I have been listening to a lot of Podcasts over the past few weeks, mostly One Part Podcast and Food Blogger Pro, and they have become an invaluable source for inspiration and motivation. I am so glad that there are people creating this content to help those who seek their advice. Hearing people’s stories about how they got started, how long it took them to succeed, and how they are sustaining themselves in their business can be all the motivation we need. But what happens when you start feeling down after hearing these?
I find that sometimes inspirational talks or reads can be a fuel for comparative anxiety. I found myself in this trap of negativity not long ago, comparing my story to theirs, measuring up my successes to theirs. I blamed this bad vibe on the crappy weather, my less than optimal diet, my lack of sleep, but did not want to admit that I just felt bad about myself.
This is when to shut it down, literally, shut down your phone, your computer, your Podcast feed, and remember why you started. When I am feeling down about my work and myself, I don’t log onto any social media and I focus on myself. To get myself out of this, I will bring my camera out to the park and snap photos by myself with no intention of sharing them or I will make a meal for Mark and I and not take a photo of it at all. These actions bring me joy and help me remember why I began. I did not begin this site to compare it to others, I started it to share my work.
I had to shut off other people’s stories to focus on my own story. If you are ever feeling down or find yourself comparing your work to others, remember that this is your story and it is worth sharing.
I have been on a serious turmeric kick lately, but I am loving it. Turmeric is so great for a lot of reasons, other than the taste, such as its anti-inflammatory properties and its ability to fight off free radicals in the body. Tip: next time you make a smoothie, add 1/4 teaspoon each ground turmeric and black pepper for enhanced benefits of each spice. Thanks for the tip Jenny Mustard!
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- 2 sweet potatoes, scrubbed and cut into fries (If you need some help, this video is great)
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon fine grain sea salt
- Spicy Turmeric Drizzle
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon ground coriander
- ½ teaspoon caraway seeds
- ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
- ¼ teaspoon fine grain sea salt + fat pinch of cracked black pepper
- 1 Thai chilli, chopped fine or ½ teaspoon red chili flakes
- 2 tablespoons tahini
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon grated garlic
- 2 tablespoons warm water or at your desired consistency
- Garnish
- ¼ cup pomegranate arils
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro or mint
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Toss the cut sweet potatoes with the oil and salt. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet in a single layer, not letting the fries overlay each other, and bake for 22-25 minutes or until crispy, turning halfway through cooking time. They will crisp up as they cool.
- Meanwhile, make your sauce. In a small non-stick pan, add the cumin, coriander, caraway seeds, and turmeric and heat over med-low, stirring occasionally, until fragrant. This should take about 1 minute. Set aside to cool.
- In a bowl of a food processor, add the tahini, maple syrup, chili flakes or chopped Thai chilli, vinegar, garlic, and water. Blend until very smooth. Add the cooled spices and blend again until combined.
- Once the sweet potatoes are done, transfer to serving plate, and garnish with the sauce, pomegranate, and chopped herbs. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Jessica!! I feel the same way sometimes. And I think that’s why I only listen to podcasts that have to do with hip hop, basketball, or reality shows (basically everything on Grantland – Jalen + Jacoby!!). Oh, and Mike and Tom Eat Snacks. Thanks for sharing a link to my podcast and hope you listen and not listen…whenever it feels right for you.
Thank you so much for taking the time out to comment! I really appreciate it. I do LOVE your podcast and you are an excellent interviewer, but sometimes I just have to take that little bit of time out for myself. Thank you for understanding and I can’t wait to hear what you bring to the show through your book writing process.
P.S. Congrats on the book!