Yesterday I stood looking at my face in the Yesterday I stood looking at my face in the mirror, staring at myself in actual amazement. mirror, staring at myself in actual amazement. l looked older, my hair looked tired, and the l looked older, my hair looked tired, and the sparkle that once shined in my eyes as a child sparkle that once shined in my eyes as a child had faded.had faded.

That face in the mirror was changing right in That face in the mirror was changing right in front of me. l could have told myself it was front of me. l could have told myself it was just a bad hair day, but deep inside I knew just a bad hair day, but deep inside I knew that this was a transition I needed to face,that this was a transition I needed to face,Literally face to face. I smiled at myself with Literally face to face. I smiled at myself with one of those you-don't-look-so-bad kind of one of those you-don't-look-so-bad kind of smiles, but that didn't work.smiles, but that didn't work.

So I tried to make my smile bigger and So I tried to make my smile bigger and brighter, hoping to find a renewed spirit brighter, hoping to find a renewed spirit somewhere, but that didn't help either.somewhere, but that didn't help either.This was my wake-up call.This was my wake-up call.

Physical Self Physical Self • I am not happy with I am not happy with

my appearance.my appearance.• I am worried about my I am worried about my

shape.shape.• I am ugly.I am ugly.• I abuse my body I abuse my body

(overeating, drinking (overeating, drinking and smoking a lot)and smoking a lot)

• I don’t care-ignore my I don’t care-ignore my body pains. body pains.

• hating my bodyhating my body

Befriending my bodyBefriending my body• I appreciate my bodyI appreciate my body• I accept my body.I accept my body.• I take care of my health.I take care of my health.• I exercise to keep the I exercise to keep the

wholeness of my body wholeness of my body and my spirit.and my spirit.

• I listen to my body I listen to my body pains.pains.

Don't contaminate your body with unhealthy Don't contaminate your body with unhealthy diets. diets.

Learn that your body really is your temple, Learn that your body really is your temple, and you begin to care for it and treat it with and you begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begin eating a balanced diet, respect. You begin eating a balanced diet, drinking more water and taking more time drinking more water and taking more time to exercise.to exercise.

You learn that fatigue diminishes the spirit You learn that fatigue diminishes the spirit and can create doubt and fear. So you take and can create doubt and fear. So you take more time to rest. And, just as food fuels more time to rest. And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul. So you the body, laughter fuels our soul. So you take more time to laugh and to play.take more time to laugh and to play.

De-stress breathing exerciseDe-stress breathing exercisePlay soft, gentle music or, if you like, sit Play soft, gentle music or, if you like, sit outdoors and listen to the wind, running outdoors and listen to the wind, running

water or birds. Let the music flow in and out water or birds. Let the music flow in and out of your ears and exhale. Repeat, letting the of your ears and exhale. Repeat, letting the

music flow through your eyes, now your music flow through your eyes, now your nostrils and mouth, then your entire body.nostrils and mouth, then your entire body.Focus your attention on the chest. Breathe Focus your attention on the chest. Breathe

in and out through your heart. Now, be in and out through your heart. Now, be silent and become more aware of your silent and become more aware of your

body. This exercise is great for relaxing the body. This exercise is great for relaxing the nervous system and it teaches harmony nervous system and it teaches harmony

with nature.with nature.

Psychological Self –fluidity of Psychological Self –fluidity of emotionsemotions

I don’t share my I don’t share my pains and my joys.pains and my joys.

I am afraid to talk I am afraid to talk about inner self – about inner self – unpleasant unpleasant experiences.experiences.

Fear of rejection Fear of rejection and not and not appreciated.appreciated.

I bury my pain.I bury my pain.

I name my I name my feelings.feelings.

I claim my deep I claim my deep feelings.feelings.

I am not afraid to I am not afraid to share what deeply share what deeply affects me.affects me.

I simply have to be I simply have to be true to my true to my feelings. feelings.

You learn that negative You learn that negative feelings such as anger, feelings such as anger,

envy and resentment must envy and resentment must be understood and be understood and

redirected or they will redirected or they will suffocate the life out of suffocate the life out of

you, and poison the you, and poison the universe that surrounds universe that surrounds

you.you.

Rational SelfRational Self Power of the will-Power of the will-

ego-generated and ego-generated and outward driven.outward driven.

I think therefore I I think therefore I am. Control-freak.am. Control-freak.

I rational-ies a lot I rational-ies a lot to defend myself.to defend myself.

I am cold and I am cold and calculating.calculating.

I am indifferent.I am indifferent.

Power of com-passion-Power of com-passion-self-transcendence self-transcendence and inward-driven.and inward-driven.

I try to combine my I try to combine my head and my heart.head and my heart.

I accept the multi-I accept the multi-layered character of layered character of truth.truth.

I care for others.I care for others.

You stop trying to control You stop trying to control people, situations and people, situations and

outcomes. You learn that outcomes. You learn that just as people grow and just as people grow and

change, so it is with love... change, so it is with love... and you learn that you and you learn that you don't have the right to don't have the right to demand love on your demand love on your

terms... just to make you terms... just to make you happy.happy.

Spiritual SelfSpiritual Self I am not worthy.I am not worthy. I am a fallen I am a fallen

creature.creature. I am guilty.I am guilty. I have difficulty I have difficulty

forgiving others forgiving others especially myself.especially myself.

I am pessimistic I am pessimistic about life. I go about life. I go through the motion.through the motion.

Reward -Reward -punishmentpunishment

I am blessed. I am blessed. I celebrate my I celebrate my

original blessings.original blessings. I am graced by God.I am graced by God. I forgive myself.I forgive myself. I celebrate the I celebrate the

beauty of life. Life beauty of life. Life is beautiful.is beautiful.

Superabundance of Superabundance of God’s loveGod’s love

My experiences of God's love and My experiences of God's love and forgiveness help me to reach out as forgiveness help me to reach out as

a channel of that love to others, a channel of that love to others, especially those wounded by especially those wounded by

personal tragedies and those put personal tragedies and those put down by society.down by society.

I've made friends with my spiritual I've made friends with my spiritual Self, the divine light within me; and I Self, the divine light within me; and I have committed myself to making have committed myself to making

this spiritual core the unifying center this spiritual core the unifying center of my whole being.of my whole being.

You learn that principles You learn that principles such as honesty and such as honesty and integrity are not the integrity are not the outdated ideals of a outdated ideals of a bygone era, but the bygone era, but the

mortar that holds together mortar that holds together the foundation upon which the foundation upon which

you must build a life.you must build a life.

The universe is The universe is marked by pain and marked by pain and suffering.suffering.

Life is a burden.Life is a burden. There are many There are many

negative forces negative forces around.around.

We dominate the We dominate the earth. Have moreearth. Have more

MaximizeMaximize

The universe is The universe is basically good.basically good.

Life is a gift. Life is a gift.

Life moves on with Life moves on with birth and death.birth and death.

We care for the We care for the earth. earth.

Travel light. Less is Travel light. Less is more. Optimize more. Optimize

The universe is moved by a The universe is moved by a creative and divine force creative and divine force

called God. The more aligned called God. The more aligned you are to this power, the you are to this power, the

stronger you will be, and your stronger you will be, and your life will be more directed.life will be more directed.

““When the people of the world When the people of the world all know beauty as beauty, all know beauty as beauty,

there arises the recognition of there arises the recognition of ugliness.” (Lao Tzu)ugliness.” (Lao Tzu)

Let go of the "shoulds" in your life. Open up to the miracle of now. Value your uniqueness. Explore your dreams and passions. Yield to life - "To live is to be slowly born”.

Obey the voice of your Spirit. Unwind - have fun and enjoy the presence of friends. Renew yourself - body and soul. Surround yourself with caring people.

Express yourself - be true to yourself.

Linger longer at what you enjoy.

Feel God's unconditional love for you.