SELF IMPROVEMENT

10 Creative Ways to Manifest Your Dreams

2007-01-31T21:53:00.000-08:00

Enhance your power to manifest the life of your dreams using these ten creative methods:

1) Keep the end in mind. Ask yourself, what specific quality of life will the object of my desire bring to me? Why do I want this? Will it bring more Love, Harmony, Joy, Peace, Wisdom or Prosperity? Once you identify your real goal, do your best to assimilate that quality without the object and you will be deliberating achieving a vibrational harmony with the object you desired in the first place. When you acquire vibrational harmony or magnetic sameness with your desire - the object of your desire or something better HAS to come into your life - for it is the Law!

2) Identify what you want. The number one rule to Manifesting your Dreams is to "keep your eye on the ball." The Universe does not process negatives - only energy. Therefore the question to ponder is "What do I want?" The question is NOT "What do I not want?" except to identify more of what you DO want.

3) Expect your dreams to come true. Expectation propels your desire and opens the runway for your dreams to land quickly, easily and gently. Additionally, with expectation as your fire, you will be less likely to run out of "desire fuel"!

4) Imagine it in the now. Imagine how it FEELS to have what you desire RIGHT NOW! Abraham through Jerry and Esther Hicks says, "Your point of attraction is now." Therefore, whatever you are feeling and focused upon right now is what you are in vibrational harmony with and are attracting into your life.

5) Be energy efficient - be conscious of your "energy." Keep in mind that like energy attracts like energy - therefore "what you sow you shall reap." Feeling the lack of something only attracts more "lack of that something." On the other hand, deliberately choosing positive feelings and focal points will keep you in alignment with your desires.

6) Maintain a laser focus on what you want. Give it your attention. Use tools such as setting goals, writing and repeating affirmations, visualization, gratitude journalizing, creative collage, treasure mapping, creation wheels and meditation. Relax, listen to yourself, state the affirmation and visualize the accompanying action and feeling. Remember, "Wherever you go, there you are!" - therefore, BE mentally and emotionally where you want to GO physically.

7) Be unattached. Maintain your desires but be unattached to the specifics of the outcome. Never limit the Universe by being disappointed if it isn't in your life right now or isn't coming as fast as you think it should. Be careful of being attached to the how, when, where, and who details. Turn it over to God and release your dream with statements such as "This or something better is manifesting in my life right now. I let it go and prepare to receive my good." ALLOW the universe to let it flow to you easily!

8) Go on an appreciation rampage and preserve an attitude of gratitude. Relish the moment and be appreciative of all that you have. Be aware of every opportunity that comes your way and honor where you are on your path. Look at each experience as neither good nor bad, but as an opportunity to learn and grow. Don't scold yourself when you make a mistake. Develop an affirmative statement describing your correct performance in the present tense, and allow your light to shine! See through the eyes of love. Choose to live in joy and spread it to all you meet!

9) Let Go of the past and follow your heart! Once and for all. Release the fears and prejudices that come from previous experiences. "Heaven's not beyond the clouds; it's just beyond our fears." Regret and fear are the thieves that rob us of today. Accept responsibility for your life. Know that there are no victims. This means really forgive and forget, live without opinions, throw out your old baggage and live fully present in the moment at hand while following your heart's guidance and desires for tomorrow. Your heart will never speak in fear - only in love. Follow your heart and you will have all that you desire.

10) Dream big! Ask for more than you "need." You are the child of a rich father in heaven - claim your Divine birthright to unlimited Prosperity, Peace, Joy, Love and Harmony. Ask for all that you desire (in alignment with your values) and have the faith to relax and enjoy the journey. "I tell you the Truth, If ye have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, move from here to there: And it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20

by Anisa Aven

Receive Anisa's FREE Conscious Creation 101: a 5-part e-course on the basics of Manifesting by visiting http://www.creatavision.com/creative-manifesting.htm. Read more about manifesting and conscious creation by visiting http://www.creatavision.com/ and http://www.manifestingprosperity.com/.
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com/

3 Actions You Can Take Right Now to Bring Your Dream to Light

2007-01-18T05:52:00.000-08:00

You hear it all the time; “follow your dream”, “discover your dream”, “dreams do come true”. The way people talk about LIVING YOUR DREAM, it’s as if everyone must have one!

I think they do, which means I think YOU do! So, if in fact the rather bold statement I just made is true, how do you go about bringing your dream to light? These tips will help.

1. ALLOW yourself to dream.

We STOP dreaming because at some point in our life we were told the dream we had was unrealistic. And after hearing it enough times from others we started believing it too. A dream that once felt so good to think about and seemed so possible to achieve, suddenly left us feeling silly for ever having it. So we did the only thing we could do, we packed our dream(s) safely away, not to be shared again.

Just because your dream is packed away for safe keeping, doesn’t mean it no longer exists. In fact, it might be the thing that keeps trying to get your attention! If you’ve ever had a notion there was “more” to life, listen up – your dream is talking!

How can you gently coax your dream back into the light?

You can ask yourself: “If money was no object, and failure was not a concern, what would I do with my life?”

As we get older we get more practical. But when you’re trying to unleash a dream there’s no room for practicality. Asking the question above will give you free rein to dream away! There will be plenty of opportunities for practical matters later on. For now, give yourself permission to once again dream and when you do, dream BIG!

2. Don’t judge your dream.

There isn’t a scale on which dreams are measured. In other words, one dream is no better or worse than another dream. Your DREAM is YOUR dream!

If, since the time you were eight years old, you’ve wanted to study the life and habitat of iguanas, perhaps your dream is exactly what you need to do to feel your best and to live a life you find meaningful.

The consequence of not living your dream? What about the poor iguanas!

There’s a reason you have the dream you have. In the big cosmic picture of life, your dream serves a purpose to all life on this earth. If you don’t live your dream, the rest of us are missing out.

The second tip for bringing your dream to light: Don’t JUDGE your dream. Rather, embrace it – it’s yours for a reason.

3. Practice patience.

Dreams take time to unfold, especially when you haven’t allowed yourself to dream for awhile.

Some people know their dream from an early age. For the rest of us, we need to remain open and curious as to what our dream is. Listen to your gut, heart and soul and trust they have the answers you seek.

It may take some time for your dream to be revealed. Therefore, the last tip is to HAVE PATIENCE. It may take time to bring your dream to light, but it’ll be worth the wait.

Allow yourself to dream, don’t’ judge the dream you have and practice patience: three actions you can take today to bring your dream to light.

“There is a giant asleep within every man. When that giant awakes, miracles happen.” Frederick Faust

By Cari Vollmer
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com
Cari Vollmer, personal growth expert, is the founder of LifeOnTrack.com and InspireYourDay.com. For practical life strategies and success tips, sign up for LifeOnTrack.com’s FREE e-zine, LivingOnTrack, at www.LifeOnTrack.com

Communicating Goals

2006-11-16T22:59:00.000-08:00

By John Dueme

Leaders recognize that in order to lead effectively they need to give their followers success. Some leaders are concerned that if they reveal their goals to their subordinates there is the possibility that they might miss the goals. The leaders are concerned that they might lose credibility if this happens. While this is certainly a possibility, the risks of not presenting any goals to an organization are likely to be more detrimental that missing a goal occasionally.

If you think of an organization as a game and all of your employees are players in the game, you'll see why having goals is so important. If none of the players understand the rules, it is unlikely that they will have much fulfillment from playing. Even if they lose occasionally, it is better for them to know the rules than feel like they are working toward something that was just random.

When your player/employees understand the rules and how to score (what the goals are), they can enjoy what they are doing. Someone who enjoys their job will be much more productive than someone who is just trudging through the day doing what they are told. The most efficient organizations are those where individuals take personal pleasure in meeting the goals of the organization. The least efficient organizations are those where individuals don't really care anything about the organization's goals or what it is trying to achieve.

Communicating goals doesn't guarantee that your employees will be motivated and love what they do, but if you don't convey goals to your employees at all you can certainly guarantee that they won't be motivated because they won't know where they are going.

Communication is a very important skill for a leader to develop. Without good communication, it is unlikely that they will success. The thoughtful leader is constantly taking the pulse of his organization and looking at how what he said was received--constantly measuring how well people understood what he said and how well they are taking his words and converting them into appropriate action. Good communication doesn't happen on accident. It has to be developed and constantly refined. You have to constantly measure how effective your communication was and make sure it is achieving the desired results.

When it comes to communicating goals, it is important to gauge whether or not the goals you have set are achieving the desired results. Sometimes your goals will need refined to make sure people are heading in an appropriate direction and following your intent not just what you said.

Please visit http://www.leadership501.com/ to find out more about challenging an organization and other leadership topics.
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com/

CREATE WEALTH - SEVEN TIPS TO FINANCIAL SUCCESS

2006-10-25T04:20:00.000-07:00

Create an environment for maximum success by applying these seven simple steps. You'll streamline your life and allow creative sparks to fly.

My sister loves lists. She says they keep her on track and trigger her memory. So, she asked me to make a list detailing what it took for me to reach the level of success I have.

Actually what she really wanted is to learn what it takes to stay committed and focused on a goal. Her goals seemed to blur and then disappear after initially burning as bright as the sun on a summer's day.

This is quite common. So don't fret.

But now forget that you were once a goal-setter-trasher. Go into unfamiliar territory and cast off those shackles of procrastination. Be fearless and eager to learn.

Let's start with the basics:

1. Turn off the TV. You won't change your life if you keep watching the world go by. So get off your couch, or bed, toss the remote, walk to your tube and press the OFF button. Better yet, put it behind closed doors. It's addictive. Seeing it might disturb your creativity. Now, I know you might feel deprived and suffer from withdrawal, but, when your life changes you'll get over it.

2. Go to a bookstore. If you don't have a good dictionary and thesaurus, Walk to your local bookstore and purchase these two indispensable items. While your browsing, check out the Biography section to read books written by people you wish to emulate. Equally as important, buy How To/Advice books on the subject your interested in.

3. Read. Back home on the couch, sans remote, read, read and read. Underline, highlight and take notes. Write down what you are learning.

4. Grab a pen and notepad. Now that it's quiet, start listening to your thoughts. Write. Write anything that comes to mind. Write about the life you want. Describe it in absolute detail. This should not be a hardship. Make it fun. Feel yourself living the life you always wanted. If you can't handle it, go back and start from the top.

5. Ask questions. Ask experts who have succeeded in what you want to do all the questions you have. Commit this Rudyard Kipling poem to memory: "Six honest serving men--they taught me all I know--their names are What and Why and When and How and Where and Who."

6. Start imagining a product you want to sell. Concentrate on what interests you. Write down anything that comes to mind. I think you’re getting an idea about how important writing is in this whole process.

7. Watch your thoughts and words. In order to maximize success, remember: the words you choose and use create your life's news.

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The more creative fuel you emit towards your goal, the faster you'll reach it. Your financial success is directly related to the creative energy you choose to use. Money is energy. Not physical energy – creative energy. I get some of my best ideas while in the shower. I bet you do to. Now take one of your ideas seriously. Carve out the time to get one project up and running.

Nobody succeeds without creative action. Now you can manifest the life you always wanted by applying the creativity that is inherently yours.

That is the power of Creative Action.

About the author:
Visit www.prosperousartist.com for your common-sense guide to living a fulfilled and wealthy life.

Tania French is a composer who has enjoyed performances and radio broadcasts of her music worldwide. Her latest CD “Renewal” (released in December, 2005) will feature a rejuvenating fusion of new age, classical, and world songs.
© 2005 Tania French. All Rights Reserved.

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FINDING AND OVERCOMING THE SOURCE OF YOUR FEARS AND STRESSES

2006-10-25T04:17:00.000-07:00

A sure way to overcoming your fears and anxieties is in finding the source of your fears and being able to manage it. In dealing with any kinds of fears or anxieties, try to learn what is the real source of your fears and anxieties. Knowing what is causing your anxieties can go a long way in finding the solution.

A person can find the source of his or her own fears by doing some self evaluation and also by talking to a professional. Asking yourself questions such as: “Why am I afraid” or “What is causing my anxiety” will lead you in the right direction in finding the source of your fears. Give it some time and eventually you will find the answers your looking for.

Once you find the true source of your fears, the next step is to find the solutions that will solve your problem. With the help of a professional, write down a list of possible techniques and solutions that you think will manage your fear and anxieties. The next step is to apply the techniques that you uncovered. Here is a brief list of some techniques you can use to help deal with your fears.

A good way to manage your worry is to challenge your negative thinking with positive statements and realistic thinking. When encountering thoughts that make your fearful or anxious, challenge those thoughts by asking yourself questions that will maintain objectivity and common sense.

When facing a current or upcoming task that overwhelms you with a lot of anxiety, the first thing you can do is to break the task into a series of smaller steps. Completing these smaller tasks one at a time will make the stress more manageable and increases your chances of success.

Sometimes we encounter a scary situation that gets us all upset. When encountering these events, always remember to get all of the facts of the given situation. Gathering the facts can prevent us from relying on exaggerated and fearful assumptions. By focusing on the facts, a person can rely on what is reality and what is not.

Many people try to get rid of their anxieties and fears without taking into consideration why they are afraid. As a layman, I learned that the best way to get rid of your fears is to find those techniques that will manage the true source of your fears. If you can do this, then you should be able to overcome your fears and anxieties.

About the author:
Stan Popovich is the author of "A Layman's Guide to Managing Fear Using Psychology, Christianity and Non Resistant Methods”-a book that presents a overview of techniques in managing Fear. For more info go to: http://beta.blogger.com/For free articles on managing fear please go to: http://beta.blogger.com/

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CREATING MONEY OUT OF THIN AIR

2006-10-25T04:15:00.001-07:00

Copyright 2005 Wayne McDonald

As my friend Ida says, "Money is Easy." Creating more income or abundance in our lives is that simple, but most of us try to make it harder or more complicated than it is.

The hardest thing about our relationship with money is giving up our idea of what that income is or where it will come from. We must focus on what it CAN BE. For example, most people would argue that they are on a fixed income and there is only so much money they receive each month. Others say their monthly paycheck is XYZ dollars and they don’t want to get a second job.

In the first example above, the person has defined the boundaries of their income and they do not allow the space for other income to flow. In the second example the person has defined a limited channel of how and where the money is to appear. To create more money out of thin air we must be willing to let go of our limited thinking, remove the boundaries around our abundance and stop outlining how it is to appear in our life.

You’ll notice that I am interchanging the word money, income and abundance. The first step of creating money is recognizing that money is abundance. I know you can create more abundance in your life. Sometimes that abundance appears as money that you can spend. Sometimes abundance is someone taking you to lunch or getting an unexpected rebate or discount on a purchase you made.

The following rules will help you expand your thinking and break down any boundaries that you have about money or abundance.

RULE#1

Money is energy. It follows the Laws of Nature and like the tides of the ocean it has a natural rhythm of flowing in and out. When we allow money to flow to us and not restrict or define how it is to come to us then we become the masters of abundance. We restrict the flow of abundance when we do not allow someone to take us out to lunch… "Oh no, you shouldn’t pay for lunch." We restrict the flow of abundance when we don’t pick-up the penny that we find on the street. You ask the Universe for more abundance and it is given to you at your feet but it is beneath you to pick-up change that you find lying on the ground. [Note: When I started to pick-up money on the street the denomination and amount increased!] Or we restrict the flow of abundance with limited thinking. Every time you say I only earn XYZ dollars you are defining a boundary and limiting more abundance to flow.

RULE#2

Money is impersonal. Money is not good or evil. It has no values or beliefs except what we put on it. Money does NOT care who you are or what your background is or what your past family history was. This follows Rule#1 because money is energy and only that. It can be used for any purpose that we want. Money can be used to help people and it can be used to harm people. But how we use it or what we think about money does not change the nature of money, which is energy.

RULE#3

Money is unlimited. When we understand Rules One and Two, then money or abundance can freely flow to us as much as we will allow it. For example, in this past year there have been several natural disasters where thousands of people have lost their homes and needed help to rebuild their lives. People rallied together to help those displaced and said we need XYZ dollars. Within hours, millions of dollars poured in from all sources. Imagine and KNOW that you too can do the same. Create the need, open the energy and let the Universe provide all the good into your life.

OPENING THE FLOW

I know you can create more abundance in your life because your Being is Energy and Money is Energy. The first step is developing a relationship with money. Each night before you go to bed write in your journal at least ten things that you are grateful for. Recognize, write and give thanks for all the monies that you have. Give thanks for that person that took you out to lunch. Give thanks for Spirit, God or Universe for the money that you found on the street. Give thanks for that person that smiled at you on the bus. This simple exercise takes only ten or fifteen minutes to do. Give yourself permission to try this and see what opens and flows into your life. If you forget to write in your journal for a couple of days or week, take notice how the flow may have slowed up or stopped. Pick-up the pen and start writing again in your journal and develop a habit.

YOUR JOURNAL

As you develop this new fun habit you can begin creating new sources of income to appear. TRUST ME THIS WORKS. I found $640 in cash on the street last year! You can create what you want to appear in the future, but always write in the present tense. Remember NOT to create boundaries and remember NOT to define the outcome.

Here are examples of phrases you can write in your journal even BEFORE they appear:

I give thanks for all the unlimited income that flows in my life.
I give thanks for my new job that is financially rewarding and is a short drive from home.
I give thanks for all the monies I have.
I give thanks for the overflowing financial abundance in my life.
I am grateful to receive abundance and all the good in my life.
I am grateful for my all paid vacation to Hawaii.
I give thanks for the opportunity to be open to receive all the good in my life.
I am grateful for my health.
I am grateful for my wonderful body that functions healthy and perfectly.
I am healthy whole and complete
I am grateful for right and perfect health.
I am grateful for all the relationships in my life.

Creating more income or abundance in our life is easy. Let go of boundaries and limiting thoughts and allow all the good to flow into your life. Soon you will be telling others how to create money out of thin air. Namaste

About the author:
Wayne McDonald is a licensed Life Practitioner and a Public Speaker. Are you ready to make a shift in your Relationships, Finances, Business, Health, Life purpose and Happiness, Love and Joy? To learn more visit http://beta.blogger.com/

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LEARN HOW TO RELAX, THEN DO IT

2006-10-25T04:08:00.000-07:00

Copyright 2005 Daniel Sitter

Go,go,go. That is the pace of the world we live in. A century ago, life was less complex, more restful, operating at a much slower pace and certainly more peaceful. Today, prescriptions for dealing with depression, anxiety, stress and other similar ailments are at record highs. The need for these medicines did not even exist just a short while ago. What has happened to us? When our operating pace begins to infringe on our health, we need to learn how to step back and evaluate the road we are on before it is too late.

God rested on the seventh day. Obviously, God set an example that we should all observe as well. Do you feel that you may know something that He doesn't? Then why don't we rest, and take time to relax? Often it is while in the state of relaxation that we come up with our greatest thoughts, ideas, inventions and solutions to problems. I have noticed this on many occasions, especially while sleeping. I'll wake up and realize that my subconscious mind has been examining a certain problem while I slept and provided me with the solution when I awakened!

Often, we tend to think that we are too busy to take time for fun and relaxation. I submit that we need this time and that without it; we will ultimately reach a point of diminishing returns and simply burn out. As human beings, we are social creatures. We were designed for interaction with each other. We compete, cooperate, socialize, interact and love because we were designed to do so. If we work 60 – 70 hours per week, eliminating the weekend break and skipping vacations, we do not allow ourselves the necessary recharge that proper sleep, nutrition, relaxation, vacations and other personal time considerations afford us. Relaxation is not just for fun, it is necessary. If you don't believe that, you are simply kidding yourself and it will catch up with you sooner or later. You will soon become a person dependent upon sleep aids, gastro-intestinal and anxiety medicines, Excedrin and possible depression management drugs. Is that not too high a price for busy-ness?

Step back. Look at where you are. What is the cost of your current lifestyle? Is it a fair trade for those things that you do not possess? Have you sacrificed your health or your family for the sake of your career? No one, while lying on their death bed, would ever want to leave this world worrying about work or some aspect of their job. Most people would lament over the time that they squandered, the loved ones they ignored and the life that they might have had.

The good news is that it is not too late! It is never too late to change. Start right now. Put things in their proper perspective and prioritize the time you have available to you. Make proper time for sleep, as this rejuvenates you each day. When you work, work hard. Pour yourself in and maximize your output. At the end of the day, make your plan for the next day and then turn it off. Find something that you can get lost in, whether it is a sport, a cause, a leisure activity or activities and with equal passion as for work. Play hard too. Enjoy yourself and learn to relax. Make time for family and friends. Enjoy life. I suspect that these changes will make you even more productive when you work! It is a win-win for you.

About the author:
Daniel Sitter, author of the popular, award-winning e-book, Learning For Profit, teaches simple, valuable, step-by-step accelerated learning skills. Mr. Sitter has extensive experience in sales, training, marketing and personal development over a 25 year career. http://beta.blogger.com/

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THE NEXT 3 SECRETS TO BOOSTING YOUR CREATIVITY

2006-10-25T03:30:00.000-07:00

Copyright 2005 Inez Ng

Last month I gave you my first three secrets to how I boosted my own creativity. I hope you have been taking full advantage of the information. Now I will reveal three more secrets that will bring your creativity up another notch. Are you ready?

Unlearn your creativity blockers. Our parents and teachers taught us what they thought was good for us and what they thought we needed to succeed. And most of the time, they do a great job. However, we live in a society where conformity is valued, and so in preparing us to succeed here, they also imparted lessons that block our creative spirits. So, if you want to boost your creativity, it’s time to unlearn some of these.

1. It’s good to be practical and sensible

Starting from early childhood, most of us have been trained to be sensible and practical. Now it is time to unlearn some of these lessons, especially if you want to become freer in your creativity. When you are working on coming up with a creative new idea, or a creative solution to a problem, you must suspend whatever judgment you have been programmed to make regarding the practicality of the idea until much later. A corollary to this point is to also ignore judgments of others while you are in the process of creating.

Do you wonder if people questioned Edison’s sanity when he started working on the light bulb? What do you think would have happened if Edison paid attention to what others were telling him? I am convinced that Edison himself at times doubted the practicality of his idea. But he didn’t give in to that judgment, and because of that, we are not still sitting here reading by candlelight.

You don’t have to boost your creativity to the level of Edison’s. However, I would not be the least bit surprised if you’ve had some pretty darn good ideas in the past you dropped because you felt they were impractical. Start giving these ideas some time to incubate and see what happens.

2. Be serious and productive

In his book, Roger Von Oech wrote: “If necessity is the mother of invention, play is the father. Use it to fertilize your thinking.” Obviously then, the advice is to allow yourself to play with ideas.

Did you think you were more creative when you were a kid? I certainly thought that of myself. Recall the wonderful games and stories you came up with while playing with friends when you allowed your imagination to run free? It wasn’t hard to be creative then, was it?

I am not a computer game fan, but I have seen examples of some of them, and I believe the images in these games are definitely some of the most creative designs I have ever seen. There is just something about play that sparks our creativity. So, let yourself play with ideas and problems. Don’t ignore the fact that some of the most inventive ideas came from playing around with something and adapting it to a new application. So, take my advice, and spend time playing. You can be serious later.

3. Follow the rules

I am not advocating that you abandon all protocol and act irresponsibly. However, our training to automatically follow rules all the time is detrimental to the creative process.

Have you ever considered that most rules are made up in the first place and that the situation and conditions might have changed so much that certain rules don’t apply anymore? Question your assumptions and the rules you unconsciously apply to your situation and/or challenges and see what happens to your thinking.

What rules did Dell break? What about Google? If the leaders at these companies stuck with the old rules of business, would they be as successful today? So, don’t worry about breaking a few rules when you are focusing on creating something new and exciting.

This installment is focusing on unlearning lessons that block our creativity. I have one more installment in this series where I will share my last three secrets. Stay tuned. In the meantime, be silly, play and break a few rules.

About the author:
Are your business results suffering due to an ineffective leadership team ? Find out what coaching with Inez Ng can do for your leadership team at http://beta.blogger.com/You can receive helpful articles like this each month by joining her list. Want to know about saving time handling emails? Check out her ebook at http://beta.blogger.com/

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ALCOHOLISM - WHAT SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT IT?

2006-10-25T03:28:00.000-07:00

What is alcoholism?

Alcoholism is a disease that affects the part of the brain that controls your feelings, the way you make decisions, and the way you act. People with alcoholism cannot control how much they drink. What causes alcoholism?

Nobody knows what causes alcoholism. People with parents who have alcoholism have a greater chance of getting the disease. Alcoholism may be related to the things we learn when we are growing up. Alcoholism is not caused by a lack of will power or moral values.

How can I tell if I have alcoholism?

It is not easy to tell if you have alcoholism. You might drink socially at first, but over time the drinking can get out of control. Your family, friends, or doctor might notice it before you do. You might drink to help yourself go to sleep or deal with stress and anxiety. Over time, you need to drink more to feel the same way. As the drinking gets worse, you may have some of the following:

* Stomach ulcers

* Liver disease

* Mood problems, such as depression and irritability

* Trouble sleeping

* Problems with family and friends

* Problems at work.

You might have alcoholism if you have tried to quit drinking but were not able to stop. Alcoholism can make you do things you wouldn't do if you were sober. Some of these things can hurt other people, even the people you love.

Where can I get help for alcoholism?

Your doctor can help you find the right treatment program. You also can check with your health insurance company. Some insurance plans cover alcohol treatment only at certain places.

If you have been a heavy drinker for a long time, do not stop drinking suddenly. This can lead to serious withdrawal symptoms. What is withdrawal?

When you stop drinking, your body might find it hard with no alcohol. You might have some uncomfortable feelings. That is called withdrawal. You might feel anxious and confused or have trouble sleeping. If you get "the shakes" when you don't drink, or if you feel like you need to have a drink early in the day, you might need to take medicine when you stop drinking to help with the withdrawal. This is called detoxification (say:dee-tox-uh-fuh-kay-shun, or "detox," for short).

How can my doctor tell if I need detoxification?

Your doctor will ask you questions to see if you need to take medicine to stop drinking. It is important to be honest with your doctor about how much you drink and the kinds of drugs you take.

Can detoxification be done at home?

Yes, but only with close supervision from your doctor. You will need to have another person at home to help you take your medicine. If you have serious withdrawal symptoms or other medical problems, you might have to go to a hospital for detoxification. Tell your doctor if you had a seizure or got delirious when you tried to stop drinking before.

What happens after detoxification?

Detoxification is not enough to treat alcoholism. You should have counseling before and after detoxification. Counseling will help keep you from drinking again.

What about Alcoholics Anonymous?

Alcoholics Anonymous, or "A.A.," is a free support group for people with alcoholism. The people in A.A. help each other stay sober. Most communities have A.A. meetings, and most alcohol treatment programs tell their patients to go to these meetings.

Where can I get more information?

Your doctor

This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject.

About the author:
Geoff Hugh http://beta.blogger.com/

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THE MASTER MANIFESTOR!

2006-10-25T03:26:00.001-07:00

I’ve been focusing a lot on manifestation lately after I read Neil Millar’s soon to be published book From Man To God. What I discovered is that I’m already a master of manifestation - as are you!

Let me explain.

We are all manifestors. We can't help it. By your very nature you manifest. For us not to manifest, it would be like a blade of grass not growing. ‘But’ you might say ‘I haven’t manifested all the money I want or the big house that I want or the fantastic relationship I want’. If this is true then there is a reason for this.
The key is in your thoughts and your feelings. They manifest exactly.

Let me give you a couple of examples. Loosing a few pounds in weight is an issue close to a lot of our hearts. You might say to yourself ‘I want to be 9 stone’. That’s when other thoughts kick in. ‘I’m 10 stone and it’s so difficult and I’ve tried lots of times before and I’m going to find it really difficult to give up chocolate and -.’ Another example is money. If you want money and then a bill comes in and you notice all the things you’d love to buy but can't. Look at the thoughts you’ve had there. They’ve been focusing on the negative: scarcity, lack, the where you are now.

Consider an athlete for a moment. They will see themselves winning, they run the race in their mind over and over. They see themselves up on the 1st place podium and celebrating afterwards. So by the time they actually come to run it their mind has already won the race and it’s the actual experience is familiar to them. They focus their attention on what they intend to create rather than on where they are now.

You and I, are already perfect at manifesting. And if life is not exactly how you want it to be you are most certainly focussing on the wrong things.

Here is something for you to think over.

Think about all you have manifested in your life. Accept things as simply the way they are. You want to avoid any blame, guilt or anything else you don’t want to manifest – after all you now know you get what reflects most of your thoughts and feelings.

Take time now to think about all you have manifested in your life.
Now imagine what you intend to create. Enjoy the feeling of imagining having all you desire. The only other thing to do is to begin to live as though you have it.
Think of some phrases or words you can use like ‘I intend to – ‘ rather than saying what you haven’t yet got.

All that remains is for you to - live it! Of course if you are in debt and intend to have a million I don’t recommend going out and spending lots of money, but imagine you have it all stashed under your mattress or that you’re taking bucket loads of change to the bank to be exchanged into large notes because they are easier to carry!

So I’m off now to make myself a hot drink. To get to the kitchen I imagine I'll have to wade through a million bank notes! Oh what fun!

Jo Ball
Unstoppable Life

About the author:
Jo Ball, (LCA, Dip, NLP). Stop feeling frustrated, disillusioned and unfulfilled with your life. Find clarity and direction through Unstoppable Life. Sign up for the f7ee monthly newsletter for Inspiration, ideas and practical steps – register now at http://beta.blogger.com/

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PATH TO HEALING

2006-10-25T03:24:00.001-07:00

It is within us to explore and draw upon our inner resources to heal. Some wounds are embedded so deeply that no amount of professional expertise can cure, much less heal.

A famous Yale surgeon says that as a surgeon, he cuts into the body, but he can not order the wound to heal. Ultimately, it through our efforts that healing can occur.

The path to healing is a personal choice. It is a path where you choose to piece together the fragments and make it” whole” again. It paves the way to self-discovery, to open the door to your inner self and experience inner harmony. And ultimately, come to meet the child within that has longed for your love, care and attention. The child within that is forgotten, pushed to the background, lurks in the shadows, but waits patiently.

What needs healing?

Childhood trauma:
The imprint of childhood experience is a powerful force. An expectant mother who lives through a stressful situation during pregnancy shares the burden with the unborn child.
Years ago, domestic matters were never discussed openly, especially issues about abuse, violence, neglect, abandonment and other related matters. Today, society is more aware of the potential or actual existence of abuse and violence in the home. Tragic that the innermost and safest sanctuary society depends upon can be the most dangerous.

These are issues that take its toll on the young victims. They grow up with wounds, carry them around like a heavy load on their shoulders. Some never get over their trauma, it turns up at the most unexpected moment to haunt them; yet, there are those who are lucky enough to confront it and use it to propel themselves to a healthier and successful relationships and life itself.

When love is a venom:
How many hearts have known pain all in the name of love. It invades lives from all walks of life, social status, add to that race or creed. No one wants to suffer pain, but it does happen. Healing a broken heart, picking up the pieces of broken hopes and dreams, suffer the betrayal, endure shattered self-image, re-live the haunting nightmares, the violation of one’s innermost being, soul and spirit.
The most traumatic of all is the violation that comes from those who are supposed to provide a nurturing environment to those who are entrusted to their care. All in the guise of love.

Grief
The loss of a loved one can be most devastating. Sometimes one did not have a chance to bid their last farewell. It was all too sudden. Or one passes away after a lingering illness, with the relief that the suffering is over comes the grief of the loss. At one point and time in one’s life, grief is a reality.

Guilt
Wrong turns, wrong choices, wrong decisions. We all take wrong turns, make wrong decisions and choices. This is a human trait that not even the saintliest of the saints has not experienced. We stumble, we fall, but many of us manage to get up and get on with life. The losses incurred at times are life-threatening, or at the cost of financial comfort and security or worst, relationships are threatened, lost or innocently or unconsciously sacrificed.

Wearing guilt on your face, in your heart, in your being invites negative vibrations and digs you deeper into the mire. Take a look at those sad eyes, the window of the soul, and you’ll know. However, this is not a dead-end!

Unfulfilled dreams and hopes
Live your dream,ride on the wings of hope; this will not always work out. One day you wake up and realize your dream never materialized and languish over the many years you spent trying to pursue that dream! In the meantime, time, opportunities and life passed you by. Hope can lead to disappointment- realize this. When all hopes are dashed, what have you got?

Path to healing:
Healing is a complex matter.
Who has never felt the pains of suffering, be it physical, mental, emotional, material and spiritual. Even our dear Mother Earth is in desperate need of healing from the abuse inflicted upon her through man’s recklessness, negligence and lack of respect.

There are avenues open to healing. One may choose to spend time with a professional, seek comfort from related groups, but always, healing has to start with one.

It is important to acknowledge the pain, to recognize the cause, to be able to integrate the fragmented pieces and be willing to take it to the next step to be “whole”again.

Healing extends beyond the physical state- when one hurts deeply, the spirit; the soul also bears the pain. It is a pain that comes in hauntingly in the dark of the night, it fills a once loving heart with venom, it could ravage a once healthy mind and body beneath a once beautiful and graceful soul is the mask of vengeance.

Blocks to healing:

But, sometimes, the path to healing is full of potholes. Indeed, the path is covered with blocks, where healing can not be accomplished, it almost out of reach. Impediments on the path:denial, apathy, self-absorption and self-indulgence, addiction, putting up walls and barriers, busy-bee syndrome, compartmentalizing, isolation, withdrawal from society, cynicism, loss of faith, trust and compassion, self-pity, poor –me syndrome, anger, fear of getting hurt again, martyr complex, neurosis or psychosis, aggressive/ oppressive, confrontational, guilt complex, resignation

Disclaimer:
Sometimes, we hurt those we love most deeply; likewise, we bear the pain they cause. This is a personal essay, it does not in any way deny the importance of seeking professional help when indicated. However, it is acknowledged that one must want to heal, must understand what needs healing, must be willing to accept the need to heal - all the expert advise and professional help can not be effective otherwise.

About the author:
Bonnie Moss pursues her dream of writing and other interests in her retirement. She offers inspirational topics on spirituality and a variety of inspirational subjects.
Visit her website: http://beta.blogger.com/

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7 WAYS TO SOOTHE YOUR SHYNESS

2006-10-25T03:22:00.001-07:00

Copyright 2005 Uncommon Knowledge Ltd

Shy people instinctively know that they are missing out. Shyness equals lost opportunities, less pleasure and fewer social connections. Shyness can be crippling but there are tried and tested ways to make it a thing of the past.

When I was fifteen I was shy. I recall an attractive girl attempting to engage me in conversation. My shyness made me focus on me instead of her. I heard my own voice but not hers and I thought about what I was trying to say instead of what she was trying to say.

The formula for shyness is "too much focus on the self" plus anxiety. To make it even more unpleasant, sometimes when you are feeling shy you experience physical sensations which ‘hijack’ your calm logical self.

My pulse raced, my mouth dried up and I felt like the village idiot! I couldn’t think what to say so I said nothing apart from making barely audible grunting noises! Cary Grant eat your heart out! When I detected pity in her eyes (or was it contempt, or boredom) I mumbled my excuse and got out of there. I hated being shy and was determined to change it.

How shyness is developed and maintained

Shyness really is a combination of social anxiety and social conditioning. To overcome shyness you need to learn to relax socially. This enables you to direct your attention away from yourself and gives you the space to practice certain conversational skills. In most cases, the heightened emotions of socializing when young simply condition the sufferer to respond to social events with fear, instead of excitement and pleasure.

Relaxed socializing is so pleasurable, not to say productive, but it is an advantage denied to many until they learn to relax. To start reducing your own shyness, I want you to absorb the following tips and ideas and start to put them into practice:

1) Think about the way you feel and behave around familiar people you are comfortable and spontaneous around. It’s that feeling transferred to new people and situations that equates to your emerging social confidence.

2) Focus your attention away from yourself. Sure, you can think a little bit about how you are coming across, but if all your focus is on your own words and feelings then you might as well be by yourself. Notice what other people are wearing and make a mental note, listen to their conversation, imagine where they might live, make a point of remembering names. Not only does this give you more to talk about, it also ‘dilutes’ social anxiety leaving you feeling calmer.

3) Ask people open questions. Many people like to talk about themselves and will find you interesting if you find them interesting. Ask questions that require more than a ‘yes’/’no’ response such as ‘What do you like about this place?’ rather than: ‘Do you like this place?’ Once they’ve answered use ‘add-on’ questions connected to the first such as: ‘What other places do you like in this city…?’ Next you can express your views. This is a great way to get the conversation going. If the conversation doesn’t ‘take’ then no matter, you’ve done your bit.

4) Stop trusting your imagination so much! Have you ever had an imaginary picture in your mind of a holiday destination only to arrive and find the reality is different from the way you had imagined? That’s how reliable imagination is. Stop imagining what others think. I do lots of public speaking and I’ve long since stopped trying to second guess what others think of me - it's just too painful. Besides, what a person thinks about you has a lot more to do with who they are than who you are.

5) Stop using ‘all or nothing’ thinking. The ‘completely this/completely that’ style of thought occurs when you are emotional. People who are depressed, angry or anxious see reality in terms of differing extremes, simplistic all or nothing terms. An angry person is ‘right’ and you are ‘wrong’; the depressed person feels like a ‘failure’ while others are a ‘success’. In reality, life is composed of infinite gray areas. So stop fearing that you might say the ‘wrong’ thing! Or that people will ‘hate’ you. Once you start to relax more socially you’ll notice much less black or white thinking because anxiety actually causes you to think in all or nothing terms.

6) Take your time. You don’t have to blurt things out. Ask questions and if questions are asked of you can take time to consider your response (within reason). Don’t just blurt out what you think might be the ‘right’ answer. A slow answer is a relaxed answer.

7) Finally, use hypnotic rehearsal. Hypnosis is the quickest way to change your instinctive/emotional response to any situation. Only think about meeting others when your mind and body is relaxed. This conditions you to associate relaxation with being around new people. In fact you’ll find that when you relax deeply enough often enough whilst hypnotically rehearsing being comfortable around others you’ll reach the point where you just can’t be shy any more! This is what I call a ‘happy inability!’

I now love meeting new people and suspect that my current social confidence would be unrecognizable to my fifteen year old self.

About the author:
Former 'shy guy' Mark Tyrrell is Creative Director of Uncommon Knowledge Ltd and regularly demonstrates his lack of shyness to audiences of hundreds. He teaches people how to use hypnosis and sensible psychology to lower anxiety and improve confidence. He has helped create a hypnosis session so that others can overcome shyness as he did: http://www.hypnosisdownloads.com/downloads/self_improvement/overcoming_shyness.html

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SUCCESS IS SIMPLY KNOWING WHAT YOU WANT

2006-10-25T03:15:00.001-07:00

In a world that has become a borderless arena of opportunities and inestimable possibilities, there seems to be no better time or era to be alive than today. The Millennials (born 1982-2000) is posed to gain a better quality of life than all previous generations, yet also faced with even greater challenges and tough competition. You should equip yourselves with all the skills you need, should begin to learn how to harness and channel your youthful energy into identifying your self-potentials.

The secret to success, without a passion for what you do, will remain a secret! What one person or another achieves depends largely on personal enthusiasm and motivation rather than abilities. As such, the profound differences between successful people and others are the goals they choose to pursue with persistence and consistency. And a big contrast between a job and a career is that, the former is something you do for money, while the latter is something based on your inner drive and motivation. You want to do it, you are excited when you do it, and you love to do it. You do it simply because it is your harmony with your core values and your goals.

“When a group of artists – Degas, Pissarro, Monet, Cezanne and Renoir – were rejected by the establishment of their time, these five great masters of all the time formed their team and continue to do what they believed in, to the ridicule of critics. Everyone told Renoir to give up painting because he had no talent. A Parisian expert looked over Reinor’s paintings and sneered: “You are, I presume, dabbling in paint to amuse yourself.” And Renoir replied: “Of course, when it ceases it amuse me, I will stop painting.”

In Renoir’s later life he suffered from advanced rheumatism, particularly in his hands. When Matisse stopped by to see the aging painter, he noticed that every brush stroke was causing Renoir great pain. And Matisse asked: “Why is it that you still have to work? Why do you continue to push yourself?” And Renoir answered: “The pain passes, but the pleasure, the creation of beauty, remains.”

I felt the need to re-emphasize three vital subjects on professional development which, when spiced with passion, will unleash the potentials within, allow success in any endeavor, and uncovers the secret of your passion (what you want) and reveal your passion.. These are Attitude, Effective Communication and Leadership.

I am…I can…I will!! Attitude is everything!

We are responsible only for how we choose to think and behave. Attitude is the way we view our lives – out experiences, our environment, our opportunities, our problems, our choices and our responses. The big difference between common people and those who are uncommonly successful is their attitude – whether positive or negative.

To develop a Positive Mental Attitude, you must:

1. ACCEPT YOURSELF as a masterpiece
2. TALK POSITIVELY about yourself, your abilities… and others, too.
3. THINK GREAT on what tomorrow has to offer
4. INVOLVE YOURSELF only with positive people and events
5. TREAT FAILURE as an opportunity to succeed
6. UNLEASH your energy in everything you do
7. DEVELOP YOURSELF and grow up.
8. END EACH DAY with THANKSGIVING and PRAISE

“What lies before us and what lies behind us doesn’t in the least compare to what lies within us.”

Value your words! Effective communication is a key!

Communication is an art. Whether one-on-one or one-on many, the key it to present your ideas with the end of achieving your desired results – better understanding, a call to action, entertainment, motivation, solutions, etc. Good communication, always, is a product of good listening. The more you listen, the better you learn, and the more you know, the better you respond.

Public speaking and presentation is something that most people would rather void. However, anyone can harness this potential and overcome the fear to speak in front of a large audience by learning to appreciate the various methods techniques of delivery. Good speech delivery employs the elements of gestures, body movement, eye contact, facial expression and vocal variety.

In any talk or presentation, one must consider the importance of preparation, research and organization of the following factors:

1. PRESENTOR – appropriate appearance, mood, condition, enthusiasm
2. RESOURCES – venue, visuals, props, sounds, people, structure
3. EVENT – significance of the occasion, program system, flow
4. SUBJECT – main focus of talk, discussion, theme of the event
5. EXAMPLES – applicable stories, anecdotes, experience, news, demos
6. NEED – value of the talk to the audience, benefit of knowing
7. TIME – allocated duration of talk, arrival at the venue
8. AUDIENCE – type, age bracket, quantity, emotions, discipline
9. TREND – relevance of talk to current situation, fashion, past experiences
10. IMPACT – opening statements, style, punch lines, humor, gestures
11. OBJECTIVE – purpose of talk, to inform, to sell, to ask, entertain
12. NET EFFECT – result, call to action, feedback, resolution

“As we talk, remember always: we may have the right premises, but let us be careful in arriving at the wrong conclusions!”

Take the lead! Leaders are made…not born!

Even in this age of electronics and communication technology, leadership is the vital ingredient to success in any organized unit, be it a large corporation or a small entity. I have always looked upon military leadership as the ultimate training for anyone wanting to accomplish any objective as well as looking after the welfare of his men.

The following principles have proven effective in developing your potentials as a leader:
1. LEARN to be technically and tactically proficient
2. EMPLOY YOUR MEN in accordance with their capabilities
3. ALWAYS KNOW YOURSELF and seek self-improvement
4. DEVELOP SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY among your subordinates
5. ENSURE ASSIGNED TASKS are understood, supervised, accomplished
6. RECOGNIZE YOUR MEN and look after their welfare
7. SET THE EXAMPLE and keep men informed
8. HANDLE AND TRAIN your men to work as a team
9. INITIATE AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY for all your actions
10. POSITIVELY MAKE SOUND and timely decisions

“As a leader, to achieve something that you’ve never had, you must do something that you’ve never done!”

Finally, after knowing the three vital subjects to professional development that tells you that SUCCESS IS KNOWING WHAT YOU WANT, you may now strive always to be the best that you can be. And remember always: The highest reward for a man’s toil is not what he gets for it, but rather, what he becomes by it!

About the author:
Daegan Smith is the leader of the fastest growing team of successful
home business entrepreneurs on the net. Find out how we're creating
financial freedom all across the globe and how to get in on the action FREE => http://beta.blogger.com/

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5 REASONS TO NOT LET DEPRESSION CONTROL YOU ANYMORE

2006-10-25T01:28:00.002-07:00

Family – It can be very vexing to loved one’s when you are depressed. On one hand they want nothing but the best for you, but on the other they sometimes get frustrated and wonder why you can’t simply snap out of it. It can be particularly hard on children of someone with depression as it may affect their outlook on life for many years to come. Having experienced this myself, I can say definitely this the number one reason to fight your depression.

Work - Work life generally suffers when in the throws of depression. It is more difficult to concentrate and not as easy to create and maintain good professional working relationships and partnerships. Furthermore, it makes being a “Self-starter” more unlikely. Rather than moving forward, maintaining the status-quo becomes more acceptable, even if only unconsciously.

Love – The love life of a person with depression can suffer tremendously. Regardless of How much someone may profess their dedication to another person, if the other person can never see the bright side, it can wear on them. Life is short, right? Love conquers A WHOLE LOT, but it doesn’t conquer everything. Sometimes we must add internal fortitude to love to truly be invincible. Besides isn’t it better to fight, not just for you, but for this person that you love as well?

Health – University studies have proven that people who are depressed are more likely to get sick, and more likely to die of an illness than those who are content. It is in your benefit, health wise, to fight your depression as well. A recent New York Times article, citing a University study, indicated that persons who have been diagnosed as depressed have more hospital visits, and a shorter lifespan.

Prosperity – The depressed person sometimes lacks clarity of thought, and may miss golden opportunities to improve their lives if only they had been paying attention. This may be, perhaps, the most important point, since many people believe they would be happier if only this part of their life, or that part of their life, etc was different. Allowing good things to happen in your life might just give you the jump start needed to end the cycle of depression and self imposed-isolation( even if only figuratively ).

Fighting depression can help your life in many ways. In some ways, the fight in itself is also a reward. You become stronger, do better at work, have better relationships, and can focus on what is really important in life so that you can improve it, for yourself, your family, friends, and loved ones.

About the author:
Adrian Calvin is co-founder of kertera.com A mental health forum for people to discuss depression, stress, anxiety and more. If you would like to visit, then type http://beta.blogger.com/in your web browser.

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2006-10-25T01:28:00.001-07:00

Who Is Deciding How You Will React To Your Feelings?

Copyright 2005 John Halderman

Are your emotional reactions automatic or on purpose?

Are you frustrated with how you continue to react the same way every time a specific situation or feeling comes up? Have you desired less stress and anxiety in your life, and more pleasure and happiness?

If you had a choice, would you choose anger, resentment, fear, worry, and jealousy to be a consistent part of your life? More likely, I think you want more happiness, joy, fulfillment, understanding, and love to be present.

Well, you can choose, you can change yourself one small step at a time in all areas of your life if you choose to. Your personal growth is up to you; you can cease allowing your automatic reactions to guide your life.

You can react to your feelings any way that you want?

CHANGING HOW YOU REACT TO A FEELING Just because you have reacted in a certain way does not mean you must continue to do so. You can actually change your reaction any time you choose.

We all react to the specific feelings that come up when something occurs. And how we react is based on how we perceive the occurrence. If you can change the way you perceive something, you change your reaction to it. And changing your reaction will alter the outcome of your feelings and actions.

NOTICE, ASSES AND CHANGE The first thing is to just notice how you are reacting to a given feeling. This may seem difficult at first, as most likely you are accustomed to living on auto-pilot, allowing whatever thoughts come up, to rule the moment.

You can start by thinking about your reaction after the fact, then gradually as you become more aware of this, you will notice while you are reacting. After awhile, as you become more aware, you will find that you can easily notice your reactions right as they are coming up. Then you will be able to quickly analyze how you would prefer to react and do so.

This can take time, as your habitual reactions will want to slip in as they always have. With persistence and determination you can take command of your reactions.

VALUES AND DESIRED LIFE Look at your personal values when deciding how you would rather react. What reaction would better serve the values you want to live by? How would you rather behave in certain situations? Could you reduce negative effects and increase the more desirable?

If your present reaction is one of anger, is anger what you want in your life, or would there be another reaction more in line with how you want to live your life? You can change much of what your experience in life by changing your perceptions

THIS IS CHANGE You can eliminate the experience and results of your anger if you choose not to allow anger to be a part of your reaction in a given situation. Getting command of your thinking and choosing to direct it how you want, will gradually bring more of what you want into your life. You will open yourself to a new life with every reaction you alter to more align with how you desire to be.

You don't need to continuously be subject to undesirable automatic reactions that are not beneficial to you. Start noticing your reactions, and see them as something that can be changed. Determine what you DO want in your life. Search within yourself for what you DO want your life to include. What are your values, your purpose, and your mission?

"Our reactions to our feelings are our passport to rebirth." - Ayya Khema, "Being Nobody, Going Nowhere"

About the author:
John Halderman is a writer, speaker, and trainer intent on helping people with getting real results from their personal growth efforts. He supports methods, tools, and knowledge that bridge the gap between information and effective results. For self-improvement tools, tips and resources to assist you with living an effective, satisfying life. Get the newsletter “Effective Personal Development”, along with the special 5 part series “Continuous Personal Development”. Click Here =>

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TOP 5 WAYS TO STAY CALM AND REDUCE STRESS THROUGHOUT THE DAY

2006-10-25T01:24:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for more calm satisfying experience with you daily life?

Do you get frustrated with yourself at the end of the day because you've gotten stressed, unfocused or agitated? Are you tired of getting over emotional and worn out.

Whether you are experiencing one or all of these feelings here are my 5 best tips on reducing the unwanted feelings so that you will feel calm and satisfied with yourself each day.

1. Catch yourself when you exhibit a feeling of behavior that you don't like and change it.

At first you may not notice the feeling until after you have gone through it, that's fine.

Think about how you would rather have felt.

Think about how you would rather have handled yourself.

Decide how you want to do it next time.

As you continue with this process each day you will find that you will notice more easily what you are doing throughout the day.

You will begin to catch yourself earlier and earlier as you do this.

Eventually, you will be seeing yourself while you are doing it, then stop yourself.

At some point you will be able to notice before you even begin to feel and react in the undesirable way.

Here is where you will actually begin to change the way you react to the situations in your life and change your behavior.

2. Stay centered all day by refocusing throughout the day.

Develop the habit of paying attention to your mindset as the day goes on.

Several times a day, step away from what you are doing to get re-centered.

Sit down close your eyes and take several long slow deep breaths while imagining the tension washing slowly out of your body.

Notice your breathing getting slower and calmer.

Just think about your breath.

Try to keep from thinking about anything in particular.

It's OK to not be actively thinking for a while!

3. Watch out for your expectations.

You are setting yourself up for failure, upset and frustration when you set too many standards as to how you think things should be.

Think about what leads you to getting upset?

Why does it set you?

Notice that you decide how many things should be, based on your own outlook and desire.

The things others do that are not to your liking as well as the things you do that don't match your expectations.

Ask yourself, really how important is it that they be exactly that way? Ask, who am I to insist that they are that way?

Does it matter that much?

Is it worth getting myself worked up about?

Choose what expectations are really important for you to hold on to and which ones not too.

Holding on to too many just complicates your life, with constant judgment.

Simplify your life and reduce the stress!

4. Delegate.

This applies to your personal life as well as at work.

Most of us think of delegating as a workplace skill, but it can apply personally as well.

We are all very busy these days with our activities and duties.

Trying to fit it all in and get it all accomplished can lead to tension.

For various reasons, many of us have developed the habit thinking we must do it all ourselves. Take a look at your situation.

Think about it, really, how important is it that everything must be done perfectly to your standards?

Are you sure there are not other people who can assist you?

Are the other people in your life pulling their weight?

Many times we get into habit ruts that don't need to be as they are.

Look at what has been with the eye of reducing the pressure on yourself.

5. Accept other people as one.

As you think of yourself as different and separate from the rest of mankind, you unknowingly create thinking and behavior that separates you from others.

This kind of separate thinking leads us to think we are superior to others, which leads to judgment and selfish thinking and behavior.

We then are having an internal battle with all others, which brings on fear, competition and comparison.

Look to discovering how to see yourself as one with all of mankind, not as separate.

Focus on what we all have in common rather that the relatively small uniqueness.

In conclusion-

Pay attention to what you are involved with, how you perceive things, how you react and what you feel about them.

If you actively seek to make small adjustments in your life to reduce irritation and stress you will find yourself living with more happiness and joy.

About the author:
John Halderman is a writer, speaker and trainer, dedicated to helping people with getting real results with their personal development efforts.
And finally now! Get effective personal development tools, tips and information to assist you with living an effective satisfying life.
Get a FREE copy of "Effective Personal Development" newsletter now.
Click Here = http://beta.blogger.com/

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THE POWER OF CONCENTRATION

2006-10-25T01:19:00.000-07:00

If you had the power of concentration whenever you wanted it, imagine how much more productive you could be. Good news! Not only can learn how to concentrate better, but you can do so right now.

Concentration Power Is Automatic

Start working on something, and concentration is automatic, until you are distracted. Usually these interruptions are your own thoughts, and they may come every few seconds. If there was nothing interfering, you would have easy and complete concentration. What you need is a method to remove the distractions, to control your wandering mind.

Here it is: Start paying attention to what is going on in your head. Maybe there's a phone call you need to make, that has been quietly bothering you, just below consciousness. You could be worried about an upcoming meeting, or a family matter. Start tuning into your mind today, and it will become easier by tomorrow.

Then, as you become aware of these stressors, do something with them to let them go for the moment. Make that phone call, or make a note about it, and your mind will usually let go of the concern for now. Do whatever you can quickly do to let these "mind irritation" go. Sometimes just telling yourself something like, "There is nothing I can do about this problem until Friday," will stop unconscious worrying.

Do this exercise a few times, and you'll find it becomes easier to recognise what is just below the surface, irritating you and sapping your power of concentration. Set these mind irritations aside, and you will think more clearly.

Why Concentration?

Another simple technique is to honestly ask why you want to concentrate. Concentration is difficult if you're bored. A cure for this is to stop and consider why it's important, if it is. Answer the question, and visualize the benefits clearly, and it will be easier to focus your mind.

Obvious Distractions

I have read that Stephen King writes with loud music on. What distracts each of us, or doesn't, is obviously personal and somewhat unique. Do something about whatever it is that takes your mind away from the task at hand. Turn off the TV, feed your empty stomach, or turn your desk away from the window.

When you take care of the external and the internal distractions, you'll be able to focus your attention and brain power like a spotlight. Watch a child building a sand castle sometime, and you'll see that the power of concentration really is natural.

About the author:
Steve Gillman has been studying brainpower enhancement, creative problem solving, and related topics for years. Subscribe to his free Creative Problem Solving Course, and get a free gift at: http://beta.blogger.com/

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HOW TO IMPROVE BRAIN FUNCTION

2006-10-25T01:16:00.000-07:00

How to improve brain function? Start with a few questions.

Is problem solving easy for you? Do you learn new things quickly? Can you improve your brain function? Your answers to these questions will have an effect on your brain function, because brainpower and psychology are intimately connected.

Brain Function and Expectation

1. A friend spent his childhood with wealthy kids and their families. He now makes more money than most of us. Coincidence? Did rich friends give him money? Did they help him in business? No to all three questions. He just grew up with an expectation of a certain level of income. His mind will always push him to take actions towards that level.

2. The book said there was a checkmate in four moves, so I looked until I found it. I used to think those elegant solutions to chess puzzles were very rare in real games. I eventually realized they are there, but that without the expectation of finding them, I settled for less worthy moves. Now I find the elegant moves more often.

Do you see how expectation and belief expands or limits your mind and your life? Now, to apply this to better brain function, you need to adjust your expectation and unconscious beliefs about your brainpower.

What you think certainly affects what you accomplish. Believe you can improve your brain function, and you are far more likely to do what's necessary to get that result. So how do you adopt the most useful beliefs and expectations?

Okay, don't worry. I won't tell you to stand in front of a mirror making positive affirmations. I have an easier way.

Affirmation or Evidence?

Try this experiment: Watch for polite drivers for two days, making a mental note to yourself each time you see one. Notice the polite ones, ignoring the rest. By the way, this will change your experience of driving in a positive way. Then watch for rude drivers for two days, and you'll see them all over.

Do the exercise above, and you'll understand that you experience the world not just according to what is there, What you pay attention to is the more important part of your experience. Ready to apply this to your thinking process?

Notice your success. When you learn something new, make a mental note, or write it down even. Point out your problem-solving successes, and you'll have more of them. When you're thinking clearly and effectively, tell yourself, "Look at that brain go!"

Go ahead and make those affirming statements, but why not make them when you are looking at the evidence? Evidence is more convincing than affirmation. Watch, and you'll find examples of progress, however large or small. Focus on these, and remember them. You can start doing this right now. That's how to improve brain function.

About the author:
Steve Gillman has been studying brainpower enhancement, creative problem solving, and related topics for years. Subscribe to his free Creative Problem Solving Course, and get a free gift at: http://beta.blogger.com/

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CREATIVE THINKING 101

2006-10-25T01:14:00.001-07:00

Can creative thinking and even spontaneity come from a highly organized approach? Yes! For example, if you watch great comedians closely, you'll see that they have certain habits of mind. Even the most spontaneous ones get better with practice, because they're training their brains to find the humor in situations.

In the same way, you can train yourself for more creative thinking. Just start cultivating the right habits in your mind. Why not start training your brain today, with some simple techniques?

Creative Thinking Techniques

Want the mind of a creative inventor? Start redesigning everything you see. Imagine better cars, faster ways to serve food, or better light bulbs. If you do this every day for three weeks, it will become a habit.

Want to be the person who always has something interesting to say? Train yourself to look at things from other perpectives. What would the Buddha say about this? How would a Martian view it? What's the opposite perspective? The point isn't to ask others silly questions, but to ask yourself, to see what interesting ideas result. Do this until it is a habit, and you'll always have something interesting to add to a conversation.

Want systematic creativity in poetry? Put a word on each of 40 cards; 10 nouns, 10 verbs, 10 adjectives, and 10 random words. Shuffle, deal out four cards, and write a 4-line poem using one of the words in each line. My wife has had poems published that were created with this technique. Your mind will find a poetic use for any word if you use this method often.

Solve Problems Creatively

Maybe you've heard of problem solving techniques such as "attributes listing," and "concept combination." More creative thinking doesn't come from just knowing these techniques, though. You have to use them until they become a part of your habitual thinking process.

Imagine you want to invent a new bicycle. If you've trained your mind in "assumption challenging," you'll automatically begin to ask things like, "Are wheels necessary?" "Does it have to go outside?" What if the "bike" was indoors, and pedaling it ran a video screen? You could "steer" through endless different scenes.

You won't always have great ideas, but you'll have enough ideas to make it more likely that you'll find a useful one. This "spontaneous" creativity will be because of your brain training exercise. Why not start developing those habits of creative thinking?

About the author:
Steve Gillman has been studying brainpower enhancement, creative problem solving, and related topics for years. Subscribe to his free Creative Problem Solving Course, and get a free gift at: http://beta.blogger.com/

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HOW TO MANIFEST REALITY

2006-10-21T19:28:00.000-07:00

Author: Jimmy Roos

AutoResponder: how-to-manifest-reality@i3i.info

So you want to know how to manifest reality, right?Actually you're already doing it. You're creating realityevery second of every minute of every hour of every day.But I suspect you don't like what you are creating.

And you know why? Its because you're creating by default.What do I mean by that. What I mean is this. You'remanifesting reality but are unaware of what, or how you'recreating, so you think you don't know how to manifestreality.

However the thruth is you're already manifesting reality.

You are manifesting what is already in your subconscious.Most of what is stored there is junk, that's why thereality you experience everyday is junk.

It's a question of what you put in, you put out. So wheredoes all the junk come from? Well it comes from your past.

Since the time you were young you have been collecting allkinds of stuff, some good others not so good. Again notconsciously but unconsciously, because you were not awareof it. However the fact of the matter is that yoursubconscious is like a tape recorder.

It records all your experiences irrespective of whether theyare good or bad, and here comes the part that this articleis about. It plays out those experiences in our lives andwe call that manifesting reality.

In other words, the question "how to manifest reality" isanswered right there. The subconscious doesn't discriminatein any way or use any kind of filter.

It records whatever it hears, translate YOU HEAR, it seestranslate YOU SEE, it experiences, translate YOU EXPERIENCE.

So this also explains why you get what you get.

Here's another twist to how to manifest reality. You see,something happens whenever you experience events attractedto you by your subconscious.

What happens is this. The experience bothers you. It bothersyou so much that you find yourself unable to keep yourmind of it. And what happens next is this: that experienceor something similar to it is repeated in your life.

Let me give you an example. Lets say you had a bad childhoodand experienced things like rejection. Now what happens isthat the episode of rejection is recorded in yoursubconscious, meaning that you experience more rejectionwhich is attracted by your subconscious.
So, everytime you're rejected you feel real bad. Youwonder why.

You dwell on it. You become angry and bitter. You blamethose who rejected you. Sometimes you hate them and vowto pay them back.

And you know what? That experience happens again.

Now, I have explained to you how to manifest reality,actually how you manifest reality. But that was morereality by default.

Creating your ideal reality, in other words, the thingsyou want, is a more conscious effort.
It requires that you first gain the awareness that you'reultimately a powerful being and the creator of your reality,whether good or bad.

You need to realize that whatever you see on the outsideis an accurate reflection of what is on the inside. Stopblaming other people, they are just instruments who fulfillthe wishes of your subconscious.

If you want to change your outer reality, you need to changewhat is on the inside.
To create your ideal reality, focus on the things youwant, not on the things you don't want, even if that's whatis happening right now. Because if you don't your currentlyreality will persist.

Tomorrow is created today. So focus on what you want todayand tomorrow you'll have what you want.

That in a nutshell, is how to manifest reality.

Visit http://www.how-to-manifest-your-desires.com/ now andreceive proven manifesting tips and powerful affirmationsfor attracting more abundance and the desires of your heart.Subscribe to the Science of Getting Rich 17 Day emailcourse, by sending an email to tsogr@i3i.info
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HOW TO MANIFEST DREAMS

2006-10-21T19:12:00.000-07:00

Author: Jimmy Roos

AutoResponder: how-to-manifest-dreams@i3i.info

Lets face it, we all have dreams. And we all want to knowhow to manifest dreams. We had dreams since we were young and since that time wewanted to know how to manifest dreams. We lived our dreamsin our imagination. We were brimming with confidence andwere sure that one day we would manifest our dreams.However sadly for most of us, it all ended when we grew up.

Why? Because the world and all its instruments, includingour parents and teachers told us that our dreams are justnot possible. So we gave up on our dreams and followed thepaths that were laid out for us.

Some became doctors, others became teachers and some othersfollowed other professions. However there were those whowere determined to manifest their dreams.

They defied the establishments and followed their passion.They became sports stars, musicians and still others becameartists and actors.

When we look at these people they show us something whichis a key ingredient in learning how to manifest dreams.They all have a passion for what they are doing. They havediscovered what they love and they started doing it andfound that they are actually good at it.

And very soon other people noticed it too and startedsupporting them by wathing their games and movies and buyingtheir music.

There's something else that these people have and that wetoo had when we were young. It is "imagination." Theyimagined their dreams, which is necessary if you want toknow how to manifest dreams.

Imagination is very important for manifesting dreams,because it allows you to experience something before youcan actually have it.

If you want to know how to manifest dreams you mustrealize that all reality starts in the mind. The architectcannot construct a building if he hasn't designed it. Andhe cannot design something if he hasn't seen it in his mind.

Similarly you cannot manifest your dreams if you cannotsee it first. But seeing is not enough. It needs to becometangible. You need to hear it, feel it and touch it.

Next you need to affirm it with emotion in the present orpast tense. That indeed it is so. Another thing that is necessary if you want to know how tomanifest dreams is to listen to yourself and following yourgut. That small voice inside you that may tell you to goleft when everybody shouts, "go right!"

Following your dreams seems daunting, especially if you'resurrounded by negative people. However, if you give upon your dreams you may end your life with regrets.

Isn't it better to see how far you can go. Where you mayend up? In case you're thinking who am I to want to begreat and famous, let me remind you of the famous wordsof Maryanne Williamson. Who are you, not to be brilliant,gorgeous, talented, fabulous?

Now that you know how to manifest dreams, you have noexcuse not to manifest yours.

Visit http://www.how-to-manifest-your-desires.com/ now andreceive proven manifesting tips and powerful affirmationsfor attracting more abundance and the desires of your heart.Subscribe to the Science of Getting Rich 17 Day emailcourse, by sending an email to tsogr@i3i.info
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A CONCISE GUIDE TO DREAM INTERPRETATION

2006-10-21T19:09:00.000-07:00

Author: Sim

Most of us dream. But only a very small percentage of us understands that dreams hold much importance and opportunity for our self growth, improvement and self discovery. But many mystics of both Eastern and Western origins are aware of the fact that dreams hold a wealth of knowledge. Because of its inherently vague nature, dreams and the art of interpreting them never entered mainstream sciences. Jungian psychology is the closest mainstream science that took dreams seriously.

This article is a concise description of the method of dream interpretation that I use. There are several points/guidelines to take note.

1. The dreams are often symbolic representations of what we are experiencing or are about to experience in the near future. I have found that my dreams mostly will convey messages of occurrences that will most likely happen within a month's time.

2. Usually the people that we encounter in the dream symbolize the different aspects/characteristics of ourselves. For example: a woman may represent a feminine aspect of oneself even when one is male in the waking hours. Much of our repressed tendencies also tend to manifest themselves as characters in dreams as well.

Have you ever wondered why we sometimes appear and behave so differently in our dreams.

Well, my take is that dreams offers an outlet for us to be 'somebody else' that we never had the opportunity to be in our waking hours.

3. Often how we feel and the emotion we felt during the dream reveals and conveys much about the meaning of the symbols.

Intuition and the willingness to see examine ourselves with brutal honesty are two very important factors for successful analysis.

Below is a list of commonly encountered symbols. I believe, we should take into account the possibility that the symbols may hold certain semantics and meaning that are specific to individuals.Therefore there are no hard and fast rules.

Common dream symbolism

Water- associated with emotion.

Ocean or any large body of water - often represent the subconscious mind. The state of the sea often is an indication of the emotional state as well

Eating/digesting- Trying to understand the issue/situation

Walking- learning, assimilating

Path, road or pavement- life or spiritual Path/journey

House- Our self. Within the house, the various rooms could represent the various aspects of self.

Snake- knowledge

Tree and forest - subconscious feelings that governs our emotions

Bridge- a transitional phase or period of transformation / change

Below is an example of a dream and its interpretation.

DreamMiss A was visiting a foreign country. She boarded a train that has a stop in a shopping complex and it passed through mountains and terrains. She remembered telling the train driver that she wanted to alight in the shopping centre so that she can find her way home.

Instead of alighting at the intended destination, she alighted at a strange place. She had difficulty getting to her destination. She contacted her partner. Though they communicated, she was still lost in the strange place. In the moment of depression, she woke up from the dream.

Symbolism involvedForeign country- unknown knowledge, new experienceTrain- accelerated learning and understandingThrough mountains and terrains- ups and downsFind the way home- spiritual pathTrain-in-charge – guiding aspectHer partner – male/ mental aspectQueen shopping center station – an intermediate stage that must be attained.
Interpretation

Miss A is currently experiencing and/or learning something that is still unknown to her. It is something that is rather difficult for her to grasp and apply. She is/will be experiencing some feelings of ups and downs. However, if understood the newfound understanding and knowledge could significantly accelerate her self-growth and discovery. However, for the time being, it is something not within her experience yet (as symbolized by alighting at a strange place instead of the designated station). When she tried contacting her male partner (which symbolizes using her mental reasoning), she was still confused and thus became depressed.

Well, that's all for a quick lesson in dream interpretation. I hope it is informative and beneficial.

Happy Dreaming...

The author is a guy living in the Far East. He runs a self-growthresource site at http://www.dreamdatum.com/.He is also the creator of a Dream Interpretation Software called Dream DiaryAssistant.
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A SYSTEM OF SELF-GROWTH AND DISCOVERY

2006-10-21T19:06:00.000-07:00

Author: Sim

This article is a brief description of the spiritual path that I am walking upon.

I think for any path to be feasible there must be certain ways of increasing our understandings and realisations. In my case, I was taught how to interpret dream and meditation symbols. The key main components of my path are :

1. Meditation2. Dreams and vision interpretation.

Many other modalities, act as secondary supports along the journey. But the crux of the path essentially lies in consistent meditation and dream/vision interpretations. It is perhaps possible not to meditate, provided we remain sensitive to incoming-intuitions and other means of receiving insights and self-discoveries. Pendulum reading does play a part in filling some of the roles performed by meditational vision interpretation, but it is certainly not as flexible. This is because the readings that we get from pendulums are limited by the type of charts we use. In another word, visions can have infinite variations, whereas pendulum charts can only give us answers within their range of options.

Additionally, Reiki attunements helped in increasing my sensitivity to energies.

I simply cannot emphasize more on the role dream/vision interpretation plays in self-growth acceleration. It is very effective in deepening our understandings and in transforming ourselves.

Prior to knowing how to interpret dreams, progress was slow for me. Dream interpretation significantly opened up new ways of receiving detailed information essential for my continued self-growth. I don't think there are any hard and fast rules to self-discovery. Living Life itself is the path.

However, I do believe in practice and consistency, if we were to achieve any desirable results. I have been a meditator for many years... It was about 5-6 years ago that I discovered that I am at times receiving visions/images/insights in my mind that educated me about certain things. Often these visions revealed only what was understandable by me at any given moment of my journey. It was at this beginning stage of vision-receiving, that I met a highly Enlightened Teacher who taught me the current method that included dream interpretation. I am truly grateful to that Teacher.

Along my path, there were at times, what appeared to be past-lives feelings surfacing onto my conscious mind. These feelings were mostly traumatic, but realising them allowed me to understand the reason of my present life fears. Because of the potentially shocking and at times unpleasant experiences of past-life emotional re-living, I strongly feel that only one who is focused on progressing spiritually attempt to uncover past life experiences. Past life uncovering must be treated with respect.

Well, this is my system of practice in a nutshell. As you can see, the path is quite flexible in the sense that it is fully integrated into my life experiences and it does not really present itself as a separate endeavour. Also, each individual path will be unique and different from others. This is mainly because, each one of us, have different issues and areas that needed addressing.

I recognise that many different types of path can lead to similarly desirable results. Perhaps, the external expressions of different paths often belies similar dynamics under the differing facade.

The author is a guy living in the Far East. He runs a self-growthresource site at http://www.dreamdatum.com/.He is also the creator of a Dream Interpretation Software called Dream DiaryAssistant.
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JESSICA ALBA'S NUMEROLOGY: IS THERE CHANGE COMING FOR THE DARK ANGEL?

2006-10-21T19:01:00.000-07:00

Author: Keith Abbott

With ten years of film and television acting under her belt, Jessica Alba has become a female action star. From her 'Dark Angel' sci-fi television series, to playing Sue Storm in the 'Fantastic Four', Alba has risen to the top of the action / sci-fi heap. With sequels to both the 'Fantastic Four', and 'Sin City' coming out next year, her short-term success seems assured. The question is will she continue to be a top ten property in Hollywood in the coming years?

As a Numerologist, if I want to see what is in someone's future there are (3) main values that I look at: their Life Cycles, their Letters of Transit and their Personal Year. These numbers give me insight into what's coming up for a person in the next few years. Jessica Alba looks to have a smooth year ahead of her, but change is coming in 2008.

===> Her Life Cycles

Jessica Alba is still in her first Life Cycle, which will run through her 30th birthday in 2011. This cycle calls for a lot of hard work from her. She has to work on the details of her lifestyle, and often feels restricted in her choices during this time. Jessica is receiving many opportunities to build a strong foundation for her career. She does need to make time to relax and play more often. Her life right now is very hectic.

The challenge of this life cycle is a reluctance to enjoy life and have fun. Too much work can make Jessica depressed and frustrated. She needs to find a balance between her career and her home life.

===> Her Transit Letters

Jessica has been under the influence of double 'E' transit letters for some time. These mark a time of flightiness in her life. She has been changing her interest and ideas too often for her own good. She needs to work at keeping after her projects longer and giving them time to develop.

The influence of this transit letter group ends in April 2008.

She just came out from under the influence of an 'L' transit letter in April 2006. This has been a time of many social events, and making many new friends for Jessica. These were also great years for creative opportunities for her. Her movie career has benefited from this. The last three years have been a lot of fun for her.

In April, this transit letter changed from 'L' to 'B'; this marks a time when Jessica needs to take life easy. Both career partnerships, and love affairs are favorable for her at this time. Jessica also needs to be careful of possible health problems, which are stress related. She does need to pace herself until this period ends in April 2008.

In 2008, her transit letters all change at once. She will be under the short one-year transit letters 'A', and 'S', and will be carrying a single 'E', rather than the double 'E' she has been under the last few years. This year will be a year of surprises, new beginnings, and rebellious behavior for Jessica. We will see some kind of major life changes for her at this time.

===> Personal Year

The year 2006 is a personal year (4) for Jessica Alba; a time when patience and organization pays off. She needs to make careful plans and build on the foundation of the work she has done before to get the most out of this year. She needs to keep a realistic attitude towards life and her career; and work through the difficulties that arise. Jessica will have a strong sense of accomplishment when she finishes out the year.

===> Summation

In summation, 2006 and 2007 look like more of the same hard work and building success for Jessica; though she needs to watch out for possible health problems related to stress and overwork. With several movies scheduled for next year, she needs to pace herself better. We will see major changes for her in April 2008, when she will start a year of sudden changes and surprises. For now though, it looks like smooth sailing for the beautiful and talented Jessica Alba.

Keith Abbott is the developer and owner of 'Numerology 4 You' where you can view Jessica Alba's complete Numerology Profile, along with those of over 600 celebrities. Order your own Numerology Reading today at http://www.numerology4you.com/
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THE MIND POWER WITHIN YOU

2006-10-21T19:00:00.000-07:00

Author: Gregory marathonge

Infinite riches are all around you if you open your mental eyes and behold the treasure house of infinity within you. There is a gold mine within you from which you can extract everything you need to live life gloriously, joyously and abundantly.

Many are sound asleep because they do not know about this gold mine of infinite intelligence and boundless love within themselves. Whatever you want, you can draw forth. A magnetised piece of steel will lift about ten times its own weight, and if you demagnetise this same piece of steel, it will not even lift a feather. Similarly, there are two types of people. There is the magnetised person who is full of confidence and faith. They know they are born to win and to succeed. Then, there is the type of person who is demagnetised. They are full of fears and doubts. Opportunities come, and they say, “I might fail; I might lose my money; people will laugh at me.” This type of person will not get very far in life because, if they are afraid to go forward, they will simply stay where they are. Become a magnetised person and live a successful life in all areas of life.

You can bring into you life more power, more wealth, more health, more happiness and more joy by learning to contact and release the hidden power of your subconscious mind.

Within your subconscious mind depths lie infinite wisdom, infinite power and infinite supply of all that is necessary to live a life of abundance. Through the wisdom of your subconscious mind you can attract the ideal companion, as well as the right business associate or partner. It can provide you with all the money you need, and the financial freedom to be, to do and to go as you heart desires.

The infinite intelligence within your subconscious mind can reveal to you everything you need to know at every moment of time and point of space provided you are open-minded and receptive. You can receive new thoughts and ideas enabling you to bring forth new inventions, make new discoveries, or write books and plays. Moreover, the infinite intelligence in your sub-conscious can impart to you wonderful kinds of knowledge of an original nature. It can reveal to you and open the way for perfect expression and true place in you life.

It is your right to discover this inner world of thought, feeling, and power, of light, love and beauty. Though invisible, its forces are mighty. Within your subconscious mind you will find the solution for every problem, and the cause for every effect. Because you can draw out the hidden powers, you can come into actual possession of the power and wisdom necessary to move forward in abundance, security and joy.

To learn how you can live a life full of abundance visit:
http://www.successinabundance.com/
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HOW TO VISUALIZE AND AFFIRM YOUR DEEPEST DESIRES

2006-10-21T18:55:00.000-07:00

Author: John Layton

It's been a long time since I played basketball. But I have a passion for it. I frequently daydream about the game. I picture myself making jump shots from every angle of the court. I imagine myself winning the championship, the highest scorer in the game. I’d love to play regularly again, but I’m just too busy with my job and other interests.

Recently I had the opportunity to play with a few friends after work. I hadn’t been practicing, but guess what? I made more accurate shots than those who play the sport regularly. Why the difference?

Well, that's the power of imagination and visualization. If you want to be a lawyer, visualize yourself as one. Act like one. Think of the suit you’re wearing, the judge you’re convincing, the case you're handling, and the courtroom you’re showcasing. Visualize the evidence. Smell the victory. Make everything real.

You must also affirm. Believe that you are what you visualize. You want to be a lawyer? Tell yourself, "I'm the best lawyer in the world." Don't say, "I will be the best lawyer in the world." Affirm strongly. Say "I am," not "I will," because "I will" suggests something that will occur only in the future. You have to experience it NOW, not in the future.

Sink into your subconscious your deepest desire. The subconscious mind can do what the conscious mind cannot.

Here's an exercise.

1. Find a comfortable and quiet place to rest.

2. Relax your whole body. Command every part of your body to relax, from your feet on up to your head.

3. Count back slowly from 20 to 1. Each count will find you becoming increasingly relaxed. Upon reaching 1, you are completely and totally in a state of relaxation.

4. Now affirm your deepest desire. If you want to be a lawyer, say," I am the greatest lawyer in the world." As you say that, picture yourself as the best lawyer ever, winning every case you've come across. You may say "I am now explaining to the jury my winning proposition", anything that will affirm what you conceive in your mind as being of the moment.

5. After about 10 to 20 minutes of continuous confirmation and visualization, count slowly from 1 to 20. Upon counting, slowly become aware of your surroundings. Feel refreshed and invigorated after doing this exercise.

6. Repeat this exercise everyday.

What you have just learned is a very powerful technique to greatly enhance the power of visualization and affirmation by imbedding it into the subconscious. What once you thought near impossible to achieve will becomes easier to reach.

John Layton is the author of How to Visualize and Affirm Your Deepest Desires and can provide additional tips and advise at his website http://www.selfimprovementnow.info/ he also publishes a daily blog at http://www.internetsighting.info/
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WHY YOU SHOULD WRITE DOWN YOUR VISION

2006-10-21T18:53:00.000-07:00

Author: by Dan Brown

Do you know where you are headed in life? Do you have a clear vision of what you want your future to be? Do you have a fixed goal written down with a target date set?

It is vital that we know exactly what we want out of life. We must know where we are headed, and we must keep a fixed goal in view. It makes no difference if we want a better job, a new house, a new car, or just a new pair of shoes. We must have a fixed idea before we’ll ever attain what we are after, and we must have it written down on paper.

We must be definite on what it is that we desire and not consistently changing our minds according to our moods on any given day. James 1:6-8 says, “Let him ask in faith with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. Let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord, for he is a double-minded man in all his ways.”

Many people go through the lip-service act of saying their prayers without the slightest belief that those prayers will be answered. Consequently, they are NOT answered and the same people will scratch their heads and wonder why God is not answering their prayers.

Jesus said, “According to your faith, let it be done unto you” (Matt 9:29). How can anything “be done unto you” if you are not exercising your faith in what you desire?

If God wanted to include an eleventh commandment, I believe it would be this, “Thou shalt not fake thyself out!”

Believing is knowing that something will happen - good or bad. You have not a single doubt that it WILL happen. You completely trust and KNOW that it will happen.

If you believe in your God-given dream, then get your goals written down with a target date set. Be definite about what you are asking God for, and stick to it. In Habakkuk 2:2-3, it says, “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets that he may run who reads it for the vision is yet for an appointed time.”

So, know where you are headed in life. Be clear on your vision and get a fixed goal written down with a target date set as soon as possible!

Daniel N. Brown is an entrepreneur and teacher of biblical success principles. Get his FREE report "Christian Prosperity Secrets" when you sign up for his FREE weekly newsletter. http://www.Christian-Prosperity.com/freereport.html
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ATTRACT OTHERS TO YOU WITH A CHANGE IN ATTITUDE

2006-10-20T16:55:00.002-07:00

Author: Royane Real

Are You Open to Liking the People that You Meet? When you meet new people for the first time, do you usually like most of the new people that you meet?

Or do you find that you usually dislike new people, unless they can eventually prove after a long time that they deserve your friendship?

Perhaps you have never thought about this before. And you may even wonder if it’s really important. Does it really matter very much if you like most people when you first meet them, or if you decide to like them much later, after you get to know them better?

Your attitude to the new people you encounter will actually have a big impact on the number of friends you make, and the social life you enjoy.

Why? Because the attitude you have when you first meet somebody will affect the way that you treat those people, and the impression you make on them.

When you have the attitude of liking someone you have just met, they will feel pleased to know you and will want to know you better. They will probably sense that you like them, and they will be more inclined to judge you in a kind and positive way.

If you like most of the people you encounter, you will have a far larger group of people in your friendship pool. When you genuinely like other people, they will be much more inclined to like you back.

On the other hand, when you don’t like people when you meet them, they will feel uncomfortable in your presence and will want to avoid you. They may sense that you don’t like them. They may even decide to dislike you in return. Every person that you dislike will automatically be excluded from the pool of people who can become your friends.

When you don’t like the majority of people that you meet, your friendship pool for making friends is much smaller.

If there is one secret to having friends, it’s a simple one, and here it is: Like Other People!

If you dislike almost everyone you meet, how many friends do you think you will make with this attitude? Very few of us want to get closer to a person when we sense that he doesn’t like us.

If you usually operate with a big long mental list of reasons to reject others, you will assume that other people are also deciding to reject you. If you routinely dislike other people because you are looking for their flaws, you won’t believe that others can really like you. When you reject other people for trivial reasons, you will also assume that others will reject you for trivial reasons.

This negative attitude will make you very suspicious when you encounter others, since you will be anticipating rejection from other people at any moment.

Wouldn’t it be easier and more effective to give everyone a break?

When you meet other people, give other people a break, and give yourself a break too.

When you meet people for the first time, start out with the assumption that most people you encounter are nice human beings and worthy of your friendship. You can choose to believe that just about everybody you meet actually likes you, and that you like most other people. People who are very socially confident and have a lot of friends tend to have this attitude.

If this hasn’t been your attitude so far, you can work to change it.

How can you change this?

Whenever you meet someone new, actively look for things to like in that person. Look for their interesting and unique qualities. Suspend your need to judge and analyze others, and simply meet them as ordinary human beings who are struggling and evolving, and making their way through life, just like you. Find things that you like about each person, and let yourself feel that you actually like them.

You will find that when your attitude changes, the world will become a friendlier place, because you have become a friendlier person.

This article is written by Royane Real, author of “How You Can Have All the Friends You Want – Your Complete Guide to Finding Friends, Making Friends, and Keeping Friends” If you want to improve your social life, download it today at http://www.royanereal.com/
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com/

ARE YOU TRULY LIVING THE LIFE YOU WANT TO LIVE

2006-10-20T16:55:00.001-07:00

Author: Heather Redmond

Some of the things people most desire to have, or to improve in their life are money, a loving relationship, a successful job, great health, nice house, and a new car. Most people just dream about these things, but never actually obtain them. What people don’t realize is that all of these things can be theirs through the power of manifestation

Manifesting ones desires is a science. There are laws that govern the process of materializing wishes seemingly out of nothing. Once these laws are complied with, anyone can make their dreams a reality. This may seem very unbelievable to some, but the truth is it’s very real. The Law of Abundance- Everything you desire begins in your mind and it is the mind that brings these thoughts to life. Your outer state of being is the manifestation of your thought. Therefore, to obtain the things you desire, you have to first set your mind to it. Vital self-empowerment skills will help you mentally transform a thought into a material manifestation. You will learn how to change your expectations in order to change your life. We live in a Universe of abundance, although most others appear to view it as a Universe of scarcity. Thoughts such as others are more talented, more deserving, and more gifted than you only hinder you from living abundantly. If you are possess these same thoughts, don’t worry, there is hope for you! You can learn skills to activate self-actualizing power through these Laws to live with wealth, financial freedom, and success.

Abundance does not mean mere accumulation of material wealth. Happiness, peace of mind, harmony, optimal health, being in loving relationships, and having a strong sense of your True Self are also part of this universal abundance. This abundance comes into a person's life only when he facilitates its free flow from him and through him. There are also other ways to increase abundance in your life. Add time to your day, simplify, or make a difference in the world. For example, volunteer work and meditation are good ways to increase abundance. Be more open-minded and open to new possibilities. Try to only surround yourself with positive influences such as people and things.

Take control of your thoughts and start manifesting your desires today!

Heather has been learning and practicing manifestation techniques in her own life. Visit her site for an amazing Free Ebook revealing the secrets to obtaining everything you desire at: http://www.moneymanifestingsecrets.com/.
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com/

HOW TO DEAL WITH REJECTION FROM WOMEN

2006-10-20T16:54:00.000-07:00

Author: Rion Williams

Are women actually interested in you when they first see you? Or is it that they are interested in what they are seeing as a reflection of their own ideals and expectations? And what about when women reject you or don't even give you a chance? Has this hurt you before even though other guys will tell you not to take it personally or to just 'keep on approaching and you'll get over it'?

Well I'm going to help you deal with this 'rejection' and set it more straight right now (for free). What's really going on are many different things and on different levels. I want you to be able to differentiate a woman's response to you so that you can understand it so that it doesn't hurt you or even affect you but rather that you can learn what hasn't been working and take advantage of what does work.

When a woman sees you for the first time, she is extrapolating every little detail about you to determine whether you might be a fit for her.

These usually accurate judgments she is making off of the smallest details about you will help protect her or open you up to having a chance with her.

In the future I will get deeply into getting yourself to the point where you are communicating that you are everything she could want even if you don't have the best looks or money, age, etc. But for now, this data that she is judging off of you is either working for you or against you. You may have had women blow you off or flat out reject you after you approached and started talking or they never even gave you a chance before you approached.

Is this something you should take personally?

I don't want to give you a shallow answer, I want to give you the MEANING behind it; the schematics and reasoning so bear with me and it will be worth it.

Does a woman even know you when they she first sees you?

Then how can you possibly accept any kind of rejection?

Just because you approached her and she rejected you does not mean that you have a low character or are undesirable.

Does it?

Here's the bad news; some of the readers on this list may actually have a low character and the women ARE judging accurately (albeit without knowing more b/c they feel they don't need or want to find out more).

This can all be changed so that any man can not only more accurately portray more of what she is attracted to but actually BE that man in congruity.

The primary key is for him to get in touch with his own natural/ universal character and stop relying so much on his limited independent or social character.

The rest of the guys probably do have a higher independent or social character but just aren't being themselves when they approach a woman. They're using a pick-up persona or player front or they're just being a nice guy (overly nice and not their true self).

Otherwise they're just not in touch with their natural/universal character in order to spark attraction anyways.

Too many guys these days (and it's being taught) are focusing on the social and even independent (I'm a nice guy) parts of their character when it comes to attracting women. This sets a man up for rejection because these two areas are the least important and are what women respond to the least when it comes to attraction and her wanting you; it's just really hard to see through it when women have become the rulers of the social 'matrix'.

Natural order is flipped around in our social behaviour patternsso you just have to see through all of the social influence and deal with her biology; the one thing that doesn't change and is what is the essence of what she desires that (healthy) men would realize.

So if you are focusing on your social 'pick up game' you're going to have to get real good at it and then because of your high character, the charts work in reverse so that eventually she may feel a spark of attraction. In other words:

You have to talk her into it and let her realize that you are a man of high character.
This takes longer because you started on the wrong end of the character continuum in your communication and portrayal of yourself to her.

Like I said it also sets you up for failure because you have to get all of the words just right and her temperance is wavering.

Hopefully this will help you understand why men are rejected more and perhaps yourself in the past sometimes. Understanding it is key to putting it in it's place and then changing to do the more effective things.

When you are a man of high natural/universal character and communicate this with your body language (often enough alone), the universal/natural part of the woman knows to respond to you and you don't have to use words.

She is prewired to know how to respond and be attracted to a man that has a strong connection to his universal/natural (which used to be almost all men but people were more localized then). Today, very few men are in full touch with this and those that are, are the guys that are scoring the most with women. It's that simple.

When you can get in touch with the natural/universal power that is greater than you (and is your inheritance) you can have that power to create attraction (naturally) and make it a part of your own character...add it to your game and it will make ALL the difference.

You won't even have to deal with rejection anymore because you'll be able to read and communicate with women on the nonverbal level (the unspoken), that which was formerly invisible.

So back to the rejection issue...when a woman sees you and you aren't effectively communicating that you are a man of high character (either incongruently or because you just aren't there yet), she most likely won't give you a chance.

The key is to understand where you are on the character continuum.

If you ARE a great (nice) guy, then remember that she is just judging her initial impression of you. You may have a high independent character and be a great guy so just separate that from the fact that you were currently LOW on the natural/ universal part of your character and that is the part she was disapproving of, not YOU.

So don't take it personally. When you do develop a high character across the charts not only will you never have to deal with rejection again but when you play it by certain rules (your rules) SHE will be the one who is rejected or disqualifying herself to you and you will have the power by far.

You will always have the last word.

All you really have to have even if you have a low independent and social character/status is a strong connection to your natural ability (esp. if you aren't good looking, poor or are much older).

So if you've been focusing on the social character and using techniques and pick-up lines to develop your character to be able to pick a woman up...just consider working on your natural/ universal character instead; it's what matters so much that a woman will HELP you pick her up by giving the right signals when you do have a high character. You won't even need pick up lines then.

In fact it's not until recently that we actually had pick up lines or a need to study this. You just have to differentiate the forced reality from the natural, timeless reality of attraction and female response and separate out all of what doesn't matter (such as her fickle independent character when it comes to attraction and don't deal with it).

Prevent rejection and isolate the possibility of it by understanding the model magnet system and charts. She isn't rejecting you, she's just placing a perception onto you and judging you initially to see if you meet her expectational response/ideal.

I like to say;

She can't sleep with a man of low (m.m.) character just as much as you can't sleep with an ugly, fat chick.

And if you've taken one for the home team, that's about as often as she slept with a man of low character (despite his looks).

So make sure that you not only communicate the right things but BE the man of the highest character that you can.

It's more important than your social character/status or your own inner game and personality, it's about your connection to the universal power of masculinity and secure inner strength. The feminine energy in her will rule over her fickle independent behavior and her body just may not be able to resist. This can all happen within a few seconds of her seeing you.

At this point women will be approaching you like crazy and throwing out all kinds of signs because this kind of man who is in touch is so rare these days. The works already cut out for you.

What would it be worth for you to turn the tables, never get rejected and live that kind of lifestyle with women no MATTER your looks, age, income or social status?

It's not a trick. It's real. And it's every man's inheritance but he has to embrace and accept it. I am the messenger because this power is greater than the greatest of any man in history's own independent character.

You don't have to be a superstar pick up character, you just have to be a man of (natural) character and you'll be able to catch women's interest just by walking in the room. And when you're already spurring attraction in her and she can trust you by your body language, there's less of a chance you'll get rejected anyways.

And if you're living in a dominant reality where she is attracted to you and wants to be plus take the natural approach you can prevent rejection entirely.

Rion Williams is the celebrated author of 'Mens Guide to Women' and is the first person to quantify and put in writing 'what women want'. His free newsletter and downloadable attraction philosophy eBook can be found at http://www.modelmagnet.com/
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com/

HOW TO BE MORE ATTRACTIVE: GOTTA HAVE SENSE OF HUMOR!

2006-10-20T16:53:00.000-07:00

Author: Pick Up Guide

Men having great sense of humor ranked number three as being a personality trait that attracts women on survey results conducted by several magazines. Topping the survey is physical appearance and number two, financial stability.

Laughing can be very beneficial to one’s health, according to researchers. And a great sense of humor, which creates laughter, can make a lot of difference specially when dating women. A lot of women see a guy with a great sense of humor very attractive mainly because it makes the conversation a lot lighter, it makes them laugh and dating a man who is very serious in his outlook in life makes the conversation heavy and can become very boring, according to studies, among two hundred college students.

The same study indicated that women like intelligent men and a great sense of humor is linked to intelligence, as a man with wits can think fast, able to produce a joke instantly that is suitable to the situation is clever indeed and is no “non-sense”.

Indeed, “laughter is the best medicine”. Considerable research and studies have proved that laughter and humor benefits the body as well as the emotion. It boost the “immune system”, reduces stress, relax the muscles, “lowers blood pressure”, increases pain tolerance and hastens the process of healing. No wonder women feel so good being with a man with great sense of humor!

Men having good sense of humor are always cheerful. To them, each day is sunny. Should dark clouds appear, they depend on laughter, confident that all problems will pass and instead of being discouraged, they move on with so much hope.

Even if a man is not really that attractive physically, but with a great sense of humor, women are usually drawn to him. Why? Because according to most women in a survey result, they are more at ease with these types of men, as they make the women laugh and as a result, let them feel that they can open up almost anything; a man with a great sense of humor encourages the woman to be confident.

Generally, men with a sense of humor have so much spunk in life. Not only can they come up with a joke unrehearsed, but also can take a joke.

Here are ways to sharpen and improve your sense of humor:

1. Encourage an environment of laughter and humor in the relationship that you have by concentrating on the comical or funny side of things and delighting in the laughter that they bring to mind. Then, you will soon begin to see humor in things that you do, including the problems that may come and handle them without stress in your relationship.

2. When you feel that you do not laugh that much and you feel that you should correct this, associate yourself with fun loving and humorous people. Try to go to happy places and you and your partner can engage in fun and lively activities.

3. Try laughing at yourself and at the situations around you. Many individuals are not able to laugh because they are insecure of themselves and because of personal fears. Often, they are scared to look silly in front of others and give the impression to be foolish, according to psychiatrists. It is essential to become conscious that all people make or commit mistakes and it is when you put up a pleasant laugh can make such mistake appear human.

4. Read on humorous books and collect clean jokes. Then when the need arises, there is always a joke ready to lighten up someone else’s day!

5. So as to neutralize disagreement in your relationship, use humor. When things in your relationship get uptight, “self deprecating humor” can lighten things. “Self-deprecating humor” encourages humility and nurtures courage, needed to take off the mask that one wears when insecure and uncovers one's weakness to his partner. Having sense of humor in your relationship will add so much zest, help it become rewarding and can help both partners see life in a different perspective. A more carefree, cheerful and positive relationship will prosper as a result of a happy disposition between couples.

For more great tips on dating and picking up women, check out our free dating articles at Pick Up Success Guide.
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com/

DOES THE LAW OF ATTRACTION WORK?

2006-10-20T16:52:00.000-07:00

Author: Saleem Rana

For all your failings, and despite your many mistakes, life has picked you; it has believed in you, and it has given you a human body to explore its vast regions.

Using your will, you have sought to change the surface of your world, and time and again, you have felt despair and frustration when what you hoped to manifest either did not appear or appeared somehow diminished when it finally did show up.

Does the Law of Attraction not work?

Does it work for some and not others?

Does it work some of the time and not at other times?

Can you really create your own reality?

Let me explain.

But, first, we must understand the concept of wholeness.

The literature on this subject is exhaustive—ranging from obscure references in sacred texts to the findings of physicists—consciousness is inextricably connected with the whole and cannot be separated into parts.

The entire notion of separation is an abstraction only. For anything to exist at all, be it as obscure as a dust particle, the whole of causation is necessary.

Even the idea of an objective reality, long a tenet of science, has now been refuted by quantum mechanics.

A subatomic element can either be a particle or a wave, depending on how the experiment is measured.

In other words, the conscious intention of the observer determines what is observed.
What has this got to do with the Law of Attraction?
Pretty much everything.

You, the observer of reality, influence the quantum field, with every thought and feeling that you have.

You are always manifesting, whether you like it or not. Most often, however, you are manifesting what you don’t want and then blame it on the Law of Attraction for failing.

See, in order to change any aspect of your reality, whether it is a condition of aloneness, poverty, or illness, you have to change WHO YOU ARE and not WHAT YOU WANT. When you are in a state of want, your vibrations are that of lack, regardless of what you may be visualizing or affirming.

Consequently, your realization comes back to you void or stripped down to a pathetic version of what you truly desired.

Thus, for example, if you are poor and need a job, and you affirm and visualize diligently, your underlying sense of lack may either give you nothing or it will give you a job that is totally unsatisfying to you.

Why does this happen?

It is because you are not vibrating your desires in a clear way.
Your emotional current, regardless of what your mind is projecting, is holding on to lack, limitation, scarcity, and negativity.

When you change WHO YOU ARE you will start getting WHAT YOU WANT.

Saleem Rana's new novel, 7 Days in The Garden of the Goddess Of Wealth answers tells you in detail how to use the law of attraction for prosperity. It also comes with software. You can find out more at http://theempoweredsoul.com/7disciplines.html
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com/

SO.....YOU WANT TO BE RICH? 7 WEALTH ATTRACTION TIPS FOR ENTREPRENEURS

2006-10-20T16:51:00.000-07:00

Author: Sandra P. Martini

Copyright 2006 Sandra P. Martini

So, you want to be rich?

We all hear it. We all say it. Everyone wants to be rich but, short of picking the lucky numbers or winning the Publisher’s Clearinghouse Sweepstakes, most people go don’t know how to amass the wealth they dream about.

Here are the top tactics of successful entrepreneurs:

1. “Dig the well before you’re thirsty” – Confucius

We discussed this last week. Marketing, whether your business or yourself, is the one task that wise people do daily – YES...DAILY. You should do at least one thing each day to keep your marketing funnel full.

2. “The moment you begin to think of time as precious and that it has a price, the richer you will become.” – Robert Kiyosaki, Rich Dad’s Guide to Investing

Do you spend your time wisely or do you squander it by spending hours in front of the TV? Successful entrepreneurs understand that how they spend their time determines their future. It’s critical to do the things that will move you/your business forward each day.

3. Have a wealth mindset

Successful entrepreneurs are focused, first and foremost, on being secure. Then on being comfortable and finally, on being rich. It is this focus on security that forces them to build systems and look at the big picture as opposed to doing what is best only for the short-term. Successful entrepreneurs also understand that they need to invest in themselves and their business in order to reach their long-term goals. Doing things “quick and dirty” or for the fast buck doesn’t create the long-lasting success that you are looking for.

4. Have a sense of urgency

Successful entrepreneurs are not procrastinators – they get things done and done today! Their sense of urgency is borne not only of their appreciation for the value of time, but also as a way of insuring their clients are always satisfied. Why make them wait? Happy clients purchase from you and they do so repeatedly.

5. “Don’t feel overwhelmed...just do one thing at a time.” -- Rose Lindsey character in “Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead” movie

The above quote may sound and is a trademark of all successful entrepreneurs. Have 100 things to do? Don’t know where to start?

Just pick one and do it. It doesn’t matter which one, just do something. Sitting and staring at the pile or fretting about how much you need to do won’t get you anywhere. But doing one thing, and then another, and then another will.

6. Be a “big picture optimist and detail pessimist”.

Direct marketing guru Dan Kennedy tells the story of how he travels a lot and never worries about the plane going to the wrong city or exploding in midair or experiencing some other trouble that would result in his never reaching to his destination (big picture optimist). At the same time, he plans for the plane to leave late and arrive late, for his luggage to be lost and for the food (when you get it) to be inedible (detail pessimist).

Using this approach in project (and travel) planning insures that you’ve anticipated the potential problems which Murphy’s Law usually provides and have solutions already in hand. The worst that can happen is that you never need your “Plan B”.

7. You can't (and shouldn't) do it all

Successful entrepreneurs know and understand that trying to do everything themselves is a prescription for overwhelm and burnout.

The truly successful create teams and delegate effectively. Having one (or several) good virtual assistants, a bookkeeper, a pre-paid legal plan, etc. takes the day-to-day minutiae off you so that you can focus on the big picture.

No matter where you are today, I encourage you to do one thing today that will move you forward in your goals. Remember Confucius (knew a lot, didn’t he?): “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Take that step today and feel the momentum carry you forward.

Online Business Manager & Entrepreneur, Sandra Martini, publishes the 'Effective Entrepreneur' weekly e-zine. She also coaches small business owners to more efficiently manage their businesses while increasing profits and having fun. Sandra's coaching programs are available via teleconferencing, emails and telephone calls. For more information or to sign-up for ‘Effective Entrepreneur’, visit http://www.online-biz-coach.com/ today.
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com/

COUNTERACTING STRESS IN YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE

2006-10-20T16:31:00.002-07:00

Author: Jeffrey Rose

Fortunately, there are many effective ways to reduce stress within our everyday life at work and at home. Some of them can be done by yourself, and with a little practice, they can be instrumental in helping you avoid any long term detrimental effects that might have otherwise have occurred from your ongoing stressful situations. The key point to understand in the relief of stress is that relaxation is incompatible with the stress state, so that if you can generate relaxation in some way, you will automatically be countering the stress in your life.

Meditation is one of the key ways people can reduce stress and introduce a feeling of complete mental and physical relaxation into their lives, one which can continue to provide help in dealing with any stress experienced throughout the rest of the day. I want to say here, that, because of meditation’s connection with Eastern religions, many of you might feel that it is not in onsonance with the life you are leading. The truth is, meditation is a valuable technique that is not of itself religious, but has simply been incorporated by various religions for their own purposes. It can be utilized in a completely non-religious way to achieve deep states of relaxation and great stress relief. Those suffering from serious stress should not hesitate to make use of this valuable resource for reducing stress in their lives.

The basic form of meditation is simply to focus your attention on one simple and relaxing thing. This relaxes the mind and keeps it from dwelling on stress generating thought. As a result, the mind gets relief and with the mind more relaxed the body follows. To do it, you should be in a comfortable position. Some people meditate in the so-called lotus position, you may have seen on yoga magazines. But this is not at all necessary. You can just sit in a comfortable chair or lie on your bed. You may chose to meditate for any period, but 20 to 30 minutes would be a good period to aim for. If you are worried you will lose track of time, you can use an alarm, preferably a gentle one, like a radio with music coming on or another softer choice of sound.

Once you are ready, you can choose how to concentrate your attention. One very popular way is to concentrate on your breathing. Pay attention to your slow breathing in and out.

Here I want to point out, controlling your breathing, all by itself, can be a powerful influence on your stress and significantly reduce it. When we are experiencing stress we breathe shallow breathes up in our chest. When we are relaxed, we breathe slow, deep breaths by expanding our lower stomach area. Just by imitating the physiological states of relaxation, by controlling our breathing consciously to be like that when we experience relaxation, we induce our minds and bodies to experience relaxation. Thus, we can note here that breathing to promote relaxation, even without the act of meditation is a valuable resource for reducing stress.

The beauty of using breathing for this purpose is that it can be employed wherever you are, even at work. You can just stop for a few moments and take a few slow, deep diaphragm breaths and you will be able to counter any stress you experiencing.

Another way you can meditate is to concentrate on looking at an object. You can do this with anything, but it can be more relaxing to choose a flower or an attractive piece of glass or pottery or a candle with a flame. Observe it carefully, noticing everything about it. Of course, this can be enhanced by breathing in the relaxing way at the same time, even if your attention is no longer on your breathing, but on the object.

Some people can become very relaxed by focusing on a sound repeated silently in your mind. It can be short word; it can be a number, like one, or the word “easy,”, or the traditional sound used in religion, Om. You can even make up your own! Today many people have sound machines, and some of you may prefer to sit quietly with all your attention on listening to the sounds generated by your machine. You could listen to waves on a beach, or crickets at night, or a downpour in a rainforest.

Many people get relaxed from just listening to such sounds without using them for meditation. There are also many meditative recordings designed to initiate relaxation in the person. Perhaps one of these will prove to your liking and be very beneficial to you.

While you are meditating in the way you have chosen, some other thoughts may enter your mind, do not fight them. Just gently turn your attention back to what you were focusing on.

Using imagery is another way to relieve stress that people find extremely pleasant. You can either use a remembered peaceful, relaxing scene you have experienced or make up an entirely imaginary one. As you create this image in your mind, make sure to involve as many senses as possible. For example, an image of a beach should involve seeing the waves and the blue sky with some lovely clouds in it; while at the same time, you should be hearing the sounds of the waves and smelling the water and sand, feeling the warmth of the sun and a light breeze on your body.

Other imagery might involve seeing stress flow out of your body, or things you are concerned with moving away from you into the distance. You can also see waves of relaxation flowing down over your body and these waves can move in time with your breathing. You should feel how the relaxation is moving down your body with each new wave. Once you have done this regularly, wherever you are, you can stop for a while, even for just a minute, or as long as you are able, and imagine you are in your relaxing place or the waves of relaxation are flowing over you while you breathe in the relaxation-inducing manner.

You can also do deep breathing while imagining the stress flowing out of your body with each breathe you exhale.Another very effective way to reduce stress is by practicing muscle relaxation. Remember that relaxation is incompatible with the stress state, so that if you can generate relaxation in some way, you will automatically be countering the stress in your life. Relaxed muscles are the opposite of the tensed muscles experienced with stress. If you learn to relax your muscles, you will be in a more relaxed state and your stress will be reduced. Many people use what is called, progressive muscle relaxation. You should consult with your doctor before using this method if you have back problems or muscle spasms, or any other condition you think might lead to injury from this program.

Starting either from the top part of your body or at your feet, you tighten then relax each set of muscles. For example, you might tighten your fists and hold this for about five seconds, fully experiencing the tenseness of the muscles used. Then you release this contraction and completely relax the muscles. Breathe out as you do so.

It is important to focus your attention on the different feelings of tension and total relaxation. Take your time to fully experience the feelings of relaxation in the muscles. You can repeat doing this with each muscle group, feeling deeper relaxation each time as you release the contraction.

Be careful when you contract the muscles in your feet and your back; do this deliberately, but gently and carefully. Practice throughout your body for awhile, then you are ready for the next stage.

Now you will tense all the muscles of your body at once and then release them, while saying a word, like “relax” or a phrase, like “let go,” out loud or silently in your mind. Make sure you keep breathing in a relaxing manner as you are doing all these exercises. Never hold your breath.

If practiced regularly, you can reach a point where all you have to do is feel in your body where you are experiencing muscle tension, think of that muscle group in your mind, say that word or phrase, and while you are in that stressful situation, you will experience relaxation.

Exercise is another very effective way to relieve stress. It releases tension in the muscles, which leads to a state of relaxation when completed. It improves blood flow to your brain and throughout your body to bring more nutrients and oxygen to these areas and remove toxins and other waste products from them too. In addition, a body in better physical condition is better able to deal with the actual physiological stresses created by being in stress creating situations. Exercising results in an improved mood. This may result from physiological changes within your body, but there is another reason as well.

While you are exercising, especially if you are doing some sport, you are focusing on other things rather then the concerns which were causing you stress. Exercise will also help you to sleep soundly, and getting enough healthy sleep is an important part of combating stress. You should examine your sleep habits and make sure you are getting enough sleep each night.

Many people do not get enough sleep and this contributes to the stress they experience trying to cope with things during their waking life. If you are one of the individuals who do not get plentiful sleep, you should seriously consider rearranging your life to get more sleep. Make sure you consult your doctor before beginning any new exercise program.

There are some forms of exercise that combine meditation, breathing and physical movement. For example, you might wish to try Tai Chi or Yoga. Remember, the best stress reduction system is the one that works for you and leads to less stress and more relaxation. Often people can improve their overall results by just adding more pleasant enjoyable moments during the day. Listening to your favorite music or reading a good book are some things you may have neglected to include in your life recently. Taking the time to enjoy good food, and taking a brisk walk can all add up to less stress and a more enjoyable relaxing existence.

A lot of little things can add up and change the tone of your life toward the more positive. One of these things, often overlooked, is to include more humor in your life. This might include seeing more comedies in the movies, and amusing shows on TV, for example, going to the Comedy Channel regularly, or reading your favorite comedian’s latest book.

It is now accepted that humor and laughter can significantly lower stress and have very positive mental and physiological effects on your health. You must experiment and see what works best for you. Often it may actually be a combination of things that will best lead to you a less stressful, more relaxing and enjoyable life.

Jeffrey Rose, CMH, is New York's leading doctor-referred, Certified Hypnotist , and is presently the director at The Advanced Hypnosis Center, (http://www.ahcenter.com/), in New York City. He has practiced hypnosis for many years, successfully helping people with a wide variety of challenges to make important changes in their life and achieve their goals. Mr. Rose is not only a skilled practitioner of the art of hypnosis, but he is very knowledgeable in a wide variety of health-related fields. He has written many articles for health magazines, including being a staff writer for Recover Magazine, and is currently writing a book on weight loss.
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PLANTING SEEDS

2006-10-20T16:31:00.001-07:00

Author: Mike Pniewski

Copyright 2006 Mike Pniewski

I was having coffee with a director friend of mine and we were talking about how business was going. He has been very busy with a good stream of projects coming his way. I told him that things were a little slow for me but I was using that time to try some new ideas to spread the news about my speaking business. To that he responded, “Oh, so you’re just planting seeds right now.” “Yes,” I said, “I’m planting seeds.”

That assessment of my current pursuit really stuck with me after we left. I had been harvesting a lot in recent months while I was taking full advantage of work that had come my way. But once things slow down, we all can forget that our “crops” need to be replanted in order to reap another great harvest.

In the acting world, it typically gets slow from late April until after the fourth of July due to most TV production being on hiatus, which was the time period of our meeting. This also means commercial production slows down because they want to wait and produce new commercials for use during the new fall TV shows. Feature films have no real “seasons”, but the TV slowdown means there are fewer opportunities out there for actors to stay busy.

I have always tried to make good use of these times in my career, and I’m sure many of you have them too, when the phone gets quiet and you find yourself in a dry spot “between jobs.” Many people tend to worry and even panic during these periods instead of using them to refocus their energies on creating new avenues for success. Updating your business materials, websites, equipment upgrades, renew your marketing strategy—can all be great uses of these breaks in the flow of work.

As with many things, it really is a matter of how you choose to see it. Do you look at these times as an obstacle or an opportunity? Do you see a door or a window? These slowdowns are often due to circumstances beyond our control, like seasons in anyone’s business, so isn’t it better to prepare to use them to our advantage instead of dreading their arrival?

The key to coping with and even maximizing your productivity at these times is planning. Whether you know these slowdowns are coming or not, you should always keep a list of things you can accomplish when there are fewer demands on your time. In the midst of juggling your projects while you’re in demand, make a habit of noting things you see along the way that should be dealt with when time allows. New brochures, pictures, résumé’s---so that you can easily move from harvesting to seeding. And not only is it important to get these things done for the sake of your business, you need to stay busy in some form during slow times so you don’t just wait and stress over the lack of work. That can do great damage not only to your business but also to your own psyche—and that’s not good for business either.

Part of your downtime planning must include some time for you to recharge yourself by taking some time off, or to reengage yourself with a class or workshop. Either way, you plant your own seeds that enable you to be in a better position to maximize the opportunities that come your way. Rest has always been a great way to recharge the spirit, especially if you’ve spent several weeks working long, intense hours. I spent much of the first five months of this year on the road working so I really enjoyed that part of my slow time that allowed me to catch up on some rest. But once I had sufficiently rested, I took on a big and very unique project here at my house replacing all our windows. Never done anything like that before in my life, but the fact of having this new, manual labor task was very invigorating for me. I’ve always enjoyed fixing things around the house but to do it on this scale was thrilling and engaging in ways I don’t use very often in my work. Once that was done, I found myself very inspired to jump back into my work to begin a new cycle of planting and harvesting.

No farmer can harvest what he doesn’t plant. In our case, we must plant not only in the fields of our business but within ourselves. Invest in good seeds that will enable you to grow your business as well as yourself.

Mike Pniewski has been a successful actor in films, TV and commercials for over 20 years. To learn more about Mike's exciting and innovative programs and how they can benefit you, visit http://www.acttowin.com/
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12 IDEAS TO HELP RELIEVE STRESS

2006-10-20T16:30:00.000-07:00

Author: Terri Seymour

Owning your own online home business is wonderful, but if you are like me, there are days when you feel down and stressed. You just can't seem to get going. Sometimes sitting in your lonely home office, it seems like you are the only person on earth. You feel like yo uare locked in a cage with no way out! This can also be compounded by a slump in your business sales and/or success!
When you feel like this, it is hard to get any work done and can be very counterproductive for you. You must step back, take a break, clear your head and get rid of some stress! I have found a few things that can help alleviate these problems and would like to share them with you.

1. Get up and get away from the computer for awhile. Even if it is only for 10 - 15 minutes. Walk around the house, stretch your muscles, do some neck and back stretches. These can do wonders!

2. Take a walk. Get dressed, go outside, breathe in the fresh air and take a 20 - 30 minute walk. This is one of the most invigorating things you can do to clear your head and get the cobwebs out. Walking is the one activity I would recommend the most.

3. Call a friend or family member and just chat for awhile. This can also be a great way to lift your spirits and confirm your suspicions that there are other people on this planet! ;-) Chat for awhile and laugh a little. Laughter is a great medicine!

4. Have a little fun! Put on some of your favorite music and dance around the house. Let loose and have some fun. Act goofy, crazy or waltz yourself to China. This helps get out some of the frustrations and pent up emotions that can cause the blues.

5. Just relax! Turn everything off, (including your computer), make yourself a cup of coffee, cocoa or just plain water. Just sit in complete silence and watch the birds outside or put a cool cloth over your eyes. Let your mind just go blank for awhile. Forget everything and just relax!

6. Exeercise your mind! Show your mind that there is more than just the computer. Do a crossword puzzle, play a few games of solitaire, or read a book. These are all great ways of getting your mind off business and clearing out all the old to make way for the new.

7. Do some housework! This might not be the most fun thing to do, but it helps take your mind off business for awhile and believe me, after about an hour of housework, you will be more than ready to get back to business!

8. Take a TV break! Watch a program that allows you to escape to another world. After you are finished you just might be glad to be back in your world.

9. One thing I do when business gets the better of me is to shut the computer down for the day and turn my attention to other things that need to be done. Just taking a small break from business can help, but when things are really stressful we may need a longer break.

10. Get some sun! After being indoors so much, we need to get out and get some sun. The sun is very good for your mind and body. Sunshine is a very good anti-depressant! But do remember to wear protection so you don't get too much exposure.

11. Enjoy time with your family! Play a game, take a walk, watch a heartwarming family adventure movie, or just sit and talk. No matter how hard we work, we need to make time for family.

12. Eat healthy foods! This we all know, of course, but it is much easier said than done. Start by changing one meal at a time or adding one healthy food a day. The better we feel, the better we can handle everyday stress!

I hope some of these pointers will help you relax and get back to business. I know they have been a great help to me more than once. Sometimes when yo uare feeling unproductive, stressed our or just plain tired, the idea is not to work harder but to stop working and give your mind and body a well-deserved break!

**********************Terri Seymour has several years online experience and has helped many people start their own business. Visit her site at http://www.seymourproducts.com/ for help, resources, support and more. Seymour Products also offers resell ebooks for $1 each, free affiliate programs and a free weekly ezine. mailto:subscribe@seymourproducts.com
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THOUGHTS, EMOTIONS AND BELIEFS: ARE THEY CONTROLLING YOUR LIFE?

2006-10-20T16:29:00.002-07:00

Author: Joyce Dillon, R.N., M.N.

Today, there is a huge change in scientific thinking. The seeds of a new vision or reality are sprouting throughout the arenas of physics, biology and psychology. This vision is a shift away from matter as the only reality, toward the inclusion of consciousness and mind as part of that reality.

Forward-thinking information in the study of mind-body integration indicates the vital importance of how our beliefs and perceptions influence our body in creating and maintaining health as well as all areas of our life.

Perhaps, the most powerful single factor in your health, financial or business success is your beliefs about yourself and what you deserve. We call this the Law Of Belief. It says simply this:

• Whatever you believe, with feeling, becomes your reality• Whatever you focus on you create in your life, negative or positive

Significantly, people are now becoming aware of their “core beliefs,” which are composed of memories, images, and emotional dispositions, all deeply held in our neural patterns and energy field.

These beliefs shape the styles, habits, behavior, perceptions, and attitudes that define us as individuals. Our responses to the major themes of life -safety, belonging, support, power, freedom, responsibility, sexuality, etc. - are all organized by our core thinking. Some core beliefs support our ability to be who we desire to be, while other beliefs continue to limit us in living our best possible lives.

Our limiting beliefs are a barrier to or a filter for the immense variety of information that our brains must process daily. We have a tendency to block out any information coming to us that is inconsistent with our reality.

Our physical bodies are a constant reflection of our beliefs, and our way of thinking and being in the world. Thus, our minds are supported in our beliefs by our bodies. Change is possible when we are able to alter our beliefs.

Easily said, but how does one change a belief? Most of us have been harboring old beliefs since childhood. The first step is to become aware of the trauma or pattern and how it affects your life. Ask yourself: is this childhood belief serving me well now, as an adult? Is it offering me positive support for my adult decisions? If your answer is no, find a way to get rid of the belief.

Some useful techniques that are powerful catalysts for releasing old patterns are meditation, energy psychology, bodywork therapy, biofeedback, shamanic healing, prayer and visual imagery.

Action Exercise:Here are six things you can do to help build a belief system consistent in creating healthy changes in your life.

• Create Your Day-Begin each day by seeing and intending in your mind how you want your day to be. You are creating your reality.

• Watch Your Thoughts-Set a goal for yourself to think and talk only about the things that you want for the next 24 hours. This process will make you aware of how often you are thinking about what you don’t want. This practice can change your life.

• WATCH What the Bleep!? A thought-provoking movie abouthow our thoughts and beliefs create our reality. If you have not seen this movie rent the DVD- it is a must.

• Purchase the CD-Life Strategies for Making Changes in Life and Work. This powerful CD gives you a step-by-step mind-body strategy for making lasting change in your life.

• READ Dr. Bruce Lipton’s The Biology of Belief: Unleashing the Power of Consciousness, Matter and Miracles. Explore the science proving how changing your beliefs and emotions change your health.

• Check out the benefits of a Health and Mind-Body Coach- Sign-up for Healthy Living and Balance health and mind-body coaching sessions that help you get clear on how to create a new blueprint for your health, career, relationship and spiritual growth.

If you start today to implement any three of these action exercises I guarantee you will make a shift in your beliefs and perceptions.

2006 Joyce Dillon, R.N., M.N. health and mind-body coach and energy medicine practitioner works with individuals and groups who want to dramatically improve their health, relationships and live a more balanced lifestyle. Learn more about our services and products atwww.healthylivingandbalance.com or contact Joyce directly at 404-881-1322 or jjdillon@mindspring.com. Article Submitted by http://www.thatarticleguy.com/
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SIMPLE FABULOUS TIPS TO A STRESS-FREE LIFE

2006-10-20T16:29:00.001-07:00

Author: Riana Lance

Life is an on going process that you can’t stop even for one single second. You’ll face new things everyday, even new problems, new challenges.

They rush into your mind, your heart, your soul. They punch you on the head, on the face, on the chest, on the stomach, on the arms. You’re paralyzed.

Do you know why many people join martial art clubs? They want to protect themselves. Now, why don’t you protect yourselves as well? Prevent those rush-ins, those punches. Protect your mind, your heart, your soul from stress. Or if you’re in the middle of it, reduce it.

Here are some tips you can use to be a stress-free person:

• Before trying to make the attempt to get rid of your stress, you should make sure that it’s a healthful decision.

Some are reducing stress by smoking. That’s totally unhealthy!

You’d better try some deep breathing exercises, light physical exercise, reading, getting out into nature, etc. Or consult a professional or a doctor.

The problem about stress relief is to not do anything at all. Some people are not aware they are at risk for problems such as heart attack and stroke.

• There are many different types of therapy that can be used to help with stress relief. Music therapy is a relaxing and soothing one that can help with stress.

Therapy clients participate through playing instruments, improvising and making up new songs, singing, or even just listening

• Having a healthy body can also help in relieving stress. The right balance of foods in a day can really be a key factor in reducing your stress levels.

Food is the key. And, it should be taken in its natural form. When I say natural forms I mean for example, when you eat vegetable and fruit it helps to eat them in the form that they naturally come in.

If you eat fruit from a can, it is contained in syrup and sugars that will not be good for you so eating them raw is the best choice.

• Do some exercises, they can actually reduce stress. How? The reason for it is because when we exercise we actually drain stress right out of our body.

Think about it, if you go jogging and began in a stressed out mood or high strung, chances are that at the end of your jog, you are suddenly relaxed and you feel better.

• Don’t let stress affect your mental health! Mental health disorders are equal opportunity problems. Anyone who has stress might end up having mental health problem.

The only way to avoid it is by doing necessary treatments to your stress. Start finding out the problem and get rid of it, now!

Riana Lance has a deep concern on health. Get her inspirational e-mail guides on How to Relieve Your Stress at http://www.healthifica.com/reports/stress-relief.php Also, grasp her other motivational health tips at http://www.healthifica.com/, a worth-to-visit daily updated blog.
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TEN CRITICAL DE-ESCALATION SKILLS

2006-10-20T16:10:00.001-07:00

aAuthor: Kim Olver

Being able to de-escalate one’s own and the anger of others is an important skill to have in business. Hopefully, this is not something the reader deals with on a regular basis but unfortunately most people in business encounter either their own anger or the anger of others more frequently than they would like.

In order to be successful at de-escalating anger, a person must understand and become skillful in the following areas.

Prevention Steps:

1. Recognize that anger is a choice of a wide range of behaviors that could be used to get what one needs in a situation. It is a behavior that has benefit for its user. Anger can get people the attention they need, help them escape things they don’t want to do, help them gain control over another person or situation, or pump them up when they are feeling small and insignificant.

2. The person interacting with the angry person must identify his or her own emotion at any given point in time. If the helping person is also experiencing anger, then that person will not be very effective assisting others to manage theirs.

3. When potential interventionists are experiencing anger, they must be able to change what they are doing or thinking to get their emotions under control or seek the assistance they will need to manage the situation.

4. Perform a quick self-assessment. A potential helper must ask the following questions. Can I avoid criticizing and finding fault with the angry person? Can I avoid being judgmental? Can I keep from trying to control the other person into doing something he or she doesn’t want to do? Can I keep myself removed from the conflict? Can I believe that the people using anger have the right to make decisions and choices about how they meet their needs and that they have within them the ability to make those decisions? Can I try to see the situation from the angry person’s point of view and understand what need or needs he or she is trying to satisfy? And finally, can I remember that my job is to place the healing of relationships as my primary concern? If the listener can’t answer these questions in the affirmative, then he or she will need assistance in managing the person who is expressing anger.

5. Recognize early warning signs. Many incidents of anger could be prevented if those who are around a person about to become angry notice the subtle change in the person’s behavior. Quiet people may become agitated; while louder, more outgoing people generally become quiet and introspective. Paying attention to these subtle changes and simply commenting on the change could help the individual talk about things so he or she wouldn’t have to become angry. Prevention goes a long way. However, there still will be times when you don’t notice the early warning signs or when your first encounter with the person occurs when they are already in an angry state. Also, it’s possible that you will do everything right in this prevention phase and angry people will still choose anger as their best chance for getting what they want. When any of these situations occur, the listener will need to employ one or all of the five de-escalation skills.

Intervention Steps:

6. Active listening is the process of really attempting to hear, acknowledge and understand what a person is saying. It is a genuine attempt to put oneself in the other person’s situation. More than anything, this involves LISTENING! Listening means attending not only to the words the other person is saying but also the underlying emotion, as well as, the accompanying body language. By simply providing a sounding board and a willing ear, a person’s anger can be dissipated.

7. Acknowledgement occurs when the listener is attempting to sense the emotion underlying the words a person is using and then comments on that emotion. The person may say something like, “You sound really angry right now!” By acknowledging and really trying to understand what the angry person is feeling, that person becomes able to release a lot of the aggression.

8. Agreeing---often when people are angry about something, there is at least 2 % truth in what they are saying. When attempting to diffuse someone’s anger, it is important to find that 2 % of
truth and agree with it.

When someone is angry and the listener attempts to reason with the person, his or her efforts will be largely ineffective. When the listener agrees with the 2% of truth in the angry person’s tirade, he or she takes away the resistance and consequently eliminates the fuel for the fire.

9. Apologizing is a good de-escalation skill. I’m not talking about apologizing for an imaginary wrong. I am talking about sincerely apologizing for anything in the situation that was unjust. It’s simply a statement acknowledging that something occurred that wasn’t right or fair.
This can have the effect of letting angry people know that the listener is sincerely sorry for what they are going through and they may cease to direct their anger at the person attempting to help.

10. Inviting criticism is the final of the de-escalation skills. In this instance the listener would simply ask the angry person to voice his or her criticism of the listener or the situation. The person intervening might say something like, “Go ahead. Tell me everything that has you upset. Don’t hold anything back. I want to hear everything you are angry about.”

This invitation will sometimes temporarily intensify the angry emotion but if the listener continues to encourage the person to vent his or her anger and frustration, eventually, the angry person runs out of complaints. Just let the angry person vent until the anger is spent.

Even when using the above ten skills, there may be a rare occasion when the listener is unsuccessful in the attempts to decrease the other person’s anger. The listener’s safety should be the primary concern. The listener should not get between the angry person and his or her only means of escape and shouldn’t allow the angry person to block the listener’s only means of escape.

Anyone intervening in an emotionally charged situation should always have a plan or an established way to get help if needed and remember to always stay calm. An angry person is generally someone capable of getting out of control. When out of control people sense they are intimidating and scaring others, it can increase their sense of power and control, resulting in an escalation of the situation. The helpers must stay calm and act as if they are in control of themselves and the situation.

Kim Olver has over 20 years experience in staff development and supervision and is an expert in leadership skills, staff relationships and diversity. Certified in reality therapy/choice theory/lead management/quality school concepts, she works with counselors, schools and businesses to apply these ideas. Visit http://www.coachingforexcellence.biz/
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com/

CONFIDE FOR LESS ANGER IN YOUR MARRIAGE

2006-10-20T16:09:00.002-07:00

Author: Dr Tony Fiore

Jose and Juanita have been married for 17 years, and basically love each other, yet have been fighting over the same issue almost every night of those years: She likes it cold at night and he likes it warm in their house and bedroom. She had just opened their bedroom windows for the night. When she left to visit the bathroom, she heard Jose follow her and close all the windows. Let’s eavesdrop to see what we can learn about this fight and what to do about it. —(curtain up)—Juanita: (to Jose) "I can’t sleep unless the windows are wide open. You know that, but insist on closing them every night, just so I’ll be miserable. You are selfish and inconsiderate." Jose: (to Juanita):"This is my house too. Why should I have to freeze? You always get your way. It is so cold in here you could hang meat! Are you trying to get me sick? No NORMAL person would want it this cold!"(curtain down)

IS THIS A SOLVABLE PROBLEM? Depends on the specific marriage. For some couples, the solution would be a simple compromise of some sort; for instance, buy a room thermometer and agree to always keep the room at an agreed upon temperature both could live with.

In many marriages, however, a problem like this is not easily solved—it becomes “perpetual”—and trying to “solve” it only creates anger and tension. For Jose and Juanita, this unfortunately was the case. Why is a simple problem like this not solvable for our couple and in many other marriages? Could be many reasons, but the usual culprits are:

(1) The couple is engaged in a “power” or “control” struggle. This means the fight isn’t about the issue anymore—it is about who will win or lose.

(2) The temperature issue goes deeper and is emotionally tied into other personal or marital issues. If this is the case, the more pressure put on the person to “change,” the more the person resists.

For instance, turns out that Juanita literally panics if in a room without air flow due to issues in her childhood. Depriving her of fresh air flow literally makes her want to fight for her life. CONFIDING MAKES THE DIFFERENCE. Let’s now listen in on what Jose and Juanita could have said that may have made a HUGE difference in their communication. This is because now they are speaking from their hearts —combining empathy (seeing things from the viewpoint of the other) with assertive communication (honestly speaking your feelings and thoughts in a forthright manner)

Juanita (should have said something like):"I feel that I don’t have to put up with this, although I also feel bad that you have to suffer. I tell myself that if you really loved me, you would want me to be comfortable at night.I also ask myself why should I always give in? I work hard all day too and deserve some consideration. All I’m asking for is a decent night’s sleep, but then, I wonder if I am being too selfish." Jose (should have said something like):"I do really love you and I want you to be comfortable too, but it gets so cold in here at night for me that I can’t sleep.We both want a good night’s sleep and want to be able to continue sleeping together in the same room. Let’s find a way to discuss it so it doesn’t make us so angry at each other."

Granted, it is not easy to confide when in the heat of marital battle. Consequently, it is often better to first take a time out, calm down and then communicate what is in your heart. The following communication tips will help:

FOUR COMMUNICATION TIPS

Tip 1- Don’t only focus on the issue. Also discuss your feelings, thoughts, and inner conflicts surrounding the issue. Confide what is going on in both your heart and your mind.

Tip 2- Look at how you communicate with each other ABOUT the issue. Focus on the process of communication.

Tip 3- Give up needing to be right all the time. Wise and successful married people have discovered that often it is preferable to be happy than to be right!

Tip 4- Convey to your partner that you love them enough to want to join them so together you can find a way to deal with the issue or problem.

Dr Tony Fiore is a licensed psychologist and anger management trainer. His company, The Anger Coach provides classes, products and resources for adults, couples,the workplace, and professionals. He can be reached at 714-771-0378.
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com/

WAYS FOR COPING WITH ANGER

2006-10-20T16:09:00.001-07:00

Author: Ken Snowie -

Anger is a real problem in today’s society, and for this reason it is important that we learn how to cope with anger issues. Everyone at some time or another in their lives has experienced anger and perhaps even lashed out in anger.

Anger is a natural emotion, because we all get hurt, aggravated, insulted, or feel threatened from time to time. Anger can be your greatest ally or your greatest foe. For example, if we feel threatened by another person and we express our anger in a controlled way, the outcome can be favorable. Conversely, if we get out of control, the situation can escalate and become worse than it was before.

Having control of our emotions assists us in life by protecting us and being successful. We are better equipped to handle crisis situations when they occur, such as a financial predicament or medical emergency. However, if we allow our anger to get the better of us, we put our health and well-being at risk.

It is not uncommon for someone to ignore the problem in dealing with anger. The person might be in denial of any negative behavior he or she has exhibited. Denial is a big reason why some people never deal with their problems, or their anger.

Another reason is that acceptance of mental health issues has never really occurred. Mental health experts often debate over the pros and cons of diagnosis. They will inform the patient that diagnosing their condition is only creating a label that can put the patient into struggle. I disagree with this because it is important that a person know what is wrong with them before they can deal with the problem effectively.

Diagnosis can lead to acceptance. Another problem is that a person is misdiagnosed several times before a professional finally figures out what the problem really is, which can cause stress and confusion for the individual. Knowing the origin often makes it easier to deal with the problem.

Anger is an emotion that has been created by some type of force, person, or situation. If this problem is allowed to continue untreated, it only gets worse. A person can only take so much before they blow their top at some point.

Other problems come from mental health issues, excessive alcohol consumption, or even drugs. Not everyone with anger problems has a problem with alcohol and/or drugs, but in some instances, it is an added problem that requires professional attention.

Similarly, not everyone with mental health issues is an alcoholic or drug addict, and not everyone with a mental health issue has anger issues.

The problem then is concealed within the mind. Somewhere in the lifetime of the person, their emotions were broken up. Somewhere in the person’s life he or she was not given the tools to deal with emotions effectively.

Emotions are complicated and they can sap the life from a person. Therefore, when we know how to cope with our anger and other emotions, we are on a path to success.

Nothing feels more gratifying than feeling a sense of control and personal achievement. It is vital to seek help and find someone that can be trusted, in order to for a person with anger issues to deal properly with those emotions.

Our behavior and reactions are based on environment, functions, and attitudes. When we are in an environment that is not good, then it is time get out of that situation. Bad relationships limit our growth.

Surrounding yourself with positive people can benefit your behaviors. Functions are the processes we all deal with daily. When our body and mind are not performing together in a healthy way, we are going to lose control.

Our attitudes contribute to anger in that if we are thinking negatively, negative things will likely happen. Therefore, by practicing positive thinking, you will improve your life and be better able to manage your emotions and feelings, including anger. The best ways for coping with anger depend on the situation and people involved.

To learn more about anger management techniques visit http://www.discoverangermanagement.info/
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com/

DEALING WITH ANGER

2006-10-20T16:07:00.000-07:00

Author: Robert Elias Najemy

Rage is an advanced form of anger, just as panic is to fear, a state in which we are even less in control of our words and behavior. Hate is a condition in which we think very badly of someone, avoid contact with him, and probably wish the worst for him, perhaps even hoping that he might experience a tragedy. All three of these emotions, which from here on in we will simply call "anger", are secondary emotions in the sense that they arise from other emotions, such as hurt, fear, guilt, injustice, disappointment, etc.

In general we are controlled by two beliefs here:

1. We believe we must have something that the other is obstructing us from having. This could be anything from sleep, food and shelter, to our peace of mind, our spouse or other persons to whom we are attached.

2. We believe this person toward whom we feel this anger is responsible for our reality. We believe that if it were not for him or her, we would not be unhappy. He or she is "responsible" for our pain and unhappiness.

Anger can also be a starting point for major change for an individual, or even an entire society. Anger can be a source of energy and dedication toward transforming the negative and unjust circumstances around us.

Many of us first need to learn to acknowledge, accept and express our anger before we can regain our self-esteem and empowerment. (We need not vent our anger toward others. We can learn nonviolent ways to express this energy. There are various catharsis techniques for this, which have nothing to do with others.)

Also, there are some cases in which we may need to express anger in order to get a result for which we are responsible. This can be done, however, without demeaning or hurting the other. Hate, on the other hand, is based on weakness and has few redeeming qualities. A strong person seldom hates.

Thus, we are not interested in suppressing our anger, but rather in recognizing it, accepting it, expressing it in non harmful ways, understanding it and focusing its energy in positive directions toward self empowerment and social change.

Here is a brief list of some common reasons we might feel anger towards someone: (You may want to check those which tend to bother you.)1. When others do not agree with us.2. When they do not understand us.3. When they obstruct us from satisfying our needs. (A need could be psychological, such as the need for acceptance, respect or self-esteem)4. When they do not respect us.5. When they think they are superior.6. When they try to control or suppress us.7. When they criticize us.8. When they tell lies or gossip about us.9. When they harm us or someone close to us.10. When they have evil intentions or ulterior motives.11. When they are negative, complaining, whining, criticizing etc.12. When they think they know it all.13. When they give us advice we have not asked for.14. When they play the role of the victim, the "poor me," and want attention.15. When they do not take care of themselves or carry their share of the load.16. When they make mistakes.17. When they do not keep their promises or appointments.18. When they are weak and dependent.19. When they act in an egotistical and selfish ways, disregarding our or others’ needs20. When they use us or others.21. When they are cold and insensitive.22. When they are not responsible to their word or responsibilities23. When they are lazy.24. When they ignore our needs.25. When they reject us.
Other reason__________________________

It would be interesting to go through the same list replacing the word "they" with the word "I," making the analogous changes in the wording, so as to determine when we get angry with ourselves. This exercise may also reveal that some of the anger we feel toward others is actually a projection of anger that we feel toward ourselves. If we could understand and accept ourselves in those situations, we might also understand and accept others.

Positive alternatives to anger or hate could be:

1. We can understand the others’ weaknesses and negative traits. We all have faults and moments in which we are not conscious, loving or respectful of others.

2. If we have faith that nothing happens by chance and that life gives exactly what we need at every moment for our growth process, we will be able to take responsibility for what is happening and stop blaming the other.

3. We need to realize that we are the sole creators of our reality and that we are attracting from life and others whatever corresponds with what we feel and think within ourselves and with whatever we have to learn.

4. We can direct our energy toward changing or correcting that, which makes us angry.

5. We can recognize and understand our own weaknesses and negative traits and thus develop understanding for others’ weaknesses.

6. We can learn forgiveness and love others and ourselves as we are.

Robert E. Najemy, author of 25 books and life coach with 30 years of experience, has trained over 300 life coaches and now does so over the Internet. Become a life coach.Over 600 free article and lectures at http://www.HolisticHarmony.com/
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com/

ANGER MANAGEMENT COUNSELING- HOW TO SEEK HELP

2006-10-20T16:06:00.000-07:00

Author: Jim Johnson

Anger management counseling is a necessary part of many individual's lives. It is important to realize that anger management is something that happens to millions. They just lose control; they just can not handle what is happening. Or, they just get so mad that something just has to give. No matter what happens or how it happens, those that lose control of their anger need to consider seeking out the help of anger management counseling.

Why Invest In Counseling?

For many people, the fact that they need to invest in anger management counseling is something that is bothersome. Why can't they just get themselves under control? That is a problem that many of those suffering with anger management problems have to face. The important thing for you to realize is that this is a condition that is serious and is uncontrollable. They do not try nor do they want to be this angry. It happens because they are pushed, frustrated or stressed to the max.

Even more so, what eventually happens in the angry outburst also is not controllable. No matter how much it would be beneficial for them to be able to just turn if off, they can not do that. That is why anger management counseling is one of the best ways that people can control what is happening to them. As a parent, teen anger management should be counseled as soon as possible.

What Good Does Counseling Do?

Another mistaken theory is that anger management counseling is not worthwhile. It can be, or it may not be. The fact is that no two people are the same. Most of those that enter counseling will learn anger management techniques to help them to ultimately control what is happening in their lives. This is not something that we all can accomplish, but even just learning a few things can drastically improve their lives.

Counseling for anger management will provide tips and techniques for everyday use. It will help them to learn what is truly triggering the outburst and how to handle situations that infuriate them. It is not something that can be learned on your own, though. If you have a loved one facing anger management problems, seeking out the help of anger management counseling can be the best thing for them.

If you are the person that is facing anger management problems, working with a counselor is an ideal way to learn how to deal with these problems. The fact is that if you do not, things will just get worse for you through the long run. If you work with anger management techniques that you will be taught, it can be amazingly beneficial to the entire outlook that you have on your life. Anger management counseling is available through doctor's, through your employer possibly, and possibly through your community.

You can find anger management counseling and anger management techniques and more by visiting our mental health website.
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com/

LIFE CHANGING TIPS FOR BOOMERS: REWIRE YOUR BRAIN TO CONTROL EMOTIONS, AND MAKE POSITIVE LIFE CHOICES

2006-10-20T13:37:00.001-07:00

Author: Karen Sherman, Ph.D.

Do You Seem to Get Caught Up in the Same Old Reactions?

Have you ever blown up at your spouse only to realize—after the smoke cleared—that you might have over-reacted just a tad? Maybe you learn that you haven’t been invited to your uncle’s friend’s sister’s birthday party and you behave as if it’s the slight of the century.

Sometimes even the most minor snafu can send us storming out of the room, slamming down a phone, or just shutting down entirely. It’s like we just can’t help it—the reaction is as automatic as a mallet to the knee.

Science Reveals It May Not Be Your Fault

New research indicates that these habitual, knee-jerk responses go way back to our childhood. As youngsters, we learned to adapt to our families’ idiosyncrasies as a way of survival. Psychologists used to refer to these coping mechanisms as our baggage—but what science has now shown us is that these responses are actually hard-wired into our brains. And because our responses are so ingrained, they have become our filtering system for future incidents. In other words, if something happens today that the brain reads as being similar to something that happened in the past, it will respond as if it were the first time, even though you may be in your 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and beyond.

Bringing This to Life

For example, let’s say a child comes from a home where the parents fight frequently. That child is going to associate yelling with bad feelings. In later years, if his spouse raises her voice, he’s likely to shut down like when he was a kid—metaphorically running to his room, closing the door, and essentially blocking out the noise.

Does this mean if you come from a family of yellers you’re doomed to hide under your bed every time someone raises a voice? Luckily, recent research indicates that the brain continues to grow throughout our lives—and old patterns can be released as new ones are formed in your boomer years..

Help Is On the Way

The way to managing your anger and knee jerk reactions is to establish new connections by refocusing your attention to a different outcome or possibility. But, before you can foster these new connections in your brain, you have to be aware of the old brain triggers.

When I try and distinguish whether someone’s reaction is a past association, I look to see if their reaction to the situation is automatic and intense. Additionally, when I try and offer an alternative to why they’re behaving that way, the person is resistant and reluctant to consider any other view or interpretation of the situation—other than their own.

In my practice, I work extensively with clients to help them rewire and rewrite their lives. Here is an easy exercise to get you started on rewiring your brain to control your anger and over-reactions that will bring about positive changes in your life-today!

1. Thinking of Alternatives:

a. When you’re projecting your past experience onto a present one, try and imagine alternative ways to handle the situation. For example, let’s say you have lunch plans with a friend—who cancels at the last minute. Immediately, you feel an overwhelming sense of hurt and rejection. Which is how you always feel in similar situations—indicating—voila—a past pattern! Be conscious of this and take a step back to recognize it.

b. Then, approach the situation from an entirely different perspective. Maybe you use humor to deflect the bad feelings, thinking to yourself, “Gee, I guess it’s my deodorant.” Or, you choose the direct approach and ask your friend if you’ve done something to upset her. Or, you take the practical route and figure your friend just overbooked, overextended, or over-promised—and give her a get-out-of-jail-free card. (Hint: If you have difficulty coming up with alternative ways to handle the situation, think about how someone else - your mother, a childhood friend, an admired acquaintance - might handle the same situation.)

2. Plugging in New Choices:

a. Now, replay the actual situation as vividly as possible—the phone ringing, the sound of your friend’s voice, the awkward goodbyes—and imagine yourself carrying out one of your new solutions. Maybe you decide that being understanding of your friend’s busy schedule is the best choice.

b. Replay the phone call and plug in your new behavior, the understanding you, rather than playing out your old behavior of feeling rejected and hurt.

Making it Last

Before long, you will begin to see a slight shift in how you feel. By doing this exercise again and again, you will refocus your attention on a new outcome. This will rewire your brain and make a new neural connection—a connection to positive change!

Finally, a psychologist who goes that extra mile & cares about people. Whether Karen Sherman, Ph.D. is giving a speech or offering a workshop-she’s helping people. Let Karen help you make positive life choices both personally & in your relationships by signing up for her free newsletter at http://www.drkarensherman.com/newsletter.htm

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

TEEN ANGER MANAGEMENT

2006-10-20T13:32:00.001-07:00

Author: Jim Johnson

Teen anger management is something that many people struggle with. The bottom line is to know what level of anger is acceptable and what has gone too far. Teens are under a great deal of pressure, there is no doubt about that. Yet, it goes further to suggest that when anger gets to the point of scaring someone or causing harm to someone or something, then there is too much anger. Often, teens, just like everyone else, need anger management techniques taught to them to overcome these situations.

Teen anger management is becoming a growing problem. This has to do with many things but often has to do with the sheer fact that teens today face a great deal more pressure than they did a few decades ago. They have more disdain for their lives, for their peers and for their parents. This is due to numerous things but usually can be attributed to things like family problems in which they blame themselves, problems with peer pressure including the use of alcohol and drugs and it can be from the responsibilities they take on at school. On top of this, there is stress from relationships as well as employment.

In other words, teen anger management is often lost because they have so much happening to them. As a parent, a friend or a teacher, it is essential to take note of problems with anger because they can and they will escalate. They do develop into more harsh words, physical abuse and they can even become self destructive. Therefore, those that have found their child dealing with anger management need to do something about it.

What Can Be Done?

While it is a very difficult thing to do, it is often necessary for parents to provide their child with anger management counseling when they have gotten to this level. There is one solid reason for doing this. It is the most successful at helping them to learn to cope with anger instead of lashing out at everyone else. Anger management techniques are often taught to the teen to allow them to learn how to cope with, manage and work through their anger instead of blowing up.

Anger management counseling is often the best way to go. The good news is that there are many opportunities to secure this level of help for a child. It can start with the school counselor. Some schools do offer help to children with anger management problems. Additionally, the child's doctor can also help them to find the best possible solution. It makes good sense that the child would seek help at this level.

Anger management counseling is essential and it readily available to teens. If parents, friends and counselors would take notice of these needs, it can be a step at allowing the healing to really begin. Often, we notice anger management when it has gotten destructive, but if you do nothing for it, it can get even worse. Problems with teen anger management can destroy their lives.

You can find info on teen anger management and anger management tips and more by visiting our mental health website.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

QUIZ YOUR ANGER

2006-10-20T13:23:00.000-07:00

Quiz Your Anger by cdmohatta

Anger is one of the most common emotions. Most of us get angry. Some of us get angry at the smallest provocation, while for some others it takes more. Some of us keep our anger with us and seethe with that while others may release it immediately.

Anger over what was done wrong with us is the most damaging emotion. It tires us very fast. Any betrayal can give rise to anger that can go out of control. Even the memory can evoke same intensity of anger. I know of one person whose sweetheart ditched her. She was extremely hurt and angry. The thought itself was overwhelming. One day she saw the photograph of her sweetheart with his new love. The pain of anger and helpless frustration was unbearable and medical help was called. After that whenever she got the memory of that photograph, she used to imagine two very dirty dogs in that picture. The anger remains, but that photograph does not hurt as much.

Why do you get angry? When do you get angry? Your anger lasts for how much time? Are their any triggers that ignite your anger? Analyze them carefully. If possible, write down about your anger and think about it. Compare your anger reaction with others if possible. Find out all about your anger personality. Avoid the triggers. Avoid people who make you agree. Avoid thoughts that ignite anger. Save yourself from your anger.

The author C.D.Mohatta writes for quizzes on topics like love, personality, dating, relationships, friendship, business, etc. The author also writes for free greetings on holidays, birthday, love, friendship, family and all events and occasions. One more site recommended by the author has free sports games which surfers can play online.

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