Enjoy Your Life: Change Your Point of View
“Two men look out through the same bars: One sees the mud, and one sees the stars.”- Frederick Langbridge, A Cluster of Quiet Thoughts

If you’ve placed second in a writing contest, will you jump for joy and push for better results the next time or will you be discouraged and find an excuse not to join again?

In life, you are always filled with choices. You may opt to have a pessimist’s view and live a self-defeated life or you may decide to take the optimist’s route and take a challenging and fulfilling life.

So why nurture an optimist’s point of view? And why now?

Well, optimism has been linked to positive mood and good morale; to academic, athletic, military, occupational and political success; to popularity; to good health and even to long life and freedom from trauma.

On the other hand, the rates of depression and pessimism have never been higher. It affects middle-aged adults the same way it hits younger people. The mean age of onset has gone from 30 to 15. It is no longer a middle-aged housewife’s disorder but also a teen-ager’s disorder’ as well.

Here’s how optimists are in action and researches that back up why it really pays to be an optimist:

Optimists expect the best

The defining characteristic of pessimists is that they tend to believe bad events, which will last a long time and undermine everything they do, are their own fault.

The truth is optimists are confronted with the same hard knocks of this world. What differs is the way they explain their misfortune—it’s the opposite way. They tend to believe defeat is just a temporary setback, that its causes are confined to this one case.

Optimists tend to focus on and plan for the ‘problem’ at hand. They use ‘positive reinterpretation.’ In other words, they most likely reinterpret a negative experience in a way that helps them learn and grow. Such people are unfazed by bad situation, they perceive it is a challenge and try harder.

They won’t say “things will never get better,” “If I failed once, it will happen again” and “If I experience misfortune in one part of my life, then it will happen in my whole life.”

Positive expectancies of optimists also predict better reactions during transitions to new environments, sudden tragedies and unlikely turn of events. If they fall, they will stand up. They see opportunities instead of obstacles.

People respond positively to optimists

Optimists are proactive and less dependent on others for their happiness. They find no need to control or manipulate people. They usually draw people towards them. Their optimistic view of the world can be contagious and influence those they are with.

Optimism seems a socially desirable trait in all communities. Those who share optimism are generally accepted while those who spread gloom, panic and hysteria are treated unfavorably.

In life, these people often win elections; get voted most congenial and sought for advice.

When the going gets tough, optimists get tougher

Optimists typically maintain higher levels of subjective well-being during times of stress than do people who are less optimistic. In contrast, pessimists are likely to react to stressful events by denying that they exist or by avoiding dealing with problems. Pessimists are more likely to quit trying when difficulties arise.

They persevere. They just don’t give up easily, they are also known for their patience. Inching their way a step closer to that goal or elusive dream.

Optimists are healthier and live longer

Medical research has justified that simple pleasures and a positive outlook can cause a measurable increase in the body’s ability to fight disease.

Optimists’ health is unusually good. They age well, much freer than most people from the usual physical ills of middle age. And they get to outlive those prone to negative thoughts.

So why not be an optimist today? And think positively towards a more fulfilled life.

Why not look forward to success in all your endeavors? Why not be resilient? Like everybody else you are bound to hit lows sometimes but don’t just stay there. Carry yourself out of the mud and improve your chances of getting back on the right track. And why not inspire others to remove their dark-colored glasses and see life in the bright side?

Thanks ,wishing you all the best.

• 0 Comments

Integrating a spirit of joy and enthusiasm (positive attitude) in your actions leads to creative power in your goal achievement. Negative energy weighs heavily, positive energy has the ability to energize and motivate. It is your mood and mind-set that makes the difference regarding the energy you emanate. Choosing to bring forth thoughts of joy and enthusiasm will compel you to feel lighter, and you become more inspired to give your best effort to your goals.

Since each task you perform becomes imprinted with your energy, you can further your goals by consciously approaching them with a positive attitude. This ultimately leads to powerful creative energy to the outcome you desire. Your goals can take on a new level of energy and excitement if you embrace thoughts of joy, enthusiasm and allow them to integrate into your activities.

Because your mood fuels your energy, you need to set aside time to enjoy activities that compel you to feel happy and enhance your feelings of joy and enthusiasm. Focus on the happiness and enthusiasm you feel, and visualize it growing larger and larger until it spreads into every facet of your being. Then you can simply choose a goal to focus on and allow your joy and enthusiasm to carry you throughout accomplishing the task.

The following tips will assist you in creating peace of mind.

Listen to your inner dialogue. Keep a log for a few days, write in the left side of a note pad all the negative thoughts that you hear yourself say. Rewrite each thought in a positive way on the right side. Practice doing this in your mind until positive thinking becomes a habit. (Example, “I’ll never get this finished day!” Change to: “I will finish most of this today, and I can finish it tomorrow.”)

Connect to your spirituality. Research has shown that those who connect to their spirituality live longer, more satisfying lives. The secret is to practice your spiritual beliefs, either through organized spiritual associations, meditation or connecting with like minded people.

Allow yourself to love and be loved. The ability to love and be loved is the most basic human need. We have become disconnected from this basic need - fear-based emotions (depression, loneliness, anxiety, guilt and anger) are the symptoms. Find ways to reconnect with others is extremely helpful in developing a positive attitude.

Laugh and find humor in the simple things. Laughter is a powerful mood elevator. If you are feeling down, read some jokes, watch a funny movie or just act “silly.” See the world through a child’s eyes.

Let go of your “emotional baggage” that holds you back from true enlightenment. All that you require is already within you, so avoid giving your power away by blindly following others. Trust in the goodness that resides within your heart. If you have difficulty letting go of your ‘emotional baggage,’ or feel ‘blocked’ engage with a hypnotherapist/holistic practitioner.

Learn to communicate effectively. Not saying the things you feel leads to a sense of frustration, hurt, anger or anxiety. If you find communicating difficult, take an assertive communications course.

Plan leisure and socializing. Reconnect with friends or make new friends, take the dog for a walk, visit an art gallery or listen to your favorite music. Enjoy a long, relaxing bath, read a book, tell your child a story, or ask an older relative to tell you about their life. It is the simple things in life that give us the most pleasure.

Offer your assistance. A simple act of helping others compels us to feel good. Help a neighbor, volunteer for a cause or organization. Contact non-profit organizations and volunteer your time and expertise.

Engage in new physical and mental activities to improve confidence and learn new skills. Learn new words or new topics to build confidence. Learn and follow the principles of holistic health - better nutrition and exercise helps improve mood and attitude.

Stop listening to the news. Mainstream media focuses on drama–fear, negative thoughts and emotion. If you think your life will be in jeopardy if you do not know the latest breaking news, test your theory by not listening to the news for two weeks. Notice if your life is negatively impacted by not hearing the news. Think about it, has the news prevented anything? No! They dramatize the event after the fact.

Does the weather man really compel you to carry an umbrella or wear a warm coat? Carry an umbrella in your car and brief case, then you are equipped for any weather. After not watching the news, my hunch is that you will notice that you are feeling calmer, less frustrated and more at peace. When you feel calm, less frustration and more at peace you can manifest a positive attitude more easily. 

 

Thanks,wishing you all the best.

• 0 Comments

Impossible is Just a Word

Everyone, at some point of his or her life, has dreamed of being somebody special, somebody big. Who hasn’t fantasized about being the one who hits the game-winning homer? Who hasn’t dreamed of being the homecoming queen? And how many times have we dreamed of being rich, or successful, or happy with our relationships?

Often, we dream big dreams and have great aspirations. Unfortunately, our dreams remain just that – dreams. And our aspirations easily collect dust in our attic.

This is a sad turn of events in our life. Inastead of experiencing exciting adventures in self actualization, we get caught up in the humdrum of living from day-to-day just barely existing.

But you know what? Life could be so much better, if only we learned to aim higher.

The most common problem to setting goals is the word impossible. Most people get hung up thinking I can’t do this. It’s too hard. It’s too impossible. No one can do this.

However, if everyone thought that, there would be no inventions, no innovations, and no breakthroughs in human accomplishment.

Remember that scientists were baffled when they took a look at the humble bumblebee. Theoretically, they said, it was impossible for the bumblebee to fly. Unfortunately for the bumble, bee no one has told it so. So fly it does.

On the other hand, some people suffer from dreaming totally outrageous dreams and not acting on them. The result? Broken dreams, and tattered aspirations.

If you limit yourself with self-doubt, and self-limiting assumptions, you will never be able to break past what you deem impossible. If you reach too far out into the sky without working towards your goal, you will find yourself clinging on to the impossible dream.

Try this exercise. Take a piece of paper and write down some goals in your life. Under one header, list down things ‘you know you can do’. Under another header, write the things ‘you might be able to do.’ And under one more, list the things that that are ‘impossible for you to do.’

Now look at all the headers strive every day to accomplish the goals that are under things ‘you know you can do’. Check them when you are able to accomplish them. As you slowly are able to check all of your goals under that heading, try accomplishing the goals under the other header-the one that reads ‘you might be able to do.’

As of the items you wrote under things I could do are accomplished, you can move the goals that are under things that are ‘impossible for you to do’ to the list of things ‘you might be able to do.’

As you iterate through this process, you will find out that the goals you thought were impossible become easier to accomplish. And the impossible begin to seem possible after all.

You see, the technique here is not to limit your imagination. It is to aim high, and start working towards that goal little by little. However, it also is unwise to set a goal that is truly unrealistic.

Those who just dream towards a goal without working hard end up disappointed and disillusioned.

On the other hand, if you told someone a hundred years ago that it was possible for man to be on the moon, they would laugh at you. If you had told them that you could send mail from here to the other side of the world in a few seconds, they would say you were out of your mind. But, through sheer desire and perseverance, these impossible dreams are now realities.

Thomas Edison once said that genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. Nothing could be truer. For one to accomplish his or her dreams, there has to be had work and discipline. But take note that that 1% has to be a think-big dream, and not some easily accomplished one.

Ask any gym rat and he or she will tell you that there can be no gains unless you are put out of your comfort zone. Remember the saying, “No pain, no gain”? That is as true as it can be.

So dream on, friend! Don’t get caught up with your perceived limitations. Think big and work hard to attain those dreams. As you step up the ladder of progress, you will just about find out that the impossible has just become a little bit more possible.

Thanks, wishing you all the best.

• 0 Comments

 Note : Article received from others

This is not a column about listing the short-term and long-term benefits of engaging in regular exercise. “Been there, done that,” right? You’ve heard it all before. Instead, I want to discuss the reasons so many of us have a deep resistance toward starting and maintaining a regular exercise program, and how to develop a positive attitude about making exercise a new daily ritual, not unlike brushing your teeth, washing up, praying and other daily routines that many of us do naturally and automatically. Then next week, we’ll consider more techniques to avoid quitting an exercise program. In the meantime, let’s try to reduce the mistakes we make that set ourselves up for failure in attempting to develop an exercise routine.Why we hate to exercise The late comedian Milton Berle said, “They say exercise adds 10 years to your life. They must be right. I just finished exercising and I feel 10 years older, already!” That’s likely true for many of us who try to start an exercise program. Why do we dislike to exercise so much, especially because we know it’s good for our health, gives us more energy and makes us feel better? The

United States is known as the most sedentary country in the world. According to the American Heart Association, only 54 percent of adults in the

United States engage in physical activity. Here are a few reasons that explain our disdain of exercise, and there’s enough blame to go around. n Discomfort: You are who you train to be. Our body, including muscles and the cardiovascular system, will respond only to what we require it to do — no more, no less. If we do not challenge our body to go beyond the minimum to work, we will remain weak (untrained). If, however, we make regular physical demands on our body through exercise and other activities during the day, we get stronger. Our body adapts to these higher demands. Exercise should not be unpleasant, but just sufficiently intense to make new, increased physical demands that require the body to adapt and get stronger. n Low vs. high discomfort zones: Each of us differs on our ability to handle physical exertion. The minimal amount of exertion we perform from exercise before it becomes uncomfortable is our “discomfort threshold.” The maximal amount of exertion we can handle before we must stop is our “discomfort tolerance.” The discomfort range between minimum and maximum is our “discomfort zone.” People with a low-discomfort threshold and tolerance do not handle high-intense exercise very well, as opposed to individuals with a high-discomfort threshold and tolerance. Our disposition for physical activity is, in part, heredity, personality, and our lifestyle habits. Can we change from an inactive to an active type? Absolutely. It’s all a matter of training. I have seen life-long couch potatoes lose 50 pounds and lead an active lifestyle after they retrain their system to slowly increase the frequency and intensity of regular physical exertion — about three to five times a week. One MTSU staff member who never exercised prior to starting a summer exercise program has actually run a marathon (26 miles). Remember, you are who you train to be. n Exercise as punishment: Another reason some of us despise exercise — and this is sad, and still goes on today — is what our former physical education teachers and coaches required us to do as kids. If you were late to class or lost the game, some of us were required to do sit-ups, push-ups or run. What’s wrong with this picture? For many of us, our former PE teachers and coaches (and perhaps some parents) used exercise as a form of punishment. Rather than a source of fun and enjoyment, physical activity became associated with negative feelings. Let’s hope our PE teachers can use other ways to discipline their students so kids can, again, find physical activity to be fun. n We lack proper exercise knowledge and skill: This is a big one. When I exercise on the running track at MTSU’s

Campus Rec Center, I often see individuals use two speeds: stop and go. Then they run as fast and far as they can until they are too tired to continue, then they leave the track. Nonsense! This is silly behavior by individuals who have been given no instruction on exercise technique. Let’s face it, how often do most of us engage in an activity that makes us feel uncomfortable, inadequate, incompetent or one in which we detect no improvement? We ignore or quit performing those types of activities. Feelings of competence and improvement motivate us to keep going. In addition, poor exercise technique can result in an injury and prevents us from seeing the results we need to keep going. Unless exercisers are taught the correct techniques, they will continue to struggle and, eventually, quit. n Exercise interferes with our schedule: Oh, yes, the all-too-common excuse of “not enough time.” This is a time-management problem, but there are two problems with this faulty logic. First, yes, time is tight for all of us. But until we plan our exercise sessions in advance, we will never be able to find the time. Schedule it. Second, we tend to view exercise as “one more thing to do,” rather than as an investment in our future. Think of the time needed for exercise in the same way you invest your money. Your employer takes out a certain amount of money for retirement with each paycheck. The disadvantage of this is that we receive less cash with each check. The advantage, however, is that not only is that money returned during retirement when we no longer make a salary, but we also receive the interest on our invested funds. Less now, but much more later. Same goes with exercise. Exercise does consume time, but we get back much more energy and higher quality of life in return. That’s a good investment of time. n Our negative inner (private) voice: The negative voice inside us is the main reason we dislike exercise so much. Psychologists tell us that our self-talk dictates our attitudes and behaviors. “I hate exercise” translates into not exercising. (”Every time I think about exercising, I lie down until the feeling passes,” said one former client). We have to shut off that negative inner voice, and replace it with positive, upbeat self-statements to start and maintain an exercise habit. n We fail to develop an exercise habit: Exercise should be incorporated into our lifestyle as part of our daily routines. Exercise should not be viewed as “just one more thing to do.” Exercise has to be placed on our to-do list; it should be viewed as an integral part of our day. n Refusing to move. Think about the missed opportunities to move our body that will burn calories and make us feel better. Examples include not taking daily walks, refusing to return our shopping cart from our car back to the store from which it came, not walking to another part of the house to retrieve something we’ve forgotten (”Honey, bring me that ‘thing’ next time you come in this direction, OK?”), driving around the parking lot to find a parking place closer to our shopping destination rather than taking a slightly longer walk, asking others to perform tasks such as taking out the garbage, raking leaves, mowing the grass, walking the dog, and performing an array of other physical activities rather than do it ourselves.

If you’ve resolved this year to begin an exercise program to become more physically fit, don’t forget to also work on the mental side. A positive attitude goes a long way toward a fit lifestyle.

 Thanks,wishing you all the best.

• 0 Comments

The Road to Intuition
Have you had that experience when all of a sudden you just had this huge hunch that something is about to happen, and to your surprise, that intuition was eventually translated to reality?

When you feel strongly about something without logical basis to it, that’s called intuition. It comes in three impressions: clairvoyance or “the third eye”, sensing clearly and feeling through listening.

Clairvoyance is when your eye goes beyond what it can see. This is when you know what is happening somewhere.

Sensing clearly is basically what we refer to as “hunch” or “gut feel.” This is the time when you are overwhelmed with a feeling and you can’t explain it and all you can say is “I just know.”

On the other hand, feeling through listening or clairaudience is being able to “listen” between the lines. Intuition also happens at times when a certain sound, whatever it is - be it a car’s honk or a bird’s twitting - ushers in an intense feeling.

They say only a number of people are gifted with intuition. Astrologers even insist that people born under the Scorpio or Pisces signs are naturally intuitive it almost borders on E.S.P. But studies have been sprouting left and right that proclaim that anyone can develop intuition.

Why the need to develop intuition, you ask? Why not let your emotional and psychological state as it is? First and foremost, intuition promotes good communication. It makes you more sensitive to the people around you; it often keeps you from hurting those you love because you are intuitive enough to understand them. Intuition also makes you far more creative than ever. Intuition means releasing more creative juices for any means of expression. Lastly, intuition has a healing power. This healing power is not in the physical sense, but in delving deep into your soul to eradicate some negative energy buried in it.

With that being said, are you ready to develop your intuition? Here are some ways to unlock this gift:

1. Hypnosis

Oh yes, get yourself hypnotized. Hypnosis is not limited to watching a pendulum move back and forth. Perform self-hypnosis or you can avail of hypnotic programs that can strengthen your intuition.

2. Meditation

Meditating means finding peace in yourself. If your mind and heart are cluttered with too many baggage and hurt,  you wouldn’t be able to quiet down that part of you that could eventually initiate intuition. There are so many ways to meditate: take a yoga class, or just simply practice some breathing that could bring you straight to Zen.

3. Think positive!

A worry-free, fear-free state could do so much to improve your intuitive ability. By staying positive, you attract good energy that would be able to easily recognize imminent feelings and events.

4.  Just let go.

What does this mean? If you are on the brink of making a huge decision, let go of all the inhibitions and head to a quiet place where you could find out where the letting go has brought you. Sometimes you just have to listen to the voice within you, and that voice wouldn’t come out unless you let go.

5. Never expect.

After letting go of the inhibitions and all those things that stop you from thinking and feeling clearly, never expect for an answer right away. Never expect that the “hunch” would fall on your lap immediately. Give it a little time then you’d just get surprised that — wham! — now you have your answer.

6. Believe in your first impressions.

When you see someone for the first time and think that he is a bit too arrogant for your taste, chances are that impression actually holds true. Most of the time, first impressions are brought by intuition.

7. Stay happy!

See? All you need to be intuitive is to stay happy! Happiness attracts immense power and such power includes intuition. In tapping your intuition, your motivation must be happiness and contentment. Given that premise, intuition will fall to you easily.

Intuition is helpful, because sometimes it leads you to something that cannot be achieved otherwise. A lot of lives have been saved by intuition alone. Decisions are easier done if armed by this gift. Develop intuition now and reap benefits you have never imagined.

Thanks,wishing you all the best.

• 0 Comments