Health Tips

How To Lose Weight

2007-02-28T07:54:00.000-05:00

It seems like everyone has a few extra pounds that they would like to lose. There are so many different diet plans out there, so how can you know which one to choose? There is the South Beach Diet, Atkins, Low Carbs, and Low Fat to name a few. There are also diet pills for those who want to lose a lot of pounds quickly. Do they really work?

The truth is that if you change your eating habits and exercise you will lose at least something. It depends on how fast you want to lose the weight. Studies have shown many times that losing weight at a slower rate will help you to keep the weight from coming back. Even if you lose weight as slowly as ½ pound per week, you will feel better and will be motivated to lose even more.

Losing weight will often change your lifestyle. You should walk as much as possible to keep your metabolism up. If you sit for most of the day, you should try standing up for at least some of the day. If you start to exercise only ten minutes each day, and you weren’t exercising before, you will feel better and start to see a difference, even if it is a small difference.

Concentrating on giving the body what it needs will also help you to lose weight. Water, cranberries, and green tea will help you to cleanse the inside of your body and keep you from retaining extra water. Eating a diet that covers all of the food groups in balance will stop your body from having to store extra energy. Focus on having fruits and vegetables more than meat and dairy. You can still eat the food you like if you have smaller portions.

It is not a good idea to try to cut out carbohydrates or fat completely. Your body needs those things, but you need to get the right carbs and the right fat. Stay away from trans fat and simple sugars. It is better to have whole grains and wheat instead of white bread. Flax seed contains an important healthy fat that your body needs. If you cut down on dairy fat and saturated fat from red meats, take a flax seed oil supplement to be sure your body gets the right kind of fat.

Eating a little less food and getting more exercise is the proven all natural way to lose weight. If you are not losing, check your calories and activity level. You may also be storing fat from extra stress. If you have high stress you might want to try a yoga video or class. Stress will cause your body to store weight, so try to relax for at least 30 minutes everyday and remove all the tension from your body. It will help you lose weight.

Not every diet is right for everyone. You should talk to your doctor about any diet that you plan to start. Make small changes at first and then increase your exercise and eat even more healthy foods. Anyone can lose weight with the right plan for them.

Colin Fu

The A B C'S For Weight Loss

2007-02-28T07:52:00.000-05:00

A is for attitude.

You must have a can-do attitude to help you get over the inevitable hurdles of weight loss. Anticipate slip-ups -- they will happen. Instead of letting them derail your weight loss efforts, learn from them and get right back on track. Keep your eye on the target and keep moving forward, one step at a time.

The secret is to never give up.Keep asking yourself.Do I want to be FAT? Your answer should be NO!You are not perfect.If you were you wouldn't need to lose weight. Keep trying until you lose the weight.

B is for breakfast. It really is the most important meal of the day. Don't leave home without eating something nutritious to give you energy for the day ahead. It can be a banana, yogurt, cereal,etc. A small meal that contains both fiber and protein can keep you feeling satisfied until lunchtime.

C is for calories.They do count,but they can't count for themselves.Get into the habit of reading food labels to help you make healthy choices. And keep in mind that all the information listed there is based on the portion size the label specifies.Eating smaller portions and learning more about the calories in the foods you enjoy will help you meet your goals.

Cut down(or out)those in between snacks.If you feel like you are hungry,try drinking a bottle of water to fill you up till lunch time.Water will give you that full feeling and hydrate your body at the same time.That is a good thing.

S is for success.

If you follow these A B C's for Weight Loss you will be successful.

Charles Kenney

Could you turn off hunger pains to lose weight?

2007-02-28T07:51:00.000-05:00

People who want to lose weight are often on the constant search for the latest way to lose weight. One of the ways people try to lose weight is by not eating much. But there are constant temptations brought about by hunger pains. What if there were natural ways to suppress the appetite?

There is a plant called the jojoba plant that has an extract created from it used in some products to reduce hunger pains and there is plant that African bushman use to keep from feeling hungry when they traveled called Hoodia Gordoni.

The jojoba plant grows in the desert and the bushman eat from a plant which is also is a desert plant but it is a cactus that grows in the Kalahari. There have been no apparent ill effects from these natural products. If you take diet pills and supplements or have taken pills like ephedra to reduce hunger pains and lose weight you probably have noticed some side effects.

Why have ill side effects when you can curb your appetite with a natural product that will help you to lose weight. Both the plants mentioned have appetite suppressing qualities for both man and animal as it is a survival mechanism for a plant in the desert. If I make you not hungry then you won’t eat anymore.

While your body needs proper nourishment, a certain amount of hunger is unavoidable and it is certainly a good idea to eat a balanced diet, you still might consider using a diet suppressant to help you in your weight loss battle. It is important to remember that any battle with weight loss requires you to adapt your lifestyle to a healthier way in order to experience the best results.

Suppressing the appetite should not be a replacement for good nutrition and healthy living but if you choose an appetite suppressant check into using a natural one.

Tina Garvin

A Weight Loss Diet for Seniors

2007-02-28T07:48:00.000-05:00

Most weight loss programs seem to be geared towards younger people with their added emphasis on physical exercise such as workouts. But the older generation may also need to lose weight too, since as old age approaches, it can become more difficult to get around so the less excess weight being carried the better. That is why the Nigel Lawson Diet holds appeal for seniors.

Nigel Lawson was a senior UK politician in the early 1990s, accustomed to business lunches, dinners, fine wines and whiskey. On leaving office he weighed 238 lbs. After discovering he had arthritis in his knee, with the aid of his wife, he went on a diet and lost 70 lbs in 10 months.

This is inspiring for seniors because Nigel Lawson was around 60 years old when he achieved this weight loss and the loss has been maintained.Having set a target weight he wanted to achieve, and being strongly motivated to reach it, Nigel Lawson put together a simple diet.

Initially he cut out all alcohol and when he felt the urge to drink, he substituted black coffee or diet cola for the alcohol.He had a regime of three meals a day with no eating between meals. Fats, dairy produce, butter-based sauces, sugar, fried and starchy food (such as bread, rice, pasta and potatoes), were eliminated. What was recommended was fish (but not fried) and other seafoods, meat minus the fat, poultry minus the fat and skin, eggs (not fried) salads, green vegetables and other vegetables except the really starchy ones.

Some flexibility was built in like using a small amount of olive oil in cooking and as a salad dressing, since as Nigel Lawson remarked, "What we are talking about here is a diet, not a religion.

"Now out of print, the Nigel Lawson Diet Book published in 1996, can still be found occasionally at ebay.co.uk. In addition, Nigel Lawson's wife Therese, published the Nigel Lawson Diet Cookbook in 1998.

Therese Donnelly

How To Get Rid Of Abdominal Fat

2006-09-09T17:25:00.000-05:00

By Anthony Lee

Having abdominals as flat as a washboard is a dream of many people, especially those with weight problems.

There are many types of exercise and diets available, all of which supposedly help in getting rid of abdominal fat. However, one must realize that there is no "magic pill" that will serve as an immediate solution.

In addition, exercise alone is not enough and it is a common mistake of many people to over-indulge in physical activity. Overdoing it could lead to injury or stress on the body.
How do we effectively lose abdominal fat? Here are some tips to help achieve those so-called "washboard abs".

1. Never skip breakfast
Not only will a hearty breakfast start your day on a positive note but it will also jumpstart your metabolism. Remember that you did not eat anything during the duration of your sleep and it is likely that your stomach is empty. Having no energy will make you feel sluggish. Ideal things to eat during breakfast include bread, fruits and cereal.

2. Eat them fruits!
Fruits are great if you have a sweet tooth but do not want the extra calories brought by candy bars.The most popular fruit is arguably the apple. An apple has huge amounts of pectin that can make you feel full for a long time.

3. Snack it up
Eating snacks at different times of the day will considerably help speed up your metabolism, instead of gorging a big meal in one sitting. Snacks will also minimize chances that you’ll overeat.

4. Avoid salty food
Reducing your salt intake is a very effective way in helping lose abdominal fat. Salt holds water and the more salt you take in, the more water you retain.

All the suggestions above also apply to losing the unwanted bulk in other parts of your body. The key is to keep trim and healthy. If you treat your body well, it will surely give back benefits a hundredfold.

For more tips on losing abdominal fat, please go to http://www.burn-fat-lose-weight.info/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anthony_Lee

Improve Your Holidays Through Yoga

2005-11-14T07:49:00.000-05:00

Even during holidays we are still attacked by outside stressful factors which can ruin a very promising vacation. Holiday stress is a rather antagonistic expression but it is real and it can cause serious upset. There are countless reasons to get angry during your holiday: poor services, bad weather, high prices, noisy tourists, annoying insects and the list can go on an on. Yoga offers several methods of reducing the effects of such negative elements in the form of meditation, sakshin, pratyahara and pranayama.

Meditation is also a recommended practice when holiday stress factors become active. Meditation helps you prepare for any potential stressful situations and is invaluable during and after these obstacles are gone. A detached state of consciousness that allows you to get a better understanding of the realities around you is referred to as sakshin. Pratyahara is a state of peace obtained by reducing to a minimum all outside intereferences. The mind gets calm and relaxed, focusing towards the inside of your own body. By using pranayama you are able to calm yourself in almost any difficult situation by regulating your breathing and thus harmonizing the energies in your body.

Being prepared for any stress factors is vital for a successful holiday. Anticipating a potential problem doesn’t mean worrying about it before hand. It means that when the problem does occur you should already have a good understanding of why it happened. You will always get much better results by addressing an issue with a clear and calm head, rather then acting on an impulse.

When a situation occurs try to “step out” of your body and see yourself in that particular setting. Objectivity is hard to reach, especially when it comes to your own self, but it helps to get a neutral perspective on things. Directing an action by the guidelines of an objective mind will prove more successful than jumping in head first into a situation. Concepts like “I couldn’t help myself” should be constantly discouraged from your own vocabulary and thoughts. Take control of your inner self and you will have better control of what’s outside your body in the surrounding world. You should first feel you body’s reaction to an outside element and only react afterwards, when a clear judgment dictates what to do. Breathing techniques are of great help when it comes to relaxing an impulsive spirit and bringing calm to a particular event or situation.

You need to interrupt the actions of your subconscious mind before you are able to take control of a situation. Initial responses are hasty and often very hard to avoid, but it is essential that, through practice, you get a constant feeling of control over your reactions. The first reaction to a negative element can be either that of fighting back or that of fleeing. In any of the two cases a considerable amount of tensions fills you body, and it could be days or weeks before you manage to get over this unfortunate event. A calm and balanced response has chances of eliminating any sort of tension before it even gets a chance to start growing. Remember that most holidays are short and you can’t afford to spend half of your stay in a negative mood. After all, you are there to try to recharge your energy, not to try to waste it on meaningless tensions.

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Improve the relation with your parents

2005-10-16T17:24:00.000-05:00

It is true that they give us birth and they raise us, but after a while, who hasn’t gone through a period when they felt their parents kept messing up things? Even though your thirty you mom still calls to see what you’ve eaten, to tell you it’s cold outside and you should put an extra coat or to remind you to close all the windows before going on vacation.

Little by little, all the extra care they show towards us gets to annoy us tremendously. At the beginning, we try to keep it to ourselves, so that we don’t bother anybody, then, we try to avoid visits and telephone calls, just to make sure we won’t start a scandal. Nevertheless, the more we try to stay away from any uncomfortable talks, the pushier our parents get.
The question arising is how to find equilibrium? How to escape the daily phone calls, which provide you with unnecessary advice, without making your parents feel bad, rejected or misunderstood.

Depending, obviously, on the parents, there are a few strategies that you can try. For example, if you know your mother is going to call you at 8 am sharp, in order to tell you what the weather is like outside and what you should wear that day, ring her up five minutes earlier than she would normally call. Act natural, like you didn’t plan in detail the call. Ask her how she slept, how the dog is and inform her on the weather. Tell her you just watched the weather forecast ten minutes ago and she should definitely wear warm clothes, in case she goes shopping. First, she’ll have the impression she forgot to call at the regular hour and inform you about the weather, but then she will start thinking that you follow her advice and you check the forecast before leaving for work.

We always have to remember that, although we grew up, our parents keep on seeing in us children in need to receive help and advice. That is why, they constantly try to be present in our lives and protect us, in the way they consider best.

But, in spite of all the good intentions, an over caring parent can be a problem to anybody. So what do we do when the only hobby our parents have, is to go on taking care of the poor 30 years old child, meaning your own person? If no method, like proving we are capable of handling things by our own, works, than you definitely have to start finding another hobby for your parents. It might take a while, but you can’t give up! Keep our mind open and think about options like: getting them another pet; subscribe them to dancing club which organizes daily meetings – this way they’ll be busy, healthy and also tired and they might give you a break; call their friends and invite them to pay them visits more often etc.

You’ll see that reaching the purpose is much easier than you expect, but be sure that, after a while, you will accept those phone calls, so don’t make the mistake to totally break the relations with your parents!

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Stop Smoking Through Self Hypnosis

2005-09-22T21:57:00.000-05:00

Many people find it impossible to stop smoking, no matter how much they tell themselves this is a negative habit to have. They often quit smoking, only to go back to it after a while. There are hundreds of drugs that claim to help you stop smoking – some are more effective, some have no effect whatsoever. However, an easier and healthier method is also available: quitting smoking through the use of self-hypnosis and mental concentration.

After a while smoking becomes a program that our mind continues to run. It is not your body requesting a cigarette - your mind is responsible for this process. By going straight to the source of this problem (your mind) you can obtain control over it. Otherwise, your attempts to quit smoking will only affect you on your conscious level, leaving the unconscious one free to reinitiate the desire to smoke. Most of the times, the initial strong will that determines the conscious mind to say STOP is going to fade away, allowing your “smoking program” to come back even stronger than before. You are creating a whirlwind you will have less and less chances of escaping with the passing of time. After a while (months or years, depending on the individual) smoking becomes part of your mental processes, on the same level as breathing, eating, sleeping.

There are other good reasons to stop smoking for good, as it’s not only your health getting damaged in the process. By repetitively quitting and returning to smoking you will become aware of your weakness and low will power. This can lead to other psychological issues, such as depression and a very low self-esteem. A person experiencing this will cause himself/herself even more problems, becoming insecure and unwilling to take on important projects due to fear of failure.

Self-hypnosis is a good solution to all these problems. Several methods of falling into a self imposed and controlled state of relaxation are available. They work by providing your mind with a safe and quite place, where you can recollect your thoughts and start working on the problem. Hypnosis works with suggestion and you will apply this to your smoking problem. Repetitive practices of self-hypnosis are needed but each time you will feel even more confident with your mental powers. Whenever your subconscious mind pushes you towards lighting a cigarette you can revert to self-hypnosis.

Self-hypnosis does not have immediate effects, but it is probably the best long term solution you can take. Many people will be skeptical about its effects and might quit after a few days. This is a process that requires you to start knowing yourself better, which many see as a hard journey. However, this method not only gradually reduces your desire to smoke, but also reprograms your subconscious mind to eliminate the desire to smoke forever. When practiced regularly for a few months, self-hypnosis techniques become efficient and beneficial to other aspects of your life. Positive changes don’t stop at smoking and extend to other aspects of your life, boosting your morale and self confidence and guiding you towards a healthier mental state, which, in turn, is reflected on your body’s health.

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How to Overcome Stage Fright

2005-09-21T11:06:00.000-05:00

You can turn your inherent stage fright into a feeling of balance and equilibrium that will allow you to speak in public and feel comfortable while doing it. Very few people manage to control their emotions to a high level and it takes them years of practice to do so. You don’t have to approach this issue from a radical point of view. Instead of suppressing your emotions you can try to use them in your advantage, to make them work for you instead of against you.

The most important thing, when you have a public speech, is to let your audience see the real you, not an image you are trying to project. Don’t try to go in front of them with a “fake” personality – they will sense it and react negatively. Don’t try to be more than you are as playing this role will be difficult and you will almost certainly overlook some details. People are a lot more willing to accept someone who is a bit insecure or clumsy rather than accepting a person who is obviously putting on a mask and trying to cover his real personality. Being you is easy – you are doing that every day!

Try to stop and think about your difficulties of speaking to a large audience. Examine them with curiosity, try to see your reactions in context. Don’t judge your reactions – observe them. You may find it hard to play the role of a detached observer, especially when it comes to your own person, but this is one of the best ways of discovering exactly where things start to go wrong.

Warm up your mind before a presentation, but don’t neglect your body. Every muscle of your body should be relaxed, your leg muscles should be up to the challenge of you standing up for a longer period of time. Even the slightest physical inconvenience will affect your communication, so try to step on stage with a perfect mental and physical condition.

Don’t forget to breathe. Rhythmical breaths bring a feeling of order and balance – exactly what you need before and while you hold your speech. Try to breathe deeply for about ten minutes, as this will bring precious oxygen to your brain, allowing it to function at maximum capacity.

Make contact with your audience. Try to see the scene as a place for dialogue, instead of monologue. Try to make eye contact with some audience members and adopt a relaxed posture. Smiling sincerely will always increase the chances of a good presentation. Remember that all those people in front of you are not there to judge you. They are there to receive the information you have so focus on the purpose of your speech rather than the public’s attitude towards you.

Turn your fear into a feeling of acceptance. Your fears come from the fact that you are worried that the audience will pass negative judgment on yourself or your presentation. Ignore this thought end step on stage with the belief that you are there to share information or experience and that you will be met with acceptance and interest. The more engaging the presentation, the better. Communicate with audience members and try to do this on a one on one level. By talking to a certain individual you personalize your performance, you make it become part of who you are. Keeping eye contact with your audience may be difficult and disturbing, but you should try to do it every now and then. Make a statement and then pause and glance at the public.

Remember that non verbal communication claims a vital role in your presentation and the way it is perceived by others.

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How to make a good impression at a job interview

2005-08-28T10:38:00.000-05:00

You finally found the job of your dreams; you already sent the resume and, to your great satisfaction, they called you for the interview. You are conscious about the fact that you’ll have to compete with people at least as good as you are, so you want to take precautions and train or prepare for the interview. Here is list the most frequently asked questions during the hiring interviews:

Talk to us about yourself. – You should make a short and relevant characterization of your own person, but talk about you for no more than 2-3 minutes. Create you image according to the job requirements: some positions require aggressiveness, ambition, while others request control, diplomacy.
Why did you choose our company? To such a question you should answer by talking about the company’s prestige and the manner in which you will be useful to accomplishing its objectives.
Give us a good reason to hire you instead of another candidate. This is a good moment to come up with a good publicity about yourself. Underline the new things you can bring into the company, which no one can. Show off: point out your qualities, your experience, your studies etc.
What attracts you the most about this position and which is the less attractive thing about it? To such a question always present at least three positive aspects, but only one negative.
What do you expect from this job? You should answer that this position offers you a great opportunity to use your experience and it helps you build the career you always wanted.
What does an ideal working environment mean to you? Describe a professional environment, where there is no discrimination and the employees are treated correctly.
Why do you give up your present job? If you got fired, say something about the restructure policy of the company you work for. If it’s not the case, state that it’s time for you to move forward.
For how long do you want to work for us? Do not make the mistake to tell them that you are in search of a temporary position, until you find something better. Say that you are interested in working in this company for as long as the relation is productive on both sides.
How would you evaluate the company you worked for? How would you characterize your former boss? You should under no circumstances say anything incriminating about them. Point all the experience you achieved y working there and put your previous boss under a good light.
Why haven’t you found work by now? Answer that you did find several opportunities, but none of them corresponded to your expectations. Say that a job is not hard to find, but finding the ideal job it’s a real challenge.
Can you handle deadlines and stress? Present a situation where you dealt both with deadlines and stress and point out how well you managed the situation.

Meditate a bit more on questions similar to the ones above, dress smart, be confident and you’re ready for the interview! Good luck!

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How To Loose Weight Using Yoga

2005-08-17T20:37:00.000-05:00

Yoga’s power to create a state of mental and physical well being may also be put to good use for taking off excess weight. Yoga promotes a healthy and balanced life style and when combined with a calorie burning program may show exceptional results. Practicing yoga will also increase your metabolism, increasing the calorie burning process, but you should not see it as an immediate results method. By following the rigors imposed by yoga you will gain a holistic, long term solution to balance your life style and keep off any excessive weight. In addition to loosing weight you will also experience an increased ability to concentrate and focus, higher resistance to stress factors and an all round healthier way of living.

Metabolism is regulated by the thyroid, a component of the endocrine system. It is responsible for the chemical processes in your body that transform food into energy. Yoga uses a series of twisting poses that stimulate the work flow of the internal organs, thus boosting metabolism to burn more calories and reduce your body weight. Improved local circulation is another direct effect of using yoga postures and this leads to a healthier, more energetic body. When the calorie intake is lower than the calorie output your body will start burning fat cells to acquire the necessary energy. A perfectly healthy and strong metabolism takes this process even further and you will see better results than traditional weight loss formulas.

Different back bands, combined with forward bends, are used to stimulate metabolism. Poses that affect the neck area, where the thyroid gland is situated, are especially useful is the weight problem is caused by a hormonal imbalance. These poses can be those of the camel, rabbit, plow, bridge and shoulder stand. Moving quickly between a series of poses can accelerate the process. For people who are significantly overweight some of the bends may prove to be a difficult task to accomplish. They should gradually increase the difficulty of the postures until they are confident enough to go to more complex exercises.

Muscles can be strengthened by using standing poses, such as the warrior. A higher endurance and increased caloric output will also result from using standing poses. Energize the body and increase your metabolism even more by using Kapalabhati and Ujjayi Pranayama.

A proper diet should also be followed to support the holistic weight loss system. Try to consume food rich in fiber, vegetables, whole grains and less high fat and processed food items. Balance is essential in all maters concerning your food and no excess should be made. Do not totally eliminate certain food items from your menu and remember that diversity is the key to an equilibrated and satisfactory diet.

A gradual approach is essential with all yoga practices. Results may not be spectacular and immediate, but this is one of the best long term weight loss methods available. In addition to weight loss you also benefit from an increased protection against adverse factors as well as a general feeling of well being and inner peace.

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How to find out what you want from life

2005-08-16T06:48:00.000-05:00

No matter how young or old you are, you must have gotten to a point in your life when you have to take a big decision, which will probably affect your entire existence. There is no doubt that there are certain moments in life when you feel helpless and disoriented and believe you could use a hand in order to figure out how to proceed with your life.

Those particular moments are the very moments when you should not depend on anybody’s advice, because, even if they gave it to you with the best intentions, in case anything goes wrong, you’re always going to blame those persons. That is why specialists strongly advise you, every time you find yourself at a crossroads, to always take the decisions by yourself. Obviously, the question arising is: how can we know how to take it and which is the best solution?

The answer is never going to be simple for some of us. However, there is a technique that can be of great help and employed regularly will have great results: it is called meditation and it has been used for centuries in certain rituals and by ancients civilizations. Even in old and famous books, like the Bible, for example, we are invited to meditate, to discover and fight the evil in us and by knowledge to gain control over our decisions and our lives.

How do we proceed when meditating? First of all, we need to be away from any source of distraction, because we can’t analyze our deepest feelings and thoughts and watch a movie at the same time. Secondly, we need to ask ourselves a series of questions that will help us to better determine who we really are. The questions should relate to everyday aspects:

What do you like doing?

What made you most proud of yourself during your entire life?

What is it that you always wanted to do and you never found the time? (you can include here anything from visiting friends, to going to Antarctica, or seeing your dentist)

What role does money play in your life?

What is it more important for you, you family life or your career?

How much do you depend on others?

If you are worried about a certain decision, let all the questions be related to that issue. If you’re just confused in general, when asking the questions, think about the common topics that one has to deal with during his life. Don’t forget to write down the answers. Try to concentrate and to be sincere; after all, nobody will judge you.

All these questions will help you determine exactly where you stand and what is it that you want form life. All you have to do is to get the right interpretation of your own replies. In order to do that, help yourself to a coup of tea or your favorite coffee and take the time to analyze them thoroughly. Mark with a red pen whatever you find pride worthy answers and with a black one the things that don’t make you proud.

Post the list somewhere where you can see it more than once a day, or post it in more than one place. You’ll notice that, step by step, even unwillingly, the black things on your list will start turning red. Don’t forget to renew the list when most of it has turned red! It is the best way to always be aware what your expectations from life are!
Good luck!

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How To Effectively Recover After Childbirth

2005-08-09T18:01:00.000-05:00

The post-natal period is characterized by general and extended fatigue. The main factor leading to this stressful state is represented by sleep deprivation. Recovery after childbirth varies from women to woman, but most of them accuse fatigue weeks and some, even months after. More than half of women feel that they haven’t totally recovered their pre-natal energy after six weeks.

There are a few things you can do to improve the recovery stage and diminish its time. Sleep deprivation is hard to eliminate, as the child is most active during the night in their first few months. Constant interruption of the mother’s sleep leads to constant tiredness. The elevated hormone levels present after childbirth also contribute, in a negative way, to this problem, but, fortunately, they only last about a week after. On the bright side of things, it only takes a couple of nights of uninterrupted sleep for the mother to recover.

Time management is also radically changed when a child is born. All the patterns and usual events now change top face the difficulties presented by addressing the child’s needs. A good plan is to try and anticipate all the potential problems before child delivery and build a network of friends and family that are willing to help you out. You will probably have to delegate most of your usual chores to other people, and you should also see this as something useful, not frustrating. Taking care of your child should become the number one priority – family and friends can address all other issues. The baby’s father should always be there to help out. He will undoubtedly accept most of your requests, realizing that the better you feel the better does the child feel.

Taking advantage of the support everyone is giving you shouldn’t be total. Leave one or two things that you should deal with each day. Solving even some small problems will help you keep your self-esteem levels high. Anticipate all the other issues that might come up. Be prepared with some clean diapers and plastic begs for the dirty diapers. Have snack ready besides your bed, in case your child wakes you up and you feel hungry. If the child’s bed is in a different room than your bedroom, make sure to have a comfortable chair next to the child’s bed.

It also helps to give yourself a break every now and then. Try to keep a room in the house tidy and clean, making it a good sanctuary to clear your head and relax your body. Long warm baths might seem like a luxury during these extenuating times, but try to use them to recharge your energy. A well balanced diet is necessary and vitamin and mineral supplements may be useful, at the doctor’s recommendation. You shouldn’t diet for the first three months after childbirth. Carbohydrates are used extensively during this time for various processes, and eliminating or reducing their intake will lead to aggravated fatigue and physical weakness. Don’t give up practicing at least one of your hobbies, as even small periods of time when you’re having fun will recharge your energy. If the weather is nice you should do your best to try and take short walks, as this will get you into good shape.

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The Healing Powers of Yoga

2005-08-06T13:49:00.000-05:00

There are several medical conditions that can be improved by practicing yoga. It can be used to lessen the negative effects of infertility, lung disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, insomnia, cancer, high blood pressure, and joint pain. The beneficial effects of yoga practices are well recognized not only by the yoga community but also by medical doctors.

One of the main elements that lead to an illness is stress. Being responsible for a huge number of sicknesses, this item, which we develop in our minds, can be reduced through a good usage of yoga techniques. Here are just some of the problems that are related to an over active stress response: depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, some types of diabetes mellitus, cardio-vascular disease, several autoimmune diseases, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, reproductive problems, and an aggravated suppression of the immune system.

The response of the sympathetic nervous system can trigger stress in our metabolism. The reaction to various outside stimuli is also known as the “fight or flight” response – the mind and body, faced with an endangering or disturbing element, prepare for one of the two options. Physically, this is manifested through an instantaneous heart rate increase, together with a high ascent of blood pressure. Breathing gets shallow and the muscles tense in anticipation to the following action. Internally, this response reduces the blood flow to internal organs and processes that are not essential in that particular moment (such as digestion and elimination) are shut down. This state of increased awareness and readiness is beneficial on a short term, preparing our body to react to the outside interventions and stimuli. Both in a “fight” and in a “flight” situation, the body is physically and mentally prepared to act. The problem arises when long-term exposure to similar stress takes place. This “fight or flight” response is only meant to help on short periods of time – the longer it is activated the less resources will the body have to function normally.

There is a natural countermeasure for the “fight or flight” response. It is called the parasympathetic nervous system or the “relaxation response.” It is automatically activated when the elements that caused the stress are gone but it is also possible to increase its effects by breathing deeply and relaxing your muscles. By increasing the length of this process we allow our body to recover faster, enabling it to eliminate the harmful effects of stress in a prompt and efficient manner.

Yoga highlights the idea that by using breathing and relaxation techniques you can reduce the harmful effects of stress factors on your body. A lessened “fight or flight” response can also be achieved by looking at adverse factors as challenges rather than threats. This approach allows your mind to focus on finding a solution, rather than creating an abrupt response. Another concept employed by this technique is that of acting versus reacting, of taking initiative versus responding to outside factors.

The positive effects of yoga during a healing process are undeniable. However, these techniques should only be used as a form of support and the healing shouldn’t rely solely on them. The best results are achieved by combining yoga with traditional and modern medicine and by addressing a problem both from a mental and physical point of view.

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Harness the Power of Breathing

2005-08-04T21:31:00.000-05:00

Many cultures see breath as the connection with the soul. Every one of us may be considered an expert in breathing – after all, we are doing it every day! However, this is a wrong assumption and many people never even see the hidden potential breathing incorporates.

The importance of breathing is obvious and we depend on it to sustain our lives. As human beings we have to eliminate the things that our body is no longer using, and breathing takes care of 70% of this process. Other than eliminating the air from your lungs, after it has been depleted of oxygen, breathing also takes out toxins from your body. You can also eliminate non-chemical items such as emotions or stress. By harnessing the immense power of breathing you can create a better connection with your inners self, preparing to efficiently combat outside stress factors.

By becoming more aware of your breathing you will be able to reduce any outside negative elements. Focus your attention on your breath and direct your mind to think only about it. The rhythmical sensation your breath produces will help your mind, and your body, relax and slow down. Thinking is responsible for most of the tensions and upsets we face, and this little exercise takes thinking into a harmonious and peaceful location.

Many of our thoughts are negative in nature. We often use or think about words like “won’t”, “can’t”, “shouldn’t”. Their negative connotations reflect on the way we feel, increasing nervousness and stress. Your brain processes millions of thoughts on a daily basis and focusing it on your breath gives it a much-deserved break. Temporarily lowering your mind’s activity gives you extra peace and helps relax both your brain and your body.

Try to see your breathing education similar to practicing a sport. In order to reach a goal you will need to improve certain skills. You can’t just be an Olympic athlete – you have to become one! This can be done by building up your strengths and stamina, as well as improving your techniques. Improving your breathing works exactly the same way. Right now you are at a low level, as you didn’t do any additional exercises to improve your breathing. Your subconscious mind usually takes care of this process, leaving your conscious mind to deal with other things. However, this is the time to take things into your own hands, and consciously control your breathing for the duration of the exercises

At first, try to analyze yourself every time you inhale and exhale. Do this until your mind gets used to the rhythmic tone of breaths and let your brain preoccupy itself only with your breathing. It might be hard at first, as you will get distracted by sounds or movements around you. In time, however, you will manage to ignore outside interference and sustain a prolonged period of clear focus. Regularly practicing with your breathing and you will soon begin to see some of the positive effects of better understanding and controlling one of the vital elements that keep us alive.

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Gain back your time and eliminate stress

2005-08-03T07:18:00.000-05:00

Work, meetings, deadlines, appointments, telephone calls, shopping, taking the dogs out etc. – all these are things most people have to accomplish daily. Most of the times, on the waiting list there are other things like: family, friends and even ourselves. Sometimes we discover too late that the points mentioned on the waiting lists are, in fact, the most important and, unfortunately, sometimes, we don’t realize this at all, so find ourselves wondering for what reason we are so unhappy.

There are different books and seminars that help us find out what the best option for managing our time is. All these sources are against enemies and they intend to offer you the best solutions to eliminate it for good, or at least to reduce it drastically.

All this people know that time is more than money – time means, first of all, life and, more than that, it means our lives. That is way we have the obligation not to surrender in stressful situations and to go fighting for the joy of living. Let’s not forget also that deficient management of time can produce tremendous health problems, both at the physical and mental level.
But there is good news! Time can be domesticated – we can make it, in certain manner, obey us. First step in implementing this process is to identify the elements that robe your time.
Normally, they are divided into two groups:

The external factors (unexpected phone calls, very long phone conversations, unplanned visits, the policy of open doors, not sufficiently trained personnel, frequent meetings, interruptions caused by colleagues, friends and family etc.)
The internal factors – related strictly to our own persons (priorities and objectives that change, the lack of a daily working plan, lack of self imposed deadlines, the tendency to take care of too many things at the same time, disorder, lateness in resolving the conflicts, incapacity of saying no, lack of decision, tiredness).

By reading the above enumeration, you probably pictured recalled all the similar situations that you went through. Now, all you have to do is to find a way to defeat and eliminate them, so that you can be the mater of your own time again. Here are three possible ways in which you can do that:

Get used to write everything down. It is useful, especially if you have a bad memory. Otherwise you might fail to remember to go to important meetings, to make important phone calls, to answer messages you promised you would answer. You can also write down great ideas and inspirations that occur to you in the most unexpected moments.
Make a list of priorities. It takes you very little time to draw it and you can even do it while you’re having your morning coffee. Write down, the things you need to do that day, in the order of their importance and urgency.
Learn to say no. One big mistake that a lot of us make is that we put other people’s problems in front of ours. Nevertheless, by helping them in a bad moment for us, we give rise to frustration, stress and we find ourselves unable to respect previous engagements.

All these advices are also present in Jean-Louis Servan-Schreiber’s book New art of time against stress and they invite us to meditate that more than a weapon against stress, time management is also a philosophy of life.

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Eliminate the fears that are holding you back.

2005-08-02T06:50:00.000-05:00

One of the best ways to discover exactly what is stopping you from achieving the goals that you have set is to analyze exactly how much you wish to succeed. By honestly looking at your inner self you will find out how strong your will power is and how many resources you have to put into. Unfortunately, for most people this is one of the hardest things to do.

We believe that it is better to hide our failures and disappointments, as they are the ones that can cause pain. The psychological connections go a lot further, but the main idea is that our mind naturally eliminates all the factors that are potentially harmful to our body. This is how our most daring dreams and ideals get hidden somewhere deep in our subconscious mind and we are afraid to bring them out. The idea of succeeding is often much weaker than the notion of failure, and this fear is keeping our potential to a lower limit.

The fear of believing in your ideals is a naturally occurring phenomenon, but it is also greatly amplified by the society in which we grow up. When turning into adults, teenagers have to abandon the dreams and hopes they had as children and see the “actual reality” surrounding them. Society teaches us to follow a set of footsteps and never go stray. By creating order, this process also limits creativity and passion. We may become great citizens, but what good will that do if deep inside we feel like we should want more?

There are a few tricks that may help you get closer to your ideals. Begin by writing them down. Seeing the words on paper has a strong effect and you will soon realize if those dreams are worth fighting for. Try to examine each of your goals through you own eyes. Don’t let the others around you guide your view – you are trying to reach your goal, not theirs. Don’t write your list in stone – there’s nothing wrong to erasing or adding new goals.

Try to envision yourself reaching your ideal. By constructing an image of success in your conscious mind you will also influence your subconscious to do the same. Project yourself in the future, with all the skills that you need to reach that ideal. If you do this often enough you will reinforce your beliefs and increase the chances of getting where you wish.

Sometimes it is hard to manage all the issues mentioned above on your own. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from someone you care about. Share your feelings with a special person that will support your actions and always be in your corner. Try to judge if the trust you will invest in that particular person (parent, brother, wife, best friend etc.) will not fail. Even if you think you won’t be accepted with your new ideals – give it a shot.

There is no magical way of achieving success but you can always increase the chances of reaching your goals with these simple exercises. When you manage to eliminate, or at least diminish, the fear that is holding you back, all of your expectations will seem easier to achieve. It is not easy to take a journey into your own soul, but if you manage to gather sufficient determination this could prove one of the best trips you have ever taken.

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Explore Your Past – How to Learn From Memories

2005-08-01T07:02:00.000-05:00

Who you are today, your personality and your values, depends on the past events that shaped you. You can always find connections between a present thought or feeling and a past event, no matter how far away it might seem. Explanations for present events can be found by going through some memories, and this practice shows you how to do that. By trying this you will be able to reinterpret yourself, by learning not to judge your actions but to accept and understand them.

Begin by finding a comfortable position, in a chair or armchair. Have a piece of paper or notebook and a pen ready and put them besides you. Try to relax your body and your mind and breath rhythmically through your nose. When you have achieved a state of increased self-awareness go back in time and think of an unpleasant memory that has marked your entire life. You don’t have to find something dramatic – in childhood, for example, even the most insignificant looking remark may have a huge impact on your personality. Let’s say that, as a child, you broke a crystal vase that your mother held dear. She might have said: “You can’t do anything right!”. Of course, that was just an anger driven reaction on her part that disappeared after a short while but you, as a child, were deeply affected by it.

When you have selected your past event try to briefly write it down and finish with a phrase that summarizes your experience (e.g. “You can’t do anything right!”). Make sure your breathing is still rhythmical and relaxed and then think about a minimum of three things that you can learn from that past experience. Do not get stuck on the final phrase, but try to analyze your action in a non-judgmental manner. The main idea is to identify and assimilate the things that you could have improved. Don’t quickly dismiss your past problem by saying “it was a child’s mistake”. The goal here is to find out how any mistake can teach you to become better, instead of lowering your self-esteem and confidence.

When you have found a few positive remarks about the past experience try to write them down. Don’t force your mind to come up with the ideas; instead, try to let everything flow naturally. After you’re done writing make sure to read the statements a couple of times and remember their essence. Put the paper aside and get back to connecting with your breathing. Take a minute or two to focus solely on your breathing and then recall the positive ideas you jotted down on the piece of paper. As an example, in the case of the broken vase, you could write: “I have to concentrate more on my actions”. Repeat that thought in your mind and make sure it represents you completely. Do the same with all the other positive ideas you cam up with. Believing in them and repeating their essence enables you to make them part of who you are.

This exercise is especially useful when you are aware that you are about to go through a similar experience. You may not be in danger of breaking another vase, but you might be in the situation where something a friend holds dear will be in your hands, in your responsibility. If you feel stressed and fearful about that situation make sure you recall the positive aspects from your exercise. Repeat them in your mind before the event and your self-confidence will receive a well-deserved boost, allowing you to do your job free from any negative roots to the past.

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Discover and Control Your Dual Nature

2005-07-31T11:21:00.000-05:00

We often put a tag on ourselves, accepting only some parts of our personality. We accept a word like “independent” but don’ realize that sometimes we should say “selfish”. We might like to call ourselves “ambitious”, without realizing that we often act “stubborn”. Her is a practice that can give you more insight on who you are and enable you to respond to various situations in your life with a better understanding of your actions. It is also useful to experience this exercise while trying to see yourself in a non-restrictive manner.

1. First of all, write down three personal qualities you have which you feel good about. For example:

I am dedicated.
I am dependable.
I am good at heart.

2. Secondly, add an "alternative reality" to each one of the statements. This means that you should find examples when the opposite of the initial statement is also true. Here’s how it might look:

I am dedicated in a work related environment, but sometimes I can also be easily distracted from my task.
I am dependable and trustworthy when it comes to my work place, but I can also sometimes be less dependable with my friends.
I am good at heart, but sometimes I act selfishly and without regards for other people’s feelings.

3. At this point you should reverse the sentence topics, and even modify some words if you feel it helps. Starting with the negative aspects that accompany your personality will give you more insight and offer you a better perspective on these issues.
Her is how it may look like after the transformation:

I am sometimes distracted from my work, but I am usually dedicated to my chores, especially in a business environment.
My friends may find me less dependable at times, but when it comes to work I am a person you can count on.
I sometimes ignore what other people wish, but I am good at heart most of the time.

Take a look at the last two lists (steps 2 and 3) and read them carefully for a few minutes. Don’t pay attention to the topic of the sentence but try to focus on the meanings your words expressed. Always keep in mind the purpose of this little exercise: “black” and “white” are rarely defining for a person. By identifying your duality you get a better chance of appreciating your actions and the responses they trigger.

You have also created a list of three qualities and three negative aspects that you believe characterize you. The first step in removing the negative characteristics was already taken – you identified them. Now it is time to put the exercise to practical use. Next time you find yourself in a situation where a choice has to be made or a decision to be taken, try to remember the exercise. Observe that particular situation from a dual point of view by acknowledging your positive features while also analyzing the attached negative parts. Practice can lead to a natural integration of this exercise in your conscious and subconscious mind. After a while, you may not even need to make a conscious effort to analyze a situation from both perspectives and this process will come naturally. A much desired objectivity can appear between your positive and negative characteristics, and you can use it to make the right choices in most situations.

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Activate Your Dream Power

2005-07-26T17:24:00.000-05:00

Let’s have a look at a simple technique that will help you relax your mind and take more control over your ideals and goals. This technique can be used over and over, in most situations, and consists of two distinct phrases.

Decide on an aspect related to your life that you have been thinking of improving. Focus on just one specific element.
Project yourself as already having achieved your goal. This can be done using an “I am” statement – if you want to loose weight you might say “I am fit and feeling good in my body”.
When you feel confident enough try to say your word out loud and listen to your own words. Try to speak in a positive manner, eliminating any negative terms from your phrase (such as “can’t”, “don’t” etc)
Take a walk, maybe outside or inside your home and keep repeating the statement as you do so.
Let yourself wander around for at least 15 minutes, while repeating the statement in your mind. You will experience new thoughts triggered by the things you come across in your walk. If your mind gets further from the “I am” statement gently try to concentrate more on it.
During your walk pay extra attention to things that attract your thoughts. Have a small notebook ready and write them down, or draw a sketch of the object that got your attention.

For the second phase you have to return to your initial place and continue the process.

Sit down and have a look at the items you wrote about. Try to draw something that portrays all the elements you noticed – it doesn’t matter if you are good at drawing or not.
Breathe slowly and start looking at the drawings in front of you. Try to allow your mind to concentrate only on the drawings and nothing else.
Think about why those items got your attention during your walk.
Also think about what it is that grabs your attention now, as you look at the drawings. New ideas might have appeared as a consequence of following step 2.
Now try to see what the connections between the items you noticed and your “I am” statement are. Integrate the statement and the items into an imaginary story such as: “This tree I noticed had really healthy leaves, just like I am happy with the state of my body”.
For the last step take a few slower, deep breaths and think about how this exercise worked.

You might have noticed that your mind tends to selects elements from the surroundings on its own. It is interesting to see that all the selected items are somehow related to the “I am” statement. You can use the benefits of dreaming actively for a very wide variety of situations. The make believe game you play puts you on a direct path to solving your problem. Constantly analyzing and worrying about what is troubling you can take a long and winding path, but that will take a lot of your time and energy, while the results might be unsatisfactory.

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A Few Steps For Fighting Depression

2005-07-22T21:51:00.000-05:00

One of the most destructive states for your mind and body is strongly represented by depression. It is a phenomenon that affects millions of people around the world, no matter what culture they belong to. The triggering elements of depression are infinite and they vary from case to case. Outside and inner factors often attack our mind and body together, making depression a profoundly negative aspect of our lives. Let’s have a look at some great tips to conquer the negative mood and get the most joy out of your daily routine.

1. Go outside.

A nice spring day, for example, can cheer even the saddest person. But staying out in the sun is beneficial for more than just poetic reasons. Sunlight has an important role in many chemical processes taking place in our body. Lack of sunshine triggers the release of melatonin, a hormone that gives a feeling of lethargy and tiredness. This hormone is only produced in the dark – this is why wintertime also brings more depression, as the sun is hidden and the nights are very long. All year round cloudy weather may have the same negative effects. If you live in such an area try to “get away” a few times a year and go to someplace where you can enjoy the sun. Finding reasons to go outside is easy: practice a sport, go fishing, try hiking, do some gardening.

2. Get involved.

An active life leaves very little room for depression. You tend to let negative feelings dominate your mood when you reach a point of constant and repetitive analysis of your problems. Involving yourself in several inspiring activities will greatly reduce the times when you feel sorry for yourself.

Maybe you are depressed because you failed to reach an important milestone in your journey towards a goal. Don’t get discouraged. Try to pursue that goal right away or, if it is completely compromised, find a different ideal to fight for.

3. Allow some time for relaxation.

Have some fun and relax your mind and your body. When negative thoughts start circling around you shift your focus to a pleasant element. It can be a person, a location, something around you or even a distant memory. Clear your head, by using this technique, of all the negative feelings and all your worries.

4. Balance your diet and take care of your fitness.

Try to lower the use of alcohol or caffeine from your diet. After the momentary boost is gone you will only feel worse and get addicted to wanting even more. Some good physical exercise will never do any harm - so try it. The fitter you are the more self-esteem you’ll experience and this will eventually lead to your happiness.

5. Socialize.

No matter how difficult it might seem to get out of the house and smile in the company of others, this is probably the most effective way of getting over depression. Socializing is essential for anyone of us and you should consider it a fun activity, not an obligation. Select some friends that have always made you feel better and reconnect with them.

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Dare – even in your shy way!

2005-07-19T06:59:00.000-05:00

If you are reading this article you probably are one of those persons who turn red up to their ears, loose their breath, remain speechless, have trembling knees etc under certain circumstances? I bet you think it is one of the worse things that can happen to a person. Guess what? Specialists disagree with you!

Let’s talk about shy persons for a minute. They are those people who go to the supermarket and are afraid even to talk with the sales person. They turn red before saying the first words and when they do they never say it load enough, so they have to repeat it. No matter how hard they try, it goes worse every time. The more they strive not to blush, the redder they become.

What about work? – You will probably ask. Well, indeed, shy people have to work as well. But they say shy persons never get bored, as they are always trying to observe the others and improve themselves. That is why it is widely accepted that timid persons know a lot of things about human character in general, although they normally don’t dare to get in contact with many persons. In spite of the fact that during teen age these persons had usually no social life, most of them grew up as great human resources manages or psychologists, precisely because being left outside the group, they could analyze the others better. Also they tend to choose careers that imply a lot of PR work, just because they need to prove themselves they can do it.

But there’s also another great thing about introverted people – they are, just like us all, curious and, since they normally have nobody to ask, they start reading books or research on the internet. How many good-looking, successful and extroverted people do you think still read nowadays? As a result, shy persons have all the opportunities in the world to get good positions, in almost any field. They are hard working, they can keep their mouth shut and they can be loyal.

Furthermore, timid persons have started to rejoice such good a fame lately that we, the daring should get some lessons. Did you know that they actually have more contact with the public than the rest of us normally do? That happens because shy people give others a feeling of serenity – they don’t seem capable of talking over somebody else’s private issues.

You would never guess, but they say very high hills were actually designed for shy women. They need to prove they can do it, and by it I mean absolutely anything. These kinds of persons are fighters, so if, by any chance, you are member of this group don’t be embarrassed! Your group mates are among the most motivated persons, since they have a well-established purpose they want to reach. For the rest of us, I would say that being a little shy, from time to time, could bring out some nice results!

The key word to your success is dare, you’ll see the rest of it comes along!

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Cure your fears of change

2005-07-18T07:06:00.000-05:00

Usually people are afraid of bad changes, things that affect their existence in a negative way. The question arising is how to cure our fears of change? The most important thing is to understand that life is always made from ups and downs and nobody can be in a permanent ascending trend, simply because that is impossible. Even the most envied stars experience the downs life has to offer, so nobody can avoid them.

However, the most important thing is not how to avoid changes, fears and bad experiences, but how to learn from them. It is crucial not to let problems overwhelm you, but to know how to use them in your favor.

There is no doubt that problems affect us, which is actually normal, due to the fact that we have feelings, but, nevertheless, every single hard moment of our lives should make us even stronger. That is why specialists suggest that you should always analyze and meditate on the worse situation you had to deal with, in the course of your life. Try to learn from your mistakes, because they will help you be prepared for the changes or less pleasant situations to come.

There are many ancient beliefs that consider that every single episode of our lives happens with a pre-determined reason. They also think that life, somehow prepares us for certain events to come, so if we focus enough attention on our previous experiences, we will understand many things from the present.

With all that, it is also true that the unexpected can happen anytime. However, you should keep in mind that a change in not always for the worse and consequently, you must never let go of a chance, because you are afraid to take the risk. Remember that, from time to time, something has to happen in order to free you from monotony, so you shouldn’t be surprised if, at a certain moment in time, instead of being afraid of change, you desire it with all your heart.

If you just don’t feel capable of realizing what a certain change in your life, actually means, here’s a list of tips that might help you get mobilized:

Try to think only of the positive impacts that will result after the change. See how important they are and meditate upon how to multiply them, by adding some other good aspects, which need certain assistance.
It is always good to picture somebody else in your situation, as picturing ourselves in a less desirable position, always looks more dramatic than it really is. If you realize that the other person can handle the change, you can be sure you’ll be able to handle it as well.
Imagine the worse situation that can result after the change. Now try to find various solutions to it. Meditate on how much you can loose, if the worst happened, and how important those things are to you. If you find more than one reasonable solution, you are safe – the change can’t be stronger than you are!

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Create A Realistic Plan For Success

2005-07-18T07:04:00.000-05:00

Every one of us wants to be successful, but we often rely on luck and chance to achieve our goals. The best example in this case is someone who wants to get rich but only has one alternative: playing the Lotto. Of course, there are chances of becoming rich over night, but how likely is it that this will actually happen? Creating a realistic plan in order to achieve the desired results is vital in any case, no matter how high or low your hopes are.

The safest way to do this is by taking successive steps and gradually increasing your chances of reaching your ideal. Try to think of a metaphor and compare your desires with a professional swimming competition. The first thing you need to do, in order to have chances of winning the race, is to make sure you are not afraid of the water. Before you even consider entering the race you have to eliminate your fears. They are the ones holding you back, but be careful, some of your fears might save you from getting hurt or failing.

Once you are convinced that your goal is worth fighting for, you have to start the hardest stage in you plan: preparation. You cannot expect to win a professional swimming race when you don’t even know how to swim. Start with the basics and never skip any steps out of desire of reaching your goal faster. The experience and knowledge you are skipping will probably come back and hurt you later on. Prepare by taking gradually increasing steps. Swim half a lap first, and then move on to a full lap. Your skills will progress each time and you will soon beat your own lap records every time you enter the swimming pool. It might take days, weeks or years to prepare for the “race”, depending on what your goals are. The main thing is to enter the race feeling confident in your own success and having all the skills that would allow you to win.

Taking steps one at a time and keeping your plan realistic gives you two important benefits. The order and precision of a plan brings confidence. You don’t feel like you are reengaging each new issue on a day-to-day basis. Organizing your strategy reduces the chances of making wrong moves or taking less efficient decisions. Secondly, having a sound plan has many psychological benefits and your subconscious mind worries less, giving you more energy to concentrate on what’s important. You are creating a pattern in your awareness that accepts success and integrates it in your plan. When both you conscious and your subconscious mind believe in your chances of reaching a goal you benefit from a power of concentration and focus that eliminate outside interference and let you follow the shortest path to success.

Even though chance may still play an important role in your quest to reach your ideal, having a realistic plan let’s you change the “unlikely” into “possible”.

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Chinese techniques for your health and strength

2005-07-18T07:01:00.000-05:00

Chi Kung, Tai Chi or Tui Na massages are only few of the keys to self-trusting and to physical harmony. Using these techniques you can achieve many accomplishments without having to put yourself through great psychological or physical efforts, violent conflicts or aggression.

Be sure that, once you dominate the genuine laws of the universe, which you assimilate by the methods above, it will be impossible for someone to dominate you.

Chi Kung – the art of internal harmony

Chi Kung is a philosophical system at least 5000 old, which made it through the centuries and which became very popular at the beginning of this millennium. This art of the vital energy is the most advanced and complex method of improving health and longevity, by offering a feeling of harmony with yourself and with the surrounding world. The four main principles of this technique are: the mind, the eyes, the movement and the breathing.

The mind represents the intention, the eyes are considered the focusing of intention, the movement is the action of intention and the breathing is flood of intention. It obviously takes time and practice to understand profoundly their dynamics.

The benefits resulting from practicing Chi Kung can be divided into five categories:

Cure of illnesses and improvement of the general health state
Increase of vitality and development of your internal force
Prolongation of youth
Cultivation of the mind and intellectual capacities
Spiritual progress

According to Chinese medicine, various diseases are the result of anger, sadness, joy, harmony and optimism deficit. All these factors, together with deficient nourishment, make Chiu – the vital energy – to diminish or to be present in only certain parts of your body. By practicing Chi Kung you can learn to be more conscious of what’s going on in your inner universe and to build yourself a defensive system against the disequilibrium, which affects your vital force.

The harmony of breathing and the agility obtained without efforts during the training sessions, confer a better concentration and a fast recovery from stress, tiredness, by inviting you to meditation.

Tai Chung Chuan – the wonder dance

You must have seen on TV that in China, very early in the morning, hundreds of people, in large groups or alone, perform apparently weird movements. This gymnastics, with waving movements, represents for them an ancestral inheritance. The eternity of the universe and the rhythm of its permanent changes have induced the idea that the human being can become immortal if he adapts to and follows this rhythm. This technique represents a putting into practice of the subtle side of the human being (spiritual evolution, mental control etc) and the physical side (muscles, articulation, bones etc).

Whenever you feel intellectually or physically tired, Tai Chi Chuan gives you the possibility to gain back, in only a few minutes, you strength and your harmony.

There are also other Chinese arts whose efficiency has been proven along the centuries, so don’t hesitate to attend Chinese seminars, in order to get more information, whenever you have the chance.

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