Look at whether they are overweight, observe their skin for clarity and firmness, take note of way they move...are their movements effortless and appear to have energy to spare, or are they sluggish as if they are carrying a burden? Also look at their eyes... are they bright, clear and alert? I think that you know what results of a personal survey such as this will reveal! It will show that MAJORITY of people that pass by you will either be overweight or have other outward signs of less than optimal health. I am not being judgmental of these people because many of them are in this condition primarily as a result of being fed misinformation through media by either misguided authorities or commercial interests. Before I expand on this I should mention that a certain number of these people are nevertheless 100% to blame for their condition.

They know they are doing harmful things to their body and health.

But, what about rest of unhealthy group who are in this condition primarily due to being fed a constant stream of misinformation! These can be placed into just a few general categories: 1. Psychological.

There is a constant barrage of 'pill' advertising which we are subjected to every day. Consider influence that this has on general population. If you were to believe advertismentss and ignore side effect warnings it would be quite easy to get impression that there is a 'Magic pill' solution for most ailments.

Added to this are constant news releases that talk about new medical discoveries such as being able to grow replacement organs when your own wear out, and don't forget about 'promising' research for other new 'miracle' drugs just over horizon. All these influences combined with a 'busy' society looking for a quick and easy 'fix', it is no wonder that so many people are quite 'slack' when it comes to taking care of their bodies...particularly on inside.

2. Dietary Advice. The food pyramid that is recommended people adhere to, haslargely been discredited scientifically but continues to be pushed. Also, an obsession has developed in which people are constantly advised to reduce their fat intake.

Doing things on a regular basis that increase your level of well-being is a very effective and enjoyable way to enhance your self-esteem and develop a firm personal foundation. Some of these may seem quite obvious, but it's amazing what we forget in day to day running of our lives! The following are merely suggestions. If necessary, find alternatives that work for you.

1.Find a few minutes for quiet time each day. Where you consciously do nothing, just sit and relax. Some may like to meditate, others listen to relaxing music. Mornings and evenings are good times to do this, but middle of day can be effective too. Get up slightly earlier to accommodate this. How much time ?- 5, 10, 15, 20 mins - 1 hour. It's up to you.

2.Drink 1½ - 2 litres of water every day. Most of us are dehydrated and many headaches could be alleviated by drinking more water. Don't wait until you're thirsty. Just drink water regularly throughout day. It clears head and gives you energy.

3.Appreciate what you have. Most of us concentrate on what we don't have. Even if we don't seem to have a lot, we can be appreciative of what we do have and what we see around us. Is it good health, a roof over our heads, a loving family, supportive friends, sun shining, dawn chorus? There is always something to appreciate. We can celebrate life every day.

4. Make someone's day. Giving someone a smile, saying "thank you", "good morning". These are small actions that can mean a lot to someone else. Whilst waiting on a crowded tube platform I sneezed and a lady standing next to me said "bless you". It cheered me up immeasurably. This was several years ago and I still remember it.