MANILA, Philippines?At 52, Susie looks extremely good for her age.

Mistaken to be in her 30s, this energetic dentist is the perfect picture of health?except that twice a year she?d be bedridden because of allergies.

Her antihistamines, cold and cough medication, and antibiotics were on standby.

Then she read in a health journal that allergies could be worsened by dehydration. She counted the number of glasses of water she usually drank a day?four.

She began the habit of drinking two glasses of water every hour. Within an hour, her sneezing, runny nose and watery eyes had been alleviated. Her body ache disappeared by next morning.

Water therapy and avoiding allergy-inducing foods, exercise and healthy meals turned her life around.

Tommy?s temper

Tommy, a power lawyer in his late 60s is a super achiever. But behind his authoritative demeanor is a man out of control.

One day, after reprimanding his staff, he felt dizzy.

Medical tests showed a mild stroke. The doctor placed him on maintenance pills.

Then, a friend gave him a book on anger management.

The book taught him:

Anger is a choice, not an inevitability.

Anger affects the major organs of the body.

Anger is a manifestation of stress.

Today, he has a better grip of his emotions and is aware of the consequences of ?losing control.? His staff is more efficient and productive, and his office is running smoothly.

Every time he feels flaring up, he does a ?countdown visualization.?

He imagines he is going down a hill which will take him 10 seconds to descend. Counting backward from 10 to 1, he reaches the edge of the hill where a placid lake awaits him. At first sight of the lake, he plunges in, feeling the cool waters cooling him inside-out.

Johnny?s juice

By late afternoon, Johnny drinks brandy and plays poker with his assistants. Then one night, Johnny felt a persistent pain on his side.

The doctors cautioned him to limit his drinking. He was suffering from peptic ulcers and fatty liver.

Apart from taking medication, he changed his lifestyle. The nights of bingeing were stopped.

A friend brought him to a detox center to clean his ?dirty liver and gall bladder.?

Apple juice, olive oil and fresh lemon became part of his food intake. Studies show these three help cleanse the system?one tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil plus a chaser of lemon squeeze.

Susie, Tommy and Johnny have all discovered that their willpower is stronger than their weaknesses. They are, in Dr. Gary Zukav?s words, ?not in the mercy of their inadequacies.?

Affirm: ?I choose to be my better self.?

Love and light!

Reference: ?The Heart Of The Soul?