Tag Archives: optimal health

How to Find Comfort When Things Feel Uncertain

We all know uncertainty is part of our daily lives. And finding comfort when things feel uncertain is challenging. It’s natural to withdraw and try to protect ourselves. It’s okay to want to escape from the regular daily stressors we face because our bodies respond to them both emotionally and physically, impacting our overall health.

But those feelings of uncertainty can also be seen as an opportunity to re-imagine how we care for ourselves and our loved ones.

In other words, how do we truly nourish ourselves at the deepest levels when navigating change?

Nutrition as self-care

As simple as it might seem, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, one way to care for yourself is to eat healthy, nourishing food. Doing so can give you the comfort you need, while also keeping you healthy at a cellular level. That’s because the meals we prepare and consume speak directly to our cells, becoming the building blocks that help maintain our resilience.

A bowl of grains fruit and yogurt on a rainbow colored tabletop.
A healthy mix of fruits and grains is a great way to start your day.

When you eat nutrient-dense food, each bite delivers a message of care throughout our bodies, supporting immune function, energy production, and even mental clarity when we need it most.

The simple act of preparing a vegetable-rich soup or choosing whole foods over processed foods becomes a way to prioritize your physical and mental health.

Cellular wellness

Have you ever wondered about how the cellular networks in our bodies send signals? In some ways, it’s kind of like how mobile phones connected to a cellular network send signals.

Well…not exactly. But hopefully, you get what I’m saying – the important cellular networks are within us.  And self-care at the cellular level means recognizing that our smallest bodily components need attention during stressful times.

That’s why quality sleep, hydration, movement, and moments of genuine rest are essential maintenance for the intricate systems that keep us functioning.

When we prioritize our cellular health, we’re not only helping ourselves survive when things feel uncertain, but we’re also creating our own internal environment where healing and strength can flourish. A cellular approach to wellness acknowledges that external uncertainty doesn’t need to dictate our internal state.

Strength in shared vulnerability

Perhaps most importantly, you need to remember that when you’re experiencing uncertainty, you’re not the only one feeling it. Others are trying to find comfort when things feel uncertain also.  When we recognize that everyone’s cells are responding in the same way—and navigating daily stress—compassion and empathy for each other naturally emerges. 

This form of compassion, both for ourselves and others, might be one of the most potent remedies available to us. We know that social connections and a strong sense of community can help positively influence our health spans and increase our longevity.

Redefining resilience

Moving forward, perhaps we need to better understand what it means to be resilient. One way to think of it is like healthy trees in a forest. They’re constantly moving and regenerating, and they’re able to withstand heavy winds and inclement weather. They bend but they don’t break.

The hike continues and is rewarded with this beautiful view of the Rocky Mountains. Telluride, Colo. July 2020. Photo: F. Rehnborg
Trees line the path of this beautiful view of the Rocky Mountains.

Our cells are constantly regenerating, too, maintaining homeostasis and equilibrium in the face of uncertainty inside and outside of our bodies.  Even though things can get stressful, we can navigate difficulties without being defined by them.

We can never completely escape feelings of uncertainty, but the path forward is about nourishing ourselves in such a way that we can meet it with our full, presence – even at a cellular level.

Cheers!

The Optimism We Create Becomes the Future We Live In

As we near the beginning of a new year, I, for one, believe that the optimism we create is going to become the future we live in. In a world too often dominated by headlines of challenge and disruption, optimism — and a positive mental attitude — has the potential to transform us, and surprisingly enough even help increase our healthspan.

A Foundation of Personal Wellbeing

Have you ever thought about where wellbeing really comes from? Why we might be motivated to stay healthy? We can probably list many reasons. And some of those reasons might really impact us!

But here’s something important I’ve come to understand: Personal wellbeing isn’t just about you (or me). It’s about the people around us, our family, friends and the greater community.

It’s always wonderful to be with family during the holidays.

Once you realize that you can best help others when you are healthy and by being your best self, you see how interconnected we are and how your own health contributes to everyone and everything around you. That is the biggest motivator!

So, think of it this way, before we can nourish others, we must first nourish ourselves. This isn’t selfish—it’s essential.

Our physical well-being forms a foundation from which our mental optimism is built. Not only do our actions increase the quality of our lives and our own healthspans, but they can also contribute to increasing the quality of life for those around us.

Finding Sanctuary in Nature

I often talk about the walks I like to take, and the simple way each step can connect us to our purpose. And there’s also profound wisdom in simply staying connected to the earth – not only with both feet, but also with our intentions. Stepping away from technology and the constant interruptions it creates in our lives has never been as important and beneficial to our wellbeing.

Whether you have a small garden on your balcony or you are just walking through a field, nature offers us a break from the chaos of the modern world. It’s another reason why Amway is so interested in organic and regenerative farming; because in providing the plants used to make botanical ingredients for Nutrilite products, they’re also staying connected to the earth and cultivating it in such a way that the soil remains fertile and ready for future generations to benefit from.

Surveying the vineyards on the family farm in Oregon.

Not to mention that finding sanctuary in nature allows us to reconnect with something much larger than ourselves—the cycle of life, seasonal renewal, and the natural abundance that has sustained us for generations.

The Ripple Effect of Kindness

True optimism manifests in us in how we might respond to our own struggles. In a world where negativity prevails, suffering can lead to bitterness and a mistaken desire for others to share in our pain. Optimism offers a different path. It can transform our challenges into opportunities for positive change.

Look at it this way. When we face difficulties, we can use the wisdom and empathy we gain from the experience to help others navigate similar struggles. This is authentic kindness in action—it’s not superficial. It can lead to a deeper commitment that sees others positively and finds ways to help them avoid the challenges you went through.

The ripple effect it creates leads to stronger social connections that lift everyone and makes the world a better place.

Looking Forward with Optimism

So, as we move into the future, we get to choose how we show up in the lives of other people. By choosing optimism, we end up creating a better world in every moment for the people we interact with.

Taking care of yourself, nurturing your connection with nature, and all the effort you make to transform personal challenges into opportunities to help others, leads to a future where we can happily coexist.

Optimism isn’t just about hoping for a better future—it’s about actively creating it, starting with us and rippling outward to others.

It makes all the difference in the world.

Happy Holidays!

The 90th Anniversary of Nutrilite

Believe it or not, next year marks the 90th anniversary of Nutrilite. Many amazing things are in the works to celebrate this important milestone.

For starters, something I’m truly excited about is the upcoming release of The Nutrilite Story, 3rd Edition. The updated version of the book will not only to tell the ongoing story of the Nutrilite brand, but its release will also coincide with the 90th anniversary.

The book tells the story of my father, Carl Rehnborg, and how his insatiable curiosity and dogged determination created Nutrilite. It also shares how my personal journey from childhood up to the present has helped Amway and Nutrilite become what it is today. You’ll be able to get a copy of the book early next year.

That’s not all we have been busy with lately. To help people better understand the Nutrilite story and how my personal life has been so intertwined with health and wellness, I spent several days in a production studio capturing my impressions about the past, present and future.

Here’s a teaser video we put together to give you a taste of the content you will soon be able to see.

There’s even more. During the last two weeks in October, I will be touring Asia – stopping in China, Thailand, Malaysia, and Taiwan – to begin celebrating the 90th anniversary of the brand and all the amazing things happening with Amway and Nutrilite.

So make sure you stay tuned to my blog for updates about my trip.

I’ll talk to you soon!

Cheers!

Travel and the Power of Connection

This past month I visited Malaysia and Singapore and experienced the joys of traveling to Amway markets once again. It was great to be on stage sharing my optimal health journey with so many new people. And I’m so impressed by the passion of the staff and leaders. They are incredibly focused on being the best they can be and building the future of our business.

I believe that when we have the opportunity to experience different geographies and cultures, we often change our perspectives about ourselves. My travels have helped me see the world differently and better understand how connected we all are. And I believe that being able to connect through health and wellness makes our bonds even stronger.

Back when I was in my 40s, I was eager to take the Nutrilite brand around the world. To do this, I felt that I needed to experience the customs and dietary practices of various cultures around the world firsthand. So I set sail on a three-year journey on a sailboat called the Firebird that would take me to 36 countries.

During my travels, I discovered that the people I met with the best nutrition were also the happiest, most prosperous, and most involved in their communities. It was this observation that confirmed my belief that taking charge of our own nutrition is critical to living full, satisfying lives, to going after our dreams, and to having enough drive to act on what’s really important to us.

Continuing in my 50s and 60s, I traveled extensively around the world, helping Amway open up international markets at a record pace, introducing Nutrilite products to 47 new markets over a 20-year period from 1986 to 2006.

My latest trip reaffirmed my belief in the power of optimal nutrition and the incredible goodwill of people all over the world who make up our Nutrilite community.

Here are some photos from the trip.

Cheers!

Food Insecurity and Healthy Nutrition

Food insecurity is when a person lacks regular access to enough safe and nutritious food for normal growth and development and an active and healthy life, according to the FAO.  

Approximately 800 million people in the world faced hunger in 2021. That’s a lot. Food security, and the elimination of food insecurity, should continue to be a top priority. Our world population continues to grow, and the environment is becoming increasingly volatile, which means even more people may struggle to find healthy food in the future. 

Morning light welcomes the day on the Nutrilite Trout Lake West Farm in 2016.

That’s why when I hear insights from Dr. Christopher Gardner about things like stealth nutrition and other ways that our food systems can be made more sustainable, I pay attention to what he says. In a Medium article written by Ashley Abramson a few years ago, he pointed out the simple idea that nutritious food can also be the most flavorful. And in a more recent interview, he spoke about ways we can adapt our food systems to supply healthier food while also helping the planet. 

Dr. Gardner is the Rehnborg Farquhar Professor of Medicine at Stanford University, and his approach to nutrition and food is what we need more of. Because if we are going to have a resilient future, we need to be thinking not just about food security, but more specifically, about nutrition security. There is a difference. Shifting from food security to nutrition security means shifting our thinking from quantity to quality.

Of course, people need enough food to be food secure, but addressing hunger also includes giving our bodies the nutritious food we need to live long healthy lives.  

Where does our food come from? 

Where our food comes from is something we often take for granted. For many of us, it’s easy to go to the market or the grocery store, find food that appeals to us and simply buy it. We don’t always think about how and why it made it to the shelf for us to choose and consume. Because how it is grown or raised, and how it gets to the market, can directly affect the environment. Which means our food choices can help support the planet. That’s why we should choose wisely. 

The Standard American Diet or Western Diet, which is low nutrition, low-cost, and convenience-focused, is becoming more prominent in low-income countries and in large countries like China and India. This might seem like a way to address food insecurity but relying only on this type of diet also means more people are becoming subject to obesity and disease.  

The reality is that good nutrition from quality food would help prevent many diseases from occurring in the first place. Imagine a world where our global health systems could focus on helping people achieve their best health instead of treating their illnesses. What a difference that would make!   

Healthy colorful food is also incredibly tasty!

That’s the idea behind nutrition security. If we can make nutritious food flavorful, desirable and available to people who want it, we will have a much healthier world. And eating the proper mix of delicious plant-based foods combined with the right type of protein will help make the world more sustainable.  

And if you know what you’re eating is good for the planet, your food will taste even better! 

Cheers! 

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