And so we reach the conclusion of our journev in this book, but the beginning of your own journev. It is a long but rewarding journev, and whether you decide to share it with us as part of our BEST coursework or proceed on your own path, vour life will be richer as a result.

The journey is not without its obstacles. One of the most daunting is your ingrained wav of thinking. By the time we have reached maturity, we tend to be set in our ways. Strong opinions color our emotions. If your mindset is skeptical, regretful, or doubtful of your ability to change your brain, you will not succeed. Therefore, as a parting gift to you, we wish to share the most important state of mind to cultivate as you begin BEST— something we call the langsaeng ideal.

There are certain key characteristics of a person who has Jangsaeng, longevity not only of lifespan, but of mind and spirit as well. Through your life, I am sure you have met older, sometimes very old people, who still have an amazing amount of vitality. These are the people who never stop inspiring, never stop connecting, and never stop loving their time on this Earth. These are the Jangsaeng people… and you can be one of them.

If you really want to be a Jangsaeng person, it is not a matter of luck or genetics. Rather, Jangsaeng is a light that continually pours forth from the inner world of these people that we so greatly admire and love. The BEST method is found on the notion that health, happiness, and peace are not traits we inherit, but choose. These things are not out there somewhere waiting to be found by random chance, nor can they be granted to us bv someone else. Rather they are all right here, right now, waiting for our brains to open up to them. The ravages of time can do a lot to reduce the mechanisms of the bodv, but it can never do anything to lessen this kind of spirit. To have this sort of power, focus on these basic human ideals:

GRATITUDE—Remind yourself each day to wallow in gratitude for all that YOU have and to be humble because YOU have received such gifts. You are alive, and with life come potential and hope. You have your health, even if it is not perfect. You have a body that, despite its flaws, is still capable of creating so much and experiencing so much in this world. You have people in your life who love and cherish YOU. And YOU have a marvelous brain that can reshape your little according to your vision. Feel gratitude for all these things daily and share your gratitude with others. It is the best antidote to cynicism that we know.

Ilchi Lee tips on healthy eating and exercises.