E-TipsForLife

101 Ways To Live A Better Life

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 04 May 2015 16:40:00 +0000

You don’t like your life? Change it! Change your life for the better! Don’t have any clue on how to do it? Here’s a list of 101 ways in which you can live a better life. Feel free to add yours in the comments.

Without further ado, let’s go.

1. Accept Your Mistakes

You’re human. We, humans, are making mistakes. Accept what you did wrong and try to do better next time. No need to punish yourself forever. In fact, accepting your mistakes is the only way to make them disappear.

2. Accept Your Friends Mistakes

Maybe you got hurt by somebody. Happens. Just accept it and deal with it. People are making mistakes and if you can accept that for yourself, accept it for your friends too. In the end, all you need from them is their love.

3. Create A New Habit

We’re doing a lot of stuff on autopilot. Try to integrate in this category new things you want to attract into your life. Habits are powerful. Harness their energy for your own good.

4. Build Self Discipline

Don’t wait for other people to impose discipline on you. Start early. Create your own discipline. Although it sounds a little bit harsh, self discipline is a facilitator for many things in your life. It’s hard to get but great to have.

5. Make New Friends

Reach out. Don’t be afraid. Establish new contacts. The worst thing that may happen to you is to be rejected. Well, if that’s the case, move on. The reward of having true, long-lasting friendship is worth all the potential rejection.

6. Get A New Job

Shaking your comfort zone will often create a lot of value in your life. If you’re not satisfied with your job, just get a new one. The pitfall of not having money for a limited period of time is temporary, get over it.

7. Start A New Diet

You are, in a vast proportion, what you eat. Trying a new diet would often be the only needed change for a dramatic boost of your health and energy. Don’t necessarily have to be raw food, or even vegetarian, whatever works for you.

8. Keep A Journal

Write down you feelings, your ideas, your goals, your activity. Journaling is by far one of the most useful things I’ve done to change my life for the best. It works in such a silent, yet effective way. All you need is pen and paper.

9. Create And Keep A Morning Phrase

Whatever you say to yourself in the morning, it will most likely come true during the day. Why not taking advantage of it? Create a simple morning phrase and say it to yourself first thing in the morning. Is that simple.

10. Travel Far Away From Your Home

Traveling long distance is incredibly rewarding. It’s so exciting and full with unknown events. I only recently started to travel really far away from my home, but I do wonder how could I ever made it until now without this.

11. Learn To Take Risks

Your life may be so boring and fade because… err, you made it like this? When was the last time your tried something really difficult? When was the last time you challenged the odds doing something risky? Do it now.

12. Start Your Own Business

Be your own boss. Work your own hours. I know, it sounds so shallow, for you, who hate your job but still have to stay there because of that mortgage. Well, unless you make the first step, nothing is going to change. That’s for sure.

13. Change Your Work Space

Clean up your desk. Re-arrange furniture. Add some color to that space. Make the place where you work really enjoyable. So enjoyable that work there won’t be perceived as work anymore. It will be something you love to do

14. Learn A New Language

Challenge your mind. Constantly. If you’re going to do number 10, you’re going to learn some new languages too. From my experience, learning a new language is a fantastic mind opener. Sometimes you don’t even have to travel there.

15. Find Reasons To Agree

Rather than disagree. We have this mindset of competition which makes constantly arguing over things. Well, stop that. You don’t have to force yourself into agreement, if it’s not the case, just trying to find some reasons will be enough.

16. Pay Yourself First

You can’t give something if you don’t have it. You can’t spread light onto others if you don’t have light from within. You can’t give wealth to others if you don’t have it for yourself first. Make yourself a service and pay yourself first.

17. Wake Up Early

This is not a habit, this is a lifestyle. Don’t just wake up early without a purpose. Be early. Be there before others. Look for opportunities and embrace them. Waking up early means keeping your eye open to every available opportunity.

18. Train Your Focus

Your focus is in fact your reality. Use it wisely. Train it constantly for it will enhance your reality in ways you never imagined. Keep your focus sharp as a razor blade and be prepared to experience life in fantastic shapes and colors.

19. Start A Blog

On whatever topic you want. Not only it will give you the opportunity to create something new and valuable but it will also bring new people into your life. Blogging is far more than a hype, is a personal development tool. A very good one.

20. Write An Ebook

You may think you don’t have a talent, but that’s completely wrong. And the easiest way to prove it wrong is to start writing an ebook. Any ebook. You pick the topic. It might be something you know or want to learn about. Write it. It’s fun.

21. Be Better, Not Perfect

Striving too much for perfection will ruin your life. It will wipe out all those little imperfections which are making you… human. Being better, on the other side, is rewarding. Look back at the yesterday you and just say: I’m better!

22. Stop Self Sabotage

You’ll be surprised by how much of a burden you can be to yourself. You are literallyself sabotaging. Most of the time, unconsciously. If you have a long history of failure behind, that could mean you’ve become your worst enemy. Stop it.

23. Find Reasons To Love Your Life

Maybe life wasn’t fair with you. Yes, I know, I’ve been there: life is never fair. But it’s fantastic. It’s unique, unrepeatable, one of a kind, beautiful, simple, challenging, sweet, hard… Just take a step back and find reasons to love your life.

24. Try Something New

Maybe you’re sad because you’re bored. Have you ever thought about that? Just reach out and try something completely new. Go for a challenge, learn a new sport, try playing the ukulele, pick a different restaurant or go for a comedy movie (if you’re the drama type). Just try it.

25. Avoid Fighting

Fighting is the biggest energy leak of your being. Trying to prove another guy wrong is so against your true nature. You’re here to acknowledge life’s wonders, not to prove anybody’s wrong. They’re not wrong, just have different opinions. And that’s part of life.

26. Stop Wasting Your Power

Are you doing something that you think you shouldn’t be doing right now? Well, that’s wasted power. That’s meaningless stuff promoted to the honor of being a part of your life. How long are you going to approve this? Why wasting power?

27. Learn To Ignore

I think they should be teaching this one in schools. We’re so focused on so many topics and think we have to do so many stuff, that our life is literally clogged with stuff. It’s good to do stuff, but learning to ignore stuff is much better.

28. Experiment Gratitude

When was the last time you said “thank you”? With all your heart? Everybody knows that an attitude of gratitude is the key to success, but almost nobody practices it. Well, start by experience gratitude first, and take it from there.

29. Recycle Your Aggression

Don’t throw it away, recycle it! Use it for something you really want! Call out those wild forces inside of you and put them to work. Aggression is part of your being, so don’t try to reject it, because it will only grow stronger. Recycle your aggression.

30. Release Your Guardians

Don’t touch that! Don’t eat that! Don’t go for that opportunity! Those are the sentences you hear when going for something you really want. Those are your guardians, your mental constructs made to protect you. Release them, you’ll be much better off.

31. Clean Up Your House

It’s fun. And it’s good for you. Make a habit out of cleaning up your house with joy and happiness. What’s outside is a mirror of what’s inside. If your house is a mess, probably your internal life is a disaster. Neat that stuff, it’s easy.

32. Write A Personal Mission Statement

You’re here with a reason. No matter how small you feel now, how insignificant others may made you feel, you have a purpose. Take the time to write your personal mission statement. It will bring light and direction into your life.

33. Dissolve Negative Opinions About Yourself

Whatever you think you may do, it’s half of what you can really do. And that’s because you have so many negative opinions about yourself. You can solve them. Just accept the fact that you have them and then start working on them.

34. Build Different Skills

Don’t stop learning. Don’t remain stuck in a single career, it’s boring and limiting. Learn different skills, possibly from completely unrelated fields. You never know when life will ask you to use them. Besides, it’s a lot of fun.

35. Manage Your Time As You Manage Your Money

Have you ever thought what would be if you would manage your time the same way you manage your money? Just give it a try. See where you spend most of your time, what the return of investment is and how rich are you in time.

36. Exercise

You don’t have to break the world record, or something. Just make sure you exercise constantly. It will make your body healthier and your mind clearer. It’s also one of the simplest and most affordable ways to improve your life.

37. Be A Parent

Having kids doesn’t necessarily means you’re a parent, and I know that very well. Being a parent will surely change your life forever: filling it with unconditional, life lasting love, care and warm feelings. You’ll live in love. And learn.

38. Throw Away One Object A Day From Your House

Maybe your life is breathing so hard just because it’s suffocated by objects. Learn to let them go. You may donate them, give to charity or simply throw them away, but don’t let the clutter stay in your way. You’re not the objects you have.

39. Read A Book Per Week

Or, alternatively, a fine selection of blogs. That will keep your mind alert and your focus steady. Reading is like good food for your brain, without it, it will go lazy, obese and unresponsive. But with the proper food it can become your best friend.

40. Start A Monthly Challenge

Being it physical, mental or social. Intend to acquire something new in your life in 30 days. Improve your health using new methods, or your relationships by starting new things together. Make it count. And count on it.

41. Call An Old Friend

It’s enlightening to meet somebody you haven’t talk to in the last years. Go right now and call an old friend, or a relative. It will bring up memories and it will create new opportunities. Don’t let the dust settle on your relationships.

42. Follow A Coincidence

Well, there aren’t any coincidences, I lied. Everything has a purpose. If you witness something which may seem like a coincidence, then you’re very lucky, you just got a sign. Follow it with trust, it will lead you well.

43. Play A Game

Any game. Just play. Like a child. Allow yourself to do something just for fun, without any goals, pressures or deadlines. Will make you understand that everything is a game. Sometimes a little bit harder, but still a game.

44. Forgive Somebody Out Of The Blue

Don’t hold that grudge for that past insult. Grudges are heavy and tend to make the take off for a new life a little bit difficult. The longer you hold that grudge, the more difficult the take off will be. Forgiveness will lift you off.

45. Stop Solving The Wrong Problems

You are not here to witness the bad things in your life. Nor the performance in itself. You are here to enjoy a journey. To become aware, To grow. So, stop solving the wrong problem and focus on what really matters.

46. Make Peace With An Old Enemy

That’s more than forgiveness, that’s the actual process of reversing a situation. Make peace with somebody. Turn it into your friend. I’m not saying this is easy, I know it first hand. But I also know it works. Enemies count down, friends count up.

47. Make A Promise To A Close Person And Keep It

It doesn’t have to be something big. It doesn’t have to be for someone special. It doesn’t have to be difficult also. But it has to be a commitment to somebody. Just reach out, make a promise, keep it and then enjoy the feeling after.

48. Break Up With A Person You Don’t Really Like

Maybe you’re friend with somebody just by habit, chemistry being dead for a long time now. Just break it up. Tell him. Ok, let’s unfriend us, this will not work. It will bring up something you thought you lost it long ago: courage.

49. Get A Thing You Wanted For A Long Time

But you didn’t had time or money to get it. Just go out and get it. Not only it will boost your self-respect, but it will also free your desire channel, which may be a little bit clogged by having one and only one desire for such a long time.

50. Stop Being Judgmental

With others AND with you. Excessive criticism will kill your enthusiasm. And if you think this post is something you shouldn’t read in the first place, then, my friend, you really are judgmental. Lighten up. Accept life as it is.

51. Change Your Wardrobe

You don’t know how much are you tied to what you wear. If you’re on the gray loving side, put some color in your clothes. If you’re on the black and white, try some gradients. Of course, your clothes are not you. Hence, they’re so easy to change, right?

52. Smile At Least 10 Times A Day

And I mean it, start to count that. Smiling is a sign of honesty and power. Everybody can cry over a disaster but only the most powerful can take bitterness with a smile. Exercise that power. And then try to go for 20 times a day.

53. Burn Some Old Memories

Maybe the notebook from your 7th grade? Maybe the teenage dumb poetry you wrote? Whatever it might be, break up. It might be difficult, but it might also be a sign that you’re so attached to the past that you can’t advance in your life anymore.

54. Plant A Tree

Or take care of a flower. Do it for at least several months. It will give you a sense of potential. Seeing that tree or that flower growing will make your self-confidence go up. If a flower can make it, why can’t I? Of course you can, now do it!

55. Move To Another Town Or Country

Maybe it’s time to change the environment? Take the plunge, move over. Pick another town or even another country. Like all the good stuff, it might be pretty difficult in the beginning, but you can bet it would shake everything really good!

56. Join A New Group

Go to a bikers meeting. Or, if you’re not a biker, to a toastmaster meeting. Join a group and see how you fit in. It will help if the group will be focused on some of your passions, of course. It will reveal a lot about your social skills.

57. Stop Watching TV

Television evolved a lot from the balanced news provider it was in the beginning up to the current manipulating tool. Just stop watching it for a week. And then for a month. Meanwhile, assess your psychological progress. You may be amazed.

58. Start A Totally Unexpected Hobby

Start making trains out of matches. Raise cobras. Put tiny vessels into tiny bottles. Do whatever it takes to move your mind from your problems for a while. And if you can create something nice in the process, why not doing it?

59. Randomly Hug A Stranger On The Street

Ok, this might be a little bit dangerous, but only if you think at it. If you’re doing it, chances are that you’re going to get your hug back. It will also help raising your adrenaline up to levels you never had for a very long time.

60. Set Up A Surprise Party

For your or for a friend. It’s always good for your mood, even if – or especially if – you’re down. Do a thematic one, invite friends and tell them to bring their friends. And then expect to meet new, wonderful persons. And of course, have fun.

61. Go Hiking

Do it for at least one week-end. Nature is more powerful than our human created environment. We don’t know how to channel the energy into our artificial habitats. If you want to recharge, go outside and stay in connection with the wilderness.

62. Get A Pet

Whatever works for you, a bird, a guinea pig, a dog or a cat. It will keep you alert and it will cheer you up when you’re down. Taking care of a pet is also easier if you’re overwhelmed with human interaction. Even from a pet, love is still love.

63. Write A Thank You Letter

You can send it or not, the real catch is to write it. Pick someone who helped you in the past. Start writing the letter and say everything you want to say to that person. It will make you understand what are you really grateful for in your life.

64. Meditate Daily

It’s the easiest thing you can do. True mediation acts like a mind emptier, leaving you open to the whole flow of the sensations and experiences you would otherwise ignore. You don’t even need a complicated technique, meditate as you see fit.

65. Say Something Nice To Somebody

Just like that. Out of the blue. Pick an unknown person and say something nice. After the initial surprise you’ll be amazed by the unmasked joy and gratitude they’re expressing. Admit it: you would like that too, isn’t it?

66. Say Something Nice To You

Ok, but if nobody is telling you nice things, why not start this yourself? Do it in whatever form you think it’s appropriate: send yourself emails, write in your calendar or leave yourself nice postits on the desk. With something nice just for you.

67. When I Doubt, Improvise

Being so scared for not knowing the answer, so nervous that you may screw thigns up… I know the feeling, I’ve been there too. Just go with the flow. Improvise. It will be so good for your unconscious mind. The real answer will be surprising.

68. Don’t Argue, Win Or Lose

This goes hand in hand with avoiding the fight, but it’s a little bit different. If you get caught in an argument, just accept that you can have only two outcomes from it: win or lose. Settle with one and just move on.

69. Stop Faking Your Life

It’s so easy to get caught in a flow of fakes. Society wants us to politely lie and you need to lie sometimes. Just stop it. Being authentic is the best thing you can do. No need to hide your sorrow, nor your joy. They’re both part of life.

70. Define Goals

Again, that goes hand in hand with writing a personal mission but it’s more than that. It’s the habit of clearly deciding – and, subsequently, describing – where you want to go. Do you have a goal? A passion, maybe? Go for it! And be verbose.

71. Help Others

Reach out and try to see if you can help others. You don’t have to be a Samaritan, just go out there and support somebody. The biggest trick of helping is really surprising: although it seems you’re giving, you’re in fact receiving a lot more.

72. Go Social

Mingle, interact, go out. Get used to meet new people. Make this a habit and you’ll soon get used to do new things too. The goal is not to be the best networker in the world, but to be connected to as many energy sources as you can get.

73. Spend Some Time Alone

Subsequently, make sure you set aside enough time for your own. You don’t necessarily need to recharge, but you need this time in order to get a new perspective. Stop for a while and look around. Where are you? Where do you want to be?

74. Fix Something By Yourself

Go fix a broken window, or a scratch on your car. Don’t call for a specialist, get involved, see how you can have an impact on things around you. Work with your hands, prepare to sweat. It will instantly make you feel better.

75. Create Value

Make things that others need too. Make something useful. Don’t follow blind or outdated commitments, go for what really makes a change around you. Creating value is the core of your activity here and the only thing you really have to strive for.

76. Do A Random Act Of Kindness

Doesn’t have to be in the form of a nice compliment this time. You don’t even need to communicate it to the target person. Just do an incognito service to someone. See how this makes you feel. Think how many times you received that.

77. One More Second

Create the habit of looking at things for one more second. Spend one more second before taking an important decision. Delay something. Time will follow your intention and open some unexpected window for you. Slow it down a little.

78. Understand What People Want From You

What you can do is not always what people want from you. Clearing that confusion alone could bring an immense relief to your life. You don’t have to immediately provide what they’re wanting, but if you do, you may have some big surprises.

79. Break An Old Bad Habit

Breaking a bad habit is difficult. But breaking an old bad habit will free an incredible amount of time into your life. Quit smoking or stop talking on the phone for hours. Whatever you break, it will change your life for the best.

80. Stop Complaining

Complaining is like an open invitation for troubles. The more you complain about something, the more of that something you invite into your life. Cut it out. You don’t get any comfort out of complaining, only troubles.

81. Reject What You Don’t Want

It’s so simple, yet so underrated. Society wants us to complain even when we don’t really like stuff. Like forcing us to smile when we don’t find it funny. Allow yourself to walk away from something you don’t like. Just do it!

82. Being Is Better Than Having

Too much and too often we shape our life’s fulfillment degree to the amount we possess. The fundamental mistake. If you’re doing it, stop it right now. You’re not what you’re having. Being is so much better than having.

83. Listen To Your Critics

This one might be difficult in the beginning but once you get used to it it’s fantastic. You may find out a lot of stuff about yourself that you didn’t know about. You think you are one kind of person, but others may disagree.

84. Don’t Take It Personally

Never. Your world is shaped by your reaction to things, not by the things themselves. Don’t get upset, don’t think that somebody knows you enough to make right assumptions about you. Acknowledge and move on.

85. Laugh

This time is not about smiling. It’s about laughing. Don’t you ever miss another opportunity to laugh. Especially at yourself. The longer your laughing sessions, the shorter your misery ones. Looks like a nice deal, isn’t it? [ read more ]

86. Go With Passion

Don’t let your rational mind stand in the way of your passion. If you found – or at least felt, even occasionally – something that thrills you, you’re there. You don’t need a confirmation on this from anybody. Go with your passion.

87. Trust Your Emotions

Don’t underestimate your emotions. Or overestimate them. Your emotions are your feed-back system and for that they are very important. Trying to ignore your emotions is like depriving yourself from lights in a car running in the middle of the night.

88. Live It Like A Holiday

Ever observed how nice you feel during your holiday? How light, joyful and authentic? Everything is just wonderful. Well, you are on a continuous holiday here. It starts with your birth and end with your death. Live it like a holiday.

89. Make A Story Out Of It

Do you like a good story? I love it. Make everything in your life story-worthwhile. Make it as it would be a fantastic journey and you will be at all time the observer, the hero and the narrator. Create the story of your life.

90. Stop Being A Follower

Admiring is nice. But being admired is even better. Stop trying to fit in other people’s shoes. Find your own path. If that means breaking up completely your lifestyle, so be it. If you are “like” somebody else you can’t be “like” yourself anymore.

91. Watch Your Beliefs

Your beliefs are not you. But they are shaping your life constantly. You have the power to change them at any point in your existence. But in order to do that, you must first start to observe them, to isolate them, to accept them.

92. Stop Lying

To others and to yourself. Although it might ease a complicated situation, a lie is not good in the long run. The trick is that if you’re telling a lie you’re altering your reality. And a distorted reality will be impossible to handle.

93. Stop Reacting To Stuff

And start acting on stuff. Initiate things. Start projects. Predict situations and be there before the hurricane hits. Reacting to stuff is a victim paradigm. Stop being a victim and start acting. Create your life instead of being the creation of others.

94. Live Today

Not yesterday, not tomorrow. Go for what you can do today and leave yesterday behind for good. It’s not here anymore. And tomorrow doesn’t even exist yet, so why bother. All you have is today. Don’t waste it.

95. Expect The Unexpected

If there’s something unusual that happens to you, go for it. The unexpected is a signal of an opportunity. It will not always be nice, this unexpected, but whenever it’s around, magical things are happening. Wait for it. Praise for it.

96. Enjoy

Like being in joy. Like giving permission to yourself to extract joy from any situation you’re in. Even if it’s bad. Or especially if it’s bad. Joy is everywhere, you just have to let it manifest through you. Don’t resist joy. Don’t reject it.

97. Make Your Own Rules

And stick with them. Go for what works for you, not the others. Go for what you want, not the others. Including me. Make your own system and be proud of it. You may upset some people in the process, but hey, that’s life.

98. Love

Unconditionally. Totally. Constantly. Restlessly. Love is the only glue that keeps your life running. You were born out of love and you carry it deep down in your being. Love is never about the others, it’s about you.

99. Get Rid Of Labels

Things are what they are. Don’t use labels anymore, use directly the things. Your notion of “right” and “wrong” are nothing but labels. In a different country your “right” might be “wrong”. Don’t charge yourself with this unneeded burden.

100. No Regrets

Regretting something is another form of not accepting reality. What you can do about it now? It’s gone. It doesn’t exist anymore. Focus on what you can change: your present moment. Not yesterday, not tomorrow. Now. Live now.

How to Know If you are IN love

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 01 May 2015 21:17:00 +0000

Valentine's Day is approaching. You have a Valentine…but are you really in love with him or her ? With your head spinning from all the heart-shape chocolates and red roses, it can be tough to figure out. Fortunately, scientists have pinned down exactly what it means to "fall in love."

Researchers have found that an in-love brain looks very different from one experiencing mere lust, and it's also unlike a brain of someone in a long-term, committed relationship. Studies led by Helen Fisher, an anthropologist at Rutgers University and one of the leading experts on the biological basis of love, have revealed that the brain's "in love" phase is a unique and well-defined period of time, and there are 13 telltale signs that you're in it.

1. "This one's special"

When you're in love, you begin to think your beloved is unique. The belief is coupled with an inability to feel romantic passion for anyone else. Fisher and her colleagues believe this single-mindedness results from elevated levels of central dopamine — a chemical involved in attention and focus — in your brain.

2. "She's perfect"

People who are truly in love tend to focus on the positive qualities of their beloved, while overlooking his or her negative traits. They also focus on trivial events and objects that remind them of their loved one, day-dreaming about these precious little moments and mementos. This focused attention is also thought to result from elevated levels of central dopamine, as well as a spike in central norepinephrine, a chemical associated with increased memory in the presence of new stimuli.

3. "I'm a wreck!"

As is well known, falling in love often leads to emotional and physiological instability. You bounce between exhilaration, euphoria, increased energy, sleeplessness, loss of appetite, trembling, a racing heart and accelerated breathing, as well as anxiety, panic and feelings of despair when your relationship suffers even the smallest setback. These mood swings parallel the behavior of drug addicts. And indeed, when in-love people are shown pictures of their loved ones, it fires up the same regions of the brain that activate when a drug addict takes a hit. Being in love, researchers say, is a form of addiction.

4. "Overcoming the challenge made us closer"

Going through some sort of adversity with another person tends to intensify romantic attraction. Central dopamine may be responsible for this reaction, too, because research shows that when a reward is delayed, dopamine-producing neurons in the mid-brain region become more productive.

5. "I'm obsessed with him"

People who are in love report that they spend, on average, more than 85 percent of their waking hours musing over their "love object." Intrusive thinking, as this form of obsessive behavior is called, may result from decreased levels of central serotonin in the brain, a condition that has been associated with obsessive behavior previously. (Obsessive-compulsive disorder is treated with serotonin-reuptake inhibitors.)

6. "I wish we could be together all the time"

People in love regularly exhibit signs of emotional dependency on their relationship, including possessiveness, jealousy, fear of rejection, and separation anxiety.

7. "I hope we stay together forever"

They also long for emotional union with their beloved, seeking out ways to get closer and day-dreaming about their future together.

8. "I'd do anything for her"

People who are in love generally feel a powerful sense of empathy toward their beloved, feeling the other person's pain as their own and being willing to sacri?ce anything for the other person.

9. "Would he like this outfit?"

Falling in love is marked by a tendency to reorder your daily priorities and/or change your clothing, mannerisms, habits or values in order for them to better align with those of your beloved.

10. "Can we be exclusive?"

Those who are deeply in love typically experience sexual desire for their beloved, but there are strong emotional strings attached: The longing for sex is coupled with possessiveness, a desire for sexual exclusivity, and extreme jealousy when the partner is suspected of infidelity. This possessiveness is thought to have evolved so that an in-love person will compel his or her partner to spurn other suitors, thereby insuring that the couple's courtship is not interrupted until conception has occurred.

How do you know if a girl likes you?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 23:04:00 +0000

The Top 5 Most Super-Awesome Signs a Girl Likes You

How do you know if a girl likes you?

This is perhaps the most important question for any guy who wants more, better and easier sex, dates and relationships.

Guys get the most sex, the best dates and the most fulfilling relationships when they only focus on girls who like them. Trying to get a girl who doesn’t like you is the quick road to frustration-town, stress-ville and no-sex-city

And what is the payoff to knowing the signs a girl likes you?

When you learn how to successfully Identify girls who like you as quickly as possible, the whole dating game becomes a whole heck of a lot easier since you’re only spending time with women who like you; women who want to be with you, have sex with you, make you happy and make your life better.

Sounds like fun, right?

So here we go – five signs that a girl likes you (plus one warning about how to use these signs):

Signs a Girl Likes You

#1: She Laughs at Your Jokes (Even the Bad Ones)

The first sign a girl likes you is if she laughs at your witty banter and hilarious commentary (even when it’s not funny).

First of all, you always want to stay playful and light when you are talking to her. Make her laugh You don’t need to be funny. When a girl likes you, she will laugh. When she doesn’t like you, she won’t laugh, even if you think you’re funnier than Chris Rock.

Her laughter is all about the chemistry between the two of you and has very little to do with the content of your jokes.

Maybe she’s not into you. Maybe she has no sense of humor. Maybe her cat died. Maybe she’s scared that aliens from outer space will abduct her if she laughs.

You’re not responsible for her reactions. Let her take care of herself. You simply focus on being the charming, witty guy that you know you can be while noticing if she is laughing or not. If she is – great! You want a girl who you can smile and laugh with. It makes life a lot more fun.

The key is to remember that her laughing has very little to do with your humor skills. It’s simply another sign that she does (or doesn’t) like you. If she’s not laughing, then chances are really high then it’s better to move on and find a girl who will laugh with you.

Signs a Girl Likes You

#2: She Touches You

Another one of the signs a girl likes you is she goes out of her way to touch you (usually when you are making her laugh).

Be careful now, we said that SHE goes out of HER WAY to touch YOU. NOT THE OPPOSITE. If you’re all over her she physically can’t be all over you.

When a girl likes you… and you make her laugh… and you aren’t touching her – she will touch you.

I’ve seen too many guys turn into Mr. Octopus because they heard that they were supposed to touch girls in order to make her like him.

Wrong!

When a woman is into you, you don’t need to be weird about trying to touch her. And when a given girl is NOT you, you’re just asking for trouble by touching too much. Avoid that, too.

Exercise self control and hold back on all the touching. Let her come to you. It helps you stay classy and it gives you valuable information (like whether or not she touches you).

However, if she’s the one touching you, don’t start jumping for joy, high-fiving your friends, and pulling out your award speech, either. Simply smile and note it as a good sign that a girl likes you.

Signs a Girl Likes You

#3: She Asks You Questions

(and Talks When You Ask Her Questions)

When a girl likes you, she wants to know more about you. Who are you? What do you like? What do you dislike? Where are you from? What was it like? When are you going? What do you do?

There are all good signs that a girl likes you.

Of course, since you are an astute student of DateMasters you know the importance not telling her everything about yourself. Let her learn more about you gradually.

You don’t have to answer any or all of her questions seriously. But always be aware of whether she is asking you questions or not.

If your conversation with her is entirely one-sided, that’s a bad sign.

Here are a few warning signals she might not be interested:

If you ask her a question, she gives short answers with no follow-up question;
If you stop talking, she doesn’t re-initiate the conversation;
If she could effectively be replaced with a brick wall without disrupting the conversation;
If talking to her is more difficult (or boring) than reciting the Gettysburg Address from memory.

Conversations, dates and relationships are all two-sided. If she isn’t holding up her end of the bargain, then she’s probably not interested. Time to move on.

Signs a Girl Likes You

#4: She Contacts You

When a girl likes you, chances are high that she will contact you more and more often.

Text messages. Phone calls. Telegraphs. Smoke-signals.

These are all common ways that girls who like you will contact you (some are more common than others).

We strongly recommend that you avoid texting as much as possible. In fact, the only time you really ever need to text is when you reply to her messages .

But that doesn’t mean she can’t send you messages. When a girl likes you, she wants to stay in contact with you. She wants you to think of her. Take it as a good sign.

“What if she never contacts you?”

This isn’t as clear-cut as the other signs. Her not contacting you might not mean anything. If she calls you back promptly, picks up your phone calls, and is generally easy to contact, those are all good signs.

However, if she never calls you back, or is hard to get in touch with, that is bad. If you leave a message that says to call you back, and she never calls back, that is bad. B-A-D. She’s telling you (pretty directly) “I’m not into you enough to return your phone calls, maybe if I’m extra starved for attention I’ll pick up your call someday.”

If you’re still not sure if she likes you or not, the next sign a girl likes you willl cut through the BS…

Signs a Girl Likes You

#5: She Eagerly Accepts Your Date Offer

Perhaps one of the most important signs a girl likes you is that she accepts your date offer. And the next one. And the one after that.

This is the bottom-line. She can laugh, touch you, ask questions and contact you all day, but if she isn’t actually going out with you, with romantic intentions (read: sex and/or a potential relationship), then none of it matters.

Wait… you are inviting women out on dates, right?

We strongly recommend guys ask girls out on dates (using the word date) for a very specific reason. Namely, it lets us determine whether she is actually interested in us, or not.

When guys fudge around the issue with indirect BS smoke and mirrors like inviting her to hang out, or to meet up sometime, then they never really have a chance to clearly find out if she’s interested or not.

In my experience, women respond very positively to being direct and straightforward.

When she likes you, she is absolutely thrilled that you are inviting her on a date. She’s being asked out on a date by a guy she likes – of course she’s thrilled!

When she isn’t interested, she’ll either turn down your offer or act wishy-washy at the prospect of a date with a guy she isn’t interested in.

Most women are honest. They don’t want to lead a guy on. But if he isn’t clear about his intentions, then he is letting himself get led on by the girl. He is letting himself get strung along because he was trying to avoid rejection by avoiding being straight-up with the girl (which only delays the inevitable).

Go down the straight and narrow – ask her on a date so that you stop wasting time on women who just aren’t into you.

Being straightforward with her puts everything out on the table so that you can truly determine whether a girl likes you, or not.

“How do I know if she likes me after our date?”

Invite her on the next date. Then the next one. Then the next one. Then the next one.

(Make sure you actually go on a date in between those invites.)

As long as she is into you, she will want to see you. This is how dating and relationships work in the real world (in the DateMasters world anyways). The women want you in their life.

Until you actually ask her out, there is no surefire way to know if she wants to go out with you. Sorry, man. There is no way around it. You’ll just have to man up, grow a pair and invite her on a date.

Warning About Looking for Signs a Girl Likes You

Now you’ve read several signs a girl likes you… it’s time for a big dose of reality.

All beautiful women know exactly how to give off all the right signals of interest so that guys think the girl likes him. If she likes you, chances are very good that she’ll give you the signals above. These women are honest, good people. These are the ones we want you with.

But, some of the women out there will intentionally make a guy think she likes him just so she can get something from him. These are the girls with agendas. Gold-diggers, users, professional daters, etc. We want you to avoid these women and all the problems they bring into your life. If she has an agenda and you are an easy target (hint: Pickup Artists, self-proclaimed players and guys that heavily utilize “Game” make for very easy targets) then she will probably give you any and all signs a girl likes you that have ever been published. It might look, at first, very similar to the same signs that an honest, beautiful woman gives.

What is the remedy for that?

In our seminars, we tell guys to never completely trust any individual signs that a girl likes you. As you date her, keep your eyes open for the warning signs that something might be a bit… off. Some women are just interested in your money, your lifestyle, your friends, your connections, your emotional support, or your time and attention. We want you to be with women who really and truly like you, with no hidden agenda.

It is always a good idea to take everything slow and really get to know a girl before you invest any emotions into her.

Keep your eyes peeled for those wonderful and beautiful women out there who really like you. That’s when life starts getting *real* fun (read: mind-blowing sex and extraordinarily fulfilling relationships with women who really make you happy).

Be Amazing.

Tips For Getting To Know Yourself Better

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 22:13:00 +0000

Here are some tools to use on a daily basis to keep getting to know yourselfamidst (and sometimes because of) certain challenges:

Do one small thing to make today better than yesterday.

Allow yourself to settle into the idea of small little shifts that add up to a more peaceful, centred you. Isn't it interesting how one little change can have such a drastic impact on our mood etc? You reclaim a piece of your day, even if it’s just a small one.

Begin to embrace your own brand of happy.

Be open to the hobbies, places, and people who make you feel enthusiastic about your future, regardless of what others may think about them. You were given specific skills in order to shine. Cultivate them in small and big ways.

You’re holding the remote

go ahead and press the pause button when needed. A saying of mine is “if I go within, I never go without”. Have some regular reflection, contemplation time – become interested in what you think or want to say. Spend time with the greenness of the plants on your balcony, look out of the window and notice something different, meditate, walk, stretch, dance etc. Become mindful of how you want to live your life.

Be aware of choices

Look for opportunities in every situation. Instead of expanding the problems, identify the lessons, and what I could do differently. Look at how I can open up my world to new possibilities.

How To Improuve Yourself And Help Others

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 21:41:00 +0000

Nine Things You Can Do

To Improve Yourself and Help Others

1. Seek God.

When we seek God we are seeking the highest level of knowledge. Respect the presence and contributions of those who’ve come before us. The greatest “thank you” we could give to whatever God(s) we believe in, and to those people who’ve come before us, is to make a serious commitment to our personal and collective wellbeing, growth, and empowerment.

2. Read read read.

Seek out reading lists, ask folks for book suggestions. Read at least one daily paper and one weekly alternative newspaper regularly. You must see reading as a commitment to learning. This will help broaden your worldview and sharpen your critical thinking skills. With this in mind, minimize television watching, or, at least, balance television viewing with reading, as constant reading will help you to interpret all media, including television, in a broader and healthier way.

3. Strive to be of good character,

learn to be compassionate toward the plights of others, and struggle for consistency between your public and private lives. Always be conscious of what you say, think before you speak, and ask yourself, “Am I about bridge building or destroying bridges?” or “Do I know how to love myself, and others?”

4. Be proactive with your life and in your community.

For example, educate yourself about the history of voting in America, register to vote, and vote in each and every election. Voting does make a difference on the local and state levels, as evidenced by who gets to control our school systems, land usage, and monetary allotments to our communities. Finally, join an organization that is in support of average, everyday people. Develop a high threshold for the difficulties associated with organization building, and with various personalities. If one organization disappoints you, seek out others, or make it a point to learn how to build an organization yourself by studying various groups and movements, then start one with like-minded folks.

5. Debate ideas and learn to formulate your own opinions.

Debate in a healthy manner: always come with facts, not emotionalism, and make sure you are listening as opposed to waiting for your turn to speak. In other words, use your intellect, not your ego.

6. Avoid frivolous spending at all costs.

Purchase what you need, not what you desire. Strive to own something in your life, be it a home, a business, or land.

7. Make a commitment to holistic living:

eat healthy, exercise regularly, pray or meditate at least once every day, and seek out counseling in one form or another if you have any minor or major emotional issues.

8. Be creative.

Discover what your creative expression is (e.g., writing, dancing, sewing, cooking, playing music). Learn the political and cultural history of your people, your group, and other people, other groups, so that you can develop a global vision.

9. Be bold, be fearless.

We should never be afraid of living our lives with a commitment to honesty. And we must be comfortable with resisting and protesting when necessary

How To Boost Your Creativity

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 20:27:00 +0000

7 Ways to Boost Your Creativity

Luckily, new research points the way to a variety of mental and environmental approaches that can help us improve our creative output:

1. Restrict yourself

Famously, Dr. Seuss wrote Green Eggs & Ham after betting that he couldn’t produce a story using less than 50 words. The research shows Seuss was on to something. Most people naturally take the path of “least resistance” and build off of older or existing concepts when brainstorming, which can lead to less creative ideas.

In order to put the brain in overdrive, you can mimic Dr. Seuss and place restrictions on yourself while creating, which will prevent you from falling back on past successes. If you usually write 1000-word short stories, try to create a story in under 500 words. Only use a small handful of chords in your song or colors in your design. The limiting nature of the task can bring out your most creative side.

2. Re-conceptualize the problem

Researchers have noted that creative people tend to re-conceptualize problems more often before starting a creative task. As Einstein once said :

“If I had an hour to solve a problem I’d spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and five minutes thinking about solutions.”

Instead of looking at the end goal of a creative project (i.e. “I need to create a memorable painting”), it’s better to re-visualize the problem from other, more meaningful, angles before starting (“What sort of painting would evoke the feeling of loneliness that we all feel after a break-up?”).Oftentimes, the best approach is to picture the intended audience of your next creative project. What inspires them? What are they sick of hearing about? What are the problems they face but are rarely able to talk about?

3. Separate work from consumption

It has been shown that we are particularly terrible at creating when we try to combine the gathering of information and actual creation. Researchers recommend only consuming information in an “absorb state” where you are not attempting to multitask.

In essence, the absorb state is a form of “batching” that emphasizes forced consumption over output. No interrupting yourself to start working on segments of your project while you are consuming information, instead use tools such as Evernote or Pocket to remember key ideas, insights, and articles that you will apply later when creating.

4. Stay positive

Although negative moods can sometimes spur creativity, researchers have found that it is during strong positive moods that our best creative work is done. In fact, the feeling of love or even thinking about love was shown to best encourage creative thinking.

Getting yourself to a “positive place” is not as trite as it may sound—any number of mood boosters (quick exercise, envisioning the future, recalling good memories) will do the trick to influence your mood, and your creative efforts will be at their best when your attitude is positive.

5. Use counterfactual thinking

Counterfactual thinking, also known as asking, “What might have been?” has been shown to increase creativity for short periods of time. To experiment with this technique, take events that have already happened and re-imagine different outcomes, alternating between the subtractive mindset (taking elements out of the event) and the additive mindset (adding elements into the event).

A silly example of counterfactual thinking in action can be seen on The Big Bang Theory, when one of the main characters makes a game of the phenomenon, asking his roommate: “In a world where Rhinoceroses are domesticated pets, who wins the Second World War?” You, however, can apply it to more realistic scenarios, such as mapping out outcomes whenever you are doing creative problem solving, subtracting or adding “what if” elements that would have affected the outcome.

6. Daydream… after getting started

While research has shown that daydreaming can help with creativity, it is important to note that studies have revealed that daydreaming only works when you’ve already committed effort towards a project. The reason? Daydreaming can be beneficial because it allows for the incubation of ideas. But incubation is only effective when we already have information to chew on. So be sure to get started on your project before drifting off.

7. Think about others

Research has shown that this “psychological distance” is an important part of being creative. For instance, one study found that people who thought their work would be used by someone else came up with more novel ideas. Conversely, those who were told that they would be using their own creation later came up with less novel ideas.

One such test in the studies above included telling participants that their drawings would later be used by other subjects to create a story. Those who had been told this came up with much more “creative” drawings (as evaluated by a selected board). When creating, even for personal projects, think about how someone else will enjoy, use, and incorporate your creation into their lives.

How about you?

What do you do to put yourself in the best mindset to generate new ideas?

Real Secret to Productivity

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 19:23:00 +0000

Search About “productivity” and you’ll be dished up more than 200 million search results. Scroll around and you’ll find blogs, websites, apps, browser plug-ins, essays, subreddits, consulting firms, publishing houses, podcasts, and scientific studies devoted to productivity.

What’s the obsession? Our modern lives are inundated with more information than ever before, with pressure to do more, better, faster. There are productivity hacks (wake up early; develop a routine) abound to help us squeeze more high-quality work out of less high-quality time.

But here’s the thing: the secret to productivity is actually super simple. Ready for it?

Manage your willpower.

How do you do that exactly ? Systems and routines. Omer Perchik, founder ofAny.do, writes about how reserving your willpower for truly impactful decisions and activity helps safeguard your productivity potential throughout the day:

Willpower is not something that you just create more of. In any given day, willpower is a limited resource, and truly productive people make sure they preserve it for the things that matter…. When you learn how to manage your willpower, you’re not only able to cut out extraneous work and decisions, but also more adept at choosing the decisions that matter. That’s a key understanding that highly productive people live by.

Systems to minimize “ego depletion,” Perchik’s term for willpower, include The 10-Minute Rule (break down all tasks into 10-minute mini-tasks), the Pomodoro Technique (focus on one task for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break),automation of as many tasks as possible, and building smarter to-do lists.

Simply add a system, with an adjustment to your routine, for maximal willpower protection. Easily distracted by your open office environment? Make it a habit to take a laptop into a closed room at a certain time each day. Get sidetracked by email overload in the morning? Don’t check it until the afternoon, and set up rules in your inbox to file away messages by topic or urgency. It’s all about minimizing decision fatigue and knowing your habits and preferences well enough to adjust. Whatever works best for you, adopt it. Your willpower stores will stay fully stocked so you don’t need to dip in for anything that doesn’t move your work forward.

The best part is that the better you get at maintaining your willpower, it’s not only your work that will benefit; so will your personal life. With more willpower not being wasted on things like what to order at Starbucks or how to respond to someone’s cryptic email, you’ll have much more mental energy to tackle personal goals (read 100 books this year), make healthy decisions (make it to the gym after work), and carve out time for side projects. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Get after it.

99 Tips To improuve your Life (VeryFastWays)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 17:09:00 +0000

ollaborations between organizations with different backgrounds often result in great realizations. To kick off LifeRemix, our group of bloggers collected a list of our 100 best “tips to improve your life.” Leo Babauta, author of Zen Habits and member of LifeRemix, compiled the list.While not specific to creative professionals, the list includes tips that are likely to boost overall effectiveness and the impact we are able to make with our ideas. For this reason, we re-post the list and encourage you to browse…

Find Inner Serenity by Making it Easier to Find Your Keys. For most people, getting control of clutter brings a greater sense of calm and decreased frustration.
Surround Yourself With Progress. When you complete a list of action steps, your instinct might be to throw the list away. After all, the work is completed! However, some creative professional teams take a different approach; they relish their progress. Some go so far as surrounding themselves with it.
Empty Your Inbox in 30 Seconds. Is your inbox filled with thousands and thousands of unread messages? Before you give up hope, there’s an instant way to clear your inbox of old emails in less than 30 seconds.
Instantly Build Self Confidence. These tips will get you riding high in no time.
Reduce Your Trash To Almost Zero. Follow the No Impact Man experiment to reduce our trash as close as we can to zero.
Feel like a million bucks for cheap. Feel healthier and more energized right away without spending a fortune.
End Laundry Chaos. More than 20 tips to help you keep your laundry chaos to a minimum.
Learn the Secrets of the Super-Organized. A few simple habits keep clutter and chaos at bay.
Check Email Once a Day … or Once a Week. Simple tips that will reduce interruption and increase your productivity.
Become an Early Riser. 10 benefits of rising early, and some practical tips on how to do it.
Learn Lessons from Google About Self-Image. How you think of yourself greatly affects how successful you can be. Google has got self-image down to a science.
Make a Good First Impression. Research shows that people decide what kind of relationship they want with you in the first ten minutes of a meeting, so making a good first impression really matters.
Know the Hype Behind Bottled Water. Have you ever stopped to think about just how incredibly odd it is to buy bottled water?
Leave Work at Work. Want more time for your family or personal life? Here’s how not to think about your job 24/7.
Create a Landing Strip to Become Organized. We come from work exhausted, often carrying our work bags, groceries, and the mail. A landing strip will help you avoid disorganization from the time you get home.
Understand Time to Increase Return on Investment. Time is your most valuable resource. Understanding these ideas will help you make optimal decisions.
Give Your RÈsumÈ a Face Lift. Even if you can’t hire a fancy designer and are stuck with Microsoft Word, a few tweaks can turn your blasÈ rÈsumÈ into an elegant and functional showpiece.
Boost Your Energy Level. Feeling energetic is a key to happiness and to self-esteem, so take steps to keep your energy high.
Actually Execute Your To-Do List. Many productivity systems will tell you how to organize your tasks, but what happens if you don’t feel like doing them?
Keep Your Desk Clean and Tidy. Do you spend waste more and more time looking for lost items instead of being the brilliant creative person that you are? Here’s how to get your desk clean, clutter-free, and keep it that way for good.
Learn the Truth About Baby Carrots. Baby carrots not really young carrots! They are also less nutritious and less flavorful than regular carrots.
Try Quick and (Almost) Painless Ways to Kill Distractions. Are you spending more time dealing with emails, IMs, phone calls, and random stray files than actually working? Here are ten actions you can do right now to kill distractions and get back to work.
Reduce Your Carbon Emissions. The most important lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your carbon emissions are listed here.
Put the Action Method Into Practice. After a couple years of studying how creative people stay organized, we developed a simple and easily customized method for managing projects. A good portion of 2006 was spent putting the Action Method into practice.
Gently End Procrastination. Need an easy way to remind you when you should be working and when you should be playing? Try using teaming up Flextime with Growl. Here’s how.
Get the Most Out of Your RSS Reader. Seven simple tips for getting your feeds under control.
Use Catchphrases to Change the Way You Think. By keeping certain ideas active and accessible through review and repetition ñ whether itís ìSay yes,î ìFake it ëtill you feel it,î or ìPeople succeed in groupsî ñ you can shape the way you think.
Photograph Your Mementos to Free Up Clutter. Taking digital photos of your mementos can get rid of clutter, free-up storage space, and provide you with a simple way to walk down memory lane.
Save Trees With Ease. Want to avoid all the paper towels, paper napkins and other tree-killing stuff there’s no need to use? Read here.
Organize Your Cluttered Desktop and Regain Your Sanity. Is your desktop littered with zillions of random files and folders often litter my desktop. Learn how 5 ordinary folders can keep your desktop immaculate.
Eat Slower. Why eating slower is better for your health, your sanity, your digestion, and more.
Maximize Your Lunch Hour. Your lunch hour should be the least “productive” moment in your day. If it lasts a mere 20 minutes-or just doesn’t exist anymore-here’s how to turn it around and make it joyful.
Increase Workplace Productivity by Not Being a Jerk. You get more flies with honey, as the saying goes. This is a brief outline for how to work and play well with your coworkers (and get more done).
Find Cheap Gas Instantly. If soaring gas prices are draining your wallet dry, here’s five ways to find cheap(er) gas anywhere.
Find Your Purpose. We’re all searching for our purpose. It seems tempting that having it appear by divine intervention would be great. Maybe not.
Make a GTD System for about $20. Putting together a functional GTD system for the price of a week’s worth of Starbucks.
Avoid costly DIY mistakes. You can end up costing yourself more in the long run if you don’t watch out for these mistakes.
Think About Whether You Can Afford NOT to Pursue Your Dreams. Pursuing dreams is crucial, even when it means taking a hit or entering financial uncertainty.
Plan for Success. Waiting for your ship to come in is a waste of time.
Improve Your Mind by Reading the Classics. How to use the wisdom of the classics to become a better writer, thinker, and speaker.
Break Habits of Highly Ineffective Emailing. A list of what not to do when emailing, avoiding these habits will take you a long way toward better, more productive email.
Make Your PDA Green. If you’re worried about e-waste and the toxins produced by burying and burning old cell phones and PDAs, you may want to try my green hipster’s pda.
Learn to Go From Solo to Successful Collaboration. Self-starters are often successful doing everything themselves. However, when forced to grow beyond the one gal/guy-show, many creative professionals are unable to take the leap from a solo success to a successful collaboration.
Create a Morning Routine. Developing a routine in the morning could lead to greater sanity and happiness, and achieving your goals.
Learn How to Survive a Road Trip. Road trips always begin on a high note, but by the end even Mother Teresa would be willing to shove her grandmother out of the car. Here are 9 tips to help keep you sane and happy on any road trip.
Share To Make Ideas Happen. The philosophy to “share ideas liberally” defies the age-old instinct to keep ideas secret. However, the creative person’s tendency to jump from idea-to-idea-to-idea causes most ideas to die in isolation. Creative professionals should take every opportunity to communicate new ideas broadly, seek feedback, and develop a sense of accountability.
Use Space Under Stairs for More Storage. Very cool under-stair storage where each step is a drawer.
Know What’s In Store If You Have a Toddler. New parents often wonder what’s in store for them once their kid is able to move around on their own. Here’s what you can expect.
Work in Multiple Positives. These hyper-productive activities will benefit you in multiple ways at once.
Use a Super Slim Wallet. It’s time to shrink down that backbreaking Constanza wallet. Here are 8 ways to radically slim down your wallet.
Advertise Action to Yourself. We live in a world of choices. When we buy, we have to make a choice between varieties, brands, and sizes. Similarly, when we work we have to decide what to focus on and how to use our time. While prioritization helps us focus, our minds still have the tendency to wander. We are most likely to focus on whatever catches our eye. Along the lines of “out of sight, out of mind” we learn that “right before our eyes, actions thrive.”
Gain Muscle in Minimal Time. How Tim Ferriss gained 34 pounds of muscle in 4 weeks.
Choose Living Over Sleeping Sometimes. Despite the importance of healthy sleep habits, there are times when it’s good to throw caution to the wind and invest in your life in other ways.
Make Reference Items Helpful. We spend too much time discussing, storing, and organizing notes. References are only valuable if you refer to them. Even with a well-organized system for managing references (either digital or paper), how often do we actually use them? How do we make reference items helpful?
Eat Sustainably. If you are interested in how to eat sustainably, read about it here.
Lose Weight Without Exercise. How to lose 20 lbs. of fat in 30 days with a sensible diet.
Find Calm & Sanity Through the Environment. If you’ve ever thought a more environmental life might also be a calmer, saner life, you’re right.
Learn About the Successfully Self-Employed. Is freelancing for suckers? Are you already an expert? This series explores the levels of the free-agent — and how to understand what each one means.
Learn GTD the Easy Way. An online primer of all the chapters of Getting Things Done.
Set Goals So You Actually Accomplish Them. Setting goals is hard. Following through is even harder. Using a framework that builds on your personal view of the world can make the process easier. This series helps outline how.
Reduce Gamer Clutter. If you are a gamer, these are a number of suggestions to help you keep your entertainment system under control and the gaming clutter to a minimum.
Stick to a Schedule of Regular Exercise. Exercising regularly boosts moodóright awayóand also makes it easier to sleep, keeps your weight down, and gives you energy.
Cut Back on Computer Cables. Follow these 8 simple steps to get rid of the birds’ nest of cables behind your computer.
Pay the Price to Be an Entrepreneur. The price of access can be steep, but once you’re flying down the road — it’s well worth it.
Single-task. Increase your productivity by learning not to multi-task.
Get Outside Your Comfort Zone. Comfort isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Drop Ideas That Fail. Ideas are a commodity. Being able to execute them well is what creates success. Hanging on to an idea, even after it his proven to be ineffective is the downfall of many aspiring entrepreneurs.
Learn to Calculate Risk. Risk and reward go hand-in-hand. Knowing what to expect can help reduce risk and shape your reality.
Don’t Settle for Just One Path. Variety is the spice of life. So why do you have to be just one thing when you grow up?
Get Rid of Paper Clutter. A four-part series dedicated to reducing the paper clutter in your home.
Set Up Action Areas. Boxes need to be mailed, errands need to be run, cookies need to be eaten, orders need to be fulfilled, but by whom? Whoever has a chance! The Behance team got tired of limiting our action steps to just an area on paper – why not make “action areas” out of physical space?
Find Hidden Clutter. Ten places to start looking for hidden clutter in your home.
Get a Promotion. 20 tips that landed the writer an IT promotion — most could be used in any field.
Dispose of Old Electronics. The best ways to dispose of old electronics.
Increase Your Intelligence. A list of 5 simple activities that will boost your brain power.
Present Yourself. Creative achievements seldom happen in isolation. A big part of making ideas happen is controlling how you come across to others. Of course, the Creative’s tendency is to say, “who gives a crap what other people think.” While there is merit in never compromising oneself for the sake of another’s opinion, creative professionals need to make an effort to be understood. You need to present yourself effectively to engage others and get the support (and the business) you need to push ideas forward.
Follow George Orwell’s Rules for Effective Writing. Becoming a better writer will create better career opportunities and increase productivity.
Lay Your Energy Line. Creative teams juggle multiple projects at once. The constant streams of ideas lead to more ideas. As energy is spread across projects like peanut butter, prioritization is all but lost. Energy Lines are a simple way to prioritize and use design to guide creative energy.
Focus on Continuous Improvement. By mastering the optimization mentality you can become an expert in your chosen field.
Motivate Yourself. This post will teach you to recognize the primary motivation killers and how to beat them.
Become a More Light-hearted Parent. We all want a peaceful, happy atmosphere at home ñ and you canít nag and yell your way there.
Give Up Nagging. Itís no fun to nag, and itís no fun to be nagged. Give your relationship a lift by putting an end to the irritating nag cycle.
Learn to Sacrifice Temporary Pressure for Long-term Goals. All success requires sacrifice. Do you have the determination to endure temporary punishment to reach your dreams?
Learn the GTD Workflow. An excellent into to GTD for the novice, a great refresher for the experienced.
Use the Power of 10 Minutes. 10 Minutes can be even more productive amount of time than 50 minutes, if used properly.
Triple Your Workout Effectiveness. Do you exercise regularly but don’t get the results you want? Here are some simple but powerful ways to boost that workout.
Work 8 Hours Straight Without Hating Yourself. There is an art to taking breaks that can help you work longer, and more productively.
Learn Whether You’re Waking Up at the Wrong Time. Everyone’s internal clock can tell us when we should be working. Are you listening to it?
Reduce Wasted Plastic Cups and Bottles. If you want to toss fewer plastic cups and bottles in the trash, you may be interested this ultra-cool reusable cup and water bottle.
Avoid Entrepreneurial Burnout: Fill Your Tank. Many times entrepreneurs suffer from going too hard with their vision, without thinking about keeping the work pace sustainable.
Take Steps to Boost Your Happiness in the Next Hour. You can make yourself happier ñ and this doesnít have to be a long-term ambition. You can start right now.
Learn to Capture Ideas and How to Manage Diarrhea of the Brain. Sometimes our best ideas come at the worst possible times. These tips will help to make sure none of those precious ideas fall through the cracks.
Know the Signs That a Pink Slip is Coming. If you can answer yes to THREE or more of these questions, you may want to think about sprucing up your resume and dry-cleaning your best interview attire.
Try No TV. In an extreme experiment to reduce waste to near zero, No Impact Man turned turned off electricity, which means no TV. Read about how to entertain a little girl with no TV.
Accelerate Your Mortgage Payments to Save a Bundle. See how much money you can save by adding just a few extra dollars a month to the principal.
Put Your Daily To-Do List On a Post-It. If it won’t fit on a post-it, it won’t fit in your day.
Use Money to Buy Happiness. Some of the best things in life arenít free, so spend money in ways to bring you more happiness bang for your buck.
Save the Lives of Animals With One Change. If you want to help save the lives of hundreds of thousands of animals just by not using plastic bags, perhaps the easiest environmental step, read here.
Get the Most Out of Your Rebates. Follow these tips and we can all fight the Man and wrench our hard-earned money back from those big, faceless corporations.

How Much Nicotine Is in 1 Cigarette (Unbelievable) ?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 12 Apr 2015 21:58:00 +0000

Although there are dozens of cigarette manufacturers, each one with multiple products, almost all cigarettes are produced in the same way. Since most cigarette companies use similar methods, cigarettes affect people in nearly identical ways regardless of the specific company that manufactured them. This is especially true with nicotine.

Time Frame

Upon first inhaling smoke from a cigarette, the nicotine reaches the person’s brain in under 10 seconds, and it reaches the central nervous system in under five minutes. The initial influence on a person’s brain depends on a host of circumstances, but in most cases nicotine acts as a mild depressant. Nicotine is a fast-acting chemical, and is quickly used by the human body. All traces of nicotine are usually undetectable in a person within a few days after a final cigarette. The total length of time a person has been a smoker, combined with their metabolism and other physical characteristics, will determine how long it will take for the last traces of nicotine to leave the body.

Effects

Nicotine’s effect on a person is mental and physical. When the nicotine first reaches the brain upon the inhalation of smoke, the effect is typically a relaxed and slightly euphoric feeling. After the nicotine reaches the central nervous system a few minutes later, this calm feeling is often enhanced in a more powerful physical sense. These effects last for several more minutes, but because their decline is slow and steady it is often not realized by the smoker until much more time has elapsed. People who smoke more cigarettes in an average day typically do so because their bodies have become used to the physical effects of the nicotine on their nervous systems.

Misconceptions

The harm done by cigarettes is widely documented and easily verifiable by countless medical organizations and industry publications. Despite monumental efforts by public school districts, the U.S. surgeon general and other groups, many new smokers are grossly unaware of exactly how dangerous the long-term effects of cigarettes are.

Warning

Aside from the widely publicized dangers caused by smoking cigarettes, there are additional, often unrealized, health risks directly connected to nicotine. Regardless of the manner in which this drug is ingested, it significantly increases a person’s chances of developing cancer. Unlike cigarettes, where the main focus of cancer development is usually in the mouth, lips, throat, and lungs, nicotine ingested in other ways increases the possibility of cancer in a more general sense. People should be aware of this fact and consider the additional dangers associated with smoking cessation products such as patches and gum.

Six Reasons Why You Should Quit Facebook

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 12 Apr 2015 21:54:00 +0000

With over 750 million active accounts, an astounding one in nine people in the world log on to Facebook, arguably the most addictive social media site. Studies reveal that Facebook makes us spend more, work less and generally, discourages us. In this, has Facebook become a liability for budding entrepreneurs?

Here are six reasons detailing how Facebook works against the determined entrepreneur.

1. Facebook is the ultimate time waster.

I joined Facebook in 2007, roughly eight years ago. On average I’d spend one hour on Facebook every weekday and an additional two on Saturday and Sunday, totalling 10 hours a week, or one of my average work days. That’s 4,160 hours over my Facebook life, equating to 173 days continuously, or 24 weeks, or six whole months of my life spent on Facebook.

Entrepreneurs are constantly time poor -- can you really afford six months of your life trawling through strangers' holiday snaps?

2. Facebook is a money pit.

In 2012 Facebook appealed to the government to sell shares of stock to the public. In the vicinity of $75 billion, Facebook’s “stocks” are the data that we input into our profiles. Facebook mines our information to sell companies who orchestrate invasive advertising campaigns.

What was once a fun fuss-free platform, Facebook is now littered with ads -- a virtual gold mine for the $200 billion company. In December 2013, Facebook launched video advertisements, making it an increasingly unsafe environment for the cash-strapped entrepreneur. Facebook makes far more money from us then we make from it, statistics show.

3. You won’t miss it.

Last month, the Huffington Post published "How to Quit Facebook Without Experiencing Withdrawal" suggesting that to elevate the anxiety of quitting Facebook, a person should seek solace on another channel.

Invest in a social-media platform that supports, not hinders, your entrepreneurial pursuits (my preference is Twitter). Entrepreneurs should spend their time on a platform that generates revenue, unearths contacts and cements their brand. The "garbage bag" mix found on a Facebook feed is not the forum to do this.

Facebook insists upon a 14-day cooling off period when a person deletes their account, perhaps relying on a moment of weakness for the user to withdraw their request by simply logging back in.

4. Personal profiles are no longer private.

In a controversial move last year, Facebook retired the option to suppress your name from being visible in searches. Facebook is increasingly removing users' rights to keep their information private, primarily through adding to the exhausting number of options available on the Privacy panel. The only way to keep your profile suppressed from a person is to block them.

In short, Facebook profits from you being an open book, and they don’t want you to close it. This system makes entrepreneurs vulnerable to scrutiny from potential employers, investors and colleagues who can easily access their personal Facebook profiles.

5. Facebook makes you less happy.

A recent study conducted by the Department of Behavioral Science at Utah Valley University found that Facebook makes us view our lives negatively. The study of 400 students concluded that “those who have used Facebook longer agreed more that others were happier, and agreed less that life is fair, and those spending more time on Facebook each week agreed more that others were happier and had better lives."

When seeking motivation, entrepreneurs should look outside of Facebook. Social comparison, a byproduct of the Facebook experience, makes the user feel worse about their lives, according to one study.Entrepreneurs are emotionally rewarded through creating content and engaging in meaningful conversations online, rather than falling into the Facebook voyeur role.

6. You can’t trust Facebook.

This year, Facebook revealed its secret study of 689,000 users who did not give their consent. Facebook harvested users' News Feed interactions to develop a detailed report on “emotional contagion," the ability to manipulate a person’s emotions through Facebook. This is just one example of Facebook’s unethical use of the public’s information, and entrepreneurs who need to protect their intellectual property are not safe on this platform.

Remember, the moment we enter information into Facebook, it is no longer our own. Facebook is constantly updating its terms of service making entrepreneurs safe today, but not tomorrow.

How to make love Best tips ever!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 12 Apr 2015 21:50:00 +0000

HELLO people today we are going to show you How to make love with the Best tips ever!

Sex has a huge significance in a relationship. Touching, cuddling or simple hugging can make a lot of difference to a relation. It can lead to great sex. When life becomes busy, and schedules are hectic, plan for sexual experiences with one another.

Make sex one of your main priorities. Plan things in advance. If you want to have good sex at night, start the foreplay in the morning.

Let your spouse know you care and are thinking about him/her throughout the day. Exchange SMS...naughty ones maybe. It's good to be playful will and naughty.

Good sex is very important part of any marriage. It will help you come closer to your partner and also help you to understand him/her better.

Making love often will keep the passion alive in your relationship, which is very essential factor of a healthy relationship. Get naughty, think of innovative ways to enjoy love-making.

On the other hand, if you're the go-hard type and can lose yourself in the moment, the public translates to a wealth of opportunities that are endless.

Bath tub
Light a few candles around the bath tub and to add some excitement tell him/her that you're planning to sex them up in the tub. You can even add champagne or wine to the mix and you see things getting started effortlessly.

Kitchen
It is an exciting place to cook some love and action. Try baking your partner's favourite cookies / cake or any other recipe in a sexy set of shorts and a t-shirt; lean over the counter for some cleavage view to get his attention. Don't be afraid to be aggressive with your partner, they'll love it for sure.

Drops of love
Rain is sexy to begin with, so sex in the rain has to be amazing. If you get caught in the rain with your guy/girl, find a building to duck behind or a nearby park to indulge in some spontaneous loving. Parks are particularly convenient because they tend to be empty when it's raining.

Elevator
This is no easy task to pull off, but can be quite exciting if you can make it happen. All elevators work different, so some have the ability to stop at the push of a button. In which case, push the button and get to it! But others, you will have to dodge the oncoming traffic and somehow find away to get the elevator to skip all stops with close door button coordination.

Public library
Smart people are always ready and if your partner is a bookworm, have him/her meet you at the city or university library. Find a corner or a study nook and wait for your lover to find you. When they find you, devour him/her, but remember you have to be quiet.

Moving car
This is not the most legal thing to do, but days that you're stuck in traffic it could be great fun time too. However, if you're busted it could be all bad! But viewership always heightens pleasure so a taxi could be a ton of fun, if you're both into it.

On the terrace
On a starry night, grab an oversized blanket and wine. Set it up so it looks like it's you're going to spend some time out there, take your time with him/her and enjoy the full-body draft.

How To Improve Your Life 5 Harsh Truths

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 12 Apr 2015 21:46:00 +0000

Truth hurts, but someone has to say it. Your life is what you make of it and the only person who can help you is yourself. If you’re ready to take personal responsibility and improve your life, I invite you to apply these 5 harsh truths today.

1. No One Is Going to Fix You

If you are waiting for a knight in shining armor to gallop into your life and heal your broken heart, you will be waiting forever. The only person who can help you is yourself. Be happy for the other people in your life, but do not become dependent on them for happiness unlike you like to be on a never-ending emotional roller-coaster that is far beyond the realm of your control. Are you alone? No, far from it. But no one is going to fix you, so it is in your best interest to take personal responsibility for your own life. When you do that, you’ll discover you are more powerful than you ever thought possible.

2. Life Will Never Be Perfect

If you are waiting for the “right” time to do something — pursue self-employment, begin a fitness plan, dive into the dating pool, or move to a new town — you’re going to be waiting forever. There is no such thing as a “right” time to do anything. This reaction is based on your fear-of-change, plain and simple. If you keep waiting for that mysterious “perfect time to act” (please tell me, when have you ever experienced such a thing?), this means you will never actually have to take action and confront your fear. Do the scary thing. You will be so glad you did.

3. You Might Fail (a Lot)

If you attempt to achieve an ambitious new goal, then it is possible that you will fall on your face while pursuing said goal. Welcome to reality. It’s time to change your thinking about failure. It is not a big, bad thing that you should be frightened of. Failure is a learning opportunity and nothing more. If successful people quit pursuing their goal after failing the first time they tried something new, then there would be approximately zero successful people ever. There is no such thing as a “hole-in-one” in life. Do you want to know how many times I’ve failed? Over a hundred. The only reason I’ve managed to accomplish anything is because I am a firm believer in continuous improvement. If you fail in something, distance from the event for a day or two, because agonizing over the problem will not make it go away (and will make it a lot worse). Read a good book, catch up with some friends you haven’t seen in a long time, or go on a nature hike. You will be able to look at the issue with a fresh perspective. After you have done that, ask yourself: “Why didn’t this work out and how can I do better next time?” This process very well could repeat itself several times depending on the nature of your goal, but if you keep making a firm commitment to continuously improve yourself, you will develop so much that the only option left is success. Consistent hustle always wins.

4. The Past Is Already Written

Have you ever made a mistake so monumental that you wish you could go back in time and do it all over again? Join the club. It’s called being human. I know you might feel immense regret, but beating yourself up over something that is already done serves no purpose. Shift your attention to the present, where you can take control of your life and move forward into a better future.

5. Tomorrow Is Not Guaranteed

Steve Jobs said it best, so I’m going to defer to him for this harsh truth:

“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything – all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.”

The next time you catch yourself playing the “I will do it tomorrow” game, remember that tomorrow is not guaranteed. Traffic accidents, heart attacks, and acts of violence do happen. Live in the present and take action today, because that is where progress happens.

Talk to us

I know truth hurts, but someone had to say it. If you want to accept personal responsibility and build the life that you dream of having, I invite you to apply these seven harsh truths to improve your life today. Now I want to know what you think: are there any I hope these seven harsh truths help you improve your life. Tell us all about it in the comments!

How to Become a Millionaire by Age 30 (9steps)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 12 Apr 2015 20:10:00 +0000

Getting rich and becoming a millionaire is a taboo topic. Saying it can be done by the age of 30 seems like a fantasy.

It shouldn’t be taboo and it is possible. At the age of 21, I got out of college, broke and in debt, and by the time I was 30, I was a millionaire.

Here are the 10 steps that will guarantee you will become a millionaire by 30.

1. Follow the money. In today’s economic environment you cannot save your way to millionaire status. The first step is to focus on increasing your income in increments and repeating that . Start following the money and it will force you to control revenue and see opportunities.

2. Save to invest, don’t save to save. The only reason to save money is to invest it. Put your saved money into secured, sacred (untouchable) accounts. Never use these accounts for anything, not even an emergency. This will force you to continue to follow step one (increase income). To this day, at least twice a year, I am broke because I always invest my surpluses into ventures I cannot access.

3. Avoid debt that doesn’t pay you. Make it a rule that you never use debt that won’t make you money. I borrowed money for a car only because I knew it could increase my income. Rich people use debt to leverage investments and grow cash flows. Poor people use debt to buy things that make rich people richer.

4. Treat money like a jealous lover. Millions wish for financial freedom, but only those that make it a priority have millions. To get rich and stay rich you will have to make it a priority. Money is like a jealous lover. Ignore it and it will ignore you, or worse, it will leave you for someone who makes it a priority.

5. Money doesn’t sleep. Money doesn’t know about clocks, schedules or holidays, and you shouldn’t either. Money loves people that have a great work ethic. making an extra sale. Never try to be the smartest or luckiest person -- just make sure you outwork everyone.

6. Poor makes no sense. I have been poor, and it sucks. I have had just enough and that sucks almost as bad. Eliminate any and all ideas that being poor is somehow OK. Bill Gates has said, "If you’re born poor, it’s not your mistake. But if you die poor, it is your mistake."

7. Get a millionaire mentor. Most of us were brought up middle class or poor and then hold ourselves to the limits and ideas of that group. I have been studying millionaires to duplicate what they did. Get your own personal millionaire mentor and study them. Most rich people are extremely generous with their knowledge and their resources.

8. Get your money to do the heavy lifting. Investing is the Holy Grail in becoming a millionaire and you should make more money off your investments than your work. If you don’t have surplus money you won’t make investments . Investing is the only reason to do the other steps, and your money must work for you and do your heavy lifting.

9. Shoot for $10 million, not $1 million. The single biggest financial mistake that people made was not thinking big enough. I encourage you to go for more than a million. There is no shortage of money on this planet, only a shortage of people thinking big enough.

Apply these 9 steps and they will make you rich. Steer clear of people that suggest your financial dreams are born of greed. Avoid get-rich-quick schemes, be ethical, never give up, and once you make it, be willing to help others get there too.

Attract Girls Without Saying A Word (5Techniques)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 12 Apr 2015 20:05:00 +0000

Five Techniques That Will Build Your Confidence Around Girls and Attract Them Without Even Saying A Word

Have you ever noticed how many girls complain about guys being assholes, but still only seem to flirt with guys that clearly don’t care about them? Have you wondered why you keep getting overlooked in favor of supposed “Alpha Males”? What makes “Alpha Males” so attractive to women? Read on, and find out how you can change your behavior, become more confident, and significantly increase your chances with women.

1. Confidence

Fake it ‘til you make it.

The “Alpha Male” is confident and this shows in his body language. He is confident enough to express his point of view, in a straightforward, calm manner with those around him. He doesn’t worry too much. You’ve probably heard thousands of times how important it is to be confident. And we all know how difficult it can be to fake it. Before you become confident try to affect that you already are.

Pay attention to your body language. Confident men carry themselves well and have proper posture. Don’t go through the room so quickly that nobody has a chance to talk to you. Walk slowly and upright, and when you sit down keep your hands unclenched.

When an Alpha Male sits, he leans back, appears relaxed, and takes up all the space he needs. While his friends take up little space and are anxious around others, an Alpha Male isn’t afraid of physical contact and always looks people in the eyes. Don’t mumble. Speak slowly and articulate your thoughts clearly. If you’re naturally introverted, make sure you speak loudly enough for others to hear and understand you.

2. Self-respect

What should matter most.

The Alpha Male is self-assured and firm in his beliefs and opinions. He doesn’t worry too much about what others think about him. This makes him hard to manipulate. Strong, dominant characters don’t shy away from controversy and stand up for themselves. This attitude also applies to women. If an Alpha Male feels he is being manipulated by a girl, he doesn’t waste time figuring out the reasons, he just moves on to someone else. He lives by his own rules, and isn’t submissive to even the most beautiful woman.

A woman, who enters the world of the Alpha, must play by his rules. She won’t try to change his behavior. Live by your own rules and refuse to compromise your values for anyone. Make women play by your rules too. Put yourself first and people will respect your more. Women love men who respect themselves!

Conscious decision-making doesn’t have much to do with attraction and love. If you want to keep a girl interested, show her that you don’t really care THAT much. Appear busier than you actually are. Even if you want to see her everyday, don’t make yourself so available. Make plans that don’t involve her, and keep busy. Set a date with her on another day. Ignoring a woman will make her want you more, and I don’t have to tell you what a boost that can be to your confidence.

3. Decisiveness

Put yourself first.

An Alpha Male knows he has to make the first move when approaching a woman. When it comes to fulfilling his goals, he’s not afraid of work or rejection. Instead of letting the world influence him, he influences the world. Don’t be afraid to stand firm in your decisions.

Girls love guys that are decisive and unafraid of taking the lead. Decision-making is a critical component of life and a way to demonstrate your self-confidence. Next time you ask her out, make sure you know where you’d like to take her. Don’t ask her where she’d like to go. Make it an experience that shows her something about you.

4. Sexuality

Make it second nature.

An Alpha Males isn’t afraid of his sexuality. He doesn’t seek approval to behave in polite, sexual ways that come naturally. Whether it’s teasing his girlfriend or ‘accidentally’ touching a girl’s back, there’s no doubt of his intentions.

Displaying your sexuality may seem foreign to you, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t take proactive steps to become more comfortable with your sexual self. Start small, with the arms, waist, or back. Don’t be offensive or awkward. Just relax and engage the girl you’re interested in a way that makes her understand your intentions without seeming creepy. Be mindful of her reaction.

5. Self-improvement

Invest in developing your personality.

Maybe you blame your appearance, metabolism, or even narcissistic tendencies on your failed pick-up attempts, but that’s not how attraction works. Don’t make yourself into some sad scapegoat! Success with women has little to do with extraneous circumstances. Work on self-improvement and personal growth.

An Alpha Male is busy and passionate, and the time and attention he has to spend with other people is limited, and therefore valuable. Once you have a goal that extends beyond bedding down every female you come across, you become more interesting and desirable. Women will love you! Playing Xbox, watching TV, and only doing things within your Comfort Zone won’t change you. You can only boost your self-confidence by challenging yourself to excel and trying new things.

When was the last time you did something exciting? Discovery is an important part of life, so travel to new places and try new hobbies, or try learning some new skills. Ladies like a guy that gets out there and is unique, and it gives them the thrill of the unknown, which they find incredibly attractive.

Notice that I didn’t mention anything about “good looks” or money? Women don’t expect all men to be incredibly chiseled football players in order to spend time with them. Seduction is based on displaying fundamental “Alpha Male” traits, such as confidence, independence, and masculinity. Being an “Alpha Male” is the result of self-acceptance. Something we all struggle with from time to time.

5 Exercises That Will Change Your Body

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 12 Apr 2015 20:01:00 +0000

You’ve practically made the gym your second home. Day in and day out (okay, so maybe just a few times every week) you spend a good amount of your time on routine workouts. After a few weeks of sticking to a regular exercise regimen, you managed to lose weight. And for a while, you were happy with the results. That was until you stopped seeing any new changes.

Don’t get me wrong. Regular exercise can help you shed off any excess pounds and keep you from gaining them back. But if you really want to transform your body, you need to do other exercises besides your normal routine. Here are 15 exercises that will change your body in ways you never thought was possible.

1. Squats

Squatting is a simple full-body exercise that works up different muscle groups. It’s so easy to do that you don’t need any equipment! You can perform squats at home or at work – if you’re reallythat dedicated to transforming your body. Squatting exercises strengthens your body, improves your flexibility, and burns plenty of calories.

Benefits: Squats primarily build your leg muscles, but they also promote muscle building throughout your body by prompting the release of testosterone and human growth hormone. Because it’s a “functional” exercise, everyday life would be easier. Eventually, you’ll be able to carry several grocery bags at a time and lift other heavy objects with ease.

Squats assist in detoxifying your body by improving the circulation of body fluids and promoting regular bowel movement. Both of which are necessary for removing bodily wastes. Squats efficiently promote weight loss by promoting muscle gain. The more muscle you have, the more calories you can burn. You can lose as much as 500 to 700 calories a day with squatting exercises! Perhaps the best part about squatting is how it lifts your gluteus (that’s fancy word for ass), tightens the abdomen, and tones the legs.

How to do it: Maximize squats by holding a 5 lb. dumbbell in each hand with your arms down at the sides. Stand with your feet apart and toes facing forward, making sure it’s a little wider than your shoulder width. Roll your shoulders backwards then down, away from your ears. Bend your knees and prop your hips backwards, as if you are going to sit on a chair.

While your butt is sticking out, maintain a neutral stance by keeping your chest and shoulders in an upright position. Maintain the weight on your heels as you lower your body. Slowly return to a standing position. Perform 3 sets with 12 repetitions.

Here are some good apps for you to get healthy and fit in 2019, check em out :

2. Burpees

No, it’s not the gas that comes out of your mouth after a full meal. Burpees are much like squats in that they work out your entire body – only better. It is so effective at transforming the body, that it has become a staple among soldiers, fighters, and cross-fitters throughout the years. You can do it anywhere too since it doesn’t require equipment. Burpees increase physical stamina, improve endurance, and promote heart health.

Benefits: Burpees is a full-body exercise that works out every muscle in the body with each repetition. It builds your arms, chest, butt, thighs, and core muscles. Because it pushes multiple muscle groups, you get to burn more calories in a shorter span of time compared to isolation exercises which are limited to one muscle group. When performed faster and with greater intensity, you get to burn even more calories with burpees!

It can benefit your everyday life as well. Burpees encourage functional fitness so you can perform daily activities much easier. Made to condition the body for sports and extreme activities, it will surely strengthen your heart and improve your stamina and endurance. Another good thing about burpees is that they’re never boring. You can incorporate it to whatever workout routine.

How to do it: Stand with your feet at shoulder width distance. Lower your body into a squatting position then place your hands in front of you. With hands flat on the floor, kick back your feet into a push up position. Perform one quick push up. Afterwards, pull your feet back into a squatting position. Stand up, extend your arms overhead, then jump into the air. Do as many repetitions as you can within 1 minute.

3. Barbell Thrusters

Others say this is the best full-body exercise for transforming the body, but it does have a few caveats. First, you will need a 10 lb. barbell – it is not an exercise you can do anywhere. You’d have to be at the gym or own a barbell at home. Second, you need enough muscle, stability, mobility, and power to lift up the barbell and keep it steady on your shoulders. The advantages of barbell thrusters outweigh its disadvantages however.

Benefits: This exercise combines a full-front squat with a push press for a complete head-to-toe workout. It is highly intense that even the most hardened lifters are humbled by it. Barbell thrusters can drastically improve your upper body and lower body strength. It builds muscles around your shoulders, upper arms, forearms, core, thighs, and calves. It usually takes 30 to 40 minutes of 5 to 8 different exercises to work on these muscles. But with barbell thrusts, you can get the same results within 5 minutes. Since it combines two powerful exercises in one, you get to burn twice the amount of calories.

How to do it: Stand with your feet at shoulder width distance. Hold the 10 lb. barbell in front of you, parallel to your shoulders, with elbows bent high and fingertips underneath it. Let the barbell rest on your collarbone. Maintain an upright torso and bend your knees to lower your body into a squatting position until the undersides of your thighs are in line with the floor. In a quick short burst, straighten your legs and push the bar forcefully overhead until your arms fully extend. Return to the starting position. Perform 3 sets with 12 repetitions.

4. Clean and Press

It’s one of those complete body workouts – well, almost. It builds different muscle groups on both the upper and lower body regions. You need a barbell to perform a clean and press so you have to hit the gym with this one. Since you need to be strong and fast to perform it efficiently, you might not be as fast under the bar at the beginning. With practice and patience however, you can effectively perform a clean and press and bring about positive changes on your physique.

Benefits: This is an exercise that promotes overall body strength. It improves your strength, speed, and explosive power. Its main goal is to strengthen your shoulders, neck muscles, triceps, and thighs, but also tones them in the process. A clean and press can also tighten your glutes for a nice shaped behind.

Because this exercise is versatile, you can add it to a wide range of exercise programs. It is also used for gauging any improvement in body strength.

How to do it: Set a barbell on the floor in front of you. With your feet wide apart to maintain your balance, slightly bend your knees and hold the barbell with an overhand grip, making sure to retain an upright posture, straight arms, and lifted chest. Now straighten your legs and your arms then lift the barbell up to your hips. As soon as the barbell reaches hip level, rise up on the tip of your toes, shrug your shoulders with power, and pull the bar up towards your shoulders, letting your elbows take the lead.

By the time the barbell reaches shoulder level, quickly squat back down under the bar and allow your elbows to rotate forward so you can catch it in front of your shoulders, near the collar bone. Slightly bend your knees then straighten them and press the bar directly on top of your head. Gently reverse the motion and return the barbell to the floor. This is one repetition. Perform 3 sets of 12 repetitions.

5. Caterpillar Crawl

Have you ever noticed how little babies and children can move around without breaking a bone or getting a muscle sprain? It’s because they are flexible. But when they become adults, even the extension of an arm at a slightly off angle could result in a sore shoulder that lasts a day or two.

You see, strength is not the only mark of an amazing body. You need some flexibility too. Being flexible allows you to extend parts of your body with little risk for muscle ache or injury. A simple exercise like the caterpillar crawl can help you regain such childlike flexibility.

Benefits: The caterpillar crawl is a wonderful exercise that will redefine the limitations of an older, less-flexible body. Besides improving your flexibility, it can strengthen the muscles of your shoulders, arms, chest, core, and legs. You don’t need anything with this exercise save for clean space to work out.
How to do it: Stand up with your feet together. Now slowly bend over and bring your hands to the floor. When your hands reach the floor, slowly walk them forward until your body is in a push up position and your hands are directly below your shoulders. With your hands planted firmly on the ground, walk your feet towards them. Do this until your hands and feet meet then return to the standing position. This is one repetition. Perform as many reps as you can in 1 minute. For the best results, maintain a tight core while doing the caterpillar crawl.

New Study says "Comparing yourself to Facebook friends can lead to .....

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 12 Apr 2015 19:57:00 +0000

SALT LAKE CITY — Thanks to social media, the distance between friends and loved ones is smaller than ever. A simple click or scroll can provide a detailed update of the whos, whats, whens, wheres and whys in a matter of seconds.

But the ease at which one can paint a beautiful and worry-free portrait of one’s life online can be downright depressing to those who are bogged down by the not-so-ethereal. Literally.

Too much time spent comparing your life to the seemingly perfect lives of your “friends” on Facebook can trigger depressive symptoms, according to a new study out of the University of Houston. The study, published in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, examines the potential impact online social comparison can have on a person’s mental health.

We’ve all done it: Pulled up a status update detailing a friend’s latest European adventure while simultaneously seeking solace in the chocolate bowl residing on the desk of our windowless cubicle; scrolled through photos of a friend’s impeccably-decorated new home while losing heart at the sight of the laundry piles cluttering our own tiny apartment; checked Facebook at the mechanic shop to see a friend’s new BMW while waiting to see if the old station wagon will survive its 20th breakdown.

“You can’t really control the impulse to compare because you never know what your friends are going to post,” said lead researcher Mai-Ly Steers in a press release Monday. “In addition, most of our Facebook friends tend to post about the good things that occur in their lives, while leaving out the bad. If we’re comparing ourselves to our friends’ ‘highlight reels,’ this may lead us to think their lives are better than they actually are and conversely, make us feel worse about our own lives.”

It’s not hard to get sucked into this particular rabbit hole, and no one can dispute the fact that social networking in general has given entirely new meaning to the idea of “keeping up with the Joneses.” But just how harmful can these comparisons become?

Steers, a doctoral candidate in social psychology, conducted two different experiments on the subject — specifically targeting Facebook users. Along with her co-authors, Steers measured the Facebook usage, depressive symptoms and tendency to compare in more than 100 people.

Both studies yielded significant evidence to support the idea that people who spend more time on Facebook are more likely to compare themselves to others, and people who have a tendency to compare are more prone to depressive symptoms.

Most of our Facebook friends tend to post about the good things that occur in their lives, while leaving out the bad. If we're comparing ourselves to our friends' 'highlight reels,' this may lead us to think their lives are better than they actually are and conversely, make us feel worse about our own lives.

–Mai-Ly Steers, University of Houston

“It doesn’t mean Facebook causes depression, but that depressed feeling and lots of time on Facebook and comparing oneself to others tend to go hand in hand,” Steers said.

The report, “Seeing Everyone Else’s Highlight Reels: How Facebook Usage is Linked to Depressive Symptoms,” suggests that when someone who is already feeling down dives into the world of promotions, weddings, parties and babies, the “distorted” view of the lives of their friends can make them feel lonely and isolated.

“It’s important to basically recognize: If the images of our fabulous friend are causing us to feel more depressed, maybe we need to step away,” Steers told the Washington Post.

The next step? Developing effective intervention programs that keep people who are at risk for depression from spending too much time on Facebook, Steers said.

“This research and previous research indicates the act of socially comparing oneself to others is related to long-term destructive emotions,” Steers said.

So if you are prone compare, maybe think about signing off for awhile. Your well-being may depend on it

How To Get People to Do What You Want

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 12 Apr 2015 19:50:00 +0000

My mum always told me, “You can catch more flies with honey than you can vinegar.” In other words, people respond better to rewards than punishments. As a leader or a marketer if you want an employee or a customer to change behavior, research says the best thing to do is give them positive reinforcement when they do what you want.

Several studies conclude that positive reinforcement is the best way to encourage better behavior. Two new studies examine these concepts more and give us better insight into why this works well.

Study 1: Punitive Consequences Encourage Deception

A new study by the McGill researchers indicates that kids lie to their parents when they face punishment. When encouraged to tell the truth about misbehavior without punishment, however, kids tell the truth. Victoria Talway, a Child Psychology Professor, studied four- to eight-year-olds, where participants were told not to peek at a concealed toy when the adult left the room. If the kids were told there would be a punishment, kids who peeked would lie about it. If they were told not to peek but if they did telling the truth would help the situation, they confessed to peeking. Talway’s conclusion was that kids lie to appease adults.

If you threaten your employees or Customers with punitive action when they do something you don’t want, you are potentially encouraging them to lie to you. While you certainly aren’t their mom or dad, they might want to appease you anyway. Unfortunately, you have two problems here. First, they are still doing what you don’t want. Second, they are lying to you, destroying the relationship of trust you need to have a good experience with them.

Study 2: Rewards Work Better Than Fines

Daniel Pink is a host of Crowd Control and wrote several books on human behavior. He examined what is the best way to discourage minor law breaking. He defined minor law breaking as speeding, jaywalking and parking in handicap spaces. Each of these offenses traditionally is enforced with a fine sentence. What Pink discovered on his show was offering incentives to comply with the laws was far more effective than the threat of fines at getting these wayward souls to change their lawbreaking ways.

What he discovered was that by rewarding those not speeding, he reduced speeding on the roadway by one-third. He had similar results of improvement for other experiments in jaywalking and handicapped parking places.

Your Customers have behaviors that cost your organization money. An excellent example is those Customers that still want a paper statement. The costs associated with sending a paper statement are enormous for an organization, while electronic statements are much less. When Customers get charged for a paper statement, it’s annoying and generates negative feelings toward the company, and rarely encourages them to do what you want. If you reward Customers for making the switch to eStatements, however, they are far more likely to make the switch and have positive feelings for doing so.

Positive reinforcement is the key here. Human behavior is driven by many factors, not the least of which is emotional rewards and positive feelings. Play this tendency to your advantage is the way to harness the power of human behavior and use it to get the results you want—and have them thank you for it afterward.

What ways have you used positive reinforcement over punitive consequence to get the behavior you want from employees and Customers ? Please share your insight with all of us in the comments.

9 Sentences You Would Never Hear From Your Best Friends

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 12 Apr 2015 16:12:00 +0000

There is a common perception that your best friend can say anything to you, but this is not true. Your BFF would not use a close relationship with you as an opportunity to insult you. There are certain times when seemingly simple statements have stung and were derogatory enough to elicit a different expectation than expected. A true friend does not want to hurt you, even if unintentionally. Here are 9 sentences you would never hear from your best friend.

1. “You seem to have lost some weight”

Weight is a dirty word. Perhaps your friend is trying to offer you a compliment – yet the statement can be confused as an insult. Do they know if you are losing weight because of depression? Maybe they thought you could not lose any weight and now they are suggesting that you have always been overweight. Rather than express their concern in such an accusatory way your best friend should say, “I’ve noticed you’re looking thinner lately. Is something going on that you want to talk about?”

2. “Are you sure you’re good enough?”

Your best friend should never doubt your capabilities. He/she should be supportive of every goal you pursue. Instead of doubting your abilities your best friend should say, “I bet you can pull it off.”

3. “You cannot be right”

By saying this your best friend is implying that you are untrustworthy and casting doubt over your intelligence. A more tactful sentence like, “my understanding is that…” would help offer a clearer picture of what you are saying and make sure you are working on the same assumptions.

4. “Good luck”

The implication of this statement is that whatever you do requires luck and nothing you do will make it succeed. It is also bad luck to wish good luck. Instead of attributing your accomplishments to luck, your friend should offer encouragement: “Offer them something they’ll never forget!”

5. “I wish you didn’t have to…”

Your best friend should motivate and help you to take action and change your situation. This sounds like moaning, and I bet you don’t like to be groaned at! Your best friend should not discourage your attempt to improve a situation. Rather, your friend should say, “We have to do something about this”

6. “It could have been worse.”

Your best friend may be falling into use of a common phrase without thinking. Saying such a phrase will only imply something negative or pessimistic. It would be better to be honest and positive enough to say, “It will get better.”

7. “It can never…”

The word “never” puts a restriction on your life and doesn’t present us with an accurate reflection of the choices that still remain available to us. Your best friend should not close his/her mind to available options and should remove words like “never” from their vocabulary. Rather a phrase like, “I feel we can…” can prove more positive.

8. “Don’t worry. It will be fine”

Even when your friend seems worried for a good reason, the phrase “don’t worry” is dismissive. Your friend should offer his/her judgment based on the situation. Using action to back up a statement like, “I’m here if you need me,” will go a long way to prove that they are willing to help through a rough time.

9. “I told you so”

This implies you are not paying attention or you are not listening to them. It could also imply that they are more prescient and wiser than you. Your best friend should understand that friendship with you is not a competition. There is no need to keep tabs on who is right or wrong. Rather they should say, “Let us fix this.” A good friend will show they are willing to help you out and not add salt to the wound.

How do I discover the joy of creative thought

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 20:51:00 +0000

At this point you may be saying, “Okay, I’m convinced that creative thinking is important. But how do I find the creativity within me? How do I discover the joy of creative thought?” Here are five ways to do it:

1. Remove Creativity Killers

Economics professor and humor author Stephen Leacock said, “Personally, I would sooner have written Alice in Wonderland than the whole Encyclopedia Britannica.” He valued the warmth of creativity over cold facts. If you do too, then you need to eliminate attitudes that devalue creative thinking. Take a look at the following phrases. They are almost guaranteed to kill creative thinking any time you hear (or think) them:

I’m Not a Creative Person
Follow the Rules
Don’t Ask Questions
Don’t Be Different
Stay Within the Lines
There Is Only One Way
Don’t Be Foolish
Be Practical
Be Serious
Think of Your Image
That’s Not Logical
It’s Not Practical
It’s Never Been Done
It Can’t Be Done
It Didn’t Work for Them
We Tried That Before
It’s Too Much Work
We Can’t Afford to Make a Mistake
It Will Be Too Hard to Administer
We Don’t Have the Time
We Don’t Have the Money
Yes, But…
Play Is Frivolous
Failure Is Final

If you think you have a great idea, don’t let anyone talk you out of it even if it sounds foolish. Don’t let yourself or anyone else subject you to creativity killers. After all, you can’t do something new and exciting if you force yourself to stay in the same old rut. Don’t just work harder at the same old thing. Make a change.

2. Think Creatively by Asking the Right Questions

Creativity is largely a matter of asking the right questions. Management trainer Sir Antony Jay said, “The uncreative mind can spot wrong answers, but it takes a creative mind to spot wrong questions.” Wrong questions shut down the process of creative thinking. They direct thinkers down the same old path, or they chide them into believing that thinking isn’t necessary at all. To stimulate creative thinking, ask yourself questions such as…

Why must it be done this way?
What is the root problem?
What are the underlying issues?
What does this remind me of?
What is the opposite? What metaphor or symbol helps to explain it?
Why is it important?
What’s the hardest or most expensive way to do it?
Who has a different perspective on this?
What happens if we don’t do it at all?

You get the idea—and you can probably come up with better questions yourself. Physicist Tom Hirschfield observed, “If you don’t ask, ‘Why this?’ often enough, somebody will ask, ‘Why you?’” If you want to think creatively, you must ask good questions. You must challenge the process.

3. Develop a Creative Environment

Charlie Brower said, “A new idea is delicate. It can be killed by a sneer or a yawn; it can be stabbed to death by a quip and worried to death by a frown on the right man’s brow.” Negative environments kill thousands of great ideas every minute.

A creative environment, on the other hand, becomes like a greenhouse where ideas get seeded, sprout up, and flourish. A creative environment:

Encourages Creativity: David Hills says, “Studies of creativity suggest that the biggest single variable of whether or not employees will be creative is whether they perceive they have permission.” When innovation and good thinking are openly encouraged and rewarded, then people see that they have permission to be creative.
Places a High Value on Trust among Team Members and Individuality: Creativity always risks failure. That’s why trust is so important to creative people. In the creative process, trust comes from people working together, from knowing that people on the team have experience launching successful, creative ideas, and from the assurance that creative ideas won’t go to waste, because they will be implemented.
Embraces Those Who Are Creative: Creative people celebrate the offbeat. How should creative people be treated? I take the advice of Tom Peters: “Weed out the dullards—nurture the nuts!” I do that by spending time with them, which I enjoy anyway. I especially like to pull people into brainstorming sessions. People look forward to an invitation to such meetings because the time will be filled with energy, ideas, and laughter. And the odds are high that a new project, seminar, or business strategy will result. When that happens, they also know a party’s coming!
Focuses on Innovation, Not Just Invention: Sam Weston, creator of the popular action figure GI Joe, said, “Truly groundbreaking ideas are rare, but you don’t necessarily need one to make a career out of creativity. My definition of creativity is the logical combination of two or more existing elements that result in a new concept. The best way to make a living with your imagination is to develop innovative applications, not imagine completely new concepts.” Creative people say, “Give me a good idea and I’ll give you a better idea!”
Is Willing to Let People Go Outside the Lines: Most people automatically stay within lines, even if those lines have been arbitrarily drawn or are terribly out of date. Remember, most limitations we face are not imposed on us by others; we place them on ourselves. Lack of creativity often falls into that category. If you want to be more creative, challenge boundaries. Inventor Charles Ket-tering said, “All human development, no matter what form it takes, must be outside the rules; otherwise, we would never have anything new.” A creative environment takes that into account.
Appreciates the Power of a Dream: A creative environment promotes the freedom of a dream. A creative environment encourages the use of a blank sheet of paper and the question, “If we could draw a picture of what we want to accomplish, what would that look like?” A creative environment allowed Martin Luther King, Jr., to speak with passion and declare to millions, “I have a dream,” not “I have a goal.” Goals may give focus, but dreams give power. Dreams expand the world. That is why James Allen suggested that “dreamers are the saviors of the world.” The more creativity-friendly you can make your environment, the more potential it has to become creative.

The more creativity-friendly you can make your environment, the more potential it has to become creative.

4. Spend Time with Other Creative People

What if the place you work has an environment hostile to creativity, and you possess little ability to change it? One possibility is to change jobs. But what if you desire to keep working there despite the negative environment?
Your best option is to find a way to spend time with other creative people.

Creativity is contagious. Have you ever noticed what happens during a good brainstorming session? One person throws out an idea. Another person uses it as a springboard to discover another idea. Someone else takes it in yet another, even better direction. Then somebody grabs hold of it and takes it to a whole new level. The interplay of ideas can be electric.

I have a strong group of creative individuals in my life. I make sure to spend regular time with them. When I leave them, I always feel energized, I’m full of ideas, and I see things differently. They truly are indispensable to my life. It’s a fact that you begin to think like the people you spend a lot of time with. The more time you can spend with creative people engaging in creative activities, the more creative you will become.

5. Get Out of Your Box

Actress Katharine Hepburn remarked, “If you obey all the rules… you will miss all the fun.” While I don’t think it’s necessary to break all the rules (many are in place to protect us), I do think it’s unwise to allow self-imposed limitations to hinder us. Creative thinkers know that they must repeatedly break out of the “box” of their own history and personal limitations in order to experience creative breakthroughs.

The most effective way to help yourself get out of the box is to expose yourself to new paradigms. One way you can do that is by traveling to new places. Explore other cultures, countries, and traditions. Find out how people very different from you live and think. Another is to read on new subjects. I’m naturally curious and love to learn, but I still have a tendency to read books only on my favorite subjects, such as leadership. I sometimes have to force myself to read books that broaden my thinking, because I know it’s worth it. If you want to break out of your own box, get into somebody’s else’s. Read broadly.

Many people mistakenly believe that if individuals aren’t born with creativity, they will never be creative. But you can see from the many strategies and examples I’ve given that creativity can be cultivated in the right supportive environment.

If You Want To Be Successful Do Not Do This

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 19:49:00 +0000

Earl Nightingale, American motivational speaker and author, once said, “We become what we think about.” Perhaps truer words have never been spoken. The human mind is an incredible thing, and having the right attitude and mindset has routinely been stated by numerous successful people as being a pivotal key to success. Sometimes, however, it is easy to get side-tracked. Situations in life can get in the way of our goals, self-esteem, and personal well-being. Truthfully, success is a subjective term, and everyone will disagree over what constitutes being successful. Here are a list of guidelines, however, of some things to stop doing if you want to be or feel successful.

1. Stop Expecting Perfection

Often, we get frustrated when things don’t work out the way we want them to, or as quickly as we’d like them to. We stress over small details, or beat ourselves up for getting one thing wrong, or forgetting to dot one I or cross one T. People are fallible. Mistakes and drawbacks are a fact of life. Nothing is nor will it ever be perfect, and that’s okay.

Stressing out over minute details or things that would have been impossible to get to is unproductive and unhealthy. Start saying that you will do your personal best, because at the end of the day, you’re not in competition with anyone but yourself.

Example: Jennifer Lawrence is someone who everyone seems to be talking about right now, but did you know she was rejected for the role of Bella Swan in ‘Twilight‘? She also didn’t take theater classes. She just trusted her instincts and worked as hard as possible to land acting roles. Obviously, she wasn’t perfect for every role, but she didn’t expect perfection. She takes her failures and rejections well, trying to learn from each situation.

2. Stop Saying Yes When You Want to Say No

It’s always important to know your limits, and people will always try to test them. Human beings are social animals. We want to interact with others and feel like we are a part of something or like we are special to someone else. People also, for the most part, like to please others. Sometimes, however, it’s easy to be taken advantage of. Whether it’s helping a co-worker with something when you can’t really afford to, or loaning a friend money you can’t really afford to give.

Out of guilt, people often say yes to people and situations that they really should say no to. Don’t be afraid to trust your gut and say no. Sometimes you can’t stay a few hours later because you had other plans or important errands to run. Sometimes it’s okay to say no to that co-worker that keeps nagging you for help but is really just stalling because they don’t want to work and know you’ll help them.

Sometimes it’s okay to prioritize other things over work. Saying no is healthy. Saying no means that you know your boundaries and can demand respect.

Example: Margaret Thatcher is known as being tough. She was a powerful politician. She also knew during her career when she had to take a stand, and sometimes that stand meant saying no to bad political and economic policy.

3. Stop Negative Self-Dialogue

We all can probably play back in our minds every negative or embarrassing thing we’ve ever done to ourselves, been subjected to, or done to someone else. Whether it’s tripping over one’s shoelaces in the fourth grade, or being fired from a job, wronging someone else, or overhearing someone speaking negatively about us, those thoughts are forever solidified in our minds.

Replaying those thoughts, however, and constantly punishing oneself for past mistakes, is counterproductive at certain points. At some point, it’s more important to learn from situations and move on, instead of psychologically beating yourself up.

The next time you find yourself saying, “I’m not pretty enough”, “I did this horrible thing once five years ago and I’ll never forgive myself”, or any type of statement along those lines, turn off that negative self-dialogue. Look in the mirror and say something kind to yourself. Read some inspirational quotes. Acknowledge that you are taking steps and making an effort to be a better person. Admit to yourself that everyone makes mistakes, and most importantly, that making mistakes is okay.

Sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of our goals because of that lack of confidence. Don’t give up and attempt to stay positive. Train your brain to think of things in a new, more positive way. Most of all, keep working hard. Failure doesn’t have to be permanent.

4. Stop Focusing On Just Today

Successful people tend to understand the value of a good plan. They plan out their day, their goals, a budget and they plan how much to save for retirement. That doesn’t mean they don’t have fun, though. They most certainly do! They just make sure to plan when it is appropriate and inappropriate to have fun. They make time for productivity and fun, but still save and think about the future.

So, stop just focusing on today and having fun. Think about where you want to be in five, 10 or 15 years down the road! Having a good focus aids in success!

5. Stop Ignoring Your Goals

Stop believing things will just work out for you because you’re a good person. Good things only happen to people who make an effort. A part of making an effort is setting goals for oneself. As evidenced in the previous point, it’s not enough to just focus on the day at hand. It’s important to manage time and set short-term and long-term goals in order to be able to track progress and have something to strive for.

6. Stop Isolating People

Successful people understand that not everything is about work, church or similar obligations. Some things are about family, relaxation, and hobbies. It’s easy to get the impression that everyone who feels or defines themselves as successful probably has no spare time on their hands, and in some cases, that’s true.

However, it isn’t always. Social isolation can kill people. In fact, many successful people have mastered the art of balance. They don’t isolate the people they love because they have large goals or something they want to accomplish. Instead, they incorporate those they love into their goals and hobbies.

Involving people in leadership or product processes makes them feel valued and provides valuable feedback. Successful people enjoy that relationship. They also enjoy their time away from their goals and work to spend time with their loved ones.

7. Stop Comparing Yourself To Everyone Else

Successful people understand that the only person they can compete with today is the person they were yesterday. They are too focused on themselves and their goals to worry about anyone else. They don’t want to compare themselves to others because it’s counterproductive. However, they do analyze where they have weak points and are able to genuinely admire people who have mastered things they have not.

There is no use to comparing yourself to someone else. It’s counterproductive and harmful to your self-esteem. It also helps to harbor negative self-dialogue.

It was only when she started playing and writing her own music that she got noticed and became the celebrity she is today. She faced a lot of adversity as well. There were people who doubted her skills and told her she couldn’t sing. Her confidence and faith in herself overcame that.

8. Stop Living In The Past

Successful people learn from their failures, but they do not live in the past. They take the skills and lessons they acquired from their failures and apply them to the present and future. Don’t live in your own personal past. Don’t define yourself by who you were. Define yourself by who you are today and by who you’re working toward becoming.

9. Stop Tolerating Dishonest People

Successful people appreciate other people for their unique traits and gifts. They do not attempt to harm, belittle, or in any way demean others for their own successes or ideas. They are open to relationships with others, but know when to cut the cord, so to speak.

People can be too forgiving when it comes to being wronged, and it’s important to know one’s limits. Successful people do not tolerate negative and dishonest people, because they are too busy loving honest, sincere people.

how to Achieve your Goals 9 Successful Ways

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 19:35:00 +0000

Setting and achieving goals is one of the best ways to improve your life. Goals reduce boredom and the sense of drift that many people experience, plus working on your goals gives your self-confidence a great boost.

Let’s look at 9 ways that successful people in various fields use goals to improve their lives. As with any approach, your results will vary depending on your commitment and understanding. Consider this article an introduction to the important principles of goals.

1.use a proven goal setting system

2. balance your planning and action

Planning and action both play an important role in achieving major goals. Some professions – architects, engineers and project managers for example – have developed strong planning skills and approaches. Unless you are building a space ship, it is vital to put a time limit on planning.

3.set goals for all areas of your life (not just career and money)

Many of the experts and articles on goal setting focus on business and career goals. That is an understandable focus, however a relentless focus on career goals to the exclusion of other aims tends to lead to unhappiness and decreased productivity.

Successful people take the time to define leisure goals , health and fitness goals (e.g. run a marathon race) and personal growth goals (e.g. learning a language). It is a mistake to assume that the rest of your life will somehow drift into place if you fail to set goals.

4. set your own goals for your life

Many companies and employers have an annual goal setting process for their employees. Successful people know that this activity is only one part of their goals. As business philosopher Jim Rohn observed:

“If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.”

Working on your own goal ensures you have an active and interesting life outside of the office. Besides, it is fun to set and achieve demanding personal goals.

5.have a goal review system

Putting your goals into writing is a vital step that many successful people use to reach success, however it is not enough. When you are working toward challenging goals that takes months or years to achieve, regular goal reviews are essential.

Business consultant and author David Allen proposed the Weekly Review in his classic book “Getting Things Done.” Successful people add the step “review annual goals” to that weekly review. During that time, successful people reflect on their progress, challenges encountered and plan for future steps.

6.seek expert help when you face challenges

Seeking out expert guidance and advice makes a major impact on achieving your goals. Seeking outside help takes several forms. For example, a young George Washington developed relationships with powerful people in colonial Virginia to launch his career. Your relationships and network can play an important role in supporting your goal achievement.

In addition to your personal network, there are other resources you can access to reach your goals. For example, if you need to learn more technology skills to get the type of job you want, you can take a course in programming or earn a certification.

7.stay thoughtful about sharing your goals

Successful people understand that their goals say a lot about their interests, desires and challenges. Given that reality they are selective in how they share their goals. For example, a successful person may share their business goals in the context of a mastermind meeting where they can receive helpful comments and advice from other highly motivated people. In contrast, a successful person building a side hustle is unlikely to mention that activity at their corporate day job.

When in doubt, do not share your goals as you are working on them.

8.seek inspiration to get through tough times

Disappointments and challenges are part of the picture when you work on challenging goals. Fortunately, many other successful people have sought outside inspiration to get through tough times. Strategist Ryan Holiday has found much practical help and insight from studying Stoic works such as The Meditations by Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius.

Tip: To sustain your motivation in the face of challenges, develop your self-knowledge with personality analysis tools such as the DISC Profile.

9.Do not Be perfectionists in your goals

In certain circumstances, it makes sense to adjust your goals. You may adjust the deadline on a goal. I have done this myself in 2015. In my case, I adjusted the exam date for a professional exam because my studies and self-assessment tests indicated that I had to study further. You may also need to abandon goals (or put them on hold) if you suffer a serious illness.

Remember your goals are the vehicle on the path to success. Sometimes you have to leave a goal behind if it is simply not working for you.

How to text message important people

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 15:48:00 +0000

How to text message important people (and girls)
Here’s one of the most effective dating and business scripts that I recommend to all of my clients. Immediately after getting a phone number of a beautiful woman or an important person, to send them a text message that states, “Amber — It was a pleasure to meet you. Save my phone number in your phone because if you are like me, you don’t answer unrecognized calls. Cheers, Nick.” Over 90% of the time, you get an almost instant response of something to the effect of, “Lol. I’m so like that too. Will do and it was great to meet you.”

I have found this script helps a lot in removing phone flakes because most beautiful women, and any other busy people, really don’t answer unrecognized phone calls.
This is a major problem to a lot of guys who have great interactions with a woman they just met or a very important contact who is busy, especially if it was their first encounter with that person from an initial cold approach.
In addition, when you call the recipient you’ve met after using this script, she is 3x more likely to answer the phone than if you were an unrecognized phone call.
The Takeaway:

Follow-through is just as important, if not more, than approach.

How to change your body composition with one 20 minute workout a week

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 15:30:00 +0000

How to change your body composition with one 20 minute workout a week
After endurance athletics ruined my health, I discovered the simple efficiency of the sprint. It took me awhile to accept the fact that I didn’t have to train for three hours a day just to get a good workout, that I could spend twenty minutes running really fast in short bursts and get an arguably superior level of fitness, but I eventually did. I put on more muscle and maintained my low body fat in a fraction of the training time
Problem was, all that wear and tear I’d accumulated over the years running marathons caught up to me, and I aggravated an old knee injury. Nothing career-ending, but enough to make we wince the day after a sprint session.
So I started thinking: How could I keep the efficiency of sprinting while reducing the jarring impact inherent to running as fast as humanly possible? I figured I’d test hill sprints instead of flat ones. Why hill sprints?
They’re lower impact than regular sprints.
Since your feet aren’t “falling” as far with each step on an uphill slope, hill sprints are actually easier on your joints than sprints on a flat surface.
They give more bang for your buck.
You’re working directly against the greatest source of physical resistance in the known universe — gravity.
They’re safer.
The steep grade prevents your body from moving faster than it’s built to withstand, but the effort you expend to reach that diminished speed is just as high.
The results?
I dropped the flat sprints and took up hill sprints as an experiment. My joints stopped hurting, my sessions became even shorter and more intense, and I got better results. They were harder than flat sprints, but not as hard on my body.
The Takeaway:

Small tweaks to winning formulas can reveal even bigger wins.

How to grow your brand’s value

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 15:22:00 +0000

How to grow your brand’s value by counter-intuitively charging more

When AppSumo.com started out, promoting the best online tools at a discount, the in me tried to price everything just 10% above our cost. So if we had to pay our partner $25 for selling their web tool I’d price it at $27.50. The rationale was lower prices = more sales = more customers and more growth. Right?
This lunacy continued for some time until I decided to test if this really was true.
Our first test: Doubling the margin. So now we sold the $25 product for $50. I was nervous but figured a test would give me good insight. Our daily email for awesome entrepreneur’s products was sent out (notice the shameless plug?) and I waited for the results….Queue drumroll.
Conversions went up!
Revenue went way up!
Returns went down!
Customer happiness went up!
WTF was going on? My traditional “practical” alarm was going berserk. I talked to the customers, reviewed the data and came to some fascinating conclusions.
We weeded out a lot of the bargain hunters. They may seem like “good” customers, but they don’t care about you long-term. If a cheaper option for something they want comes along, they’re out of here. Ever notice how Zappos is 10-20% more than any other place online. They don’t compete on price and as a result they get customers who don’t focus on that either
If we 10x the price or if the products sucked, then the increase in price would backfire. However, this wasn’t the case; the actual conversion rate for our customers went up. They care more about VALUE than price. Bowing to our Sumo-lings!

The Takeaway:

It all comes down to value. Think about all the free PDFs you’ve downloaded vs. knowledge you’ve paid money for. Which do you prioritize to read? Exactly! You’re reading this and it’s good, but you would value buying a product 10x-100x more!

How to get people interested in you

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 15:08:00 +0000

You’re asked the same questions hundreds or thousands of times in your lifetimes — “What do you do?” “Where are you from?” “Where do you live?” “What do you like to do in your free time?” — yet how many of us ever take the time to systematically test them? You can be completely honest, yet the way in which you answer these common questions can change the way virtually everyone responds to you.

1. The “What Do You Do?” Test
Answer 1:
“I’m a writer.”

Results: An interest level of 2/5. They’ll say, “Oh that’s cool…I have a friend who’s a writer…he’s trying to publish his book on using cucumbers to generate sustainable energy for —” NO YOUR FRIEND IS NOT A WRITER, HE’S A LOSER.

Answer 2:
“I’m an author.”

Results: An interest level of 4/5. “Really? So what did you write?”

The Takeaway:
The way you word your answers can produce profoundly different interest levels. Test your responses to see what works the best.

2. The “Oh, So Do You Have An Office?” Test
Answer 1:

“No, I work from home.” Results: A 90%-95% “Scorn Score,” (e.g., “Oh…” or “Ah…how is that?” followed by a semi-frown).

Answer 2:

“No, I work from a home office.” Results: The Scorn Score drops to 50%. Common answer: “Wow, I wish I could do that.”

The Takeaway:

One word changes everything