“You read something which you thought only happened to you, and you discover that it happened 100 years ago to Dostoyevsky. This is a very great liberation for the suffering, struggling person, who always thinks that he is alone.

“This is why art is important.  Art would not be important if life were not important, and life is important.”  James Baldwin, Author

Periods of struggle can leave you feeling trapped and alone, desperately trying to hold yourself together as you push through the darkness.

There are times when it makes sense to seek out input and guidance from a skilled health expert.  The specialized knowledge and support a trained practitioner provides may be just what you need to get focused, develop a plan, and stay motivated as you work towards your health goals.

But what about your own intuition and self-knowledge about your body?  Do you view yourself as the ultimate expert on your body and your personal wellness? 

Perhaps you're still trying to figure out what omega-3s, antioxidants, and free radicals are all about.  Maybe you're unsure about the exact steps you need to take to achieve and maintain the best health possible.  Even if you're not an expert on all things health-related, one important fact holds true:  you have an intimate awareness of your body that no-one else has. 

Ready to set some New Year’s resolutions?

Before diving into the specifics for all the goals you want to achieve, step back and take a high-level look at the year ahead.  What kind of year are you anticipating? 

Taking a big picture view of the year ahead provides valuable context to help you prioritize as you develop your goals. 

You drag your feet.  You procrastinate.  Perhaps you have a big job to complete and you feel overwhelmed, unsure of how to get started.  Perhaps you have an unpleasant task before you and you would simply rather not deal with it. 

Then there are those times when the task you're facing is neither all that big, nor particularly difficult or unpleasant.  Nevertheless, you still find yourself putting it off day after day.

When it comes to improving your health and well-being, it doesn't matter what your starting place is; there's always something you can do to get yourself moving in the right direction.  And those initial steps you take don't need to be extreme or overwhelming. 

In fact, it's better to start off with small, manageable changes.  As you follow through with taking small steps consistently, you'll see and feel the effects both physically and mentally.  Over time, these healthy behaviours will solidify into long term habits that become second nature to you. 

​Here are five small changes you can make that will yield big results for your physical health and mental well-being.​

Why is it some people seem to have much better luck than others?  We've all met people like that; those fortunate individuals who seem to draw good luck to themselves like a magnet.  Wherever they go, good things happen to them.  How do they do it?  What's their secret? 

Even though good luck is partly a matter of chance, it is indeed possible for anyone (including you) to attract more of it.  You might not be able to control exactly when, where, and how good luck will strike.  But with a few simple changes in behaviour, you can increase the likelihood more good luck will find its way to you.

“Do not be embarrassed by your mistakes.  Nothing can teach us better than an understanding of our mistakes.  This is one of the most effective forms of self-education.” 

Thomas Carlyle, 19th Century Philosopher
 
Some people seem to have a natural gift for dealing with mistakes and setbacks in life.  No matter what happens, they bounce back quickly, eager to move on to whatever comes next.  For others, recovering from mistakes is a struggle.  They come down hard on themselves when they mess up even slightly, often leading to a downward spiral that can be hard to get out of.
 
If you tend to view your mistakes with shame or embarrassment, it's time to shift your mindset.  Reframing these events as a learning opportunity is one of the most empowering things you do for yourself.

If you're not naturally a morning person, getting your day off to a good start can be a challenge.  You wake up groggy and scramble to get ready, only to find yourself running late as you rush out of the house.  The day is thrown off, and you're left feeling scattered, off-balance, and out-of-sorts.
 
Your morning sets the tone for the rest of the day.  If you feel calm, relaxed and energized, you're better prepared to deal with whatever comes your way.

Here are 10 tips for building your perfect morning routine.

A common maxim is that it takes 30 days to form a new habit.  If true, it should be fairly easy to get new behaviours to stick.  After all, if you can stick with something for 30 days, supposedly you're all set after that.  But is it really true?  Is 30 days all it takes to form new habits and turn things around?

While there is indeed some truth to this, the reality is a little more complicated.  

We've all been at that place where we need a little bit of inspiration, something to breathe fresh life into us and lift our spirits.  A bit of inspiration at the right time can leave you feeling refreshed and renewed, focused and ready to tackle whatever lies ahead.
 
Here are some tried-and-true ways to find inspiration when you need it most.