Do You Stay At Home?

Finally, a stay at home business that's legit. No hype and lots of potential. One of my coaching clients husband is doing this and is quite excited about it. Getting a CPA excited about a business opportunity says a lot. Pay a visit to Jeff's site and check it out if you'd like to look at an opportunity to earn an income from home.

Great advice and resources from Life Coach Dave

Home Business

"Do It Now!"

Becoming a "Do it now!" Person

By Jane-Michèle Clark

Chronic procrastinators often ask me if there is any hope of being able to change this destructive habit. The simple answer is, "Yes, you can become a 'do it now' person." Below you will find a few suggestions from a semi-reformed procrastinator (I, too, am working on changing this habit).

The biggest key: Either start taking action immediately (even it's simply to schedule it into your week) before the job gets any bigger in your mind - or cross the item off your list and don't waste any more thought or energy on it.

I find that when I put things off, it's usually because I don't want to do the task, or I don't know where to begin, or don't think I'll be able to do it well, or some variation on this all-too-common theme.

This creates a vicious cycle for most people. Me, included. The more I don't want to do something, the longer I put it off - and the longer I put if off, the more I don't want to do it. And the bigger the task becomes in my head. This usually applies to something that needs to be done and that I think is going to take a long time, or is going to be hard, or won't be very much fun. Cleaning out the garage and forensic accounting seem to hit each of these buttons at the same time! Yet, it can be something as simple as having to return a call (and the longer I put it off the harder it gets because then I wonder how I'll explain my delay). Or hanging a picture. Or really cleaning out my in-box (to the point where the tray bottom can be seen).

I'm not going to pretend that there are steps you can take that will make you suddenly love doing something you currently hate. There are, however, ways of making the task seem less daunting - and of making taking action seem more enjoyable (or, at least, less painful). Here are a few suggestions that have helped me, and hundreds of others:

1) - identify your unconscious beliefs and release them
Your attitudes will help you to identify your false beliefs. Let's say you want more money. What is your impression of wealthy people? Are you happy for them or resentful? If you're resentful, then what signal do you think you're sending out to the universe? You don't want anything to do with those "rich people!" Consequently, the Law of Attraction states that you won't attract wealth into your life.

One way to free yourself of a negative belief is to write it on a piece of paper and burn it while telling yourself it is forever banished from your being. Write a positive affirmation on another piece of paper such as "Good people can have money." You can add other affirmations, such as "I am worthy of prosperity" and "Money flows easily to me." Repeat these affirmations aloud 9 times a day for 21 days. This is the length of time it takes to reprogram your instinctive mind, where these beliefs are stored.

2) - learn to recognize the symptoms of accepting a limiting belief
Recognize that your goal is make sure that you are always sending out the proper vibration so that you attract to yourself the experience you desire. The best barometer of whether you are sending out the proper signals is to MONITOR YOUR EMOTIONS. If you're not feeling good, then you need to change your thoughts, because the emotions that are being felt, indicate your thoughts are sending the wrong message.

Replace your negative thoughts with positive ones. The book by Esther and jerry Hicks, 'Ask and It is Given' identifies and ranks 22 emotions. Understanding that most people can't go from despair to joy in one step, the authors advise you to simply keep moving up the ladder. Eventually, you'll get to feel joy more and more frequently and for longer periods of time. In both cases, you have substituted positive thoughts and feelings for negative ones. You may recognize this involves a degree of self-observation. As was inscribed on the Temple at Delphi, "Know Thyself."

Identifyng Unconscious Blocks To Your Success

How to Identify Unconscious Beliefs

By Edwin Harkness Spina

"Know thyself." These words were inscribed in the vestibule of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. For centuries, petitioners seeking advice from the oracle at Delphi would view the inscription. Philosophers throughout the ages offered this same advice to their students. These words are as valuable today as they were almost three thousand years earlier.

Part of "knowing yourself" is understanding your beliefs. The difficulty is that most beliefs are subconscious. They have been accepted without ever having been critically examined.

As was described in last week's newsletter, the Law of Attraction states that you will attract to yourself those experiences that match your beliefs. These beliefs create your experience of reality. What if these beliefs are in opposition to what you're actually trying to accomplish? What if they no longer serve you? Wouldn't it be useful to eliminate these limiting beliefs?

There are a number of techniques to identify unconscious beliefs: taking a battery of psychological tests or tapping into your inner wisdom via meditation are two of them. There is a shortcut that can predict with 99% accuracy what your beliefs are. It is so simple that people usually overlook it. Even when it is clearly stated, they frequently ignore it.

After all, most people have accepted these beliefs as true and don't want to hear anything that might contradict what they believe is true. Remember, you are not your beliefs. You are a divine spiritual being, so why hold onto anything that is preventing you from realizing this truth? So here's the secret.

Look around. Whenever you have a repeating problem in some area of your life, then that is where you have a false or limiting belief. This doesn't mean that just because you're in between relationships or jobs, you necessarily have a false belief. But if the problem constantly reappears, then you can be 99% certain a false belief is involved.

Avoid the temptation to blame someone for inserting this false belief into your belief system. After all, you could easily point fingers at your parents, teachers, friends, TV, etc., as well as yourself. It's not important where it came from, you just want to be rid of it, so you can experience your ideal life.

You have two choices here. You can 1) identify your unconscious beliefs and release them, or 2) learn to recognize the symptoms of accepting this limiting belief and change your thoughts. You can also do a combination of the two.

Life Coach Dave on Calvin Coolidge's ...Persistence

"Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.

Calvin Coolidge

Great Life Coaching Definition - lines up with my own

Definition of Coaching

By Marcia Wieder

Coaching is an ongoing professional relationship that helps people produce extraordinary results in their lives, careers, businesses or organizations. Through the process of coaching, clients deepen their learning, improve their performance, and enhance their quality of life. In each meeting or call, the Coach listens and contributes observations and questions. This interaction creates clarity and moves the client into effective action.

Coaching accelerates progress by providing focus and awareness. It concentrates on where you are now and what you are willing to do to get where you want to be in the future, recognizing that results are a matter of your intentions, choices and actions. Supported by a good Coach's efforts and the application of the coaching process, amazing things can happen.

Change Your Experience of Reality

Mental Alchemy: How to Change Your Experience of Reality

By Edwin Harkness Spina

Back in the Middle Ages alchemists sought to transform base metal into gold. They searched for an elusive substance, the philosopher's stone, which would bring about this conversion, known as alchemy. But to initiates of the ancient mystery schools, alchemy was primarily an allegory for the real work of spiritual and mental alchemy.

Spiritual alchemy is the process of transforming a less evolved soul personality into a more refined one. The founders of all major religions have attempted to expedite this transformation by providing rules to help people achieve this goal and also lead happier and more productive lives. Enlightenment, illumination, the perfection of the soul all point to this ultimate goal. Mystics from all religions have studied the universal laws to speed up this process, which they believe occurs over many lifetimes.

Mental alchemy is the process of transmuting your thoughts to improve your life and expand your mind. The good news is that this discipline can produce immediate, beneficial results in your current life, in some cases instantly.

Mental alchemy involves the replacement of beliefs that are hindering your development with positive ones that will help you. You might say that sounds straightforward-why would this be so difficult?

It turns out it's extremely difficult to change beliefs. There are three reasons for this:

1. Most people mistake their beliefs for the truth. Even if it's not in their best interest, some people resign themselves to their fate because they mistakenly accept a belief as true.

2. Beliefs operate at the subconscious level. Most people are unaware of their subconscious beliefs, which are often in conflict with their conscious thoughts. For example, a woman may consciously be seeking love, but subconsciously she may feel she's unworthy. Unless her belief is made conscious and transmuted, it will continue to sabotage her efforts.

3. You see what you believe. Less than 100 years ago physicists were trying to determine whether light was a wave or a particle. The answer depended on what you believed you would find. If you believed light was made of particles, then you could design an experiment that proved it. Conversely, if you believed light consisted of waves then you could design another experiment to prove that.

The placebo effect provides another example. In drug trials required to gain FDA approval, 40% of patients, on average, will obtain relief from placebos. They get better simply because they believe they will get better. Placebos have actually helped people with Parkinson's disease.

The mystic principle behind these results is called the Law of Attraction or "like attracts like." In the mystic world, and now in the world of quantum physics, we know that everything is energy. Everything has its own vibration, including a belief. People attract to themselves those experiences that match their existing belief system. They get to see what they believe.

So how does Mental Alchemy work?
Neurologists tell us the brain doesn't know the difference between what's actually experienced and what's imagined to be experienced. The same electrical patterns are fired between the neurons in the brain. The electrical patterns in the brain reflect how we store and process information, including beliefs. The ramification of this is profound: you can change your beliefs using your imagination. It doesn't matter whether the belief is true or not.

Let's take an example of a basketball player who misses the final shot of the state championship game and his team ends up losing by one point. This experience can be traumatic and will often reinforce negative beliefs that he's a choker or a loser. Had he made the shot, he would be a hero and filled with the confidence of a winner.

Let's say you are the basketball player. What should you do? First, go to a quiet place where you won't be disturbed for 10-15 minutes. Make sure that none of your objective senses (sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste) is being stimulated. Take a few deep breaths. Your goal is to relax and get into an alpha state. Scientists have shown that you can learn new skills much more readily while in this state. Meditation is ideal for this.

At this point, you should replay the end of the game in your mind. Only this time, when you take the final shot, do it with confidence and watch it go in. Visualize all the fans going wild as the buzzer sounds and your teammates carry you off the court. Involve all your senses and imagine how it feels to be the hero!

Michael Jordan is arguably the greatest basketball player of all time, but he probably missed a large number of shots in total. But you can be quite certain he didn't dwell on the missed shots, but simply remembered the game-winning shots. You can do the same. Use the technique of Mental Alchemy and change your life.

Edwin Harkness Spina ehspina@bellsouth.net is the author of the award-winning spiritual thriller 'Mystic Warrior.' Email to receive a free copy of 'Mystic Secrets Revealed' when you sign up for the Mystic Warrior Newsletter.

Meditation

Meditation and the Restful Awareness Response

By Dr. David Simon

An agitated body/mind system generates entropy, decay and aging. A rested body/mind system fosters creativity, renewal and reversal of aging. Since the body and mind are one, when the mind is deeply rested the body is also deeply rested. We know from common experience that our mind is rarely in this rested state. In fact, most of the time it is in the fight/flight mode. The fight/flight or stress response occurs when we feel threatened in any way. The stress response creates physiological changes that damage your body and accelerate aging. You are surely familiar with how it feels to be in a stress mode, but you may not be familiar with what is happening in your body. The physiological changes that accompany the fight/flight response are as follows:

• Your heart beats faster
• Your blood pressure rises
• Your consume more oxygen and expel more carbon dioxide
• Your heart pumps more blood
• You sweat
• Your adrenal glands pump out stress hormones
• Your blood sugar level rises
• You reduce the blood supply to your digestive organs and increase the blood supply to your muscles
• Your immune system is suppressed

The Fight/Flight Response was first described by an early twentieth century American scientist named Walter Cannon. He wanted to understand why some people became ill and others even died under stress. He discovered that when you encounter a threatening situation, a part of your involuntary nervous system becomes instantly and automatically activated. The nervous system triggers rises in blood pressure and heart rate and stimulates the adrenal glands to release adrenaline. If the threat and the neurological response are severe and unrelenting, damaging bodily changes can occur.

Exploring the stress response further, another scientist, Hans Selye, found that in addition to the changes that take place in the nervous system, many important hormones jump into the fray. These hormones affect every aspect of the body, including the heart, stomach, liver, sex organs and immune system. If the stress is long and drawn-out, the entire physiology becomes exhausted, the body is unable to maintain balance, and something eventually breaks down.

Prolonged stress can make you sick and can accelerate aging. Over time, the stress response can cause high blood pressure, heart disease, stomach ulcers, autoimmune diseases, cancer, anxiety, insomnia and depression. This may lead you to ask, "If the fight/flight response is so damaging, why did nature create it?" The original purpose of the fight/flight response was to help us survive in a threatening situation. If a ferocious animal was about to eat you, the only way to survive was to either fight back or run away. Considering that human beings do not have thick hides, large canines or big tusks, our ability to react quickly to a threat helped us survive in a dangerous environment.

Today, this response is still occasionally useful, as when a fireman goes into a burning building to rescue a child, or when you leap out of the way of a reckless driver speeding on a residential street. Most of the time, however, the fight/flight response no longer serves us very well. You may activate the stress response when your are stuck in rush hour traffic or facing a critical work deadline, but neither fighting nor running away is a viable option. The pressure to do something without a way to release it causes harm. The long-term consequences of an activated stress response speed up the aging process and make us susceptible to illness.

The opposite of the Fight/Flight Response is the Restful Awareness Response. Restful awareness is the state when your body mind system is in deep rest, but your mind is awake. Restful awareness occurs during meditation and related techniques. The subjective experience of the restful response is relaxation. The physiological changes that occur are as follows:

• Your heart rate slows
• Your blood pressure normalizes
• You consume less oxygen and expel less carbon dioxide
• Your heart pumps less blood
• You perspire less
• Your adrenal glands produce less stress hormones
• Your immune function improves

Restful awareness is a natural mind/body response, as natural as the stress responses. The bodily changes of restful awareness in meditation are almost the exact opposite of the fight/flight response. During meditation breathing slows, blood pressure decreases, and stress hormone levels fall. The consumption of oxygen during meditation falls almost twice as much as during sleep. What is fascinating about these physiological changes is that even as the body is resting deeply in meditation, the mind is awake, but quiet. Brain wave studies show improved coherence between different parts of the brain during meditation. These changes in body and mind are not seen during wakefulness or sleeping. The unique combination of physical relaxation and an alert yet quiet mind explains the term "restful awareness," and distinguishes this state from restful sleep.

People who regularly experience restful awareness develop less hypertension, heart disease, anxiety, and depression. They find it easier to give up life-damaging habits such as cigarettes, excessive alcohol and drugs. They also show improvements in their immune function and reduced susceptibility to infections. Research on people who meditate demonstrates wide-ranging health improvements and a reversal in many biomarkers of aging.

Studies have shown that the longer people are practicing meditation, the younger they score on tests of biological age. For example, long-term meditators show biological ages almost twelve years younger than their chronological age. Other studies have shown that certain hormonal changes usually associated with aging can be slowed or reversed through regular meditation.

The Restful Awareness Response is an important way to improve your health. Although you may wonder how you can find the time to meditate, we strongly encourage you to make meditation an important part of your life. It will actually create more time for you, because you will be much more efficient when your mind is calm and centered. We recommend twenty to thirty minutes of restful awareness (sitting meditation with your eyes closed) twice a day. The best times to meditate are shortly after awakening in the morning, and again in the later afternoon or early evening. The morning meditation starts your day with a fresh, calm mental attitude. The late afternoon or evening session helps freshen your mind after a day's activity.

Great ADHD Resource For Parents

Toll-Free Hotline Will Offer ADHD Answers

Americans with questions about attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can find answers by calling a free U.S. national telephone hotline, open all day Sept. 22.

Some of the nation's leading ADHD experts will host the seventh annual "ADHD Experts on Call" day, from 8 a.m. to midnight EDT. The toll-free number for callers will be 1-888-ASK-ADHD.

Information will be available in English and Spanish. Doctors, school nurses, educators and advocates will be among the experts available to answer questions about ADHD.

For people who prefer a more confidential approach, a one-on-one online forum on ADHD will be available at www.ADHDExpertsOnCall.com on the same day.

"While this program doesn't replace a physician visit, parents and adult patients can learn valuable information about ADHD symptoms, diagnosis, support groups and treatment options that can help them better understand the disorder," Dr. David Goodman, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said in prepared statement.

"Despite the widespread prevalence of ADHD, many parents, patients and caregivers are confused by conflicting information about the disorder, and don't know where to turn for help," said Goodman, who will be taking part in this year's ADHD Experts on Call.

The free hotline, sponsored by Shire Pharmaceuticals Inc., will be hosted by celebrity carpenter Ty Pennington, of TV's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Pennington was diagnosed with ADHD as a child.

ADHD affects 3 percent to 7 percent (approximately 2 million) of school-age children in the United States. The disorder is characterized by a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity.

Can't get the weight off?

Majority of Americans Becoming Overweight or Obese

Over the three decades between 1971 and 2001, nine out of 10 American men and seven out of 10 women were overweight or became overweight, and more than a third were obese or became obese, according to a new study.

The findings from the study of more than 4,000 white adults enrolled in the ongoing Framingham Heart Study suggest the vast majority of American adults are at risk of becoming overweight or obese.

"National surveys and other studies have told us that the United States has a major weight problem, but this study suggests that we could have an even more serious degree of overweight and obesity over the next few decades. In addition, these results may underestimate the risk for some ethnic groups," Dr. Elizabeth G. Nabel, director of the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), said in a prepared statement.

The NHLBI supported the study, published in the Oct. 4 issue of the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.

"Our results, although not surprising, are worrisome," study lead author Dr. Ramachandran Vasan, associate professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine, said in a prepared statement. "If the trend continues, our country will continue to face substantial health problems related to excess weight."

Being overweight and obese increases the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, asthma and other breathing problems, osteoarthritis, gall bladder disease, and some forms of cancer, experts say.

"We hope these results will serve as a wake-up call to Americans of all ages," Nabel added.

More information

Dave Turo-Shields has excellent experience as a weight loss coach. He can help. Click here!

Married Women Have More Sexual Problems

Married Women Report More Sexual Woes Than Singles

Married women are more likely to report ongoing sexual difficulties than either single women or married men, according to an eye-opening new survey from Britain.

Single men, on the other hand, are more likely to report bedroom problems than either married men or cohabitating guys.

If that math doesn't quite add up, well, sexology experts have noticed that, too -- and have an explanation for it all.

"We found that communication was a key issue," lead researcher Catherine Mercer, of University College London's Centre for Sexual Health and HIV, said. "That is, within a relationship, people who were less able to talk freely with their partner about sex appeared to have more problems with their sex life. This also suggests that sexual function is not always an individual's problems; it may be partnership-specific."

In the study, conducted between 1999 to 2001, Mercer and her colleagues surveyed more than 11,000 British men and women, ages 16 to 44, asking them about the quality of their sex lives.

Among the problems survey respondents were asked about: lack of interest in having sex, feeling anxious about their performance, inability to climax, coming to a climax too quickly, experiencing physical pain during sex, men having trouble achieving an erection and women having trouble becoming lubricated. Respondents were asked if they had experienced any of these problems for at least one month during the previous year.

In total, 54 percent of the women and 35 percent of the men reported some kind of sexual trouble lasting at least one month in duration, while almost 16 percent of the women and more than 6 percent of the men said they had experienced a problem (or problems) lasting more than six months.

However, fewer than 21 percent of the women and fewer than 11 percent of the men said they had sought professional help, the researchers report.

On average, respondents said they had sex about four times a month. Those who had sex less than that had more sexual problems, regardless of gender.

While older age was associated with more problems for both genders, married women were more likely to report a sexual problem than were single women. Married women with young children at home were also at higher risk for sexual complaints -- a finding Mercer believes may be linked, in great part, to fatigue.

Married men or those living with a partner were less likely to report sex life problems than single men. The reverse was true for women.

Certain factors upped the odds of trouble in the bedroom. Those who rated their first sexual experience as not very good had more problems, as did men who drank more alcohol than is deemed healthy, and men who had contracted a sexually transmitted infection within the past five years.

Mercer believes men with a history of sexual infection may be "more open to recognizing and reporting sexual function problems" in general.

But whatever a person's gender or marital status, the key to getting help is to talk about the problem before it gets unwieldy, according to Mercer, whose study appears in the October issue of Sexually Transmitted Infections.

In general, Mercer added, the U.K. findings should probably apply in the United States as well.

The findings don't surprise Patti Britton, president-elect of the American Association of Sex Educators Counselors and Therapists, who directs The Center for Passionate Wellness near Lake Arrowhead, Calif.

She believes gender differences help explain some of the statistics. "Women tend to be more vocal in expressing their sexual concerns," said Britton, in explaining perhaps why more married women than men reported problems. "Men tend to carry a lot more shame about their sexual prowess."

"The complexity of the relationship plays in," as well, she added. Married relationships may be more complex than single partnerships, she said, especially when children are thrown into the mix. In contrast, single folk may simply move on when sexual problems surface.

"Married men may not want to acknowledge the problem," she added. If they speak up, "they fear the sex may disappear or the frequency decline. It would be perceived as complaining."

The U.K. survey respondents were younger (some as young as 16) compared with individuals typically surveyed by American researchers, Britton noted. U.S. researchers would typically not question people about sexual problems until they are 19 or older, she said. That means the relative inexperience of many of those surveyed may be skewing the results, as well.

Still, Britton agreed that "we need better education for sex so that, particularly, young people feel more competent as lovers when they have their first coital experience."

"We [also] need to advocate for better communication skills for couples," she added, as well as making sure people to seek and receive proper care for any sexually transmitted infections.

More information

To learn more about how to get help visit relationship coach and expert Dave Turo-Shields at
Coach Life Solutions

Difference Between Religion and Spirituality?

Religion and Spirituality - what differentiates Religion from Spirituality?

by Vijay Kumar

Religion and Spirituality - what differentiates Religion from Spirituality?

Religion is "absolute truth of life" of the physical manifested world. It is Religion and not Spirituality which forms the basis of the present society we live in. In the present the needs for following a Religion being at its minimum... it is easy to follow any Religion. Anyone... even a layman can follow any Religion but not Spirituality?

What vastly differentiates Religion and Spirituality? Religion... if it forms the core of the physical manifested world... it is the Spirituality (the truth of our Soul within) which upholds the values in the society. Without Spirituality the physical manifested world cannot sustain for long but in the absence of religion... the society can survive on its own.

It is Spirituality (the truth of our real self... our Soul within) which forms the core of the cosmic world. The physical manifested world is a reality in terms of the senses (which guide every human being on its earthly journey). In the cosmic world... our physical manifested world does not hold good for there is nothing solid in the Cosmos. Everything in the Cosmos is made up of the basic building block of the Cosmos which comprise of atoms and molecules alone.

Religion is meant for passing of the physical manifested life in a meaningful manner. Unable to understand the nature of God... humanity has built for itself various religious centers all over the globe. These religious centers are they a mosque, temple or a church... provide a succor to the ever ailing society. They quench the thirst of an average human being... one who does not have time or the resources to contemplate directly on God the Almighty.

Indulgence in Spirituality is not meant for the average human being. To be able to fathom the depths of the Scriptures of the various religions of the world (the core truths of Spirituality)... one needs to dive deep into the pearls of wisdom contained in the various sacred Scriptures of the world. Spirituality is totally oblivious of a religion. In the field of Spirituality one need not go to a mosque, temple or a church in search of God. It is contemplation and only contemplation which shall lead one to God the Almighty.

Spirituality (contrary to religion) is all about the spirit existing within every human being neigh every living being (Jiva as we call it in Hinduism). It is truth of every life prevailing on Mother Earth. It is the real self of us which exists within every living being since the birth of that body in the form of an individual soul. Spirituality and Religion are the two fundamentals of life which every living being is required to follow simultaneously.

One can live without Religion but not without Spirituality for Spirituality forms the core of very existence of every living being. It is the spirit within every human being that we exist as a physical form on Mother Earth. We may or may not indulge in understanding Spirituality or a Religion but inherently every living being pursues the path of Spirituality in every manifestation. Spirituality is that fundamental of life which cannot be ignored by one.

To be able to understand the basics of the Spirituality (not religion) one needs to understand the underlying meaning of the various sacred Scriptures existing on Mother Earth. Whatever our religious masters teach us on the physical plane may not be a truthful representation of whatever is contained in the sacred Scriptures. Many commentaries may exist related to a particular sacred Scripture but all may not be correct or rightly represent the facts contained therein.

To be able to interpret the sacred Scriptures correctly one needs to understand the inner meaning of the core teachings contained therein. Spirituality in other words can only be best understood from a realized master. Only those who have reached the level of Mahavira, Gautama Buddha, Jesus Christ or Prophet Mohammed can deliver the humanity of its ills.

On the contrary going to a temple, mosque or a church can provide temporary succor to the ailing humanity but it is only Spirituality which can provide a permanent relief. Religion provides relief in day-to-day life but Spirituality liberates one forever from the cycle of birth and death. Religion is primarily a following of an enlightened master... it is only the correct interpretation of his teachings that one can follow spirituality to its logical end.

Buddhism Religion relates to the teachings of Gautama Buddha. The Islamic Religion is based on the teachings of Prophet Mohammed. Jainism (which can not be rightly called as a Religion but a way of life) is based on the collective teachings of the various Tirthankars (enlightened souls). Similarly Christianity is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Following the teachings of Mahavira, Gautama Buddha, Jesus Christ or Prophet Mohammed... One can definitely reach the higher portals of Religion but to become one like Mahavira, Gautama Buddha, Jesus Christ or Prophet Mohammed one needs to understand the core teachings of the realized masters themselves in a totally unadulterated form.

In a nutshell, if we desire to understand the fundamentals of life itself and reach the end of the cosmic journey... we need to understand Spirituality in totality. And on the contrary if we desire to live the present physical manifested life in the best manner possible then following the dictates of Religion alone would suffice.

Vijay Kumar... The Man who Realized God in 1993 explains what differentiates Religion from Spirituality. Subscribe free Newsletter "Spiritual Secrets Unveiled" - Explore hidden cosmic truths - Spirituality

How to Find Balance In Your Work At Home Career And Your Personal Life

How to Find Balance In Your Work At Home Career And Your Personal Life

by Aurelia Williams

Work at home moms face challenges that are very unique. The decision to work outside the home or stay with your children is difficult, with each option having advantages and disadvantages. If you stay home you may lose income and you will lose interaction with fellow employees, and if you work outside the home you live with separation from your children and pay caregiver expenses. Many women are choosing to work at home and finding the right opportunity is the first step in finding success as a work at home mom.

You could use the knowledge and skills you have and become a consultant, develop a career in design or writing, telecommute to a job, or start a home-based business. The opportunities are endless.

It can be difficult for a work at home mom to balance home, family, and career. Even if you are not a parent it is hard to find time for a personal life when you operate a home-based business. It is very easy to become consumed by your work when you work from home and it can be a challenge to find time for yourself and your family.

To successfully balance a home and career you must create a work schedule. Decide what hours will be set aside for work and try hard to stick to that time-frame. It very beneficial to create a boundary between work and home. Setting a work schedule will give you a routine to follow.

To give yourself the opportunity to socialize and meet new people, try geting involved with community or other volunteer activities. If you do not get out of the house regularly you may begin to resent your work and your family obligations.

During your workday, take short breaks to get up and move around. A simple stretching routine or a short walk will do wonders for your outlook. It will be necessary for you to deliberately schedule time for personal activities such as reading, picnics, or exercise. By adding these activities and free time to your schedule you will ensure that you get some much needed "mommy" time and that your family spends quality time together. You will find that if your leisure and family time suffer too much, your relationships will suffer as well. Make time for the fun things and times shared with children and family.

If you implement these ideas into your life as a work at home mom, you will be better able to achieve balance between work and your home life.

Aurelia Williams is the mom of four busy children, a Personal Life Coach http://www.reallifcoaching.net/ and the owner of http://www.reallifesolutions.net/ which is an informational site that also offers products, articles and a great newsletter. You can also hear Aurelia daily on the http://www.wahmtalkradio.com show, she is the Resident Life Coach.

10 Tips for More Effective Time Management

10 Tips for More Effective Time Management

by Michael Pollock


If you’re going to take control of YOUR life and make it great, you’ll need to start by taking control of your time. Time management is foundational to succeeding in any area of life. In the words of "the father of management theory" Peter Drucker, "until we can manage TIME, we can manage nothing else."



An entire industry has been born out of the need to better manage our time. You can buy leather bound planners, fancy software packages, books, tapes and hand-held computers. You can even attend week long seminars that teach better time management skills.



I’m sure most of those resources are very good. I’d like to suggest however, before spending your hard earned money on any of them, you try these 10 simple tips for effective time management.



1. Its not time management. It’s self management. You can’t control time and so, you certainly cant manage it. You get as much time as anyone else. You CAN control yourself - what you be and do in each moment of time. In the words of English poet, Austin Dobson, "Time goes, you say? Ah, no! Alas, time stays, we go."



2. Keep and USE a simple, "block" type, weekly calendar. I use a two page weekly calendar with one hour increments in each block. Page 1 covers Mon-Sun, 4 a.m.-12 noon. Page 2 covers Mon-Sun, 1 p.m.-9 p.m. Each one hour block of time should be big enough to write in any appointments. You can use Microsoft Works to print a calendar such as this. Keep it with you at all times.



3. Keep a simple, "block" type, monthly calendar. Any appointments that don’t fall in the current week can be written in one of the blocks on your monthly calendar. Again, Microsoft Works will produce a monthly calendar such as this. Keep this calendar with you all the time as well.



4. Plan your week in advance. Spend an hour Sunday evening planning the coming week. Transfer appointments from your monthly calendar to your weekly calendar. When you see how many open blocks of time you actually have, you’ll feel a much greater sense of control and peace.



5. Invest each one hour block of time. Each of your one hour blocks represents an investment opportunity. How you invest your block will determine your future return. What you sow in each block, you will reap in future blocks. Consider cutting back on any activities that will not yield some benefit, such as excessive TV or web surfing.



6. Plan and schedule as much as you can. Don’t just schedule work related appointments. Schedule as much as possible, such as time with your kids, family or significant other, sleep, eating, exercise, spiritual practice, reading, TV time, play time, laundry, shopping, writing, marketing your business, answering emails and phone calls.



7. As much as possible, stay in the current block mentally. If your block for 8:00 p.m., Monday says "type newsletter," direct all your energies to typing your newsletter. Don’t even think about what your block for 9:00 p.m., Tuesday evening says or what you didn’t complete in your block for 6:00 p.m., Monday evening. Be and do 100 % in the current block.



8. Say "NO" to non-emergency, "out of the block" activities. Eliminate distractions as much as possible. Close your door, turn off the ringer on your phone or simply ask to not be disturbed. With the exception of emergencies, the only thing that matters is what you have to do in the current block.



9. Plan "untimed" or free time just for you. Its okay, and Id suggest even healthy to plan time to just "goof-off" or play. If you set aside time for it in advance, its less likely to come up spontaneously and distract you from other tasks.



10. Stick to your plan. Need I say more? Your schedule will work only as well as you commit to it. Keep it with you everywhere you go and refer to it often. Keep asking yourself "am being and doing what scheduled for the current block right now?"



By incorporating these 10 tips into your time/self management plan, you’ll create more space to be, do and have more in you life. Further, you’ll also approach your life in a more proactive and intentional manner.



If you have any questions about the "In the Block" time/self management plan, feel free to email me. Id love to hear from you!



It’s your life. Make it great!



Michael Pollock is a popular on-line writer and Personal Coach. He empowers proactive people to create lives that are inspired, power-full and prosperous. Its your life. Make it great! Visit http://www.successfulifecoach.com or subscribe to his weekly newsletter "Its Your Life!" by sending a blank email to ItsYourLife-subscribe@topica.com

Kaizen How Can It Help You?

Kaizen - How Can It Help You?
by Steve Gillman

What does Kaizen, a Japanese method of production excellence and industrial efficiency have to do with self improvement? Can it be adapted to self-work? What is it, anyhow?

It began with the "continuous improvement" theories of efficiency expert W. Edwards Deming in the 30s and 40s. After the war the ideas were picked up by the Japanese and developed into "Kaizen," a method for creating quality products efficiently through many small and continuous changes. This is perfect for self-improvement, as Robert Maurer explains in his book "One Small Step Change Your Life:"

"Your brain is programmed to resist change, but by taking small steps, you effectively rewire your nervous system so that is does the following: * Unsticks you from a creative block.

* Bypasses the fight or flight response.

* Creates new connections between neurons so that the brain enthusiastically takes over the process of change and you progress rapidly towards your goal."

Kaizen is an alternative for those who have a hard time facing major changes, like quitting smoking all at once. For something like that, the kaizen way might be to stop smoking in your car, as the first small step. Then you could switch to a brand with less nicotine, stop smoking in the house, and so on.

An important technique used in kaizen is asking "small questions." In factories this meant no more questions like "What are you going to do to improve the company profits this year?" That just elicits more fear than creative ideas. A better question might be, "What small change could we make in your department to reduce expenses (or improve quality)?" This approach was found to be far more productive.

For purposes of self improvement, this means asking small suggestive questions of yourself, like, "What could I do to free up five minutes for my meditation practice?" or "What small change could I make if I wanted to improve my relationships today?" Small questions tend to dispel the fear and intimidation that come with frontally facing the whole issue.

Small questions, along with small, comfortable changes is the first important principle of kaizen. The second is to make the process a continual one. Just imagine where you’d be if you had consciously made one small change in your life each week for the last few years. Even better, imagine where you’ll be a few years from now, if you start the process today.

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step." - Lao Tzu

Steve Gillman writes on many topics including brainpower, weight loss, meditation, habits of mind, creative problem solving, generating luck and anything related to self improvement. Learn more and get FREE e-courses at http://www.SelfImprovementNow.com

7 Hot Tips for Self Improvement Part II

7 Hot Tips for Self Improvement Part 2
by Beth Scott

Self Improvement Tip 4 Don’t procrastinate! The more you put something off and something else off, the more all your undesirable chores pile up.

Until they’re an insurmountable task that would make a paid cleaning crew shudder. In fact take these chores and work them into your schedule so you will do them.

Self Improvement Tip 5 If you don’t already keep either a schedule or make yourself a to-do list each night, this is your cue to start.

A to-do list helps you with get things done because it gives you a urgency "must do this today" attitude.

It will also help you remember things that you might have otherwise forgotten. You can put things on them that you’re afraid of forgetting, or want to make sure you make time for.

Self Improvement Tip 6 This is by far the most important self improvement tip I could give you. Forgive and Forget.

Either imagined or real slights should always be forgiven. To forget them is to not dwell on them and not remember the angry feelings if you ever look back on that moment.

Let me just tell you this: Holding a grudge will not hurt the begrudged as much as it will hurt you and your personality. As well as your existing relationships.

If there are any ancient or recent rifts or fights between you and a relative, friend, or spouse that are hurting your relationship or have ended it entirely, make amends.

This life is the only life you get, well never know when it’ll be our or the begrudged persons time to die, and by then it will be too late to say "I’m Sorry".

So pick up the phone or walk up to that person and apologize, even if it wasn’t your fault. This may be the last chance you’ll get to make amends.

You will be surprised at the feeling you’ll get after fixing things up between you. As if a burden has been lifted off your shoulders. This is definitely a step towards self improvement.

Self Improvement Tip 7 Do something kind for someone else. Today! Not just on a birthday or anniversary, but spontaneously.

Buy a rose or other flower for a friend and tell them its just "because". Because they mean a lot to you, and because you care for them.

Tell your family and friends that you love them. Offer to help a friend with a chore. Baby sit for someone you know so they can have a night out.

Help teach a young niece/nephew, son/daughter, brother/sister, etc.... how to read or do some other "grownup" thing.

The list of things you can do is endless, and I’m sure you can procure some ideas of your own on the subject.

Now for your convenience I’ve summed up all seven self improvement tips:

1. Get up early and jog or watch sunrise

2. Eat breakfast

3. Smile at strangers when you make eye contact

4. Don’t procrastinate

5. Keep a schedule or To-Do list

6. Forgive others and Forgive past wrongs

7. Do something for someone else

Remember its all up to you whether you take these steps in your self improvement plan, but improve it they will.

Be sure you read Part 1 of this article which contains the first 3 self improvement tips

To gain more knowledge on self improvement visit David Riklands acclaimed site for Self Improvement

7 Hot Tips for Self Improvement Part I

7 Hot Tips for Self Improvement Part 1
by Beth Scott

Have you ever imagined that life could be a lot better and more fulfilling than yours is right now? Are you eager to learn a self improvement technique that will make it so?

If you are read on.

I am going to lay down 7 simple steps for your self improvement plan. Whether you implement the self improvement steps I give you is your decision alone.

Self Improvement Tip 1 This tip will seem quite obvious and simple to you, but you’ll be amazed how few actually take the effort to do it.

Unless you’re not a morning person this self improvement tip will drastically change the quality of your day towards the positive.

Setting you in a good mood to face the days challenges and adversities.

Get Up Early! This may sound more like a way to ruin your day by putting you in an awful mood, but bear with me on this.

To be able to accomplish this and still avoid losing any precious sleep. You can go to bed just a half hour earlier since to start with you only need to get up a half hour earlier than you usually do.

To aid this purpose you should definitely use an alarm clock with persistent beeping.

You may be wondering by now just what it is that you’re supposed to do in this extra half hour when you would normally be dozing peacefully in bed and how this has anything to do with self improvement.

For different people the answer can vary slightly. To start with you need to fully awaken yourself and get rid of early morning sluggishness.

To suit this purpose you can take a cold or slightly cool shower. Or you might try doing stretches combined with deep breathing.

You might skip the shower if just splashing cold water on your face is sufficient to wake you. Use whatever works for you.

After you’re completely alert step outside of your house, apartment, etc... And if its early enough and you have a clear view, watch the sunrise.

This simple but immensely satisfying act will lift your spirits and help with self improvement. If you’re unable to do this, take a brisk walk, jog or run depending upon what you prefer and what you’re physically capable of.

When you’ve been out for 20 minutes you can head inside and commence with whatever morning ritual you normally have.

Self Improvement Tip 2 Now this is extremely important but deceitfully obvious. Eat Breakfast.

To start your day out on the right foot and stay in keeping with your self improvement plan this is practically a necessity. You need the energy this will provide you with to accomplish your daily tasks.

If you are overly pressed for time you might try cereal and milk or a few granola bars, even a few pieces of fresh fruit would do.

Any of these are better alternatives than skipping breakfast.

This is also a good suggestion for those watching their weight, because if you skip breakfast you’re more likely to binge later in the day. And you certainly wont be helping your self improvement by gaining unwanted weight.

Self Improvement Tip 3 When you go places, even if you find it a bit difficult at first, smile more at other people. Just curve your lips up a bit as you make eye contact with another human being.

Its really that simple. This will not only lift your spirits as you see a good many people smile back, but it will lift other peoples as well. Even the ones who are too shy to smile back.

Be sure to read Part 2 of this article which contains the last 4 tips on self improvement.

Life Coach Invites You To Write Your Eulogy

What would your eulogy say if  you died today?  He had so much potential?  She wanted to swim the channel, but...?  She dreamed of making a difference in the world,  too bad she died before she could do it.

How would your perfect eulogy read?  What would your legacy be?  How many lives would you want to positively affect in your life?  Could you say that you achieved the dreams you had when you were young?

Stonewall Jackson said on his deathbed, “Let me cross the river and rest under the tree.” What would you most regret not doing before you rest under the tree??

I submit that nothing, absolutely NOTHING, is stopping you--but yourself!

Actionable life coaching advice - make a list right now of 10 things that you really want to do before you die. The items on the list could be as simple as inspire one person, or as noble as start a non-profit foundation.  How would it feel to leave this kind of mark before you go?  Now write your own powerful eulogy based upon this list.  Remember, IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO WORK ON YOUR DREAMS!

This may seem a daunting task.  You actually might think it ridiculous or like it but close your browser and never give it another thought.  Or, you might take action and live begin to dream… and living inspired.  What are you waiting for?  Time’s not waiting on you.

Life Coach Wisdom

What you believe is what you see.

and what you see is what you believe.

just make sure that what you see and believe are your best intentions.

Life Coaching - Extracting The Truth

TRUTH

"The truth is rarely pure and never simple."  Oscar Wilde delivers some good news for those of us searching for "the" truth.  We can stop looking.  There is truth in everything, but what truth we extract is often a matter of our perspectives.

Look for the plain simple truth for the rest of your life, and you will never find it.  Look for truth in everything you see, and you will find it every day.

And that's the truth!