Written by: Kelly Keefe, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
I’ll never forget the Tuesday morning that changed my life. I still don’t know how I ended up at this small hole in the wall in Brooklyn, New York on a Tuesday at eleven in the morning. But I did. And once I entered the cozy back room on that cool late Fall morning ‒ I experienced ceremonial cacao for the first time. The shifts I felt in my mind, body, and spirit were profound. I had just discovered a new tool upleveling me once again into my best self. This led me to studying deeper in Guatemala and learning alongside the founder of Cacao Lab, Florenica Friedman and Mayan elders Nana Marina and Tata Pedro.
Ever since I have been sharing the gift of ceremonial cacao and utilizing this magnesium dense superfood on a consistent basis. Through both experience and research ‒ it excites me to share what a magnificent gift cacao is for us to consume regularly. My journey as a high-performer who supports others in their journey to being happy, healthy, and wealthy was upleveled professionally and personally. Something I truly didn’t expect or see coming.
In order to be a high performer at your highest expression, there needs to be alignment in mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health. Cacao helps you do just that. After all, cacao was (and still is) known as the ‘Food of The Gods’ ‒ so you can begin to imagine what version of ourselves it helps provoke from within!
Here are five reason why incorporating ceremonial cacao into your day-to-day life will help you elevate to your next level as a high performer:
1. Cacao optimizes physical health with magnesium, vitamins, and minerals reasons
Magnesium is one of the hardest nutrients for us to consume naturally in society today. This super nutrient is a key component for optimal health and performance by supporting muscle and nerve function, as well as energy production. In addition to our daily dose of magnesium, cacao contains over 300 compounds that are important for high-performance including zinc, copper, calcium, magnesium, protein B-vitamins, iron, antioxidants and theobromine.
2. Cultivates a clear mind and sharp focus
Taking a daily dose of cacao aligns the body into a state of grounded relaxation with a heightened alertness due to the blood vessels being dialated allowing in more oxygen into the body. An increase of oxygen into the body and brain creates elevated thought, states of focus, and clarity. Typically, after drinking cacao, one is able to make better decisions faster, accomplish goals with more ease and enjoyment, and be able to dial into tasks at hand like the hawk animal spirit.
3. Enhances happiness, creativity, and intuition
Cacao produces tryptophan which is a precursor to serotonin. This supports in creating of small doses of dopamine (the feel good chemicals) into the brain. The physical and energetic effects of cacao heighten intuition and creativity. In order to thrive within our own unique journey that is life, being able to follow our inner guidance and get creative is a must. This doesn’t mean you are going to become a painter or a seer (but of course, permission granted to do so). The best high performers and executives are required to rely on their intuition and come up with creative solutions on a day-to-day basis. Cacao will support you in elevating into this space while also putting you in a better mood. An important note ‒ cacao does not contain caffeine so you will get many of the same effects as drinking coffee, however, you don’t have to worry about the caffeine crash on the other side.
4. Supports in being more present and speaking from your heart
In Mayan culture, cacao is a staple component of important aspects of day-to-day living. You will see participants of a wedding using it as a form of celebration. Also, community leaders are known to drink cacao together before having an important conversation. Cacao grounds and centers us into our bodies and into our hearts. When anchored into The Heartspace, we are able to relate to the others in front of us and speak authentically and from our hearts. From extensive studies and research on effective communication ‒ I can assure you, the more we are able to be present and centered in our hearts, the better a conversation can go. Cacao is an amazing addition to work team meetings, an important conversation with a partner, or when needing to reconnect with yourself.
(*side note: if you are interested in having ceremonial cacao brought it for you and your executive team, I do offer goal setting, envisioning sessions, and communication optimizing workshops for corporate teams )
5. Creates alignment in mind, body, and spirit
When we align all parts of ourselves, what is known as the ‘flow state’ activates and will allow you to move with more grace and optimization. Cacao effortlessly helps to shift us into our true state. What is our true state? Of course, is varies slightly from person to person. However, alignment is always the same. Alignment is when we feel our best and are able to show up as our best selves easier. This also tends to have the effect of things going in our favor, heightened synchronicities, and things coming together smoothly.
Cacao Curious?
People all around the world are coming together in gatherings or solo with their cups of cacao to connect deeper with themselves and show up in the world. From this high performer, to you… may you feel your highest alignment and embark on your own journey with cacao today.
To learn more & order cacao: click here.
Kelly Keefe, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Kelly Keefe is an innovative leader, empowerment mindset coach, speaker, best-selling author, and reiki teacher. She is the founder of The Heartspace established in 2016 helping individuals and groups find their inner peace and elevate into states of thriving. She has worked with thousands of people around the world, including C-suite executives and entrepreneurs helping them create fulfillment in their lives and exceed their goals while doing so. Kelly is a Frequency Therapist and multi-disciplinary artist. She uses her certified training and experience to bring a fresh approach to traditional therapy allowing for faster results and true resolution of problems and challenges.
