http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/self-improvement/happiness/over-40-out-of-work-make-this-the-best-time-of-your-life.html http://www.articletrader.com/self-improvement/happiness/over-40-out-of-work-make-this-the-best-time-of-your-life.html Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:25:08 -0500
Right now millions of Americans are either out of work, recently laid off, or afraid of being laid off. There are millions more, who simply work at jobs, which provide no meaning. They work only in order to get a paycheck.

Stop feeling sorry for yourself

Society norms make it easy to feel sorry for yourself. Sadness, depression, panic are all emotions which are easy to absorb during difficult times. When there are bills to pay and food to buy, nothing else seems to matter. Still, to focus on these emotions is the worst approach to take. Feeling bad only leads to more negativity and sadness.

Celebrate

That's right - CELEBRATE that you are living now during a wonderful period of life - hopefully you have good health and ability to think clearly. For sure this is a good time for transition.

Transitions in work

Transitions take on different shapes and forms during one's work life. For example one might be in transition as a result of being laid off or while starting new work in a new area. People adapt to change in different ways. This difference depends on how a person perceives his transition. Is this change moving one closer to an important goal or farther away from?

What causes anxiety?

What causes anxiety for most people out of work and in transition is the uncertainty. Before, a person knew what to expect even if the former job didn't provide much joy or happiness.

A new perspective is needed

When in transition it is important to think back to the OLD job and analyze what was good and what was not so good. This can lead to new beginnings and finding new work which could fit you much better. Sadly, when people lose their job they also lose their sense of self and who they are. Job titles tend to influence the sense of who you are and as a result can be damaging to one's soul.


Take some down time

I was in a coffee shop the other day and noticed many 40 plus adults in a frantic pace using their cell phones and laptops to come up with something. In fact, I overheard one man who said to someone on the other end, "I'll take anything at this point." I thought to myself, "anything?"
In the corner of the shop I noticed a woman hard at work too. She was hard at work trying to figure out one of those word search puzzle games.
I walked by and said to her something like, "It looks difficult to do!" She answered to me, "Actually, it helps my creativity when I am out of work."
And I thought to myself, "Hmm…this was a much better strategy while in transition!"

Exercise your mind

When in transition, it is important to engage the mind in new activities, which will in turn create new ideas. Start with vocation! Think about which work you could do for a lifetime that will give you the ability not to be dependent on others. This is important after 40 and beyond. The Buddha said long ago, "Work out your salvation and to not depend on others." This is a good way to think about vocation (work which you could do forever). The more you are forced to perform work, which you do not like, the worst you will feel. Think back to when you did work and felt like you were volunteering. What was the experience?

Create new goals

Now is the time to create new goals around what is most important to you. This leads to work which will feel voluntary. This doesn't mean you don't get paid. It means the focus will be on the work which you have chosen and it will have meaning for you.

1-3 year goals

I suggest for those over 40 and in transition to define a 3 year goal which is clear and aligned with your values. This goal should be measurable. Next, select a 1 year goal and stepping stone towards the ultimate goal. Most important - decide, what you will do each and every day which will provide you with progress. This process leads to a greater sense of choice and control over your life and work.

We are only here a short time

There is no time better than the present to live a life filled with joy, happiness and doing work which has meaning. Now is the time to dance, sing (even if it's only in the shower), smile, love, and give back to others. All of this can be done through vocation. Seldom can this be done through JUST a job or a career. With vocation a person and his work is united. The most important question to ponder after 40 is: "What work must emerge through me now?"

The work which inspires

I was in a bagel shop the other day. There was a table near the front of the store with bags of bagels. The sign read that this was the grateful bagel table and all the bagels were free. The sign encouraged people in need to take a bag of bagels and those who could afford to please leave a bag . It was clear to me that this shop did more than just sell bagels for a profit. The person who runs this place is a good role model for inspirational work. This is now my favorite bagel shop.

The search is your responsibility

Many of my clients feel guilty when they don't complete their homework from me in our regular sessions. Many times a client will say, "Craig, I am sorry but I didn't complete the homework." The search for vocation is a call to be responsible for your own life and to not leave your life INCOMPLETE. This is a big move.
It takes a sense of urgency, re-examination, and assessment of what was done before and what needs to be done now.

Krishamurti

Indian thinker Krishamurti believed that there are many people who want to be famous because they don't love what they do. He believed our present success is rotten because it teaches us to love success and not what we are doing.
Results become more important than action.


How do you discover what to do?

A Japanese proverb says: "Vision without action is a daydream and action without vision is a nightmare." Spiritual leader Gandhi Mohandas believed that you must be the change which you want to see in the world.

What change do you want to see in the world?

What bothers you? What change in the world do you want to see and how can you contribute? It doesn't have to be world hunger. It can be as simple as solving the problem that children don't get enough exercise or improving access to the internet for the poor.

Who does work which you want to do?

When in transition find people who are doing what you want to do. Find and talk to people who are passionate about what you love to do as well.

Be open to new experience

Work on getting to know yourself at a deeper level. Psychologist Carl Rogers said, "It was important to create and be involved in activities which is both satisfying and truly expresses one's core self." Writing this article for you does this for me. What activity would do this for you? This is the best time of your life if you are willing to look at your life with a new perspective.

I'll be cheering you on as you go - Craig Nathanson

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Craig Nathanson is the author of Dont JUST Retire and Die and he is a coaching expert who works with people over forty.

Visit Craig's online community at http://www.vocationalcoach.com.com where you can take a class, get more ideas through Craig Nathanson's books and CD's, get some private coaching over the phone or in Craig's office, or read other stories of mid-life change and renewal.

Craig lives and works in Petaluma, California. His office is located at P.O Box 2823, Petaluma Ca, 94953. You can reach him at 707-775-4020 or at craig@thevocationalcoach.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/self-improvement/happiness/life-after-retirement-looking-forward.html http://www.articletrader.com/self-improvement/happiness/life-after-retirement-looking-forward.html Sat, 04 Jul 2009 01:01:09 -0500 We live out our lives in search of, and waiting for, our golden years of retirement, assured that all will be well, if we can just reach the age of 65. But, even if we sweat and toil for the financing to support our life of ease and leisure, how many of us actually plan on just what we will do, when our days are no longer filled with the 8 to 5 grind of work? After all, there's only so much one can stand of sitting on a porch, rocking away the hours. Sooner or later, you've got to get up and move.

And, let's face it, for many (most?) of us, no matter how hard we work in the pre-65 years, we still won't have enough money to see us through the so-called golden years. With Social Security becoming more insecure, and retirement money being spent on survival before 65, there may not be enough money to allow for even the basics of survival, once retirement is finally achieved.

There may be times in your life when you wanted to learn to play golf or wanted to write a book on your experience and learning, or wanted to learn salsa. But your desires where never fulfilled, because you were too busy at work or family. This is the right time to explore your hidden talents and fulfill your deepest desires.

Here are few ways to stay active and make money after retirement. Work is the important way of coping with the nagging worries.

Physical activity:

The best way to be healthy, independent and occupied is by doing some minor physical exercise such as walking and yoga. Get started with activities that will make you feel warm and breath deeply. It may not be some heavy stuff, but small things like walking whenever and wherever you can, taking the stairs instead of an elevator etc. You could also enroll in the neighbourhood yoga or laughter club. Being healthy will also help you be independent.

Meet friends:

Meet your old friends outside. There may be times when you missed out the most important events with your friend. Plan a picnic, as even he may be feeling lonely. Go out to play golf or any game you like.

Gardening:

Gardening is the best way to keep you occupied. This is also a great stress buster. Grow some flowers or vegetables in your garden. If you don't have a garden you can grow plants in a pot. You can even get the younger ones involved in this work. Decorate your house with these plants and flowers. Look how proud and contented you will feel.

Help grandkids:

If your grandkids are busy with homework and you have some time on your hands, why not help them with their work? Apart from homework, you can play with them, tell them stories, take them to the park etc. Thus you will gain a good listener and even build a healthy relationship.

Go on a holiday:

Go on a cruise with your partner. Visit a distant land, which you have always wanted to see. And remember there is no age bar for a second honeymoon. This is the age when you are alone most of the time with your partner, so make the best use of it. Discover those facets about each other left untouched and forgotten over the years.

Volunteer:

Be a volunteer to an NGO who deal with projects relating to the empowerment of women, child care or anything that draws your interest and is also of a major help to the society.

Use your skills:

You may be a businessman, a professional, or an accountant. Years of experience in that field will surely be of some help to the youngsters. Use your skills to train them. Start a course. This will fill your pockets and even finds you some work to keep going.






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Visit for more useful information on Culture and society, To be Polite to everyone and Planning Life after retirement

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/self-improvement/happiness/transcendental-meditation-where-does-the-money-go.html http://www.articletrader.com/self-improvement/happiness/transcendental-meditation-where-does-the-money-go.html Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:02:16 -0500
Bang For the Buck--First, it's good to know that the course fee (currently $1500 for adults and $750 for students) includes approximately 10 hours of personal and group instruction and a lifetime of follow up classes, anywhere in the U.S. (including Hawaii). I mean, a college course is expensive too, but there's no personal instruction and a lifetime opportunity to audit that course at dozens of locations around the country. So Transcendental Meditation offers a package deal that's something pretty special.

NonProfit--The organization that teaches the Transcendental Meditation technique is called Maharishi Vedic Education Development Corporation (MVED). It is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, educational entity. Its mission is to provide the technique of Transcendental Meditation to millions of people so that they may reap the scientifically validated benefits of health, happiness, prosperity and inner peace.

Scholarships--The organization offers financial aid just like other educational institutions. They facilitate, long term, low interest, student loans as well as full and partial scholarships for qualifying students, families etc. As much as 35% of all MVED revenues are used to provide scholarships for Transcendental Meditation courses, for those that could not otherwise afford it. The organization also works closely with a number of charitable foundations that provide full and partial scholarships to students and at-risk youth. Over the past two years more than 50,000 students in schools across the United States, Latin America and Africa have learned the Transcendental Meditation technique through this program.

Salaries--For more than a decade I was an employee of MVED Corporation and worked as a financial manager and regional director. As such, I can verify that the salaries that the organization paid were modest and below the national average for comparable work. As an administrator in a leadership role I received almost the same salary as many entry level employees. I had frequent interactions with senior members of the organization many of whom, worked full time, on a volunteer basis and received no compensation whatsoever.

Maharishi—The founder of the technique, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, worked tirelessly, twelve to fifteen hours per day for more than 50 years. His only focus, day and night, was to create an organization that could provide the benefits of his meditation technique to millions of people around the world. When he first began teaching in the 1950's he relied only on donations. However, as the organization grew and buildings were needed to establish Transcendental Meditation centers and a permanent organizational structure, standardized course fees came into existence. As for Maharishi himself, he was a monk with no possessions. He never owned a car, a house, a plane or a building at anytime in his life. He lived only for the good of all people and never thought of himself.

So when you pay your course fee for Transcendental Meditation you can rest assured that your hard earned money is going to good use. You are receiving a technique and follow up classes that will provide life long benefits and you will sleep well at night knowing that, through your course fee, others will also have the opportunity to benefit.

®Transcendental Meditation and TM are registered trademarks of Maharishi Vedic Education Development Corporation, a non-profit educational organization.

www.TM.org
http://adventuresintranscendentalmeditation.blogspot.com/

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Dr. Keith DeBoer has been a Certified Teacher of the Transcendental Meditation technique since 1976. He has studied with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (TM's founder) in the USA, Europe and in India. He has also appeared on numerous radio and TV shows to discuss the unique benefits and scientific research associated with the TM technique and its application to health, education and business. He has a doctorate in World Peace Studies from Maharishi European Research University located in The Netherlands (Holland). Currently he works as a freelance writer, consultant and teacher of the Transcendental Meditation technique.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/self-improvement/happiness/what-is-so-relaxing-about-living-beside-the-sea.html http://www.articletrader.com/self-improvement/happiness/what-is-so-relaxing-about-living-beside-the-sea.html Sun, 21 Jun 2009 14:46:56 -0500
The trees in front of my home are brilliantly emerald green and lush in the sunlight. In the distance I can see the vague outline of the Cumbrian Mountains. It is difficult to describe the peacefulness induced by this natural scene. The water laps backwards and forwards on the beach and birds glide lazily upon a gentle breeze. The scene is constantly peaceful, and constantly changing. There is motion and movement in a cyclical way.

I do not know what it is like to not live beside the sea. I do know that everyone who lives inland has a yearning for the sea. Even those who suffer a fear of water still tend to love the sight of the sea or the ocean. Only rarely do you find someone who cannot bear the sight of water. We have a natural affinity with water, which I suppose should come as no surprise seeing as our bodies consist of about 70% water.

If you ask various people what their associations are with water you will receive a myriad of answers. Some will say that water invokes in them a feeling of freedom or wildness; others will say it invokes a calm or peaceful feeling, or perhaps an image of sunbathing on a sandy beach whilst listening to the waves. Everyone's associations will be different and the emotions elicited will differ, but most will agree that there is a feel-good factor associated with proximity to the ocean.

This is true of everything which is natural. Flowers, trees, mountains and glens all invoke (for the very great majority) a feeling of peace and tranquility. We gain a greater feeling of balance and harmony when communing with nature. To go for a walk amongst beautiful scenery helps us take a step back, and get the world into perspective once again. We become more "grounded" and feel more in harmony as we spend time in such natural surroundings.

In itself, nature is non-emotional in the sense that nature does not experience anger or sadness and so on, and yet nature pulls out OUR emotions; it invokes enormous feelings of peace and tranquility. You can find yourself with tears in your eyes as you notice a beautiful and intricate flower, wondering at the patterning of its petals and leaves, its particular shading and fragrance. You can find yourself becoming angry in the wind or laughing in the rain.

The sun, we all know, has an enormous impact upon both our physical and mental health. Our brains produce endorphins which make us feel good when the sun is shining upon us, and different vitamins are also stimulated in the sun. At the same time, we also know the impact which too much sun can have upon us. Balance is always the key. Nature is balanced, and perhaps this is why we humans feel a greater sense of balance when we are surrounded by nature.

After all, everything transmits energy, including each leaf and flower around you. I for one am absolutely certain that the energy transmitted by the ocean, or the trees, or the sun, is more lifting to the spirits than that produced by the vast majority of things which are man-made!

There is a natural cycle clearly seen in nature, an inevitability and predictability which is comforting and soothing to the soul. The sun rises and sets, flowers open in the sunlight and close in the dark, there are high and low tides, leaves grow in the spring time and fall in the autumn, and leaves rot and produce compost which in turn nurtures new growth. There is no beginning and no end to nature; it just seems to go on and on; and this too makes us feel good. It is constant.

Communing with nature provides a welcome relief from stress, anxiety and tension. If you are not lucky enough to spend time in nature for whatever reason, you can surround yourself with plants, or pictures of natural scenes, or at the very least you can close your eyes and visualize such scenes. Your imagination does in fact trigger off the same brain wave activity as real stimulus and so you can create a soothing calmness for yourself very easily in this way. You can use your imagination to create balance and harmony and a feeling of being centred.

You can use hypnosis mp3s or hypnosis cds to relax and to more vividly visualize natural scenes, picturing yourself in a beautiful glen or lying on a sandy beach and in this way achieve a feeling of balance and harmony; a welcome break from an otherwise stressful day. You can even imagine sunlight upon your skin and stimulate an endorphin release quite naturally in the comfort of your own home, with the help of an endorphin generator hypnosis mp3.

Roseanna Leaton, specialist in hypnosis downloads to make you feel good.


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With a degree in psychology and qualifications in hypnotherapy, NLP and sports psychology, Roseanna Leaton is one of the leading practitioners of self-improvement. You can get a free hypnosis download from http://www.RoseannaLeaton.com and peruse her extensive library of hypnosis cds for hypnosis confidence.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/self-improvement/happiness/how-the-effects-of-stress-can-ruin-your-health.html http://www.articletrader.com/self-improvement/happiness/how-the-effects-of-stress-can-ruin-your-health.html Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:25:17 -0500 The effects of stress whether it's from a business you run, a job you work, a relationship, or just life itself, can be very detrimental to your physical health. Many people fail to recognize certain symptoms of stress if they can't relate it directly to their emotional state of being. The assumption is that stress only ravages our emotional health. Well nothing could be further from the truth.

Although anxiety and panic attacks are commonly recognized as signs of stress we often tend to overlook other stress symptoms that are more physical in nature. Many conditions or discomforts we experience are often erroneously attributed to external factors other than stress. As a result these discomforts are generally ignored.

Having the ability to recognize certain stress symptoms both physical and emotional can be a key factor in the quality of life you live.

Learning to recognize these signs early on will enable you to take the corrective actions needed to minimize the negative effects they can have on you.

With that said our focus here will be 5 common physical signs of stress you need to be aware of that often times are quickly dismissed:

Sleep Deprivation

Although lack of sleep can often times is attributed to a restless mind the ultimate damage is physical in nature. Not enough rest leads to an inability to maintain focus, irritability, and diminishes your overall physical performance.

Weakened Immunity System

Without the proper rest your body's auto immune system weakens leaving you susceptible to all kinds of sicknesses ranging from the common cold to ailments of a much more severe nature.

Even with adequate rest stress can still create a constant strain on your system thereby again challenging your immunity system. Medical science has documented that stress can in fact even accelerate the advancement of cancer and other existing ailments or diseases in patients.

Fatigue

Fatigue is another by-product of constant stress. The lack of energy you feel from being under a continual siege of stress leaves you without the drive to fully engage in the world around you. By not being able to be your best professionally or enjoy yourself socially can take quite a toll on your life. In fact shortchanging your social interactions will only worsen your stress being that time with family and friends is a terrific way to defuse the harmful effects stress can have.

Chronic Aches and Pains

With an overload of stress and no measures taken to relieve it, tension builds up in the body often times resulting from achy joints or stiff muscles. If there is a pre-existing condition such as arthritis or even an old injury the tendency for these to 'flare up' is common and directly attributed to the stress you're experiencing.

Headaches

The most common and identifiable sign of stress is a headache. Pain relievers are available to alleviate the discomfort but these are only temporary solutions. Unless measures are taken to better manage the stress that causes these headaches they will return.

The effects of stress can open a Pandora's Box to an assortment of physical ailments that can literally debilitate you. Your failure to recognize certain symptoms of stress can ultimately lead to a state of poor physical health. Your knowledge of this better prepares you to recognize the signs we discussed above. With the proper corrective actions you can then manage and minimize the damage it can do to your health, happiness, and productivity.






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TJ Philpott is an author and Internet entrepreneur based out of North Carolina.
For additional Online Success Tips
and a free guide that demonstrates how to find both profitable markets and products visit:http://affiliatequickstart.com/


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/self-improvement/happiness/what-makes-people-happy-5-important-factors-that-bring-happiness.html http://www.articletrader.com/self-improvement/happiness/what-makes-people-happy-5-important-factors-that-bring-happiness.html Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:16:09 -0500
All of these answers hit home, of course. While everyone has their own opinion, some universal things like the ones below might be considered as what makes people happy.

1. Family and friends

One of the things that make people happy is the company of family and friends. The emotional support these people give you is priceless.

You probably don't enjoy being smothered by your mother or your father, but attending family reunions or getting together for a barbecue once in a while pumps up your happiness level. Having people around you that you love, trust and care for makes you feel that you're not alone.

2. Giving back

Helping others, whether in small or big ways, uplifts a person's spirit like nothing else. Doing something for nothing might be completely opposite of what you have been taught, but acts of generosity always leaves you with a warm, fuzzy feeling.

Sharing your wealth or time with others puts you in the position to receive the same positive energy back from others. Besides, making a difference in somebody else's life has a way of coming back to you.

3. Meaningful work

A job with a corresponding high salary isn't always what makes people happy. In fact, these jobs often make people miserable (unless your heart is in what you do). Unfortunately, not everyone can afford to pursue their dream job. And not everyone finds meaning in their work.

You could try to compensate for this by volunteering at hospitals or environmental causes in your spare time. By finding meaning in what you do, you will feel fulfilled and have a sense of purpose.

4. Freedom

It's impossible to become truly happy when you don't have even a small ounce of freedom in your life. Whether it's being able to express yourself creatively or being able to make a choice for yourself, personal freedom is important. Suppressing yourself only brings forth a lot of negative emotions and discontent.

5. Success

Who doesn't want to succeed? People who have achieved personal or professional success in their life are more inclined to pursue other goals and try new experiences. They become more content with the direction their life is taking and are generally happier in the long run.

These are just some of what makes people happy. Not everything is about materialism. There's happiness to be found in even the simplest, intangible things.

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Want to know the inner secrets on what makes people happy? Then get FREE instant access to the most powerful methods to live a happy life and enjoy excellent health! Download instantly at: http://www.20daypersuasion.com/happyhealthylife.html

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/self-improvement/happiness/dealing-with-stress-before-it-kills-you.html http://www.articletrader.com/self-improvement/happiness/dealing-with-stress-before-it-kills-you.html Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:11:05 -0500 One of the first steps in dealing with stress is to identify and acknowledge its existence in your life. By recognizing the symptoms of stress you may have you will more likely take the necessary action needed to control it. Signs such as irritability, fatigue, depression, or even lack of enthusiasm are stress signals you should not ignore!

Many people use denial when coping with stress but all this does is suppress and compound the inevitable negative effects it can have on you. What we wan to discuss here today is what we can do to relieve stress in order to maintain an emotionally and physically active and healthy lifestyle.

Here are 3 simple stress management techniques you can use starting today:

Finding an Outlet

The key to an effective outlet for stress is an activity you thoroughly enjoy. As a rule the more physical the activity the better.

The idea behind this is to focus on something other than the source of stress thus giving both the body and mind a break from the constant pressure you feel. When choosing something you really enjoy it makes it easier to maintain the routine.

Seek Out Time for Thought

At the very core of coping with stress is taking active measures to escape it clutches, even if it is only for a short period of time.

Giving yourself time to collect your thoughts, organize them, and put them in perspective is very important. This allows you to 'get a handle' on the whirlwind around you and put yourself back on course.

Most stress compounds within us due to the fact that we primarily 'react' to it in a more emotional state. Our ability to think clearly or logically in this state of mind is severely limited. In a more collective or calmer state of mind we are better able to rationalize and reason which enables us to regain control and minimize the stress.

Socialize

The obvious assumption here is that you will not socialize with those that bring you stress. Interact with those whose company either calm you or stimulates feelings of joy or happiness within you to minimize the level of stress you feel. Your involvement with them takes your mind off the stress that continues to attack it if you ALLOW it to.

Dealing with stress at it the earliest signs is best however the 3 stress management techniques we discussed above can be effective at any stage of it. As mentioned irritability, fatigue, lack of concentration and depression are all clear stress signals that need to be recognized and acknowledged. The earlier the better but it is never too late to take active measures to relieve stress. The benefits will lead to a happier and healthier life for you and those around you.









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TJ Philpott is an author and Internet entrepreneur based out of North Carolina.
For additional Money Making Tips and a free guide that demonstrates how to find both profitable markets and products visit:href="http://blogbrawn.com/">http://blogbrawn.com/



Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/self-improvement/happiness/are-you-a-pleaser.html http://www.articletrader.com/self-improvement/happiness/are-you-a-pleaser.html Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:22:31 -0500 Do you remember the scenes from the movie "Runaway Bride" where Richard Gere, in his role as reporter, asks each of Julia Robert's ex-fiancés which way she liked her eggs cooked? Each gentleman provided a different answer, each time indicating that Julia liked her eggs cooked in the same way that he liked them best.

In any good relationship there is a natural give and take, a blending of wishes and a blending of habits. Usually we want to get on the same wave length, and we tend to mirror each other's actions, usually unconsciously; it just happens. This is only to be expected seeing as we learnt so very many things by watching, mimicking and copying. This is how we learned to talk and walk and how we came by our accents and the language which we speak. We learn to do everything through this type of experience, and so it would be extremely odd if we just stopped absorbing the things which we see or hear. We are inherently adaptable; we have had to be as a matter of survival.

But there are certain limits. There comes a point where we stick with certain thoughts and habits. No matter what we see around us we react in accordance with our own internal beliefs and expectations. We are not to be swayed. This can sometimes be extremely helpful whilst at other times it can be a hindrance and even become a barrier to our happiness and success. Our own sense of self worth dictates our actions. Our own internal levels of confidence dictate our actions.

Reverting to the movie, the person who Julia Roberts played came to realize that she had no real sense of self, that she spent all of her time trying too hard to please. In doing this she was the one who always ended up being the one who adapted to the other as opposed to there being a natural give and take, a natural blend of both people's behavior and tastes. This in turn had led her to have less and less sense of self. She had to step back, take time on her own, and then she finds out who she was and what she wanted...and how she liked her eggs cooked!

Do you know who you are? Really know who you are and what you want? Are you happy and confident how you are and do you create good relationships? If not, you too can take a step back and identify the things which you may wish to change. Everyone can change so long as they want to and are committed to their goals. Hypnosis makes the process of change a whole lot easier and quicker.

Hypnosis is a state of relaxation which allows access to your subconscious mind. Hypnosis therefore makes it easier to make changes to the inner workings of your mind, to those unconscious patterns of thought and behavior that you might otherwise have been stuck with for the rest of your days. Everyone can learn to use hypnosis simply by listening to hypnosis downloads. You can learn to relax and access the inner workings of your mind and discover your real self-worth. You can enable the "real" you to "pop out" with the help of hypnosis confidence downloads.

Roseanna Leaton, specialist in hypnosis confidence downloads.


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With a degree in psychology and qualifications in hypnotherapy, NLP and sports psychology, Roseanna Leaton is one of the leading practitioners of self-improvement. You can get a free hypnosis download from http://www.RoseannaLeaton.com and peruse her extensive library of hypnosis cds for hypnosis confidence.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/self-improvement/happiness/the-path-to-true-inner-peace-true-happiness-and-true-success-the-popular-paths-wont-get-you-there.html http://www.articletrader.com/self-improvement/happiness/the-path-to-true-inner-peace-true-happiness-and-true-success-the-popular-paths-wont-get-you-there.html Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:25:44 -0500
There are many methods to help you experience success and happiness, from setting goals to hypnosis to repeating affirmations to focusing on what you want and having it appear, to visualization and using the so-called Law of Attraction. All of these approaches assume that you are in control of your life. They assume you can dictate what happens to you and how it happens.

Although it would be great to simply focus on, visualize, intend, or really desire what you want and have it appear, it doesn't actually work that way. The reason it doesn't work is because what you perceive as reality is an illusion created by another aspect of your Consciousness, what I call your "Expanded Self."

Very often, within the mainstream and even the esoteric and metaphysical self-help systems, the assumption is that you, what I call the "Player" of "The Human Game," are driving the bus and are in control -- determining what happens in your life.

The truth is your Expanded Self, which is The Real You, the "Infinite Being" you, is managing everything that's going on in your life from behind the scenes -- like the Director of a movie. And there's almost always a HUGE difference between what you think you want, from the limited perspective of your conscious mind, and you REALLY want from the perspective of your Expanded Self and your life mission and purpose.

It's what you really want that's what you always get, not what you think you want.

Are You Thinking Too Hard?

Another prevalent belief held by many self-help gurus is that you can think your way, or intend your way, into expanded states of Consciousness and True inner peace, happiness and success. Based on my experience and the experiences of thousands of others I've worked with, that's not possible.

You can't think, willpower, intend or self-discipline your way into expanded states of Consciousness and True inner peace, happiness and success. In order to experience higher Consciousness -- True Joy, True Success and True Happiness -- you must travel a unique path. There is a set of tools you must use and a series of experiences you must have, over time, which allow you to expand back into a direct and consistent experience of your natural state of Infinite Power, Infinite Wisdom, Infinite Abundance and Infinite Joy.

In my work, I call this "knocking out the cloud cover." I compare your Infinite Being Self, and your natural state of Infinite Power, Wisdom, Abundance and Joy, to the sun. I compare the illusions you believe to be real, your fears, and limiting beliefs to clouds that are blocking out the sunlight of your Expanded Self.

Just like the sun on a cloudy day, the sun of who you really are (and all that it includes) is there right now. It has always been there. It has just been blocked from view (and your direct experience). But you can drill holes through, knock out the cloud cover, and re-experience the sun of who you really are shining into every aspect of your life (business and personal)

Eat Your Cake ... Slowly

Your spiritual path of expansion slowly unfolds over time. On your path, you will begin to see The Truth about illusions you once believed were real, and those illusions will no longer hold any power over you. You can really appreciate how you fooled yourself into thinking you weren't happy or enlightened, and there was no expanded state of Consciousness readily available to you.

You convinced yourself you weren't powerful, wise, and abundant, that you did not have inner peace and happiness, but as you expand, you will Know just how powerful you really are, and you'll be able to tap that power fully to recreate every aspect of your life. As you begin to expand into a direct experience of who you really are, more appreciation and pleasure comes. You enjoy each breakthrough as your limitations slowly fade away.

It's easy to get impatient or want it to happen immediately at first. But it can't be forced. Once you experience a small glimpse of your Infinite Being Self, your tendency to hurry up the process will subside and you'll begin enjoying every step of your spiritual awakening and enlightenment.

I compare it to your favorite food. If you love your mother's coconut cake and she gives you a piece, you're not going to shove the whole thing in your mouth and gulp it down in thirty seconds. You're going to savor every bite. Chew slowly. Feel the texture in your mouth. You want to extend the enjoyable experience instead of it being over in an instant.

The expansion process is similar. It can be a pleasurable experience that you'll want to savor, slowly and over time. Of course, as an Infinite Being, you can choose how you move through the expansion process. Just as you could eat your favorite cake quickly, your Expanded Self could choose to do the same with the expansion process.

I have found, however, that it's much more rewarding to savor the experience as well as appreciate how you got yourself so restricted and limited and convinced you're the opposite of who you really are -- and the illusion called the physical universe was so real and held so much power over you.

Although popular self-help techniques may work some of the time for some of the people, it's an illusion that they will lead you to True inner peace, happiness and success. Attaining True inner peace, happiness and success is a journey from clouded consciousness to basking in the light of your Infinite Being Self.



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I would now like to invite you to discover more about the actual steps you must take, and the tools you must use, to knock out the cloud cover, and expand back into a direct experience of the Infinite Power, Wisdom, Abundance, and Joy that's your natural state. You can get all the details and have a rich multimedia experience here: http://www.pathtotruejoy.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/self-improvement/happiness/do-you-feel-different-in-some-way.html http://www.articletrader.com/self-improvement/happiness/do-you-feel-different-in-some-way.html Tue, 09 Jun 2009 07:49:42 -0500

If you watched the film "Gran Torino" you will be aware of how "different" Clint Eastwood's neighbor felt; the young lad whose cousins had formed a small "gangster" band whilst he preferred to help at home and to try to follow a more law-abiding existence. This movie highlighted so many people who felt different.


Clint Eastwood played Walt, who had trouble fitting in after returning from the war. He played the part of someone suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. The sister of the lad next door was different too as she was more fearless than one might expect, more "ballsy". She was part of the Asian community which had moved into the neighborhood, with Walt being one of the few westerners left - this made him different on another count.


The Gangster group had found their own way of dealing with their differences. They had turned to violence as a way of scaring off others and standing out, as a way of being noticed and building their own self-confidence. But they wanted their cousin to join them, they tried their best to force him into a life of crime, and he only just managed to escape this fate. The situation showed that the lads in this gang, although wanting to be different they also wanted others to be different like them - as a reverse method of fitting in.

If you have a high level of self confidence you are generally happy wherever you are, whatever the company is, so long as it is safe, that is. If you have lower levels of self-confidence, then different types of behavior can be observed. Some people purposely try to be different as a means of getting attention. I have a friend whose mantra in life is "I don't do authority". She will do the exact opposite of what she thinks people expect or want. She stands out in this way; she gets attention in this way. And as has been demonstrated in numerous research studies, negative attention is better than no attention.


Another friend of mine suggested the other day that if she was me she would be playing up my "Englishness" when in America so as to be different and get noticed. My own instinctive tendency has always been a combination of blending in and just being me, as opposed to intentionally high-lighting my differences. "Different horses for different courses" as the saying goes.


There are many different ways in which one can act so as to feel more comfortable and more confident. But there is one sure thing in life and this is that we do need attention; this is one of the "givens" in human existence. In fact we CANNOT SURVIVE without human interaction. This was proven many years ago in a very unfortunate study involving several new born babies - those who were denied human interaction either grew at a lesser rate than those who were given love and affection, or even died.


We tend to fall upon our methods of gaining attention and confidence by accident. We do something and it gets attention and so we do it again, and more often than not the foundations of behavioral tendencies are set for life. Few of us know of different ways in which we can change how we feel, ways in which we can feel more secure and confident, and perhaps then find more appropriate ways in which to behave.


If you would like to feel more confident and to gain human attention in a different way I would recommend hypnosis downloads as a wonderful way of helping yourself. Hypnosis is a state of mind which is natural and normal and everyone can do it. In hypnosis your brainwaves change from the beta waves of waking conscious to the alpha-theta of relaxation and sleep. At night when you dream you go into an REM state and this is essential to your well-being. It is the instinctive way in which your brain resolves unconscious conflicts. In hypnosis you also access this REM state, the normal state of dreaming, and so you can resolve internal conflicts quickly and easily.


In hypnosis you have access to your subconscious mind, the part of your mind where instinctive thought patterns, habits and behaviors are stored. Simply by listening to a hypnosis download you can access your subconscious mind and change your instinctive thoughts and behaviors. Suggestions can be made whilst you are in hypnosis to allow you to act in new and empowering ways. With hypnosis you can build your confidence and pave the way to feeling comfortable in every situation which you may encounter.


Hypnosis is a state of relaxation and allows you to take a step back and see things from a different angle. You will be able to see things more clearly and find new ways in which to feel good, simply by listening to hypnosis downloads.


Roseanna Leaton, specialist in hypnosis downloads for hypnosis confidence, self-improvement and success.




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With a degree in psychology and qualifications in hypnotherapy, NLP and sports psychology, Roseanna Leaton is one of the leading practitioners of self-improvement. You can get a free hypnosis download from http://www.RoseannaLeaton.com and peruse her extensive library of hypnosis downloads for hypnosis confidence.

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