Lit List: The Aging Games: How to Come Out a Winner Over 100 Anti-Aging Tips by Lynn Hardy, ND, CNC; Mirror Meditation: The Power of Neuroscience and Self-Reflection to Overcome Self-Criticism, Gain Confidence, and See Yourself with Compassion by Tara Well,phD

Lit List: The Aging Games: How to Come Out a Winner Over 100 Anti-Aging Tips by Lynn Hardy, ND, CNC; Mirror Meditation: The Power of Neuroscience and Self-Reflection to Overcome Self-Criticism, Gain Confidence, and See Yourself with Compassion by Tara Well,phD

By Julie Sara Porter

Bookworm Reviews

The Aging Games: How to Come Out a Winner, Over 100 Anti-Aging Tips by Lynn Hardy, ND, CNC

Lynn Hardy's The Aging Games: How to Come Out a Winner, Over 100 Anti-Aging Tips, is a book that gives good advice for Readers from their 40's to their 70's or who are approaching those milestone years and want to face them with confidence.

Many of the tips that Hardy offers are affordable and can be easily done. Anything can help from using or making one's own non-toxic cleaning products to reducing WiFi usage (or at least not wearing their device and turning it off before bed). 

Some of the tips such as improving sleep schedules, stopping smoking and drinking alcohol, and practicing stretching exercises such as Yoga and Tai Chi are frequently repeated in these kinds of books. Technically, Hardy isn't telling her Readers anything new. But sometimes, it's a good reminder to engage in such activities to improve one's health and well being. 

The more provocative sections involve diet and certain spa treatments. Some may question Hardy's stance about drinking too much water and that a vegetable only diet may not be for everyone. But Hardy (and this Reviewer) cautions to please consult a doctor or medical professional before dieting, fasting, and eliminating important nutritional aspects from one's regular eating habits. By the same token, do not engage in such treatments such as microneedling that may be harmful if not done by a professional.

One of the best sections involves the ways that Readers can keep their brains sharp. Such hobbies like reading, crosswords, sudoku, and various brain games help preserve memory and keep the mind working. 

The Aging Games will help Readers win in their struggle against time itself. Maybe instead time and age can be friends.

 

Mirror Meditation: The Power of Neuroscience and Self-Reflection to Overcome Self-Criticism, Gain Confidence, and See Yourself with Compassion by Tara Well,phD 

Tara Well's Mirror Meditation: The Power of Neuroscience and Self-Reflection to Overcome Self-Criticism, Gain Confidence, and See Yourself with Compassion helps Readers for those days when they don't feel good about themselves and don't want to look in the mirror.

While people with Narcissism gaze into the mirror to notice their more attractive features or to confirm their ideas of perfection, Well insists that her technique isn't like that. Instead, she encourages her Readers to look at their reflections to find their imperfections. What makes them sad, angry, fearful, anxious, and fills them with self -doubt.

Well asks her Readers to look at their reflections and take private video diaries. These methods encourage self talk and why people feel negative and self-critical feelings. Sometimes they may come from abuse and bullying. A person with verbally abusive parents may find it easier to believe all of the bad things about themselves than the good. Finding the roots of their Self-Criticism allow the Readers to understand, accept, and maybe even love their imperfections.

One of the changes that Readers can make is to alter the critical voice. For example, if a person makes a mistake during a speech,  the inner voice reminds the speaker about all the laughter during the mistake. To counter the criticism, the speaker can remind themselves that they spoke in a loud clear voice, point out all the things that they got right, and to remember the applause that followed the speech.

One of the best sections involves Anxiety. Many of us who suffer from Anxiety often have unexplainable fears and worries that could be triggered by anything: a past due notice, the lack of response from an email, watching the news, anything. Well's Mirror Meditation process advises anxious Readers to practice breathing and mindfulness exercises. They can use body and mind awareness by focusing on the moment and slowing their reaction. This relaxes the mind and body and calms the flight-fight-freeze response that comes with Anxiety. It also allows the person with Anxiety to relax and wait until they are calmer to face whatever issue might be troubling them.

The mirror is more than a tool for looking on the outside. It can be one to look at the inside as well.