Self-confidence is your assessment of your own self-worth. It plays a large part in determining your happiness through life. So how do you create confidence? Well here’s a surprise - you take action! If you don’t currently have much self-confidence, let’s explore the options on how to cultivate this trait within your life.

NFL legend Roger Stauback (Cowboys Quarterback 1969-1979) said, “Confidence doesn’t come out of nowhere. It’s a result of something…hours and days and weeks and years of constant work and dedication.” No, you don’t have to dedicate your life to professional sports or be a super hero to have confidence. It’s much easier than that. It just takes a decision that you find yourself worthy of deciding on which general direction you want to head towards in life (i.e. an overall goal), then following through with the steps it takes to have what you want. Goal setting is an important method of:

Deciding what is important to you to achieve in your life

Separating what is important for you from what is irrelevant

Allowing yourself to feel good by motivating yourself to achievement

Building your self-confidence based on measured achievement of goals

Your level of confidence is not fixed (meaning it can’t be changed) nor will it magically appear at the end of your goal. Being true to yourself means knowing exactly what you want and coming up with a strategy, a plan of how to achieve it. But more than that, it means deciding to have fun while you are in the process of creating something new for yourself. Confidence comes from deciding which specific actions you will take today, following through on those actions, and then recognizing to yourself that you followed through. This means taking a little time at the end of the day to sit with yourself and feel good about your efforts. Nobel Peace Prize winner Albert Schweitzer suggests, “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.”

No one is forcing you to do something that is difficult (i.e. achieve the goal you’ve set for yourself). You alone decided you wanted to have something you didn’t currently have. You alone decided you wanted to expand your life experience. Your goals are the vehicle through which you allow yourself to have what you want and feel really good in the process. Goals are a solo act. And you alone are the allower or disallower of what you want.

Every time you make a decision during the day, ask yourself this question, “Does this choice take me closer to, or further from my goal.” If the answer is “closer to,” then you’ve made a decision to allow yourself to be successful. Notice how that feels in your body. If the answer is “further from,” notice how that feels. Decide what choice you can make to feel better, more alive, more expanded.

If you didn’t make the daily choice to support yourself in having your goal, decide if you wish to develop a new potential solution to having what you want or re-evaluate what you want. If your goals no longer hold any attraction for you, then let them go. Goal setting should bring you pleasure, satisfaction and a sense of achievement.

Every time you allow yourself to take a step in the direction of what you want also take the time to celebrate and feel as good in your body as you possibly can. Otherwise, what’s the point? Life is about how good you can allow yourself to feel from the inside out, and setting a goal is the process you go through to feel better and better inside your body as you recognize the power of your own self.

Lasting self-confidence comes when you eventually realize that you have the ability to get from where you are to wherever you want to go. You are the designer of your life. You alone hold the key to your success. Lasting self-confidence comes as you no longer choose fear and self-criticism as methods for motivation. Instead you come to realize it is your job to focus on what you want and create a fertile area for your desire to grow on.

Dr. Annette Colby, RD
Nutrition Therapist & Master Energy Healer
For free inspirational newsletter, articles & info visit:
http://www.LovingMiracles.com
972.985.8750
“Opening Creative Portals to Success”

This is an very interesting and inspirational story, This story changed the millions of peoples in the era of the great Gandhi and still has the same effect, This is an story of a The Gandhi and the Lady’s Coin”

Mahatma Gandhi went from every city and village for uniting peoples and collecting funds.
During one of his tours he addressed a meeting in Orissa( Part of India). After his speech a poor old woman got up. She was bent with age, her hair was gray and her clothes were in tatters.
The volunteers tried to stop her, but she fought her way to the place where “Gandhi” was sitting. “I must meet him,” she insisted and going up to Gandhi then from the folds of her sari she brought out a copper coin and placed it at his feet.

Gandhi picked up the copper coin and put it beside carefully. Fund Manager said “I keep cheques worth thousands of rupees and what to do with a copper coin.” in reply Gandhi said, “We have to keep this coin because this copper coin is worth much more than those thousands, If a man has several millions and he gives away a thousand or two, it doesn’t mean much.
But this coin was perhaps all that the poor woman possessed. She gave me all she had. That was very generous of her. What a great sacrifice she made. That is why I value this copper coin more than a millions of rupees. she has not scarified the copper coin for me but for the freedom and welfare of this nation and along with the coin she gave us a lesson of genuine generosity & commitment to the nation”
Gandhi said,” She remind me and all of us the 3 deeds these are

1. in crucial things, unity

2. in important things, diversity

3 . in all things, generosity

Gandhi is a person who changed the peoples, but he never hesitated to change and learn form other peoples too.
This real historic story taught me one thing,
“In life you will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called LIFE where you will have opportunity to learn lessons, you may like it or think them irrelevant and stupid.”
The lesson of generosity, That’s why this story changes the people; What about you?

Thanks for your time consideration

Nilesh Gore

Professionally author is graphologist & psychological counselor & involved in Personality Assessment / Character analysis, SWOT Analysis, Professionalism Improvement, Success Analysis, Child development, personality Development, Marital -Educational & parental Counseling, Selection of Business Partner & Life Partner, helping bank officials to detect fraud signature, helping people managing their strengths & weaknesses.
You can reach him for any problem on email given at the end.
He is also working on ‘Graphotherapy’ i.e. managing emotional health via handwriting. He has also written several articles for several websites. you can contact him on following addresses.
Email : ng411002@rediffmail.com
Web : http://www.brendynamics.com/gr
Copyrights : © Nilesh B Gore.

(Chinese Solar Year : 04.02.2006 to 03.02.2007)

Flying Stars or Fei Xing is a powerful form of Feng Shui derived from the famous Xuan Kong Fengshui. It is an Analysis of the Five Elements and Star Combinations (representing certain energy patterns) that occupy every building. Each new year these annual stars change, Qi (energy) shifts happen, bringing good and bad energy with them - thereby producing different effects.

In February 2004 all the Feng Shui Energy Patterns underwent huge transformations to the NewAge of Land Luck called Period 8 Energy Cycles. It means that a large scale evolution of the human race with completely new energy dynamics has started. The significance is that the new, vibrant energies of Period 8 impacts on the buildings differently than before and energies that were previously activated now need to be remedied, in order to reduce any bad effects from the past influences.

The Flying Stars Chart or the 9-Grid Meteor Plan for the Bing-Xu, Year of the Yang Red Fire Dog has been plotted and the effects of their energy patterns are analyzed. The analysis also contains suggested remedies/cures for reducing the impact of negative energy and recommended enhancers for increasing and improving upon the beneficial energy.

For the remedies/enhancers to be effective, they should be cleansed, energised, blessed and programmed not only for the particular individual/family but also for the specific purpose/problem. They should also be placed in the indicated location.

The direction in which your main door lies is very important to any form of Geomancy, including Fengshui & Vaastu. The primary reason for this is that the air currents and energy flow in and flow out through the mouth of the main door. Thus you receive positive energy for the year, if the main door faces a direction of auspicious stars or meteors (powerful energy bodies) and receive negative energy for the year, if the main door faces a direction of evil stars or meteors. In case negative impacts are forecast, you can simply offset the negative energy by installing the recommended remedies there. Any or all of these remedies can be reused for the coming years, the only thing is that they should be repositioned according to the new year.

Please note that the effects may be felt in varying degrees depending upon the exact compass degree of the main door.

ANNUAL FORECAST & REMEDIES FOR FLATS/HOMES/OFFICES/FACTORIES WITH MAIN DOOR FACING NORTH :

A good year for you to enjoy. People of the household, whether in employment or in practice or in business, will flourish. The Wealth Star of Period 8 will bring you good reputation and excellent cashflow. Businessmen can plan properly to convert the incoming cash into assets. Your sphere of influence will expand and consolidate into good name and fame. If you have a budding business person in your home, placing a white ceramic Dog statue will help.

The children of the household could suffer from stomach pains and digestive problems. Do not over strain yourself in work. Try and cut down smoking, liquor, etc. Be forewarned of problems related to blood and kidneys. Be careful to read “between the lines” any document you wish to sign. Avoid taking impulsive decisions. Do not use this area for storage purpose otherwise you may lose some of your wealth luck. Hang a large sized natural, original Chinese Wou-Lou on the inside of the main door, to minimise health related problems. To avoid theft and money loss, install a pair of Chi-Lins or Kuan Kung straight opposite your main door, overlooking it.

This year the Three San Sha Afflictions (also called as the Three Demons or the Three Killings) is residing here. So the potential of making good money will not be realised fully and consistently. Do not install any moving objects like Fish Aquariums or Water Fountains here, this year. But you can place a potted water plant. Do not dig, construct, renovate, redecorate or repair this year near your main door. Do not drill or even drive a nail in this wall. It is also not advisable to sit or sleep for extended periods, near your main door. If you do any of these, you will be inviting betrayals, thefts, accidents, injuries, money loss and other fatal disasters for your family members. If you had already started any of these work last year and would definitely have to continue and complete it in this year, then hang a golden, metal Wou-Lou and a Wind Chyme near the main door.

It is also recommended to place an icon of Kuan Kung or Three Generations Dragon Head Turtle or a pair of Pi-Yau near your main door, facing North, as even opening and closing the door is considered as “violating” the Three Demons. Also remember not to sit with your back facing North when you read, eat, watch TV, operate computer, etc.

Display the “Safety Talisman for 2006” in the North West sector and carry a miniature version of it always.

Door Mat Colour for the Main Door : Red or Yellow (on the outside).

COMMON MINIMUM REMEDY FOR ALL BUILDINGS FOR 2006 :

To minimise damage due to gossiping and rumours, arguments and disputes, avoid the colours green and blue in the center of your home. Do not place any moving water features like fish aquarium or water fountains here. Display 8 red roses without thorns and leaves in the center of your home/office/building and light up a small red coloured bulb which will burn continuously, 24/7. This is applicable for all buildings, irrespective of the direction of the main doors.

This is copyrighted work. Permission is granted to republish (both in electronic media as well as print media) the article in it’s entirety only, including the full bio of the author and his links. All links should be “clickable” hyperlinks. An acknowledgement mail from Republishers will be appreciated.

The Author of this article Sri Janarrdhana Guptha is an Energy Consultant, Vaastu & Fengshui Researcher, Crystal Master and a Clairvoyant Karma Reader. His speciality is in permanent, life-time Remedial Solutions, especially Crystal Energy Fields. His wife Srimathi Kalpana Guptha is also a Psychic Reader. The Energy Couple can be reached through crystalvaastu@yahoo.com
or either of their websites:
http://www.newage-kabbalah-numerology.com or
http://www.crystal-vaastu.com/home.htm.

Janarrdhana Guptha has authored the book titled “Guide to Fengshui Good Luck Symbols”. He writes regularly in leading English & Tamil Magazines from India. More of his articles can be read at his blog : http://www.spaces.msn.com/members/crystal-vaastu/.

The Word Yanthra is of Sanskrit origin means ‘Machine” in English. The terminology is used here with reference to Mystical Diagrams representing Universal energy.

From time immemorial cross section of civilizations was making use of one or other type of Mystical diagrams for desired ends though mostly in crude ways. There are evidences of uses of mystical diagrams by people of Harappa and Mohanjadaro civilizations . If we trace back further the early nomadics were having their own system of diagrams and rituals for curing of diseases , warding off animals and spirits and also to control fellow beings. Though no scientific evidences may be available for all these there are numerous references in Hindu civilization and History as evident in Many puranas , Vedas and ancient scriptures.

Evolution Of yanthras:-

Though it may be difficult to know the exact timing of the development of the scientific and systematic preparation of the Yanthras presently being used as per Indian vedic system that is found be scientifically designed and rationally described, there are many references about the same in ancient Sanskrit texts and manuscripts that there were the end result of great Tapas (focused enquiry) and consequent intuitions.

Many an eyebrow may be raised here when I refer about intuitions and Tapas it is matter of fact that there are many such concepts eluding human wisdom, intelligence, and comprehension. The ultimate secret of yanthras is also one among them.

But it is a fact that these are not random generated checks , triangles, circles or other geometrical figures but a systematic ,scientific and well defined complex diagram charged with live syllables representing sounds and they themselves represent the universe and its energy .

How does Yanthras work?

As mentioned above Yanthras are energy centres artificially ,made and designed to attract a particular frequency of energy required for a given situation. In simple terms it may be well compared to the receiving sets of a Television set or Radio that retransmit the picture or voice broad cast at different frequencies. A yanthra on the other hand picks up such type of energies or vibrations required to full fill a desired objective.

The energy so conceived is directed to an individual/s or situations. It is based on the theory of universal soul and individual soul to say the jeevatma and paramatma and all living things take direction from the latter, the central energy source.

The yanthra besides being a complex geometrical diagram also contains Manthras or specific syllables or sound energies. The combination of both is well synchronized and the full power is unleashed.

As we know Manthras energise specific chakras or energy centres of Human body so also Yanthras positively or negatively influences the chakras. One important aspect of Yanthras like manthras are it not only influence the wearer but also the people and situations around him/her.

All the vedic Yanthras have a uniform pattern containing a central point and Syllable like a circle or triangle and syllable like Om or Hreem. The same is surrounded by specified circle petals or any other geometric figures .

Each figure represent a specific energy receiver and as such is unique. For example while a triangle represents a higher active energy the petals usually indicates soothing energy .Of course there are exceptions to all these theories.

The yanthras like a Dynamo generates energy and any kind of Motor can be connected to it. The mechanical device is the intended action and the same runs by the energy it generates.

Some of the mathematical formulas of these diagrams are so complex and infinite like the combinations of Chess that even the super computers are not able to solve or comprehend.

One such instance is of the Sree yanthra or popularly known Shreechakra which is being used for all round prosperity and worship of The Divine mother goddess.

Kinds Of Yanthras and Sources

The yanthras basically are divided into 3 The first kind exclusively for worship the second as a protective charm and realization of positive objectives and the third the despised and those casting spells.

While among the 3 kinds above there are numerous subdivisions classified in the name of different devatahas (deities) and 6 objectives known as shat karmas means 6 different objectives that includes Attraction, annihilation, immobilization, driving out etc.

There are numerous Indian Sanskrit texts like Yanthra chinthamani, Soundarya lahari, Sarada thilakam to mention a few describing over 10000 yanthras and more can be made should some one does really research in different combinations. However the Yanthras explainedin these texts are time tested ones and enjoys credibility.

Having described about the basics , efficacy, evolution and types of yanthras let us see some of the commonly applied Yanthras.

Applied Yanthras

I now give below some of the commonly used and most popular Yanthras for various mundane objectives.

Swayam vara Yanthra

PRANAMS TO GREAT SAGE DURVASA!!!

This most effective Yanthra conceived and made by None other than the great sage Durvasa for the sake of those who seek permanent life partners is being used successfully from time immemorial. I have personal experience of people getting stunning results with this yanthra normally drawn in silver or gold thin sheets with required Manthras and other prescribed rituals.

Santhana gopala Yanthra

As the name indicates this yanthra is for begetting good offsprings . Many a Couples longing for children have realized their ambitions by wearing these yanthras.

This should be worn by couples of reproductive age and the result manifest early. Though any medical problems are to be taken care of and clinically to be fit the positive vibratios of this yanthra drives you to right treatment , right doctors and in cases of unexplainable reasons solves the same that is beyond reasoning.

Maha Mrithunjaya Yanthra

The Boon given by the great preceptors of this land of Rishis “Maha mrithunjaya Yanthra” representing the ominiscient Lord Shiva manifested as Mrithunjaya or the one who succeeded over death or overcome the cycle of births saves one from deadly diseases , ill health and other evil effects.

Normally prescribed for those who suffers from terminal illness or persistent health problems the Yanthra along with the Havana and the Japa of the same Manthra surely gives solutions to the needy.

Danwanthari Yanthra

This Yanthra representing the lord Danwanthari an incarnation of Lord Maha Vishnu

Is effective in health problems. While Maha hrithunjaya is for severe cases this one is good for normal good health.

Tripura Sundari Yanthra

The one that represents the trinities of Mother godess the Maha lakshmi, Mahakali and Maha saraswathi is an excellent charm against evil spirits, and also to build reputation and popularity. Normally used by cine actors , politicians, and those in Marketing field this is also found to be very effective for Job seekers.

There are numerous yanthras useful for the modern man as prescribed by my great preceptors.

(copy right reserved)

The authour is a Professional Vedic astrologer and Mystic specialised in vedic remedies.He can be contacted for direct consultation in the following site.

http://www.menon.ammas.com

Any of the above mentioned yanthras or any other specific objective and tailor made yanthras are supplied as per request and at nominal prices. Contact by direct query at the above site!

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Do you believe in asking God, or whatever higher power you choose to believe in, for the answers you need, when you need them? Read below for an enlightening story about my 11 year old daughter’s missing homework papers.

The problem started when my daughter took a break from her homework to eat dinner. She asked me if she could take it in her room and work on it while watching TV.

(Not a good idea, BTW). Even the best of us moms have our weak moments. :o)

Anyhow, by the time dinner was over, there was no homework to be found.

As with all lost items, I suggested the usual mom replies. “Retrace your steps.” “Think, where was the last place you wrote an answer down on it.”

She spent 15 minutes of looking, another 10 minutes of tears for fear of getting detention, during her first week of middle school, (for not turning in homework.) All the tears and whining in frustration were followed with another 10 minutes of both of us looking, and still no homework.

Can you relate?

I bet as a mom, you have probably, been there, done that, if not with homework, with a child’s shoes, your car keys. etc…..

I had recently been reading and studying up on manifesting your life, and creating the life you want by projecting a positive attitude, following your intuition. I had been real motivated and psyched with what I was learning.

“Okay mom, I thought to myself,” “now you can put all this philosophy to the test.”

I said,

“Let’s kneel down on the floor right now, and ask God to help us find your homework.” She started to giggle as if to say, but she knew not to dare say it out loud, “Yeah right, Mom!”

We knelt down and I lead her in a short but to the point prayer. Although small in time, it was still filled with gratitude but we did request immediate help to find her homework.

I can see some of you laughing at me, as this story unfolds.

As soon as we were done, I stood up. I told her to take a deep breath and relax. I did the same. Then I went to the kitchen. I thought to myself, “maybe she was still hungry and brought the homework out here while looking for something else to eat.”

I started to walk to the refrigerator. :o) Well who knows, it could have been in there. But before I even got that far, I glanced over to the counter, and there sat her homework packet, on top of the toaster.

I picked it up and took it back to the living room. Now remember, I told her to take a deep breath and relax. She wasn’t even through relaxing and I had already found her homework.

Needless to say, my daughter had a hard time believing that I hadn’t known it was there all along.

She did know that though, because she had heard my anguish and frustration just minutes earlier with her misplacing it.

Was it just coincidence? Did I just get lucky?

I believe we create our own luck. I have been studying hard lately to eliminate negative thoughts and replace them with power affirming thoughts instead.

I believe God did just what I asked him too. It was my intuition that led me to the kitchen with the thought about her maybe being hungry. The fact that she might have been looking for food when she set down her homework led me straight to the toaster.

In my humble opinion, it was God who planted those thoughts into my mind, because we asked him for some help. When He answers us so quickly, it is really almost impossible not to believe and have faith.

If it was only that easy to have the same type of faith if we were to ask to win the lottery, (which I don’t feel is really an appropriate prayer,however). To believe that he could remove all thought, or doubt in our minds that we wouldn’t, it might just happen too.

How many of you can honestly say, when you buy a lottery ticket, it is an absolute winner, that you have not one flickering of a doubt that you will have the winning numbers? You would have to have miraculous faith to do this.

You can’t really, because it is next to impossible for the human mind, knowing the odds of actually winning, to eliminate all traces of doubt in that particular scenerio. Some of those thoughts are buried so deep in your subconscious that you are not even aware of them.

In contrast though, it was fairly easy for me to have faith that God could help me find my daughter’s homework, because I knew it hadn’t grown feet and walked out the door. :o)

Laurie Meade is a WAHM,webmaster, writer, reviewer an online internet marketing researcher. Be one of the first to post and read articles at her new article database when it goes live
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I’ve been a student of astrology for about 36 years now and the most amazing thing to me is all the untruths or half-truths that are constantly circulated about it. If your level of understanding of astrology has been what the newspapers put out ( on the comic pages, usually…), this article should be mind-boggling. If you’ve read a few magazine articles, you’ll find a few things you may not have considered. But if you’re a person who’s read a number of books about astrology, this article may say nothing new to you OR it may seem like it’s not actually about astrology–depends on the books you’ve been reading.

The first truth about astrology I want to share is that no one has only one Sign. Let’s say you were born on April 15th. You’d be expected to say, “I’m an Aries.” Well, that’s true as far as it goes but it just doesn’t go far enough. In fact, if you think that what’s said about Aries in the books, magazines or newspapers is “exactly” what you are and only what you are, you really need to look a little deeper into yourself–you’re missing a lot!

The fact that you’re “an Aries” or “a Capricorn” or “Whatever” is saying that, when you were born, the Sun was in that Sign of the Zodiac. And, it is very important where your Sun was when you were born because the Sun in astrology refers to your Central Life Purpose–can’t get much more important than that!

However…

How do you actually go about “doing” that central purpose? The first place to look for an answer to that question is where the Moon was when you were born. And, since there are twelve places (the Signs) the Moon could have been, there are twelve different ways someone with any particular Sun-Sign can Do their central purpose. So, if someone says to me, “I’m a ______{fill in the Sign}.”, I want to say (but may not due to tact), “Which of the twelve kinds of ______ are you?”

So, the truth is you have a Sun-Sign, a Moon-Sign, and eight other important Signs because everyone has eight other planets in their full chart. Some of these planets may be in the same Sign (happens often) so most people end up with about four or five of the twelve Signs very prominent in their lives. It’s like a chord of notes being sounded–like the truth of psychology that everyone has many sides to their whole self.

An even deeper truth about astrology is that we all have all twelve Signs in our personalities. It’s just that certain ones are stronger depending on where the planets are. Still, if someone says to me, “I just can’t stand ______{fill in the Sign}!”, I really have to wonder why they’ve met so many screwed-up people with their Sun in _______ OR I have to wonder why they don’t like the _______part of themselves. Since everyone has all twelve Signs and they all have a place in our lives, if someone can say they don’t like one of the Signs, aren’t they also saying they don’t like a certain part of themselves? Think about it…

So, we all have all twelve of the energies represented by the Signs of astrology and most of us have four or five of them very prominent in our personalities. One thing this truth shoots down is the common practice of saying that certain Signs get along well or poorly with other Signs. Because most people think your “Sign” (and that we have only one) is all there is to astrology, they can be very surprised when a person with one of the “Signs” they’re supposed to get along with turns out to be someone they wish they’d never met! That’s why it’s so important to know more than just a Sun-Sign if you’re going to use astrology to help you with relationships.

And, that leads us to another important truth about astrology. This may be real hard for some folks to understand but here it is: Astrology does not, will not, and never has predicted events. What?! Yes. It’s the absolute truth, no matter if some astrologer has “predicted” something for you. What astrology does “predict” or reveal is Meaning. And, if an astrologer tells you something is going to happen, don’t you think that if it does there may just be a bit of self-fulfillment in that? O.K. What if an astrologer says some event happened in your past and that, in fact, it did happen? Believe it or not, what happened is that the astrologer saw a meaning in the chart and made a very good guess at the exact event. And, here’s some proof of that:

Many years ago, I had the opportunity to talk to two men, born of different mothers but at the same time at the same hospital. Since they had the same chart you’d think they would have had the same events happening in their lives, right? Well, all it takes is one contrary occurrence of something to disprove a theory and here it is:

There was a strong indicator in their charts at a certain time and I asked the first man what happened. He said his father had died. I asked the other man with the same chart what happened and he said he’d been on his first nude beach…

Obviously, the same chart had shown two very different events! Then, I asked the first man (and, by the way, I interviewed these men separately), “What did it mean when your father died?” He said that he’d felt like he’d had shackles removed (his father had been rather authoritarian). I asked the other man, “What did it mean to be on your first nude beach?” He said that he had dropped his shackles… They used exactly the same, and not so common, word to describe what two very different events meant.

So, we all have all twelve Signs and astrology doesn’t predict events. Whew!

There are other truths about astrology that most people have no knowledge about but those two should help open a few minds, eh?

It’s been 36 years since I was like a lot of people–believing whatever I’d been told about astrology. Now, I know the truth. Fact is, I’ve finally written a book about what I’ve learned. It’s called, “Astrological Repair Manual”, because I want to help repair various perceptions about it that can be pretty harmful if folks think they’re true. The book is featured on my web site– http://www.lulu.com/amzolt

I’ll end this article with this piece of advice:

Question most of what you’ve read or heard about astrology!

~~~~~~~~~

Also, I’d love to hear from you with any comments or criticisms you may have about this article. Everything can be improved, right ?

Write to me at:

amzolt@gmail.com

You have permission to publish this article in your ezine or on your web site, free of charge, as long as the byline is included and the article is reprinted in its entirety. I also ask that you activate any html links found in the article and in the byline.

You may not use this article in any publication that is not-optin (spam).

Alexander M Zoltai
http://www.lulu.com/amzolt
amzolt@gmail.com
Treasure the Earth ~ Aim for the Stars

There are probably as many ways to meditate as there are people who do it. I’ve heard so many people say, “Oh, I can’t meditate. I’ve tried, but it never works.” Yet these people still try from time to time because they want to achieve the peace of mind they’ve been told will be theirs. This is especially true for chronic worriers, Type-A personalities, and other energetically-minded people.

Our methods of processing information are unique for each of us, and individuality is, in fact, a natural part of our life experience. While the basic information we take in may be the same, the outcomes must ultimately vary for each person.

For example, individuality is the trait that makes “brainstorming” sessions successful. A few people may come up with similar ideas, but they will rarely be identical, and there will often be enough variety to give managers a great deal of information to draw upon. Unique viewpoints bring us new products and all the varied technologies we encounter on a constant basis. Uniqueness is at the core of our being, and meditation is about getting to that core, and finding peace within.

Using that same individual-minded approach can make your meditation session a profound and beautifully personal experience.

Well known methods of meditation include sitting in a quiet room, focused on breathing, and clearing the mind. However, the more advanced our world becomes, technologically speaking, the more difficult it is for many of us to a) find the time, and b) quiet our minds enough to benefit from a meditation session.

People with especially hectic mind processes can’t often achieve calmness in such settings, and only “achieve” frustration. Yet, there are benefits to calming one’s mind. It does leave you feeling more at peace, and more ready to take on the next challenge with much-needed clarity.

With a system to getting to that calmness, that works with your personality, you’ll no longer grow bored during a meditation session or start thinking about other things you could be doing. You’ll work with your strong imagination and no longer spend that time daydreaming or making mental lists of things to do tomorrow, because you begin on a dynamic path that gently moves to a state of tranquility naturally.

It works for me, for others who have tried it, and it just might work for you. You’ll use the colors of the chakra* (think of a rainbow and those colors are basically what you’ll find in the chakra). You can try the example right now, and later, try the entire system.

Red will be the starting point for this example because it is a color not easily ignored, and it is the “root” color in the Chakras.

• First, close your eyes and imagine a red table. The entire table is a rich, vibrant, red. The legs, the top of it, the underside. There is no other color, no other decoration on it. It is pure red.

• Next, envision a red chair in front of the table. It’s entirely red too. Even if you envision a cushion, then that’s red, as well. Make it a comfortable looking chair that you’d sit in if you could, or something out of a futuristic novel. It’s your chair. Just make sure it is completely red.

• Now, once you’ve got these solid in your mind as you can manage, imagine that this red table and this red chair are in a white room. The walls are white. The floor is white. The door and the closed curtains on the window are white. Any other furnishings in the room are completely white. Fill it with as much or as little furniture as you like, so long as all of it is white. Yet the table and chair are still red.

• Envision a red lamp on that table. The base of it, the shade on it, and if it has a cord that plugs into the wall, the cord is red too.

• Okay, get ready. You’re going to envision that lamp turning on – magically or manually is up to you – but the bulb in it will be red and will fill the room with a soft red glow. It is a powerful bulb and the whole room is lit in red.

• Look around at all that was white and see how it is washed in a soft red now. Go slowly. Take your time and look at everything and if it doesn’t seem to have a red glow, increase your lamp’s power. Turn on an overhead light in the white room if you must – but be sure the bulb is red. Once you’re satisfied with your results, open your eyes and marvel that you made this vision and that it turned it out pretty well for a first time. Take pride in that.

When one man who tried this visualization/meditation method opened his eyes at the end of the exercise, he asked, “When you do this, does the red from the chair sort of bleed into the white of the floor?” That has never happened to me, but proved the point that while we may begin with the same basic tools, our results will vary. They won’t be right or wrong, just different.

If you’d like to try the full spectrum, begin again with red and move through the seven colors of the rainbow: red – orange – yellow – green – blue – purple – indigo (a deep purplish-blue). Go through them as slowly or as quickly as you’d like.

By the time you get to the end, you’ll find your breathing has slowed, you’ve cleared your mind of worries, and if you feel comfortable with it, you can move on to pure white where an even greater sense of calmness can often be experienced.

Even if your vision didn’t come out exactly as you’d hoped, at least you know that you do have the tools within you to reach your own state of tranquility in your own way. No one ever ran a marathon without first learning to walk. The more you do this, the better you’ll get.

Over time, you’ll not only create stronger visualizations, you’ll find yourself creating settings that are uniquely your own. If the table and chair don’t work for you, try what does. Incorporate your favorite sport or hobby, or even a favorite location. Make it personal, or keep using the table and chair. Do what works for you, what matches your dynamic personality. Embark on your personal journey to inner peace.

*Chakra Colors

• Red

• Orange

• Yellow

• Green

• Blue

• Purple

• Indigo (or violet)

To learn more about Chakras, visit your local library or bookstore, or try an online search. One source that has been available for years and offers a basic overview is at http://www.healer.ch/Chakras-

Another good source is http://www.sacredcenters.com/chakras.html

Kim-Marie Ward is a professional freelance editor of both non-fiction books and fiction novels, a ghostwriter, and has written several articles for various ezines and newsletters (online and in print). Kim is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/
which is a site for Creative Writers. Stop by and visit her portfolio at: Kim-Marie on Writing.Com.

A good number of my columns deal with finances and money-related issues. Obviously, these are issues we have to confront everyday. However, I have to try to keep in mind the fact that money has only a limited value in our lives. Many of us, including myself, often lost sight of the fact that money is a means to an end, not an end in itself. It has no intrinsic value. It is only worth the benefit or enjoyment that a person can get from it. If someone is unable to glean any benefit or enjoyment from the things it can buy, then it is worthless to that person. We all know (or at least we should know) that money can’t buy happiness, but I’d like to go a few steps further in demonstrating how money lacks intrinsic value.

I have trouble getting excited about my retirement that may or may not occur 25 years from now. A few weeks ago, I received my annual statement from the Social Security Administration, informing me about how much my monthly benefit would be for each of the following scenarios: working until age 62, age 67, age 70, and upon becoming disabled. I wasn’t impressed with those figures. Also, so what if I might have hundreds of thousands of dollars in my various retirement savings accounts by then? I’m not impressed with those figures either. In fact, I wouldn’t be impressed by any dollar figure. The two main reasons that I can’t get excited about retirement only serve to highlight money’s lack of intrinsic value.

First, I know that, not even counting inflation, time devalues money for almost every individual. Here’s an example of what I mean. At my current age, I can now afford most of the things I wanted at age 20 but could not afford. However, I have not gone out and bought them because now I no longer want them. At age 60, I’ll probably be able to afford most of the things I want now but cannot afford. But, when that time comes, will I still want them? I doubt it. I fear that when I finally reach retirement, I’ll no longer be interested in spending any money on anything except the basic needs of life like food, clothing, and shelter. While it’s important to be able to afford those things in your twilight years (many seniors can’t), I can’t gleefully anticipate retirement to live a life of mere existence that all the money in the world can’t remedy.

In honesty, no amount of money of can sufficiently make up for the damage done, both physically and psychologically, by the aging process. The old saying goes that “youth is wasted on the young.” Well, I’m going to add the following corollary: “High incomes and large bank accounts are wasted on the old.” It’s too bad we can’t have our retirement (along with the retirement money) when we are young and can still enjoy it. But such are the consequences of money’s lack of intrinsic value.

Second, all the money in the world could not adequately compensate a person for being disabled, sick, or dead. Don’t the people who are so excitedly looking forward to retirement realize they could die or lose their health before (or shortly into) their retirement? That has happened to countless numbers of people and continues to do so every day.

Wouldn’t it be nice if someone could guarantee you that you would live to be 100 and stay in as good of health as you are in now? Unfortunately, no one will be ever be able to give you that guarantee. Obviously, none of us have even a minute more of life promised to us. However, the longer the time period we plan to hold on to our money, the higher the chance that something will happen to us before it can do us any good.

By the way, money’s lack of intrinsic value is the main reason you should never put it ahead of your health. However, there are many people who do exactly that. Some will work themselves to death or ruin their health just to make a few extra dollars. They apparently don’t realize that money and possessions become meaningless when and if you lose your health (or your life). I speak from experience on this issue. Nine years ago, I was diagnosed with stage three cancer. I was sure I wasn’t going to make it, even after I was told by the doctors that the chemotherapy was destroying the cancer. It’s amazing how all of my material possessions that I had thought so much of suddenly became so meaningless to me when I had lost my health and thought I was going to die. True, money can be used to buy the best health care possible. However, even the best health care money can buy can’t always restore you to good health or even save your life.

Of course, a lot of people save money over the course of their lives, not to spend it for themselves, but to leave it their children and grandchildren. That’s great, although I’ve always believed that buying large insurance policies is a much more cost effective way for people to enrich their heirs. Regardless of whether you leave your heirs money in the bank, property, possessions, large insurance payouts, or all of the above, whatever they receive will be just as intrinsically challenged as it was for you.

The bottom line is that, while we all must earn as much money as we reasonably can and save responsibly for retirement and other events in our lives, we must also keep it in perspective and keep our priorities straight. Perhaps the use of more of our financial resources to help others who are less fortunate is one way to keep our focus in the right direction. At any rate, we should never overemphasize money’s importance or put it above things that actually do have intrinsic value - things like our families, our physical and mental health, and our spiritual well-being.

Terry Mitchell is a software engineer, freelance writer, and trivia buff from Hopewell, VA. He also serves as a political columnist for American Daily and operates his own website - http://www.commenterry.com - on which he posts commentaries on various subjects such as politics, technology, religion, health and well-being, personal finance, and sports. His commentaries offer a unique point of view that is not often found in mainstream media.

When we look at lives in any places in this world, we may come to the similar red line. Those lives consist of phases that take living creature from a step to a further one. Be it human or plants or animals, their lives are all the same. It’s a growth from youth to old then die.

As for human life, we grow from infants to a cute little baby, from teenager to adult and then old. In between the phases we are expected to live the life at the fullest. In other words, we spend the days with expectation of having improvement and development.

We learn, and are taught to learn every single step so that we become better and better. When things go on as we want them to be, we would feel content and happy. Knowing that we have achieved something and that we move on to a better situation. But sometimes, we have to deal with something that we wouldn’t want nor expect. Something that makes us down and sad. When such thing happens, we usually come to an unpleasant situation that often makes us not knowing what to do.

However, do we really ever notice that everything happens is only a scene that put us on a temporary condition?

Just picture this life as a journey…

We understand that every trip has a final destination which takes us to a journey that passes many scenes of places. Suppose we are going to Rome from London by car. When we go through the way we may find that not all the road is good, and not all places we go by has beautiful view. Not to mention that we may get stuck in a traffic jam somewhere along the way. But of course we may find beautiful places that tempt us to stop by. All the things we see and find all through the way can give effect to our trip duration. They can enhance the speed, delay or even cancel the trip. It depends on us. Are we going to let ourselves get carried away by the temptation or get defeated by the hardship we find that we forget our final destination? Will we also let the obstacles take our time and focus that they cause delay to our trip?

Only WE know the answer, for only WE know the destination.

Therefore, don’t let good things that happen in our lives makes us blind to move on. Always be alert that things change. Get anticipated for the changes.

But if we face bad scenes, don’t let ourselves down for too long. Raise head up. See far ahead. Think of the final goal so that we can pull ourselves together to deal with the situation. Keep in mind that it was just one of the parts we surely go by.

So when we are fully aware that any kind of things may happen, we’ll have more self-control and we know that those things are lessons for us to be better. Coz even when we get struck in a hindrance, we’ll know that it was only something that makes ourselves improved. For the way we handle the situation will teach us to be more creative in thinking.

In other words, self-improvement can be gained either through happiness or sadness, through good or bad times, through ease or hardship. The main thing is, everything happens for a reason…..a reason for our own goodness.

So, let’s keep on moving…go through all the way until we reach our own destination.

Devy Dhamayanthi is an owner of http://www.Biz2Fortune.com who takes a trip on internet marketing business and finds it good lessons for her. Emailto: devysam@Biz2Fortune.com

As a process improvement practitioner, I never cease to be amazed at the extent to which ideas developed for industrial and business settings seem so fit for personal application. In this article I will consider one of the major process improvement movements and show how its methods may be of value to individuals seeking to do better, reach higher, go further and achieve a greater degree of personal success than they might otherwise do.

The key idea of the theory is that businesses are best viewed as whole systems rather than collections of independent components. Like a chain which is only as strong as its weakest link, the achievement of the system as a whole is limited by the least able of its component parts known the system constraint. No matter how efficiently other parts operate, the throughput cannot be improved. This sounds like John Maxwell’s Law of the Lid in his “21 Laws of Leadership”. Your strengths determine your possibilities. Your weaknesses determine your actual achievement – unless you find ways to reduce or eliminate their impact.

Application:
Your life, affairs, pursuits and concerns constitute a system, the various parts of which affect one another. The recent attention paid to life-work balance issues recognises this inter-dependence.
Take a hard honest look at yourself from time to time. Examine various aspects of your life to determine what it is that is holding you from peak performance and contribution to life. Because various areas of your life are inextricably linked, you can gain plenty of leverage by seeking out and improving your weakest areas.

For example among qualities you need to succeed anywhere are determination and perseverance, integrity, self and time management skills. Say you find that your inability to persevere and stay the course is putting a ceiling on your possibilities. How would you apply these ideas?

The Theory of Constraints advocates a five step solution sequence as follows:

Locate the constraint: This you have done. Emphasis is on the combined use of intuition and logic to locate the true source of your limitations.

Exploit the constraint: This means that, in view of the limitations imposed by the constraint, you should still find ways to be more effective. In the current example about persistence, this might mean getting a coach or someone else to whom you can be accountable. You could also seek other forms of support to help keep you on track.

Subordinate Everything to the Above Decision: Do everything you do keeping in view your decision to improve your effectiveness in spite of a poor record of persistence. This might mean distancing yourself from people who hold a negative sway over you and encourage you to doubt yourself, and take the easy way out.

Elevate the constraint: Find ways to improve yourself and increase your ability in your area of weakness. For a problem with perseverance, you might find it useful to meditate and visualise. It would also help to maintain a journal in which you track your decisions and your reasons for not sticking to them. You could also read biographies of characters that were known for their persistence in the face of odds. The biographies of most people who achieved noteworthy greatness would probably qualify. Set goals for a minimum number of attempts or length of time before you give up on anything you’re attempting.

Start again. Avoid inertia: If truly you succeed in “elevating the constraint” sufficiently, you soon find that perseverance is no longer a problem for you, and your level of achievement has improved considerably. What next? You must go back to the beginning. Take another hard, honest look at yourself to determine what now limits your ability to achieve as you could.

As in business and industry, application of the above ideas to improving yourself is best done from a long term perspective. Thoroughly applied, it could lead to major shifts in direction as you overcome one performance constraint after another.

Samuel Okoro is the CEO of Leapfrog Alliance Ltd, a management training and consulting firm that helps organisations to reduce costs and improve quality through better business processes. His personal passion is to help move Third World business to world-class levels. For further details please visit http://leapfrogalliance.com/resources.html.