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The people you enjoy, who love and appreciate you, and who encourage you to improve in healthy and exciting ways. They are the ones who make you feel more alive, and not only embrace who you are now, but also embrace and embody who you want to be, unconditionally.

Start facing your problems head on – It isn’t your problems that define you, but how you react to them and recover from them. Problems will not disappear unless you take action. Do what you can, when you can, and acknowledge what you’ve done. It’s all about taking baby steps in the right direction, inch by inch. These inches count, they add up to yards and miles in the long run.

Start being honest with yourself about everything – Be honest about what’s right, as well as what needs to be changed. Be honest about what you want to achieve and who you want to become. Be honest with every aspect of your life, always. Because you are the one person you can forever count on.

Search your soul, for the truth, so that you truly know who you are. Once you do, you’ll have a better understanding of where you are now and how you got here, and you’ll be better equipped to identify where you want to go and how to get there. Start making your own happiness a priority – Your needs matter. If you don’t value yourself, look out for yourself, and stick up for yourself, you’re sabotaging yourself. Remember, it IS possible to take care of your own needs while simultaneously caring for those around you. And once your needs are met, you will likely be far more capable of helping those who need you most.

Start being yourself, genuinely and proudly – Trying to be anyone else is a waste of the person you are. Be yourself. Embrace that individual inside you that has ideas, strengths and beauty like no one else. Be the person you know yourself to be – the best version of you – on your terms. Above all, be true to YOU, and if you cannot put your heart in it, take yourself out of it.

Start noticing and living in the present– Right now is a miracle. Right now is the only moment guaranteed to you? Right now is life. So stop thinking about how great things will be in the future. Stop dwelling on what did or didn’t happen in the past. Learn to be in the ‘here and now’ and experience life as it’s happening. Appreciate the world for the beauty that it holds, right now.

Start valuing the lessons your mistakes teach you – Mistakes are okay; they’re the stepping stones of progress. If you’re not failing from time to time, you’re not trying hard enough and you’re not learning. Take risks, stumble, fall, and then get up and try again. Appreciate that you are pushing yourself, learning, growing and improving. Significant achievements are almost invariably realized at the end of a long road of failures. One of the ‘mistakes’ you fear might just be the link to your greatest achievement yet.

Start being more polite to yourself – If you had a friend who spoke to you in the same way that you sometimes speak to yourself, how long would you allow that person to be your friend? The way you treat yourself sets the standard for others. You must love who you are or no one else will.

Start enjoying the things you already have – The problem with many of us is that we think we’ll be happy when we reach a certain level in life – a level we see others operating at – your boss with her corner office, that friend of a friend who owns a mansion on the beach, etc. Unfortunately, it takes awhile before you get there, and when you get there you’ll likely have a new destination in mind. You’ll end up spending your whole life working toward something new without ever stopping to enjoy the things you have now. So take a quiet moment every morning when you first awake to appreciate where you are and what you already have.

Start creating your own happiness – If you are waiting for someone else to make you happy, you’re missing out. Smile because you can. Choose happiness. Be the change you want to see in the world. Be happy with who you are now, and let your positivity inspire your journey into tomorrow. Happiness is often found when and where you decide to seek it. If you look for happiness within the opportunities you have, you will eventually find it. But if you constantly look for something else, unfortunately, you’ll find that too.

Start giving your ideas and dreams a chance – In life, it’s rarely about getting a chance; it’s about taking a chance. You’ll never be 100% sure it will work, but you can always be 100% sure doing nothing won’t work. Most of the time you just have to go for it! And no matter how it turns out, it always ends up just the way it should be. Either you succeed or you learn something. Win-Win.

Start believing that you’re ready for the next step – You are ready! Think about it. You have everything you need right now to take the next small, realistic step forward. So embrace the opportunities that come your way, and accept the challenges – they’re gifts that will help you to grow.

Start entering new relationships for the right reasons – Enter new relationships with dependable, honest people who reflect the person you are and the person you want to be. Choose friends you are proud to know, people you admire, who show you love and respect – people who reciprocate your kindness and commitment. And pay attention to what people do, because a person’s actions are much more important than their words or how others represent them.

Dr. Robert Puff, Ph.D. is a meditation expert, international speaker, and avid blogger who’s wisdom can be found on http://www.Meditation-Enlightenment.com. Dr. Puff is the creator of the weekly Meditation for Health Podcast, available at http://www.MeditationForHealthPodcast.com. Additionally, he has a weekly podcast that explores the world of Happiness, available at http://www.happinesspodcast.org.

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by   G.Thomas Stewart

Practicing an external point of view can sometimes bring about a more practical and objective view of ourselves. Rather than perceiving that the world is something that happens all around you, that you are looking out at the world, look at and consider that you are part of the world and see the big picture.

It can be a good practice to see and consider the entire big picture of the world and everything of it. Rather than only a self-determined view being that of –I want this or I need that– See yourself as but a small factor and activity in the greater picture of the world and other people.

This can be useful to bring about a more objective view of ourselves and what influence we have in the world. This can actually help us to achieve the rational goals and activities we want for ourselves.

Sometimes we may become lost in the small world perceiving only our body and our own feelings and desires and thoughts. This kind of thinking can limit us because it is actually and practically only a small and very binding way of living.

When we objectify who we are and how we are acting in the world there may be a happier and more successful end.

One way to do this is to take an exterior point of view of yourself. Imagine you are outside of your body and you are above or behind your body and looking and seeing where you are sitting or standing and what you are doing. This wall flower, fly-on-the-wall approach can work when it causes you to perceive yourself from an outside point of view. Thus you may bring about a quick snapshot of how you are being in the world, and with your life.

Many of the goals or desires and motivations we have can become more accessible when we objectify them this way. Feelings and immediate gratification can at times be counter productive to reaching our true goals.

Practice reaching and attaining small goals and activities. This can be quite more rewarding than it sounds because the accumulation of small goals builds over time in the bigger picture and in time have a larger more lasting affect. When small goals and activities accumulate and have become habit or a way of living they are empowering, making you feel a lot better about yourself and your place in the world and of the world.

Another very useful practice is idolatry. There is nothing wrong with having people or even fictional characters as idols. You know that you are not god and you are but one person being in a life. To idolize or aspire to be more like someone else can be helpful because what you are actually doing is aspiring to practice certain values and behavior that you may admire in others

Another point much overlooked is the usefulness of fictional characters as from a book or movie. There is nothing wrong with trying to be more like our heroes or fictional characters. The reason is this: When we are trying to be more like a character we are actually trying to practice certain values and behaviors of them. It is not so much the namesake of them but the values and characteristics they exemplify. That practice can be quite supportive because it gives certain reference points from which to work

Regard yourself not only as an observer of the world around but also as a participating human being. This awareness can help you to function more in a way that is meaningful or worthwhile to you and perhaps others around you.

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by daisy torson

Nobody gets through life without
losing someone they love, someone they need, or something they
thought was meant to be. But it is these losses that make us stronger
and eventually move us toward future opportunities for growth and
happiness. Here are some lessons we’ve learned along the way: You
are not what happened to you in the past.

– No matter how chaotic
the past has been, the future is a clean, fresh, wide open slate. You
are not your past habits. You are not your past failures. You are not
how others have at one time treated you. You are only who you think
you are right now in this moment. You are only what you do right now
in this moment. Focus on what you have, not on what you haven’t. –
You are who you are and you have what you have, right now. And it
can’t be that bad, because otherwise you wouldn’t be able to read
this. The important thing is simply to find one POSITIVE thought that
inspires and helps you move forward. Hold on to it strongly, and
focus on it. You may feel like you don’t have much, or anything at
all, but you have your mind to inspire you. And that’s really all
you need to start moving forward again. Struggling with problems is a
natural part of growing. – Part of living and growing up is
experiencing unexpected troubles in life. People lose jobs, get sick,
and sometimes die in car accidents. When you are younger, and things
are going pretty well, this harsh reality can be hard to visualize.

Continue Reading »

 by  daisy torson

Life is not complex. We are complex. When we were young life was easier, right? I know sometimes it seems that way. But the truth is life still is easy. It always will be. The only difference is we’re older, and the older we get, the more we complicate things for ourselves.

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creatine 9999 (Photo credit: creatine16)

by Darren Neal

What is creatine?  Creatine is an amino acid (amino acids are the building blocks of protein) which is made in the body by the liver and kidneys, and is derived from the diet through meat and animal products.  Creatine (creatine monohydrate) is a colorless, crystalline substance used in muscle tissue for the production of phosphocreatine, an important factor in the formation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the source of energy for muscle contraction and many other functions in the body. What does creatine normally do in the body? In the body, creatine is changed into a molecule called “phosphocreatine” which serves as a storage reservoir for quick energy.  Phosphocreatine is especially important in tissues such as the voluntary muscles and the nervous system which periodically require large amounts of energy.

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by DAISY TORSON

To attain Happiness important is to be S.M.A.R.T. that is goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely.

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by Williams
Dan

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by daisy torson

Revolutionize the way you believe to be joyful at work Happiness at work is an emotion – an internal state. You feel it or you don’t. In any case, it’s inside of you. While it is certainly affected by what goes on around you (like when some inconsiderate jerk takes the last coffee and doesn’t make a new pot) it mostly relies on what goes on inside your head.  The old “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it” applies here as well. And that’s why we must change our thinking about work.

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Cover of Improve Your Memory

by DARREN NEAL

This article will review the use and
potential of using mnemonics tactics to increase and improve memory
capabilities and better memory in general.  In many studies it has been
shown that mnemonics have three fundamental principles underlying the
use of mnemonics are imagination, association and location.  By using
mnemonics there is a good chance of improving your memory.

These three
principals, association, imagination and location can be brought to work
together, and you can use these principles to generate powerful
mnemonic systems.

Working together, the principals of association, imagination and location can be used to generate powerful mnemonic systems. Hopefully once you have absorbed and applied these techniques you will understand how to design and apply these principles to your own field to design your own powerful, sophisticated recall systems.

Lets start by a short review of the principals involved.

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by Darren Neal

Eat less … lose weight?!? Here’s the other stuff you can do to get leaner.

1) Don’t diet to extremes. Reducing calories by 15-20% a day will almost exclusively burn fat while larger cuts in calories will burn a combo of muscle tissue and fat. Muscle drives the metabolism - calorie burning. If you’re currently eating 3000 calories, reduce to 2400-2550, but do so according to smart guidelines like those laid out in The Living Health Weight Loss Audio.

2) Graze all day. Professional athletes and models eat all day long yet keep their total calories under control. The grazing method, 5-6 small meals, elevates the metabolism. Each time you eat, the metabolism increases, and over a 6-10 week period, that increase can parlay into another 2-3 pounds of fat loss.

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Author: Chris Chew

Most people know that they need to lift weight build muscles. However many just want to have nice muscle tone and an attractive but not too muscular body as they do not want big muscles. So they just lift light weights with high repetitions. Well, it is not going to work. To have nice muscle tone, you will have to build some muscles right? So you will have to lift heavy to force your muscles to grow. Once you are satisfied with the size of your muscles, you will then need to cut your body fats for your muscles to show up well and that means nice muscle tone.

You need to have a solid commitment and knowledge to get nice muscle tone and build an attractive muscular body. Here are some muscle building tips. Before you commence weight training, remember to warm up and as well as doing some stretching exercises.

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By
G.Thomas

We have emotions for a reason. As well as our ability to rationalize and
think, emotions play a key role in our lives. They can help us at
times recognize between positive and negative influences on our lives. Although sometimes emotions can be misplaced or mistaken, that
too can be a signal for evaluation our thinking, or asking of
ourselves why might I be feeling this way or that. It can be like a
barometer letting us know that there may be something for which we
should look at or repair.

When feeling a sense of warm fuzzy or elation we can take pause to realize
why we are feeling good or content or happy. This is a way to be
aware that something feels right or positive; a way to have our
thinking process and evaluate why we may be feeling this way or that.
Conversely, a mixed feeling of upset, unhappiness, strife or anger
lets us know that something is not quite right in our thinking or our
actions. It can be a signal that there is something, or some emotion
we may be experiencing which is not satisfactory or beneficial for
which we should address and change in order to be happier and more
content.

Many times we have the ability to either acknowledge our emotions or bury
them and deny them. Our minds are very powerful and sometimes an
emotion may seem unbearable or detrimental to our activities so it
may seem that the best way is to put it aside or bury it to be dealt
with at a later time. When this happens it may be beneficial to at
least acknowledge it before putting it aside. This way you can have a
more clear reckoning that it does exist. You will be acknowledging
the emotion at the least knowing that it exists, and you will not be
denying it which could be an unhealthy way of deluding yourself and
creating a false sense of awareness. Emotions might be put aside for
another time but they do not go away. Our mind might retain them
whereby it can take only a quick remembering to bring them back full
force. It may be a good practice to acknowledge and put a label to an
emotion so as to have an immediate sense of closure to it. One might
say; okay I am feeling angry about this or that. I am feeling sad
about such and such, or I am feeling confused or happy or content
about something. This way of quickly describing an emotion to
ourselves is useful because it can allow ourselves to continue on our
way and get on with moving forward in our day.

In the book “Tuesdays with Morry” – I remember reading a useful
passage that goes like this: “The best way to deal with an emotion
is to go through and allow yourself to feel it, and know that it is
only an emotion you are having.”

Emotions can be useful good or bad. Desirable emotions like happy, joyful,
pleasurable or contentedness can let us know that perhaps we can
remember how we got to feeling that way and we could know how to get to that place again in the future. Undesirable emotions like sadness or anger or hurt can lead us too.

We can try to recall what made this emotion come about and we can know for the
future how we may react later. Perhaps we may want to address this
rationally with our minds so that we can deal with the emotion in a
healthy way.

Regardless of what actual living experiences we may be having it is up to each
individual to deal with it or not deal with it. It is very important
to know that not to deal with and acknowledge an emotion is a choice
too. Pretending not to feel something is just that. Pretending. For
what is really going on is the mind choosing to not deal with it or
experience it at the particular moment. It may be that learning to
experience an emotion and acknowledge the emotion is the quickest way
to really get through it and let it be what it is; just an emotion.
Then our thinking and efforts can move forward and we can continue on.

Part of being human is our ability to feel enjoyment and pleasure which can
be positive for us. Learning to feel enjoyment in our lives is not so
much about what we have or the conditions about us. It is more so
about how we choose to regard ourselves and our life. That is a
personal choice. It can be seen in many people who may have greater
or lesser degrees of choice and yet they find a way to make their own
happiness. Visualize your own sense of gratitude for what you have
and what you are feeling. Are you grateful that you can eat and sleep
and laugh? Are you grateful to be able to share pleasure with
others?Having emotions is part of being human. It is part of our
personal identities. Let yourself experience and know your emotions.
It is after all, your life.

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By G.Thomas

The time between Christmas day and New
Years Day can be blissful and enjoyable. Now is the time to bathe in
the present and relax to enjoy each day. No more is the anticipation
or apprehension of Christmas to come for you are in it right now in
the moment. Now you can appreciate each and every day, every hour.
You may be visiting friends and family. Enjoy each day with less
mystery and begin to reckon with and establish this Christmas’
memories.

In the days before the new calendar
year is a time to look ahead at perhaps just how you feel about the
months to come. How might you regard the months ahead. Have you
particular plans for this winter? Are there new or exciting things
you wish to do this winter?

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By G. Thomas

From the green Christmas where soft spots of wet sloppy untidy snow piles are seen here and there. Where looking out green and cement can still be seen. Where the gentle breeze somewhat smells like it could easily be Spring; to the white Christmas where everywhere you look there is an imposing blanket of snow even piled upon branches of trees. Where snow banks have become white thick walls and sidewalk passages are now tunnels that one walks through. Where shovels, window brushes, road salt and sand are the most important tools of the season. Where a person can look out at the awesome power of seasonal nature to put everything to sleep and hibernation only for awhile when our human nature ponders and builds anticipation for the upcoming Spring and Summer months.

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By G. Thomas Stewart

Frantic
frenzied stressful actions about the holiday season; or can it be
energetic preparations toward and about Christmas? One could see cars dashing about revealing a force of urgency with willful and
determined faces inside. Striding onward pedestrians are displaying
determined and motivated expressions of cheer and graciousness.

Outside a house a middle aged man in the sunshine is hanging lights and setting out wire ornaments of reindeer, snowman, Santa Claus and candy canes, and stringing lights on them. I should be sure to check out the colors tonight and see what he has chosen!

I go for a walk at nights just to see all the beautiful displays. This year is
particularly abundant I notice; more lights and more ornaments. I am
glad that I can go walking and appreciate them all!

There is a Santa Parade in our small town this year around the downtown
streets. I walk about looking at the new window displays and what
spirit of Christmas they are offering. I turn toward the parade just
as the bag pipes have passed by. I always stop to listen to bag pipes
any time since I was a child; the streaming glorious magnificence of
their sounds. What majesty and strength as their sound carries above
all and travels by the winds. Suddenly turning from around the corner
is Santa with all the reindeer waving to all the crowd Merry Christmas ho ho ho. I stand to watch as he passes and he calls down to an elderly lady near me. He calls her name and a young child turns to the lady and says up to her, eyes all bright and aglow, “You know Santa Claus?!”

To which the lady replies, to the little girl, “Oh Santa Claus knows everybody.”

I am passing by a Church and I notice a sign that reads: -Expect Miracles.- That makes me think. Why not?  What are miracles anyway? They need not be mystifying, or huge.  Are not miracles really about what we perceive to be miracles? There are little miracles everyday around us. It may be as simple as cheering someone up to feeling more joy. That is a miracle too. We can help create little miracles everyday if we want.

I notice the faces of people as they peruse the items in shops. They have
unusually concentrated and scrutinizing eyes while they evaluate items for which they are unfamiliar. Of course they must be in the business of planning and doing their gift activities, I thought.

Late one afternoon I watch out my window. There are light flurries swirling about as they make their way downward; and we are gifted with sunshine. Children are walking, stopping to play with snowballs and are cheerily frolicsome and I can hear their banter from across the street. I note to myself how they truly are celebrating the new days of snow and the season. I think to myself how I did the same when as a child. Surely they each could tell me their Christmas time plans
and what they may hope to see and do on Christmas day!

It also occurred to me that Christmas day is not just about one day. It is also about all the preparing that leads up to Christmas. It is about how we interact and the visiting we may do. It is also about the days after Christmas day. It is about the whole season and our beliefs, and the good cheer we bring to one another. It is a time to welcome-in the perhaps cold and enduring Winter. It is a time to
reflect on how we practice the things that we truly believe to be goodness.

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1. Organize:

   Before
   venturing out to find and discover the gifts you want to find it is
   most useful to have a general idea of what you will be looking for.
   Decide in your mind generally what kind of gift you are seeking and
   where are the places you can find them. If you have this basic plan
   before you start you can save a lot of time and confusion trying to
   figure it out while you are in the market place.

2. Particular
   kind of gifts:

   It is
   helpful when you already know what kind of gift you plan to get;
   even if you do not know exactly what you will get, to decide and put
   that thought in the back of your mind so that it is easier to know
   when you come across it.

Continue Reading »

 By G.Thomas Stewart

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There are many reasons why we fail to feel good about ourselves. Throughout each day many daily concerns and personal thoughts can lead us into having a good day or a bad one.

 

  A lot has to do with how we may be feeling about ourselves. Am I doing the right things. Am I doing what I ought to be doing. Should I be doing this or that. What am I thinking about today? Personal acceptance is the key.

 At times wanting and desiring perfection or better drives us to a state of inner turmoil. I have noticed that feeling uneasy and incomplete can be a bad thing or a good thing.

 If it is some kind of happiness that I yearn for why do I not have it? These things can be related directly to the inner question: What makes me happy? If personal standards or perfection rules over us, we may never feel satisfaction or happiness. If I set my standards too high or demand too much of myself then I am surely ill at ease right from the start and will feel less happiness and fulfillment in the now.

 I suggest that using personal desire and self betterment can be a good thing when it is addressed in a reasonable and rational way. One must learn how to consider what is realistic for themselves and what is too much. If a person is constantly trying to be perfect in every way and always demanding more and better they may be setting themselves up for disappointment even depression. It is a good and healthy thing to want improvement or more or better that can and is useful, but it is equally important and useful to see and accept ourselves for what we are doing and who we are being.

 Seeking progress not perfection is a more realistic and emotionally healthy way to relieve stress and tension. Acept what is really going on around us and be acepting of ourselves is important for healthy reflection and optimism. What we expect of ourselves on a daily basis will dictate our personal contentment. Keep personal standards realistic. Strive to do and be what you consider to be good and choose to be content with yourself even if it is not satisfactory at the moment. Notice when you may be unhappy just because you have placed demands that are too high or stressful, because noticing and being aware of these thoughts can enable you the strength, courage and wisdom to realistically and more comfortably make changes for personal self improvement.

 If you are always being stressed or uncomfortable in your own skin then you cannot have a healthy awareness and viewpoint from which to work from. If you are stressed or frenzied your instincts will want to reach and take hold of any available immediate satisfaction that may not be best for your interests. Step back out of yourself and take a realistic look around at the situation. What beliefs and ideals are you trying to live by. What is it really that you want? Are you okay with just being yourself? Are you content with what you are doing? Think about how much and in what ways you are content. Affirm this in your mind. Then you can more clearly be aware of your activities and how they may relate to personal contentment. Laugh, live, work, socialize, do things that bring on contentment and moments of happiness.

 Meditation practice can greatly help reduce stress that is brought on by worldly factors. Take time out perhaps only even 30 minutes to have all to yourself in personal meditation. It will reaffirm your comittment to yourself. It will affirm that you acknowledge and believe in yourself. It will bring about higher self esteem.

 Think of progress and not perfection and you will bring about more personal contentment. In the Bible at Proverbs there is a line which goes like this: –Better is a little, Than great treasure with trouble.–

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• Choosing Happiness. (tokpathogen.wordpress.com)

 

 

Image by ryanjzeigler via Flickr

 by Godfrey Philander

Meditation pertains to a state where your body and mind are consciously relaxed and focused. Practitioners of this art report increased awareness, focus, and concentration, as well as a more positive outlook in life.

Altho there are galore dissimilar approaches to meditation, the fundamental principles remain the same. The most indispensable amidst these principles is that of removing obstructive, negative, and wandering thoughts and fantasies, and calming the mind with a deep sense of focus. This clears the mind of debris and prepares it for a higher quality of activity.

If you find the meditating positions you see on television threatening – those with impossibly arched backs, and painful-looking contortions – you need not worry. The principle here’s to be in a comfortable position conducive to concentration. This can be while sitting cross-legged, standing, lying down, and even walking.

If the perspective allows you to relax and concentrate, then that would be a good starting point. While sitting or standing, the back should be straight, but not tense or tight. In other positions, the only no-no is slouching and falling asleep.

Meditation is most normally related with monks, mystics and other spiritual disciplines. Nonetheless, you don’t have to be a monk or mystic to receive pleasure from its gains. And you do not even have to be in a particular place to practice it. You could even undertake it in your own living room!

The negative thoughts you have – those of noisy neighbors, bossy officemates, that parking ticket you got, and undesirable spam– are said to contribute to the ‘polluting’ of the mind, and shutting them out is allows for the ‘cleansing’ of the mind so that it can focus on deeper, more meaningful thoughts.

Numerous practitioners even shut out all sensory input – no sights, no sounds, and not one thing to touch – and undertake to detach themselves from the commotion around them. You can now focus on a deep, unfathomed thought whether or not this is your goal. It can seem loud at firstborn, since we are all too accustomed to perpetually hearing and seeing things, but as you continue this practice you will find yourself getting more aware of everything around you.

Loose, comfortable clothes aid a lot in the procedure since tight fitting clothes have a tendency to choke you up and make you feel tense.

The place you perform meditation will have to have a soothing atmosphere. It can be in your living room, or bedroom, or any place that you feel comfortable in. You may want an practice mat whether or not you plan to take on the more challenging positions (whether or not you feel more focused doing so, and whether or not the contortionist in you is screaming for release). You can want to have the place arranged so that it’s soothing to your senses.

Silence helps most people relax and meditate, so you can want a quiet, detached area far from the ringing of the phone or the humming of the washing machine. Delighting scents likewise aid in that regard, so stocking up on aromatic candles isn’t such a bad idea either.

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

You do not require to perform such; nonetheless, it would recompense to note that focusing on repeated activities such as breathing, and humming aid the practitioner enter a higher state of awareness.

The principle here’s focus. You could likewise undertake focusing on a sure object or thought, or even, while holding your eyes open, focus on a single sight.

One sample routine would be to – while in a meditative state – silently name each allocation of you body and focusing your awareness on that allocation. While doing this you ought to be aware of any tension on any allocation of your body. Mentally visualize releasing this tension. It works wonders.

Studies have shown that meditation does bring in regards to advantageous physiologic effects to the body. And there has been a growing consensus in the medical community to farther study the outcomes of such. So in the near future, who knows, that mystical, esoteric thing we call meditation may become a science itself!

In all, meditation is a comparatively chance-free practice and its gains are well worth the campaign (or non-campaign – remember we’re relaxing).

Godfrey is a really good author who teaches regarding the meditation and
meditation exercises
Article Source: Five Star Articles

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by Ed Ostrom

• 

Created on: October 07, 2007

Let me see roses in spite of the thorns,
As the troubles of life are borne,
Help me to look past the hurt and the pain,
And sense purpose in my life again,
Help me see the way of victory,
And seek to live my life truly free,
Although Recovery’s path is so long,
Help me daily seek to remain strong,
In the midst of the thorns help me to find the rose,
And realize lasting joy as my life grows.

-
Written for Morning Reflections Group at the local Detox Center, where
the Reflection for the day is ” I can complain because rosebushes have
thorns … or rejoice because the thorn-bush has a rose.

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6 Beginner Yoga Poses: The Secret To Accelerating Your Fitness Goals (These are Good!)

by Anna Wehr

For those who often feel stressed out because of having to juggle so many things in their fast-paced lives, one of the best ways to seek peace and relaxation is to take at least one hour a day to practice yoga. In the recent years more and more people have turned to yoga as a way to find calmness and peace of mind and it has helped many overweight people to shed off a lot of unwanted pounds too. Yoga studios and fitness centers have been popping up everywhere but for those who do not have the means or the luxury of time to go to these places they can just practice yoga at home.

It is best to practice yoga at home in the morning when your mind is still free of any work-related pressures. Find a clear place where you can stretch out properly such as in your spacious living room or even in your back yard. One of the yoga moves that you should do at least once everyday to achieve maximum results is the sun salutation pose. It is one of many easy yoga poses and will help you achieve a better balance. This does not mean that you should completely ignore your neighborhood yoga studio. Supplement your home routine with at least two to four classes a month where a professional instructor can check your alignment and your posture. While you are at the studio you will also be able to practice more beginner yoga poses that you could add to your home routine to keep it more challenging. So pick a nice quiet corner in your home, put on some calming music, start rolling out the mat and try these easy yoga poses. Remember to practice proper breathing as you do the poses

1.) Mountain Pose ‚

Stand straight facing the light and put your arms on the side. Put your feet slightly apart, close your eyes, take five to ten deep and slow breaths then bring your palms together over head facing each other.

2.) Standing Forward Bend ‚

Exhale then bend forward at the hips. Try to stretch as much as you can to reach your fingertips or your entire palm to the floor.

3.) Four-limbed Staff Pose ‚

Take a deep breath and step your feet into plank position. Exhale then bend your elbows until your upper arms are parallel to the floor.

4.) Upward Facing Dog ‚

Inhale then push your chest forward at the same time pushing the top of your feet on to the floor. Simultaneously stretch your arms then stretch your neck with your face facing upward.

5.) Downward Facing Dog ‚

Exhale then use your arms and abs to lift your hips toward the ceiling. Try pushing your heels towards the floor then hold for three breaths.

6.) Warrior 2 ‚

From the downward facing dog position step your right foot between your hands. Turn your left foot parallel to the end of the mat. Take a deep breath then rise to standing position with your legs straight and your arms extended to the sides at shoulder level. Gaze over your right side then exhale.

The best ways to find yoga positions online is by visiting yoga exercises for beginners, part of a solid wellness website that is specialized in meditation yoga and pilates.

Article Source: 6 Beginner Yoga Poses: The Secret To Accelerating Your Fitness Goals (These are Good!)

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Does Yoga Normalize Body Weight?

by Karina Cano

Many individuals are initial interested in Yoga as a method to maintain their bodies fit and supple. Other people come seeking relief or assist for a particular ailment like tension or Backache. Whatever your reason is, Yoga may be a tool in giving you both what you came for, and more.

Although the practice of Yoga is closely related to ancient texts, beliefs, and values, it also yields advantages useful for people’s practical every day lives. Here are some factors why more and more people are practicing Yoga:

1. Yoga relaxes the body and also the mind. Even within the midst of stressful environments, Yoga assists control breathing and clears the mind of cluttered thoughts, leaving only deep physical and mental refreshment.

2. Yoga can assist normalize body weight. For individuals who’re either overweight or underweight, Yoga Exercises can help achieve the desired weight. The principles of balance and moderation in physical activity and diet under Yoga can also lead to a healthier way of life.

3. Yoga improves your resistance to illness. The postures and movements in Yoga massage the internal organs, enhancing blood flow and functionality, therefore, lessening the risk of illness.

4. Yoga increases your energy level and productivity. For as quick as 20 minutes, Yoga can replenish the mind and body with precious power required to respond to every day tasks and challenges.

5. Yoga leads to genuine inner contentment and self-actualization. Meditation -one of the aspects of Yoga- focuses your brain, taking it away from the distractions of the highly-materialistic world and leading it to genuine happiness.

Yoga is a method of studying that aims to attain the unity of mind, body, and spirit through these 3 main Yoga structures:   Physical exercise,  Breathing, and Meditation.  The workouts of Yoga are designed to put pressure on the Glandular Systems of the physique, thereby increasing its efficiency and total wellness.

The body is looked upon as the main instrument that enables us to work and evolve in the world, a Yoga student;  therefore, treats it with great care and respect.   The Breathing Methods are based on the idea that breath will be the source of life within the physique.  Yoga students gently increase their breath control to enhance the wellness and also the function of both body and mind.

These two systems prepare the physique and mind for Meditation, generating it easier for students to accomplish a quiet mind and be totally free from everyday tension.  Normal daily practice of all 3 parts of this structure of Yoga create a clear, bright mind along with a powerful, capable body.

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Article Source: Article Brain

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by LeeDavidhcz

One of the things most critical to home business success is defining one’s goals. We are continually reminded to write them on paper, giving ourselves a deadline to meet them, so that we can remain focused on our ultimate dreams.

We need to keep them in front of us at all times in order to maintain the motivation often needed to get us over the rough spots in our businesses.

Wallace Wattles, in his 1910 classic, “The Science of Getting Rich,” states:

“You must form a clear and definite mental picture of what you want. You cannot transmit an idea unless you have it yourself….That clear mental picture you must have continually in mind….The more clear and definite you make your picture then, and the more you dwell upon it, bringing out all its delightful details, the stronger your desire will be.”

Does this mean that you must spend hours contemplating your ultimate goal? Of course not. It simply means that you need to know just exactly what it is that you want and want it so badly that it will stay in your thoughts.

I’ve personally taken this advice very much to heart. Regardless of what your goals are, it’s possible for you to use this same method to maintain your own focus.

Let me explain.

My ultimate goal is for my husband and I to be able to retire to the area in which I grew up, the Mississippi Gulf Coast. I have a very definite image of what life will be like for us there, and each day I set aside a few minutes to simply close my eyes and dwell on the mental picture of some of the things we’ll be able to enjoy -

walking along the beach at sunset, feeling the warmth of the sand on my bare feet (I can practically smell the salt air when I do this)

shopping in an unhurried atmosphere in the quaint downtown section of Ocean Springs, Mississippi - only a few minutes’ drive from the exciting casino action of the neighboring town of Biloxi

reconnecting with friends and family and being able to enjoy reunions that I often missed due to living a long distance away

dining at local restaurants that serve the delicious seafood the area is famous for

I could go on and on, but you get the (mental) picture!

Carrying this one step further, I’ve gathered together some pictures, postcards, and other memorabilia that reflect the overall atmosphere of the area. These items hang on my wall in my office, right in front of me, so that I can have a constant reminder of exactly what it is that I am working toward.

I’m amazed at the effectiveness of these simple techniques!

You can apply these same methods regardless of what your goals are. Even if what you’re working for can’t be quite so clearly defined in words and pictures, you can still benefit from these exercises.

During those few minutes each day that you set aside to form your mental “picture,” imagine the feelings that you will have when you have reached your own personal goals. Create an affirmation statement, using your computer and some attractive stationery to print it out. Frame this and place it in your own personal work area so that you will have a constant reminder of what exactly it is that you want to accomplish.

Focus, focus, focus….and your dreams WILL come true!
Article Source: http://www.articlebrain.com

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by bruceseahws

The Law of Cause and Effect is just like gravity, you experience it whether you believe it or not. You have heard of it in many forms in many great religions and the popular teaching: What you sow, you shall reap!

It is very scientific, every effect there is a cause to it and every cause there will be an effect! Every action will cause a result and every result was caused by an action. You are where you are today it is because of the things you think, do and say! Thinking is an action, in fact if you look all around you, everything started from an idea and that is why it is very important to check your thinking.

The Buddha, the enlightened one, has made it very clear: “You are what you think.” In his book, “Think and Grow Rich“, Napoleon Hill said: “Truly, “thoughts are things” and powerful things at that when they are mixed with definiteness of purpose, persistence, and a burning desire for their translation into riches or other material objects.”

It all starts with your thinking! Here’s an important question: “Are your thoughts positive or negative?” Positive thoughts will give you positive results, negative thoughts will give you negative results. So if you want positive results it is your responsibility to check your thoughts and one great way to help you in thinking positively is to read positive books and mix with positive people!

In this article I am just touching a bit on this great universal law, you can write a book about it! I hope this article will inspire you to put effort into understanding this important universal law and help you live a better life!

Always remember this: when you help others, you are helping yourself and when you hurt others, you are hurting yourself! There will be world peace and co-operation in the world when more people understand this! It is very silly, foolish and stupid to cheat or hurt others because you are cheating and hurting yourself and the effects are multiplied and returned to you in many folds! Similarly when you contribute and help others, your rewards will come to you in many ways and in many folds! There is no escape from this law, you can never run away from it! It is always with you!

In his book, “As A Man Thinketh“, Robert Allen said that your mind is like a garden, “Every thought-seed sown or allowed to fall into the mind, and to take root there, produces its own, blossoming sooner or later into act, and bearing its own fruitage of opportunity and circumstance. Good thoughts bear good fruit, bad thoughts bad fruit.” I highly recommend you read this classic book on how to achieve happiness, health and prosperity! I also highly recommend you read the book: The Dhammapada by K. Sri Dhammananda.

When you read good books you connect yourself with great minds and love and wisdom is your key to happiness and success. I wish you happiness, health and prosperity, and above all, peace of mind.

Bruce Seah, Asia No.1 Home-Based Business Coach. Bruce loves to help people to make money to achieve their dreams! Get your free ebooks on how to make money at: http://www.BruceSeah.com You can drink your way to success with Xango juice and make this world a better place, go to: http://www.MakeMoney.MyMangosteen.com

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by Mike Robbins

“A genuine and powerful compliment is one of the best gifts we can give another human being. Think of some of the compliments you have received in your life…they stick out in your mind and resonate deep within your heart, don’t they?

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by Mike Robbins

“Are there people in your life, on your team, and/or with whom you interact regularly that get on your nerves? Have you ever found yourself wanting to yell at the top of your lungs, “Knock it off, I can’t stand you?”

If so, you are not alone…welcome to being human! One of most challenging aspects of being human, living and working with others, creating personal success, and developing a championship team around us is dealing with the people we consider “difficult” (or other, less polite adjectives).

What do you appreciate about them?

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By Demi Holdstock

What is Self Esteem - Its how you see yourself, how much you think you are worth, how important you think you are to yourself and others around you. What you should be thinking is you are worth the good things in life and deserve them and happiness. That you also are capable of handling situations that arise daily and you can face whatever challenges life throws at you. If life’s not like this then read on.

If you feel your not sure whether you can complete certain tasks, and you tend to shy away from crowds and even friends due to uncertainties about yourself, or your to busy thinking what they will think about you and what actions they may take then listen up.

Building Self Esteem is all about having confidence, the more the better.

Self esteem plays an important role on who we are and how we carry ourselves - it can have a major impact on our social standing, our job performance, and our relationships. Our attitude towards ourselves determines health happiness and performance in every part of our life

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Contrary to popular belief, most laughter is not associated with humor, but rather stems from non-humor related social interactions. This was discovered from a study covering over 2,000 cases of naturally occurring laughter, almost none of which stemmed from jokes or other such humor devices. Most cases were simple, short “ha ha’s” during somewhat normal conversations. These short laughs almost never interrupted speech, but rather occurred during breaks, providing social cues to those around. It is thought that laughter serves a similar function to yawning, namely providing “social glue” that helps bond people subconsciously.

Source: Today I Found Out

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