The Ingredients To Fulfillment

By Amy Twain

During the last five years, there has been increasing proof supporting the relation of fulfillment with life or happiness and being able to utilize and maximize your strengths. Most human beings who feel fulfilled with their life are most likely to be less stressed or harassed, do well at work, have lesser sick days and social or psychological problems.

First and foremost, you need to know what the human brain needs. Gregory Berns, a psychiatrist and neuroscientist at Emory University, believes that to feel satisfied is needed and essential to experience the fulfillment in one's life. In his book, Satisfaction: The Science of Finding True Fulfillment, he declares that being fulfilled necessitates two significant ingredients which nature has shaped our brains to crave: challenge and novelty.

Stress which is connected with a challenge releases the hormone cortisone. In high levels, cortisone can be damaging to the human body both physically and mentally. However, in smaller amounts, it could enhance memory, elevate mood, and increase concentration and focus, making you more effective. While novelty in life gives off the neurotransmitter dopamine which is related to feelings of being happy and well-being.

When these two chemicals mingle and interact, then the stage is set for powerful feelings of being fulfilled. Second, research by doctors Martin Seligman, Nansook Park and Christopher Peterson have discovered that there are five basic character/signature strengths that are constantly and closely associated to satisfaction in life. Moreover, there is conclusive information which points out which strengths or assets are indispensable and the ingredients our brain requires to experience fulfillment.

So, do you possess these key strengths and characteristics? 

1. Curiosity: finding topics and subjects intriguing and fascinating; taking a healthy interest in an ongoing and progressive experience and happenings for its own sake; constantly discovering and exploring. 

2. Zest: feeling active and alive all over again; living life as a big adventure; approaching life with happy energy and excitement; not doing things halfway or in a halfhearted manner.

3. Gratitude:taking time in expressing thanks; being aware of and grateful for all the blessings and good things that happen. 

4. Love: simply being close to other people; honoring close relationships, particularly those in which caring and sharing is interchanged. 

5. Optimism: expecting and believing the best in what the future will hold.

The great news is, if these strengths are not high on your list, you can develop them. For example, to develop: 1. Curiosity, acquire more information about things you're interested in and be open to ideas. 2. Zest, savor even those momentary pleasures. Do something with more energy and add more creativity in doing it.

3. Gratitude, especially if you're having a tough day, try counting your blessings by writing down three things that you are thankful for or appreciate stating "why". 4. Love, spend more quality time and bonding moments with friends and family. Renew your personal relationships for a stronger bond. 5. Optimism, whenever you are facing a problem or difficulty, stay in the present and be specific about what or who is involved.

Instead of "stewing" on problems, practice "savoring" the simple joys of life.



About The Author
The author of this article,Amy Twain, is a Self Improvement Coach who has been successfully coaching and guiding clients for many years. Let Amy help you find Happiness in Your Work Place. Click here to learn how to become a Happy Worker.


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You Want to be Happy and Successful? Get Mentally Fit

By Willie Horton

How are you going to be up to the not-too-onerous task of getting the very best out of life if you are mentally unfit? Unfortunately, many years of research confirms that the normal mind is not just unfit for effortless living, it has been living on a diet of clapped-out old movies (from your childhood) all of your adult life. It's the ultimate couch potato. And, if, for all of your adult life, you had sat like a lazy slob on a couch, would you really expect to be able to spring from your couch, put on your trainers and go out for even a light jog? You'd kill yourself in the process - and, sadly, that is what normal people are doing - dying to be a success!

However, life is not a light jog - life is more akin to a marathon and, if you don't take the appropriate regular exercise, you will simply not be able to stay the course. The amazing things is, though, if you do bother to take even a little mental exercise, you will suddenly realize that life is not, in fact, a marathon at all - it's only our unfit normal crazy mind that makes it so. In the right state of mind, life is a gentle, enjoyable and effortless stroll in the park. Have you ever experienced the peace and calm of that stroll? Is carefree and effortless living something that you have experienced? If you haven't, it's because you're an unfit mental slob and it's your own fault.

How do you change all that? Does it require massive effort or discipline? Not at all - all that is required is just a little commitment on your part. Believe it or not, it only takes a few minutes each morning to get your head in the right place - perhaps a little longer for a start if you want to give yourself the solid foundation from which you can springboard to effortless living. And ten minutes each morning will change the other twenty three hours and fifty minutes - you simply won't recognise your life.

What exercise am I talking about? Nothing could be simpler - you've just got to re-develop your innate ability to pay attention to reality. At present, as I've already said, your subconscious mind is stuck in a rut. It's obsessed with your past and it uses what it learned during your formative years to make sense of today. The results? Pick up the newspapers, see how so many normal people behave so badly - from domestic violence to wars, from petty theft to the barefaced greed that has all but dismantled the economies of many of the world's so-called developed countries. Look at your own life. Your subconscious mind's efforts to make sense of today lead to anxiety, stress, worry, ill-health, dissatisfaction - the list, in fact, is endless. Letting your subconscious mind run on auto-pilot is making nonsense of your life - you've got to come to your senses.

Research strongly suggests that our ability to be happy, focused, effective and successful is correlated to our ability to pay attention to the here and now. If we leave the running of our lives to our subconscious mind, we end up paying no attention to the here and now and the results are, at best, not-too-bad, at worst, disastrous. I've already said it but bears repeating - you've got to re-train yourself in the simple but powerful art of paying attention. I say 're-train' because, as children, we were experts at it.

What do you need to pay attention to? Not your goals, not the outcomes that you want to achieve - you need to pay attention to the here and now. Nothing else. It is in the here and now that life is lived. Today's actions create tomorrow's 'reality'. What you do today determines whether you succeed or fail. And, at present, your normal mind is pretty much doing nothing other than going through the motions of living. Rather than reacting automatically to what your subconscious mind thinks is going on, you need to take real action in your life. You've got to start taking action for yourself - nobody else will do it for you.

How can you re-learn your innate ability to pay attention? Meditate. Meditation disciplines an otherwise undisciplined mind. Meditation enables you pay attention to what your five senses are telling you. Meditation breaks the link between reality and what your subconscious mind makes up in place of reality. Only meditation can fully clear your mind - and armed with a clear mind you can and will change your life effortlessly. Meditation is the prerequisite to effortless, happy and successful living.





Copyright (c) 2010 Willie Horton

About The Author
Willie Horton is author of 'To Succeed Just Let Go' and founder of Gurdy.Net - the Personal Development Website. Since 1996 he has been helping his many clients change their lives and achieve happiness and success. Clients include top executives in organizations like Pfizer, Deloitte, G4S, Allergan, Diageo and Nestle. Willie lives in the French Alps, with his wife and children, from where he travels the world as a speaker and consultant.


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7 Persuasion Tactics To Influence Anyone In The Most Effective Manner

By Michael Lee

It's easy to influence anyone if you know the right persuasion tactics to use. Here's a list of 7 powerful techniques to get the most out of your persuasion efforts. 

Persuasion Tactic # 1: Start your discussion on the right track. 

One of the biggest mistakes people make in persuasion is that they start talking about a topic or situation that the other person is not yet aware or familiar with. 

I have a friend who often dives into the middle of a story or subject, which leaves me (and I assume many other people) clueless on what he's talking about. It's important to start your discussion on a point that people can relate to, preferably from the very beginning, unless you're sure that they already know the foundation of the topic of discussion. 

Persuasion Tactic # 2: Be crystal clear in imparting your message. 

When you say, 'He's mad' do you mean he's angry or do you mean he's crazy? Whenever you're going to say or write something that is vague or may lead to miscommunication, it's highly recommended that you change the words in a way that imparts a clear message. 

Persuasion Tactic # 3: Give them a summary or an overall glimpse of the big picture. 

This is vital when talking about something that takes a little (or a lot more) time to comprehend. This way, they can better relate the discussion to the big picture and 'absorb' what you're saying. 

Persuasion Tactic # 4: Stay humble. 

Never brag or be arrogant because it's a big turn-off. The other party may think (in his own mind) that he's better than you, and you'll just bruise his ego. 

You may even feign to not know things you may already be aware of, if it would give you an edge in persuading him. Give him the impression that you are an ally, and not in competition with him. 

Persuasion Tactic # 5: Pay attention to what is being said instead of thinking what you'll say next. 

This may be a little difficult for you to do initially. That's why it is critical to practice & enhance your persuasion skills until it becomes a part of you. When listening, don't interrupt while they're talking. Wait a second or two before you speak. Avoid changing subjects because this indicates your disinterest. 

Persuasion Tactic # 6: Choose the right time. 

When they're not in the mood or when they're pressed with time, your persuasion efforts may just fall into deaf ears because they will not give you attention. 

Ask first if you can have a few minutes of their time. If they say it's not a good time, ask for a time that fits their schedule. 

Persuasion Tactic # 7: Never disrespect anyone. 

Watch out for the body signals that you are giving away. You might be pouting your lips, breathing heavily, shaking your head, or rolling your eyes without you being aware that you're offending others. 

Watch your language too. If saying 'Whatever' 'Oh brother,' or 'Yeah right' is part of your lingo, practice taking them out of your vocabulary. 

Practice and apply these 7 persuasion tactics, and you'll be able to influence people faster than anyone else.

About The Author

Want to easily persuade anyone to do anything? Use subliminal persuasion techniques to put people under your control (without them knowing it)! Get a FREE course that reveals some of the most groundbreaking mind control techniques and persuasion secrets at http://www.20daypersuasion.com/secrets.htm

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The Happiness Choice

By Margaret Paul, Ph.D.

"Our ultimate freedom is the right and power to decide how anybody or anything outside ourselves will affect us."

--Stephen R. Covey,? Author and Speaker

This is a powerful freedom. And, from my point of view, another way of putting this is that the ultimate freedom is the right and power to decide our own intent:

* To protect against pain with our controlling behavior

* To learn about what is loving to ourselves and others

When our intent is to learn about love, that is when we get to decide how others will affect us.

If my intent is to control how other people feel about me, then if they don't like me, I will be upset. I may feel rejected or unworthy. I've made them responsible for my sense of worth, which then means that I have to try to control how they feel about me by being perfect, being nice, doing things right, saying the right thing, looking right, performing right, and so on. This is a very hard way to live!

When my intent is to be loving to myself, then I don't make others responsible for me sense of worth. Instead, I define my essential worth - not by my looks or performance - but by my essential qualities of compassion, loving kindness, caring, understanding, creativity, perseverance, basic goodness, and so on. I learn to define myself, not by my programmed ego wounded mind, but through the eyes of my higher self. If someone doesn't like me, I don't take this personally, since I accept that I have no control over who they are or how they feel, and it is not loving to me to take their behavior personally.

When my focus is on loving myself and sharing my love with others, I behave in ways that bring me joy. While painful outside events can momentarily affect me, when my intent is to be loving to myself, I quickly move into compassion for my own feelings, bringing in the comfort of Spirit to help me move through the loneliness, heartache, heartbreak, grief, sorrow, or sadness of a situation.

This all depends on who I give authority to - my personal source of spiritual guidance, or others and events. When I give authority to others and events, then I become a victim of others and circumstances. When I give authority to my personal source of spiritual guidance, I always have access to a source of truth, peace, and joy.

MY HAPPINESS OR MISERY IS MY CHOICE, AND IT DEPENDS ENTIRELY ON MY INTENT - WHICH IS MY ULTIMATE FREE-WILL CHOICE.

The moment my intent is to control that which I cannot control, or that which is unloving toward myself, others, or the planet to control, I will create my misery. Whether I try to control my pain with various addictions to substances or processes, or I try to control my feelings by getting others approval, or I try to control others and outcomes by acting in ways that are not in integrity with that which is loving to myself and others, I will make myself unhappy. Operating from a belief that the end justifies the means will never bring me joy.

The moment my intent is to be loving to myself and others, then I will treat myself, others and the planet in ways that are in alignment with what is in my highest good and the highest good of all. Loving behavior toward myself and others always brings a deep inner sense of joy.

When you choose the intent to learn about loving yourself and others, you move yourself into personal power, integrity, and connection with the Source of wisdom, truth, and joy.




About The Author
Margaret Paul, Ph.D. is a best-selling author of 8 books, relationship expert, and co-creator of the powerful Inner Bonding process - featured on Oprah. Are you are ready to heal your pain and discover your joy? Click here for a FREE Inner Bonding course: http://www.innerbonding.com/welcome and visit our website athttp://www.innerbonding.com for more articles and help. Phone Sessions Available. Join the thousands we have already helped and visit us now!


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No Goals, No Go

By Andy Grant

One of my favorite conversation-starter questions to ask people is "What are your goals?" The answer can tell a great deal about a person.

Nearly every time, there's something in common among those who feel stuck in their current situation, unhappy with one or more aspect of their life, and feeling as though they are going nowhere: they have no goals.

In some cases, it's simply a case of not understanding the power and presence that goals provide (and in these cases, simple instruction is the answer). Goal setting is a breeze once you understand how to do it.

With other folks, they may understand the power of goals, but they simply haven't taken the time or effort to set any (or to update their last batch of goals). It's important to set new goals as soon as you achieve your goals, otherwise you can lose momentum.

Other folks claim to be "going with the flow" (which often means drifting, going nowhere) and waiting for inspiration to strike.

The trouble with that approach is: inspiration typically doesn't appear until you become crystal clear about what you want.

Writers get blocked when they stare at a blank page, waiting for something to come. Writers can easily be inspired by imagining the end result of their writing (whether it's increased sales thanks to effective ad copy, or an emotional reaction elicited by a short story).

A person without a vision is like a ship afloat on the ocean. Sure, it might be a fun ride, you may get to relax a bit, but next thing you know, a couple of months have passed and you're now running out of rations, clean water, sunscreen and sanity.

But a ship with a destination in mind travels with passion AND purpose, and becomes unstoppable. When you have clear, concise goals, the Universe can then deliver exactly the clues you require to follow your course and reach your destination.

Don't wait on inspiration -- because inspiration is waiting on you, right now at this very moment.

Create a vision. Invoke your passion. Ask for a sign. You will get one.

But if you don't select a destination, don't be surprised if you just keep drifting in limbo -- and then you have no right to whine about how "nothing is happening" because that part was ultimately up to you --- and you never chose a destination!

Be brave, be daring, be confident, and have faith. Whatever you ask for, YOU CAN HAVE.

Go for it!



About The Author
For more than a decade, Andy Grant and Amy Scott Grant have been empowering people around the globe to break free from their limiting beliefs, doubts, blocks and fears. To work directly with Andy & Amy in an enterprise that combines making money with making a difference, visit http://InspiringFreedom.com


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I Just Want to be Understood

By: Margaret Paul, Ph.D.


Seek first to understand and then to be understood." - Stephen Covey

How often have you heard yourself say:

"I just want someone to understand me."

"I just want to be heard."

"I feel invisible."

"I just want to be seen."

I know what it feels like to not be understood, heard, or seen, as I spent most of the first 45 years of my life feeling invisible.

It feels terrible.

By that time I had learned to do what Stephen Covey recommends. I was very good at understanding others, but I still didn't feel understood by them.

It only took me 45 years to understand that what was really happening is that I wasn't seeing, hearing, or understanding myself, and the people in my life were reflecting my own inner system. I had worked so hard to hear and understand others that I had completely forgotten to hear and understand my own feelings and needs. I fully believed that since I was good at hearing and seeing and understanding others, they should do the same for me.

That never happened until I learned to see, hear, understand, and value my own feelings and needs.

It wasn't easy to start to listen inside. I was so focused on others' feelings and needs that I was completely out of touch with my own. And I had to come to grips with the fact that my listening and hearing and understanding others had an agenda attached. It wasn't coming from love but from neediness - I NEEDED them to listen to and understand me because I was completely abandoning myself.

Today, many years later, life is completely different. Sure, I love it when someone hears me and sees me and understands me - but now it's the icing on the cake, not the cake itself. Now I can listen to others from my heart and truly see and understand them because I don't need anything from them.

I don't need anything from them because the little girl in me feels me with her all the time - listening to my feelings, taking loving action in my own behalf, learning about what my inner child needs from me as a loving adult - a loving inner parent. Because the child in me - my feeling self - feels seen and heard and valued and understood by me, I can offer my caring and understanding to others from a full heart.

This is the inner work that we all need to do if we ever want to experience the wonderful feeling that comes from being truly seen and valued.

The thing that was in the way for me is that I always believed being seen and understood by others is what was truly important and fulfilling. Before practicing Inner Bonding, I had never experienced the profound joy of seeing, hearing and understanding myself. I could not even conceive of it feeling better than being understood by someone else. After all, wasn't my value, as the wizard said to the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz, not in how much I loved, but in how much I was loved by others? (The typical false belief of a narcissist!)

Now, I still love to be understood by others, but I don't NEED to be understood by them to feel worthy and full within. Now, when someone important to me doesn't listen or see or care or understand, I can fully and compassionately understand and care about the loneliness and heartache my inner child might feel, without taking their behavior personally. Seeing, caring about and understanding myself is profoundly powerful and fulfilling.




About The Author
Margaret Paul, Ph.D. is a best-selling author of 8 books, relationship expert, and co-creator of the powerful Inner Bonding� process - featured on Oprah. Are you are ready to heal your pain and discover your joy? Click here for a FREE Inner Bonding course: http://www.innerbonding.com/welcome and visit our website at http://www.innerbonding.com for more articles and help. Phone Sessions Available. Join the thousands we have already helped and visit us now!


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4 Tips to Staying Motivated in the Midst of Failure

By: Sakthivel Perumal

That's right. At one time or another they have flopped, fell short, missed the mark, struck out and goofed up royally. However, the difference between these people and the rest of the world is that when they failed, they made a choice to use the experience to better themselves...to become stronger.

Are you determined to reach your goal? Do you really believe you can achieve what you set out to accomplish? With determination and belief, you too can make the same choice to turn a failed situation into a winning one. How? By choosing to adapt a positive perspective and engage in edifying self-talk. Here are four opportunities to stay motivated in the midst of failure:

"The Only Direction is UP” or “It Can't Get Any Worse"

Feel like you've hit rock bottom? Don't beat up on yourself too badly. To experience disappointment, heartbreak, embarrassment and/or self-doubt is to be human. However, to wallow in this state for too long is downright destructive. Tell yourself that it doesn't get much worse than this point of failure and let yourself know that the only place left to go is "upward." Use the failure as motivation to start climbing back up. When you do this, you will see that instead of running from failure you will look it in the eye and overcome it.

"I Have a Chance to Do Better Next Time"

As long as you're breathing, there's always room for improvement. Choose to use your failure as motivation to do better the next time around. When you remember your goal and envision reaching it, you will be super-charged to find ways to develop yourself. For example, if you need to do better in school, make (and follow) a consistent study schedule. If you are intent on a promotion at work, take classes to increase your skill-set. No matter what the failed task consists of, you can use it to motivate yourself to get more done.

"Hmmm, I May Need to Change Direction"

Does it seem like you've come to a roadblock? Then the solution may just be detouring and moving toward your goal in a different way. When something does not work out as planned, you need to re-evaluate the route you are taking. So review the situation, re-group and get on a track "around" that roadblock. The track may be a different one, but it may also be a more successful one.

"This is Not the End of the Line"

Know this: everyone fails from time to time but failure is not the end of the line unless you allow it to be. You blundered, you tried, you failed and it hurts. Allow yourself time to grieve it but then let it go so that you can get back to the business of reaching your intended goal. Your goal IS your motivation. Remind yourself that the only positive option is to seek ways to turn the situation around. Then tell yourself that in the morning, you will begin again!

For more info please feel free to visit my web site at www.thehealthwealthhappiness.co.uk . Thank

Motivational training site allows learning from well-known self-help and other celebrities as personal development coaches. Your Unique Personal Power To Magnetically Attract Abundant Health, Bountiful Wealth, At Health Wealth



About The Author
Motivational training site allows learning from well-known self-help and other celebrities as personal development coaches. Your Unique Personal Power To Magnetically Attract Abundant Health, Bountiful Wealth, At Health Wealth happiness we care deeply about your success. Have perfect life partner,


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Why Successful Entrepreneurs Are Action Oriented

By TJ Philpott

Most successful entrepreneurs are inclined to not spend too much time when making business decisions. In every cases their experience has taught them that getting results comes from actually taking action and not by considering the possibilities. In fact spending too much time deliberating over their decisions can actually 'prevent' them from taking action at all and thereby experiencing any success!

Here are 3 ways in which getting 'too' caught up in trying to make a decision can lead to severely limiting your own success!

Introduces Doubt

While considering the 'what if's' it is only natural after a while that the 'possibilities' start the include problems or perceived barriers. Now your 'careful' consideration has evolved into avoiding problematic situations which obviously begins to dampen your enthusiasm or even willingness for taking action. Being overly analytical involves looking at something from every angle, good or bad, and this will definitely slow down your ability for making business decisions.

Limiting

As mentioned above, the more time you put into making business decisions the more likely you will develop reasons why you should NOT make that choice. At this point everything tends to be put into slow motion! When and if you do come to an affirmative decision the results you experience may not be quite what they could have been if you acted more quickly. This is especially true in the world of commerce which is typically affected by rising and declining trends and demand.

Complete Elimination

The worse case scenario when delaying your decision making is analysis paralysis which is not just a catchy phrase but rather something that can have a negative impact on your life. Taking too much time to deliberate can easily 'freeze' you with too much doubt, real or imagined thereby preventing you from taking action at all! You have now completely missed out on any potential the opportunity you were considering may have had. Even worse you are 'cheating' yourself of the experience and lessons you would have benefited from if you had decided to get involved as opposed to remaining a spectator!

Always remember, life is NOT a spectator sport and to get something out of it you must participate!

There is a reason many successful entrepreneurs got to where they are at and it was not by sitting on the sidelines. Making business decisions is something where careful consideration needs to be given however too much thought can actually 'prevent' any action from being taken. It is normal to hesitate when dealing with the 'unknown' but as an entrepreneur this is something you must learn to overcome! Getting results of any kind only happens after taking action and not just simply thinking about it! As discussed above it is very easy and even common to unknowingly limit or even eliminate your own success by over-analyzing things. This tends to introduce doubt and also steal valuable time that could be put to better use! Always remember, no guts no glory!



About The Author
TJ Philpott is an author and Internet entrepreneur based out of North Carolina.

To learn more about the decision making 'habits' of successful entrepreneurs and to also receive a free instructional manual that teaches valuable niche research techniques for your online marketing needs simply visit:http://affiliatequickstart.com
 
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How To Live with Presence of Mind

By Susan Russo

"One reason so few of us achieve what we truly want is that we never direct our focus; we never concentrate our power. Most peopel dabble their way through life, never deciding to master anything in particular."

-Tony Robbins

We all live in the presence of mind but most of us are unaware of doing so. Our minds are at work every second on a conscious and subconscious level, even when we are sleeping.

You don't really think to tell your body to breathe or to make sure your heart is beating.You aren't on organ patrol, keeping a vigilant eye on everything working a-okay. Your mind handles that just fine without you being cognizant of all that it entails.

And, on the other hand we are bombarded daily making conscious decisions and we are typically unconscious when making them, i.e. how to drive to work, cooking, going about our jobs, what's for lunch, when to meet clients, what time to pick up the kids and on and on.

We do most things by rote and we live unconsciously. It's simply habit; it's what we are all used to. At the same time we are doing all of these things, we are also thinking some 60,000 thoughts a day which for the most part we are totally unaware of. They simply take over. And, they play over and over and over in your mind.

Many are based on old beliefs about life and ourselves, they are thoughts ingrained in us through experiences, attitudes and misdirected focus.

And, as you know, what we focus on throughout the day, we will attract to ourselves. So if worry, stress, fear, jealousy, anger and all of the other limiting emotions are what you unconsciously and habitually hold onto, well, take a guess how you are going to feel and what you are going to experience.

On the other hand, if you learn how to break this unconscious mental cycle and flip the script you will be surprised at the outcome. If you change your mind, you WILL change your life!

The easiest way to tune into your mental radio and see what channel you are listening to is to ask yourself this simple question, "How do I feel?" Good or bad? This is the best litmus test for you to get in touch with what you are thinking and what you are focused on.

Because of the fact that our thoughts control how we feel, be dead certain that however you answer the question it is in direct correlation to those exact thoughts you say to yourself about any given situation over and over and over again.

When wanting to change something in your life no matter what it is, even if it's simply to change bad thinking, the key is to become aware of what it is you are saying to yourself about whatever it is.

Using the "how am I feeling" technique works if you use it. There are times when I have wanted to focus on some particular situation. I even use this when I want to be more in the presence of God or to be more aware of being thankful.

I will set an alarm to go off every half hour or so and when it does, I stop what I am doing and even if it is just for 30 seconds, I re-focus my thoughts to what I want to think about.

That being said, if you use the above method, in an 8 hour day, you will be shifting your focus 16 times a day more than you are now. Compared to the time you currently spend on focusing on being thankful or directing your thoughts to what you want (and not what you don't want) will make a huge difference!

By becoming more in tune to what you want and keeping your thoughts focused on a desire or goal, you will begin to break old habits and replace them with new ones.

Learning to live in the presence of your mind will literally change how you live and what you experience. It's kind of like working out. At first you may not be used to it, it's tough getting started and you're sore. But the more you do it, the stronger you become and the better you feel.

It's the same with training your mind. At first it may feel awkward but the more you do it, it will eventually become a habit. Replace the old worn out thoughts that do nothing for improving your life to those that do everything toward enhancing it.

So, if you are sitting around living your life on auto-pilot and wondering why nothing is working, changing or improving. Tune into the station you are listening to and if you like what you hear then turn it up.

If you don't, it's not worth listening to. Change the channel and listen to something else that can bring harmony, peace, abundance and all of your hearts desires. It's all about what you focus on!




About The Author
Susan Russo is an author and coach whose work has inspired people from all over the world to take back their power! Would you like to empower yourself to do the same? Discover Susan's 7 Keys to unlock your power by picking up your FREE report at: http://www.susanrusso.com


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Stop The World, I Want To Get Off!

By Marsha Egan

Almost every day, I hear someone remark how fast the world is changing - and it's true. It's almost unrecognizable from our parents' days, and even from the world we grew up in.

We live in a world far more touched by a constant state of change than any generation which has gone before us. Global communication and sharing of ideas combined with ever-increasing technology has given us a world that moves incredibly fast. Add to that the increasing world population, increased global competition and the pressure we all have on profits, and we have a world with its foot stuck firmly on the gas pedal!

Mind you, it's almost certain that the current break-neck speed at which our world turns is the slowest rate of change we'll ever have; things can only speed up even further from here - pretty scary, isn't it?

Just to reinforce this, the compounding reality is that there's nothing any of us can do to slow the rate of change - whether we like it or not, the roller coaster is here to stay!

The more change we have to deal with, the greater is the potential for us to feel stressed out. People are, by their very nature, resistant to change. We have our routines and our idiosyncrasies, and we hate to be taken outside our 'comfort zones'. How many times have you heard a colleague say 'well, we've always done it that way', or refer to how something worked 'last time'? When we have to mix things up a little, people get uncomfortable, so it's understandable that this can create stress.

Even changes that improve people's lives can create stress. For example, when someone gets a promotion and has to move to a new city, they not only have to deal with all of the changes to their new responsibilities at work, with a new boss, new relationships and new knowledge; their family must also deal with the changes involved in moving to a new neighborhood -- new schools, new neighbors, new places to shop, new doctor, the list can be endless. While the overall result is a positive change, all these things almost certainly add pressure to a person's home and professional life.

Given the fact that we can't slow the rate of change down, what CAN we do?

The answer lies in our own ability to change from within - the way we handle or react to change. If you can't change what we don't like, there are only two things you can do. You can elect not to be part of the thing you don't like (which in this case simply isn't going to work!), or you change your attitude towards it.

Here are some ideas for how you might accomplish this:

- Find the benefits of the changes you are experiencing. Think of ways you can use those changes to make your life easier. Try to avoid fighting the change, and find ways to make it work for you. It's much easier to 'go with the flow'!

- Focus on learning to work with the change. The more you focus on 'getting a handle on it', the faster it'll be second-nature.

- Think things through. When confronted with change, look at it as if it's a chess game, when you need to think through the several moves in advance rather than just one. A lot of the time we create a stressful situation by making a judgement call without considering what the consequences will be.

- Keep open mind, and a positive attitude. Finding fault with a new idea or dismissing it is easy, but the better our attitude to it, the less of a chore it will be. As an added bonus, staying positive will have a positive effect on your career and relationships - no-one wants to be around a negative person!

- Recognize that change can be stressful. Accept that fact and give yourself permission to feel uncomfortable at the beginning.

- Helping those around you get used to the change will give you a better understanding of the change itself, will minimize the stressful side of it, as well as impacting well on your relationships.

"I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul." is a quote from the classic poem 'Invictus', although most people remember it more as a line from the film 'Casablanca'. Take ownership of your own attitude. You'll only feel stressed if you allow stress into your life. By controlling your attitude, and your emotional responses, you will give yourself the best chance of getting the most out of change, and minimizing your stres's levels.

Sure, change can hurt. But it is here to stay. The people and organizations who seek out the positives and embrace change will be the ones who see the most benefit from it. Will you be one of them?




About The Author
Marsha Egan, CPCU, PCC is CEO of The Egan Group, Inc., a Reading, PA based professional coaching firm. She is a certified workplace productivity coach and professional speaker, specializing in leadership development and can be reached at marsha@marshaegan.com or visit http://www.InboxDetox.com.


The author invites you to visit: http://inboxdetox.com


Article Source:http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_9166.shtml

Dealing With Loneliness

By Susan Russo

"Loneliness is the poverty of self." - May Sarton

One of the toughest hurdles to overcome when a relationship ends is dealing with the gnawing loneliness that seems to take over your life and the fear that it will never end. These feelings are heightened when you are alone and it feels as if you are being haunted by them. Losing someone we love is one of the most difficult situations to deal with but, you can and you will get beyond this even though you may believe you won't.

There are several things you can do to help get beyond the sadness and pain of a break up or divorce. First, understand that grieving is a process and one that we all go through even though we wish we didn't have to. There are stages of grieving and the initial stages are the hardest to deal with because the pain is so raw. And worse yet, you may even believe this will destroy you, but rest assured you will survive.

Day by day you will become stronger and the pain will begin to subside. These heart wrenching feelings will pass and you will begin to feel like your old self again. But you have to allow yourself the time to heal. Imagine if you broke your leg. You may not want to deal with the whole healing process but there is no way out of it. Your leg will not heal overnight. It will take time and it will also help when you make smart choices so you don't lengthen the process.

The main thing you want to do is keep yourself as busy as possible. Surround yourself with family and friends; they will be your lifeline in your healing. You need them to lean on, to talk to and to walk you through this; and those who really love you won't mind at all.

Do the things you love that you stopped doing when you were in the relationship. So often people meet someone and they abandon their old hobbies and habits. Go out and recapture your interests or learn how to do something you've always wanted to but never made the time for. Go to the movies, go on a vacation, go and volunteer, go and exercise. Just go, go, go even when you feel like you don't want to do a thing.

Exercise is a big healing factor. It is one of the most beneficial things you can do to help you jump over this hurdle. The benefits of exercise far exceed almost any other good thing you can do for yourself. It releases hormones that will actually elevate your mood, plus a plethora of other incredible reasons from a health standpoint and a self esteem standpoint as well.

When you find yourself dwelling on the past and all of the whys, how did this happen, I will never meet anyone again, I can't get over this, I miss them so much and all of the other obsessively depressing thoughts, you have to begin to tell yourself the truth. You will get over this, you will have a good life again, you will laugh and love again and you will do this when you begin to put the past behind you, accept what has happened and start looking forward.

The bottom line is that loneliness is a side effect of ending a relationship. When you are used to sharing your life with someone on all levels and they are suddenly gone, how do you think you are going to feel? Of course you will feel devastated that's normal. But in time those feelings will be replaced with the realization that life really does go on and it will be a great life when you start to believe it will be.






About The Author
Susan Russo has written one of the top breakup books on the market. Her direct approach is a wake up call for anyone who is stuck in the letting go process. How would you like to move beyond the pain and start to feel like a human again? Find out how to by starting with Susan's FREE mini report on how to heal your pain at http://www.whystay.com

The author invites you to visit: http://www.whystay.com


Article Source:http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_9168.shtml

Give Your Memory a Boost With a Walk Down Memory Lane

By Kevin P. Green

With all of the different memory techniques out there, it's no wonder people who are trying to beef up their recall abilities feel completely overwhelmed. Naturally it's difficult to try to learn and incorporate multiple methods into a streamlined system that works well for you. One of the best pieces of advice is to find one technique, use it frequently, and master it. Just like any tool, a technique for memorizing must be practiced before you can expect to become proficient with it.

One of the most successful memory enhancement techniques is "The Journey Method" which is extremely powerful yet very easy to follow. The basic principle of this process is to associate information with places along a route that you are familiar with. The idea is for objects that you encounter on a regular basis becomes pegs to hang the facts you are trying to memorize on. For example, if you need to remember the names and faces of the board members you have to present to later in the day, picture each one of them at different points along your drive to work. Have each person tell you their name and interact in a silly way with the object. The crazier the better and the more apt the details will be to stick.

Your journey doesn't even have to be through a real place. You can use a city from an online video game. Many people use the house that they grew up in, even though they moved away years ago. The location doesn't really matter. The most important thing is that there are identifiable landmarks which are extremely familiar to you.

There are several distinct benefits to using the Journey Method.

By associating details with different landmarks, it's quite easy for you to remember this information whenever you want. You can store a large amount of unrelated data with this method since each fact gets associated with its own object, and you can add as many objects from your setting as you need.

This technique also has the added benefit of being non-linear. In other words, you are not obligated to retrieve facts in a linear fashion, either from beginning to end, or vice versa. Since you have all of your information tied to specific objects, you can go right to the landmark you need and recall that particular detail.

One point of debate regarding this method is whether to use a new route and landmarks each time you want to remember a new set of data, or should you just go back and overwrite the previous details. Researchers are mixed on this topic, and there are arguments for both sides. Try to use the same path multiple times, but consider changing some of the conditions, like the lighting, time of day, weather, billboards, or other details which can make that study session unique.

There is good reason that this memorizing technique has been used for centuries. The Journey Method is both easy to learn and reliable and makes remembering details a snap.






About The Author
Kevin Green has studied memory and brain function for years and has created a resource to help people enhance their recall abilities at http://www.LearnToImproveYourMemory.com. Sign up to receive a free 10 part mini-course at http://www.learntoimproveyourmemory.com/memorizing-techniques that covers memorizing techniques, increasing concentration, foods that improve memory, memory supplements, and more.

The author invites you to visit: http://www.learntoimproveyourmemory.com


Article Source:http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_9238.shtml

Personal Development Plans: Your Crucial Steps To Success

By Nicolas Baron

People who are successful in their lives no matter who they are will tell you that they got there by working hard, planning and taking hold of opportunities with both hands.

All of this stems from a deep seated desire within them to become the leaders in their chosen field which has driven them through to where they are today. From some this desire started young where as for others it came later on in life, but regardless at what age the fires were lit a plan is always needed to be able to get from where you begin and your present circumstances to the end result.

By planning you are able to create a time line coupled with a financial plan to overall create a personal development plan that will ensure success. Personal development plans have long been the tools of choice that the rich and successful have used, you may have even used a similar version already in your life but have known it under a different name; a study timetable.

When you are in College, University or even if you are taking a training course through work you will have had at some point made a plan of your studying hours so that you can maximize your chances of passing the end examination(s).

For those who have created one before you will remember taking the time to write down ad plan your every move over that period so that you can organize your studying to improve your potential.

For those that have not devised these types of plans before the principle is simple just in an order that is slightly different to a study plan when creating a personal development plan:

1. Outline your overall goal.

2. Write down the necessary steps you will need to take to achieve your goal.

3. Figure out a realistic timeline to achieve all this

4. Define the Financials involved in making it all happen Outlining your ultimate goal is the first step as this helps you to take the dream that you have and turn it into a viable reality.

Then by figuring out by using the internet or manual research how and what you need to get there helps you to build the time line and sets you mini goals or targets that need to be accomplished and mastered bring you closer to the ultimate goal.

Creating the timeline is the next important step as it allows you to be realistic about your aims and what they involve and shows you how much effort you are going to need to put in to achieving your desired outcome.

One of the last steps is to organize the financial side of your plan, this shows you if there are any gaps or lump sums that may need you to save up for, if you are unable to save or have the full amount in time your contingency plans, such as borrowing or even a second job to increase your income.

The final stage is to hang the personal development plan somewhere you can see it, that way you are reminded everyday of why you are doing what you are, to check your progress and make any adjustments you may need to include or even remove any steps if the opportunities arise to spring you forward in anyway.





About The Author
If you enjoyed this article by Nicolas Baron, please visit http://www.thesecretvideos.tv where you can download your complimentary 5 Day e-Course and copy of Think and Grow Rich. A book that has changed the lives of thirty million people across the globe. Why wait to be the next one to make your life a masterpiece with this blueprint to success? It's entirely up to you...

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Article Source:http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_9246.shtml