Best Self Help

Inner Peace: How to Be at Peace with Yourself

We all have our ups and downs.

But if we can cultivate a deep and abiding sense of inner peace, which holds even amid life’s ebbs and flows, we have come close to mastering the art of living.

Inner peace starts with cultivating a healthy perspective and acceptance of yourself.

Here are 13 tips to help you in be more at peace with yourself.

1. Don’t try to be somebody else. Recognize that you are uniquely designed for a specific purpose. You will only frustrate yourself trying to be like someone else. Besides, even that person you envy has his or her private struggles. It has been said that the only perfect people are the ones you don’t know.

2. Separate societal accolades from what really matters. Some of the people you may envy are idolized by society, but social standards are not the only ones. Character is what counts, and you may well have much more character than someone who is popular.

3. Nobody’s perfect. Internalize this truth and adjust your expectations of yourself accordingly.

4. Don’t focus on what you lack; be grateful for what you have received.

5. Appreciate nature. Look at the trees, plants, animals, starry skies, sunrises and sunsets as gifts to you.

6. Don’t feel like you have to be productive every moment of every day (and night!). Recognize the importance of “down time,” and don’t feel guilty about taking some.

7. Reduce mess and clutter in your home. You will feel more at peace in general if you do this.

8. Manage your time effectively. While you needn’t feel like you have to work every minute, a good schedule where you feel productive and that allows for leisure time can give you a great sense of peace.

9. Make lists so you don’t have to hold everything in your head at once. Nothing undermines peace like a bunch of jumbled thoughts! Your lists should include long-term projects and immediate to-dos.

10. Let things go that you can’t control. When it comes down to it, we really can’t control nearly as much as we would like to.

11. Keep a journal or scrapbook. For some, just the act of organizing their thoughts and keeping a record of their lives brings peace. For others, getting their thoughts out on paper is therapeutic in itself.

12. Let the past go; it can not be changed. Learn to embrace past experiences as learning opportunities. Share with others what you have learned from your mistakes. Your sense of peace will increase if you use your negative past to have a positive impact on your (or someone else’s) future.

13. Spend time with yourself. You can’t be at peace with someone you don’t know.

The Indian Head Massage: Try a Champissage Massage

Most massage techniques start with the neck and work their way down. The head is cradled on the table but gets no special attention at all. So even after the massage, there can be some areas of healing that have not been addressed.

Indian head massage is also called champissage massage. The phrase was coined by an Indian massage therapist named Narendra Mehta. He grew up in India and had the benefit of the Indian head massage throughout his life.

Mehta resolved to bring the benefits of this massage to the Western world, and it became a reality in the nineties in London. He developed a technique that involved the head, neck, shoulders and back. In Ayurvedic medicine, the body has several chakras, or points of light. Each chakra helps to balance the body. When one is not properly functioning, working with that chakra can restore balance to the entire body.

During an Indian head massage, three chakras are addressed: the third eye (forehead), the master chakra (crown of the head) and the vishuddha (located in the throat). The massage begins with the upper back and shoulders and then extends upward to each chakra.

People carry much of their tension in their neck and their head. During the champissage massage, various techniques can help the body release those tensions, fatigue and pain. And, depending on the client’s complaint, different chakras are concentrated on during the session. The ides is that rebalancing the chakras can allow the natural healing nature of the body to take over and repair itself.

After an Indian head massage, many people are pleasantly surprised that simply working from the neck up can bring so much relief.

Champissage has been known to relieve headaches and muscle tension throughout the body, increase blood flow to the scalp (your hair will grow), relieve eye strain and increase overall well-being. Practitioners have found that working with the third eye can bring clarity and focus. It is as if the entire body was massaged and not just the head.

For a relaxing listen, try this Indian Head Massage CD:

True Champissage: Indian Head Massage

1. Ayurveridic Influence,
2. Firm & Gentle Rhythm,
3. Tranquille Entrancement,
4. Ascending Sensation,
5. Headspace,
6. Temple of the Senses,
7. Relaxation & Release,
8. Shampoo for the Emotions,
9. Cleansing Champi,
10. Balanced State of Being,
11. Transcendence of the Soul,
12. Euphoria

Try samples of each of these tracks here >

Essential Oil – Beginners Best of the Best Set

Essential Oil – Beginners Best of the Best Set (14)
Where to buy: www.amazon.com

Essential oils play an important role in modern life, not only to create a calming and relaxing atmosphere after a busy workday, to use as household cleaners, but also to ease various ailments and pains the natural way.

I like this set, which calls itself the Beginners Best of the Best Set. It includes fourteen 10ml bottles of different natural oils. They are made from 100% pure and natural high quality oils without any additives or chemicals. It gives you a great selection of well-known oils, such as patchouli, lemongrass, tea tree, peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus and lemon.

Overall, the beginner essential oil set is a great way to get started in aromatherapy and experience the many benefits of natural oils.

It is always advisable to check with your doctor before using any aromatherapy products or supplements, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Relax with Khan’s Music Therapy Stress Relief

Product Recommendation: Music Therapy Series: Stress Relief (mp3 download)
Artist: Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan
Review by: ACHMOM
Where to buy: www.amazon.com

Music can have a tremendously positive effect on both body and mind, especially in times of stress or unhappiness. Listening to the right music can lift your spirits and improve your overall well-being.

The musician is Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan, a world-renowned sitar player. In this audio, he creates a feeling of what he describes as shanti (inner peace). When music touches you to the core and creates inner peace, you will feel calm and peaceful. Life doesn’t seem so unbearable anymore. The mp3 covers tracks entitled “Strings of Peace” and “Unwind with Melody,” all played on the sitar.

This Stress Relief Music Therapy mp3 download delivers healing and calming music. It’s a cinch to download it into your mp3 and enjoy the soothing experience of Khan’s music anywhere. If you are a nervous traveler, take this stress relief download with you on the go.

Try a sample by clicking here and see if this music doesn’t bring a little calmness back to your life. And if you like it, consider it for a thoughtful gift for your loved ones.

Homemade Fruit Facials: Perk up sallow skin with these ideas

When it comes to taking care of your skin, the treatment may be as close as your kitchen.

Natural ingredients can be used to help you keep enhance your skin without harsh chemicals. After all, early Americans didn’t have a Walgreen’s or the name brand skin cleansers. They learned about natural remedies.

If you have sallow skin, you can perk it up with some home-made remedies.

Sallow skin is skin that is dull looking. Anyone can get it. It lacks the shine and luster that is often seen in healthy skin. To return that luster is to change something about the internal environment that will cause the skin to return to a normal coloring.

Skin is the largest organ of the body. It needs certain vitamins and minerals to keep it doing its job – protecting the internal body. Skin can be oily, dry and flaky or a combination of both. Without the proper nutrition, you can see blotchiness or blemishes from excess oil.

One way to return your skin to a moisturized state is to boost it with topical facial masks. These aren’t just any masks; these are fruit facial masks that anyone can create at home with the right foods. The fruit mask works in combination with activities like exercise and proper eating. Exercise can increase circulation, which in turn increases oxygen consumption and nutrient utilization.

Maybe your skin is not looking its best because it is not being taken care of properly. The mask will work to remove excess oils, retain moisture and remove dead cell layers so healthier skin underneath can shine through.

Here are some ingredients that you can use to make fruit facials.

* Strawberries – They are filled with antioxidants. For sallow skin, the seeds can gently exfoliate the outer layers without being harsh. You can also use raspberries and blackberries.

* Oatmeal – All masks need to have filler that holds the mask together. Oatmeal is good to absorb any excess oil in the skin and soften its feel. Try to find oatmeal that is ground to a fine powder instead of the big rolled oats.

* Bananas – And you wonder why babies have such shiny skin. Bananas are added for help in retaining moisture in your skin.

* Grapes – They contain antioxidant substances as well. See your skin tighten and tone.

* Cucumber – They are not just for your eyes but your entire face. Cucumbers reduce swelling and puffiness while soothing and cooling your skin.

Need help for your skin? How about a fruit facial mask? You can make it at home whenever you need to improve the look of your skin.

For homemade facial recipes, check out the All-Natural Facial Recipe Book

The All Natural Facial Recipe Book
by Dawn M. Waldock

How to Bounce Back from a Failure: 7 Steps

Failure is a human experience.

It’s one of those things that we have all done, at some time or other.

Some of us handle the experience well; others not so well.

What’s the trick? How do some people bounce back so successfully after failure?

Here are 7 techniques for rebounding after a failed attempt.

#1 Don’t take the failure personally. Failure isn’t a personal attack or a sign of any type of character flaw. There is a cliché that says something along the lines of “failure means you tried.”  People who are actively pursuing goals and dreams fail often and they perceive it as part of the process. Instead of feeling unworthy or like a failure, they reevaluate their strategy and try again.

The next time you experience failure instead of feeling badly about yourself, feel good about the fact that you tried, and try again.

#2 Use the experience as a learning tool. Failure happens, right?  Why not learn from the experience. Analyze what went wrong and why? What can you change or do differently next time?  How can you use your failure to succeed?

#3 Realize that sometimes we fail for a reason. Maybe our heart really wasn’t into the effort. Maybe a limiting belief prevented us from achieving success. And sometimes it wasn’t the right opportunity. Generally when we fail there is a reason. Look around and evaluate why. Look for new opportunities and experiences that may bring success.

#4 Be grateful for the experience. Gratitude is a powerful emotion. Feeling gratitude for the failure and the experience will help you move forward with resolve and enthusiasm. Sometimes writing or journaling your thoughts in a positive manner helps you embrace failure as a positive experience rather than a negative one.

#5 Realize it happens to everyone and don’t hesitate to ask for help or advice. One of the great things about failure is it is an equalizer. Know that the most powerful people in the world, the most famous people have all failed thousands of times. When you fail instead of internalizing it and struggling again and again, ask for help and advice.

#6 Embrace your inner child. Remember being a kid and running with your friend? Sometimes you’d fall right?  What would you do? You’d jump back up, not even really think about the fall and return to running, right?   Children have a knack for focusing on the fun and not letting the failures or falls stop them. Do as the song says, “pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again.”  If you love what you’re doing, you won’t even give a failure a second thought.

#7 Laugh. We all make mistakes and those who can laugh at themselves and their mistakes get over them much faster than those who cannot.

Failure is a part of life. Embrace it as openly as you do success. Enjoy it, learn from it, and welcome it as a lesson and an opportunity to grow.

Recommended Reading:
Your Destiny Switch: Master Your Key Emotions and Live the Life of Your Dreams, by Peggy McColl
Read our review of Your Destiny Switch

Product Recommendation: Homemade Medicine

Product name: Homemade Medicine ebook
Where to buy: www.homemademedicine.com
Product Review by: ACHMom

More and more people are turning to home remedies instead of drugs in order to treat common ailments. Not only do they cost less, they also use natural ingredients.

The Homemade Medicine ebook is a great resource that gives you easy and quick access to all kinds of natural cures and home remedies to treat any health problem you might have. I like this ebook as it provides home remedy recipes that are easy to make, safe to use and proven to improve your condition. Pretty much every health condition you can think of is covered in this book – Whether it is a treatment option for insomnia, poison ivy, warts, glaucoma, high blood pressure, dog bites, or sunburn.

Learn to make your own inexpensive and safe oral mouth wash, a natural mouth spray for oral thrush, a toner for oily skin, a herbal conditioner for dry hair or even your own diaper rash cream. The book also gives clear dosage instructions depending on age and weight.

Overall, this book provides you with very detailed treatment options of all kinds of health issues. In my opinion, it is an essential book to have at home in case illness strikes and you are looking for a cure.

Obviously, as with all herbal remedies and supplements, it is always advisable to speak to your doctor before taking or applying any medication or herbal supplements. If you have a potentially serious health condition, please see your doctor instead of relying solely on home remedies.

Learn more about Homemade Medicine >

Product Recommendation: Max Strom – Learn to Breathe

Product Recommendation: Max Strom – Learn To Breathe (DVD)
Review by: ACMom
Where to buy: www.overstock.com

Learn breathing techniques directly from the master with this great DVD. The master is Max Strom, an internationally recognized yoga teacher and teacher of proper breathing. He says you can “learn to breathe and heal yourselves and your relationships.”

The DVD covers his breathing workshop that he gives worldwide to sold-out audiences. In his DVD he guides you through various breathing exercises and movements. You learn about the effect of our sometimes improper breathing on stress levels, sleep, other health issues, body and mind and our relationships. Once you integrate your learned breathing techniques into your daily life, you’ll  experience a new sense of inner calm, energy and focus. It might also give you the strength to stop certain bad habits and behaviors, such as smoking or drug addiction.

Overall, this DVD provides a good starting point to grow into a happy, calm and empowered human being by implementing his teachings and techniques into your daily life. Max Strom is a very inspiring teacher with a wealth of knowledge and insight. I think that this DVD would make a great gift to anybody who wants to change their life and relationships for the better.

Learn more >

Fraxel Laser Therapy: The Basics

Have you ever desired the skin of your youth back again? Well, science has developed a process that says you can restore elasticity and firmness that has been lost to your skin. It is the science of fraxel laser therapy.

As we age, so does our skin. It is constantly bombarded by free radicals just like the internal organs of our body. Free radicals come from environmental sources (pollution, the sun), smoking, stress, food and other places. For the skin, free radical damage means that skin loses its elasticity.

Elasticity is its ability to stay tight and toned. Special fibers in the second layer of skin, the dermis, form a lattice network that strengthens skin. These are two proteins called collagen and elastin. Weaknesses in that network can lead to wrinkles and other conditions, such as age spots.

Now, no one wants to develop wrinkles. And, we certainly don’t want to look old before our time. Some people will inherit the type of skin that stays tight as they age and others will show signs of wrinkling. It’s the luck of the draw, but now there is fraxel laser therapy to even the odds.

What lasers can do

Lasers are made up of different wavelengths of light that can penetrate the surface of the skin. With fraxel laser therapy, areas of the skin are treated with many columns of laser light. The laser penetrates to the dermal layer of the skin where the protein fibers are forming collagen.

Each laser light makes a tiny wound in the skin. When the skin is wounded, cells rush to the sight of the wound to speed healing. In the event of dermal injury, this means that a new network of collagen and elastin is formed. The result is a tighter look to your skin just as you once had when you were younger.

Fraxel laser therapy is not just for wrinkles. It can be used for other skin conditions. The laser is set to penetrate the skin at the level of the problem like age spots or even acne. Surface problems are targeted and removed, leaving a clearer layer of skin.

Depending on your condition, you may need one treatment or several to return your skin to a smooth and blemish-free look. Fraxel procedures are performed in a doctor’s office by trained professionals. It rejuvenates the skin by speeding healing. Most patients are able to receive their treatments without further wound care.

Most skin colors respond well to the treatment, but ask to be sure. Traditionally, ethnic groups with more melanin in their skin have experienced scarring with lasers. This procedure is different and offers a safer approach.

If you are interested in fraxel laser therapy, talk to your skin care professional. They can perform a skin evaluation and explain the possibilities of fraxel being right for you.

Top Tips to Stop Smelly Feet

Feet work very hard. The last thing you want is for them to smell when you take off your shoes. If you have the embarrassing odor of smelly feet, here are a few things that you can do to come out smelling like a rose.

What causes foot odor? There can be a number of causes. First of all, feet can sweat just like underarms. And unlike your underarms, feet are trapped in socks and shoes. If those socks are made of material that doesn’t breathe, the moisture becomes trapped inside. When shoes don’t allow for breathing either (like dress shoes), bacteria can cause odor.

Foot odor can also be caused by infections. Fungal infections can lead to odor for the same reason. The moisture has become a haven for bacteria to grow. They release odors as a by-product of their activity.

So, what’s a person to do?

* Wash your feet frequently – You may take a shower in the morning but you’ll need to give your feet a second washing when you come home. After you remove your socks and shoes, give your feet a good scrubbing before odors have time to spread. Be sure to dry your feet thoroughly afterwards. Good old soap and water usually works, but you may need to use baking soda and water to pull odors from your feet.

* Use foot powders – Medicated powders can dry out and prevent moisture. Spray or sprinkle your feet after washing but before bed. If you don’t have a powder like Gold Bond, you can use cornstarch as a moisture barrier.

* Freshen up your shoes – If you wear the same shoes to work every day, like dress shoes, you will end up with the same smelly problem. Place a dryer sheet in your shoes to help eliminate odor at night. There are also odor-eliminating powders that you can use in your shoes.

* Change your socks daily – You’ll have to beef up your sock collection for this one. Wearing a different pair of socks each day can go a long way to eliminating odor. If you can, switch to cotton socks. They will allow air to circulate around your feet. Any moisture will be wicked away from your feet. Keep an extra pair of socks at your desk in case you feel the need to change them.

Try these above tips to eliminate the odors from your feet. If this doesn’t clear it up, the cause may be an out-of-control infection. Seek a doctor’s help to treat the bacterial infection and subsequently eliminate the odor.