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Tips to Change to a Mindful Mindset

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You have your mindfulness notes, your devotional book, and your guided meditations. You are ready to get started, but now you are wondering if this is even going to work for you or how to make it work. If this sounds like you, and your current place with mindfulness, you may need to start with your mindful mindset. Getting your mindset engaged is the first step, and here are some tips to get you there.

Remove Negative Words and Phrases

One of the first ways to get yourself in a mindful mindset is to remove negative words and phrases from your daily life. If you write down your goals, remove words like won’t or may. These are words that suggest failure and that can have an effect on your mindset. Work to remove negative thoughts in your daily conversation and in how you handle speaking to others. This doesn’t have to be a happy about everything mindset. This simply means you aren’t setting yourself up for depression, stress, and worry with your own words.

Failure Isn’t a Given

Unfortunately, many people feel like failure is a given. You will likely fail in some way on your path to your goal. The truth is, your whole intention is to not fail. You set out to reach your goal regardless of the obstacles in your life. This means that failure should not be something you automatically assume will be there. Make sure you are focused on your goals, the path you are going to use to get there, and that you are removing any thoughts that failure is imminent.

Happiness Everyday

Find happiness every day. This may sound very rose colored glasses happy talk, but the truth is there is something to the process. Everyone has horrible days, but the problem is when you have several in a row and you can’t find anything good about any of them. It sets you up for saying your life is horrible and there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Instead make it a point to find one bright point a day. Just one bright point that could be anything from a good cup of coffee to being thankful for your soft blankets to end the day.

By incorporating these tips at the start of your mindfulness journey, you can refocus your mindset and get it on track. Overtime you may find the need to revisit these tips to reset your mindset when you get off track. Just keep in mind, mindfulness is ever growing and a journey instead of a last stop.

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The Process to Purify Your Life, Mind, and Soul

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Detox is needed by the human body. Today’s environment, as well as highly processed foods, contain toxins that are destructive to the immune system. These toxins are any substances which creates harmful and irritating effects to the human body. It can undermine our health by stressing our organs or biochemical functions.

Such alarming results are due to the side effects of taking any forms of drugs (prescription or over-the-counter) or changes in the physiology patterns that are normally different from the usual functioning. These free radicals usually irritate, inflame, age, and degenerate body tissues. Negative ethers, spiritual and psychic influences, negative emotions, and thought patterns are also considered as toxins. All of it stresses the body causing changes in normal physiology that produces specific symptoms.

Your Body Needs Balance

Keep in mind that the body needs to function in balance. However, it can be disturbed when the body takes in more than what it can eliminate or utilize. Toxicity then occurs. It’s dependent on the frequency, potency, or dosage of the present toxins. It can produce rapid or immediate occurrences of symptoms as been displayed by some drugs and several pesticides.

The imbalance being caused by these toxins can be distressful to your life which disrupts you of a sound mind and a good soul. Detoxing is very helpful so that you can purify your body from these harmful toxins regaining your beautiful outlook in life.

Detox Your Entire Being

Detox, also called detoxification, occurs on various levels. Physically, it’s a process that can help in clearing illnesses, congestion, and potential diseases improving the body’s energy. Many detoxification processes are helpful in rejuvenating the body and preventing degeneration.

Detoxification of the mind is important. Cleansing the minds from negative patterns can improve the health of a person. Physical detoxification can also alleviate mental stress. It also helps in terms of emotional aspects of the person where he or she can express and uncover feelings particularly hidden anger, frustrations, fear, or resentments, and later on replace it with love, forgiveness, hope, and joy.

Cleansing processes can also enhance the purpose of a person about how they view life on a more spiritual level. Light detoxification within a few days can help us feel better while a longer detox process can allow a deeper commitment on eating better diets and eliminating abusive habits.

Body detox is a portion of the transformational medicine which instills changes in various levels. Evolution and change are the keys to a person’s healing. Enhancing elimination can help in dealing with and clearing problems from the past, childhood as well as parental patterns, relationship or job stress. Toxic build-up elimination can make a person feel lighter and experience a new horizon of the future.

Daily Detox Habits

Supporting your body’s detoxification can be done in simple ways.

  • Drinking extra quarts of water each day is good in eliminating more toxins.
  • Eating more cleansing foods, vegetables and fruits with higher contents of water, and less protein foods are helpful in reducing congestion problems.

There are other levels of progressive detox diets ranging from simple diets to total fasting. However, don’t over detoxify yourself. Extreme fasting, enemas, diuretics, colonics, laxatives, and exercise can start losing the body’s essential nutrients. This also results to a negative balance where mineral-vitamin deficiencies occur which can cause problems in the future. Never forget to maintain the balance to have a better life.

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Detox Herbs Can Do Wonder in Your Lives

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It is a fact that some pesticides, chemicals, and certain fumes are present in the environment that are affecting your immune system and jeopardizing your health. Moreover, the foods that you eat can lead to a toxic atmosphere lowering your overall immunity. Toxic load is the condition of tissues and cells where internal terrain is developed after food consumption of highly processed foods. Your body needs to be cleansed from these unwanted toxins. The process is called detoxification.

Don’t we detox naturally?

Although you have the kidney and liver which are organs considered as natural detoxifiers filtering out the impurities of the bodies, you need to consider other ways to detoxify your body from toxins. Some of the methods can be extreme like long fasting from juice drinks or dialysis.

Take note, your immune system is the defense mechanism of your body. The idea is disease and infections should be prevented before it affects your whole body through toxin removal. I’ve observed a correlation between the illness frequency of a person and their immune system strength which is composed of complex networks of nodes and lymph channels.

There are detox herbs that are beneficial in making your immune system strong. These herbs are the perfect and natural way of removing toxins from your immune systems to minimize acquired illnesses and to develop your general well-being. Think of it as supporting your body’s natural detoxification processes.

Several herbs for detoxifying are much better for improving your immune systems than others. However, there are specific considerations for the detoxification program that you choose. But the following detox herbs can be used according to your needs.

  • Psyllium seeds promote healthy bowel movement generally maintaining its good condition. It could be used in helping bowel related problems like diarrhea. This herb is good because it has an absorption property similar to a sponge where it helps in removing the toxins inside your body.
  • Cascara Sagrada is generally a good natural laxative flushing the toxins out of your system. It also helps in strengthening your colon and other related muscles. This herb is used together with psyllium seeds.
  • Milk thistle is also a very valuable substance used often to simulate the protein synthesis in the liver. It’s used effectively in soaking up different types of toxins found in drugs and alcohols that can damage your body.
  • Nettles are used as a portion of the detox herb mixture in cleansing the urinary systems as well as any part of the body.
  • Burdock roots are also perfect for stronger cleansing needs. It’s helpful in reducing the heavy metals build-up within your body which causes immune system problems.
  • Dandelion roots are detox herbs having strong cleansing properties appropriate for your liver. It is good for removing the gall bladder wastes and also works well for kidneys if used with other compatible detox herbs.

People really need to consider supporting their detoxification systems due to the presence of toxins in processed foods and in polluted air. Using herbs is not new in detoxification programs because its cleansing and healing properties have been known for so many years.

These herbs can effectively flush out unwanted toxins from your immune system allowing you to look and feel great. It can save you from acquiring severe illnesses. Brilliant detox herbs can really do wonders in a person’s life!

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Avoiding Colds and Flu Naturally

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This time of the year it’s of utmost importance that we pay attention to strengthening our immune systems naturally. Using certain herbs, foods, supplements and homeopathic remedies can help you avoid catching a cold or flu and build your immune system. If you do catch a virus, they can help
relieve the symptoms and shorten the duration and severity of the illness.

What most people don’t realize is how much your daily diet has an impact on the strength of your immune system. If you or your child are eating sweets daily, processed foods, junk food, drinking soda or other sweetened beverages regularly, you are weakening your immunity and will be more likely to catch viruses. One teaspoon of sugar (soda has about 9-
11 tbsp.) can weaken your immune system for 4 hours. I believe that this is why so many people are now having an extreme difficulty fighting illnesses. (Besides repeated antibiotic use)

Try eating more vegetables, at least 4-5 servings a day!

Along with eggs for breakfast, how about a few pieces of steamed asparagus, some spinach, squash or a few tomato slices. Have a salad with lunch, and at least two vegetables with dinner. Fresh fruit can also bolster vitamin C and help build resistance.

Eat berries daily! Especially frozen – freezing berries breaks the cell wall and releases more color pigments containing the beneficial bioflavanoids.

Avoid all white flour (eat only WHOLE grains), baked goods, sugary cereals, cookies, cakes, candy, and sweets. You’ll feel so much stronger than you realize!

Good Natural Vitamins a MUST!

It’s very important to take a good quality, plant-based not synthetic, multi-vitamin/mineral supplement daily which supplies you with vitamins, minerals, trace minerals, amino acids, essential fatty acids, proanthocyanadines, bioflavanoids, green foods, enzymes and more. Taking 2000-4000 mg. of Vitamin C every day will help you fight infections.

Eating garlic regularly or taking odorless garlic capsules helps fight viral, bacterial, and yeast infections. Bee propolis is known as Russian penicillin and is often found in natural vitamin supplements. It is collected by bees to protect the hives from infection.

Super Antioxidants

I HIGHLY recommend using Super Antioxidants daily! Not only because they help reduce the signs of aging, along with aches and pains, but they can greatly increase your immune system, being 20 – 50 times more potent than Vitamin C and E!

Using Echinacea (purple coneflower) herbal extract regularly can help you avoid or reduce the severity and duration of viral illnesses. 40 drops for an adult taken 4-6 times a day at the first sign of a cold can help you avoid it completely.

Olive Leaf extract is proven more powerful than penicillin in fighting upper respiratory infections, sinus, strep and throat infections! Those with autoimmune diseases should consider using Astragalus instead of Echinacea to strengthen the spleen and immune system. It is a safe, long term immune system tonic.

I know you’ve heard of elderberry syrup by now and for good reason. This natural remedy is packed with antiviral properties, especially against different strains of influenza virus. As a matter of fact, research has shown a standardized black elderberry extract to be effective in vitro against 10 strains of influenza. Check out my recipe here…

Oil of Oregano

My favorite is a high-quality, full-strength Oil of Oregano. It is a very powerful agent against bacterial, viral, parasitic, and fungal infections. I recommend keeping some on hand! It’s an excellent general tonic and immune stimulant. This can be your best defense against the flu!

It can be applied to the skin or taken by mouth, depending on the condition being treated. However, the oil must always be diluted.

There is no documented standard effective dose of oregano oil, but here is a guide for how to use it:

  • On the skin: For skin conditions or infections, dilute with olive oil at a concentration of 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of olive oil per drop of oregano oil, then apply to the affected area.
  • Under the tongue: Dilute with olive oil at a ratio of one drop of oregano oil to one drop of olive oil. Place 1–3 drops of this dilution under the tongue, hold it there for a few minutes, then flush with water.
  • Swallowed: If you’re taking the oregano oil orally, you can put a few drops of it into a cup (237 ml) of water, gargle and then swallow.

If you’re interested in taking oregano oil, but you’re currently taking prescription medications, make sure to consult your doctor before you start.

In addition, oregano oil is not generally recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Therapeutic value of Colloidal Silver

Also consider using Colloidal Silver for excellent anti-viral protection! It works great to help avoid or reduce symptoms of colds and flu. The body has an innate ability to rejuvenate and restore itself to optimum health. When taken daily, Colloidal Silver acts as an optimal immune system supporter by helping the body fight invaders. Medical tests indicate no known adverse effects from the use of properly prepared Colloidal Silver, and there has never been a recorded case of drug interaction with any other medication. The body does not develop a tolerance to Colloidal Silver and no allergic reaction has ever been recorded.

How Colloidal Silver Works

The presence of Colloidal Silver near an invader disables its oxygen-metabolism enzyme, its chemical lung, so to say. Within a few minutes, the invader suffocates and dies, and is cleared out of our bodies by the immune, lymphatic and elimination systems. Unlike pharmaceutical antibiotics, which destroy beneficial enzymes, Colloidal Silver leaves these tissue-cell enzymes intact, as they are radically different than those enzymes of primitive single-celled life. Thus, Colloidal Silver is absolutely safe for humans, reptiles, plants, and all multi-celled living matter.

Not to be underestimated is the value of maintaining good colon health.

The Chinese have long equated respiratory problems with poor bowel function. If waste product is not being removed in a timely fashion then toxins build up in the body, and particularly the respiratory system. Be sure to take herbs which perform a good bowel detox, as well as keep the intestines in fighting shape with friendly bacteria, such as acidophilus or bifidophilus. Enzymes are a must. Take a broad spectrum enzyme combination, both with meals and between meals.

Regular daily exercise and fresh air will also keep your lymph moving and your immune system strong. Try rebounding (jumping on a mini-trampoline) everyday, even if it’s just 2-5 minutes, several times a day.
Be sure to wear a hat when out in the cold. Getting plenty of sleep and daily relaxation to reduce stress will also help. Keeping your self strong and healthy not only protects you from the flu, but many other ills as well.

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Deconstructing Cravings

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Deconstructing cravings seems like an uphill battle. Mixed signals create chaos in relationships. As they do when it comes to cravings.

Deconstructing your cravings is not that difficult. Understanding that a strong craving is not a signal from the stomach that you’re hungry, but messaging from your brain is an excellent place to start.

Hunger is all about your survival mechanism, but cravings are all about your body communicating with you. From there it’s easy to remember that your brain is looking for something specific. Not just the flavor experience, but fuel to help your body thrive.

What Can Cause Food Cravings?

Below is a chart of all the common food cravings, flavor cravings and eating habits you may experience, the reason behind each craving and all the foods you can eat to fix the craving!

This chart was first published by Colleen Huber on her website and then in her book “CHOOSE YOUR FOODS: Like Your Life Depends on Them, by Colleen Huber, NMD” in 2007.

Craving this:Reason is:Restore with this:
COMMON FOOD
CheeseEssential Fatty Acids deficiencyOmega 3′s (EPA and DHA)– Flax oil, ground flaxseeds, chia seeds, walnuts
Calcium deficiencySesame seeds/ tahini, broccoli, kale, legumes, mustard and turnip greens
Pasta, white bread, pastriesChromium deficiencyOnion, romaine lettuce, tomato, cinnamon, grapes, apples, sweet potato
Bread and toastNitrogen deficiencyFoods containing proteins, i.e.. Green leafy veg, nuts, seeds, legumes, grains
Red meatIron deficiencyBeans, legumes, unsulphured prunes, figs+ other dried fruit, seaweed, spinach, cherries, Vitamin C for iron absorption
PopcornStress hormone fluctuationsMeditation, breathing exercises, exercise, leafy greens, vitamin B and C
CrispsChloride deficiencyCelery, olives, tomato, kelp, Himalayan sea salt
Essential Fatty Acids deficiencyOmega 3′s (EPA and DHA)– Flax oil, ground flaxseeds, chia seeds, walnuts
FLAVOR
Burned FoodCarbon deficiencyFresh fruits
Acid foodsMagnesium deficiencyRaw cacao nibs/beans/powder, whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds, greens, fruit
Salty FoodsChloride deficiencyCelery, olives, tomato, kelp, Himalayan sea salt
Stress hormone fluctuationsMeditation, breathing exercises, exercise, leafy greens, vitamin B and C
SWEETS
ChocolateMagnesium deficiencyRaw cacao nibs/beans/powder, whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds, greens, fruit, magnesium
Soda, fizzy drinksCalcium deficiencySesame seeds/ tahini, broccoli, kale, legumes, mustard and turnip greens
General sweetsHypoglycemia (low blood sugar)Fruit, high fibre foods (beans, legumes), complex carbs (grains), chromium (cinnamon)
Tryptophan deficiencySpirulina, pumpkin/sesame/sunflower seeds, raw cacao, oatmeal, sweet potato, spinach, raisins
Chromium deficiencyOnion, romaine lettuce, tomato, cinnamon, grapes, apples, sweet potato
Sulphur deficiencyCruciferous vege (kale, cabbage, etc), cranberries, horseradish, asparagus, carob powder, garlic, onion
Phosphorus deficiencyWhole grains, pinto beans, pumpkin seeds, brazil nuts, lentils
STIMULANTS
Coffee or black teaSulphur deficiencyCruciferous vege (kale, cabbage, etc), cranberries, horseradish, asparagus, carob powder, garlic, onion
Iron deficiencyBeans, legumes, unsulphured prunes, figs+ other dried fruit, seaweed, spinach, cherries, Vitamin C for iron absorption
NaCl (salt) deficiencyHimalayan salt, Apple Cider vinegar, kombucha
Phosphorous deficiencyWhole grains, pinto beans, pumpkin seeds, brazil nuts, lentils
Alcohol, recreational drugsCalcium deficiencySesame seeds/ tahini, broccoli, kale, legumes, mustard and turnip greens
Glutamine deficiencyCabbage, beetroot, beans, spinach, parsley, vegetable juice, bone broth
Protein deficiencyGreen leafy vegetable, nuts, seeds, legumes, grains, beans
Potassium deficiencyCitrus fruits, bitter green leafy veg, banana, tomato, pineapple, black olives, seaweeds
Avenin deficiencyOatmeal, granola, cereals, whole grains
TobaccoSilicon deficiencyHorsetail herb, nuts, seeds, oats, millet, barley, onions, whole wheat, beetroot. Avoid refined starches
Tyrosine deficiencyFruits (esp. avocado and banana), whole grains, oats, legumes, beans, nuts, seeds, Vitamin C, vegetables
EATING HABITS
Lack of appetiteChloride deficiencyCelery, olives, tomato, kelp, Himalayan salt
Thiamine (Vitamin B1) deficiencyWhole grains, peanuts, seeds, beans, green and yellow vegetables
Niacin (Vitamin B3) deficiencyPeanuts, sunflower seeds, wheat bran and wheat germ
Manganese deficiencyWalnuts, almonds, pecans, whole grains, green leafy veges, pineapple, blueberries
Often overeatingTryptophan deficiencySpirulina, pumpkin/sesame/sunflower seeds, raw cacao, oatmeal, sweet potato, spinach, raisins
Tyrosine deficiencyFruits (esp. Avocado and banana), whole grains, oats, legumes, beans, nuts, seeds, Vitamin C, veges
Silicon deficiencyHorsetail herb, nuts, seeds, oats, millet, barley, onions, whole wheat, beetroot. Avoid refined starches
Often snackyNo balanced diet, missing nutrientsDo a detox, substitute junk food for healthy meals
MORE BIZARRE
Crunching on iceIron deficiencyBeans, legumes, unsulphured prunes, figs+ other dried fruit, seaweed, spinach, cherries, Vitamin C for iron absorption
Laundry starchIron deficiencyBeans, legumes, unsulphured prunes, figs+ other dried fruit, seaweed, spinach, cherries, Vitamin C for iron absorption
Cigarette buttsIron deficiencyBeans, legumes, unsulphured prunes, figs+ other dried fruit, seaweed, spinach, cherries, Vitamin C for iron absorption

Taming the Cravings

Food cravings are a major roadblock for people trying to maintain a healthy weight or switch to a more healthful diet. Luckily, there are some simple steps to take to handle these cravings.

Reducing stress levels

Pregnant women often experience strong cravings. This may be due to hormonal changes, which are thought to cause some food cravings.

Stress and emotional eating can influence a variety of health issues. Feeling stressed may promote emotional eating and cravings for comfort foods.

One study – Trusted Source found that stressed women are more prone to cravings for sweets than women without stress. Eating due to stress may also cause weight gain and a larger hip circumference.

Stress may also cause weight gain on its own, without extra food cravings. Stress results in higher levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, which may promote belly fat.

Drinking Plenty of Water

Hunger and thirst can produce very similar sensations in the mind, causing it to become confused. One of the easiest ways to reduce food cravings is to make sure the body is hydrated throughout the day.

Drinking plenty of water helps clean out toxins from the body, which may also benefit a person’s overall well-being.

Getting Enough Sleep

A 2013 study found that not getting enough sleep could alter the body’s hormonal balance. This imbalance contributes to overeating and weight gain.

The researchers noted that when the sleep-deprived participants switched to an adequate sleep schedule, they lost weight, which indicates that their hormones were brought back into balance.

Eating Enough Protein

A healthful diet should contain plenty of lean sources of protein, as they may help reduce cravings.

A study in the journal Obesity found that overweight men were able to reduce their cravings by up to 60 percent by getting 25 percent of their daily calorie intake from protein.

The same study found that a high protein diet helped reduce the desire for nighttime snacks by 50 percent.

Chewing Gum

Chewing gum keeps the mouth busy and may help reduce both sweet and salty cravings.

One study found a small but significant difference in sweet and salty snack consumption among people who chewed gum and those who did not. Those who chewed gum rated themselves less hungry, had fewer cravings for snacks, and felt fuller than those who did not chew gum.

Changing the Scenery

Changing habits, such as stopping at the park instead of picking up fast food on the way home, can help to reduce cravings in the long-term.

Replacing habits can be difficult, and some food cravings may be due to long-term habits. For instance, if someone gets fast food on their way home from work every day, this practice may reinforce their cravings.

In situations like these, it is best to start new habits. This can be as easy as taking a new route home from work or stopping at the park for a quick walk instead.

For cravings at home, it may help to take a walk around the block, take a shower, or even call a friend. These things may help distract a person from their craving long enough for it to subside.

Avoiding Hunger

A healthful diet does not include frequent hunger pangs. In fact, under-eating can make food cravings worse.

When the body is very hungry, it may crave more calorie-dense foods than usual, including fried and processed foods.

Instead of waiting for intense feelings of hunger, it is better to have a regular pattern of meals and healthful snacks planned throughout the day to avoid potential cravings.

Controlling Portions

It can help to put this treat at the end of a healthful habit, such as going for a walk or completing an exercise routine.

For some people, completely avoiding the food they crave may make these cravings worse. This can lead to overeating or feeling miserable without that food. In this case, it may be better to satisfy the cravings with a small, portion-controlled treat.

If a person is prone to binge eating, a better option is to replace the craving altogether.

Did you recognize any food cravings that you experience in the chart above? Do you have your own questions, comments or feedback to add? Then leave your thoughts below!

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How to Teach Mindfulness to Your Kids or Grand Kids

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Teaching mindfulness to yourself and learning to adapt it into your daily life may take a bit of time. You need to work with the different options available to you and find which one is best for you. Overtime you will find that mindfulness is working, but now you want to help your kids find the same peace that you have. The trick with this is to keep them engaged and keep them active in mindfulness. Here is how you do that while keeping your kids engaged and not forcing them to do things they don’t want to do.

Start With Positive Thoughts

One of the easiest ways to bring mindfulness to your kids is to start with a positive thought game or daily task. For example, at the end of the day consider having your children come up with one thing they are were thankful for in the day. You can take this a step further by having them write it down and put it into a thankfulness jar or gratitude jar. At the end of the year they can see how many things they were thankful for which can spur them to find more positive things.

Breathing Techniques

Consider adapting breathing and meditation as part of your daily routine. You can get up in the morning and do a morning walk with your kids while teaching them breathing techniques. You can do this in your home as part of your morning routine. While the kids wait for breakfast, they can work on their breathing. You can also incorporate this as something the kids should do after school. They can put their books down, and sit for a few moments just being quiet and breathing. It can help them sort out their day and remove negative thoughts they may be having.

Healthy Options for Anger

One thing you can do to help teach your kids mindfulness is turn their anger into health. If they are angry over school, a fight with a friend, or something else consider having them take a walk or go meditate. Though this may seem like something they don’t’ want to do, and they probably don’t, eventually it will turn from what they view as a punishment into a coping mechanism that can help with reduce anger and stress later.

By incorporating these techniques into your daily life with your kids, you can keep them engaged in mindfulness. Before long, you will find that your kids are practicing it without your guidance and input. You will also find that it becomes part of their daily lives just like brushing their teeth and combing their hair.

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