<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[ALA Wellness]]></title><description><![CDATA[Empowering Your Wellness Journey]]></description><link>https://www.alanm.org/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2026 23:12:35 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.alanm.org/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[A letter to my protector]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Protector, Thank you. Thank you for standing beside me all these years. You have watched over a tender heart that longed to belong, and whenever you sensed danger, you appeared without hesitation. Like a domesticated cat that suddenly turns feral when its family is threatened, you have never questioned whether you should defend me. You simply have. You scan the horizon for subtle shifts—a friendship growing quiet, a dismissive comment, an overlooked invitation, a misunderstanding, an...]]></description><link>https://www.alanm.org/post/a-letter-to-my-protector</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a4fedff605fe4479947c60d</guid><pubDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2026 18:52:49 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Amanda Hurford</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Honesty vs. Professionalism: Why We Think We Have to Choose]]></title><description><![CDATA[Recently, my husband came home carrying an invisible emotional intensity. He had just had a difficult conversation with a potential employee who had ghosted him. As he told me about the interaction, he explained that he "gave it to him straight." He didn't dance around the issue. He didn't soften his feelings. He directly addressed how disrespected he felt. What struck me wasn't the conversation itself—it was his perspective on communication. As we talked, I realized that many of us hold...]]></description><link>https://www.alanm.org/post/honesty-vs-professionalism-why-we-think-we-have-to-choose</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a3c38f1433568818446518a</guid><pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 20:07:19 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Amanda Hurford</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How Energy Medicine Found Me]]></title><description><![CDATA[When I first began my journey as a health practitioner, I never imagined that I would become interested in bioenergetic medicine or frequency-based therapies. In fact, if you had told me years ago that I would spend part of my career exploring energetic approaches to health, I probably would have laughed. But sometimes the most meaningful paths are the ones we don't intentionally choose. They find us. Over the years, I became increasingly curious about the body's ability to communicate,...]]></description><link>https://www.alanm.org/post/how-energy-medicine-found-me</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a3c38b6033a541103e8dee9</guid><pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 20:06:15 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Amanda Hurford</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why Learning Communication Skills Can Feel So Uncomfortable]]></title><description><![CDATA[Recently, I found myself reflecting on the last communication class I taught before going on maternity leave. There is one moment from that class that has stayed with me. During the workshop, I noticed that one participant was becoming increasingly triggered by the material. I could see the frustration building. I could feel the tension in the room. And if I'm being honest, my own nervous system reacted too. I remember thinking: "Oh my gosh, I'm about to have a crucial conversation with...]]></description><link>https://www.alanm.org/post/why-learning-communication-skills-can-feel-so-uncomfortable</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a3c387072c7d18238ca6975</guid><pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 20:05:08 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Amanda Hurford</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Power of Four Things]]></title><description><![CDATA[I often feel the pressure of all the things I should be doing. Not just the things I need to do, but the things I know would benefit me. The workouts I could be doing. The breathing exercises I could be practicing. The journaling I could be completing. The water I could be drinking. The mindfulness I could be cultivating. The books I could be reading. The relationships I could be nurturing. The list is endless. And if I'm being honest, I often create my own mental overwhelm. I know too much....]]></description><link>https://www.alanm.org/post/the-power-of-four-things</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a3c3853033a541103e8ddb0</guid><pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 20:04:37 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Amanda Hurford</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Power of Micro Steps: Why Lasting Change Takes Longer Than We Think]]></title><description><![CDATA[One of the hardest parts of working in a service-based profession is caring deeply. When you genuinely want to help people, you don't just want them to feel a little better. You want to create meaningful, life-changing results. You want the financial investment they make to feel worthwhile. You want them to leave feeling transformed. You want them to succeed. And if you're anything like me, that desire can sometimes create its own pressure. There can be a subtle panic underneath the surface...]]></description><link>https://www.alanm.org/post/the-power-of-micro-steps-why-lasting-change-takes-longer-than-we-think</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a3c382ea6b1dcc288e37507</guid><pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 20:04:00 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Amanda Hurford</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Coming Back Into My Body: What Fear Taught Me About Safety]]></title><description><![CDATA[At 20 weeks pregnant, I received information that terrified me. The details themselves are less important than what happened next. The moment I heard the news, I could feel my body react. Fear moved through me so intensely that it felt as though I had jumped out of my own skin. I wasn't fully present anymore. Instead, I floated through my days with a vague sense of disorientation, almost like I was watching my life happen from a distance. I was there, but not really there. Looking back, I...]]></description><link>https://www.alanm.org/post/coming-back-into-my-body-what-fear-taught-me-about-safety</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a3c3804a6b1dcc288e374ab</guid><pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 20:03:20 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Amanda Hurford</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Cheese Principle: What Two Wild Dogs Taught Me About Human Behavior]]></title><description><![CDATA[Years ago, I inherited two wild dogs that had been poorly cared for and barely trained. At the time, I was convinced I knew exactly what they needed. I was going to be the alpha. I believed strict discipline, firm boundaries, and consistent correction would teach them how to behave. If they weren't listening, it must be because they were stubborn, defiant, or out of control. The reality was very different. What followed was a constant struggle between me and those dogs. Every interaction felt...]]></description><link>https://www.alanm.org/post/the-cheese-principle-what-two-wild-dogs-taught-me-about-human-behavior</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a3c37c786775c31f8be1567</guid><pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 20:02:20 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Amanda Hurford</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Let's Talk About Money]]></title><description><![CDATA[Money is one of the most emotionally charged topics we navigate as human beings. We're living in a time where financial pressure seems to be growing. The cost of living continues to rise, debt is increasingly common, and we are constantly exposed to marketing messages telling us what we need, what we're missing, and what we should buy next. It's no wonder that money can feel stressful. But beneath the stress, I've noticed something important: We always find ways to invest in what we truly...]]></description><link>https://www.alanm.org/post/let-s-talk-about-money</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a3c37484335688184464db1</guid><pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 20:00:16 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Amanda Hurford</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Decision Fatigue: When Too Many Choices Leave Us Stuck]]></title><description><![CDATA[Have you ever stood in front of the refrigerator and felt overwhelmed by the simple question, "What's for dinner?" Or found yourself endlessly researching a program, class, practitioner, or opportunity—only to close your computer without making a decision? If so, you're not alone. We live in a world where our brains are constantly processing information. Every day we are flooded with advertisements, notifications, opinions, recommendations, social media posts, emails, and endless choices. The...]]></description><link>https://www.alanm.org/post/decision-fatigue-when-too-many-choices-leave-us-stuck</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a3c372d86775c31f8be140f</guid><pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 19:59:43 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Amanda Hurford</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What Having a Baby Taught Me About Being Human]]></title><description><![CDATA[When I became a parent, I expected to learn about diapers, sleep schedules, feeding routines, and developmental milestones. What I didn't expect was how much having a child would teach me about human nature. The truth is, babies have a remarkable way of revealing what has always been true about all of us. They strip life down to its essentials. They remind us what matters. And they expose many of the lessons we spend our adult lives forgetting. Sleep Matters More Than We Think Perhaps the...]]></description><link>https://www.alanm.org/post/what-having-a-baby-taught-me-about-being-human</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a3c37034335688184464cf1</guid><pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 19:59:01 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Amanda Hurford</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Power of Curiosity: A Lesson I Learned From an Angry Client]]></title><description><![CDATA[One of the most valuable lessons I have learned as a practitioner is that curiosity is often more powerful than advice. Years ago, I had a client come into my office visibly frustrated. She was angry. She was disappointed. And I was fairly certain she was about to quit the program. I could feel the tension as she walked through the door. As practitioners, parents, partners, and leaders, these moments can feel uncomfortable. Our natural instinct is often to defend ourselves, explain our...]]></description><link>https://www.alanm.org/post/the-power-of-curiosity-a-lesson-i-learned-from-an-angry-client</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a3c36ca4335688184464c63</guid><pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 19:58:04 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Amanda Hurford</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Hidden Power of Words: How Thoughts and Language Shape Our Reality]]></title><description><![CDATA[Over the years, I have become increasingly convinced of one thing: Our thoughts and our words are far more powerful than we realize. In fact, they may be one of the greatest forms of power we possess. The stories we tell ourselves. The words we repeat. The way we interpret events. The messages we give to others. All of these influence how we feel, how we behave, and ultimately how we experience our lives. What fascinates me most is that much of this happens without us even realizing it. We...]]></description><link>https://www.alanm.org/post/the-hidden-power-of-words-how-thoughts-and-language-shape-our-reality</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a3c3685033a541103e8d964</guid><pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 19:57:08 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Amanda Hurford</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What We Criticize May Be Trying to Teach Us]]></title><description><![CDATA[Over the years, both personally and professionally, I have become fascinated by criticism. Not because criticism is inherently bad. But because it often reveals something important about ourselves. One observation I have made is that the qualities we criticize most intensely in other people are often connected to lessons we ourselves are being invited to learn. This isn't always true. Sometimes people genuinely behave in harmful or unhealthy ways. But often, the things that trigger us most...]]></description><link>https://www.alanm.org/post/what-we-criticize-may-be-trying-to-teach-us</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a3c365e86775c31f8be11fd</guid><pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 19:56:16 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Amanda Hurford</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Day I Realized the Emotional Body and Physical Body Are Not Separate]]></title><description><![CDATA[When I first started my holistic health practice, my partner would often say something that frustrated me. He would tell me that every physical symptom has an emotional component. At the time, I resisted that idea. Not because I didn't believe emotions mattered, but because I couldn't fully understand how our emotional lives could be influencing our physical bodies. As a practitioner, I was trained to look at nutrition, physiology, biochemistry, lifestyle habits, and physical symptoms. Those...]]></description><link>https://www.alanm.org/post/the-day-i-realized-the-emotional-body-and-physical-body-are-not-separate</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a3c361c4335688184464af6</guid><pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 19:55:20 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Amanda Hurford</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The First Step Toward Change: Choosing a Different Future]]></title><description><![CDATA[When people think about healing, they often focus on the tools. The breathing exercises. The nutrition plan. The communication skills. The therapy. The nervous system practices. While those tools are important, I have come to believe that healing begins with something much simpler. It begins with a choice. A choice to believe that another way of living might be possible. Even if you don't know exactly what that looks like. Even if you aren't entirely convinced you can get there. Even if part...]]></description><link>https://www.alanm.org/post/the-first-step-toward-change-choosing-a-different-future</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a3c35f6a6b1dcc288e36fbd</guid><pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 19:54:32 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Amanda Hurford</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why Communication and Nervous System Regulation Became the Foundation of My Health Practice]]></title><description><![CDATA[As a holistic health practitioner, I expected to spend most of my time talking about nutrition, supplements, sleep, exercise, and other health-related topics. What surprised me was that some of the most important conversations happening in my office had very little to do with food. Instead, they were about relationships. Clients would come seeking support for fatigue, digestive issues, weight concerns, stress, chronic symptoms, or burnout. Yet again and again, the conversation would circle...]]></description><link>https://www.alanm.org/post/why-communication-and-nervous-system-regulation-became-the-foundation-of-my-health-practice</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a3c350c033a541103e8d5b4</guid><pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 19:52:36 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Amanda Hurford</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Nervous System Regulation: Why Everyone Is Talking About It]]></title><description><![CDATA[Nervous system regulation has become a hot topic, and for good reason. More people are recognizing that health is not just about what we eat, how much we exercise, or which supplements we take. Our ability to think clearly, respond to stress, communicate effectively, and make healthy choices is deeply influenced by the state of our nervous system. But what exactly is nervous system regulation? At its core, nervous system regulation is the ability to consciously guide your nervous system into...]]></description><link>https://www.alanm.org/post/nervous-system-regulation-why-everyone-is-talking-about-it</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a3c343a86775c31f8be0cf9</guid><pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 19:47:52 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Amanda Hurford</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>