There are people who can walk away from you.
And hear me when I tell you this!
When people can walk away from you: let them walk.
I don't want you to try to talk another person into staying with you,
loving you, calling you, caring about you, coming to see you,
staying attached to you. I mean hang up the phone.
When people can walk away from you let them walk.
Your destiny is never tied to anybody that left.
People leave you because they are not joined to you.
And if they are not joined to you, you can't make them stay.
Let them go.
And it doesn't mean that they are a bad person, it just means that
their part in the story is over and you've got to know when
people's part in your story is over so that you don't
keep trying to raise the dead.
You've got to know when it's dead.
You've got to know when it's over. Let me tell you something.
I've got the gift of good-bye. I believe in good-bye.
It's not that I'm hateful, it's that I'm faithful,
and I know whatever God means for me to have He'll give it to me.
And if it takes too much sweat I don't need it.
Stop begging people to stay.
Let them go!!
If you are holding on to something that doesn't belong to you
and was never intended for your life, then you need to.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Trust Yourself
In any relationship trust is the first thing
to leave and the last to return.
And if you recognize that the most
important relationship is with yourself,
then perhaps it's time to start some trust building close to home.
Make and keep a promise or a commitment
to yourself, however small -
in fact, start very small!
Make one and keep one today,
and then notice the surge of inner power
as a result.
See how much more you like yourself
as a result. Trust is being built.
to leave and the last to return.
And if you recognize that the most
important relationship is with yourself,
then perhaps it's time to start some trust building close to home.
Make and keep a promise or a commitment
to yourself, however small -
in fact, start very small!
Make one and keep one today,
and then notice the surge of inner power
as a result.
See how much more you like yourself
as a result. Trust is being built.
Home Remedies
Home Remedies for Diabetes,Acidity,Blood Pressure, Cholesterol,Joint Pains,Lungs & Liver Problems,etc.
...
Cure for Acidity. (Courtesy Col Suresh Kandoth,MD)
Acidity, it is said, is worse than Cancer. It is one of the most common disease people encounter in their daily life. The home remedy for Acidity is "Raw Grains of Rice." They reduce acid levels in the body and make you feel better by the day.
Method
1. Swallow 8-10 grains of raw uncooked rice with water before having your breakfast or eating anythi ng in the morning.
2. Do this for 21 days to see effective results & continue for 3 months to eliminate acidity from the body.
Cure for Cholesterol. Cholesterol problem accompanies with Hypertension and Heart Problems. This is also one of the common problems in people who have High Blood Pressure and Diabetes. The home remedy for Cholesterol problem is "Raw Supari".When you chew the supari, the saliva takes in the juice that is generated and this acts like a Blood Thinner. Once your blood becomes free flowing, it brings down the pressure in the blood flow, thereby reducing Blood Pressure too.
Method
1. Take raw Supari (Betel Nut that is not flavoured) and slice them or make their small pieces.
2. Chew it for about 20 - 40 minutes after every meal.
3. Then spit it out. Don't swallow the Supari.
Cure for Blood Pressure . One of the simple home remedy to reduce blood pressure is "Methi" seeds or Fenugreek seeds.
Method
1. Take 8-10 raw "methi" seeds (Fenugreek seeds).
2. Swallow these with water before taking your breakfast, every morning.
Cure for Diabetes. There are 2 home remedies for Diabetes. One is Lady Finger and the other is Black Tea.
1.BLACK TEA. Due to high medication, the organ that is worst affected is the Kidney. Black tea will help in enhancing the function of the kidney, thereby not affecting it more. Hence a cup of black tea (tea without milk, sugar or lemon) every morning is highly advisable.
Method
1. Boil water along with the tea leaves (any tea leaves will do).
2. Drink the concoction without adding milk, sugar or lemon.
2. Lady Finger (Okra). Lady finger is considered to be a good home medicine for diabetes. After the lady fingers are soaked overnight in the water, you can observe that the water becomes sticky in the morning. This sticky water is considered to be good for people who suffer from Diabetes.
Method
1. Cut 4-5 lady fingers into two halves vertically and soak them in a cup of water overnight.
2. The next morning, remove the lady fingers and drink the water, before eating your breakfast.
Cure for Asthma, Tooth Pain, Acidity, Ulcers, Cracked Feet, Joint Pains, Stomach Problems, Problems related to Lungs, Liver & Nerves with "Oil Pulling"
Dr. Med. Karch, a Russian, introduced a simple process for the human body by using oil. This was further popularized by Lt. Col T. Koteswara Rao (Retd.). Initially it causes doubts, but after trying it out the results are astonishing.
Method
1. Take one spoon of refined oil in the mouth on an empty stomach early in the morning, before eating or drinking anything.
2. Without much effort or speed, slowly suck and pull the oil through the teeth. Gargle the oil within closed mouth for 15 - 20 minutes.
3. During this process, the oil becomes liquid and white like milk. Spit the liquid out and wash your mouth thoroughly, preferably with warm water.
4. Don't swallow the oil as it contains toxins and harmful bacteria drawn from the body through the saliva. Continue this process everyday for better results.
The Cure. The process of Oil Pulling can give relief & cure Headaches, Asthma, Bad Breath, Nose Block, Tooth Pain, Acidity, Ulcers, Cracked Feet, Joint Pains, Stomach Problems, Problems related to Lungs, Liver & Nerves.
Who Can Practice this? Oil Pulling can be practiced by all from the age of 5 years onwards for any type of health problems. People who are in a habit of taking a lot of medicines should try this, as it will release a lot of toxins from the body.
Which Oil to be Used? Any cooking oil can be used, but the most preferred is the Sesame Oil.
Use these totkas with conviction. Thank me if it gives you solace/good health, and you feel better.
...
Cure for Acidity. (Courtesy Col Suresh Kandoth,MD)
Acidity, it is said, is worse than Cancer. It is one of the most common disease people encounter in their daily life. The home remedy for Acidity is "Raw Grains of Rice." They reduce acid levels in the body and make you feel better by the day.
Method
1. Swallow 8-10 grains of raw uncooked rice with water before having your breakfast or eating anythi ng in the morning.
2. Do this for 21 days to see effective results & continue for 3 months to eliminate acidity from the body.
Cure for Cholesterol. Cholesterol problem accompanies with Hypertension and Heart Problems. This is also one of the common problems in people who have High Blood Pressure and Diabetes. The home remedy for Cholesterol problem is "Raw Supari".When you chew the supari, the saliva takes in the juice that is generated and this acts like a Blood Thinner. Once your blood becomes free flowing, it brings down the pressure in the blood flow, thereby reducing Blood Pressure too.
Method
1. Take raw Supari (Betel Nut that is not flavoured) and slice them or make their small pieces.
2. Chew it for about 20 - 40 minutes after every meal.
3. Then spit it out. Don't swallow the Supari.
Cure for Blood Pressure . One of the simple home remedy to reduce blood pressure is "Methi" seeds or Fenugreek seeds.
Method
1. Take 8-10 raw "methi" seeds (Fenugreek seeds).
2. Swallow these with water before taking your breakfast, every morning.
Cure for Diabetes. There are 2 home remedies for Diabetes. One is Lady Finger and the other is Black Tea.
1.BLACK TEA. Due to high medication, the organ that is worst affected is the Kidney. Black tea will help in enhancing the function of the kidney, thereby not affecting it more. Hence a cup of black tea (tea without milk, sugar or lemon) every morning is highly advisable.
Method
1. Boil water along with the tea leaves (any tea leaves will do).
2. Drink the concoction without adding milk, sugar or lemon.
2. Lady Finger (Okra). Lady finger is considered to be a good home medicine for diabetes. After the lady fingers are soaked overnight in the water, you can observe that the water becomes sticky in the morning. This sticky water is considered to be good for people who suffer from Diabetes.
Method
1. Cut 4-5 lady fingers into two halves vertically and soak them in a cup of water overnight.
2. The next morning, remove the lady fingers and drink the water, before eating your breakfast.
Cure for Asthma, Tooth Pain, Acidity, Ulcers, Cracked Feet, Joint Pains, Stomach Problems, Problems related to Lungs, Liver & Nerves with "Oil Pulling"
Dr. Med. Karch, a Russian, introduced a simple process for the human body by using oil. This was further popularized by Lt. Col T. Koteswara Rao (Retd.). Initially it causes doubts, but after trying it out the results are astonishing.
Method
1. Take one spoon of refined oil in the mouth on an empty stomach early in the morning, before eating or drinking anything.
2. Without much effort or speed, slowly suck and pull the oil through the teeth. Gargle the oil within closed mouth for 15 - 20 minutes.
3. During this process, the oil becomes liquid and white like milk. Spit the liquid out and wash your mouth thoroughly, preferably with warm water.
4. Don't swallow the oil as it contains toxins and harmful bacteria drawn from the body through the saliva. Continue this process everyday for better results.
The Cure. The process of Oil Pulling can give relief & cure Headaches, Asthma, Bad Breath, Nose Block, Tooth Pain, Acidity, Ulcers, Cracked Feet, Joint Pains, Stomach Problems, Problems related to Lungs, Liver & Nerves.
Who Can Practice this? Oil Pulling can be practiced by all from the age of 5 years onwards for any type of health problems. People who are in a habit of taking a lot of medicines should try this, as it will release a lot of toxins from the body.
Which Oil to be Used? Any cooking oil can be used, but the most preferred is the Sesame Oil.
Use these totkas with conviction. Thank me if it gives you solace/good health, and you feel better.
Get Stronger
When the difficulties come, and pile so high on top of one
Another that you can't see the way forward, you have a
Choice. You can choose to give up, or you can choose to get
Stronger.
You can choose to bury your dreams under impenetrable layers
Of worry and fear. Or you can choose to make those dreams
Even more magnificent and compelling so that you cannot
Resist being pulled forward by them.
You can choose to feel sorry for yourself, or you can choose
To feel the power of your true purpose. You can look for who
Is to blame, or you can look for ways to take full
Responsibility for the situation.
This is your life, and even the difficult stretches are very
Much worth living. In fact, it is during the challenging
Times that you build new capacity for greater richness.
When there is no obvious reason to be positive, choose to be
More positive than ever before. Instead of being overwhelmed
By the problems, choose to be energized by the positive
Possibilities hidden within them.
Feel the genuine confidence that comes from knowing you
Always have a choice. And choose to live the positive value
In whatever life may send.
Another that you can't see the way forward, you have a
Choice. You can choose to give up, or you can choose to get
Stronger.
You can choose to bury your dreams under impenetrable layers
Of worry and fear. Or you can choose to make those dreams
Even more magnificent and compelling so that you cannot
Resist being pulled forward by them.
You can choose to feel sorry for yourself, or you can choose
To feel the power of your true purpose. You can look for who
Is to blame, or you can look for ways to take full
Responsibility for the situation.
This is your life, and even the difficult stretches are very
Much worth living. In fact, it is during the challenging
Times that you build new capacity for greater richness.
When there is no obvious reason to be positive, choose to be
More positive than ever before. Instead of being overwhelmed
By the problems, choose to be energized by the positive
Possibilities hidden within them.
Feel the genuine confidence that comes from knowing you
Always have a choice. And choose to live the positive value
In whatever life may send.
Just ask Allah to guide
I looked and saw a mountain,
Could not see the peak,
I thought I'd try and climb it,
For a way up I would seek.
As I gazed upon this mountain,
And planned my climb to go,
My enthusiasm began to waver,
Could I make it, yes or no?
Sat there for a while longer,
Afraid to start the climb,
My body said to try it,
But stay was in my mind.
I now had such a conflict,
One which I did not need,
Which of my mind or body,
Should I at that time heed?
Should I listen to my body?
Which said, I'm strong enough,
Once we start the climbing,
It will not be that tough.
Or should I stand and listen?
To thoughts within my mind,
What happens if you fail?
And fall so far behind.
Just gazing at that mountain,
I knew what I must do,
Must get my mind and body,
Thinking as one, not two.
I decided at that moment,
There was not time to waste,
Had to make a great decision,
And proceed with utmost haste.
Should I decide to climb that mountain,
I surely then must chase,
My way directly to the top,
Beginning at the base.
Or should I instead take option?
To stay on level ground,
I still had to reach the other side,
By simply going around.
I could not stand just stagnant,
Not knowing where to go,
So I prayed for just a moment,
For Allah the way to show.
I then made my decision,
On which route I would tread,
I used neither thoughts of body,
Nor thoughts within my head.
Instead I simply chose,
To do what seemed so right,
And strode into the distance,
Towards whatever was my plight.
Then as I took my first steps,
It no longer seemed so clear,
For that mountain I had been watching,
Just seemed to disappear.
I did not stop my striding,
Although confusion was so rife,
Then suddenly became so clear,
That mountain was my life.
I could stop still no longer,
Simply wondering what to do,
For longer that I waited,
The more that mountain grew.
Yes, our lives are just like mountains,
We can no longer hide,
When the climbing gets a little tough,
Just ask Allah to guide.
Could not see the peak,
I thought I'd try and climb it,
For a way up I would seek.
As I gazed upon this mountain,
And planned my climb to go,
My enthusiasm began to waver,
Could I make it, yes or no?
Sat there for a while longer,
Afraid to start the climb,
My body said to try it,
But stay was in my mind.
I now had such a conflict,
One which I did not need,
Which of my mind or body,
Should I at that time heed?
Should I listen to my body?
Which said, I'm strong enough,
Once we start the climbing,
It will not be that tough.
Or should I stand and listen?
To thoughts within my mind,
What happens if you fail?
And fall so far behind.
Just gazing at that mountain,
I knew what I must do,
Must get my mind and body,
Thinking as one, not two.
I decided at that moment,
There was not time to waste,
Had to make a great decision,
And proceed with utmost haste.
Should I decide to climb that mountain,
I surely then must chase,
My way directly to the top,
Beginning at the base.
Or should I instead take option?
To stay on level ground,
I still had to reach the other side,
By simply going around.
I could not stand just stagnant,
Not knowing where to go,
So I prayed for just a moment,
For Allah the way to show.
I then made my decision,
On which route I would tread,
I used neither thoughts of body,
Nor thoughts within my head.
Instead I simply chose,
To do what seemed so right,
And strode into the distance,
Towards whatever was my plight.
Then as I took my first steps,
It no longer seemed so clear,
For that mountain I had been watching,
Just seemed to disappear.
I did not stop my striding,
Although confusion was so rife,
Then suddenly became so clear,
That mountain was my life.
I could stop still no longer,
Simply wondering what to do,
For longer that I waited,
The more that mountain grew.
Yes, our lives are just like mountains,
We can no longer hide,
When the climbing gets a little tough,
Just ask Allah to guide.
When we worry
When we worry, we make problems
bigger than they really are.
Instead of worrying, accept whatever
you have no control over,
prepare wherever you can and choose happiness instead of worry!
bigger than they really are.
Instead of worrying, accept whatever
you have no control over,
prepare wherever you can and choose happiness instead of worry!
8 Effective Cold Prevention Strategies
1. Wash your hands - The world we live in is filled with viruses and bacteria that can make us ill. Your hands are no exceptions. Wash your hands often to keep them clean. If you cannot wash them, at least use some hand sanitizer, such as Purel.
2. Drink hot fluids, especially in the morning - The rhinovirus incubates in the back of the throat and spreads in the upper respiratory area because it's cooler than the body temperature. Rhinovirus can't survive at 98.6 (hence it doesn't travel far down into the bronchi or the lungs). By drinking hot fluid (such as hot tea and lemon) you can prevent the virus from incubating.
3. Keep your hands out of your face - We have already discussed the germs and viruses on your hands. You cannot wash them continuously, so in between washings keep your hands out of your face. Your face is an open portal to your insides. Keep the germs away from your portal.
4. Drink water - Drinking more water is my answer to everything. Water will help clean out your body and keep it clean. It will also keep your body functioning at 100%. You should drink at least (eight) 8oz glasses of water everyday. This will also help you lose weight.
5. Eat your fruits and vegetables - There are phytochemicals and antioxidants in fruits and vegetables that can help strengthen your immune system and prevent diseases. You should eat at least four servings of vegetables and two servings of fruits every day.
6. Multivitamins - If you are not eating all of your fruit and vegetable servings, you should take a multivitamin to ensure you are getting all of the vitamins your body needs to function properly. Take a simple one-a-day multivitamin everyday.
7. Stay warm - Being cold weakens your immune system and makes your body more susceptible to illness. Look at the day's temperature at weather.com before leaving your home. Wear layers in and out of your home when it is cold.
8. Relax and rest - Stress weakens your immune system. You can reduce your stress levels by relaxing and getting more sleep. Sleep is essential to maintaining a healthy immune system. Sleep will also boost your recovery time if you become ill.
Getting a cold can derail your nutrition and activity plans. However, if you follow the strategies I laid out for you, you can prevent this from happening.
2. Drink hot fluids, especially in the morning - The rhinovirus incubates in the back of the throat and spreads in the upper respiratory area because it's cooler than the body temperature. Rhinovirus can't survive at 98.6 (hence it doesn't travel far down into the bronchi or the lungs). By drinking hot fluid (such as hot tea and lemon) you can prevent the virus from incubating.
3. Keep your hands out of your face - We have already discussed the germs and viruses on your hands. You cannot wash them continuously, so in between washings keep your hands out of your face. Your face is an open portal to your insides. Keep the germs away from your portal.
4. Drink water - Drinking more water is my answer to everything. Water will help clean out your body and keep it clean. It will also keep your body functioning at 100%. You should drink at least (eight) 8oz glasses of water everyday. This will also help you lose weight.
5. Eat your fruits and vegetables - There are phytochemicals and antioxidants in fruits and vegetables that can help strengthen your immune system and prevent diseases. You should eat at least four servings of vegetables and two servings of fruits every day.
6. Multivitamins - If you are not eating all of your fruit and vegetable servings, you should take a multivitamin to ensure you are getting all of the vitamins your body needs to function properly. Take a simple one-a-day multivitamin everyday.
7. Stay warm - Being cold weakens your immune system and makes your body more susceptible to illness. Look at the day's temperature at weather.com before leaving your home. Wear layers in and out of your home when it is cold.
8. Relax and rest - Stress weakens your immune system. You can reduce your stress levels by relaxing and getting more sleep. Sleep is essential to maintaining a healthy immune system. Sleep will also boost your recovery time if you become ill.
Getting a cold can derail your nutrition and activity plans. However, if you follow the strategies I laid out for you, you can prevent this from happening.
The greatest art is to be silent.
The greatest art is to be silent.
Not just unspeaking with the lips,
But unspeaking with the mind.
When the mind is quiet,
Its whole angle of vision changes.
From pouncing on the problems,
It begins to perceive the chances,
The good things in life:
And, in that discrimination
Which comes from silence,
Lie all other arts.
The arts that make life a pleasure
And a challenge;
Like how to talk to each other,
Entertain each other,
Accept each other -
In short, how to be happy
Not just together, but alone.
Not just unspeaking with the lips,
But unspeaking with the mind.
When the mind is quiet,
Its whole angle of vision changes.
From pouncing on the problems,
It begins to perceive the chances,
The good things in life:
And, in that discrimination
Which comes from silence,
Lie all other arts.
The arts that make life a pleasure
And a challenge;
Like how to talk to each other,
Entertain each other,
Accept each other -
In short, how to be happy
Not just together, but alone.
The greatest degree
The greatest degree of inner tranquility comes from
the development of love and compassion.
The more we care for the happiness of others,
the greater is our own sense of well-being.
"Do the best you can in every task,
no matter how unimportant it may seem
at the time.
No one learns more about a problem
than the person at the bottom."
It is amazing what you can accomplish
if you do not care who Gets the credit.
"The pessimist complains about the wind;
the optimist expects it to change;
the realist adjusts the sails."
Instead of focusing on all that you are not,
try focusing on all that you are.
Under the hardest shell, is a person
who wants to be appreciated and loved.
"Constant kindness can accomplish much.
As the sun makes ice melt,
kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate."
the development of love and compassion.
The more we care for the happiness of others,
the greater is our own sense of well-being.
"Do the best you can in every task,
no matter how unimportant it may seem
at the time.
No one learns more about a problem
than the person at the bottom."
It is amazing what you can accomplish
if you do not care who Gets the credit.
"The pessimist complains about the wind;
the optimist expects it to change;
the realist adjusts the sails."
Instead of focusing on all that you are not,
try focusing on all that you are.
Under the hardest shell, is a person
who wants to be appreciated and loved.
"Constant kindness can accomplish much.
As the sun makes ice melt,
kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate."
Everything happens for the good
There was once a King who had a wise advisor. The advisor followed the King everywhere, and his favorite advice was, "Everything happens for the good". One day the King went hunting and had a little accident. He shot an arrow at his own foot and was injured. He asked the advisor what he thought about the accident, to which the advisor replied, "Everything happens for the good". This time the King was really upset and ordered for his advisor to be put in prison. The King asked his advisor, "Now, what do you think?" The advisor again replied, "Everything happens for the good". So the advisor remained in prison.
The King later went on a hunting trip, this time without the advisor. The King was then captured by some cannibals. He was taken to the cannibals' camp where he was to be the evening meal for the cannibals. Before putting him into the cooking pot he was thoroughly inspected. The cannibals saw the wound on the King's foot and decided to throw him back into the jungle. According to the cannibals' tradition, they would not eat anything that was imperfect. As a result the King was spared. The King suddenly realized what his advisor said was true. The advisor also escaped death because had he not been in prison, he would have followed the King on the hunting trip, and would have ended up in the cooking pot.
Success Principles
It is true that everything in life happens for a purpose, and always for our own good. If you think about it, all our past experiences actually happened to bring us to where we are today, and it is always for the good. All the past experiences makes us a better person. So, whatever challenges that we may face today, consider it happening to bring us to the next level.
The King later went on a hunting trip, this time without the advisor. The King was then captured by some cannibals. He was taken to the cannibals' camp where he was to be the evening meal for the cannibals. Before putting him into the cooking pot he was thoroughly inspected. The cannibals saw the wound on the King's foot and decided to throw him back into the jungle. According to the cannibals' tradition, they would not eat anything that was imperfect. As a result the King was spared. The King suddenly realized what his advisor said was true. The advisor also escaped death because had he not been in prison, he would have followed the King on the hunting trip, and would have ended up in the cooking pot.
Success Principles
It is true that everything in life happens for a purpose, and always for our own good. If you think about it, all our past experiences actually happened to bring us to where we are today, and it is always for the good. All the past experiences makes us a better person. So, whatever challenges that we may face today, consider it happening to bring us to the next level.
It is not the Amount that Matters but the Thought and Care!
Many years ago my wife and I were on a trip to Carmel, California for some shopping and exploring. On the way we stopped at a service station. As soon as we parked our car in front of the pumps, a young man, about eighteen or nineteen, came bouncing out to the car and with a big smile said, "Can I help you?"
"Yes," I answered. "A full tank of gas, please." I wasn't prepared for what followed. In this day and age of self-service and deteriorating customer treatment, this young man checked every tire, washed every window - even the sunroof - singing and whistling the whole time. We couldn't believe both the quality of service and his upbeat attitude about his work.
When he brought the bill I said to the young man, "Hey, you really have taken good care of us. I appreciate it."
He replied, "I really enjoy working. It's fun for me and I get to meet nice people like you."
This kid was really something!
I said, "We're on our way to Carmel and we want to get some milkshakes. Can you tell us where we can find the nearest Baskin-Robbins?"
"Baskin-Robbins is just a few blocks away," he said as he gave us exact directions. Then he added, "Don't park out front - park around to the side so your car won't get sideswiped."
What a kid!
As we got to the ice cream store we ordered milkshakes, except that instead of two, we ordered three. Then we drove back to the station. Our young friend dashed out to greet us. "Hey, I see you got your milkshakes."
"Yes, and this one is for you!"
His mouth fell open. "For me?"
"Sure. With all the fantastic service you gave us, I couldn't leave you out of the milkshake deal."
"Wow!" was his astonished reply.
As we drove off I could see him in my rear-view mirror just standing there, grinning from ear to ear.
Now, what did this little act of generosity cost me? Only about two dollars - you see, it's not the money, it's the consideration.
Well, I must have been feeling especially creative that day, so on our arrival in Carmel I drove directly to a flower shop. As we walked inside I said to the florist, "I need a long-stemmed rose for my wife to carry while we go shopping in Carmel."
The florist, a rather unromantic type, replied, "We sell them by the dozen."
"I don't need a dozen," I said, "just one."
"Well," he replied haughtily, "if you only want one it will cost you two dollars."
"Wonderful," I exclaimed. "There's nothing worse than a cheap rose."
Selecting the rose with some deliberation, I handed it to my wife. She was impressed! And the cost? Two dollars. Just two dollars. A bit later she looked up and said, "I must be the only woman in Carmel today carrying a rose." And I believe she probably was.
Can you imagine the opportunity to create magic with those around you, and all for the cost of a few dollars, some imagination and care?
Remember, it is not the amount that matters but the thought and care that often has the greatest impact upon those you love.
The small details of our lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, the property, the bank balance that matters. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves. So find time to be your spouse's friend and do those little things for each other that build a relationship.
The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up...
Live like a Candle Which Burns It self but Give Lights to Others.
Live amongst people in such a manner that if you die they weep over you and if you are alive they crave for your company.
"Yes," I answered. "A full tank of gas, please." I wasn't prepared for what followed. In this day and age of self-service and deteriorating customer treatment, this young man checked every tire, washed every window - even the sunroof - singing and whistling the whole time. We couldn't believe both the quality of service and his upbeat attitude about his work.
When he brought the bill I said to the young man, "Hey, you really have taken good care of us. I appreciate it."
He replied, "I really enjoy working. It's fun for me and I get to meet nice people like you."
This kid was really something!
I said, "We're on our way to Carmel and we want to get some milkshakes. Can you tell us where we can find the nearest Baskin-Robbins?"
"Baskin-Robbins is just a few blocks away," he said as he gave us exact directions. Then he added, "Don't park out front - park around to the side so your car won't get sideswiped."
What a kid!
As we got to the ice cream store we ordered milkshakes, except that instead of two, we ordered three. Then we drove back to the station. Our young friend dashed out to greet us. "Hey, I see you got your milkshakes."
"Yes, and this one is for you!"
His mouth fell open. "For me?"
"Sure. With all the fantastic service you gave us, I couldn't leave you out of the milkshake deal."
"Wow!" was his astonished reply.
As we drove off I could see him in my rear-view mirror just standing there, grinning from ear to ear.
Now, what did this little act of generosity cost me? Only about two dollars - you see, it's not the money, it's the consideration.
Well, I must have been feeling especially creative that day, so on our arrival in Carmel I drove directly to a flower shop. As we walked inside I said to the florist, "I need a long-stemmed rose for my wife to carry while we go shopping in Carmel."
The florist, a rather unromantic type, replied, "We sell them by the dozen."
"I don't need a dozen," I said, "just one."
"Well," he replied haughtily, "if you only want one it will cost you two dollars."
"Wonderful," I exclaimed. "There's nothing worse than a cheap rose."
Selecting the rose with some deliberation, I handed it to my wife. She was impressed! And the cost? Two dollars. Just two dollars. A bit later she looked up and said, "I must be the only woman in Carmel today carrying a rose." And I believe she probably was.
Can you imagine the opportunity to create magic with those around you, and all for the cost of a few dollars, some imagination and care?
Remember, it is not the amount that matters but the thought and care that often has the greatest impact upon those you love.
The small details of our lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, the property, the bank balance that matters. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves. So find time to be your spouse's friend and do those little things for each other that build a relationship.
The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up...
Live like a Candle Which Burns It self but Give Lights to Others.
Live amongst people in such a manner that if you die they weep over you and if you are alive they crave for your company.
Fulfillment simply by being you.
In this moment, life is unfolding in a new
and beautiful way.
Can you see it?
In this moment, there is a special goodness.
Can you feel It?
On this day, your dream is speaking to you.
Can you hear it?
Right now, you have something more precious than anything
You can imagine. Right now, you have life and you have the
Opportunity to live it in your own special way.
Let go of the needs you've surrounded yourself with.
And let life's richness fill your awareness.
Taste the beauty, feel the possibilities
and touch the Purpose that lives within.
Find new ways to experience sweet
Fulfillment simply by being you.
and beautiful way.
Can you see it?
In this moment, there is a special goodness.
Can you feel It?
On this day, your dream is speaking to you.
Can you hear it?
Right now, you have something more precious than anything
You can imagine. Right now, you have life and you have the
Opportunity to live it in your own special way.
Let go of the needs you've surrounded yourself with.
And let life's richness fill your awareness.
Taste the beauty, feel the possibilities
and touch the Purpose that lives within.
Find new ways to experience sweet
Fulfillment simply by being you.
What upsets you is your response to what happens.
What upsets you is your response to what happens.
Just as easily as you respond in a negative way, you can easily
and naturally respond in a positive, empowering, uplifting way.
The biggest problems are often caused by what you choose to do
about the smallest problems.
Most of those big, painful problems are so unnecessary.
Keep reminding yourself that you are in control of you.
You are in control and you can decide exactly how you wish
to feel at any point.
Imagine the power of remaining calm and focused and resourceful when
some totally unexpected, disappointing development interrupts your day.
Truly, you can make the disappointments not disappointing at all.
Respond on purpose, with purpose. Feel the power and
the joy as every moment gives you a way to move forward.
Just as easily as you respond in a negative way, you can easily
and naturally respond in a positive, empowering, uplifting way.
The biggest problems are often caused by what you choose to do
about the smallest problems.
Most of those big, painful problems are so unnecessary.
Keep reminding yourself that you are in control of you.
You are in control and you can decide exactly how you wish
to feel at any point.
Imagine the power of remaining calm and focused and resourceful when
some totally unexpected, disappointing development interrupts your day.
Truly, you can make the disappointments not disappointing at all.
Respond on purpose, with purpose. Feel the power and
the joy as every moment gives you a way to move forward.
Mistakes
One of the smartest things you can do is to entertain the possibility that you may be mistaken.
Because if you are mistaken, and you're able to see it, you have the opportunity for great progress.
There is no dishonor in being mistaken.
Yet there is great folly indeed in being so stubborn that
you refuse to admit your own mistakes.
Mistakes can be powerful teachers. By knowing firsthand what does not work,
you gain much greater understanding about what does work, and why.
If you're not willing to accept the possibility of mistakes, you're not going to make much headway.
Though there's no need to purposely make mistakes, there's no reason to live in fear of them either.
Even if you are already effective, there likely are ways to be yet more effective.
Even if your mistakes are not disastrous, there is still much that you can learn from them.
Embrace the fact that somehow, concerning something, you're probably mistaken.
And in your mistakes, find the wisdom that will take your performance to an even higher level.
Because if you are mistaken, and you're able to see it, you have the opportunity for great progress.
There is no dishonor in being mistaken.
Yet there is great folly indeed in being so stubborn that
you refuse to admit your own mistakes.
Mistakes can be powerful teachers. By knowing firsthand what does not work,
you gain much greater understanding about what does work, and why.
If you're not willing to accept the possibility of mistakes, you're not going to make much headway.
Though there's no need to purposely make mistakes, there's no reason to live in fear of them either.
Even if you are already effective, there likely are ways to be yet more effective.
Even if your mistakes are not disastrous, there is still much that you can learn from them.
Embrace the fact that somehow, concerning something, you're probably mistaken.
And in your mistakes, find the wisdom that will take your performance to an even higher level.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Keep Going and Don't Quit
Keep Going and Don't Quit
When you make a heart-felt decision to finish
Something meaningful and, then do it, something
Amazing happens. You feel energized and all the
Worry and fear that you felt in the beginning
Miraculously disappears.
Your mind is free! You no longer feel guilty. The
Burden is gone and you don't beat yourself up for
Avoiding what needed to be done.
In the end, when you finish what you begin,
You're naturally motivated to do more. So, if you
Feel like quitting, keep in mind that wonderful
Feelings are waiting at the end of every
Meaningful task.
When you make a heart-felt decision to finish
Something meaningful and, then do it, something
Amazing happens. You feel energized and all the
Worry and fear that you felt in the beginning
Miraculously disappears.
Your mind is free! You no longer feel guilty. The
Burden is gone and you don't beat yourself up for
Avoiding what needed to be done.
In the end, when you finish what you begin,
You're naturally motivated to do more. So, if you
Feel like quitting, keep in mind that wonderful
Feelings are waiting at the end of every
Meaningful task.
Mustard Chicken
A must try...ridiculously easy but
unbelievably yummy recipe
Ingredients:
1 chicken
1 and half teaspoon mustard (raai) powder
1 and half heaped tablespoons ginger/garlic paste
1 teaspoon red chilli powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin (jeera) powder
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2-3 onions sliced and fired till golden brown
1 and half cups of yogurt approx.
oil
salt to taste
method:
crush half of the fried onions.
add more if u want more gravy.
beat yogurt and add all ingredients
except for oil.
marinate chicken.
the yogurt should be covering the chicken.
marinate for 2-3 hours.
add a little oil and mix.
heat oil in pot.
add chicken and cook till tender.
fry a little, but not so much to dry the gravy.
garnish with the remaining fried onion and
serve with hot chapatis.
unbelievably yummy recipe
Ingredients:
1 chicken
1 and half teaspoon mustard (raai) powder
1 and half heaped tablespoons ginger/garlic paste
1 teaspoon red chilli powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin (jeera) powder
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2-3 onions sliced and fired till golden brown
1 and half cups of yogurt approx.
oil
salt to taste
method:
crush half of the fried onions.
add more if u want more gravy.
beat yogurt and add all ingredients
except for oil.
marinate chicken.
the yogurt should be covering the chicken.
marinate for 2-3 hours.
add a little oil and mix.
heat oil in pot.
add chicken and cook till tender.
fry a little, but not so much to dry the gravy.
garnish with the remaining fried onion and
serve with hot chapatis.
Give Up the Habit of Worrying
As we grow in strength in our spiritual life,
we give up the habit of worrying.
It serves no purpose other than to make us feel tense
and miserable.
When I stop fretting about things that are beyond my control
and focus instead on generating optimistic and kind thoughts,
my life can begin to flow in ever more positive directions.
Such a light and easy approach to life enables me to take
everything in my stride.
we give up the habit of worrying.
It serves no purpose other than to make us feel tense
and miserable.
When I stop fretting about things that are beyond my control
and focus instead on generating optimistic and kind thoughts,
my life can begin to flow in ever more positive directions.
Such a light and easy approach to life enables me to take
everything in my stride.
What Happens to Your Body When you Drink Coke
What Happens to Your Body When you Drink Coke
Dear All,
This may be an anti-coke propaganda, but technical people like doctors/chemists would be able to confirm or otherwise if the comments below were correct.
However, even if 20% of it was correct, we might as well change our coking, pepsing, spriting, or sevenuping habits.
1. In The First 10 minutes: 10 teaspoons of sugar hit your system. (100% of your recommended daily intake.) You dont immediately vomit from the overwhelming sweetness because phosphoric acid cuts the flavor allowing you to keep it down.
2. 20 minutes: Your blood sugar spikes, causing an insulin burst. Your liver responds to this by turning any sugar it can get its hands on into fat. (Theres plenty of that at this particular moment)
3. 40 minutes: Caffeine absorption is complete. Your pupils dialate, your blood pressure rises, as a response your livers dumps more sugar into your bloodstream. The adenosine receptors in your brain are now blocked preventing drowsiness.
4. 45 minutes: Your body ups your dopamine production stimulating the pleasure centers of your brain. This is physically the same way heroin works, by the way.
5. 60 minutes: The phosphoric acid binds calcium, magnesium and zinc in your lower intestine, providing a further boost in metabolism. This is compounded by high doses of sugar and artificial sweeteners also increasing the urinary excretion of calcium.
6. 60 minutes: The caffeines diuretic properties come into play. (It makes you have to pee.) It is now assured that you evacuate the bonded calcium, magnesium and zinc that was headed to your bones as well as sodium, electrolyte and water.
7. 60 minutes: As the rave inside of you dies down you start to have a sugar crash. You may become irritable and/or sluggish. You ve also now, literally, pissed away all the water that was in the Coke. But not before infusing it with valuable nutrients your body could have used for things like even having the ability to hydrate your system or build strong bones and teeth.
Dear All,
This may be an anti-coke propaganda, but technical people like doctors/chemists would be able to confirm or otherwise if the comments below were correct.
However, even if 20% of it was correct, we might as well change our coking, pepsing, spriting, or sevenuping habits.
1. In The First 10 minutes: 10 teaspoons of sugar hit your system. (100% of your recommended daily intake.) You dont immediately vomit from the overwhelming sweetness because phosphoric acid cuts the flavor allowing you to keep it down.
2. 20 minutes: Your blood sugar spikes, causing an insulin burst. Your liver responds to this by turning any sugar it can get its hands on into fat. (Theres plenty of that at this particular moment)
3. 40 minutes: Caffeine absorption is complete. Your pupils dialate, your blood pressure rises, as a response your livers dumps more sugar into your bloodstream. The adenosine receptors in your brain are now blocked preventing drowsiness.
4. 45 minutes: Your body ups your dopamine production stimulating the pleasure centers of your brain. This is physically the same way heroin works, by the way.
5. 60 minutes: The phosphoric acid binds calcium, magnesium and zinc in your lower intestine, providing a further boost in metabolism. This is compounded by high doses of sugar and artificial sweeteners also increasing the urinary excretion of calcium.
6. 60 minutes: The caffeines diuretic properties come into play. (It makes you have to pee.) It is now assured that you evacuate the bonded calcium, magnesium and zinc that was headed to your bones as well as sodium, electrolyte and water.
7. 60 minutes: As the rave inside of you dies down you start to have a sugar crash. You may become irritable and/or sluggish. You ve also now, literally, pissed away all the water that was in the Coke. But not before infusing it with valuable nutrients your body could have used for things like even having the ability to hydrate your system or build strong bones and teeth.
Depression
Depression
Depression is becoming very common nowadays.
Today we hear every person complaining, "I am depressed".
Especially the youngsters are experiencing depression at an earlier age
than did the previous generations.
For this social scients and psychologists have proposed many explanations
including changes in family structure, urbanization and reduced cultural,
religious influences.
Depression can appear any time from childhood to old age but mostly
it begins in 20's and 30's.
The person suffering from depression appears confused, frightened
and unbalanced.
It causes serious changes in a person's feeling and outlook.
Depression dramatically impairs a person's ability to function in social situation.
Hormonal imbalance may play a role in producing depression.
Also deficiency of B6, B12 and folic acid can contribute to it.
To encapsulate, depression gives birth to several other diseases.
Here are few common tips to ease away the daily frustrations
that might lead to depression:
¤ Always think positive and constructive
¤ Try to exercise and walk daily
¤ Stop being introvert; never isolate yourself from society
¤ And above all, drink plenty of water as it keeps us physically and mentally fit.
I think after reading all these precautions,
we can beware from the disease Depression.
Depression is becoming very common nowadays.
Today we hear every person complaining, "I am depressed".
Especially the youngsters are experiencing depression at an earlier age
than did the previous generations.
For this social scients and psychologists have proposed many explanations
including changes in family structure, urbanization and reduced cultural,
religious influences.
Depression can appear any time from childhood to old age but mostly
it begins in 20's and 30's.
The person suffering from depression appears confused, frightened
and unbalanced.
It causes serious changes in a person's feeling and outlook.
Depression dramatically impairs a person's ability to function in social situation.
Hormonal imbalance may play a role in producing depression.
Also deficiency of B6, B12 and folic acid can contribute to it.
To encapsulate, depression gives birth to several other diseases.
Here are few common tips to ease away the daily frustrations
that might lead to depression:
¤ Always think positive and constructive
¤ Try to exercise and walk daily
¤ Stop being introvert; never isolate yourself from society
¤ And above all, drink plenty of water as it keeps us physically and mentally fit.
I think after reading all these precautions,
we can beware from the disease Depression.
Relief From Headache In Natural Ways...
Relief From Headache In Natural Ways...
Headache is a common problem, specially among the working crowd. Headache is caused due to several factors, but we can put it under three broad categories -
1.Tension –This is the most common cause of headache. Tension creates a spasm of the muscles at the back of the neck. The muscle spasm gets the tissues over the surface of the cranium and thus, the pain is felt not only on in the neck but also on the forehead.
2.Migraine –Migraine is the abnormality of the nervous system. This strain on the nervous system is caused due to eye strain, shock, stomach disorders etc. Migraine is a chronic disease which needs medical attention.
3.Cluster Headache –Cluster headaches are repetitive and gets back several times in a month. These are generally caused due to constant pressure on the nerves like alcohol consumption, chain smoking etc.
Headaches are very disturbing and restricts your attention to the pain alone. At this moment pain killer seems to be the only solution to get relief form headache. Pain killers, however, have side effects. Here are few home remedies to get relief from headache -
1.For chronic headache, eat sliced apple with salt everyday in the morning for a week.
2.Crush lemon crust into a fine powder and make it into a paste with the use of water. Apply this on the forehead. This is quick relief form headache caused due to tension.
3.Apply a small amount of Eucalyptus oil on the center of the head and cover it with a towel dipped in warm water. This is one of the most effective ways of curing pain.
4.Put 3 drops of ghee in your nostrils for a week to get rid of headache from cold.
5.Drink a glass of water with a teaspoon of honey every morning to treat chronic headache.
6.Grind watermelon seeds with poppy seeds and consume three grams of it everyday if you are suffering constant pain.
7.Application of sandalwood paste on the forehead is one of the tradition ways of curing headache.
These seven tips will surely give you quick relief from headache and does not have any side effects. They not only get you relief from headache but also treats it, so that you don't suffer the symptoms again.
Headache is a common problem, specially among the working crowd. Headache is caused due to several factors, but we can put it under three broad categories -
1.Tension –This is the most common cause of headache. Tension creates a spasm of the muscles at the back of the neck. The muscle spasm gets the tissues over the surface of the cranium and thus, the pain is felt not only on in the neck but also on the forehead.
2.Migraine –Migraine is the abnormality of the nervous system. This strain on the nervous system is caused due to eye strain, shock, stomach disorders etc. Migraine is a chronic disease which needs medical attention.
3.Cluster Headache –Cluster headaches are repetitive and gets back several times in a month. These are generally caused due to constant pressure on the nerves like alcohol consumption, chain smoking etc.
Headaches are very disturbing and restricts your attention to the pain alone. At this moment pain killer seems to be the only solution to get relief form headache. Pain killers, however, have side effects. Here are few home remedies to get relief from headache -
1.For chronic headache, eat sliced apple with salt everyday in the morning for a week.
2.Crush lemon crust into a fine powder and make it into a paste with the use of water. Apply this on the forehead. This is quick relief form headache caused due to tension.
3.Apply a small amount of Eucalyptus oil on the center of the head and cover it with a towel dipped in warm water. This is one of the most effective ways of curing pain.
4.Put 3 drops of ghee in your nostrils for a week to get rid of headache from cold.
5.Drink a glass of water with a teaspoon of honey every morning to treat chronic headache.
6.Grind watermelon seeds with poppy seeds and consume three grams of it everyday if you are suffering constant pain.
7.Application of sandalwood paste on the forehead is one of the tradition ways of curing headache.
These seven tips will surely give you quick relief from headache and does not have any side effects. They not only get you relief from headache but also treats it, so that you don't suffer the symptoms again.
Getting it Perfect
Getting it Perfect
There is often great beauty to be found in imperfection. No
Tree is perfectly straight, no mountain peak perfectly
Symmetrical, and yet the world is filled with beautiful
Mountains, trees and other magnificently imperfect things.
When a friend is hurting, you don't have to put together the
Perfect combination of words to let that person know you
Care. All you must do is speak from the heart.
When there is a challenge facing you, it's not necessary to
Come up with a perfect solution. Effective, focused,
Appropriate action will do just as well.
It's fine for perfection to be your goal. Just don't let the
Lack of perfection be an excuse for doing nothing.
There are countless good and valuable things in life that
Are far short of perfect. In fact, if everything were always
Perfect, life would not be nearly so interesting.
Certainly you always want to do your best. Just make sure
That getting it done takes priority over getting it perfect.
There is often great beauty to be found in imperfection. No
Tree is perfectly straight, no mountain peak perfectly
Symmetrical, and yet the world is filled with beautiful
Mountains, trees and other magnificently imperfect things.
When a friend is hurting, you don't have to put together the
Perfect combination of words to let that person know you
Care. All you must do is speak from the heart.
When there is a challenge facing you, it's not necessary to
Come up with a perfect solution. Effective, focused,
Appropriate action will do just as well.
It's fine for perfection to be your goal. Just don't let the
Lack of perfection be an excuse for doing nothing.
There are countless good and valuable things in life that
Are far short of perfect. In fact, if everything were always
Perfect, life would not be nearly so interesting.
Certainly you always want to do your best. Just make sure
That getting it done takes priority over getting it perfect.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
True peace
True peace can be experienced only when
we stop giving and taking sorrow.
In order not to give sorrow we need a clear heart
that has no ill feelings and for not taking sorrow
we need a big heart that can tolerate and
help other souls to get over their weaknesses.
we stop giving and taking sorrow.
In order not to give sorrow we need a clear heart
that has no ill feelings and for not taking sorrow
we need a big heart that can tolerate and
help other souls to get over their weaknesses.
How often we wish for another chance
How often we wish for another chance
To make a fresh beginning.
A chance to blot out our mistakes
And change failure into winning.
It does not take a new day
To make a brand new start,
It only takes a deep desire
To try with all our heart.
To live a little better
And to always be forgiving
And to add a little sunshine
To the world in which we're living.
So never give up in despair
And think that you are through,
For there's always a tomorrow
And the hope of starting new.
To make a fresh beginning.
A chance to blot out our mistakes
And change failure into winning.
It does not take a new day
To make a brand new start,
It only takes a deep desire
To try with all our heart.
To live a little better
And to always be forgiving
And to add a little sunshine
To the world in which we're living.
So never give up in despair
And think that you are through,
For there's always a tomorrow
And the hope of starting new.
UPLIFTING THINGS TO DO TODAY
UPLIFTING THINGS TO DO TODAY
Drop a coin where a child can find it
Learn something new and teach
it to someone
Tell someone you love them
Hug someone
Forgive someone who has wronged you
Try saying "I'm sorry" when you ought to
Tell a child how great they are
Keep a promise
Call someone just to say hello
Try listening more than talking
Stand up for what you believe in
Thank God for His beautiful Creation
Encourage someone who is feeling down
Cherish today as if it were your last one.
Drop a coin where a child can find it
Learn something new and teach
it to someone
Tell someone you love them
Hug someone
Forgive someone who has wronged you
Try saying "I'm sorry" when you ought to
Tell a child how great they are
Keep a promise
Call someone just to say hello
Try listening more than talking
Stand up for what you believe in
Thank God for His beautiful Creation
Encourage someone who is feeling down
Cherish today as if it were your last one.
Sources of fish oils
Many of us will have memories of our childhood days
when we were encouraged
to take our daily spoonful of cod liver oil. It tasted foul,
but the attitude then was ...
"If it tastes awful, it must be good for you"!
Our parents and grandparents knew that cod liver oil and halibut liver oil
were good for us, as these fish oils were excellent sources of the fat soluble
vitamins A, D, E and K. What that generation did not realise,
was that ther regular use of fish oils may bestow some other
very important medical benefits upon our bodies.
For example, did you know that Eskimos rarely suffer from
heart attacks, and the Japanese who are a nation of heavy
smokers, are rarely afflicted by heart disease!
What these two countries have in common is a diet rich in fish!
Now there is also medical evidence to show that fish oils
may improve other conditions, such as
Raised blood fats such as cholesterol and triglyceride
High blood pressure
Angina
Rheumatoid arthritis
Osteoarthritis
Psoriasis
Eczema
Asthma
Now don't get carried away, and dash off to your local pharmacy, thinking
that cod liver oil, is the 'cure all' for every single one of these conditions.
The evidence from much of the research is controversial.
So let's have a sensible look at what these fish oils can do for you!
What's the magic ingredient?
Fish oils contain substances known as essential fatty acids .
The two important ones are known as EPA and DHA.
If you want to impress your friends, EPA stands for eicosapentaenoic
(ay kosa pent ay no ik) acid and DHA stands for docosahexaenoic
(doe kosa hex ay no ik) acid!!
These fatty acids are only found in sea fish and cannot be produced
within the body.
Once in the body, they have widespread effects,
especially upon blood fat levels, the joints and upon the skin.
Effects upon the heart
Cholesterol and triglyceride are two fatty substances in our blood which,
when raised, cause a furring up of the inside of our blood vessels.
This narrows the blood vessels and makes us more prone to clot formation
(thrombosis).
If a clot blocks off an artery to the heart, a heart attack is the result.
Fish oils have been found to drop the levels of these blood fats,
and also decrease the likelihood of clot formation in blood vessels.
They also have an 'opening up' effect upon blood vessels,
which improves the circulation to the heart and also helps
to lower our blood pressure.
Effects on the skin
When patients with psoriasis were given fish oils,
their skin became less itchy, less reddened and less scaly.
A similar improvement has been noticed by some, though
not all sufferers of eczema.
These conditions can be very distressing, and so any improvement
brought about by simply adding fish to the diet is indeed worth trying.
Effects upon the joints
Research in the USA has shown that taking the fatty acids EPA and DHA
present in fish oils, led to fewer joint pains and stiffness in patients
with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
The treatment had to be taken for three months to produce it's best effect.
Sources of fish oils
You can obtain fish oils naturally from your diet by eating any of the oily fish,
such as herring, mackerel, sardines, tuna and salmon.
It is advised that you should take this type of fish at least
three times a week to obtain the beneficial effects.
Otherwise, you can take liquid fish oils in the form of
cod liver oil or halibut liver oil.
The recommended dose is two 5ml teaspoons per day.
Many people find the taste of these oils unpleasant,
though you can buy orange or cherry flavoured cod liver oil!!
If you prefer to take your cod liver oil in capsule form you will
have to take two capsules three times a day with each meal.
A concentrated blend of fish oils is also available,
called 'Pulse' capsules which are taken at the dose of
one capsule twice a day.
The oils and capsules can all be bought from your local pharmacist.
For those patients who actually do have a raised fat level
(specifically raised triglyceride)
in their bloodstream, a capsule is available on prescription called
'Maxepa', but you have to take 5 capsules twice a day!
Well, I don't want to die from a heart attack and I don't want arthritis,
so I'll be taking my fish oil capsules every day because herring and
mackerel give me indigestion!
A thought has just occurred to me ......
do herring, mackerel and sardines get heart disease,
arthritis or psoriasis? They shouldn't, should they?
The Best of health, to all of you!
when we were encouraged
to take our daily spoonful of cod liver oil. It tasted foul,
but the attitude then was ...
"If it tastes awful, it must be good for you"!
Our parents and grandparents knew that cod liver oil and halibut liver oil
were good for us, as these fish oils were excellent sources of the fat soluble
vitamins A, D, E and K. What that generation did not realise,
was that ther regular use of fish oils may bestow some other
very important medical benefits upon our bodies.
For example, did you know that Eskimos rarely suffer from
heart attacks, and the Japanese who are a nation of heavy
smokers, are rarely afflicted by heart disease!
What these two countries have in common is a diet rich in fish!
Now there is also medical evidence to show that fish oils
may improve other conditions, such as
Raised blood fats such as cholesterol and triglyceride
High blood pressure
Angina
Rheumatoid arthritis
Osteoarthritis
Psoriasis
Eczema
Asthma
Now don't get carried away, and dash off to your local pharmacy, thinking
that cod liver oil, is the 'cure all' for every single one of these conditions.
The evidence from much of the research is controversial.
So let's have a sensible look at what these fish oils can do for you!
What's the magic ingredient?
Fish oils contain substances known as essential fatty acids .
The two important ones are known as EPA and DHA.
If you want to impress your friends, EPA stands for eicosapentaenoic
(ay kosa pent ay no ik) acid and DHA stands for docosahexaenoic
(doe kosa hex ay no ik) acid!!
These fatty acids are only found in sea fish and cannot be produced
within the body.
Once in the body, they have widespread effects,
especially upon blood fat levels, the joints and upon the skin.
Effects upon the heart
Cholesterol and triglyceride are two fatty substances in our blood which,
when raised, cause a furring up of the inside of our blood vessels.
This narrows the blood vessels and makes us more prone to clot formation
(thrombosis).
If a clot blocks off an artery to the heart, a heart attack is the result.
Fish oils have been found to drop the levels of these blood fats,
and also decrease the likelihood of clot formation in blood vessels.
They also have an 'opening up' effect upon blood vessels,
which improves the circulation to the heart and also helps
to lower our blood pressure.
Effects on the skin
When patients with psoriasis were given fish oils,
their skin became less itchy, less reddened and less scaly.
A similar improvement has been noticed by some, though
not all sufferers of eczema.
These conditions can be very distressing, and so any improvement
brought about by simply adding fish to the diet is indeed worth trying.
Effects upon the joints
Research in the USA has shown that taking the fatty acids EPA and DHA
present in fish oils, led to fewer joint pains and stiffness in patients
with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
The treatment had to be taken for three months to produce it's best effect.
Sources of fish oils
You can obtain fish oils naturally from your diet by eating any of the oily fish,
such as herring, mackerel, sardines, tuna and salmon.
It is advised that you should take this type of fish at least
three times a week to obtain the beneficial effects.
Otherwise, you can take liquid fish oils in the form of
cod liver oil or halibut liver oil.
The recommended dose is two 5ml teaspoons per day.
Many people find the taste of these oils unpleasant,
though you can buy orange or cherry flavoured cod liver oil!!
If you prefer to take your cod liver oil in capsule form you will
have to take two capsules three times a day with each meal.
A concentrated blend of fish oils is also available,
called 'Pulse' capsules which are taken at the dose of
one capsule twice a day.
The oils and capsules can all be bought from your local pharmacist.
For those patients who actually do have a raised fat level
(specifically raised triglyceride)
in their bloodstream, a capsule is available on prescription called
'Maxepa', but you have to take 5 capsules twice a day!
Well, I don't want to die from a heart attack and I don't want arthritis,
so I'll be taking my fish oil capsules every day because herring and
mackerel give me indigestion!
A thought has just occurred to me ......
do herring, mackerel and sardines get heart disease,
arthritis or psoriasis? They shouldn't, should they?
The Best of health, to all of you!
FRUITS SHOULD BE EATEN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH.
We all think eating fruits means just buying fruits, cutting it and just popping it into our mouths. It's not as easy as you think. It's important to know how and when to eat.
What is the correct way of eating fruits?
IT MEANS NOT EATING FRUITS AFTER YOUR MEALS! * FRUITS SHOULD BE EATEN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH.
If you eat fruit like that, it will play a major role to detoxify your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities.
FRUIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD. Let's say you eat two slices of bread and then a slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it is prevented from doing so.
In the meantime the whole meal rots and ferments and turns to acid. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil....
So please eat your fruits on an empty stomach or before your meals! You have heard people complaining — every time I eat watermelon I burp, when I eat durian my stomach bloats up, when I eat a banana I feel like running to the toilet, etc — actually all this will not arise if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. The fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas and hence you will bloat!
Graying hair , balding , nervous outburst , and dark circles under the eyes all these will NOT happen if you take fruits on an empty stomach.
There is no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon are acidic, because all fruits become alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who did research on this matter. If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruits, you have the Secret of beauty, longevity, health, energy, happiness and normal weight.
When you need to drink fruit juice - drink only fresh fruit juice, NOT from the cans. Don't even drink juice that has been heated up. Don't eat cooked fruits because you don't get the nutrients at all. You only get to taste. Cooking destroys all the vitamins.
But eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice. If you should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it. You can go on a 3-day fruit fast to cleanse your body. Just eat fruits and drink fruit juice throughout the 3 days and you will be surprised when your friends tell you how radiant you look!
KIWI: Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E & fiber. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.
APPLE: An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the activity of vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.
STRAWBERRY: Protective Fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protect the body from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals.
ORANGE : Sweetest medicine. Taking 2-4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessens the risk of colon cancer.
WATERMELON: Coolest thirst quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are vitamin C & Potassium.
GUAVA & PAPAYA: Top awards for vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high vitamin C content.. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene; this is good for your eyes.
What is the correct way of eating fruits?
IT MEANS NOT EATING FRUITS AFTER YOUR MEALS! * FRUITS SHOULD BE EATEN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH.
If you eat fruit like that, it will play a major role to detoxify your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities.
FRUIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD. Let's say you eat two slices of bread and then a slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it is prevented from doing so.
In the meantime the whole meal rots and ferments and turns to acid. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil....
So please eat your fruits on an empty stomach or before your meals! You have heard people complaining — every time I eat watermelon I burp, when I eat durian my stomach bloats up, when I eat a banana I feel like running to the toilet, etc — actually all this will not arise if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. The fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas and hence you will bloat!
Graying hair , balding , nervous outburst , and dark circles under the eyes all these will NOT happen if you take fruits on an empty stomach.
There is no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon are acidic, because all fruits become alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who did research on this matter. If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruits, you have the Secret of beauty, longevity, health, energy, happiness and normal weight.
When you need to drink fruit juice - drink only fresh fruit juice, NOT from the cans. Don't even drink juice that has been heated up. Don't eat cooked fruits because you don't get the nutrients at all. You only get to taste. Cooking destroys all the vitamins.
But eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice. If you should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it. You can go on a 3-day fruit fast to cleanse your body. Just eat fruits and drink fruit juice throughout the 3 days and you will be surprised when your friends tell you how radiant you look!
KIWI: Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E & fiber. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.
APPLE: An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the activity of vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.
STRAWBERRY: Protective Fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protect the body from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals.
ORANGE : Sweetest medicine. Taking 2-4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessens the risk of colon cancer.
WATERMELON: Coolest thirst quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are vitamin C & Potassium.
GUAVA & PAPAYA: Top awards for vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high vitamin C content.. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene; this is good for your eyes.
Make a difference today
If there was ever a time to dare, to make a difference,
To embark on something worth doing, IT IS NOW.
Not for any grand cause, necessarily... But for something that tugs at your heart,
Something that's your inspiration, something that's your dream.
You owe it to yourself, to make your days here count.
Don't stop yourself from doing a deed just cause it's small or
only cause just one or few individuals will benefit from it.
Just remember, no matter how small the deed;
it really does makes a difference.
Make a difference today
To embark on something worth doing, IT IS NOW.
Not for any grand cause, necessarily... But for something that tugs at your heart,
Something that's your inspiration, something that's your dream.
You owe it to yourself, to make your days here count.
Don't stop yourself from doing a deed just cause it's small or
only cause just one or few individuals will benefit from it.
Just remember, no matter how small the deed;
it really does makes a difference.
Make a difference today
guarantee
No one else can guarantee that you will be successful or
Fulfilled in your life. And that's what makes success and
Fulfillment so desirable.
If you wish to experience life's true richness, you must
Make your own way toward it. Others can lead you and guide
You and encourage you, yet no one can do it for you.
You are blessed with the magnificent opportunity to express
What it means to be alive in your own unique way. The
Fulfillment of that opportunity, by very definition, must
Come from you.
The real meaning of accomplishment is not what you get.
Accomplishment has value because of what you put into it.
Though no one else can guarantee your success, you can
Guarantee it by making the commitment to do whatever you
Must do. You can guarantee it with your intention, your
Focus, your action and your persistence.
Today, tomorrow, in any place, whatever the situation, you
Can make a difference, for your own life, and for your
World. Grab that opportunity, make the most of it every
Chance you get, and you'll guarantee your own success.
Fulfilled in your life. And that's what makes success and
Fulfillment so desirable.
If you wish to experience life's true richness, you must
Make your own way toward it. Others can lead you and guide
You and encourage you, yet no one can do it for you.
You are blessed with the magnificent opportunity to express
What it means to be alive in your own unique way. The
Fulfillment of that opportunity, by very definition, must
Come from you.
The real meaning of accomplishment is not what you get.
Accomplishment has value because of what you put into it.
Though no one else can guarantee your success, you can
Guarantee it by making the commitment to do whatever you
Must do. You can guarantee it with your intention, your
Focus, your action and your persistence.
Today, tomorrow, in any place, whatever the situation, you
Can make a difference, for your own life, and for your
World. Grab that opportunity, make the most of it every
Chance you get, and you'll guarantee your own success.
Life is not a dress rehearsal.
"When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live
Your life so that when you die, the world cries and you
Rejoice."
"The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful,
To be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some
Difference that you have lived and lived well."
"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and
sings it back to you when you have forgotten how it goes."
"The minute you settle for less than you deserve,
you get even less than you settled for."
"If you think somebody cares about you and believes your life
Is worth saving, how can you give up?"
"Keep your chin up and you will see the clouds in the sky.
Keep your chin down and all you will see is the dirt on the
floor."
Happiness is inward and not outward; and so it does
Not depend on what we have, but on what we are.
Life is not a dress rehearsal.
Everyday, you should have at least one exquisite moment.
Your life so that when you die, the world cries and you
Rejoice."
"The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful,
To be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some
Difference that you have lived and lived well."
"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and
sings it back to you when you have forgotten how it goes."
"The minute you settle for less than you deserve,
you get even less than you settled for."
"If you think somebody cares about you and believes your life
Is worth saving, how can you give up?"
"Keep your chin up and you will see the clouds in the sky.
Keep your chin down and all you will see is the dirt on the
floor."
Happiness is inward and not outward; and so it does
Not depend on what we have, but on what we are.
Life is not a dress rehearsal.
Everyday, you should have at least one exquisite moment.
I believe anything is possible if you
I believe anything is possible if you
believe in yourself, and work hard
enough to achieve your dreams.
You just have to have faith in
what you can achieve, don't be afraid
to ask for help and advice from
others to help you achieve it.
And never give up, no matter how many times, you get knock down
or take a wrong turn
believe in yourself, and work hard
enough to achieve your dreams.
You just have to have faith in
what you can achieve, don't be afraid
to ask for help and advice from
others to help you achieve it.
And never give up, no matter how many times, you get knock down
or take a wrong turn
Why God gave us problems
The problems that you face, will either defeat you or develop you, depending on how, you respond to them. Unfortunately, most people fail to see, as to how God wants to use problems, for good causes, in their respective lives. They react foolishly, and resent their problems, rather than pausing to consider, as to what benefits, they might bring.
Here are five ways, that God wants to use the problems, in your life:-
1.God Uses Problems, To DIRECT You
Sometimes, God must light a fire under you, to get you moving. Problems often point us, in new directions, and motivate us, to change. Is God trying, to get your attention? Sometimes it takes
a painful situation, to make us change, our ways.
2. God Uses Problems, To INSPECT You
People, are like tea bags. If you want to know, as to what is inside them, just drop them, into hot water! Has God tested your faith, with a problem? What do problems reveal, about you? When you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy; because you know that these troubles, test your faith; and this will give you, patience."
3. God Uses Problems, To CORRECT You
S ome lessons we learn only through pain and failure.
It's likely that as a child your parents told you not to touch a hot stove.
But you probably learned by being burned. Sometimes we only learn
the value of something... health, money, a relationship. ..
by losing it. "It was the best thing that could have happened to me,
for it taught me to pay attention to your laws."
4. God Uses Problems To PROTECT U
A problem can be, a blessing in disguise, if it prevents you from
being harmed, by something more serious. Last year, a friend of mine
was fired from his job, only for having refused to do, something unethical, that his boss
had asked him, to do. That friend's unemployment,
was a problem, but that
itself saved him, from being convicted and sent to prison, a year
later; when the
actions of the M
anagement of his previous office, were eventually discovered.
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good...
5. God Uses Problems, To PERFECT You
Problems, when responded to correctly, are character builders.
God, is far more interested in your character, than in your comfort.
Your relationship with God, and your character, are the only two
things that you are going to take with you, into eternity.
"We can rejoice, when we run into problems. T
hey help us learn, to be patient. Patience, develops strength of
character, in us; and helps us trust God more, each time that we use it, until finally our hope and faith, are strong and steady."
God, is at work in your life, even when you do not recognize it, or understand it. But it is much easier and more profitable, when you cooperate, with Him.
"Success can be measured, not only in achievements, but in lessons learned, lives touched, and moments shared, along the way"
Here are five ways, that God wants to use the problems, in your life:-
1.God Uses Problems, To DIRECT You
Sometimes, God must light a fire under you, to get you moving. Problems often point us, in new directions, and motivate us, to change. Is God trying, to get your attention? Sometimes it takes
a painful situation, to make us change, our ways.
2. God Uses Problems, To INSPECT You
People, are like tea bags. If you want to know, as to what is inside them, just drop them, into hot water! Has God tested your faith, with a problem? What do problems reveal, about you? When you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy; because you know that these troubles, test your faith; and this will give you, patience."
3. God Uses Problems, To CORRECT You
S ome lessons we learn only through pain and failure.
It's likely that as a child your parents told you not to touch a hot stove.
But you probably learned by being burned. Sometimes we only learn
the value of something... health, money, a relationship. ..
by losing it. "It was the best thing that could have happened to me,
for it taught me to pay attention to your laws."
4. God Uses Problems To PROTECT U
A problem can be, a blessing in disguise, if it prevents you from
being harmed, by something more serious. Last year, a friend of mine
was fired from his job, only for having refused to do, something unethical, that his boss
had asked him, to do. That friend's unemployment,
was a problem, but that
itself saved him, from being convicted and sent to prison, a year
later; when the
actions of the M
anagement of his previous office, were eventually discovered.
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good...
5. God Uses Problems, To PERFECT You
Problems, when responded to correctly, are character builders.
God, is far more interested in your character, than in your comfort.
Your relationship with God, and your character, are the only two
things that you are going to take with you, into eternity.
"We can rejoice, when we run into problems. T
hey help us learn, to be patient. Patience, develops strength of
character, in us; and helps us trust God more, each time that we use it, until finally our hope and faith, are strong and steady."
God, is at work in your life, even when you do not recognize it, or understand it. But it is much easier and more profitable, when you cooperate, with Him.
"Success can be measured, not only in achievements, but in lessons learned, lives touched, and moments shared, along the way"
Eleven Great Ways to Reduce Stress
Eleven Great Ways to Reduce Stress
Stress is a big challenge in life nowadays.
The sources of stress are many and the helpful ways to reduce stress are also plentiful.
Common symptoms of stress include skin problems, stomach ulcers, high blood pressure, fatigue, insomnia and frustration.
We don't need to set a time to reduce stress, we need to incorporate some strategies in our daily life routine to prevent stress and reduce its effect on the body.
Here are 11 simple steps we can easily take to reduce stress:
1. Define your goals: we must define our life goals and begin to achieve these goals; this action will support us against stress because we will feel that we know what our life purpose is and why, and that we control our own lives.
2. Take control of your diet: we can use simple ways in our diet plans to reduce stress by avoiding some stimulants such as coffee, alcohol, tea and sugar and we can use chamomile tea as an alternative because of its calming and relaxing effect.
We need to eat slowly in a calm environment to allow our digestive system to work well.
We can use honey as an alternative to sugar but in small amounts (one or two spoonfuls per day).
3. Take hot baths regularly: after a very busy day or when we feel that we need to relax (I do this three times a week).
You can take a hot bath by sitting in warm to hot water and the water level should be above the waist, using lavender oil can also enhance this relaxing experience.
4. Aromatherapy: in the office you can use aromatherapy to relax and avoid stress.
One of the best ways is to use lavender oil on a source of heat and take in the scent; this is a great way to relax during the day when you need it the most.
5. Exercise: This is one of the important things you can do which will reduce stress and bring happiness.
When we exercise, our brains release substances which bring feelings of happiness and relaxation; we need engage in some exercise regularly such as walking, dancing or swimming.
6. Breathing techniques: Yoga, meditation and Tai Chi all use deep breathing techniques.
To meditate, simply sit with closed eyes and concentrate on your breathing.
Breathing deeply regularly is great for health and from there, you can learn various other breathing techniques to gain enhanced benefits.
7. Relaxation techniques and self hypnotherapy: we can easily do this after the hot bath to relax even more, simply sit or lie down in a comfortable place with your eyes closed, imagine there is a spot light above your head and concentrate on it, then concentrate on your body part by part and try to relax the body and feel the relaxation deepening -- you can also use a self hypnotherapy audio tape to help in this process.
8. Massage: this is a great way to reduce stress, I do this when other ways fail, I feel better after receiving a massage.
You can get a professional massage or you can simply ask your partner to massage you.
9. Spiritual healing: prayers and the act of helping others are very important components for happiness and stress reduction.
You will feel calmer and have a sense of inner peace.
10. Talking through your problems: talking about your feelings acts as a releasing mechanism and you will soon find that talking about your problems with your partner or best friend may help the solution to the problem come to light and will help to release blocked emotions.
11. Multivitamins: I take a Vitamin B complex regularly to decrease stress and this has been a great help in my stress reduction.
I hope that you find these suggestions helpful, my hope in sharing this information with you is that you can benefit from it.
Reading about this is not enough to reduce stress, you must take action.
Stress is a big challenge in life nowadays.
The sources of stress are many and the helpful ways to reduce stress are also plentiful.
Common symptoms of stress include skin problems, stomach ulcers, high blood pressure, fatigue, insomnia and frustration.
We don't need to set a time to reduce stress, we need to incorporate some strategies in our daily life routine to prevent stress and reduce its effect on the body.
Here are 11 simple steps we can easily take to reduce stress:
1. Define your goals: we must define our life goals and begin to achieve these goals; this action will support us against stress because we will feel that we know what our life purpose is and why, and that we control our own lives.
2. Take control of your diet: we can use simple ways in our diet plans to reduce stress by avoiding some stimulants such as coffee, alcohol, tea and sugar and we can use chamomile tea as an alternative because of its calming and relaxing effect.
We need to eat slowly in a calm environment to allow our digestive system to work well.
We can use honey as an alternative to sugar but in small amounts (one or two spoonfuls per day).
3. Take hot baths regularly: after a very busy day or when we feel that we need to relax (I do this three times a week).
You can take a hot bath by sitting in warm to hot water and the water level should be above the waist, using lavender oil can also enhance this relaxing experience.
4. Aromatherapy: in the office you can use aromatherapy to relax and avoid stress.
One of the best ways is to use lavender oil on a source of heat and take in the scent; this is a great way to relax during the day when you need it the most.
5. Exercise: This is one of the important things you can do which will reduce stress and bring happiness.
When we exercise, our brains release substances which bring feelings of happiness and relaxation; we need engage in some exercise regularly such as walking, dancing or swimming.
6. Breathing techniques: Yoga, meditation and Tai Chi all use deep breathing techniques.
To meditate, simply sit with closed eyes and concentrate on your breathing.
Breathing deeply regularly is great for health and from there, you can learn various other breathing techniques to gain enhanced benefits.
7. Relaxation techniques and self hypnotherapy: we can easily do this after the hot bath to relax even more, simply sit or lie down in a comfortable place with your eyes closed, imagine there is a spot light above your head and concentrate on it, then concentrate on your body part by part and try to relax the body and feel the relaxation deepening -- you can also use a self hypnotherapy audio tape to help in this process.
8. Massage: this is a great way to reduce stress, I do this when other ways fail, I feel better after receiving a massage.
You can get a professional massage or you can simply ask your partner to massage you.
9. Spiritual healing: prayers and the act of helping others are very important components for happiness and stress reduction.
You will feel calmer and have a sense of inner peace.
10. Talking through your problems: talking about your feelings acts as a releasing mechanism and you will soon find that talking about your problems with your partner or best friend may help the solution to the problem come to light and will help to release blocked emotions.
11. Multivitamins: I take a Vitamin B complex regularly to decrease stress and this has been a great help in my stress reduction.
I hope that you find these suggestions helpful, my hope in sharing this information with you is that you can benefit from it.
Reading about this is not enough to reduce stress, you must take action.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Sometimes the hardest thing to hear
Sometimes the hardest thing to hear
and to Accept is a compliment.
We tend to be guarded,Possibly because
we have been hurt by words in The past.
We fight the urge to believe the praise;
It simply can't be true.
The truth is compliments should be
embraced And welcomed.
They're an intangible gift,a Confirmation
of a job well done.
Others may see Great changes happening
to you and they want to Let you know.
Respond with a smile and a simple
Thank you.
You deserve to be flattered, so accept it,
and Enjoy it!
and to Accept is a compliment.
We tend to be guarded,Possibly because
we have been hurt by words in The past.
We fight the urge to believe the praise;
It simply can't be true.
The truth is compliments should be
embraced And welcomed.
They're an intangible gift,a Confirmation
of a job well done.
Others may see Great changes happening
to you and they want to Let you know.
Respond with a smile and a simple
Thank you.
You deserve to be flattered, so accept it,
and Enjoy it!
what is Hope?
Hope is knowing that a positive outcome awaits.
Hope is not only expecting a dream to come true,
But also having a deep assurance
That it's within your reach.
Hope is saying you can.
Hope is knowing that you can improve
And that you always get better with practice.
Hope is knowing that you can achieve your goals
Through hard work and persistence.
Hope is looking to the future with joy
And having an expectation of
Better things to come.
Hope is the knowledge that life is everlasting,
And that miracles happen every day.
Hope is something that never abandons you.
Even when your life is filled with
Sadness and disappointment,
A spark remains inside to help you
Get through the rough times.
Hope is one of God's greatest gifts to you,
Because it's the magic that inspires you
To keep trying, learning, loving, and living.
Hope is not only expecting a dream to come true,
But also having a deep assurance
That it's within your reach.
Hope is saying you can.
Hope is knowing that you can improve
And that you always get better with practice.
Hope is knowing that you can achieve your goals
Through hard work and persistence.
Hope is looking to the future with joy
And having an expectation of
Better things to come.
Hope is the knowledge that life is everlasting,
And that miracles happen every day.
Hope is something that never abandons you.
Even when your life is filled with
Sadness and disappointment,
A spark remains inside to help you
Get through the rough times.
Hope is one of God's greatest gifts to you,
Because it's the magic that inspires you
To keep trying, learning, loving, and living.
Am I Happy?
If there is any sadness I make a strong
effort to be free of it quickly,
otherwise it grows like a vine in the
rainy season:
by midday I will be confused, by evening
a whole jungle of weak, wasteful and
negative attitudes will have taken deep
roots in my mind.
The result equals chaos.
Sometimes I reach a stage where the
attitude is:
"So what if I feel the blues today?
It is my life, no one else will be affected".
Firstly, the more I allow myself to
experience sorrow, the less time I have
available to be happy and contented.
It sounds ridiculously obvious, but
am I aware of the value of happiness?
It is an extremely rare commodity,
and the cost goes sky high.
Secondly, is it my life?
Yes, I am living it, but am I not a member
of a family or a co-worker with others,
and am I not part of society?
If so, then every movement affects and
is affected by those around me.
effort to be free of it quickly,
otherwise it grows like a vine in the
rainy season:
by midday I will be confused, by evening
a whole jungle of weak, wasteful and
negative attitudes will have taken deep
roots in my mind.
The result equals chaos.
Sometimes I reach a stage where the
attitude is:
"So what if I feel the blues today?
It is my life, no one else will be affected".
Firstly, the more I allow myself to
experience sorrow, the less time I have
available to be happy and contented.
It sounds ridiculously obvious, but
am I aware of the value of happiness?
It is an extremely rare commodity,
and the cost goes sky high.
Secondly, is it my life?
Yes, I am living it, but am I not a member
of a family or a co-worker with others,
and am I not part of society?
If so, then every movement affects and
is affected by those around me.
Dont let the pain of one season destroy
Dont let the pain of one season destroy
the joy of all the rest.
Dont judge life by one difficult season.
Persevere through the difficult patches;
And better times are sure to come.,
some time or later.
the joy of all the rest.
Dont judge life by one difficult season.
Persevere through the difficult patches;
And better times are sure to come.,
some time or later.
Spices for diseases
Spices for diseases
COLDS
Mix a gram of dalchini/cinnamon powder with a teaspoon of honey to
cure cold. Prepare a cup of tea to which you should add ginger, clove, bay
leaf and black pepper.. This should be consumed twice a day. Reduce the
intake as the cold disappears.
GINGER FOR COLDS.
Ginger tea is very good to cure cold. Preparation of tea: cut ginger
into small pieces and boil it with water, boil it a few times and then
add sugar to sweeten and milk to taste, and drink it hot.
DRY COUGHS.
Add a gram of turmeric (haldi) powder to a teaspoon of honey for
curing dry cough. Also chew a cardamom for a long time.
BLOCKED NOSE.
For blocked nose or to relieve congestion, take a table spoon of
crushed carom seeds (ajwain) and tie it in a cloth and inhale it.
SORE THROAT.
Add a tea spoon of cumin seeds (jeera) and a few small pieces of dry
ginger to a glass of boiling water. Simmer it for a few minutes, and
then let it cool. Drink it twice daily. This will cure cold as well as
sore throat.
AJWAIN/AJMO FOR ASTHMA.
Boil ajwain in water and inhale the steam.
CURE FOR BACKACHE..
Rub ginger paste on the backache to get relief.
GARLIC FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.
Have 1-2 pod garlic (lasan) first thing in the morning with water
HONEY AND GINGER FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.
Mix 1 table spoon and 1 table spoon ginger (adrak) juice, 1 table
spoon of crushed cumin seeds (jeera), and have it twice daily.
MIGRAINE. .
For the cure of migraine or acute cold in the head; boil a tablespoon
of pepper powder, and a pinch of turmeric in a cup of milk, and have it
daily for a few couple of days.
BITTER GOURD/KARELA IS GOOD..
A tablespoon of amla juice mixed with a cup of fresh bitter gourd
(karela) juice and taken daily for 2 months reduces blood sugar.
TURMERIC/ ARAD CURE FOR INJURIES
For any cut or wound, apply turmeric powder to the injured portion to
stop the bleeding. It also works as an antiseptic. You can tie a
bandage after applying haldi/turmeric.
CRAMPS
You must do a self-massage using mustard oil every morning. Just take
a little oil between your palms and rub it all over your body. Then take
a shower. This is especially beneficial during winter. You could also
mix a little mustard powder with water to make a paste and apply this on
your palms and soles of your feet.
HEADACHES.
If you have a regular migraine problem, include five almonds along
with hot milk in your daily diet. You could also have a gram of black
pepper along with honey or milk, twice or thrice a day. Make an almond
paste
by rubbing wet almonds against a stone. This can be applied to forehead.
Eat an apple with a little salt on an empty stomach everyday and see
its wonderful effects. OR When headache is caused by cold winds, cinnamon
works best in curing headache. Make a paste of cinnamon by mixing in
water and apply it all over your forehead
TURMERIC
FOR ARTHRITIS.
Turmeric can be used in treating arthritis due to its
anti-inflammatory property. Turmeric can be taken as a drink other than
adding to dishes
to help prevent all problems. Use one teaspoon of turmeric powder per
cup of warm milk every day. It is also used as a paste for local action.
GOOD FOR THE HEART
Turmeric lower cholesterol and by preventing the formation of the
internal blood clots improves circulation and prevents heart disease
and stroke. Turmeric can be taken as a drink other than adding to dishes
to help prevent all problems. Use one teaspoon of turmeric powder per cup
of warm milk every day. It is also used as a paste for local action.
GOOD FOR INDIGESTION
Turmeric can be used to relieve digestive problems like ulcers,
dysentery. Turmeric can be taken as a drink other than adding to
dishes to help prevent all problems. Use one teaspoon of turmeric powder
per cup of warm milk every day. It is also used as a paste for local
action.
HONEY
HONEY IS A GOOD CURE FOR ALL DISEASES
Mix 1 teaspoon honey with 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder and have at night.
HICCUPS
Take a warm slice of lemon and sprinkle salt, sugar and black pepper
on it.. The lemon should be eaten until the hiccups stop.
HIGH BLOOD CHOLESTEROL
In 1 glass of water, add 2 tbsps of coriander/dhania seeds and bring
to a boil. Let the decoction cool for some time and then strain. Drink
this mixture two times in a day. OR Sunflower seeds are extremely
beneficial, as they contain linoleic acid that helps in reducing the
cholesterol deposits on the walls of arteries.
PILES
Radish juice should be taken twice a day, once in the morning and
then later in the night. Initially drink about ? cup of radish juice and
then gradually increase it to ? cup. OR Soak 3-4 figs in a glass of water
Keep it overnight. Consume the figs on an empty stomach, the next day
in the morning
VOMITING
Take 2 cardamoms/elachi and roast them on a dry pan (tava). Powder the
cardamoms and thereafter add a tsp of honey in it. Consume it
frequently. It serves as a fabulous home remedy for vomiting. OR In
the mixture of 1 tsp of mint juice and 1 tsp limejuice, add ? tsp of
ginger juice and 1 tsp honey. Drink this mixture to prevent vomiting. OR
Limejuice is an effective remedy for vomiting. Take a glass of chilled
limejuice and sip slowly. To prevent vomiting, drink ginger tea. OR In
1 glass water, add some honey and drink sip by sip.
WARTS
Apply castor oil daily over the problematic area. Continue for
several months. OR Apply milky juice of fresh and barely-ripe figs a
number of times a day. Continue for two weeks. OR Rub cut raw potatoes
on the affected area several times daily. Continue for at least two weeks. OR
Rub cut onions on the warts to stimulate the circulation of blood.. OR
Apply milk from the cut end of dandelion over the warts 2-3 times a
day. OR Apply oil extracted from the shell of the cashew nut over the
warts. OR Apply Papaya juice OR Apply Pineapple juice.
URINARY TRACT INFECTION
In 8 oz of water, put ? tsp of baking soda and drink it. OR Drink
plenty of water, as it aids in flushing out the waste products from the body.
OR Drink Cranberry juice. You can also add some apple juice for taste.
SINUSITIS
Mango serves as an effective home remedy for preventing the frequent
attacks of sinus, as it is packed with loads of vitamin A. OR Another
beneficial remedy consists of consuming pungent foods like onion and
garlic, as a part of your daily meals. OR Fenugreek/methi leaves are
considered valuable.
COLDS
Mix a gram of dalchini/cinnamon powder with a teaspoon of honey to
cure cold. Prepare a cup of tea to which you should add ginger, clove, bay
leaf and black pepper.. This should be consumed twice a day. Reduce the
intake as the cold disappears.
GINGER FOR COLDS.
Ginger tea is very good to cure cold. Preparation of tea: cut ginger
into small pieces and boil it with water, boil it a few times and then
add sugar to sweeten and milk to taste, and drink it hot.
DRY COUGHS.
Add a gram of turmeric (haldi) powder to a teaspoon of honey for
curing dry cough. Also chew a cardamom for a long time.
BLOCKED NOSE.
For blocked nose or to relieve congestion, take a table spoon of
crushed carom seeds (ajwain) and tie it in a cloth and inhale it.
SORE THROAT.
Add a tea spoon of cumin seeds (jeera) and a few small pieces of dry
ginger to a glass of boiling water. Simmer it for a few minutes, and
then let it cool. Drink it twice daily. This will cure cold as well as
sore throat.
AJWAIN/AJMO FOR ASTHMA.
Boil ajwain in water and inhale the steam.
CURE FOR BACKACHE..
Rub ginger paste on the backache to get relief.
GARLIC FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.
Have 1-2 pod garlic (lasan) first thing in the morning with water
HONEY AND GINGER FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.
Mix 1 table spoon and 1 table spoon ginger (adrak) juice, 1 table
spoon of crushed cumin seeds (jeera), and have it twice daily.
MIGRAINE. .
For the cure of migraine or acute cold in the head; boil a tablespoon
of pepper powder, and a pinch of turmeric in a cup of milk, and have it
daily for a few couple of days.
BITTER GOURD/KARELA IS GOOD..
A tablespoon of amla juice mixed with a cup of fresh bitter gourd
(karela) juice and taken daily for 2 months reduces blood sugar.
TURMERIC/ ARAD CURE FOR INJURIES
For any cut or wound, apply turmeric powder to the injured portion to
stop the bleeding. It also works as an antiseptic. You can tie a
bandage after applying haldi/turmeric.
CRAMPS
You must do a self-massage using mustard oil every morning. Just take
a little oil between your palms and rub it all over your body. Then take
a shower. This is especially beneficial during winter. You could also
mix a little mustard powder with water to make a paste and apply this on
your palms and soles of your feet.
HEADACHES.
If you have a regular migraine problem, include five almonds along
with hot milk in your daily diet. You could also have a gram of black
pepper along with honey or milk, twice or thrice a day. Make an almond
paste
by rubbing wet almonds against a stone. This can be applied to forehead.
Eat an apple with a little salt on an empty stomach everyday and see
its wonderful effects. OR When headache is caused by cold winds, cinnamon
works best in curing headache. Make a paste of cinnamon by mixing in
water and apply it all over your forehead
TURMERIC
FOR ARTHRITIS.
Turmeric can be used in treating arthritis due to its
anti-inflammatory property. Turmeric can be taken as a drink other than
adding to dishes
to help prevent all problems. Use one teaspoon of turmeric powder per
cup of warm milk every day. It is also used as a paste for local action.
GOOD FOR THE HEART
Turmeric lower cholesterol and by preventing the formation of the
internal blood clots improves circulation and prevents heart disease
and stroke. Turmeric can be taken as a drink other than adding to dishes
to help prevent all problems. Use one teaspoon of turmeric powder per cup
of warm milk every day. It is also used as a paste for local action.
GOOD FOR INDIGESTION
Turmeric can be used to relieve digestive problems like ulcers,
dysentery. Turmeric can be taken as a drink other than adding to
dishes to help prevent all problems. Use one teaspoon of turmeric powder
per cup of warm milk every day. It is also used as a paste for local
action.
HONEY
HONEY IS A GOOD CURE FOR ALL DISEASES
Mix 1 teaspoon honey with 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder and have at night.
HICCUPS
Take a warm slice of lemon and sprinkle salt, sugar and black pepper
on it.. The lemon should be eaten until the hiccups stop.
HIGH BLOOD CHOLESTEROL
In 1 glass of water, add 2 tbsps of coriander/dhania seeds and bring
to a boil. Let the decoction cool for some time and then strain. Drink
this mixture two times in a day. OR Sunflower seeds are extremely
beneficial, as they contain linoleic acid that helps in reducing the
cholesterol deposits on the walls of arteries.
PILES
Radish juice should be taken twice a day, once in the morning and
then later in the night. Initially drink about ? cup of radish juice and
then gradually increase it to ? cup. OR Soak 3-4 figs in a glass of water
Keep it overnight. Consume the figs on an empty stomach, the next day
in the morning
VOMITING
Take 2 cardamoms/elachi and roast them on a dry pan (tava). Powder the
cardamoms and thereafter add a tsp of honey in it. Consume it
frequently. It serves as a fabulous home remedy for vomiting. OR In
the mixture of 1 tsp of mint juice and 1 tsp limejuice, add ? tsp of
ginger juice and 1 tsp honey. Drink this mixture to prevent vomiting. OR
Limejuice is an effective remedy for vomiting. Take a glass of chilled
limejuice and sip slowly. To prevent vomiting, drink ginger tea. OR In
1 glass water, add some honey and drink sip by sip.
WARTS
Apply castor oil daily over the problematic area. Continue for
several months. OR Apply milky juice of fresh and barely-ripe figs a
number of times a day. Continue for two weeks. OR Rub cut raw potatoes
on the affected area several times daily. Continue for at least two weeks. OR
Rub cut onions on the warts to stimulate the circulation of blood.. OR
Apply milk from the cut end of dandelion over the warts 2-3 times a
day. OR Apply oil extracted from the shell of the cashew nut over the
warts. OR Apply Papaya juice OR Apply Pineapple juice.
URINARY TRACT INFECTION
In 8 oz of water, put ? tsp of baking soda and drink it. OR Drink
plenty of water, as it aids in flushing out the waste products from the body.
OR Drink Cranberry juice. You can also add some apple juice for taste.
SINUSITIS
Mango serves as an effective home remedy for preventing the frequent
attacks of sinus, as it is packed with loads of vitamin A. OR Another
beneficial remedy consists of consuming pungent foods like onion and
garlic, as a part of your daily meals. OR Fenugreek/methi leaves are
considered valuable.
Heart Attacks And Drinking Warm Water
A very good article which takes two minutes to read. I'm sending this to persons I care about....... I hope you do too!!!
Heart Attacks And Drinking Warm Water
This is a very good article. Not only about the warm water after your meal, but about Heart Attacks . The Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals, not cold water, maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating.
For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It feels nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer . It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.
French fries and Burgers are the biggest enemy of heart health.
A coke after that gives more power to this demon.
Avoid them for your Heart's Health
Common Symptoms Of Heart Attack...
A serious note about heart attacks - You should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting.
Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line .
You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack.
Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms.
60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive.
A cardiologist says if everyone who reads this message sends it to his kith & kin, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life. Read this & Send to a friend. It could save a life... So, please be a true friend and send this article to all your friends you care about.
Heart Attacks And Drinking Warm Water
This is a very good article. Not only about the warm water after your meal, but about Heart Attacks . The Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals, not cold water, maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating.
For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It feels nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer . It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.
French fries and Burgers are the biggest enemy of heart health.
A coke after that gives more power to this demon.
Avoid them for your Heart's Health
Common Symptoms Of Heart Attack...
A serious note about heart attacks - You should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting.
Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line .
You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack.
Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms.
60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive.
A cardiologist says if everyone who reads this message sends it to his kith & kin, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life. Read this & Send to a friend. It could save a life... So, please be a true friend and send this article to all your friends you care about.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Forgiveness
"Forgiveness is the sweetest revenge." I saw this wonderful old saying again in a
book recently. It got me to thinking about all the times that I have been able
to forgive others in my life and all the joy that it has brought me. One memory
stands out particularly well. I was a young boy spending a week at 4-H camp
during the Summer. I was having a great time and enjoying everything about it
except for another young boy about my age. To say we didn’t get along would be
an understatement. We spent most of the week irritating, insulting, and picking
on each other. Words finally came to blows on the next to last day of camp. We
got into a fist fight which I lost. Thankfully, older boys broke it up before I
was hurt too much. I spent the rest of the day alone, sulking and stewing in my
own anger.
The next day my spirits were lifted, however, when my Mom brought the boys in
our cabin some of her delicious homemade pizzas. I was enjoying a few slices of
it when I saw the other boy sitting by himself at the bottom of the steps
outside. He seemed very lonely right then. I am not sure what moved me to do so,
but I took my pizza down and shared it with him. It made all the anger and pain
inside me go away. We became friends after that. I never got into another fist
fight either. I had found out that sharing and forgiving were way more fun and a
lot less painful.
Forgiveness truly is the sweetest revenge. It can turn an enemy into a friend.
It can free a heart from the chains of anger, hatred, and pain. It can open a
soul to the sweetness of love and joy once again. It can help you to live by the
Golden Rule and to create a Golden Life. It can bring you back to oneness with
God in everything you think, feel, and do. That is why I often pray, "God help
me to forgive, help me to give, and help me to love." May your life always be
full of sweet forgiveness then. May you always delight in its Heavenly charms."
book recently. It got me to thinking about all the times that I have been able
to forgive others in my life and all the joy that it has brought me. One memory
stands out particularly well. I was a young boy spending a week at 4-H camp
during the Summer. I was having a great time and enjoying everything about it
except for another young boy about my age. To say we didn’t get along would be
an understatement. We spent most of the week irritating, insulting, and picking
on each other. Words finally came to blows on the next to last day of camp. We
got into a fist fight which I lost. Thankfully, older boys broke it up before I
was hurt too much. I spent the rest of the day alone, sulking and stewing in my
own anger.
The next day my spirits were lifted, however, when my Mom brought the boys in
our cabin some of her delicious homemade pizzas. I was enjoying a few slices of
it when I saw the other boy sitting by himself at the bottom of the steps
outside. He seemed very lonely right then. I am not sure what moved me to do so,
but I took my pizza down and shared it with him. It made all the anger and pain
inside me go away. We became friends after that. I never got into another fist
fight either. I had found out that sharing and forgiving were way more fun and a
lot less painful.
Forgiveness truly is the sweetest revenge. It can turn an enemy into a friend.
It can free a heart from the chains of anger, hatred, and pain. It can open a
soul to the sweetness of love and joy once again. It can help you to live by the
Golden Rule and to create a Golden Life. It can bring you back to oneness with
God in everything you think, feel, and do. That is why I often pray, "God help
me to forgive, help me to give, and help me to love." May your life always be
full of sweet forgiveness then. May you always delight in its Heavenly charms."
20 Great Ways to Find More Free Time
20 Great Ways to Find More Free Time
Are there a hundred different things you wish you could do with your life someday anything from exercising to meditation or yoga to writing that novel you always wished you could write to reading more to relaxing and watching the sunrise? But perhaps you never have the time, like most people.
The truth is, we all have the same amount of time, and its finite and in great demand. But some of us have made the time for doing the things we love doing, and others have allowed the constant demands and pressures and responsibilities of life to dictate their days.
Its time to move from the second group back into the first. Reclaim your time. Create the life you want and make the most of the free time you lay claim to. Its not hard, though it does take a little bit of effort and diligence.
Not all of these will be applicable to your life choose the ones you can apply and give them a try:
1. Take a time out. Freeing up your time starts with taking a step back to take a good look at your life. You need to block off at least an hour. Several hours or half a day is better. A whole day would be awesome. A weekend would be even more ideal, though not necessary practical for many folks. With this block of time, take a look at your life with some perspective. Is it what youve always wanted? How would you get to where youve always wanted to be? What do you enjoy doing, but dont have enough time to do? What things actually fill up your day? Are there things you could drop or minimize to make more time? Well look at some of these things in the following items, but it starts with taking a time out to think and plan.
2. Find your essentials. What is it that you love to do? Make a short list of 4-5 things. These are the things you want to make room for.
3. Find your time-wasters. What do you spend a lot of your time on that isnt on your essential list? Take a close look at these things and really think about whether theyre necessary, or if there are ways to reduce, minimize or eliminate these things. Sometimes you do things because you assume theyre necessary, but if you give it some thought you can find ways to drop them from your life. Figure out what you do simply to waste time maybe surfing certain sites, watching TV, talking a lot at the water cooler, etc. Youre going to want to minimize these time-wasters to make room for the more important stuff, the stuff that makes you happy and that you love to do.
4. Schedule the time. As you sit down and think about your life and what you want to do, versus what you actually do, you will be looking at ways to free up time. Its crucial that you take a blank weekly schedule (you can just write it out on a piece of paper, or use your calendar) and assign blocks for the things you love the stuff on your essentials list. If you want to exercise, for example, when will you do it? Put the blocks of time on your schedule, and make these blocks the most important appointments of your week. Schedule the rest of your life around these blocks.
5. Consolidate. There are many things you do, scattered throughout your day or your week, that you might be able to consolidate in order to save time. A good example is errands instead of running one or two a day, do them all in one day to save time and gas. Another example is email, or any kind of communication batch process your email instead of checking and reading and responding throughout the day. Same thing with meetings, paperwork, anything that you do regularly.
6. Cut out meetings. This isnt possible for everyone, but in my experience meetings take up a lot of time to get across a little information, or to make easy decisions that could be made via email or phone. As much as you can, minimize the number of meetings you hold and attend. In some cases this might mean talking to your boss and telling her that you have other priorities, and asking to be excused. In other cases this might mean asking the people holding the meeting if you can get the info in other ways. If so, youve saved yourself an hour or so per meeting (sometimes more).
7. De clutter your schedule. If you have a heavily packed schedule, full of meetings and errands and tasks and projects and appointments, youre going to want to weed it out so that its not so jam-packed. Find the stuff thats not so essential and cancel them. Postpone other stuff. Leave big blank spaces in your schedule.
8. Re-think your routine. Often we get stuck in a routine thats anything but what we really want our days to be like. Is there a better way of doing things? Youre the creator of your life make a new routine thats more pleasant, more optimal, more filled with things you love.
9. Cut back on email. I mentioned email in an earlier point above, regarding consolidating, but its such a major part of most peoples lives that it deserves special attention. How often do you check email? How much time do you spend composing emails? If you spend a major part of your work day on email, as many people do (and as I once did), you can free up a lot of time by reducing the time you spend in email. Now, this wont work for everyone, but it can work for many people: choose 2-3 key times during the day to process your inbox to empty, and keep your responses to 5 sentences.
10. Learn to say no. If you say yes to every request, you will never have any free time. Get super protective about your time, and say no to everything but the essential requests.
11. Keep your list to 3. When you make out your daily to-do list, just list the three Most Important Tasks you want to accomplish today. Dont make a laundry list of tasks, or youll fill up all your free time. By keeping your task list small, but populated only by important tasks, you ensure that you are getting the important stuff done but not overloading yourself.
12. Do your Biggest Rock first. Of the three Most Important Tasks you choose for the day, pick the biggest one, or the one youre dreading most, and do that first. Otherwise youll put that off as much as possible and fill your day with less important things. Dont allow yourself to check email until that Big Rock is taken care of. It starts your day with a sense of major accomplishment, and leaves you with a lot of free time the rest of the day, because the most important thing is already done.
13. Delegate. If you have subordinates or coworkers who can do a task or project, try to delegate it. Dont feel like you need to do everything yourself. If necessary, spend a little time training the person to whom youre delegating the task, but that little time spent training will pay off in a lot of time saved later. Delegating allows you to focus on the core tasks and projects you should be focusing on.
14. Cut out distractions. What is there around your workspace that distracts you from the task at hand? Sometimes its visual clutter, or papers lying around that call for your attention and action, or email or IM notifiers on your computer that pop up at the wrong time, or the phone, or coworkers. See if you can eliminate as many of these as possible the more you can focus, the more effective youll be and the less time youll waste. That equals time saved for the good stuff.
15. Disconnect. The biggest of distractions, for most people, is the Internet. My most productive times are when Im disconnected from the grid. Now, Im not saying you need to be disconnected all the time, but if you really want to be able to effectively complete tasks, disconnect your Internet so you can really focus. Set certain times of the day for connectivity, and only connect during those periods.
16. Outsource. If you cant delegate, see if you can outsource. With the Internet, we can connect with people from all over the world. Ive outsourced many things, from small tasks to checking email to legal work to design and editing work and more. That allows me to focus on the things Im best at, the things I love doing, and saves me a lot of time.
17. Make use of your mornings. I find that mornings are the absolute best times to schedule the things I really want to do. I run, read and write in the mornings three of the four things on my Essentials List (spending time with family is the other thing on the list). Mornings are great because your day hasnt been filled with a bunch of unscheduled, demanding, last-minute tasks that will push back those Essentials. For example, if you schedule something for late afternoon, by the time late afternoon rolls around, you might have a dozen other things newly added to your to-do list, and youll put off that late-afternoon Essential. Instead, schedule it for the morning, and itll rarely (if ever) get pushed back.
18. The Golden Right-after-work Time. Other than mornings, I find the time just after work to be an incredible time for doing Essential things. Exercise, for example, is great in the 5-oclock hour, as is spending time with family, or doing anything else relaxing.
19. Your evenings. The time before you go to bed is also golden, as it exists every single day, and its usually completely yours to schedule. What do you want to do with this time? Read? Spend time with your kids? Work on a hobby youre passionate about? Take advantage of this time.
20. Lunch breaks. If the three golden times mentioned above dont work for you, lunch breaks are another good opportunity to schedule things. Some people like to exercise, or to take quiet times, during their lunch breaks. Others use this time to work on an important personal goal or project.
Are there a hundred different things you wish you could do with your life someday anything from exercising to meditation or yoga to writing that novel you always wished you could write to reading more to relaxing and watching the sunrise? But perhaps you never have the time, like most people.
The truth is, we all have the same amount of time, and its finite and in great demand. But some of us have made the time for doing the things we love doing, and others have allowed the constant demands and pressures and responsibilities of life to dictate their days.
Its time to move from the second group back into the first. Reclaim your time. Create the life you want and make the most of the free time you lay claim to. Its not hard, though it does take a little bit of effort and diligence.
Not all of these will be applicable to your life choose the ones you can apply and give them a try:
1. Take a time out. Freeing up your time starts with taking a step back to take a good look at your life. You need to block off at least an hour. Several hours or half a day is better. A whole day would be awesome. A weekend would be even more ideal, though not necessary practical for many folks. With this block of time, take a look at your life with some perspective. Is it what youve always wanted? How would you get to where youve always wanted to be? What do you enjoy doing, but dont have enough time to do? What things actually fill up your day? Are there things you could drop or minimize to make more time? Well look at some of these things in the following items, but it starts with taking a time out to think and plan.
2. Find your essentials. What is it that you love to do? Make a short list of 4-5 things. These are the things you want to make room for.
3. Find your time-wasters. What do you spend a lot of your time on that isnt on your essential list? Take a close look at these things and really think about whether theyre necessary, or if there are ways to reduce, minimize or eliminate these things. Sometimes you do things because you assume theyre necessary, but if you give it some thought you can find ways to drop them from your life. Figure out what you do simply to waste time maybe surfing certain sites, watching TV, talking a lot at the water cooler, etc. Youre going to want to minimize these time-wasters to make room for the more important stuff, the stuff that makes you happy and that you love to do.
4. Schedule the time. As you sit down and think about your life and what you want to do, versus what you actually do, you will be looking at ways to free up time. Its crucial that you take a blank weekly schedule (you can just write it out on a piece of paper, or use your calendar) and assign blocks for the things you love the stuff on your essentials list. If you want to exercise, for example, when will you do it? Put the blocks of time on your schedule, and make these blocks the most important appointments of your week. Schedule the rest of your life around these blocks.
5. Consolidate. There are many things you do, scattered throughout your day or your week, that you might be able to consolidate in order to save time. A good example is errands instead of running one or two a day, do them all in one day to save time and gas. Another example is email, or any kind of communication batch process your email instead of checking and reading and responding throughout the day. Same thing with meetings, paperwork, anything that you do regularly.
6. Cut out meetings. This isnt possible for everyone, but in my experience meetings take up a lot of time to get across a little information, or to make easy decisions that could be made via email or phone. As much as you can, minimize the number of meetings you hold and attend. In some cases this might mean talking to your boss and telling her that you have other priorities, and asking to be excused. In other cases this might mean asking the people holding the meeting if you can get the info in other ways. If so, youve saved yourself an hour or so per meeting (sometimes more).
7. De clutter your schedule. If you have a heavily packed schedule, full of meetings and errands and tasks and projects and appointments, youre going to want to weed it out so that its not so jam-packed. Find the stuff thats not so essential and cancel them. Postpone other stuff. Leave big blank spaces in your schedule.
8. Re-think your routine. Often we get stuck in a routine thats anything but what we really want our days to be like. Is there a better way of doing things? Youre the creator of your life make a new routine thats more pleasant, more optimal, more filled with things you love.
9. Cut back on email. I mentioned email in an earlier point above, regarding consolidating, but its such a major part of most peoples lives that it deserves special attention. How often do you check email? How much time do you spend composing emails? If you spend a major part of your work day on email, as many people do (and as I once did), you can free up a lot of time by reducing the time you spend in email. Now, this wont work for everyone, but it can work for many people: choose 2-3 key times during the day to process your inbox to empty, and keep your responses to 5 sentences.
10. Learn to say no. If you say yes to every request, you will never have any free time. Get super protective about your time, and say no to everything but the essential requests.
11. Keep your list to 3. When you make out your daily to-do list, just list the three Most Important Tasks you want to accomplish today. Dont make a laundry list of tasks, or youll fill up all your free time. By keeping your task list small, but populated only by important tasks, you ensure that you are getting the important stuff done but not overloading yourself.
12. Do your Biggest Rock first. Of the three Most Important Tasks you choose for the day, pick the biggest one, or the one youre dreading most, and do that first. Otherwise youll put that off as much as possible and fill your day with less important things. Dont allow yourself to check email until that Big Rock is taken care of. It starts your day with a sense of major accomplishment, and leaves you with a lot of free time the rest of the day, because the most important thing is already done.
13. Delegate. If you have subordinates or coworkers who can do a task or project, try to delegate it. Dont feel like you need to do everything yourself. If necessary, spend a little time training the person to whom youre delegating the task, but that little time spent training will pay off in a lot of time saved later. Delegating allows you to focus on the core tasks and projects you should be focusing on.
14. Cut out distractions. What is there around your workspace that distracts you from the task at hand? Sometimes its visual clutter, or papers lying around that call for your attention and action, or email or IM notifiers on your computer that pop up at the wrong time, or the phone, or coworkers. See if you can eliminate as many of these as possible the more you can focus, the more effective youll be and the less time youll waste. That equals time saved for the good stuff.
15. Disconnect. The biggest of distractions, for most people, is the Internet. My most productive times are when Im disconnected from the grid. Now, Im not saying you need to be disconnected all the time, but if you really want to be able to effectively complete tasks, disconnect your Internet so you can really focus. Set certain times of the day for connectivity, and only connect during those periods.
16. Outsource. If you cant delegate, see if you can outsource. With the Internet, we can connect with people from all over the world. Ive outsourced many things, from small tasks to checking email to legal work to design and editing work and more. That allows me to focus on the things Im best at, the things I love doing, and saves me a lot of time.
17. Make use of your mornings. I find that mornings are the absolute best times to schedule the things I really want to do. I run, read and write in the mornings three of the four things on my Essentials List (spending time with family is the other thing on the list). Mornings are great because your day hasnt been filled with a bunch of unscheduled, demanding, last-minute tasks that will push back those Essentials. For example, if you schedule something for late afternoon, by the time late afternoon rolls around, you might have a dozen other things newly added to your to-do list, and youll put off that late-afternoon Essential. Instead, schedule it for the morning, and itll rarely (if ever) get pushed back.
18. The Golden Right-after-work Time. Other than mornings, I find the time just after work to be an incredible time for doing Essential things. Exercise, for example, is great in the 5-oclock hour, as is spending time with family, or doing anything else relaxing.
19. Your evenings. The time before you go to bed is also golden, as it exists every single day, and its usually completely yours to schedule. What do you want to do with this time? Read? Spend time with your kids? Work on a hobby youre passionate about? Take advantage of this time.
20. Lunch breaks. If the three golden times mentioned above dont work for you, lunch breaks are another good opportunity to schedule things. Some people like to exercise, or to take quiet times, during their lunch breaks. Others use this time to work on an important personal goal or project.
Improve Your Posture for a Stress Free Life!
Improve Your Posture for a Stress Free Life!
Are you worried about looking like a hunchback? Heres a pain free and effective method for safely assuming a correct posture and improving muscle tone.
As a great side benefit, it would improve your self esteem and attitude! You will appear and feel more confident which improves your attitude and mood!
1. Know what good posture is believed to be. Most people think that to œstand up straight means tensing your back to heave your chest in and up, and pulling your head back in to your chest. This is not so. The spine has two natural curves that you need to maintain called the double or curves, these are the curves found from the base of your head to your shoulders and the curve from the upper back to the base of the spine. When standing straight up, make sure that your weight is evenly distributed on your feet. You might feel like you are leaning forward, and look stupid, but you don.
2. Using a mirror, align your ears, shoulders, and hips. Proper alignment places your ears loosely above your shoulders, above your hips. Again, these points make a straight line, but the spine itself curves in a slight . You ll find that this doesn hurt at all. If you do experience pain, look at your side view in a mirror to see if youre forcing your back into an unnatural position. If so, stop it!
3. Do exercises that strengthen the muscles across your upper back and shoulders. These do not have to be strenuous! Try the following, with or without hand weights:
* Align your ears over your shoulders. Raise both arms straight up, alongside your ears. Remember to keep your ears aligned! Bend forearms toward shoulders to touch your shoulder blades. Do 10 repetitions with both arms, then alternate 10 reps for each arm singularly.
* Align ears with shoulders. Raise both arms out to sides at shoulder length. Hold for a slow count of ten. Slowly lower arms to sides, counting ten as you lower. Slowly raise arms back to shoulder height, counting to ten as you raise arms. Do ten reps, constantly checking your alignment! If ten reps are too many to start, do as many as you can. You should at least feel a slight fatigue in the shoulder muscles.
* Be a penguin. While you wait for a web page to load, toast to pop, or the microwave to beep, place elbows at your side, and touch your shoulders with your hands. Keeping your hands on your shoulders, and your ears aligned, raise both elbows (count one, two) and lower them back to your waist (count one, two). Do as many reps as your wait allows. You’ll be surprised how much exercise fits into 30 seconds.
4. Do stretches. This can greatly help if you find that you have a sore back or neck after a while.
* Tilt (stretch) your head in all four directions over your shoulders (forward, back, left, right), and gently massage your neck. Avoid rolling in a circle, as it may cause further strain.
* On your hands and knees, curl your back upwards, like a cat, and then the opposite. Think about being able to place a bowl in the hollow of your back.
5. Repeat the exercises a few times each day. Doing them in the morning helps your body stretch out the muscle lethargy of sleep, and periodically throughout the day helps raise your energy level without a heavy workout.
6. Doing yoga is also excellent for posture. You can take a class or find a good workout video.
Sitting
1. Sit in an office chair.
2. Align your back with the back of the office chair. Avoid slouching or leaning forward, especially when tired from sitting in the office chair for long periods. Keep your shoulders straight.
3. Flex your arms at a 75 to 90 degree angle at the elbows. You may have to adjust the office chair.
4. Make sure your neck, back, and heels are all aligned.
5. Keep both feet flat on the floor. If theres a problem with feet reaching the floor comfortably, a footrest can be used along with the office chair.
Standing
1. Stand with weight mostly on the balls of the feet, not with weight on the heels. Avoid locking your knees.
2. Keep feet slightly apart, about shoulder-width.
3. Let arms hang naturally down the sides of the body.
4. Tuck the chin in a little to keep the head level. Be sure the head is square on top of the neck and spine, not pushed out forward
5. Stand straight and tall, with shoulders upright.
6. Stand against a wall with shoulders and bottom touching wall. In this position, the back of the head should also touch the wall if it does not, the head is carried too far forward (anterior head carriage).
Walking
1. Keep the head up and eyes looking straight ahead. Avoid pushing your head forward.
2. Keep shoulders properly aligned with the rest of the body.
Carrying Objects
1. Always bend at the knees, not the waist.
2. Use the large leg and stomach muscles for lifting, not the lower back.
3. If necessary, get a supportive belt to help maintain good posture while lifting.
4. When carrying a heavy or large object, keep it close to the chest.
5. If carrying something with one arm, switch arms frequently.
6. When carrying a backpack or purse, keep it as light as possible, and balance the weight on both sides as much as possible, or alternate from side to side.
Driving
1. Sit with the back firmly against the seat for proper back support. The seat should be a proper distance from the pedals and steering wheel to avoid leaning forward or reaching.
2. The headrest should support the middle of the head to keep it upright. Tilt the headrest forward if possible to make sure that the head-to-headrest distance is not more than four inches.
Sleeping
1. A relatively firm mattress is generally best for proper back support, although individual preference is very important.
2. Sleeping on the side or back is usually more comfortable for the back than sleeping on the stomach.
3. Use a pillow to provide proper support and alignment for the head and shoulders.
4. Consider putting a rolled-up towel under the neck and a pillow under the knees to better support the spine.
5. If sleeping on the side, a relatively flat pillow placed between the legs will help keep the spine aligned and straight.
A great side benefit of keeping your head straight, and your ears/shoulders/hips aligned is an improvement in your self-esteem and attitude. If you walk with your head up, you appear more confident, and feel more confident, which improves your attitude and mood, making it easier to walk with your head up.
Are you worried about looking like a hunchback? Heres a pain free and effective method for safely assuming a correct posture and improving muscle tone.
As a great side benefit, it would improve your self esteem and attitude! You will appear and feel more confident which improves your attitude and mood!
1. Know what good posture is believed to be. Most people think that to œstand up straight means tensing your back to heave your chest in and up, and pulling your head back in to your chest. This is not so. The spine has two natural curves that you need to maintain called the double or curves, these are the curves found from the base of your head to your shoulders and the curve from the upper back to the base of the spine. When standing straight up, make sure that your weight is evenly distributed on your feet. You might feel like you are leaning forward, and look stupid, but you don.
2. Using a mirror, align your ears, shoulders, and hips. Proper alignment places your ears loosely above your shoulders, above your hips. Again, these points make a straight line, but the spine itself curves in a slight . You ll find that this doesn hurt at all. If you do experience pain, look at your side view in a mirror to see if youre forcing your back into an unnatural position. If so, stop it!
3. Do exercises that strengthen the muscles across your upper back and shoulders. These do not have to be strenuous! Try the following, with or without hand weights:
* Align your ears over your shoulders. Raise both arms straight up, alongside your ears. Remember to keep your ears aligned! Bend forearms toward shoulders to touch your shoulder blades. Do 10 repetitions with both arms, then alternate 10 reps for each arm singularly.
* Align ears with shoulders. Raise both arms out to sides at shoulder length. Hold for a slow count of ten. Slowly lower arms to sides, counting ten as you lower. Slowly raise arms back to shoulder height, counting to ten as you raise arms. Do ten reps, constantly checking your alignment! If ten reps are too many to start, do as many as you can. You should at least feel a slight fatigue in the shoulder muscles.
* Be a penguin. While you wait for a web page to load, toast to pop, or the microwave to beep, place elbows at your side, and touch your shoulders with your hands. Keeping your hands on your shoulders, and your ears aligned, raise both elbows (count one, two) and lower them back to your waist (count one, two). Do as many reps as your wait allows. You’ll be surprised how much exercise fits into 30 seconds.
4. Do stretches. This can greatly help if you find that you have a sore back or neck after a while.
* Tilt (stretch) your head in all four directions over your shoulders (forward, back, left, right), and gently massage your neck. Avoid rolling in a circle, as it may cause further strain.
* On your hands and knees, curl your back upwards, like a cat, and then the opposite. Think about being able to place a bowl in the hollow of your back.
5. Repeat the exercises a few times each day. Doing them in the morning helps your body stretch out the muscle lethargy of sleep, and periodically throughout the day helps raise your energy level without a heavy workout.
6. Doing yoga is also excellent for posture. You can take a class or find a good workout video.
Sitting
1. Sit in an office chair.
2. Align your back with the back of the office chair. Avoid slouching or leaning forward, especially when tired from sitting in the office chair for long periods. Keep your shoulders straight.
3. Flex your arms at a 75 to 90 degree angle at the elbows. You may have to adjust the office chair.
4. Make sure your neck, back, and heels are all aligned.
5. Keep both feet flat on the floor. If theres a problem with feet reaching the floor comfortably, a footrest can be used along with the office chair.
Standing
1. Stand with weight mostly on the balls of the feet, not with weight on the heels. Avoid locking your knees.
2. Keep feet slightly apart, about shoulder-width.
3. Let arms hang naturally down the sides of the body.
4. Tuck the chin in a little to keep the head level. Be sure the head is square on top of the neck and spine, not pushed out forward
5. Stand straight and tall, with shoulders upright.
6. Stand against a wall with shoulders and bottom touching wall. In this position, the back of the head should also touch the wall if it does not, the head is carried too far forward (anterior head carriage).
Walking
1. Keep the head up and eyes looking straight ahead. Avoid pushing your head forward.
2. Keep shoulders properly aligned with the rest of the body.
Carrying Objects
1. Always bend at the knees, not the waist.
2. Use the large leg and stomach muscles for lifting, not the lower back.
3. If necessary, get a supportive belt to help maintain good posture while lifting.
4. When carrying a heavy or large object, keep it close to the chest.
5. If carrying something with one arm, switch arms frequently.
6. When carrying a backpack or purse, keep it as light as possible, and balance the weight on both sides as much as possible, or alternate from side to side.
Driving
1. Sit with the back firmly against the seat for proper back support. The seat should be a proper distance from the pedals and steering wheel to avoid leaning forward or reaching.
2. The headrest should support the middle of the head to keep it upright. Tilt the headrest forward if possible to make sure that the head-to-headrest distance is not more than four inches.
Sleeping
1. A relatively firm mattress is generally best for proper back support, although individual preference is very important.
2. Sleeping on the side or back is usually more comfortable for the back than sleeping on the stomach.
3. Use a pillow to provide proper support and alignment for the head and shoulders.
4. Consider putting a rolled-up towel under the neck and a pillow under the knees to better support the spine.
5. If sleeping on the side, a relatively flat pillow placed between the legs will help keep the spine aligned and straight.
A great side benefit of keeping your head straight, and your ears/shoulders/hips aligned is an improvement in your self-esteem and attitude. If you walk with your head up, you appear more confident, and feel more confident, which improves your attitude and mood, making it easier to walk with your head up.
The 10 Biggest Mistakes People Make Managing Organisational performance
The 10 Biggest Mistakes People Make Managing Organisational performance
Mistake #1: rely just on financial statements
Profit and loss, revenue and expenses these are measures of important things to a business. But they are information that is too little and too late. Too little in the sense that other results matter too, such as customer satisfaction, customer loyalty, customer advocacy. Too late in the sense that by the time you see bad results, the damage is already done. Wouldn't it be better to know that profit was likely to fall before it actually did fall, and in time to prevent it from falling?
Mistake #2: look only at this month, last month, year to date
Most financial performance reports summarise your financial results in four values: 1) actual this month; 2) actual last month; 3) % variance between them; and 4) year to date. Even if you are measuring and monitoring non-financial results, you may still be using this format. It encourages you to react to % variances (differences between this month and last month) which suggest performance has declined such as any % variation greater than 5 or 10 percent (usually arbitrarily set). Do you honestly expect the % variance to always show improvement? And if it doesn't, does that really mean things have gotten bad and you have to fix them? What about the natural and unavoidable variation that affects everything, the fact that no two things are ever exactly alike? Relying on % variations runs a great risk that you are reacting to problems that aren't really there, or not reacting to problems which are really there that you didn't see. Wouldn't you rather have your reports reliably tell you when there really was a problem that needed your attention, instead of wasting your time and effort chasing every single variation?
Mistake #3: set goals without ways to measure and monitor them
Business planning is a process that is well established in most organisations, which means they generally have a set of goals or objectives (sometimes cascaded down through the different management levels of the organisation) . What is interesting though, is that the majority of these goals or objectives are not measured well. Where measures have been nominated for them, they are usually something like this: Implement a customer relationship management system into the organisation by June 2006 (for a goal of improving customer loyalty) This is not a measure at all it is an activity. Measures are ongoing feedback of the degree to which something is happening. If this goal were measured well, the measure would be evidence of how much customer loyalty the organisation had, such as tracking repeat business from customers. How will you know if your goals, the changes you want to make in your organisation, are really happening, and that you are not wasting your valuable effort and money, without real feedback?
Mistake #4: use brainstorming (or other poor methods) to select measures
Brainstorming, looking at available data, or adopting other organisations' measures are many of the reasons why we end up with measures that aren't useful and usable. Brainstorming produces too much information and therefore too many measures, it rarely encourages a strong enough focus on the specific goal to be measured, everyone's understanding of the goal is not sufficiently tested, and the bigger picture is not taken into account (such as unintended consequences, relationships to other objectives/goals) . Looking at available data means that important and valuable new data will never be identified and collected, and organisational improvement is constrained by the knowledge you already have. Adopting other organizations' measures, or industry accepted measures, is like adopting their goals, and ignoring the unique strategic direction that sets your organisation apart from the pack. Wouldn't you rather know that the measures you select are the most useful and feasible evidence of your organisation's goals?
mistake
Mistake #5: rely on scorecard technology as the performance measure fix
You can (and maybe you did) spend millions of dollars on technology to solve your performance measurement problems. The business intelligence, data mining and 'scorecarding' software available today promises many things like comprehensive business intelligence reporting, award-winning data visualization, and balanced scorecard and scorecarding and an information flow that transcends organizational silos, diverse computing platforms and niche tools .. and delivers access to the insights that drive shareholder value. Wow! But there's a problem lurking in the shadows of these promises. You still need to be able to clearly articulate what you want to know, what you want to measure and what kinds of signals you need those measures to flag for you. The software is amazing at automating the reporting of the measures to you, but it just won't do the thinking about what it should report to you.
Mistake #6: use tables, instead of graphs, to report performance
Tables are a very common way to present performance measures, no doubt in part a legacy from the original financial reports that management accountants provided (and still provide today) to decision makers. They are familiar, but they are ineffective. Tables encourage you to focus on the points of data, which is the same as not seeing the forest for the trees. As a manager, you aren't just managing performance today or this month. You are managing performance over the medium to long term. And the power to do that well comes from focusing on the patterns in your data, not the points of data themselves. Patterns like gradual changes over time, sudden shifts or abrupt changes through time, events that stand apart from the normal pattern of variation in performance. And graphs are the best way to display patterns.
Mistake #7: fail to identify how performance measures relate to one other
A group of decision makers sit around the meeting room table and one by one they go over the performance measure results. They look at the result, decide if it is good or bad, agree on an action to take, then move on to the next measure. They might as well be having a series of independent discussions, one for each measure. Performance measures might track different parts of the organisation, but because organisations are systems made up of lots of different but very inter-related parts, the measures must be inter-related too. One measure cannot be improved without affecting or changing another area of the organisation. Without knowing how measures relate to one another and using this knowledge to interpret measure results, decision makers will fail to find the real, fundamental causes of performance results.
Mistake #8: exclude staff from performance analysis and improvement
One of the main reasons that staff get cynical about collecting performance data is that they never see any value come from that data. Managers more often than not will sit in their meeting rooms and come up with measures they want and then delegate the job of bringing those measures to life to staff. Staff who weren't involved in the discussion to design those measures, weren't able to get a deeper understanding of why those measures matter, what they really mean, how they will be used, weren't able to contribute their knowledge about the best types of data to use or the availability and integrity of the data required. And usually the same staff producing the measures don't ever get to see how the managers use those measures and what decisions come from them. When people aren't part of the design process of measures, they find it near impossible to feel a sense of ownership of the process to bring those measures to life. When people don't get feedback about how the measures are used, they can do little more than believe they wasted their time and energy.
Mistake #9: collect too much useless data, and not enough relevant data
Data collection is certainly a cost. If it isn't consuming the time of people employed to get the work done, then it is some kind of technological system consuming money. And data is also an asset, part of the structural foundation of organisational knowledge. But too many organisations haven't made the link between the knowledge they need to have and the data they actually collect. They collect data because it has always been collected, or because other organisations collect the same data, or because it is easy to collect, of because someone once needed it for a one-off analysis and so they might as well keep collecting it in case it is needed again. They are overloaded with data, they don't have the data they really need and they are exhausted and cannot cope with the idea of collecting any more data. Performance measures that are well designed are an essential part of streamlining the scope of data collected by your organisation, by linking the knowledge your organisation needs with the data it ought to be collecting.
mistake
Mistake #10: use performance measures to reward and punish people
One practice that a lot of organisations are still doing is using performance measures as the basis for rewarding and punishing people. They are failing to support culture of learning by not tolerating mistakes and focusing on failure. It is very rare that a single person can have complete control over any single area of performance. In organisations of more than 5 or 6 people, the results are undeniably a team's product, not an individual's product. When people are judged by performance measures, they will do what they can to reduce the risk to them of embarrassment, missing a promotion, being disciplined or even given the sack. They will modify or distort the data, they will report the measures in a way that shows a more favourable result (yes - you can lie with statistics), they will not learn about what really drives organisational performance and they will not know how to best invest the organisation's resources to get the best improvements in performance.
Mistake #1: rely just on financial statements
Profit and loss, revenue and expenses these are measures of important things to a business. But they are information that is too little and too late. Too little in the sense that other results matter too, such as customer satisfaction, customer loyalty, customer advocacy. Too late in the sense that by the time you see bad results, the damage is already done. Wouldn't it be better to know that profit was likely to fall before it actually did fall, and in time to prevent it from falling?
Mistake #2: look only at this month, last month, year to date
Most financial performance reports summarise your financial results in four values: 1) actual this month; 2) actual last month; 3) % variance between them; and 4) year to date. Even if you are measuring and monitoring non-financial results, you may still be using this format. It encourages you to react to % variances (differences between this month and last month) which suggest performance has declined such as any % variation greater than 5 or 10 percent (usually arbitrarily set). Do you honestly expect the % variance to always show improvement? And if it doesn't, does that really mean things have gotten bad and you have to fix them? What about the natural and unavoidable variation that affects everything, the fact that no two things are ever exactly alike? Relying on % variations runs a great risk that you are reacting to problems that aren't really there, or not reacting to problems which are really there that you didn't see. Wouldn't you rather have your reports reliably tell you when there really was a problem that needed your attention, instead of wasting your time and effort chasing every single variation?
Mistake #3: set goals without ways to measure and monitor them
Business planning is a process that is well established in most organisations, which means they generally have a set of goals or objectives (sometimes cascaded down through the different management levels of the organisation) . What is interesting though, is that the majority of these goals or objectives are not measured well. Where measures have been nominated for them, they are usually something like this: Implement a customer relationship management system into the organisation by June 2006 (for a goal of improving customer loyalty) This is not a measure at all it is an activity. Measures are ongoing feedback of the degree to which something is happening. If this goal were measured well, the measure would be evidence of how much customer loyalty the organisation had, such as tracking repeat business from customers. How will you know if your goals, the changes you want to make in your organisation, are really happening, and that you are not wasting your valuable effort and money, without real feedback?
Mistake #4: use brainstorming (or other poor methods) to select measures
Brainstorming, looking at available data, or adopting other organisations' measures are many of the reasons why we end up with measures that aren't useful and usable. Brainstorming produces too much information and therefore too many measures, it rarely encourages a strong enough focus on the specific goal to be measured, everyone's understanding of the goal is not sufficiently tested, and the bigger picture is not taken into account (such as unintended consequences, relationships to other objectives/goals) . Looking at available data means that important and valuable new data will never be identified and collected, and organisational improvement is constrained by the knowledge you already have. Adopting other organizations' measures, or industry accepted measures, is like adopting their goals, and ignoring the unique strategic direction that sets your organisation apart from the pack. Wouldn't you rather know that the measures you select are the most useful and feasible evidence of your organisation's goals?
mistake
Mistake #5: rely on scorecard technology as the performance measure fix
You can (and maybe you did) spend millions of dollars on technology to solve your performance measurement problems. The business intelligence, data mining and 'scorecarding' software available today promises many things like comprehensive business intelligence reporting, award-winning data visualization, and balanced scorecard and scorecarding and an information flow that transcends organizational silos, diverse computing platforms and niche tools .. and delivers access to the insights that drive shareholder value. Wow! But there's a problem lurking in the shadows of these promises. You still need to be able to clearly articulate what you want to know, what you want to measure and what kinds of signals you need those measures to flag for you. The software is amazing at automating the reporting of the measures to you, but it just won't do the thinking about what it should report to you.
Mistake #6: use tables, instead of graphs, to report performance
Tables are a very common way to present performance measures, no doubt in part a legacy from the original financial reports that management accountants provided (and still provide today) to decision makers. They are familiar, but they are ineffective. Tables encourage you to focus on the points of data, which is the same as not seeing the forest for the trees. As a manager, you aren't just managing performance today or this month. You are managing performance over the medium to long term. And the power to do that well comes from focusing on the patterns in your data, not the points of data themselves. Patterns like gradual changes over time, sudden shifts or abrupt changes through time, events that stand apart from the normal pattern of variation in performance. And graphs are the best way to display patterns.
Mistake #7: fail to identify how performance measures relate to one other
A group of decision makers sit around the meeting room table and one by one they go over the performance measure results. They look at the result, decide if it is good or bad, agree on an action to take, then move on to the next measure. They might as well be having a series of independent discussions, one for each measure. Performance measures might track different parts of the organisation, but because organisations are systems made up of lots of different but very inter-related parts, the measures must be inter-related too. One measure cannot be improved without affecting or changing another area of the organisation. Without knowing how measures relate to one another and using this knowledge to interpret measure results, decision makers will fail to find the real, fundamental causes of performance results.
Mistake #8: exclude staff from performance analysis and improvement
One of the main reasons that staff get cynical about collecting performance data is that they never see any value come from that data. Managers more often than not will sit in their meeting rooms and come up with measures they want and then delegate the job of bringing those measures to life to staff. Staff who weren't involved in the discussion to design those measures, weren't able to get a deeper understanding of why those measures matter, what they really mean, how they will be used, weren't able to contribute their knowledge about the best types of data to use or the availability and integrity of the data required. And usually the same staff producing the measures don't ever get to see how the managers use those measures and what decisions come from them. When people aren't part of the design process of measures, they find it near impossible to feel a sense of ownership of the process to bring those measures to life. When people don't get feedback about how the measures are used, they can do little more than believe they wasted their time and energy.
Mistake #9: collect too much useless data, and not enough relevant data
Data collection is certainly a cost. If it isn't consuming the time of people employed to get the work done, then it is some kind of technological system consuming money. And data is also an asset, part of the structural foundation of organisational knowledge. But too many organisations haven't made the link between the knowledge they need to have and the data they actually collect. They collect data because it has always been collected, or because other organisations collect the same data, or because it is easy to collect, of because someone once needed it for a one-off analysis and so they might as well keep collecting it in case it is needed again. They are overloaded with data, they don't have the data they really need and they are exhausted and cannot cope with the idea of collecting any more data. Performance measures that are well designed are an essential part of streamlining the scope of data collected by your organisation, by linking the knowledge your organisation needs with the data it ought to be collecting.
mistake
Mistake #10: use performance measures to reward and punish people
One practice that a lot of organisations are still doing is using performance measures as the basis for rewarding and punishing people. They are failing to support culture of learning by not tolerating mistakes and focusing on failure. It is very rare that a single person can have complete control over any single area of performance. In organisations of more than 5 or 6 people, the results are undeniably a team's product, not an individual's product. When people are judged by performance measures, they will do what they can to reduce the risk to them of embarrassment, missing a promotion, being disciplined or even given the sack. They will modify or distort the data, they will report the measures in a way that shows a more favourable result (yes - you can lie with statistics), they will not learn about what really drives organisational performance and they will not know how to best invest the organisation's resources to get the best improvements in performance.
Be at peace
You spend most of your life
Running after things, doing things.
You forget that being comes before doing.
Those who remember this secret
Make an effort to "be" and
Discover that when they stop and observe,
Life helps and brings whatever is needed.
Learning to be is learning to be at peace.
It is our most fundamental nature.
Running after things, doing things.
You forget that being comes before doing.
Those who remember this secret
Make an effort to "be" and
Discover that when they stop and observe,
Life helps and brings whatever is needed.
Learning to be is learning to be at peace.
It is our most fundamental nature.
This story touched me! I hope it touched you, too !!!
One day a young lady was driving along with her father.
They came upon a storm, and the young lady asked her father, What should I do?"
He said "keep driving". Cars began to pull over to the side, the storm was
Getting worse.
"What should I do." The young lady asked?
"Keep driving," her father replied.
On up a few feet, she noticed that eighteen wheelers were also pulling over.
She told her dad, "I must pull over, I can barely see ahead. It is
Terrible, and everyone is pulling over!"
Her father told her, "Don't give up, just keep driving!"
Now the storm was terrible, but she never stopped driving, and soon she
Could see a little more clearly. After a couple of miles she was again on
Dry land, and the sun came out.
Her father said, "Now you can pull over and get out."
She said "But why now?"
He said "When you get out, look back at all the people that gave up and are
Still in the storm, because you never gave up your storm is now over.
This is a testimony for anyone who is going through "hard times".
Just because everyone else, even the strongest, gives up. You don't have
To...if you keep going, soon your storm will be over and the sun will shine
Upon your face again.
This story touched me! I hope it touched you, too !!!
They came upon a storm, and the young lady asked her father, What should I do?"
He said "keep driving". Cars began to pull over to the side, the storm was
Getting worse.
"What should I do." The young lady asked?
"Keep driving," her father replied.
On up a few feet, she noticed that eighteen wheelers were also pulling over.
She told her dad, "I must pull over, I can barely see ahead. It is
Terrible, and everyone is pulling over!"
Her father told her, "Don't give up, just keep driving!"
Now the storm was terrible, but she never stopped driving, and soon she
Could see a little more clearly. After a couple of miles she was again on
Dry land, and the sun came out.
Her father said, "Now you can pull over and get out."
She said "But why now?"
He said "When you get out, look back at all the people that gave up and are
Still in the storm, because you never gave up your storm is now over.
This is a testimony for anyone who is going through "hard times".
Just because everyone else, even the strongest, gives up. You don't have
To...if you keep going, soon your storm will be over and the sun will shine
Upon your face again.
This story touched me! I hope it touched you, too !!!
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