OUTLOOK

Making it Easy to Remember Tools for Feeling Whole

A basic acronym outlines eight principles that are proven to help us live healthier and happier lives. It is called CREATION Life.

THE EIGHT PRINCIPLES ARE: Choice Rest Environment

Activity

Trust in God

Interpersonal Relationships Outlook Nutrition

This prescription for wellness is a faith-based plan that helps shape and impact our daily routines. It centers around the whole-person health philosophy for our physical, mental and spiritual wellness.

OO is for OUTLOOK

The “O” in the acronym stands for Outlook. Your outlook colors your perspective on life and influences how you view the world. It also affects the amount of hope and joy you experience. This is a pretty powerful aspect of our whole being.

Your attitude informs what you think of yourself, your job, your home, your friends – everything. In all areas of life, having a positive outlook is a great asset, while having a negative outlook creates difficulties.

Choosing a positive outlook and focusing on the good in life, even when things are bad, will make life more fulfilling.

If looking at the bright side doesn’t come naturally, there is good news. Studies show a positive outlook is something we can learn. It has to do with the way you habitually view and process life’s situations. In other words, by changing your thought habits you unleash the power of positivity.

Here are some tips for doing just that.

Practice gratitude. No matter the circumstance we can choose to highlight our blessings.

You can do this in several ways, like writing down five things for which you are grateful at the end of each day. Don’t overthink it, just put down five things you are grateful for like “Got to work on time,” “Didn’t spill coffee on my shirt,” or “Saw a billboard that made me smile.”

Did you notice none of those were major positives? There is great power in allowing your perspective to see positives in the smallest details of the day.

Perspective is a powerful tool when it comes to your outlook regarding yourself. Instead of critiquing all you say, do, wear, think, try shifting your perspective to see all that makes you special. If that small voice inside is constantly casting doubt on your abilities, skills, worth –it is time to teach it a new script.

Take control of that voice. Make it replay the complement you received on your last project, the encouragement a friend gave as you took on a new challenge. Make sure you’re hearing your own voice reminding you that you have been created for amazing things, there is a great purpose designed specifically for you and you are worthy of kindness and love.

For more ways your outlook can help you feel whole, scan the QR code.

Sweet and Savory Combo

Dinner on the table in less than 30-minutes? This chicken dinner is sure to be a winner.

Get ready to be the winning chef when you combine fresh garlic and ginger to give a basic chicken dinner a healthy and flavorful boost. This sweet and savory combo has been part Thai and Indian cuisine for centuries. The ginger and garlic flavors add a level of spice and sweet/savory notes, and we are adding an Asian note to create what is sure to be a family favorite. Here’s an added benefit; both garlic and ginger are uncommon answers to warding off and alleviating the common cold.

Asian Garlic and Ginger Chicken

Recipe courtesy of Chef Edwin Cabrera

Prep Instructions

Yield: 4 (4 oz.) servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Recipe Ingredients

4 (4 oz.) chicken breasts

1 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted

1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced

1/2 tablespoon fresh garlic, minced

1 teaspoon low sodium soy sauce

1 tablespoon scallions, thinly sliced

1 tablespoon sweet chili sauce

Instructions

Follow the prep technique next to each ingredient. Preheat oven to 350˚F. Prepare pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Marinate chicken with all the ingredients except the sesame seeds for at least 2 hours prior to cooking. Place on a prepared sheet pan, sprinkle the sesame seeds and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165˚F.

Nutritional Data

Calories: 184.12

Fat: 5.71 g

Saturated Fat: 1.51 g

Cholesterol: 75.00 mg

Sodium: 112.94 mg

Carbohydrates: 2.96 g

Fiber: 0.36 g

Sugars: 1.70 g

Protein: 29.30 g