Thursday, October 11, 2001

Try not to judge people by their looks.
We are all different and unique in our
own special ways.
This is a perfect time to practice not
generalizing people of different cultural
and religious background.
Not all people of same culture or religion
share the same beliefs and ideologies.
Proudly display your humanity by
focusing on staying respectful in these
difficult testing times.


THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, November 3, 2000

Being overweight is not a simple problem of willpower or self-control
but a cocktail of genetic, metabolic, biochemical, cultural and psychosocial
factors, according to Joseph Riggs, M.D., a spokesperson for the American
Medical Association.
Thursday, October 26, 2000

Reframe painful or difficult experiences as opportunities for growth
and look for some good to come from them.
Remember, a priceless pearl begins as an irritation to an oyster.


THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, October 19, 2000

"If it were merely challenging, that would be no problem.
But I arise in the morning torn between a desire to save
the world and a desire to savor the world.
That makes it hard to plan the day."
E.B. White

Lack of clear focus and direction in your life can be very stressful.
Evaluate your options and then decide on a course of action.


THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, October 12, 2000

Don't ever let anyone discourage you.
Keep dreaming BIG and working smart..YOU WILL reach your goals!
Bad days come and go, but you become STRONGER and SMARTER
every day. Forgive others for their mistakes. Help those who attack
you and your character. Their attacks stem from their own insecurities
and are a desperate CRY for help. Evaluate their criticism and better
yourself if needed. Change is good.


THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, October 5, 2000

Write down sayings or quotes you read that remind you to
slow down and relax, or make up your own stress-freeing
thoughts and put them in places where you'll see them
frequently. That way they will become a part of your
daily (life-enhancing) routine.


THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, September 28, 2000

Resist the urge to compare yourself to someone else.
No one else on earth has had your experiences or has
your specific qualities. No one else can do what you
can do or be what you can be in exactly the same way.
Learn to accept yourself and make the most of who you are.


THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, September 21, 2000

"When written in Chinese, the word 'crisis' is composed of two characters.
One represents danger, and the other represents opportunity."
- John F. Kennedy

Which one you choose to see is the one you get!


THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, September 14, 2000

Bottling up anger or exploding are two common but ineffective ways
of managing anger. A study by the University of Michigan School of
Public Health has shown that people who deal with their anger in these
ways increase their risk of death from stress-related causes by 250%.
A healthier way of managing anger is to focus on decreasing your anger
arousal to help you calm down enough to think through the best way
to address the situation. To decrease anger arousal:

- Focus on breathing deeply and slowly.
- Drink an 8-ounce glass of cool water.
- Engage in some sort of constructive physical exercise.


THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, September 7, 2000

Uncover Your Purpose

Your purpose is to let your spirit - your essence shine forth.
Your purpose will support your vision no matter what you are doing.
Your spirit speaks through what calls to you, what you love to do,
and where you want to do it.
Your purpose is to share your essence with others.


THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, August 31, 2000

Taking responsibility for your own feelings is empowering.
Begin to consciously choose your own response to whatever happens.
rather than viewing yourself as a victim of circumstance.


THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, August 24, 2000

When stressed out by some failure, remind yourself:

Great hitters fail more than two-thirds of the time.
Ernest Hemingway wrote the final chapter of 'A Farewell to Arms' 39 times.
Abraham Lincoln lost 9 out of 11 elections.
Colonel Sanders failed at selling his chicken recipe to restaurants.
Thomas Edison "discovered" 1,800 ways not to build a lightbulb.


THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, August 17, 2000

Having a bad day?

Pretend you're a kid and send yourself to time-out for 15 to 30 minutes.
While there, do what relaxes you : nap, meditate, pray, write, read, listen to
music. It will help you find a sense of peace and calm.


THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, August 10, 2000

Success is a journey, not a destination!

Try not to evaluate your life in terms of achievments, trivial or monumental,
along the way. If you do, you will be destined to the frustration of always
seeking out other destinations, never allowing yourself actually to be fulfilled.

Instead, wake up and appreciate everything you encounter along the path -
enjoy the flowers that are there for your pleasure. Indeed, success - even life
itself is nothing more than moments to enjoy - one at the time.


THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, August 3, 2000

"If you always do what you've always done,
you'll always get what you've always gotten."

Try something new today!


THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, July 27, 2000

Progressive Deep Muscle Relaxation

Starting at your head, tense one of your muscle groups (eyes, jaw, forehead)
around your face for 5 to 7 seconds, then immediately let go of the tension.
Relax as completely as you can for about 30 seconds before going on to a
new muscle group.
When you finish with your head, repeat the tightening / relaxing process for
the other muscle groups of your body - neck, shoulders, arms, back, stomach,
legs, feet.

It will take approximately 20 to 30 minutes to relax your entire body,
and when you're through - if you've done it properly - you should feel
relaxed and refreshed.



THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, July 20, 2000

"When one door closes, another opens:
but we often look so long and so regretfully
upon the closed door that we do not see
the one which has opened for us."

Alexander Graham Bell

When feeling discouraged about the
door in your face, look in the different
direction and see what other possibility
awaits you.


THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, July 13, 2000

INTERVAL AEROBIC ROUTINES make a great warmup
for weight lifting. Hop on a stationary bike or treadmill.
Go easy for a couple of minutes, then harder for a minute,
then easier for a minute; repeat for 8 to 10 minutes.
If you work out at home and don't have one of these
machines, you can mimic this by jogging in place when
you're going easy, and running up and down stairs when
you're going hard.


THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, July 6, 2000

Though you may not have much choice over what happens
to you, you can choose how to respond, and it's your
response that matters most.


THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, June 29, 2000

Benefit from Aromatherapy

Certain scents, such as lavender, bergamot, marjoram,
sandalwood and chamomile, have a calming effect on
breathing rate and brain waves. If you have difficulty
falling asleep, try putting some lavender oil on a light
bulb ring in the room where you watch TV or read
before going to bed.


THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, June 22, 2000

Do things that give you joy.
Plan a vacation every year. It's a perfect way
to supercharge your life...besides doing the activities
you enjoy doing during this special time, it will give you
an opportunity to broaden your horizons (meet new people,
learn about different cultures, see new places, be
adventurous, challenge yourself, and more).
Make it a habit to plan these special (happy) moments
in your life. Create those special memories...
They are PRICELESS!


THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, June 15, 2000

"Without failure there is no achievement."
Failing is a sign of fearlessness. So get started:
Think about something you have always wanted
to do, but never thought you could:
Train for a marathon? Learn Japanese? Build
your own web page? As you're choosing a
challenge, bear this in mind: if at first you
succeed, try something HARDER.
Remember that the only way to reach your
full potential is to push yourself to your
outer limits.


THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, June 8, 2000

Check out books on tape from the library and listen
to them while driving in a car, exercising, or while
engaged in some time-consuming activity.
You'll find that the time will pass more quickly
and be more enjoyable.
Listen to a motivational tape on your way to work,
making your daily monotone and stressful commute
PRODUCTIVE and UPLIFTING!


THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, June 1, 2000

An unnecessary source of stress is regret over what
we never said or did when we had the chance.
Show and tell your loved ones today how much
they mean to you, before it's too late.
It's simple and only takes a minute, but it's
much appreciated by the person you reach.


THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, May 25, 2000

Watch out for some of the common mental and emotional
signs of STRESS:

confusion - depression - anxiety - anger - loss of memory
impatience - irritability - moodiness - restlessness
inability to make decisions - feelings of helplessness
decreased concentration - low frustration tolerance
racing thoughts - frequent crying - feelings of panic


THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, May 18, 2000

Mentally prepare yourself for potential changes.
Instead of saying "What if...?" say "What then?"
Think about likely scenarios and brainstorm
on your own or with others how you might
best respond. This way you can prepare yourself
for any possible challenges in the future.
Imagining future challenges and their solutions
can help prevent stress and confusion.


THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, May 11, 2000

When you get stuck on a problem at home or at work,
take a walk and allow your subconscious to drift and
work on it for you. By the time you get back to the
problem, you may find that a solution has "suddenly"
occurred to you.


THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, May 4, 2000

If your stress level increases as your home or office
space becomes more cluttered and disorganized,
make the time in your schedule to get things
organized again. File papers where you can find
them or put things back where they belong.
Even if you can't do it all right now, take a few minutes
to do something. The extra time it takes to do it now
will pay for itself by eliminating the time and stress
it takes to find things later.


THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, April 27, 2000

Carpe Diem...Seize the day!

Keep in mind that life is not a timed test,
where the goal is to finish as fast as possible.
Experience the peace that comes in slowing down
and being fully in each moment, rather than rushing
ahead to the next one. Enjoy the small things that
most of us take for granted: basking in the sun,
breathing in the fresh air, enjoying a meal,
talking to a friend, caring for a pet, having a
life companion, and many others.
Every day of your life is special and unique!


THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, April 20, 2000

Recognize that you can't please everyone all the time.
In fact, you can't please anyone all the time.
Letting go of the pressure you put on yourself to
do this can relieve a lot of stress.
Allow people to like you (or not) for who you are,
rather than trying to do more and more in an attempt
to gain approval.


THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, April 13, 2000

Successfully Dealing With Anger


Remember that anger is an emotion, and an emotion is always warm,
even hot. Therefore to reduce an emotion, cool it.
When a person becomes angry, the fists tend to clench, the voice
raises in stridency, muscles tense, the body becomes rigid.
What to do when that happens?
Deliberately, by an acy of will, keep your hands from clenching.
Hold your fingers out straight. Deliberately reduce your tone;
bring it down to a whisper. Remember that it is difficult to argue
in a whisper. Slump in a chair, or even lie down if possible.
It is very difficult to get mad lying down.
Try it next time someone tries to make you mad!


THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, April 6, 2000

No matter what happens in our lives, we have at least
one choice. We can either say, "That's good!" or "Isn't
it awful!" And the more we can say, "That's good," the
happier we'll be because resistance magnifies pain,
and labelling something as "bad" is resistance.

When we notice ourselves resisting something that's
happening to us and denouncing it as bad, we can stop
and consciously choose a more positive reaction or
attitude. Optimism and peace of mind go hand in hand.

Why not choose to look on the bright side of situations?


THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, March 30, 2000

Powerful Words

I hope................I KNOW
I should..............I COULD
I can't...............I WON'T
If only...............NEXT TIME
Life's a struggle......... .LIFE'S AN ADVENTURE
It's a problem.............IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY
What will I do?............ I KNOW I CAN HANDLE IT
I'm never satisfied........ .I WANT TO LEARN AND GROW


THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, March 23, 2000

Visualize

Practice harnessing your imagination throughout the day.
For instance, before you go to the market, look at your
grocery list and imagine yourself going from aisle to aisle
picking up each item, paying for all of it at the end,
putting it in your car, taking it out again at home, and
putting it all away.

You'll need patience to stick with the visualization all the
way to the end (after all, it's not always exciting), but the
practice of forming mental pictures will pay off.


THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, March 16, 2000

One of the best ways to befriend ourselves
is to make sure we listen to our body, emotions,
and spirit, and give ourselves the rest we need
to revitalize and recharge.

Make a list of the activities and places that
relax you. It may be taking a walk in nature,
quietly listening to music, or doing nothing
at all. Having the courage to not let the demands
of others interfere with our special time is being
a good friend to ourselves.

We need to allow ourselves some time each day
to rest and relax in our own unique way.

THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, March 9, 2000

Expand Your Comfort Zone

Most of us operate within a zone that feels right,
outside of which we are uncomfortable. For example,
we might be willing to initiate friendships with
people at the office who are at our level in the
company but would be uncomfortable doing so with one
of the higher-ups.
For each of us, that zone of comfort is different,
but whether we are aware of it or not, all of us
make decisions based on the confines of that
comfortable space.

We suggest that each day you do something that
widens that space for you. Call someone you are
intimidated to call, buy a pair of shoes that cost
more than you would ever pay in the past, ask for
something you want that you have been too frightened
to ask for before. Take a risk a day - one small or
bold stroke that will make you feel great once
you've done it.


THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, March 2, 2000

Eliminating SHOULD HAVE and CAN'T

One of the greatest obstacles to peace of mind is the way
we talk to ourselves in the privacy of our own minds.
"You didn't do enough! You should have known! You messed up...you're no good!"

How would other people react if we talked to them the way
we talk to ourselves?
Unfriendly self-talk causes great stress.
GOOD NEWS is that one can eleminate at least 35% of stress
immediately by erasing the words SHOULD, HAVE TO, and CAN'T
from our vocabulary. Those words are victim words.
They imply we have no power, no choice.

We can empower ourselves by replacing these victim words with
words CHOOSE TO, WANT TO, and WILL.


THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, February 24, 2000

Daring to breathe means daring to live.

When we stop breathing, we die. As long as we are alive,
the depth of our breathing determines the amount of
life force we bring into ourselves. Given only a small amount
of oxygen, our bodies, hearts and minds will not function well.
When we are experiencing stress of any kind, our breathing
has a temdency to get very shallow - so when you get stressed
out, take a deep breath.

Try to make a commitment to breathe deeply five minutes a day
and you will be surprised at the profound change
that can occur from this simple action.

THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, February 17, 2000

Oftentimes, our main motivation for losing weight
or sculpting the perfect looking body is our want
for looking good on the outside. We become consumed
in losing weight without much regard for our body's
need for proper nutrition. There is nothing wrong with
wanting to look great. After all, that is one of the
factors in creating our self-image.

But let us not forget our health.
Health is the foundation of our existence, so it should
be our main motivation in exercising and eating.
We often tend to imagine how our abs would look great
if only we lost more weight and gained more muscle, but
neglect to imagine our internal organs functioning
efficiently inside our healthy body.

Do you ever imagine your blood flowing smoothly from
one organ to another and all the nutrients being processed
for proper bodily functioning?

Maybe it's time that we try to imagine such events that we
cannot see, but are aware of. This kind of positive
visualization can bring beneficial results to your body.

Once health becomes our main motivation, looking great will follow.

THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

Thursday, February 10, 2000

Negative situations such as a break-up of a relationship
or just something as plain as a bad day at work can sometimes
bring us in a state of confusion.
When such situations arise, sit down and clarify things to yourself.

One way to do this is by creating an altar in your house.
Make this a special place of self-expression. Pretend you are
talking to someone at this altar. Bring out all the negative
feelings, make an analysis of the situation, and look for the positive.

Doing this doesn't just make you feel better about yourself,
but it also makes you a better person.


THOUGHT FOR THE MIND / BODY / SOUL

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