Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Struggle is not Natural

We often talk about "going with the flow". Why? Because that is
what you were created to do!  Think about this...everything that
has been created has a natural flow and when it operates in that
flow there is no struggle.

Water does not struggle to flow.
Grass does not struggle to grow.
Wind does not struggle to blow.
Rain does not struggle to fall.
Sun does not struggle to shine.
Earth does not struggle to rotate.
Flowers do not struggle to bloom.

What does this tell us?  Struggle is unnatural.  Why sentence
ourselves to a life of struggle when it is clearly unnatural?

In short, struggle is a "learned response" that has been taught to
us by those who are in a trance of struggle. This "learned
response" has become an UNCONSCIOUS HABITUAL PATTERN.  

Awareness is the first step to making any change in our lives.  If
you are aware that struggle is not "normal" and that it is a
learned UNCONSCIOUS HABITUAL PATTERN, you can CONSCIOUSLY make the
choice not to live your life paddling upstream.

Focus your attention on this; NOTHING YOU WANT IS UPSTREAM!
Everything you want is DOWNSTREAM.  This means you do not have to
struggle (paddle up stream) to have it.   All you need to do is put
your boat in the stream and let it carry you.  In fact, you don't
need to paddle at all.  Even if your boat is pointed in the wrong
direction
 (upstream), as soon as you stop paddling the stream will
turn your boat around without any effort on your part.  Then you
will be going in the direction where everything you desire takes
place.

It is a simple but powerful metaphor.  Give up the struggle once
and for all. Let go of the paddles, trust that Source Energy will
guide you downstream to your desire and start enjoying the trip.
It's a heck of a lot easier!

Today will bring you a new awareness, a lesson or a manifestation
that you are making progress - IF YOU LOOK FOR IT!  No matter how
large or small, please record it in your Evidence Journal. It will
only take a few moments and will AUTOMATICALLY put you in the Flow.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Why Love & Kindness Are Good For You!

http://www.doseoflove.com/kindness/

A number of scientific studies have shown that acts of kindness result in significant benefits, including physical health benefits!

Simply put, kindness is good for you! 

Love and kindness generate oxytocin in the body, which is also known as the ‘love hormone’ or ‘cuddle chemical’, as it is present in higher levels when you are in love, and flows through the body when you hug.

Levels also rise when mothers touch, or even look at, their new born babies.



Oxytocin is associated with generosity, increased levels of trust, reduced fear and anxiety and seeing people in a more positive light (finding them more ‘attractive’). It encourages social bonding and greater empathy for others.

Anytime you feel a sense of love and connection with a person, pet or spiritual deity even, oxytocin is produced. It is also generated during physical intimacy and when we touch and stroke each other.

Shortly before her death Mother Theresa said that loneliness and isolation in the West was the most significant "disease" she had encountered during her lifetime. It turns out, she just may be right.

And yet oxytocin is not just a feel-good chemical!

It also has a number of significant physical health-promoting attributes, such as mopping up damaging free radicals, reducing inflammation, lowering blood pressure, aiding heart health and repair, and growing new blood vessels!


There are a number of ways you can NATURALLY increase oxytocin levels in the body.

Acts of kindness has been found in scientific research to be one of them! :)

The young girl in the ADORABLE video below is very wise when she advises to "Be Kind!"
Go to: www.doseoflove.com/bekind (Video)

In Dr. David Hamilton’s book "Why Kindness is Good For You", he sites, alongside various scientific research findings that correlate love and kindness with health benefits, a number of ways you can NATURALLY produce oxytocin in the body.

These are listed, in short, below:


1. Being inspired (such as through an elevating, heart-warming film, poem, movie, song, clip, etc.)

2. Emotional expression

3. Receiving a massage

4. Supporting a loved one

5. Giving hugs

6. Stroking a pet

To increase your levels of oxytocin I personally recommend spending time each day, such as in a meditation or a quiet time of relaxation, to connect feelings of love and compassion.

Get in touch with and feel the love you have for yourself, for others in your life, and for the world itself.

You can then even extend that love and compassion to people you dislike, feel in conflict or disagreement with, or despise even, to heal that resonance.

Blessing others, including your enemies, will help YOU as much as them, and transform denser energies into love and light.

And remember, random acts of kindness are also a scientifically proven way, benefitting others as well as you!

These can include relatively small acts, like letting someone through in traffic, giving someone your seat on a train, offering sincere compliments, opening a door, taking the time to really listen, buying someone a book, feeding ducks in a pond, baking someone a cake, writing someone a thank-you card, volunteering, treating someone to lunch, writing a poem for someone, etc.

Here are some more general ways to give of yourself:

Give appreciation and acknowledgement
Give encouragement and support
Give love and care
Give time and attention
Give information
Give touch
Give understanding
Give gifts
Give joy
Give compliments
Give of your talents
Give positive thoughts, blessings or prayers


Monday, November 15, 2010

What one’s favorite color signifies



Most of us have a favorite color. Maybe you’re drawn to sky blue because it makes your eyes stand out or you find forest green particularly comforting. Whatever the case, your preferred hue can reveal a lot about what makes you tick. And the same holds true for the people you date — you’d probably have a different impression of a date if he or she said, “My favorite color is yellow” versus “My favorite color is black.” That’s because color speaks a powerful, silent language. And I can help you understand it. I’m a success coach and best-selling author of Simple Spells for Love and other books, and I’ve studied color theory. So, look up your favorite color below — then, your date’s best-loved shade — and get some colorful insights that will benefit your romantic life. 


Red
What it represents: Ah, the color of passion, anger and high blood pressure. Red is a primal color. It represents primal urges, like lust (“I must have younow!”) and fury (you know the phrase “seeing red,” right?). Yes, red is a commanding color: think of how stop signs get you to halt in your tracks and how you stand back when a red fire engine goes whizzing by. 


Understanding people who love it: They act — sometimes without thinking — on immediate desires. In fact, they’re usually the poster children for immediate gratification. It’s up to you if you go for it... or proceed with caution.
Browse Local Singles at Match.com on Yahoo!
I am a: Seeking a: Near: 
Orange
What it represents: OK, orange is not exactly the easiest color to wear and it’s not the most common favorite color, but guess what? Orange is as sensual as it gets. Orange is a mellowed red — and it takes primal, lusty urges and mellows them with a softer vibe. Orange is the color of early attractions, emotional responses, and inner magnetism. Oh, and one other thing: orange is also close to gold, the color of success and wealth. 


Understanding people who love it: Someone who likes orange is alive with feelings, the ability to nurture, and can intuit a path to success. If your favorite color is orange, you don’t have an “off” switch when it comes to passion. This is all good stuff, but there’s nothing casual about the connections this kind of person usually forges. 


Yellow
What it represents: Yellow is the color of the sun, vitality, power and ego... but it’s not a great indicator of romance. Watch out for self-centered, “me first” energy when someone prefers yellow to the rest of the rainbow. 


Understanding people who love it: If yellow is your favorite color, temper your use of the word “I” when you’re interested in someone else. You can come across as too ego-centric otherwise. Now, if you’re dating someone whose favorite hue is yellow, make sure to jump in and share stories about yourself, since this person may not give you much room. 


Green
What it represents: Here is the heart of the matter: green is the color of love. (It’s no coincidence that we make our money in the same color...) Green is the color of life and abundance — leaves, grass, plants — it’s all about growing, expanding, and living. So why don’t we give ferns instead of roses on Valentine’s Day? Because green is about expansive, humanistic love and acceptance, not bodice-ripping romance. What’s more, green is a nice-person color, a “do-gooder, be-gooder” kind of color. This person has a warm heart. Passion is probably in there somewhere, buried under their integrity and honor. 


Understanding people who love it: If you love green, you put the greater good before your own good — but try a little selfish behavior once in a while. 


Blue
What it represents: Blue is a color of clarity, communications and charm. And regardless of the shade, this hue says: “I like to be understood.” On the downside, under stress, a “blue” person can send mixed messages, have trouble making up their mind, or just space out during conversations. 


Understanding people who love it: If blue is your favorite color, you never run out of anything to say — expression is your strong suit. And if you’re dating a “blue” person? The same holds true; you should always know where you stand. 


Purple
What it represents: Purple evokes the energy of illusion, imagination and fantasy. Or should we say purrrrple?Purple tends to inspire coyness, romance, flirtation and teasing — it builds anticipation with a dash of playfulness. The downside of purple is unrealistic expectations. Is it easier to live in your fantasy world than the real world? Some purple-lovers prefer it. 


Understanding people who love it: If you love purple, you can be an imaginative romantic or prefer imaginary romance, depending on how you feel. 


White
What it represents: White is light — the combination of all colors. White symbolizes purity (the traditional bridal dress, the christening gown) and spirituality. There’s a simplicity to it, too. 


Understanding people who love it: People who love white are probably clean and orderly. While white isn’t the sexiest color, it is certainly healthy. 


Black
What it represents: Like white, black is a combination of all colors, but instead of purity, it represents the unknown, the unseen — mystery. Black basically holds back information... but there’s no denying that it has strong associations in our culture with “the dark side” and evil. 


Understanding people who love it: If your favorite color is black, you are more hush-hush than high-strung in nature. The silence of this color lets others fill in the blanks. Black says, “I’m not telling you anything.” People who love black can be tough nuts to crack, but quite possibly worth the effort. 


Astro-coach Barrie Dolnick helps people find love and happiness by understanding their stars and their karmic energy. She is the author of twelve books, including Enlighten Up! and KarmaBabe. 






Article courtesy of Happen magazine, www.happenmag.com.

Cool Products and Services You Can Get for Free

Cool Products and Services You Can Get for Free

by Levi Davis
Friday, November 12, 2010
From entertainment and financial advice to health care and technology.
The battered economy has taken the stigma out of bargain-hunting. Some might even say that saving a few bucks is in style.
More from Forbes.com: 

• In Pictures: 21 Cool Products And Services You Can Get For Free

• 10 Outrageous Credit Card Tactics

• 20 Richest Self-Made Billionaires
We're not talking about buying nine cups of coffee and getting the 10th free--we're talking about free entertainment, financial advice, health care, technology and more.
Look hard enough and you can find a bevy of 100% discounts, especially online. "Facebook is a great source of freebies right now, as so many brands try to attract fans and establish themselves," says Julia Scott, who runs the popular blog BargainBabe.com.
We went freebie fishing and filled the net. Read on for a sampling.
A word of warning, adds Scott: "There are probably more scams out there than there are legit offers, so it is important to be careful." Her advice: When you see a deal that looks too good to be true, always look for customer service e-mail, telephone number and a promised delivery date. Also look for eligibility requirements (by age or residence) or other exclusions; their absence lends a whiff of impropriety.
Among the legitimate goods you can get gratis:
Financial Services: Tax Preparation

Thinkstock
Every year the Internal Revenue Service gathers an army of volunteers to dispense free tax advice and preparation services to the elderly, military personnel and their families, and households making below $49,000 a year. (For more, click here.) Another option: E-mail a question to Turbo Tax before the Jan. 31, 2011, and one of its tax experts will call you back with an answer--free. You only get one question, so make it a good one!

Financial Services: Credit Monitoring
The first step to improving your finances is figuring out where you stand. Get free credit reports once a year from AnnualCreditReport.com. For more consistent checkups, keep daily tabs on your status with Credit Karma.
Health Care: Antibiotics

Linde Stewart/iStockphoto
There is still no cure for the common cold, but for bacterial afflictions, like ear infections, strep throat and severe acne, there are some economically painless remedies. Many pharmacies around the country, including Stop & Shop, Publix and ShopRite, offer free generic antibiotics to anyone with a prescription. Giving away relatively cheap, short-term medicines in hopes of hooking customers on higher-margin items can be good business. Of course, be careful to follow your doctor's directions: Using antibiotics for viral infections, or not taking the whole dose, promotes the development of drug-resistant bacteria.
Culture and Entertainment: College Courses

Getty Images
If you don't care much about getting formal credit for your efforts, some of the best universities--like M.I.T., Carnegie Mellon, Stanford and UC Berkeley--will let you download lectures for free. Check out Academic Earth for a great collection. You won't walk out with a degree, but you will sound a lot smarter at your next dinner party.



Culture and Entertainment: Travel Lodging

Sean Locke/iStockphoto
People around the world are willing to let you stay in their homes for free. CouchSurfing.org connects weary travelers with open couches. Just decide where you want to go, find some hosts, read their profiles and reviews from people who've stayed with them before, and get in touch. The site forbids any formal commercial transactions, but cooking dinner for your host or cleaning the living room is generally polite and appreciated.

Technology: Ringtones

Jupiterimages/Thinkstock
Myxer offers a wide range of cellphone ringtone downloads--many free--from top artists like Taylor Swift, Lil Wayne and The Temptations. It also has non-music from comedians like Katt Williams, NFL team chants and bird calls. Not happy with prepackaged selections? You can use the software to upload your own songs (and digital wallpaper, for that matter).


Technology: Wi-Fi Access
Keeping up (and killing time) requires more than a good smartphone these days. That's why a growing number of retailers, including Starbucks and Borders, now offer free wireless access over wi-fi networks. For a map of wi-fi hot spots in your neighborhood, check out Wi-Fi-FreeSpot.
Honorable Mention: Discount Sites

Patti McConville/Getty Images
No list of cheap goods would be complete without mentioning Groupon, the group-discount Web site that has grown so fast. Yipit.com collects deals from Groupon and its competitors and makes recommendations based on preferences you set. Miss a deal the first time around? CoupRecoup.com provides a second-chance marketplace. Scoutmob.com offers deals via daily e-mails or texts. Unlike Groupon, Scoutmob offers half-off coupons for free. We're not talking 100% discounts here, but with a little work and some common sense, these sites can save a ton of money on things you would buy anyway.
Health Care: Gym Access

Jupiterimages/Getty Images
If you need a week to tone up for that vacation in the Bahamas, check out 24 Hour Fitness' free seven-day membership. (Personal training and fitness classes cost extra.) Warning: Gyms are notoriously relentless when recruiting new members. Expect plenty of annoying follow-up calls. Then again, if you're not working out anywhere, maybe it's time you did.


Culture and Entertainment: Books

Neustockimages/iStockphoto
Own a Kindle e-reader? Amazon.com is serving up classic prose with no library late fees. Check out Project Gutenberg for more than 33,000 downloadable titles. Most were published before 1923, for copyright reasons, so there is no Robert Ludlum here. Just a lot of Poe, Shakespeare, Dickens and the like.


Culture and Entertainment: Music

Betsie Van der Meer/Getty Images
You can download music for free off the Internet--and you can also get in a lot of trouble for it. As for some legal strategies to getting your tunes gratis, streaming radio stations like Pandora, Grooveshark and Jango let you tailor stations to suit your taste, while MySpace has an impressive collection of full-length albums you can listen to for free.

Culture and Entertainment: Television

Marcelo Poleze/iStockphoto
There have been rumblings about Hulu eventually charging for access to its vast library of shows and movies, but the service is still free and likely will remain that way for non-premium content. Crackle provides a large selection of Sony movies you can watch for free. A third option, reminds Julia Scott of BargainBabe.com: "People forget that the networks allow you to watch many shows on their sites."

Saturday, November 6, 2010

12 Steps To Home Business Success

I am going to be my own boss. I will be the one to call the shots. I will work at my own pace and time. I will have free time in my hands. I will spend quality time with my loved ones. I will succeed. I will enjoy my life.
So, you have decided to venture into a home business — where you work for yourself and greatly reap the fruits of your labor. However, there are some bad news and good news that you should be aware of.
BAD NEWS: Studies show that 80-90% of home businesses fail.
GOOD NEWS: Your business can be among the 10-20% that actually succeed!
How? By following the “12 Steps To Home Business Success.” And you can do that with PEP!
*P – PREPARING/PLANNING EXTENSIVELY
When you do decide to venture into a home business, the very next thing to do is prepare for it. Prepare a business plan. This will be the very foundation of your business. You can do this by following these steps:
1) Start with the basics.
What type of business would you like to get into? Would you be selling products, would you be offering services, or would you like to try both? In any case, you must decide on which particular product and/or service you would want to focus.
Have difficulty deciding? Here’s a simple but sure-fire tip: Focus on what you know and enjoy.
If you have a talent in writing and editing, you can venture into an editorial services business. Are you into graphic arts? Can you design/layout brochures, business cards, newsletters, etc. using your computer? Then you can get into desktop publishing.
Do you know how Bill Gates, the richest man in the world, reached the pinnacle of success? He decided to venture into the one thing that he loved — computers.
So, whatever type of business and whatever product or service you decide to start with, always make sure that you are familiar with it and that you have passion for it. The first will save you time, the second will keep you motivated.
When you are already decided about the type of venture you want, think of a name for your business. Make sure that it is unique, easy to remember, and professional. Of course, also make sure that it is significantly related to your business.
2) Gather your resources.
You cannot put up a business without a capital. This includes the monetary or financial capital, material capital (supplies, gadgets, etc.), and manpower. Do you think you are prepared to invest all this into your business?
3) Draw out your goals and set your mind into them.
Set general goals and specific ones. Formulate short-term goals and long-term ones. What do you aspire to achieve in one month, three months, six months, one year?
Visualize your goals. Have a vivid image of each goal in your mind. How do you see yourself a year or two from now?
Have a list of your goals on hand. Read your list regularly. Did you know that by merely doing so, you actually increase your home business success rate by 100%?
*E – ESTABLISHING YOUR BUSINESS.
This stage refers to the actual nitty-gritty of setting up your home business. This time, you are done with conceptualization and you are ready to get into action. You are now implementing the plan that you have prepared. Here are several steps that will help you establish your home business and achieve home business success:
4) Work on the legal requirements of your home business.
For your venture to be a legal business entity, you need to work on certain formalities. These include registering your business name, applying for a business permit/license, setting up a taxation system, and other paperwork. In this step, you also formulate a compensation plan for your employees.
5) Devise a marketing plan.
How do you create exposure for your products and/or services? Formulate a creative, innovative marketing plan. Consider the following factors/concerns:
Your target market. Clearly define your target market. This will help you decide which advertising and promotion strategies would be more appropriate to draw in your prospective clients/customers.
Your products/services. Of course, your advertising and promotion techniques will greatly depend on the type of products/services that you sell/offer. Make sure your strategies will “sell” your products/services. If you are offering graphic designing services and you give out poorly-made flyers, you will surely attract no clients at all.
Your resources. You cannot aspire for grand and complicated advertisements if you are limited by financial constraints. You can, however, maximize whatever resources are available to you to effectively promote your product. Take advantage of the Internet. By using e-mail, blogging, forums, etc., you can spread the word about your business in a flash!
Your uniqueness. “Same-old, same-old” will give you no gold. You can still utilize the most common advertising/promotion strategies, but give them a twist. Think of the most creative ways to catch — and hold! — your customers’ attention. Make offers they can’t resist.
6) Formulate a Daily Method of Operation (DMO).
Make sure that your Daily Method of Operation is practicable, realistic, and goal-oriented. Set specific things to be done during specific hours. Set your priorities for each day. Make sure that such tasks can really be done and that they are done for the purpose of reaching your goals.
7) Manage your time effectively.
Although you practically have time in your own hands and you are your own boss, it does not mean that you can sit back and relax all you want. In fact, you must be more cautious about spending your time because your home business success depends on you — the time and efforts that you commit to your venture.
*P – POWERING UP.
Your home business is already established based on your plan. Can you now just relax and watch the cash flowing in? Of course not! Maintaining a successful home business entails exactly that — “maintenance.” You need to continue working for your home business success. Here are some steps to power up your home business:
icon cool 12 Steps To Home Business Success Aim for your personal development.
How do you develop your personality and how can this help you achieve home business success? Consider the following ways:
Be educated. Continue learning about your business, as well as about yourself. Participate in meaningful seminars and workshops. Read a lot, especially the stories of successful people. See what you can learn from any situation that you get into. Make each day a learning experience.
Be motivated. Read inspirational stories. Listen to motivational news.
Be sociable. Of course, you need to interact with other people; otherwise, you cannot do business with them. But besides that and more so, you need to socialize with other people and learn from them. Exchange tips with them. Learn from their mistakes and be inspired by their triumphs.
Be an inspiration. Aim for your personal growth and inspire others. If you want to see positive changes in your home business or your financial life, you should first strive to achieve inner growth. Grow from within and develop the without as well.
9) Develop the desirable or must-have traits for home business success.
In connection with step number 8, here are other traits that you should develop for you to achieve success in your home business:
The 3 P’s – Patience, Persistence/Perseverance, Passion
The 3 D’s – Desire, Discipline, Determination
The 3 C’s – Courage, Confidence, Consistency
10) Take care of your health.
This looks too simple, but it is very important in any business endeavor and many people tend to take it for granted. How can you work on your business and attain success if your physical being is poor? Eat a balanced diet. Exercise regularly. Monitor your stress level. Stay physically fit and enjoy your home business feat!
11) Have a balanced life.
Your home business success will not be as meaningful if you do not have success in your personal life. Do not surrender all of yourself to your business. Even Bill Gates takes a week of rest and solitude every month. Have that needed rest. Spend quality time with your loved ones. You will see that as you rejuvenate yourself, you will be more productive and even more prepared to face the various challenges that your home business may pose. Take time to enjoy life, for that, indeed, is the very purpose of your financial success!
12) Have the right mindset.
Do your best and believe that you can and will succeed. Never give up. If Thomas Alva Edison quit when he failed after thousands of trials, we wouldn’t be enjoying the benefits of the electric light bulb today. As the great inventor aptly put it: “Many of life’s failures are done by people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”
Yes, you can venture into a home business and enjoy your life. Just follow the “12 Steps To Home Business Success”!
Daegan Smith is an Expert Internet Network Marketer. “Learn How To
Make ,717 In Less Than a Week While Quickly And Easily EXPLODING
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mailto:netmlmsuccess@aweber.com

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