WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO IMPROVE YOUR SELF?

Sometimes, when all our doubts, fears and insecurities wrap themselves up around us, we think "I wish I was somebody else." More often than not, we think and believe that someone or rather, most people are better off than we are, when in reality, the fact is, most people are more scared than we are.


You spot a totally eye-catching girl sitting by herself at a party, casually sipping on a glass of Asti Spumanti. You think to yourself, "she looks so perfectly calm and confident." In reality, if you could read thoughts, you might see a bunch of swirling clouds self doubt! You might just be amazed that she's thinking "are people talking about why I am seated here alone... Why don't guys find me attractive? I don't like my ankles, they look too skinny? I wish I was as intelligent as my best friend."

We look at a young business entrepreneur and say Wooh! What else could he ask for?? He stares at himself at the mirror and murmurs to himself, I hate my big eyes, I wonder why my friends won't talk to me? I hope mom and dad would still work things out.

Isn't it funny? We look at other people, envy them for looking so outrageously perfect and wish we could trade places with them, while they look at us and think the same thing. We are insecure of other people who themselves are insecure of us. We suffer from low self-esteem, a lack of self-confidence and eventually lose hope in self improvement because we are enveloped in quiet desperation.

Sometimes, you notice that you have an irritating habit like biting off your finger nails, having a foul mouth, and you of all people, are the last to know.

I have a friend who never gets tired of talking. And in most conversations, she is the only one who seems to be interested in the things she has to say. So all of our other friends tend to avoid the circles whenever she's around, and she doesn't notices how often she becomes socially avoided because of her overall effect on the people in her environment.

One key to self improvement is to LISTEN and TALK to a trusted friend. Find someone who you are comfortable in opening up with . Ask questions like Do you think I am ill-mannered?, Do I always sound so argumentative?, Do I talk too loud?, Does my breath smell?, Do I ever bore you when were together?. In this way, the other person will obviously know that you are interested in the process of self improvement. Lend them your ears for comments and criticisms and don't give answers like Don't exaggerate! That's just the way I am! Open up your mind and heart as well. And in return, you may want to help your friend with constructive criticism that will also help them improve.

One of Whitney Houston's songs says Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all. True enough. In order to love others, you must love yourself too. Remember, you cannot give what you do not have.

Before telling other people some ways on how to improve themselves, let them see that you yourself are a representation and a product of self improvement. Self improvement makes us better people, we then inspire other people, and then the rest of the world will follow.

Stop thinking of yourselves as a second-rate being. Forget the repetitive thought of If only I was richer? if only I was thinner? and so on. Accepting your true self is the first step to self improvement. We need to stop comparing ourselves to others only to find out at the end that we've got 10 more reasons to envy them.



We all have our insecurities. Nobody is perfect. We always wish we had better things, better features, better body parts, etc. But life need not to be perfect for people to be happy about themselves.

Self improvement and loving yourself is not a matter of shouting to the whole world that you are perfect and you are the best. It's the virtue of acceptance and contentment. When we begin to improve ourselves, we then begin to feel contented and happy.



Until next time,
Take care and be safe!

Mr. Don
Safe Kidz Educational Services

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"The Way to Wellness" It's time to start a Healthy life: your 7 days program

How many times have you gone to sleep at night, swearing you'll go to the gym in the morning, and then changing your mind just eight hours later because when you get up, you don't feel like exercising?

While this can happen to the best of us, it doesn't mean you should drop the ball altogether when it comes to staying fit. What people need to realize is that staying active and eating right are critical for long-term health and wellness -- and that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The more you know about how your body responds to your lifestyle choices, the better you can customize a nutrition and exercise plan that is right for you. When you eat well, increase your level of physical activity, and exercise at the proper intensity, you are informing your body that you want to burn a substantial amount of fuel. This translates to burning fat more efficiently for energy.

In other words, proper eating habits plus exercise equals fast metabolism, which, in turn gives you more energy throughout the day and allows you to do more physical work with less effort.

The true purpose of exercise is to send a repetitive message to the body asking for improvement in metabolism, strength, aerobic capacity and overall fitness and health. Each time you exercise, your body responds by upgrading its capabilities to burn fat throughout the day and night, Exercise doesn't have to be intense to work for you, but it does need to be consistent.

I recommend engaging in regular cardiovascular exercise four times per week for 20 to 30 minutes per session, and resistance training four times per week for 20 to 25 minutes per session. This balanced approach provides a one-two punch, incorporating aerobic exercise to burn fat and deliver more oxygen, and resistance training to increase lean body mass and burn more calories.

Here's a sample exercise program that may work for you:

* Warm Up -- seven to eight minutes of light aerobic activity intended to increase blood flow and lubricate and warm-up your tendons and joints.

* Resistance Training -- Train all major muscle groups. One to two sets of each exercise. Rest 45 seconds between sets.

* Aerobic Exercise -- Pick two favorite activities, they could be jogging, rowing, biking or cross-country skiing, whatever fits your lifestyle. Perform 12 to 15 minutes of the first activity and continue with 10 minutes of the second activity. Cool down during the last five minutes.

* Stretching -- Wrap up your exercise session by stretching, breathing deeply, relaxing and meditating.

When starting an exercise program, it is important to have realistic expectations. Depending on your initial fitness level, you should expect the following changes early on.

* From one to eight weeks -- Feel better and have more energy.

* From two to six months -- Lose size and inches while becoming leaner. Clothes begin to fit more loosely. You are gaining muscle and losing fat.

* After six months -- Start losing weight quite rapidly.

Once you make the commitment to exercise several times a week, don't stop there. You should also change your diet and/or eating habits,' says Zwiefel. Counting calories or calculating grams and percentages for certain nutrients is impractical. Instead, you may want to try these easy-to-follow guidelines:

* Eat several small meals (optimally four) and a couple of small snacks throughout the day

* Make sure every meal is balanced -- incorporate palm-sized proteins like lean meats, fish, egg whites and dairy products, fist-sized portions of complex carbohydrates like whole-wheat bread and pasta, wild rice, multigrain cereal and potatoes, and fist-sized portions of vegetable and fruits.

* Limit your fat intake to only what's necessary for adequate flavor

* Drink at least eight 8-oz. glasses of water throughout the day

* Take a multi-vitamin each day to ensure you are getting all the vitamins and minerals your body needs.

Always start any exercise program slowly and only after consulting with your health care professional. This is a gradual program that requires that you do just a little bit everyday for maximum results.

Until next time,
Take care and be safe!

Mr. Don
Safe Kidz Educational Services

If you would like to learn more about fitness for your family, we will be releasing our new program aimed at helping families acheive fitness in a way that does not break the bank or require huge amounts of time! We will keep you posted as we go!

MOTIVATION, THE HEART OF SELF IMPROVEMENT

Pain sometimes is the reason people change. It is a very powerful motivator. Getting f's for grades make us realize that we need to study. Debts remind us of our inability to generate enough income. Being humiliated gives us the push to speak up and fight for ourselves to save our face from the next embarrassments. It may be a bitter experience, a friend's tragic story, a great movie, or an inspiring book that may well help us get just the right amount of motivation we need in order to improve ourselves. To give us that "boot to butt" wake up call that drives us to action.

As always, there is no easy button! Initially we may be all fired up to achieve our desired goal, but with the countless negatives the world brings about, how do we keep motivated?

Try these A to Z tips

A - Achieve your dreams. Avoid negative people, things and places. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

B - Believe in your self, and in what you can do.

C - Consider things from every angle and aspect. Motivation comes from determination. To be able to understand life, you should feel the sun from both sides. (Pretty Zenish!)

D - Don't give up and don't give in. Thomas Edison failed once, twice, more than thrice before he came up with his invention and perfected the incandescent light bulb. Make motivation your steering wheel.

E - Enjoy work as if you don't need money. Dance as if nobody?s watching. Love as if you never cried. Learn as if you'll live forever. Motivation takes place when people are happy.

F - Family and Friends are life's greatest treasures. Don't loose sight of them.

G - Give more than what is enough. Where does motivation and self improvement take place at work? At home? At school? When you exert extra effort in doing things.

H - Hang on to your dreams. They may dim for a moment, but these little stars will be your driving force.

I - Ignore those who try to destroy you. Don't let other people to get the best of you. Stay away from toxic people, the kind of people who hates to hear about your success.

J - Just be yourself. The key to success is to be yourself. And the key to failure is to try to please everyone.

K - Keep trying no matter how hard life may seem. When a person is motivated, eventually he sees a harsh life finally clearing out, paving the way to self improvement.

L - Learn to love your self. Now isn't that easy? (Maybe yes, maybe no! More on that later.)

M - Make things happen. Motivation is when your dreams are put into work clothes.

N - Never lie, cheat or steal. Always play a fair game. We all have to live with ourselves, be the person you like to see in the mirror.

O - Open your eyes. Most people see things in 2 ways - how they want things to be, and how they should be, but seldom how they are in reality.

P - Practice makes perfect. Practice is about motivation. It lets us learn repertoire and ways on how can we recover from our mistakes. Make sure you are practicing the right things.

Q - Quitters never win. And winners never quit. So, choose your fate. Are you going to be a quitter? Or a winner?

R - Ready yourself. Motivation is also about preparation. We must hear the little voice within us telling us to get started before others will get on their feet and try to push us around. Remember, it wasn't raining when Noah build the ark.

S - Stop procrastinating.

T - Take control of your life. Discipline or self control jives synonymously with motivation. Both are key factors in self improvement.

U - Understand others. If you know very well how to talk, you should also learn how to listen. Yearn to understand first, and to be understood second.

V - Visualize it. Motivation without vision is like a boat on a dry land.

W - Want it more than anything. Dreaming means believing. And to believe is something that is grown from the roots of motivation and self improvement.

X - X Factor is what will make you different from the others. When you are motivated, you tend to put in extras in your life like extra time for family, extra help at work, extra care for friends, and so on.

Y - You are unique. No one in this world looks, acts, or talks like you. Value your life and existence, because you're just going to spend it once.

Z - Zero in on your dreams and go for it!!!





Staying focused and motivated are two of the biggest obstacles to being successful in achieving your goals. Use these tips when ever you feel you are getting distracted!


Until next time,
Take care and be safe!

Mr. Don
Safe Kidz Educational Services

Our Life is About Choices and the Decisions We Make Regarding Self Improvement

Life is like a road. There are long and short roads; smooth and rocky roads; crooked and straight paths. In our life many roads would come our way as we journey through life. There are roads that lead to a life of single blessedness, marriage, and religious vocation. There are also roads that lead to fame and fortune on one hand, or isolation and poverty on the other. There are roads to happiness as there are roads to sadness, roads towards victory and jubilation, and roads leading to defeat and disappointment.

Just like any road, there are corners, detours, and crossroads in life. Perhaps the most perplexing road that you would encounter is a crossroad. With four roads to choose from and with limited knowledge on where they would go, which road will you take? Where is the guarantee that we would/will choose the right one along the way? Will you take any road, or just stay where you are: in front of a crossroad?


There are no guarantees

You do not really know where a road will lead you until you take it. There are no guarantees. This is one of the most important things you need to realize about life. Nobody said that choosing to do the right thing all the time would always lead you to happiness. Loving someone with all your heart does not guarantee that it will be returned. Gaining fame and fortune does not guarantee happiness. Accepting a good word from an influential superior to cut your trip short up the career ladder is not always bad, especially if you are highly qualified and competent. There are too many possible outcomes, which your really cannot control. The only thing you have power over is the decisions that you will make, and how you act and react to different situations.


Wrong decisions are always at hindsight

Had you known that you were making a wrong decision, would you have gone along with it? Perhaps not, why would you choose a certain path when you know it would get you lost? Why make a certain decision if you knew from the very beginning that it is not the right one. It is only after you have made a decision and reflected on it that you realize its soundness. If the consequences or outcomes are good for you, then you have decided correctly. Otherwise, your decision was wrong. Most us don't want to accept that our decision was not the correct way to go. While that is hard, it is more important that we learn from the mistake and not repeat it!


Take the risk: decide

Since life offers no guarantee and you never know that your decision is wrong until you after have made it, then you might as well take the risk and decide. (Deciding not to decide, is a decision. It just isn't one that is going to help.) It is definitely better than keeping yourself in limbo. Although it is true that one wrong turn could get you lost, it could also be that such a turn could be an opportunity for an adventure, moreover open up more roads. It really is all a matter of perspective. You have the choice between being a lost traveller or an accidental tourist of life. But take caution that you do not make decisions haphazardly. Taking risks is not about being careless and stupid. Here are some pointers that could help you choose the best option in the face of life?s crossroads:

Get as many information as you can about your situation.

It is hard to find the confidence to decide when you know so little about what you are faced with. Just like any news reporter, ask the 5 W?s: what, who, when, where, and why. What is the situation? Who are the people involved? When did this happen? Where is this leading? Why are you in this situation? These are just some of the possible questions to ask to know more about your situation. This is important. Oftentimes, the reason for indecision is the lack of information about a situation.

Identify and create options.

What options do the situation give you? Sometimes the options are few, but sometimes they are numerous. But what do you do when you think that the situation offers no options? This is the time that you create your own. Make your creative mind work. From the most simplistic to the most complicated, entertain all ideas. Do not shoot anything down when an idea comes to your head. Sometimes the most outrageous idea could prove to be the right one in the end. You can ask a friend to help you identify options and even make more options if you encounter some difficulty, but make sure that you make the decision yourself in the end.

Weigh the pros and cons of every option.

Assess each option by looking at the advantages and disadvantages it offers you. In this way, you get more insights about the consequences of such an option.

Trust yourself and make that decision.

Now that you have assessed your options, it is now time to trust yourself. Remember that there are no guarantees and wrong decisions are always at hindsight. So choose, decide, believe that you are choosing the best option at this point in time.

Now that you have made a decision, be ready to face its consequences: good and bad. It may take you to a place of promise or to a land of problems. But the important thing is that you have chosen to live your life instead of remaining a bystander or a passive audience to your own life. Whether it is the right decision or not, only time can tell. But do not regret it whatever the outcome. Instead, learn from it and remember that you always have the chance to make better decisions in the future.

To learn more about your journey of Self Improvement, sign up for our Free mini-course. We also have a few selected digital products that can provide you with some additional tools to help you as you move towards that person you know you can be!

Until next time,
Take care and be safe!

Mr. Don
Safe Kidz Educational Services

Enjoy Your Life: Change Your Point of View

Mr. Don


"Two men look out through the same bars: One sees the mud, and one sees the stars."- Frederick Langbridge, A Cluster of Quiet Thoughts

If you’ve placed second in a writing contest, will you jump for joy and push for better results the next time or will you be discouraged and find an excuse not to join again?

In life, you are always filled with choices. You may opt to have a pessimist’s view and live a self-defeated life or you may decide to take the optimist’s route and take a challenging and fulfilling life.

So why nurture an optimist’s point of view? And why now?

Well, optimism has been linked to positive mood and good morale; to academic, athletic, military, occupational and political success; to popularity; to good health and even to long life and freedom from trauma.

On the other hand, the rates of depression and pessimism have never been higher. It affects middle-aged adults the same way it hits younger people. The mean age of onset has gone from 30 to 15. It is no longer a middle-aged housewife’s disorder but also a teen-ager’s disorder’ as well.

Here’s how optimists are in action and researches that back up why it really pays to be an optimist:

Optimists expect the best!

The defining characteristic of pessimists is that they tend to believe bad events, which will last a long time and undermine everything they do, are their own fault.

The truth is optimists are confronted with the same hard knocks of this world. What differs is the way they explain their misfortune---it’s the opposite way. They tend to believe defeat is just a temporary setback, that its causes are confined to this one case.

Optimists tend to focus on and plan for the 'problem' at hand. They use 'positive reinterpretation.' In other words, they most likely reinterpret a negative experience in a way that helps them learn and grow. Such people are unfazed by bad situation, they perceive it is a challenge and try harder.

They won’t say “things will never get better,” “If I failed once, it will happen again” and “If I experience misfortune in one part of my life, then it will happen in my whole life.”

Positive expectancies of optimists also predict better reactions during transitions to new environments, sudden tragedies and unlikely turn of events. If they fall, they will stand up. They see opportunities instead of obstacles.

People respond positively to optimists!

Optimists are proactive and less dependent on others for their happiness. They find no need to control or manipulate people. They usually draw people towards them. Their optimistic view of the world can be contagious and influence those they are with.

Optimism seems a socially desirable trait in all communities. Those who share optimism are generally accepted while those who spread gloom, panic and hysteria are treated unfavorably.

In life, these people often win elections; get voted most congenial and sought for advice.

When the going gets tough, optimists get tougher!

Optimists typically maintain higher levels of subjective well-being during times of stress than do people who are less optimistic. In contrast, pessimists are likely to react to stressful events by denying that they exist or by avoiding dealing with the problems. Pessimists are more likely to quit trying when difficulties arise.

Optimists persevere. They just don’t give up easily, they are also known for their patience. Inching their way a step at a time closer to that goal or elusive dream.

Optimists are healthier and live longer!

Medical research has justified that simple pleasures and a positive outlook can cause a measurable increase in the body's ability to fight disease.

Optimists’ health is unusually good. They age well, much freer than most people from the usual physical ills of middle age. And they get to outlive those prone to negative thoughts.

So why not be an optimist today? And think positively towards a more fulfilled life.

Why not look forward to success in all your endeavors? Why not be resilient? Like everybody else, you are bound to hit lows sometimes but don’t just stay there. Carry yourself out of the mud and improve your chances of getting back on the right track.

And why not inspire others to remove their dark-colored glasses and see life on the bright side?


Next time we will look at a 5 Minute Stress Management Progam!


Until then,
Take care and be safe!

Mr. Don

If you would like to learn how to manage your stress in a proactive manner that improves your health rather than tear it down, visit us at Functional Stress Management

The Key to a Better Life

Mr. Don


Time management is basically about being focused.

The Pareto Principle also known as the '80:20 Rule' states that 80% of efforts that are not time managed or unfocused generates only 20% of the desired output. However, 80% of the desired output can be generated using only 20% of a well time managed effort. Although the ratio '80:20' is only arbitrary, it is used to put emphasis on how much is lost or how much can be gained with time management.

Some people view time management as a list of rules that involves scheduling of appointments, goal settings, thorough planning, creating things to do lists and prioritizing. These are the core basics of time management that should be understood to develop efficient personal time management skills. However these basic skills can be fine tuned further to include the finer points of each skill that can give you that extra edge to achieve the results you desire.

But there is more skills involved in time management than the core basics. Skills such as decision making, inherent abilities such as emotional intelligence and critical thinking are also essential to your personal growth.

Personal time management involves everything you do.

No matter how big and no matter how small, everything counts. Each new knowledge you acquire, each new advice you consider, each new skill you develop should be taken into consideration.

Having a balanced life-style should be the key goal in developing personal time management skills. This is the main aspect that many practitioners of personal time management fail to grasp.

Time management is about getting results, not about being busy.

The six areas that personal time management seeks to improve in anyone's life are physical, intellectual, social, career, emotional and spiritual.
-The physical aspect involves having a healthy body, less stress and fatigue.

-The intellectual aspect involves learning and other mental growth activities.

-The social aspect involves developing personal or intimate relations and being an active contributor to society.

-The career aspect involves school and work.

-The emotional aspect involves appropriate feelings and desires and manifesting them.

-The spiritual aspect involves a personal quest for meaning.

Thoroughly planning and having a set of things to do listed for each of the key areas may not be very practical, but determining which area in your life is not being giving enough attention is part of time management. Each area creates the whole you, if you are ignoring one area then you are ignoring an important part of yourself.

Personal time management should not be so daunting a task. It is a very sensible and reasonable approach in solving problems big or small.

A great way of learning time management and improving your personal life is to follow several basic activities consistantly.

One of them is to review your goals whether it be immediate or long-term goals often. A way to do this is to keep a list that is always accessible to you.

*Always determine which task is necessary or not necessary in achieving your goals and which activities are helping you maintain a balanced life style.

*Each and everyone of us has a peak time and a time when we slow down, these are our natural cycles. We should be able to tell when to do the difficult tasks when we are the sharpest.

*Learning to say "No". You actually see this advice often. Heed it even if it involves saying the word to family or friends.

*Pat yourself at the back or just reward yourself in any manner for an effective time management result.

*Try and get the cooperation from people around you who are actually benefiting from your efforts of time management.

*Don't procrastinate. Attend to necessary things immediately.

*Have a positive attitude and set yourself up for success. But be realistic in your approach to achieving your goals.

*Have a record or journal of all your activities. This will help you get things in their proper perspective.



These are the few steps you initially take in becoming a well rounded individual.

As they say, personal time management is the art and science of building a better life.

From the moment you integrate into your life time management skills, you have opened several options that can provide a broad spectrum of solutions to your personal growth. It also creates more doors for opportunities to knock on.

All us have the same 24 hours available to us. What seperates us is what we do with those hours.


Next time we will be looking at some of the benefits of maintaining a positive outlook as we go about our daily activities.

Until next time,
Take care and be safe!

Mr. Don

Am I where I am suppose to be?

Image via Wikipedia

Good morning,

As we are waking up and sucking down some coffee to get the blood pumping I want to ask you a quick question....

Are YOU happy?

Everyone is looking for happiness.

Aristotle said: "Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence."

But how happy are YOU?

Do you still feel as though you're SEEKING something else? As though you aren't QUITE in the right place?

The potential for true happiness and freedom exists within you *right now.*

But most people don't see it. Instead, they focus on the problematic grey clouds. They never realize the beautiful blue sky that always exists just behind them.

The Happiness Now technique is the ONLY technique that helps you uncover your true happiness and freedom - in the most natural and simple way possible!

Let go of fears. Enjoy higher self-esteem. Embrace fantastic relationships. Uncover the real you. And much, much more - all when you ask yourself a few simple questions, using the simple Happiness Now technique.

You won't believe how powerful this course is - and how it can change your life.

So, if you find yourself still "seeking" in any way, make the decision to explore this one final key.

Click on this link and enjoy Happiness Now - for yourself:

http://www.happiness.fm/?afl=59215

You'll surprise yourself.

Until next time,
Take care and be safe!

Mr. Don
Safe Kidz Educational Services

You've seen "The Wizard of Oz,"
One of the greatest movies of all time...

Image by mharrsch via Flickr

The big theme was that the main characters
all thought that they didn't have what it takes
to get what they wanted in life...

The Scarecrow thought he needed a brain...

The Tin Man thought he didn't have a heart...

The Cowardly Lion was a scaredy-cat...

Dorothy felt lost and wanted to go home...

And it turned out that they all already
had everything they needed...

But they were looking around outside of themselves,
while they should have been looking inside...

==> Take advantage of our Free mini e-course

That's usually the problem...we know a lot more
than we think we know, but sometimes we just
need a little nudging from a "wizard" to
remember it...

=======================
Pay No Attention to the
Man Behind the Curtain!
=======================

Don't listen to the so-called "gurus"
that try to get you to spend hundreds,
or even thousands of dollars that you
can't spare to find out the
supposed "secrets" that you must have...

They're just throwing levers and flicking
switches, dazzling and hypnotizing you with
a fantastic floor show that's all smoke and mirrors...

Just like the Wizard of Oz...

But you already have everything you need
to succeed in achieving your goals...

inside of you...

==> Learn how with our free mini e-course...
sign up for free information!

The Functional Self Improvement program gives you the
ability to make those changes that you want to address;

* Become the person you know you can be
* Change those behaviors that are holding you back
* Help your loved ones make improvements in their life
* Do it in an inexpensive and progressive manner
* Don't spend another penny on programs until
you send for your FREE mini e-course

With this Free information, you have your
own personal Wizard...

and you don't even need a twister, a
falling house, or a Wicked Witch...

To your success!

Mr. Don

Safe Kidz Educational Services

==> Take advantage of the free mini e-course while it is still availabe!

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"The Game of Life": Start your own personal coaching program

Mr. Don


Have you ever been a coach to a neighborhood team? I know how it feels the first time I've coached a team of seven-year-old soccer kids and how much they can really test my patience, not to mention sanity as they run around kicking the ball like ants to a huge, white crumb. It feels strange at first, having to be stared at by a bunch of kids who all know that I'm not the one on the field. Sounds wrong in a sense, right? But what is the deal about coaching?

Coaching is all about being a, well, 'coach' in the corporate world of handlers, front-liners and even a couple of benchwarmers biding their time to be given a chance to perform. I know how that feels when I go back to my regular day job. Some players are just MVP material, and some of them are just to support the MVP's so why bother sticking around? It sounds ironic when they say 'there is no I in team', but even the underachievers can be sore losers as well.

These are steps that can be done within the day, and no matter what, it takes determination to be a coach.

1. There is a WHOLE lot of talk these days about Corporate Team Building. There are many, many options: vacation packages, rope courses, on-going office games, ice-breakers, etc. Management can also purchase videos, books, and seminar packages to assist them in building up their organization into a team worthy of belonging. A little later I will give you some ideas of where you can go for information on these team-building tools.

2. The truth about motivation is waiting to be grasped! It is ripe and ready for you to put into action today. Don't settle for mind-numbing gibberish. Get practical in 3 small ways to begin looking forward to your alarm clock sounding off each morning before you huddle with the team.

3. Experience is the best teacher. Only time will give us the real skills to do what ever it is we do, but there is something about being a people person who knows how to stir the energetic side of one individual, and more so when you mix it up with an entire team, because then you can draw on everyone else' experience. Everyone wants to feel appreciated for what they can contribute (even children at home!).

4. To question a person about his or her performance is sometimes required, but never question their knowledge or their intelligence. Sadly, I have seen a few mistakes from past coaches who never seem to understand what a player has to go through to get the job right. It will lead to further aggravation and maybe even hostility. If you want the job done right, then go do it yourself. You'll see how it is to be on the receiving end and it will help your set a much better course for improvement.

5. Sending a player to the bench is probably the worse experience a coach has to go through, especially if your player is the top performer. In dealing with this kind of person, see to it that he spills his guts voluntarily. Egotism in a performer tends to make them lose their focus on even the smallest mistakes. When that happens it distracts everyone else on the team. Be firm, but understanding about it.

6. Don't allow your position to blind you from what you are supposed to do. Even coaches are human enough to think that they are far more superior, but only by rank. Even if you have been in their shoes when you were their age, it's better to dole out a piece of wisdom in order for them to realize that this will be for their own benefit.

7. Lastly, you should learn to trust yourself and your team. Decisions and performance are primarily your goals, and there are many of them to see if they could perform the task much more efficiently. So before you think about sending one member to the bench, have a good chat with him or her and see if they have any problems. If it's too personal, then just encourage them to do their best and it also helps to give them a good, encouraging slap on the back.

That's all there really is to it. Having been a corporate drone myself, I know how important it is for a company to be successful, and we're all part of that success. Coaches are there not to make your work a little more difficult just because you have either an attitude problem or are less than a star performer, but they're the guides who will help you perform as hard as you can possibly can. You'll do them proud one of these days, as well as yourself.

Coaching is a tough job, both as a professional attempting to meet your goals, or as a parent trying to teach your children to become the best person they can be. The pay off when you are successful is unbelievable!!

Next time we will look at a couple of resources that may be of assistance!

Until then,
Take care and be safe!

Mr. Don

The Powers of a Positive Attitude

I am going to ask you to something very weird right now. First of all, I want you to listen to your thoughts. Now tell me, what thoughts fill your head? Would you label them as positive, or negative?

Now let's say you are walking down the street with these thoughts. Do you think anyone who would meet you would be able to tell you what’s on your mind?

The answer to number one is up to you. But, the answer number two can be pretty generic. Although people will not be able to tell you exactly what you think, they will more or less have an idea of how you are feeling.

Here's another question. When you enter a party filled with friends, do they all fall silent as if something terrible had happened? Or does everybody there perk up as if waiting for something exciting to happen?

You know what? The answer to all these depends on your frame of mind.

Thoughts are very powerful. They affect your general attitude. The attitude you carry reflects on your appearance, too – unless, of course, you are a great actor.

And it doesn't end there. Your attitude can also affect people around you.

The type of attitude you carry depends on you. It can be either positive or negative.

Positive thoughts have a uplifting effect. They are admittedly invigorating. Plus, the people around the person carrying positive thoughts are usually energized by this type of attitude.

Negative thoughts on the other hand have a sapping effect on other people. Aside from making you look gloomy and sad, negative thoughts can turn a festive gathering into a funeral wake.

A positive attitude attracts people, while a negative attitude repels them. People tend to shy away from those who carry a negative attitude.

We can also define attitude as the way of looking at the world. If you choose to focus on the negative things in the world, more or less you have a negative attitude brewing up. However, if you choose to focus on the positive things, you are more likely carry a positive attitude.

You have much to gain from a very positive attitude. For one, studies have shown that a positive attitude promotes better health. Those with this kind of attitude also have more friends. projecting a positive attitude also helps one to handle stress and problems better than those who have a negative attitude.

A positive attitude begins with a healthy self-image. If you will love the way you are and are satisfied, confident, and self-assured, you also make others are around feel the same way.

A negative attitude, on the other hand, has, of course, an opposite effect. So, carrying a negative attitude has a twofold drawback. You feel bad about yourself, and you make others feel the same way.

If you want to have a positive attitude, you have to feature healthy thoughts. This is probably very hard to do nowadays since, all around us, the media feeds us nothing but negative thoughts. A study shows that for every 14 things a parent says to his or her child, only one is positive. This is truly a saddening thought.

If you want a healthier outlook in life, you need to think happy thoughts, and you have to hear positive things as well. So, what can you do? Well, for starters, you could see a funny movie, you could play with children, spend some time telling jokes with friends. All these activities fill you with positive stimuli, which in turn promotes positive attitude.

Although it is impossible to keep ourselves from the negative things around us, you can still carry a positive attitude by focusing on the good things, the positive things in life.

And this positive attitude you now carry can be of benefit to other people. Sometimes when other people feel down, the thing people mostly do is try to give them advice. But sometimes, all they need is somebody to sit by them, and listen to them. If you have a positive attitude you may be able to cheer them up without even having to say anything.

If positive attitude is really great, why do people choose to adopt a negative attitude instead?

One who carries a negative attitude may be actually sending a signal for attention. Before you get me wrong, feeling sad, angry, or gloomy is not wrong itself. But dwelling on these thoughts for far too long is not healthy either. There is a time to mourn.

As always, if you are beset by troubles, even in your darkest hour, focus on the good things in life, you will always have hope. Problems become something you can overcome.

You do not have much to lose by adopting a healthy, positive attitude. Studies show that such an attitude actually retards aging, makes you healthier, helps you develop a better stress coping mechanism, and has a very positive effect on all the people you meet every day. So, what's not to like about a positive attitude? Adopt one today.

Next time we will be looking at how Coaching can help us. It's not what you think!

Until then,
Take care and be safe!

Mr. Don

Do Yoda Proud: Meditation 101 - (Do not FEAR the cave!)

Mr. Don

Meditation refers to a state where your body and mind are consciously relaxed and focused. Practitioners of this art report increased awareness, focus, and concentration, as well as a more positive outlook in life.

Meditation is most commonly associated with monks, mystics and other spiritual disciplines. However, you don’t have to be a monk or mystic to enjoy its benefits. And you don’t even have to be in a special place to practice it. You could even try it in your own living room!

Do I have to wear funny cloths and live in a cave?

Although there are many different approaches to meditation, the fundamental principles remain the same. The most important among these principles is that of removing obstructive, negative, and wandering thoughts and fantasies, and calming the mind with a deep sense of focus. This clears the mind of debris and prepares it for a higher quality of activity.

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If you would like to learn more about how practicing a little yoga can produce significant changes in your health, fitness and peace of mind, visit us at Functional Yoga 4 Families to learn more!
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The negative thoughts you have – those of noisy neighbors, bossy officemates, that parking ticket you got, and unwanted spam– are said to contribute to the ‘polluting’ of the mind, and shutting them out is what allows for the ‘cleansing’ of the mind so that it may focus on deeper, more meaningful thoughts.

Are you sure I don't have to live in a cave? (I really don't like bugs!)

Some practitioners try to shut out all sensory input – no sights, no sounds, and nothing to touch – and try to detach themselves from the commotion around them. You may now focus on a deep, profound thought if this is your goal. It may seem deafening at first, since we are all too accustomed to constantly hearing and seeing things, but as you continue this exercise you will find yourself becoming more aware of everything around you but without focusing on it.

I have seen some "yoga" and it looks almost painful!

If you find the meditating positions you see on television threatening – those with impossibly arched backs, and painful-looking contortions – you need not worry. The principle here is to be in a comfortable position conducive to concentration. This may be while sitting cross-legged, standing, lying down, and even walking.

If the position allows you to relax and focus, then that would be a good starting point. While sitting or standing, the back should be straight, but not tense or tight. In other positions, the only no-no is slouching and falling asleep.

Back to the funny cloths, I only wear a robe when I get out of the shower!

Loose, comfortable clothes help a lot in the process since tight fitting clothes have a tendency to choke you up and make you feel tense. (Some practioners follow a program of NUDE Yoga, so robes are not required. If you are my neighbor, please don't practice nude yoga in the back yard, otherwise it's gonna be a really long day!)

But really, no cave right?

The place you perform meditation should have a soothing atmosphere. It may be in your living room, or bedroom, or any place that you feel comfortable in. You might want an exercise mat if you plan to take on the more challenging positions (if you feel more focused doing so, and if the contortionist in you is screaming for release). You may want to have the place arranged so that it is soothing to your senses.

Silence helps most people relax and meditate, so you may want a quiet, isolated area far from the ringing of the phone or the humming of the washing machine. Pleasing scents also help in that regard, so stocking up on aromatic candles isn’t such a bad idea either.

Ok, I get it, no cave, but what about this chanting thing?

The monks you see on television making those monotonous sounds are actually performing their mantra. This, in simple terms, is a short creed, a simple sound which, for these practitioners, holds a mystic value.

You do not need to perform such; however, it would pay to note that focusing on repeated actions such as breathing, and humming help the practitioner enter a higher state of consciousness.

The principle here is focus. You could also try focusing on a certain object or thought, or even, while keeping your eyes open, focus on a single sight.

One sample routine would be to – while in a meditative state – silently name every part of you body and focusing your consciousness on that part. While doing this you should be aware of any tension on any part of your body. Mentally visualize releasing this tension. It works wonders. (We recommend this guided imagery in our Functional Stress Management program for relaxation!)

Alright, I've been a little stressed out lately, but I don't want to shave my head and start hanging out at airports giving out flowers, what are the risks?

In all, meditation is a relatively risk-free practice and its benefits are well worth the effort (or non-effort – remember we’re relaxing).

Studies have shown that meditation does bring about beneficial physiological effects to the body. And there has been a growing consensus in the medical community to further study the effects of such. So in the near future, who knows, that mystical, esoteric thing we call meditation might become a science itself!

Western medicine and science are waking up to the many benefits of yoga. Sign up for the FREE yoga intro mini-ecourse Functional Yoga 4 Families to see for yourself how to incorperate Yoga into your everyday activities!

Next time we will look at how our outlook....


Take care and be safe!

Mr. Don

Functional Yoga 4 Families

(no caves or funny clothes required!)

Genuine Happiness

Mr. Don

Life isn’t the sweetest candy. Sometimes, when I feel like the world is just too heavy, I look around and find people who continue to live fascinating and wonderful lives and appear to be genuinely happy. And then thoughts come popping into my mind like bubbles from nowhere – “How did their life become so adorably sweet? How come they still can manage to laugh and play around despite a busy stressful life?” Then I pause and observe for awhile… Eventually I figured out that maybe, they had started to work on improving a place called ‘self’.

So, how does one become genuinely happy?

My philosophy professor once said that “loving means accepting.” To love oneself means to accept that you are not a perfect being, but behind the imperfections must lie a great amount of courage to be able to discover ways on how to improve your repertoire, and to learn from our mistakes.

Genuine happiness also pertains to contentment. When you are contented with the job you have, the way you look, with your family, your friends, the place you live in, your car, and all the things you now have – truly, you know the answer to the question “how to be genuinely happy.”

When we discover a small spark of change somewhere from within, that small spark will eventually lead to something else, and to something else. Encourage this small spark and it may transform into a program of change that leads you far beyond what you thought you were capable of. But if you keep questioning life like it has never done you any good, you will never be able to find genuine happiness.

I believe that life is about finding out about right and wrong, trying and failing, wining and losing. These are things that happen as often as you inhale and exhale. Failure, in a person’s life has become as abundant and necessary as air. When we fail at something or suffer set backs, if we are able to learn something from the experience we will continue to grow. But if we live in fear of making mistakes it will hinder us from becoming happy.

How to be genuinely happy in spite all these? I tell you… every time you exert effort to improve the quality of life and your being, whether it is cleaning up your room, helping a friend, taking care of your sick dog, failing on board exams and trying again, life gives you points for that.

Imagine life as a big score board like those which are used in the NFLs. Every time you take a step forward, you make scoring points. Wouldn’t it be nice to look at that board at the end of each game and think to yourself “Whew! I got a point today. I’m glad I gave it a shot.”, instead of looking at it all blank and murmur “Geez, I didn’t even hit a score today. I wish I had the guts to try out. We could have won!” and then walk away.

Genuine happiness isn’t about driving the hottest Formula 1 car, nor getting the employee of the year award, earning the highest 13th month pay, or beating the sales quota. Sometimes, the most sought after prizes in life doesn’t always go to the fastest, the strongest, the bravest or even the best.

So, how do you become genuinely happy?

Every one has his own definition of ‘happiness’. Happiness for a writer may mean launching as much best selling books as possible. Happiness for a basketball rookie may mean getting the rookie of the year award. Happiness for a beggar may mean a lot of money. Happiness for a business man may mean success.

So, really now, how do we become genuinely happy? Simple. You don’t have to have the best things in this world.

Its about doing and making the best out of every single situation. When you find yourself smiling at your own mistake and telling your self “Oh, I’ll do better next time”, you carry with you a flame of strong will power to persevere that may spread out like a brush fire. You possess a willingness to stand up again and try – that will make you a genuinely happy person.

When you learn to accept yourself and your own faults. You pass step 1 in the project “how to become genuinely happy”. For as long as you know how to accept others, you will also be accepted. For as long as you love and know how to love, you will receive love ten folds back.

Again, throw me that same question “how to become genuinely happy?”. I’ll refer you to a friend of mine who strongly quoted- “Most of us know that laughter is the best medicine to life’s aches and pain. But most of us don’t know that the best kind of laughter is laughter over self. Coz then you don’t just become happy… you become free.”

Find some thing about yourself and have a good chuckle! It's a great way to go!

Next time we will be looking at some ways that we can incorperate a little meditation in to our lives that is easy and extremely useful!

Take care and be safe!

Mr. Don

Does a Law of Human Attraction Exist?

Mr. Don


“Opposites attract” is a law of attraction, at least where electromagnetism is concerned. But are there laws about attraction between two people? “In a world that is full of strangers” as a line in a famous song of the 1980’s goes, is there a clear set of rules that allows two people to fall for each other?

Is attraction a matter of chemistry?

Maybe. According to scientists, the attraction between animals of the opposite sex is all about chemicals called pheromones. The effect of pheromones in behavior of insects is the most studied to date. It has been observed, at least in some experiments, that pheromones are responsible for communication among same species and colony of ants. The horrible odor released by skunks to ward off enemies is said to be a kind of pheromone. Some species of apes rub pheromone-containing urine on the feet of potential mates to attract them. Some scientists believe that animals (usually the females) such as insects and mammals send out these chemical signals to tell the male of their species that their genes are different from theirs. This gene diversity is important in producing offspring with better chances of survival. The perfume industry has capitalized on pheromones as a means to increase one’s sexual attractiveness to the opposite sex. Animals such as the whale and the musk deer were hunted down for these chemicals.

Lately, scientists are looking into the existence of human pheromones and its role in mate selection. There are many conflicting views in the realm of biology, chemistry, genetics, and psychology. Most scientists would assert that these do not exist, or if they do, do not play a role in sexual attraction between a man and a woman. But new researches such as that conducted by Swiss researchers from the University of Bern led by Klaus Wedekind are slowly making these scientists rethink their stand. Their experiment involved women sniffing the cotton shirts of different men during their ovulation period. It was found out that women prefer the smell of men’s shirts that were genetically different, but also shared similarities with the women’s genes. This, like in the case of insects and other mammals, was to ensure better and healthier characteristics for their future children. But researchers also cautioned that preference for a male odor is affected by the women’s ovulation period, the food that men eat, perfumes and other scented body products, and the use of contraceptive pills.

Does personality figure in sexual attraction?

Yes, but so does your perception of a potential mate’s personality. According to a research conducted by Klohnen, E.C., & S. Luo in 2003 on interpersonal attraction and personality, a person’s sense of self-security and at least the person’s perception of his/her partner were found to be strong determinants of attraction in hypothetical situations. What does this tell us? We prefer a certain personality type, which attracts you to a person. But aside from the actual personality of the person, which can only be verified through close interaction through time, it is your perception of your potential partner that attracts you to him/her, whether the person of your affection truly has that kind of personality or not. This could probably account for a statement commonly heard from men and women on their failed relationships: “I thought he/she was this kind of person.”

So how does attraction figure in relationships?

You have probably heard that attraction is a prelude, or a factor towards a relationship. Most probably, at least in the beginning; but attraction alone cannot make a relationship work. It is that attraction that makes you notice a person from the opposite sex, but once you get to know the person more, attraction is just one consideration. Shared values, dreams, and passions become more significant in long-term relationships.

So should I stop trying to become attractive?

More than trying to become physically attractive, work on all aspects of your health: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Physical attraction is still a precursor. Remember, biology predisposes us to choose the partner with the healthiest genes. Where your emotions are concerned, just ask this to yourself: would you want to spend time with a person who feels insecure about him/herself? Probably not! There is wisdom in knowing yourself: who you are, your beliefs, values, and dreams. And do not pretend to be someone you are not. Fooling another person by making him/her think that you share the same values and beliefs is only going to cause you both disappointments. When you are healthy in all aspects, attractiveness becomes a consequence and not an end. As mentioned in the Klohnen and Luo’s research, a person’s sense of self-security matters, perhaps even beyond attraction.

Remember: do these things for yourself and not for other people. Only then can you truly harness your attractiveness as a person.

That's it for now.

Next time we will look at finding the elusive key to happieness!

Until then,
Take care and be safe!

Mr. Don

PS. If stress is keeping you from being the relaxed energetic person that you used to be, check out our Functional Stress Management FREE mini-ecourse. Learn how to identify the type of stress you may be suffering from, what are the signs of stress in loved ones, how stress attacks you physically and many other useful suggestions and tips that will help you and your loved ones avoid the physical and psychological consequences of stress!

The Road to Intuition

by Mr. Don


Have you had that experience when all of a sudden you just had this huge hunch that something is about to happen, and to your surprise, that intuition was eventually translated to reality?

When you feel strongly about something without logical basis to it, that's called intuition. It comes in three impressions: clairvoyance or "the third eye", sensing clearly and feeling through listening.

Clairvoyance is when your eye goes beyond what it can see. This is when you know what is happening somewhere.

Sensing clearly is basically what we refer to as "hunch" or "gut feel." This is the time when you are overwhelmed with a feeling and you can't explain it and all you can say is "I just know."

On the other hand, feeling through listening or clairaudience is being able to "listen" between the lines. Intuition also happens at times when a certain sound, whatever it is - be it a car's honk or a bird's twitting - ushers in an intense feeling.

They say only a number of people are gifted with intuition. Astrologers even insist that people born under the Scorpio or Pisces signs are naturally intuitive, it almost borders on E.S.P. But studies have been sprouting left and right that proclaim that anyone can develop intuition.

Why the need to develop intuition, you ask? Why not let your emotional and psychological state stay as it is? First and foremost, intuition promotes good communication. It makes you more sensitive to the people around you; it often keeps you from hurting those you love because you are intuitive enough to understand them. Intuition also makes you far more creative than ever. Intuition means releasing more creative juices for any means of expression. Lastly, intuition has a healing power. This healing power is not in the physical sense, but in delving deep into your soul to eradicate some negative energy buried in it.

With that being said, are you ready to develop your intuition? Here are some ways to unlock this gift:

1. Hypnosis

Oh yes, get yourself hypnotized. Hypnosis is not limited to watching a pendulum move back and forth like they show in the movies. Hypnosis is a quick way to enter into a very relaxed state of mind. Perform self-hypnosis or you can check out hypnotic programs on cd or in mp3 format that can strengthen your intuition.

2. Meditation

Meditating means finding peace in yourself. If your mind and heart are cluttered with too many baggage and hurt, you wouldn't be able to quiet down that part of you that could eventually initiate intuition. There are so many ways to meditate: take a yoga class, or just simply practice some breathing that could bring you straight to Zen.

3. Think positive!

A worry-free, fear-free state could do so much to improve your intuitive ability. By staying positive, you attract good energy that would be able to easily recognize imminent feelings and events.

4. Just let go.

What does this mean? If you are on the brink of making a huge decision, let go of all the inhibitions and head to a quiet place where you could find out where the letting go has brought you. Sometimes you just have to listen to the voice within you, and that voice wouldn't come out unless you let go.

5. Never expect.

After letting go of the inhibitions and all those things that stop you from thinking and feeling clearly, never expect for an answer right away. Never expect that the "hunch" will fall in to your lap immediately. Give it a little time then you'd just get surprised that -- wham! -- now you have your answer.

6. Believe in your first impressions.

When you see someone for the first time and think that he is a bit too arrogant for your taste, chances are that impression actually holds true. Most of the time, first impressions are brought by intuition.

(We talk about this in our safety awareness program in terms of teaching young people that if something does not "feel" right, to go around!)

7. Stay happy!

See? All you need to be intuitive is to stay happy! Happiness attracts immense power and such power includes intuition. In tapping your intuition, your motivation must be happiness and contentment. Given that premise, intuition will come to you easily.

Intuition is helpful, because sometimes it leads you to something that cannot be achieved otherwise. A lot of lives have been saved by intuition alone. Decisions are easier done if armed by this gift. Develop intuition now and reap benefits you have never imagined.

That's it for today! Next time we will be talking about how changing your point of reference can improve your self esteem and make any program of self improvement much easier to accomplish! (There is not easy button, but there are "easier" buttons that can help!

Until next time,

Take care and be safe!

Mr. Don

PS. Have you signed up for the FREE intro lessons yet? You know there is an easier way to accomplish your personal goals, and our intro lessons will get you started the right way to make sure you get to where YOU want to go!

BUILD YOUR SELF ESTEEM, A STARTER GUIDE TO SELF IMPROVEMENT

Every single day there are many little things that attack our self esteem and work to undermine our programs of self improvement. So how do you stay calm, composed and maintain self esteem in a tough environment? Here are some tips you may to consider as a starter guide to self improvement.

Imagine yourself as a little stick pin doll. (Like a little voodoo doll!!)Everything and everyone else around you may become stick pins, at one point or another. These stick pins will destroy your self esteem and pull you down in ways you won’t even remember. Don’t let them destroy you, or get the best of you. So which Stick pins should you avoid?


Stick pin #1 : Negative Work Environment

Beware of “dog eat dog” theory where everyone else is fighting just to get ahead. This is where non-appreciative people usually thrive. No one will appreciate your contributions even if you miss lunch and dinner, and stay up late. Most of the time you get to work too much without getting help from people concerned. Stay out of this, it will ruin your self esteem. Competition is at stake anywhere. Be healthy enough to compete, but in a healthy competition that is.

Stick pin #2: Other People’s Behavior

Bulldozers, brown nosers, gossipmongers, whiners, backstabbers, snipers, people walking wounded, controllers, naggers, complainers, exploders, patronizers, sluffers… all these kinds of people will pose bad vibes for your self esteem, as well as to your self improvement plans.

Stick pin #3: Changing Environment

You can’t be a green bug on a brown field. Changes challenge our paradigms. It tests our flexibility, adaptability and alters the way we think. Changes will make life difficult for awhile, it may cause stress but it will help us find ways to improve our selves. Change will be there forever, we must be open to it and that no matter what we do, change will happen.

Stick pin #4: Past Experience

It’s okay to cry and say “ouch!” when we experience pain. But don’t let pain transform itself into fear. It might grab you by the tail and swing you around. Treat each failure and mistake as a lesson. Making mistakes is how we learn. If we did it right the very first time, we would not have a clue as what we did to make the outcome successful, so how could we do it again? Never stop learning from your experiences.

Stick pin #5: Negative World View

Look at what you’re looking at. Don’t wrap yourself up with all the negativity's of the world. In building self esteem, we must learn how to make the best out of worst bad situations.

Stick pin #6: Determination Theory

The way you are and your behavioral traits is said to be a mixed end product of your inherited traits (genetics), your upbringing (psychic), and your environmental surroundings such as your spouse, the company you work for, the economy or your circle of friends. You have your own identity. If your father is a failure, it doesn’t mean you have to be a failure too. Learn from other people’s experience, so you won't have to repeat the same mistakes. Why reinvent the wheel? If we know something didn't work the first time, why do the same thing again and expect a different out come!



Sometimes, you may want to wonder if some people are born leaders or positive thinkers. NO. Being positive, and staying positive is a choice. Building self esteem and drawing lines for self improvement is a choice, not a rule or a talent. God wouldn’t come down from heaven and tell you – “George, you now have my permission to build your self esteem and improve your self.”

In life, its hard to stay tough specially when things and people around you keep pulling you down. When we get to the battle field, we should choose the right weapons to bring and armors to use, and pick those that are bullet proof. Life’s options give us arrays of more options. During the battle, we will get hit and bruised. And wearing a bullet proof suit of armor of ‘self change’ ideally means that the stick pins don't get to us.

A program of functional self improvement changes 3 things: our attitude, our behavior and our mind set or way of thinking. These areas provide us with the material to put together our suit of emotional armor!

Building self esteem will eventually lead to self improvement if we start to become responsible for who we are, what we have and what we do. Its like a flame that should gradually spread like a brush fire from inside and out.

When we develop self esteem, we take control of our mission, values and discipline.

Self esteem brings about self improvement, true assessment, and determination. So how do you start putting up the building blocks of self esteem? Be positive. Be contented and happy. Be appreciative. Never miss an opportunity to compliment.

A positive way of looking at life will help you build your self esteem, and never forget, you will be the person that your young people look to as a guide to their approach to self improvement.


Until next time,
Take care and be safe!

Mr. Don

PS. If you would like more information on how to effectively begin a program of self improvement that will exceed your success expectations sign up for the Functional Self Improvement program. This realistic program of self improvement delivers weekly lessons to your desk top that you can implement right away to achieve the results you are looking for. You will also receive weekly follow up and support that will provide you with additional tips, suggestions and resources that you can use to turbo charge your efforts to achieve maximum results.

Sign up for our FREE intro mini-ecourse in the box at the top of this page!

Self improvement is more than just breaking bad habits!

But they are a great place to start. Bad habits can range from the small, annoying type of habits up to and including addictions.

The thing is that bad habits are truely something that we have done to ourselves. They develop over the course of time, through repetition. When we do something repeatedly, we develop the "habit" of doing it that way. Pretty soon the behavioral link is set in place and we don't even have to think about doing the behavior, we do it automatically.

So, let me ask you a question.

What BAD HABITS do you have right now?

Smoking? Overeating? Procrastination? Drink? Drugs? Do you waste your time? Or not take care of your body?

Think about it.

You KNOW what your bad habits are. Don't you?

And you KNOW you shouldn't be doing it.

Right?

And yet you continue. And continue. And try to quit, then continue again. Every single time.

The pull is too great.

You've been there, right? Maybe you're in a similar situation right now?

And you'll NEVER be able to change that pull.

Why?

Because you're trying to get rid of the habits the WRONG WAY.

But... There's one person that knows how to release bad habits, almost instantly, the RIGHT WAY.

And she's called Lee Milteer.

Lee is a best-selling author and Fortune 100 coach. She's trained CEOs from across the globe to drop bad habits within just MINUTES.

I first discovered Lee last year -- and was amazed when I tried her material.

She's trained the top dogs at Disney, AT&T, IBM, Xerox, the US Navy, and many more. Her "Habit Busting Secrets" system is revolutionary -- and will leave you feeling GREAT!

Today, finally, she's released her whole system to the world.

So, are you going to carry on as you are for the rest of your LIFE - or are you going to learn more?

Just click here

You won't risk a dime discovering ALL of Lee's secrets. I can personally vouch for the course - and I know you'll amaze yourself too.

Try it and see for yourself!

Enjoy! :)


Mr. Don

Even if I take a wrong turn, I can find another route to success.

On those days when it seems like everything has headed south on you, here is a little affirmation that you can read to yourself when you need a little “stabilizing”.

It works! It makes you slow down for a minute and catch your breathe.

I used this yesterday when I discovered that the sign up form I had been using, or thought I had been using, was not functioning properly. That meant that everyone who had signed up to receive information had not received it! I had worked really hard to set that program up, and come to find out no one had been getting it!

Utter devastation would be putting it mildly!

Anyway the sun came up the next day and it was time to start again. So when you are beating your self up, take a minute and review this little affirmation, it may help!

Even if I take a wrong turn, I can find another route to success.

If I steer my vessel in the wrong direction, I can find a map and chart out a new course. Stopping is not an option. I will find my way as long as I keep my eyes on the prize.

Success is a journey, not a destination. That is why I strive to make each step count. A positive attitude helps me move forward and, even when I am unsure of where I am, I am not lost. Instead, I choose to become a trailblazer. The generation coming behind me will have access to another route thanks to my resolve to stay the course and forge a new path.

When I come to a fork in the road I trust my intuition to guide me. Being spontaneous in this way helps me release my inner self and experience success in a new way. Spontaneity gives me freedom.

Missing a turn causes me no panic because I know that I have countless options; I am not limited to only one way. A wrong turn may lead me to find a new way. The opportunity to explore the unknown excites me.

Although it feels daring to get off the fast-paced highway of life and take the scenic route, detours can be worthwhile because they lead me to discover the beautiful things in life that I otherwise may have missed. The road less traveled is filled with the most stunning sights.

Flexibility allows me to prosper despite failure. Being flexible gives me the strength to keep going when I would rather stop.



When you are reading through this, take the time to think about the statements individually.

Well, that’s it for today! Have a wonderful weekend!

Mr. Don

Ps. Here are a few relevant questions you can ask yourself when you get a free, quiet moment.



Self-Reflection Questions:

1. What do I do when I reach a dead end?
2. How might I become less rigid and more flexible?
3. What changes can I make to ensure that I enjoy the journey just as much as the end reward?


Just posted a new article over at Functional Stress Management looking at using Positive Self-Talk to achieve your goals.

Who's the Boss?" 10 Ways to Start Taking Control

At first glance, it would seem that positive thinking and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) have nothing to do with one another. But many of us with ADD develop negative thinking patterns because we become frustrated by our challenges and frequent feelings of being overwhelmed.

This negative outlook then makes it even harder for us to manage those challenges and move forward.

Practicing positive thinking allows people with ADD to focus on our strengths and accomplishments, which increases happiness and motivation. This, in turn, allows us to spend more time making progress, and less time feeling down and stuck. The following tips provide practical suggestions that you can use to help you shift into more positive thinking patterns:

1. Take Good Care of Yourself
It's much easier to be positive when you are eating well, exercising, and getting enough rest.

2. Remind Yourself of the Things You Are Grateful For
Stresses and challenges don't seem quite as bad when you are constantly reminding yourself of the things that are right in life. Taking just 60 seconds a day to stop and appreciate the good things will make a huge difference.

3. Look for the Proof Instead of Making Assumptions
A fear of not being liked or accepted sometimes leads us to assume that we know what others are thinking, but our fears are usually not reality. If you have a fear that a friend or family member's bad mood is due to something you did, or that your co-workers are secretly gossiping about you when you turn your back, speak up and ask them. Don't waste time worrying that you did something wrong unless you have proof that there is something to worry about.

4. Refrain from Using Absolutes
Have you ever told a partner "You're ALWAYS late!" or complained to a friend "You NEVER call me!"? Thinking and speaking in absolutes like 'always' and 'never' makes the situation seem worse than it is, and programs your brain into believing that certain people are incapable of delivering.

5. Detach From Negative Thoughts
Your thoughts can't hold any power over you if you don't judge them. If you notice yourself having a negative thought, detach from it, witness it, and don't follow it.

6. Squash the "ANTs"
In his book "Change Your Brain, Change Your Life," Dr. Daniel Amen talks about "ANTs" - Automatic Negative Thoughts. These are the bad thoughts that are usually reactionary, like "Those people are laughing, they must be talking about me," or "The boss wants to see me? It must be bad!" When you notice these thoughts, realize that they are nothing more than ANTs and squash them!

7. Practice Lovin', Touchin' & Squeezin' (Your Friends and Family)
You don't have to be an expert to know the benefits of a good hug. Positive physical contact with friends, loved ones, and even pets, is an instant pick-me-up. One research study on this subject had a waitress touch some of her customers on the arm as she handed them their checks. She received higher tips from these customers than from the ones she didn't touch!

8. Increase Your Social Activity
By increasing social activity, you decrease loneliness. Surround yourself with healthy, happy people, and their positive energy will affect you in a positive way!

9. Volunteer for an Organization, or Help another Person
Everyone feels good after helping. You can volunteer your time, your money, or your resources. The more positive energy you put out into the world, the more you will receive in return.

10. Use Pattern Interrupts to Combat Rumination
If you find yourself ruminating, a great way to stop it is to interrupt the pattern and force yourself to do something completely different. Rumination is like hyper-focus on something negative. It's never productive, because it's not rational or solution-oriented, it's just excessive worry. Try changing your physical environment - go for a walk or sit outside. You could also call a friend, pick up a book, or turn on some music.

When it comes to the corporate world, protocol is pretty much the religion. To know the things needed to do are the basics of productivity, but interaction and having a steady mind makes up the entire thing to true productivity. There are those who seem to work well even under pressure, but they're uncommon ones and we are human and imperfect. To let these little things like stress under our skins won't solve our problems.

Sometimes it takes a bit of courage to admit that we're turning into be workaholics than tell ourselves that we're not doing our best.

Thats it for today, but check back tomorrow!
Until then, take care and be safe!
Mr. Don

Be sure and visit our sister sites for more functional and useable information!

Welcome to Functional Self Improvement

This space is being developed to provide real people with the tools and information that you need to make significant and real changes in lives! This is not designed for those individuals who can 90 days to go find themselves in the mountain caves because they have lost their "centeredness". Nothing against that approach, but most of the people that I come incontact with are real people with real jobs and real families that hinder the "drop off the face of the earth until its all back togeather!!" approach to making changes.

Most of us have to tackle things one at a time, because the rest of life places demands on us as well. It would be great to take time to write the next great American novel, but for now I'd settle for getting everything written on my todo list!!

If that in any way sounds familiar, you are where you are suppose to be.

We will be putting up articles and tips that real people and families can use to move themselves closer to their goals. We will be covering a lot of different areas in this adventure, so check back often.

Take care and be safe!
Mr. Don

Be sure and check out our sister sites for more information, suggestions and tips!

Functional Stress Management
Learn how to manage your stress in a positive, proactive manner

Functional Yoga 4 Families
Yoga has been around so long, because it works! You owe it to yourself and your family to find out how Yoga can improve your physical and psychological well being

Mom~Z~Mean Business
The place for busy women to get tips and tricks to improve their lives and the lives of their loved ones with out going crazy!

Funcitonal Fitness 4 Young People
Getting young people to be more active and fit is not impossible! Find out how

Safe Kidz Educational Services
Physical and Psychological harressment continue to be directed at our children everyday! Learn how to give them the skills they need to be fit, safe and resilient!

Mr. Don Recommends
This is a collection of recourses that we have personally found to be effective or that have been reported to us as being effective by other students.