I’d like to focus exclusively on your health here for a minute.

What kind of results are you experiencing today? Are you feeling inspired and full of energy all the time? Are you satisfied with your body and level of personal fitness – or at least working hard towards that end? Or do you feel lethargic and beat down, worn out? Out of shape and not feeling like you’re at the top of your game?

The single most important thing for you to realize is that right now there are countless people experiencing exactly what you’re experiencing; but even more important, there are countless people experiencing the exact OPPOSITE of how you’re currently feeling. Grasp the real importance of this: if you’re feeling tired and “out of it” all the time, stressed out and falling out of shape, there are countless others who have turned that around in their lives and found themselves with boundless energy and inspiration, the body of their dreams and an incredible state of health and overall vitality. You can do this, and it’s entirely possible for you.

On the other hand, if you’re experiencing incredible health right now…just realize that your daily habits have taken you there. Never take your daily habits for granted, but rather maintain and continually build upon them in new, exciting ways. You know where you stand on this scale. With 1 being a state of chronic disease and 10 being a state of incredible, luminous health and vitality, where would you place yourself on a scale of 1-10? Ground yourself and realize that this is just your starting point on a path that will lead you beyond what you ever thought possible.

This becomes possible for you through your DAILY HABITS. Your daily habits are the actions you take consistently every day that either move you progressively forward or progressively backward. Your current daily habits are the cause and effect that determine your health, fitness and energy levels. All of the results you’re experiencing today, and will experience in the near future, stem from your current daily habits.

Let’s pull out the magnifying glass. Zooming in on fitness, if you never worked out and just sat at a computer all day, you’d likely have less-than-optimal personal fitness levels. On the other hand, if you live an active lifestyle and commit to a few powerful workouts every week, you’re on course to enjoying an incredible body and experience of life. It’s not your genetics. It’s not your lack of time. It’s not because of work. It all comes down to the effectiveness of your daily habits.

In changing your results, you need to take a glance at cause and effect. The causes are your daily habits – the actions you take consistently every day. The effects are the results you’re seeing – your state of health, personal fitness, energy levels, mood, enthusiasm in life, mental performance, etc. To change the effects (your results), all you have to do is change the causes…your daily habits.

The only way to really see your causes – and the effects they bring you – is to become aware of them. The best way to do this is through a daily checklist of some kind. It could be on a small notecard you carry around in your pocket, a folded 8 1/2 x 11 piece of paper, a task list on your cellphone, or any other way you can think of. The true value of this practice is first and foremost building an awareness of your current habits. By taking the same actions consistently every day (or every week), you can track your results and see which actions are really panning out for you and delivering value to  your life.

It’s almost like running a business: you wouldn’t just hire someone to do a few random actions for your business each day. You’d have a step-by-step plan for them to get the most out of their time. Manage your life in the same way. Track your daily habits and notice how they make you feel. If certain ones instantly improve your mood and energy, keep them and even see if they could be improved upon! The ones that take away your energy, ditch em and  replace them with new, empowering daily habits.

Here’s your 60-second action step of the day:

Grab a notecard or quickly fold up an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper in half. Whatever you chose to go with, hold it so it appears tall from top to bottom (not short and side-to-side). Title your card or paper, “Current Daily Habits” and brainstorm some ideas. Include your morning routine as it is today, and then think of some ways you could improve it. This could means batching tasks together, such as bathroom tasks, to save time and energy, or adding new habits that give you energy in the morning. Include your work schedule as a single habit, and if you have a lunch break in-between schedule that in as well.

=> Here’s how mine starts out as a real-life example:

Current Daily Habits:

* Watch MindMovie and Review Goals/Objectives

* Morning Water w/ Celtic Sea Salt

* Shower Up

* Superfood Smoothie w/ Fresh Greens from Garden

…………………………………………………

I start my day by watching an inspiring “MindMovie” – a blend of pictures, affirmations and music to get and keep you focused on what you want in life. I then head downstairs and grab my morning glass of water with a pinch of celtic sea salt (for electrolyte content). After that splash of hydration, I then shower up to start my day and make a tall superfood smoothie for breakfast (heading outside to the garden to grab some fresh greens to blend in). This gives me the mental clarity, focus and concentration I need to tackle the day head-on.

I include this just to give you an idea about how you can innovate and improve existing systems. Notice how I have that glass of water before my shower, which allows me to hydrate myself in the morning before eating breakfast. It’s always about the little things we do each day – our daily habits. Start your list now and leave me a comment below  — if you’re up for it, even post a few of your own daily  habits! Looking forward to hearing from you.

Unleash Your Vitality,

– John Brackett

Leave a comment below and let me know what you think!

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I was recently fortunate enough to travel to Alaska for about 11 days of majestic mountain views, hiking, nature walks, local foods, history and relaxation. Literally everywhere you turned there was an ice-capped mountain range for your eyes to marvel at, with scenery to match. It was an incredible time, but that’s not what I’m here to talk to you about.

What I want to talk to you about today is something that became clearly highlighted for me as I walked the streets of Alaska: you can only feel as good as your decision making process. What do I mean?

While in Alaska, I found an interesting divide between the restaurants featuring locally-grown, organic foods and the restaurants offering diner-style meals and traditional comfort foods. “The Great Choice” between eating for comfort and convenience vs. eating for personal energy and vibrant health often seems like it comes down to external factors – aka what restaurants are around in the area, how hungry you currently are, how much money you have in your wallet, etc. As much as this can appear to be the case time and time again, I’m here to tell you that “The Great Choice” doesn’t come down to external factors…rather, it’s your decision making process.

Let’s take a look at a few examples together.

Running through the airport? Waiting for a plane ride? The layover? The flight? It all adds up, and it’s one of the most common places for bad decisions to take place. You’re tired, dehydrated and slightly more irritable and frustrated with the downfalls of traveling. If you see this coming in advance, you can make the ultimate healthy decision: pack your own meals and snacks ahead of time. You’re not limited to the food available at the food court (even though many options are becoming increasingly healthy and delicious). I may grab a smoothie at the airport, but it all depends on the ingredients. If it’s a sugar-powder-filled-packet mixed with water, I’m out. If it’s fresh fruit and other real foods, I may be in. But I don’t rely on that perfect meal to be there for me. Simple solutions come into play here – and not just for the airport, but all the times you’re on the run  (traveling, at work, just “on the go”, etc).

One of the simplest solutions available is in fact a smoothie. This can be with any high-quality protein powder (an example would be SunWarrior Protein), fresh fruit (especially berries), vegetables (particularly green, leafy vegetables) and anything else you’d like to add in. Many people add in things like peanut butter, coconut water and/or flesh, coconut oil, olive oil, nuts and seeds, etc. You can literally get in an entire healthy meal and blend it up into something that tastes like a dessert. That becomes your “on-the-go” meal – instead of an excuse. The power of this one simple habit can revolutionize your mood and health while at work and traveling.

Another example would be straight from my trip to Alaska. Instead of going for an easy-to-grab, heavily-processed bag of trail mix, our entire family made our own for hikes and traveling. It was made up of just 3 things: goji berries, cashews and chocolate chips (natural, gluten-free, dairy-free chocolate chips :) Compare that to a traditional trail mix with food dyes, high fructose corn syrup, preservatives and everything else under the sun! The idea of a trail mix is perfect – just step up your game and don’t settle for the fake stuff. The difference is night and day.

To be clear, I’m not saying you always have to have 3 days of meals packed in the back of your car at all times. I’m saying that you’re the one in control here, and it’s your responsibility to tap into clear decision making to get the kind of results you’re looking for. If you know you’re going out and might have to purchase and/or find a meal, you can prepare in advance by making a meal or by getting creative if you’re just not finding what you want. Go to the grocery store! You can get a bag of groceries that’ll last for days for the cost of a night out at a mediocre restaurant, and head out on a picnic or nature hike for free to top it off. You’re only limited by your own ability to think creatively.

I’m sure you get it by now – you’re the one in control, and you can and should take 100% responsibility for the actions you take, as well as the results those actions bring you. But how can you consistently tap into that source of inspiration and motivation in your daily life? How can you always make the “right” decision? The key is to be aware of your decision making process in the first place, and to use it strategically to get what you want. When we develop clarity on exactly what it is we want (be it gaining weight, losing weight, building muscle, increasing endurance, or anything else) then we develop a “feel” for what the right decision is. When it comes down to choosing one meal over the other, to get in a workout or not, to help a friend in need or sleep in – all it takes is an awareness of that decision being made. In that state where you’re completely conscious of which decisions are on the table, you’re able to see all of your options clearly and make a decision based on reason – as well as take into account the signals your body is sending you.

Muscle testing has been a phenomenal success in proving that we (our bodies) often know the right answer or decision nearly instantaneously and respond much more strongly to that over the weaker decision (although we may consciously choose the wrong one with our minds). On some level, we all know this to be true already. Sure, it often feels easier to stay in bed in the morning. The decision making process here is whether to spring out of bed in the morning or take it easy for 10-15 more minutes. The decision that usually makes more logical sense is to get up and get the most out of your day! The emotional decision that feels easier is to stay in bed and sleep in. Here’s where it gets interesting…

I was once told that the exact moment where making the right decision is the hardest is when your personal power grows the most. I’ve found this to be true in my own experience. When you feel the most tired and REALLY just don’t want to hit the gym, do it anyway. Not only will you feel great physically, you always feel great mentally when you know that you’ve just made the more powerful decision, or the “right” call. This certainly applies to your health, but it also applies to every other area of your life. That moment when you really want to buy something expensive that you don’t exactly need but would really like to grab? If you’ve got other higher goals financially, like paying off a mortgage or saving up for a new car, stay disciplined. Even though you don’t come away with a new purchase, you come away with an immense respect for yourself and your decision making process.

The best part? It grows in power each time you stay on course and keep up the momentum. How many times have you seen someone hit the ground running with a new diet or fitness routine for a few weeks and then take “just one” day off and spiral completely back to their old lifestyle? I’m willing to bet that you’re intimately familiar with it. Yet, on the other hand, we all know those solid individuals with an invincible mindset that’s set to always make the right decision – whether it’s easy or hard, simple or complex. These are the ones who commit to a 12-week program and follow it to the letter…and enjoy the incredible results as a reward. They hit the ground running, but with an even mind and a clear view of the decisions being made along the way. Use this momentum to hit it big and never look back.

Golden Takeaways:

* Alaska is an incredible place to visit :)

* “The Great Choice” is the decision making process between eating for comfort and eating for health and personal energy

* The key to always making the “right” decision is to be aware of the decision making process taking place

* It’s your decision making process – and not external factors – that consistently give you the results you’re seeing in your life

* Tap into your success motivation (a great one is choosing to focus on how you’ll feel after you make the right decision, instead of focusing on the process)

* The exact moment when choosing the right decision is the greatest challenge is precisely when your personal power grows exponentially

=> Note: Notice how I didn’t say when making a decision is hardest, but rather “when making the right decision is hardest”. The important idea here is that the right decision isn’t always the hardest one. In fact, sometimes the right decision for you may be the simplest and easiest to implement of a whole number of options. So don’t go out there and look for the hardest decisions to make – rather, consistently make the right call. When it just happens to bring about a challenging circumstance, stay the game and commit to making the right decision. That’s when your personal power grows – as well as when you feel the best about yourself.

Unleash Your Vitality,

- John Brackett

Leave a comment below and let me know what you think!

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I  understand your healthy skepticism. You hear a word like “superfoods” and while a part of you lights up with anticipation, you know full-well that it sounds like another scam or new product on the market. I’m here to talk to that small part of you that just lit up with the light of possibility, and reveal how superfoods are actually a food group…and one that you’d best start paying attention to – today.

Superfoods are a class of foods that have risen above and beyond the traditional “food” label. Conventional foods give us the essential nutrients we need to survive, but superfoods deliver the things our bodies and minds need to THRIVE – in a multitude of ways. Nearly all classified “superfoods” (such as goji berries, spirulina, bee pollen, maca, aloe vera, hempseeds, etc) work to enhance the immune system in dramatic ways. They deliver the exact key players for incredible immunity, but do it in the context of an extraordinary whole food – not a refined, chemical supplement that our bodies can’t assimilate.

Superfoods go far beyond immunity, however. They deliver practical, tangible results in your health, fitness and energy levels on the spot. We can all laughingly understand that no person can feel good or perform even remotely well living off just donuts and junk food. But then we stop mid-way. If that’s the bottom end of energy and personal performance, what’s the top? It’s certainly not the traditional American or European dietary lifestyle! If we consider that (which is causing incredible amounts of disease, obesity, and unnecessary pain and suffering) as the “middle point” on the scale of energy levels and personal performance, what IS the top?

The truth is, we’re just discovering what that top is now. And a few years down the road, we’ll know even more about that peak state. As we continue evolving in our understanding of nutrition, lifestyle and the human body, we’ll continue to redefine what we think is possible. The problem right now? What we know is possible is far beyond where most people have settled. Enter: superfoods. Superfoods are the missing piece of the puzzle, the “long-lost ingredient” that we’ve been searching for. We already know that they can dramatically enhance our immunity and keep us happy and healthy all year long, but the story goes so much deeper than that.

Do you realize that you can get all the protein you need (complete proteins with all of the essential amino acids), all the vitamins and minerals you need, all of the incredible enzymes and co-enzymes missing from the conventional modern diet and so much more…all from these so-called “superfoods”? What you’ve been told you’d have to take daily supplements to get is now available in the form of raw, organic superfoods grown in pristine, fertile soils in South America and beyond – score! Who in their right mind would rather take a handful of pills than enjoy a colorful, vibrant meal of foods that could revolutionize your health and energy levels daily?

A fascinating thing that starts to happen as you get into this is the falling away of old habits and food choices. You start to realize that if you take 5-10 minutes to blend up a quick “superfood smoothie”, you’ll feel incredible for hours – and, in fact, likely the whole day! Suddenly, when you’re faced with the option to grab a quick lunch of some fast-food meal with 70+ ingredients you can’t read or understand, you’re aware of the difference in how you might feel. You start to make the choices that lead to this enhanced state of wellbeing – where you have the energy to do what needs to get done, you’re more fun to be around because you’re in a better mood, and everyday just seems to be “one of those great days” :)

This new sense of energy comes from so many individual but connected factors, ranging from eating less of the things that drain your energy in the first place to gentle detoxification of old, stored toxins currently hampering your health, all the way to weight loss and the palpable energy actually in these superfoods. Many, if not all, classified superfoods are alkaline in nature – meaning they help to balance your body’s pH level back into a more neutral state. This is becoming more and more vital as people increasingly become dramatically more acidic (a breeding ground for disease). The other part of the equation that I’ve touched on before is the importance of alkalinity in energy levels. Alkaline blood is healthy, and is better able to carry the red blood cells that deliver the oxygen we need; this, in turn, determines our energy levels throughout the day (or is at least responsible for somewhere around 90% of it).

As your energy skyrockets and disease starts getting stopped in its tracks, you’re also getting re-mineralized. With mineral-deficient soils and foods as the norm, you’ll find that this aspect makes all the difference in the world. And when I say re-mineralization, I don’t just mean your bones and teeth. I’m talking your whole body, which includes your hair, skin and nails, muscle tissue quality, your organs, etc. Just one word of warning: as your body becomes increasingly nourished and revitalized, your mind follows in turn. With an incredible diet comes incredible mental performance, and it has been noted that superfoods in particular can lead to a re-evaluation of values in your life. What’s important to you at any given moment is determined by the state that you’re in…change the state, and you change the game at a fundamental level. The catch? The first move is up to you.

Unleash Your Vitality,

– John Brackett

Leave a comment below and let me know what you think!

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Here’s the problem: millions of people are suffering from depression, anxiety, “feeling down” and irregular moods. They just don’t feel like themselves, and as much as they want to be that bright, smiling person for everyone around them, they just don’t feel up to it. Hear me loud and clear: this is a problem that shouldn’t be taken lightly – and that I’d personally like to see solved.

How you feel day-in and day-out, or your “state”, is the single most important factor in terms of the results you’re able to produce in your life. If you feel exhausted and irritable all day, even with great intentions you’ll end up avoiding anything that might “set you off” – in other words, important phone calls you could’ve made, meetings you may have set up with friends or clients, or just being productive at all! Your neurochemistry determines how you feel right now, and this state determines how you interact with both others and yourself. In short? Your state is directly responsible for your decision-making processes.

Enter pharmaceutical drugs. Millions of Americans are turning to heavy anti-depressants and mood-altering drugs to find relief. Do I blame them? Absolutely not. Acknowledging that you’re not acting like yourself and that you’d like to move forward toward change is the exact step that’s needed here. This life is too good to miss, and everyone should be playing all-out with everything they’ve got! With that being said, many people are unaware of healthier and dramatically less expensive alternatives (we’ll explore what’s being called the top alternative in just a moment).

First, let’s get the straight facts on anti-depressants and mood-regulating drugs. The reason many people stop taking anti-depressants is because of the heavy side effects. The most common are sexual side effects (not fun), consistent nausea and fatigue/drowsiness, trouble falling asleep, dizziness or blurred vision, and dry mouth. Some may seem to be worth the advantages in mood enhancement, but are you aware that you can likely bypass all of these side effects entirely? My focus is on the end result or solution – and getting there in the healthiest possible way (it may just happen to be incredibly more cost effective :)

What I’m talking about here is supplementing with 5-HTP. 5-HTP is manufactured in the body from the amino acid tryptophan (usually found in poultry, red meats, nuts, seeds and several other foods), and is the intermediary between tryptophan and the neurotransmitter serotonin. Serotonin is largely responsible for your mood, but also determines the amount of melatonin you have available when the sun goes down (your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep). Because a restless night’s sleep can make your mood and mental performance even worse, regulating serotonin and melatonin levels is essential to breaking the vicious cycle and getting on track (both physically and mentally).

Most popular anti-depressants treat the uptake and regulation of serotonin directly, while some newer and less popular drugs pinpoint other essential neurotransmitters, like norepinephrine and dopamine, to produce different results. What’s important is this: your serotonin levels determine your mood, or “state”, which in turn determines how you interact with others and make decisions throughout the day. The end result you’re looking for is healthy serotonin levels and a healthy mood. Double-blind, placebo-controlled studies verify that supplementing with 5-HTP acts as an anti-depressant and helps regulate serotonin levels far more naturally – likely without the side effects, or with far fewer.

5-HTP is an option you may not have been familiar with, yet the largely untapped potential in mood regulation, treating depression, allowing people to feel good and find relief from anxiety, and fall and stay asleep is refreshing to say the least. It’s my hope that you’ll be better off for being familiar with this information – whether it helps you directly, or indirectly through helping friends and family. Realize we have incredible options at our fingertips…it’s just a matter of looking for them.

[Source] http://www.naturalnews.com/028533_depression_amino_acids.html

Unleash Your Vitality,

– John Brackett

Leave a comment below and let me know what you think!

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Here’s The List:

• Cat’s Claw Tea (Wildcrafted, Tea-Cut) - Cat’s Claw is a large, woody vine that grows in South America’s Amazon Rainforest. The tea itself is the dried, ground and tea-cut inner-bark of the Cat’s Claw vines. This makes an incredible, natural anti-viral tea that’s been proven to help balance out over-stressed immune systems. The flavor? Woody and heavy, with a nice “bite” to it :) You can enjoy this tea straight-up or with some form of natural sweetener (like goji berries, yacon root syrup, agave nectar, etc). Again, absolutely incredible for your immunity. More On Cat’s Claw
• Pau d’Arco Tea (Wildcrafted, Tea-Cut) - Pau d’Arco tea is the inner-bark of a “majestic, flowering Amazonian tree” that can grow up to 3 meters wide at the tree’s base! The story goes that indigenous people saw these wonderful trees – even when dead – never begin to rot. Based on this observation, it’s likely they began to use the rich inner-bark medicinally to ward off and protect against fungal conditions. Just as Cat’s Claw is revered for it’s anti-viral capacity, Pau d’Arco is noted for it’s powerful anti-fungal and mold capacity. Anyone struggling with poor air quality, damp environments, or fungal and/or mold conditions should definitely consider investing in this herb on a consistent basis (very inexpensive). Flavor is naturally much more neutral than Cat’s Claw and is even considered slightly sweet by some – I personally enjoy the light, woody flavor it has to offer. More On Pau d’Arco
• Swadhisthana – Sacral Chakra Tea - For anyone who’s into spirituality or energy medicine (as well as many types of current alternative treatments gaining popularity today), you may be familiar with the 7 chakras, or “energy centers”, of the body. This tea is a synergistic blend of 7 different herbs (Orange Peel, Rosehips, Annatto Seed, Cloves, Allspice, Organic Peppermint & Organic Lemon Grass) designed to balance and nourish the second chakra, or the sacral chakra. The second chakra has to do with your creative and sexual energies, which are more intertwined than you might think, and addresses how you reproduce results in your life – meaning things like problem-solving, drive to get things done, persistence, etc. Knowing this, it was hard to separate the placebo effect of expectations from the actual effects of the tea. Either way, the combination of the feeling the tea left me with and the mental direction I was focused upon has always put me into a state of increased drive, results and creativity – in short, getting the job done. Tastes absolutely incredible - what I’d consider to be a perfect blend – and leaves a pleasant aftertaste every time…highly recommended. Check Out This Line Of Teas (*Note: I’m not affiliated financially here – just trying to pass along helpful resources your way!)
• Focus & Concentration Tea - This was a loose-leaf bag of mixed herbs I picked up at Passiflora the other week. While I don’t have the ingredient list with the package, I was able to talk to the hostess about the ingredients in person – and it’s a terrific blend. Gives you a slight boost in focus and concentration without having to resort to coffee and other drinks heavy in caffeine. Extra edge for when you need that intense focus and attention on the job, in your personal life or at school – without burning out your adrenals in the process! Check Out Passiflora (Located in CT)

So there you have it – that’s what I’ve been getting my hands on lately in the world in herbalism. As I’ve said before, I highly recommend jumping right into this fascinating arena and seeing for yourself firsthand. The power that each individual herb can hold has been revered by cultures across the globe for thousands of years – it’s nothing to be taken lightly, but it is something that can bring you a world of fun and fascination along the way. As with all else, moderation is key. 9 teas/day will take your body out of balance and likely dehydrate you – as well as throw some cramps and nausea your way! 1-2 teas a day? Excellent. I personally cycle my days, depending on lifestyle and what I’m up to at the time. I may have 2 teas/day for a few days in a row, and then nothing but pure, clean water for a week. Go with moderation and you’ll be fine.

If you’re trying to get results from powerful herbs that really do affect your mood and wellbeing, remember moderation but also remember consistency. 1-2 teas everyday will always beat out 4-5 teas every few days. If you are trying to treat yourself for any serious condition, remember to get in contact with a licensed practitioner – they’ll keep you safe and monitor your actual results so you can see what’s working over time. Keep yourself in a state of balance and start experimenting with what’s really possible for yourself!

Unleash Your Vitality,

– John Brackett

Leave a comment below and let me know what you think!

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I hope you’re awake and refreshed because today’s post could change your life in more ways than you might think. If you’ve ever been laying down in bed at night with chronic, racing thoughts flying through your mind – getting more and more frustrated at not being able to fall asleep – then what you’re about to read can really help you take your nights – and all the incredible benefits of a great night’s sleep – to the next level.

The first strategy is simple, and you may or may not already be doing it in one way or another: have an evening salad. Hold on, don’t look past this one. We already know that having a large salad is incredible for our overall health and energy levels. It gives us so much of what we need to thrive in today’s world. But there’s a few aspects to having that salad in the evening that you may have looked past.

Salads naturally have a calming and cooling effect on our minds and bodies. They relax us, both in mixed green smoothies and especially when you chew through a fresh salad. When you take the time to chew the leaves, you’re getting some of the most significant benefits in not only really using your teeth and jaw, but in the additional calming sensation you get from chewing the alkaline leaves. Another huge benefit is that chewing has been shown to dramatically increase the production of serotonin – that feel good chemical that’s essential to healthy brain function. All of this combined into an evening salad allows you to take that calm relaxation right into the bedroom for a good night’s rest.

A second alternative or additional measure is to try new herbal teas and go the herbalism route. Over the last few weeks, we’ve touched on the value of peppermint tea as an incredible way to relax yourself while staying clear-headed and refreshed. You can try out your own individual herbs or synergistic blends and determine what plants help put you into the exact feeling state you’d like to achieve. Just as certain teas can stimulate mental alertness and concentration, many teas can bring all kinds of different stages of relaxation and help you to unwind a bit from the day.

Now here’s where I really want you to pay attention. We just addressed two of the most powerful nutritional strategies to get your body really into a balanced state of relaxation where it’s possible for you to fall asleep easily. However, the mental aspect of relaxation is even more important. So much of insomnia is caused by chronic, racing thoughts about all kinds of topics in your life. Unfinished tasks, stresses from work and lifestyle, worrying about whether or not you made the right decision today, this week, this year, last year…it just doesn’t end. But it can.

If you’ve ever experienced this feeling, it’s time to take a different action and get a different result. What I’m about to share with you is one of the most powerful and effective tools not only for insomnia and getting a good night’s sleep, but also for stress relief, personal growth and development, and so much more. Here it is: as soon as you wake up in the morning and right before you fall asleep, name 10 things you’re grateful for and 10 things you honor yourself for. That’s it. It’s only takes minutes at the MOST, but here’s what this habit will do for you:

• Stop the stream of chronic, racing thoughts
• Calm, center and relax you almost instantly
• Put you in a state of wonder reviewing all the good things in your life
• Enhance your self-esteem and self-honor
• Allow you to feel good about the decisions you’ve made
• Enjoy a greater sense of achievement and accomplishment in your life

Think about it. Imagine you had to predict the results that two people would see in their lives. Joe goes to sleep every night worrying about his financial condition, stressed out about work, and insecure about his personal life. It often takes him 2-3 hours to fall asleep because of the amount of stress on his mind and body, and he wakes up early for work but is always tired and irritable because of the lack of sleep. Now imagine Crystal. She’s no top earner, but she goes to bed every night naming all the things in her life she’s grateful for, and honors herself for all the decisions she’s made throughout the day. How does she feel everyday when she wakes up? How does she feel when she goes to bed every night? Doesn’t it make sense that if she stays committed to this simple habit, it’s almost impossible to go to bed stressed out?

Now put yourself in Crystal’s shoes. Commit to trying out this habit tonight, as well as tomorrow morning first thing when you wake up. Your husband or wife doesn’t have to know! Just do it in your head, and you’ll soon be surprised at how much you’ve got to be thankful for right here, right now…and that your sleep has already improved by spades :)

Unleash Your Vitality,

– John Brackett

Leave a comment below and let me know what you think!

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First of all: no, this isn’t a gimmick. This is simply one way to help you achieve your goal of having more energy throughout your day and enjoying a little peace of mind – mental clarity. Having said that, realize that the simplicity of this 1-5 minute energy boost is going to have you almost immediately disregard it. Why? Because it’s made up of 2 quick movements you already know: jumping rope and jumping jacks.

Those 2 movements might bring you back in time to gym class or some other point in childhood – when was the last time you jumped rope or did a few sets of jumping jacks? If it’s been awhile, I hope you’re all ears; these 2 exercises can dramatically enhance your energy levels in just seconds.

Ready for the easiest energy boost you ever got? Here it is: alternate sets of jumping rope and jumping jacks. I told you in the beginning that your mind might immediately disregard it because it’s already familiar – and it seems too easy. You’d be surprised. To start, jump rope 10 times (reps) and then do just 10 jumping jacks. The immediate result? Dramatically increased bloodflow and circulation throughout the body. This not only gets everything moving and lifts your energy levels, but actually gets the lymph fluids active and keeps your immune system strong.

Hand-in-hand with these physical benefits come the mental and emotional benefits. Your mind starts to clear up, stress levels go down, and you find yourself better able to focus and concentrate on the task at hand (I just finished a vigorous 20 minute workout before sitting down to write this post for you!). You see things more clearly and productivity (personal and vocational) goes up. All from jumping rope and jumping jacks? You bet.

Here’s my #1 tip: you don’t need a rope to “jump rope”. It’s fun, but I’ve actually never owned a jump rope myself. Instead, place your hands where they would be on the handle of the jump rope and go through the motions without the actual rope. It’s the same movements, and the extra coordination will actually give your brain another challenge to tackle. Alternating these 2 sets with short rests in-between gives you the incredible physical and mental benefits of a great workout…in a fraction of the time. It’s not hardcore strength training, but it’s an astounding shortcut to the energy and clarity you need to take on your day full-on.

I hope you enjoyed this quick energy tip – if you can, drop what you’re doing and try it out for even just 30-60 seconds. Notice what happens with your mind and body, and then leave me a comment below! I always take the time to read all of your comments, and everyone else in the community benefits from the ideas you share :)

Unleash Your Vitality,

John Brackett

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If you haven’t heard of meridian tapping or EFT, today’s the day I change your life. People from all over the world are discovering this incredible tool for personal transformation on every level. Emotional blockages like fear of heights, being afraid of spiders/cats/dogs, public speaking, and more are all being cleared and erased…permanently. Still, that’s just the tip of the iceberg – interested?

As you’ll see in the video above, tapping involves the stimulation of the body’s energy channels, or meridians (hence “meridian tapping”). By stimulating these channels while working through emotional blockages and challenges, we’re able to rapidly heal emotional wounds at a core level. I’m sure you’ve seen that for the little things in life, we can often think them out or talk it out with a friend. But what about the bigger challenges? You can talk it out all day long, but in the end it’s still at the forefront of your mind – and, following, your body.

EFT gives us the tool we’re looking for here. One of the quickest ways to try it out and get incredible results is on stress and anxiety; tapping has been proven to be incredibly effective at not only lowering stress in your mind AND body, but actually turning that around into a balanced, neutral state or even genuine happiness! The biggest barrier to meridian tapping isn’t the use of the tool itself, however…it’s you.

I want to ask you a serious question: how open are you to new ideas, tools and paradigms? When you read the words above, when you watch(ed) the video at the top, did your belief system immediately tune out and scream “that’s not possible”? You may consciously want to enjoy the video and research this area more, but your mind may be getting in the way. Why you’re lucky? Because awareness is one of the most powerful tools for personal change. Simply becoming aware of the fact that your mind is experiencing resistance changes everything; it allows you to pursue what you consciously choose to, not what you can currently “believe” based on past experiences.

The world is changing quickly, and with it comes incredible changes in how we live our lives. Meridian tapping is changing the entire paradigm of how we deal with emotions, fears, phobias, physical disease and so much more. It’s my sincere hope that you’re open to this awareness and choosing to follow it down this new path unfolding in front of us.

Please leave your comment below about meridian tapping and EFT, other tools for emotional balance, what you thought about the last few paragraphs above, or anything else related that would be of interest to the community here. It’s these discussions that really get some exciting new information out there!

Unleash Your Vitality,

John Brackett

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Depending on how far you’ve been able to burrow into the world of natural health, you may or may not be aware of the whole juicing controversy going on. What is it? Essentially this: people are fighting over juicing versus blending.

Sure, it’s funny – but it’s also an important topic to take a closer look at and get to the bottom of. After all, if you have a juicer or blender in your home or plan on getting one soon, there are some key points you’ll want to take home today. No matter what your position, at least you’ll have an intelligent comment to contribute should you get caught in the controversy first-hand!

Advocates of juicing say that it’s the easiest way to get nutrients into the body; you simply “juice” any fruit or vegetable, and you’ve got a light, easy drink ready-to-go! Because it’s just the juice, it’s quick to drink and even quicker for the body to absorb. It’s getting the true value of the fruit or vegetable without having to deal with the trouble of eating it.

But here’s where proponents of blending come in. Although blending eliminates “the trouble of eating it”, it doesn’t eliminate the fiber. That’s the #1 most significant difference between juicing and blending – and the real source of any argument. When you take out the fiber in juicing, the body can absorb the juice incredibly efficiently – but when sugar is involved, it often ends on a sour note with an energy crash (and certainly mood as well). On the other hand, the fiber in blended foods remains a part of the final product, which allows it to be absorbed closer to its natural rate of absorption – which, again, is absolutely critical when sugar is involved.

Let’s consider a modern example that may hit home for you personally: orange juice. It’s easy to learn new information like this, but more challenging to apply or implement it in our lives. That’s why we turn to a household juice. The process doesn’t start with pouring a glass out of the container in the fridge; it starts with whole, ripe oranges. Traditional orange juice has no fiber (or “pulp”), while certain brands offer the juice with the pulp intact (think more along the lines of blended oranges). What’s the difference? It’s not just taste.

The traditional orange juice can cause a tremendous spike in blood sugar and an avoidable mid-day crash with overindulgence. It’s easy to throw back a glass or two of orange juice in the morning – after all, it’s sweet and it tastes great ;) The point here is to realize that it’s simply fruit juice, and that adding that fiber or pulp back in helps to control the release of those natural sugars for more even energy throughout the day. You can also think of it as eating a whole food, rather than pressing out the “sweet nectar”. It’s tempting, but follow your body. The next time you’re juicing or blending — or even just reaching for a glass of orange juice — pay attention to how you feel drinking different amounts and trying new options. You might just get rid of that mid-day crash and find an easy way to increase your daily energy!

Unleash Your Vitality,

John Brackett

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Let’s face it: I’m sure you’ve heard people talk about the wonders of seaweed before. Whether it’s in the spa and therapeutic arena or just in your local health food store, seaweeds have been creating a buzz in the natural and alternative health realms for quite some time. Why all the buzz? What are people talking about here?

The most critical point you can pick up about seaweed is that it’s wild. It’s a group of completely natural plants that thrives in the oceanic environment – which, by the way, means that these plants are grown with ALL minerals in the “soil”. Besides some of the more common minerals we get here, we’re getting all of the trace minerals that are depleted in today’s modern agriculture. Think 30 minerals is healthy? Try getting all 92.

While this gives you some insight into why the plants may be so therapeutic in spa treatments and alternative therapies, what we’re going to focus on here and now is eating seaweed. Now, I know what you’re probably thinking: “I don’t know if I really want to eat seaweed…” but the truth is, you don’t have to turn this into a meal at all…or even a chore. Two easy ways to get this powerful group of foods into your diet regularly are by sprinkling a powdered/flake form (think salt container and low-sodium salt alternative) over your salads and other meals, or by adding a bit to a healthy smoothie (so you don’t even notice the taste, but reap all of the health benefits).

Before we get too far into the how, I’d like to really get back into why again. We know that “sea veggies” are highly-mineralized, but let’s consider just how potent and concentrated they are as well. You can get some of the highest-quality nutrition out there just from a teaspoon full of the flaked form – easy! This is because dried seaweed is so much more compact than the original wet seaweed. This gives you an awesome advantage – not to mention a better texture than the original slimy leaves!

Another reason to consider taking a closer look at seaweed is their alkalinity. Seaweeds are generally extremely alkaline, which can help balance out the acidic imbalance of most common diets today. This allows your blood to move more smoothly and can dramatically enhance the amount of energy you have available to yourself in your daily life. Having a strong acid-alkaline balance (closer to 7.0) means more energy for you, but also vastly improved health. Improved health means a better body, mind and lifestyle – and, more often than not, longevity…being able to stick around and see the wonders of life for a few more years than you would’ve had you not taken care of yourself.

I’ll add in one more bit, too: the glyconutrient profile of seaweed is astounding. While commonly termed glyconutrients, these long-chain sugars are also referred to as polysaccharides – you may know them by any one of these descriptions. What’s important is that these long-chain sugars give us steady, long-term energy to run off, as well as boost our immunity and restore elasticity to our joints and tissues. By cycling in various common types of seaweeds (such as kelp, nori, dulse and sea lettuce), we’re able to get all 8 essential glyconutrients into our diet – and thrive as a result.

I’d like to thank you for sticking with me through one of the tougher topics for people to wrap their heads around; seaweed can be one of those “mental blocks” for some people, and they simply won’t allow in important information that could change their lives for the better. I personally enjoy small amounts of kelp, dulse, laver and sea lettuce on a regular basis and it couldn’t be any simpler! Take advantage of the mineralization, alkalinity and glyconutrient profiles of these wild, vital plants and let me know how it goes!

Unleash Your Vitality,

John Brackett

P.S. If you’re one of the people wondering where they can find this stuff, it’s commonly right around the corner at your local health food store! If you’d rather not have to take the trip or can’t find one nearby, you can pick it up online for cheap anytime over at Sunfood.com.

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