With 30 years of intentional living I have accomplished the health and prosperity I set out to obtain by fifty. I must say my actions alone are not responsible for the success I have acquired. It is not the action of others either it is the belief behind the action that has the power to change your life. Now this is important; believing alone makes nothing happen and acing on it's own never brings results. Combining you beliefs and actions brings results.

So what am I really talking about? Thirty years ago I was twenty-three years old; I wanted to be healthy and prosperous when I reached 50. Today in 2008 I am fifty three years old; living gracefully with my body and at peach with my external circumstances brings me great joy. My goal is probably the goal of every twenty-three year old if thy were asked. The other options to health and prosperity are not something you plan on.

Am I healthy and how do I define health; should be the questions you are asking. Let's start with The World Health Organizations definition of health, they say "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of the disease or infirmity". The absence of disease is clearly understood in the definition and I would whole heartedly agree.

I am a very healthy fifty-three year old woman and I have done my part to arrive here. I now plan to be healthy at 70 and am very certain I will arrive at that goal as well. What do I see as my part? I want to list some basic minimal areas of life where you must be intentional as well as enjoy committing your self.

Generally your diet is critical; an alkaline diet in right proportions is a must. Begin to educate yourself on the benefits of vegetables, fruits, grains and how to cook them in interesting ways. If you are making excuses as to why you cannot cook or get these foods prepared for your consumption I would have to say you are not committed to your personal wellness at any age. This may sound strong but I have seen that only straight talk to those who will hear is gong to motivate you before the diseases set in. Disease is a strong motivator but I have been committed to learning from others mistakes and avoiding them for myself. That would be the second must in you quest for wellness.

You must listen and learn; commit to lifetime learning. Information is all around us and easy to obtain. Personal practice will let you know what is right for you. You can practice without a coach but my experience tells me the coach helps you focus and move forward faster. A coach who has personal experience in the area you are planing to master is important. That may be hard to find in the area of wellness. I did not listen to anyone who was not healthy and that often sent me to books and tapes by people who were not close to me. With the technology today it is easy to communicate with a coach on line or by telephone. Your coach will not do the work for you but give you feed back and exercises in action to take. In the beginning the coaching may need to happen weekly but as you get acquainted with the goal you will need the coach less often.

Third is an exercise program that you enjoy is a must. This can be a little as three time a week for an hour when that is all the time you have. More time is an added benefit you should take if it is available. Any good program includes aerobic and anaerobic parts. Aerobic exercise strengthens the cardiovascular system and anaerobic exercise builds the muscles and bones. There are fitness clubs and YMCA's all across the country with exercise and fitness trainers available to their members as well. Exercise must be written into your weekly schedule like any other appointment. I call it an appointment with health.

Prayer, rest and meditation are as important as exercise. Meditation is not complicated it simply means separating yourself from the pressures of your life and being quiet for a set time. It could be a walk in a park at lunch or a quiet cup of tea on the porch but it is an intentional stop of activity with a deep breath and a long exhale. Rest comes with the meditation and is a must at night. If you do not sleep well make it a priority to investigate the things that interfere with sleep and overcome any issues necessary to get restful sleep. Prayer is knowing there is a power greater than yourself and deciding what you are going to believe your relatedness to that power is; then acting on what you believe.

Diet, exercise, learning, rest and positive attitude is the last commitment I will discuss here. What you focus on in life becomes larger. If you have expectations of others they will usually fall short. Plan to appreciate the benefits you receive from the relationships you have with other individuals but not expect them to provide you with any thing. Even in a marriage if you are grateful to your spouse for the things they bring into the relationship you will have a peaceful rewarding relationship. Focus on the benefits at work even if it is only the pay there is a benefit. You will become a better employee, spouse, or friend and you will see other ways to grow yourself through these lasting relationships.

I am fifty three an free of any physical,emotional or spiritual burden. I have had issues and my issues have shown me my excess baggage. As I unloaded my bags and only kept what would benefit my future and the future of my children and friends my load became lighter and my journey's potential became greater.

I encourage you to get intentional, enjoy the journey and let the joy and love of this lifetime bring you peace. The above areas of action can and must bring you joy. Bringing what you want into your life is why you hire a great coach and helping you understand what it takes to get you there is his or her job.