Boredom

Rain Rain Go away- It's been 2 weeks now since the rain comes.. It feels  that the sun won't come out. 

It's so gloomy. I'm so bored and nothing to do but to sleep, eat and surf the net. Hay ..

After a Super storm there's another storm again. You know how it is here in Manila, with just a little rain, roads will be impassable already because of flood. People should cancel their appointments because of heavy traffic caused by floods.  Some families need to evaquate their areas because of floods.

I'm thankful because I know that my family are safe.  I hope rain will stop soon..

Amazing Fisherman survived 45 days at sea

                                               
]                                                    Photos from: www.gmanews.tv


What might have been just another day at work for a fisherman in Mindanao in the Philippines turned into an adventure fit for the movies.



Lisandro is a fisherman who lives in Mindanao, Philippines. On his way home, He found himself off-route to his fellows fisher mans (May 03, 2011). He tried to look for his fellow fisher mans until Lisandro recounts that he ran out of gasoline and was unable to make it back to shore.  He had been adrift at sea for 45 days. After of what happened,  Amazing man did not lose hope to return back to his family.


As Lisandro was adrift for a long time, he had to depend on rainwater for his drinking water and living fish for his food. For almost two months, he tried to 
cope with the searing sun during the daytime and bone-chilling wind at night.
He saw a big fish but instead of eating it, He tied the fish to his boat to 
move away from it's position.


Lisandro’s matter-of-fact manner tells nothing of what he endured. Despite being a fisherman, being out at sea fishing is quite different from being adrift and unprepared, with no ready food, water, nor means of communication.


After a few days, He saw a ship and he waved his arms so people in the ship will noticed him.  


He was found on June 18 by a Taiwanese fishing vessel in Palau, some 800 miles northwest of the Philippines. 


Lisandro was brought to the Philippine Embassy in Palau, where his documents are being processed.






Article is from: http://www.gmanews.tv/

SUPER NAILS!!

Super nail art from "Picanto Nail Art Animation"





Look at these guys, It is really awesome right? I saw it in  http://kia-motors.com


Kia Motors Corporation (www.kia.com) -- a maker of quality vehicles for the young-at-heart -- Kia aims to become one of the world's premier automotive brands. "The Power to Surprise" -- represents the company's global commitment to surpassing customer expectations through continuous automotive innovation.


Kia Motors has created the world’s first nail art animation with the theme of  “ALL in smALL”! The designers have illustrated the Picanto on a small nail, portraying the concept of maximizing small space of the All-new Picanto. 


They started to make this video with this question: "Could we paint a car and make it moving on the small surface of a fingernail?" ---- Well that is a pretty cool idea. I really like their concepts and animations.This is the world's first nail art animation! Kia picanto is superb because they did what you see in video.


After I watched the video, I'm wondering if how much will it cost?. haha ! For sure this could be a very expensive nail art style but still it is worth it to do so.

Your Bath & Body recipes - xoxo relaxing

When everything seems just a bit too overwhelming, a bath can be extremely good medicine. This season, you might appreciate herbal remedies for feelings like nervousness, tension, anxiety or emotional fatigue. Try whole herbs like chamomile, jasmine, juniper, lavender, orange, rose, rosemary or sandalwood.


For a bath that'll restore your sense of balance, make an infusion of the listed herbs; sit back and enjoy.



A Bath To Help Varicose Veins


2 tb Dried ginger powder *OR* 4 tb Fresh gingerroot; chopped
4 tb Dried juniper
2 tb Dried rosemary
4 tb Dried lemon peel *OR* 1 Whole lemon; quartered


Although most often associated with women, bulging, enlarged veins can be a problem for both sexes.
 The condition is largely hereditary, but a case of varicose veins can be made worse by had habits; standing for long periods of time, wearing tight clothing, and sitting with the legs crossed. 
Hormonal fluctuations also can contribute to varicosity.



Herbal baths can help, although you should be careful not to take baths that are too hot 
(extreme temperatures can exacerbate the problem). 
Whole herbs that you can use in a bath to help boost circulation in the legs include geranium, ginger, juniper, lemon, peppermint and rosemary.



A Sleep Inducing Bath


4 tb Dried chamomile
3 tb Dried lemon balm
2 tb Dried passionflower
1 tb Dried valerian


If you're feeling agitated at bedtime, the right herbal combination can help you drift right off into the REM stage.


Herbs that you might use in a bedtime bath include chamomile, hops, lavender, lemon balm, marjoram,
passionflower, sandalwood and Valerian.



Cut-off Flower Water


7 dl Water
1 ts Vinegar
1 ea Aspirin or equivalent 
(containing acetylsalicylic acid)
1 ts Sugar


Crush the aspirin and blend everything together and use.
The sugar is nurishment for the flowers, 
while the acid kills the micro organisms that blok the stems from sucking up water.


For roses you can also use a lemon soft drink 
(For example:Schweppes).
Makes the bouquets last longer.
Herb Bath Bags
Cheesecloth or muslin
Needle or sewing machine
Thread
1 Ribbons, lace -- trim etc


Make bags out of muslin or cheesecloth. 
Decorate with trims and notions. 
Add ribbons so that the bags can hang
from the faucet into the bath water. 
Fill bags with herbal bath mixtures.
 If you are really handy with machine or needle, bags can be made into shapes.



Scented Bath Bombs


Preparation Time : 0:20
1 1/2 cups baking soda
1/2 cup citric acid
8 drops essential oil -- your choice of scent
1/2 teaspoon sweet almond oil
2 drops food coloring -- your choice of color
-Combine all ingredients.
-Press into muffin tin or mold of your choice.
-Release from mold.
-Wrap in colored plastic wrap and tie with a ribbon.


NOTES : Fizzes when dropped in water. 
When selecting an oil for scent, read warnings about use. Some oils are not intended to have direct contact with skin.

Basic Bubble Bath Recipe

Use only 100% pure soap flakes.
Almond Oil--2 cups
Distilled Water--2 cups
Soap Flakes (or grated soap)--1 cup
Witch Hazel--2 Tbsp

Boil the spring water and melt the soap in it.
In another container, mix the witch hazel and almond oil together and shake well. 

(If possible do this in a blender.) 

Then slowly add the soap mixture to the witch hazel and oil blend and again, shake or blend well.

These amounts will make a large quantity of basic bubble bath mixture to which you can add the essential oils of your choice as and when required.

 For each 2 tablespoons of base bubble bath, use 15 drops of essential oil and mix well. 

Use 1-2 teaspoons of the final product in each bath.

Easy Bubble Bath

Soap Flakes or Grated Soap--2 cups
Water--1 gallon
Glycerin--1/4 to 1/2 cup
Shampoo or Liquid Dish Soap--2 cups
Essential Oil of Choice

Mix the soap flakes, water and 2 tbsp glycerin in a pot over low heat, stirring occasionally until the soap has
dissolved.
(Store this liquid soap in a covered container, used as an all-purpose soap or hand soap.)

In a bowl,
add 2 cups of this mixture to the rest of the glycerin, shampoo and essential oil. Pour into a one quart container.

Store covered at room temperature. When you're ready to bathe, add about one cup to your tub as it's filling.

Remember! Use no more than 30 drops of essential oils to 1 oz of carrier (bubble bath)!
(15 drops being very safe.)


Meadow Milk Bath

Powdered Milk, finely sifted--4 oz
Citric Acid--2 oz
Corn starch--2 oz
Vitamin E Oil--One 400 IU Capsule 

(or Grapefruit Seed Oil--30 drops)
Jasmine--60 drops


Blend the powdered milk and corn starch, then sift.
Mix vitamin E (or grapefruit seed oil) and Jasmine in Citric Acid.
Make sure oils are thoroughly blended in the Citric Acid.
Combine the Citric Acid blend with milk/corn starch blend.
Use 3 tablespoons per bath.


Tangerine Body Wash
Coriander--7 drops
Grapefruit--10 drops
Lavender--7 drops
Tangerine--40 drops
Unscented Shower Gel--4 oz
(aloe gel or mild liquid soap may be substituted,
with varying results.)


Balancing Bath Salts


Sea Salt--3 tbsp
Baking Soda--3 tbsp
Essential Oils--16 drops
Jar--4 oz

Choose 3 or 4 oils from these essential oils: Bergamot, Frankincense, Geranium, Lavender, Palmarosa, Rose,
and Rosewood.

Meadow Milk Bath

Add sea salt, baking soda and oils to jar. 
Gently shake to mix, mix well. Add to tub of running water.


Powdered Milk, finely sifted--4 oz
Citric Acid--2 oz
Corn starch--2 oz
Vitamin E Oil--One 400 IU Capsule 
(or Grapefruit Seed Oil--30 drops)
Jasmine--60 drops


Blend the powdered milk and corn starch, then sift. Mix vitamin E (or grapefruit seed oil) and Jasmine in Citric Acid.
 Make sure oils are thoroughly blended in the Citric Acid. Combine the Citric Acid blend with milk/corn starch blend.


Use 3 tablespoons per bath.
Tangerine Body Wash
Coriander--7 drops
Grapefruit--10 drops
Lavender--7 drops
Tangerine--40 drops
Unscented Shower Gel--4 oz 
(aloe gel or mild liquid soap may be substituted, 
with varying results.)


Balancing Bath Salts


Sea Salt--3 tbsp
Baking Soda--3 tbsp
Essential Oils--16 drops
Jar--4 oz


Choose 3 or 4 oils from these essential oils: Bergamot, Frankincense, Geranium, Lavender, Palmarosa, Rose, and Rosewood.


Add sea salt, baking soda and oils to jar. 
Gently shake to mix, mix well. Add to tub of running water.

Good use of Relaxation

Your Recommended Daily Allowance for Relaxation

Stress is the curse of living in modern times. Everyone suffers from stress. And the stress we suffer takes a heavy toll on our bodies, emotions and minds.

Feeling stressed out, worn out by fatigue or just simply having a miserable day, the best thing to do is relax.

Watching television may be a form of relaxation for some, but is not a recommended method by experts. When we watch TV we are bombarded with commercials, ads, sounds and images. So how do we achieve relaxation? If there are thousands of ways we can get stressed, one of them is not meeting deadlines, there are also many ways we can relax.

In recent studies, experts have determined that heart disease is linked to anger and irritability is linked to mental stress. Too much stress brings about ischemia that can lead to or cause a heart attack. Relaxation takes on added importance in light of this matter. Managing your anger and attitude is significant to heart health, and relaxation can help you manage stress.

One way of relaxation is transcendental meditation. Recent studies have also shown that this method might reduce artery blockage, which is a major cause for heart attack and stroke. People practice transcendental meditation by repeating uttering soothing sounds while meditating, this is to achieve total relaxation. The researchers found that practitioners of transcendental meditation significantly reduced the thickness of their arterial wall compared with those who didn't practice transcendental meditation.

Another study on another method of relaxation, acupuncture, seems to reduce high blood pressure by initiating several body functions for the brain to release chemical compounds known as endorphins. Endorphin helps to relax muscles, ease panic, decrease pain, and reduce anxiety.

Yoga is also another method for relaxation and may also have similar effects like acupuncture. In another study, participants were subjected to several minutes of mental stress. Then they were subjected to various relaxation techniques, such as listening to nature sounds or classical music. Only those who did Yoga significantly reduced the time it took for their blood pressures to go back to normal. Yoga is a form of progressive relaxation.

Breathing is one of the easiest methods to relax. Breathing influences alamost all aspects of us, it affects our mind, our moods and our body. Simply focus on your breathing, after some time you can feel its effects right away.

There are several breathing techniques that can help you reduce stress.

Another easy way to achieve relaxation is exercise. If you feel irritated a simple half-hour of exercise will often settle things down. Although exercise is a great way to lose weight, it does not show you how to manage stress appropriately. Exercise should also be used in conjunction with other exercise method.

One great way of relaxation is getting a massage. To gain full relaxation, you need to totally surrender to the handling and touch of a professional therapist.

There are several types of massages that also give different levels of relaxation.

Another method of relaxation is Biofeedback. The usual biofeedback-training program includes a 10-hour sessions that is often spaced one week apart.

Hypnosis is one controversial relaxation technique. It is a good alternative for people who think that they have no idea what it feels like to be relaxed. It is also a good alternative for people with stress related health problems.

Drugs are extreme alternatives to relaxation. They are sometimes not safe and are not effective like the other relaxation methods. This method is only used by trained medical professionals on their patients.

These relaxation techniques are just some of the ways you can achieve relaxation. Another reason why we need to relax, aside from lowering blood pressure in people and decreasing the chances of a stroke or a heart attack, is because stress produces hormones that suppress the immune system, relaxation gives the immune system time to recover and in doing so function more efficiently.

Relaxation lowers the activities within the brains' limbic system; this is the emotional center of our brain.

Furthermore, the brain has a periodic need for a more pronounced activity on the right-hemisphere. Relaxation is one way of achieving this.

Relaxation can really be of good use once a relaxation technique is regularly built into your lifestyle. Choose a technique that you believe you can do regularly.
Relaxation AllowancesMethods, Standards, & Work DesignSearch Amazon.com for Allowance for Relaxation 50 Classics For Relaxation (2 CD)The Relaxation & Stress Reduction Workbook (New Harbinger Self-Help Workbook)A Time for Relaxation, Vol. 1: Guided Relaxation Techniques for WellnessGuided Relaxation; Voice With MusicProbably The Best Music For Relaxation and Meditation

Creative Notions

                   Creative Thinking

People seem to have the misconception that only a select few are able to unleash a steady flow of creative genius. That is not true at all. The fact is, creativity is very much like a muscle that needs to be exercised in order to consistently give out great results. If you don't practice harnessing creative thinking, this skill will very much atrophy into inexistence. But keep working and this skill will soon come to you in a snap.

So how do you unleash your creative thinking? Well, the first thing is to become a human leech. No, we're not talking about just sucking the blood out of every living being available, we're saying that you should take in as much knowledge and learning you can find. Read everything available -- good and bad, and keep your mind open to the infinite possibilities of the universe. The more you know, the more you'll want to know, and the more your faculty of wonder will be exercised. Prepare to be amazed at little facts that add a bit of color into your life.

Focus on a creative activity everyday. Yes, it's an effort. Even doodling is a creative activity. Don't let anything hinder you. Mindlessness may be a creative activity, but for people who are just starting out to unleash a little bit of creative thinking in their lives, it is helpful and encouraging to have concrete evidence, that, "hey, what I'm doing is getting somewhere." So why don't you try it. Practice drawing for a couple of minutes each day. Bring out your old camera and start snapping photos like crazy. Keep a journal and make a point to write in it religiously. Another cool idea is to write by describing something with your five senses. Try to avoid vague adjectives like "marvelous," "amazing," and "delicious." Before you know it, you'll have built yourself a tiny portfolio, and you'll be amazed at the growth you've undertaken after amassing all those works of art. Who knows, you might actually take to liking those things you do everyday. Pretty soon those things will become a part of you and you'll be addicted to these creative exercises.

Think out of the box -- or don't. Sometimes, constraints are actually a good thing. Limitations discipline you to work within your means. It enables you to be more resourceful. Creative freedom is great, but limitations enforce discipline.

Try something new everyday and let your experiences broaden your perspective. Explore a new district in your neighborhood. Spend an afternoon in a museum to which you've never been before. Chat up someone on the bus. Open up to the people around you. As you thrust yourself out of your comfort zone more and more each day, your sense of adventure grows and so does your zest for life. Think about it. When was the last time you did something for the first time? If it's been a while, I tell you, you've been missing out on a whole lot of experiences that could've added to your growth, emotionally, mentally, physically, or spiritually. Why don't you try bungee jumping today? Not only will you learn, but you will also have plenty of stories to share, enabling you to practice your storytelling skills and making you the life of the party.

Embrace insanity. No, not to the point of practically admitting yourself into the mental ward. As John Russell once said, "Sanity calms, but madness is more interesting." Exactly! Every creative thought was once deemed insanity by other "normal" people at one time or another. Luckily, that didn't stop the creative geniuses from standing by them. The thing is, sanity or being normal confines people to think... well, normally. Withink limits. Creativity is essentially breaking through barriers. Yes, this includes the bizzarre and the downright strange. I'm not saying that you yourself should develop a creative personality. That might go haywire. An example of a creative personality would be George Washington, who often rode into battle naked, or James Joyce, who wrote "Dubliners" with beetle juice for an intense fear of ink, or Albert Einstein, who thought his cat was a spy sent by his rival (or in thinking creatively in this case, the term could probably be "archnemesis.") It's important that your creativity doesn't get you detached from the real world completely.
I hope this article has inspired you to start thinking beyond your "limits." If you follow these steps pretty soon you'll be living a life full of interesting adventures. Unleashing your creative thinking will bring about a new zest for living life.Critical Thinking: Tools for Taking Charge of Your Professional and Personal LifeThink Better: An Innovator's Guide to Productive ThinkingBeing Logical: A Guide to Good Thinking

Collect and Play

     Have Fun With a Toy Hobby

Some adults never seem to grow up. They seem to retain their childlike wonder at the world around them. These are the adults who have started a toy hobby. Kids like to hang around with these adults because they seem more like kids. Sometimes having a child or a grandchild can spark an interest in toys. Be that as it may, a toy hobby will keep a person young at heart.

Many women love dolls and never outgrow them. Some prefer baby dolls, some fashion dolls, and still others go for antique or decorative dolls. Often an interest in dolls will spill over into a craft interest, as the doll lover begins to craft clothing and accessories for favorite dolls. Sometimes the hobbyist becomes skilled at crafting the dolls themselves. Some types of dolls that are often hand-crafted are rag dolls and cloth bodied dolls with ceramic heads. It is not uncommon to find older women who have an entire room of their homes filled with special dolls on display.

Older men, on the other hand, (and sometimes women, too) often like cars and trucks. Antique metal cars are hot collectibles, with some older ones being quite valuable. Matchbox cars have always been loved, but so have the large Tonka dumptruck, road grader, and bulldozer. You can bet the grandkids will want to play with your trucks and cars.

A toy hobby that is extremely popular is collecting Beanie Babies. These small velour animals, made by the Ty company, each have a personality all its own. You can find Beanie Babies in every type of animal you can think of. A similar hobby is collecting teddy bears. There are many Beanie Baby teddy bears, but a teddy bear collector will probably want to branch out to collect other types of bears. In fact, many bear collectors have figurines and other items collected in addition to their teddy bears.

Wooden toys are popular among adults, both to craft and to collect. There is something quaint and pleasant about a child playing with a handcrafted wooden toy. Wooden toys make attractive home accents wherever they get dropped, which is not something you can say about the latest plastic gizmo. People who like country decorating often prefer wooden toys for their kids.
You don't have to outgrow toys! A toy hobby will keep you young at heart and make you a favorite among the kids in your neighborhood. Whether you collect toys or craft them, a toy hobby is something you can play around with!

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IMPROVE YOUR SELF

     WHY IS IT IMPORTANT  TO IMPROVE YOUR SELF?                

Sometimes, when all our doubts, fears and insecurities wrap ourselves up, we always come up with the idea of “I wish I was somebody else.” More often than not, we think and believe that someone or rather, most people are better than us.- when in reality, the fact is, most people are more scared than us.

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

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

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

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

I have a friend who never gets tired of talking. And in most conversations, she is the only one who seems to be interested in the things she has to say. So all of our other friends tend to avoid the circles whenever she’s around, and she doesn’t notices how badly she became socially handicapped – gradually affecting the people in her environment.

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

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

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

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

We all have our insecurities. Nobody is perfect. We always wish we had better things, better features, better body parts, etc. But life need not to be perfect for people to be happy about themselves.Self improvement and loving yourself is not a matter of shouting to the whole world that you are perfect and you are the best. It’s the virtue of acceptance and contentment. When we begin to improve ourselves, we then begin to feel contented and happy.

"Who's the Boss?"

                    Start taking control

         (time management, goal setting, record tracking)

At first glance, it would seem that positive thinking and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) have nothing to do with one another. But many of us with ADD develop negative thinking patterns because we become frustrated by our challenges and frequent feelings of being overwhelmed. This negative outlook then makes it even harder for us to manage those challenges and move forward.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

When it comes to the corporate world, protocol is pretty much the religion. To know the things needed to do are the basics of productivity, but interaction and having a steady mind makes up the entire thing to true productivity. There are those who seem to work well even under pressure, but they're uncommon ones and we are human and imperfect. To get these little things like stress under our skins won't solve our problems. Sometimes it takes a bit of courage to admit that we're turning to be workaholics than tell ourselves that we're not doing our best.







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Spiritual Growth

        The Spiritual Challenge of Modern Times

To grow spiritually in a world defined by power, money, and influence is a Herculean task. Modern conveniences such as electronic equipments, gadgets, and tools as well as entertainment through television, magazines, and the web have predisposed us to confine our attention mostly to physical needs and wants. As a result, our concepts of self-worth and self-meaning are muddled. How can we strike a balance between the material and spiritual aspects of our lives?

                To grow spiritually is to look inward.

Introspection goes beyond recalling the things that happened in a day, week, or month. You need to look closely and reflect on your thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and motivations. Periodically examining your experiences, the decisions you make, the relationships you have, and the things you engage in provide useful insights on your life goals, on the good traits you must sustain and the bad traits you have to discard. Moreover, it gives you clues on how to act, react, and conduct yourself in the midst of any situation. Like any skill, introspection can be learned; all it takes is the courage and willingness to seek the truths that lie within you. Here are some pointers when you introspect: be objective, be forgiving of yourself, and focus on your areas for improvement.

       To grow spiritually is to develop your potentials.

Religion and science have differing views on matters of the human spirit. Religion views people as spiritual beings temporarily living on Earth, while science views the spirit as just one dimension of an individual. Mastery of the self is a recurring theme in both Christian (Western) and Islamic (Eastern) teachings. The needs of the body are recognized but placed under the needs of the spirit. Beliefs, values, morality, rules, experiences, and good works provide the blueprint to ensure the growth of the spiritual being. In Psychology, realizing one’s full potential is to self-actualize. Maslow identified several human needs: physiological, security, belongingness, esteem, cognitive, aesthetic, self-actualization, and self-transcendence. James earlier categorized these needs into three: material, emotional, and spiritual. When you have satisfied the basic physiological and emotional needs, spiritual or existential needs come next. Achieving each need leads to the total development of the individual. Perhaps the difference between these two religions and psychology is the end of self-development: Christianity and Islam see that self-development is a means toward serving God, while psychology view that self-development is an end by itself.

           To grow spiritually is to search for meaning.

Religions that believe in the existence of God such as Christianism, Judaism, and Islam suppose that the purpose of the human life is to serve the Creator of all things. Several theories in psychology propose that we ultimately give meaning to our lives. Whether we believe that life’s meaning is pre-determined or self-directed, to grow in spirit is to realize that we do not merely exist. We do not know the meaning of our lives at birth; but we gain knowledge and wisdom from our interactions with people and from our actions and reactions to the situations we are in. As we discover this meaning, there are certain beliefs and values that we reject and affirm. Our lives have purpose. This purpose puts all our physical, emotional, and intellectual potentials into use; sustains us during trying times; and gives us something to look forward to---a goal to achieve, a destination to reach. A person without purpose or meaning is like a drifting ship at sea.

  To grow spiritually is to recognize interconnections.

Religions stress the concept of our relatedness to all creation, live and inanimate. Thus we call other people “brothers and sisters” even if there are no direct blood relations. Moreover, deity-centered religions such as Christianity and Islam speak of the relationship between humans and a higher being. On the other hand, science expounds on our link to other living things through the evolution theory. This relatedness is clearly seen in the concept of ecology, the interaction between living and non-living things. In psychology, connectedness is a characteristic of self-transcendence, the highest human need according to Maslow. Recognizing your connection to all things makes you more humble and respectful of people, animals, plants, and things in nature. It makes you appreciate everything around you. It moves you to go beyond your comfort zone and reach out to other people, and become stewards of all other things around you.

Growth is a process thus to grow in spirit is a day-to-day encounter. We win some, we lose some, but the important thing is that we learn, and from this knowledge, further spiritual growth is made possible.