It takes a lot of strength to realize that you need to make changes for yourself to live healthier and happier. But how can you tell the difference between a rough patch and a need to revitalize your life?

We all go through periods of darkness. Ups and downs are a natural part of life, and in your mature years you’ve had your fair share of them.

Because you’re used to this, it makes it easy to tell yourself things will get better one day, when what you REALLY need to do is put in the work to make sure you can find the light on the other side. Not everything changes on its own! Are you finding this time has left you feeling a bit disconnected? Is it time to find more self-love? Is it time to find some help to guide you in rewilding your life? 

Here are 6 signs that you’re in need of a change.

1. You feel self-critical. 

2. You don't honor your achievements.
   

3. You are having difficulty creating a routine of self-care. 

4. You feel anxious and...

If you want to make a change in your life, how do you know where to start?

It’s easy to identify that you’re unhappy, but it isn’t as simple to figure out what’s wrong. You might have bits and pieces of things that you know are contributing to your unhappiness, but you don’t know how to begin to address them.

One of the ways that I like to evaluate where life changes need to happen is to take what I call a Zest Assessment. I look at the eight areas of life and identify if any of them are out of balance, and then take steps to change them.

Today I’d like to share those eight areas of life with you, so you can ask yourself which ones are most out of balance. 

1. Home environment - Are you happy where you live? Does your space bring you joy?
    

2. Career - Does your job fulfill you? Do you get along with your coworkers?
    

3. Money - Are you happy with your income? Do you feel like you should be earning more?
    

4. Health -...

As it’s heart month, I want to talk about a specific type of pain and trauma…heartbreak. 

Did you know 50% of marriages fail after the age of 50? This means that if you’ve broken up with a partner or spouse, you’re not alone. I've been through two divorces. The last one took 9 grueling years to complete. I know your pain!

Heartbreak weighs us down. It can put us into a state of terrible anger, loneliness, and depression.

I’ve experienced several different types of heartbreak in my life, including giving up my daughter for adoption. All of these incidents required great healing.

In order to heal and process, you need to surround yourself with people who love you and care for you. Talking through your heartache and pain is the most healing thing you can do. It's so easy to feel alone in times of hardship. Take the time to reach out to people and fill them in on what's going on with you.

Here's moving prose about healing your pain:

“Grandma,...

February is heart month, and not just for Valentine’s Day!

Your heart is one of the most important organs in your body. Without it, you wouldn’t be here. I had to start caring for my heart when, after a visit to the doctor, I found out my blood pressure was too high.

It was either I got on medication or I brought it down on my own. Did you know there are easy ways to bring down your blood pressure without being on a life-long pill? They really work!

FIRE UP YOUR METABOLISM

I was able to lower my blood pressure by 10 points by walking 45 mins a day. This was recommended by my cardiologist. I'm committed to doing it every day. I avoided having to go on blood pressure meds with this Get up, Get Dressed and Get Out routine and daily practice. Here are easy ways you can keep your heart healthy:

1. Walk: 45 minutes of walking everyday and losing 10 pounds brought my blood pressure into normal range

2. Lose Weight: Reduce blood pressure by losing weight approx 1...

You’re learning to let go of anger and lead a more peaceful life. But what about the final step…forgiveness?

It can seem impossible when someone has harmed you deeply to move on from what they’ve done. Even if they’re someone that you’d want an amicable relationship with in the future, forgiveness can feel out of reach. 

The truth about forgiveness is that it isn’t for the other person. It’s for YOU and the peace that it will bring you so you can release the pain of what happened and focus on the future. 

How can you mend relationships with the people who hurt you or come to terms with what happened if closure isn’t an option?

“We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love." - Martin Luther King

A recipe for forgiveness. It's all in your commitment and your mindset to forgive.

1 cup of kindness. 3 cups compassion. 1 cup forgetful heart. 4...

How do you separate yourself from the person you were to the person you are now?

Often when we go through traumatic experiences, we’re fundamentally changed. We can no longer see the world the way we once did, for better or for worse. There’s a grieving period that comes with trying to figure out who you are now.

I’ve been through several experiences myself, which I detail in length in my upcoming book Zesty Changes. These five things have helped me to reconcile with my old life vs my new life, whether that’s been from giving up my daughter for adoption, going through divorces, or becoming so sick I almost lost my life.

• Create a daily practice of gratitude.

• Recite daily positive affirmations.

• Get outside and walk noticing what is beautiful.

• Enjoy a get dressed routine, choose colorful, happy clothing.

• Connect with a treasured friend who will let you vent.

You’ll find even more lessons and tips like these in Zesty Changes....