INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Aromatherapy is generally delivered through essential oils, which are distilled from the leaves, stems, flowers, bark, or roots of specific plants. There are a wide variety of essential oils that can help you relax. Choose one with an appealing scent to you or mix several for a personalized essential oil. Some of the best essential oils for relaxation are: Bergamot Chamomile Jasmine Lavender Marjoram Rose Valerian Vetiver Every essential oil has different properties. Some may not be ideal for helping you relax. Reading the label of any essential oil you choose can alert you to potential contra-indications and prevent potential problems. Find contra-indications and any other warnings by reading the label of the essential oil. For example, you should see a warning about using valerian if you are pregnant or breast feeding. If there is no label, consider another brand. Essential oils are very powerful and you should avoid using a "neat" or undiluted oil on your skin. A carrier oil reduces the potency of an essential oil. It also moisturizes your skin. Use a mild carrier oil. Some excellent options are coconut, olive, avocado, safflower, and almond oils. Mix seven to12 drops of essential oil to each fluid ounce of carrier oil, depending on how strong you want the aroma. Don't dilute your essential oil with water or other liquids. These won't make the mixture mild enough to use on your skin. Before using your essential oil, it's important to check that the mixture doesn't irritate your skin. Dab one to two drops of the oil on the inside of your elbow. If you don't notice a reaction after 24 hours, you can use the essential oil to help you relax.

SUMMARY: Choose the best essential oils for relaxing. Read product labels. Dilute essential oils with a carrier oil. Test the oil on your skin.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Pick a mirror that's big enough to fit as much of you in the shot as you want. For instance, a small wall mirror works if you just want a selfie of your face, whereas you need a taller mirror if you want a picture of your whole body. Keep in mind that you can crop your selfies, too. If you just want your face in the picture, but you only have a giant wall mirror, crop the rest of your body out of the photo after you take it. If you're taking your selfie in your bedroom or your own house, make sure the space that will be showing in the picture is organized and clean. For example, put away any dirty clothes on the floor, make your bed, and check that anything potentially embarrassing, like your life-sized celebrity crush poster, is hidden. Natural lighting is the most flattering for pictures. To take advantage of this, open the blinds or curtains on windows to allow more light in and try to take your picture during the day when it's sunny outside. If it's nighttime, recreate natural lighting by turning on soft, warm lamps instead of bright overhead lights. Avoid fluorescent or harsh white lights which dull your skin. Make sure that the light isn't directly at your back. Otherwise, you'll just be a silhouette. Adjust the light if possible so that it hits you in the front.

SUMMARY: Find a mirror that's the right size, like a full-length one for a full body selfie. Clean up the room that's visible in the mirror if possible. Find a spot that has good natural lighting or that is well-lit.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Acceptance of yourself is crucial to the promotion of inner peace because it enables us to be okay with what is currently happening no matter what the circumstances. If we try to avoid pain we may only enhance it. You can start by practicing acceptance of yourself by taking a personal inventory- who you are, what you look like, how you feel, and what you've done. Write down a personal inventory of your personality, characteristics (positive ones and ones you want to work on), actions, and appearance. Make a point to accept each and every part of your inventory even the stuff you aren't proud of. Forgive yourself for the wrongs you have done if you need to, and focus on what you can do today to better yourself. Take an inventory of your goals. Having dreams and aspirations is sometimes what keeps us moving forward in self-acceptance. Set personal goals for yourself and move toward them every day. Some examples of personal goals include: losing weight, eating healthier, exercising more often, picking up a new hobby (such as playing an instrument), or watching less television. On a daily basis, ask yourself if what you are doing is currently in line with your goals and values. Re-frame your negative traits into positive ones to promote self-acceptance. For example, perhaps you typically think that you are not tall enough and therefore, do not fully accept your height. You can practice self-acceptance by meaning-making about your height. What meaning or purpose might your height have? Does it help you do certain activities that a taller person might not be able to do? How does your height benefit you? One way to practice acceptance of your life is to be grateful for what you have instead of focusing on what you do not have. Take an inventory of everything that you value in your life; this can include: family, friends, a roof over your head, enough food to eat, an education, the government, laws, nature, roads, and transportation. Remember that some people in the world may have little access to some of these things that we see as basic. You can even create a digital gratitude journal online through Thnx4.org and share your thoughts with others. As humans, we often want to control others (what they do or how they act) and our environments (home, work, school, society, world). We want our spouse to be a better person, our boss to be nicer, our house to be cleaner, and traffic to evaporate. This is likely because we fear the unknown, or what we cannot control, including our own mortality. Unfortunately, we cannot always control these outcomes. Ultimately, we cannot control what others think, feel, or do. Focus only on what you can control. Ask yourself, "What can I do in this situation?" If you can't change it then accept it and let it go.

SUMMARY:
Take a personal inventory. Focus on what you are grateful for. Give up control over things you can't change.