FRIENDLY TERAPY

More than anything, happiness comes from within ourselves and the people with whom we share our lives. Happiness depends on the quality of close social relationships we develop with family and friends.

There have been numerous studies proving the positive influence friendships have on wellbeing. Studies show if you have five or more friends with whom you can discuss an important matter with, you’re far more likely to describe yourself as “very happy.” We feel safe and relaxed when we communicate with friends, and it is easier to practice our cognitive skills -- focus, memory, creativity... Close relationships also affect the quality of our health and can improve our heart health and decrease the level of stress in our lives, and contribute to shorter periods of healing. Some studies show that social connections can provide a longer life.

I am sure that we have all had friendships where we felt doubt about the relationship or tasted a bitter side of the friendship. But that doesn’t mean we should stop believing in true friendship. We should put effort in cultivating friendly relationships. The quality of a social life is not measured by the numbers of friends we have, but through the quality of social connections. How do we estimate the quality of relationships with friends?

1. Mutual Love and Understanding - a friend is someone who loves you and therefore understands everything about you.
2. Support - friends take care of each other. 3. Happiness - A good friend accepts your success with joyfulness (no indifference, jealousy or anxious feelings).
4. Development - In choosing our friends, we accept a certain value system. Who you choose to be with can ultimately determine who you are and who you become.
5. Relaxation and Fun - friends can give us feelings of safety and security which enable us to relax. If we are relaxed and happy, we attract new people allowing the opportunity to spread an epidemic of friendship and happiness…the only happiness where there is no expiration date.

Be friendly and keep in mind that friendship doesn't happen by itself. Friendship needs time and effort. Even the best of friends can sometimes disappoint you. When that happens, don’t close other doors for the opportunity of new friendships. Continue to build new friendships. Be open, stay in contact.

DON'T STRESS OUT

Everybody wants to reach complete happiness in life. Still, in order to achieve this goal you must face one of your biggest enemies - STRESS. So many sleepless nights I spent analyzing the reasons why I did or didn't say something, why I reacted so emotionally, why I got upset. Does it sound familiar when I mention that such nights were accompanied by fatigue, anxiety, moodiness, and so on? Many years had passed before I found ways to cope with stress. The secret is this – Don't let stress manipulate your life, you are the one who should take control over stress.

Try and see whether some of the suggestions below work for you:

1. Gradually, I've learned to recognize stressors which threaten my environment. This recognition is crucial because, quite often, we're not aware of all the possible stressful situations which tend to provoke a strong reaction.

2. I adopted the assertiveness skill, a skill that enables us to fight for our rights, ensuring our thoughts and feelings are taken into account, without affecting other people's rights. Today, I'm able to ask, request, demand...until I achieve all that “belongs” to me.

3. Due to efficient organization and careful time management, I became quite successful in avoiding tense situations. I settle all my bills on time, I don't spend too much money, I don't rush, I try to avoid delays and unnecessary conflicts...I simply take things as they come.

4. Unfortunately, it is practically impossible to avoid some of the stressors. But even then, we can prevent our mind and body from being alarmed and manage to regain control. The most effective techniques are deep breathing or looking the other way, thinking about pleasant things. These two methods proved their efficiency in preventing sharp reactions.

5. Sometimes, these techniques aren't as useful as we expect them to be, giving way to anger which should be expressed in a healthy way, in the right place, and at the right time. The suppression of anger and keeping all the negative emotions inside can cause mental disorders such as depression or anxiety. On the other hand, the uncontrolled raging in public is completely inappropriate and partly responsible for the growing social problems in the family, at work, and in traffic...I find running "100 miles per hour" to be the best cure for anger.

6. I've learned just how important it is to “recharge your batteries” and start afresh. All the activities that you enjoy doing strengthen your immunity, increase your energy level and strengthen your confidence so that both your mind and body can easily deal with the upcoming stress.


7. After enjoying the benefits of B-complex, GABA, L-Theanine, 5-HTP, magnesium and Valeriana, I strongly recommend these supplements which are of great help for mitigating the effects of stress.

This was my anti-stress concept. Try not to stress out and make a personal plan which can help you fight off stress. And remember: less stress for for a better life!

CRAVING SOLUTION

CRAVING SOLUTION

Food is more than just fuel for our cells. Quality of life is directly associated with the quality and amount of food we eat. The simplest recipe for a happier, healthier longer life is calorie restriction combined with optimal nutrition. When you consume more nutritive calories, Mother Nature will control your weight.

It's widely known that food affects your mood. For example, chocolate and refined foods stimulate the secretion of brain substances such as dopamine and serotonin (“the hormones of happiness”), which lead to the feeling of satisfaction. But this pleasure is not always useful…after a certain period of time the need for “satisfaction producers” increases (similar to heroin and cocaine addiction). While the pleasure they're producing becomes less intensive, you are gaining more and more weight. Food is not a cure for sadness, insomnia, or loneliness. Food can't solve problems…it can only make them bigger. It nurtures your hunger not your appetite!

We all eat too much, and we take in many more calories than our body requires. Very often we eat when we are not hungry, and we eat when we are in an emotional state. Research shows that excessive food intake can cause diseases such as cancer, stroke, heart attack, senility, and inflammation. It also shortens our average life span. Do you need more arguments to start eating wiser?

We feel hungry only when our body needs more energy, while the on the other hand, appetite is the desire for food. It is a psychological reaction – a conditioned response to food. Sometimes just thinking about your favorite food will evoke your appetite.

One of the best instruments for appetite control is food.

1. Eat a healthy breakfast. That way your appetite will be controlled better throughout the day
2. Eliminate processed food from your diet…it only contains empty calories which enhance your appetite. Choose nutritive calories instead.
3. Choose complex, slow burning carbohydrates.
4. Add protein to every meal.
5. Try to eat every day at the same time so you train your appetite hormones -- ghrelin and leptin.
6. Try supplements such as Chromium Picolinate, CLA, diet fibers, resveratrol, calcium, magnesium and vitamins B6 and B12.

And don’t forget, better control of your appetite - better control of your life.

CHOOSE YOUR WORDS

A successful communication can't be measured by number of words you utter or write. And usually, with too many words we say too little. One of my personal commandments is to significantly improve my communication skills. Meaning, trying to reduce a number of conflicts, disagreements, arguments, frustrations and all the other consequences of poor communication that tend to make my life bitter. And believe me, this is possible if you devote just a bit of attention to these skills - how to communicate, how to avoid your common mistakes and so on.

Earlier in life, I was much more critical not only of my own, but of other people's actions as well. Gradually, I began to judge and criticize less, and accept and understand myself and people around me more, which made me feel better.

As a result of our constant need to say something, to express ourselves, we talk all the time, but no one listens. Facebook is a typical example of how people can hit the roof when discussing certain topics - they get into endless arguments, they quarrel, insult each other. But saying everything that's on our mind, doesn't make our life easier. On the contrary.

Where do we usually make mistakes?

1. We do not listen enough - In most cases, our urge to answer and state our personal opinion doesn't allow us to concentrate on what the other person is saying.

2. Hastiness - We're usually in such a hurry to respond (at least I am), before we even form a clear message in our minds. Most often, we articulate the first thing that comes to our mind... This proves to be a bad idea, cause most of the times we do that, only the wrong words come out of our mouth.

3. Misconception about honesty - Successful communication involves honesty, but not at any price. Think about what you're going to say, cause not everything should be revealed to others. Think about what kind of effect your words may produce. One of the secrets of successful communication is maintaining the harmony between thoughts, words and actions.

4. Lack of intent to understand - Don't close your mind, be open to accept diversity.

5. Too many emotions - Emotions, especially the really intense ones, hamper communication, primarily when it comes to controversial issues. Keep in mind that emotions usually do not allow us to rationally consider a certain dilemma and often create a problem where it doesn't even exist.

There are innumerable opportunities for improving your communication skills. Pay attention to how you communicate and where you commonly make mistakes. Successful communication makes it possible to understand each other better and live a carefree life. Learn to listen. Most people talk too much and listen too little. I'll remind you that God gave us one mouth and two ears. Prepare yourself to accept diversity, try to understand, don't rush to give an answer, don't bother so much if you disagree with someone. Agree to disagree - this is the best solution.

DON'T STRESS OUT

Everybody wants to reach a complete happiness in life. Still, in order to achieve this goal, you must face one of your biggest enemies - stress. So many sleepless nights I spent analyzing the reasons why I did or didn't say something, why I reacted so emotionally, why I got upset... Does it sound familiar when I mention that such nights were accompanied by fatigue, anxiety, moodiness, and so on? Many years had passed before I found ways to cope with stress. The secret is this-don't let stress manipulate your life, you are the ones who should take control over stress.

Try and see whether some of these things work for you:

1. Gradually, I've learned to recognize stressors which threaten from my environment. This recognition is crucial cause, quite often, you're not aware of all the possible stressful situations which tend to provoke your strong reaction.

2. I adopted the assertiveness skill, a skill that enables us to fight for our rights, ensuring our thoughts and feelings are taken into account, without affecting other people's rights. Today, I'm able to ask, request, demand... till I achieve all that “belongs” to me.

3. Due to efficient organization and careful time management, I became quite successful in avoiding tense situations. I settle all my bills on time, I don't spend too much money, I don't rush, I try to avoid delays and unnecessary conflicts... I simply take things as they come.

4. Unfortunately, it is practically impossible to avoid some of the stressors. But even then, we can prevent our mind and body from being alarmed and manage to regain control. The most effective techniques are deep breathing or looking the other way, thinking about pleasant things. These two methods proved their efficiency in preventing our sharp reactions.

5. Sometimes, these techniques aren't as useful as we expect them to be. And then, we give way to anger, which should be expressed in a healthy way, in the right place at the right time. The suppression of anger and keeping all the negative emotions inside can cause mental disorders such as depression or anxiety. On the other hand, the uncontrolled raging in public is completely inappropriate and partly responsible for the growing social problems in the family, at work, in traffic... I find running "100 miles per hour" the best cure for anger.

6. I've learned just how important is to “recharge your batteries” and start afresh. All the activities that you enjoy doing strengthen your immunity, increase your energy level and strengthen your confidence so that both your mind and body can easily deal with the upcoming stress.

7. After enjoying the benefits of B-complex, GABA, L-Theanine, 5-HTP, magnesium and Valeriana, I can strongly recommend these supplements which are of great help for mitigating the effects of stress.

This was my anti-stress concept. Try not to stress out and and make a personal plan which would help you fight off stress. Remember: the less stress, the better life!

GET RID OF NEGATIVE THOUGHTS

Automatic negative thoughts – “ATN” are the most common cause of dissatisfaction with life and the most serious obstacles when trying to achieve happiness. The following are examples of thoughts that belong to this group: "All or Nothing" (if I don't have it all, I have nothing); "Always" (when thoughts such as: always, never, everyone, no one, every time, and everything prevail in your mind); “Focusing on the Negative" and "Thinking with your Heart" (if you feel down, then your life seems dark); “Making Predictions” (when you predict things will go bad, convinced that these predictions are most certainly bound to happen); and, "Reading Other People's Thoughts " (she didn't call, so she's certainly mad at me)...

People who are their own biggest critics, pessimists, and people unable to cope with stress are utterly unhappy. They do not feel good about themselves, thinking they're overweight, unattractive, miserable…nothing is ever going right in their life and everyone is always working against them...

If you feel good about yourself and believe you are a beautiful person who deserves the best life has to offer, good things are bound to happen. These should be your thoughts and words: "I am a beautiful, kind person; good luck is on my side; and, I know I'll succeed...”

Believe in yourself. Don't hesitate to try new things and don't be afraid of making mistakes. Michael Jordan once said: "I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed 26 times. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."

Life is unpredictable. Not every day is beautiful. But this doesn't mean that we should give up and stop trying to make each day worthwhile. Sometimes it takes only a few seconds for an otherwise bad day to become good or even perfect (and vice versa).

START EVERY DAY WITH POSITIVE THOUGHTS AND HOPE THAT IT WILL BE ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY IN YOUR LIFE!

LET OUR CHILDREN TEACH US!

In order to achieve quality of life, you need to leave some room for fun. You should bear in mind that entertainment is an important aspect of wellbeing. Trying to deal with everyday affairs, most of us simply forget this aspect of life. How many of us actually know how to do that and how often are we ready to let everything go and just have fun? How well do you know yourself? What are the things that make you happy and that you feel comfortable doing?

I recently spent a wonderful family weekend at Universal Studios in Orlando. When you cross the gates of this amusement park, you enter a world of fantasy and fun. In addition to spending time on water slides and riding a rollercoaster, you have an amazing opportunity to be taken through a completely realistic simulation of Hogwarts by young wizard Harry Potter himself and his friends. There's also a true adrenalin ride through The Mummy Returns as well as the hilarious ride with the Simpsons. I must admit, I haven't had so much fun since childhood.

The whole time there, I silently wished the fun we were having would last as long as possible. When you're having such a good time with your loved ones, time ceases to exist. You don't even notice the time passing by, as you're only aware of the happiness you're experiencing. You don't see the difference in ages on all those radiant faces. Watching my mother and my daughters having the time of their lives, I realized how much we can learn about the "good" life from our children.

1. Children live every moment of their lives, while adults are too preoccupied with the past, and too worried about the future.

2. Children know exactly what they like and they truly enjoy doing such things, whether it be playing a violin or splashing through the puddles. Adults tend to forget the importance of an actual pleasure and its necessity in our everyday lives. Instead of fulfilling life with satisfaction, we tend to fulfill it with obligations.

3. Children believe in miracles, dreams and fairy tales.

And believe me, it's all possible and attainable.

HAPPINESS AND SUCCESS

Who are happy people? The ones who are successful, famous, rich, beautiful, healthy? You've probably wondered about what could possibly make you happy. Perhaps, more money, more attention, a better job opportunity, a vacation, a new car, ..... even more money, more attention, better health or a dream job.

Just remember some of the celebrities like Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson, Virginia Woolf, and many others - everyone envied them, worshipped them, except themselves.

Success is not the key to happiness – happiness is the key to success.

It wouldn't be possible to reach success without optimistic life attitude. Inspite of all problems, mistakes and failures. that everybody has, never give up. Try to make your dream true, have passion for what you do, believe in yourself, keep trying more and more, keep fixing mistakes and you will reach success. And don`t forget to enjoy your life inspite of everything.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE AREN'T THINGS

Two psychological phenomena, adaptation and comparison, do not allow us to buy happiness. Adaptation phenomenon explains a tendency to evaluate new experiences in relation to our previous experience. When our financial situation is improved and we earn high reputation in the society, we instantly feel happier. Once we adapt to this level, it becomes common and normal to us, as our level of happiness returns to the starting point, or a basic level. In order to feel satisfied again, a tendency for achieving higher and better appears. When you buy the latest model of TV for the first time, you'll feel incredibly joyful. Only a couple of days later, watching the TV will become an ordinary, normal thing for you.

Research shows that people who are on the Forbes list of richest are as happy as the members of the African Masai tribe. After only a few years, the level of happiness of the lottery winners returns to normal, to the level person had before winning the lottery. Beside the fact that our personal level of happiness is in a close relation with our previous experience, it is also to a large extent determined by our comparison with other people. We'll always feel happier if we compare ourselves with those who have less. When we live in such environment where other people are in much better position, the situation is reversed.
It is true that money can’t buy happiness, but we can buy lots of things that make our life easier… How is money important in your life?

"HAPPINESS DIET."

Many of us are guilty of trying to find happiness in food. This is a mistake, however, scientific studies have shown that some foods can add to an overall feeling of wellbeing, giving you energy and making you feel positive and happy. Consuming food which contains tryptophan, an amino acid that produces vitamin B3, and serotonin, a neurotransmitter that has a positive influence on appetite, mood and sleep, is very important to your overall health. Turkey, dairy products, bananas, nuts, and soy all contain tryptophan. It is a known fact that athletes have diets rich in amino acids and tryptophan which contributes to their general good mood and positive attitude. Be sure to add these foods to your everyday diet and you will feel better, have more energy, and you mood will definitely improve.

THE BITTER SIDE OF SUGAR

Do something great for yourself. REMOVE white sugar from your life. There is nothing healthy about white, refined sugar. The only thing it offers is empty calories which contribute to weight gain, addiction, an increased appetite and ultimately illness. Sugar leads to many diseases, disorders and illnesses such as diabetes and high cholesterol. Perhaps you have heard that sugar is a white killer! The amount of sugar we consume is constantly increasing. Some statistics show that Americans use 22.2 spoons of sugar per day, the equivalent of 335 calories. It is too much! Be careful, sugar is hidden everywhere and in almost every processed food including bread, sauces, sodas, and even unlikely foods such as sausage. We must remove white sugar from our diet. However, don’t jump to artificial sweeteners like Splenda and Zero, or diet products, because they contain aspartame, a dangerous substance that contains more than 90 negative side effects. Like processed sugar, aspartame increases our appetite and it is addictive. One of the best solutions for alternative sweeteners is Stevia, a natural sweetener derived from the Peruvian plant stevia. It is very sweet with a high concentration of 200 times the amount of sweeter than refined white sugar. It has a glycemic index of 0 and has no negative side effects. Stevia is the one sweetener that should be substituted or added to your diet.

FACEBOOK - PRO & CONS

Who doesn’t have a Facebook page today? Over 500 million people all over the world use Facebook. Even my Mother uses Facebook! Most of us cannot get enough of it. For so many of us, checking our Facebook page is the first thing we look at each morning and last thing we look at each night. It can be contagious!

Why is Facebook so popular? People are in desperate need of social interaction. Many people are lonely and feel isolated. Facebook is a great way to communicate and develop connections with other people. People need other people. Social interaction is an extremely important component for happiness. Facebook is a perfect way to stay in touch with family and friends to make new contacts and new friends. With today’s technology, information is now at our fingertips. Facebook, for the most part, can be a positive experience…great photos, awesome memories, a great tool for communication, interesting posts, etc. Very rarely are we subjected to negativity on Facebook. However, we should be careful to use and activate all of the privacy and security features offered on Facebook. There is always the opportunity for strangers, stalkers and anyone who may want to bring harm to you to find you and track you. Another downside of Facebook is that you can easily get caught up and become obsessed or addicted to Facebook wasting valuable time that you could be using for more productive uses in your life. Be careful and don’t be obsessive…any addiction is not welcome.

I love Facebook and I think if offers us a positive social experience which is key to a better quality lifestyle. What do you think? Do you feel that Facebook is a waste of time or it is a way of creating a more constructive and positive social interaction with other people? I’d love to hear your feedback.

CHEER UP

Life is unpredictable! It's made of so many unexpected and undesirable things. Sometimes, we're simply running out of positive energy and feel totally devastated. But expect the unexpected! There are a thousand reasons that can “pull us down” - unpaid bills, a dismissal from work, conflicts, an unrequited love, bad weather ... and there are as many ways which can help us improve our mood. Still, you shouldn't expect someone to do it for you. It is your responsibility and your job.

Thinking positively is important, but not sufficient. Despite all the possible bad things that might have happened, each day should be given a chance to turn into a nice, even a wonderful day. How can we improve our mood?

1.LISTEN TO YOUR FAVOURITE MUSIC! Listening to your favorite music can definitely improve your mood. Let your favorite hits be always ready and at hand.

2.GO OUT AND EXPOSE YOURSELF TO SUNLIGHT! During the winter, especially in the far north of our planet, due to lack of sunlight, a large numbers of people suffers from the so-called seasonal depression. Depression retreats immediately after the appearance of the first sun rays in the sky. Although it's hard to believe that exposing ourselves to sunlight can bring us back to life, it's true. Fifteen minutes in the sun stimulates secretion of serotonin, a hormone of happiness as well as vitamin D, which stimulates our good mood.

3.EXERCISE! We're already familiar with the fact that exercise improves mood, stimulates the secretion of endorphin, the hormone that reduces appetite, anxiety and depression. If you are not able for longer exercise, even a ten minute stroll will make you feel better.

4.CALL A CLOSE FRIEND! Keep contact with your friends. Friends play an important role in life, as our advisers, relatives... Close social relationships are crucial for gaining satisfaction in life.

5.DO A GOOD DEED! Doing a good deed makes us feel good. Help someone, encourage someone, give compliment or praise, spend some time with friends, forgive someone's mistake, buy somebody a gift...

6.GO THROUGH YOUR PHOTO ALBUMS! They are treasures of happy memories that will remind you of all the beautiful things that happened in your life. Remember the precious memories, they'll enrich your life and inspire you...

7.WATCH A GOOD COMEDY! Good comedy will raise your spirits, and it's up to you to keep smiling. A sincere smile cures everything, even a forced smile will make you feel comfortable and appear more accessible to others.

8.PUT YOUR PERSONAL SPACE IN ORDER! Putting order into your personal space will make you feel much better.

9.DO ALL THE THINGS YOU'VE BEEN POSTPONING! Start doing things that you've been postponing earlier - a medical examination, filing, a purchase...

10.TAKE A NAP! Even a twenty minute nap can do the trick and help you restore energy and enable you to start afresh...

Shopping and a visiting a hairdresser are also considered to be women's favorite "antidepressants". I'm not very convinced of their effectiveness, in particular because of the large number of side effects... But the choice is yours. Everything else that I have mentioned is quite effective and without side effects. You can use these suggestions combined or one at a time an unlimited number of times. Do not hesitate - the moment you start feeling bad about yourself, you should spring into action... Perhaps I missed something? Feel free to add some good advice.

ANTI-AGING

My discussion with anti-aging expert Dr. Robert Bateyko

Anti-aging Medicine or "biogerontology" focuses on slowing or reversing the effects of aging, while increasing individual longevity, health and thus quality of life. Anti-aging treatment should begin at childhood because we are exposed to the greatest assault in the history of mankind, under stress and pollution from the moment we are brought into this life. These negative factors coupled with unhealthy lifestyle habits including poor nutrition and lack of physical activity, exercise and sleep, all contribute and disease. The goal of anti-aging awareness, supplements and medicine is to increase our life spans well as improve overall health and prevent illness and disease. Dr. Bateyko emphasizes healthy lifestyle habits which include consuming organic foods and avoiding toxins. Dr. Bateyko suggests the Paleolithic diet in any anti-aging program. Everyone should take multi -vitamins, resveratrol, fish oil, and zinc in combination with cooper. The most common vitamin deficiency are vitamin D, iodine and zinc. So check your vitamin status. A Genetic Test is now available so that you could possibly predict disease that may directly affect you. I will go into greater detail on the subject of Anti-aging in my book will be available soon to the public.

Rhianna & Kesha Concert in Tampa

Success takes a lot of work, motivation and discipline. Rhinna and Kesha are in great shape and physical condition..they almost appear to be in better shape than some athletes I have seen.

They are wonderful examples of great success and what takes to get there.They are at the top of their game , all due to their dedication and commitment to their music careers. Artur Ashe , tennis legend, once said, "One important key to success is self confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation."

AGING GRACEFULLY

Really, how old is she? It would be difficult to answer this question if these women weren't so famous and constantly present in the media. They're simply ageless: Demi Moore, Cindy Crawford, Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman, Halle Berry, Monica Bellucci, Madonna, Sharon Stone, Suzanne Somers, Sophia Loren, to name a few. Even in their 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, their sensuality and seductiveness are stunning. Their beauty is characterized as perfect and “ageless”. That's why their appearance inevitably leads to the conclusion that satisfaction with life is not measured by numbers, but by beauty, energy and optimism.

So, what's the secret?

Could it be that all of their fame and money provide them with the best and most expensive cosmetic treatments? Unlimited amounts of dermal fillers such as Juvederm, Radiesse, Botox, Sculptra? Or other, overpriced revitalizing treatments - Fraxel laser treatments or Veneers Hollywood smile costing thousands of dollars? Does the secret lie in a certain regime of life or genetics, or is it hidden somewhere out of our reach?

An anti-aging therapy with bio-identical hormones is mentioned in the latest sequel of the movie “Sex and the City.” It actually reflects the benefits of bio-hormone therapy on Samantha (one of the main characters). Samantha overcomes all the inconveniences caused by menopause and remains the same vital, energetic, sexy woman she has always been. Perhaps, this is where the secret is hidden?

A bit of truth can be found in all the things mentioned above. Beauty always means taking care of ourselves, where all the possible ways for doing this are individual. Taking care of wrinkles and our physical appearance is necessary, but not crucial. A universal recipe doesn't exist, beauty lies in originality.

Now in her late 70’s, Sophia Loren still fascinates with her appearance and says the key to her beauty lies in the everlasting love of life, spaghetti and olive oil baths. She points out: "If the most beautiful young woman is not disciplined and does not take care of herself, she will eventually lose her beauty. On the other hand, as time passes, an average looking woman, who takes care of her body, becomes more and more beautiful.” The messy lives of today's young, rich and famous starlets like Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears add credibility to Sophia Loren’s statement.

A healthy lifestyle which implies taking care of our own body, spirit and mind is the key to everlasting beauty. Take care of yourself and love yourself. You’re worth it!


Zvesdana Stosljevic, Ph.D., Adult Education
July 26, 2010

TEN BENEFITS OF EXERCISE

An energetic life is a happy life. It requires constant growth, change and action. You can be smart, attractive, rich and witty, but you can't be successful unless you have the power to turn your ideas into actions. What distinguishes us as successful or unsuccessful individuals is energy.

Whenever I'm tired, sad, angry, or running out of power, I choose exercise as the best remedy…running, walking, kickboxing, tennis, Pilates, golf, and hiking. Sometimes I exercise at home using exercise DVD’s, sometimes in a gym, on the beach, in the pool, or sometimes I enjoy taking a jog in my neighborhood.

Now in my 40’s, I attribute my good looks, positive energy and youthful appearance to
exercise, which has become an integral part of my life.

We are all familiar with the benefits of exercise. Still, we're not able to motivate ourselves to commit to it on a regular basis. People make excuses such as lack of time or money, tiredness and so on. There are no excuses! One can always choose the right time and place for exercise. Exercising on a regular basis will make you feel better, and promote a healthier lifestyle and a longer life. Below are ten important reasons why exercise should become an integral part of your life:

1. INCREASES YOUR ENERGY LEVEL. Our body is supplied with oxygen and it stimulates the circulation of blood, heart and lung function more efficiently, thus creating energy that enables us to perform everyday activities with pleasure.

2. IMPROVES OUR MOOD. Most people who exercise feel better and achieve better results at work. They're happier regardless of their age. Exercise encourages the release of epinephrine and norepinephrine (hormones) and endorphins (neurotransmitters) that are responsible for creating a good mood.

3. STIMULATES BRAIN FUNCTION. During exercise, our body releases nitric oxide, a powerful stimulator of brain functions. This process refreshes our memory and improves our concentration and thoughts.

4. IMPROVES SLEEP QUALITY. If you have trouble sleeping, you should make sure you exercise regularly. Exercise is one of the most effective "remedies" for insomnia.

5. INCREASES SELF-CONFIDENCE. People who exercise regularly look younger, have better posture, and they're more fit. Good looks definitely enhances our self-confidence.

6. GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO SOCIALIZE. Exercise enables us to look deep into ourselves, to face our deepest thoughts and feelings. On the other hand, it gives us the opportunity to spend some quality time with those who share the same interest.
.
7. RELEASES STRESS. The level of cortisol reduces the amount of stress hormones in our body during physical activities and creates a sense of spiritual peace.

8. BODY DETOXIFICATION. By sweating, toxins are released from our body.

9. DISEASE PREVENTION. Regular physical activity can influence the prevention of high blood pressure, cholesterol, osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, depression, and some types of cancer. It affects the increase of HDL (high-density lipoprotein), known as “good cholesterol” and lowers triglycerides and LDL (low-density lipoprotein), also known as “bad cholesterol.”

10. AFFECTS HORMONE FUNCTIONS. Stimulates the secretion of hormones:

Growth Hormone: Responsible for the synthesis of proteins, bone strengthening, muscle tone, and fat burning.

Endorphines: Reduces appetite, anxiety and depression.

Testosterone: Affects muscle tone and metabolism, breaks down fats and increases confidence.

Estrogen: Stimulates fat breakdown, improves mood, and increases libido.

Thyroxine (T4): Accelerates metabolism.

Adrenalin Secreted in the adrenal gland it is responsible for pumping blood from the heart to the most critical parts of the body. It stimulates the degradation of sugar and fat reserves, which further contributes to the reduction of excessive body weight.

Insulin: Regular exercise reduces insulin levels and increases the sensitivity of our cells to insulin, especially with people who suffer from excess weight, which contributes to reducing those extra pounds.

I sincerely hope that I managed to motivate you and convince you to start exercising. It doesn’t matter if you run, dance, take a walk along the beach, swim, or ride a bike...just be sure to do it regularly. You'll be amazed with your results which will inspire you to do many other beautiful things in your life.

___________________________

SLIM, HEALTY & HAPPY

Most of us follow a particular diet throughout our life. Low Fat, High Protetin, Low Carb, Bio, Turbo, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Slang Products, Atkins Diet, Factor 5 Diet, Hollywood Diet, Lemon Diet, Medical Diet, Grapefruit, Tea or even Honey Diets. We’ll try anything for a slim figure. We stay on our diets for ten days, a month, a year. We count calories and watch our fat intake. And…we suffer!

I was one of those who had a few excess pounds. I hated my “waist belt”. It made me feel terribly uncomfortable. I had a feeling that it flashed like a neon sign, and I was sure everyone noticed. I tried various diets. After a period of brief excitement, I would become bored, give into temptation, and go through another disappointment. I never seemed to find the right combination of diet and exercise where I saw results and remained excited and interested at the same time.

Ultimately, I gave up dieting and formed my own personal nutrition program…and it worked! Here are a few tips that help me stay slim, healthy and satisfied. Perhaps, they can help you as well.

1. DON'T SEEK HAPPINESS IN FOOD. We are all familiar with the fact that what we eat affects the way we feel. Chocolate, certain kinds of pasta and meat, refined foods, etc. affect the secretion of brain substances such as dopamine and serotonin (“happiness hormone”), which evoke pleasant feelings. Gradually, the necessity for these “pleasure producers“ grows (similar to heroin or cocaine addiction) when they tend to produce less pleasure and excessive weight.

2. NURTURE YOUR HUNGER NOT YOUR APPETITE. We tend to eat even when we're full. We feed our appetite, not our hunger. We feel hungry when we become aware of the lack of energy, and our appetite increases each time we see, smell or think of a certain kind of food, when we are sad, lonely, or when we can't sleep.

3. EAT LESS AND BE ACTIVE. Excessive intake of calories and lack of activity lead to many
diseases, premature aging, and depression. The most critical daily periods are between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. and between 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. During these peak periods, most people have an increased necessity for food. That's why you should undertake a certain activity during these periods such as walking, running, dancing, painting, sewing, or any activity that interests you.

4. CONSUME FOOD WITH HIGHER NUTRITIONAL VALUE. Avoid empty calories and processed foods which contain lots of calories and little nutritional value. My suggestions are fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Read food labels. Pay particular attention to serving sizes noted and Nutritional Facts, and the order in which the Ingredients are listed on a food label. For example, ingredients are listed in order of how much of an ingredient a food contains. If sugar is the first ingredient listed, the food is made up of mostly sugar and, therefore, would not be a very wise choice. It's your choice. Check for additives, calories, fat content, sodium, sugar, cholesterol, carbohydrates, fiber and protein. Check the percentage of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium and Iron. These should all be taken into consideration when choosing what to eat.

5. EAT WITH YOUR HEAD, NOT WITH YOUR HEART. Each bite has the ability either to revitalize you, or it can do the opposite and make you feel tired, cranky, short-tempered and contribute to loss of focus. Food and feelings are closely related…the food you eat can change your mood. Take a few minutes, read the labels, and put a little thought and time into your food choices.

6. GIVE UP “DIET” AND “ZERO” PRODUCTS. The majority of diet products are bogus. In most cases, they contain aspartame, the chemical substance that stimulates the appetite and has a number of side effects (migraine, nausea, numbness, muscle spasms, and weight gain, to name a few).

7. BALANCED MEALS. Each meal should contain approximately 45% of carbohydrates, 35% of proteins, and 20% of fat. This balance stabilizes the amount of insulin which evokes the feeling of hunger. In this way, we are able to control this feeling. It only takes a bit of discipline and knowledge for you to become slim, healthy and satisfied. Try it…it's not so difficult. We all like to look good. Slimness, beauty, health and happiness go hand-in-hand.

I'M MY CHOICE

Life is made up of countless decisions. Each and every day, we are bombarded with all kinds of offers through mail, television, telephone solicitations, newspapers, e-mail, and in various places - on the streets, in the mall, on our beaches, etc. We are constantly receiving offers and enticing specials to purchase food, clothing, new cars, travel, new homes, education and many, many other things. Everywhere there is someone who wants to sell something to you. It's no wonder we become more and more indecisive in what is important and what is a priority in our lives.

While returning home from shopping or even after on-line shopping, I often regret some of my own choices in my purchases. Sometimes, after taking only a few steps, I will often find something better, more beautiful or at a more reasonable price and regret my previous purchase. Fortunately, in America, we are able to return or exchange our purchases, however, in my native Serbia, we could never return or exchange our purchases.

Just think about how many brands of water there are in our supermarkets. Which one to choose? The one with more calcium or magnesium, with selenium, vitamin water, natural, filtered, plastic or glass bottles, domestic or foreign brands, Smart, Fiji, Evian…and the list goes on. Using water is just one example, but this is also true for so many other products, especially, for me personally, clothing. For example, how much time do we waste deciding what we should wear?

The same thing happens when it comes to important life decisions. Many things are changing in my life…life is no longer a matter of simple choices, for example, a new job or a relocation to another part of the country. Presently, my daughters are researching which colleges they would like to attend, which takes so much energy, time, research and decision-making. It seems to be difficult and more complicated for me in making final decisions. In today’s modern world, it is even more difficult than ever. Having a choice is a privilege, but having too many choices can make life more complicated.

Sometimes, our decisions may not be the best or right choices. This does not mean that one should be hesitant in making their decisions. On the contrary, determination is a trait that stands out as an important characteristic of successful people. Personality Characteristics and Management in Education was my doctoral thesis, and look at me…at times it seems that I do not know how to make decisions effectively. When we were children, our parents, teachers, coaches and other adults in our lives were making decisions for us. Now that we are grown, we make decisions not only for ourselves, but for others, as well. I have two teenage daughters, and I am always making decisions with and for them. I have to admit, I often doubt the decisions I am making, but here are some "rules" that help me and, perhaps, can help you decide more effectively.

1. FOR AND AGAINST. Almost every choice has both for and against arguments which should be considered.

2. TRUST YOUR INTUITION. Intuition is a part of internalized external experiences and you should listen to your own intuition. Intuition has never let me down. This especially refers to situations when having two equally good choices. Your intuition should determine which choice you make. Flip a coin, and while it falls your inner voice will determine which choice!

3. YOUR DECISION IS A MATTER OF PERSONAL CHOICE. What's good for others may not always be good for us, and vice versa. Other people's opinions and choices should be considered, but decision-making is always a personal choice.

4. DON'T THINK TOO MUCH. One should not rush into things, but too much thinking leads to indecisiveness.

5. “PERFECTION” SHOULD NOT SPOIL A GOOD CHOICE. While making our decisions, we should try to answer the question: “What is good for us?” Not everything should be perfect.

6. BELIEVE IN YOUR DECISION. We can ponder any decision, however, that's not the point. Action follows the decision.

7. FEAR SHOULDN'T DECIDE. Most often, we decide to do or not to do certain things because of the fear of change. We shouldn't be afraid of change…change can be liberating. Although sometimes stressful, change is an inevitable part of our growth.

8. HAPPINESS AND SUCCESS ARE DECISIONS. Despite all the mistakes and ups and downs we experience daily in our lives, it is most important to choose happiness and success in accordance with your lifestyle. I'm my choice! I am who I choose to be!

Love, Zvezdana
P.S. No matter what, be happy, be successful, stay positive and keep smiling!!!!!

AMAZING

Girls are like apples on trees.

The best ones are at the top of the tree.

Most men don't want to reach for the good ones

Because they are afraid of falling and getting hurt.

The apples at the top think something is wrong with them

when in reality, they are amazing. They just have to wait

for the raight man to come along, the one who is brave enough

to climb all the way to the top of the tree.

The man who truly wants you will do anything to get you.

A women emerged from the ribs of man

not from his leg to be stepped on nor from his head to be more powerful,

but from his side to be equal, under his hand to be protected,

and near the heart to be loved.

GIRLS, BE AMAZING!!!!

WELLBEING'S IN & OUT

IN

SMILE. Happiness and generally wellbeing is not just money, economy and business. No matter what a smile is in.

ALTRUISM. Treat people like you would like to be treated. Take care about other s fealings and thoughts. Help whenever you can.

DANCE MUSIC. Every artist is getting into it. When times are hard people like upbeat music.

EAT LESS AND BE MORE ACTIVE. Eat more nutritive, organic food than caloric processed food. Be more active.

MIX ING WORKOUT. Celebs are maxing out their exercise time. Calorie-blasting cardio, kickboxing, body-sculpting, pilates...

ENOUGH SLEEP. Few more hours of sleep can make you happier.

OUT

MATERIALISTIC POSSESIVENESS. Make your life simple. You don’t need so much money, huge houses, luxury cars, yachts, airplanes… to be happy.

COMPLICATED COOKING. Perfect dishes are simple- unprocessed, fresh veggie and fruit.

CHEATING. Everybody is looking for true and deep love. Cheating is out.

GRANDMOTHER’S GARDEN. Traditional floral gardens are out. Instead of so many flowers, make lifestyle garden-veggies and fruits so you can eat organic and fresh.

DIET DRINKS AND FOOD. The most used artificial sweetener is aspartame. It is becoming a major addictive substance and the health effects are absolutely profound.

MY GIRLFRIENDS

Today I would like to talk about one very important thing in the life of every woman…her girlfriends. Choose them carefully, listen to them, love them and look after them. Friends are so very important in every woman's life…women need other women in their lives.

I am grateful to all my girlfriends…without them I wouldn`t be who I am today. They are my other self, my support, my consolation, and my inspiration. Girlfriends aren`t just friends, they are like sisters, mothers, and teachers. They will cheer you on, encourage you, console you, advise you, and be there for you when you need them most.

No matter how many thousands of miles you may be apart, friends should always remain close. A friend is never so far away that she can’t be there for you if you need her. With today’s technology…telephones, cell phones, texting, voicemail, email, Facebook, etc., there are so many ways to stay in touch with one another.

I have learned that a true friend can be so valuable and add so much to your life. It is an irreplaceable feeling when you know that you can call her at anytime about anything; that you can rely on her and share both joy and sorrow together.

To find true happiness in life, it's not necessary for great things to come into your life. True happiness doesn`t depend upon the amount of money you have, luxurious summer vacations, fame or material possessions. More than anything, happiness comes from within ourselves and the people with whom we share our lives.

Following is an interesting example from my native country, Serbia. During an international research conference in 2002, it was reported that 43% of Serbian citizens stated they are very satisfied with their lives. This is unusual because of the socio-economic struggling and the political uprising that the Serbian people have sustained during the past 20 years. A possible explanation of that overall happiness seems to be a direct result of the close social relationships which characterize the Serbian culture. The level of national happiness does seem to correlate with the national economic power, but only to a certain extent. Therefore, through research and studies, we now have scientific proof that happiness is not attained through financial success and material possessions, but through the ever-important and lasting interpersonal relationships we form.

While chasing a career, trying to attain financial success, raising our families and taking on so many responsibilities in our daily lives, we often neglect spending time with our girlfriends. That's inadmissible! Happiness hides itself in the quality of close social relationships we develop with family and friends.

In closing, please don`t neglect your girlfriends! As much as you love your boyfriends, husbands, children, and your career, and regardless of all of your day-to-day responsibilities, please make time for your girlfriends. Socialize with them! Remember, they`ll be there for you when you need them most!!!

BIG CLEANING OF LIFE

Cleaning is an excellent way to keep up the positive energy, peace, happiness. Mess is confusing, exhausting, wearying. From time to time you need to make a big cleaning, outside and inside. And by that I mean to liberate yourself of all excesses. We are prone to exaggerate in almost everything, eating, shopping, obligations, work, idleness, number of friends... Epidemics of obesity and obsessive need for possession (disposophobia, the fear of getting rid of stuff) are curable illnesses of a consuming society.

My suggestion is to simplify life. Then it becomes easier and more beautiful. Have you heard of the Blue Zones? These are geographical areas, in which, on the relatively small area leaves significant number of people older than 100 years of age. And they live a happy, healthy and a productive life. These zones are situated in isolated areas of Sardinia, Costa Rica, Okinawa and USA. They represent natural experiment for research of happiness, longevity and health. When you compare their way of living with ours, you can see that secret of their success is not in something they have and we don`t. On the contrary, secret of our " failure" is in the fact that we have more, too much. Because of that, first step on the path of well being is to liberate yourself of all excesses. They are poisoning your mind, spirit and body. Make a big cleaning in your life, create a space for new things, thoughts, people and experiences.

1. LIBERATE YOURSELF OF ALL UNNECESSARY THINGS. The biggest dilemma when cleaning the mess is whether you should keep something or not? I know that you are as indecisive as I was. You feel guilt whenever you think of throwing something out. Anything that we don`t use with love takes precious space for something else in our life. So, without any guilt give away, throw away or put away every single thing which has no purpose in your life. They are occupying the precious space for the things that you are going to love and use more. Just think how many things from your closet you don`t use (majority of the people don`t use 75% of their wardrobe). Live one shelf empty, you are going to need it (you will remember me soon)!

2.LIBERATE YOURSELF OF NEGATIVE THOUGHTS.The way you experience yourself and the world that surrounds you impacts your happiness. The unhappiest people are those who are their own biggest critics, pessimists and those unable to cope with stress. Life is unpredictable. Not every day is beautiful. Sometimes terrible thing happens, things that are beyond our control. It doesn`t mean that we should give up, and not to give everybody chance to be good. Sometimes it takes only a few seconds for a bad day to become good or brilliant (and vice versa). START EVERY DAY WITH POSITIVE THOUGHTS, HOPE THAT IT WILL BE ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY IN YOUR LIFE.

3 . LIBERATE YOURSELF OF NEGATIVE PEOPLE. Frequently out of habit, routinely we maintain friendships and contacts with people. Be honest with yourself. Ask yourself how people that surrounds you affect you? Do they motivate you, make you happy or the opposite? I am sure that in your surroundings, you have those people who are always discontent, who always "missing" something, who criticize you, underestimate or ignore your success. People who, in a short time, suck up every atom of your strength from you. My friends calls them Vampires (First time when she told me that "Vampires molest her" I though that she was losing her mind.). Their negativity is contagious! Try to avoid them as much as possible. Those who are not too important, you can completely clean up from your life, without any regrets. In that way you are going to make more room for friends which will satisfy you more.

4. DETOXIFICATION OR CLEANING OF THE ORGANISM. We live in the time of the enormous pollution, we eat toxic food, drink toxic water, breath toxic air. Cleaning of our organism is more necessary than ever before. Liberate yourself of all toxins and extra weight before they manifest themselves in form of illness. On the 18th World Annual Congress on Anti -Aging Medicine, Orlando, USA, which I have attended, antiaging experts recommended following detoxification procedures: Colon therapy (irrigation of intestines), Chelation therapy (intravenous administration of synthetic amino acid, EDTA, in order to remove heavy metals such as mercury, lead and aluminium from the organism, Lymphatic massage (removal of toxins from the lymph nodes, Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (treatment in oxygen chamber destroys parasites and toxins in our organism) and so on. For everyday life they recommend detox diet: consuming more fluids, unchlorinated water, herbal teas, homemade juices, raw unprocessed food, organic food, unrefined oils. Detoxification include everyday antioxidant supplementation with Vitamin C, Selenium, Vitamin E, CO-Q-10, beta carotene, etc.

Until next time liberate yourself of all excesses, walk through life disburdened. Simple life is a good life!!!

WELLBEING - WHAT, HOW, WHY?

Everything in my life seemed perfect - a wonderful family, a beautiful home with a pool, a good job, a good car, cruising the Caribbean, skiing in Aspen, but... what I didn’t know was that I was more “unhappy” than “happy.” I was feeling dejected, tired, and nervous because of a few extra pounds. I didn't know what the secret ingredient for happiness was…something I was clearly missing. What else could I possibly do to be “truly” happy? How could I make my husband, children and friends happy if I feel like this…incomplete?

One night I realized that I had to change something. I was tired of bills, deadlines, headaches, quarrels, worries, and the excess weight. I have always been the responsible one, and all of a sudden I felt lost. It was obvious that I would have to change something.

And I did. I changed everything. Of course I didn't change my husband or my religion, but I decided to take control of my life…I decided to be “truly” happy.

The decision to make this change in my life was only the first step. I learned from people I knew and people I didn't know, I participated in various seminars and conferences, and I read countless books, articles and blogs, and in that way I created the concept of “Wellbeing,” which will be soon presented in my book.

What is Wellbeing?

This term has several meanings: good health, happiness, satisfaction with life, and material well-being. Personally, I feel wellbeing includes all of these things.

Thanks to my concept of Wellbeing, today I worry less, I laugh more, I'm more polite, I sleep more soundly, and I no longer suffer from urinary tract infections. I exercise daily, I changed my eating habits and now eat mostly organic food, I drink a minimum of 6 glasses of water per day, and I use medications for emergency purposes only.

I am healthy. I take multivitamins and minerals regularly, eat Acidofilus (instead of yogurt), take omega-3 fats, extra B6 and B12 vitamins, magnesium, calcium, curcinum, Resveratrol, bioidentical hormonal creams, and many other natural products (which we will review later).
In a nutshell, I feel great! I am “truly” happy, cheerful, successful, bursting with energy and now I feel complete. I am not preoccupied with the onset of wrinkles. I now direct my attention toward spirit, body and mental sharpness.

I strongly recommend that everyone create a personal concept of Wellbeing and incorporate that concept into their daily lifestyle. Each one will differ because we all differ. However, what is common for all of us is the following:

1. DECISION. Something or someone has to motivate you in order for you to improve the quality of your life. The first step is the idea itself, which has to be put into action. The best way to achieve this is to behave according to our own feelings (we cannot be energetic or optimistic if we spend all day in our pajamas).

2. KNOWLEDGE, WORK, DISCIPLINE. Life is a lifelong faculty. Quality of life requires constant learning, work and discipline. Knowledge enables us to choose the way in which we eat, heal, enjoy, and in what we believe, to whom we believe, with whom we associate, and what and how we think. Anti-aging experts predict that during the next 20 years, 80% of everything we know will be new (Breakthrough, p.373).

3. HAPPINESS IS A MATTER OF PERSONAL CHOICE. Happiness is a personal feeling that comes from within ourselves, from within our own spirit, mind and body as a whole. All the external factors can only make us happy or miserable for a while. The only true form of happiness comes from our own being, our own personal thoughts and feelings.

4. HEALTHCARE. Happiness is inconceivable without health. Taking an interest in our bodies and our health (not of disease) includes avoiding all chemicals and toxins, detoxification of the body, a nutritional diet which includes consuming fruits and vegetables on a daily basis, the use of vitamin and mineral supplements, balancing our hormones, taking care of our gastrointestinal tract, ample physical activity, and sufficient sleep.

5. PERSONAL DEMAND (resolution). Each one of us has to identify our weaknesses and try to overcome them. A good way to do this is by introducing personal demands, for example: better organization, no delays or procrastination, do what needs to be done and do it immediately and/or on a timely basis, be grateful, be fair, get plenty of sleep, eat more nutritious foods including fruits and vegetables, etc...

And, lastly, let my concept motivate you! Be concerned with yourself, your looks, your happiness, and your health - these are all part of Wellbeing. Who can do this better than you? It is the only thing that is truly worthwhile. The most effective way to make people around you happier is to be happy yourself. Choose your happiness, take care of yourself, think about Wellbeing, and talk about Wellbeing! Now go and change your life!