The child that never hears no will have a hard time saying no. – Della Reese in “Touched by an Angel”

Have you ever noticed how some of the most powerful things in life are also the most simple?

So it is with the simply powerful word “NO.”

I’ve come to believe that one of the keys to success is the ability to say no when no is the best thing to say.

Let’s take a look at when to say no, and then more importantly, how to say NO effectively.

When to say no

To others – Although it may be unintentional, people’s opinions can be potential dream stealers. If you have a dream and are convinced of its value in your life, ignore those that say you cannot do it. Pursue your dream, because that’s where passion and life can be found.

To temptation – Have you ever noticed how temptation doesn’t hang around long when you firmly say no? Temptation needs an invitation to stay around.

To yourself – Everyone I have ever known, including myself, is excellent at the mind-bending trick called rationalization. We can twist our thoughts around so much that we convince ourselves of just about anything. But check out the word “rationalize.” In this case what it really means is to convince yourself of rational lies.

To the culture – Mary Pipher, author of “The Shelter of Each Other, Rebuilding Our Families” says:

“If we fail as a family to fight the culture in our society, we end up fat, addicted and broke with a house full of junk we don’t need.”

Decide how you want you and yours to be, and resist cultural pressure.

To stress and reactivity – Here’s a riddle for you: What do a TV, a human being and a VCR have in

common? Answer: All three have a pause button. But I’m convinced we use ours less than TVs and VCRs.

Instead of reacting to the stress in your life, hit the pause button long enough to consider how you would like to respond instead of react.

To our children – Della Reese said it best in the quote above: The child who never hears no will not be able to say no. Furthermore, children who never hear no won’t understand or respect no when they are adults, which can lead to all sorts of difficulties.

How to say no

Here’s a few tips on learning the how of saying no:

Give yourself permission to say no. You are a big person now and have the right to say no. (You always had it anyway.)

Decide you are gong to say no, and then as my dad always said, “Stick to your guns.”

Say it! It really can be that simple.

If people have a difficult time hearing or accepting your no, remember that is their problem, not yours. Use the old broken-record technique: “I understand what you are saying, and the answer is still no.” Repeat as much as necessary.

Practice saying no to work out your no muscles.

Pay attention to how the world doesn’t end, and how all your friends and family don’t disown you for saying no.

When you are able to say no – when no is the best thing to say – you’ll find your world less cluttered and your life less chaotic.

Just one more thought:

It’s only when you can say NO that your YES has any real value.

Visit SecretsofGreatRelationships.com for tips and tools for creating and growing a great relationship. You can also subscribe to our f*r*e*e 10 day e-program on how to enrich your relationship today, from relationship coach and expert Jeff Herring.

Stretch those muscles!

Lean your right ear down to your right shoulder and stretch the left side of your neck as you do. Now, switch sides and do the other side. Now, look down and drop your chin towards your chest. Now slowly, let your head roll to the right and then to the left. Repeat slowly until you feel yourself loosen up.

You can do this same exercise for your shoulders, too. Try a few shoulder circles, as well. This is simple to do and when you take the time to do these several times a day, your range of motion will increase and you’ll feel considerably more relaxed.

Enjoy a relaxing massage

Treat yourself to a professional therapist massage and be sure to ask for a calming essential oil such as lavender or chamomile. Buy yourself some of the same oil to take home, and when you’re having a stressful moment, put a few drops of oil onto your tissue or pillowcase and then just breathe into it deeply. You can also use some of the oil to be infused into the air with a diffuser. Just smelling the oil will relax you even if you don’t get to have a massage!

Wear a Smile

Always begin your day with a broad smile on your face. Purpose in your heart to be lighthearted on this day and every time you see someone pass them a big, sincere smile. You will be surprised how easily this action will affect your mood.

Share in a good joke or two and try to make someone else laugh. Feeling lighthearted is a good thing! Just ask Martha Stewart!

That Small Inner Voice — Talk to yourself

Gently close your eyes and repeat positive affirmations. Tell yourself over and over what you want to believe to be true, such as: ‘I am calm’ or ‘I am confident and sure…’ Keep in mind that what you believe to be true will be felt by your body!

In Support of Good Posture

Take in a few, good deep breaths as you sit up very tall. Put your feet flat on the floor. At the same time angle your thighs slightly toward the floor, arch in your lower back slightly, gently push your sternum (chest bone) back and then relax your shoulders.

Take in another good deep breath and hold your position for a minute or two. Don’t allow your posture to slouch at all during this time – hold your position upright and support your good posture.

As your good posture continues to align, you will relieve all muscle tension. Do this exercise twice daily and you will find yourself naturally supporting your good posture each day.

Have Some Fresh Air and Take a Brisk Walk

If you must be indoors most of your day, taking a break to breathe in pure air and to exercise your limbs will be an instant refresher. Doing this will give you back good concentration and you will feel more limber.

Spend only 20 to 30 minutes each day taking in fresh air and walking and you will improve both physically and mentally. If you have a dog, take them along with you. They need to be refreshed just as you

do.

Take up a Relaxing Hobby

Spend an afternoon at your local craft store and select a new hobby. A good hobby that really interests you will breathe new life into your day. You will be more relaxed and enjoy having a new interest. Whether you choose painting, playing an instrument, knitting, or even kite flying, choose something that will encourage calm and serenity.

Try a Relaxing Form of Eastern Meditation such as Tai Chi

Take time to focus from within and you will cultivate a spirit of self control over the anxiety-ridden external world.

Take a good book to bed with you each night and spend 30 minutes relaxing before you turn out the light. This will be calming and as you close yours eyes each night remind yourself of your many blessings.

Give Lots of Hugs and Kisses Daily

Even on your busiest days, stop and hug and kiss someone who is special to you. Your children, especially, need to know how much they mean to you. A show of affection will go a long way.

Spend time each day with a beloved pet. Studies have shown that when we care for a pet we release anxiety and tension, naturally.

Spend quality time with your loved one. Remember those special times with your spouse before the children came along. Nurture moments with just the two of you and you will relax, naturally

Replace that Uncomfortable Office Chair with an Ab Ball

Next time you leave for your office, stop, first into a fitness store and buy an Ab Ball. This ball will allow your core muscles to have a great wake up call. Just sit on your Ab Ball and then bounce on the spot! You will feel instantly refreshed and your co-workers will want to do the same!

Just as it is time to take your lunch, first bounce on your Ab Ball to get your gastro-juices going! You will firm up your body in no time and best of all you will have fun!

Breathe in the Gift of Life

We can all go for weeks without a crumb of food, days at a time without water, but, we can only go for minutes without good, pure oxygen.

The average person breathes very shallowly and this makes it almost impossible to be relaxed.

Sit yourself down, purposefully, and take in a slow deep breath in through your nose until you have properly filled up your lungs.

Hold in the air in for a moment and then very slowly exhale through your lips. Breathe deeply in this way for 4 – 5 times, a few times a day.

You will feel instantly refreshed!

Listen to the Gift of Music

As much as possible, always set your mood with background mood music. Some like traditional blues, some like jazz. Try the newer nature sounds, so you can be working to background sounds of tin pans, flutes and ocean waves crashing on the beach. Whatever you choose, make sure it relaxes and does not energize you. There is a time to be energized and a time to relax. For relaxation, select the mood music over the rock and roll or the hip hop.

Whozylee Aris is the author of various health related articles.Find more free tips on how to relax and leave stress behind athis how to relieve stress website. Visit http://www.whozylee.com/stressrelief.html

GA Fitness Tips – diet plan, exercises, weight loss and gain muscles latest information.

Now notice that on either side of the road there is a ditch big enough to swallow your car.

Now imagine what your journey would be like if you kept your eyes only on the ditch. Perhaps you glanced at the road every few miles, but mostly your eyes are focused on he ditch. It’s likely that you would end up in the ditch and not make it to your destination.

Silly way to drive, huh? Then why do we live that way? It sure seems that is what many of us do when we start out to achieve important goals.

Ditch thinking

I call thinking this way ditch thinking. Focus on the ditch long enough, and you will wind up in the ditch, wondering how you got there.

Today let’s look at some signs and symptoms of ditch thinking, and then how to get out of the ditch and into destination thinking.

How to Do Ditch Thinking

Focusing only on everything that could go wrong. While it’s important and valuable to think ahead and anticipate what problems might lie ahead, it’s foolish to focus only on the obstacles.

Complaining about the ditch. “Look at that ditch! It just shouldn’t be there.” “It’s just too big not to notice it.” “I just can’t drive with that ditch over there.”

Instead of the old biting off more than you can chew, it’s thinking about more than you can chew. “Wow, I bet that ditch will be there the whole entire trip. I wonder if the road will get smaller and the ditch get bigger?”

Procrastinate. Put it off. CONvince yourself that you really will do it later.

Making excuses for yourself. To rationalize really means to believe rational lies.

Making problems obstacles instead

of challenges. I’ve never pursued a goal that didn’t have it’s share of challenges. If you turn them into obstacles you are blocked. A challenge is simply that: a challenge to see if you really mean it when you say you want to achieve something.

Blaming others.

Here are seven words guaranteed to drive you into the ditch, “we’ve always done it that way before.”

Listening to and then believing all the naysayers who say it’s impossible, you can’t do it. Remember that at one time it was considered impossible to fly, communicate by phone, fax or email, etc. etc. In each case, and in so many more, someone chose to not believe in the impossibility.

How to Do Destination Thinking

Begin. Simply begin.

Celebrate your progress. It builds momentum.

Break the journey down into small enough parts to make it manageable.

Focus on where you want to go.

Be creative. Creativity is simply the ability to look at something that has always been there and seeing something that has never been seen before.

Remind yourself regularly, even daily, about why you are pursuing this destination. An important enough why makes the how a whole lot easier.

Enjoying the trip. Even if it’s only the satisfaction of hard work, finding ways to enjoy the trip keeps you going.

Focus on what you will be able to do, that you can’t do now, when you achieve the goal.

Asking the question, “In how many ways can I accomplish want I want and enjoy the trip?”

Follow ditch thinking and you end up in the ditch. Follow destination thinking and you are much more likely to arrive at your destination.

It really can be that simple.

Visit SecretsofGreatRelationships.com for tips and tools for creating and growing a great relationship. You can also subscribe to our f*r*e*e 10 day e-program on how to enrich your relationship today, from relationship coach and expert Jeff Herring.

Stress reduction has therefore become a “necessary” antidote industry. We may console ourselves by saying that our lives are fast paced; that this is what modern living is all about and we must pursue it frenetically; that people in those poor countries which have not adopted the Anglo-American way are just backward and will catch on eventually. But that is not just a consolation; it is both an illusion and a denial, and helps stress reduction in no way at all.

It is an illusion first of all that the average consumer has a fast paced life. A commuter may sit in a train twice a day, to and from their place of work; that train may move at a fast pace, but the commuter does not. They just sit there, their minds going over the same themes as always; last night’s tv, tonight’s tv, wishing they could have had another hour’s sleep or wishing they were already home and tucked up for the night’s slumber, or the day’s boredom at work behind them or before them. Drowned in tedium and repetition, the vacuum left in their daily lives is gradually filled with stress, as if it had a supporting role in their existence.

A tiring and repetitious daily routine can be a breeding ground for discontent and unhappiness, the real reasons for modern stress. If that routine is full of creativity, and control over one’s own actions, then it may not be a source of stress at all, or discontent. If, however, the individual is suppressed, then it can be a very different story. Most people are employees, whose lives are dictated by those above them and with no or little scope to think and do for themselves. They are particularly vulnerable to modern stress.

Caught up in the modern way of life, it is very easy to lose connection with yourself as an individual, for your individuality can be suppressed from all sides. I am sure I am not alone in having experienced that. I had lived the zombie like existence for over 20 years, and despite the fact that I had some very stimulating jobs, I had, almost unknowingly, lost track of life as it should be. Then in 1995, I packed it all in and started my own business, and started the long

haul to win back my individuality. But it was 1998 before I started to fully appreciate again what having control over your own life really meant. The 20 plus years were a blur; where had I been all that time?

One of the problems with modern stress is that it becomes a focus, along side the focus on purely material things such as the “need” to have a new car, a new house, the best clothes, the best tv and so on. Modern stress is a consumer product in itself, part of the material razzmatazz, that keeps the consumer in his or her place: a consumer, not a doer or a thinker; someone who plays by the rules and spends and borrows and spends and borrows to relieve themselves of the tedium and chase the shadow of achievement. Not real achievement; just its shadow.

That is not to say, though, that there is no relief from stress in the Anglo-American world. Those who are able to escape back to the real world now and again, and who can exercise sufficient self control regularly enough, will find that stress relatively easy to keep under control.

So how do we get to this other world, where we can manage our stress? There are portals all around you. Anything that will take your mind away from the self focus is a portal into this other world. Spending time with your children, and seeing life through their eyes for a while every day; the joy of discovery and play; but not as a drain upon your resources, and not as a part of your tedium. Spending time appreciating the wonders around you, the joys of nature, the little miracles that are within a short distance of where you stand or sit. Spending time travelling, helping others, seeing the true misery of people who are under the real stress caused by extreme poverty and disease, not the packaged consumer stress that we tend to think of.

This “other world” is a world of perspective. It is a world you used to know, but have somehow lost through lack of time. Yet, there was never any lack of time; that was an illusion too. This “other world” is also a world where you make the choices, consciously, not have them dictated to you by employers or weariness. A few simple choices each day can distract you enough to bring some relief to consumer induced stress. Fill the vacuum with your choices, and stress will not find such an easy way in.

This managing stress reduction article was written by Roy Thomsitt, owner and part author of the Routes To Self Improvement website.

Case #2- Bill, a 34 year old husband complained that his critical wife was always angry at him.

He spent his life trying to cope with her outrages which often escalated him into defensive anger which didn’t happen anywhere but in this relationship.

Case #3- Betty, a 42 year separated mother struggled with her soon to be ex-husband’s contempt and disrespect every time she angrily called him to discuss details of their divorce. These three cases bring up the question often asked by participants in our anger management classes: Is it possible to control how family members treat us? The short answer is “no” — but often we can teach them to treat us better!

Believe it or not, we are constantly teaching our family how to treat us— both by our responses to their behavior, and by the behavior we display to them which they react to. In our case examples:

- By automatically doing whatever her husband and children requested, Elizabeth was “teaching” them that there are almost no limits to what she would do for them.

- With his behavior, Bill was actually teaching his wife that the way to get attention from him (even if it was negative attention) was for her to create drama.

- Betty was so intimidated by her husband, that her defensive “attitude” was “teaching” him that to deal with her, he had to push back with the contempt and disrespect that he constantly showed her.

The dance of anger

Our interchange with family members is often like a carefully choreographed dance. They make a move. You make a move in response to their move. They then respond to what you said or did and …well, you get the idea!

How do you change the dance? Start by seeing yourself as a teacher—of how you would like your family to treat you.

Four ways to change what you teach others

1. Try a softer start-up. Marital research shows that the first few seconds of an interaction can predict the final outcome of the encounter. Try being softer, more polite, more

respectful, less hostile, or more empathetic—and see how this change in your approach actually teaches others to respond better to you.

2. Take a time-out before dealing with the conflict or situation. Conflicting or arguing family members often work themselves up to a point at which problem solving is impossible.

The solution is to retreat and give yourself time to calm down and think things over. This takes at least 20 minutes, often much longer. Before taking your time out, it is important to tell the other person that you will commit to returning soon to deal with the conflict, after you are calmer—then be sure to do it!

3. Acknowledge that you see how they must be seeing the situation. Called “empathy,” this response on your part teaches others that you care about their feelings and viewpoints, and opinions.

Acknowledgement doesn’t mean that you necessarily agree with their viewpoint —only that you see it. Sometimes, your family needs to know that you care about them and respect their opinions before they listen to what you say.

4. Set limits and boundaries for your family members. Limits and boundaries are basically rules regarding acceptable behaviors toward you as well as what you are willing or not willing to do.

If you feel others are taking advantage of you, ask yourself what you may be doing ( or not doing )to give the message it is “ok” for them to do whatever they are doing. Often you can change their behavior toward you by teaching them different rules of being with you. The easiest way to do this is simply to respond differently yourself. For instance, they make you the core of a nasty joke. Being a nice person, you pretend it doesn’t bother you (even though it does), so you laugh with everybody else. As an alternative, try not laughing with them, which is a way of teaching them that they have crossed a boundary with you.

2005 © Dr. Tony Fiore All rights reserved.

Dr. Tony Fiore (http://www.angercoach.com) is a So. California licensed psychologist, and anger management trainer. His company, The Anger Coach, provides anger and stress management programs, training and products to individuals, couples, and the workplace. Sign up for his free monthly newsletter “Taming The Anger Bee” at http://www.angercoach.com

When you have a big task ahead of you or when things begin to pile up, you can begin to feel overwhelmed.

Do you find your self thinking things such as:

“I’ll never get all this done……..

“There’s just TOO MUCH to do!

“This always happens to me!”

Looking at some tasks as one whole piece is like trying to eat your favorite pizza all in one bite, you will choke on it!

Break it down into manageable chunks

The key to this stress-buster is to break a task or a situation down (chunk it) into smaller pieces. When you break things down into smaller chunks, you make it more manageable. The smaller the chunk, the more manageable it can be.

If you are skeptical about how this

works, consider the alphabet, something any one who gets through first grade knows by heart. The alphabet is 26 separate pieces of information in a very specific order. We learned it by memorizing, not the whole thing at once, but by taking it a piece at a time.

To put it in perspective, once you know the alphabet, you can write anything. Just as you can accomplish even the biggest tasks by chunking it down in to manageable pieces.

Visit The Article Guy for more leading edge tips and tools for writing articles that bring you prospects, publicity and profits. You can also subscirbe to our monthly Article Empire Tips Newsletter. You are also invited to visit my Express-Start Article Writing Program for more information on the next article writing tele-seminar.

When things move along nicely, we rarely rush in and ask – “Who’s responsible for this?” Only when things are not quite right do we look for someone to blame. Many people seem to think that an ok explanation can excuse a poor result. Have you ever thought of how much time you use on explanations and justifying bad, or poor results with “she should..”, “They did it..”, They wouldn’t listen to me anyway” etc.?

These kinds of answers put us immediately in a victim position; something outside our control is causing pain and stress on us. We feel powerless, and with time we lose the interest in what we’re doing. Adding to the accountability lapses is behaviour like the passive, almost in-visible yes/no nodding during meetings, gossiping at the coffee machine, venting with other colleagues behind closed doors… Just fill in the list.

Whether you’re a team leader, CEO, or a secretary, YOU have the capacity to affect the culture for better and for worse, by YOUR capacity for full and complete accountability. When you start to take responsibility for the results in your life, you will be a full time player in the middle of the champion league.

Following are 5 guaranteed shifts that immediately will move you into a feeling of empowerment, and bring clear space into any kind of struggle, conflict or dispute you may encounter:

1. Feelings

When you find yourself feeling angry, upset, sad, fearful…Ask yourself; “How can I choose ease and confidence instead?”

2. Stress

When you feel your buttons being pushed constantly…Ask yourself; “How do I keep making choices that keep this pattern going?”

3. Lack of energy

When you feel flat, no energy, no drive…Ask yourself; “What feelings and

emotions have I ignored and not let myself feel?”

4. Having bad results

When you experience a stream of bad luck, poor and negative results… Ask yourself; “Do I have an unconscious intention for things to turn out like this?

5. Seeking solitude because others irritate or upset you

When you avoid certain people, being distant, or aloof…Ask yourself; “What agreements have I broken?” “What unspoken communications do I have?”

To communicate your lapses with your team, boss, spouse, kids, or whoever it is you feel is the right person to address, simply describe what you are feeling and what your perception was of the things you did to add on to the situation. Then invite each person to ask the question “What did I do to produce this result?”

It sounds so simple, but most people look for what the other person did or did not do in the first place. Share, communicate and make new agreements on how to handle this kind of situation in the future.

Keep track of yourself catching your accountability lapses, and celebrate each time you’ve stepped up and acknowledged them. You’re on your way to becoming a Master!

This is an excerpt from the course program “Eliminate Burnout and Ignite Your Career”. If you are looking for more strategies and techniques for stress management and career success, go to www.IgniteYourCareer.com and join the Tele seminar series “Eliminate Burnout and Ignite Your Career”.

Liselotte Molander, Professional Certified Career Coach, and experienced Business Professional, founder and CEO of LKM Communications AB Group of Coaching and Training Companies, Executive Career Coach, facilitator and Public Speaker. Contact via the website http://www.FromBurnoutToBrilliance.com or call: +46-40-47 08 88 (CET time zone)

© Copyright 2005 Liselotte Molander and LKM Communications AB. All rights reserved

“How do I get more time to play?”

Answer:Schedule it in.Why? Because if you don’t schedule it you will generally let other things have a higher priority and put yourself and a life further down the list.So just write 15 minutes a day, play time into your diary and don’t change it for anything.To get started, get your diary NOW and write in one fun thing you have been hanging out to do. Call a friend and tell them that you are going to do it, and DO IT today.Question 2

“What happens when I feel guilty for not working?”

Answer:Get over it, and value yourself.Here’s why: Emotions like guilt are more damaging to your health than physical stress. So, when you feel guilty for taking a break reward yourself for noticing and tack an extra five minutes playtime onto that break. If you give yourself a hard time for feeling guilty you add more stress. Relax and realise you are human we all need a break. Even your computer gets downtime and goes into “energy save” mode.Question 3

“How do I stop myself getting frustrated with life?”

Answer:Realise your expectations are just that, your expectations.Why? Because you only get frustrated when your expectations are not met. Get over that you cannot control everything or everyone. Relax and go with the flow.Ylang Ylang essential oil helps release anger that can come from frustration. It helps you relax and enjoy life your life. Vaporise it at home and work to relax.Question 4

“Where do I get the discipline to say No?”

Answer:Realise discipline is easier to handle than regret.Here’s why: You cannot turn back time, and regret sucks the life out of you. Saying no to stuff that is draining your energy for life, feeds you the energy to keep saying no.Consider living by the rule “If its hard to do, all the more reason to do it”. If you play that game, you have self-discipline and can say NO easily.

Question 5

“How do I leave work on time?”

Answer:Make you the priority.Why? Because you are the only one in control of your life and it’s only you who can make it happen. Start telling yourself and everyone else that you finish and leave work at 5pm.If you keep saying you never get away on time, you won’t. Use positive language to get what you want.Question 6

“What happens if I ask for what I want?”

Answer:You will gain the respect of others for actually asking for help.Here’s why: People admire people who are straight and honest with them. It helps validate how they are also feeling.We all basically want the same things in life, but most people won’t show their “humanness” and ask for what they want. If you don’t ask in the first place you have no possibility of getting it. So create the possibility and ask for what you want.Question 7

“How do I get a social life?”

Answer:Get out and meet people.Why? Hiding from life only fuels the problem. Stop using work as an excuse and an avoidance tactic.Go for quality people and outings not quantity at first.If you need to be in control, bring people to your safe place like maybe home or local café and have a casual dinner or lunch.Question 8

“Why don’t I feel deserving of rest time?”

Answer:You have too much fun whining about it.Here’s why: It’s easier to complain about stuff than to do something about it. If you respected yourself and took quality rest time, you would have nothing to whine about. Wow you would be happy. Shock.So, get off your soapbox about not having enough time and not being deserving and get on living the happy life you deserve.Question 9

“How do get more energy for life?”

Answer:Do something you enjoy.Why? You always naturally have the energy for

the things you love doing. So just change your perception to what you are doing. If you tell yourself you are tired and life is now fun. That is what it will be. Change your perception to what is happening, tell yourself you have all the energy you need and you love life.Question 10

“What happens if I don’t plan for play?”

Answer:You won’t get it.Here’s why: It’s easier to do something for someone else than for yourself.So schedule it to the tiniest detail like you would a task at work, and focus on the joy that playtime will bring. Planning to this amount of detail feeds you energy and excites you into doing it more often. Write tomorrow’s playtime in your diary right now. Question 11

“How do I get balanced?”

Answer:Allow yourself to be human.Why? Because no one person or thing is ever perfect. You will drive yourself mad trying to be perfect.Being balanced is noticing if you are not balanced and taking action to rectify it. For instance if you have extra coffee today the world will not end, simply have two extra waters to balance it out.Question 12

“What do I do if I’m in overwhelm?”

Answer:Stop and breathe.Here’s why: Breathing keeps you alive.It really does. If you don’t breathe when overwhelmed, you will never think straight to get yourself out of it.So stop, breathe, see what is really happening compared to what you think is happening and deal with it.Question 13

“How do I take a block of time off?”

Answer:Plan ahead and schedule it.Why? Something will always come up otherwise. Commit to your health and wellness. Time away from work is the time you will get your best ideas, because your mind is free to be creative. If you don’t already have a break of at least two weeks planned for this year, do it now. If you need to apply for the time off, apply today, then work out where you want to go.Question 14

“What happens when I don’t eat properly or I skip meals?”

Answer:You increase your chance of losing your life.Here’s why: Food is the fuel that keeps you alive. It’s that simple, and the first thing that goes hungry is your brain. How can you think straight if your brain is not nourished?See food as a fuel and behave in your eating six days a week and have one FREE DAY a week to let loose.Question 15

“How do I make me the priority?”

Answer:You stop making excuses and do it.Why? You deserve to be happy and to enjoy life.Get a close friend to keep you in check. Each time you are copping out and not looking after yourself, ask for their help. And you do the same for them.Be honest with each other, plan for fun and get a life.

About Jennifer Jefferies

Life Balancing expert Jennifer Jefferies is one of Australia’s best-known authors and speakers. Jennifer’s simple, practical and proven 7 Steps to Sanity can help bring balance to anyone who wants to have it all without sacrificing their health, sanity or sense of humour along the way.Jennifer is a qualified health practitioner, who speaks to corporations throughout Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia, sharing practical real-life strategies that help people to improve their health, wellbeing and productivity by finding balance in their lives. Jennifer has also written numerous books and e-books and life balancing products. You can contact Jennifer at:

Jennifer Jefferies International Pty Ltd

Po Box 4298,

Elanora, QLD 4221 Australia

Phone: +61 7 55986035

http://www.jenniferjefferies.com

Maximum learning practitioners maintain it can help break up the “worry circle” and relieve anxieties by increasing nerve-energy supply. You can sense whether or not you’re getting somewhere with this concentration exercise after you’ve practiced it awhile. You will notice whether or not you feel a kind of tingling energy current running through the body with each in and out breath.

All exercises for the mind must always be done gently. Find a secluded spot where you will

not be disturbed. Take a slow, even, deep breath through the nose. Visualize warm, golden yellow sun energy being drawn through the top of your head. As you slowly, and evenly, breathe out, visualize cool, blue moon energy being drawn up through your body. Try to imagine these polarized energies sweeping through the body like an electric current. You concentration ability is considered to be intensified when you feel a definite sensation of being “charged up”. With an energy current running through your body with each in and out breath.

To know more, log on to http://www.maximumachievementlearning.com/ or write to us at stan@maximumachievementlearning.com

Stan, Professional Engineer who has been learning, practicing and teaching the right maximum learning techniques for high achievers to maximize their learning capabilities for improvement of their mind and memory enhancement for the last 20 years.

1. Think positively. Break the habit of putting yourself and everything else down. When you catch yourself thinking negatively, stop it.

2. Learn to see problems as challenges that can be overcome. Remember: you always have options.

3. Never say never again. Everything is possible.

4. If you make a mistake, don’t dwell on it. Learn what you can from it and move on.

5. Cut big problems down to size. Think of one thing you can do today to improve a situation. Focus all your energy on achieving it.

6. Look for at least one reason a day to laugh. Research shows laughter releases feel-good chemicals in the brain.

7. Spend at least a

minute every day contemplating all the things you have in your life to be grateful for.

8. Ask yourself empowering questions. In the midst of a crisis, for example, don’t ask why you got into this mess; ask how can you improve it.

9. Do what you can to minimise stressful situations. If you face a mad rush in the mornings, for example, get up earlier, have your clothes and paperwork ready.

10. Tackle challenges head-on. Procrastination only delays things, it doesn’t solve them.

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