Challenge Yourself

"You must do the things you think you cannot do."

Eleanor Roosevelt

Perceptions

What we believe determines our thoughts. What we think determines our perspective. Our perspective causes us to label people and events and to assign value to them. We use labels and values to define both ourselves and our focus. What we focus upon is what we empower. What we empower determines our view of reality. Our reality determines how we choose our actions.

It has been said that perception is more important than reality, and for most of us this is true. More importantly, what we believe is what develops our view of the world. We establish our position in relation to it and our role based on our beliefs. These also impact our relationships and our opinions. Often these beliefs are derived from what we have been taught, what others have observed and have told us, or whatever spin has been placed on words or actions.

The "Peak-End Rule"

Plotting the perfect getaway? To get the most pleasure out of your vacation, spend your money on experiences instead of an extra day.

When it comes to getting the most out of your vacation, how long you go away for matters less than how you fill your days. According to behavioral economist Tom Gilovich, PhD, of Cornell University, you will get the biggest bang for your buck by spending your money on an amazing experience rather than an extra day at your location.
It has to do with something called the "peak-end rule." When reflecting on how good a time we had, we’ll remember two things: the most intense moments and the last day. That’s why he recommends splurging on an unforgettable experience, like a helicopter ride, surfing lessons or dinner at your favorite celebrity chef’s restaurant. Then, be sure to do something special on the last day or evening before you head home.
The more fun you have on your vacation, the better you’ll feel when you return home. Taking time off from work or at-home responsibilities helps us recuperate, so we can return to our daily lives with less stress and renewed vigor.

HUNTING

HUMANS HUNT FOR LOVE.

WE HUNT FOR LOVE IN OTHER HUMANS JUST LIKE US, EXPECTING TO GET LOVE FROM THEM WHEN THESE HUMANS ARE IN THE SAME CONDITION THAT WE ARE IN.

THEY DON'T LOVE THEMSELVES EITHER, SO REALLY--HOW MUCH LOVE CAN WE GET FROM THEM?

Slowing Down The Process of Emotions

Human beings are not very good at allowing the experiencing of emotions in full without trying to speed up the process.
The only time we have this ability in its purest sense is when we are young children who have yet to be told or taught what is socially acceptable.
Children will tantrum and cry and scream, or laugh until it runs out and they are genuinely ready to move on.
Allow yourself to feel what you’re feeling without any agenda of speeding up the process. Whatever you are feeling is OK. Take some time to just sit with your emotion and experience it without moving to fix or change it.
Genuinely experiencing emotions, no matter how painful, is one of the beauties of life. Don’t shy away from these moments. Be present in them.

Say What?

Take off the headphones, or turn the volume down. One in four college students show some level of hearing loss.
Think you don’t need to turn down your headset because your hearing is perfect? A small study found that 25 percent of college kids had some degree of damage — even though they thought their hearing was fine. Seven percent of those tested in the study had enough damage to be diagnosed with mild hearing loss.
According to the researchers, you would expect people of that age to have normal hearing ability. Though they did not assess the reasons for students’ impaired hearing, researchers speculate it has to do with the prevalence of portable music players.
Hearing damage cannot be undone, so protect your ears now to prevent hearing loss and possibly even dementia later. Research published in the Archives of Neurology found that older adults with hearing loss are significantly more likely to develop dementia than people with good hearing.

ACCEPTANCE AND LOVE

YOU CANNOT CHANGE OTHER PEOPLE.

YOU LOVE THEM THE WAY THEY ARE OR YOU DON'T.

YOU ACCEPT THEM THE WAY THEY ARE OR YOU DON'T.

TO TRY TO CHANGE THEM TO FIT WHAT YOU WANT THEM TO BE IS LIKE TRYING TO CHANGE A DOG FOR A CAT, OR A CAT FOR A HORSE.

THAT IS A FACT.

THEY ARE WHAT THEY ARE.

YOU ARE WHO YOU ARE.

WE CAN ONLY CHANGE OURSELVES.

Available Right NOW

“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.”

Dalai Lama

You create your own happiness through the choices you make day to day. Not just the steps you take toward your dreams, but also the choice to enjoy where you are right now. The joy you get when you meet new people and learn from them. The passion you feel when you work on something you love. The peace you feel when you settle into a familiar routine with family.

It’s all available to you now.

Greening Yourself

How to get yourself to eat more veggies: Develop a green thumb. Gardeners consume more vegetables than people without gardens.
In honor of Earth Day, focus on getting you and your family to eat more vegetables. How? Plant a garden this year! It’s probably no surprise that researchers at Texas A&M University and Texas State University found gardeners, compared to people without green thumbs, are more likely to eat their veggies.
Other benefits of getting dirty: The survey also found that gardening increased life satisfaction and self-esteem in older adults. But it’s not just seniors who reap the rewards. Previous research at Texas A&M found that kids who got involved in gardening programs were more willing to try new fruits and vegetables. And you don’t need a big plot of land to grow your favorite crops. If you have a sunny outdoor spot, pot a few herbs or vegetable plants in a small container garden.

STORIES

I AM A SECONDARY CHARACTER IN OTHER PEOPLE'S STORIES.
I KNOW THAT WHATEVER PEOPLE SAY ABOUT ME IS JUST A PROJECTION OF THEIR IMAGE OF ME.
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ME.

Worrying- In True Perspective

"One who has any faith in God should be ashamed to worry about anything whatsoever."

Mohandas Gandhi

Motivation

To help keep loved ones active, ask about their exercise plans for the week. It makes them more likely to surpass their goals.
Here’s a sneaky way to get friends and family to stick with their workout routine: Ask them about their exercise plans for the upcoming week. Having to predict their future behavior makes people more likely to do even better than what they estimated.
A study published in the Journal of Consumer Research found that when people were asked about their plans to exercise, they worked out 138 percent more than in previous weeks.
Motivate others by taking an interest in their health goals — and ask others to do the same for you.

THE EYES OF LOVE

YOU COULD SAY THAT THE EYES ARE AN EXPRESSION OF WHAT YOU FEEL.

WHEN YOU ARE ANGRY, YOU WILL SEE THE WORLD WITH THE EYES OF ANGER.

IF YOU ARE SAD, YOU WILL SEE THE WORLD WITH THE EYES OF SADNESS, AND EVERYTHING YOU PERCEIVE WILL BE SAD.

BUT, IF YOU HAVE THE EYES OF LOVE, YOU WILL INDEED SEE LOVE WHEREVER YOU MAY GO.

Strength

“Some people think it’s holding that makes one strong—sometimes it’s letting go.”

Unknown

Awareness of Discontent

You’ll know when a relationship no longer serves you, and you’re just staying because you’re too scared to leave.
You’ll know when a job no longer makes you happy, but you’re staying because you think it will be hard to find something else.
You’ll know when a business idea didn’t work, and it’s time to cut your losses and start the next thing.
Somewhere inside you, you always know.
You just have to stop ignoring the symptoms of your awareness or discontent, and decide it’s time to let go–of the relationship, the friendship, the job, the hobby, the idea, the religion, and in some cases, the illusion of something that you never even had to begin with.

Positive Outlooks

In a Yale University study of older adults, people with a positive outlook on the aging process lived more than 7 years longer than those who felt doomed to deteriorating mental and physical health.
Already envisioning decades of decrepitude? Volunteer for a cause you’re passionate about: Selfless actions can put a positive spin on life and distract from unhealthy obsessing, reports a study in Psychosomatic Medicine.

JUST TO BE

YOU ARE ALIVE, SO TAKE YOUR LIFE AND THOROUGHLY ENJOY IT!

WE ARE BORN WITH THE RIGHT TO BE HAPPY, TO LOVE, AND TO SHARE LOVE.

JUST TO BE--TO TAKE A RISK, AND ENJOY YOUR LIFE IS ALL THAT TRULY MATTERS.

Acceptance

Acceptance means that you can find the serenity within to let go of the past with its mistakes and regrets , move into the future with a new perspective , and appreciate the opportunity to take a second chance.
Acceptance means that when difficult times come into your life , you'll find security again and comfort to relieve any pain.
You'll find new dreams, fresh hopes, and forgiveness of the heart.

A Network of Friends

In a study of seventy somethings, Australian researchers found that those with the largest network of friends had the longest lease on life. For the average man, this could add up to 7 additional years of existence.
Yes, some buddies may encourage risky behavior from time to time, but friendship ultimately provides more protection than peril.
So try to learn a few new faces at work, trade lifting tips at the gym, or simply say “hey” to that neighbor you’ve never met. You can all thank each other later.

Ocean

"Individually, we are one drop.

Together, we are an ocean."

Ryunosuke Satoro

Being Congruent and Genuine

When you commit to making a positive change–like meditating or cutting back on work–but don’t follow through, you’re basically telling yourself that your commitments to yourself aren’t valuable enough to keep.
When you decide you believe in something strongly, like honesty, and then contradict it in your actions by lying, you’re telling yourself that your values and beliefs don’t really mean much to you.
These small choices create a nagging sense of internal conflict–a feeling that you’re not who you say you are, and you aren’t sure why you’re not.

NUT-rition

When Loma Linda University researchers tracked the lifestyle habits of 34,000 Seventh-Day Adventists–a population famous for its longevity–they discovered that those who munched nuts 5 days a week, earned an extra 2.9 years on the planet.
Pick up the Planters NUT-rition Heart Healthy Mix: It contains all five key nuts, including walnuts, which are usually left out of nut mixes. Aim to eat 2 ounces a day.

A NEW MAIN CHARACTER

I CHANGE MY STORY BECAUSE OF WHAT I BELIEVE ABOUT MYSELF.

WHEN I CLEAN UP THE LIES THAT I BELIEVE ABOUT MYSELF, THE LIES I BELIEVE ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE CHANGE.

EVERY TIME I CHANGE MYSELF, MY WHOLE STORY CHANGES TO ADAPT TO THE NEW MAIN CHARACTER.

Cleaning Up The Past

It isn’t always easy to forgive others because of what they have done. The ego makes a very strong case against them. And it builds up all of the reasons why they were so awful and why we’re going to resent them forever.
Did you know your ego will ruin your life? And the world is filled with people who would rather be right than happy. Some will go to their grave clinging to the idea that they would rather be right than happy, at least in their own mind. Now is that what you want?
There’s a beautiful old saying that the only wealth is life. Sometimes it seems that only animals know we’re actually here to be happy. So let’s please think about releasing old baggage. Let’s let go of the past. And I know that sometimes people do things that seem terrible and totally unacceptable. There are some incredible things that go on in our society, cruelty and thoughtlessness, and I’m not suggesting it’s easy. I’m saying it’s necessary if we want to be happy and empowered people.
We clean up the past because an unfinished past leads to an unfinished future.

The Cost of Excess Body Fat

University of Alabama researchers discovered that maintaining a body-mass index of 25 to 35 can shorten your life by up to 3 years. (Excess body fat raises your risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and colon cancer.)
If you’re allergic to exercise, sweat with your significant other. A Duke University study shows that sedentary men are 50 percent more likely to work out three times a week if their partners participate.

Let LOVE

Let LOVE strengthen you in unity and commitment.
Let LOVE anchor you in the most important things in life.
Let LOVE carry you when the road is hard to walk.
Let LOVE shape your hearts as ONE.
Let LOVE hold you so closely that nothing in the world can come between you.
Let LOVE guide you in all things.

Individuality

Embrace your individuality.
I am a unique individual. So are you. We all are. The next time you find that you’re comparing yourself with someone else, remind yourself that “I am me and I’m proud of that.” You’ve got to let that sink in. You are your own person.
There’s no one quite like you. Comparisons are irrelevant! How freeing is that? Add that to your mental repertoire: “I’m unique, so comparisons are irrelevant.”

Raw Veggies

Italian researchers found that eating as little as 1 cup of raw vegetables daily can add 2 years to your life. Why raw? Cooking can deplete up to 30 percent of the antioxidants in vegetables.
To eat your quota, fill a zip lock sandwich bag with chopped red and green peppers, broccoli, and carrots. Toss the bag into your briefcase, along with a packet of dressing–the fat will boost your body’s absorption of certain nutrients.

Patience

"To climb steep hills requires a slow pace at first."

William Shakespeare

"A man who is a master of patience is master of everything else."

George Savile

Nothing Lacking

“When you realize there is nothing lacking,

the whole world belongs to you.”

Lao Tzu

Rose Colored Glasses (How Perfect For Two Days After Our Wedding!)

For a better relationship, put on your rose-colored glasses.

Having an idealistic view of your partner leads to a happier marriage.

Want to have a happier marriage? Think only good thoughts about your spouse. Research shows that idealizing your partner is linked to marital bliss. Interpreting your husband’s or wife’s everyday actions as funny, considerate or kind leads to greater appreciation, helping couples stay committed when things get rocky. Believing in your partner’s goodness helps take the edge off daily struggles and disagreements.

This leaves couples feeling closer, more connected and fulfilled. So much for the idea that high expectations will only lead to disappointment. Time to toss the cynicism and believe in your fairy-tale ending.

ACTION

DOING YOUR BEST MEANS TO TAKE ACTION.

YOU MAY HAVE MANY GREAT IDEAS IN YOUR HEAD, BUT WITHOUT ACTION UPON AN IDEA,

THERE WILL BE NO MANIFESTATION,

NO RESULTS,

AND NO REWARD.

Self-Blessing

Sometimes it is necessary

to reteach a thing its loveliness,

to put a hand on its brow of the flower

and retell it in words and in touch

it is lovely

until it flowers again from within,

of self-blessing.

Galway Kinnell

Flexible

"Every day, there are new problems and new solutions.

Sometimes, one solution works and another time another solution works."

Amit Bhatia

Brown Fat

Turn down the heat to fire up your metabolism. Cooler temperatures force the body to warm itself, increasing calorie burn. Research suggests that turning your thermostat way down and spending more time in a chilly environment can make you burn more calories. When exposed to cold temperatures, the body has to work harder to stay warm. One way it does that is by activating the body’s brown fat reserve. Unlike regular fat, which stores excess calories, brown fat actually helps torch them. Since its purpose is to regulate body temperature and keep us warm, brown fat becomes more active in the cold. It’s like a furnace — tearing through fuel to make sure we stay toasty. An article published in Obesity Reviews speculates that all this time spent in heated environments is causing our brown fat to disappear, and it may even be contributing to the rise in obesity.

MY STORY

EVERYTHING THAT I BELIEVE ABOUT MYSELF IS JUST A STORY.

IN MY STORY, EVERYTHING IS ABOUT ME, AND IT HAS TO BE THAT WAY BECAUSE I AM THE CENTER OF MY PERCEPTION.

THE STORY IS TOLD ONLY FROM MY POINT OF VIEW.

Us and the World

It often takes us quite some time to realize that true inner joy comes from spontaneously offering what we have to make the world a better place. The world is not a zero-sum game where your happiness comes at the expense of someone else – it is the diametric opposite. Self-fulfillment is world-fulfillment. We all have a unique purpose here, a unique dream that lies waiting to be manifested in our lives, and that dream when it is put into action automatically makes the world a better place.

Kindness

My aspiration in life is this: kindness is never out of place. Mind you, I don’t always manage to live up to it. But that’s the nature of aspirations–they are the stars by which we navigate our lives. Though they light up our path, we can never reach them.

Caffeine Toxicity

Are you overdoing it on caffeine? Even two large coffees can put you over the recommended limit of 300 to 400 mg a day. Brimming with healthful antioxidants, coffee is good for you. But where java is concerned, it may be possible to get too much of a good thing. Caffeine overdoses are on the rise — thanks in part to mega-size coffees, as well as the popularization of high-octane energy drinks. Though they may taste like soda, energy drinks can have three times as much caffeine. Signs of a caffeine overdose include heart palpitations, dizziness, nausea, muscle twitching, abdominal cramps and heart arrhythmia. Since the stimulant can stay in your system for up to 12 hours, drinking large amounts of caffeine on a regular basis can lead to sleep trouble. It can also exacerbate the physical effects of stress, like high blood pressure, irritability and increased heart rate. What’s more, research suggests that drinking large quantities of coffee boosts the risk of atrial fibrillation — a rapid irregular heartbeat that can result in palpitations and an increased risk of stroke and fainting. Limit your cups of Joe to three per day (or fewer if you notice symptoms from even one or two cups). If you notice increased anxiety, heart palpitations or nervousness, it’s probably a sign that you should cut back.

WOUNDS

HUMANS USE FEAR TO DOMESTICATE OTHER HUMANS, AND OUR FEAR INCREASES WITH EACH EXPERIENCE OF INJUSTICE. THE SENSE OF INJUSTICE IS THE KNIFE THAT OPENS UP A WOUND IN OUR EMOTIONAL BODY. EMOTIONAL POISON IS CREATED BY OUR REACTION TO WHAT WE CONSIDER INJUSTICE. SOME WOUNDS WILL HEAL, OTHERS WILL BECOME INFECTED WITH MORE AND MORE POISON.

Forgive and To Love

"We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive.

He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love."

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Vision and Action

There is a popular misconception that we might be able to just wish our dreams into being. Maybe on some other level of consciousness this is the case, but here on earth what we need to do is take action in our lives. Vision is an important companion to our efforts, but it can’t accomplish anything all by itself. When we focus on what we want and ask for what we want, we are initiating a conversation with the universe. Our desires, passionately defined and expressed, bring about valuable and relevant opportunities, which we then respond to by either taking or leaving them.

Inactivity

Haven’t been to the gym lately? Get moving, stat! The health risks of not exercising can show up in as little as two weeks of inactivity. Maybe you were having an especially tough time at work, or you caught the cold going around your child’s daycare. Whatever the specifics, you haven’t laced up your sneakers in weeks. I know it’s easy to fall off the exercise wagon — and it can be hard to climb back on. But here’s why you should make every effort to skedaddle: Research in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that a sedentary lifestyle can cause several chronic diseases — and being inactive for as little as two weeks can boost one’s risk. When physically active volunteers were asked to stop exercising for 14 days, they showed increased belly fat and elevated cholesterol — a sign of pre-Diabetes and heart disease. That’s why fitness, like a healthy diet, needs to be a lifelong pursuit. Instead of looking at it as a means to a lighter, slimmer physique, think of it as beneficial in and of itself. Every time you exercise, you’re doing your body good.

A NEW DREAM

KEEP YOUR ATTENTION ON TODAY.

STAY IN THE PRESENT MOMENT.

THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A NEW UNDERSTANDING;

A NEW DREAM.

Live With Intention

Live with intention.

Walk to the edge.

Listen hard.

Practice wellness.

Play with abandon.

Laugh.

Choose with no regret.

Appreciate your friends.

Continue to learn.

Do what you love.

Live as if this is all there is.

Mary Anne Radmacher

Worry

“Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.”

Proverb

When you worry, it can feel like you’re accomplishing something. Like the act of worrying itself will prevent a painful experience or somehow alter the future. It doesn’t. Odds are that thing you’re trying to prevent won’t actually happen, and if it does, it won’t be as bad as you expect.

If you think back on other things you worried about, you’ll probably recognize that you not only survived those situations, but you also somehow grew and benefited in the aftermath. That’s the funny thing about the “worst that can possibly happen.” If we believe in ourselves, we can always make the best of it.

Whatever happens tomorrow you can handle it, but you can’t possibly handle it before it happens. All you can do now is see and work with what is actually in front of you.

Today, if you start to feel overwhelmed by the things you feel you can’t control, surrender to the moment. Then ask yourself: How can I make the most of this moment instead of worrying about the one that’s coming?

T.M.

Meditate your way to better grades: Research suggests that meditating for 24 minutes a day can boost academic achievement. Meditating for 12 minutes twice a day can teach you more than how to say “om.” It may also help improve grades in school. Middle school students who practiced Transcendental Meditation for 12 minutes at the start and end of the school day boosted their reading and math scores after three months, compared to students who were given non-meditating quiet time. According to the study, teachers also reported students were calmer, happier and better able to focus on their schoolwork. Transcendental Meditation doesn’t focus on breathing or chanting, like some other forms of meditation. Instead, it encourages a restful state of mind beyond thinking. Past research has shown that it can help in other ways too. A 2009 study found Transcendental Meditation helped alleviate stress in college students, while another found it helped reduce blood pressure, anxiety, depression and anger.

THE MASTER

THE MASTER LIVES WITHIN EVERYONE.

WHEN YOU GIVE FOOD TO THE ONE WHO IS HUNGRY,

WHEN YOU GIVE WATER TO THE ONE WHO IS THIRSTY,

WHEN YOU COVER THE ONE WHO IS COLD,

YOU GIVE YOUR LOVE TO THE MASTER.

Don Miguel Ruiz

The Heart of All Creation

"Love is not a mere sentiment.

Love is the ultimate truth at the heart of creation."

Rabindranath Tagore

Taking It Personally

Don’t take things so personally. Most people, even your friends and colleagues, aren’t talking about you, thinking about you, or concerned with you at all for 99% of the time. The majority of folks in your organization or neighborhood have probably never heard of you and don’t especially want to. The ups and downs of life, the warmth and coldness of others, aren’t personal at all. Pretending that they are will only make you more miserable than is needed.