06 Apr Music Playlists to Create an Extraordinary Ambiance

When it comes to creating an extraordinary quality of life, there is no understating the importance of atmosphere and ambiance, and one of the most effective ways to create an unparalleled setting is by leveraging the power of music. Music may very well be our species’ greatest contribution to this universe.  It stimulates us on all levels – mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  It penetrates our very soul.  And recent studies show that music alters our brain waves, and the way we perceive the world around us.  Simply put, music opens us up, and changes the way we live. Could there be a simpler, more effective strategy for creating immediate positive transformation in our lives? We don’t think so.  Which is why we’ve outlined some of our favorite artists and albums in 4 fantastic musical categories, for your enjoyment. We recommend that you explore these recommendations on iTunes by browsing their various albums to find your favorites before purchasing.  Or you can stream them online for free on spotify or grooveshark. Here’s to setting the mood…

06 Apr Lifebook has restored my connection to the “core” of me

Written by Lifebook Member Donna Hinders When I began the Lifebook process, I was in the midst of re-creating my career, and had bottomed out into a pit of hopelessness & despair. When Dr Scott & LeAnn created the environment, encouragement and inspiration for the Lifebook...

30 Mar The Mystery of Erotic Intelligence

Why does good sex so often fade, even for couples that love each other as much as ever? What sustains desire, and why is it so difficult? In her witty and eloquent TEDTalk, Esther Perel argues that good and committed sex draws on two conflicting needs: our need for security, and our need for surprise. She explores the relationship between love and desire, and concludes that Love is generally an experience of HAVING, where as desire is generally an experiencing of WANTING. So the question becomes… How can we want what we already have? Watch this monumentally insightful video as Perel lets us in on the mystery of erotic intelligence.

The Secret to Desire in a Long-Term Relationship j

30 Mar How Margaret stopped saying “someday”

Written by Lifebook Member Margaret Stattman One of the key areas that has really changed for me is my character. I made a decision to step out of my comfort zone and be more courageous. I have a strong visual picture and feeling of how I would like to be, and I use this when making a lot of my daily decisions. Since doing Lifebook 6 months ago I have started sharing my ideas more freely. I have stopped thinking "I would like to do that one day" and started doing it now. For e.g. I've started doing swimming training with a local group, tried out Bikram Yoga for a month, suggested having a theme song in my work place to motivate and invigorate staff and customers, wrote an editorial for work place on a topic I had researched for my health and fitness chapter, decided to do a different family Christmas - instead of giving presents to each other we had an experience and went to the theater to see the musical "Mary Poppins." Areas I have seen definite changes in are:

23 Mar The NEW Science of Stress: It Could Save Your Life

Stress. It makes your heart pound, your breathing quicken and your forehead sweat. But while stress has been made into a public health enemy, new research suggests that stress may only be bad for you if you BELIEVE that to be the case. In the featured TED Talk below, psychologist Kelly McGonigal urges us to see stress as a positive, and introduces us to an unsung mechanism for stress reduction: reaching out to others.

23 Mar How Nicole discovered her life’s plan

Written by Lifebook Member Nicole R. I've always felt like there was a plan for me - I just never knew what that plan was - or never knew if that plan was big or small. Everyone has ups and downs in their life, and I thought I had experienced mine earlier then most, as I was in a car accident when I was 9 years old and was sitting next to my mother as she was taken from this earth far too soon at the age of 27. Being she was a single mom and I had never met my father, I went to live with my aunt and my brother went to live with his Dad. Throughout all of that my motto always was "everything happens for a reason." I didn't like my life. I wanted to be a typical child with 2 parents and siblings but clearly God had different plans for me. I always thought that by thinking everything happened for a reason, I was doing okay - I was going along with the life I was suppose to live. I was very good at going with the flow. Well little did I know how much I was missing out by living with this idea in my head. I was introduced to this little thing called Lifebook- you may have heard of it? ;-) - and literally a whole new world opened up for me. I realized that no matter what circumstances may have happened to me, I still could create the life I wanted to live.

23 Mar Dehydration: The Silent Killer, and How to Kick Its Butt

There is a silent and growing epidemic of chronic dehydration in the world. So many suffer from it, yet are simply unaware of the symptoms. Are you one of them?

Here are 9 ways dehydration slowly wreaks havoc on your body:

Fatigue Water is the most vital source of energy in the body. Dehydration causes enzymatic activity in the body to slow down, resulting in tiredness and fatigue. Digestive Disorders A shortage of water and alkaline minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, can lead to a number of digestive disorders, including ulcers, gastritis and acid reflux. Constipation When short of water, the colon is one of the primary regions the body draws water from in order to provide fluids for other critical body functions. Without adequate water, wastes move through the large intestines much more slowly or sometimes not at all, resulting in constipation. Joint pain or stiffness All joints have cartilage padding, which is composed mainly of water. When the body is dehydrated, cartilage is weakened and joint repair is slow, resulting in pain and discomfort. Weight gain When dehydrated, cells are depleted of energy which causes them to signal our brain. As a result, people tend to eat more for energy, when in reality the body is thirsty. Skin disorders Dehydration impairs the elimination of toxins through the skin and makes it more vulnerable to all types of skin disorders, including dermatitis/eczema, psoriasis, as well as premature wrinkling and discoloration. Asthma and allergies When dehydrated, your body will restrict airways as a means to conserve water. In fact, the rate of histamine produced by the body increases exponentially as the body loses more and more water. High cholesterol When the body is dehydrated, it will produce more cholesterol to prevent water loss from the cells. Premature aging When chronically dehydrated, the body’s organs, including its largest organ – the skin – begin to wrinkle and wither prematurely.

The MOST BASIC thing you can do to IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH is to increase the amount of good quality water you consume everyday.