It's Time to Start A Healthy Life

How many times have you gone to sleep at night, swearing you'll go to the gym in the morning, and then changing your mind just eight hours later because when you get up, you don't feel like exercising?

While this can happen to the best of us, it doesn't mean you should drop the ball altogether when it comes to staying fit. What people need to realize is that staying active and eating right are critical for long-term health and wellness -- and that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The more you know about how your body responds to your lifestyle choices, the better you can customize a nutrition and exercise plan that is right for you. When you eat well, increase your level of physical activity, and exercise at the proper intensity, you are informing your body that you want to burn a substantial amount of fuel. This translates to burning fat more efficiently for energy.

In other words, proper eating habits plus exercise equals fast metabolism, which, in turn gives you more energy throughout the day and allows you to do more physical work with less effort.

The true purpose of exercise is to send a repetitive message to the body asking for improvement in metabolism, strength, aerobic capacity and overall fitness and health. Each time you exercise, your body responds by upgrading its capabilities to burn fat throughout the day and night, Exercise doesn't have to be intense to work for you, but it does need to be consistent.

I recommend engaging in regular cardiovascular exercise four times per week for 20 to 30 minutes per session, and resistance training four times per week for 20 to 25 minutes per session. This balanced approach provides a one-two punch, incorporating aerobic exercise to burn fat and deliver more oxygen, and resistance training to increase lean body mass and burn more calories around the block.

Here's a sample exercise program that may work for you:

·         Warm Up -- seven to eight minutes of light aerobic activity intended to increase blood flow and lubricate and warm-up your tendons and joints.

·         Resistance Training -- Train all major muscle groups. One to two sets of each exercise. Rest 45 seconds between sets.

·         Aerobic Exercise -- Pick two favorite activities, they could be jogging, rowing, biking or cross-country skiing, whatever fits your lifestyle. Perform 12 to 15 minutes of the first activity and continue with 10 minutes of the second activity. Cool down during the last five minutes.

·         Stretching -- Wrap up your exercise session by stretching, breathing deeply, relaxing and meditating.

When starting an exercise program, it is important to have realistic expectations. Depending on your initial fitness level, you should expect the following changes early on.

·         From one to eight weeks -- Feel better and have more energy.

·         From two to six months -- Lose size and inches while becoming leaner. Clothes begin to fit more loosely. You are gaining muscle and losing fat.

·         After six months -- Start losing weight quite rapidly.

Once you make the commitment to exercise several times a week, don't stop there. You should also change your diet and/or eating habits,' says Zwiefel. Counting calories or calculating grams and percentages for certain nutrients is impractical. Instead, I suggest these easy-to-follow guidelines:

• Eat several small meals (optimally four) and a couple of small snacks throughout the day
• Make sure every meal is balanced -- incorporate palm-sized proteins like lean meats, fish, egg whites and dairy products, fist-sized portions of complex carbohydrates like whole-wheat bread and pasta, wild rice, multigrain cereal and potatoes, and fist-sized portions of vegetable and fruits
• Limit your fat intake to only what's necessary for adequate flavor
• Drink at least eight 8-oz. glasses of water throughout the day
• I also recommend that you take a multi-vitamin each day to ensure you are getting all the vitamins and minerals your body needs.

I suppose that's all I can think of for now. I should extend my thanks to a doctor friend of mine. Without him, I wouldn't be able to write this article, or keep my sanity.

Enjoy life, we all deserve it.

Power of Mind

How To Accelerate Your Personal Success

Get ready for a golden idea that will accelerate your personal success beyond your imagination.

Are you like most of people who may sit with themselves and define their strengths and weaknesses?

And after that you start developing a plan to improve your weaknesses to become a better person.

And while applying your plan, you face a lot of difficulties and you might surrender with the excuse that it is a habit that can't be changed.

If you are like those people, then accept my apology: you are limiting your chances of success and putting yourself in a great struggle.

By following that method you are wasting time and effort and you are far beyond the fast track to ultimate personal success.

Now forget about that method and let me give you the golden idea to accelerate your personal success:

"Focus 80% of your time and energy building and improving your strengths and focus the remaining 20% on improving you weaknesses".

Don't say it is strange because your strengths will become weaknesses if you left them without continuous improvement.

Your strength will decrease fast while your weakness may improve slowly and you will end up being a "middle" person with no unique talent or value.

To be a person of value you have to focus on your uniqueness and special talent. Develop it, improve it, and the most important thing is: use it, use it and use it.

Forget about your weaknesses; no body is perfect. And focus on your strengths. Focus on the unique value you have more than anyone else.

If you do that you will accelerate your personal success and become a person of great value.

Build on your talents and strengths and don't give much attention to your weaknesses. No body is perfect.

Again, here is the golden idea for accelerating personal success:

"Focus 80% of your time and energy building and improving your strengths and focus the remaining 20% on improving you weaknesses".

You can make a difference.

I believe in you.

Power of Mind

20 Ways To Make Someone Smile

Do you want to put a smile on someone's face today? Maybe make their day a little better. It won't cost you a single penny or much time to do just that. And because smiling is contagious, it probably won't just be one person you make smile today.

Here are 20 Ways To Make Someone Smile:


1. Send some flowers to your partner at work.
2. Compliment a friend or work colleague on their appearance.
3. Donate something to charity.
4. Take a friend out to lunch.
5. Let someone know you miss them.
6. Make a surprise telephone call to your partner at work, just to say hi.
7. Hold a door open for someone walking behind you.
8. Hug your partner for no reason.
9. Leave a joke on a friends answer machine.
10. Send a card to a friend letting them know what a good friend they are.
11. Give up your seat on the train to someone when there aren't any left.
12. Share your umbrella on a rainy day.
13. Ask a friend if they need anything while you're out shopping.
14. When it's raining, plan an indoor picnic with your children.
15. Leave a love letter somewhere where your partner will find it.
16. Send someone an unusual and unexpected gift like chocolate, flowers or sex toys.
17. Tell your child you're proud of them.
18. Tell someone you thought about them the other day.
19. Cook a surprise meal for your partner one night, especially if they normally do the cooking.
20. Tell your partner you love them.

Did you know it takes only 17 muscles to smile, but 43 to frown? Why waste all that energy frowning when you could just smile. 

Here are 5 more facts about smiling.

1. Women smile more than men.
2. Smiling releases endorphins that make us feel better.
3. We are all born with the ability to smile, it's not something we learn from others.
4. A smile is a universal expression of happiness.
5. A smiling person is thought to be a more pleasant, attractive, sociable, sincere and competent than a non-smiling person.

Just remember, smiling is the easiest and cheapest way of improving your looks.

Power of Mind

Failure Doesn’t Exist

Have you ever held back on doing something because you were afraid of failure?  Most people have!  Let’s face it; no one likes to fail.  None of us likes to feel like we’re ineffective, weak or lacking in any way, and that’s exactly how failure makes us feel.

However, you may be surprised to know that failure doesn’t exist – until YOU say it does.  In the dictionary, failure has several definitions:  1)  a failing to do or perform  2)  a state of inability to perform a normal function adequately  3)  a fracturing or giving way under stress  4)  a lack of success.

Look carefully at those definitions and you’ll probably realize they have one thing in common when it comes to goal achievement:  failure is a PERCEPTION.

If you believe you have failed, then you have.  If you believe you don’t have the ability to succeed, then you don’t.  If you believe you can’t handle the pressure of achieving your goals, you can’t.  If you believe you’re not successful, you aren’t.  Failure only exists in your own mind!  The moment you decide to give up or stop working toward your goals, failure is born.

But what if you never do that?  What if you continue working toward your goals, one step at a time for as long as it takes?  There’s no failure then, is there?

This insight should be very encouraging if you’ve been working toward goals and not yet seeing positive results.  Simply keep going and you cannot fail!

Here are three tips to help you stay strong and focused on your goals:

1)            Never give yourself an out.  Most people do this without even realizing it.  They are willing to work hard on achieving their goals, until the going gets too rough or their motivation dwindles.  Don’t do that!  Commit to making your goals happen, no matter what!  Never quit, never contemplate admitting failure, and never lose your inner determination.

2)            Don’t get hooked on a specific timeframe for completion.  It’s okay to set a general timeline, but be aware that some circumstances will be beyond your control, so you can’t say for sure when your goal will be achieved.  If you do that, you’re just setting yourself up for failure!  Instead, get a general idea of when you’d like your goal to be completed, but then take it a day at a time and focus on making progress, not reaching the finish line in as little time as possible.

3)            Finally, be sure that you don’t view obstacles and setbacks as failures.  The two are completely different.  An obstacle, setback or delay means only one thing:  it’s not time for your goal to be completed yet.  That’s it!  It doesn’t mean you failed; it doesn’t mean you’re weak; it doesn’t mean you’ll never achieve your goals.  It simply means you’re not done yet.  You’ve got to keep moving forward and find a way around or through the obstacle.

Power of Mind

The High Cost of Doing Nothing

Cost is sometimes a difficult term to define. Here, we are not simply discussing cost as it relates to selling price, but rather opportunity cost. The web site, "Mentors, Ventures and Plans" defines opportunity cost as "The loss of the next best alternative whenever a decision is made involving two or more options". "Investing in Options" defines it as "Choosing the best alternative means that you can't choose the next-best alternative. Opportunity cost is the next-best alternative that must be sacrificed in order to get something else you want. Opportunity cost can be thought of as the road not taken." Inactivity, or doing nothing, is usually the highest price paid and is often associated with great opportunity cost. Inaction is usually the worst decision one can make, made from a base of fear.

Many of us will freeze when facing decisions. For some reason, decision making becomes complex, paralyzing and even painful for many people. It should not be this way. Making a decision is simply the act of choosing between alternatives. You must learn to weigh the implications of each possible decision and choose the outcome that is best for you and all others involved. For example, when your telephone bill comes due, you may choose to pay it or not. There are real obvious consequences for both actions. The situation becomes more complex however, when our human emotions enter the picture. For instance; you are offered a new job and must decide to leave your current position and move your family to a new location, hundreds of miles away.

What we often fail to realize, is that delaying important decisions or simply not making a decision at all, are actions that often impact us with the highest opportunity costs and worst case scenarios. Inactivity, or the lack of a decision, is actually a decision made, although one seldom made in our best interests. In this case, we unfortunately transfer over control of our lives to external forces and circumstances. We are now positioned to be at the mercy and decision-making of others. This is not your best scenario. There are often unusually high costs associated with doing nothing.

Decision making is actually a skill set that can be learned and refined. Like all skills, entering into a new area as a novice requires practice and application in order to see improvement. Keep in mind that you will indeed improve! Start small, with less important decisions involving less than crucial outcomes and gradually make more decisions on matters of greater importance. Soon, you will have few if any issues with making decisions. Learn to start small and work your way up, gradually extending your comfort zone in this area. A by-product of learning these new skills is that your confidence will surely improve as well.

Decision making need not be frightening. Think of it as a process that is your own, shedding any external pressure that others may be applying. Take your time, get your facts and choose the outcome that works best for you. Do not allow yourself to fall victim to the high cost of doing nothing.

Power of Mind

How to Connect With Your Spirit

Discipline is the basis of the whole universe. The Earth, the Sun, the Moon and other planets, all are governed by a set of laws to maintain perfect harmony and beauty. There will be utter chaos without this order. Similarly, discipline is one basic requirement to lead a spiritual and civilized life. Every man has to set certain norms to maintain peace and order within his or her mind.

The strength of a man lies in discipline. It helps him or her to make progress. A man who is of a disciplined nature work in spirit of cooperation with other people. However, discipline does not mean negation of personal liberty. It means a self-imposed discipline.

The importance of discipline in educational institutions is well recognized. A school is such a place that helps children attain spiritualism through the sense of discipline. Some children have the ability to follow this and learn more out this, while others who cannot follow this goes to the category of individuals who cannot hear what their inner soul says. In other words, discipline makes you lead a more organized life, and only when you lead an organized life, you have no confusions in life. A confused person cannot hear what his spirit wants to say, even if he wants to learn the process of hearing it.

Therefore, though discipline may not have direct relation with the attainment of spiritualism, but its indirect relation makes it very important in a person’s life. You will see that if you have disciplines in every sphere of life, you can get success in all the spheres of life. School, political, domestic, professional personal or be it any sphere of life, discipline is the most important thing to attain the level of spiritualism.

Discipline though difficult is essential for personal growth as a human being. It helps you to be spiritually inclined, taking you to far-off places. Absence of it can lead to failure, defeat and backwardness. Today in society, it is very important to live in harmony with fellow human beings in a spirit of cooperation and mutual co-existence. If you do attain the level of spiritualism through a sense of discipline, then you cannot exist among others. All this is possible only if every individual follows a personal code of ethics and the one laid by the law for the prosperity of the nation and the progress of the society.

Power of Mind

How to Find Your Passion

Following your passion brings personal power and awakens yourself to the beauty of the world. It leads you to the heart of spiritual journey as it changes your thoughts, perceptions, and feelings. Finding your passion does not promise an easy life rather a rich life open to hopes and possibility. 

1. Speak your truths clearly - To find your passion you must speak your truths and ready yourself to new adventures. Know what really matter to you? What truly makes you happy? Know the things you do best and makes you feel complete.

2. Be open for support - You must also keep in mind that you are not an isolated being – you need the support of family, friends and positive-minded social circle that will help you reach your goals.

3. Open up your senses - When you open up your senses, you tend experience God’s blessings and you feel more peaceful and serene. This allows you to be more patient and be reminded the cycle of nature. When you experience this you become more positive and calm.

4. Give yourself a time for pleasure - Waking up in the morning away from busy schedules and having the freedom to do the things that brings you pleasure? To find your passion you must allow yourself a time for pleasure. For many people, allowing pleasures induces guilt as it is not productive and hinders you from getting important things accomplished. But this view of pleasure is actually a matter of opinion. Gentle pleasures are good to your health and are productive. By allowing yourself time for pleasure you become more focused and passionate in your job.

5. Liberate yourself - A person who finds her passion is a truly wise person. Doing a work that reflects your personality and values promises you a lifelong happiness and contentment. It is easier and liberating when we accept who we are and we allow other people to accept us too. The human psyche is a holistic system, to numb one part of our being is to numb the rest and create constant struggle (Finding Joy, 15).

6. Feed yourself with affirmations - Affirmations are important in finding your passion in life as it makes you feel secure and optimistic about reaching your goals. A lot of people don’t get to their destinations out of fear of failure. You should allow yourself to get upset by some downturns but remind yourself to pull yourself together past and get on track again. Some people might influence you into thinking negative. It’s not so easy to shut them out of your life. But it’s easier to practice blocking the negative energies that they bring into your life. It keeps your sanity.

Finding your passion is an endless song. When you do the things that you are passionate about you allow you let your life to flourish. You let yourself connect to everything you are – in mind, in heart, and in spirit. You are a stronger that can face challenges better because you are reinforced by being able to do the things you love. You feel more alive, positive, self-respecting, and determined. You live your life with confidence and high morale. And you feel you are contributing goodness and positivism to the people in your life.

Power of Mind

5 Steps to Goal Setting Success

Goal Setting is the true secret to success in any area of life. But although setting a goal may seem simple, achieving it is usually another question altogether.

Why is that?

Because you will never achieve your goals unless you: (1) know exactly what you want, (2) are passionate about your goal, and (3) have a solid, realistic plan of action. This is what marks the difference between nebulous dreams and wishes - and truly achievable goals!

Many obstacles and challenges will fly right in your face when you're going after a goal. Here are 5 time-tested methods that will help get the success you deserve.

1. Know exactly what your goal is

Your first job is to discover exactly what your goal is. What will achieving that goal really look like? Be as specific as possible about exactly what your desired end result is. Your success will be a measure of your clarity - since an achievable goal plan cannot be created around a nebulous "dream."

If your goal is to create a more successful business, what will that look like? Are you thinking in terms of simply hiring someone else to give you more free time? Are you looking for a very specific monthly profit? Or can your goal be best expressed in terms of a certain lifestyle?

Regardless of what you want, the best way to get it is to first clarify exactly what you want in as much detail as possible. This can be hard work. But without a clear mental picture, you'll never have the focus required to achieve your goal.

2. Be willing to pay the "entry fee"

Success takes dedicated planning and effort. In a way it's like building a house. In the beginning all you have is a rough concept. Then you develop a complete set of plans - and you immediately move closer to success. The same is true of creating a better lifestyle, or a more successful business.

But there's always an “entry fee” to be paid for success.

The entry fee?

Creating more success in your business may mean less recreational time. Writing your own book may require less TV. Being closer to your children may require adjusting your work or social activities.

It's the "full glass" deal. If your life (your time) is already full to the top, there's no room for something new. The entry fee is carving out the time to create that something new.

3. Focus on your goal every day

I'm sure you probably want to achieve your goal as fast as possible. That's why clear mental focus is so very important.

Consistent daily focus is absolutely necessary to "burn in" the new neural pathways you need to create your new goal. Without daily focus, the old mental habits that have kept you from your goal will continue to take over.

This happens automatically - since these old habits replay 24/7 deep in your subconscious mind. The only way to override subconscious anti-success messages is to consciously focus on what you DO want - and build new neural networks!

That's why success is an every-day event.

Re-commit to your goal every day. Don't let your goal take a back seat to the daily tasks and distractions that will try to take over. Life WILL try to get in your way. Just get, and stay, on course every day. Focus on your goal, and on success!

4. Get passionate

One of the most powerful tools in your "success tool box" is having real passion for your goal.

Why passion?

Because intense passionate desire for your goal will help you burn in those new neural pathways even faster. Many, many scientific studies have shown that intense emotion (passion) is a key success tool.

PLUS (and this is really a *big* plus), intense passion will also help you rapidly override any inappropriate old "failure messages" stored in your subconscious mind.

5. Take consistent action

In many ways, actually taking action can be the most difficult step. Successful goal achievement is built by taking one small action after another.

The word is ACTION!

If you commit to take at least one small action each day, your actions WILL add up and make a difference. So avoid sitting back waiting for that big second when everything will magically "just happen."

You CAN create whatever you want in life. The secret is to determine exactly what you want, then pursue it passionately. But remember -- in the end, only action counts! You can't just dream about it! You have to DO IT!

Power of Mind

101 Helpful Affirmations

Affirmations are great tools that can help you overcome fear, build your confidence, develop an abundance mind-set and more.  The problem is that many people aren't sure exactly how to write effective affirmations.  Do they always have to be in present tense?  Can they contain "negative" words like can't, won't, not, and so on?

There are plenty of differing opinions on the right and wrong ways to write effective affirmations, but the bottom line is that an affirmation can be considered effective if it works for YOU!  The whole point of affirmations is to shift your thoughts and emotions to a more positive place so you feel more confident, happy, secure, abundant, or anything else you're trying to accomplish.

Take a look at the sample affirmations below for starters and feel free to use them if they resonate with you.  If not, try altering them slightly until they trigger the mind-set and emotional state you're trying to attain.

Affirmations for Healthy Weight and Body Image:

- Today I love my body fully, deeply and joyfully.

- My body has its own wisdom and I trust that wisdom completely.

- My body is simply a projection of my beliefs about myself.

- I am growing more beautiful and luminous day by day.

- I choose to see the divine perfection in every cell of my body.

- As I love myself, I allow others to love me too.

- Flaws are transformed by love and acceptance.

- Today I choose to honor my beauty, my strength and my uniqueness.

- I love the way I feel when I take good care of myself.

- Today my own well-being is my top priority.

Affirmations for Self-Confidence and Self-Belief:

- Fear is only a feeling; it cannot hold me back.

- I know that I can master anything if I do it enough times.

- Today I am willing to fail in order to succeed.

- I believe that I have the strength to make my dreams come true.

- I'm going to relax and have fun with this, no matter what the outcome may be.

- I'm proud of myself for even daring to try; many people won't even do that!

- Today I put my full trust in my inner guidance.

- I grow in strength with every forward step I take.

- I release my hesitation and make room for victory!

- With a solid plan and a belief in myself, there's nothing I can't do.

Affirmations for Abundance and Prosperity:

- I open to the flow of great abundance in all areas of my life.

- I always have more than enough of everything I need.

- Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!

- Today I expand my awareness of the abundance all around me.

- I allow the universe to bless me in surprising and joyful ways.

- My grateful heart is a magnet that attracts more of everything I desire.

- Prosperity surrounds me, prosperity fills me, prosperity flows to me and through me.

- I exude passion, purpose and prosperity.

- I am always led to the people who need what I have to offer.

- As my commitment to help others grows, so does my wealth.

- My day is filled with limitless potential in joy, abundance and love.

Affirmations for Life Purpose:

- The better I know myself, the clearer my purpose becomes.

- My unique skills and talents can make a profound difference in the world.

- Today I follow my heart and discover my destiny.

- I am meant to do great things.

- I am limited only by my vision of what is possible.

- My purpose is to develop and share the best parts of myself with others.

- Today I present my love, passion, talent and joy as a gift to the world.

- I need not know the entire journey in order to take one step.

- I fulfill my life purpose by starting here, right now.

- My life purpose can be whatever I decide to make it.

Affirmations for Inner Peace:

- All is well, right here, right now.

- Peace begins with a conscious choice.

- Today I embrace simplicity, peace and solace.

- A peaceful heart makes for a peaceful life.

- I trust the universe to deliver my highest good in every situation.

- By becoming peace, I create peace in every experience.

- I am filled with the light of love, peace and joy.

- Peace comes when I let go of trying to control every tiny detail.

- Where peace dwells, fear cannot.

- Today my mission is to surrender and release.

Affirmations for Opportunity:

- Today I open my mind to the endless opportunities surrounding me.

- Opportunities are everywhere, if I choose to see them.

- I boldly act on great opportunities when I see them.

- My intuition leads me to the most lucrative opportunities.

- An opportunity is simply a possibility until I act on it.

- Some of the best opportunities are made, not found.

- Today I see each moment as a new opportunity to express my greatness.

- I expand my awareness of the hidden potential in each experience.

- Let each of my experiences today be a gateway to something even better.

- Each decision I make creates new opportunities.

Affirmations for Love:

- I am ready for a healthy, loving relationship.

- All of my relationships are meaningful and fulfilling.

- As I share my love with others the universe mirrors love back to me.

- I see everyone I meet as a soul mate.

- I trust the universe to know the type of partner who is perfect for me.

- Today I release fear and open my heart to true love.

- I am grateful for the people in my life.

- I am the perfect partner for my perfect partner.

- I deserve a loving, healthy relationship.

- I deserve to be loved and I allow myself to be loved.

Affirmations for Healing:

- I am strong and healthy.

- My energy and vitality are increasing every day.

- I open to the natural flow of wellness now.

- My inner guidance leads me to the right healing modalities for me.

- Abundant health and wellness are my birthright.

- Thank you for my strength, my health and my vitality.

- I am feeling stronger and better now.

- I love taking good care of myself.

- Today nurturing myself is my highest priority.

- Thank you for the opportunity to balance my mind, body and spirit.

Affirmations for Inner Clarity:

- Today I awaken to my higher wisdom.

- My inner voice guides me in every moment.

- I am centered, calm and clear.

- I always know the right actions to achieve my goals.

- When I know where I'm going, getting there is a cinch!

- Today I am completely tuned in to my inner wisdom.

- Harmony is always a sign that I am balanced from within.

- Thank you for showing me the way to my dreams.

- I trust my feelings and insights.

- I am detached and open to divine guidance.

Affirmations for Self-Love:

- I am filled with light, love and peace.

- I treat myself with kindness and respect.

- I don't have to be perfect; I just have to be me.

- I give myself permission to shine.

- I honor the best parts of myself and share them with others.

- I'm proud of all I have accomplished.

- Today I give myself permission to be greater than my fears.

- I love myself no matter what.

- I am my own best friend and cheerleader.

- Thank you for the qualities, traits and talents that make me so unique.

- Power of Mind

Control Your Own Level of Motivation

When I first mention this to most people, they really don’t get it, so here is a simple formula for keeping your moods upbeat.

Audio books and music can be used as tools for motivation. The audio book is such a great motivational and learning tool, while you are commuting, or just out for a drive by yourself. I mention “by yourself” because, ideally, you should spend quality time with people in your car.

You can learn so much about life and a self-improvement audio book can keep you motivated all day long.

When I first started listening to audio books it was during commuter traffic through Providence and Boston. I would show up to meetings relaxed, with fresh ideas, and motivated. When people asked me the secret, I told them about the magic of audio books.

Most of them never asked me again, thought I was some strange eternal optimist, and never bothered to try an audio book.

Unfortunately, many people are slaves to stress, and don’t want to change anything. They go about their lives with a perfect recipe for a heart attack and high blood pressure.

Here is the ultimate recipe for a very sad and short life. You must combine "running late" to work, high volume traffic, the daily latte, a high stress job, and show up barely on time or late.

Some people are, what I call, “mad at the world.” They drive from one intersection to the next, making gestures at everyone. Some of these people can be helped, while others go through a daily cycle of frustration and even invite violence.

Now, let’s get back to you. As long as you stay aware, you have control over your motivation, moods, and level of optimism. So, take charge by plugging yourself into positive energy with books, audio books, music, and positive people.

Power of Mind

The amazing story of Jerry Christensen

By Jerry Christensen

from Rock Springs Wyoming

My story begins at age 15, but I didn’t realize that was the beginning until I was 24. As a Freshman in college (age 20 in 2003) I decided I wanted to go to Australia, and the next day I purchased a passport without any idea of when or why I would go. I just wanted to go, and I knew it would be a shame if the opportunity arose and I was not prepared.

Two years later, as a Junior in college, I went to a university and they told me that it would cost about $11,000 extra to study abroad for one semester. I did not care, I wanted to go to Australia that year and I certainly would not allow money to stop me from going. Things didn’t work out, but instead I had planned to return home from Uni for the summer break and work all summer to make enough to go during the next term. Before I went home I took a 4 day vacation to Florida to meet a girl I had met online but not yet in person.

On that vacation I was offered a job helping people with brain injuries. At that point in my life that was what I thought to be my purpose for living, so it was a struggle. I was torn between listening to the suggestions of my parents to go back home and making enough so I could live my dream of traveling to Australia, or staying in Florida where I knew NO ONE so I could help others with brain injuries.

My decision was final. I had to help others. I was in the right place and they just happened to be training new employees two days later. I actually thought I would be slapping God in the face if I didn’t take the job. Now that we know The Secret, it is no surprise that things worked out for me. A family I had never met prior to that day took me in until I was able to find a place to live and get on my feet in the new environment.

The day after I accepted the job I noticed that my Uni in Colorado and a Uni in Tampa were both part of an exchange program, so I made a call to Colorado to ask if I could join the program and they said “No” - the deadline had past 3 months prior and I must return to CO to finish my final year of studies. Not wanting to accept the answer I contacted the Uni in Tampa. They told me that it was against the rules but they would bend them because I had the job and it would be much easier just to stay in Florida. So the summer progressed and I excelled at the job. I earned the only promotion that was available in just 2 weeks when the protocol was 6 months. Our city was hit by a category 4 hurricane (150 mph sustained winds) but not surprisingly nothing of mine was damaged and I worked many hours to help out. The hours I was not working for my job I helped out with the American Red Cross.

I stared school in Tampa as planned for just the fee of “In-State” Colorado tuition as per the exchange program, and absolutely loved the Uni there. I was granted the opportunity to study at the Ph.D. level even though I was still without even a Bachelor’s degree. So I was on my way. The path to my becoming a Clinical Neuropsychologist was evident. I was on track to help people with brain injuries in a clinical setting even though some well respected doctors had told my parents in 1998 that there was no way I could ever even attend college. The only unfortunate situation was that I must still move back to CO to finish my studies.

A few weeks into the term in Tampa I gave Colorado a call and told them my situation and they said, “Well, we’ve never waived the graduation requirements but we will adjust them in your situation and you may finish studies in Tampa with no need to return to CO.” So I was now authorized to continue the path I was on.

The very next day I saw a flier that was promoting the Study abroad program, so I asked if I could, simultaneously, be on exchange from CO to FL and from FL to AUS and they said that “It had never been done before nor was it really permissible but you may do it in this circumstance.”

So there we go, I was now able to go to Australia for one semester without paying anymore than “In-State” Colorado tuition but before I left I arranged to meet my best friend in the entire world, my father, in New Orleans for Mardi Gras! We had a blast, and there are so many stories that also arose in Australia. I had the time of my life. I am eternally grateful for my life to be as it is. The people in Australia are the friendliest ever, and this story is long enough as it is, but I will write novels about my life when the timing is right. For now I must conclude by stating that 2 years after my return from UTAS I moved back to my home town. Upon my return my brother showed me an old journal that I had written when I was 15. I wrote “If I could go anywhere right now, I would go to Australia”

Amazing story? I think so, but if we all lived by The Secret we would expect it just as we expect things to fall when they are dropped. Thanks for reading!

About Jerry Christensen from Rock Springs Wyoming:

I have always been happy from as far back as anyone can remember. Although we all go through tough times in life, it is rare to find me without a grateful smile. Now that I have been introduced to The Secret I have been happier than any other day in my life.

Power of Mind

12 Rules to Increase Your Productivity

12 Rules to Increase Your Productivity

Does your productivity ever get hampered by your desire to find the best possible solution? As you seek the easiest or fastest route to your goal, you may find yourself stopped entirely. Sometimes you may even do this on purpose, to keep from having to make a decision.

However, there's a work-around. Maybe you've heard of the term, "heuristic."Heuristics are rules that allow a solution to be found more quickly.With a heuristic, a resolution can be found even when the entire path isn't clear from the onset.

For example, if there were no roads, but you lived in New York and wanted to make your way to California, a heuristic might be:

1.      Walk west as far as you can.

2.      Walk around any obstacle, if possible.

3.      If faced with a mountain range, walk toward the space between 2 small peaks.

4.      Repeat until reaching California.

Does this heuristic give you the most efficient solution? No; however, it will get you where you want to go, and you won't waste a lot of time trying to make up your mind.

Try these behavioral heuristics to increase your productivity:

1.      Choose the right time. Nearly everyone has times of the day when they are most effective and times when they tend to drag. It’s smart to schedule the most critical tasks for your most effective time of the day.

2.      Toss it. If a task doesn't really need to be done, just get rid of it altogether.

3.      Get the bad stuff out of the way.Do the unpleasant items quickly and as early in the day as possible.

4.      Set a goal each day (or night). In the morning, decide what you want to accomplish that day. This can be even more effective when planned the night before. Once you have a sense of direction, you can spend all your time getting things done!

5.      Eliminate all communication. While you're working, turn off the phone / cell phone, and don't check your email. Hang a sign that says, "Do not disturb," if necessary. You don't have to do this for all your tasks, but at least do it during the more difficult items.

6.      Batch similar tasks together. Do all your emailing at one time. Make all your phone calls at another. Open your snail mail during a set block of time. You'll waste less time by doing your work in this fashion.

7.      Set a timer. Even if a task might take hours, starting will seem easier if you simply give yourself 30 minutes to get as much done as you can. A time limit seems to help many people concentrate and work better, too.

8.      Set targets. For example, if you have to make cold-calls for your sales job, tell yourself that you're not getting up for any reason until you've made at least 100 calls. Regardless of what happens, refuse to stop until you hit your target.

9.      Use the Pareto Principle. This principle states that 20% of the actions you could take will provide you with 80% of the benefits. So focus on the tasks that will accomplish the most. Unfortunately, these are frequently the tasks that are not enjoyable. You might be surprised how little you really have to do if you focus on the critical 20%.

10.  Delegate some of your work. Is there anyone else who can help you? The people around you are resources. When appropriate, use their time and talents wisely to get things done more quickly.

11.  Set a deadline. Having a specific endpoint will really help to focus your time and energy. If a task doesn't feel necessary, chances are that it won't get done.

12.  Increase your speed. It sounds silly, but this can really help. Try doing everything a little faster. Walk faster, talk faster, type faster, and read faster.

Implement these heuristics into your life and you'll find yourself getting more done in less time. The ultimate secret is to stay on task and not waste any time. These rules will help you do just that.

Power of Mind

How to Develop a Positive Attitude

When it comes to your quality of life, attitude is everything!  In fact, it could even be said that whatever you focus on the most, you tend to bring into your life, whether by choice or circumstance.  Have you ever known someone who had a terrible attitude?  Perhaps they were extremely negative and pessimistic and not much fun to be around; or they complained non-stop about how terrible their life was.  Did you find it draining to be in their presence?

A negative attitude will not only make you miserable, but everyone around you too!

A positive attitude, on the other hand, turns you into a person that everyone wants to be with; a person that constantly experiences great things, and a person who loves their life!  Do you want to be that kind of person?  If so, read on for some easy ways to develop a positive attitude.

1) Do what you love.  This applies to hobbies and fun activities, but it also pertains to one of the biggest parts of your life – your work!  Do you enjoy your job?  Are you spending most of your time on something that makes you feel purposeful and fulfilled?  If not, consider exploring other career options and moving toward a job you’ll love.  When you regularly do things that make you happy, you can’t help but feel better about yourself and your life, which fosters a positive attitude.

2) Expect the best, always.  It’s easy to get into the habit of seeing doom and gloom in every situation, but doing so keeps you forever focused on the negative.  Instead, make a conscious decision to expect the best, even if your first impulse is to think negatively.  Affirm as often as you can, “This is going to work out great!  Wonderful things are going to happen today!”  The more you do it the more you’ll begin to believe it, and the more you’ll begin to experience just that.

3) Build yourself up.  Think and speak positively to and about yourself every day.  Most of us are in the habit of talking down to ourselves, which leaves us feeling hopeless, frustrated and pessimistic.  Get into the habit of building yourself up with positive self-talk and positive thoughts.  Affirm your good qualities and downplay your negative qualities.  Affirm that you are a work in progress; not perfect but great nonetheless!

4) Build others up.  As often as you can, make an effort to encourage, support and compliment the people you encounter each day.  That goes for people you know as well as strangers you meet in your daily travels.  The more you focus on emphasizing the positive in others the more likeable you’re going to be, and the better you’re going to feel about yourself too!

5) Think strength.  The more you worry about your weaknesses and “failures” the more pessimistic and negative you’re going to feel.  Instead, consistently affirm your strengths, talents and capabilities.  You’ll end up feeling empowered and in control of your circumstances, which cannot help but improve your attitude!

Power of Mind