There is little doubt that the quality of our intentions affects the quality of our lives. Even scientists, over the last few years, have proven unequivocally that our thoughts affect our bodies – our brain, heart, immune system and even our genes. But our intentions also affect everything around us; the quality of our intentions affects the quality of our life circumstances.

It is the place within us that these intentions come from that is important. Intentions rooted in love and appreciation are proven to bring about positive changes – both to a person's health and their life circumstances.

In fact, scientific studies have shown that feeling genuine appreciation for a person boosts your own immune system, protecting you from harmful microforms. In a real sense, too, appreciation of your gift of life boosts your immunity to life's microforms, i.e. 'negative' life circumstances.

Although, as this book explains, there are no negative circumstances, only circumstances that we label as negative. It is only our way of looking at things that labels them as either positive or negative and once we label them, our thoughts about them affect how we feel.

So the power to feel good is within us, right now. It's down to how we choose to look at things. As Sandy says: "It is not what happens, but instead, the meaning you attach to what happens that determines whether you experience a 'joy-full' or 'problem-full' life."

Scientific studies show this quite clearly. Say a person is running late for an appointment. The mental and emotional stress of their lateness causes biochemical changes in their body - elevates stress hormone levels, speeds up the aging process and even changes their genes. But it's not being late, but instead, the meaning attached to being late that causes these biochemical changes. Simply being late does nothing to the body or to life. But the meaning attached to it does.

So, for our own sake, we need to learn to accept life circumstances. This way we don't label things as negative and so don't introduce ourselves to stress, and instead, introduce ourselves to joy. One of the best ways to do this is, as Sandy writes: "When you stop dwelling on the past, stop worrying about the future, stop waiting until things are different, better, or improved, and instead, embrace the newness of now, you feel joyful."

So, go on. Enjoy the book. Try what Sandy suggests and see what happens. I dare you!

David R. Hamilton PhD