Tag: health

  • Extend your biological clock

    Extend your biological clock

    Extend your biological clock

    Time keeps moving forward, and while we can’t turn back the clock, maybe we can “slow it down” a bit. Biological age assesses the vitality of your cells, offering insights beyond the measured years on a calendar. This differs from our chronological age, which is simply the number of years we’ve lived. Biological age consistently outshines chronological age in predicting health; a younger biological age often means better health and reduced age-related disease risk. You can help nudge your body’s internal timekeeper to adopt a more relaxed pace, ensuring your cells and tissues remain as lively as your spirit.

    Foods that fuel longevity

    Nutrition is crucial for preserving youth. A diet rich in antioxidants, healthy fats, and nutrients can noticeably decelerate aging. Foods like berries, nuts, leafy greens, and fish support skin and body wellness.

    Move it or lose it

    Exercise is not just about staying fit—it’s also about keeping your spirit young. Regular physical activity boosts endorphins and enhances mood, while also preserving muscle and bone strength. Whether you dance, practise yoga, or make time for a brisk walk, daily movement wakes up your body and keeps you feeling young.

    Sleep―your secret weapon

    Quality sleep is essential for cellular repair and rejuvenation, aiding muscle recovery, memory consolidation, and hormone regulation. While sleeping, your brain clears out toxins that accumulate during the day, boosting mental clarity and cognitive function. Restful sleep does wonders for your long-term health. And, it’s nature’s simplest (and cheapest) beauty secret.

    Social relationships help us live longer

    Human connection acts as a powerful ingredient for a longer, happier life. Chatting with friends, sharing a laugh, or just knowing someone’s got your back can help slow down your biological clock. Join a book club, volunteer at your local library, take that Italian cooking class you’ve always dreamed about, or invite your neighbour to go for a walk.

    Maintain your zen (and your youth)

    Chronic stress accelerates aging by raising cortisol levels, leading to inflammation and skin issues. Practices like yoga, meditation, and deep breathing can effectively manage stress. Stress significantly impacts skin health, making relaxation a vital antiaging strategy.

    Lifelong learning―stay curious

    A curious mind is a youthful mind. Embracing new challenges isn’t just soul enriching—it can add years to your life. Curiosity and a love of learning keep the brain agile, so engage in interesting hobbies, pick up that book you keep meaning to read, or learn a new skill. Be a student for life.

    The power of positivity―laugh your way to a longer life

    Positivity enhances mental and physical health, boosting immunity, reducing stress, and extending lifespan. Cultivate optimism through affirmations, social connections, self-care, and humour. Laughter, a natural stress reliever, lightens life’s burdens

    by Nancy Hillis

    Article Courtesy of Alive Magazine

  • Break free from conventions with traditional medicine

    Break free from conventions with traditional medicine

    Break free from conventions with traditional medicine

    Bridge the gap between conventional and traditional medicine to enhance health

    Traditional Chinese medicine

    Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) revolves around qi, a concept in Chinese culture describing the energy that flows through everything. An imbalance of qi can cause disease. The ancient Chinese believed that good health comes down to achieving an equilibrium between your internal organs and natural surroundings. Acupuncture, tai chi, and cupping therapy are all TCM modalities.

    Traditional Indian medicine

    In India, traditional medicine is divided into three categories: Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani. Ayurveda, the most used, is a holistic, personalized system aimed at promoting longevity. As in TCM, Indian medicine is centred on balancing bodily organs and external elements.

    Traditional Indigenous medicine

    For centuries, Indigenous populations in North America have practised their own traditional forms of wellness through ceremonies; plant, animal, or mineral-based medicines; energetic therapies; and physical or hands-on techniques, all of which rely upon an emphasis on Mother Earth.

    Traditional African medicine

    Traditional African medicine is deeply rooted in the spiritual, with many practitioners using divination to connect with the gods and ancestral spirits for diagnosis before treatment with herbal medicines.

    How is traditional medicine different?

    Traditional medicine is often treated as pre-scientific, but a lot of conventional medicines come from plants. For example, aspirin was derived from the bark of a willow tree and morphine is extracted from the opium poppy, while vincristine—long-used in chemotherapy treatments—was isolated in 1961 from a Madagascar periwinkle flower.

    Benefits of traditional medicine

    One of the key benefits of traditional and alternative medicine is its holistic approach to health. Alternative medicine practitioners often spend over an hour with a patient each session, addressing a myriad of different concerns.

    Complementary and alternative medicines

    HerbUses
    garlicmay help reduce inflammation, cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels and to help support immunity
    gingermay help treat nausea, heartburn, and bloating; may help reduce inflammation
    elderfloweris used to help treat colds, flu, and constipation; may help lower blood pressure
    ginsengmay boost energy and sex drive
    shea butteris anti-inflammatory; protects skin cells; is used to treat skin and eczema
    ashwagandhamay reduce inflammation, pain, and anxiety
    cuminmay help reduce cholesterol; may help maintain healthy blood sugar levels
    turmericmay help treat arthritis pain, anxiety, and inflammation
    cardamommay help treat nausea; may help to reduce blood pressure, blood sugar, inflammation
    echinaceamay help treat colds, flus, infections, and wounds

    Article Courtesy of Alive Magazine

  • Taking metabolic health to heart

    Taking metabolic health to heart

    Taking metabolic health to heart

    Understanding and improving your metabolism

    Can you be gifted an efficient one at birth? Or be cursed with a slow metabolism that, like a rusty engine block, churns out more smoke than speed? Or can you craft one to your liking with proper fuel and maintenance?

    The answer is as complex as the metabolism itself.

    Born this way

    Your metabolism is basically what’s keeping you alive. It’s breaking down food; it’s giving you energy; it’s keeping all of your systems running. Your cells are then using that as fuel and pumping out energy that your body uses. So, it’s all of the systems working together to allow you to live. The source of fuel is vital, but not everyone is born with access to the same class of vessel.

    People are born with certain genetics that determine their basal metabolic rate, but there are other factors like disorders of the thyroid gland that affect individual metabolisms.

    If your thyroid gland makes more hormones, your heart rate will speed up and your metabolism speeds up. Hypothyroidism is an autoimmune disease, but this time the antibodies actually destroy the thyroid gland, and you get the opposite: you get weight gain, you feel sluggish, and the metabolism is slow.

    Fuel to burn long and strong

    Maintaining a healthy gut begins with reaching for healthy food source. Try a daily diet of whole foods like the Mediterranean diet and DASH (dietary approaches to stop hypertension), which recommend lean meats; poultry and fish; and proper amounts of fruits, vegetables, and sources of healthy oils and plant proteins.

    Exercise (but have fun doing it!)

    Using your energy through exercise is vital to keeping your metabolism in good working order. People who exercise raise their metabolic rate, so if you keep in shape, your basal metabolic rate will be higher.

    What is most important about exercise is wanting to exercise. A recent study reported in Frontiers in Psychology drew a direct link between how much people enjoyed their exercise and how likely they were to continue exercising. So choose something you enjoy—be it walking, playing tennis, or weight lifting—and be consistent.

    Just breathe—and sleep

    Finally, proper rest is absolutely vital. Our bodies do important work overnight so that we wake up the next morning ready to go again. Good sleep benefits weight management. But if you’re stressed, this can make it harder to sleep well, which in turn can make it harder to lose weight; stress elevates cortisol levels that can lead to weight gain, thus impacting our metabolic and cardiovascular health.

    For people who may have trouble gearing down after their day—for instance those of us who may have a hollow leg but a hassled brain—try meditation, even if it’s just three minutes per day.

    by Kenny Bodanis

    Article Courtesy of Alive Magazine

  • Climb beyond your limits

    Climb beyond your limits

    Climb beyond your limits

    How to adopt healthy habits, one step at a time

    Habit stacking for health and fitness

    Habit stacking is the process of slowly pairing an established habit with a new one to create transformation over time. For example, if you’re already going for daily walks, why not try adding a five minute guided mediation while doing so?
    A big part of what habit stacking refers to is having discipline. That can manifest in a lot of ways, but whatever a person is doing, having discipline is what ensures it gets done.

    The power of a focused mindset

    Habit stacking requires a lot of work to build, hone, and adhere to routines, but it’s important to recognize that we’re also human. There are days we don’t feel like doing it. In these times, try slogans that motivate you. If you’re looking for an excuse to skip the gym, you might use, “I’m a person who goes to the gym when I don’t feel like going to the gym.” But it’s also important to listen to your body’s needs.
    For anyone who wants to make changes this year but feels overwhelmed or fears failing, try embracing the process. Transforming your life in 2026, whether that means adopting a plant-based diet to improve your heart health or focusing your workouts on improving your metabolic fitness, happens one step at a time.

    Habit stacking for all levels

    Ready to get stacking? Whether you’re a newbie or a habit-changing pro, this guide will help you make positive changes more easily.

    LevelFormulaExample
     beginnerAfter/before [current habit], I will [new habit].After I make tea in the morning, I will journal for 5 minutes.
     intermediateAfter/before [current habit], I will [new habit 1]. After [new habit 1], I will [new habit 2].Before I close my laptop for lunch, I will spend five minutes listening to a guided meditation. After I finish my lunch, I will take a 15-minute walk before I return to work.
     advancedAfter/before [current habit], I will [new habit 1]. After [new habit 1], I will [new habit 2]. After [new habit 2], I will [new habit 3].Repeat another chain of habits in a different part of the day.After I take my vitamins in the morning, I will put on my workout clothes. After I get dressed, I’ll go for a 20-minute run. After my run, I’ll drink a glass of water.After I eat dinner, I will wash my dirty dishes. After the dishes are clean, I will wipe down the kitchen. After the kitchen is clean, I will do 15 minutes of yin yoga.

    by Karli Petrovic

    Article Courtesy of Alive Magazine

  • Embrace what winter brings

    Embrace what winter brings

    Embrace what winter brings

    Layer up, get outside, and enjoy the season!

    Even if you live in a mild-weather coastal paradise, you can’t fully escape winter here because, well … it’s Canada!

    While it’s true that humans tend to gravitate more toward hot soups and cozy socks during the cold months, there’s also an undeniable draw toward being outdoors when Mother Nature dresses everything in white.

    Deep down, our bodies know that facing the elements can improve physical health and provide a significant mental boost.

    Benefits of winter exercise

    Exercising in cold weather increases our exposure to natural light, even on overcast days, and can also improve mood and sleep quality.

    Cardiovascular fitness and immune function are both improved with regular physical activity—that can mean a daily 30-minute brisk walk outside and a couple of strength-training sessions weekly.

    Winter exercise is a whole-body affair

    Both downhill and cross-country skiing can help improve the markers of chronic conditions associated with aging, and they can serve as part of an aerobic and strength workout routine that also helps improve coordination.

    Before you head out

    Warm up first

    As you would for any workout, take a few minutes for a dynamic warm-up so you’ll be ready for the cold―colder temperatures can impact performance and increase the risk of injury.

    Layer up wisely

    Winter lovers say there are no cold days; there are only wrong clothing choices. Layers are essential, as they maintain warmth around the body, and you can peel some off as needed.

    Start with a moisture-wicking base layer that includes either merino; silk; or synthetic fibres, such as nylon or polyester, followed by a thicker insulating layer, and a water and windproof jacket on top.

    Protect your extremities with lined mittens or gloves, warm socks, and a face mask for blustery, cold days.

    Mind the sun, summer to winter

    Apply sunscreen on exposed areas, such as the face, especially when you’re up in the alpine (on overcast days, too), and reapply if you sweat.

    We also need to protect our eyes. Being outside in the snow on a bright sunny day can cause photokeratitis, or “snow blinding,” which is painful and can be detrimental in the long run. Make sure to wear proper sunglasses or ski goggles with UV protection.

    Feed your body for winter fun

    Consume vitamin D-fortified foods regularly to prevent deficiency, or use a supplement, if needed. Include as many fibre-rich, colourful, gut-friendly, whole foods in your diet as possible.

    An ounce of prevention

    Attach ice cleats or spikes to your sneakers or boots, even for walking, when the temperatures cause icy conditions on pavement and the slopes.

    Don’t let the cold get in the way of winter fun. Dress for the weather, fuel accordingly, and give your body the gift of movement and winter-induced happiness (yes, it’s a thing!).

    By Daniela Ginta, MSc

    Article Courtesy of Alive Magazine

  • Autoimmune management

    Autoimmune management

    Autoimmune management

    Activate your best assets against autoimmune flares

    An autoimmune disorder (AD) occurs when your body’s defense system can’t differentiate between its own cells and external, threatening cells that results in an attack on your own healthy cells. Some of the more common ADs that you may have heard of include rheumatoid arthritis; psoriasis; lupus; thyroid diseases, such as Graves’ and Hashimoto’s; and type 1 diabetes.

    It’s also worth noting that an AD is a highly biased jerk: it discriminates against women to the tune of about 80 percent of all diagnosed cases. Where it gets serious, and painful, is when the individual with AD experiences flares.

    Flares: these aren’t your momma’s dancin’ pants

    Autoimmune flares are like mini storms in your body, and depending on the type of AD that you have, those flares can attack different organs.

    What causes these flares?

    For some people, consuming alcohol; processed/fried foods; foods with lots of sugar; and high-fat foods, like cheese and some dairy, may be dietary triggers, and they certainly exacerbate the symptoms of flares.

    With time, most individuals managing an AD usually come to an understanding of what triggers a flare in their body. But if someone is undiagnosed, it could really be anything:

    • viral infections like influenza and HPV
    • fungal infections like Candidiasis
    • processed meats, refined sugars, dairy products, or gluten for those with celiac disease
    • environmental factors, like air pollutants, cleaning products, or makeup
    • psychological or physical stress

    Flare management through exercise

    In those with an AD, studies show that regular exercise can help improve mobility, reduce pain, and even offer a much-needed energy boost. It also helps regulate immune function, which means fewer and less intense flares.

    Holistic approach to flare management

    If autoimmune management was as simple as exercising, there would be no need for specialists, but like anything in life, the best approach is the one that considers the important factors: diet, stress, and sleep.

    Diet―let’s talk superfoods!

    When it comes to ADs, what you eat can either fan the flames or cool them down. Luckily, there are some pretty tasty ways to help keep inflammation in check:

             omega-3sfound in fish oil; may help heart health and reduce inflammation.
             curcuminfound in turmeric; is known to fight inflammation
             garlichas immune-supportive effects
             ginsengmay help reduce stress and give energy levels a nudge
            gingeris anti-inflammatory for digestion
            pineapplehelps relieve some inflammation symptoms

    Stress―the silent assassin

    Stress is one of the biggest AD flare triggers. Try some mindfulness techniques like meditation or deep breathing exercises. Yoga or tai chi can be a great way to combine stress reduction with gentle movement.

    Sleep―an underrated ally

    The important role of sleep as an autoimmune regulator cannot be overstated. As best as you can, develop a sleep routine that includes creating a calming environment in your bedroom and limiting late-night doomscrolling.

    By Brendan Rolfe

    Article Courtesy of Alive Magazine

  • Beating winter blues

    Beating winter blues

    Beating winter blues

    Strategies for getting out of our heads and thriving all winter long

    The beginning of a new year brings rejuvenation, goal creation, soul searching, and hope. New year, new you … right? Unfortunately, it’s not always that simple—the bleak winter months can make it hard to realize everything we set our minds to.

    About 15 percent of Canadians report having seasonal depression. Does winter get you down? It doesn’t have to; there are plenty of simple strategies to help mitigate the effects of the season’s gloom.

    What causes winter depression?

    Seasonal affective disorder (aptly referred to by the acronym SAD) is a yearly recurring form of depression that usually coincides with the onset of fall and ends around spring. The loss of natural light impacts our circadian rhythms; our bodies produce more melatonin and less serotonin, reducing our energy levels and overall feelings of happiness.

    What are the symptoms of SAD?

    Some symptoms of winter-onset SAD include the following:

    • oversleeping
    • craving more carbs; overeating
    • weight gain
    • irritability
    • trouble concentrating
    • feelings of hopelessness and guilt
    • loss of interest in social activities
    • negative thoughts

    Who is most vulnerable?

    Women and girls are disproportionately more affected by SAD than men and boys, likely due to hormonal differences and different social expectations. Onset of SAD often occurs in early adulthood.

    How do we get out of our heads?

    Exercise

    Physical activity releases mood-boosting chemicals and, although it may be harder to feel motivated to get active, it’s perhaps even more crucial this time of year when the body is deprived of happiness chemicals dopamine and serotonin.

    Socialize

    Socializing is another key factor. Connecting with others can greatly reduce feelings of isolation and stress and help us feel supported and loved.

    Meditate

    Meditation has been shown to diminish symptoms of depression and anxiety by shifting the brain away from negative thoughts, calming the mind, and changing how the brain responds to triggering situations.

    Get more light

    Light therapy uses a flatscreen device called a light box that emits a strong fluorescent light to mimic the effects of sunlight and, over time, restore natural circadian rhythms. Usually administered for 30 to 60 minutes every morning, most notice results within three to five days.

    How do we affect SAD through diet?

    Eat healthy whole foods

    It’s important to maintain a balanced diet of high-quality foods, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, that nourish us with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants,

    Supplement

    Because there’s less sunlight in the winter, we get less vitamin D, a nutrient that plays a key role in the development of the happiness chemicals in our brains.

    Probiotic supplements encourage the production of healthy bacteria in our gut, which produce serotonin that is then transmitted from the gastrointestinal tract to the central nervous system.

    By Emilie Richardson-Dupuis

    Article Courtesy of Alive Magazine

  • Kin from another kingdom

    Kin from another kingdom

    Kin from another kingdom

    A fresh relationship with houseplants

    Choosing houseplants tends to be more akin to shopping for a couch than adopting a pet―we see ferns and philodendrons as ornaments more than as companions. Yet a potted plant has much more in common with a dog than a lamp. Not only is it alive and in need of tending, but, as is becoming increasingly clear, the entire plant kingdom is more profoundly interactive than we’ve previously realized.

    They’ve got smarts

    A growing body of science is ascribing intelligence to plants. Some go so far as to call it consciousness. What appears to us to be motionless air and soil is actually boisterously alive with impulses, chemical signals, and vibrations being sent and received as plants communicate with fungi, insects, and one another.

    They might be busy discerning which insect is nibbling their leaves so they can chemically summon the precise predator needed, giving their kin photosynthesizing space by adjusting their own leaf arrangement, or counting daylight hours so they know when to germinate. Suffice it to say, plants are not just sitting mutely, looking pretty, and passively serving as animal food.

    Breathing partners

    The members of the plant kingdom we’ve brought home to live with us have a lot more to offer than mere décor. Certainly, houseplants improve our indoor air by exchanging carbon dioxide for oxygen. But they’re also capable of filtering pollutants like volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by common building materials and furnishings. It takes more than a plant or two to reap these benefits, though, so be generous with that greenery!

    Keep ’em within view

    Studies show the simple sight of plants in our vicinity is sufficient to boost our mood, productivity, and even hospital recovery. Given that we spend roughly 90 percent of our time indoors, our foliar friends in pots become critical health allies.

    And within reach

    When we pluck plants out of their natural context―their native ecological web―they can no longer sustain themselves without our help (trimming dead leaves, watering regularly, adding soil nutrients, finding them the right spot in the window, etc.).

    Not only do these little interactions uphold our end of the domestic bargain, but small routine chores actually boost our own well-being. And plant care, specifically, has its benefits. For example, taking 15 minutes to repot an indoor plant is enough to measurably reduce stress and blood pressure.

    Housemates

    The field of plant science has only scratched the surface of how complex and animated the lives of plants are behind their slow and quiet facade. Even the idea that individuals within a species might have distinct personalities is being seriously explored. It’s not such a stretch, then, to see our ivy and aloe vera as true housemates.

    By Jackie Skrypnek

    Article Courtesy of Alive Magazine

  • Bug Love

    Bug Love

    Bug Love

    Biome to the rescue

    These days, we’re learning that a healthy gut microbiome, one that is richer in helpful bacteria and lower in unamiable ones, is a harbinger of good health: research has shown that it improves digestive, heart, and brain health. When it comes to what we eat, the microbiome lends an assist in digesting, processing, and excreting for better overall nutritional status. In other words, consider the microbiome as an important component of detoxifying our bodies for lasting health.

    Here are some ways that the most beneficial microbes that reside in our intestines can be best supported.

    Go plant crazy

    As part of the American Gut Project, University of California San Diego School of Medicine researchers discovered that people who ate more than 30 different types of plant-based foods per week had a greater diversity of beneficial gut microbiota than those who ate 10 or fewer types of plant foods.

    Work up a sweat

    A recent study review in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise found enough evidence to suggest that regular bouts of exercise are associated with a positive shift in gut microbial composition (higher levels of bugs that produce the beneficial compound butyrate).

    Go easy on meat

    Some research suggests that a meat-heavy diet, especially at the expense of plant-based foods, can shuffle around the types of microbes thriving in the gut to favour less beneficial types.

    Shop for inulin

    Inulin (a prebiotic) belongs to a class of carbohydrates called fructans, which are plant carbohydrates that, because of their unique structure, resist digestion in the upper gastrointestinal tract but are quantitatively fermented in the colon by the microorganisms that reside there. This helps the beneficial microbes flourish and produce postbiotics. You can source this prebiotic fibre from Jerusalem artichokes; chicory root; alliums, including onions, leeks, and garlic; asparagus; soybeans (which includes edamame); oats; and whole wheat.

    Manage stress

    It’s thought that periods of stress can reshape the human microbiome in a way that’s less favourable to health. Measures such as going for walks and practising meditation that help downgrade stress are important.

    Try supplementation

    A probiotic supplement can help optimize the microbiome, especially during periods of travel, illness, antibiotic use, or stress, when your microbiome can take a hit.

    Don’t overdo the sweet stuff

    Research published in the journal iScience found that people who consumed more foods and drinks with aspartame, sucralose, saccharin, and stevia leaf extract had less diverse beneficial colonies of gut bacteria and higher concentrations of harmful toxins in their intestines when compared to those study participants who didn’t use non-nutritive sweeteners.

    Grab more shut-eye

    It appears that both sleep fragmentation and short sleep duration are associated with gut dysbiosis, an imbalance in the different types of microscopic organisms living in your body. Make it a habit to practise good sleep hygiene, such as reducing bright light exposure before bedtime and keeping that phone far away from the bed.

    By Matthew Kadey, MSc, RD

    Article Courtesy of Alive Magazine

  • Holistic happiness

    Holistic happiness

    Holistic happiness

    What makes us feel happy?

    Is there anything more highly desired, yet elusive, than happiness? Some describe it as a fleeting emotion along life’s journey, others as the ultimate destination. Some think about it in terms of genetic inheritance, others as the culmination of practices.

    How do you hold happy?

    Dr. Caroline Meyer, ND, experiences happiness by catching the small moments, pointing out that when we “rely on big moments, we miss the sustenance of daily pleasures.”

    For Josh Gitalis, clinical nutritionist and functional medicine practitioner, happiness is about attuned decision-making and feeling aligned with his purpose.

    For Chantée Dardaine, registered psychotherapist, happiness is an embodied feeling when engaged in doing something “soul-warming.”

    The “how” of happiness

    What is it that we’re experiencing when we say, “I’m happy”? Turns out, it’s physical, emotional, and intentional.

    Physically, Gitalis explains, the emotion we describe as happiness is the intersection of multiple factors: “Neurotransmitters that regulate mood, like dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins, are released in brain regions associated with happiness. Hormones such as oxytocin are influenced by hugging, bonding, and social interactions.”

    “The capacity for happiness relies on the health of our nervous system,” says Meyer.

    To counteract the less-than-happy autopilot many of us find ourselves in, leading to missing out on simple, happy moments, Dardaine brings “an intention of happiness.”

    It’s all about appreciation

    “Gratitude encourages us to look for pleasurable moments in daily life,” Meyer says. “Recalling with gratitude a few happy moments in each day has been a transformative practice,” she adds, “and mindfulness makes this possible.”

    It’s closer than you think

    “Growing up, happiness was related to goals,” says Dardaine. “I would frequently say ‘I’ll be happy when …’ which, looking back, made me feel that happiness was only waiting for me at the outcome. As it turns out, happiness is right in front of us.”

    Measuring happy

    Dardaine actively practises happiness by “scheduling moments of goodness,” such as afternoon tea or evening popcorn, while Graham intentionally cultivates things that evoke contentment or joy, such as time with friends or moving in nature.

    “Beyond purely pleasurable activities,” says Meyer, “I make sure to do a few mildly challenging habits every day.” At the end of each day, she experiences the “positive feeling of small accomplishments.”

    Highlighting happiness

    “Times of unhappiness can lead us to a deeper understanding of our needs, like what smells, sights, items, music, or people can support us coming into a state of happiness,” says Dardaine.

    Finally, Meyer suggests: “Place a hand on your heart during a happy experience and silently repeat, ‘Remember this moment.’ Happiness can become a sacred practice.”

    By Deena Kara Shaffer, PhD

    Article Courtesy of Alive Magazine