Psychology Self-Help | Self Help

You are probably aware of the many difficult people in your life. From your stubborn boss, procrastinating coworker, angry child, intrusive step-parents, or hurtful spouse, these individuals can ruin your sanity. They make you miserable.

I am about to share with you four mistakes you must avoid to deal with a difficult person. Too often people use these tips to change a difficult person, but matters only get worse. Adhere to these tips, otherwise you could be making people more difficult:

1. Sending solutions. Common phrases that indicate solving include: "What if you..." "Stop doing... and start.." and "Why don't you..."

Telling people what to do does not work. Solutions are so often the problem. You cannot tell people what they must do because they will have no commitment to change. The more you push solutions on people, the more they pull away from you and your suggestion. Real solutions, commitment, and desire for change come from participation.

2. Moralizing. Common phrases that indicate moralizing include: "You should...." "It would be good for you to..." and "Stop doing wrong..." Moralizing is similar to sending solutions because it suggests what the person should be doing. Moralizing uses what is right and wrong, good and bad, black and white to further your logic. Manipulation from guilt and other emotions that arise from moral words do not change difficult people - yet alone anyone.

3. Complaints. "I wish Bill wasn't so damn annoying." Bickering is mental masturbation. Creation comes from being proactive.

If you complain, you are the difficult person. You become no better than the person you try to change through your complaints. Do not reciprocate someone's difficulties. It is your responsibility to treat people with respect.

4. Criticism. People criticize to build change. "I'm results-focused. I criticize people to get things done." Similar lines of thinking drive the 12 communication barriers (criticism, labeling, diagnosing, praise, orders, threats, questions, moralizing, advice, reason, reassurance, and deflecting).

Avoid criticism because it is not charismatic persuasion. Criticism intensifies conflict. Criticized individuals feel diminished, unworthy, and less important.

Learn to listen to the difficult person and let them express their point of view. It will help you understand more about why they are difficult and this tip alone can be enough to deal with the person.

Follow the above tips to deal with difficult people and be sure to avoid the top four mistakes, and the next time you face a stubborn employee, angry child, or cold-hearted individual, you can keep your sanity in tact and even change the person.

You are probably aware of the many difficult people in your life. From your stubborn boss, procrastinating coworker, angry child, intrusive step parents, or hurtful spouse, these individuals can ruin your sanity. So often people make the four mistakes I'll share with you in this article to change a difficult person, but they only cause the person to become more difficult. Read on to learn more.

Joshua Uebergang is a world-leading communication and people skills coach. He has written for you a free guide available for download right now called "Principles and Tips to Deal With Difficult People" openly available on his site. Simply visit TowerOfPower.com.au to grab your guide with no strings attached.

Article Source: http://www.positivearticles.com. PositiveArticles.Com does not vouch for or necessarily endorse the contents of this article.

There might be a lot of leaders in your area, but there are only a few who know exactly what makes a good leader. As a leader, you’re expected to bring you and your team to success. As a leader, your team looks up to you for guidance and support.

Wanting to know what makes a good leader is already the first step to achieving your goal. However, there is always room for improvement. Read on and find out how you can become a good leader.

1) Teamwork

A leader might be the head of the organization or team, but he or she cannot function well without teamwork. Unfortunately, a lot of leaders let their position get into their heads. They move without consulting the rest of the team.

What makes a good leader is a sense of teamwork. Although you might be the one calling the shots, you can’t completely disregard the people you’re responsible for.

2) Strength

Another important factor of what makes a good leader is strength. Whether it’s strength in making a decision, or strength in overcoming challenges, a good leaders knows not to show weakness.

A good leader doesn’t cower from the enemy. He or she doesn’t fear challenges or obstacles; but instead, he or she deals with them head-on.

3) Good Example

A good leader sets a good example for his or her subordinates. If you’re very particular about tardiness, then you have to make sure that you’re always on time, if not earlier than the others.

If you have strong feelings against cheating, then you yourself should not be tempted to cheat. Set a good example for the people in your team. Actions speak louder than words.

4) Responsibility

A good leader takes responsibility. He or she doesn’t try to figure out a way to escape the mess that might have been created. Instead, a good leader faces the issue and deals with the problems as they come.

Being responsible also means avoiding disaster and making the right decisions. Keep in mind that you’re accountable for the rest of your team.

5) Quick Thinking

Quick thinking is an essential leadership skill. Most of the time, this is what saves the day. A good leader must know how to act swiftly and must encourage quick thinking among his or her people.

The success of a group has a lot to do with both the leader and the team. It’s never just about one person only. As long as you remember what your goal is, you’ll be alright. And these additional tips on what makes a good leader will only help you become a better person.

Wanting to know what makes a good leader is already the first step to achieving your goal. However, there is always room for improvement. Read this article and find out how you can become a good leader.

Discover secret persuasion techniques to easily put people under your control and make them fulfill your every desire, without them knowing it! Get a FREE course that reveals 10 groundbreaking persuasion secrets at http://www.20daypersuasion.com/secrets.htm

Article Source: http://www.positivearticles.com. PositiveArticles.Com does not vouch for or necessarily endorse the contents of this article.

There are negative influences to be found all around us in this world. Some people inexplicably wait for the next negative event seemingly with bated breath, whilst others, like me, do everything in their power to repel such influences.

I'm sure that you, like I, have come across people who seem to be surrounded by a black cloud of mood-dampening negativity, and the creepy feeling of that dark mist reaching its arms out to grab you makes you want to turn tail and flee! I sometimes have to stop myself from physically putting out my arms as a barrier against those dark and dreary vibes, or covering my ears so as to stop a negative droll from entering my hearing space. My body language must be screaming out, yelling at those vibes, telling them to get away from me; that I do not want to catch that contagious disease called negativity.

In my imagination, this really is what I am doing; I am holding up a stick and warding off that tenacious terrier dog, stopping it from nipping at my ankles, I'm covering my ears, turning my back, holding out a shield and generally putting on all of the mental armor I can find in my tool kit of mental skills which I carry in my back park wherever I may go. Sometimes I imagine that I am expanding, growing bigger and stronger and taller, whilst at the same time that black cloud of negativity is shrinking and fading and disappearing. And at other times I just imagine floating up into the air, with sunlight bathing me in warmth and comfort, and looking down upon that misty and murky fog from a great distance.

When I open that back-pack of mental skills, its great fun to see how they continually grow in number. I found the other day two new tools - a gun for paintballing and a laser gun, enabling me to "zap" negative influences and keep them well away from my comfort zone and prevent them from entering my personal space. A favorite of mine is a mirrored shield, which sends negative vibes straight back to whence they came. Another is a magic wand which can be used for many purposes, not just to turn annoying negative things into frogs. That magic wand can be used to send bright sparkles over to those who are brooding, black and moody, so as to brighten up their day as well.

Central of course to this theme of protecting yourself from negativity is to first ensure that your own habitual thoughts are positive and to have the confidence and self-belief to know that your own relaxed, happy and positive feelings and vibes will always prevail. It is from this solid core of inner confidence that your mental skills spring from. You can pad out your back-pack and enhance your mental skills through employment of your creative mind, which you can access and more fully utilize with the help of hypnosis.

Roseanna Leaton, specialist in hypnosis downloads for self-improvement, self-confidence and well-being.

It's good to get your creative juices flowing and use your imagination to find ways in which you can repel negative vibes. There are a lot of mental skills which you can not only learn but you can expand upon them to suit your own mind and circumstances.

With a degree in psychology and qualifications in hypnotherapy, NLP and sports psychology, Roseanna Leaton is one of the leading practitioners of self-improvement. You can get a free hypnosis download from http://www.RoseannaLeaton.com and peruse her extensive library of hypnosis downloads for self-confidence.

Article Source: http://www.positivearticles.com. PositiveArticles.Com does not vouch for or necessarily endorse the contents of this article.

To feel a sense of peace is very important to the majority of human beings. Some people of course thrive upon unrest and feel that without an unsettled feeling they would not be motivated to achieve their maximum potential. But peacefulness is ultimately a state which allows one to rest and recharge their batteries. To be at peace with oneself sets the scene for a more relaxing and enjoyable life.

Yet for the majority of human beings, peacefulness is only felt for fleeting moments, providing us with a tantalizing glimpse of how we would like to feel on a regular basis. We all have the ability to feel a sense of peace; peace, after all is subjective experience. It is possible for one person to feel peace whilst in the middle of a war zone, and yet another may feel anything but peaceful whilst lying down on their own sofa.

It is clear that peacefulness is created by your attitude. It does not matter what is happening around you; what matters is how you think about it. Peace comes from acceptance. If you fight against something, you cannot be at peace. If you accept something as it is, no matter the rights or wrongs involved, then that something cannot take away from your sense of peace. Anything in life that we do not accept will almost always cause us trouble until we learn to make our peace with it.

To be accepting of things you need to learn to be able to think in a particular way. If you do not like something and you are in a position to change it then you must commit to doing just that. If the thing you do not like cannot be changed by you, then you need to change your attitude. If you do not learn to do this you will not be peaceful; instead you will feel a range of turbulent emotions; anger, frustration, anxiety, fear and tension abound in the world today. But these emotions can only create ill affects; they are not positive in any way at all.

Why would someone subject themselves to these emotions when they have the power to feel peaceful simply by changing their attitude? This is a question which I keep coming back to and as yet I can only find one or two answers. In the main, I think most people do not really realize how easy it can be to change their attitude, and resolve the conflicts which are circling around within their minds. For a lesser number of people, they have come to like their unsettled feelings; tension has become their friend in a slightly unsettling way.

The simple fact is that if you are thinking about something which you do not like and you can change it then you should do so. If you cannot change it then choose to think about it in a different way. Hypnosis can be very helpful to you as hypnosis is a state of relaxation which allows you to take a step back; as you do so you can quite naturally see things from a different angle. Hypnosis also helps you to be "in the now"; this too is very helpful as the things which most people are concerned about are either in the past or in the future, and should not intrude if you are "in the now".

You can learn mental skills to use with hypnosis to help you to "turn a blind eye" to things which previously got in the way of peacefulness. You can also use hypnosis to create a state of mind which is naturally conducive to conflict resolution. Hypnosis really can help you to feel peaceful and to enjoy your life a whole lot more. You can learn to use hypnosis quickly and easily in the comfort of your own home with the help of hypnosis downloads.

Roseanna Leaton, specialist in hypnosis mp3s for change.

Acceptance plays a large role in influencing whether or not you feel peaceful. To be accepting of things a change of attitude is generally required. Hypnosis helps you to take a step back and see things from a different angle.

With a degree in psychology and qualifications in hypnotherapy, NLP and sports psychology, Roseanna Leaton is one of the leading practitioners of self-improvement. You can get a free hypnosis download from http://www.RoseannaLeaton.com and peruse her extensive library of hypnosis mp3s for change.

Article Source: http://www.positivearticles.com. PositiveArticles.Com does not vouch for or necessarily endorse the contents of this article.

Thinking negative thoughts never did anybody any good. Unfortunately, not everyone can stop negative thinking. Reasons for this vary.

An event or a series of events could have contributed to a person’s train of thought. At other times, it could be the way a person was brought up. He might have grown up in a negative environment. Whatever the case may be, it is high time to move on.

It’s time to stop negative thinking.

Step 1: Be aware of your thoughts.

Sometimes, negative thinking has become too much a part of our lives that we don’t even realize that all our thoughts point to negative.

Once you become aware of your thought patterns, however, you’ll be able to actively switch to positive thoughts more often, until such a time those positive thoughts become your default setting instead!

Why do you think it is important to stop negative thinking? Well, that’s because whatever is in our thoughts affect the things happening in our reality. Negative thoughts will only attract negative things.

Step 2: Avoid using negative phrases.

Pay attention to how you begin your sentences. Do you usually start with “I can’t” or “I don’t?” These words automatically place limiters on what you can do.

Take it from the President of the United States Barrack Obama and say, “Yes, we can!” Yes, you can! So next time, begin your sentences on a more positive note. Focus on the “I can” and “I do” and you’ll find yourself being able to achieve feats you previously thought were impossible.

Step 3: Stop holding grudges.

Grudges serve no purpose. Revenge serves no purpose. These things are negative and corrupt the spirit.

If you’re really determined to stop negative thinking, you’re going to have to let some of your old habits die. Learn to let go of the past. Focus on the present.

As long as you keep holding grudges, you will never be able to unshackle yourself from negative thinking. As a result, you’ll never be able to really live life as fully as you’re meant to. It’s not going to be easy, especially if you’re holding a grudge for years. But the rewards are most definitely worth it.

The time has come for you to stop negative thinking. It’s time to start thinking like a winner. Once you start shifting to the positive side, you’ll be able to see the world in a whole new light.

The time has come for you to stop negative thinking. It’s time to start thinking like a winner. Once you start shifting to the positive side, you’ll be able to see the world in a whole new light. This article will show you how.

To help you stop negative thinking and achieve your dreams easily, I’d like to give you FREE instant access to some of the best self-help eBooks worth over $2,355.00! Download them free at http://www.20daypersuasion.com/goldaccess.htm.

Article Source: http://www.positivearticles.com. PositiveArticles.Com does not vouch for or necessarily endorse the contents of this article.

If there's one thing people always need to work on, it's their own selves. Life constantly changes and we, too, should learn to adapt. Personal self development helps us take care of that. It targets different aspects of our lives that are important to our well-being.

This article will delve into some personal self development issues that generally need taking care of. Some of these issues might be more relevant to you than others, but everything will have an impact on you one way or another.

Read this article to find out just how you can keep improving yourself.

Your Body Is A Temple.

The way you look at yourself is one of the most important issues of personal self development. It's a fact that physical appearance and health have a lot to do with how society treats you.

If you're overweight or malnourished, now is the time to take care of yourself. Having a few extra pounds is easily taken care of. You can spend ten minutes each morning working out - jogging in place, playing your favorite sports or even just plain stretching.

If you're on the lighter side and need to put on more weight, re-evaluate your diet. Make sure to consume more good proteins (lean meat, fish, eggs, etc.) and good carbohydrates (whole grain foods, brown rice, oats, beans, nuts, etc.). Don't trick yourself into thinking that you don't care how you look and how people look at you. We all know that that is not true.

Your Future Is In Your Savings.

You don't need to be a financial analyst to know what to do with your money. A vital part of personal self development is learning how to discipline yourself when it comes to money matters.

As tempting as it is to splurge every pay day, you must learn to curb your spending habits. Know when to turn the other cheek. A lot of people discipline themselves by automatically setting 10% or more of their salaries for their savings account. Others like to give themselves shopping ultimatums. No buying of new clothes for three months or no eating out for weeks.

If you're not good with money, it is a good idea to give yourself some kind of ultimatum in baby steps.

You Mind Is Like A Magnet.

Having a positive attitude is also a very crucial aspect of personal self development. You may have succeeded in the first two aspects; but if you possess a negative mindset, you won't be able to savor your victory for long.

Your mind is like a magnet. It attracts whatever it is you're thinking about. If you're always thinking about bad luck, for example, don't be surprised to find yourself having a series of misfortunes. To cement all the things you have accomplished for yourself, always think positive.

Personal self development is not something that can be achieved for you. People may write tons of articles about it; but unless you make the move to apply the principles to your life, nothing will change.

This article will delve into some personal self development issues that generally need taking care of. Some of these issues might be more relevant to you than others, but everything will have an impact on you one way or another.

To speed up your personal self-development and achieve your dreams easily, I’d like to give you FREE instant access to some of the best self-improvement eBooks worth over $2,355.00! Download them free at http://www.20daypersuasion.com/goldaccess.htm.

Article Source: http://www.positivearticles.com. PositiveArticles.Com does not vouch for or necessarily endorse the contents of this article.

A few years ago when I was in training with the Coaches Training Institute, I remember one of the leaders saying that it is easier to give 100% - easier than 95%, or anything less than 100%. That resonated for me. In the moment I knew the truth of it, but put it into some “future query file.”

It clearly came home to me almost six years later. I made a decision to eat a 100% raw diet and let go of all caffeine.

I had a sense for two years that this was the best way for me in terms of health and energy. I had put my foot in the raw food waters several times, and let go of some level of caffeine, with a lot of exceptions.

I was already vegetarian and had lost my taste for coffee. But I love cooked food; used green and other teas for energy and couldn’t find it in myself to let go of these options.

I didn’t want to miss out on anything in the way of the cooked food world - an unexpected treat, a buffet, a special meal someone made, or a great new restaurant.
I didn’t want to be so different from others around me. And I couldn’t imagine letting go of the kick of caffeine.

Plus, this was what I knew - and a case of old habits die hard.

So I bounced around, sometimes here, sometimes there, often using circumstances as my guide for the moment or the day. I had desire without decision.

Until . . .

WHAT HAPPENED

One day I made a decision to eat 100% raw and let go of caffeine. This decision has impacted me on every level - spiritual, emotional and physical.

I am at peace, and what once looked so challenging no longer seems so at all. In fact, I am quite happy about the whole thing, and have learned a lot in the process far beyond the decision to eat raw and let go of caffeine.

And, yes, there have been periods of great re-adjustment.

So here is fast-forwarding to a few key things I’ve learned.

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

A decision is powerful. The root of the word decision (decidere) is to cut off from. When I - or you - really make a decision, we cut ourselves off from other options and commit to what we’ve chosen by virtue of our decision.

A decision includes both intention and commitment. Both of these are 100%. Both focus our inner resources as well as attract the ideas and outer resources to support the decision.

A decision is whole hearted. We can only decide in favor of what is true for our self - of what we know in our heart and soul to be true. Otherwise, there’ll always be some holding back, either in subtle or not so subtle ways. With a real decision, there is no holding back.

Being whole hearted - no holding back - is a joy and is effortless.

100% is easier than anything less.

Much like being whole hearted, there is great ease in doing something 100%. 100% means total - emotional, spiritual and physical. There are no considerations, mind clutter, fantasies, circumstances, excuses or shoulds to drain our energy or distract our attention.

Doing something 100% is simple.

IMAGINE

Image how your life might be different if you only invest your time, energy and attention on what is true for you, and whatever you do, you do it 100%. Whether it is a conversation, a project, a relationship, your business or anything else, being in it 100% can only make it easier, simpler and ever so much richer.

Why Not “Step into Your Greatness” 100%

By putting 100% of your heart into decision making, you can simplify your life and Step Into Your Greatness!

Reggie Odom CPCC, PCC, founder of Inspired Works, is an Intuitive Vision Consultant, professional certified coach, spiritual teacher and speaker. She inspires and guides Spirit Minded Entrepreneurs to step into their greatness, with ease! She can be contacted at (617) 524-6153, or reggie@reggieodom.

Article Source: http://www.positivearticles.com. PositiveArticles.Com does not vouch for or necessarily endorse the contents of this article.

Do you beat yourself up for not losing the weight you want to lose or for not achieving the financial goals you’ve set for yourself? If so, you are engaging in a self defeating way of thinking. You may think that if you don’t however, that you will loose your motivation to change. That may be true to an extent but from a Law of Attraction stand point, you are attracting exactly what you don’t want. The key is to love and accept yourself despite your perceived short-comings.

The same is true of any negative emotions or judgements you may hold against other people. Someone once said that if there is something that bothers you about another, it is really some aspect of yourself that you reject. Try accepting those perceived faults in others and you will find that you can more easily love and accept yourself.

Conversely, if you find that there is someone you admire for some quality they possess such as a “sunny” disposition or a “can do” attitude, then those qualities are also aspects of your own personality. Don’t get jealous, just appreciate those qualities and recognize that you also possess them. In fact jealous feelings are a wonderful opportunity for clearing whatever holds you back from your dreams. If you are jealous of someone who seemingly has it all, you will block yourself from being able to attract those things into your own life. The reason for your jealous feelings is an underlying belief that you can’t have those things yourself and so you sabotage your ability to manifest your desires. Therefore, practice loving acceptance of people who seem to have it all and you will soon come to realize that if someone else has been able to create those things then you can too.

You can use energy therapies such as Emotional Freedom Techniques or EFT to tap out your negative feelings about yourself. EFT is a meridian based therapy that involves tapping on various points on the face and body while repeating an affirmation. Part of the affirmation protocol involves accepting yourself fully and completely. It’s a way to “make friends” with the problem because it’s the non-acceptance of the problem that causes the negative emotions.

Zpoint Process is another useful modality for releasing negative emotions. It involves assigning a “cue” word to your subconscious mind and repeating it like a mantra once you mark any negative feelings that arise over a give issue. In this way, you can neutralize any negative beliefs or emotions and quickly move into a place of self love and acceptance.

Stop beating yourself up for not losing the weight you want or for not achieving the financial goals you’ve set for yourself. Find out the impact this may have on you and you ability to succeed and what you can do about it.

Written by Laura Whitelaw, Certified Zpoint and EFT-CC Practitioner. Laura provides individual and group coaching as well as teleclasses. Visit www.thewaytoblissnow.com and find out how you can download a free audio to download and clear your blocks to prosperity.

Article Source: http://www.positivearticles.com. PositiveArticles.Com does not vouch for or necessarily endorse the contents of this article.

At the highest levels, better brainpower cannot be separated from higher self awareness. Your own reactive mind often gets in the way of the clearest and deepest thinking, and you have to see this happening to correct it. Part of the problem is what's sometimes referred to as the "monkey mind," which describes the tendency of the mind to jump from thought to thought like a restless monkey jumping from tree to tree. This is something you might "tame" with meditation.

But we also have to consider the content and patterns of those thoughts. Calm the busy mind and you may observe things more clearly, concentrate better, and think more efficiently - but not necessarily more effectively. A perfectly tuned and efficient car can still take you to the wrong destination, after all. Self awareness starts with this meditative observation of the "chatter" in your mind, but for more powerful thinking you have to look deeper, to see what influences are working there unnoticed.

Common Biases That Prevent Effective Thinking

Suppose a scientist is studying the effects of various deficiencies in humans. One day he reads a research paper which hypothesizes that decreased copper levels in men contribute to criminal behavior. It's a new and interesting idea in his field, but he dismisses the idea quickly, noting that the study primarily shows just a correlation, which doesn't prove causation (there is a higher rate of copper deficiency among violent offenders in prison).

Now, let's suppose that he would ordinarily look into such an intriguing idea more closely. Correlation does give reason to look for causation, after all, especially on something as important as the possible link of a nutritional deficiency to criminal behavior. Why might he have reacted differently in this case, and without even knowing that he had done so? There are several common biases that may have been operating on an unconscious level in him.

First, he might have had a bad experience with the author of the study. Without a doubt we tend to have more difficulty giving credence to ideas that come from people (or newspapers or television news) we dislike. This is what can be referred to as a "source bias." If you want to test this phenomenon, find a great quote by a popular person and see how many people agree with it. Then tell another group that it's a quote from Adolph Hitler and see how many from that group think it's a great idea.

Second, he may be biased by his philosophy. In this case, he might strongly believe that people are entirely responsible for their actions. Our minds are powerful at a deep level, and quickly see if a given idea doesn't fit our existing beliefs, even if we do not note that consciously. As a result, this scientist might immediately discount any possibilities which contradict his "mental framework" or personal philosophy. We might call this a "philosophical bias." We can ignore even the best evidence if something challenges our basic belief system, and a lack of self awareness makes this an "invisible" habit.

Third, there is the basic "ego bias," which makes it harder for people to accept an idea they didn't come up with or have any involvement with (or more generally to have a hard time thinking in ways that challenge one's ideas about himself). Had he considered the idea of a deficiency increasing the chances of criminal behavior before, he might have loved that research paper (but that, in turn, could be an example of "confirmation bias," which leads us to believe those things which confirm our previous beliefs). If he had argued for something that contradicted the copper deficiency previously, it is easy to see that he might discount it's value. He would have to drop or alter his own idea in that case, and ego often prevent this, even among good scientists.

These are just three of the many common biases which can affect our thinking. The solution? Self awareness through self observation. It is difficult to correct a problem which we do not see and acknowledge, right? So for the highest level of brainpower, we have to watch our own thoughts and notice the patterns and reactions.

For example, if the scientist in our story above was in the habit of self observation, he might have noticed that his dismissal of the new idea was more of a reaction than a reasoned response. This could have lead him to investigate whether he was reacting to his dislike of the author (source bias), or if the idea was unconsciously felt as an attack on his basic philosophy (philosophical bias), and therefore rejected. He might have even discovered a pattern in himself of ignoring ideas and evidence that he didn't originate or have previous involvement with (ego bias).

How to get in the habit of self observation, and therefore increase one's self awareness, which then leads to the possibility of more effective thinking, is a topic for another article. But seeing the need to do so is a good start.

Why is self awareness necessary for the highest levels of brainpower? Find out here...

Copyright Steve Gillman. For more on Self Awareness, and to get the Brainpower Newsletter and other free gifts, visit: http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com

Article Source: http://www.positivearticles.com. PositiveArticles.Com does not vouch for or necessarily endorse the contents of this article.

It was inevitable… for a brief moment in eternity, time stood still. I’ve had this experience before, but this time it was slightly different.

It was one of those lazy Sunday night. Quiet, peaceful and relaxing… I was preparing for the new week ahead. I was sitting on my beach chair in my backyard. I was enjoying the tranquility sounds of crickets, the stars in the clear sky with the bright full moon. There was a slight cool breeze of the wind brushing against my skin and on the tree leaves.

Ringo was lying on the grass and I called him over, “Come here Ringo!… Come here buddy!” As Ringo slowly stood up to come to me, time stood still. It took Ringo around 5 seconds to get up. I felt like it was one of those slow motions in movies. In the brief moment of time, it dawned on me…

My best friend in the world… is old.


Time Flies

I remembered it clearly when I got him, like it was yesterday. I was only 12 years old and he was a 1 month old puppy. We have so many fun times together; chasing cats (sorry cat lovers), socializing at the parks, unforgettable times at the vet… his mere company is just priceless.

Time flew so fast that in a split second. I realized that my best friend was now 15 years of age. I then calculated that it in dog years and realized that he's 105 years old. Time stood still as mixed emotions took over me. I felt sad, but at the same time felt inner happiness. I felt loss, but at the same time felt very blessed.

As he wagged his tail and walked towards me, he sat down next to me then quickly laid on his back asking for a chest rub. As I gave Ringo a chest rub, I looked at him. I can tell that he was in heaven and was just carefree.


The Principles

We human beings have and will always be searching for our own heaven and pursuing our own happiness. I guess that true happiness is very close. I guess it is just a fingertip away and not somewhere very far as we may think. True happiness is actually within us.

I remembered those problematic times and Ringo’s companionship made all the difference. He would sit next to me, sometimes lie beside me and not say anything. I guess that’s the special bond we share; communicating without saying a word. There are 3 important lessons in life that Ringo taught me:

1. To love unconditionally
2. To enjoy every moment
3. To be positive in times of despair

Love unconditionally:
Whether it is materialistic things or that special person, you should love it unconditionally. This does not mean that you should let people take advantage of you and treat you without respect. It means to forgive them and treat them with kindness.

Anything in life, if we don’t treat it with love, it will wither away. It will slowly break away, from our relationships breaking apart to our materialistic possessions. Like a car breaking down because we don’t look after it and treat it with care. Just like a relationship falling apart because we don't give it much importance.

Enjoy every moment:
There are days when we find ourselves just complaining about the little things that we shouldn’t even be complaining about.

Do you find yourself complaining because it’s a rainy day? Do you find yourself complaining as you go around a puddle as you walk through the rain?

Whatever happened to that child inside of you who enjoyed every part of life? Where is that carefree child that would’ve jumped into the puddles, instead of going around it and complain about it?

Always be positive:
When you are negative, you don’t have much hope. When you lose hope, you will give up because you can’t see a way out.

No matter and whatever happens in your life, always be positive. When you are positive, there is always hope. Hope is what gives you the extra mile, the extra strength and the extra breath to keep you going.


A Different Life

Without saying a word, Ringo taught me these simple yet important principles through his actions.

As the night went on, he communicated to me that these lessons are not just for me. He looked at me with his big smile, his tongue hanging on the side of his mouth, lying on his back with his four paws up in the air…

… “Can you imagine if everyone lived by these simple principles?”
… “Can you imagine how different the world would be?”

He looked deep into me and said,
… “Don’t you think many people deserve to hear these principles?”
… “Don’t you think these principles are worth spreading?”

A small subtle smile developed in me as I continued to give him a chest rub. I thought to myself, “Yes Ringo, these principles are worth spreading.”

1. Love unconditionally
2. Enjoy every moment
3. Always be Positive

I remembered those problematic times and Ringo’s companionship made all the difference. He would sit next to me, sometimes lie beside me and not say anything. I guess that’s the special bond we share; communicating without saying a word. There are 3 important lessons in life that Ringo taught me...

Breian Malupa provides the Master Key to Power. Open your Life to a whole new world. The Power to Be, Do and Have anything you want. Change, Heal or Create the Life you want with these Self Improvement Tips.

Article Source: http://www.positivearticles.com. PositiveArticles.Com does not vouch for or necessarily endorse the contents of this article.It was inevitable… for a brief moment in eternity, time stood still. I’ve had this experience before, but this time it was slightly different.

It was one of those lazy Sunday night. Quiet, peaceful and relaxing… I was preparing for the new week ahead. I was sitting on my beach chair in my backyard. I was enjoying the tranquility sounds of crickets, the stars in the clear sky with the bright full moon. There was a slight cool breeze of the wind brushing against my skin and on the tree leaves.

Ringo was lying on the grass and I called him over, “Come here Ringo!… Come here buddy!” As Ringo slowly stood up to come to me, time stood still. It took Ringo around 5 seconds to get up. I felt like it was one of those slow motions in movies. In the brief moment of time, it dawned on me…

My best friend in the world… is old.


Time Flies

I remembered it clearly when I got him, like it was yesterday. I was only 12 years old and he was a 1 month old puppy. We have so many fun times together; chasing cats (sorry cat lovers), socializing at the parks, unforgettable times at the vet… his mere company is just priceless.

Time flew so fast that in a split second. I realized that my best friend was now 15 years of age. I then calculated that it in dog years and realized that he's 105 years old. Time stood still as mixed emotions took over me. I felt sad, but at the same time felt inner happiness. I felt loss, but at the same time felt very blessed.

As he wagged his tail and walked towards me, he sat down next to me then quickly laid on his back asking for a chest rub. As I gave Ringo a chest rub, I looked at him. I can tell that he was in heaven and was just carefree.


The Principles

We human beings have and will always be searching for our own heaven and pursuing our own happiness. I guess that true happiness is very close. I guess it is just a fingertip away and not somewhere very far as we may think. True happiness is actually within us.

I remembered those problematic times and Ringo’s companionship made all the difference. He would sit next to me, sometimes lie beside me and not say anything. I guess that’s the special bond we share; communicating without saying a word. There are 3 important lessons in life that Ringo taught me:

1. To love unconditionally
2. To enjoy every moment
3. To be positive in times of despair

Love unconditionally:
Whether it is materialistic things or that special person, you should love it unconditionally. This does not mean that you should let people take advantage of you and treat you without respect. It means to forgive them and treat them with kindness.

Anything in life, if we don’t treat it with love, it will wither away. It will slowly break away, from our relationships breaking apart to our materialistic possessions. Like a car breaking down because we don’t look after it and treat it with care. Just like a relationship falling apart because we don't give it much importance.

Enjoy every moment:
There are days when we find ourselves just complaining about the little things that we shouldn’t even be complaining about.

Do you find yourself complaining because it’s a rainy day? Do you find yourself complaining as you go around a puddle as you walk through the rain?

Whatever happened to that child inside of you who enjoyed every part of life? Where is that carefree child that would’ve jumped into the puddles, instead of going around it and complain about it?

Always be positive:
When you are negative, you don’t have much hope. When you lose hope, you will give up because you can’t see a way out.

No matter and whatever happens in your life, always be positive. When you are positive, there is always hope. Hope is what gives you the extra mile, the extra strength and the extra breath to keep you going.


A Different Life

Without saying a word, Ringo taught me these simple yet important principles through his actions.

As the night went on, he communicated to me that these lessons are not just for me. He looked at me with his big smile, his tongue hanging on the side of his mouth, lying on his back with his four paws up in the air…

… “Can you imagine if everyone lived by these simple principles?”
… “Can you imagine how different the world would be?”

He looked deep into me and said,
… “Don’t you think many people deserve to hear these principles?”
… “Don’t you think these principles are worth spreading?”

A small subtle smile developed in me as I continued to give him a chest rub. I thought to myself, “Yes Ringo, these principles are worth spreading.”

1. Love unconditionally
2. Enjoy every moment
3. Always be Positive

I remembered those problematic times and Ringo’s companionship made all the difference. He would sit next to me, sometimes lie beside me and not say anything. I guess that’s the special bond we share; communicating without saying a word. There are 3 important lessons in life that Ringo taught me...

Breian Malupa provides the Master Key to Power. Open your Life to a whole new world. The Power to Be, Do and Have anything you want. Change, Heal or Create the Life you want with these Self Improvement Tips.

Article Source: http://www.positivearticles.com. PositiveArticles.Com does not vouch for or necessarily endorse the contents of this article.

We hear the expression "beginner's luck" often, but is there something to the idea? Is it real? Yes and no. No, it isn't meaningful when a first time visitor to a casino wins big. If out of every hundred customers or so somebody is going to have a nice win, then out of a hundred new visitors it isn't surprising to have a winner. We'll just conveniently forget the other ninety-nine.

That's just an example of probabilities and human psychology. We notice the exception, ignore the common, and mostly don't know a thing about odds. On the other hand, there is a type of beginners luck that is very real. It isn't based on any magic or unusual "forces," but on another kind of psychological phenomenon.

This kind of luck (or whatever you want to call it) is seen in the success of a new entrepreneur, or a first-time actor getting a choice role, or the new kid in school getting asked out to the prom by the most popular guy or girl. This kind of luck is often a result of the person being a beginner. And there are reasons for this.

In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few. - Shunryu Suzuki

Beginner's Luck - Beginner's Mind

There is a concept in Zen called beginner's mind. It points to the mind that is free of limiting ideas, at the beginning of understanding, and open to all the many possibilities. It is something that can be achieved through meditation, but in a certain sense it is something that we all have when we begin in an area that we don't know well. We are open to learn and not yet full of opinion and belief.

For example, many young men and women in their twenties have had "beginner's luck" in real estate investing over the years, often after buying an expensive course from a late night info-mercial. Had they bothered to ask, the "experts" would have probably given them many reasons why the techniques in those courses wouldn't work, and these non-beginners would have been right in many cases.

They also would have been wrong in some cases. The truth is that we all tend to get set in our ways as we do something over and over. Eventually we know a lot, and this is very useful, but we also develop many ideas about what isn't possible or practical. In other words, a long-term investor has knowledge, but also has a very limiting set of opinions and beliefs that prevent things from being tried. A beginning investor just says, "I'll try this, and then this," and though he may fail more often than succeed, he eventually succeeds because he doesn't "know better" than to try.

Furthermore, an expert is an "authority" who has built a reputation and an ego based on what he knows. This makes him less inclined to try new things or ask for advice, or be open to new ideas - three elements you need if you want to find new ways to succeed. At the start we know little, and we claim little, and with this smaller involvement of the ego, we can be more open to opportunities.

The Lesson

There are other aspects to this phenomenon of the beginner's mind and the luck it helps create, but this is enough to see the advantage. Now, what if you are not a beginner? What if you already are the expert, but you want to get more creative and go to higher levels of success in your endeavors?

Why not adopt the frame of mind of a beginner? In that way you get the best of both mind-sets. You have the knowledge, but you want the creative and open mind too. Start by assuming much of what you believe is wrong. It may not be, but challenging what you know and believe immediately opens your mind. Argue against your own ideas if necessary to overcome the ego attachment to them that is always there. Then suggest new and even crazy ideas, just to explore the possibilities. Pretend you are absolutely new to whatever you are working on, and ask the questions such a beginner would ask.

That may be enough to change your approach and find creative new opportunities. Meditation or simple mindfulness exercises can also help. They can help you identify what is going on in there, so you can again challenge those thoughts, and then help you clear your mind of its constant chatter of ideas and thoughts, so new ones can enter. That's a beginner's mind, and it leads to beginner's luck.

Beginner's luck is a real phenomenon. Learn how to have it starting today.

Copyright Steve Gillman. Learn more specific ways to Get Lucky right now at: http://www.GoodLuckSecrets.com

Article Source: http://www.positivearticles.com. PositiveArticles.Com does not vouch for or necessarily endorse the contents of this article.

Creating and using a metaphorical understanding is one of the primary ways we communicate a new idea. The process is very apparent with scientific knowledge. For example, we explain an atom using the metaphor of a little solar system in which the nucleus sits like the sun in the middle and the electrons and positrons orbit like planets. Atoms - and many things in science - probably appear nothing like the metaphorical models we invent, but we have to have some way to mentally "see" these things.

Interestingly, after using them for a long time, we often forget the metaphorical nature of our understandings and expressions. For example, we give no thought to our description of temperature as being "higher" or "lower." What does it actually have to do with elevation? Nothing perhaps, but comparing hotter with higher and colder with lower is a useful perspective for understanding and talking about temperature. It also obviously started as a metaphor, which we can see if we think about it for a moment.

We can see that metaphors are an essential part of how we explain, understand, and communicate things. We can also see that in time the metaphorical basis is forgotten - once our "knowledge" is old and accepted. But what about creating new metaphors to gain new understanding and insight? Some examples that I have found useful follow.

Dark Thoughts are a Storm

Often our thoughts torment us, but are they just a storm which will eventually pass by? Is the "sky" (our peace of mind) always there waiting to reveal itself once again? It seems to ring true, and as soon as we remember this the clouds begin to clear more quickly. And don't think that because it's a metaphorical understanding it's just an invention. All good metaphors point out some true aspect of reality.

When we explore our minds we find that negative thoughts, for all their insistence that we pay attention to them, move on when we allow them to. Of course we often forget this and ascribe them more permanence and importance than they have in reality. When we see them as passing storm clouds that eventually dissipate to reveal the sky that has always been there - that idea points to a valuable insight, doesn't it? It's a reminder that loosens the hold those thoughts have on us.

The Beast That Feeds On Attention

From a biological or evolutionary perspective, fear is just a warning (but notice that even this is a metaphor). From a personal perspective, though, we can see that it becomes a little beast growing in us as we feed it with too much attention. We work ourselves into a more fearful and non-productive state by "feeding the beast" with our attention to every thought it holds up about what has gone wrong, is going wrong or can go wrong - and what we might lose as a result. Such a metaphorical understanding of a real phenomenon suggests that we stop feeding our fear.

Reality is an Enemy

Suppose reality points to the failure of a man's ideas. Often his ideas then demand that he attack the accusing enemy. You may have noticed this in some people, maybe even some friends or acquaintances. Some people have many ideas about how things "should be" and are always stumbling over inconvenient truths as a result. They argue more fervently then about how stupid things are, and yet do not fully accept that they really are that way. This, in a real sense, is how we make reality an enemy.

Ego the Slave Master

Think too much about yourself and follow your own thoughts without reflection, and you become a slave of who you think you are, of your own self image. The ideas and opinions that you call yourself become your master.

What we know of life and the world can be understood in more than one way, seen from more than one perspective. Each way of looking at things can possibly provide a bit more to advance our understanding of reality. That suggests that it can be very productive to play with metaphors from time to time. Every new and different metaphorical understanding has the potential to give us new insights and new ways to deal with ourselves and the world.

Much of what we learn starts with a metaphorical understanding. Why not use that process more consciously?

Copyright Steve Gillman. For inventions, new product ideas, business ideas, story ideas, political and economic theories, deep thoughts, and ocassional free gifts, visit The New Ideas Blog, at: http://www.999ideas.com/blog

Article Source: http://www.positivearticles.com. PositiveArticles.Com does not vouch for or necessarily endorse the contents of this article.

The benefits of coaching

Just imagine a combination of your best friend, your most cherished teacher, your most hard-nosed manager, and your most positive guru available and committed to your personal development.

How much more will you achieve when these resources are available to you?

A coach will provide you all of this and more.

Seems a bit like counselling or therapy?

There are superficial similarities between coaching and therapy but there are fundamental differences. Coaching essentially is about commitment and development in the present moment to achieve future goals and outcomes.

Many forms of therapy are about fixing problems from the past. In coaching you might discuss past issues but this is only in the context of future goals.

Are there different forms of coaching?

There are many different names for different forms of coaching. Lots of coaches and coach schools have marketing names for different types of coaching. In broad terms you can fit most forms of coaching into five categories.

Peak Performance Coaching

This is very common with sports where a coach is generally a specialist in a particular sport. Peak performance coaches also appear in business, a sales coach for example.

Often peak performance coaches will have specialist skills such as NLP or Hypnosis. Many coaches have benefited from a good NLP Training Course.

You will find coaches working in markets that they have credibility in. For example I get a lot of clients from the coaching, training and NLP community simply because they are circles I move in and I am known in them. As a result I have more experience and reference clients in these Coaching is usually about personal discovery, so coaches do not need skills and experience from the context they are coaching in. markets. But since coaching is more about the client’s personal exploration and goals it is not necessary for coaches to have experience of the context.

Life Coaching

Life coaches cover a broader area and might be looking at different areas of a client’s life and their relationship to each other.

Executive Coaching

Executives coaching is usually about the challenges and issues of leadership and can cover anything from personal style, stress reduction to finding your passion for the role. Lots of executive coaches will use a personality profiling tool as a vehicle for their client’s to explore and develop their outcomes.

Special events Coaching

Some coaches will specialise in a niche area like presentations or writing and publishing books. Often they have specific experience, skills or qualifications in the area and they may not conform to traditional coaching models because of their ‘insider’ knowledge.

Accelerated Success BreakThrough Coaching Sessions

This is a highly specialised area of coaching involving leading edge psychological, NLP and Hypnosis tools to facilitate great changes very quickly. There are only a small number of coaches skilled in this area and also not all clients are suitable for this approach. Hence there is a lot of pre-qualification before using this form of coaching. For those it suits it has great impact very quickly.

What happens on coaching programmes?

Coaches are very individual in their approach. Also coaching is more about the relationship between client and coach so there is no set format or approach. Some coaches work just by telephone and / or email, whilst others stick exclusively to face to face interventions. A lot is dependant on how you set up the coaching programme from the initial consultation.

Any coaching programme should start with an initial consultation where the programme can be set up. This would include duration of the programme, the sessions and overall outcomes and a whole raft of other areas that your coach will take you through.

After this typically sessions will be about updating from the previous session, clarifying outcomes for the current sessions and then targeted discussions of the current issues. The session will finish with action plans for the client to take away and complete. That said each session can be as individual as the client and the coach want.

Finding a coach

Since coaching is such an individual context it is difficult to fix criteria for finding a coach. Although some general rules of thumb do apply.

Coaching is all about a relationship between the client and the coach. Therefore in the initial consultation if the client does not feel they have great rapport that will allow them to be open and comfortable then it probably is not worth continuing.

It is also worth talking to your prospective coach about previous clients, experience and approach. Often when picking a coach it would be worth talking to previous clients.

The right coach will give you great value for money and could take you further than you had ever achieved without their support. It makes sense to spend a little time to ensure you get the right coach for you. You can find more in depth articles on finding a great coach on my website.

Top performers in every area from sports through arts to business have coaches to help them reach and maintain the highest levels of performance.

You can find out more about The NLP Company coaching programmes at http://www.thenlpcompany.com/nlp-coaching/ or Come to the website and subscribe to the free NLP Persuasion Skills Course for free at: http://www.theNLPcompany.com

Article Source: http://www.positivearticles.com. PositiveArticles.Com does not vouch for or necessarily endorse the contents of this article.

Let's begin with a quick review of Ergonomics.

ERGONOMICS:
1: An applied science concerned with designing and arranging things people use so that the people and things interact most efficiently and safely - also known as biotechnology, human engineering, human factors.
2: The study of the problems of people in adjusting to their environment; esp., the science that seeks to adapt work or working conditions to suit the worker.
3: The design characteristics of an object resulting especially from the application of the science of Ergonomics.

Specialists in Ergonomics study the mechanics of the human body to derive universal principles of design that support natural movement and thereby reduce forces that are harmful to the body. These principles are utilized in the design of working and living spaces and the myriad of tools, utensils, and appliances that the body interacts with every day. However, the design of environmental elements is only half of the equation. Everyone could significantly reduce their risk of injury and improve their overall health and well-being by learning to harmonize their body movement with Ergonomic principles.

Ergonomic training cultivates a highly refined sensory awareness of how the body interacts with the elements of its environment. Skilled observation of our own joint and muscle functioning is needed to anticipate and detect unnatural forces as they are encountered and automatically adjust our posture to gain the optimal mechanical advantage. Given time and regular practice, those that follow these principals experience profound physical changes. Consistent application of Ergonomic principles endows the practitioner with advanced motor skills and a new found feeling of comfort and confidence in physical performance.


Neural Ergonomics

Neural Ergonomics applies Ergonomic reasoning to support natural function of the internal mechanisms of the brain. Many harmful forces are generated, both internally and externally, that disrupt this natural function. There is in fact an optimal approach to thinking that can nullify these harmful forces while simultaneously removing the impediments to mental clarity. Everyone could
significantly raise their overall level of awareness by learning to harmonize their thinking with Neural Ergonomic principles.

It may seem difficult to reconcile the concept of a universal "best" way to think (as if we should all think exactly the same) while allowing for the unique individuality of every person, but actually there is no conflict.

Ergonomics does not address WHAT activities the body engages in, it's all about HOW to best utilize the body's inherent mechanical design to maximize performance of any physical activity. Likewise, Neural Ergonomics is not about WHAT to think, it's all about HOW to leverage the brain's inherent functional design to maximize the performance of thinking itself - regardless of subject matter.

Practicing Neural Ergonomics develops a highly sensitized self-awareness of our own thinking, and awareness of the forces in the world outside the mind that influence our thinking. Acquiring a keen sense of awareness reveals the truth behind these forces that in turn empowers us with the means to discern the authenticity of our thoughts and deflect the forces that hinder the performance of thinking.


Universal Attributes of Mind & Body

Of course since the brain and body function together as one, it's no surprise they share many attributes of design. After all, there is no denying they were both created by the same designer. Because most of us are more familiar with the workings of the body the simplest approach to understanding how brain function develops is to draw a parallel with how the body's functioning develops.

The human body is composed of an intricate array of inter-dependent subsystems - each with their own balance of strengths and weaknesses. And, like the proverbial snowflake, no two human bodies are exactly alike. Yet even within this boundless diversity there is one important universal attribute all bodies have in common, which is found in their characteristic response to
STIMULUS.


The Response to Stimulus

Stimulus is the key factor that motivates development by acting as a catalyst to prompt a reaction. At the most rudimentary level, the body itself provides stimulus through our senses that motivates us to sustain life. The stimulus of hunger motivates us to eat. The stimulus of fatigue motivates us to rest and sleep. The stimulus of heat or cold motivates us into action to create a more favorable living environment.

Stimulus comes in many forms, both negative and positive, and is derived from many sources. Stimulus can occur spontaneously, triggered by the random whims of circumstance, or it can be deliberately designed and deployed to produce a desired effect. And, in either case, the stimulus can manifest from the world outside the mind, or it can be generated from within the mind itself.


Designed Stimulus

Designed stimulus, in the form of proper physical training, will cause the body to respond in a predictable manner. Body building employs stimulus which isolates the different muscle groups to enhance their definition. Calisthenics training employs stimulus that works all parts of the body together as a whole to enhance overall conditioning. A more complex stimulus is employed in
gymnastics to condition the body to perform extraordinary dynamic movement. Stimulus derived from playing sports endows the body with the increased speed, endurance, and agility needed to quickly respond to unpredictable circumstances.

Stimulus is by no means restricted to athletic pursuits, the same principles apply to activities that require highly refined physical performance such as playing a musical instrument or manipulating paint on canvas to produce a great masterpiece of art.


The Philosophy of Stimulus Training

When any type of regular training is performed, the body automatically responds by acquiring whatever attributes are needed to perform the training. As these attributes are gradually acquired and improved, the body becomes sensitized to the physical requirements of performing the activity. This amplified sensitivity expands our awareness of the changes taking place in the body
and the higher level of performance these changes engender. These changes are the hallmark of sustained evolution in the mind and body. Along with our new found abilities comes the realization of new potential possibilities of movement.

Development proceeds in a cyclic manner. The heightened awareness we gain helps us to discover our strengths and weaknesses which enables us to refine the training to leverage the advantages of our strengths and bolster our weaknesses. Elevated training continues to hone our evolving skills and further enhances the awareness of how these new skills could be utilized. Heightened awareness also endows a progressively higher level of control over the process
which brings a wider range of options in deploying our newly developed skills.

Development will continuously evolve in this manner for as long as we care to participate, and always in proportion to how vigorously we participate.


The Force of Willpower

Success in this cyclical process depends entirely on our resolve and willpower to exert the effort. The level of performance we ultimately attain is directly proportional to the amount of effort we exert in attaining it. Effort is a function of our force of free-will which is invariably a matter of choice.

We can choose to ignore or avoid stimulus from outside sources. We can also choose not to engage in designing our own stimulus. Living without stimulus, and the response it will surely incite, diminishes our sensitivity and awareness of the inner workings of our own body and any potential to benefit from the experience is lost. Without stimulus the body weakens and will eventually atrophy to a point barely capable of movement.

It is also worthy of note that we humans are creatures of habit, and so the amount of effort we exert has a tendency towards becoming habitual.

An in-depth exploration of the body's intricate internal mechanisms responsible for physical development is far beyond the scope of this writing and not especially relevant to the topic at hand. However, there is a single basic concept that is very important to keep in mind.


The Wonder of Adaptation

The development of physical potential is possible because of the body's innate propensity of adapting to stimulus by literally reconstructing its internal mechanisms to a more favorably balanced configuration. Stimulus is the force that induces this adaptation and the body will always respond in a manner that exactly opposes whatever effects these forces inflict upon us. You may recognize a basic universal principle at play here - "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction".

To summarize what we have covered so far - Stimulus, along with the amount of effort we exert in responding to it, can produce the Olympic athlete, the concert violinist - or the consummate couch potato.

So how does all this relate to the mind?


The Brain's Neuroplasticity

Like the body, the brain also possesses the ability of reacting to stimulus. The internal mechanisms involved in the process are far more complex but the basic functional principle is exactly the same. The brain is endowed with the remarkable ability to reorganize its own internal neural connections - literally able to reconstruct itself to become better at whatever it is called upon to do.

Transformation takes place automatically in response to stimulus generated by the effort of learning new things. Known as Neuroplasticity, this amazing life long adaptive ability is what ultimately defines the brain’s capacity to comprehend information and, perhaps more importantly, to utilize the power of imagination. The act of thinking itself is what determines the extent of the brain's ability to perceive reality, and .


Principals of Neural Ergonomics

Given the above, Neural Ergonomics is predicated on three fundamental principles:
1 : That the mind is born with the innate ability to learn and a primal motivation to understand its perceptions.
2 : That every single mind that has ever existed is a one of a kind individual.
3 : That each mind is free to engage in its own evolution in accordance with its own unique individual nature.


The Organized Despair of Systems

These three principals are self-evident and yet it seems our true organic nature has been usurped in favor of the concept of systems. We have become a society of systems. We have systems of mathematics, systems of etiquette, systems of communication, systems of organization, business systems, travel systems, mechanical and electronic systems. In today's world, only for the first few precious years of life are we relatively free to live in self-directed harmony with these fundamental principals before we are led astray by outside forces.

Commencement of our formal education marks the point we embark on our journey of system integration. Systems of formal education have always faced a dilemma in that the volume of students precludes giving each one individual attention. Resolving the dilemma would presumably entail discerning the unique character of each student and thereby formulate a basis to design course study and teaching methods that are optimized for the individual. Unfortunately this approach is hopelessly impractical.

Efficient production of graduates is the main criteria of this system, so instead of the system adapting to the student it is the student that must adapt to the system - adapt or face rejection. Systems have no tolerance for anything which does not conform to their constructs. Formal education has thereby been reduced to memorizing information that is presented to us as the standard curriculum of what must be learned.

Success in this system is measured by our ability to memorize and recite information that has been discovered, validated, and recorded by others. The brain's internal mechanisms involved in simply memorizing information are very limited in scope, and as a result, this type of limited training and constrained focus develops the brain to an equally limited extent. Education utilizes
only a small fraction the brain's actual capabilities.

By the age of seven only ten percent of our children manage to retain their natural creativity. By the time they have finally completed their education a mere two percent of students emerge with their Right-Brain skills of creativity relatively intact. Many students of predominate Right-Brain inclination are robbed of their education by a system that rejects those with poor Left-Brain skills. Society as a whole is robbed of a precious resource that could otherwise be utilized to tremendous benefit.


Systems Have Their Place - But...

Although it may seem to the contrary, it is not the intention of this article to dispute the tremendous value of systems. Systems provide a very efficient means for us to learn and to work together for a common goal. There are certainly tremendous benefits to be gained by learning from information that has already been "proven", but forcing an infinite mind to conform within the limits of a pre-configured system, and to do so motivated by an imposed need to succeed for fear of rejection, definitely has its dark side.

Incessant focus on memorizing existing information subliminally conditions the mind to blindly accept information just as it's given, without questioning its truth, without exploring for new undiscovered possibilities, and without daring to challenge accepted traditional convention.

We endure this conditioning over so many years that the limited thinking it fosters becomes habitual - NORMAL. Students are left little time or motivation to work through the thinking processes involved in formulating their own unique opinions from their own unique perspectives.

The mind is thus distracted from its natural self-propelled evolution by systems that treat us as if we are all identical. Those that persist in expressing their unique individuality are most often attacked and ridiculed by those that have accepted system integration. And as we learn so do we teach our children, unwittingly indoctrinating them into the constructs of systems at the earliest
age and thereby propagating system values throughout successive generations.


The Neuro-Organic Alternative

When learning is limited by the rules of a system, Neuroplasticity will inevitably respond by optimizing the brain's capability to process information in accordance with imposed limitations. Retardation of the mind's full creative potential is the unfortunate consequence. This brings to light a curious paradox. Systems do tend to retard creativity and yet at the pinnacle of any system it is precisely this same creativity which is most highly valued.

We must learn to question the agenda of our systems to maintain awareness of how we are affected by our blind acceptance and faithful participation. Most of us are not aware that anything has been lost. Why would we be? We are never informed about the brain's natural potential of explosive idea generating creativity, certainly not directly trained in its use. And after all, understanding the world from the perspective of our systems serves us very well. Everything is
provided to advance within the system and successfully navigate the challenges of life. Why bother with anything more?

Because there IS so very much more. To unite logic and imagination in a seamless interplay under complete, self-aware, control. To instantaneously understand and appreciate things from every conceivable point of view. To gain awareness of how ego and emotion can distort the perception of reality. To recognize the many obstacles that obscure the truth. To nurture the mind's natural flexibility to generate any number of new innovative ideas at will, coupled with the capability to successfully marshal new ideas into productive and profitable action.

These are the attributes of wisdom that work together in concert to enrich the full spectrum experience of life and open the door to a whole new world of endless possibility.

Engaging in activities that cultivate these invaluable attributes triggers Neuroplasticity to respond in kind by further optimizing the brain’s capability of acquiring them. Children that grow up with Neural Ergonomic practice can still take full advantage of everything systems have to offer while never loosing perspective of their true organic nature. Contrary to what many believe, genius is not a mystical talent bestowed only upon the gifted few, but a viable skill that can be learned and mastered by everyone.


Creativity and the Acquisition of Knowledge

The great Albert Einstein once said, "Imagination is more important than knowledge". Truer words have never been spoken, and he is definitely one that would know. Although skilled in the disciplines of physics and mathematics, it was not the knowledge of these subjects that led to his groundbreaking formulas. Rather, it was his self-developed skill in properly UTILIZING his
imagination that empowered him to discover new knowledge, literally dreamed into reality from nothing, that began to unlock the hidden secrets of the universe. Only after his imagination brought his theories to light could he begin to interpret this new knowledge in the languages of science.

Imagination is regarded by many as mere fantasy, as if nothing imagined could ever be real. Fantasy is certainly a product of imagination, but, as Einstein has well proven, imagination is capable of producing a great deal more. The discovery and realization of knowledge always precedes any possibility of understanding or explaining knowledge. The Logic of scientific disciplines cannot attempt to explain a hypothesis until after the imagination conceives a
hypothesis. Without imagination science is meaningless, in fact without imagination science could never exist.

When we close our eyes, and thereby draw a curtain over the world outside the mind, we dwell in a space that at once seems localized inside of our head and yet, when viewed from inside, has no discernible boundaries. An infinite inner universe where we have complete freedom to create whatever we wish. Absolutely nothing exists in this space except that which we ourselves manifest. In this regard we all exist as the supreme being of this inner universe where the only limits of creation are those we impose on ourselves.

Neural Ergonomics empowers practitioners to seek mastery over their inner space and to expand its limits and applications far beyond any borders to infinity.


A Complimentary Approach

This article began with an explanation of Ergonomics as having two distinct and complimentary methods of application. One method pertains to designing tools and environments that harmonize with our natural body mechanics. The other method pertains to training the body itself to interact within its environment in harmony with its own natural mechanics. Thus the ultimate aim of Ergonomics is to achieve a Utopian state of perfect harmony between the body and its
environment.

Neural Ergonomics embraces the same overriding philosophy and also utilizes a similar complimentary approach. However, a change of context from the Ergonomic paradigm shifts emphasis to achieving harmony between the mind and its environment. In this new context the mind is defined as the pure energy our thought or being, and the environment now encompasses the brain, the body, and the world outside, together as one.

One approach of Neural Ergonomic method introduces environmental elements designed with the aim of stimulating the mind to induce favorable Neuroplastic response. The complimentary method depends on the practitioner learning to utilize the stimulus to maximum advantage and thereby amplify Neuroplastic response to its greatest effect and practical realization.


Down to Earth

As mentioned earlier the mind and body share many attributes of design because they were both created by the same designer. Notice there was no mention regarding the nature of the designer. This subject could spark endless debate about the nature of the mind, its relationship to the body, questions of religious dogma, and the very nature of life itself. Neither the rigors of science nor blind faith of religion has yet to resolve these issues. Neural Ergonomics does not profess sublime hidden knowledge or attempt to explore or explain the mysteries of life.

The fact that we humans are self-aware, coupled with the fact that our self-awareness of our own consciousness is all that we truly know, behooves us to understand the nature of this awareness. We may never discover the truth about the nature of our existence or the force that brings us into being. But even though we don't know exactly what this force is, we do know something about its behaviors, and we can utilize this knowledge to significant advantage.

Neural Ergonomics studies these behaviors to better understand the nature of the interactions between the mind and its environment. The aim of Neural Ergonomics is to develop principals of design and methods of application to empower the mind in its journey of self-propelled discovery.

Neural Ergonomics is focused on producing practical results by working to stimulate, revive, and amplify the brain's primordial ability to think for itself. Neural Ergonomic training is designed to work directly with the brain's Neuroplasticity to greatly extend the brain's capabilities which in turn
expands the mind to ever higher levels of awareness. Practitioners of Neural Ergonomics reap tremendous benefits with respect to mental health and well-being, and quality of life in all aspects. Over time, regular practice can produce phenomenal results.

Neural Ergonomic methods empower the individual to reclaim and amplify their inherent organic potential of brilliant creativity blended with the decisive deductive reasoning of critical thinking. Neural Ergonomics embodies a philosophy in stark contrast to the prevailing culture fostered by an education system that merely presents us with information to assimilate, instead of fulfilling its more noble calling of teaching us how to think for ourselves.

Neural Ergonomics applies Ergonomic reasoning to support natural function of the internal mechanisms of the brain. Many harmful forces are generated, both internally and externally, that disrupt this natural function. There is in fact an optimal approach to thinking that can nullify these harmful forces while simultaneously removing the impediments to mental clarity.



Milo Bono is the founder and lead developer of Promptoria - Software for Innovation and Creativity.

Promptoria is dedicated to helping people amplify their natural creativity and critical thinking skills.

Promptoria -Software for Innovation and Creativity

Neural Ergonomics - Extended

Article Source: http://www.positivearticles.com. PositiveArticles.Com does not vouch for or necessarily endorse the contents of this article.