Have you ever felt like you need an upgrade on your life? Most of us have - and there's a way to get it, says veteran physician Sanjay Jain.

"First, I tell people, 'Don't be afraid of making your life clearer.' Many argue that life is not simple and, therefore, there are no easy answers, but as we have paraphrased from Chinese philosopher Laozi, 'The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step,' " says Jain, whose specialties include integrative medicine. He's also an international speaker and author of Optimal Living 360 - available February 2014 (www.sanjayjainmd.com).

"Lives are built from many small components which, when viewed as an assembled whole, can appear overwhelmingly complex," Jain says. "But when we break them down and consider the pieces as we make decisions in our lives, it's much easier to see how small adjustments can result in a better return on all of the investments we make - not only in health, but in relationships, finances, and all the other essential aspects of our lives."

Jain offers four points to keep in mind as you start the journey.

• Life is short, so live it to its fullest potential. Live it optimally. This is your life, so don't waste its most precious resource - time. No matter one's spiritual leanings, economic and education status, health, intelligence level, etc. - one thing is true for all: Our time on Earth is finite. There will be a time for most of us when, perhaps after a frightening diagnosis from a doctor, we reflect deeply upon our time and consider the most important moments, and all the time that may have been squandered.

• Balance is key. Too much or too little of something, no matter how good, is actually not good. Balance is one of the easiest tenets to understand, but arguably the most difficult to maintain. Obviously, too much alcohol is bad; then again, there are some health benefits to moderately imbibing red wine. What about too much of a good thing; can a mother love her children too much? Yes, if she is an overprotective "helicopter parent." The best antidote to overkill of anything is awareness; try to be aware of all measures in your life.

• Learn to tap your strengths and improve upon your weaknesses. Engaging your strengths at work and in your personal life is important. When we do what we're good at and what comes easily, we feel self-confident and satisfied. Some people, however, are not in jobs that utilize their strengths, or they don't put their talents to work at home because they're mired in the prosaic work of living. It's important to identify your strengths and find ways to engage them. It's equally important to recognize our weaknesses and work on improving them (because we can!) This is essential for achieving balance.

• Life is about making the right choices. Integrative decision-making makes this easier. There are many different types of decision-making, including systematic, hierarchal, impulsive, decisive and flexible. Integrative decision-making can be used for problems large and small, and includes the following process: 1. Define the problem. 2. Frame the problem. 3. Develop all your options. 4. Analyze your options. 5. Make the decision. 6. Execute your decision. 7. Debrief yourself. While experts may be the best consultants for compartmentalized areas of your life, only you know the other aspects that affect your well-being and can determine how a decision in one area will affect another area.

Best Food Facts is administered by The Center for Food Integrity (CFI). CFI seeks to share accurate, balanced information and correct misinformation to address issues that are important to consumers. Visit the CFI website here.

For a malady that's as common to aging as waning vision, festoons - also called "malar mounds" -- aren't well understood by the public, says Adam J. Scheiner, M.D., an international eyelid and facial cosmetic surgeon specializing in the treatment of Festoons and featured on "The Dr. Oz Show" and "The Doctors."

"The more people know about the causes of Festoons and how they are often misdiagnosed, the better informed they are to be their own effective health-care advocates," says Dr. Scheiner, who educates the public through his popular blog at www.adamscheinermd.com and his new book, The True Definition of Beauty.

"A growing part of my practice is correcting treatments with less than favorable results that patients have had done elsewhere; like fillers used under the eyes to treat 'bags,' or lower eyelid surgery that doesn't address the patients' Festoons," Dr. Scheiner says.

"The lack of awareness around Festoons and how ubiquitous they are ? and how often they are misdiagnosed ? is why my practice has executed an educational marketing campaign to bring clarity to combat the misinformation and confusion surrounding this condition," he adds.

What is the difference between "bags" and Festoons?

"'Bags' are caused by fat protruding through the skin in the lower eyelid area, while Festoons, which also protrude, are primarily on the upper part of the cheek," Dr. Scheiner says. "The two together can look like one large protrusion, but they're separate issues."

Physicians will perform procedures to help a patient's lower eyelid "bags," but often they leave the Festoons behind. This is because Festoons are notoriously hard to treat. The result? When they are not repaired at the same time as the "bags," Festoons can actually look worse compared against the newly rejuvenated lower lid.

Festoons can also be a marker for pre-cancerous skin conditions on other parts of the face ? another good reason to know the difference between Festoons and "bags."

Dr. Scheiner offers tips for evaluating whether you have "bags" or Festoons, the causes of both, and solutions:

· Are they "bags" or Festoons? "Bags" often appear as puffy circles directly beneath the eye. "If you touch them, they're usually firmer, and you can't easily move them from side to side. That's an indication they're 'bags,'" Dr. Scheiner says. "Also, if you look up, they become more prominent."

Festoons, on the other hand, are high on the cheek, although they can extend to the lower lid area. "They feel squishy to the touch, and they can be easily moved from side to side. They don't become more prominent when you look up."

· What causes them? "Bags" are generally associated with aging, although younger people can also get them, Dr. Scheiner says.

Festoons are usually the result of damage. Sun exposure, smoking and aging are among the possible causes, and the results can be worsened by the contrasting pull of underlying facial muscles over the years. Fair-skinned people tend to be more susceptible to Festoons.

· What can you do about them? "Effective treatments for removing 'bags' have been available for quite some time, but physicians have struggled with removing Festoons," Dr. Scheiner says. "Festoons are complicated to treat."

Medications and steroid injections can provide temporary improvement, and some older surgical procedures offer mixed results.

One of the biggest problems with Festoons and eye "bags" is that they occur around the most expressive area of the face?our eyes. The eyes speak volumes, but they can give off the wrong message if they are framed by Festoons or eye "bags."

"My patients say people are always asking them if they're sick or if they're tired," Dr. Scheiner says. "It's hard to hear that over and over again, and it begins to impact how you feel about yourself, as well as your energy level. What I love about the advanced laser and heading protocol that I developed is that it fundamentally changes the quality and the health of the skin?it takes swollen, sun-damaged skin and makes it smooth, tight and younger. It cleans up the messages around the eyes so that people can appear well and rested."

About Dr. Adam J. Scheiner

Adam J. Scheiner, M.D. is world-renowned in laser eyelid and facial plastic surgery for his groundbreaking treatment for Festoons. He wrote the medical text on the condition and treated two complex causes of Festoons for the Dr. Oz and The Doctors TV shows.