Upon learning this, I began to incorporate many more alkaline-based foods into my diet. I started drinking sufficient amounts of water, enabling my body to cleanse more toxins through kidneys. I ate less of prepackaged junk food and cut red meat completely out of my diet. I learned Eastern methods of breath control and enhancement. The result? My asthma and synthetic drugs no longer run my life; I manage my breathing by balancing Ph level of my body. I no longer take pills because I don’t need them. I use an inhaler a few times a month at worst, as opposed to a few times per day, which was “norm” when I was only treating myself through conventional methods. Empowering myself was perhaps best medicine of all. I no longer felt victimized by illness, for first time I felt in control of my own health and not at mercy of medicine.

Doctors don’t tell us a lot of these things, because it is not a part of “normal” treatment plan. This is not a condemnation of allopathic medicine. It certainly has its place. It also has its restrictions based on judgments of insurance companies and what they deem as acceptable treatments. My biggest concern however comes when one branch of treatment insists its methods are only right way. We are not all born same, so how can it follow that all treatment be same? It makes no sense, and I believe fully and will always advocate need for balance between nature and science. My life was enhanced on many levels through introduction of natural methods of prevention and treatment in addition to allopathic medicines.

When my health was at its worst, it’s not a real surprise that so was my diet. In my teens, my daily diet consisted of a lot of packaged foods, fast food, soda and candy. I never drank water. Fresh fruits and vegetables were a rare shock to my system. I was feeding myself a never-ending supply of poisons and then wondering why I felt bad almost all time. I didn’t realize that I was chronically malnourished and dehydrated, and that was underlying root cause of my other conditions.

The best offense against disease, depression, and other life-robbing conditions is a good defense. Education and awareness are essential to whole-being wellness. Build body, mind, and soul through conscious awareness of your choices and actions and how they affect you on all levels. Empower yourself and trust your intuition. Understand that not all symptoms are diseases, and that disease is not a natural state. Health is our natural state and many of us may have to reverse years of chronic abuse through misinformation to return our natural state back to “normal“one.

Albert Einstein once said, "Imagination is more powerful than knowledge". Very true, as I believe human imagination is our greatest asset. Thoreau once wrote these beautiful words:

'If one advances confidently in direction of his dreams and endeavours to live life which he* has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected.' (Sorry ladies!) *

* Only joking - you can have dreams too and achieve them even better than us "mere males" (and please don't beat up " Mr un- PC" Thoreau for neglecting you).

'Be true to your ideals, no matter what may happen now. Then things will take a turn and very things you wanted to happen will happen.' - anon

That one has just inspired me as I write this.

* Summary:

Set realistic, yet achievable goals. Ones that stretch you... because we are all different, what is achievable for one person might not be so easy for another. Also, because we are all unique creations with different hopes, desires, aspirations and dreams, what goal is important to you may be totally inappropriate for another individual's life direction. I believe setting goals is vitally important in achieving what we want out of life ....and setting even small daily goals are a great help in a daily action plan to move your life forward. I find it very satisfying ticking off even small routine tasks, like paying bills (well that is a big goal for a "starving" writer!). These small immediate goals are stepping stones to our bigger goals " down track".

WRITE THEM DOWN, because putting them down on paper makes for more COMMITMENT. It focuses your thinking on what you want to achieve, like a magnifying-glass (that's called a simile, by way!). Doing this chrystallises (nice big word) our hopes, aspirations and dreams. They keep us on track towards our medium-term and long-term goals - "grand plan or vision" for our lives.This is most important... Re-evaluate your progress from time to time. Doing this keeps you on track to see how you are progressing towards "big picture". I find it extremely satisfying looking back and ticking off goals I have achieved. ( Of course , I don't achieve all of them, but am working hard on that.)

It can be very encouraging seeing how far you have come , when you look back at your first "teeny-weeny" goals and doing this is a great motivater to me. Goals are first step in a positive plan of action. And always remember, every great journey down "river of life" starts with one small first step.

YOU CAN ACHIEVE ALL YOUR PERSONAL GOALS.

So WHAT'S STOPPING YOU FROM TAKING THAT FIRST STEP RIGHT NOW?

Craig Lock

As ancient Chinese philosopher said so well, "A journey of a thousand miles starts with a ... broken fan belt and a flat tyre"... er sorry... a single step.

"A wish is just a wish, A New Years Resolution is just a resolution. Goals have deadlines and are stepping stones down path, stair-case to your dreams." - Craig Lock

About author: Craig Lock has studied and written extensively in field of self help. Craig believes in great potential of every human being in journey of life and loves to encourage people to share their individual (and guiding) spirits, so that they become all that they are CAPABLE of being. To order 'Handbook click on http://www.craiglock.com/books.html or email Craig at clock@paradise.net.nz

End of Part One

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