I do believe that decision is all about giving ourselves power. We are not as weak as we think! And if you feel you are -- dig a little deeper

If you're crystal clear about what you want and taking constant action toward making it happen, but the universe consistently presents you with something you're resisting, it's time to lean into it and uncover what it is you need to learn, gain, experience or work through.

Epidemic obesity and chronic disease is, like a perfect storm, the product of massive and protean forces. It is an emergency in slow motion, but an emergency just the same. Like any other storm, these threats call for a brisk and well-coordinated crisis response that has yet to materialize fully.

Only by knowing Mik-tal's endowment to us can we hope to meet the challenges of the modern world. Our efforts to find our way home begin by knowing where home is, and where we are now. Our efforts to achieve dietary health begin by knowing ourselves.

This particular morning in mid-April was quite chilly, although clear. In fact, the early suffusion of sunlight was promising a day of great beauty. Not that Michelle was listening to such promises. Far too busy. And besides, the climate inside was always perfect.

The issue of personal responsibility for health and weight control comes up frequently in my professional circles, generating strong and opposing views. I have addressed this theme recently -- and many times in the past -- and expressed my own opinions.

Quietly going about one's business -- putting in time as an IRS agent, serving in the army, working toward winning the Heisman or performing small acts of kindness for their own sake -- is a noble and satisfying pursuit. Far easier said than done, but surely not impossible.

Remember, the greatest form of brainwashing is simply repetition. For some people, the repetition is within their own inner talk and thus, over and over, the negative is reinforced again and again. You can choose to stop that today, and I urge you to do so.

Are you willing to choose personal responsibility over taking things personally? I certainly hope so! Here is a 10-step process you can use when your buttons get pushed.

With the holidays here, I find it a great time to reflect on what I have achieved and to see how far I've come. It is also a great time to take a look at what I need to develop and to create new goals for 2013.

Thirteen years ago, as a cancer patient with 3 and 5-year-old boys, I was afraid. I gained peace by asking myself over and over, "What am I afraid of right now, in this moment?" And the answer was always the same: nothing. My fears were all based on the future.