“What Really Makes You Tick?” 10 questions you should ask of yourself: A Preparation To Self-Development.

1. What do I really want?

The age old question. So many things you want to do with your life and so little time to even go about getting them done.

You can’t just do something that you are good at, you must be passionate about it as well. When you are doing something you truly enjoy doing, you will naturally be better at doing whatever that is. It might help trying to realize that in small steps first, leading towards broader steps of improvement. The key here is to add a dash of diligence towards achieving your desires.

2. Should I really change or improve?

I guess the better question would be, why shouldn’t you change and improve?

If history has taught us anything, it’s that life changes with time, even during those times when it seems that nothing has changed.

What changes is how we perceive the tried and true or the improvements. Try to see if partying 70’s style wouldn’t appeal to the younger generation. And dancing, another example of change without change. The difference is in the improvement.

3. What’s the bright side in all of this?

With so much devastation happening around us, we might sometimes think there will never be that light at the end of the tunnel. But, it’s during these very times that we learn how generous we can be. We can still see it as something positive without undergoing so much scrutiny. And if it’s a train at the end of the tunnel, take it for a ride and see what makes the world go round! How you choose to see life is your choice. Look for the bright side.

Remember, you will always find what you expect. When you expect the negative, it is what you will find. The only way to find the positive, is to actively seek it out and have that expectation as the end result.

4. Am I comfortable with what I’m doing?

There’s always the option of doing things the right way, when it seems too difficult a task to conquer. While you might also find an easy way to handle the same situation, over the long run, you might find your easy cure to be your very undoing.

If you suffer guilt due to your decision, maybe you need to take a second look. When you place yourself on the receiving end first, the pictures becomes one that is much clearer. It doesn’t take a genius to realize whether they would desire someone else to treat them in the same manner, but a person willing enough to answer this question with honesty is simply genuinely genius. See yourself as the other person and if you are pleased by your actions, everybody wins.

5. Have I done enough for myself?

Is there something more you want to do? Of course there is. Discontentment in any aspect can be dangerous in large doses, but in small amounts you’ll be able to see and do stuff you could never imagine doing else-wise. So take baby steps at first, set goals along the way that lead to progress. Sometimes you will find, doing more for others actually does more good for your own spirit too.

6. Am I happy at where I am today?

It’s an unfair question so let it be an answer! You love being a good and loving person, so why not take it up a notch or two! Being happy and being happy with were you are in life aren’t always the same thing. The same can be said for anyone in life! While we should always be grateful for what we have, a desire to improve upon the happiness in our lives is always a positive thing. On the other hand, if you aren’t happy about your life or where your life is going, it’s time to step up to the plate and change your life. Life is too short to spend it unhappy.

7. Am I appealing to the opposite sex?

So maybe I don’t have an answer to that, but that doesn’t mean I can’t try it, right? Whether you shape-up, change the way you wear your clothes or hair, or even your attitude towards people, you should always remember it will always be for your own benefit. Until you are able to view yourself as appealing, the opposite sex isn’t very likely to view you as appealing.

8. How much could I have?

Maybe the best question is, how much do you really need? Having lots of money and nice possessions is great, there’s no denying that, but if your desires border on greed, you might find yourself with less of what counts most - self respect!

Those who are blessed enough to find themselves in a financially secure position in life, will always tell you - they try to give back, in good turn. Remember you must improve the society that surrounds you, if you hope to achieve better surroundings. It’s a rhetorical thing. And more important, it’s not always about financial wealth. The best wealth you can offer the world and your loved ones is your character. No amount of money can buy quality character - or the love of another human being.

9. What motivates me?

What motivates you? It’s an answer you have to find out for yourself. There are so many different things that can motivate an individual. What works for one person, might not necessarily work for another. But, if it inspires you, encourages you, or energizes you - chances are - that is your best motivation. Think of life as a super buffet, sampling a little of everything. Eventually, even the pickiest of persons will find something that suits their taste buds.

10. What Really Makes You Tick?

Once you have the answer to the first nine questions, you will have a great indication as to what really makes you tick. You can be just about anything you want to be, but to realize that attaining something difficult is to realize what really makes you tick is the beginning of a wonderful journey. Always remember, that self-development is not just about the physical or philosophical change you have to undergo, but it’s something that you really desire to accomplish.

Impossible is Just a Word

Everyone, at some point of his or her life, has dreamed of being somebody special, somebody big. Who hasn’t fantasized about being the one who hits the game-winning homer? Who hasn’t dreamed of being the homecoming queen? And how many times have we dreamed of being rich, or successful, or happy with our relationships?

Often, we dream big dreams and have great aspirations. Unfortunately, our dreams remain just that – dreams. And our aspirations easily collect dust in our attic.

This is a sad turn of events in our life. Instead of experiencing exciting adventures in self actualization, we get caught up in the humdrum of living from day-to-day just barely existing.

But you know what? Life could be so much better, if only we learned to aim higher.

The most common problem to setting goals is the word impossible. Most people get hung up thinking I can’t do this. It’s too hard. It’s too impossible. No one can do this.

However, if everyone thought that, there would be no inventions, no innovations, and no breakthroughs in human accomplishment.

Remember that scientists were baffled when they took a look at the humble bumblebee. Theoretically, they said, it was impossible for the bumblebee to fly. Fortunately for the bumble bee no one has told it so. So fly it does.

On the other hand, some people suffer from dreaming totally outrageous dreams and not acting on them. The result? Broken dreams, and tattered aspirations.

If you limit yourself with self-doubt, and self-limiting assumptions, you will never be able to break past what you deem impossible. If you reach too far out into the sky without working towards your goal, you will find yourself clinging on to the impossible dream.

Try this exercise. Take a piece of paper and write down some goals in your life. Under one header, list down things ‘you know you can do’. Under another header, write the things ‘you might be able to do.’ And under one more, list the things that that are ‘impossible for you to do.’

Now look at all the headers strive every day to accomplish the goals that are under things ‘you know you can do’. Check them when you are able to accomplish them. As you slowly are able to check all of your goals under that heading, try accomplishing the goals under the other header-the one that reads ‘you might be able to do.’

As of the items you wrote under things I could do are accomplished, you can move the goals that are under things that are ‘impossible for you to do’ to the list of things ‘you might be able to do.’

As you iterate through this process, you will find out that the goals you thought were impossible become easier to accomplish. And the impossible begin to seem possible after all.

You see, the technique here is not to limit your imagination. It is to aim high, and start working towards that goal little by little. However, it also is unwise to set a goal that is truly unrealistic.

Those who just dream towards a goal without working hard end up disappointed and disillusioned.

On the other hand, if you told someone a hundred years ago that it was possible for man to be on the moon, they would laugh at you. If you had told them that you could send mail from one side of the world to the other a few seconds, they would have said you were out of your mind. But, through sheer desire and perseverance, these impossible dreams are now realities.

So dream on, friend! Don’t get caught up with your perceived limitations. Think big and work hard to attain those dreams. As you step up the ladder of progress, you will just about find out that the impossible has just become a little bit more possible.

To every problem, there is a solution. Some might require an adventure in Creative Thinking though.

How many times have you caught yourself saying, “there’s just no other solution to this problem” – and that the problem leads to a dead end? How many times have you felt stumped from this way of thinking?  No options.  No solutions.

Did it feel like you had exhausted all possible options, yet still stood before the mountain – large, unconquerable, and impregnable? When encountering such enormous problems, you may feel like you’re hammering against a steel mountain. The pressure of having to solve such a problem may be overwhelming.

But rejoice! There might be some hope yet!

With some creative problem-solving techniques you may be able to look at your problem in a different light. And that light might just be the end of the tunnel that leads to possible solutions.

First of all, in the light of creative problem-solving, you must be open-minded to the fact that there may be more than one solution to the problem. And, you must be open to the fact that there may be several solutions to problems you thought were unsolvable.

Now, with this optimistic mindset, we can try to be a little bit more creative in solving our problems.

Maybe the reason we cannot solve our problems is that we have not really taken a hard look at what the problem is. Trying to understanding the problem and having a concrete understanding of its workings is integral in solving the problem. If you know how it works, what the problem is, then you have a better foundation towards solving the problem.

Try to identify the participating entities and what their relationships with one another are. Take note of the things you stand to gain and stand to lose from the current problem. Now you have a simple statement of what the problem is.

Try to take note of all of the constraints and assumptions you have the words of problem. Sometimes it is these assumptions that obstruct our view of possible solutions. You have to identify which assumptions are valid, in which assumptions need to be addressed.

Try to solve the problem in parts. Solve it going from general view towards the more detailed parts of the problem. This is called the top-down approach. Write down the question, and then come up with a one-sentence solution to that from them. The solution should be a general statement of what will solve the problem. From here you can develop the solution further, and increase its complexity little by little.

Although it helps to have critical thinking aboard as you solve a problem, you must also keep a creative, analytical voice at the back of your mind. When someone comes up with a prospective solution, try to think how you could make that solution work. Try to be creative. At the same time, look for chinks in the armor of that solution.

It pays to remember that there may be more than just one solution at a time. Try to keep track of all the solutions and their developments. Remember, there may be more than just one solution to the problem.

Remember that old adage,” two heads are better than one.” That one is truer than it sounds. Always be open to new ideas. You can only benefit from listening to all the ideas each person has. This is especially true when the person you’re talking to has had experience solving problems similar to yours. Not all ideas might align with your needs, but you never know, until you have listened.

You don’t have to be a gung-ho, solo hero to solve the problem. If you can organize collective thought on the subject, it would be much better.

Be patient. As long as you persevere, there is always a chance that a solution will present itself. Remember that no one was able to create an invention the first time around.

Creative thinking exercises can also help you in your quest be a more creative problems solver.

Here is one example:

Take a piece of paper and write any word that comes to mind at the center. Now look at that word then write the first two words that come to your mind. This can go on until you can build a tree of related words. This helps you build analogical skills, and fortify your creative processes.

So, next time you see a problem you think you can not solve, think again. The solution might just be staring you in the face. All it takes is a little creative thinking, some planning, and some perseverance.

A garden can benefit from feng shui and even help change the energy in your home. A properly arranged garden can be a place to be uplifted and energized, and also soothed and relaxed.

Balance is necessary, but is easy to accomplish by using various plants, flowers, and decorations.
The best place to have an entrance to your garden is facing South. The garden will get the maximum amount of sun exposure. You should also use an arch or open space instead of a closed gate.

There aren’t any specific plants you are supposed to use, but you should maintain a good balance between colors. Since hotter and brighter colors increase your energy, you should have them separated from your cooler and mellower colors which will relax you.

One of the hardest things to do in a garden is avoid clutter, but this is a must in feng shui. When you first plant, everything is pretty small and your garden may look a little barren. This is just fine. You want to make sure that each plant has its own space so you don’t end up with a cluttered jungle.

It’s easy and fun to incorporate the five feng shui elements into your garden. A bird bath can cover water, some lights or torches are fire, and for earth, clay pots and small boulders work wonders.

As far as paths in your garden go, you should avoid straight paths and instead opt for curvy, leisurely paths made from rounded tiles. Avoid edges whenever possible in your paths.

In feng shui, the kitchen is a symbol of wealth and abundance.The kitchen is the most important area of your home. It is responsible for nourishing your entire family and keeping everyone happy and healthy.

The optimal place for your kitchen is the center of your home. If the kitchen is located near the front or back door, the positive energy can escape.

Food gives us our energy and enables us to remain healthy. To keep this food energy positive and healing, the food has to be cooked in an organized kitchen that maintains a good balance of Chi. By having a well balanced and energized kitchen, the cook becomes more energized and the entire family benefits.

The best tips for the kitchen are pretty basic and should go hand in hand with the rest of your home very easily. Lighting is an important part of feng shui and in the kitchen, there should be an abundance of natural light if available and if not, full spectrum lighting is recommended. The air should flow nicely and the kitchen should give off a very welcoming energy.

A great way to add positive energy to your kitchen is by using plants and flowers. When placed on your kitchen table, they are not only beautiful to look at, but they increase the positive energy level greatly. You should use plants and flowers that are yellowish in color, because yellow is a great digestive aid in feng shui.

Like the rest of the house, clutter should be kept as minimal as possible. Since this is the very heart of the home, keep it as happy and warm as possible.

Education has always been very important in China and feng shui cures have always been used to help children learn. We here in the Western world are placing more emphasis on education. And it’s the Western part of your living space that is connected to the well being of your children.

Regardless of where you live, if you are interested in improving your life through the art of feng shui when it comes to education, try implementing the following:

When the energy is focused positively, it can improve every aspect of your children’s lives and one of the most important parts is education.

The Western feng shui element is Metal which prefers the colors white and gray. Earth complements metal sousing yellows or sandy colors are beneficial. You should avoid anything fire related as fire melts metal.

The use of your children’s artwork in the area is a great idea. When placed in white or metal frames, the increase in positive energy will soar.

There are many other things you can do to help increase your children’s ability to learn successfully. By placing a map or a globe between the North and West areas of your child’s room, they will draw in energy that can expand thinking abilities and encourage long term goals.

Avoiding clutter is a large part of feng shui and it should be cleared out before rearranging the room.This has many practical applications if the Western area of your home is used as a place of study.

By having a positive environment surrounded by artwork that your children are proud of, it can be a great and peaceful place to do homework or study for tests. It is a more “distraction free” area than a bedroom where there are toys, television, games, or siblings.

With the right type of exercise, the pain of arthritis can be diminished to almost nothing. But the best remedy is prevention.

Your bones hang out in a lot of joints: Knee joints, Hip joints, the joints in your fingers, the joints in your toes, and the list goes on.

Wherever bones meet, there is also cartilage: a rubbery, protective layer that ensures your joints bend smoothly and painlessly. But even cartilage cannot do this tremendous job alone. A thin membrane called the “synovium” provides fluid that lubricates the moving parts of the joint. When the cartilage wears out of the synovium becomes inflamed, the result is generally a case of “osteoarthritis” or “rheumatoid arthritis.”

In osteoarthritis, the cartilage can be eroded so much that bone  begins to rub on bone. This type of arthritis develops gradually over a lifetime as a simple result of the wear and tear placed on your joints over the years. Very few people escape some degree of osteoarthritis, though the severity varies a great deal.

As a matter of fact, if you are over the age of 50, you are likely to have at least one joint affected by osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis affects men and women equally and is by far the most common type of arthritis, with almost 16 million Americans in the list.

In rheumatoid arthritis, damage to the synovium is at the source of trouble. Doctors and researchers are not absolutely sure what causes it, but most think that rheumatoid arthritis is a disease in which the immune system actually attacks certain tissues in the body, including those that connect the joints and the synovium.

Rheumatoid arthritis begins with swollen, red, stiff, and painful joints; but it may progress until scar tissue forms in the joint or, in extreme cases, until the bones actually fuse together. Almost 75% of the 2 million people with rheumatoid arthritis in the United States are women. The disease can hit as early as teen years.

Exercising Your Prevention Options

Investing a little time in developing a good weight-bearing, low-impact exercise and stretching plan can add up to great results when it comes to staving off arthritis pain. Strong muscles help protect the joints from wear and tear, and the movement keeps joints flexible.

That is why the quest for fitness is at hand, even if you are 50 years and over. However, most Americans over 50 are still right where they always were sitting back and watching others jog by. Most of them contend that it is just for people who have been athletic all their life. Or some might say exercise is for young people and engaging in exercise will do them more harm than good.

There are still some that insist on excusing themselves in exercise routines, saying they just don’t have time or they lack the energy after a long day. These are all lame excuses. Now is the time to start, you might find those pains a thing of the past.

Preventing arthritis is not an exact science, but physicians have discovered a few ways to lower your risk:

1. Do not weight around

The single most important measure anyone can take to prevent osteoarthritis of the knee is to lose weight if they are overweight. Extra weight puts extra stress on your knees. If you are 10 pounds overweight, for example, you put 60 pounds per square inch of extra pressure on your knees every time you take a step. That extra pressure can slowly, but surely, erode the cartilage in your knees that leads to arthritis.

A study has clearly supported the theory that weight loss weighs in on the side of prevention. In the study, overweight women who lost 11 pounds or more over a 10-year period decreased their risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knee by 50%.

2. Stretch those muscles

Any kind of stretching is good as long as you do not bounce, which can lead to a muscle pull. This is according to some of the professors of clinical medicine in New York City.

Try to hold a slow, steady stretch for 15 to 20 seconds, then relax and repeat. It is best to flex up by stretching before any exercise, especially running and walking. But it is also a good idea to stretch each day. Ask your doctor to teach you stretches that focus on potential arthritis trouble spots, such as the knees or the lower back.

3. Walking is always the best exercise

Take a good long walk, at least three times a week. Or participate in a step-aerobics or low-impact exercise routine for maximum results. There is no proof that running is bad for the joints, but remember, it may aggravate an injury if you already have one. Just remember to check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program.

The bottom line is that of all the healthful habits, exercise is the most important. This is because people are designed to be active. Hence, it is really important for people to exercise in order to stay healthy and keep those joints free from wear and tear.

Just keep in mind that the un-exercised body, even if free from the symptoms of illness or problems like arthritis, is not at its full potential. So resolve to start exercising right now!

You can improve your health and have a physically fit body by getting into boxing training fitness programs. This is a great exercise with perks: It’s a great way for you to have a stronger body and gain confidence. Boxing workouts can help you to be at your best fighting form as well. (Not that I encourage fighting, but knowing how to defend yourself is always a good thing)

Many people see positive results from boxing training. You will build a stronger, more defined body. These programs and classes also help you to gain a sense of inner strength and emotional balance.

Boxing training classes gained popularity in the mainstream of physical fitness training a few years back. People have seen the benefits with cardiovascular and toning of the muscles by these boxing training workouts. Tae bo work out videos also popularized these boxing and kickboxing exercises.

Cardio boxing training classes and the innovative variations of the sparring jabs, power punches, defense, and fitness has all blends of aerobic exercises. You will learn the proper execution of the punch and kick combinations for a more intensive workout that can help you become stronger and more confident.

The combinations you perform on the blocks, jabs, and kicks are executed to an imagined opponent. You may see classes where participants throw punches and kicks in the air. You will also find training camps that have quality equipment such as punching bags; and you may also have the option of getting a partner that has padded hands.

You might enjoy other benefits, aside from the physical aspects of boxing trainings. Cardio kick boxing workouts allow you to burn off 350 to 500 calories in just an hour. It also helps maintain the heart rate at 75 to 85 percent regular beat. This has been proven to be good and is the recommended range if you are exercising or into training.

Moreover, these boxing training classes improve your speed, resistance, and strength. Flexibility and the reflexes of the muscles are also enhanced. Repetitive motion on arms by sparring and jogging, while you punch, helps your arms and legs gain strength and power.

These workouts also enable your joint movements to build very efficient fitness results. These movements require you to develop balance and coordination that enables your body to be stable and maintain a good form.

The physical benefits you gain from boxing and kickboxing are just a few of the many benefits that they can provide. You will be able to learn more about defense mechanism skills, which you may use in case of unwanted instances. You will also feel the satisfaction when you punch or kick. Relaxation and self-motivation is also developed.

Boxing training is a great form of stress relief. It also helps you to rid yourself of anger, preventing the potential for building inside of you. Once these are released, you may experience a lightness that comes over your body, and peace of mind as well.

Many aerobic and fitness experts recommend boxing training lessons for beginners. It allows you to workout on your desired pace and body condition. Boxing classes let you to push yourself to the limit as long as you are safe and well conditioned.

Positive results await you with boxing training. You will enjoy the physically workout, while enjoying the positive results of achieving a healthier you. Working out and exercising at your preferred level and skill, then building upon that.

Boxing training is also a great hobby and a great tool for self-discipline and self improvement. Now go find yourself a boxing training program and enjoy yourself.

A great deal of our lives is spent at work so it can be very beneficial to have a positively energized work environment. If your office has been properly set up to take advantage of the energies of feng shui, you can get a higher rate of productivity as well as improve relations with coworkers and management. You might even find you enjoy going to work.

Seating is very important in feng shui. If you are sitting facing a wall, this is a symbol of a barrier to improvement. Some steps to take to improve your Chi in this situation are to hang up a picture of scenery on the wall. A painting of a mountain or phoenix is recommended, but they shouldn’t have water anywhere in the picture. Feng shui recommends that your back be to the wall. If your back is to a door, this is considered very bad luck.

Clutter should be avoided whenever possible. By keeping your desk clear and tidy, you can become much more efficient and there will be much more positive energy in your workspace.

If you sit at your desk and have sharp edges pointing toward you, this is the worst thing possible. If it’s the edge of a wall, try to move to a different location. If sharp edges of office equipment or anything else and it can be moved, by all means - keep every edge or corner pointing anywhere but at you. Edges send harmful sharp chi in your direction and nothing good comes from that.

Visualization techniques have been demonstrated to improve physical and mental health, speed the healing
process, and effectively manage pain. They can also help prevent illness, reduce stress, and increase an
individual’s overall health and well-being.

Different visualization techniques can be used in the treatment of stress, and stress related illness. For
general Stress Management, begin by identifying where in the body you feel the stress. Do you have muscle
tension in the back and neck? Is your stomach ”knotted”? Do you experience a dull or throbbing
headache? Different people experience stress in different ways.

Once you have identified where in the body you experience stress you can use visualization techniques
to reduce the stress, as well as the physical symptoms and effects you experience while under stress.

One useful visualization technique involves placing your hand over the affected area of your body. Breathe
deeply, with your eyes closed. Feel your heart rate slow to a calm and steady pace.

Visualize the stress in your mind as an image, with size shape and form. It may appear as a black ball
which is located in the area of your body that you feel stress.

It may also appear in another form, such as a square, circle, rectangle etc… As you concentrate on the image
of the stress (which may or may not be accompanied by physical pain) visualize (or picture yourself) moving
the image.

It may not happen right away, but keep working at it, until you can get the image to move. Even the smallest
movement is an accomplishment. As you begin to be able to move the image, be aware that you have control of it, and more importantly, know that IT does not have control over you.

Visualize the image that symbolizes your stress moving further and further away from its original location,
until eventually you are able to remove it completely from your body.

Another technique along this same line is to visualize the stress you are feeling, and imagine that it is
getting smaller, and smaller. Eventually the image will shrink to a tiny spot, and then disappear all
together. This technique is very powerful in helping to manage the physical symptoms that result from
stress.