ABCs to feeling and looking younger

What are the steps to feeling and looking younger?

by Linda Leibl — 

Where do you begin when you want to slow down your aging process? What are the steps to feeling and looking younger? The following ABCs are reminders for being the best you can be, no matter what your age.

Do you really know your ABCs?

A — Attitude. An attitude of gratitude is important for creating happiness and the life you dream of. Put a notepad by your bedside, and write happiness on the top line. Every day upon rising write down three things you are grateful for.

B — Body beautiful. Move your body. Pick a movement or exercise that you enjoy and will do at least once a week. Take care of your body, and it will take care of you.

C — Control your thoughts, before they control you.

D — Detox. Consider a healthy detoxification cleanse to stimulate, strengthen, support, and renew your body and mind.

E — Exfoliate the skin on your face and body twice a week with pure, organic, natural botanicals that leave you feeling fresh and clean.

F — Focus on the beauty around you. Stop for a second, right now, and take an inventory of all the beautiful things in your life.

G — Generosity. Carry out generous acts. Smile and say, “Good morning” to someone in passing, or open the door for a stranger.

H — Healthy food for a healthy mind and body. Consult healthy food books and recipes. Remember that your children learn their eating habits from you.

I — Initiate positive and healthy ideas for your family. Set up a weekly family night to discuss the new recipes you are planning, a family project or the plans for a special event.

J — Journaling. According to a survey about what helps people create more happiness in their lives, it helps to journal five minutes once a week. Write down how you feel about all the positive events of that week and the things you are grateful for.

K — Keep your power. Every day, you have a choice to feel good and be in your power, or not. If someone is trying to ruffle your feathers, keep them from getting ruffled. You can be happy and powerful, or not. Being happy resonates with positivity. Being sad will only create dis-ease, which ages you.

L — Loving thoughts create beauty and keep us beautiful.

M — Make up your face every day that you are venturing outside. Helena Rubinstein and Estée Lauder each worked for over 50 years to bring you ways to enhance your natural beauty.

N — Noninvasive treatments are a great way to make subtle changes to improve your complexion and look more youthful. These are affordable with no risk, downtime or pain. Indulge yourself at a day spa, salon or skin center. There is nothing like a relaxing and rejuvenating touch to feel luxurious.

O — Oxygen. Breathe in oxygen to refresh your body. The breath is so important. The next time you are stopped at a red light or have a free moment, inhale deep, long breaths, then exhale slowly. Try it; you will feel much better and your skin will take on a nice pink glow.

P — Protection from the sun. Use sunscreen every day, even when just walking to your mailbox, which can add up to approximately 1,680 minutes in a year.

Q — Quiet your mind. This is another element of the happiness factor. Sit quietly for five minutes a day. Be at one with your thoughts in silence.

R — Relax and balance your life. This is hard for some of us who feel guilty about taking time off for ourselves. It is important, however, to allow more time for relaxation and balance.

S — Skincare fallacies. Ninety-eight percent of skincare products in this country do not work. Find a company with “before and after” photos, and testimonials. Ask those who look great and younger than their years what products they are using.

T — Treatments. Ask your friends where they go for facial treatments. You deserve a professional treatment from an experienced aesthetician. Professional treatments are performed with products formulated for your specific needs and skin goals with faster results.

U — Uniqueness. You are unique and special. Each morning look in the mirror, smile and celebrate your unique beauty, gifts, talents and skills.

V — Vibration of energy. You are a unique vibration of an energy source of Light.

W — Water. Hydrate your body often.

X — X-treme approaches. People are speaking up about their unhappiness with surgical facelifts. They are seeking alternatives such as microcurrent facelift treatments, micro-dermabrasion and result-oriented facial treatments. Please do your homework when you consult with a plastic surgeon. Ask for credentials, photos and references from their patients. Call or meet them and ask how happy they are with their results.

Y — Yoga. There are many different styles of yoga to choose from. Yoga postures are said to remove obstructions from the body to enhance your energy and well-being, and to achieve inner peace and inner beauty.

Z — Zest for life. Add more zest to your life by adding a creative outlet, such as painting, dancing, cooking or volunteering in your community.

Linda L. Leibl, B.S., therapeutic aesthetician, founded Advanced Skin Technology in 1993. 480-443-3445 or [email protected].

Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 29, Number 1, Feb/Mar 2010.