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Color Yourself Happy

Here’s a new twist on stress reduction. More adults are turning off phones and tablets, putting credit scores, diets and gym workouts out of their minds, and picking up crayons and coloring books for their relaxation and self-expression. Not your 5-year-old's coloring books A new top seller on Amazon is simply titled Adult Coloring Book and is full of intricate "stress relieving patterns" from geometric shapes to fleur de lis. Selling more than 1 million copies and helping launch the coloring craze is 2013's Secret Garden, by Johanna Basford, whose pen-and-ink illustrations come to life as you discover tiny creatures and complete her scenes. Become mesmerized by the patterns "Chances are last time you spent an hour or so coloring in you didn't have a mortgage and you weren't worried about a nagging boss or the financial crisis!" Johanna says. "Coloring in seems to help people think about a time when life was simpler and more carefree." Adult colorists can't wait for her next book, The Lost Ocean: An Underwater Adventure & Coloring Book, on sale Oct. 27. Jim Gold is a veteran journalist who splits his time between Seattle and the Bay Area.

Self-Care

7 Tips to Find the Silver Lining Within Yourself

The idiom “every cloud has a silver lining” is a beautiful image, representing an attitude of finding the positive in any situation, no matter how challenging it might be. It’s more than just believing that good things are to come, it’s an understanding that every negative might be reframed as a positive, depending on how you see it.The more scientifically minded will be happy to know that this is more than just word play—it’s the subject of some interesting recent research out of NYU. Dubbed “silver lining theory,” the concept holds that some 90% of people believe that their negative traits are actually strengths in disguise - and it’s that very belief that makes them work harder at developing that positive attribute.Read on see the silver lining within yourself, every day - no matter who you are.Shy = ReflectiveDo you prefer the company of a few close friends over a pumping party? Wait for someone else to speak before raising your hand? It could be that you’re shy—but that means you’re also reflective.Sliver lining: You take your time before rushing in with an answer, and like to think things over alone or with the people closest to you. This calm, contemplative quality can be further cultivated by writing, or by taking up a meditation practice.Disorganized = CreativeYour clothes are more at home on your bedroom floor rather than they are in the wardrobe, your bills live in piles on the counter and your inbox is overflowing - sound familiar? Sure, you could be a bit disorganized, but you’re also highly creative, and naturally see the beauty in the chaos of life around you.Silver lining: You know how to lose yourself in a creative flow - whether it’s visual art, writing, or decorating your apartment, and this flair rubs off on the people around you.Impulsive = SpontaneousQuick decisions are second nature to you, and plans tend not to sit quite so well. You buy presents on a whim, call old friends when they pop into your mind, and send emails without much of a second thought. Sure, many would call you impulsive - but they probably also love how spontaneous you can be.Silver lining: Saturday night and nothing planned—no worries! You’re always quick to come up with ideas for last-minute fun, and can rush to help a friend on a moment’s notice if needed. Embrace this flowy side of your personality; you’ll probably find that your loved ones really value it, too. Intimidating = AssertiveEver been called the “life of the party”? Chances are, people also find you intimidating from time to time, but that’s okay. Your strong, confident energy points to your assertive nature—and that’s something you can put to use in both your personal and your professional life.Silver lining: Along with standing up for yourself, you can use your strong, clear voice to speak up on issues close to your heart. Connect with other assertive personalities with these TED talks that spark social change.Irresponsible = AdventurousDo you often misplace your things? Forget to return phone calls? Maybe even miss a deadline here and there? You might be aware that you’re a touch on the irresponsible side - but it’s likely just because your head has already moved on to your next adventure.Silver lining: Being tied down isn’t really your thing as you’d rather be out exploring - in your hometown or around the world. Infuse a sense of adventure into everything you do—it’ll fuel your passion and bring out the silver lining of this personality trait.Stubborn = PersistentIf you know you’re right, you’ll never back down - and why should you? You’ve got a point to prove! This quality might aptly be labelled stubbornness, but it can also be seen as persistence if applied to something worthwhile.Silver lining: If something’s worth doing, it’s worth doing properly—right? You can use your strong, dedicated force of will to tackle difficult projects head on and keep going until your goal is achieved. Looking for something to sink your teeth into?Inflexible = OrganizedEverything has its place - and if something changes it can throw your entire day out of whack. This tendency towards inflexibility might make dealing with the inevitable changes of day-to-day life a challenge - but the flip side is that you are supremely organized.Silver lining: Your organizational skills can have many positive applications - from keeping your own life in order and getting the most out of every minute to running a business which has a positive impact on the world at large.Don’t see your personality on this list? You can try the silver lining exercise yourself - you probably already know which of your character traits have a flip-side that you can use to do good. Be kind to yourself in your analysis, and tell us about it in the comments below.

Practice

Train Yourself to Love in 4 Steps

One way to bring moments of healthy connection to your life is, surprisingly, to spend time alone. Experts say meditation and other forms of mindfulness train you to have better rapport with others. As we eliminate distractions in our lives and become more aware of ourselves and those around us, we begin to live in the moment and experience those moments more fully.A special kind of meditationOne popular practice is the loving-kindness meditation, which is shown to help us create a greater connection with other people. “Loving-kindness meditation is a way of training our attention to be more inclusive and open,” says Sharon Salzberg, a leading proponent of Buddhist meditation practices and author of several books, including Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation.Unlike other forms of meditation, loving-kindness involves wishing ourselves and others well. Loving-kindness encourages us to aim tender thoughts at others—both people we know and don’t know. “In thinking about others, instead of rigidly categorizing some as ‘unimportant’ or ‘not counting,’ we are more fully present, so we genuinely feel connected.”Scientifically studiedStudies show that meditation can help you feel and act with compassion. In a study at Northeastern University, people who had practiced loving-kindness or another type of mindfulness for eight weeks were much more likely than members of a control group to stand up and give their seats to someone on crutches. At Stanford University, after just a few minutes of loving-kindness meditation, participants in another study felt more connected to strangers pictured in photographs and had more positive feelings about them.Warning: Strong emotions may occurEager to give loving-kindness meditation a go? Start with professional guidance—a therapist or clinician trained in the method, advises neuroscientist Gaëlle Desbordes of Harvard Medical School, who collaborated on the Northeastern study. Individuals who are depressed or have other mental health issues might discover pre-existing trauma through meditation, but most healthy individuals will find it beneficial.Here, Sharon explains the basics of how to get started:1. Sit comfortably with your eyes closed—“It doesn’t have to be a formal meditation posture.”2. Choose simple phrases to repeat to yourself as you breathe deeply. Sharon suggests: “May I be safe;” “may I be happy;” “may I be healthy;” and/or “may I live with ease.” As the pronoun suggests, you first think these wishes for yourself, and picture yourself experiencing them. Gently repeat the phrases, each time directing your wishes at another person in your life. It could be someone you get along with; it could be someone with whom you’ve been experiencing friction.3. If your mind wanders, try to let go of whatever thought is distracting you and return to your phrases.4. If you feel like it, offer the wishes to “all beings everywhere—those whom you know, those whom you don’t know.” Start with just five minutes of meditation daily, and try building your practice to 20 minutes or more.Make it easy and informalIn addition to a more formal meditation practice, Sharon says that as you become more adept at loving kindness, you can do it “on the fly.” Practice it throughout the day, while walking, driving or even waiting in line. Sharon says she aims silent wishes at people she passes on the street (with her eyes open, of course).Who is this??Another way to prime yourself for loving connections? When your telephone rings, don’t pick it up right away. “Let it ring three times and breathe,” Sharon suggests. “It just gives you a few moments to break the momentum of the maybe crazy day you’re having.” That allows you to feel fully present, so you can connect better with the person who is calling.

Self-Care

Why Self-Care Isn’t Selfish

Here’s a common scenario: You are exhausted and overwhelmed by responsibilities, and the only way you’ll get it all done is by working harder and longer, sleeping less, and cutting out the “nonessential” things you do to take care of yourself. We’re Americans—taught to power through and not complain. But if we do not take time to recharge, we inevitably burn out, causing even more problems than we started with. What exactly is self-care? The term “self-care” refers to anything we do intentionally to care for our physical, mental and emotional/spiritual health. If we first make our own health and happiness a priority—if we start by resting adequately, exercising, and adding a little fun and joy to our schedules—we actually become better, more effective workers, partners, parents and friends. If you feel you need to justify these acts of self-maintenance, to yourself or anyone else, think of it this way: Take care of yourself in the following important ways, and you will, in turn, be able to take better care of everything and everyone on your list. Eat Skipping meals deprives your brain and body of the fuel it needs to function and focus throughout the day. And while there is room in a healthy diet for the occasional indulgence, turning to take-out too often will wreak havoc on body and brain, making you less effective at work and possibly more irritable and impatient. (Not to mention the fact that processed foods have been shown to contribute to depression and weight gain.) Move Get into gear by dancing with your kids, hitting the gym or even just taking walks in your neighborhood. Physical activity has a positive impact on body and mind. In fact, exercise has been shown to boost your mood, to increase creativity, and aid concentration and focus—all of which makes you more productive and a lot more fun to be around. Rest According to studies, lack of sleep contributes to obesity, heart disease, and a host of other ailments. It also leads to slowed, foggy thinking,which is not exactly how most of us want to show up for work, parenting, or life in general. It’s not just nighttime sleep that makes us more productive. While we are working, taking an occasional break to meditate, go for a walk or take a short nap keeps us firing on all cylinders. Longer periods of rejuvenation, such as vacations, have also been shown to increase productivity, creativity, fitness levels and overall health and happiness. Enjoy You’ve heard the saying, “laughter is the best medicine,” and now science has proven this to be true. Who knew that giggling with girlfriends or cracking up at a comedy show are great ways to take care of ourselves? Relax and be in the present One way to slow down and add more joy to our daily routines is by being mindful and present each moment we can. Practicing mindfulness—whether that means meditating, journaling, doing yoga, taking some deep breaths, or a mental mini-break—has been shown to have incredible positive impact on physical, mental and emotional and spiritual wellbeing. We need to plan for these breaks or they may never happen. Add a weekly yoga class or an occasional massage to your schedule if you can. Start small You only have five minutes to meditate? That’s OK, you will still reap the benefits. And just taking a moment or two when you wake up in the morning to make a mental gratitude list will set the stage to appreciate blessings big and small throughout the day. Keeping healthy snacks on hand at home and in your gym bag or desk drawer and/or making a meal plan for the week will help ensure that you always have nourishing options available. We all know how easy it is to fall into the trap of overscheduling. But before you take on more work, more volunteer and kids’ activities that will drain you and keep you tied up for hours, remember that you have the power to say “no.” Setting aside time for a little self-care will make you healthier, more energetic and efficient at work, and more effective at caring for all of the important people and things in your life.

Workplace

5 Ways to Overcome Self-Doubt

Live Happy blogger, best-selling author and workplace wellbeing coach Michelle McQuaidpresents this series of interviews entitled "Show Up, Shine and Succeed." This is the first of five insightful, informative posts, each featuring a different positive psychology expert.Do you ever find yourself hesitating, holding yourself back at work for fear that you’ll be discovered as an imposter? Do you worry that maybe you’re not really “good enough” to achieve the kind of success you dream of?Everyone experiences self-doubt from time to timeIf you are bothered by self-doubt, you’re not alone. In fact, one study of managers by the European Institute for Leadership and Management revealed that 50% of female managers and 31% of male managers admitted to experiencing self-doubt.“Unfortunately when we’re worried that our abilities are going to be questioned, we lack the confidence to turn our thoughts into actions,” explained Louisa Jewell, a positive psychology expert who has studied self-doubt extensively.Click here to listen to full audio interview.Self-doubt can hinder your performance at work“Self-doubt causes us to engage in self-protective strategies at work, such as procrastination, hesitation and self-handicapping in order to avoid failure,” says Louisa. “While we may start out consciously using these strategies, once we realize they’re working, they often become unconscious habits that limit our potential for growth and success.”While often viewed as internal—something created by the stories we tell inside our own heads—Louisa points out that researchers now believe self-doubt may be socially constructed.“Self-doubt is often generated in your mind because of the social evaluations of others,” she explained. “Human beings are generally sensitive creatures, and the moment someone questions you, challenges you or looks at you in a funny way, you start to question your abilities.”According to Louisa, we can move beyond self-doubt by using the following approaches:1. Be aware of who you surround yourself with.Your social network can either increase or reduce your self-doubt. If you’re embarking on something new, make sure you’ve got supportive people around you who are encouraging you to move forward.2. Focus on your workInstead of wondering, “How does that make me look?” or “What if I fail in front of this person now?” focus instead on what you’re trying to create, who you’re trying to serve and what you’d like to achieve. Try saying: “I’m just working away here and I could care less about what others might think about me.”3. Challenge the negative chatter in your head. Be aware of what you’re saying to yourself. If you find your thoughts are full of negativity and judgment, then challenge what you’re saying by asking: “Is that true?” Rather than having your thoughts irrationally hijacked by self-doubt, rationally look for evidence to take a more objective, balanced point of view.4. Use your strengths. Be aware of the things that you like to do and are good at and use these consciously to fuel your confidence to act. When you draw on your strengths it removes your fear of moving forward and taps into your deep-rooted belief that you can succeed, and that you have the resources and skills to tackle new challenges.5. Practice self-compassion.Be willing to look at your own mistakes and shortcomings with kindness and understanding. Don’t judge yourself harshly or feel the need to defensively focus on all your awesome qualities to protect your ego. Instead, embrace the fact that to err is indeed human. Try to get a realistic sense of your abilities and actions, and then figure out what needs to be done differently next time.You can find out more about Louisa’s research and her upcoming book on self-doubt at https://www.louisajewell.com.And if you’d like more tested, practical ways to show up, shine and succeed at work visit https://www.showupshineandsucceed.com.

Workplace

Express Yourself

It was a simple question: “How many of you consider yourself to be creative?”Without pause I raised my hand. When I realized I was the only one in the room of about 30 to do so, I was astonished. The group, all college grads,included engineers, human resources professionals, military officers, health careconsultants and agricultural researchers; a good number were also husbands, wivesand parents.Creativity does not end with childhoodHow could these smart, accomplished, active and social men andwomen not feel creative?Children create naturally. They turn a box into a house, a parent’s tablet into ascribble pad and cereal into a necklace for mom. We love it when kids surprise uswith their creative thoughts, abilities and projects. But whilewe expect creativity from kids, we usually don’t from adults.What does that say about our understanding of being creative?Making creativity part of our everyday livesJust because we aren’t destined to be the next Pablo Picasso doesn’tmean we’re not creative creatures. In fact, I think if we embracecreativity as a part of our everyday lives, we ensure it will add toour overall happiness.In this issue, our first anniversary edition, we celebrate creativity andits tie to happiness in numerous ways: Our exclusive cover story on OliviaNewton-John shares that she feels creativity is with her every day. Ourspecial, 24-page section on creativity and happiness brings together some ofthe best minds on and practitioners of the subject, including author Dr. NancyAndreasen, singer-songwriter Tori Amos and entrepreneur Jim Denevan.Add creative thinking to your work, your lifeOurstalwart group of columnists, including Gretchen Rubin and Shawn Achor,dives headfirst into the topic, offering advice on how to be more creative andunleash those “aha” moments at home and work. A favorite part of everyissue, our social media survey shares your thoughts on creativity. We return the favor via our Year of Happiness calendar with 30 days of creativeideas, activities, quotes and tips, all there for your choosing.So, whether you’d be on the yes or no side in terms of consideringyourself creative, take a look at this issue with an openmind. There’s so much to gainif you let yourself go!- KarolDeWulf Nickell

Lifestyle

Note to Self

In Eric Hutchinson’s business, there are lots of ups and downs. One minute you are all the rage, and the next…no one is interested. His ability to stay grateful for everything he has achieved keeps the singer-songwriter balanced in the volatile world of being a musician. This refreshing perspective and his love affair with writing and performing music, inspires his creativity and allows him to push his art into new places. Pop that's catchy and sticks around “I don’t really subscribe to the idea that you have to be miserable to make great music. At least for me, it’s actually the opposite,” Eric says. “When I’m not happy, the last thing I want to do is pick up the guitar and start playing. I find that my music sounds best when it comes from a place, if not [of] being happy, then at least [of] being curious, trying to analyze why I felt a certain way.” His sound is often described as soulful pop that’s catchy and sticks around. On his first two albums, Sounds Like This and Moving Up Living Down, Eric says he was making music as therapy and using it to work through some issues in his life. But with his latest album, Pure Fiction, he took a different approach and decided to celebrate the good things. The cynical optimist A self-described “cynical optimist,” Eric works at focusing on the positive things going on around him. Over the last few years, he says, he has kept a running log of all the good days, and even a few good hours he has experienced, so he can remind himself of them whenever he is feeling down or lonely. He credits this exercise with helping him become aware of when that good moment is happening so he can maximize the feeling he gets and make it just a little better. However, it’s not always easy, and, he admits, there are days when it’s hard to find the right melody or to face shows without much of a crowd. As he has gotten older, though, he tries not to beat himself up too much over the disappointments. He compares the process to fishing, and by sticking to it, he manages to catch the right sound and everything falls into place. Music that makes you feel better “I spend a lot of time working to cultivate and appreciate the good stuff because it’s kind of my natural tendencyto skip over some of that,” he says. “That’s what my music is about…reminding me about all the things there are to be happy about. I think a lot of my listeners gravitate toward music that makes you feel better.” And if you are having a good time listening to his music, that just adds fuel to his desire to keep doing what he’s doing. His resilient attitude toward his passion keeps him penning head-bopping pop hits like “OK, It’s Alright with Me”; “Rock & Roll”; and his newest single, “Tell the World.” Celebrate the music “At my shows, I pick up on the fact that it’s something fun for the fans and it’s actually something fun you can share with someone else,” Eric says. “I make sure everyone is having a good time, singing, dancing and celebrating the music.” The payoff for Eric is singing in front of sold-out crowds and listening to everyone sing back his songs; soaking up that feel-good reverb and feeding off of the electricity. When he is in that moment, he’s sure to take a “mental snapshot” and save it for a time when he needs to shine.

Self-Care

Quiz: Are You Sabotaging Your Self-Esteem?

When we think about “talking to yourself,” we might imagine a strange person rambling out loud in a public place.That voice in your headBut we all have an inner monologue, and for some of us, we wish it weren’t quite so chatty! These voices are as normal and natural as can be. This phenomenon is called self-talk, and it can dramatically impact our feelings, thoughts, mood and behaviors in both positive and negative ways.Cognitive behavioral therapyImproving your self-talk is such an important topic that there is an entire field of study in psychology dedicated to it: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). It was designed to help us retrain our thinking and improve our ability to speak to ourselves in a positive way. Because it seems to have a clear and quick effect, CBT has become one of the most popular kinds of talk therapy in the country.Those whose self-talk is mostly positive (“hey, good job!”) tend to be happier, more productive and have higher self-esteem. Those who are flooded with negative ruminations tend to be more depressed and angry, less productive, and have lower self-esteem.This quiz will help you assess whether you are skewing positive or negative; find your results at the end.Take the quiz:A.1. If a friend cancels lunch with me at the last minute, I assume that person is angry with me even if he or she never said so.OR2. If a friend cancels lunch with me at the last minute, I imagine he or she is sorry because I am confident that friends enjoy my company.B.1. I tend to be hard on myself. I might be self-critical or overly judgmental about my appearance, behaviors or feelings.OR2. I tend to cut myself slack in difficult situations, and I try to accept my shortcomings and view them as opportunities for growth rather than flaws.C.1. If a friend is angry with me about something, I might think of even more things he or she might be angry about.OR2. When I have a conflict with someone, I think calming thoughts and remind myself that I am a good person and that things will be OK no matter what happens.D.1. I know my weaknesses and think about them often.OR2. I know my weaknesses, but try to focus on my strengths.E.1. I have been known to overthink things to the point of upsetting myself unnecessarily.OR2. I tend not to overthink things because I feel comfortable and/or confident in my initial decisions.F.1. When I am challenged by adversity, I tend to feel hopeless and/or powerless.OR2. When I am challenged by adversity, I tend to feel strong and able to tackle the challenge.G.1. I don’t typically compliment myself, even privately or in my own mind.OR2. I am able to compliment myself and receive compliments.H.1. When I feel angry, sad or afraid, I panic because it’s hard to help myself feel better.OR2. When I feel angry, sad or afraid, I am OK with it because I know the tools to manage those feelings.I.1. If people could play a tape of my mind, they would be surprised that my thoughts are as negative as they are.OR2.If people could play a tape of my mind, they would view me as a positive person.J.1. I am kinder to others than I am to myself.OR2. I am as kind or kinder to myself than I am to others.Next, add up the numbers from your answers:1–10:Your mind tends to be filled with an excessive amount of negative self-talk, which can be emotionally burdening. Try to work toward being nicer to yourself and making your thoughts more positive. Perhaps try to take extra time out to look for the good in yourself and in situations. Make an extra effort to listen to your self-talk so that you can identify what is causing the moments of dread or fear and attempt to shift your perspective and see things from a more objective point of view.10-20: In general, you have good skills when it comes to positive thinking. You tend to be great at encouraging yourself and speaking to yourself in an affirmative and healthy way. When you hear yourself becoming negative, stop yourself and see if you can look at the situation (or judgment) from a different, more positive perspective.Stacy Kaiser, the author ofHow to Be a Grown Up: The Ten Secret Skills Everyone Needs to Know, is asuccessful licensed psychotherapist, relationship expert and media personality.For more on Stacy, go toStacyKaiser.com.

Well-Being

6 Tips for Nurturing Your Self-image

From the moment we’re born,we are conditioned to focus onour appearance. Others judgeand comment on how we look becausethere’s nothing else to remark upon—we haven’t yet developed personalities.“What a beautiful baby!” “She haseyes just like her mommy!” “Who doeshe look like, mom or dad?” “Oh no,grandma’s ears!” Our height and weightare even the very firstofficialfactssent to our family and friends on ourbirth announcements. The commentsabout our appearance begin the secondwe make our entrance into the worldand continue until the day we die.With the tone set from Day Oneof our existence, it makes sense thatwe would evaluate and scrutinize our appearance. And with books, articlesand conversations everywhere aboutself acceptance, one might wonderwhy so many of us still strugglewith this issue, why we still judge ourselves so harshly and have sucha hard time accepting and lovingthe physical self that we are.I believe one of the fundamentalreasons we’re so challenged in thisarea is because of the many mirrorsthat speak to us each and every day.Be kind to yourselfYou see, there are two kinds of mirrorswe encounter in our lives: the actual,physical mirrors we look in to see ourreflectionand the metaphorical, orsymbolic, mirrors that are the peoplereflectingwho we are and how we look.I want to turn the whole discussionof appearance upside down. Let’s takethe focus off of societal messages andideals about our body image and turnto our own personal self-projections.Whether or not we personally acceptourselves as we are is the most powerfulmirror we can look into. Therefore, thegoal is to build your ability to embracewho you are and how you look in themost accepting and loving way possible.You are the only person who isaround you 24 hours a day, seven days aweek, year in and year out. You impactyourself beyond all others, and you arein charge of your life, your appearance,and ultimately, how you feel insideand out each and every day. That’swhy it is extremely important to learnthe skills to diminish the critical andharsh ways that you view yourself andmove toward acceptance and self-love.The changes toward having a more positive and accepting image of yourbody can begin with a few easy steps:1. Take time out of each day to focus on being your best youYou cannot think negative thoughtsabout your body at the same time youare focused on nurturing it. Take a yogaclass, exercise to a workout video, puton some great music and start dancingaround your house. While you are doingthese activities, focus on thinking about how good your body feels and howwonderful it is that you are workingtoward keeping it healthy. If negativethoughts enter your mind, push themout and focus on the good taking place.2.Make a commitment to stop criticizing your appearanceCommit to not allowing unkind wordsabout your body or yourself to enteryour mind anymore. If they do creepin, counteract them with somethingpositive about yourself, such as “I ama good person,” “I am intelligent”or “I am always there if someoneneeds me.” As I mentioned earlier,you cannot have a negative thoughtand a positive one at the same time,so keep those positive ones coming!3.Be good to your body so you feel appreciated and pamperedTake baths, drink delicious healthy juices, giveyourself a manicure and shower usinga body scrub that will make your skinfeel soft. While you are doing thesethings, remind yourself how you areappreciating and nourishing your bodyand that you deserve to feel good.4. Stop comparing yourself to other peopleWe are all built differently, and noone is perfect. You will always find someone with a smaller waist, lesscellulite or smoother skin. It’s a losingbattle to try to be like someone else, soinstead, focus on being your bestself.5. Spend time with people who love you for youThe fact is, being around critical,scrutinizing people puts each of us in asimilar mindset. Surrounding yourselfwith positive, accepting people whogive compliments freely will leaveyou in a more positive and self-lovingstate toward them and yourself.6. Celebrate your giftsWhile you may not love everythingabout your body, there must be someparts of it that you can appreciate.Do you have shapely legs? Beautifulhair? Thick eyelashes? Hands thatcan type quickly? A mouth thatknows just the right words to say tocomfort someone in pain? Be gratefulfor those qualities and allow yourselfto recognize and honor them.Remind yourself daily that youhave been given one body to occupy,nurture and accept for the entiretyof your life. It will be there to moveyou across a crowded street, to liftsomething that you need moved andto go with you to every importantlife event you have to attend. Acceptit, embrace it and nourish it withkind words and healthy living.Are you overly critical, or do you love your body? Take our quiz to find out.

Well-Being

Color Yourself Happy

7 Tips to Find the Silver Lining Within Yourself

Train Yourself to Love in 4 Steps

Why Self-Care Isn’t Selfish

5 Ways to Overcome Self-Doubt

Express Yourself

Note to Self

Quiz: Are You Sabotaging Your Self-Esteem?

6 Tips for Nurturing Your Self-image

Pep Talk Yourself!

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