Self Improvement

Online Relationship Questionaire For Counseling

icamm — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 01:28:55 +0000

Online relationship counseling is given for pre marital, marriage and divorce problems. The experts provide you online questionnaires for relationship counseling. This questionnaire will help the counselor to detect the root cause of your problem and he will provide suggestions to get relief from your relationship problems.

There are some conditions to attend the relationship questionnaire online. You must attend all the 5 questionnaire sessions. You must select the options provided with each questions. There will be marks like -2, -1 for the matters you do not agree with. Similarly marks for matters you strongly agree will be allotted as 2,1. Once you have completed the questionnaire submit them for analysis by simply pressing "submit for analysis" button. Then you have to pay for online analysis.

You will get an acknowledgement for receiving the questionnaire and online payment. The company which provided the questionnaire will then deliver the questionnaire to the experts who will access according to the answers provided by you. For marriage counseling, both the couples are recommended to answer the questionnaire. But in some cases either of the partners can attend online questionnaire.

The counselor will examine your behavior and thereby detect the root cause of your problem. He will provide necessary suggestions to rectify you mistakes and improve your relationship. The suggestions will be given in the form of Microsoft word. Counseling will also be given for parental issues and child care. Parenting relationship questionnaire is provided online in two ways. The questionnaire will be provided separately for parents of children aged between 2 to 5 years and for children aged between 6 to 18 years. The mother, father or both can answer the questionnaire.

The parental relationship questionnaire is useful in many applications. It will be a scale for attachment of the parents and children. It will help to improve the relationship. It will avoid the communication gap between them. If the parents lack any communication skill then the counselor will provide suggestions to share things and to listen the child's speech that will promote a faithful relationship. The questionnaire will help the counselor to detect the parent's poor communication skill with the children. So problems can be easily rectified. The questionnaire will also specify the quantity of involvement that the parents show in their children.

Motivation Magic :Five Time Management Tips to Complete your Goals

icamm — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:15:03 +0000

Reaching a goal is easy to say, and in real life can be harder to do. That's why staying motivated during the times that you just don't feel like it, or when you don't even want to try is so important. There are keys as to why you might not feel you're at full potential. It could be you : a not very self confident you.

If you think you can just fake it and you'll be successful, then think again. It won't work. So what can you do?

Start by looking your self confidence issue square in the face and then change it! No one else can, and to be honest no one else cares as much as you should. Write down why you feel the way you do and make a list of the areas you would like to improve or change totally about yourself. Be honest and know what is really important to improve on, and what can be changed. Develop a plan for your spiritual life too. If you don't have grounding in a spiritual or religious life, take the time to find one. It will change how you handle life, and any curve balls it throws at you. You only have one life to live, so live it to your fullest, and to the best of your capabilities. Without addressing your self confidence issue : no time management skills matter, but don't be to hard on yourself change takes time, but begin today changing your future.

Here are 5 tips that you can use to stay motivated, and to achieve whatever goals that you've set out for yourself in your life.

Make a plan to stay motivated. Write it down. Look at the different ways that keep you motivated and write those down too. There are endless possibilities for motivation that you can use, and there will be new ones that you might discover along the way. Take some time to read some books from inspirational power leaders such as Tony Robbins, or use spirituality to inspire you and give you hope.

Take the time to write down every morning, or even the night before, short term lists for goals that you want to achieve that day or the next. By focusing on a few short term goals your long term ones will become closer and well defined. Take your long term goals and shorten them into easier to accomplish steps.

Walk from room to room and post some brightly colored post-it notes listing all of the positive things that will happen in your life by achieving your goals. Taking a look at the goals you will accomplish will inspire you to reach for the goal and not to give up.

Use time wisely by taking care of your body. Regular exercise and a healthy diet in conjunction with a steady sleep routine will keep you alert and focused on the goals ahead.

Reward yourself when you reach a milestone toward your goal. Do this by taking some time for you, in other words take the time to smell the roses. Soak a little longer in the tub, buy a new outfit, and take a day off to spend with a loved one, or just nap the afternoon away. Do whatever it takes to make you feel good about what reaching out for your goal.

As you go along with your plans always recognize that when the bad days hit, there will always be a tomorrow. However, if you notice that you just can't get out of the unmotivated mood you're in, then it could be signs of a physical problem that could be causing you experience depression. Imbalances in the body can really play havoc on your goals, and delay the time for you reaching your goals.

By reaching for the stars and succeeding you'll find things out about yourself that you never knew. The most important thing to remember is that you should never quit, even when the chips are down. Why? Because you understood and put into practice your own version of the 5 time management tips and beat the odds! The best thing is if you did it once you can do it all over again.

Unlock Your Self Improvement Power

icamm — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:30:55 +0000

Unlock Your Self Improvement Power

When we look at a certain object, a painting for example - we won't be able to appreciate what's in it, what is painted and what else goes with it if the painting is just an inch away from our face. But if we try to take it a little further, we'll have a clearer vision of the whole art work.

We reach a point in our life when we are ready for change and a whole bunch of information that will help us unlock our self improvement power. Until then, something can be staring us right under our nose but we don't see it. The only time we think of unlocking our self improvement power is when everything got worst. Take the frog principle for example -

Try placing Frog A in a pot of boiling water. What happens? He twerps! He jumps off! Why? Because he is not able to tolerate sudden change in his environment - the water's temperature. Then try Frog B: place him in a luke warm water, then turn the gas stove on. Wait til the water reaches a certain boiling point. Frog B then thinks "Ooh… it's a bit warm in here".

People are like Frog B in general. Today, Anna thinks Carl hates her. Tomorrow, Patrick walks up to her and told her he hates her. Anna stays the same and doesn't mind her what her friends says. The next day, she learned that Kim and John also abhors her. Anna doesn't realize at once the importance and the need for self improvement until the entire community hates her.

We learn our lessons when we experience pain. We finally see the warning signs and signals when things get rough and tough. When do we realize that we need to change diets? When none of our jeans and shirts would fit us. When do we stop eating candies and chocolates? When all of our teeth has fallen off. When do we realize that we need to stop smoking? When our lungs have gone bad. When do we pray and ask for help? When we realize that we're gonna die tomorrow.

The only time most of us ever learn about unlocking our self improvement power is when the whole world is crashing and falling apart. We think and feel this way because it is not easy to change. But change becomes more painful when we ignore it.

Change will happen, like it or hate it. At one point or another, we are all going to experience different turning points in our life - and we are all going to eventually unlock our self improvement power not because the world says so, not because our friends are nagging us, but because we realized its for our own good.

Happy people don't just accept change, they embrace it. Now, you don't have to feel a tremendous heat before realizing the need for self improvement. Unlocking your self improvement power means unlocking yourself up in the cage of thought that "its just the way I am". It is such a poor excuse for people who fear and resist change. Most of us program our minds like computers.

Jen repeatedly tells everyone that she doesn't have the guts to be around groups of people. She heard her mom, her dad, her sister, her teacher tell the same things about her to other people. Over the years, that is what Jen believes. She believes its her story. And what happens? Every time a great crowd would troop over their house, in school, and in the community - she tends to step back, shy away and lock herself up in a room. Jen didn't only believed in her story, she lived it.

Jen has to realize that she is not what she is in her story. Instead of having her story post around her face for everyone to remember, she has to have the spirit and show people "I am an important person and I should be treated accordingly!"

Self improvement may not be everybody's favorite word, but if we look at things in a different point of view, we might have greater chances of enjoying the whole process instead of counting the days until we are fully improved. Three sessions in a week at the gym would result to a healthier life, reading books instead of looking at porns will shape up a more profound knowledge, going out with friends and peers will help you take a step back from work and unwind. And just when you are enjoying the whole process of unlocking your self improvement power, you'll realize that you're beginning to take things light and become happy.

Why you should get your own self improvement video?

icamm — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 08:45:03 +0000

It cannot be denied that what works for one does not work for another. If what your friends say and what you read does not seem to inspire you to improve yourself, then it is time to consider self improvement videos.

It cannot be denied that some people can better comprehend something when they see it on screen. That is the psychology behind these videos. Getting the focus of the person watching them like no other ways can do.

The need for self improvement is now an issue many people are focusing on. There are already a lot of self improvement articles out there. Not only that, a lot of experts are also lending their talent and expertise in helping people develop themselves.

With the internet came the easiest means of looking for self improvement advice from other people. For those who took pleasure in reading, they turn to articles and other forms of writing. But for those who just likes to sit back, see and listen, self improvement videos are the ones chosen.

There are websites that are capable of providing you with all the self improvement videos that are necessary to get your commitment power out and utilize it to whichever change or improvement you want to make with your own person.

These videos consist of information and exercises. When you start these readings and exercises, you will immediately feel the desired change inside yourself.

And with repetition of the exercises the change or improvements will become automatic. Repetition is the key to a life long improvement of your personality.

These videos are meant to aid in everlasting self-improvement and personal growth in all areas of life.

Some are concentrated on a few areas that many people may feel especially important and hard to improve.

For example, the people behind can help you with your effort for self esteem improvement. Low self-esteem and confidence are the cause of many personal as well as inter-personal difficulties.

Self improvement videos will assist you take command of your career as well as your financial freedom and independence. You can get the career you wish as well as the wealth and prosperity that you decide you deserve.

They can also help with building positive relationships and finally show you how you can apply the tools inherent for you to change habits.

These videos may not come cheap for some who would rather have self improvement tools that come for free. The only advantage in getting self improvement videos is that it will be available anytime you want to watch them.

Videos on self improvement are not the only tools you can use if you are intent on achieving personal improvement. There are also e-books and e-courses available.

Try to also see look at the other self improvement tools offered by these sites. Most of the time, the products offered are well reputed and researched thoroughly for quality and effectivity.

When to get a self improvement video? When it came to the point that the advices you get from family, friends and even on the internet are not getting through your head. This would also be your choice if you need a tool you can use anytime and anywhere to help you on your self improvement.

Chances are, if you have seen these self improvement videos twice or thrice, you have probably memorized all the things it had to say and show.

Counseling For Lack Of Romance

icamm — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:58:55 +0000

Most of the couples today face the problem of lacking romance. Even some nasty habits of the partner may result in lack of romance. Too much of possessiveness or dominating nature will not be liked by your partner. Sometimes you do not know how to behave in parties and functions, and then your partner will get irritated. As a result, he\she will lack romance.

Even the minor behavior of the spouse may irritate the partner. He\she will provide some negative reactions to your nasty behavior. But if you do not respond to it or continuously repeating the same, he\she will lack romance.

A counselor will help you to fall back in love. Many counselors advice to say I love you daily in order to keep the romance grow between them. Small gifts, surprising tours, having fun together will increase the romance. Dancing together will help you to keep the romance spring. Any style of dancing will provide more benefits. The counselor will advise you to go for tours in summer vacation. This will help you to maintain a healthy marriage life.

Counselors suggest music therapy to create romance among couples. Love songs and romantic music will help a lot especially for young couples. The counselor will also help you to satisfy your partner by giving surprising gifts. This will be useful particularly when you are late for dinner or you forget any important things told by your partner. The counselor will teach you how to comfort your partner when they are out of mood.

Lack of romance is one of the major problems that may end the marriage. Even couples who loved one another before marriage will lack romance as years passed by. They must consult a professional counselor to safeguard their marriage life. He will find why the couples lack romance and will suggest the ways to increase the romance.

The counselor will help the couples to bridge the communication gap. Many a time the couples lack romance because they do not know how to express the love explicitly. Even a card, a candle lit dinner, movie or summer trip will stimulate romance among couples. So if you find that you or your partner lack romance, don't hesitate to go for counseling.

Goal setting software makes it easy to set and achieve goals

icamm — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 03:15:03 +0000

Goal setting software can help you set goals by making the process more organized, flexible and fun. All that you need to do is to choose a software that suits your needs best.

The following are some of the important software available in the market:

1. GoalPro 5.0: This software breaks your main goal into several sub-goals. The sub-goals are then broken into time-bound tasks, which are relatively easier to achieve than the full goal. The software also generates assessment reports to help you analyze how you are doing. There is also an in-built success coach who takes you through daily review sessions. The software costs $99.95

2. Goal Maker: This is a full-fledged Goal Management System for the motivated professionals. It is ideal for sales professionals, people who network and entrepreneurs. The software helps you develop your mission, identify your roles, manage your goals by generating to do lists, assign goals and tasks and review your progress. It is priced at $49.

3. Sculptor3: This metaphysical goal setting software is based on an easy to follow 12-day program. It uses a six-dimensional technique that includes affirmations, visualization, Alpha Brain Wave technology, subliminal messages, trigger stimulus tools and response clearing technique to help you set and achieve goals. The Sculptor3 is priced at $ 97.00

4. myGoals.com: This web-based software breaks the goal into tasks that you can undertake right away. What's more there are email alerts if you have forgotten. You can track these alerts and also keep modifying your goal plans every now and then to keep them relevant. The site charges monthly fee of $ 5.95 from users.

5. GoalPilot: GoalPilot helps you set goals in all spheres of life from nutrition to leadership. It breaks down long-term goals into medium-term goals and helps you track them online. It also has a free download that lets you track your progress even when you are offline. The software also offers reports and has a panel of experts who can be accessed at any point of time. It charges a fee of $59.00 per year or $19.95 for 3 months.

Private Relationship And Marital Counselling

icamm — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 05:57:55 +0000

Relationships and marriages have to be handled with care. Fights, bickering tend to destroy relationships. They make you feel blue. Marriages which end up in divorces or separations leave couples with hurt and misery. Life is no more the same without your loved ones. Some couples take everything with a pinch of salt and accept situations. But some prefer to take extreme steps and let go of precious people and the near and the dear ones.

Marriage and relationship counselors come to the rescue of such people. They make people sit back and give a thought to their relationships. They help people to perceive situations in a better way and to give their relationships a new lease. Counseling centers help people save their relationships in a manner extremely clandestine. Matters are settled and solved here peacefully, privately and amicably. No guesswork or hearsay is instigated in the neighbourhood or among the close people while settling such affairs. Complete privacy is maintained. Today couple counseling centers are run in various cities on a face-face level as well as on-line. The options are wide and multifarious. One can take his pick and choose the option that suits him the best.

One Leicestershire-based professional therapist and counselor promises to guide the couples who are going through turbulent phases and help them overcome their problems. She offers private relationship and marriage counseling which comprises of therapy, communication and effective options. She caters to her clients problems as fast as possible and makes no delays in mending broken relationships. She also has a website which answers some common questions regarding relationship and marital problems. She also provides therapy and counsel to couples who are facing problems owing to domestic problems, which is quite a sensitive issue. A counseling bureau has a panel of counselors trained in solution-focused and useful ways to help couples going through troublesome phases in their relationships. A counseling centre with a workshop helps couples to know each other better, adjust better and be more intimate.

Private relationship and marital counseling centers help guide you to a better path and keep your information private and confidential. They are highly recommended for all those who are facing unstable phases in their relationships or who are on a verge of divorce or separation.

Herbs for Stress Management

icamm — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 21:45:03 +0000

Studies and surveys have found that most illness is related to unrelieved stress. It is estimated that around 70% of doctor visits are attributed to stress. While stress itself is not a disease, it can worsen any number of already serious physical conditions. Stress takes a major toll on the worlds health and finances, especially in Western nations. Everyone has different tolerance levels and may show different signs and symptoms of stress. No matter what though prolonged stress can weaken the immune system and invite serious illness. Prolonged stress can also create the everyday miseries of allergies, anxiety, depression, digestive disorders, fatigue, headaches, impotence, insomnia, ulcers, upset stomach, and various other aches and pains. Diseases that can be attributed to stress include heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, Chrons disease, thyroid dysfunction and cancer.

As life seems to get more complex and more and more stressors are present everyday so are the many treatments and drugs available to relieve stress. Many however believe that a natural approach is best taken. While there are medications available for stress relief their side effects are numerous and long term affects unknown. The use of herbs as medicine is considered an ancient healing practice. Herbs generally have few side effects and when used in conjunction with other methods such as exercise, meditation and other relaxation techniques are extremely useful and effective in maintaining and promoting good health. Herbs can be used alone or in combination with one another. Some herbal products are combinations that are already created and are available for purchase for specific purposes including stress. These include Bach's rescue remedy. It consists of 5 different flower essences. There are different such combinations. The standard combination is used for relieving stress and anxiety. Fuschen and Dragon Bone Formula is a popular Chinese remedy for stress that includes Dragon bone, Oyster shell, Albizia bark, and Ginseng, Ginger, Cinnamon and Fuschen plant.

Valerian is said to be the oldest in the herbal treatment of stress and Kava Kava, the latest addition. Valerian is said to be the oldest among the herbal stress relievers. It is mentioned even in Ayurveda literature. It relaxes the muscles, nervous system and induces deep sleep. Kava is a derivative of the pepper family it is available in pill or liquid form and when drunk it gives a sense of well being without affect the memories and the mental alertness. Passionflower contains flavonoids, which act as anti oxidants. It also acts as a sedative for people who suffer from anxiety. Hops are a mild tranquilizer and its use is indicated for those who are unable to sleep due to stress, anxiety and irritability. St Johns Wort and Ginkgo are probably the most popular herbs available on the market today and are used as mood stabilizers as they increase the levels of endorphins. Both also have properties that improve immune function contributing to overall health and wellness and in turn helping to manage stress. Most of the herbs are used as stress management supplements mainly for their tranquilizing and mood stabilizing properties.

Speed Reading Exercise: Reading Passages Of Text Faster And Faster

icamm — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 18:15:03 +0000

One can improve speed reading through speed reading software that contains speed reading exercises that serve different purposes. It is a fact that most text contains many unnecessary words that may even be as high as half of all words contained in the text. Even if half the letters are removed from the text one would still be able to comprehend it and through understanding of such a simple idea one can improve speed reading skills considerably.

Mixing Of Letters Can Improve Speeds

The mind of humans reads words as Egyptian hieroglyphics and by mixing the letters it is still possible to read the text. This can be the basis for a simple speed reading exercise in which the letters are mixed and it should help improve the speed as well as allow you to read the text as groups of words. One may have to widen the eye span as well.

Basically, a person may be considered to be a poor reader if he or she sub-vocalizes words or when the text has to be re-read or the person has a fear of losing comprehension, all of which would reduce the person's reading speed and may thus necessitate their having to take speed reading exercises to get up to par. A typical speed reading exercise would have the reader start reading text at 120 words per minute and with the help of the speed reading exercise increase the rate to 240, 360, 480 and finally 600 words per minute.

The first speed reading exercise one can take will measure how much of the text one reads has been comprehended and information has been obtained from the text just read. To improve reading speed another speed reading exercise one can try will involve trying to read the tip of text that may appear on a computer screen and read the text as best as is possible. The reader has to finish reading before a counter turns to zero and after it reaches zero the reader would have to answer a question regarding the text just read.

One can increase the speed each time and check one's reading speed accordingly. There are many speed reading exercises to try out and some will test reaction times while others will test if you can locate the biggest number contained in a grid of sixteen numbers. Another useful speed reading exercise is that of testing reaction times by smashing sand castles on a beach (on the computer screen) as fast as possible. Other speed reading exercises are reading a passage of text so that reading speed may be calculated. Then, to improve speed, the passage should be read at higher rates.

How yoga and diet work together for a healthier you

icamm — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 15:45:03 +0000

Yoga is an excellent form of exercise which is suitable for people of all ages and which can be regarded as a way of life and a way in which to change your lifestyle for the better. While yoga works particularly well on its own when combined with a yogic diet it is one of the most successful ways to enjoy a healthier you.

When undertaken this way it is one of the most beneficial systems of total health care and allows us to nourish not only our body but also our mind that in turn allows us to remain in tip top shape and ready to face anything. While eating a proper diet means many things to different people when it comes to yogic eating there are a few essentials that you should know.

A yogic diet consists of the following foods, although it has to be said that eating the yogic way isn't essentially a diet that has to be followed but rather teaching you to eat correctly and to change the bad habits that you have gotten into over the years. On a day-to-day basis the following foods should be eaten as routine and should always exists in your diet: Honey, nut, seeds, lentils, beans, cereals, whole grains, pasta, rice, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, milk, and yogurt.

These are the essentials which your diet shouldn't be without, of course there are no very tight restrictions to what you can and cannot eat but the foods listed above should be included in your daily diet as matter of routine. The yogic way of eating is often likened to that of a vegetarian and you can't be expected to change the habits of a lifetime and go with the more vegetarian way of the yogic diet. However you should try to minimize the amount of red meat that you do eat and instead eat more fresh green vegetables, however if there are certain foods which you absolutely love then by all means don't deny these, just don't have them everyday.

Whenever possible try to include as much protein in the form of nuts, whole grains and cheese along with plenty of salad products and raw vegetables. Vegetables should be eaten raw wherever possible when following the yogic way of eating. Fresh fruit is essential as this has a lot of the necessary vitamins that the body needs and of course you should try and limit if not give up totally the amount of junk food that you eat.

You should never eat more than you actually need to, overeating when following the yogic diet is frowned upon and considered bad for the body. Re-heating food is also considered a bad thing as this can destroy much of the nutrients and vitamins in food along with introducing germs.

Above all when moving onto the yogic way of eating, don't expect miracles of yourself or set goals that you can't possibly stick with, if you love red meat then don't tell yourself you cant have it, by doing this you are setting yourself up for failure. Instead just have a little bit of what you fancy every now and again.

Marriage Guidance

icamm — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 09:31:55 +0000

Many couples resist from believing in marriage guidance as think that marriage is a private relationship. But do are not aware that marriage guidance exists for helping you in any situations.

The information you give to the counselor is absolutely confidential and private and, at no cost will be disclosed to any one without your permission. Marriage guidance generally helps those who are facing problems in their married life, then may be that problem big or small.

The staffs associated with the marriage guidance are trained professionals and are better. They don't know you in any way and so there is no question that their opinion will be biased. Marriage guidance has such a lot of experience in their field, they have dealt with a number of problematic situations and so, therefore nothing is embarrassing for them. They are used to deal with all types of problems.

Marriage guidance offers you many good advices which can be tried by both the partners for solving your problems and improving the quality of your relationships. It is a directing guide for you and can definitely bring your marriage train on the right track. The marriage guidance meetings are already set all around the different countries. All you have to do is contact your local centre for arranging an appointment. It is better to visit the marriage guidance meeting instead of seeing your marriage broken out.

The couples who undertake marriage guidance and practice the suggestions offered by them surely achieve their aims and make their present marriage life happier and more enjoyable than before. Marriage guidance if taken at early stages is more beneficial rather than after the problems blast up. The more early the couples have marriage guidance the faster their problems will be resolved.

Many times it is found that couples avoid marriage guidance. This is so, because they feel embarrassed to share their personal problems with a strange person, even though if he is experienced and sympathetic. But this should not happen. Keeping quiet means you are inviting troubles for your future life. Try to save your marriage relationships when alternatives are available to you.

Mystical Empowerment And Grief

icamm — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:00:03 +0000

Mystical empowerment: The Meaning

Mystical empowerment is a way to use your god-gifted psychic ability to the best of its potential. It is about inner growth and gaining energy that is beyond physical or emotional strength. Mystical empowerment includes practices like praying, 'yoga', meditation and 'reiki'. It is possible to handle all sorts of stress, trauma, grief and bad times with wisdom and gutsy if one is mystically empowered. Mystical empowerment offers crystal healing, psychic development and self-management. It's basically an overall package that helps a human to promote himself to higher standards of living.

Mystical empowerment and Grief

Mystical empowerment is closely related to grief. A person facing a traumatic phase, a bad time, a dire situation needs immediate assistance to recover out of the same. Self and holistic empowerments comprise mystical empowerment. Mystical empowerment is basically channeling your energy in a spiritual direction. Grief can be cured and rather be used to our profit instead of letting it control and further destroy our life. The truth is that grief must run its path and although it does not feel like it, time is a sure-shot healer. If one allows oneself some time to grieve, one can remember the person without being upset and be able to focus on good old memories. We should try and avoid a solitary lifestyle. Mystical empowerment helps us gaining full control of our lives and win over emotions like sadness, guilt, anxiety, helplessness and fatigue. One can regain total faith in one's self and one's abilities without taxing oneself much with the unsurpassable powers of mystical rebuilding. It refreshes our intellect, rejuvenates our conscience and allows our mind to explore the unexplored.

Final Word

One should try and avoid self-sabotaging issues and try leading a happy and peaceful life. Try living deliberately so that your creative, psychological and emotional faculties perform much better. Positive energy, energizing vibes and happy state of mind will automatically follow. Make yourself strong and make your conscience the ruler of self instead of the devil within have the better of your mind and heart.

Enjoy Your Life Change Your Point Of View

icamm — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:06:55 +0000

Enjoy Your Life: Change Your Point of View

"Two men look out through the same bars: One sees the mud, and one sees the stars."- Frederick Langbridge, A Cluster of Quiet Thoughts

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

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

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

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

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

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

Optimists expect the best

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

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

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

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

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

People respond positively to optimists

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

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

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

When the going gets tough, optimists get tougher

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

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

Optimists are healthier and live longer

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

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

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

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

Self Improvement Through Physical Activity And Behavior Modification

icamm — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 12:45:03 +0000

Inactivity and poor eating habits lead to physical illness and depression. So reverse this statement and you get: Activity and good eating habits lead to good physical condition and happiness. If your goal is to improve your health and to stop being depressed about your life; increasing your activity level can help achieve your goal. Have you ever heard the saying: Continue to do the same things and you will continue to receive the same results. If you want different results : improvements, you will need to modify your behavior and do different things to achieve different results.

Physical Activity for self improvements

Physical activity improves your health. Anytime you make a change in your physical activity level as in starting a new exercise program; it is a good idea to check with your physician first, especially if you have chronic illnesses or are over 60 years of age. Once you have the ok from your doctor, take a deep breath and get moving! Whether your self improvement goal is to trim your waistline, or shed some pounds; increasing your activity level even just a little, gets you started and with a little bit of motivation and encouragement you will continue to improve and to achieve higher levels of activity over time. Physical activity will cause your body to produce endorphins, which are chemicals that make you feel happy. Being physically active can also help you achieve better sleep. Once you see results from your increased physical activity, you won't be able to help yourself : you will feel good about yourself. Therefore physical activity can improve self-esteem which helps those who suffer from depression.

Here are some activities to choose from:

Stand while talking on the phone instead of sitting.

Take the stairs instead of the elevator.

Walk short distances instead of driving.

Jumping rope is fun and can be done in your home (outside or inside)

When you find yourself in a waiting room, don't just sit there, walk around.

There are lots of opportunities to walk: 1.during your lunch break : walk around your building

2.if you take the bus to work, get off a block or two before your usual stop and walk the rest of the way

3.if you are in a situation where you are in an office and you need to speak with someone, instead of picking up the phone to call them, walk to their office instead

Invite a friend to so an activity together (bowling, tennis, volleyball, jogging)

Behavior Modification

Change is usually not easy; so let your goal motivate you. Make sure that your goal is very visible throughout your day. Make a goal list, cut out a magazine picture of your goal, or draw your own picture of your goal and put it in the following places:

1.Tape it to the corner of your bathroom mirror

2.Tape it to your bedroom wall next to the door

3.Tape it to your refrigerator or next to your coffeemaker

4.Put it in your briefcase

5.Tape it to a corner of your computer monitor

Get the idea? Make your goal very visible so that you will be reminded about why you are making the changes whether those changes are physical ones or behavior ones they will involve making changes in your behavior. Say the change you need to achieve is a change in eating habits. You will need to change your behavior towards food and how and why you eat. If the change involves a relationship, you will need to modify how you perceive someone or how you behave towards someone (being more tolerant or understanding for example)

Improving oneself through physical activity or by behavior modification requires understand why you need to do so and dedication to achieving your goal. Physical activity can improve not only your physical appearance but your emotional state as well.

How Do I Improve My Relationship?

icamm — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:45:03 +0000

A lot of self-improvement goals seem to center on one relationship or another: I want to improve my relationship with my mom, so that we can have a conversation without yelling. I want to improve my relationship with my spouse so that we can sleep in the same bed by this time next week. Relationship goals are common because so much of our lives revolve around the important persons in our lives, our spouses, our parents, our kids, or our boss. Conflict in relationships seems to be normal. Many of us do not know how to resolve relationship conflicts safely and without causing harm to ourselves or the other person.

When you desire to improve any kind of relationship, one of the first things you should ask yourself is:

1. What do I want this relationship to be? The answer should be as specific as possible.

Answer: I want my husband and I to have a satisfying sexual relationship.

Answer: I want to be able to have a conversation with my mom without either of us yelling.

The next thing you need to ask yourself is if you really want this relationship and if yes, is it because the relationship has value?

2. Do I want this relationship with my husband to continue and if yes, what value am I getting out of this relationship?

Answer: Yes, I want to continue being married to my husband. The value I want out of my marriage with Ted, is financial support and a great sex life.

Answer: Yes, I want to continue having a personal relationship with my mom. I value sharing our mutual love of cooking, and I value the good memories of my childhood with her.

The next thing that you need to find out is if you are willing to invest time and energy into this relationship.

The answer is a simple yes or no to both the time and energy. If you have answered yes to all the questions than you know that improving the relationship is a worthy goal. The next step is to write down your relationship goal and be as specific as possible. Keep in mind that the goal should be simple, attainable and specific. Examples goals may be:

I want to be sleeping in the same bed with my husband by February 14, 2007.

I want to have an entire conversation with my mom that lasts at least 10 minutes without any yelling from her or myself; before February 10, 2007.

Now that you have a written goal, you need to construct a plan that details how you are going to achieve your goal. The plan give exact information about how, what, when, where and who if applicable. Sharing your goal and plan with the other person involved in your relationship is entirely up to you. An intimate relationship would be more successful if the goal is shared. A relationship that is family but not of an intimate nature (like a mom, dad, sister) may not need to be shared with the other involved party. You may ask yourself if sharing your goal and plan with the other person will benefit a positive outcome, or would the other person be upset with you for mentioning the problem and perhaps create a negative rather than positive influence. You may also consider sharing your goal/plan with someone outside of the relationship, especially if doing so will result in positive support and encouragement. Now it is time to take action and follow your plan.

Lose the Laziness : Five Can Do Tasks to Set your Goals in Motion

icamm — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 05:15:03 +0000

If you're having problems with self motivation examine your self closely. Could it be that you're in a mode of laziness because you just don't want to get busy? We all have those times and there is nothing wrong with having a bad day, but if you're in that mood constantly you might have a problem with self esteem. You're the only one that can fix it, so get up and start again. Work on the problems of self doubt that are leading you down this wasteful path. Only you can fix it.

However, there could be other physical problems that you might need to get checked out with a health care professional. Problems that you might not be aware of such as diabetes, low thyroid, or a host of any other type of medical issues can get you bogged down. So if after a reasonable amount of time, and with due work on your part, things just aren't changing, get checked out. It's your health and life.

Okay, what can you do if you're just feeling bummed out?

You need to get your life on track to reach a few goals that you've had in mind for a while, what can you do?

Here are a few tips that will set you back on track to get a little boost back into your goal setting routine, and motivate you to just keep at it!

Write your goals down and keep them where you can see it. Not stuck in a drawer out of site, but out in the open where you can view it each day. It's like bills, if you don't see it; it's out of sight and out of mind. If it's hidden in a drawer, you might as well have not written a thing because it won't do one bit of good to help you reach a goal.

Start with small goals. Don't try to accomplish the whole goal at one time. In fact you'll need to take a look at your goal and break it down into parts. Write down your ideas about the specific short term goals and prioritize. Then take little steps towards your long term goal or goals.

Buy some post-it notes and prepare to post your goals. Place these strategically around your home or office. Along with your posted goals include the positives and negatives about not reaching your end result. It doesn't have to be long, but short little reminders of the consequences. It's a wake up call towards action.

Don't just try to reach your goal once. When your goals are completed, start on new goals. Make it your routine to start on new goals regularly. You'll find that once you accomplish your first goal, it will drive you to succeed in further goals, again and again.

Enlist the help of others, either to motivate you and inspire more action on your part, or just to be an encouraging friendly ear when you feel yourself grinding to a halt. If necessary find yourself a reliable life coach to help you when you're feeling the task is just too much. Often though just a friend is all that's necessary. You can even work together if you're on the same type of path or goal.

There's nothing like achieving a goal that you poured your heart and soul into. It's exciting to reach it, and when you do take some time and savor the moment! It might be a wise idea to reward yourself before you have attained your final destination. For example, if you're dieting, and you're just about to eat the upholstery off the couch, count up the lbs you've lost, and eat a small piece of dieters chocolate cake!

Now, take a deep breath and realize that your back on your diet, and can begin counting those lbs again that you're going to loose. Don't become discouraged : you can achieve that final goal of buying a new dress, or even taking a night out on the town for some fun when you've reached your final goal.

Just imagine, write down and post, how you're going to feel and look on that special night.

Counselling For Step Families

icamm — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 06:00:55 +0000

There are separate licensed counselors for counseling issues in a step family. Step families occur when one or both the partners have children from the prior marriages and the children are living with them or visiting them often. The traditional marriage counselor can not help in this aspect. Here the problems are more complex and so requires experts in this field. The step family counselors will advice in many issues like how to build a strong marriage life.

It is proved that two out of three step families broke up. Though most of the couple want that the re marriage will last ever, it ends up with divorce. The problems also occur in dealing the ex spouse. Most of the step families suffer from marital problems. Even high officials, business magnets and popular figures suffer from these problems. They lack attention I work and become alcoholic as a result of the problems in step families.

The counselor can provide solution to all step family problems. The counselor will help the couples in step families to treat themselves as normal couples. He will teach the couples to forget all about the prior marriage. The counselor will help to come out of mental stress and other psychological problems.

The traditional approach and behavioral therapy in giving treatment to normal couple will not help here. There are separate experts who use analytic approach to treat the step family couples. The counselors will teach how to treat the children from the spouse's prior marriage.

There are number of difficulties when a woman becomes step mother for her spouse's children. She will have mental stress that will affect the children too. A counselor will help to come out of depression and to lead a normal life.

There are number of issues and challenges in a step family. Lack of communication skill, problems in planning a new child, treating the spouse's children from previous marriage without any parental difference is some of the problems. A counselor will help you to resolve such issues. In step family life discipline and character are the most essential things required. If any of the partners lacks trustworthiness, then problem will occur and again it will end up in divorce. Counseling is needed here.

Identify role models

icamm — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:30:03 +0000

Do you believe imitation is no good? Think again. You can now deal with your shyness by identifying and learning the behaviour of your favorite role model.

The role of Role models

We are often actively engaged in observing the reactions of others. Some people make an immediate impression on our minds and we wish to be just like them. If we are exposed to these people for a long time, we start modeling their behavior. Shyness can be learnt from inappropriate role models. To unlearn this process, you need to get back to the basics and identify role models who can help you, overcome shyness.

Identifying role models

Appropriate role models help you understand the process of social interactions along with different techniques of conversation skills. Howver, you need to be very cautious while selecting your role models, as any mistake here, will intensify your problem further. The personal characteristics of your role models matter a lot. For this purpose, Age, gender, race and other personal details need to be taken into account. For example choosing young and outgoing models can pose a problem, as many a times you will find it difficult to adopt their energy levels.

You should also take into account the environmental and social factors that play a role in your model's life. Some people have all the necessary facilities that enables them to be more outgoing and gregarious than others. As far as possible, the role models should be similar to you in terms of status, financial abilities as well as cultural and personal values. Prefer choosing role models who you know rather than those you see only on the silver screen You should also avoid going by the outward charm alone. You need to understand the internal characteristics of the person to make sense of his personality. Avoid depending upon the model for every solution as the best of people make mistakes. You can safely follow the footsteps of your role model for overcoming shyness only if you are careful enough to preserve your individuality in the process.

Motivation The Heart Of Self Improvement

icamm — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 11:16:55 +0000

Motivation, The Heart Of Self Improvement

Pain may sometimes be the reason why people change. Getting flunked grades make us realize that we need to study. Debts remind us of our inability to look for a source of income. Being humiliated gives us the 'push' to speak up and fight for ourselves to save our face from the next embarrassments. It may be a bitter experience, a friend's tragic story, a great movie, or an inspiring book that will help us get up and get just the right amount of motivation we need in order to improve ourselves.

With the countless negativities the world brings about, how do we keep motivated? Try on the tips I prepared from A to Z…

A - Achieve your dreams. Avoid negative people, things and places. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

B - Believe in your self, and in what you can do.

C - Consider things on every angle and aspect. Motivation comes from determination. To be able to understand life, you should feel the sun from both sides.

D - Don't give up and don't give in. Thomas Edison failed once, twice, more than thrice before he came up with his invention and perfected the incandescent light bulb. Make motivation as your steering wheel.

E - Enjoy. Work as if you don't need money. Dance as if nobody's watching. Love as if you never cried. Learn as if you'll live forever. Motivation takes place when people are happy.

F - Family and Friends - are life's greatest 'F' treasures. Don't loose sight of them.

G - Give more than what is enough. Where does motivation and self improvement take place at work? At home? At school? When you exert extra effort in doing things.

H - Hang on to your dreams. They may dangle in there for a moment, but these little stars will be your driving force.

I - Ignore those who try to destroy you. Don't let other people to get the best of you. Stay out of toxic people - the kind of friends who hates to hear about your success.

J - Just be yourself. The key to success is to be yourself. And the key to failure is to try to please everyone.

K - keep trying no matter how hard life may seem. When a person is motivated, eventually he sees a harsh life finally clearing out, paving the way to self improvement.

L - Learn to love your self. Now isn't that easy?

M - Make things happen. Motivation is when your dreams are put into work clothes.

N - Never lie, cheat or steal. Always play a fair game.

O - Open your eyes. People should learn the horse attitude and horse sense. They see things in 2 ways - how they want things to be, and how they should be.

P - Practice makes perfect. Practice is about motivation. It lets us learn repertoire and ways on how can we recover from our mistakes.

Q - Quitters never win. And winners never quit. So, choose your fate - are you going to be a quitter? Or a winner?

R - Ready yourself. Motivation is also about preparation. We must hear the little voice within us telling us to get started before others will get on their feet and try to push us around. Remember, it wasn't raining when Noah build the ark.

S - Stop procrastinating.

T - Take control of your life. Discipline or self control jives synonymously with motivation. Both are key factors in self improvement.

U - Understand others. If you know very well how to talk, you should also learn how to listen. Yearn to understand first, and to be understood the second.

V - Visualize it. Motivation without vision is like a boat on a dry land.

W - Want it more than anything. Dreaming means believing. And to believe is something that is rooted out from the roots of motivation and self improvement.

X - X Factor is what will make you different from the others. When you are motivated, you tend to put on "extras" on your life like extra time for family, extra help at work, extra care for friends, and so on.

Y - You are unique. No one in this world looks, acts, or talks like you. Value your life and existence, because you're just going to spend it once.

Z - Zero in on your dreams and go for it!!!

What Does The First Year Of Professional Speaking Look Like

icamm — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:52:55 +0000

Unless you're already a celebrity, you'll have to work through building your professional speaking career from the ground up. This does mean work, but if the topics you plan to be speaking on are your passion, this will not be a chore to do! Also, depending upon how fast you are able to build connections and establish your reputation as a speaker will determine how fast you pass through this phase of career building.

The first phase of building your career is filled with getting the word out that you are available for hire as a professional speaker. You'll also gain experience as you speak for free. Yes, that's right - free. Your goal is build a database of clients and testimonials concerning your work before you hit the big time. One resource stated that you should plan on speaking for free for at least 200 hundred times to build a successful reputation and foundation of experience. The reason for all of this is that many speaker bureaus and meeting planners want speakers with experience and an established reputation in the field they're in. As of now, you are working on creating your future success!

Here are some things you can do as you begin your professional speaking career.

1) List the topics you can speak on. Join a social network like LinkedIn (known as the social network for professionals) or forum and list those topics there.

2) Write some articles on these topics and post them on the free article websites. You can also post articles on your own website and add them to social bookmark sites. Whoever reads your article will see your bio at the bottom of each article and you'll promote yourself as a speaker for these topics!

3) Get as many free speaking engagements as possible. Check with your local library or the Chamber of Commerce. Get feedback from your free speaking engagements and start compiling a list of these.

4) Take a professional picture of yourself. People want to feel connected to you and personalizing your website by adding your picture to it is just one of the ways. Additionally, you'll need a professional photo for your portfolio

5) If you're an expert in a trade, write articles for your industry's trade publications. Sometimes these publications will ask for a short (1-2 sentence bio) where you can list "professional speaker" as part of your career listing. One benefit is that you can also get paid writing.

6) Get online and create a blog or website about the topics that you cover. Utilize social networking to build relationships with potential clients as well as peers in your industry. Promote yourself as a professional speaker and a thought leader in your industry.

7) Add a tagline to your email signature. Whoever gets your emails will see that you are a professional speaker for hire.

Research the industry for pay rates and start developing a fee schedule for your speaking engagements. We mentioned earlier that you should expect to speak for free, however, speaking for free could easily turn into a paying job for you. What would you charge?

9) Create a demo video of a speaking event you've done. You can use clips from several of your speaking jobs (including the free ones).

During this first phase, you're basically building your professional speaking portfolio. You'll need this portfolio to go after higher paying jobs with speaker bureaus and meeting planners. You're already working towards your future success!