the month (and of the link-up!) we're going to wrap it all up with what Chelsea calls the "Total Package".  Simply put - what's the best thing you do for yourself to be your BEST?

My secret weapons?

Water and clean eating. Boom.

Ever since I made the wise decision to clean up my eating act (by following 90% paleo) and to give my body the respect it deserves, I've reaped the rewards. 

I function better.

My skin is clearer.

I have more energy.

I have a healthier relationship with food (and the occasional indulgence).

I'm genuinely a happier and better person to be around.

I'm becoming my best version of me (so far!)

Try it, I swear you'll see the same thing. Tell me all about it!

Plus, if you know me... the sweaty selfies also get me through the day :)

Guest Post: Being Your Best You: Energy

Today on my fitness blog we're taking over with the July Challenge with a post on how to be your BEST you.

Come see how I like to earn my Energy and how you can earn it too!

Just click my face (or bicep) below to find me!

TED Tuesday: The Power of Introverts

Hi, my name is Jessi and I'm proud to admit that I've been living my life as an introvert.

Say it with me, Liz!

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My life as an introvert hasn't been a secret to my friends and family, but always shocks people who know me as a friend, as an athlete and people in my work environment. Because I enjoy attention, engaging people in conversation and have no fear speaking up and speaking confidently there's a facade that I'm 'outgoing'. Truth is, you can be all of those things and still be an introvert at your core. Introversion speaks to how you respond to social stimulation.

As an introvert, I know that my most creative and powerful moments are when I'm alone in my own head. Runs {alone} are where I find my inner peace and going out for a dinner party of 10 isn't exactly on my must do for summer list. I respond much better to a night in my pajamas and a weekend with no plans.

Introverts often get a bad reputation for standing back, observing and thinking as these characteristics are interpreted as shy, quiet, unfit for leadership and anti-social. 

The truth of the matter is, we enjoy taking time to ourselves to think and recharge - like this handsomely introverted sloth I got for you:

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I've shared this video before my TED Tuesday series began and it deserves a deeper look.

Susan Cain goes from personal experiences to real world examples of the way we live today that stifles the creativity of the 33-50% of introverts walking among us.

Open Environment work spaces (like the 12 people all staring at each other in mine) and desks facing each other in pods rather than rows in the school systems are geared toward extroverts. What this does is teaches us to believe introverts are doing it wrong, and it also doesn't teach the extroverts how to think before speaking, think independently or appreciate a good night of down-time.

Susan's Calls to Action at the end of the talk include:

1. Stop already with all this awful think inside the box group work


2. Go to the wilderness (or at least disconnect every once in a while)


3. Show the world your energy preference and stop trying so hard to work against it.

Once you've watched and you're hungry for more, Rachel's post last week reviews the book by Susan Cain titled "Quiet" and her own feelings living life as a beautiful introvert - it's worth a read!

PS: Susan Cain is also an introvert and see what you think of her as a public speaker!

[ted id=1377]