Positive Thoughts

 Positive Thoughts

Positive thoughts are like good software that helps us to perform to the best of our abilities.

Bring Benefit

We usually take care not to speak negative words, but are not so
cautious about waste words. When we hear something interesting or unusual, we tend to repeat it to others. We repeat it to a lot of
people who have no concern with it. We also add up a lot of things and make it an interesting story for others. But, in reality, these words bring no benefit for others. Whatever words we speak, we need to check if they are bringing benefit to anyone. We need to speak only if there is likely to be any benefit. When we have attention not to speak anything negative, waste or even ordinary, others will experience sweetness through our words.

Cheerfulness

The one who possesses cheerfulness becomes like a magnet of goodwill.

See Positivity

When something goes wrong, it is very natural for us to think of the
negative aspect. We experience negative feelings and as we continue to
think about it, we tend to feel more and more heavy in the mind. This
does not bring lightness either in our daily activities or in our
interactions with others. There is surely something positive in
everything that happens. We need to make conscious effort to see
positivity in everything that happens. This habit helps us be carefree
even when something unexpected or unwanted happens. Even if we cannot see the positive aspect at that moment, we need to maintain the faith that whatever has happened is for the best.

Good Relationships

Good Relationships 
 

 

How to Keep Your Bones Strong

How to Keep Your Bones Strong

The base on which our whole body is built is the skeleton, from which we get our stability, our ability to move and function. Our bones are also a factory for manufacturing red and white blood cells. It's extremely important to keep bones strong and healthy, especially in more advanced ages, when calcium seems to drain away.
 

A little about bone depletion:
Bone depletion, or osteoporosis, is a disease that occurs as a result of dwindling bone mass and a decrease in the levels of calcium. Along our whole life, our bones are in a continuous process of construction and destruction. However, at a young age, there is more construction than destruction. Things even out as we grow older until, in our fourth decade, destruction finally overtakes construction. As a result, our bone density drops and our bones become more prone to fractures. When this process happens in an extreme way, it is known as bone depletion. It's important to note that losing calcium also makes the bones more sensitive, even if it happens slowly. At an older age, when our balance is not what it used to be, the danger only gets worse.

Becuase women start with a bone density that is already about 30% less than men's, and because they produce less estrogen as they grow older, they must face a bigger risk when it comes to bone depletion.

What is the recommended calcium amount?

The process of bone depletion in the body is a natural one and cannot be prevented. But it can be minimized in volume and influence, by maintaining our bones and building bone mass through correct nutrition.

The daily calcium amount recommended for the general population is 1000 mg a day. For adults it is 1200-1500 mg a day. In addition, vitamin D is also important, as it helps the calcium absorb in the body. So if you want to keep your bones strong, you should also consume vitamin D rich foods. You can get it from the sun or from food, but it's important to have.

10 Tips to Keep Our Bones Strong

1. Consume milk products - Every child knows that milk is rich in calcium and is essential for strengthening bones. This goes for all milk products, including cheese, yogurt and alike. If you don't like cow's milk, try soy milk enriched with calcium.


2. Add nuts to your diet - Although milk has the highest ratio of calcium to volume, it is not the only source. Some nuts and seeds have handsome amounts of calcium. A 30 gram course of almonds contains 75mg of calcium, 30 grams of sesame seeds contains 37mg of calcium and sunflower seeds have 33mg of calcium.

3. Eat dark green vegetables - Broccoli, Chinese cabbage, arugula, parsley, lettuce and others are excellent sources of calcium, and contain many additional health advantages. This will help you to also diversify your sources of calcium, which is important to maintain your health.
 

4. Take the right Vitamin A - Vitamin A appears in two forms. The first is retinol, which appears in animal products, such as the liver. The second is beta carotene and it is the way the vitamin comes from plants, especially orange vegetables like carrot, squash or sweet potato. Studies have found that consuming too much of retinol vitamin A raises the risk of bone fraction, while vitamin A in its plant form, Beta Carotene, does not damage the bones.

5. Strengthen your bones with Vitamin K - This vitamin helps activate 3 essential proteins that are crucial for bone health. As in the case of calcium that comes from green vegetables, vitamin K also comes from teh same sources. Two daily helpings of green vegetables a day give the body as much as it needs.

6. Physical activity strengthens the bones - Sorry, you knew this was coming and its of very little surprise. When we carry out a physical activity, we create pressure on our skeleton. While it is bad to overdo it, a moderate pressure is actually very health, as it sends the body signals to create more bone cells, increase the density and make it stronger. Operate the body with moderation, and don't go to far with it.

7. Eat fish - 100 grams of sardines contain an amazing amount of over 400mg of calcium! It's recommended to consume the fresh fish of course and not the canned variety. The little bones are also edible and contain a lot of calcium. Sardines, like the salmon, are also a great source of vitamin D.
 

8. Reduce your consumption of carbonated drinks and treats - The acid that exists in some of the popular carbonated drinks raises the amount of acid in the blood. To compensate, the body uses the body's minerals, including calcium. If the calcium is not readily available in the blood, the body will take it from the bones and this will hard the density and strength of the bone. There is no problem drinking them once in a while, but if they are a daily habit then you can do a lot of damage to your bones over time.

9. Avoidance measures - Like a lot of other health problems, we return to smoking. Studies have shown that smoking harms bone density, as well as over consumption of alcohol and caffeine.

10. Resource allocation - We must carry out our calcium consumption in a smart way. Our body absorbs calcium best when it is no more than 500mg at one time. So, if you are planning on consuming a large amount of calcium rich foods or drinks, try to perhaps divide the meal or eat again later, to make sure the body is able to absorb all you are giving it.
 

Attachment

Attachment

The root of suffering is attachment. You have created a space in your mind that holds a person or object as part of you. When that person or object is criticized, neglected or not with you, you feel pain in your mind and you experience a sense of loss. If you want to be happy, you must learn to love and appreciate while remaining independent.


The Present Moment

You've had a huge argument with a friend and you keep going over it in
your mind but the more you think about it the worse you feel. By
repeatedly going over feelings of unhappiness or anger in our minds
which stem from incidents which have passed, we are hurting nobody but
ourselves. Something might have happened to someone when they were six years old and, when they remember, the feeling comes back. Even if in
the present moment those problems are not there, the feeling is the
same. It creates peacelessness in the mind. The mind is not able to
understand what is happening in the present. So, if you find yourself
becoming angry and negative about past incidents, try to let go by
bringing your attention back to the present moment. Life is short, so
why spend any of it focusing on things which have made you unhappy?



The Law of Expectation

In our relationships with others, it is good to want the best: "I hope you do very well, I am sending you my positive energy and this is my way of encouraging you and giving you courage. However, if you don't achieve what I think you are capable of, I will not feel frustrated. I will not be dependent on you satisfying my expectations, but I will always want the best for you."

If you have faith and confidence that something will happen, it is a prophecy that must come true. The expectations we have of someone, whether negative or positive, do have an effect on the person we are relating to.

Many investigations into this question confirm the influence that the expectations of educators have, both in the performance and in the behaviour of their students. Everything points to the conclusion that the teacher's expectations form one of the most influential factors in the academic performance of their students. If a teacher expects good results from their students, their performance will be much closer to their real capacity than if their teacher is expecting poor results.

Secrets To Get Along With Difficult People

We all have difficult people in our lives. You know-the ones you dread talking to; the ones you try to avoid at all costs. They may be your ex-spouse, a co-worker, or a family member; they may be a bully, a control freak, passive-aggressive or someone who loves to play the role of victim.

So, how do we deal with these people? How can we work together productively, whether in a parenting, a working, or a family relationship?Here are a few secrets to being able to keep your cool when dealing with that difficult person in your life:

1. Know Your Triggers

Self-knowledge is powerful.
We all have subjects and idiosyncrasies that push our buttons, and I can almost guarantee that the difficult person in your life knows what those are-but do you? Spend some time exploring what really ticks you off. Is it when somebody talks about politics, money, or your family?

Once you have your list of those trigger buttons, you are ready to arm yourself.
Create a plan. What will you do when the conversation steers dangerously close to one of your buttons?
You can practice deep breathing, take a short time-out, walk away from the conversation, or any combination of the three. Whatever allows you to center yourself and regain your focus on the purpose of the conversation will work.

2. The STOP Phrases

If you are having a conversation with a difficult person and you just want it to end, these phrases seem to do the trick (or at least take the wind out of the other person's sails)."Sorry you feel that way."
"That's your opinion."
"Oh.""Perhaps you're right."
If you just repeat these phrases over and over during the conversation, eventually the other person will give up trying to get you to join the argument.

3. Resist the Temptation to get Sucked In

Difficult people want to engage you: don't fall for that trap. Listen to what you're saying: are you trying to justify, argue, defend, or explain your position? If you are, stop. If you don't, the conversation will just continue to go around in circles. You will never change the mind of a difficult person-otherwise you probably wouldn't be seeing them as "difficult."

4. The Big One

While the 3 secrets above can help you to avoid or get out of an uncomfortable conversation with a difficult person, there is one secret that can truly change your relationship with that person in your life: that secret is, that they are human, and are dealing with their own issues and their own crap that they're bringing to the table.
Their difficult behaviors are benefiting them in some way that helps them deal with those issues, and most of the time their behavior has nothing to do with you.
A person might feel more secure when they are bullying someone or controlling others, or they might feel a sense of importance when they're getting a lot of attention-even negative attention. They might try to gain a sense of belonging by playing the victim and getting others to help them, or someone who's inflicting hurt and provoking hostility might be trying to protect his own sense of identity.

If we take the time to figure out what unconscious beliefs may be behind someone's difficult behavior, we may be able to change our interaction with them and improve our relationship. Once you figure out what may be driving their behavior, you can begin to try different ways to help them get their emotional needs met without resorting to that behavior any longer.The main idea here is to tap into your empathy pool and realize that the person you see as the bane of your existence is just another human being trying to get along as best they can.

A Final Thought
Yes, sometimes we have to disengage in order to save our sanity, but keep in mind that everybody is doing the best they can with the emotional tools they have at their disposal. It is possible to get past our reactions to their difficult behaviors so that we may be able to do our part in building a calmer, more productive relationship, and in the end, this is all we can truly control-our own reactions.

You never know-one day, you may actually look forward to seeing these people.
 

Married Daughter's Letter To Mother

A Cute Letter from a newly married girl to her mother

Dear mom,

Like every normal girl, I was excited about marriage right from my childhood days. I never thought beyond the time that I would spend happily with my prince charming.

But today when I am married, I realize that marriage is not all roses. It’s not just about being with your beloved and having a gala time. There is so much more t...o it. It comes with its own share of responsibilities, duties, sacrifices and compromises.

I can’t wake up anytime I want to.
I am expected to be up and ready before everyone else in the family.
I can’t laze around in my pajamas throughout the day.
I am expected to be presentable every time.
I can’t just go out anytime I want to.
I am expected to be sensitive to the needs of the family.
I just can’t hit the bed anytime I want to.
I am expected to be active and around the family.
I can’t expect to be treated like a princess but am supposed to take care of everyone else in the family.

And then I think to myself, ‘why did I get married at all?’ I was happier with you, mom. Sometimes I think of coming back to you and getting pampered again.

I want to come home to my favorite food cooked by you every evening after a nice outing with friends. I want to sleep on your laps like I have no worry in this world. But then I suddenly realize, had you not got married and made such sacrifices in your life, I wouldn’t have had so many wonderful memories to hang on to. And suddenly, the purpose of all this becomes clear- to return the same comfort, peace and happiness to my new family that I got from you.

And I am sure that as time would pass, I would start loving this life equally as you do. Thank you mom for all the sacrifices and compromises you made. They give me the strength to do the same. Love you.

Great Life Advice From Mark Twain

Mark Twain is considered by many to be one of the greatest American authors in history. He wasn't only a writer though, he was also a source of constant inspiration, a fountain of memorable quotes and a man with an incredible intellect. So when we say we have some words of advice for you from the mouth of Mark Twain, there is a very good reason to listen!
 

1. Age is in your mind more than anywhere else.

“Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.”

With this clever play on words, Twain is telling us age doesn't matter as long as you don't give it significance. It means that a young soul can dwell in an old body and all the limitations we put on age, other than those physical ones, are actually in our head.

This advice isn't just about age, it's also about self confidence. When we believe we have a problem, we transmit that to the people around us and so bring it to pass. People can feel the lack of self confidence in others and they will treat you as you treat yourself. So, once you make that mental 'switch', the enviornment will too.



2. Humor is one of the most important things.

“Humor is mankind’s greatest blessing.”

“Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand.”

The simple act of laughing and responding to humor is one of the greatest experiences of the human condition. Life is nothing without laughter, just a sad shell, and although there are pleasures in life that have nothing to do with humor, they are always improved upon and made more palatable with a good side dish of laughter. Humor helps almost all situations and using it will draw people to you faster than anything else you may do.


3.Anger will hurt you more than help you.

“Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.”

Anger is an inescapable human emotion, we all get mad once in a while. But there are ways to control out anger, and not let it control us. Just like laughter is transient in nature, so should anger be. A joke will make you laugh again and again if you think about it over and over, and anger is no exception, the more you think about it, the angrier you'll become. So, when you are angry at something or someone, it's important you let it die out naturally; don't continue to feed it. Think of other things and apply your cognitive resources at things that make you happy.



4. The world doesn't owe you, you owe yourselves.

“Don’t go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first.”

The feeling of being owned something by the world is common in this generation. We all feel entiltled to something, whether it's a steady job, money, happiness etc. But these feelings usually lead only to frustration, bitterness, anger and resentment. Let go of these expectations from yourselves and from the world, and you'll see that everything becomes a bit easier. You do deserve the best, but you'll need to go and get it for yourselves.


5. Having a new idea is not a crime.

“A person with a new idea is a crank until the idea succeeds.”

When you see things differently than other people, expect mixed reactions. Some will support you, others ignore you, while still others will try to bring you down. Most people tend to hold on to their preconceived notions for dear life, and will even act agressively or negatively when these are threatened by an opposing opinion. But remember, all great discoveries were once such novel ideas, and many of them carried negative reactions. You should say what you believe and act upon it, don't let anyone tell you your ideas are 'too weird'. After all, human flight used to be such a novel and strange idea.


6. Don't let your thoughts dwell on the negative.

“Drag your thoughts away from your troubles… by the ears, by the heels, or any other way you can manage it.”

You must watch your thoughts, because it is so easy to get into a habit of thinking negatively, hashing our worries and troubles over and over in our head, until they seem as big as mountains and as dark as night. Thinking positively is one of the best gifts you can give yourselves, and will ultimately lead to you doing everything a little better, with people reacting much better to your attitude. In the end, life is made up of 'tasks' we must accomplish, some small, some big and difficult. Try to look at any 'difficult' task as a challenge and as an oppurtunity to learn something about yourselves.


7. Instead of worrying about yourself, worry about others and help yourself.

“The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.”

There is something magical about making someone else smile or getting them out of a tough situation. Helping others not only makes us better people and buys us goodwill from those around us, it also makes our own problems seem smaller because we're not preoccupied with them 24/7. If you help others without thinking, just jumping in and helping out, you'll be the one ending up with a smile on your face.


8. Try everything, regret nothing.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did so. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

A beautiful quote my Mark Twain and one that is full of truth. It's always easier to delay things we want to do. After all, life usually gets in the way and we tell ourselves 'well, we'll try it later'. But as we get older, those oppurtunities become more and more rare, and the things we end up regretting the most are the things we simply never tried to do.

Failure shouldn't scare us, it's a part of life. What is scarier is having oppurtunities and never acting on them. So when you think you want to do something - do it. Failure may happen, but at least you'll know the answer to the question: "What if?".

Extremely Profound !!!

Extremely Profound  !!! 

Rub Your Stomach Away

Rub Your Stomach Away
 
Rub Your Stomach Away in 2 Minutes a Day?

Did You Know…… that you can rub your stomach away effortlessly using nothing but your hand — for only 2 minutes a day?

After spending a lovely long weekend at Center Parcs, it was fascinating to observe just how many people seemed to be battling the bulge - especially that bulge around the middle!

I love this simple idea of “rubbing your stomach away in 2 minutes a day” – a good habit to add to your daily routine don’t you think?

Dr. Stephen Chang

This may sound hard to believe, but Dr. Stephen Chang, an M.D. and Ph.D. who’s trained in both Western and Chinese medicine, states that this simple 2-minute internal exercise, which does not come from Western medicine, but rather from the wisdom of ancient Chinese sages — has been used successfully as a self-healing mechanism for over 6,000 years.

Whatever you do, don’t confuse this internal exercise with the external exercises of the Western world, such as sit-ups, crunches and other movements that only firm up the underlying stomach muscles … but do nothing to melt the fat surrounding those muscles.

According to Dr. Chang, losing weight is a simple matter of increasing the efficiency of the digestive system.  If you’ve ever wondered why you fail to shed pounds even when you reduce your food and/or caloric intake — the reason is because your digestive and eliminatory systems are not functioning efficiently.

The following 2-minute exercise works like a gentle colonic irrigation that helps speed up a sluggish digestive system (which usually carries at least 5 pounds of fecal matter within it), and this elimination of useless sludge has the effect of burning off excess fat.  The exercise effectively metabolizes the fatty tissues around the stomach and intestines, and flushes them out of your body through blood, sweat, urine, and feces. Here’s how to do the stomach-rubbing exercise:
 

1)  Lie flat on your back on your bed or on the floor.  Take your top off
    or pull it up so that your abdominal area is bare.

2)  Rub your hands together vigorously for about 15 seconds,
    or until they feel hot. Rub Stomach Away

3)  Place one of  your hands directly on your belly button and begin to rub in small
    circles around your belly button, and gradually make the circles larger
    (as shown in the diagram).  Use fairly firm but comfortable pressure and rub
    at a slow, even pace, approximately 1 circle per second.

4)  Concentrate on the heat building up in, around and throughout your stomach.

5)  Do about 40 to 50 circles, or for an approximate duration of 2 minutes or more.

Note:  It is important to keep the abdominal area warm while doing the exercise,
       especially during winter months when even heated indoor air tends to be cool.

For best results, do this routine twice a day for 2 minutes — first thing in the morning (before breakfast) and just before you go to bed.  Most people see noticeable results within 1 week of consistent practice.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the stomach is the center of energy.  Massaging the stomach in the manner described above therefore accomplishes more than just melting away adipose tissue (fat).  It also …
     * stimulates the abdominal organs
     * helps speed up slow digestion and remedies constipation
     * increases blood circulation in the abdominal area
     * helps heal indigestion, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and the adverse
        effects of overeating

Caution:  The stomach massage should not be practiced immediately after a heavy meal.
          Neither is it advisable for women who are pregnant, or have inflammation of
          the uterus, bladder, ovaries and fallopian tubes; and individuals who have
          the following conditions:  hypertension; stones in the gall bladder, kidneys
          or bladder; general, femoral, inguinal and umbilical hernia; bleeding of the
          stomach, lungs or brain; or ulcers of the intestines and stomach.