Instrumental Pointer

A lot of people frequently get worried about their monthly budget, not overseeing your budget can contribute to placing you further in debt if you are not aware. Managing your budget the right way has many gains including saving you money and help relief some of your tension over debt. Always keep in mind that a budget is primarily a program for your monthly expenditure. Your budget, like any programme, demands some level of management to make it work. The manner I handle my budget, for instance, is by focusing on maintaining info organized and controlling my expenditure.

My first focus is on organising the information in my budget. I monitor running expenses like utilities, automobile and mortgage repayments, insurance, and the like, for example. I can easily lose track of my spending without monitoring my budget. By being conscious of what expenditures repeat every month, I have an immediate hold on the minimum amount of money I have to put aside each month before I spend on other things I can moderate a little more such as entertainment, clothing, and vacations.

Watching the expenditure in my budget is essential because this is where the most financial advancement is made. A strong measure of advancement is putting money into a savings account or paying down debt. However, if I over spend, the opposite is true because rather than saving money I will use debt to help me cover the monthly expenses in my budget. Clearly, giving in to the stresses of budgeting can have expensive outcomes for my finances, specially if I am not capable to pay down my debt.

There are two benefits for moderating and organizing my budget: First, I save money by avoiding unnecessary expenditure. Second, my finances are targeted at attaining financial goals. Essentially, by not buying things I do not need, I am actually freeing up money that I can either use for something else or save. The spare money can also be useful in paying off debt or saving it for a holiday. In addition to having extra money, I am able to make longer term financial goals like saving and investing for retirement or paying off my mortgage or student loans. With my budget being organised and moderated, not only does my financial situation become more dependable but successfully overseeing my budget reduces the stress that often comes with being in debt.

Between usual monthly bills and unanticipated expenses, it seemed I was constantly behind on my budget. As soon as I got my paycheck, it was already spent. I got a lot of bills every month and put them off to the last minute, then did them all in a flush. As a solution I ended up taking money from the next pay just to make it through. It’s not that I didn’t make enough money, it’s that I had no control of my budget. In the case of any emergency, left me even deeper in debt.

Most of us have been in this situation. We try to be cautious with our expenditure and be careful with our money, but long before month-end, the money is spent. Paying bills is a juggling act that we don’t have the time or energy to comprehend. There’s always one bill that was overlooked or delayed, one more expenditure we weren’t prepared for. With school supplies and fees for the kids, groceries, new tyres for the car, and the raising cost of petrol, just making it from paycheck to paycheck is challenging enough; saving money is out of the question. Meanwhile, debt is slowly piling up. How can I get my budget under control?

I was lucky to have found a service which will help me budget my money more wisely and take away the tension of paying monthly bills, allowing me to focus on the things that really matter to my family. No more concerning over where the money will come from; I can finally relax, knowing that my finances are in good hands.

The financial planning process:
Usually during your first consultation, your budget consultant will look at all of your existing debts and monthly payments and devise a plan that works for you. They will set aside money for savings, emergencies, and long-term investment, ensuring your family’s financial security. If you are planning a major purchase, this will be forecasted into your budget so that when you are ready to buy, the money will be there for you.

Your paychecks are typically deposited with your financial planner, and a seperate living expenses account is setup for you. Bills and repayments are diverted to your budgeting consultant for payment. There is a chance that your consultant can lower your monthly payments and reduce your outstanding debt by negotiating with creditors. A low monthly fee is assessed for all these services.

For me, the most important monthly service my budget specialist provides is peace of mind. I don’t have to worry about paying any bills; I know my bills will be paid on time, and that I’ll have money in reservation for life’s little emergencies. My budget is finally under control, thanks to my financial planning service.

Most say I’m “Cupid”, due to the fact playing cupid is natural for me. I highly suggest singles try having Great Expectations. No way around it, cupid just follows me around without notice. Great singles networks, like Great Expectations Milwaukee the hands-down greatest in matchmaking, meet and get to know singles individually. Great dating services orchestrate effective social encounters between friends, and that’s dating done right. Matchmaking is a hidden niche of dating services, offering powerful payoffs by changing happy lives for entire lifetimes.

day in day out I have casually shared dating expertise online and for friends and clients. My latest post isn’t the usual tips. You’ve heard them all, I’m sure. Pay attention to conversational tone, dispaly some sense of style, do not be afraid to use charm, be candid and (an often-overlooked one) don’t start grading dates on a checklist. Relate to your date at your own pace! Encourage a relationship if you like. Another important one: don’t exacerbate things hoping to portray that you’re a person other than what you are. Because if the date grows serious, then your partner will be disappointed. My number one dating tip: I’ve always recommended Great Expectations. Indeed, timely introductions is what I do best I have offered singles since grade-school. Victories those who know me fashioned my title. Happy couples are everywhere.

Take for instance Stacy and Larry and their gaggle of kiddos. I pulled these two at a Brewers game once upon a time, and their success is apparent. Frank and Cristina also hit it right off after I introduced them on a blind date a few summers back. Let’s not forget my sister in law Amanda and her life-mate. You know I’ll be there when these two will be married in New York City in early November. My favorite couple, they built their love using Great Expectations, on my suggestion.

So I stay on the mark and quite productive as well! But it’s also a curse, as I devote myself to graciously matching up Milwaukee’s singles to understand the way to real compatability, I looked past my own dating situation. Can you guess what anxieties present when the dating expert requests a matchmaker? I will enjoy Great Expectations Milwaukee Wisconsin, because being highly knowledgable with something it raises expectations. Perhaps that’s what has kept me from really getting serious about dating. If anyone does, I should understand it’s not good to live this world by yourself. And here we are, I’m setting out on a dating adventure by signing up at.

Wendy Allen

The Dating Guru

From the moment we wake in the morning our heads start to fill with all sorts of thoughts. What will you give the kids for breakfast? Will you get the time to iron your blouse before you leave for work? What will you do if you miss the bus? And so it goes on.

The first clue to turning your life around and making it happier is to stop using negative thought. You probably aren’t even aware that you’re doing it but when you say “I was hit by a car and now I’ve got a broken arm” and feel angry about it, you’re using a negative attitude. If you’d said “I was hit by a car but luckily I escaped with just a broken arm” and feel relived about it, you’re tackling life with a positive attitude.

The question should never be “why did it happen to me?” but “what can I do to improve things now that it’s happened.”

The tips below will help you understand what you could be doing wrong and help you turn around your negative attitude, helping you cope with life and enjoy a brighter future.

1. SEE LIFE AS THE ENEMY

The whole world’s out to get you, isn’t it? Or, if not, maybe just certain groups of people?

By being suspicious of others’ motifs and believing that they have some hidden agenda that includes hurting you, you’ll keep people at arm’s length and never make new friends or improve the friendships you already have.

For the person who’s wrapped up in a negative world, the result is that they have an excuse to not go out and meet people. Meeting people would mean they’d have to be friendly and that takes too much effort.

For a more positive outlook on life you need to understand that most people are far too busy running their own lives to bother hurting you. Being friends is far more pleasant than being enemies so why would they want to put so much energy into something they’d have nothing to gain from?

2. BE LAZY

Again, by avoiding the gym or any other form of exercise you won’t need to meet people and be pleasant.

We have enough knowledge nowadays to know that exercise is important, not only to our physical well-being but also to our mental health.

Eat a few fatty snacks while you’re veg-ing in front of the TV and you’ll soon be feeling too tired and lethargic to move! Just don’t start moaning when you start suffering from all kinds of health problems that are associated with lack of exercise, from osteoporosis to coronary artery disease. Yes, lack of exercise is nearly as dangerous as smoking!

Next time the sun’s shining, put on some comfortable clothes and go for a walk. Exercise releases adrenaline and therefore reduces stress so you’ll definitely feel better for it.

3. DON’T KEEP UP APPEARANCES

If you don’t go out much, who’s going to see you anyway? And even if you did, who’d care?

You should care, that’s who!

When you don’t bother to put on your make-up or do your hair properly, you’re just telling the world that you’re not as important as the rest of the people around you. Before you know it you won’t even bother to wash, and you’ll be walking around in wrinkled, un-ironed clothes. Hell, why even bother to get dressed at all? Just lay around in your night clothes watching TV all day, why don’t you?

Even if you’re just nipping to the shop make sure you look, if not your best, at least presentable. How others view you will eventually reflect in how you view yourself. When you have a positive attitude towards yourself, you’re far more likely to see life in a positive manner, too.

4. TAKE THE LONESOME TRAIL

If you hide yourself away at home, you won’t have to meet other people who are still able to be happy, even though they’re undoubtedly suffering many of the same problems as you, plus as few of their own. Why would you want to accept that others could have problems and still be cheerful?

Get out there and spend time with friends. Experiencing other people dealing with their lives in a positive manner can do wonders to how you feel about your own life. If their cup’s half full while yours is half-empty, ask yourself why. What are they doing that you’re not?

5. GET OFF YOUR HEAD

Do you get yourself drunk or stoned in order to forget your woes? I bet you’re having great fun while you’re falling all over the place, spilling and breaking things as you go, aren’t you? And by the time you wake up in the morning, all of your problems will have magically disappeared, won’t they?

No? Why not?

Because no matter how much you drink, smoke or inject yourself with illegal substances, the only things you’ll change are your ability to do your job; the way your family feels around you; your health as you deprive your body of important nutrients; and if you think you’ve got problems now, just wait until your bank balance starts to diminish even further!

Put the bottle, joint or pills away and accept that they aren’t going to make your problems go away – they’re just going to add to them.

6. PLAY THE VICTIM

Isn’t it awful when the world owes you something but just isn’t giving it? That chip on your shoulder just keeps getting bigger and bigger until in the end, the world is probably the last place you want to be.

The truth is, the world owes you nothing. Regardless of who’s done what to you and why, nobody but yourself can do anything to change things.

Sure, when somebody’s upset us it’d be nice to receive and apology but what if we don’t? Where will sitting about stewing get us?

If you think that playing the victim will make others want to be with you, you’re wrong. They may feel sorry for you but not for the reasons you’d think.

Nobody wants to be with miserable people and you think they should then you’re simply being selfish. Misery breeds misery and you’ve no right to expect others to want some of yours!

Whatever’s happened to make you unhappy, let it go! It’s in the past and none of that matters anymore. You’ve got a future ahead of you and only you can make it bright.

7. HIDE IN YOUR SHELL

If you keep yourself to yourself and don’t tell anybody anything, nobody will be able to hurt you, right?

Well, there’s some truth in that, but by the same token, nobody will be able to support you when you need it, laugh with you, cry with you or just be there, either.

People need people – we’re designed that way. If you insist on being a closed book you’ll only have yourself to blame when you become a lonely old person with nobody to turn to.

Accept that some people will hurt you. It happens to all of us. It’s part of life and we have to learn to deal with it. They’re not important. It’s those who care about us and only want what’s best for us that matter.

8. MAKE FRIENDS WITH THE EVIL GREEN MONSTER

Don’t you just hate it when your neighbour buys a new car and you’re still stuck with your 10 year old Ford? And “By Jove, they’re having new furniture delivered – again!”

Do you really believe that life will improve once you’ve bought a bigger house, had a baby, been on a foreign holiday or re-decorated the living room, don’t you? There’s always something that will make you feel better than you are right now.

The problem with the desire to have what others have, and what you believe you also have a right to, is that when you’ve finally get that house you’ll then what better furniture for it. When you’ve furnished it to your taste (which will probably take years), you’ll want to have the garden improved, a new car, a better job – there’s always something more.

Don’t fall for it! If you get the things you’d like to have then good for you – just don’t let them hinder your chance of happiness along the way.

Look around you and appreciate the things you DO have instead of focusing on those you don’t. No matter how little you think you have, if you’re able to sit at a computer and read this, then trust me, there are people not far from you who are far worse off than you are!

9. STICK FIRMLY IN THE MUD

Weren’t things so much better in the old days? You didn’t have to fear being raped, mugged or murdered every time you left the house back then, did you? The newspapers weren’t full of bad news and people actually cared about each other.

Does that sound like you?

How do you think others manage to cope with the changes in life, and the world? It’s simple really; they just get out there and get on with their lives. They try to see the good in modern developments rather than dwelling on how things were in the past. By living in a time that no longer exists, you’re cutting yourself off from friends, family, and your entire social network and taking a very negative attitude to life.

10. ALWAYS LOOK ON THE DARK SIDE

We all have problems – each and every one of us. Some more than others and some more serious than others.

What those problems are is immaterial; what matters is how we deal with them.

If you look at your problems as hurdles that are stopping you from moving forward in your life then they’re attacking you. It’s only when you start seeing them as a challenge, or an opportunity even, that you’re the one doing the attacking.

Keep a positive outlook regardless of what life throws at you and you’ll stand a far better chance of dealing with your problems and enjoying the time you’ve been given to spend on earth.

Be happy – you’re worth it!

~~+~~+~~

Sharon Jacobsen is a freelance writer living in South Cheshire, England, with her partner Richard, also a writer. Having had more than her fair share of problems thrown at her, Sharon truly understands the philosophy of a positive attitude. To contact Sharon, please visit her website at http://www.sharon-jacobsen.co.uk

Due to our existence it means that we routinely have to get the better of life’s obstacles. It appears that the more we evolve with technology and ways to create things more quickly, the more panic attacks (stop-anxietyattacks.net) increase. This is an enigma. You may imagine that bothersome demands and anxieties would decrease with our consistent advancement in technology. Nevertheless, anxiousness and depressive disorder seem more prevalent now than when compared to the past. It is quite possible that in the past, folk did not talk about such unpleasantries. For sure that is not the same nowadays. Truth is, even if you watch TV only casually, I’m sure you’ve witnessed some sort of ad for a medicine, which provides panic attacks help.

You are not alone when dealing with these issues. It does not matter if it is a phobia of large crowds or a sleep disorder, researchers continue to make advances with new solutions. Panic attacks and natural depression are surely at the top of this long list. When I consider depression, I think of an individual who has of late lost a loved one or someone who is handicapped in such a way that keeps them from carrying on normally. Well this is a common misconception. We are surrounded by people that are pummeled by the burden of panic attacks and depression for other reasons. The fact is we oftentimes do not know the reasons. The food we consume could easily be a reason. It seems to be part of the human condition to lack total contentment with life.

We need to some degree to pay attention to teenagers’ plight. Panic attacks and depressive disorder appears to be striking them more than anyone these days. Granted, being a teenager is rough in some areas, and incredibly delightful in others. Some teenagers may claim that it is all bad. We all were teenagers at least once. We all know what it’s like. Nevertheless, I can never recall being depressed. Who knows what has happened in the last ten years. Anxiety attacks should not be a part of childhood. In fact, anxiety attacks and depression should be much less prevalent than it is altogether.

If fate intended you to be rich, then all you have to do is
just wait for the business of the century, money, spouse,
health and wealth to fall into your lap. Most people
understand fate as something static as if there were a
message written in the stars that said, “This is the way
it’s going to be and it’s not up to me.” No wonder a
passive life develops from this attitude, lives where
people wait for their fate to find them and just happen.

Years go by before they realize that in all this time they
have not experienced anything and have virtually slept
through most of their days in a monotonous routine of work,
lunch, dinner, occasional entertainment, television and
rest. Each day is the same, boring routine until the days
become months and finally they stretch into years. Not to
mention, they have probably been struggling for money and
possibly survival, experiencing health and relationship
problems and such.

It is not surprising that in the end, all this leads to the
final confirmation that “I am not intended to live the good
life.” Joey McCormick, a philosophy professor at the NC
Sate University, and author of many philosophical,
religious and medical books, sometimes compares life with a
jail cell, where institutionalized prisoners no longer
remember their previous life of freedom.

Instead, their only goal becomes meager attempts to improve
their living conditions (if they can) within the prison
walls. They may paint walls with the vivid colors of
nature, hang posters or magazine pictures to cover the ugly
walls that surround them. All the while, they’re dreaming
about a better life and envying other prisoners for meager
privileges above their own. Even worse maybe their cells
are wide open and nobody is forcing them to stay in the
prison! They are free to go and experience a new, exciting
life.

They refuse to believe that somewhere a better life awaits
them. No, they would rather put another poster on the wall,
and dream on about a better life than take the chance of
moving towards it only to wind up disappointed. For a
prisoner to survive inside and behind bars, within the
prison system, he or she must engage in a wide range of
mind-games. The most important one is to forget your life
outside the walls.

Unfortunately, this is also the most dangerous game of all,
because its successful execution means you must become
satisfied with the limited life you now have. If a new
prisoner comes in with grand tales of life outside, the
rules of the game force the prisoner to reject them, not
because they don’t believe them, but because they don’t
want to believe them. Believing the stories makes living
the restricted and limited life inside unbearable.
Believing would change their attitude about the limited
life they are living and they simply “can’t afford” for
that to happen. Believing the messenger might elicit
talking, thinking and dreaming of escape – but the road
from here to freedom is long.

Many people live in a mental prison as strong and confining
as those who are behind bars. They have all the freedom in
the world, but they exercise none of it because they are
afraid to believe, like the prisoner, that a better life
can be theirs. Why? Because it takes courage to change
your life, to break the old patterns, change old habits and
rebuild your mental infrastructure.

It is easier to stay where you are, blame others and tell
yourself: “No, this is too hard. Who am I to think that I
can make it happen? What if I fail? Right now, I have
something; maybe it isn’t what I wanted or even what I like,
but it’s something.

Changing our day-to-day behaviors may be easier than previously imagined. By meditating on and repeating motivational and inspirational quotes, we are better prepared to change our thought patterns, behaviors and in turn, change our lives.

Here’s how it’s done.

If we believe something to be easy, we find little, if any struggle in accomplishing it. However, if we imagine something to be difficult to accomplish, then our struggle becomes more apparent. In fact, if we imagine that it is difficult to change a specific behavior, then we will always find experiences that will justify that belief.

Take this for example. We wake up one morning and decide that:

“This is the day I start losing weight. When things get difficult, I will not reach for junk food, but instead I will focus on something else to keep my mind occupied. It’ll be tough at first, but I’m going to give it a try.”

If you continue with this thought pattern and belief, don’t be surprised to find yourself struggling more often than not. Why?

If we look at this example closely we find a couple of thought patterns and beliefs already in place. We have determined to do something good for ourselves, but we do ourselves a disservice by choosing certain negative thought patterns, beliefs and words that go along with it.

We have said,

“When things get difficult….”

(This is already assuming that there will be difficult moments! Strike one!)

“It’ll be tough at first…”

(This is already assuming it will be difficult at first! Strike two!)

“…but I’m going to give it a try.”

(Remember the movie “The Karate Kid”…”Theirs is no “try”, there is only “do”. Strike three!)

Now there are hundreds of products out there that will assist people in losing weight. Some, if not all of them, may work for various people at various stages of their goal. But for many people who have convinced themselves that losing weight is difficult, some products may fall short when our thought patterns are stronger than our desire to change.

Here is something that I’ve done to change a behavior I no longer desired.

I recently lost 20lbs in about 12 weeks. I didn’t like the way I looked, felt or even thought for that matter. I needed to change and take some action towards it.

First, I realized that I had to change my way of thinking about losing weight. My old thought patterns were no longer working for me. My thoughts were like little tiny pictures that I projected in my mind of how heavy I was. I no longer wanted these pictures or thought patterns a part of my life. I had to choose a thought pattern and belief that would be easier to think about.

I chose this thought,

“Losing weight is easier than I thought.”

Perhaps not the most ideal for everyone but it worked for me.

Secondly, I chose a word I wanted to focus on for that day, week or month to help me in accomplishing my goal (Start with just a day, or just an hour for that matter. Keep it simple.) The word I chose needed to be in relation to the change I want to make. For example, I chose the word “FOCUS”, as I felt that that’s what I needed to think about most of time; focusing more on losing weight than gaining it. Choose any word as long as it relates to your situation. (Attitude, Energy, Action, Believe…)

Following that, I scoured the Internet for motivational and inspirational quotes that resonated within me that related to that specific word I chose. Quotes that I could remember, especially ones that really spoke to what I wanted to accomplish.

But here’s the most important part.

I needed quotes that were powerful enough to change my thought patterns the moment I read them. Quotes that REALLY spoke to me when I my eyes fell upon them. Quotes that forced me to pause and think for a moment. Quotes that had that extra “edge” where my mind said, “Yes. This is one.”
These are all signs of a quote that held power for me.

I “focused” in on the following quotes.

“All that we are is the result of what we have thought.” Buddha

“The only way to discover the limits of the possible, is to go beyond them into them impossible.”
Arthur C. Clarke

“It’s not what you achieve in the end that matters, it’s who you become in the process.”
Author Unknown

In fact, I found dozens of quotes that I resorted to from time to time, but these three I always came back to. They spoke of who I was, what I wanted to accomplish and who I wanted to become as I worked towards my goal.

I wrote them down. I carried these quotes with me constantly. I read them and meditated on them whenever I had the opportunity to. At work, home or at the gym (yup, I finally got myself to exercise, primarily by focusing on Arthur C. Clarke’s quote!), I focused on these three powerful quotes to help me FOCUS on what I wanted.

Because I changed my thought patterns, over time, I can honestly say I am 20 lbs lighter and a whole lot happier. Yes, more was involved than just thinking but it all began with my thoughts. The thoughts then permeated into my actions. (Now I need to FOCUS on maintaining that weight, so for me a whole new thought pattern begins.)

Here are the three steps again:

1. Decided to change your way of thinking about a behavior, making it easier for you to think about it. Phrase it in a simple way.

2. Choose a word to focus on to change that behavior for a period of time.

3. Find a minimum of three motivational or inspirational quotes related to that specific word that are powerful enough to change your current thought patterns the moment you read them. Meditate on them and repeat them, silently or out loud, every chance you get.

Be patient. Stick with it. Give it some time.

Why do you think companies offer a 30-day money back guarantee? They know that if you do something for 30 days it becomes a habit and you no longer need to return it! (Learned something, huh?) Give it time.

The first step to what you want to accomplish is changing your mind and the thought patterns and beliefs associated with your behavior. Thoughts are the precursor to action, meaning that thoughts occur before any action takes place. That’s what needs to be changed first. Your thoughts.
It worked for me and I hope this inspires and motivates you to achieve your goal.

Think positive.

Ray Schiel

One of the specific aspects of creative thinking is the DO IT technique method outlined by Robert W Olsen in his book ‘The Art of Creative Thinking’. It is an efficient method for defining problems and finding effective and creative solutions. This method helps you to draw the best out of the creativity techniques.

DO IT is essentially an acronym for D – Define Problem; O – Opening your mind and applying creative techniques; I – Identifying best possible solutions; T – Transforming them into concrete actions.

D – To define the problem accurately, you will have look at the problem in its entirety. You have to get at the root of the problem so you know that you are dealing with the causative factors, and not with the symptoms. If the problem is large or big, you could break them into smaller and meaningful components so the problem assumes greater clarity and widest dimension. Include the constraints contained in each aspect of the problem so you cover the problems in their fullest range. Summarizing the problem will help in getting at the crux of the problem clearly.

O – Once the problems areas are identified, you could begin finding solutions by looking at them from all angles. Brainstorming is invariably an effective method for coming out with solutions. Ideally, you could use group brainstorming, where effective thinkers and implementers could be included to present their solutions to the problem. It is important that even the most ridiculous and the weird are given full expression and accepted without any criticism or questioning. It is often found that the most abnormal and wildest of ideas generally lead to most creative solutions. So suppressing them or negating them will deny scope from creative inputs.

I – Identifying the best solutions for the problem or problems on hand involves the next step. Often the best solution may turn out to be costly or may have limitations, not immediately apparent to you. You have to go the whole length and explore the solutions to weigh how far they could be effective. You could see whether the solutions fall within the overall goals of the organization or your own. This will determine the extent to which you can go for giving shape to the solutions looking from the future perspective.

T – This is the final stage of transforming the creative solution into a reality. It involves not just the creation of product or services, but also about taking care of the marketing and business aspects of the creative plan. This is one area where more creative thinkers falter because they fail to ensure its commercial and economic viability. It is crucial an Action Plan is set for transformation of the creative solution that includes business and marketing plans. You have to sincerely try all avenues unmindful of hurdles or rejections that you may encounter to actualize them. As always perseverance pays.

The common and conventional method for using the DO IT technique is the usual linear method of listing. If you were instead, to use Mind Maps, you will realize you have an excellent tool on hand. Mind Mapping allows you to record all the problems and solutions easily and concisely, and renders the whole exercise meaningful and simple. When a complete Mind Map is formed using the DO IT technique, you gain a full picture, which provides the necessary association and links between different elements of your creative process and solution. These are completely absent in the regular listing type method.

By using Mind Maps you can register all the brainstorming ideas quickly as they arise and analyze how they can be connected to alleviating the problems. Because the big picture of the entire creative process is mapped on, it becomes easy to assess the impact and gauge its full impact to come out with the most creative solutions. Association and concepts are crucial elements to creativity and Mind Maps provide the greatest scope that is not available in any other method; hence the superiority of the Mind Mapping method. They make for simple and yet highly powerful technique. As in everything else, you have to try Mind Mapping technique to understand its significance and dynamism. Time you used Mind Mapping to see for yourself.

Our sense of smell elicits strong emotional reactions and triggers powerful memories, whether we’re consciously aware of it or not.

Scents and Feelings

Our olfactory system sends a chemical message about the scents around us through the limbic part of our brain, which is the oldest part of our brain. In seconds, that message is telegraphed to our central nervous system, which, in turn, controls how our body functions and how we feel about those smells.

Scents also influence the temperature we feel emotionally. For instance, a grass matting floor covering has a pleasant scent, and makes us feel cooler, while the aroma of fresh baked bread creates a warm feeling of being loved. Marine scents, such as salty sea air, refresh us, while spice and wood scents bring warm thoughts.

The Evolution of Aromatherapy

The ancient civilizations of Arabia, Babylon, China, Egypt, Greece, India, and Rome all used the aromas of scented plants, flowers, and woods to heal and protect. Religious and spiritual ceremonies have used aromas to arouse mankind’s deeply spiritual nature from the dawn of time. Today, the science of aromatherapy, which is a holistic healing practice, uses essential oils and herbs, to treat stress-related illnesses, muscular, circulatory, respiratory, and digestive ailments, and even skin problems.

The Effects of Scent on Emotions

Essential oils influence our emotions within seconds of inhalation. For instance, clary sage stimulates the thalamus to release a hormone called encephalon, a neurochemical that creates a sense of euphoria and provides pain relief. Lavender and chamomile fuel the release of serotonin, which has a calming effect on fear, stress, aggravation, or insomnia.

Scents activate the deep part of the brain, where memories are stored. You can recreate pleasant memories and share them with your family and friends through the use of smells. For instance, my mother often baked a cake just before we kids arrived home from school. Now that I’ve grown up, we don’t eat as much cake in our home, but sharing a vanilla scent with my children often prompts them to share stories about their grandmother.

Smells are a powerful link with the memories of our past. My mother used to tell me stories of her grandmother, whose home smelled like baked cinnamon rolls in the morning and exotic, tangy spices in the evening.

The sense of smell, a potent tool in Interior Design Psychology, brings a feeling of harmony and serenity to any room in a home. Embrace the scents you love and those that conjure pleasant memories, and make the use of scent an integral part of your overall design plan.

Copyright (c) 2004 by Jeanette J. Fisher

Jeanette Fisher, Design Psychology Professor, is the author of Joy to the Home eNewsletter. Discover innovative Interior Design Psychology and makeover your home to support happiness, productivity, and well-being. For Design Psychology information, see http://www.designpsych.com/ For more information about “Joy to the Home,” see http://www.joytothehome.com/

Have you ever been really happy? Have you ever tasted the fruit of pure happiness? Have you ever completed a task with that feeling of YES! I gave it my all. I’m really happy and proud with what I’ve done. Have you ever had that inner glow and outer radiation?
But was it happiness?

You see, most of us have replaced happiness with pleasure. Pleasure is those times when you feel terrific like after eating a fantastic meal with excellent company. Pleasure is when you loll for hours in that hot bath. Pleasure is when you indulge yourself in that spa weekend. Pleasure is when you watch our favourite team play…..But it ain’t Happiness!
The bad news is that Happiness is not an emotional state. Happiness is not the feeling you get when you are enjoying yourself. It’s much, much more than that.
What makes people truly happy, satisfied and fulfilled?

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, (pronounced “chick-sent-me-high-ee”) director of the Quality of Life Research Centre at the Druker School of Management, Claremont, USA has spent years researching what makes us happy.

And he and his colleagues have found that happiness can only be achieved when you are totally involved in something. When, you are totally immersed. When, you are participating to the full. You know, when you are enjoying yourself so much you have no idea what the time is, what day it is, what is happening around you. You are really happy.

His research involving 250,000 people from every continent including chess players, rock climbers, musicians, people who meditate, artists, sports people and people from all walks of life shows that:

• the times when you find yourself fully absorbed in something. Totally focussed, totally immersed and totally concentrated. Whether it be at work, playing with the children or meditating.

• the times when you don’t notice time passing.

• the times when you keep going without being aware of what’s around you….The state where…… I give Graham a cup of tea and he doesn’t even know I’ve placed it on his desk next to the screen…..

• the state where you really enjoy what you are doing and when you come up for air you are totally satisfied with what you have been doing. In other words you are really connected: heart and soul. You really enjoy what you were doing.

• the times when you were reading a stimulating book and when you put your head up everyone has gone off to bed.

• the times when you are so involved playing your favourite sport, you forget everything else

that’s when you feel really happy.

Happiness is: the flow state.
The state when you feel that you are on a roll. Where everything you do is effortless and just flows. The feeling you get when you completely lose yourself in what you are doing. The time, when time stops. You are in the “grove” and everything is working for you. You are in total harmony with yourself.
The irony is, that this great feeling of happiness happens, not when you are relaxing or watching TV or enjoying the company of your friends. Happiness is achieved when you challenge yourself.

When, you stretch yourself. When you are doing what you enjoy doing most. When you are totally absorbed in what you are doing. When, you put yourself out there. When, you exceed your expectations.

So what are you waiting for?
You have nothing to lose. All you have to do is put those oughts, shoulds and musts behind you and follow your heart. Lose yourself in what you really want to do. Enter the flow world where:

“being completely involved in an activity for its own sake.
The ego falls away. Time flies.
Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz.
Your whole being is involved, and you’re using your skills to the utmost.”
(Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi)

That’s Happiness!

Go on. Go for it!

Good Luck

Graham and Julie
www.desktop-meditation.com

To improve your intuition, initiative and energy levels. Please go to:
http://www.desktop-meditation.com It’s free.