How to Successfully Implement a New Year's Resolution

The idea of celebrating the New Year began about four thousand years ago in ancient Babylon. This celebration coincided with the start of spring and the planting season. Babylon was also the birthplace of the New Years Resolution. The idea was to give people who had borrowed farm equipment from their neighbor a chance to remember what they had done and return it before planting began. Most of todays New Years Resolutions follow in that tradition. They are ideas, goals and challenges designed to make practical and positive changes to our lives during the coming year.

There is a school of thought that says most people either love or hate the holiday season between Thanksgiving and New Years, with no middle ground. Most people who take a definitive position on the Holidays probably also fall into the optimistic glass is half full or pessimistic glass is half empty measurement of personal outlook. Surprisingly, thats not a bad thing.

People who take a positive or negative position on life are great candidates for change. If youre lost in some desert or jungle, the hardest part of that experience is finding out where you are. If you already know where you are, mapping out the journey to somewhere else is much easier. The same is true in life.

Almost everyone chooses some positive change as a New Years Resolution. Such change usually involves weight loss, quitting smoking, attitude adjustment, moving to a more comfortable dwelling, getting a better job, finding a soul mate or making more money. People start thinking a lot about change as a New Year approaches. From a practical standpoint, this is probably the worst time to alter your life. From an emotional standpoint, its the one time of year when people are willing to put forth serious effort to change. It would be unwise to waste that kind of an opportunity, even if it means merely laying the groundwork for serious life modification.

Ill spare you the usual happy talk about goal setting and get down to the nitty gritty of what it takes to make any New Years Resolutions you have in mind come true. Im assuming that youve already given much thought to the changes you want to make. The most successful Resolutions involve issues that have been tugging at a person for some time. Theyve already considered the pros and cons are ready to take action.

The end result of any New Years Resolution should be personal growth in a positive direction. Given that, it might be wise to wait before calling the divorce attorney or telling off your Boss on January 2nd. What seems like a terrific idea during the Holidays may turn out to be a real nightmare in the emotional doldrums that often follow the glittery holiday season. Some changes are better left to times when cooler heads prevail and less alcohol is consumed.

If youre ready to move your life in a positive direction, you will have to create a good support structure to complete the change. People who want to lose weight, quit smoking, drinking or some other habit can really benefit from having others around who are trying to do the same thing. Beyond the paid weight loss, quit smoking and addictive substance services, there are a number of free support groups and non-profit organizations willing to help. Most people who try to lose weight or quit a habit without a support structure tend to fail. In many cases, inspiration can also come from within. The idea is to make a conscious decision to change and follow through with a strong force of will. Its the follow through part that gets most of us. Thats because were unwilling to actually take the plunge when we have the chance to do so.

There is no substitute fo5B4r action. Positive thinking is good, goal setting helps, but action rules! That means making time to act on the changes you wish to make in your life and following through. Write down a long list of things required to make changes. Consider each item, and then turn your long list into a short list. Make your list very personal. While people can help you by providing support, its imperative that you become the main source of inspiration and support for change in your life.

Part of creating a short list is being realistic. Make sure its a daily, not long-term list. Its always easiest to focus in on and accomplish small tasks on a daily basis that will help you create the kind of change you desire in your life. While long-term goals are always beneficial, short-term tasks are usually required to reach them. The idea is not to overwhelm yourself with unrealistic expectations and impossible deadlines. Take it one-step at a time.

If you want to lose 100 pounds, start by deciding to eat just one meal each day. Be sure that meal is in the morning and, based on your own metabolism, doesnt exceed your bodys ability to process what you intake and still burn off fat. Diet programs tend to be designed for people who can eat three or more small meals a day and still lose weight. Most people who are seriously overweight do not fall into that category. For them, a slice of low fat lunchmeat, a couple of tomato slices and one5B4 slice of bread with low fat margarine or mayonnaise are about all that can be eaten most days in order to lose the weight. Hunger pains can often be handled by drinking black coffee or low calorie beverages. The idea is to lower the hunger threshold, rather then eating to feed the fat.

Any change requires progressive implementation. A person who is seriously overweight cannot really get the exercise they need until after losing enough pounds to make that kind of bodily strain safe. Smokers are in the same boat. They need to cut down on smoking until reaching a point where they have the breath needed to take long walks, jog or do other exercises designed to clear out their lungs and help satisfy cravings.

People who want to further their education and havent been to school for a while might want to seriously assess their ability to return to the culture of education before they leap in. Being technically perceptive and able to study is part of that preparation. If you havent yet mastered simple computer or internet skills, take on that challenge before you do anything else. Email has become an important part of the student and teacher communication process. Assignments and class information is often communicated to students via internet. Your ability to study and complete assignments will require time. Have you set aside that time? What about your reading and comprehensive skills?

If a new job or career is on you5B4r New Years Resolution list, but sure your ready to take the leap. Get your resume and letters of recommendation in order. Assemble some good Resume Stuffers. These are certificates of training or achievement, which always look good to perspective employers. They tell a future employer that you are willing to learn, grow and improve your skills. Most require little more then attending a seminar or short series of classes. Without those items, youre telling a prospective boss that you know everything you want to know and are unwilling to learn more. You are saying that you will not easily accept new situations, methods or supervision. That is not what most employers want to hear.

Relationship changes are hard. Most involve one party telling the other to get lost. No one is going to take that news very well. Its also true that the person delivering that ultimatum may not always realize the full ramifications of it. Relationship changes can seriously affect us on social, religious and personal levels. People often decide to opt out of a relationship for all the wrong reasons and without good cause.

Before you tear up those photos of you and your intimate partner on that skiing trip or posing with the Knights at Medieval Times, make sure that you are physically, emotionally and socially ready for such a drastic change. I regularly receive emails from people who end up back in relationships, for better or worse, because 5B4they had not considered their next move before walking out. Things sometimes get bitter between people, but thats not always a good reason to break up.

Any good relationship involves work. Both parties have to be willing to give and take as those opportunities present themselves. If you are unwilling to work at a relationship, stay out of them altogether. There is simply no magical formula to create the perfect love affair. Everyone has faults and, eventually, those faults will make themselves known in a loud and clear way. Love often means being willing to accept those faults in lieu of a good relationship with long-term promise.

Part of making a successful change to your life is understanding the concept of self-esteem. People with low self-esteem rarely admit they are wrong. They make decisions and assign blame based on self-gratification and emotional highs or lows. People with high self-esteem are able to look themselves in the mirror and make a rational assessment of whats right and wrong with their life. How is your self-esteem?

The first step to good self-esteem is understanding that you are the one responsible for everything you think, feel and do. If you smoke, its a choice you made even if your parents had a six-pack a day habit. If youre overweight, its up to you to assess your ability to process food and eat accordingly, even if both your parents and all your relatives are overweight. If you46Br partner makes you feel bad, youre the one who allows them to influence you in a negative or positive way.

Developing good self-esteem is vital to making positive changes in your life. Part of that development is deciding where you stand on important life choices. Are you honest? Are you sincere? What do others say about you? Do you inspire people? Whether we like it or not, these are all considerations that affect our self-esteem.

In the end, making and following through with a New Years Resolution means having the desire and strength of will to make good choices that will cause a positive change in your life, without causing undue pain to others. Those choices must be based on good self-esteem, an ethical sense of doing whats right and moving forward in a personal, financial and spiritual sense.

Author: Bill Knell Author's Email: billknell@cox.net Author's Website: http://www.bil576lknell.com

Terms To Use Article: Permission is granted to use this article for free online or in print. Please add a link to or print my website address of http://www.billknell.com

A native New Yorker now living in Arizona, Bill Knell is a forty-something guy with a wealth of knowledge and experience. He's written hundreds of articles offer advice on a wide variety of subjects. A popular Speaker, Bill Knell presents seminars on a number of topics that entertain, train and teach. A popular radio and television show Guest, you've heard Bill on thousands of top-rated shows in all formats and seen him on local, national and international television programs.

How to Will Yourself to Success

One challenge of the human condition is gathering the strength and courage to break through the barriers we erect which keep us from confronting personal problems and challenges. It seems that avoidance and fear are the twin killers to personal progress. Why is it that some of us can motivate ourselves to accomplish everyday tasks and set long-term goals? Why is it that others of us often avoid, procrastinate, and waste valuable time agonizing about our inability to carry out self-rewarding behaviors?

The implication of willing ourselves to success affects every aspect of our life. Some of us desire to lose weight, change jobs, exercise, make new frien5B4ds, or learn new skills, but create resistance affecting our chances for a positive outcome. Why do we choose the road of self-defeating behavior even though we know that a different course of action will bring us to our desired goals and a sense of fulfillment?

The will to act must be greater than the power to resist. In other words, the urge to accomplish a task or goal must create an inner momentum until its force becomes irresistible. For some, this means a mounting cascade of frustration and anger, or a sense of being fed-up with the status-quo. The constructive passion to achieve drowns out the inner voice of inertia. Often, people tell me that an inner voice keeps hounding them until the clamoring sounds of change are strong enough to break the impasse.

Often people will resist the road to change because of a pattern of prior failure. They might say, Ive tried that route and it didnt work. They may view the motivation to change as an either/or process. Either Im 100% successful or Im a total louse. They may overlook the subtle changes that are necessary to complete a task. Established goals may be unrealistic and set the stage for failure. An additional obstacle may pop up when one starts down the road of progress and faces a period of regression. The back-sliding may be viewed as a monumental setback rather than a part of the growth process and may lead one to completely give up on5B4 a new endeavor.

Those who are unmotivated tend to harbor self-blame. They will blame themselves for their inability to change or will chastise themselves for any behavioral setback. With a mind-set of victim-posturing, the unmotivated individual will say, Its no use; no matter how hard I try, I will always come up short; its just my nature. Self-blame becomes an excuse for not trying. The self-centered focus is on personal failure rather than the impetus to move forward in spite of failure.

Often people remain unmotivated because they fear success. Those who contemplate losing weight might say, What if I lost weight and start to look more attractive? How would that affect the way others view me? My friend might want to date me and I dont know if I am ready for that! The fear of success often keeps one tied to the safety-net of the past.

The foundation for willing oneself to success begins with the process of setting goals. An individual must start with identifying what he really wants and needs. must be reframed to reflect a positive way of perceiving events. A friend who was unhappy with her life once told me, I know that I am withdrawing from people and I believe that it is bad for me. What she really needed to say is, I need to feel connected to other people; I want to find a way to make that happen. How we frame our thinking helps us to determine ways in which we will a5B4ct on them.

It is very difficult to move forward when you dont know where you are going. Setting realistic goals is essential to increasing our self-motivation. Goals need to be identified and chunked down into smaller steps. This makes getting motivated less overwhelming and easier to manage.

Giving yourself permission is an important ingredient to creating motivation. Often, people lack a sense of inner permission because they have relied on others to lead their lives. The fact that they have depended on others to direct their life makes them feel incompetent and thwarts forward-moving change.

Fully functioning people dont wait, they dont procrastinate, but they act. Life is too short. The fear of passing time may give us a sense of urgency about changing our life and making things right. Such a feeling of urgency may create the conditions necessary for changing the quality of our character and behavior. We dont have forever to will ourselves to success. Today is the day to redeem that which we have put on hold.

James P Krehbiel, Ed.S., LPC, CCBT is an author, a freelance writer and cognitive-behavioral therapist practicing in Scottsdale, Arizona. He can be reached through his website at http://www.krehbielcounseling.2B3com.

Asking For Help

Asking for help is not something we do naturally. We often find it painfully difficult to do because it makes us feel vulnerable, weak or ashamed; and so our fears of rejection and embarrassment get in the way.

In reality, the only real weakness is NOT asking for help. The smartest people I know understand that they do not know everything, and seek to fill those gaps in their knowledge or ability with people who do.

Life is about learning and growth and in the process, we all need help from time to time along the tricky patches. Beyond each challenge awaits an opportunity for growth; and by asking for help when we need it, we discover solutions, gain new insights, and ultimately empower ourselves.

Why It Is Smart To Ask For Help

If you reach out and ask, you will find that help does arrive and your needs are met, often exceeding your highest hopes! Just take a look at some of the reasons why it is smart to ask for help when you feel stuck:

The help you need is more likely to B68arrive if you ask for it! Keeping your problems under wraps does nothing to resolve them, so why not do something positive about it?

Asking for help lets you manage your energy more effectively. Life balance is all about managing your energy. When you ask for help with a difficulty, it frees up more energy for other areas of your life.

It opens opportunities to connect to others in new ways. Asking for help makes others aware of how they can support us and strengthens interpersonal ties.

When we ask for help, we open the door to learning. By opening up to input from others, we expand our own growth and awareness.

By breaking through fear and facing the challenge of asking, we reclaim our power! Our greatest gifts lie just beyond the things we fear the most so ask for help even when you fear the repercussions and you will reclaim your power!

How To Ask For Help

Another important aspect of finding help lies in knowing how to ask for it. Here are a few tips to keep in mind the next time you need help:

Ask for help as soon as you realize you need it. Ignored problems often escalate and become huge issues that drain energy and resources.

Recognize that everyone (including you!) deserves a helping hand, for it is in supporting one another that we all benefit and grow.

Accept that you have nothing to lose except your fear. If the person you approach can help, youll learn from the experience. If they turn you down, you can approach another.

Go to someone you trust. If they dont have the answer, theyll likely know someone who does.

Be clear on what you need. The proven words are, I need your help. Simple and to the point!

Give the person as much detail as possible. Even if you dont understand what the exact problem is, document what you know about the circumstances as well as what you need.

Get a commitment. Ask if they are able to support you and in what capacity. Getting a commitment will set your mind at ease and alleviate a lot of stress. Even if they cannot help you themselves, they may offer valuable suggestions or refer you to someone who can help. Either way, youll benefit!

When you find the solution to your problem, document it for future reference. You might run into that problem again someday when no-one is around to help, or you might pass along the information to someone else in need.

Next time you feel exhausted and overwhelmed, ask for the help you need and deserve. Ask despite your fears and with a focus on the rewards. Doing so can provide you with much more than just the help you needed.

Copyright 2006 Ada Porat

Ada Porat facilitates personal development through the integrati3D6on of body, mind and spirit. She enjoys international recognition as an inspirational speaker, teacher, author and practitioner at the leading edge of personal growth and well-being. To sign up for Ada's inspirational monthly newsletter, visit http://www.AdaPorat.com

Constructing Your Self Storage Steel Building From the Ground Up

Have you considered getting into self storage, but are unsure of where to start? Maybe you've done some research on the industry and while you're convinced you could make a self storage steel building profitable, you're not entirely sure where to build, or who to get to help you build it.

Like any other business, self storage requires a lot of research upfront before you can decide if it's right for you.

Step 1: Should you build a self storage steel building? If so, where?

It would benefit you to hire an expert to help you assess if you should build a self storage building, and if so, where. If you've already got a location in mind, an expert can help you find out what to build and what to charge. This also known as the "feasibility" phase, where you analyze everything about the project: the true start-up costs, the anticipated income, the market, potential locations for construction, demographics, proximity of competition, what customers are likely to pay, and what kind of self storage will appeal to them most, just to name a few.

You'll also have to take into consideration city fees, county fee, state fees, jurisdictional fees and other miscellaneous fees that you may have to spend before you can even begin construction. That's not counting what you'll have to pay for the land, site work (tying in to existing sewer, water, electric and gas lines, importing and exporting fill, soil conditions, rock excavation, etc.), design and construction.

This phase can give you a good idea of the bare minimum you'll be spending to get your self storage steel buildings up and running. If you and the expert determine that the anticipated income for your self storage building will be worth the start-up costs, then you'll be ready to move on to the design phase.

Step 2: Designing how your self storage steel building will look

Design isn't just about drawing a square on a piece of paper and marking off where2238 the self storage units will be. Though you've probably already determined the best mix of unit type and size during the initial phase, now you need the architect to put it all in a design plan. Design plans include the actual site plan as well as landscape design, civil engineering, architectural engineering, MEPs (e.g., electrical and plumbing drawings) and structural engineering.

Each plan usually requires a specialist to design it. For example, a civil engineer has to handle the civil engineering design plan because he would be familiar with policies and restrictions on land use. This is the guy who is responsible for watershed, zoning and placing utilities, to name a few.

Step 3: Constructing your building

Once you've completed the design phase, it's time to move on to the construction phase. This is typically where a general contractor comes in. A general contractor will be responsible for coordinating the construction and providing quality control. The contractor may provide labor and materials, or he may hire subcontractors. He's also responsible for establishing a timeline of the construction.

You should be particularly careful when choosing a general contractor or construction crew for your self storage steel building. You want to make sure that you get somebody that carries insurance and has extensive experience in erecting self storage steel buildings. They should also be professional, which means that they sweep out the units and clean up once the job's done.

There's a lot that goes into constructing your self storage steel and metal buildings, but the cost of time and money can be well worth it in the long run. Self storage has been the fastest-growing area of commercial real estate in the U.S. for the past 30 years, and only 10 percent of U.S. households use self storage. That's 9 out of 10 households that still don't use it, and if you get in on the game, some of them could be your future customers.

About the Author:
Darren Newberry is the general manager of American Steel Buildings. No matter what you need for your self storage steel or metal building, be it information, advice or just raw materials, American Steel can help you make your dreams come true. Visit them online today at http://www.GoSteelGo.com.

3 Powerful Tips for Making 2008 Your Best Year Ever

The use you make of the next two weeks will, to a large extent, determine the use you'll be able to make of the coming year.

As 2007 draws to a close and 2008 is about to begin, I'd like to share with you three simple, yet powerful things you can do over the next couple of weeks that'll help make the coming new year your best year ever...

Here they are:

Powerful Tip #1 - Spend some time in gratitude.

Whatever you focus your attention on expands in your life.

If you focus your attention on lack...

That's *exactly* what will expand in your life...

Lack.

If you focus your attention on abundance...

That's *exactly* what will expand in your life...

Abundance.

The practice of gratitude keeps you focused on the abundance that you *already* have in your life and thus opens the door for *222Dmore* abundance to flow into it.

Here's what I suggest you do...

Take out a pad of paper and a pen or pencil and make a list of everything that you're grateful for...

And I do mean everything - absolutely *everything*!

As you make your list, keep this in mind...

If your life isn't all that you'd like it to be right now...

There are a whole heck of a lot of people out there who'd *gladly* trade places with you!

So...

Be grateful for what you *already* have and have *faith* that what you need and/or want will come to you when the time is right for you to have it.

And...

While you're at it...

Don't forget to acknowledge the *source* of your *many* blessings. :-)

Powerful Tip #2 - Spend some time on your "vision".

It never ceases to amaze me how many people are out there practically killing themselves trying to be "successful", who, when asked, can't even define what "success" is - to *them*.

In other words...

They don't know what they want.

These very same people can usually tell you everything they don't want, but they haven't a clue as to what they do want - what they *really* want.

Don't let that be you!

If you haven't already done so...

Take the time to form a "clear and definite mental picture" of what you want to be, do, and/or have in your life *next*.

If you've already done this...

Now's a real good time to review your vision and revise it if necessary.

Powerful Tip #3 - Spend some serious, quality time with your loved ones.

In his book "The Personal Power Course", Wallace D. Wattles, best known for his classic masterpiece "The Science of Getting Rich", wrote:

"Just as it is true that it does not profit a man to gain the whole world if he lose his own soul, so it is true that good health, wealth, talent and success become valueless to the person who fails to attain happiness and satisfaction in the love-relations of the home. To live in happy love-relationships with those near to us is the one thing needful; failing to accomplish this, we fail in all. Health, wealth, talent and success are, to a very great extent at least, without value to a person whom nobody loves."

How true!

People tell me all the time they're working hard now so that "someday" they'll be able to spend more time with their loved ones.

My question to them is always the same...

Why not spend more time with your loved ones *now*?

In "The Science of Getting Rich", Wallace D. Wattles wrote:

"A man's highest happiness is found in the bestowal of benefits on those he loves..."

Here's a question for you to ponder as you head into this new year...

What if you got what you thought was so important for you to get, only to discover after you got it that because you neglected them in the process of getting it, there weren't any loved ones there to bestow its benefits on?

Wouldn't that be sad.

Here's the deal...

Money and things are replaceable...

Rather easily, I might add...

People, on the other hand, are not!

So...

This holiday season...

I *highly* encourage you to take stock of what's *truly* important to *you* and then spend your time accordingly.

With that...

I wish you and your loved ones the very best of holiday seasons and a wealthy, healthy, successful, and happy New Year!

Copyright (c) 2007 Tony Mase

Tony Mase is a serious student of the works of Wallace D. Wattles and the creator of an amazing website that'll take you by the hand and guide you step-by-step down Wallace D. Wattles' proven path to wealth, health, success, happiness, love, and more... http://www.tonymasesinnercircle.com

A Look at Self Help Books

Not any one or anything is completely perfect. There will be grades of improvement even at the places we think are perfect. So is the case of self improvement. Variety of self help books are deal with bettering one aspect or the other in personal, professional, family or social lives. There can be self help books that deals with communication skills, building self esteem and self confidence. The number of sites that deal with self help books is so high that you are not able to at least test all the self help books available. You dont need to is another thing. Having all the knowledge of self help will not help, but the application of the knowledge you gain from a book or two will do the trick.

People think they can benefit from the advice of professB13ionals who have passed through the different stages of the problems they now suffer. There may be different inhibitions that prevent persons from achieving their full potential. They think with some professional coaching and advice they will be better equipped to achieve the goals of life including professional and personal goals. They believe the words of professionals that achieved what they wanted to in their lives. Different people experience stress, lack of time management skills, lack of interpersonal skills, laziness, lack of concentration, lack of self awareness, poor memory etc are that needs professional support.

Self help books with life experience of different people can motivate people in a new direction. However attaining professionals skills like programming skills cant be achieved through self help books. There can also be areas of personal improvement that cant be fully addressed by self help books. May be self help books can assist a counselor in motivating a person in such a way that he or she wants.

Self help books come extremely helpful in areas like developing self confident, self esteem, interpersonal skills, self motivational thinking, morale boosting, persistence, positive thinking, staying away from negative influences and everything that is required for the success in personal, professional, family and social lives. There can be different self defeating behaviors that need to be addressed permanently.

All so called self help books may not give the same results. There are self help books with pragmatic approach to individual traits modification. Such books will help you quickly identify problem areas and tell you about the steps to be taken to overcome such issues. Then there are self help books that will tell about the problems and no clear way to a solution. Such books are not very useful. You need practical solutions to the problems you encounter.

There can be different places you can look for self help books. The first place you think about can be Amazon.com. There are offline sources also. You can check with your local bookshop manager, who will be able to help you locate the right self help book that will be of real help to you.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning books. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting Self Help Books

Self Adhesive Legal Exhibit Tabs - Stay Organized!

Convenient and Efficient

Having trouble keeping everything organized and looking professional? The answer to your problems might be self adhesive legal exhibit tabs. These little gems traditionally have been used for extensive legal exhibits, but they have a lot of applications around the office and potentially even at home.

Here are some ways in which self adhesive legal exhibit tabs can help you get organized in the legal context.

In The Courtroom

The number one use for legal exhibit tabs, of course, is within the courtroom. Exhibits often constitute i2238mportant evidence for either side in any trial, and having an organized defense or prosecution will help make any case.

The court room is no time to be fumbling around looking for a particular exhibit. Legal binders are typically made up ahead of time and well labeled in sections using full page dividers with tabs on them. Well prepared legal teams can have documents that, with dividers included for each section, become unmanageably thick. Self adhesive exhibit tabs help reduce the paper waste of the divider and save on overall thickness too. Best of all they are easily custom printed, they don't fall off, and they are less expensive. In addition, there is much less waste since dividers come in sets and it looks tacky using the bottom couple of dividers to start a new report.

Business Research or Presentations

Legal exhibit tabs don't need to be limited to only legal documents. They started with that application due to the volumes of court exhibit documents and briefs that needed indexing for easy reference.

A similar scenario in business occurs when large documents or collections of documents are assembled for working meetings or presentations. We've all been there, the documents are so extensive the organizers wheel them in with a hand truck and the table shakes when the pile is dropped on the table. Save paper and thickness by using self adhesive exhibit tabs to clearly mark important points in the documents and as the transition point between documents. Vendors have same day shipping so it is easy to get professionally labeled exhibit tabs quickly.

For trade shows or other marketing applications, using legal exhibit tabs to label and divide product information works very nicely and saves a lot of thickness and paper. This is especially true for organizing multiple product line spec sheets that are only a few pages each per product.

Get Organized Even at Home

Finally, consider the advantages of using self adhesive legal tabs at home. Do you have binders of pictures that you would like to quickly find those precious pictures from last year's vacation? Do you have piles of stock research on your desk, or piles of any type of papers that you can at least find what you are looking for later if it has a nice exhibit tab sticking out. Are you running a business out of your home and need to keep expense receipts and invoices organized, or just want to keep your own expenses organized for tax purposes? Use exhibit tabs on your binders to quickly find them when filing papers rather than throwing everything into a box.

So whether you are a legal professional presenting court exhibits with easy to find reference points, a business person getting organized to run a successful meeting, or just trying to get organized and save time and paper at home, add a new trick to your repertoire with professional looking self adhesive legal exhibit tabs.

In the court room Lindsey Malberg is a shark, and attributes some of her success to her superior organization using legal office supply and more available at Qwik Tab. Amazingly you can custom order Qwik Tabs for half the price of the traditional full sheet legal exhibit dividers and have them shipped that same day! Lindsey also loves the fact that these exhibit tabs are printed for only what you require, no need to buy full sets.

Teen Spiritual Movies

Self Confidence and Conversational Hypnosis

Self confidence and self assurance are essential elements that sometimes can be elusive for many of us, especially, when we see charismatic, self confident people around us who seem to accomplish all they turn their mind to with ease and great panache. If you feel a lack of self confidence and self assurance in your daily life, then, maybe I can help you.

At this point you might think it a little odd that I am not going to launch into the usual mantra about about "putting your shoulders back, holding your head high, setting off with determination and a cheery smile" or even a list of the "ten best kept Secrets that will give you instant self confidence" etc. etc.

What I am about to suggest to you may seem a little unorthodox, but then orthodoxy has never been my strong point.

My way of helping you (and I really want to help because I know the miseries that the lack of self confidence can bring,) is by saying "don't just bring yourself up a small notch, but put yourself out front, rise above the others and dominate all those around you." Get to the top of the pile in other words. Don't let that fear of failure that always comes with a lack of self respect hold you back. This may seem a little daunting but remember, as the saying goes: "Show me a person that has never made a mistake and I will show you a person who has never made anything."

Lack of self confidence usually leads to depression and stress, so turn any feelings of jealousy or envy you may have into a drive to achieve something.

How? No, this is not about self hypnosis. This is about hypnotizing those around you in order to persuade them to do as you wish and not as they might want. "But," I hear you say, "I am not a magician, not a conjurer, nor do I see myself as a charismatic leader." Forget about that rubbish, this not about learning to do party tricks, this is about learning a skill that will give you great self respect and will elevate your standing in everybody's perception.

• Thats' right a skill that can be learned by anyone.
• This is the ultimate i43Cn the art of persuasion.
• This is Conversational Hypnosis.

Allow me to show you the way.

Finding it hard to progress in life? Want to advance your career? Do you want to improve your relationships? Don't wait around, discover what the power of conversational hypnosis can do for you. Click Here: The Power of Conversational Hypnosis

Spiritual Advice

Define Motivation

Motivation can be defined in a number of ways. Generally, it is defined as a driving force that initiates and directs behavior. In other words, motivation is a kind of internal energy which drives a person to do something in order to achieve something. It is a temporal or dynamic state within a person which is not concerned with his/her personality. There are different types of motivation such as achievement motivation, affiliation motivation, competence motivation, power motivation, and attitude motivation.

Motivation is based on three specific aspects such as the arousal of behavior, the direction of behavior, and persistence of behavior. Arousal of behavior involves what activates human behavior and direction of behavior is concerned with what directs behavior towards a specific goal. Persistence of behavior is concerned with how the behavior is sustained.

Various studies have been conducted to understand the different motives that drive a person to success. Motives are categorized into three: homeostatic motives, nonhomeostatic motives, and learned or social motives. Almost all the motives belong to one or more of these three groups.

Motives such as thirst, hunger, respiration, and excretion are included in homeostatic motives. Nonhomeostatic motives include required activities such as seeking shelter and curiosity about the environment. Curiosity, a desire for novelty, power, achievement, social affiliation, and approval are considered as learned motives or social motives.

Motivation is essential to be successful in any endeavor you undertake. It can be positive or negative, subtle or obvious, tangible or intangible. It is very important in workplaces as it plays a key role in the effective performance of employees. In industry, managers play a significant role in employee motivation. They use different motivation techniques to improve productivity, thereby promoting cooperation between employees and employers.

Learning is somewhat interrelated to motivation. In education, instructors also use motivation techniques in order to motivate the students to learn. It is essential to increase student motivation as it can make a student more competent. Also, motivation encourages self confidence and problem-solving skills.

1C8CMotivation provides detailed information on Motivation, Daily Motivation, Employee Motivation, Motivation Posters and more. Motivation is affiliated with Christian Motivational Speakers.

Why Intelligence Increasing Techniques Work

The 21st century has seen the advent of many so-called "intelligence increasing" techniques. These techniques have been purported to lead to intelligence gains of as little as 5-10 points, but all the way up to 30-40 IQ points gains for major techniques.

The most popular techniques in use today are image streaming, wave streaming, brain harmonics and pseudo telekinesis, though there are many others which are just as effective and can suit your lifestyle. Each technique has its distinct advantages, where some lead to increases in concentration and focus, others are more favorable towards intuition, creativity and inspiration generation.

The reason why these techniques work are several fold. First, the intelligence increase arises from the subconscious mind which lies within us. The genius of today is merely a result of increased connections to this subconscious foundation to let the genius come to us. The subconscious itself is the area of our minds which is always at work to give us what we plant into it. It also contains the solutions to any problem that we have, so is excellent for problem solving and creativity increase.

The second reason why intelligence techniques work, is because it natural for us to be the best that we can be, because we already have the best things within us in the unconscious. Therefore it is impossible for us not to achieve the best, when we allow it to flow through to us. We can therefore increase our intelligence into the stratosphere, and become a Universal Genius who achieves all their dreams with flying colors.

So in essence, the secret to genius lies on the fact that we have a subconscious and unconscious mind within us. We merely need to link with these and allow their secrets to pass through to us and fulfill our dreams on our behalf.

The author has increased his IQ to over 180, using the techniques he has created and perfected throughout his life. Visit http://www.geniusintelligence.com for more information on how to increase your intelligence and achieve the genius of your dreams.

Yoga for Sciatica

More and more people are seeking out yoga for relief from their pain and ailments. Yoga has become a real option to the doubting public. This will result in yoga instructors seeing more students, in their classes, with disorders, such as sciatica.

Sciatica is the name of a class of symptoms, which result from compression of the nerve roots of the sciatic nerve, or the sciatic nerve itself. The symptoms that result from this compression are most often pain, numbness, or tingling. These symptoms usually occur in the back, legs, and buttocks, but can appear elsewhere in the body.

Other symptoms can include weakness in these muscles and problems with control and coordination. More often, than not, the symptoms occur on just one side of the body.

It is important to remember that sciatica is just the name for the symptoms. The causes can be more complex. As a yoga instructor, you must get the whole story, from your student, with sciatica. When you know the cause of their sciatica, you can more accurately instruct them about which yoga poses will best benefit them.

Due to the delicate nature of the nerves in the lower part of the spine, yoga poses must be done carefully and correctly. Certain asanas (Yoga postures), which include straight-leg forward bends, can often aggravate sciatica and should be avoided. However, any asana can be modified for the specific needs of the student. Forward folds c774an easily be modified, by allowing the knees to bend.

Encourage students, with sciatica, to be patient and steady with their yoga practice. The areas around the sciatic nerve, and nerve roots, must be strengthened and stabilized.

Through specific sequences of poses, and moving properly between poses, circulation is improved in the pelvic region. Simultaneously, the muscles are strengthened. This approach will effectively begin to relieve the sciatica symptoms, resulting in less pain and freer movement.

Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA - http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com - He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive a Free Yoga e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

Be the Tortoise Not the Hare

Yoga, as a discipline, can lead to the rejuvenation of your spirit and this in itself is a worthwhile pursuit. However, this is only the beginning and through the practice of developing basic yoga exercise positions and postures (and then advanced yoga positions) it is possible to achieve a fusion of spirit, body and mind. This all takes time, however, and there are no short cuts. If you are new to yoga, you must start out slowly and learn basic yoga positions for beginners before you attempt to strengthen your body or try more advanced practices such as improving blood flow throughout your system. Start slowly and avoid the temptation to run before you can walk. Slow practise of these different yoga positions for beginners, however, can provide immediate spiritual, mental and physical benefits.

Be like the tortoise, not the hare!

Yoga exercise positions can take some getting used to. Don't forget that when you first start trying out the various yoga positions, your body will be relatively inflexible and so vulnerable to injury if you attempt too much, too soon. Speed up later on, but get the basics right from the outset. Trust me, your body will thank you for the patience! You will need to learn the correct stretching postures from the outset and also develop the correct mental skills - remember, yoga is good for the whole system. Be realistic, you WILL feel slightly awkward at first, but this is natural and is not a reason to quit. Gradually, the wonderful physical and mental benefits will start to manifest in all areas of your life. Isn't that worth waiting for?

So, what can you expect?

Well, these different yoga positions for beginners include such positions/poses as standing and sitting. Sounds simple, doesn't it? However, these basic positions are essential in correcting any imbalance in your posture and must be mastered before moving on to more advanced yoga positions. These first, basic steps also help to strengthen the entire back and hips. Balance is also very important and so you will need to perfect a series of forward and backward bends. Again, they aren't particularly difficult, but these poses also have the added benefit of developing flexibility in your body and will enable you to release tension from your entire system.

Essentially, you must learn to 'listen' to what your body is telling you; don't push too hard for too long. Your capabilities WILL impr10F8ove over time but if you initially attempt too much then injury could result and this will set you back even further. A yoga instructor is necessary to provide a daily routine for you to follow. Yes, yoga books have their place, but you simply can't make as much progress as with the guiding hand of an experienced practitioner of the art. Join a class, see what problems and benefits other beginners are experiencing and then go for it.

Remember, yoga positions for beginners are simply that - a stepping stone to more advanced techniques which will yield even greater physical and mental benefits.

Here's to speedy progress!

Yardley Moore invites you to discover more about the great benefits of yoga by visiting http://www.YourYogaTips.com where you will find lots of information and advice about yoga positions for beginners.

Four Secrets To Overcome Resistance To Change

In life one thing is constant... change is going to happen! Everyone desire change and change is inevitable, so why is it difficult for so many people? The process of change in our lives can lead us toward growth and fulfillment if we learn how to cooperate with this unyielding force. When we partner with this force of evolution we can take a quantum leap in our lives. In this article you'll discover why you resist change and the four secrets to move beyond your resistance to create positive change in your life.

When we reach for change, a part of us naturally recoils and resists. If the recoiling is stronger than our reach, we experience stagnation. If we resist change too much we'll experience struggle, frustration and procrastination. During major crossroads in our lives, such as mid life crisis it is wise to surrender to change rather than resist it. If we accept that change is inevitable we can build an alliance and experience greater freedom and success.

The 1st Secret: Seek growth rather than change. Growth is the process of reaching fo1A34r something new while releasing the old. Growth always leads to positive change in our lives. Whether that is a new relationship, a new belief or a new experience, growth leads to genuine change as it shifts from the old to embrace the new. Growth is the foundation for evolution and challenges you to become more in some area of your life. Growth always produces change; but change does not always produce growth. Growth is about evolving and becoming more of who you are meant to be.

Tip: Are the changes you desire about becoming more? Look at the changes you want to make, to determine if they are a growth choice (becoming more) or a fear choice (becoming less).

The 2nd Secret: Genuine Change involves your emotions. Some people only seek physical changes. They want to change the physical forms in their life without changing the feelings. Erroneously they think this new form will make them feel a particular way. When change is only about changing the physical (new haircut, wardrobe, mate, house, etc.) personal growth is limited and change becomes temporary. However, when you change on the emotional level then growth is produced and the physical forms will begin to change automatically and without struggle.

The foundation for permanent change begins within our emotional nature. Our emotions provide motivation, they need to change before genuine change can occur. Our ego is concerned with changing on the outside and our soul wants to change and heal the feelings on the inside. When you begin inside out, change becomes more effortless.

Here is an example; A client of mine was "stuck" in a relationship. The feeling of being powerless was a pattern that haunted him for years. He attempted to fix this problem by changing the person he was dating every six months. He never changed the feelings that attracted those relationships in the first place. Once he understood that the feelings needed to change, he quickly attracted a new relationship with someone who reflected his feelings of being powerful.

The 3rd Secret of change: All Change Produces Chaos! This is the most powerful of all the secrets combined. Chaos and change always function together. It isn't change that you resist, it's your egos attempt to avoid chaos that creates resistance. When change happens its always accompanied by chaos. Chaos can be either light or dark and is a vital energy to the process of every change.

Everyone yearns for change and recoils from its chaos simultaneously. We have been taught to believe that chaos is bad and to be avoided, yet even the most incredible changes we desire: i.e., Getting a job promotion or starting a new romance will also produce chaos! The tug-of-war between our ego and our soul creates our resistance to change. Life is not to be controlled, especially by our ego, it is to be mastered by our soul. We can influence the direction of change when we let go of control, embrace chaos and learn to dance with the unpredictability of change.

The chaos of change is energy moving from one form to another. How you relate to chaos influences the outcome of change, positive or negatively. For instance, when you mix fear with chaos, change becomes negative, producing anxiety and frustration. On the other hand, when you mix hope and trust into chaos then the energy can lift to excitement and joy. Anxiety, frustration, excitement and joy are all chaotic emotions and influence the change you want to make.

Chaos is neutral and is a part of every change. This truth can help you relax and stop worrying that you might be doing something wrong. It's natural to feel chaotic when you experience change in your life. If you don't feel chaos then you aren't really changing. Big changes produce lots of chaos, small changes produces a little. So let chaos be a part of your process of change. Trust yourself know that it won't last forever and is living proof you are in the midst of changing.

The 4th Secret: Focus on the positive outcome by visualizing your future self. How often do you think about what you don't want to happen versus what you do want? This only attracts more of what you don't want. To make changes while in the throws of chaos focus on the future of how you'd like the changes to occur in your life.

The best way to accomplish this is to learn to focus your mind with guided meditation. In a state of meditation you can visualize your future self. Find a relaxed position, close your eyes and take in several deep breaths to help relax your body and focus your mind. Begin to imagine yourself in the future with the changes you desire in your life. Think about how you would feel once you've created the positive changes in your life. Your subconscious mind can begin to help you create the changes you desire. To try guided meditation, visit my website at: www.RelaxationMeditations.com

Don't wait to see what the future holds rather create what you want the future to be in your mind. The more emotions you add to your vision of change, the quicker those changes will manifest. Repeat this on a regular basis at least once a week. You will begin changing the course of your future by using the power of your imagination. As you implement these four secrets, you will end your resistance and harness the power of change to become the master of your life.

Michaiel Patrick Bovenes is an author, professional speaker and self empowerment teacher. He is the author of a popular series of guided visualization meditations called, "Soul-utions". To explore his meditations or receive free ebook on Developing Personal Peace visit his website at: Michaiel.com Michaiel currently resides in San Francisco, CA and teaches throughout the USA and Canada.

Bodybuilding Nutrition - A Sound Bodybuilding Diet Plan

Beginning a new nutrition program is never easy, especially for beginners. If you are looking to learn how to structure your diet for building muscle and adding mass then follow the following proven principles of proven success.

Bodybuilding nutrition does not have to be a chore as many people think of it. You certainly do not have to starve! A bodybuilding diet plan is very healthy, and includes all of the major food groups, making it a complete nutrition solution that you can incorporate into your lifestyle. A sound nutrition plan has to include all of the essentials for health but muscle growth as well.

Therefore, a bodybuilding diet plan has to be higher in protein and healthy fats than most other diets. Its also higher in energy potent carbohydrates and uses much different types of foods than most people consume in their normal daily eating habits. Bodybuilding diets do not include most of junk foods and unhealthy treats such as candy full of simple sugars, fried foods, white flour products and alcohol. If you want to follow a healthy lifestyle then you certainly must minimize your consumption of these unhealthy treats.

Heres a sample bodybuilding diet plan that will work very well for pretty much anyone who is looking to add muscle mass. Depending on your weight and body fat levels, you may need to increase of decrease the amounts of foods consumed.

Meal 1: 6 egg whites, 1 yolk 2 slices low fat cheese, 3oz oatmeal, 1 apple or banana, 1 cup of low fat milk.

Meal 2: 6oz tuna in water, 1 whole wheat bagel, 1 tablespoon low fat mayo, 1 tomato.

Meal 3: 8oz grilled chicken breast, 2 baked potatoes, 2 cups salad, low fat dressing.

Meal 4: 4oz turkey breast, 2 slices whole wheat toast, 2 slices low fat cheese, 1 cup of low fat milk.

Meal 5: 8oz grilled steak, 1.5 cups brown rice, 2 cups salad or steamed vegetables, 2 tablespoons olive oil for dressing.

Meal 6: 6 egg whites, 1 yolk, Half cup oatmeal, 1 cup low fat milk.

You can also include a daily multivitamin supplement to ensure you are getting all of the essential micronutrients needed for proper muscle growth and recovery.

This diet plan will provide you with all essential proteins for muscle building, carbohydrates for ample energy & glycogen replenishment and healthy fats for additional calories. Try to space meals three hours apart and always remembers to drink plenty of water throughout the day.

To learn more about structuring or improving your bodybuilding diet plan please visit:

Http://www.bodybuildingapplied.com/bodybuilding_revealed_review.asp

Kostas Marangopoulos is a natural bodybuilder, nutrition consultant, freelance writer and editor-in-chief of http://www.BodybuildingApplied.com, one of the best natural bodybuilding websites on the net. His educational background includes a Masters degree and he is also a certified personal trainer (CPT) with the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). Kostas educational and informative bodybuilding articles have been featured on hundreds of leading websites including http://www.NaturalMuscleBuilding.com

Learn About Exercises To Reduce Stomach Fat

As a person ages, the horrible spectacle of a round tummy becomes a haunting reality. The quest for a flat washboard abdomen is hard to obtain. Most popular exercises for abs do not work by themselves, spot reduction is a myth, abdomens are not designed to be flat, and genetics and diet have a huge influence on the shape of your pot belly. This article will try to shed a little light on these concepts.

The reality is that most exercises we do for the stomach reduction don't work very well by themselves. The idea that we can eat all we want of whatever we want and then do 250 crunches to compensate will lead to frustration. Stomach exercises such as crunches don't last long enough to burn many calories since they can be completed in a few minutes and it takes extended periods of exercise to burn calories. These spot reduction exercises ignore the fact that our abdomens are5B4 not designed to be flat.

Nature has gifted us with abdomens that are naturally round. The muscles that make up the abdomen area are affected by the genetic makeup of our heritage and the fitness level of our body. As we age, we tend to become rounder as our muscles soften and relax. Men tend to become apple shaped with advancing years while women will become more pear shaped. A deciding factor of the amount of belly we develop is the matter of posture.

Our posture will contribute to looking taller and slimmer or rounder and plumper. Poor posture will contribute a great deal to the round abdomen. A straight back, head up and balanced, not leaning forward, and shoulders held back are all part of a good posture that will slim and strengthen your bearing. The real key to a flatter stomach is proper diet and exercise.

About 80 per cent of the effort to reduce your tummy is diet with the other 20 per cent of the effort focused on exercise. Over all body weight reduction will result in a slimmer stomach as well. A well balanced diet of proper portions accompanied by the aerobic exercise will reduce your over all body weight and firm and strengthen your muscles.

A successful effort to achieve those wash board abs will include much more than just doing a bunch of crunches. That is not to say that exercise will not help. Many exercises when combined with the proper calorie reduction can achieve remarkable 3B9results.

Want to trim that gut? Learn how at Stomach Exercise Info

Hidden Benefits for Stress Reduction

Stress management amazingly reflects the old saying, "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade!" It seems to me that many of us today face so many challenges, we've forgotten how to be creative in turning those sour and stress-filled situations into something considerably more palatable.

Here are some suggestions about how you can find the hidden benefits and opportunities in a stressful situation. I'll share a few things that work for me.

Finding the benefits in a frightening, overwhelming or even traumatic situation may not happen overnight, but honestly looking for them can give you a bridge back to a more balanced life.

If a lot of stress is on you at once, it may not seem easy. What you might need first is a breather, a respite, to get your head clear long enough to regroup and see the situation from a higher perspective. John-Roger, the author of many books on practical spirituality, often says, "Get the altitude."

Open Your Mind to Solutions

While you're in the thick of the stress -- the pressure at work, the squabbles at home, the nightmare pile of bills, the custody dispute or whatever -- remind yourself there are solutions. You might not be seeing them yet, up to this moment, but they are present! If you can remember to do this, form a gentle intention indicating that you are open to seeing the stressful situation in new ways. I like an affirmation I once heard from Louise Haye, "I am willing to see this differently."

Start a Solution Track in Your Mind

If I can't flip immediately to solutions, I will sometimes continue mulling over the situation, still feeling the stressful feelings. At the same time, I tell myself that I am willing to see the whole thing from a new vantage point. Sometimes I say, "I know there is a way out," "I can handle this," "I'm open to a win-win solution here," or "Who can I turn to for help in looking at this objectively?" I begin running a second, solution-oriented track in my head right alongside the worry track.

What statements help you to feel stronger and calmer? Whatever encouraging, positive words you can tell yourself will help at this point.

Take a Time Out from Stress

Another helpful step is to go where you can be undisturbed for a half hour or so, and sit quietly. You could meditate or pray. You could also follow the homespun wisdom of Mark Twain who said, "Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits." Alternatively, a twenty minute walk or getting busy with practical chores could help clear your mind and allow creative solutions to emerge.

Whatever you do to free up room for clarity and potential answers, this is a time to trust that solutions are arriving! If you are not quite having grand "Aha's" or stress reducing revelations yet, relax and be patient. Enjoy your walk, your fresh laundry, or your quiet moments alone.

Make Lemonade!

Next, let your logical mind go to work on making lemonade! After your time out, turn your situation every which way in your mind.

Look at it from the viewpoint of each player to understand where they're coming from.

Look at what you hope for in terms of an outcome.

Look objectively at how you got into this stressful mess; sometimes you can back out the same way you came in!

Look at the apparent obstacles.

Find the Hidden Benefits

Now look at those obstacles with an eye to discovering the hidden benefits, blessings or opportunities in the situation. Do you see in the stress situation some possibilities for learning and personal growth? Is it stretching you to the max?

In my experience, when you stop resisting and decide to cooperate with learning as much as you can possibly learn from this, it will suddenly seem less stressful.

Do you observe a teaching moment with your kids? Then you have an opportunity to share your concerns, or to lovingly set new limits so that you all learn together. Once your decision is made, stress notches down.

Do you experience a major loss on one hand, yet freedom for new directions on the other? You may need to grieve, but be aware that new possibilities will be available down the road. There's a light at the end of your stress tunnel.

Rather than saying, "This is terrible," talk to yourself about the positive potential in the situation. "I can use this challenge to learn and grow." "I can see how this will make my kid more mature." "I don't at all like having to deal with this flood, but we'll have a much nicer home after redoing the floors and walls.

Reframing

The technical term for making lemonade is "reframing." How you talk or think profoundly affects how you feel. How you think and feel impacts your health and can aggravate or alleviate symptoms of stress. So taking a negative, stressful circumstance and reframing it to find the positive potential within is a powerful stress reduction strategy.

When you define the a stressful event or circumstance as having some value and purpose, you will feel empowered, experiencing less stress and more inner peace! Acting on the solutions as you perceive them will lead to practical problem solving success -- until life dishes out the next batch of lemons!

In the long term, you might want to make a habit of opening your mind to solutions, starting solution tracks in your mind, taking frequent time outs, and "making lemonade" for ongoing, everyday stress 588reduction!

If long term stress reduction is a goal, come on over and sign up for my free Simple Stress Solutions newsletter at http://www.powerofpersonalpeace.com/optin.htm

Or check out my e-book, The Power of Personal Peace: Reducing Stress by Loving Yourself from the Inside Out at http://www.powerofpersonalpeace.com/info.htm

Dr. Ilenya Marrin is a personal peace coach, spiritual counselor, author and inspirational speaker blending principles of holistic psychology and practical spirituality to help you love yourself into less stress and joyful success!

What You Need to Know About Home Fitness Equipment

Home fitness equipment is a great idea for those wanting to improve their overall conditioning, lose a bit of weight, or just tone their bodies. There are many different options for home fitness equipment on the market today and all seem to promise magical and amazing results with just five or ten minutes of workout time per day.

In reality, weight loss, toning or building muscle requires several different components and will always require consistent, sustained effort on the part of the person involved i.e you! Advertisements and infomercials that try to indicate otherwise are misleading at best, and completely fraudulent at worst. According to leading health and fitness experts, the only way to improve cardiovascular performance, lose weight or tone your body is to eat optimally, exercise regularly and consistently, and to challenge your body to improve muscle tone and health.

Buying home fitness equipment can be challenging and costly, so knowing what you are trying to accomplish with your fitness goals is critical before you make a purchase. Keep in mind what you need the fitness equipment to do, so you buy the machines or devices that will help you reach your goals. Weight loss will require both cardio and strength training, toning will require strength as well as limited cardio, and muscle development or body building will require specific, increasingly challenging weight designed to work particular muscles of the body. Using the wrong type of home fitness equipment in your workout will only lead to frustration and disappointment in your results.

Not all home fitness equipment fits everyone, despite what the infomercials state. If you are planning to invest in some of the more costly types of home gym equipment, be sure to try it out at a retail store or sports store before actually buying it. All equipment is designed for average height and weight adults, so people that are heavier, lighter, taller or shorter than the average may find even the most expensive home gyms and equipment simply don't fit their body. In addition, remember that most home equipment does not have the same safety features as some of the commercially available equipment and is not recommended for use by children or even young teens.

There are many advantages to having your own workout equipment right at home. It is easy to use, convenient, plus you may find time to work out in between activities at home that you would never be able to work into your schedule if you had to go to the gym. One final tip: consider looking around at used home fitness equipment if you are trying to set up an exercise space on a limited budget.

Terry Roberts is a professional translator and linguist, with a wide range of interests. To read more about home fitness equipment, and home fitness in general, please visit his website: Home Fitness Now.

Shifting the Paradigm of Knowledge

Much is written about knowledge being power and that is still true. Yet, if individuals and businesses in todays knowledge driven economy truly wish to be successful a shift is required to being able to apply knowledge.

One of the most frequent challenges that I hear from potential and current clients whether they are small business owners or multi-billion dollar corporations is implementation or the inability to take action. These individuals have a tremendous wealth of knowledge, yet their efforts are brought to a screeching halt because of the inability to implement or to apply knowledge.

The question then arises how do you bridge this challenge. From my experiences this answer is two-fold. First, individuals nB2Feed to change their belief systems that knowledge is power to applied knowledge is power. This is not easy because of the F.E.A.R. (false evidence appearing real) of failure. No one likes to fail. . However, to improve our performance (the application of knowledge) requires us to learn from our past mistakes and to move forward. John Maxwell provides great insight into overcoming the fear of failure in his book entitled Failing Forward.

Secondly, a process needs to exist to ensure that the knowledge is applied. From my perspective, I recommend goal planning and goal achievement through a proven tool. This tool, a goal sheet, takes the knowledge and provides both a structure and a process to implement or to take action. Many individuals have a long list of dreams and goals, but far fewer consistently achieve their hopes and desires.

With the end of the year coming to an end, possibly now is the time to assess if you need to shift your paradigm to one where applied knowledge has greater power. If you havent achieved your goals or dreams from taking that cruise to increasing sales by 50%, then ask yourself is this because of a lack of knowledge or because of the inability to apply knowledge?

Copyright 2005(c) Leanne Hoagland-Smith, www.processspecialist.com

This article may be freely published. Permission to publish this article, electronically or in print, as long as the bylines are included, with a live link, and the article is not changed in any way (grammatical corrections accepted).

Leanne Hoagland-Smith, M.S. CEO of ADVANCED SYSTEMS located outside of Chicago, IL, is the Learning & Process Specialist. With over 25 years of business & education experience, she helps her clients to double their performance. By uniting systems, strategies and people to create loyal internal customers, Leanne delivers ROI solutions in 4 key areas: financials, leadership, relationships and growth & innovation within a variety of industries including education, healthcare, manufacturing and professional services. As co-author of M.A.G.I.C.A.L. Potential: 7 Capacities for Living an Amazing Life Beyond Purpose to Achievement due for 2005 release, Leanne speaks nationally to a variety of audiences. Please contact Leanne at 219.759.5601 or visit http://www.processspecialist.com if you are seeking to connect your passion to your purpose to double your performance for unheard of results.

Why Intelligence Increasing Techniques Work

The 21st century has seen the advent of many so-called "intelligence increasing" techniques. These techniques have been purported to lead to intelligence gains of as little as 5-10 points, but all the way up to 30-40 IQ points gains for major techniques.

The most popular techniques in use today are image streaming, wave streaming, brain harmonics and pseudo telekinesis, though there are many others which are just as effective and can suit your lifestyle. Each technique has its distinct advantages, where some lead to increases in concentration and focus, others are more favorable towards intuition, creativity and inspiration generation.

The reason why these techniques work are several fold. First, the intelligence increase arises from the subconscious mind which lies within us. The genius of today is merely a result of increased connections to this subconscious foundation to let the genius come to us. The subconscious itself is the area of our minds which is always at work to give us what we plant into it. It also contains the solutions to any problem that we have, so is excellent for problem solving and creativity increase.

The second reason why intelligence techniques work, is because it natural for us to be the best that we can be, because we already have the best things within us in the unconscious. Therefore it is impossible for us not to achieve the best, when we allow it to flow through to us. We can therefore increase our intelligence into the stratosphere, and become a Universal Genius who achieves all their dreams with flying colors.

So in essence, the secret to genius lies on the fact that we have a subconscious and unconscious mind within us. We merely need to link with these and allow their secrets to pass through to us and fulfill our dreams on our behalf.

The author has increased his IQ to over 180, using the techniques he has created and perfected throughout his life. Visit http://www.geniusintelligence.com for more information on how to increase your intelligence and achieve the genius of your dreams.

You Won't Get It, Until You Know What It Is

The biggest frustration amongst people seems to be not having what they want in life.

Yet they have exactly what they wished for.

Your mind is like a powerful computer. Much more powerful than anything man made that exists today. The purpose of your mind is to provide the outcome that is programmed into it, by you. It will always give you the programmed result - that is a law of nature.

And this is where the trouble starts.

Most of us have no idea how to effectively program this computer, and those that do, program it with ineffective programs more often than not.

Do you realize that the only difference between your success and that of say a Donald Trump or a Bill Gates, is the way that they think.

Whether they did it consciously or not, their thought patterns follow a set of guidelines that led them to the success that they enjoy. These patterns are burnt into their minds, and they will not alter them for anything. It is who they are. Like them or not, they are effective in their chosen fields.

So what does this have to do with you, and more importantly, can you use this knowledge for your own good.

Well the short answer is Yes.

You can use this knowledge, and are actually doing so every single day.

Your life is exactly as your mind thinks and reacts to circumstances on a continuous basis right now. So the good news is that you are already doing it, you cannot help yourself, it is human nature.

The bad news is that the thought patterns you have running in your mind, are not giving you the results you consciously want. They are giving you the results that you have programmed into your mind, mostly subconsciously.

This is why goal setting can be so important. With a clear goal in mind, your thought processes will at least be aligned in some direction most of the time. This can and does make a huge difference to your results.

Lets use the computer program analogy once more.

A computer will process information based on a specific set of rules and criteria. That is basically what a computer software program does. If you have a program that says if A happens, always do B, you get a predetermined predictable result. You know that a certain input will give you a specific output.

With our minds, not having a goal is like saying, if A happens, do B , or C or D or whatever strikes your fancy. The result is confusion and wasted energy. Spinning around without going anywhere.

Now life presents us with A today, B tomorrow, an C,D,A the next day. If you however have a set of actions ready for whenever A happens (by having a set goal) you automatically move toward your desired outcome every time A occurs. You might not have moved far, but you did move a small amount toward your goal, every time A happens.

At least you are moving in a certain direction, that you have predetermined, by simply deciding what you actually want, and then setting a goal to get there.

Goal setting is a huge topic, and not quite as simple as described. It is however very worthwhile, and just may make the difference between contentment and a life of frustration.

So find out what you want and why, then work towards that goal.

Kevin is the publisher and editor of besuccessfulnews.com, a site that provides information and articles on how to succeed in your own home or small business.

You Won't Get It, Until You Know What It Is

The biggest frustration amongst people seems to be not having what they want in life.

Yet they have exactly what they wished for.

Your mind is like a powerful computer. Much more powerful than anything man made that exists today. The purpose of your mind is to provide the outcome that is programmed into it, by you. It will always give you the programmed result - that is a law of nature.

And this is where the trouble starts.

Most of us have no idea how to effectively program this computer, and those that do, program it with ineffective programs more often than not.

Do you realize that the only difference between your success and that of say a Donald Trump or a Bill Gates, is the way that they think.

Whether they did it consciously or not, their thought patterns follow a set of guidelines that led them to the success that they enjoy. These patterns are burnt into their minds, and they will not alter them for anything. It is who they are. Like them or not, they are effective in their chosen fields.

So what does this have to do with you, and more importantly, can you use this knowledge for your own good.

Well the short answer is Yes.

You can use this knowledge, and are actually doing so every single day.

Your life is exactly as your mind thinks and reacts to circumstances on a continuous basis right now. So the good news is that you are already doing it, you cannot help yourself, it is human nature.

The bad news is that the thought patterns you have running in your mind, are not giving you the results you consciously want. They are giving you the results that you have programmed into your mind, mostly subconsciously.

This is why goal setting can be so important. With a clear goal in mind, your thought processes will at least be aligned in some direction most of the time. This can and does make a huge difference to your results.

Lets use the computer program analogy once more.

A computer will process information based on a specific set of rules and criteria. That is basically what a computer software program does. If you have a program that says if A happens, always do B, you get a predetermined predictable result. You know that a certain input will give you a specific output.

With our minds, not having a goal is like saying, if A happens, do B , or C or D or whatever strikes your fancy. The result is confusion and wasted energy. Spinning around without going anywhere.

Now life presents us with A today, B tomorrow, an C,D,A the next day. If you however have a set of actions ready for whenever A happens (by having a set goal) you automatically move toward your desired outcome every time A occurs. You might not have moved far, but you did move a small amount toward your goal, every time A happens.

At least you are moving in a certain direction, that you have predetermined, by simply deciding what you actually want, and then setting a goal to get there.

Goal setting is a huge topic, and not quite as simple as described. It is however very worthwhile, and just may make the difference between contentment and a life of frustration.

So find out what you want and why, then work towards that goal.

Kevin is the publisher and editor of besuccessfulnews.com, a site that provides information and articles on how to succeed in your own home or small business.

Common Thinking Errors

There are certain mindsets or points of view that can be counter-productive to good communication. These errors in thinking, and if taken to the extreme, can inhibit both personal growth and growth in relationships. Here is the list:

1. All or nothing thinking: You see th514ings in extremes, everything is black or white. This can be obvious or subtle for example saying 'He is always late, but I never get angry over it'. This mindset can be that of the perfectionist also.

2. Minimizing or catastrophizing: You exaggerate the importance of small things. 'The entire meal was ruined because the desert was not served promptly.' Is this a catastrophe? An example of minimizing is taking a significant issue or event and reducing its importance so it appears inconsequential. People often do this so as not to have to deal with uncomfortable emotions or consequences.

3. Overgeneralization: You take a single event and draw general conclusions that it is universally true. If your date is late you say 'All men/women are always late'.

4. Minimizing or qualifying the positive: If someone says you did a good job, you respond by saying 'I could have done better'.

5. Jumping to conclusions: This one is pretty self explanatory. You make a negative interpretation even though there are no definite facts that really support your conclusion. 'My boss didn't say Hi this morning, I'm in big trouble.' 'My girlfriend isn't home, she's cheating on me.'

6. Mind reading: Couples are often guilty of this, if he/she loved me they would know what I want.5B4 You arbitrarily conclude that someone is reacting in a negative way to you and don't bother to check it out. 'I know what you're thinking.'

7. Should and must statements: These are shame generators. "Musts" and "oughts" are also offenders. This can be the product of inflexible and rigid thinking. 'I must not let them see me cry.' 'I should have been there'. The emotional consequence of failure to adhere to the rule is shame and guilt. When you direct should statements toward others, you are setting up unrealistic expectations and if they don't behave they way they 'should' anger and resentment result.

9. Emotional Reasoning: While your feelings are valid, and they are your own, they do not necessarily reflect fact. Being frustrated at not being able to accomplish a task does not mean your are dumb. Feeling hopelessness does not mean you are hopeless.

10. Personalization: You see yourself as the cause of some negative event for which, in fact, you were not really responsible. Your loan application is not approved; it does not mean the loan officer had it in for you. Your daughter does not get asked to the prom does not mean you are a poor mother.

While all of us may be guilty of some of these mindsets, the danger is when they become a persistent view of your self, others and the world around you.

Tell4A7 your story! Pick up tips and tricks to help in addiction recovery and enhance your life free of addictions. Join our growing community. The author, Bill Urell MA.CAAP-II, is an addictions therapist at a leading drug treatment center. He teaches healthy life styles and life skills. Visit: http://AddictionRecoveryBasics.com

Face Personal Challenges

1. Every day, try to free yourself from the desire for perfection and allow your confidence to grow. It was the Buddhist Lama Yeshe who said, Self-confidence is not a feeling of superiority, but of independence. That is an important point to remember: that you do not feel good because you are better than someone else. You feel good purely because of your own efforts and achievements. Confidence is not puffed up, arrogant, selfish or boastful. It is a quiet and unmistakable authority which motivates and inspires others. Self-confidence comes from being challenged to ones limits, meeting the challenges, having a sense of fulfilment and then setting new limits. We can only learn by admitting we dont know everything, and never will.

As another Buddhist advises, Be light, humorous, eager to learn, courageous to change and not afraid of making mistakes. Emotionally beating yourself u167Cp is not helping you or the world; it does not change the past nor does it change the future. It only makes the present miserable. Absolutely.

2. Perseverance
This quality will make a big difference to your life, so please bear it in mind. Do not not expect everything to happen at once or overnight, but it should not take too long either. Life is a journey, not a series of unconnected events. If you treat it as such, you will always be ready for the unexpected pit stop. You will accept that life will go on for you, with every day being a different one, until you dont exist anymore. The extent to which you enjoy and benefit from your life depends on the state in which you make that journey, whether you are positive or negative, an optimist or a pessimist.

Having off-days in emotions, when you have to recharge to face the next day or hurdle, is absolutely fine too. Dont fall into despair just because your mood changes and you feel overwhelmed, sad or anxious at any particular time. We are not machines. The off-days are as important for recharging those emotional batteries as the good days. Its when every day is an off-day that life is truly problematic. If your self-esteem is consistently low, or youve tried confidence remedies and there is no improvement at all, it might be worth seeking professional help. It could be that you never really developed a high opinion of yourself during your childhood and you now lack a firm, positive base to build on in appreciating yourself as a valid, but flawed, extraordinary human being.

3. Take Risks
If you have a problem or worry, it means it is time for change and something needs to be done differently. If you do not change, you will keep getting the same old problem. Always approach new experiences as opportunities to learn and develop rather than occasions to merely win or lose. Doing so presents new possibilities for your abilities which can increase your sense of self-worth, while providing opportunities to release that inner talent and reserve. Its always the challenge of the new, and the act of accepting these challenges at varying levels, which increase our self-confidence. Not doing so turns every possibility into a projected failure and inhibits personal growth.

For example, as I encourage contributions and opinions from our small office of four staff, it is often like a mad inventors studio where we have many ideas for the business every week, while accepting that only few will ever work. The main outcome is that everyone has a sense of ownership and responsibility for every aspect of their work, making even the most junior worker feel significant. The beauty is to give room for those thoughts, to take the risks which seem realistic, and to wait. The right ones will always work, though perhaps not in the way we expect, or the time expected. Doing nothing simply brings us nothing.

4. Dont Be Defeated
If at first you dont succeed, try something else. Everyone fails before they succeed. Think back to when you were a baby and learning to walk. You crawled first, then you stood up in an unsteady way, constantly landing on your bum. But repeatedly doing this improved your balance and built your confidence to take those first magical steps. Then you walked and, before long, you were running. However, there would have been many false starts and landings before you were able to run. As an adult, all you need is the same belief in, and patience with, yourself; the time to grow confidently and the determination to stick at it. By the law of averages, you will succeed in the end.

I am a living example of that with the business I created. Twelve years on, it is only just beginning to respond in the way I first envisaged because I too had to develop and grow with it. It doesnt mean I never had self-doubts, never felt foolhardy or demoralised, or not wanted to pack it in especially in the face of a lack of support and too many crises. But the success is all the more enjoyable and well earned because of the long wait, personal enjoyment and persistent self-belief involved.

How HAPPY are YOU? Try our simple HAPPINESS QUIZ to test how you feel about yourself just now. Being unhappy robs you of opportunities and success. How do you REALLY feel now?

ELAINE SIHERA (http://www.myspace.com/elaineone) is an expert author, public speaker, media contributor and lifestyle columnist. Confidential advice on personal/relationship issues is available on the quiz site. The first Black graduate of the OU and a post-graduate of Cambridge University. Elaine is a Personal Empowerment, Relationships and Diversity Consultant. Author of: 10 Easy Steps to Growing Older Disgracefully; 10 Easy Steps to Finding Your Ideal Soulmate!; Money, Sex & Compromise and Managing the Diversity Maze, among others (available on http://www.amazon.co.uk as well as her personal website). Also the founder of the British Diversity Awards and the Windrush Men and Women of the Year Achievement Awards. She describes herself as, "Fit, Fabulous and Ready to Fly!"

Easy Guide to List Building

When you own an online business, you know how important it is to be having an always-maintained build list of e-mail addresses on your server. You know as a businessman that you need these addresses to potentially market your products to them at any given time. But what if these e-mail addresses on your built list begin to wane and diminish? What actions are you going to take to make sure that your perpetual source for prospective clients remains intact and working? Well, just like any otherwise moves to take, all you have to do is to re-build the list by capturing newer and fresher addresses through your marketing strategies. To build a responsive and actively participating list, here is what you can do:

Create an E-book. E-books are a good source of e-mail addresses because people would like to just read books. What is good about writing e-book is that it does not require too much time to create one since all you have to do is put a manual books content into your e-book. If there is one thing that you should work on getting an e-book, is to ensure that the quality of the e-book does not suffer.

Write article materials. Articles do not go obsolete as a source of feedback and traffic. Day to day, there are new topics that need to be discussed and talked about. When an article material is well written primarily based on facts, people just love to react on it.

Join forum channels. People who are on forum channel utilize this area to get some answers to some of their questions or inquiries. It is best then that you join this channel and participate and direct them to your landing page for further inquiries to capture their information.

Do you want to learn more about how I do it? I have just completed my brand new guide to article marketing success, Your Article Writing and Promotion Guide

Download it free here: Secrets of Article Promotion

Sean Mize is a full time internet marketer who has written over 1574 articles in print and 11 published ebooks.

Brahmacharya

Brahmacharya is the fourth of the yamas and the word, literally translated means dedicated to the Divinity of Life. The word is often used in yogic practice to refer to celibacy or denying pleasure, but this is only a small part of what Brahmacharya represents. The purpose of practicing Brahmacharya is to keep you focused on your purpose in life, the things that instill a feeling of peace and contentment

Historically, Brahamacharya as celibacy w5B4as likely a product of teaching yoga to young men, whose desires can be difficult to harness. Unless you are living the ascetic life of a sadhu, chances are you will indulge in sexual pleasure, food pleasure or any number of possible treats. To bring brahmacharya into your life and yoga practice is to practice moderation in all things, including those things that are pleasurable distractions.

When we become hooked on pleasure, it becomes an addiction and the absence of pleasure feels like loss or dissatisfaction; we become unable to enjoy the simple happiness of life, to observe the quiet broad beauty of our minds - slowing down becomes difficult because the focus becomes the object of addiction. Practicing moderation allows us to enjoy pleasure and remain focused on our greater purpose. . How does this relate to asana practice? Sometimes yoga students push themselves in yoga practice, creating a sense of urgency, correctness (am I doing this pose well?) and anxiety. This can leave a student feeling exhausted at the end of their practice rather than feeling relaxed or refreshed and ready for purposeful action off the mat.

It is important to apply moderation to moderation also, so it is not a burden. It is a beautiful practice. It is about moderating the extremes, not wanting too much and being happy with what you have. The practice of Wanting Wanting Wanting will always leave you feeling unsatisfied.

Brahmachar4BEya can bring out many issues and energies as you begin to observe moderation - our addictions and ego rebel strenuously when they are not in control. When they arise, notice what the issues are, go deeper into your practice and discover your true motivations.

Ask yourself what is your purpose in your yoga practice? What are your goals in yoga and do you allow space in your practice to reach those goals?

In yoga,

Jenn

Napoleon Hill

Journey To Your Heart's Desire

Have you decided yet what kind of life you want to experience? Do you know? Responsibilities of life can make you feel disconnected from yourself and leave little time to really think about the direction of your life. There are ways to figure out what you really want in your life. You are going to need a little courage and it will take some work and patience.

To start with, you need to be clear about what you want. What does your heart tell you? It seems really simple to answer this question, yet a large portion of the population would not be able to say what they really want. It is really hard to be specific. Do you think this describes you right now? Believe it or not, you really do already know how you want your journey to unfold. It seems logical to know what you want, since it is you and who has known you longer than you? Let's just say that deep inside where it's a little scary to go, you may not be fully aware of your desires. Hang on, you will shortly.

The journey to your heart's desire can begin with these simple steps:

What dreams did you have when you were younger? Think about those and expand on the themes5B4. Fantasizing about how your life could be is a good way to wake up your inner voice. Make the dreams even bigger than you think is possible. Feel the satisfaction and joy the reality of your biggest dreams can bring. Can you feel you're on the right path now?

Silence is golden, so it is said. Did you know you could gain great energy and balance from spending quiet time with your own thoughts? Here is another way to listen to your inner voice. This voice is what guides you through your journey in this life. The voice isn't one you can hear with your physical ears. This is the voice that makes you know beyond doubt when something is real. It causes your heart to stir and brings harmony to your body, mind and spirit.

Your thoughts can be productive in a couple of different ways. When your mind seems unfocused, just go with the process. This will allow your imagination to be creative and just play. Don't force your thoughts into any particular direction. Just go with the flow. A lot of times when you do this in a relaxed manner, insights will come to you that you never expected. Another way to have a productive brain session is to start writing down everything that comes to your mind. Make a list of your skills, abilities, experiences, hobbies and everything you ever wanted to do but never had a chance to do or just never got around to it.

These are just a few of the processes you can use to f555ind out what it is you really want in life. Ask yourself this. In a perfect world without limits where you had every opportunity, what is your life about? When you can answer this question, you will know your heart's desire.

Robin Skeen

www.robinskeen.com

Robin lives in the lovely state of Ohio, USA. She is a freelance writer and her website contains her reflections on inspired personal growth - transforming body, mind and spirit so you can live your best life NOW! To find out more, visit today. Free reports and eBooks are added on a regular basis.

Anthony De Mello

The Power of Forgiveness

We live in a crazy, high demanding lifestyle and overly connected world, during our day to day rat race that we call our lives, we may step on a few toes, anger a few associates, upset a friend and maybe do something that makes most men sleep in the dog house that evening.

How many of us have been down that road?

When was the last time you thought about forgiving someone? Forgiveness is an important part of life, not only in the business world, but in our personal lives as well. When you forgive a colleague, associate or loved one for their wrong doings against you, it will really set you free. Many times especially in business someone does something to make you upset; it could be an employee, a client, a friend, business partner or just the courier guy. Can you imagine back to how you felt when those feelings were happening. Was your blood boiling? Did you notice your temperature going up? Did you lose your lose focus on what you are doing? Were the feelings of anger taking over and was that the only thing you could concentrate on.

Usually overtime, cooler heads prevail and you can begin to focus of your role, your job or the things that really matter in your life. Have you heard the old saying, write the letter but dont mail it, or draft up the email and put it in your drafts if it feels right in 24 hours then you can send it. However, if it doesnt and the feelings of frustration having surpassed, you can simply delete the message from your drafts, no harm, and no foul.

When you offer up forgiveness to the party that wronged you, or the employee that made the error that lost the big deal, or the client that left you and didnt have all the facts together, you begin the healing process of letting go.   Another area we fail to realize is important when it comes to forgiveness is to forgive those that should have done something but failed to do it. I am sure it has happened to you in the past when you were expecting a friend or a loved one to come to your aid or rescue and in your time of need and they simply failed to show up. You need to forgive those people in your life. Go ahead dump all that emotional garbage and forgive those people that who simply failed to show up in your time of need. We hold onto that for way to long.

The other over looked area of forgiveness, you need to learn to forgive yourself. How much personal pain are we carrying around? How many times do we fail to forgive ourselves? Small Business owners and people in general are their worst critics, this thinking really limits your abilities and most importantly what you can achieve. You must learn to forgive yourself for your own shortcomings and get on with what matters the most.

Forgiveness is a very powerful force in the universe, not being able to extend your forgiveness to others for what they have done to you, what they have failed to do and most important forgiving yourself will limit your growth both as a person and as a professional. Let go of the baggage that you have been hauling around and weighs you down! Get that monkey off your back and lighten up, focus to your success and you will succeed.

Stuart Crawford is the Director of Business Development for IT Matters Inc., Calgary, Albertas award winning Microsoft Small Business Specialist. He can be reached at scrawford@itmatters.ca or via their website http://www.itmatters.ca Stuart just released his second book for the Small Business IT industry entitled Do you have IT? Get it online today at http://www.doyouhaveitbook.com

Socrates

Why Vitamin C Increases Muscle Gains

Do you sometimes feel your intensity and/or energy levels are going down? Your diet is good, you drink enough water, all other things seams to be perfect but for some reason you lack energy you had just recently. Symptoms of weakness and tiredness are very disturbing but worse of all, very much destructive for all building muscle mass attempts we may have. Good news here! Vitamin C is the answer. Muscle weakness is a common symptom of vitamin C deficiency.

Research showed valuable data. Functions of ascorbic acid indicate that any strength athlete needs to be consuming more than the RDA (recommended dietary allowance) because it has several functions that are important for building strength and muscle mass. Vitamin C is needed for maintaining the strength of tendons and ligaments but also it is essential for the adrenaline synthesis (the hormone crucial for intense training).

Physical training increases oxidative damage to cells in muscle tissue in our body. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that reduces the amount of oxidative damage caused by exercise. Proper amount of vitamin C ensures a lower release of cortisol. Why this cortisol thing is important? Being a catabolic hormone it does serve in other ways but its presence in the muscles promote excessive breakdown of muscle tissue. Therefore, lower secretion of this hormone should provide faster 5ADrecovery and better performance. But here is a problem: vitamin C is not of the stable structure and it can not be stored it in our bodies. Therefore we need sufficient amounts of vitamin C everyday. You may know that RDA for vitamin C is 60mg/day. However, recent studies in people that are not athletes suggest that a good intake is more likely to be around 200mg/day. And if you saw ours (or any other good) nutrition calculator you already know it is not too difficult to arrange. 8-ounce glass of orange juice will provide you with around 100mgs of vitamin C.

But it is very difficult to know the right amount your body will need. I must say it wouldn't hurt to supplement with an additional 250-500mgs a couple of times a day particularly if you are already feeling the "down phase" symptoms. I always take an extra 500mg dose with breakfast and before I train just to be sure. To conclude, vitamin C isn't advertised and glorified as so many "big" supplement labels. Smart and complete exercise - diet program contains perfect balance of all important elements for muscular development like Vitamin C. Fresh sources of the vitamin C like orange juice or lemonade are best in the sense. Adding extra vitamin C by supplementing your diet for most of us is necessary but not so effective without complete approach.

You can build up Massive and Strong Body fast, without risking your health. Sasa's advices saved time, money and good health to many Athletes. His dedication, profound experience and personal example are causing the difference. Feel free to visit his web page , claim your Free e-Book's and Video's and learn more on Fast Massive Muscle Building.

Natural Body Building Contests - Natural Body Building Contest Preparation Tips For Amateurs

Natural body building contests are a great place for amateurs to start showing off their muscular physiques. However, there are some tips that must be borne in mind. This article will reveal natural body building contest prep tips for amateurs and people just starting out.

As a start, it is a good idea to actually watch some contests before you decide to enter one yourself. The reason for that is you will be able to see for yourself how contestants put their programs together and how the winners stand out from the other competitors. It's a good idea to take note of the music they use, the tempo of the music and the poses that they make. If you are able to, ask questions.

There is a lot that can be done as contest prep as much as six months to a year before the competition is set down. It takes a lot of commitment and if you are not sure you can follow through then it is best not to try.

About a year to six months before the contest have a good look at yourself in the mirror and look at where you need more muscle definition. Contestants are showing their muscular physique as best as they are able to sculpt it. It is important to have as little body fat as possible, with strong, cut muscles throughout the body.

Your music choice is also important. Ultimately your routine will either stand out from the crowd or be a routine they've seen hundreds of times before. Your music choice should help you choose your poses and your pace.

The body building clothing you perform in is also vital to showing off your physique. Be sure to choose tasteful but revealing clothes. Ultimately speedos for men and a bikini for women are ideal. Also be sure that the clothing you wear in flattering, a color that suits you and is extremely comfortable and not restrictive.

It is a good idea when you are practicing your routine or playing around with it that you have a third party video tape it for you so that you can watch it critically. It is also a good idea to have someone you trust watch it with you also for competing views.

In the lead up to your competition you also need to pay strict attention to your workout and diet plan. There is no time to slacken off when getting ready for a contest. You must be persistent and consistent and ultimately your hard work will pay off.

There are a large number of contests that you can enter as a body building. Not only are there local competitions but there are also national body building contests that can be extremely competitive and gruelling so start at a local level and work your way up as your experience increases.

A ripped, cut, perfectly sculpted body is worth showing off. To learn how to perfect your body even further check out the website below where I compare the best body building programs and put them to the test.

Copyright 2007. Body builders are spending a fortune on body building products that just dont work. Thats why I put the so-called best body-building products to the test. Not all body building weight training products are created equally, nor do they live up to the amazing results that they promise. The shocking truth is exposed at my body building weight training review site. Only go with body building weight training products that you trust. To find out more go to http://www.body-building-natural.blogspot.com.

How to Gain Weight and Build More Muscle!

For many thin guys around the world, gaining weight without using illegal steroids has been a challenge. For thousands of lean young men, the dream is to gain weight, but no matter how much they eat they remain thin. Some people are naturally thin; that means their genetic makeup is in such a way that the body burns more calories than others. The very basic method of weight gain is to eat more calories than your body burns off. By providing the body with more calories, this balance can be altered and body mass can be increased. Weight training is of great importance in this context, which enables the body to absorb more nutrients from the food by increasing the level of certain hormones and increasing the muscle mass.

There are many incorrect beliefs and theories bout building muscle. The type of food to be eaten is an important factor which decides the type of weight gained, whether it is muscle mass or mere accumulation of fat. Some types of calories are not equal to others for gaining muscle; because most processed junk food contains empty, totally nutritionless calories. These foods promote accelerated fat Storage, and do not provide the body with the correct nutrients essential for gaining muscle. High quality protein, which the body breaks down into amino acids, should be the centerpiece of all your meals. Intense exercise increases demand for amino acids, which support muscle repair and growth.

Another factor is the selection of the right type of weight training. Resistance exercises will help with muscle growth. Whereas aerobic exercises can result in the reduction of weight. For maximum muscle gain, the focus of your workouts should consist of free weight exercises, rather than machines or bodyweight exercises. To get a very effective workout, you must stimulate as many muscle fibers as possible, and machines do not do this. The main reason for this is a lack of stabilizer and synergist muscle development. Stabilizer and synergist muscles are supporting muscles that assist the main muscle in performing a complex lift.

The results of weight training can vary from person to person, and will usually depend on your consistency and commitment to your program. You should have the patience and motivation for building a powerful body with a consistent diet and exercise schedule.

Exercise Guidelines for building muscle:

Weight training involves the use of equipment that enables variable resistance. This resistance can come in the form of free weights like barbells and dumbbells, machines that use cables or pulleys to help you lift the weight, and bodyweight exercises like pull-ups or dips. The more stabilizers and synergists you work, the more muscle fibers stimulated. The exercises that work the large muscle groups are called compound (or multi-joint) movements that involve the simultaneous stimulation of many muscle groups. These compound exercises should be the Foundation of any weight training program because they stimulate the most amount of muscle in the least amount of time. Multi-jointed free weight exercises like the bench press require many stabilizer and synergistic muscle assistance to complete the lift.

Free weight exercises like the dumbbell press or squat put a very large amount of stress on supporting muscle groups. You will get fatigued faster and not be able to lift as much weight as you did on the machine. But you will gain more muscle, become stronger very quickly and have a true gauge of your strength.

If you use machines in your program, they should be used to work isolated areas and only after all multi-jointed exercises have been completed. Beginners should begin with a limited combination of machine exercises, bodyweight exercises and multi-jointed free weight exercises. Before increasing the weight levels, they should work on becoming familiar with the proper form and execution of each.

The following are some proven basic exercises to encourage muscle and strength gain unlike any other exercises.

Bench Presses - works the chest, shoulders, triceps

Overhead Presses - shoulders, triceps

Pull-ups/Barbell Rows - back, bicep

Squats - legs, lower back

Dead lifts - legs, back, shoulders

Bar Dips -shoulders, chest, arms

To build mass, you must weight train with heavy weights. To consider a weight heavy, you should only be able to do a maximum of 4-8 reps before your muscles temporarily fail. A weight is considered 'light' if you can do more than 15 reps before muscle fatigue sets in. Heavy weights stimulate more muscle fibers than lighter weights which result in more muscle growth. Heavy weight training puts a huge strain on your body, so adequate rest and recuperation after your workouts is essential.

Eating guidelines for building muscle:

A high protein diet is an inevitable part of any weight training programme, importantly, protein derived from animal sources. Proteins you need to be concerned with are those found in whey, casein (cottage cheese), eggs, beef, poultry, and fish. Soy protein, tofu and bean curd are some alternatives. Eating the right amount of foods consistently will force your body to grow beyond what you may think possible. The diet also should contain an adequate amount of carbohydrates (potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, oatmeal, cream of wheat, cream of rice, rice, beans, bread, pasta, all cereals) and fat. Green leafy vegetables and fruits also should be included.

When you train with weights, you should eat a minimum of 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight. You also must have protein at every meal. To enable your body to actually assimilate and use the all the calories you will ingest, you have to reduce your meal size and increase your meal frequency. Splitting your calories into smaller, more frequent portions will enable food absorption and utilization of nutrients.

During the past 20 years there have been great developments in the scientific understanding of the role of nutrition in health and physical performance. Studies shown that adequate dietary carbohydrate should be ingested (55-60% of total energy intake) so that training intensity can be maintained. Excess dietary saturated fat can exacerbate coronary artery disease; however, low-fat diets result in a reduction in circulating testosterone. So the balance between protein, carbohydrate and fat should be maintained.

So the focus on weight gain programmes must be on two components, lifting heavy weights, which will stimulate the largest amount of muscle fibers. Your body responds to this stimulus by increasing your muscle mass and secondly eat more calories than your body is used to. When you overload your system with plenty of protein and fats, your body has no other choice but to gain weight.

A Mass Gaining program is incomplete without the timely measurements to monitor your progress. Without it, you won't know how exactly your body is responding to your diet and training routine. Just looking in the mirror and guessing is not acceptable. If you want to start getting great results, you must develop the habit of accurately tracking your progress. This also provides the motivation to continue with the weight gain schedule and for the further progression. So even though you have a very thin body type, and havent been able to gain weight no matter what you try, you will definitely succeed with a well planned weight gain programme.

References:

1) http://www.fastmusclegain.com/part1eating.htm

2) http://www.fastmusclegain.com/part2weights.htm

3) http://www.fastmusclegain.com/part3muscle.htm

4) http://www.fastmusclegain.com/part4suppl.htm

5) http://www.fastmusclegain.com/part5monitor.htm

6) http://www.skinnyguy.net/tips.html

7) Lambert CP, Frank LL, Evans WJ. Macronutrient considerations for the sport of bodybuilding. Sports Med. 2004;34(5):317-27

Former "skinny guy" Anthony Ellis is the author of Gaining Mass. The most widely used weight gain program in the world. This unique program designed to help people gain weight and build muscle, is currently being used in over 90 countries. For more information on how to gain weight and build muscle, check out his website at http://www.fastmusclegain.com