Inspiration

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  Zen Habits

• The Simple, Ridiculously Useful Guide to Earning a Living from Your Passion

  Leo

  16 Nov 2009 | 6:20 am

  Post written by Leo Babauta. Follow me on Twitter. So you’ve followed the Short But Powerful Guide to Finding Your Passion, and have chosen something you’re passionate about. Now you need to make it a career — but are perhaps a bit lost. I have to admit I was there, only a few years ago, and three years later I’ve successfully done it, even if I’m a bit battered from the attempt. It’s not easy — I’ll tell you that up front. If you hope to make a quick buck, or a fast million, you’ll need to find another guide. Probably one with lots of…

• How To Focus On What Truly Matters

  guest

  13 Nov 2009 | 1:32 pm

  Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Sid Savara of Analysis Driven Personal Development. In my life I’ve gone through periods of intense, driven productivity – months where everything fell into place, and my goals almost seemed to accomplish themselves. At the other extreme, there have been times in my life where I was completely overwhelmed, burdened by my different projects and responsibilities – and frustrated because so many of them not only challenged me, but didn’t matter to me. There were days when I asked myself how did I end up here? How did I end up…

• The Short but Powerful Guide to Finding Your Passion

  Leo

  11 Nov 2009 | 1:49 pm

  “The supreme accomplishment is to blur the line between work and play.” - Arnold Toynbee Post written by Leo Babauta. Follow me on Twitter. Following your passion can be a tough thing. But figuring out what that passion is can be even more elusive. I’m lucky — I’ve found my passion, and I’m living it. I can testify that it’s the most wonderful thing, to be able to make a living doing what you love. And so, in this little guide, I’d like to help you get started figuring out what you’d love doing. This turns out to be one of the most common…

• The Little Rules of Action

  Leo

  9 Nov 2009 | 6:49 am

  “The shortest answer is doing.” - Lord Herbert Post written by Leo Babauta. Follow me on Twitter. Too often we get stuck in inaction — the quagmire of doubt and perfectionism and distractions and planning that stops us from moving forward. And while I’m no proponent of a whirling buzz of activity, I also believe people get lost in the distractions of the world and lose sight of what’s important, and how to actually accomplish their Something Amazing. And so today I’d like to humbly present a few little rules of action — just some small reminders,…

• Low-Stress Ways To Move House and Declutter Your Life

  Leo

  6 Nov 2009 | 12:55 pm

  Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Annabel Candy of Get In the Hot Spot. Did you know that moving house can be one of the most stressful times in your life? It’s right up there with losing your job, divorce or the death of a loved one, as one of the biggest causes of stress. I’ve been there. In 2007 my husband and I sold our house along with most of our belongings and moved from New Zealand to Panama with our three young kids. We ended up spending 18 months in Central America and lived in Costa Rica for over a year during which time we moved house three times. Moving…

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  The Happiness Project

• Try Fun, Quick Exercises to Boost Your Creativity.

  GretchenRubin

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:20 pm

  I’m working on my Happiness Project, and you could have one, too! Everyone’s project will look different, but it’s the rare person who can’t benefit. Join in -- no need to catch up, just jump in right now. Each Friday’s post will help you think about your own happiness project. One of my favorite resolutions, because it’s so much fun to keep, is Read at whim. Instead of trying to be very targeted about my reading, as I once tried to be, I let myself read whatever I want to read. The other day, at coffee with my blogpals Caren and Leah from the great site, Drinking Diaries, Leah…

• In Which I Get Teary Reading My Own Book.

  GretchenRubin

  19 Nov 2009 | 11:56 am

  This week, I finished the audiobook for The Happiness Project. As I’d expected, it made me very happy to learn to do something new and to get a glimpse into the unfamiliar world of sound recording. It was also thrilling to learn that none other than Jim Dale had sat in the very same seat that I was using, when he was recording Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It took him three weeks! And they had top, top security. What surprised me most about the recording process was how emotional I became while reading certain parts of the book. I literally choked up and had to take a drink of water…

• Fifteen Tips to Avoid Nagging.

  GretchenRubin

  18 Nov 2009 | 11:47 am

  Every Wednesday is Tip Day. This Wednesday: Back by popular demand...fifteen tips to avoid nagging. I've posted this list before, but I'm posting it again, because the issue of nagging is something that people raise with me frequently in discussions of happiness. It turns out that being a nag is just as unpleasant as being nagged -- so figuring out how to end nagging brings a real happiness boost to a relationship. But even though no one enjoys an atmosphere of nagging, in marriage, or any partnership, chores are a huge source of conflict. How do you get your sweetheart to hold up his or her…

• "Learn New Skills, Ask Questions, Practice Yoga--and Only Travel Carry-On."

  GretchenRubin

  17 Nov 2009 | 11:52 am

  From time to time, I post short interviews with interesting people about their insights on happiness. During my study of happiness, I’ve noticed that I often learn more from one person’s highly idiosyncratic experiences than I do from sources that detail universal principles or cite up-to-date studies. I’m much more likely to be convinced to try a piece of advice urged by a specific person who tells me that it worked for him or her, than by any other kind of argument. Sometimes, in ways that I don’t really understand, I begin to overlap with people in blogland, to the point that I…

• Some Counter-Intuitive Facts about Loneliness.

  GretchenRubin

  16 Nov 2009 | 11:05 am

  Sometimes people ask, “If you had to pick just one thing, what would be the one secret to a happy life?” The answer is clear: strong bonds with other people. If I had to pick one thing, that’s it. The wisdom of the ages and the current scientific studies agree on this point. On that subject, I just finished a fascinating book by John Cacioppo and William Patrick, Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection. The book underscores the conclusion that few things will challenge your happiness more than loneliness. Without thinking it through, I’d assumed that being lonely…

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  Carrie and Danielle

• AT&T Activation Fees Waived November 25, 2009 through December 1, 2009

  Jack

  20 Nov 2009 | 11:58 am

  Back by popular demand, Cell-Phone-Plans.net is again offering to waive the activation fees on new or upgraded AT&T lines for savings up to $150. Customers who buy an AT&T phone from Cell-Phone-Plans.net after November 25, 2009 and before December 1, 2009 at midnight will receive a $36 per line activation fee waiver credit from AT&T. This discount is available for new lines as well as upgraded 2-year individual or family plan accounts. So, if you’ve been thinking about getting a phone for one of your family member, now’s the time. When you activate or upgrade up to three…

• Getting The Best Car Insurance Quote

  Matt Heman

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:11 am

  In order to go about getting the best car insurance quote will often come down to making sure you are a good shopper for car insurance. By shopping around a lot of different companies you’ll be able to get a wide range of quotes to be able to choose from both in price and in services offered. One thing rings true though, the lower the insurance benefits the less the insurance will cost most generally. The biggest factor though is going to be based upon the risk the drive (insured) posed to the insurance company, (insurer.) By keeping all of these facts in mind while going forward being a…

• Are Aphrodisiacs Effective?

  Shue

  20 Nov 2009 | 2:16 am

  Since times immemorial, men and women have suffered from the effects of loss of libido and sexual inadequacy. There are many reasons for this problem. Most of the times, older people are seen to suffer from it. It is a natural progression from aggressive hormones in the youth to a decrease in the libido. But sometimes, this libido can be prematurely depressed. The sexual performance will be lacking. This is where the aphrodisiacs come into the picture. These products have been in use ever since impotency was understood. We always gauge the potency and efficacy of a product from the results…

• Do Products That Promise To Increase Libido Work?

  Shue

  20 Nov 2009 | 2:16 am

  This is a frequently asked question. The most popular and well used aphrodisiacs are natural in origin. They are all very powerful and very capable. The power of these ingredients, most of them herbs and spices are the very powerful smells and tastes that they emit. These are popular among all men and women of all ages. To increase libido, using one or many of these natural miracles can surely help. The best and the most popular ones have come highly recommended over the ages. This is why we can be very sure that they will do their work well. The most recent developments that we are seeing…

• Does a Female Libido Enhancer Deliver?

  Shue

  20 Nov 2009 | 2:15 am

  When a woman is encountered with the problem of low sex drive, it can be very depressing. The significance of sexual satisfaction is felt to its maximum when the woman is unable to derive pleasure from it. Most women who suffer from lowered sexual desires have some or the other emotional or psychological stress playing on them. This is a very important observation because research has shown that women and their moods are very important deciding factors. A female libido enhancer is the perfect solution to this problem. There are questions raised as to if they are efficient and will work. To…

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  Inpsire Me Today

• Today's Brilliance from Roxanne Emmerich

  Roxanne Emmerich

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:00 am

  If today were my last day on Earth and I could share 500 words of brilliance with the world, here are the important things I'd want to pass along to others... My greatest brilliance is my fierce commitment to transform the workplace into a place where everyone lives a "Thank God It's Monday" spirit-a spirit in which fun, and the joy of creating massive results that matter, feeds the soul of each contributor.Most workplaces resemble adult day care. Gossip, resentments, jealousy, whining, victimhood, and excuses all manifest into a soulless environment in which wounded players spend…

• Today's Brilliance from Greg Habstritt

  Greg Habstritt

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:00 am

  If today were my last day on Earth and I could share 500 words of brilliance with the world, here are the important things I'd want to pass along to others... You're Either On The Train, Or You're On The TrackThe greatest power that you hold is the power of choice, because every choice you make dictates every result you get in your life - good or bad. And most importantly, every decision you make starts in your mind.All of us start out with this incredible power, yet so many give it away by refusing to step up and be accountable for their decisions. Sadly, most people choose to be a victim of…

• Today's Brilliance from Evelyn Brooks

  Evelyn Brooks

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:00 am

  If you are feeling discouraged, it means you've lost faith in your purpose in life. ~Evelyn Roberts Brooks If today were my last day on Earth and I could share 500 words of brilliance with the world, here are the important things I'd want to pass along to others... A SUNNY FORECASTNo matter what the weather is, you can create your own personalized forecast each morning, by deciding whether your outlook for the day will be gloomy or sunny.Situations in your life that are discouraging or hard to handle will be much easier when you have a positive outlook that you will always be okay inside no…

• Today's Brilliance from Greg Reid

  Greg Reid

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:00 am

  If today were my last day on Earth and I could share 500 words of brilliance with the world, here are the important things I'd want to pass along to others... It has been said that the sign of a life well lived is one that was spent serving others. Let's face it, would you get more enjoyment from getting a pat on the back at work or watching someone you helped to excel get the same kudos in the cubicle next to you? It seems that when we focus our attention toward the betterment of others, we get the same amount of appreciation in return.It may not always be vocalized, but internal…

• Today's Brilliance from Les Brown

  Les Brown

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:00 am

  If today were my last day on Earth and I could share 500 words of brilliance with the world, here are the important things I'd want to pass along to others... I think, we can all agree, life is getting tough. It seems as if everything around us is collapsing, and crumbling before our very eyes. Many people are uncertain about the future, money, relationships, health, and careers. In fact, we are beginning to question the very nature of life itself. In these uneasy times, even as a world-renown motivator, my advice is simply: When things go wrong, don't go with them. Have you watched the news…

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  Think Simple Now

• 7 Keys to Reading Faster

  Scott Young

  10 Nov 2009 | 2:08 pm

  Photo by Nathiya Prathnadi (see her camera tote and simple jewelry) By Scott Young Want to read faster? In this article, I’m going to share the lessons I learned that doubled my reading rate, allowed me to consume over 70 books in a year and made me a smarter reader. I’m also going to destroy some speed-reading myths, to show you it isn’t magic but a skill anyone can learn. How I Started Speed Reading My first introduction to the concept of speed reading was from a book, Breakthrough Rapid Reading. I’ve since moved away from a few of the concepts taught in the book,…

• The Ups and Downs of Life + Personal News

  Tina Su

  15 Oct 2009 | 2:19 pm

  Photo by Vadim Pacev By Tina Su Coming back from India, I was floating on a cloud of utter joy, blissfully unaware of the personal challenges and surprises that were about to hit me in the coming month. While I had fantasized over the telling of what has happened over the past month, it quickly became obvious that the toughest part of my job is the potential of disclosing too much about my personal life, thus invading the privacy of those closes to me. Despite the juiciness of the story, I’ve decided to leave most of the details private. I contemplated on why I wanted to write about it,…

• How to Learn Without Memorizing

  Scott Young

  7 Oct 2009 | 6:29 pm

  Photo by Edwin Stemp By Scott Young Rote memorization is an inefficient way to learn. Just retaining a single formula can mean pounding the same information into your skull dozens of times. If your computer hard drive had this accuracy, you’d probably throw it out. Unfortunately, you’re stuck with your brain. The good news is that you don’t need to learn by memorization. The vast majority of information is better stored in your head using a completely different system - learning through connecting ideas together. A few years ago, I noticed that smart people seemed to learn…

• Living Enlightenment – A Personal Report

  Tina Su

  10 Sep 2009 | 12:25 pm

  Photo by Vanessa Paxton By: Tina Su After 76 days of living in an ashram in a tiny village town East of Bangalore in India, I am home at last. I still have not found a proper one-liner that concisely answers the common question, “How was it?” A cliché “Good!” seemed appropriate to satisfy the questioner, but it is not the right answer. I’ve tried several answers and nothing seems to accurately conjure what I experienced. “I’ll write about it soon” quickly became my reply… and soon, I started to avoid people all together. In this article -…

• Time for a Retreat – Personal Update

  Tina Su

  13 Jun 2009 | 8:05 am

  By: Tina Su (Update 07/08/2009: I’ve decided to extend my stay for two more months, and will be in India until September.) For the next four weeks, I will be living in an ashram near Bangalore India. I will be attending a meditation and spiritual retreat called Inner Awakening that I have been anticipating for many months now. It’s an opportunity to learn directly from an enlightened guru in a serene environment, along with several hundred other spiritual seekers from around the world. I’ve decided not to bring my laptop or cell phone, and to fully emerse myself in the…

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  Lolly Daskal

• Lead From Within

  Lolly Daskal

  8 Nov 2009 | 5:55 pm

  When you Lead From Within, you step inward and you seek the life you yearned for–a life of  commitment and fulfillment of your heart’s desires. You probably do not know at this moment what that means or what your life will look like once you have decided to Lead From Within. You may be uncertain of it all means or how to attain it. It does not matter: Leading From Within, will bring you closer to  the life you yearn for! Leading From Within will form the basis and context for all the decisions, big and small, that you will make in all the days to follow. As you take this step…

• Trust

  Lolly Daskal

  8 Nov 2009 | 11:52 am

  By definition trust means relying on and placing confidence in someone or something. Trusting others is great in theory, but it’s almost impossible to put into practice. Why? Because most of the time you trust people only when they do exactly what you want them to do. When they act otherwise, you feel disappointed and think they can no longer be trusted. But to trust is not about relying on others to meet your expectations. Trust is about trusting yourself.  It begins with trusting your feelings. trusting your ideas. trusting your creativity. trusting your talents. Trusting yourself…

• Workshops

  Lolly Daskal

  7 Nov 2009 | 11:16 am

  WORKSHOPS When you know that you should be getting more out of your life–a greater sense of meaning, a satisfying sense of accomplishment, the knowledge that you’re moving forward in the right direction–you can benefit tremendously by finding the right guidance. Lolly Daskal offers online and offline workshops for businesses, organizations ad individuals that shine a bright light on the discovery of passion, the creation of purpose and the principles of personal empowerment. If you’re ready to live the life you’ve always wanted, Lolly is ready to help you discover the way.

• Frustration

  Lolly Daskal

  7 Nov 2009 | 5:23 am

  Frustration is wonderful (said with a grin) Frustration is not necessarily bad since it can be a useful indicator of the problems in a person’s life and, as a result, it can act as a motivator to change. Life inevitably has its ups and downs — its moments of relaxation and times of tension.  You need to learn to distinguish between what you hope will happen, what will probably happen, and what actually happened.  You can let frustration sink down to the tombs of resentment and keep it in the dark recesses of our shadows, or you can use the energy to manage the frustration in…

• What Are You Thinking?

  Lolly Daskal

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:49 pm

  Someone once said, “There are no truths, there are only perceptions of truth.” Whether or not you accept this statement, whatever you believe to be true will become your reality. Your subconscious mind will believe anything you tell it-if you repeat the words often and with conviction. When you are faced with a daunting task that you have never attempted before, focus on the potential of success, not the the possibilities for failure. Break the job down into smaller elements and tackle each one separately. The only difference between success and failure in any job is your attitude…

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  A Touch of Encouragement

• A Definite "No" to a "Yes"

  20 Nov 2009 | 3:08 am

  On a recent visit with her junior high school principal, Martha Williamson was reminded of a lesson she learned while in school that she still uses today: the art of presenting an idea with passion and commitment and expecting to hear "no" but preparing to hear "yes." Read this post »

• Averting Alzheimer's Video Series

  19 Nov 2009 | 6:20 am

  I am so pleased that our six-part series on Alzheimer's received such positive response. Not only did we receive very encouraging comments online, but so many people approached me at church to tell me they had seen Dr. Bresky's interviews and were grateful. These were folks that I didn't even know were regular Touch of Encouragement viewers! So Dr. Bresky has clearly touched a chord with many of you and it reconfirms Alzheimer's broad reach, affecting families everywhere. Remember, the interviews listed below are also archived on our website and are there to review and also to send along to…

• A New Way to be Touched By An Angel

  13 Nov 2009 | 3:11 am

  We have some exciting news to share! Select episodes of the critically acclaimed and landmark series TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL make their DVD debut in two specially themed collections. TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL: INSPIRATION COLLECTION - HOPE and HOLIDAY each feature four thematic episodes specially selected and hosted by series executive producer Martha Williamson. For more information go to atouchofencouragementstore.com. Click here to enter Beliefnet's "Touched By An Angel: Inspiration Collection" giveaway! Read this post »

• A Simple Embrace

  10 Nov 2009 | 3:29 am

  After hearing a powerful story about a mission trip to an orphanage in Malawi where the children out numbered their caretakers, Martha Williamson was reminded of the amazing healing power of human touch and affection and how it can positively influence everyone around us. Read this post »

• Under Construction

  6 Nov 2009 | 3:44 am

  As many of us struggle to get it all right, Martha Williamson feels if we recognize we're a work in progress, that's when we can really start enjoying the journey. Read this post »

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  Beyond Blue

• The 7 Kinds of Hope

  20 Nov 2009 | 7:00 am

  Awhile back Anthony Scioli, coauthor of "Hope in the Age of Anxiety" discussed nine forms of hopelessness and how you can overcome them. This week, I've invited Julie Neraas, author of "Apprenticed to Hope: A Sourcebook for Difficult Times," to tell us about the different kinds of hope. Julie is an ordained minister, spiritual director and associate professor at Hamline University, and speaks regularly about hope, where it can guide you, how it can sustain you, and what meaning it can bring to your life. For more information visit www.julieneraas.com. Here's Julie ...  Not all hopes…

• Why Does God Allow Suffering? Part 2

  20 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am

  In his post, "Why Does God Allow Suffering?" Beyond Blue reader Larry Parker sparkled a lively discussion. Among the opinions on the combox was this articulate response from Beyond Blue Mia. Thanks, Mia, for making me think!  Thanks for sharing that powerful observation that HOPE is not "optimism" -- indeed, it's much sturdier and heartier stuff, having tasted full the bitter depths of darkness and yet still trusting the eventual return of dawn. I was recently at a funeral where the Ecclesiastes passage -- the whhhoooole thing -- was slowly and deliberately read. The man was far too…

• Demystifying Psychiatry: An Interview with Charles F. Zorumski and Eugene H. Rubin

  19 Nov 2009 | 7:00 am

  Today I have the honor of interviewing Eugene (Gene) and Charles (Church) Zorumski, authors of "Demystifying Psychiatry: A Resource for Patients and Families." It is a fascinating and comprehensive resource to explain one of the most misunderstood sciences of our time. Question: In your book, you chart the various trends of psychiatry. In your view what are the most substantial trends and why? Answer: Thank you for asking us about our thoughts concerning the most substantial trends in psychiatry and about why we are optimistic about the future of psychiatry. We believe that three of the most…

• The Future of Psychiatry: 5 Reasons for Optimism

  19 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am

  After reading the last chapter of "Demystifying Psychiatry," I felt so much better about where psychiatry might be when my kids are my age. Perhaps, if either is ever diagnosed with a mental illnesses, there will be more targeted treatments, and more optimism for a speedy recovery. The following excerpts of "Demystifying Psychiatry: A Resource for Patients and Families" are reprinted with permission from "Demystifying Psychiatry: A Resource for Patients and Families" by Charles F. Zorumski and Eugene H. Rubin, published by Oxford University Press, Inc. © 2010, Oxford University Press. Here…

• The 10 Types of Female Friends

  18 Nov 2009 | 7:00 am

  Awhile back I wrote about the four kinds of friends you need in your life to become more resilient. Now let's talk about the kind of friends you actually have! Or at least the 10 types of female friends described by author Susan Shapiro Barash in her new book, "Toxic Friends: The Antidote for Women Stuck in Complicated Friendships." (I promise to follow up with one for the guys, okay?).  For her book, Shapiro interviewed 200 women of assorted backgrounds and ages, and asked them all kinds of nosy questions about their friends. The result is a labyrinth of 10 types of female friendships.

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  Steve Pavlina

• Intimacy Abundance and Label-Free Relationships

  Steve Pavlina

  17 Nov 2009 | 10:45 am

  In this article I’m going to share some recent personal lessons about creating intimacy abundance. So this is more of a sharing piece than an advice piece. Even so, I expect you’ll be able to gain some helpful insights that you can apply to your own relationships. Society conditions us to attach certain labels to our relationships and then to assign meanings to those labels. For example, being single has a different meaning than being someone’s boyfriend or girlfriend or husband or wife. At some point in the course of your relationships, you may be tempted to change the…

• How to Visualize Your New Reality

  Steve Pavlina

  9 Nov 2009 | 4:07 am

  This is a follow-up to my last video post on Creating Abundance. In this article I’ll share more detail on how to visualize your new reality so that you become a vibrational match for it. This is an area where people make some critical mistakes when trying to manifest their desires. Slide Into Your New Reality Did you ever see the TV show Sliders? In that show a group of four people would “slide” through a portal between dimensions, spending each episode in an alternate version of earth. For example, they might enter a reality where the Nazis won WWII. Or in another reality…

• Creating Abundance – Video

  Steve Pavlina

  5 Nov 2009 | 1:35 pm

  Yesterday morning I woke up with the idea of recording a video blog on the topic of creating abundance. A little later I checked our forums and saw a request for me to post something more comprehensive on the topic of abundance. Well, I thought… that’s a pretty blatant synchronicity! Is it possible to use the Law of Attraction to manifest true abundance in your life, including financial abundance, social abundance, and more? Absolutely, it is. In this 35-minute video (split into 4 individual clips for posting on YouTube), I explain why people so often fail in this area, and I…

• A Few Updates

  Steve Pavlina

  2 Nov 2009 | 10:42 am

  Here are some updates I want to share with you. Conscious Growth Workshop DVDs I received the initial DVD masters from the videographer — 8 DVDs total for the whole weekend. I’ll start watching them this week to see if any additional edits are needed to create the final product. After that I’ll need someone to design a cover/package for the DVDs and then get a bunch of them duplicated so we can start shipping them. For anyone who pre-ordered the DVDs at the workshop and paid via credit card, your card won’t be charged till the DVDs actually ship. It’s hard to say…

• Juicing and Physical Training

  Steve Pavlina

  1 Nov 2009 | 7:18 pm

  For most of the past year, I’ve been starting my day with a green smoothie for breakfast, but lately I’ve been getting back into juicing. I piled up a lot of experience in a short period of time when I did my 30-day juice feast a year ago. (I’d originally planned to go for a 92-day juice feast but decided to stop after 30 days.) Drinking fresh juice has many benefits. With the fiber removed, fresh juice digests very easily, so you don’t have to expend as much energy on digestion. This extra energy then becomes available for your body and mind. When I incorporate a lot…

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  The Chief Happiness Officer

• Friday Spoing

  Alexander

  20 Nov 2009 | 3:01 am

  This is a real video of real cops on the streets of Copenhagen (close to where I live, actually) stopping people on bikes to… well, watch it for yourself:

• Friday Spoing

  Alexander

  13 Nov 2009 | 6:34 am

  Here’s some happiness for ya: A dog welcomes his owner back from Afghanistan :o)

• Friday Spoing!

  Alexander

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:40 am

  Where can I go and try this? Looks like fun! Have a happy weekend :o)

• The Happiness Hat will hurt you until you smile

  Alexander

  2 Nov 2009 | 1:37 am

  Smile, dammit: This is not meant to be taken seriously – this is art. Or social commentary. Or both. The Happiness Hat was created by Lauren MacCarthy, who calls it: A wearable conditioning device that detects if you’re smiling and provides pain feedback if you’re not. Frowning creates intense pain but a full smile leaves you pain free! The first in a series of Tools for Improved Social Inter-Acting. To me, this is a great commentary to the pressure to be happy that exists in society today. There seems to be a sense that “if you’re not happy, there’s…

• Friday Spoing

  Alexander

  30 Oct 2009 | 4:53 am

  This Friday it’s really more of a Spoooooooooooooooooing :o) Have a happy weekend!

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  Manage Your Life Now

• 7 habits for longer life

  26 Oct 2009 | 11:25 am

  Although nobody can guarantee you that by adopting a specific lifestyle you will be able to live a longer life, there are certain things you can do to increase your chances of living longer. By following some healthy guidelines for sure you have nothing to lose but you have a lot to gain. Anything you do in order to live longer has to turn into a habit. In other words you have to do it without realizing it. Healthy living and lifestyle is a way of living and this is how you should approach it. The 7 most important habits for a better life and outlined below: 1. Don't worry be happy It is…

• Tips on How to get pregnant with a boy

  25 Oct 2009 | 6:50 am

  Most couples that want to get pregnant, usually say that they do not care about the gender of the baby, and that everything is okay with them, but in most cases they would prefer one or the other. This is quite common since people do have opinions about things like this and they all root to their own childhood. If they have had only brothers, it is common to only being interested on how to get pregnant with a baby boy, because they know how to handle with them, and know what to expect. Giving birth to a girl would be something that is even frightening to them. Although this is not true in all…

• How to Get a Slender Figure in 5 Easy Steps

  24 Sep 2009 | 7:29 am

  Often it is harder to keep a slender figure than it is to get it. After a drastic weight loss diet your body acts uncontrollable and starts packing fats. This is why you should avoid using rapid weight loss diets to shed those extra pounds. What you should do is learn from the people that have a slender figure and keep it over time. The people that had all their life a slender figure, or for a long time, don’t use operations or expensive treatments to maintain it. Some do but most can’t afford them. What they all do is use some simple tricks. Here are just 5 tips that will help you get…

• 6 Surefire Ways to Get Better Sleep

  1 Sep 2009 | 11:55 am

  Having a little trouble getting enough zzz’s? It’s not uncommon for adults to go through periods of insomnia at several different times during their lifetime. Lack of sleep causes difficulty concentrating, exhaustion and a general feeling of discomfort. In extremes, lack of sleep can also be dangerous – causing car and work accidents. But, luckily, there are ways to get your sleep back on track – often without resorting to over the counter or prescription drugs. Here are six tricks you can try to help you get back to getting a good night’s sleep.  Keep a regular schedule Waking…

• 21 Tips for a better lifestyle

  1 Jun 2009 | 1:47 am

  1. Give the necessary importance to healthy eating: It is important for the overall proper functioning of your body, health and beauty of individual organs and parts of the body such as muscles, skin, hair, nails, etc. 2. Never forget breakfast Start your day with a rich, balanced meal that will keep you full of energy until you eat at lunchtime. 3. Drink plenty of water If possible, replace any type of soft drink with water. It is far better for the body, helps digestion; it is fat burner and does not cause cellulite, such as various carbon drinks. 4. Decide, after mature reflection, what…

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  Self Help Daily

• Your Life is Like a Book

  joi

  19 Nov 2009 | 7:33 pm

  Your life is like a book. The title-page is your name. The preface is your introduction to the world. The pages are a daily chronicle of your efforts, trials, pleasures, discouragements, ambitions, and achievements. The principal subject of your book may be business, romance, tragedy, comedy, poetry, science, literature, or religion. Day by day your thoughts and acts are being inscribed as evidence of your success or failure. What you will record on the remaining pages of your book is of vital importance. Hour by hour the record is being made which must stand for all time. One day the word…

• How to Live on 24 Hours a Day: You’re Kidding, Right?

  joi

  18 Nov 2009 | 8:21 am

  As you’ll notice (if you look at the dates on my posts), I’ve been in the boxing ring with the clock lately – and losing.  At the end of the day, sometimes I feel like someone needs to stich me up!  The brutal clock insists on giving me just 24 hours a day.  More, I demand! Take what you have —- always the same old response. I won’t bother you with the details of my busyness (I’ll just say that I don’t have a daily to do list, I have to do lists).   Running a web publishing business from home while being a wife, mother, AND working on my first…

• Thursday Throwback: The Wisdom of Confucius

  joi

  12 Nov 2009 | 9:10 am

  Certain books and authors put me in a particularly serene state of mind when I ride their thoughts:  The Bible, certainly, and Shakespeare come to mind.  Ancient Chinese writings have the same effect – whether it’s Confucius, Lao Tzu, Mencius, or other wise men from a distant time and place.  For today’s Thursday Throwback, I thought we’d spend a little time with the most famous of these teachers, Confucius. What follows are a few of my favorite Conucius teachings – see if you don’t find yourself in a state of uber calm as you sit at the feet of this…

• Perseverance and a Mouse in Red Shorts

  joi

  11 Nov 2009 | 6:41 am

  It’s kind of fun to do the impossible. – Walt Disney Perseverance is one of my favorite words in the English language. I just love the spirit of this word.  Whenever I hear the word perseverance, I think of three things: I think of a snail. “By perseverance, the snail reached the ark.“  The imagery is priceless. I think of a spelling trick. When teaching my daughters to spell perseverance, they’d get confused as to whether the word ended in -ence or -ance.  I told them to remember that perseverance always finds a way. Walt Disney. I don’t just love all…

• Finish Every Day and Be Done With It

  joi

  10 Nov 2009 | 1:37 pm

  While Ralph Waldo Emerson’s daughter was away at school, she wrote a letter to her father telling him how devastated she was about a past mistake.  Apparently this mistake haunted her and she was having difficulty putting distance between herself and her mistake. Her father, with the wisdom we’ve all come to expect from him, wrote the following reply to his daughter: Finish every day and be done with it.  You have done what you could.  Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; but get rid of them and forget them as soon as you can.  Tomorrow is a new day, and you should…

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  John Assaraf Blog

• They’re inviting YOU!

  John Assaraf

  29 Oct 2009 | 11:43 am

  Hi friends, I will be sharing all about goal achievement on a teleconference with The Meditation Mind on Tuesday, November 17 at 6 p.m. Pacific time, and they’ve opened up invitations to anyone on my blog to join us! Sign up here now for free and if you have any questions for me, please make sure to include them. See you on the call! John Share This

• Are you ready to overcome all your fears?

  John Assaraf

  21 Oct 2009 | 8:20 am

  Hi friends, I wanted to share this video from my exclusive event this past weekend with people who are being mentored by me in the Having It All Challenge. Can you get past your fears? Watch the video. Share This

• Video Answer: How an Acorn Becomes an Oak Tree

  John Assaraf

  19 Oct 2009 | 9:08 am

  Hi Friends, As promised, here is my answer about the acorn’s potential. (If you haven’t seen it yet, watch the previous video blog post here before watching the following video) Share This

• Answer this: How does this acorn become an oak tree?

  John Assaraf

  17 Oct 2009 | 1:30 am

  Hi Friends, Watch this video and then post your comments P.S. If you haven’t checked it out yet, sign up for my Facebook Fan Page! Share This

• The Answer is Out on Paperback!

  John Assaraf

  7 Oct 2009 | 4:02 pm

  Hi Friends, I just wanted to let you know that my best selling book “The Answer: Grow Any Business, Achieve Financial Freedom and Live an Extraordinary Life” was just released on paperback. You can now buy it for around $10 on Amazon and share it with your business owning friends. If you want to check out free excerpts of the book, visit www.ReadTheAnswer.com and sign up for them. To your business success! John Share This

• 
  Box of Crayons

• Great Work Interview – John McWade

  Michael

  20 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am

  I remember years ago Tom Peters raging on about the importance of design. And, as usual with Tom, he was right on the money.  Because content and knowledge is now ubiquitous and free, design becomes absolutely critical to adding value and creating something of worth.  It’s no longer content and then some token thought about design.  The design is a significant part of the content. That’s why I’m so delighted to have spoken to John McWade. For decades he’s been at the forefront of design in publishing.  He currently publishes the brilliant Before & After…

• Succumb to the crumb

  Michael

  19 Nov 2009 | 9:15 am

  Follow Michael Bungay Stanier/@boxofcrayons on Twitter So says the tag line for the new Flake ad here in the UK, a picture of the delicious if just-a-little-sweet-for-me-these-days chocolate bar in all its fragile glory up close on the poster. In the Do More Great Work workshop on Sunday, participants spent time identifying their Great Work Project. It’s a process that for many was about finally owning up to the thing they’ve been wanting to get on with for a while, and there was a noticeable relaxing in the room when they finally surrendered to what it was that was calling them…

• Your mission, should you chose to accept it…

  Michael

  19 Nov 2009 | 4:15 am

  Follow Michael Bungay Stanier/@boxofcrayons on Twitter I actually know a little something about corporate mission statements. About a decade ago, my boss at the time was working on a big pharmaceutical merger. He asked me to come up with a this-will-do-for-now mission statement, and I spent about 25 minutes creating some options and zipped it back his way. Ten years later my words, “help people to do more, feel better and live longer” remain the mission statement of GlaxoSmithKline. (This remains an enduring mystery to me – why the ‘change management…

• Great Work Interview – Robert Fritz

  Michael

  18 Nov 2009 | 3:15 am

  I have two shelves put aside for my iconic Great Work texts. These are reserved for the books and the authors who I think have written something timeless and significant in how we can show up and do the work we should be doing.  Peter Senge’s there.  So is Peter Block. And both these guys point to today’s guest, Robert Fritz, and say he’s a giant in this field. Actually, he’s a giant in two fields.  He spends some of his time working with large organizations.  And he spends some of that time as a composer and creator in the arts field, both making music and making…

• A storm sweeps in

  Michael

  17 Nov 2009 | 1:49 pm

  Follow Michael Bungay Stanier/@boxofcrayons on Twitter I’m on a train heading for London Waterloo. On my right, sunshine through rag-scraps of cloud, a pale blue sky, puddles shining in the fields. To my left, a row of houses lit by sunshine and framed by the purple-dark of storm clouds. It’s like this at work. Put your focus in one direction and all seems well, things are improving, you can see the opportunities and things are trending upwards. Focus somewhere else and you see the on-coming storm with all the disruption and misery it might bring. Which view is the right one? Do…

• 
  Prayer Circle of the Day

• Pray for Lawrence

  19 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm

  "My husband has been separated from God his entire life. I ask for prayers that he will be shown the path to God's transforming love and forgiveness." --meg.e Add your prayers now

• Pray for Nicole and Her Family

  18 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm

  "I am being challenged by...God?..the devil..? I want to have peace, love, and a knowing of faith in my soul. For my girls' sake, my own. All I do is cry quietly in my room; I need my faith brought back, my soul renewed, my soul cleansed, my girls to have a sense of pride in their belongings." --lola2 Add your prayers now

• Pray for Ed

  17 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm

  "I'm in need of prayers for my husband, Ed. The enemy has such a strong hold on him. He is very bitter and angry about everything and everyone around him. He can't see the good things that are right in front of him. I prayer that his heart will be open to receive the wonderous love of our heavenly Father." --grammycsn07 Add your prayers now

• Pray for a Young Sick Woman

  16 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm

  "Young girl with diabetes, in hospital with sugar at 600." --brendplus Add your prayers now

• Pray for Steve D.

  15 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm

  "Please pray for my son's addiction to meth. I have shed many tears and prayers to God to help my son." --djd Add your prayers now

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  Positive Self Development

• Is Too Much Positive Thinking Bad For You?

  steve

  16 Nov 2009 | 2:13 am

  Image via Wikipedia I used to do some work for a business that taught massage therapists a new approach to bodywork. Using new techniques they became better therapists and this benefitted their clients who received deeper and more healing bodywork. The office of this company had a large board that was filled with glowing testimonials to how great the training courses were. Everyone associated with the company was encouraged to think positively, always aware of the great things that the company stood for. The more massages people received using their approach, the more the world would improve.

• How Do You Get Things Done?

  steve

  15 Oct 2009 | 6:11 am

  Image via Wikipedia This has been a hectic week. I’ve been finishing my software project Life Manager Pro and also getting my house ready for laminate flooring to be fitted. Sometimes it seems that there is just too much to do each day. Do you lead a hectic busy life? What does it take to just slow down and relax whilst still getting things done? The secret is to only concentrate on only what needs doing now. If you have a hundred things to attend to then break them down into smaller sections. The two main categories that actions fall into are those that need doing next and those that…

• Does Time Fly?

  steve

  2 Oct 2009 | 3:24 am

  Image via Wikipedia Time is a funny thing. On the one hand it appears fixed. A minute on my watch equals a minute on your watch. On the other hand the way you perceive time varies. Time appears to runs slow when you: Are watching water boil Are waiting for a bus when you are running late Are watching the second finger of a watch rotate. Time appears to run fast when you are: Watching a great movie Playing action video games Falling in love I am in the middle of completing a software program – Life Manager Pro. This involves many hours of computer coding and requires lots of…

• Can You Get More Done in Less Time?

  steve

  14 Sep 2009 | 5:43 am

  Image by David Reber via Flickr I used to work in an office of a large company. I generally worked from 9 until 5.30 at night thinking that I had done a fair day’s work for my pay. I noticed that others on the floor where I worked were always there when I arrived and still there when I left. I was never sure what they were doing early morning and late at night. Perhaps they were not doing a lot, but believed their presence gave the impression that they were working long and productive hours. Though there are days when I do work long hours I now realise that the number of hours that I…

• Goal Setting Lessons from a Garden Shed

  steve

  31 Aug 2009 | 4:04 am

  Image via Wikipedia Many years ago I had the idea to write software that would help organise my life.  Five years later and the goal is about to be achieved. Why did it take 5 years? The answer will be revealed later. If you want to build a shed in the back garden you don’t just think, I’ll get 10 planks of wood  from somewhere and some nails then just sort of start building the thing. No, you follow a procedure: •    start with a to-scale  plan of the shed on a piece of paper •    calculate how much wood you need. how many nails and what tools that you require…

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  Aspire Now

• What Is Success Worth To You?

  19 Nov 2009 | 12:34 pm

  Regarding how you view success, may I ask you a simple question?"When you consider the PRICE of success, what is it WORTH to you?" Why do I ask this?Well, the fact is you will usually have to give up something to get something in life. Success is no different. Either you'll have to give up your steady job to focus on that part-time company, or you'll have to take time from sports, hobbies, or

• Success Leaves Clues - 20 Questions to Help You Find Success

  6 Nov 2009 | 12:26 pm

  I just heard this quote while listening to a teleconference about the top five mistakes people make online and how to avoid them:"Success leaves clues." I believe the first person I heard say this was Tony Robbins. It's an interesting quote. The point is to look at how people or companies become successful and see if there are techniques used in their line of business that might be used in your

• Dating: Is It All About You?

  29 Oct 2009 | 11:59 am

  Here's a funny video to get us started on this topic:Is it all about you?I hope not.I've always felt that good dating ought to be a mix. But, let's face it, if you're trying to ATTRACT someone, it might be more about THEM than it is YOU. If you're focused so much on how you look, what you're going to say, what you're going to do, you might miss out on the fact that there's a beautiful person over

• Living Life My Way

  20 Oct 2009 | 10:01 am

  The first part of living our life purpose is to know what we want to do with our own lives.After we've figured that out, we sometimes are left asking the question, "Now what?"Can you relate?Well, I think this problem has to do with living life on our terms; or, living life my way. That's the song Frank Sinatra used to sing, My Way. For example, you may have already decided the next step for your

• Love The Secret - But Unsure How?

  13 Oct 2009 | 11:00 am

  If you're like me, you might be sick of hearing all about the movie "The Secret" but never learning HOW to do any of the manifesting they talk about.Bla, bla, bla! Talk, talk, talk! RIGHT?Okay, but show me the MONEY! I know, I'm an eager-beaver.But tell me, honestly, are you any different?Here's some good news: Tom Murasso, one of the better kept secrets in the personal development (self-help)

• 
  My Inspiration Lounge

• Best travel sites on the web

  Misty Gibbs

  20 Nov 2009 | 6:48 am

  “There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign.” ~Robert Louis Stevenson Booking your next adventure or getaway just got a whole lot easier! All the best travel sites on the web are now at your fingertips when you visit the See The World section at MyInspirationLounge.com. I have mined the web for secret escapes, adventures you never thought of, tips for traveling on a budget, the best hotels and must-know info before you head out. I promise you will leave inspired! Click here to start your exploring: See The World at MyInspirationLounge.com. For more about…

• Pamper yourself inexpensively, here's how

  Misty Gibbs

  19 Nov 2009 | 7:43 am

  When you think of getting a massage - it's usually an all or nothing kind of thing. If you don't have $80- $100 to indulge on one or have one-hour to spare, then you go without a massage for a long time. And you feel it. The knots and tension build. You get grumpy.

• Leftover food from holiday dinners: here's how long you can keep it

  Misty Gibbs

  18 Nov 2009 | 8:26 am

  No need to worry about having leftovers with this apple pie! YUM! We've all been there - staring at the leftover food pondering if it's still good to eat. Well, no more. In the November issue of Real Simple, I saw these very handy tips on how long you can keep leftovers. No more mystery - just the facts.

• We can never be too old to make a wish

  Misty Gibbs

  17 Nov 2009 | 1:59 pm

  Love this Make A Wish print for sale on Etsy I saw this Make A Wish print and thought it was the sweetest thing ever. I know little kids like to have fun making wishes but so do big kids :)  Where Verity, the artist, gets her inspiration from...

• The first widget ever to share inspiring thoughts from ordinary people

  Misty Gibbs

  16 Nov 2009 | 10:03 am

  I'm starting a movement. It's called "Ordinary People Inspire!" Why? Because YOU inspire me. Every single one of you. Even on your bad days!  Since launching MyInspirationLounge.com and interviewing women for InspirationLounge.tv, I've seen how the chaos of life can zap us of our energy, mojo, confidence, and self-worth. So much, that we don't think we have one inspiring bone in our body! I have plenty of those days! I'm here to remind us that we all inspire in our own unique and beautiful ways! That you too have inspiration to share with the world!

• 
  Robin's Reflections

• Benefits of Procrastination?

  Robin

  18 Nov 2009 | 11:37 pm

  Most of us are used to thinking of procrastination as a negative thing, but did you know that there are sometimes benefits to procrastination?  It’s true!  Procrastination can be used constructively if you do it in a conscious manner. Below are a few ideas for how to do so in your own life: •    Procrastination provides space to allow your ideas to fully form. Sometimes when you get an inspired idea you want to get moving on it right away, but acting hastily before you’ve fully fleshed out all the details can result in unexpected problems and delays. By choosing to hold off on a…

• Just Be Aware

  Robin

  16 Nov 2009 | 7:36 am

  Procrastination can often grow to monstrous proportions in your life, but sometimes it can be much more subtle too.  Perhaps you don’t have huge, messy snarls in all areas of your life due to procrastination, but is it possible that you procrastinate just enough to limit your potential? If you’ve had some big dreams and goals that you never seem to get around to achieving for any length of time, you may be procrastinating without even realizing it!  There’s nothing wrong with putting off your dreams and goals, unless doing so leaves you with a vague sense of dissatisfaction or boredom…

• Avoidance

  Robin

  13 Nov 2009 | 6:15 am

  Have you ever noticed how sneaky procrastination can be?  It’s incredibly easy to fool ourselves into thinking that we’re being productive, but at the end of the day we find we’ve gotten precious little done. Have you ever found yourself using avoidance activities like surfing the internet, watching television, doing housework or laundry, or running errands in order to avoid working on something you don’t want to do?  For example, you might have a work project due by the end of the week and instead of working on it you keep finding domestic chores that “just can’t wait”. We…

• Start With Just A Little

  Robin

  10 Nov 2009 | 7:34 am

  One damaging aspect of procrastination is the way it tends to snowball and build a chronic sense of stagnation and inertia in your life.  It usually starts innocently enough: you try to avoid doing one thing that feels intimidating or unpleasant, and before you know it you’re avoiding even things you want to do but feel too frightened to face.  If this trend continues long enough, your entire life can become extremely messy and complex. When you consider that one of the biggest causes of procrastination is the perception that a task is too big or difficult to handle, it’s easy to see…

• Just Getting Started Is The Hardest

  Robin

  7 Nov 2009 | 5:33 am

  Procrastination can quickly create a logjam of unfinished business in all areas of your life, including financial crises, relationship problems, chronic underachievement, physical illness and more. There are many ways to deal with procrastination, but one of the most effective is simple – yet powerful:  starting! Getting started is often the hardest part of any intimidating task.  We tend to build up difficult tasks and chores in our minds, which makes them seem bigger and more unpleasant the longer we put them off.  If we avoid these tasks for long enough, it can seem like the hardest…

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  Personal Development for the 21st Century

• BraveHeart Women Global Community

  20 Nov 2009 | 6:30 am

  When I first read this quote by The Dali Lama I was quite intrigued. He said, "The world will be saved by the woman."I sincerely believe that The Dali Lama is spot on regarding the powerful influence women have in our world today. We all know women who are inspiration in action which is exactly why I knew I had to share this with you...Ellie Drake, rocked the business world in 2007 by creating the BraveHeart Women's Online Community, an innovative resource she designed to help women entrepreneurs join together like never before in a mutual commitment to success.Ellie told about the powerful…

• 101 Powerful Affirmations You Can Start Using Today

  19 Nov 2009 | 1:10 pm

  Affirmations are great tools that can help you overcome fear, build your confidence, develop an abundance mind-set and more. The problem is that many people aren’t sure exactly how to write effective affirmations. Do they always have to be in present tense? Can they contain “negative” words like can’t, won’t, not, and so on?There are plenty of differing opinions on the right and wrong ways to write effective affirmations, but the bottom line is that an affirmation can be considered effective if it works for YOU! The whole point of affirmations is to shift your thoughts and emotions…

• The Power of Personal Development

  5 Nov 2009 | 8:37 am

  Article by Jeffrey GitomerWhen I say Think and Grow Rich, what comes to your mind? Almost everyone in sales and those interested in personal development have read this classic by Napoleon Hill at least once. And almost everyone who's read it has a positive comment. Many (like me) will say, "Turning point in my life." Everyone has a turning point in their quest for lifelong learning. Everyone has their Aha! In your personal development, it's what you choose to listen to, watch or read that enhances your understanding of your life and teaches you what you need to do to succeed. Napoleon Hill's…

• Overcome Negative Thinking with Free Ebook

  26 Oct 2009 | 3:48 am

  You know what you want to achieve in life and you are very positive about those goals. But they remain just out of reach. Why?The main culprit can be negative thought patterns even though you are not aware of them. You think you are thinking positively but in fact, most of your thoughts are more about what you want to avoid eg financial problems, lack of loving relationships and the fears which bring the “What if?” questions. You know, “What if I can’t get out of debt? What if I don’t win that contract? What if I never find Mr/Miss Right? What if he/she leaves me? What if I get…

• Tony Robbins - Free Tickets for Breakthrough TV Show

  7 Oct 2009 | 1:43 am

  A gift for you from Tony Robbins:By now you may have heard some of the buzz surrounding our new NBC Reality TV show, "Breakthrough with Tony Robbins". Some of you may have even attended our first taping opportunity in August. We are pleased to inform you that after months of development with some of the sharpest minds in television, the finishing touches are now being completed. The show will capture the journeys of everyday people struggling to overcome incredible personal obstacles as they strive to achieve their ultimate goals, contribute in meaningful ways and make their lives truly…

• 
  LIFE IS THE COLOUR YOU PAINT IT

• Thought of the day

  16 Nov 2009 | 4:05 pm

  Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity. -Buddha

• Thought of the week

  9 Nov 2009 | 5:58 pm

  There are some truths about life that can be expressed only as stories, or songs, or images. Art delights, instructs, consoles. It educates our emotions. - Dana Gioia

• NZ Art Guild Win Top Spot

  6 Oct 2009 | 5:39 pm

  NZ Art GuildMost Community-Minded BusinessThe David Awards 2009We are very excited to announce that the NZ Art Guild has won the Most Community Minded Business Award in The David Awards 2009. This category is for a business which gives back to its community, e.g. local, regional or industry sector, in ways, shapes or forms which benefit the community significantly.The David Awards recognise the unsung heroes in small businesses throughout New Zealand, whose tenacity, courage and ingenuity place them firmly at the forefront of entrepreneurship in this country. Just as David, an ordinary,…

• The Battle is on

  23 Sep 2009 | 10:15 pm

  The Battle is on for NZ Small BusinessesNZ Art Guild Battles It Out For Top SpotThe finalists in The David Awards 2009: heroes in small business have been named.The NZ Art Guild is proud to be one of 3 finalists named in the Most Community Minded Business Category. This is a business which gives back to its community, e.g. local, regional or industry sector, in ways, shapes or forms which benefit the community significantly.The David Awards recognise the unsung heroes in home and small businesses throughout New Zealand, whose tenacity, courage and ingenuity place them firmly at the forefront…

• Chuck Close

  23 Sep 2009 | 10:13 pm

  If you're overwhelmed by the whole, break it down into pieces - Chuck Close Inspiration of the Day:If you're an artist in the 21st century, chances are you've heard of master-colorist and brush-wielder extraordinaire, Chuck Close. Considered one of the most influential artists of our time, he is quite frankly, unstoppable. Recognizing his thirst to paint at a very young age, he has not allowed anything to stand in his way, maneuvering every challenge into an opportunity. At age 48, after an award ceremony, Close rushed to the hospital because of persistent chest pains. Within a few hours,…

• 
  The Power of Gratitude

• Are Your Dreams On Hold Until You Get Your Finances Right?

  Marnie Pehrson

  17 Nov 2009 | 4:23 am

  I have noticed as I go about my mission of lighting the world by helping gifted people get their messages out, that many abandon their desires to make a difference for one simple reason. They're just trying to survive. They're so busy trying to make this month's bills that they feel like they can't possibly focus on what brings them joy -- especially if they can't directly see how that's going to make them money. I know how this feels -- been there, done that -- for a lot of years. But, I've noticed an interesting phenomenon. The year I started…

• Gratitude & Accomplishing the Impossible

  Marnie Pehrson

  5 Nov 2009 | 5:43 am

  I appeared on the Women's Information Network Show (The WIN Show) to talk about the formula for accomplishing the impossible. I call it "HALO over Gratitude" or if you want to see it as a mathematical formula, it's HALO---------Gratitude This short video is that appearance: Would love to hear what you think!  And please do stop by and listen to my Light the World show on the WIN.

• Finding Hope

  Marnie Pehrson

  10 Oct 2009 | 11:07 am

  Many people today are feeling hopeless and helpless. In a society on information overload, we're often so inundated with "information" that we have a hard time discerning what is going to be helpful for us as individuals. I really enjoyed this episode of The WIN (Women's Information Network) Show in which Tiffany Berg addresses these issues and offers solutions: View video

• Symbols in Nature: Achieving Your Dreams

  Marnie Pehrson

  8 Oct 2009 | 3:38 pm

  I believe that God leaves symbols in nature that we can examine and apply to our lives. Whether it's lessons from my garden or from a trip hiking through Zion's National Park, there is always something significant to learn from God's creations. In my recent trip to St. George, Utah, my friend Judy Hansen, took me hiking in Zion's National Park. This short 2-minute video on achieving your dreams is just one of the "aha moments" I had that week.

• Book Academy Convention and Women's Network Launch

  Marnie Pehrson

  19 Sep 2009 | 10:46 am

  I'll be presenting on "The Road Less Travelled: Self-Publishing Your Masterpiece" at the Book Academy Writer's Conference at UVU in Orem Utah on Thursday, September 24th. I'll be signing books in the commons at 11:00am and presenting at 11:30am. Details on registering for the conference are here. On Saturday, September 26th I'll be attending the Women's Information Network Launch. I won't be presenting but there will be some great presenters there and I'd love to meet you if you're in the Sandy, Utah area. Details on this free event are here.

• 
  Aspire to Something Higher

• A Thought About Gossip

  shawn

  18 Nov 2009 | 8:36 pm

  Here’s a great thought about gossip, called “Who Am I?“. I am more deadly than the screaming shell of the cannon. I win without killing. I tear down homes, break hearts, and wreck lives. I travel on the wings of the wind. No innocence is strong enough to intimidate me, no... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• 5 Good Success Quotes

  shawn

  17 Nov 2009 | 4:03 pm

  Here’s a few success quotes I stumbled upon recently: The purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience. -Eleanor Roosevelt There are no secrets to success: Don’t waste time looking for... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• Never Give Up Poem

  shawn

  17 Nov 2009 | 3:26 pm

  Here’s a great poem called “Never Give Up”, by Charlie Remiggio: Never give up Never lose hope. Always have faith, It allows you to cope. Trying times will pass, As they always do. Just have patience, Your dreams will come true. So put on a smile, You’ll live through your... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• How To Be Perfectly Miserable

  shawn

  16 Nov 2009 | 2:35 pm

  HOW TO BE PERFECTLY MISERABLE 1. Think about yourself. 2. Talk about yourself. 3. Use “I” as often as possible. 4. Mirror yourself continually in the opinion of others. 5. Listen greedily to what people say about you. 6. Expect to be appreciated. 7. Be suspicious. 8. Be jealous and... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• Honesty Quotes

  shawn

  14 Nov 2009 | 5:50 pm

  Here’s some “honesty quotes” I’ve been saving for a rainy day: 1) No legacy is so rich as honesty. -William Shakespeare 2) Honesty towards yourself. Looking into your mirror, any time all the time will guide. -Jacob Gelt Dekker 3) Honesty is the first chapter of the book of... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• 
  Inspiration Line

• NOVEMBER 23, 2009 - THE LAND OF THANKFULNESS

  It's not what we SAY about our blessings, but HOW WE USE them, that is the true measure of our thanksgiving...

• NOVEMBER 16, 2009 - It's the Light in YOU That Makes Me Thankful

  I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new...

• NOVEMBER 9, 2009 - KNOVEMBER KNOWLEDGE KWIZ

  Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence...

• NOVEMBER 2, 2009 - AS THE LEAVES SURELY CHANGE

  In the power to change yourself is the power to change the world around you...

• OCTOBER 26, 2009 - OUR TRUE NATURE

  What man can stand with autumn on a hilltop and fail to see the span of his world and the meaning of the rolling hills that reach to the far horizon?...

• 
  ToolsToLife.com: Inspiration Daily

• Mad As Hell

  Mad As HellThe status quo is no longer acceptable. It is time for change. It is time for us to rise up and be that instrument of change. It is time for us to not hold ourselves back from living our lives to our potential and personal satisfaction. It is time for us to join "The Personal Freedom Revolution."  Freedom has been and will always be worth fighting for. Together we will make 2010 an amazing year. We all know we need change and it is time for us to get mad as hell and start creating that change. Get everyone you to to join us as we take back control.  

• Pursuit Of Happiness

  Pursuit Of HappinessOne of the principles of the Declaration of Independence is our right and the freedom to pursue happiness. In order to establish a functioning society where we can exercise that right, we use the rule of law. Laws guide us and protect us. They keep us from crashing into each other on the roads. Without rules and laws we could not pursue our happiness easily. The question is, do we have personal rules and laws that will guide us and protect us to live the life we want. When we don't follow laws we end up in jail. When we don't not…

• Free Bird

  Free BirdAre we really free? Like a bird trapped in a cage, we often live trapped in a cage that we build in our minds. We live trapped in negative thoughts about the past, fears and projections of the future. We not only can fight for freedom in the world, we can fight for freedom in our thoughts as well. We can let the bird out of the cage and sour with the winds.  This week we will explore freedom and included in today's podcast is the Inspiration Freedom with commentaries.  

• Everyday Is Halloween

  Everyday Is HalloweenWe can become any character we want on Halloween. There is nothing beyond us. We reach inside our imaginations and we play and have fun. There is no definition of you other than the definition you create for yourself. Decide to reach in... the power within you and become the character  you want to be. The character that will create the life you desire. You can do it. You have the power within you.

• Finding Enthusiasm

  Finding Enthusiasm "Nothing great is created without enthusiasm" - EmersonEnthusiasm is the fuel that will motivate us to get into action.Enthusiasm is the fuel that will keep is in action.Enthusiasm is the fuel that will develop new thought patterns.Without enthusiasm we will not get in action, stay in action or develop new patterns. We simply will not create or keep changes that we want.We need to reach the power within ourselves and draw upon and get enthusiastic. We can do it... 

• 
  The Future is Bright

• The 50 Most Important Records from this Decade

  K.Summers

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:39 am

  W+K NY got this list from NPR. How many of these records have you listened to? Have they inspired you to create, do, or think? In bold are my favorite 10 from the list. What are yours? 01. John Adams: On The Transmigration Of Souls 02. Animal Collective: Merriweather Post Pavilion 03. The Arcade Fire: Funeral 04. The Bad Plus: These Are The Vistas 05. Beyonce: Dangerously In Love 06. Bon Iver: For Emma, Forever Ago 07. Bright Eyes: I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning 08. Burial: Untrue 09. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: S/T 10. Kelly Clarkson: Breakaway 11. Coldplay: A Rush Of Blood To The Head 12.

• MGP Presents The Drum ep 6 - Japan and U.S.

  K.Summers

  17 Nov 2009 | 7:46 am

  This past Sunday I had the distinct pleasure to co-host episode 6 of the Drum. The episode focused on the influence of Japanese culture in the U.S. and predicted which countries around the world will be next in terms of cultural influence. We spoke about Pharrell, Nigo, Hiroshi Fujiwara, Takashi Murakami, Andy Warhol, Levis, Nike, Woolrich, J. Press, Kanye West, just to name a few. Co-hosted by @madmanralph with special guest @janicemomoko You can listen here.

• Trend: Matching your phone to your sneakers

  K.Summers

  12 Nov 2009 | 11:02 am

  “If Hov’s a Blackberry Bold, then shorty is a Sidekick” So if I’m also a Blackberry Bold, then what are my sneakers? Exactly. They are bold too! I thought about this concept nearly a year ago. One of my habits is typing up my ideas on my Blackberry and giving myself a deadline. I also note any costs that may need to be incurred. However, I went a little bit crazy in the NikeiD shop and was not able to bring my idea to life. This time I got it right. The idea was executed about a month ago and since I opted to have my sneakers mailed to my office I am just now receiving…

• Grizzly Bear - Ready, Able

  K.Summers

  11 Nov 2009 | 2:51 pm

  Grizzly Bear: ‘Ready, Able’ Director: Allison Schulnik In my opinion even better than the 2 Weeks video from the same album,’Veckatimest‘. They make me proud to be from Brooklyn. No, really. I’m serious.

• Isamu Noguchi - Expo 70 Fountains

  K.Summers

  11 Nov 2009 | 2:24 pm

  Nine fountains designed for the World Expo in Osaka, Japan. Masterpiece

• 
  Get Motivation

• Flying Into Headwinds By Brian Tracy

  Josh Hinds

  11 Nov 2009 | 10:47 pm

  When you set off toward a new destination or goal, like taking off in an airplane, you will have an idea of both your departure time and your arrival time. You will set a schedule for yourself and expect to arrive pretty much on schedule. But as soon as you take off, you will experience what pilots call “unexpected headwinds.” The situation in your life is similar. As soon as you embark on a new journey, you will experience headwinds as well: everything will cost twice as much and take three times longer than you anticipated. You should estimate how long you will take to achieve certain…

• The Laws of Adversity By Joe Tye

  Josh Hinds

  6 Nov 2009 | 10:56 pm

  Bad things happen to good people. It’s not fair, but it’s true. Other than the fact that it was beautifully written, I think the reason Harold Kushner’s book struck such a chord (and was such a huge international bestseller) is that we can all relate to the title. We’ve all seen it happen – to ourselves or to others (or all of the above). If life is a journey, then we all at some point pass through the valley of the shadow of death. I’d like to share with you ten principles that I consider to be the Laws of Adversity. I hope that adversity doesn’t…

• The Audacity of Apollo by Jim Stovall

  Josh Hinds

  24 Oct 2009 | 9:17 pm

  Sometimes, we have to peer into the dim recesses of the past to visualize how bright the future can be. Most of us remember watching Neal Armstrong, live or on videotape, as he stepped onto the surface of the moon.  We remember that grainy, shadowy, black and white image as he assured us that it was one small step for man but a giant leap for mankind. History has proven that Neal Armstrong was right, but if his small step for man took place in July of 1969, I would submit for your consideration that the giant leap for mankind took place on May 25, 1961–more than eight years before Neal…

• I’m on a Passion Quest By Marcia Wieder

  Josh Hinds

  8 Oct 2009 | 9:16 pm

  You can create a Passion Quest to find your purpose, create new dreams and gain greater clarity. You don’t even have to put your whole life on hold. You can take a day, weekend, week or year… the purpose is to find, discover or reconnect to what you love… and then to follow it. Let life lead you to and through the unknown where amazing gifts and insights often await. Connecting with yourself on a deeper level will help you achieve your dreams so in order to do this; you might choose to go on a Passion Quest. For a period of time, explore using passion as the barometer for…

• Purpose Gives Your Life Meaning By Mike Brescia

  Josh Hinds

  30 Sep 2009 | 3:07 am

  Look at any person, past or present, who achieved truly great things. People you know. Behind their accomplishments you will undoubtedly find a passion and love for what they do. That deep emotion can only be aroused by a compelling purpose… …an idea about what their life is to stand for. So few people ever take even a few minutes and think about their purpose. Hardly anyone ever asks himself or herself, “What am I here for?” I never asked myself that question until October 1996. In building the largest business of its type in the world, I became a slave to it.

• 
  Inspire Minds

• Success story of Poacha who saves Lives

  changeminds

  24 Oct 2009 | 3:32 am

  For over ten years now, Khushroo Poacha has stood by the sole belief that to do good work you don’t need money. Poacha runs indianblooddonors.com (IBD), a site that lets blood donors and patients in need of blood connect with each other almost instantaneously. He also does not accept cash donations. The site has been live for almost ten years and with over 50,000 donors in its database, IBD is perhaps a classic example of what the Internet is truly capable of. But more importantly, it is a reflection of a single human being’s desire to make a difference to this world. It all…

• Dr.Tulsi aged 21 becomes India’s youngest Doctorate holder

  changeminds

  31 Aug 2009 | 1:35 am

  It’s not very often that you attach the title ‘Dr’ to the name of a 21-year-old youngster. Meet Dr Tathagat Avatar Tulsi, who is on top of the world today after joining an exclusive club of scientists with a doctorate at the age of 21. Dr Tulsi is the youngest person in India to hold a doctorate and with this feat he has joined an eminent club of greats like Dr John Forbes Nash, an American mathematician who competed his PhD from Princeton University, US at the age of 21. His faculty at the Indian Institute of Science is truly inspired by his research on software for next…

• Inspiring Interview of Dr.Abdul Kalam

  changeminds

  28 Jun 2009 | 6:01 am

  ‘A clear aim, knowledge, hard work and perseverance spells success’ A vibrant octogenarian — that’s what describes Dr Kalam best. For a man of 80 summers, Dr Kalam is extraordinarily full of life even at 8.15 pm when we sat down for a freewheeling chat, nay an experience. We ask him about his famous ‘thinking hut’ at Rashtrapati Bhawan. “It is a great place,” he says. “Two books came out of there. Here, I don’t have sufficient area — but everywhere I capture thoughts.” His infectious enthusiasm overpowers us all as we…

• Inspiring Life of Henry Ford

  changeminds

  20 Jun 2009 | 8:55 am

  Irish ForeFathers The Ford family had its roots in Ireland though they had traces of English and Scottish blood in them. Its main occupation was agriculture. In 1862, a young couple moved a house located at some distance to the south of the other Ford families. They were William and Mary Ford. ‘Grandma’ Holmes, was directing affairs and it was with her help, that this male child was born into the household. The infant was named Henry after his uncle. Henry was one of the eight children. The Eternal Habit The first few years of Henry’s boyhood were spent at home under his mother’s…

• Inspiring story of Stephen Hawking, great scientist

  changeminds

  14 May 2009 | 8:53 am

  On January 8, 1942, Stephen Hawking was born to Frank and Isobel Hawking in Oxford, England. Frank was a researcher specializing in tropical diseases. He later became the Head of the Division of Parasitology at The National Institute of Medical Research. it was at this research center that the two met and got together for a meaningful future. She had got in to odd jobs before she ended up as a secretary at the institute. Isobel returned to London with the two-week old Stephen, who later began schooling at Highgate where they resided. In 1950, Frank Hawking joined the Institute for Medical…

• 
  White Hot Truth: because self-realization rocks.

• burning questions with the communicatrix: from the hip, to the heart

  Danielle LaPorte

  19 Nov 2009 | 5:46 pm

  Without exaggeration I can report that some of the Communicatrix's writing has made me laugh so hard that I snortled - in front of people. Her poetry, which she publishes every Thursday, has made me cry multiple times. And she does these Full Monty Makeover ass-kicking assessments for websites, to which I'd like to send 77% of the world wide web - so many could use her high-sensibility whippin's. Colleen Wainwright's approach to creativity and marketing is like Buddhist-meets-Ninja-meets-BareNaked Ladies, with a lil' Joni Mitchell thrown in. Just when you're all charmed by her sass, she'll…

• true ego

  Danielle LaPorte

  17 Nov 2009 | 9:21 pm

  Possibly Related Posts: close knit energy exchange break out taking it revealing love

• love local: an extra-special message for anyone trying to save the world

  Danielle LaPorte

  12 Nov 2009 | 8:21 am

  Hello, my name is Danielle and I'm a recovering Savior of the World. I used to think that my self-worth depended on my vegetarianism, my activism, futurism, my pro-this and anti-that. Had halo, would preach. Had 'isms, would teach. I still wrestle with issues of spheres of influence (like one might wrestle a greased boa constrictor while wearing in a bikini - with great difficulty), but my circle of devotion has gotten decidedly more focused, or at least more proportioned. My a-ha on this came like a bolt of lighting, at a swanky event, in which I cried an ugly cry that I'll never forget. I…

• burning questions with susannah conway: beauty that heals

  Danielle LaPorte

  11 Nov 2009 | 3:02 am

  Susannah Conway reminds me of a hand painted tea cup: worn with love, cherished, elegant but wide open. Soothing. Something/someone you'd want to spend quality time with...talking about beauty and pop culture, and what it means to really notice your life. And what it means to create beauty and to be obsessed with that creating. Susannah is happily afflicted with Polaphrenia, [noun, a clinical obsession with Polaroid film and cameras, often accompanied by an inability to control oneself when faced with a large stash of expired 600 film and a sunny day.] She is a photographer, a collector of…

• fear management vs. fear leadership

  Danielle LaPorte

  9 Nov 2009 | 4:40 pm

  The song of an entrepreneur... Secretly, I'm afraid we won't raise the money. But it's okay. I can plow through that fear. We'll raise the money, and everything will be okay. We'll raise the money and stand the business up. We'll have to hit our targets, get the customers in the door, run hard with the marketing plan. Yeah, it's scary. What if they don't come? What if they come but don't buy? What if they buy, but not enough? It's okay, I can manage that fear. It'll work. I'll make it work and everything will be okay. We'll do this. What if you don't do it? What if you, say, "fail"? Does that…

• 
  37days

• thinking thursday.

  Patti

  19 Nov 2009 | 4:36 am

  Every Thursday, a few links, including one to Mr Depp just because he has been declared the Sexiest Man Alive. (Where I can follow the serendipitous thread I followed to get there, I'll include a thanks to the person who surfaced it for me.)mind :: my brain and yourHere's what I'm reading now.Have a Kindle but miss the smell of books? Smile.Need a reading list? Or perhaps a book that is Flashlight Worthy?body :: my place and yoursNearly the best soup I ever ate, I ate here.And right after I ate that soup in Toronto, I treated myself to a concert by this gracious, generous, funny, humble man.

• poetry wednesday : homage to my hips

  Patti

  18 Nov 2009 | 6:14 am

  Homage to My Hips these hips are big hips.they need space to move around in.they don't fit into littlepetty places. these hipsare free hips.they don't like to be held back.these hips have never been enslaved,they go where they want to go they do what they want to do. these hips are mighty hips.these hips are magic hips.i have known themto put a spell on a man and spin him like a top -Lucille Clifton "They don't fit into little petty places." I love that.Thanks to Donna Glee Williams for delighting us by sharing this poem during our recent Life is a Verb retreat.hear Lucille Clifton read the…

• found-art tuesday : create a visual journal

  Patti

  17 Nov 2009 | 12:20 pm

  I drove last night to Cullowhee, North Carolina, to read for the third time to N.C. school teachers attending retreats at the NC Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT). They are among my favorite crowds because TEACHERS COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY ROCK. Last night, there were two seminar groups who attended the reading--asking some of the best questions I've ever been asked and laughing and enduring my long rambling story about reading Sam Keen in college and sending a letter to him yesterday like a lovestruck teenager and much more. I wandered into one of the classrooms afterward--a…

• mindful monday : offer them a peppermunt from Holland

  Patti

  16 Nov 2009 | 5:44 am

  This is the 1000th post on 37days. To celebrate this nice big round number, I am posting an essay from one of my favorite writers, Amy McCracken. It's all about offering a peppermunt from Holland, about loving, about mindfulness, about sitting quietly with a tin of mints in your lap to survive. It's about simply offering a peppermunt to someone who needs one, your hands wrapped around the tin with love and, perhaps, with anguish. When I read Amy's words, I was reminded of a line from Alban Berg's opera, Wozzeck: "Oh what is there to cling to?"Would you like a mint? From Holland?My brother…

• simple saturday. happiness flow chart.

  Patti

  15 Nov 2009 | 9:34 am

  Sometimes life is simpler than we make it out to be. It seems to me that we are always in choice. Even when circumstance throws us unhappiness and misery and more, we choose how we are in that circumstance. Sometimes the change we need to make is a very simple one. And sometimes it is more complex.Are you happy? Do you want to be? Follow these instructions.[Thanks to Will Simpson for pointing me to this. Seen on typcut.com]

• 
  My Take...What Would a Mystic Do?

• Simple Steps: #29 Perception

  Yokibics

  20 Nov 2009 | 7:38 am

  The objective of the sixth limb of yoga called dharana is to achieve the mental state where the mind, intellect and ego are all restrained, and all the faculties are offered to the Divine for creative use and in service.Once the mind is steadied through the practice, there there is no feeling of "I" and "mine."Todays Simple StepDevote all of your actions to your Higher PowerNo action is too large or too small to be received as a blessing.You are the instrument today.This is your simple step.Till next time...ohhhhmmmmmmm

• Simple Steps: #28 Contemplation

  Yokibics

  18 Nov 2009 | 2:38 am

  "When the body has been tempered by asanas,when the mind has been refined by the fire of pranayama,when the senses have been brought under control by pratyahara,the seeker reaches the sixth stage (limb) of yoga, dharana."B.K.S. IyengarAs we move through this series of posts exploring practical applications for the eight limbs of yoga, we can see that each step interconnects with the other.The objective in the practice of dharana is to steady the mind by focusing its attention upon some apparently stable entity.The particular object selected has little to do with the general purpose...the…

• Simple Steps: #27 Focus!

  Yokibics

  16 Nov 2009 | 2:38 am

  In the eight limbs of yoga, dharana means "immovable concentration of the mind."The essential idea is to hold the concentration or focus of attention in one direction. Here the seeker is concentrated wholly on a single point, or on a task in which he is completely engrossed.The mind has to be stilled in order to achieve this state of complete absorption.Todays Simple StepCandle Concentration is a classic training for the yogi.You need to sit in a quiet place where you have a few minutes and light a candle.Breathe deeply, and clear your mind.Relax...Now soften your gaze and gently observe the…

• Simple Steps: #26 Concentration

  Yokibics

  12 Nov 2009 | 2:37 am

  The limb of yoga that demands discipline of the mind is dharana - concentration!Too many scattered thoughts can all begin to feel the same. We get overwhelmed and then nothing makes any sense.With dharana we create conditions for the mind to focus its attention in one direction, instead of going out in many directions.Deep contemplation and reflection can create the right support to help us develop the ability to focus on the point we have chosen, and make it more intense.Once the mind is able to focus efficiently, and not until then, can we unleash the great potential that lies within for…

• Simple Steps: #25 Pratyahara in Relationship

  Yokibics

  7 Nov 2009 | 2:37 am

  As the limbs of yoga explore all aspects of mankind's relationship with himself and others, we see that sense control is the limb that invites us to withdraw our senses from attachment to external objects so that we may constantly return to the path of self realization and internal peace.This objective is never more difficult than in relationship with a significant other, but it does most profoundly apply.Todays Simple StepAllow that your loved ones are not your property!Allow that your lover is fiercely independent and must walk his/her own talk rather than be spoken for by you.Allow that…

• 
  a beautiful ripple effect

• 50 Ways to Add Joy to Your Day

  Carolyn

  20 Nov 2009 | 9:06 am

  It’s pretty gloomy in New England this time of year. It feels like darkness has completely overpowered natural sunshine. While I could dwell on the negative aspects of winter, I am shifting my mindset this season. Everyday, I have committed to doing at least one thing that brings me joy. In order for this to actually work, I created a little list to reference when it’s time for my daily dose of joy. It’s simple, fun, and has a tremendous influence on my general wellbeing. This little list of 50 items includes some of my personal “joy” favorites. EnJOY! 1. Smile.

• We Are What We Do

  Carolyn

  16 Nov 2009 | 1:18 pm

  Don’t say you don’t have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Louis Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson and Albert Einstein. - H. Jackson Brown, Jr. Sometimes, a simple reminder and a few inspiring examples can create a beautiful ripple effect. Thanks to my primary roles, I am fortunate to be reminded every day to take simple actions that will create positive change for others. I can’t imagine my life without these actions, especially knowing that I am contributing actively to…

• Happy Happy

  Carolyn

  13 Nov 2009 | 7:00 am

  I can’t remember how I found this image, but have looked at it on Etsy about 50 times this week! And it makes me… happy happy!! Take a moment and think about one thing that makes you happy happy. One thing that makes me happy happy – a little blue rock on my desk that says “embrace the unknown.” Oh and one more thing – my playlist which is now uploaded on the left side of the blog! What makes you happy happy? (image: farouche)

• Announcing Spring: Inspiration in Bloom!

  Carolyn

  10 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am

  I am thrilled to announce the launch of Spring! Spring in November — that’s right! Since June, I’ve been working on this new video project with three incredible (and super talented) ladies – Jess Constable, Jess Gonacha Swift, and Michelle Ward! Learn all about the inspiration behind the project, the project details, and the people behind Spring on our website: SpringInspiration.com. And of course, please share your thoughts in the comments section! I’m so excited to hear your response to this new project!

• How Important is Your Mind-Set?

  Carolyn

  4 Nov 2009 | 6:01 pm

  What allows some people to eclipse the realm of the possible? Are they really the exceptional ones, or is there more to the equation than mere luck? Unconventional success redefines what we consider possible—it’s success that has not yet been defined by others. Essentially, this means clearing a path through uncharted territory. The first step in achieving anything is defining your vision. As a start, begin by asking this powerful question: “What do I want?” Of course, it’s all too easy to gloss over that kind of question without giving it much thought. But without knowing the…

• 
  The Jungle of Life

• Following The Blissful Brick Road

  Lance

  18 Nov 2009 | 8:45 am

  While I'm out of town for a few days, I have Evita Ochel here sharing some of her beautiful writing.  Evita is very wonderful friend and the author of three blogs, including: Evolving Beings Evolving Wellness Evolving Scenes I've known Evita since early on when I started this site.  In that time, I've come to love and appreciate her deeply thoughtful and introspective soul.  And she's about the kindest and most caring person I know – her heart is filled with a deep and caring compassion.   Much of what she writes about is about getting to our own…

• Sunday Thought For The Day

  Lance

  15 Nov 2009 | 12:03 am

  photo credit: All Glass Photo "Once the game is over, the King and the Pawn go back in the same box." – Italian Proverb Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUponEmail this to a friend?Share this on FacebookShare this on del.icio.usTweet This!Share this on TechnoratiDigg this!

• How to Make a Difference Without a Whole Lot of Money

  Lance

  12 Nov 2009 | 2:03 am

  It's an honor today to share an article written by John Anyasor, from HiLife2B.  John is a regular visitor here, and authors his own blog while also attending college full-time.  He has a real desire to help others, and much of what he writes focuses on personal growth.  A recent example of his work include Should I or Should I Not? The Curse of Indecision.  John's words will make you think more deeply, and lead you down your own road of self discovery.  You can follow along with him by subscribing to his blog, and by following him on Twitter.  We can all…

• Deeper Connections

  Lance

  9 Nov 2009 | 7:47 am

  photo credit: tractorpirate "We don't accomplish anything in this world alone … and whatever happens is the result of the whole tapestry of one's life and all the weavings of individual threads from one to another that creates something." ~ Sandra Day O'Connor Connections. How do you view them?  What matters?  This weekend I had the opportunity to connect and strengthen some of those relationships with several people I've met through online connections.  Katie West, founder of The Levity Project, was in Chicago on Saturday to bring a laughter…

• Sunday Thought For The Day

  Lance

  8 Nov 2009 | 12:03 am

  photo credit: libraryman "When I was 5 years old, my mom always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down “happy". They told me I didn’t understand the assignment and I told them they didn’t understand life." ~ Author Unknown Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUponEmail this to a friend?Share this on FacebookShare this on del.icio.usTweet This!Share this on TechnoratiDigg this!

• 
  Abundance Highway

• Be Motivated, Be Inspired…….

  Suzie Cheel

  10 Nov 2009 | 9:40 pm

  Wondering where I have been? Things have been a bit quiet here on the Highway I know. I have been blogging at What am I Grateful for Today, on Twitter, and getting a new business underway- news coming:) and yes there have been a few distractions:) Getting Back on Track Have you been putting things off? Got a list of incompletions? Feelings of overwhelm? Watch this video, it did truly inspire me. Click here to view the embedded video. Share you inspiration below:) Wishing everyone a great week of attracting abundance. namaste Suzie Follow me on twitter Friend me at Facebook Join the fanpage at…

• Abundance Cafe October 25 2009

  Suzie Cheel

  25 Oct 2009 | 4:00 am

  Welcome to the Abundance Cafe Take a pit stop off the Highway for some weekly inspiration from our Super Abundant Bloggers and welcome the return of this weekly feature This Weeks Specials The Bold Life When we know we are in a rut we often focus on the problem instead of the solution. Think about two or three things in your life that hold you back.It could be you don’t believe in yourself, you may procrastinate, watch to much TV, surf the net, struggle with addiction, spend too much or eat too little. Your quality of life is up to you.We are what we repeatedly do.Instead of putting your…

• How I Used EFT To Lower My Blood Pressure

  Suzie Cheel

  15 Oct 2009 | 8:38 pm

  This is my story of using EFT (emotional freedom technique) to lower my blood pressure while actually in my Doctors surgery recently. Click here to view the embedded video. I first learnt EFT from Brad Yates the EFT Wizard and from other Eft Teachers that are featured in the movie Try it on Everything http://bit.ly/Tapping I have taken courses with Carol Look too and I find the EFT is a great complementary tool in working with Law of Attraction. Firstly I need to say this is my experience and while you may borrow the benefits This is not intended to replace appropriate medical care. Remember,…

• Law of Attraction Carnival #55

  Suzie Cheel

  8 Oct 2009 | 3:15 am

  Welcome The  Law of Attraction Carnival #55 Oops – I’m one week late in posting the October Law of Attraction Carnival. I had the second Thursday in my calendar. This month congratulations to everyone who submitted I had so many good posts to choose from. I have chosen ones that inspired me, made me smile, gave me food for thought and some that called me to take action. There is variety with a poem, a great list and my favorite new medium video. I also miscounted and this month we have 8 of the best in alphabetical order. The Best of the Best Broderick Durisseau presents Desire…

• 
  Sublime Goodness

• Rescuing Baby Ducks from a Pool - Video

  Christopher

  16 Nov 2009 | 5:54 pm

  Something cutesy to start the week:Glad that some people are nice enough to try to get them out and also I like that the mama duck picks up on it quickly.I also didn't know ducks could quack that much.* Thanks to Angela for passing the video on!

• "Blue Light" by Mazzy Star

  Christopher

  15 Nov 2009 | 8:07 am

  For this Sunday Sublime song, it would have been too easy to choose Mazzy Star's beautiful hit "Fade Into You." But out of all three of their albums, the tune "Blue Light" always had a particular ethereal quality to it, even more so than usual. I love singer Hope Sandoval's voice, so effortlessly sublime.Close your eyes and listen: Have You Downloaded the Sublime Goodness Mixtape yet?

• 5-Year-Old Daughter Climbs Ravine to Save Mother

  Christopher

  10 Nov 2009 | 5:54 pm

  This story gave me goosebumps:A 5-year-old Canadian girl saved her mother’s life after their truck drove off a cliff. Nikki Butler, 30, was driving through the Rocky Mountains with her daughter Mary when their truck skidded on black ice, flipped over the guardrail, and rolled four times before coming to rest at the foot of a steep embankment. Unable to wake her unconscious mother, Mary unbuckled her seat belt, crawled out the rear passenger window, and climbed 150 feet back to the road where she flagged down a passing truck. “I needed to save my mom,” said Mary, “because I love my…

• Piano Stairs - Video

  Christopher

  5 Nov 2009 | 6:03 pm

  In the spirit of the last post, here is another fun one I came across recently.How do you get more people to use the stairs instead of the escalator? Make them musical. Love it.Enjoy:It worked too - 66% more people used the stairs!

• Grocery Store Musical - Video

  Christopher

  29 Oct 2009 | 6:13 pm

  This video is genius - fun, creative, spontaneous in nature and smile-inducing. It was staged by Improv Everywhere, a New York City groups who "cause scenes of chaos and joy in public places" according to their website.Here are the details from the group on this "scene:"Six undercover actors burst into song in a grocery store in Queens. Three minutes and lots of silly choreography later, they returned to their roles as shoppers and stock boys. The mission was filmed with hidden robotic, lipstick, and wearable cameras.Enjoy :)> Watch a Behind-the-Scenes Video & Learn More About the Scene…

• 
  Inspiration & Motivation Blog

• 101 Tips to Feel Great

  Arswino Sonata

  19 Nov 2009 | 7:46 pm

  Photo by anirudhkoul I wrote this article inspired by Mike King through his article : 100 Ways to Be a Better Leader Feeling great can be made through positive habits and to feel great, you must pay attention to requirements that support your physical and mental health. Here are 101 tips to feel great : Through healthy living : 1. Exercise for 30 minutes everyday 2. Take a walk everyday 3. Find your exercise partner. It will not be boring, instead it can be a lot of fun during exercise. 4. Do some heavy exercise, because it can increase your balance and posture, also prevent osteoporosis. 5.

• A Child’s Angel

  Arswino Sonata

  6 Nov 2009 | 2:18 am

  Photo by myducksayshowdy Once upon a time there was a child ready to be born. So one day he asked God: They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless? Among the many angels, I chose one for you. She will be waiting for you and will take care of you. But tell me, here in Heaven, I don’t do anything else but sing and smile, that’s enough for me to be happy. Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you every day. And you will feel your angel’s love and be happy. And how am I going to be able to…

• Why Only 5% of People Could Succeed in Changing Their Fate?

  Arswino Sonata

  22 Oct 2009 | 8:13 pm

  Photo by photo61guy Sowing mind, reaping action Sowing action, reaping habit Sowing habit, reaping personality Sowing personality, reaping fate -Anonymous- Anyone wants to change his/her fate to be better. However based on research, there are only 5% of people who have commitment to change their fates. Meanwhile, the other 95% only hope, want or like if their fate change, but they never have strong commitment to change. The 5% people, who have commitment to change their fate, make the change as a must and will do anything to change their fate. Meanwhile the 95% people act reluctantly and will…

• What I Learned in Life

  Arswino Sonata

  9 Oct 2009 | 2:05 am

  Photo by Asmamirza I’ve learned - that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them. I’ve learned- that no matter how much I care, some people just don’t care back. I’ve learned- that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it. I’ve learned- that it’s not what you have in your life but who you have in your life that counts. I’ve learned- that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes. After that, you’d better know something. I’ve learned- that you…

• The Principal of Appreciation

  Arswino Sonata

  24 Sep 2009 | 9:32 pm

  Photo by Michelle Brea This principal helps you to change your grateful attitude into a habit with giving attention and appreciation to the goodness in your life. The law of Rhythm tells us that every single thing in the universe and in our life is growing or dying. Simply said, This Super law says, “Create or destroy.” Anything that is not growing will die. We are always moving one way or another. We also know that to let things grow we have to give it energy and attention. You can see it on your plants at home. When you give it energy and attention, the plants grow rapidly and healthy.

• 
  Explore Your Spirit with Kala's Bohemian Blog

• The Real Reason You Have Stress—and Five Ways to Combat It

  Guest

  18 Nov 2009 | 2:22 pm

  Most people mistakenly believe that outside factors cause stress. For example, deadlines at work, financial challenges, family issues, health problems, or relationship tangles. But these are normal obstacles that everyone faces as adults. And guess what? They aren’t the cause of your stress. The real reason you are getting stressed out is because you’ve [...]

• Saturn Square Pluto in Capricorn: Reshaping the World We Live In

  Guest

  14 Nov 2009 | 9:57 am

  For the past month or so, two major players in the astrological pantheon have been preparing to face off against each other in a challenging 90 degree formation that astrologers call a “square” aspect.  These two players are Saturn and Pluto, affectionately known as the Lord of Karma and the Lord of Death. Saturn is the [...]

• Exploring Affirmations for the Everyday Goddess with Pamela Wells

  Kala

  14 Nov 2009 | 9:40 am

  This Summer on the Bohemian Blog, I created a feature article series dedicated to “Inner Beauty”. It was originally designed to be a brief respite from our busy lives, offering a moment to relax and reflect on the beauty in our world, both natural and man made. These articles have proved to be so popular, [...]

• Following Sound into Silence: Chanting Your Way Beyond Ego into Bliss

  Guest

  2 Nov 2009 | 4:01 pm

  Following Sound into Silence:  Chanting Your Way Beyond Ego into Bliss – Illustrated book with mantra-music CD (2008, Hay House) .. excerpt from the book by Dr. Kurt “Kailash” Bruder Invitation to Chanting Are you hoping to find a simple, straight-forward spiritual practice that reliably calms and concentrates your mind, elevates and stabilizes your feelings, and inspires and [...]

• Exploring ‘The Twelve” – a novel on 2012 and the mayan prophecies

  Kala

  2 Nov 2009 | 9:02 am

  Kala Ambrose speaks with authors, artists, explorers and researchers, delving into topics of ancient mysteries, metaphysical explorations and new discoveries from science and spiritual arenas. In this interview, Kala speaks with William Gladstone, author of The Twelve, a novel about 2012 and the Mayan Prophecies. Kala: William, you’ve written a novel entitled The Twelve, based upon [...]

• 
  Whole Revolution

• 10 Ways to Heal Loneliness Now

  Owen Marcus

  17 Nov 2009 | 6:53 am

  Image via Wikipedia Are you lonely? If you are, you’re a part of a growing percentage of Americans according to a recent Pfizer Journal study. The fact that Zoloft®, one of the most prescribed antidepressants is manufactured by Pfizer, and Pfizer just settled a $2.3 billion case with with the Department of Justice does make one wonder about the creditability of this study. Drug company ethics aside, no matter how many others are lonely – it sucks when you are. The distinction between being alone and loneliness You can’t begin to heal the second until you allow the first. For years, I…

• How Do You Hold Space?

  Owen Marcus

  23 Oct 2009 | 2:58 pm

  Image by kevindooley via Flickr Have you ever been around someone who is attempting to hold the space, really consciously hold it? It can be tense.  But “holding” of a space is not actually a holding—it’s the opposite. You make it inviting, so others want to really show up, be fully present, and everyone gets the most from your interaction. No healing or true experience of joy can occur unless the space is safe. Even if your head is saying it is safe or should be safe, if your gut is tense, it’s not safe. True, the tension may be based on your experiences. But no matter where the…

• How to Transform Emotions Into Power

  Owen Marcus

  13 Oct 2009 | 1:32 pm

  Image via Wikipedia What makes you powerful? I propose it isn’t your biceps; it’s your emotions. Your power derives from you expressing your emotions. I’m not talking about the rants we can go on, I am talking about those feelings that are difficult to express. In the expression of your vulnerability, you are powerful. When you reveal your emotional liabilities, you risk judgment and rejection – but power lies in the risk. Telling your friend that you don’t want to help her, or your spouse how much he means to you, feels dangerous. Think versus feel Who taught you to communicate…

• Hang It Out There

  Owen Marcus

  9 Oct 2009 | 8:10 pm

  Image by ishrona via Flickr Yes, I am saying take a risk. I would add the distinction of saying don’t try to overcome your fear, grief or anger; just let the risk(s) be there. With the risk, speak your deep truths. When I try to overcome something to do something else, I usually take myself out. When I can sit in my fear, grief and anger… and still speak or act, it is rough, but it is a powerful healing. I set my mark at not doing it well, right or quickly. I set my mark at getting a healing. Life gives us a few of these intense healing opportunities. I am learning to be greedy and take…

• What Makes Women Happy?

  Owen Marcus

  30 Sep 2009 | 11:12 am

  Image via Wikipedia It’s not you, men. For women, happiness comes from how they experience life. Marcus Buckingham and his team polled thousands of women to discover what made them happy. He found that women’s happiness comes from focusing on the moments rather than the goals, plans or dreams. Focusing on the moments means being present. And men, women know when a man is present. If you want to attract a woman, and help keep her happy while she’s with you, be present. Buckingham states it well: When you commit your life to being true to yourself, you are not committing to some far-flung…

• 
  morning gratitudes

• gratitude wednesday 11/18

  sue

  18 Nov 2009 | 8:52 am

  It’s humbling to be so grateful inside grief. And I am. I am grateful for the love I shared, and made. I am grateful for just how deeply I have been affected and changed by the gift of this love affair. I am grateful to now know that I am a woman who can bring it to a relationship. Intimacy is possible. Intimacy of touch. Of sex. Of emotional connection. Of words. Of generosity. Of delight. Not only possible; I’m good at it. Inside the pain of loss is gratitude for being so fully met. For being loved. For having had my love so beautifully received. I can’t write any more…

• gratitude monday 11/16

  sue

  16 Nov 2009 | 8:42 am

  It’s my mother’s birthday. Happy birthday mom. The picture is of her on her wedding day. Mom was born in 1926. I am Susan daughter of Trudy, Sarah bat Golda (in Hebrew). I feel my mother in my blood, in my pulse, in my heartbeat every day. I felt her at my croning yesterday. I felt her at the beach yesterday morning when I was doing a ritual at the ocean. I see her every time I look in the mirror. Happy birthday mom. Thank you for everything. I am a grateful woman. As I sit in my grief for the ending of my love affair with Leila. We broke up on Friday and I have had quite a…

• gratitude wednesday 11/11

  sue

  11 Nov 2009 | 8:34 am

  Today marks four months since the beginning of this lovely love affair. Such a gift. So much opening, risking, daring, connecting. I am a different woman. I am so grateful to have come to this place. I am blessed. I am grateful for my friends. For the loads of red garments loaned to me for my croning on Sunday. I am grateful for the evening with Rabbit, loving and supporting each other. For the beautiful jewelry she gave and loaned me. I am grateful for family dinner at Bay Wolf. Amazing. I’m so happy Rose and Gus came up for dinner. It was a long time since she saw her grandpa;…

• gratitude thursday 11/5

  sue

  5 Nov 2009 | 8:39 am

  I am living the life of a transformed woman. This season of the growing darkness has been incredibly rich and blessed for me, and it continues to be so. The ho’ike — the performance of all the classes of my hula school on the weekend of October 24 was amazing. So bonding, 240 of us in the tent city we created backstage at the Palace of Fine Arts. Samhain with my coven sisters was solemn and beautiful. A beautiful ofrende (altar) outside with candles commemorating all the muertas (dead) of this past year. Ceramic muertas that Victoria has made. Witches in flowing black clothes, pointy…

• gratitude monday 10/26

  sue

  26 Oct 2009 | 8:44 am

  Wow. I am sorta speechless. Maybe from fatigue. What a weekend. Two very very very full days of hula performance at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. Three shows, nine costume changes. Endless time backstage in a teeny dressing room with twenty hula sistahs. It was amazing. Very bonding. Very loving. I was ready to quit hula right after this show, and now that thought has gone from my mind. I’m feeling the hula love and I feel so privileged to have this in my life. The dancing, the halau (school), the people, the music. Oh we were so blessed! Kupaoa, the band that plays for the…

• 
  Serene Journey

• Please Help Me With 5 Quick Questions

  Sherri

  19 Nov 2009 | 12:26 pm

  I’ve never done a post like this before but it’s an important one. I need your help. I’ve created a survey to help me get a better understanding of what you guys enjoy, dislike, or want to see here on Serene Journey. This has always been a spot where I share tips, philosophies and perhaps different perspectives to enjoying life. Some days and weeks are easier than others to find the joy in life, I’m sure we can all agree to that, but it is there for the taking I assure you. I would like to get an idea of what you’re looking for, what you would like advice, help…

• Life Is Various Shades Of Gray

  Sherri

  16 Nov 2009 | 6:25 am

  I think Gwynn and I must have been short of things to talk about this past week as our conversation turned to the world wars. I will be the first to admit that my knowledge of history is a little less than stellar. Gwynn, on the other hand loves learning about it and is quite knowledgeable. We got talking about different leaders, what they did and how each of the wars progressed and what eventually led to their end. I found it interesting when discussing it how we automatically want to categorize or label people and events into: good or bad us and them winners and losers right and wrong…

• How To Kill Your Disappointment

  Sherri

  11 Nov 2009 | 5:23 am

  Ever have one of these days? You pull out the old mixer to start making a cake for a party starting in 3 hours. You plug it in and turn it on only to be greeted by a billow of smoke and a horrible screeching sound. That’s it, the mixer has packed in. You find yourself saying “Why today? Today of all days.” Yes? Me too. It’s not only limited to mixers, cakes and parties though. It can be anything really. A TV that suddenly stops working, a bicycle chain that refuses to go back on a brand new bike, your computer crashes, the list can go on. It’s only natural to get…

• What To Do When You Don’t Feel Like Doing Anything

  Sherri

  9 Nov 2009 | 11:21 am

  We’ve all been here: super excited about starting a project, tackling a goal or changing a habit. We have every intention of succeeding and getting to the finish line. A lot of time once the initial rah-rah subsides we lose steam and really don’t feel like doing it any more. It doesn’t mean we’re terrible people who are unable to see anything through. I think a lot of time our self imposed expectations, deadlines and goals are un-realistic or over ambitious at best. Here are some things to keep in mind when you’ve lost steam and don’t feel like doing…

• What Will You Entitle Yourself To?

  Sherri

  6 Nov 2009 | 5:41 am

  I first saw this on Abundance Blog by Marelisa. Two employees from IDEO, a design and innovation company, hopped on a train and handed out little orange tickets. Each ticket entitled the bearer to 10 minutes of free play. Marelisa then asked: If you could print out your own tickets what would you give yourself permission to do? Of the 20 things she listed, there are a few that I would print out for myself including: I give myself permission to laugh. I give myself permission to play. I give myself permission to make mistakes. I give myself permission to try again. I give myself permission to…

• 
  Wake Up Eager: Finding and Keeping Daily Inspiration

• Nov 18, Secrets of Home Cardio Workouts & Workout Inspiration

  18 Nov 2009 | 1:42 pm

  Get the secrets to regualr home cardio workouts and ongoing workout inspiration check out these top ten tips for the best cardio workouts.

• Nov 18, Secret to Home Cardio Workouts & Workout Inspiration

  18 Nov 2009 | 1:21 pm

  This is the secret to workout inspiration and regular home cardio workouts for getting and staying fit. I've tried eveything & this the best cardio workouts, plus get top 10 tips.

• Nov 18, How to Build Self Confidence: Stand Out in a Crowd - Become An Expert

  18 Nov 2009 | 5:54 am

  This page provides the two key focus areas for how to build self confidence and how to become an expert. Includes free 16 page workbook and access to free online surveys and tools.

• Nov 15, Journal Writing Ideas: Why and How to Write a Journal

  15 Nov 2009 | 8:10 am

  These journal writing ideas are the best journal writing prompts available. You'll know how to write a journal and how it helps you in developing self awareness.

• Nov 10, Stress Management Strategies Interview: Self Help for Depression

  10 Nov 2009 | 1:07 pm

  Get stress management strategies in this motivation in the workplace interview with beat depression naturally expert Laura Frisbie.

• 
  Awake @ The Wheel

• Daddies Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Strangers

  Jonathan Fields

  18 Nov 2009 | 8:12 am

  They don’t want to admit it, but a lot of working dads don’t want to be around their kids… That sounds so horrible. And, in fact, it’s incredibly sad. Because, for many, the solution is a lot closer than believed, once you step back and take the time to see what’s really going down. I’m not a psychologist, I’m just a guy who tends to spend a whole lot of time examining the modern human condition. And, because I’m a dad who’s chosen what most would consider an unorthodox path, I tend to focus a lot of my attention on the dynamics of being a…

• Behind The Leader: A Candid Conversation with Bill George

  Jonathan Fields

  13 Nov 2009 | 9:30 am

  A few months back, I posted about my experience at the World Business Forum in NYC. That event, two days of world-class leaders speaking to 5,000 people at Radio City, lit a bit of a fire for me to finally act on something I’ve wanted to do for a long time…start a new interview series featuring long, in-depth, candid conversations with some of the world’s most extraordinary business and thought leaders. So, today, I am thrilled to announce the first interview in my new Behind The Leader series—Bill George. Bill is the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of…

• Rage Against the Sales Letter

  Jonathan Fields

  9 Nov 2009 | 3:18 am

  Long sales copy is the #1 cause of death in the U.S… Or, so a vocal few would have you believe. Attributed often as the vile creation of online scamsters, long format sales copy has been simultaneously reviled and exalted. Yet, still, it endures. So, let’s clear a few things up. First, it’s not the invention of internet marketers… It may have been co-opted and pushed to the level of backlit garishness by many, but it’s been the centerpiece of direct-response marketing for the better part of a century and sold billions of dollars of everything from Blue Blocker…

• The Geek’s Guide to Being Interesting

  Jonathan Fields

  6 Nov 2009 | 2:18 am

  I’m not the most comfortable person in social situations… Dunno why. Maybe it’s that I was raised in a household with a hippy, potter (not pothead) mom and a mad professor dad. Either way, I never quite learned the standard party openers, you know, first 10 questions to ask or ways to be instantly known as the life of the party. And, I have to admit, I kind of resented this lack of proper social grooming for a lot of years. Because everyone I knew seemed to have a much easier time than me. But, with age, comes wisdom (also known as eccentricity), and I eventually realized my…

• Are You Building a Body of Work or a Cornucopia of Chaos?

  Jonathan Fields

  2 Nov 2009 | 7:12 am

  There’s a difference. And it’s big… One is about your legacy, the other is about what’s in front of you. One is about the impact trail you deliberately blaze and leave behind, the other about the income trail you haphazardly piece together. One is about progressive, conscious building within a well defined area of interest, the other is about bouncing to wherever the next perceived opportunity lies without regard to growth and consistency. One is about being mindful, present and proactive, the other is about being disconnected, frenetic and reactive. One is about…

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  Peaceful Warrior Blog

• Breaking Up, Saying Good-bye

  Dan

  31 Oct 2009 | 1:22 pm

  For the young — and for those of all ages — break-ups can bring acute grieving, complicated not only by the loss of accustomed love, comfort and companionship, but also by the meanings associated with the break-up. Obsessive jealousy, insecurity — wondering why it happened, feeling a loss of control, obsessing over the last things [...]

• Calories, Choices and Longevity

  Dan

  24 Aug 2009 | 10:43 am

   An old friend sent me a link to a July 15th piece in the New York Times on the upside, and downside, or caloric restriction as a means to increase longevity – why it works, and how it may not work.  Here’s the link: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/16/opinion/16iht-edcohen.html?_r=1&emc=eta1 The story itself is well done, expressing a point of view I [...]

• On the Ego

  Dan

  23 Aug 2009 | 10:44 am

  The term ego — (along with superego, and id) were brought into public awareness by the late Dr. Sigmund Freud, neurologist and founder of psychoanalysis. However, according to a Wikipedia entry: "The terms ‘id,’ ‘ego,’ and ’super-ego’ are not Freud’s own but are latinisations originating from his translator James Strachey. Freud himself wrote of ‘das [...]

• On Labels and Self-Help

  Dan

  22 Aug 2009 | 10:46 am

  Maybe you’ve heard that joke about the bookstore customer who approaches the Information desk and asks for help in finding the Self-Help section. The bookseller responds, “I could tell you, but that would defeat the purpose.” Well, this commentary is about the self-help categories in order to make sense of our world. We meet someone and [...]

• On Aging and Eldercare

  Dan

  21 Aug 2009 | 10:47 am

  Lately I’ve thought about aging parents — not because of my own parents, who have passed into memory — but because of comments I receive from people to help out parents in their declining years. I empathize the bitter-sweet labors of love helping out aging parents. Here is the truth of all our lives:  No matter [...]

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  Hearts & Minds

• Swine Flu, Personal Relationshps and 2012

  Walter E Jacobson, M.D.

  15 Nov 2009 | 11:56 am

  I read an article (http://bit.ly/rY2Q3) about swine flu vaccines containing mercury and other adjuvants that can cause multiple sclerosis, lupus, and other debilitating illnesses. The article discusses how the makers of the vaccines are doing studies to prove safety but are using vaccines in the studies that do not contain mercury and the other adjuvants, which means they are fudging data to fool people into thinking their product is safe, so they can sell their snake oil with no consequences (people damaged by these vaccines cannot seek legal recourse.) The article also exposes the fact that…

• Warning Signs at Fort Hood and in Relationships

  Walter E Jacobson, M.D.

  7 Nov 2009 | 5:36 pm

  A psychiatrist goes postal. I’m not surprised. As a psychiatrist and a keen observer of the descent of our society over the past 40 years or so, it is clear to me that all things are possible. People are capable of acting out their conflicts and aggressions in all sorts of spectacularly outrageous and deeply disturbed ways, which demonstrate a severe lack of insight as well as mind-boggling self-destructiveness. These days, anybody has the capacity to go postal at any time. We might as well get used to it and not be surprised by it, because being surprised could be hazardous to our…

• Be Happy Now

  Walter E Jacobson, M.D.

  31 Oct 2009 | 3:27 pm

  Medication may make you less depressed but it won’t make you happier. It is a band-aid that covers wounds but never truly heals them. There is no magic pill that will bring us happiness. But that doesn’t mean that the situation is hopeless. The truth is that we have the power to make ourselves happy regardless of what is going on in our lives. Happiness is a choice. Symbolize it, if you wish, with the image of an electric switch. When the switch is turned on, we’re happy. When the switch is turned off, we’re unhappy. Therefore, the key to happiness is knowing how to…

• Obama Or Bust

  Walter E Jacobson, M.D.

  28 Oct 2009 | 9:25 am

  I do my best to avoid discussing politics in my postings but it seems to me that relationships and self-improvement will be something of a moot point if our country goes down the tubes. So here we go: Those opposing health care specifically and President Obama in general seem to be the same people who put our country in the toilet in the first place by allowing greed, self-interest and incompetence to reign supreme with no checks and balances. These people are either inept or corrupt. So why do we keep supporting them? They obviously don’t have our best interests at heart. If they did,…

• Thoughts About God

  Walter E Jacobson, M.D.

  25 Oct 2009 | 11:10 pm

  Does God really pick and choose who lives and who dies? Is He “up there” somewhere with a huge tote board keeping score of who’s been naughty and who’s been nice? Does He really decide to give one person brain cancer, to have another person get hit by a bus, to have a third person get mauled by a lion or raped by a psychopath? Is that what God does? Does God really listen to everyone’s prayers and decide which ones to act on and which ones to ignore?:  “Sorry, Mr. Franklin. I feel for you, but I’m not going to cure your prostate cancer because…

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  The Life Changing Project

• Make Your Own Neti Pot – Sinus Infections Be Gone!

  Pambie

  25 Oct 2009 | 3:53 pm

  The city of Philadelphia ranks twelfth in metropolitan areas with the worst ozone air pollution. So I guess it shouldn’t have surprised me when, shortly after moving here from the relatively clean Midwest in 1983, I began experiencing a series of upper respiratory ailments. Things like strep throat, bronchitis, ear infections, sinus infections and pneumonia, which I had never even had as a child, occurred with enough regularity that I was treated with antibiotics at least once a year for over ten years. It wasn’t until I was hospitalized for nearly a week about four years ago with severe…

• 21 Secrets to a Better Life

  Pambie

  21 Oct 2009 | 2:52 pm

  A dear friend (from high school driver’s ed, no less!) sent me this in an email today and I loved it so much that I had to share – I hope that you’ll share as well! ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully. TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other. THREE. Don’t believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want. FOUR. When you say, ‘I love you,’ mean it. FIVE. When you say, ‘I’m sorry,’ look the person in the eye. SIX. Be…

• The One Sure Cure for Stress …

  Pambie

  20 Oct 2009 | 6:05 am

  I hardly need to repeat the statistics for stress, but here’s just a couple from the Washington Post: 54 percent of Americans are concerned about the level of stress in their everyday lives. 62 percent of Americans say work has a significant impact on stress levels. 73 percent of Americans name money as the number one factor that affects their stress level. Increasing numbers of children, teenagers and college students report feeling under stress. We’ve all got our own ways of coping with stress. A great workout usually helps me. An awesome run is a sure stress reliever. I confess…

• “5 Reasons to be an Optimist”

  Pambie

  17 Oct 2009 | 5:15 pm

  No doubt you’ve heard sayings about happiness and the power of positive thinking. For instance, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade” and “some pursue happiness, others create it.” Turns out that optimism truly is a powerful force. And, regardless of your circumstances or personal setbacks, you can choose to approach life with a sunny outlook, transforming negative thoughts into positive ones and increasing your chances of success. Still not convinced? Here are five findings that prove the power of positivity. 1. Optimism can lead to longevity. Several…

• Brand Whores

  Pambie

  17 Oct 2009 | 6:33 am

  I have a lovely 100% silk Missoni scarf up on eBay right now. I can hardly believe the number of hits it has already gotten, merely because of the “Missoni” label. It’s a fairly standard little square scarf, lovely really, but nothing special. In fact, considering that it came from my mother-in-law’s collection of tons of gorgeous scarves (she was a decorator, a graduate of Moore College of Art and the consummate fashionable dresser), it isn’t even in my top ten of her scarves. Looking over her clothing, jewelry, accessories, handbags – it’s clear my…

• 
  Message from the Muse

• Soulcraft

  11 Nov 2009 | 3:00 pm

  I'm rereading one of my favorite books. It's not one of those charming fairy tales I love so much, unless of course you consider your self and your soul as fairytale fodder. (Who doesn't, right?) It's called SOULCRAFT, by Bill Plotkin. And if you're involved at all on a spiritual journey that's included times of intense darkness, this book is essential. Similar to the many offerings by soulful author Thomas Moor [read more...]

• Reds and Greens

  24 Oct 2009 | 4:00 pm

  Some days (all, really) it's the little things that make the biggest difference. We get sidetracked by big issues, big bills, big talk about little fears. And the clearest way for me out of that impossibly restrictive mindset, is to indulge delight. Even the littlest, seemingly inconsequential dalliances with delight can shift my mindset, my perspective, which in turn can c [read more...]

• Entering the Shrine by Lisa Chun

  15 Oct 2009 | 4:00 pm

    I've been promising for some time to feature guest editors and contributors. I like to think of them as guest muses. Happy to report today I'm making good on that promise.I met one such muse lately, and reading her words was like taking tea with Rumi, while Rilke handed me a plate of scones and Clarissa Pinkola Estes gently placed a cloth napkin in my lap.Yeah. Like that. A perfectly calm and civilized meeting, but laced with power and beauty, rubies in pearls [read more...]

• We Can Can!

  12 Oct 2009 | 4:00 pm

  So today is being absorbed by boring eBay stuff. I say boring, because my brain starts to deflate as soon as I apply myself to analytical, organized, detail-ridden thinking. But in tough times, let it be known that I am grateful for a selling channel like eBay, cuz those of us that love making art also love to eat and bathe. The starving artist thing is so passe. At least for those of us that en [read more...]

• Autumn's Kiss

  2 Oct 2009 | 4:00 pm

  Taking a stab at Haiku. I know it's not an offfiical-type Haiku, given that I'm not really juxtaposing two different things, but whatever. This is my fall-fevered attempt!Autumn's KissAutumn's kiss turns veinsto Christmas chile, red-greenlove in Santa Fe [read more...]

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  Everything Counts!

• Invent New Rules or Die

  Gary Ryan Blair

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:56 am

  New RulesThe following is a serious message for people who want to prosper in today’s economy. The revolution in information and communications technologies has fundamentally and permanently altered the domestic and international business landscape. One of the most far-reaching consequences of these changes is a massive shift in the competitive balance of power. For the first time in the history of commerce, five-person boutiques can take on multinational giants and WIN! In one fell swoop, competition has become more ubiquitous, intense, unpredictable, democratic and, in one word,…

• Keep Score!

  Gary Ryan Blair

  26 Jul 2009 | 11:49 am

  What's the score... you should know! If you’re not keeping score, you’re probably getting beat! If how you play or perform were all that mattered, then why do all sporting activities have some form of scoreboard? The scoreboard is your report card and it tells you and the world that you are winning, losing, or holding your ground. Keeping score and inspecting your progress is important, not only in determining the ultimate winner of a contest, but also as a measuring device by which a person, team or company can gauge itself against the competition. Ask yourself this question and…

• Practice Makes Perfect!

  Gary Ryan Blair

  23 Jul 2009 | 10:00 pm

  The more you practice, the more proficient you become.Just like everything else in life, the more you practice toward results, the more proficient you become. At first, the practice is a royal pain in the behind, and you experience a healthy dose of frustration when you don’t see immediate results that you had hoped for. You must practice the basic fundamentals of achieving results if you want your goal to be achieved. Low achievers have a kind of blasé, laissez-faire attitude, when it comes to preparation. While high achievers prepare well and practice in advance to perform at their very…

• Intentions Aren’t Results!

  Gary Ryan Blair

  20 Jul 2009 | 10:00 pm

  High achievers are intensely results oriented. The world is filled with non-achievers who believe that intentions are more important than results. For knuckleheads, effort is the same as accomplishment. Knuckleheads put in countless hours on the job, struggling to keep up with their hectic schedules, and speaking in breathless frustration about how unappreciated their efforts seem to be. However, if you ask them to name one significant goal they have achieved in the last day, week or even month, many would be hard-pressed to come up with anything of significance. Knuckleheads speak about how…

• Visualize Success in Advance!

  Gary Ryan Blair

  18 Jul 2009 | 9:56 pm

  Visualize successful performance. What you see IS what you get. Professional athletes are exceptionally adept at visualization. A professional golfer never tees off without first playing the course in his mind. A professional downhill skier never goes downhill without first visualizing the entire hill in her mind. A professional ballerina never performs without first performing the entire ballet in her mind. They execute first in their mind and then through action. By the time they are ready to perform they have already played the event in their mind, so that all that’s left to do is…

• 
  What My World's Like

• Think different

  Leandra

  13 Nov 2009 | 12:32 am

• What My World Sounds Like: “Hold The Light”

  Leandra

  23 Oct 2009 | 12:51 am

  And I’ve seen where I’d like to be It’s a place where your mind is free If you’ve seen it, better keep it, don’t let go Hold the Light, it’s so bright I can’t describe it but it’s right And easy to find it, Hold the Light And I know what I want to do I can try to enlighten you If you’ve seen it, better keep it, don’t let go Hold the Light, it’s inside And will be there day or night We can be somewhere, Hold the Light It’s so hard to hold on, but you can if you try Don’t be mislead by what you’ve been brought…

• Great words…

  Leandra

  21 Oct 2009 | 1:46 pm

  “People are starting to see you only get so much satisfaction acquiring things and status.Helping others makes people feel good.” - Robin Baker Leacock

• Great words…

  Leandra

  15 Oct 2009 | 12:04 pm

  “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms– to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” - Victor Frankl

• “Life is like a cup of coffee.”

  Leandra

  14 Oct 2009 | 3:35 pm

  But remember to savor the coffee; it’s more important than the cup. Find the good.

• 
  Glenn Edleys Blog

• Today's minimotivator #216-2009

  18 Nov 2009 | 9:54 pm

  Voltaire wrote, "No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking."This is true for any problem. Put enough of your thinking time, others if you can, and you will come up with an answer.The trick is to allow yourself the time. We don't do that often enough because if we did we wouldn't get our best ideas in the shower or the bathroom.

• Today's minimotivator #215-2009

  17 Nov 2009 | 7:44 pm

  Lily Tomlin as "Edith Ann" said, "I like a teacher who gives you something to take home to think about besides homework."What are you giving to the people around you to think about apart from homework?Allowing someone time to think is a good thing because the idea they come up with might solve both your problems and a lot of others.

• Today's minimotivator #214-2009

  16 Nov 2009 | 5:59 pm

  Robert Brault wrote,Always when judgingWho people are,Remember to footnoteThe words "So far."This poem sums up my thoughts about judging people. You can only judge them on what they have done up until today. You cannot judge what they will do tomorrow because who knows what they will do or decide to become.

• Today's minimotivator #213-2009

  15 Nov 2009 | 5:35 pm

  Albert Einstein said, "Life is like riding a bicycle - in order to keep your balance, you must keep moving."Can you remember your first shaky goes on a bike? Mine were in the back yard where I only had to avoid the washing line and grape vine. Both of which I hit.What I discovered was if I kept peddling I kept my balance. Steering and stopping came next. Life is like that. As soon as you stop you start to wobble and the handle bars shake.There is plenty of time to get wobbly at Christmas so for the next six weeks - keep moving.

• Youth is a state of mind

  15 Nov 2009 | 11:35 am

  The following is a poem by Samuel Ullman called Youth. It was made famous because General Douglas MacArthur pit a framed copy of it on his office wall in Japan. The Japanese actually know it better than Americans because of this.I like it because I agree with its sentiment - youth is a state mind.================YouthYouth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind; it is not a matter of rosy cheeks, red lips and supple knees; it is a matter of the will, a quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions; it is the freshness of the deep springs of life.Youth means a temperamental…

• 
  Simple Motivation

• Don't Let Up

  19 Nov 2009 | 5:23 pm

  Friday, November 20, 2009 You are now taking steps and moving forward toward your greatest goals and aspirations. Don't let up. You have begun to develop your own pace and found the joy of daily, consistent actions moving you toward your goal Do not let up. Keep your pace and continue your rhythm, but don't let up. Keep working your plan which is taking you in the direction of the goals you have set and don't let up. No matter what. Now is not the time to let up. You have come... Visit www.simple-motivation.com for the full post.

• Work Your Plan

  18 Nov 2009 | 4:46 pm

  Thursday, November 19, 2009 With each new day, plan your work and work your plan. Determine your plan and commit to it and work your plan. Without a vision or dream, there is no need for a plan. Now that you have your goal and vision, commit to a plan that is going to get you there. Day in and day out, stick to your plan. Without sticking to a plan, we find ourselves off track and diverging from our goal. Determine YOUR own plan for yourself, but then work your plan. By working... Visit www.simple-motivation.com for the full post.

• Find Your Rhythm

  17 Nov 2009 | 4:16 pm

  Wednesday, November 18, 2009 Once you have your goal or dream in mind and you being taking consistent steps toward that goal, find your rhythm. No one can determine your own rhythm but you. Find your rhythm, set your pace and run your own race. Forget about what others say or what others may do. Run your own race at your own pace. Find your rhythm and get into that pace and keep moving forward. With each new day, keep with your own rhythm and focus on your goal, not someone... Visit www.simple-motivation.com for the full post.

• Consistent Action

  16 Nov 2009 | 6:38 pm

  Tuesday, November 17, 2009 "Success is constancy to action." Consistent and daily action toward that which you most want to achieve is the most certain way to accomplish your dreams. A dream or a goal without any action will ultimately lead to frustration and discouragement. Many people who succeeded in reaching their goals and dreams were not smarter or more talented. They were simply consistent. To achieve what you most aspire to in life does not require anything more of you ... Visit www.simple-motivation.com for the full post.

• Small Steps

  15 Nov 2009 | 3:01 pm

  Monday, November 16, 2009 from The Authentic Way by Kirk L. Miller Small steps taken consistently in the direction of your greatest goals and aspirations will ultimately get you there. Each day you must think about your goals and what you are trying to accomplish and make sure that you take at least one or two small steps in that direction. By doing this each day you are sure to reach your destination, either sooner or later. Being successful or reaching a goal is not about... Visit www.simple-motivation.com for the full post.

• 
  Aunt Laya

• Transformng Jealously

  Aunt Laya

  11 Nov 2009 | 9:46 pm

  From a reader:“When you are jealous of someone else, you don't have what they have, but you also don't have what you have.”I have thought about this quote for some weeks now. I struggle with jealousy and I was wondering if you could illuminate on this idea of not having what you have...I wish it was something I could internalize better.Thank you and love the blog and the book!N ~~~~~~~~~~~Dear N, Thanks for writing, you're not the only one who struggles with this. Here are some more thoughts about jealousy and how to change your thoughts in a more useful and building direction.

• No Bull

  Aunt Laya

  19 Oct 2009 | 5:23 am

  *no bull* Don't you just hate it when you're talking to someone, and they give you a line, and you know that what they just said was bull? Lot's of the time we know when someone is full of it.Now we have some possible problems here:1) You trick yourself into thinking or believing what you want to believe instead of the truth, and fall for the lineor2) You are the one giving the line and for some reason you don't think other people have a "bull" meter for when you're not being honestandYou actually think you've "pulled one over" on someonethe reality isNo matter how you play this one, you…

• What gives your life meaning?

  Aunt Laya

  16 Oct 2009 | 1:03 am

  When you ask yourself the right questions, you'll get answers that will nourish you. (The opposite is true too: if you ask negative questions, your brain will rush to answer those too!)  So you are invited to take a quiet moment and ask yourself:"So, what gives my life meaning?"Think about the people you love, the things you enjoy, your gifts in life, what you have to give, and the things you do well. What makes you feel good about yourself?Do you see how you touch people's lives in a loving and positive way? If this is a hard one for you, ask the people who love you what it is that you…

• How to Have More Joy in Life

  Aunt Laya

  6 Oct 2009 | 6:22 am

  Keep an open mind as you read this first sentence:Joy is a choice! (keep reading...)You can go to a movie that's sad and even though you were not sad when the movie started, you can find yourself crying--and you know the characters are not even real! You can listen to a comedian and laugh even though you weren't thinking about anything funny before that. Just like when the weather can be cold and you can put on warm boots and a warm coat, and feel cozy, or you can turn the heat on in your house and make the whole place warm--you can change the weather of your emotions.I know this sounds very…

• 17 Sep 2009 | 3:19 pm

  Aunt Laya

  17 Sep 2009 | 3:19 pm

  When I changed the template of this blog for a new look, somehow the link to my book was lost. :-( So, until I figure out how to get a bit more high tech, here's a link as a post. :-)Love,Aunt Laya

• 
  The Law of Attraction Blog | king sidharth :: official

• Prove Thyself

  King Sidharth

  4 Nov 2009 | 11:40 am

  Alas! I’ve never read such words anywhere in spiritual or religious literature. And who will ask us to prove ourselves? Them? Ha! We are trying to prove ourselves to them, and they are doing the same. But there is nothing to prove. Does God want you to prove yourself? Why would he? He knows you better than you. He knows all you were, are, would be and most important – can be. So are we trying to prove ourselves to ourselves? What’s the point? It’s not about proving. It’s about exploring and expressing. When we stop trying to prove and simply express ourselves. Creativity flows…

• Bringing Meditation Online

  King Sidharth

  20 Oct 2009 | 9:38 am

  I wanted to write this (and many posts to come) earlier but I thought Diwali would be the best time to share the excitement. Well yes you can call it procrastination but I don’t want to manifest more of that so I am not going to call it that. (Just kidin) This is to announce Launch of a new blog – Meditation Rocks! – a new blog about meditating to a rocking life! So here is a brief word about blog and then I am going to share an interesting story behind the blog: About the Blog The blog is all about new ideas about mediation (no old boring stuff) and it’s all by teens and for teens…

• Trip to The Golden Temple, Amritsar

  King Sidharth

  19 Oct 2009 | 11:43 am

  So 2 weeks ago I went on a trip to The Golden Temple, Amritsar. If you really want to know all the juicy details of the trip, you might want to read the Day1 and Day2 of the trip. Here I will discuss two most astonishing events that happened on the trip. I read these lines in The Golden Temple “He cooks the food, he himself serves it and he himself eats it too.” Just wanted to discuss what I could understand of this. First meaning that came in my mind was that the one who’s cooking, serving and eating… all are God himself. This gives a totally new perspective, we all are equal!

• She scored 90% with the Law of Attraction (for Students)

  King Sidharth

  10 Oct 2009 | 11:34 am

  Everyday I receive phone calls from friends and emails from far off undiscovered friends who seek answers to their questions. They want to know that what can they do or think to make The Law of Attraction work for them the way they want it to. If you have anything on your mind go on and ask me. Tell your friends about this blog so even they take interest. Photo by Comedynose Here is a story of my friend Surabhi Kaushik. It’s a story of her success and example of how easy it is to make The Law of Attraction Work for you. I must say, she is did a great job. The Law of Attraction has always…

• Best of Web September for Self-Help, Spirituality, Philosophy, Inspiration and Motivation

  King Sidharth

  7 Oct 2009 | 10:13 pm

  Some days just seem too bad, until we realize that there was something… err… everything was for best and we smile and look back at where we were and where we have reached. September was full of such days. This month was very busy and full of lessons that life taught me. Also this month marked my 18th Birthday. This month I learned a lot about passion, silence, oneness and, at-large, about wonderful eternal beings we are. Doing Less Can Transform Your Work & Lives First thing on list which I want to share is from Zen Habits, it’s awesome really: “Perfection is achieved, not…

• 
  Escape Adulthood

• An Easy Personalized Game to Play with Your Family This Holiday Season – EA Show #46

  Jason

  20 Nov 2009 | 11:29 am

  The holidays are upon us, which usually means extended quality time with the family. After everybody gets caught up on current events like who just got engaged and the name of Uncle Jack’s newest girlfriend, why not spice things up this year with an easy and fun game that will get you reminiscing about treasured memories (while creating some hilarious new ones). On this show, we talk about what you need and how to play. Oh yeah, we also talk briefly about ways to make air travel more fun. Share Your Thoughts… What do you think about this week’s show? How do you think the…

• How to Converse Like a Crazy Person

  Jason

  18 Nov 2009 | 11:55 am

  photo by ohhector So here’s a fun game to play with friends, family, co-workers, or fellow mental patients. It’s an idea that was shared with me by a woman at a nursing home social workers convention I recently spoke at. What I love about it is that it doesn’t cost a dime, you can play with any number of people, you don’t need any special props, and you can avoid boring small talk. (Score!) It’s perfect for road trips and family get togethers. Here’s how it works: One person starts the conversation with any random statement. Immediately, the next person has…

• Memories Are Made Outside the Box

  Jason

  15 Nov 2009 | 12:00 pm

  What are your favorite memories? You know, the mental Polaroids that will stay with you forever; the treasured times spent with friends or family that always seem to get brought up and relived when you’re together. For me, just off the top of my head, I think of my wedding day, the day Lucy was born, family vacations in Door County, two surprise birthday parties, early-morning fishing trips with my dad and uncle, feeding giraffes with my mouth, and an eighth grade school field trip to Chicago to eat at Ed Debevic’s and watch Michael Jordan play hoops. Those memories all occurred…

• 6 Stages of a Volleyball Game (According to a 4-Year-Old)

  Jason

  15 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am

  “The only factor becoming scarce in a world of abundance is human attention.” –Kevin Kelly (Click comic to view larger)

• A Simple Yet Amazing Book (Allegedly)

  Jason

  14 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am

  We’ve been thrilled to receive so many positive reviews of our new book, There’s An Adult In My Soup. In case you’re wondering, the reason you haven’t seen many bad ones is because we were able to convince The Lord of The Internet (aka Al Gore) to take them all down for us. The latest review comes from Tanmay Vora, a cool fellow who shares thoughts on quality, management, improvement, and life on his QAspire Blog. Here’s a snippet of what Tanmay had to say about Soup: I am currently reading a simple yet amazing book titled “There’s An Adult In My Soup” by…

• 
  Projects and Programs

• Project Management 2.0 Tools -Part 4:Collaboration Planning Tools

  krishan kukreja

  15 Nov 2009 | 9:42 pm

  According to Wikipedia : “Collaborative planning software helps people plan projects and activities together on the peer base. Everyone can equally contribute, assign tasks and track the progress. Collaborative planning software is a mixture of project management software, groupware and collaborative software. Tools such as Wrike enable users to organize projects and activities as project management [...]

• Project Management 2.0 Tools -Part 3:Wikis

  krishan kukreja

  15 Sep 2009 | 1:24 am

  We have already discussed what is Project management 2.0  and Project management 2.0 blogs in Part-1 and Part-2 of this Project management 2.0 series. Today I am going to cover wikis.What Can you expect to learn from this Article ?  Well You can expect to learn  the followings: What is Wiki? How to use wikis in Project [...]

• Project management 2.0 Tools: Part-1

  krishan kukreja

  10 Sep 2009 | 6:25 am

  In this series of articles about project management 2.0  , the new  technologies which are very effective in  the field of project management  , I am going to cover : What is Project management 2.0 ?, Project Blogs, Wikis, Collaborative software, and The difference between Project Management 2.0 and the traditional Project management.                                          image via wikimedia First thing first , let’s  [...]

• Project Management 2.0 Tools- Part2: Project Blogs

  krishan kukreja

  30 Aug 2009 | 9:57 am

  Blogs There are several new generation applications  used by thousands of companies ,known as project management 2.0  tools , and the most popular of these  are blogs and  wikis .  What is most interesting is that these are easy to use and are very inexpensive . A few of the most popular  blogging tools are- WordPress  [...]

• PMP Exam – 10 Frequently asked questions.

  krishan kukreja

  24 Aug 2009 | 7:23 am

  PMP Exam FAQ-1 What is PMP ? Project Management Professional (PMP) is the certification administered by Project Management Institute (PMI), USA. The PMP is the most  popular Project Management certification and  assures your potential employers that you have demonstrated a good foundation of Project Management Knowledge. PMP Exam FAQ-2 What is the PMBOK® Guide – Fourth Edition? The PMBOK® Guide [...]

• 
  Resurrect Your Hero

• Inner Peace & An Active Mind Creates

  Blanca Stella

  12 Nov 2009 | 10:07 pm

  Blue & Pink Clouds I Took On My Way To My Guitar Class Recently Today I was sorting out all my real estate files. I thought for a moment: “What a waste.” Meaning, a waste of having all this knowledge and finally putting it to rest. I know real estate deals are closing, but I had made a decision last year to attempt to work with the bank listings. It didn’t work out. So I started thinking of all the mistakes I made. “Why did I put so much effort on a fruitless endeavor?”, I thought to myself again. But then the thought hit me that in all my efforts of gaining…

• Behind The Scenes & Looking For A Chrysallis

  Blanca Stella

  2 Nov 2009 | 10:08 pm

  I haven’t had much time to upload any videos. I have so much footage from my butterfly garden that I would like to share.  All day today, I was editing video for my brother’s dermatology site and stumbled upon this footage mixed in with his videos. I took some time to edit it because it was timely. I took this video the day after my brother offered me a job in June. When caterpillars become chrysalis, they hide and camouflage themselves. This blog is a sort of behind the scenes of everything that I have attempted to do. While at many times it has been a very frustrating process,…

• Funny Skull T Shirt..It’s Alive!

  Blanca Stella

  31 Oct 2009 | 8:48 pm

  P1290726, originally uploaded by blancastella. I had a great time tonight with my neighbors. There were hundreds of kids going around with all their costumes. It is fun to be a kid and I loved seeing all their happy faces. Click here for the rest of the photos. Share this on del.icio.usDigg this!Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUponShare this on FacebookTweet This!Share this on LinkedinSubscribe to the comments for this post?

• Better Reality Around The Corner

  Blanca Stella

  31 Oct 2009 | 7:35 pm

  My Computer Monitor's Multiple Open Windows I took this photo last month when my computer was going haywire. All these windows popped up in a few seconds. I am going to use the analogy of all these pop ups as all the possibilities in one’s life. After all, in this environment of so much change and uncertainty, we have to keep on looking at new possibilities. Somehow, I have been challenged by many situations in these past years. I decide to take every punch in life and keep on seeking better ways to create my life, or better yet…better ways to live my life. Our eyes are…

• Elton John Music Video: Healing Hands

  Blanca Stella

  29 Oct 2009 | 10:23 pm

  I haven’t posted a music video I like in a while. I came across this one by Elton John of the Song Healing Hands. I have heard the song before, but never really paid attention to the words. They are pretty powerful and deep. The lyrics are after the video. I never dreamed I could cry so hard That ain’t like a man I could fly like a bird some days Had a place where I could land I could have sworn we were all locked in Ain’t that what you said I never knew it could hurt so bad When the power of love is dead But giving into the nighttime Ain’t no cure for the pain You…

• 
  Love, Staci�

• Avoid The Messes

  lovestaci

  13 Nov 2009 | 4:30 am

  It’s better to ask for guidance before moving forward, than to clean up the emotional, spiritual, physical or financial mess after a bad decision. It’s no fun being backed into a corner.  Ask for wisdom, then move.  Everything turns out better that way. Love, Staci Want more from Staci? Sign up for the FREE Newsletter or Have Staci speak at your next event! "Love, Staci™" is a trademark of Staci J. Shelton

• Collaborate, Climb and Conquer

  lovestaci

  7 Nov 2009 | 7:00 am

  Together we are more than we could ever be on our own. Collaborate, Climb and Conquer the impossible. Love, Staci Want more from Staci? Sign up for the FREE Newsletter or Have Staci speak at your next event! "Love, Staci™" is a trademark of Staci J. Shelton

• Remember Don’t Remain

  lovestaci

  7 Nov 2009 | 6:30 am

  Holding on to tightly to what worked yesterday can rob you of a better tomorrow.  You can either preserve your present position, or position yourself for a better future.  It’s good to remember and keep antiques as a reminder of all your knowledge and how far you’ve come; just don’t remain too attached and become one.  Evaluate, change, grow and ultimately…soar. I can’t wait to see your next great innovation! Love, Staci Want more from Staci? Sign up for the FREE Newsletter or Have Staci speak at your next event! "Love, Staci™" is a trademark…

• Return On Investment

  lovestaci

  1 Nov 2009 | 5:46 am

  You cannot make withdrawals where you have not made a deposit.  Invest your time, energy and emotions in the people , projects,  purposes and possessions that matter most. The greater the investment, the greater the return. Love, Staci Want more from Staci? Sign up for the FREE Newsletter or Have Staci speak at your next event! "Love, Staci™" is a trademark of Staci J. Shelton

• Trick or Treat

  lovestaci

  31 Oct 2009 | 3:04 pm

  We always have a choice, to be a source of joy or pain.  It’s up to you…bring the fun when you arrive. Trick or Treat! Love, Staci Want more from Staci? Sign up for the FREE Newsletter or Have Staci speak at your next event! "Love, Staci™" is a trademark of Staci J. Shelton

• 
  The BridgeMaker

• How to Bring Down the Walls and Savor Freedom

  Alex Blackwell

  19 Nov 2009 | 3:09 am

  Freedom is the oxygen of the soul. - Moshe Dayan Article written by Alex Blackwell. Connect with me on Facebook. Share The Berlin Wall came down on November 9, 1989. 20 years ago East and West Berliners danced together in front at the Brandenburg Gate to celebrate the re-opening of the border between their two cities. This event also reunited Germany and then eventually reunited the rest of the world when the Iron Curtain was brought down a short time later. The shoot-to-kill zone was gone, the Cold War was ending, families were brought back together and a new order was being restored. Peace…

• Don’t Use Family as an Excuse to Not Follow Your Dreams

  Alex Fayle

  12 Nov 2009 | 4:28 am

  What is life, without the pursuit of a dream? - Vanilla Sky Article written by BridgeMaker contributor Alex Fayle of Someday Syndrome. Share The United States celebrates Thanksgiving at the end of the month. Supposedly, it’s the holiday with the most travel – even more than Christmas. People crisscross the country to share the holiday with family. It’s a time to connect, catch up and enjoy each other’s company (plus, according to Hollywood, have huge emotional blowouts). With all this travel, it’s obvious that families don’t stay put. They move around. A lot.

• Keeping the Lines of Communication Open with Your Family

  Ali Hale

  9 Nov 2009 | 3:05 am

  The more elaborate our means of communication, the less we communicate. - Joseph Priestley Article written by BridgeMaker contributor Ali Hale. Please visit her at Aliventures.com. Share The first time I was away from my family for more than a ten-day stretch was October 2003, when I started university. As a shy eighteen-year-old, I was very close to my family, and I was nervous about how I’d cope without them. Six years later, my brother’s graduated and has just started his first full-time job. My sister, the “baby” of the family, has started university as well. In six years, we’ve…

• Inspiration from a Starbucks Coffee Cup

  Alex Blackwell

  4 Nov 2009 | 4:10 pm

  When you wish the world becomes brighter, so wish. - from a Starbucks coffee cup Article written by Alex Blackwell. Connect with me on Facebook. Share I stopped by a Starbucks on my way to the office the other morning and was surprised, if not a little irritated, to see the coffee served in a holiday-themed cup. Red cup season has already started at Starbucks and Thanksgiving is still a few weeks away. My irritation actually started a few days before when two adult-contemporary radio stations in the Kansas City area started playing Christmas music 24/7. I love Christmas and look forward to…

• Finding the Beautiful You

  Alex Blackwell

  2 Nov 2009 | 3:07 am

  The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart. - Helen Keller Article written by Alex Blackwell. Connect with me on Facebook. You are beautiful. On the days when you struggle with self-confidence or don’t see what the rest of us see, please know this: You really are beautiful. Share When God created you He made you beautiful. Before you were conceived, there was a plan designed just for you. Part of that plan was not only where you would be born or what circumstances you would face in life, but also what you would look like – the…

• 
  Socks For Happy People

• “I smiled so much it didn’t hurt!”

  Rich Taylor

  9 Nov 2009 | 9:42 am

  Now not smiling can be a pain in the…back of the head. We’re all for smiling but wonder if this a little extreme? Or, maybe it’s the future…what do you think?Drop us your comments below… Click here to view the embedded video. Is the designer going in the right direction? Think they’ll catch on? Have an opinion either way? Click below to comment…it’s always great hearing your thoughts!

• Thank goodness for the global finacial crisis!

  Rich Taylor

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:20 am

  The financial crisis really has been the best thing our premium quality sock company could have hoped for! This video brilliantly explains why, and gives you glimpse at the soul of Socks for Happy People. When we started 3 years ago we dreamed of bringing about a positive shift in the world towards the values we had and believed in. And thanks to the £Trillions that went missing, that very shift has become very real quicker than we could have ever hoped! With ‘consumer confidence’ low, there’s been an exciting shift from mindless consumption to mindful consumption. Put…

• You buy one pair, and you give another pair for free!

  Rich Taylor

  3 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am

  We’re very proud to announce Socks for Happy People’s ‘Buy One Give One Free!’ initiative. The scheme ensures we all make a genuine difference to others with every pair of Socks for Happy People we get our feet into! It’s really simple. Whenever  you buy a pair of our Socks for Happy People, you also buy a pair for someone else, somewhere in the world, who really needs them. For our first Buy One Give One Free initiative we have partnered with the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation in Mongolia. CNCF does great work supporting street children who often…

• I’m not a smart man, Jenny…but I know the value of socks!

  Rich Taylor

  22 Oct 2009 | 3:50 am

  This weekend a few of us decided to watch an old favourite that we’d watched time and time again as youngsters. But in all those viewings I guess I never truly appreciated Lieutenant Dan’s wisdom and Forest’s brilliance. This time I noticed Lieutenant Dan carefully explain to Forest and Bubba upon their arrival to Vietnam that the item of clothing with the utmost importance was “Socks!”, which really demonstrated the depth of research and quality of the scriptwriting – they don’t make films like this anymore, I thought to myself. And credit to Forest,…

• Climate change makes us smile!

  Rich Taylor

  15 Oct 2009 | 3:44 am

  I’m assuming there will be a lot of brilliant people writing great blog-posts today about the important need to limit or reverse climate change for Blog Action Day 09 (see below for some we’ve read and liked). So I thought I’d take a different tack based on realisations and research I have happened upon recently with regard to one of our biggest interests here at Socks for Happy People, happiness. I have recently been asked to write about a social shift towards happiness and well-being. In order to talk about this new (and brilliant!) trend I looked at where that shift in…

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  "You Quoted" - Motivational, Inspirational, Famous Quotes

• Some succeed because they are destined.

  Corey Wells

  20 Nov 2009 | 7:53 am

  Some succeed because they are destined. Some succeed because they are determined. Unknown Note: There is a rating embedded within this post, please visit this post to rate it.

• Happiness does not consist

  Corey Wells

  20 Nov 2009 | 7:52 am

  Happiness does not consist in pastimes and amusements but in virtuous activities. Aristotle Note: There is a rating embedded within this post, please visit this post to rate it.

• Life does not have meaning through mere existence

  Corey Wells

  18 Nov 2009 | 7:43 am

  Life does not have meaning through mere existence or acquisition or fun. The meaning of life is inherent in the connections we make to others through honor and obligation. Laura Schlessinger Note: There is a rating embedded within this post, please visit this post to rate it.

• The best way out

  Corey Wells

  18 Nov 2009 | 7:38 am

  The best way out is always through. Robert Frost Note: There is a rating embedded within this post, please visit this post to rate it.

• A wise man learns

  Corey Wells

  16 Nov 2009 | 12:19 pm

  A wise man learns by the mistakes of others, a fool by his own. Latin Proverb Note: There is a rating embedded within this post, please visit this post to rate it.

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  The Cracker Lady's House

• Wordless Wednesday-Fall Reflections

  28 Oct 2009 | 12:05 am

• Wordless Wednesday-Praying Polar Bear

  21 Oct 2009 | 12:05 am

• Wordless Wednesday-The Thinker's Stare Down

  14 Oct 2009 | 12:05 am

• Wordless Wednesday-Protective Hands

  7 Oct 2009 | 12:05 am

• Richmond Ramblings: Japanese Flower Industry Remembered

  1 Oct 2009 | 12:05 am

  Beginning in the early 20th century, flower-growing operations founded by Japanese immigrants were common El Cerrito and Richmond as well as in other Bay Area cities. The community in El Cerrito-Richmond grew over time to include 17 nurseries, as well as a Japanese school and church. A second group of nurseries flourished in what is now North Richmond and San Pablo, led by the arrival of the Nabeta family, who began growing roses near Brookside Drive in 1900.A sizable Japanese American community grew up around the Bay Area as Japanese laborers who had found work with the Domoto brothers’…