Creative Notions

People seem to have the misconception that only a select few are able to unleash a steady flow of creative genius. That is not true at all. The fact is, creativity is very much like a muscle that needs to be exercised in order to consistently give out great results. If you don't practice harnessing creative thinking, this skill will very much atrophy into in existence  But keep working and this skill will soon come to you in a snap.

So how do you unleash your creative thinking? Well, the first thing is to become a human leech. No, we're not talking about just sucking the blood out of every living being available, we're saying that you should take in as much knowledge and learning you can find. Read everything available -- good and bad, and keep your mind open to the infinite possibilities of the universe. The more you know, the more you'll want to know, and the more your faculty of wonder will be exercised. Prepare to be amazed at little facts that add a bit of color into your life.

Focus on a creative activity everyday. Yes, it's an effort. Even doodling is a creative activity. Don't let anything hinder you. Mindlessness may be a creative activity, but for people who are just starting out to unleash a little bit of creative thinking in their lives, it is helpful and encouraging to have concrete evidence, that, "hey, what I'm doing is getting somewhere." So why don't you try it. Practice drawing for a couple of minutes each day. Bring out your old camera and start snapping photos like crazy. Keep a journal and make a point to write in it religiously. Another cool idea is to write by describing something with your five senses. Try to avoid vague adjectives like "marvelous," "amazing," and "delicious." Before you know it, you'll have built yourself a tiny portfolio, and you'll be amazed at the growth you've undertaken after amassing all those works of art. Who knows, you might actually take to liking those things you do everyday. Pretty soon those things will become a part of you and you'll be addicted to these creative exercises.

Think out of the box -- or don't. Sometimes, constraints are actually a good thing. Limitations discipline you to work within your means. It enables you to be more resourceful. Creative freedom is great, but limitations enforce discipline.

Try something new everyday and let your experiences broaden your perspective. Explore a new district in your neighborhood. Spend an afternoon in a museum to which you've never been before. Chat up someone on the bus. Open up to the people around you. As you thrust yourself out of your comfort zone more and more each day, your sense of adventure grows and so does your zest for life. Think about it. When was the last time you did something for the first time? If it's been a while, I tell you, you've been missing out on a whole lot of experiences that would've added to your growth, emotionally, mentally, physically, or spiritually. Why don't you try bungee jumping today? Not only will you learn, but you will also have plenty of stories to share, enabling you to practice your storytelling skills and making you the life of the party.

Embrace insanity. No, not to the point of practically admitting yourself into the mental ward. As John Russell once said, "Sanity calms, but madness is more interesting." Exactly! Every creative thought was once deemed insanity by other "normal" people at one time or another. Luckily, that didn't stop the creative geniuses from standing by them. The thing is, sanity or being normal confines people to think... well, normally. Within limits. Creativity is essentially breaking through barriers. Yes, this includes the bizarre and the downright strange. I'm not saying that you yourself should develop a creative personality. That might go haywire. An example of a creative personality would be George Washington, who often rode into battle naked, or James Joyce, who wrote "Dub liners" with beetle juice for an intense fear of ink, or Albert Einstein, who thought his cat was a spy sent by his rival (or in thinking creatively in this case, the term could probably be "arch nemesis.") It's important that your creativity doesn't get you detached from the real world completely.

Creating Effective and Efficient Relationships

Relationships of kinds are often perceived while very delicate things, that require extra effort to maintain. However, a relationship can also be something that can provide security and can even be long lasting despite many demos.

Building an effective and lasting relationships is really a necessity for several reasons. By way of example in a group or organization, the well being of individuals depends on how efficient along with effective that group or organization works.

The group or organization is usually dependent on how the members work well with the management.

An ineffective group or organization can be very frustrating. An effective group or organization may also ask so much on their particular members, that sometimes the members could well be having no life outside the walls from the area where they work or sacrifice the other aspects of their life only to meet deadlines. For an organization or group with this sort of scenario, relationships can be stressed or have problems with breakdown.

People or other entities who be based upon these groups or organization furthermore suffer.

Society is defined as being a web of relationships, which requires all parties to figure and contribute their share to experience a common goal. Having a relationship that is good, where cooperation and value are manifested, can make society are better. In this way each member works for that good of the whole and towards achieving a typical goal. This can only always be attained with effective and effective relationships.

Understanding the other parties' feeling and position creates an effective and efficient relationship. The easiest method to understand it is important to another party is to inquire what they want and listen to what they must say. When the other gathering realizes this, they would feel the importance given to them

Effective and efficient relationships demand parties to openly express their particular feelings and positions on all matters pertinent within the relationship. Assuming that the other party understands our needs and present us when we need it without asking for it isn't a good practice.

Respect is the key to relationship. In order to manufacture a more effective relationship, parties should treat one another with respect. We can show respect by simply listening to the other gathering and by trying sincerely to understand how they function. You can also show value to other parties by confirming they are doing everything they can.

The opposite of respect is quick forming of judgements depending on unfounded facts and prejudice.

Respect is the very foundation for a good relationship. This also means respecting yourself and respecting others.

Another key area in forming an effective relationship is to tackle differences from the other party directly. Differences between parties or everyone is quite interesting. For example in a very conversation where each party listens on the other party, you may discover that each is having two unique perspectives.

Work towards a win-win alternative for both parties.

This can be achieved when at least one party acknowledges the relationship is important. That party would then exert more hours, effort and energy to understand the other party's needs and deal by it to get it straight. Should they fail, it is comforting with the party to know that they will tried.

Effectively listening and simply no pre-judging. This is important if parties are to understand each other.

Informal discussions are usually conducive for parties. They draw out issues and concerns comfortably. In addition they feel more relaxed making these individuals think more clearly.

Developing an atmosphere where the other party can express their feelings when they must.

When parties fail to express whatever is on the mind or their feelings, it can get in the way of building an effective relationship.

Parties probably know that certain things exist naturally but should be controlled in any dealings in a relationship. Human nature is one particular. Some of these things found in a relationship also include a brief history of stereotyping or mistrust, blaming the other person or party for a sprained relationship, excluding the other party's feelings when concentrating on a task, no clear along with defined objectives, roles and expectations of every party in a relationship is usually unclear.

Relationships are important to help anyone, addressing issues and problems straight away is a must for boosting the relationship. As they say 'No man is definitely an Island'.

Life is About Choices and the Decisions We Make

Life is like a road. There are long and short roads; smooth and rocky roads; crooked and straight paths. In our life many roads would come our way as we journey through life. There are roads that lead to a life of single blessedness, marriage, and religious vocation. There are also roads that lead to fame and fortune on one hand, or isolation and poverty on the other. There are roads to happiness as there are roads to sadness, roads towards victory and jubilation, and roads leading to defeat and disappointment.

Just like any road, there are corners, detours, and crossroads in life. Perhaps the most perplexing road that you would encounter is a crossroad. With four roads to choose from and with limited knowledge on where they would go, which road will you take? What is the guarantee that we would choose the right one along the way? Would you take any road, or just stay where you are: in front of a crossroad?


There are no guarantees.

You do not really know where a road will lead you until you take it. There are no guarantees. This is one of the most important things you need to realize about life. Nobody said that choosing to do the right thing all the time would always lead you to happiness. Loving someone with all your heart does not guarantee that it would be returned. Gaining fame and fortune does not guarantee happiness. Accepting a good word from an influential superior to cut your trip short up the career ladder is not always bad, especially if you are highly qualified and competent.  There are too many possible outcomes, which your really cannot control. The only thing you have power over is the decisions that you will make, and how you would act and react to different situations.


Wrong decisions are always at hindsight.

Had you known that you were making a wrong decision, would you have gone along with it? Perhaps not, why would you choose a certain path when you know it would get you lost? Why make a certain decision if you knew from the very beginning that it is not the right one. It is only after you have made a decision and reflected on it that you realize its soundness. If the consequences or outcomes are good for you, then you have decided correctly. Otherwise, your decision was wrong.


Take the risk: decide.

Since life offers no guarantee and you would never know that your decision would be wrong until you have made it, then you might as well take the risk and decide. It is definitely better than keeping yourself in limbo. Although it is true that one wrong turn could get you lost, it could also be that such a turn could be an opportunity for an adventure, moreover open more roads. It is all a matter of perspective. You have the choice between being a lost traveller or an accidental tourist of life.  But take caution that you do not make decisions haphazardly. Taking risks is not about being careless and stupid. Here are some pointers that could help you choose the best option in the face of life’s crossroads:
· Get as many information as you can about your situation.

You cannot find the confidence to decide when you know so little about what you are faced with. Just like any news reporter, ask the 5 W’s: what, who, when, where, and why. What is the situation? Who are the people involved? When did this happen? Where is this leading? Why are you in this situation? These are just some of the possible questions to ask to know more about your situation. This is important. Oftentimes, the reason for indecision is the lack of information about a situation.

· Identify and create options.

What options do the situation give you? Sometimes the options are few, but sometimes they are numerous. But what do you do when you think that the situation offers no options? This is the time that you create your own. Make your creative mind work. From the most simplistic to the most complicated, entertain all ideas. Do not shoot anything down when an idea comes to your head. Sometimes the most outrageous idea could prove to be the right one in the end. You can ask a friend to help you identify options and even make more options if you encounter some difficulty, but make sure that you make the decision yourself in the end.

· Weigh the pros and cons of every option.

Assess each option by looking at the advantages and disadvantages it offers you. In this way, you get more insights about the consequences of such an option.

· Trust yourself and make that decision.

Now that you have assessed your options, it is now time to trust yourself. Remember that there are no guarantees and wrong decisions are always at hindsight.  So choose… decide… believe that you are choosing the best option at this point in time.


Now that you have made a decision, be ready to face its consequences: good and bad. It may take you to a place of promise or to a land of problems. But the important thing is that you have chosen to live your life instead of remaining a bystander or a passive audience to your own life. Whether it is the right decision or not, only time can tell. But do not regret it whatever the outcome. Instead, learn from it and remember that you always have the chance to make better decisions in the future.

The Game of Life Start your own coaching: 7 days program

As well as been a coach to a neighborhood team?

I know how it feels initially I've coached a team of seven-year-old soccer kids and just how much they can really test our patience, not to mention sanity because they run around kicking the ball like ants to your huge, white crumb. It feels strange in the beginning, having to be stared at by a number of kids who they will are aware that I'm not the one inside field. Sounds wrong in an awareness of, right? But what is your dead about coaching?

Coaching is centered on being a, well, 'coach' inside corporate world of handlers, front-liners and even a few benchwarmers biding their time to be given enable you to perform. I know how that feels when I return to my regular day job. Some players are merely MVP material, and some of them are just to support the MVP's so why bother sticking around? It sounds ironic when they say 'there is no I in team', but even the underachievers may be sore losers as well.

These are steps you can apply within the day, and it doesn't matter what, it takes determination to certainly be a coach.

1. There is a great deal of talk these days about Corporate Team building events. There are many, many alternatives: vacation packages, rope courses, on-going company games, ice-breakers, etc. Management can also purchase videos, books, and seminar packages to support them in building up their organization into a team worthy of belonging. A little later I provides you with some ideas of where you'll be able to go for information on these types of team-building tools.

2. The truth about motivation is waiting to be grasped! It is ripe and ready that you put into action today. Don't be satisfied mind-numbing gibberish. Get practical in 3 small ways to begin eager for your alarm clock sounding off every day before you huddle with your team.

3. Experience is the good thing despite of what course a person graduated in. There is something about to be a people person who knows the best way to stir the energetic side of merely one individual, and more so whenever you mix it up with a full team.

4. To question a person by their own performance is sometimes required, yet never question their knowledge or maybe their intelligence. Sadly, I have seen a few mistakes from past coaches who never often understand what a player has to plod through to get the job appropriate. It will lead to further aggravation and perhaps even hostility. If you want the job done right, then go try it for yourself. You'll see how it is to be at the receiving end and it will help your set a much greater course for improvement.

5. Sending a player to the bench is among the worse experience a coach has to plod through, especially if your player is the top performer. In dealing with this type of person, see to it which he spills his guts voluntarily. Egotism in a performer helps make them lose their focus on even the littlest mistakes, then you can catch them red handed. Be firm, but understanding about it.

6. Don't allow your position to blind you from what you are supposed to do. Even coaches are human enough to think that they're far more superior, but solely by rank. Even if you will be in their shoes when you were how old they are, it's better to dole out some wisdom in order for them to realize that this will be for their own benefit.

7. Last but not least, you should learn to trust yourself along with your team. Decisions and performance tend to be primarily your goals, and there are many of them to see when they could perform the task a lot more efficiently. So before you look at sending one member to your bench, have a good chat with them and see if they have got any problems. If it's too personal, then just encourage them to do their best you'll take pride in helps to give them an excellent, encouraging slap on the back.

SELF IMPROVEMENT AND SUCCESS

What happens to us happens inside purpose. And sometimes, one thing brings about another. Instead of locking yourself up with your cage of fears and crying and moping over past heartaches, embarrassment as well as failures treats them as your teachers and they will become your tools in the two self improvement and success.

I remember watching Patch Adams – it’s definitely the movie, actually. Its one great film that may help you improves yourself. Hunter “patch” Adams can be a medical student who failed to create it through the board exams. After months of suffering inside melancholy, depression and suicidal attempts – he thought we would seek for medical attention and voluntarily admitted himself in a psychiatric ward. His months of stay within the hospital led him to meeting different kinds of people. Sick people in that will matter. He met a catatonic, a new mentally retarded, a schizophrenic and so on. Patch found ways of treating his very own ailment and finally realized he's to get back on observe. He woke up one morning realizing that after all the failure and pains he's gone through, he still desire to become the a doctor. He carries with himself a confident attitude that brought him personal improvement and success. He didn’t only improved himself, but also the life from the people around him and the standard of life. Did he succeed? As you can imagine, he became the best damn doctor his country has ever before known.

So, when does personal improvement become synonymous with achievement? Where do we start? Take these pointers, friends…

*Stop thinking and feeling as though you’re a failure, because you’re not really. How can others accept you when you can’t accept YOU?

*When the thing is that hunks and models on TV SET, think more on self progress, not self pitying. Self acceptance is not only about having nice slender legs, or great abs. Concentrate on inner beauty.

*When people think so down and low regarding themselves, help them move way up. Don’t go down with these. They’ll pull you down further and both of you can be feeling inferior.

*The world can be a large room for lessons, not really mistakes. Don’t feel stupid and doomed forever even if you failed on a research quiz. There’s always a the next time. Make rooms for self progress.

*Take things one at a period of time. You don’t expect black sheep’s being goody-two-shoes in just a snap of your finger. Self improvement is a one day at any given time process.

*Self improvement results in order to inner stability, personality development as well as digs this …. SUCCESS. It arises from self confidence, self appreciation and self-assurance.

* Set meaningful and possible goals. Self improvement doesn’t turn someone to be the exact replica associated with Cameron Diaz or Ralph Fiennes. It hopes and aims to cause an improved and better YOU.

*Little things mean BIG to other people. Sometimes, we don’t realize the little things that we do being a pat on the back, saying “hi” or “hello”, greeting someone “good day” or telling Mr. Smith similar to “hey, I love your tie! ” are simple things which means that so much to other persons. When we’re being appreciative regarding beautiful things around us along with other people, we also become beautiful for them.

*When you’re willing to accept change and feel the process of self improvement, it doesn’t imply that everyone else is. The world can be a place where people of different values and attitude have fun. Sometimes, even if you think you along with your best friend always like to perform the same thing together as well, she would most likely decline an invitation for self progress.

We should always remember that will there’s no such thing because ‘overnight success’. It’s always a wonderful feeling to keep hold of the things that you currently have now, realizing that those are just one of the things you once wished for. A very nice quote says that “When the pupil is ready, the teacher look. ” We are all here to understand our lessons. Our parents, institution teachers, friends, colleagues, officemates, neighbors… they're our teachers. When we wide open our doors for self progress, we increase our chances to visit the road of success.

Power through the people

Have you come across a person who is so naturally friendly that when you put him inside a room of strangers, he'll be friends with almost everyone in no time? We call such a people-person, someone unbelievably nice and charismatic that he can charm anyone into doing anything.

A socially-empowered person achieves so much greatness, basically because of the people that catapult him to success. He earns the trust and all-out support of the people, whom he had helped before. He never runs out of help. He can do anything with the plethora of people behind him. All because he knows he maximizes his social potential!

See, if you know your social skills and you make use of them, you will reach self-empowerment. Self-empowerment is making a general overhaul in your life and turning yourself into a happier and more successful person.If you can be one of those people-persons, then I can't see any reason why you will not succeed. You just have to know how to start.

1. Be genuine.

Hypocrisy will just bring you all the way down. Be genuinely nice and interested to people. Once they perceive that you are Mr. Hypocrite with selfish intentions, you might as well say goodbye to self-empowerment.

2. Be the greatest listener that you can be.

To earn the love and trust of the people, listen to their problems and sympathize with them. Do not just hear them out, listen to them with your heart. Make eye contact when the person talks to you. Listen as if every word matters, and it does. Brownie points when they find out that there is a confidante in you.

3. Laugh out loud.

I do not mean that you force yourself to laugh for every joke cracked by someone, albeit you do not find it funny at all.This means finding humor in things and not being too darn serious. A person oozing with an awesome sense of humor attracts crowds and eventually, attracts success.

4. Don't forget yourself.

In the process of fluttering around like a social butterfly, you might forget yourself, allowing everyone to push you over. Remember, love and value yourself before anyone else. If you deem yourself respectable and worthy of affection, people will flock to you and not trample on you.

5. Do random acts of kindness.

You don't have to do a John Rockefeller and blow your savings to charity. Little acts of kindness matters the most, and this can be as simple as giving someone a surprise you-take-care card or helping an elderly cross the street. When we were kindergarten students, kindness was taught to us and greatly practiced. Now is the time to revive the good deeds and this time, let them stay for good.

6. Contact your old friends.

Sad how some friendships are destined to goodbye, but thanks to technology, you can do something about it. Relive the good old days by flipping your yearbook and look for the great people whom you want to communicate with again. Adding these old friends to your roster of support peers will surely make you feel good all over.

7. Develop your personality.

Are you grouchy, grumpy and generally morose? Whoa, you can't go through life with those. Get rid of the bad traits and habits that perpetually hamper your growth. And really, who wants a grouchy friend anyway?

8. Be confident.

Be able to stride to the other corner of the room and introduce yourself to people with that winning smile of yours. Just remember: be confident, not arrogant.

9. Practice control.

When angry, don't snap at anyone. Never throw a tantrum. Stay calm and collected. Be adult enough to take control of situation and transform your anger into something more productive and passive. As soon as people think your anger goes to volcanic proportions easily, they will find it hard to come to you.

10. Keep nurturing your relationships.

Your relationship with your family, friends and significant others is too precious that you must not neglect it whatever happens. Go out and have fun with them. Do things together. Happiness will never fly from your side as long as the people who matter the most are close to you.

In the end, using people for self-empowerment means becoming a better and more lovable person. It's a win-win situation: the people know they can turn to you anytime and vice versa.

The Powers of a Positive Attitude

I am going to ask you to something very weird right now. First of all, I want you to listen to your thoughts. Now tell me, what thoughts fill your head? Would you label them as positive, or negative?

Now let's say you are walking down the street with these thoughts. Do you think anyone who would meet you would be able to tell you what’s on your mind?

The answer to number one is up to you. But, the answer number two can be pretty generic. Although people will not be able to tell you exactly what you think, they will more or less have an idea of how you are feeling.

Here's another question. When you enter a party filled with friends, do they all fall silent as if something terrible had happened? Or does everybody there perk up as if waiting for something exciting to happen?

You know what? The answer to all these depends on your frame of mind.

Thoughts are very powerful. They affect your general attitude. The attitude you carry reflects on your appearance, too – unless, of course, you are a great actor.

And it doesn't end there. Your attitude can also affect people around you.

The type of attitude you carry depends on you. It can be either positive or negative.

Positive thoughts have a filling effect. They are admittedly invigorating. Plus, the people around the person carrying positive thoughts are usually energized by this type of attitude.

Negative thoughts on the other hand have a sapping effect on other people. Aside from making you look gloomy and sad, negative thoughts can turn a festive gathering into a funeral wake.

A positive attitude attracts people, while a negative attitude repels them. People tend to shy away from those who carry a negative attitude.

We can also define attitude as the way of looking at the world. If you choose to focus on the negative things in the world, more or less you have a negative attitude brewing up. However, if you choose to focus on the positive things, you are more likely carry a positive attitude.

You have much to gain from a very positive attitude. For one, studies have shown that a positive attitude promotes better health. Those with this kind of attitude also have more friends. projecting a positive attitude also helps one to handle stress and problems better than those who have a negative attitude.

A positive attitude begins with a healthy self-image. If you will love the way you are and are satisfied, confident, and self-assured, you also make others are around feel the same way.

A negative attitude, on the other hand, has, of course, an opposite effect. So, carrying a negative attitude has a twofold drawback. You feel bad about yourself, and you make others feel the same way.

If you want to have a positive attitude, you have to feature healthy thoughts. This is probably very hard to do nowadays since, all around us, the media feeds us nothing but negative thoughts. A study shows that for every 14 things a parent says to his or her child, only one is positive. This is truly a saddening thought.

If you want a healthier outlook in life, you need to think happy thoughts, and you have to hear positive things as well. So, what can you do? Well, for starters, you could see a funny movie, you could play with children, spend some time telling jokes with friends. All these activities fill you with positive stimuli, which in turn promotes positive attitude.

Although it is impossible to keep ourselves from the negative things around us, you can still carry a positive attitude by focusing on the good things, the positive things in life.

And this positive attitude you now carry can be of benefit to other people. Sometimes when other people feel down, the thing people mostly do is try to give them advice. But sometimes, all they need is somebody to sit by them, and listen to them. If you have a positive attitude you may be able to cheer them up without even having to say anything.

If positive attitude is really great, why do people choose to adopt a negative attitude instead? One who carries a negative attitude may be actually sending a signal for attention. Before you get me wrong, feeling sad, angry, or gloomy is not wrong itself. But dwelling on these thoughts for far too long is not healthy either. There is a time to mourn.

As always, if you are beset by troubles, even in your darkest hour, focus on the good things in life, you will always have hope. Problems become something you can overcome.

You do not have much to lose by adopting a healthy, positive attitude. Studies show that such an attitude actually retards aging, makes you healthier, helps you develop a better stress coping mechanism, and has a very positive effect on all the people you meet every day. So, what's not to like about a positive attitude? Adopt one today.

MOTIVATION, THE HEART OF SELF IMPROVEMENT

Pain may sometimes be the reason why people change. Getting flunked grades make us realize that we need to study. Debts remind us of our inability to look for a source of income. Being humiliated gives us the ‘push’ to speak up and fight for ourselves to save our face from the next embarrassments. It may be a bitter experience, a friend’s tragic story, a great movie, or an inspiring book that will help us get up and get just the right amount of motivation we need in order to improve ourselves.

With the countless negativities the world brings about, how do we keep motivated? Try on the tips I prepared from A to Z…

A - Achieve your dreams. Avoid negative people, things and places. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

B - Believe in your self, and in what you can do.

C – Consider things on every angle and aspect. Motivation comes from determination. To be able to understand life, you should feel the sun from both sides.

D – Don’t give up and don’t give in. Thomas Edison failed once, twice, more than thrice before he came up with his invention and perfected the incandescent light bulb. Make motivation as your steering wheel.

E – Enjoy. Work as if you don’t need money. Dance as if nobody’s watching. Love as if you never cried. Learn as if you’ll live forever. Motivation takes place when people are happy.

F – Family and Friends – are life’s greatest ‘F’ treasures. Don’t loose sight of them.

G – Give more than what is enough. Where does motivation and self improvement take place at work? At home? At school? When you exert extra effort in doing things.

H – Hang on to your dreams. They may dangle in there for a moment, but these little stars will be your driving force.

I – Ignore those who try to destroy you. Don’t let other people to get the best of you. Stay out of toxic people – the kind of friends who hates to hear about your success.

J – Just be yourself. The key to success is to be yourself. And the key to failure is to try to please everyone.

K – keep trying no matter how hard life may seem. When a person is motivated, eventually he sees a harsh life finally clearing out, paving the way to self improvement.
L – Learn to love your self. Now isn’t that easy?

M – Make things happen. Motivation is when your dreams are put into work clothes.

N – Never lie, cheat or steal. Always play a fair game.

O – Open your eyes. People should learn the horse attitude and horse sense. They see things in 2 ways – how they want things to be, and how they should be.

P – Practice makes perfect. Practice is about motivation. It lets us learn repertoire and ways on how can we recover from our mistakes.

Q – Quitters never win. And winners never quit. So, choose your fate – are you going to be a quitter? Or a winner?

R – Ready yourself. Motivation is also about preparation. We must hear the little voice within us telling us to get started before others will get on their feet and try to push us around. Remember, it wasn’t raining when Noah build the ark.

S – Stop procrastinating.

T – Take control of your life. Discipline or self control jives synonymously with motivation. Both are key factors in self improvement.

U – Understand others. If you know very well how to talk, you should also learn how to listen. Yearn to understand first, and to be understood the second.

V – Visualize it. Motivation without vision is like a boat on a dry land.

W – Want it more than anything. Dreaming means believing. And to believe is something that is rooted out from the roots of motivation and self improvement.

X – X Factor is what will make you different from the others. When you are motivated, you tend to put on “extras” on your life like extra time for family, extra help at work, extra care for friends, and so on.

Y – You are unique. No one in this world looks, acts, or talks like you. Value your life and existence, because you’re just going to spend it once.

Z – Zero in on your dreams and go for it!!!

Do Yoda Proud: Meditation 101

Meditation is the term for a state where your body and mind are consciously relaxed and focused. Practitioners of this art record increased awareness, focus, and concentration, as well as a much more positive outlook in life.

Meditation is normally associated with monks, mystics along with spiritual disciplines. However, you ought not to be a monk or mystic to relish its benefits. And you even ought not to be in a special place to apply it. You could even try it is likely to living room!

Although there are a variety of approaches to meditation, the fundamental principles remain exactly the same. The most important among these principles is that of eliminating obstructive, negative, and wandering views and fantasies, and calming the mind with a deep sense regarding focus. This clears the mind regarding debris and prepares it for any higher quality of activity.

The mental poison you have – those regarding noisy neighbors, bossy office mates  that parking ticket you got, and unwanted spam– are said to contribute to the ‘polluting’ in the mind, and shutting them out is enables the ‘cleansing’ of the mind in order that it may focus on deeper, much more meaningful thoughts.

Some practitioners actually shut out all sensory enter – no sights, no sounds, and nothing to touch – and attempt to detach themselves from the turmoil around them. You may now concentrate on a deep, profound thought if that is your goal. It may seem deafening to start with, since we are all too accustomed to constantly hearing and seeing items, but as you continue this exercise you will discover yourself becoming more aware regarding everything around you.

If you find the meditating positions you discover on television threatening – those with impossibly arched backs, and painful-looking contortions – you will need not worry. The principle here might be in a comfortable position approving to concentration. This may end up being while sitting cross-legged, standing, prone, and even walking.

If the position allows you to relax and focus, then that might be a good starting point. While sitting or standing, the back must be straight, but not tense or even tight. In other positions, the only real no-no is slouching and drifting off to sleep.

Loose, comfortable clothes help a lot in the process since tight fitting clothes usually tend to choke you up and allow you to feel tense.

The place you perform meditation really should have a soothing atmosphere. It could possibly be in your living room, or even bedroom, or any place you feel comfortable in. You might want an work out mat if you plan to fight the more challenging positions (if you feel more focused doing so, of course, if the contortionist in you is actually screaming for release). You might want to have the place arranged in order that it is soothing to your feelings.

Silence helps most people relax and meditate, so you may want a quiet, isolated area not even close to the ringing of the phone or the humming in the washing machine. Pleasing scents also aid in that regard, so stocking up on aromatic candles isn’t such an unsatisfactory idea either.

The monks you observe on television making those monotonous sounds are performing their mantra. This, in simple terms, is a short creed, a simple sound which, for these practitioners, holds a mystic value.

You no longer need to perform such; however, it could pay to note that emphasizing repeated actions such as inhaling, and humming help the practitioner enter an increased state of consciousness.

The principle here is focus. You could also try emphasizing a certain object or believed, or even, while keeping one’s eyes open, focus on 1 sight.

One sample routine would be to – while in a meditative state – silently name all of you body and centering your consciousness on that part. While doing this you should know any tension on any portion of your body. Mentally visualize liberating this tension. It works miracles.

In all, meditation is a relatively risk-free practice and its benefits are really worth the effort (or non-effort – bear in mind we’re relaxing).

Studies have shown that meditation does result in beneficial physiologic effects to our bodies. And there has been a growing consensus in the medical community to help expand study the effects of this kind of. So in the near foreseeable future, who knows, that mystical, esoteric thing we call meditation might be a science itself!

How to Become an Ideal Leader

When you are at work, do you get frustrated because things don't seem to be happening the way they’re 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 leaders 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. Remember, also, that it is not about just you. It is about you and the people around you.

So, do you have the drive and the desire to serve required of leaders? Do you have the desire to work cooperatively with other people? Then start now. Take your stand and be leader today.

The Way to Wellness" It's time to start a Healthy life

your 7 days program


How many times have you gone to sleep at night, swearing you'll go to the gym in the morning, and then changing your mind just eight hours later because when you get up, you don't feel like exercising?

While this can happen to the best of us, it doesn't mean you should drop the ball altogether when it comes to staying fit. What people need to realize is that staying active and eating right are critical for long-term health and wellness -- and that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The more you know about how your body responds to your lifestyle choices, the better you can customize a nutrition and exercise plan that is right for you. When you eat well, increase your level of physical activity, and exercise at the proper intensity, you are informing your body that you want to burn a substantial amount of fuel. This translates to burning fat more efficiently for energy.
In other words, proper eating habits plus exercise equals fast metabolism, which, in turn gives you more energy throughout the day and allows you to do more physical work with less effort.

The true purpose of exercise is to send a repetitive message to the body asking for improvement in metabolism, strength, aerobic capacity and overall fitness and health. Each time you exercise, your body responds by upgrading its capabilities to burn fat throughout the day and night, Exercise doesn't have to be intense to work for you, but it does need to be consistent.

I recommend engaging in regular cardiovascular exercise four times per week for 20 to 30 minutes per session, and resistance training four times per week for 20 to 25 minutes per session. This balanced approach provides a one-two punch, incorporating aerobic exercise to burn fat and deliver more oxygen, and resistance training to increase lean body mass and burn more calories around the block.

Here's a sample exercise program that may work for you:

* Warm Up -- seven to eight minutes of light aerobic activity intended to increase blood flow and lubricate and warm-up your tendons and joints.

* Resistance Training -- Train all major muscle groups. One to two sets of each exercise. Rest 45 seconds between sets.

* Aerobic Exercise -- Pick two favorite activities, they could be jogging, rowing, biking or cross-country skiing, whatever fits your lifestyle. Perform 12 to 15 minutes of the first activity and continue with 10 minutes of the second activity. Cool down during the last five minutes.

* Stretching -- Wrap up your exercise session by stretching, breathing deeply, relaxing and meditating.

When starting an exercise program, it is important to have realistic expectations. Depending on your initial fitness level, you should expect the following changes early on.

* From one to eight weeks -- Feel better and have more energy.

* From two to six months -- Lose size and inches while becoming leaner. Clothes begin to fit more loosely. You are gaining muscle and losing fat.

* After six months -- Start losing weight quite rapidly.

Once you make the commitment to exercise several times a week, don't stop there. You should also change your diet and/or eating habits,' says Zwiefel. Counting calories or calculating grams and percentages for certain nutrients is impractical. Instead, I suggest these easy-to-follow guidelines:

* Eat several small meals (optimally four) and a couple of small snacks throughout the day
* Make sure every meal is balanced -- incorporate palm-sized proteins like lean meats, fish, egg whites and dairy products, fist-sized portions of complex carbohydrates like whole-wheat bread and pasta, wild rice, multigrain cereal and potatoes, and fist-sized portions of vegetable and fruits
* Limit your fat intake to only what's necessary for adequate flavor
* Drink at least eight 8-oz. glasses of water throughout the day
* I also recommend that you take a multi-vitamin each day to ensure you are getting all the vitamins and minerals your body needs.

I suppose that's all I can think of for now. I should extend my thanks to a doctor friend of mine. Without him, I wouldn't be able to write this article, or keep my sanity.

Enjoy life, we all deserve it.

Genuine Happiness Comes from Within

Life isn't the sweetest candy. Sometimes, when I feel like the world is just too heavy, I look around and find people who continued to live fascinating and wonderful lives. And then thoughts come popping into my mind like bubbles from nowhere – “How did their life become so adorably sweet? How come they still can manage to laugh and play around despite a busy stressful life?”  Then I pause and observed for awhile… I figured out that maybe, they start to work on a place called ‘self’.

So, how does one become genuinely happy? Step 1 is to love yourself.

My theology professor once said that “loving means accepting.”  To love oneself means to accept that you are not a perfect being, but behind the imperfections must lie a great ounce of courage to be able to discover ways on how to improve your repertoire to recover from our mistakes.

Genuine happiness also pertains to contentment. When you are contented with the job you have, the way you look, with your family, your friends, the place you live in, your car, and all the things you now have – truly, you know the answer to the question “how to be genuinely happy.”

When we discover a small start somewhere from within, that small start will eventually lead to something else, and to something else. But if you keep questioning life lit it has never done you any good, you will never be able to find genuine happiness.

I believe that life is about finding out about right and wrong, trying and failing, wining and losing. These are things that happen as often as you inhale and exhale. Failure, in a person’s life has become as abundant and necessary as air. But this should not hinder us from becoming happy.

How to be genuinely happy in spite all these? I tell you… every time you exert effort to improve the quality of life and your being, whether it is cleaning up your room, helping a friend, taking care of your sick dog, fail on board exams and trying again, life gives you equivalent points for that.

Imagine life as a big score board like those which are used in the NFL s  Every time you take a step forward, you make scoring points. Wouldn't it be nice to look at that board at the end of each game and think to yourself “Whew! I got a point today. I’m glad I gave it a shot.”, instead of looking at it all blank and murmur “Geez, I didn't even hit a score today. I wish I had the guts to try out. We could have won!” and then walk away.

Genuine happiness isn't about driving the hottest Formula 1 car, nor getting the employee of the year award, earning the highest 13th month pay, or beating the sales quota. Sometimes, the most sought after prizes in life doesn't always go to the fastest, the strongest, the bravest or not even the best. So, how do you become genuinely happy?  Every one has his own definition of ‘happiness’. Happiness for a writer may mean launching as much best selling books as possible. Happiness for a basketball rookie may mean getting the rookie of the year award. Happiness for a beggar may mean a lot of money. Happiness for a business man may mean success. So, really now, how do we become genuinely happy? Simple. You don’t have to have the best things in this world. Its about doing and making the best out of every single thing. When you find yourself smiling at your own mistake and telling your self “Oh, I’ll do better next time”, you carry with you a flame of strong will power to persevere that may spread out like a brush fire. You possess a willingness to stand up again and try – that will make you a genuinely happy person.

When you learn to accept yourself and your own faults. You pass step 1 in the project “how to become genuinely happy”.For as long as you know how to accept others, you will also be accepted. For as long as you love and know how to love, you will receive love ten folds back.

Again, throw me that same question “how to become genuinely happy?”. I’ll refer you to a friend of mine who strongly quoted- “Most of us know that laughter is the best medicine to life’s aches and pain. But most of us don’t know that the best kind of laughter is laughter over self. Because then you don’t just become happy… you become free.”

5000 Year-Old Medical Secret Unearthed!

When you get sick, you go on the doctor. And the doctor can, of course, prescribe medicines. You'll go and buy medicines. You take them, and hopefully, you have well.

This is how the health profession goes on nowadays – the cycle of diagnosis and pharmaceutical drug.

If anyone were to supply you with herbs for medicine, you would possibly say that that person seemed to be a quack.

But nowadays, studies are conducted to see if you'll find really is any merit to what is called natural medicine.

Natural medicine is the application of natural methods, herbal medicines, and traditional practices to heal problems. Every culture has a sort of natural medicine. In ancient civilizations, village medicine men served because the doctors of the community, passing on medical knowledge on the apprentices that followed them.

Many kinds of the healing methods fall under natural medicine. Among these are traditional medicine, complementary medicine, and alternative medicine.

Usually, natural medicine means medical practices that were constantly in place before the advent of current medicine.

This includes herbal treatments, or physiotherapy, which is frequent in Chinese, Ayurvedic(or Indian), and Greek medicine.

Upon the advent of modern medicine, many professionals discarded the application of herbs in favor of man-made treatments. The fact that these treatments provide the healing properties of a few herbs was forgotten.

For illustration, opium, digitalis, quinine, and aspirin almost all have their roots in traditional medicine.

Natural medicine can be looked at as a lost art. This doesn't mean that it has lost efficacy over time. In some cases, natural therapy is actually better than modern medicine. This leads some doctors to significantly consider and study the possible uses of natural medicine

Previous to we continue, it is important to stress that not all the natural cures are legitimate. It would help to only try those remedies which are thoroughly studied and are relatively virtually risk free.

Take herbal medicine for illustration. There are many well-documented and studied herbal solutions available. However, only those that cope with minor ailments such as coughing, colds, fever, skin rashes, and its ilk are often recommended by health professionals. These remedies are sometimes superior to synthetic medicine. This is because herbal medicines are less planning to cause negative side effects.

Currently there are numerous organizations that study the outcomes and advocacy of natural medicine – among which can be herbal medicine. Some governments and health agencies openly advocate the application of natural methods since they are inexpensive and relatively risk-free.

As their studies compile, more herbs and treatments are added to the list of accepted remedies. However, many herbs and treatments have been shown to be bogus medicine. This represents a challenge for the user and the agencies because they should ascertain that the treatments they will either use or advocate are legitimate.

There exist today a variety of medical treatments that fall under natural medicine. However, not these people have been proven to be efficient. You could mention homeopathy, aromatherapy, acupuncture, and also other alternative medical treatments. It would pay to consult the experts towards the legitimacy of these treatments.

Natural medicine should also be often considered as an accompanying medicine. Right right now, the current collective medical thought shows that natural medicine be used simply to supplement accepted modern medical routines. In that case of small ailments your expert we actually give you advice to take natural therapies as a substitute.

The practice of modern medicine revolves around diagnosing an illness and prescribing treatments for like. Natural medicine is helpful because it suggests that treatment be possibly not given only when sick. Natural medicine strives for making each patient practice good well being habits. These habits include healthy diet, healthy living, and the frequent natural treatment.

It is this same type of thought that leads our parents to share with us to eat our vegetables. Yes, a healthy lifestyle and can do no harm to your well-being. And this is the base of natural medicine – whether it's massage, herbal medicine, aromatherapy or even others.

It is funny yet true that science, in its pursuit of excellence, is studying the information about sages past. This, surprisingly, leads us returning to the remedies nature offers. The possibilities of finding remedies to each day illnesses in natural medicine are encouraging. So staying tuned to mastering these remedies is worthwhile until we can easily verify that these therapies are truly beneficial to our health and our culture.

To Go or Not to Go Herbal, that is the Question…

Many people nowadays are turning to “organics” and “naturals” otherwise known as herbals. The rising popularity of herbal supplements has created a new fad if not a new health lifestyle. But before you join the bandwagon, here are some things you need to know about this mean, “green” dietary supplementing machine.

What is the difference between a drug and a dietary supplement?

According to the definition set by food and drug administrations in different countries, drugs are chemicals that can prevent, prolong the life, treat other effects of a health condition, improve the quality of life, and/or cure ailments and diseases, or alter the function of any part or chemicals inside the body. These drugs have approved therapeutic claims. For example, paracetamol is a drug given to bring down the body temperature in fever. Ascorbic acid is indicated for the treatment of scurvy. Iron supplements are given to treat mild cases of anemia.

Herbal supplements are not classified as drugs but as dietary supplements. The main difference is that they do not have approved therapeutic claims unlike in the case of drugs. Moreover, dietary supplements could either contain vitamins, minerals, herbals, or amino acids, all aimed to add to or supplement the diet of an individual. They are not intended to be taken alone as a substitute to any food or medicine.

Most of the manufactured medicines we now have once came from animals and plants. Through the years, chemists isolated the life-saving or life-curing components and separated them from the harmful ones. This lead to the further drug research and drug development that lead to the production of a different variety of drugs for many ailments and conditions from synthetic sources. But still we have semi-synthetic drugs, as well as drug that more or less approximate more natural composition. Since herbal supplements are made from a mixture of crude herbs reduced into powder or gel form, and later on packaged as tablets and capsules, there is a possibility that life-threatening or at least body chemistry-altering components are still present, thus the expression of concern from the medical community.

Is there a growing concern with the use of herbal supplements?

Yes. With the rising popularity of using and consuming anything herbal or organic is the proliferation of fake herbal supplements that threaten to endanger lives. If that’s the case, then why are herbal supplements given drug administration approvals? One way of ensuring the safety of the people is to have all candidate drugs, food, drinks, and dietary supplements registered with the proper authority. Otherwise, they would pose more risk with these things being sold in the black market for a hefty sum. We could ensure the quality and safety of herbal supplements if they get proper classification with the food and drug administration. Moreover, people may be able to file the proper complaints in the event a worsening of health condition is proven to be linked to the use of a particular herbal supplement.

Is using herbal supplements worth the risk?

Yes. It cannot be discounted that many who have tried herbal supplements experienced an improvement in their health—whether this is due to the herbals themselves or due to a placebo effect, as long as they do not worsen the condition of an individual, then using them is worth the risk. But of course, certain things must be considered before taking those herbal supplements:

Your doctor knows best.

First of all, clear your condition with your doctor. Ask him/her if taking a particular herbal supplement is safe given your health condition. People with heart, liver, or kidney trouble or malfunction, are usually not advised to take these, or at the minimum is to take these herbals in minimum amounts. All substances pass through the liver and kidney to be processed and filtered respectively. Kava, which is used to relieve people from stress, has been pulled out from the Canadian, Singaporean, and German markets because it contains substances that cause liver damage. Certain herbals such as Ephedra used for losing weight, contains chemicals with heart-inducing effects that can increase heart rate, which in turn can exhaust the heart and cause heart attacks in several documented cases by the American Medical Association.

Follow the directions for use.

Never take more herbal supplements than what is directed by the doctor or as instructed on the bottle. Each individual reacts differently to the components of herbal supplements. While it is perfectly safe for one individual to take in a supplement of primrose oil capsules, another person may be allergic to it. So, do not even think about downing one bottle of

It has no approved curative effect.

No matter how the product pamphlet or the label of the bottle sounds about how it has been found to be helpful in certain health conditions, these herbal supplements are not therapeutic. So do not substitute these for the medications prescribed by your doctor for the treatment of certain diseases, or for the maintenance of blood pressure, lowering of blood sugar and cholesterol, and fight off infections.

Does a Law on Human Attraction Exist?

“Opposites attract” is a law of attraction, at least where electromagnetism is concerned. But are there laws about attraction between two people? “In a world that is full of strangers” as a line in a famous song of the 1980’s goes, is there a clear set of rules that allows two people to fall for each other?

Is attraction a matter of chemistry?

Maybe. According to scientists, the attraction between animals of the opposite sex is all about chemicals called pheromones. The effect of pheromones in behavior of insects is the most studied to date. It has been observed, at least in some experiments, that pheromones are responsible for communication among same species and colony of ants. The horrible odor released by skunks to ward off enemies is said to be a kind of pheromone. Some species of apes rub pheromone-containing urine on the feet of potential mates to attract them. Some scientists believe that animals (usually the females) such as insects and mammals send out these chemical signals to tell the male of their species that their genes are different from theirs. This gene diversity is important in producing offspring with better chances of survival. The perfume industry has capitalized on pheromones as a means to increase one’s sexual attractiveness to the opposite sex. Animals such as the whale and the musk deer were hunted down for these chemicals.

Lately, scientists are looking into the existence of human pheromones and its role in mate selection. There are many conflicting views in the realm of biology, chemistry, genetics, and psychology. Most scientists would assert that these do not exist, or if they do, do not play a role in sexual attraction between a man and a woman. But new researches such as that conducted by Swiss researchers from the University of Bern led by Klaus Wedekind are slowly making these scientists rethink their stand. Their experiment involved women sniffing the cotton shirts of different men during their ovulation period. It was found out that women prefer the smell of men’s shirts that were genetically different, but also shared similarities with the women’s genes. This, like in the case of insects and other mammals, was to ensure better and healthier characteristics for their future children. But researchers also cautioned that preference for a male odor is affected by the women’s ovulation period, the food that men eat, perfumes and other scented body products, and the use of contraceptive pills.

Does personality figure in sexual attraction?

Yes, but so does your perception of a potential mate’s personality. According to a research conducted by Klohnen, E.C., & S. Luo in 2003 on interpersonal attraction and personality, a person’s sense of self-security and at least the person’s perception of his/her partner were found to be strong determinants of attraction in hypothetical situations. What does this tell us? We prefer a certain personality type, which attracts you to a person. But aside from the actual personality of the person, which can only be verified through close interaction through time, it is your perception of your potential partner that attracts you to him/her, whether the person of your affection truly has that kind of personality or not. This could probably account for a statement commonly heard from men and women on their failed relationships: “I thought he/she was this kind of person.”

So how does attraction figure in relationships?

You have probably heard that attraction is a prelude, or a factor towards a relationship. Most probably, at least in the beginning; but attraction alone cannot make a relationship work. It is that attraction that makes you notice a person from the opposite sex, but once you get to know the person more, attraction is just one consideration. Shared values, dreams, and passions become more significant in long-term relationships.

So should I stop trying to become attractive?

More than trying to become physically attractive, work on all aspects of your health: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Physical attraction is still a precursor. Remember, biology predisposes us to choose the partner with the healthiest genes. Where your emotions are concerned, just ask this to yourself: would you want to spend time with a person who feels insecure about him/herself? Probably not! There is wisdom in knowing yourself: who you are, your beliefs, values, and dreams. And do not pretend to be someone you are not. Fooling another person by making him/her think that you share the same values and beliefs is only going to cause you both disappointments. When you are healthy in all aspects, attractiveness becomes a consequence and not an end. As mentioned in the Klohnen and Luo’s research, a person’s sense of self-security matters, perhaps even beyond attraction. But remember: do these things for yourself and not for other people. Only then can you truly harness your attractiveness as a person.

Spiritual Growth: the Spiritual Challenge of Modern Times

To build spiritually in a world explained by power, money, and influence is a Herculean task. Modern conveniences including electronic equipment  gadgets, and tools along with entertainment through television, magazines, as well as the web have predisposed us to help confine our attention mostly to help physical needs and wants. Subsequently, our concepts of self-worth and also self-meaning are muddled. How can we strike a balance between your material and spiritual aspects your lives?

To grow spiritually would be to look inward.

Introspection goes beyond recalling the things that happened in a day, few days, or month. You need to look closely and reflect on your opinions, feelings, beliefs, and motivations. Frequently examining your experiences, the judgments you make, the relationships you have, and the things you do provide useful insights on your daily life goals, on the good traits you need to sustain and the bad traits you should discard. Moreover, it gives you clues how to act, react, and conduct yourself dealing with any situation. Like any ability, introspection can be learned; all it will require is the courage and willingness to search for the truths that lie inside you. Here are some pointers if you introspect: be objective, be forgiving connected with yourself, and focus on your own areas for improvement.

To grow spiritually would be to develop your potentials.

Religion and science have differing views on matters with the human spirit. Religion views people as spiritual beings temporarily living we know, while science views the spirit as only one dimension of an individual. Mastery with the self is a recurring theme in both Christian (Western) and also Islamic (Eastern) teachings. The needs with the body are recognized but placed under the needs of the spirit. Beliefs, values, morality, rules, experiences, and good works provide the blueprint to ensure the growth of the spiritual staying. In Psychology, realizing one’s full potential would be to self-actualize. Maslow identified several human needs: physiological, security, belonging  respect, cognitive, aesthetic, self-actualization, and self-transcendence. Adam earlier categorized these needs in to three: material, emotional, and non secular. When you have satisfied the essential physiological and emotional needs, non secular or existential needs come following. Achieving each need leads on the total development of the personal. Perhaps the difference between those two religions and psychology is the finish of self-development: Christianity and Islam note that self-development is a means when it comes to serving God, while psychology view that self-development is an end by itself.

To grow spiritually is to find meaning.

Religions that believe within the existence of God such seeing that Christianize, Judaism, and Islam suppose that the intention of the human life is to serve the Creator of all things. Several theories in psychology propose that we ultimately give meaning to our lives. Whether we believe that life’s meaning is pre-determined or perhaps self-directed, to grow in spirit would be to realize that we do not only exist. We do not know this is of our lives at birth; but we gain knowledge and also wisdom from our interactions along with people and from our actions and reactions on the situations we are in. As we discover this meaning, there are certain beliefs and values we reject and affirm. Our lives have purpose. This purpose sets all our physical, emotional, and also intellectual potentials into use; maintains us during trying times; and gives us something to look forward to---a goal to realize, a destination to reach. An individual without purpose or meaning is a lot like a drifting ship at sea.

To grow spiritually is to realize interconnections.

Religions stress the concept of our relatedness to all creation, live and inanimate. Thus we call people “brothers and sisters” even if you will find no direct blood relations. Furthermore, deity-centered religions such as Christianity and Islam discuss about it the relationship between humans and a higher being. On the additional hand, science expounds on our connection to other living things through the evolution theory. This relatedness is clearly seen in the thought of ecology, the interaction between living and non-living things. In therapy, contentedness is a characteristic connected with self-transcendence, the highest human need as outlined by Maslow. Recognizing your connection to all things makes you more humble and respectful of folks, animals, plants, and things with nature. It makes you value everything around you. It moves you to go beyond your comfort zone and contact other people, and become stewards of all other things around you.

Growth is a process thus to grow in spirit is a day-to-day encounter. We win some, we lose some, but the biggest thing is that we learn, and because of this knowledge, further spiritual growth is created possible.

More than One Way to Skin a Cat: Adventures in Creative Thinking

The number of times have you caught yourself saying that there may be no other solution to a difficulty – and that that problem causes a dead end? How often times have you felt stumped if you know the problem lying before you is one you are unable to solve. No leads. No selections. No solutions.

Did it sense that you had exhausted all possible options nevertheless are still before the mountain – large, unconquerable, and impregnable? When encountering such enormous problems, you could feel like you're hammering against a steel mountain. The pressure of having to solve such a problem could be overwhelming.

But rejoice! There could be some hope yet!

With some creative problem-solving techniques you might be able to look at your problem in a different light. And that light might just be the end of the tunnel that leads to possible solutions.

First of, in the light of innovative problem-solving, you must be open-minded to the belief that there may be more than just one solution to the difficulty. And, you must be open to the belief that there may be solutions to be able to problems you thought were unsolvable.

Now, with this optimistic mindset, we can try to be a bit more creative in solving our issues.

Number one; maybe the reason we cannot solve our problems is that we have not really taken a hard look at what the thing is. Here, trying to understanding the situation and having a concrete perception of its workings is integral solving the situation. If you know how that works, what the problem can be, then you have a better foundation towards solving the situation.

Not trying to make the easy statement of what problem can be. Try to identify the taking part entities and what their relationships against each other are. Take note of what you stand to gain any stand to forfeit from the current problem. Now you've got a simple statement of what the thing is.

Number two; try to take note of all constraints and assumptions you hold the words of problem. Sometimes it can be these assumptions that obstruct the view of possible solutions. You should identify which assumptions are appropriate, in which assumptions need being addressed.

Number three; try to resolve the problem by parts. Solve it going from general view for the more detailed parts of the situation. This is called the top-down strategy. Write down the question, and then develop a one-sentence solution to that from their website. The solution should be holistic statement of what will solve the situation. From here you can develop the perfect solution further, and increase its complexity little by little.

Number four; although it helps you to have critical thinking aboard when you solve a problem, you must keep a creative, analytical voice in the rear of your head. When someone pops up with a prospective solution, tried to consider how you could make which solution work. Try to be creative. At the same occasion, look for chinks in the armor of that solution.

Number five; it pays to remember that there may be more than just one solution being developed in the past. Try to keep track of all of the solutions and their developments. Keep in mind, there may be more than just one solution to the difficulty.

Number six; remember that older adage, " two heads are greater than one. " That one can be truer than it sounds. Continually be open to new ideas. You are able to only benefit from listening to every one the ideas each person features. This is especially true once the person you're talking to has already established experience solving problems similar to be able to yours.

You don't have as a gung-ho, solo hero to solve the situation. If you can organize collective thought on the subject, it would be much far better.

Number seven; be patient. If you persevere, there is always a possibility that a solution will present itself. Remember that no one surely could create an invention to begin with.

Creative thinking exercises can also assist you in your quest be a more creative problems solver.

Here is one of them.

Take a piece of papers and write any word that pertains to mind at the center. Now look at that word then write the 1st two words that come in your mind. This can go on before you can build a tree connected with related words. This helps you build analogical skills, and fortify your creative processes.

So, next time you see a problem you think you should not solve, think again. The solution might just be staring you right in the head. All it takes is just a little creative thinking, some planning, and a whole lot of work.

Enjoy Your Life: Change Your Point of View

"Two men look out through the same bars: 1 sees the mud, and a single sees the stars. "- Frederick Lang bridge, A Cluster of Quiet Thoughts

If you’ve placed second inside a writing contest, will you jump for delight and push for better results the next time or will you be discouraged and find an excuse not to join again?

In life, you are always full of choices. You may opt to experience a pessimist’s view and live some sort of self-defeated life or you might wish to take the optimist’s route and have a challenging and fulfilling life.

So why nurture an optimist’s mindset? And why now?

Well, optimism continues to be linked to positive mood in addition to good morale; to academic, sports, military, occupational and political accomplishment; to popularity; to good health and even to long life in addition to freedom from trauma.

On the opposite hand, the rates of depression and pessimism have not been higher. It affects middle-aged adults the same way it hits younger persons. The mean age of onset adjusted from 30 to 15. It truly is no longer a middle-aged housewife’s disorder but also a teen-ager’s disorder’ as nicely.

Here’s how optimists are for doing things and researches that back up why it truly pays to be an optimist:

Optimists expect the very best

The defining characteristic of pessimists is that they tend to believe bad activities, which will last a number of years and undermine everything they perform, are their own fault.

In reality optimists are confronted with the same hard knocks of this planet. What differs is the way they explain their misfortune---it’s the opposite way. They tend to believe defeat is just a temporary setback, that its causes are confined to this particular one case.

Optimists tend to pay attention to and plan for the 'problem' accessible. They use 'positive reinterpretation. ‘To put it differently, they most likely reinterpret a negative experience in a way that helps them learn and increase. Such people are unfazed by bad situation, they perceive this is a challenge and try harder.

They won’t say “things won't get better, ” “If I failed once, it will happen again” in addition to “If I experience misfortune in a part of my life, then it'll happen in my whole existence. ”

Positive expectancies of optimists additionally predict better reactions during transitions to new environments, sudden tragedies in addition to unlikely turn of events. Whenever they fall, they will stand in place. They see opportunities instead associated with obstacles.

People respond positively to help optimists

Optimists are proactive and less depending on others for their happiness. They find do not need control or manipulate people. They generally draw people towards them. Their optimistic view from the world can be contagious and influence those these are with.

Optimism seems a socially desirable trait in most communities. Those who share optimism are likely to be accepted while those who propagate gloom, panic and hysteria tend to be treated unfavorably.

In life, they often win elections; get voted nearly all congenial and sought for suggestions.

When the going gets challenging, optimists get tougher

Optimists typically maintain higher numbers of subjective well-being during times of stress than do people who find themselves less optimistic. In contrast, pessimists may very well react to stressful events by denying that they exist or by avoiding coping with problems. Pessimists are more likely to quit trying when difficulties happen.

They persevere. They just don’t throw in the towel easily, they are also known for their patience. Inching their way a step closer to that goal or elusive wish.

Optimists are healthier and stay longer

Medical research has justified that simple pleasures and a positive outlook may cause a measurable increase in the body's ability to fight disease.

Optimists’ wellness is unusually good. They age group well, much freer than most people from the usual physical ills of middle age. And they reach outlive those prone to mental poison.

So why not be a great optimist today? And think positively towards an increasingly fulfilled life.

Why not count on success in all your endeavors? Why not be resilient? Like everybody else you are bound to hit lows sometimes but don’t simply just stay there. Carry yourself out of the mud and improve your chances of getting back on target. And why not inspire others to eliminate their dark-colored glasses and see life inside bright side?

Impossible is Just a Word

All people, at some point of his or her life, have dreamed of currently being somebody special, somebody big. Who hasn't fantasized about being the one who hits the game-winning homer? Who hasn't wanted being the homecoming queen? And the amount of times have we dreamed of being rich, or successful, or pleased with our relationships?

Often, we dream big dreams and have absolutely great aspirations. Unfortunately, our dreams remain just that – dreams. And our aspirations easily collect dust inside our attic.

This is a sad turn of events inside our life. Instead of experiencing thrilling adventures in self actualization, we get swept up in the humdrum of located from day-to-day just barely recent.

But you know what? Life might be so much better, if only we learned to aim higher.

The most common problem to setting goals may be the word impossible. Most people get hung up thinking I am unable to do this. It's too tough. It's too impossible. No you can do this.

However, if all people thought that, there would always be no inventions, no innovations, without breakthroughs in human accomplishment.

Remember that scientists were baffled when they took a look at the humble bumblebee. Theoretically, these people said, it was impossible with the bumblebee to fly. Unfortunately with the bumble, bee no one features told it so. So fly it lets you do.

On the other hand, many people suffer from dreaming totally outrageous dreams rather than acting on them. The effect?  Broken dreams, and tattered hopes.

If you limit yourself with self-doubt, and self-limiting assumptions, you will not be able to break past what you deem impossible. If you reach beyond the boundary out into the sky devoid of working towards your goal, you'll find yourself clinging on to the particular impossible dream.

Try this exercise. Take a piece of report and write down some goals that you experienced. Under one header, list down things ‘you know you can do’. Under another header, write the things ‘you might be able to do. ’ And under an additional, list the things that that are ‘impossible to do. ’

Now look at every one of the headers strive every day to accomplish the goals that are under things ‘you know you can do’. Check them when you may accomplish them. As you slowly will be able to check all of your ambitions under that heading, try accomplishing the goals within the other header-the one that reads ‘you might be able to do. ’

As of the products you wrote under things I really could do are accomplished, you can move the goals which are under things that are ‘impossible so that you can do’ to the list of things ‘you might be able to do. ’

As you iterate through this technique, you will find out which the goals you thought were impossible become easier to accomplish. And the impossible start to seem possible after all.

You see, the technique here is not to limit your imagination. It would be to aim high, and start working towards that goal over time. However, it also is unwise to put a goal that is absolutely unrealistic.

Those who just dream towards an objective without working hard end up disappointed and disillusioned.

On the opposite hand, if you told someone hundreds of years ago that it was feasible for man to be on the particular moon, they would laugh on you. If you had told them that you might send mail from here towards the other side of the world in a few seconds, they would say you were from the mind. But, through sheer wish and perseverance, these impossible dreams are now realities.

Thomas Edison once said that genius is 1% enthusiasm and 99% perspiration. Nothing might be truer. For one to accomplish his or her dreams, there has to always be had work and discipline. But take note that that 1% needs to be a think-big dream, and not necessarily some easily accomplished one.

Ask any gym rat and the individual will tell you that there are no gains unless you are put from the comfort zone. Remember the saying, “No pain, no gain”? That is as true as you possibly can.

So dream on, friend! Don’t get swept up with your perceived limitations. Think big and work hard to attain those dreams. As you step-up the ladder of progress, you will just about discover that the impossible has just become a little bit more possible.

The Road to Intuition

Have you had that experience when all of a sudden you just had this huge hunch that something is about to happen, and to your surprise, that intuition was eventually translated to reality?

When you feel strongly about something without logical basis to it, that's called intuition. It comes in three impressions: clairvoyance or "the third eye", sensing clearly and feeling through listening.

Clairvoyance is when your eye goes beyond what it can see. This is when you know what is happening somewhere.

Sensing clearly is basically what we refer to as "hunch" or "gut feel." This is the time when you are overwhelmed with a feeling and you can't explain it and all you can say is "I just know."

On the other hand, feeling through listening or clairaudience is being able to "listen" between the lines. Intuition also happens at times when a certain sound, whatever it is - be it a car's honk or a bird's twitting - ushers in an intense feeling.

They say only a number of people are gifted with intuition. Astrologers even insist that people born under the Scorpio or Pisces signs are naturally intuitive it almost borders on E.S.P. But studies have been sprouting left and right that proclaim that anyone can develop intuition.

Why the need to develop intuition, you ask? Why not let your emotional and psychological state as it is? First and foremost, intuition promotes good communication. It makes you more sensitive to the people around you; it often keeps you from hurting those you love because you are intuitive enough to understand them. Intuition also makes you far more creative than ever. Intuition means releasing more creative juices for any means of expression. Lastly, intuition has a healing power. This healing power is not in the physical sense, but in delving deep into your soul to eradicate some negative energy buried in it.

With that being said, are you ready to develop your intuition? Here are some ways to unlock this gift:

1. Hypnosis

Oh yes, get yourself hypnotized. Hypnosis is not limited to watching a pendulum move back and forth. Perform self-hypnosis or you can avail of hypnotic programs that can strengthen your intuition.

2. Meditation

Meditating means finding peace in yourself. If your mind and heart are cluttered with too many baggage and hurt,  you wouldn't be able to quiet down that part of you that could eventually initiate intuition. There are so many ways to meditate: take a yoga class, or just simply practice some breathing that could bring you straight to Zen.

3. Think positive!

A worry-free, fear-free state could do so much to improve your intuitive ability. By staying positive, you attract good energy that would be able to easily recognize imminent feelings and events.

4.  Just let go.

What does this mean? If you are on the brink of making a huge decision, let go of all the inhibitions and head to a quiet place where you could find out where the letting go has brought you. Sometimes you just have to listen to the voice within you, and that voice wouldn't come out unless you let go.

5. Never expect.

After letting go of the inhibitions and all those things that stop you from thinking and feeling clearly, never expect for an answer right away. Never expect that the "hunch" would fall on your lap immediately. Give it a little time then you'd just get surprised that -- wham! -- now you have your answer.

6. Believe in your first impressions.

When you see someone for the first time and think that he is a bit too arrogant for your taste, chances are that impression actually holds true. Most of the time, first impressions are brought by intuition.

7. Stay happy!

See? All you need to be intuitive is to stay happy! Happiness attracts immense power and such power includes intuition. In tapping your intuition, your motivation must be happiness and contentment. Given that premise, intuition will fall to you easily.

Intuition is helpful, because sometimes it leads you to something that cannot be achieved otherwise. A lot of lives have been saved by intuition alone. Decisions are easier done if armed by this gift. Develop intuition now and reap benefits you have never imagined.