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We give up paying attention to the practical needs of our body, mind and spirit because we think it's all too difficult and complicated. And in some ways it is, because that's the way it's presented to us.

After all, who are we to second-guess all those scientists and experts with all those letters after their names? Every day there's a new report, a new article, a new fad; something else we have to factor in that's bad for us, good for us, or on the undecided list.

So we give up, go on the same way, and try to muddle through. We treat ourselves the same way we treat the planet ' as though we're inexhaustible sources of energy ' and hope for the best.

If we lose our way and become passive about taking care of ourselves, simply accepting what's offered, we give up responsibility for our well-being.

Recognize any of these?

• You're tired, stressed, undernourished and over stimulated. You run on empty. You stay up late watching TV, or over-working, and never get enough sleep. Sometimes you doze off for a second or two at the office. Or once while driving ' now THAT terrified you. You can't remember the last time you woke up refreshed. You're sick and tired of being sick and tired.

• You take no time to rest and recuperate. It's been weeks, or even months, since you took a vacation ' or a day off. A day! That's a laugh. How about an afternoon? You used to love reading, or listening to music, or playing baseball with your kids. Now all you do is work, work, work. Too bad it's a job you just kind of ended up doing. What happened to what YOU wanted for your life?

• Lunch is basically an object you shove into your face while working at your desk. When you're finished, your stomach hurts, but you ignore it. You overeat, then go on crash diets. This week it's carbs, last week it was fat. Next week? Who knows, who cares. You're hopeful for a few days, then you feel deprived. Back to square one.

• You medicate yourself with drugs, downers and stimulants. You smoke cigarettes. You indulge in too much coffee, alcohol, soft drinks. By noon, you're bouncing off the walls. If you have to walk upstairs, you're out of breath. And you wonder why you fly off the handle when there's a crisis?

• You drive everywhere, and think of exercise exclusively in terms of a special activity that you schedule for intense periods, like going to a gym or joining a weight-lifting club ' so, of course, you never go, you never join, you never do anything.

If you're stretched to the limit and have no reserves of energy and health, you are less able to cope with the natural stresses of your day. You lose your sense of perspective and mental balance.

When you actively and sensibly take care of your mind, body and spirit, you come from a perspective of 100% full responsibility for your life. When you begin to take care of yourself, your life will be full of more energy, improved strength; you'll be closer to your ideal weight. You'll have improved confidence, self-respect and other-respect. You'll sleep better; have less stress, guilt and worry.

And remember, you don't need to make drastic, sudden ' dramatic ' lifestyle changes. Small ones that you can cope with are perfect. You make these small changes by using common sense to figure out what your body, mind and spirit need. You listen to yourself.