5 Rules For A Happy Life

With the new year just hours away, and thousands of inherently doomed yet heart-felt resolutions floating around, the time is right to bring you this very simple recipe for happiness.

The following list comprises an exceptionally simple formula guaranteed to provide you with a better quality of life.

The five rules for a happier life are as follows:

1: Free your mind from worry.
2: Free your heart from hatred.
3: Live simply.
4: Expect less.
5: Give more.

 For those of you who will need more explanation of the above statements, this may well be the right time to learn to meditate.

 Wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year 2017.

JBS.
HealthySelfCures.com. 12/31/2016

The next Food You Should Stop Eating: Margarine

To be and feel healthier, there are a few convenience foods you should stop eating today:

  In order to support your healthier lifestyle, you will need to make smarter and more informed food choices. We are all being hit every day with catchy words and phrases like "all natural" and "low fat" and similar triggers designed by food manufacturers to trick you into thinking that their wares are healthy for you, regardless of facts to the contrary.

 Sadly, there is an entire industry based on deceiving consumers with catchy and misleading terms like those worn out examples above.  When you hear the terms "low fat" and "sugar free" you should be thinking "chemical soup".

 Some go so far as to create and manage a campaign of propaganda designed to promote their foods as a healthier option, despite countless studies* that have disproved those claims.
* Another favorite tool of the Food Marketing industry is "fixed results' lab studies wherein the manufacturer sponsors a study with predetermined results stating that their product is healthy.

 Another example of this deception is also the next food you should stop buying and eating: Margarine.

 Originally crafted in 1869 from beef tallow and skimmed milk, margarine was intended as a butter substitute for the soldiers and lower classes of France by Napoleon III. Two years later the process here in the US was converted to animal fats and vegetable oils, mainly cottonseed oil.

 The other big difference in the US was the original design. While the French wanted to express yet another form of separation between the classes, the Americans of 1871 simply wanted to find a cheaper feed for their pigs that would also help to fatten them up.

 To meet this need: Margarine was born.  

When we look back over the last 40 years in an attempt to determine where the roots of our current obesity epidemic began, one of the primary turning points was the heavy marketing of margarine as the "healthier alternative" to butter.

 The motivation was simple and fairly obvious. While dairy farms are messy and unpredictable, a chemical plant can be controlled and far more profitable. Profits that don't need to be shared with a farmer.

 Margarine today is in fact one chemical reaction away from being plastic.

  Rancid oils such as cottonseed (Cotton is one of the most heavily sprayed crops) and Canola ([Rapeseed] considered a healthier oil, despite being banned from infant formulas because it causes vitamin deficiencies) are leeched from seeds with the toxic cancer causing solvent Hexane.

 The oils used in making margarine are the Big Four GMO crops: Soy, Corn, Canola, Cotton.

 The raw oils are steam cleaned, thus destroying all vitamins and antioxidants. Not all the pesticides, but any trace of healthy benefit. They are then mixed with finely ground and highly toxic nickle, as a catalyst for the hydrogenation process.

 Emulsifiers (soaps) and another steam cleaning, along with bleach and deodorizers are all a typical and necessary part of the process of turning undesirable GMO seeds into a tub of chemical sludge that can be sold to the unsuspecting public under the "Healthier Option" label.

 The bottom line is this: A good organic butter is going to be far healthier than any commercial margarine on the market today. Fresh jellies and jams are an even better choice.

 2015  HealthySelfCures.com    

Care and Feeding Of Your Zombie

 You may have a pulse inside, but on the surface you're dead.  You Beautiful Zombie You.

  When you consider that your body is in a constant state of repair due to the regeneration of cells, from the major organs to the skin that holds it all together, you realize that we are all looking at a zombie in the mirror every morning. That's because the skin is rebuilt from the inner layers outward, thus the outer layer that everyone sees is comprised of already dead skin cells.
 Caring for those zombie cells is not nearly as hard as most corporations would have you believe, but it will require a few special considerations.

 

  First: Avoid Axes To the Head:

 There are a few tips to skin care that most people are barely aware of. All of the expensive creams in the world are useless if your zombie is dealing with suicidal habits.

•  Avoid touching your face.

 Dirt is transferred from your fingers that can become lodged in the pores. Use an oil-absorbent paper or get in the habit of carrying a packet of Kleenex. Acne-prone skin types are especially susceptible to those finger germs.

•   The Sun is not your friend.

  Drying and premature wrinkling are just the beginning. Skin cancer can take decades to brew to the surface, so the Summer tans that you enjoy showing off in your twenties can easily become the melanoma that drops you to your knees in your fifties.

•  Garbage In, Garbage Out. 

 Healthy skin starts and ends with a healthy diet and lifestyle. Fruits and veggies are vital, especially those citrus fruits that are high in vitamin C, along with lean meats and at least thirty minutes of heart healthy exercise every day. Dump the trans fats and fried foods that are adding toxins to your diet.

   Basic Zombie Care:
 Proper skin care doesn't have to be expensive, and you don't need to get up an hour earlier just to look good. You will however need to use a little common sense to keep your favorite zombie from falling apart and scaring the neighbors.

  The hardest part for most people is learning to ignore all of the misleading marketing from companies that want you to feel insecure about your ability to care for your body, so that you will pay anything for their "magic solution" that does little, if anything, for your skin.
  Look at it this way: The profits to be made from a cure are a drop in the bucket, compared to the ocean of profits to be made from treating your problems.
 
 The cancer industry has fallen into this profitability model, and as long as corporations are allowed to control the health industry, this won't be changing anytime soon. The real money is in the treatments.
 The point of this rant is simply that nearly all of the big promise products start with a natural ingredient like Aloe or Lanolin and then add nasty chemicals and perfumes that you don't want or need as their signature.

 Respect yourself and your wallet by keeping it simple. A six month supply of Aloe Vera gel runs about five bucks, so why would you pay a company ten times as much to whip it up with toxins?

 The care part is just as simple, and should include the two prime steps: Clean and Moisturize.

  > Exfoliate.
  You've heard it before because it not only works, it's vital to healthy skin. Scrubbing those dead flakes of skin from your face allows the world to see those healthy, pink skin cells underneath, as well as removing the dirt and oils trapped between them.
 Loofah or sea sponge, washcloth or spinning brushes, proper cleaning is best served daily.
For my money, it's natural sea sponge. Cheap to replace, easy to rinse clean after use, and gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin types.
Habits are the key, and new, healthier habits are easy to start. Simply decide, and do.

Finding the right cleanser for your skin type is not quite as simple, but simplicity is still the theme of this story. Did you know that you can cleanse the skin with milk or yogurt? Not many do, but it's not only true but for the organic types out there, it's the best solution to proper zombie care.

 > Moisturize.
 Between your soaps and shaving, air pollution and the Sun, your skin takes a beating and tends to dry out. It is dead, after all. Replacing lost moisture isn't hard and starting a daily habit of lotion or oils is just as easy.
 Choose water-based lotions and avoid those that use an alcohol base. Apply a thin layer after the shower to replace the oils that you just scrubbed off.
 Dry skin types will benefit from a routine of vitamin E oil instead of lotions. A bottle runs just a few dollars (I found it at a dollar store once), and makes an excellent prime for those who like to blend their own moisturizers as I do.

 I mentioned Aloe Vera gel earlier in Basics: I have an Aloe plant on the kitchen windowsill that grows very well, and provides me with organic Aloe gel for my twice-weekly moisturizing treatment.
 I just snip a half-leaf and squeeze one of Nature's greatest moisturizers directly onto the face and massage it in.   The plant cost me $4 at a local farm, and has paid me back for years.

 Told you it was simple.
Here are a few extra tips to keep in mind, though they won't apply to everyone.

 - Avoid the sun during peak hours (10-4). 
  Drying and wrinkles are avoidable. If you must go out, use a sunblock of SPF15 or more.
  - Quit smoking.
 Premature aging and wrinkles are the free bonus, Especially around the mouth.
 - Keep showers under 15 minutes.
 Hot water is harsh on the skin, and long showers remove too much of the good oils.
 - Wait 20 minutes after a shower to decide if you need a moisturizer.
 If the skin starts to feel tight, apply a good lotion or natural oil.
 - Wash the face in warm water and rinse in cold water.
 Warm water helps to open the pores, but again, hot water has minerals that dry the skin.

Bonus:
 - Use olive oil as a natural makeup remover.
 Not only is it one of the natural oils that are good for your complexion, but this one tip can save you from those ugly crows feet in the sensitive areas around the eyes.

  Copyright JB Stran  2015   HealthySelfCures.com

Handy Hacks: Summer Edition

Handy Hacks  part 3

  We all like to learn a new trick that will make our lives easier, save us money, and even impress friends and family in the process.

 Here are a few of my favorites for the Summer months:

* Remove Crayons from Walls with WD40:

Use the lubricant and a cloth to remove stubborn crayon marks from the walls just by spraying the wall and wiping with a cloth.

* Keep Ants and Slugs Out of the House with Chalk?

Ants and Slugs Won’t Touch Chalk. So, simply draw a line in front of your doorway where you are having problems with these pesky critters.   Better yet, cut the kids loose with a box of sidewalk chalk and make sure that they draw you a beautiful doormat all around the front steps. Don't forget the area under the windows, and the ants won’t cross it, meaning they won’t be able to get into your house.

* That reminds me: Chapstick will stop the bleeding if you nick yourself shaving.

 - assuming of course that a few of you still enjoy an old-school shave as I do.

**and That reminds me:  Olive oil is an excellent replacement for shaving cream! Slick and smooth enough to ward off nicks, it also moisturizes the skin as you shave.

* Vinegar: Kills Weeds and Helps Flowers Grow

Vinegar is a magic wonder when it comes to gardening. It not only kills weeds but they help flowers grow as well. Douse vinegar all around your garden to prevent weeds from popping up and to help your flowers to grow healthy and strong. A spray bottle with the tip opened to a jet works fine.

* Remove A Bumper Sticker with Mayonnaise?

Spread mayonnaise on the bumper sticker and let sit for at least thirty minutes. Then, rub the sticker off with a towel, leaving a clean bumper!

* Clean BBQ Grill with Baking Soda:

Mix a cup of baking soda with half a cup water to make a paste. Dip your brush into the paste and scrub the grill. The caked on pieces and black residue will come off much quicker and using baking soda is much safer and cheaper than using cleaning chemicals.

* That reminds me: Clean your grill with an Onion:

  Close and warm that dirty grill for 10 minute. Slice a fresh onion in half and rub the cut face of onion back and forth on the grilling surface until the juices have loosened all that stuck-on crud. Hit it with your grill brush and repeat if necessary.  Not only will the onion make cleaning much easier, but your next round of steaks will have an awesome hint of extra flavor!

 ...and, One to impress the ladies:

* Freeze Candles to Make Them Last Longer:

Put candles in the freezer for at least 2 hours before using. Once you burn them, the wax will melt at a much slower pace, making them last much longer!

*...and That reminds me:  Never buy Dryer Sheets again:

  Ball up a sheet of aluminum foil and toss it in the dryer. Make it two, if you like. This will eliminate the static cling while freeing you from those nasty chemicals that commercial dryer sheets leave on the clothes. 

 A hand-sized ball of foil (worth about a nickle) will last up to a YEAR! 

  So...Do you feel smarter yet?   You will when you get to pass these old school tips on!

- You're welcome.

J.B.

2015  JB "Pop" Stran  All Copyrights apply. No reprint without full link intact.

5 Basic Truths Even The Smartest People Forget

5 Basic Truths Even The Smartest People Forget

It’s so easy to get caught up in the business and demand of life that we can often for the most simple of truths.  Even some of the truths that hold together the foundation of our experience, that give life meaning, and that bring us joy often get buried beneath a concoction of thoughts, obligations, and responsibilities.

While it can be excited to experience life and go with the flow, a life without reflection is not worth living.  There has to be some time set aside each day to examine yourself and see if there is something you can improve on.  The funny thing is, it’s usually the case that the solution to our problems is so obvious that we failed to see it.

If you find yourself feeling stuck, upset, or unfulfilled, the solution may be as simple as remembering some of the basic truths that we may have taken for granted.  Here are 5 of the most basic truths that even the smartest people forget...

Read more: http://thespiritscience.net/2015/06/08/5-basic-truths-even-the-smartest-people-forget/

Happiness Pursuit: Destination Addiction Secrets

 The Pursuit of Happiness:  Beware of Destination Addiction

  First of all, your happiness is never guaranteed. Never was, and never will be.

 Even our founding fathers were smart enough to understand that too many people suffer from a condition known as "destination addiction" (DA), which is why you are only granted the right to pursue it.

 Having it, and keeping it, is entirely up to you.

 So what is "Destination Addiction"?

In the simplest terms, it means that you subscribe to the belief that your happiness, and I mean real happiness, lies just around the next corner. When you get the next job; when you meet the next short-term goal; when your divorce comes through; in the next prescription; or with the next new love affair.

 Notice in the last two examples that I have touched on the root cause that applies to nearly half of those affected by DA: Placing responsibility for their own happiness on someone else's shoulders, in this case the doctor who is happy to charge you for chasing the uncatchable, and the boyfriend or girlfriend who shouldn't be asked to bear an extra weight that is destined by design to fail.

 Sadly, the core fault that causes far too many divorces can also be traced back to a partner who simply refused to acknowledge the individual's responsibility of providing their own personal happiness. Naturally, they found over time that their life partner had neither the interest, nor the resources, to provide it for them.

  "Happiness Depends Upon Ourselves"

- Aristotle

So, are you ready for the simple truth?

 It's rather ironic, actually. The truth of personal happiness, this thing that so many people will spend an entire lifetime searching for but never find, while others seem to be born with it, is this:  You Had It All Along.

   You already have it, but environmental influences have trained you to ignore it and to start a lifelong quest to hunt for it. A rather expensive and personally exhaustive quest; but don't worry, there's a pill for that, too.

  You can call these influences society in general, peer pressure, commercialism, television advertising, specialized marketing (or Madison avenue, if that one actually applies anymore), retailers, or any of a hundred reasons (excuses?) that the AD victim can offer to define the path that led them to becoming hopelessly addicted to the BBD*.

*Sorry, this may be a bit "old school" for today's readers, but in my youth AD was called chasing ghosts and the destinations were referred to as the Bigger, Better Deal (or, the BBD as in "he's addicted to the BBD").  Kinda rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?

 The real reason that so many people seem to be born into their own happiness, regardless of personal wealth or societal standings, is because they fully grasp, at a young age, the concept of personal happiness being the individual's responsibility.

 You can credit this to good parenting if you like, and in many cases you would be right, but the truth is that some people just get it. It clicks for them, and no further explanation is required.

 Like water rolling off a duck's back, they just seem able to repel troubles and remain happy.

 I have seen this first hand over many years.  This rollercoaster of a life has found me homeless more than once, and one of the most valuable memories that have endured is of genuinely happy families that literally had nothing material to offer, but were willing to share none the less.

 In some cases all they had to offer was a hug. And in my case, at that time, it was enough.

 I have also known some extremely wealthy families, and found only one that I can recall who was really happy, but to be perfectly honest she was what most would call totally clueless.

  She was blissful, if you get my drift.

  It's easy to hide personal misery under new vehicles and a lot of alcohol, but a lack of personal fulfillment is one of those things that simply won't stay hidden for long. 

 Either you have it or you don't, but you definitely can't buy it. Many have tried, and all have failed.

 In case you missed the answer, here it is again:  BE.

  Stop chasing happiness. Just Be.  Yes: it really is that simple.  No one can sell it to you, though many are going to offer.
 Car dealers, drug manufacturers (and their licensed drug dealers, aka your local doctor), home builders, cosmetics retailers, and dozens of others who are staking millions on your ignorance will continue to promise to sell you some happy. Be smarter. Learn to see through the smoke & mirrors, and choose to be happy.

 Step off the treadmill, even for a minute, and try becoming less hamster and more human. A responsible human who is willing to accept full responsibility for the thoughts that are coming from your own mind.

 Because what you think, you become: Happiness included.

Whether you believe that you can, or you believe that you can't: You are never wrong.      ≈ JB

 Happiness is a gift that that you give to yourself. Happiness is a gift that cannot be taken away from you, though again, some are going to try. 

 In a society that is peppered with so many truly miserable people, seeing someone who appears to have found actual happiness has a way of plucking a lot of people's nerves. Even a few friends may even try to sabotage your apparent self-satisfaction, albeit unconsciously.

 Misery, after all, really does enjoy company. This too is just more smokescreen, so don't fall for it.

 Understand them and the motivations behind their negative actions, and you will manage to hold firmly to your newfound happiness as a sailor holds his compass through rough seas.

 Learn to be more present, to live in the NOW.  Let the past be, stop worrying about the future, and be right here, right now. Then, be happy. Right here, and right now.

 It has always been nothing more than a simple choice, so Choose Happy.  Get it? Got it? Good.

 ≈ namaste

2015   J.B. Stran     § Copyright HealthySelfCures.com

Self Defense: Beware The Energy Vampires!

Givers -vs- Takers

How To Defend Yourself From Low Frequency people Eager To Drain You

  We all know at least one. You may know a whole room full of them. Maybe you work with a few, or even (shudder) have to live with one.

 Nearly every parent of teenagers has at one time or another felt their happiness and love being sucked from their heart like someone had stabbed a straw into your back...but this is little more than a phase that passes (hopefully) in time, and not quite what this is about.
  I'm talking about fully grown adults who behave in much the same fashion.

 Some are subtle and quiet about what they want, slowly sucking the happiness from your life in tiny drops like a tick. Others don't know subtle. They don't do subtle; In your face and loud as a jackhammer; they induce a headache before they even start to speak.

 The energy vampires come in many forms, but all create that same feeling of being pulled into emotional quicksand because: spending ten minutes with them can drain you like hours of hard labor; they are the reason you have developed a poker-face that any Vegas gambler would envy; they are likely the real reason that vacations were invented.

Energy Vampires just need to feed. Your lifeforce, or the next guy's, it's all the same to a leech.

 Unfortunately, many of these love-pits simply can not be avoided because they are family, co-workers, the boss, and other essential members of your current reality. So, is there really a way to defend yourself from this constant source of low frequency vibration and needless pain?

 Start by first identifying the culprits.

The four most common forms of these psychic leeches are:

• The Needy Friend

 Appearing friendly and kind, overly needy people are constantly seeking (begging?) advice they have no intention of heeding. "You're so smart. Tell me what to do!". 

 A common trait among the emotionally needy is that they rarely, if ever, manage to shift their focus from their own wants to the needs of others. This is because the hopelessly needy are never quite satisfied no matter how much they seem to have, and this selfishness will drain you if you let it.

• The Drama Queen

  Facebook has become the playground of choice for this type of attention-seeking, narcissistic personality. Prone to bursts of emotions and negativity, the drama queen is also everyone's critic.

 Listen to the way they talk about others behind their backs, and you will know exactly how they speak of you when you're not around.

 Though it's not easy, don't take it personally. The problem is theirs, and not really with you...not yet.

The goal is to suck you in and begin draining your happiness and higher vibrations before moving on to the next victim, so simply step aside and remember these wise words:

 The only winner in a rigged game is the one making the rules.  Simply refuse to play.

• The Hyper-Talker

  Some people just seem to love the sound of their own voice, attempting to fill every minute of the day with it. This uncontrollable need to speak and be heard is often manifested in inappropriately loud volumes, regardless of the surroundings. Using your "Inside voice" is not a term they are familiar with.

 The "squawker-talkers" are yet another damaged attention seeker who must be avoided if you are to retain your own vibrational level. They are experts at seeking out the listeners among us, and will latch on until you are fully drained by the needy droning of their endless sagas. 

• The Self-Pity Victims

  Locked in their own prison of sad stories and victim status, this negativity pump will bury you in a landslide of complaints until you feel that you can't breathe.

 Prone to sudden mood changes, hostile outbursts, and in some cases even violent tirades, the permanent victim simply refuses to believe that they are worthy of happiness.

...and if they can't have it, then neither should anyone else, especially you.

 People aren't against you, they are just for themselves.       

 These people are very good at spotting the emotionally vulnerable and latching onto them.  Your kindness and support may begin with good intentions, but can quickly turn into a trap that will allow the users control over your state of mind. 

 Some will seek constant advice and attention from you, making you feel important to their self-esteem, but they simply can not and will not feel any form of respect for your sacrifices.

 Since their actions are mainly unconsciously motivated, you may not feel any immediate effects. 

Most givers will ignore the negative impact that a taker is having on their well being until the onset of a depressive state triggers the awareness that you have been toting around a vampire who is systematically pulling you down to a new low frequency level.

 The sad truth is this:  All Givers have a limit, while the Takers have none.

 Your own self esteem is a valuable tool in dealing with an energy vampire. Limiting the amount of access they are allowed to your thoughts is a good start, and being more assertive when you do have to deal with them will help you to at least feel in control to some degree.

 Many users will go out of their way to help you with the small practicalities of your life, such as shopping and picking up the kids from school when you can't, but be aware that the average Taker is always keeping score of favors, and you need to limit your indebtedness to them.

 Remind yourself that it isn't personal. These people often detest life in general, and keeping this in mind will help you to be less reactive in their presence.

2015    § Copyright HealthySelfCures.com    by: JB Stran, reverend of the Church of Universal Truth