http://www.articlesofadvice.com en-us N/A aaron@trycm.com, aaron@articlesofadvice.com Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:59:12 EST 20 http://www.articlesofadvice.com/articles/1181/1/5-Best-Stress-Reducing-Techniques-That-Work/Page1.html relax for even a short while. You know the value of
relaxation has on energizing the body at the middle of the
day but often, you get so caught up in work that don't
remember what to do. Fortunately, you can make use of these
five simple methods to relax and they don't have to be done
in a special place or with fancy equipment.

Take several deep breaths. You can do this anywhere,
anytime, and especially when you're in a line that doesn't
seem to budge. Deep breathing raises the oxygen in the
blood. This allows your systems to recharge since that
excess oxygen is distributed throughout the body.

Make sure that you take approximately 5 deep breaths,
slowly inhaling through the nose and exhaling out the
mouth. Use deep breathing to eliminate brain fog as well as
to retain focus. The best thing about it is that you can
utilize this method whatever it is that you're busy with.

Taking breaks at the workplace. You don't want to call
attention to yourself when you feel like you're too
stressed to work and need some time to relax. If your work
requires that you sit in front of the computer the whole
day, remember to get up, move around, or take a short walk.
Simply moving your joints around will help circulate your
blood, making you more alert.

While sitting, move your head from left to right and rotate
it slowly. Doing this relieves neck tension and allows
blood flow to your brain to increase, thus making you
focused as well. If your work means you have to be standing
most of the time, a good move to make is to stand with your
feet a foot apart while you twist your body and arms. This
loosens up the muscles in your back. During lunchtime, you
can go for a brief walk. Your body and your mind can
benefit from this exercise.

Daydream a little for instant relief. Take a few quick
moments during your day to daydream and let your
imagination flow. You'll find that you feel relieved almost
instantly. This is very effective for those who are having
a tough day and are having difficulty fulfilling intense
tasks.

Be cheerful. Smiling is known to be terrific at helping
people relax and allowing people in the vicinity to relax
with you. Share a smile with your co-workers. It has far
greater benefits than uplifting your spirits. When you're
with your children, smile with them and teach them to smile
to others too. The environment that you create brings you a
lot of good.

Join in some laughter. This is never to be underestimated
as a means to relieve stress. Now, I wouldn't recommend
that you do it randomly and in view of the public. Laugh
appropriately, preferably with a good friend. During your
breaks, you can tell a joke, an anecdote, or an interesting
tidbit to your co-workers. When you're with your children,
engage in a game with them. When online, you can watch
funny YouTube videos.

These relaxation techniques are simple and quick. Best of
all, they help to sustain you throughout the day. ]]> no@spam.com (Linda Hampton) Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:26:50 EDT http://www.articlesofadvice.com/articles/1181/1/5-Best-Stress-Reducing-Techniques-That-Work/Page1.html http://www.articlesofadvice.com/articles/1169/1/Excel-in-Life-by-Looking-Inside-for-All-You-Will-Ever-Need/Page1.html inside of you. You only need to recognize and acknowledge
the presence of all that you need and then begin the
execution of putting that skill set in motion to develop
the totally awesome aspect of yourself.

If you are like most people, you are probably accustom to
the concept of application as it is often spoke of in
school. Your teachers may have said that you could do much
better if you would only apply yourself. However, there is
much more to application than comments about not trying
hard enough or not doing enough and it is much more
positive!

Application means that you have everything you will ever
need for a fulfilling, joyful, and successful life. While
there are many things ahead to learn, you may be pleasantly
surprised to find how much you already have, as well as how
easy it actually is to put all of your special gifts to
good use.

As an individual person, you have two different types of
gifts. As a member of the human race, you have all of the
same gifts as every other person. You were created with
intelligence, emotions, common sense, the desire to do
well, and a number of others. In addition, you also have
gifts which are completely unique to you. You have special
talents and abilities which no one else has in the exact
same manner. You have much to offer to the world, and much
to look forward to in your own life.

Application will help you to do the most for yourself, the
people who are dear to you, and the world in which you
live. When you realize that all it takes to get motivation
is to look at your gifts and talents. No matter how young
you may be today, you have so much to contribute.

There will be a double benefit when you make application a
part of your everyday life. You will be making your life
the very best that it can be. Instead of simply looking
toward success, you can be taking step after step to excel.
You will also be doing your part to make the world a
better place, because no one has exactly what you have. No
one can contribute in the same way that you can.
Application can make a wonderful difference in your world
and in your life!
]]> no@spam.com (Anthony Wilson) Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:17:02 EDT http://www.articlesofadvice.com/articles/1169/1/Excel-in-Life-by-Looking-Inside-for-All-You-Will-Ever-Need/Page1.html http://www.articlesofadvice.com/articles/1167/1/How-to-Choose-a-Personal-Life-Coach/Page1.html enquiries from people asking how they should go about
choosing a life coach.

Of course, being in the business of training people to be
great life coaches, I find it very gratifying to know that
the demand for personal coaching services is growing
rapidly in my native South Africa. But it's hardly
surprising, given the unquestionable power that coaching
has to transform lives.

A few years ago, while I was still in corporate life, the
concept of executive coaching was gaining in popularity.
Companies felt it entirely appropriate to hire coaches for
their most senior executives and even some of their middle
managers in important roles. After all, the benefits of
even a small improvement in divisional performance would
render the cost of coaching quite trivial.

The rise of personal coaching

Until comparatively recently, personal coaching - or life
coaching - was largely the domain of wealthy celebrities in
the US. Nowadays, many people around the world are enjoying
the benefits of having their own personal coach to assist
them in achieving what might otherwise remain poorly
defined and elusive goals and dreams.

How to choose?

The law of supply and demand dictates that as the demand
for personal coaching services rises, so will the supply.
The key question, then, for many individuals already
convinced of the benefits of coaching, is: "How do I choose
the coach that's just right for me?"

My advice would be to make your choice in four simple
steps, applying four 'filters' to ensure you get the best
match for you.

1. Demographic matching

The first and relatively easy step is what I call "matching
the demographics" .

If you're set on face-to-face coaching then you'll need
someone who you can reach within a reasonable traveling
distance. Now, before I move on, let me assure you that
being coached by telephone (Skype is very popular for those
with broadband internet because it is a free service) is an
option that you should not discount lightly. Believe it or
not there are actually a number of benefits to being
coached by 'phone - but that's a topic for a separate
article.

If you work best with people of your own - or the opposite
- gender, then this too will influence your choice.

There are many excellent, vibrant and surprisingly wise
young coaches around, but you may feel uncomfortable with
having a coach who is half your age. Alternatively, as a
young person, you might prefer to have a coach that has
extensive life experience to draw on; someone who's 'been
there and done that'!

Coaching fees come into the equation too, of course. But if
possible, I would encourage you not to restrict the field
by applying this filter right up front.

Look past the advertised fees, if you can. Find the ideal
match using the steps I have outlined and then negotiate
with your preferred coach if you need to, to fit your
budget.

Many coaches are negotiable and some will offer substantial
discounts if the client is prepared to pay for the entire
coaching program in advance. My advice is to look at what
you will pay over, say six months, and then consider how
worthwhile that will be if you achieve one or two of your
most desired goals.

2. Niche matching

The next step is more difficult. I call it "matching the
niche".

Let me ask you this: If you own a house that is built out
of timber on the side of a steep hill and you decide to add
an extension with an overhanging deck, who would you be
more likely to contract with; a general builder - or a
builder who specializes in timber homes and cantilevered
decking?

When you hire a life coach, you generally do so with a
knowledge of the key issues or areas of your life you
specifically want to focus on improving. And it may well be
that you'll find a life coach whose specialist niche
matches perfectly.

I recommend to all coaches who want to build substantial
and self-sustaining practices that they choose a niche
market based on their underlying skills and passionate
interests.

I know of life coaches who have been very successful
focusing on niches like 'personal empowerment' , 'intimate
relationships' , 'self-confidence' , 'youth development' ,
'career building', 'retirement' , 'financial freedom',
'childbirth' , and so on.

3. Skills matching

OK, so once you've decided on a rough demographic profile
of your ideal coach and the niche (if any) that you fall
into, you can move on to step 3. I call this "matching the
skills", although this is about more than just skills.

Remember that there is, at least currently, no form of
regulation governing the coaching 'profession' in South
Africa, or, for that matter, most developed countries.

To my mind this is a good thing in that there are no
barriers to entry into an industry where having a passion
for people and a gift for helping others achieve their
dreams is far more important than a raft of high-falluting
academic qualifications.

On the other hand it is also a bad thing in that any 'Tom',
'Dick' or 'Harriet' can write 'coach' on his or her
business card and set up in practice without necessarily
having the skills, techniques, experience and structure
required to back up their coaching.

Now, I firmly believe that good quality life coaches are
self-selecting. As a life coach you won't survive long in
business without good word-of-mouth endorsements and client
testimonials. You're either really effective at helping
people transform their lives - or you're not!

And this is my point. Always ask any prospective coach for
testimonials or references - and check them out. Ask the
coach where and in what method they have been trained. Ask
to see their certification and do some research on the
coach training provider to check their reputation.

How passionate are the coaches you are considering about
the calling they have chosen? Are they registered with any
body that promotes ongoing coach development? Do they
subscribe to any relevant code of ethics?

4. Vibrational matching

The final step is, I think, the most important of all. I
call it "matching the vibration".

Choosing the 'right' (as opposed to 'good') coach is,
arguably, a more important decision than choosing the
'right' doctor or dentist. Whereas a 'good' doctor will
make the correct diagnosis and prescribe effective
medication without necessarily doing it in a way that has
you warming to him or her, a 'good' coach (i.e. a well
trained, equipped and ethical coach) with whom you are
unable to build a great rapport, will be unlikely to do
much for you.

Rapport is vital to the coaching relationship. Establishing
an emotional bond with your coach based on mutual liking
and respect, trust, and belief in each other, is the
foundation for the achievement of great things through
coaching.

Great coaches will have that something special that allows
them to empower their clients to go well beyond the normal
and yet still be compassionate and caring in their approach.

How do you establish whether there's a 'vibrational match'
with your coach? Great coaches worth their salt will offer
a free first session that may range from a basic
introduction to a client assessment to a full blown
goal-setting session in some cases. This is a great
opportunity to see if you and your coach are an ideal match.

Coaches need coaches

A final thought. If you've ever doubted the power of
coaching, think about this. Every great coach will tell you
that the one thing crucial to their success is having their
own personal coach!

So there you have it. ]]> no@spam.com (Bill Burridge) Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:55:20 EDT http://www.articlesofadvice.com/articles/1167/1/How-to-Choose-a-Personal-Life-Coach/Page1.html http://www.articlesofadvice.com/articles/1166/1/Are-You-So-Busy-That-You-Are-Missing-What039s-Right-in-Front-of-You/Page1.html mindlessly you are sabotaging yourself. The perils of
multi-tasking and an overbooked schedule are many. I know,
I've walked that road.

From my personal experience and working with others I know
it sabotages our success. It literally inhibits our
ability to create wealth in all areas of our lives. Left
unchecked we suddenly find ourselves holding our breath,
running from thing to thing, stressed beyond belief and
totally exhausted at the end of the day (if not earlier,
perhaps even the moment we get out of bed).

Last weekend I went for a morning paddle for a few hours on
a local lake. Nothing earth shattering, no big adventure,
just a steady paddle and some quiet time to slow down to
the speed of life. It was pretty hot and given the
unseasonably hot June we have had here, much of nature is
racing ahead (thinking it is July). That is why I was
surprised when we discovered that many of the water lilies
were in bloom already. Usually that doesn't happen until
late June and we certainly have never been lucky enough to
catch so many in bloom all at once. All I can say is they
are freaking amazing and beautiful flowers. If you paddle
up to one and just float there you can almost see it
pulsing opening a little more, and closing just a hair.
Sure it is the water and not the flower itself but the
effect is mesmerizing.

In that moment nothing else existed and stress melted away.
A very busy week of business related activities which had
me all wound up no longer mattered for a bit. I was here,
I was happy, it was great.

Now this may seem like a small deal. You may even
sarcastically say that you don't have time nor do you care
about looking at the lilies. That's ok. Not everyone is a
nature freak like I am. However, I am here to tell you
that if you aren't stopping and looking, you are missing
opportunities right in front of you. Opportunities to grow
your business, opportunities to enhance your career, and
opportunities to build deep and rich relationships. How do
I know this?

In my experience personally and coaching others I
constantly see moments where you slap your forehead in that
"I could've had a V8" manner from the old commercials
because you let good fortune and possibility escape as you
sped past it at 100 mph riding in your daily to-do
schedule. Taking a moment to get clear or get grounded
never even crossed your mind. And then this pattern
continued for days, weeks, months, years, or maybe even
longer.

Do you see yourself in this scenario? Do you have a
nagging feeling that you are missing out?

If so - here's my coach's challenge for you:

For the next week - for at least 10 minutes a day (split it
up as you see fit) - slow down. I mean really slow down.
Walk as if you are watching yourself on pause on the TiVo
where your heel slowly hits the ground and then rolls one
inch at a time toward your toes until your leg starts to
swing forward with the other foot's heel ready to strike
the ground. You may think - "That is REALLY freaking
slow!" Yes it is. It is for exaggeration and to cultivate
some serious awareness for yourself as you go about your
day.

As you do this - notice how you feel. Notice what you
notice. See if you find yourself able to take a slower and
deeper breath. Stop, watch, and listen to what is
happening inside you and all around.

I assure you it will delight you. Once you're able to
notice, you are ready to receive new opportunities that
come your way and they most definitely are right there
waiting for you. ]]> no@spam.com (Paul Gregorowicz) Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:52:54 EDT http://www.articlesofadvice.com/articles/1166/1/Are-You-So-Busy-That-You-Are-Missing-What039s-Right-in-Front-of-You/Page1.html http://www.articlesofadvice.com/articles/1137/1/-The-Things-We-Do-For-Love/Page1.html then it must take a series of steps to achieve. We are
imprinted with the belief that love has to be earned-or, at
minimum, looks a certain way. (IE. I do this and then
you'll love me.) Dr. Helen Fisher, whom I greatly esteem,
calls this your love map.

I, too, strongly recommend that you know what your
relationship pattern or map looks like. Intimately!
Otherwise you end up falling victim to the unconscious loop
that most of us repeat over and over, and NOT in a good
way. Your pattern may look like: you always attract people
who cheat, are narcissists, are abusive, have no drive, are
alcoholic or addicted to pornography, or perhaps they just
can't seem to tell the truth about anything (especially
when it comes to where they have been and who with); maybe
they are blamers, have anger problems or won't commit. And
no matter what you do, it seems, oops there I go again, I
attracted another (fill in the blank). Whatever your love
map looks like there is hope. And something we can do about
it.

Making the distinction between who I am being (my persona
or inauthentic self) and my true self (or authentic self)
is the first step in the process of awakening, which leads
to the eventual shift from unconsciously and reflexively
choosing the same type of relationship over and over again.
For me this was part of a larger portal through which I
passed and left what wasn't working (and who) behind for a
more authentic life filled with great freedom of being.
This portal, I call becoming internally
referenced&# 8212;making the distinction between who you are
and who you are not—and it's absolutely fundamental
to having a great relationship.

Over the last 25 years of working in the personal
development industry I have learned some amazing things,
some absolutely life-altering truths that have become creed
because they were ultimately irrefutable (true whether or
not I believed them). And few rival my understanding of
what love is NOT: Chemistry is not love. Chemistry
is...well... chemistry. Desire is not love. Hmmm, yeah, it's
more like being addicted to the feeling of wanting
something you can't have, so you set yourself up again and
again to feel it! Desire junkies salute! Longing, nope, not
love! Too many Cinderella or Pretty Woman episodes. Feeling
lovesick, uh uh, NOT. Smacks of love map laced with
abandonment issues. Infatuation, often confused with love,
is a strong psychological projection onto the love object.
Lust, hmmm, a biological function designed to procreate.
(Period.) Abuse, definitely NOT. Usually a direct
connection to our low- or no-self-esteem! Neglect, no, not
love either. There's always time for some loving exchange!
Indifference. Ouch. Nope. Not likely. More likely booty
call, or they're just not into you at all!

For me, making this/these distinctions saved me a whole
hellavalotta heart ache. I learned to make better choices
and found that I respected myself even more when I focused
on what was real and authentic about myself, rather than
focusing on trying to figure out who you wanted or needed
me to be. At first, like with many things, I had a tough
time believing this was true and still find I can get
caught in that trap. But overall, this awareness makes it
possible for us to attract and create a healthy, loving
relationship rather than one based on deserve and reward~

And if you want to get really deep, my husband often
reminds me that the English language has but one word for
love (with 9 definitions, by the way). We have come up with
our own definition (vigilant seekers of truth that we would
like to think we are). We consider Love a gift, a conscious
choice we make to behave with respect, patience,
understanding and compassion with ourselves and towards
another human being. It's a way to behave from, and
includes the concept that love bestowed need not be earned
nor returned but rather wants only that which the other
wants for him or her own self! When you taste true love,
you won't want to go back to the kind of love you once
knew!!! ]]> no@spam.com (Maryanne Comaroto) Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:39:57 EDT http://www.articlesofadvice.com/articles/1137/1/-The-Things-We-Do-For-Love/Page1.html http://www.articlesofadvice.com/articles/1135/1/Anger-Management-Get-in-Touch-with-Your-Inner-Anger-before-it-Gets-you-into-Trouble/Page1.html powerful negative feelings such as anger. In many families
children are discouraged or even punished for expressing
anger so it is not surprising that as adults you have the
habit of driving your angry feelings underground. In fact
you expend a lot of energy denying you have them at all.
However, when you do so, it tends to provide only temporary
relief. Generally the anger you bury has a way of
eventually coming out and often with a vengeance. And yet
expressing anger in impulsive unconscious ways usually gets
you into considerable trouble with those whom you care for
the most. Chances are your most satisfying relationships
rely heavily on your ability to monitor your emotions and
make healthy choices in expressing anger.

What are angry feelings? They can be imagined as waves that
wash over you. You cannot control which feelings may arise
moment to moment but you can learn to make conscious
choices about how you react to them. At the crest of a wave
of anger you most likely feel you will remain in your angry
state forever. You are the anger! But this is an illusion
and it can be helpful to remind yourself that it will pass.
Meanwhile what can you do?

Building some perspective on your angry feelings is the
first step in gaining control over how to express them in
healthy appropriate ways. You are probably unaware of how
you get from feeling relatively okay to shouting or
suddenly fleeing the room. It is only after the damage is
done that you realize something bad happened. One of the
keys is beginning to learn your unique set of signals
indicating your wave of anger is mounting. Some common
signs are flushed/hot face, increased heartbeat, sweating,
stomach sensations, increase in voice volume, facial
grimaces, specific spoken phrases often involving words
like "always" and "never" and swearing. Get some feedback
from a family member or close friend about the signals they
notice that indicate your anger wave is rolling in. After
you have identified some signs, begin to watch for them.
When they occur, work to keep a part of yourself observing
what is happening. This takes practice and is easier at
first with mild states of irritation rather than full-blown
rage. Consider putting yourself in situations that you know
tend to trigger mild anger and then set out to watch for
your signals. Ask a trusted close friend or family member
to give you a nonverbal cue when they recognize your anger
increasing. Building awareness of your individual pattern
is crucial to establishing more control over how you react
to your anger in the moment. If you fail to recognize your
anger until you are shouting or find your head pounding
with a headache, you have missed an opportunity to make a
healthier choice for riding out that wave. ]]> no@spam.com (Susan Wilner) Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:51:37 EDT http://www.articlesofadvice.com/articles/1135/1/Anger-Management-Get-in-Touch-with-Your-Inner-Anger-before-it-Gets-you-into-Trouble/Page1.html http://www.articlesofadvice.com/articles/1124/1/Applying-the-Law-of-Attraction-in-Your-Life/Page1.html watched the video 'The Secret' you may have been amazed
enough to read about how to use the Law of Attraction in
order of attracting prosperity into your life. Trying to
recall and work out its vital message you may have even
tried to apply the Law of Attraction in your life with the
idea of manifesting abundance, then what, are you still
locked in the cycle just the same as before you watched the
video, still struggling on the greasy pole of sleep, eat,
work with very little to show for it.

So is it all meaningless twaddle?

There is a growing volume of works on the Internet that
pander to the laziness inherant in individuals but are soley
designed to extract the last dollar from already emptying
wallets.

All you had to do was think about what you wanted such as
manifesting abundance and do nothing else but wait for the
universal law to provide. If only it were that simple.

The trouble is most so called 'Gurus' will give you case
studies of how the Law of Attraction has worked for them
and others they have taught, attracting prosperity to them,
they say you will start attracting prosperity into your
life, they will tell you it requires no effort on your part
to apply the Law of Attraction, but they leave out the most
valuable information, the bit that tells you 'HOW'. 'HOW'
'WHAT' and the rest of the process requires input from you
BEFORE it will start to work

It is no wonder that so many people fail to experience how
the Law of Attraction can impact on their lives.

If I asked you to drive to a part of the country you had
never been to and only said 'Don't worry it is straight
down the road you cannot miss it', those instructions would
be absolutely meaningless because they are incomplete. Yet
faced with half baked instructions of the power of the Law
of Attraction individuals declare it as 'Bunkum' and
'Unworkable' dismissing this universal law.

It is no good just recieving instructions relating to the
Law of Attraction without also being taught to understand
the Law and its power. Their lack of full understanding
meant that they changed things around getting a watered
down version. It is no surprise that this watered down
version produced little if any results and very soon they
gave up; proclaiming that the Law of Attraction did not
work.

Then there are those who hear half the story from a law of
attraction book go on to invent their own half baked
theories which fail to produce any substance but by then
they have taken your money and disappeared into the Cosmos!

Finally there are those who declare that there is just one
step for attracting prosperity, carry out this one step and
you will have true abundance in every area of your life,
sorry there is no such method that I am aware of and I have
taught the Law of Attraction for over 25 years.

So what really works?

The Law of Attraction is based on a total modus operandi
which when applied to any area of your life will bring you
success. Unfortunately for many they will never taste that
success because to apply the Law of Attraction requires
discipline and consistency. The discipline to keep going
with the process even in the belief that success is just
around the next corner, remember when you drill a hole you
need to apply the same pressure until you make a
breakthrough you do not stop half way declaring that it
does not work. Discipline in as much as you need to
understand and accept a method which you build on and turn
into a habit that is strong enough not to be broken.

Finally you need to be coached and mentored by someone who
has succeeded in successfully applying it to their own
life, who has successfully shown people from all walks of
life how to apply the Law of Attraction to everything they
do and has done so year on year.

Before you can have you must DO - Before you can DO you
must BE; - BE; DO; HAVE

You can learn how to attract affection, riches, or
satisfaction or all three in YOUR LIFE NOW!

It is true that you are able to attract the sort of life
you crave for! All you have to do is learn HOW, and
universal law will immediately start. ]]> no@spam.com (David Dutch) Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:12:30 EDT http://www.articlesofadvice.com/articles/1124/1/Applying-the-Law-of-Attraction-in-Your-Life/Page1.html http://www.articlesofadvice.com/articles/1101/1/10-Questions-To-Ask-Yourself/Page1.html you seeking more insight and understanding around what is
important to you?

Do you allow yourself to play with the thought that there
is something deeper and more meaningful for you to express
in this lifetime?

We all are faced with problems and sometimes they are all
we seem to have. We have left behind our ability to dream,
yet that ability still lives within us, even if we block it
with our 'to do' lists.

Are you open to just asking the questions?

1. What do I want?

The question of the ages. So many things you want to do
with your life and yet you feel there is so little time to
add them to your day. Create a "101 Things I Want" List.
Once a week, take out the list and read about what you
want. Don't worry about doing everything.. .just create the
list and read it once a week.

Then take small steps towards incorporating what you want
into your life. Make it a priority to do something you
want each day, no matter how small. You will be amazed how
you will attract what you want.

2. Do I want to change?

Ask yourself the tough question: Do I want to change?
Change can be scary because maybe we will have to give up
the belief that we can't get what we want. Yet, when we
give up our old beliefs and replace them with our desires
and abilities to create our lives, we will feel much better
about ourselves. Change takes commitment, even if it is to
do something small. Actually, keep it small and each day,
make a commitment to one small action item - very small.

3. What's the bright side?

When a challenging situation occurs in our lives, we can
ask ourselves "Why is this happening to me?" We can learn
something from every experience. To learn more about
ourselves, ask to see the positive lesson in the
experience. This information will help you create a
stronger life for yourself. 4. Am I comfortable with
what I'm doing? This is a great time to review what you are
doing and capturing what works and what doesn't work for
you in your life today. You can add to your "101 Things I
Want" areas that you want to change.

5. Have I done enough for myself?

A powerful question! Discontentment comes from not taking
care of you. Did you make that doctor's appointment? Did
you take that walk on the beach, or complete something that
is hard to do, but important for you? Think of small ways
you can do for yourself. Your intention can be to feel
good about yourself.

6. Am I happy at where I am today?

Yes, you want to change "stuff" in your life, but are you
happy where you are at this moment in time? Find something
that brightens you at this very moment.

7. Am I physically in tune with myself?

Do you listen to your body? If so, what is it saying to
you? Whether you shape-up, change the way you wear your
clothes or hair, or even your attitude towards people, you
can stop long enough to listen to your body. Your body
tells you what you need to know about yourself. Trust it.

8. How much could I have?

How much do you want? Really want! We say we want things
but underneath sits our belief that we can't have it. So
how much could you have? As much as you want! Take your
"101 Things I Want" list and start a plan. Then choose one
item on the list, no matter how small. Work towards what
you want.

9. What motivates me?

What motivates you? What's your 'why' in life? Why do you
do the things you do? What helps you get out of the bed
each day and move forward in your life? Sit quietly, ask
this question, and just write down all your answers. Write
at least 10 different ways you are motivated.

10. What am I willing to do today to be happy?

Create a list of ways that you can be happy each day. Some
people have gratitude journals, others take the time to
speak with family or friends, while still others take a
long leisurely bath to soothe the body and soul. Each day
we make a choice to be happy or not.

Final Thought

Don't concern yourself as to what others do...be all you
can be!
]]> no@spam.com (Pat Brill) Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:25:38 EDT http://www.articlesofadvice.com/articles/1101/1/10-Questions-To-Ask-Yourself/Page1.html http://www.articlesofadvice.com/articles/1079/1/Your-Power-Living-Life-List-PLLL-How-to-Start/Page1.html working with a great many people from all walks of life.
Despite the wide range of demographics I could categorize
them all by saying every one of them would have benefited
from establishing their own PLLL. Life is a journey, not
unlike taking a very long car trip. Imagine taking this
car journey without a road map. Every day you get up and
you have no idea where you are going that day. Every day
you have to try to find your way without a map, without any
direction, without any idea if what you are doing and
whether where you are going will be of any benefit to you
that day. Sounds very stressful, doesn't it? That picture
is what 98% of people experience every day. It's a
depressing picture and one that takes a toll on all of us.

I'm reluctant to give you a solution that would seem to be
a cure for all that ails you, but getting your self a PLLL
would be on that list and at the top. If I took 1,000
people, at random off the street, sat them down and
explained to them what a PLLL was and then asked them to
work on establishing, organizing and using their own PLLL
over the next 6 months, I would GUARANTEE that 98% of them
would benefit greatly from the experience.

How would they start the process?

Today

Start today. Do not think about it, do not plan, organize,
contemplate or theorize, just start. The fact that you
think you are too busy, do not have the time today, today
is a bad day, these are all reasons why you need to do
this. They are not reasons not to do it. Perpetuating the
same old bad habits, the same work ethic that has
repeatedly let you down, doing the same routine that has
not gotten you the results you want, does this sound like a
recipe for success? That's why today is a great day to
start to create an environment that will enable you to
regain control of your time, enable you to drive your own
agenda for a change and to reduce your stress levels to a
point where you can actually start to enjoy life.

A Little Goes a Long Way

Your PLLL, among many things, is going to be your personal
road map for the rest of your life. It will lead you,
guide you, and light the way for what you will be doing for
as long as you are around. If that sounds like a daunting
task, it is. If this sounds daunting, now imagine life
with out a PLLL, without a road map. Having said this, the
start is just that, a start. Today, you want to pull out a
piece of paper or a spreadsheet, your choice, and start to
make a list, a few notes, some random thoughts. What do
you want to do from this day forward? This is not brain
surgery; it's a start of you actually thinking about what
the next years of your life will be like.

This is not a test, there are no wrong or right answers,
it's your life and you will decide what goes on throughout
it. The difference between before and now is that before
there was no plan, no road map, no way of co-coordinating
the myriad of things that will make up the contents of what
you will be doing today and every day into your future. If
you start today and put down just one thought about what
you would like to do in the future, just one, you are now
massively ahead of where you would have been without that
one thought written down. The process of creating your own
PLLL will be a daily one. One idea, thought, suggestion,
reminder to yourself, as part of a daily routine, will have
a powerfully positive impact on the rest of your life.

My advice is simple, start today, start small and add to
your PLLL daily. I have always been a advocate for writing
down your input to your PLLL. That has not changed. As
time goes on, there will be times when you interact with
your PLLL and it will not be in a written form. We will
deal with those circumstances later. For now, have fun
building your road map to your future. ]]> no@spam.com (Bryan Beckstead) Mon, 31 Aug 2009 10:53:06 EDT http://www.articlesofadvice.com/articles/1079/1/Your-Power-Living-Life-List-PLLL-How-to-Start/Page1.html http://www.articlesofadvice.com/articles/1073/1/First-Impressions---The-9090-Rule/Page1.html for the first time, they make 90% of their mind up about us
in the first 90 seconds. The 90/90 rule. This sounds
incredible. How accurate are these figures?

I have been training and coaching people in face-to-face
skills for over 20 years and based on my experience, these
figures are maybe a little understated!

Let's consider some evidence we can all relate to. Imagine
you are interviewing two candidates for a job. You go to
collect the first candidate from reception. When you walk
up to them they are slouching in a chair reading the paper.
They look a little dischevelled with untidy hair and you
notice that their shoes look a bit old and grubby. You
introduce yourself and they mutter hello with a straight
face and no eye contact. As you walk with them to the
interview room you engage them in some small talk. "It's
not a very nice day, I bet we'll get some rain later".
"Did you find us alright?". "How was your journey here?".
Each question is met with with a one-word answer. You both
walk the rest of the way to the interview room in silence.

As you collect the second cadidate from reception you
notice that they look well-groomed and are sitting upright
with good posture. They look as if they have made a real
effort with their appearance and smile as you walk towards
them. You introduce yourself and immediately they look you
in the eye, give a firm handshake and look genuinely
pleased to meet you. As you walk to the interview room
they take responsibility for initiating the small-talk.
They comment on how nice your offices are. Tell you that,
for once, the trains were on time and how easy the journey
to you was. They ask you about the photograph in reception
of a cheque being presented to the Air Ambulance Service
and enquire about your company's support for them. The
conversation flows easily. They even make you laugh with a
witty comment on how good your company healthcare scheme
must be.

The chances are, that if this 90/90 rule is correct, you
will have already decided who to hire before you've even
entered the interview room. The subconscious mind is
all-powerful in influencing your decisions.

The first candidate didn't seem quite right. Their
appearance, posture, lack of eye contact, stony face and
reluctance to engage with you gave you the impression that
they were not too bothered about you. Many of us find
small-talk a little uncomfortable and they made no effort
to help you get a conversation going. They showed no real
interest in you or your company. Faced with this evidence
(which will probably be served up to you as a 'feeling'
rather than a rational thought) you will give them a low
'emotional ranking'. Consequently, when you interview them
you will tend to interpret their answers to your questions
with some suspicion. In other words, you will already be
programmed to put a negative interpretation on everything
they say.

The opposite will occur with the second candidate. They
created a positive impression with you in the first 90
seconds. They clearly thought you were important enough to
make an effort, both in their appearance and manner, and
you will subconsciously give them a high 'emotional
ranking'. You will already be programmed to place a
positive interpretation on their answers to your questions.
Guess who gets the job!

First impressions, although critical, are just first
impressions; but they do get you off to a flying start.
Your ability to build a relationship with the other person
by being sympathetic to their agenda will influence the
ease with which you can do business with them. Of course,
as the relationship progresses you will gain advantage by
expressing yourself clearly to communicate effectively. If
you demonstrate regard for their position in any
negotiations with them, you will build on your first
impression and help to cement a positive, productive and
mutually beneficial relationship. None of this is rocket
science, but can you really afford not to invest in the
little bit of preparation and effort required to achieve
that vital high 'emotional ranking' with others? ]]> no@spam.com (Bob Malloney) Mon, 31 Aug 2009 09:44:11 EDT http://www.articlesofadvice.com/articles/1073/1/First-Impressions---The-9090-Rule/Page1.html