No matter if you are liberal, conservative, Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Atheist, etc our belief system is bound by these 3 problems at a minimum, they haunt your BS-Belief System. These problems keep us stuck and limit our potential to be, do or have what we really want in life.

The first problem that trips up our belief system is an unquestioned accepted belief, that my belief is right. The problem is that at the time the belief moved from a thought form or potential belief to where it became an actual belief, it was right in that instance and at that time.

(Side note: If our belief is right when someone disagrees with our belief we take it personally and our feelings get hurt and we lash out at others.)

However location and time are two things that cause beliefs (which are a particular form of judgment) to be less than useful and often inaccurate. You see a belief depends on the past to predict the future and as the stock market has often told us, "past performance is no guarantee of future results." And yet, since we believe our beliefs are correct and right we unwittingly carry them through time which stretches the accuracy as the bull's-eye is not that spread out.

The second insidious belief about our belief is that our beliefs are not to be questioned. If something is right, there is no need to examine it, right? And unfortunately for us, an unexamined belief is one of the biggest road blocks on the road to success. Have you ever been amazed that out of the millions and millions of bytes of information we receive every second we can delete, distort and generalize all that information down to a once and for all, this is it, this is how it must be forever thing... we call a belief?

And the third problem with our BS-Belief System is we use it as our reason to no longer think. As my Grampa Vetter would say, "A belief (conclusion) is where we decided to stop thinking." And probably worst than stopping our thinking, a belief STOPS our intuition. Our intuition is where our innovation comes from. Intuition is where our inspiration comes from and our BS-Belief System because it is based on judgments, curtails our access to our intuition.

Because of these 3 hindrances to our success they create another problem and that is one of the main reasons for developing beliefs in the first place. We believe that having our particular beliefs will 'make me happy'. So that takes us right back to the first problem, we have equated 'being right' with 'being happy'. How many people (including you and me) defend and argue about and for what we know to be "right", believing if everyone else would see it my way, we'd all be happy. That is the consequences of the 3 problems that haunt our BS-Belief System. And like my Grampa Vetter used to say, "It seems you'd rather be right than happy, right?"

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By Deborah Hill Deborah Hill
Level: Basic PLUS

Intuitive Coach, Counselor, trainer and author Deborah Hill, of The Awareness Initiative, helps clients to transform their lives and businesses quickly and effectively ? achieving ...

Talking with friends of mine always gives me higher perspectives on my intuitive coaching services. The human interaction as well as analysis of conversation topics both seem to make me be a better intuitive coach. That's why I wanted to share the topic of conversation topics with you.

As an intuitive coach, I often alert people to the fact that of the many conversation topics you may think about, one surely must be 'what do you want from a friend?' I visited with a friend last week in Miami Beach. Each day began with an hour to two-hour walk on the boardwalk along the beach. The waves lapped against the sand nearby, the temperature was warm (hot to Northerners), a breeze usually blew, and occasionally we were sprinkled with a quick moving shower. These long walks made for lengthy and deep conversations, where we discussed the ways of the world and issues in our lives.

Our conversation topics were many and varied, but often we spoke about our perceptions of life, or issues we were working out, in work, life and relationships and what do we want in our friends? I noticed that there are three common ways that people respond to another's concerns, particularly our friends. We sometimes give advice on what the other person should do. It could be as simple as one of us saying, "I've had a problem with blisters," and the other launching into all the blister avoiding techniques she knows.

Another way to answer a friend's concern is to tell her how we handled a similar issue in the past. In an attempt to be subtle, the advice might start out as, "This is how I handled that type of situation. In the past I..." Then the person with the problem is subject to an often lengthy story, which is often distracting and rarely relates to the issue at hand. If we're incredulous and/or inconsiderate, we might question the other's behavior: "Why do you continue to act that way? Couldn't you see that coming?" This challenging approach obviously does little to comfort friends and often alienates them, as well.

When we relate to each other that way our conversations become circuitous. They don't go anywhere. The conversation resembles a tennis match where each person bounces a remark off of the other, and the same conversation topics keep coming up. We may think we're solving the problems of the world and ourselves. Instead, we are merely throwing ourselves at each other and dancing in circles around the same issues. Nothing is accomplished.

It was during one of our walks that I declared to my friend: "I've decided that I no longer want unsolicited advice from others. I don't need someone to tell me how he or she handles a problem when I bring mine up. I don't want to be fixed by someone else. I appreciate that others care about me and want to help. But, any effort to fix another person is bound to fail. We don't know what others need and hearing about how we handle situations is often irrelevant to someone else, if not distracting. I appreciate your concern and interest, and know you want to help. However, I know I can come up with my own answers."

My friend immediately asked, "So what do you want from a friend, anyway? How can you carry on a conversation?" I thought deeply about this and came up with the following answer, which will also become a model for how I treat others. Here is what I want from a friend and also hope to receive hope to receive from my family:

I want someone to listen to me with compassion, objectivity, neutrality and respect. Just let me talk and hear what I say. Don't judge me or analyze my story. Listen to me so that I can hear myself talk and more fully understand what's happening in my life. When I hear myself talk, I more easily come up with objective answers. I see my story mirrored in the listener and gain insight.Support me. Tell me that you respect me, honor me and have faith that I will come up with the right answer. Love is the greatest healer. Open your heart to me, stand by me and be my open-minded friend.Ask questions, if you can, that help me to think about the situation in a new way. Don't lead me to an answer that you've presumed, but clarify what I'm saying so that I can also clarify. For example, you can ask what I've done in the past that worked. Or, what have I tried? Ask questions with curiosity and interest, keeping in mind that I will answer my own questions and solve my own problems.

The conversation with my friend also allowed me to think about other ways of conversing. We often talk about others and ourselves. Gossip is a predominant topic of many conversations. How can we entertain ourselves if we're not trying to fix the each other or others we know? Here are a few suggestions for interesting conversation topics:

What do you want from a friend: perhaps you could ask them to tell you about any unusual experiences they have had. Start it off with a question, such as "What is the most exciting thing you've ever done?" Or, "What do you fear most?"Discuss interesting events that you've read or heard about. These don't have to be depressing world events or criminal situations. For example try, "Did you know that the polar ice cap is now smaller than it's ever been in recorded history?" Or, "Isn't it amazing that hummingbirds fly 5000 miles across the ocean twice a year? I wonder if they do it backwards."Describe what you see. Look around you and notice your environment. For example, "Did you see the cute shoes on that little kid nearby?" How about noticing the patterns in the clouds? When did you last notice them? I remember walking out of a bookstore one evening and the sky was completely covered by tiny little clouds. The sun was setting and they each were reflecting shades for pink, orange, yellow and purple. I'd never seen such a phenomenon, and stood staring at them for around 15 minutes. In that time many people went in and out of the busy bookstore, and no one looked up to notice the spectacular light show above them. Look around you and talk about what you see and experience in the present.

I'd love to hear your suggestions about other conversation topics. Email me with ideas and I'll post them in the next newsletter.

Remember, you are your own wise man or wise woman. Only you know what's true for yourself. Find your own truth. Then find some dear friends to listen and support you as you journey... and love and support them. We are here for each other as objective and compassionate eyes and ears and hearts.

What do you want from your friends? An open ear that listens, and advice only when you ask for it.

By using empathic listening techniques, you will be able to hear a lot more than what a person is saying. In fact, you'll actually "hear" if a person is holding something back or if they are simply overcompensating for something.

To develop your empathic listening skills and apply them for better communication, read on!

Empathic Listening Technique # 1: Allow Others to Dominate.

Usually, you feel a little put off when you lose yourself in a conversation. You get upset when you find yourself unable to share your opinion on something.

However, allowing others to run the conversation is actually a good thing. After all, you're not there to talk about yourself; you're there to listen with the ear of your heart.

The less you focus on yourself, the more you'll be able to listen clearly. In relationships, you need to give that other person more opportunities to talk. Remember: It's not just about you.

Empathic Listening Technique # 2: Ask Questions.

Asking questions is a crucial part of effective communication. When the conversation reaches a standstill, you can steer the direction along to help the other person understand their feelings a little more.

Ask open-ended questions like how, what, why, when and where. You can also ask reflective questions. How do reflective questions work?

For example, your friend admits that he doesn't trust his co-workers anymore. In this case, you repeat his statement and gently push him to reflect on it. You can say something like, "You said that you don't trust your co-workers. May I ask you why?"

Throwing his own words back at him allows him to really connect with his own thoughts and feelings; and as a result, allow you a better glimpse of him as well.

This is quite important especially when you are entertaining a client. Asking questions could lead to answers the client might have forgotten to share.

Empathic Listening Technique # 3: Reflect After Everything.

Once the person has said everything he needs to say, it's now your turn to talk about how his problem or issues seemed like to you.

By offering your own take on the situation, you are opening up the conversation for a deeper discussion. This also encourages the person to take another look at himself from a different set of eyes. Whether you are in a personal or professional situation, reflection is always a good way to end things.

Empathic listening techniques are very important. Don't underestimate the power of listening!

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Have you had set backs? Wondering how you will ever pick yourself back up? As you read this article today, you will shortly discover some hints and tips that will help you regain your steps to success!

Success is such an important thing. I don't mean from the point of view of self gratification that you are the best, but with what that success manages to help the world with.

Bill Gates success has enabled billions of people to do jobs which are cleaner and better than they would have, if they didn't have access to such a computer as a Microsoft Windows based computer.

This is a big thing, and so, your success is important in one way or another. As such, I want to help you get back to the top.

To do this, you will generally need to do something opposite of what you would usually do, and that is that you will need to go through and take a break!

Seems odd, but its true. It is called burnout in most cases, and the only way to solve this, is to go through and invest the time to finding the right options.

Relaxation helps us to gain a bearing. This is important, because I have seen people who will dive into television, which is not good for people geared for success.

So, take a break. For some people, it is a few hours, some a few days, some a few weeks, and some even a month.

Whatever it takes, clear your head.

Then step back.

Take things one step at a time. Find what you like about what you do, and select goals which have a meaning, and make you compelled to act.

Yes, it may be hard to get back into the rhythm of the working, however, with consistent action, I know that you can achieve more than you ever could.

Next consider getting coaching.

Everyone has hard times at some point, and these hard times could be us stopping our own peak performance, and peak performance is essential for any top success out there.

With so many life coaches, you can be sure that there is someone who can really help you to achieve your best.

My suggestion is to go through this article, print it up, and take a break.

Do something totally unrelated, then come back.

You will find that you are moving forward faster and much better.

Remember to have the goals. Remember to look at your past and present movements, and see what has caused the slow down. This will enable you to get out of the pattern that makes that happen.

Patterns are essential, and if you find that something has effected you, whether in the work you do or in your private life, find a way to mitigate it, so that you can more foreword at very high speeds!

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Introduction: "We first make our habits, and then our habits make us." said John Dryden. He was very apt. Our habits (what we repeatedly do every moment of our lives) go on to build our destinies. So if you want to be a successful, happy, healthy and wealthy person you simply need to change some of your habits and you will be a brand new person. Check out some of the below listed habits, try to inculcate them and you will be more than glad to receive what life has to offer to you.

Habit of being proactive: Be a man or woman of action. Don't wait for things to happen, make things happen. Choose your response; don't react to the pressures of circumstances. Rule over your circumstances by choosing your response wisely. If you find yourself not loving your job, quit it and do what you love. If you need to approach that customer, take the bold step. Make that phone call you've been dreading to make. Run, play and exercise your body, don't wait for the doctor to tell you that. Create your opportunities as you go by.

Habit of smile: Smile and the world smiles back at you. Don't forget to wear the world's best cosmetic, your smile. It comes free of cost without much effort (psychologists tell us that it takes just 7 muscles to smile and more than 43 to frown). Smile makes your personality more attractive. People would love to be around you. You will attract more clients, customer and business partners with a smile than a serious, graveyard face.

Habit of reading: Read every day to increase your knowledge. Many people stop education after they graduate and get a job. But education is a continuous process. Learn more about your art. Read inspirational books, articles and biographies of successful people. Invest in books and develop your own library, you will never regret this habit in your life.

Habit of using positive words: Words have power to make or break. Watch your words, what do you say to yourself and people around you? Are your words speaking of gloom, doom, and failure? Or are your words speaking of health, happiness, prosperity and success? Do you discourage or encourage people with the words you use? Do you uplift yourself and others or put down? Our words come back either to haunt us or heal us. So have the habit of using words that bless.

Habit of saving: Tiny droplets of water go on to make a vast ocean. Inculcate the habit of saving small amount of money from your paycheck every month. It may seem to be trifle in the beginning but will go on to make a great rippling effect in the long run. Invest your savings in systematic investment plan, gold, silver, or land. What we save today will save us in the future!

Habit of fitness: Imagine that you have all the money in the world but you cannot lift yourself from your bed. What's the use of possessing all, at the cost of our health? Good health is primary to enjoying your world. So hit the treading mill, jog, walk and swim. Take a yoga course, do what you are comfortable with. Fitness also involves eating the right kind of food. Eat fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs and meat. Know that moderation is the key when it comes to eating. Always stop four morsels prior to filled stomach. Drink plenty of water. Give up alcohol, smoking and other abusing substances.

Habit of making friends out of strangers: Today's friends were strangers once. The world out there is to help, if your attitude is right. Don't step out thinking that the world and the people are out to get you. Step out with love and you will receive love. Make friends out of strangers, don't cower when you meet a new person who knows that the person may be apt business partner, friend, client, mediator or life partner. Business skills are all about people skills. The way you handle people would go on a long way to make a success or failure out of your profession and business.

Conclusion: Friends, psychologists tell us that it requires approximately 3 weeks to form a new habit. Remember your habits bad or good are creating your future. If you want your future to be better, you need to have better habits. Make the above mentioned habits part of your life and you will realize your dreams. "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." Aristotle.

We feel so human and in love, when we share memorable experiences.

For me, one very memorable experience was when I lost my father. I was around 15 going on 16 years old. He was murdered. And with all the stories the witnesses told the court and the family, I could imagine my father lying with blood splattered around and crying for help. We were not special. We were ordinary people holding posts at work, doing our duties, serving. My father worked for the tax office (Bureau of Internal Revenue).

That day, my Dad died I felt I had totally grown. I wanted to imagine myself 80 or 90 years old inside me because I couldn't cry "Daddy!" And no creature would be there, answering me "Yes, what do you want?" And so, there goes the boldness inside my heart that depended just on a God, I could not see. So I thought God went down for me, to physically be my father.

The situation was harsh for the family, for my young mother (common teacher), and for my young siblings. But then, Jesus was so kind that he took care of us while we grew up. And that I believed and would not be ashamed telling everyone God helps the poor. The "poor" literally and metaphorically, including those "poor/humble" of heart (though rich in material possessions), and especially those who call to him, and respect others, too.

While I grew up, I was able to build strength because I depended on God, alone. This, and plus the help of many good people around. I don't know how I did it to be as I am now, but the seasons of time bled for me, that I grew up as steadfast a tiger would brawl, and as swift and meek a bird would glide. All those, I met, I deemed respect holding on to God, that I wouldn't be selling any righteous principle for gold, that I would forgive as I am imperfect, that I would hold on to loyalty and truth, as much as I can.

We eked with life, and I have learned what lessons to uphold to inspire others. I have pondered those good examples, others had taught me and shared. The world will not stop in the crushing experiences, but it will grow more beautiful with the good workers that push the sun and stars, those that make steps and turn like the planets, those that act and show us we are all special. The meaning of love will teach us how to grow strong, but humble.

When my Dad died, the more I depended on God, and I saw that some people and events, were so beautiful! Perhaps, that was how my Dad liked it. That was how God liked it.

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The majority of people are indoctrinated and conditioned to believe in ideals of control and independence. The idea is that you are on your own and you do not need any assistance from anyone. Thus, when you are successful it is because you are in complete control. It is an illusion to believe that one can control or at least influence outcomes with total certainty.

True lasting success manifests only with 'letting go,' of the outcome which is the opposite of control. You cannot accomplish anything truly great on your own, without any help. The idea that you can is an illusion that causes a great deal of suffering. 'Letting go' comes when you see that illusion to attain everything alone is impossible. 'Letting go' can then be seen as a great strength rather than a weakness.

Small moments of 'letting go' are powerful indicators of how different your life could be if you, 'let go,' of the outcome. You, no doubt, had an experience of extending huge amounts of effort and energy to reach a particular goal only to realize that you can not create it. The moment, you 'throw up your hands,' and say, 'I give up, this can not be done,' you realize that you need to ask for help or simply release your agenda entirely, a profound feeling of relief rushes over you. This warm, open sensation is the essence of 'letting go.' If you do not feel the warm, open sensation, you have not 'let go' completely. However, it is OK to 'let go,' in small increments, because 'letting go,' is an option every minute of your existence.

When you 'let go,' your goals become possible, because the act of 'letting go,' is an unintended act of asking for the help you need. When you practice 'letting go,' and trust that, no matter what, all is well, you will notice help comes from humans or unseen helpers - angels or inner guides. It may also come in the form of circumstances shifting - the small miracles a.k.a. grace.

When you recognize that you are a spiritual being having a human experience there is nothing to fear. Nor do you need to convince yourself that there is a loving God (Deity, Source, Inner Guides, et al), who give you all the information you need when you need it.

The dilemma of existence is deciding what to believe - the illusion of control - or the truth of 'letting go,' and accepting the miracles and graces that await your acceptance.

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No matter if you are liberal, conservative, Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Atheist, etc our belief system is bound by these 3 problems at a minimum, they haunt your BS-Belief System. These problems keep us stuck and limit our potential to be, do or have what we really want in life.

The first problem that trips up our belief system is an unquestioned accepted belief, that my belief is right. The problem is that at the time the belief moved from a thought form or potential belief to where it became an actual belief, it was right in that instance and at that time.

(Side note: If our belief is right when someone disagrees with our belief we take it personally and our feelings get hurt and we lash out at others.)

However location and time are two things that cause beliefs (which are a particular form of judgment) to be less than useful and often inaccurate. You see a belief depends on the past to predict the future and as the stock market has often told us, "past performance is no guarantee of future results." And yet, since we believe our beliefs are correct and right we unwittingly carry them through time which stretches the accuracy as the bull's-eye is not that spread out.

The second insidious belief about our belief is that our beliefs are not to be questioned. If something is right, there is no need to examine it, right? And unfortunately for us, an unexamined belief is one of the biggest road blocks on the road to success. Have you ever been amazed that out of the millions and millions of bytes of information we receive every second we can delete, distort and generalize all that information down to a once and for all, this is it, this is how it must be forever thing... we call a belief?

And the third problem with our BS-Belief System is we use it as our reason to no longer think. As my Grampa Vetter would say, "A belief (conclusion) is where we decided to stop thinking." And probably worst than stopping our thinking, a belief STOPS our intuition. Our intuition is where our innovation comes from. Intuition is where our inspiration comes from and our BS-Belief System because it is based on judgments, curtails our access to our intuition.

Because of these 3 hindrances to our success they create another problem and that is one of the main reasons for developing beliefs in the first place. We believe that having our particular beliefs will 'make me happy'. So that takes us right back to the first problem, we have equated 'being right' with 'being happy'. How many people (including you and me) defend and argue about and for what we know to be "right", believing if everyone else would see it my way, we'd all be happy. That is the consequences of the 3 problems that haunt our BS-Belief System. And like my Grampa Vetter used to say, "It seems you'd rather be right than happy, right?"

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Life can be quite difficult sometimes. The following seven tips should help you recognise the different factors that can contribute towards a rewarding and fulfilling life:
1) Don't settle for second best - 2nd is not the place you want to be. No-one runs a race to come second. Aim for first and go for it! But there is also fun in taking part so don't forget that. But also try your best. If your best turns out to not be good enough then try harder next time but if you have genuinely tried your best then don't worry and go back to the old drawing board and find something that you're good at.
2) Love everyone - this includes your enemies. Be quick to forgive. Don't hold grudges. A Christian lady once stated "Unforgiveness is like drinking poison yourself and expecting the other person to die". Don't hold resentment or allow your thoughts to be consumed by negativity towards other people.
3) Always eat something nice - my sister says "I wasted my hunger on that". What she means by this is don't eat something bad when you could have something that is of equal value that is good.
4) Always right your wrongs - if you do or say something wrong then apologise and repent. You've heard the saying "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" well disregard this because words are powerful and they can be damaging. Words can cut like a sword. Always take back words that slip from your tongue.
5) Always eat your greens - green vegetables are great for you so always consume a balanced diet.
6) Buy the best possible - buy cheap buy twice, you've heard that old saying. Don't buy inexpensive rubbish that won't last. Instead, always purchase the very best quality product that you can afford.
7) Always look on the bright side of life - I know that this phrase was coined by the popular comedy sketch show but it is oh so true. Never concentrate on the negatives in a given situation, just look at the positives. Of course the bad side exists and should be recognised and considered and mistakes should be learnt from but the good bits and the great things in life should be focused upon.
Take care and always consider these top seven ways of leading a happier life.

Introduction: Changing Limited Beliefs at the Core

Humans are complicated beings who, early in their lives, rely on their care givers to formulate the beliefs that often remain with them for the rest of their lives. These beliefs are then either reinforced or negated according to the experiences that involve us as we grow into adults. Beliefs are reinforced through the way you behave and the manner in which you respond to the world around you. Changing limited beliefs that might be deeply entrenched way down in our subconscious minds can never be easy. However, those limiting beliefs that prevent us from reaching our full potential tends to cloud our senses, often preventing us from progressing as we should.

First Steps to Change

Before you are in a position to change your limited beliefs you have to recognise that you have them -- and what they are! As an example, for many years I believed that I was bad with writing. It was only within the last three years, when I started writing a book, that I really realized I was actually quite good at writing. Apparently, however, as a child I had a teacher who told me that I was to stupid to learn and all through school and adult life I hated to write and part of me believed I had to except that as a truth. What a liability!

Adversities of Life

As an adult we often tend to meet many adversities we have to work our way through and some people appear to catapult from crisis to crisis, never intending to be the victim of circumstances but unable to do anything to get out of this destructive situation. Becoming aware that limiting beliefs may be a further hammer to hit them with may not be what they want to hear right now. So first, for a person to change limited beliefs, they must acknowledge they have them and be ready to do something about them.

Ready to Make the Change

Convincing somebody that they could alter their lives for the better if only they altered those core beliefs that are probably holding them back is no easy task. Nevertheless, the individual concerned needs to recognise they do hold limited beliefs and must be convinced that changing these beliefs will improve their lives. Once you recognise that our outlook and attitude to the world holds the power to alter our lives for the better is a remarkably liberating experience.

Free your Thoughts

Our potential is limited in line with our limited thoughts. Freeing up our thought processes to observe ourselves as we are can make us aware of whom we are. With the help offered by Focused Intention Technique, or FIT, we are in a position to be able to make those changes. FIT is dedicated to encouraging and helping a person to reach into those deep recesses within their subconscious mind and remove those blocks that are preventing them from living happy and useful lives as healthy, fully functioning and productive adults.

Who's Holding you Back?

The only person holding you back is you! In other words, incorporate the FIT program into your life and allow them to assist you in changing your "I can't" into the new truth - "I can". It's not going to happen overnight, but your mind is very receptive to be reprogrammed if you remove that stumbling block - the limited beliefs you have been holding.

Over a period of time your mind will begin to accept the freedom of sifting through a sheaf of incoming data, accepting some and discarding others - this is a long way from the 'you' who held such rigid beliefs that limited the world you lived in. Now you have freed your mind so that you don't automatically reject something out of hand with no thought for the truth of it or not your world is so much bigger and your life has so much more to offer - both to you and to other people around you.

Loretta Mohl, Coach, Author & Founder FIT
Loretta has spent the past 25 years living and promoting heart centered consciousness. She is the founder of the Canadian College of Healing Arts and the Focused Intention Technique?; both are dedicated to providing a service which awakens the individual's Unlimited Potential. Since her introduction to energy healing in the late 80s, she has studied many formal and natural healing approaches. After those years of study and much reflection, she formulated Focused Intention Technique? (FIT?) utilizing many elements from her life's work and drawing deeply from her own instincts. She named this dynamic healing modality, Focused Intention Technique?, because it so perfectly describes what she knows to be the absolute truth: The body knows how to heal itself and by just activating intention and focus, the body will do the rest. Our mission is to take training to another level. To learn more about the FIT process please join Loretta in a private coaching session, or a two day FIT seminar, 7 Day Mexico retreat, or read our recently published book, Unlimited YOU. For more information visit the website at http://www.lorettamohl.com/ or blog site at http://justlivingyourlife.com/

Have you come across a person who is so naturally friendly that when you put him inside a room of strangers, he'll be friends with almost everyone in no time? We call such a people-person, someone unbelievably nice and charismatic that he can charm anyone into doing anything.

A socially-empowered person achieves so much greatness, basically because of the people that catapult him to success. He earns the trust and all-out support of the people, whom he had helped before. He never runs out of help. He can do anything with the plethora of people behind him. All because he knows he maximizes his social potential!

See, if you know your social skills and you make use of them, you will reach self-empowerment. Self-empowerment is making a general overhaul in your life and turning yourself into a happier and more successful person.If you can be one of those people-persons, then I can't see any reason why you will not succeed. You just have to know how to start.

1. Be genuine.

Hypocrisy will just bring you all the way down. Be genuinely nice and interested to people. Once they perceive that you are Mr. Hypocrite with selfish intentions, you might as well say goodbye to self-empowerment.

2. Be the greatest listener that you can be.

To earn the love and trust of the people, listen to their problems and sympathize with them. Do not just hear them out, listen to them with your heart. Make eye contact when the person talks to you. Listen as if every word matters, and it does. Brownie points when they find out that there is a confidante in you.

3. Laugh out loud.

I do not mean that you force yourself to laugh for every joke cracked by someone, albeit you do not find it funny at all.This means finding humor in things and not being too darn serious. A person oozing with an awesome sense of humor attracts crowds and eventually, attracts success.

4. Don't forget yourself.

In the process of fluttering around like a social butterfly, you might forget yourself, allowing everyone to push you over. Remember, love and value yourself before anyone else. If you deem yourself respectable and worthy of affection, people will flock to you and not trample on you.

5. Do random acts of kindness.

You don't have to do a John Rockefeller and blow your savings to charity. Little acts of kindness matters the most, and this can be as simple as giving someone a surprise you-take-care card or helping an elderly cross the street. When we were kindergarten students, kindness was taught to us and greatly practiced. Now is the time to revive the good deeds and this time, let them stay for good.

6. Contact your old friends.

Sad how some friendships are destined to goodbye, but thanks to technology, you can do something about it. Relive the good old days by flipping your yearbook and look for the great people whom you want to communicate with again. Adding these old friends to your roster of support peers will surely make you feel good all over.

7. Develop your personality.

Are you grouchy, grumpy and generally morose? Whoa, you can't go through life with those. Get rid of the bad traits and habits that perpetually hamper your growth. And really, who wants a grouchy friend anyway?

8. Be confident.

Be able to stride to the other corner of the room and introduce yourself to people with that winning smile of yours. Just remember: be confident, not arrogant.

9. Practice control.

When angry, don't snap at anyone. Never throw a tantrum. Stay calm and collected. Be adult enough to take control of situation and transform your anger into something more productive and passive. As soon as people think your anger goes to volcanic proportions easily, they will find it hard to come to you.

10. Keep nurturing your relationships.

Your relationship with your family, friends and significant others is too precious that you must not neglect it whatever happens. Go out and have fun with them. Do things together. Happiness will never fly from your side as long as the people who matter the most are close to you.

In the end, using people for self-empowerment means becoming a better and more lovable person. It's a win-win situation: the people know they can turn to you anytime and vice versa.

Alright, everyone. Welcome to another post again. As I will show you one of my favourite all-time self-motivation speaker , Brian Tracy.

Now, the question is, who is Brian Tracy ?

For your info, Brian Tracy is the founder of Brian Tracy International and specializing on training and developing the individuals and organizations which will teach you on how to reach your goal to success. This person also have dealing with over 80 countries and conducted over thousand talks to his listeners which mostly based on the categories like leadership, self-esteem, goal, creativity, and many more. Brian himself also published over 300 written books and even audio plus video learning program to educate the peoples in different languages.

Here is one of the examples of his video via Youtube :

There are those who are bounded by laws and rules, yet success is too distant for them. On the other hand, there are those who appears to be easy going people but are successful. Think you have what it takes to be like them? Or would you rather do something different to achieve the elusive success? Take heart and set your goals.

What do goals represent by the way? These are actually representations of your visions about you and your future. Goals should be achievable and realistic. These kinds of goals allow you to put them into practice or at least do some activities that allow you to monitor your progress. However, more is involved in just merely setting realistic goals. Remember that in order to achieve your goals, you must act according to your goals. Otherwise, all else would be vanity if you do not exert effort in reaching them. The following will help you set achievable goals:

1. Enhance your skills in achieving targeted goals by setting objectives, as well as standard and optional activities that will help you meet your goals.

2. Strategize and take risks in meeting your goals. Strategic thinking is very important because this will allow you to be productive and focus on the activities according to your goals.

3. Act in accordance to your goals. Proper mind setting is very important in achieving your goals. Take the extra mile. Try taking risks but never compromise your safety. Taking risks means that you are ready to learn new things and challenges that will help you in the long run.

On one hand, you may wonder why there is a need for you to set goals if you think you have not failed at all in your endeavors. Remember that setting goals does not mean that you always fail. Setting goals means that you are acknowledging your limitations and you are ready to work your way up towards success, professionally or personally. It is for this reason why objective goals matter.

Moving forward, you also have to consider that there are goals that are just too hard to achieve on your own. At times, these goals even create conflicts that you might think of surrendering in the long run. Take heart. Everybody have similar concerns at times. If this situation occurs and you think that surrendering is the last option, why not look for a partner, a friend maybe who is willing to help you out with your goals? Collaborate with your prospective partner and learn to prioritize. If it requires spending time in plotting all the possibilities, both the pros and cons, try it.

Remember that goal setting is focused on your benefits. So try working things out and focus, focus, and focus. Minimize or avoid distractions if possible so you can work your goals better. Work that proper mindset for a clearer vision of you achieving those valuable goals. If you are vying for promotion in your workplace, it is important that you see yourself already in the position you want. If you are aiming for a personal or educational goal, make things happen by planning and doing things related to your goals. You will then realize that goals, no matter how difficult they may appear, are still valuable to consider. Once your goals are achieved, sweet success knocks on your door commending you for a job well done.

“I am, therefore I exist,” is a phrase affirming one’s existence as a being. It may be a simple phrase, but it says everything about the being saying them. It indicates a confidence not commonly found among other beings.

But why do people need affirmation? Why do beings need to be affirmed? Is existence relative to one’s affirmation?

Affirmation is a very powerful technique to empower one’s subconscious. Once the subconscious is disciplined to believe one’s affirmation, the latter is converted into a positive action for the conscious mind. Through affirmation, beings are empowered to do, to work, and to strive for more things. Affirmation allows people to believe in themselves and to put their thoughts into action.

Affirmation is a combination of verbal and visual techniques of a preferred state of mind of a person. Strong affirmations can be very powerful, and can be used by almost anyone to achieve his goals and fulfill his desires. However, the power of an affirmation depends on how strong or weak an affirmation is.

Affirmation is merely an assertion made by a person, about something or about a state of being. A person can affirm those that he chooses to attain, like “I now have a good life.” Being healthy in mind, body, and spirit can also be made possible through affirmation.

A strong affirmation should be stated in the present tense to be more effective. An affirmation of “I am now a happy being” is more effective than an affirmation saying, “I am going to become a happy being.” Affirmation should always be in positive terms because it is supposed to work for you and not against you. Instead of saying, “I am not sad,” why not make an affirmation saying, “I am happy.”

An affirmation should be made up of simple but concise words, and it should be short to be more effective. A very long affirmation can work the other way around, instead of creating a positive mindset for a person. A short affirmation can be easily spoken and repeated by a person. It can serve as a mantra that can be repeated over and over again.

To be effective, an affirmation must be repeated. Repetition works and influences the subconscious, which in turn motivates the person into acting out his affirmation. A person who creates the affirmation should be deeply involved with the words he will be using, so he will be able to actualize his affirmation. Writing words that one believes in can be very powerful, and this can be put to good use when creating an affirmation.

However, creating an affirmation alone and repeating them a million times would not make the affirmation a state of mind. The important thing is to live one’s affirmation and to be open-minded enough to do the things that would help the affirmation become a reality. Feeling the affirmation and applying it in one’s life will help in making the affirmation a reality.

While affirmation is generally used to make an individual better, it can also be used to boost or confirm another person’s value. By affirming another person‘s existence, you are helping him improve his self-worth.

Affirmation is a very simple thing that can make a very big difference in a person‘s life. It can be a great motivator and can make things happen.

Opposites attract?is a law of attraction, at least where electromagnetism is concerned. But are there laws about attraction between two people? In a world that is full of strangers?as a line in a famous song of the 1980's goes, is there a clear set of rules that allows two people to fall for each other?

Is attraction a matter of chemistry?

Maybe. According to scientists, the attraction between animals of the opposite sex is all about chemicals called pheromones. The effect of pheromones in behavior of insects is the most studied to date. It has been observed, at least in some experiments, that pheromones are responsible for communication among same species and colony of ants. The horrible odor released by skunks to ward off enemies is said to be a kind of pheromone. Some species of apes rub pheromone-containing urine on the feet of potential mates to attract them. Some scientists believe that animals (usually the females) such as insects and mammals send out these chemical signals to tell the male of their species that their genes are different from theirs. This gene diversity is important in producing offspring with better chances of survival. The perfume industry has capitalized on pheromones as a means to increase one's sexual attractiveness to the opposite sex. Animals such as the whale and the musk deer were hunted down for these chemicals.

Lately, scientists are looking into the existence of human pheromones and its role in mate selection. There are many conflicting views in the realm of biology, chemistry, genetics, and psychology. Most scientists would assert that these do not exist, or if they do, do not play a role in sexual attraction between a man and a woman. But new researches such as that conducted by Swiss researchers from the University of Bern led by Klaus Wedekind are slowly making these scientists rethink their stand. Their experiment involved women sniffing the cotton shirts of different men during their ovulation period. It was found out that women prefer the smell of men抯 shirts that were genetically different, but also shared similarities with the women's genes. This, like in the case of insects and other mammals, was to ensure better and healthier characteristics for their future children. But researchers also cautioned that preference for a male odor is affected by the women's ovulation period, the food that men eat, perfumes and other scented body products, and the use of contraceptive pills.

Does personality figure in sexual attraction?

Yes, but so does your perception of a potential mate's personality. According to a research conducted by Klohnen, E.C., & S. Luo in 2003 on interpersonal attraction and personality, a person's sense of self-security and at least the person's perception of his/her partner were found to be strong determinants of attraction in hypothetical situations. What does this tell us? We prefer a certain personality type, which attracts you to a person. But aside from the actual personality of the person, which can only be verified through close interaction through time, it is your perception of your potential partner that attracts you to him/her, whether the person of your affection truly has that kind of personality or not. This could probably account for a statement commonly heard from men and women on their failed relationships: I thought he/she was this kind of person.?

So how does attraction figure in relationships?

You have probably heard that attraction is a prelude, or a factor towards a relationship. Most probably, at least in the beginning; but attraction alone cannot make a relationship work. It is that attraction that makes you notice a person from the opposite sex, but once you get to know the person more, attraction is just one consideration. Shared values, dreams, and passions become more significant in long-term relationships.

So should I stop trying to become attractive?

More than trying to become physically attractive, work on all aspects of your health: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Physical attraction is still a precursor. Remember, biology predisposes us to choose the partner with the healthiest genes. Where your emotions are concerned, just ask this to yourself: would you want to spend time with a person who feels insecure about him/herself? Probably not! There is wisdom in knowing yourself: who you are, your beliefs, values, and dreams. And do not pretend to be someone you are not. Fooling another person by making him/her think that you share the same values and beliefs is only going to cause you both disappointments. When you are healthy in all aspects, attractiveness becomes a consequence and not an end. As mentioned in the Klohnen and Luo's research, a person's sense of self-security matters, perhaps even beyond attraction. But remember: do these things for yourself and not for other people. Only then can you truly harness your attractiveness as a person.

To grow spiritually in a world defined by power, money, and influence is a Herculean task. Modern conveniences such as electronic equipments, gadgets, and tools as well as entertainment through television, magazines, and the web have predisposed us to confine our attention mostly to physical needs and wants. As a result, our concepts of self-worth and self-meaning are muddled. How can we strike a balance between the material and spiritual aspects of our lives?

To grow spiritually is to look inward.

Introspection goes beyond recalling the things that happened in a day, week, or month. You need to look closely and reflect on your thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and motivations. Periodically examining your experiences, the decisions you make, the relationships you have, and the things you engage in provide useful insights on your life goals, on the good traits you must sustain and the bad traits you have to discard. Moreover, it gives you clues on how to act, react, and conduct yourself in the midst of any situation. Like any skill, introspection can be learned; all it takes is the courage and willingness to seek the truths that lie within you. Here are some pointers when you introspect: be objective, be forgiving of yourself, and focus on your areas for improvement.

To grow spiritually is to develop your potentials.

Religion and science have differing views on matters of the human spirit. Religion views people as spiritual beings temporarily living on Earth, while science views the spirit as just one dimension of an individual. Mastery of the self is a recurring theme in both Christian (Western) and Islamic (Eastern) teachings. The needs of the body are recognized but placed under the needs of the spirit. Beliefs, values, morality, rules, experiences, and good works provide the blueprint to ensure the growth of the spiritual being. In Psychology, realizing one抯 full potential is to self-actualize. Maslow identified several human needs: physiological, security, belongingness, esteem, cognitive, aesthetic, self-actualization, and self-transcendence. James earlier categorized these needs into three: material, emotional, and spiritual. When you have satisfied the basic physiological and emotional needs, spiritual or existential needs come next. Achieving each need leads to the total development of the individual. Perhaps the difference between these two religions and psychology is the end of self-development: Christianity and Islam see that self-development is a means toward serving God, while psychology view that self-development is an end by itself.

To grow spiritually is to search for meaning.

Religions that believe in the existence of God such as Christianism, Judaism, and Islam suppose that the purpose of the human life is to serve the Creator of all things. Several theories in psychology propose that we ultimately give meaning to our lives. Whether we believe that life抯 meaning is pre-determined or self-directed, to grow in spirit is to realize that we do not merely exist. We do not know the meaning of our lives at birth; but we gain knowledge and wisdom from our interactions with people and from our actions and reactions to the situations we are in. As we discover this meaning, there are certain beliefs and values that we reject and affirm. Our lives have purpose. This purpose puts all our physical, emotional, and intellectual potentials into use; sustains us during trying times; and gives us something to look forward to---a goal to achieve, a destination to reach. A person without purpose or meaning is like a drifting ship at sea.

To grow spiritually is to recognize interconnections.

Religions stress the concept of our relatedness to all creation, live and inanimate. Thus we call other people brothers and sisters? Even if there are no direct blood relations. Moreover, deity-centered religions such as Christianity and Islam speak of the relationship between humans and a higher being. On the other hand, science expounds on our link to other living things through the evolution theory. This relatedness is clearly seen in the concept of ecology, the interaction between living and non-living things. In psychology, connectedness is a characteristic of self-transcendence, the highest human need according to Maslow. Recognizing your connection to all things makes you more humble and respectful of people, animals, plants, and things in nature. It makes you appreciate everything around you. It moves you to go beyond your comfort zone and reach out to other people, and become stewards of all other things around you.

Growth is a process thus to grow in spirit is a day-to-day encounter. We win some, we lose some, but the important thing is that we learn, and from this knowledge, further spiritual growth is made possible.

How many times have you caught yourself saying that there could be no other solution to a problem ?and that that problem leads to a dead end? How many times have you felt stumped knowing that the problem laying before you is one you cannot solve. No leads. No options. No solutions.

Did it feel like you had exhausted all possible options and yet are still before the mountain ?large, unconquerable, and impregnable? When encountering such enormous problems, you may feel like you're hammering against a steel mountain. The pressure of having to solve such a problem may be overwhelming.

But rejoice! There might be some hope yet!

With some creative problem-solving techniques you may be able to look at your problem in a different light. And that light might just be the end of the tunnel that leads to possible solutions.

First of all, in the light of creative problem-solving, you must be open-minded to the fact that there may be more than just one solution to the problem. And, you must be open to the fact that there may be solutions to problems you thought were unsolvable.

Now, with this optimistic mindset, we can try to be a little bit more creative in solving our problems.

Number one; maybe the reason we cannot solve our problems is that we have not really taken a hard look at what the problem is. Here, trying to understanding the problem and having a concrete understanding of its workings is integral solving the problem. If you know how it works, what the problem is, then you have a better foundation towards solving the problem.

Not trying to make the simple statement of what problem is. Try to identify the participating entities and what their relationships with one another are. Take note of the things you stand to gain any stand to lose from the current problem. Now you have a simple statement of what the problem is.

Number two; try to take note of all of the constraints and assumptions you have the words of problem. Sometimes it is these assumptions that obstruct our view of possible solutions. You have to identify which assumptions are valid, in which assumptions need to be addressed.

Number three; try to solve the problem by parts. Solve it going from general view towards the more detailed parts of the problem. This is called the top-down approach. Write down the question, and then come up with a one-sentence solution to that from them. The solution should be a general statement of what will solve the problem. From here you can develop the solution further, and increase its complexity little by little.

Number four; although it helps to have critical thinking aboard as you solve a problem, you must also keep a creative, analytical voice at the back of your head. When someone comes up with a prospective solution, tried to think how you could make that solution work. Try to be creative. At the same time, look for chinks in the armor of that solution.

Number five; it pays to remember that there may be more than just one solution being developed at one time. Try to keep track of all the solutions and their developments. Remember, there may be more than just one solution to the problem.

Number six; remember that old adage," two heads are better than one." That one is truer than it sounds. Always be open to new ideas. You can only benefit from listening to all the ideas each person has. This is especially true when the person you're talking to has had experience solving problems similar to yours.

You don't have to be a gung-ho, solo hero to solve the problem. If you can organize collective thought on the subject, it would be much better.

Number seven; be patient. As long as you persevere, there is always a chance that a solution will present itself. Remember that no one was able to create an invention the first time around.

Creative thinking exercises can also help you in your quest be a more creative problems solver.

Here is one example.

Take a piece of paper and write any word that comes to mind at the center. Now look at that word then write the first two words that come to your mind. This can go on until you can build a tree of related words. This helps you build analogical skills, and fortify your creative processes.

So, next time you see a problem you think you can not solve, think again. The solution might just be staring you right in the face. All it takes is just a little creative thinking, some planning, and a whole lot of work.

The human brain is the soul of the human nervous system. It controls involuntary activities such as respiration, digestion, and heartbeat, which are also known as automatic functions of the body. This organ also controls other conscious activities that are considered as higher order activities like reasoning, abstraction, and thought. The human brain is superior to any other brain of any other living species that are known to humankind.

The brain is also the center by which other human characteristics are defined. Creativity, for example, is much associated with the brain. So is personality. The brain lets us make decisions and define colors and smells. This organ controls every other perceived activity of the human body.

However, the human brain, as strong and as invincible as it may look, is not going to stay that way forever. As with any other part of the body, the human brain will wither in the future. One’s lifestyles and all other external factors will take toll against the human brain. As one grows old, the human brain will become slower in terms of functioning and rejuvenating itself. However, there are ways on how to enhance the power of the human brain as age catches up. This article tries to give some useful tips on how to do just that.

1. Live a healthy lifestyle.

The brain is an integral part of the human anatomy. It is probably the most important organ in the body; but of course, we all know that every other organ in the body works for the others to function properly. The human brain is subject to the lifestyle of the person who owns it. If the person loves alcohol, he may not fully reap the powers of his brain. Alcohol and other dangerous substances destroy brain cells. An alcoholic will argue that, “I’ve been using only ten percent of my brain, drinking will activate the other 90% of it.” This is a total fallacy. This premonition was formulated in the 1800s and there is no truth in it. The brain is a lifetime organ, so we must preserve and protect it.

2. Eat the right foods.

Eating the right sets of food will definitely benefit the brain. The brain is the most active part of the body. Even when one sleeps, the brain remains active and vibrant. The brain will appreciate it if one eats the right and balanced sets of food. The sad thing is that the brain is usually taken for granted when it comes to having a balanced meal or a workout because people are so focused into developing their outside looks. It’s about time that we give the brain a break.

3. Engage in proper exercise.

Proper exercise is good for the brain and not only for the body. The human brain needs a well-balanced life.

4. Release stress once in a while

Releasing stress is necessary to be able to clear the brain from all the difficulties and the clouds in one’s life. One must take time to get into a relaxing mood and a good night sleep.

The brain is an organ to be cherished. No individual will ever be able to live his life to the fullest if his brain is not functioning well. A brain that is cared for will result in a more active and fulfilling life.

What do you really want in life?

Most people don’t discover what they want in life until it’s time to die – and that’s a shame.

Most people spend the best years of their lives watching television or doing things they dislike. An author described humanity by saying, “Most people die at twenty and are buried at eighty.” Are you one of the living zombies?

What do you really want in life?

Some people struggle in answering such question. When asked what they want or what their goals in life are, many are unsure. They dillydally in their decision, hardly giving any thought about what they want in life. People without definite goals are letting time pass them by. Are you one of these people?

If you are undecided about what you want out of life, do not worry. There are many ways of discovering your purpose in life.

To discover what you want in life, try looking deep into your heart. Oftentimes, people are ruled by logic. People live by what they think they should be or by what others like them to be. The discovery process is the perfect time to listen to your heart. What your heart desires comes from the whispers of your authentic self. Your authentic self is the real you.

Listen to your heart to be able to listen to your authentic self. What your heart says usually feels right. What your heart desires is what you usually love to do and this represents your passion. Anything done with passion is like play where the task is accomplished without hesitation. You pour out your very best and feel no pressure or resistance.

You will totally enjoy doing things that are your passion. Setbacks, difficulties, and obstacles will make it more challenging, but should not deter you from pursuing your goals. Naturally, there may be barriers that may prevent you from reaching your goal, but your heart’s desire will find ways to overcome these barriers so that you may ultimately get what you want in life. Remember this: the universe supports people who are pursuing their passion and those who are pursuing their destiny.

However, this does not mean that you don’t use your head. People are born with both the mind and heart. Your duty is to live your best life and be in harmony with your mind and heart. The poet Rumi wisely said, “Live completely in the head and you cannot feel the breath and rhythm of life. Live completely in the heart and you may find yourself acting like a love-struck fool with poor judgment and discipline. It’s all a fine balance - the head and heart must forge a lifetime partnership if one wants to live a beautiful life.”

Listen to your instinct. Part of human nature is the mysterious and spontaneous reaction on things. Often times, these are called instincts. Your authentic self communicates with you and guides you via instincts. Instincts are those gentle nudges that urge you to act and follow a certain path. Your role then is to listen attentively.

Often times, we listen to what others say and allow them to run our lives. Parents often do this to their children. “We come from a family of doctors, so my son must also be a doctor.” How often do we hear this from parents who have good intentions for their children? Parents unconsciously block the true expression of their child’s real self and calling. Friends and critics will discourage you and point out the impossibility of your dream. Before heeding their advice, evaluate the accomplishments of the critics. Did they achieve theirs dreams? Do they dream big at all?

Remember, it is your destiny that is in line, not theirs. It doesn’t mean, though, that you will not listen to what other people say. Hear them out just the same. But the final decision should be yours.

There is only thing to remember: Every person, to live truly and greatly, must define how he wants to live and what his brightest life will look like. Listen to your instincts and follow your heart’s desire. You will never go wrong.

People communicate with each other in various ways for a lot of reasons. And one of these reasons is when you need something from someone. For people in business, this can either be in the form of products or services. You may want to sell a product while the other party must find your product useful for his intention. You may want to offer your services while the other party must be satisfied with the services you render according to his needs. In short, the way to get somebody or anybody to do what you want is to make them want to do it.

To get something you want through intimidation or violence is to invite trouble. Yes, it’s possible but not advisable to use forceful methods because the results are undesirable and at times disastrous. Imagine if you force an employee to take a leave of absence for having apparently violated a company rule. The relationship between management and the employee, or perhaps between management and union (if the employee is a member of it), is likely to be severed.

To get what you want, give people what they want. Just what do people want? Physical health, family ties, financial security, spiritual growth, peace of mind, a successful career, and fame are the basic needs of people. There is one important yet intangible thing everybody wants and that is appreciation. Being appreciated and complimented makes a person feel important. When you feel important, you feel needed and wanted, and this gives you a whole lot of reason for existence.

Just how do you give somebody the feeling of importance? Say it, act it; just give it freely, honestly, and wholeheartedly. As literal as it is, saying how appreciative you are for a favor received, makes the other person feel important. You may not be able to describe exactly in words the feeling of importance when you’re in the shoes of the recipient. But definitely, what you can not describe is real and priceless.

Pre-empt importance. Give some sort of sign to the other person that what you want from him, will make him feel important. Let’s take charity for example. A recipient wants or needs contributions from the giver. It can either be material or service contribution, or both. Even before the act itself, the giver somehow expects appreciation from the recipient and this will give him a boost of importance. Appreciation may not necessarily be in words. A smile and/or a pat would suffice and they can come from both giver and recipient. The giver shows his feeling of being appreciated. The recipient shows his feeling of appreciation for the gift. Somehow magic or chemistry takes place. It’s a feeling both parties would enjoy happening many times over.

Are you aware that the feeling of importance, brought about by compliments and appreciation, is good for your health, mentally and physically? Whether you are the giver or recipient, it is good for both. There are medical findings that substantiate health effects brought about by positive emotions like compliments and appreciation. Frequent doses of the feeling of importance activate the brain cells and various harmonies in the body that promote good health. To put it plainly, the feeling of importance is the antioxidant of life.

Can you think of a better way to nourish other people’s feelings than to show your concern and appreciation? Well, you can show something better than appreciation, and that is - a truckload of appreciation.

You know what you and I and everybody else should be doing right now? We should go out there and show our feeling of appreciation to everything and everybody. Let’s go!

While the term depression has been commonly used that people tend not to take it seriously anymore, it is a very serious condition that could impair one’s life. Depression is very difficult. It can debilitate one’s normal functions, making even the most mundane tasks such as getting up from bed or eating breakfast seemingly difficult. It is sad to think that a lot of depressed individuals are not treated because of the high costs of therapy. However, coping with depression is still possible without professional help if one knows depression management. Here are a few things that can help people deal with depression, it is important to note however, that professional therapy is still very invaluable with serious depression. These steps are just suggestions for alleviating the condition.

Staying active is one way to take one’s mind off depression. Primarily, activities help distract people from whatever it is that is causing their depression and it also helps channel unspent energies that build up when one is depressed. Keeping active also releases endorphins – natural mood boosters that somehow cheer people up.

It is also important to take a rest. Being depressed can be very exhausting, so it is essential to regain strength and energy if one is to deal with depression. Relaxation techniques can help one be more attuned to the self and be more at peace. When resting, stressors should be kept away from the bedroom so that ample rest can be obtained.

Depressed people should also express their emotions. Depression usually results from suppressed emotions. People who are grieving can be prone to depression if they keep their emotion to themselves. A lot of people avoid crying because they think it might be a sign of weakness. However, it is important to cry because it releases one’s emotions. When expressing feelings, it is important to avoid catharsis – venting up one’s anger by doing something violent like boxing, smashing things, and the like. Catharsis does not release one’s emotion, especially anger. Rather, it makes a person practice violence as an expression of emotion, and thus can be very dangerous.

Hang around with friends and loved ones. Depressed individuals need support very much. Other people can distract one from stressors. People can also remind a depressed individual that there can be more to life, and it is worth living even if it is simply because of the company of wonderful people.

Lastly, it is important to believe in oneself. A lot of people get depressed because they put themselves down. It is important to satisfy oneself and gain a sense of self-worth. It is good to do something that would make one happy. Prioritizing one’s self can help one to believe that one’s own life is important and can be enjoyed. Being kind to oneself is one of the most important steps to get away from a depressive state.

Depression management is possible and entails taking charge of one’s self. When dealing with depression however, it is important not to rush. Sadness does not disappear overnight; it takes time to get back on one’s feet. Little by little, one can get out of depression and have a normal life once more.

"Two men look out through the same bars: One sees the mud, and one sees the stars."- Frederick Langbridge, A Cluster of Quiet Thoughts

If you've placed second in a writing contest, will you jump for joy and push for better results the next time or will you be discouraged and find an excuse not to join again?

In life, you are always filled with choices. You may opt to have a pessimist's view and live a self-defeated life or you may decide to take the optimist's route and take a challenging and fulfilling life.

So why nurture an optimist's point of view? And why now?

Well, optimism has been linked to positive mood and good morale; to academic, athletic, military, occupational and political success; to popularity; to good health and even to long life and freedom from trauma.

On the other hand, the rates of depression and pessimism have never been higher. It affects middle-aged adults the same way it hits younger people. The mean age of onset has gone from 30 to 15. It is no longer a middle-aged housewife's disorder but also a teen-ager's disorder?as well.

Here's how optimists are in action and researches that back up why it really pays to be an optimist:

Optimists expect the best

The defining characteristic of pessimists is that they tend to believe bad events, which will last a long time and undermine everything they do, are their own fault.

The truth is optimists are confronted with the same hard knocks of this world. What differs is the way they explain their misfortune---it's the opposite way. They tend to believe defeat is just a temporary setback, that its causes are confined to this one case.

Optimists tend to focus on and plan for the 'problem' at hand. They use 'positive reinterpretation.' In other words, they most likely reinterpret a negative experience in a way that helps them learn and grow. Such people are unfazed by bad situation, they perceive it is a challenge and try harder.

They won't say things will never get better,?If I failed once, it will happen again?and If I experience misfortune in one part of my life, then it will happen in my whole life.?

Positive expectancies of optimists also predict better reactions during transitions to new environments, sudden tragedies and unlikely turn of events. If they fall, they will stand up. They see opportunities instead of obstacles.

People respond positively to optimists

Optimists are proactive and less dependent on others for their happiness. They find no need to control or manipulate people. They usually draw people towards them. Their optimistic view of the world can be contagious and influence those they are with.

Optimism seems a socially desirable trait in all communities. Those who share optimism are generally accepted while those who spread gloom, panic and hysteria are treated unfavorably.

In life, these people often win elections; get voted most congenial and sought for advice.

When the going gets tough, optimists get tougher

Optimists typically maintain higher levels of subjective well-being during times of stress than do people who are less optimistic. In contrast, pessimists are likely to react to stressful events by denying that they exist or by avoiding dealing with problems. Pessimists are more likely to quit trying when difficulties arise.

They persevere. They just don't give up easily, they are also known for their patience. Inching their way a step closer to that goal or elusive dream.

Optimists are healthier and live longer

Medical research has justified that simple pleasures and a positive outlook can cause a measurable increase in the body's ability to fight disease.

Optimists?health is unusually good. They age well, much freer than most people from the usual physical ills of middle age. And they get to outlive those prone to negative thoughts.

So why not be an optimist today? And think positively towards a more fulfilled life.

Why not look forward to success in all your endeavors? Why not be resilient? Like everybody else you are bound to hit lows sometimes but don't just stay there. Carry yourself out of the mud and improve your chances of getting back on the right track. And why not inspire others to remove their dark-colored glasses and see life in the bright side?

Everyone, at some point of his or her life, has dreamed of being somebody special, somebody big. Who hasn't fantasized about being the one who hits the game-winning homer? Who hasn't dreamed of being the homecoming queen? And how many times have we dreamed of being rich, or successful, or happy with our relationships?

Often, we dream big dreams and have great aspirations. Unfortunately, our dreams remain just that ?dreams. And our aspirations easily collect dust in our attic.

This is a sad turn of events in our life. Instead of experiencing exciting adventures in self actualization, we get caught up in the humdrum of living from day-to-day just barely existing.

But you know what? Life could be so much better, if only we learned to aim higher.

The most common problem to setting goals is the word impossible. Most people get hung up thinking I can't do this. It's too hard. It's too impossible. No one can do this.

However, if everyone thought that, there would be no inventions, no innovations, and no breakthroughs in human accomplishment.

Remember that scientists were baffled when they took a look at the humble bumblebee. Theoretically, they said, it was impossible for the bumblebee to fly. Unfortunately for the bumble, bee no one has told it so. So fly it does.

On the other hand, some people suffer from dreaming totally outrageous dreams and not acting on them. The result? Broken dreams, and tattered aspirations.

If you limit yourself with self-doubt, and self-limiting assumptions, you will never be able to break past what you deem impossible. If you reach too far out into the sky without working towards your goal, you will find yourself clinging on to the impossible dream.

Try this exercise. Take a piece of paper and write down some goals in your life. Under one header, list down things you know you can do? Under another header, write the things you might be able to do.?And under one more, list the things that that are impossible for you to do.?

Now look at all the headers strive every day to accomplish the goals that are under things you know you can do? Check them when you are able to accomplish them. As you slowly are able to check all of your goals under that heading, try accomplishing the goals under the other header-the one that reads you might be able to do.?

As of the items you wrote under things I could do are accomplished, you can move the goals that are under things that are impossible for you to do?to the list of things you might be able to do.?

As you iterate through this process, you will find out that the goals you thought were impossible become easier to accomplish. And the impossible begin to seem possible after all.

You see, the technique here is not to limit your imagination. It is to aim high, and start working towards that goal little by little. However, it also is unwise to set a goal that is truly unrealistic.

Those who just dream towards a goal without working hard end up disappointed and disillusioned.

On the other hand, if you told someone a hundred years ago that it was possible for man to be on the moon, they would laugh at you. If you had told them that you could send mail from here to the other side of the world in a few seconds, they would say you were out of your mind. But, through sheer desire and perseverance, these impossible dreams are now realities.

Thomas Edison once said that genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. Nothing could be truer. For one to accomplish his or her dreams, there has to be had work and discipline. But take note that that 1% has to be a think-big dream, and not some easily accomplished one.

Ask any gym rat and he or she will tell you that there can be no gains unless you are put out of your comfort zone. Remember the saying, No pain, no gain? That is as true as it can be.

So dream on, friend! Don't get caught up with your perceived limitations. Think big and work hard to attain those dreams. As you step up the ladder of progress, you will just about find out that the impossible has just become a little bit more possible.

Have you had that experience when all of a sudden you just had this huge hunch that something is about to happen, and to your surprise, that intuition was eventually translated to reality?

When you feel strongly about something without logical basis to it, that's called intuition. It comes in three impressions: clairvoyance or "the third eye", sensing clearly and feeling through listening.

Clairvoyance is when your eye goes beyond what it can see. This is when you know what is happening somewhere.

Sensing clearly is basically what we refer to as "hunch" or "gut feel." This is the time when you are overwhelmed with a feeling and you can't explain it and all you can say is "I just know."

On the other hand, feeling through listening or clairaudience is being able to "listen" between the lines. Intuition also happens at times when a certain sound, whatever it is - be it a car's honk or a bird's twitting - ushers in an intense feeling.

They say only a number of people are gifted with intuition. Astrologers even insist that people born under the Scorpio or Pisces signs are naturally intuitive it almost borders on E.S.P. But studies have been sprouting left and right that proclaim that anyone can develop intuition.

Why the need to develop intuition, you ask? Why not let your emotional and psychological state as it is? First and foremost, intuition promotes good communication. It makes you more sensitive to the people around you; it often keeps you from hurting those you love because you are intuitive enough to understand them. Intuition also makes you far more creative than ever. Intuition means releasing more creative juices for any means of expression. Lastly, intuition has a healing power. This healing power is not in the physical sense, but in delving deep into your soul to eradicate some negative energy buried in it.

With that being said, are you ready to develop your intuition? Here are some ways to unlock this gift:

1. Hypnosis

Oh yes, get yourself hypnotized. Hypnosis is not limited to watching a pendulum move back and forth. Perform self-hypnosis or you can avail of hypnotic programs that can strengthen your intuition.

2. Meditation

Meditating means finding peace in yourself. If your mind and heart are cluttered with too many baggage and hurt, you wouldn't be able to quiet down that part of you that could eventually initiate intuition. There are so many ways to meditate: take a yoga class, or just simply practice some breathing that could bring you straight to Zen.

3. Think positive!

A worry-free, fear-free state could do so much to improve your intuitive ability. By staying positive, you attract good energy that would be able to easily recognize imminent feelings and events.

4. Just let go.

What does this mean? If you are on the brink of making a huge decision, let go of all the inhibitions and head to a quiet place where you could find out where the letting go has brought you. Sometimes you just have to listen to the voice within you, and that voice wouldn't come out unless you let go.

5. Never expect.

After letting go of the inhibitions and all those things that stop you from thinking and feeling clearly, never expect for an answer right away. Never expect that the "hunch" would fall on your lap immediately. Give it a little time then you'd just get surprised that -- wham! -- now you have your answer.

6. Believe in your first impressions.

When you see someone for the first time and think that he is a bit too arrogant for your taste, chances are that impression actually holds true. Most of the time, first impressions are brought by intuition.

7. Stay happy!

See? All you need to be intuitive is to stay happy! Happiness attracts immense power and such power includes intuition. In tapping your intuition, your motivation must be happiness and contentment. Given that premise, intuition will fall to you easily.

Intuition is helpful, because sometimes it leads you to something that cannot be achieved otherwise. A lot of lives have been saved by intuition alone. Decisions are easier done if armed by this gift. Develop intuition now and reap benefits you have never imagined.

So how do you stay calm, composed and maintain self esteem in a tough environment? Here are some tips you may to consider as a starter guide to self improvement.

Imagine yourself as a Dart Board. Everything and everyone else around you may become Dart Pins, at one point or another. These dart pins will destroy your self esteem and pull you down in ways you won't even remember. Don't let them destroy you, or get the best of you. So which dart pins should you avoid?

Dart Pin #1 : Negative Work Environment
Beware of dog eat dog? theory where everyone else is fighting just to get ahead. This is where non-appreciative people usually thrive. No one will appreciate your contributions even if you miss lunch and dinner, and stay up late. Most of the time you get to work too much without getting help from people concerned. Stay out of this, it will ruin your self esteem. Competition is at stake anywhere. Be healthy enough to compete, but in a healthy competition that is.

Dart Pin #2: Other People's Behavior
Bulldozers, brown nosers, gossipmongers, whiners, backstabbers, snipers, people walking wounded, controllers, naggers, complainers, exploders, patronizers, sluffers?all these kinds of people will pose bad vibes for your self esteem, as well as to your self improvement scheme.

Dart Pin #3: Changing Environment
You can't be a green bug on a brown field. Changes challenge our paradigms. It tests our flexibility, adaptability and alters the way we think. Changes will make life difficult for awhile, it may cause stress but it will help us find ways to improve our selves. Change will be there forever, we must be susceptible to it.

Dart Pin #4: Past Experience
It's okay to cry and say ouch!?when we experience pain. But don't let pain transform itself into fear. It might grab you by the tail and swing you around. Treat each failure and mistake as a lesson.

Dart Pin #5: Negative World View
Look at what you've looking at. Don't wrap yourself up with all the negativities of the world. In building self esteem, we must learn how to make the best out of worst situations.

Dart Pin #6: Determination Theory
The way you are and your behavioral traits is said to be a mixed end product of your inherited traits (genetics), your upbringing (psychic), and your environmental surroundings such as your spouse, the company, the economy or your circle of friends. You have your own identity. If your father is a failure, it doesn't mean you have to be a failure too. Learn from other people's experience, so you'll never have to encounter the same mistakes.

Sometimes, you may want to wonder if some people are born leaders or positive thinkers. NO. Being positive, and staying positive is a choice. Building self esteem and drawing lines for self improvement is a choice, not a rule or a talent. God wouldn't come down from heaven and tell you ? GOD, you may now have the permission to build self esteem and improve your self.?

In life, its hard to stay tough specially when things and people around you keep pulling you down. When we get to the battle field, we should choose the right luggage to bring and armors to use, and pick those that are bullet proof. Life's options give us arrays of more options. Along the battle, we will get hit and bruised. And wearing a bullet proof armor ideally means self change? The kind of change which comes from within. Voluntarily. Armor or Self Change changes 3 things: our attitude, our behavior and our way of thinking.

Building self esteem will eventually lead to self improvement if we start to become responsible for who we are, what we have and what we do. Its like a flame that should gradually spread like a brush fire from inside and out. When we develop self esteem, we take control of our mission, values and discipline. Self esteem brings about self improvement, true assessment, and determination. So how do you start putting up the building blocks of self esteem? Be positive. Be contented and happy. Be appreciative. Never miss an opportunity to compliment. A positive way of living will help you build self esteem, your starter guide to self improvement.

It's a talent that everyone has, yet they think they don't. The power of innovation. If you've ever marvelled at somebody's creative prowess, guess what, you can create and innovate too. It just takes time. Everyone is born creative. The box of crayons in kindergarten were not limited to those who possessed potential; because the truth is, everybody has potential.

You know how long it took to learn to ride a bike or drive or to never commit the same mistake again? It's the same with innovation. It takes a bit of practice and a lot of time before this mind function comes easily when called. This article will teach you a few tips on how to bring innovation into your life.

Don't listen to what other people say. Follow the beat of your own drum. Allowing for the input of other people will only bring cacophony to the music you are trying to make. If you have an original idea, don't waste your time and effort trying to make people understand. They won't. And the help you will probably get comes in the form of negative feedback. If all those geniuses listened to their peers, we would probably still be living in the middle ages.

Spend time on it. I cannot stress that enough, although, please do not mistake this tip to tell you to quit your day job entirely. Do not. This involves some tricky time management but with a little discipline you'll be able to squeeze both in.

Exercise. Take a walk. Run a mile or two. Send all those endorphins coursing through your veins. Exercising certainly clears and relaxes your mind and allows for anything to pop up.

Record your dreams. Aren't some of them just the craziest things that your conscious mind would never have thought of? If you've had these dreams before, and I'm sure have, this only shows you the untapped innovative power you have lying within. So jot down those notes. Those dreams may just create an innovative spark in you.

Find your own style. You can always tell a Van Gogh from a Matisse. You'll know Hemingway wrote something by the choice of words on the paper. So it is the same with you. People will appreciate your innovation more because it is uniquely yours and that no one else would have thought of what you were thinking. That will let people see how valuable an asset you are.

Don't hide behind nifty gadgets or tools. You don't need the most expensive set of paints to produce a masterpiece. The same way with writing. You don't need some expensive fountain pen and really smooth paper for a bestseller. In fact, J.K. Rowling wrote the first book of the Harry Potter Series on bits of tissue. So what if you've got an expensive SLR camera if you're a crappy photographer? Who cares if you've got a blinging laptop if you can't write at all? The artist actually reduces the number of tools he has as he gets better at his craft: he knows what works and what doesn't.

Nothing will work without passion. What wakes you up in the mornings? What keeps the flame burning? What is the one thing that you'll die if you don't do? Sometimes people with talent are overtaken by the people who want it more. Think the hare and the tortoise. Ellen Degeneres once said that if you're not doing something that you want to do, then you don't really want to do it. And that's true. Sometimes you just want something so bad you become a virtual unstoppable. And that is passion. Passion will keep you going.

Don't worry about inspiration. You can't force it; inspiration hits when you least expect it to, for those unpredictable yet inevitable moments you should prepare. An idea could strike you on the subway, yet alas, you poor unfortunate soul; you have no sheet of paper to scribble down a thought that could change the world. Avoid these disasters. Have a pen and paper within your arm's reach at all times.

I hope this article has helped you bring more innovation into your life. Keep in mind that you're doing these things for your own satisfaction and not anybody else's. But soon enough they will notice, and everything should snowball from there.

Almost everyone have heard the hit single 'Don't Worry, Be Happy' by Bobby McFerrin. The song has a very catchy way of conveying its message of being happy to everyone. Bobby Mcferiin's simple message surely made a lot of people by telling them not to worry.

Living a happy, resilient and optimistic life is wonderful, and is also good for your health. Being happy actually protects you from the stresses of life. Stress is linked to top causes of death such as heart disease, cancer and stroke.

One of the better things ever said is - 'The only thing in life that will always remain the same is change', and in our life we have the power to make the necessary changes if we want to. Even if we find ourselves in an unbearable situation we can always find solace in the knowledge that it too would change.

Social networks or relationships are essential to happiness. People are different, accept people for who or what they are, avoid clashes, constant arguments, and let go of all kinds of resentments. If arguments seem unavoidable still try and make an effort to understand the situation and you might just get along with well with

Happiness is actually found in everyone, increasing it is a way to make a life more wonderful and also more healthy.

To be happy is relatively easy, just decide to be a happy person. Abraham Lincoln observed that most people for most of the time can choose how happy or stressed, how relaxed or troubled, how bright or dull their outlook to be. The choice is simple really, choose to be happy.

There are several ways by which you can do this.

Being grateful is a great attitude. We have so much to be thankful for. Thank the taxi driver for bringing you home safely, thank the cook for a wonderful dinner and thank the guy who cleans your windows. Also thank the mailman for bringing you your mails, thank the policeman for making your place safe and thank God for being alive.

News is stressful. Get less of it. Some people just can't start their day without their daily dose of news. Try and think about it, 99% of the news we hear or read is bad news. Starting the day with bad news does not seem to be a sensible thing to do.

A religious connection is also recommended. Being part of a religious group with its singing, sacraments, chanting, prayers and meditations foster inner peace.

Manage your time. Time is invaluable and too important to waste. Time management can be viewed as a list of rules that involves scheduling, setting goals, planning, creating lists of things to do and prioritizing. These are the core basics of time management that should be understood to develop an efficient personal time management skill. These basic skills can be fine tuned further to include the finer points of each skill that can give you that extra reserve to make the results you desire.

Laugh and laugh heartily everyday. Heard a good joke? Tell your friends or family about it. As they also say -'Laughter is the best medicine'.

Express your feelings, affections, friendship and passion to people around you. They will most likely reciprocate your actions. Try not to keep pent up anger of frustrations, this is bad for your health. Instead find ways of expressing them in a way that will not cause more injury or hurt to anyone.

Working hard brings tremendous personal satisfaction. It gives a feeling of being competent in finishing our tasks. Accomplishments are necessary for all of us, they give us a sense of value. Work on things that you feel worthy of your time.

Learning is a joyful exercise. Try and learn something new everyday. Learning also makes us expand and broaden our horizons. And could also give us more opportunities in the future.

Run, jog, walk and do other things that your body was made for. Feel alive.

Avoid exposure to negative elements like loud noises, toxins and hazardous places.

These are the few simple things you can do everyday to be happy.

And always remember the quote from Abraham Lincoln, he says that, "Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."