Blog For Self Improvement

Create the Life You Want Through Hypnosis

2010-02-06T05:41:43.797-08:00

What is holding you back from living the life you've always dreamed about? What is stopping you from reaching your goals? What is preventing you from enjoying healthy loving relationships? If you knew the answer to these questions you wouldn't be interested in reading this article.Hypnosis—a.k.a. Hypnotherapy—Is an excellent and safe healing technique to bring about changes that enhance the potential for success and happiness.Hypnosis/Regression takes you back to your beginning . . . the place where beliefs are formed. Combined with hypnosis, Regression is a unique and intuitive process that bridges the present and the past, the practical and the sacred. From that vantage point, lasting change can occur, in which negative values, principles, and patterns can be discarded, positive doctrines can be reinforced, and a new philosophy for life can be developed.Hypnosis/Regression enables a person to:• Gain insight into present difficulties and past events• Discover the negative beliefs that shape present life decisions and actions• Increase self-esteem and optimism about life• Unlock potential• Improve relationships• Create new beliefs that reflect the true inner self• Reduce anxiety, tension and stress• Weight loss• Smoke cessation• Increase creativity and clarity• Enhance intuition and inner peace• Strengthen immune system• Acquire a deeper perspective and greater vision of your life purpose• Embrace life as an enriching opportunity to learn• Create—mind-body healing—physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually• Integrate mind, body and spirit• Release old patterns and phobias from previous and present lives• Remove physical imprints, negative memories and attachments from past livesMany people wonder how soon they will see the results. Results depend on the symptoms you are working on and how deep and profound the experience was, which created the symptom. The results may be immediate after the first session or it may take several sessions before you see the results you desire.Another reason many people neglect engaging with a mental health professional is a concern about being able to come for the required sessions. For example: What if I can't take time off work? I am very busy. Which prompts me to wonder why you value yourself so little, or that you put everyone and everything else first. If you do not take care of yourself, who will? The majority of mental health professionals have evening hours. Call until you find someone who has evening hours.And last, but not least you deserve to have peace of mind and a happy life.Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD,a Certified Hypnosis and Regression practitioner works with people face-to-face or via phone. As an inspirational leader, Dr. Neddermeyer empowers people to view life's challenges as an opportunity for Personal/Professional Growth and Spiritual Awakening. http://www.drdorothy.net [...]

Famous Self Improvement Quotes

2010-02-01T03:21:56.136-08:00

“If you want to be successful, find someone who has achieved the results you want and copy what they do and you'll achieve the same results.”-- Anthony Robbins“Repeat anything often enough and it will start to become you.”-- Tom Hopkins“We are what we repeatedly do.”-- Aristotle“You don't get in life what you want; you get in life what you are.”-- Les Brown“We can change our lives. We can do, have, and be exactly what we wish.”-- Anthony Robbins“The biggest room in the world is the room for improvement.”-- Unknown Author“To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly.”-- Henri L. Bergson“We cannot become what we need to be, remaining what we are.”-- Max Depree“If you don't program yourself, life will program you.”-- Les Brown“You will never change your life until you change something you do daily.”-- Mike Murdock“You are everything that is, your thoughts, your life, your dreams come true. You are everything you choose to be. You are as unlimited as the endless universe.”-- Shad Helmstetter“If you wish to achieve worthwhile things in your personal and career life, you must become a worthwhile person in your own self-development.”-- Brian Tracy“The aim of life is self-development. To realize one's nature perfectly - that is what each of us is here for.”-- Oscar Wilde“I don't think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday.”-- Abraham Lincoln“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.”-- Aristotle“Most people struggle with life balance simply because they haven't paid the price to decide what is really important to them.”-- Stephen Covey“The well bred contradict other people. The wise contradict themselves.”-- Oscar Wilde“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”-- Albert Einstein“What you dislike in another take care to correct in yourself.”-- Thomas Sprat“Every man has in himself a continent of undiscovered character. Happy is he who acts as the Columbus to his own soul.”-- Sir J. Stephen“Be the change you want to see in the world.”-- Mahatma Gandhi“If you expect different results…you either have to do different things, or have to do things differently.”-- SallyBeam“Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings so that you shall come easily by what others have labored hard for.”-- Socrates"Never neglect an opportunity for improvement."-- Sir William Jones [...]

Habit Management: Replace Bad Habits with Good Ones

2010-01-26T02:43:09.942-08:00

Few things are more difficult than kicking bad habits or developing more positive ones. But it is definitely worth the effort. Bad habits like smoking, overeating or self-criticism shorten lives and lead to underachievement, and unsuccessful attempts to change them lower self- esteem.In contrast, good habits create a kind of "success auto-pilot," leading to greater accomplishment with less thought and less effort.So how do you best eliminate bad habits and create good ones? Research from the new field of "positive psychology" - the scientific study of happy, successful people - points to at least four proven techniques for successful habit management.1. Replace a bad habit with a good oneCompletely eliminating a habit is much harder than replacing it with a more productive habit. Studies of people who compulsively bite their fingernails have shown that it is very difficult for them to completely give up their habit, and much easier for them to substitute biting with the more productive habit of grooming their nails.Similarly, people who talk too much during meetings struggle to become silent, but find it much easier to replace their compulsive talking with highly attentive listening.2. Regular ExerciseA habit of regular exercise is obviously important for lasting weight loss. But you may not realize that exercise helps in accomplishing a variety of goals, and in eliminating a number of bad habits.Frequent exercise helps break habits of overeating, and in kicking all kinds of addictions, particularly if exercise is substituted for an end-of-the-day cocktail or cigarette. Among smokers who become competitive runners, for example, over 80% give up smoking.3. Reward for successThe most fundamental law in all of psychology is the "law of effect." It simply states that actions followed by rewards are strengthened and likely to recur. Unfortunately, studies show that people rarely use this technique when trying to change personal habits. Dieters, for example, routinely overlook weeks of exercise and restrained eating, only to let a single lapse "snowball" into a total relapse and complete collapse.Setting up formal or informal rewards for success greatly increases your chances of transforming bad habits into good ones, and is far more effective than punishing yourself for bad habits or setbacks.4. Schedule your bad habitsIf you are really struggling to kick a bad habit, try limiting the habit to a specific time and place. If you are struggling to quit cigarettes, allow yourself to smoke from 9-9:30pm, and only in an uncomfortable "smoking stool." When the urge to smoke strikes, tell yourself that you'll have plenty of time to smoke during your pre-scheduled smoking period. Research and case studies confirm that this rather unconventional approach can be a useful first step in changing bad habits. [...]

Improving Your Teen’s Self-Esteem

2010-02-01T21:28:43.518-08:00

“Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the face.”-- Helen KellerThe teenage years are often the most difficult time of childhood. During this time, children are blossoming into adults and struggle to determine the individual identity. It is no shock the teen years are the most dreaded by parents, but these fragile youngsters are at a critical time in their lives. Often, boundaries are pushed and rules are stretched by a teenager yearning to take that “next step” into adulthood. Teens find themselves not only faced with emotional transitions, but also physical changes.In the midst of these physical and emotional evolutions, a teen’s self-esteem can be compromised. Parents can take certain steps in order to ensure that a child’s self-esteem is not affected by the turbulent teenage years.The best way to improve your teen’s self-esteem is to take an active role in your child’s life. By knowing his or her:- Interests- Friends- Strengths- WeaknessesYou will be aware of any problems that may arise.Starting from a young age, instill a positive attitude in your child. Children who have a great sense of self-worth are more apt to blossom into teenagers with a great sense of self-worth.Take time to talk with your teen instead of talking to your teen. If your child believes his or her opinion or thoughts have an impact in the home front, that individual is more apt to have a greater self-esteem. Allowing your teen to have a say in decisions that affect the entire family will further impress a sense of self-worth, thus positively affect his or her self-esteem.Children learn by example, and teenagers are no different. Teens whose parents showcase high self-esteem are more likely to exhibit self-esteem. Conversely, parents with low self-esteem or who constantly question their self-worth will pass those traits on to their children simply by their actions.The way you interact with your friends, family members, and colleagues will rub off on your children. Individuals with low self-esteem set poor examples for their teens and should not be surprised when their teens exhibit similar actions.Children are like a sponge, so take care not to comment negatively towards yourself or others. Many teens with issues regarding their physical appearance learn these behaviors from home. Television, movies, and music play a huge part in any teenager’s life. These outlets seem obsessed with a pre-conceived idea of perfection that will most likely differ from that of the average individual. Take time to speak with your teen regarding these issues.Interaction with your teenager will allow you first-hand information on any problems he or she may be having and make an attempt to remedy these situations. Often, teenagers are quite sensitive about their appearance due to acne or other issues. If this is the case, consider making an appointment with a dermatologist who will be able to remedy the situation.Similarly, your teen may be interested in changing his or her appearance to best fit a burgeoning identity, but may be hesitant to approach a parent. Remember, teenagers straddle the line between child and young adult. Although they may yearn to be an adult, the child part still needs reassurance from a parent.If you as a parent feel a requested physical transformation will not benefit your teen, make a compromise. Often, teens are looking to be outrageous in order to push boundaries set by parents. Instead of lowering your teen’s self-esteem by creating a confrontation, create an atmosphere of discussion and compromise.Open communication cannot be stressed enough. Take time to talk to your teen about their friends, classes, activities, or interests. Teach your teen to accentuate the positive instead of focusing on attributes they see as weak or negative. Instill a sense great self esteem at a young age that will continue with your teen as he or she grows.You may wish to enroll your child in self-esteem building classes or extra[...]

Leadership Secrets Exposed! Learn How to Become An Ideal Leader

2010-02-01T21:29:56.781-08:00

When you are at work, do you get frustrated because things don't seem to be happening the way they are supposed to be? You see people milling around but nothing gets accomplished. And in the daily hustle and bustle, do you feel that your goals remain just that goals. Then maybe its time for you to stand up and do something about it.Most people are content just to stand around listening for orders. And it isn't unusual to adopt a follow-the-leader mentality. But maybe, somewhere inside of you, you feel the desire to make things happen to be the head, not the tail. Then maybe leadership just suits you fine.Some people believe that great leader are made, not born. Yes, it may be true that some people are born with natural talents. However, without practice, without drive, without enthusiasm, and without experience, there can be no true development in leadership.You must also remember that good leaders are continually working and studying to improve their natural skills. This takes a commitment to constantly improve in whatever endeavor a person chooses.First of all, let's define leadership. To be a leader, one must be able to influence others to accomplish a goal, or an objective. He contributes to the organization and cohesion of a group.Contrary to what most people believe, leadership is not about power. It is not about harassing people or driving them using fear. It is about encouraging others towards the goal of the organization. It is putting everyone on the same page and helping them see the big picture of the organization. You must be a leader not a boss.First of all, you have to get people to follow you. How is this accomplished?People follow others when they see a clear sense of purpose. People will only follow you if they see that you know where you are going. Remember that bumper sticker? The one that says, don't follow me, I'm lost too? The same holds true for leadership. If you yourself do not know where you're headed to, chances are people will not follow you at all.You yourself must know the vision of the organization. Having a clear sense of hierarchy, knowing who the bosses are, who to talk to, the organization's goals and objectives, and how the organization works is the only way to show others you know what you are doing.Being a leader is not about what you make others do. It's about who you are, what you know, and what you do. You are a reflection of what you're subordinates must be.Studies have shown that one other bases of good leadership is the trust and confidence your subordinates have of you. If they trust you they will go through hell and high water for you and for the organization.Trust and confidence is built on good relationships, trustworthiness, and high ethics.The way you deal with your people, and the relationships you build will lay the foundation for the strength of your group. The stronger your relationship, the stronger their trust and confidence is in your capabilities.Once you have their trust and confidence, you may now proceed to communicate the goals and objectives you are to undertake.Communication is a very important key to good leadership. Without this you can not be a good leader. The knowledge and technical expertise you have must be clearly imparted to other people.Also, you can not be a good leader and unless you have good judgment. You must be able to assess situations, weigh the pros and cons of any decision, and actively seek out a solution.It is this judgment that your subordinates will come to rely upon. Therefore, good decision-making is vital to the success of your organization.Leaders are not do-it-all heroes. You should not claim to know everything, and you should not rely upon your skills alone.You should recognize and take advantage of the skills and talents your subordinates have. Only when you come to this realization will you be able to work as one cohesive unit.Remember being a leader takes a good deal of work and time. It is not learned overnight. Rem[...]

Top 32 Self Improvement Blogs & Sites

2010-01-31T08:25:52.376-08:00

List of some of the best self improvement blogs and sites on the internet. Think Simple Now!Candidly written lifestyle blog on finding clarity, motivation, creativity and personal happiness. The writing blends abstract spirituality and practical personal productivity. Anthony Robbins and Associates Unleash your power within and unlock your true potential through our motivational seminars and products. Quantum-Self.com Build brainpower for personal excellence. A complete guide to the web's finest tools and resources The Self Improvement BlogInternet Finest Self Improvement BlogSelf help warehouse Source for self-help, self-improvement and personal growth. Large variety of tapes, tests, and educational/therapeutic games.MindPerk Self Improvement Resources A large selection of discount self-improvement products to boost self esteem, motivation leadership and communication skills. Self Improvement Techniques - A Companion Resource SiteA companion site for those interested in self development. It contains varied links, articles, resources, ebooks. There is also a blog that is updated regularly. Hypnosis Downloads.com | Online Self Hypnosis MP3 & Hypnotherapy Scripts Center540 self hypnosis downloads, hypnosis mp3s, online self hypnosis and online hypnotherapy. SelfImprovementNewsletters.com Self Improvement Newsletters is one of the most complete sources of Free Newsletters to improve your life. We cover a wide range of topics from Goal Setting to Stress management. Self Improvement at PickTheBrainA self improvement website, focused on productivity, motivation, psychology, and intelligence.Self Improvement OnlineThe most complete guide to information about Self-Improvement, Personal Growth and Self Help on the Internet. It is designed to be an organized directory referencing information in other Web Sites on the World Wide Web. Think Right Now! - Professional Behavior Modification At HomeThe most visited personal development product site on Earth. ThinkRightNow.com is now the #1 most visited personal development product site in the world,Higher awareness Courses on time management, goals, prosperity, coaching, meditation, happiness and soul empowerment, Increase motivation and self esteem and reduce stress and anxiety. Self Improvement and Self-Help TipsSelf improvement advice, personal growth programs and self-help tips. Find inspiration, motivation and solutions thru self empowerment.Build A Better You Contains self-help resources for personal growth and relationships, presented by Dr. Jerome Murray. Evolution Ezine - Review Super Mind RevolutionFree mind power and self improvement training and resources, plus the latest consciousness research!Life By Design Motivational, inspirational, self-improvement. Get the life you want and deserve. Self-Improvement.comThe #1 well being portal is your path to a better you. The Self Improvement Site Success in life begins with ourselves. Take the first step towards self improvement and personal growth, and success will come to you. INeedMotivation.com - Hypnosis, Subliminal, Brainwave, and Self Help Courses on CD's or Downloads & Coaching!We provide high quality hypnosis CD's, subliminal CD's, brainwave entrainment CD's, and self improvement courses. We also have downloads & coaching solutions.Subliminal Tapes Self Improvement Our self improvement subliminal tapes and CD's will help you change your life no matter what's been holding you back. Awakenings We offer enriching products for mind, body, and spirit. A Pathway To Happiness Overcome emotional reactions, change core beliefs, and quiet the critical voice in your head. The Pathway to Happiness audio course in Self Mastery provides comprehensive steps for changing the emotional quality of your life. 10,000 ThoughtsA fun, new website designed [...]

Self-Improvement for Stress Management

2010-02-01T21:30:59.942-08:00

Stress is a part of life whether we like it or not. No matter how we try to get rid of it, it will always come back and haunt you every single day of your life. Stress can be expected as you go through your daily routine, or just come out into the open and surprise you.Problems, big or small, can affect us emotionally, mentally and physically. Even if we keep smiling on the outside, stress usually troubles us from within. Leaving us in doubt, desperate, anxious, or even irritable if we let if get out of control. The best way to deal with stress is to not let it get a foot hold in your life. You should control it before it even begins to grow – and the secret to that success depends on you.Body self-improvement techniquesTaking care of your body is the initial step to self-improvement. We should be sensitive to what our body needs by knowing how stress affects our physical self to adapt to it. Here are some techniques that you can use to improve your body and getting stress out of your system.1. Give your body a break.It is very important to know the limits of our body especially when it comes to dealing with stress. Some people would justify that the more our body is exposed to stress, the stronger we become – so not true. Our body can only do so much and will deteriorate rapidly when we exceed our capacity. If you feel some aches and pains while working, then you better take some time off and relax before it turns to something serious2. Relax and enjoy.To help your body relieve stress then you need to engage in some activities that will push it along the road to recovery. A massage is perfect for energizing your body while getting rid of those tight muscles that will eventually lead pain and limit your body flexibility. Pamper yourself by visiting a health at least once week; a few hours with professional hands can do wonders.3. Exercise and sweat it out.Indulging in physical exercise is a great way to get rid of stress while keeping your body in top shape. Not many can allocate the time and effort for a physical exercise, but if you really want a stress free life then you better accommodate. Daily 1 hour exercise can do wonders to your cardiovascular functions and keep your heart in proper working order.The tips above borders on the physical side of releasing stress, but your mind is till vulnerable to its attacks. Physical exercise can provides an outlet for emotional problems like anxiety, fear and depression. But your mind is something else.Before you can dispel any stress from your life, you need to improve your coping mechanism first, and it all starts in your mind. Even if we feel the physical and emotional backlash of the problems that we face, it will always start with how you think and how you devise ways in dealing with it.Before you can apply the tips above, you have to condition your mind by focusing on the need to improve yourself in getting rid of stress. [...]

Examining Problems related to Self-Esteem in Personal Transformation!

2010-02-01T21:31:52.923-08:00

What do you think when you see people belittling others, mocking them, or improperly criticizing another entity? When you see a person scorned, denigrated, ridiculed or backbiting others you may think that these people are mean. Since we live in a world filled with slanderous souls, libels, and critics it is hard to assess sometimes why these people are who they are.One might think that the entity was brought of that way. On the other hand, one might think that this person has learned behavioral problems that require rehabilitation.In many instances, both viewpoints are correct. Many children grow up being taught to despise others. The emotional discharge leads to behavioral problems that extend into their adulthood. It will take conceptual modification to adjust their attitude. Ultimately, they may have to hit rock bottom before the bullets start to hit the fan.Defamation is a series of insult and offensive patterns that extend internally in our world today. The only true way to correct these problems of denigration is to nip them in the bud now. We do this by encouraging personal transformation that builds self-esteem and confidence.It is time to put the conceptions in check by reforming the observable mind to think positive. All the traits mentioned only build up pessimistic thinking that leads to blaming, disapproval, unhealthy criticism, and finally guilty verdicts that lead to convictions.Not one person can continue their denunciation without paying great consequences for their actions. Thus, in order to prevent, and halt these behaviors we must all act now.The ultimate recourse leads us to absolution, which gives one freedom and liberty to forgive self and others. We can learn to pardon others behaviors by releasing the negative energies that drive us down the road to calamity.Releasing the emotions through positive expressions will give you freedom of mind with practice. Instead of biting the backs of others, start to examine yourself instead to see what you can change to make your life better. Keep in sight that you cannot change behavior patterns of other people. It takes them to work through their own problems to transform their life.When we consider freedom however, we must develop balance in order to steer clear of cultivating lack of restrictions. We need restrictions to keep us strong. Restrictions are mechanisms that enable us to make good choices by avoiding harmful activities, entertainment or other actions that puts us at abnormal risks.Freedom provides us inner strengths, which include openness. We start to conform to natural ways of living by exercising proper freedom. Freedom builds self-determination, independence, free will, inventiveness, frankness, candor, and abandonment of our fears, doubts and other emotional problems that lead to defamations.When you work to develop the creative mind – That is you can see that one must develop the creative mind by cultivating his or her free will to live naturally.As you start to create this mind it creates a resourceful person that uses his or her imagination effectively to invent new ideas that helps that one make clever transformations. That entity can then take the initiative to transform his or her emotions, behaviors and other aspects of his or her character that helps that one abandon pessimism attitudes and behaviors. We see that we are working toward self-identity, which builds self-esteem, ultimately making you original.Instead of shaking your head and constantly pointing out the problems of others, start changing you today by examining your own behaviors and emotions. One can practice meditation and subliminal exploring to figure out what is needed to change your behaviors. [...]

New Year Resolutions

2010-02-01T21:32:47.404-08:00

‘Happy New Year’ to all of you. New Year's Eve provides an opportunity for looking back to the past, and more importantly, forward to the coming year. It's a time to reflect on the changes we want (or need) to make and resolve to follow through on those changes. Now I am going to discuss some popular new year resolutions.Popular New Year Resolutions:· Use credit card wisely· Start exercising and get fit· Concentrate more on studies· Use environmental friendly products· Become more assertive· Become more cost-effective· Quit smoking, drinking and other such bad habits· Get a better job· Eat better· Get a better education· Get out of debt· Save money· Reduce stress· Take a trip· Be more independent· Learn something new· Volunteer to help others· Lose weight· Be less grumpy· Donate to the poor more often· Become more environmentally responsible· Focus on building long term relationships· Stop using abusive language· Develop time management skills· Become more organized· Improve communication skills· Watch less tvThe list of resolutions in New Year never ends. Different people come up with thousands of innovative resolutions every year. Some remain abandoned, while some get fulfilled. The New Year resolutions help plan for the next year. [...]

How and Why You Should Play Time Management Games

2010-02-01T21:38:06.118-08:00

Have you heard of time management games before? If you are an avid internet user, you may have. Unfortunately, many individuals make the mistake of assuming that time management games are just for fun. Some actually go as far to say that time management games are total waste of time. Yes, they can be in some instances, but did you also know that time management games may be able help you practice managing your time?Before focusing on the benefits of time management games, namely why you should play them, it is first important to understand what they are. If you perform a standard internet search with the phrase “time management games,” you will likely get a number of different results. This is because time management games are used to describe a wide range of different games.These time management games have different themes, including fishing, basketball, shopping, and so much more. The only difference between traditional computer games and time management games is that you are limited on the amount of time that you have to complete the game.As for how you can find time management games, you will find that you have a number of different options. As previously stated, you can perform a standard internet search. When doing so, you will likely find websites that allow you to play games online, often free of charge. There are also software programs that you can purchase for time management games. These programs are available for download online or else you can purchase a software program to install on your computer from a local or online retailer.Now the question arises why you should play time management games, there are different reasons to consider:Reason No: 1First of all they are very easy to find. As previously stated, a large number of free time management games can be found online with a standard internet search. Should you wish to purchase your own software, you can, but it is not required. The ability to easy find and play time management games gives you little reason not to.Reason No: 2Secondly time management games come in a number of different formats. You can play sports games, traditional arcade games and so much more. No matter what type of games you like to play or what your favorite hobbies are, you should have a number of different games to choose from, especially when you use the internet. In fact, there are even specialized time management games for children.Reason No: 3Perhaps, the greatest reason why you should play time management games is because they can help you learn to make better use of your time. Unfortunately, this is an important point that many individuals do not necessarily think of.For example, some games have you eliminate screens of blocks by clicking on groups of blocks that are the same color. Many associated these types of games with fun activities, but they can also teach you to think quickly on your feet. This can later benefit you in the workplace, as well as at home.Reason No: 4Another reason why time management games should be played is because they are fun. Since you do have a number of different time management games to choose from, you can find the game or games that best fit you and your personality. Although you will be working to make better use of your time, you will also be having fun. Learning how to manage your time is important, but it shouldn’t seem like work.As you can see, playing time management games are more than just about having fun or even wasting time. They are a fun tool that can be used to help you better manage your time. To see if time management games are right for you or if they can really help you better manage your time, see what free games are available for playing online today. [...]

How to Keep Your New Year Resolutions

2009-12-23T02:57:17.464-08:00

Do you make new year resolutions every year only to find that they have fallen by the wayside before the end of January? Well, you're not alone. Most resolutions don't last past the second week of January. But if you understand why this is the case, then you are much better positioned to make successful new year resolutions. One of the main reasons new year resolutions are broken is that we make too many of them at once. It's easy to reflect on all the changes we want to make to our lives - lose weight, get fit, stop smoking, get on top of your finances - but trying to tackle all these at once is just too much. So, the first step in keeping resolutions is to do them one at a time. The other reason new years resolutions aren't kept is because we sabotage our attempts with excuses. Here are the top 5: Excuse 1. I don't have the time. Sure you do. You probably have time to watch TV, or play on the computer for hours each night, and for many hours over the weekend. Just take half an hour each morning or night and a couple hours over the weekend and you'll be surprised by how much you can accomplish. The first step is always the hardest, but once you do take that first step and start to gain momentum, amazing things can happen. Excuse 2. It's too much effort This is your life we're talking about. Is it really too much work to achieve the life you really want? Sure, it may be hard going to get started and it may be a long road to success. But just remember that it is always worth it in the end. I was talking to a friend of mine who has been overweight since college, and he was whining that it would take him a whole year to lose the pounds he wanted to. But what is one year, when he still has another 20-30 years of prime life left in him? Excuse 3. It doesn't work What ever program you're looking at for losing weight, getting fit, quitting smoking, getting rich, or whatever - it is possible. There are plenty of living examples of people who have succeeded in whatever goal you're trying to achieve for yourself. Diets work, exercise works, quitting smoking programs work. It can be done. But you have to be willing to make it work. Excuse 4. But it won't work for ME And why are you any different from the thousands of other people who have achieved whatever goal you're trying to achieve? With an attitude like that, nothing will work. But you have to be willing to make it work. Excuse 5. I don't have the resources Yes, this can be an obstacle if you have difficulty accessing the appropriate resources, particularly if you need a lot of money to achieve your goal. But for most goals, you don't need a lot of money to get going. For example, a healthy diet and exercise program shouldn't cost you a cent more than you're already spending on grocery bills, and even though you may have to purchase nicotine patches to help quit your smoking habit, this will be offset by how much you are saving on cigarettes. The most important resource you need to achieve your goals is information. And there is a lot of educational material out there to help you achieve almost any goal you set your heart on. The internet is a great source of reliable information. Research, read up on the various strategies and draw up an action plan that suits you. You can also check out books in your library or buy used books. And remember, take your resolutions one at a time, and eventually you will succeed with them all. You can learn more about how to achieve all your goals and dreams by checking out these FREE goal setting tools and resources. You'll also find lots of free tips and tools on a range of self-help topics from success to people skills. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/ [...]

Managing Your Stress by Managing Your Time

2010-02-01T21:39:11.995-08:00

Are you one of those people who wishes you had a 30-hour day? Do you long for having enough time to home-school your children, cook gourmet meals, tend a garden, care for a large, five-bedroom house, play the piano, and sit by the fire reading a good book? The fact of the matter is many Americans today are operating under a time crunch. We simply don’t have enough hours in the day to accomplish all that we want to.The situation creates an enormous amount of stress. We may feel as if we are constantly operating under a deadline. We may feel fatigued and frustrated, and we may wonder if we are missing out on much of life because we spend so much time “doing” and not enough time “thinking.” We’re stressed at work, stressed at home, and stressed at our son’s soccer match.The irony is, the more we do, the more behind we seem to get. We are constantly on the run, yet we may feel as if we are accomplishing very little. As a result, our pessimism grows. We may become short-tempered, especially with those we love. We may feel as if we are constantly running on empty.The good news is there is hope, even in the midst of what might seem a hopeless situation. We can get control of our lives and control of our time. It may take a little bit of effort and time, but it will be well worth it in the long run. The first step we need to take is prioritization.Many people feel as if they lack time to do the important things in life simply because they do not take the time to prioritize. Write down a list of your goals for the week, for the year, and for the next five years. When you do your initial brainstorming, you can list the goals in any order you like. Then go through the goals and rank them in order of importance. After that task is completed, figure out just how much time you would need to accomplish each goal. You may find that just five minutes here or there can make all the difference in the world in achieving the items on your priority list.Next, learn to multi-task effectively. That time you spend waiting in the line at the drive-thru window could be spent balancing your checkbook. Or the time you spend paused at the cash register could be used to read a book or a magazine. In general, you should not think of lines as time-wasters. Rather, consider them opportunities to accomplish some small, yet important, tasks.In order to be effective as a worker, spouse, and parent, you’ll need some alone time. Get an appointment book and actually schedule a block of time just for yourself. Your alone time could be spent praying, re-evaluating your priorities, charting your progress, or just fixing yourself a nice dessert. Just be sure that you have some alone time each day. Otherwise, you’ll be shortchanging yourself, and you’ll feel more stressed as a result.Don’t be afraid to say no. You cannot be a cub scout leader, girl scout leader, fund raising chair, and prima ballerina all at one time. You’ll need to pick and choose your assignments, both your professional assignments and your personal ones. If you simplify your life, you might be surprised at how much time you’ll gain—and how much better you will feel. Sometimes, it takes some backbone to say no. You might disappoint someone. But, in the end, you’ll be much better off, knowing that you have not over-committed yourself.You should consider your time to be as precious as the President’s. There are a number of duties which make demands on your time, those you love and those you don’t care for. By employing some innovative scheduling techniques, you can set aside the time for those things that are truly important to you. You’ll be less stressed, more relaxed, and better able to cope with the challenges you encounter on a daily basis. As you become less str[...]

The Benefits Of A Flexible Attitude

2009-12-13T22:56:34.664-08:00

Life is full of challenges, and many times we have to stop what we are doing to completely switch gears. Having the ability to be versatile, and developing a flexible attitude will go a long way in adjusting to the ebbs and tides that life will inevitably bring. When life or work seems too frustrating to deal with, all we may need to make it work is an attitude adjustment. When we focus on fighting the obstacles that challenge us, we waste time and energy that could be used more productively if we only learned to "go with the flow" a little more often. If we switch our thinking, viewing obstacles and challenges in a different light, we can be successful in achieving so much more. We will also expend less time and energy if we aren't fighting against a current. This energy can then be focused elsewhere. By implementing the following five helpful tips for developing a flexible attitude, you can find better ways to proceed through life, allowing yourself to flow a little more smoothly through its many ups and downs. Embrace change – Change is necessary to get anywhere in life, and embracing it takes a lot of courage and strength. After all, change brings us into new experiences, and often the unknown is scary for us. Change also brings a good omen, in that life is not remaining stagnant, but rather moving forward in different directions. We should allow life to carry us off into these directions so we can experience a different point of view, appreciating more what we do or don't have. Envision a new outcome – If we go through life expecting things to go as they always have, we can never open ourselves up to the possibility of great things. When our expectations don't arrive, we will be lost, not knowing which way to turn. If we can imagine our actions having different outcomes, we can be prepared for whatever life may bring us, good or bad. Opening our minds to new outcomes will also help us plan for when those outcomes are realized. Enjoy the journey – Key to making our attitudes more flexible is learning to look past the goal of getting something accomplished, and enjoy the trip along the way. If we constantly focus on doing something, achieving something, or acquiring something, we lose sight of ourselves and who we are being. Enjoying ourselves along the way to our goals will allow us to remain flexible in the steps we take to arrive at their completion, or our final destinations. Explore different options – When trying to reach a goal, why not try a new way of getting there? Developing a flexible attitude will be simple if we can practice being flexible in the choices that are important to us. Learning to step out of the box and choose a different path, or option, will often lead us to the new outcomes we’ve been envisioning. Emotionally detach – It is easy to become frustrated at times, but emotionally detaching from the situation will allow us to take a look at our options more carefully and objectively. Acting in response to difficulties is far different than reacting, and the former is the more productive choice. When a challenge arises, take the time to decide how to act, instead of reacting with rash behavior. Remaining flexible throughout life may make you feel like you are loosening the reins on your goals and values. That is not the case, however. If we can stay flexible and adapt to change, we may find ourselves better off than we ever could have imagined. Life is full of challenges, and many times we have to stop what we are doing to completely switch gears. Having the ability to be versatile, and developing a flexible attitude will go a long way in adjusting to the ebbs and tides that life will inevitably bring. When life or work seems too frustrating to deal[...]

Changing Your Man Through Subliminal Messages

2010-02-01T21:46:25.460-08:00

For women, there are some issues about men that are just too hard to handle. But what if you can actually be able to get rid of those unwanted behaviors of your man and get yourself a brand new reborn man? That would be every woman’s dream and gladly it is now possible with Mephisto Subliminals.Subliminal messaging can help get rid of unwanted behaviors and can also make a man practice positive behaviors. Mephisto Subliminals have been producing scripts that are able to help women change their man for the better. There’s a variety of ways on how it can help.Get Him To TalkA huge number of arguments come from the issue that guys won’t tell or talk to their partners about what’s on their minds. Whether your relationship is at marital level or not, this is the most common problem. Communication is vital in every relationship, thus you need your man to communicate, whatever it takes, to keep the relationship going.Through subliminal messaging, your questions like “What’s on your mind?”, “Is something wrong?” and the likes that are usually left unanswered can be for once given real attention to and actually answered by your man. Use of the messaging can make him talk, explain and be somewhat reasonable and understanding.Trust Is The KeyTrust is one vital factor in a relationship. If there is no trust then you might as well say goodbye. Thus, if your man has been hurt before by his past relationships and he finds it hard to invest on that trust on your present relationship, subliminal messaging could just be the right thing to give him that trusting heart again.The messaging can tell him not to be afraid. With it, he can forget his past and actually move on and live in the present. This ensures you that you are his present and there will be no more doubting your relationship. You and your man will be on your way to that assured trusting future.Abuse Be GoneIf your man is the type who has some anger management issues and has little or no control over his emotions, then this is the message for him. Lack of control can lead to actions that can be unintentional or intentional. Either way, it could still hurt you and even your family or children.Through this messaging, you can actually tell your man to stop the abuse that he does. In a way his anger management can be controlled. You wouldn’t have to worry of getting intentionally or unintentionally hit by him. Much more, if you have children, you need not have to worry of them getting hurt at all.Cheaters Never WinHaving a third party in a relationship can be tough. Most men are inclined to cheat whether it because of falling in love to some one else or just plainly having sexual relations to others. This is when breakups start or divorces are filed, and a broken family is of by product, children suffering the consequences.Now you can subliminally tell your man to stop the cheating or even don’t dare to start the cheating. With this, you will be the only woman in his life and that’s an assurance that you actually have him wrapped around your fingers.Relationships are very complicated especially if there’s a lack of effort from the other. Thus, you should remember that subliminal messaging your man isn’t enough. You too should put effort into the relationship for it to be a happy one. [...]

3 Simple Principles that will Improve your Life

2009-12-16T01:55:37.990-08:00

It was inevitable… for a brief moment in eternity, time stood still. I’ve had this experience before, but this time it was slightly different.It was one of those lazy Sunday night. Quiet, peaceful and relaxing… I was preparing for the new week ahead. I was sitting on my beach chair in my backyard. I was enjoying the tranquility sounds of crickets, the stars in the clear sky with the bright full moon. There was a slight cool breeze of the wind brushing against my skin and on the tree leaves.Ringo was lying on the grass and I called him over, “Come here Ringo!… Come here buddy!” As Ringo slowly stood up to come to me, time stood still. It took Ringo around 5 seconds to get up. I felt like it was one of those slow motions in movies. In the brief moment of time, it dawned on me…My best friend in the world… is old.Time FliesI remembered it clearly when I got him, like it was yesterday. I was only 12 years old and he was a 1 month old puppy. We have so many fun times together; chasing cats (sorry cat lovers), socializing at the parks, unforgettable times at the vet… his mere company is just priceless.Time flew so fast that in a split second. I realized that my best friend was now 15 years of age. I then calculated that it in dog years and realized that he's 105 years old. Time stood still as mixed emotions took over me. I felt sad, but at the same time felt inner happiness. I felt loss, but at the same time felt very blessed.As he wagged his tail and walked towards me, he sat down next to me then quickly laid on his back asking for a chest rub. As I gave Ringo a chest rub, I looked at him. I can tell that he was in heaven and was just carefree.The PrinciplesWe human beings have and will always be searching for our own heaven and pursuing our own happiness. I guess that true happiness is very close. I guess it is just a fingertip away and not somewhere very far as we may think. True happiness is actually within us.I remembered those problematic times and Ringo’s companionship made all the difference. He would sit next to me, sometimes lie beside me and not say anything. I guess that’s the special bond we share; communicating without saying a word. There are 3 important lessons in life that Ringo taught me:1. To love unconditionally2. To enjoy every moment3. To be positive in times of despairLove unconditionally:Whether it is materialistic things or that special person, you should love it unconditionally. This does not mean that you should let people take advantage of you and treat you without respect. It means to forgive them and treat them with kindness.Anything in life, if we don’t treat it with love, it will wither away. It will slowly break away, from our relationships breaking apart to our materialistic possessions. Like a car breaking down because we don’t look after it and treat it with care. Just like a relationship falling apart because we don't give it much importance.Enjoy every moment:There are days when we find ourselves just complaining about the little things that we shouldn’t even be complaining about.Do you find yourself complaining because it’s a rainy day? Do you find yourself complaining as you go around a puddle as you walk through the rain?Whatever happened to that child inside of you who enjoyed every part of life? Where is that carefree child that would’ve jumped into the puddles, instead of going around it and complain about it?Always be positive:When you are negative, you don’t have much hope. When you lose hope, you will give up because you can’t see a way out.No matter and whatever happens in your life, always be positive. When you are positive, there is always hope. Hope is what gives you[...]

Reducing Fear of Driving with Proper Breathing

2009-12-16T02:02:30.871-08:00

Those that experience anxiety, fear, or panic while driving often report an inability to breathe normally. They may have a feeling of being unable to take a deep breath, as if they’re throat or chest were closing in. They may find themselves gasping and gulping for air or with fears of having a heart attack or lung disorder. Fears of losing control may present themselves stemming from the inability to control one’s own breathing. All of these situations are common with the panic that ensues from a fear of driving and cause discomfort and more advanced symptoms, but none are physically dangerous. The goal in learning to breathe properly is not to prevent suffocation or any physical problem, which won’t occur anyway, but to prevent the uncomfortable sensations that result from breathing in this manner. Fortunately, these breathing difficulties can be remedied using simple techniques. The act of over breathing, or hyperventilating, results in the body taking in far too much carbon dioxide than is needed. Take a look at just some of the symptoms caused by hyperventilation and see if they look at all familiar: • Racing heart • Heartburn • Dizziness • Vision disturbances • Numbness or tingling in extremities • Difficulty in swallowing • Muscular shaking • Chest pain • Sensations of chocking • Sweating You may be surprised to know that all of the above sensations of anxiety experienced when driving can be attributed to how you breathe. Learning to breathe in a new way can reduce or eliminate a wide range of complaints associated with the fear of driving. Hyperventilation is not always as obvious as we are lead to believe by the television, where a person is gasping for air and having a paper bag over the mouth (to slow the rate of exhaled carbon dioxide). Hyperventilation is much more subtle and the person experiencing it is often unaware they are over breathing. Only a small change in the mix of oxygen to carbon dioxide can cause pronounced symptoms and additional anxiety. Holding the breath also results in the same list of symptoms. One of the most widely taught methods of proper breathing is controlled, diaphragmatic breathing. It has been widely known that people with general anxiety, or those subjected to a phobia tend to breathe from their chest (thoracic) and not their stomach (diaphragmatic). It’s easy to tell where you are breathing from, simply place one hand on your navel and the other on your chest, right over the breastbone. We're going to use your hands will tell you what muscles you are using to breathe. As you breathe, pay attention to which hand is rising and falling. If it’s mostly the hand on your chest, you aren’t breathing from your diaphragm and need to work on teaching your body to breathe properly. If it’s only the hand on your belly moving, then you’re breathing well. This check should be used again when you feel anxious to ensure you maintain your breathing pattern. If you are skeptical about the correct way to breathe, simply look at the way a baby or dog breathes. They breathe in a relaxed manner with their bellies moving up and down, their chest stays still. If you need to correct your breathe, below is a basic exercise that should be done as often as possible to retrain yourself. With enough work you’ll actually move your unconscious breathe from the upper lung to the lower lung. This experience greatly reduces anxiety and the physical symptoms of tension. 1) Again, place one hand on your navel, and the other on your chest, right over the breastbone. 2) Exhale completely. Drop your shoulders and relax your muscles, as you do so pay [...]

The Power of Affirmations

2009-12-16T01:53:35.708-08:00

People who consistently use affirmations as part of the goal setting process are far more likely to achieve their goals than those who don't use affirmations. Repeating the affirmation over and over will imprint it into your subconscious until you begin to believe it. You will then start behaving as if you are confident and competent because your mind will have accepted it as a new belief. Everything you want is available to you, all you have to do is claim it. Writing and reciting affirmations is one way of claiming what you want. You don't have to believe your affirmations. It is great if you do believe your affirmations, but it doesn't matter if you don't. In fact, you probably won't believe most of them, especially if your affirmation is a real stretch for you. Just keep repeating them in spite of the voices in your head telling you that you're lying to yourself, or this stuff doesn't work. If your affirmation is "I have all the money I can ever want and need"� and you only have $748 in your savings account, you will likely hear your monkey mind saying "that is not true, you only have $748"�, or "no you don't have all the money you can ever want and need, you're broke"�. Just ignore the negative voices and continue to repeat your affirmations. Know that the voices will be there and it is perfectly normal. As you continue to repeat your positive affirmations, the negative voices will get quieter and quieter. They will probably never go away, but after a while the voices in support of your affirmations will get stronger and the negative voices will be in the background, barely audible. The mind must have repetition in order for you to manifest your affirmations into reality. Even when it seems like nothing is happening, keep repeating them. Trust me, it works. I'll share a true story about one of my affirmations. When I was "forty-something"� I decided I wanted to run a marathon just to see if I could do it. At the time, I was 40 pounds overweight and could not run a block without being winded. I had never run more than one mile, not to mention the 26.2 miles required for a marathon. I choose to run a marathon in Vancouver Canada. Ironically, my sweet little brother died of Leukemia seven years later. One of my affirmations was "I will finish this race"�. I trained for seven months with one of my girlfriends who had a death in her family and had to back out just one week before the race. I ended up having to run the marathon alone (although there were thousands of people there) on one of the coldest, rainy, and windy days in Vancouver history. In addition, I trained on flat ground and the trail in Vancouver was unexpectedly hilly. It was my affirmation "I will finish this race"� that kept me going. I wanted to stop at mile 13 but I couldn't stop even though I was tired, hungry, and bleeding from the constant friction from parts of my clothing. Seven months of repeating that affirmation gave me strength of mind that I didn't even know I had. I did finish the race and I have my medal and t-shirt to prove it! Affirmations are a very normal way of thinking. You have been giving yourself affirmations all your life. Everything you think or say to yourself is an affirmation. Anything someone else says to you is an affirmation""if you accept it. Your subconscious mind will accept it all, whether it is good or bad for you. You want to be more deliberate and strategic with your affirmations. People don't usually make a conscious decision to program negative thoughts into their subconscious mind. It is usually done unconsciously. And, sometimes when they become aware, they [...]

Ready-Set-Go To Your Goals

2009-12-15T03:05:53.424-08:00

You're ready? You're set? Go forward to achieve your goals! Wait....you need a plan. You need a SMART plan to reach your goals. Creating a plan to reach your goals takes them out of the wish list mode to commitment of accomplishing them. Would you drive cross country without a map? Would you embark on a trip without any planning? Would you get in your car and expect to arrive across the country without any planning? No, of course not. If you want to arrive at your destination with success, you must have a plan. The same is true for your goals. Make your goals SMART with a plan. Setting goals is a powerful process for success. The process of setting goals provides direction and insight. Establishing goals helps you choose where you want to go in your life. Whether you have weight loss goals, personal, or professional goals, making a plan is essential for you to achieve them. It is not enough to think about them, floating around in your head without any foundation. You need to write them down and develop a plan with strategies for success in reaching your goals. Create categories to organize your goals. Examples of categories are Personal, Career, Education, Family, Health/Fitness, Financial, and Self Improvement. Next, list your goals in the respective categories. In creating your goals, make them S.M.A.R.T! S=Specific, M=Measurable, A=Attainable, R=Realistic, T=Timeframe. SPECIFIC - A specific goal rather than a general, broad goal. A general goal would be to "Exercise." A specific goal would be "Join a gym and workout three days a week." Another example of a general goal would be "Drink water." A specific goal would be "Drink 64 ounces of water throughout the day." List the goal in detail. List your goal in a way that you can check off the steps you've accomplished in order to achieve it. MEASURABLE - Create milestones for measuring your progress toward the accomplishment of each goal. When you measure your progress, you stay on track, remain focused, reach your target dates, and motivate you to reach your goal. By making it measurable, you have a sense of accomplishment as you move forward in your progress. An example is to "Join a gym and workout three days a week" by indicating on your calendar the three days you worked out. Another example is to keep track daily of each eight ounce glass of water you drink. If your goal is to eat three meals a day and two planned snacks, either list the foods in your eating for that day or check off "Meal 1, Meal 2, Meal 3, Snack 1, Snack 2." One good day of achieving your daily success creates momentum for the next day and the next, etc. ATTAINABLE - Make sure that your goals are attainable so you can determine ways to achieve them. If a goal is attainable, once you define the goals and details to get there, you start to develop the attitudes, abilities, skills, and the steps you need to take to obtain success to reach your goals. If your goals are unrealistic or overwhelming, you won't be excited and enthusiastic to begin to accomplish them. If your goals are attainable, you move closer and closer to accomplish your desired goal outcome. A cycle of momentum and success will be created. REALISTIC - A realistic goal must represent an objective that you are willing and able to work on. Every goal should be something you can visualize yourself reaching. In goal setting, if you can't see it, then it is difficult to achieve it. If you believe you can reach your goal, then it can be accomplished. See yourself accomplishing your goal by practicing visualing success. If it is a weight loss goal, shut your eyes and visuall[...]

Improve Your Small Talk Skills to Have More Relationships

2009-12-15T03:04:03.218-08:00

Are you one of those people who finds it difficult to start up a conversation with somebody new, or someone you barely know? Most of us find it a little bit challenging to start conversations with strangers. When we first meet someone, we don’t know much about them. We don’t know if we will both be interested in the same things. We don’t know if the other person is someone we’re going to like and enjoy, or if that person will turn out to be someone we will want to avoid. So, how do we start a conversation with a new person? Most of the time, we have to fall back on that old conversation standby, making “small talk”. Small talk is a fairly trivial sort of conversation about very unimportant matters. We’re not going to be discussing things that are deeply important to us. We’re not going to be revealing our innermost souls to the person we’re talking with, and we aren’t trying to deeply understand our conversation partner. Even though many people hate making small talk, it does have an important part to play in the way people interact with each other. Not every person you meet is going to be someone you want to know deeply. You also will not want to reveal your deepest self to someone you met at a bus stop for a few minutes. When you make small talk, you go through some fairly predictable rituals of exchanging trivial information, while inwardly both of you are trying to decide “Do I really want to get to know this person better?” Sometimes the answer is “yes” and sometimes the answer is “no”. When you engage in small talk, it can be fairly easy to end the conversation because you don’t have a big emotional investment in the outcome. If you discover during the course of your social chit chat that you do actually have some things in common, then you can explore these at a deeper level. Even if you hate to make small talk conversations, they have an important role to play in the development of many relationships. Being good at making trivial social talk can also play a big part in your career. If you aren’t particularly skilled at making conversation with new people you meet, it can prevent you from making the kinds of relationships you need to have in your workplace. How can we become better at making small talk if we hate it? First remind yourself that this is an important conversation skill to master. In many cases, a small talk conversation will progress in one of two directions: either the conversation will fizzle out and the possibility of a social relationship with that person may also disappear, or the conversation will move on to other more interesting topics and the relationship will have a better chance of developing into something deeper and more important. Don’t stay stuck discussing meaningless topics such as the weather for too long, unless you really, really don’t want the conversation to go anywhere. Look for clues the other person may give you about what they really like to talk about. The signals they may send you is that they will keep coming back to their favorite topics over and over again. When they start talking about what really interests them, they will suddenly become much more emotionally lively. When you sense that the other person is discussing something that they really find interesting, you must ask yourself, “Is this a topic that also interests me? Do we have anything in common we can talk about in more depth? Do I want to get to know this person deeper?” At the same time, you can also start mentioning a few of your own interests. Does the other pe[...]

Laughter Is Truly The Best Medicine

2009-12-15T03:01:28.979-08:00

If there's one thing I have to admit about my mother is that she was always right about this: Laughter Is The Best Medicine. If you can't laugh about yourself and the things that happen to you - you're headed for a heart attack or some other malady, it's the way the body works. Laughter lightens the moment and strips away the seriousness that many of us approach life with; it releases the pain and chases away your personal rainstorms leaving a bright sunshiny day. Scientists have also discovered that laughter strengthens your immune system and increases your cardiovascular flexibility (your blood vessels exercise through dilation). According to Dr. Goodheart, the laughter doctor, laughter convulses your diaphragm, which in turn massages your internal organs. Massaged internal organs are happy internal organs and they cooperate by staying plump and juicy. She says that laughter also causes you to gulp in large portions of air, oxygenating your blood. When that air is expelled, it's been clocked at 70 miles an hour, providing the lungs with an excellent workout. By laughing, she says, you lose muscle control, which relaxes the skeletal system. According to Dr. Goodheart, four-year-olds laugh 500 times a day, while adults laugh a mere 15! She's convinced that if we laugh as much as a four-year old, we've have the heart rate and blood pressure of that same child. On top of all that, she continues, laughter causes the brain to produce hormones called beta endorphins which reduce pain and causes our adrenal glands to manufacture cortisol, which is a natural anti-inflammatory that's wonderful for arthritis. Laughter also provides a catharsis, which means to purify or purge, to the emotions. It also brings about a spiritual renewal or release from tension. You notice how sometimes you'll see a comedian on television, and while he may not be that funny, something just makes you laugh uproariously? Your body seems to know that it needs the chemicals that are released through laughter. I've always felt better after a good belly laugh or two. For me that means some very large-sounding snorts and a few donkey brays thrown into the bargain. Some people won't even go to the movie with me because when I start laughing I cannot stop. My daughters always used to go, Mom! as they slunk down into their seats trying not to be seen. When someone's laughing, others laugh along. It's contagious. You can't help it. Oftentimes in my movie-theater laughter excursions, I have motivated a whole theater-full of people laughing right along with me. All this during the credits! (John Belushi being escorted through the prison in the opening credit scenes of The Blues Brothers. If you notice very carefully, while walking he has his butt cheeks pressed ever so tightly together as he's leaving the prison. It was a subtle physical comment that kept me laughing. The more people turned and looked at me, the harder I laughed! Finally, they just gave up and joined me!). The Difference between Laughter, Humor, Teasing and Tickling However, there is a difference between laughter, humor, teasing or tickling. Humor is your way of looking at the world, it's an intellectual exercise. It's your idea of what's funny; it's not the actual act of laughing. Teasing and tickling are really a way of ridiculing someone. Tickling is something beyond someone's control and is actually a physical invasion of sorts. Children laugh when you tickle them because the body works that way, but it's actually a form of emotional ridicule that can result in very unp[...]

Change The World - 6 Kindness Motivation Tips That Make A Difference

2009-12-15T02:58:05.543-08:00

Are you and your friends looking for something new to do together? How about spreading a little kindness around your community? Could you use some motivation tips? Here are a few kindness motivation tips from the E-book, 101 Ways to Change the World. Most of these motivation tips involve some exercise, so you and your friends will get an extra "fitness" bonus along with the fun and fellowship! Here are some project ideas. 1. Take your lunch break to clean up trash. Enlist the help of other employees or friends to join you. This makes a difference in how your workplace or town will look. 2. Make a regular date with your family or friends to go out at least one hour a week to clean trash around: • Your neighborhood • On your road • Somewhere else you know needs cleaning up. Soon the whole area will shine! 3. Get kids involved • Enlist the help of neighborhood kids to clean up your neighborhood, or some other place. • Chauffeur them somewhere they want to go (miniature golf, bowling, a movie, etc.) as their reward. You should have lots of ‘volunteers' taking advantage of this! 4. Refurbish and repair toys to be given to underprivileged children. • Develop a team of people (family, friends or fellow employees) to help with the repairs. The toys will be useful again and the children will appreciate them more than you will ever know! • Take to a local homeless shelter or safe house • This is an easy way to show kindness and make a difference to children who need to know someone cares. 5. Plant a neighborhood garden - with everyone taking part in caring for it. • When the garden is at its peak, make a difference in people's health with daily produce trips to local Shelters or neighbor's homes. • Show "newbies" the difference between vegetable plants and weeds. Talk about what you are planting and the different aspects of gardening. They'll be learning a skill they can use for a lifetime and you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you made a difference! • When the garden season is over, have a party to celebrate how your garden made a difference in many people's lives. 6. Buy daffodil and tulip bulbs in the Fall when they are the least expensive. Plant them at your school, church, neighbor's house, or anywhere their beauty can spread good feelings of kindness. There you have it - six simple ways to make a big difference in your community. Mobilize a group and create a kindness revolution! Ginny Dye owns 5 companies, is a published author, and owns her own publishing company. Her greatest passion is helping people to "make a difference" in this world. Most recently she has launched Together We Can Change the World DAY which mobilizes and connects people across the U.S. [...]

Developing a Positive Attitude through Declarations

2009-12-15T02:55:41.977-08:00

People who have great, positive attitudes believe in themselves. They are able to focus on opportunities not obstacles, and are persistent in finding solutions to challenges. In order to develop a more positive attitude, one needs to start by having an open mind to change. You must be willing to step outside of your comfort zone for awhile in order to grow. How could anyone expect to create positive change in his or her life if they keep doing the same non-supportive behavior over and over again? This is a perfect example of insanity at work. Life is all about choices, whether they be good or bad. Now is the time to take full responsibility for your thoughts and behavior; stop making excuses or justifying your actions. If you truly desire transforming your life for the better, then you must give yourself permission to attract more abundance, prosperity and joy into your life. Developing positive, supportive habits through declarations will dramatically change your lifestyle and move you closer to achieving your dreams and being more successful in all aspects of your life. Declarations are one tool that you can use to change your non-supporting, limiting beliefs and improve your attitude. Simply put, a declaration is a verbal statement of intention to either be or do something. To be the most effective, a declaration needs to be a positive affirmation stated aloud in a formal manner with physical actions. The more senses that you can engage in the process, the easier it will be to create permanent, positive change. As silly as this may sound, stand in front of a mirror to jest and smile as you make your declarations. Have some fun changing your mindset. To experience true success, in all of its senses, you need a rich, meaningful, balance between your spiritual life, your relationships with family, friends and colleagues, your understanding of the world around you, your physical and mental health, and your finances and career. It is obvious that in order to achieve greater success in all aspects of your life you need to develop a list of declarations that will address each fundamental area. The following twelve declarations are designed to not only help you reach your full potential, but also to add value to other people’s lives. They enable you to pursue your higher purpose in life of making a positive difference in this world through your unique talents, skills and gifts. 1. I am richly blessed every day since my life purpose is aligned with God’s higher purpose for me. 2. I deserve to have more abundance and prosperity in my life because I add value to other’s lives. 3. I am truly grateful for all of the people, experiences and opportunities that have come into my life. 4. My legacy is my unconditional love for others. 5. I spend quality time and use effective communication in nurturing my core relationships. 6. I attract the ideal people into my life who support my efforts. 7. I am open to constantly learning and improving my mental capacity. 8. My healthy lifestyle gives me optimal physical well-being. 9. My total success attitude guides my actions to produce the results that allow me to reach my full potential. 10. I choose to create the beliefs and attitudes that support my dreams. 11. My multiple streams of income allow me to be financially free. 12. I constantly seek lucrative opportunities to leverage both my time and money. Practice these declarations twice a day, preferably once in the morning and once at night, for the n[...]

Affirmations and Mantras

2009-12-15T02:53:34.219-08:00

Affirmations and mantras are statements you say to yourself in a repetitive and rote way. Affirmations have been used in psychology for years as part of the healing process for clients, with varying degrees of success. Mantras have been used for thousands of years by monks to train their mind. Both affirmations and mantras are methods of focused attention and concentration. Their success is based on the number of repetitions and the level of commitment to the process. Which do you think have been more successful, the psychology clients or the monks? The spirits taught me about the power of affirmations and mantras as I was doing soul retrievals for people. Whenever I finished a journey, the spirits would assign a mantra for my client to repeat. I was to give my client the mantra, with instructions to repeat it a specific number of times first thing in the morning for 60-90 days. Then one day the spirits instructed me to tell a particular client to say a mantra for ten days, 560 times per day. I was shocked. The number of repetitions was staggering to me. The spirits informed me that this process was a necessary component to enhance the healing my client had just received. From then on, the spirits continued to assign mantras to my clients, but with large numbers of repetitions. The spirits never let me off the hook, so they gave me a mantra to practice also. I diligently sat every day repeating my phrase; it took me about an hour each day. To my amazement it had a tremendous impact on me. The practice became rote and, in fact, a part of my being. Because of the repetitions, the mantra became embedded in my psyche like a catchy tune. Then a magical truth was created and revealed; the mantra stayed in my mind and eventually created a new core to my belief system. Days turned into months and years, and I now have a hard time even remembering the faulty belief system that caused me so much pain in the past. Remember that you respond from a belief system with every choice, thought, or action you have; this is an automatic response. When you want to experience permanent change, you need to address your belief system. The spirits informed me that the purpose of a mantra is to change the patterning of the mind. The mind is rarely still. It has a background chatter, often referred to as "self-talk," that is activated (probably even as you are reading this). In many cases, self- talk is destructive. It becomes your own personal berating system. Your early belief system may have been put into place years before and it takes much effort to reprogram it. Saying an affirmation a few times a day, even if it is for three months, probably will not have much effect. But anything that you say 500-600 times a day will. You will find yourself saying it while you wash your hair, do the dishes, and drive the car. It becomes the new self-talk-the new background noise. Spiritual initiates have known the power of mantras for eons; religious doctrines are based on this concept. Prayer beads and rosaries are simple counting systems for repetitive statements. Initiates sit for hours, days, and years chanting mantras and programming their minds with spiritual doctrines. This ancient method works. I prefer using a clock. I notice how long it takes to say the mantra the initial time and then multiply that out to determine the total time needed. In that way, I do not need to keep an exact count and I know that when I have completed the time, I will have s[...]

Women Can Approach Any Guy For Conversation With This Technique

2009-12-15T02:49:48.919-08:00

Being able to converse with anyone is a great communication skill to possess. Too often starting a conversation is like going to war for many and not just for girls talking to guys. They want to experience the joy of winning by having a great conversation but what lies ahead of the person is a massive uphill fight as they battle with fear, anxiety, uncertainty, and lack of belief leading them to avoid the 'war' altogether by not even starting the conversation. I'm going to hone in on how girls can start a conversation with a guy by discussing your inner game, routine questions, learning about the guy, listening, and picking up on small details, but these are fundamental conversational rules that can be used for anyone in many situations. Say a girl comes across this guy at a shopping center who she would really like to get to know. However, she has inner voices telling her negative things such as "You can't do this", "He won't even like you", "You'll just make yourself look bad and embarrass yourself." You see, she has already lost the war. Your inner self or what I like to call inner game is overly negative that you are drowning yourself and suffocating any chances you had in starting a good conversation. Winning on the outside starts with winning on the inside. Why should you even begin to worry about learning what to say when you can't even speak? Learn to be self-aware of what is going on in your mind. I know it is easier said then done so I am going to teach you a technique to be positive and fight the negative. Motivational speaker Wayne Dyer uses the phrase "no limit thinking" as a means of releasing yourself from your self-limiting beliefs. You have got to release yourself from these beliefs so you can confidently start and maintain the conversation with this guy. You need to stop placing limits within yourself by using a technique called "reframing". Reframing Your Mind Reframing is not at all a difficult technique to use. What it involves is changing how you interpret the situation you are having trouble in. Your aim in reframing is to create thoughts congruent with your goals and repeatedly affirm yourself of these thoughts. The girl at the shopping center would use the reframing technique by repositioning her current negative thoughts to positive ones about having a great conversation with the guy. The more positive thoughts you create, the more you will improve your confidence and adopt a "no limit thinking" approach. Here are some negative thoughts the girl is overcoming and to the right of each one is a reframe the girl could use which she'd repeatedly say to herself: - "I'm nervous." to "I'm nervous because I care about the situation." - "I won't start the conversation well." to "I will start the conversation well as I can do with my other friends and other people." - "I'm afraid." to "I wasn't afraid last week when talking to a new guy so I don't have to be afraid now." - "He is so amazing and too good for me." to "He farts, burps, and itches himself like any other human." - "He won't like me." to "I don't care if he won't like me because I'm the prize. He is the one losing." Can you see now how easy and powerful it is to overcome your self-limits? Reframing is truly an amazing technique. It may take a minute or two to come up with a positive interpretation of the situation but with practice you'll become better at it. It can be used in almost any situation to boost yo[...]

Tips For Managing Your Stress

2010-02-01T21:41:45.054-08:00

Life is full of challenges, and many times we have to stop what we are doing to completely switch gears. Having the ability to be versatile, and developing a flexible attitude will go a long way in adjusting to the ebbs and tides that life will inevitably bring. When life or work seems too frustrating to deal with, all we may need to make it work is an attitude adjustment.When we focus on fighting the obstacles that challenge us, we waste time and energy that could be used more productively if we only learned to "go with the flow" a little more often. If we switch our thinking, viewing obstacles and challenges in a different light, we can be successful in achieving so much more. We will also expend less time and energy if we aren't fighting against a current. This energy can then be focused elsewhere.By implementing the following five helpful tips for developing a flexible attitude, you can find better ways to proceed through life, allowing yourself to flow a little more smoothly through its many ups and downs.Embrace change – Change is necessary to get anywhere in life, and embracing it takes a lot of courage and strength. After all, change brings us into new experiences, and often the unknown is scary for us. Change also brings a good omen, in that life is not remaining stagnant, but rather moving forward in different directions. We should allow life to carry us off into these directions so we can experience a different point of view, appreciating more what we do or don't have.Envision a new outcome – If we go through life expecting things to go as they always have, we can never open ourselves up to the possibility of great things. When our expectations don't arrive, we will be lost, not knowing which way to turn. If we can imagine our actions having different outcomes, we can be prepared for whatever life may bring us, good or bad. Opening our minds to new outcomes will also help us plan for when those outcomes are realized.Enjoy the journey – Key to making our attitudes more flexible is learning to look past the goal of getting something accomplished, and enjoy the trip along the way. If we constantly focus on doing something, achieving something, or acquiring something, we lose sight of ourselves and who we are being. Enjoying ourselves along the way to our goals will allow us to remain flexible in the steps we take to arrive at their completion, or our final destinations.Explore different options – When trying to reach a goal, why not try a new way of getting there? Developing a flexible attitude will be simple if we can practice being flexible in the choices that are important to us. Learning to step out of the box and choose a different path, or option, will often lead us to the new outcomes we’ve been envisioning.Emotionally detach – It is easy to become frustrated at times, but emotionally detaching from the situation will allow us to take a look at our options more carefully and objectively. Acting in response to difficulties is far different than reacting, and the former is the more productive choice. When a challenge arises, take the time to decide how to act, instead of reacting with rash behavior.Remaining flexible throughout life may make you feel like you are loosening the reins on your goals and values. That is not the case, however. If we can stay flexible and adapt to change, we may find ourselves better off than we ever could have imagined.Life [...]

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