Are you still worried about being liked by everyone? Doing your best not to be too out there? Afraid of offending someone?

The fact is that not everyone is going to like us and we're not going to like everyone else. Rather than seeing that as a shortfall, we can see it as a relief. Imagine if everyone wanted a piece of you at all times. Can you say EXHAUSTION? 

Sometimes we share a leg of the journey with someone very closely and then there comes a point when...

No matter where you land with respect to what's happening in our world today, it's likely that you're feeling a variety of complex emotions. I feel it myself and I hear it from everyone.

I've been asking a lot of questions lately to get to uncover the feelings I've been having. Even though I'm a Self-care Coach and I know the importance of nurturing myself, even I have been having a struggle maintaining my own self-care practice in the face of the daily political firestorms. My...

Is there a difference between self-ish and SELFISH?
Read that aloud, and you'll have your answer. Although there's a negative connotation with the word, it isn't necessarily so.

What's the distinction?
Being SELFISH is grabbing out of desperation and depletion; making choices that benefit ourselves at the expense of others. It's careless. Being self-ish is taking care of myself first, acknowledging limited resources, and knowing that what I prioritize becomes my life. When we...

As a  chronic over-thinker, I notice that sometimes I can feel stressed out before I've even begun to take action, even if it's no action. I think it stems from something called FOMO, or Fear Of Missing Out. It's a plague in our culture and most of us have it. This is why I'm such a fan of "less."

Opportunities to feel FOMO abound. Just today, a dear friend asked me if I could do a project that could begin a relationship with a company that might eventually hire me as...

As we open a new calendar, it's common to have thoughts about letting go of what no longer serves and to invite with intention new ways of being. I recently saw a post from FeministVoice that struck me with its beauty and simplicity.

For nearly three decades, I've been an avid student of practicing impeccability with my speech. That is, being clear about what I say and saying what I intend. I first learned this from Louise Hay. She talks about the implications of using words like...

Almond milk is quickly becoming one of the most popular dairy-free milks in the U.S. and with good reason—it's delish!

Easily made at home, the most common method is this ultra-smooth technique that employs a nut milk bag. But...I've got a secret ingredient that requires no soaking or straining so that you'll have your own fresh almond milk in minutes!

Bonus—any blender will do!

Check out my secret:

Super-speedy DIY Homemade Almond Milk
By Allison...

Want to know what to use instead of dairy butter? I've gotcha covered! While several commercial vegan margarines and shortenings are available (and they are certainly much better than dairy butter), I prefer to create my own version from scratch for most recipes.

I do this for several reasons. For one, most vegan margarines use palm oil, a product that has been linked to some major issues in the countries that produce it. Ranging from human rights abuses to climate...

An exceptionally fulfilling loaf loaded with brown rice, lentils, and mushrooms for a toothsome texture with a flavorful sauce that's slightly sweet, salty, and smoky. Perfect for any dinner, or top with gravy for a delectable Thanksgiving entrée!

Hearty Lentil Meatloaf
By Allison Rivers Samson

Serves 8

Ingredients
Smoky Tomato Topping
1/2 cup tomato paste
2 tablespoons tamari
1 teaspoon coconut sugar (or dark brown sugar)
1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke
1 clove garlic,...

This hearty recipe offers several chances to decide just how “from scratch” you want your baking to be. The vegetable broth can be either homemade or store-bought, as can the non-dairy milk. Even if you decide to make everything from scratch, the preparatory steps including cooking the potatoes, cooking the lentils, and making the broth, can be done well in advance.

Once those steps are done, the rest of the recipe is fairly simple and comes together quickly.

...

If you think you don't like brussels sprouts, try this recipe and see if it changes your mind.

Garlic Brussels Sprouts
By Allison Rivers Samson

Serves 4

Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup onion, quartered and sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
3 cups fresh brussels sprouts, washed and halved or quartered
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup water

Directions
1. In a deep skillet over medium heat, add oil and onion. Sauté for 10 minutes, stirring regularly.

2. Add garlic and brussels sprouts,...