Chocolate Orange Walnut Bites & Change

Change is sometimes easy, but often it is really fucking hard. 

(I apologize for the foul language, as I generally don’t use it in my writing, but the f-bomb was the right word to express the concept.)

This recipe, that I make often, came to mind after a week where two separate experiences reminded me about the process of change.

The first was an investment summit I helped to facilitate with 12 other coaches. In one of the group discussions I was facilitating, an attendee shared with conviction that he doesn’t believe people can change—that they stay true to their core essence pretty much their whole lives. 

As a coach that is in the business of facilitating change, I both agree and disagree with this statement.

This brings me to the second experience of my week—a weekend away with my college friends. At one point I sat back in awe at the amazing people we have all become. Yes, our core essences are still true to who we were when we met 30+ years ago (can’t believe I just said that), which is where I agree with what the summit attendee said.

However, and this is a big caveat, we are all better and refined versions of ourselves. Some of that change came naturally as we experienced life, and some took months, years and perhaps even decades of conscientious effort.

So what does this have to do with Chocolate Orange Walnut Bites?  

For most of my life, I would have told you I don’t like mixing chocolate with fruit flavors. Where this notion started, I have no idea. I just know I wrote off enjoying chocolate and fruit together early on and never entertained the idea of testing it.

And then one day I was looking to make something that allowed me to indulge in chocolate healthfully. The original recipe didn’t have orange zest or ginger in it. While it was fine that way, the recipe needed something more to make it sing. And for the first time ever, I mixed in fruit with my chocolate.

I share this simple comparison, because somewhere along the line I decided I didn’t like fruit and chocolate together and that thinking closed me off to trying and enjoying new experiences. And while food may seem a trivial example, if you apply it to other realms of your life, you can start to see how not being open to change can limit your life.

Which brings me back to what the summit attendee said and how I’d like to respond to it. You can’t and won’t experience change if you don’t believe in it in the first place.

Here’s what I’ve learned is required for making change:

Self-Awareness.  We can’t change if we’re unaware of how our attitudes, actions and behaviors are affecting us and those around us.

Reflection and Feedback.  We can only become self-aware through introspection and asking for and being willing to receive honest feedback.

Practice.  In coaching, it’s what we call “doing the work.” Change doesn’t just happen because we want it to. We must diligently practice changing our habits and behaviors until we rewire our brains (neuroplasticity) and the change becomes our norm.

Accountability. We don’t always need it, but for change that doesn’t come easy, having someone to be accountable to can make all the difference in the world. And for many, people outside our inner circle make for better accountability partners.

Belief. When it comes to change, you can’t be it if you can’t see it. Visualization and surrounding yourself with people who can believe it and see it for you go a long way when the change doesn’t seem attainable.

So, if you like fruit and chocolate together, I think you’ll enjoy this healthy snack recipe. And if you don’t, I recommend giving it a go anyway.

Chocolate Orange Walnut Bites

(Gluten-free, Dairy-Free, No Added Sugar)

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups walnuts

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup pitted and chopped Medjool dates

1/3 cup cocoa powder (if you can find it, Black Onyx Cocoa Powder is a nice treat)

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 teaspoon grated orange zest

1/4 teaspoon grated ginger (or 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger)

Instructions:

Grind walnuts and salt in a food processor until finely ground with a bit of crumb. Add the dates, cocoa powder, vanilla, orange zest and ginger and grind until all ingredients are incorporated evenly. Using a spoon and your hands, form and roll into compact balls, about 2-3 bites each. Store in the refrigerator until right before eating as the bites may crumble when outside of the fridge for too long.  If traveling with them, wrap in aluminum foil to hold their shape.