The Four 18-Day Transition Periods Between TCM's Seasons and How to Harmonize With Them

There are four Earth energetic seasons in the Five Element Theory and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

These are 18-day transition periods between each of Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. TCM principles tell us the energy of that seasons element “returns to earth." For example, the Fire element of Summer returns to Earth to be transformed into the energy of the Metal element for upcoming Fall.

This concept of transitional seasons repeats another three times during the other three transitional periods in the year from one season to another. Together, those four periods of 18 days each every 12 months constitute the full Earth energetic season, the fifth energetic season of TCM.

The Earth season is particularly important as it is a stillpoint in the yin/yang dance of energy throughout the year. In particular, from July 20 to August 6, the yang of Wood (Spring season) and of Fire (Summer season) has faded, and the yin energy of Metal (Fall season) that will peak during Water (Winter season) is poised to rise.

The color for Earth is yellow.

Yellow fruit and vegetables are highly recommended to consume during the transitional Earth season in order to be more in alignment with the energy of the season.

A more toxic body condition found more in some people than in others is what TCM refers to as an Earth condition, or imbalance.

Earth imbalance in the skin usually manifests as:

• blemishes, toxicity, acne, psoriasis, enlarged pores

• heavy looking hair, pimples on scalp

• lymph circulation problems (Lymph is the fluid associated with Earth.)

Acne is an Earth condition that needs to be treated with targeted Earth skincare and therapies. Severe conditions will require a pointed series of treatments to balance the energetic root cause. Drainage of the lymph is essential, not only on the face but also all over the body, especially in severe cases of acne. The condition of acne tends to flare up during the four yearly transitional periods described above (the Earth season).

Lymph drainage is essential.

When waste does not fully migrate out of cells, we manifest the most typical cellulite—an Earth energy deficiency. Cells have become increasingly more bloated with waste material. The condition is aggravated when there is already too much waste in the interstitial fluid. In this case also, lymph drainage is sorely required.

Although there are a few contraindications for lymph drainage, it is safe to say that, in general, most people will benefit from regular drainage, particularly people of the Earth type. A good drainage gives instantly visible results making lymphatic drainage a worthwhile spa treatment.

If your body is very toxic which is very common with Earth types, it is advised to do the entire body in two or more sessions as toxins released too quickly over a large surface might induce fatigue and headaches. It is always imperative for everyone to drink plenty of water before and after any body drainage treatment.

The energetic drainage is not painful at all. In fact, it is considered very pleasant and relaxing. Most people feel quite rejuvenated at the end of the treatment.

In light therapy, also known as chromatherapy by PHYTO5, we use blue light to target the fluid of Earth, lymph, with our award-winning light technologies.

The morphology* associated with Earth can be described as:

• good proportions between upper and lower body (yin and yang in balance).

• likely to develop a belly

• thinking type with stable demeanor

• can be nervous when problems occur

• sensitive to humidity.

The elements in TCM are also associated with epochs in our lives. Earth tends to be the time for more mature adults while Fire, for example, is the time of young adulthood.

The PHYTO5® facial for the transitional periods between seasons/Earth element addresses energetic imbalance with two energetically potent products–the high vibration Earth serum (Phyt’Ether) and the Yellow Colored Clay Mask.

Spleen and stomach are the organs of the Earth seasons.

Spleen has a critical and ongoing management function in Chinese medicine converting and distributing energy from nourishment. It also regulates lymph flow, a major actor in toxin removal from tissues and a critical function of the immune defense system.

Earth is a time to regain our physical and psychological balance and to be prepared to sustain the energetic influences of the next season.

Indeed, during each of the other four seasons, either yin or yang will be on the rise or on the decline.

Each one of us will react to the changes in our own particular ways that can lead to imbalance, but Earth provides the perfect time to detoxify both our physical body and our mental/emotional one. It is the time to be grounded, and to cherish our CHI.

*Morphology is the study of body shapes. Your physical appearance is the specific manifestation of the sum total of all hidden and subtle energetic influences at work within you—what you were born with as well as what results from where and how you live your life. While there is an infinite number of body shapes, they can be classified according to TCM into five groups based on specific characteristics. To each of the five elements corresponds a body type—a specific morphology.

Earth Season Morphology

#tcm #morphology #acne #lymph #toxicity #skincare #Swiss #organic #natural #drainage #lymphatic drainage #holistic

A List of Foods to Eat for Glowing Skin (+Bonus Recipe!)

Make your skin glow with light enriched foods.

Sunlight puts light into food. That light, when consumed, radiates through the skin. If you want to be sure if the produce you’re eating is filled with light, there’s one rule of thumb: If it's green, you'll glow.

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Eating these is the same as ingesting life-promoting light:

• Sprouts (nice and green ones) including wheatgrass

• Dark, leafy greens

• Green algae: chlorella

• Blue green algae: spirulina and aphanizomenon flos aqua (AFA)

• Seaweeds

• Ceremonial grade match green tea

• Other green teas

Chlorophyll is a green pigment found in all plants, algae and cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). Vital for photosynthesis, chlorophyll allows plants to obtain energy from light by converting the sun’s rays into chemical energy. Since all life on earth—with the exception of some bacteria—is supported by the sun, photosynthesis is a fundamental and essential process.

A More Complete List of Chorophyll-Rich Foods:

• Green and Blue-Green Algae

• Cereal Grasses (wheat, oats, barley, etc.)

• Buckwheat

• Sea Vegetables

• Green Leafy Sprouts

• Spinach

• Asparagus

• Green Bell Peppers

• Broccoli

• Brussels Sprouts

• Green Cabbage

• Celery

• Collard Greens

• Green Beans

• Green Peas

• Kale

• Leeks

• Green Olives

• Parsley

• Romaine Lettuce

• Sea Vegetables

• Swiss Chard

• Turnip Greens

How to Make Matcha Green Tea Latte

First, make your own almond milk from raw imported (not U.S.) almonds by blending one cup of drained and rinsed almonds that have previously been soaked in pure water at least four hours along with two cups of chilled pure water. Run in a high speed blender about 45 seconds. Next, pour through a nut bag to filter out the almond pulp.

Place 3/4 cup of your fresh-made almond milk (or store bought) into a heatproof mug. Add one teaspoon of ceremonial grade matcha green tea. Next pour just-to-boiling water, about 1/4 cup and WHISK briskly together. Add some raw blue agave to sweeten and to taste.

Note: Ceremonial grade matcha green tea is worth what you pay for it. (The lesser grades are used for cooking.)

"Many studies have determined that matcha has 60 percent Epigallocatechin gallate [EGCG]. EGCG is tea's most abundant antioxidant catechin; it is one hundred times more potent than vitamin C, twenty-five times more potent than vitamin E, and may have therapeutic applications in the treatment of many disorders since it aids in the destruction of free radicals." –The Healthy Matcha Cookbook

Matcha is just about the most potent agent against cancer, viruses (studies are now showing even HIV), hepatitis B and C, and bacteria.

At Least a Dozen Ways You May Not Have Thought of to Make Your Home Environment Radiate with Peace

1. Burn unscented candles with prayer intentions embedded into them.

2. Keep everything in order. Get organized. Chaos creates more chaos. Clean and straighten as you go.

3. Keep your decor simple and refined.

4. Cover your television screen with a beautiful tapestry when it is not in use.

5. Keep your home aired out by opening doors and windows periodically.

6. One simple fresh flower or a plant will impeccably enchant the room.

7. Light a Himalayan salt lamp in each room. It purifies and deionizes the air. Explore Evolution Salt.

8. Keep your home accessories and supplies vegan and fair-trade friendly. They carry a vibration of non-aggression.

9. Watch and feel how energies feel in your home and shift furniture until it feels better.

10. Make your home decor meaningful to you. Your home reflects who you are.

11. By all means, post a picture or a statue of peace hero in your home such as the Buddha, Jesus, Mahatma Gandhi, or Kwan Yin. You will be surprised at how it makes the room feel.

12. Have a set of tingshas, a bell or crystal bowl nearby and gently clang periodically to clear the energies of the room.

13. Never hesitate to do yoga in your living or bedroom. The energies you generate will uplift the room.

14. Play a continuous "OM" soundtrack in the background. The best one we've found is Eternal Om by Dick Sutphen. Or play chanting Buddhist monks. Their guttural chanting is amazingly comforting. Here is an amazing cd by Deval Premal and the Gyuto Monks (Tibetan Mantras for Turbulent Times) that is enthralling, reverential and moving. [All proceeds of this CD are directed to the Gyuto Monastery in Dharamsala, India; the Phowa Project; and Veggiyana.]

15. Use color and light therapies to bring gentle vibrations into your home. See our blog post of June 20.

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Feng shui is (in Chinese thought) a system of laws considered to govern spatial arrangement and orientation in relation to the flow of energy (qi), and whose favorable or unfavorable effects are taken into account when siting and designing buildings and rooms.

You can become a feng shui expert OR you can simply tune in to how placement and orientation of objects and sounds in your home FEELS. You will know immediately if a placement or addition is right for you just by the way it feels. Tune in to both ways: the way it was before and the way it is with the changes you have made. Your answer will tell you all you need to know!

It doesn't take a super built out plan or a lot of money to make your home environment the kind you desire. It merely requires:

• simplicity

• order

• a touch of creativity

You can transform your home in a matter of minutes just by clearing out the old and chaotic, rearranging items and adding sound and good vibrations to your living environment.

More Than a Dozen Ways to Start Living a More Peaceful Gentle Life Right Now

In the Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions, ahimsa is the principle of nonviolence and compassion toward all living things; it is considered one of five great virtues of man; its origin is from the Sanskrit language: from a ‘non-, without’ + hiṃsā ‘violence’

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi promoted Ahimsa in his life and in his life's service. He applied Ahimsa to all arenas of life. He said, "Ahimsa is in Hinduism, it is in Christianity as well as in Islam... Nonviolence is common to all religions, but it has found the highest expression and application in Hinduism (I do not regard Jainism or Buddhism as separate from Hinduism)."

Ahimsa tends to include the following loving lifestyle practices and leads to an overall more peaceful life:

1. Practicing vegetarianism and even greater, veganism in both food and clothing choices

2. Refraining from hunting and fishing whether to kill or to wound and release

3. Eliminating the caging of animals and visiting animals in zoos (animal sanctuaries for the wounded would not apply here)

4. Treating pets with love and respect, and creating structure within ourselves and for our pets so we may engender their obedience

5. Refusing to patronize companies that practice cruelty toward animals

6. Taking in abandoned pets in shelters; consider adopting an aging pet who is more likely to be passed by.

7. Taking loving care of our own bodies with high frequency exercise such as yoga, martial arts, distance meditative walking; see our blog post of June 10, 2016 for one such simple exercise.

8. Espousing moderation in what we take into our bodies such as quantities of food, alcohol, sugar, fats, drugs, tobacco

9. Meditating daily for at least a short period of time being sure to include some form of prayer before or after

10. Creating a home environment of peace and order that will support nonviolent tendencies within us

11. Gently rejecting negative and destructive self-talk realizing this is the ego talking and not us and that exactly the opposite is true about ourselves; this is practicing non-violent thinking.

12. Enriching our attitudes towards life by reading uplifting, inspiring books; see list below

13. Slowing down if we tend to rush through life; getting present to life

14. Recycling all that we don't use including clothing, furniture, tools; recycling food scraps

15. Buying organic and vegan

16. Walking or riding a bicycle whenever possible

17. Cutting way back on our consumption of paper, plastic and synthetic products

18. Becoming more acutely aware of our individual carbon footprint overall and how to reduce it

Some Titles to Read for a More Peaceful Loving Life:

• The Official Ahimsa Dog Training Manual: A Practical, Force-Free Guide to Problem Solving and Manners by Grisha Stewart

• Living Ahimsa Diet: Nourishing Love & Life by Maya Tiwari

• Gandhi: An Autobiography - The Story of My Experiments With Truth by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and Mahadev H. Desai

• Peace Pilgrim: Her Life and Work in Her Own Words by Peace Pilgrim

• The Dalai Lama's Little Book of Compassion by the Dalai Lama

• Personality Development by Swami Vivekananda

All PHYTO5 Swiss-made skincare products are crafted in the spirit of Ahimsa. Animals are not tested and the highest good of the planet is at the core of all our manufacturing practices.

21 Short and Long Term Ways to Cope

Everybody runs into rough patches. That's the nature of life. Here are 21 enjoyable ways to transform the heaviness of life into light. Pick and choose.

1. Try not to isolate yourself. Align with a positive minded and emotionally healthy friend or friends. Reach out and share.

2. Read spiritually uplifting books in your time of need; try reading The Life and Teachings of the Masters of the Far East, or Autobiography of a Yogi. Your life will be changed.

3. Read and study A Course In Miracles. There are concepts in the book you can immediately put into practice for your peace of mind.

4. Read success coaching books by people like Brendon Burchard.

5. Step out into nature for a walk or a visit. Let nature embrace and love you. It works. You'll feel better.

6. Get out of town for a few hours. Drive to a place you've been wanting to visit but kept putting it off. Enjoy the change of scenery.

7. Remember that nothing is permanent. It will pass.

8. Have at hand or in memory a number of mantras to repeat either aloud or silently that resonate with you.

9. Turn on some music and even better, sing and/or dance to it. The physical exercise of dancing will change you.

10. Adjust your physical posture. If you address your physiology, your mental will follow suit. Stand or sit erect, relax your face and make yourself smile.

11. Go be in service to someone somewhere. Don't put it off. Do it now.

12. Set up reminders in your smartphone to cue you throughout the day to stop for a moment and acknowledge the Divine lives within you as you.

13. Interrupt your pattern. Stop doing everything the same way every day at the same time of the day. Mix it up. Right now. Get up and do something different.

14. Watch a comedy. Get laughing. You can't ever laugh too much. Laugh till it hurts!

15. Pray. Call on your celestial guides to help carry you through your challenge. They can't help if you don't ask. They are waiting to respond to your call!

16. Set up an altar with an unscented candle(s) and pictures or even statues of your favorite spiritual figures throughout history. Say your prayers in front of this altar and know you and these people are one and the same, you have only to realize it.

17. If you can afford it, go get a massage right away.

18. Cleanse the energetic envelope that surrounds your physical body by smudging it with sage or whisking a bird feather through it. Keep cleansing the bird feather by sharply whisking it down towards the floor every few seconds. You can also sounds bells or gently beat a drum in your energy field (also known as your auric field).

19. Resolve to change the behavior that has brought you to a place of overwhelm. Choose just one thing to change and then take one small action toward making that change and do it immediately, no matter how small or trivial that action might seem.

20. Refuse to entertain all thoughts simultaneously which lead to overwhelm. Practice and learn to deflect them. You have the power, not they. This will help you to be in this moment NOW where there can be no overwhelm or worry. Practice being in the now by reading and studying the works of Eckhart Tolle.

21. Be with an animal. Go get near some animals, even if cows or horses grazing in a field. Adopt an aging animal from a shelter. Spend time with your neighbor's pet. They will all be present to you. They have no judgment.

18 Avenues for Releasing Stored Emotional Pain

All emotions, pain in particular, are recorded at the cellular level. Emotions stem from the body’s experiences and its mental interpretation of those experiences. Because of this, emotions are closely related to our bodies. They’re actually an extension of our bodies.

There is also evidence that mental pain and anguish have an impact on the body as if they were physical bodily injuries. This helps to explain why many massage therapists have experienced involuntary emotional reactions from their clients like unexplainable cries, shrieks, or tears. These happen when there is a release of a painful event which has been stored in the physical body as a physical and/or energetic blockage.

It's a good thing to get these blocks of energy released otherwise they might cause a physical illness down the road. Think about it: When energy is blocked from flowing in the body, how can that be good? It causes pain, dysfunction and illness.

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Make it a habit, within the constraints of your budget, to see a holistic healthcare giver on a regular basis. If they are truly holistic, they will take your ability to pay into account and create a sliding scale for you. This is the meaning of holistic–taking all aspects of a person into account when treating, including the means to pay for services. Bring it up to your therapist if this is the case for you.

Here's a partial list of types of holistic practitioners* you might want to look into for yourself:

1. Massage therapist, of course, but preferably one with knowledge of balancing chakras

2. Doctor of Oriental Medicine or Acupuncturist

3. Energy medicine practitioner

4. Ayurvedic practitioner

5. Reiki practitioner

6. Biofeedback specialist

7. Chromatherapy specialist

8. Guided imagery practitioner

9. Therapeutic touch therapist

10. Doctor of Homeopathy

11. Thai yoga teacher/practitioner

12. Bach flower remedy specialist

13. Rolfer

14. Pranic healing specialist

15. Rebirthing expert

16. Sound therapist

17. Myofascial/trigger point therapist

18. Chakra balancing expert

*Some of these healthcare givers may require licenses to practice. Be sure to verify before accepting treatment.

The 7 Types of Ayurvedic Massage

Abhyangam
A full body hot oil massage with medicated herbal oil in the patient's particular dosha (dosha: each of three energies believed to circulate in the body and govern physiological activity). A comfortably warm temperature is maintained in the room and energy centers are stimulated to assist the body in releasing deep seated toxins.

Udvartana
In Udvartana massage, an herbal paste or dried herbal powders are applied oppositethe hairgrowth i.e. in an upward direction. This breaks down the adipose tissues in the body, increases circulation and releases toxins.

Garshana
The Garshana massage is a process of stimulating the body using raw silk gloves only minus the application of any lubricant. Light and vigorous movements eliminate toxins from the body by stimulating the lymphatic system and fat cells in the body break Dead skin cells are sloughed off leaving the skin clean and radiant.

Njavarkijhi
This massage increases perspiration in the body. A pressurized massage is given with the help of small cotton ‘blouses’ filled with a special type of cooked rice called Njavara. During the massage, these blouses are dipped in cow’s milk and a special herbal paste and applied to produce sweat. It is de-stressing and revitalizing.

Shirodhara
Here a stimulation of the nerves in the scalp is activated by pouring herbal oil on the head in a constant stream or ‘dhara,' thus relieving mental fatigue, increasing focus and clarity and alleviating headaches.

Ubtaan and Elakijhi
Various herbal or animal centric materials are used to vitalize the skin texture and nourish the body.

2 Effective and Natural Ways to Fight Potential Superbugs

On May 26, 2016 Sanjay Gupta, MD of CNN reported, "New ‘superbug’ no antibiotic can combat arrives in U.S." We've all heard how antibiotics aren't working like they used to. Microbes are adapting. They're learning how to survive the attacks of antibiotics.

In another CNN interview with a microbiologist, the health pundit was asked what new approach we could use to combat superbugs and he answered, PROBIOTICS. He said we have to start looking at probiotics for our health. Hello?! Where has he been?! I guess just steeped in the world of allopathic medicine but it's nice to hear they're more and more willing to give a real alternative like probiotics a good hard look.

What a simple, affordable and really healthy way to fight such pathogens! Keep your intestines populated with probiotics (also known as friendly flora).

Another microbiologist, Larry Harris, formerly of the CIA, was asked on national television several years ago about how we can effectively combat lethal pathogens and he said:

The only natural substance I know of that is effective against these microbes is colloidal silver. I tested that myself when I was with the CIA, and found it effective against both anthrax and the bubonic plague pathogens. –Former CIA microbiologist Larry Wayne Harris

The Ultimate Colloidal Silver Manual. Barwick, Steve. Peoria, AZ: Life and Health Research Group, n.d. Print.

Concerning PROBIOTICS: Get a good one at the health food store. They are usually sold in the refrigerated section. Keep them refrigerated so that as many as possible of the millions and millions of friendly flora organisms stay alive. Don't take too much. Just take what the bottle says every day, at least until you learn how your body responds to them. There will be other benefits including much better waste elimination, glowing skin, resistance to colds, flu, healthier bones, nicer breath and more!

On COLLOIDAL SILVER: Again, get a good brand at the health food store, preferably one that uses nanotechnology. You want a silver with nanoparticles because nanoparticles are so small they can penetrate your mucous membranes far more effectively than regular colloidal silver. You can buy it in spray form or liquid dropper form. I use the liquid dropper form. It tastes fine.

Just put the prescribed amount under your tongue, hold it there for 20 seconds or so and swallow. Don't overdo colloidal silver either. Just take the amount prescribed on the label. And remember this mantra when taking colloidal silver, "Less is more and more is less." This means that if you take a much larger amount of silver than is suggested, it will be ineffective. But you can take it several times throughout the day.

We've all heard of rare people who turned blue after going wild on colloidal silver. Though this is rare, be smart. There's nothing to fear even if you take it every day.

Not only are probiotics and colloidal silver effective at outsmarting bugs and superbugs, they're a whole lot cheaper and with no ill side effects.

#superbugs #health #holistic #healing #probiotics #colloidalsilver #beauty #skincare

Laughter and Joy In Balance Are Two of Chinese Medicine's Summer Attributes. Here Are 15 Spectacular Benefits of Having Fun This Summer.

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) philosophy there are five seasons or phases. These are comprised of the four seasons we all readily know plus an in-between-seasons period (there are four of these periods) in the cyclical year. To each of the seasons corresponds one of the five elements (Wood–Spring, Fire–Summer, Earth–Between Seasons, Metal–Fall, and Water–Winter). In addition, each of the five seasons bears an array of attributes that when understood and embraced can assist us to better live in harmony with the season.

Summer’s organs are heart and small intestine. In the human body, Fire obviously manifests in the heart (called in TCM, The Utmost Source), pericardium (the protective membrane around the heart–called by TCM, The Protector), the triple heater (regulator of internal temperature) and the small intestine (called the Heavenly Window by TCM). Since the blood vessels deliver blood to the heart and the heart pumps blood through the vessels, blood flow represents joy of life. Just as the heart and small intestine are the organs of focus during Summer, the blood vessels are the tissue of focus during TCM’s Summer.

The emotion therefore of Summer is joy, but not overflowing joy: joy in balance. (Being overly joyful or gregarious indicates a person who is out of balance with the season and the element.)

It follows then that the sound of Summer and Fire is laughing.

The weather in Summer is associated with the qualities of heat and dryness.

The movement is ascending, and the direction is South.

The color of Fire is red and therefore the color of the season. The taste is bitter or burned, the sensation is taste, and the sense organ is logically the tongue.

If you find yourself in Summer which runs from May 6 to July 19 according to TCM, then now is the time to take advantage of Summer's energies and attributes so that you will be able to easily carry all Summer’s feel-good benefits into Fall. Taste the flavors of the season, enjoy the color, the warmth, the increased light, and the sound of laughter and you’ll be considered to be living in harmony with energetic Summer.

In line with Summer’s sound of laughter, have fun during Summer and laugh.

The following are 15 spectacular benefits of having fun at any time of year, but most especially during energetic Summer.

• Pain can be lessened and relieved.

• Brain function improves. You’ll gain clarity of mind and memory.

• Now that you’re more relaxed, your innate creativity surges.

• Mental, even physical youth is fostered. The brain becomes more plastic and your body alive with energy and light.

• Relationships are strengthened when having fun with others. It builds connections and solidifies social bonds—one of the major focuses of energetic Summer.

• Emotional wounds may be healed. With the walls around the heart crashing down, the way is paved for appreciating what you’ve learned as a result of your traumas so you can integrate them simply as part of your being and something you had to go through to be an even better person.

• Sleep patterns become more regulated because serotonin in the brain increases when you’re enjoying having fun.

• Your body temperature becomes more balanced again because of increased serotonin levels.

• Coping skills seem to be magically more available to you.

• Physical energy increases.

• Overall positive feelings become the norm in your emotional body.

• You become more productive in your life.

• LOVE happens!

• You become transformed at a cellular level.

Tips for Happiness and Joy-In-Balance This Summer

We are all meant to be happy. It’s not only an innate desire we have, it’s a fundamental need, but sometimes we get off track. Life throws us curve balls regularly. Some people seem to have it rougher than others. Or could it be that some people just handle those curve balls in a more resilient way?

Probably both are true. If you’re stuck in sadness, depression, anxiety or anger, yes, it’s a challenge to suddenly shift how you respond to life. And we acknowledge that sometimes you may need clinical help to get the jumpstart you need. Whether you opt for professional assistance or not, please read on. (Note: This article is no way meant to offer a prescription for getting out of deep depression.)

Summer is the season for joy... for renewing it within ourselves... for unveiling it, sustaining it, rebirthing it and growing it. And if we've got joy, we can safely say we have happiness.

So, how can we be happy most of the time this season, if not, all year ‘round? It may sometimes take a bit of initial effort but soon a momentum in the positive direction takes hold and you’re off and running. Let's take advantage of the vitality-filled season of Summer to increase our happiness and joy:

1. Begin to appreciate every little thing. Acknowledge your appreciation of the butterfly, the crow cawing, the unexpected breeze that flows across your face, the gleeful child on the swingset, the delicious salsa you’re having, the cool bedsheets you’re laying on, the kind hello from the gas station attendant. Make this a practice. It is foundational to your happiness. In a short amount of time, you’ll notice yourself smiling more. Appreciation will become second nature to you and joy will definitely increase in your life. And it is this joy and happiness that are the foundation to your wellness. They are literally the key to your vitality and health.

2. Wear and bring colors into the home. According to traditional Chinese medicine, Summer’s element is Fire and the the color of the season is red. Accent your home and wardrobe with pops of red if you can. Let the color red be a reminder of joy to you. Mentally acknowledge this emotion when your eyes light on the color red.

3. Since Summer is the period of luxurious flora growth, bring colorful flowers into your home. Plant exuberant flowers near your front door so you can see them as you enter your home. If you’re not a gardener, buy a hanging basket of planted flowers and hang near your door to remind you of vitality, growth, and ever-changing expansion. Eat the sweet juicy fruits of Summer and appreciate their lusciousness. Make it a point to experience in some direct way the exuberant holidays of Summer.

4. Expand your vocabulary, especially the adjectives you use. Embellish your speech with the most positive, exciting verbiage you can muster and watch your life get happier. Remember that the words we speak actually create therefore be very mindful of your choice of language.

5. It is a known fact that emotion follows physiology. If you feel down, notice your posture and demeanor. You’re probably slouching and your face is either stoic or frowning. Maybe your eyebrows are knitted and your body is tense. You’ve got to make yourself get up, pull your shoulders back, stand tall, chin up in the air. Make yourself smile. Loosen up your body. Shake it out. This may be an effort but it takes less than 30 seconds. The improvement in your posture and demeanor, in most cases, will leave you feeling brighter, already slightly more optimistic. Now keep the momentum going. Spread open your arms. Stretch. Maybe even dance. Turn on the music inside your home full blast and enjoy. Awaken the cells of your body so they can dance, too!

6. What's your favorite thing to do to have fun? DO IT NOW! If you can’t exactly do it now, at least, take one step right now towards experiencing it in the very near future. Make that phone call. Get your outfit ready. Invite your friend.

7. When you're doing anything fun this Summer (or any time), really take it in. With a smile on your face, drill down to its essence and drink it in, every drop, slowly. Slow down in order to get really present to the joy and fun of doing it.

8. Revel in the abundant sunlight of summer. The sun can be very healing, invigorating and detoxifying. Make an intention as you bask in the sun or just walk in it that its rays cleanse your body of toxic emotion and substance.

9. Bask in not only the weather warmth of the season but the social warmth of friendships and get-togethers. Enriching relationships are key to happiness. This is a studied and known fact. (Read our blog, “Enhance Your Wei Chi to Increase Your Well-Being,” here.) Find ways to appreciate every single person in your life. Take one little step towards increasing the people in your life. Maybe your neighbor across the street could benefit from a friendly gesture from you as well.

10. Keep excitement in your life. Change it up. Be mindful and aware of getting out of old confining patterns. Break out. Do everything differently. Step out of the box and out of the way you've always done it.

11. If you’re feeling down, go within yourself to reach for the next highest emotion. For example, if you’re feeling anxiety, the next higher emotion might be hope–hope that things will turn out alright. Reach for that hope and notice that you immediately begin to feel better. This can help get you there–to happiness. Take it one step at a time.

This article was originally published on May 14, 2016 and was updated on May 24, 2021 for freshness and comprehensiveness.