In 1982, a wonderful woman named Anne Herbert incited others to be kind with her words: “practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty”. She must have known that random acts of kindness boost well-being. Now there are placemats, web sites, foundations and videos about random acts of kindness. But what is a “random act of kindness”? These senseless acts are inconsistent, spontaneous actions designed to offer kindness towards the outside world. The outside world includes friends, family, groups, total strangers, and animals alike. https://www.rd.com/article/free-random-acts-of-kindness/

Examples of Kind Acts

• Hold a door open for the person behind you
• Pay for the car behind you in the drive-through
• Offer to let someone go in front of you at the grocery store
• Offer a neck massage to a stressed friend
• Bake cookies for the entire office
• Help a person in need pay a bill
• Offer to cook or clean for a sick neighbor
• Randomly clean the trash out of your neighbor’s yard, or anywhere you see it rolling around
• Suprise your friends with a yard sign
• Leave an exceptionally big tip for your favorite server, or any server
• Write an excellent review
• Play games with the neighbor kids so their mom can have some quiet time
• Sit and talk with an elder-you may receive more than you give
• Give an essential oil massage (aroma touch) http://www.mydoterra.com/denisekuhn

Kindness and Well-Being

Well-being has no singular definition. However, it is generally considered a state of satisfaction. One that includes the presence of positive emotions, positive feelings, and fulfillment.

Random acts of kindness improve physiological well-being by causing the brain to release “happy hormones”. A few of these hormones include:

• Oxytocin
• Serotonin
• Endorphins
• Nitric Oxide Mask with the Molecule of the Year (1992)

In a nutshell, the release of these hormones improves health for the recipient and the philanthropist, alike. These effects include feelings of greater:

• love
• awe
• self-esteem
• energy
• calm
• happiness
• self-worth
• security
• relationship satisfaction
• overall health

My Experience with Random Acts of Kindness

A few days ago, I offered the person behind me to go before me at the checkout stand. My random act of kindness was immediately and unexpectedly topped by his gift of a fresh, crisp $100 dollar bill to cover the cost of my groceries. After bagging and loading my groceries, and then processing my thoughts, I realized the checker needed recognition for her crucial participation in this “random act of kindness collaboration”. She could have easily pocketed the money, but she did not. She allowed the ripple of kindness to resonate.

In light of the checkers honesty and honor, I returned the cart appropriately and went back into the store. Her actions inspired me to appreciate her with some true, but kind words and a little monetary gift. I am hoping that the ripple of kindness continues to exponentiate to a multitude of other people in need for a boost of Oxytocin.

Practicing Random Acts of Kindness

As an author, a health coach, and a lover of kindness, I challenge you to indulge yourself with one random act of kindness this week. Please return to this post and share your experience! I cannot wait to see your ideas and hear your results! Until then-I hope you continue the journey to finding your fantastic!

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Last week, I created two posts regarding shame. One included a picture of a thorny cactus with beautiful purple flowers. The thorns represent shame. The purple adornments are “The Flowers of Change”. I had no idea how many people would resonate with this symbolism. One post boasted 948 likes and the other accrued 608 connections. It looks like I’m not alone when it comes to the shame-game!

A Valuable Lesson

Although I have studied the work of Berne’ Brown for quite some time, I failed to realize how wide-spread the ravaging effects of shame truly are. To learn more about Berne’ Brown and her shame research, go to https://brenebrown.com/podcast/brene-on-shame-and-accountability/ . People living with shame are definitely not alone. Shame is not limited to one demographic. It affects mothers, fathers, children, high achievers, social butter-flies, recovering drug addicts, and so many more! However, solutions are hard to find. Medicinal band-aids are often the go-to with allopathic interventions. Fortunately, as the artist formerly known as Prince would say…. “But wait, there’s something else…”

High Vibrational Frequencies and the Flowers of Change

When a person is experiencing low vibrational frequencies, as when feeling shame which is actually a near death experience, medicine won’t work as quickly as an essential oil will. The simple act of inhaling the sweet, calming aroma of rose essential oil immediately affects the brain. Nothing has to be digested or absorbed. The molecules instantaneously move from the cribriform plate in our nose to the limbic system and amygdala in our brain. Within 3-30 seconds we can experience an emotional reset. Furthermore, we can continue to inhale the aroma time-and-time again without toxins or negative side effects. The 20 MHZ vibration of shame is no match for the continued assault of the 320 MHZ rose essential oil. http://www.mydoterra.com/denisekuhn

Focused Breath and Deep Reflection

Obviously, essential oils are carried into the brain via the breath. However, the breath offers a host of other beneficial attributes-if done properly. Keeping the mouth closed and using the nose is key. This style of breath activates the diaphragm and inhibits the “stress hormones” that make us feel as though we are running from a tiger. The direct connection of the diaphragm to the brain via the Vagus nerve allows us to consciously change our thoughts. We can dampen racing, out of control ideas and reactions by inhaling and exhaling through the nose. By Slowing the breathing pattern, one can enter into deep reflection and healing on the physical, emotional and spiritual levels. Mask with the Molecule of the Year (1992) Five Simple Stress Squelching Strategies

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If you haven’t noticed, stress is everywhere. It affects everyone. However, there are some who seem to
take stressful situations in stride. These people handle all situations with tranquility.
Most of us know at least one person like that. Many of us would like to become one of
those people. The only way to evolve into that person is to practice feeling relaxed in stressful situations.

While everyone has a different threshold for dealing with stress, it is possible to
improve your personal ability to stay relaxed in stressful situations.

Practice Controlling your reactions to stress with these strategies:

Maintain a positive perspective

In most cases, you are equipped to handle any adversity that comes your way.
There’s always another job interview, another person to date, and another opportunity to take.

Create an alter ego

Imagine the ideal version of yourself. In your mind’s eye, see this person being
being brave, tough, unflappable, or possessing any other quality that increases your ability to stay strong and confident.

When faced with a stressful situation or confrontation, imagine how your ideal self would
behave in that situation and just do it! Fake it until you make it!

With practice and repetition, you will become more and more like the ideal version of yourself that you imagine and admire.

Respond slowly

Cool and collected people respond slowly. They move slowly. They think before speaking.
Before getting worked up, take a couple of breaths to collect your thoughts. Then you will be able to respond to the person or situation calmly and confidently. Taking time to breathe, think, and then respond often prevents creating additional stress to manage.

You’ll feel more confident and experience less stress when you behave in the way a calm, confident person behaves.

Self-confidence

This is a difficult one. Or, should I say, this is a difficult one for me? In any case, the more confidence you have in yourself, the less stress you will feel in critical and stressful situations.

Self-confidence is very situational. You might be highly self-confident
while hitting a golf ball, but much less confident while giving a speech.

When working on building your self-confidence, visualize yourself in situations
that you feel most comfortable in. Seeing yourself in these ideal situations will provide the most benefit for improving your areas of difficulty.

Smile

Smiling releases happy hormones, making you feel better and more confident. It actually takes fewer facial muscles to smile than it does to frown, or scowl. Additionally, a sincere smile can put others
at ease. If you can smile genuinely in the face of a challenging situation, you can
do just about anything.

Visualize

One of the easiest and most effective ways to enhance your ability
to stay calm in stressful situations is to visualize yourself being calm. Picture your alter-ego in a stressful situation and practice the techniques and qualities you want to display.

Visualization techniques work better if you practice regularly. Practicing at least once a day is preferable.

Practice having a present-moment mindset

Having a present-moment mind set helps to keep your mind from imagining negative potential outcomes. All it takes is to keep your attention on your environment. Being present in the moment is critical for decreasing the stress of “what-if”.

This is harder than it sounds. Imagine trying to put your house key into
your front door while a giant rottweiler barrels toward you. It’s not easy
to keep your eyes on the keyhole. Your mind and attention like to wander.

Relax your body and breathe deeply

Closing your mouth, relaxing your muscles, and breathing deeply through your nose helps diminish the stress response in your body. Focus on breathing into your diaphragm muscle. Using the proper respiratory muscles to breathe is calming. However, breathing with your chest and an open mouth tells your brain that you are in distress, as if running from something that wants to eat you for dinner. Mask with the Molecule of the Year (1992)

Breathing properly is a skill that requires practice. First, you have to remember to do it.
Second, it takes a moment to find your focus. Finally, you must get mind on your breathing
muscles and away from the source of dismay. So, you’ll need to leave the current situation behind for a
moment while you implement effective breathing techniques.

Use essential oils to support your emotions

When entering difficult or stressful situations, the use of essential oils can assist with communication or maintaining composure. Essential oils not only support physical health they also support emotional health. For example, Lavendar supports the body’s physical reaction to cuts, scrapes, bee stings, and sleeplessness. It also assists an emotional level, supporting one’s ability to use their voice more freely, efficiently, and effectively. www.mydoterra.com/denisekuhn

Conclusion

Many of the techniques one should practice to enable feeling relaxed in stressful situations seem simple. Now, you are aware of a few that you may not have used before. However, knowing something is very different from doing it, and doing it well. For example, you know how to swim, but that’s not the same as swimming laps every day. Knowing how to visualize isn’t the same as visualizing every single day.

The real power comes from using helpful techniques regularly and becoming an expert in their application.

Apply these practices to your life and you’ll see steady progress in your ability to handle
stress. Before you know it, you’ll be the calm person you’ve always dreamed of being.

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Self-care isn’t just about the little daily activities like brushing your teeth or combing your hair. True self-care is for the deeper needs within you. Bio-individual self-care is caring for your soul, your deepest self, and your very being.

Building a Solid Self-Care Plan

Defining self-care and its importance reminds you of what you want to accomplish. After all, you have personal goals, core values, and a deep purpose in your life. This plan reminds you about what you need to do and focus on to take care of you. Using a day planner or making notes to yourself can remind you of your goals and the things you need to do to take care of your body, mind, and soul. One is not more important than the other!

• Your self-care plan gives you a solid foundation for what you want to do and how you can accomplish it.

Inspirational Quotes for Creating Self-Care Success

You should also provide yourself with inspirational quotes and affirmations. Surrounding yourself with these reminders is the spiritual food that keeps you focused on your own personal well-being. Not only do you have the reminders of what to do, but you also have little pieces of inspiration around you to remind you of why you are trying so hard.

Motivational Pictures to Improve Self-Care Outcomes

In addition to inspirational quotes, you can hang motivating pictures throughout your home and office. These pictures may be of exotic places you’d like to visit someday, or tranquil images of nature.

Your pictures may be something that you want to attract into your life or may remind you of a positive memory from your past. You can also have a photo of your family to remind you of what’s important to you.

• Your self-care plan should inspire you and remind you of why you want to take care of your body, mind, and spirit.

Tracking Your Progress Provides Evidence of Self-Care Success

Another aspect of your self-care plan is tracking your progress. Let’s say you have a hard time getting motivated to exercise. By keeping a log of your exercise time, you can keep yourself focused on achieving a healthier you.

A food journal is also a good way to track your food choices so you can remind yourself that you need to eat nutritious foods. In addition, you can use a journal to record your mental and emotional health. Write down what’s going on inside of you so you can evaluate your feelings and proactively take care of your mental health.

• Your self-care plan tracks your progress to help you stay on track toward your goals.

Creating a Personalized Self-Care Plan

You may need to find a source of motivation to help you initiate your self-care plan. For some, beginning any new task may be overwhelming. In addition, you’ll want to have multiple types of motivation along the way to help keep you on track.

First, reflect on what has successfully motivated you in the past. Use this success as your motivation toward the things you need to do to take care of yourself now.

A good way to help you stay on track is to have a family member, friend, spouse, or health coach hold you accountable. If you back-slide in your efforts to proactively take care of yourself, they will remind you of your goals so you can renew your focus and get back on course.

It’s important to have some basic structure in place for successful self-care. If you cannot take care of yourself, you will not be able to take care of anyone else! A good self-care plan will provide you with the endurance, attitude, and energy to enjoy life and reaching your loftiest goals!

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Our Beloved Pet

On my 40th birthday, a neighbor’s neglected dog entered our home. After a day of explosive diarrhea and a hemorrhagic heat resulting in a life-saving hysterectomy, she ended up being the best pet I have ever cared for. She put herself in harm’s way to protect us. She cuddled us when we were feeling down. She nurtured all other creatures that entered our home. She would listen to all requests and commands with rare failure to comply. I think she understood English (and some Spanish).

Crossing the Bridge

Fourteen-and-a-half years later, Shala’s seventeen years of life were rapidly winding down. My son and I had to make the decision to euthanize. Unfortunately, the drive to the vet was long and the dog was restless. As a result, I asked my son to join me. Being a novice in this type of situation, he felt hesitant to participate. Never-the-less, he helped me transport and comfort our beloved pet.

Closure

After the visit to the vet, we buried our pet. With strength and love, Jess shoveled dirt and marked the grave with a beautiful cross. His fear had turned to caring, love, and appreciation of closure.

Live, love, and lead by example

Once home, my boy thanked me for making him go. I then informed him that he made the choice to go. I also remined him of an interaction that took place between his grandfather and I many years earlier. Once, as my father sat watching my son play, he turned to me and said: “You are raising a good person. Now, I know I did not need to be so hard on you”. Which is a story in itself. But before I digress any further, I told my son that his behavior in this situation proved my father right.

The Punch Line

Without missing a beat, my son kindly replied: “Mom, I think I’m a good person because you are a good person. You have always led by example.” Despite the sad situation requiring lots of tissues and emotionally supportive essential oils (http://www.mydoterra.com/denisekuhn), his comment made my heart soar.

I’ve always held the belief that is is not what we say to our children that impresses them, it is what we show our children that impresses them. Now, I know it’s true.

To go a step further, I also believe that this philosophy extends beyond our personal life. It is also true for business and everything else we do. If we want people to treat us kindly, be kind. If we want people to work hard for us, work hard. If we want people around us to be healthy, practice good health. Just remember, Mark Twain was right: “Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.”

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What is a well-balanced life?

It’s a life that has all the resources and activities that you most desire. It largely avoids feelings of sacrifice. A balanced life isn’t for those that want to be the best in the world at something. It’s not for the people that live on the edge or the fringe. Contrarily, It’s for regular people that want to enjoy all aspects of life, rather than focus on one thing.

In short, a balanced life contains everything you want it to contain.

All balanced lives have several things in common:

1. Finances. When you’re struggling to pay your bills, your life feels unbalanced. If you can’t do the things you most want to do for financial reasons, your life feels unbalanced. If you are spending all of your waking hours trying to make enough money, your life feels miserable.
   
   1. You don’t need to be wealthy to have a balanced life, but you should decide how much money you need to feel secure. To gain financial balance, set a savings goal and put money toward it each pay period. Remember, you should pay yourself first!
      
2. Transportation. Feeling balanced and in control means you can you get where you need to be, when you need to be there. Remember, transportation can take the form of walking, public transportation, ride services, friends, or your own vehicle.
   
   1. Reliable transportation is an important part of feeling balanced and in control of your life. Remember, sometimes having a car is just a liability. It may be better not to own one in some situations. If not, remember to plan ahead for transportation if you do not have your own.
      

3. Friends. Some people might need ten friends; for others, one might be plenty. However, we all need at least one friend. Humans are not meant to do everything alone.
   
4. Intimate relationship. Intimacy is optional for many people, but entirely necessary for others. Remember, Intimacy comes in many forms. Weather you are looking for physical, spiritual, or emotional intimacy, most of us do better if we have an intimate relationship, or a relationship with the potential to become intimate. Busy people often mistakenly neglect this area of their life.
   
5. Health. Poor health can quickly change the direction of your life. Prevention is the best way to a well-balanced life that includes a healthy mind, spirit, body, and soul. With this awareness, it’s important to know that over 70% of chronic illness can be prevented with healthy life style choices! That leaves only 30% of your health that isn’t 100% under your control! So, remember, you actually have more control over your health outcomes than you’ve probably been exercising.
   
6. Time. When you don’t have enough free time, your life feels unbalanced. Since time is one of the only non-renewable resources we possess, it’s important to decide how much free time you need to feel good about yourself and your life. That amount is different for everyone. However, if you don’t have time to do the things you really want to do, you should consider reorganizing your schedule so you get the most out of your precious journey.
   
7. Fun. Everyone needs to have some fun-more than just once in a while. Without thinking too hard, make a list of five things you like to do for fun. Make it a point to do at least one of the fun things from your list weekly-if not daily!
   
8. Personal growth. Progress is part of feeling whole. We feel great when we’re making, growing, learning, and expanding our view of the world. Again, write a list of three ways you have grown and changed in the last six months. For example, I have been watching Brendon Burchard’s Growth Day Videos to develop High Performance Habits with my son. If you cannot think of any, write down three ways you want to change in the next six months.
   
9. Career. Making money is one thing. Choosing your career path is another. Although, they can be closely related, choosing haphazardly can create an unhappy and unbalanced life. If you make plenty of money, but hate how you make it, your life is not as pleasant as you deserve it to be. Choose wisely- be sure you pick a path you enjoy with people you will enjoy associating with!
   

Do you have a balanced life? It’s not always easy to know, but if your strive for these things, balance will be much closer than you think:

1.Do you have the money and time to take care of yourself, your family, and to do the things you most want to do?

2.Do you have the social life you desire?

3.Do you have enough time in your week to have fun and grow personally?

4.Do you enjoy your career?

Now, you have a checklist to assess if your life is balanced or not. If it’s not, decide what are you going to do to re-balance it! Remember, persistence beats resistance, every time!

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Why more?  

Wellness wisdom is “more” because, as humans, we are not perfect. On some days we soar past our goals, while on others, we struggle to avoid pitfalls every time we turn around.

Some weeks we hit every benchmark we set for ourselves. But the next, for whatever unknown reason, we take ten steps back. I add the more as a reminder that if we try just a little more than we did the day before, we will continually move forward toward any goal we set for ourselves. The great thing is that this philosophy applies to everyone!

MORE, even a little more, than an hour ago, than yesterday, than last week, can apply to the novice or to the expert. No matter your level or goal, if you try a little more, you can continually take it up a notch.  Additionally, neither success nor failure can define the outcome of “More”.  

More is, quite simply, trying, expanding, forgiving, and smiling more, or just being more than you were the moment before.  As these moments link together, happiness and success are inevitable.

To Inspire You

Wellness Wisdom More is focused on words, phrases, or stories that provide inspiration for others to be more. I find it is in these shared ideas and experiences that people find a common thread of solace, humanity, and forgiveness. They can explore a place of comfort and love that can heal even the deepest wounds.

To Help You Find Inner and Outer Strength

You can find your inner and outer strength by following the right wellness plan for you. Using my knowledge, education, and a lifetime of fitness experience, Wellness Wisdom More is purposed to inspire and help you to find that inner and outer strength. My experiences range from being a scholarship collegiate athlete to rehabilitating from a surgery that left me supine for the greater part of six months.

I can relate to the height of success and to the fall that often leaves one dark, and lonely. It is in this experience that evolution happens.  Fortunately, this evolution has taught me to be open to new techniques and experiences that introduced me to Foundation Training. This type of training can transform the body from pain to performance. I’m so excited to be sharing this fantastic tool.

Benefits of Nutrition

If I can share my new found love and respect for the benefits of nutrition, I will be the happiest person on the earth! For so many years, I missed this piece of the equation. Don’t get me wrong, I knew vegetables were good for you and that sugar was not so good for you. I did not get the idea, however, that each person responds differently to food.  

As my mentor, Joshua Rosenthal, founder of The Institute for Integrative Nutrition says: “One man’s food is another man’s poison”.  There is no “one size fits all” diet. It is my goal to assist people in finding the path that works best for them.

Natural Health

How do you begin a proactive health care plan? Learn about natural health. A growing respect for natural health, especially in the form of essential oils, has shown me the need people have for guidance from reactive health care to proactive health care. Being in the medical field for over 25 years, I have witnessed:

• “dis-ease” that stems from a lack of awareness
• a lack of self-reliance
• a lack of respect for what the earth has to offer
• a lack of listening to what is happening within the boundaries of self

Again, do not get me wrong, I love our doctors; they are brilliant and save lives every day. However, we cannot continue burdening our medical system with illnesses that can be totally prevented through the use of healthy foods, exercise,  and natural medicine.  As Hippocrates said: “Let food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food”!

Self-care

Finally (I must say, this is my personal weakness), if I can share benefits of “self-care”, I would be ecstatic. In our hectic world, with time being so short and the list of demands being so long, we often neglect ourselves. But, without a healthy self, how can we continue to give to those who depend on us? How can we continue making withdrawals from an account that has long been bankrupt? It is often easy to find a salad, to find a way to walk a few extra steps (Poke-mon GO)…

or to throw oil on a rash, but it is often seemingly impossible to find a way to nurture one’s inner and outer self. Nurturing self is lost in our hustle and bustle society. We no longer have time to meditate, breathe, massage, or just lounge in an effort to rejuvenate all that makes us who we are. Hopefully, in sharing the art of self-care, I can find a place where I, myself, am taking care of me as well as I take care of all those around me.

In conclusion, Wellness Wisdom More is a place where I want to share my life experiences and three things they have taught me:

1. my education as a health coach
2. my education as a therapist and Foundations training instructor
3. my love for proactive health care and self-care

I hope you enjoy my thoughts, ideas, and insights as we grow together on this wellness journey.

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Daily brain breaks are key for mental and emotional health. It’s not as though they’re a requirement, but for many people, they’re a necessity. This is because giving your mind a rest throughout the day allows it to recharge and stay focused.

Mental brain breaks are key to keeping a positive attitude and a positive mind.

When there are days that you wake up feeling sluggish, it might be because your brain is overloaded by thoughts and emotions. 

So many people tend to push through the day and just “get through,” but all they’re really doing is causing themselves to get even more tired and stressed. Taking a few moments each day to yourself is perfectly fine. 

Believe it or not, your brain welcomes a daily break to reboot and recharge!

Consider these ideas: 1. Your brain can only handle so much. Have you ever been so stressed out that suddenly you had a headache? This is your brain telling you that it’s overloaded and needs you to stop.
● Take this as a serious cue to slow down and rest.Take a walk, take a nap, or just remove yourself from the stressful conversation or thought.
2. You can program your brain. If you’re giving in daily to the constant gossip and chatter, your brain is going to be programmed to crave that kind of stimulation.
● Instead of filling it full of those kinds of ideas, try to put some good stuff into your brain as well. Read positive articles, have meaningful conversations, and put a good book in your bag to read and learn from.
3. When your brain is tired, so are you. If you allow your brain to get weighed down, it’s going to trickle over to the rest of your body and have the same effect overall.
● Once that happens, it’s really hard to climb back up that emotional hill. Mental exhaustion is a real thingthat people do battle and once it happens, it can start to become a trend if you don’t turn it around quickly.
4. Everything needs a break. Ask any successful person and they’ll tell you that taking a brain break is key. Walking away from whatever you’re working on to recharge and reboot means that you’ll come back with a fresh mind and perspective.
● This is huge when you’re working on a project or something that is relying on data-driven facts. You can only stare at numbers for so long before your body and brain are going to send you signals that it needs a break.
5. If you don’t get enough sleep, your mind can start to play tricks on you. People who are overly exhausted tend to have trouble thinking correctly, functioning, or even deciding the difference between what is true and not true.
● Research has shown that most adults need 7-9 hours of sleep each night to feel and think at their best. If you have trouble meeting that minimum, try taking a short nap during the day to give your mind and body some much-needed rest. 

Understanding that your brain deserves to be treated carefully is the first step. Then, you can take the steps towards getting a schedule of brain breaks set up for yourself daily. 

The moment that you feel as though your thoughts and emotions are becoming too much for the day is a huge signal that it’s time to walk away from whatever you’re doing and give yourself some peace. 

Your brain deserves to be the center of your attention since it controls all your decisions, thoughts, emotions, and bodily functions. So give your brain a break! It deserves one!

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Today, I feel great! My mind and body are functioning flawlessly. I feel calm, healthy, and strong. I am capable of accomplishing anything today. Days like this are happening more frequently for me. I am grateful for these amazing days.

I feel excited when I consider the possibility of feeling this way each and every day.

I take care of my body and make my health a priority. I know the foods my body likes and needs. I keep my diet clean and avoid foods that sap my energy or health.

I also get enough sleep each night. I know that a good night of sleep is necessary for me to be at my best. I make time for healthy food and rest.

The level of health and vitality I feel today is off the charts. My energy and mental clarity are extremely high. I feel strong both mentally and physically.

I am capable of accomplishing great things today.

I have the energy and strength to overcome any barriers in my life. I feel fresh and rejuvenated. I know I am going to have a spectacular day.

Today, I feel amazed by the condition of my mind and body. The health and strength I experience today are being put to good use. I feel grateful for how wonderful I feel.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. How much sleep do I require to be at my best?
2. What could I be doing each day to maximize my health?
3. What could I accomplish if I consistently felt healthier and stronger?

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Yes, It’s true that Valentine’s day is a great opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate the ones you love. However, it is also true that you can only give love  freely if you are able to truly appreciate yourself and your gifts!  As a result,  I am suggesting that you learn to love yourself in the Savage Garden sort of way: “Truly, Madly, Deeply.”  Simply stated, with a deep sense of true self-love and self- acceptance,  you  can stand alone knowing ” the comfort and protection of the highest powers.”  With that level of independence, you are free to give and receive love,  to achieve your goals,  and to make a difference in the world!

When looking at successful people, it is important to notice the types of things they say to themselves as they work their way to the top. One of my favorite examples is Mohammad Ali. Perhaps he is not the most romantic example of success on this February 14th, but he spoke very highly of himself, to himself and to every one else! Do you think he would have attained his dream of being the best in the world if he went around telling himself, ” I am the worst boxer on the planet. I float like a ton of bricks”? Never. Instead he uttered only outrageously  positive things. Once he  was quoted as saying,  “I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was!”

There are countless other examples of people and quotes that exemplify the importance of self-love. Perhaps, Mac Davis had it right when he sang: “Oh lord it’s hard to be humble when you are perfect in every way”! In any case, If you cannot  convince yourself that self-love is something you can immediately accomplish, try watching Ann Cuddy’s “Your posture shapes who you are” on TED Talks. In it she  states, “Fake it until you become it!’  http://blog.ted.com/2012/10/11/amy-cuddy-talks-power-posing

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