Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day!

Turn Criticism Into Power

Have you ever been told something that truly hurt your feelings? Have you ever been criticized and it stopped you in your progress? Have you become paralyzed from taking action because of fear of being told unpleasant things? Most everyone hates to be told negative things about themselves, yet with a fresh perspective and by adopting some empowering beliefs, you can change your life in a very positive way.

We all want words of praise and encouragement, yet sometimes we get criticized. Criticism can be painful, yet you can change your beliefs and plan of action when you receive it. When you do, it will make a positive change in your life forever.

"X" Is For Xtreme:

The ABC's Of a Great Life

No that's not a typo or a "fudge" to fit something into the "X" slot that doesn't really start with the letter itself. There is a marked difference in our cultural lexicon between "extreme" and "Xtreme." "Extreme" is a respectable word, true enough, meaning over the top, to the limit or as far as you can go. But many people, especially sports fanatics, have coined the term "Xtreme" as a way of describing something that goes beyond the extreme and into the realm of sheer potential and possibility, that goes beyond the proscribed limits, that pushes them further than they have gone before. And there's something more, too, in the meaning of the word - a spirit of raw life lived on the edge of perfection and brilliance; the creation of a space where time slows, the mind reels and the spirit sings.

Three Steps to Greatness

Many people are looking for that one thing that will make them happy, whether it be wealth, a relationship, a new career, etc. Many people have gotten what they thought they wanted, only to find out it wasn't what they wanted at all. They search endlessly for something outside of themselves to fulfill them and give them a sense of purpose in life. They never stop to think that what they want is already within them.

If people could find a way to get out of their heads and into their hearts, and stop trying to feed the insatiable mental beast that encourages them to always go for more even at the expense of others, what a different world this would be.

If I could have just one thing, it would be for each man, woman, and child on this planet to realize the greatness that lies within them. If each person on earth truly became aware of and believed that we are one, that we come from the same Divine source, and that what we do to one we do to all including ourselves, do you think we would be so quick to pick up a gun against another?

Would we be so quick to put another down so that we may feel better about ourselves? Or might we, upon realizing the greatness of who we are, look for the greatness in others rather than what we "perceive" to be their flaws and weaknesses?

Making Change a Positive Life Experience

"Life is full of challenges. Being happy shouldn't be one of them."

Ronnie Nijmeh

 

Change is something that most people do not deal with very well. We are generally creatures of habit and when something - big or small – changes, we often feel that our world goes into a downward spiral. This is exactly why we need to prepare ourselves for change and disallow any negative thoughts that enter into our mind.

You can actually use the power of positive affirmations to help you deal with change constructively and in a positive manner. The way you deal with change is your choice, so the goal is to choose well!

Affirmations are simple statements that describe the way you want to think or feel about something, and in this case, the way you want to think, feel, or cope with the changes in your life. These affirmations are meant to help you deal with things in a positive manner by doing away with all negative thought. Negativity is everywhere but free positive affirmations can help you limit its affects on you so you are able to lead a happier and healthier life. More importantly, so you can live the life that you want to live.

How to Infuse Positive Affirmations Into Your Life

Incorporating positive affirmations into your life is simple. You need to develop your own, or you can find free positive affirmations that describe how you want to think, feel, or deal with change.

Affirmations can be as simple as, "Change offers new beginnings. I thrive on new opportunities!" as you can see, this is a simple statement, but when you believe in it, you can make the change that you encounter in your life a positive thing.

When you believe in your personal affirmations you can make the changes you encounter a positive growth experience. You may be scared of change, but more often than not, your fears are irrational and unrealistic. Instead, if you believe that positive things will come as a result of new life experiences, this will give you the power to overcome the fear that comes with the unknown and to be able to make the most of your new situation.

Change is something that so many of us fear whether it is a new location, a new relationship, a new job, or the end of any of these things. Instead of allowing negative thoughts and anxiety to consume you, employ your positive affirmations and change the way you think. When you do this you can allow this change to be anything you want it to be. Change can be a new beginning, a chance to get things right, or the first day of the rest of your life. See how easy it can be? Having free positive affirmations can help you turn what could be a fearful situation into one of opportunity!

Using positive affirmations may take some work. Remember that the more you believe in the words you think and speak , the more power that they will have for you. Remember to surround yourself with positive thoughts and make the most of what is still to come in your life after the change.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Ronnie Nijmeh is the Chief Inspiration Officer at ACQYR.com, a motivational website with positive affirmations, motivational articles, and free wallpaper downloads. Learn how you can get inspired today.  Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

How to Make Change Work for You

Busted: Five Myths about Change

While the following article is directed to a work environment, do you know anyone who doesn’t work at home in some manner? If it is difficult to transfer the business talk to personal, just remember that the family IS a working unit. ~~Debra Contreras)

Today’s global business environment changes constantly. Yet too often companies develop their processes and procedures as if change will never affect them. Managers and employees work in habitual patterns and will resist change unless they buy into it.  This article de-bunks five common myths regarding changes.

Build a "Lets Beat Our Best" change philosophy into the culture of the organization.

Positive change brings positive results. Real change should be satisfying -- and fun!

Change is Like a Pair of Shoes

Change is something we all go through all the time, though we may not realize it. We cannot actually see change happening, we just see the results of change. Sometimes change is easy, other times it is a long and torturous process.

How difficult change is depends a lot on your attitude towards it and your resistance to it. You attitude to change can itself change, and make the whole transformation process much easier to bear. It all depends on your perspective.

Imagine change as a pair of shoes, this will help you understand change and how it works. Let me explain.

I am sure that you have at sometime in your life had a comfortable pair of shoes. You know the sort I mean. A pair of shoes so comfortable that you really don't want to ever get rid of them and you wish you had bought a dozen pairs at the same time. The fit your feet so perfectly you can almost forget you are even wearing shoes.

You know you need a new pair, and may even have them, but you don't want to wear them because you are comfortable with your current pair. Besides, the new pair may hurt your feet, give you blisters or be awkward to wear to start with. So, you resist the new shoes. However, a part of you knows that this new pair would be much better for your feet, and after the initial discomfort would probably be even more comfortable, yet still you resist.

Do you know I'm doing this now? I'm wearing my comfortable shoes and they feel good. They have a hole in each heel, and the sole is starting to fall off, but I'm persisting in wearing them. I even have a new pair of shoes under my desk as I write this. But my feet are used to the old comfy pair. The new pair is tighter, and hotter in this summer weather. I know I shouldn't wear my old shoes because they cause a callus where the inside of the shoe has worn thin, but still I persist.

This describes change exactly; change of our habits, change of our thought patterns. We stick with the old patterns because they are comfortable. Yet we know we need to change and that the change will ultimately be good for us. Once we get over the initial pain of the transformation, the new pattern will be comfortable and feel good … until the time comes when we need another new pair of shoes …

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Jason is a personal coach, dedicated to achieving success for his clients. He products a wide variety of audio programs and courses on everything from weight to confidence to abundance to past lives. Visit his website, http://www.stateofhypnosis.com/, for more information and to discover how he can help you live the life of your dreams.   Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

Five Steps to Happiness

1. Avoid Over Thinking

"You could spend a lot of time ruminating," says Sonja Lyubomirsky, a professor of psychology at the University of California. She is also the author of the book, "The How-To of Happiness"  , which draws from her own groundbreaking research with thousands of men and women.   "But that just makes you feel even more pessimistic, more out of control, and effects your self esteem. Your relationships will suffer and your job performance will suffer."

Get rid of pessimism. One of the most effective ways to cope when things are difficult is to adopt a positive thinking strategy. "What can I learn from this? Times are tough, I've been furloughed at work, but I can spend more time with the kids, adopt a new hobby, or learn a new set of skills."

2. Practice Acts of Kindness

Now more than ever we need each other to survive. Lyubomirsky found that doing good things for friends, family, or strangers can make you happier. Think of practical, everyday gestures that can make someone's life a little bit easier. For example, Lyubomirsky says, "Maybe now many of us can't afford to take a cab to the airport, so offer to give a friend a ride."

3. Focus on Your Relationships

You don't need an expert to tell you that relationships are critical to happiness. Not being the bread-winner anymore or not being able to fulfill your kid's needs can weigh down hard on your family life. But the trick is to stop feeling guilty and focus on nurturing your loved ones.

"I was at a psychology conference where an expert was talking about the effects of this economy on families and how parents can't afford to buy their kids luxuries like toys anymore," says Lyubomirsky. "But what they don't realize is that kids don't care about toys -- what they care about is parents being grumpy and taking it out on them."

4. Pick a Goal

"If you find a happy person you will find a project," says Lyubomirsky. "Happy people all have goals they care about."

Commit yourself to a project – whether it is a business you want to start or a dance you want to learn. But it's also important to remember to be flexible in these times. Don't get frustrated if circumstances are stopping you from meeting your goals. Adopt and change!

"If your spouse has lost their job you might have to change your goal," says Lyubomirsky. "Or you might have to learn a whole new skill for a new job."

5. Take Care of Your Body

When times are tough, it's easy to get skip your regular workouts in favor of moping in front of the TV and eating a bag of chips. Your thinking is "I have more important things to worry about right now than looking good."

But carve out a small part of your day to give your body some TLC. It will go a long way in boosting your happiness. "Even if you can't afford to go to the gym," Lyubomirsky says, "take time out to exercise at home or meditate."

About The Author:  Jose Tua is a great writer who has passion for the articles. You can follow Jose on Twitter  

I Know My Life’s Purpose...Now What?

There are an unlimited amount of ways that many people used to realize their life’s purpose and there are many resources that people can get there hands on in order to help them discover it. (If you don’t know your purpose, click here for suggestions.) However, it is even harder to discover what to do once that purpose has been uncovered or better yet accept the answer we received once we know what our true purpose is.

In my opinion, this is more challenging part of discovering and beginning to live on purpose but, it is highly possible to overcome the challenges and live a life of authenticity and liberation for yourself as well as share with others everything that you have to offer.

The following are various challenges, in no particular, that I had personally overcome in order to move forward and do what it that I am meant to do. Hopefully, this can help you too.

Top Tips for Change Management

Change has an impact on you whether you work for someone else, work for yourself, or don't work at all. The truth of the matter is that change is constantly happening all around us! Being flexible and able to adapt to change in a way that works for you and not against you is key -- both personally and professionally.

I was hired by two organizations within the past two weeks to lead a workshop on this topic for management and employees, because change impacts everyone at ALL levels within an organization. Change has an impact on you whether you work for someone else, work for yourself, or don't work at all. The truth of the matter is that change is constantly happening all around us!

As we discussed in the workshops "Riding the Waves of Change," change is becoming the new business model for most organizations. So, being flexible and able to adapt to change in a way that works for you and not against you is key -- both personally and professionally.

So, how well are you managing the change in your personal and professional life? If you feel like you're managing the effects of change pretty well, congratulations -- give yourself a big pat on the back!

If, on the other hand, you cringe when you hear "there's another change coming soon" or you feel as though you just can't take one more organizational restructuring, there are some things that you can do. For those of you who have gone through the workshop, you know that there is so much more to explore on this topic, but here are a few basic tips to help you manage change.

“But I Just Want a Normal Life”

I know that people are constantly striving to get more out of life. I know that many people wish for, hope for, want for more success, more happiness, more wealth. But wishing, hoping and wanting something is simply a useless mental activity - a waste of energy - because the only thing that will get you what you want is beyond wishing, hoping and wanting - it's believing. More of that later! For now, if you really look around and observe the behaviour of so-called normal people, you will discover what normal people really want - they want you to be normal too

.

There is nothing more threatening to the normal state of mind than someone who's different - in particular, someone who is abnormally happy and successful. It's not so much that normal people are jealous of abnormal success - they actually want to take the abnormally successful person down.

Stop Sabotaging Success

It’s Monday and you’ve got two weeks to produce a crucial project for a potential client that will make your company money and give you incredible exposure. You know it’s vital to complete the work and yet something holds you back from starting the venture.

Whenever you find you have the time to work, you end up procrastinating and ignoring the BIG project. You know you must produce, and yet you can’t understand why you keeping putting off a potentially exciting and money-making job.

Sometimes it’s easy to know why you’re not succeeding at life or business, but often, the reasons are murky. You think it’s because you don’t have enough time or you don’t have the right resources or skills. Usually, the reason is darker and more mysterious.

It’s called sabotage.

Destination: Happiness

The expression “happiness” captures a vast variety of optimistic emotional responses, as well as such ideas as brightness, serenity, optimism, and enjoyment. Throughout history, philosophers, religious writers and poets have pondered on the implication of happiness and how it might be achieved. More recently, scientists, psychologists and even politicians, have united the pursuit.

5 Major Causes of Personal & Professional Failure

1. Lack of defined objectives: Success will always lie just out of reach for anyone who does not set goals and create strategies to achieve those goals on a daily basis. It's a constant job. You need have goals at all times to prevent becoming content or stale in what you are doing.

2. Lack of self-discipline: Self-Discipline is a product of self-control. Anger, frustration, and stress can lead to loss of focus, energy level, determination and can result in a decline in personal productivity if you don't recognize and react to these situations as they arise. Controlling your emotions will better help you control external situations as well. Perspective can be changed greatly depending on your mood or stress levels.

3. Lack of persistence: For some it is a lot easier to start something than finish it. Motivation and drive may be running high with a new idea, job or project, but after time passes and several challenges have arisen, people can lose that original focus and determination they had before. I'm sure you all have heard the term "burnt out". If you can stay driven and focused and take satisfaction from the positives in your situation, you'll find success will come, and make everything a little easier.

4. Over-caution: Pretty simple, fortune favors the bold. Now nobody is saying go out and take huge risks, just be open to positive opportunities as they arise and take advantage when they do. You don't want to be looking back saying "yeah that was a good idea, but...". Playing every situation safe will get you by, but that's not the idea here.

5. Lack of Research & Planning: Any business owner will tell you that if you have a goal you are trying to achieve the first thing you should do is create a defined strategy on how to achieve that goal. Take the time and do the necessary research on all aspects of the task, and gather as much information as you can to help you make the most informed decisions you can. So much time, effort, and money could be save if a simple plan is created prior to beginning any major task.

About The Author:  John Chilton is co-founder of Platypus PC Inc.

Stories of Inspiration

This month, I've shared healing art work, and just a few stories of inspiration  from people who turned their experiences around.  In healing themselves, they have inspired healing and activism in others.  I hope you found inspiration in these stories. In healing yourself, you strengthen the rest of us. It may be that God decides to use your healing in a greater way, similiar to the more public stories I've shared. But you are no less successful if you choose to live stronger and better in your own corner of the world, wherever that may be and whatever you may choose to do in it.

Have a great weekend, and an even better new week!

~~Debra Contreras

Remembering by Taking Action

The story I want to share with you today is one I struggled whether to share or not.  This is because it is about a woman who died at the hands of her abuser (story below).  However, it roused many people to take action to prevent domestic violence.  For twenty years, her face and story is well known in the Northern part of Indiana, especially in Elkhart County where she resided. 

I have decided to include it in hopes that those who read it will realize that action needs to be taken BEFORE there is a dead body.

~~Debra Contreras

"Matheny was convicted and sent to prison in 1987 for Battery and Confinement of his ex-wife, Lisa Bianco. While in prison, Matheny had repeatedly expressed a desire to kill Bianco, and attempted to solicit others to do so. After serving almost 2 years, he was given an 8-hour furlogh from Pendleton, where he was an inmate. Although the pass authorized a trip to Indianapolis, Matheny headed straight for St. Joseph County. Once there, he changed clothes and took a shotgun from a friend's house, then drove to Mishawaka. He parked the car in a lot two doors down from his ex-wife's house, then broke in through the back door. Bianco ran from the home, pursued by Matheny through the neighborhood. When he caught her, he beat her with the shotgun that broke into pieces. He then got into his car and drove away. Bianco died as a result of this blunt force trauma. (insanity defense) (This case generated massive amounts of publicity and led to state legislation requiring the Indiana DOC to notify victims of release from prison)"  story accessed at:  Clark County Prosecutor.  This page also included news articles and legal procedings involving this story).