Thoughts of the Day

So often people get so caught up in their daily grind that they stop thinking, when they get home they try to de-stress, but they turn on their TV, the same one they have surrendered their mind too and let it flood information into their heads, most of which is completely irrelevant.

Well, it seems that; Ignorance, Arrogance aB68nd Complacency are nothing more than Precursors of Disaster, Devastation, Doom - doomed to repeat. Doomed, via the law of unintended consequences using the very definition of insanity they decry - I ask why?

And that my friends is my first thought of the day and the one that causes me to write this short article, so let's begin this daily monologue of thought. Perhaps if I take you through my thoughts from today, it might make you think and wake up your mind, maybe you might take it back from the smog of information or the flickering High Definition TV in that living room cave of yours?

A friend today mentioned that the Multi-National Corporate Conglomerate knows No boundaries and he is correct considering that our World is growing closer and closer together now. After all we live in a Global Market Place, there are good aspects to that as well as not so good issues, as well. He asked me;

Has the evolution of the multi-national corporation transcended all boundaries and societies to completely dominate and eliminate society's culture?

Well, I do not believe that multi-national branding has to delete culture, or regional flavor. Indeed, allowing for regional variation by companies helps them "sell more" and therefore they will succeed better when they do. In franchising (I am retired from the franchising industry) we always did, and we competed well.

Adaptation for specific markets is "good business" and it makes sense. Someday, who knows, a World Franchising System, could allow governments, nation-states to operate in similar monetary, trade markets using similar laws. Make the Whole World like the United States - or United Franchise System, so to speak. Then everyone would be on the same team.

The thought occurred to me that it could work, except during times when those in-charge were not working together, kind of like the UN or during Change Management. hat About Changing the Way We Think about How Business is Done? Is that possible? Today, I finished reading a book:

"Rewiring the Corporate Brain - Using the New Science to Rethink How We Structure and Lead Organizations" by Danah Zohar - 1997.

And although I am not a new age type thinker, with all the spiritual fluff, wrapped around a quantum physics reality like a religion, the author did make some good points. And to one of those points and addressing such scenarios as the authors of "Co-opetition" where the future has in store from us a different market place were companies communicate and cooperate for the common good of all, without attacking and worrying about the competition, but rather focusing on the customers.

Sure, that could work and it would work a lot better if the corporation and the employees got along too and focused on what is best for all concerned, sometimes this happens but usually not. We just saw t1BFhe UAW strike at GM and General Motors write down in the third quarter of 39 billion dollars. Then in the same Wall Street Journal issue we read that Chrysler Company laying off 12,000 right after negotiation with the UAW? All this while the Hollywood Writers Picket outside the Studios along side the Homeless - See the point?

Worker's Unions and Global Government Political Impasse are very similar and when one side blames another well, "5B4there you go again!" and it occurred to me that If You Name it - "When you name it, you own it and if you own it, it owns you." Lance 2007. Even the Teamster Truck Drivers are out to get more right at a time when US diesel prices are at the highest point in our nation's history and oil is hovering near $100 per barrel, thus teamster truck drivers are at least for now - No Friend to Logistics.

Right after de-regulation of the industry teamster drivers would run other independent truck drivers off the road. Hurting competition, raises prices for all of us, as it is like a tax on the over all society. Still, those truck drivers are Americans and now 750,000 truck drivers have joined the Truckers Mobile Watch Program as part of the American Trucking Association. So everything is not black and white, no one side is evil and no side is innocent - too bad they will not all work together in a common cause, because the efficiencies and economies of scale would be significant and add to the everyone's quality of life and standard of living.

But, how can you be sure as business person that you are hiring someone who will be a team player and not turn into a problem for your companies bottom line? You cannot tell by their resumes, which made me think about an article I read recently that stated; Long Resumes Becoming Popular. Is a resume that tells a story better to judge a potential team member?

In some companies, the employees a5B4re trained to do every job in the company and thus, if there is ever a problem or disruption, someone else can pick up the slack. If you will read the book; "The World on Time" by Fred Smith - the FEDEx story you will see this point. During the California Fires a helicopter spotted a small fire that was growing, but instead of landing to try to put it out, they were told not to risk it and return to base, the fire spread and destroyed several structures within the hour.

Should all emergency personnel be trained to do some of this fire-fighting, even if on a limited scale. What if we designed pick-up Truck Portable Fire Suppression Spray System Devices for the Forest Service, Rural Mountain Communities and Area Residents? It has been proposed that new mini-fire suppression units needed for USDA Forest Service workers in every vehicle. Could we get some of these devastating fires out before they grew to epic proportions, threatened property, lives and wipes out water supplies?

Or is such a concept simply impossible due to the bureaucracy out there? And if government does nothing very well, then why let them do very much? Should the bureaucracy hold fake news conferences, like FEMA did? Should the regulatory bodies of the Federal Government PR their every move to prove to the citizenry that they are doing something, even when they are not? Is the bureaucracy so big that it cannot get out of its own way? This had me ponde5B4ring the following questions, perhaps worthy of future titles for articles:

• Why the Justice Department's Industry Regulatory Bodies Fraudulently Deceive the Consumer and Citizen
• How Government Regulating Agencies Justify their Growth at the Expense of the Taxpayers
• How Corporations Use Small Businesses as Banks During Recessions and Down Turns in Their Sectors
• How the Government Allowed Corporations to Crush Small Businesses - Case Study in Labor
• How Government Regulating Agencies Justify their Growth at the Expense of the Taxpayers

Indeed, we need to fix this problem of government and if we do not we will drown in red tape, which is killing businesses both large and small. Do we need Regulation Reduction to Reduce Recession Risks - or is the recession inevitable, as this ship cannot be turned fast enough before it runs aground? Is there a way to stave off a recession of shallow out its effects on our economy, middle class, currency and employment? I think there is a way, which made me think of writing an article titled:

Recession Proofing a Nation Using Franchising, Small Business Solutions and Entrepreneurial Training

Maybe, I will write this article and position myself as The Portable Franchise Guru or something similar? What if we took such a concept and franchised it out to the world? Networks of net-centric syste5B4ms to help the world, develop micro-businesses and habitats? Maybe, a book needs to be written on this subject; "Low Cost Third World Village Systems - Wells, Power, Microloans, Shelters, Farming Tools - eBook Project"

If we do not do it now then who will do it? Will the next generation come up to the plate and hit a home run, or will we just have to work harder and live longer to do it ourselves, as Life Extension in BioTech Advances. That's great, but will we run out of money helping all the baby boomers grow old, instead of getting them to fix the problems they were assigned and failed to fix? Do we let them off the hook, as it is not a very pretty picture with Pensions, Social Security, Medical Insurance and In Home Care Personnel Shortages.

Still, I thought if the economy holds on then that will pay for the future funds to fix these issues. And yet everyone is debating about the so-called; Coming US Recession, rather than doing something to advert it. The Headlines seem obvious now, well at least to me? With CitiGroup, foreclosures soaring, GM 39 billion dollar charge off, Morgan Stanley questions, Chrysler cutting 12,000 jobs and rather weak economic numbers?

So what's the answer, we have too many outflows from our nation, we are borrowing too much and we have too much bureaucracy and being taken advantage of by preferred nation trading partners. Still, Capitalism with Protectionism decays society rather than Bui59lding it Up and I am no party pooper to capitalism, I believe in fair trade like any true5B4 economist would, still, what happened to fair trade, are we really getting a fair shake?

Some say things will get better and the economy is good, but with housing, construction, transportation and Auto all hurting and issues on the horizon with retail, how can anyone say things are rosy? Yes, I believe that consumer confidence is important and probably accounts for one-third of the game, to keep it going and we do not need any lower consumer confidence going into the Christmas Season, still I see that US Retailers are gearing down and conserving coming into the Christmas bend.

If that is not bad enough, we find that Al Qeada is plotting to attack Shopping Malls, stated an FBI official, who called the threat information credible. Top this with higher fuel prices definitely taking its toll on the consumer, and no more home-equity loan tricks for most consumers to pay off credit card debt and the US Automakers that make up retail economic sales figures and they are currently tanked, expected to remain low - one has to wonder about the economy.

Still, you know markets go up and they come down, industry sectors do their rotations and it is all in the ebb and flow of the river of monetary flow. I guess it is similar to the politics of this recent Water Bill that was vetoed and over-ridden only to be continued, as there is more to the story, before it gets fully funded and spent. The question thus goes back to corporate grow594th, can it go on for ever, always increasing its output and efficiency like Moore's Law or do we need to do a little tweaking on the way we do things?

Well, I need to get something to eat, it is nearly 10:00 am now and I have been busy thinking for over an hour. So, I will continue these thoughts of the day article later, but I hope you will enjoy these thoughts and that it gets you thinking too.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

Arbinger Institute

A Relaxed Mind And Body For Concentration

For an individual to stay calm and composed, it is important that mind control techniques are practiced. It is important for an individual to have a relaxed mind and body since it will help the person in the day to day activities especially when it comes to work related to profession and family. A cool mind and body, it is said, can achieve the improbable. That is the reason, why a lot of importance is being attached these days by all sectors, starting from the military personnel to corporate sector, to maintain a strong mind and body. A lot of stress is applied on the mind and body of an individual due to variety of reasons. They include stress on account of work, interpersonal relationships, family commitments and other factors. All these have to be overcome to make sure that the performance of the individual.

There are several techniques to provide relief from stress. The first and foremost of the techniques is meditation. It has been found that meditation if done everyday for at least thirty minutes or sixty minutes provides tremendous relief through out the day. A person who meditates every day routinely will not experience any fatigue or tiredness in any kind of mental or physical work. Meditation is one of the oldest forms adopted to seek relief from stress. There are various kinds of meditation. The basic form is to sit in a posture as prescribed, close eyes and concentrate on a focal point. At times, beginners, may be put to sleep easily while meditating, however, over a period of time, the sleepiness can be overcome. It will take some time to focus and concentrate while meditating. Meditate at least for an hour each day and it will raise the spirits significantly. The best time for meditation is mornings. Make it a habit to get up before sunrise. Meditate for an hour at least and focus on the events ahead of you in the day. Work out the schedule in mind and try to resolve any internal conflicts.

There is a second form of meditation, called transcendental meditation. Several pioneers of transcendental meditation are known to have achieved greater heights because of their approach towards life. A calm and composed mind can achieve many things by practicing meditation. It is an ancient tradition practiced in most of the eastern countries. It has been only in the last century that the western world has discovered the advantages of meditation.

The second way of relieving pressure is practicing Yoga, another form of mild exercise practiced in countries like India. A very old practice, Yoga is considered ideal for a variety of ailments. In fact, meditation is also part of yoga. The yoga sessi50Bon commences only after the people conclude one session of meditation. Yoga helps an individual in maintaining the mind, body and soul in one straight line. Register for the yoga classes with a guru in the neighborhood. It is better if yoga is practiced every day in the morning.

Article written by Cassaundra Flores, owner of skyfireproducts.com

Power Of Intention Dyer

Techniques in Building Courage for Improving Self Esteem

Building courage is the very first part to improving your self-esteem. When you build up your courage, it also helps you in expanding your mind. You are more likley to take risks that will guide you to an important positive future, where if you ordinary would not challenge yourself. Fear will fall way behind you when you build up your courage level.

All Courage is taking a hold of and admitting your most important fears. But, if you take measures to discover many new ideas it will help you to defeat these important fears. You must not allow your fears to take control of your life, you must gain as much courage as possible to master all of your fears.

being Scared is acceptable from time to time. When you see a flying object heading in your direction, you develop a positive fear that tells you to move out of the way. Healthy and positive fear is also respect. This is a very good thing.

Improving your courage will help you learn to control your life effectively. You will learn new ways to take all responsible actions and accept rewards and consequences. Courageous people will often admit blame and account for, while going over his or her actions and then by using what they have learned from it. Courageous people step up to the plate, rather than jump back at what time all opportunities arrive. Courageous people will step back while taking a closer look at all of their mistakes and accept them no matter what.

At times, a courageous person will feel spontaneous. Sometimes all of your planning will lead to failure, thus you just have to certain things without any planning sometimes. Not one person can explain what happens in the future. You may plan to go to the park on Sunday. then all at once, on the day your going to the park it rains, thunder, tornado, lightning, windstorm, or anything may ruin your plans. When you plan, you failed to plan for the weather or the weather report changed without you knowing about it. This causes you to make another plan to fill in the spots from your original plans. So, you can see that planning sometimes is not in the best interest. But, courageous individuals that are aware of this sometimes take spontaneous and decisive actions.

People with willing souls are ready to make improvements in their overall lives will learn to take control and relax. These individuals will feel so relaxed even when their plans fall apart. Lets say, it rained very hard the following day a person made plans to play soccer. Rather than letting the storm cause them to become down and depressed, this individual will move to find something else exciting and fun to do. In addition, he will enjoy doing what he does because he or she will not let anything ruin there day.

A truly successful individual will make improvements their life and have a positive attitude to learn how to trust all of their own decision making. When this person puts trust in who they are, they learn to trust other individuals also. Trust is something you'll find very difficult to obtain in a world of lies and corruption. But, someone out to improve their self-esteem will see past all of the bad and lies of the world and move forward a positive situation that will bring them happiness.

People can improve your life by making your mind creative. When you use your creative mind, you can create new and exciting ideas that will lead you to improve your self-esteem. Your computer along with many other choices can give you many different options.

But, you must be willing to put forth the effort to find these resources. You may feel intimidated at times. but this is normal. And if you are willing to take these situations with an open mind, you will find it easier to improve your self-esteem.

When your self-esteem is low, its very hard to get through the day. With every day you feel like this, it becomes more stressful than you can bear. Yet, if you are willing to let go of your stress and accept the situation, you will find your way in life to be much easier with fewer hassles. And, you want to relieve your mind of negative and depressed thoughts

Author: G.Wadel Find Out More On All Your Self Help Questions. http://my--self--improvement.blogspot.com

Famous Quotations

Communication Steps to Keep Your Personal Power

These 4 steps, if practiced to the point of being second-nature, will bring you to a whole new level of effectiveness in all your interpersonal relationships.

This article (Part 2) provides some practical application, but first, a review from Part 1 of "Personal Power: 4 Communication Steps to Get It and Keep It":

INFORM: In a neutral tone of voice, simply reflect back to the person what they are doing. "Do you realize that you are late?" "Do you realize that you are shouting?"

REQUEST: You make a simple, calm request for them to stop the behavior. "I ask that you be on time." "I request that you stop shouting."

INSIST: You insist that the person stop. (It would be unusual to get to this level. Most people respond to either step one or two.)

LEAVE: If the person still has not responded to your reasonable statements and requests, you may have to leave the room, or perhaps leave the relationship.

The really great thing about this communication model is that when you do step one Inform, you are giving the other person a graceful exit. Most people are well-meaning, and do not want to hurt or offend, and simply may not realize that1056 their behavior or statements have the effect they have. So, by you saying in a neutral Do you realize that (whatever), they have the opportunity to apologize, learn your boundary without being threatened, and move on to a healthy conversation and relationship.

REAL LIFE APPLICATION:
I once I saw these steps executed expertly by a friend and colleague of mine at work. We had a boss who was extremely disrespectful, and out of control, and who would launch into personal attacks on a whim.

One day, my friend demonstrated all four of these steps with amazing calm. When the boss raised his voice and began to shout, she simply said

Do you realize that you are yelling?.

She repeated this a few times before moving on to step two.

I ask you to stop yelling at me.

He kept on. She responded with something like

I must insist that you stop yelling at me or I will have to leave the room.

He didnt stop, and she left. He was baffled! Did it change his behavior? Unfortunately, in this case it did not. But, my friend kept her sense of self, pride, and her power. Plus, she earned the respect of every single person who was in that meeting. I will never forget it.

POTENTIAL REAL LIFE SCENARIO:
How about the friend who is habitually late when you agree to meet for lunch. You can start by saying

Do you realize that you are 20 minutes late?

If they continue in this habit, say

I ask that you not be late when we are scheduled to meet.

If this is still not enough to promote a behavior change, then the next time,

I insist that you meet me on time, or I will leave the restaurant.

Next time theyre late - leave. The friend will arrive late, and be surprised that you have actually followed through, and were able to articulate each of these phases of the model with such calm, unemotional, clear, self-respecting aplomb.

Beware! Our natural tendency is to skip over steps 1 and 2 and go right for 3 and 4 and by that time, we are usually not able to keep the neutral tone of voice.

OK, time to practice.

List the people in your life who are crossing your boundaries and write down a simple sentence to inform them. For example, Julie, do you realize that you are usually several minutes late for our lunch meeting? Or Bob, do you realize that you interrupt me frequently when I am speaking?

Dont make any requests at this point. This is new territory for both you and those in your life. You have allowed them to cross your boundary for a long time, so give them a few chances to get it.

Practice, practice, practice saying them in a neutral tone. As you get comfortable with these 4 steps, you will become the queen (or king!) of good communication and boundary-setting. You'll earn the respect of others, self-respect, and healthier relationships than ever before!

Visit LifeHouse Coaching and sign up to receive more f*r*e*e* weekly tips in "Blueprints for a Dream Life." Edi Sowers works with professional women who face the challenge of balancing personal and professional priorities.

Buddhism And Eastern Teaching

Change Your Life From Ordinary to Extraordinary

Do you feel like you are spinning your wheels?
Do you have a business or personal goal that seems unreachable?
Is your life is way off kilter?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, here are few tips for you.

Spinning Your Wheels

If you are stuck in the muck of an ordinary life, do yourself a favor and come to terms with what is truly interesting and important to you. For me, it's always a list. Then ask yourself how much time you're spending doing the things that are no longer of any interest to you. Start eliminating the tasks, roles and events in your life that no longer fit. This process allows you to make time for the projects and hobbies you've missed due to your prior commitments. Spring is the perfect time for renewal.

Audacious Goals

Map out an outline to reach your seemingly unreachable goal. The only way to "eat an elephant" is one bite at a time. Consider reaching out to a trusted mentor who has already accomplished a similar plan. You might find working with a professional coach as an accountability partner helpful. One you've determined the steps you need to take to reach your goal, add a critical path time-line (start with your goal date and work backwards) to your calendar. These steps will help you become accountable for every bite. Before you know it, your audacious goal will start to materialize and PRESTO... Big Audacious goal accomplished.

Well-Balanced Living

Part of being alive is wearing many hats. We are parents, spouses, friends, entrepreneurs, employees, siblings, sons and daughters. Discovering the right balance of family, work, spirituality, fitness, education and more can be daunting if you don't know where to start. I've found the best way to tackle life balance is to be honest with yourself and identify the areas in your life that are suffering. One recommendation is taking time to assess your life. Make a list of all of the areas that make up your world, then rate each area on a scale of 1 to 10. The higher number reflecting the areas where you spend most of your time. In a matter of minutes you will discover the areas in your life that may be out of whack. Once you know where the deficits are you can start to rearrange your priorities. Once you've rearranged your priorities you are taking a big step on the path of true balance.

Shann Vander Leek is a life balance coach. Vander Leek is an excellent communicator with a positive attitude. Her personal style and direct approach have guided and inspired many in accomplishing personal and professional challenges. Shann Vander Leek is the founder of True Balance Life Coaching and is accredited by the Coach Training Alliance. Visit http://www.truebalancelifecoaching.com today for a complimentary coaching session. Check out Shann's blog - The Path of True Balance at http://www.truebalancelifecoaching.blogspot.com

Different Names Of God

Creating Money Beyond Belief

I grew up in an environment of lack. At the tender age of 5, I remembered watching my mother looking all over the house and under the sofa set in our small living room for a five cent coin to pay the vegetable vendor - vegetables that she had wanted to buy to cook our dinner. She didnt find the five cent but the kind vegetable vendor gave her the vegetables anyway.

To save money, I always packed my food to school. This way, I dont need to buy from the school canteen. Most time it was just two slices of bread and a bottle of water.

For a long time I grew up believing that I have to work hard to become rich and that this was the only way to achieve wealth. That was what my parents taught me because that was what they believe in.

So I grew up with a lot of limiting beliefs about moneyFA5. I believe that

* most rich people become rich at the expense of the poor
* money is the root of all evils
* receiving money for helping people is sinful
* I dont deserve to be rich
* being rich is bad
* poor people are more honest than rich people
* poor people are more spiritual
* and many more

Then one day I chance upon a book. In it was the statement below:

Whether you believe it or not, its true.

The statement at first did not strike me as particularly special but somehow it stuck in my mind. Then one fine day, it clicked!

Of course!

All these while Ive been struggling with money, or the lack of it, because deep down inside my subconscious mind I believe that money is bad and since I am good, I should not have too much money. The powerful subconscious mind gives you exactly what you believe in.

I know that by changing my beliefs in money I could change my life from one of lack to one of abundance, but knowing is one thing and doing it is another thing altogether.

Old habits die hard. There was a lot of resistance to changing the old beliefs. Despite putting in all the positive affirmations about money and using subliminal messages, it was still a painstakingly slow process of change - but change it did.

I also learned meditation and learned to become more mindful of my thoughts so that I can delibrately allow only positive thoughts into my subconscious mind. Again, meditation requires lots of patience and discipline, but the fruits of the effort is well worth it. As I purify my mind more and more, I find that not only was I creating more opportunities for wealth into my life, I was also attracting a lot of good people and company as well.

Today, I do not worry about money.

I know I will not be lacking it. The universal law of abundance flows freely into my being and my life as I continue to practice generosity and gratitude towards others.

Wealth and spirituality are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they are one and the same. A person who truly understand the universal laws knows that he or she is a spiritual being that is complete and whole, lacking nothing. That is our nature - unconditional love, joy and abundance. Only when we doubt our true nature does fear of lack creep into our lives. In the presence of fear, we create resistance to the flow of abundance into our lives. Have faith in your wholeness and the universe will provide - without fail.

You can choose to believe in unconditional love, joy and abundance or you can choose to believe otherwise. Whichever you choose, youll be right!

Dr. Tim Ong is a medical doctor who runs his own busy medical practice. In his free time, he enjoys giving public talks, teaching meditation and offering his service to hospice work in the community. He is the webmaster of The Self Improvement Site and Mind Science Info. He is also giving away his personal collection of life transforming ebooks at Book of Transformation.

Mark Twain

Thoughts To Ponder #29

"Love is not a matter of what happens in life. It's a matter of what's happening in your heart." --Ken Keyes

"Love is just a feeling of togetherness and openness in your heart." --Ken Keyes

"Love means tearing down the separateness and the boundaries between your heart feelings and another person." --Ken Keyes

"Love everyone unconditionally, including yourself." -Ken Keyes, Jr

"Love wasn't put in your heart to stay. Love isn't love until you give it away." --Michael W. Smith

"You have to walk carefully in the beginning of love; the running ac8C6ross fields into your lover's arms can only come later when you're sure they won't laugh if you trip." --Jonathan Carroll

"Is love a tender thing? It is too rough, too rude, too boisterous; and it pricks like thorns." --William Shakespeare

"Real love is simply accepting another person. Completely and unconditionally. Russ Von Hoelscher. When you fail to get the love of the person you cared for, you put your beautiful loving feelings back in your pocket and get on with your life." - Source Unknown

"Love means to commit oneself without guarantee, to give oneself completely in the hope that our love will produce love in the loved person. Love is an act of faith, and whoever is of little faith is also of little love." --Erich Fromm

"To make other people the source of your love is to live your life as a complete emotional dependent, always moments from deep depression due to the words or actions of another." -Russ Von Hoelscher

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, Life Coach, Hypnotherapist, Author, "101 Great Ways To Improve Your Life." Mind, Body, Spirit healing and Physical/Sexual Abuse Prevention and Recovery. As an inspirational leader, Dr. Neddermeyer empowers people to view life's challenges as an opportunity for Personal/Professional Growth and Spiritual Awakening. http://www.drdorothy.net

Believe youre highly creative

Stress Management Techniques

The simple realization that you are in control of your life is the foundation of stress management

Living with high levels of stress, can putt your entire health at risk. Stress wreaks havoc on your emotional stability, as well as your physical health. It tapers with your ability to think clearly, function effectively, and enjoy life.

Causes of Stress

Stress may be because of any physical, chemical, or emotional factors that cause bodily or mental unrest and that may even cause physical sickness. Stress also has effects on the immune system. Chronic (long-term) stress has the effect of (wearing down) the iB68mmune system, leading to an increased susceptibility to colds and other infections.

Physical and chemical factors that can cause stress include trauma, infections, toxins, illnesses, and injuries of any sort. Emotional causes of stress and tension are numerous and varied.

How to Manage Stress

Stress is a daily part of our life; it would be absolutely foolish to think that we can eliminate it from our lives completely. What we can do is to manage it and not let it cripple us.

Learn to say (no) : This is the most important step,know your limits and stick to them. Whether in your personal or professional life, refuse to accept extra responsibilities that you know will cause you distress.

Avoid people who stress you out : If someone constantly causes stress in your life and you can not turn the relationship around, limit the amount of time you spend with that person or end the relationship entirely.

Take control of your environment : Avoid environments that stress you, if traffic is got you tense, take a longer but less-traveled route. If shopping is an unpleasant chore, do your grocery shopping online or ask someone to help out.

Avoid heated topics : If you get upset over religion or politics, avoid talking about them. If you repeatedly argue about the same subject with the same people you are bound to be stressed.

Know your limits: evaluate your schedule, responsibilities, and daily tasks. If you have got too much on your plate, drop tasks that are not truly necessary to the bottom or eliminate them entirely.

Express instead of bottling up- If something or someone is bothering you, communicate your concerns in an open and polite way. If you do not voice your feelings, resentment will build creating unnecessary stress.

Compromise- When you ask someone to change their actions, be willing to do the same. If you both are willing to bend a little, you will find a middle ground.

Be more assertive- If you need something ask for it. Deal with problems head on, doing your best to anticipate and prevent them.

Manage your time better- Poor time management can cause a lot of stress. When you are stretched too thin and running behind, it is hard to stay calm and focused. But if you plan ahead, you can avoid these stress-inducing pitfalls.

Do not try to control the uncontrollable- Many things in life are beyond our control particularly the behavior of other people. Rather than stressing out over them, focus on the things you can control.

Look for the Bright side- When facing major challenges try to look at them as opportunities for personal growth.

Share your feelings- Talk to a trusted friend or a therapist. Expressing what you are going through can be very therapeutic, even if there is nothing you can do to alter the stressful situation.

Learn to forgive- Let go of anger and resentments35F.Free yourself from negative energy by forgiving and moving on.

Include relaxation time-Include rest and relaxation in your daily schedule. Do not allow other obligations to encroach. This is your time to take a break from all responsibilities and recharge your batteries.Make time for leisure activities that bring you joy, whether it be stargazing, playing the piano, or working on your bike.

Create a Support system- A strong support system will buffer you from the negative effects of stress. Spend time with positive people who enhance your life

Exercise regularly. Physical activity plays a key role in reducing and preventing the effects of stress. Make time for at least 30 minutes of exercise, three times per week. Nothing beats aerobic exercise for releasing pent-up stress and tension.

Eat a healthy diet- Start your day right5A2 with breakfast, and keep your energy up and your mind clear with balanced, nutritious meals throughout the day.

Reduce caffeine and sugar- The temporary "highs" caffeine and sugar provide often end in with a crash in mood and energy. By reducing the amount of coffee, soft drinks, chocolate, and sugar snacks in your diet, you will feel more relaxed and you will sleep better.

Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs- alcohol or drugs may provide an easy escape from stress, but the relief is only temporary. Later the stress simply piles on plus your health starts to suffer.

Get enough sleep-Feeling tired will increase your stress because it may cause you to think irrationally.

Ashish Bhattacharya armed with a degree in East Asian Therapies from China, Currently working in a Mauritius Spa Resort, one of the leading Ayurvedic Spa Mauritius.

Mohandas Gandhi

Why People Don't Listen... and Some Fun Things You Can Do About It

It's frustrating when your co-workers, audience members, teenager or even your dog (!) won't listen. While you can't control how they receive what you say, you can control how you send it. Here are a few tips on why people don't listen and what you can do to change it.

1. Short Attention Spans

When asked to guess the average adult attention span, most people say around thirty minutes. According to statistics, however, the average adult attention span is actually only seven seconds. That's right! Every seven seconds you go away somewhere. You think about something else. In fact, you could actually be taking a mental break right now! It is a normal part of how the brain integrates external stimuli like when your computer starts defragging for a moment while you type. It helps to pause from time to time when you speak. This allows people to integrate your information or ask a clarifying question. Also, include examples to anchor your concepts. For example (see--I'm doing it now!), a concept without an example is like tree without roots, a house without a Foundation, or Sonny without Cher. It just doesn't have as much staying power.

2. Too Many Distractions

I was in a meeting the other day and five people coughed, four people side talked, three cell phones rang, two people went to the restroom, and a partridge did email on his PDA. Distractions are a big part of modern life. Your best bet is to acknowledge the distractions in a playful way such as a manager who recently led a meeting I attended. When a cell phone rang, he grabbed for it and said, Oh, that's for me.my mother likes to check in on me from time to time. That prompted everyone to turn off their phones.

3. Lack of Training

Few of us were formally taught how to listen. While you probably took Reading 8, Writing 11, did you ever take Listening 10? It's little wonder listening is challenging. Quite accidentally, I learned how to listen by practicing meditation. After a five-day retreat, I felt very light-hearted and so went to visit my aging father who was hard of hearing. My habit was to sit vacantly for hours while he complained about his arthritis, the error on his bank statement, and how hard it is to find good slippers. After this retreat, I surprised myself by totally paying attention to him with patience and compassion. After about ten minutes of complaining he suddenly changed tracks and started telling me fascinating and funny stories about his childhood. Then he cranked up his hearing aid and asked about me! Learn how to be present with people, give them your full, undivided attention and be ready for some pleasant surprises.

4. Language Barriers

It is no secret that the world of business is fast becoming a multicultural world. Although English is the default language of commerce, many people in your audience may speak English as a second language. Last month I was addressing a large insurance company where most attendees turned out to be new immigrants from China. I used the expression getting jiggy with it, and I saw people rifling through their dictionaries. This prompted me to say I'm sorry, that went way over your head, and a number of people looked up at the ceiling! If your listeners are ESL or have a more basic educational background, you need to simplify your language. Use much more literal descriptions rather than cultural expressions. Use facial and body language to express humor, and fewer words.

5. Unchecked Assumptions

Back in the 70s, Gilda Radner a comedienne who regularly performed on Saturday Night Live was well known for her popular character Emily Litella, a social activist with a hearing problem. Her causes included such important issues as violins on television, soviet jewelry and endangered feces. Believe it or not, those Emily Litella types can be found in your audiences. For example, I once told a story about my mother who was a secretary for the British Civil Service in WWII. She spent most of her time daydreaming that her boss would burst into the room and ask her to spy against the Germans. She could leave the nasty paperwork behind, don a disguise and become the next Mata Hari. Needless to say, one day her boss did burst into the room but instead he fired her for daydreaming all the time. A woman approached me after this story and told me that she used to be a Hari Krishna, too. One way to clear up false assumptions is to state your point in many different ways.

6. No Reason to Listen

Finally, the main reason people don't listen is because you haven't answered their favorite question: What's in it for me? Before you start a long-winded monologue, tell your listener why you need their attention and make sure they understand how it will be benefit them. For example, I'd like to tell you about this free software that will block all the spam before it gets to your Inbox interested? That will give you much better results than When I was a youngster and I sat down in front of my first computer, I asked myself how can I make this machine work for me In general, put yourself in your listener's shoes before you talk and their ears tend to perk up.

And just remember the greatest of all wisdom--no one ever listened himself out of a new friendship.

Carla Rieger
Copyright 2005 Yes Education Systems

Carla Rieger is an expert on the artistry of change. You can reach her at http://www.carlarieger.com or at 1-866-294-2988. Carla uses proven secrets from the world of artistry to help your organization becoming a leader of innovation. She has been a professional speaker, trainer, facilitator and performance storyteller since the mid-80s. She is the director of Yes Education Systems, a creative communications and creative consulting firm since 1991. She has written three critically acclaimed manuals, Managing Change with a sense of humor, Speaking on the Funny Side of the Brain and The Heart of Presenting, in addition to many articles in trade journals and magazines. She has taught thousands to unlock the funny side of their brains, and to mine negativity both within and without for the key innovative solutions. Her work has been featured on radio, TV and many publications. She founded several theatre groups including Mad Cow Productions, Vancouver Playback Theatre and Mythic Cafe. She also wrote, produced and performed a one-woman show, Dancing Between Worlds.

Arbinger Institute

Developing the Leader Within

Self-Identity

The most basic defining moment demands that leaders resolve the issue of personal identity which has serious implications for their fut5B4ure. In reading the lives of great men, I found that the first victory they won was over themselves. Self-leadership was understood as their number one responsibility. The higher leaders climb up the corporate ladder the greater their burden of responsibility and their need to reevaluate themselves and their whole self. (Fairholm, 1997, p. 6). Once you have mastered self-leadership, there is plenty of guidance available on leading others. Leadership of others is the subject of hundreds of books and courses. Self-leadership involves self identity, self-regulation, personal growth, and is vital for achievement of our goals, even if we never lead another person. London (2001) asserted that People have to know themselves and understand their environments in order to adapt and learn. (p. 27).

Leaders who do not understand themselves are unlikely to have an accurate view of others or be sensitive to others feelings, needs, and attitudes. To be effective, leaders need insight into their skills and capabilities and how others react to them. (London, 2001. p. 29). Self-identity refers to how individuals view themselves in relation to others in particular:

Self-awareness: how one typically behaves or is perceived by others;

Self-understanding: recognition of strengths, weaknesses, needs, and emotions;

Self-consciousness: awareness of behaviors and feelings;

Self-assessme5B4nt: determining capabilities and abilities;

Self-confidence: ability to bring about positive outcomes.

Some people know themselves well, set realistic although ambitious, goals and set out to achieve them. Others seek experiences and challenges as learning opportunities and value others as role models and sources of feedback. London (2001) argued that the key to effective leadership is the ability to care, and make accurate judgments about how others react to you. (p. 32).

Defining Who You Are

Wouldnt it be nice to know the keys to more insightful perception and wiser decision-making? Your personal preferences provide some insight into your leadership orientation. Where you focus your attention (Extraversion or Introversion), the way you take in information (Sensing or Intuition), the way you make decisions (Thinking or Feeling), and how you deal with the outer world (Judging or Perceiving). Each combination of preferences is characterized by its own interest, values, and unique gift. Some of the facets of your leadership style may include being results oriented, disciplined, reliable, direct, and rational.

Identifying the Challenges

The Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) was developed in a research project Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner began in 1983. They wanted to know what people did when they were at their "personal best" in leading others. From this project evolved Th5B4e Leadership Challenge Model. From an analysis of the personal-best cases, they developed a model of leadership that consists of what Kouzes and Posner call The Five Practices: 1) Challenging the process, 2) Inspiring a shared vision, 3) Enabling others to act, 4) Modeling the way, and 5) Encouraging the heart. The LPI feedback rating scale runs from 1 to 10 and consists of surveys from yourself as well as three colleagues. Kouzes and Posner (2002) argued that Teaching a vision and confirming that the vision is shared is a process of engaging constituents in conversations about their lives, about their hopes and dreams. (p. 143).

Creating a Map for Improvement

To attain personal improvement whether physically, mentally, or spiritually, leaders must take the necessary steps to bring about what they wish to achieve. People dont just have a winning strategy; they become their winning strategy. They draw their identity from it because their winning strategy is the source of the results they currently enjoy. (Hargrove and Renaud, 2004, p. 110). When identifying the potential challenges of empowerment, prioritization, and focus its important that the strengths and resources required to improve effectiveness in these areas also be identified so that you can create a road map that will allow you to improve your leadership development.

The first potential challenge is empowerment. Leaders a5B4re willing to take charge and get people through difficult periods but this may allow followers to become too dependent on them. Todays workplace needs employees who can make decisions, who can invent solutions to problems, who can take initiative, and who are accountable for results. Empowerment is a fundamentally different way of working together. (Jaffe, 1991, p. 4). How should you encourage empowerment? By making followers feel responsible for doing a job and making the organization work better. The new employee is an active problem solver who helps plan how to get things done and then does them. (Jaffe, 1991, p. 4).

The second potential challenge is prioritization. Leaders are able to get a lot of things done, even in the mist of confusion, and youre willing to take the initiative. However, leaders dont always take the time to think strategically and prioritize task. This could result in farming people off in too many directions. The leader determines when and where the impact of individuals will be the most potent and then deduces ways to channel control of the team and channel activity towards achieving team objectives. (Snair, 2003, p. 101). How should leaders prioritize? By establishing clear, measurable, and realistic goals and identifying the means. When people begin accomplishing goals and achieving results, their confidence level rises, and they begin to set even larger goals for th5B4emselves and their organization. (Hunter, 2004, p. 205).

The third potential challenge is maintaining focus. Leaders are willing to accept decisions from above, and can work quickly to institutionalize changes. However, Leaders have trouble remaining productive in the face of new obstacles when there is a lack of guidance. Getting everyone in the organization on the same page, focused on the priorities of the moment, is always a challenge. Leaders should maintain focus through clear, regular, and up-to-date communication. Mai (2003) argued that Effective leadership communication is the most powerful tool for managing change and transition in your organization. It minimizes fear, paralysis, and disaffection that in turn can hurt organizational performance.

In addition to the three potential challenges identified above there is always the need for continuous self-improvement in physical, mental, and spiritual fitness. Personal development must expand all aspects of the human awareness the physical, mental, and the spiritual. Fairholm (1997) asserted that we need organizations that provide not only training and direction in how to do work, but that engage workers in constant learning and personal development of their capacities. (p. 10)

Physical Fitness Improvement

Not only is physical fitness a worthwhile goal with positive benefits at work, but the sense of positive fellowship 5B4and community sets a tone that carries over into the work environment. (Cox, 2002, p. 162). There was a time when the U.S. Navy made fitness programs mandatory, and implemented programs that failed to motivate or inspire sailors. But weve moved towards a physical readiness program that targets individual fitness and places a renewed emphasis on command leadership to help create a culture of fitness throughout the Navy. (Mueller, 2000, p. 1).

Mental Fitness Improvement

Our body, emotions, mind, and soul form the whole person. It is only by dealing with each part of the whole, that we can have complete health. Our situation does not control how we think or feel but rather the way we think determines our situation. (See Ps 38:3, Prov 13:12, Prov 14:30, and Prov 17:22). Life is a journey where the mind is the driver, the body is the vehicle, and the soul is the passenger. All are connected and one cant complete the journey without the others. While its a fact that our physical condition impacts our emotional and mental state, its also true that the way we think, act, and feel impact our physical condition.

If a person isnt mentally fit, the effects of additional stress snowball until their physical and emotional fitness are compromised as well. Guilt, sadness, anger, sorrow, frustration, pain and anguish can produce illness and mental degradation. Many people separate their spiritual liv5B4es into a separate box or a specific time for worship and dont integrate spirituality into their everyday lives. But prayer acts as a foundation for meditation and should be given center stage in our lives. many people draw moral fortitude and inner strength from a spiritual foundation. (Department of the Army Staff. 2004, p. 46).

Spiritual Fitness Improvement

The connection between leadership and spirituality is not always automatic and must be constantly nurtured. Who we are is more important than what we know. What we do with our knowledge determines who we are. Fairholm (1997) suggested that leadership is a matter of touching peoples souls, not controlling their actions. Leadership is connecting with other people at the feeling level. (p. 7). People respond to the way their leaders feel toward them. Spirituality should guide our personal values and the meaning we give to our lives. The goal must be to incessantly renew our spiritual connection and to apply it to every aspect of our lives.

Forging the Way to Self-Leadership

As well as looking good on the outside, we need to make sure we feel beautiful from within. Whether it is through exercise, meditation, or prayer, we all have the desire to stay strong, independent, self confident and happy. And we want to be productive and feel we add meaning to our lives each day. Goals are great. They are our incentive towards B68achievement. Whether we set all-out big time goals or just trying to stick to small goals within a daily routine, there are ways to keep and meet all life's goals. Aim for progress, not perfection. The art of becoming the person I want to be is a work in progress and a constant learning curve.

References

Cox, Danny. (2002). Leadership When the Heat's On. Blacklick, OH: McGraw-Hill Inc.

Department of the Army Staff. (2004). U. S. Army Leadership Field Manual. Blacklick, OH, USA: McGraw-Hill Companies. Retrieved November 11, 2005, from http://site.ebrary.com/lib/regent/Doc?id=10083648&ppg=60.

Fairholm, Gilbert W. (1997). Capturing the Heart of Leadership: Spirituality & Community in the New American Workplace. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group, Incorporated.

Hargrove, Robert A. and Renaud, Michel (2004). Your Coach (In a Book): Mastering the Trickiest Leadership, Business, and Career Challenges You Will Ever Face. San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Holy Bible (1985). King James Version Study Bible. Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Zondervan Corporation.

Hunter, James C. (2004). World's Most Powerful Leadership Principle: How to Become a Servant Leader. Westminster, MD: Crown Publishing Group.

Jaffe, Dennis T. (1991). Empowerment: A Practice Guide for Success. Menlo Park, CA: Course Technology Crisp.

Kouzes, James M. and Posner, Barry Z. (2002). The Leadership Challenge. Third Ed. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Books.

London, Manuel. (2001). Leadership Development: Paths to Self-Insight and Professional Growth. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Incorporated.

Mai, Robert. (2003). Leader As Communicator: Strategies and Tactics to Build Loyalty, Focus Effort, and Spark Creativity. Saranac Lake, NY: AMACOM.

Mueller, Ingrid Lt. (2000). Navy launches culture of fitness with new standards. Pensacola, FL. Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs. Retrieved November 01, 2005. http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/news/navnews/nns00/nns00013.txt

Snair, Scott. (2003). Stop the Meeting I Want to Get Off! How to Eliminate Endless Meetings While Improving Your Team's Communication, Productivity, and Effectiveness. Blacklick, OH: McGraw-Hill Professional.

Lieutenant Kenneth Rice is an Active Duty Naval Officer stationed in Norfolk VA. Lieutenant Rice is a graduate of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia where he received a Masters of Science in Educational Leadership and an Education & Training Management Subspecialty. He is currently enrolled in the Naval War College completing the Joint Professional Military Education Phase I and at Regent University working towards a Doctorate in111C Strategic Leadership.

Power Of Intention Dyer

Choosing The Right Life And Wellness Coach

Your relations with a life and wellness coach will be a two-way partnership, and you need to keep that in mind if you are to make the most out of this relation. It is not something that you can pay someone to do for you, but your involvement is critical. Nobody can help you unless you are willing to make a few changes yourself, the coach can only go so far as to suggest the changes and be there for you when you need emotional help.

This profession sometimes gets a little flack from society, as there are no educationa1A95l requirements for one to become a life and wellness coach. The lack of these standards does allow some money grabbers to stake their claim as wellness coaches, and you need to watch out for those who are there just to get your money, but do not have intentions of seeing your life take on better shape.

On the other hand, just because there is a lack of standardized requirement to becoming a wellness coach, it does not mean that you as a client cannot make some rules! Go ahead and make a list of criteria before you commit to parting your money with a coach. The best thing that you could get is an experienced and seasoned coach. Try and get an idea of the number of clients the person has had and for how many years. Better still, you could try and get feedback from one of his past clients to be sure you are in safe hands.

You could also check and see if you can find a specialist in the line of what your current problem is. For example, if you are battling drug abuse, you could well find a coach who specializes in such cases. Some coaches are specialized in training you career wise. They are able to deal with all levels of professionals from rookies to seasoned vets. There are other coaches who specialize in transition coaching.

This means, dealing with change in life. Change is a problem for everybody in his or her life, and some people do not adapt to change as easily as others, and such a coach could do well for their lives. Still other coaches specialize in personal problems of life such as problems with spouses and interpersonal relationship problems at the work place. There are people who have problems organizing themselves and their lives. For such people, a coach who specializes in organizational training is the need of the hour.

Though it is not a requirement as of today, you may want to go for a coach who is educated to help people. For example, you may feel better knowing the coach has a background in psychology, and so is better equipped to handle your life's problems for you.

Abhishek is a self-proclaimed Personality Development Guru and has written several books on this topic! Visit his website http://www.Positive-You.com and Download his FREE Personality Development Report and discover some amazing self-improvement tips for FREE. Become the best you can become and reclaim your life! But hurry, only limited Free copies available!

Arbinger Institute

Conflict Coaching - What the Heck Is It and How Is It Used? Part 1 of 2

Conflict coaches help individuals, pairs, and groups effectively navigate disagreements at work and home. A specialty within the broader coaching field, highly skilled conflict coaches typically have extensive experience as mediators or dispute resolution professionals, as well as coach training and practice. Think of conflict coaches as your own private guides to better dialogue, better decisions, and healthier work and home relationships.

Conflict Coaching at Work

In the workplace, conflict coaches work with executives, managers, team leaders, project managers, employees, and teams. Individuals or their employers hire conflict coaches in order to:

• Navigate difficult conversations with grace and confidence.
• Shift patterns of conflict behavior that arent serving them well at work.
• Negotiate and advocate more effectively for themselves or their departments.
• Communicate well under pressure and during disagreements.
• Learn how to balance good directness with approaches that preserve or strengthen professional relationships.
• Resolve a dispute with a co-worker before it escalates further.
• Transform workplace team conflict into efficient and effective decision making.
• Manage conflict associated with organizational change.
• Enhance these leadership skills for professional advancement and success.

Some conflict coaches also serve in advisory roles with business owners, supervisors, project managers and HR managers who want the benefit of a conflict resolution professionals insight into workplace problems. In these kinds of situations, businesses and organizations work in tandem with conflict coaches to:

• Determine the most effective way to manage a conflict situation.
• Craft the right language and approach for responding to a conflict thats becoming more public.
• Identify how best to intervene in a conflict and what timing is right.
• Figure out if theres a way to prevent a conflict from escalating into a grievance.
• Craft organizational systems for better responding to future conflict situations.

Conflict Coaching at Home

Conflict coaches also work with couples, families and extended families. Couples and families hire conflict coaches in order to:

• Change the interpersonal dynamics of their conflicts, in order to revive or strengthen a marriage or long-term life partnership.
• Jointly manage and make decisions about an elders assisted living, personal care, or finances while keeping important family bonds strong.
• Figure out the most effective approach for working through a parent-teen dispute.Learn how to manage anger more effectively, particularly anger thats sparked from conflict situations.

In the next article of this two-part series, I'll describe what happens in conflict coaching and how to know if conflict coaching is right for you, your family or your workplace.

Get your complimentary copy of Talking It Out in Ten, a worksheet and guide to help you think and prepare for your difficult conversations at work and home.

Dr. Tammy Lenski is a dialogue jump-starter, an expert at helping people talk out their differences and build stronger work and home relationships in the process. Tammy has helped individuals, work teams and entire organizations make their peace with conflict for almost two decades. Known for approaching sticky situations with an educators heart, professional mediators skill, and a creatives instinct, she taps her background as an organizational leader, college professor, executive coach and mediator to serve clients who dont just want to settle conflict but use it to transform their organization or themselves.

Tammy writes extensively about workplace conflict, coaching, and resolution at Lenski.com, where you can find over 400 articles to jump-start your own dialogues.

Power Of Intention Dyer

Motivation Theory

The word motivation is coined from the Latin word "movere", which means to move. Motivation is defined as an internal drive that activates behavior and gives it direction. The term motivation theory is concerned with the processes that describe why and how human behavior is activated and directed. It is regarded as one of the most important areas of study in the field of organizational behavior. There are two different categories of motivation theories such as content theories, and process theories. Even though there are different motivation theories, none of them are universally accepted.

Also known as need theory, the content theory of motivation mainly focuses on the internal factors that energize and direct human behavior. Maslow's hierarchy of needs, Alderfer's ERG theory, Herzeberg's motivator-hygiene theory (Herzeberg's dual factors theory), and McClelland's learned needs or three-needs theory are some of the major content theories.

Of the different types of content theories, the most famous content theory is Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of human needs. Maslow introduced five levels of basic needs through his theory. Basic needs are categorized as physiological needs, safety and security needs, needs of love, needs for self esteem and needs for self-actualization.

Just like Maslow's hierarchy of needs, ERG theory explains existence, relatedness, and growth needs. Through dual factors theory, Herzeberg describes certain factors in the workplace which result in job satisfaction. McClelland's learned needs or three-needs theory uses a projective technique called the Thematic Aptitude Test (TAT) so as to evaluate people based on three needs: power, achievement, and affiliation. People with high need of power take action in a way that influences the other's behavior.

Another type of motivation theory is process theory. Process theories of motivation provide an opportunity to understand thought processes that influence behavior. The major process theories of motivation include Adams' equity theory, Vroom's expectancy theory, goal-setting theory, and reinforcement theory. Expectancy, instrumentality, and valence are the key concepts explained in the expectancy theory. Goal setting theory suggests that the individuals are motivated to reach set goals. It also requires that the set goals should be specific. Reinforcement theory is concerned with controlling behavior by manipulating its consequences.

Motivation provides detailed information on Motivation, Daily Motivation, Employee Motivation, Motivation Posters and more. Motivation is affiliated with Christian Motivational Speakers.

Power Of Intention

Where Are You Going?

Are your goals “moving away from” goals or” moving toward” goals? Check in with yourself on this one because one of these is a source of power for consistent action and the other is a source of continued frustration, procrastination and doubt.

When you have a powerful vision of a future that you are designing and you have a passion for wanting to create a particular outcome then not much can stop you from taking action toward your target of intent.

If, on the other hand, your actions are geared more for avoiding something and escaping a particular scenario in your life then you will be weakened in your resolve to continue taking the actions required to fulfil the outcome. There is no clear outcome that you envisage for yourself. You only see the “what’s not” rather than the “what will be”. This cannot be very inspiring.

You could say that you want to go to Europe because you don’t want to get to the end of your life not having travelled. So you hop on a plane and you start moving around Europe. Once you arrive home you see magazine images of places in Europe that you regret not having seen and you feel the need to repeat the journey because the last trip left you unfulfilled in your true desires.

Simply, you had not got clear about your personal, heartfelt reasons for wanting the trip. Therefore all the places of interest that would have completed the holiday for you, were not visited because you had no plans. The goal was to have travelled to Europe in case you regret it later – a “moving away from” goal.

If your goal was one of “moving towards” the exhilarating experiences of actually standing in front of a Van Gogh painting or skiing down a slope in the Alps then I’d assert that the trip would have been more carefully planned to incorporate those experiences and you would likely have returned home completely satisfied with a trip you can declare a success. Something to celebrate.

As another example, some people see marriage as a way out of a parental home and parental control. They are not looking at the marriage as a long-term partnership of two people creating a lifestyle that empowers both. So when the wedding is over and behind them, the couple are living a situation that feels like a brand new prison, simply another life circumstance from which to seek escape.

Alternatively, if both people step into the marriage with a view to creating a life together that makes a difference to themselves and to those around them then when the wedding feast is behind them, they still have their wonderful plans for that lifestyle and those dreams that they wished to create and work towards, together.

Similarly, if we look to having a certain amount of money as a mechanism for moving away from financial concern or a restricted lifestyle, then when that particular amount of money is generated and “in the bank”, the concern for never living a life of financial hardship is still there. The acquired wealth is not freely enjoyed and life remains restricted because now, we are living in fear - managing ways to hang on to that money and never lose again. Rather than creating projects with freedom in the knowledge that we have continued access to manifesting money whenever it is wanted because we have expanded who we are, in relationship to abundance.

When you are living and taking action on a “moving toward” goal then the questions you ask yourself are very different questions than those you’d be asking yourself if your goal is to avoid something. Our learning and development is all about the questions that we ask and answers we find on that journey.

Revisit your current goals and make sure to ask yourself, am I moving towards something that inspires me or am I pursuing this goal to move away from an undesired situation? One of these two choices brings with it much more power and fun for accomplishing what it is that you’re actually seeking to achieve, from your heart.

As expressed by Abraham-Hicks, "Get so fixated on what you want, that you drown out any vibration or reverberation that has anything to do with what you do not want."

Thea Westra is an international life coach who resides in Perth, Western Australia. She publishes a free, monthly e-zine http://www.forwardsteps.com.au and blogs http://www.forwardsteps.com.au/FSBlogs.htm

Joe Vitale

What Is Your Time Worth

Growing businesses are finding outsourcing is becoming a regular necessity to keep up with increasing demands. Over the past few years, a new resource has emerged and is gaining momentum as the word spreads; that is, the services of a Virtual Assistant (VA)

With the advances of technology, it is becoming easier for businesses to outsource some of their administrative tasks, without the need of having a person in house. No need to provide a desk and computer. A VA is able to provide administrative support to businesses all over the world. Distance is never an issue. VA's communicate with their clients by email, telephone, fax, instant messenger or file transfer.

So what is a Virtual Assistant? Since 1996, more than 5,000 professionals around the world have become Virtual Assistants. A Virtual Assistant is an independent business owner who works from their home office environment. Many have chosen to leave the corporate world and start their own business, giving them freedom to better balance family and work time. VA's are highly skilled professionals, who keep up to date with the latest software and trends. They provide a wide range of general administrative services but often specialize in areas such as Web Design, Marketing, Strategic Planning, Project Management or Real Estate Assistance.

Training to become a Virtual Assistant can be found through several organizations; International Virtual Assistant Association, Assist U, International Association of Virtual Office Assistants, and Red Deer College, to name a few. Through the intensive 2-year curriculum, a VA can obtain Certification or progress even further to obtain the status of Master Virtual Assistant.

Business owners only pay a VA for work performed, which is billed hourly. Being responsible for their own taxes, training, health care, insurance, and overhead costs makes hiring a VA an affordable option. Business owners often find they are doing many administrative tasks themselves, leaving very little time to devote to developing their business or planning for future growth. By hiring a Virtual Assistant and delegating daily routine tasks, you can free up time for higher priorities.

As an example:

You charge $75 per hour for your services.

You spend a total of 5 hours on administrative tasks.

$75/hr X 5 hours = $375.00 time value

Costs of hiring a virtual assistant to handle these tasks.

$40/hr X 5 hours = $200.00

$375 - $200 = $175 time value saved by enabling you to devote your time on revenue producing tasks, which could generate additional profits.

The second International Virtual Assistant's Day was celebrated on May 19, 2007 to recognize this new profession. There are about 170 VA's in Ontario and this number is growing rapidly. Two associations in Canada provide support to VA's; the Canadian Virtual Assistant Connection www.cvac.ca and the Canadian Virtual Assistant Network www.canadianva.net These associations provide a Request for Proposal service for businesses looking to hire a VA through the association's on-line directory.

As the Virtual Assistant industry profile increases through media coverage and word of mouth from satisfied clients, the face of outsourcing in the new millennium is changing.

Erika Martlew is a Virtual Assistant offering professional administrative support and marketing assistance to small businesses and entrepreneurs. She has extensive training and experience in marketing and customer service. To see a listing of other services offered, visit her web site at http://www.erikamartlew.com Erika can be reached by phone at (905) 977-1657

Reprinting of this article is permitted as long as contact information is included.

Relaxation

Why Do You Stay in Your Bipolar Relationship?

Husbands, wives, girlfriends, boyfriends of partners with bipolar disorder are the overlooked and underserved mental illness support network of the Bipolar treatment world. Why do you stay in your bipolar relationship?

First, we are never secure about our own emotional needs. Are they more or less important the needs of our mentally ill spouse? If we choose to take care of our own needs first, we often suffer, then punish ourselves with guilt, then get angry toward our sick partner that he or she has caused us such misery.

But if we choose to put our partners emotional, physical and mental health needs ahead of oursafter all, hes the sick oneour quality of life diminishes. Our choices are never easy and always agonizing.

Second, husbands and wives are alone in coping with our spouses Bipolar Disorder (also known as Manic Depression). Besides managing doctor visits, medications, decisions on whether to hospitalize or not, well partners must fight for our relationships. The line between partner and caregiver is thin and often non-existent. It can make for a lonely and often devastating life.

You cannot share your feelings with your partner; hes the sick one and the cause of your distress! Your parents are empty nesters; you cant burden them with your problems. Your siblings have their own families to worry about. Unless mental illness runs in your friends families, theyre not going to understand what youre coping with. Plus your bipolar husband or wife may not want you violating their privacy rights.

The pressure on us from friends, family and professionals is unrelenting. Those who ask, Why do you stay in your relationship? are not supportive. And neither are the ones that imply that its your duty to stay married to your bipolar husband or wife. Bipolar disorder runs roughshod over relationships. The divorce rate is three times higher in these marriages than in the general population.

In my personal story, when I did find a spousal support group, there was one man (divorced) and 16 women. A third of the womens husbands lived in their basements, couldnt hold jobs and couldnt contribute financially or emotionally to their family life. One third of the women were divorced from violent men who beat them or were emotionally abusive to them or their children (a common side effect of problems with bipolar medication).

The last third were widowstheir bipolar husbands had committed suicide. (The suicide rate for bipolar disorder is 12 times higher than the normal population.) Everyone in the support group thought I was in denial for having a goal to stay married.

Why do you stay in your bipolar relationship?

Elizabeth Atlas is the author of "Married To Mania," a book that helps spouses and partners be in relationships with someone diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Her book teaches how to "live life on purpose," despite the unfair hand you were dealt in love and marriage and despite the chaos and emotional mine field you must avoid everyday in a marriage to someone with manic depression (another name for bipolar disorder). Elizabeth shows how to construct a plan to take charge of your life and to retain control of your life's goals, without getting caught up in the bipolar dramano matter how much you love your bipolar spouse. She can be reached at http://www.MarriedToMania.com

Stonewall Jackson

To Make No Decision Can Be To Make The Wrong Decision!

Making decisions can be immensely problematic for various people and it is an area where help guidance and encouragement may be necessary. Deciding or choosing regarding important matters is often underestimated. The importance of decision must never be minimised.

Some think it so decisions depend upon emotion - how I am feeling - the mood I am in - the way I look at things at present - but that is not true, and can be a dangerous way to live.

Emotion certainly has a part to play but it is not the decisive part. What decides is the will. It is the will that enable us to make the decisions for us.

The Psalmist in the Old Testament knew some vital truths which we tend to overlook or even ignore today. In Psalm 103, David speaks about how Almighty God forgives - heals - redeems - crowns - satisfies - and renews. He heals and we hear a lot about healing today and even what has been called 'alternative healing'.

We each need to know that Almighty God heals, that Jesus Christ is still in the business of healing, but when we reach a certain age we need to know too that He renews. I know I need to know that He renews me when I become worn out, weary or tired.

Many today are motivated by - I want - I think - I feel. These are very human and natural characteristics. Making important decisions almost brings us into a different realm.

If we don't make decisions, we can be like a leaf in stream, just getting carried along wherever it goes - into an eddy or into some backwater just going round and round - or more serious - over rocks and rapids and out of your control.

One of the crucial areas about which I have written elsewhere is that of "Repentance" - a topic we hear so little about - and in certain places it is almost deliberately avoided. I wonder why?

In the seven letters which Jesus Christ wrote to seven church - you can read these Revelation Chapters 2 and 3 - to five out of the seven he said, "Repent".

There can be that moment in life when God draws so very close. Am I going to come to Him or resist?

I think of one man who experienced such a moment some years ago and he said, "I do not want to go this far" and then he sensed these words coming to him - "If you stop now you may never get this far again".

Almighty God draws you and draws close to you at certain times - and if you don't respond He may never speak to you again. To decide at such a moment can affect the whole of your life. I know what this involves because I have been there!

Another topic which involves a decision is "Forgiving". I do not feel like forgiving - we are not supposed to feel like it - we are to forgive. It is the Will and the decision we make that affects what follows in life.

Jesus Christ taught quite clearly in Mark Chapter 11 that whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that you Father in heaven may forgive you.

If we hold onto unforgiveness, our prayers can be hindered. That verse, where Jesus speaks about praying, leaves out nothing and leaves out no-one. This is so relevant in a day of being inclusive.

Do not let anyone say that we in the Christian Faith are exclusive - or that we exclude people. No - and especially, not when it comes to forgiveness.

Decisions are vitally important and in certain areas of life to make no decision is to make the wrong decision! Now, that is something upon which it is worth taking time to meditate and contemplate. These are serious issues regarding our future well-being, welfare and wholeness.

Sandy Shaw

Sandy Shaw is Pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship, Chaplain at Inverness Prison, and Nairn Academy, and serves on The Children's Panel in Scotland, and has travelled extensively over these past years teaching, speaking, in America, Canada, South Africa, Australia, making 12 visits to Israel conducting Tours and Pilgrimages, and most recently in Uganda and Kenya, ministering at Pastors and Leaders Seminars, in the poor areas surrounding Kampala, Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.

He broadcasts regularly on WSHO radio out of New Orleans, and writes a weekly commentary at http://www.studylight.org entitled "Word from Scotland" on various biblical themes, as well as a weekly newspaper column.

His M.A. and B.D. degrees are from The University of Edinburgh, and he continues to run and exercise regularly to maintain a level of physical fitness.

Sandy Shaw
sandyshaw63@yahoo.com

Seefailure

Crows as Pets? Don't Even Think About It!

In Van Gogh's "Wheatfield Under Threatening Skies with Crows," crows are shown in the middle plane of the painting, like an ill-fated force, between the menacing skies and the grain. True, the crows have an eye on the grain, but they are also unpredictable and playful. Although they act as if they do not even recognize the existence of a human nearby, these birds are always well aware of their surroundings.

I had never thought of crows as pets until I entered the office of someone my husband knew and found a big black crow sitting on her head. This lady was an animal lover and a licensed pet care-giver; she had found this crow hurt and had healed him back to health.

She told me, even though she let him free in her backyard, the crow came back to her. She never kept the crow locked in a cage; although there was a cage with the door removed in her house. She always left a window open and the crow was free to come and go as he pleased. This lasted through the summer.

At the end of the summer, the crow disappeared and probably became a member of a flock, then migrated, because that's what crows do and keeping them locked up is against the laws of nature. It might have been sad for that lady to see her pet leave, since that crow was so bright and loving, but because the lady was so knowledgeable on the subject, she understood.

Never think of a crow as a pet; you should not even attempt to get, catch, or buy one. To start with, under the Migratory Bird Act, it is illegal to hold a crow and a permit is very difficult or impossible to obtain. Should you, however, find a young nestling crow thrown out of its nest and if you live in the middle of a wilderness, you might try to nurse the bird to adulthood, with the understanding that he will one day leave you.

If you find a hurt wild bird and don't know how to attend to it, take him to a vet or someone licensed in bird care. Around where you live, if you don't know anyone qualified for the job, call your state's wildlife authority or find an Audubon center close to you. You can do so on the website http://www.audubon.org/, by entering your zip code.

Helping out an orphan crow is easy because crows will eat practically anything. A good basic diet for such a bird should contain bird vitamins and calcium, oatmeal, hardboiled egg-yolk and some ground beef to make up for the insects most birds are so fond of eating.

If the bird is very young, he'll need to be handfed. Don't be afraid to put your finger gently inside its beak, since baby crows eat from their mothers' beaks. By the time the crow is six weeks old, he'll feed himself. Give the bird enough space to fly, like a room. When he is strong enough, leave the window open, so he can fly away and live his life as nature intended it to.

Crows belong to the family of corvids and they fly in large flocks around the cities, suburbs, and the countryside. Magpies, jays, cloughs, nutcrackers and a few other birds are related to crows. Most of the crows are black but there are blue, purple, brown, gray, and albino crows in existence.

Crows, as very intelligent animals, are known to mimic human talk and engage in games among themselves. Better yet, they have proven themselves to be too smart to be afraid of scarecrows.

With their unpredictability, crows have encouraged human imagination and have placed themselves inside many myths. Yet, like humans, they possess their own kind of culture or life-style that deserves to be respected.

This article has been submitted by Joy Cagil in affiliation with http://www.PetLovers.Com/ which is a site for Pet Forums. Joy Cagil's education is in linguistics and foreign languages. She is an animal lover.

What Is The Meaning Of Life

Relationships - Mysteries of Attraction

We are attracted to each other at our common level of woundedness and our common level of health.

What does this mean?

For example, Jackson, a very attractive man in his early 50s, had been married three times and had been in many relationships. He consulted with me because he was tired of going from relationship to relationship. He wanted a long-term relationship.

"Even though each relationship seems to be very different than the last one, in the end they all turn out to be the same."

Jackson grew up with an angry father and a mother who, on the surface, pretended that everything was okay, but was always pulling on Jackson to make her feel loved. Not surprisingly, Jackson consistently picked women who looked all together but who were really needy. He was mystified as to why he kept picking the same kind of woman.

Through his inner work with me, Jackson discovered the deep level of loneliness he had felt with his mother. While she was a beautiful woman on the outside, on the inside she was empty and needy. He discovered that he had been drawn to women who were just like his mother, and then, with his criticism and controlling behavior, tried to get them to connect with him. His mission with each woman he met was to find a way to heal the woman so he would not be lonely with her. More than wanting connection with a woman, he wanted CONTROL over the connection - which is not possible. In each relationship he ended up withdrawing when his control attempts didn't work.

As long as Jackson wanted control over connection, he would be attracted to disconnected and needy women. Once he fully accepted his lack of control over whether or not a woman connected with him, he found himself attracted to an open and loving woman - a woman who connects to him because that is who she is.

Jackson was originally attracted to women who were at his level of woundedness. After he did his inner work, he became attracted to a woman at his level of health.

If you are a caretaker, addicted to fixing others while ignoring yourself, it is likely that you find yourself attracted to takers - self-centered people who want others to take care of them.

If you are an angry, controlling person, it is likely that you are attracted to people who easily give themselves up, or to people who are very resistant.

If you are an empty person, it is likely that you are attracted to a vibrant caretaking person.

And so on.

On the other hand, if you do your inner work, healing your low self-esteem, your need to control, your resistance, your addictions to substances and processes, your fear of rejection and your fear of engulfment, and you discover how to take loving care of yourself, you will find yourself only attracted to loving, kind and secure people.

Leaving a relationship - other than an abusive relationship - before discovering the inner fears and beliefs that led you to the relationship in the first place, is essentially a waste of time. You will continue to choose the same kind of person over and over - even if that is not apparent at first - until you heal the underlying issues that led you to choose this person in the first place.

All of us put out a frequency that comes from our level of woundedness or health. If you tune your radio dial to a particular station, you will get that station because you have tuned into the frequency of that station. Likewise, your frequency attracts a like frequency. Woundedness has a low frequency, while emotional health has a high frequency. A loving person with a high frequency will not be attracted to a controlling or needy person with a low frequency.

If you want to attract a loving and caring person, then you first need to become that person yourself.

Margaret Paul, Ph.D. is the best-selling author and co-author of eight books, including "Do I Have To Give Up Me To Be Loved By You?" and Healing Your Aloneness. She is the co-creator of the powerful Inner Bonding healing process. Learn Inner Bonding now! Visit her web site for a FREE Inner Bonding course: http://www.innerbonding.com or email her at margaret@innerbonding.com. Phone sessions available.

Siddhartha Life And Marriage

16 Step Recipes for Success

1. Keep on Dreaming. Only in dreaming you can awaken your giant within!

2. Believe in yourself. Believe in your skills, talents and abilities that you can if you think you can! Remember, no one will feel you insecure and inferior without your consent!

3. Read Good Books. Make reading good books as part of your habits. Good books are hidden treasures that can help you to become wise and leader among men.

4. Know what you are doing. Believe in what you are doing. Love what you are doing and never think of backsliding. For the world cannot be won with a doubtful spirit.

5. Act. Dreaming without acting is meaningless in all meaningless under the sun! To make your dreams come trueyou must work and strive for it with all your might!

6. Never accept defeat and failure, for that is the word and vocabulary of the fools and losers. Remember, law of success is never ending and failure is never final!

7. Learn, laugh at your mistakes and make a glorious one.

8. Be contented of what you have but dont be contented of what you are.

9. Manage your time wisely. Remember time is gold.

10. Take good care of your health. Good health is your only capital and investment to reach your dreams and goals in life.

11. Be careful, watchful and vigilant! Dont ever forget to nurture your character, for your character will cover and protect your reputation from the trap and honey words of wicked individuals.

12. Be an open-minded person. Remember there is more hope to the fool than to a close minded individual.

13. Have self-respect. Remember none but one can harm you. None but yourself is your greatest foe. He that respects himself is safe from others. He wears a coat of mail that none can pierce.

14. Be interested in people. Remember no man is an island.

15. Value your family and friends. Remember there is always a need of the family and good friends.

16. Dont worry, be happy. If you are worried about something, tell God. If you cannot remember something, ask God. Try to get in the habit of taking everything to God first and your plan will succeed!

Good Luck!

Wish you many blessings to come and God bless!

Moises P. Reconalla

About the Author:

Moises P. Reconalla is the School Guidance Counselor, College Instructor and Working Students Supervisor at North Davao College, Panabo City, Philippines.

He has taught several courses at the college including: Guidance and Counseling, General Psychology, Philippine History: Roots and Development, General Anthropology and Sociology, and Dr. Jose Rizal: Life, Works & Writings.

You can send your comments about this article through his email wisdomisgreat@gmail.com or visit his blog at http://www.mosesreconalla.blogspot.com

All rights reserved worldwide. Copyright 2007 by Moises Padin Reconalla

NOTE: You're free to republish this article on your website, in your newsletter, in your e-book or in other publications provided that the article is reproduced in its entirety, including the author information.

There are several contingencies that come into play when you want to manifest your desire

Poems For Children

I write a quite a bit of prose, mainly short stories. A lot of them, but not all aimed at children. But poetry is a different matter, while I liked to read and listen to all sorts of poetry. I had always avoided trying to write it, mainly because I hadn't a clue how to go about it (still haven't).

Despite my misgivings, other members of the writing group that I attend, persuaded me to give it a try and like a fool I agreed, knowing full well that I could not meet their exacting standards. Not to worry I thought, I could only do my best, even if it turned out to be rubbish. Unable to get to grips with formal sonnets, I decided to try my hand at free verse. But when the waste bin overflowed, I gave it up as a bad job and decided to clear the garage instead.

Which turned out to be a good idea, because I came across one of Katie's old toys, a fuzzy, one eyed monster from, "Monsters Inc" I think his name was Michael? Anyway it started me writing and the result is below.

Can't Find Him Anywhere.

I cannot find my Monster; I can't find him anywhere.

Last time that I saw him he was in the big armchair.

I only went to the kitchen to butter us both a scone.

When I returned, he wasn't there; I wonder where he's gone.

.

Have you seen my Monster? He's really, really tall.

You'll know him if you see him, he's like a fluffy ball.

I've looked everywhere in all the places I could think.

I've even searched the cupboard, beneath the kitchen sink.

.

If he comes toward you, while walking down the lane

Though he's big and strong and can be an awful pain.

He's really just a pussycat and wouldn't harm a fly.

So don't get all worried; he'll never make you cry.

.

If you find him hiding behind a big old tree

Give him lots of kisses and send him home to me

Tell him that I love him, because I really, really do

And I'll never try again, to flush him down the loo.

Copyright Fred Watson 2007

How About this one?

Mirror

Mirror, mirror, on the wall

Why am I so very small?

When will I start to grow?

Can you help me, yes, or, no?

.

Mirror, mirror, oh so wise

Can you tell me about my size?

Will I always be a little mite?

Or will I grow to reach the light?

.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall

Tell me please will I be tall?

Can't you help with my need?

Tell me if I'll stay a weed

.

Mirror, mirror, are you there?

Hang on a sec; I'll get a chair.

There, that's better. This is me.

Tell me true what do you see

.

Mirror, mirror, you're awfully dumb

I think I'll go and ask my mum.

Copyright Fred Watson 2007

You will find lots of short stories, suitable for all age groups, plus a few more poems for children on my website.

Fred Watson published his first book, a fantasy adventure novel aimed at the 8-12 age group, in September 2006. A grandfather of four, he loves to write for all age groups and continues on a regular basis to add new stories to his website http://www.footprintpublishing.co.uk/shortstoriesforgirls.html

Rene Descartes