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How to Have a Happier Life with Life Architecture
By Bob Ivkovic
September 15, 2013Life Architecture could be the best thing you’ve ever done for yourself. I would like to think of it as a game changer, or more selfishly, a life changer. After all, we’re talking about radically changing your life. The challenge is that everybody is unique and no one else like you exists in the universe. We all have our own unique interests and aspirations in life. We all wear different fashion, do different jobs, hang out with different people, and live in different real estate. Some of us finally get a chance to build that dream home. This is probably the reason we hire an architect. An architect can design a house or palace that fits you. When it’s all done, you’ll get a place that reflects your lifestyle, family situation, and personal desires. What if you could hire an architect to design the life you want. Better yet, what if you could design and actually live it. That’s why we all need a Life Architecture to have a happier life.
Life Architecture is a new paradigm to self-discovery, including the discovery of a future you never knew existed. It helps you identify the possibilities and realize the benefits of a new reality. Of course, it requires you to get out of your old suit and into a new fashion. Change is a normal part of life. Radical change is a normal part of a great life. Life Architecture is a methodology geared to define a new future and implement an action plan to get you there. It’s an amazing journey that starts with who you are to where you dream to be. Life Architecture is your chance to live life to the fullest.
Life Architecture provides the opportunity to take many pictures of our life as we try to land on the right one. We start putting all the pieces together as we begin to understand what’s important to us. We will have a chance to swap out the bad things for the good. This reminds me of something I once read, “Life is like a camera. Just focus on what’s important and capture the good times, develop from the negatives and if things don’t turn out, just take another shot.” Whoever thought that something called Life Architecture would allow us to do just that.
I remember I had commissioned a young artist to do a book cover design for me. Although she accepted the job, she said that she was not all that inspired as life had gotten in the way with its usual burdens. I found out that her little girl recently had eye surgery and she was worried about the outcome. I told her that kids are our biggest worry and that I could sympathize with her after going through a hard time myself with a daughter who had a learning disability and no motivation in life. I told her that I was still struggling to help my daughter. I’ve been through that and have learned to focus on the positives. And I’m still learning to deal with life. I consoled the young artist and told her to mark my words: “You will get through it.”
Of course, I couldn’t leave it at that. I explained to the young artist that Life Architecture allowed me to cope in a world where I had to expect the unexpected. Life doesn’t work with 100% perfection. The bad makes us appreciate the good. And it is our mandate in life to resolve the bad while always focusing on the good. As a military historian, I tell friends that they have to fight the battles to win the war. I told this young artist and caring mother that she would do the same and that everything would work out with her little girl because she had a caring mother. I shared a simple life secret: “Love and family are the key to a beautiful life. Just don’t lose sight of what is important, and that we live in an imperfect world.” It was now just a matter of getting the mother to believe it and face her challenges in a positive light. Life Architecture is the key.
Life Architecture is a structured approach to improve our lives and live the best life that we possibly can. A good Life Architecture starts with an assessment of your life today, and transforms it into the life you want to achieve. You have to give your life context – a reason for living, a reason for existing. The purpose of a Life Architecture is to make sense of your life. This includes processes you follow, actions you take, assumptions you make, outcomes you achieve, rules you live by, problems and challenges you tackle, and other life considerations. You have to rationalize all these life attributes in order to live a life that makes sense to you, and fulfills your desires.
You have one life, so live it to your fullest potential. Life Architecture empowers you to build that life. But first, you will have to develop a personal Life Blueprint. This will be the discussion of my next article.
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6 Feel-Good Foods That Naturally Boost Your Mood
Editor’s Note:
Over the past few years we’ve identified that in addition to making the world a kinder, better place that our readership of Kindhearts like you also want to live longer and healthier lives. As such, we’ve gone on a recruiting mission to find great new writers who can give us ideas so that we can all “Live well. Be kind.”
Today is our first of many great ideas for living better. Enjoy!
6 Feel-Good Foods That Naturally Boost Your Mood
When we’re feeling down, we often turn to our friends for solace or look for an activity that can distract us from our worries. Our first instinct isn’t usually to turn to food — unless it’s to dig into a pint of ice cream for comfort— but eating the right diet can actually boost your mood and your happiness overall. Whether you’re stressed out and anxious or you just don’t have the energy or motivation to get through the day, picking the right foods can help keep you feeling relaxed and upbeat.
It might sound farfetched that food can so greatly affect your mood, but research shows that certain types of diets can have a significant effect on your happiness levels. One study from the Journal of Psychosomatic Research found that people who ate a typical Mediterranean diet filled with whole and unprocessed foods such as fruits and vegetables, nuts, legumes, and olive oil were much happier than those who ate a standard Western diet that included a lot of fast food, dessert, and soda.
Eating healthy foods can provide you with the nutrients your body needs to help fight off depression and keep your stress levels at bay. If you need a little boost in your mood, try eating one of these six feel-good foods that will have you smiling in no-time.
1. Dark Chocolate
As if you need another excuse to eat the sweet treat: dark chocolate has been found to fight off anxiety and depression. One study from the Journal of Proteome Research found that daily consumption of chocolate led to lower levels of stress hormones. Cocoa also contains antioxidants called polyphenols which can help fight against depression and other mental disorders.
Make sure you opt for chocolate with 70 percent cocoa or higher, and avoid kinds with added sugar, which can actually have the reverse effect.
2. Berries
Berries such as raspberries and strawberries contain a natural ingredient that closely resembles valproic acid, a chemical used in prescription mood-stabilizing drugs. One study from the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine also found that daily consumption of goji berry juice increased people’s general feelings of wellbeing
3. Turkey
Turkey contains two important nutrients that help play a role in your mood: selenium and tryptophan. Research from the journal Biological Psychiatry found that subjects who received selenium supplements experienced a decrease in anxiety and elevated mood. Additionally, tryptophan is an amino acid that is responsible for synthesizing serotonin, the “feel-good” neurotransmitter. Increasing your intake of tryptophan results in higher levels of serotonin, which can not only improve your mood, but even your behavior.
4. Nuts
If you’re a fan of snacking throughout the day, start chowing down on some nuts. Like turkey, nuts can also help boost your serotonin levels, and it only takes one ounce of nuts such as walnuts, almonds, or hazelnuts to improve your happiness.
5. Fish
Fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, and sardines contain omega-3 fatty acids, an important mood-boosting nutrient. Research shows that increasing your intake of omega-3 fatty acids can help relieve symptoms of depression. One study from the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry even found that omega-3 fatty acids are just as effective at improving mood as an antidepressant.
6. Leafy Greens
Greens such as spinach, kale, broccoli, and other lettuce contain folic acid, an important B vitamin that plays a role in mood regulation, including the synthesis of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Research from the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry shows that increasing your intake of folate can help reduce depressive symptoms.
When in doubt, you’re always best sticking to whole, unprocessed foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals, but the above foods especially can help keep you calm and positive overall.
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14 Jul 2016
6 Feel-Good Foods That Naturally Boost Your Mood
Editor’s Note:
Over the past few years we’ve identified that in addition to making the world a kinder, better place that our readership of Kindhearts like you also want to live longer and healthier lives. As such, we’ve gone on a recruiting mission to find great new writers who can give us ideas so that we can all “Live well. Be kind.”
Today is our first of many great ideas for living better. Enjoy!
6 Feel-Good Foods That Naturally Boost Your Mood
When we’re feeling down, we often turn to our friends for solace or look for an activity that can distract us from our worries. Our first instinct isn’t usually to turn to food — unless it’s to dig into a pint of ice cream for comfort— but eating the right diet can actually boost your mood and your happiness overall. Whether you’re stressed out and anxious or you just don’t have the energy or motivation to get through the day, picking the right foods can help keep you feeling relaxed and upbeat.
It might sound farfetched that food can so greatly affect your mood, but research shows that certain types of diets can have a significant effect on your happiness levels. One study from the Journal of Psychosomatic Research found that people who ate a typical Mediterranean diet filled with whole and unprocessed foods such as fruits and vegetables, nuts, legumes, and olive oil were much happier than those who ate a standard Western diet that included a lot of fast food, dessert, and soda.
Eating healthy foods can provide you with the nutrients your body needs to help fight off depression and keep your stress levels at bay. If you need a little boost in your mood, try eating one of these six feel-good foods that will have you smiling in no-time.
1. Dark Chocolate
As if you need another excuse to eat the sweet treat: dark chocolate has been found to fight off anxiety and depression. One study from the Journal of Proteome Research found that daily consumption of chocolate led to lower levels of stress hormones. Cocoa also contains antioxidants called polyphenols which can help fight against depression and other mental disorders.
Make sure you opt for chocolate with 70 percent cocoa or higher, and avoid kinds with added sugar, which can actually have the reverse effect.
2. Berries
Berries such as raspberries and strawberries contain a natural ingredient that closely resembles valproic acid, a chemical used in prescription mood-stabilizing drugs. One study from the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine also found that daily consumption of goji berry juice increased people’s general feelings of wellbeing
3. Turkey
Turkey contains two important nutrients that help play a role in your mood: selenium and tryptophan. Research from the journal Biological Psychiatry found that subjects who received selenium supplements experienced a decrease in anxiety and elevated mood. Additionally, tryptophan is an amino acid that is responsible for synthesizing serotonin, the “feel-good” neurotransmitter. Increasing your intake of tryptophan results in higher levels of serotonin, which can not only improve your mood, but even your behavior.
4. Nuts
If you’re a fan of snacking throughout the day, start chowing down on some nuts. Like turkey, nuts can also help boost your serotonin levels, and it only takes one ounce of nuts such as walnuts, almonds, or hazelnuts to improve your happiness.
5. Fish
Fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, and sardines contain omega-3 fatty acids, an important mood-boosting nutrient. Research shows that increasing your intake of omega-3 fatty acids can help relieve symptoms of depression. One study from the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry even found that omega-3 fatty acids are just as effective at improving mood as an antidepressant.
6. Leafy Greens
Greens such as spinach, kale, broccoli, and other lettuce contain folic acid, an important B vitamin that plays a role in mood regulation, including the synthesis of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Research from the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry shows that increasing your intake of folate can help reduce depressive symptoms.
When in doubt, you’re always best sticking to whole, unprocessed foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals, but the above foods especially can help keep you calm and positive overall.
-
28 May 2015
“I’m Going to be The Best Dad”
Get ready to watch the most adorable video of 2015!
This wife loves to give her husband little pep talks and make him repeat all the beautiful things she says about him!
As if that wasn’t heart-warming enough, this certain pep talk has a surprise and hilarious ending!
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