Love-Hate Holidays Who doesn't love the holidays? Who doesn't hate them at the same time? While everything feels festive, there can also be a lot of commercially-driven falseness to that festiveness too. There are also the beliefs that giving gifts is how to best show you love someone, pigging out is the best way to share your happiness, and drinking up is the best way to ride the high of the season (or deal with avoiding the lows). Self-Love or Selfishness? What's important is staying true to you and continuing to love and care for yourself, even during the holiday season. If you're in the midst of embracing wellness, you may be challenged and pressured by those around you to go off the wellness wagon, "because it's THE HOLIDAYS! Don't be a downer!" It can be so easy to do what you don't want to do over the holidays because of this kind of pressure. How do you avoid confusing self-love with selfishness? First of all, if someone tries to pressure you into eating or drinking something you don't want, or spending money you don't really have on gifts, or participating in any activity that you don't enjoy, then THEY are being selfish by accusing you of selfishiness. It's okay to stay true to you. Those who love you unconditionally will respect your choices. If you are trying to become well, they will want you to be healthy and happy. 3 Tips for Staying True to You 1. Identify what you really WANT to do this season - What foods do you want to eat and not eat? Do you want to drink, and if so, how much and what? What events do you want to go to, anf not go to? Who do you really want to buy gifts for? What is your spending limit overall, and for each person? Who do you want to spend time with? Who do you not want to spend time with? Identifying what you want is the first step to keeping yourself stress-free and well. 2. Focus on what you LOVE about the holidays and find healthy ways to still experience those things - Holidays, like life, shouldn't be about either overindulgence or deprivation. The holidays are a time to celebrate what you love most. Is it the lights? How about taking evening walks around the neighborhood to experience them? Is it the food? Find healthy recipes for your favorite dishes, create them, and share them with your friends and family (without preaching or forcing, just sharing!) Is it the parties? Create a plan for how you can attend a party without sabotaging your goals - maybe it means bringing your own food and drink; maybe it means leaving at a set time so you can get a good night's sleep. 3. Deal with any guilt you feel about putting yourself and your wellness first - Why do you feel that you can't put yourself first? What would happen if you did? Why is your wellness less important than pleasing others? Are you sure others would be upset if you offered new ways of doing things over the holidays, or if you asked that they respect your health goals and personal wishes? When it comes down to it, you are all you've got. Your first and primary relationship is with yourself. And that is true of every person you know. Each person is responsible for themselves, their feelings, their beliefs, their choices and their reactions. Sometimes being true to you can upset others at first, but what should come after their initial reaction to change is respect for your choices and love for you, no matter what. Joy - What the Holidays are All About, Right? Isn't joy and goodwill the whole PURPOSE of the holiday season? If you're traipsing around in Shouldville, how is that joyful? If you give out of "shoulds" and expectations, then it's not authentic. It's sacrificial. Don't sacrifice your wellness just because it's the holidays! Give the best gift you can give to others, and to yourself: a healthy, joyful, authentic you. Melody Larson is a natural weight loss and holistic wellness coach, law of attraction teacher, published author, and successful entrepreneur offering free wellness tips, spiritual growth advice, and healthy vegan and raw food recipes on her site, http://wellandawake.com. Grab her free ebook, 3 Holistic Secrets to Health & Happy Weight Loss, in which she shares her own top personal strategies for losing weight, eating healthy and living happily. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Melody_Larson Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7435393

Momentum. In politics, it is called the "Big Mo". In sports, you can feel the energy change after two or three successive outstanding plays. Suddenly one team is running down the escalator while the other team is struggling, trying extra hard and making little progress. How can we get momentum in our life? In business? It is a very subtle feeling. It is difficult to know when we need to try harder and we'll make a break through, when we need to back off and approach it in another way or another time, or when we need to give up and do something else all together. This is where journaling and contemplation help. Turn inward and listen to what the universe is trying to tell you. Listen to your heart instead of your ego. It can be very subtle. If you are having a difficult time hearing the message, try asking out loud, "What do I need to do now? What do I need to do now?" Then sit quietly and meditate. Be confident that the Universe has heard your question and will respond. It may not respond immediately but the Universe will respond. There are so many stories glorifying persevering no matter what happens. According to the Law of Attraction, the most important thing is to get into the Vortex (the Zone, the Flow). If you are not feeling in the Zone on something, do something to get into the Zone before acting. I find meditation, yoga, exercise or just getting out in nature helps me to get into the Zone. Then I can act and feel the flow, feel the momentum. In sports and yoga, deep breathing is critical. Before a pitcher throws a pitch in baseball, he takes a deep breath and tries to get into the Zone. When a basketball player is on the free throw line, he takes a deep breath and visualizes the ball going through the hoop before taking the shot. I love to make lists of things to do. I love to take action. Action begets action. Sometimes taking action is a struggle. That is when I know I am not in the Zone. So then my number one priority is to get into the Zone or the Vortex. Before tackling any action points, I exercise, rest, meditate, sing, dance, walk... get into the Zone. I have a long list of activities that help me to get into the Zone so when I am struggling, I can just find the list and choose an activity. If you don't have such a list, make one now. Ask yourself these questions: - What helps me get into the Zone? - What brings joy into my life? - What makes me feel happy, light, in love with life? - What helps me to get in touch with my own inner Self? With my purpose in life? Here are some of the items from my list: - Exercise, walk, bike, jog, hatha yoga, play basketball, hike, swim - Prayer, meditation, sing, walk in nature, read uplifting books or quotes, contemplation - Listen to uplifting music, watch uplifting videos Make your list now so that you have it the next time you feel like you need to get into the Zone. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ron_Bartos Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7418784

If you want to be really successful in setting and achieving goals, then you need to develop the right habits and mindset that will keep you on track. There are too many habits and details to mention, so let's focus on the main habits that you need for setting and achieving goals. Work Your Tail Off for Setting and Achieving Goals There will be early daybreaks and late nights. You will be spent. You will question why you began in the first place. Yet, you will keep working hard for setting and achieving goals. Remember, there is no single notable person ever who soared to great heights in life without working like a slave. Massive action means performing better, studying more and suffering more than anyone. You have to understand the importance of delayed gratification and own it. Start by nailing down essential tasks, changing your schedule, recording tasks and functions of the day and finding the right people and resources that can assist you. Keep in mind that you have to be as independent as possible to finish more in the long term. Disciplined Consistency and Consistently Disciplined for Setting and Achieving Goals Discipline is what separates the leaders from the followers. If you genuinely want to change your life, if you want to up your game, you must produce even if you are tired, while being excellent each and every time. OK, maybe not totally excellent, but at least be consistently good. Notice I did not say you have to be perfect. Aiming for perfection only slows you down and is often an excuse for procrastination. You have to take action, all the time, every time. Your goal is depending on you. Don't let it down. Discipline and consistency go hand in hand, because discipline breeds consistency. If you keep going, if you aim to complete your everyday tasks, if you keep taking action, you will find it gets easier and easier. Then, something interesting happens. You start to change as a human being. You learn and do new things, and therefore become different by default. You become better. You become more YOU. Proud Graduate of the School of Hard Knocks When working on your goals, you will hit a wall more times than you care to count, perhaps even literally. People close to you may think you have gone demented. You may lose some pals. You may take criticism from people who have given up on life and expect you to give up on yours. The thick skinned individual always prevails in setting and achieving goals. Also learn from your errors and turn these into more productive actions next time. Learn to pick yourself up after each fall and put in double effort to become better. The most successful people, as well as those who truly left a mark in history, are known to have faced big difficulties and resistance before others understood their inner genius that brought about innovation and change the world had never seen. Smile, SMILE Gosh Darnit! I flex my smile muscle many times a day, even when I don't feel like smiling. Why? It helps to get me into a confident state of mind. It is also scientifically proven to work. I read inspirational quotes, watch motivational videos on YouTube and train daily in the act of optimism. Optimism takes practice. Here's a good tip: The next time a problem seems so big and scary that it threatens to swallow you up, fight it with knowledge. Get on the Internet and do research. Slay that dragon by learning its loopholes, it weaknesses and shortcuts. It might help to believe in the powers of the Universal Law of Attraction which draws opportunities toward you just the way you specify to, and in the right intensity as you sought after. Finally, Have Patience Some goals are very big and will take time to accomplish. Break them down into smaller goals. Do not allow yourself to think that some goals are just too huge to be possible. Be specific and set goals that are attainable to your current situation and start working to achieve those. Patience is the partner that silently keeps you going, even when you feel you are about to give up. Sometimes patience is the biggest, but quietest factor in the game of setting and achieving goals. Erlinda Shen is a blogger and writer on a wide variety of subjects. She especially writes for those who want to work from home. For more helpful information like this article, visit http://www.mombeams.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/? Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7412497

The soul is a person's core and self-awareness. It is the main ingredient to find one's true and inner self. Self-awareness contributes a lot in finding the hidden self thus helping in the overall development of a person. Some people think that the soul is one's immortal part that exists before flesh embodiment. For soul-searching, it is very important to know everything about oneself so that even if there are external threats, one can easily overcome them. You must recognize the soul as the body. Knowledge of one's shortcomings and strengths eases the shaping of his personality in a positive sense. Self-awareness contributes in knowing areas that need improvement as it performs the function of linking the soul to an individual's true self. Moreover, it is important to listen to the voice of your mind and soul so that you can relate it to self growth. Inner self can be revealed only when we are able to listen to the voice of the mind as it directs us towards a path that is right and helpful for our personality. This inner voice can be heard when an individual is in solace. The best way to search your body and mind to gain self-development is to meditate peacefully. Meditation has been used since ages as a natural therapy that contributes in healing the soul and thereby infusing higher one's zeal so that he gains confidence and in turn developing his personality. One can meditate in a silent place where no one can disturb. When one is able to concentrate solely on his or her inner self, it helps in knowing the soul's hidden secrets. There are various other methods too that contribute in searching our redemptive self for the development of the self. It includes yoga, acupressure, color therapy, naturopathy and various others. By adopting yoga technique, one is able to gain strength that helps in keeping a fit body and mind. When the soul is pure and free from tension, it automatically leads us towards a bright path so that we can develop ourselves entirely. Having self-confidence is good but it has to be kept in mind that it should not become a trouble in your successful path. One should try to gain maximum knowledge of one's own inner self as it helps in knowing the inner self and soul. Self-control is also very crucial as there are times when people are soaked with rush of emotions and do not find time for soul-searching. So, controlling power should be strong enough to fight the external evil factors so that you can develop the self. Moreover, it is important to have a spiritual self so that our mental level remains calm and free from pessimism. If we will always find faults in particular things, we will develop a negative perception about them and that hampers our mental level growth. So, it is important to have a stable and good mental status so that you can remain satisfied and contented as this will in turn help you to link yourself with your inner self and soul. Finally, to develop a positive approach towards life contributes in soul-searching so as to have a true self that is pure and free from evils. Visit this webpage today to read timeless tips for finding authentic happiness; you have the choice of being a happy person. The author of this article is Faith Kat Fay. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Faith_Kat_Fay Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7402586

The year is almost over. In just a few weeks, we will say goodbye to 2012, and welcome another year. Let me ask you a question. How much did you grow this year? You may have felt that 2012 is not your year. Sure, you still have your job, a family, friends, but in the back of your mind, you think that there is something you're missing. You feel that there is something that needs to develop in you. Personal development or personal growth can mean a lot of things. It can include activities that make you more self-aware, or being able to live to your full potential. Embarking on a journey of personal growth is not easy, and it never ends. There is always something that will distract you, and there is always something that you need to learn. You don't need to be afraid of growing. The great thing about personal growth is that it's focus is you. You don't need to look at how others do it, you simply need to look inside yourself, see the things that need to change, and do something to make that change. If you are not sure how you can do this, here are some tips you can start with. 1 - Raise Your Standards If you feel like your life is in a rut, it's time to stop being contented with where you are now. Mediocrity is not included in personal growth. Know what you want, and keep working towards that goal. If you want that promotion, then do better work than you did before. You may have to sacrifice a bit of your time, but it will be worth it in the end. 2 - Stay Positive There may be times in your journey in life that you will fail. You don't need to be negative about it. See the silver lining in any situation, and turn those stumbling blocks of failure into stepping stones to success. 3 - Know Yourself You know that quote "if you don't stand for anything, you'll fall for anything"? Keep this in mind. Know what you value, and stand up for them. Don't give in to pressure and just believe in yourself. 4 - Invest in yourself The worst place to be is at equilibrium. There is no such thing, when you stop growing you die. Try to learn something new, like a new habit (if you don't know how to cook, this may be the time to take lessons!), or maybe a new language, or Latin dancing! It doesn't matter what you try, just remember to have fun! The next year can be your best year yet if you just take the time to grow. Start on your journey today and get ready for a great year to come! Click here to find out more and get FREE eBook, "How to Increase Confidence in the 7 Main Areas of Life" NOW! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aubrey_D_Bartolome

Achieving a healthy weight is as much about the desired result as it is about planning the journey, in the same way one travels with a route and a destination in mind. In weight loss, setting personalized landmarks along the way this is an often overlooked key to feeling and looking one's very best. One might argue, of course one would know what one wants, and how many of us wouldn't like to lose 10 or 20 pounds? Here are goal setting tips from a coaching perspective. Three common goal setting errors and how to fix them: 1) Example: "I will try to be a bit better this week." The tendency to use the word "try" is a common barrier to success. It implies that if anything comes up, the old habits have permission to take over, leaving behind not much more than a big list of excuses. If one "tries" not to snack mindlessly in front of the TV at night, the plan is counting on the sudden appearance of ample willpower and inspiration! Revised goal suggestion: "I will clear my cupboard of unhealthy snacks, eat an early and balanced dinner, and brush my teeth right away to signal to the body that no more food is coming. At the end of the week, I will reward myself with a trip to the movies with my best friend." 2) Example: "I really should do something about my physical fitness." The word "should" hints at an unformulated goal looming over one's head, and incorporates a negative feeling with no counterbalance in the form of a plan. Getting stuck in a "should" mindset is as if we are carrying a heavy rucksack of woes with us throughout the day. Revised goal suggestion: "I will spend Saturday morning visiting three gyms near my place of work and select the one that best matches my needs, signing up and scheduling at least two sports sessions during the following week." 3) Example: "I would like to feel better." This goal is perfectly valid, as feeling better is at the heart of most everything we desire, but is formulated in a way that is not helpful in how we intend to get there. Feeling good is a volatile mindset, as almost anything can come along to change that in an instant. Revised goal suggestion: "I will sleep at least seven hours every night, eat three healthful meals each day, and practice positive affirmations about myself and my surroundings." These are controllable factors that make feeling good a higher probability, without entirely leaving our happiness up to circumstance. Goals in healthy habits work best if they are very specific and measureable, even if they represent very small changes in the everyday. Once the goals are taken for their road test, they may work well or need revising. For example, if three trips to the gym did not work out, then possibly 2 trips with a long walk on Sunday would work better. As you refine your program, goal setting will become more natural and effective over time. Using the techniques above to create empowering and self-affirming daily goals is the fastest way to aligning your actions to sustainable habit change and overall wellness. Tatiana is the creator of 'The 3 Step Mind, Body, and Self Care Transformational System' for young professionals who want to feel confident, look great, and live custom-designed healthy lifestyles. She brings 8 years of health coaching experience to her programs designed for today's young adults. Her dynamic approach brings out individual strengths to looking, feeling, and living one's best life. Visit http://www.bodyvisionhealthcoaching.com to find out more. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tatiana_Abend Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7384358

Easy Tips on How To Improve Life It is a natural human desire to rise above the mundane and improve our lives. No matter how much we achieve, we always want more - a better lifestyles, more wealth, more professional growth and a richer personal life. Such is the flux which marks the journey called life. But at times even with your best efforts you could find success elusive. That does not mean you stop trying or give in to despair. Your constant efforts towards success may change their routes or means but should never stop. There are some simple ways which can show you how to improve life and make these very efforts successful. How to Improve Life - Tip #1 - Listen to your heart - The best way to improve your life is to ask your own self what makes you happy. No one else can tell you where your talents lie or show you which path would lead to your success. Only your heart will so learn to listen to it. How to Improve Life - Tip #2 - Set a goal - The only way to move forward is towards a goal. When you want to improve your life it is obvious that you have a vision of the future in mind. Set a goal and line it with shorter milestones both to move closer to your ultimate goal and also to motivate you further. How to Improve Life - Tip #3 - Make your own choices - Trust yourself to make the right choices. No matter how much you love and respect the people around you, it is your own choices that will define your future. No one else's. How to Improve Life - Tip #4 -Take a risk - It is often difficult and sometimes scary to step outside our comfort zones. Yet we are not meant to stagnate in one place but grow to our utmost. How can you do that if you don't step beyond the horizon and risk the unknown? Life is an adventure meant to be enjoyed. Let it enrich your living. How to Improve Life - Tip #5 - Give in to your desires - We started out with learning to listen to our hearts. Now we need to muster up enough courage and give in to the desires that our hearts savour and reflect. For it is in the heart of our desires that true success lies. Live your dreams and let happiness rule. One does not need to be a hero to achieve great success and happiness. All it needs is a little courage to believe in one self and learn how to improve life and change the course of the future. Maureen Rainford is a personal growth and development coach helping people who want to change their life for the better. Do you want to learn more about success and creating a life of your dreams and desires. Starting Today! If so, visit; http://www.effectivehabitsforsuccess.com for more tips, advice and strategies for achieving greater happiness and success in your life. Also get access to a FREE 10 day ecourse Success Mindset. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Maureen_Rainford

Fatigue AWAY! Let's admit it, a lot of people don't have a lot of time throughout the day. Most of us have a lot to get done and it seems there just isn't enough hours in the day to accomplish all of our priorities. Have you been sacrificing hours of sleep in order to do so? Or guzzling ten cups of coffee a day just to keep your eyes open? If you were like me, you probably struggle everyday to keep your body up and working constantly. But pushing yourself beyond how much you can actually handle is not a wise habit. Over time you will feel more sluggish and weary as you keep pushing your boundaries. These 7 tips will help YOU replenish the much needed energy your body deserves so you can feel more lively throughout the day! 1. Eat More Healthy Foods Maintaining a balanced diet will give you more energy from the nutrients you receive. Choosing more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, and seeds will help your body pump more power and keep you stimulated! Try eating decent amounts of vegetables every day and if you want even more juice, eat them raw! Raw fruits and vegetables have all the nutrients still in them to keep you rejuvenated. Carrots, lettuce, celery, cherry tomatoes, and cucumbers are delicious raw and will provide lasting energy boosts. Find creative ways to ingest your fruits and veggies. If you don't like your vegetables hide them in a smoothie! Spinach, kale, cabbage, romaine lettuce, carrots, and beets are perfectly hidden once thrown in a blender. Try mixing strawberries, spinach, carrots, orange juice, and ice together; it makes a delicious smoothie. Berries are HUGE energy boosters! Especially the ones that are blue, red, or purple. Berries contain powerful antioxidants that helps boosts energy levels. Get more citrus fruits in your body too! Vitamin C not only helps give you more energy but it also helps you absorb more nutrients from food. 2. Avoid Artificial Energy I know you know what I'm going to say. LAY OFF THE COFFEE! Drinking coffee in moderate amounts is okay but try not to become too dependent on it. Also, avoid drinking coffee after noon, it can negatively affect your natural sleep cycle. Instead try consuming some tea. Studies have shown drinking several cups of tea a day can help reduce stress, green tea especially. Nicotine also, don't think I wasn't going to mention it. Smoking also causes sleep disorders, usually causing bitterness and frustration the next day, WHICH, leads to more smoking. Also, ex-smokers have reported to have more energy now than when they were smoking. This article pertains to energy however so I won't mention what all the risks of smoking are, so I won't say another word, except that the dangers are numbered in the kajabillions! 3. Sleep the Right Amount- No More No Less OBVIOUSLY, DUDE. Yes everyone knows the benefits of sleep. Ever try to go a full day without sleep? You practically turn into a zombie without the bloodstains. Less sleep makes you think less effectively and your actions are often careless. But too much sleep can be detrimental to your health as well. I'm sure you have experienced this that when sleeping more than necessary you often wake up STILL tired. So its best to find out how much sleep you really need. Just sleep in one day, at the time you normally would and once you gain consciousness, get up and stay awake. The amount of sleep you got is your body's ideal rest time, so strive to get that amount of sleep every night. If you want you could try different sleep cycles. People who have adopted polypahsic sleep cycles say they have more energy than ever. 4. Eat Smaller Meals More Often I've never fallen asleep eating, so it makes sense to eat more often throughout the day. Eat small meals and a couple snacks for the duration of the day to keep blood sugar and energy levels stable. Large meals require more energy to digest, which can make you feel sluggish. Get enough carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats like olive oil and omega-3 and try to avoid saturated fats and trans fats. Try healthy snacks too, such as yogurt, sunflower seeds, or celery with peanut butter. This ties perfectly with keeping a balanced diet everyday, so remember to eat a variety of foods. 5. Rearrange Your Domain Although when we usually think about energy, we think about ways to get our body moving. Little do we know how much our environment affects our energy as well. Ever heard of Feng Shui? Feng Shui is the belief that there is a constant flow of energy in the universe and that it travels through our environment and ultimately affects our own energy levels. Your home and office reflects this flow of energy through the various decorations you have, how things are positioned, the stature of materials, and the colors you use. Not only will decluttering your space help create more positive flowing energy it can also help further your goals in life. Although Feng Shui is a pretty complex system and I won't be able to explain it all some basics to creating a better environment is that: -Every color has a different energy. Use more vibrant colors in different areas of your home to get better energy flow. -Avoid using artificial materials such as plastic, artificial lighting, or synthetic fibers. They create negative energy. -CLEAR THOSE CORNERS! Dark, musty corners and cluttered rooms slow down your energy, making you feel sluggish. -Put more of the five elements in your home, which are tree, fire, metal, water, and soil. Put some bamboo plants in green pots on desks and counters. Or some clay pots to represent soil in your living room. Fill a glass pitcher with water and set in a nice area. 6. The Art of Napping Napping is a great way to gain energy back. Although not many people have the time to take full-fledged naps, even small power naps will work wonders for your body. But you only have ten minutes? That's fine! I usually take naps during the evening when I feel a bit drowsy. I have this amazing phone app that is a timer with an alarm and I put a gentle, soothing alarm melody to slowly bring me out of my nap. Try it! Usually 20-30 minutes does the trick for me! Napping will help you wake up more alert and productive. Not only that but taking short naps will help you gain more REM sleep, which is deep sleep in which you dream, and the kind of sleep that keeps your brain sharp. REM sleep is essential to make you feel rested and by taking short naps you will be able to sleep less every night and still feel fully rested! 7. Understanding Your Body's Internal Clock I can not stress this concept enough! Your body, after repetitive procedures, will start to get used to them even if you aren't thinking it. In high school I began developing the nasty habit of falling asleep during 5th period. Every day. Almost the entire period. It came to be my happy time but it also reflected negatively on my work. Well obviously, you were asleep the whole time! Anyways, second quarter I transferred to a different class. Guess what? Fell asleep everyday. Second semester rolls by and I purposely change my 5th period to P.E. but come 6th period I would fall asleep. Everyday. My second year of high school rolls around and I get machine woods for my 5th period, the most easy-going class that year. Probably because I slept in that class everyday. 50 minute naps that I would look forward to everyday, and my body had become so accustomed to them that I would come in dead tired, go to sleep, and I would wake up everyday exactly 5 minutes before the bell. The next year was the same and I always felt drowsy during 5th period. Every day was a struggle because the class actually took work! I would purposely ask the teacher for bathroom breaks just to splash water on my face. Then senior year came and I thought I was smart. I elected to take a zero period in order to avoid 5th period and go home after 4th. It didn't work, I still felt drowsy everyday. It's as if my body knew how much class time I could power through before feeling tired. And by the time I came home I would take 50 minute naps. Point is, our bodies have an internal clock that reflects the times that we feel dips and rises in energy, and so plan the times when you feel most energetic to be the times where you get the most work done. This will sync the times you have the most potential and energy with your priorities. Doing so will give you more efficiency when you need it and make you feel more relaxed and calm when you are doing less demanding work. http://ezinearticles.com/?7-Ways-to-Get-More-Energy&id=7370899 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/737089

Boldness comes from the heart and desire is a thing of the mind. Some of us have the will to achieve but do not have the boldness to accomplish that goal. It takes will, desire and determination to get to the crossing point where your dreams are accomplished. "... to boldly go where no man has gone before... " These are notable words from Captain Kirk of Star Trek fame. These put into summary his team's courageous mission. What would have been their story line in that epic and entertaining movie had the mission been" to boldly stay and not to go?. Just Like so many of us, I have felt the burning desire to go, and to get there first! To go, to be an innovator, a creator, scientist, discoverer, inventor, researcher, explorer, to carve new territory and claim achievement! To be the one to arrive with the big idea, new invention, the polished plan. But maybe we need to pause just a bit longer, to know the full intent of what we want or would like to be. Events and circumstance press us to that critical moment where we either go or stay. I am confident that in more than a few of these times we took the route of "boldly going" To stay through to the determined end? There are times when boldness and courage is needed to stay; to remain; to continue especially when the going is tough. There have been seasons in my life where I know that it was time to go forward, That it was time to move on to the next level. During these times it requires courage of heart to act. Going around in times of crisis and instability has the thrill of the challenge and each requires an amount of courage and determination to step into it. There is honor in seeing something to its proper end. When life gets rough and the going is not easy, we have to persevere and summon courage to keep going. Why not consider the courage that it takes to boldly stay and see these things through. I wonder what opportunities have been abandoned, what learning curve has been flattened because going was the bold and perhaps easier way. I have been influenced by many great men and I gained a lot from their philosophy and quotes and One of them once said, "When the going gets tough, the tough stay put." NAME: VICTOR (BOYALASCO) WEBSITE TITLE: STORYCONNECTIONS WEBSITE: www.boyalasco.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victor_A_Samuel

With a little of the right information, your lifestyle can change for the better. Your overall level of health can be made a lot better by doing quite a lot of little things. If you think that giving up foods that are unhealthy for you is a sacrifice, then living a new healthy lifestyle will have sacrifices as a part of it. This is not true; it is just what the popular dietitians who want to make money from you have convinced you to believe. You can have a totally healthy life by making small changes in your life, like this article will show, and forget about some of big sacrifices that you can learn about from television programs, websites and articles. This may sound disgusting, but be careful when using a public restroom. Even if you suppose it is unimportant, the stall you select actually is important. Often times the stall nearest to the door is not used as often as the other stalls. This means that there are fewer germs and, by default, it is the cleanest stall in the room. In addition, it often has the greatest amount of toilet paper so you will not have to fret about asking the person in the stall next to you if they can pass you some. And, for sure, even if you are just walking in there to blow your nose or brush your hair, you should always wash your hands when you visit any restroom. Slant the rearview mirror in your vehicle up. It may seem petty, but it does have value. No need to tilt it too much; just enough to compel you to sit straighter and still be able to see sufficiently. This posture will enhance the way you look at your day. When you do not sit up straight in the morning, especially when you are driving; you may end up feeling tired for the rest of the day. Accomplishing a quality posture will make your bad posture a thing of the past. Your back will be grateful. This is a matter of fact. Be certain to obtain plenty of slumber. Generally speaking, adult's need someplace in the region of 7 hours of sleep nightly. While some can get by with six, others need eight so seven is a good middle ground for which to aim. The body requires rest due to the fact that your muscles mend themselves and the brain eases and thinks about everything you have handled throughout the daytime. Problems in your mind and body can be banned through sufficient sleep. Because, as well as bodily restoring itself, it allows the time you sleep to be used to cope with the nervousness you deal with during the daytime. Improving your lifestyle to make your health better has many different paths you can take. If you want to believe in popular culture and diet gurus, then gear up for some real hard sacrifices providing you want to become healthy. This is a lie, if I ever heard one. There are healthy things in life that are enjoyable. Making changes in life are part of living, and as long as you are consistently improving, you won't need to do anything drastic. Common sense is pretty much all you really need to heed if you want to live a perfectly respectable and healthy lifestyle. About the Author Robert Riohe https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3150614105440027278#editor/src=dashboard

What do we mean by good mental health? Good mental health isn't something you have, but something you do. To be mentally healthy you must value and accept yourself. This means that: You care about yourself and you care for yourself. You love yourself, not hate yourself. You look after your physical health – eat well, sleep well, exercise and enjoy yourself. You see yourself as being a valuable person in your own right. You don't have to earn the right to exist. You exist, so you have the right to exist. You judge yourself on reasonable standards. You don't set yourself impossible goals, such as 'I have to be perfect in everything I do', and then punish yourself when you don't reach those goals. If you don't value and accept yourself, you are always frightened that other people will reject you. To prevent people seeing how unacceptable you are, you keep them at a distance, and so you are always frightened and lonely. If you value yourself, you don't expect people to reject you. You aren't frightened of other people. You can be open, and so you enjoy good relationships. If you value and accept yourself, you are able to relax and enjoy yourself, without feeling guilty. When you face a crisis, you know that, no matter how difficult the situation is, you will manage. How we see ourselves is central to every decision we make. People who value and accept themselves cope with life. Why do some people become mentally distressed when others don't? All of us grow up with a set of ideas about who we are, what our life was and will be, and what the world is like. These ideas come from our past experience, and, because no two people ever have the same experience, no two people ever see things in exactly the same way. Our ideas aren’t an exact picture of what’s going on around us, but a set of guesses or theories about what’s going on. If we grow up with certain views or beliefs about how life is or should be we can then be greatly shocked if we discover that things aren’t the way we thought they were and that we’ve made a serious error of judgement. Whenever we encounter some unexpected disaster or setback, we discover that there's a serious discrepancy between what we thought our life was and what it actually is. Perhaps we thought our life was safe and secure, and then we suffered a terrorist attack. Perhaps we thought we were going to spend the rest of our life with one special person, and then that person left us, or died. Perhaps we'd grown up believing that if we were good, nothing bad would happen to us, and then something did. Whenever we discover we've made a serious error of judgement, we may start to doubt every judgement we've ever made. Then we start to feel very unsure of ourselves. If we value and accept ourselves, we have confidence in ourselves, and, even though we're frightened, we tell ourselves that this feeling will pass, that we'll be able to meet the challenge and cope with whatever follows. If we don't value and feel positive about ourselves in this way, we may feel that we're about to beak down, and so we have to find some defence to hold ourselves together. The less good we feel about ourselves, the more desperate the defence we resort to. These defences might include: harming our body by injuring it or by starving it blaming ourselves for the disaster or setback, and so becoming depressed locating the cause of our fear in the world around us and becoming too frightened to venture out getting busier and busier to avoid thinking about any problems trying to make everything secure by obsessively cleaning and checking retreating into our own inner world and giving up trying to make sense of the world around us in the way other people do. We don't consciously choose a particular defence. Instead, we unconsciously and quickly resort to the one defence available to us because of the way we see ourselves and our world. For instance, if you are well practised in blaming yourself for everything that goes wrong, you’ll blame yourself for any crisis or bad luck you have. Why is attitude so important? Mental distress is not compulsory. However, if we don't value and accept ourselves, we're making sure that we will feel mental distress when life is difficult. If we do feel positive about ourselves, then when we suffer loss, we feel sad, not depressed. So, when someone treats us badly, we feel angry, but not guilty because we feel angry. When someone or something threatens us, we feel frightened, but we're not overwhelmed, because we look after ourselves and make ourselves safe. What causes us to become mentally distressed is not loss, or poverty, or sickness, or people treating us badly. It's how we interpret our loss, or poverty, or sickness, or the fact that people are treating us badly. Many people defeat themselves by interpreting what happens to them in way that makes suffering inevitable. If we see ourselves as being bad and unacceptable, and we believe that we live in a 'just world' where goodness is rewarded and badness punished, then, when we suffer a disaster or setback, we interpret the event as being the punishment for our wickedness. If we see ourselves as being insignificant and worthless then, when the chance for happiness comes along, we say to ourselves, 'I wasn't meant to be happy.' If we are frightened of other people, when other people treat us badly we feel we've no right to stand up for ourselves. If we desperately need other people around us, but see ourselves as unattractive and unlovable, we bury our anger. We let other people walk all over us, because we dare not show our displeasure in case other people reject us. If we believe that it's inevitable that other people will let us down and everything turn out badly, we'll not do anything to improve our life. So we suffer. Isn't it all genetic? Some people like to blame their genes or their fate for their misery, because then it seems that they're not responsible for what has happened to them. Many doctors like to blame some undiscovered gene or biochemical change for their patients' misery. This is because such doctors feel more comfortable with medical interpretations of events than with psychological interpretations. However, genes are very much affected by the environment, and despite the huge amount of time, money and effort that has been spent in the search for the genes that directly cause mental disorders, none has been discovered. Serotonin levels Changes in the levels of the chemicals (neurotransmitters) serotonin and noradrenaline have been found in the brains of people who are depressed - but not always. The biochemical changes that are associated with depression may be the result of the mood change rather than the cause of it, and no biochemical change has been found to precede the onset of depression. It is not correct to say that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Genetics It's often claimed that research shows that depression runs in families and is therefore genetically inherited. But analysis of this research still leaves this open to question. We usually inherit a lot about our environment from our parents as well as our genes. Much of what we get from our parents, is through learning. We can learn, from our family, ways of thinking that lead to distress. If a parent is constantly frightened and pessimistic, their child is likely to grow up believing that the world is a terrible place, and so the child becomes frightened and pessimistic. What can I do about it? Accept that you can change. Nobody stays the same, so you may as well change for the better. The big change that you need to make is to come to value and accept yourself. If you've spent most of your life believing that you're unacceptable and of little value, it's hard to change, because all your ideas and ways of behaving are based on that assumption. The trick is to say to yourself, 'I don't think much of myself, but from now on I'm going to act as if I'm my own best friend. I'm going to be kind to myself, look after myself, and stop criticising myself and putting myself down.' Acting as if you're your own best friend will lead you to become that. You need to be very aware of how you talk to yourself. Listen to the voice in your head. Write down the hurtful, critical things that voice says to you, and then think of better, kinder, more encouraging things to say to yourself. For instance, when you have to do something, if you always say to yourself, 'You're sure to fail. You always make a mess of everything you do', write that down, and then beside it put, 'You're going to do the best you possibly can. It doesn't matter if you don't get it perfectly right, because the good thing about mistakes is that you learn from them.' Practise saying encouraging things to yourself. Question the assumptions on which you base your ideas. Is it really true that everybody in the whole world hates you, or that everything you've ever done has turned out badly? Is it really true that every unfortunate thing that happens to you is your punishment for being such a wicked person? Look at the consequences of your ideas. If you don't get close to anyone because you fear being rejected, doesn't it follow that you will always be lonely? If you think of yourself as bad try to remember how you came to think of yourself that way. Is this what your parents or spouse always told you? Were you really bad, or were they taking their bad feelings out on you? Writing these things down puts what you're thinking and feeling outside of yourself, and you can see it more clearly. Talk it through Talk about these things to other people and find out how they see things. Talk to friends, call at a local drop-in centre, join a self-help group. Talking to a therapist or counsellor can be very helpful. There are many different kinds of therapies, but they all fall into one of two groups. There are prescriptive therapies and exploratory therapies. Prescriptive therapies, such as cognitive therapy, teach skills to overcome specific problems. Exploratory therapies, such as psychotherapy, explore your ideas and your experiences. Most therapists and counsellors use a bit of both. Finding a therapist or counsellor can be difficult. Ask your GP whether there's a counsellor at their practice or whether she or he can refer you to an NHS psychologist or psychotherapist. See what your local Mind association has to offer. Look through the registers of psychotherapists and counsellors at your local library or on the internet (see 'Useful Organisations'). The fact that a psychotherapist's or counsellor's name is on a register isn't a guarantee that the person is an effective psychotherapist or counsellor. But it does mean that if something goes wrong, you can complain to that person's professional organisation. No therapist or counsellor can wave a magic wand and make you better, but they can act as a guide on your journey of self-discovery. What can I do about the things I can't change? Remember, it's not what happens to us that causes our distress, but how we interpret what happens to us. For example, if your mother always belittles and hurts you, and if you believe you have to visit her every week, then you make sure that you suffer. If you decide that it isn't strictly necessary to see her every week and it's your responsibility to look after yourself, then you can control how often and for how long you see her. You'll create an emotional distance between yourself and her by seeing her not as your mother, but as a woman who prefers the immediate satisfaction of taking her bad feelings out on someone to the long-term satisfaction of having a loving child who wants to be with her. This is what you need to do with all the things in your life that you can’t change: find an interpretation of events that you can live with. Don’t let these things dominate your life, taking up all your time and effort. Even when life is at its most difficult, make sure that, every day, you give yourself something nice. This could be a treat, or time to do nothing but rest, chat with a friend, look at nature, or listen to music. Even if nobody else is looking after you, you can look after yourself. (See Mind's booklet How to look after yourself.) How can I stay well while caring for others who are in mental distress? People who have gone through a period of mental distress will often say afterwards how much they appreciated having someone who was there for them, who encouraged and supported them, even though they did not show their appreciation at the time. People in mental distress are struggling to hold themselves together as a person. It’s a fight for survival, and so often people in this situation become extremely selfish. Sometimes they can’t see anything of what other people are going through, and so they may become very difficult to live with. They may see everything in stark terms, as good or bad, or as right or wrong. Their sense of humour vanishes, and the most ordinary things become sources of anxiety, even terror. They may be quite reasonable one minute and totally unreasonable the next. Friends and family, no matter how loving and concerned they are, must take care of themselves. If you're looking after someone in mental distress, it's vital that you have time to yourself to recover, to rest, and to enjoy some recreation. You shouldn't feel guilty about this. If you don't look after yourself, you'll be unable to look after anyone else. When we see someone suffering anxiety, fear and despair, or being depressed, or hearing horrible voices, we long to take their suffering away from them. However, we shouldn't feel that it's our duty to make the person better, and that if they don't get better that we have failed. The truth is, only one person has the power to make that person better. We can give support and encouragment, we can give love and comfort, we can listen and try to understand, and all this can help the person. But it's the person who has to decide to change. The person has to accept that they can change, and then to risk changing; that is, to act without guarantees or certainty about what change will mean. This isn't easy. Many of us decide to stay with the devil we know because, painful though that is, we feel secure in our misery, because we know what it is. It takes courage to decide to change. I know many people who found that courage and now enjoy their life. All of them were very different people, living in very different circumstances, but each of them can say what was the important wisdom they learnt. It was, 'I am responsible for myself. The only person who can save me is me. I value and accept myself, and so I look after myself.' Useful organisations British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) tel. 0161 705 4304 web: babcp.com Can provide details of accredited therapists. British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) tel. 01455 883 300 web: bacp.co.uk For Information about counselling and therapy. See website or sister website, itsgoodtotalk, for details of local practitioners. The British Psychological Society tel. 0116 254 9568 web: bps.org.uk Produces a directory of chartered psychologists. Carers UK http://www.mind.org.uk/help/diagnoses_and_conditions/mental_wellbeing

Have you ever wondered why some people seem to gain success in life while others seem to fail? What separates successes from failures? And, how can you achieve success in your own life? One of the biggest distinguishing factors between a successful life and a non-successful life lies within you. By shifting your mindset and then some of your daily habits, you can begin to get success in your own life. No matter what you are doing in your life, the following tips are the basic ingredients that are essential and are absolutely within your own sphere of behavior that will give you a guarantee towards attaining success. How Can I Get Success in Life? To begin the journey toward achieving a life filled with success, consider the following strategies: 1. Adopt a Positive Mindset - Too many of our daily thoughts are negative and self-defeating. While you can never truly remove all negative thoughts from your mindset, you can begin to consciously focus on positive thoughts versus negative. Work to become aware of your thoughts and when you come across a negative one, shift your thinking to something positive. In time, this conscious behavior will result in positive subconscious changes. 2.Assume Responsibility - Avoid placing blame on others or circumstances for your position in life. Accept responsibility for your actions. What we attract into our lives is a direct result of our mindset, our thoughts and our beliefs. Choose to think positive thoughts versus negative ones; shift your mindset to one of abundance and opportunity rather than failure and lack of opportunity and begin believing that you deserve as much success as the next person. 3. Take Proactive Action - What do you hope to achieve and accomplish personally and professionally? Rather than continuing to think about it, begin to take action. Devise a plan of action that will result in achieving success in the chosen areas of your life. Focus on taking small, implementable steps rather than making large, dramatic changes. Track your progress and make adjustments as needed. In time, you will see positive changes in the areas of your life that you have chosen to place emphasis on. Once you achieve success in one area, choose another and repeat the process. Success in life doesn't just happen; it requires dedication and focus. If you have ever wondered, "How can I get success in life," implement the tips outlined above to begin to see and experience positive changes within your life. I would like to share one of my favorite motivational quotes by Emile Coue: "Every day in every way, I am getting better and better." To take the next steps towards achieving success, sign up for my FREE eBook "How To Make This Year The Year" at: http://www.everyday-in-everyway.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Van_Der_

How important do you think it is to look after your health? There is a simple yet very profound quotation from the philosopher Virgil that states "The greatest wealth is health" The challenge with most people is that they only appreciate how important their health really is when they encounter any challenges relating to their health or their health fails them.
Make a different Choice about your Health TODAY
Do not wait until it is too late and you have neglected your health so badly that you are lying in hospital recovering from a triple heart by-pass operation, before you wake up and start to take care of your health. It takes a healthy body to provide you with energy and drive. Only a healthy body can provide an effective vehicle to carry all your ideas and help you achieve the success you want. No matter how willing your mind may be to succeed. You will achieve nothing without a healthy body, which gives you the energy you need and the capacity to operate optimally.
Technological Advances and Super-Sized Meals are Compounding Things
The technological advances over the past few decades have become one of the greatest threats to our health. The new efficiencies these new technologies have brought with them have made us far more sedentary than ever before. There is also an abundance of food, which is easily accessible and available everywhere. Meals are all super-sized and filled with far too many calories and unhealthy fats.
Our Bodies need Exercise
Our lifestyles have become completely sedentary, our meals have become really easy to obtain and we sit for hours staring at computers at work, only to drag ourselves home at the end of the day to sit for a few more hours in front of the television. It has become really easy to become unhealthy and overweight. Exercise is a distant memory.
How are you Fuelling your Body - is it the Vehicle your Need to Succeed?
An unhealthy body is most certainly not the best vehicle to become a super achiever. You do not have the energy necessary to carry out your crucial daily activities and your brain is not fuelled like it needs to be.
People Judge you
As you know success is achieved through connection, influence and building rapport with other people. I know that people should not judge you. Well here is a clue - They always do. How you show up in life speaks volumes about who you are, how you are and what you are capable of bringing into any relationship. When you show up overweight, out of shape and breathless at a meeting, because you had to walk a short distance to reach the place where you are due to meet. People will automatically doubt your ability to deliver in other unrelated areas. They will look at you and even if you are offering a great product or service, they will bundle you and the way you showed up into the mix. Your unhealthy appearance will most certainly affect the way people see you and what you have to offer.
Your Appearance Speaks Volumes about you
How you show up on the outside speaks volumes about you and your ability to perform and how you operate on the inside. The way you look on the outside is an advertisement for your attitude, philosophy, values, beliefs and overall personal development. All your habits, behaviours, choices and disciplines are visible through your appearance.
Action Idea: Now that you have this awareness that your body is your personal billboard and that it reflects so much about you. Have the courage to take a look at how you are showing up.Are you projecting the type of image you want people to see?
Are you satisfied with the message you are conveying to everyone around you?
Does your current appearance reflect what you wantHow can you expect to attract committed, disciplined, dedicated, consistent and persistent people into your world, if you are projecting a completely different image to everyone around you? We attract people, circumstances and opportunities into our lives that are aligned with who and what we are. You attract success as a result of the person you are. Your physical appearance is how you demonstrate all these characteristics in yourself to everyone around you.
Take your Health Seriously
It is time to start taking your physical fitness and health seriously. When you make this commitment, you are not only giving yourself the gift of more energy and a more capable mind. You are also sending out a far more enticing message to the world about who you are. Throw in the added benefits of looking younger, living longer and feeling better and this whole concept of investing into your health and fitness seems to be a no-brainer.
Make the commitment today to start investing in your health and fitness. Right now is the time to make a better decision about your health and to make a conscious effort to break this cycle of self-destruction. Get back onto the path of health and fitness; you deserve all the benefits it will bring. The cost of this small daily discipline will cost almost nothing. The price of continuing along the path of neglect is massive. Are you willing to risk so much and lose out on so many fantastic benefits. Simply because you won't find the time to exercise and you won't change your diet to make more healthy food choices.
Hi my name is Andrew Horton; I am an inspirational Speaker, Master Teacher, Radio and TV Host, Global Traveler and Author. My area of focus is in the field of human behavior, expanded awareness and enlightenment. I travel the planet constantly researching, learning and seeking ways to unlock the mysteries of the human mind. I delve into the inner workings of the universe, always looking for ways to understand my role in making things better and contributing to the improvement of the human experience. Please visit my website to sign up for a daily inspirational message, by following this link Daily Inspirational Message. This is your daily call to action, a reminder to do things better each day. Visit my website at
http://www.andrewhorton.co.zaArticle Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=A_Horton