Susan has authored more than 500 articles and 17 books including her most recent, “The Healing Power of NatureFoods: 50 Revitalizing SuperFoods & Lifestyle Choices to Promote Vibrant Health” (Hay House).

Susan is in a unique position to testify on the efficacy of her basic message that health is the result of choice. When her back was fractured in an automobile accident, she was told by her physician that she would never he able to carry “anything heavier than a small purse.” Susan chose not to accept this verdict; within six months, there was no longer any pain or evidence of the fracture. Soon, she fully regained her health and her active lifestyle. Susan attributes her healing to her living foods diet, the power of Spirit, faith, determination and a deep commitment to expressing her highest potential. Since that time, she has been constantly active in spreading the message that anyone can choose radiant health and physical, mental and spiritual rejuvenation.

phenomeNEWS: Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us, Susan. Your stellar health education career and personal triumphs are most inspiring and your loyal support of phenomeNEWS is wonderful. You believe people have the power and ability to determine the course and quality of their own lives. How can we move in that direction?

We all have the capacity to choose our thoughts and become anything we’d like. People all over the world are taking charge of their own lives, taking a more active role in transforming the quality of their daily experiences. We can learn to discard our unhealthy lifestyle choices and such negative beliefs as “life is meant to be a struggle,” accompanied by fear, lack, limitation and victimhood, in favor of the belief that our limitations are self-imposed and that we all have the responsibility to reach our highest potential. In so doing, we make a difference in the quality of life for the planet as a whole.

You are a great proponent of living a disciplined, balanced life. How can balance make a difference?

It’s been my experience that as we push faster and harder in our lives, without keeping a balance, we grow more and more insensitive to the needs of those around us as well as to our own, thus closing off our inner fountain of joy and peace. I see this as a sickness of epidemic proportions. I call it a “hurry” or a “busyness” sickness. To balance our lives, we must first simplify things. Slow down. Take time to smell the flowers, talk to the animals, be with family and friends, laugh with the children and find opportunities each day to shower the world from our individual fountain of joy and peace. As we do, the world around us will reflect this joy and peace.

In your book Choose to Live Peacefully, you write about health as an integration of the “whole” person. Please explain.

Our level of health is a result of the countless choices we make regarding diet, exercise, what we think, believe and expect, how we feel about ourselves and what we envision in our lives. All aspects of our being-physical, mental, emotional and spiritual-work together as one. Engaging in a regular fitness program will have a positive effect on our emotions, our mind and our spirit. By the same token, we can eat the best organically grown foods and exercise two to three hours each day, but if our thoughts are continually negative, our health will suffer.

Many people have developed unhealthful and seemingly unbreakable habits over the course of their lives. What do you say to someone who is suffering and wants a solution?

It’s never too late to start making better choices. No matter what our age, background or eating and living habits, we can choose to begin fresh today by making positive choices that support well-being. Repetition is the path to either mastery of a new behavior pattern or the road to failure. Of course, discipline is an essential ingredient. I see discipline as the ability to carry out a resolution long after the initial enthusiasm. The mountain of soul achievement and mastery in life cannot be scaled by the faint of heart. Without discipline, we can’t make it to the mountaintop. No exceptions. Control of body, mind and emotions is essential. Mind discipline creates body discipline. And from a disciplined body comes an exhilarated mind.

What is the healthiest diet?

For 30 years, I’ve taught culinary classes – focusing on healthy food preparation. Our bodies are designed to be self-repairing, renewing and rejuvenating and to function optimally. Choosing health promoting foods and living a balanced life, just makes sense to me. We’ll stay radiantly healthy when we emphasize God-given natural, plant-based foods. I eat a colorful, whole-foods, mostly organic diet.

Readers of phenomeNEWS know the evidence is clear that the healthiest diets are loaded with plant foods, especially vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds and short on animal foods. A diet rich in fruit and vegetables plays a role in reducing the risk of all the major causes of illness and death including cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, diverticulosis, constipation, obesity, etc.

You are recognized internationally for your expertise in fitness. What is your personal fitness program?

The foundation of my fitness program is cross-training, incorporating a variety of activities to prevent boredom, keep me motivated and ensure that all the different muscle groups will be exercised. Outdoors, I love to swim in the ocean, hike, cycle, jog, skate, walk and kayak. At the gym, I train with weights and at home I use a variety of equipment for aerobic conditioning and strength training so I don’t have any excuses not to exercise because of weather conditions. I also round out my program with regular sessions of stretching, slanting, Pilates or yoga. The key to getting and staying fit is consistency and a well-rounded program.

What other practices, besides nutrition and exercise, do you feel are necessary for healing and optimum health?

Healthy self-esteem is close to the top of the list. This is crucial in determining the quality of our lives. We must also practice unconditional love and forgiveness toward ourselves as well as others. This begins with embracing only loving, positive thoughts, feelings, words and visualizations, for we attract to ourselves the equivalent of that which we think and believe. As we open our hearts to our own self-worth and to the divine essence of all humanity, we access the most powerful healer of all – Love, which is God. We must treat our bodies with love, respect and dignity. They are temples for our spiritual nature. When we start with that understanding, we will more naturally and effortlessly choose to do, think and say that which reflects the Love we are.

Other elements essential to radiant health include full, deep breathing, fresh air, sunshine, adequate sleep, living with gratitude, enthusiasm and reverence, simplifying your life, learning to relax and becoming more joyfully childlike. I’d round that out with meditation, some time for solitude, being out in nature and living more from inner guidance.

In your audio book, Wired to Meditate, you teach what’s needed to start or upgrade one’s meditation program. How do you nurture your spiritual side?

I’ve practiced and taught meditation for 35 years and feel it’s the most important part of my life. You could say that it’s the hub of the wheel for me. It has been the most crucial factor in bringing me a sense of deep peace, joy, humility, gratefulness and caring. From spending regular time in silence and meditation, I realize I am never really alone. That’s a very comforting feeling. Through meditation, I celebrate that special oneness with my source; it’s my strength and my guiding light. It’s everything to me. I am very disciplined about this part of my life. I arise early (before sunrise) each morning to meditate and then, before I sleep at night, I will meditate again. In addition, once a week, one weekend a month and for a few days with each change of season, I practice extended periods of meditation, silence and solitude.

What role can silence play in regard to our well-being?

In silence we become whole and can experience peace and spiritual lucidity. Going within, we can reacquaint ourselves with our spiritual nature, the essence of our being and all life – our inherent, still, all-knowing center. I encourage everyone to meditate daily. When more people meditate regularly, there will be a profound and exponential effect on our entire planet, resulting in a world of peace where everyone wins. The daily practice of meditation, as well as taking early morning hikes, rejuvenates me and nurtures a reverence for life. In fact, both practices empower me to face whatever befalls me that day with élan and aplomb.

What would you say to someone who seems to be depressed or stuck in life, not knowing what to do to feel more fulfilled?

We are here to experience and celebrate life and to be fulfilled, happy and joyful. This is our true destiny. We each need to take our vision seriously. Why not become the best that we can be? We owe it to ourselves and no one is going to do it for us. Often we never begin the one thing we really want to do in life because of fear. But the greatest possible growth and personal development is achieved through “facing our fear and doing it anyway.”

We often just live in the “comfort zone.” We can learn so much about ourselves when we look at what creates the fear in our mind. Once we identify the root of this, the challenge is to step out beyond the fear, even though we may not have a clear idea of the next step. In my workshops, I teach that when you feel least like starting something new, that is precisely the time to forge ahead. Just the physical act of beginning will create the momentum and energy that will allow you to go beyond your fear and toward your greatest accomplishments.

How do you help people realize their goals?

I recommend that people start with very easy-to-achieve goals so they can experience success and feel empowered. Visualization is a very important part of the process. You must be able to see yourself achieving your goal.

When I am visualizing a goal, I accept it and give thanks that it is already part of my reality. Simply put, “act as if.” You don’t want to push your goal out into the future. And I always end my visualizations with, “This or something better I now accept in my life.” I do that because even though I may be clear on what want, I am always living in the presence of a Higher Power that knows my highest good.

What can we learn from your personal success?

One of the major keys to my success in life is, again, discipline. Then there’s enthusiasm, faith in oneself, tenacity, high personal standards and integrity. With all of this, your life will blossom, as you resonate at a higher frequency. I absolutely mean this literally. Scientific studies have shown that when we are enthusiastic, positive and have faith in ourselves, the frequency of vibration of our molecules is increased at a base cellular level. Eating a living foods diet also increases one’s overall vibrancy.

Another key is regular visualization, seeing in your mind’s eye the end result of what you want to achieve, along with the feeling of the wish being fulfilled. I spend time each day visualizing.

For self-improvement, you recommend accepting personal change as a lifelong process.

Ben Franklin once said that whatever you do for 21 days will become a habit. This assertion is now supported by behavioral scientists. If you meditate or exercise or eat only living foods or perhaps stop smoking or drinking coffee for 21 consecutive days, your body will accept your new behavior as a habit or no longer crave what you gave up. This is a wonderful way to take control of one’s life. Most people can commit to a simple 21 days and arrange their personal circumstances and lifestyle to support that commitment.

I have done this monthly for over 30 years and I have made 12 beneficial changes every year. I’m not saying this is always easy. Often when you make a commitment, things may get worse in your life before they get better. I believe this is because the commitment brings antagonistic and antithetical elements to the surface. Only then can you take responsibility for such things and let them go. Quite often the most rewarding transformations come from our greatest adversities and challenges.

What do you consider to be the basic keys to self-mastery and superb health?

Seven keys immediately came to mind:

1. Having a very clear vision of what you want in life.

2. Being totally committed to that vision.

3. Living with faith, i.e., believing, even when appearances or common sense may show you something other than your vision.

4. Keeping your word and always telling the truth – you disconnect from Spirit and your life force when you don’t honor your word or tell the truth.

5. Acknowledging that it is in surrender to the loving, co-creative power within that you will find and create everything you are seeking in life.

6. Maintaining an attitude of gratitude. No matter what is going on in my life, I am grateful, because I know that I can learn and grow and be a better and stronger person for it.

7. Embracing a healthy lifestyle and choosing living foods that foster vibrant health.

Actually, I feel there’s a lot more to health than a strong body, toned muscles, clear mind and a disease and pain-free existence. Not that these aren’t important. My real impetus stems from my belief that there is a higher purpose to all life: to seek spiritual growth and enlightenment. I see our physical bodies as the “temple of God” and, because of this, I focus not just on physical exercise, but also on positive thinking and proper diet. The body reflects the mind and the mind reflects the spirit.

I’ve discovered that if we don’t commit to make time for health, then we’ll be forced to make time for sickness. I’ve made the commitment to health.

I very much believe in commitment. It’s through our everyday behavior that we know what really counts for us. If we’re committed, then what we think, feel, say and do is congruent. Commitment is also an excellent way to free yourself from tension because then your mind and heart are no longer vacillating.

Lack of commitment seems to be a disease of our generation. Just look around you. People say they are committed to a healthier planet, yet they continue to litter, don’t recycle, drive cars that pollute and eat animal products. People say they’re committed to being healthy, yet they eat a junk food diet and don’t exercise. People say they’re committed to their relationship, yet when things get challenging, they head for the door. People say they are committed to aligning and nurturing the spiritual side of their being, but they make no time in their lives to meditate or commune with God.

Sometimes a person will get seriously ill or have an accident and that will be their “wake up call.” It will force them to get in touch with what is really essential in life. But it’s easier and makes more sense to take a proactive approach, making the time each day to turn within and connect with your real Higher Self, to pay attention to what’s important and then bring that out into the world.

I’m committed to a practical, self-disciplined, day-to-day spirituality as a way of life, always recognizing the sacredness of our lives.

Much of the world seems to be in a state of crisis. Any comments?

I believe that everything that is going on is a reflection of our consciousness. If I watch the news and allow myself to become very upset and/or angry about what’s going on, I am only adding to the turmoil that is already out there. I like to be informed, but I feel that what I can do best is just choose to live my life as peacefully, positively and lovingly as possible. Everything begins in our own hearts. If we can all live more loving and peaceful lives, then we can add those feelings to the mass consciousness and, in our own unique way, make a difference.

How do you stay inspired?

My work brings me into contact with wonderful people all over the world. When I travel to give motivational talks, I always meet amazing, inspiring folks who uplift me. I am always inspired when I can spend time with easygoing people who are like-minded, i.e., healthy, peaceful, happy and in touch with their empowered, sacred-loving presence.

Any last gems you would like to leave with the readers?

Yes – several points:

• First I would like to remind you that life is to be enjoyed – to be celebrated. Know what you want in life and commit to your vision, to the things that have your heart, that create the passion and enthusiasm in your life.

• If you don’t like your life and want to change it, you must first change your thoughts. In other words, to bring something new into your life, you must first imagine that it’s already there. Be it! If you want to have more peace in your life, for example, you must first be peaceful. If you want more joy, you must first be joyful. If you want more friends, be friendly. If you want more prosperity, be more generous and share what you have and want more of with others.

• I would encourage you not to take yourself and your life story so seriously. Laughter is the lubricant and elixir of life. Being able to laugh at yourself and the everyday incongruities of life is the best way to quell stress. Lighten up and enjoy!

• Embrace gratitude as a way of looking at everything in your life. The attitude of gratitude will help foster happiness and peace of mind and assist you in living more fully.

• Move as close as you can to a living foods diet and a healthful, balanced lifestyle so you can be a paragon of radiant strength and vitality. The compelling evidence of personal example will ripple outward and you’ll make a positive difference in the world simply by how you’re choosing to live and by the foods you eat.

• And, finally, I encourage you to love, honor and forgive yourself and open up to your personal angelic helpers (we all have guardian angels watching over us) and to the Higher Power or whatever you wish to call it, that is within you. We are spiritual beings in a physical body. When you put God first in your life, peace and love will be your constant companions.

Susan’s website is www.SusanSmithJones.com