We often think of energy as a willpower issue.
If I just pushed harder…
If I was more disciplined…
If I had more motivation…
But what if your lack of energy isn’t a personal failure — what if it’s a cellular signal?
Your energy comes from your cells.
Literally.
Inside every cell in your body, you have these tiny structures called mitochondria — often called the “powerhouses” of the cell. These are what generate energy for everything your body does: thinking, breathing, healing, hormone balancing, digestion, sleep, mood… all of it.
When your mitochondria are functioning well, you function well.
When they aren’t, you may feel:
- Brain fog
- Low energy or motivation
- Anxiety, mood swings, or trouble sleeping
- Sluggish metabolism or weight gain
- Chronic symptoms that don’t go away
- Blood sugar crashes
- Hormonal imbalances
- And more…
Metabolic health isn’t just about weight.
It’s about how well your cells can create and use energy.
That’s why I believe so strongly in taking a root-cause approach — supporting our cellular health rather than chasing symptom after symptom.
One of the best books I’ve read recently is Good Energy by Dr. Casey Means. It connects the dots between how modern life — with its stress, processed food, poor sleep, light exposure, and chemicals — disrupts your mitochondria and creates the chronic symptoms we normalize.
Healing doesn’t mean adding more.
It often means subtracting what’s making us sick in the first place.
✨ A Few Daily Shifts That Can Improve Energy at the Root:
- Start your day with natural light. Go outside within 30 minutes of waking. This helps your circadian rhythm, hormones, and sleep quality.
- Eat protein + fiber first. Then carbs. This keeps your blood sugar stable, reducing crashes and cravings.
- Walk for 10 minutes after meals. Movement helps your body use glucose properly and supports mitochondrial health.
- Use low-toxin products. The air in your home and what you put on your skin affects your hormones and energy.
- Sleep in a cool, dark room. Your mitochondria restore during rest. Poor sleep = poor energy.
- Pause stress, even for 5 minutes. Your cells need space to repair — not just go, go, go.
🌱 Want to Start Making Changes?
Here’s what I use:
🧼 For cleaning products:
I use this home kit from Young Living — simple swaps that make a big difference. Or try making your own with natural ingredients. Our skin is the largest organ and absorbs those toxic chemicals from cleaning products!
I use this home kit from Young Living — simple swaps that make a big difference. Or try making your own with natural ingredients. Our skin is the largest organ and absorbs those toxic chemicals from cleaning products!
🧬 For metabolic support:
This protocol is what helped me regulate blood sugar, reduce symptoms, and get my energy back — naturally.
This protocol is what helped me regulate blood sugar, reduce symptoms, and get my energy back — naturally.
Small Shifts → Big Energy
You don’t have to do everything at once.
But starting somewhere matters.
But starting somewhere matters.
Your symptoms aren’t random. They’re signals.
Your energy isn’t broken. It’s speaking.
Your energy isn’t broken. It’s speaking.
And your mitochondria?
They just might be the key to the vitality you've been missing.
They just might be the key to the vitality you've been missing.
Want a daily rhythm to follow or help building your plan?
📥 Hit reply — I’d be happy to share what worked for me.
Rooting for your healing,
Rachel xo
Rachel xo
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This week’s topic might ruffle some feathers.
But it’s one I think we have to talk about — with honesty, compassion, and curiosity.
Let’s start here:
What if mental health wasn’t just about brain chemistry — but also about brain energy?
What if the way we fuel and care for our body directly impacts our mood, motivation, and mind?
I’m currently reading Brain Energy by Dr. Christopher Palmer, a Harvard psychiatrist who’s spent decades studying the connection between mitochondria (your cells’ energy engines) and mental health.
And friends, it’s blowing my mind — and making so many things click.
❗️ Medication Can Help — But Is It the Whole Story?
To be clear: I’m not anti-medication.
Many people find relief and stability with traditional treatments.
But what I’ve seen — and what I’ve experienced personally — is that sometimes medication is just the beginning, not the full picture.
Many people find relief and stability with traditional treatments.
But what I’ve seen — and what I’ve experienced personally — is that sometimes medication is just the beginning, not the full picture.
When we only treat the symptoms (anxiety, depression, fatigue, brain fog), we may miss the root cause — what’s actually going on at a cellular level.
Dr. Palmer’s work is showing us something powerful:
Mental health challenges often reflect a deeper issue — how our cells are producing and using energy.
And guess what affects that?
Blood sugar, sleep, stress, movement, inflammation, food quality, circadian rhythms — the daily things we overlook or dismiss as “lifestyle.”
🧬 Mitochondria & Mental Health: The Connection
When your mitochondria aren’t functioning well, your brain cells don’t have the energy they need.
That can lead to:
That can lead to:
- Mood instability
- Low motivation
- Trouble focusing
- Burnout
- Anxiety or depressive episodes
- Fatigue that sleep doesn’t fix
And here’s the kicker:
These aren’t just “in your head.”
They’re happening in your cells.
It’s not about willpower. It’s about biology.
These aren’t just “in your head.”
They’re happening in your cells.
It’s not about willpower. It’s about biology.
❤️ So What Can We Do?
Here’s the hope-filled part.
There are small, daily changes that can help support your mental health from the inside out.
There are small, daily changes that can help support your mental health from the inside out.
Things like:
- Prioritizing quality sleep
- Reducing ultra-processed foods
- Eating protein and fiber first, carbs last
- Walking after meals
- Managing stress and nervous system load
- Checking your blood sugar or fasting insulin
- Aligning your habits with your natural circadian rhythm
- Staying hydrated and moving your body gently
- Bringing compassion into your healing — not just “motivation”
These aren’t meant to replace medical care.
They’re meant to complement it — and sometimes unlock new progress when things have plateaued.
🌱 Final Thought: It’s Not Your Fault — But You Can Choose to Heal
If you’ve struggled with your mental health, please hear me:
You are not broken.
You are not lazy.
You are not a failure.
You are not broken.
You are not lazy.
You are not a failure.
You may simply be underpowered — running on a (cellular) empty tank for far too long.
And that’s not your fault. But it is something you can support.
And that’s not your fault. But it is something you can support.
You don’t have to do it perfectly.
You just have to begin paying attention to your body with love.
Because that’s where the real healing starts.
You just have to begin paying attention to your body with love.
Because that’s where the real healing starts.
With you in this,
Rachel xo
Rachel xo
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Protecting Your Peace Isn’t Selfish — It’s Self-Care
Let me guess…
You’re tired. But you keep going.
You feel it in your bones that you need a break. But the list is long. The people are counting on you. The guilt creeps in.
You feel it in your bones that you need a break. But the list is long. The people are counting on you. The guilt creeps in.
So instead of slowing down, you keep pushing.
Because somewhere along the way, we were taught:
- Rest means we’re falling behind
- Saying “no” means we’re letting people down
- Pausing means we’re giving up
But what if the truth is the exact opposite?
🧠 Your Nervous System Needs You to Slow Down
Our bodies are incredible — they’re built to help us adapt, push through, and care for others.
But they’re also designed to rest, regulate, and recover.
But they’re also designed to rest, regulate, and recover.
When we’re stuck in stress — even low-level, background stress — our nervous system stays on high alert. And over time, this affects everything:
- Cortisol stays elevated
- Blood sugar becomes harder to manage
- Sleep gets disrupted
- Hormones shift and symptoms worsen
- Cravings, inflammation, and mood swings creep in
It’s not “just stress.”
It’s the foundation of your health.
It’s the foundation of your health.
🪞We Don’t Have to Earn Rest
I’ve had to learn this lesson many times:
You don’t have to reach your breaking point before you give yourself permission to stop.
You don’t have to reach your breaking point before you give yourself permission to stop.
And I see it in so many of the women I talk to.
They’re not “failing.”
They’re exhausted.
From the pressure.
The invisible expectations.
The caregiving.
The push to always keep going, even when their body whispers, “please… not today.”
They’re not “failing.”
They’re exhausted.
From the pressure.
The invisible expectations.
The caregiving.
The push to always keep going, even when their body whispers, “please… not today.”
If that’s you, you’re not alone.
💡 This Week’s Rooted Reset
Here’s your gentle invitation:
Take 5 minutes and ask yourself:
- Where am I feeling stretched too thin right now?
- What’s one thing I can release, postpone, or soften this week — without guilt?
- What does protecting my peace look like today?
It doesn’t have to be a big change.
It just has to be honest.
It just has to be honest.
Maybe it’s going to bed earlier.
Maybe it’s letting yourself say “not today” to something you usually say yes to.
Maybe it’s giving yourself permission to feel tired without needing to fix it.
Maybe it’s letting yourself say “not today” to something you usually say yes to.
Maybe it’s giving yourself permission to feel tired without needing to fix it.
The pause is part of the progress.
Rest is healing.
And your peace matters.
Rest is healing.
And your peace matters.
📥 Want more tools to support your hormones, stress, and energy — naturally?
I’d love to share what helped me feel better than I have in years — especially in the most overwhelming season of my life.
No pressure. No programs. Just real support.
No pressure. No programs. Just real support.
Hit reply — and I’ll share exactly what worked for me.
Rooting for you,
Rachel xo
Rachel xo
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If you’ve ever said:
“I was doing so well… and then I fell off.”
“I just need to start over… again.”
“Why can’t I stick with it?”
You are not alone.
Most of us have been taught to think of wellness like a 30-day sprint:
✅ Follow the plan
✅ Get the result
✅ Be “fixed”
✅ Follow the plan
✅ Get the result
✅ Be “fixed”
But here’s the truth I’ve learned — both through my own journey and working with women just like you:
👉 Wellness isn’t a quick fix. It’s a relationship.
One that requires honesty.
One that thrives with consistency.
And one that doesn’t fall apart just because you missed a day — or even a whole week.
One that thrives with consistency.
And one that doesn’t fall apart just because you missed a day — or even a whole week.
🔄 The Time I “Started Over” for the 10th Time
There was a season in my life where I kept “starting over.”
Monday after Monday.
Monday after Monday.
Month after month.
New Year after New Year.
Each time I fell off track — with movement, fasting, self-care — I felt like I had failed.
And each time, I came back with more guilt, more shame, and more pressure to do it perfectly.
And each time, I came back with more guilt, more shame, and more pressure to do it perfectly.
But eventually, I realized… I wasn’t failing.
I was learning.
I was learning.
Every time I came back, I was choosing myself again.
And that’s not failure — that’s commitment.
And that’s not failure — that’s commitment.
💬 Small, Imperfect Actions Matter More Than You Think
You don’t need a “perfect” week to be well.
You need a rhythm — something you can return to, not something you have to restart.
You need a rhythm — something you can return to, not something you have to restart.
Think about the relationships that matter most in your life — the ones built on love, grace, and trust.
They aren’t perfect. But they’re strong. Because you show up again and again.
They aren’t perfect. But they’re strong. Because you show up again and again.
That’s the kind of relationship your body needs.
💡 This Week’s Rooted Reset
Here are 3 relationship-based questions to ask yourself today:
- Am I showing up for my body like I would a friend — or like a critic?
- What small act of care can I offer myself today — not as punishment, but as respect?
- When I fall out of rhythm, do I extend grace or guilt to myself?
You don’t have to do it all today.
You just have to keep showing up — with honesty, with care, and with the kind of consistency that grows over time.
You just have to keep showing up — with honesty, with care, and with the kind of consistency that grows over time.
Wellness isn’t about “fixing” yourself.
It’s about building trust — with your body, your needs, and your future.
It’s about building trust — with your body, your needs, and your future.
📩 If you’re feeling like you’ve “fallen off” or lost momentum, I see you.
Let this be your gentle nudge back into rhythm — without shame, and without a reset button.
Let this be your gentle nudge back into rhythm — without shame, and without a reset button.
Need support figuring out what rhythm works for you? Just reply — I’d love to walk beside you.
Rachel xo
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If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably spent years — maybe even decades — believing you could keep things “on track” if you just tried hard enough.
Plan ahead.
Work harder.
Fix it for everyone.
Prevent the pain.
Predict the outcome.
Work harder.
Fix it for everyone.
Prevent the pain.
Predict the outcome.
Control it.
But here’s the truth I’ve learned — both in life and in loss, especially through my time as a hospice nurse:
👉 We are not in control of nearly as much as we think we are.
And oddly enough, that realization?
It’s become one of the most peaceful and freeing truths of my life.
It’s become one of the most peaceful and freeing truths of my life.
🧠 The Burden of Believing It’s All Up to Us
I used to carry a lot of weight that didn’t belong to me:
- The responsibility to fix things
- The belief that if I worried enough, I could prevent or predict the outcome
- The guilt of “maybe I could have done more”
But what I’ve come to see is this:
We take on control because it gives us the illusion of safety.
But in the end, it only creates stress, resentment, and exhaustion.
We take on control because it gives us the illusion of safety.
But in the end, it only creates stress, resentment, and exhaustion.
There is so much we are not meant to hold.
🕊 A Moment of Surrender in the Forest
One day, I was sitting quietly beside a stream, meditating and reflecting.
And in that stillness, nature had something to say.
And in that stillness, nature had something to say.
I heard the trees — or maybe it was just a quiet knowing inside me — say:
“You need to be bendable and just sway with it.”
And the stream whispered:
“You need to go with the flow. Resisting the current only makes things harder.”
I know it might sound strange, but in that moment… I believed them.
And I’ve carried that lesson ever since.
And I’ve carried that lesson ever since.
✨ When You Let Go, You Make Space for Peace
Letting go of control doesn’t mean apathy.
It means trust.
It means discernment.
It means honoring your part — and releasing what was never yours to carry in the first place.
It means trust.
It means discernment.
It means honoring your part — and releasing what was never yours to carry in the first place.
Since learning this, I’ve noticed something beautiful:
- Less guilt about the things I couldn’t change
- Less tension in my body
- More grace in my relationships
- And a deeper peace in situations where I used to spiral
It’s not about giving up. It’s about giving yourself back to the moment — fully present, fully open.
💡 This Week’s Rooted Reset
Take 5 minutes and ask yourself:
- What’s one thing I’ve been trying to control that I may need to surrender?
- What would happen if I stopped resisting and started allowing?
- How would it feel to gently release what’s not mine to hold?
You don’t need to control it all.
You were never meant to.
You were never meant to.
And in that release — there’s room to breathe again.
📩 If you’re in a season where you feel like you’re gripping too tightly — to health, to outcomes, to expectations — I see you.
Sometimes just having a space to be honest about it is the first step.
If you need support, or want to hear what helped me through one of the hardest seasons of my life — just reply. I’d be honored to walk with you.
If you need support, or want to hear what helped me through one of the hardest seasons of my life — just reply. I’d be honored to walk with you.
Rachel xo
Love what you read here? Subscribe for updates — your reset starts here.
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