I confess. I am hooked on Showtime’s TV series, “The Affair.”  If you aren’t already watching it, I won’t spoil anything for you, I promise. The story is great, full of sexy intrigue and mystery, but actually, that’s not what really has me obsessed. For me, it’s all about how the writers are approaching the story.

The draw of “The Affair” is the power of perspective.  Each episode tells the story of the protagonists from two different vantage points. It’s fascinating, really, to see the same facts, characters, words and symbols all appear so radically different when approached from two divergent points of view. It’s not that different when considering how a particular individual’s food and life choices affect that individual’s body and lifestyle.

In my coaching experience, I am acutely aware that even as we share similarities as human beings, we are all very much individuals. Our life experience, biology and personalities allow us to see and feel things differently. And it is that individuality, that uniqueness, that I find so fascinating. It is the reason why one person’s go-to healthy and delicious meal can make another sick.

About 5 years ago I decided to try an elimination diet of my favorite of all foods: cheese. After reading about the possible negative effects cheese might have on some folks, I thought it might be worth testing in myself. The removal of cheese from my diet yielded tremendous personal physical benefits that made it clear that for me, cheese is not a preferred food. However, I don’t think that all people should give up cheese. That’s exactly the point. I believe that we need to tap into our own uniqueness and that doing so with an open mind might just offer solutions to problems we have. What could be standing in your way or making you feel unwell might just be something that you believe is good for you.

A recent study compiled by the Weitzman Institute in Israel concludes that healthy foods differ by individuals and recommends that as a culture, we move toward personalized nutrition to offer the best solutions. I found this study to be particularly compelling for me, because for years, I have premised my own food choices and coaching practice on these very same tenets. It is validating to know that my instincts are well-grounded in solid and independent proof.

As we approach the end of 2015, I am asking you to think about the possibility of a new perspective for 2016.  Is there something that you want to change or something that has been bothering you that you want to address? Maybe looking at something you eat or something you do from a different vantage point can yield that transformative “aha” moment that sets you up for a very different upcoming year. What if there is a change that you can make, a shift that you can create, that can help you achieve exactly what you want?

I hope you give yourself the gift of thinking about these ideas as we bid adieu to 2015. I would love to help you find the pathway to your 2016 goals! If you’d like to chat about how we can work together, you can let me know here.  I’ve got a few openings coming up and would be happy to talk to you (no charge, of course) and see if we are a good fit for each other. And in the meantime, check out “The Affair” and let me know what you think.

Looking at things from all sides,

P.S.….oh…. and if this concept resonates with you, I have some new things to share with you …. Stay tuned for January 2016!!!