Take a mini break.. you deserve it

Take a Mini-Break from Work

We all need a break. However, in the current environment, taking time off for a vacation may not be the right thing for your company (or your bank account). Find ways to carve out smaller chunks of time to rest and recuperate. Here are few things you can do in one hour or less.

Take a yoga class. Make the time by trying an early morning class or go on your lunch break.

Turn off your Blackberry. Even if it's just an hour while you take a walk or have dinner with a friend, this "quiet" time will help you feel more focused when it's time to power back on.

Do a crossword puzzle. Research shows crosswords sharpen the mind. Work on the puzzle while you eat your lunch and give yourself a mental break.

Listen to some melodious music, may be a Ghazal or cine music which will soothe your mind and soul.

Take your child’s old album and glance through it to rewind your good old memories.

Take a break to recapture your victorious moments, happy moments by going into silence with closed eyes.

Your intuition

Dear Friends,

How much do you trust your intuition? We all possess that small inner voice that warns us when someone or something isn't right or urges us to do something or go somewhere this is not in the plan. Yet many of us are taught to ignore their inner voice and to put other's feelings and needs above our own.

My inner voice plays a big role in my work. I also depend on my intuition as well. Over the years I have learned to trust my intuition and listen to it without reservation and so far, it has never steered me wrong.

My friend, when you learn to listen to you inner voice and trust your own intuition you begin to trust yourself and your own judgment, and that makes you will feel more confident and secure in the knowledge that you are truly in charge of your life. If you still don't feel so comfortable with your intuition, you can always begin with smaller things. For example, consult your inner voice about which foods are the best choices for you at mealtimes or what clothes will give you the most positive presence and outlook for the day.

For bigger decisions take time to close your eyes and take a few deep breaths while you concentrate on the situation and ask your inner self for guidance. Remain open to any thoughts, sounds or images that come to you and use them to help you make choices.

You may make some mistakes but as you continue to access your own inner wisdom you will get better and better at trusting what comes to you and you will begin to trust your intuition to direct you on the right path.

Eventually you will find that accessing your inner voice comes as naturally as breathing. And trusting your intuition in all aspects of your life will be far more useful to you, and far more satisfying, than any advice that could be offered by others.

Friends, in every situation there is an opportunity for you to experience the deep satisfaction of trusting in yourself and your intuitive abilities. I hope that you are already using your intuition every day.

Take care of yourself

Dear Friends,

This week, I want to focus on the importance of taking care of yourself. As our days become busier and more hectic, it can be difficult for us to take a needed and deserved break. I am sure that even an aware person like yourself, has experienced moments when you would have liked to have more time to yourself.

The truth is that even for those of us who are aware and clear on the importance of self-care, it is easy to get caught up in daily routines, events, special projects, and the like, to the point that you forget to take time out for yourself. As a result, you may find yourself feeling tired and out of sorts. However, I have a few suggestions for giving yourself time, slowing down your mind, enjoying your surroundings, and replenishing your energy.

My first suggestion is to walk where you need to go. If you walk to work or to the corner store instead of driving there, you get a chance to slow down your mind, enjoy the surroundings, and get some great exercise to boot! If you can afford it, consider joining a gym and making the commitment to go several times a week. Getting exercise is an excellent way to bring your mind and body back into alignment and boost your energy levels.

Another way to create self-time is to join a group or club that meets on a regular basis. It could be a gardening club, a choir, a photography class or scrap-booking group, or even a meditation or yoga group. The idea behind these suggestions is to have time that is separate from your work and daily activities.

Finally, I have other suggestions for making extra time. Leave work on time or arrive at appointments early, equipped with a favorite book so that you take advantage of the wait time for pleasure reading. Keep a book or magazine handy in your bag or briefcase for when you are unexpectedly stuck waiting for someone or something.

I'm sure, that you can come up with many more ways to take care of yourself than I shared here if you put your mind to it. I hope that you will find my suggestions useful and that you will take some time for yourself this week to have fun, relax, and rejuvenate. You deserve it!

Hurt never

Dear Friends,

Recently, I had a discussion with a close friend about the tough time he was having dealing with difficult past experiences with family members. He said he was even more frustrated by the fact that they didn't even seem to realize that he was upset. When I pointed out that he seemed to be the one who was suffering over this past misgiving, he admitted that he wanted to feel better about it but was having difficulty forgiving and letting it go.

I am amazed by how many times I have heard this, many of us carry around past hurts that weigh on us and can be extremely painful. Lack of forgiveness can be like a festering wound that never heals, often throbs and is easily opened. Issues that are left unresolved can manifest into other problems such as stress, anxiety, unresolved anger, and poor self-esteem.

In this case, we talked about how everyone, at one point or another, has made mistakes or done things they later wished they could go back in time to alter. We also talked about how liberating it feels when the person you harmed is able to find forgiveness. By the end of our conversation, he said he was beginning to understand that forgiveness is a two-way street and that if he wanted to be forgiven of his mistakes, he needed to offer others the same courtesy.

When we spoke later, he said had been giving a lot of thought to our conversation and had realized that the only person he was hurting with his lack of forgiveness was himself. Fortunately, once he realized that, he was able to forgive his family members for the past offense without even needing to drag everything up again. He sounded so relieved and it was great to hear such relief in his voice.

Forgiveness is a powerful tool for self-healing. When we can finally just let go and love people for who they are, even when they have hurt us, we free ourselves from any self-imposed bondage of angst and anger, and we also find it easier to forgive ourselves for our own mistakes. Friends, give this some thought to see if you are holding onto some past misgiving that has been weighing you. If so, it is time for a good emotional cleaning!

Age that matters

Dear Friends,

I certainly don't consider myself "old." To be honest, I am not sure what age qualifies as old today. I think that being old is more connected to a mindset. That said, I am certainly not in my twenties any longer, and my body occasionally reminds me that it is not as flexible as it once was. Getting older is a fact of life. No matter how we much we would like to avoid it, the clock will continue to tick and we will grow older. It's inevitable!

Personally, I hope that I will age gracefully, but I do hope I can keep my mind snappy and youthful.

Fortunately, I've got some positive news about staying young mentally. Apparently our brains don't age the same way our bodies do. In a Harvard study, researchers compared the differences in brain activity between younger and older subjects focusing on the firing between the front and back of the brain in each group. This front and back mechanism is called the "default network" and is activated when we need to use our memory. As you would imagine, the twenty-year- olds had the best responses when it came to this part of the study. The older subjects tended to have a weaker connection in their "default network."

Yet surprisingly, nearly half of the older adults maintained brain activity that was similar to the twenty-year-olds. I was very pleased with this news, friends. Scientists attribute this younger, fit mind in an older body to good old-fashioned exercise, meaning cognitive exercise in this case. And they provided it by putting a group of 75-year-olds through several months of rigorous mind exercise. And after that, the subjects exhibited the memory abilities of people many years, sometimes even decades, younger.

So, in a nutshell, the more you exercise your brain, the better it will work and the longer it will last. According to researchers, when we "workout" our brains through mental exercises, we are actually building cortical tissue that helps our brains last longer. Unlike fat cells, the more brain cells we have, the better. That's because those extra brain cells are like insurance for the mind. If we are able to store up and maintain a good number of brain cells, then this reserve will help us to cope with the natural loss of cells that occurs with age.

Mental exercises that help build brain cells include reading, doing math, and playing games that call for strategy and matching. Your computer is a good source for such material. There are loads of brain boosting workouts available to play online, to load onto your pc.

Friends, you might want to consider adding brain exercises to your daily physical regime. Many of us are particularly fond of Sudoku, in addition to regular physical exercise of brisk walking and yoga. It never hurts to start early when it comes to taking

Healthy eating habits

Dear Friends,

When was the last time you enjoyed a nice leisurely meal? Do you know that one of the best ways to maintain a healthy weight and a trim figure is to slow down and savor the food you eat? As strange as this idea may seem, it works. Just look at the French! Their regular diet includes multiple course meals with creamy sauces, real butter, desserts, and wine.

On the flip side, consider American eating habits, which more often than not include skipping meals, having fast food on the run, or overindulging at an all-you-can-eat buffet. One might think that staying on the go helps to burn calories, but what it actually does is to create stress, and stress is a big deterrent to maintaining a healthy weight.

Never fear, all is not lost, because any habit that is learned can be unlearned. All you have to do is to slow down at mealtimes, begin to enjoy your food, take better care of yourself, and you can keep a trim, healthy figure without too much fuss or drastic shift.

But that will require some adjustments to your daily schedule. For your first meal of the day, go for something healthy, even if it is just some fruit and/or nuts as you head off to work. Studies show that starting your day with a healthy mix of protein and carbohydrate boosts your metabolism and helps you burn fat throughout the day. And if you have a mid-morning or afternoon snack, keep it light and nibble it a bit at a time if possible. Stretching it out will make it feel like more in the end.

At mealtimes, strive to eat a full, balanced meal that includes foods you like. As your digestive system was designed to break down natural foods, choose foods that aren't loaded with preservatives and chemicals. So that means staying away from prepared fast foods as much as possible. Also, eating more slowly and chewing your food well will help you enjoy the different tastes on your plate and make you more aware when your body is full.

Finally, don't forget to add some exercise to your daily routine. It doesn't have to be something strenuous or lengthy. Studies show that short bursts of activity throughout the day help to maintain an optimum weight. Some suggestions include taking a short walk after lunch, parking further out in the grocery store parking lot, walking to the corner store as opposed to driving, and opting to take the stairs as opposed to the elevator whenever you can. Those extra steps here and there add up, to a trim healthy body and a healthier lifestyle.

Go spiritual

Dear Friends,

There is no doubt that we are going through rough times right now. Economic hardships and overall international strife feel very present. That is why I have decided to write about transforming our difficult or trying experiences into valuable material for our future successes.

Hardships are never pleasant, but that does not make them bad. They are a natural part of life's ebb and flow. Believe it or not, there are benefits to experiencing hard times. Personal coaches and top psychologists agree that we can learn valuable lessons that will benefit us in the end. Experiencing hardship causes us to reprioritize our lives. These periods give us the opportunity to think about the things that are important to us and remind us not to take them for granted.

Hardships can also strengthen our relationships and communities. In times of need, people naturally pull together. Friends, it is a survival instinct. These are the times when we need others and they need us. Some of the more powerful stories we read or hear about in the news involve people who showed their true mettle and pulled together when up against struggle and emerged victorious in the end.

Hardships force us to be more innovative by pushing us to seek new directions to overcome obstacles and encourage us to be more flexible and determined. And finally, Friends,, hardships can also be a humbling experience by reminding us that we are vulnerable and human, just like everyone around us.

I hope that thoughts of mine will help you to confront the times we are living right now. So the next time you feel the weight of your current difficulties, I hope you will give yourself a pat on the back for all that you're dealing with and give a hug to those who mean so much to you. Go spiritual as much as possible. Leave a space for your spiritual growth in life which is very important.

Friends may this note will help you put your current obstacles in perspective and give you new courage and patience in tackling them.

Until next time

Office behavior

Dear Friends,

Nowadays, I meet most of my clients in my home office and work at my own desk, but that hasn't always been the case. I have spent plenty of workdays in the company of coworkers and bosses, so I know just how good or how strained the workplace can be.

Most of us spend many of our waking hours in the workplace. Consequently, this environment plays a big part in our life and can affect us in negative ways, especially if we find ourselves surrounded by difficult, negative, or emotionally draining coworkers.

Long ago I learned how to turn my work environment into a positive place that I enjoyed, surrounded by people I liked working with. It definitely took some time and energy, but it made all the difference, and I'd like to share what I know with you, so you can make the best of your own work environment.

In the end, your experience on the job depends largely upon how you choose to respond to the people and events around you. Start by noting how you feel during your interactions with coworkers. You may need to look at your own behavior to see if you might be contributing to the problem.

Are you allowing yourself to be sucked into gossip, chronic complaining, and negative conversation? If so, it's time to be the one to stop the flow, and you can do that by speaking up. When such conversations begin, a comment such as, "This isn't a conversation I feel comfortable with" can shut down gossip without implying judgment on your part. If that approach doesn't work, you can always call attention to the adverse behavior with the responsible party or parties. While this action may not thrill your negative coworkers, they will get the message that you don't want to partake in such conversations.

Another approach is to turn negative conversations around by subtly changing the subject to something more positive and resourceful. In addition, whenever you see more positive behavior going on around you, give it a little praise. A few kind words can shift energy and build positive relationships.

What will eventually happen is that the more unpleasant coworkers will not darken your office door as often, and you will have become an example of positive behavior that can help others make changes themselves.

Friends, improving your work experience may take some effort and leadership on your part, along with time and determination, but the payoff will be a happier and healthier work environment, which translates to a happier and healthier you.

Best wishes for an active and positive week ahead!

Sleep well

Dear Friends,

Over the last several months I have had a number of friends complain about sleeping problems. It seems that many of them are feeling so stressed that when they finally do get into bed for a little shut-eye, they just can't sleep. With the current economic environment and concerns about foreclosures, company stability, and job security, it is no wonder that many people are losing sleep.

This vicious cycle of stress and sleeplessness is very hard on our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. When we don't get enough sleep, we are more likely to be accident prone, short-tempered, and susceptible to illness. We all need to take special care of ourselves during periods of uncertainty and stress, Friends, and there are things we can do can do to encourage good sleep, no matter what may be going on around us. This is what I want to share with you this time.

Many people are under the misconceptions that vigorous exercise or a nice glass of wine before bed will tire out or relax one enough to sleep. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Alcohol before bed can actually disrupt your deeper sleep cycle and exercise in the few hours before bed may make you feel tired but it boosts your metabolism and energy levels, so it, too, can disrupt your sleep. And, of course, drinking caffeinated drinks before at bedtime does not encourage shut-eye.

Restful sleep requires a comfortable, quiet, and pleasant environment. If your bedroom isn't relaxing, do what you can to make it feel like a safe and serene oasis. And, Friends, it is best to refrain from watching TV just before bedtime, as the hormones released by the bright lights can keep you awake for hours afterwards. If you do happen to have a television in your bedroom, Feng shui experts recommend covering it with an attractive piece of fabric when it is not in use to make your sleep less distracted and more peaceful.

Hopefully, you are getting plenty of restorative and healthful sleep in spite of these uncertain times. However, Friends,, if you are experiencing sleep difficulties, give these tips a try to see if they help you to sleep more soundly. Right now you need to wake up with the energy to cope with anything that comes your way.

Take some time to go through your Health, Wealth and Happiness.. We need to be open to all the opportunities coming our way right now!

Until next …. This is Bala

Simplify things in life

Dear Friends,

Simplifying life is something I hear a lot about lately... And there is no doubt that it is a very important step that demands a concentrated effort. A while back I had an experience with a friend of mine who needed to do just that. He had taken on too much and was feeling overstressed from juggling a busy schedule and too many demands. I gave him the same advice I give to anyone: if you want to feel more in sync with life, you need to take steps to simplify it.

First, I encouraged him to prioritize his commitments and eliminate at least one. Right away, he eliminated one commitment and then later decided to let go of two more. He said he felt a little guilty at first, but in the end freeing up valuable time was a huge relief.

Next, he took stock of his rather lengthy "to-do" list. Long to-do lists can make you feel like you are drowning in a sea of work that will never end. He decided which tasks he would cross off, as well as what he could delegate to someone else or simply put on hold until later. He later told me that shortening his list had made it easier for him to complete tasks, and that gave him a feeling of accomplishment.

My friend also began to de-clutter his physical environment. Clutter creates a feeling of chaos and can prevent you from being relaxed and happy. Rather than trying to tackle the whole house at once, he chose to focus on one drawer, cabinet, or closet at a time. He only kept the things he really loved and used, and then sold, donated, or tossed the rest. By de-cluttering his space, even a little at a time, he soon created a more pleasant living space.

When I last spoke to him, he sounded much less stressed and more peaceful. He thanked me for my suggestions and said that his quality of life had greatly improved since his simplification overhaul.

I hope you will find this instance helpful.. Most of us can stand to simplify our lives to some degree or can help someone close to us who is in need of doing that.

Until next time…………….

Money matters

Dear Friends,

This time I want to talk about money. Now more than ever, we need to be building an emergency savings account. In this depressed economy, it is important to have a savings account we can depend on in an emergency. That said, it seems that fewer and fewer people are putting money away. Some of my friends complain that that their money is so tight at the end of the month that it hardly seems worth the effort. I completely understand their point. It can seem daunting to try to put money away when there isn't much available in the first place. But it can be done, and it's important, especially right now, when unexpected expenses could play havoc with your pocketbook.

Building a savings "safety net" is something we all can and should do, especially during this economic downturn we are experiencing. When unexpected expenses arise, people with no savings often have to turn to high interest credit cards. Having to make monthly credit card payments along with high interest payments is a lot of stress on an already tight budget. That is when a savings "safety net" really comes to the rescue!

Putting away 10% of each paycheck helps to build a savings very quickly. However, if that is too much, try 5% or even 1%. The important thing is to make the gesture and effort. Even the smallest amounts can slowly build and provide a positive psychological effect. My friends who have actually done it have been pleased with how quickly their little "nest egg" has grown, and in the end, they often look for more ways to add to it.

There are ways to boost even the tiniest of savings plans. Have a garage or yard sale and put all of the proceeds into your savings account. Save up aluminum cans and then periodically take them to the recycling center at your grocer for cash, which you then add to your savings balance. Make a rule that windfall money, such as rebates, tax refunds, cash gifts and such go directly into your savings as well, and follow through no matter how tempting it may be to spend that money. You'll be glad you did.

You can also add to your savings by giving something up. Do you spend money every day to buy your lunch on work days? Do you have other daily expenses that aren't absolutely essential? Try giving up one or two of those non-essential purchases for just one day each week and then put the money you would have spent into your savings account. You can even get the whole family involved by choosing something together that you will all forego as a family once a week, in order to sock away a bit more.

Crisis management

Dear Friends,
Coping with uncertain times can leave anyone feeling vulnerable and edgy, and you are no exception. In the last few months, many have expressed their feelings of uncertainty and fearfulness about the future. It is natural to be concerned when things around you are shifting and changing rapidly, such as the activity we have recently with the stock markets, gasoline prices, and housing foreclosures.
Fortunately, we don't have to live in a state of panic when life throws us a curve. The wonderful thing about human beings is that we are resilient and resourceful. This means that, even if we don't like change, we are able to adapt to new situations and find new ways to deal with them.
My first advice about dealing with change is to breathe. It is such a simple technique but one that is tried and true. The old practice of counting to 5 or 10 while breathing deeply really does work because it fills your system with extra oxygen and drops your stress level quickly. By giving yourself a moment to breathe deeply and absorb a change in this way, you'll handle change more easily and gracefully.
It is equally important to call upon your sense of humor. When times are tough, a bit of laughter can help to lighten the load. Seek out reasons to laugh, and if you have difficulty finding them, look for them in funny movies, comic television shows, or comedy routines by your favorite comedian. Scientific studies have shown that laughter is healing for both the body and mind and, as far as I know, nobody has died from laughter.
Close friends and loved ones are another good support when times are tough. The people you are closest to can become your best support system. Building and maintaining solid and supportive relationships can make all the difference in how you weather tough times and sudden changes.
Friends, I hope that these tools for coping with life's twists and turns will help you roll with the punches when times are difficult or uncertain.
Remember to check out your Health, Wealth and Happiness frequently to remain happy………….
All the very best in all your endeavors……..

Good manners

Dear Friends

When you think about good manners, some people focus on proper etiquette at the table, but manners are so much more than that. Good manners extend to making eye contact and paying full attention to the person you are speaking to, saying yes, no, please and thank you, avoiding gossip and behaving in a way that puts other people at ease and makes them feel comfortable around you.

A good friend of mine works in human resources in a large corporation and says that his company receives many resumes from applicants who can't even be considered for hire due to their poor manners. Some are clueless about good phone etiquette, while others use rude language when addressing the interviewer or speak far too loudly. This lack of basic manners can actually ruin opportunities for potential employees who would otherwise be quite capable.

Fortunately, good manners are something that anyone can learn, so it is very important that we all practice using good manners, especially around those who don't use them. You always have an opportunity to set a good example for others, especially children, by how you handle yourself in public.

We can actually help to make someone's day by using good manners. Maybe it means greeting others with direct eye contact, a smile and a firm handshake, or holding a door open for someone, or hanging up our cell phones when dealing with other people such as cashiers and newsagents. It is all about thoughtfulness in our daily interactions with the people around us.

Friends, good manners reflect tact, diplomacy and consideration for our fellow man. Using good manners is a powerful way to show our respect for others and at the same time feel confident in every situation.

Success formula

Hi Friends,
What Prevents Most People From Achieving Success In Life?

If setting clear goals is so crucial for us to achieve a successful
and fulfilling future, then why do so many people fail to do it?
Why are so many people allowing the river of life to pull them in
all directions?
1) Limiting Beliefs
The first thing that holds most people back from setting goals are
their limiting beliefs. Many people only dream about what they
would love to have. When it comes to committing to a specific
target and plan, they don't even bother. Something inside them says
'there is no way'. Either it's too difficult or they simply don't
have what it takes.
You now know that these are nothing but limiting beliefs. Unless we
break past these generalizations about ourselves, we will never
dare to design goals that drive us to the next level.
2) They Don't Know What They Want
'But... I don't know what I want!' This is probably one of the
most common responses I get from people.
I bet if I gave these
people a magic lamp and told them that they would be granted
anything they wish for, they will start making up a whole list of
things real quick!
It is not that people don't know what they want. What has truly
happened is that most people have stopped daring to dream. I
believe that as kids, all of us had fantasies and dreams of what we
wanted to have and be when we grow up. However, as we went through
life, we meet with so many failures and disappointments that our
rational, critical mind has forbidden us to continue day dreaming
anymore.
Whenever we get excited about something, our internal voice will
rush in to tell us, 'it can't be done' 'you cannot do that' '
that's impossible.' 'grow up, get real'. (It could even be an echo
of our parents' voice, if we had stern, no-nonsense parents). As a
result, this would block our creative juices and deflate our
passion - the very elements we need to create and design the life
we truly want.
We need to learn how
to unlock our imagination and set our creative
minds FREE....free of fear and inhibitions so we can dream clearly
and with growing excitement of what we truly want out of life.
3) Fear of Failure
This fear of failure, of rejection and embarrassment is what
probably paralyses most people from even starting out.
Does this mean that people who keep setting goals do not fear
failure? I don't believe so. I think everyone hates and fears the
feeling of failure, including myself.
What then gives them the courage to set high goals and go for it?
It is how we define failure to ourselves. The only one who can tell
us that we failed and make us feel bad is... ourselves.
Yet, this is how we often shoot ourselves in the foot. The moment
we do not achieve what we want, even on our first attempt, we tell
ourselves we have failed, and feel really bad.
This pain is what prevents us - and this goes for the majority of
people - from daring to try for high stakes, to taking risks.

4) Addiction to the Soft Life
Most people are risk averse because they are addicted to a way of
life: a soft life, a cushy life with habits and material comforts
they are loathed to change or risk losing. Unless that comfy
life-style is imminently under threat, they won't do anything that
calls for iron will and discipline.
Setting goals and really going for our goals often means changing
habits, sacrificing time spent hanging out with friends. This is
why people make half-hearted attempts. As soon as their new path
impinges on their old habits, they withdraw...it's too hard.
A friend who teaches a Detox & Energize self-help program says most
people don't stick to it because even if they believe in its
long-term health benefits, they are not willing to work at it....and
it is life-long work. They'd rather pop a pill (a drug) and dam the
long-term consequences.
There are no short-cuts to success in any area - business/career,
health or personal relationships. So, be prepared to
make what appears to be 'sacrifices' and, if you do, the rewards are there.

To Your Success ….. Bala

Relationship Management

Dear Friends,

Several months ago, a friend of mine came to me for help in dealing with her relationships. She felt too easily frustrated with her friends and family and was concerned that her anger flared sometimes over things that weren't really important. She wasn't happy with her relationships and didn't know what to do about it. We talked about general things we can all do to improve our relationships, be it with family, friends, and coworkers, or even people we have regular contact with, but don't know well, such as the local shopkeepers etc.

I gave her a few tips on finding happiness and fulfillment in relationships that I want to pass along to you as well. The most important point is to be aware of and look for the good in others, as this helps us temper our reactions when others may err or upset us in some way. Next, choose to see the best possible relationship with them in your mind. You can actually visualize your relationship with others in a positive light. And believe it or not, when you do visualize good interactions in your relationships with people, good interactions tend to follow suit.

Another suggestion for turning less than stellar relationships into better relationships is taking your demeanor into account. People respond better to someone who smiles frequently and has a good attitude than to someone who always seems to have a dark cloud over their head. I know this last suggestion may be difficult to pull off if you are around people you feel bring you down. However, I try to think about it this way—when you look down, you bring others down, and they in turn bring you down. So, in order to break this downward spiral, you can be the one who enlivens everyone with a more positive attitude and sincere smiles.

And finally, I encouraged her to find the joys in the most simple interactions with family, friends and coworkers. Shared secrets, silly jokes, picnics in the park, or watching the stars at night are all ways to draw closer to others. Needless to say, she had some work to do when I saw her that first time, but the last time I heard from her, she reported that she and her family members were getting along much better and that she had a very happy and fulfilling relationship with a new boyfriend that was going very well.

Relationships are a powerful and important part our lives and we have to do our part to keep them lively and fulfilling. If you are feeling less than satisfied with any of your personal relationships, perhaps you will give these tips a try.

With regards till next time.

Cluttering Habit

Dear Friends

Did you know that cluttering is a mild form of hoarding? And, if you can look around your home and see clutter that you never quite seem to be able to eliminate, you may have a "habit" that needs to be broken. It isn't something to feel bad about as most of us do this in one way or another. Cluttering and gathering things around you is a security coping tool just like turning to food when anxious or uncomfortable is an emotional coping tool.

Fortunately cluttering is a habit that you can change with some well-planned and consistent actions. I tell my friends to start breaking their cluttering habit by keeping a record of what they buy and what their emotional state was when they felt compelled to make a purchase on impulse. By learning your shopping triggers you are more likely to catch yourself before you bring home yet another nick knack or electronic gadget.

Also, setting some anti-cluttering goals can help you begin to eliminate your accumulation of things. Start small with a drawer or cabinet and, when you get it cleared, fill and organize the space with items that you do need and use regularly. This will help keep you from filling the space back up with unnecessary items in the future. Plus it is a visual reward for your de-cluttering efforts.

Pick several corners of your home to de-clutter and set about working on one area at a time. Make a personal rule, such as no more than three or five items on any flat surface, and stick to it. By doing this you allow yourself to continue to enjoy your favorite things without having to look at overcrowded dusty countertops, shelves, and tabletops. You can even the help of family and friends and family to remind you of your anti-cluttering goal during moments of weakness.

One of the best ways to reinforce the changes you are making towards breaking the cluttering habit is to give yourself a reward for a job well done. However, the reward should be something that doesn't involve bringing home more stuff. Instead, reward your efforts by treating yourself to something like a movie, or a massage.

Friends, changing any habit take a bit of commitment over 3 to 4Week’s time and breaking the cluttering habit is no exception. But if you keep on doing your best for a month or more, you'll be well on your way to enjoying a clutter-free life.