Power of Choice

Just a few days ago I came across a copy of this book from 1979. It is very timely for the end of the year and especially, the economic times we are living in right now.

Despite world wars, depression and other "bad times," Americans discovered more technologies and inventions during the past century, created more wealth and leisure time, and reorganized their institutions more times than any country has ever done before. With the advent of the Internet and more young people being interested in entrepreneurship, big companies loosing their market is not so much a thread anymore.
Here is an interesting link to Milton Friedman's TV series/
"Free To Choose." He has an interesting take on freedom and the economy.

J. Martin Kohe discovered that the greatest power is the POWER OF CHOICE. Mr. Kohe suggests that we were given that power by our creator regardless of our religious beliefs. We can choose to believe in goodness and abundance or we can believe in evil and scarcity.

By believing that GOD LOVES US, we have a greater power available than when we doubt that love. The power of choice (free will) is given to us at birth, it is part of our human make-up. Animals don't have choices only instinct.

We didn't decide to be born and we weren't given an owner's manual on how to conduct our lives. None-the-less, we all recognize sooner or later that we have that power of choice.

• Be aware of the power of choice - we can run our lives on auto-pilot or make conscious choices. By learning about the law of attraction, we discover that when we have positive thoughts, surround ourselves with beautiful things, listen to harmonious music, and eat good food, we have a greater chance to lead a healthy and happy life.
  
• Analyze the choices - even if we make a mistake at times, we always have another chance to do better next time. Many of our choices become habits. Habits create certain outcomes. If I don't like the outcome, I can change my thoughts and eventually my actions.
  
• Act on the choices - don't just think about possibilities, just do it. Based on the outcome we can adjust and grow.
  
• Learn from other people's experiences - As Victor Frankl discovered in Man's Search For Meaning, we always have a choice between stimulus and response.
  
• Live by the conscious choices - once we figure out what works for us, continue them until they become good habits.

Many of us are making New Year's resolutions. Here are a few suggestions:

* Focus and expect positive outcomes.

* Instead of being afraid, be courageous (absence of fear).

* Admit when wrong and do better next time.

* Let go of yesterday's mistakes, wrong-doings, self-centered thinking. Learn from the past.

* Live in the NOW to make better choices for the future.

* Focus on dreams, ideals, possibilities and live with compassion.

Joy To The World

The Lord is come,

let earth receive her King,

Let every heart prepare Him room, and

heaven and nature sing, and

heaven and nature sing, and

heaven, and heaven and nature sing.

The radio has been playing Christmas songs for weeks. Most of the time I don't even pay attention, they are just in the background. One morning I was driving to work in the dark. The song resounded deeply in my heart.

We celebrate Christmas as Jesus' birthday. Heaven and nature never stopped to praise and glorify his presence here on earth. For two thousand years men have been fighting wars, suffering diseases and sorrows, arguing with their neighbors, doubting and criticizing themselves, and are waiting for Jesus to return. Heaven and nature knows that He is here, showing off the most beautiful sunsets, giving us abundant harvests, blessing us with forgiveness and mercy.

We are all seeking and praying for peace. Especially, during the Christmas season, we wish each other peace on earth and good will to all. Were does peace start? In the politicians offices? Within the community of business men? With a family praying together? With an individual attending church?

These are all important places to start peace. I believe though, that real peace starts within the individual. Jesus told us: "Love your enemies." When we think of enemies, we usually think of outsiders. Isn't that where all the conflicts happen?

I am suggesting that the human conflict is happening within each individual. We haven't really known what our true purpose of life is and more so, that we are hard-wired to be with God. It says in Genesis, that man was created in the image of God. Do we accept that? Do we really believe that we have the same qualities as God, being absolute, eternal, unique, and divine?

By accepting our "internal enemies" such as negative emotions we must not hate ourselves. Feelings like doubt, hate, fear, anger and resentment don't make us "bad" people. They are there along with many other habits which we have adapted either from our families, ancestors, or throughout our own lives. This is not our struggle to fight.

The true meaning of Christmas is that the Messiah was born to help us surrender our troubles to him and clearly see who we really are: true, original, illuminated and authentic selves who resemble the Father. Jesus wanted so much for us to understand our true identity. He also wanted to show us what the Father's plan was for him. Could it be that there was more to his life than being humbly born in a manger?

Here is my Christmas present to you:

Merry Christmas and May God's Blessings be with you always.

Do you get your 5?

The higher your energy level, the more efficient your body. The more efficient your body, the better you feel and the more you will use your talent to produce outstanding results.
Anthony Robbins

We all know we are supposed to eat at least 5 servings (9 for men) of fruits and vegetables a day.
Most people’s excuse is that it is difficult to have them available.

Most supermarkets have the produce department right by the door. Fruits are pretty much ready to eat (except for washing). Recently, I have been cutting up about 4-6 different fruits (like bananas, apples, oranges, pears, grapes, craisins (dried cranberries) and pomegranates in season and create a salad by adding some nuts like almonds or sunflower seeds. Sometimes I add a couple of table spoons vanilla yogurt. A bowl of this salad can be a healthy breakfast or a healthy dessert.

With vegetables it is the same, have them handy. Cut up raw carrots and celery, peppers, kohlrabi, broccoli, cauliflower, etc. With some dip, it is not only a wonderful snack, it is easy to pack up for lunches or on the go.
Most supermarkets sell ready to serve salad mixes, or even cut up veggies.
This time of the year I love to cook cabbages, Brussels sprouts, make soups from potatoes, broccoli, corn chowders, etc.

What are the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables each day? Fresh produce contains the life energy, enzymes and vitamins and minerals which our body needs to renew the cells every day and to give us energy.
Most packaged foods are processed and even though they fill us up, they don't give us the nutrients we need. Some people suggest that we can spread our choices over a week. I find myself craving fresh fruits after a few days.

I subscribe to the sparkpeople website and get all kinds of good information every day, including recipes, fitness advice, and even motivation to stay on track.

What is considered a serving? One serving equals:
1 medium piece of fruit
1/2 cup fruit (raw, canned, or frozen)
1/2 cup cooked vegetables (canned or frozen)
1 cup raw vegetables
1/4 cup dried fruit
4-6 oz. of 100% juice (serving size depends on the type of juice)
1/2 cup cooked peas or beans

If you still have a hard time to get your fruits and vegetables, you may want to get a hold of the MonaVie juice. It is powered with nutrients like antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, etc.

Good Samaritan from Kentucky

"Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind."
- Buddha


We had just left St. John's arena in Columbus, Ohio, where our son had a scrimmage in volleyball.

The snow was coming down steadily and the roads were icy. Something didn't feel right, there came much noise and resistance from around the front right tire of the van. My husband pulled around the corner away from the busy road. We checked and sure enough, we had a flat tire on the right front wheel.
Paul used his cell phone to call information for some help. Call a towtruck? He was not able to take off the injured tire and put on the spare. He talked to some helpline after waiting for 5 minutes. There must have been a lot of requests like ours because of the weather. He finally got hold of our daughter who is also a student at Ohio State University and learned that her husband was on the way to help us.
In the meantime, a young man stopped, offering his help. He said that he was waiting for a bus which was supposed to come in about 10 minutes and he wanted to help while waiting.
I showed him where the tools were and he went right to work. I learned that Matt (our good samaritan) was from Kentucky, and in Columbus for continuing education.
He lowered the spare tire, got the car jacked up and was loosening the bolts on the tire when our son-in-law showed up. Together they changed the tire and had everything back in the van in no time flat. Our son-in-law offered Matt a ride since the bus still hadn't come yet.
In the meantime, Paul found a place where we could get the tire fixed before the end of the day.

Talking about changing plans fast. Well, I never made it to the TEAM seminar that night (that's where we were heading from St. John's arena), but we certainly had a rewarding experience that night. We drove into Midas parking lot at about 5:30 PM and got a new tire before closing time at 6:00 PM.
What's the lesson in all this? Don't panic! Paul said, that this incidence restored his belief in people. Wasn't that worth it?

Thanks, Matt and Garrun.

Law of Receptivity

Last week we celebrated Thanksgiving. We all heard, the saying: it’s better to give than receive. The giving part seams alright but like with everything in life there is always another side to the same coin.

Our book of the month November through the TEAM was the “The Go-giver” by Bob Burg and John David Mann. It is an easy read since it is written in story form. The last of the five principles, the authors describe, is the law of receptivity.

The law of receptivity states: The Key to effective giving is to stay open to receiving.

In the book, Pindar has his young protégée exhale, while he was attempting to count to thirty. He didn’t even get past twelve, and young Joe started making funny noises. He protests to Pindar that he can’t continue to only breathe out, disregarding the fact that he took a very deep breath in.
Our body is a great testimony to the functions of giving and receiving. All these functions like breathing in and out, the heart muscles contract and relax, etc. take place without our doing. Pindar is making the point that it is insane to believe that it is better to give than receive all the time. After some contemplating, they both agree that: every giving can happen only because it is also a receiving.
Joe comes to understand that the secret to success is giving in order to get.
We all have had experience where we wanted to give someone a gift, a complement or just any other kind of attention, only to find the receiver rejecting or ignoring our gesture. That can be very disappointing and frustrating. By being more aware of the spiritual laws, we can achieve more enjoyment and satisfaction.
Give and receive seams to be a law of the universe. God created the whole universe including man for only one purpose: to receive love back from his children. There is a hierarchy of giving and receiving throughout creation. Every entity from the smallest atom to the solar system is involved in giving and receiving. The base of existence is the give and take between positivity and negativity, male and female, etc. Each individual existence has a life of its own and lives for a “higher purpose.” The food chain is a good example of this. Man’s breathing in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide while the plant kingdom lives on CO2 and gives us back oxygen is another. That’s the very base of the ecosystem.

Another very important aspect of the law of receptivity is staying open to new information. It is normal that we scan any news and often compare to past experiences. None-the-less, there is always room to learn something new and trusting that whatever idea comes to us, can be the source of important knowledge we need to continue our journey of life.


The Go-Giver can be purchased at bookstores nationwide or ordered to through the TEAM website, it can also be found by logging on to Bob Burg's website at http://www.thegogiver.com/.

Happy Thanksgiving

What are your Thanksgiving traditions? Thanksgiving is my favorite Holiday of the year. Giving thanks is a very good habit and can lead to a more fulfilling life. I believe that many of us today should practice the habit of gratitude more often.

Growing up in Germany it comes closest to our “Erntedanktag,” which is mainly a celebration of all the harvested foods of the season. Everybody brings their best fruits and vegetables to the church, and it is there shared with the rest of the community.
Thanksgiving has a similar meaning but also has a deeper, spiritual root.
The Pilgrims came to America because of religious persecution. They had a clear vision that when they arrived here on this continent that their first priority was to worship God in freedom.
We all learned of their ordeal of crossing the ocean and arriving in winter “in the new world.” With the help of the local Indians they survived that first winter. When their first harvest the following fall brought plenty of grains and vegetables, they decided to celebrate.

The year was 1621. Although they did have a three-day feast in celebration of the good harvest, and the local Indians participated, the first Thanksgiving was not a holiday yet, simply a gathering.
Not until President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, Thanksgiving was declared a holiday at the end of November.

Here is an interesting perspective of the first colony's pursuit of liberty and the delegation of responsibilities of their inhabitants.

Today, the most popular food for the big meal is a turkey. Turkeys are raised all year around, but the Thanksgiving Day, almost 80% of the population is preparing the bird. The smaller turkeys up to 15 pound are mostly hens (the female), while the larger birds are the tom (male). They are exclusively used for deli purposes.

Did you know that the average Israeli eats more than 34 pounds of turkey each year, about two times more than the average person in the United States? Turkey was introduced to Israel about 50 years ago, and became popular because it is kosher (unlike pork) and less expensive than beef or lamb.

Here are some other interesting facts about turkey meat which I found in a health newsletter:

It's Fun to Know: Dark Meat or White Meat?
It's the perennial turkey carver's question: "Would you like dark meat or white meat?"
The reason for the difference in color and taste? The muscles in the legs and thighs of the turkey are more active, which means they need more oxygen. This, in turn, means those parts have more blood vessels and more myoglobin, an oxygen-carrying protein. Myoglobin also carries a pigment that darkens the meat.
Breast muscles, used for flying by most birds, are rarely used by turkeys. (At least not by the specially bred for size, flightless, waddling wonders that end up on our tables.) As a result, less myoglobin - and fewer blood vessels and darkening pigment - is present.
(Source: Library of Congress)

One cannot think of Thanksgiving without including the pumpkin. Event hough, you may not like pumpkin pie or pumpkins in general, pumpkins are part of the holiday fare. While we use the big pumpkins for lanterns and carving at Halloween, the smaller pumpkins are cooked and pureed. Did you know that Morton, Illinois is considered the pumpkin Capital of the world? Most of the pumpkins consumed by Americans are grown around Peoria, in central Illinois. That's where the Libby company is located.

Besides the pretty orange color, pumpkins have quite a nutritional value, too. They contain important anti-oxidants, in form of beta-carotene.

And there is the CORNUCOPIA, korn-yoo-KO-pee-uh:

One of the most recognizable symbols of Thanksgiving is the cornucopia, also called horn of plenty. It is a decorative motif, originating in ancient Greece, that symbolizes abundance. The original cornucopia was a curved goat's horn filled to overflowing with fruit and grain. It symbolizes the horn possessed by Zeus's nurse, the Greek nymph Amalthaea, which could be filled with whatever the owner wished.

I hope you enjoyed this Thanksgiving journey.

Please follow the links, to learn more about each symbol of this important holiday.

I like to conclude with a quote by President Ronald Reagan (Thanksgiving Proclamation in 1986):

"Perhaps no custom reveals our character as a Nation so clearly as our celebration of Thanksgiving Day. Rooted deeply in our Judeo-Christian heritage, the practice of offering thanksgiving underscores our unshakable belief in God as the foundation of our Nation and our firm reliance upon Him from Whom all blessings flow."

Americans are strong because of their faith and their tradition to honor God.

Water - drink more water

Our body is made of more than 70 percent of water. Blood is 83% water, muscles are 75%, the brain is 74% and the bones contain 22% water. Water plays an important role in controlling our body temperature, cushioning our joints, removing waste (via the lymphatic system), transporting nutrients and oxygen to cells and protecting organs and tissue.

Water is the single most important nutrient for our body. Our body loses about two quarts of water every day through perspiration, urination and exhalation.
Instead of reaching for soda, drink pure water throughout the day.
Even during the winter months we need to make sure that we appropriately hydrated. Try a humidifier in the bedroom.

Our bodies were created to move, to keep the fluids in our body moving. During illness or bed rest, the water in our body becomes stagnant, creating a breeding ground for disease. During exercise or manual stimulation like massage, we stir the water, refreshing our body, renewing our energy and regaining strength.

Some sources say that we need 8 glasses of water no matter what. Some calculate bodyweight cut in half, and we should drink that amount in ounces (150 pounds, would be 75 ounces a day).

In any case, water can even help with weight loss. Water may as well be the most important catalyst in losing weight and keeping it off.
Although most of us take for granted, water may be the only true "magic potion" for permanent weight loss.
The kidneys can't function properly without enough water. When they don't work to capacity, some of their load is dumped onto the liver. One of the liver's primary functions is to metabolize stored fat into usable energy for the body. But if the liver has to do some of the kidney's work it can't operate at maximum capacity. As a result, it metabolizes less fat and more fat remains stored in the body and weight loss stops.

Drinking enough water is the best treatment for fluid retention.
When the body gets less water it perceives this as a threat to survival and begins to hold on to every drop. Water is stored in extracellular spaces (outside the cell). This shows up as swollen feet, legs and hands.

Other Benefits of water:
-> Improves energy
-> Increase mental and physical performance
-> Removes toxins and waste products from the body. Through perspiration, the body eliminates toxins. Sweating is a sign of being healthy.
-> Keeps the skin moisturized and makes us look younger
-> Helps with weigh loss
-> Reduces headaches and dizziness
-> Allows proper digestion
-> Keeps the body alkaline
-> Helps relieve constipation. When the body gets too little water, it siphons what it needs from internal sources. The colon is one primary source. Result? Constipation. But when a person drinks enough water, normal bowel function usually returns.
-> Benefits the heart.
The findings of a six-year study of more than 20,000 healthy men and women aged 38-100 in the May 1, 2002 American Journal of Epidemiology found that women who drank more than five glasses of water a day were 41% less likely to die from a heart attack during the study period than those who drank less than two glasses. The protective effect of water was even greater in men.
-> Eliminates dry mouth
-> Input and output of fluids will be the same.

When to drink water?
It is best not to drink water with meals since this will dilute hydrochloric acid which helps with digestion.
It is best to drink in between meals, 15 minutes before the meal and 2 hours after eating.

Benefits of the right balance of fluids in the body:
* Endocrine-gland function improves
* Fluid retentions is alleviated as stored water is lost.
* More fat is used as fuel because the liver is free to metabolize stored fat
* Natural thirst returns
* Loss of hunger

Any time we stop to drink enough water, our body fluids will be thrown out of balance again, and we may experience fluid retention, unexplained weight gain and loss of thirst. To remedy the situation we'll have to go back and force another "breakthrough."

Most valuable book to read on water instead of medicines: Your Body’s Many Cries For Water by Dr. F. Batmanghelidj
http://www.watercure.com/








To learn more about TEAM’s leadership development system, please visit: http://www.the-team.biz/ or send me an email: jutta.tobkin@the-team.biz

Today is a Gift

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift – that’s why it is called the present!

Even though it isn’t Christmas yet, I like to give you a gift today. Although the past, present, and future appear separated, they are tightly intermeshed. For example, as soon as I speak a sentence, by the time I am done with my thoughts, the beginning is already in the past. Every word I speak is created in the present, while the end of the sentence remains dangling in the future.

When your mind is focused on yesterday or tomorrow, your involvement of the present moment is impoverished and today passes you by.
Do you ever reach Saturday and wonder where the week has gone? Do you feel that your children are growing up too fast? Do you know where your thoughts are when you are driving?

Awareness of the present moment will make you feel in control of your life. Of course, learning from our mistakes, reminiscing over the past or planning for the future have their places but after you’ve done so, let these thoughts go.

There is power in the NOW. Eckhart Tolle, the German-born author who lives now in Canada, wrote a whole book about it. Focusing on the present moment expands our awareness, leads to good habits and allows us to perfect certain skills, like playing an instrument, climbing a mountain, cooking a meal, or repairing a car.
Eckhart Tolle suggests: Free yourself of the mind. Become conscious or aware of yourself – that’s being present. Since Being, consciousness, and life are synonymous, we could say that being present means consciousness becoming conscious of itself. Most of us, however, are identified with our mental and physical forms.

Here are my gifts to you where I felt being present:

Slow Down, be present:
Remember when you were a child? Time seemed to pass very slowly. Children have no concept yet of past, present or future. For them everything happens in the NOW. Watch children play, get engrossed in their light-heartedness. Feel the happiness and joy, become detached from your own life and dream with them of a better future.

Baking a cake:
Baking a cake or other pastry is one of my favorite past-time. I can get so engrossed in it that I forget time and space, usually making a mess along the way. But I don’t mind to clean it up afterwards. I enjoy the aromas baking creates around the house. I especially like the compliments I get from my family and friends when the creation turns out well and everybody loves to eat my cake.

Outdoor adventure:
I used to go mountain climbing. One time, we started before the crack of dawn. We had to find our way with flashlights. By putting one step in front of the other, we moved along the path. Even when the sun rose, we were still climbing. The path often became very narrow, with rocks becoming loose. It took my focused attention to stay on the trail and not loose my balance. Keeping my mind on the summit, or if it wasn’t visible, picturing myself standing on the top, helped to keep moving. By keeping this focus, I felt safe and eventually reached the top.

A starry night:
Look into space on a starry night, feel the peace and harmony of the universe, let go of yesterday’s burden’s and have no worry of tomorrow. Feel the stillness, listen to the sounds of nature, smell the sweet smells of a blooming bush and become one with the essence of it all. The open space fills you with wow’s and ah’s. You are in the presence of holiness, aware of the creator who made it all. Let gratitude fill your heart.

Pay attention:
I used to pride myself of multi-tasking: doing my homework while listening to music, walking along the street knitting, cooking and talking on the phone, etc. When I learned about the power of focus, I understood why I don’t have many memories of details. And even memory is a skill. The older we get, we have more data stored in our brain. With focus and stillness we can retrieve names, phone-numbers, etc. We say: pay attention, it takes effort to focus and listen. Focus on one person or situation at a time.

I am sure you have your own special moments where you felt awareness, peace and synchronicity.
By focusing on the present moment we have control over the “stimulus and response,” talked about in Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl. "Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lays our growth and our freedom." He discovered that even in the most adverse circumstances we still have a choice. We can chose to react as a victim or find meaning in whatever happens.

From the Bible we learn that we don’t make things happen. God does it. God sends us precious experiences all the time. He wants us to grow and mature and therefore provides for us opportunities. We just need to show up, be available, notice, be aware, pay attention. Be present to the moment.

Anytime we are focused in the NOW, we don’t feel regret, we can find meaning and eventually live up to our full potential.

To learn more about TEAM’s leadership development system, please visit: http://www.the-team.biz/ or send me an email: jutta.tobkin@the-team.biz

Blueberry

Blueberries are loved not only for their rich blue color but also for their taste and flavor. Some concider them as one of the Superfoods.

Scientists are now praising their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Blueberry antioxidants include flavonoids (catechin, epicatechin), anthocyanin (which gives the blue pigment to the fruit), beta-carotene, phenolic compounds and ellagic acid (ellagitannin).

The antioxidants work by defusing the harmful effects that free radicals inflict on our DNA, organs, and reproductive cells.

Blueberries contain a huge list of phytochemicals - phenolic acid, anthocyanins (the pigment that makes them blue), ellagic acid (which may inhibit tumor growth), alpha-carontene, beta-carotene (precursors to vitamin A), caryophyllene (possible anti-inflammatory), chlorogenic acid, eugenol, limonene, thymol (antiseptic and antifungal properties), catechins, tocopherols and tocotrienols (vitamin E family), to name a few. Talk about your nutrient powerhouses!

According to the USDA Data bank, blueberries contain many vital minerals and vitamins and other compounds:
1 cup fresh blueberries contain:
Calcium 9 mg.
Magnisium 9 mg.
Phosphoros 19 mg.
Potassium 114 mg.
Vitamin C 14.5 mg.
Vitamin A 40 IU
Vitamin E 0.84 mg.
Lutein 118 mcg.
Vitamin K 28.6 mcg.

For detailed ingredients and content, please visit:
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/cgi-bin/list_nut_edit.pl

Health Benefits of blueberries:

Improve Neurological Functions
Tufts University neuroscientist James Joseph called the "Blueberry- the brain berry." Studies have shown that blueberries are beneficial for lessening the effects of neurological sicknesses.

Prevents Cholesterol Build Up
The second healthy benefit derived from blueberries is that it prevents the build up of cholesterol and stops blood cots from forming in the body.

Improves Eyesight
The third healthy benefit of blueberries is that it can improve your eyesight and prevent age related loss of vision, as studies conducted in Europe have shown.

Urinary Tract Health
The fourth healthy benefit of blueberries is that it keeps your urinary tract healthy by stopping bacteria from lining your bladder walls.

Anti-Aging and Anti-Inflammatory Benefits
As I mentioned before, the antioxidants neutralize free radicals and prevent aging.

Mental Function
A June 2006 study, published in Pharmacology and Biochemical Behavior, demonstrated that supplementation with blueberries improved performance on memory tasks in mice and has a protective effect on DNA damage, likely due to the antioxidant activity of the berry’s polyphenols.


To learn about the MonaVie juice with 19 fruits, please visit:
http://www.the-team.biz/mv991215/19Fruits/tabid/155/Default.aspx

Into A New Age

Man has come a long way throughout hi(s)-story. We started out as hunter/gatherer for Tens of Thousands of years. People, in form of tribes, were roaming the earth, searching for food and opportunity. Then, for thousands of years, we settled and cultivated the land and became farmers during the Agriculture Age.

With the Industrial Revolution we entered into the Industrial Age, where we produced things and machines, and created a somewhat easier life for ourselves. This period lasted for a couple of hundred years.
We are living now in the information age which encompasses a global economy. In contrast to the industrial age we have shifted from production of physical goods to the manipulation of information. Many of our successes today come from the accomplishment and the sacrifices of people living during the industrial age.
We pretty much conquered famines, except for political gains. People have left personal properties and individual lives for the sake of finding jobs and "prosperity." We have greater life expectancy and lesser threats to our lives' safety.
With the arrival of the computer and especially the internet, we transitioned into the Information Age within just a few decades.

People are in general happier today by connecting with mental disciplines and spiritual principles and finding hope in absolutes such as: everything is energy, we are all one and of one origin. We all want peace but we resist the change to achieve it. Paradoxically, we can only grow through change.

Through the internet we have entered into a global economy. As Victor Hugo wrote more than 150 years ago: "The French revolution is for all the world. It is a battle perpetually waged for Right, and perpetually gained for Truth. Right is the innermost part of man:
Truth is the innermost part of God. What can be done against a revolution which has so much right on its side? Nothing. To love it. That is what the nations do. France offers herself, the world accepts her. The whole phenomenon lies in these few words. An invasion of armies can be resisted; an idea whos time has come (an invasion of ideas) cannot be resisted.”
Victor Hugo, Histoire d'un Crime (History of a Crime) (written 1852, published 1877)

William G. Huitt, Ph.D wrote a very enlightening article about this transition during the past 200 years entitled: Success in the Information Age: A Paradigm Shift. He talks about the changes which took place in our economy during the past 100 years. How manufacturing has changed, and how distribution has taken over a large part of our economy. He also enlightens us in regard to training young people to get a good education in order to get a good job is not the only desirable goal. Rather, he encourages us to develop an entrepreneurial spirit and to become bigger thinkers, adjust quickly to new products, new circumstances, and be adaptable to many different jobs and work environments.

He as well as Daniel H. Pink: in his book A Whole New Mind, conclude that the real break-though came from taking a whole brain thinking approach. Daniel projects that the future belongs to the “right-brain thinkers."
We are concerned about changes like increased natural disasters, financial and political instability which has us scouting for security. By using our creativity and focus on possibilities, we can embrace any new trend, and expand our human threshold.

I suggest that we have to look inward for changes. The real change we are looking for has to come from the inside of each individual. The training system which the TEAM has developed very much supports these trends. It gives all of us the opportunity to become the best we can be by going beyond ourselves, serving others and grow and learn continuously.

To learn more about TEAM’s leadership development system, please visit:
http://www.the-team.biz/ or send an email to: Jutta.Tobkin@the-team.biz

Bilberry

Bilberries look very much like blueberries. They have been used in European medicine to help support vision, circulation and diarrhea.


The Bilberry bush grows wild throughout the forests and meadows of many parts of Europe and western Asia, and also in the Rocky mountain regions of North America. The bilberry is closely related to the blueberry, cranberry and the huckleberry, and it shares the health benefits of those related fruits.

Benefits of bilberry:
Bilberry contains flavonoids called anthocyanosides, which are found largely in dark-skinned fruits, and act as potent antioxidants in the body. These anthocyanosides are thought to be at least part of the reason that bilberry is effective in treating such eye disorders such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and cataracts. In one Italian study, a combination of bilberry extracts and vitamin E stopped the progression of cataracts in 97 percent of the study participants. Bilberry may also help improve night vision. British pilots in World War II ate bilberry jam before flying at night, claiming that the jam gave them better vision. Some research seems to indicate that the pilots were correct—bilberry may help the eyes adjust to different light intensities more quickly.

In Europe, a bilberry extract called Vaccinium Myrtillus Anthocyanoside (VMA) is a popular treatment for chronic venous insufficiency, a condition characterized by swelling, varicose veins, pain, itching, and skin ulcers in the legs.

It might also prove to be an effective treatment for Raynaud’s disease, a condition that causes numbness and pain in the outer extremities (fingers, toes, nose) upon exposure to the cold--the anti-inflammatory properties of bilberry help reduce the stress on capillaries, and relax small blood vessels, which helps keep the blood flowing to all parts of the body. Because bilberry strengthens the capillaries, it is also used to discourage bruising.

Bilberry promotes good circulation and strengthens artery walls, and thus may be an effective treatment for atherosclerosis, a condition in which plaque builds up on the artery walls and blocks the flow of oxygenated blood to the heart.

Bilberry’s anti-inflammatory properties also work to reduce the overall inflammation, including inflammation of the gums, that has been linked with heart disease. Bilberry has long been used to ease gastrointestinal discomfort. During the 16th century in England, eating bilberries mixed with honey was a popular remedy for diarrhea. Today, Commission E, an expert panel that evaluates herbal medicines in Germany, endorses bilberry as a treatment for diarrhea. The commission also recommends bilberry for treatment of mouth sores—bilberry is thought to have strong antiseptic qualities, and initial studies indicate that it may be an effective treatment for peptic ulcers as well. Bilberry has also been used traditionally in the treatment of diabetes, fibrocystic breast disease, and painful menstruation.

What is it inside the bilberry herb that enables it to provide such amazing benefits? They are the following: arbutin, ericolin, beta-amyrin, anthocyanosides (strengthens the walls of the capillary and vascular system), nonacosane.

Conditions helped by bilberry:

• Diarrhea
• Dysentery
• Mouth and Throat Inflammations
• Atherosclerosis
• Peripheral Vascular Disease
• Cataracts
• Diabetes mellitus
• Fibrocystic breast disease
• Retinopathy
• Stomach Ulcers
• Gout
• Urinary Tract Infections

For more information about the MonaVie business or to order the juice, please visit:
http://www.the-team.biz/mv991215/Home/tabid/148/Default.aspx

Paradigm Shift

"WE ARE SPIRITUAL BEINGS
HAVING A HUMAN EXPERIENCE
NOT HUMAN BEINGS
HAVING A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE"

Be - Do - Have versus
Have - Do - Be

Today, we live in an age of many paradigm shifts. Think of a Paradigm Shift as a change from one way of thinking to another. In 1962, Thomas Kuhn wrote "The Structure of Scientific Revolution." For the first time in all of human history we can realize that we are spiritual beings from the start.

In the dark ages and before, people were mostly uneducated and only aware of their physical surroundings. During the last 400+ years, we became slowly aware of our true nature as spiritual beings.
During the age of the renaissance, a period between the 14th - 16th century, people were awakened to their free will. It began as a movement to recapture the spirit of ancient Greece, but it soon developed into a movement transforming all aspects of society, including culture, political structure, the economy, and even religion.
During the age of enlightenment, people were awakened to their intellect. They believed that human reason could be used to combat ignorance, superstition, and tyranny and to build a better world
During the 19th and 20th century, science in form of psychology, started to focus on the human emotions. Psychology is both an applied and academic field that studies the human mind and behavior. Research in psychology seeks to understand and explain thought, emotion, and behavior.
In the New Age, we have one more step to go, to discover the realm of heart. The heart (shim jung in Korean) is the center of our being. It can only be discovered by awareness. That means we cannot identify ourself with our thoughts or our emotions but rather become the observer of them. Heart is directed by intuition, inner alignment and intention, vision, creating synergy and being in the Flow. Heart is our connection to God and all of creation.
Obviously, will, intellect and emotion are parts of our mind which is invisible and therefore, deals with intangibles.
In this abstract world, we want to focus on values first. When we identify with qualities like love, truth, peace, honesty, integrity, etc., become those values by integrating them into our character and act upon them in our everyday life, we will have a happy and satisfying life.

Unfortunately, in our society we have it all backwards. We want to have first, than do and finally think that we can be happy. Do we have a happy and peaceful society?
Let's focus on the values first. Children learn from our example. Here is a poem I like a lot:

Children Learn What They Liveby Dorothy Law NolteIf a child lives with criticism. He learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility. He learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule. He learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame. He learns to feel guilty.
If a child lives with tolerance. He learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement. He learns confidence.
If a child lives with praise. He learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness. He learns justice.
If a child lives with security. He learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval. He learns to like himself.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship. He learns to find love in the world.

Living with the end in mind (Stephen Covey, in his book: The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, has a whole chapter on this subject), focusing on who we want to be or even better who we were meant to be according to God's blueprint, allows us to follow a plan for life. According to the Law of Attraction we have the ability to create a life we desire. During the journey and acting on our abilities and talents, we can have the life we want. The doing becomes easier by finding and following people who have achieved what we want.

Living the BE - DO - HAVE paradigm takes practice. It may seem backwards at first, for we are programmed to believe that our primary source of happiness, joy or contentment lies outside us.
By looking inward we can discover our true needs which are acceptance, appreciation and approval. These needs will be fulfilled in relationships with God first, and through parents, family, friends and others.

Banana

Some consider bananas a perfect food. It is certainly an easy snack, very satisfying and healthy. It is promoted as the source of potassium and is soothing to an upset stomach.
There are many more benefits to this fruit:
--> Banana is an energy booster.
Banana contains tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin. Serotonin is a hormone that is known to make you feel happy and improve your mood.
--> Banana is a rich source of iron, thus it is helpful in cases of anemia.

--> Banana is good a good source of potassium. If you are taking diuretics take 2 bananas a day to prevent the depletion of potassium in the body.
--> The skin of the banana is said to help remove warts (cover the warts with the inner skin of banana).
--> Banana is good for people who have high blood pressure because it is low in salt.

Banana is also helpful in the following cases:

Stomach ulcer (banana has a natural antacid), Colitis, Digestive disorder, Diarrhea, Constipation (banana is high in fiber), Hemorrhoids.

Nutritive Values : Per 100 gm.
· Vitamin A : 430 I.U.
· Vitamin B : Thiamine .04 mg.;
· Vitamin C : 10 mg.
· Calcium : 8 mg.
· Iron : 6 mg.
· Phosphorus : 28 mg.
· Potassium : 260 mg.
· Carbohydrates : 23 gm
· Protein : 1.2 mg.
· Calories : 88

Banana is one of the 19 fruits of the MonaVie juice. To learn more about it or to order, please visit my website:
http://www.the-team.biz/mv991215/19Fruits/tabid/155/Default.aspx

Windstorm, Blackout and Reading Books

On the tail of hurricane Ike, we had a devastating windstorm on Sunday, September 14, 2008.
During the windstorm some the trees in our neighbor’s yard were swaying back and forth, at times almost horizontally to the ground. But they always went back ready to bend again with the next gust. Those trees maybe lost a few branches or leaves but they were firmly grounded. Then there were those which bend and snapped. Other trees were uprooted. Besides the damage I tried to find a lessons form the trees. The flexible trees are like people who can go with the flow, who can accept situations and new circumstances without complaint. The second ones are those who get bend out for shape by any unexpected event. Some people get disoriented and confused if things are not the same as they plan or what they are used to.

The result of the windstorm was that we had a blackout in Ohio. Some parts were out of electricity for a week, we were for five days in the dark.
We cooked outdoors, put extra ice in the freezer and refrigerator, used the cell-phones, and went to bed early. But there was still extra time which I usually spend on the internet and sometimes watch TV.
What better opportunity to catch up with reading books. I had several laying on the my desk and by my chair. So with a flash light I would reed “The New Earth” by Eckhardt Tolle. I also got to read part of “Bringing out the Best in People” by Alan Loy McGinnis. I certainly could practice some of the principles I came to understand and that is LIVING IN THE NOW. By just accepting any circumstance I was able to avoid confusion and frustration during that week.

Here are some links to the Cincinnati News:
http://www.journal-news.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/09/24/hjn092508hamcouncil.html

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20080925/NEWS01/309250092/

Aronia berry

Aronia berry which is commonly called "Black Chokeberry" is in the same family as the blueberry. It has even more powerful antioxidant properties than the blueberry and cranberry. It is native to our continent but more popular in Eastern Europe where people drink the juice for heart health.

Nutritional benefits of the aronia berry:
Anthocyanins (725 to 1050mg per 100g of fresh fruit)
Flavonols (quercitin, rutin, and hesperidin)
polyphenols
Quinic Acid (prevents urinary infection).
Vitamins B2, B6, E, C, and folic acid

The aronia berry is considerate a superfood and being tested in its healing properties. A lot of research is on the way in the medical world as well as the natural healing arena.


10 Benefits of the Aronia Berry
1. Is a great source of antioxidants
2. Fights against heart disease and other cardiovascular problems
3. Helps prevent blood pressure from becoming too high
4. Promotes a healthy urinary tract

5. Has anti-inflammatory properties
6. Fights bacteria and viruses, such as colds and the flu
7. Strengthens memory
8. Aids digestion
9. The body produce good cholesterol
10.Provides the body with essential oils
With all the benefits that the aronia berry has for the body, it's easy to see why this little fruit is causing quite a positive stir in the people who come in contact with its healing powers.

For more information on medical research about the aronia berry, please go to:

http://superberries.com/research.asp

To purchase the MonaVie juice which contains the aronia berry, please visit:

http://www.the-team.biz/mv991215/19Fruits/tabid/155/Default.aspx

Trust Yourself - Trust Others

A couple of days ago I noticed that I was missing a small wallet I carry with me at work. It contains a credit card, my employer’s discount card, some cash and some coupons. Naturally I was concerned when I discovered it missing. I asked my co-workers, looked in my purse and car, but couldn’t find it. When I came home I looked there in all the possible places, but couldn’t find it. Rather than getting all worked up over it, I tried to calm myself, did my rebounding exercise and tried to relax. The key was to keep my mind calm, not allowing any of the negative thoughts and accusations to come in. While I relaxed I thought back of when I used the wallet the last time. It became clear that the wallet must be in the car since I pumped some gas the day before. Sure enough when I looked in the car again, I found it in between the front seats. I wish I could say that I had a convincing feeling that I would find it. The victory was more that I could control my inner self-talk and trust myself to find it.

Another experience involves a feedback I received from one of my Amazon.com sales. One customer proclaimed that the book that she received was not the way she expected, in fact it was stained. She gave me negative feedback which lowered my overall rating. I told her in an email that I could refund her money if she was not satisfied and she should return the book. After thinking about for a few days, she demanded refund. No problem, I told her, and refunded, even though I haven’t received the book yet. I was tempted to ask her to erase her negative feedback but didn’t say anything about that. I just added a note that I had refunded her at her request as a response on her negative feedback. To my surprise she erased her negative feedback. I felt that was a victory for me, since I didn’t speak my mind to her or requested the removal of her feedback. I became sure within me to not get emotional or react to her negativity.

Somehow I feel that these two incidences are related. I am working now on becoming sure within myself, not identifying myself with any external circumstance or person for who I am or what I do. Eckhart Tolle, in his book A New Earth, writes extensively about the Ego in chapter 3. As long as we state facts and not complain, being the watcher of circumstances rather than reacting to them, we can keep the ego in check. He talks about the ego taking everything personally. When emotion arises or perhaps aggression, the ego is involved and tries to defend itself. The ego confuses opinions and viewpoints with facts. It is a master of selective perception and distorted interpretation.

Through awareness – not through thinking – can we differentiate between facts and an opinion.

Apricots

Apricots came originally from China and were brought by explorers to the Mediterranean. The Spaniards brought them to the New World. Apricots ripen early in the summer and are priced for their antioxidant compounds. They are also packed with vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.

Nutritional Value of Apricots
Nutritional Value / 100 grams
Vitamin A 2,790 I.U
Vitamin B .3 mg
Vitamin C 7 mg
Calcium 16 mg
Phosphorus 23 mg
Potassium 165 mg
Carbohydrates 12.9 gm
Protein 1.0 gm
Calories 51

Apricots are also an excellent source of minerals like calcium, phosphorus, iron and traces of sodium, sulphur, manganese, cobalt and bromine.

Health Benefits

The fruit, kernel (inner softer part of the seed), oil and flowers of the apricot have always been used in medicine and medical treatment from ancient days.
The kernel yields an oil that is similar to that of the almond and is widely used for their sedative, anti-spasmodic relief to strained muscles. It is also useful for healing of wounds, expelling worms and as a general health tonic.
Anemia: The high content of iron in apricot makes it an excellent food for anemia sufferers. The small but essential amount of copper in the fruit makes the iron available to the body. Liberal consumption of apricot can increase the production of hemoglobin in the body. This is ideal for women after their menstrual cycle, especially those with heavy flow.
Constipation: The cellulose and pectin content in apricot is a gentle laxative and are effective in the treatment of constipation. The insoluble cellulose acts as a roughage which helps the bowel movement. The pectin absorbs and retains water, thereby increasing bulk to stools, aiding in smooth bowel movement.
Digestion: Take an apricot before meal to aid digestion, as it has an alkaline reaction in the digestive system.
Eyes/Vision: The high amount of vitamin A (especially when dried) is essential to maintain or improve eyesight. Insufficiency of this vitamin can cause night blindness and impair sight.
Fever: Blend some honey and apricots with some mineral water and drink to cool down fevers. It quenches the thirst and effectively eliminates the waste products from the body.
Skin Problem: Juice fresh apricot leaves and apply on scabies, eczema, sun-burn or skin itchiness, for that cool, soothing feeling.

To learn more about the juice combination of 19 fruits in MonaVie, please visit:
http://www.the-team.biz/mv991215/Home/tabid/148/Default.aspx

Labor Day Project

Fall 2008









I had plans for this landscaping project for a while. Last year I was health-wise unable do it. In the spring I missed the planting season. When the end of summer came along (at least by the calendar in September), I knew it was the right time.

I had hoped that my son could help with this work, but he had to work that weekend. I started to move some soil on Thursday and then again on Friday. By Saturday morning I was in full swing. Because I wanted to sift the soil to find the hidden bulbs of tulips, daffodils, crocus, hyacinths, etc. it became a big job to move the soil. It was also hot and became hotter as the day went on. Many times during the whole project I thought of just stopping and doing it “some other time.” I had a certain picture in my mind and I also looked at the neighbor’s front yard and how pretty it looked, and I just couldn’t stop. So, I just took some breaks and continued.

Every once in a while my husband (he has a physical condition which does not allow him to do such kind of work) came out and encouraged me. He also helped me fix my sifter. After I bought a new piece of hardware cloth from the hardware store, he helped me put it back on the old frame.

By Sunday morning I could see the end of the groundcover go to my compost pile. We had to make several trips to Home Depot to purchase the bricks, since we have just a regular car and could only get 20 at a time. I had calculated 50 or so. Well, we ended up needing 82, since there is such a slope and we needed 4 layers on top of each other at the lower side.

The moral of the story is that we need perseverance to finish any project and be willing to encounter any setback as a stepping stone. Because of my determination and commitment to get this project done, I found energy and strength within myself which surprised me.

I am very pleased with the end result after I planted some hardy plants for now and a lot of blooming bulbs for next spring. I am looking forward to see the daffodils and crocus bloom next year.









Spring 2009








I hope that in the years to come I can add bulbs in the Fall and it will fill out more. (4-16-09)

Acerola Cherry

Acerola cherries are widely known for their high Vitamin C and A content. Additionally, acerola contain potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, phosphorus and other minerals. They also are rich in phyto-nutrients and protein. With this, they support the body’s immune system, help with diarrhea, dysentery and anti-fungal activity.
Other traditional uses of acerola berries include: postmenopausal disorders, digestive disorders, colds, fever, infection, stomachaches and in prevention of tooth decay.
Acerola’s high antioxidant content contributes to the health benefits of the MonaVie juice.
The acerola cherry grows wild in tropical and subtropical climates. It also grows in some parts of Southern California.

To learn more about the the health benefits of the MonaVie juice, please visit: Official MonaVie Claims List.

To learn about the MonaVie juice with 19 fruits, please visit:http://www.the-team.biz/mv991215/19Fruits/tabid/155/Default.aspx

Be still - take a break

"Be Still and Know That I am God." Psalms 46:10

Everybody needs to take a break at times. I am not just talking about a coffee break or bathroom break.
In The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey gives a whole chapter to habit #7 – Sharpen the Saw. He talks about the four dimensions of our nature as a human being. Physical includes exercise, nutrition and stress management. Next is the Social – Emotional aspect which mentions: service, empathy, synergy and intrinsic security. Another aspect is the Spiritual dimension. It notes value clarification and commitment, study and meditation. Finally he includes the Mental aspect with reading, visualizing, planning and writing. All four dimensions help us preserve and enhance our greatest assets – ourselves. Paying attention to all four aspects will create balance and allows us to make better decisions by including recreational activities into our lives.

Most of us don’t have a problem with the physical aspects, they are more obvious. During my vacation I was reading a book Journey to Center by Thomas F. Crum. He emphasizes the importance of going inside, being centered and finding the peace and power there. So far, I had glimpse of moments where I could connect with that stillness, that no-thingness inside. That is what the word vacation means, to vacate or make empty.

We are so full of information and stimuli today, therefore we have to make extra effort to just watch simple moments – like the other day I was watching trops of frosting dripping from one bucket into a bowl. Nothing very meaningful but that short moment of about 5 minute gave me very much peace for hours to come. The idea is to observe the space in between the apparent matter where there is no time or space.

Deepak Chopra in his book Creating Affluence calls it possibility amplitude. By the magic of our attention to this place of nothingness we can connect to our true selves and the infinite, omnipotent and omnipresent creator of the universe. We can practice this magic of attention in five ways: watching (eyes), listening (ears), smelling (nose), touching (hands) and tasting (tongue). The magic is that we don’t have these functions only on the physical plane. Our spiritual self has the same abilities in the spiritual realm. Some people sum these functions up as the sixth sense.

Have you ever thought about why we have the seventh day – Sabbath – as a day of rest and reflection? Or why we sleep at night where all the repairing and healing of our body takes place? Nature has built in certain functions which we want to be aware of and abide. So, next time you get overwhelmed with a situation, just go inside and find the place within or even better, set aside times during the day where you center yourself and have a moment of meditation. Be still – take a break.

Vacation

Açai Berry

Nicholas Perricone, MD, author of The Perricone Promise, refers to the açai berry as Nature’s Number 1 Energy Fruit. He praises the purple pigments for its nutritional magic which makes it taste like a blend of berries and chocolate. Derived from an Amazon palm tree, açai is full of antioxidants, amino acids, and essential fatty acids.
Dr. Perricone explains: “The fatty acid content in açai resembles that of olive oil, and is rich in monounsaturated oleic acid. Oleic acid is important for a number of reasons. It helps omega-3 fish oils penetrate the cell membrane; membrane is kept supple, all hormone, neurotransmitter, and insulin receptors function more efficiently. This is particularly important because high insulin levels create an inflammatory state, and, as you know, inflammation causes aging.”
Oprah’s website hailed açai as “one of the nutritious and powerful foods in the world…”
Unlike other resources for nutritional supplements or food the açai berry is harvested from the palm tree like other fruits. Therefore, the rainforest of Brazil is preserved and even replenished for future harvests. Twice a year the fruits are ready to be gathered. Instead of cutting down the valuable tree, laborers climb high into the 9—foot palm to collect what is known as the Black Pearl of the Amazon, the açai berry.

Soon after harvesting, the fresh fruit is frozen into açai pulp to preserve the full complement of nutrients. If not properly cared for, the oxidation process begins and quickly spoils the delicate fruit. A portion of the frozen açai pulp is then freeze-dried, and both forms of açai are incorporated into the final blend of the MonaVie juice. This ensures that MonaVie’s consumers get all the health benefits this unique berry has to offer.
See another article I wrote about the benefits of the MonaVie juice:
http://raysolution.blogspot.com/2008/04/benefits-of-monavie-juice.htmljuice.html

Some benefits of this superfood are (note that these are not medical claims, just suggestions for your personal well-being):

• Boosts energy levels
• Improves digestive function
• Improves mental clarity/focus
• Promotes sound sleep
• Provides all vital vitamins
• Contains several important minerals
• Is an extremely powerful free radical fighter
• Açai has very high levels of fibers
• The protein profile of an egg
• low glycemic index. (Great for diabetics)
• A leading source of anthocyanins, often reported as 30 times that of the protective potential of red wine (Of the many attributes of anthocyanins is its anti-inflammatory qualities).
• Cleanses and Detoxifies the body of infectious toxins
• Strengthens your immune system
• Enhances sexual desire and performance
• Fights cancerous cells
• Slows down the aging process
• Promotes healthier and younger-looking skin
• Alleviates diabetes
• Normalizes and regulates cholesterol levels
• Helps maintain healthy heart function
• Minimizes inflammation
• Improves circulation
• Prevents artherosclerosis
• Enhances visual acuity
  

The greatest benefits of the açai berry comes from the high phytonutrients content which contribute to the flavor, color and disease-resistance of the plant. Another value comes from the powerful antioxidants which neutralize compounds known as free radicals, which can cause damage to your cells through the process of oxidation.

The Brazilian people knew açai promoted their health and well-being -- it had for generations. Word was spreading and people were hungry to learn more about the açai berry, but still very few people had ever heard of the health-promoting substance.

That's where Dallin Larsen of MonaVie and his partners started the research. One of the partners is Alexander G. Schauss, Ph.D, FACN. He has studied nutrition, nutraceutical and botanical medicine for over 30 years. He has taught at Oxford and lectured in more than 40 countries. Dr. Schauss has published over 125 papers and 12 books. Currently, he serves as the Director of Natural and Medicinal Products Research at the American Institute for Biosocial and Medical Research.

To learn about the MonaVie juice with 19 fruits, please visit:http://www.the-team.biz/mv991215/19Fruits/tabid/155/Default.aspx

Acceptance

“What we are is God's gift to us. What we become is our gift to God.”
Eleanor Powell

Accept yourself

* Take responsibility for your life. When you take responsibility for your life and your choices, and you give yourself permission to become self-validating, you no longer seek nor need validation from anyone else.
According to Robert Fritz, author of The Path of Least Resistance, you create structures in your life through your desires, beliefs, assumptions, aspirations, and objective reality itself. He looks at two basic principles: One is that human beings act in accordance with the underlying structure in their lives. We are part of nature and are ruled by the same natural laws.
The second principle is: Some structures are more useful than others in leading to desired results.
Robert Fritz concludes that structure is nothing personal. Someone in a structure that leads to pain, frustration, and hopelessness is not being designated by the universe as a victim of life.

* Be honest with yourself. When you lie to yourself or misrepresent the truth in any way, you increase the stress on your body. After years of misrepresenting your true wants, the increasing stress can lead to health problems.
* Know you can be better, belief in yourself. Align yourself with your true purpose - being a child of God.
* Don’t treat others like they are you (everybody is different).
* Don’t treat everybody the same (different personalities respond in a different way to certain words and actions).
* Be a good example. When you show humility and humbleness, you become empowered.
Everybody has a choice – between stimulus and response there is a choice. The fact is that you are where you are because that’s what you have chosen (even if it is unconsciously). You can do amazing things with your life, but nobody else can change your situation for you. It’s entirely up to you.
Part of self-acceptance is releasing other people’s opinions. You are meant to be different. Your fingerprints are unique. When you can accept this uniqueness, then there is no competition and no comparison. Your value comes from God -- unique, divine, and eternal.
Self-acceptance is the main key to positive changes in every area of your life.

Accept others for who they are
* Allow them to be themselves. Les Giblin in his timely book: How to Have Confidence and Power in Dealing with People, suggests that acceptance is like a vitamin. We all hunger to be accepted as we are. We want someone to relax with. Someone we can let our hair down and take our shoes off with. Very few of us are brave enough to “be ourselves” completely when dealing with the world in general. He concludes that people who accept people, and like them just as they are, have the most influence in changing the other person’s behavior for the better.
* Don’t expect people to be perfect or wait for them to change before you can like them.
* Create interdependence (we need each other to succeed). It’s interesting to note that the kinder you are to others, the better you feel about yourself.
* Critizers and complainers don’t want to take responsibility for their own situation.
* Practice the Golden Rule. By doing unto others as you would have them do unto you, you’ll find that your life begins to work, and the things that you desire to have in your life will begin to appear. Be living according to the Golden Rule you will find that all things are possible. It’s by working through the heart rather than through the head that true power is found.
* Live and let live, in other words: to accept other people as they are, although they may have a different way of life.

Accept your circumstances
* Accept your reality but don’t forget your dream.
* Excuses and reasons for not succeeding create victimhood.
* Victimhood comes from blame.
* Stop resisting your destiny. Acceptance is a form of humility which stops you from resisting.
* Look for challenges, they make you stronger. In every adversary there is an equivalent blessing and reward.
Accepting the problem changes the nature of the problem. Now the problem is no longer an obstacle but a stepping stone.
* Stop waiting for the arrival of an ideal day. Enjoy the ups and downs of every day. The present moment is the only time you can be happy because it is the only time that exists.

Acceptance will put you in touch with a finer reality. It will bring you in touch with your true self which is God. Through the grace of God you can change your life. You can go beyond the past, by living in the NOW and create a brand-new future. By accepting yourself at the core you live in the presence of the most high.