Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Knowing "The Secret" Will Help You Make Money At Home Online

The power of positive thinking that is so often preached about in self-help books and movies these days is seen by many people as being "hocus-pocus", or brain-washing at its best, especially if you are one of the many who is frustrated with making money at home online.

It is probably those who think about it in such a negative way who don't really know about "The Secret". I have yet to see the movie myself, and have just started reading the book, but can already tell you that my thoughts and feelings became more positive after only 20 pages. It is going to be a proud addition to my spiritual book collection, and manifested in my business life to help me make more money at home online.

I am an online business owner who, like everyone in this business, wants to make money at home online. But I am one of the "survivors" as I so call it. When you consider that 95-98% of all those who start an online business quit within their first year, I am proud to still be alive and kicking. But this did not happen by mistake or miracle, and your success or failure in business and life is no accident either, as you will see when you read on

If you haven't learned "The Secret", then now is the time if you want a successful online business. What is "The Secret" you ask, and how will it help you make money at home online?

"The Secret" is simply "the law of attraction" - That "like" attracts "like". If you have negative thoughts about your business and think you'll never make any money at it, then you are attracting more and more negative thoughts just like that one, which over time will become your reality.

For example, if you find out that 95% of all online business owners quit within their first year, and have negative doubts about your success, then that is what the universe will mirror back at you: More doubt, more fears, more failure. If you let these thoughts of doubt, fear, and failure dominate your thinking, then eventually this is the fate you will create for yourself.

Those who really want to make money at home online 5B4are positive thinkers who know already that they are part of the small 5% who will succeed at this business. "The Secret" tells us that it doesn't matter how What matters is that you already believe and feel it within yourself that you already have what you want. You already have money, success, love, and riches. You feel it, and you feel good about it.

The master of "The Secret" knows that even when you don't actually have what you desire right this minute money at home online that you have an intense faith that it will come. Any time fear and doubt creeps into your thoughts, you must change them, otherwise the universe will get mixed signals about what you want, and you will get mixed results.

Many online business owners may be very skeptical of this principle, but it is exactly that skepticism that breeds exactly what they don't want. They won't make money at home online because they are skeptical that they will. It is an undying truth that you get what you ask for, and that you create your reality with your thoughts.

The beauty of it all is that we are masters of our thoughts, so if we want negativity, fear, and doubt, we will get just that. If we want to change that, we can! If you really want to make money at home online, then there are steps you can take to help change your thoughts and create the reality you want.

Step one according to "The Secret" is to ask, or in other words, define 2238what you want. Be very specific, picture it, and do not mention what you don't want. For example, "I have $1000 per month in profits from my online business". When you stay focused on that end result, it doesn't matter how it happens, when, or where what you focus on will become your reality.

Notice that I said, "I have $1000 per month in profits", rather than "I want $1000 per month in profits". If you want it, the universe will give that right back to you the wanting of it, and you will get more wanting of it! Be careful what you ask for because you might just get it!

That brings me to the next step according to "The Secret", which is to believe that you already have it and will get it. If your thoughts go astray, be careful, because you might just get what you have led your thoughts astray to thinking, feeling, and believing! It may take time to train yourself to keep your thoughts and feelings in check so that you can stay focused and positive about what you want.

The final step according to "The Secret" is to receive, or truly feel good about and love what you want, or feel the same way that you would if you actually had it. You won't make money at home online if you think you can't, for that's like asking for a positive, but feeling negative a conflict of opposites in the universe.

This is the first part of "The Secret" and how it can help you make money at home online. Remember that you create your own life with your thoughts, so think happy thoughts and you will get what you ask for!

Liane Bate owns a Plug-in Profit Site web business. Learn how to Make Money At Home Online with "The Secret", and visit HonestMoneyMaking.com's Home Business Blog Tags:

Buyer Guide to Self-Help Books

Get the help you need without spending a lot of dough. People are searching for all types of answers to all types of problems, and many want easy low cost solutions. You can get lots of free help on the internet if you have time on your hands to spend freely. One of the best places to get low cost help is via self-help books.

I like self-help books because they allow the reader to decide what suggestions might fit into their livelihood. A good self-help book, gives the reader the freedom to pick which strategies will work for them for the particular issues they want resolved. These resources should be written in a format that is easy to read and use. Additionally they should provide real life examples of why its suggestions work. I've found over the years that a lot of self-help titles were really confusing or difficult to use. If you like reading complicated psychological texts buy big self help books and use them. My preference is for the book the can read and used in the same day or week of purchase.

There are all types of self-help books, from dieting to exercise, to relationships to dealing with grief and loss. When looking for a guide that will help, make sure the book in hand provides you with some easy to use solutions. You want a definition of what the problem is but this should not be the balance of the content. If the book tells you all about the problem and nothing about a solution or coping strategy you may be wiser at the end of reading it, but not closer to getting the help you need.

So if you want some help for a low cost, select a well written self-help book. These guides should be easy to read and use. They need to spend as much time on the problem as they do on the solution, and provide some real life example. If your book choice has these elements, its probably a good bet.

Vince Chiles, LCSW is the author of a self-published book Happiness in Five Minutes a Day which is scheduled to be released to the public 3/26/08. Information about Vince and his book can be obtained by going to http://www.happinessinfive.com

The Lack Of Adolescent Self Esteem

I want to talk a little about how it affects adolescent self esteem, what are the possible causes and what you can do about it. There are many teenagers that have low self esteem and need help and support from their parents and friends.

The causes

There are different causes, it could be heredity in the case that the parents have it, it can also be education what cultural values and beliefs did you learn at school, some might not be positive and also your environment, what are the people that grow up with you, your parents, your friends, your teachers and anyone else that gave you advice.

Those are the most common factors that affect your adolescent self esteem. So those factors can be positive or negative, if you live in a difficult environment in your house, where your parents fight all the time and don't pay you attention, you might have low self esteem.

If in the school your teachers treat you bad and your friends made fun of you in any way, you might have the problem. Some people are not affected by negative views or criticism but other are very sensitive to them.

Is very important to encourage adolescent self esteem because is the age when they are developing and creating their own personality, they have some emotional problems either with school or with a love and it can affect a lot.

Remedies

If you have a problem of self confidence, its important that you talk to your friends or parents about it, just find someone that respect you and understand you, you will feel better.

There are different things that you can do to improve your self confidence, like doing exercise, meeting new people, learning new skills, reading positive affirmations, helping other people, taking your own decisions and improving your self image.

Most adolescents suffer from low self esteem at some point, but there is a lot that can be done to help them, visit us: self improvement rules

at http://www.selfesteemimprovementtips.com

You can also read about: quotes of self improvement

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What Exactly Is an Affirmation?

Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny." Ralph Waldo Emerson

An affirmation is a wish stated as if it is already true. Thinking, saying, or writing affirmations is an easy way to bring positive change into your life. Amazing results in life come when we change our habits. Our habits change when we have a change in attitude. Affirmations are a way we can change our attitudes.

Your current beliefs and habits have come about because of repeated thoughts. Many of these thoughts have been self limiting and destructive. The repetition of negative thoughts is discouraging and affects your motivation and confidence. It is hard to feel motivated when you are skeptical that you can get beneficial results. Replacing negative thoughts with affirmations, then, can help you change your attitudes and encourage you to believe in yourself and your good luck. As you adopt more positive attitudes and feel encouraged, your actions and habits will shift. When your actions and habits come into alignment with success, then success will come to you quickly.

Choose an area in your life where you would like to have change. Perhaps you would like to earn more money. You might choose for an affirmation, "I earn a lot of money." This states it as if it has already happened. This is good. Or maybe you would like, "I get paid well for providing quality work." Play with it until it feels right to you. Make your statements short and sweet, and always as if they have already come true.

Writing your statement twenty times is a good way to begin. You can also say it out loud. Repetition and passion are both very important with affirmations. You want to repeat it often enough that you have it memorized. This will be handy when situations come up that are critical to your achieving your dreams.

Passion is what helps your statement to feel real and comfortable to you. As it begins to feel natural, you make it easy for your affirmation to be true.

Social network users, click for myspace comments such as compliments, cool comments, love, flirty, birthday, holidays, religion, funny, cute, etc. You can also use myspace graphics. If you love Halloween layouts, click Halloween Myspace Layouts for your profile.

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How To Get Instant Self Esteem And Self Confidence In The Next 15 Minutes!

Sounds a little shallow doesn't it ... 'instant self esteem'.

As if somehow we have managed to package up a 'magic pill' that will simply do all the work for us.

And yet both you and I do exactly that, daily, and without missing a beat. In fact, we take it completely for granted!

Such is the power of the unconscious mind and our own 'programming'.

"'Programming'?", I hear you say? "I would never allow myself to be programmed. That brainwashing stuff is for cult leaders and the secret service." I guess it is certainly a truism that when a powerful influence technique is discovered, it only takes a short while before it can fall into the wrong hands.

But what if you did have a magic button, which when you pressed it, fired up your 'self confidence software' instantly and got you ready for action? And what if you were able to replicate this at will? That would be useful wouldn't it! And it really is such a simple skill already used by ...

  • Top performing athletes to access a winning mindset
  • Top entertainers before a performance
  • Actors to get into role
  • Coaches all over the world to turn around a team that is having a tough match
And yet still, it is not taught at school, or even generally well-known among the self help gurus. Which is a shame really.

So hang onto your hats, because I will teach it to you right now, for free, and it comes with a lifetime guarantee. Just promise me you will use it for good and not for evil OK?

Your Conditioning

Firstly let's take a look at how our pre-existing conditioning works. The 'stimulus-response'.

  • When you are 5B4driving and you see a red light what do you do? (No ... that's naughty and you know it)
  • When you come home from work or college, do you change your clothes? If so, how do you feel afterward?
  • When you get up in the morning, do you have a shower? And how do you feel after that?
  • What do you do when you hear your favorite song on the radio?
  • How does fresh bread baking smell?
  • If you hear your name spoken across the other side of the room, what do you do?
If you are like most people, you probably recognized a straightforward, even standardized response to these questions.

  • We stop at red lights because we have learned this is what you do.
  • We change our clothes on coming home from work because somehow it feels good and denotes the end of the working day.
  • If you are someone who showers in the morning (this is my personal example!), afterward it feels as if you are 'ready to start the day'.
  • When you hear your favorite song on the radio, do you turn it up, start dancing or start singing? Or all 3!
  • Doesn't fresh bread baking somehow make you feel nice and draw you to it?
  • And when you hear your name being spoken, do you look over to see where and who it came from? (And if it really was you they were talking about!)
These are literally just a few examples of how we are 'stimulus-response' conditione21EAd every day. I'm sure you can think of many many more. (What about when the telephone rings ... do you answer it? See! You're already brainwashed! ;)

But most of this has happened by accident right?

Wrong.

It was all learned behavior.

We just didn't necessarily consciously decide to learn it.

And there lies the secret to unlocking your inner power. Once you learn to take control of your own stimulus response conditioning you'll be absolutely amazed at just how powerful it is. And I can think of no more powerful examples than that of The Government and The Advertising Industry.

They both know exactly how to harness the power of stimulus response. For example:

  • "Just Say No"
  • "Just Do It"
You know exactly where these phrases originated and what they are about. You can probably remember the people promoting or advertising them and most likely a brand logo or two. Stimulus response conditioning is an exceptionally powerful tool, which is why both Advertisers and Governments like it.

"Enough already!", you say, "How can I use this to get Instant Self Esteem? Tell me right now!!"

Oh OK then!

How to use this to get Instant Self Esteem

Let's first learn some very important terms. You'll need these to help you set up the whole process ... but don't be concerned, it's really easy!

Initial Stimulus

Trigger Stimulus

Response State

Initial Stimulus

This is a specific element of the negative state (or low self esteem/self confidence feeling you have). It is NOT NECESSARILY a complete description of what you want to change ... just a highly identifiable and unique part of it.

For example:

I have to give a project-status presentation to my boss tomorrow and I have just found out about it today. I am experiencing an increase in my heart rate, some nervous muscular jitters, my jaw starts to clench with worry.

In my mind I see myself in front of her missing all my relevant points, messing up my carefully prepared bullet points and with the wrong clothes on for the task.

I can hear myself saying to myself, "Oh heck! That's not enough time, I mean I needed more notice, I'll have to stay late tonight to even be ready, that sucks, my wife will kill me 'cos it's our anniversary, what do I know about this project anyway, she'll just chew me out ..." and on and on and on it goes.

Feeling good? ... Not.

So in this example we'll use the 'clenched jaw' as a very specific Initial Stimulus. I'll come back to that later.

Trigger Stimulus

This is a very specific and 100% unique trigger that you can use just like you would select a specific program on your computer, or wear a very specific item of clothing that helps you feel good.

Some examples? Sure ...

  • Pinching your left top earlobe with your thumb and index finger.
  • Thinking of the word MYPOWERUP.
  • Hearing the sound of large church bells playing happy birthday.
  • Seeing (or imagining in your mind's eye) a large pile of $100 bills on your desk.
Absolutely critical to your success is that this Trigger Stimulus is NEVER used for anything else. It is totally unique to getting you instant self esteem. It has no other purpose. The more specific and precise, yet meaningful to you, the action, the better.

Response State

This is your highly desired state to be in. Feeling good about yourself, confident and happy. (Yes, yes, I know it doesn't seem real and that you think that the problem is that you don't feel good about yourself or confident or happy, but that's the point! Stay with me on this.)

Now how do you really want to feel? Mediocre, on top of the world, or higher? Good. Then let's practice that first.

First let's list as many of the times that you have felt really good. They may have been ...

  • Receiving praise
  • The birth of a child
  • Moving to a new house
  • Winning a new job/promotion/raise
  • Passing/finishing an exam
  • Finishing cleaning the house
  • Enjoying a great movie/book
  • Hearing or dancing to your favorite song
  • Falling in love
  • Going on holiday somewhere special
Get as many as you can remember. Doesn't matter if it is only two. But more than one is important. 5 or more works best.

OK now make sure no-one is looking and that you have 10 minutes to yourself.

Let's have a party in your mind! Imagine you are experiencing RIGHT NOW all of the remembered events.

You are now feeling the most happy, confident, zesty, delighted, strong, assured, capable, that you have EVER felt.

But don't stop there.

Now 'turn it up'.

Can you AMPLIFY this feeling until it becomes the most over- the-top ridiculous 'on top of the world sensation'? (Yes it is fake, it doesn't matter ... you'll see!)

NOW SIMULTANEOUSLY ACTIVATE YOUR TRIGGER STIMULUS
WHILST HAVING THIS PARTY!


Well done.

Now do this again another 3 times. (The first is just for practice). The trick is to 'do' your unique Trigger Stimulus right at the time you are peaking out on the 'remembered happiness state'.

OK, now let's test this first part.

Activate your unique Trigger Stimulus NOW.

You should immediately experience the happiness state starting to come flooding back AUTOMATICALLY.

Now say to yourself in a robotic voice, "I am now programmed for success."

Good. Now we need to link it to your Initial Stimulus.

Let's say that every time I feel somewhat un-confident or unworthy, I get that feeling of 'clenching my jaw tight' ... my specific and unique Initial Stimulus.

Now recreate that NOW. (This should be the easy part because you've 'practiced' this one even before reading this!!)

NOW ACTIVATE YOUR TRIGGER STIMULUS.

Repeat these steps another 3 times (very important).

Now you are ready.

The next time you feel a little lacking in confidence - or you experience that 'jaw clench' type Initial Stimulus, you will do one of two things:

  1. You will automatically go straight to your desired success Response State, WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT IT. (Well done!)
  2. You will remember to consciously activate your Trigger Stimulus and then arrive at your desired success Response State.
And now you have learned to use your own Stimulus Response Conditioning.

This is not a skill to be underestimated!

  • You can use it to improve your memory.
  • Use it to improve your ability to learn.
  • Use it to become more attractive and ACTIVELY ATTRACT your ideal partner.
  • Use it to become more of the person you want to be.
  • Use it to become wealthier.

And remember - this Instant Self Esteem only improves with practice and over time ... and lasts a lifetime. So expect the best from yourself. You deserve it after all.

All the best for your journey!

2005, Robert Scanlon, selfesteemplus

If you'd like to find out more about this skill and many other confidence-building and self-esteem increasing techniques, visit my website at http://www.selfesteemplus.com/.

Robert Scanlon is a corporate consultant, NLP Trainer, and the author of "Boost Your Self Esteem To New Heights", a free 21-day online Building Self Esteem and Self Confidence Course and 35-page eBook. You can sign up for it at http://www.selfesteemplus.com/

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Angel Prayer Request Self Help

At this stage in our planetary evolution in consciousness, there is an ever-increasing pressure and desire for reunification of the masculine and the feminine split within the soul that occurred aeons ago.

This pressure is stirring up a lot of confusion as forces happy iwth the way things are, work to thwart this necessary balancing between the masculine and the feminine.

This energy of confusion enters into your relationship with yourself, your relationship with others and affects your sense of what is possible for your life.

As a divine bieng, as a sovereign being, you are the only one that has any say in your life.

Unless you refuse to stand strong in your sovereign nature, there is no thing or no one, manifest or unmanifest, that can harm you, block your good from coming to you or stand in your way.

From the days of my early childhood when I played outside making mud pies with my dogs, I have always been aware of and in communication with my Angels.

Later on, both as an I Am Student and then as an Energy Balancing Therapist, I worked closely with Ascended Masters, Archangels, Chohans, Kumaras and the Mighty Elohim.

I particularly resonate with Beloved Jesus, now known to some as Sananda, Adamus Saint Germain, Archangels Michael and Raphael, Quan Yin, Beloved Mary and Lady Master Nada.

I also love to work with both the Violet Flame and Blue Lightning Angels who are particularly effective in blasting away, healing, balancing and dissolving old energy blocks of consciousness that keep humans bound in confusion, apathy and hopelessness.

If you are experiencing pers985onal difficulties and feel confused and unable to cope, I invite you to reach out to your own personal Team of Angels that always stand ready to assist you in all ways.

Your Angels will never force their assistance on you as they are your friends and guides. They always honour and allow your full sovereign and God-given divine free will choice to operate.

I now request your Angels to give you a special blessing to awaken your awareness of them in your life so that you feel comfortable and encased in their always loving and warm support.

You can also find out more about my new Angel Prayer Request service and how it can help you to clear confusion and find clarity to help you manifest your deepest heart desires more effortlessly.

Angela Chen Shui, Soul Alignment Spiritual Life Coach, Teacher of Divinity, Awakening Energy Healing Facilitator and Internet Mompreneur publishes "Soul Self Help Insights", the Beyond-the-Mind, Soul-thrilling self help, New Energy spirituality newsletter. If you're ready to access your inner wisdom, create and celebrate a more magical life and express yourself more fully and passionately, get your FREE insights now at: http://www.spiritualityselfhelp.com

Copyright 2006 - Angela Chen Shui. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all the links active, do not edit the article in any way, give author name credit and include this entire resource box.

Spiritual Movies

Monday, July 14, 2008

Begin Each Day With a To Do List

Time flies faster and faster each day. Technology gives the impression that we can accom10FBplish more in less timeyet, observation and studies reveal America is falling behind in the race as a productive force. To improve your rate of productivitythere are some easy and simple things you can do.

Do avoid over scheduling your day. It seems like scheduling every minute is the logical and practical solution. However, it has the opposite effect. Some things will take longer than you expected, because there will be interferences that you cannot predict. If you are scheduled to the max, you will have no room to absorb the miscalculation on time. Plan to schedule about 75% as productivity and 25% free time to give yourself flexibility.

Do avoid saying, Yes to everything. See my article, Freedom to Say, No. http://ezinearticles.com/?id=391631 Saying Yes to everything is like cholesterol clogged arteries. Your system is overloaded with stuff you have difficulty handling. Sometimes you will need to say, No to yourself. If you want to read a book, you will need to say, No to watching your favorite TV show. If you want to start a business, you will need to say, No to time wasters or other lesser important things.

Do avoid trading what you want at the moment for what you want later. That extra few minutes of sleep might seem like the best thing since your last favorite chocolate, but you know it will only cause you to be late, and then cause you to play catch-up. That new pair of shoes or dress may seem like the most awesome item you could buy for yourself, but if it causes a money crunch for necessary items, they arent worth it. Think about the long-term effects of your decisions one decision at a time.

Do avoid being duped by the clich You can have it all. Having it all is possible, either by having it at different times in your life, or by having a whole lot of helpthink Kelly Ripa, Katie Couric, Barbara Walters, Charlie Gibson, Tom Brokaw, et al. They have hair dressers, chauffeurs, wardrobe attendants and a full staff of people, making sure their every professional need is met, as well as nannies, housekeepers, etc. You can rest assured they aren't grocery shopping or do laundry.

Do avoid adopting the microwave mentality. Appreciate the various stages of projects and goals, as well as the pleasure they give. Be like a roseit begins to bud and unfold slowly and perfectlyas it unfolds we can enjoy its beauty. A relationship can change, being just as beautiful and enjoyable at each stage. Enjoy your journey as you move through each stage of a projectwhether long or short. Observe yourself as you learn in the process.

Do avoid giving up. Never give up. When you make a mistake, or when the wind of life blows in unannouncedand it willbeing as prepared as possible will give you the strength to be able to carry on. If you lose your job, having a reserve of money will ease the transition into a new job and give you the ability to wait to find the right job. When it seems there is no end in sightpush on. The answer is usually closer than you think. Avoid dooms day (fear) thoughts, anger, frustration, or a poor me attitude. No one can stop youonly you can stop you. Keep on until you get what you want.

Do Simplify your life with a few more items you want to avoid. Listen to your heart. Listen to your intuitiona.k.a. gut. Your heart and intuition will readily and easily help you make up your own list of things to avoid. Set your intention on filtering out things that do not give you the most enjoyment/reward.

Do Set you intentions. Set your intentions on what you wantbe specific. I will write a book this year. I will learn to golf. I will improve my golf game.

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, author, 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life, motivational speaker and 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

Journaling To Track Your Successes

Often times people will start out on projects or set goals and after sometime lose the sight of the end result. They get distracted or they just do not know where they actually started nor how far they have come. For this reason they have little idea of how far they have to go to reach the end result. Using a journal to track your successes in any project or goal can assist you in reaching your desired result. Even the experts in the fields of motivation and inspirational personal growth suggest using the writing down of your successes as a tool to keep you on track.

To write down your successes or accomplishmentsACD helps you to first of all recognize that you have successes. Sometimes when you go through your day, you do not realize that simple little things are in fact a success. This makes you more aware of the things that you do or say that take you one step closer to your desired result.

Writing down your successes creates milestones that you can look back on and see how far you really have come in your journey to your future. There are times when discouragement will get the best of us. However, with a road and markers to look back on it is easier to continue forward and with more enthusiasm than you would have had if you had not taken the time to write down the successes you had in your everyday life.

To write down your successes regularly also encourages habits of success. Once these habits are in place then you become more motivated to do more and be more in the realm of your day. In many cases people who take the time to write down their successes reach their end result and reach them quicker. This allows them to start new projects, have more goals, and dream much bigger than they thought they could.

Once you realized the value and the importance of writing down accomplishments a person can then celebrate their successes. Treat your self to something special when you complete the desire goals you have set. Cheer and applaud! It is amazing how great we feel when we get that kind of recognition for finishing what we start.

Where you have come from determines where you will go

Check out this valuable tool that can assist you in tracking your successes at http://www.365daysofsuccessesjournal.com

For more resources and to learn more about being the best you that you can be visit http://www.inpursuitofwealth.com

From Internet Entrepreneur and Writer Bonnie Holscher

Friday, July 11, 2008

Why People Don't Listen... and Some Fun Things You Can Do About It

It's frustrating when your co-workers, audience members, teenager or even your dog (!) won't listen. While you can't control how they receive what you say, you can control how you send it. Here are a few tips on why people don't listen and what you can do to change it.

1. Short Attention Spans

When asked to guess the average adult attention span, most people say around thirty minutes. According to statistics, however, the average adult attention span is actually only seven seconds. That's right! Every seven seconds you go away somewhere. You think about something else. In fact, you could actually be taking a mental break right now! It is a normal part of how the brain integrates external stimuli like when your computer starts defragging for a moment while you type. It helps to pause from time to time when you speak. This allows people to integrate your information or ask a clarifying question. Also, include examples to anchor your concepts. For example (see--I'm doing it now!), a concept without an example is like tree without roots, a house without a Foundation, or Sonny without Cher. It just doesn't have as much staying power.

2. Too Many Distractions

I was in a meeting the other day and five people coughed, four people side talked, three cell phones rang, two people went to the restroom, and a partridge did email on his PDA. Distractions are a big part of modern life. Your best bet is to acknowledge the distractions in a playful way such as a manager who recently led a meeting I attended. When a cell phone rang, he grabbed for it and said, Oh, that's for me.my mother likes to check in on me from time to time. That prompted everyone to turn off their phones.

3. Lack of Training

Few of us were formally taught how to listen. While you probably took Reading 8, Writing 11, did you ever take Listening 10? It's little wonder listening is challenging. Quite accidentally, I learned how to listen by practicing meditation. After a five-day retreat, I felt very light-hearted and so went to visit my aging father who was hard of hearing. My habit was to sit vacantly for hours while he complained about his arthritis, the error on his bank statement, and how hard it is to find good slippers. After this retreat, I surprised myself by totally paying attention to him with patience and compassion. After about ten minutes of complaining he suddenly changed tracks and started telling me fascinating and funny stories about his childhood. Then he cranked up his hearing aid and asked about me! Learn how to be present with people, give them your full, undivided attention and be ready for some pleasant surprises.

4. Language Barriers

It is no secret that the world of business is fast becoming a multicultural world. Although English is the default language of commerce, many people in your audience may speak English as a second language. Last month I was addressing a large insurance company where most attendees turned out to be new immigrants from China. I used the expression getting jiggy with it, and I saw people rifling through their dictionaries. This prompted me to say I'm sorry, that went way over your head, and a number of people looked up at the ceiling! If your listeners are ESL or have a more basic educational background, you need to simplify your language. Use much more literal descriptions rather than cultural expressions. Use facial and body language to express humor, and fewer words.

5. Unchecked Assumptions

Back in the 70s, Gilda Radner a comedienne who regularly performed on Saturday Night Live was well known for her popular character Emily Litella, a social activist with a hearing problem. Her causes included such important issues as violins on television, soviet jewelry and endangered feces. Believe it or not, those Emily Litella types can be found in your audiences. For example, I once told a story about my mother who was a secretary for the British Civil Service in WWII. She spent most of her time daydreaming that her boss would burst into the room and ask her to spy against the Germans. She could leave the nasty paperwork behind, don a disguise and become the next Mata Hari. Needless to say, one day her boss did burst into the room but instead he fired her for daydreaming all the time. A woman approached me after this story and told me that she used to be a Hari Krishna, too. One way to clear up false assumptions is to state your point in many different ways.

6. No Reason to Listen

Finally, the main reason people don't listen is because you haven't answered their favorite question: What's in it for me? Before you start a long-winded monologue, tell your listener why you need their attention and make sure they understand how it will be benefit them. For example, I'd like to tell you about this free software that will block all the spam before it gets to your Inbox interested? That will give you much better results than When I was a youngster and I sat down in front of my first computer, I asked myself how can I make this machine work for me In general, put yourself in your listener's shoes before you talk and their ears tend to perk up.

And just remember the greatest of all wisdom--no one ever listened himself out of a new friendship.

Carla Rieger
Copyright 2005 Yes Education Systems

Carla Rieger is an expert on the artistry of change. You can reach her at http://www.carlarieger.com or at 1-866-294-2988. Carla uses proven secrets from the world of artistry to help your organization becoming a leader of innovation. She has been a professional speaker, trainer, facilitator and performance storyteller since the mid-80s. She is the director of Yes Education Systems, a creative communications and creative consulting firm since 1991. She has written three critically acclaimed manuals, Managing Change with a sense of humor, Speaking on the Funny Side of the Brain and The Heart of Presenting, in addition to many articles in trade journals and magazines. She has taught thousands to unlock the funny side of their brains, and to mine negativity both within and without for the key innovative solutions. Her work has been featured on radio, TV and many publications. She founded several theatre groups including Mad Cow Productions, Vancouver Playback Theatre and Mythic Cafe. She also wrote, produced and performed a one-woman show, Dancing Between Worlds.

Review and Refine

Periodically re-check and refine (or redefine) your goals

It's no use struggling to meet a goal that, by the time you get there, no longer fits in with your life. During obvious stopping spots along the way (say, every 10 lbs on a weight loss goal, or when you've saved enough for a down payment as part of a house-ownership goal), take a few days to sit back and really feel how you are reacting to reaching this milestone. Are you excited, chomping at the bit - or nervous, with slight overtones of dread or entrapment?

Some nervousness is to be expected if you're reaching out in a totally new direction in life, and it's only fair to expect that not all feelings you have will be cheery and rosy, even if you truly want the goal you're heading for. There is, at the very least, some mourning to go through for the loss of your old ways and your old life. But take time to make sure that you aren't ignoring obvious signals that are screaming, "Run away! Run away!" for good reaso587ns. Wedding jitters, for example, are perfectly normal; however, trepidation about abusive behavior, which doesn't seem to be declining (despite promises to the contrary), is another ball game altogether. Make sure that the goal you reach is the goal you want.

(c) Soni Pitts

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Soni Pitts is the Chief Visionary Butt-Kicker of SoniPitts.Com. She specializes in helping others reclaim "soul proprietorship" in their lives and to begin living the life their Creator always intended for them.

She is the author of the free e-book "50 Ways To Reach Your Goals" and over 100 self-help and inspirational articles, as well as other products and resources designed to facilitate this process of personal growth and spiritual development.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Will Yoga Improve My Personality

I saw this question on a yoga FAQ and I confess, it made me laugh, although it is a good question.

Yoga will not improve your personality - there is nothing wrong with your personality. Regardless of who you are, you are a perfect being in and of yourself. But here are a few comments on what yoga can do for you, for yourself in terms of your personality.

First of all, a regular practice of asana will leave your body in better condition; that is to say, it will tone your muscles, make your body more supple and likely decrease any chronic pains you may experience. A toned body will also increase your self-esteem because you know you are taking better care of yourself.

Secondly, adding regular meditation to your practice by making it part of your yoga practice will calm your mind, making your perspective clearer. A calm mind leads to a more stable emotional state, cleaner life focus and greater confidence in your own abilities.

Thirdly, there are other forms of yoga that do not involve asana practice or meditation, for example, Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of devotional chanting - if you enjoy singing then this form of yoga can bring some joy to your life. Jnana yoga is the yoga of knowledge, if this is important to you, as it is to me, then increasing your knowledge will add confidence and purpose to your life. Karma yoga, the yoga of selfless service, is good for the soul because giving of yourself feels good. If giving of yourself is something you want to do, then adding some sort of service or volunteer work will fulfill that desire in you.

And lastly, and definitely the most important in my opinion, yoga will increase your love for yourself. When you love yourself, you project that out into the world sincerely because it comes from within YOU and it is an expression of your true Self and true nature.

So the short answer is paradoxically, no and yes. Yoga will not improve your personality because there is nothing wrong with you. Yoga in and of itself is not a cure all for any lifestyle, issue or personal insecurity - what yoga does is dependent on what you make of your yoga practice.

Yoga and meditation do assist in creating a calm, stable, toned mind and body, but it is YOU that creates this for yourself. As it should be - if you treat yourself as a Divine being, you will feel divine. It's that simple, not necessarily easy, but simple.

Namaste (the Divine in Me honours the Divine in You)

Jenn

Introduction to the Science of Kundalini Yoga

This article will provide a basic overview of what Kundalini Yoga is and how Kundalini Yoga works. At the core of Kundalini Yoga lies Kriyas and the best way to understand the methodology of Kundalini Yoga is to understand Kriyas and their functioning. Kriyas are a set of exercises done in a particular sequence to work on a specific theme. There are a wide range of Kriyas available, each refined over thousands of years to optimize their effectiveness. Kriyas utilize all the available Kundalini Yoga mechanisms to work their magic. They employ asans (postures), movement, pranayam (breathing exercises), bandhas (body locks), mantras (sound vibrations), mudras (hand positions), laya yoga (yoga of rhythm and sound), mental focus and meditation to do their work.

Dynamic movement and asans bring expanding and contracting pressure via multiple angles to various areas of the body, this is accompanied with powerful pranayams, the combined effect of which is that the target regions are saturated with highly charged and oxygenated blood. This nutrient rich blood fills the capillaries forcing them to discharge toxins and other harmful elements, which are then eliminated, neutralized or expelled by the body. The health of the region thus improves and the nerves fire more completely, the glands and organs are invigorated and regain their natural voltage and secretion levels are returned to a condition of strength and vitality. The key here is the removal of blockages (granthis) that is taking place on many levels of the organism thus facilitating the flow of energy. There are Kriyas designed for working on almost every part of the human system (Immune, Glandular, Circulatory, Digestive, Nervous, Respiratory, Sexual, etc . . . ), working on our various traits and characteristics (Awareness, Intuition, Willpower, Confidence, Compassion, Charisma, etc . . . ) and also for healing many different types of ailments and diseases. Lets now see how this ties in with the Chakra (energy vortex) system.

There are 7 primary chakras that lie all along the spine from the base to the crown of the head. Associated with each chakra are the primary nerve junctions and organs of that region. Furthermore, each chakra is responsible for certain traits and characteristics that make up our personality. When we strengthen and rejuvenate the nerves and organs in a particular region, we are in fact activating these energy centers that reside there and are thus working on ourselves not only at a physical level, but also at an emotional and mental level (by affecting our traits and characteristics). Practiced over time, the chakras become charged and come into balance with each other, bringing us into physical, emotional and mental well being. Again, it should be noted that the work being done is primarily about dissolving granthis (blockages) in these regions which introduce disease and imbalance into the system by preventing the chakras from functioning at their optimum level. Finally, let see how this relates to Kundalini Shakti.

Kundalini is energy. It is the fundamental energy whose flow through the organism allows for all its systems to operate, at all levels of consciousness. It is the energy of awareness, it can be said that where your awareness is, that is where Kundalini is flowing or that where Kundalini is flowing is where your awareness is. To awaken Kundalini means to dissipate blockages in the gross and subtle systems in your being and allow for greater and greater flow of energy and awareness. As blockages are cleared trapped energy is released and pathways are cleared. Kundalini then is able to flow freely though those regions, healing, nourishing, rejuvenating and balancing them. The dissipating of blockages can also be thought of as the clearing away of the subconscious mind, the collection of unresolved emotional and physical disturbances, where lies the root of many of our attachments and fears. So overall Kundalini Yoga is a system by which one, through the process of dissolving the past, allows the infinite to shine through into the present.

Anmol Mehta is a Kundalini Yoga Teacher, Zen Expert and creator of profound meditation and yoga programs. These FREE Online Meditation and Kundalini Yoga Programs are available at Mastery of Meditation, Chakra Yoga and Zen. You will also find a wealth of insightful articles at the Mastery of Meditation, Kundalini Yoga and Zen Blog, all geared to help you achieve your highest potential.

This article is available for reprint on your website and/or newsletter, provided it is not changed and you include the authors signature.

Beginning Your Yoga Workout

Yoga is less workout and more mind-body exploration. Yoga is not exactly about sweating as you push your body into exercise mode. However, the term "workout" will be used loosely for simplicity's sake.

Here is a good way to start your yoga plan. Begin with the "easy pose". Easy pose is a comfortable seated position for meditation. This pose opens the hips, lengthens the15C6 spine, and promotes grounding and inner calm. You will be sitting crossed legged like you did in school and as your teacher probably used to say "Criss cross apple sauce".

With the buttocks on the floor, cross your legs and place your feet directly below your knees. Rest your hands on your knees with the palms facing up. Press your hip bones down into the floor and reach the crown of the head up to lengthen the spine. Drop your shoulders down and back and press your chest towards the front of the room. Relax your face, jaw, and belly. Let your tongue rest on the roof of your mouth just behind your front teeth. Breathe deeply through the nose down into the belly and hold as long as is comfortable.

Downward-Facing Dog. After the easy pose, move into downward-facing dog. This is one of the most widely recognized yoga poses. Downward-Facing Dog is an all-over, rejuvenating stretch. This yoga pose is known to calm the brain and help relieve stress and mild depression, energize the body, stretch the shoulders, hamstrings, calves, arches, and hands, strengthen the arms and legs, relieve the symptoms of menopause and much more.

Use caution doing this pose if you have carpal tunnel syndrome, are in the late stages of pregnancy, or suffer from high blood pressure. Come onto the floor on your hands and knees. Set your knees directly below your hips and your hands slightly forward of your shoulders. Spread your palms, index fingers parallel or slightly turned out, and turn your toes under. Exhale and lift your knees away from the floor. At first keep the knees slightly bent and the heels lifted away from the floor. Lengthen your tailbone away from the back of your pelvis and press it lightly toward the pubis. Against this resistance, lift the sitting bones toward the ceiling, and from your inner ankles draw the inner legs up into the groins.

Then with an exhalation, push your top thighs back and stretch your heels onto or down toward the floor. Straighten your knees but be sure not to lock them. Firm the outer thighs and roll the upper thighs inward slightly. Narrow the front of the pelvis. Firm the outer arms and press the bases of the index fingers actively into the floor. From these two points, lift along your inner arms from the wrists to the tops of the shoulders. Firm your shoulder blades against your back then widen them and draw them toward the tailbone. Keep the head between the upper arms; don't let it hang. Stay in this pose anywhere from 1 to 3 minutes. Then bend your knees to the floor with an exhalation and rest.

Sun Salutations. On days when you think you have no time for yoga, try and do at least one or two rounds of the Sun Salutation. You'll feel the difference. After downward-facing dog, move into 3 rounds of sun salutations. Stand facing the direction of the sun with both feet touching. Bring the hands together, palm-to-palm, at the heart. Inhale and raise the arms upward. Slowly bend backward, stretching arms above the head. Exhale slowly bending forward, touching the earth with respect until the hands are in line with the feet, head touching knees. Inhale and move the right leg back away from the body in a wide backward step. Keep the hands and feet firmly on the ground, with the left foot between the hands. Raise the head.

While exhaling, bring the left foot together with the right. Keep arms straight, raise the hips and align the head with the arms, forming an upward arch. Exhale and lower the body to the floor until the feet, knees, hands, chest, and forehead are touching the ground. Inhale and slowly raise the head and bend backward as much as possible, bending the spine to the maximum. While exhaling, bring the left foot together with the right. Keep arms straight, raise the hips and align the head with the arms, forming an upward arch. Inhale and move the right leg back away from the body in a wide backward step. Keep the hands and feet firmly on the ground, with the left foot between the hands. Raise the head.

Exhale slowly bending forward, touching the earth with respect until the hands are in line with the feet, head touching knees. Inhale and raise the arms upward. Slowly bend backward, stretching arms above the head. Stand facing the direction of the sun with both feet touching. Bring the hands together, palm-to-palm, at the heart.

Feeling the benefits of yoga already? You're probably already convinced that it's your kind of thing!

Patrick Carpen is the designer, writer and owner of the website http://yoga.infobay.ws Infobay.ws is a content based, consumer oriented website that provides high quality content on selected subjects. This website was created to help internet users get a better insight into the art and practice of yoga and serve as a guide for buyers of yoga products.

Harmony Of Body

Original of India and with more than 5,000 years of antiquity, it is impossible to become an idea of which the Yoga can contribute to us without before knowing the philosophy that surrounds it.

The Yoga word comes from the snscrito and means union or integration. According to this discipline the man is a whole that includes/understands 4 different aspects: the physical part, the mental one, emotional and the spiritual one. The people feel and usually develop these aspects of their life of separated form, so that his I it is incomplete. In order to obtain the union of all the aspects in one, yoga proposes a set of directed techniques to reach an only destiny: an individual personality, where all the aspects are integrated that form our person.

The more habitual ways or techniques to reach this objective are:

The Hatha yoga, starting off of our physical part,
The Bhakti yoga, starting off of the emotional part,
The Jnaa yoga and Raja yoga, for the mental one,And the Samahdi, to unite the three previous ones.

These techniques usually are made one after the other as if it was the stages of a process. It is for that reason that most habitual is to begin with the practice of the Hatha Yoga since in our culture we are more tie to the physicist who to the spiritual thing.

Although one is not a sport, the Hatha Yoga (Yoga for the Health) is the one that you will be able to make, of initial form in center of Yoga. Its practice develops our physical part looking for the balance of the different flows from energy of our body. In fact, a session of Yoga is made up of a set of exercises based on the accomplishment of different positions that will help to obtain optimal to a muscular tone and a flexibility.

The exercises that form the Hatha Yoga can be divided in:

Asanas: It consists of the accomplishment of positions determined without making abrupt movements nor repetitions. In the Asanas, the form is but important to arrive at the correct position that the position in itself is for that reason that the movements must smooth and be controlled. The position will be due to maintain during the indicated time until the passage to the following one is indicated. With them we will work, the flexibility, the strength of the body, the balance and the mental concentration.

Bands and mudras: they are made when the student already has begun and has certain knowledge of the asanas. A little are exercises more complexes than they work on the nervous and endocrine system. Kriyas: directed to clean our body internally and to improve the balance of its vital functions. prolongation: its practice consists of following three phases of breathing (inspiration, retention and aspiration) sequential during the asana. In this part one works the balance and the concentration of the mind.

To practice this discipline implies enters a conception different from the body and the mind. The first sessions the mind enters tension to look for the indicated positions but little by little, the mind relaxes and the movements are perfected providing a beneficial harmonicon state for the health and the physical well-being.

BENEFITS

The level of mental concentration that provides its practice remarkably reduces to accumulated stress throughout the day. Numerous studies exist that demonstrate that the Yoga prevents many common diseases such as arthritis, the asthma, the obesity, the chronic fatigue, the diabetes, etc. Relaxed the muscles and improves the elasticity of the body. It improves the circulation. It reduces the cholesterol and the level of sugar in blood. It increases the capacity of concentration of the person and contributes to the mental relaxation.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Each one must know its own limitations and those its body. It tries not forward more of the account so that the body is fortified little by little. You do not make abrupt movements nor repetitions in the positions. It tries to begin the class with the relaxed body and the mind.

Resource:http://www.yoga.com

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Why Would You Hurt Yourself Like This

Everybody knows that if you stick your hand in a fire you're going to be burned. This is a fact that was branded in our minds since childhood, therefore we usually take special precautions when dealing with fire. You wouldn't intentionally burn yourself because you are aware of the pain and discomfort it will cause you.

But what if I told you that you could be causing yourself and even more painful and deeper discomfort?

What I'm referring to is the pain and suffering caused by holding on to a unforgiving spirit.

A common misconception that people believe is they have a right to be unforgiving based on the amount of pain that was caused to them. Also since they feel alot of pain every time they think about what happened it's only logical to hold on to that resentment.

It seems right not to accept the guilty parties apology and sometimes they never apologize, but I'm here to tell you today that forgiveness is for you not them! It's so you can move on with your life and not dwell in the past on things that are not E5Epraiseworthy.

Holding on to unforgiveness is very painful to the unforgiving person and alot of times causes you to experience sleeplessness and stress which in turn could make you sick.

In addition it makes you meditate on angry thoughts toward the person who did you wrong which could lead to hatred.

Hebrew 12:14 "Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord."

Beyond a shadow of doubt, our spiritual enemy, the devil, will try to get us into a state of unforgiveness so that he can have an advantage in our life.

He will remind us of past hurts that occurred months, weeks or even years ago, if that will work for him. What he is trying to do is to get us to ponder them long enough so that we will act out on them. To "resist" these thoughts is to resist the devil.

I know first hand from my own personal experiences that the above statements are true and terrible, but the worst part of all is that unforgiveness keeps the all mighty, all knowing, all powerful, most high God from forgiving you!

In Matthew 18:21-35 The man who received personal forgiveness but refused to forgive the man who owed him a mere "hundred denarii's," was labeled a "wicked servant" because he was forgiven his debt which was far more than the debt he refused to forgive.

The power of forgiveness is immeasurable. It is a power that Jesus used often and even delegated to his followers.

Luke 17:3-4 "Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying I repent, you shall forgive him".

God loves us very much and is very forgiving, even when we make mistakes. God gives us chances to work on our behavior and be the best we can be. When you pray, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.

Matthew 6.14-15 "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

In conclusion, to be unforgiving is to: anger God (Mt. 18:34), to give the devil an advantage in your life (2 Cor. 2:10,11), to conform to this wicked generation (2 Tim. 3:3), not to walk in love (1 Cor. 13:5), to stop God from forgiving you (Mt. 6:14,15) and to negate your own salvation (Mt. 18:32,34,35;).

David Hopkins is a "Christian Article Writer" who specializes in helping people remember to glorify God in everything that they do, so they don't miss out on any of His wonderful blessings.

Visit Daily Word Of God Group to read additional articles and to sign-up for a free newsletter to learn everything you need to know about why you should be putting God #1 in your life.

You Won't Get It, Until You Know What It Is

The biggest frustration amongst people seems to be not having what they want in life.

Yet they have exactly what they wished for.

Your mind is like a powerful computer. Much more powerful than anything man made that exists today. The purpose of your mind is to provide the outcome that is programmed into it, by you. It will always give you the programmed result - that is a law of nature.

And this is where the trouble starts.

Most of us have no idea how to effectively program this computer, and those that do, program it with ineffective programs more often than not.

Do you realize that the only difference between your success and that of say a Donald Trump or a Bill Gates, is the way that they think.

Whether they did it consciously or not, their thought patterns follow a set of guidelines that led them to the success that they enjoy. These patterns are burnt into their minds, and they will not alter them for anything. It is who they are. Like them or not, they are effective in their chosen fields.

So what does this have to do with you, and more importantly, can you use this knowledge for your own good.

Well the short answer is Yes.

You can use this knowledge, and are actually doing so every single day.

Your life is exactly as your mind thinks and reacts to circumstances on a continuous basis right now. So the good news is that you are already doing it, you cannot help yourself, it is human nature.

The bad news is that the thought patterns you have running in your mind, are not giving you the results you consciously want. They are giving you the results that you have programmed into your mind, mostly subconsciously.

This is why goal setting can be so important. With a clear goal in mind, your thought processes will at least be aligned in some direction most of the time. This can and does make a huge difference to your results.

Lets use the computer program analogy once more.

A computer will process information based on a specific set of rules and criteria. That is basically what a computer software program does. If you have a program that says if A happens, always do B, you get a predetermined predictable result. You know that a certain input will give you a specific output.

With our minds, not having a goal is like saying, if A happens, do B , or C or D or whatever strikes your fancy. The result is confusion and wasted energy. Spinning around without going anywhere.

Now life presents us with A today, B tomorrow, an C,D,A the next day. If you however have a set of actions ready for whenever A happens (by having a set goal) you automatically move toward your desired outcome every time A occurs. You might not have moved far, but you did move a small amount toward your goal, every time A happens.

At least you are moving in a certain direction, that you have predetermined, by simply deciding what you actually want, and then setting a goal to get there.

Goal setting is a huge topic, and not quite as simple as described. It is however very worthwhile, and just may make the difference between contentment and a life of frustration.

So find out what you want and why, then work towards that goal.

Kevin is the publisher and editor of besuccessfulnews.com, a site that provides information and articles on how to succeed in your own home or small business.

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Appreciating Health and Fitness

Practically everyone wants to be fit and feel good. Getting there however is sometimes incredibly difficult for some. It is important to understand just how important a healthy body is to your overall state of mind as well as your physical health.

One of the major problems affecting the United States as well as the rest of the world is a burgeoning rate of obesity. The statistics show that obesity is on an incredible rise and may soon become the norm for the majority of people. This carries with it some serious health risks. Type II Diabetes has becoming increasingly common and other weight related health problems are skyrocketing as well.

It is easy to sit back and say that it won't happen to you or that you'll do something about it tomorrow. But the fact remains that obesity and ill health are a problem and it is vital to take the steps to correct it. Even if you are not suffering from any weight problems, you may not be as healthy as you think. Poor diets and lack of exercise lead to increased cholesterol levels, high blood pressure and a myriad of other silent issues that can sneak up on you.

What can you do to begin a healthy life5B4style today instead of tomorrow? Start by taking one day to catalog each and every single thing you eat or drink during that day. Also make a note of any exercise that you get during this time. At the end of the day, add up how many calories and fat you consumed. Chances are, the numbers will shock you.

The average woman needs between 1200 to 1800 calories per day. The average American woman typically consumes more than 2000 on any given day. Males need an average of 1800 to 2500, but once again, actual consumption rates are much higher. To put this into perspective, it takes 3500 additional calories to gain one pound. If you are eating more than 500 calories than you need each day, this translates into the gain of one pound a week.

Once you know how many calories you are consuming you can begin to craft a lifestyle plan that will help you get within your goals. Try cutting out sodas or drinks that contain empty calories. This is a great way to drop an extra five to ten pounds. Look at your exercise level and see how you can increase your activity slowly. Try walking instead of taking the elevator, or walking during your lunch hour.

Small changes are much easier to make and it makes it so much easier to start living a healthy life. Your body will have time to adjust and won't begin hoarding calories if you take this approach. Start small and generally increase your level of activity as the weeks go by. You'll be making4F1 steady progress towards achieving a healthy body in no time at all and the best part is, you'll feel great doing it.

Insight Bridge, the most complete online self growth website connects you to success secrets, self-growth lessons, goal setting techniques, personal improvement resources and self help advice to support your life goals and fulfill your dreams.

Choose The Right Fitness Equipment Apparel

Each day the world is getting more and more competitive. To keep up with this type of competition we as individuals need to focus more on our body's fitness. This can be as simple as going for a stroll, running along a beach, hiking in the mountains, or as serious as spending months and months in fitness gyms working out.

There are many different types of fitness activity. Some activities require certain fitness equipment, and there are other activities that dont require any at all; but there's more to fitness than that. Many people are also concerned with choosing the right fitness equipment apparel that will suit the activities and or exercise they plan to do. Choosing the right apparel is one of the first steps to getting fit. Today you can walk into any department or clothing store and find rack upon rack of fitness apparel. The apparel ranges from shorts, shirts, bras, shoes, equipment to fully tailored outfits. In general if people look good while exercising they seem to get uplift in energy and are able to exercise more effectively. When choosing your fitness equipment apparel, there are certain things you might need to consider.

If you want to achieve all your fitness goals you will need motivation in order to be truly committed to your goals. While doing your fitness activities there is a need to choose the right clothing that will work for you, not against you. You're bound to achieve your goals if you follow the principle that looking great has its advantages while exercising even if other people dont understand the correlation between exercise and looking good.

Since there is a vast array of exercises, you may like to choose the most common activity that you feel suits you. If your active and on the go then you may like aerobic exercises. For this form of exercise you will find a lot of suits, tights and small tops as well as comfy supportive shoes. These can be bought at your local department store or apparel and clothing store; or you can also shop online to pick up a few bargains from sites that offer them.

For yoga lovers, there are a wide selection of tank tops, pants, and lose fitting pants for men. Always experiment with color combinations so that you can get the most out of any existing clothes you may have. You may also want to choose colors that are subdued and relaxing for yoga. You may chose to go for matching outfits from shorts, matching top, bra or tank top. You may want to get dressed up to the max and exercise in style. Just remember even though you may be just going out to exercise or to your fitness activity, it really does help to look and feel good about yourself.

While you carry out your fitness regime, you can easily observe any changes in your body if you wear the correct fitting clothes. When you see instant results, you are more motivated and inspired to pursue such activity. By wearing form-fitting clothes it can help you in checking whether your body's in great shape or not.

When you go shopping for your fitness equipment apparel, try to find flexible clothing that will help you in carrying out all your physical activities efficiently. Dont practice carele5A4ssness by ignoring fitness accessories like fitness apparel. You don't want to be trying yoga in your tightest denim jeans do you? Try to be an educated buyer, dont fall victim to attractive advertisements. These advertisements usually offer expensive brands, which you can find at discount prices if you do some research before you go shopping. When purchasing your clothing, two very significant factors to consider are quality and price.

The next time you shop for the right clothing to wear for your fitness activity try some very flattering apparel for a change and see how it makes you feel while you exercise.

Tenzin is the author and webmaster of fitnessequipmentinfo.com where he reveals the latest on fitness equipment especially fitness equipment apparel. For a limited time, get his "Fitness" course free, with no strings attached. Check out Fitness Equipment Info now!

The Essentials Of An Effective Body Building Training And Workout Program

Men and women frequently wonder about the components of the best body building training and workout program. This article will discuss the fundamentals of the best program for bodybuilders.

The most effective program is not all about lifting weights. A good eating plan, lifestyle and environmental factors also play an important part.

When you are looking to improve your physique you need to understand what your body is capable of doing. It is important that you avoid injury as much as possible and start with smaller workouts and slowly build them out. While weight training is a very important part, it is not everything.

Your workout should include targeted exercises that work specific parts of your body at a variety of intensities. It should also be able to be customized according to your athleticism and your increasing fitness and strength.

A healthy eating plan is a vital part of your day. In order to increase muscle bulk you need to know that your body and muscles are getting the right nutrients, vitamins and minerals in order to bulk up and to increase your energy levels to be able to work harder in your routines.

It is essential that your diet includes a lot of protein and carbs. While unsaturated fats should be restricted good fats are essential also.

It is also important that you don't workout too excess. If you overdo it you can decrease your effectiveness and also increase your chance of injury which will ultimately slow your progress down.

Sleep is another important factor. As your muscles actually grow and heal when you are sleeping it is equally critical that you get at least 8 hours sleep every night.

Each muscle group requires a specific type of exercise for the muscles to grow at their maximum capability. Your exercise regime must include targeted excersises that will work every muscle group that you are aiming for and also tone your whole body.

I put body building exercise programs to the test and have just published my results. Check them out now at the website below!

Copyright 2007. Body builders are spending a fortune on body building products that just dont work. Thats why I put the so-called best body-building products to the test. Not all body building weight training products are created equally, nor do they live up to the amazing results that they promise. The shocking truth is exposed at my body building weight training review site. Only go with body building weight training products that you trust. To find out more go to http://www.body-building-natural.blogspot.com.

Workplace Fitness: Tongue-In-Cheek

According to the Oxford Dictionary of Current English, to speak with one's tongue in one's cheek is to speak insincerely or ironically. This phrase dates back to 1748 when it was cool to show disdain or disrespect for someone by putting your tongue inside your cheek to make it stick out.

While we rarely use this gesture to signal contempt today, we exercise tongue-in-cheek with our words. Our tongues are still happily employed in broadcasting insincerity, hypocrisy and any number of damaging darts to pre-planned or unsuspecting targets.

The Tongue

The tongue is the main vessel used to speak. It accomplishes this by spewing out sounds and words. Although a small part of the body, it controls and affects the direction of our lives. Most of the time it does a lot of good; but sometimes it gets us into huge trouble, and controlling it is a lifelong process.

Words are the main product of the tongue. Words have great healing power and are life-giving substances. They can wound or kill. With our words, we can hurt ourselves as well as our relationships with others.

Speak at Your Own Risk

Did you know that what comes out of your mouth reflects what is in your heart? It has been estimated that on a weekly basis, the average person speaks more than 200,000 wordsenough to fill a 500 page book! Words are powerful and extremely concentrated! When spoken in too-large quantities, they can affect emotions and attitudes. They germinate readily when spoken; therefore, we must be careful in what we say and how we say it.

Bite Your Tongue

We bite our tongues to keep quiet and not say what we really want to say. It is not always right to speak out and express what pops into our minds. Instead, there are times when we should bite our tongues and keep quiet.

When you really want to speak out, but you know you should not, it is best to just bite your tongue. If you realize that your tongue is out of control, make a commitment right nowat this very moment to do the following:

  1. Refuse to participate in, listen to, or tolerate negative things (backbiting and gossip) said about another person. If you tell people you will not participate, they will stop including you in these types of conversations. So, speak up!
  2. Watch your tone and attitude. Encourage and boost the self-esteem of those you talk to by allowing words of praise and encouragement to come out of your mouth. The tone and attitude behind your words can work miracles or do far greater damage than the words themselves.
  3. Think positively. Look on the bright side of things. Develop a positive mental attitude about people. Believe it or not, this will brighten your personality and bring you contentment.
  4. Practice being patient. I know this is hard to do sometimes, but when you are stuck in traffic or in the cashiers line, find something productive to think about or doview your emails, read the headings on a magazine, plan the rest of your day, etc. How about actually talking to someone in linenot complaining about how long it is taking; but really engaging in a conversation or two?
  5. Learn to cope. A common definition of insanity is doing the things youve always done, yet expecting the result to be different. We live in an imperfect world, yet we continue to expect it to somehow be perfect. Stop wasting precious time and energy! Instead, consider even the smallest annoyance a challenge to overcome. Just think of the sweet sense of accomplishment you will receive once you have succeeded in tackling it.
  6. Stop whining and complaining. Whining and complaining are energy-draining. Liberal doses of this highly toxic stuff leads to bitterness and ultimately poor health. Introduce a chronic complainer into a festive gathering and you end up with a mass exodus of the guests. Avoid complaining about things or people you cant control. Think of solutions and strategies to handle the things you can control without complaining.
  7. Respond graciously to criticism. Give yourself a few moments to think of your response before you charge in mouth-first. Re-word your statement to be more effective. Make your point graciously and in a professional and convincing manner.
  8. When youve put your foot in your mouthLets face it, each one of us has blurted out a tactless or tasteless remark from time to time. These rare occasions usually happen before weve had a chance to consider the impact our words will have on others. To overcome this debilitating tendency, apologize as swiftly and sincerely as possible and simply say the words you wish you had said.
  9. Practice makes perfect. Train yourself to think and act differently. Prepare ahead of time by practicing what you will say in various situations. When you know you are about to engage in a confrontation that will test your temper, write out what you will say and practice it out loud before you meet with the other person.
  10. Forgive yourself as well as others. When you blow it, dont panic. Forgive yourself first, and then make amends to the other person as well. Every person needs forgiveness and needs to forgive. Our first response when others hurt us is usually a reactive one of resentment, revenge and avoidance. Forgiveness allows us to be proactive and to put all the hurt and injustice of the past behind us once and for all.

Foot-in-Mouth disease is curable. Think through what you want to say and focus on communicating your thoughts in as efficient and effective a manner as possible. Practice makes perfect. Remember to practice one of these ten tips each day.

Althea DeBrule, entrepreneur and seasoned human resources executive, has focused for more than 30 years on helping people achieve their career goals. Creator of The Extreme-Career-Makeover and a founding partner of RADSGroup Organizational Consultants, she is recognized for her bottom line and practical application of career development and management strategies in a way that penetrates hearts and compels action. She speaks and teaches with inspired talent, humor and contagious zeal at management conferences and leadership retreats nationwide, and has been featured in CFO Magazine, Strategy@Work, Human Resource Executive Magazine. Althea is the author of Bosses & Orchards, a compelling and candid book about how to make your work relationship with your boss succeed. To discover how you can take your career to a new level, visit http://www.extreme-career-makeover.com/

How to Build Chest Muscles

Aside from big arms, there's no desire among aspiring underweight muscle building enthusiasts that quite outdoes the longing for a big, well-developed chest. And why not; big pectorals command respect. They're somehow primitively associated with courage and assertiveness. When you have pectoral muscles that only slightly protrude beyond your abdominal section, you're considered to be "in shape". What's more, in a world of male competitiveness where one's height seems to unfairly monopolize the aura of dominating physical stature, powerful pectorals can be a great equalizer. They tell the world that regardless of the level your genetics had you lengthened, you're packaged physical prowess by choice. You exude strength and athleticism with well developed pectorals.

So what's the best method for developing a big chest? Well, that shouldn't be our only question. For if the pectorals aren't built in a balanced manner, excessive size can contribute to a feminizing effect on the male torso. Does anyone really want to develop "man boobs"? I didn't think so. Therefore, it's imperative that we make our pecs just a little bit top-heavy (upper pecs that protrude slightly more than the middle p10DFecs) in our bid to increase chest size. An emphasis on making sure we are successful with incline exercises will ensure good upper pectoral development.

Notice I didn't recommend doing "a lot of incline exercises". Instead, I mentioned making sure you're 'successful' with your incline movements (this goes for all bodybuilding exercises). Although this might sound like a subtle play on words, it's really a vital issue for your muscle building progress. Overtraining is probably the biggest setback most natural bodybuilding enthusiasts unwittingly engage. Thus, you might need to add more incline bench movements to build bigger upper pecs, or you might need to lay off of those movements. It really depends on what you're currently doing. Just keep in mind that many times our enthusiasm to make progress on a particular body part leads us to inadvertently overwork that area - resulting in the exact opposite of our desired effect.

As a lifetime natural bodybuilder, nothing has done more for my pectoral development than taking emphasis off 'pressing movements' and putting it on 'flye movements'. The widespread notion that you "have to bench press" and "bench press heavy" has only been outdone in holding back pectoral growth by the practice of over training. Combine the two with the typical plights of the natural bodybuilder and you have a scenario in which pectoral growth is almost nonexistent for too many gym-goers. If heavy bench pressing were the key to a great chest, we'd see power-lifters epitomizing pectoral development. As it turns out, some of them have big pecs and some seem to have nearly none - despite the fact they can bench press heavy.

What if you could do heavy flyes? What if you could get on an incline bench and strictly move seventy-five pound dumbbells from the top of the movement - slowly down to having your arms outstretched and the weights parallel with your head (elbows only slightly bent) - and back up to the top position without any arm movement? If you can't do that for six to eight repetitions now, but you can do it a few months from now, I'd bet on your pectoral muscles being significantly larger after those few months. Making strict and heavy flye movements into the cornerstone of your chest routine can work wonders for the growth of those muscles.

Besides changing bench pressing movements to a secondary position and flyes to the primary one, I've also accelerated my pectoral gains by splitting my first flye movement into two partial rep exercises. So when I get to the gym to start my chest routine, I head straight to one of those pec/flye machines in which you hold the handles with your arms extended (only a slight bend in the elbows). These are the kind of pec dec machines that are also used for rear deltoid exercises. I adjust the seat on the machine so that a flye movement done on the apparatus will hit squarely in the middle of my pecs.

I then proceed to do two different exercises with this machine; one for my outer pecs and one for the inner. For outer pectorals, I move my arms from the fully outward position to about halfway through the range of a full flye. I do about five to eight sets like this. For inner pecs, I go from about the twenty degrees angle (where I ended my rep for the outer pec movement) to the point where the handles make contact with each other in front of me. I do those for another five to eight sets. When I'm done with these two partial rep exercises, my entire chest is worked and pumped to the max.

It's important to know that working the middle chest muscles actually brings the upper and lower pectorals into play. However, isolating the upper chest with incline movements does not bring the middle or lower chest muscles into play. The same goes for isolating the lower chest with declines; it only works the lower pectorals. Therefore, the most efficient way to begin a chest routine is with an exercise that hits the middle chest. My suggestion is that when you begin your pec workout with the above-mentioned exercise, be sure to adjust the seat so that you're hitting the very center of your chest.

Only when I've sufficiently pre-exhausted my pectorals with the strict performance of these partial-rep flyes do I go on to isolate the upper and lower pecs resp562ectively with three more exercises. These include incline dumbbell flyes, Hammer Strength presses, and a decline angled pec deck. I do two exercises for upper pecs in an attempt to slightly over-develop them for better balance; the dumbbell flyes and the pressing movement with the Hammer Strength machine. Presses are incredibly more effective for pectoral growth when the pecs have been pre-exhausted with flyes.

If you've been having trouble with pectoral growth, I highly recommend you switch to making flye exercises the foundation of your routine. In addition, split that first exercise of pec deck flyes into two half-rep movements. This will create maximum stress on both the inner and outer pecs - working wonders on both the size and shape of the muscles.

Scott Abbett is the author of HardBody Success: 28 Principles to Create Your Ultimate Body and Shape Your Mind for Incredible Success. To see his personal transformation, visit http://www.hardbodysuccess.com

Choose The Right Fitness Equipment Apparel

Each day the world is getting more and more competitive. To keep up with this type of competition we as individuals need to focus more on our body's fitness. This can be as simple as going for a stroll, running along a beach, hiking in the mountains, or as serious as spending months and months in fitness gyms working out.

There are many different types of fitness activity. Some activities require certain fitness equipment, and there are other activities that dont require any at all; but there's more to fitness than that. Many people are also concerned with choosing the right fitness equipment apparel that will suit the activities and or exercise they plan to do. Choosing the right apparel is one of the first steps to getting fit. Today you can walk into any department or clothing store and find rack upon rack of fitness apparel. The apparel ranges from shorts, shirts, bras, shoes, equipment to fully tailored outfits. In general if people look good while exercising they seem to get uplift in energy and are able to exercise more effectively. When choosing your fitness equipment apparel, there are certain things you might need to consider.

If you want to achieve all your fitness goals you will need motivation in order to be truly committed to your goals. While doing your fitness activities there is a need to choose the right clothing that will work for you, not against you. You're bound to achieve your goals if you follow the principle that looking great has its advantages while exercising even if other people dont understand the correlation between exercise and looking good.

Since there is a vast array of exercises, you may like to choose the most common activity that you feel suits you. If your active and on the go then you may like aerobic exercises. For this form of exercise you will find a lot of suits, tights and small tops as well as comfy supportive shoes. These can be bought at your local department store or apparel and clothing store; or you can also shop online to pick up a few bargains from sites that offer them.

For yoga lovers, there are a wide selection of tank tops, pants, and lose fitting pants for men. Always experiment with color combinations so that you can get the most out of any existing clothes you may have. You may also want to choose colors that are subdued and relaxing for yoga. You may chose to go for matching outfits from shorts, matching top, bra or tank top. You may want to get dressed up to the max and exercise in style. Just remember even though you may be just going out to exercise or to your fitness activity, it really does help to look and feel good about yourself.

While you carry out your fitness regime, you can easily observe any changes in your body if you wear the correct fitting clothes. When you see instant results, you are more motivated and inspired to pursue such activity. By wearing form-fitting clothes it can help you in checking whether your body's in great shape or not.

When you go shopping for your fitness equipment apparel, try to find flexible clothing that will help you in carrying out all your physical activities efficiently. Dont practice carele5A4ssness by ignoring fitness accessories like fitness apparel. You don't want to be trying yoga in your tightest denim jeans do you? Try to be an educated buyer, dont fall victim to attractive advertisements. These advertisements usually offer expensive brands, which you can find at discount prices if you do some research before you go shopping. When purchasing your clothing, two very significant factors to consider are quality and price.

The next time you shop for the right clothing to wear for your fitness activity try some very flattering apparel for a change and see how it makes you feel while you exercise.

Tenzin is the author and webmaster of fitnessequipmentinfo.com where he reveals the latest on fitness equipment especially fitness equipment apparel. For a limited time, get his "Fitness" course free, with no strings attached. Check out Fitness Equipment Info now!

What You Need to Know About Home Fitness Equipment

Home fitness equipment is a great idea for those wanting to improve their overall conditioning, lose a bit of weight, or just tone their bodies. There are many different options for home fitness equipment on the market today and all seem to promise magical and amazing results with just five or ten minutes of workout time per day.

In reality, weight loss, toning or building muscle requires several different components and will always require consistent, sustained effort on the part of the person involved i.e you! Advertisements and infomercials that try to indicate otherwise are misleading at best, and completely fraudulent at worst. According to leading health and fitness experts, the only way to improve cardiovascular performance, lose weight or tone your body is to eat optimally, exercise regularly and consistently, and to challenge your body to improve muscle tone and health.

Buying home fitness equipment can be challenging and costly, so knowing what you are trying to accomplish with your fitness goals is critical before you make a purchase. Keep in mind what you need the fitness equipment to do, so you buy the machines or devices that will help you reach your goals. Weight loss will require both cardio and strength training, toning will require strength as well as limited cardio, and muscle development or body building will require specific, increasingly challenging weight designed to work particular muscles of the body. Using the wrong type of home fitness equipment in your workout will only lead to frustration and disappointment in your results.

Not all home fitness equipment fits everyone, despite what the infomercials state. If you are planning to invest in some of the more costly types of home gym equipment, be sure to try it out at a retail store or sports store before actually buying it. All equipment is designed for average height and weight adults, so people that are heavier, lighter, taller or shorter than the average may find even the most expensive home gyms and equipment simply don't fit their body. In addition, remember that most home equipment does not have the same safety features as some of the commercially available equipment and is not recommended for use by children or even young teens.

There are many advantages to having your own workout equipment right at home. It is easy to use, convenient, plus you may find time to work out in between activities at home that you would never be able to work into your schedule if you had to go to the gym. One final tip: consider looking around at used home fitness equipment if you are trying to set up an exercise space on a limited budget.

Terry Roberts is a professional translator and linguist, with a wide range of interests. To read more about home fitness equipment, and home fitness in general, please visit his website: Home Fitness Now.

The Essentials Of An Effective Body Building Training And Workout Program

Men and women frequently wonder about the components of the best body building training and workout program. This article will discuss the fundamentals of the best program for bodybuilders.

The most effective program is not all about lifting weights. A good eating plan, lifestyle and environmental factors also play an important part.

When you are looking to improve your physique you need to understand what your body is capable of doing. It is important that you avoid injury as much as possible and start with smaller workouts and slowly build them out. While weight training is a very important part, it is not everything.

Your workout should include targeted exercises that work specific parts of your body at a variety of intensities. It should also be able to be customized according to your athleticism and your increasing fitness and strength.

A healthy eating plan is a vital part of your day. In order to increase muscle bulk you need to know that your body and muscles are getting the right nutrients, vitamins and minerals in order to bulk up and to increase your energy levels to be able to work harder in your routines.

It is essential that your diet includes a lot of protein and carbs. While unsaturated fats should be restricted good fats are essential also.

It is also important that you don't workout too excess. If you overdo it you can decrease your effectiveness and also increase your chance of injury which will ultimately slow your progress down.

Sleep is another important factor. As your muscles actually grow and heal when you are sleeping it is equally critical that you get at least 8 hours sleep every night.

Each muscle group requires a specific type of exercise for the muscles to grow at their maximum capability. Your exercise regime must include targeted excersises that will work every muscle group that you are aiming for and also tone your whole body.

I put body building exercise programs to the test and have just published my results. Check them out now at the website below!

Copyright 2007. Body builders are spending a fortune on body building products that just dont work. Thats why I put the so-called best body-building products to the test. Not all body building weight training products are created equally, nor do they live up to the amazing results that they promise. The shocking truth is exposed at my body building weight training review site. Only go with body building weight training products that you trust. To find out more go to http://www.body-building-natural.blogspot.com.