How to Stay Young without Pills or Lotions

Article Title: How to Stay Young Without Pills or Potions
Author Name: Doug C. Grant
Contact Email Address: doug @dougcgrant.com
or dcgrant@horizonview.net
Available On-Line at:
www.dougcgrant.com/jourauto.txt
Available by Autoresponder at:
young@smartautoresponder.com
Word Count: 688
Category: Motivation
Copyright Date: 2002
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HOW TO STAY YOUNG WITHOUT PILLS OR POTIONS

by Doug C. Grant

Here's an anti-aging success secret that's virtually at
your fingertips.

It works almost instantly to make you feel younger,
relaxed, stress-free and happier.

CARE TO GIVE IT A TRY? DO THIS!

Take a paper and pen and write the word "joy". Look at it.
Write it again. Look at it some more. Write it a few more
times

Now examine yourself. Notice the small upsurge in spirit
you've experienced. Nothing wahoo. No fireworks or ground
trembling. But there's a definite mood swing toward the
positive.

That's the power of a written word...a word that you
write. Which brings us to the anti-aging secret.

YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD OF JOURNALING

That's the process of putting your thoughts down on paper.
Perhaps you've always considered it an intellectual's past
time. Or maybe you think it's too much of a bore and
bother. Besides, you doubt if any of your thoughts are
worth putting on paper.

BACK UP AND TAKE A SECOND LOOK

Journaling is one of the most powerful 'feel-good' tools
you own. When properly used, it can be a great alternative
to pills and potions.

However, the Empowered Maturity approach overwrites many
of the unwritten rules for Journaling.. And herein lies its
effectiveness. Consider these differences.

1. You can use any old notebook or even just a piece of
paper. (I like to use those small 'class-note' booklets
available at any discount store. My wife prefers the full
size spiral notebooks. The thicker the better.)

2. Never write for posterity. I seldom ever read past
entries. They belong to yesterday. That's because I'm not
keeping a diary or record of events. I'm primarily writing
about feelings.

(I know that a dedicated journalist will have heart
seizures over this approach. They have bookshelves lined
with leather covered volumes. They not only enjoy rummaging
through the pages of their past but feel they are writing
for future generations. I write with no such pretensions.
Besides, I use so many abbreviations and shorthand symbols
that no one else could even begin to break the code...or
want to. I trade speed for readability.)

3. Neatness doesn't matter unless scribble really bothers
you. The important thing is to get your thoughts down
quickly. At best, your brain will always outrun your pen.

4. Write yourself questions and then write the answers.
This is one of the important keys to Empowered Maturity
Journaling. Let me give you an example.

This morning I felt fine until I woke up. Immediately I
noticed I was uptight. No particular reason. Just a new
day. And I knew by the way I was feeling, I could look
forward to some tension and irritations.

I immediately went into my home office, grabbed my current
Journaling Book and wrote this question. "Exactly how do I
feel right now?"

I wrote out a complete description. What muscles were
tense. How my stomach felt. I did a top to toe analysis. I
didn't bother asking why I felt the way I did. Even if I
could pinpoint the problem I wouldn't reenforce it by
writing it down.

NEXT, I WROTE, "HOW WOULD I LIKE TO FEEL?"

I really gave this question a workout. I wrote about
feeling enthused, relaxed, full of vitality. I painted a
verbal picture of marvelous health and well-being. I filled
several pages of scribble about how tremendous I felt.

Notice, I didn't use future tense. I wrote as though my
condition of well-being was now.

How did I feel when I was done? Better. Not great but
definitely moving in a more positive direction. And, as the
morning progressed, the good feeling kept getting stronger.

THIS IS ONLY A START ON EMPOWERED MATURITY JOURNALING...
BUT A GOOD ONE.

If you do nothing but write answers to the 'how do I feel'
and 'how would I like to feel' questions, they can
substitute for a lot of pills and potions. Use them
whenever you feel a mood slipping toward the negative.
Instant action can reverse the slide.

Use these Empowered Maturity Questions for at least 27
days. They will then become a habit that can lift your days
and help keep you perpetually young..
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Facts, techniques and more for helping the over 50 crowd
(or even the under-50 crowd) live healthier, happier and
more productive lives. Subscribe FREE to Doug Grant's bi-
monthly e-publication, THE EMPOWERED MATURITY PAGE
at: mailto:empoweredpage@smartautoresponder.com

About the Author

Doug C. Grant retired from a successful career as a
nationally recognized business writer & marketing
consultant. He now helps members of the 'Over-50',
crowd (or any age) live healthier, happier and more
productive lives throughhis Empowered Maturity Web Site
(http://www.dougcgrant.com) and an on-line
interactive seminar.