TORONTO, May 03, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today Dosecann, an in-house brand owned by Auxly Cannabis Group Inc. (TSX - XLY) (“Auxly”), announces the launch of Dosecann Daily Relief CBD Cream, a new, high-strength, differentiated cannabis topical cream for Canadian wellness consumers. With 1,200mg of cannabidiol (CBD) per 60 ml unit, Dosecann Daily Relief CBD Cream has double the potency of any CBD topical currently available in the Canadian marketplace and is competitively priced to deliver the best value for a CBD topicali. Dosecann Daily Relief CBD Cream is available to order now for wholesalers across Canada, is available to consumers now in British Columbia and Saskatchewan and will also be available in Alberta in coming weeks.
Dosecann Daily CBD Cream was developed by a team of scientists, researchers and formulation experts at Auxly’s state-of-the-art laboratory in Charlottetown, PEI, under the direction of Dr. Bob Chapman, Chief Science Officer, Dosecann.
“Topicals were among the very first products we conceived of at Dosecann and I’m extremely proud that after thorough development and testing, we’ve landed on a formula that we believe is the best in the marketplace,” said Dr. Chapman. “Consumers use topicals to provide daily relief from a wide variety of symptoms such as localized pain relief, muscle soreness, tension and inflammation. Our team was driven to ensure that Dosecann Daily Relief CBD Cream offers industry-leading potency along with a formulation designed to boost CBD penetration and provide the skin moisturizing properties of high-end skin creams.”
“We’re excited to launch Dosecann Daily Relief CBD Cream and expand our expertise in the 2.0 segment into topicals,” said Brad Canario, Brand Director, Auxly. “We know from research that topicals are a high-frequency segment, with nearly 50% of topical consumers using daily, and further, that amongst Canadian cannabis users, creams are the #1 topicals format. We believe we have a truly differentiated product for wellness consumers looking for daily relief from a variety of symptoms and, as always, we focused on our pillars of quality, safety and efficacy at every stage of product development.”
The proprietary Dosecann Daily Relief CBD Cream formula combines high-quality CBD extract with Natralipid™ Meadowfoam seed oil, a plant-based emollient found in high-end skin creams and valued for moisturization, transdermal barrier repair, skin penetration and unsurpassed stability. The result is a product that promotes the fast, effective absorption of high-quality CBD extract so that the cannabinoids can get where they’re needed quickly, all the while soothing the skin by locking-in moisture without leaving a greasy feeling behind. Dosecann Daily Relief CBD Cream has a mild, neutral bamboo scent and is packaged in a recyclable glass jar with a built-in seal to preserve freshness.
Dosecann Daily Relief CBD Cream is the latest cannabis 2.0 release from Auxly, who achieved the #1 market-share position for Cannabis 2.0 products in 2020. With today’s launch, Dosecann expands its offering of natural, science-backed products, which includes oils and precision-dosed capsules made with omega-rich Ahiflower™ oil.
About Dosecann Dosecann is a world-class developer of innovative cannabis products for the wellness-focused consumer, wholly owned by Auxly Cannabis Group Inc. Proudly processed at Auxly’s 52,000 sq. ft., state-of-the-art facility in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Dosecann products are developed and manufactured on-site by a world-class team of scientists and experts, ensuring high-quality, precision and consistency. Dosecann’s wellness products, available at licensed cannabis retailers across Canada, consist of non-GMO capsules and oils. Built on the pillars of quality, safety and efficacy, Dosecann is cannabis – down to a science.
Learn more at dosecann.com and stay up to date at Twitter: @Dosecann; Instagram: @dosecann; Facebook: @dosecann.
About Auxly Cannabis Group Inc. (TSX: XLY) (OTCQX: CBWTF) Auxly is leading Canadian cannabis company dedicated to bringing innovative, effective, and high-quality cannabis products to the wellness and adult-use markets. Auxly's experienced team of industry first-movers and enterprising visionaries have secured a diversified supply of raw cannabis, strong clinical, scientific and operating capabilities and leading research and development infrastructure in order to create trusted products and brands in an expanding global market.
Learn more at auxly.com and stay up to date at Twitter: @AuxlyGroup; Instagram: @auxlygroup; Facebook: @auxlygroup; LinkedIn: company/auxlygroup/.
For more information please contact: Scott Campbell, 647-402-4957, press@auxly.com
Notice Regarding Forward Looking Information:
This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or information that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. This information is only a prediction. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking information throughout this news release. Forward-looking information includes but is not limited to: Dosecann’s execution of its product development and commercialization strategy; consumer preferences; political change, future legislative and regulatory developments involving cannabis, cannabis products and cannabis health products; and competition and other risks affecting Auxly in particular and the cannabis industry generally.
A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from a conclusion, forecast or projection contained in the forward-looking information in this release including, but not limited to whether: there is acceptance and demand for current and future Dosecann products by consumers and provincial purchasers, and general economic, financial market, regulatory and political conditions in which Auxly operates will remain the same. The forward-looking information in this release is based on information currently available and what management believes are reasonable assumptions. Forward-looking information speaks only to such assumptions as of the date of this release. In addition, this release may contain forward-looking information attributed to third party sources, the accuracy of which has not been verified by Auxly. The forward-looking information contained in this release is expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements and is made as of the date of this release. Except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Auxly does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise.
Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
FeraMAX® Named #1 Recommended Iron Supplement by National Pharmacists and Physicians for Sixth Consecutive Year
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, May 03, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BioSyent Inc. (“BioSyent”, TSX Venture: RX) is pleased to announce that for the sixth consecutive year, FeraMAX® has been named the #1 recommended iron supplement brand in a national survey of Canadian physicians and pharmacists.
The 2021 OTC Recommendations Survey was conducted by EnsembleIQ, Research, Insights and Innovation team and the following publications and websites: Pharmacy Practice + Business, The Medical Post, Profession Santé, CanadianHealthcareNetwork.ca and ProfessionSanté.ca. This annual survey was conducted online between October 2020 and January 2021 with Canadian retail pharmacists and physicians. In total, 1,812 surveys were completed by pharmacists (including 647 Québec pharmacists) and 657 surveys were completed by physicians (including 268 Québec physicians).
FeraMAX® was named by both pharmacists and physicians surveyed (in both Québec and all Canada) as the most recommended iron supplement brand to Canadian patients.
Last year, BioSyent Pharma Inc. launched FeraMAX® Pd Therapeutic 150, the first product under a patented formulation made with a homogeneous polysaccharide, Polydextrose, linked to ferric (Fe3+) elemental iron to form the proprietary Polydextrose Iron Complex (“PDIC”).
“We are delighted with the continued vote of confidence by healthcare professionals in FeraMAX® as their trusted choice for iron deficient patients,” remarked Mr. René Goehrum, President and CEO of BioSyent. “This recognition is especially meaningful in an environment fraught with the complexities of changed healthcare practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. We express our appreciation to healthcare professionals and patients and we look forward to strengthening our partnership with ongoing innovation and commitment to the overall iron health of Canadian patients.”
About FeraMAX®
FeraMAX® Pd Therapeutic 150 is an oral iron supplement indicated for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia. This is a patented formulation and the only Polydextrose Iron Complex (PDIC) in Canada. It offers several benefits compared to conventional iron salt supplements and is well-tolerated. FeraMAX® is Vegan Certified and provides an iron therapy option for vegans, vegetarians, and patients with other dietary restrictions. FeraMAX® Pd Therapeutic 150 is also recognized by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, for demonstrated scientific evidence of safety and efficacy. FeraMAX® Powder (Polysaccharide-Iron Complex) is available in a pleasant tasting, dissolvable powder for pediatric patients.
For more information on FeraMAX®, please visit www.feramax.com.
About BioSyent Inc.
Listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol “RX”, BioSyent is a profitable growth-oriented specialty pharmaceutical company focused on in-licensing or acquiring innovative pharmaceutical and other healthcare products that have been successfully developed, are safe and effective, and have a proven track record of improving the lives of patients. BioSyent supports the healthcare professionals that treat these patients by marketing its products through its community, specialty and international business units.
As of the date of this press release, the Company has 12,706,275 common shares outstanding.
For a direct market quote for the TSX Venture Exchange and other Company financial inform
CCRM and Amgen partner to advance emerging medical innovations
New fund to support regenerative medicine discoveries with high potential impact for patients
TORONTO and MISSISSAUGA, ON, April 29, 2021 /CNW/ - New regenerative medicine discoveries, including cell and gene therapies, will never reach patients without access to the funding, expertise and other specialized support that are required to move along the commercialization pathway. To address this need, CCRM, a leader in developing and commercializing regenerative medicine-based technologies and cell and gene therapies, and Amgen, a global leader in the biotechnology industry, are announcing a multi-year fund, for early-stage regenerative medicine-based technologies and therapies to benefit patients and the health-care system. The collaboration is made up of equivalent investments from CCRM and Amgen.
To bridge the gap from bench to bedside, the program will identify, develop and commercialize promising technologies and therapies arising from research conducted in institutions that form CCRM's global network. CCRM and Amgen's contributions will range from financial support to in-kind technical services and expertise.
"CCRM's collaboration with Amgen to create this fund is a perfect example of how public-private partnerships can leverage resources and expertise to support development and commercialization, and change patients' lives," said Michael May, President and CEO, CCRM. "The regenerative medicine research ecosystem across Canada offers a rich discovery pipeline and it is ready for such a program."
"There are few places in the world that have clustered all the necessary resources and talent to drive regenerative medicine from the bench to the bedside. Canada has consistently led the way for decades," said Alan Russell, Vice-President, Research, Amgen Inc. "Amgen is delighted to have the opportunity to partner with CCRM and leverage an extraordinary platform to benefit patients."
To identify opportunities, a Joint Steering Committee, made up of representatives from both CCRM and Amgen, will assess proposals from CCRM's Canadian and international member institutions. Selected projects will possess high scientific merit, be developed by scientists and academics with established credentials and expertise, and demonstrate the greatest potential to have an impact in the industry.
Regenerative medicine, including cell and gene therapy, harnesses the power of (stem) cells, biomaterials, molecules and genetic modification to repair, regenerate or replace diseased cells, tissues and organs. It has the promise of creating revolutionary new treatments for devastating and costly conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
About CCRM CCRM is a global, public-private partnership headquartered in Canada. It receives funding from the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, and leading academic and industry partners. CCRM supports the development of regenerative medicines and associated enabling technologies, with a specific focus on cell and gene therapy. A network of researchers, leading companies, strategic investors and entrepreneurs, CCRM accelerates the translation of scientific discovery into new companies and marketable products for patients, with specialized teams, funding, and infrastructure. CCRM is the commercialization partner of the University of Toronto's Medicine by Design. CCRM is hosted by the University of Toronto. Visit us at ccrm.ca.
About Amgen in Canada As a leader in innovation, Amgen Canada understands the value of science. With main operations located in Mississauga, Ontario's vibrant biomedical cluster, and its research facility in Burnaby, B.C., Amgen Canada has been an important contributor to advancements in science and innovation in Canada since 1991. The company contributes to the development of new therapies and new uses for existing medicines in partnership with many of Canada's leading healthcare, academic, research, government and patient organizations. To learn more about Amgen Canada, visit www.amgen.ca.
SOURCE Amgen Canada
For further information:
CCRM: Stacey Johnson, Director, Communications and Marketing, 647-309-1830, stacey.johnson@ccrm.ca; Amgen Canada: Natasha Bond, Head of Corporate Affairs, 905-285-3007, natasha.bond@amgen.com
Coinciding with Autism Awareness Month, New Kids Book Helps Us Navigate Differences in Our 8 Senses
Richmond, VA, April 29, 2021 — Published to coincide with Autism Awareness Month, and armed with a lot of confidence and inspiration, neurodiverse author Lindsey Rowe Parker releases her first children’s book, Wiggles, Stomps, and Squeezes Calm My Jitters Down (April 1, 2021; BQB Publishing; ISBN 978-1945448; $14.95; Hardcover), with autistic illustrator Rebecca Burgess, whom Lindsey met on Twitter. The book is also available in Spanish, titled Meneos, Pistones, Y Apretones Para Calmar Mi Cosquilleo. When Lindsey became newly diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety and ADHD, her world finally made sense—giving her the confidence as a parent to go through a medical journey with her daughter, who is autistic. This story is written from Lindsey’s own sensory experiences and inspires parents who are looking for that sensory input, which they themselves may not have a name for.
The theme of Wiggles… is that the child is accepted and understood. They are not asked to change; they are supported; they can be themselves; and most importantly, they are loved. Wiggles… focuses on the eight senses: smell, sight, hearing, taste, touch, PLUS proprioception, vestibular and interoception.
The brightly illustrated story follows a young girl with heightened sensory experiences through her day with fun, interactive sounds and motions. The reader may vicariously experience the vibration when she runs, the tap-tap-tap of her spoon on the table at mealtime, the trickle of cool water running over her hands—these are the things that calm her jitters down.
Lindsey recounts, “There were sensory preferences that I had as a child that I thought were weird or strange, not like other kids I knew. Through pediatric occupational therapies with my kiddos, I have a greater understanding of not only some of their sensory needs, but my own. It’s like a lightbulb went on, and I thought, “Oh wow, now I get it.” On working with Rebecca to illustrate the book, “Rebecca was absolutely the perfect person to bring this story to life because she understood life’s experiences as an autistic person. You can feel the support and understanding in the illustrations.”
Author Lindsey Rowe Parker is a mom at the tail end of toddlerhood, embracing the next phase of parenting while learning to navigate and advocate for her young autistic daughter. With a recent adult diagnosis of ADHD, and a new deeper understanding of her own sensory experiences, she has begun to delve into the neurodiversity community, learning all she can from neurodiverse voices. This is her first picture book, and she hopes it connects with everyone who has felt the need for a wiggle, stomp or squeeze! Lindsey lives in the Richmond, VA, area with her family. Rebecca “Bex” Burgess is an autistic illustrator living in the UK. They love history and nature, but comics and illustration most of all! Their passion has led them to work with the likes of The Guardian and Jessica Kingsley Publishing. Rebecca is most famous for their online comic, Understanding the Spectrum, explaining autism that has been shared in several books and used by parents, teachers and doctors. For more information, please visit wigglesstompsandsqueezes.com.
Major Depressive Disorder: The Hope-Filled Battle for the Causes and the Cures
Spokane, WA, April 29, 2021 — The voice on the other end of the phone was familiar but shaky. It was Sarah’s friend Carolyn, and she was grappling with suicidal ideation.
“Something had her in its grip and would not let go,” Sarah Zabel explains. “I kept wondering, what’s doing this? How does a normal, happy person come to feel life is so bad that she must kill herself?”
A decade after that first phone call, solutions for Carolyn’s major depressive disorder remained elusive, and Sarah felt compelled to understand why.
Fighting Chance: How Unexpected Observations and Unintended Outcomes Shape the Science and Treatment of Depression delivers a 360-degree look inside the world of this debilitating illness, featuring interviews with more than 20 experts in the fields of neuroscience and psychiatry, current research and the unforgettable stories of 16 people personally impacted by depression.
Described by Sarah as a “science book for non-scientists,” Fighting Chancetackles key questions that have guided scientific research for decades and delves into the discoveries that have formed the medical world’s understanding of the disorder. Peppered throughout are more than 20 illustrations that help explain the science involved — making it widely accessible.
Sarah adeptly explores topics ranging from the neurobiology of depression to antidepressant medications; stress and inflammation; genetics; suicide; traditional and alternative therapies and treatments; and even gives a nod to Big Data’s efforts to clarify depression’s causes and cures.
Ultimately, Fighting Chance is a tale of human endeavor and ingenuity, of downright weird experiments and serendipitous discoveries, and of people who valiantly battle for answers for themselves and for people they will never know.
Author Sarah Zabel graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy with a degree in computer science in 1987 and was commissioned a second lieutenant. She retired from the Air Force in 2018 as a major general and decided to turn her focus to her life-long love of learning and become a science writer. She set herself the task of first coming to understand, and then to explain for other lay-persons, the science behind some of life’s most complex but important human experiences. Inspired, intrigued and frustrated by an enduring friend’s battle with depression, she set that topic as her first task. Sarah does occasional consulting and other activities associated with her time as one of the military’s leaders in cyberspace operations and security, in the provision of communications and other services to a community, and leadership of a diverse workforce.
Wearable glucose monitors shed light on progression of Type 2 diabetes in Hispanic/Latino adults Study by Sansum Diabetes Research Institute and Rice University points to new directions for improved diabetes care
HOUSTON – (April 29, 2021) – In one of the first studies of its kind, medical and engineering researchers have shown wearable devices that continuously monitor blood sugar provide new insights into the progression of Type 2 diabetes among at-risk Hispanic/Latino adults.
"The fresh look at the glucose data sheds new light on disease progression, which could have a direct impact on better management," said Rice study co-author Ashutosh Sabharwal, professor and department chair in electrical and computer engineering and founder of Rice's Scalable Health Labs. "An important aspect of our analysis is that the results are clinically interpretable and point to new directions for improved Type 2 diabetes care."
The study builds on SDRI's groundbreaking research to address Type 2 diabetes in underserved Hispanic/Latino communities. SDRI's Farming for Life initiative assesses the physical and mental health benefits of providing medical prescriptions for locally sourced fresh vegetables to people with or at risk of Type 2 diabetes, with a focus on the Hispanic/Latino community. SDRI recently added a digital health technology called continuous glucose monitoring to this research.
Continuous glucose monitors track blood sugar levels around-the-clock and allow trends in blood glucose to be displayed and analyzed over time. The devices typically consist of two parts, a small electrode sensor affixed to the skin with an adhesive patch and a receiver that gathers data from the sensor.
"We found that the use of this technology is both feasible and acceptable for this population, predominantly Mexican American adults," said study co-author David Kerr, SDRI's director of research and innovation. "The results also provided new insights into measurable differences in the glucose profiles for individuals at risk of as well as with noninsulin-treated Type 2 diabetes. These findings could facilitate novel therapeutic approaches to reduce the risk of progression of Type 2 diabetes for this underserved population."
Sabharwal, who is also a co-investigator of the Precise Advanced Technologies and Health Systems for Underserved Populations (PATHS-UP) engineering research center, said, "The collaboration with SDRI aligns with our mission to use technology as an important building block to reduce health care disparities."
"We are excited about the application of digital health technologies for underserved populations as a way to eliminate health disparities and improve health equity," Kerr said. "This opens up potential for a larger number of collaborations to support SDRI's evolving focus on precision nutrition and also the expanded use of digital health technologies for both the prevention and management of all forms of diabetes."
Study co-authors include Souptik Barua of Rice and Namino Glantz, Casey Conneely, Arianna Larez and Wendy Bevier of SDRI.
The research was supported by the Department of Agriculture (2018-33800-28404), the National Science Foundation (1648451), the Hearst Foundation, the Mosher Foundation, Sun Life Financial, the St. Francis Foundation and the Blooming Prairie Foundation.
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Links and resources:
The DOI of the EClinicalMedicine paper is: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.100853
High-resolution IMAGES are available for download at:
https://sansum.org/images/Lancet-graphic-print.jpg CAPTION: Sansum Diabetes Research Institute's Farming for Life initiative addresses Type 2 diabetes in underserved Hispanic/Latino communities by assessing the physical and mental health benefits of providing medical prescriptions for locally sourced fresh vegetables to people with or at risk of the disease. In a study of participants who wore continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), devices that measure blood sugar levels around-the-clock, researchers showed CGM data can provide new insights into the progression of Type 2 diabetes among at-risk Hispanic/Latino adults. (Image courtesy of Sansum Diabetes Research Institute)
https://sansum.org/images/David-Kerr-print.jpg CAPTION: David Kerr is the director of research and innovation at Sansum Diabetes Research Institute. (Image courtesy of Sansum Diabetes Research Institute)
Follow Rice News and Media Relations via Twitter @RiceUNews.
Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. With 3,978 undergraduates and 3,192 graduate students, Rice’s undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is just under 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for lots of race/class interaction and No. 1 for quality of life by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.
How a Momtrepreneur is Changing the Way We Workout Through an
On-Demand Water Fitness System
Women in Tech Founders Award Finalist Available for Interviews
Certified fitness trainer Jennifer Conroyd developed a serious, no-impact aquatic high-tech workout after she was injured and needed to rehab to run a marathon. Her Fluid Running workout is an on-demand deep water running workout system that's like a Peloton for the pool. It uses a special flotation belt and Bluetooth, waterproof headphones that connect with the app that allows users to hear music-backed workouts led by Jennifer. Movement in cool, circulating water helps improve flexibility while cushioning the joints and reducing inflammation. Water also creates resistance and uses core and upper body muscles, which is why deep-water running burns about 40% more calories than land running. Get into the deep end of the pool (or bay or lake) and hit “play” for a running workout that’s perfect for people of all ages and fitness levels.
Why did Jennifer Conroyd Invent Fluid Running?
Jennifer Conroyd is the quintessential momtrepreneur. A certified fitness trainer, she founded Fluid Running in 2011 after an injury left her unable to run in preparation for the 2010 Chicago Marathon. She ran exclusively in deep water for the six weeks leading up to the race, and not only finished that marathon, but qualified for the Boston Marathon. Jennifer, a graduate of Miami University, certified personal trainer, and mom of three adult boys, wanted a way for everyone to stay active without the risk of injury. Jennifer is an accomplished athlete, having completed the Ironman and has run 16 marathons, qualifying for the Boston Marathon 15 times. Jennifer resides in Chicago and was named a finalist for the 2018 Women in Tech Founders award.
The Path to Product Development: Jennifer met Mike Lambert, a technologist and digital marketer in a co-working space during a weekly entrepreneur lunch. Jennifer’s inspiring story prompted Mike to share his idea about using an app to deliver classes instead of instructors. Within a month, they had people testing out a prototype, and six months later, the product was complete. Fluid Running offers in-person classes in the Chicago area, however, the on- demand system is available for purchase in The United States, Canada, Australia, and throughout the EU.
What Fluid Running Has Accomplished
Sales were over $400K last year.
Over 1000 people have taken the group class, with over 2000 On-demand customers via online purchase.
After being named one of the "20 Best Workouts in America" by Men's Journal, interest arose internationally resulting in Fluid Running adding an On-demand, app-based program that can be done by anyone, anywhere.
In summer 2020 growth rates were over 1,000%
A Gratefulness Revival: Five Truths to Keep in Mind This Spring
We’re naturally more grateful this time of year (and maybe especially this year). Steve Cook explains why gratefulness is so important in our pursuit of joy—and offers a simple exercise to help you get intentional about shifting your focus.
Knoxville, TN (April 2021)—As the sun comes out, the flowers bloom, the trees green up, and the pandemic shows signs of improvement (at least in some places), the conditions are right for feeling, expressing, and expanding our gratefulness. Don’t let this moment pass. Steve Cook says now is the time for a gratefulness revival.
“A life devoid of gratefulness robs of us joy, and joy is what we all need more of, especially here at the end of a long, tough winter,” says Cook, author ofLifeonaire: An Uncommon Approach to Wealth, Success, and Prosperity(Lifeonaire Promotions, LLC, 2018, ISBN: 978-0-9863228-7-7, $14.99).
Is Cook talking about literal winter, pandemic winter, or spiritual winter? It could be any or all of them. Regardless, says Cook, it’s easier to feel grateful right now when things are looking up a bit. That’s why we need to seize the feeling, focus on it, and intentionally do the things that cause it to grow.
“If you want more joy in your life, focus on gratitude,” he says. “They go hand in hand.”
Cook—a life and business coach, speaker, trainer, and author who helps people opt out of the American Dream culture that glorifies “busy, the grind, and the hustle”—says gratefulness is easier to embrace once you see its benefits. A few “great truths” about gratefulness:
GREAT TRUTH #1:First and foremost, gratefulness is a choice. “When we don’t intentionally choose gratefulness, we’re automatically ungrateful,” says Cook. “There’s no way around it. You can’t be stuck in the middle. Too often the default is to be ungrateful simply because you’re not intentionally focusing on gratitude.”
Each day, you must commit to feeling gratitude—even on those days you’re feeling crabby, uninspired, or generally negative. When you catch yourself being negative, redirect your focus to something you feel grateful for. It can be something large, such as the ability to go to work, or small, such as your favorite dessert. Either way, choosing gratitude is a deliberate decision you have to make over and over. This a practice, but it becomes easier with time and repetition.
GREAT TRUTH #2: Gratefulness changes the atmosphere around you. It allows you to see everything differently. In a spiritual sense, when you’re grateful, it’s hard for anything that would steal your joy to exist or to remain in your presence. If you’re overflowing with something, how could you possibly run out?
“Challenge yourself to feel so full of joy and gratitude that there’s less room for anything else,” says Cook. “Once you witness the powerful shift this makes on your outlook, you will be eager to turn to gratefulness as a way of life.”
GREAT TRUTH # 3: Expressing gratefulness redirects your focus. It takes your mind off your problems and places it on more meaningful things.Ideally, says Cook, we would express our gratefulness to God or our Higher Power. But we can also express it to those around us, or to ourselves (perhaps in a gratitude journal). Why suffer by focusing only on what is wrong in your life when you could spend time exploring spirituality and seeking guidance that helps you learn and grow?
GREAT TRUTH # 4: You can’t wallow in self-pity or have a victim mentality when you’re feeling grateful. This is an important reason to work on your gratitude levels.Being grateful changes your attitude about the tough things you experience and helps to drown them out and put them into the right perspective.
GREAT TRUTH # 5: Finally, with the right perspective, you can even become grateful for your trials. Why? Because you start to see your experiences as opportunities to learn valuable lessons, grow stronger, and rely more on faith.
“When approached from a place of gratefulness, your struggles take on a whole new meaning,” says Cook.
Now that the benefits of gratefulness are clear, try this gratitude exercise for experiencing what Cook calls “indescribable joy.” It’s the perfect pick-me-up for those times you fall into a self-pity trap or when you’re just plain feeling ungrateful and want to reset your attitude.
An Exercise for Harvesting Gratitude and Joy
Set aside some time every day to stop and express what you’re thankful for. Speak it out verbally or write it down in a gratitude journal. Commit to doing this every day—and if you are struggling a lot to feel grateful, you might need to do this exercise even more often. It’s a simple process, so if you commit to making it happen, it will pay off.
To get you started, here is a sample list. (When Cook does this exercise, he thanks God, but there are other ways to express gratitude.)
I am grateful for:
My faith (If you like, you can add specifics like God’s mercy, forgiveness, or unfailing love.)
My wife or husband or partner
My children
The arrival of spring
The flowers outside my window
A new day
My home
A mind that can think
My health
My livelihood
Singing
Good food to eat
A good vehicle
Hope
The ability to give
The ability to serve
My rich friendships
The ability to be generous
“Once you begin seeking out things to be grateful for, you will see there’s no end to them,” concludes Cook. “And the more you express, the more everything around you will begin to change. Joy is the emergent. It’s the perfect attitude for welcoming spring.”
# # #
About the Author:
Steve Cook is the founder of Lifeonaire, an author, coach, real estate investor, speaker, father, and husband. He has a passion for teaching, giving, and his faith. After two failed restaurant ventures in 1998, Steve hit rock bottom and lost everything. With no money and nothing but a strong will to succeed, Steve turned to real estate investing, and his efforts were met with an uncommon success.
As a professional real estate investor, he has done over 550 deals, and it was that very success that led him to realize that having true abundance isn’t about a lot of money or possessions—it’s about having a wealth of life.
With this understanding, Steve founded Lifeonaire, and now his passion is sharing the message with others to help them live prosperous, abundant lives.
About the Book:
Lifeonaire: An Uncommon Approach to Wealth, Success, and Prosperity (Lifeonaire Promotions, LLC, 2018, ISBN: 978-0-9863228-7-7, $14.99) is available from major online booksellers.
Tap into Trauma’s Emotional Energy and Use it to Power a Fulfilling Future
Los Angeles, CA, April 29, 2021 — Trauma doesn’t have to lead to a lifetime of weakness or hardship. In fact, trauma can lead to greater resilience and higher levels of achievement than we thought possible.
Dr. Randall Bell, widely considered the world’s top authority in the field of post-traumatic thriving, shares a process for not only surviving trauma but also thriving in the aftermath in his latest book, Post-Traumatic Thriving: The Art, Science, & Stories of Resilience.
“It can’t happen to me” is one of life’s greatest lies, he notes. But if or when it does happen, it’s possible to harness the emotional energy generated by the traumatic event — whether it was losing a loved one, surviving a natural disaster or being a victim of violence — and use it to heal and grow in entirely new directions.
“How do you take that energy from the trauma and tap into it to do something really remarkable that you wouldn’t have done otherwise?” asks Dr. Bell.
In Post-Traumatic Thriving, he shares stories of real people (many of them, like Leo Fender, are familiar) who have done exactly that, including:
• A deaf man with a glass eye invented the electric guitar and became a household name, remarkably wealthy and most importantly, happy.
• A convicted murderer took responsibility for the damage he caused, graduated with honors from college, became a minister and turned around the hearts of the most hardened criminals.
• A girl born with cerebral palsy landed the world’s first starring role on national television and spoke at the White House three times.
• A woman hid in a basement for years and lost her entire family in the Holocaust. She eventually found true love and paints stunning artwork.
• The sister of a murder victim helped millions of women in toxic domestic relationships.
• A woman’s car crash resulted in an addiction to prescription drugs, a divorce, a loss of her children and a cot in a homeless shelter. She has rebuilt it all back and more.
• A man set to go to the Olympics had his hopes dashed by Jimmy Carter and went on to build a worldwide business empire.
Dr. Bell juxtaposes outcomes of scientific studies with these stories to reveal common denominators among “thrivers.” He divides his insights into three sections: The Dive Stage, The Survive Stage and The Thrive Stage, and outlines a step-by-step process toward authentic healing.
As a socio-economist, Dr. Randall Bell has consulted on more disasters on earth than anyone in history. His clients include the Federal Government, State Governments, International Tribunals, major corporations and homeowners. Dr. Bell believes that “the problem is not the problem — the problem is how we react to the problem.”
Often called the “Master of Disaster,” Dr. Bell is squarely focused on authentic recovery and resilience. His research has been profiled on major television shows and featured in numerous magazines and the international media. More information can be found at www.posttraumaticthriving.com.
Post-Traumatic Thriving: The Art, Science, & Stories of Resilience
Embrace Your Imperfections and Embark Upon a Healing Journey with God as Your Guide
Seattle, WA, April 29, 2021 — Crippling fear permeated every aspect of Christine Soule’s life from an early age and followed her into adulthood. Her past of brokenness — abuse, dysfunction, addiction and other trauma — could have very well defined her future. But once she turned to God and let Him lead the way, she found a path toward a brighter future.
“The key is discovering who you are in Christ — your true identify. And that’s especially significant if you, like me, have a past of brokenness,” Soule writes in her inspirational story, Broken and Beautiful. “So much of how we see ourselves revolves around the demands our society places on us, insisting we live up to its expectations. Don’t listen to the world. Listen to God.”
Soule’s life was a jumbled pile of broken pieces. Her father was married seven times; her mother four times. Between her parents’ divorce when she was 5 years old and the day she allowed the power and presence of God into her heart, she watched her sister have an affair with her adoptive father; met 15 siblings she never knew at her biological father’s funeral; turned to drugs and alcohol; got pregnant at 17; had twins less than two years later; and became a victim of human trafficking. She had to break the cycle for the sake of her children. With nowhere else to turn, she dropped to her knees and prayed. And that’s when everything changed.
Broken and Beautiful is Soule’s remarkable story of how God took the pieces of her broken, astonishingly dysfunctional life and transformed it all into a breathtaking mosaic of joy and purpose.
“The places where you feel hopeless are exactly what He wants to redeem and fill with beauty, dignity and strength. He has a plan for your pain. A wonderful intention for your failures. A purpose for your hardest, darkest stories,” Soule writes.
Told with honesty and surprising touches of humor, Soule shares her journey from drug-
addicted stripper to exuberant Jesus lover with a passion for helping others embrace God’s love. Broken and Beautiful is a raw, authentic story of hope, from a place of experience.
Author Christine Soule lives with the love of her life, Mitch Soule, in Seattle. They have five kids and three wonderful grandchildren. She is the founder and CEO of Providence Heights (www.providenceheights.org), a nonprofit created to house women and children in need and to provide counseling, education and jobs.
