Welcome! I’m Candace, owner of Body Mind Soul Essentials. I would love for you to join me on a health journey. Let’s start with a few questions.
Do you tell yourself every night tomorrow will be the day you jump out of bed to workout? Is your life too often filled with overwhelm, anxiety, depression…? Has your faith ever completely disappeared?
I’ve struggled with each of these. God graciously brought me through crippling anxiety and depression. I’m almost 20 years sober from a drug and alcohol addiction that lasted 17 long years. My faith is stronger than ever today after spending most of my life not believing I had a Savior.
These are not areas I’ve perfected by any means. The whole jumping out of bed to workout dream still hasn’t come to life. There are certainly days anxiety and depression sneak in and take over. And kicking those addictions all those years ago left me with a rather annoying new drug of choice—food.
But this is what I know: we are stronger together. So I share my life in this online space to show you not only what works but pitfalls to avoid as well. Together we can find freedom through Christ, sisterhood, and the occasional healthy recipe.
A little about me…
I’m a wife, mom of two, certified Health Coach, and certified Essential Oil Coach. It probably seems odd a health coach would not be skinny and fit. Here’s the greatest thing I’ve learned in my education and the first thing I want to teach you: Health is so much more than the size of your body.
Love yourself today exactly where you are in this journey. You are worthy regardless of what the scale tells you or how many mental health days you spent in bed last week…
Speaking of love, these are my people:
My husband’s tattoos represent hope and awareness for our kids’ chronic health issues. My son had epilepsy in his younger years and my daughter suffers from Type 1 diabetes. These difficult struggles and my own continued recovery from food addiction led me to focus on health in this online space.
Long ago, when I first started this blog, I shared creative projects. (Those can still be found here.) But as my family continued to deal with our health struggles, I realized we weren’t the only ones in need of help. So a few years ago, I enrolled in a nutrition school that focused on body, mind, and soul, became obsessed with essential oils, and completely restructured this site to better serve you and your family.
Here are some reader favorites to get you started:
We can create abundant health in body, mind, and soul! Please take a moment to join this growing community by signing up for the free newsletter. Let’s do life together.
I would love to connect with you on social media as well. You can find me in these online spaces:
Thank you so much for visiting and I hope you will be back often…
I love your new Cartoon Candace, the pics, and your calling to help others “find hope and healing in your daily emotional, spiritual, and physical health struggles.” It’s amazing how God works, isn’t it? I know you will continue to be a blessing to many, Candace. You have gone through many deep, dark valleys, and you have so much to offer to others. I’m so sorry both your children have health challenges. God be with you and your family!
Thanks so much for your sweet encouragement, Trudy! I’m excited to see where this new direction will lead. My family certainly has a lot of struggles in the health arena. Thankfully, our blessings far outweigh the difficulties :). Blessings to you and yours as well, my friend.
Candace, thanks so much for your openness and vulnerability. Thought you might enjoy Diannecraft.org She has a whole holistic approach to learning disabilities and diet. Mostly, though, thought the grapefruit seed extract and probiotics that she talks about would really help with getting rid of the sugar cravings. When there is an overgrowth of bad bacteria and yeast, our bodies crave sugar. Those two products take away the cravings (I know from my own experience with myself and my kids), and then our leaky gut is able to heal. Dianne talks about it at her website. I hope this helps. Way to go on being healthy physically, spiritually and emotionally!
Thank you for this resource, Roberta! I’ll definitely check out her site. I’m a big believer in gut issues causing so many other struggles, including anxiety and depression. I love probiotics, but have never tried grapefruit seed extract. I’m looking forward to learning more about that one. I’m so glad to hear these have brought you and your kids such relief!
i found you on pintrest and i really appreciate your blog. Do you do any life coaching? whether it’s food or spirituality or both?
thank you
I’m so glad to have you here, Ingrid! I just finished my certification for health coaching and am working to put together a program. It will definitely encompass spirituality and general life coaching as well. I’ll get in touch with you to share details as soon as it’s fully organized if you would like :).
Please do! thank you so much for responding. I feel like God pointed me in this direction for a reason. I need this so badly. I need really need help loosing weight and have just started my spiritual journey. I really believe the 2 are related in some ways. I look forward to hearing from you when you are ready.
Thanks again.
Ingrid
I completely agree that the 2 are very related, Ingrid! I’m looking forward to getting to know you better :).
I just found your daughters story about her struggle with her faith and felt the urge to contact you. My son declared to be agnostic last week. our stories are almost exactly the same. Please pray for him. He is 19 1/2 and I know he is at a crucial point in his life where he is trying to find himself. I pray that he find himself in the arms of the Lord!
That is such a tough age, Paula. That’s exactly when my daughter was in her greatest faith struggles. I’m praying for you and your son. I can so relate to your pain. Much love to you both.
Hi Candace,
I’m a wife/mom/Christian/writer, as well! So nice to meet you!
I live in north Alabama and write at Sweet Gum Life about “Life with an Alabama Twist.” Which is a little bit about everything since I find it impossible to nail down just one thing to write about.
Today’s effort to get moving to stay healthy involved Thai Chi. I find it amazing that it’s a lot harder than it looks. Yesterday, I rode my bicycle. Some days, I just do housework and gardening.
Would love to hear from you!
Blessings,
Stephanie
It’s so nice to meet you, Stephanie! It sounds like we have a lot in common :). I definitely need some work in moving more. How fun that you rode your bike yesterday. I haven’t been on one in years! I’m looking forward to connecting more with you.
Totally just fell across you!!!! Definitely know it is not by accident!!! I’m ready! And need help!!!! Do not know where to start……except with food! I LOVE IT. To touch it, smell it, taste it, all of it! I would love to talk with you, HELP!!! :O)
Hi Holly! I apologize for the delayed response. I’m so with you on the food struggles. This addiction is like no other. A good start may be to check out Food Addicts Anonymous. I talk about that organization in my 31 days to Food Addiction Recovery series. The food program is restrictive, but they have a lot of great reasons behind it.
I’m a big believer in cutting out things like sugar, etc. to help curb binging issues. I discuss this more in my monthly Turning to Food series. Both series I’ve mentioned here can be found at the top of this page under the food addiction tab. Unfortunately, I’m still fighting this as well. We can do this together!
Hi Candace! I just found you on Pinterest. Seems we share a similar chemical make up! I am 31 years clean and sober by the grace of God and the fellowship of AA and the 12 steps. I was in RFA in Houston, moved 10 years ago and my uh…program gradually dissipated from not working the steps, etc. and I was really lost in an abyss of cupcakes, cakes, ice cream, malts, nacho’s, pizza, and yes, a trip around the Sonic drive thru, many times! I was miserable… so Through much prayer and struggle, I have managed to get 4 days clean of sugar, flour, wheat, and caffeine. Today is the first day I haven’t been a total zombie. I’m glad I did this while I was off for the summer, I’m a teacher. Anyway, I too suffer from anxiety and depression. But medication helps there. I am so glad I found your blog and look forward to your newsletter. Take care and God Bless! Patti D.
It’s so nice to meet you, Patti. We really do have SO much in common. 31 years of sobriety is amazing! I will be at 18 this October. Food is the addiction that lingers with me as well. I know that junk food abyss all too well. I’m looking forward to getting to know you. I hope you’re feeling better. Those first days of clean eating can be so difficult. Blessings to you!
Hey Candace!! I’m loving your blog. I came across it when looking for tips on how to share my testimony via blogging. I’m 24 and have experienced a lot of tragedies (mostly due to my own dumb choices). Following a debate with an agnostic friend, I completely lost my Christian faith. After a lot of soul searching, meditation, and transformational coaching, I’ve developed a relationship with God like I’ve never had before… And I hear him telling me to share my testimony. But like you said “not yet”, I find myself making excuses as to why I’m not ready to start my first post yet. Everything has to be perfect first. My website. My life. My faith.
It’s so encouraging to hear someone else has overcome the same road block.
Look forward to reading more of your posts!
Hi Kelsey! It will never be perfect, my new friend. Just jump in! It sounds like you have an incredibly important story to share. Your blog looks like it has a beautiful start. It’s time to add your words :). You can do this! I’m looking forward to following your journey.
Hi Candace,
I found you through Pinterest looking at bible journaling. I love your page. I too am a T1D mom. Thank you for all your words of wisdom. I signed up for your newsletter and looking forward to receiving it.
It’s so nice to meet you, Teresa! I’m looking forward to getting to know you better. Being a fellow T1D mom is a true bond. Thanks for your sweet words and for signing up for my newsletter. I’m hoping to get one out soon. I’ve been a little slow lately ;).
I am in desperate need of prayer and encouragement with my addiction to food. I have allowed my life to be consumed with this struggle. I’m ready to make a change but not strong enough to take that first step.
I’m so sorry for the delayed response, Jamie. I’m in and out of this space right now due to the holiday season. I completely understand where you are at! I’ve been there many times. I’m praying for you now. It’s hard to say what the first step for you would be. I know what always works best for me is to cut out sugar, flour, and wheat. This is not an easy feat but it really does help on so many levels. I’m hoping to eventually get back to that plan myself. I’m struggling these days as well and truly understand your pain. There’s a great online group called Food Addicts Anonymous that offers a food plan and support calls. I’m planning to start back with the phone meetings very soon. Much love to you! We can do this.
Hi Candace!
I have recently stumbled upon your blog and have really enjoyed reading it! I struggle with anxiety myself and it is so inspiring to see someone with the same issue push through and succeed. I am also very new to faith as I didn’t grow up knowing God. How did you come to find God and what words of advice do you have for other women looking to turn their lives in a direction of faith?
Sincerely, Chloe
Hi Chloe! It’s so nice to meet you. I apologize for the delayed response. I’ve spent the holidays mostly offline.
It was honestly a very long road for me to find God. He fought for me for years before I finally accepted Him ;). A dear Christian friend of mine was really the catalyst. She met with me privately for months teaching me the basics of the Bible. I have tremendous respect for her and the incredible faith she showed through not only teaching me but also the way she lived her life. That was a huge turning point for me. I wanted the peace and freedom I saw in her. I truly believe He sent her to me.
So in response to your question of my advice to women looking for a faith-filled life, my first tip would be to find a mentor who is ahead of you in her faith journey. Pray for this person to come into your life! Also, for those of us who were not raised in church, it’s imperative to spend time in scripture as often as possible (I’m a work in progress with this, honestly!). I think it’s so much easier to memorize scriptures when you’re younger to have at the ready when needed. I have to work hard at my age to shift my mindset to the Word instead of my old negative programming.
I hope this helps, my new friend. Please come back and visit often! I’m looking forward to getting to know you better. Much love to you.