The Power of Yes!

Just to clarify, this isn't the yes we declare when we really want to say no. Saying yes to something out of integrity with the core of who we are and what we truly want for ourselves actually drains our life energy. Rather than feeling connected to ourselves, saying yes when we really want to say no removes us from our center.

This is about saying yes to what is happening in this moment as well as to what's really going on inside of us right now. When we say yes to what we are noticing, we are in this open, expanded heart place. We feel whatever is there for us to feel: "Yes, I'm disappointed," "Yes, I'm feeling sad," "Yes, I can feel the tension in my body" or "Yes, I'm feeling joy." In allowing what is true within us, we are present to ourselves and others and, thereby, fully alive.

Saying yes to this state of nonjudgmental curiosity helps us take life lightly. When we are feeling upset, we can get curious about what we feel in our bodies. We can witness when we are focusing on the facts or when our minds are making up stories to embellish those facts and create drama. We can simply notice when we want to blame or judge or defend or be right. Instead of fighting with our minds by trying to convince ourselves or someone else to think or act in a different way, we notice our thoughts from a place of being curious. We can then make a different choice.

I notice that making a practice of saying yes to what is present in my own life has made me accept myself and my life at deeper and deeper levels. For instance, I have become aware of an old habit of impulsively jumping in with what's on my mind in a social situation. At times, it can be funny and add to the conversation. At other times, the impulse can interrupt someone else's train of thought. I've decided I want to break this pattern and realize that I first need to accept it - an old habit learned as the youngest kid in an Italian family who made the decision to jump in to get heard. In other words, by my saying yes to what is, I notice the behaviour from a compassionate place without making myself wrong. I then set a new intention for how I want to be in the next moment. There's no defensiveness in this way of being in the world, nor is there a lack of responsibility for my own behaviour.

With yes, we are able to remove ourselves more readily from any issues or triggers as we embrace everything. We welcome our fears and our hopes, our happiness and our sorrows. We know all of our feelings are part of life. We know our love and compassion at our very core is so much deeper than whatever feelings or thoughts are moving through us in one moment.

What's happening for you right now that would be different if you said "yes"? What would you stop resisting? It might be someone's help...a new idea...the pain of an old memory...the gift of someone who loves you in the best way that they know how.

Through your breath, go to a quiet place inside of you. Take a moment to think of something that you don't like that's happening in your life right now - it may be a health issue, a conflict with someone close to you, a financial problem, a feeling of being less than or ungrounded, some part of yourself that you try to hide from others. Notice your first reaction to your awareness in this moment. Place your focus on your body and notice where you feel this inside of you. Notice the feeling that arises to the surface. Allow yourself to say yes to what is happening inside of you. Be aware of your breath. Let the word yes be part of each inhale and exhale like a mantra. Notice what happens. Allow yourself to hold whatever is happening with love and compassion like a parent would hold a small child. Feel it in your belly. Breathe...whisper yes....without judgment....being with what is true in this moment.

We are aligned with the Divine within us when we are not wishing that this moment is different than what it actually is. In saying yes, we are loving life.

By Jeannie Campanelli
Source : The Power of Yes! Read More...

The Biggest Step to Your Success is Motivation

We often hear that Motivation is the foundation of success. Should we believe it? Well we know that peoples dreams and ambitions are far more less likely to be squashed even before they have a chance to get off the ground if we are strongly motivated. Many times a person will have a great idea and get the project started only to find, a few days later when "reality sets in", and the thoughts of failure come creeping into the mind, that they should have been far more strongly motivated before they began. When this stage is hit and self doubt comes creeping in, failure is almost inevitable. This is the natural cycle that keeps us down, and limits us from becoming all we can be. All we should be.

Motivation is the answer. Go read all the self help books that you can find in the library , and you will ultimately come to the one conclusion, the key to success is Not To Give Up! Keep hacking away and believe in yourself. Be properly motivated. We need proper motivation before we start anything new if we want to succeed.

I know you hear it all the time, get motivated, but 99% of the time it just doesn't sink in. At least not deeply enough. Truth be told, you can create your own reality or destiny or whatever you want to call it! Everyone is responsible for their own destiny, and we can all be very successful. We have heard and maybe even used many of the excuses about how life is "Unfair" and are so "unfortunate" not lucky like a brother, father, a neighbour, etc. The people that think this way have to understand that if you think like that, you will end up like that! You reap what you sow.

When you are strongly motivated you will be able to weed out all the negative thoughts and capitalize on only the positive ones. You will be in perfect control. You will be able to put all the effort you want into your goals. and succeed.

But just let the least bit of negativity into your thoughts, just lose your motivation with a negative thought, and all can be lost. Negativity can and often does bring it all down. Don't focus on your competitors, but focus on yourself and your own progress. Become more motivated for personal success.

By Carmn Paynter
Source : The Biggest Step to Your Success is Motivation Read More...

Be Authentic, Be Yourself

Whenever we pretend to be someone that we are not, people can either see through the act or they sense that we are not being authentic. I grew up in an extremely affluent area but my father had a low paying government job. I began to form an opinion about where I fit in this distorted world. It's the only world I knew. I didn't know first hand about the world outside of mine. Then I left home at a young age, and experienced poverty because I had no idea how to make it on my own. I found myself homeless at the age of 19. That experience then shaped a new reality for me. After becoming a social worker, I was exposed to a whole group of people that I had never met personally before. People who grew up on welfare and had parents on disability. When the children hit 18 they applied for disability (SSI). It's just how things were in that community and the people I worked with and came to know, love and respect, didn't know any other way of doing their lives. I began to see their issues in a very different light. I now saw them as strong human beings tackling impossible odds, instead of needy, dependent people. The experiences they were exposed to in terms of abuse, trauma, and deprivation opened my eyes to a whole new reality that so many people grow up in. If a plant is never nurtured and isn't given soil to grow in, it will shrink and die or live marginally. There is always that rare plant that grows under any conditions. For some people, life can be a horror from a very young age.

The point is, we often feel shame as a result of our childhood experiences and that makes us want to pretend that we are someone other than who we are. Once we can see our past for what it was and what it wasn't we can gain more respect for ourselves for having survived what we endured. We can also have more compassion for others who have gone through something different or something that seems worse.

Lack, deprivation, starvation, and poverty are ideas that are instilled in us from birth. We have to heal the wounds and recover in order to move to a higher level of existence. Money, health, quality food and love are all forms of energy that we receive. Those who never learned to receive because of they only knew lack and deprivation in the past have a difficult time in their adult lives unless they seek professional help and take measures toward healing on every level.

We are all enough at birth. We are all enough throughout our live in spite of our experiences. We are perfect as we are and the experiences we are having today are exactly the ones that we are supposed to be having.

Letting go of the hurt and pain of the past is a long process. It takes courage and fortitude to stay on a path of healing. There needs to be a spiritual connection to something that you believe is greater and wiser. Few people are able to face their demons head on and experience the pain necessary to heal.

By Debbie Simon
Source : Be Authentic, Be Yourself Read More...

Learn the Power of Mind Over Matter

The mind matters. It affects your life, your wealth and your health. The power of the mind has been investigated, probed and research since science was at its infancy and its protagonists were able to look inside the mind's eye and started the discovery to its secrets. It has advanced so far yet so little, more than 80% of the secret of the brain remains undiscovered terrain, because the tools have yet to be invented to delve into those dark enclaves of mental secrecy. However, we are benefiting from a century that is able to control the powerful brainwaves in the mind that can create peace, balance and harmony in our lives.

You would be surprised to know that this has been around for a long time, living in a form called meditation that has been often wrapped in the allure and mystery of Asia and the Middle East. But the Western world and science have kept up, and in some cases superseded the old methods of meditation that has bridged the gap between traditional difficult-to-learn methods with the ease of science and technological tools. Now everyone can learn the power of mind over matter and the methods for reaching that state has become startlingly easy. A combination of methods will help you reach a state of mental relaxation where the subconscious is accessible and transformable.

The root of the problem with a lot of our negative behavioural patterns and mindsets is down to the fact that our conscious mind has been sculpted by years of experience and teaching, based on sight and sound. Some of us have literally taught ourselves to be negative and be unsuccessful in life and be content with it. Why not set yourself free? Change your mindset and be a winner. That person is within you, and you can't hear him because he is incarcerated in the self-built prisons of your conscious brain and your subconscious mind.

There are many methods for you to tap into the power of the mind and release the correct brain waves and frequency patterns that allow you to reach a state of acute intelligence, creativity and optimal 'super' learning. From yoga, to programmed meditation, hypnotism to technological wonders like magnetic field and binaural beats that stimulate the exact cortical and cerebral brain response - precise for optimal reprogramming and change.

There is no limit to what you can do with more brain power. These very same technologies are used to treat degenerative mind diseases like Parkinson's and dementia. They are used to assist in the process of healing in difficult patients. They are used to cure acute depression and slowly cure behavioural problems like A.D.D and O.C.D. Children are now using it to enhance their learning and creativity at a young formative age so that their subconscious is programmed for such a heightened state for the rest of their lives.

If you can take even a fraction of such power and promise - imagine where you will be a few months down the road from now. Wherever it is, it surely is a better place then where you are now. So what do you have to lose? Learn the power of mind over matter today.

By Greg Frost
Source : Learn the Power of Mind Over Matter Read More...

How Do You Feel ?

There it is again. That awful buzz that the alarm clock makes when it goes off in the morning, signaling to you that it's time to get up and start your day. It's amazing just how loud that sound can be when the house is so quiet and how dreadful it can make you feel when you know what that sound is waking you for. It's time to get up, get the kids ready, feed the dog get, everyone off to school or wherever they go and then head to work. On your way into the office you start going over in your head just how lousy you know this day is going to be and how much you're gong to miss while you sacrifice your time for a paycheck that barely covers your bills. Does it Feel like you are in the movie "Groundhog Day"? If you are like most people you dream about the day when you don't have to be a slave to that alarm clock anymore and become financially free to live the life you've always wished for. But it's just a fantasy right? Well, yes, until you learn the little secret that is hidden within us all to making our dreams a reality!

There is a law that has been in place since the dawn of man that until recently had been quiet, yet very much in effect. A law so powerful and all consuming that has been within all of us since the day we took our first breath.

The Law of Attraction.

You no doubt have heard of the saying "what goes around comes around" and I'm sure you've had instances in your life which proves this statement to be true. The Law of Attraction basically states that what we put out into the Universe, whether it be thoughts or actions, comes back to us and in many cases ten fold! Everyone is controlled by this Law, but few know of it and fewer still, how to use it to shape their reality. The wonderful thing about it is it is so easy to implement and it starts by just a thought. A good one. Am I telling you that you can control the type of life you live just by the thoughts you have? Yes, I am.

This power, the power of positive thinking, will bring all of your desires to fruition freely and quickly! By envisioning yourself as the recipient of the great things of your dreams you are invoking the power of the Universe into making your dreams a reality! Have you ever noticed the string of good luck you tend to find when you give to charity? For example, have you ever walked out of your local grocery store at Christmas time and put your last few dollars in the red bucket by the door? It's all the money you had for the week but you felt compelled to help anyway and gave it away selflessly? Later, you may find a $20 bill you never realized you had lost a few days before your next payday. You call it luck, but it's not, it's the Universe giving back to you!

As for that JOB, the one you have lost interest in, I will bet you can make your dream of taking your future in your own hands a reality by starting a business of your own if you believe you are able to do it! This power has been in you all along, now that you know of it, go and use it to work for you! By applying the same effort you give to your current job which you don't even like and putting it towards a business of your own, how could you possibly fail? Especially when you implement a proven, legitimate and solid system backed by a network of people who are just as interested in your success as you are your own. The power within yourself is enough to make your dreams come true, can you imagine what can cultivate when you have others behind you giving out the same positive thoughts towards your success? The sky is the limit as to what you really can do. In fact, the only limits are the ones you put on yourself...

By Russ Sutton
Source : How Do You Feel ? Read More...

4 Good Reasons to Forgive

Much has been said about the virtues of forgiveness, yet many today who need to forgive are unable or unwilling to do so. This is mainly due to the wrong understanding of what forgiveness is. Most people, when given a clearer understanding of what forgiveness is, become more willing to do so.

Here are some good reasons why you should forgive:

1. Forgiveness is about YOU

Many people are of the opinion that forgiving a perpetrator allows the perpetrator to escape punishment. They think that forgiveness is about giving the perpetrator a second chance at the expense of the injured party.

The truth is forgiveness is all about the injured and is for the benefits of the injured. The focus of forgiveness is for the injured to finally be able to let go of the pain that has continued to hurt him or her even long after the initial assault. It is to help the injured find peace within so that he or she can move on in life without having to continuously carry the pain of the injury.

Forgiveness does not mean condoning the act or absolving the perpetrator of his or her responsibility for the action. It does not mean that the injured will tolerate being inflicted with the same injury again and again. It does not mean reconciliation although reconciliation may happen if the injured wishes.

Forgiveness means standing up for your rights and your self worth. It means drawing a boundary about what you will accept as OK and what is not OK. It means having the courage to assert your rights and responsibilities.

2. Forgiveness is the best revenge

People who have been badly hurt by an intimate person such as a spouse, partner, parent, sibling or close friend sometimes erroneously believe that by staying in the hurt, they are somehow indirectly punishing the perpetrator. They see it as their way of getting back at the perpetrator.

This logic does not hold water because very often the perpetrator does not really care about you in the first place or else he or she would not have cause the injury. In addition, continue to wallow in the pain only prolonged the injury long after it has happened. If it was the intention of the perpetrator to hurt you, clinging on to the pain only multiplies his or her success at hurting you.

In fact, the best revenge of the injured is to live a good and happy life after the injury. This is the surest way to foil the perpetrator's "success".

3. Forgiveness improves your health

Studies have shown that an unforgiving heart suffers increased risk of stress, anxiety, depression, anger, hatred, jealousy, ill will, sadness and insomnia. In addition, an unforgiving heart also risks high blood pressure, heart attack, skin eruptions, arthritis, backache, stomach ulcer, migraine, frequent cold and perhaps even risk of malignancy.

Genuine forgiveness, on the other hand, can have the opposite effects. There is reduced stress, anxiety, depression, anger, hatred, jealousy, ill will, sadness and insomnia as well as a reduction in physical ailments. On top of that, studies have also shown that those who are forgiving tend to grow old with more peace and satisfaction, and less afraid to face death.

So, a forgiving person benefits from improved health in all areas, i.e. physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.

4. Forgiveness makes you a better and stronger person

Another myth about forgiveness is that only the weak forgives. The truth is that only the strong can forgive. That is because forgiveness requires the courage to truly face the emotional pain and injuries, to embrace them and then to eventually let them go. This task is so difficult and painful that many are not able to face it but it is a necessary initial step towards forgiveness.

So, only the strong can forgive. The good news is that once the injured is able to go through the process of forgiveness, he or she will grow to become stronger. There will be a change in his or her fundamental belief systems as well as a renewed purpose and meaning to life. Life will be re-invigorated once again when the old hurt can be left behind without becoming a burden.

So, if you have been hurt before and find it hard to forgive, seriously consider all these good reasons why you should forgive and start to learn how to forgive. It's going to do you a world of good. I promise.

By Tim Ong
Source : 4 Good Reasons to Forgive Read More...

Phrases That Can Make Your Dream Die !

The most damaging phrase in our language is: It's always been done that way.

-Grace Hopper-

A new idea is delicate. It can be killed by a sneer or a yawn; it can be stabbed to death by a joke or worried to death by a frown on the right person's brow.

-Charles Brower-

These two quotes probably make each one of us think of a dream we once had where we really thought we could make a difference in some area. Then we told others, and they either didn't think we could do it or told us it wouldn't work because it had never been done that way.

Many times we just listened to them and let the dream die; then tried to convince our self that it would never have worked anyway. Years later we then still regretted the fact that we let others have the power to convince us our dream would never work.

God has given you unique gifts and talents that He wants you to use for His work on earth. There is no other person that has the exact personality as you, and He has a perfect plan for your life.

God has the power to see how He can use you in the whole scheme of things. All you can see is the small area of world around you. Your vision is also limited to what your mind can comprehend, and most of the time that is only what you have seen before.

God, the Creator, knows how everything works together, and He can see the whole picture. Many times what He says can look like it does not make sense because you cannot see what the other person is doing that fits in perfectly with what you are doing.

If you have a dream, pray about it first and make sure it is something that God wants you to do. Once you are sure about that, ask Him to give you a dynamic faith to carry out the idea or dream.

He will never lie to you and the more you read and study his Word and have personal time with Him, the more you will know that you can trust Him with your life. When he tells you to do something, you can have confidence to proceed knowing that He is walking ahead of you to pave the way.

When you do things in this way, you are not affected as much by others who try to discourage or demean your idea or dream. You will have to acquire patience if you follow God, but in the end you can be sure that He will bring everything to pass according to what He has promised.

You really can trust Him to always have your best interest at heart when you follow His plans. He wants to bless His Children just like you have the desire to bless your own earthly children.

Try it and see what great things He can accomplish through you!

By Cathy Deaton
Source : Phrases That Can Make Your Dream Die ! Read More...

Self Confidence vs Arrogance

Self Confidence vs arrogance is a debatable issue because they can be mistaken for one another. Are you building self confidence? Do people see it as confidence or arrogance?

Can you tell them apart? It can be difficult. If people don't know you, what might come across as arrogant might actually be self confidence gone overboard.

Self confidence can be seen in people who are self assured, yet who are sufficiently humble to accept the fact that they are not always right. They are ready and willing to consider other people's points of view, rather than strictly adhering to their own.

Self confident people do not get upset if their ideas and opinions are challenged. Quite the opposite. They are open to stimulating discussions from all sides before reaching a conclusion.

Arrogant people, on the other hand, only 'appear' self assured and self confident. Actually, they lack confidence and use arrogance to compensate. Their arrogance leaves little room for topic debates or consideration of other people's opinions and feelings. It's quite common for arrogant people to show little concern for anything but their own beliefs.

If you're building self confidence from a life of low self esteem, you are likely to exaggerate your confidence which shows to others as arrogance. It's likely that you are building self confidence, but are still struggling with other issues such as low self worth and ineffective social skills brought on by the isolation of low self esteem.

To boost self esteem and self confidence, you are likely to take a rigid stance on issues even if your conclusions are wrong. You might tend to put other people and their ideas down in an effort to protect yourself.

Arrogant people become boastful in certain situations when they feel threatened. That's because they are struggling to maintain the confidence they have acquired. They are unsure of how stable their confidence really is. In fact, they probably harbor a great deal of doubt about themselves.

People with a healthy level of self confidence are positive and open. They naturally attract other positive people and gain their respect readily.

Are you building self confidence or arrogance?

If you are easily anxious, unsure of yourself, argumentative, and unwilling to consider another person's point of view, you are leaning towards arrogance. If you are calm within yourself, comfortable with who you are and willing to freely discuss opposing ideas without being judgmental, congratulations. You are a confident individual.

If you're arrogant you have a lot of work to do, but it's quite within reach for you to build self confident and become self assured. Begin by discovering yourself. Try to establish your motives and see what you need to do to resolve them.

Building self confidence takes time, but it can be done by discovering your strengths and focusing on those. Direct your confidence-building to those areas first and in time, you can expand it to all areas of your life. Read More...

1 (Passion) + 1 (Power) + 1 (Purpose) = 111 (Means a Whole Bunch of Passion, Power and Purpose!)

Live according to your purpose, and you'll discover a natural passion for life; and within that, you'll feel a great deal of personal power. If you want to feel totally empowered, learn who you are and be 100% of you 100% of the time!

You may need to do some soul-searching and uncovering in order to discover your true self and determine your bigger connection in life. All this requires is a willingness to become more aware, to heal and/or regain yourself, and claim your greatness.

You must decide whether or not you want to be empowered by making choices and changes according to your vision and purpose, or if you just want to take chances and go blindly into life hoping you might run into something that makes you feel complete. Choice or chance...which do you choose?

Signs of Soul Print Neglect

I've written previously if you never fill your donut hole, it'll leave you with a hole in your soul. This will ultimately result in some degree of dysfunction or pathology, accompanied by the three primary dysfunctions of depression, aggression, and addictive behavior. Once any part of this nasty triad arrives it'll bring with it a denial system which will blind you from seeing the severity of the dysfunction.

This denial system will rationalize, intellectualize, minimize, blame, and create distractions - as well as manifesting a myriad of other dynamics - all to have you not see what's really happening. Addictive behaviors can be especially challenging to see because they're often subtle at first, then hidden behind the walls of denial.

Addictive energy goes far beyond just drugs and alcohol and can hide itself in relationships, substances or activities, and through your ego and emotions. Some addictive behaviors, such as excessive spending, gambling, over-eating and unhealthy relationships, are easily camouflaged because they're actually socially encouraged. What ultimately happens, however, is instead of you expressing yourself through your thoughts and actions, the addictive energy slowly takes over and begins to express itself through your thoughts and actions.

There is an Old Persian Proverb: Man takes drink; drink takes drink, drink takes man.

I believe this summarizes how this addictive process occurs. Addiction, simply stated, is the anti-spirit or soullessness.

When you're able to feel a connection to the Divine and your Soul Print, know and live your life purpose, you then have the ability to fully express yourself rather than the addictive behaviors.

You have a choice of either choosing meditation or medication.

The latter, of course, can be either doctor prescribed, self-prescribed, or through any behavior that is engaged in for the primary purpose of suppressing emotions. Meditation on the other hand is one of many healing foods for your soul.

Which do you choose? Read More...

Top 5 Ways How to Stay Motivated All the Time

1. Write down your goals on a piece of paper and paste it on somewhere you can see it often. This is one of the most powerful motivation strategies you can use, but this is also what most people fear to do. People always are shy about their goals and they do not dare to publicly tell their goals to the people they knew. If you do this, you will be often reminded by your goals, as a result, you will always drive into taking massive action. If you are serious in achieving what you want in your life, do this.

2. Spend at least 30 minutes everyday in reading motivational or self-improvement books or articles. If you think that it is expensive and you cannot afford to buy so many books, you can actually find most of the resources from the internet for free. Blogs, forums, eBooks, articles, and newsletters are all free motivational resources available to you. The key here is to make sure that you keep your momentum going. Once you let go of your momentum, it is hard to get it up again. So develop your momentum and keep it going.

3. Use creative visualization and imagine the results of after having what you want to achieve in your life every night before you sleep. Visualization is one of the most powerful motivation tools you can use for free in your life. You can imagine anything you want with your mind. Spend about 5 to 10 minutes and visualize what you are doing after you have achieved your goals. If your goal is to become rich, imagine what you can do with all the money you have.

4. Find and join a mastermind group. Your surrounding can affect you. Therefore, you must make use of it wisely. If you keep on staying with negative friends, you will be influenced by their negative thinking as well. I'm not asking you to leave your friends, but try to avoid being affected by their negativity. And you can also increase your positivity by joining people who share the same goals and objectives as you. You can do so by joining discussion boards, groups from the internet or form a mastermind group yourself.

5. Finally, after having so much of hard work, you will need to have some enjoyment. If you want to live a successful life, you need to be balance. After taking massive action, relax for some time and enjoy your life. Read More...

Life is Change

We humans have a morbid fascination with security. What's this all about? As you look more closely at how we define 'security' for ourselves, you can begin to learn what it is you really mean when you say that you're working to provide a secure future for your family. Doesn't it mean that you have sufficient income (for now and for the future) not just to provide you and your family with the necessities of life, but also both to maintain your lifestyle at its current level, but also to provide the other members of your family with those benefits you want them to have (like advanced schooling)?

Doesn't it mean having a stable family life? How about having access to the kinds of health care and preventive programs that will best promote the health and well-being of you and your family members? Shall I continue? Doesn't 'security' imply not only freedom from crime and attacks, but also the freedom to pursue your favorite sports, hobbies, and pastimes? In short, doesn't 'security' imply to you maintaining at least the quality of life to which you've become (or wish to become) accustomed?

Then, along comes midlife, and what happens? It seems (often quite rightly) that your security is being blown all to hell and from the inside out. Your career is threatened, your family is threatened, your health is threatened, everything gets put 'on the line' in a landslide of insecurity that catches you off-guard and without a stable foothold to hang on to. When midlife threatens to strip everything away, what's left? The answer to that questions depends entirely on you, but, whatever it may be, that core of 'self' that remains when all else seems to be dissolving around you is where you find your spiritual center. If you can muster sufficient humility to allow the midlife transition to expose the core of your being, there you'll find all the clues that you need to your identity as a person, your purpose in life, and your destiny.

I need to remind you of the caveat I always mention whenever I talk of that rather dangerous term, 'destiny.' People tend to think of 'destiny' as a predetermined path along which you're given no choices but to fulfill. That approach to destiny distorts its meaning so as to make it not only unpalatable, but almost frightening. If you have no choice, then why try? On the contrary; your destiny only begins with your DNA. You're not born with infinite possibilities: your possibilities are limited (at least) by your genetic makeup from the instant you begin to exist. Every moment thereafter, those possibilities continue to be shaped, pruned and honed until you come down to the person who looks back at you from the mirror every morning. Your destiny has been shaped by your environment, your experiences, and every choice that you've ever made.

Choice - that comes down to only two: to choose to work with your destiny as you experience it today, or to work against it. It means accepting the person you are today (and therefore the person you will be tomorrow) or rejecting it. I very much like the characterization of that choice in these terms: you either choose your destiny, or choose your fate. What's most important for you to appreciate is that your destiny does not represent a static future: it's totally dynamic, shifting and evolving with every new experience and every single decision that you make (big or small). You're building your bridge to the future as you walk on it.

Returning to my original point, I want to challenge you to take another look at 'security'. Once you accept that your destiny is a dynamic concept, you'll soon recognize that any definition of 'security' that makes it a static point in time or a changeless goal distorts it. Rather than being a state, true security is a condition of preparedness (like strength and agility) that allows you to discern the 'signs of the times' and take proactive measures that will promote your (and your family's) well-being. No matter how clear your vision of the future may seem, it will never adequately encompass everything that you're going to encounter between now and then. The future that you will experience may have very little in common with your imagining of it. Because it's dynamic, it's also unpredictable.

They say that the only two certainties are death and taxes. That may be true; but, what most concerns me is that so many people going into midlife seem to want a life that's not only certain, but static. In my estimation, that means 'dead.' What good is a life - a destiny - a spirituality - that's essentially dead? Midlife happens upon you as that time in your adult life when you're invited to give up the dreams of 'happily ever after' and to accept the challenge of putting your hand to life's tiller and steering your course for the rest of your life though the ever-shifting winds and tides that surround you. Midlife is also that time when you come to accept that tomorrow may bring changes that today never anticipated. In midlife, at last, you come face-to-face with life, not as a dream but as a challenge: one for which you can now learn to be eternally grateful. Read More...

Einstein Quotes

Einstein Quotes: 6 Great Lessons You Can Get from Them

Albert Einstein is one of the most celebrated scientists of all time-and oftentimes he's viewed as eccentric. Nevertheless, despite his weirdness, there's one thing that we've not got from him: his mind. What better way to celebrate his genius than through different Einstein quotes.

The Lesson from Einstein Quotes

Indeed, more than the theory of relativity and several mathematical equations, Einstein left a mouthful for us to share to everyone: the Einstein quotes. And with variety of great lessons we can derive from them, surely, we wouldn't mind being overly generous:

1. Einstein teaches us about peace. A lot of people assumed that because he's a scientist, he lived in seclusion. Though this is partly true, the Einstein quotes will tell us that he was never really afraid to speak his mind. He has very strong views on politics, most especially on peace. He wanted to advocate peace and order in different parts of the world, considering that he'd lived through the horrors brought by World War II.

2. Einstein gives us a different view of fear and death. There are some Einstein quotes that will show us how much he loved life and yet how much he embraced the possibility of dying anytime and anywhere. And because he knew that he had a surprising influence to the world, he was gracious enough to share his views on this matter through his inspirational sayings.

3. He shows us that gossip doesn't take you anywhere. Einstein would have never attained the status he enjoyed when he was alive if he had entertained gossips about him or about other people. For him, there are three things that are important: work, play, and keeping your mouth shut.

4. He gives us a whole new meaning about patriotism. Einstein quotes can inform us of the basic formula for patriotism, and it doesn't include violence and mandatory offering of one's life for one's country. For him, it should come from the bottom portion of your heart, and the passion to protect your fellowmen should push you to make the ultimate sacrifice.

5. He adds importance to life and living. Albert Einstein doesn't only care about space, Earth, or molecular structures. More than anything else, he put great emphasis to the value of human life and its role with respect to the universe. He could discuss about a human person' frailties, but never failed to also mention about his victories, strengths, and uniqueness-things that make us kings and queens among living things.

6. Einstein quotes show us Albert's love for God. Einstein would often describe himself as agnostic, but deep inside, he's one great lover of God. He believed in the Almighty's great influence on people's lives and that one can attain enlightenment when he had already given up his selfish desires. He also stressed that science and religion are two independent things but are complementary to each other.

Albert Einstein quotes will be something that will help us get by each day-and more important perhaps than all the scientific theories you can ever learn from him. Read More...

What is Your Life's Purpose ?

Why Are You Here?

Have you ever wondered why you were put on this earth? Is there something deep inside you that makes you believe that you are here to do something special? That you have a calling to fulfill? That you have a life's purpose? If so, is that purpose, that higher calling, being fed and nurtured? Or is it dying on the vine from neglect and inattention?

"The purpose of life is to live a life of purpose" Richard Leider

If indeed there is a purpose in your life, and if you really want to discover it and then proceed to live it out, where do you start?

You might want to begin by asking yourself these questions:

1. What is most important to me in my life?

2. What are my deepest values and beliefs?

3. What motivates me? (i.e. What makes me get up in the morning?)

As you meditate these questions, thoughts and ideas will begin to surface that will help you to evaluate where you are now and where you want to go.

Reach for the Stars

The truth of the matter is, your life is already driven by some kind of purpose, although it may not be the purpose you intended. Your purpose may be basic survival - you just want to make it through another day. While physical survival is important, is that the highest you want to attain? Will you limit yourself to mundane, inferior soap-opera scenarios when it's possible for you to reach for the stars? Ultimately the choice is yours.

You need no one's permission to dream big. To reach for those stars. To chart out your life to live it to the fullest. To find your own personal purpose - your own reason for being.

Finding your purpose is not an achievement. For instance, you can receive a great promotion in a job you hate, and that would be considered a real achievement by many people. But is that your purpose? If you hate the job, probably not.

Overcoming Obstacles

Discovering and then following your life's purpose will be an evolving thing and may take many years. Obstacles will have to be overcome along the way. Those obstacles may be such things as fear of what others think - needing approval. Fear of the unknown - moving out of your comfort zone. Fear of failure - that you may step out to try something new and the bottom will fall out. Fear is definitely a dream-stealer. Only you can make the choice whether to continue to let those negative thoughts determine your actions (or your inactions).

Of this you can be sure - as your life's purpose becomes clearer, your life will begin to move more powerfully in the direction you want it to go. Slowly but surely, your days will become ever richer and fuller as you move with greater purpose, focus, and intention through this journey called life. Living in your life's purpose will bring the greatest joy you can ever know. Read More...

Rhinoceros Can Fly

Did you know that one of the biggest animals on earth can fly? You didn't? And, if you have seen an rhinoceros fly, does this mean you are the only one? Well, this isn't as strange as you think.
Alright, maybe rhinoceros really can't fly but here is the point. Perceptions are the big reason that a lot of people see things that others do not see. Take the office environment for example where employees are constantly complaining about the unrealistic demands of their boss. Are their perceptions, or how they view the demands of their jobs, the real truth or are they simply the imaginations of those employees? Some of their feelings may be real and some may not. The point is, however, if you feel that your boss is overly demanding then they are. It doesn't matter what the truth is; the fact is because this is your perception no matter what your boss does or doesn't do, your perception is your reality.
Perceptions play a significant role in our lives each and ever day no matter who or where you are. In fact, your perceptions will rule first before logic, fact, or truth. Perceptions are difficult to change. These thoughts enter your mind from the start of the day to the end. If you think you are going to have a lousy day where everything that can go wrong will then, in most cases, this is what you'll get. If you think that you will never get out of your current rut, then this is where you will undoubtedly stay.
So, what's the answer? Who will help you change your perception? You may not want to hear this but the only person who can change your perception is you. It is not up to anyone else; not your spouse, children, bosses, friends or family. You make the choice on a daily basis of what you believe to be the case, or what you feel won't be the situation. Thousands of people are stuck in the perception that they are owed a better future, a better job, or a better more rewarding relationship. Nothing, unfortunately for those looking for a magical cure, can be further from reality.
The only person responsible and accountable of who you are, what you will be, or what you can have is up to you. You are in control. You decide what your life will not only look like but actually what it will be. Dreaming that some miracle will happen won't get it done; hoping that others will change before you do is only fooling yourself. And, not only is this fooling yourself but you are not taking responsibility. You are really giving control of your life to circumstances or to others.
Take control; change your own perceptions; take action that will move you closer and closer to who and what you want from life, and do it now. Read More...

The Secrets to Looking Elegant

What is your first reaction when you are invited to an event or party of some kind? Do you start looking forward to it, or do you start panicking over what you will wear?

If you fall into the second group you're not alone. Many women struggle to find an outfit that they feel comfortable in and that suits their figure, but if you follow a few simple rules you can get a big head start whenever you need to buy something new for an upcoming occasion.

The first thing you should think about is your figure. Do you like to wear figure hugging outfits or would you prefer something looser and more flowing? Most women have something about themselves that they would prefer to hide, and by carefully choosing what you are going to wear you can create a look that accentuates your best features and takes the attention away from those you'd rather keep to yourself!

Another point to think about is colour. Some women automatically go for black to try and hide a larger figure, but sometimes a well tailored and comfortably fitting outfit in a lighter colour can enhance your figure a lot more. It also looks a lot brighter during the summer months when you really need a light colour to help keep you cool in the sun.

Don't forget what you wear on your feet either. Heels are wonderful for making you stand up straighter - keeping your back straight and your tummy sucked in - but don't wear anything higher than you feel comfortable in. If you buy new ones especially for the occasion it can be a good idea to break them in before you go out, since you don't want to be contending with blisters and sore feet while you are having fun.

Accessories are also important since they can provide a stunning finishing touch to any outfit, regardless of the colour or style. Fashion jewellery is a good way to complete the look without spending a lot of money doing so, but make sure you buy your outfit first. You can then match your jewellery to what you are wearing. This is especially advisable if you are trying to match colours.

Another point to think about is what kind of outfit you are going to opt for. Do you feel more comfortable in trousers? Or do you always head for the section of the store which has all the party dresses on display?

Party dresses are certainly more feminine and can keep you looking and feeling cool during summer parties and get togethers. Coupled with a few accessories they provide a quick and easy way to get ready in no time and you can still turn plenty of heads when you arrive! Read More...

Che Guevara The Cuban Revolution In This Era

Ernesto 'Che' Guevara has long polarized opinion, with followers hailing him as a revolutionary hero - Nelson Mandela called him "an inspiration for every human being who loves freedom" - but others seeing him in a very different light.

Today, despite such debates, he is a character of popular culture and the monochrome graphic of his face has been reproduced on thousands of t-shirts, posters and banners across the globe.

Che's international renown is matched by his acclaim in his own country and backpackers staying in various Cuba hostels will find he is still prominent character in the national consciousness.

Havana

In the center of the capital lies the Plaza de la Revolucion and at 72,000 meters square, it's one of the world's largest. It's also the site of public political speeches from Fidel Castro and other significant figures.

On one edge of the Plaza is the building of the Ministerio del Interior and a huge ironwork mural of Che hangs down its side. Such an iconic image of Cuban culture is a must-see for any traveler staying in Havana hostels.

Santa Clara

Travelers looking to find out more about this enigmatic character in Cuba should head on to Santa Clara, the provincial capital of Villa Clara.

Just three hours from Havana, the city is home to a Museum dedicated to Che, as well as his remains which are interred in the mausoleum along with those of his comrades from Bolivia.

Exhibitions at the Museo Historico de la Revolucion include items related to his role in the Cuban Revolution of 1959. It attracts around 170,000 visitors each year, ranging from curious travelers to dedicated supporters.

In the heart of Santa Clara, another square called the Plaza de la Revolucion also contains a large bronze statue of Che.

However, there's much more to both the man and the myth of Che Guevara than these monuments and it's perhaps worth buying one of the books from the museum at Santa Clara. Read More...

The Tycoon Thing

If you take out all light, you get pure darkens, if you take out all darkness you get pure light, if you take out all the warmth from the universe, from earth, from a human being, you get pure cold, if you take out all the cold, you get pure heat...if you say you know God, then know that he is pure light, and through nothingness created you, and put you into a universe he created out of nothingness; and from light, and heat, and cold, and darkness, we were sent into, and thus, now we stumble between these elements, light, dark, cold and heat, things, because of sin, these are elements, parts to things, for all that is, are things, and we look and we touch, and we smell and we hear things, things that pass by us, away, little things and big things, just things, things that come out of us, come to us, circle around us, invade us, consume us, possess us, who is the king of things? There must be a king, the ruler of things. Before you take the thing, try the thing, because the world now has so many things, and false prophets, the flesh can no longer overcome things. We all have become little gods of things, with so many things, we no longer hear the spirit inside of us, it is saying 'Here is an error, let no man deceive you, for you have been deceived by things.' There is no more compassion, now they slew the brother, the mother; the children wait outside the hospital room for the father to die, so they can collect more things. The children of today, and tomorrow, and yesterday, go from one thing to another thing, they hate not being compensated unto their heart's desire with things, they want their life cramped with so many things, a grasshopper couldn't fit in it afterwards, let along God. And he goes to pray, to his god (and who is really his go?) and says, "I love you, but I want more things," and he takes from his neighbor, and says "I need them more than you," and a voice says, "It is easy to love those who love you, who are lovable, who give you things, that is not a perfect love (try to love the unlovable), it is a thing you need to replace something you lost, love needs no returns, no things to replace something: now the he asks for receipts, he is keeping count. Love is often a one way street and nowadays all we seem to have are two-way highways, and the preacher man says: I shall speak for, and he tells his people to vote for this man, or that man, thinking he is replacing God, speaking for God, because he wants things... not even he, can escape the dead dog, and find a live lion because he has lost the scent. Read More...

Shocking defeat for US bailout; record stock dip

In a stunning vote that shocked the capital and worldwide markets, the House of Representatives on Monday defeated a $700 billion emergency rescue for the U.S. financial system, ignoring urgent warnings from President George W. Bush and congressional leaders of both parties that the economy cold nosedive without it. The Dow Jones industrials plunged nearly 800 points, the most ever for a single day.

Democratic and Republican leaders alike pledged to try again, though the Democrats said Republican lawmakers needed to provide more votes. Bush huddled with his economic advisers about a next step.The House was to reconvene on Thursday instead of adjourning for the year as planned.

Stocks began falling even before the 228-205 vote to reject the bill was officially announced on the House floor. The 777-point decline for the day surpassed the 721-point previous record, on the day after the Sept. 11, 201, terror attacks, though in percentage terms it was well short of the drops on Black Monday of October 1987 and at the start of the Depression.

In the House chamber, as a digital screen recorded a cascade of "no" votes against the bailout, Democratic Rep. Joe Crowley shouted news of the falling stocks."Six hundred points!" he yelled, jabbing his thumb downward.

Bush and a host of leading congressional figures had implored the lawmakers to pass the legislation despite loud protest from their constituents back home. Not enough members were willing to take the political risk just five weeks before an eletion.

More than two-thirds of Republicans and 40 percent of Democrats opposed the bill.

The overriding question for congressional leaders was what to do next. Congress has been trying to adjourn so that its members can go out and campaign for the election that is just five weeks away.

"The legisltion may have failed; the crisis is still with us," said the leader of the House , Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat in a news conference after the defeat.

"What happened today cannot stand," Pelosi said. "We must move forward, and I hope that the markets will take that message."

At the White House Bush said, "I'm disappointed in the vote. ... We've put forth a plan that was big because we've got a big problem." He pledged to keep pressing for a measure that Congress would pass.

Republicans blamed Pelosi's scathing speech near the close of the debate - which attacked Bush's economic policies and "right-wing ideology of anything goes, no supervision, no discipline, no regulation" of financial markets - for the vote's failure.

"We could have gotten there today had it not been for the partisan speech that the speaker gave on the floor of the House," Minority Leader John Boehner said. Pelosi's wods, the Republican said, "poisoned our conference, caused a number of members that we thought we could get, to go south."

Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., the No. 3 Republican, estimated that Pelosi's speech changed the minds of a dozen Republicans who might otherwise have supported the plan.

That was a remarkable accusation by Republicans against Republicans, said Rep. Barney Frank, a Democrat and chairman of the House Financial Services Committee: "Because somebody hurt their feelings, they decided to punish the country."

The presidential candidates kept close track - from afar.

In Colorado, Democrat Barack Obama said, "Democrats, Republicans, step up to the plate, get it done."

Republican John McCain spoke with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke before leaving Ohio for a campaign stop in Iowa, a spokeswoman said.

The legislation the administration promoted would have allowed the government to buy bad mortgages and other rotten assets held by troubled banks and financial institutions. Getting those debts off their books should bolster those companies' balance sheets, making them more inclined to lend and easing one of the biggest choke points in the credit crisis. If the plan worked, the thinking went, it would help lift a major weight off the U.S. economy that is already sputtering.

Monday's action had been preceded by unusually aggressive White House lobbying, and Fratto said that Bush had been making calls to lawmakers until shortly before the vote.

Bush and his economic advisers, as well as congressional leaders in both parties had argued the plan was vital to insulating ordinary Americans from the effects of Wall Street's bad bets. The version that was up for vote Monday was the product of marathon closed-door negotiations on Capitol Hill over the weekend.

"We're all worried about losing our jobs," Rep. Paul Ryan, Republican, declared in an impassioned speech in support of the bill before the vote. "Most of us say, 'I want this thing to pass, but I want you to vote for it - not me."'

Said Boehner, after the vote: "Americans are angry, and so are my colleagues. They don't want to have to vote for a bill like this. But I have concerns about what this means for the American people, what it means for our economy, and what it means for people's jobs. I think that we need to renew our efforts to find a solution that Congress can support." Read More...

What Makes Us Human ?

What makes us human and identifies us as distinct from other animals is our capacity to manufacture the future.

Our intelligence of itself is largely irrelevant. Since we can only guess at the mental processes of many higher intelligence mammals (such as whales and apes) it is safest to assume that the majority of humans are not inordinately more intelligent than some animal species (indeed many are arguably less so).

Humans have a kind of magical, as it must appear to an alien species, power to transform their physical environment. This practical intelligence is the defining characteristic of human history, in fact the possibility of "history" as a concept derives from the same practical capacity. With the ability and desire to change the future humans realized they required a past, that is they began to understand the concept of momentum. For other species the notion of momentum other than in a purely physical sense must be unimaginable.

What purpose would it serve to dream of new realities if you had no capacity to effect them?

The dreams, religions and myths we create all flow from this capacity to make changes to our future. These too may well then be the other half to our distinctiveness as a species. A necessary corollary to our practical intelligence.

Humans as story tellers

The artistic impulses to paint, draw, write songs and perform are the manifestation off our uniqueness as a story telling species. One that must mythologise events and create mythologies to manufacture new events. The success of human groups has to date largely been defined by those humans as the success of their own mythologies as much as any practical survival abilities. This fascination was most simply put when Christ allegedly stated that "man can not live on bread alone". As a story telling species humans require new fictions and new fiction makers to make sense of their universe and to provide comfort in the certain knowledge and fear of uncertainty.

The need for irony

It is possible that this fear has led to our ironic abilities. Maybe irony is also a distinctly human characteristic of all the animals. It seems to me that where you have a species that knows it can change the future and also knows that the present has been manufactured by both sheer luck and the previous actions of its ancestors then you will need an ironic capacity to stay psychologically balanced.

Are we better than other animals?

I remember discussing this question at length with one of my best friends. Humans have often mistaken the ability to create myths with a superior view of what is their essentially animal behavior. As William Blake said:

Nought loves another as itself,

Nor venerates another so,

Nor is it possible to thought

A greater than itself to know.

'And, father, how can I love you

Or any of my brothers more?

I love you like the little bird

That picks up crumbs around the door.'

It seems to me that much of our lives is filled with love and the need for love like this and that such a need is no different to animals. Neither is this something to be lamented by humans. It is good that we recognize the animal nature in us for what it is. That knowledge has value in itself.

Being human does not make us better than other animals however it gives us God like opportunities, that other animals do not have, to change the world and the lives of all of the other animals. No other animal has this ability. The question is how should we use it?

Wolf or Shepherd

Shall we remain a wolf in sheep's clothing or can humans finally take the the step to being a Shepherd?

The finally irony is that we will only be unique when we try to look beyond our uniqueness to the value of biological diversity. I hope the human race is destined to such superiority. Read More...

Perseverance Vs Stubbornness

PERSEVERANCE

To practice perseverance means to go on meditating, to keep on reciting mantras, to develop all the virtues of a bodhisattva, to increase the accumulation of merit and wisdom, regardless of the difficulties we experience. To do this, our precious teachers tell us, will bring us closer to the ultimate goal: enlightenment, the absolute truth, liberation, recognition of the clear light.

Our teachers also tell us, that the path is not a leisurely walk with lots of amenities while we are under way. It is made clear, that Mara is not giving up his hold on us willingly and will put all kind of obstacles in our way. But we are to disregard all that is trying to make us turn in the wrong direction and look for encouragement and guidance in the teachings of the master Buddha Shakyamuni like trusting and confident students.

We are taught that when we encounter these obstacles, we will find directions and guidance in meditation. While in meditation, we are open to recognize the solutions to our problems, open to understand the answers to our questions, our mind is able to enter areas of our awareness normally closed when we are in our normal level of consciousness.

According to our gurus it is not helpful, to try and seek for help with the aid of our intellect. The reasoning within the limits of our obscured mind will not lead us to a correct view of our existence within the dualistic world.

Our thinking is based on incorrect input coming from our limited sense and cannot bring us to valid conclusions.

This brings me to the cause of me writing this.

When considering my present position and the conditions of life, I can see clearly that it could do with some improvement.

While engaging in various activities to bring about changes in a positive sense, I was encountering seemingly endless obstacles coming up rising numbers and quality. For some time I was tempted to give up and resign myself to what apparently was my destiny. I thought that other teachings I had been exposed to previously said, that to keep on trying after so many setbacks is called "stubbornness", and that you should follow your "gut feeling" and look for an alternative. That the obstacles in my path are

Indications that what I was attempting was "not for me" and that I should heed the "omens" my subconscious was giving me.

I almost gave in to these suggestions.

BUT

Then I remembered! I sat down on my cushion and went to my meditative level. I called on the resources available and asked for guidance and a solution for my situation. I realized then that "PERSEVERANCE" is absolutely not the same as "stubbornness" and that the temptation to give up was indeed not the solution I could accept. It would have been the easier way out. But it would also have left me in the same spot as before and not one inch further on the path. I came to the conclusion that these obstacles where in reality challenges. To overcome these in dealing with them would certainly bring me ahead. Maybe not immediately out of all difficulties but a step further.

The change in my view was necessary to look at my situation from a different angle and led me to recognize, that it is not as desperate as it seemed before. New ideas on how to work on improvement came up. Conversations, discussions and even disputes with friends and members of our sangha led to a list of possibilities not evident before.

Essential conclusion:

To give up = stagnation and finally regress

To persevere = development, change, progress

I think that this insight is valid not only for me.

I am convinced that it is equally valid for all, who are confronted with problems, obstacles, puzzles, uncertainties, and general unpleasantnesses.

Keep at it! Don't give up! Success is certain! Read More...

What Would He Say Today? Einstein in 2009

Albert Einstein is to this day considered one of the most brilliant men in history, his theories still seem to hold up to day in the scientific courts. Indeed, many of his own theories that he was skeptical of continue to amaze modern day scientists who are engaged in scientific experiments to get at those truths. Einstein is also one of the most quoted people in history ranking up there with Muhammad, FDR, Winston Churchill, Plato, Gandhi, Confucius and Sun Tzu.

The question recently posed at the Online Think Tank was, if Einstein were alive today, what would he think and what would he say? What words of wisdom would he depart on the economic situation, global economy, and modern day physics? If you look at many of his quotes he appears to have already predicted much of what is today, similar to the recently departed Arthur C Clarke predicted our future, which keeps unfolding nicely, right along with his major science fiction works.

Are we chasing Einstein's dream, Plato's Utopia and Arthur C. Clark's science fiction, or did they like Nostradamus simply study their history, watched for repeating patterns and come up with the plausible future based on mankind's dreams, imagination, and inspiration while factoring in humankind's flaws, perseverance and ignorance?

What would Einstein have said about this current election process? Would he have said something like; "Politics is no way to run mankind's affairs" or "Neither Capitalism or Communism is perfect, a hybrid of those and other theories maybe the answer?" Einstein in 2009, wouldn't it be great to peer once again into that mind? Read More...

Can Life Imbalance Contribute to Breast Cancer ?

Being diagnosed with breast cancer can be an incredible blow. Your life is literally turned upside down. You need to first face the fact that you have breast cancer and then face family with the news. Then, you have to go and see what treatment options (both conventional and alternative) are available as well as complementary options. In short, a very grueling process.

As most of us are aware there are four parts to what we call life. They are the same for each person regardless of who they are. These consist of: physical (body), mental (mind), spiritual (can include religion) and emotional.

Often times we know when we are out of balance in one or more of these areas due to the way we feel. But what we may not know are what the causes of this imbalance are. There are many different reason, but the primary one is stress. Be it stress from work, stress at home, or stress in family situations, this is the number one reason for us perhaps not eating properly or not getting enough exercise (physical).

Mental stress can be caused by things that you may not have control over such as traffic, the weather or people you come into contact with on a daily basis. Spiritual stress can be thought of as being out of touch with your god or feeling like your god is not listening to you or even that you have bad luck.

Emotional stress can be brought on by a combination of the above. Taken to the extreme, these stresses can cause us to do things that we normally know might be bad for us, such as overeating, eating the wrong thing, not being calm and lashing out at someone or even unconsciously hurting ourselves. And if the body is not in balance, then fighting off any disease is made that much harder.

The key is to know what is out of balance and to self-correct. Knowing yourself and how to avoid or negate your particular stressers can go along way to successful treatment. Read More...

If Barrack Obama Beat the Election, What's is The matter ?

Prior to the Democratic National Convention, Senator Barrack Obama's campaign had spent nearly half a billion dollars to win the democratic nomination. Then as he was nominated officially, he was nearly tied in a statistical heat with Senator John McCain. The John McCain expenditures to get nominated were very miniscule compared to Barack Obama's expenditures. Indeed, it was not even close.

Senator Barrack Obama's campaign even out spent Hilary Clinton's campaign by nearly 3:1 when it was all said and done, in fact, it was the largest amount of money spent on a Presidential Campaign in US History. Actually, it was the most money every spent by any candidate in the World to become elected, not even considering just being nominated.

The ability of the Barrack Obama campaign's public relations teams, advertising folks and campaign managers was incredible. Their fundraising machine was unbelievable and the help from other groups to promote him, was also very welcomed. Of course, what if Senator Barrack Obama is not elected, what if Senator John McCain wins the election? It is possible that by then Senator Barrack Obama's campaign could have spent 1 Billion Dollars.

Now statistically, spending that level of money to get elected means his probability of succeeding is very high. And it does not appear that Senator John McCain can match his stardom or ability to raise money, so he will most likely win, unless the campaign pushes too hard, spends too much and folks get tired of all the television ads and there is some sort of backlash. Read More...

3 Simple Tips of Goal Acne Treatments

If you are dealing with acne problems, you know how frustrating it can get. You may try a variety of different over the counter treatments and only find that they cost a lot of money without really offering you great results. However, there are a variety of great acne home treatments that you can try that really do work.

So, if you are tired of spending your money on over the counter acne treatments that just don't provide you with the results that you need, why not try some of the following acne home treatments.

1) Drink Plenty of Water Each Day

If you're interested in acne home treatments that are easy and can be done at home, one of the simplest is to start drinking plenty of water each day. You see, acne actually starts on the inside and works its' way out, so you will want to work on cleansing out the inside of your body.

When you drink plenty of water each day, you flush out the body and work to detox it and get rid of those harmful toxins that can lead to acne. So, this is a very simple way that you can effectively treat your acne problem from home.

2) Get a Bit of Sun

When it comes to acne home treatments, another excellent one to try is to get a bit of sun each day. Of course make sure this isn't going to cause a problem if you're on medications that make you sun sensitive.

Just spending 20 minutes in the sun can be great for your skin. No, you don't want a burn or a tan, since that can damage the skin, but a bit of sunshine can help to make your skin more healthy and you can do this at home without it costing you a dime.

3) Try an Oatmeal Mask

Do you have oatmeal out in your kitchen? Well, oatmeal is actually one of many great acne home treatments. All you have to do is cook up the oatmeal, then let it cool a bit until it is just a bit warm. When it is cooled enough to touch it safely, then apply the cooked oatmeal to your safe and then allow it to dry on your skin.

After it has had time to dry into a nice mask, you'll want to wash the oatmeal mask off with some warm water. This will help to clear your skin and get rid of your acne problem for you.

These are just a few great acne home treatments that are cheap and easy for you to use. So, if you want a great way to work on your acne problem without having to pay a huge amount of money on over the counter products, try out these acne home treatments for some help. Read More...

10 Best Beat Stress Tips

Feeling anxious, weighted down? Feel like you just can't deal with the stress around you? Wishing the things that cause you to feel this way would just go away? Well, there's good news and bad news.

First the bad news - some of the things causing your stress are here for the long term. Others will go away, but be replaced by new distressing things.

Now the good news - even though you can't escape the fact that there will always be some stressor in your life, there are some basic things you can do to put yourself in a good position to handle stress that comes your way. And you can do your best to not be the source of your own stress!

1 - Get enough sleep

Something as simple as getting to bed at a decent hour is a great start. Recognize how much sleep you need to function well. Stress can cause a lack of sleep. Relax for a while before going to bed (and don't go to be right after watching the news). Caffeine and alcohol before bed are among the most common causes of insomnia. If you have health complications or are on medication, your doctor may be able to prescribe a different medication that won't interfere with sleep.

2 - Eat a healthy diet

Nutrition and stress are related. The greater the stress you're facing, the more good nutrition you need. Protein, B vitamins, C and A vitamins, magnesium are depleted when the body is in the fight or flight mode brought on by stress. Skipping meals, eating junk foods, having excessive caffeine can actually contribute to stress by making you feel worse. Poor eating habits lead to blood sugar issues, lowered immune system, and that "drained" feeling. Eat healthy snacks of fresh fruits and veggies along with healthy meals and a balanced nutritional supplement. You'll feel more energized and you will help yourself have the stamina to fight back at all the stress you encounter during your day.

3 - Underbook yourself

You need time to recover from daily stresses. Plan less things for yourself to do in a day. If you regularly plan 10 things and you're feeling overstressed, then start to plan 5 things a day for yourself instead. Learn to say "no". Watch your stress level decrease!

4 - Take a break

Do something fun. Laugh. It reduces the flow of stress hormones. It's amazing how a brisk 10-minute walk clears your head and gives you a fresh outlook. A 10-minute nap has been associated with increased energy, motivation, alertness, and concentration. Taking a break is not being lazy! You're refreshing your mind. You're relieving stress. Enjoy a good break every couple hours.

5 - Exercise

Exercise is one of the best ways to relieve stress. The more stressed you are, the greater the amount of exercise you need. When you exercise, mood-elevating endorphins are released into the blood stream. Break a sweat. You'll feel great. As the blood flow to the brain increases, it will "wash out the cobwebs". In addition, exercise promotes restful sleep.


6 - Declutter your space

Clutter reminds us of all we need to do. It gets worse as we waste precious minutes plowing through it to find our keys and important papers. Try setting a kitchen timer for 15 minutes, pick a spot and clean it up the best you can in that time. Stop when the timer goes off and plan to do the same tomorrow. Having a tidy environment is a great stress reliever.

7 - Pay your bills on time

Avoid the stress of late notices, extra charges, and your credit record being jeopardized. It takes a little organizing, so have a specific place to put all bills and pay bills every 2 weeks. Be sure to record in your checkbook and keep your checkbook up to date.

8 - Stop procrastinating

That means stop putting off till later what you need to be doing now. You know the end result of procrastination - feelings of guilt, inadequacy = increased stress levels.

Determine why you're procrastinating. Feeling overwhelmed by a project? Try doing little bits at a time. Are you avoiding something because it's unpleasant? Just do it! Waiting for just the right time? It usually doesn't come.

Fear of failure (or even success)? Visualize a good out come. Feel the need to be perfect? Set a deadline, do your best, and realize that your 80% could be someone elses' 100%! You'll always feel better when you do it and have one less thing on your mind.

9 - Think the best

When you expect bad things to happen, you are programming yourself to feel anxious, actually attracting and bringing on bad experiences. This can bring out the worst in you and in others. Choose the opposite. Believe good things are going to happen. You will attract good things. Of course, bad things happen to everyone, but keep looking for the good. You usually find what you look for.

Set your mind on things that are beautiful, noble, happy. Have a grateful attitude. In the worst of affairs, there's always something to be grateful for. Look for that. Say to yourself "Something good is going to happen to me!" Expect that to be true!

10 - Get help for life issues that are out of control

When life stresses are getting to an unhealthy level, seek help, buy a book on the subject, look it up on the internet, talk to a counselor, ask a friend for help, get professional help.

A certain amount of stress is normal. An unhealthy stress level over a period of time takes its toll on your body. How you prepare for facing stress and how you deal with it is the key. You might be surprised at how just a couple of life style changes can make all the difference in your stress level. Read More...

Is it Time to Fly?

Most people will get stuck into a routine which is not the best in the world. When we learn something new, we don't work as fast, and we need a lot of learning. But, as we do this, we find that we can go faster, and faster.

Over time, new opportunities come along, and we can easily miss them, because we get stuck in the confusion of those tasks that are in constant repetition. And what is worse, is that we can fool ourselves by believing we are making progress, when the true progress could be made, but is not.

You have likely heard a term similar to - spread your wings and fly or take a leap of faith. You may also have heard the term jump, and then grow wings.

All of these statements make sense. And they all deal with an important factor - opportunity. Opportunity is everything. We get lots of them in our lives, and it is truly an art and science to be able to see them, and will need experience and skills to make the most of them.

The truth is that most people don't see these opportunities. They may see one or two, but miss the countless opportunities in one day. Now a point, if you simply focus on opportunities, you will not get anywhere.

For example, everything has potential. From picture frames, to computers, and even recycling. However, our focus will determine just what we get out of them. Someone may use an iPod while traveling. While Steve Jobs likely spent day and night in the thinking and creation process.

Often we will see these opportunities, but not take action. This is where it is important to spread your wings and fly. You may make mistakes, you may fail, you may not know what to do next, but as you continue, you will find a way.

A door will open to you, and as you took faith, by spreading your wings, and trying to fly, you have done which 90% of other people will never do. And here is where success starts to happen.

Like the man who goes on pilgrimage, with hardly any money, and still manages to get to the destination, likewise, you will have a lot of question marks, lack of resources, etc. But, still you will find a way, and succeed - as soon as your spread your wings, and take a leap of faith to fly. Read More...