Four Quadrant Living: A Guide to Nourishing Your Mind, Body, Relationships, and Environment

This is one of the greatest books ever. My Mom just passed away after my taking care of her in her 10 year battle with Alzheimers. I am worried about getting it myself... and this book was a gift in how to live a balanced and healthy life... to minimize Alzheimers or other devastating diseases. In the 4 basic areas of having a healthy and happy life: Health, Relationships, Physical/Exercise, Mental/Self... the author gives many wonderful practical tips and suggestions for healthy and happy living. It was encouraging for me because without knowing it I was doing a number of very healthy and helpful things for my mom in caring for her that extended her happiness and life. Whether you are sick or healthy this book will help you keep a healthy and happy balance in your life. It is easy to read ... it has dozens of practical tips in each of the 4 key areas of your life. It is also easy easy to come back to as a reference book too. The author does a wonderful job of personalizing the ideas from her own life. One of the things I like most is that it shows there is no magic pill or one thing to make you healthy or happy. Like life, things impact each other .... there are things on multiple fronts that lead to long term health and happiness. With Alzheimers there is not a pill that cures it because the brain and your body is a complicated system. This book recognizes that our health and happiness are a system where a number of things have to come together for true health and happiness. The author has some very good ideas in each of the buckets that make up the "human health and happiness system". This is a must read for anyone who takes accountability for your own or others health and happiness. I also think medical providers would benefit from this book to take a little broader view of patients health than the traditional medical practice.

This is a friendly compendium of practical guidelines for a rich life (in the four areas of mind, body, relationships, and environment). The originality lies not so much in the message but in the presentation. I loved her droll and memorable phrases: get your "daily giggle quota" "I was so busy that I was losing my mindfulness" and "get the mental out of your illness" to name a few. Dina passes along traditional wisdom that really touched me: the Persian proverb "When it is dark enough, you can see the stars" and "What would you do if you knew you could not fail?"I was glad to see that she emphasizes the importance of sleep and the hazards of all the chemicals found in our food and personal care products, not to mention the insanity of diagnosing normal human conditions and then inventing products to "treat" them.The back story is somber - a sister's cancer treatment and the announcement from medicos that the author herself had a very high risk of cancer herself - a prediction that inspired the life-altering changes Dina shares in this book. If you're looking for a companion in your journey, this is a good one.

I am a busy mom without a lot of time for myself, certainly not a lot of time to read a book ... much less a "self-help" book. Dina's Four Quadrant Living was a breath of fresh air! Not only is it a quick read, but the chapters provide just enough in the way of relateable stories and advice for more healthy, well-rounded living. The best part is that all it is useable in your life right now!... it's not 28 day cleanse, a gym membership or some costly life coach. It's practical, ready-to-use ways of thinking about everyday life that can be implemented to make a difference right away. I especially like how she offers so many options that appeal to anyone, wherever they are on the health spectrum relating to mind, body, relationship and environment. You put the book down saying, "I can do this"! You can easily flip back and forth and come back to it when you need another dose or an attitude adjustment. My favorite is her advice about "reframing" when things don't go your way. I use it with my kids to help them adjust to disappointments and see life through more positive lenses! It's a must read and a great gift!!

Colman's easy to read book is full of words of wisdom, real life scenarios and the research to back it up. Though there are many books on the market designed to guide you to live a better life, Colman stands out as she condenses volumes of information into short, concrete, helpful chapters and reminds us that good health is built on the choices we make for our body, mind, relationships and environment. Good health is active, not passive. Her style is crisp, refreshing and full of energy. It made me smile, stop and reflect, and consider how I might get back on track in some areas of my personal life. Her focus on health as a dynamic state with you in the driver's seat is right on. As a Registered Nurse and a breast cancer "thriver," I would highly recommend Four Quadrant Living to anyone who is interested in living a longer, more fulfilling life or driving the toxic fear of illness out of your body by taking the path of mindful, purposeful living. I just bought a bunch for holiday gifts and will use her tips for family dialogue at Thanksgiving!Pamela Triolo, PhD, RN, Author of  Death Without Cause: A Health Care Mystery