Ten Rules of Zen

Dr. Darren Clair's Ten Zen Steps for Optimal Health

Leading a full, peaceful, and productive life is a challenge in our fast-paced culture. Here are some zen principles to help you keep your life force positively charged.

10. Be a happy person. Do not take life too seriously. Create a positive, supportive space around you and look for the good in every situation. Learn to smile AND DO IT EVERY DAY! Contentment comes from within. It is a function of how you interpret what happens in your life, not from external circumstances. Simply put, life is a choice. Take some risks. Have an adventure. Climb out on a limb and never look back. Keep an open mind and the rest will follow.

9. Don’t do stress. Manage stressful situations either by regular massages, evening walks, aerobic exercise, biofeedback or meditation. When you find yourself losing your cool, don’t let it slip out of your grasp – deal with issues as they arise and do not let anger boil up inside.

8. Make your environment a positive place. Environment is everything. Make sure your job fulfills you. To minimize stress you need to be in an environment that suits you. Create that environment or, if you cannot, find a new job. Develop a network of friends and family. Learn to forgive. Learn to love. Strive for a regular, intimate and fulfilling sexual relationship.

7. Keep your mental abilities active. Keep your brain conditioned and sharp. Read constantly, engage in provocative and challenging discussions, and play word and number games to keep mental acuities intact.

6. Maintain a healthy weight. Eat a balanced breakfast and get into the habit of consistent meals that are nutritionally sound. Eat a Paleolithic, or low carb diet and supplement if necessary to ensure adequate nutrition and healthy weight management. Supplement your dietary choices with frequent, varying-intensity workouts. Regular exercise will keep your mental and physical self happy and healthy.

5. Know and respect your body. Have regular check-ups of your hormonal, vitamin, mineral and anti-oxidant levels and correct of any deficiencies. Check out your family tree-have genomic testing to see if your genetic endowment requires a specialized lifestyle and dietary requirements

4. Make positive substance choices. Avoid high dosages of caffeine. It causes headaches, nervousness, sleeplessness and unpleasant stress. Focus your diet to have proper energy and eliminate the need for caffeine. DO NOT SMOKE. Know exactly what you put into your body every day.

2. Stay hydrated. Make sure you drink enough water. Water helps circulation and aids digestion. It also helps your skin look years younger. Get adequate sleep (6 to 8 hours a day). The body restores itself while you sleep.

1. Accept yourself! Learn to age comfortably, happily, and in a way that’s just right for you. We can slow it and make the most of it but we can’t avoid the aging process. Feel beautiful for who and what you are and for your age.