Headspace | Mini Meditation | Let Go of Stress

Mindfulness and Meditation

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WHAT EXACTLY IS MINDFULNESS?
Mindfulness is not just a way of thinking about others and their state of mind, but it can also be used a form of meditation. Using Mindfulness Meditation allows you to focus on the moment, becoming aware of your senses and what you are feeling right then and there. When you are able to focus just on that particular moment, there is no need to try to interpret things or make judgments about how you feel.

You are simply present.

If you have ever studied Eckhart Tolle or other spiritual teachers, you realize that the present moment is all that actually exists. The past no longer exists, and the future has not yet come. So focusing, being mindful, of the moment, can help you relax and eliminate stress.

Think about all the time we spend planning for, or worrying about the future, thinking negative thoughts about the past, worrying about all the things we need to do - pick up the kids from school, make dinner tonight, pay the bills, etc. All those things are draining and can even be exhausting. When you are able to be mindful, you are able to put those things away, and focus your attention on the present moment, which reduces your stress and anxiety. Mindfulness meditation can be very powerful!

WHY SHOULD I MEDITATE?
For years, spiritual teachers and their students have been practicing meditation, and espousing its benefits. Now, thanks to advances in modern science and medicine, there are actually many clinical trials that scientifically back up these claims. It is amazing that for hundreds of years people have known that meditation works, but there is always a certain percentage of the population that needs to know how and why before they will believe it.

There are so many studies now that provide empirical data as to the how and why of meditation, and its effects on the body and brain. Those studies are so diverse that they need to be in a separate article on their own. But suffice to say that the overall evidence of these studies show that meditation is effective for reducing stress, anxiety, pain, depression, and even a host of "medical" conditions and disease.

WHEN AND HOW OFTEN SHOULD I MEDITATE?
There is probably no such thing as too much meditation, especially if you are struggling with any of the issues previously mentioned. Studies have shown that there are certain times of day when meditation may be more effective than others. Those times are when the brain is emitting certain waves that enable it to be more receptive to suggestion and meditation. Books have been written on that topic alone, but for our purposes, for most people that time is before you go to bed, or right when you wake up in the morning. During those times your brain is emitting the proper waves and producing the proper chemical to allow the mist benefits from meditation. But as Dr. Joe Dispenza says, "There is no such thing as a bad meditation."

The best way to develop your mindfulness meditation routine is to practice, practice, practice. Do so, and you may be truly amazed with the results.

If you want to live life to the fullest, then http://www.divineconnectionsbyroxy.com can help! Roxanna Teeling is a Relationship Coach specializing in individuals, couples, and relationship issues. She not only has two mental health master's degrees and two undergraduate mental health degrees, but she is also a Certified Relationship Coach from the Tony Robbins/Claire Madanes training institute. Roxanna strives to help you address and improve the concerns you have individually, with families or as a couple, by implementing techniques that fit your goals and values. Visit http://www.divineconnectionsbyroxy.com for more!

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7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Self Improvement by Stephen Covey

How to Practice the Ultimate Skill

If you want to take your self-improvement to the next level...

(And, you know, if you're reading this then that's likely... )

... then there's one skill for you to learn first.

Why this one before anything else?

Well, there's no rule which says you have to do it this way.

But if you do, it'll save you a lot of bouncing around in the meantime.

Because it's the skill of learning.

Because some folk take self-improvement all too casually.

They read a book once a month... but don't do anything with it.

They go to the gym twice a week... without tracking their progress.

They play with language learning apps... and can't form a single useful sentence.

If that's your style, then you don't have to learn how to best learn. You're into growth for the fun of it, but not actual development.

For those of you who want to take this to the next level, you're going to want to figure out how. Because you could waste a lot of time and energy on inefficient projects.

You might not going to want to hear this. It's a harsh lesson in a way.

But you can't assume you're good enough at learning to achieve everything you want to.

Like everything else, learning is a skill. You might have some innate talent for it. Either way, if you don't train it hard and smart, you're not going to reach your potential.

So here's how you learn better:

Start with what you want to know. Put boundaries on it. Do you want to learn a language? If so, which one? Do you want to be fluent - to be mistaken for a native speaker? Or do you just want to tour the country without relying on English?

Then you want to figure out why.

Maybe you're curious about the topic.

Perhaps it's something that'll lead to a better job or a higher salary.

It could be you have a vision on how to change the world - if you have in your head the ultimate video game, then you'd better learn computer programming.

Once you know why, you move onto how.

How are you going to learn?

How are you going to practice? Because remember, learning isn't about reading or listening. It's about doing. It's about getting your hands dirty, making mistakes and forging deep connections in your mind.

And how are you going to check your progress?

With practice exams, real world scenarios, jumping in the deep end... ?https://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Practice-the-Ultimate-Skill&id=10164208

Then there's what.

The day to day tasks that build the skill.

Following from your why to your how to your what, you create a roadmap for learning. Follow it and you can't go too far wrong.

You can begin that simple self-improvement technique now.

And enjoy its benefits for the rest of your life.

If you really want to take your mind to new places? To improve more you dreamed possible?

You might want to read about this mind training program:

https://www.guided-thought.com/monster

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Change your mindset, change the game | Dr. Alia Crum | TEDxTraverseCity

One Secret Of Hidden Fear That No One Talks About!

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Rita was sitting on her back porch watching the darkness of night creep softly into the heavens. She looked in wonderous awe as the stars began lighting up the sky while dancing with delight. The mountain air soothed her soul. Yet she couldn't find peace.

Reflecting on her past and The Mystery at West Samms, she once again asked God why did this happen?

Rita was desperate to learn the reason and her heart ached with despair. It just didn't make sense that she lost everything she owned to Phantoms of Identity Theft.

Twenty eight years of hard dedicated work along with one million dollars in secure investments, life insurance, bank accounts and lost credit vanished within two weeks. The pain of her 2004 tragedy haunted her.

Rita didn't quit after her loss, she turned her attention to the internet. She learned quickly that there were even more Phantoms with online businesses. What little money she had she invested in every business model she could find. Yet regardless of her hard work and long hours, she just couldn't create a steady flow of money.

Rita built thousands of down-line members and continued to lose because of greed with a few business owners. Moving on she found a global company with excellent reviews and great products. Building a huge down-line this time was easy. And she made money for eight months.

Until she received a call from the CEO of the company that she nor her down-line would receive any commissions. The company abruptly closed its doors and dismantled the business structure. She was devastated.

And this was only the beginning of that online journey, Rita had to rebuild that million dollar nest egg again. She had never intentionally hurt anyone; what kind of Karma is this she asked. Rita prayed daily for answers and received nothing. Her life ruined for what reason?

After the bliss of her evening with nature watching the stars dance in the heavens, Rita once again asked God why her life wasn't working in her favor. She closed her eyes and waited. This time fourteen years later her mind accepted the open door of truth. She recognized her fear. God answered her prayer.

Rita built her million dollar retirement because of the fear of living on social security. This driven fear not only created a loss, but continued that loss for years to come.

Now at the age of sixty-seven Rita was living on Social Security. Her emotional passion of fear created exactly what fear does, it manifested itself into her reality and didn't leave.

Do you have a deep seeded fear? If so, please read these words carefully. Emotions manifest what we feel, not what we want.

Our emotions create our success or failure in life. Our subconscious mind totally believes what our conscious mind tells us. In Rita's life her emotional fear of living on Social Security was real and that's exactly what her subconscious mind brought to her.

One of my biggest goals in life is helping as many people as possible understand that they have the power to make their life as they want it to be. You can become whatever you set your mind to. And just like many of you, I have spent years searching for a fulfilled happy life. Join me in team spirit and meet some of the most amazing people who have experienced the good and the bad choices and moved forward to success. I write their stories. Find me on Facebook, LinkedIn, Referral Key or contact me through Financial Freedom Site. https://www.retire2freedom.com

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How playing an instrument benefits your brain - Anita Collins

Brain GYM and Reading

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My day began with taking a class on Brain Gym 101, led by Mari Miyoshi.

She is such a delight!

Brain Gym is this self-improvement technique discovered by Dr. Paul Dennison. It caught my attention because Dennison worked as a public-school teacher and reading specialist in the 1960s, researching more effective ways to help children and adults with learning difficulties. As a result, he came up with this technique.

It consists of 26 movements and works towards balancing your brain.

One of my absolute favourites was the sequence called PACE.

It begins with taking a sip of water, which nourishes your nervous system.

Sipping Water stands for E (Energy) in PACE.

BRAIN BUTTONS stand for C (Clear) in PACE.

Rest one hand over your navel. With the thumb and fingers of the other hand, feel for the two hollow areas under the collarbone, about one inch out from the canter of the chest. Rub these areas vigorously for 30 seconds. If you want to add an extra level of complexity, you can also look from left to right.

Why do we do it? This stimulates the carotid arteries which supply freshly oxygenated blood to the brain. They help re-establish directional messages from parts of the body to the brain, improving reading, writing, speaking and the ability to follow directions.

CROSS-CRAWL stands for A (Active) in PACE.

Standing up, "march" in place, alternately touching each hand to the opposite knee.

Continue during the course of four to eight complete, relaxed breaths.

Why do we do this? This exercise is wonderful for improving reading, listening, writing and memory. It co-ordinates the whole brain.

The last exercise in the sequence called Hook-Ups. It stands for P (Positive) in PACE.

Start by sitting in a chair, resting your left ankle on top of your right knee. Grasp your left ankle with your right hand and the ball of your right foot with your right hand. As you inhale, place your tongue flat against the roof of your mouth, about one-quarter of an inch behind your front teeth. Relax your tongue as you exhale. Close your eyes and rest in this posture for four to eight complete breaths.

Now uncross your legs, placing your feet flat on the floor. Lightly steeple the fingertips of both hands

together, as if you were enclosing a ball.

Keep your eyes closed as you continue to lift your tongue on the inhalation and lower it on the exhalation, relaxing in this position during the course of four to eight complete breaths.

This exercise connects the two hemispheres of the brain and strengthens the body's electrical energy, particularly in stressful environments such as offices. Reported benefits are increased vitality and improved self-esteem.

I plan to use this sequence to set the stage for learning and reading. It certainly had an energizing and soothing effect on my brain. I highly recommend the program!

Memory Course on Udemy https://www.udemy.com/5-steps-to-remembering/?couponCode=Friendsandfamily+

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The One Thing Only 1% of People Do | TRY IT FOR 21 DAYS and Success Will...

Trying Too Hard Is The Real Reason For Your Lack Of Success

Don't Aim For Results Over Outcomes

I want to take you on a journey on a topic I trust is close to your heart as it is mine. What am I referring to? Trying too hard. Firstly, let's begin by examining your relationship with the matter. Are you aware of trying too hard whether it be in your: relationships, career, health or otherwise? What do you believe is the cause of it? I will give you an insight into my experience via a recent journal entry below. Sometimes trying hard has worked, yet mostly it hasn't because of the effort required to sustain it. For example, in relationships it can become exhausting trying hard all the time. Is this something you've experienced before? Perhaps you were making every effort instead of allowing the relationship to run its natural course? Whatever the case, there may be an underlying tension of forcing things to happen that can lead to an unhealthy relationship.

Similarly, if we try too hard to get ahead in our career, the energy we spend may be the very thing holding us back. How can we learn to struggle less without compromising our desire to succeed? For example, I enjoy working hard because it gives me a sense of purpose and meaning. I love writing, speaking and coaching clients on all things related to: self-improvement, personal growth and self-awareness. How about you? How do you find purpose and meaning in your life? Do you have expectations of how your work is seen by others? For example, you might enjoy being creative whether through art or music. Sometimes your work is not acknowledged in the manner you envisioned. This is hard to accept and so we try harder hoping our next creative endeavour will be a hit. However, success is seldom achieved in such a way, since we tend to please others instead of building on our success. We are not listening to our inner guidance but relying on outside influences to dictate our outcomes.

As you read through my journal entry below, note how I intentionally ask questions to get to the heart of the issue. The key is to focus on one area of your life when doing self-exploration and examine it objectively. It requires distancing yourself from the situation with an open mind. Then it will become obvious where you need to take action or not. Once you finish reading this article, I invite you to write in your journal or diary ways in which you are trying too hard in areas of your life. It may be difficult at first but remain open as you explore it since there may be vital clues you need to learn.

Examining My Limiting Belief

Am I Trying Too Hard To Succeed? What Is The Cause Of Trying Too Hard?

For as long as I can remember, I've had a strong desire to succeed whether it was related to my career or life circumstances. I've enjoyed working hard which may be attributed to my relationship with my father who conveyed the idea that nothing I did was ever good enough. Therefore, on an unconscious level I had to work harder than most people to achieve the same level of success. Tied to this was a sense of perfection and pushing myself to extremes, whether it be through sport, in my relationships or career. I was aware of the inner critic urging me to do better. However, the cost of trying too hard meant falling short of my expectations, i.e. disappointment, anger and frustration. I justified it by convincing myself that I had put in the hard work, therefore I should be entitled to success. Limiting Belief: Hard work is not a predictor or precursor to success. There were times I wanted to give up, yet I found this difficult because if I quit who would take control of my life? The universe? God? Someone else? These are questions that flood my mind as I try to make sense of how much effort it requires to achieve my goals.

In recent years, the need to try hard has improved. It involved the art of 'allowing' instead of forcing things to happen. When I force life to happen, it seldom works out as planned and I become disillusioned. When I come from a place of love, faith and trust, I can still work hard with fewer expectations of a desired outcome. It's not that I don't want to succeed, however I have learned to let go of fixed outcomes because life may have better plans. So how can I change my relationship of trying too hard? What is the cause of forcing things to happen? Firstly, I can learn to detach from desired outcomes regarding a project, a goal or a relationship. I still invest myself wholeheartedly and show up embodying my deepest self but I suspend my expectations of how things should unfold. Perhaps the cause of forcing things to happen is my limiting belief that I have to do all the work otherwise I won't get what I want. This was the message conveyed by my father which I adopted as truth. I believed if nothing I do is ever good enough, I must work hard to make up for it. But working harder will not assure me success if my intentions are not in the right place. If I am lacking in some way, all my hard work will go to waste if I feel undeserving. The key is to work efficiently and reframe my relationship of receiving and deserving. When I let go of fixed outcomes and give myself entirely to the undertaking, everything I ever need will show up in its own time.

Do you want to lead a remarkable life? Are you committed to taking action despite your fears and doubts? If so, download your FREE copy of my eBook NAVIGATE LIFE right now, and start your amazing journey of greatness today!

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Tony_Fahkry/837610

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This Will Change How You See Everything "It Can Happen In Minutes"

The Next Chapter Of Your Life Begins With The One You're Living Now

Something Of Benefit Also Comes With Its Problems

Are you always looking to the next chapter of your life because you're fed up with the one you're living now? You wouldn't be the only one since many people wait for things to improve because they are dissatisfied with the way things are. But how much of it is perception? Do things actually improve when life gets better? For example, those who win the lottery are worse off five to seven years later, according to statistics. Most of them squander their winnings and are in more debt than before they won the lottery. But how can this be? How can winning a large sum of money lead a person to be worse off than before? Financial experts believe they lack the financial skills to manage large sums of money and they spend frivolously because they are certain the money will not run out.

We may experience something similar if we believe getting what we want will make us happier. For instance, the two main problems people often face in coaching relate to finances and relationships. People are convinced when they have more money or a loving partner, their problems will vanish. Is this something you believe? I know I have. I wasn't aware that getting what I want also means getting what I don't want. What do I mean? There are two sides to a coin, meaning that something of benefit also comes with its problems. The key is to find balance and harmony in what we want and not over-complicate matters.

Therefore, attracting more money means having to give up something in order to earn it or learning to manage money more effectively. Similarly, having a fulfilling relationship has its downsides (which is favourable if you consider what you gain). That is, we must invest our time and energy to cultivate the relationship, otherwise our partner might not stay around for long. That is to say, when we are looking for a relationship, we are heavily invested in the process but we don't realise how much time and energy is required to sustain it. This is a desirable quality because anything worth building requires two people to invest their time and energy to create a strong foundation. Some people are not aware of what it requires to maintain and build a relationship and so they stop contributing to it at some point. They divest their energy and the relationship falls apart. I once heard a relationship counsellor suggest that people stay parked in relationships which is why it eventually ends.

Be Invested In The Life You Have Now

If we wish for the next chapter of our life to arrive, we must be aware of the problems that go with it. If we are not ready for what life will bring, we will lose what we gain. That is why the title of this article reads: The Next Chapter Of Your Life Begins With The One You're Living Now. What am I referring to? The life you're living now is the one you created, whether consciously or unconsciously. You attracted the conditions and even though it may be full of challenges and setbacks, there may be a reason for it. So wishing away the pain and disappointment means wishing away the personal growth that accompanies it. Some might say: "Tony, why would I want to attract health problems and a lack of money?" I don't know your particular situation but it is my experience people attract their life's conditions on an unconscious level because they haven't transformed their limiting beliefs with what they want. Does this make sense, insofar as your inner conflicts will make themselves visible in your reality until you reconcile them?

For example, if you unconsciously hold limiting beliefs of your unworthiness to attract a loving relationship, no matter how many dating sites you sign up to, you are bound to experience disappointment. I'm not suggesting everyone on dating sites will experience pain and heartache. There are many thousands of people who find a devoted partner every day because they are ready for it and have done the work to transform their limiting beliefs. Pain and disappointment can highlight areas of our life we must devote our attention to. It requires self-examination on why we are attracting those circumstances. For instance, a person with poor financial skills might attract unwanted financial conditions until they honour their self-worth. Perhaps they were brought up with a tough parent who criticised them. They may have adopted this belief which now shows up through their finances.

So what I'm trying to say is: until we recognise what is stopping us from attaining what we want, we will continue to attract undesirable conditions. We can change strategies and enlist the help of coaches, guides and mentors and some of it may work. However, if we are not committed to our personal growth, we will go back to our old ways eventually. It requires being invested in the life we have now. Your problems and challenges are the keys to your redemption. As the aphorism states: "The obstacle is the way." It is showing the exit off the freeway so you may experience better living conditions. But the price you must pay is doing the work to remove any unconscious impediments that stand in your way. With this in mind, I'd like you to give some thought to areas of your life where you feel held back. Write in your journal or diary how you may be unconsciously sabotaging yourself. What is the trade-off? What do you get by living these unconscious beliefs? Perhaps you prefer to remain safe in your comfort zone? Every belief serves a purpose, even ones that limit our potential. Ultimately, if we are constantly expecting the next chapter of our life to arrive without living the one we have now, we will attract situations that are not for our highest good.

Do you want to lead a remarkable life? Are you committed to taking action despite your fears and doubts? If so, download your FREE copy of my eBook NAVIGATE LIFE right now, and start your amazing journey of greatness today!

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Tony_Fahkry/837610

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Speak like a leader | Simon Lancaster | TEDxVerona

Why A Leader, Must Think, OUTSIDE The Box?

After, over four decades, of involvement, in nearly every aspect of leadership, from identifying, qualifying, training, developing, planning, and consulting, to thousands of actual, and/ or, potential leaders, as well as serving, as a leader, in a variety of positions, for various organizations, I have come to believe, although one must understand the time - tested techniques, heritage, and ideas, he must be ready, willing, and able, to think, OUTSIDE the box! How can any group, benefit, when any leader, merely, remains within his personally created/ self - imposed, comfort zone, and, merely, proceeds forward, with the same - old, same - old ways, etc? With that in mind, this article will attempt to, briefly, consider, examine, review, and discuss, using the mnemonic approach, what this means, and represents, and why it's such, an important, essential consideration, etc.

1. Options; opportunities; open - mind; offers: There are nearly always, several options, and alternatives, and a well - prepared, leader, considers these, and chooses the finest, possible opportunities! He proceeds, with an open - mind, and, considers, thoroughly, what each, offers, to make a difference, for the better!

2. Useful; uses; usual/ unusual; unique; urgent: Instead of just, doing, one should seek the most useful, approach, etc! How someone, uses his skills, etc, makes a huge difference! What unique skills, abilities, and/ or, mindset, someone possesses, often, becomes significant! A quality leader, clearly articulates, a compelling, inspiring, motivating message, in order, to communicate, and differentiate, between urgent priorities, and lesser ones!

3. Time - tested; timely; trendsetter: It's important to know, thoroughly, the time - tested, techniques, but, to also, avoid, being trapped, by them! Great leaders must be trendsetters, who proceed, in well - considered, timely ways!

4. Service; sustainable system; solutions: When the priority is quality service, someone looks to introduce viable, relevant, sustainable solutions, for the common good! He inspires others, to participate, and welcome, his system, for achieving, meaningful objectives!

5. Ideas; integrity; innovate; imagination: How should you, evaluate the quality of your ideas, and be certain, they are, in the best interests of those, you serve, and represent? Will you proceed, consistently, with genuine, absolute integrity, combined with a willingness to innovate, with a well - developed, relevant imagination?

6. Delve deeply; deliver: Go beyond the surface, and delve deeply into the true priorities, needs, and perceptions, and, do all you can, to deliver the finest leadership!

7. Empathy; emphasis; endurance; excellence: Will you take the time, to effectively, listen, and learn, from every conversation, and experience, so you might proceed, with genuine empathy? Will you align your emphasis, with this finding? Will you overcome obstacles, and have the endurance, to proceed forward, when others, will not, or cannot? How will you demand, your utmost degree of personal,genuine, excellence?

If you hope to be a real leader, think, OUTSIDE, the box! Will you settle for good - enough, or the same - old, same - old, when your constituents, deserve, and need better?

Richard has owned businesses, been a COO, CEO, Director of Development, consultant, professionally run events, consulted to thousands of leaders, and conducted personal development seminars, for 4 decades. Rich has written three books and thousands of articles. His company, PLAN2LEAD, LLC has an informative website http://plan2lead.net and Plan2lead can also be followed on Facebook http://facebook.com/Plan2lead

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An Experiment in Gratitude | The Science of Happiness

Life Is a Treasure Hunt

Once upon a time there was an unusually optimistic little boy named Max. Max's parents were worried that he was actually incapable of seeing the world like a normal kid, so they decided to take him to a psychiatrist to see if she could talk some sense into him.

The psychiatrist was getting frustrated with Max's absolute refusal to perceive negativity and was ready to try anything. Christmas was coming and she made a wild suggestion to Max's parents. Instead of gifts this year, she encouraged them to fill the back yard with horse manure. Not knowing what else to do, his parents agreed.

On Christmas morning, they were shocked to see Max, instead of being horrified, actually shrieking with delight.

"Why are you so happy, Max?" his parents demanded. "Can't you see? With all this manure, there must be a pony here somewhere!"

This is an extreme example, to be sure, but I do strongly believe and continue to prove that:

Everything either IS a gift or it HAS a gift!

We all love the experiences that immediately feel like a gift - the financial windfall, the perfect job offer, the date with the wonderful someone. It's the other experiences - the ones that are masquerading as something unwanted - that require a shift in perception.

What if you truly believed that the very unwanted situation you are experiencing is actually a gift in disguise?

If you really believed there was a gift waiting for you, would you start looking for it? Would you make it fun? Would you turn it into a treasure hunt?

Everything changes when you align with this new perspective. You no longer give in to suffering and despair. You're too busy looking for and finding treasures!

Instead of responding from a low vibration:

*"Why me?"

*"I never get a break."

*"Why can't I ever get what I want?"

Maintain your power by sincerely asking:

*"What's the gift in this situation?"

*"What's perfect about this?"

*"What's the wonderful thing that will come of this?"

This is what the Buddhists call turning poison into medicine.

The Law of Attraction teaches that we attract what we focus on. If we give into a mindset of "life sucks," we will experience one sucky experience after another.

However, if we choose the mindset of "life is good!" and maintain the willingness to find the gift in everything, we will experience a steady stream of good times.

Life is a treasure hunt, so no matter what happens, let's focus all our resources on finding the treasure. And, like Max, we'll be happy and excited knowing there must be a pony here somewhere!

Everything either IS a gift or it HAS a gift!

Kate Corbin is a Law of Attraction Coach and the creator of Gold Star Coaching. Both her coaching practice and her three eBooks - "Dining at the Cosmic Cafe, How to Be and Do and Have Whatever You Desire;" "Manifesting from the Inside Out with the Law of Attraction;" and "Think and Grow Thin with the Law of Attraction" - are designed to empower you to truly live the life of your dreams. To contact Kate and download a free copy of her eBook "Magical Musings on the LOA," visit Gold Star Coaching.

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Why Do We Fall - Motivational Video

When Your Present Life Isn't Working

What can you do when you believe, that your present life isn't working properly for you-or that it isn't working at all?

This may be a tough question, but it's an important one.

Symptoms that suggest you're not satisfied with your present life include agonizing over your past, feeling sorry for yourself, complaining that "you didn't do this or that," and repeating your old failures.

After taking all the above indicators into consideration, there's one more that's a sure sign you aren't satisfied with your present life: your excuse for not making any positive changes.

Let me tell you something. Whenever people ask me to tell them about my previous traumatic experiences, such as how my family escaped war in my homeland, I refuse to tell them anything.

Am I being rude by not responding to their request? Not at all. I'm protecting myself from allowing a past traumatic experience to ruin my present life.

When people start to talk about previous negative or traumatic experiences, they actually bring those past traumas into the present. In those moments, they live in the past.

Is dragging negative past experiences into the present helpful? No, it isn't.

Bringing a bad, sad, or traumatic experience into the present also brings very strong emotional charges that are connected to that experience.

Of course, if you've had a strong emotional experience, the neural circuits of your brain will remember it forever. Each experience is accompanied by strong emotions, either positive or negative, and each negative experience leads to the release of "bad chemicals" (stress hormones).

When you talk about your past traumatic experience, you're reliving it in the present time, thereby releasing the same stressful hormones twenty or more years after the event has occurred. Your brain doesn't know the difference between the real-life event and your memory of that event, which is creating the same emotions.

The problem begins when people think and feel about the past and do nothing about the present.

You can't change your past. You can change only your present. However, notice that I didn't say you can change everything in your present life.

However, if you believe that something's wrong with your present life, try to change it if you can.

Don't dwell on the past while making excuses about life not being "fair." (Whoever said that life is fair, anyway?) It's just one more excuse for doing nothing to change your present life.

Start to change your life by changing your neurochemistry; you can do that simply by changing the way you think about things in your life.

Remember: Your thoughts and feelings create your present.

When you break the cycle of negativity that surrounds you, your present life will work for you.

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Heal Your Inner Child Wound - Healing With Shadow Work Angry Inner Child...

Self-Sabotage: Is Your Inner Child Sabotaging Your Life?

One thing that someone may find is that even though they want to achieve something, it doesn't mean that they have been able to make any progress. It could seem as though what they want to achieve is out of their reach.

Perhaps they have been trying to achieve something for months or maybe this has been going on for many years. Either way, experiencing life in this way is likely to be incredibly frustrating.

For Example

One may have the desire to have a relationship with someone who is emotionally unavailable and/or they might want to move forward in their career. Being stuck when it comes to one area of their life will be enough, let alone being stuck in two areas.

There may even be many other areas of their life that are not working; in this case, their whole life will have come to a standstill. They will then have the need to change their whole life, but this won't have been possible so far.

External Feedback

If one was to open up to a friend about what is going on for them, they may end up being told that that they need to work on their self-esteem. The reason why they haven't been able to move forward will be due to the fact that they don't value themselves.

Therefore, once they start to increase their self-esteem, they will gradually be able to move forward. One could accept this, believing that this is what they need to work on to be able to change their life.

Going Up

What one could then do is to look into what they need to do to increase their self-esteem. This could be a time when they will use affirmations and focus on their good traits, among other things.

After using these for a little while, one may find that they start to feel better about themselves. At the same time, one may find that even though they feel better about themselves, their life still doesn't change.

Going Down

If this was to take place, it is not going to be much of a surprise if one ends up seeing themselves as a victim. They will have done the right thing by increasing their self-esteem and yet, their life will be no different.

If one saw themselves as a victim before they took this route, they could go even further into this experience. Still, feeling helpless, hopeless and powerless, for instance, is going to be normal if one believes that they have no control over their life.

Beyond The Story

One could end up opening up to another friend about what they are going through and this friend could come out with something very different. They could say that another part of their being might not want their life.

They could make it clear that while there is one physical part of them, there is more than one part of them when it comes to their inner self. One is then going to be aware of the part that wants to move forward, but they won't be aware of the part that doesn't.

Confusion

Upon hearing this, one could end up dismissing what their friend has come out with. One might believe that this friend doesn't know what they are talking about; if anything, they are delusional.

Then again, one may find that they can relate to what their friend has said, with them being aware of another part of them that doesn't want to move forward. This part of them can then be what is stopping them from transforming their life.

A Deeper Look

If they were to surrender to this part of them and to get in touch with how they feel, they may find that they no longer feel like an adult. It could be as if they have regressed to an earlier stage of their life.

Another way of looking at this would be to say that they are in touch with their inner child. Many, many years may have passed since they were a small child, but the small child that they once were will live within them.

A Different Experience

To the adult part of them, moving forward will be seen as something positive, but to the child part of them, moving forward will be seen as something negative. The child part of them could believe that their life would end up if anything was to change.

What this could illustrate is that one's early years were a time when they were abused and/or neglected. Not only would this have traumatised them, it would have also stopped them from being able to develop a sense of safety and trust.

One Need

Experiencing life in the same way is going to cause their adult self to suffer, but it will be what feels safe to their child self. The former will do what it can to change their life, while the latter will do what it can to keep it the same.

And what will be perfectly clear to them at this point, is that their child self has far more control than their adult self. Their child self will need to be on board with the changes that their adult self wants to make.

Awareness

The child part of them will most likely have a lot to say and it can carry a lot of pain that needs to be cried out. This is something that can take place with the assistance of a therapist or a healer.

Someone like this will hold the space so that one can go where they wouldn't go by themselves. The truth is that the child part of them is not their enemy; it simply needs to be understood and gradually integrated into the rest of their being.

Teacher, prolific writer, author, and consultant, Oliver JR Cooper, hails from England. His insightful commentary and analysis covers all aspects of human transformation, including love, partnership, self-love, and inner awareness. With over two thousand, two hundred in-depth articles highlighting human psychology and behaviour, Oliver offers hope along with his sound advice.

To find out more go to - http://www.oliverjrcooper.co.uk/

Feel free to join the Facebook Group -
https://www.facebook.com/OliverJRCooper

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How to Become a Productivity Master

Productivity - How to Be Productive at Work Daily

Introduction

In this article, I will be discuss simple steps to take action on each day at work to accomplish more in less time. By following these steps, you will learn how to be productive at work on a daily basis.

Benefits of Increasing Productivity

Learning how to be more productive, especially at work, typically results in you increasing the efficiency with which you complete your tasks. Completing more work in less time has many benefits from the obvious benefit of freeing up more of your time for non-work related tasks, increasing your motivation to continue to be productive, increasing your sense of accomplishment and reducing your overall stress levels.

Then of course, there are the positive work benefits that come from increasing your productivity--especially on a daily basis. By being able to complete more work in less time with the high level of quality that you typically complete your work-related tasks, you are literally achieving more at work. Achieving more at work usually earns you benefits that will likely impact your life, and your work life balance, positively.

How to be Productive at Work Daily

There is no one set of strategies or steps to becoming "productive," and what leads to success for one person may be a disastrous strategy for another person to try to follow. As a result, I encourage you to test out each of the steps below, and decide for yourself which of the steps will be effective at increasing your productivity at work, and that are therefore worth the effort to put into action, and continue using, until you see positive results. These positive results likely will not happen after just one attempt, rather try each step out for at least a week before making a final decision on whether that particular strategy is personally beneficial for you to pursue.

Step 1: Tie Rewarding Tasks for Finishing Work Tasks: To increase your productivity daily at work, you can tie enjoying a rewarding task with accomplishing a less rewarding and/or necessary work-related task.

For example, you can delay enjoying a rewarding task, such as having your first cup of coffee or tea, until after you complete one work-related task. Or, you can delay checking any social media until you've completed three work-related tasks.

Step 2: Shift Your "Productivity" Schedule: Everyone experiences a natural lull in energy at some throughout the day. If you are working outside of the home, in a 9-5 or similar job, that lull in energy typically (but not always) comes during the late afternoon.

Shift your work schedule by one hour so that you are leaving work, or at least not attempting to be highly productive, by 4:00 p.m. or whenever your energy lull happens to be. This will ensure that you have more energy to be productive during work hours that you decide will be productive, and reduces your stress levels by not creating unrealistic expectations of what you should accomplish right before the 5:00 p.m. end of day hits.

Step 3: Snacking to Keep Your Energy and Productivity Up: Continuing with the idea that people naturally have more energy to be highly productive at certain times of day, you should also be aware of how the food you eat can positively increase the energy you have and can help you to be more productive.

Foods, typically fruit such as apples, oranges, and bananas, or other foods like honey and agave, are high in both fructose and sucrose. These are two sugars that serve different energy purposes in your body, one giving you a short term energy boost while the other gives you energy over a longer period of time. In either case, by snacking puposefully, you can help make sure that you have the stamina to finish your work day strong and with the high level of productivity you started your day with.

Step 4: Start and End Your Day With Special Tasks: For most people, the most challenging part of experiencing consistently high levels of productivity is finding the motivation to just start working. To help with this problem, try giving yourself select tasks to work on to start and end your day.

To begin your day successfully and to quickly achieve productivity in your day, the first task you should try to accomplish is something fairly short, simple and/or enjoyable to complete. This will ensure that you finish your first task of the day, and that you are left with positive feelings of motivation and accomplishment from doing so.

To end your day, and prepare for the next day, leave work when you are only halfway done with a particular task that can be completed the next day without having a negative impact on your work. Most people feel uncomfortable with "unfinished" work, and this sense of not finishing your work and the discomfort that comes with it will provide a reliable source of motivation to start your work immediately the next day to be able to get to and complete your previous day's unfinished task.

By the way, if you would like to learn more about productivity strategies, you can download my free audio training "How to Create Your Productive Work Environment" by clicking here: https://www.freedownload.greatworklifebalancehabits.com/productiveenvironment.

My name is Jazmin Leon, and I am a certified master coach whose primary work involves guiding clients in how to build positive habits to increase their satisfaction with their ability to balance their professional and personal lives and learning how to develop the work life balance they deserve to live. I have a background in neuroscience and psychology, advanced educational learning techniques and instructional design, and have spent years studying how to effectively prevent and reduce burnout and increase work life balance among busy professionals.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Jazmin_Leon/2699211

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Bruce Lipton: Learn How To Control Your Mind (very motivational)

Japanese Psychology and Emotions

Emotions are impulses to act. They force you to stop, assess any potential threat, and then act, all within a split second. Some of the stronger emotions like fear and anger are very threatening and can trigger the fight or flight response all by themselves.

People often confuse negative emotions with stress. They are two different things. Negative emotions are just emotions. The stress response involves emotions but transcends them. How you perceive negative emotions and cope (or not cope) with them is the determining factor in whether or not they triggers a stress response.

For example, if you wake up feeling anxious you can tell yourself, "Huh, I'm feeling a little anxious this morning. I'll have to be extra careful to relax a little more today." This self-talk will defuse the stressful potential of the emotion. If you told yourself, " Wow, I'm really feeling anxious. I am so stressed," your mind would perceive you anxiety as a threat that you can't cope with and trigger a stress response. Anxiety, like any other emotion, is a feeling, not stress.

One of the cornerstones of my work is integrating Japanese psychology techniques drawn from Naikan and Morita therapy into stress management. These two forms of Japanese psychology incorporate a uniquely Eastern approach to understanding and managing emotions that is influenced by Buddhism.

The following five principles are derived from the work of David K Reynolds (2002), the person most responsible for bringing Japanese Psychology to the United States. These principles clearly illustrate a Japanese Psychology approach to understanding emotions.

Principle # 1. Your feelings are not controllable by your will.

While you can learn how to identify what you are feeling, and even understand how it relates to your stress, you can't switch feelings on and off with your willpower. Feelings arise on their own; they come and go like the wind. You cannot will yourself to feel something you don't feel. For example, stop reading and feel happy. Just use your will power to feel happy. OK, now shift your focus and be sad. Go ahead, feel sad.

As you can see, you cannot directly control them by your sheer will alone. What you can control is your behavior; what you do in response to your feelings.

Principle # 2. You must recognize and accept your feelings for what they are.

Since feelings come and go on their own, and they are beyond your ability to control, it doesn't make sense to feel responsible for them or feel guilty about being unable to control them. Rather than feel guilty or responsible for your feelings it is better to simply note what you are feeling, accept this, and move on.

Principle # 3. Every feeling, however unpleasant, has its uses.

Even though you cannot control your feelings, you can use them as a catalyst for action. Acknowledging that you are feeling guilty, for instance, can motivate you to change your behavior and stop doing whatever it is triggering the feeling. In this sense you are using the feeling to identify the behavior and change it.

Principle # 4. Your feelings will fade in time unless you re-stimulate them.

Feelings, both positive and negative, diminish over time. Unless you do something to re-stimulate them (like constantly think about them and sub-vocally bring them up) your negative feelings will start to fade. This is a completely different approach to dealing with feelings from the one promoted by Western Psychology which advocates that you must analyze your painful feelings and figure out "why" you feel the way you do before taking any action to make them disappear.

Principle # 5. Your feelings are influenced by your behavior.

Feelings change in response to behavior. For instance, you can help get rid of negative feelings more rapidly by doing something that promotes positive feelings. This will not only take your mind off your painful feelings, it will trigger new positive feelings.

The Japanese psychology approach to managing painful feelings is simple; since you cannot control or fully understand them, it is a waste of time working on them or analyzing them. It is better to simply acknowledge them, accept them for what they are, and stop blaming them for causing your behavior. It is more productive, and emotionally healthy, to shift your focus to what you can control, your behavior

A Six Step Action Plan for Coexisting With Your Painful Feelings

Purpose: The following exercise, A Six Step Action Plan for Coexisting With Your Feelings, is designed to teach you a simple technique for noticing, accepting, and coexisting with painful emotions. It incorporates principles and practices from ACT and Morita therapy and will help you become aware of your painful emotions and be able to co-exist with them.

Instructions:

1. This week, pay closer attention to your stressful emotions. You can use a journal to help you keep track of them.

2. Don't question them or try to figure out why you are feeling them. Merely note what you are feeling.

3. After a couple of days of attending to your troubling feelings use the following six steps to help you manage them:

Step 1. Identify the feeling - Pay close attention to feeling and describe how it affects your body and mind in a non-judgmental manner. Example (using anxiety related to giving a presentation):

"Isn't this interesting, I am getting anxious again. I notice that whenever I have to give a presentation, I feel this way. My neck muscles start to tighten, my hands get clammy, and I start to breathe more rapidly and in a shallow fashion."

Step 2. Accept the feeling- Tell yourself:

"I am definitely feeling anxious. I'd rather not feel this way but I guess it is normal to feel like this when I have to do stand up in front of a work group and give a presentation."

Step 3. Tell yourself that you can co-exist with these feelings and still take action - Example:

"I really envy people who find it easy to give presentations. It is hard for me to stand in front of a group but I can co-exist with my anxiety while giving the presentation. I'll have to prepare harder and just accept the discomfort."

Step 4. Redirect Your Focus - Rather than focus on your emotions, re-direct your focus to behaviors related to the stressful situation that you can change. For instance, in this example you can make sure that you know your subject inside and out. You can use practice rehearsal in front of a mirror or a couple of friends to get ready. Check your audiovisual aids and other props to take the focus off of you and onto the technology. Make sure you have back-up materials just in case your primary ones fail.

Step 5. Get physical -Take a break and do something physical during this step. If you are home, be sure to get in some vigorous physical activity. If you are at work, take a break and walk a few flights of stairs. If your worksite has a fitness facility, get in a workout.

Step 6. Reinforce your ability to co-exist - Remind yourself that you can give a productive presentation despite being anxious. Tell yourself:

"I can do this. My feelings do not have to control my behavior."

In time, becoming more mindful of your painful feelings and practicing co-existing with them will become part of your daily routine.

For over 25 years Dr. Rich Blonna has been helping people just like you conquer their stress and live values-based lives filled with passion and purpose. As a certified coach (CPC), counselor (NCC), and health education specialist (CHES), Dr. Rich has a been able to take the best from each of these helping professions and mold them into a unique approach to stress management. In addition to his coaching practice, Dr Rich is a full-time tenured university professor and is a well-known stress management and sex expert. For information about Dr Rich's Rethink Course go to: https://www.drrichblonna.com/courses/courses-for-everyone/the-5-steps-to-conquering-your-stress-home-study-program-rethink-course/

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Richard_Blonna/1223204

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