Greg's Changing The Face Of BEAUTY Blog (CTFOB)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2009-12-22T19:16:00.009+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Well this is the last blog for the year, and what can I say other than it has been a very big year! Many people across the globe have faced challenges and worked to overcome obstacles; and the end result was that some battles were won and others lost.

I know that when these types of things happen it seems as though there is no light at the end of the tunnel. But at times like these there is a feeling deep inside all of us reminding us that to come out of the darkness we must focus on the light.

So as we look back and say good bye to this year, we know that we can't change what has happened, but we can choose to:

Love rather than hate;

Laugh rather than frown;

Heal rather than hurt;

Move on rather than hold on;

Forgive rather than punish;

Pray rather than despair; and in doing so,

Look at what we can give to the world, rather than what the world has not given us.

So my Christmas prayer for you is...

No matter where you find yourself
Or with whom you share your life
Let love be your motivator and navigator
To guide you to have the courage to love when you are fearful
To feel the strength of your love when you are weak
And to believe that you are valuable enough to love and be loved
When you are faced with the many challenges on your journey

Merry Christmas to you all and I look forward to continuing to share the journey with you in 2010!

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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AN UNCOMPLICATED LIFE

2009-12-21T20:21:00.006+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

As this year draws to an end and I reflect on the many things that I have experienced throughout the year I am constantly amazed at how learning to know who we are and to appreciate ourselves is a lifetime job.

As it is through trials and challenges we grow, sometimes it is easy to feel that life is complicated. Whenever I have these moments I read some wise words that a woman sent to me once.

These words reminds me about approaching life with simplicity:

Life is easier than you think -

All you have to do is:

Accept the impossible,

Do without the indispensable,

Bear the intolerable

and

Be able to smile at anything.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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MOVING FORWARD

2009-12-20T19:53:00.003+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Like beauty, love relies heavily on moving forward, never looking back.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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A BEAUTY HEART

2009-12-17T09:27:00.007+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Yesterday a woman asked me how she could help her friend feel good about her life. That was a difficult question because what makes one person feel good, does not necessarily work for another. We all want a better tomorrow and sometimes we have to show the people in our lives hope in situations that do not look hopeful.

Some times they might feel lost and so we ask ourselves how can we help navigate them in the right direction? When they get down emotionally. just be there to listen and remind them that they are loved and valued...and when they feel that they are losing in life's battles, always help them find ways to win.

A beauty heart loves people the way they want to beloved and treats people the way they want to be treated.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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THE VOICE OF BEAUTY

2009-12-16T20:39:00.004+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Beauty is the voice of the heart. Close your eyes and listen closely to the truth of what makes you beautiful. Make the time to go within, so you don't go without.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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WHAT THE MIRROR SEES

2009-12-15T19:34:00.004+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

When it comes to our beauty, the mirror sees what the mind and heart are full of.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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CHANGING NEGATIVE THOUGHTS

2009-12-14T20:35:00.006+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Our negative thoughts only change when we replace these thoughts with new positive thoughts that charges our emotions with joy.

When we think joy we radiate joy around us, yet when we think negatively we push joy away.

We all have the ability to change our negative thoughts into positive ones, providing we remember that we are the guardians over our thoughts, they don’t choose us, we choose each and every thought.

Beauty is a state of mind that allows you to accept and celebrate who you are.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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FEEL BEAUTIFUL NOW

2009-12-13T17:54:00.004+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Beauty is available to all of us. There is nothing we need before we start feeling it in our lives. Right here, right now in this moment we can begin to feel it.

All we need to do is close our eyes, breath deeply, relax and remember a time when we felt a strong sense of happiness, a feeling of peace and joy or when we watched something beautiful such as a sunset or the peace of the open sea.

We have all known those moments when beauty inspires us to feel beautiful, where our thoughts change, our energy is lifted and we radiate the qualities of beauty.

Think beauty, feel beauty.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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THE DOOR TO BEAUTY

2009-12-10T19:27:00.004+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

The door to our beauty can only be opened from our hearts. While the steps to open our hearts are all different, cultivating self love and compassion gives us a head start.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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HUMAN BEAUTY

2009-12-09T12:43:00.004+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Beauty is like every other human experience. It can invoke jealousy, anger, hate, guilt and even sadness. When we try to define it by body parts we separate ourselves from it, and then we distance ourselves even further by putting others on a pedestal - seeing them as more beautiful and ourselves as less.

In doing this we separate beauty from our humanness, rather than making it a part of who we are and our life.

At the very heart of it to be beautiful is to be human.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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DAY DREAMING

2009-12-08T18:05:00.004+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Never be scared to day dream; it is how we experience the world from a different perspective. Very often day dreaming is a way that our hidden desires reveal themselves to us.

While many ideas may come and go, there are some that go beyond mere day dreaming and are so strongly felt, they feel a part of us. These stick in our thoughts, they move our hearts and then we find a way to make them happen, turning them from a dream into a reality. The ones that are just dreams never do.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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EXPANSIVE BEAUTY

2009-12-07T11:10:00.006+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

We limit our experience of beauty by having a narrow definition of it. Being beautiful is about good living and great loving it is having a sense of being fulfilled. It is being full and filled with life and love. In this state we are no longer searching for beauty we are living it.

When we experience true beauty, we experience the richness in life, love and ourselves.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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TRUST

2009-12-06T19:29:00.007+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

When we feel trust in who we are and our lives,the spirit of our beauty is freed, and we can express who we truly are without any limitations or self doubt.

Self trust allows us to experience and reach the full potential of who we are.

OPENING THE BEAUTY DOOR

2009-12-03T17:43:00.004+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Courage, sincerity, self belief, self acceptance, kindness and thankfulness open up our personal beauty door.

As we strengthen these qualities we begin to recognise which keys unlock the door and which close it.

But beyond that they also allow us to know how to get to the heart of our beauty problems so we can prescribe a remedy.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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BEAUTY IS CONTAGIOUS

2009-12-02T14:31:00.003+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

True beauty is contagious. When we believe in who we are we stand taller and hold our heads higher and we naturally encourage others to do the same. But sometimes in order to do this we need to let go of the familiar, the fears and insecurities that get in our way so that we can forge ahead into new beauty territory.

Our dedication to experience our beauty potential must be stronger than our desire to fit in with the crowd.

POWER OF THE HEART

2009-12-01T15:51:00.005+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

True beauty inspires and attracts people. It reveals not only the color of our eyes but our heartfelt feelings. Beauty starts in the heart. I once heard that in the Kentucky Derby the horses push themselves to such an extent that the winning horse runs out of oxygen after the first mile and runs the rest of the race on heart. Winning the beauty race in our lives relies on us running it on heart.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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THE BEAUTY REMINDER

2009-11-30T10:40:00.003+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Throughout our lives there are so many times when we forget our beauty, but each time we forget there are friends and loved ones who help us remember that we are beautiful, loved and lovable. Through their love and kindness, acceptance and respect they show us the beauty of who we are and in doing this they open us up to the possibilities in life and the value we have as human beings.

When we see how lovable we are we begin to see how beautiful we are.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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THE BEAUTY OF A MOTHER

2009-11-29T17:24:00.004+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

A good friend of mine who is a beautiful mother sent this to me and I thought I would share it with you.

Real Mothers don't eat quiche; They don't have time to make it.

Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils Are probably in the sandbox.

Real Mothers often have sticky floors, Filthy ovens and happy kids.

Real Mothers know that dried play dough Doesn't come out of carpets.

Real Mothers don't want to know what The vacuum just sucked up...

Real Mothers sometimes ask 'Why me?' And get their answer when a little voice says, 'Because I love you best.'

Real Mothers know that a child's growth Is not measured by height or years or grade... It is marked by the progression of Mummy to Mum to Mother.....

The Images of Mother
4 YEARS OF AGE - My Mummy can do anything!
8 YEARS OF AGE - My Mum knows a lot! A whole lot!
12 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother doesn’t know everything!
14 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother? She wouldn’t have a clue. .
16 YEARS OF AGE - Mother? She's so five minutes ago.
18 YEARS OF AGE - That old woman? She's way out of date!
25 YEARS OF AGE - Well, she might know a little bit about it!
35 YEARS OF AGE - Before we decide, let's get Mum's opinion.
45 YEARS OF AGE - Wonder what Mum would have thought about it?
65 YEARS OF AGE - Wish I could talk it over with Mum.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure she carries, or the way she combs her hair.The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, Because that is the doorway to her heart. The place where love resides. The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, But true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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THE BEAUTY VISIONARY

2009-11-26T10:59:00.005+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

The beauty visionary sees beauty where others can't.
They see beyond the limitations of the physical and recognise the possibilities of the human body.
They hold the highest vision for themselves and others knowing we are all unique.
They are willing to move beyond the hurt and the pain that life often serves up and find the joy.
They stretch out of their comfort zones to grow.
They know that good food equals good health but they never under estimate the power of good thoughts and how it creates beautiful feelings and beautiful lives.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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COCOA OR COFFEE

2009-11-25T13:11:00.001+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Most of like a cup of coffee, but recently research has shown that cocoa contains high levels of two dietary flavonols, catechin and epicatchin which improves circulation to skin cells, protects the skin from sun damage, improves hydration and makes the skin feel and look smoother. So make the swap.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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I CAN SEE IT ALL OVER YOUR FACE!

2009-11-24T13:24:00.003+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Sometimes it is not words that communicate our feelings strongly, but our facial expressions. As a child I knew when my mother simply lowered her eyes that something was very wrong; and when my father’s bottom lip protruded, I knew he was in a bad mood. But as well as seeing what was wrong I could also see that their facial expressions communicated love and a variety of different emotions.

A while back I asked a friend how they were feeling and they told me that they couldn't be happier; yet their face told another story. With this in mind I always ask myself is my facial expression matching my words.

A beautiful face is the result of beautiful feelings.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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TRUSTING IN TOMORROW

2009-11-23T09:01:00.003+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

When we have our heart fixed on the goal of feeling our beauty, we approach each day with an inner knowing that we have an opportunity to experience it. With each day that passes we begin to build a stronger self belief generating enthusiasm that flows through so many areas of our life.

Even though some days we may feel better than others we can trust that there will always be tomorrow to take positive action in our thoughts, words, deeds and feelings. Everyday that passes we know that we have another opportunity to approach our beauty with a fresh commitment.

Today will not fail you unless you decide not to use it to express and feel your beauty.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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LET IT GO

2009-11-22T11:06:00.003+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

As human beings we all screw up at certain points in our life and make mistakes. Yesterday I bumped into a woman whom I hadn’t seen in a while, but she was not the happy person I remembered; she was utterly miserable venting strongly about the hate she felt for the man who had left her and how he had destroyed her life.

I felt sorry for her and when I asked how long she had been separated, she said ten years! The way she spoke about it was like it had happened last week. I certainly understood the anger, but she was intent on nursing her wounds and not letting them heal. Hanging on to past hurts is like winning the booby prize. She got to be right about what a bad man did to her and how he had wronged her. She had a right to be angry and in her mind what he had done was unforgivable.

But what did all that being ‘right’ get her; nothing but daily misery. As I walked away I thought about the situation - would she rather be right and feel angry, or call up the courage of goodness, forgive and move on?

But let us not confuse forgiveness with allowing ourselves to be abused. More often than not we can learn from the past, feel the anger and then let the past be the past. We owe it to ourselves not to carry the heavy load of hurt from the past with us.

LET IT GO

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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EMOTIONAL PAIN

2009-11-19T09:03:00.001+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

No one likes to experience emotional pain but more often than not it is our internal alarm that reminds us when we are operating outside our truth. There is no doubt pain is a powerful signal that helps us to make different decisions, when to say no to situations that no longer support us and when we need to nurture ourselves and remember our value as human beings.

Be Beautiful Be Free

Gregory Landsman

HE IS SO BAD

2009-11-18T10:06:00.006+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

HE IS SO BAD

A couple of weeks ago I found myself in a group of women who were discussing the battle of the sexes. One woman thought it was an opportunity to have a casual session of man bashing.
"Men don’t know how to communicate", they never give me the emotional support I need," and the list went on. Before long everyone had something to say. "He isn’t affectionate"; "Men are insensitive" etc..

In a spirit of good will I took a deep breath and said, "Ladies, as a man I can tell you that we are not bad people, we are just different!"Fighting to make each other wrong is a waste of valuable energy.We can disagree with a person, but that doesn't mean we have to make them wrong. Accepting each others differences opens us up to unlimited possibilities that allow us to draw on each
others strengths and is the starting point for long lasting positive changes.

Men are not wrong, women are not wrong - they are just different!

Be Beautiful Be Free

Gregory Landsman

THE BEAUTY IN SILENCE

2009-11-17T20:12:00.001+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Sitting in silence is an act of self love that allows us to feel our beauty, listen to our feelings, acknowledge our fears and to know our wisdom.

Be Beautiful Be Free

Gregory Landsman

Beauty

2009-11-16T16:37:00.002+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Beauty is daring
Beauty is sharing
Beauty is deciding
Beauty is dedication
Beauty is feeling
Beauty is healing
Beauty is you

Be Beautiful Be Free

Gregory Landsman

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES

2009-11-15T10:29:00.003+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

It is so true, time goes by very quickly. It feels like one minute we are eating Easter eggs, the next minute we are scoffing Turkey and singing Christmas carols. Sometimes we don’t stop to enjoy the journey, we just keep going and going and going.

I must admit I am guilty of this, but on Saturday I took myself to the beach and laid in the water for three hours while I read a book that I love.

Just laying in the sun gently reminded me that we can go through life almost sleep walking without even knowing it is truly there. Yet when we stop to smell the roses, we open up to experience it fully and it certainly makes the difference.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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LOVE THRIVES

2009-11-12T08:49:00.007+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Love thrives in environments where differences are not just tolerated but celebrated, where kindness is as valued as passion, where respect is earned by our daily acts and choices, where we give without asking for anything in return and where we know the value of giving in but never giving up our integrity.

From a point of peace and gentleness we can always bring someone into our hearts, continually demonstrating caring, sharing, kindness, goodness and the love that these qualities bring.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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2009-11-11T10:16:00.007+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

There has been a lot in the media lately about graphically manipulated images and the impact they are having on women's body image, encouraging an insatiable desire to be thin.

For many decades now we have equated thin with beauty. So many women that I have known or worked with over the years seem to obsess about the shape and size of their bodies, while simultaneously being conscious that it is a waste of valuable energy and time - and in many ways, a somewhat shallow pursuit.

And so while many complain, when I ask them what they can do about it, they blame the media. Yet I believe pointing the finger at media images is far too simple and overlooks the fact that we are responsible for the way we think and feel about ourselves.

When we own this truth, regardless of what the beauty industry decides to serve up, women (and men) won't feel the need to eat it.

Fashion is part of pop culture, but it doesn't have the power to determine the passion we feel for ourselves. As individuals we have the power to chose how we think and feel about ourselves.

We don't have to change our bodies, we have to change our thoughts about them.

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL

2009-11-10T07:41:00.014+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Right here, right now you are whole and beautiful.

Even if you ate that piece of chocolate cake you promised yourself you wouldn't eat.

Even if you didn't go to the gym when you said you would.

Even if you are questioning your life's purpose or your relationship.

Even if you have hurt someone you loved or failed them in some way.

Even if you are criticising yourself for not being what you believe you should be.

Even if you are not strong enough to walk away from a situation that does not support you.

Whatever is going on, look at it and learn from it, but do not punish and belittle yourself for it.

So when you are having one of those days and feel tempted to get down on yourself, see them as opportunities for introspection and self reflection. When we get to know ourselves better, we are in a better position to accept ourselves, forgive ourselves and nurture ourselves in the full knowledge that we are all doing the best we can with who we are and what we know at this point in time.

Because the truth is that all we can do is the best we can do, all we can be is the best we can be.

When we accept who we truly are, our hearts open, our spirits are raised and our body and life is nurtured.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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LOVE YOURSELF

2009-11-09T17:52:00.008+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

At a book signing a woman asked me if it was possible to truly love who you are? That question got me thinking about the fact that there are aspects that we like about ourselves, others that we love and then there are those that we don't even want to admit we have.

Despite this I do believe it is possible to love ourselves fully. Love relationships do not rely on perfection and neither does the relationship we have with ourselves. However, very importantly, the relationship we have with ourselves determines the relationship we have with others; and in many ways it becomes the blue print from which we build all our relationships from.

If we only love the parts of ourselves that we find acceptable, we are denying the other parts that also belong to us, thereby only accepting and living with half of who we are. If we cannot find compassion for ourselves when we fall short in certain areas of our lives, then we cannot extend compassion to the people we share our lives with.

Loving ourselves doesn't mean we have to be perfect, but it does means that the greatest gift we can give ourselves is to accept who we are, learn more about who we are and punish ourselves less for all the things that simply make us human.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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STOP SMOKING!

2009-11-08T13:53:00.007+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

A year ago a friend of mine wanted her husband to stop smoking. She tried everything - nagging, incessantly, constantly referencing the health dangers and starting an argument every time he lit up. But nothing stopped him.

His habit made her unhappy, his choices made her furious and his enjoyment brought her anger. She told me none of it was working and so I suggested that she leave him alone. Her reply was, 'That won’t work,' but as I reminded her, nagging wasn’t working either.

So she gave it a go and and while she said it took enormous amounts of restraint to say nothing - she left well alone. It was a year later that he gave it up. But at that point he gave it up because he wanted to, not because his wife told him to.

Sometimes we need to give our partners the space to work out what supports them and what doesn’t. We can support them to make positive changes, but we cannot make changes for them.

There are some things in life that we can change and others we can’t. When it comes to another person's habit - it's not ours to change!

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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YOU SAID WHAT?

2009-11-05T17:47:00.006+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

My grandmother (Ouma) didn't have an easy life. She experienced poverty, lived through the war and survived two marriages. But instead of letting life's grim experiences bury her, she reminded herself constantly of the small pleasures that it can bring. A good cup of tea with just a dash of milk was one of those pleasures; another was sharing whatever she had with her family and neighbours.

What I learnt from her was that we are all given life and what we choose to do with it is up to us.

We can rage against it because it seems unfair or we can see it full of possibilities; we can choose to fully participate and chase our dreams, or we can sit on the side lines and watch it go by.

In short, we can choose to stay in bed or decide to get up and face the day.

As my Ouma used to say, "Don’t lay in bed longer than you need to - Get up!"

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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OH THAT HURT

2009-11-04T12:13:00.007+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Yesterday a friend of mines daughter had her heart broken by her first love. She is only sixteen. Seeing her cry reminded me of the disappointments and the bliss that love brings. But I believe the journey to understand the full spectrum of love develops over a lifetime as we learn from our disappointments and our hurts.

Each lesson requires us to overcome an emotional love wound and provides us with the wisdom to know the truth about ourselves and love; and to accept that when we are learning about love we can never avoid the pain, but we will survive the wounds if we are willing to learn from each experience.

When I look back on the many different lessons in my life I realise that all those experiences were in fact a small price to pay for learning about the power of love.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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LIFE'S CHALLENGES

2009-11-03T10:27:00.007+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

It is a fact that life brings us many challenges - some bigger than others.

But whether they are big or small, when you are dealing with an issue keep in mind the challenges that you have overcome in the past.

Feel the sense of power that comes with knowing that you overcame whatever obstacle was in your path. Use them as a reminder to become stronger and more determined.

Remember that you have control over your life and your actions. So whatever issue you are facing, know that 'this too will pass'.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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TAKING TIME...

2009-11-02T21:40:00.003+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

My sister sent this to me the other day and I thought it was so powerful that I would share it...

Washington, D.C. Metro Station on a cold January morning. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx two thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

After three minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later: The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes: A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes: A three-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

45 minutes: The musician played continuously. Only six people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace... The man collected a total of $32.

1 hour: He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin valued at $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theatre in Boston where the seats averaged $200.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.

The questions raised: in a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context? One conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made... How many other things are we missing?

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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IMPATIENCE

2009-10-29T09:45:00.006+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

One of the main reasons we don't get out of life what we want is that more often than not we give up too soon and become disappointed with our efforts.

Sometimes we can't see what we want, so we lose faith in ourselves and belief in what we can achieve.

What I am continually learning is that patience and persistence have immense power when we figure out what we want and stay focused until we achieve it; without putting a time limit on it.

I heard a saying once that goes something like this...

There is my time, there is your time and there is God's time!

GOOD DAYS & BAD

2009-10-28T12:11:00.006+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Everyone has good days and bad days, but never lose sight of the fact that no matter how dark it is, the sun always rises.

You will wake up tomorrow, you will see things differently and you will feel different.

What looked hopeless now, looks hopeful and your exhaustion (mental & emotional) has been replaced with renewed energy.

Every new day we have an opportunity to live and love ourselves differently.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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HEALTHY INDULGENCE!

2009-10-27T18:11:00.005+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Recently I was out with a friend for dinner.

She ordered salad with no dressing, steamed fish and still mineral water. She said 'no' to wine, 'no' to champagne and 'no' to dessert. None of this was an issue, except that she looked unhappy and miserable with everything she put in her mouth.

It's one thing to be healthy and happy, it is another story to deny yourself everything and anything that puts a smile on your face. I know champagne isn't up there on the health list, but it is bubbly and a bit of fun. Drink a glass and you smile; drink another and your laugh might start competing with the bubbles!

Personally I don't believe that life should be so restrictive that we exclude everything that makes us smile. So the next time you hear the cork pop, let it remind you that allowing ourselves to enjoy life's simple pleasures on occasion can be extremely healthy. So give yourself permission to enjoy the odd delectable pleasure without guilt.

Sometimes our food choices can be about pure joy rather than just calories!

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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COFFEE

2009-10-26T14:05:00.006+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

For most of us, a cup of coffee or two is the way we kick start the day. A strong dose first thing has become the vice for millions and our means of making it through to midday.

However, while the side effects of caffeine are commonly known, what isn't commonly known is that caffeine inhibits iron absorption, which weakens the body's ability to function at its peak. This can often cause irritability, head aches, dizziness and confusion.

On going depletion leads to anaemia, brittle nails, heart palpitations and a poor immune system.

Coffee also acts as a diuretic, which dehydrates the body along with our skin. So try having coffee free days and limit yourself to one cup a day.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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LOVE IS OUR HEALING

2009-10-25T10:22:00.005+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

A good friend of mine sent me this miraculous story last week and I thought it was something we could all benefit from hearing about.

To me it shows that love will prevail in every circumstance.

The CROC Story...

Rather than trying to tame wild stallions, fearless Costa Rican fisherman Chito prefers a playful wrestle in the water with his best pal Pocho - a deadly 17ft crocodile.

The 52-year-old daredevil draws gasps of amazement from onlookers by wading chest-deep into the water, then whistling for his 980lb buddy - and giving him an affectionate hug.

Crazy Chito says: "Pocho is my best friend. This is a very dangerous routine but we have a good relationship. He will look me in the eye and not attack me.

"It is too dangerous for anyone else to come in the water. It is only ever the two of us."

Chito made friends with the croc after finding him with a gunshot wound on the banks of the Central American state's Parismina river 20 years ago.

He had been shot in the left eye by a cattle farmer and was close to death.
But Chito enlisted the help of several pals to load the massive reptile into his boat.

He says: "When I found Pocho in the river he was dying, so I brought him into my house.

"He was very skinny, weighing only around 150lb I gave him chicken and fish and medicine for six months to help him recover.

"I stayed by Pocho's side while he was ill, sleeping next to him at night. I just wanted him to feel that somebody loved him, that not all humans are bad.

"It meant a lot of sacrifice. I had to be there every day. I love all animals - especially ones that have suffered." It took years before Chito felt that Pocho had bonded with him enough to get closer to the animal.

He says: "After a decade I started to work with him. At first it was slow, slow. I played with him a bit, slowly doing more.

"Then I found out that when I called his name he would come over to me."

At one point during his recovery, Chito left the croc in a lake near his house. But as he turned to walk away, to his amazement Pocho got out of the water and began to follow him home.

Chito recalls: "That convinced me the crocodile could be tame." But when he first fearlessly waded into the water with the giant reptile his family was so horrified they couldn't bear to watch. So instead, he took to splashing around with Pocho when they were asleep.

Four years ago Chito showed some of his tricks to friends, including getting the animal to close his eyes on command, and they convinced him to go public with a show.

Now he swims and plays with Pocho as well as feeding him at the lake near his home in the lowland tropical town of Sarapiqui where they have become a local tourist attraction.

But Chito only charges a few dollars to watch the breathtaking crocodile show, claiming he does not want to cash in on Pocho.

He says: "He's my friend, I don't want to treat him like a slave or exploit him."

"I am happy because I rescued him and he is happy with me because he has everything he needs."

'If kindness and love can move and heal a deadly man eating crocodile, imagine what it can do in the life of everyone around you.'

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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FRESH VEGIES

2009-10-22T12:08:00.004+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

There is no doubt that vegetables are a key element of a healthy diet, so if you don't have the garden space or time to grow your own, or don't have the time to purchase them fresh every couple of days, the little frozen veggies in the freezer sections are apparently snap frozen at the peak of nutritional value making them a very viable alternative.

So if you can't get to the green grocer regularly, you can still cook good quality, healthy food every day...looking after yourself from the inside out!

SLEEP

2009-10-21T10:29:00.005+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

We have all heard it before - 'Make sure you get eight hours beauty sleep!'

So we climb into bed and instead of enjoying our beauty sleep, we find ourselves tossing and turning, thinking about what needs to be done and checking the clock because we are running out of time.

Getting to sleep can be frustrating and while I have never found 'counting sheep' to be particularly successful, here are some tips that I find helpful:

Don't eat at least two hours before sleep

Drink a big cup of chamomile tea

Have a warm bath half an hour before bed with some Valerian drops in the water

Exercise regularly to get rid of nervous energy

Avoid drinking coffee or watching TV

...and try this one - its a bit different...

Rub behind your ears (it helps relax your body)

Sleep Tight!

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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DIETING

2009-10-20T17:17:00.007+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Regular dieting has become entrenched in our culture with the majority of women wanting to lose more than a few kilos at various stages in their lives (according to research four out of five women are dissatisfied with their weight).

While there are various food choices available, the terms 'low fat', 'low carbs' and 'no fat' are used to sell everything from yogurt to chips. As a result deciding what to buy (that is actually good for you) can be as challenging as trying to style your hair in a hurricane!

Ironically, instead of aiding weight loss, many of the products that promote health are adding to the problem simply because they are loaded with sugar (which has a number of names on the back of labels and can often have two or three different forms in the one product).

Besides sugar being unhealthy on many levels (and full of calories) the big kicker is that it causes premature aging through suppression of the Vitamin C functions, which help build the collagen in your skin.

So the key take out for me is to develop a 'diet for life' that focuses on eating natural healthy foods in moderation.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman Follow me on Twitter

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WHAT WAS I THINKING

2009-10-19T14:54:00.007+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

All of us have had those moments where we end up shouting at ourselves, “I can’t believe I said that.” Which is quickly followed by, “How could I be so stupid, stupid, stupid?”

I know I have shouted those words more than I care to rememeber, often in combination with a vigourous rubbing of the forehead. The truth is we all make mistakes, but when we do we tend to beat ourselves up unnecessarily.

When you find yourself getting down on yourself, lighten up and let yourself off the hook by remembering there are no mistakes, only life lessons that help us get clear about who we are and the lives we are living.

After all we learn from our experiences and when we know better hopefully we can do better.

Until then be kind to yourself.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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LOVE AND BEAUTY

2009-10-18T20:18:00.002+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Without any doubt love brings beauty into our lives and has a way of enlivening our world. Yes, love enhances the beauty around us and within us as it lifts our spirits and makes us more appreciative of the small things in life and what we have to offer.

When our hearts are full of love we use our eyes to see beauty; our lips to speak about beauty; our hands to create and share it; and our hearts to feel it.

Love shared is one of the strongest forms of connecting to our beauty.

MY OUMA

2009-10-15T09:30:00.006+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

My grandmother was a very special woman, but if you asked her to define love she would never have been able to; not because she was not a talker, but because her actions spoke louder than words.

As a child she bathed me every night and was always there when I got home from school, welcoming me with a big embrace.

When at the age of eight I had my hands beaten until they were raw by my teacher she stormed the classroom, grabbed the teacher by her neck and pushed her against the wall, holding her there until she promised never to touch me again. Funnily enough she never did.

Ouma shared in my laughter and my tears, and every night she sat beside me as she showed me how to pray. My Ouma taught me a lasting lesson about love; that it was more than just a warm fuzzy feeling and that for love to grow we must put it into action every day.

At every point in my life she looked out for me and let me know I was loved. And to this day I remember every loving word and deed she ever bestowed on me, for when we truly love it lasts a lifetime.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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THE POWER OF TOUCH

2009-10-14T17:19:00.004+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Today I watched an elderly couple cross the road at the traffic lights. They must have been in their eighties, but they were holding each others hands like new lovers. At one point she lost her footing near the curb, but he held on tightly and supported her across.

He then took her hand and gently kissed it. She smiled and they continued walking.

There are endless opportunities in our lives for us to make our love felt. Never under estimate the power of touch.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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OH I AM NOT SURE

2009-10-13T14:50:00.005+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Having lunch with a group of friends recently, we all went through the menu, and after some intense deliberating over what to choose the waitress took our orders. At the time we were all happy with our selections, yet it was not a minute after she’d left that three of the six people present started second guessing their choice. “Perhaps I should have gone with the chicken”; “I think the fish might be nicer”; “Perhaps I should have the Caesar salad – that’s always good.”

This got me thinking that behaviour like this is not just restricted to restaurants and that our lack of conviction when ordering food is merely a watered down version of what many of us do in life.

We second guess our decisions, questioning whether there is something better out there, or that we should have done something differently, convincing ourselves that we have made the wrong decision or done the wrong thing.

This is how we create mental chaos, wasting time and valuable energy. Of course there will always be options in life, but just because you didn’t chose something, does not mean that what you chose (or did) was wrong.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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WATER

2009-10-12T09:20:00.002+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

It is a known fact that water is great for everything from our internal organs to our skin. But what has also been discovered is that it calms the nervous system, which holds the keys to balancing stress levels by conducting the traffic of electrical messages throughout our body.

When you are feeling a little scattered, the nervous system contracts and jumbled signals are given. Drinking water immediately smooths out the jumbled signals through your whole body, which in turn calms the mind so we can think more clearly.

Drink a glass of water slowly and feel yourself relaxing immediately.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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FINDING THE BEST IN THOSE WE LOVE

2009-10-11T11:05:00.008+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

A man I know whose wife recently passed away told me the other day that he misses her terribly. He then went on to say that in all his life she was the only person who had ever believed in him.

What I walked away with from this conversation was that it makes no difference how old we are, we can all grow and heal knowing that the people in our lives respect and believe in who we are.

His wife was a woman who stood by him and allowed him to grow and change at various stages in his life and as he said, "I was not the easiest man to live with, but everyday she reminded me in some way that I was truly important."

He was obviously a good man, and so on days when he did not feel that good about himself or his life, his wife always celebrated his goodness.

It is easy to love a person when a person loves us back in a way that makes us happy but the real challenge is to love them when they don’t.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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OH YES YOU CAN

2009-10-08T09:33:00.004+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Walking through the park yesterday I heard a man shouting at his son, "You are not going to kick that ball far enough, so don’t even try. Sometimes you so stupid!"

This comment got me thinking about the impact of limitations vs encouragement. Place enough limitations on a child or an adult and you will see the devastating effect it eventually has on their lives.

Earnest encouragement is far more expansive and magical. Phrases such as "Give it a go; you can do it; and I believe you can", inspire hope and nurture self love. Positive encouragement builds self worth, generates healthy self esteem and promotes growth and an inner confidence that supports us to walk with our heads high.

This encouragement can come from others or it might be your own self talk - either way it doesn't matter; as long as the only voice you are listening to is a positive one.

When we live happily with ourselves, the love we ultimately feel for ourselves touches all those around us.

WHERE HAS ALL THE FUN GONE

2009-10-07T10:21:00.005+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

We were out with some friends recently when over dinner one of the guys remarked that he and his wife don’t have fun anymore since their kids came on the scene. Surprisingly this was met by murmurings of consensus and nods of mutual understanding around the table.

It is so easy to let life get on top of our relationships to the point where we feel that we have outgrown not only the person we share our lives with, but the very things that made it special from the beginning.

Yes, we have all experienced how life's responsibilities can quietly remove joy from our lives without us even noticing.

Yet we can regain that joy by reminding ourselves daily that laughter, joy and spontaneity are what nurture and uplift our relationships and remembering that we only bring joy to our relationships through our own efforts.

Creating joy often means moving the focus off ourselves to nurture others.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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STRETCH YOURSELF

2009-10-06T14:04:00.006+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Regardless of what we do in life, we all need to relax our bodies and our minds.

While I have practised a combination of Tai chi, Pilates and Yoga at various stages, what I have come to understand is that they not only keep the body toned, strong and healthy, they also have a very real impact on the mind.

With each of these practises the focus is on breathing deeply and rhythmically, which naturally calms the mind and lifts our spirits.

Another such activity is stretching which also requires us to follow our own breath. This one can be done at home in the lounge, in the back yard, on the bed or even in the bath.

Daily calming of the mind allows us to find a sense of stillness and in that we find a relaxed sense of happiness and a strong sense of our beauty as human beings.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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THE BEAUTY IN NEW BEGINNINGS

2009-10-05T11:57:00.006+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Today the relationship of a friend of mine came to an end. Yes she cried, but more than that she felt like a failure.

Yet to me the end of a relationship does not reflect failure; it symbolises growth and new beginnings. While ending a relationship is a traumatic experience, sometimes it is an opportunity to freshen up and let go of what no longer supports us emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually.

Learning to love ourselves very rarely comes through situations that are kind and loving; more often than not we learn to love ourselves in situations that are unloving , hurtful and unkind.

From there we begin to make choices about what supports us and what doesn’t, what we want from life and love and more importantly what we don’t.

Never let lost love prevent you from loving again. Endings always mark new beginnings.

And while our relationships may end, our ability to love is endless.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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COLOR MY WORLD

2009-10-04T16:00:00.006+11:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Since ancient times color has been used for spiritual, emotional and mental balance.

Color can bring about holistic happiness. It feeds the eyes, the spirit and the soul creating vitality, serenity, tranquillity and sensuality.

So keep in mind the colors you have in your bedroom; after all it is the place that revives our bodies.

While red has always symbolised passion, excessive use of the color can cause restlessness. Pink symbolises love and white reflects purity. Greens are healing and revitalising and reflect colors of the earth. Oranges, yellows and apricots reflect warmth and joy. Lavender and purples emanate spirituality and healing, while the colors of the sky and ocean are restful and calming.

Beauty is painted with the colours of our ideas, beliefs, acts and thoughts...dismiss any that don't reflect your masterpiece.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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KISS IT BETTER

2009-10-01T16:55:00.006+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

The other day at the airport as I was waiting to pick up my bags from the carousel, I noticed a little girl being pushed over by someone as they maneuvered their luggage. She had knocked her head quite badly so as you can imagine she screamed and cried, letting the whole airport know she was in pain.

Her mother quickly picked her up and asked her where it hurt. She pointed to her head. Without hesitating her mother gave her several gentle kisses on her head and said, “Let me kiss it better right now.”

As her mother kissed her head the little girl's crying quickly subsided and then less than 30 seconds later it stopped as suddenly as it had started.

When I saw this I smiled, as I am constantly reminded of the inexplicable power of love and the ability it has to heal so many areas of our lives.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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A TIP FOR CIRCULATION

2009-09-30T11:19:00.003+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

If you feel your circulation isn't working as well as it could, try adding some cayenne pepper to your food and salad dressing and even your favourite herbal tea.

The power of Mother Nature can be found in Cayenne which has a thermogenic effect and can get your blood flowing more freely.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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MY FEET HURT!

2009-09-29T17:21:00.002+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

It is a known fact that walking is healthy, and according to research, on average we walk about 128,000km in our lifetime. That is some serious walking.

But very often we take our little tootsies for granted, not ever thinking that with each step we take our heel lifts off the ground forcing our little tootsies to carry our body weight.

I thought of this at the airport last week waiting to go through security, where the lady in front of me was wearing extremely high shoes. Each time she walked through the scanner, the buzzer went off and so they asked her to take her shoes off.

As she removed them I heard her physically sigh with relief, and similarly I saw her grimace as she put them back on. It seems that some women will wear that heel regardless of what they feel!

Our feet carry us through our journey in life, so while looking our best is something we all like to do, I don’t believe we need to do so at the expense of body parts that serve us so faithfully.

Personally I think we all need to love ourselves enough to put on comfortable shoes…

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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PUMPKIN PLEASER

2009-09-28T12:05:00.002+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

While pumpkin is pretty delicious, munching on dried pumpkin seeds is a wonderful skin rejuvenator that keeps skin healthy and glowing.

These seeds are jam packed with Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids along with skin building Vitamin E and minerals like potassium, zinc and iron.

Enjoy!

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman Follow me on Twitter

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THAT SCALE

2009-09-27T23:37:00.004+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Recently a friend of mine informed me that she had been exercising regularly and had decided to weigh herself. She was upset when the scales indicated she had put on three kilos.

I think we all know that the little scale has a lot to answer for. If the scale stops on the numbers we like to see then we feel like winners; if it stops on the numbers we don’t, we feel like losers and depression sets in - often resorting to crazy dieting, depriving ourselves of food or eating more out of the feeling that there is little point in dieting.

When we do this we are giving our sense of self worth to a scale. But no matter how we look at it, we cannot weigh our self esteem. The numbers on the scale cannot determine our feelings, let alone our happiness. Only we can do this.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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THE BEAUTY IN TOUCH

2009-09-24T15:23:00.005+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

We all know when we are being touched with kindness and respect because it uplifts our minds and opens our hearts.

A simple hug can be one of the most inexpensive gifts we can give a person...which gets me onto the lyrics 'A kiss is just a kiss'.

Well that certainly is an understatement. Kissing stimulates the part of the brain's pleasure centre which releases happy hormones, it exercises approximately thirty four facial muscles and is believed to burn 8.4 kJ a minute.

Last but not least, when you lock lips with a partner, calming endorphins are released and all that heavy breathing reduces anxiety. I think that's enough incentive to ensure we pucker up regularly and kiss the ones we love.

Knowing our beauty is the centre of our wisdom

PRIVILEGED

2009-09-23T17:00:00.004+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

It is a fact of life that we are not all equal when it comes to fame, wealth, health, power or intelligence. However we all share equally in our ability to feel beautiful.

Feeling beautiful depends largely on how willing we are to live our lives knowing that beauty is not dependant on our bone structure, but the structure of our thoughts.

Beauty is not reliant on our age, but our attitude.

Beauty cannot be bought with valuable things, but is experienced through our values, and how we live and love (not just ourselves but others).

When we dedicate our lives to living this truth there is a silent knowing that beauty is not measured by our physical greatness, but the innate goodness we are all born with as human beings.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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IN A RUT

2009-09-22T16:47:00.010+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Very often we feel stuck in our lives, and not sure what to do, we just keep doing what we have always done, all the while complaining about it. But by doing this we never get out of the rut.

When it comes to getting out of a rut what I have learnt from life's school of hard knocks is that honesty is the best policy. And while being honest with ourselves can be the hardest thing to do (revealing our fears, our weakness and our unfulfilled dreams), by confronting our feelings we conquer and break free from the rut.

We all have the power to change our lives - all we have to do is make the decision to do it.

There are no right and wrong decisions. We just need to make one and then go about making it right.

A BEAUTY REMINDER

2009-09-21T14:45:00.005+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

There is always an element of risk when buying plants. I learnt this very expensive lesson many years ago with hundreds of perennial plants I purchased.

I loved everything about them; their colour, impact, height - and I wanted them in our garden. But what I didn’t consider was that where I would plant them would kill them. I watched and waited anxiously for them to grow, but sadly they never did. When I finally came to the conclusion that they were never appearing I felt disappointed and cheated; much like when a relationship does not work out.

As people, how often do we find ourselves expecting relationships to flourish and grow in emotional environments that are destined to eventually kill them? And why don't things work out? Because often what we want and what we are doing to get it does not support the other person to grow.

Like a plant, our partners only grow in conditions that are natural to them, that support them to be strong and reveal all of who they are without wanting to change them into something that will make us happy.

We need to take into account all that threatens our love (including our own unrealistic expectations), because in truth we cannot change a person so that we can be happy.

All we can do is to find happiness within ourselves and ensure we remind the people we share our lives with to do the same.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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IN A LEAGUE OF OUR OWN

2009-09-20T17:23:00.003+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

I heard a guy in the gym commenting that a girl he liked was out of his league. What does that mean I thought? Is she more and he less?

At some point in our lives we have all battled with who we are and what we believed we must be to be loved. And so since when does love depend on being in ‘a league’?

In love there are no rules, only the ones that we place on ourselves. Take a good look around and you will see that love participates in diversity. There are plenty of people who love a variety of people; some tall, short, large, blonde, red heads, those with only one arm, some who can’t walk, as well as those that can’t talk or even communicate with those that love them.

True love ensures that we never excuse who we are or put ourselves in a category as a result of our differences. Love defies logic and rational thinking, and goes well beyond any shallow definition about being in or out of a league.

Whether we are finding love, making love or keeping love, we must remember to celebrate all of who we are, as only when we do this will we find a person who’ll truly cherish us.

Each one of us is worthy of being loved

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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LISTEN TO THE BIRDS...

2009-09-17T14:30:00.004+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Listen to the birds and you will always be surrounded by music,

Listen to the wind and you will always have rhythm,

Listen to your heart and you will always be dancing to the rhythm of life.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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NURTURE THE LOVE

2009-09-16T09:13:00.004+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

There are so many ways that we can nurture love, but I believe nothing nurtures it more than understanding.

Understanding allows us to practise acceptance; it gives us the ability to be more patient; to see things from all perspectives not just our own; and to burrow deep down into an issue so we can address it.

There is no doubt that understanding our disappointments and what hurts us in love and life can spur us to find a solution to an issue, as it asks us to open both our eyes and our heart.

Extending understanding to ourselves and others allows our love to be felt, our love to be given and our love to grow.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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10 STRESS BUSTERS

2009-09-15T11:53:00.006+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Nothing ages us more quickly than stress and so we owe it to ourselves to ensure we relieve the regular stress that life and all its challenges present.

Some things to consider are:

Taking a cat nap

Leaving early for work and missing the traffic

Asking for help if you need it

Breathing deeply

Making time to play

Stretching your body regularly

Expressing your feelings by talking to someone if you are angry or upset

Doing a good deed for someone

Learning to say 'no'

To stop counting your calories and start counting your blessings...

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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THE TRUTH ABOUT AGE

2009-09-14T13:25:00.008+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Today I bumped into a friend of mine whom I haven’t seen since she had a baby. I couldn’t believe how her daughter had grown. Her mother said, “Tell Gregory how old you are.” She replied, “Three and a half.”

This interaction got me thinking about the passage of time as it relates to aging and the innocence of children with their singular desire to always be older than they are.

The truth is that generally the only time we want to be older is when we are children. When we were less than 10 years old we believed that every week made us older. We weren't just three, we were three and a half!

Then we hit those awkward years where we couldn't wait to be a teenager; a real one! We might have been fourteen, but we were desperate to be sixteen or even better, eighteen.

Then the biggest day of them all finally arrived and we turned 21. Just the sound of those words was a celebration. But before we knew it we were turning thirty and life does not seem to impress us in the same way as it did when we were younger.

From then the years pass so quickly; we hit forty, we push fifty, we punch sixty, we rush to sixty five, and bang quickly into seventy, grasp onto eighty and do our best to live to see a hundred!

It seems that the older we get, the more we long for what we had as kids; a time when we felt enthusiastic about everything and just looking at a simple ant brought us joy.

Yet I believe we are never too old to revert back to the childhood enthusiasm we had when life excited us. All it requires is to make a decision to uncover and discover that part of ourselves that found joy in the simple things in life. No matter how old we are, that part is still alive within all of us.

Life is an adventure and is not limited by our age, but by our beliefs.

As long as we remember that life is not about limitations but endless possibilities, we can remain young forever.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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I WAN’T TO BE THE SAME

2009-09-13T11:01:00.008+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Last week in a shoe store I heard a young boy telling his mother he did not want that particular sports shoe because it wasn’t like the ones everyone else was wearing. Looking back I could relate to that. I didn’t want to wear anything that would draw attention to me; I just wanted to blend in.

Standing out would mean you would be rejected, humiliated and laughed at. So to make our lives easier and live up to other people’s expectations, we say ‘no’ to the shoes we really want because they are not what others expect us to wear.

I believe that there are many people in the world that work at keeping everyone the same. The person who sniggers at someone because they dress or look different, or who laughs at people and belittles them in front of others because they do not conform to the expected stereotype. There is no doubt that fighting to maintain our individuality as teenagers and as adults can be challenging.

But to blend in we often under sell our selves and so the true potential that comes with our individuality is never given an opportunity to shine. You owe it to yourself to stand up (and stand out) and be counted.

As human beings we are all meant to be different, when we can accept this simple truth we will no longer hurt ourselves and each other for the simple things that make us human.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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THE BEAUTY IN SELFLESS

2009-09-10T10:57:00.002+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

There are so many things in our daily life that need to get done. But one of the greatest gifts we can often give ourselves is to give of our selves to another human being.

I suggest doing one action a day that will make a difference to someone else with no prospect of return to yourself. We all have the power to help another person with advice, kindness, listening or a smile.

The small things we do for others can often make the biggest difference to a person’s life.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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THE BEAUTY OF HUMOUR

2009-09-09T09:30:00.008+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

It is so very easy to get down on ourselves, with our thoughts. While life can be challenging I believe a good sense of humour can help us through many problems.

It is not always easy, but it can be done. Humour gives us breathing space to work around and with an issue without feeling like we will be buried by it. We need to remind ourselves to stop and laugh so we can relax our nerves.

So no matter what problem you are faced with, don’t ever lose your sense of humour; it puts you back in the driver’s seat so that you can confront your issues from a point of calm, not chaos. When we weave humour into our life, joy and beauty is close by.

Humor gives us time to be joyful with ourselves.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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THE BEAUTY IN SELF WORTH

2009-09-08T11:30:00.008+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Like anything, I believe self worth can be learnt when we:

Live and love consciously
Live with purpose
Accept ourselves and others
Have personal integrity
Are confident that people accept us for who we are
Are never scared to toot our own horn and
Practise our own PR (personal responsibility), with out blaming anyone else for what takes place in our life

Having a strong sense of self worth is a result of the way we live our lives, the choices we make and more importantly the ones we don’t.

Self worth gives us the strength and confidence to cope with life’s challenges.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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A SUPER BEAUTY FRUIT

2009-09-07T14:46:00.004+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

I am sure you have heard that old saying, "An apple a day keeps a doctor away."

Well that is true. That little apple, be it red or green, will have you counting your blessings, not just your calories. They contain no fat, salt or cholesterol and are a great source of fibre.

They are also jam packed with anti oxidants and just one apple has more anti oxidants than half a punnet of blue berries, a cup of strawberries and more anti oxidants than seven bananas. Apples are also high in a number of vitamins including B and C.

I can see why it was pretty easy for Eve to tempt Adam to take a bite!

Be good to your body and it will be good to you.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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DO NOT LIVE IN THE PAST

2009-09-06T14:12:00.003+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Do not live
In the past
Of who you were

Understand it
Learn from the sadness
The insecurities
and the fears

Acknowledge it
Bless it and
Be thankful for the past

For it is the past that helped shape us

To celebrate who we are today

THE EQUALITY OF BEAUTY

2009-09-03T11:25:00.002+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

I BELIEVE IN THE EQUALITY OF BEAUTY

THAT NO ONE IS BETTER THAN WHO WE ARE

AND IN THE SAME BREATH NO ONE IS LESS.

IN THIS TRUTH LIES OUR FREEDOM,

OUR HOPE AND OUR STRENGTH

FOR A LIFE OF

GOOD LIVING AND GREAT LOVING.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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DESIGNER VAGINA

2009-09-02T10:25:00.008+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Male cupidity can inspire us to try and bag the babe with expensive gifts. It’s true some guys will buy women designer clothes, others jewelry. But what would happen if your man wanted to buy you a designer vagina. Well recently I spoke to a woman whose partner offered to buy her a designer vagina. I am not joking.

This guy offered to buy her an operation that involved having her vagina surgically tightened and brightened for a snug fit around his measurements.

She is now self conscious and believes her vagina is ugly in comparison to those women in girly magazines. As men we can do some pretty dumb things, but wanting to buy a woman a designer vagina goes beyond male stupidity this is insane. He told her that if she loved him she would do it. There is a big difference between being loved and being manipulated. Loving someone does not mean we always have to say ‘yes’.

I told her to listen up, and that there is no vagina on this earth that is ugly and unattractive to a man with a healthy self esteem and unless hers was growing teeth and looked a little like ET her vagina was not the problem – he was.

I know plenty of men, not all that you would introduce to your mother, but I have never, ever heard one of them say, “I really like this girl, but man she has an ugly vagina!”

But as I told her, “The way a man responds to her is an alarm bell for how he thinks and feels about himself.” And to me it was pretty damn obvious that he doesn’t think to highly about himself and that her alarm bells should be going off big time!

I’m not sure what was going on with her partner, but there was obviously something not right or he’d never go there. I told her that if he mentions a designer vagina again, for her to put her looney love hormones on hold and become a ‘vaginal vigilante’.

She had to use two feet and stand up and protect her ‘mini me’. If her man is after something plastic she should feel free to tell him to go and get a blow up doll, or better still, if he wants a tighter fit, he should go and get a penis enlargement!

I told her, "Never ever make your body parts wrong to make an unhealthy male situation right. And no matter how much you love this cupid…don’t buy stupid!"

Healthy love celebrates womanliness, it never threatens or makes it wrong.

Learning to say ‘no’ to situations that threaten our well being can be the greatest act of self love. It allows us to be true to ourselves and live our lives the way we want without worrying about what others might think.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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YOU HAVE THE POWER

2009-09-01T09:27:00.006+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Whatever you are doing
Stop for a minute and recognise
The parts of your body that enable you to do what you are doing
Just being aware for a minute is how you feel appreciation for your body.

You have the power and capacity to feel beauty
You do not have to change your body
You have to change your thoughts
You have the power to change what you believe
You have the power to change the way you respond to yourself

You are powerful
Know it

A FACE FULL OF BEAUTY

2009-08-31T18:48:00.006+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

While in Paris I met up with a friend that I have not seen in years. She is in her sixties and isn’t very tall, but she certainly stands tall. Even after all these years her face still reflects all her goodness; if anything her face has highlighted how she has continued to live.

Interestingly her words are full of thankfulness and I have never heard her judge or speak badly about anyone. She forgives easily and always moves on, something she put into practice even when experiencing a messy divorce.

What is so clear when you look at her face is that you can see a life well lived. Her eyes are full of riches and her lines full of wisdom.

I believe her beauty secret is being comfortable in her skin, completely herself and not worried about what people think of her.

She owns all of who she is and as result she is truly beautiful because she knows the power of self love, and how it can beautify, rejuvenate, cleanse, heal and uplift our lives.

Your beauty is like a fire deep within you waiting to be lit. Don’t wait for someone else or something miraculous outside yourself to light it, get in there and light it yourself.

THE BEAUTY IN JOY

2009-08-30T17:23:00.005+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

While I was away a good friend of mine sent me a letter written by the partner of a mutual friend. Before dying he sent everyone he knew an email and I would like to share it with you.

Dear friends and colleagues,

The purpose of this email is to inform you of my recent death following a lengthy battle with cancer.

I would like you all to know how much I have appreciated and enjoyed the wonderful support and sentiment that so many of you have provided in recent months.

This illness has taught me so much. I have been lucky in my life to have lived inside my body in so many ways. And luckier still to have learnt to enjoy the reflections and emotions that come from somewhere else entirely.

I learnt recently that the Ancient Egyptians believed that upon death they would be asked two questions and their answers would determine whether they could continue their journey in the afterlife.

The first question was, “Did you bring joy?”
The second was, “Did you find joy?”

As for the first question, I would like to think that you have valued my association with you as much as I have enjoyed coming to know you.

To the second question, the answer is a resounding ‘yes’. I did find joy, thanks to each of you and your friendship.

I hope that you will feel welcome to attend this service. And you will join together and help send me on my journey.

Well this letter certainly helps me on my journey through life. What a wonderful reminder to live joyfully. So my two questions that I have asked myself since receiving this letter have been, “Am I bringing joy and am I experiencing joy?”

Reminders like these open our heart to the truth about how we live and love but they also point us in the right direction asking us to remember that each day that we do not live joyfully is a beautiful day wasted.

Somehow death brings us closer to this truth and puts so many of life’s challenges into perspective urging us to be grateful for the journey that we are all on.

Where there is joy there is always beauty

TAKE THE FEAR OUT OF UGLY

2009-08-27T11:58:00.007+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Last week while in Paris a journalist called me an ‘idealist’. While some might call me that, I like to think of myself as a realist. I see evidence everywhere of a new world in which we embrace each others differences, honour our humanity and learn to live peacefully with ourselves.

Learning our value is a personal journey that we all make. It is how we get to know our value as human beings. Yet no one teaches us that the strength of our beauty comes from accepting our differences and the differences of others.

One thing I know for sure is that ugliness is not genetic. It has very little to do with the human body, and far more to do with human behaviour. Ugliness is not one big thing. It is a million little things that breeds a fear that you are not good enough. It is this fear can make us do many ‘ugly’ things to ourselves and others. So be warned.

Ugly knows no boundaries. It can eat into the goodness of your life and make you do things that you have never imagined. It shows no mercy and will go for your weakest spot. While it begins in your mind, if you ignore it, it can take over and control your body.

One moment you are feeling self assured, happy and peaceful. The next minute it disguises itself as self doubt and self criticism. Before you can do anything it, it throws you off balance and invades your body like an army taking over a foreign land.

Acceptance is poorly armed against ugly. It is pushed out quickly. As you become anxious, enthusiasm is lost and you start to waver.

Ugly sits silently while you stand in a pool of utter confusion trying to understand why you feel the way you do. Your confusion turns to suspicion and you no longer trust who you are or what you see.

Ugly soon becomes self loathing. Your heart pounds, your breath shortens. Every part of you feels like it is about to fall to pieces and you feel you are drowning in ugly and nothing can really save you. It will shake the foundation you built your life on.

Ugly is one of life’s greatest enemies and should never be treated with complacency. It wears many faces and will tell you many things.

You must stand up and fight against it because it is treacherous. If you don’t, 'Ugly' becomes your world.

In your darkest hours never give in to it. Confront and conquer it, for it has no real power. It does not exist in your body, it is not real. It is only a fear that exists in your mind.

At the very heart of all our wounds lies a profound affirmation of love that gives us reason to believe in life and ourselves.

FROM DARK TO LIGHT

2009-08-26T10:13:00.003+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Last night I did what I do at the end of most days, I went to the gym. On the way I turned the radio on in the car and heard about the types of things we hear just about every day…a woman who had died while undergoing liposuction; a child who had lost consciousness while being beaten by school peers; a model who had died from hunger; a gunman who opened fire on innocent people; a woman suing her employers for sexism; a teenage girl who took her life because she was bullied; yet another round of racist riots; and the latest environmental disaster that is polluting our world.

There is a daily cycle in my life where my mind and emotions are coloured with both light and dark. My inner world affects my outer world and what I have come to understand is that sometimes our daily challenge is to shine light where there is darkness; to look for the right where there is so much wrong; to search for the victory where there appears to be failure; and more importantly to try and make sense of the nonsense in our world.

At the end of the day the greatest challenge becomes accepting that while there are many situations where we can find the light, bring light and even ignite light, sometimes we need to accept the darkness as part of the world we live in, knowing that part of life’s mysteries and human behaviour can never be explained.

When we walk with love in our own heart we will never walk in darkness

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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SEEING THE BEAUTY

2009-08-25T09:27:00.007+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

It is easy to focus on what is wrong with us, to see the faults as opposed to the beauty. But gravitating towards what needs fixing blinds us to what is truly good and beautiful.

Focusing on our goodness becomes an unstoppable force that ensures we know our value. But more often than not it requires us to open our eyes as well as our hearts.

If we only use our eyes to see our beauty we will only ever see the smallest aspects of what makes us truly beautiful. The most beautiful gifts we posses are only ever revealed to us when we are willing to have the courage to look beyond our physical bodies and our material lives to what lies beneath.

When we allow ourselves to do this our fears, disappointments, perceived faults and flaws all disappear into the background.

We remain true to our beauty by constantly reminding ourselves to never forget that laughter, fun, tears and kindness are a large part of what makes us beautiful and our lives magical.

LET GO LET BEAUTY FLOW

2009-08-24T09:49:00.007+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Getting rid of all the resentment, anger, fear, frustration and daily grudges not only keeps the body healthy, but also looks after the mind and the soul.

The latest scientific research has proven that holding grudges along with a negative angry mind creates nervous disorders, cardio vascular conditions, lowered immunity and even digestive disorders, but above all it robs us of joy, peace, hope and beauty.

I believe that is enough incentive for all of us to let go of the emotional baggage so we can think positively and feel well in a bid to enhance our quality of life.

However, to do this we need to stay present and be very conscious of ourselves, our thoughts, our feelings and our relationships with the people around us in the world.

We all have the ability to enhance the quality of our lives; often all it takes is a willingness to let go of emotional issues that no longer support us.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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GIVING BIRTH TO BEAUTY

2009-08-23T14:31:00.002+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

On a flight recently I overheard a woman telling her friend how painful giving birth to her new born child was. While I can't for a moment pretend to know how that feels, what I do know is that as we grow as human beings we all give birth to our 'new' selves in the way we live and love, and how we think and feel.

Giving birth to ourselves can be extremely painful as we outgrow the person we once were and leave behind the emotional skins that we have lived with all our lives.

Yes we are constantly giving birth to ourselves so we can risk living and loving ourselves and others differently, while taking on a new, stronger sense of who we are in the world.

Changing our beauty beliefs about ourselves can be painful, but if we don’t we forfeit the essence of our self worth and beauty as human beings

ENJOY THE BODY!

2009-08-20T11:28:00.003+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

We bath in it, we swim in it and we wash our clothes in it, but sometimes we just don’t drink enough of it! While a water fall starts with one drop then rushes intensely and feels alive; a stagnant pond has very little energy and more often than not little survives in it.

The same principle applies to our bodies (which are something like 80% water). We need to keep the water moving! To raise our vitality we need enough water to replenish and turn over the water molecules in our body’s cells so they don’t stagnate and we don’t feel sluggish.

To do this effectively we need at least a couple of litres a day, more if we are really active.

Water is healing, energising and nourishing. Drinking warm water is especially good for cleansing and eliminating impurities from the body and is one of the simplest ways to change your health and your skin for the better.

While our body is our temple, water is Mother Nature’s milk that feeds and nourishes it.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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10 MINUTES TO RELIEVE STRESS!

2009-08-19T14:34:00.002+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

There is a strong theme currently filtering through our lives as we all become more conscious of the need to make time to relax, to smell the roses, enjoy the sun and take in the fresh air.

Whenever we make the time to enjoy these moments, we become very aware of how little time we actually take to relax and enjoy the simple things in life and the goodness they bring.

One of the unsung heroes of daily stress relief is taking 5-10 minutes to breathe deeply and consciously, as following our breath has the power to relax our body and our mind and help us manage stressful thoughts.

When we feel relaxed our lives and the world we live in becomes less chaotic. We approach ourselves and the challenges in our relationships with more calmness, we feel more joyful and are capable of sharing that joy with those around us.

Through the calmness of our breath we achieve a spiritual connection, reminding us to know our self worth and the value in living.

Our breath is our secret storehouse that helps us sustain clarity, centredness and a happy heart.

THE BEAUTY IN HOPE

2009-08-18T14:55:00.005+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

There have been so many situations in my life where it looked like there was no easy way out; where it all looked pointless. Yet it is at this point that something magical often happens and a feeling of hope ignites, allowing us to face our daily challenges.

These times remind us that no matter how many times we have fallen down, gotten up and fallen down again, that with hope in our hearts we will get up again and again and again. With hope we can run towards life, see the solution rather than the problem, or as I like to say, ‘see the magic in what can appear to be tragic’.

Hope is powerful. It can be explosive and point us in a new direction. It can rush into our hearts without even announcing itself, giving us a feeling that if a situation in life can’t be changed, that we can change our response to that situation.

When hope finds it’s way into our hearts it creates a feeling of endless possibilities.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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TAKING THE FEAR OUT OF BEAUTY

2009-08-17T16:31:00.004+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

So many of us live with fear about ourselves. As people we worry are whether we are thin enough, young enough, sexy enough, rich enough, secure enough or loved enough, which causes so much anxiety, pain and pressure. Our insecurities can often scare us out happiness and cause us to live in fear that we are just not good enough.

But when we break the word fear down, it is simply...

F eelings that

E liminate and

A lter our

R eality

Yet these negative feelings can control our lives, determine whether we see the beauty in our selves and others, whether we will live our lives openly and honestly, or whether we will feel the need to hide and lie.

Ultimately they can determine whether we see the world and ourselves positively or negatively.

Making the time to address our feelings can help us to understand and undo the many emotional knots in our lives.

Addressing our feelings can bring healings that enhance the beauty in ourselves and our lives.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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I LOVE YOU

2009-08-16T14:18:00.002+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

I don’t think there is a more simple phrase than ‘I love you’. Three little words can make a big difference in our lives by saying them to another, or having them said to us.

These little words are so powerful. They have the ability to heal a broken spirit, soften the hardest heart and can take away our deepest fears and insecurities. These words can inspire us to be bigger and better human beings by reminding us that we matter in the world.

Strange that they are so simple, yet they can often be the hardest words to say to the ones we love.

There is nothing more powerful or healing than the words ‘I love you’.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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THE BEAUTY IN WORDS

2009-08-13T10:34:00.003+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

I have many people ask me if writing a blog every day is a burden. I tell them that writing has never been a burden for me as I have always found it very therapeutic. It puts me in touch with my inner self and reminds me to observe vigilantly the way I live and love.

Everything I write is a reflection of how my heart speaks to me, it mirrors the life that I have been living, shows me who I am, what still hurts me and what inspires me. It also reminds me about being kinder and more patient with myself and not just others.

We all have something in our lives that speaks to us, but sometimes we are so busy just getting through the day that we can’t hear what it is saying.

'Beauty and love asks all of us to listen with our hearts, not just our heads.'

LOVE DOESN'T NEED US TO BE PERFECT

2009-08-12T10:38:00.004+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

In a challenging world none of us are perfect.

We all have imperfections that can result in anger, hate, prejudice, revenge or dishonesty; to name just a few ‘imperfect’ human qualities.

But when we realise that love requires us to love each other regardless of these imperfections and to see a person beyond our human frailties, then and only then do we stand witness to the power of true love. At that point we have met the love challenge head on and can proudly call ourselves 'lovers for a lifetime'.

‘Love does not require perfection, but it does require us to recognise the important correlation between who we are physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually and recognise how that impacts on the way we live and love others.’

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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THE BEAUTY IN HAPPINESS

2009-08-11T13:19:00.006+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Happiness is a word we all understand, but it is one of those words that is difficult to define as it means different things to all of us.

Some find it eating an ice cream, others laying in the sun, sometimes it involves friends, dinner, great sex or all of the above.

But the truth is what makes me happy could make you feel sad.

Yet knowing that what we choose and how we choose to live and love can make us happy or sad is very empowering. It is affirming that we have the ability to create our own happiness with our choices and willingly choose to generate feelings that bring us joy rather than waiting for happiness to show up in our lives by chance.

Happiness is not something that we find, it is something that we create with the way we live and love, think and feel.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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THE CHILD WITHIN ALL OF US

2009-08-10T15:57:00.005+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

By the time you get this blog I will in the sky on a plane to Paris.

Whenever I fly I always request a window seat so that I can get up close and personal with the clouds that Mother Nature created. As a child on my first trip on an aeroplane I was fascinated by clouds, and now many years later I still am.

There is something magical about them that reminds me to daydream, making me smile as they speak a silent language that my heart responds to.

Being up amongst the clouds somehow puts me in touch with the child inside of me that used to day dream and wished he could fly. But most of all they give me a wonderful feeling that all is well and I am doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing.

'Mother Nature never fails to remind us of our hearts, our souls, where love and beauty resides, and how privileged we are to be living our lives.'

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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SOMETIMES LOVE IS MAD!

2009-08-09T20:25:00.005+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Sometimes the way we love is not logical. There is no explanation as to why we love the way we do or why we do what we do when we are in love. Yes, love is unpredictable; there are no easy answers, no quick explanations.

So when a friend of mine recently disclosed that she found herself creeping around her ex-partners home at three in the morning trying to peep through his bedroom window to see who he might have in his bed, I had to laugh.

‘You obviously think I am crazy,’ she said. But I didn’t. One thing that I have learnt is that love can bring out madness even in the most logical, sane person. Why else do we love a person that may hurt us, choose to date a person whom we don’t even know, or refuse to get out of bed when a love affair has ended.

When we hear a person say they are ‘madly’ in love or openly declare that we are ‘madly’ in love there is enormous amounts of truth in these words.

Being ‘mad’ is part of being in love, it is what makes it a beautiful, unpredictable experience.

'Love is like beauty, it unfolds from the inside out.'

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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THE BEAUTY IN POSSIBILITIES

2009-08-06T17:20:00.004+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Love and relationships are not always easy sailing, but to make them work for the long term we need to focus on the good and fight for the possibilities, rather than the limitations.

While a lot has been written about unconditional love, from experience I believe that when we truly love another person there must be at least one condition - that we allow our partners to grow as individuals, rather than becoming mere by-products of what we want them to be or do.

When we grow as individuals we can grow together.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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THE BEAUTY OF WHAT LIES WITHIN

2009-08-05T16:04:00.005+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

Yesterday morning a friend of mine sent me this quote in response to the blog. What a fantastic reminder about not sweating the small stuff because at the end of the day it is all small stuff.

“What lies behind us
and what lies before us
are tiny matters
compared to what lies within us !

Be Beautiful Be Free

Gregory Landsman

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THE BEAUTY IN BEING ALONE

2009-08-04T21:06:00.003+10:00

CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY

All the love is within you. Are you willing to find it?

To find and enjoy real love we need to distinguish clearly between being alone and being lonely.

Being alone is a gift we should give ourselves regularly and extend it to those we share our lives with.

It is how we learn, grow and keep good company with ourselves. It is how we nurture ourselves and listen to our feelings.

The love and beauty we search for outside ourselves is a small aspect of what lies within.

BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE

Gregory Landsman

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