For this group of speakers listed below, the Blogathon has officially ended. If you're visiting me today and would like to check out what the group as a whole as been up to, then the final list of participants is here along with blog addresses. We're all from the Greater Phoenix area. We all signed up to agree to try blogging once a day for the month of July.
While we may not have hit that number exactly (31), all of us gained a greater understanding of what the blogging experience and blogging world is all about. We learned new skills, such as how to Stumble--even if we all aren't doing it yet (including me). We saw benefits we didn't know exisited (We could be asked to contribute to a book. We could find new places to publish our posts. We could explore information we never knew existed.) And we've grown as friends, which I like to think is the better part of the whole experience.
As for me, personally, I gained insight into what works and what might not. I think that'll be an on-going lesson. And I've continued to see the benefit of regular posting and finding new blogs that touch on my themes: travel and self-help. There's a larger world out there that I intend to exlpore further as I move my two blogs forward.
I hope you'll continue to visit mine and my friends' blogs. If we have something to say that really resonates with you, I hope you'll post a comment and let us know how to find you. Together, we can build a stronger community of people who want to help others. I know that's the key component of all the members on this team listed below. We're coaches, motivational speakers, business developers, team leaders, healthy living advisors, designers, authors, movers, shakers and so much more.
Even if you just happened to "stumble upon" my blog today, take a look at the list below. There might be something here that interests you. If so, let us know:
Jackie Dishner
http://bikewithjackie.blogspot.com/
http://www.thephoenixtraveler.com/
Susan Ratliff
http://www.blingmybooth.com/
Andrea Beaulieu
http://www.conspiracyoflove.net/
Mimi Meredith
http://blog.thegoodnessgrows.com/
Suzy Graven
http://articles.secretsofthesavvywoman.com/
Beth Terry
http://www.corporatecowgirl.com/
Vickie Mullins
http://www.mullinscreative.blogspot.com/
Michelle May
http://blogs.eastvalleytribune.com/consumed/
Arlene Rosenberg
http://www.leadingachievers.com/
Stanley Bronstein
http://stanleybronstein.com/
Stephanie Angelo
http://hressential.com/wordpress
Quinn McDonald
http://quinncreative.wordpress.com/
Barbara McNichol
http://www.nonfictioneditor.wordpress.com/
Suzanne Holman
http://www.lessonsforyourmilliondollarlife.com/
Jean McFarland
http://bulliesamongus.blogspot.com/
Bonnie Mattick
www.YourBusinessDetective.com
Thursday 31 July 2008
Secret #133 It's Not About How Many Plates You Can Spin
We all have the same problem: the number of plates screaming for our time and attention is beyond our human ability to spin them all. There’s not even enough time to spin all the plates that we’d like to spin.
This being the case, many of us spend a good deal of our lives embracing the erroneous belief that if we can just develop the skills necessary to spin more plates better and faster, then we will be able to spin all the plates screaming for our time and attention. That approach to life might look like this.
But is this realistic? Not for most of us. Very few of us attain a Chinese acrobat type of mastery over all the plates in our lives.
The reality is that many of us live life like this next plate spinner—my personal favorite because I identify with him the most. This guy honestly believes that not only is he able to spin all the plates of life that are screaming for his limited time and attention, but he also lives under the delusion that he’s really good at it too!
The question is NOT: How can you learn to spin all the plates in your life that are screaming for your time and attention? That’s the wrong question and if you ask the wrong questions you will always get the wrong answers, and life’s too short for that.
The better question is: How can you figure out what plates in life are worth spinning… and what plates you should stop spinning and dare to let fall to the ground? That’s a toughie. But again, life’s too short to NOT figure out what plates are worth spinning and what plates aren’t. Think about it. How pitiful will it be to get to the end the journey only to realize that we wasted a good portion of life spinning the wrong plates?
Need some FREE help figuring out what plates are worth spinning and what plates you should dare to let fall to the ground? Go here.
This being the case, many of us spend a good deal of our lives embracing the erroneous belief that if we can just develop the skills necessary to spin more plates better and faster, then we will be able to spin all the plates screaming for our time and attention. That approach to life might look like this.
But is this realistic? Not for most of us. Very few of us attain a Chinese acrobat type of mastery over all the plates in our lives.
The reality is that many of us live life like this next plate spinner—my personal favorite because I identify with him the most. This guy honestly believes that not only is he able to spin all the plates of life that are screaming for his limited time and attention, but he also lives under the delusion that he’s really good at it too!
The question is NOT: How can you learn to spin all the plates in your life that are screaming for your time and attention? That’s the wrong question and if you ask the wrong questions you will always get the wrong answers, and life’s too short for that.
The better question is: How can you figure out what plates in life are worth spinning… and what plates you should stop spinning and dare to let fall to the ground? That’s a toughie. But again, life’s too short to NOT figure out what plates are worth spinning and what plates aren’t. Think about it. How pitiful will it be to get to the end the journey only to realize that we wasted a good portion of life spinning the wrong plates?
Need some FREE help figuring out what plates are worth spinning and what plates you should dare to let fall to the ground? Go here.
Hope Is In Sight For The Millions Of People Who Suffer From Back Pain
The Stretching Institute and The Healthy Back Institute have joined together to create solutions for the back pain problems that plague people all over the country every day.
Gaithersburg, MD (PRWEB) July 30, 2008 -- The Stretching Institute and The Healthy Back Institute have joined together to create solutions for the back pain problems that plague people all over the country every day.
Originally created to provide scientific and medically proven products and services to athletes suffering from sports injuries, The Stretching Institute has become an industry front-runner in the field of stretching and flexibility for athletes and non-athletes alike. Their original website, TheStretchingHandbook.com, receives over a million visitors a year and has been helping people in pain since 1995.
Brad Walker, founder of The Stretching Institute (http://www.TheStretchingInstitute.com), is excited with the potential their unique partnership has for helping back pain sufferers around the world. "The Stretching Institute has been helping sports injury sufferers use stretching techniques to improve their flexibility and return to health in record speeds, but athletes aren't the only ones who suffer debilitating problems because of their back pain. In getting together with The Healthy Back Institute, we'll reach a much wider audience and eliminate the pain of so many more people."
When The Stretching Institute was created, stretching and flexibility got nothing more than a cursory mention in most health and fitness publications. Even the most scientific publications and journals were tacking stretching on as an afterthought. Walker is proud to be a part of a growing movement of health care practitioners who are taking a fully holistic view of flexibility management.
As the other member of the partnership, The Healthy Back Institute was founded in 2001 by fitness and rehabilitation expert Jesse Cannone and massage therapist Steve Hefferon. They created the Lose the Back Pain system; a self-assessment and self-treatment program for sciatica and back pain sufferers. With the help of some of the world's leading doctors, physical therapists and chiropractors, the individually targeted system has been sold in more than 85 countries.
Both Cannone and Hefferon are experts in the field of post-rehabilitation and bring a well-rounded combination of skills to the new team. Walker says that lifestyle management is about to get much better for back pain sufferers.
Ordinarily, back pain sufferers need either a lot of money or a lot of time to get appropriate treatment for their injuries. Wait times for specialists can be painfully long, and even the assessment process is prohibitively expensive. Both The Stretching Institute and The Healthy Back Institute are known worldwide for creating products that allow patients to self-assess and self-treat, putting pain relief in the hands of the sufferers, not the often inaccessible health care providers.
"If you don't have back pain or sciatica, you don't realize the impact it can have. People with back pain can't play ball with their kids, they can't take their dog for a walk -- sometimes they can't even drive. Relieving their pain will improve the productivity and quality of life for literally millions of people. We're so proud to be a part of this for people."
Gaithersburg, MD (PRWEB) July 30, 2008 -- The Stretching Institute and The Healthy Back Institute have joined together to create solutions for the back pain problems that plague people all over the country every day.
Originally created to provide scientific and medically proven products and services to athletes suffering from sports injuries, The Stretching Institute has become an industry front-runner in the field of stretching and flexibility for athletes and non-athletes alike. Their original website, TheStretchingHandbook.com, receives over a million visitors a year and has been helping people in pain since 1995.
Brad Walker, founder of The Stretching Institute (http://www.TheStretchingInstitute.com), is excited with the potential their unique partnership has for helping back pain sufferers around the world. "The Stretching Institute has been helping sports injury sufferers use stretching techniques to improve their flexibility and return to health in record speeds, but athletes aren't the only ones who suffer debilitating problems because of their back pain. In getting together with The Healthy Back Institute, we'll reach a much wider audience and eliminate the pain of so many more people."
When The Stretching Institute was created, stretching and flexibility got nothing more than a cursory mention in most health and fitness publications. Even the most scientific publications and journals were tacking stretching on as an afterthought. Walker is proud to be a part of a growing movement of health care practitioners who are taking a fully holistic view of flexibility management.
As the other member of the partnership, The Healthy Back Institute was founded in 2001 by fitness and rehabilitation expert Jesse Cannone and massage therapist Steve Hefferon. They created the Lose the Back Pain system; a self-assessment and self-treatment program for sciatica and back pain sufferers. With the help of some of the world's leading doctors, physical therapists and chiropractors, the individually targeted system has been sold in more than 85 countries.
Both Cannone and Hefferon are experts in the field of post-rehabilitation and bring a well-rounded combination of skills to the new team. Walker says that lifestyle management is about to get much better for back pain sufferers.
Ordinarily, back pain sufferers need either a lot of money or a lot of time to get appropriate treatment for their injuries. Wait times for specialists can be painfully long, and even the assessment process is prohibitively expensive. Both The Stretching Institute and The Healthy Back Institute are known worldwide for creating products that allow patients to self-assess and self-treat, putting pain relief in the hands of the sufferers, not the often inaccessible health care providers.
"If you don't have back pain or sciatica, you don't realize the impact it can have. People with back pain can't play ball with their kids, they can't take their dog for a walk -- sometimes they can't even drive. Relieving their pain will improve the productivity and quality of life for literally millions of people. We're so proud to be a part of this for people."
Monday 28 July 2008
Replace the "yes, but..." with a "yes, and..."
I've had my moments where I've felt stuck.
I've had piles on my desk, for instance, and didn't get any work done because they were there. So I'd clean off my desk, the piles would no longer be present, but still I'd not accomplish what I thought I should be getting done. I was kidding myself.
I felt stuck. But I wasn't recognizing that it wasn't the piles that kept me stuck, it was me. Just me. I was convincing myself that it was the piles--or something else altogether--but I wasn't being honest with myself.
Now, whenever I find myself not accomplishing what I've set out to do, I've learned to pay attention to what I'm saying to other people. What am I telling them about my progress, or lack thereof.
If I hear myself saying, "Yes, BUT...," or any variation of those words, I know I'm making excuses. For example, people often ask me, "Are you still writing?" I've often heard myself say something like, "Yes, but no one's buying, so I'm not selling much." Or perhaps they've asked me, "Are you still working on that book?" And I've responded, "Yes, but I've still got so much to do, so I'm not really getting anywhere." Whenever I've responded with a "Yes, but (fill-in-the-blank)," I know I'm just making excuses. Most people I know have "so much to do," so what's so different about that for me? Why do I even need to announce that? It doesn't really make me feel better that I'm not accomplishing what I set out to do. I'm just making excuses. I'm limiting myself by not doing all I possibly can. I'm devaluing what I have to offer.
So I've had to train myself to instead say, "Yes, AND..." phrases. That way, I know I'm looking for a solution, instead of looking to stay stuck. So, yes, maybe I am working hard, and maybe I'm not selling enough. Maybe all of that's true. With the "AND" connector, I'm giving myself the right to find the solution, instead of the right to stay stuck. Who wants to stay stuck, anyway?
So, yes, I'm still writing, and yes, I'm still working on the book, AND I'm also looking at ways to increase my sales, pitching ideas to more and more publications that ever, AND I'm feeling very productive these days. That's the difference between those two three-letter words. One is empowering. The other is deflating.
The next time you hear yourself make excuses for what you're not accomplishing, give yourself permission to listen to what you're really saying behind the words. Are you looking for the solution, or are you just looking to stay stuck? Don't let the piles make up your mind. You make up your mind.
This week, if there's something you've been meaning to get done, if there's something you want to accomplish but haven't, I encourage you to listen to what you're saying to yourself and others. Become aware of the words you're using. You'll accomplish so much more if you remind yourself to use language that empowers you. That's the best path to progress. Even if you're not where you want to be right now, if you empower yourself with the right to find solutions, you'll get there.
All my best,
Jackie
I've had piles on my desk, for instance, and didn't get any work done because they were there. So I'd clean off my desk, the piles would no longer be present, but still I'd not accomplish what I thought I should be getting done. I was kidding myself.
I felt stuck. But I wasn't recognizing that it wasn't the piles that kept me stuck, it was me. Just me. I was convincing myself that it was the piles--or something else altogether--but I wasn't being honest with myself.
Now, whenever I find myself not accomplishing what I've set out to do, I've learned to pay attention to what I'm saying to other people. What am I telling them about my progress, or lack thereof.
If I hear myself saying, "Yes, BUT...," or any variation of those words, I know I'm making excuses. For example, people often ask me, "Are you still writing?" I've often heard myself say something like, "Yes, but no one's buying, so I'm not selling much." Or perhaps they've asked me, "Are you still working on that book?" And I've responded, "Yes, but I've still got so much to do, so I'm not really getting anywhere." Whenever I've responded with a "Yes, but (fill-in-the-blank)," I know I'm just making excuses. Most people I know have "so much to do," so what's so different about that for me? Why do I even need to announce that? It doesn't really make me feel better that I'm not accomplishing what I set out to do. I'm just making excuses. I'm limiting myself by not doing all I possibly can. I'm devaluing what I have to offer.
So I've had to train myself to instead say, "Yes, AND..." phrases. That way, I know I'm looking for a solution, instead of looking to stay stuck. So, yes, maybe I am working hard, and maybe I'm not selling enough. Maybe all of that's true. With the "AND" connector, I'm giving myself the right to find the solution, instead of the right to stay stuck. Who wants to stay stuck, anyway?
So, yes, I'm still writing, and yes, I'm still working on the book, AND I'm also looking at ways to increase my sales, pitching ideas to more and more publications that ever, AND I'm feeling very productive these days. That's the difference between those two three-letter words. One is empowering. The other is deflating.
The next time you hear yourself make excuses for what you're not accomplishing, give yourself permission to listen to what you're really saying behind the words. Are you looking for the solution, or are you just looking to stay stuck? Don't let the piles make up your mind. You make up your mind.
This week, if there's something you've been meaning to get done, if there's something you want to accomplish but haven't, I encourage you to listen to what you're saying to yourself and others. Become aware of the words you're using. You'll accomplish so much more if you remind yourself to use language that empowers you. That's the best path to progress. Even if you're not where you want to be right now, if you empower yourself with the right to find solutions, you'll get there.
All my best,
Jackie
Batman - The Dark Knight - An alternative movie download
I saw the new Batman movie at the weekend The Dark Knight. It was, indeed, very dark but one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. For once the hype was right and Heath Ledger's perfomance as the Joker was amazing.
I stumbled across this spoof made by someone out there in internet-land. Perhaps it is only funny if you have seen the movie but I thought it was hilarious...
Click here if you dont see the embedded movie.
I stumbled across this spoof made by someone out there in internet-land. Perhaps it is only funny if you have seen the movie but I thought it was hilarious...
Click here if you dont see the embedded movie.
Batman - The Dark Knight - An alternative movie download
I saw the new Batman movie at the weekend The Dark Knight. It was, indeed, very dark but one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. For once the hype was right and Heath Ledger's perfomance as the Joker was amazing.
I stumbled across this spoof made by someone out there in internet-land. Perhaps it is only funny if you have seen the movie but I thought it was hilarious...
Click here if you dont see the embedded movie.
I stumbled across this spoof made by someone out there in internet-land. Perhaps it is only funny if you have seen the movie but I thought it was hilarious...
Click here if you dont see the embedded movie.
Saturday 26 July 2008
A neighbor's wildflowers
Two years ago during the spring, I took these photos of my neighbor's garden. She plants wildflowers every year, and I love to go see what's growing in her backyard. It's always different; it's always beautiful. So I wanted to capture it on film.
These photos remind me to take time to pause and reflect.
These photos remind me to take time to pause and reflect.
Friday 25 July 2008
The power of change
My daughter got married this year. She and her husband moved in with me just before the wedding occurred and stayed with me for a few months after. They brought their dog with them; he didn't get along well with mine. They learned to tolerate each other. The three of them just moved out last month. My son, I just found out, is going to have a baby. I'm going to be a grandparent. My book deadline got pushed back to a different date. I'm constantly working on a different assignment with a different publication with a different editor. I just accepted a last minute offer to present a speech I didn't have, so I had to create it.
And the list goes on.
I encounter change in my life almost daily. I do not have a single boss. In fact, technically, though I am self-employed, I work for many people; therefore, I suppose you could say I have many bosses. So work is never static. There are always different contracts to read and review, different copyrights to consider, different ways to format a story. I juggle a lot of balls.
I'm not so different than most people I know.
A press representative that I work with at The Phoenician resort told me last month she had gotten married. This month, she told me she'll be leaving her job. Her husband got transferred, and she's moving with him to Colorado. She'll need to find a new job, a new house, new friends. She's ready to embrace the change, though she's slightly concerned. Her concern won't hold her back. It's just her humanity speaking. She'll miss her family and friends that she's leaving behind, especially her 13-year-old brother. She told me he's playing tennis now, and loving it, and competing. She's sorry she'll miss his games. I found that touching to hear her say this. But she's accepting the move.
My daughter--the one who just got married--told me their house may need new duct work for the air conditioning to work properly. She and her husband need to decide how they'll manage to make the repairs on their tight budget. They are working on a plan to make the important necessary repairs and save for the major and more costly one later.
Change. It's constant. We all experience it. We all live it. We all need to know how to manage it.
Some of us do it well. Some of us not so much. And some of us do it well some of the time, but not always.
Do you have a process in place that you use to manage the change in your life? Have you learned to do what my neighbor said to me recently, "Go with the flow"? Is that always the appropriate response?
I don't always accept change gracefully or openly. There are times when I reject it outright. My daughter says I need about four days to deal with really dramatic change, the kind that is so unexpected. She may be right. I do seem to have a time-frame, but I'm not sure if it can be measured in days.
Generally, I like to think I go with the flow, but I know that's not always the case. Certain kinds of change are easier to accept than others.
My process is altered, I think, according to what the change involves. Is is going to cost me a lot of money? Do I have the money it's going to cost? Is it going to cost me time--where am I going to get the extra hours I may need? How is the change going to affect me? What will I need to do to adapt?
I think I go quickly through a check-list of questions and considerations, sometimes without even knowing it, before I come to accept the change, depending on its severity.
The power of change involves lesson-building and learning. Change may hold the key to your self-confidence. You don't have to always be great at adapting to change. You just have to believe in yourself enough to know that you will.
So, if my daughter's right, and I do take around four days to adapt to big changes in my life. I'm okay with that. It means I will adapt. It means I will find the solution to acceptance. It means I will continue moving forward.
What are your thoughts about the change that occurs in your life? If chaos were to knock on your door today, would you be able to answer? Would you ignore the knock, hoping it would go away? How prepared are you to handle whatever comes next?
Not even counting this year, I've experienced a lot of change in my life. With each new experience, I've gained greater confidence in knowing I can adapt, I can create solutions, I can accept the inevitable.
Can you?
And the list goes on.
I encounter change in my life almost daily. I do not have a single boss. In fact, technically, though I am self-employed, I work for many people; therefore, I suppose you could say I have many bosses. So work is never static. There are always different contracts to read and review, different copyrights to consider, different ways to format a story. I juggle a lot of balls.
I'm not so different than most people I know.
A press representative that I work with at The Phoenician resort told me last month she had gotten married. This month, she told me she'll be leaving her job. Her husband got transferred, and she's moving with him to Colorado. She'll need to find a new job, a new house, new friends. She's ready to embrace the change, though she's slightly concerned. Her concern won't hold her back. It's just her humanity speaking. She'll miss her family and friends that she's leaving behind, especially her 13-year-old brother. She told me he's playing tennis now, and loving it, and competing. She's sorry she'll miss his games. I found that touching to hear her say this. But she's accepting the move.
My daughter--the one who just got married--told me their house may need new duct work for the air conditioning to work properly. She and her husband need to decide how they'll manage to make the repairs on their tight budget. They are working on a plan to make the important necessary repairs and save for the major and more costly one later.
Change. It's constant. We all experience it. We all live it. We all need to know how to manage it.
Some of us do it well. Some of us not so much. And some of us do it well some of the time, but not always.
Do you have a process in place that you use to manage the change in your life? Have you learned to do what my neighbor said to me recently, "Go with the flow"? Is that always the appropriate response?
I don't always accept change gracefully or openly. There are times when I reject it outright. My daughter says I need about four days to deal with really dramatic change, the kind that is so unexpected. She may be right. I do seem to have a time-frame, but I'm not sure if it can be measured in days.
Generally, I like to think I go with the flow, but I know that's not always the case. Certain kinds of change are easier to accept than others.
My process is altered, I think, according to what the change involves. Is is going to cost me a lot of money? Do I have the money it's going to cost? Is it going to cost me time--where am I going to get the extra hours I may need? How is the change going to affect me? What will I need to do to adapt?
I think I go quickly through a check-list of questions and considerations, sometimes without even knowing it, before I come to accept the change, depending on its severity.
The power of change involves lesson-building and learning. Change may hold the key to your self-confidence. You don't have to always be great at adapting to change. You just have to believe in yourself enough to know that you will.
So, if my daughter's right, and I do take around four days to adapt to big changes in my life. I'm okay with that. It means I will adapt. It means I will find the solution to acceptance. It means I will continue moving forward.
What are your thoughts about the change that occurs in your life? If chaos were to knock on your door today, would you be able to answer? Would you ignore the knock, hoping it would go away? How prepared are you to handle whatever comes next?
Not even counting this year, I've experienced a lot of change in my life. With each new experience, I've gained greater confidence in knowing I can adapt, I can create solutions, I can accept the inevitable.
Can you?
Energize! Calming! Comforting! Have a playlist for your life!
Do you want to feel more compassion for others? Do you want to exercise with more enthusiasm or achieve serene relaxation no matter where you find yourself? Well, what about having a soundtrack to your life?
With modern mp3 players you can put anything on them, and then organize your music into play lists. You can then have a different playlist to help motivate you in different areas of your life.
Let us look at an example.
John Smith creates a workout play list; high tempo dance music, Smashing Pumpkins, Metallica and Pixies. The first time he works out with his new playlist, he lifts heavier weights and feels full of energy. The difference is amazing. He calls this play list “Energize”
Then he creates a relaxing play list. It has Brian Eno, ambient music, sea shore and various other sounds on it. He revels in his down time, enjoying a deeper sense of calm and relaxation. He calls this play list “Calming.”
He finally creates a compassion play list. It has contemplative music on it such as Leonard Cohen or The Smiths. He listens to it when he feels world weary. He calls this play list “Comforting.”
So no matter where John is, he has a sound track that he can call on that acts as a balm for his mood. It can comfort him, energize him and calm him - all at a touch of a button!
So look at your mp3 player in a new light. Not only as an entertainment center but as a wonderful device that can help transform how you feel or act.
Just be careful if you have your mp3 player on shuffle or you may find your mood swinging all over the place!
Let me know what mood play lists you have!
Allen
Energize! Calming! Comforting! Have a playlist for your life!
Do you want to feel more compassion for others? Do you want to exercise with more enthusiasm or achieve serene relaxation no matter where you find yourself? Well, what about having a soundtrack to your life?
With modern mp3 players you can put anything on them, and then organize your music into play lists. You can then have a different playlist to help motivate you in different areas of your life.
Let us look at an example.
John Smith creates a workout play list; high tempo dance music, Smashing Pumpkins, Metallica and Pixies. The first time he works out with his new playlist, he lifts heavier weights and feels full of energy. The difference is amazing. He calls this play list “Energize”
Then he creates a relaxing play list. It has Brian Eno, ambient music, sea shore and various other sounds on it. He revels in his down time, enjoying a deeper sense of calm and relaxation. He calls this play list “Calming.”
He finally creates a compassion play list. It has contemplative music on it such as Leonard Cohen or The Smiths. He listens to it when he feels world weary. He calls this play list “Comforting.”
So no matter where John is, he has a sound track that he can call on that acts as a balm for his mood. It can comfort him, energize him and calm him - all at a touch of a button!
So look at your mp3 player in a new light. Not only as an entertainment center but as a wonderful device that can help transform how you feel or act.
Just be careful if you have your mp3 player on shuffle or you may find your mood swinging all over the place!
Let me know what mood play lists you have!
Allen
Thursday 24 July 2008
Bruker BioSpin's MRI CryoProbe at 60 Micrometer Spatial Resolution
A prestigious 2008 R&D 100 Award has been given to Bruker BioSpin for the MRI CryoProbe™, as one of the 100 most technologically significant products introduced into the marketplace over the past year. Together with the 1.7 mm NMR MicroCryoProbe, this results in two magnetic resonance innovations from Bruker BioSpin being selected by the independent judging panel and editors of R&D Magazine in 2008.
BILLERICA, Mass. (Business Wire EON) July 23, 2008 -- The Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) CryoProbe™ delivers an increase in sensitivity of approximately a factor of 2.5x in small animal in vivo MRI. This enables very high 3D isotropic spatial resolution down to 60 µm, or alternatively an increase in acquisition speed by more than a factor of 5x compared to conventional room temperature MRI RF coils. In combination with high magnetic fields, the MRI CryoProbe enables new pre-clinical neuroscience studies with functional MRI (fMRI).
Bruker BioSpin's MRI CryoProbe technology uses cryogenic RF-coils and preamplifiers cooled by a closed-cycle helium gas refrigeration system. Bruker BioSpin is the pioneer in the development of cryogenic probes for high-resolution NMR. Over 650 Bruker NMR CryoProbes have been installed at customers worldwide so far. The new MRI CryoProbe is available for in vivo animal MRI at various field strengths for BioSpec®, PharmaScan® and ClinScan® MRI scanners.
Comprehensive animal studies using the MRI CryoProbe were performed at the ETH in Zuerich, Switzerland, where it is routinely used for clinical neuroscience research on mice. Professor Markus Rudin, Director of the MRI and Optical Imaging Section of the Animal Imaging Center, ETH Zuerich, commented: "This novel MRI CryoProbe technology has proven to provide a strong and impressive increase in sensitivity. It will greatly enhance the potential of MRI in small animals for clinical and pharmaceutical research."
ABOUT BRUKER BIOSPIN: For more information about Bruker BioSpin and Bruker Corporation (NASDAQ: BRKR), please visit www.bruker-biospin.com and www.bruker.com.
BILLERICA, Mass. (Business Wire EON) July 23, 2008 -- The Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) CryoProbe™ delivers an increase in sensitivity of approximately a factor of 2.5x in small animal in vivo MRI. This enables very high 3D isotropic spatial resolution down to 60 µm, or alternatively an increase in acquisition speed by more than a factor of 5x compared to conventional room temperature MRI RF coils. In combination with high magnetic fields, the MRI CryoProbe enables new pre-clinical neuroscience studies with functional MRI (fMRI).
Bruker BioSpin's MRI CryoProbe technology uses cryogenic RF-coils and preamplifiers cooled by a closed-cycle helium gas refrigeration system. Bruker BioSpin is the pioneer in the development of cryogenic probes for high-resolution NMR. Over 650 Bruker NMR CryoProbes have been installed at customers worldwide so far. The new MRI CryoProbe is available for in vivo animal MRI at various field strengths for BioSpec®, PharmaScan® and ClinScan® MRI scanners.
Comprehensive animal studies using the MRI CryoProbe were performed at the ETH in Zuerich, Switzerland, where it is routinely used for clinical neuroscience research on mice. Professor Markus Rudin, Director of the MRI and Optical Imaging Section of the Animal Imaging Center, ETH Zuerich, commented: "This novel MRI CryoProbe technology has proven to provide a strong and impressive increase in sensitivity. It will greatly enhance the potential of MRI in small animals for clinical and pharmaceutical research."
ABOUT BRUKER BIOSPIN: For more information about Bruker BioSpin and Bruker Corporation (NASDAQ: BRKR), please visit www.bruker-biospin.com and www.bruker.com.
Wednesday 23 July 2008
Transforming a life
"I used to be a hardcore, hardhearted guy. Once you make the decision to change, all kinds of things happen...When I was out there on stage and the guys were laughing, I could see I had them in the palm of my hand. I thought, 'I just discovered what I was born to do.' It was an enormous kind of power."
These are the words of award-winning actor Charles Dutton. He spent seven and 1/2 years in prison for fatally stabbing a man in a street fight. In prison, he found his passion in theater and went on to study at Yale. He just sold his memoir to Crown. In it, he writes about growing up in the East Baltimore projects, where he spent much of his young life incarcerated. Theater did for him what my bike did for me; it transformed his life. Itseems to have had a lot to do with awareness.
His has to be a powerful story. I'll be interested in reading this book when it is published. Would you?
These are the words of award-winning actor Charles Dutton. He spent seven and 1/2 years in prison for fatally stabbing a man in a street fight. In prison, he found his passion in theater and went on to study at Yale. He just sold his memoir to Crown. In it, he writes about growing up in the East Baltimore projects, where he spent much of his young life incarcerated. Theater did for him what my bike did for me; it transformed his life. Itseems to have had a lot to do with awareness.
His has to be a powerful story. I'll be interested in reading this book when it is published. Would you?
Tuesday 22 July 2008
Moving in the right direction
Can't you just feel it when things are going your way? Everything seems to fall into place without much more effort. Challenges seem to dissipate. You catch yourself walking around with a smile on your face. Life is good.
When you're in those moments, try not to question them.
Don't ask: why does this feel so right? Instead, say: thank goodness everything feels right.
Accept the blessing and go with it.
That's what I've been feeling all this week. Things do seem to be falling into place. It's taken a lot of work to get here. And I'm tired. But it's a good tired. It's a hard-earned kind of tired. My list isn't shrinking, but I'm checking things off.
It feels good. I accept that. I want that. I deserve that.
If you're feeling especially good right now about where you're at, know that you've earned it. Embrace that goodness and spread it around.
One of my fellow bloggers recently posted about paying it forward. She purchased a Starbucks coffee for the person behind her. It made her feel good. I've done something similar many times. And it does feel good. That good feeling stays with you. Your mind takes you back there sometimes, when you need to be reminded of your goodness. And sometimes we do need that reminder. Whatever it takes.
Just let yourself move in that direction. Let your Killer instincts take you where your heart needs to go. Trust your judgment. The minute we question ourselves is the minute we're probably starting to move off track. Off track is exactly what it says it is. And that's why I ask you to embrace the goodness and spread it around. That's moving in the right direction.
And if you have time, if the weather calls for it, if you're so moved, hop on a bike and ride. As with mine, it could be the ride of your life.
All my best,
Jackie
When you're in those moments, try not to question them.
Don't ask: why does this feel so right? Instead, say: thank goodness everything feels right.
Accept the blessing and go with it.
That's what I've been feeling all this week. Things do seem to be falling into place. It's taken a lot of work to get here. And I'm tired. But it's a good tired. It's a hard-earned kind of tired. My list isn't shrinking, but I'm checking things off.
It feels good. I accept that. I want that. I deserve that.
If you're feeling especially good right now about where you're at, know that you've earned it. Embrace that goodness and spread it around.
One of my fellow bloggers recently posted about paying it forward. She purchased a Starbucks coffee for the person behind her. It made her feel good. I've done something similar many times. And it does feel good. That good feeling stays with you. Your mind takes you back there sometimes, when you need to be reminded of your goodness. And sometimes we do need that reminder. Whatever it takes.
Just let yourself move in that direction. Let your Killer instincts take you where your heart needs to go. Trust your judgment. The minute we question ourselves is the minute we're probably starting to move off track. Off track is exactly what it says it is. And that's why I ask you to embrace the goodness and spread it around. That's moving in the right direction.
And if you have time, if the weather calls for it, if you're so moved, hop on a bike and ride. As with mine, it could be the ride of your life.
All my best,
Jackie
4 Ways to Maintain your Posture at the Office.
My blog has been quiet - too quiet. There is a reason for this. I have been suffering from tendinitis in my shoulder. This has put pay to my typing and in turn has put a stop to my blog and my book.
A lot of my problems with tendinitis are apparently caused by years of bad posture. I have written about posture before but I feel it is important to re-visit. After all the pain I have been in, I am becoming a bit of a good posture evangelist. This all stems from my thoughts that we can become so blasé about our health. We can only appreciate our health when something goes wrong.
If you work in a manual laboring job, chances are you are much more in tune with your physical health. What I mean by that is if you get a sore back chances are you will be forced to rest it. Or if you injure your arm, again you will be forced to take time to rest it.
More and more people are working in offices and spend most of their days sitting rather than moving. This is a very different world to physical labor but it still puts strain on the body. Backs become sore, tendons in arms and necks become inflamed but people seem to work on despite this. They don’t take the time needed to recover. The problem becomes worse and the worker then suffers from frozen shoulder or other extreme pain.
I am guilty of this too. My inflammation got so bad I couldn't move my fingers!
With all of above in mind, I believe some strategies are needed to maintain your posture at the office. Here are my suggestions:
1. Sit well! See diagram below ... (You can click on it for a larger version)
2. Strengthen your core muscles in your pelvic region –. Try and develop your core muscles – these so called core muscles that help you sit and are found around the pelvic region. You can do this by practicing Pilates, or by sitting on an exercise ball for short periods of time and finally by doing back curls. These will all contribute to increasing your sitting power!
3. Chin retractions - I call these my ugly exercises but if you want to maintain a good postural sense these are essential, so you have to get over worrying what other people think, Sitting up straight, keeping the chin LEVEL, gently pull the chin straight in as if you are hiding against a wall or sideways behind a tree. Your head should not bob up or down. The back of your neck should feel long. The highest point of your body should be the top back or your head. This is a good postural correcting exercise to perform during the day, for example while doing computer work. It counters the tendency most people have in sitting to slip into a forward head posture. See the picture below for an idea of what it should look like.
4. Walking – Simple isn’t it. Walk, walk, walk! It is the exact opposite to the static sitting position you are forced into during the day in the office. Walk at lunch time. Walk during coffee breaks (why sit in the cafeteria when you have already been sitting at your desk. Its all about balancing motion with the sedentary position of working. Walk to health!
I am not a medical professional so before trying any of the above suggestions please consult one!
Good Luck,
Allen
4 Ways to Maintain your Posture at the Office.
My blog has been quiet - too quiet. There is a reason for this. I have been suffering from tendinitis in my shoulder. This has put pay to my typing and in turn has put a stop to my blog and my book.
A lot of my problems with tendinitis are apparently caused by years of bad posture. I have written about posture before but I feel it is important to re-visit. After all the pain I have been in, I am becoming a bit of a good posture evangelist. This all stems from my thoughts that we can become so blasé about our health. We can only appreciate our health when something goes wrong.
If you work in a manual laboring job, chances are you are much more in tune with your physical health. What I mean by that is if you get a sore back chances are you will be forced to rest it. Or if you injure your arm, again you will be forced to take time to rest it.
More and more people are working in offices and spend most of their days sitting rather than moving. This is a very different world to physical labor but it still puts strain on the body. Backs become sore, tendons in arms and necks become inflamed but people seem to work on despite this. They don’t take the time needed to recover. The problem becomes worse and the worker then suffers from frozen shoulder or other extreme pain.
I am guilty of this too. My inflammation got so bad I couldn't move my fingers!
With all of above in mind, I believe some strategies are needed to maintain your posture at the office. Here are my suggestions:
1. Sit well! See diagram below ... (You can click on it for a larger version)
2. Strengthen your core muscles in your pelvic region –. Try and develop your core muscles – these so called core muscles that help you sit and are found around the pelvic region. You can do this by practicing Pilates, or by sitting on an exercise ball for short periods of time and finally by doing back curls. These will all contribute to increasing your sitting power!
3. Chin retractions - I call these my ugly exercises but if you want to maintain a good postural sense these are essential, so you have to get over worrying what other people think, Sitting up straight, keeping the chin LEVEL, gently pull the chin straight in as if you are hiding against a wall or sideways behind a tree. Your head should not bob up or down. The back of your neck should feel long. The highest point of your body should be the top back or your head. This is a good postural correcting exercise to perform during the day, for example while doing computer work. It counters the tendency most people have in sitting to slip into a forward head posture. See the picture below for an idea of what it should look like.
4. Walking – Simple isn’t it. Walk, walk, walk! It is the exact opposite to the static sitting position you are forced into during the day in the office. Walk at lunch time. Walk during coffee breaks (why sit in the cafeteria when you have already been sitting at your desk. Its all about balancing motion with the sedentary position of working. Walk to health!
I am not a medical professional so before trying any of the above suggestions please consult one!
Good Luck,
Allen
Monday 21 July 2008
My first BIKE coaching client
I'm in my third week of coaching my first client (though this one's pro bono) on finding her own BIKE. It's going well. I'm amazed at the ease with with our conversation flows. She's in the Pacific Coast, and I'm here in Arizona, so this is all being done by phone.
But since we've been meeting like this, she's really moving along. And what's even better? She really is coming into her own solutions. No matter how stuck you might feel at any given moment, you really do know your own answers. It's just a matter of learning how to pay attention to your needs, your wants, your desires--and then defining your goals to fit your true self. When your goals match your values, you're going to have an easier time of getting there, because you'll use the systems and processes that work best for you or that you automatically find yourself moving toward. It's that awareness I've been talking about.
It's so important to know how your values play into your vision. When we forget that, or don't even bother to consider that, it becomes so easy to get lost. We might not even know where we're going. We just know to get up and do things. But we're doing it without awareness, or a sense of purpose.
Like makes so much more sense when you live it with purpose.
Your own special brand of BIKE, like mine, will help lead the way, if you let it. That doesn't mean you won't get lost, ever, or take detours. You probably will. That's what those pesky little challenges sometimes do to us. They get in the way, and we get sidetracked. But with BIKE, you'll find your way back to the path that's going to take you forward.
That path can be defined only by you. But I can help. If you'd like to talk to me about that, shoot me an e-mail.
All my best,
Jackie
But since we've been meeting like this, she's really moving along. And what's even better? She really is coming into her own solutions. No matter how stuck you might feel at any given moment, you really do know your own answers. It's just a matter of learning how to pay attention to your needs, your wants, your desires--and then defining your goals to fit your true self. When your goals match your values, you're going to have an easier time of getting there, because you'll use the systems and processes that work best for you or that you automatically find yourself moving toward. It's that awareness I've been talking about.
It's so important to know how your values play into your vision. When we forget that, or don't even bother to consider that, it becomes so easy to get lost. We might not even know where we're going. We just know to get up and do things. But we're doing it without awareness, or a sense of purpose.
Like makes so much more sense when you live it with purpose.
Your own special brand of BIKE, like mine, will help lead the way, if you let it. That doesn't mean you won't get lost, ever, or take detours. You probably will. That's what those pesky little challenges sometimes do to us. They get in the way, and we get sidetracked. But with BIKE, you'll find your way back to the path that's going to take you forward.
That path can be defined only by you. But I can help. If you'd like to talk to me about that, shoot me an e-mail.
All my best,
Jackie
Sunday 20 July 2008
Bikes that are newsworthy
I read articles weekly about the benefits of riding a bike: it's a good form of exercise; it's fun; it's a good way to raise funds for a non-profit event; it can help save the environment. The list goes on. Here are two that came across my desk yesterday:
http://www.muscatinejournal.com/articles/2008/07/19/news/doc4880ce93719dc673346057.txt
http://www.muscatinejournal.com/articles/2008/07/19/news/doc4880ce93719dc673346057.txt
Just thought you might like to know...
http://www.muscatinejournal.com/articles/2008/07/19/news/doc4880ce93719dc673346057.txt
http://www.muscatinejournal.com/articles/2008/07/19/news/doc4880ce93719dc673346057.txt
Just thought you might like to know...
Saturday 19 July 2008
Keep it simple you-know-who
Diana Burrell, a writer I know (who has co-authored a few books with another writer I know) recently shared this about what inspires her:
"I have this written on the white board hanging in my office:
1. Do something.
2. Do more.
3. Keep doing it."
I kinda like that.
~Jackie
"I have this written on the white board hanging in my office:
1. Do something.
2. Do more.
3. Keep doing it."
I kinda like that.
~Jackie
Friday 18 July 2008
New participant added to the Blogathon
Jean McFarland is now joining us in this crazy effort to blog once a day during the month of July. That's 31 posts altogether, or more, if possible. I'm hitting the mark here, but over at The Phoenix Traveler, I'm not quite there. I might be missing a few. Yikes!
So far, it sure has been a lot of work, but it's so much fun to read about all this great work speakers are in involved in on a daily basis.
Check out Jean's blog--it's new--at Bullies Among Us and help her build an audience.
Oh, and by the way, if you stopped in yesterday, you may have seen a poll on the left-hand side of this screen. It didn't appear to be working properly, so I pulled it down. I'll try again at a later date.
All my best,
Jackie
So far, it sure has been a lot of work, but it's so much fun to read about all this great work speakers are in involved in on a daily basis.
Check out Jean's blog--it's new--at Bullies Among Us and help her build an audience.
Oh, and by the way, if you stopped in yesterday, you may have seen a poll on the left-hand side of this screen. It didn't appear to be working properly, so I pulled it down. I'll try again at a later date.
All my best,
Jackie
Synergy Broadcast Systems Announces Enhancements to MMDS Patient Education System
MMDS or Medical Media Delivery System is a Patient Education System that provides hospitals, medical centers and clinics with a cost effective Video On Demand solution that is accessible using a telephone, pillow speaker, interactive touch screen or computer.
Dallas, TX (PRWEB) July 18, 2008 -- Synergy Broadcast Systems recently launched several new interface options to it's popular MMDS Patient Education System MMDS was introduced in 1991 and was the first true video on demand system designed for the healthcare environment. Originally a robotics-based system, it was re-designed as an MPEG2 digital solution in 1998. MMDS has been providing patient education and staff development solutions to hospitals and medical centers for over 18 years. Designed as a turnkey solution, MMDS helps hospitals deliver and better manage patient education to meet the needs of a diverse patient population and also fulfill Joint Commission requirements for patient education and documentation.
MMDS is a cost-effective, multi-channel solution that provides hospitals with a low-cost solution for Video On Demand by utilizing the hospital's existing televisions, cabling system, phone and LAN. This approach saves significant capital versus wiring for a specialized system. In addition to patient education, the system can also be used for staff development, in-service training and mandatory education. It can also be expanded to provide sophisticated welcome and information channels and digital signage to expand communication beyond the patient room into staff areas and the general population or common areas such as waiting rooms, food service areas and entry ways.
"We recently completed work on a new Touch Screen and Pillow Speaker application for our customers that are ready to begin the migration to digital television," according to Chuck Jones, Executive Vice President. "The Touch Screen is perfect for applications where a personal TV is more appropriate than a wall-mounted television such as dialysis and cancer clinics and hospitals that use small personal TV's that you find mounted on swing-arms next to the patient's bed." In addition to TV, the Touch Screen application also provides access to Video On Demand movies and education, Survey and Testing, Music, Hospital Services and Internet Access with a "user-friendly" touch screen keyboard built into the application. Hospital staff can also access the system from their desktop computers for in-service education and mandatory training programs.
Peter Kiddy, Synergy Broadcast Systems President points out that "the Touch Screen solution has transformed the patient's experience in "chair-bound" treatment centers by providing patients with finger-tip access to TV, the Internet and healthcare related education. Patients can browse the Internet, work, shop, or watch their favorite program thus making a physical limitation of their treatment much easier to manage." The Pillow Speaker interface is combined with a wireless keyboard to enhance the hospital experience for footwall mounted televisions. It gives the patient an experience much more like their home environment with cable television and Internet access.
MMDS is available in configurations to meet the needs of any size medical facility or group from clinics spread across town, surgery centers, or hospitals and medical centers from 50 to over 1,000 beds. The system's report documentation assists facilities in meeting Joint Commission standards for patient education and compliance with both paper-based and HL7 interfaces to Medical Records. In addition to the Touch Screen and Pillow Speaker interface a phone-based interface is still available and very cost-effective for hospitals with analog TV's.
For additional information about MMDS and how healthcare facilities can benefit from video on demand for patient education please contact Synergy Broadcast Systems at 800-601-6991.
About Synergy Broadcast Systems: Synergy Broadcast Systems, located in Addison, TX, provides video automation solutions for broadcast, education, business, government and healthcare organizations. SBS solutions are modular, flexible and economically scalable to fit the needs of each facility and provide a migration path for future growth and technology changes. The Company's solutions include television automation, video on demand, digital signage and video delivery and distribution to remote locations. For additional information contact Synergy Broadcast Systems at 800-601-6991 or visit their web site at www.synergybroadcast.com.
Dallas, TX (PRWEB) July 18, 2008 -- Synergy Broadcast Systems recently launched several new interface options to it's popular MMDS Patient Education System MMDS was introduced in 1991 and was the first true video on demand system designed for the healthcare environment. Originally a robotics-based system, it was re-designed as an MPEG2 digital solution in 1998. MMDS has been providing patient education and staff development solutions to hospitals and medical centers for over 18 years. Designed as a turnkey solution, MMDS helps hospitals deliver and better manage patient education to meet the needs of a diverse patient population and also fulfill Joint Commission requirements for patient education and documentation.
MMDS is a cost-effective, multi-channel solution that provides hospitals with a low-cost solution for Video On Demand by utilizing the hospital's existing televisions, cabling system, phone and LAN. This approach saves significant capital versus wiring for a specialized system. In addition to patient education, the system can also be used for staff development, in-service training and mandatory education. It can also be expanded to provide sophisticated welcome and information channels and digital signage to expand communication beyond the patient room into staff areas and the general population or common areas such as waiting rooms, food service areas and entry ways.
"We recently completed work on a new Touch Screen and Pillow Speaker application for our customers that are ready to begin the migration to digital television," according to Chuck Jones, Executive Vice President. "The Touch Screen is perfect for applications where a personal TV is more appropriate than a wall-mounted television such as dialysis and cancer clinics and hospitals that use small personal TV's that you find mounted on swing-arms next to the patient's bed." In addition to TV, the Touch Screen application also provides access to Video On Demand movies and education, Survey and Testing, Music, Hospital Services and Internet Access with a "user-friendly" touch screen keyboard built into the application. Hospital staff can also access the system from their desktop computers for in-service education and mandatory training programs.
Peter Kiddy, Synergy Broadcast Systems President points out that "the Touch Screen solution has transformed the patient's experience in "chair-bound" treatment centers by providing patients with finger-tip access to TV, the Internet and healthcare related education. Patients can browse the Internet, work, shop, or watch their favorite program thus making a physical limitation of their treatment much easier to manage." The Pillow Speaker interface is combined with a wireless keyboard to enhance the hospital experience for footwall mounted televisions. It gives the patient an experience much more like their home environment with cable television and Internet access.
MMDS is available in configurations to meet the needs of any size medical facility or group from clinics spread across town, surgery centers, or hospitals and medical centers from 50 to over 1,000 beds. The system's report documentation assists facilities in meeting Joint Commission standards for patient education and compliance with both paper-based and HL7 interfaces to Medical Records. In addition to the Touch Screen and Pillow Speaker interface a phone-based interface is still available and very cost-effective for hospitals with analog TV's.
For additional information about MMDS and how healthcare facilities can benefit from video on demand for patient education please contact Synergy Broadcast Systems at 800-601-6991.
About Synergy Broadcast Systems: Synergy Broadcast Systems, located in Addison, TX, provides video automation solutions for broadcast, education, business, government and healthcare organizations. SBS solutions are modular, flexible and economically scalable to fit the needs of each facility and provide a migration path for future growth and technology changes. The Company's solutions include television automation, video on demand, digital signage and video delivery and distribution to remote locations. For additional information contact Synergy Broadcast Systems at 800-601-6991 or visit their web site at www.synergybroadcast.com.
Favorite books for personal growth
This list represents books I've read once or twice, sometimes more. They helped me tremendously during my early mental--and physical--rides. They still do. And it's a lengthy list. Of course, it took me several years to read them and do the work that some require. But these are my favorites. I've read many, many more. But these, for me, touch on the important points of emotional, physical, spiritual, and even sexual growth. We're aiming for balance in all four areas of life.
Pick and choose what works for you. Create your own list. Add to this one. Substract from it. Let your Killer instincts--your most honest and tuned-in gut reaction--lead the way. But if you don't know where to start, here are several good bets:
A Gentle Path through the Twelve Steps (for all people in the process of recovery) by Patrick Carnes, Ph.D.
A Year by the Sea by Joan Anderson
Believe in the God Who Believes in You by Robert H. Schuller
Boundaries and Relationships by Charles L. Whitfield, M.D.
Callings: Finding and Following an Authentic Life by Gregg Levoy
Choices by Shad Helmstetter
Codependent No More by Melody Beattie
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff...and it's all small stuff by Richard Carlson, Ph.D.
Feel the Fear And Do it Anyway by Susan Jeffers, Ph.D.
Life Application Study Bible: New Living Translation
Man's Search for Meaning by Victor E. Frankl
The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
The Power of Focus for Women by Fran Hewitt & Les Hewitt
The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
Pick and choose what works for you. Create your own list. Add to this one. Substract from it. Let your Killer instincts--your most honest and tuned-in gut reaction--lead the way. But if you don't know where to start, here are several good bets:
A Gentle Path through the Twelve Steps (for all people in the process of recovery) by Patrick Carnes, Ph.D.
A Year by the Sea by Joan Anderson
Believe in the God Who Believes in You by Robert H. Schuller
Boundaries and Relationships by Charles L. Whitfield, M.D.
Callings: Finding and Following an Authentic Life by Gregg Levoy
Choices by Shad Helmstetter
Codependent No More by Melody Beattie
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff...and it's all small stuff by Richard Carlson, Ph.D.
Feel the Fear And Do it Anyway by Susan Jeffers, Ph.D.
Life Application Study Bible: New Living Translation
Man's Search for Meaning by Victor E. Frankl
The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
The Power of Focus for Women by Fran Hewitt & Les Hewitt
The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
Thursday 17 July 2008
A look back in time
With the spring cleaning going on around here, I thought I'd go back and review some of my old posts. I went right to the beginning. I began this blog in May 2007, so it's been a little more than a year since my first post. It's been a fun ride, and I enjoy connecting with you, my readers.
I also realize that, for those of you who didn't begin with me, you might be missing something. And, for you, it might not be meaningful for you to go back and read every single post I've ever jotted down here; however, it might be meaningful for you to understand the path I've taken to get here.
So I've collected a few posts from the past--the first three, actually. I think they might explain a few things. If you'd like, click away:
http://bikewithjackie.blogspot.com/2007/05/welcome-to-my-blog.html
http://bikewithjackie.blogspot.com/2007/05/it-was-huffy-not-harley.html
http://bikewithjackie.blogspot.com/2007/05/i-know-bike-works-because.html
All my best,
Jackie
I also realize that, for those of you who didn't begin with me, you might be missing something. And, for you, it might not be meaningful for you to go back and read every single post I've ever jotted down here; however, it might be meaningful for you to understand the path I've taken to get here.
So I've collected a few posts from the past--the first three, actually. I think they might explain a few things. If you'd like, click away:
http://bikewithjackie.blogspot.com/2007/05/welcome-to-my-blog.html
http://bikewithjackie.blogspot.com/2007/05/it-was-huffy-not-harley.html
http://bikewithjackie.blogspot.com/2007/05/i-know-bike-works-because.html
All my best,
Jackie
Wednesday 16 July 2008
Ecumen Provides Presidential Candidates 10 Top Reasons to Discuss Long-Term Care Reform
Senior housing provider Ecumen highlights reasons for financing reforms necessary in the American age wave.
Shoreview, MN (PRWEB) July 16, 2008 -- Aging services provider Ecumen, one of the country's largest non-profit senior housing companies, finds it unfathomable that long-term care reform isn't being discussed by Presidential candidates Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain.
"10 Reasons Long Term Care Financing Needs to Be Reformed in America," a recent post to Ecumen's Changing Aging blog gives both candidates 10 reasons to discuss long-term care financing. The blog also outlines a financing plan put forth by the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA), which would provide an annual cash benefit of $27,000 for less than a cup of coffee per day. Also posted are reform ideas by AARP.
"If we're going to have a truly coordinated health care system in America, that promotes wellness from cradle to grave, then long-term care financing reform must be part of American innovation," says Kathryn Roberts, a baby boomer and president and CEO of Ecumen. "This is a health care issue, a fiscal issue, a life quality issue, a personal responsibility issue, a business issue, and it impacts every single American - we're all aging."
"The issue of such care is perfect for both candidates who want to bring change to America," said Roberts. "The age wave represents millions of people who want to age in place and want services that are not institutional. To meet that huge desire for change and new choices, we have to also transform how we pay for people's desire for independence."
About 10 million Americans need long-term care today, while 12 million will need it by 2020. Long-term includes an array of services and supports people need when they can no longer care for themselves. Medicaid pays for 42 percent of all long-term care expenditures. According to the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, this costs federal and state governments $116.8 billion every year. And according to a new AARP report, most states allocate a greater percentage of their Medicaid dollars to institutional care rather than home and community-based services. Combined with Americans deplorable savings history, many Americans are at risk of not producing enough income to cover basic expenditures related to aging services.
And therein is tremendous opportunity for McCain and Obama. According to the Long-Term Care National Survey conducted by the bi-partisan polling team of The Mellman Group and Public Opinion Strategies, 8 in 10 voters state that presidential candidates should make long term care an integral part of their health care proposals.
Readers are invited to share additional reasons for long term care (http://www.ecumen.org/changing-aging/category/long-term-care-financing/) financing reform, and to discover more thoughts and opinions on this subject, at Ecumen's Changing Aging blog.
About Ecumen: Ecumen (www.ecumen.org) is based in Shoreview, Minn., and is one of the largest non-profit senior housing, services and development companies in the United States. The name Ecumen comes from the word ecumenical, which in turn is derived from the Greek word for home: "Oikos". Ecumen's mission is to create "home" for older adults wherever they choose to live. Ecumen is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and has 4,000 team members. Ecumen writes about news and ideas that are shaping the future of aging services at its Changing Aging blog: www.ecumen.org changing-aging/.
Shoreview, MN (PRWEB) July 16, 2008 -- Aging services provider Ecumen, one of the country's largest non-profit senior housing companies, finds it unfathomable that long-term care reform isn't being discussed by Presidential candidates Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain.
"10 Reasons Long Term Care Financing Needs to Be Reformed in America," a recent post to Ecumen's Changing Aging blog gives both candidates 10 reasons to discuss long-term care financing. The blog also outlines a financing plan put forth by the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA), which would provide an annual cash benefit of $27,000 for less than a cup of coffee per day. Also posted are reform ideas by AARP.
"If we're going to have a truly coordinated health care system in America, that promotes wellness from cradle to grave, then long-term care financing reform must be part of American innovation," says Kathryn Roberts, a baby boomer and president and CEO of Ecumen. "This is a health care issue, a fiscal issue, a life quality issue, a personal responsibility issue, a business issue, and it impacts every single American - we're all aging."
"The issue of such care is perfect for both candidates who want to bring change to America," said Roberts. "The age wave represents millions of people who want to age in place and want services that are not institutional. To meet that huge desire for change and new choices, we have to also transform how we pay for people's desire for independence."
About 10 million Americans need long-term care today, while 12 million will need it by 2020. Long-term includes an array of services and supports people need when they can no longer care for themselves. Medicaid pays for 42 percent of all long-term care expenditures. According to the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, this costs federal and state governments $116.8 billion every year. And according to a new AARP report, most states allocate a greater percentage of their Medicaid dollars to institutional care rather than home and community-based services. Combined with Americans deplorable savings history, many Americans are at risk of not producing enough income to cover basic expenditures related to aging services.
And therein is tremendous opportunity for McCain and Obama. According to the Long-Term Care National Survey conducted by the bi-partisan polling team of The Mellman Group and Public Opinion Strategies, 8 in 10 voters state that presidential candidates should make long term care an integral part of their health care proposals.
Readers are invited to share additional reasons for long term care (http://www.ecumen.org/changing-aging/category/long-term-care-financing/) financing reform, and to discover more thoughts and opinions on this subject, at Ecumen's Changing Aging blog.
About Ecumen: Ecumen (www.ecumen.org) is based in Shoreview, Minn., and is one of the largest non-profit senior housing, services and development companies in the United States. The name Ecumen comes from the word ecumenical, which in turn is derived from the Greek word for home: "Oikos". Ecumen's mission is to create "home" for older adults wherever they choose to live. Ecumen is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and has 4,000 team members. Ecumen writes about news and ideas that are shaping the future of aging services at its Changing Aging blog: www.ecumen.org changing-aging/.
Notice the change?
Maybe not. It's like getting your hair done. You come home. No one notices. So you announce it to the first person who walks in the door, "Did you see my new hair-do?"
If you didn't notice the subtle changes I've made around here, no worries. I'm just cleaning up the place and clarifying a few things. I wrote a better description in my blog title and changed a few fonts and colors around.
Hopefully, the changes will bring a few more people inside. And maybe it won't make a difference at all. But it's fun to change things up every now and then. Makes like a little more interesting.
It's all about forward movement.
Keep riding!
Jackie
If you didn't notice the subtle changes I've made around here, no worries. I'm just cleaning up the place and clarifying a few things. I wrote a better description in my blog title and changed a few fonts and colors around.
Hopefully, the changes will bring a few more people inside. And maybe it won't make a difference at all. But it's fun to change things up every now and then. Makes like a little more interesting.
It's all about forward movement.
Keep riding!
Jackie
Tuesday 15 July 2008
Herbal Immunotherapy for Multi-Drug and Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis as well as TB with HIV
Ukrainian company, Ekomed LLC, published clinical study of phytoconcentrates Dzherelo (Immunoxel), Lizorm and Svitanok used as an adjunct immunotherapy against multi-drug (MDR-TB), (XDR-TB), and in patients with concomitant HIV and Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections.
Kiev, Ukraine (PRWEB) July 11, 2008 -- Ukrainian company, Ekomed LLC, published clinical study of phytoconcentrates Dzherelo (Immunoxel), Lizorm and Svitanok used as an adjunct immunotherapy against multi-drug (MDR-TB), (XDR-TB), and in patients with concomitant HIV and Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections.
The study appeared in the current issue of International Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences (Vol. 2; Pages 59-64, 2008). Abstract of the paper can be found online at: http://www.globalsciencebooks.info/JournalsSup/08IJBPS_2_1.html
Open-label, salvage anti-tuberculosis therapy (ATT) combined with Dzherelo (Immunoxel), Svitanok, and Lizorm- over-the-counter immunomodulators from medicinal plants - was conducted in 20 Ukrainian patients with late-stage pulmonary TB. In this study seven patients had XDR-TB and the remaining had MDR-TB. Among latter two patients had HIV co-infection but five other AIDS patients had drug-sensitive TB. Patients hospitalized in the TB dispensary were treated under directly observed therapy (DOT) until repeated negative culture conversion and recuperation from radiological and clinical symptoms. The average duration of therapy was 16.2 ± 5.2 weeks (range 10.6-30.3; median 16). The mean time to bacterial clearance was 4.4 ± 1.8 weeks (range 1.3-8.9, median 4.3). All patients (95%), except one, gained weight, ranging between 3-17 kg with average 8.7 kg (P=0.000009). The liver function tests revealed that the level of total bilirubin had improved from 15.5 to 11.6 ¼mol/L (P=0.009). Alanine transaminase (ALT) came down to normal from 53.1 IU/L to 30.4 IU/L level (P=0.001). Hemoglobin levels increased from 103.2 to 117.3 g/L (P=0.00005). Inflammation-associated, elevated leukocyte counts returned back to normal from 8.9 to 6.9 × 109 cells/L (P=0.003). CD4 T lymphocyte counts in HIV patients have increased from average 371 cells at baseline to 566 cells - an increase equal to 52% (P=0.07). The absolute numbers of CD8+ T-lymphocytes appeared to decline but no statistical significance has been reached (P=0.1). The increase in CD4 cells and decline in CD8 cells resulted in almost doubled ratio of CD4/CD8 cells, i.e., from baseline 0.475 to 0.848 at the end of therapy (P=0.03). Patients recovered clinically and radiologically and were hence discharged from the hospital after 4 months on average.
These findings support prior trials indicating clinical benefit of adding immunomodulators to TB treatment regimens. The combination of ATT with botanical preparations enhances the clinical efficacy of DOT and is safe and beneficial even to patients with poor prognosis due to drug resistance and/or co-infection with HIV. This unique combination results in significantly shortened duration of treatment and is more cost-effective than ATT alone.
Dzherelo, Lizorm and Svitanok are extracts from plants grown in Ukraine that have been used as food or folk medicine since time immemorial. Being derived from botanical sources and with established record of safety they have been approved by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine in 1997 as dietary supplements and as a functional food in 2006.
Over 9 million new cases of TB occur each year worldwide. In the United States alone, it is estimated that 10-15 million people are infected with the TB bacteria and 22,000 new cases occur each year. Tuberculosis is spread from person to person by breathing infected air during close contact. Thus, anyone can get TB.
Despite the overwhelming burden of TB, no new compounds were developed in last 40 years and current strains of TB are becoming resistant to existing drugs. Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) refers to organisms that are resistant to at least two of the first-line drugs, Izoniazid and Rifampicin. More recently, extensively (extremely) drug resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) has emerged which is resistant to three or more of the second-line treatment drugs. This emerging form of TB caused worldwide concern after recently reported outbreak in Kwazulu Natal province of South Africa where 52 of 53 patients with XDR-TB and HIV had died within 2 weeks from the time of diagnosis. Largely, because of HIV, a tremendous increase in the incidence of TB is seen today and when these two infections are presented in tandem they are more deadly than each one of them alone.
Scientific Director of Ekomed, Mr. Volodymyr Pylypchuk, commented: "Dzherelo and our other botanicals can be useful as immune adjuvants for therapy of tuberculosis and AIDS. What is important is that our study is the first ever study to show that one can treat successfully XDR TB - a condition which is commonly considered to be virtually incurable. In addition to medical problems Ekomed works on ecology projects. We have developed proprietary technologies that can potentially reverse global climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide, in ecologically friendly manner".
About Ekomed LLC: Founded in 1996, Ekomed is a privately-held company based in Kiev, Ukraine. The company is the leading ethnobotanical company that manufactures over 26 different multiherbal preparations for a variety of health disorders. For more details, please visit the company website at www.ekomed.com.ua
Kiev, Ukraine (PRWEB) July 11, 2008 -- Ukrainian company, Ekomed LLC, published clinical study of phytoconcentrates Dzherelo (Immunoxel), Lizorm and Svitanok used as an adjunct immunotherapy against multi-drug (MDR-TB), (XDR-TB), and in patients with concomitant HIV and Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections.
The study appeared in the current issue of International Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences (Vol. 2; Pages 59-64, 2008). Abstract of the paper can be found online at: http://www.globalsciencebooks.info/JournalsSup/08IJBPS_2_1.html
Open-label, salvage anti-tuberculosis therapy (ATT) combined with Dzherelo (Immunoxel), Svitanok, and Lizorm- over-the-counter immunomodulators from medicinal plants - was conducted in 20 Ukrainian patients with late-stage pulmonary TB. In this study seven patients had XDR-TB and the remaining had MDR-TB. Among latter two patients had HIV co-infection but five other AIDS patients had drug-sensitive TB. Patients hospitalized in the TB dispensary were treated under directly observed therapy (DOT) until repeated negative culture conversion and recuperation from radiological and clinical symptoms. The average duration of therapy was 16.2 ± 5.2 weeks (range 10.6-30.3; median 16). The mean time to bacterial clearance was 4.4 ± 1.8 weeks (range 1.3-8.9, median 4.3). All patients (95%), except one, gained weight, ranging between 3-17 kg with average 8.7 kg (P=0.000009). The liver function tests revealed that the level of total bilirubin had improved from 15.5 to 11.6 ¼mol/L (P=0.009). Alanine transaminase (ALT) came down to normal from 53.1 IU/L to 30.4 IU/L level (P=0.001). Hemoglobin levels increased from 103.2 to 117.3 g/L (P=0.00005). Inflammation-associated, elevated leukocyte counts returned back to normal from 8.9 to 6.9 × 109 cells/L (P=0.003). CD4 T lymphocyte counts in HIV patients have increased from average 371 cells at baseline to 566 cells - an increase equal to 52% (P=0.07). The absolute numbers of CD8+ T-lymphocytes appeared to decline but no statistical significance has been reached (P=0.1). The increase in CD4 cells and decline in CD8 cells resulted in almost doubled ratio of CD4/CD8 cells, i.e., from baseline 0.475 to 0.848 at the end of therapy (P=0.03). Patients recovered clinically and radiologically and were hence discharged from the hospital after 4 months on average.
These findings support prior trials indicating clinical benefit of adding immunomodulators to TB treatment regimens. The combination of ATT with botanical preparations enhances the clinical efficacy of DOT and is safe and beneficial even to patients with poor prognosis due to drug resistance and/or co-infection with HIV. This unique combination results in significantly shortened duration of treatment and is more cost-effective than ATT alone.
Dzherelo, Lizorm and Svitanok are extracts from plants grown in Ukraine that have been used as food or folk medicine since time immemorial. Being derived from botanical sources and with established record of safety they have been approved by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine in 1997 as dietary supplements and as a functional food in 2006.
Over 9 million new cases of TB occur each year worldwide. In the United States alone, it is estimated that 10-15 million people are infected with the TB bacteria and 22,000 new cases occur each year. Tuberculosis is spread from person to person by breathing infected air during close contact. Thus, anyone can get TB.
Despite the overwhelming burden of TB, no new compounds were developed in last 40 years and current strains of TB are becoming resistant to existing drugs. Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) refers to organisms that are resistant to at least two of the first-line drugs, Izoniazid and Rifampicin. More recently, extensively (extremely) drug resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) has emerged which is resistant to three or more of the second-line treatment drugs. This emerging form of TB caused worldwide concern after recently reported outbreak in Kwazulu Natal province of South Africa where 52 of 53 patients with XDR-TB and HIV had died within 2 weeks from the time of diagnosis. Largely, because of HIV, a tremendous increase in the incidence of TB is seen today and when these two infections are presented in tandem they are more deadly than each one of them alone.
Scientific Director of Ekomed, Mr. Volodymyr Pylypchuk, commented: "Dzherelo and our other botanicals can be useful as immune adjuvants for therapy of tuberculosis and AIDS. What is important is that our study is the first ever study to show that one can treat successfully XDR TB - a condition which is commonly considered to be virtually incurable. In addition to medical problems Ekomed works on ecology projects. We have developed proprietary technologies that can potentially reverse global climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide, in ecologically friendly manner".
About Ekomed LLC: Founded in 1996, Ekomed is a privately-held company based in Kiev, Ukraine. The company is the leading ethnobotanical company that manufactures over 26 different multiherbal preparations for a variety of health disorders. For more details, please visit the company website at www.ekomed.com.ua
Developer of Mobile Hospital Computing Equipment and Medical Carts Helps Hospital Upgrade to Wireless
Leading hospital mobile computing solutions provider recognized by one of the most "wired" hospitals in the U.S.
Columbus, OH (PRWEB) July 14, 2008 -- Artromick provides accurate and efficient medication management solutions with the latest mobile hospital computing and medical cart equipment. In today's demanding world of health care, hospitals, like Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital, have found a capable partner in Artromick.
The 375-bed facility in Parkersburg, WV took a monumental step forward several months ago when it contracted with Artromick, a nationally recognized manufacturer of medication carts, mobile hospital computing solutions carts and medical carts.
CCMH, which is recognized as one of the top 100 "most wired" hospitals in the U.S., as well as one of the top 25 "most wireless" hospitals in the nation, had begun using mobile hospital computing carts about six years ago.
Recently, Artromick was chosen by CCMH officials to replace its aged hospital equipment, which was bulky, cumbersome and simply out-of-date. Their healthcare technology has enabled CCMH to use mobile hospital computing carts at the bedside, which provide additional area for charting that is decentralized from the nursing station and the capability of readily accessible information in a timely manner - benefits recognized by CCMH officials.
"It improves efficiency by allowing one-time documentation at bedside rather than once at bedside than again at the nursing station," CCMH nursing informatics analyst Kerry Cottrell emphasized.
Artromick's technology, she added, is a time saver for CCMH nurses, allowing them to quickly access information over the wireless network without having to save their charting until a computer is available at a nursing station.
Cottrell also said the Artromick mobile computing medical carts are ergonomically efficient and adjustable, easy to move and control, and have a better, more easily rechargeable battery life than those of previous carts used at the West Virginia hospital.
Since 1972, Artromick has provided innovative medication handling systems to hospitals and long-term care facilities, all aimed at improving nurse efficiency, ensuring medication compliance and improving patient safety.
Today, Artromick continues to develop evolutionary mobile computing solutions forge the future of point-of-care data management. With the strategic guidance and capital support of Sterling Partners, Artromick is pursuing an aggressive product development schedule to redefine mobile computing within hospitals and extended care facilities.
The goal of this product development initiative is to create new opportunities for improved patient care through the advancement of nursing workflow efficiency and reliable share information management.
About Artromick International, Inc.: Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Artromick develops and markets a comprehensive line of mobile computing carts, medication control systems and healthcare technology solutions for long-term and acute care providers worldwide. For more information, please contact Artromick at (800) 848-6462 or visit http://www.artromick.com/
About Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital: Based in Parkersburg, WV, Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital is a 375-bed facility that has been recognized as a leader in both wireless and wired hospital technology. For more information, please contact CCMH at (304) 424-2296 or visit http://ccmh.org/
Columbus, OH (PRWEB) July 14, 2008 -- Artromick provides accurate and efficient medication management solutions with the latest mobile hospital computing and medical cart equipment. In today's demanding world of health care, hospitals, like Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital, have found a capable partner in Artromick.
The 375-bed facility in Parkersburg, WV took a monumental step forward several months ago when it contracted with Artromick, a nationally recognized manufacturer of medication carts, mobile hospital computing solutions carts and medical carts.
CCMH, which is recognized as one of the top 100 "most wired" hospitals in the U.S., as well as one of the top 25 "most wireless" hospitals in the nation, had begun using mobile hospital computing carts about six years ago.
Recently, Artromick was chosen by CCMH officials to replace its aged hospital equipment, which was bulky, cumbersome and simply out-of-date. Their healthcare technology has enabled CCMH to use mobile hospital computing carts at the bedside, which provide additional area for charting that is decentralized from the nursing station and the capability of readily accessible information in a timely manner - benefits recognized by CCMH officials.
"It improves efficiency by allowing one-time documentation at bedside rather than once at bedside than again at the nursing station," CCMH nursing informatics analyst Kerry Cottrell emphasized.
Artromick's technology, she added, is a time saver for CCMH nurses, allowing them to quickly access information over the wireless network without having to save their charting until a computer is available at a nursing station.
Cottrell also said the Artromick mobile computing medical carts are ergonomically efficient and adjustable, easy to move and control, and have a better, more easily rechargeable battery life than those of previous carts used at the West Virginia hospital.
Since 1972, Artromick has provided innovative medication handling systems to hospitals and long-term care facilities, all aimed at improving nurse efficiency, ensuring medication compliance and improving patient safety.
Today, Artromick continues to develop evolutionary mobile computing solutions forge the future of point-of-care data management. With the strategic guidance and capital support of Sterling Partners, Artromick is pursuing an aggressive product development schedule to redefine mobile computing within hospitals and extended care facilities.
The goal of this product development initiative is to create new opportunities for improved patient care through the advancement of nursing workflow efficiency and reliable share information management.
About Artromick International, Inc.: Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Artromick develops and markets a comprehensive line of mobile computing carts, medication control systems and healthcare technology solutions for long-term and acute care providers worldwide. For more information, please contact Artromick at (800) 848-6462 or visit http://www.artromick.com/
About Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital: Based in Parkersburg, WV, Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital is a 375-bed facility that has been recognized as a leader in both wireless and wired hospital technology. For more information, please contact CCMH at (304) 424-2296 or visit http://ccmh.org/
Creating A Home Improvement Plan
You’ve got your eye on the out-dated kitchen or you think you might want to just tear up your carpeting and install hardwood floors, but before you start to rip out the cabinets or the carpet make sure to establish some guidelines for your home improvement plan. A good home improvement plan should take into account: budget, financing, scope of work, functionality and aesthetics, resale value.
Budget Considerations
One good way to find out what you can afford is to simply get three estimates from contractors. Discuss what you want with the contractor and if the estimate is high, ask them how you can reduce the costs. The estimate should be separated into cost of materials and cost of labor. By getting a professional opinion first, you may find that the bids are very similar and you have a good starting point for the high-end cost of your project.
Now, you can begin to factor in whether there is some work you can do yourself. This will improve the amount of cash outlay necessary to complete the work. Another way to get to meet your budget is to shop for a cheaper source of materials or change the type of material used. Either way, these are highly flexible items in your home improvement budget.
Sources of Financing
If one doesn’t have the money, the inclination is not to do the home improvement. Cash, however, is not the only way to pay for a home improvement plan, you can also finance. If you find you don’t have enough cash, you can use a home equity loan to finance the remodeling of your home. Try to identify additional forms of financing in case you need additional monies to complete the project. In the end, a home improvement project should add to the resale value of your home for it to be a sound purchase.
Scope of Work
This is where a good plan is essential. If you are planning a major remodel, you will want some basic plans drawn up, preferably by a professional. You don’t want to find out later that the wall you envisioned removing for a more open space is a critical weight-bearing wall. Similarly, you don’t want to plan for electronic appliances and devices in an area where there are no outlets. If you plan on revamping a kitchen, the dimensions of workspace and appliance real estate are very important. Don’t try to eyeball it or you’ll end up paying for it later in time, additional work, or wasted purchases. By trying to define the scope of the work on paper first, you can bypass many of the simple problems that arise from not having thought the improvement plan out thoroughly.
Functionality And Aesthetics
Obviously, we don’t just want to substitute one thing for another, we want the new home improvement to outshine the old room. We want it to work better for us and we want that “ah” factor too. Have you done your research on the functionality of the appliances and space arrangements? How about the aesthetics and maintenance of the materials you chose? Does the improvement help to accommodate the growing needs of your family? Will it continue to be of service after 5 years? 10 years? These are all factors that should be considered and weighed against budget, scope, and resale value.
Resale Value
This is a tricky value that can’t really be foreseen that much. We know that kitchen and bathroom remodels recoup the most on the sale of the house. No home improvement will recoup 100% of the price it took to remodel, however, if you are in a climbing real estate market that might not matter. What you don’t want to do is to add a home improvement that detracts from the value of your property. Adding a fifth bedroom in a neighborhood of four bedroom homes would be detrimental to the value of your home. Adding a swimming pool in areas where houses with pools don’t sell well would also be considered an investment that could not be recouped. Some people still do it anyways. The point is that most home improvements are done to meet the needs of a particular family and the desire for a more comfortable living space. While resale value is important
, it is just one of the many considerations that have to be evaluated in a good home improvement plan.
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
The blogathon continues
The July Blogathon has been a great way to get to know my fellow speaker friends. As we reach mid-mark, I realize I'm learning more about who these folks are at their core.
We've added a few new participants since the event began, so I'm posting an updated list today. If you have a few minutes, consider visiting their sites. I promise you, you'll read some very inspiring stories. There's 15 of us, including Stanley, the lone guy on the team:
Jackie Dishner
http://bikewithjackie.blogspot.com/
http://www.thephoenixtraveler.com/
Susan Ratliff
http://www.blingmybooth.com/
Andrea Beaulieu
http://www.conspiracyoflove.net/
Mimi Meredith
http://www.blog.thegoodnessgrows.com/
Suzy Graven
http://articles.secretsofthesavvywoman.com/
Beth Terry
http://www.corporatecowgirl.com/
Vickie Mullins
http://www.mullinscreative.blogspot.com/
Michelle May
http://blogs.eastvalleytribune.com/consumed/
Arlene Rosenberg
http://www.leadingachievers.com/
Stanley Bronstein
http://stanleybronstein.com/
Stephanie Angelo
http://hressential.com/wordpress
Quinn McDonald
http://quinncreative.wordpress.com/
Barbara McNichol
http://www.nonfictioneditor.wordpress.com/
Suzanne Holman
http://www.lessonsforyourmilliondollarlife.com/
Maggie Hunts
She's on hold for the time being...
We've added a few new participants since the event began, so I'm posting an updated list today. If you have a few minutes, consider visiting their sites. I promise you, you'll read some very inspiring stories. There's 15 of us, including Stanley, the lone guy on the team:
Jackie Dishner
http://bikewithjackie.blogspot.com/
http://www.thephoenixtraveler.com/
Susan Ratliff
http://www.blingmybooth.com/
Andrea Beaulieu
http://www.conspiracyoflove.net/
Mimi Meredith
http://www.blog.thegoodnessgrows.com/
Suzy Graven
http://articles.secretsofthesavvywoman.com/
Beth Terry
http://www.corporatecowgirl.com/
Vickie Mullins
http://www.mullinscreative.blogspot.com/
Michelle May
http://blogs.eastvalleytribune.com/consumed/
Arlene Rosenberg
http://www.leadingachievers.com/
Stanley Bronstein
http://stanleybronstein.com/
Stephanie Angelo
http://hressential.com/wordpress
Quinn McDonald
http://quinncreative.wordpress.com/
Barbara McNichol
http://www.nonfictioneditor.wordpress.com/
Suzanne Holman
http://www.lessonsforyourmilliondollarlife.com/
Maggie Hunts
She's on hold for the time being...
Monday 14 July 2008
Secret #132 Prioritize Well (FREE Audio Download)
The question is NOT: How can you spin all the plates that are screaming for your attention?The better question is: What plates in life are really worth spinning and what plates should you dare to let drop to the ground?
Here's a message I gave last weekend titled, Live Like You Were Dying: Prioritize Well.
It's FREE and it's for YOU. All you have to do is GO HERE and click the play button.
For FREE follow through materials (downloadable articles, audios, and Bible study guides) click on the message title, "Prioritize Well."
Thanks for stopping by Amazing Time Management Secrets! Hope this post encourages and equips you a little on your time management journey.
When you need to ask for support
A few days ago, I posted about the importance of jumping right in there with your ideas. Well, I did it! I just volunteered to present to a group of pre-retired folks. The opportunity presented itself, and I thought, Why not? So I came up with a speech topic, a title, and I know exactly what I'll say. Most of it will come from a story I wrote for Arizona Highways more than a year ago that just appeared in print this past May. I'll use that as the basis and incorporate additional stories that I have on file. I'll use what I learned in Improv class to add a touch of humor and expect the presentation to be light-hearted, yet educational. Plus, I think it'll fun to hear.
Please wish me luck in getting the job!
Whenever you find yourself doing something unexpected that you'd really like to do, be sure to ask the universe for support.
I think it helps. And since I only have a week to prepare, I think I'm going to need it.
All my best,
Jackie
Please wish me luck in getting the job!
Whenever you find yourself doing something unexpected that you'd really like to do, be sure to ask the universe for support.
I think it helps. And since I only have a week to prepare, I think I'm going to need it.
All my best,
Jackie
Sunday 13 July 2008
Is it time to learn a new skill?
One thing you may notice during times of recovery is that you gain a sudden new interest in learning something new. In fact, you may almost crave it.
Whether it's how to dance the latest moves, how to paint or draw, or even how to ride a unicycle (I'm a long way from mastering that art, but I have a one-wheeler waiting for me to try again and again...and again.), I think this sudden yearning comes from the need to rebuild a lost sense of self-esteem.
As long as it's healthy in all respects, of course, consider exploring any ideas that come to mind. It's probably necessary for your growth. It's that mind-body connection telling you this will be good for you. Listen to it.
Try to avoid second-guessing yourself about cost or time or whatever hinderances might sneak in to sabotage your growth. If it costs too much, you may be able to find a less expensive alternative, for example a city-run program as opposed to a private one. It you don't think you have the time, look for a weekend retreat or a monthly event, rather than a longer-term commitment. Think of and investigate alternative ways to create this new fun in your life. If it's something worth exploring, you'll find a way that works for you.
Learning and developing new skills allows you to realize new opportunities, develop a much-needed confidence, and...Why not?...show off! It's good to be the star of the show sometimes. There are times when we may need to be recognized, if only to prove to ourselves we're alive.
Here are three interests that I had the courage recently to explore:
~Comedy writing: I attended a convention in Los Angeles several years ago where I learned this new skill then was able to apply it and win first place awards. I still get a kick out of that when I think of it. And I'm sure I use the skills I learned that long weekend today.
~Fiction writing: I attended a week-long writers' workshop where, in a small-class setting, I did nothing but learn about writing short stories, talk about writing short stories, and write them. I flew back home from that workshop with seven well-developed short stories to work on. I have them stored on a flash disc to develop further. That was great fun, and I was amazed I could accomplish so much.
~Running a 5k: In fact, I've run five or more of them in the last few years. I keep my jersey numbers tacked on my office wall as a reminder of an accomplishment I once thought I'd never have. In college, I could barely run a mile, and I hated doing it. It probably took me 20 minutes, and I couldn't see the end in sight. Now, some 20 years later, I can run up to four miles, not easily and still not very fast (but not that slow, either), and I don't even hate it, anymore. In fact, running gives me the space to push myself when I need pushing. I don't run long-distance very often, but I gained the endurance to do it at all from riding my bike. One skill can lead to another, it seems.
Do you have a list of interests or hobbies you've been wanting to explore but haven't? What are they? What are some steps you can take today to make at least one of them a priority? Even if it's something as simple as scrapbooking, allowing yourself the opportunity to grow in new and creative ways helps rebuild a broken spirit. By doing something you love or think you might love, you give yourself the gift of self-love. Creative outlets feed the soul in ways your normal, everyday life does not.
So, isn't it time?
All my best,
Jackie
Whether it's how to dance the latest moves, how to paint or draw, or even how to ride a unicycle (I'm a long way from mastering that art, but I have a one-wheeler waiting for me to try again and again...and again.), I think this sudden yearning comes from the need to rebuild a lost sense of self-esteem.
As long as it's healthy in all respects, of course, consider exploring any ideas that come to mind. It's probably necessary for your growth. It's that mind-body connection telling you this will be good for you. Listen to it.
Try to avoid second-guessing yourself about cost or time or whatever hinderances might sneak in to sabotage your growth. If it costs too much, you may be able to find a less expensive alternative, for example a city-run program as opposed to a private one. It you don't think you have the time, look for a weekend retreat or a monthly event, rather than a longer-term commitment. Think of and investigate alternative ways to create this new fun in your life. If it's something worth exploring, you'll find a way that works for you.
Learning and developing new skills allows you to realize new opportunities, develop a much-needed confidence, and...Why not?...show off! It's good to be the star of the show sometimes. There are times when we may need to be recognized, if only to prove to ourselves we're alive.
Here are three interests that I had the courage recently to explore:
~Comedy writing: I attended a convention in Los Angeles several years ago where I learned this new skill then was able to apply it and win first place awards. I still get a kick out of that when I think of it. And I'm sure I use the skills I learned that long weekend today.
~Fiction writing: I attended a week-long writers' workshop where, in a small-class setting, I did nothing but learn about writing short stories, talk about writing short stories, and write them. I flew back home from that workshop with seven well-developed short stories to work on. I have them stored on a flash disc to develop further. That was great fun, and I was amazed I could accomplish so much.
~Running a 5k: In fact, I've run five or more of them in the last few years. I keep my jersey numbers tacked on my office wall as a reminder of an accomplishment I once thought I'd never have. In college, I could barely run a mile, and I hated doing it. It probably took me 20 minutes, and I couldn't see the end in sight. Now, some 20 years later, I can run up to four miles, not easily and still not very fast (but not that slow, either), and I don't even hate it, anymore. In fact, running gives me the space to push myself when I need pushing. I don't run long-distance very often, but I gained the endurance to do it at all from riding my bike. One skill can lead to another, it seems.
Do you have a list of interests or hobbies you've been wanting to explore but haven't? What are they? What are some steps you can take today to make at least one of them a priority? Even if it's something as simple as scrapbooking, allowing yourself the opportunity to grow in new and creative ways helps rebuild a broken spirit. By doing something you love or think you might love, you give yourself the gift of self-love. Creative outlets feed the soul in ways your normal, everyday life does not.
So, isn't it time?
All my best,
Jackie
Saturday 12 July 2008
Laugh at yourself often
If you can't remember the last time you smiled, then forget the smile and laugh out loud.
That's right. Laugh out loud. To yourself.
Right now.
Just reach deep from within your belly, pull a laugh up and out from the back of your throat, and burst out a hearty Ha-ha-ha!
Now do it again.
Just do it. Really. No one's looking. And if they are, ask them to join you.
It'll release any pent-up energy you might be feeling.
Belly laughs are good for that.
As a matter of fact, I had a few the night before. I was out to dinner with a girlfriend, and we got caught in the rain. We were sitting at the outdoor patio of this Italian bistro, when all of a sudden, the misters sounded a lot louder than they had before. Well, wouldn't you know it? It wasn't the misters that was making that whooshing sound. It was rain. The desert got its first shower, or at least the first one I can recall this monsoon season. And there we were, right in the middle of it, finishing up our dinner. Luckily, the table's umbrella was extended. We didn't get too wet. Our backs took most of the hit. But it was funny, and we laughed out loud. It felt good. The company. The rain. The laughs. Perfect!
But then the rain started coming down a bit harder, and we had to run for cover at the bar which had an awning overhead. We asked an older couple sitting at the table next to us if they were going to get out of the rain as well, and the woman replied for no particular reason, "This, on our first date!" And she laughed. Then her dinner mate laughed. And my friend and I got a good laugh all over again. What a memory for them, I think, if they continue seeing each other. I thought it was sweet. We don't get rain in the Valley of the Sun that often, so it's kind of a treat when it happens. But to be on a first date, sitting outside, only to get soaked by the rain? How funny!
I'm glad they thought it was.
There have been times in my life where the laughter was missing, where life seemed too serious and ceased to be fun. That's not a place I like to stay for long. So I once bought a shirt to remind me of that. It's a pink tank top that says at the top, "Laugh at yourself often." I did before I bought the shirt, and I do now. But sometimes I forget. Sometimes I get caught up in the exterior stuff that goes on, and I let it get to my head. I get too serious. Argh! Who needs that?
Going through my closet, looking for a shirt to wear today, I pulled out that pink shirt. I've been wearing it all day. It's a good reminder.
I'm going to dinner tonight with another friend. Besides eating a great meal and drinking some fine wine, I know what else we're going to do.
We're going to laugh.
All my best,
Jackie
That's right. Laugh out loud. To yourself.
Right now.
Just reach deep from within your belly, pull a laugh up and out from the back of your throat, and burst out a hearty Ha-ha-ha!
Now do it again.
Just do it. Really. No one's looking. And if they are, ask them to join you.
It'll release any pent-up energy you might be feeling.
Belly laughs are good for that.
As a matter of fact, I had a few the night before. I was out to dinner with a girlfriend, and we got caught in the rain. We were sitting at the outdoor patio of this Italian bistro, when all of a sudden, the misters sounded a lot louder than they had before. Well, wouldn't you know it? It wasn't the misters that was making that whooshing sound. It was rain. The desert got its first shower, or at least the first one I can recall this monsoon season. And there we were, right in the middle of it, finishing up our dinner. Luckily, the table's umbrella was extended. We didn't get too wet. Our backs took most of the hit. But it was funny, and we laughed out loud. It felt good. The company. The rain. The laughs. Perfect!
But then the rain started coming down a bit harder, and we had to run for cover at the bar which had an awning overhead. We asked an older couple sitting at the table next to us if they were going to get out of the rain as well, and the woman replied for no particular reason, "This, on our first date!" And she laughed. Then her dinner mate laughed. And my friend and I got a good laugh all over again. What a memory for them, I think, if they continue seeing each other. I thought it was sweet. We don't get rain in the Valley of the Sun that often, so it's kind of a treat when it happens. But to be on a first date, sitting outside, only to get soaked by the rain? How funny!
I'm glad they thought it was.
There have been times in my life where the laughter was missing, where life seemed too serious and ceased to be fun. That's not a place I like to stay for long. So I once bought a shirt to remind me of that. It's a pink tank top that says at the top, "Laugh at yourself often." I did before I bought the shirt, and I do now. But sometimes I forget. Sometimes I get caught up in the exterior stuff that goes on, and I let it get to my head. I get too serious. Argh! Who needs that?
Going through my closet, looking for a shirt to wear today, I pulled out that pink shirt. I've been wearing it all day. It's a good reminder.
I'm going to dinner tonight with another friend. Besides eating a great meal and drinking some fine wine, I know what else we're going to do.
We're going to laugh.
All my best,
Jackie
How to look within
When we're in the midst of healing a broken past, we'll begin to look for answers by looking inward. It's a struggle, I know, to face what we might judge as our failures, our mistakes, our losses. But it's the only way to learn from the lessons our past can gift to us.
Choosing to look inward will give you the insights you need to see what changes might need to take place so that you don't go on repeating behaviors that haven't worked for you before now.
But how is that done, exactly?
Just take the first step, which is to begin spending time with yourself, alone. Make it a daily practice. If it means you leave the dog inside and take your walk alone, then do that. If it means you must dine alone, then do that. If it means you hop on a bike and ride, then, by all means, do that. Do whatever feels right to you.
It was when I rode my bike that I first began observing the pedal power. That's what had the most affect on me. That was where I started to see the growth that I needed to see in order to believe I was going somewhere. Your space might be different than mine was. There is no right or wrong space. It's what works for you. Your BIKE journey will not be the same as mine. It may be similar but it won't be the same. That's a benefit of this spiritual navigation tool--it's uniquely yours, to be created, developed and polished by you and you alone.
In the beginning of my BIKE journey, I had to have that time alone. I felt like I was suffocating, if I didn't get it. But there are others of you out there who may resist alone time. You may resist looking inward. It might not feel "normal." I understand. Later in my healing, I found resistance, too. Don't fear the resistance. It's natural. When change occurs, it feels uncomfortable. It feels unfamiliar. It feels like you're losing control. When you sense that resistance, as I have been lately, you'll begin to recognize that this is your ego getting in the way of your progress. It'll slip in there every now and then. Even years from now when you think you've long since been recovered, resistance may return in some form.
Be patient with yourself.
Go back to making space just for you. Make it more special this time, if that will help. Do what an interior designer suggested to me once when I was interviewing her for a story: "Create an afternoon tea party with just yourself." Take it one step further and turn on music in the background, something relaxing. Light a scented candle or incense. Breathe deeply. The breathing is especially important. It's one of the first things I forget to do when I'm in crisis mode. But the second I remember to focus on breathing, my personal space becomes calm again, and I can start to see clearly again. The experts don't tell us to count to ten when we're upset for nothing. It gives us time to check in with reality. You know that nothing is ever as bad as it seems. This is a reminder I've needed myself this past week or so. BIKE is my reminder.
Remember, BIKE includes the four elements of who you really are when you're being your Best self, accessing your Inner strength, paying attention to that Killer instinct, and using your Expressive voice. When you're not doing or being or achieving one or more of them, the mental aspect of BIKE reminds you of that as well. It works along side of your spiritual guide; it's always there. Waiting patiently, if necessary.
Your alone time gives you that time you need to reconnect with what it feels like to just be you. Doing it daily gives you the constant reminder you might need to stay sane. My BIKE saved me; yours will, too, if you're open to its power. When you begin to get comfortable defining it on your terms, you'll see exactly how you can use this mental BIKE to help push or pull you through even the most difficult days. You will not always have big burdensome challenges like you may be experiencing now, but you'll always have challenges to overcome, little ones, like an overcharge on the phone bill or a minor accident while on the way to work. It's okay. Your mental BIKE will help you deal, even if the dealing part occurs after the panic. With BIKE, there's always room for do-overs. As you continue to read this blog, you'll learn to trust your intuition. To do that, you'll need to look within. To look within takes time. And that time is better spent alone.
All my best,
Jackie
Choosing to look inward will give you the insights you need to see what changes might need to take place so that you don't go on repeating behaviors that haven't worked for you before now.
But how is that done, exactly?
Just take the first step, which is to begin spending time with yourself, alone. Make it a daily practice. If it means you leave the dog inside and take your walk alone, then do that. If it means you must dine alone, then do that. If it means you hop on a bike and ride, then, by all means, do that. Do whatever feels right to you.
It was when I rode my bike that I first began observing the pedal power. That's what had the most affect on me. That was where I started to see the growth that I needed to see in order to believe I was going somewhere. Your space might be different than mine was. There is no right or wrong space. It's what works for you. Your BIKE journey will not be the same as mine. It may be similar but it won't be the same. That's a benefit of this spiritual navigation tool--it's uniquely yours, to be created, developed and polished by you and you alone.
In the beginning of my BIKE journey, I had to have that time alone. I felt like I was suffocating, if I didn't get it. But there are others of you out there who may resist alone time. You may resist looking inward. It might not feel "normal." I understand. Later in my healing, I found resistance, too. Don't fear the resistance. It's natural. When change occurs, it feels uncomfortable. It feels unfamiliar. It feels like you're losing control. When you sense that resistance, as I have been lately, you'll begin to recognize that this is your ego getting in the way of your progress. It'll slip in there every now and then. Even years from now when you think you've long since been recovered, resistance may return in some form.
Be patient with yourself.
Go back to making space just for you. Make it more special this time, if that will help. Do what an interior designer suggested to me once when I was interviewing her for a story: "Create an afternoon tea party with just yourself." Take it one step further and turn on music in the background, something relaxing. Light a scented candle or incense. Breathe deeply. The breathing is especially important. It's one of the first things I forget to do when I'm in crisis mode. But the second I remember to focus on breathing, my personal space becomes calm again, and I can start to see clearly again. The experts don't tell us to count to ten when we're upset for nothing. It gives us time to check in with reality. You know that nothing is ever as bad as it seems. This is a reminder I've needed myself this past week or so. BIKE is my reminder.
Remember, BIKE includes the four elements of who you really are when you're being your Best self, accessing your Inner strength, paying attention to that Killer instinct, and using your Expressive voice. When you're not doing or being or achieving one or more of them, the mental aspect of BIKE reminds you of that as well. It works along side of your spiritual guide; it's always there. Waiting patiently, if necessary.
Your alone time gives you that time you need to reconnect with what it feels like to just be you. Doing it daily gives you the constant reminder you might need to stay sane. My BIKE saved me; yours will, too, if you're open to its power. When you begin to get comfortable defining it on your terms, you'll see exactly how you can use this mental BIKE to help push or pull you through even the most difficult days. You will not always have big burdensome challenges like you may be experiencing now, but you'll always have challenges to overcome, little ones, like an overcharge on the phone bill or a minor accident while on the way to work. It's okay. Your mental BIKE will help you deal, even if the dealing part occurs after the panic. With BIKE, there's always room for do-overs. As you continue to read this blog, you'll learn to trust your intuition. To do that, you'll need to look within. To look within takes time. And that time is better spent alone.
All my best,
Jackie
Help Yourself to a better Future
There are very many methods for achieving improvement to our personal confidence and self esteem, far too many to investigate in depth in a short information file. So on this page, we will have a look at the most popular and, for most people, the most effective.
Self Acceptance
Motivation & Goal Setting
Self hypnosis
Coaching/therapy
Self Acceptance
Self acceptance is one of the most important aspects of personal confidence and also for self esteem. The trick is to work out what you can change and set about doing so - and this page has a good few hints how you can go about that - and accept that which you cannot change.
We all have aspects of our personality and 'way of being' that we feel uncomfortable about; maybe we see ourselves as selfish, dim on occasions, over-emotional, under-responsive, or any one of a whole variety of pretty standard human behaviour patterns. The trouble is that when anybody mentions any of those things, our personal confidence is dented and self esteem sags. Yet accept those things as just part of what goes to make the whole of you and that overall, you are no worse and no better than the next human being and you can start to enjoy being you and all that being you means.
For example...
A child's school reports consistently commented on his talkativeness:"Billy is very intelligent," the teacher would say, "But he's a chatterbox - he never stops talking.". His parents laughed and showed others who also laughed. The child didn't understand why talking was such a bad thing though nonetheless tried to do less of it... but all that happened was that his fascination and enthusiasm for some new discovery would suddenly burst out of him in a torrent of excited chatter. One day, when he was a young adult, somebody said: "My God, do you never stop talking?" That hit hard at the sore spot that had been created over the years and he suddenly started to stutter.
Then people laughed even more. Social gatherings, parties, dinners, holidays, even family get-togethers all quickly became no-go areas. He became introverted and timid and eventually found himself with a therapist, recounting those early experiences of people laughing because he was a 'chatterbox'. "Tell me again about that teacher," the therapist said.
"She said I never stopped talking," Billy replied.
"That's funny," the therapist said. "I though you told me she said you were intelligent."
"I don't think I noticed that bit..." Billy said wonderingly.
The Ugly Duckling
From that moment on, it was like the Ugly Duckling story all over again. There was an almost instant acceptance that he was a natural talker, a communicator of ideas and concepts. Time passed. Billy talked A LOT and if anybody said anything at all about it, he would simply smile and agree with them. "I've always been talkative," he would say, "Thank goodness. I love to share all my ideas." No comments could hit any target now and there was no longer a sore spot; he knew that his talkativeness was a measure of his intelligence and his entire joy of living.
Acceptance is a wonderful thing. Accept the way you are and embrace it - warts and all - and you will become instantly more comfortable with yourself and others. When you accept those facets of self which you thought were negative, no matter what they are, nobody can push your buttons any more because you won't be trying to hide them. More importantly, perhaps, you will discover that many others actually like those facets of self that you tried so hard to conceal!
Motivation
One of the prime necessities to achieve good motivation in life or career is to have a clear goal - if you don't have, then it's extremely unlikely that you will achieve much. Yet set a goal and set it well, know exactly why you want it and how your life will improve when you get it and you're almost home and dry!
When setting your goals, it is important that you recognise the four rules that apply to any goal, if you are to have any chance of getting what you want:
- The goal must be plausible, possible and realistic
- It must be suitable for your personality type
- You must have a clear idea of what you are seeking
- Positive orientation
Plausible and Realistic
Anything that can be done, you can do. Anything that could never be done, you will not achieve, either. We are not conducting magic but simply using natural resources to achieve natural goals. If you are 65 years old, for instance, you will not become an Olympic standard athlete. It simply is not realistic. If you have only one leg, you cannot attempt to climb Mount Everest for exactly the same reason.
Suitable for Your Personality
For a goal to have a chance of success it should reflect your natural personality; always select a goal that you feel would not surprise others - although they may well be surprised at how easily you achieve it!
A Clear Idea
You have to know EXACTLY what it is that you want. It sounds obvious but an awful lot of people simply have never worked it out! Somebody might say: "I want to make something of myself." Well, good… but make what exactly? The subconscious - and that is the part of you which will achieve success or otherwise - only works with uncomplicated and positive statements with no ambiguity or implication. After all, if you made a failure of yourself, that would comply with the above goal, wouldn't it? 'Make a success' is not much better, either. One person's success simply doesn't 'work' for another. "I want to have my own business selling music CDs on the internet," is a clear goal. So is: "I want to make xxxxxxxx money a year from my music website," as long as you state a figure that you know can be achieved. Make your goal specific and you have a far higher chance of success.
Self hypnosis
There are very many methods of improving self worth and confidence. The most important thing to recognise, probably, is that precisely nothing will happen if you don't put some input into the plan. You can read the best self help books in the world and nothing will happen unless you have an action plan. You can listen to self help and personal development CDs until you know them off by heart, but the result will be a big fat nothing if that is all you do.
If you want to get anywhere, you have to accept that it is YOU who must make the change - nobody, absolutely nobody, can do it for you. Nothing changes if nothing changes...
Self hypnosis can be remarkably effective for the reduction of stress and improvement in life generally. It is a specific skill and one which can easily be learned via one of the many books on the subject or via one of the many free self hypnosis courses available on the internet.
Though some people are wary of hypnosis and self hypnosis until they discover more about it, it's used on a daily basis by sportsmen and musicians, business people and artists, housewives, policemen, engineers, shop assistants... in fact it's used by millions of people from all walks of life all over the globe!
Let's dispel a few of the anxieties that some visitors might have... the following 'rules' are applicable to all types of hypnosis:
- You cannot 'get stuck' - this is quite impossible
- You do not become unconscious or go to sleep
- You know what's happening at all times
- You can exit the state whenever you wish to
- You cannot 'lose your mind'
- It is not connected in any shape or form with the occult
- There is no such thing as a 'hypnotised feeling'
- It is actually a totally natural state which we all go into several times a day
- It is very similar to meditation or relaxation techniques
- IT IS COMPLETELY SAFE!
Getting into a state of self-hypnosis is a specific skill and as with all skills, some people are better at it than others. It is fair to say, though, that almost everybody can benefit from learning how to use it. Among other things, you can help yourself to:
- Combat Stress - use it with the routines above for a real power session!
- Lose weight
- Quit smoking
- Improve sporting and other performance
- Increase concentration and recall
- Improve confidence and self-confidence
- Work effectively with motivation issues
As mentioned earlier, there are very many books on the subject of self hypnosis as well as free courses - but do be sure to get one that is written by a professional in the field.
Motivational therapy, and personal confidence
Finally, an excellent way of developing your life in the way you want it is to visit a motivational coach, hypnotherapist or NLP practitioner. Huge numbers of sporting personalities, stars of stage and screen, wildly successful business leaders and 'executive climbers', amongst others, have achieved their success via this route. Hypnotherapy and/or NLP can provide somewhat faster and more long-lasting results than coaching and often with fewer sessions.
If you decide to investigate this route, your local Yellow Pages is a good starting point; initial consultations are often at no charge, though you should make clear exactly why you are consulting.
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
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