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Develop A Healthy Self-Concept

Everything begins and ends with you!

Yourself-conceptis how you view yourself. How you view yourself,

determines how you will experience life. If you see yourself in a

positive and healthy light, your life experiences will be positive and

healthy. It doesn't mean, of course, that your life will be free of

challenges andadversity, just that you will have a healthier approach

to dealing with them. If your opinion of yourself is shaky and fragile,

you will find life's challenges overwhelming and at times,

insurmountable.

What is your self-concept?

It is the understanding and knowledge you have of your own existence

and how you see yourself in relation to

others and to your surroundings.

In order to possess a positive or healthy

self-concept you must:

Know yourself

Love yourself

Be True to yourself

Today we live in an increasingly complex

and multifaceted world. In order to meet

the challenges we now face, it is more

important than ever to build a solid

personal foundation. A foundation

consisting of self-knowledge, self-love

andself-confidence.

To be sure, a healthyself-conceptis more than having high self-

esteem. While high self-esteem is important, the term itself can be

misleading since self-esteem is largely based on your 'feelings' of self-

worth and encompasses your 'beliefs' about being valuable and

capable. It consists of your self-image, either positive or negative, at

an emotional level.

When based on emotion, self-esteem can be wavering and vulnerable

to threats. Likewise, if it's obtained mostly from external factors, suchas an attractive physical appearance, or being popular, you can feel on

top of the world one day, and find yourself disillusioned or disappointed

on the next.

Therefore, a healthy self-concept must derive from within. Instead of

being dependent upon validation from external sources, or the

wavering opinions of others, self-esteem must result from self-

reflection, self-analysis and self-acceptance.

"Self-reverence,

self-knowledge,

self-control -

these three alone

lead to power."

Lord Alfred

Tennyson

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What constitutes a healthy self-concept?

The ability toknow yourself; to be able to assess your

strengths, weaknesses, talents and potential.

The ability tolove and accept yourselfas you are, knowing that

you can improve and develop any aspects of yourself that you

choose.

The ability to be honest with yourself andbe true to who you

are and what you value.

The ability to take responsibility for your choices and actions.

Developing a healthy self-concept takes deliberate planning and

concentrated effort. It takes acknowledging your intrinsic value as a

human being, and then working to acquire the skills needed to confront

the manychallenges and adversities we encounter in life.

When you posses a healthy self-concept, nothing can rattle you, or

take you off your stride. You are confident, poised, and assured

because you know you are equipped to handle whatever comes your

way.

Related articles:

How To Build Self-Confidence

Love Yourself

Know Yourself

Be True To Yourself

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How To Build Self-Confidence

When I was in my late teens a friend

of mine, an elite athlete, gave me

the most profound, yet simple advice

that changed the way I would view

myself forever. He told me:

"If you don't think very highly of

yourself, you can't expect anyone

else to think it of you."

Translation - It means that we alone

are responsible forbuilding self-

confidence. We cannot depend upon,

or wait for anyone else's approval.

We must see ourselves as worthy

and capable of achieving anything we choose to achieve.

Ultimately, how we see ourselves is more important than how anyone

else sees us.

If we don't work at loving and accepting ourselves, nothing anyone else

thinks matters.

In a similar vein, have you ever felt that you don't measure up to

others overall? In that case, think about how many times you may

have met a gorgeous man or woman and then afterwards forgot how

good looking they were because they had nothing interesting to say or

could add nothing of value to your perspective. I would think it

happens more often than not!

Consider that in an opinion poll done byMen's Health Magazine(1,000

American women ages 21 to 54 in two online polls) women rated traits

relating to character andpersonalitymuch higher than they scored

those reflecting physical attractiveness.

In other online questionnaires filled out by both men and women the

number one quality found desirable in someone was 'self-confidence'.

Physical attractiveness didn't even make the top 10!

The bottom line is that what you think of, and how you project

yourself, is more important than merely having good looks. Building

self-confidence is not only a great way to attract others, but a great

way to feel good about yourself!

"Whether you

think you can orthink you can't -

you are right."

Henry Ford

Filled with

Effective Tips &

Strategies!

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Tips For Building Self-Confidence

Acknowledge Your Uniqueness.

Believe in yourself and know that you are one of a kind. In the

words of Walt Whitman know:

"That you are here--that life exists, and identity;That the powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a

verse."

There is no one else like you on this planet. No one looks like

you, has the same talents, experiences, or perspective as you

do. You areuniqueand are therefore here to make your unique

contribution. If we each focus on what we bring into the world

to share, there can be no comparisons, envy or regret. We are

here to "contribute a verse".

Give it Your Best.

When you do the best you can, with the best of what you've

got, you can't help but feel good about yourself and

thatconfidencecomes through in everything that you do.

Giving it your best makes you unafraid to take risks or step out

of yourcomfort zone- both great confidence-builders.

Persevere.

Everybody has setbacks and obstacles to contend with. Don't

let them undermine your confidence. Treat them asopportunities to strengthen your resolve and then persevere.

Overcome adversity.

Overcoming adversitybuilds and strengthens self-confidence.

The greatest songs, works of art and literary pieces have been

written by those who have experienced the depths of despair,

loss and emptiness and overcame them. Experiencing sadness

and loss, and then rising above them, gives rise to hope and

triumph. It makes you stretch and become more than youwere.

Accomplish something.

Set goals for yourself and then

push yourself to reach them. Self-

confidence soars when you know

you can do what you put your mind

to. It makes you feel unstoppable.

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Likewise, achieve mastery. Mastery experiences are those in

which you know you have worked hard and put in great effort

to achieve success.

Separate Yourself From the Event.

You are not what happens to you, nor how you believe others

see you. In other words, you are not definedby what happens

to you, nor are youdefinedby how others see you. You are who

you choose to be - a person of character, dignity and self-

confidence.

Confront your fears.

There's nothing that destroys self-confidence more than

succumbing to fear. Everyone feels fear at various times; we're

human, however facing circumstances with courage and poise

strengthens character and builds self-confidence. Put yourself

out there! If you're afraid to meet new people, attend social

events, etc. - don't stay home and fret. Doing builds

confidence. Of course, you'll feel, and probably be awkward the

first few times in new situations, however, the more you do it,

the better you'll get, and therefore the better you'll feel about

yourself.

Good looks do notequal self-confidence.

Some of the most attractive people in the world are insecure

and lack self-confidence. Marilyn Monroe was considered to be

one of the sexiest, most beautiful people in the world, yet she

lacked a positiveself-image. She misguidedly allowed external

factors, such as the approval of others, to determine her self

worth. Good looks may help you feel good about yourself

temporarily, but are by no means enough.

Take good care of yourself. When you are in fit, in good

health, and make a point of looking your best, you can't helpbut feel confident. This is different, of course, from comparing

your looks to others. It's about being comfortable

with you. Everyone looks good when they're in good shape,

well groomed, and healthy. You can't help but have a glow

about you when you take good care of yourself.

Learn how to give yourself a pep talk.

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We all have our down moments, moments of doubt, confusion

and uncertainty. When that happens, we must learn how to

restore self-confidence. One way is to understand that

everyone goes through such moments. Another is to remember

past successes,visualizethe desired outcome, and keep at it!

Practice makes perfect.

Self-confidence is absolutely essential to achieving success in any

endeavor. You acquire it by doing, learning, accomplishing, andpersisting.

Love Yourself or

The Art of Self-Acceptance

Tolove yourselfmeans to accept yourself as you are and to come to

terms with those aspects of yourself that you cannot change. It means

to have self-respect, a positive self-image, and unconditional self-

acceptance.

Needless to say, it does not mean being arrogant,

conceited or thinking that you are better than

anyone else. It means having a healthy regard for

yourself knowing that you are a worthy human

being.

It is important to remind ourselves that no one is

perfect. We all have strengths and weaknesses and

we certainly possess the resources to work on

improving ourselves.

Each of us is unique and has specific talents and abilities to offer. We

are all here, in the words of Walt Whitman,"to contribute a verse".

In order to appreciate yourself it is up to you to discover what makes

youuniqueand to further develop those talents. We have a

responsibility to ourselves to do so.

You cannot sit around and wait for approval from others. Work

onacceptingyourself. You are the only "you" that you have. It is in your

best interests to be the best you can be.

Until you love yourself, you will not be able to love anyone else. You

can only love another to the degree that you do yourself.

How do you love yourself?

You do so byinvesting inand working on your personal growth and

development. You work on being the best you. You understand that

"You, yourself, as

much as anybody

in the entire

universe, deserve

your love and

affection".

Buddah

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you are human, but you acknowledge that you have the potential and

spiritual capability to rise above whatever conditions and obstacles are

put in your path.

When you love yourself you endeavor to take care of yourself

physically, mentally and emotionally. You take care to look and feel

your best by nurturing your body, mind and spirit.

Conversely, if you don't love yourself enough, starttaking care of yourbody, mind, and spirit. You will not only become more self-aware, you

will generate feelings of worth and accomplishment.

Your Body

Youtake care of your bodyby eating well, exercising and getting plenty

of rest. There are many wonderful books available that can help you

learn whattypes of foodand exercise are good for you and your

particular body type.

Your Mind

Your mind needs nourishment and exercise

too. Don't take it for granted. Stimulate it by

learning about new and interesting things.

Keeping your mind active helps prevent

certain old age diseases such as Alzheimer's

and dementia. Keeping the neural

connections of your mind active helps

maintain memory andbrain functionsat

optimum levels.

Your Spirit

If you take care of your mind and body but neglect your spirit, you will

lackbalanceand feel that something is missing in your life. Taking care

of your spirit rejuvenates you, and helps you deal with the daily

stresses and challenges of everyday life.

When you love yourself, you invest in yourpersonal growth and

development. You endeavor to be the best that you can be, and you

strive to achieve yourpotential.

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Know Yourself

To know yourself is your first priority.

How can you set goals, go about life, and

have relationships if you don't know who

you are or what you want? You really can't.

To notknow yourselfleads to confusion and

wasting much time in hit and miss

situations.

We tend to underestimate the importance of

knowing ourselves. Many of us go through

each day reacting to events and just getting

by rather than making conscious choices

based on who we are and what we want.

When we don't know where we are headed

it's hard to set goals, get motivated and determine the best course of

action. Before we can do any of these things we must establish who we

are.

To know yourself:

Be aware of your strengths, weaknesses, likes and dislikes

Observe and be aware of your moods, reactions and

responses to what is happening around you

Become aware of how these moods and emotions affect

your state of mind

Examine how you interact with others

Observe how your environment affects you

Knowing and understanding yourself better, in turn, leads tobetter

decisionmaking, setting and reaching appropriate goals and altogether

living more productively.

There are many interesting personality tests and evaluations for self-

discovery that can help you become more in tune to yourself and are

fun to do.

Two powerful tools I found exceptionally helpful are theMyers-Briggs

Type Indicator(MBTI) and The Enneagram.

Not only do these tools help you understand yourself better and what

drives some of your behaviors, they also help you understand andget

alongbetter with others.

The MBTI is often used in employee training, marriage counseling

andpersonal development.

"Know thyself".

Socrates

"It is wisdom to

know others. It is

enlightenment to

know one's self."

Lao-Tzu

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Be True To Yourself!

Tobe true to yourselfmeans to act in accordance with who you are

and what you believe.

If you know andlove yourselfyou will find it effortless to be true to

yourself.

Just as you cannot love anyone

else until you love yourself, you

cannot be true to anyone else

until you are true to yourself.

Be who you are! Have

thecourage to accept yourself as

you really are, not as as someone

else thinks you should be. Do not

take action or pretend to be

someone else for the sake of

gainingacceptance.

Many young people believe that when they do things to please their

peers, such as drink when they shouldn't, or behave and party in

inappropriate ways, they will be popular and liked. They go againstthe advice of their parents or their own common sense only to find

themselves in trouble and not accomplishing what they set out to do.

When you do things that are not genuine or a reflection of the real

you, you will not be happy with yourself and will end up confused.

You'll be confused because you won't know whom to please, or how.

Self-respect comes from being true to who you really are and from

acting in accordance with your fundamental nature.

When you respect yourself, others will respect you. They will sense

that you are strong and capable of standing up for yourself and

yourbeliefs.

When you are true to yourself, you allow your individuality

anduniquenessto shine through. You respect the opinions of others

but do not conform to stereotypes or their expectations of you.

To be true to yourself takescourage.It requires you to be

introspective, sincere,open-mindedand fair. It does not mean that

you are inconsiderate or disrespectful of others. It means that you

will not let others define you or makedecisionsfor you that you

should make for yourself.

To live your bestlife

a variety of skills

are needed -

Essential Life

Skills

Now available as an

E-book!

See the free offer that

comes with it!

"He who trims

himself to suit

everyone will soon

whittle himself

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Be true to the very best that is in you and live your life consistent

with yourhighest values and aspirations. Those who are most

successful in life have dared to creatively express themselves and in

turn, broaden the experiences and perspectives of everyone else.

Tips On Being True to Yourself

Be who you are, be your genuine self

Follow your own value system and common sense

Listen to the advice of others, but make up

your own mind

Recognize, appreciate, and develop your unique talents

Stand up for what you believe in and you will gain respect

Know that being 'different' is a gift

Understand that you are enriching others by being

yourself

Related articles:

Be True To Yourself Quotes

Healthy Personal Boundaries

How to Think for Yourself

away."

Raymond Hull

Healthy Personal Boundaries

& How to Establish Them

Learning to set healthy personal boundaries is necessary for

maintaining a positiveself-concept, or self-image. It is our way of

communicating to others that we have self-respect, self-worth, and will

not allow others to define us.

"Setting healthy

personal

boundaries is

necessary for

your mental and

emotional health."

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Personal boundariesare the

physical, emotional and mental

limits we establish to protect

ourselves from being

manipulated, used, or violated by

others. They allow us to separate

who we are, and what we think

and feel, from the thoughts andfeelings of others. Their presence

helps us express ourselves as

theuniqueindividuals we are,

while we acknowledge the same in others.

It would not be possible to enjoy healthyrelationships without the

existence of personal boundaries, or without our willingness

tocommunicatethem directly and honestly with others. We must

recognize that each of us is a unique individual with distinct emotions,

needs and preferences. This is equally true for our spouses, children

and friends.

To set personal boundaries means to preserve yourintegrity, take

responsibility for who you are, and to takecontrol of your life.

How do we establishhealthy personal boundaries?

Know that you have a right to personal boundaries. You

not only have the right, but you must take responsibility for how

you allow others to treat you. Your boundaries act as filters

permitting what is acceptable in your life and what is not. If you

don't have boundaries that protect and define you, as in a

strong sense of identity, you tend to derive yoursense of

worthfrom others. To avoid this situation, set clear and decisive

limits so that others will respect them, then be willing to do

whatever it takes to enforce them. Interestingly, it's been

shown that those who have weak boundaries themselves tend

to violate the boundaries of others.

Recognize that other people's needs and feelings are not

more important than your own. Many women havetraditionally thought that the needs of their husbands and

children are more important than their own. This is not only

untrue, but it can undermine the healthy functioning of the

family dynamic. If a woman is worn out mentally and physically

from putting everyone else first, she not only destroys her own

health, she in turn deprives her family of being fully engaged in

their lives. Instead, she should encourage every family member

to contribute to the whole as well as take care of himself or

herself. Putting themselves last is not something only women

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do, but many men as well.

Learn to say no. Many of us are people-pleasers and often put

ourselves at a disadvantage by trying to accommodate

everyone. We don't want to be selfish, so we put our personal

needs on the back burner and agree to do things that may not

be beneficial to our well-being. Actually, a certain amount of"selfishness" is necessary for having healthy personal

boundaries. You do not do anyone any favors, least of all

yourself, by trying to please others at your own expense.

Identify the actions and behaviors that you find

unacceptable. Let others know when they've crossed the line,

acted inappropriately, or disrespected you in any way. Do not be

afraid to tell others when you need emotional and physical

space. Allow yourself to be who you really are without pressure

from others to be anything else. Know what actions you may

need to take if your wishes aren't respected.

Trust and believe in yourself. You are the highest authority

on you. Youknow yourselfbest. You know what you need, want,

and value. Don't let anyone else make the decisions for you.

Healthy boundaries make it possible for you to respect your

strengths, abilities and individuality as well as those of others.

An unhealthy imbalance occurs when you encourage neediness,

or are needy; want to be rescued, or are the rescuer, or when

you choose to play the victim.

Signs of Unhealthy Boundaries

Going against personal values or rights in order to please

others.

Giving as much as you can for the sake of giving.

Taking as much as you can for the sake of taking.

Letting others define you.

Expecting others to fill your needs automatically.

Feeling bad or guilty when you say no.

Not speaking up when you are treated poorly. Falling apart so someone can take care of you.

Falling "in love" with someone you barely know or who reaches

out to you.

Accepting advances, touching and sex that you don't want.

Touching a person without asking.

When we possess healthy personalboundaries:

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We have improved self-confidence and a healthyself-concept.

We are more in touch with reality.

Are better able tocommunicate with others.

Have better more fulfilling relationships.

Have more stability and control over our lives.

It is never too late to work on establishing healthy personal

boundaries.

Related articles:

10 Tips For Maintaining Mental and Emotional Health

5 Tips For A Well Balanced Life

10 Tips For Maintaining Mental and

Emotional Health

Mental andemotional healthare often

challenging to preserve in our modern-day,

busy and hectic lives.

To lessen the impact of stressful wear and

tear, consider implementing some of these

helpful strategies into your daily routine.

Some of these tips have been also been

touched upon in other articles, however this

only underlines their importance.

1. Maintain good physical health.

This point is so basic it's often overlooked. Our physical health affects our emotional

health much more than we realize. Make sure to eat well, exercise and get plenty of

sleep.

As Virgilsaid: "The greatest wealth is health."

2. Learn to release anger and let go of grudges.

Vent if you have to. Shake it off. Walk it off. Harboring angeror ill feelings builds

emotional toxicity, which ultimately affects your overall health.

"For every minute you are angry, you lose sixty seconds of happiness".Anonymous

3. Be aware.

"It is health that is

real wealth and not

pieces of gold and

silver."

Mahatma Gandhi

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Look for the hidden message in negative or difficult situations. Learn from them.

Experiencing adversity is meant to alert you to something or teach you a new skill.

"Life deals you a lot of lessons, some people learn from them, some people

don't." Brett Favre

4. Keep your brain active.

Don't let complacency or boredom set in. In order to feel alive and vibrant we needto keep our minds active by learning new things and challenging ourselves.

"If I had to live my life again I would have made a rule to read some poetry and

listen to some music at least once a week; for perhaps the parts of my brain now

atrophied could thus have been kept active through use." Charles Darwin

5. Stimulate your senses.

As well as keeping your mind active, enjoybeautiful art, listen to music that lifts your

spirits or try a new gourmet dish. Our senses need to be reawakened every now and

then too.

"Man has no Body distinct from his Soul; for that called Body is a portion of Souldiscerned by the five Senses, the chief inlets of Soul in this age."William Blake

6. Have fun and don't take yourself too seriously.

Balancein life is important for maintaining emotional health. Too much emphasis on

work causes stress as well as wear and tear on the body and mind. Take time off; go

to the beach, the park or a movie to take your mind off your current quandaries.

Chances are when you come back you will see things from a fresher, more

productiveperspective.

"I hope life isn't a big joke, because I don't get it."Jack Handey

7. Maintain supportive relationships.

Maintain good relationships withfriends and familyfor much needed feedback, a

shoulder to lean on or a differentperspective. Often we get so caught up in our own

problems and misery we can't see the forest for the trees. Having an objective pair of

eyes and ears can give you a whole new way of thinking.

"Someone to tell it to is one of the fundamental needs of human beings".Miles

Franklin

8. Donate your old clothes, furniture or items you don't use anymore to your

local Good Will, Salvation Army or charity of your choice.

It will make you feel good, first by helping someone out and secondly by cleaning out

your closets and basements of 'stuff' you haven't put to use in a long time.

"For it is in the giving that we receive." St. Francis of Assisi

9. Take some yoga classes, learn to meditate or incorporate a relaxation

technique into your routine.

Besides having fun and not taking yourself too seriously, it's a good idea to integrate

another relaxation strategy into your routine for those times when life gets somewhat

Maintain

Emotional Health!

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overwhelming. Having many methods to fall back on ensures emotional well-being.

"If a man insisted always on being serious, and never allowed himself a bit of fun or

relaxation, he would go mad or become unstable without knowing it". Herodotus

10.Learn to savor and appreciate the moment.

How many times have we heard thatlifeis too short? We get so caught up in the

whirlwind that we forget to live in the presentmoment. And in those times we're notcaught up in the whirlwind, we're worrying about the future. It's time to slow down

and enjoy the now!

"Life is a memory except for the present moment that goes by so quickly you hardly

catch it going." Tennessee Williams

Take good care of your mental and emotional health. It can determine the quality and

enjoyment of how you experience your everyday life.

related articles:

Live In The Moment

The Importance of Maintaining Balance

The Importance of Maintaining

Balance

We tend to underestimate how much

maintainingbalancecontributes to living life

successfully and productively.

As asportsenthusiast I appreciate how sports are a

metaphor for or a microcosm of life so you will find me

making many comparisons and analogies.

Take the example of an Olympic athlete.

To get optimum results he/she must train for the event in the most

efficient and productive manner possible because the margin of error in

a sporting event is miniscule.

You could win or lose in an Olympic event by a hair or one 1/100th of a

second. Not a chance you would want to take.

When in training the athlete must have discipline and maintain a

routine that includes the proper balance of sleep, good nutrition and

exercise. He/she must also employ psychology to make sure that the

necessary mindset or attitude is in place. Attitude and mindset are so

"Happiness is not

a matter

of intensity but of

balance and order

and rhythm and

harmony."

Thomas Merton

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important that they could make the difference between winning and

losing.

If any one of these components is missing or out of balance, the

athlete will not perform well.

So it is withliving lifeto the fullest. We don't have to adhere to the

strict regimen an Olympic athlete would, but in order to function at our

best, we definitely need to balance taking care of ourselves physically,mentally and spiritually. Focusing too much on any one facet catches

up with us and leads to health problems in the

neglected area.

For instance, if you were to exercise too much (hard

to imagine) and not take time to rest and replenish,

you would injure yourself. If you read or do too much

mental work your body would lack proper circulation

and fitness level.

If you spend too much time meditating or relaxing,

your brain waves slow down and you would lack mental agility.

Whenever you overdo it in any aspect of your life you lose perspective

and balance. AsAristotlesaid:

"Everything in moderation".

How do we maintain balance in our lives?

Know yourself and how much rest, food and exercise you

need to function at your best. There are many good books

and websites that give great advice on diet and exercise.

Decide what works best for you and implement it into your

routine.

Keep your mind alert and in shape. As mentioned in the10

Positive Habits To Develop, try to learn a new piece of

information each day, even if it's in conversation with your

spouse and children at the dinner table.

Stay connected with family and friends. At the end of the

day share with your spouse and children how the day went for

each of you. We lead busy lives but we should never be too

busy to connect with and make at least one phone call to a

parent, sibling or friend during the day.

The Book "9

Essential Life

Skills - A Guidefor Self-

Realization and

Personal

Development"

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Do something spontaneous. Our lives can be too regimented

at times so it's a good idea to do something out of the ordinary

every now and then. During your lunch one day go for a

pedicure or massage. Take a drive in the countryside one

afternoon. On the weekend go to a concert (rock, opera or

symphony)

Make time for yourself. At the end of each day take time to

unwind. If that means leaving the dishes overnight, so be it.

Take a nice bath,readfrom the book you started or listen to

some soothingmusic.

We can take a valuable lesson from elite athletes who, by knowing how

to balance their training routines, are able to function at optimum

levels.

Related Articles:

5 Tips For a Well Balanced Life

Balanced Life Quotes

The Benefits of Regular Exercise

5 Tips For A Well Balanced Life

Awell balanced lifeis essential for personal

effectiveness, peace of mind andliving

well.

Whether we work, go to school, are retired

or not, we all have responsibilities.

There is always someone, or something, toanswer to. There are things we want to do

and things we must do.

The challenge is to balance what we must

do with what we enjoy and want to do. This

is not always easy. If, however, we are unable to reduce stress and

manage a well balanced life there can be physical and/oremotional

healthconsequences.

"Happiness is not

a matter of

intensity but of

balance, order,

rhythm and

harmony."

Thomas Merton

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Tips for living a well balanced life:

1. Take care of and nurture yourself.

You cannot accomplish anything if you're unhealthy. Get plenty

of rest, exercise and eat properly. Many people think they can

burn the candle at both ends, eat junk food, get very little

exercise, and still function adequately. You may be able to get

away with this for a while if you're quite young, however, at

some point this type of life style will catch up with the best of

us. Burnout is a real possibility.

You may want to set aside time each day for an activity that

you enjoy, such as walking, working out or listening tomusic.

Or, allow yourself to unwind after a hectic day byreading,

meditating or taking a nice hot bath.

2. Know what your priorities are.

Balance doesn't mean do everything you can. Examine

yourvaluesand decide what's important to you, then set yourboundaries. You may be in the process of building a career,

starting a family or going to school. Depending on what stage

you're at in your life, your focus and energies will be different.

Try not to become overwhelmed by juggling too many big

projects in your life at once. Maybe planning a wedding is not a

good idea when you're studying for the bar exam. Nor, is

starting a family when you are unsure about your career

direction, or relationship status. Not knowing what you want

and trying to do everything at once can be a recipe for disaster

instead of the road to leading a well balanced life. Try not to

bite off more than you can chew.

3. Create an efficient mindset.

Be organized and plan ahead. Take time at the beginning of

each week to assess what needs to be done. Make a to-do list

in a planner or calendar for upcoming appointments, exams to

write or study for, or meetings to attend. Be sure to assign

recreation and quality time for yourself and your family as well.

Taking time to connect with family and friends will recharge

your batteries and make you more efficient in the long run.

4. Expect the unexpected.

Rather than get stressed and upset, allow yourself to roll with

the punches when something you have no control over

happens. You may get stuck in traffic, your computer could

crash or your child could get sick with the chickenpox. Stuff

happens. We've all experienced the unexpected. If

youacceptthat anything can happen at any time, it's less likely

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it throw you off your stride when it does. Be able to adjust your

game plan.

Note also, that there are times when achieving balance may

not be possible. For instance, you may have a family or career

crisis that needs your immediate and undivided attention. It

may require an exceptional amount of your time and resources.

When that happens, do whatever it takes and when things goback to normal take time to refresh and rejuvenate yourself.

5. Maintain a positive mental attitude.

Begin each day with the intention of making the best and most

of it. It may not always go as planned, but it can go more

smoothly if you put it inperspective. Part of living a well-

balanced life is learning how to deal with adversity, unforeseen

events and uncertainty. If you practice not letting things get to

you, you will not only learn to live a well balanced and less

stressful life, you will learn to live in and savor themoment.

Once you've done everything you can within your control, letyour life unfold. Be prepared for the future, but don't worry

about it.

While we can't anticipate and plan for everything in our lives, we can

decide how, where and when to concentrate our energies. This may

require somecritical thinkingandproblem solving, but in the end it will

lead to much less stress and a well balanced life.

How To Think Critically

and Problem Solve

The quote on the right byJean De La

Bruyere may seem a bit radical, however,

according to the premise of cognitive

psychology, what you think is what you feel.

While many people believe that your feelings

precede, or are independent of your thoughts,

the truth is that your feelings are products of

your thoughts.

This revelation can be both daunting and

liberating.

"Life is a tragedy

for those who

feel, and a

comedy for those

who think."

La Bruyere

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Daunting because it makes us responsible for our attitudes and

liberating because we have the power to choose our

perspective,mood and thoughts.

When we are aware that we can choose and direct our thinking, we

realize that we have the ability to better control the circumstances of

our lives, improve ourdecision-making processes and generally live

more productive lives.

This in no way suggests that we need downplay the many feelings and

emotions we as humans enjoy, it's a simply a way for us to manage

and balance them with our cognitive abilities.

We are thinking critically and in a problemsolving mindset when we:

Rely on reason rather than emotion

Evaluate a broad range of viewpoints andperspectives

Maintain an open mind to alternative interpretations

Accept new evidence, explanations and findings

Are willing to reassess information

Can put aside personal prejudices and biases

Consider all reasonable possibilities

Avoid hasty judgments

Like any other skill, learning tothink critically or problem-solve takes

time, perseverance and practice. Knowing which steps to take and how

to apply them helps us master the process.

Steps to Critical Thinking As It Relates ToProblem Solving:

1. Identify the Problem. The first task is to determine if a problem

exists. Sometimes when you think this point through, you may come to

the conclusion that there really isn't a problem, just a

misunderstanding. If that's the case, fine. If not, and you determine

that there is indeed a problem, you need to identify exactly what it is.

According to Barry Lubetkin, a New York clinical psychologist, how

systematically someone weighs the pros and cons of a problem and

how clearly the person can define and state it, is also an indication of

highly developed intelligence.

2. Analyze the problem, look at it from different angles. Once

you've determined the problem, analyze it by looking at it from a

variety of perspectives. Is it solvable? Is it real or perceived? Can you

solve it alone or do you need help? Sometimes by looking at it from

many angles you can come up with a resolution right away. You may

also reveal a bias or narrow point of view that needs to be broadened

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3. Brainstorm and come up with a several possible

solutions. Problems can be solved in many ways. Brainstorm a list of

several possible solutions. Put down anything that comes to mind and

then go over the list and narrow it down to the best possibilities.

Having several viable options leads to obtaining the best results.

4. Decide which solution fits the situation best. Go over your listof possible solutions. Different situations call for different solutions.

Quite often what works in one situation, may not work in a similar one.

Take time to determine what will work best for the problem at hand.

One solution usually does not fit all.

5. Take action. Implement your solution. Every problem has a

solution; even if it may be to accept the situation, and move on.Instead

of approaching problems and challenges as insurmountable obstacles,

we can view them as opportunities to hone ourcritical thinking and

problem-solving skills.

Every problem we are able to resolve increasesself-confidence and

self-worth.

Thinking critically not only helps us handle future challenges more

skillfully, it also broadens our life experience and helps us

gainperspective.

Related articles:

Critical Thinking or To Reason

How to Think for Yourself

Increase Your Brainpower with Classics

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Increase Your Brain Power withClassics

Consider reading and learning about Classics to increase yourbrain

power,learning capability, and

expand your cultural literacy.

As a big believer in each of us

developing our intellectual

capabilities, I recommend

classical studies as a way to

broaden your knowledge base.

Classics, or Classical Studies,

deals with theliterature,art,

history,philosophy, and culture

of ancient Greece and Rome.

Why the Classics? How could reading about classics possibly be ofpractical use in increasing brain power?

Of course, I'm not advocating enrolling in an intense university

program in Greek and Latin. I'm suggesting instead, that you consider

incorporating more classical reading in your routine and

Here's why:

1. Because it's fun and entertaining and provides a basis for the

enjoyment of many movies, comic book heroes and video

games that contain references to classical history andmythology e.g. Troy, Gladiator, O Brother Where Art Thou

(movies), Hercules, The Fantastic Four (comic book heroes),

and God of War (Playstation2), to name a few.

2. It feeds the imagination if you want to be a writer (or aspiring

blogger). J.K. Rowling author of the Harry Potter books studied

Classics and uses much classical terminology and references in

her books. The first Harry Potter book has been translated into

both Latin and ancient Greek.

3. It enriches and broadens our understanding of western culture,

history and literature giving us an appreciation for where our

language and customs originated, as well as a sense of

connection to the past.

"In science, readby preference the

newest works. In

literature, read

the oldest. The

classics are

always modern."

Amy Lowell

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4. It helps us understand the human condition and ourselves. For

instance, Greek mythology was then, and serves today as a

study in human nature, the dynamics of the human mind,

human behavior, and the forces that drive us. We learn about

jealousy, love, grief, narcissism, good and evil. It's fast

tracking for Life 101.

5. The skills and knowledge acquired through the study of Classics

are highly transferable to other areas. For example, the ability

to deal with precise details, to express yourself, problem

solve,think criticallyand manage your life are all honed and

sharpened by having studied Classics.

6. So much of our medical and scientific terminology is rooted in

Classics that learning about the Greeks and Romans can

facilitate the study of anatomy, astronomy and physics. Many

of our modern sciences have Greek names because the ancient

Greeks either invented them or made significant contributions

to them.

7. Becoming familiar with classical literature gives

usperspectiveand an understanding of European and English

literary genres and their evolution. The Greco-Roman influence

has had such an enduring effect on every aspect of Western

culture including languages, history,philosophy,literature,

science, technology andart.

Interesting facts about Classics andClassical Studies:

The first written record of Greece and the oldest form of

Greek literature is Homer's Iliad (circa 1000- 900 B.C.)

A book of maps gets its name from Atlas, the Titan whosupported the heavens on his shoulders.

The point of vulnerability is an Achilles' heel, because the

mythological warrior Achilles had been magically protected

in all but that part of his body.

Our calendar goes back to the ancient Romans and the 7-

day-week was introduced by the ancient Hebrews.

The statue of Abraham Lincoln in the Lincoln Memorial in

Washington D.C. was inspired by the statue of the

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Olympian Zeus by the Greek sculptor Pheidias. The

designs on Lincoln's armrests are a Roman symbol for

justice and republican government.

Law schools report that their top students come from

math, the Classics, and literature rather than from

political science, economics and legal studies as one might

expect.

David W. Packard of Hewlett-Packard was a former

professor of Greek and Latin, and Chris Martin from the

band Coldplaystudied The Classics.

E.D. Hirsch Jr. who is well known for coining the phrase'cultural

literacy' and for his theories on education states that "As a

consequence of the fact that we learn most easily when we attach the

new to the old, people who already know a lot tend to learn new things

faster and more easily than people who do not know very much."

In other words, the more knowledge and background we have of our

world and its evolution in language, history, arts and sciences, aspresented in Classics, the better a foundation we have for learning new

and current information.

What better way to cultivate and preserve our brainpower?

Related Articles:

How To Improve Your Memory

How To Think Critically and Problem Solve

Personal Development and Literature

How to Improve Your Memory

There are many ways in which you canimprove your memory and the more youwork at it, the better it becomes!

Memory is the mechanism by which we are able to store, retain, and recall

information. As simple as it may sound, the process is a complex one which

involves many different parts of the brain and serves us in a wide variety of

ways.

As with so many of our other functions, the saying "use it or lose it" applies as

aptly to the brain, as with anything else. The more you exercise your brain and

nurture it with a good diet andhealthy habits, the better you'll be able to process

and remember information.

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Before we get into how to improve your memory, it would be helpful to understand how it works.

For example here are parts ofthe brainused for memory:

The hippocampus is the primitive structure deep in the brain that plays the single largest role in processing

information as memory.

The amygdala is an almond-shaped area near the hippocampus, which processes emotion and helps imprint

memories that involve emotion.

he cerebral cortex (the outer layer of the brain), depending on what kind of processing the information

involves, such as language, sensory input or problem-solving, stores most long-term memory in its different

zones.

Memory also entailscommunication among the brain's network ofneurons, which are themillions of cells activated by brain chemicals called neurotransmitters.

Memory can be short-term or long-term. In short-term memory, your brain stores

information for a few seconds or a few minutes. It is capable of holding, on average, about

seven items at a time.

Long-term memory involves the type of information that requires a conscious effort toretain, and then recall. This would include studying for tests, factual data, or personal

events; such as the first time you were able to ride a bike, or recalling your favorite movie.

Another type of long-term memory is procedural memory, which involves skills and routines that you perform so

frequently that they don't require conscious recall.

Tips on how to Improve Your Memory

1. Exercise your brain. The best way to exercise your brain is to engage in new experiences or expose it to variedsensory stimulation. When you break with routine or do something that is challenging, you create new brainpathways. An illustration of this would be writing, or dribbling a basketball with your non-dominant hand, or taking atotally different route to work. An example of sensory stimulation, would be smelling a particular fragrance while

listening to a certain piece of music. To stir up brain activity in yet a different way, you can pick something usuallydone by rote, or on automatic pilot, and consciously change the way you go about it.

It is also a well know fact that people who engage in activities that exercise the brain, such as reading, writing, and

playing card games, can delay the rapid memory decline that occurs as we age.

2. Pay attention. It is very difficult to remember something if you've never learned it in the first place. It takes about

eight seconds of intent focus to process a piece of information through the hippocampus and direct it to the proper

memory center. If you do not concentrate, get distracted easily, or are doing several things at once, your chances of

retrieving specific information will be non-existent.

3. Incorporate as many senses as possible. While there are many different learning styles, such as visual,

auditory and kinesthetic (touch), no matter which type you are, you can incorporate all of them in the process of

trying to remember something. If you're a visual learner you can read out loud, even recite rhythmically to remember

better. If you're an auditory learner, create a mental image or look at pictures as you read out loud. Relating

information to colors, textures, smells and tastes is also very helpful.

4. Organize Information. A good way to remember new things is to make associations and

connect information to what you already know. Building on what you know helps you

remember new material. Also, write important things down in notebooks, calendars and post-it

notes, then reorganize the information in a comprehensive way in order to retain it.

5. Review frequently and over-learn. Go over what you've learned the same day you

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learned it, and review it frequently. When you review and over-learn information, it becomes embedded in your

memory and therefore, so much easier to recall. It is also much more effective than trying to cram.

6. Use Mnemonics. Mnemonics are a memory tool or technique used for remembering difficult information. They are

clues of any kind that help us remember something, usually by associating it with a visual image, a sentence, or a

word. For example, "30 days hath September, April, June and November" is a rhyme for remembering the number of

days in each calendar month. Another example of mnemonics would be to "chunk" information. Chunking is when you

arrange a long list into smaller units or categories that are easier to remember. To remember a long number, you

could chunk it into groups of 2, 3 or 4 for easier retention. You can also code and structure information by using vividmental images. When you make the images colorful or even unusual, they are much easier to recall when you need

them.

7. Practice good health habits. Exercise regularly. It increases oxygen to your brain and

reduces the risk for disorders, such as diabetes and heart disease. Poor health, of any kind,

contributes to memory loss. Likewise, get plenty of sleep and eat properly. Sleep is necessary

for concentration and clear thinking, while good eating habits supply the nutrients needed to

nourish your brain.

8. Stay motivated and maintain a positive attitude.When you are positive about learning

and experiencing new things, you automatically improve your memory. On the other hand, ifyou tell yourself you have a bad memory, you will actually impede your brain's ability to

remember. Maintaining apositive attitudesets up expectation ofsuccess.

By incorporating the above tips and strategies into your routine, you will be able improve your memory significantly.

Not only will you learn and retain more in school and at work, you will achieve more satisfaction in your personal and

business relationships.

Critical Thinking or To Reason

Critical thinkingis the mentalprocess of analyzing or evaluating

information. 'To reason' is the

capacity for rational thought, or tothink logically.

Once you have established a solidfoundation or a healthyself-

concept, it is important to be ableto think critically, or to reason.

Everyone thinks; however, much ofour thinking is reactive, biased,

uninformed and often prejudiced.

"Many people wo

die sooner than th

in fact, they do

Bertrand Russe

"We can't solv

problems by us

the same kind

thinking that

created them."

Albert Einstein

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More often than not, it is alsohaphazard and

undisciplined.

Why do we

need to thinkcritically?

In order toassess our role

in, and theconsequences

of any actions we take, we must be

able to evaluate and determine

what is taking place in a givensituation.

This requires us to organize our

thinking, integrate the informationat hand, distinguish between what

is fact and what is opinion, and

then weigh potential outcomes.

By thinking critically, instead ofreacting emotionally to a problem,

we employ strategies which:

Help us learn from an

experience

Help prevent it from occurringagain

Result in a reasonable, effectivesolution

The quality of life we experience isin direct proportion to the quality of

our thinking.

Critical thinking is self-disciplined,self-monitored and problem solving

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thinking. It promotesopen-mindedness, putting things

in perspective, and a positiveattitude.

When we don't reason or thinkcritically we subject ourselves tofleeting, erratic or unpredictable

emotions. Of course, this does notmean we should deny or suppress

our emotions, for indeed, they are avital and significant element of whowe are. Instead, we must learn how

to make them work for us, notagainst us.

Critical thinking helps us balanceour emotions, which in turn leads

to good judgment and makinginformed, good decisions.

For the most part, critical thinkingdoes not come naturally. It takes

effort, training and practice.

As A. E. Mander wrote in hisbook Logic For the

Millions: "Thinking is skilled work.It is not true that we are naturally

endowed with the ability to thinkclearly and logically - without

learning how, or without practicing.People with untrained minds shouldno more expect to think clearly and

logically than people who havenever learned and never practiced

can expect to find themselves goodcarpenters, golfers, bridge players,

or pianists."

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Tips On Improving Critical Thinking

Play strategy games, sudoku and solve crossword puzzles.

Read more. Reading improves focus, imagination and vocabulary

which results in heightened thinking skills.

Engage in healthy debates in class or with your friends. Argue