At its most basic, self-awareness is simply self-appreciating the self. To find an answer to a question we are all interested in -- "How am I doing?" -- you have to be willing to look in the first place.

Change without force is certainly possible. What you need is to create a matrix for making better choices. By matrix I simply mean your setup for daily living.

If you want to stay healthy for life, you need to take care of yourself. That's the conventional wisdom. But the real secret to lifelong good health is actually the opposite: Let your body take care of you.

Louise Hay is one of the grande dames of metaphysics. She has written a power-packed small book on the wonders and privileges of the use of affirmations.

The question is, do you become a victim to your circumstances or do you rise to the challenge and over time find ways to deal with these challenges in a positive manner?