My Essay Blog

Ralph Waldo Emerson said &ndash We become what we think about all day long. This couldn’t be any truer. What do you think about all day long? Who’s going to win on football on Sunday? Do you think about what you’re going wear to Sally’s party or who Nicole Richie is dating? If you think about trivial things all day long &ndash Don’t be surprised if your life turns out trivial.

You can’t think about ridiculous, trivial things all day and then once in a while when you’re in the mood say, “Oh yeah… and I really want to be successful.” According to Emerson &ndash just start thinking about success all the time and it will soon come. Emerson fully understood the law of attraction. The law of attraction is the secret to all great successes. It says that you attract what you think about and focus on.

You can start harnessing the power of the law of attraction today. I don’t care if you have the flu, you have two broken arms and 2 broken legs &ndash there’s something you can do today that will make you successful before you know it. Start spending a lot of your day just thinking about success. Read and listen to every motivational program you can find. Start using visualization and filling your mind up with thoughts of success instead of worrying about what Jay-Lo and Britney are wearing. C’mon &ndash if your mind is filled up with garbage most of the time, you’re going to become garbage! It’s as simple as that. Think about what you want long and hard enough and it will come - Action will follow. In the same way though &ndash think about what you don’t want and it will come. If you sit around all day and think — I don’t want to end up poor, fat and sick, inevitably you’ll end up poor, fat and sick. The mind knows what you fill it up with. Even if your intention is to avoid something &ndash if you think about it enough &ndash it’s likely to end up in your life. So don’t think about negative things. Don’t think about what you don’t want or what you want to avoid.

Think positively and only about what you want. Your thoughts become your reality. If you want an amzing life, you must think amazing thoughts. This is not some mystical nonsense. Quanum Physics has proven this to be an absolute fact. Our thoughts radically effect our reality. Try it out for a week. Can you do it for that long? For one week, I want you to be very careful about what you think about. Think big, think positive and know that you will get what you think about. Don’t let anyone distract you from this for this one week. Avoid negative people for this one week. Only think positive thoughts and dwell on what you want in your life and watch your life start to transform before your eyes.

During World War Two, a strange phenomenon called “Battle Fatigue” affected many veterans after they returned home from combat zones in Europe and the Pacific. Today, we know this condition to be “post traumatic stress disorder“. Back then, returning veterans didn’t talk about it, because discussing these worrisome symptoms suggested weakness or cowardice.

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a medical disorder that can occur to anyone after experiencing an extremely stressful situation. Soldiers aren’t the only ones to suffer from this condition. Natural disaster survivors, as well as those who have experienced and survived attacks and accidents, also suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. More than 5 million adults are affected by this disorder every year. Twice as many women are affected than men. Post traumatic stress disorder wasn’t even understood until the 1970’s. Many sufferers were diagnosed as having stress or battle fatigue, given medication and sent home. After the recent involvement of the United States military personnel in the Middle East and Iraq, the condition has grown more common.

A victim may experience one of many symptoms: A flashback or nightmare. Reaction to situations or events that trigger a powerful emotional or physical response. A feeling of detachment, loss of interest in activities or a lack of positive emotion. Avoidance of anything (activities, people or situations) associated with the trauma. Difficulty sleeping, irritability and exaggerated responses to being startled.

Many people exhibit roller coaster feelings or emotions after a traumatic experience, but for most, such symptoms normally fade after a few weeks. Nevertheless, recognizing the early signs and symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder is important, as it can incur long-lasting consequences for those who suffer from it. Physiological changes that occur in victims have a brutal affect on both neurobiological functions such as memory, as well as fear-response reactions. Seeping habits and the ability to deal with any stress can be disrupted. Physical complaints can range from headaches, to immune system disruption, debilitating pain, and in some cases, asthma.

Depression and a sense of growing anxiety can lead to phobias, panic attacks and behavioral changes. If you feel that someone you know is suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, it’s extremely important that he or she get help. It will not go away by itself. Anyone who has been diagnosed and is trying to recover needs the help of family, friends and medical personnel to combat this invisible, yet dehabilitating condition. Post traumatic stress disorder is not in the victim’s head, and should be taken very seriously.

You know what the real problem is with getting organized?

We have too much stuff!

I’m willing to bet you have some things you (or someone you live with) keep without having a good enough reason.

So why DO we keep so much stuff?

The thing is, it’s easier to find excuses for why you should keep something and delay making a decision rather than making a firm (and sometimes difficult) choice to say goodbye to your “stuff.”

Here are four of my favorite excuses…

1. “I might need it someday.”

Yes, you might. But the thing is most of the items we keep can easily be found or replaced within a day or two. Lots of men (my dad included) keep every screw and nail created and store it away like a squirrel with his nuts.

But what happens is these little tiny items create more and more clutter and it gets to a point where you can’t find that little screw anyway because it’s like finding a needle in a haystack.

2. “I’m going to lose some weight and start wearing this again.”

I hope if you have a goal to lose some weight, you do everything in your power to make it happen. And when you do, I give you permission to go out and find a sale and buy some brand new clothes. You should be proud and it’s the perfect time to reward yourself.

3. “So-and-So Gave Me This.”

I’m all for keeping memories and items that remind us of people we love.

But the truth is, memories are not in the clutter, the knick-knacks and “stuff” you have shoved in a box.

I won’t say get rid of everything and it’s not always an easy decision. But try and just keep the special things you cherish.

And get them out in the open, on display - where you can enjoy them and have a story to tell when someone comments or asks a question about the item.

4. I paid good money for this…”thing!”

I’m sure you did. But the thing is, what has more value…this “item” you no longer have any use for or the way you enjoy your house? The item…or your happiness? The item… or your space?

5. Oh, I’m just trying to figure out what to do with it…

Okay, so maybe it’s not worth holding onto.

See, if it takes that much mental work to figure out what to do with something, you can take a pretty good guess that it may not be worth as much to you as you think.

If you can’t figure out what to do with something…it’s a safe bet you won’t miss it too much.

There is a lot more value in enjoying your home, your friends and your family than the “stuff” you paid for.

This article is about health problems and how some people let these problems get them down too easily. By thinking in a more positive way they are more likely to see a positive outcome. I hope you enjoy the read.

I once had a neighbour who was about sixty-five. She was such a negative person, very rarely smiled and seemed to moan about almost everything. Her name was Nancy.

When I first moved to this particular area, I tried to make friends with the people who lived close to me. When I first met Nancy she kept saying how ill she felt and about how her back was playing her up. I went away from this meeting feeling quite sorry for Nancy.

Around two weeks later I bumped into Nancy again. I aked her in a very positive and upbeat way, how she was. I wish I had not bothered as I then had to listen to all of her problems. She did not have one happy thing to say. Over the next few years of living by Nancy, I actually went out of my way to avoid her.

I have to admit that I also used to feel sorry for myself. I grew up with a speech impediment known as a stutter. I often used to wonder as to why I was given this problem. It did not seem fair to me as I believed I was a really nice person. I would often think as to why god had not given Craig the impediment as he was a nasty piece of work.

I lived with the stutter until the age of twenty-two and then began to have a change of attitude. Instead of looking at people who I thought were more fortunate than myself, I started to read and hear about people who were far less fortunate. By watching the news on the television, I saw some images and heard stories from other countries which made me realise how stupid I had been. I may have had a stutter but compared to other people in the world I am very fortunate.

When people ask me how I am, I always give a positive answer even if I feel terrible. I try and walk around with a smile on my face and am now living life to the full. I have also managed to overcome that horrible stutter.

People like Nancy could do with having the same change in attitude and they may find they have more visitors to their house and that some of their ailments disappear.

Public speaking is all about performance, whether this is on an auditorium stage, in a small room or a huge arena. Holding the attention of your audience throughout your presentation or speech is an area well documented in any public speaking course. Once you’ve learned how to prepare your notes, conquered your fear of public speaking and brushed up your presentation skills, tips on great ways to captivate your audience is the all-important next step!

Public speaking tips; opening lines.

Instantly gain your audience’s interest by using an attention-grabbing opener. The nature of this obviously depends on the type of public speaking event you’re attending, so do consider whether using a joke is appropriate! Starting with a question or a controversial opening statement will often have a dramatic effect.

Public speaking tips; acknowledge your audience.

Let your audience know that you care about the fact that they given up their precious time to listen to your speech. Many speakers try to block out the people present in the room, sometimes to try to help control their fear of public speaking or because they want to concentrate on their notes. You have to remember that your audience are the reason you’re there in the first place! You’ll win over your listeners a whole lot quicker if you acknowledge their presence, interact with them by asking or answering questions; even just by making eye contact with a few people can make a big difference in your public speaking performance.

Public speaking tips; using notes and visual aids.

Most people prefer to have some notes handy for public speaking events, and you may prefer to use slides, Powerpoint or other visual aids. These can be very useful, but be careful not to focus on them too much or you may be in danger of losing the connection with your audience.

Public speaking tips: personality and expression.

Don’t be afraid to let your personality come across at a public speaking event. Unless you think you have potential as an Oscar winner, your audience will see right through any attempt at amateur acting. Be yourself; you’ll gain a lot more respect from the people you’re addressing. Although public speaking is a performance to some extent, it’s your personality and your material that will make it interesting.

Public speaking tips: working the room.

While it’s not a good idea to fidget or nervously fiddle with your notes, moving around the room can really help you to connect with your audience. By simply walking forward to the front of the stage or towards the nearest row of people to emphasise an important point, you can certainly make a powerful impact in public speaking.

Public speaking tips: leaving a lasting impression.

Finish off your speech with a “wow factor”. Public speaking is not only about getting your point across, the impact you make depends on people remembering you and the important or entertaining content of your speech. Leave a lasting impression on your audience by closing with an interesting or unusual fact, a final question for them to ponder over or a funny comment if the situation allows!

If you’re not sure what you should be putting on your New Years Resolutions list, here are the top 7 resolutions other people have used:

1. Spend More Time With Friends and Family

It’s easy to get so busy with work that you neglect your friends and family. Before you know it, your friends have found new people to spend time with and your family have grown up. Plan to meet up with your friends on a regular basis, whether it’s for a meal or a movie. And make time to spend quality time with your family. You’ll thank yourself for it.

2. Get fit

Face it, most people aren’t as fit as they were in their younger days. Getting fit doesn’t necessarily mean going to the gym 5 times a week. It could be as simple as parking further away in the parking lot, taking the stairs rather than the elevator and generally being less of a couch potato. You don’t need Arnold Schwarzenegger’s biceps to be fit…

3. Lose weight

This often goes hand in hand with getting fit. Choose an eating plan (notice I didn’t say diet) that fits with your lifestyle. Then take the time to notice your food when you eat it rather than wolfing it down and paying no attention. Notice when you are full and stop eating, even if there’s still food left on your plate. Start listening to your whole body rather than just eating “because”.

4. Quit smoking

A lot of people vow to quit smoking at the start of the New Year. Often they’re the same people you’ll see gasping for a cigarette a couple days later. Plan your quitting. Treat yourself to a hypnosis session or CD/book combination. Buy this for yourself as a Christmas present if you’re that organized. Then follow the program. It’s cheaper and more effective than patches or gum and doesn’t feed your body more nicotine.

5. Quit drinking

In the same way as smoking, a lot of people decide to quit drinking when the New Year arrives. The thought of hangover-free days and a healthier liver is good. Again, there are plenty of self-help programs that will assist with your quest to give up alcohol. Search around and you’ll find one that works with you.

6. Get a better job

Many people use the New Year as an excuse to change their jobs. Make sure you don’t leap from the frying pan into the fire by doing research on the new place you’re planning to work for. Read up on resume and CV writing to make sure that your application stands out from the crowd. Maybe use a hypnosis or subliminal program to boost your confidence and presentation skills.

7. Help other people

This is a very popular New Years resolution. There are plenty of voluntary organizations that would appreciate some extra help and volunteering is easy. Check locally for a list of different charities and choose one that fits with your personal goals and aims. If you can’t commit regularly, don’t be afraid to say so. It’s better to say “I can only help once a month” than to say you’ll help every day or week and then not attend.

When you feel something abnormal is happening to you, which in fact is the creation of your own mind, you have stress. When your mind is carrying the unnecessary burden, it is stress. When you are irritated and you don’t know the precise reasons for your irritation, you are under stress. When a problem is lingering on in your mind and you do not know the precise reasons for it, you have stress.

As far as acne is concerned, stress is like a double edged sword. You don’t know, whether you have stress due to acne, or acne due to stress.

Fatigue and stress are the heritage of this materialistic civilization. You are running the life’s race faster and faster, without the proper estimates of goals. Your condition is like the rudderless boat moving fast in the current of life, without direction or destination!

You accept the fact that no medication can permanently solve the problem of your stress. You need to go to the root cause of the stress and analyze it carefully. You need to trace out the faults in your thought process. Only when that is done, you can think about contemplating and doing the required changes in the action process.

What goes within your mind, affects your body and the happenings to your body affect the mind. It is a strange, unique relationship. Begin with a regular exercising schedule. When your body begins to get rid of the wrong vibrations, you find that your mind also become light and lighter.

How the exercise reduces your stress? Blood flow to the brain is improved and a sense of well being is brought to the brain. A healthy brain sends efficient instructions while dealing with any situation, and this is how stress reduction is achieved.

Exercise is the natural tool of Mother Nature and makes you stress-free. Regular exercise for 30 minutes a day will immensely help you reduce your stress levels.

Breathing exercises and meditation are the other tools, which if understood and practiced properly, will root out the causes of stress. You will find that your mental strength gradually increase, and the calm waters of the meditation, will make the ship of life, sail correctly and with a righteous purpose.

No body knows the precise reasons for the attack of acne, but stress is strongly suspected as one of the prime reasons for its arrival and sustenance!

Another vital factor to reduce your stress is to control your diet including heavy foods, alcoholic drinks and smoking to the intensity of your stress. These temporary relief giving agents are the permanent employees of the stress master. Never fall into their company and if you are already there, try to give them up one by one.

A lot of people ask me if it’s really worth hiring a professional organizer or if you’re better off doing it yourself.

Both are valuable options, but either way you should understand the specific steps and strategies to having a more organized home, making little changes gradually to simplify life at home.

Well at first glance having someone do things for you can certainly seem better than doing it yourself. But there are some big IF’s that need to be considered.

Remember, you are typically going to pay by the hour (the going rate for a professional organizer can range anywhere from $35 to $250 an hour. So you have to be selective in which small part of the process they’ll help you with.

Just a few weeks ago I got an email from a customer of mine who recently hired a professional organizer and paid her for a full day.

And all she did was hang pictures for 8 hours!

Which brings me to another point … how do you know, once the service is complete, you are going to be satisfied or if you are even going to be able to maintain organization beyond a week, a month or a year from now?

Now here’s the thing.

If you really, really want to make changes to the way you live in your home, you need to start living your life a little differently.

You should be able to manage your “stuff” and understand what it really takes to start enjoying the benefits of home organization.

Learn what it takes to get organized from the inside-out and discover the basic and simple rules of home organization so you can enjoy more time, more space and a better, happier life at home.

Then, even if later down the road you decide to hire someone to help you, you will be more knowledgable, you will understand the process more and — combined with a few changes — you will be living in an organized home before you know it.

Self-esteem, as defined in the dictionary, is “pride in oneself; self-respect.” All too often, young girls who lack self-esteem carry the same subjective view of themselves as they become adult women. What tools can be used to develop pride, self-respect, and self-esteem? One unique way is to utilize the services of a life coach.

A life coach is someone who can be objective, provide an honest assessment of ways you can enhance your life, advise you as to how you can build self-esteem and self-respect in all areas of your life, mentor you when facing difficult decisions, and work with you to help you become the person you have always wanted to be.

Perhaps you are a person who feels you deserve nothing more than you already have, or too shy to confront issues on a daily basis. Maybe you’ve become so negative in your thinking that you are sabotaging the very thing you want most in life &ndash love, happiness, and respect.

Lack of self-esteem closes you to all of the possibilities in life. You act differently, dress in no particular style, and avoid situations which make you uncomfortable. You also may be stressed when confronted with new situations, as any type of change may be literally painful. Lack of self-esteem may drive you to think only of others and put your hopes and dreams on the back burner because you feel it isn’t important. Thus, you are not living for you, but in spite of you.

If you have low self-esteem and can’t find a way out, it’s time to get out of your own way and embrace the help and encouragement a life coach can offer. More often than not, a person with low self-esteem finds it difficult to believe there is someone out there who is completely objective and who cares about you. While family members may tell you what they think you need to hear, the life coach will tell you what is true and help you deal with the reality of that truth.

A life coach can help you find out who you are as a person, a friend, a colleague, and a partner. Working with a life coach can open up a world you never thought existed. The foundation upon which you have lived your life can be changed for the better. You will become more self-confident at home, at work, in social settings, and in relationships. You will find meaning, focus, and direction. A life coach is analogous to that inner voice telling you to take a chance, realize your full potential, avoid negativity, and become empowered.

Why call upon the services of a life coach? Because you are worthy, your life has meaning, and you do matter. Listen to the voice.

The modern world comes with an incredible range of possibilities, challenges and, let’s not forget, with a wide selection of responsibilities. Are we ready to face them all, to deal with them all? The fact is that this modern world is overwhelming and therefore, we tend to get tired, weak and stressed. But is there a solution to all these effects of the modern world?

Undoubtedly, meditation is the one that can reduce best all these aspects of a busy, dynamic and active lifestyle, a lifestyle that implies, besides all the successes and satisfactions, an additional package of worries and, of course, stress.

Creating a Compensatory World with the Help of Meditation

So, we started from the fact that nowadays, the world is busy, overwhelming and, in addition, very, very fast. We are all running, we are all trying to keep up with life’s dynamic rhythm. So, how can meditation help? Simply. Meditation comes as a simple and efficient salvation that allows us to detach from the fast and demanding real world.

Let’s think that meditation somehow creates a compensatory world, an imaginary world that is created by us and it is created the way we like it. Our meditation world can be anything, from a vision, a fantasy, a trip to a place we love &ndash or, why not, a trip to home, an introspection into our souls and minds, an analysis of a concept and whatever else it might bring us peace. How many often do we get the chance to do all these things in our real life? Not enough &ndash and this is precisely why we need meditation. Analyzed from this perspective, meditation implies developing a better spiritual and intellectual life, it implies imagining, visualizing, creating - but creativity and imagination are not the only advantages or benefits of meditation.

A Better Psychological and Physical Life

The modern world affects us at a psychological level. How? We tend to develop anxiety, frustration, complexes and, even worse, depression. And the good news is that meditation can fight against all these. Besides, meditation helps is lose our increased irritability, gain emotional stability, a good mood and a general peace of mind. More understanding and tolerance towards the world are other psychological benefits of meditation that can help us develop a healthier and more positive relationship with the others.

The physical or health-related benefits of meditation can not be neglected either. In fact, most individuals find them the most relevant ones. But what health problems can be improved by meditating? The scientific and experimental facts show that meditation has a great role in accelerating the metabolism, improving the skin and its resistance, dropping the cholesterol and cortisol, decreasing high blood pressure, decreasing the aging process and improving the breathing problems, as a result of the breathing exercises. In general, meditating implies, above all these, the desire for a healthier lifestyle, a lifestyle that can only affect our health in a positive way.

As shown above, the benefits of meditation do not simply reflect at a single level &ndash meditation is a process that affects us entirely and that presents gains at multiple levels: the psychological level, the spiritual level, the health/body level and the intellectual level.