Blog for Self Improvement

By: Sharon Dotson

Executive coaching consultant Judah Schiller learned all about ‘combat confidence’ as a soldier in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), one of the world’s most elite fighting forces.

Now, the attorney-turned-career coach, speaker and Fortune 500 trainer draws on his experiences in the IDF to instruct corporate executives and professionals in the finer points of leadership, stress management and personal growth.

Following his military service, Schiller attended University of California Hastings College of the Law. After graduation, he joined the Silicon Valley office of Weil, Gotshal & Manges, a prominent international law firm.

“Silicon Valley is one of the most high-pressure business environments in the world,” says Schiller. “My work in mergers and acquisitions gave me a unique opportunity to observe a frazzled corporate culture ripe for the abilities every IDF soldier masters from the inside out.

Combat Confidence, Schiller stresses, is not about killing, fighting or anger. “It’s about clarity, focus, empowerment and passion,” he says. “It’s about eliminating the stress, ambiguity and self-limiting talk that stands in the way of living a more balanced and productive life and career.”

In conjunction with speaking, corporate training and seminars, Schiller is an executive coaching consultant to clients all over the U.S. and abroad with whom he conducts one-on-one sessions either in person or by telephone. He also has live teleclasses, where participants dial into a conference line, including his free 60-minute Combat Confidence class. Other classes meet weekly for up to eight sessions.

“Whether by phone or in person,” says Schiller, “my focus as an executive coaching consultant is to help clients create meaningful change in a person’s their lives and provide a tangible plan of action for achieving positive results. If you dread the thought of going back to work on Monday, then you will definitely benefit from Combat Confidence,” says Schiller.

“You’ll also benefit if you’ve been in the same job for more than two years and you are still not experiencing the success and recognition you deserve.”

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

About the Author:

What does Kaizen, a Japanese method of production excellence and industrial efficiency have to do with self improvement? Can it be adapted to self-work? What is it, anyhow?

It began with the "continuous improvement" theories of efficiency expert W. Edwards Deming in the 30s and 40s. After the war the ideas were picked up by the Japanese and developed into "Kaizen," a method for creating quality products efficiently through many small and continuous changes. This is perfect for self-improvement, as Robert Maurer explains in his book "One Small Step Change Your Life:"

"Your brain is programmed to resist change, but by taking small steps, you effectively rewire your nervous system so that is does the following:

* Unsticks you from a creative block.

* Bypasses the fight or flight response.

* Creates new connections between neurons so thet the brain entusiastically takes over the process of change and you progress rapidly towards your goal."

Kaizen is an alternative for those who have a hard time facing major changes, like quitting smoking all at once. For something like that, the kaizen way might be to stop smoking in your car, as the first small step. Then you could switch to a brand with less nicotine, stop smoking in the house, and so on.

An important technique used in kaizen is asking "small questions." In factories this meant no more questions like "What are you going to do to improve the company profits this year?" That just elicits more fear than creative ideas. A better question might be, "What small change could we make in your department to reduce expenses (or improve quality)?" This approach was found to be far more productive.

For purposes of self improvement, this means asking small suggestive questions of yourself, like, "What could I do to free up five minutes for my meditation practice?" or "What small change could I make if I wanted to improve my relationships today?" Small questions tend to dispell the fear and intimidation that come with frontally facing the whole issue.

Small questions, along with small, comfortable changes are the first important principle of kaizen. The second is to make the process a continual one. Just imagine where you'd be if you had consciously made one small change in your life each week for the last few years. Even better, imagine where you'll be a few years from now, if you start the process today.

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step." - Lao Tzu

About the Author: Steve Gillman writes on many topics including brainpower, weight loss, meditation, habits of mind, creative problem solving, generating luck and anything related to self improvement. Learn more and get FREE e-courses at http://www.SelfImprovementNow.com

Source: www.easyarticles.com

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.

Until next time, keep reaching for your fullest potential!

By: LA

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

LA is a free lance writer with a background in sports and medical who likes to write on a variety of topics that give consumers enough information to make an educated decision. Man in the mirror (For inspiration and motivation) mitm-la.blogspot.com Best Life (For health and fitness tips) bestlife-la.blogspot.com

By: Rene Graeber

They say that time is much more important than wealth. Most effective people think so. They know how to get more time in a day, and they have mastered the art of utilizing time effectively to do more productive things that contribute to their advancement or success. So how do they do it?

Proven Technique Number 1 - They delegate and assign simple routinary tasks to other people so that they can have more free time to do as they please.

This is very elementary but of great significance. If you have the money, hire people to do the housework, the repairing, and even some of your office jobs. Let others do the research. But of course, you have to reward them accordingly so they will get motivated to render their services again.

You can then focus on the more important things in life, like planning and managing your activities.

Proven Technique Number 2 - They plan seriously.

The less time you think you have, the more critical it is for you to plan. By planning carefully, you’ll be able to manage your time better and avoid costly mistakes that eat up much more of your time.

You might say that you’re so busy you don’t even have time to plan. Maybe you can insert some time planning while doing your other activities. The planning phase is very important in organizing your thoughts to carry out the desired effects.

You might say that this is boring stuff, but you should never underestimate this process. This is like a guideline to steer you into the right direction.

Your plan will be your road map. Spend enough time to ponder through the different approaches and activities, and you will soon realize that you can save a lot more time by doing this.

It will be best if you can choose a quiet place to make your plan.

Your mind can focus and think more clearly this way.

Every individual has his unique perception of a well-made plan. There are no specific rules in making it. But in case you're in a tight situation, let me give you some tips.

1. Write down your objective. This is a precise definition of your target

2. Brainstorm the strategies & tactics you will employ to accomplish your objective.

3. Assess the advantages & disadvantages of carrying out those strategies & choose those tactics where the pros outweigh the cons.

4. Set a timeline or deadline in completing your mission.

5. Make modifications & back-up plans in case Plan A doesn't work.

6. As your plan evolves, you will gain experience. Learn from your mistakes.

Most important of all, don’t delay. Start applying what you have learned today, and have lots of great time!

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

About the Author:
Do you want to get rid of your dreadful “time-wasting” habits and start doing things in an organized, efficient manner? Take a few minutes and I’ll show you how to quickly and effectively get more done in a week than what most people can accomplish in a month! Just visit: www.time-management-tips-techniques.info

These tips on how to stop worrying come from experience. I've always been a bit of a worrier. Thankfully, I have learned some techniques that help me and others that have used them. Here are the best of them.

Make A Decision

A sure way to stop worrying too much about an unresolved issue is to make a decision. Even bad decisions may often be better than doing nothing. You may immediately resolve the stress when you finally decide to quit that job, buy that house, or make that phone call. Nothing can crowd and cloud your mind with worry quite so much as decisions waiting to be made. Just make them, and if they prove to be bad decisions, just make new ones.

Take Action

Action towards a goal tends to diminish worry. Doing nothing but thinking too much about a goal, especially if you dwell on the hurdles, will cause you worry and stress. Certainly you should plan well, but when planning drifts towards worrying, start doing something positive.

Confront Problems

Want to know how to stop worrying when there are real problems? Confront them head-on. When I had to sue someone over a business matter, I was worrying about it for weeks. I finally just filed the papers, got on the phone, and came to an agreement. My stress was gone. In fact, my worrying dissipated as soon as started acting, BEFORE the resolution.

Even if you tend to dwell on past losses, you can probably see that there is more mental pain in thinking about a possible loss than in the loss itself. Suppose you lost a thousand dollars in the stock market a while back. Today, you would probably suffer less from that than you would from wondering if you'll make it on time to a concert you paid $30 for. It isn't the problems themselves, but the anticipation of problems that causes the most worry. Deal with them head on as soon as is possible, and resolve them to the extent possible.

Mental Categories

When there are too many things going on in my head, I put them on lists and feel better. Maybe you've had similar experiences. If you're thinking too much about something, and you stop to schedule a time to work on it, it is easier to let go of it for now. Write down that phone call you have to make on tomorrow's list, and you'll feel less worried now. You're creating "mental categories." Just telling yourself, "There is nothing I can do about this until Monday," can put a worry into a category of "nothing to worry about now."

How To Stop Worrying By Meditating

Meditating can be a great way to relax and to stop worrying. What if you don't want to take the time for more involved meditative practices? Try this: just close your eyes, let the tension out of your body and take several deep breaths through your nose. There are also brain wave entrainment CDs that will do all the work for you. Pop on the headphones and they'll relax you by slowing your brain waves.

Whichever techniques you use to stop your worries, make them into habits. Nothing works if you forget to use it. In fact, until they become automatic, you might want to carry a list of your favorite tips on how to stop worrying.

About the Author: Steve Gillman has been studying brainpower and related topics for years. For more on How To Increase Brain Power, and to get the Brain Power Newsletter and other free gifts, visit: http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com

Source: www.easyarticles.com

An acquaintance told me a story recently about the public speaking experience that paralyzed her mentally for five years.

As the valedictorian of her high school class, she had prepared a speech called "The Power of the Mind." She was not anxious about the speech, as she was an experienced performer and speaker. She began her speech confidently, with a strong opening.

A short way into the speech, she found herself wondering, "what if I fainted?" It made no sense, since she was not afraid of public speaking, but she started to question whether she would be able to finish the speech. As this thought took hold, she started to see spots in front of her eyes. She began to feel dizzy. She grasped the lectern with all her strength to keep from collapsing.

Finally, she got a grip on herself, took some deep breaths, and was able to finish the speech. She hadn't delivered it the way she had hoped, but was able to do it without falling over.

For the next five years, every time she had to give a presentation, she would panic, and this fear - that was literally created out of her own mind - took over.

Most of our fears and anxieties about public speaking are based on thoughts that have very little to no basis in reality. Sometimes, a person has actually had real-life negative experiences that trigger those fears. But it's just as likely that a person who dreads public speaking has never had a bad public speaking experience.

I had a similar experience, in that I created fear and anxiety in my mind, but it was not about public speaking. Here's another example of this amazing power our minds have to create - and control - fear.

In 1990, I was hit head-on by a car while driving my scooter. I wasn't wearing a helmet; my head and the car's front end met in the middle of a busy intersection. I was lucky that nothing was broken and that I didn't suffer a more severe head injury. Recovery was slow, and soon after the accident I started having panic attacks.

I couldn't sit in a crowded restaurant. I couldn't tolerate the middle seat at the movie theater. Elevators made me anxious, and my biggest fear was sitting inside an airplane for ten hours, unable to get out. With a trip to Europe already planned, this was going to happen, whether I liked it or not.

I was referred to a therapist who specialized in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. She taught me breathing, visualization and relaxation techniques. I started to find myself reversing the panic attacks. If I felt one coming on, I could close my eyes, visualize a calming scene, breathe deeply, and conquer the anxiety. It was a powerful tool.

However, I realized that I could also CREATE a panic attack, just by thinking of the trigger. So now, I could sit in the middle seat at the movie theater, but I would start worrying, "what if I have a panic attack?" By letting the idea get comfortable in my mind, I could create the panic attack out of thin air. Now I had the tools to combat the attack, and I also had the tools to create one from scratch.

To this day, I am more comfortable in a aisle seat. I know that I can handle a claustrophobic trigger, but I still avoid putting myself there, knowing what my brain is capable of. At the same time, when I don't have a choice, I know my brain can handle that, too. Recently, I attended a Cirque du Soleil traveling performance. Anyone who's been to one of these shows knows how tightly packed the audience is. The big top is crowded, dark, hot, and literally defines claustrophobia! I sat through the performance - in a middle seat! - and had a great time, not once feeling the dread (or allowing it to) take over.

If our mind is powerful enough to create fear from "nothing," it's also powerful enough to reframe our thoughts to propel us forward in a positive way. There have been many books written about the power of positive thinking - the most well-known of these is Norman Vincent Peale's, first published over 50 years ago. Recent medical research shows, for example, that a positive expectation of a medication has real measurable physical effects (not just the psychological "placebo effect") on our health.

How does this apply to you as a public speaker? You can control the amount of fear and anxiety you experience around public speaking. You have the power to turn negative and fearful thoughts into positive ones. How do you do it?

1. The first step is being aware of your negative thoughts. Many of these thoughts are subconscious, but becoming aware of them and bringing them forward to your conscious mind is an important step. Once you are aware of these thoughts, you are then able to replace them with positive thoughts. You might say the following to yourself, "I'm an excellent speaker. People want to hear what I have to say. I'm going to have a great time. I'm excited about sharing my expertise." You choose the words that work for you; the important thing is to say them to yourself. This is the first step toward believing your positive thoughts.

2. The next step is visualizing yourself being successful at public speaking. Using your imagination, close your eyes and see yourself in the venue, speaking to an attentive audience. They are smiling and nodding. They are fascinated by what you have to say! Visualize yourself standing confidently, smiling and delivering your presentation clearly, concisely and with passion and enthusiasm. Imagine the audience applauding at the end (why not have a standing ovation while you're at it?). Imagine people seeking you out afterward, expressing gratitude and appreciation for what you've just taught them.

3. Finally, you will want to prepare physically for your presentation. On your way to the venue, warm up your voice by singing along to your favorite music. Breathe deeply. Once you get there, stretch and massage your back, neck, shoulders, chest, jaw and face. Continue deep breathing to bring oxygen to your brain and muscles, improve blood flow, and reduce tension that can make your voice weak or quivery.

If you have severe and paralyzing fear, it might help to see a therapist to get started, but most people who fear public speaking are not paralyzed or phobic. These simple tools may be all you need to start turning around your perceptions. It won't happen overnight, but if you commit to changing your negative thought patterns, you have the power to make it so.

After five years, my acquaintance finally took control of her public speaking fears, and so can you!

About the Author: Lisa Braithwaite works with individuals to uncover their challenges and build their strengths in presenting themselves confidently as speakers. Find your voice with public speaking coaching! Sign up for my newsletter and find out about my free consultation by visiting www.coachlisab.com.

The world today is zooming by and we have to find ways to cope with the speed of changes in order not to be left behind.

The world's population is growing by the minute and the skills that are available via the standard academic channels are replicating at the same rate. Thus, if we want to succeed in this world, we have to engage in any kind of self improvement effort. If we simply go with the flow and not take the initiative to further our personality and skills, chances are, we will not amount to anything, at all.

Just as a book should not be judged by its cover, we wish you read this entire article on self-improvement before actually making a judgment.

Here are four effective tips that might be of interest to you.

Self-improvement tip 1: Enroll yourself in interesting self help and development classes.

If you really want to stand out, you must have a extra to offer, whether to your personal or business life. Several classes on various topics and activities are available nowadays. Choose those that interest you most, or those that are similar to your chosen career.

Self-improvement tip 2: Maximize all your senses

Learn to listen more carefully, see more clearly and feel more deeply. Initially you will be surprised at this tip, because you do use your five senses daily. However, you will be shocked, upon closer scrutiny, how little you use them. If you learn to be more sensitive to the people around you and your surroundings, the better you will be able to handle life’s' challenges, whether small or big.

Self-improvement tip 3: Relish your "me" time.

Since a lot of people nowadays focus most of their time and energies on working and making money, "ME" time is probably one of the most precious rewards to yourself. Use your alone time wisely. Reflect on your day, breathe and savour the moment. Try not to waste it on the small stuff and use it to study your life path and see if you are still on the right track. Your alone time is a great time to get yourself back on course.

Self-improvement tip 4: Cherish your relationships.

Man is a social animal, Aristotle (greek philosopher) said. It is inevitable that we socialize. Thus, we must know how to take care of our relationships. Working hard is great, but, remember, money can't buy the kind of happiness that is obtained from healthy human relationships.

Many of us are now enrolling in various self help cources, not just for skills development, like communication skills and career skills, physical development, like Yoga and boxercise, but also for personality building, like meditation and public speaking. Some people even choose to join groups of people with the same interests, like dancing or singing, to further theirs while trying to pass the time.

All in all, we are always seeking ways to better ourselves, not just to be able to adapt to the changing times, but also to move ahead. Presently, simply having a university degree will not suffice anymore. You have to have something extra to offer in order for you to excel.

There are many ways you can improve yourself. In fact, there is no single and uniform technique for everyone because we all have unique personalities, lives and aspirations. Decide what works best for you and wait for the rewards to come in. We live in a extremely competitive world. We owe it to ourselves to enjoy what career and personal development can bring.

About the Author
Andrew Chin is a recognized authority on the subject of Self Improvement. His web site SelfImprovementsGuide.com provides a wealth of information on Self Improvement. All rights reserved. Articles may be reprinted as long as the content and links remains unchanged.

Identifying Depression

Depression, like most mental illness runs the continuum of severity. It can be mild or major. It can last from weeks to months. It can involve anxiety symptoms as well. Depression is primarily characterized by sadness and/or loss of pleasure in nearly all activities. Additionally, there may be symptoms such as changes in appetite, sleep patterns, and psychomotor activity (changes in both mental and physical responsiveness and/or activity).

A depressed person may struggle with feelings of low self worth, recurrent thoughts of dying, as well as difficulty concentrating or making decisions. In children and adolescents the mood is often manifested as irritability rather than sadness. Some people may deny having feelings of sadness; instead they may report feeling numb or having no feelings at all.

Taking Action

First, it is important to look at how severely one’s functioning may be impaired. If the person’s level of functioning has been significantly impaired, i.e. they are having difficulty performing their daily routine, seek professional help immediately. A trip to the family doctor to rule out any medical conditions that might be causing the mood disorder is a good place to start.

Second, assess whether there have been any significant changes in circumstances, relationships etc. that may be contributing to the depression.

Third, if your loved one indicates they have a plan or intentions to harm themselves, take action immediately to get help. Call a mental health professional that you have been referred to by a reliable source or check your phone book for community mental health services. You can also call 1-800-784-2433 a suicide prevention hotline. If the threat is imminent, call 911.

Don’t Wait – Get Help

One of the biggest reasons people do not seek help is the shame they feel about having a mental illness. The reality is that our minds are vulnerable to illness just like our bodies. There is no shame in developing the flu or some other medical condition, so why is there with the mind? Those who avoid seeking help because of the shame they feel only languish longer than necessary.

How Counseling Can Help

A counselor can help a person gain perspective about their illness; resolve problems that may be contributing to the depression and assist the person in developing coping skills.

However, in addition to counseling, depending on the severity of the depression, medication may also be a treatment option. You can discuss this with your counselor, who could then refer you to a psychiatrist to prescribe and manage the necessary medication.

Relief is available for difficulties that plague our minds. It is truly the wise that seek out the help, wisdom and counsel of those whom God has equipped to facilitate the healing of the mind.

Source: www.easyarticles.com

About the Author: Jean LeStourgeon, MA, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in private practice in Palm Bay, Florida. She also operates the website Christian Counseling Online where you can find lots more information and tools on topics like Depression Help and Signs of Depression , all from a Biblical perspective

If you're single and dissatisfied with the way your life is going, you can turn things around by seeing your situation from a new, more positive perspective.

Many single people are stuck in a "victim" mentality, feeling as if outside forces are conspiring against them to make them miserable. But to break free of that mindset and begin living a happier, more fulfilling life, you have to be mature enough to accept responsibility for your own destiny.

Accepting responsibility for the way things are going sounds scary, but the fact is that this new perspective is incredibly empowering. It means that you can control your future by how you think and what you do today. While that may seem quite obvious, most people never put that principle into practice. Here are five secrets that can help you break free of your present situation to create the tomorrows you've always dreamed of.

1. Live life now, instead of postponing it until you get married.

Consciously or subconsciously, many single people think their life can't be happy until they meet and marry the person of their dreams. Unfortunately, the calendar is turning for all of us. Instead of putting your life on hold, start exploring the possibilities that are open to you right now--today. Be bold. Sample new interests and experiences. Start in small ways, and slowly if you must, but break your inertia and start doing. Not only will you enjoy your life more, but you'll also become a much more attractive person in the process.

2. Rethink the way you value yourself.

You are not less valuable as a person because no one has chosen you for marriage yet. You have intrinsic worth as a person regardless of your job or marital status. Don't let friends or society dictate your importance. Being married is no more "normal" or "acceptable" than being single. Remember that it's the goal of advertising to make you feel dissatisfied or incomplete. Don't fall for it.

3. Find something you can be passionate about, besides your career.

Jobs come and go, and if you invest too much of your emotional capital in your employment, you're setting yourself up for a fall. Besides, you are not your job. You're you, an independent, worthwhile person who happens to work at your job. Whether it's working on a political campaign, supporting a charity, or enjoying a hobby, a passionate cause will enrich your life--and just might help you meet your future spouse.

4. Be grateful and appreciative for what you have, not depressed over what you don't have.

A sure way to make yourself miserable is to be jealous toward people who seem to have more or be more than yourself. But we often overlook the good things in our life that we should be thankful for. Focusing on lack and constantly complaining about it turns you into a whiner, a person that people avoid. On the other hand, being grateful for your health, job, and all your material blessings makes you feel fortunate. Gratitude and happiness are inseparably bound together.

5. Live with a sense of expectancy.

If you develop the habit of expecting good things to happen to you instead of bad, you'll find that pleasant surprises will suddenly start occuring in your life. Whether you call it the law of attraction or answered prayer, this phenomenon is one of the greatest joys of life. You can turn your life completely around when you meet each day by looking for something positive to happen. You can't make beneficial things occur just by wishing for them, but if you cultivate the habit of recognizing the good experiences, you'll soon see that they far outweigh the negatives in your life. Focusing on the right things is key to being a happier, more fulfilled person.

Source: www.easyarticles.com

About the Author: Jack Zavada is a baby boomer single who has authored four novels and over 5,000 magazine and newspaper articles. His work has been translated into 43 languages. His web site is www.inspiration-for-singles.com.

Many great things have started as an simple, creative idea. Consider donating some of your best ideas to help others. The more creative you are, the more ideas you will be able to create. You can be creative even if you don't think you are.

I have known many people that were scared to use a computer for the first few times. However, after diving into it they became more comfortable. They were willing to take a risk and make some mistakes. The result was an ability to learn and do things they would never be able to do without the use of a computer.

Being creative and thinking up world-changing ideas occurs in the same way. Everyone can be creative but they have to be willing to start. The creative process will then become more natural over time.

Try the following tips to help you on your journey to be more creative:

1. Record your ideas on whatever is comfortable and convenient at the moment. What is important is that you record your ideas. In the past, I have forgotten ideas that I thought of when I was on a walk. Now I carry a digital recorder with me on those walks. At other times I use my computer, notepad or journal. Choose what will work best for you and make sure you have a way to record your ideas at all times. You never know when an important idea will surface.

2. Don't limit yourself to ideas that seem possible. Capture all of your ideas. Even those that seem impossible to implement are important for a couple of reasons. First, what seems impossible to you may not be impossible sometime in the future or for someone else. Second, impossible ideas encourage further creative ideas that might be more likely to be implemented.

3. Change your scenery or location. A change in scenery can stimulate the creativity inside you. A change might be as simple as looking out a window. You can also visit someplace new like a park, beach, or mall. The new environment can foster new ideas.

4. Read on many topics. It is amazing how many things in a totally unrelated subject can prompt new ideas. By broadening your knowledge into more areas, you make your creativity potential grows.

5. Go for a walk. Some of my best ideas have happened when I was on a walk. This applies to any form of moderate exercise. I have heard of others that have written articles and speeches while waalking or jogging.

6. Focus in 10-15 minute increments. It does not take a significant amount of time to brainstorm some potential ideas. In fact, brainstorming works best when done for short periods of time. Concentrate for a few minutes on generate as many ideas to address a specific area or problem. Then capture anything that comes to mind throughout the rest of the day (see tip #1). You will have several ideas for consideration for little investment of time. One of those could become something tremendous for helping others.

7. Think big. What question are you asking to prompt your ideas? The larger the question, the larger the impact those ideas may have on the world. You can start by addressing smaller problems but don't limit yourself to those. You have unique experiences, knowledge and talents that should be applied to helping others on a grand scale as well.

Follow these tips and you will be on your way to generating ideas that have the potential to change the world. Don't let your previous lack of creativity keep you from developing and donating your ideas. Get started today.

Source: www.easyarticles.com

About the Author: To learn more ways to give to others, sign up for the free Everyday Giving ezine at http://www.everydaygiving.com. Roger Carr is the founder of Everyday Giving. His life purpose is to help people help others.

Are you a goal oriented person? If you are, then you probably know that all successful people in life know the basics of setting and achieving their goals. If you want to achieve a healthy life, then setting fitness goals should be no different than anything else you do.

Setting fitness goals gives you motivation and drives you for the short or long term success. Goal setting helps you obtain the knowledge necessary to achieve. If you plan and organize your time to exercise and eat the right meals, you’ll get the best out of your efforts.

Setting clearly defined fitness goals will also measure progress and provide accountability. Holding yourself accountable will help you through the challenging days (such as ordering pizza at work). Your self-confidence will sky rocket as you learn more about your capabilities.

The first thing you need to do when setting fitness goals is to have a vision of where you want to be a month from now or a year from now. Your vision of yourself must be clearly defined. For example, a good short term goal would be “I want to loose 8 lbs in one month”. Then break down your goal into smaller targets so you can easily hold yourself accountable to complete it.

When using this weight loss example: you want to set weekly goals for that month to loose 2 lbs a week. Then write down the steps necessary to loose 2 lbs a week. Use these steps as your plan to success.

Having a good attitude has a big impact on setting and achieving your goals. You must be realistic with yourself and think about anything that would hold you back from loosing weight.

Realize any behavior challenges you may have ahead of time. It will give you a mindset to attack any issues you may encounter during your path to success. For example, if you love go out to eat with co workers, try to plan your order ahead of time so you eat clean and healthy for that meal.

Leading a healthy lifestyle is for the most part dependent on your time management skills. Most people fail because they often have bad time management skills and lack of persistence. Planning your work outs and meals ahead of time will decide success or failure.

Your family should never be left out of your plans. Do not to put your family aside. If you plan your workouts during family obligations you are setting yourself up for failure. Find out what time blocks you can control (such as waking up earlier) and use that time to plan your work outs.

I’m sure someone said, “A life filled with work really stinks”, or something like that, is very true. Take advantage of life’s pleasures: set up a cheat day once a week to eat what ever you want. Having a day with no rules provides the mental break needed to continue with your fitness objectives.

Create a fitness-to-do list for the day. Write down at least three things you want to do that will help you continue your new fitness lifestyle. This will help you set the tone for the day. In my opinion writing down your fitness objectives provides a mental agreement with yourself to complete those objectives.

Once you learn the basics of setting your fitness goals, you will be able to effectively lead a life of health and fitness. It will be more realistic to you and you’ll soon be an expert on achieving your goal of leading a healthy life filled with a new found energy that you will love.

Source: www.easyarticles.com

About the Author: To really learn on how to create your fitness goals and achieve them, read our review of the burn the fat feed the muscle e book at http://www.addfitness.com. The burn the fat feed the muscle book will provide the no frills physical fitness information you will need to help you accomplish your fitness goals.

Self control means the ability to motivate ourselves to do the things we need to do. It also means stopping ourselves from doing things that we see are bad for us. It may seem that it is a problem of willpower, but pushing ourselves to do things when we feel miserable, or fighting temtation may just be a recipe for stress. There are better ways.

Self Control With Easy Steps

One trick to doing what you need to do is to start using what motivation you have. If you really feel stressed when you think about doing your tax return, for example, just put it out where you can work on it later. That's a start. Later, you might just do one form. If you think about it, whatever the task, you can usually find enough motivation for some small step. Take that step as soon as you think of it, and the next steps become easier.

Another trick is to create motivation. Find ways to energize yourself. Willpower tends to go up and down with energy levels. Sleep well, play energetic music, move around, or start an interesting conversation. When you find the things that work for you, keep a list handy to use as necessary.

Self Control Through Self Awareness

Maybe that piece of cake calls to you. Isn't it sometimes hard to resist temptation? Stronger willpower is a nice idea, but a simpler solution is to stop standing in front of the cake! Stop looking at it too. Don't go to the bar alone if you want a faithful marriage. Don't have whiskey in the house if you don't want to drink it. Stay away from people that lead you to trouble.

Don't buy into the idea that self control means being immune to temptation. True self control is not the willpower to say no, but the wisdom to avoid temptation. Be aware of where your resistance is low, and don't put yourself in those situations. Doesn't that make more sense than fighting useless battles with yourself?

Of course there will be times when you didn't choose the situation you are in, or at least that's the excuse you'll use. What can you do to be ready for the temptations that come up unexpectedly. Here are a few tips.

1. Ask people for help. If you can't stop complaining, for example, have friends point out when you are doing it.

2. Use substitutes. If you shouldn't drink that beer, quickly get a glass of your favorite juice or soda. For best results, have substitutes in mind that give you some real pleasure.

3. Imagine the consequences of your actions. Do this imediately when you are tempted, and be vivid in your imaginings. Give yourself a good scare, if you have to.

4. Try to relax. Willpower is low when you are stressed. Close your eyes and take three deep breaths.

5. Discover some of the causes of your temptations, and deal with them. For some people, boredom can lead to all sorts of stupid ways to find "excitement," for example. Involvement in something productive and intereasting can make the temptations disappear. Find some of the underlying causes, and change what you can change.

"Strengthening" willpower by fighting your feelings is a losing battle. It is more effective to learn about yourself. How are you motivated? What are your strengths and weaknesses? Learn, and use what you learn to make the behavior you want easy. That's the key to self control.

Source: www.easyarticles.com

About the Author: Steve Gillman writes on many topics including brainpower, weight loss, meditation, habits of mind, creative problem solving, generating luck and anything related to self improvement. Learn more and get FREE e-courses at http://www.SelfImprovementNow.com

A "power nap" is what used to be called a catnap. The new term was apparently coined by social psychologist James Maas. It is a short nap that is designed to refresh you, and make you more productive. Does it work?

Dr. Sara Mednick, a researcher at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, says napping benefits cell repair, heart function, and hormonal maintenance. What a power nap does is maximize these benefits, by getting the rejuvenative effects in as short a time as possible. Brain function is helped as well. A NASA study found that naps don't aid alertness, but they do improve memory functions.

Other recent research shows that power naps can boost productivity, lower stress, and improve learning and mood (no surprise there). Analyzing the MRIs of nappers, researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies found that with a nap, brain activity stays high throughout the day. Skip the nap, however, and brain activity declines as the day goes on.

Many who are deficient on regular night time sleep make time for short naps during the day. Steve Fossett says that when he made his record 67-hour flight around-the-world alone in his jet, he took a couple dozen two-to-three minute naps as his only sleep. He claims that he awoke refreshed. When Lance Armstrong was training for his Tour-de-France bicycle races, naps were an important part of his routine. U.S. Marines in Iraq are instructed to take a power nap before going out on patrol.

Napping 101

Sleep comes in several stages. A power nap aims at achieving just the first two stages. These are the stage of relaxation and slower respiration, and the second stage - light restful sleep. The first stage takes about ten minutes. The second can last for ten to twenty minutes. Based on this, many people consider 20 minutes the ideal length for a power nap.

Length is open to debate, though. It seems likely that ideal length varies for individuals. Your own ideal nap length is probably best determined through experimentation. The important point here is that if you sleep too long, you get what is called "sleep inertia."

This is when you feel heavy, it is hard for you to focus, and your mind is sluggish. It is essentially the winding down of activity in the brain's prefrontal cortex. If you nap too long, it can take thirty minutes or more to "reboot" and overcome this sleep inertia.

A Power Nap Routine

Ready for a simple two-step routine for power napping? This is taken from research done at the Loughborough University in the UK.

Step one: Relax and drink a cup of coffee.

Step Two: Close your eyes and let yourself fall asleep for 15 minutes.

Your body takes time to process the caffeine in the coffee, so you get your nap or your "micro-sleep" in, and the caffeine hits just as you are ready to wake up and get back to work. Sleep deprived subjects were used for the research, and they reported feeling very refreshed following this routine. This kind of power nap will likely work for those who are not as sleep deprived as well.

Can't Fall Asleep?

You may have trouble falling asleep quickly. Fifteen minutes spent relaxing and daydreaming may have benefits, but what if you really want to sleep during that power nap? Try brainwave entrainment CDs. Listen to these CDs (the good ones), and your brainwaves slow automatically, putting you into deep meditative state - or asleep in my case.

Source: www.easyarticles.com

About the Author: Copyright Steve Gillman. For more on Brainwave Entrainment, and to get the Brain Power Newsletter and other free gifts, visit:
http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com

I had to take a friend to the doctor today and as I sit here in the waiting room about to doze off I begin to write this article. By the way, why do waiting rooms in doctor's offices make people sleepy?

OK, let me get back on track. As I'm sitting here, I hear a lady behind me talking of her past depression. She mentions she felt so lonely after her dear husband passed away. In her own words, 'her whole world fell apart.' She said her husband handled everything in their marriage such as the money, bills and auto maintenance. After he passed away she became overwhelmed with all the finances and other responsibilities she now had to deal with, not to mention the fact that she was still mourning the death of her husband.

This conversation got me to thinking of how many people deal with the painful loss of a loved one.

Many times when a loved one passes, those left behind might not immediately feel the effects of that loss. It has not 'hit them' or 'sunk in' yet. Sometimes it takes a while for a person to react to the loss. Some may try to stay strong or hide their feelings in front of others. But when the funeral is over and the family and friends have returned to their homes, the person may break down. It finally sinks in. Some sink into a depression so bad they close themselves off from the rest of the world. They take extra time off from work and even turn down invitations from family and friends.

Isolation and self-pity are never the answer. It's okay to mourn. Even people in Bible times mourned when they lost loved ones in death.

A few examples of this include:

* King David who was grief stricken when his son Absalon died (2Samuel 18:33)

* Abraham bewailed the loss of his dear wife, Sarah (Genesis 23:2)

* Even Jesus himself, who was a perfect man, 'gave way to tears' over the death of his friend Lazarus (John 11:35)

So this shows that there is a sadness when we lose a loved one to death.

The thing is to not dwell on everything. Keep busy. Get involved in other things such as hobbies. Get you mind off the loss. The memories will always be there but they don't have to be painful.

Another thing that can help you deal with your sorrow is Bible reading. God, being the loving God that he is, helps his people to endure the extreme sadness and grief that comes with bereavement. God's spirit helps us to have peace and faith in the worderful future promised in his Word the Bible.

The Scriptures refer to God as 'the God of all comfort,' so we can be sure that he will give us the strength we need and not let us be overwhelmed by sad thoughts about our dead loved one.

Knowing all this should help us realize that we are not alone in experiencing the pain of our loss. Others have been through the same thing. In time, the pain will subside. The world is not going to stop for our broken heart. Life will go on. Things WILL get better.

So knowing all of this and the fact that even the perfect man Jesus went through this as well, should help us to deal with the painful loss of a loved one.

Source: www.easyarticles.com

About the Author: Anna Allen is author of several articles on depression and grief. Visit her depression website at: http://www.depressionadviceonline.com/index.html or visit her Depression Blog which contains helpful articles that are updated daily: http://depressionadviceonline.blogspot.com/

Having a goal enables you to focus your energies on devising ways to achieve it. When someone makes a decision and begins focusing on achieving a specific goal (and even better in a specific period of time), the powerful subconscious mind goes to work and begins playing with ideas and developing strategies of various ways to bring about the successful completion of the goal.

When you set yourself a goal both your conscious and subconscious start working on it and begin to develop an action plan. You will find you begin asking yourself questions about what needs to be done to enable you to reach your goal. You may find yourselves coming up with amazing ideas and solutions to problems or obstacles that have been in the way of achieving your goal. Solutions and ideas that you are surprised you ever thought of may start popping into your mind.

Our subconscious is an extremely powerful tool. The more often you remind yourself of your goal, the more your mind will work on ways for you to achieve it. Some people find answers come to them when they are asleep and dreaming.

Have you ever noticed that there is no correlation between being wealthy and having a high IQ or a university degree? If there were, every doctor and university graduate would be wealthy, and as statistics show, most of them end up in the same situation as 95% of the population.

The main thing that the majority of independently wealthy people have in common is that they have set goals for themselves and achieved them. They invest time in reading and learning about wealth creation and are happy to learn from other people’s mistakes and experiences, as well as their own. They set goals, and realise that they will be far better able to achieve them if they familiarise themselves with the ways in which other people acted and the things that others have done to succeed. Wealthy people create wealth by carefully utilising the income that they have available to them to their best advantage. They know that working harder and longer hours is not the way to achieve financial freedom, instead they have to utilise what they have, and make it grow.

Setting Goals.
When you begin to work out your goals you need to make them as specific as possible. A vague idea or generalization like “I want to buy investment properties and become wealthy” is not enough. You need to be much more detailed. “I want to own my first investment property within six months. I will save for the legal and bank fees, and borrow 100% of the value of the property. I will find an extremely well priced, three bedroom brick veneer house that is close to schools and shopping centres. It will be either brand new or less than ten years old. It will be structurally sound, and require a minimal amount of maintenance. I will find a good agent to manage it, who has a lot of experience and will find me a good tenant.”

This is a specific goal, and you could add a lot more to it. Because your goal is specific your mind immediately begins to ask questions such as “How much money will I need for the fees and charges? How much does that relate to if I break it down on a weekly basis? Will I have to look at my current expenses to see where I need to cut back so as to make up the difference for the amount I need to save?” Specific goals help you to create specific, realistic action plans and as the old saying goes, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail”.

You will find that if you write down your goals on a piece of paper, and put it in a prominent position, so that you will read it often, your subconscious as well as your conscious mind will start asking questions and coming up with answers, and you will find that you have already begun to take the necessary steps to achieving your goal.
It is helpful to have a series of goals, ranging from daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, ten yearly and thirty to forty yearly. You can always refine and change your goals as time goes on and situations change.

You may find that it is easier to start at the 40-year mark, and then work backwards. Try to work out what steps would be needed to achieve your 40-year goal, and spread them out over the different time spans, to what you would need to achieve to end up with the final result.

Try to make your goals realistic and achievable. Do not set a goal that is too hard. Set lots of small, easily achievable goals and work step by step to achieve your road to success. Stay positive. Believe in yourself and your abilities to succeed, even if other people patronise you or try to put you off, or tell you there is no point.

Setting and achieving goals help you to create a stronger character. It is always helpful to remember that our brain cannot entertain both positive and negative thoughts at the same time. If you stay positive you will dispel negative thought patterns. Even if you come across little obstacles that get in the way of your goals, don’t give up. Focus on finding a solution, rather than focussing on the problem – utilise a positive response. Focussing on finding solutions enables you to put your brain to work, to find ways around things. If you just see an obstacle as a problem and just accept that life has dealt you a blow, and let it stop you in your tracks, then you will never learn and grow. Remember that children learn to walk by falling over. Focus on the long-term achievements that you want to fulfil, and it will be easier to overcome your problems.

Source: www.easyarticles.com

In many ways, you probably know how to live a simple life, but do you want to? Many want the complexity and constant drama of their lives. This is something we each have to look at honestly. However, some of us really want simplicity, and some would want it if they knew what it felt like to live more simply and at peace. Here are a few ways to get there.

Just Say No ... Or Say Yes

An important secret to how to live a simple life is to learn to look honestly at how life gets complicated. This may be different for each of us, but there are some common habits we share. One such habit is taking on new responsibilities without fully acknowledging the costs and complexities they add to our lives.

When a man buys a boat, for example, does he usually think about the time he will spend maintaining it and cleaning it? Does he think about the trip to the insurance office for insurance, the necessity to shop for accessories like life-jackets and fire extinguishers? Does he remind himself that boats break down, and he'll have to deal with hauling it someplace to have it repaired? Does he consider the trailer-hitch he'll need, the tarp to cover the boat, the tarp to replace that one when it tears, the bearings in the trailer wheels that will someday fail. Finally, Does he think about the hours he will be committed to working to pay for all this fun?

It isn't about the boat, by the way. There's nothing wrong with owning a boat. With nothing else was going on in his life, all of the above could easily be a part of "the simple life." Hwever, when we don't honestly recognize the role of our own choices in adding complexity to our lives, we take on more than we can possibly handle. As a result, a million exercise devices sit unused in basements while ten million hours are spent working to pay for them. Look honestly at all the costs, and make well-informed choices - this is the first secret of how to live a simple life.

Money Brings Simplicity - Or Complexity

Isn't it simple for a rich man to own a boat? He can just pay someone to take care of it while he plays with his kids. Money can bring simplicity to your life, but it's all in how you use it. This is the second important secret of how to live a simple life.

People use money in ways that overly complicate life, as when they put a down payment on a hot tub that they really don't need. Then they have to work to pay the interest, they have to clean the tub, find a place for it, and have it repaired. Of course, if you are wealthy enough, someone will take care of these things for you. However, if you make $8 per hour, a hot tub will almost certainly overly complicate your life.

If you really want the simple life, the choice then is to make more money, or live a life that is simply supported by your current income. After I paid off the mortgage loan on my first home, and got rid of the car, life became simpler and more relaxing. As I make more money, I can easily add more "things" back into my life, while keeping it simple, as long as I maintain the balance.

Drama Adds Complexity

For a simpler life, have fewer friends. This may sound harsh, but how many friends do you need? Don't get rid of true friends, but don't add people to your life unless there is a real exchange of value between you. We all have acquaintances we call "friends" and yet only tolerate just to "be nice." Do you think it is selfish to say you don't owe anything to these people? Then how selfish is it for them to say you do?

With friends and family, don't get involved in the drama more than you need to. Watch closely, and you'll see that until a person is ready to change, you rarely can help them in any case, neither with words nor with money. Save your efforts for when you truly can help. You weren't born with an obligation to anyone, and it's incredibly selfish for anyone to make such claims on your life. Let the drama swirl around you, but don't get involved in it. This is a crucial lesson on how to live a simple life.

Source: www.easyarticles.com

About the Author: Steve Gillman has been exploring new ideas for decades. Visit his site for invention ideas, business ideas, story ideas, political and economic theories, deep thoughts, and more. Get a free gift too: New Ideas (http://www.999ideas.com)

We all have a lack of self motivation at times. We can learn a hundred ways to improve our lives, but then hesitate to act. Something less important catches our attention, or we just don't feel like doing what we need to do. Even a person who is normally highly motivated can sometimes have a hard time getting started on an important task.

Is there a solution? There are probably dozens of them. Below are six of the best self motivation techniques that consistently work when used. Try them all, but if you find even one or two here that work for you, you'll be on your way.

Self Motivation Techniques That Work

1. Talk to get motivated. One of my favorite ways to create energy and motivation is to talk. Once I tell my wife about the article I'm going to write, I'm out of my slump and back at the keyboard. For less inspiring tasks, talk about the larger goals it will help you achieve.

2. Stimulate your desire. Seeing their potential future motivates many to sign up for get-rich-quick plans. The really good salesmen can put you in your imagined dream home in minutes, and make you feel motivated to do anything to make it real. Learn to be your own salesman.

3. Stimulate your pain. One Neuro-Linguistic Programming technique is to mentally link pain with not acting. It is like when finally stop hitting that snooze button on the alarm, and get up because you think you might lose your job. Just imagine any bad consequences that may occur if you don't do what you need to do.

4. Find a true interest. If you have no interest in what you are doing, it might mean you need to do something else. If it's just a task you dislike, but it needs to be done, relate it clearly in your mind to the greater goal. I don't like to drive, but I don't have a motivation problem when I'm driving to the mountains for a vacation.

5. Boost your energy. You need energy for self motivation. Coffee may help for a while, if caffeine doesn't create other problems for you. Exercising and sleeping well help too. Yo should also watch out for sugary foods. The "sugar blues"kill motivation. Once you find energy boosters that work for you, make a list and keep it handy for future use.

6. Take any small step. I've found if I commit to raking up one bag of leaves, I soon want to finish all the yard work. Taking any small step towards your goals is a great self motivation technique. To make this even easier, break larger goals down into small steps.

Motivation techniques really do work, but don't ask me how to get motivated to use them. In any case, you were motivated enough to read this far, so you'll be fine. Oh, and humor is number seven. A good laugh can overcome that feeling of being overwhelmed that sucks away self motivation.

Source: www.easyarticles.com

About the Author: Steve Gillman has been studying brainpower and related topics for years. For more on How To Increase Brain Power, and to get the Brain Power Newsletter and other free gifts, visit: http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com

Your bad habits limit your success in life. Below are six of the worst, with suggestions on how to break them. It is great if you can retrain your mind and develop good habits too, but just getting rid of bad habits is a great start to a better life.

Bad Habits

1. Waiting for opportunity. Should I be "waiting for my ship to come in," while others are out there building ships? Waiting doesn't invite opportunities - work does. Begin searching out opportunities and creating opportunities. Training your mind to see them can be as simple as looking for them. Then train yourself to take advantage of them by always taking some small step the moment you recognize an opportunity.

2. Short-term thinking. I talked to a man who paid $700 per month in rent when a nicer place was available for $550. Why did he do it? The $700 apartment required no deposit, but the cheaper place required a $450 deposit, so he would have had to save $1,000 (instead of $700) to move in. Due to his short-term thinking, he now pays $1,800 more for rent each year.

Though short term thinking got this man into his situation, and he didn't have the $300 extra, he still could have gone to the pawn shop and raised the money. It would have cost very little interest compared to spending $1,800 more per year on rent. Consider the long-term consequences of your actions, and write them down whenever you make a decision. Continue this until your mind does it automatically.

3. Impulsive actions. A man showed me his $200 hat, then minutes later he told me he was hoping they would approve his welfare application. Perhaps a problem with impulse control? Perhaps it's possible that his bad habits have lead to a place on the welfare rolls?

The solution? You'll usually change your mind about impulsive decisions by the next day. Wait a day before taking any action that commits time, energy or money towards something that is not a major goal in your life. Do it until it is a habit.

4. Blaming. Whether justified or not, how often does blaming someone or something for our situation motivate us to improve it? It is definitely one of the worst of these bad habits, and one of the more subtle ones too. Giving "reasons" for our troubles, for example, is often just a form of blaming.

Let's suppose that a given type of business is over-regulated. Who will most likely succeed here anyhow, the man who blames the regulation for his troubles, or the one that is always asking, "What can I do to succeed with things the way they are?" If you want greater success train your mind to think like the latter. Do you want to point at problems, or deal with them?

5. Procrastination. We know that often, "later" becomes "never." To stop procrastinating, get in the habit of looking for and doing the easiest first step you can find. Often just starting will develop your motivation.

6. Indulging one's laziness. I have little to say about this bad habit, except that I don't know anyone who has suffered greatly from forcing themselves to get up and do something. Do something easy first, and if low energy is part of the problem, start learning a few techniques for boosting it, like deep breathing and singing.

Maybe you have heard the saying, "change your mind - change your life." How do you change your mind? A good start is to correct your bad habits, one-by-one. Why not work on one today?


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Source: www.easyarticles.com

About the Author: Steve Gillman has been studying brainpower and related topics for years. For more on Bad Habits, and to get the Brainpower Newsletter and other free gifts, visit: http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com

used to be frighteningly under confident in social situations. And although people who know me now would never believe I used to doubt myself so much I literally had to learn confidence until it became a natural part of me. I can tell you relaxed optimistic confidence is just, well so much more fun.

Here I'll tell you about the things that made the most difference to my confidence levels...

Some people have naturally high levels of confidence but everybody can learn to be more confident

Firstly, it's important to get a clear idea of what self confidence really means, otherwise you won't know when you've got it! So, self confidence means:

1) Being calm. For every situation in life you need to run on the appropriate level of emotion. Too much emotional 'leakage' into a experience can spoil the experience. You make great strides towards confidence when you begin to relax in a greater range of situations.

2) Being cool. The second part of self confidence is about being able to relax with uncertainty. To be 'cool' in a situation really means relaxing with not knowing how things will pan out. If you truly tolerate uncertainty, you can do pretty much anything.

3) Not being too concerned with what others think of you. You know when you imagine what some place is going to be like before you go there but when you get there it is totally different to your imagination? That's how reliable your imagination is! Stop trusting your imagination so much. I've long since stopped bothering to imagine what others think of me because so often I've turned out to be wrong.

4) Being specific - where do you want confidence? 'Confidence' is meaningless until you tie it to something specific. You are already confident that you can read these words or can switch a light on and off. So you don't need more confidence everywhere. To get what you want in life you have to establish exactly what you do want. Where do you want confidence in your life? Think about the specific situations now and write them down. You beginning to steer your brain towards confidence.

5) Understanding that what you expect is what you get. Your brain is an organ that needs clear goals to work towards. When a task has been set in your brain it will do everything it can do to bring about the completion of that task. If you've tried to recall someone's name but can't, hours later you'll often find their name pops into your head.

The 'trying to recall' experience set the task or blueprint for your brain's future subconscious behaviour which eventually produced the name for you - when you weren't thinking about it consciously. You can use this natural mechanism to start feeling more confident. But, to ensure you set the right task for your subconscious mind, the next point is vital.

6) Don't task your mind with negatives. Instead of: 'I don't want to screw up' (which sets the task of 'screwing up' for your brain), set the blueprint for what you do want! Your brain doesn't work towards what to do by being told what not to do. And nature has given you a wonderful natural tool to set the right task blueprints with.

7) Use nature's goal-setter: Now you understand how vital it is to set the right task for you brain, you need to know how to do this reliably. Good hypnosis will strongly 'program' the right blueprint in your mind through the use of your imagination. If you powerfully imagine feeling confident and relaxed while in a relaxed hypnotic state it will be hard for your unconscious mind to do anything else. The blueprint for relaxation has been set firmly into your subconscious mind.

3 simple strategies to get you feeling confident quickly:

1) Think specifically of the time/place/situation you want to feel confident in. Remember 'confidence' doesn't mean anything until you attach it to something specific.

2) Focus on words in your mind right now that describe how you do want to be in that time and place. Maybe words such as 'calm', 'relaxed' or 'focused'. Remember your brain works on clear positive instructions.

3) Close your eyes for as long as you like and think about how those words feel. Then, imagine the situation itself and rehearse it in your mind feeling confident and relaxed. This way you set the right blueprint or 'task' for your unconscious mind.

You can repeat this often to make it more effective and use it with as many areas of your life as you need to. If you listen to a hypnotic cd or download that can make the benefits even more powerful (see my profile below). So if you feel like you'd be blessed with less confidence than some other people you can start redressing the balance by using your mind in the right way right now.

It took me years to learn how to be more confident - now you can do it in a fraction of the time. Good luck!

Boost your confidence now at HypnosisDownloads.com

Article by Mark Tyrrell of Hypnosis Downloads.com.

By: Steve Scoresby

If you ask most people why they have not achieved their goals or the level of success they desire, they will usually respond with some built-in excuse (negative belief) that is holding them back. Underlying this excuse or negative belief is usually a fear or worry. How many times have you attempted something new, only to stop before you ever got started because you were afraid of what others may think? Or you don't think you have the time or money or both? Or because you believe are inexperienced or lack the knowledge to succeed?

Someone once defined F.E.A.R. as False Evidence Appearing Real, which means we have chosen to believe in something that is not really true. But because it is our belief, it is our reality. Worry is nothing more than a sustained fear caused by indecision. Sometimes we need to ask some tough questions to determine the cause of these worries or fears. Once the fear is identified, a simple formula can be used to overcome that fear.

The first step is to clearly define what you are afraid of or worried about. Write in down. Put in on paper. Half of your worries and fears will be solved the instant you can define them clearly by putting them on paper. What once seemed big in your mind will look small and insignificant on paper.

For the other half, you need to move on to step two. Ask yourself, what is the worst possible thing that can happen if this fear or worry becomes true? Make a list, yes, write it down on paper underneath your clearly defined worry. Keep writing down everything that comes to mind until you have identified the worst possible outcome. Do you realize that 90% of what we worry about never happens? Think about how much time you spend on worrying about stuff that never will happen. This list will help you see that.

Once you have completed your list, resolve in your mind that you will accept the worst possible thing that can happen. Since 90% of those things will never occur and generally the other 10% will not kill you, realize you will survive. Accept the worst possible thing by telling yourself, I can handle it, over and over again. This will start to turn things around.

Finally, begin now to make sure the worst never happens. Put together an action plan of exactly what you need to do to turn things around. By focusing on positive changes and implementing your action plan, your focus will shift to the positive outcomes and away from your fears. You will begin to feel better because now you can DO SOMETHING! Positive action is the only cure for fear and worry. Try this formula today and see if it will work for you. It has worked for me.

To Your Success!
Steve Scoresby

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