April Newsletter: Spring, Surrender & Planting New Seeds
Hello Beloveds,
Spring has sprung hasn’t it? I’m loving the energy in the air. It feels like fresh vitality outside filled with possibility on the horizon. Just waiting for us to decide what we want and follow the flow most suited for our needs, goals and dreams for this year of the Firehorse. Seeds are starting to bloom and I’ve been taking extra care and time to reflect on what I want to water in my life. It feels like we are in prime position to create something new.
I am 2 months post carbon-monoxide poisoning and what’s really alive for me to focus on is Surrender. The gas leak in my house event catalyzed the deepest initiation of surrender I had yet to have in my life thus far. Being so sick forced me to let go of what I would call my “external life” and I fully committed to healing my brain and body. It turned me deeply inward in a way I never had access to before. Before there would be all these “buts” and “maybe laters”. No time for that this go around. When the alarms went off and the fire dept arrived, they told me the CO levels were dangerously high in my house from the leak and the paramedics said I was lucky to be alive. Hearing that woke me up to a whole other level of existence. I recognized life is precious and short, and I saw directly where I was taking it for granted and wasting my energy.
Anything non-essential had to go. All the extra material items, superfluous relationships, false narratives and not-aligned activities became blatantly obvious and my ego went through a grand cleansing. If it didn’t contribute to my healing and took my attention away from the truth of my body it became irrelevant. Now that I’m in the position of hindsight from this event and have my body back online and running, I’ve been astonished to see how much bullshit my mind was running. Every time a limiting belief or old pattern arises now, what comes up next is guidance to Surrender. When I do, life flows. When I don’t, I have road bumps and blocks 99% of the time. Here are a few quotes from the masters on Surrender I’ve been vibing with:
“Surrender is the simple but profound wisdom of yielding to rather than opposing the flow of life.”
— Eckhart Tolle
“Surrender is not weakness. It is the courage to let go of control and allow a higher
intelligence to guide your life.”
— David R. Hawkins
“Allow, and the grace will carry you to higher ground.”
— Danna Faults
Surrender is such a skillful art and life-long practice. I have been settling down into the idea it’s here to stay for a while as my teacher and I’m taking it into all the work I offer.
If you are seeking opportunities to sit in spiritual space and intentionally plant seeds for this year, I’d love to have you and hold you while you do your inner work. Let’s build the bond with our “in-ternal / e-ternal selves” 😉 and with each other so that we may heal and grow flowers that bring us the good stuff. Beauty, joy, connection and love are at the top of my “essentials” list 🙂 Here is the list below.
Spiritual Healing Retreat: Local KCMO Area
💗April 25-26
💗May 22-24: Two night retreat
💗July 10-11
To reserve your spot or know more, reply to this email or book a complimentary call:
Schedule Discovery Call Here: https://calendly.com/lisalola/new-client-consult
Healer’s Level 2: Advanced Channeling
🌕 May 1-3, 2026. In-Person Course. Kansas City, MO. Non-Local join live on Zoom.
💫 Fri 6-8pm. Sat & Sun 12-6pm
💰 Rate: $600. Venmo $100 Deposit to reserve your spot. @LisaLola
✨ Pre-requisite: Healer’s Level 1 Intro to Channeling
Click here for more info and to register: https://www.lisalola.net
Healer’s Energy Healing
Wanna learn how to heal yourself with your own energy?
🌕 July 24-26, 2026. In-Person Course. Kansas City, MO. Non-Local join live on Zoom.
💫 Fri 6-8pm. Sat & Sun 12-6pm
💰 Rate: $600. Venmo $100 Deposit to reserve your spot. @LisaLola
✨ Pre-requisite: Intro to Channeling & Advanced Channeling
Click here for more info and to register: https://www.lisalola.net
Retreat Announcement!
🍂 Fall Into You – Oct 1–4, 2026
Join me + Janna Fackrell in a sacred space to release what’s holding you back and step fully into your power. Lake-side in Beaver Lake, Arkansas. All-inclusive women’s retreat with daily yoga and mediation, healing circles and ceremonies. Sisterhood and authentic connection. $222 off until July 1st!!
Click here for details and to register: https://www.sacredheartshealing.org/fallintoyou
To the expansion of love in our lives,
LL
💗 If your heart and spirit are craving nourishment I’d love to have you and hold you at any of the above containers. Reply to this email with your inquires and desire for participation.
If you’d like Spiritual guidance for your own healing journey, support in integrating your shadow, or desire support in receiving greater clarity and understanding of your life’s purposeful design,
Click Here to book a 1:1 Spiritual Counseling Session: https://calendly.com/lisalola/spiritual-counsel-60-minutes-clone
so you too can learn how to alchemize your pain into fuel for your light & get you aligned with the beautiful, magnetic being you are.
If you are a new client & are interested in working with me, you may book a complimentary New Client Consult here:
https://calendly.com/lisalola/new-client-consult
I am honored to support you in the awakening & evolution of your Heart & Spirit.
To the expansion of the heart-space,
Lisa Lola
How Mental Health Shapes Your Food Choices and Simple Ways to Eat Better
For health-curious adults trying to eat well without turning meals into a full-time project, the hardest part is often invisible: mental health and eating habits are tightly linked. Stress can quietly steer food choices toward quick comfort, bigger portions, or skipped meals, even when someone’s diet looks “fine” on paper. Common emotional eating triggers, pressure at work, loneliness, boredom, low mood, can make cravings feel urgent and willpower feel unreliable. Spotting the connection between mood and diet is the first step toward aligning mental well-being and nutrition.
Understanding Food, Mood, and the Gut-Brain Loop
Your mood is not separate from your plate. The gut brain axis is the two-way messaging system
between digestion, nerves, and brain chemistry, so what you eat and how you feel can push on
each other. Low vitamin D, magnesium, or B vitamins can leave you feeling flat, wired, or
drained, which changes what foods feel “necessary” in the moment.
This matters because brain fog and irritability often look like cravings for sugar, salty snacks, or
caffeine, not like “a nutrition problem.” A 1-2% decrease in hydration can impair concentration
and mood, so decisions get impulsive fast. Also, heavily processed foods with additives can
amplify emotional dips, making small stress feel bigger.
Picture a busy afternoon: you skipped water, lunch was rushed, and you feel snappy. Your brain
reads that dip as an emergency and pulls you toward quick energy, not balanced fuel.
Supportive nutrients and steadier hydration make the calmer choice easier to reach. With these
drivers clear, it gets easier to spot stress signals versus emotional hunger and pause before
reacting.
Use a 60‑Second Stress Reset Before You Choose Food
Because stress can flip your body into “quick comfort” mode, it often changes what you reach
for before you even notice. When you’re tense, overwhelmed, or rushed, it’s easy to mistake
stress signals, like agitation, a tight chest, or racing thoughts, for hunger and end up eating on
autopilot. Building a moment of clear decision cues can help you recognize when pressure is
steering the choice more than appetite. Take one deep breath in, then let it out slowly to help
your nervous system relax just enough to choose more intentionally.
Swap the Spiral: 7 Practical Ways to Eat Calmer
When stress is loud, food choices get fast and reactive. These swaps help you use the
60‑second stress reset as a “pause button,” then steer toward steadier energy and fewer
regret-eating moments.
- Spot your personal “autopilot” patterns: For three days, note when you eat, not just
what you eat. Look for repeats like “standing at the counter,” “scrolling,” “after tense
emails,” or “late-night kitchen laps.” The goal isn’t to judge, it’s to identify the situations
where the stress reset will help most. - Use a 2-minute trigger journal (before or after): Keep it ridiculously simple: write the
time, your mood (1–2 words), hunger level (0–10), and what happened right before you
wanted food. Add one line: “What do I actually need?” (quiet, a break, comfort, energy,
distraction). After a week, you’ll see patterns like “I crave sugar when I’m overwhelmed”
versus “I snack when I’m bored.” - Pair the stress reset with a “delay + decide” rule: After your 60-second breathing
pause, set a tiny delay, five minutes is enough. During that window, drink water or make
tea and ask, “If I eat now, what am I hoping will change?” If you still want the food, have
it on purpose, plated, and seated, this flips eating from stress-reaction to a choice. - Build a 3-item coping menu (not willpower): Emotional eating often happens when
food is the only tool in the toolbox. Pick three non-food options that take under 10
minutes: a quick shower, texting a friend “rough moment, can you say hi?”, or stepping
outside for fresh air. Keep the menu visible (note on your phone or fridge) so you don’t
have to “think your way out” when stressed. - Discharge stress with short movement snacks: Two to ten minutes of movement can
lower the “revved up” feeling that drives grazing, try a brisk walk, stair laps, gentle
stretching, or a quick dance break. You’re not exercising to “earn” food; you’re shifting
your nervous system. The WHO notes that physical activity reduces symptoms of
depression and anxiety, which can make cravings feel less urgent. - Upgrade snacks to prevent the sugar crash loop: If you reach for sweets when
you’re tense, aim for a combo of protein + fiber (and optional fat) to stay full longer.
Examples: Greek yogurt + berries, apple + peanut butter, hummus + carrots, or cheese and whole-grain crackers. If you want something sweet, try “sweet plus”, a couple squares of chocolate with nuts, not chocolate alone. - Make “calm eating” the easy default: Pre-portion snack bowls, keep a high-protein
option at eye level, and put trigger foods in opaque containers or higher shelves. Decide
one “protected meal” each day where you sit, eat without screens, and check in halfway
through for fullness. Structure beats motivation, especially on hard days.
Food, Mood, and Cravings: Common Questions Answered
Q: What’s the difference between emotional hunger and physical hunger?
A: Physical hunger builds gradually and you can usually name what sounds satisfying.
Emotional hunger tends to feel sudden, urgent, and linked to a feeling like stress, loneliness, oroverwhelm.
Try a 60-second check-in: “Where do I feel this in my body?” and “What emotion is
here?”
Q: How can I tell if I’m craving sugar or actually low on energy?
A: If you feel shaky, headachy, or “wired but tired,” you may need a real meal or a balanced
snack, not just sweetness. Pair carbs with protein and fiber, like fruit with yogurt or crackers with
cheese, to steady your energy.
Q: Do artificial additives really affect mood and focus?
A: Some people notice more irritability, brain fog, or cravings when they eat lots of highly
processed foods, while others do not. The simplest test is a gentle experiment: keep your usual
routine, but swap one processed snack per day for a less-processed option for a week.
Q: Why do all-or-nothing food rules backfire when I’m stressed?
A: Strict rules can increase anxiety and rebound eating because stress already narrows
decision-making. It helps to aim for “mostly balanced” instead of “perfect,” and to include
satisfying foods on purpose.
Q: Can eating better really help mental health, or is that a myth?
A: Food is not a replacement for care, but it can support your brain and mood. For example,
women who ate more vitamin D–rich foods had a lower risk of depression in a study highlighted
by Harvard Health.
Pick one tiny change you can repeat, especially on your hardest days.
Make Food Choices Kinder by Noticing Mood and Hunger
When stress, low mood, or anxiety hit, it’s easy for food choices to swing between strict rules
and cravings that don’t actually satisfy. A steadier path is mental health awareness paired with
mindful eating practices, staying curious about hunger, fullness, and emotions while using
nutrition insights in practical, flexible ways. Over time, this approach supports more intentional
food choices and helps rebuild trust in your body, instead of turning meals into another test to
pass. Better eating starts with better noticing, not stricter control. Choose one small change
today, drink water consistently, pause to check hunger cues, or plan one less-processed option,
and repeat it. Those small, kind decisions compound into more stability, resilience, and a
healthier relationship with food.
