There’s a familiar moment that comes up often when people learn what I do for a living, especially those who aren’t steeped in the wellness world or who don’t know me well yet. They’ll pause mid sentence, usually holding a Diet Coke or admitting they skipped a workout, and say something like, “Don’t judge me,” or “I know this isn’t healthy.”

And every time, I want to gently rewind the conversation, because my personal philosophy has never been rooted in judgement. In fact, one of my most genuine, well-worn phrases is simple and sincere: you like it, I love it.

Not because I don’t care about health, alignment, or well being, but because I care deeply about sustainability, about what allows a human being to actually live their life without shame lingering around every decision.

My approach to wellness is deeply rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine, including my early studies and long practice of macrobiotic nutrition. That framework shaped how I understand health at its most foundational level, as something dynamic, contextual, and personal rather than something rigid or prescriptive.

One of the core concepts I learned through macrobiotics looks at life through the lens of Yin and Yang. In simple terms, Yin reflects qualities that are cooling, inward, grounding, and restorative, while Yang represents warmth, movement, stimulation, and outward expression. Neither is good or bad, and neither exists without the other.

The goal, then, becomes learning how to live closer to the middle.

That middle space, the place of balance, is where I learned we tend to function best. It reduces extremes, supports calm and regulation, and allows the body and mind to settle into rhythms that feel livable and resilient over time. Balance creates space for steadiness, clarity, and a sense of internal ease.

And still, life isn’t meant to be lived in perfect equilibrium every moment of every day. A little excitement, some imperfect habits, and choices that don’t need to be run through a wellness filter give life more texture, more interest, more color. Sometimes that looks like rest. Sometimes it looks like effort. Sometimes it looks like Diet Coke.

A flawlessly curated wellness lifestyle simply doesn’t exist, and chasing it often causes more harm than good. Especially now, in a time of AI, optimization, and constant self improvement, I find myself returning again and again to the foundational wisdom that’s endured for thousands of years, the basics that prioritize balance over perfection and humanity over performance.

If you’ve found yourself judging your own choices, or judging others, I hope this end of year moment offers an invitation to step back and take stock of where you are now. To notice the balance you’re already maintaining, the care you’re already embodying, and the ways you’re showing up for yourself that matter far more than any idealized version of wellness.

Give yourself credit for the real life you’re living.

And remember, if you like it, I love it.