tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31182302011-04-21T12:46:48.439-07:00These are postings that I feel are Important to the members of our choices drop in center. Have a wonderful day!! biggGeorgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17816110899622781723noreply@blogger.comBlogger21100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118230.post-52307932001-08-22T06:11:00.000-07:002001-08-22T06:11:06.766-07:00ow self-esteem is like driving through life with your hand-break on <br /> (Maxwell Maltz) <br /> <br /> Bear with me for a moment, for I have an itch to write about fleas. <br /> Suppose you wanted to start your own flea circus, how would you go about <br /> training them? There are several techniques, but I'll discuss one here: <br /> Get about 100 fleas and place them in a jar. Cover the jar with a lid or <br /> small sheet of glass. Leave them there for three days to two weeks <br /> (depends on the fleas you're training). What about food? Not to worry, <br /> adult fleas can live without food for as long as two years. <br /> <br /> So, what happens to the fleas you've imprisoned in the jar? They will <br /> all be wildly jumping, crashing into the lid, banging into the walls of <br /> the jar, and bumping into one another. After a period, however, even <br /> their tiny brains realize that it's not smart to keep smashing into the <br /> lid and walls of the jar, so they adjust the height and direction of <br /> their jumps. Before long, they will jump in an orderly fashion. No <br /> longer will they bump into one another or the sides of the jar. Also, <br /> the highest point of their jump will be a few millimeters below the lid. <br /> No more bruised backs! <br /> <br /> They are now "trained." For you can remove the lid and they will <br /> continue to act as if it were still there. In other words, although they <br /> are free, they will behave as if imprisoned. In fact, you can now <br /> quickly rotate the jar and place it on a table upside-down. After giving <br /> them a chance to settle down, you can then slowly raise the jar until <br /> they are completely free. Your "trained" fleas will continue jumping <br /> while remaining in place! Locked into their tiny bodies is vast <br /> potential. They are incredible jumpers. Yet, where is their potential <br /> now? Because they were trained, they can now jump only as high as their <br /> former prison. <br /> <br /> Does this story ring any bells? You see, the place where we were reared <br /> between the ages of one and five, and beyond, was like a jar or prison. <br /> Like the fleas, we were born perfect, with unlimited potential. But, <br /> also like the fleas, we were "trained." As we tried to express our <br /> enormous potential, we kept smashing into a wall of negativity. Over and <br /> again we heard comments like, "You're so stupid. You're a bad child. Why <br /> are you so naughty? What's wrong with you? You can't do anything right." <br /> <br /> What happened to our potential? Can you see why we failed to develop <br /> fully? Although we share much in common with the fleas, there is one <br /> significant difference. Awareness. We can become aware of our problem, <br /> and its source, and then take corrective action. As we change our <br /> behavior, we can begin to leap higher and higher, until we reach our <br /> full potential. We have the ability to free ourselves, for although <br /> someone else may have placed us here, the key that unlocks our prison <br /> door is in our pocket! <br /> <br /> The key that unlocks the door of our cell is sometimes called <br /> self-esteem. You could also call it self-confidence or belief in <br /> ourselves. Each of us has in our mind an image of where we would like to <br /> be in our life. If we are far from that destination, we have low <br /> self-esteem or little self-confidence. If we are close to where we want <br /> to be, we have high self-esteem or a great deal of confidence. <br /> <br /> We learn from experience what needs to be done, and it is confidence <br /> that allows us to do it. Reworded, our competence grows in direct <br /> proportion to our self-esteem. On the other hand, without confidence, we <br /> are twice defeated, for we experience the pain of low self-esteem and <br /> the pain of failure. If we have lost confidence, we have lost <br /> everything. For that reason, let's consider what we can do to rebuild <br /> our self-esteem. <br /> <br /> Rebuilding our self-esteem <br /> Normally thought precedes action. This is fine when we have positive <br /> thoughts. But after being trained like fleas, we need to reverse the <br /> process. That is, we need to act despite our thoughts. And we need to <br /> forcefully repeat new, positive actions until they become habitual. <br /> Suppose we have low self-esteem and are afraid to do what we would like <br /> to, such as be assertive or seek a new job. It's okay to be afraid; <br /> accept it and understand you were trained to doubt yourself. But now it <br /> is time to accept that some things are more important than fear. Your <br /> happiness, for example. So, if you're unhappy with your job, start <br /> taking action today to change the situation. Act despite your fear. <br /> Begin with simple steps. Prepare your resume. Search the want ads. Fax <br /> your resume to agencies and businesses. Each little step you take will <br /> bring you closer to your dream and increase your confidence, which will <br /> make further action easier, leading to still more confidence, and so on. <br /> Although we can never entirely eliminate fear, we can reduce it by <br /> preparation. If, for example, you prepared an attractive resume and are <br /> neatly dressed, you will have lots less to be nervous about at a job <br /> interview. Here's something else to consider: Anticipation is a <br /> magnifying glass that enlarges expected pleasures or fears. The fear <br /> that is anticipated is greater than the fear that is experienced. Moral? <br /> Stop expecting problems and start anticipating solutions. <br /> <br /> Do you have a computer? I love computers. I'm writing this article on <br /> one. But getting back to you, do you realize that you have a computer <br /> that is vastly superior to my Pentium? It is called your brain. Use it. <br /> For instance, when those negative thoughts crop up, stop and analyze <br /> them. Let's say you would like to ask the boss for a raise, but think, <br /> "I can't do that." Whoa! Stop! Analyze that thought. Realize that it is <br /> irrational to believe you can't do it. That negative thought you had was <br /> the thought of a child, the thought of a flea. It's time to change now. <br /> So, if you want that raise, begin by preparing for it. First of all, <br /> wanting a raise is not enough. You need to deserve it. Do you? If so, <br /> list all the reasons. If the boss gives you a raise, how will he <br /> benefit? Will you be willing to tackle more responsibilities? Picture in <br /> your mind speaking to your boss. What will he say to you and how will <br /> you respond? By building your list of reasons you deserve a raise and <br /> practicing the conversation in your mind, you are preparing. The result? <br /> More confidence, less fear. The point of this paragraph is to encourage <br /> you to analyze every negative thought and get into the habit of <br /> replacing irrational thinking with clear, analytical thinking. <br /> <br /> Be willing to make the effort. Develop self-discipline by doing <br /> unpleasant, but necessary tasks. Carefully consider the words of Winston <br /> Churchill, "The heights of great men reached and kept, were not attained <br /> by sudden flight, but they, while their companions slept, were toiling <br /> upwards in the night." Some people say, "I'd love to improve but I have <br /> no self-control." That's not true, we all have self-control. If we are <br /> wasting valuable time, who is forcing us to do so? Isn't it our choice? <br /> We can start improving by practicing jumping higher and higher. True, we <br /> may feel uncomfortable as we do so. After all, we still remember the <br /> bruises we suffered by striking the lid over and over again. But look up <br /> and around, we're not in the jar any longer! We may like to blame <br /> circumstances instead of taking responsibility for our actions, but the <br /> only way to succeed is to create the future by taking control of our <br /> lives with self-discipline, integrity, and right action. <br /> <br /> You are not alone in your dance of the flea. Look about you. Almost <br /> everyone you meet is bruised. They can use a boost in self-esteem. You <br /> can help. In fact, you could be the catalyst that gets them jumping <br /> higher and higher. You can do so by offering words of encouragement, <br /> recognition, and praise. You can accept them, embrace them, and elevate <br /> them. You are an extremely important person; they need you. Let's help. <br /> <br /> <br /> You can contact Chuck Gallozzi at mailto:gall-@interlog.com <br /> <br /> <br /> ---> 10 Things You Can Do To Produce A Quantum Leap In Your Life Fast <br /> <br /> We often hear of small actions that can make a dramatic impact on our <br /> lives. Here are ten such things which, if done with determination, will <br /> produce a revolution for you physically, mentally, emotionally, <br /> spiritually and financially! <br /> <br /> <br /> 1. Drink Pure Water <br /> <br /> Our bodies are 70% water. Drinking impure water is responsible for many <br /> illnesses commonly attributed to other causes. Therefore, you should <br /> seriously consider installing a quality water filtration or distillation <br /> system. <br /> <br /> In addition, most people go through life dehydrated. Simply drinking <br /> when you are thirsty is not enough. Moreover, tea and coffee actually <br /> dehydrate the body even further thereby making the problem worse still. <br /> Dehydration also leads to many serious illnesses. You need to drink at <br /> least 8-12 glasses of clear water every day, and preferably more. <br /> <br /> <br /> 2. Regular Exercise <br /> <br /> Exercise can slow down, and even partially reverse, the aging process. <br /> You will suffer from fewer illnesses and have far more energy to enjoy <br /> all day long. Best of all, exercise is something you can take up and <br /> benefit from at any age. Yoga is excellent because it tones your inner <br /> organs as well as gently stretching and strengthening your muscles. Even <br /> simply walking for 15-20 minutes every day could be extremely <br /> beneficial. Consult your doctor regarding your current state of health <br /> and advice on suitable forms of exercise for you. <br /> <br /> <br /> 3. Meditation <br /> <br /> Regular meditators often have a biological age 10-20 years younger than <br /> their chronological age! You will also be far more centered all day, <br /> more aware of your emotions, and far better able to cope with any <br /> challenge life can throw at you. <br /> <br /> Simply sitting in a quiet place alone, closing your eyes, and following <br /> the passage of your breath as it moves in and out is a superb <br /> meditation. However, you can easily find others that can benefit and <br /> enrich your life deeply. Meditation will make you a kinder, gentler, and <br /> more patient person. It will help you to appreciate life more. <br /> <br /> <br /> 4. Forgiveness <br /> <br /> Grudges take up brain capacity and prevent us from performing at our <br /> very best. What we focus our minds upon grows; this is true of hatred <br /> too. Therefore, it is impossible to truly achieve great things for <br /> ourselves when we have a lot of our energetic capacity tied up in <br /> negativity. <br /> <br /> Remember that forgiveness is primarily for YOU. It free up your energy <br /> tremendously. So forgive all grudges, no matter how old they may be, and <br /> seek reconciliation. If you find this hard, begin with the easiest ones <br /> first. Then gradually work up to the harder ones. <br /> <br /> <br /> 5. Clutter Clearance <br /> <br /> If you want to let new opportunities into your life, you have to make <br /> room for them. Clear out the past - things you cling to that no longer <br /> serve any purpose, but which hold you back. This can be cupboards, the <br /> cellar, old clothes, old relationships, and outmoded ways of thinking. <br /> By holding on tenaciously to the past, we fail to make room for the <br /> future. <br /> <br /> So look in your closets and get rid of things you have not used for over <br /> a year or two. Review relationships in your life and see which ones are <br /> taking you where you want to go and which ones are holding you down. <br /> Clear your desk. Clear your computer. Then let fresh air flow into your <br /> life! <br /> <br /> <br /> 6. Clear All Financial Debt & Invest <br /> <br /> If owing nobody a cent is just a dream for you, start working today to <br /> make that dream a reality. Save 10% of your income each month to be <br /> applied towards reducing and clearing your debts. <br /> <br /> Financial debt is one of the biggest causes of worry ever. Yet almost <br /> anyone can save 10% of their income if they put their minds to it. Do it <br /> consistently to learn the habit, and soon you'll be saving 20%. Once <br /> you've applied this to your debts, and have NO debts at all, you can't <br /> imagine how free you will feel! <br /> <br /> <br /> 7. Relationships <br /> <br /> Almost everything we want in life will be obtained through other people. <br /> Moreover, relationships skills are amongst the most important and most <br /> desired in life. They easily more than make up for deficiencies in other <br /> areas of expertise. People who get on well with others rise faster than <br /> those who are merely good at their jobs. They are the last people to be <br /> fired; if they are, they find it extremely easy to pick up a great job <br /> elsewhere. <br /> <br /> <br /> Hence, it is vital to learn to relate excellently to others. If you are <br /> not good in this area, all your other efforts could go for nothing. <br /> Therefore, study hard in his subject and apply the lessons you learn. <br /> Become excellent at relating to people. <br /> <br /> <br /> 8. Goals <br /> <br /> Have clear, specific, written goals with deadlines for their achievement <br /> in every area of your life - physical, mental, emotional, physical, <br /> career, etc. People who do are FAR more successful. People who don't are <br /> like ships adrift on the seas. A person without clear specific goals is <br /> like a ship cast adrift on the ocean without a captain or crew. The <br /> chances of it arriving anywhere specific are minimal. Yet most people <br /> live their lives <br /> like that. Make it your goal to have specific written goals in every <br /> area of your life and review them every day. <br /> <br /> <br /> 9. Daily Planning <br /> <br /> For maximum productivity, plan each day in advance with a scheduler. Use <br /> a "To Do" list to plan what you need to get done. Prioritize these tasks <br /> in order of importance. You can rank urgent tasks as "A". Important, but <br /> not urgent, tasks as "B". Nice to do but neither urgent nor important <br /> activities as "C". Unimportant tasks as "D". Work on the category "A" <br /> tasks first until you have them all done and then work on the category <br /> "B" tasks. Delegate or throw out category "D" activities. <br /> <br /> Develop the habit of accounting for every half hour of your time. This <br /> is what many highly successful people do. <br /> <br /> <br /> 10. Journal <br /> <br /> A life worth living is a life worth recording. Keep a private journal <br /> where you can record events, your reactions to them, how you feel about <br /> situations, what you are learning. Keeping a journal awakens your <br /> intuition and deepens your contact with <br /> Spirit. <br /> <br /> <br /> Copyright © 2000, Asoka Selvarajah. All Rights Reserved. <br /> _______________________________________________________________ <br /> Dr. Asoka Selvarajah is an active writer/researcher on personal <br /> development and esoteric spirituality. Asoka's work helps <br /> people achieve their full potential, deepen their understanding <br /> of mystical truth, and find joy in their true soul's purpose. <br /> <br /> Subscribe to his free ezine, Aspire To Wisdom, and receive his <br /> brand new E-Book "Inner Light Outer Wealth" for FREE at: <br /> http://www.aksworld.com/AspireToWisdom.htm??PEDE <br /> You can visit his website at http://www.aksworld.com?PEDE <br /> <br /> <br /> <--------------> Putting Lipstick On A Pig <------------------> <br /> <br /> Technology can help tremendously with time management. Many examples of <br /> this are seen everyday: It can make changing calendar appointments <br /> effortless. Also, with the click of a button, many people can be <br /> emailed an announcement of a meeting change. Potential uses are <br /> enormous. But, time and time again, in my personal coaching practice, I <br /> frequently see folks simply using technology to automate a poor time <br /> management system. They are in effect, paving the cow path, or putting <br /> lipstick on a pig. <br /> <br /> Putting lipstick on a pig makes the pig a little prettier, but <br /> underneath it, the pig is still a pig. Cosmetic changes don’t result in <br /> underlying structural change. Technology can be used like lipstick, or <br /> to support a more fundamental realignment of a time management system. <br /> Using a handheld computer to manage appointments is great, but if we <br /> aren’t making the correct appointments it doesn’t help much. <br /> <br /> Most of us are very busy. Automating the tracking of all the harried <br /> appointments we keep during the day is nice. But, at the core, do the <br /> appointments tie to achieving goals within the roles of our lives? Is <br /> there some planning mechanism that results in using the time management <br /> system to bring our lives more in line with a personal mission <br /> statement? <br /> <br /> Email results in quicker communication, but is the communication more <br /> effective? Faster technology speed creates quick movement. But is the <br /> movement in the right direction? An old saying applies well here: If <br /> you are in a race, but are going down the wrong route, it doesn’t matter <br /> how fast you are. Technology can help us go faster, but in the end, it <br /> may not matter much, if we aren’t effectively accomplishing our personal <br /> goals. <br /> <br /> The next time you use technology, think about lipstick on a pig. Do you <br /> really want to put lipstick on that big, old, ugly, smelly animal? Or <br /> would you rather invest some additional time and get rid of the pig <br /> completely, replacing it with something that will more effectively <br /> assist you on your journey to peak performance? <br /> <br /> ------------------------------------------------------ <br /> <br /> This story was authored by Scott Fite, who specializes in Peak <br /> Performance Coaching. Stop by his website at <br /> http://www.lifedesigncenter.com for more peak performance information <br /> and to sign up for a free newsletter. <br /> <br /> <br /> <------------ Please help out? ---------------> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3118230-5230793?l=ocalmail.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17816110899622781723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3118230.post-52307542001-08-22T06:08:00.000-07:002001-08-22T06:08:52.750-07:00 <br /> <br />How self-esteem is like driving through life with your hand-break on <br /> (Maxwell Maltz) <br /> <br /> Bear with me for a moment, for I have an itch to write about fleas. <br /> Suppose you wanted to start your own flea circus, how would you go about <br /> training them? There are several techniques, but I'll discuss one here: <br /> Get about 100 fleas and place them in a jar. Cover the jar with a lid or <br /> small sheet of glass. Leave them there for three days to two weeks <br /> (depends on the fleas you're training). What about food? Not to worry, <br /> adult fleas can live without food for as long as two years. <br /> <br /> So, what happens to the fleas you've imprisoned in the jar? They will <br /> all be wildly jumping, crashing into the lid, banging into the walls of <br /> the jar, and bumping into one another. After a period, however, even <br /> their tiny brains realize that it's not smart to keep smashing into the <br /> lid and walls of the jar, so they adjust the height and direction of <br /> their jumps. Before long, they will jump in an orderly fashion. No <br /> longer will they bump into one another or the sides of the jar. Also, <br /> the highest point of their jump will be a few millimeters below the lid. <br /> No more bruised backs! <br /> <br /> They are now "trained." For you can remove the lid and they will <br /> continue to act as if it were still there. In other words, although they <br /> are free, they will behave as if imprisoned. In fact, you can now <br /> quickly rotate the jar and place it on a table upside-down. After giving <br /> them a chance to settle down, you can then slowly raise the jar until <br /> they are completely free. Your "trained" fleas will continue jumping <br /> while remaining in place! Locked into their tiny bodies is vast <br /> potential. They are incredible jumpers. Yet, where is their potential <br /> now? Because they were trained, they can now jump only as high as their <br /> former prison. <br /> <br /> Does this story ring any bells? You see, the place where we were reared <br /> between the ages of one and five, and beyond, was like a jar or prison. <br /> Like the fleas, we were born perfect, with unlimited potential. But, <br /> also like the fleas, we were "trained." As we tried to express our <br /> enormous potential, we kept smashing into a wall of negativity. Over and <br /> again we heard comments like, "You're so stupid. You're a bad child. Why <br /> are you so naughty? What's wrong with you? You can't do anything right." <br /> <br /> What happened to our potential? Can you see why we failed to develop <br /> fully? Although we share much in common with the fleas, there is one <br /> significant difference. Awareness. We can become aware of our problem, <br /> and its source, and then take corrective action. As we change our <br /> behavior, we can begin to leap higher and higher, until we reach our <br /> full potential. We have the ability to free ourselves, for although <br /> someone else may have placed us here, the key that unlocks our prison <br /> door is in our pocket! <br /> <br /> The key that unlocks the door of our cell is sometimes called <br /> self-esteem. You could also call it self-confidence or belief in <br /> ourselves. Each of us has in our mind an image of where we would like to <br /> be in our life. If we are far from that destination, we have low <br /> self-esteem or little self-confidence. If we are close to where we want <br /> to be, we have high self-esteem or a great deal of confidence. <br /> <br /> We learn from experience what needs to be done, and it is confidence <br /> that allows us to do it. Reworded, our competence grows in direct <br /> proportion to our self-esteem. On the other hand, without confidence, we <br /> are twice defeated, for we experience the pain of low self-esteem and <br /> the pain of failure. If we have lost confidence, we have lost <br /> everything. For that reason, let's consider what we can do to rebuild <br /> our self-esteem. <br /> <br /> Rebuilding our self-esteem <br /> Normally thought precedes action. This is fine when we have positive <br /> thoughts. But after being trained like fleas, we need to reverse the <br /> process. That is, we need to act despite our thoughts. And we need to <br /> forcefully repeat new, positive actions until they become habitual. <br /> Suppose we have low self-esteem and are afraid to do what we would like <br /> to, such as be assertive or seek a new job. It's okay to be afraid; <br /> accept it and understand you were trained to doubt yourself. But now it <br /> is time to accept that some things are more important than fear. Your <br /> happiness, for example. So, if you're unhappy with your job, start <br /> taking action today to change the situation. Act despite your fear. <br /> Begin with simple steps. Prepare your resume. Search the want ads. Fax <br /> your resume to agencies and businesses. Each little step you take will <br /> bring you closer to your dream and increase your confidence, which will <br /> make further action easier, leading to still more confidence, and so on. <br /> Although we can never entirely eliminate fear, we can reduce it by <br /> preparation. If, for example, you prepared an attractive resume and are <br /> neatly dressed, you will have lots less to be nervous about at a job <br /> interview. Here's something else to consider: Anticipation is a <br /> magnifying glass that enlarges expected pleasures or fears. The fear <br /> that is anticipated is greater than the fear that is experienced. Moral? <br /> Stop expecting problems and start anticipating solutions. <br /> <br /> Do you have a computer? I love computers. I'm writing this article on <br /> one. But getting back to you, do you realize that you have a computer <br /> that is vastly superior to my Pentium? It is called your brain. Use it. <br /> For instance, when those negative thoughts crop up, stop and analyze <br /> them. Let's say you would like to ask the boss for a raise, but think, <br /> "I can't do that." Whoa! Stop! Analyze that thought. Realize that it is <br /> irrational to believe you can't do it. That negative thought you had was <br /> the thought of a child, the thought of a flea. It's time to change now. <br /> So, if you want that raise, begin by preparing for it. First of all, <br /> wanting a raise is not enough. You need to deserve it. Do you? If so, <br /> list all the reasons. If the boss gives you a raise, how will he <br /> benefit? Will you be willing to tackle more responsibilities? Picture in <br /> your mind speaking to your boss. What will he say to you and how will <br /> you respond? By building your list of reasons you deserve a raise and <br /> practicing the conversation in your mind, you are preparing. The result? <br /> More confidence, less fear. The point of this paragraph is to encourage <br /> you to analyze every negative thought and get into the habit of <br /> replacing irrational thinking with clear, analytical thinking. <br /> <br /> Be willing to make the effort. Develop self-discipline by doing <br /> unpleasant, but necessary tasks. Carefully consider the words of Winston <br /> Churchill, "The heights of great men reached and kept, were not attained <br /> by sudden flight, but they, while their companions slept, were toiling <br /> upwards in the night." Some people say, "I'd love to improve but I have <br /> no self-control." That's not true, we all have self-control. If we are <br /> wasting valuable time, who is forcing us to do so? Isn't it our choice? <br /> We can start improving by practicing jumping higher and higher. True, we <br /> may feel uncomfortable as we do so. After all, we still remember the <br /> bruises we suffered by striking the lid over and over again. But look up <br /> and around, we're not in the jar any longer! We may like to blame <br /> circumstances instead of taking responsibility for our actions, but the <br /> only way to succeed is to create the future by taking control of our <br /> lives with self-discipline, integrity, and right action. <br /> <br /> You are not alone in your dance of the flea. Look about you. Almost <br /> everyone you meet is bruised. They can use a boost in self-esteem. You <br /> can help. In fact, you could be the catalyst that gets them jumping <br /> higher and higher. You can do so by offering words of encouragement, <br /> recognition, and praise. You can accept them, embrace them, and elevate <br /> them. You are an extremely important person; they need you. Let's help. <br /> <br /> <br /> You can contact Chuck Gallozzi at mailto:gall-@interlog.com <br /> <br /> <br /> ---> 10 Things You Can Do To Produce A Quantum Leap In Your Life Fast <br /> <br /> We often hear of small actions that can make a dramatic impact on our <br /> lives. Here are ten such things which, if done with determination, will <br /> produce a revolution for you physically, mentally, emotionally, <br /> spiritually and financially! <br /> <br /> <br /> 1. Drink Pure Water <br /> <br /> Our bodies are 70% water. Drinking impure water is responsible for many <br /> illnesses commonly attributed to other causes. Therefore, you should <br /> seriously consider installing a quality water filtration or distillation <br /> system. <br /> <br /> In addition, most people go through life dehydrated. Simply drinking <br /> when you are thirsty is not enough. Moreover, tea and coffee actually <br /> dehydrate the body even further thereby making the problem worse still. <br /> Dehydration also leads to many serious illnesses. You need to drink at <br /> least 8-12 glasses of clear water every day, and preferably more. <br /> <br /> <br /> 2. Regular Exercise <br /> <br /> Exercise can slow down, and even partially reverse, the aging process. <br /> You will suffer from fewer illnesses and have far more energy to enjoy <br /> all day long. Best of all, exercise is something you can take up and <br /> benefit from at any age. Yoga is excellent because it tones your inner <br /> organs as well as gently stretching and strengthening your muscles. Even <br /> simply walking for 15-20 minutes every day could be extremely <br /> beneficial. Consult your doctor regarding your current state of health <br /> and advice on suitable forms of exercise for you. <br /> <br /> <br /> 3. Meditation <br /> <br /> Regular meditators often have a biological age 10-20 years younger than <br /> their chronological age! You will also be far more centered all day, <br /> more aware of your emotions, and far better able to cope with any <br /> challenge life can throw at you. <br /> <br /> Simply sitting in a quiet place alone, closing your eyes, and following <br /> the passage of your breath as it moves in and out is a superb <br /> meditation. However, you can easily find others that can benefit and <br /> enrich your life deeply. Meditation will make you a kinder, gentler, and <br /> more patient person. It will help you to appreciate life more. <br /> <br /> <br /> 4. Forgiveness <br /> <br /> Grudges take up brain capacity and prevent us from performing at our <br /> very best. What we focus our minds upon grows; this is true of hatred <br /> too. Therefore, it is impossible to truly achieve great things for <br /> ourselves when we have a lot of our energetic capacity tied up in <br /> negativity. <br /> <br /> Remember that forgiveness is primarily for YOU. It free up your energy <br /> tremendously. So forgive all grudges, no matter how old they may be, and <br /> seek reconciliation. If you find this hard, begin with the easiest ones <br /> first. Then gradually work up to the harder ones. <br /> <br /> <br /> 5. Clutter Clearance <br /> <br /> If you want to let new opportunities into your life, you have to make <br /> room for them. Clear out the past - things you cling to that no longer <br /> serve any purpose, but which hold you back. This can be cupboards, the <br /> cellar, old clothes, old relationships, and outmoded ways of thinking. <br /> By holding on tenaciously to the past, we fail to make room for the <br /> future. <br /> <br /> So look in your closets and get rid of things you have not used for over <br /> a year or two. Review relationships in your life and see which ones are <br /> taking you where you want to go and which ones are holding you down. <br /> Clear your desk. Clear your computer. Then let fresh air flow into your <br /> life! <br /> <br /> <br /> 6. Clear All Financial Debt & Invest <br /> <br /> If owing nobody a cent is just a dream for you, start working today to <br /> make that dream a reality. Save 10% of your income each month to be <br /> applied towards reducing and clearing your debts. <br /> <br /> Financial debt is one of the biggest causes of worry ever. Yet almost <br /> anyone can save 10% of their income if they put their minds to it. Do it <br /> consistently to learn the habit, and soon you'll be saving 20%. Once <br /> you've applied this to your debts, and have NO debts at all, you can't <br /> imagine how free you will feel! <br /> <br /> <br /> 7. Relationships <br /> <br /> Almost everything we want in life will be obtained through other people. <br /> Moreover, relationships skills are amongst the most important and most <br /> desired in life. They easily more than make up for deficiencies in other <br /> areas of expertise. People who get on well with others rise faster than <br /> those who are merely good at their jobs. They are the last people to be <br /> fired; if they are, they find it extremely easy to pick up a great job <br /> elsewhere. <br /> <br /> <br /> Hence, it is vital to learn to relate excellently to others. If you are <br /> not good in this area, all your other efforts could go for nothing. <br /> Therefore, study hard in his subject and apply the lessons you learn. <br /> Become excellent at relating to people. <br /> <br /> <br /> 8. Goals <br /> <br /> Have clear, specific, written goals with deadlines for their achievement <br /> in every area of your life - physical, mental, emotional, physical, <br /> career, etc. People who do are FAR more successful. People who don't are <br /> like ships adrift on the seas. A person without clear specific goals is <br /> like a ship cast adrift on the ocean without a captain or crew. The <br /> chances of it arriving anywhere specific are minimal. Yet most people <br /> live their lives <br /> like that. Make it your goal to have specific written goals in every <br /> area of your life and review them every day. <br /> <br /> <br /> 9. Daily Planning <br /> <br /> For maximum productivity, plan each day in advance with a scheduler. Use <br /> a "To Do" list to plan what you need to get done. Prioritize these tasks <br /> in order of importance. You can rank urgent tasks as "A". Important, but <br /> not urgent, tasks as "B". Nice to do but neither urgent nor important <br /> activities as "C". Unimportant tasks as "D". Work on the category "A" <br /> tasks first until you have them all done and then work on the category <br /> "B" tasks. Delegate or throw out category "D" activities. <br /> <br /> Develop the habit of accounting for every half hour of your time. This <br /> is what many highly successful people do. <br /> <br /> <br /> 10. Journal <br /> <br /> A life worth living is a life worth recording. Keep a private journal <br /> where you can record events, your reactions to them, how you feel about <br /> situations, what you are learning. Keeping a journal awakens your <br /> intuition and deepens your contact with <br /> Spirit. <br /> <br /> <br /> Copyright © 2000, Asoka Selvarajah. All Rights Reserved. <br /> _______________________________________________________________ <br /> Dr. Asoka Selvarajah is an active writer/researcher on personal <br /> development and esoteric spirituality. Asoka's work helps <br /> people achieve their full potential, deepen their understanding <br /> of mystical truth, and find joy in their true soul's purpose. <br /> <br /> Subscribe to his free ezine, Aspire To Wisdom, and receive his <br /> brand new E-Book "Inner Light Outer Wealth" for FREE at: <br /> http://www.aksworld.com/AspireToWisdom.htm??PEDE <br /> You can visit his website at http://www.aksworld.com?PEDE <br /> <br /> <br /> <--------------> Putting Lipstick On A Pig <------------------> <br /> <br /> Technology can help tremendously with time management. Many examples of <br /> this are seen everyday: It can make changing calendar appointments <br /> effortless. Also, with the click of a button, many people can be <br /> emailed an announcement of a meeting change. Potential uses are <br /> enormous. But, time and time again, in my personal coaching practice, I <br /> frequently see folks simply using technology to automate a poor time <br /> management system. They are in effect, paving the cow path, or putting <br /> lipstick on a pig. <br /> <br /> Putting lipstick on a pig makes the pig a little prettier, but <br /> underneath it, the pig is still a pig. Cosmetic changes don’t result in <br /> underlying structural change. Technology can be used like lipstick, or <br /> to support a more fundamental realignment of a time management system. <br /> Using a handheld computer to manage appointments is great, but if we <br /> aren’t making the correct appointments it doesn’t help much. <br /> <br /> Most of us are very busy. Automating the tracking of all the harried <br /> appointments we keep during the day is nice. But, at the core, do the <br /> appointments tie to achieving goals within the roles of our lives? Is <br /> there some planning mechanism that results in using the time management <br /> system to bring our lives more in line with a personal mission <br /> statement? <br /> <br /> Email results in quicker communication, but is the communication more <br /> effective? Faster technology speed creates quick movement. But is the <br /> movement in the right direction? An old saying applies well here: If <br /> you are in a race, but are going down the wrong route, it doesn’t matter <br /> how fast you are. Technology can help us go faster, but in the end, it <br /> may not matter much, if we aren’t effectively accomplishing our personal <br /> goals. <br /> <br /> The next time you use technology, think about lipstick on a pig. Do you <br /> really want to put lipstick on that big, old, ugly, smelly animal? Or <br /> would you rather invest some additional time and get rid of the pig <br /> completely, replacing it with something that will more effectively <br /> assist you on your journey to peak performance? <br /> <br /> ------------------------------------------------------ <br /> <br /> This story was authored by Scott Fite, who specializes in Peak <br /> Performance Coaching. Stop by his website at <br /> http://www.lifedesigncenter.com for more peak performance information <br /> and to sign up for a free newsletter. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3118230-5230754?l=ocalmail.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17816110899622781723noreply@blogger.com