Your predominant temperament type may have a lot to do with how you handle personal conflicts, disease and stress.  For example, an Amiable who hates conflict may take on a victim role.  A Director may either deny that there is anything that will slow him down or he can take charge and actively work to get well.  Directors typically get "blowout" diseases like high blood pressure and heart attacks, while the conflict-avoiding Amiable is much more likely to develop a chronic illness such as chronic fatigue or low blood pressure.

How you handle conflict is often the way you handle disease.  Avoid conflict, feel unworthy and even helpless = become a victim.  Keep score, hold in anger and grudges = become depressed.  Others may take action, lay blame, deny, feel guilty or accept the disease or problem passively.

A person who is told that they have a few months to live might either:

1. Pretend it isn't so
2. Write their will and prepare to die
3. Research ways to fight the illness

Which would you choose:  FOLD or FIGHT?

"We are what we choose to be or we'd change."
 John Boyle

Remember the words of Abraham Lincoln, "Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."
Choose to be happy and look for ways to make others happy.  it's a natural stress reducer!

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DIRECTOR:

These are forceful, take-charge people: direct, decisive, determined, and often domineering.  They're born leaders who are neither shy nor subtle.  Driven by an inner need to get results, they're firm in their relationships with others and more concerned with outcomes than egos.  Often in a hurry, always working toward a goal, frequently opinionated, the highly competitive DIRECTORS stir up dust and create energy wherever they go.

SOCIALIZERS:

The enthusiastic and friendly SOCIALIZERS want to be in the middle of the action, whatever and wherever it is.  They most value admiration, acknowledgement, and applause.  Flashy and popular, they're trendsetters who spout the hippest lingo, and toss around the newest ideas.  They are more people-oriented than task-oriented, and they have the attention span of a flashcube.

RELATERS:

The teddy bears of the human zoo.  RELATERS make you feel good just by being around.  They're the most people-oriented of the four styles.  Having close, friendly relationships is one of their highest priorities.  Easy-going and slow-paced, RELATERS believe in self-control and tend to follow the rules.  They dislike conflict so much that they can be unassertive, overly sensitive, and easily bullied.

THINKERS:

Like the DIRECTOR, the THINKER is a results-oriented problem-solver, but in a quieter, more low-key way, someone that is less likely to ruffle feathers.  THINKERS are analytical, persistent, independent, and well organized.  They do not want to call attention to themselves.  They prefer to work quietly alone.  They emphasize accuracy and "correctness", so much so that they are sometimes seen as aloof, picky, and even critical.

DIRECTOR:

Responds to disease either with denial until it's too late or an all-out attack on the disease.

SOCIALIZERS:

They talk to many professionals for information and use the power of positive thinking.

RELATERS:

They feel victimized and enroll people in their story rather than actively working to get well.

THINKERS:

They will aggressively read articles and do research on survival methods.

STRESS

More people will perhaps be feeling stressed this holiday than in previous years because of the poor economy.  Reduce your stress levels by getting enough sleep and eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and lean meats for the immune system.  Regular exercise is crucial, so fit it into your day - or night!  Exercise reduces stress, lowers blood pressure and glucose levels and burns calories.  Although the darkness of winter is upon the land, it does not have to reside within us.

Simple Steps to a Healthier Lifestyle

Following a healthy lifestyle doesn't have to be as difficult as it may seem.  Simple steps like increasing your intake of some foods while reducing your intake of others can make a big difference in your overall health.  Here are a few basic guidelines for ensuring you get the most from your diet:

• Eat at least 5 portions of fruits and vegetables a day.
• Eliminate sugar and avoid sweetened foods and drinks.
• Choose the leanest meats and low fat dairy products.
• Grill, bake or steam foods rather than frying.
• Decrease your alcohol intake.
• Increase your exercise.  Get off the bus one stop early and walk the rest of the way.

Recognize the signs of stress:  ineffective coping, depression, irritability, anxiety, inability to concentrate, crankiness, and a change in appetite or sleep habits.  Stress related illnesses include headaches, high blood pressure, neck and back pain and stomach aches.  Eliminate the threat of stress by putting yourself in control, rather than letting things just happen.

Keep expectations realistic.  Don't allow holiday expectations to be determined by others.  Instead, focus on your family's strengths and be realistic about what works for your family.  Be realistic about what you can and cannot accomplish.  Give yourself permission to say, "No."  Say "I'm sorry, but this won't work for me right now."

Exercise can rid the body of tension, help promote relaxation, improve cardiovascular function, and increase energy and stamina.

Welcome to the Eating Season

Are you destined to gain two pounds or eight?  Or must you be a dieting martyr?  You can enjoy the holidays and your weight by the time January 5th comes around.  Meet the challenge of the seasonal food with your continued commitment to health, plus a does of reality and humor.

SAVE YOURSELF FOR THE BEST.  Don't waste calories on "common" food.  Why fill up on regular mashed potatoes when a mouth-watering plate of green beans with caramelized onions beckons farther down the table?

LOOK FOR FOODS WITH MAXIMUM FIBER CONTENT.  These foods will make you feel full longer.  Substitute whole grain crackers with hummus in place of white flour crackers and cheese.  Try fresh fruit dipped in chocolate rather than bakery extravaganzas.  Drink water with lime wedges instead of wine and mixed drinks.  Ask yourself, "Am I here for the food or the drink?"  You can't do both.

DON'T STUFF THE GUESTS AS WELL AS THE TURKEY.  You don't need a 20-pound turkey for 8 people.  Only one pound per person.  Try making fat free gravy and sugar-free Jell-O.  Prepare three or four wonderful vegetable dishes instead of five or six.

CELEBRATE THE "SLOW FOOD" MOVEMENT.  Eat very slowly, savoring each bite.  This gives you time to listen to your stomach saying, "That's lovely, you can stop now."  More often all we hear is our tongue saying, "Yum, more, more, more."

REMEMBER THE "LAST BITE" THEORY.  Remind yourself that the last bite occurs whether you've had a huge amount or a small amount of that great food.  If the foods is really great, you will probably want more despite the portion size, so have that last bite sooner than later.

Healthy Food Is Cheaper:  According to a study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, eating healthier foods can actually save you money.  They found that when families went on weight loss diets, they lost weight and reduced their food budgets.  The savings came from reducing portion sizes and buying fewer high calorie foods that increase the amount we spend at the store.

Watch your diet:  Eat lightly, more often, and include complex carbohydrates for energy.  A diet high in carbohydrates increases the body's supply of serotonin, a brain chemical known for its calming effect.  Drink plenty of water and avoid sweets and snacks with empty calories.  Also, cut back on stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine.

"Disease" is just different expressions of toxicity.  Cancer, Alzheimer's Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis, leukemia and diabetes are just a few examples.  Every disease known, and still unknown, is likely caused by toxins - along with not exercising and putting poor nutrition into the body.

The body can heal itself, if given information it can understand, through whole foods and natural products.  This is the cellular-level information that the body understands.

Knowledge is not enough.  We must act!  We need to provide our body with the life nurturing natural products it needs to detoxify itself and function properly.  Our products are designed to meet those nutritional and cleansing needs!

"Most cleanse products simply "flush" the system.  I wanted to make life better for people.  I created a cleanse that would clean out the debris that had built up in the body, replenish nutrients and make a real difference in people's health."
- Dr. William Kellas

FOR OPTIMUM HEALTH...

On a typical Western Diet, we hold 8 meals of undigested food and waste in our colon.

Even after one bowel movement a day, we'll still have a t least three meals worth of waste putrefying in our colon.

The longer a body is exposed to putrefying food in the intestines, the greater the chance of disease.

The number one cancer among both men and women is colon cancer.

In addition to the colon, all the inner organs need to be cleansed as well.

Our bodies would greatly benefit from a full colon cleanse at least once a year.

As much as 80% of our population has some kind of parasite living in their body and most don't even know it!  We can be infected with at least 30 parasitic illnesses from our pets alone.  Parasitic illnesses include symptoms like asthma, lack of energy, headaches, intestinal disorders, and Attention Deficit Disorders.

Having an Attitude of Gratitude

"In the depth of winter, I finally realized that deep within me there lay an invincible summer." - A. Camus

Let's face it, life throws us curves sometimes.  We all experience the ups and downs that lead some to seek a counselor's help:  relationship issues, money problems, job struggles, grief and loss.  Add any of those stressors to our current economy, and it becomes even more challenging to stay positive and thankful!  And yet, an optimistic focus is essential for mental health and happiness.  What do we do?

The Practice of Optimism

The alarming thing about tough times is that negativity feeds on itself.  As we talk negatively to others, we contribute to their anxiety.  They then spread that talk to more people, keeping us all in a state of uneasiness.  Negativity is truly contagious, a "mental virus" spread by thoughtless conversation, new stories and emails.  Before you know it, a whole nation is panicking, which helps cause the very hard times we fear.

What We Focus On, Grows...

An 'attitude of gratitude' simply means that we make a conscious choice to focus our attention on what we like about our lives.  One easy exercise is to list the three best things that happened to you during the day, and then not why they happened.  It is usually because we chose to make an effort to improve our lives, whether it's the good feelings we get from working out or the pleasure of calling a friend.  This helps us see that we are not victims nor are we powerless.  There is always something we can do to improve our present circumstance and ease our anxiety.

Some Ideas:

• Lay the problem down.  Take a break from trying to solve the situation.  Put aside a difficult project and take a walk.  Leave the resume writing behind and watch a funny movie.  Let your mind rest.
• Limit time spent dwelling on and talking about the problem.  Just as not talking about it all makes it worse by suppressing it into the body, talking about your problem obsessively can keep you panicked.  Your discussions should be brief and only confide in a positive, non-advising friend, family member or counselor.
• Avoid negative people.  There will always be those who are determined to spread the virus of negativity.  Some people get a sense of importance from repeating bad news and the media depends on bad news for ratings!  Be wise about who gets your attention.
• Let yourself grieve.  Grief is a natural and necessary process when facing a loss, whether you have lost a job, a person, a lifestyle or a marriage.  Crying is important for release of cortisol, a damaging hormone that builds in the body during stress.
• Examine the problem on paper.  Write down how you feed for a few minutes to release the problem.  Things look different on paper than in your head!
• Take care of yourself.  A nap, a novel or an art class can be a little lift to help you get through a hard time.

Develop New Skills & Values This Holiday

MAKING GIFTS:  Use your creativity to make more meaningful gifts.  Play holiday music, set up an assembly line, paint, glue and wrap home-made crafts.  Make Coupon Books for a free backrub, making dinner, washing dishes, going on a walk, or washing the car.  Make wrapping paper with sheets of newsprint and potato stamps dipped in paint.

GET ORGANIZED:  Getting organized lowers stress, and is a valuable skill that can spread to other areas of your life.  Start now and work at it consistently for 15 minutes a day.  Then relax and enjoy the holidays.

GIVE TO PEOPLE WHO CAN'T GIVE BACK:  We are not made to be receptacles, but conduits of what we are receiving.  When we give, we feel like we're really living.  Is there an elderly neighbor who lost her spouse this year?  Invite her over for dinner.  Holidays are a lonely time for many, and the gift of your time means more than you can imagine.

There is always something hopeful to say, and something to be grateful for.  Fix your attention on what you appreciate and more good things will come along!