Jerk Reactions: The Reason We Are Often Jolted Out Of Sleep

No matter what time we get up in the morning, what our day consisted of, or how late we decided to call it a night, getting a good night's sleep is something we all want and need, but all do differently. Some of us are naturally "restless" sleepers. Despite our exhaustion an efforts, we toss and turn, finding it almost impossible to get comfortable and (perhaps just when we get settled in and comfortable) are awakened by just about any little noise, movement, or glimpse of light. Yet, others (of us) are sound sleepers who easily fall asleep, remain virtually undisturbed and "incapacitated" until the next day or until the alarm clock jolts us out of bed (and with lots of effort at that).

However, the one thing that most of us have in common once we've dozed off is that from time to time we all experience a jerking action as our bodies and minds zone into the zone of sleep. And, it frequently leaves us with the feeling that we are falling.

Ever wonder why this happens, and what causes it? If you’re like most of us, we're sure you have.

According to experts, it's all part of a phenomenon known as sleep start. Sleepstart, ironically is an occurrence that even scientists can’t fully explain and don't totally understand. However the most widely accepted scientific speculation and explanation is that the brain misinterprets the relaxation process that muscles experience as you drift into sleep. As a result the brain then notifies, or rather, alerts the muscles, and encourages them to suddenly tense up in an effort to prevent the sensation of "falling".

However, experts assert that regardless of whether these jolts, jolt you out of sleep or not, they are quite common, normal, and nothing to worry about.

The Perrfectionist Demon!

One of the worst habits you can have is to be a perfectionist. Most people do not even realize that being a perfectionist leads to the horrible habit of procrastination - putting off the things that you know need to be done.

The basis for procrastination is the fear that we will not do something properly so we decide not to start. If we don't start then we cannot fail. We think in our heads that we must complete a project but are afraid it will not be done correctly leading to failure or being completed late and unsatisfactory. This type of thinking leaves no middle ground; you are either perfect or a complete failure. People who think this way set them selves up for failure because very, I repeat very, few thinks are perfect in life.

Striving to be perfect creates expectations, pressures and problems, which create enormous stress. This stress is so strong that being happy is almost impossible. One of the most damaging problems with being a perfectionist is the feeling of having to impress others. So much so that the perfectionist thinking holds them back from ever being able to break any old habits and being able to create the change they desire.

You have to change your level of thinking. Accept that you and everything around you is not perfect. You will find yourself able to start projects with out being afraid. Be able to smile and not worry what others think about what you are doing. Not think to your self "I can't do it because I know it will come out bad, No body will like it. I just can't. "Or say "I'll just do it tomorrow, I have plenty of time." Perfectionists say these statements all the time. Don't fall into these traps. Enjoy life, smile and have fun. Do not let the things you have to do in life control you. Change your behavior today! It all starts with your mind set.

Kill Your Stuttering Demons

Apparently one percent of British people suffer from the speech impediment called stuttering. Only people who stutter can ever really know how difficult life can become when you are unable to speak fluently in all situations.

This article looks into examples of what I call, the stuttering demons and options of how to eradicate them once and for all.

When I had a stutter, I used to be afraid of certain words beginning with certain letters. Words which began with "b" were especially hard to say. If somebody asked me where I lived, I would have a voice in my head, which is what I call my demons, which would tell me that I could not say the word "Birmingham". It would also advise to say "West Midlands" instead. This word substitution is something that I regularly did. I was not happy though and was desperate to stop this voice and believed if I could stop it, then I would be able to overcome this stuttering disablity once and for all.

I would see a potential job in the newspaper, the demons would tell me not to apply for it as the interview would be too difficult for me with the pressure of having to answer all of the questions which would be asked. I used to listen to these demons and therefore would not apply for these positions, I stayed in the same dead end job for six years.

When I was about sixteen I became drunk for the first time and the alcohol gave me a huge but somewhat false confidence boost. I now had no fear and the demons did not appear, I was also able to talk superbly. Now I am not saying that you should all be in a permanent drunken state, however this showed me not only was I able to talk well but that the stammer must not only be a physical impediment but also physcological.

There are many forms of stuttering help out there including tradional speech therapy, group speech courses, one to one speech courses and even hypnotherapy. I personally believe that the way to go is one to one speech courses as every person who has a stutter is an individual and has an individual stutter.

Emotions- Why Do We Have Them?

We as human beings have a body and a mind. With the body, we move around and do work. With the mind, we think, and experience emotions. Imagine of a human being with no emotions whatsoever. Only a thinking machine who reacts to nothing emotional but makes scientific analysis. Imagine telling a joke to him/her. They will not laugh at it, but either ignore it or analyze the joke. They make life difficult for those around them.
After all what is a person without any emotions?

Why do we have emotions at all? Your computer on which you are sitting right now is a perfect machine to analyze, think and give results. It has no emotions. It is only an intelligent machine. Why are human beings not like that? Would life be better if we had no emotions? We would lose all the charm of living if there was no trace of any emotion in any of us. Let us take some situations. A death - people gather, complete the ceremonies and depart. No wet eyes, no remembering the dead soul, no sense of loss. The law of nature is simple. One who is born has to die. So only intelligent understanding of that but no feeling of loss. Can you visualize the scene?

Love, what is love, if not an emotion? So there will be no love. People will meet, produce children and get away from each other. No love, no romance. What about family? They may have a family for the children to grow up. Then the family will get separated. Coming to achievements, discoveries and inventions. Why will a person without any emotions, feel good by achievements or get excited with discoveries? So nothing great. Only minimum existence needs to be met. It is the time for us now in this discussion to imagine of everything we do in life. Practically all our actions are governed by emotions. Imagine a person winning an Olympics gold medal and walking away without any expression! Think of more situations and you will realize the role of emotions in life.

We have emotions, because we are not low-level animals. Because even dogs and cats have emotions. We have emotions because they make us enjoy life. They make us perform great things and they make us human.

The Shining Light of Hope

You will want to share something with someone today.

Actually, with at least two people.

One person that you know very well.

And one person that you do not know well at all, and also needs to hear from you today.

The one you know well needs to hear from you right now.

The one you do not know at all will become evident to you when you meet them today for the first time as you go about your day.

By sharing this message with both of them, you will also receive the message - which is exactly why you must share the message with them first.

The message is one of HOPE.

Hope is the feeling that what you want to happen... will happen.

It's what keeps us going when we feel overwhelmed with problems, frustrations, and situations that seem insurmountable to us at the moment.

And I am sharing HOPE with you right now.

HOPE that what you want to happen... will happen.

It's kind of like shining a flashlight on a dark and unknown path so you can more easily see the way to go.

It's like opening the door that seems too heavy for you to open it alone.

It's like giving a word of encouragement to someone who is having trouble solving a problem and under such stress they cannot see their situation clear enough to take that first step forward without your help.

Right now, call that someone you know and give them HOPE.

And throughout your day today, be on the lookout for that someone you don't know, who needs HOPE and shine a light on their path too.

By shining a light of HOPE on their path, you will shine the light of HOPE on your own journey's path too.

- - -

Mark Hendricks is a business and marketing expert; sales copywriter; a joint venture specialist; software developer; and author, speaker, consultant, mentor, and success coach.

You can visit his websites at:
http://www.internet-success-system.com
http://www.hunteridge.com
http://www.market-soft.com
http://www.swiftkickinthebutt.com

Test If You Will Become The Richest Person In World

Money is one of the greatest motivations in the world. Most of us work not only to earn money, but also to become wealthy. Wealth brings many comforts with it. One can have all the luxuries in the world and also get the aura of power. Wealth is power

If a quick survey is conducted to find out if people want to become rich, most of the responses will e in yes. Add one more question - Do you think that you can become the richest person in the world, and you will be surprised with the answers. Most of the answers will be in no. Very few of us believe that we have it in us to become the richest person. We are afraid of the thought and believe that we don't have the capacity to be the richest person. Why? Because we don't believe in our capabilities and also have created mental block that says - How can you, such an ordinary person dream of becoming the richest in the world?

This is our mental block that stops us from thinking creatively. Once we decide in our mind that we can become the richest person and deserve to become, we will find ways to do it. The first need is to break the mental block, the second to find ways to do it. As soon as you decide in your mind that you want to reach that goal and determine that you will reach that goal, find a business plan that will help you reach that goal. This will be tough, but once our mind is asked to find solutions, it gets them.

Test your attitude towards yourself. Test if you have any blocks in your mind. If there are any remove them and repeat to yourself that you deserve to reach the place you have decided. Work towards it and you will reach it one day. Please remember that no rich man /woman ever imagined that they would become so wealthy. Like you they all suffered self-doubts and over came them.

The gift of fluent speech

There are many people in the world who have problems with their communication. In this article I concentrate on the specific speech impediment called stuttering.

Why do people stutter?

There are many reasons people may develop a stuttering problem:

A traumatic event such as the loss of a relative

Someone in the family such as a parent may have had a stutter

The person who has a stutter may have copied a friend at say school who has a stutter and then it has resulted in them also stuttering

An over aggressive relative telling the person to spit their words out etc.

A while ago I had a female client who told me how she had developed a stutter. She was fluent until the age of twenty four. At this age she became pregnant for the first time, she was very happy and excited about the prospects about becoming a mother.

She was apprehensive about the birth and her friends had been winding her up telling her how painful the experience is. She knew that they were only teasing and tried to keep relaxed.

The day of the birth arrived and unfortunately the delivery was particulary hard and she was extremely shocked about how bad it actually was. After the birth of the baby, who was a healthy boy she developed the stutter.

Not all people who stutter have it from an early age, another one of my clients was fluent until the age of nineteen. At this age he had a car crash and this was the trigger to him starting to stutter.

Stephen Hill

Quiz - Are You Compassionate To Yourself?

We talk of physical abuse. We also talk of emotional abuse. Let us now talk about self-abuse. What is self-abuse? Normally when we talk of any abuse, an outside agent is involved. In self-abuse, we hurt our self. We do not need any outside agency. Our own thoughts, our self-guilt and our self-beating do this for us.

Why do we do this - Some of this has to do with childhood and some with our failures in or adult life. Once we meet with few failures, we brand ourselves as a failed person. I know of a person, who not only called oneself a failed person but also believed that whatever one associated with would meet with failures. This is a complex phenomenon that involves total loss of confidence and loss of self worth.

What should be done - To stop self-abuse, one has to act slowly. One may also need outside support. The confidence that got chipped away slowly has to be brought back slowly. This cannot be done quickly. Small failures led to loss of self-confidence. Small successes will lead to rebuilding the confidence. With slow building of confidence, we must get rid of our guilt. We have to forgive ourselves. We have to show compassion to ourselves. It is like this - If we find a hurt person, we handle him/her softly and are very compassionate. We have to do that with ourselves.

We all are very precious. We are most precious for ourselves. Like a precious possession with us, we have to protect our dignity and confidence. We have to show the same care. That is compassion for our self.

Test-Taking Tips Help Reduce Student Anxiety

Standardized tests are becoming increasingly common at all levels of public and private schooling. For many students, these tests can be a source of anxiety. But by following some simple strategies, both students and their parents can be fully prepared for success on test day:

Tip #1: Read all directions carefully! Oftentimes in test-taking environments, the adrenaline gets pumping and students read through instructions too quickly. Taking the extra time to slow down and make sure they understand the question not only saves students from making wrong answers, but also saves time in the long run.

Tip #2: Listen attentively to the teacher or proctor. It's very easy to let anxiety take over while waiting for the teacher to start the exam. Talk to your child about taking a deep breath and not getting distracted from the directions the teacher is giving.

Tip #3: If the directions are confusing, ask! Your child's teacher is there to help explain unclear directions. It is always better for your child to ask and be told by the teacher that they can't answer the question than to not ask at all.

Tip #4: It's OK to take a break. Time management is important, but not if it means that your child is going to burn out before the end of the test. If your child says that tests feel overwhelming and exhausting, tell him that it's OK to put his pencil down and close his eyes, stare out the window for a moment or just take a few deep breaths. Just don't lose track of time!

Tip #5: Manage time well. Good time management is critical to good test taking. It doesn't matter if your child is in 3rd grade or graduate school, no one wants to run out of time on a test. Every question gets equal weight, so it is in your child's best interest to skip questions that are particularly difficult and save them for the end. And if your child finishes early, answers should be double checked!

The Heart-Warming Gratitude

Thank you very much. I am obliged. Gratitude, a quality that is a must to live a good life. Gratitude, a quality that makes both the giver and the receiver happy. Somebody helped me and I forgot about it. Somebody helped me and I remembered it and said thanks. What is better? Many of us forget to thank. We take everything for granted. We take help as our right.

How many of us express gratitude towards earth for allowing us to live on it? How many of us express gratitude towards sun for giving us its light and life to us? How many of us express gratitude to water for quenching our thirst? How many of us say thanks to flowers for making us happy? All of us take these for granted. We don't express gratitude to our own body to survive in this world. Gratitude has a great quality. It makes one who expresses gratitude feel very good. Try it and you will find your heart filling with warmth.

Husband takes wife for granted and vice versa. People are forgetting the art of saying thank you. Why not make other person feel good? By receiving a thanks, the recipient feels worthy. I am a good person. I did something good, so I am getting this Thanks. Why should we miss even the smallest opportunity to express thanks? It costs us nothing. But it is invaluable for one who gets it. Even the smallest gesture made by any body deserves our gratitude. A cab driver, a flower seller, a guard, an attendant, a waiter, everyone who does anything for us, should be told- Thank you very much.

Life is tough for all of us. There is no charm left for many of us in the routine of work. A thank you brings beauty in a dull life. Like a rainbow in the sky, an expression of thanks decorates the heart of the giver and the recipient. The way rain quenches the dry earth, gratitude quenches the desires of hearts to feel good. It quenches the thirst of the hearts. Let us all express our heart warming gratitude and make our earth a better place.

Why You Need to Find a Role Model

Mark Twain once said, “Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you too, can become great.” True role models generate motivation. He or she proved that it could be done. And if he can do it, so can you.

Reading about how someone else achieved success creates beliefs in you that your goal is possible. It energizes you.

Successful people have role models. Here are a few examples:

· Arnold Schwarzenegger found his role model, Reg Park, in a bodybuilding magazine. Reg was the most powerful person at the time, and Arnold dreamed of having huge muscles like Reg's. Arnold learned everything he could about Reg: his training routine, his diet, his lifestyle. The more he learned about Reg and followed his example, the more Arnold realized it was possible for him to become like Reg. (Source: Unstoppable by Cynthia Kersey)

· Pete Sampras. Born in 1971, tennis great Pete Sampras grew up idolizing his role model-the great tennis champ Rod Laver of Australia. Young Pete dreamed how one day he would also play in the U.S. Open.

As a sixteen-year-old qualifier, Pete started getting noticed on the tennis tour in 1988. He played a game called “dangerous.” It took him two years to reach the top ten, and along the way he defeated several of the great tennis legends. He won his first Grand Slam title in 1990 with an unbelievable serve that stunned players like Agassi, Lendl, and McEnroe. At nineteen, Pete was the youngest tennis player ever to win the coveted U.S. Open cup.

Today Pete is one of the most admired all-American tennis players. He is a versatile player who masters any situation. He has integrity in the way he plays and in the way he lives his life. His determination is an inspiration to others, and a motivating force among our youth. (Source: www.rolemodel.net)

· Babe Ruth. Even the greatest slugger of all time-Babe Ruth-had a role model. He said that he would spend hours trying to copy the powerful swing of Joe Jackson, better known as Joe Shoeless Jackson. If even the great Babe Ruth had a role model, I think you and I could use one too!

Overcoming Your Panic Attacks And Other Fears

It can be tough to have to deal with panic attacks and your other fears. Experiencing a panic attack can be very scary for some people. The good news is that there are ways to deal with your panic attacks. Enclosed is a list of techniques a person can use to manage their panic attacks.

When experiencing a panic attack, a person should slow down and take a deep breathe. After doing this, try to do something that will distract you from your current situation. A person could take a walk, read a book or do something that they like to do. This small break will distract you and give you some space from your stressful event.

Another way to manage your panic attacks is to find out what is causing your panic attacks. If you are not sure then talk to a counselor who can give you some reasons on what is causing this. Once you know the source of your panic attacks, they will become easier to manage.

Learn how to manage your fears. A lot of panic attacks are based on fear. If you can manage the fear, you will be able to manage your panic attacks. The key is to find those techniques that will decrease your particular fear. Again, seek the services of a professional who can help you with this.

Finally, learn to get rid of your negative thoughts. Negative and fearful thoughts usually are behind panic attacks. The next time you experience a negative or scary thought, get into the practice of not dwelling on these thoughts. It can be tough, but try to look beyond those negative thoughts. Try to focus on the facts and reality of the situation instead of focusing on your fears.

I realize it is not easy to overcome our fears and panic attacks. Don’t get discouraged if you have trouble managing them. With some effort and practice, you will be able to find those techniques that will manage your fears. The key is to not to give up.

Los 7 Mejores Musicales

Aquí te presento una lista de las películas mas destacadas en la sección de musicales para que disfrutes y entretengas.

La novicia rebelde (The Sound of Music):
La clásica historia de la familia Van Trapp en Austria y la niñera, protagonizada por Julie Andrews en 1965, todavía sigue siendo entretenida ya tractiva para la educación de los niños. La trama, la música, las visuales y el mensaje son parte de la niñez de muchos de mi generación.

Chicago:
Del musical teatral protagonizado en cine por Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones y Richard Gere es otro de los recomendados. Su más reciente estreno en los 2000 es de una excelente actuación, baile y sonido que ha ganado un premio tras otro. Vale la pena!

Mouline Rouge:
Protagonizada por Nicole Kidman y Ewan McGregor , dirigida por Baz Luhrmann este increíble musical fue uno de los mas impactantes que vi. En 2001 Moulin Rouge logro traer a la pantalla grande, de la llegada de un humilde escritor ingles en 1900 a Paris, y su encuentro con una bailarina en Mouline Rouge.

Grease:
Grease es un musical para adolescentes, de 1978 que todavía vale la pena mirar. John Travolta comienza su carrera de galán en la pantalla grande, junto con Olivia newton John hacen un dúo inolvidable. Sus canciones siguen siendo un éxito hoy en día, reproducidas en transe y house music.

Mary Poppins:
Julie Andrews en 1964 de nuevo hace una brillante actuación junto con Dick Van Dyke convierten este musical en un mágico de Disney inolvidable para niños! Ese clásico nunca pasara de moda.

El Mago de Oz:
Judy Garland en 1939, junto con sus tres amigos (el hombre de lata sin corazón, el espantapájaros sin cerebro y el León sin coraje) siguen el inolvidable camino amarillo para llegar al Mago de Oz. Excelente.

La Bella y La Bestia:
Un dibujo animado de Disney para adultos y niños que fue capaz de ganar los corazones de millones de personas en 1991. Un gran mensaje para no guiarse por las apariencias, lleno de magia y entretenimiento. Increíble sonido!

Aquí termino mi lista, espero que la hayan disfrutado y que ahora puedan con seguridad elegir su próximo musical!

Self Talk

Self talk is something we all do. We are always explaining things to ourselves, and making comments to ourselves. The question is, what are we saying? What we say to ourselves radically affects the quality of our lives, and our ability to do things effectively.

Are you using positive self-talk or negative self-talk? Below are some of the things that positive and negative people say. Look at the difference, and start talking to yourself in more constructive ways, if you don't already.

Positive Self Talk

Positive people explain bad things by externalizing them ("The weather caused it."). They consider them temporary ("That was a rough couple hours."). They see them as isolated ("THAT part of the plan didn't work, but..."). When they explain good things, they internalize them ("Life is great!"), consider them to be more or less permanent changes ("Now I know how to do this."), and generalize from them ("Things are working out well.").

"I've done well with this."

"This has become a great business to be in."

"I like the way things are going."

"That just went bad due to the weather."

"It was rough for an hour or two."

"The car broke down, but the trip was fun."

Negative Self Talk

Negative people explain bad things by internalizing them ("It's me again."). They consider them permanent ("It's always this way."). They generalize ("Life sucks."). When they explain good things, they externalize them ("That's just lucky."), consider them temporary ("That went well TODAY."), and see them only in a specific context ("At least THIS went right.").

"It's ALWAYS a mess when I meet someone new."

"This party is great, not like mine."

"This is fun for now."

"Well, THAT went okay, I guess."

"I screwed up again."

"This good weather won't last."

If you start explain things to yourself differently, you'll see a difference in your attitude today. Make positive self talk your normal mode of operation, and you'll see a difference in your life. One of the fastest ways to change your experience of life is to change your self talk.

Get Lucky

Ready to get lucky? There are many very specific techniques for generating luck in your life. One of the simplest is to just start looking for good luck. Yes, it really can be as simple as that.

Maybe you have noticed that when you buy a new car, you start to see similar cars all over? Of course they were there before, but now you are seeing them, because you are looking. It works this way with luck too. Start looking for luck and you'll find it. Start counting the ways you are already lucky, and you'll have even more luck.

Get Lucky Today

Some will tell you that God or the universe brings luck into your life once there's grattitude in your heart. It's a nice thought, but not my style. A less spiritual explanation is that when you acknowledge luck, and you look for more, you create a certain frame of mind. This frame of mind helps you take advantage of opportunities you might otherwise not recognize.

For example, if you are looking for a job, and a friend mentions a new business in town that is hiring, you might usually think nothing of it. Now, if you were watching for luck, and grateful for the good luck you've seen in your life, you might be more likely to check it out, right. A few weeks later you may be working for this company, making more money and saying "Boy did I get lucky."

You've probably heard the saying, "If life gives you lemons, make lemonade?" This describes the frame of mind of a lucky person. Just seeing how lucky you are, even in small ways, makes the possibility of good luck more real to you, and this gets you watching. The watching gets you thinking, "How is this lucky for me? What can I do with this situation? How can I make lemonade from these lemons?"

Start counting the ways you are lucky in life, and the first thing you'll notice is that you feel better. A sense of gratitude is good for your soul, even if you're not religious. Start watching for more good luck, and it won't be your imagination when you start to get lucky.

Reasons People Start To Stutter

When a person develops a stutter or a parent realises that their child is developing a stutter they often want to find out the cause. It can be very disturbing and worrying to a person and parents, so what causes a stutter?

The answer is many things can trigger someone starting to stutter. These are some of them:

It can be a traumatic event

It can run in the family

People may copy a friend at school who has a stutter and then it sticks

An over aggressive relative

Last year I had a female client who told me how she had developed a stutter. She was fluent until the age of twenty four. At this age she became pregnant for the first time, she was very happy and excited about the prospects about becoming a mother.

She was apprehensive about the birth and her friends had been winding her up telling her how painful the experience is. She knew that they were only teasing and tried to keep relaxed.

The day of the birth arrived and unfortunately the delivery was particulary hard and she was extremely shocked about how bad it actually was. After the birth of the baby, who was a healthy boy she developed the stutter.

Not all people who stutter have it from an early age, another one of my clients was fluent until the age of nineteen. At this age he had a car crash and this was the trigger to him starting to stutter.

Many people who stutter have a parent or relative who has a stutter and they have picked up their stuttering habit possibly from this person.

There are many stutter treatments now available from one to one speech courses or group courses as well as traditional speech therapy.

Tips on Beating The Afternoon 'Blahs'

Does afternoon feel like a better time to nap than work? Actually, some lifestyle experts say a 15- or 20-minute "power nap" after lunch isn't a bad idea.

If you're afraid you'll sleep the entire afternoon away, set the alarm on your watch. Here are some more tips to get you through that mid-afternoon slump:

• Try to avoid foods like turkey and dairy products during the day. They're rich in the amino acid tryptophan, which can cause sleepiness.

• Take breaks. If you're working on a huge project, you'll be more productive and less tired if you take regular short breaks instead of relentlessly plowing ahead.

• Drink water. Dehydration drains energy. Drink a glass of water in the morning and any other time you need a pick-me-up.

• Eat complex carbs. A starchy snack like a bagel or banana will give you a quick energy boost.

• Jog in place, stretch at your desk or go for a brisk walk. Moving around will get the blood flowing and carry oxygen to the tissues, so you'll feel energized and alert.

• Get enough sleep. Most people need seven to nine hours of sleep a night to feel their best.

If you have trouble falling asleep, a supplement like Insomnia, from the "Spray" line of sublingual sprays, can help relieve the anxiety and stress that keep you awake at night. A combination of natural remedies, Insomnia curbs immediate symptoms but also works at a deeper level, helping you sleep more soundly and comfortably, according to its manufacturer.

Personality Test - Are You A Sports Car?

All of you have watched sport cars. They go on a predetermined course at a great speed, taking sweeping turns and demolishing anything that comes on the way. if there is a big obstacle, the sports car will meet with an accident itself. The only objective of such a car is to travel as fast as possible and leave others behind in the race.

Do you behave like a sports car? Deciding about your home and work schedule in the morning and then completing every work one after another at the greatest speed possible. To accomplish all the pending work as soon as possible is the only objective of such people. Are you one of these? If they are walking towards their office block, they will not walk slowly absorbing scenes around, but walk swiftly, get in to elevator, occupy the desk and begin working to complete everything one after another.

Precision work at the highest speed is the main characteristic of such people. Even if they to watch a movie, they will watch it clinically and walk out. They enjoy nothing except the thrill of being first in the race of completion. Do such people ever enjoy life? Do you think that such a person will ever walk in a garden leisurely enjoying the flowers, sit on a bench and look around? That sounds impossible.

We are human beings and not machines. We need to relax, enjoy, savor life, meet people, relate and work. Work is not the only object of our life. Why not change yourself to a slow moving luxury sedan?

Test Your Personality - Are You Obsessed With Your Body?

The age of meterosexual men is here. Gone are the days with men used to enjoy feel like a cowboy. The cosmetic companies have a bigger market in men than women. It has all to do with the new man's obsession with his body. He wants to look clean, young and smart in a different way. Don't think women are behind. The days when a dash of foundation and some lipstick were enough to look good are gone long ago. Today it is the latest anti aging creams, anti wrinkle therapies and what not. Test yourself now and find out if you are one of them?

Let us begin from the body. We all want to look good. No body wants to age. No wrinkles are acceptable. No spots are permitted. Why? Are we all known only by our bodies? Look back at the history and think of your heroes. Do you remember anything about their bodies, except how they looked or their deeds? The greatest men and women of history were quite ordinary looking, and I wonder if any of them had any time to look after his/her beauty.


This all has to do with our priorities. If you test yourself about your priorities, what comes first - To look good or to do a good deed? If you take a quick survey, you will be amazed at the results. Body has taken the first priority. To look good, to dress up with the latest designer clothes and to show off the latest accessories is the law of the day. Every man wants to build muscles, get pedicures and manicures done, go through facials and every woman is searching for that bottle of magic that will always keep her looking young. Please test yourself about your personality and find out if you are obsessed with your body. Look at the results and give a deep thought about the legacy you will leave behind.

How To Overcome The Fear Of Failure

Some people will have to deal with managing the failure of failure during their lifetime. They are so afraid of failing or not making it that they become very anxious. Here are some steps on how to manage the fear of failure in your life.

It is best to have at least have tried than not to try at all. Do you want to go through the rest of your life not knowing that you could of made it? At least if you try, you will know for sure if you would have made it.

Another benefit of giving something a try is that you can learn from your mistakes. If your first attempt doesn’t work out, then at least you know what went wrong. If you decide to do that task again you will know what to do which will increase your chance of success.

If you are afraid to fail at a certain task, then develop some kind of back up plan for you to rely on in case you do fail. For instance, let’s say that you are afraid that you will not pass a certain class in school. Develop a plan B for yourself in case you do not pass the class. This will reduce your stress and take the pressure of taking the test and passing. If you don’t make it, you have something to fall back on.

Ask yourself what is the worse that can happen. Think about it. What will you lose if you don’t make it the first or second time? Yes, it might be a set back, but you had set backs before. Tell yourself that you will not succeed at everything in life and that will help reduce your anxieties.

Fear of failure can be a struggle for some people, however the worst part is not to at least try. You don’t want to go through life wondering whether you could have made it or not.

Managing Your Fears And Anxieties When Facing A Major Illness

Some people who have a major illness may have to deal with some fear and anxiety. Not knowing what may or may not happen can be very stressful. The good news is that there are ways to deal with your fears and anxieties.

The first step is to remind yourself that there are many people who have had major illnesses and still live a productive life. There are many medicines, nowadays, that can treat a variety of illnesses. In addition, there are also new treatments constantly being discovered that can improve your chances of survival.

Learn to communicate with your doctor and loved ones. You do not have to be alone in dealing with your illness and fears. Talking with others can give you additional insights and options to your current problems.

Take advantage of any assistance that may be around you. There are many self help groups available that a person can use that will help them to cope with their circumstances. These groups are also a great place to learn the skills of managing your fears and worries.

Do not try to do everything at the same time. Some people try to handle all of their anxieties at the same time. When trying to do everything all at once, it becomes harder to find the answers to your problems. Go at your pace in managing your stresses.

Remember that there is always hope that things will get better. Nobody can predict the future with one hundred percent accuracy. Remain positive and upbeat and do not focus on your fearful and exaggerated thoughts. In addition, prayer is a great way to manage your fears. Do not underestimate the power of prayer.

If you still have trouble then seek the services of a counselor or clergyman who can lead you in the right direction. The key is not to lose hope.

Help For Stuttering

For people who have fluent speech, it is hard to imagine what it must be like for people who stutter.

Going through life with a speech impediment is quite difficult, and at times the stutterer would appreciate a little more compasion.

After overcoming a stutter myself, I asked some of my friends, how they thought life was like, having a severe stutter. I had quite a few different responses, some of which annoyed me.

Jim said:

"I always thought that you felt a bit sorry for yourself and you made out that your stutter was some huge disasterous problem. It's not like you couldn't talk at all, is it?

I also felt at times that you lacked courage, for example always asking Tony to order your drinks for you."

Paul then gave his opinion:

"I found it quite funny that at times you would be talking really well, but within a few minutes you couldn't get a word out."

Ashley joined in:

"I felt a bit sorry for you, seeing you struggle, was quite painful to watch."- This was a better comment!

Nigel, another friend:

"I am glad that I don't stutter, but what I think you needed to understand was that you were not the only one with issues and problems. I am extremely impressed that you have managed to overcome it though."

I was annoyed mostly by the comments from Jim, and responded:

"So you think to have a stutter is not that bad then Jim? OK, I challenge you to go up to the bar and order a pint of lager, but when you order it I want you to stutter on some of the words."

I showed him how I wanted him to say the order, when to stutter etc. I then said:

"After you have stuttered on the words, I want you to see how it feels and to experience the way people look at you. You may then understand a little bit more of what I went through."

Jim declined this challenge, even after a severe amount of prompting and teasing from different members of our group.

Having a stutter is not nice and when someone who has a stutter seeks help, please offer them your full support.

Stephen Hill

Which Therapy?

Therapy is a word that covers a very broad spectrum. Nowadays there is an ever increasing amount of services that can be offered to help an individual with a specific difficulty.
Depending on what your problem is, or what it is you want to achieve there will be a specialist in that field.

For mental health problems, depression etc, talking therapies are recommended. This can range from talking with a counsellor, for mild problems, to talking with a psychologist or psychiatrist for more long term deep rooted problems. For more phobic specific depressions or anxiety there is a therapy that is becoming more and more popular which is called CBT, cognitive behavioural therapy.

The idea of CBT is to help change your thinking, by challenging and changing your automatic negative thoughts. It is a very successful treatment.

For Seasonal Affective Disorder SAD, light therapy is recommended, this can be attained by using a special lamp with stronger bulbs, for example, domestic lighting usually emits 200 – 500 lux but a bright summers day can be 100,000 lux. Light therapy has proven to be very effective in the treatment of SAD which usually occurs during the darker months. As these light units can be quite expensive to buy, some companies offer a trial period so you can see if the therapy works for you before you commit.

For physical problems, caused by age, illness or an accident, physiotherapy may be offered. Physiotherapy helps maximise movement through therapeutic exercise, massage and electro-physical modalities. Nowadays physiotherapists use a range of advanced technology to aid their work, hydrotherapy is often used in this field.

Your local GP or healthcare specialist will be able to advise you of which therapy may be beneficial to you, you may only be able to see some specialists with a referral from your doctor.

Five Thoughts About Effective Communication

Communicating effectively can sometimes be difficult to do. So here are some thoughts, based on borrowed wisdom, on how to communicate clearly – and make a better connection with the other person too.

“To get your ideas across use small words, big ideas, and short sentences.” ~ John Henry Patterson
Keep it simple and don’t use jargon. Adjust your style according to who you are communicating with. Take responsibility by checking frequently that the other person understands the message you are trying to convey – don’t assume that your message is always clear.

“People who talk only of themselves think only of themselves.” ~ Dale Carnegie
Find out about the other person. Focus on the other person – their needs, their wants, their situation. Build rapport instead of barriers. Show respect for them and for their views.

“One of the most valuable things we can do to heal one another is listen to each other's stories.” ~ Rebecca Falls

Giving someone space in which to talk and allowing them to follow through their ideas without fear of interruption is a most valuable gift. Listen. And switch off your mobile phone!

“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” ~ Stephen Covey

Be in the moment and give the speaker your full attention. Say “what else do you need to tell me about this?” Summarise key points that show you have been listening actively and ask questions that will help clarify your understanding of the issue.

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless." ~ Mother Teresa
Be nice! Acknowledge someone’s efforts and achievements, praise them, pay them a sincere compliment.

Stuttering Treatment

There are many types of treatment for people who have a stammer or stutter, this article describes some of them. Stuttering has gained a lot of coverage in the news over the last number of years with people like pop singer Gareth Gates highlighting the problems people who stutter have.

Speech therapy is the normal course of therapy people who stutter try. In my opinion this is useful however has limited power as the therapists themselves do not believe a stutter can be overcome. They are therefore merely helping people cope and from my own personal experience the main advice given, is to slow down when talking and to take a deep breath before speaking.

Hypnotherapy is another form of stuttering therapy. Success is no doubt largely dependant on the quality of the hypnotherapist involved. In my opinion stuttering is not only an emotional problem but also a physical problem and that hypnotherapy only deals with the emotional side.

Group speech courses is the next form of stuttering treatment. There are many of these type of courses which will either teach costal breathing, or slowed or prolonged speech. I think this form of stuttering help is better than the first two however I believe that every person is an individual and needs individual treatment with courses tailored to their individual needs.

One to one speech courses are for me the best form of treatment. There is nowhere to hide and the speech coach can really get to grips with the type of problem the person who has the stutter has. The speech coach can fully concentrate on that person for the duration of the course and a type of bond can form. This is the form of stuttering treatment which I believe is likely to prove the most beneficial and successful.

Stuttering And Stammering Speech Impediment

Stammering or as it is sometimes known as stuttering is a form of speech impediment.

My name is Stephen Hill and I had a stammer for eighteen years. I went to various types of speech therapy which even though was of some use, never really offered me any hope of a "cure".

At the age of twenty two, after a lot of hard work I managed to overcome the stammer and I now help other people to achieve fluency.

These are the types of situation that I found that I was most likely to stammer:

Ordering food and drink at a bar
Phone calls
Introducing people
Meeting new people
Talking when under pressure
Talking when tired or stressed

On my first day at senior school, all of the first year pupils were shown to their form room, including myself. The teacher, who was to be our form teacher, introduced himself and welcomed us to the school.

He then said
"OK class, I have introduced myself. I don't know any of you in here and most of you won't know each other. So what I would like you first of all to do, is to stand up and tell me your name and which junior school you used to attend."

He asked somebody on the front row to start, but because I was hiding at the back of the room, I would end up being one of the last people to speak. This was not a good thing as it meant I had a lot of time to worry about it. When my time arrived to speak, I could not even get one word out, it was most humiliating.

This is one of many bad days I had during the time when stammering was ruining my life.

How to Train Your Memory by playing Scrabble?

Scrabble, besides being a game that needs skills in strategy, it also calls for good memory to win the game.

Therefore, this word game can be used to help improve one's memory.

As you know very well, the key to the achieving of high points in this game is by forming words that contain a specified letter, such as "q" or "z".

To train your memory, try to remember the words contain the letter.

As tips, to make it easier, try to associate the word with something, such as your experience, friend, favorite movie, etc.

For example, to remember the word 'quiescent', you can associate it with one of your friend, who is quite by nature.

Another technique, which is my favourite to remember a list, is by combining the words together. For example, to remember some words which begin with 'z', try to memorize this sentence:

"The zany zebra in the zoo runs zigzag zealously and meets zookeper, zoologist and zoombie."

Notice that by combining them, at least you have memorized eight words that contain 'z' letter.

You can apply those techniques to remember things in your daily life.

A research showed that memory can also be improved by doing light activities that stimulate thinking power. The examples of such activities include playing scrabble.

Scrabble, as you know, needs a right strategy to win. Besides having to think about your next move, you also have to think to block up your opponent's move.

Concentrate better so your memory will improve more.

Happy playing this exciting game...

Personality - Do You Test Your Limits?

Are you a normal person or you normally test your limits? Let me explain what I am saying. Many of us love extreme actions and test ourselves to the extreme whenever the opportunity arises. For example, if there is a stunt event in the town, such people will go and watch it and then try the same stunt without any training. They risk their life in many such adventures but that is their nature. Are you one of these?

In business and job, such people will again react and act in extreme manner. Other co-workers will think many times before approaching boss for anything, but not those who test their limits. They think nothing of he consequences. They act like this in all life situations.

Why these people act like this? They probably enjoy adventure. They don't care for the results. They are ready to face the worst and also don't fear the worst. They have great confidence and belief in themselves. For them the whole life is an adventure.

it sounds strange but it is true. Few days back a young boy of about four and half years ran non-stop for sixty-five kilometers in India. If this is not testing the limits then what is it? The boy is adventurous and so is the coach. Though Government Of India is looking at this as violation of human right, because the child can suffer irreparable damage to his bones and kidneys, this example tells about how such people test the limits.

Personality - Easy Ways To Improve It

Personality cannot be quantified. Personality can be perceived. Why we are delighted to hear somebody is beyond any scientific explanation. Similarly, why we love seeing some body walk is beyond any science. Personality is a mix of traits that gives a whole impression that can be either attractive or disturbing.

How to improve Personality? Since we judge people with their personality, it is important to find out why a person attracts while another creates negative vibes. Let us begin with posture. Watch yourself in the mirror. Are you keeping a straight body? Watch yourself walking. If you see somebody else walking like that, would you like that? If yes, great, otherwise find out what can be done for improvement. Go through all your normal body movements with a fine comb and bring necessary changes in them to make yourself more attractive.

How about your body maintenance? Do you keep your nails perfectly manicured? Do you look fresh at all the times? What about your hair? Are they healthy? Is your hairstyle enhancing your face value? What about mouth odor and body odor? Make a list and take care of all these aspects.

How about your talking? Your tone, your vocabulary, your choice of words, are they perfect? The way you make sentences, is that appealing? Can you make your voice sound inviting and attractive? Small additions and changes will slowly make big changes in your personality and make you a star.

Quiz - Are You Optimistic?

Do you see the glass as half full or half empty? Are an optimist or a pessimist? Do you know about your thinking pattern? Because most of us do not know how we think. Our thinking is so ingrained in us, for years that we never attempt to analyze it. That analysis is important but we do not do that, because we find no need for that. Can you quiz yourself about your optimism?

let us begin. Say, something goes wrong in your life. What is your reaction? Do you think that the setback is temporary or you think it is all over? Do you think that things can be set right or you believe nothing can be done? Do you blame yourself if anything goes wrong? Or you blame the circumstances? These are some of the common difference between the thinking of an optimist and a pessimist.

An optimist always keeps hop. a pessimist always hopes for the worst. An optimist can enjoy rains. a pessimist will worry about flooding due to rains. An optimist can enjoy life. A pessimist will never be able to enjoy life. What is better- to be a pessimist or an optimist?

Obviously things will go wrong for one or the other reason. The law of probability says that. Rather than always expecting that things will go wrong, will it not be better if we think that things will be right? At least we will save ourselves from the pain of anticipation of things going wrong? Please quiz yourself about your thought process and if you are a pessimist, begin thinking more optimistically.

What Is the Leonardo Trait? Creativity in Action

I recently began thinking about why I'm like this. Trust me, if you know me, you'd understand what I mean, and you'd probably agree that just knowing my family isn't enough.

I have two speeds. One is stop, one is go.

I can't work on one project, I have to have five.

Of the twelve projects I have open, I'll only finish seven.

I don't know which seven it will be, so I have to work on all twelve until I figure it out.

I can't settle on one thing I want to do. Right now I'm learning to podcast, walking in charity walks, and setting up teleseminars, while writing a book.

My favorite person in history, after Amelia Earheart, is Leonardo da Vinci. Amelia Earheart is my favorite only because I was a little girl in the 1970s and female role models were rare; I'm not giving up my first idol.

I like to think that if Leonardo were alive today, people would be calling him "weird," encouraging him to "finish what you start," and--my favorite--referring to him as "jack of all trades and master of none." Then I like to think of those people suddenly realizing who they've been criticizing.

You know? Wouldn't that be fun?

Well, of course it's not going to happen, but what can happen is that you and I can recognize the Leonardo Trait in ourselves and each other and let up on ourselves. No one else is going to do it for us.

Give yourself a break, Leonardo.