Anti-Aging Solutions Blog

Try the Sun Salutes for reversing aging

noreply@blogger.com (Foras Aje) — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 20:32:00 +0000

Experts have been quoted as saying that if one pill or thing would work for anti-aging; it will be exercise.

Well, even more core experts claim (quite correctly I must add) that such a choice of exercise could and should be the incomparable Yoga.

Being a yoga practitioner myself, which ones would I recommend?

Well, if you do only a little bit of Yoga a day, then the one to do should be the daddy of them all...the Sun salutations.

For anti-aging by

1. Increasing and maintaining flexibility.
2. Balancing out the physical, mental and spiritual energies.
3. Keeping you engaged in a fun, vigorous yet low to no impact exercise....perhaps it may not be matched.

So How do i do them and what are the Sun Salutations...?

	1. Namaskar - salute. Stand erect with feet together and join the palms in the center of the chest in the style of Indian salute and inhale. Then exhale and push the hands down straightening and lowering the arms until the elbows touch the sides. This standing pose is also known as tadaasana.
	2. Chandraasan - crescent moon pose. Inhale and raise the arms above the head and extend the spine backwards arching the back from the waist and moving the hips forward. Let the eyes follow the hands while relaxing your neck.
	3. Hastapadaasan - bending pose. Begin to exhale bending forward from the waist and place the hands on the floor besides each foot. Relax with your head and neck in a bending pose.
	4. Surya darshan - sun gaze. Inhale and putting your weight on the hands stretch the right leg behind like a stick resting on the toes. Bend the knee and place it on the floor with your weight on the left foot and arch the spine backward. Lift the head and neck first up and then back. Roll the eyes up. The left foot remains between the hands.
	5. Himalayan - mountain pose. Exhale and bring the left foot back in line with the right. Lift the hips up high like a mountain. Push the heels and head down and look at the toes with the head down between the arms.
	6. Sashtang dandawat - lie down. Put the knees down first and then bring the chest down. See that eight parts of the body are touching the floor including two feet, two knees, two hands, the chest and the chin or forehead. Sashtang means eight limbs and dandawat means paying homage by touching the floor. Make sure the hips are slightly raised above the ground. Inhale and exhale in this position. Keep the feet together.
	7. Bhujangaasan - cobra pose. Lower the pelvis and abdomen to the floor. Inhale and stretch the toes on the floor. Raise your head slowly up, arch the spine and neck and look up. Keep your legs together and the elbows alongside the body slightly bent and keep the shoulders down.
	8. Himalaya aasan. Exhale and wiggle your toes forward allowing your feet to rest on the soles while your raise the hips as your did in number 5.
	9. Surya darshan. Inhale and bring the right foot forward and assume pose number 4 exactly as before.
	10. Hastapadaasan. Exhale and bring the right foot forward and assume pose number 3.
	11. Chandraasan. Inhale and stretch up in a standing pose with your arms up and bend backwards like in pose number
	12. Namaskar. Exhale and stand erect bringing the hands back to the center of the chest with palms together as in pose number 1. So Give them a shot and see for yourself what you may be be missing out on friend. Article Posted By Bodyhealthsoul LLC. Stay with us for more information on the Latest Health News, Tips, Healthy Living and Lifestyle choices at http://www.bodyhealthsoul.com

Anti aging cosmetics are more in demand than ever. Why?

noreply@blogger.com (Foras Aje) — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 04:40:00 +0000

Well, every one wants to stay looking young so, that’s a giving in regards to that whole subject.

One of the tricks which the human mind can play on itself is that it does not seem to have sense of its own chronological age. Many people continue to behave as if they were in their high school years well into their forties or even fifties. Their problem comes when their mirrors tell them something other than what their minds are telling them. The quickest way to reconcile the two versions of reality is with anti aging cosmetics.

Furthermore, the pressure of keeping up with the Jones’s even in a place of work for those who are in touch with reality, may make one yield to the pressure out of necessity.

Those people who may have been with a company for several years, and may have even helped it become established do not want to be shunted aside by newcomers simply on the basis of appearance.

Finally, many people would never think of staying on the social scene without the help of anti aging cosmetics. Both life expectancy and the divorce rate are increasing, and many people who would in past decades married only once now find themselves back on the dating scene as they approach middle age, or even later.

The desire to be attractive to the opposite sex is not a matter of gender; both men and women are finding themselves in search of companionship later and later in life. The use of anti aging cosmetics may give them some much needed confidence in their search.

So, is there really an answer to all of this?

Well, experts say if there is one natural anti-aging mechanism, it could be regular exercise.

I will say add to that a proper diet and positive mental attunements, and one should very well be on their way to delaying (if not altogether…halting ) the whole process.

Just my 2 cents though.

Article Posted By Bodyhealthsoul LLC. Stay with us for more information on the Latest Health News, Tips, Healthy Living and Lifestyle choices at http://www.bodyhealthsoul.com

Acne Control is Quite Achievable With A Proper Diet

noreply@blogger.com (Foras Aje) — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 01:57:00 +0000

Take it from me, someone who had to deal with both teenage and adult acne (vulgaris and rosacea forms) I KNOW, if one thing could help to curtail an acne problem, it will be using a systematic-yet sensible-change for acne control and treatment.

Remember folks, acne is not a life threatening problem it is more of a nuisance and many people can fight acne and the situation is not hopeless.

So what do I recommend for proper acne care via a diet?

Well, look into the mucus-less or mucus poor diet of raw or properly cooked fruits and vegetables and at once, see to it that you eliminate all items common to the standard American diet.

Think about it folks, you are what you it.

What you feed your body is ultimately what would be displayed via the smell, feel and look of your organism.

Furthermore, to enhance this natural step of using diet for acne treatment and control, remember the following.

Change your pillowcases often.
Stay hydrated with plenty of water…preferably, reverse osmosis water flavored with nothing but lemons.
You can use some Witch Hazel as a natural astringent and toner for the face and rinse with cool water.
Try the occasional visits to steam rooms etc…

Though not the end all, be all, the steps above…(emphasis on diet mostly) will see to it that an end to you acne problems begins smartly and naturally.

To clearer skin

Aje

Article Posted By the Webmaster Foras Aje. He invites you to visit his website for more information on the Latest Health news, Healthy Living and Lifestyle choices at http://www.bodyhealthsoul.com

Fasting is one Sure Anti-Aging Trick

noreply@blogger.com (Foras Aje) — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 18:23:00 +0000

Professor Arnold Ehret, the author of the mucusless diet healing system, and pioneer of the natural hygiene movement in the 20th century once stated that if a human subsisted only on the mucusless diet, he will never grow old!!

Well, that might be exaggerating it to a degree, but it's safe to say the aging process in such a person would be drastically slowed down...and what other anti-aging solution could one ask for but that?

Now, the mucusless diet consists of Fruits, properly cooked vegetables (or raw ones) and the occasional fast (No Breakfast plan, 24 hour fasts etc), but as the caption of this posting suggests, the last component of the diet, is perhaps the thing when it comes to using diet as a solution for anti-aging.

Why?

Well, when you rest the stomach, you allow the body to naturally rid itself of excess toxins and this in addition to the healing process that occurs while fasting all work together to delay the aging process while at the same time bestowing the practitioner with seemingly boundless energy and fitness...when done right.

You ought to give it a try someday and see for yourself.

To Health.

Aje

There's a lot of great things about being a kid.

noreply@blogger.com (Foras Aje) — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 06:29:00 +0000

You can actually tell people what you think.

You can build cool stuff from junk and grown-ups tell you it's great.

Old people spoil you.

You can use the "I'm-just-a-kid-and-I-didn't-know" line as a defence for pretty much anything.

And every day you do the best drawing ever in the history of the world.

Finally, it can't be a mistake that Jesus: The Greatest Teacher says that:

Mark 10:14 Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God.15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

Mt 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Mt 18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

Mt 18:14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

Mr 9:42 And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

Lu 17:2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

Well, needless to say...kids have got it made. So being like them at heart does matter.

What Really is Happiness

noreply@blogger.com (Foras Aje) — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 01:10:00 +0000

Even after acquiring material things, oft times several people still claim to be unhappy.

So what really is happiness?

Read on a the work of a guest author is featured for your enlightenment.

What is Happiness? A shadow! An un-possess-able Shadow!!Let's think… Why are our desires endless? Because, We always desire for have-nots But Never realize what we have got. AND this thirst always goes on, till the end of our life. It over burns us It over stresses us AND takes our happiness away.

"Neither wealth, nor status and nor any force can help in acquiring happiness; It is a feeling of my mind which comes with a sense of satisfaction" Can I reach this level of satisfaction? Yes When I get enlightened that attachment to materialistic word is the root cause of my dis-satisfaction. And attachment, condition less attachment to God is the root to happiness.

Realizing ‘we are simply users and not owners of what we possess' is the key to happiness. Happiness is not momental, it is permanent and possess-able when it is shadow of godHappiness

is shadow of God.Copyright (c) 2007 Rajesh Chowdhry

By: Rajesh Chowdhry

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Author Rajesh Chowdhry is Clinic Administrator at clinicpsoriasis interacting with psoriasis patients every day. Psorcure Treatment Plan offered by clinicpsoriasis is well known treatment for clear skin with 95%+ PASI reduction and very long remission period. To know more about Psorcure Treatment Program or you want to discuss about this article or yoga and psoriasis, you can contact this author at www.psorcure.com

Blame prevents change, Learning promotes it

noreply@blogger.com (Foras Aje) — Sun, 27 May 2007 17:59:00 +0000

When Things Don't Go Well – Find Your Positive Intention by Judy Ringer

My friend was going through a difficult divorce. In an evening phone conversation I asked a question, wanting to help, and immediately realized I'd said exactly the wrong thing. I'd unintentionally made my friend feel like the last ally she had in the world was also against her.

I took my words back in every way I could, but they were out there. Making matters worse was the long distance between us, and the fact that she couldn't see my face and I couldn't offer a hug. I so wished I'd held my tongue.

By the end of the conversation, she understood I'd been trying to help, and we hung up friends. But of course I woke up the next morning still feeling regret at having added weight, even momentarily, to someone already struggling to stay afloat.

Blaming versus learning
What do you tell yourself when you say or do something you regret? Does the inner critic run amok, calling you every name in the book and maybe even trying to blame the other person -- the victim of your gaffe? I know my critic does these things.

Over the years, I've learned some ways to practice inner self-defense.

I listen, first to the critic's story and then to the centered, wise person who is also present, the one who says, "Yes, I did that," and accepts it.

I talk – to friends, family, and others who know and understand the good faith and positive intention behind my action -- and can help me remember it.

I tell myself another story, one that sheds light on why I did what I did and how I might learn from it and take more fitting action next time. The key moment arrives when I stop blaming myself. Blame prevents change. Learning promotes it. When I stop blaming, I can begin to learn.

I apologize, if I haven't already.

I believe in the saying that behind every cloud there's a silver lining. And in every conflict there is a gift. I say "Thank you," and wait for the gift to show itself.

Judy Ringer is the author of Unlikely Teachers: Finding the Hidden Gifts in Daily Conflict (http://www.unlikelyteachersbook.com) and the award-winning e-zine, Ki Moments, containing stories and practices on turning life's challenges into life teachers. Judy is a black belt in aikido and nationally known presenter, specializing in unique workshops on conflict, communication, and creating a positive work environment. She is the founder of Power & Presence Training and chief instructor of Portsmouth Aikido, Portsmouth, NH, USA. To sign up for more free tips and articles like these, visit http://www.JudyRinger.com

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The Makings of a Nutritional Diet

noreply@blogger.com (Foras Aje) — Thu, 24 May 2007 16:23:00 +0000

Should You Go For Nutritional Diet, Vitamin Supplements, Or Both? by Mario Churchill -

Getting and staying healthy are both incredibly difficult to achieve in present times because of various factors. The environment most people live in, for instance, are have essential features, such as air pollution, that are detrimental to people’s health. Even most of the foods sold in the market and made in restaurants tend to contain great amounts of unhealthy ingredients or substances like fats, oils, and other toxic compounds.

But if you want to really get healthy, you can start working on having a nutritional diet or take vitamin supplements daily, but the best of all is when you can do both.

Makings of a Nutritional Diet

Fruits and Vegetables – Although you’re not advised to be a total vegetarian, it would however be ideal if you increase intake of fruits and vegetables. Of course, exercise care when choosing which fruits to consume as some might not be suitable for you depending on your diet and health condition. Extremely sweet fruits, for instance, are obviously forbidden for diabetics. Fruits and vegetables contain numerous vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial substances that your body cannot produce but needs quite badly.

Fish – If meat is what you mainly crave for, consider substituting your favorite meal with fish instead. Fish containing omega-3 fatty acids are especially beneficial to your health, and this is why health and fitness experts advise people to eat fish at least 2x a week.

Whole Grains – Breakfast never seems complete unless you consume at least a slice of bread, does it? Such an attitude is acceptable just as long as you make sure that your bread is made of whole grain ingredients. Whole grains like rye bread or even popcorn contains essential fiber which can help lower your body’s cholesterol level. More than that, fiber is difficult to digest, allowing you to feel pleasantly full for a longer period of time. In short, eat more whole grains lets you eat less of everything!

Meat – A little bit of meat to eat doesn’t hurt anyone. In fact, it’s important that you do consume meat once in a while because they contain certain essential vitamins and minerals which can’t be found in fruits and vegetables. So yes, being a vegetarian is not the completely right thing to do. And to further lessen the disadvantages of eating meat, make sure you eat only the lean parts and don’t forget to remove the fatty portions as well!

Foods Rich in Carbohydrates – Carbohydrates are what give us energy to face the day. That’s why it’s not so bad as well to eat foods with carbohydrate content just as long as you eat moderate amounts of it!

Choosing the Right Vitamin Supplements
The best way to obtain maximum benefit from vitamin supplements is choosing to take one multivitamin tablet a day instead of several containing specific vitamins. With one multivitamin, you immediately benefit from the 11 most important vitamins which can contribute to good health as well as other minerals.

Of course, it’s ideal that you consult your physician as well so that you may be advised as whether or not you need more than the average amount of any vitamin. The elderly, for instance, need more Vitamin D in their bodies compared to other people.

Combining both two options in the end is the best way to reach a healthy lifestyle, and consequently, a longer and more fulfilling life as well.

Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects. For information on the best natural vitamin supplements or nutritional vitamin supplements checkout his website.

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5 Of The Biggest Weight Loss Myths

noreply@blogger.com (Foras Aje) — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 13:17:00 +0000

Low fat diets

Low fat diets have had many people fooled for years, and with the result just about every brand has come up with a low fat or fat free alternative at a higher price of course, but do not be fooled any longer. Our bodies need certain amounts of fat to survive and actually help us to lose weight. Unsaturated fats are the good fats and can be found in most “fatty” foods as well avocados, nuts, others. The real culprit to gaining weight is sugar. It is not the high fat content in chocolates, pizza, sauces, and sweets that cause weight gain, but the sugar content. Sugar is used to make fat free products taste much better, so most fat free “diet” products actually have more sugar then their normal counterparts. Sugar is turned into glucose, or energy, by the body and when you have too mush of it, it is stored in the fat reserves until you need it.

Eat less

Eating less is good to a point. When you think that you have to eat less to lose weight you could be in actual fact going in reverse. The body needs a certain amount of food to be able to burn calories and then use up existing calories, so you must not cut out food all together. The metabolism slows down, making it even more difficult to lose weight. You should eat smaller meals more often and do not skip meals.

Fruit and Vegetables only

Some people realize that eating fresh foods can help in their weight loss effort, but it is a myth that only eating fruits and vegetables will help you to lose weight. Your body needs other minerals and vitamins which will help you to lose weight that are only found in fish, chicken, red meats and fats. Eat everything in moderation and eat an average portion of fresh fruit and vegetables every day.

Can be done in a few weeks

No exercise routine, pill, or program can make you lose weight successfully in a few weeks. While some products can give the appearance of weight loss, it could only be temporary and you will end up gaining the weight again plus more. Pills are not good for your health and even the natural ones that aim to boost the metabolism will work without effort from you. They can assist along with good eating habits and exercise.

Sit ups will get rid of flab

Sit ups will not get rid of flab and make you lose weight around your mid section. The bodies fat reserves are all spread over the while body and you will lose weight equally and the same time. This is why most people get frustrated that they seem to be losing weight on their fingers and toes first, when in actual fact they are losing everywhere, but only notice it there first. The tummy will take a while to lose its fat reserves and sit ups will only work the muscles underneath all that fat. Only cardio vascular exercise will improve the body’s rate of calorie conversion to energy.

By: Mark McDonald

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This article was written by Mark McDonald as a dedication to Jacob at: www.whatwouldjacobdo.com He's 438 lbs. and Running the Boston Marathon; an amazingly inspirational weightloss story

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How To Protect Yourself From Negativity

noreply@blogger.com (Foras Aje) — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 13:07:00 +0000

I am writing this article direct from the filming set of a new BBC1 primetime TV series called "Run For Glory." Run for Glory charts 15 people who have amazingly valiant reasons for wanting to raise money for charity by running the London Marathon.

None of them were runners before this show and they are being trained by UK Olympic gold medallists Steve Cram and Sally Gunnell. I have been filming for one of the Run For Glory shows to help the participants overcome psychological barriers and get in control of their minds with regards to running the marathon and their preparation.

I have found it very interesting to observe the relations between the crew, the producers and the interactions with and in between the participants of the Run for Glory show and how other people really do affect each other and have an impact on each other.

Recently, I wrote about developing rapport without even speaking. Lots of people do this without even being instructed on how to do it. One of the things that I have noticed since I started working within the various fields of personal development is that I am much more aware of other people and how I interact with them.

I have practiced and practiced achieving a really enjoyable sense of rapport with people when I meet them and develop relationships with them. It has been great to observe my own improvements in how I do this and the kind of intuitive and instinctive way that I do this.

When working on the set of this TV show "Run for Glory", I was chatting to one of the participants who is about to become very famous here in the UK thanks to this show, and they were telling me that at the end of filming each episode of Run for Glory, with everything going really well, they would finish the day feeling drained and verging on being depressed.

I spoke to them for a while and I was not sure about this until I observed all the kinds of interaction that was there in this unusual TV environment filming for Run for Glory – the participant was getting excellent results, I mean they are doing so amazingly well, so why were they feeling so low?

I suggested that this person might be picking up other people’s issues, thoughts and feelings. I suggested that maybe they needed to protect themselves from the other Run for Glory participants. She used the technique that I then demonstrated to her and subsequently reported back that she felt amazing, so much better than she was before when she was around these people that were stressed, having great demands placed upon them and facing some very challenging situations in their lives.

When you develop rapport with people and get close to them, you can and often do access some of what they are thinking and feeling. This is not the best when the person you are in rapport with is not in a great or a productive state.

It is like a friend of mine who I joke is a "fun vampire." Sometimes he is so morose and seemingly depressed when we are out socially that he seems to "suck the life and the fun" out of all the people that he encounters! I know you all know someone like that too.

I tend to find this is particularly important when I am running seminars with people that are making a lot of changes in their lives or if I am working therapeutically with individuals; I want to be sure not to take on board too much of their feelings and way of thinking. So I want to show you some ways of protecting yourself too.

The way I suggest of doing this requires your natural ability to use your imagination and visualise. Now, if you believe you have difficulty visualising or using your imagination, trust me when I tell you that you use your imagination every day. Your imagination is what reminds you what your partner or spouse looks like, what colour your front door is and how your childhood bedroom looked. You do not have to visualising in perfect cinema screen pictures in your mind, just do it in a way that is right for you. This method is just as effective if you visualise the things I ask or if you just pretend to visualise them in your mind.

Firstly, get yourself nice and relaxed. Sit still and take some longer, deeper breaths and then allow your breathing to be natural and become rhythmic and easy. Focus on the moment; be aware of how your body feels in that moment.

Secondly, as you get more relaxed, imagine the relaxation spreading through your body. If you want to, give it a colour or a texture or imagine it as a sensation.

Thirdly, imagine the relaxation, or the sensation of stillness moving out of your body, just a few centimetres. Imagine that you are extending it to become a protective shield that is all around you.

Imagine that it acts as a filter, so only you to take on things that are for your better good and understanding and does not allow you to take on anything that is going to affect you detrimentally.

I don't know if any of you remember adverts for the oat cereal "Ready Brek"? The people used to have a glow about them when they were going to work if they had eaten their Ready Brek. When I first started protecting myself in this wonderful way, I used to imagine that I had a glow around me that acted like emotional armour and any unwanted thoughts or feelings or even comments of others that I did not want to carry around with me, just bounced off my armour.

Finally, when relaxing tell yourself that this protective shield is there working for you even if you are not consciously aware of it. That way you can be sure that you are not carrying anyone else’s vibes around with you and leaves you free to enjoy your experiences for what they really are. Then go ahead and practice this a few times, putting conscious effort into it, imagine making it more powerful with your attention and really getting it strong.

These ideas are just metaphors for protecting yourself, but because your mind and body are one system, they can be extremely effective ways of letting your unconscious know what you want. One of the things that you may begin to notice after you have used this approach a few times and over a prolonged period of time is that you just need to remind yourself of it every now and then, and then it works even better and better. The long term effects of establishing some protection are so very good for you; just as good as finding a good sun screen, that's for sure. It was so successful with that participant for Run for Glory too.

One of the first things I disocvered when I really looked at the people on the set for Run for Glory was how many people out there make negative or bad suggestions (ie. people who say things which guide attention in less than helpful directions). It is the same in life as on the Run For Glory Set! The number of well-meaning doctors, family members, colleagues and friends that I have heard giving people suggestions for ill health, stress and negativity is truly amazing! If you maintain some good protection for yourself, you can be sure not to allow other peoples negative language, thoughts and feelings to affect you in a way that is not for your better good.

The ability to protect myself from the things going on around me has been instrumental in my latter life, being able to block out most unhelpful messages that come my way leaves a very nice state of well-being and it did so too for the participant in Run for Glory.

By: Adam Eason

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Please visit Adam's website for a vast range of resources from the fields of hypnosis, personal development and human potential and to receive your amazing, free, instantly downloadable hypnosis session for relaxation: www.adam-eason.com

All about beating depression

noreply@blogger.com (Foras Aje) — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 13:13:00 +0000

This article is all about beating depression. I am a person who suffered from long bouts of depression, however after deciding to change my whole outlook on life, I now have a much happier, successful and stress-free life. I will explain how I went about achieving this new life.

As I grew older and especially when I was in my early twenties, I used to always compare my life with other people I knew, for example my friends. It seemed to me that my life was so much more of a struggle than what their's was and that most of these people had so much more going for them and so much more to look forward to than I did.

I was not happy at the hand of cards I had been dealt and would regularly be down in the dumps, feeling sorry for myself. I had a number of issues in my life which had a major impact on my self-confidence and self-esteem, which would also lead me into depression. This issues including a weight problem, a stutter, a bald patch on my head and I am quite short in height compared to the average man.

I was in a regular state of depression and found it very difficult to pull my self out of it. The stress for example of socialising when you have a stutter and trying to gain employment would take a lot out of me. My hair started to turn grey when I was only twenty-one years of age.

I was not content at always being depressed and at the age of twenty-two, I decided to attempt to change my whole life. I had to have a whole new approach and a totally different thought process, in a nutshell I needed to chill out, think in a far more positive way and learn how to de-stress.

This was not going to be easy however it was essential to do. I started to read many self-help type books and books about eradicating depression. I learnt many things such as worrying about a situation makes it even harder, not easier and that in life all you can do is to try your best, therefore whatever the outcome you can feel proud that you gave it your best shot. It is also important to remember that we only live once and that that life could come to an end tomorrow, therefore we should treat every day as if it is the last and to enjoy ourselves.

The main change I made was that I started to think and compare my life to people I was reading about in the newspapers or watching on the television instead of comparing my life to my friends for example. From learning about countries in the third world and reading about certain disasters and terrorist acts, I realised what a fool I had been and that I was actually one of the lucky ones. If and when I start feeling down or depressed, I quickly switch on the news and it soon shakes me out of that temporary depressive state.

By: blueboy

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Stephen Hill has a number of websites including: how to eradicate depression stuttering therapy manual article submission service

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So, how does one become genuinely happy?

noreply@blogger.com (Foras Aje) — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 13:42:00 +0000

Life isn't the sweetest candy. Sometimes, when I feel like the world is just too heavy, I look around and find people who continued to live fascinating and wonderful lives. And then thoughts come popping into my mind like bubbles from nowhere – "How did their life become so adorably sweet? How come they still can manage to laugh and play around despite a busy stressful life?" Then I pause and observed for awhile… I figured out that maybe, they start to work on a place called ‘self'.

So, how does one become genuinely happy? Step 1 is to love yourself.

My theology professor once said that "loving means accepting." To love oneself means to accept that you are not a perfect being, but behind the imperfections must lie a great ounce of courage to be able to discover ways on how to improve your repertoire to recover from our mistakes.

Genuine happiness also pertains to contentment. When you are contented with the job you have, the way you look, with your family, your friends, the place you live in, your car, and all the things you now have – truly, you know the answer to the question "how to be genuinely happy."

When we discover a small start somewhere from within, that small start will eventually lead to something else, and to something else. But if you keep questioning life like it has never done you any good, you will never be able to find genuine happiness.

I believe that life is about finding out about right and wrong, trying and failing, wining and losing. These are things that happen as often as you inhale and exhale. Failure, in a person's life has become as abundant and necessary as air. But this should not hinder us from becoming happy.

How to be genuinely happy in spite all these? I tell you… every time you exert effort to improve the quality of life and your being, whether it is cleaning up your room, helping a friend, taking care of your sick dog, fail on board exams and trying again, life gives you equivalent points for that.

Imagine life as a big score board like those which are used in the NFLs. Every time you take a step forward, you make scoring points. Wouldn't it be nice to look at that board at the end of each game and think to yourself "Whew! I got a point today. I'm glad I gave it a shot.", instead of looking at it all blank and murmur "Geez, I didn't even hit a score today. I wish I had the guts to try out. We could have won!" and then walk away.

Genuine happiness isn't about driving the hottest Formula 1 car, nor getting the employee of the year award, earning the highest 13th month pay, or beating the sales quota. Sometimes, the most sought after prizes in life doesn't always go to the fastest, the strongest, the bravest or not even the best. So, how do you become genuinely happy? Every one has his own definition of ‘happiness'. Happiness for a writer may mean launching as many best selling books as possible. Happiness for a basketball rookie may mean getting the rookie of the year award. Happiness for a beggar may mean a lot of money. Happiness for a business man may mean success. So, really now, how do we become genuinely happy? Simple. You don't have to have the best things in this world. Its about doing and making the best out of every single thing. When you find yourself smiling at your own mistake and telling your self "Oh, I'll do better next time", you carry with you a flame of strong will power to persevere that may spread out like a brush fire. You possess a willingness to stand up again and try – that will make you a genuinely happy person.

When you learn to accept yourself and your own faults. You pass step 1 in the project "how to become genuinely happy". For as long as you know how to accept others, you will also be accepted. For as long as you love and know how to love, you will receive love ten fold back.

Again, throw me that same question "how to become genuinely happy?". I'll refer you to a friend of mine who strongly quoted- "Most of us know that laughter is the best medicine to life's aches and pain. But most of us don't know that the best kind of laughter is laughter over self. Coz then you don't just become happy… you become free."

By: Tim Maher

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Tim Maher is interested in personal development in all its facets and has read many books on this topic. It is an interest that is fed and nurtured by listening to audio books and seminars when possible. To assist your own personal growth journey get your audio resources at ==> www.magillaudiobooks.com/list.aspx?catId=137

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The power to change things for the better

noreply@blogger.com (Foras Aje) — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 13:35:00 +0000

It's so easy isn't it, to get caught up in daily living, making a career for yourself and chasing achievement, and not pay too much attention to asking questions about how you live. In fact, you can choose to let everyone else make the decisions about politics and ethics, and just go with the flow. Why should matters like that concern you? Surely, you say, it's not up to you to ask at all - that's for politicians and philosophers and people who know what they're talking about.

Think about this for a moment. Were it not for the fact that ordinary people like you and me ask questions, and examine the way we live, and seek change for the better, it would be down to a handful of remote people making decisions on your behalf. About everything! About human rights. Community issues. Foreign trade. Care of the elderly. War.

Everything that you see and experience in the world is worthy of question.

That's why you really can believe in your ability to be a politician and a philosopher, and add to the conversation about what it is to be a human being in the global community. You are truly capable of it. And you have the courage to do it.

Giving someone a label doesn't mean that no-one else has the right to challenge what that person believes or how they act - you have the opportunity to make a difference by being always mindful of what you believe are fundamental requisites for living a truly compassionate and thoughtful life.

You can do this because you are committed to your journey to find the truth in your life and you have asked questions of yourself to understand what holds you back from achieving your goal. It's only a step away from really examining the beliefs and opinions you hold and questioning them to ensure that they are based on your inner truth and your commitment to it.

Living a thoughtful life is about understanding the ethics of how you live, and what you can change to improve the quality of life for all life on the planet. It means always re-evaluating your beliefs and having the humility to reassess them if you find that there is a more loving and compassionate way of thinking.

You have the power to change things for the better. Think about it.

By: Neel Raman

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Neel Raman, is an author, presenter, workshop facilitator and coach to many. He has written ‘Hoops and Freedom’, a powerful self-improvement book, in the form of an entertaining fiction story, targeted at those who want and demand more from life. To get the first chapter for FREE and to receive FREE motivational lessons, visit www.focusedon.com.au/blog To find out more about this book and to register to receive FREE newsletters and other FREE offers, visit: www.hoopsandfreedom.com

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So-called hidden secrets are available for the ultimate in health...

noreply@blogger.com (Foras Aje) — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 13:41:00 +0000

"Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." (Jer. 33: 3)

Have you noticed that all over the internet, in bookstores, and on Oprah 'they' have found the secret? So-called hidden secrets are available for the ultimate in health, wealth and everything you need to lead a satisfied, wonderful and purposeful life. These secrets can be bought for big money, along with consultations by 'enlightened' persons.

The plain truth is that there is absolutely nothing new under the sun. In fact, the many books, motivational speakers and counseling firms claiming to have this secret, are elaborating on a book written over a hundred years ago. James Allen, the author of As A Man Thinketh, discovered the Biblical principle that what and how you think affects your whole life.

This is absolutely true! Although many have taken this man's wisdom to heart and profited greatly by it, they don't know the whole story and the original Author behind the truth!

I am here to encourage you that God has a unique purpose for you. He is the one who puts desires in your heart and encourages you:

"Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert."

In other words, He does not want you to dwell on all the bad stuff in your past, but move on:

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Cor. 5: 17)

Furthermore, and most importantly, He tells you:

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Rom. 12: 2)

You see here that God very much wants you to focus your thoughts on Him and what He wants for your life. He wants you to have a clear mind with no worries, trusting that He is your Provider for all your needs.

He does not want you to have a care in the world. All you need to do is bring all your needs in prayer to Him, thanking Him in advance for the result. God honors your faith. You will be in His perfect peace when your mind trusts completely in His provision for your life. Furthermore, He wants your thoughts to be riveted to everything that is true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of high moral value. (Phil. 4: 6-8)

The beautiful thing is that He doesn't leave you stranded by yourself. He has given you a Helper. The Holy Spirit is there to guide you. He will lead you to know God's Perfect Will for your life. The more you develop the habit of spending daily quality time with Him, meditating on His Word, the clearer His Will for your situation will become.

Without a close inter-relationship, you may ask Him whatsoever you want, and wonder why He doesn't seem to hear you. He may even give you your wish. But, be aware that it may end up being disastrous for you. His perfect timing is also important. He will show you His best for you when you're emotionally and spiritually ready to receive it!

"Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it on your lusts." (Jas 5: 3)

God wants you to have riches! He is a big God! He has even crowned you with glory and honor, and made you to have dominion over the works of your hands. (Ps. 8: 5-6)

Furthermore, He has promised to bless you so much in all things that the blessings won't just follow you, but overtake you! In other words, they will show up even before you ask for them, if you obey His commandments. (Deut. 28: 2)

Therefore: "Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." (Ps. 37: 6)

By: Ann Stewart

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Ann Stewart is author of With Wings As Eagles, an inspiring story of unwavering faith in God's Word and answered prayer: www.lifealteringwords.com/with-wings-as-eagles Looking for affirmation, encouragement and inspiration? The welcome door is wide open at Embracing All the Promises of God: www.lifealteringwords.com

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We are in control of our own thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (Foras Aje) — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 04:16:00 +0000

We are in control of our own thoughts and our thoughts lead to our actions.

When you are discouraged, you could choose to fill your mind with negative, limiting thoughts that will deepen and intensify your discouragement.

Or you can use your thoughts to break free of that discouragement.

Your thoughts have incredible power because they determine how you see yourself and your situation.

Your thoughts, powerful as they can be, are yours to choose.

By wisely choosing your own thoughts, you can find new positive energy even when you have previously been overwhelmed with weariness.

With your choice of thoughts, the difficult, challenging situations can be transformed into grand opportunities.

Turn your thoughts around and you can turn your life around, like turning a light switch on and off.

Put positive power into your thoughts and that power will spread to the world around you.

What you think of yourself and your world has an enormous impact on how you relate to and deal with life.

You can, in an instant, flip that switch and choose any thought you wish.

In every moment of life, choose the thoughts that will get you up and point you forward.

Then live out your life in abundance and prosperity as you bring those thoughts to life.

Mary Wozny

By: Mary Wozny

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Mary Wozny is co-author of "How to Build Your Families Million Dollar Real Estate Empire" and specializes in providing quality training and information products teaching women, families, and investors how to accomplish their goals and build wealth through real estate, creatively and legally with little risk. She is the founder of www.MillionaireRiches.com and www.VibrantHealthandProsperity.com.

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A Most Widely Accepted And Stupendous Spiritual Endeavor.

noreply@blogger.com (Foras Aje) — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 13:08:00 +0000

Great philosophers have always opined that Gayatri is the best mode of spiritual worship. At other places one finds variedness in the opinion of various thinkers. But as far as Gayatri is concerned everyone in unison accepts the prime importance of Gayatri worship. Over here we present the gist of the opinions of some important thinkers.

Lord Manu says – Brahmaji created the Gayatri Mantra of 3 legs which is the gist of the 3 Vedas. There is no other Mantra other than Gayatri that can purify us in totality. That individual who regularly chants the Gayatri Mantra for 3 years in a row shall definitely attain the Lord. That Dvij (twice born) who chants the Gayatri at dawn and noon attains the fruits of reading the Vedas. One attains the desired goal by just chanting the Gayatri Mantra and thus there is no need of any other spiritual practice. A man who regularly chants the Gayatri Mantra is absolved of all sins just as a snake easily discards its old skin. A Dvij (twice-born) who fails to chant the Gayatri Mantra is looked down upon by one and all.

Yogiraj Yajnavalkya says – Once the Gayatri Mantra and all the Vedas were weighed in a weighing pan. In one pan was placed the Vedas along with its 6 parts and in the other was placed Gayatri Mantra. The result seen was that the pan of Gayatri Mantra was seen to weigh more. The Upanishads are the gist of the Vedas and Gayatri Mantra is the gist of the Upanishads. Gayatri is the mother of the Vedas. She destroys our sins and there is no other Mantra apart from Gayatri in either heaven or earth that purifies one and all. There is no greater pilgrim spot other than the river Ganges, there is no greater God than Keshav and likewise there is no greater Mantra than Gayatri. Gayatri Mantra will outshine all Mantras of the past, present and future. A man who deeply understands the import of Gayatri Mantra becomes the knower, eminent scholar and pious philosopher of all Sciences. That Dvij who instead of chanting the Gayatri Mantra becomes a scholar of the Vedas will be looked down upon as a Shudra and all his other efforts will go in vain. He who does not know the deep import of the Gayatri Mantra can never be called a true Brahmin and will instead be labeled a sinner.

Rishi Parasher says – Amongst all the Suktas (hymns) and Vedic Mantras, Gayatri is the best. In comparison to the Vedas, Gayatri outshines them. A man who devotedly chants the Gayatri Mantra gets liberated and thus is purified on all fronts. Even if a man studies all the Vedas, Puranas, Itihaas etc. but does not chant the Gayatri Mantra, he will never be called a Brahmin.

Rishi Shankha says - Gayatri is like that hand which helps one lift a person who is drowning in the ocean of sins. Whether on earth or in heaven, there is nothing greater than the Gayatri Mantra. The knower of Gayatri definitely attains heaven.

Rishi Atri says – Gayatri worship is the best way to purify one’s soul. Due to its great power one’s taints and lowly character are purified. That person, who truly understands the Gayatri principle, attains all joys of the world.

Maharshi Vyas says – Just as the essence of a flower is honey, that of milk is clarified butter, in the same way the essence of all Vedas is Gayatri. When one worships Gayatri one-pointedly, it becomes Kamdhenu (wish fulfilling cow). The river Ganges purifies all the sins of the body and Gayatri in the form of divine Ganges purifies the soul. He who instead of worshipping Gayatri pursues other spiritual practices is definitely a fool because instead of eating delicious food of his home he is begging for stale food elsewhere. Nothing is greater than Gayatri if one wants to augment one’s austerities and attain desired goals.

Rishi Bharadwaj says - Gods like Brahmaji etc. always chant the Gayatri Mantra which helps in realizing God. Because of Gayatri those who execute lowly actions are able to stop them totally. A man devoid of Gayatri worship is lower than a Shudra too.

Rishi Charak says – He who chants the Gayatri Mantra while abstaining from sexual intercourse and partaking the fruit of myrobalan attains a longer life span.

Naradji says – Gayatri is Bhakti (devotion) manifest. Wherever there is Gayatri - manifest devotion, there none should doubt the presence of Narayan (God).

Vasisthaji says – Even those who are weak- minded, or live a degraded life or have an unsteady intellect, attain a high status due to Gayatri worship. Most definitely he will attain a high spiritual status after death. Those who worship Gayatri with a pure resolve and in a steadfast manner attain the wisdom of the soul.

Generally all other Rishis too have the same opinion about the importance of Gayatri worship as mentioned above. Great spiritual and philosophical Seers of this century have accepted the importance of Gayatri worship. This is very much similar to the opinion of the great Rishis/thinkers of the past. Amongst contemporary thinkers following are the names of those who have the same view regarding the importance of Gayatri.

Mahatma Gandhi says – Chanting the Gayatri Mantra incessantly is very useful to cure diseases and attaining high spiritual growth. When Gayatri is chanted with a steady psyche and a serene heart, it helps in overcoming dire situations and trying times.

Lokmanya Tilak says – Merely via political aggression we cannot overcome the shackles of bondage in various fields undergone by Indians. For that, the inner soul of each Indian needs to be lit up and thus he/she will realize what is true and what is false. The Gayatri Mantra harbors a pious sentiment that every individual, after giving up the path of lowliness, gets inspired to follow the path of righteousness.

Mahatma Madanmohan Malviyaji had said – Amongst the many jewels handed down to us by the Rishis, is the most valuable jewel called Gayatri. Gayatri worship purifies our intellect. The Lord’s divine light radiates in our soul. Due to this light, infinite individuals have crossed this ocean of bondage of the material world. Via Gayatri worship our devotion becomes more intense towards God. Along with this we gain material benefits too. Gayatri worship is most necessary for Brahmins. That Brahmin who fails to chant the Gayatri Mantra is committing the sin of not executing his righteous duty.

The great poet-thinker Rabindranath Tagore says – That Mantra that has awakened India as a nation is so easy that one can chant it in one single breath. This Mantra is the Gayatri Mantra. There can be no opposition on the front of logic or no difference of opinion or any obstruction as far as chanting this extremely pure Mantra is concerned.

At many places Yogi Aurobindo has directed people to chant the Gayatri Mantra. He maintains that Gayatri has such a power which helps us attain desired goals. He has advised so many of his followers to take up Gayatri Mantra chanting as part of their spiritual practices.

Swami Ramkrishna Paramhans’ message is – I always tell people that there is no need for spiritual practices for longer periods of time. Instead try this short spiritual practice of Gayatri worship. By chanting the Gayatri Mantra, you attain great spiritual goals. No doubt that this Mantra is very small but its Divine Power is infinite.

Swami Vivekanand says – One should ask for only great things from a King rather than ask for petty gains. In the same way one should ask for only a pure intellect from the Almighty Lord instead of perishable material comforts. Whenever God is happy with his devotee, he gives this devotee a pure intellect. Via a pure intellect one walks on the path of righteousness and thus one attains all kinds of joys. When a man follows the path of truth, he automatically attains all joys. Gayatri is a Mantra of a pure intellect. Thus amongst all Mantras, Gayatri is a crest jewel.

Jagadguru Shankaracharya says – Man is incapable of singing the greatness of Gayatri Mantra. The intellect is so important that nothing comes near it as far as its value is concerned. It is Gayatri worship that activates a pure intellect so as to attain God. Gayatri is the Primordial Mantra. This Gayatri Mantra has specifically manifested so as to destroy falsehood and establish truth.

Swami Ramtirth says – The biggest task in the world is to attain God. Gayatri helps in converting a desire based intellect into a desire less divine intellect. Only a pure intellect can attain God. Gayatri proclaims that one’s intellect should be so taintless that it gives more importance to God realization than material gains.

Maharshi Raman says – Within Yogic Sciences, Mantra Science is of utmost value. Mantra power gives one immense success. Gayatri is such a Mantra which gives both material and spiritual gains.

Swami Shivanand says – By chanting the Gayatri Mantra between 3.00 a.m. to 6.00 a.m. everyday (Brahma-Mahurat), one’s psyche is purified and the heart becomes sacred. The body overcomes diseases, the character becomes pure, one attains far-sightedness because the intellect becomes subtle and one’s memory sharpens. Under trying circumstances the power of Gayatri Mantra comes to your aid. As a result, one realizes that all-pervading soul (God).

The famous spiritualist of South India T. Subbarao says – Gayatri is nothing but the divine nature of Savita Narayan (God). Because it is the primordial energy it is called Gayatri. In the Bhagwad Geeta it is described as “Aditya Varna”. Gayatri worship is the very first leg of Yoga.

Shri Karpatri says – Those who have necessary spiritual capability should chant the Gayatri Mantra very regularly. It is the Dvija’s (twice born) righteous duty to chant the Gayatri Mantra.

Swami Vidyanand who gave great discourses on the Geeta says – Gayatri purifies our intellect. There is no greater benefit than purification of the intellect and hence Gayatri is the Mother of one of the greatest benefits.

Shri Radhakrishna says – If we delve deep into this great prayer Gayatri, we will realize how greatly beneficial it is. Gayatri is a great prayer that helps in producing the very foundation of life.

The great Arya Samaji Mahatma Sarvadanand says – The Aryans have always worshipped God via the Gayatri Mantra. Rishi Dayanand too by following this path of the Aryans had ordained his followers to deeply study the Vedas and chant the Gayatri daily at sunrise, noon and dusk. Because of this one’s psyche and intellect gets purified and thus one’s life and actions are beneficial not only for that individual but also society at large. To the extent, one has faith in this sacred action, to that extent one’s spiritual ignorance, sorrows etc. are destroyed. Those spiritual seekers who devotedly chant the Gayatri Mantra for them, it becomes the boat which aids them in crossing this ocean of sorrow (material world devoid of spirituality) and thus is a path to attain God.

The founder of Arya Samaj, Maharshi Dayanand was an ardent follower of Gayatri. Swamiji while speaking to Rajasahib of Gwalior said Gayatri Purascharan (a type of congregational worship) is more important than a discourse of Bhagwat for 7 days. He had taught the correct mode of chanting Gayatri to Sacchidanand, Hiralal Rawal, Ghodalsinh etc of Jaipur. While he was in Multan, Swamiji taught them all, the right manner in which to chant the Gayatri Mantra and proclaimed that this is the greatest of all Mantras. The root of all the 4 Vedas is this Guru Mantra. Right from primordial times all Rishis have taken recourse to chanting this Mantra. In many regions, Swamiji had conducted Gayatri worship programs in which about 40 scholarly Brahmins participated. This Gayatri Mantra chanting continued for 15 days.

A senior member of Theosophical Society Prof. R. Srinivas says – In Indian spiritual philosophy, Gayatri is said to be the most potent Mantra. Its meaning too is very widespread and deep. This Mantra has many meanings and its influence varies from person to person because of their varied psyche. It has the power to concentrate the visible/high/low via mysterious nerve fibres. When a man of apt spiritual credentials correctly chants the Gayatri Mantra knowing fully well its deep import and meaning and by concentrating his heart and mind, he establishes a bond with the great consciousness hidden in the visible sun. Such a person may chant the Gayatri Mantra anywhere, yet there is a cosmic spiritual influence on him self and his surroundings. This very influence is a great spiritual blessing. As a result our ancestors have eulogized the Gayatri Mantra for its extraordinary power.

In this manner we have with us the valuable opinion of innumerable great men of the present century. On delving deep into these opinions, we are forced to conclude that Gayatri worship is not some blind faith or tradition but behind it is the potent power of perceptible principles that advances our soul. All those who have endeavored to imbibe this great Gayatri Power have benefited in the truest sense of the term. Gayatri worship never goes in vain.

By: Yuga Rishi

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AUTHOR: Shriram Sharma Acharya: founder of the International Gayatri Family: was a great Yogi: seer and incarnation of God who wrote volumes of scientific literature mainly on spiritual subjects for world welfare and peace. For more scientific e-books visit: www.shriramsharma.com/ (GOOGLE PR 4) and www.awgp.org/ (Google 5) KEYWORDS: Kundalini Yoga Gayatri e-books biography Guru world peace mind psyche god nerve subtle consciousness soul divine trance endocrine glands ESP Chakras

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Are you wondering if you’re burned out

noreply@blogger.com (Foras Aje) — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 12:46:00 +0000

Are you wondering if you’re burned out or afraid you may be getting there? Here are some quick tips to see if you are burned out and what you can do about it.

Are you experiencing two or more of the following?
1) Difficulty getting out of bed and getting to work in the mornings.
2) Increased irritability. This may show up as being short with coworkers with whom you typically got along well.
3) Lack of satisfaction upon completion of a work task.
4) Physical symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, or aching muscles
5) Slower time to complete tasks and decreased productivity
6) Reduced energy and motivation, which may involve feeling like you just don’t care.
7) High frustration or mood swings while at work
8) Feeling that you have no time for yourself and no balance in your life.
9) Thinking that your job doesn’t utilize your skills or talents or that you are in the wrong job or field.

Please note that these symptoms may be indicative of depression or another health problem, so it’s a good idea to speak with your doctor if you experience many of them or if they are intense.

Here are a some tips for combating job burnout:
1) Prevent it before it starts or before it get too big by ensuring that you do something for yourself every single day.
2) Look to the future. Make a list of all the valuable skills you are attaining in your position and how they will benefit your future career path
3) Talk with friends and colleagues for support, but minimize complaining. Complaining draws your attention to the things that are bothering you and you will be in a more continuously negative state of mind.
4) Introduce a little exercise during the day to keep energy up. Go for a 15-minute walk before work and during your lunch break.
5) Figure out if someone is to blame for causing you a good deal of stress. If so, confront him or her in an assertive but not aggressive manner.
6) Make changes: Determine what is bothering you most about your position and brainstorm what you can change about it. Identify opportunities for promotion and ask your supervisor how you can quickly advance.
7) In cases of extreme burnout… you may be realizing that your field is not right for you. Consult with a career counselor or coach or look into other education or career opportunities.
Remember that you will be most efficient, productive, successful, and happy in your job and life when you’re not burned out. The key is to take action before you’re totally burned out. Sometimes even a couple hours or a “mental health day” can make a huge difference. Take action for yourself- you deserve it and your work performance will improve by leaps and bounds.

By: Larina Kase

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Larina Kase, PsyD, MBA, is a business psychologist who helps family businesses across the U.S. to survive and thrive. She was raised in a family business herself and has served as a family therapist. Dr. Kase is regularly featured in media such as Inc. and Entrepreneur magazines, and The New York Times, and is the author of 6 books. Dr. Kase can be contacted through www.pascoaching.com

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Take Control Of Your Body To Reduce Stress

noreply@blogger.com (Foras Aje) — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 00:13:00 +0000

Approximately 80% of to day’s diseases are the direct result of stress. Stress can cause anything from insomnia and ringing in the ear as a result of tense neck muscles while you sleep, to cardiovascular problems.

Stress is a part of our daily lives, a fact-of-life that has never been faced on such a wide scale as it is faced now. However, the body is an amazing machine that can control itself and even heal itself. You can improve the quality of your life and your health by following a few basic

Breathing Exercises

Any athlete, dancer, or martial arts expert can accomplish extraordinary feats. Everything they can do filters down to breathing and diet. Without proper breathing, their muscles will lack oxygen and tear.

Breathing is the ultimate stress buster, when done right. Fear causes people to breathe erratically. People hold their breath and then repair oxygen deprivation with quick, shallow gasps for air.

Research proves that heart rate shallow breathing increases feelings of anxiety, something you don't need when facing danger, a job interview, or a date.

All it takes to lower your heart rate and create a state of calm is to practice slow, rhythmic belly breathing. Blow out all the breath in your lungs in a big sigh. Then put your finger on the point 2 inches below your navel.

Inhale, as if you are filling up a bottle with liquid, letting the air fill the bottom and then slowly move up to the lungs. When your bottle is full, breathe out slowly starting at the navel and moving up. When done right, your belly will flatten. Ten breaths will relax your body.

This takes practice. You are not only relaxing your body, and learning how to relax, but you are training your body to take control and force itself to relax whenever you start to breath.

This way, as soon as your boss says ‘I need to talk to you, come to my office’ you can restore your calm within ten breaths.

Loosen Muscles

Many people have experienced one time in their lives where they were so tense that their muscles tightened uncontrollably. Most of those people can remember one time in their life when they woke up with their heads completely off the pillow, suspended in air, held there by tense muscles.

Many people hunch their shoulders, frown, tighten the muscles in the back of their necks, and tighten their jaw. Most do not know they are reacting this way until they hear a ringing in their ears, feel pain, develop a headache, or even have muscle spasms.

Worse than the pain, tension increases our feelings of stress and negative thinking. This creates a vicious cycle that can eventually lead to depression.

If this is a chronic problem in your life then you need to practice tightening and releasing muscles until you regain control over your own body. The problem is that it is hard to get started. It hurts to release the knots. If you touch parts on the back of your head or back and feel a sharp pain, then you should have Shiatsu treatments. Better – you should learn to treat yourself.

Start learning to control your muscles with three to five shoulder shrugs, Inhale while you tense your shoulders, using the above breathing method. Lift your shoulders toward your ears and exhale as they relax and move down.

Then lower your chin slowly to your chest for five breaths, letting your head relax and droop a little bit more with each exhalation.

If these cause pain, you need a Shiatsu treatment.

Exercise

Exercise relieves stress. It gives you a safe way to vent unhealthy emotions and teaches you to control your body. It improves your health and wellbeing, improves your digestive and cardiovascular system, and last, improves your self-esteem. All of these things decrease stress.

Be fair. Give yourself at least four months before you give up. These three things have the power to change your life forever.

By: Ethan Miller -

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Ethan Miller advises on improving your heath and reducing pain from his web site at www.acnerescue.com He invites you to get his FREE health guide www.acnescarsmagic.com

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create a better, more positive world that you live in

noreply@blogger.com (Foras Aje) — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 19:10:00 +0000

“You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.” Winston Churchill wrote these words to express the idea, that to a certain extent, giving defines who we are as individuals.

Let me share four of my insights with you about how you could make this month even better. In order to create a better, more positive world that you live in, you must give of yourself.

1. Giving of your time:
Your time on this Earth is finite or limited; therefore, one of your greatest gifts to someone is spending quality time helping him or her to reach their full potential as human beings. Spending quality time with someone means that you need to focus on using effective communication, which can be broken down into two parts: the first is being a sympathetic listener.

First of all, you need to listen with your eyes, which means that you will need to maintain eye contact with that person when he or she is speaking. Second, you need to listen with your body. Observe your body language. Are you engaged in other distracting activities? Are you square to the person? Are you sitting up and leaning forward slightly to show that you value what that person has to say? Use facial expressions and body language to express interest and comprehension. Third, listen without your mouth. In other words, avoid the temptation to interrupt while listening. Allow that individual time to express his or her thoughts, concerns, fears and insights. Avoid erecting barriers that get in the way of you hearing what is being said.

The second part of effective communication is knowing how to actively engage someone in conversation. At all times you should communicate with others using kind words spoken with an appropriate tone of voice. Sometimes our words are saying one thing, yet our tone of voice and posture indicates the contrary. You should be constantly affirming words of appreciation to others.

Get into the habit of using words of affirmation; words that inspire courage in others, just as a coach inspires his or her team. Coaches motivate their athletes towards taking positive action. A common example is the expression: “I know you will succeed because…”

Use words of praise; words that make a positive assertion or statement that will build someone up. As you may already know, positive reinforcement builds individuals up rather than tearing them down. Praise also helps to raise one’s self-esteem and self-worth. A couple of common examples are: “You did a great job.” or “Super job! Keep it up.”

Also get into the habit of using words of appreciation; words that express sincere gratitude for someone who has done you a service or an act of kindness. Two simple, yet effective statements are: “I appreciate it when…” or “Thank you for…”

Make a point of practicing and using these or similar expressions on a regular basis. Show recognition and appreciation and give praise. Catch someone doing something well and then pass on a few words of encouragement. Set a goal of giving a positive verbal affirmation to someone once a day over the month.

2. Giving of your energy:
How you manage your energy affects your performance. It comes down to a question of choice. Some choices energize us, while others create barriers. We all have certain barriers that get in the way of harnessing our full energy potential and of using the energy available for improving the quality of life for others. Some of those common barriers are found in being pessimistic, impatient, inflexible or critical.

You need to consciously make that shift of your energy from negative to positive and from self to others. Should you find yourself dwelling on the negative dismiss those energy-draining thoughts by using the following positive self talk statement: “Positive thoughts bring me the benefits and outcomes that I desire.” Once you are pumped up with positive energy, let it infuse into others and lift up their spirits this month.

3. Giving of your talents and spiritual gifts
We all have special talents or gifts that we can share with others such as being an active learner, being careful and deliberate, being flexible, or meeting and getting to know new people. Discovering what those natural endowments or innate abilities that people say you excel in is an on-going process.

During this month try to identify two or three things that you could do in your immediate work environment that would give more of yourself to helping your colleagues reach their full potential. Is it your positive attitude and happy disposition? your innate ability to organize things? or possibly your love of solving problems? What better gift than to make a difference in other people’s lives.

4. Giving of your material resources
You will notice that I am mentioning giving of your material resources last. In my opinion, this is the least important form of giving of the four mentioned. Why do I say so? Although giving a portion of your financial blessings to help those less fortunate than you is also a true measure of your success as a human being, it really boils down to how you have added value to other people’s lives and not what you have done. In other words, it is the process of helping other’s reach their full potential, rather than the end result that truly defines us as successful individuals.

Be resolved to make a positive difference in the lives of those that you touch. When you strive to reach a point of harmony and balance between all four areas of giving, you are in a better position to impact other people’s lives.

By: Randall Stewart

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Randall Stewart has been involved in success training and personal coaching for the past twenty-five years and is the author of “Success is a Four-Letter Word: Learn How to Bring More Abundance & Prosperity into Your Life”. He has taught in the corporate, university and public school sectors across Canada. To find out more about Randall’s self improvement courses or to subscribe to his free newsletter, go to www.SuccessorizeYourself.com. Please feel free to share this article with others.

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Beauty... And Then What?

noreply@blogger.com (Foras Aje) — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 13:46:00 +0000

Welcome to 2007; the time when more people than ever, with absolutely no medical conditions or sicknesses, are taking themselves off to the operating theatres of the world and paying rich surgeons a fortune to be sliced, diced, nipped, tucked, sucked, stretched and implanted.
To be beautiful.
Hot.
Or more attractive, at the very least.
New and improved.
Popular.
Noticed.
A surgical path to happiness.

Perhaps we should forget the wrinkles around our eyes and get the doctor to take a look at our brain while we're on the table?

Somehow, on some level, some people (okay, many) have bought into the disturbing belief that if they have less wrinkles, less sag, more perk, less fat and skin and perhaps a different nose, they will be happier and more fulfilled.
Their life will be better.

They must have (bought into it)... otherwise, why would they risk there life (all surgery is a calculated risk) and pay a fortune to do it? People who are already in debt are so desperate to be 'enhanced' that they are taking out more loans to undergo cosmetic surgery.

Somewhere along the line they (we) have been programmed to believe that:

Certain physical appearance = Attractiveness = Desirability = Happiness.

We bought into the lie.
How do we un-learn this crap when we live in a society which constantly screams at us that beauty equals success?
See any movie, watch any TV show, read any magazine; it's all about being gorgeous.
At all costs.

Even the TV show 'Ugly Betty' is all about the unlikely situation of a less-than-glamorous girl with eyebrows like a muppet trying to survive in the beautiful, bitchy, glam world of the fashion magazine. And while many viewers identify with the character and feel for her (perhaps because they see some of themselves in Betty).... and want to give her a big old hug, I haven't spoken to anyone who actually wants to look like her.

While on one level the show is seemingly all about seeing the underdog overcome adversity in a pretentious world (yay), on another level it teaches us that the ugly girl will struggle, will get the dorky ugly boyfriend and will have to work harder than the pretty girls to achieve the same outcome... and she will be ridiculed and disadvataged because she's not pretty enough (boo).
If it were true that beauty equated to success, then surely all models and Hollywood Hotties would be universally happy, fulfilled, balanced and emotionally healthy little campers; clearly this is not the situation.
In fact, they would be the happiest.... because they are the most beautiful.
Apparently.

One of the challenges of my job (my company facilitates over 1,500 Personal Training sessions every week) is to help people (who are going through physical changes) keep perspective... that is, not throwing all of their eggs in the 'physical' basket while simultaneously neglecting their psychological, emotional and spiritual selves.
Some people are surprised that an exercise scientist (a bloke who owns a couple of gyms) would spend more time working with people on the head and heart stuff than he would, the physical.

I do this because I know that (long-term) satisfaction, happiness, fulfilment and joy never comes from the physical (it can be part of, but never the total solution). I understand that appearance (beauty) has very little to do with long-term 'success'. In fact I don't really care too much about my clients appearance... but I do care about how they feel and function; their overall health.
While I do care about their cholesterol, their blood sugar, their body-fat levels, their posture, their diet and their cardio-vascular health (the physical stuff)... I care more that they understand that, while it's great to be in shape and look good... our body isn't who we are.. it's just where we live.

Sorry if I'm gettin' a little weird on you but I think that most of us agree that we are complex, multi-dimensional, psychological, emotional and spiritual beings who roam this big blue ball for eighty years or so in this physical body... and then once we die we... okay, that's another post!

So when our body becomes our identity (and it does for many people) then we're in trouble.
When our confidence, our self-esteem and our emotional state (and happiness) are dependant on our weight, our wrinkle factor or some other physical variable... then we're on a path to misery, frustration and desperation... and I have seen many (attractive) people become more and more preoccupied with, and miserable about, their appearance over time than you could imagine.

If I had ten bucks for every time someone told me:

"If only I could lose.... kilos (pounds) I'll be happy."

"If only I could lose just five more, then I'd be okay."

I'd be loaded!

The problem is that they lose the weight, get the nose job, get the fat sucked... and they're really happy.
For five minutes.
Then they wake up one day (not long after) and realise that all of those issues... are still there. And all of a sudden they understand the futility of trying to address internal issues with an external solution.

I spent years as a young bodybuilder trying to achieve physical perfection (or as best I could with my genetics) because I had some stupid belief (on some level) that if only I looked like some kinda cartoon character; got my arms and back big enough, my waist small enough, my shoulders wide enough and my body-fat low enough... life would be great, girls would dig me, blokes would respect me... and I would be happy.

I did (get the body) and I wasn't (happy).

A big wake-up call was had by the bloke with the veins and biceps... and a life-long exploration into 'real success' and 'real beauty' began.

By: Craig Harper

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Craig Harper (B.Ex.Sci.) is an Australian motivational speaker, qualified exercise scientist, author, columnist, radio presenter, television host and owner of one of the largest personal training centres in the world. He can be heard weekly on Australian Radio SEN 1116 and GOLD FM and appears on Australian television on Channel 31's 'Living Life Now' and Network Ten's '9AM'.

Motivational Speaker - Craig Harper

I wasn’t excited about becoming a stay-at-home mom

noreply@blogger.com (Foras Aje) — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 03:44:00 +0000

Okay, I admit it, I wasn’t excited about becoming a stay-at-home mom. I was working as a part-time dental hygienist and had the right combination of work and home time. My husband and I had just barely decided that I would follow a dream to go onto dental school versus having a third child (which was something I felt in my heart—but NOT our budget!) when the pregnancy test came up positive! Surprise, surprise!

The fact that we were going to have three children, two of which would need daycare and our oldest just about to start kindergarten in Catholic school, meant that it wasn’t financially worthwhile for me to continue working my current schedule. In addition, it was overwhelming and nearly impossible to figure out how we would cover school holidays, vacation, snow days, and half days. We decided I would work a very limited schedule but basically become a stay-at-home mom.

I think the hardest thing about becoming a stay-at-home mom was having a feeling that I was not contributing financially to our home. Yes, I was working and bringing in a paycheck, but the $20,000 drop in my income stung. I also went from chatting with eight to ten people per day who had shared so much of my adult life (I had practiced nearly full-time for almost 10 years at that point), to being home with a 3-year-old and a newborn.

I stressed about finances, until I discovered a great online community, and they turned me on to an equally great book, “The Complete Tightwad Gazette” by Amy Dcyzyan. Both of these finds totally changed my attitude about how I contributed to the overall finances of our home!

Amy D. (as she’s affectionately referred to by many of my forum members) showed me how to calculate my wage for every job I did at home. When I realized how much money I was saving by doing my “job” at home, I began to see the “wage” I was making! This concept increased my job satisfaction, tremendously! (Yes, I consider being a mom a job!) I know it’s easy to say that we’re paid in hugs and kisses, but unfortunately, those don’t help the bottom line of our budget. By putting a value on the things I did at home, I finally felt as thought I was helping that bottom line! As a quick example, I can make homemade chocolate chip granola bars for about $1 at home, and a batch has twice as many granola bars as the store-brand bars you can buy on sale for $2.50! So, by spending 15 minutes making those bars, I save $5! That’s an hourly wage of $20! Not to mention, my boys usually help me, so it doubles as quality time as well! (Did I mention you can bring your kids to work with you ALL of the time as a stay-at-home parent?)

I know as a SAHP that I say that I get paid in hugs and kisses. Now that the boys are in school more and I’m alone more, I begin to wonder about the bottom line again, and then I start to think about the “value” of being home. How much more would it cost me to work OUTSIDE the home? It’s nice to be able to place that dollar value on all those things we do as a SAHP and make a more informed decision. Personally, I’ve figured out that it’s worth it for me to be home more, so I’d better get busy making another batch of granola bars!

By: Tammy Paquin

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Tammy Paquin is a work from home mom of 3 boys. She is the publisher of Frugal-Families, a site devoted to frugality, budgeting, families and helping everyone stretch their hard-earned dollars. For other great articles on saving money, family finances and increasing your value as a SAHP go to http:www.frugal-families.com

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Showing Others You Are Happy Can Have A Catching Effect

noreply@blogger.com (Foras Aje) — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 13:41:00 +0000

We have all heard laugh and the world laughs with you. Well it’s true. The more you are happy and content the more others will be too. You will be surprised at how you can start a whole office of people off on the right foot by being in a good and great mood.

It doesn’t take much to be happy. Put your unhappy problems in to perspective. Take a breath and learn to deal with unhappy processes. By working at being happy on an everyday basis you will find that you yourself will be in a better mood. Others will start to notice and then bam someone else has the happiness!

The rat race we all lead sometimes it’s hard to put things in order. Take time of your day to deal with these items. Deal with only a few at a time this way you can still manage to be in a happy mood. Remember you can be happy dealing with unhappy event. Most times when you deal like this with an unhappy event before it’s over and you say to yourself gee that wasn’t too bad. Hey you made it through

Allowing yourself to me more of a happy person you most likely avoid being depressed. Remember others; if you are a manager of an office and you are depressed then others start this feeling. They too now are grumps, but if you have a happier disposition then others are sure to follow.

By: Michele Rogers

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Author is Michele Rogers, owner of www.lilyputts.com Lilyputts Gift Baskets , an online gift basket retailer. Also hosted is a www.lilyputts.blogspot.com BLOG that reviews gifts and welcomes other comments as well. Please visit Lilyputts Gift Baskets for descriptions and product presentations. Please, if you use any portion herein be sure to email author first.

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Stress is the biggest culprit that keeps us from enjoying our lives

noreply@blogger.com (Foras Aje) — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 13:38:00 +0000

Stress is the biggest culprit that keeps us from enjoying our lives. However, that doesn’t have to be the case even if you have a stressful life. There are many ways for stress relief that will help you relax and enjoy life. Humor is a great stress reliever that does wonders for your mental health. The following stress relief tips will really help you find peace while enjoying life.

Humor
Humor is a great stress reliever and just laughing out loud can make you feel more relaxed and happier. Any kind of humor will do and make you feel better. Jokes, comedies, caricatures, seeing a comedian, or just going out for dinner with funny friends is a great way to increase your mental health and to reduce stress. You might not believe it at first, but give it a try and you will see that when you laugh you feel much better!

Exercise
Exercise is a wonderful way to relieve stress and improve your mental health as well. When you are stressed it can be very difficult to live life, but exercise can help. Find a block of time, perhaps half an hour or more, and start walking, running, taking an aerobics class, or engaging in any form of exercise you enjoy. Exercise will stimulate endorphins, which will help erase your stress and make you feel better. So, whatever exercise you can muster get out and do it. You will find that you feel much better and will feel the stress just melting away.

Nutrition
Another important way to get stress relief is to eat properly. When you have good nutrition your body will be well prepared to handle extra stress. When you don’t eat well then your body gets run down quicker and you will find yourself at risk for illness. So do your very best to eat vegetables, lean meats, and drink plenty of water each day. When you have a healthy body then you will be able to combat stress.

These are just a few tips that will help you relieve your stress and start enjoying life again. Even if you don’t believe they will work just give them a try. You will find that in a week or two you will start feeling significantly better and will be better able to handle your stress.

By: Natalie Aranda

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Natalie Aranda writes about self improvement and health. Humor is a great stress reliever and just laughing out loud can make you feel more relaxed and happier. Any kind of humor will do and make you feel better. Jokes, comedies, caricatures, seeing a comedian, or just going out for dinner with funny friends is a great way to increase your mental health and to reduce stress.

Should you make the switch to all-natural make-up?

noreply@blogger.com (Foras Aje) — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 04:16:00 +0000

Should you make the switch to all-natural make-up? There are plenty of companies, advertisements, and “experts” who could probably give you a very convincing argument either way. Dr. Roberta Palestine, who did her residency at the Mayo Clinic in dermatology stated, “Natural isn’t always better. Synthetic isn’t necessarily worse. Poison Ivy is natural, but that certainly doesn’t make it good…a chemical is a chemical, what matters is your skin type.” There are certainly a lot of skin types out there, and you can bet for every type there’s a number of make-up products for that particular kind.

Women who suffer from allergies and have been limited on their choices in make-up now have more options as more companies come out with products that are gentle on the skin and hypoallergenic. It should be noted that “hypoallergenic” has no medical definition, as it is yet to be determined what ingredients reduce allergens. So are natural make-up products all that they are cracked-up to be? A quick look at the ingredients list will tell the consumer what the main ingredients are on a product because they are listed in order of volume ratio. Often times, the ingredients will be listed on the packaging the make-up came in.

Often women will be allergic to a product and not even realize it. Over the years, women get used to dry, irritated skin that comes from repeated use of the kinds of make-up they wear out in public and to work. Women who wear a foundation make-up to even out the skin tone on their faces will dry out and aggravate their skin so each day is a little worse. Women with sensitive skin should avoid products with fragrances, mineral oil, formaldehyde, and alcohol. These chemicals will all dry out the skin and cause irritation.

When switching make-ups often times the skin will have to undergo an adjustment period. So women who are thinking about switching to natural cosmetics should go with it 100%. By doing this, the skin only has to go through the adjustment phase one time. If you are thinking about making the switch, it is important to consider the ingredients in a product that claims to be all natural. Do some research before trying out a new make-up line to see if it is a reputable company that uses quality ingredients and stands behind the products they produce. So should you make the switch? It’s a matter of personal choice but if you think the products you currently use are affecting your skin, at least consider it.

By: Micheal Usry

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Michael Usry is the author of the online instructional articles "Beauty and Health in Plain English" and a top affiliate of skin care one of the premier women's health websites.