11 Simple Steps to Beautiful Skin

Posted on August 20, 2013 by TheLove4Happiness

11 Simple Steps to Healthy and Beautiful Skin!

As someone who formerly had acne, I can testify that following these steps can and will improve the complexion of your face, back, neck, etc. The most important step that has helped me along the way, is to LET GO and EXPRESS myself. If there is anything that you may be holding onto, that is causing you to suffer, let it go and EXPRESS it in some way, some form. Listening to your own intuition is the most powerful and transformative step to help ensure the complexion of your skin. I hope this inspires you and gives you the hope and confidence you need.

Good luck! – Sarah

**The content below is written by Renay Matthews, a writer for Intent.com**

Your skin, the biggest organ you have. Keeping it healthy and youthful is not so hard! Here are 11 simple tips to get and maintain beautiful, healthy skin:

1. Lemon water
When you wake up in the morning, drink a room temperature glass of water with organic lemon juice. This cleansing process is a great life practice, helps with great skin and great health.

2. Drink Water
Drink enough water very day, avoid sodas and sugary juices.

3. Wash your face
Don’t just wash your face before bed, suds up when you get home, even if it is early afternoon. Bacteria can irritate skin, clog pores, and trigger breakouts and long term damage can cause scarring.

4. Disinfect your reading and sun glasses
Great practice to implement every few days with rubbing alcohol. Think of all the surfaces glasses touch from desks, kitchen tables, bathroom counters to the counter at your local coffee shop, then they get placed back over the face. Keeping skin clean is important.

5. Take nutrients
Remember to take your vitamins, minerals, fats and antioxidants even if you are eating a great diet. Fats are especially important to keep skin supple and firm. You can increase your good fats naturally by consuming more salmon, flaxseed, and almonds. Just understand that good fats are not saturated fat such as those found indairy products and meats, which increase free-radical damage that makes skin more susceptible to aging.

6. Eat great food
8-10 cups of vegetables per day, 2 cups of fruit per day and high quality lean proteins is a good start. Eat vegetables from all possible colors of the rainbow weekly to ensure a variety of nutrients in your diet.

7. Go organic
Use organic skin care products. There are loads of chemical free products to choose from that don’t break the bank.

8. Sun Protection
Protect your skin from the sun. Ideally, SPF 30 with moisturizing and of course make sure it is organic. Every 10 minutes of daily exposure to UVA ‘the aging rays”can cause changes that lead to sun spots and wrinkles in a matter of three short months, so don’t skip this step! Studies are now showing using a lower SPF but applying frequently is the way to go for optimal sun protection.

9. Let it go
If something is bothering you, talk about it and work it out – don’t wear it on your skin. Stress and unbalanced emotions can age you fast. You can increase the stress hormone “cortisol” quickly with constant anxiety which can trigger acne and facial redness.

10. Regular exercise
Studies show those who work out on consistently have firmer skin than non exercisers, so get your exercise on, once approved by your doctor. Exercise infuses skin with oxygen and nutrients that you need for collagen production!

11. Get to sleep
Maintaining a healthy sleep routine is critical for long term skin health. If you are in the habit of staying up late in front of the television, break it and get to sleep at a decent time every night. Your skin and overall health will be improved.

Bonus Tips!

How about a little retinoid?

The vitamin-A in retinoid derivatives speed cell turnover and collagen growth to smooth fine lines and wrinkles and fade brown spots. With a version now available over the counter called retinol, we can all use this product easily. Retinol may take up to 3 months to see noticeable results, so be patient.

Fall in love with your looks/yourself just the way you are

The truth is we will never be at or feel our best until we can fall in love with exactly the way we are right now. It is our inner beauty that shines through our skin. All the practices, products and magical potions in the world can’t improve our looks if the insides are not appreciated, cared for, loved and nourished. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, if you see yourself as beautiful, so will everyone else.

Renay Matthews is a nutritionist practicing in Agoura Hills California and can be reached at http://www.elitewellnesspath.com & http://www.greatgrubforkids.com

Originally published July 2010

Healing Through Horses with Koelle Simpson

Posted on August 16, 2013 by TheLove4Happiness

Below is a powerful TEDx Talk by Koelle Simpson LLC. She speaks on horses and how they can mirror your deepest beliefs and/or fears, in a very eye-opening way. She is a renowned horse trainer and horse ‘whisperer’. She continues to heal the lives of others, rebuilding trust in themselves as well as in their relationships. And the most amazing part about it!? It is all through working with horses on a deep and spiritual level. This short video will leave you feeling warm-hearted and inspired to live your own truth!

What if Your Problem isn’t Actually a Problem?

Posted on August 15, 2013 by TheLove4Happiness

Have you ever listened to a friend or family member’s story of their frustration, anger, or sadness and think to yourself,

” You are making this so much harder on yourself then actually needs to be”.

Well I think we can all admit to this, in one way, shape, or form. However, in the midst of a challenging situation, it’s hard to see how much energy and time we are actually devoting to the problem. We become so attached to the problem, it’s as if the problem becomes who we are. Often times, we don’t realize that our reaction to the problem causes us more suffering then the actual ‘problem’ itself.

Now, it is easier to look at another person’s situation from an outsiders perspective, and give our two cents, than to listen to our own advice, when we are amid a frustrating situation.

From my experience, I have realized that there are two avenues to choose from when experiencing a challenging situation, the negative path or the positive path. It seems much easier to take a victim’s stance. Asking questions like, “Why is this happening to me?” “What did I do to deserve this?”, or making statements such as, “I am angry at the world”, “life sucks”, etc, when in fact, taking that route makes you feel WAY worse than you initially did before you reacted to the situation.

Rather then looking at a crummy situation in a negative light, why not look at it in a positive light? What if the frustrating situation is actually happening for a reason beyond your knowledge, and in the end, leads you to a better life and/or situation?

I find that when I focus solely on the positive aspects of a challenging situation, rather than the negative ones (I know it seems easier to bitch about your life, than not to, but it hurts you more in the end), I am happier and I don’t feel so depressed about my life. I am not saying that it is easy to attempt this and succeed at your first, second, or even 100th try, but COMMITTING to this life-style change will help you become happier and life will surprisingly become easier and more meaningful.

Now the amount of effort is exactly the same, whether you choose to focus your attention positively or negatively. However, your reaction to the situation is not the same. And is it worth it to make a challenging situation even more challenging? I know it is easier said then done, but there is no harm in trying to make small shifts in your attitude, thoughts, etc. to help you see that your ‘problem’ isn’t as bad as your mind makes it out to be.

I believe, that if we can find something negative in every situation, then we can also find something positive. It is what we choose to focus our attention on that will decipher the amount of peace we feel in our hearts.

And when you need a little more encouragement, remember this: PROBLEMS ARE MESSAGES. Here is a passage from one of my favorite books, Living in the Light by Shakti Gawain.

When there are problems in your life, the universe may be trying to get your attention. Its saying, “Hey, there’s something you need to be aware of, something that needs to be changed over here!” If you pay attention to the small signals, you will learn from them. However, if you don’t, the problems will intensify until you get the message and start to pay attention. If you accept that every time a problem occurs the universe is showing you something, you will make rapid progress on your journey of self-discovery.

Good luck and don’t be so hard on yourself! Life is happening for you, not to you.