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    The Most Important Tool You’ll Ever Need For Life Transformation

    By Barrie Davenport

    Sometime in your life you will go on a journey. It will be the longest journey you have ever taken. It is the journey to find yourself. ~Katherine Sharp

    If I could have only one tool at my disposal to help me on my journey of personal growth, self-awareness, and life transformation, it would be a journal. (And I guess a pen too, but let’s say that’s included.)

    If you’ve ever kept a journal then you know what I mean. It is an extremely powerful activity — one that is beneficial as a daily pursuit. Through journaling, you can tap into your subconscious and your own inner wisdom. And frankly it’s our own wisdom that should serve as our highest guide. Who knows who you really are, what you want, and how to get there, any better than you do?

    Through... More...

    How to have great sex when you’re not in the mood

    By Gina Parris of Winning at Romance. 

    One question that I’m asked more than any other is “How do I increase my sex drive when it’s just not there?”

    For 14 years, this was the issue that plagued me, so I love sharing some keys to my turnaround.

    First let’s ask, Why should we even care about having sex when we’re NOT in the mood. Shouldn’t we just be able to roll with our mood?

    Well, yes and no. Here’s why.

    Because how you “do sex” is how you do anything.

    It’s how you live your life. It’s how you serve others. It’s how you respect yourself. It’s how you are either ruled by your emotions, or you triumph over them.

    Who you practice being in your most intimate life is a huge factor in... More...

    Why Youth is No Barrier to Greatness

    By Arvind Devalia

    Do you consider yourself too old to succeed in life? Or too young?

    Maybe you even think that you are too grown up to paint!

    It’s a cliché but age is only in the mind – only last weekend Lydia Ko became the youngest player ever to win a professional golf tournament at the mere age of 14.

    It was a stunning achievement by someone just starting out in life – she beat many players who were twice her age.

    To me, age is no barrier to greatness. Only this afternoon I was interviewed by my friend, Kavit Haria who is an inspiration to me and so many others.

    I have watched Kavit’s progress from a mere 17 year just a few years ago and he has now blossomed into one of the world’s top marketers, both online and offline.

    Then... More...

    A Simple Path – To Creating Your Plan

    By Alex Blackwell
    “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with you one wild and precious life?” ~ Mary Oliver

    What would you do if you had the confidence to do it?

    This is the question I’ve been asking myself lately. There is so much I want to do in my one wild and precious life. And with my 50th birthday just months away, I’m feeling the nudge to create my plan sooner, rather than later.

    But where do we start; where do I start?

    The answer may be to start from zero. With a blank sheet of paper in front of you, begin asking questions and then allow your heart to discover the answers.

    Ask: What gives you energy? What are your passions? What are the special talents that have been entrusted to you? How do you want to spend your time? Where do you want to live? What types of people do... More...

    Developing Intuition, Identifying Intuition and Getting Unstuck too!

    By Angela Artemis
    Knowledge has three degrees — opinion, science, illumination. The means or instrument of the first is sense; of the second, dialectic; of the third, intuition. –Plotinus

    Today, I am sharing three brilliant questions on intuition development from readers.

    Even if you don’t see your exact intuition development question here you’re sure to find an answer that will apply to your own situation.

    1. My life feels stuck. I need change now but, nothing seems to be happening. How can I get guidance from my intuition as to what to do to  get my life moving again?

    If you’re life is ‘stuck” and you feel you “need” answers now the best thing to do is to relax as much as possible about it.

    The more stressed out and emotional... More...

    Fear of Rejection: Get Over It!

    By Tess Marshall

    This video is about rejection. It's short and clear!

    Are you feeling rejected by a friend who has moved on, a date who has lost interest, or a bank that refuses to give you a loan?

    If you don't understand rejection it can be devastating. If you do, rejection may be uncomfortable but it doesn't stop the flow of your day or your life. 

    Read on for tips that can help you bounce back from feelings of rejection:

    Be gentle with yourself. 

    Weather you need a job or want a date, the "no" word can throw you off your center. Don't take it personally. Give yourself a break. Listen to music, take a nap, go for a walk. Change your emotional state.

    Create a positive story. 

    Watch your negative self-talk... More...

    How to See the Beauty and Greatness in Any Tragedy

    By Arvind Devalia

    Have you ever suffered great sadness?

    Has life dealt you such a blow that you wondered if you’ll ever recover?

    Every day we face so many challenges in our daily lives which can knock us out of our stride and daily routine.

    Yet in the greater scheme of things, what most of us consider to be a challenge is usually nothing!

    So what if your train to work was late or you got stuck in traffic on your way to an “important” meeting!?

    What I am talking about here is life changing events and challenges that we sometimes face.

    For example, in the last few weeks, I have had a friend losing her elderly mother after a long illness during which she lost most of her faculties. It was so painful for my friend to see her mother deteriorate like this... More...

    A Guide to Excellence: From Choice to Action

    By Manal Ghosain

    “Life’s like a play; it’s not the length but the excellence of the acting that matters.” ~Seneca

    Excellence is a scarce commodity. It’s becoming harder to find in our so called efficient, fast paced, plastic laden society. And because it’s rare, it’s highly rewarded when found.

    We instinctively have an appreciation for the beauty that comes from genuine and skilled effort, even by today’s standards.

    The thing that we fail to see about excellence is that it’s scarce by choice—the cumulative choice of the masses to just get by with half assed effort and mediocre results.

    We can’t change how everyone acts on this planet. But we can choose to act differently, to become excellent at what we do.

    Excellence comes from excel—to do extremely... More...

    Cycling in the Rain

    By Tammy Strobel

    I rolled back into Portland on Thursday, last week. I’d been away for a few weeks because of my dad’s illness and when I came back into town the rain welcomed me home. I’m always amazed by how quickly my body adapts to different climates. For example, my folks live in Red Bluff and the climate is warm. It doesn’t rain that much and the winters aren’t very cold.

    Over the last few weeks, I’d gotten used to the warm, dry weather. So yesterday, the idea of hopping on my bike in the pouring rain didn’t sound appealing. But I was anxious to see friends. We’d made plans for a Sunday brunch at a little coffee shop called Crema.

    Even though I didn’t want to get on my bike, I had a blast on the ride and it made me feel a whole lot better; especially after spending two... More...

    We All Have the Same Basic Needs

    By Leah McClellan

    To observe without evaluating is the highest form of intelligence. ~ J. Krishnamurti

    Imagine, for a moment, a scene in which you had a difficult argument or conflict with someone. It could be one that has never been resolved and still flares up from time to time. It could be anything and anyone: a friend, spouse, parent, manager, employee or colleague, boyfriend or girlfriend, your child. Pick the most frustrating, aggravating, hurtful, annoying, or maddening scenario you can think of or even one that never seems to end.

    Try to remember what the conflict was or is about. How did the other person act? What did he or she say? How did you act and what did you say?

    Sit still for a moment, and put yourself back into that frame of mind. How... More...

    How to Prevent a Domestic Disturbance

    By Aimee Wimbush-Bourque

    As the loving husband of your favorite Simple Bites Editor (Aimee), I’ve got the inside scoop on what really happens around here and today, I’m going to spill the beans and tell you one of our family secrets. We have a serious problem in our home, one that could very well lead to instability, sharp words, lost sleep and much, much worse.

    Usually when there’s a problem in a relationship, both parties are partially responsible, but this time, I confidently accept no blame. It’s all squarely on Aimee’s shoulders.  You see, Aimee alone has a problem.  A serious one.

    Her doctor has said that she needs to slow down and stay off her feet, but instead, she’s nesting.

    Okay, so maybe it’s not so dramatic... More...

    Meditation Monday: An Alternative to Fear

    By Angie Schuller Wyatt

    Slowly read the following scripture, emphasizing the word in bold.  Allow the meaning to linger in your mind.  Then read the same scripture again, this time emphasizing a different word.  Repeat.

    2 Timothy 1:7

    God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.

    God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.

    God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.

    God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.

    God has not given us a spirit of fear,... More...

    Practicing Happiness

    By Jerry Kolber

    One thing I have heard a few times on Krista Tippet's show on NPR called On Being is that happiness is a practice. This idea inspires me and me gives me hope that we can all be happy. It also highlights the fact that our society is confused about how we achieve happiness. We are silly to think we can find happiness without practicing it, as if you could get in shape without exercising.

    His Holiness the Dalai Lama says that all beings want to be happy and that this is good. However, there is some confusion in our society about whether the pursuit of happiness is indeed a noble thing. Some of the confusion stems from the notion that seeking happiness for yourself is selfish. Once we get past this hang-up, we often encounter even greater confusion about how to seek happiness. 

    In... More...

    How to Plan a Snow Picnic

    By Aimee Wimbush-Bourque

    Excerpts from this post were originally published in January, 2011.

    We’ve had a mild winter so far, brilliant sunlight, crisp cool air, and a peaceful blanket of white snow – now that is the mix for a perfect outing. We’ve been getting outdoors every day out of sheer necessity; it’s far too easy to go bonkers when you’re snowed in! Sometimes we go sledding, sometimes walking, but all the kids really need is a snow bank to have fun.

    In summer we practically eat everything outdoors, but winter confines us to the dining room table three times a day, and quite frankly, that gets old. Why not plan a winter picnic to change things up?

    With proper planning and an adventurous spirit, a snow picnic can be every bit of fun -if not more-... More...

    Procrastinating? 10 Ways to Get It Done

    By Barrie Davenport

    Do you ever wonder why you procrastinate?

    Well stop wondering because it doesn’t matter.

    Analyzing why we procrastinate is just another way of procrastinating.

    For those of us inclined toward studying the “whys” of human behavior, this is one area where the why just gets in the way of the how.

    I could list 100 reasons why we procrastinate, and they might be simply fascinating to study and dissect. But if we really want to stop procrastinating, we need to explore how to stop it rather than why we do it. This, my self-improvement-loving friends, is the time for action — not introspection!

    We all procrastinate. No one likes to do what they don’t want to do. If you think you are a far worse procrastinator than the next... More...

    The Most Popular Posts from 25 Top Personal Development Bloggers

    By Barrie Davenport

    Have you ever noticed the “most popular” blog posts often listed on the sidebar of a blog? These land in that spot based on the numbers of people who have clicked on the post.

    I’m always fascinated by the posts that rise to the top of my “most popular” list. It gives me a clear indication of what interests my readers and what is on the top of their minds.  My post called 36 Ways to Be Irresistibly Attractive has been sitting in the number one position for quite a while.

    I thought it would be interesting to see the most popular posts of some of my personal development blogging peers. I’ve selected 25 bloggers whose writing I know and respect to link to their most popular post (along with a short excerpt from the post). I hope these... More...

    A Concise Guide to Plugging Time and Energy Leaks

    By Anastasiya Goers

    By contributor Kristoph Matthews

    Do you ever feel sapped of energy while trying to catch up with life as it moves at 90 miles an hour? Do you feel like no matter what you do, you’re always burdened with tasks and feeling sleep deprived? Time and energy “leaks” in your life may be the culprit.

    Energy (a.k.a. your “will power”) and time are intimately related. When you deplete your energy, you reduce your ability to focus and thus accomplish the tasks in your life effectively. On the other hand, when you run out of time, you expend energy inefficiently as you try to rush through the things you need to do.

    The energy and time “leaks” in your life consume your ability to get things done and feel fulfilled. These leaks exist in mental,... More...

    10 Essential Look Great Naked Foods Your Kitchen Needs

    By Kat Eden

    Time and again I get asked what the best foods are to eat. The truth, of course, is that different things work for different people and it would be rather a long list if I were to try and write them in a blog post!  I have however,  just released my Woman Incredible Look Great Naked Eating Plan and I’m pretty happy with it!

    Here are some foods I consider absolute staples, 10 Essential Look Great Naked Foods Your Kitchen Needs. Keep these in your home and you are unlikely to ever get stuck in a food emergency or end up tempted to hit the take away!

    Enjoy.

    Coconut oil: this saturated fat is made up of medium chain fatty acids, and great for energy as well as fat loss. A teaspoon will quell the sugar cravings right away, and it’s also fab for cooking! Organic... More...

    Why Personal Growth Matters for Your Financial Freedom

    By Mary Jaksch

    A guest post by Shilpan of Street Smart Finance

    Have you had sleepless nights over mounting credit card debt? If so — you are not alone. You can do it!

    Here’s the scoop — you can become debt free simply by changing your habits to lift you out of your financial hole.

    Why is that  simple money lessons are hard to adopt for millions of people? After all, our world of Web is full of blogs teaching how to — live within your means, budget and save more.

    The secret lies in the  fact that you have to become a better person first — one who understands that happiness comes from within — one who understands that by changing thoughts and habits, anything is possible including overcoming the worst of the financial difficulties. It’s that simple.

    The first... More...

    How to Make Lasting Changes in Your Life

    By Aileen Mahoney

    It’s nearing the end of January already and many New Year’s resolutions have either not yet been started, or they’ve been abandoned. Back in my pessimistic days I’d find myself irritated by those who succeeded with their goals, when I didn’t. Then I’d often come up with reasons (excuses) why it wasn’t the right time, or what got in the way.

    It surprises people when they find out, I wasn’t a natural optimist.  Growing up, it would bug me every time my Mom would say “can’t you get that chip off your shoulder?” It would just infuriate me.

    When I began to realize that life seemed easier for happy optimistic people, I wondered if I could become one, but I felt conflicted because I didn’t like happy optimistic... More...

    How Changing your Attitude Changes Your Reality

    By Jonathan Wells

    Let’s talk about the internal aspect of making positive changes to your current reality. I believe that the foundation of a successful life has a lot more to do with attitude than it does with aptitude, but I’m not the only one.

    Surveys, studies and research consistently indicate that 85% of success in almost any endeavor will depend on attitude and only about 15% on aptitude. Yet, in most educational settings the emphasis is exactly the opposite. In fact, attitude is rarely discussed.

    Adding attitude to your knowledge and skill

    Regardless of what you do for a career, technical knowledge and skills usually play an important role. But is knowledge and skill all it takes to succeed? In this highly competitive world there are lots of people with knowledge and skill. Obviously,... More...

    Personality Type: How It Impacts 3 Key Areas of Your Life

    By Barrie Davenport

    Do you know your personality type based on the Myers-Briggs personality assessment?

    If not, this is a tremendously beneficial tool in helping you understand yourself, your motivations and behavior, and how you interact with the people around you. And knowing the personality types of the people close to you is extremely helpful in understanding them and how you can best relate to them.

    Based on the personality type theories of Carl Jung, The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment is a questionnaire designed to measure a person’s preferences in how they perceive the world and make decisions. The original developers of the personality inventory were Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter, Isabel Briggs Myers, as a way of helping woman during WWII identify the... More...

     

    I’m Not Qualified For Any of This…

    By Baker @Man vs. Debt

    Several months ago, Chris Guillebeau wrote a post on his blog called Qualifications.

    It was one of the greatest blog posts I’ve ever read. It still is.

    For months I’ve had it bookmarked. I must’ve read it close to thirty times by now.

    (As you can tell, I strongly recommend you check out the original post!)

    At first, I couldn’t identify what I loved so much about these words.

    But then it hit me. Chris’ post was my life.

    Sure some of the details were different. Some of the events, names, and places would need to be renamed. But the result was the exact same.

    Like Chris pointed out, I’m not qualified for almost anything I’m currently doing today.

    In fact,... More...

    7 Famous Markets Around the World

    By Nellie Huang

    To get a good glimpse into a country’s culture, you really can’t go wrong at the local market. From colorful, explosive food bazaars to classic vintage flea fairs, markets showcase local daily life and allow visitors a chance to dive deep. These markets can be a feast for both the eyes and the soul. Whether you are looking to mingle with the locals, try some exotic food or simply go souvenir-shopping, a visit to local markets promises to enhance your travel experience. Be sure to bring some foreign currency, leave some extra space in your luggage and get ready for some haggling!

    1. Chatuchak Market – Bangkok, Thailand

    The Chatuchak Weekend Market is one of the largest markets in the world – with over 5,000 stalls sprawled... More...

    Discuss: Are People Inherently Good?

    By Alisa Bowman

    A friend emailed after having a terrible time at a social gathering. Various people had teased her and made hurtful remarks.

    “I know you believe that all people are good, but I’m just not seeing that,” she challenged.

    Her email gave me pause. Did I believe this? I wasn’t sure.

    What I do believe is that we all have the potential to do good, but we don’t always actually do it. The reasons we fall short are many. Here are only a few:

    We’re under the influence of anger, envy, greed, apathy or another negative emotion that prevents us from being our best selves. It’s not convenient. Case in point: Over the weekend, I didn’t give money to a homeless person at an intersection. This wasn’t because I didn’t have the money and it wasn’t out of greed. It was merely... More...

    Buying a Car? Focus on Reliability and Fuel Efficiency

    By Trent Hamm

    The last two weeks have focused on appliances. Now, we’re going to shift directions and take a deeper look at automobiles.

    Let’s take a look at two hypothetical cars.

    You’re looking at a class of cars that, according to the data you’ve researched, get to 150,000 miles pretty reliably before significant problems set in. You drive 25,000 miles per year, so you’re hoping to get six years out of the car. Gas costs $3.25 a gallon. We’re going to assume that insurance among the models is equal and that maintenance costs are equal, too.

    Let’s call one Model A. Model A costs $25,000. It gets 35 miles to the gallon. Based on the data you’ve seen, Model A is about 10% more reliable than the average car in the class... More...

    The Art of Being an Introvert Creative

    By Justine Lee Musk

    I’m giving a workshop on blogging/social media at the Southern California Writer’s Conference in San Diego in February.

    I asked people on Facebook if there were particular questions that I should address.

    Canadian novelist Adrian Kelly made this point:

    ….I’d like to hear less about the end of the book, and more about how we still need to make room for the book, for deep, attentive reading and writing, even as we explore the benefits of blogging and social media. Good writing, good reading, takes time and silence and solitude, three things that blogging and social media, used injudiciously, erode.

    My first response was, I always take this as a given. And because we tend to project ourselves on the world – we think that other people think like... More...

    Spring Decorating Ideas: White & Chalky Pastels

    By Laura Gaskill

    Happy Monday, my dears, and welcome to a fresh new week! I have been feeling extremely inspired and creative lately; new ideas have been coming a mile a minute, and I find myself reaching for my notebook more and more to jot down snippets of inspiration. It seems like I am not the only one – so many friends I’ve spoken with lately have shared that their year has been off to an amazing start. Are you feeling energized this January, too?

    Embroidered portraits DIY from Country Living

    I have been making plans in every area of my life, from a major haircut and color change to keeping chickens in the backyard to fresh ideas for my blog and business…and of course for decorating, as well! I have been gathering... More...

    How to Unleash the Power of Your Subconscious Mind

    By Evelyn Lim

    “The more intensely we feel about an idea or a goal, the more assuredly the idea, buried deep in our subconscious, will direct us along the path to its fulfillment.”
    - Earl Nightingale

    If you are one of those who often find your life a struggle, you may want to reverse the situation through harnessing the power of your subconscious mind. You do not have to settle with constantly being in self-sabotage, having a dark rain of cloud following you or living an uninspired existence.
    Think of the subconscious mind as like a hard drive on a computer; virtually everything you see, hear, smell, taste, experience, learn, and even imagine gets stored in this internal hard drive. It also has a huge capacity. It stores... More...

    Meandering

    By Katie Tallo

    I feel I am forever meandering in and out of the folds of my life. I nestle into one fold then can’t seem to rise up and find the grit I need to dive into another. This blanket, this world, this imagined reality is comforting and yet, in a flash, it shows itself to be wafer thin.

    I can see through it — beyond my daily bowl of oatmeal, beyond my feeble attempts to train the perfect puppy, beyond my routines of keeping up with dirt and dishes – I see there is a fold untouched.

    The spectacular lies just beyond my meanderings. The awe-inspiring lies a fold away.

    How do I move into that fold? How do I meander towards something more than just this stalemate? How do I make that move? That move that will relieve the small sense of loss... More...

    A Simple Path – To an Unexpected Connection

    By Alex Blackwell
    “To touch the soul of another human being is to walk on holy ground.” ~ Stephen Covey

    Eight people met for the first time this past Saturday night. A few minutes before 7 p.m. no one knew what to expect, but by the end of the evening eight people had made an unexpected connection.

    It wasn’t fate that made this unexpected connection; it was the power of the human spirit.

    Three years ago Mary Beth had brain surgery to repair a Chiari Malformation which is a rare defect that results in brain tissue extending into the spinal canal. Without surgery, my wife’s physical symptoms would have continued deteriorating. While life-threatening, the surgery gave Mary Beth her life back.

    Since her surgery, my wife has found other Chiari survivors on Facebook. It encourages Mary Beth... More...

    Time-Saving Household Tips

    By Christine Louise Hohlbaum

    HGTV sent me some cool tips I just had to share. Because even though we have a lot of time-saving devices in our home, we often feel we can’t bother cleaning, as if it’s taking us away from something more important.

    I don’t know about you, but I find a messy house to be a stressful place to be. So take these tips and run with them. Courtesy of HGTV whose latest issue (February/March) already hit the stands January 17th. Grab your copy while you can!

    Dirty Little Laundry Secrets from the Pros

    It’s the chore that never ends! Get it done easier and faster with tips from our crew of washing and folding experts.

    -          A sink for hand-washing: A two minute soak in the sink isn’t enough. You need to soak stains for at least 10-30 minutes to really... More...

    How Live Your Legend Makes Money

    By Scott Dinsmore

    “A hobby is just a hobby unit you make a sale. Then it’s a business.”
    ~Anonymous

    *Note: This is the second article in the “Monetizing Your Passion Online” series I’m running for the next few weeks. I’m also doing a free webinar/online presentation with my good friend Jonathan Mead on the same topic (who taught me much of what I know when it comes to creating an online offering and finding your way to help the world).

    On the webinar we’ll further cover today’s exact topic of Getting Paid to Be Who Your Are and really nailing your online offer to the world. Since so many of you have asked for this stuff, we’re doing it totally for free. But spaces are limited (only... More...

    The Power of Self-Care

    By Tammy Strobel

    Right now I’m standing in my parents kitchen, at the island, writing. The island is the gathering spot at my parent’s place; it’s where we cook, eat, and talk.

    My mom left the house earlier to go to an exercise class and I’m alone in the house. Well, that isn’t completely true. I have a sleeping dog at my feet and we’re listening to Ludovico Einaudi, so I have company. I have to say, it feels really odd not having my dad here. I know he will be home soon. I just hope he’ll come home as the same man. As I sit here thinking about him, I know he would be upset with me because I haven’t been taking care of myself this week.

    When I was a Victim Advocate I learned how important self-care was for both my physical and emotional health. Normally, I’m good... More...

    A Crash Course In The Long-Lost Art Of Adaptation

    By Dragos Roua

    One of the biggest lies of my life was this one: if you do your job constantly, if you listen to your folks obediently, nothing bad will happen to you. All you have to do in order to live a happy life is to play by the rules and everyone around you will do the same. If you listen to life, life will listen to you and will reward you back big time.

    Well, guess what, it didn’t actually happen like this. I mean, I did my best to be obedient, to follow the rules, to do my job and not to harm anyone else, and yet, out of the blue, I got kicked straight in my ass. And not only once.

    I’m sure you’ve been there too. And not only once. You did your job too, minding your own business, fulfilling your roles as a friend, employee or husband and then, kaboom, life hits you right in the groin,... More...

    How to Naturally Increase Oxytocin, and Why This May Help Your Marriage

    By Lori Lowe

    Oxytocin is the bonding hormone that helps you and your spouse feel bonded together. It has lots of other nice perks, too, like decreasing feelings of pain, reducing anxiety, lowering stress levels, promoting growth and healing, increasing feelings of trust, and stimulating positive interactions.

    I read about an interesting study that showed by increasing oxytocin levels with nasal inhalers, participants became 80 percent more generous than the ones who inhaled a placebo. (Read about the study here.) Generosity has been shown in recent studies to be the secret to a strong marriage. It can also lead to increased intimacy, sex and bonding, which leads to higher levels of oxytocin. So, it’s a big, happy cycle.

    This oxytocin stuff sound really great, doesn’t it? How can we get... More...

    How To Shop Outside Your Comfort Zone

    By Lisa @Privilege

    Sales are the perfect time to experiment with clothing outside your comfort zone. Try new colors, shapes, suppliers. (Suppliers? What do we call the places we buy? Vendors? Dang, I really have gone back to the corporate world.)

    For example, what do you think of this little red peplumed Moschino number from Yoox? Techno-fabric, zippers, motorcycle cuffs. $232.00 down to $79. Over a ladylike pencil skirt, maybe in apricot? With gray yoga pants, on a weekend? One never knows until one tries. At $79, trying is feasible.

    Or give Brooks Brothers a go. The talented designer on their bag team is a fairly well-kept secret. If you want to branch out with a pastel for spring color blocking, perforated aqua leather seems quite the thing. Down from $298 to $119.20. If the patent... More...

     
          

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    6 Habits for Happy Lives & Marriages

    By Lori Lowe

    Happy Life: Happy Marriage Series

    I came across this awesome visual from the Greater Good Science Center (GGSC) on 6 Habits of Happiness Worth Cultivating, and I think it has great applications for marriage as well. Cultivate these 6 habits for a happier life and a happier marriage.

    Practice Kindness. Yes, it’s an important life habit, but it also makes you feel good. “Altrustic acts light up the same pleasure centers in the brain as food and sex,” according to GGSC. Many people stop there, but they end up being kinder to the checker at the grocery store than to their spouse at home. Or at least we would never say things to our friends that we are willing to say in anger to our spouse. Ouch. Kindness will pay great dividends in the long run. Say “please” and “thank you” for starters.... More...

    A Radical Approach to Launching a Book? Interview with Danny Iny of Firepole Marketing

    Photo by Francis ©

    By Mary Jaksch

    Do you plan to write a book at some point in the future?

    Writing a book is a big challenge. But there is another hurdle at the end: you have to launch your book. Danny Iny of  Firepole Marketing came up with a radical strategy of creating and launching a book when he created Engagement from Scratch. Read about his new strategy in this no-holds-barred interview with Mary Jaksch:

    Q: How did you come up with the idea for the book, “Engagement from Scratch”?

    A: It started with my own experience building Firepole Marketing, which I started really working on about a year ago, in January 2011.I read and studied everything that I could, and everything that I found about building and growing an audience seemed to assume that you’ve already got one;... More...

    Enjoy Life: Choose to Be Happy

    By Jeff Nickles

    Are you enjoying your life today?

    I imagine that a lot of you will answer no to this question.  For one reason or another, maybe even one that you can’t accurately name, you’d say that you aren’t exactly happy.

    Why not decide to enjoy life?  Why not choose to be happier today?

    It really is a conscious choice that we can make.  After all, we choose to be unhappy.  We decide to get irritated, frustrated, mad, offended and upset.  We let ourselves dread the day.  We decide that we hate our jobs, don’t like our spouses and that everyone is out to get us.  Why not choose the alternative that is in our favor?

    I challenge you to decide right this minute that you are going to enjoy your life today and begin choosing happiness regularly. ... More...

    The 4 Qualities of a True Statesman

    By Brett and Kate McKay

    Here in the United States, the inauguration of our next president is a year away, and the Republican primary season is in full swing. Journalists and pundits dissect the candidates’ every speech, appearance, and debate, analyzing what they did right or wrong, and who is waxing and waning in the polls. These talking heads, along with the people watching and listening to them at home, evaluate the candidates on who seems the most “authentic,” had the best line of the evening, or released the hardest-hitting advertisement. The whole thing can oftentimes seem more like a sport or entertaining sideshow than the lead-up to an important election.

    So what should the more serious-minded citizen be looking for in the next leader of the free world? What criteria beyond hair and... More...

    29 Simple Ways to Energize Yourself

    By Alex Blackwell

    The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled. – Plutarch

    The winter doldrums are here.

    With more two months of winter remaining, plus an extra day because of the leap year, spring seems so far away.

    Cold weather, gray skies and navigating icy sidewalks can drain our energy. The “I-can’t-wait-for-winter-to-end” sentiment can lead to feeling sluggish and uninspired. Sometimes our moods are just like the weather outside, gloomy.

    For some, the cold weather can trigger a more serious reaction to winter, a condition called seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Symptoms of SAD, which can include anxiety, oversleeping, social isolation and weight gain, can be the most severe during this time of the year.

    But, there’s hope. We can... More...

    Think Backward to Write Meaningful Metaphors

    By Suzannah Freeman

    Today’s article is written by regular contributor Sarah Baughman. 

    “Ugh, Mrs. B.!” my student groaned, rolling his eyes. “Why can’t this author just say what he actually means?!”

    We were reading Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, and my student wasn’t the only one in the class who seemed weary of reading about pythons that were really hoses, symphony conductors that were really firemen, an island that was really a face. They wanted clarity, not guesswork.

    I don’t begrudge them their frustration—metaphors can be tricky. However, it’s helpful to think of them not as puzzles writers use to baffle us, but rather as keys unlocking more layers of meaning than we could possibly gain with a literal... More...

    Why We’re So Fat

    By Christine Louise Hohlbaum

    Fat. Now there’s an ugly word. The truth is one in three Americans is considered obese by the Centers for Disease Control. 17% of all U.S. children are too. It’s an astounding number. How has it come to this?

    According to FastCompany, our brains aren’t prepared to handle the all-you-can-eat variety of food intake. Based on the primordial need to stuff our faces while we can, we often do. Our brains, apparently, are designed to prepare for rough winters and starvation. So we gorge ourselves, thinking it’s normal.

    It’s not. We just don’t realize when to stop because our brains say it’s somehow okay.

    Portion control is a term I learned while working on a campaign for Yum Yum Dishes, a fabulous company that creates ceramic dishes to provide... More...

    7 Ways to Freshen Up and Liven Up Your Life

    By Jeff Nickles

    Do you need a little spark to liven up your life?

    Excitement fills us when our lives feel fresh and hopeful.  Ideas flow.  Energy swells.  And happiness abounds.

    Our lives can sometimes become a little too routine, predictable and monotonous.

    There comes a time when you need to freshen and liven things up a bit.  You need to throw a log on the fire of your life and get something burning.  I want to offer you a few ideas to help create the spark that you need to get yourself unstuck.

    7 Lively Ideas to Freshen Up Your Life

    “The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it.”

    ~ W.M. Lewis

    You’ve got to get your blood flowing.  It is time to seek inspiration and reenergize.  What... More...

    Breathe Your way Into Bliss

    By Jai Kai

    The science of Ayurveda helps us bring more happiness and bliss into our daily lives.

    In order to find our bliss and follow our bliss we need to create that awareness or bliss consciousness.

    The easiest and quickest way to do this is through a daily meditation practice that involves simple breathing techniques.

    This article outlines some simple techniques on how to breathe your way into a state of bliss, harmony and balance, that can be practiced by almost anyone.

    Simple Breathing Practices For Meditation Stage one: 1:1 breathing.

    The posture for this exercise can be done lying flat on the floor or in a seated position (for meditation purposes) keeping your head, neck and trunk in one line.

    In one to one breathing you’re matching your inhalations to your... More...

    5 Can’t Miss Ideas for Creating Great Content

    By Stephanie Wetzel

    Reach New Heights of Reader Engagement

    At the end of the day, our role as bloggers is to create great, compelling content for our readers. It’s the reason we are here, the reason people sign up for our list, and the unspoken expectation that has been set in our reader’s mind.

    But what constitutes “great” anyway? How does one define this undefinable term? Here are 5 must-read articles on the intricacies of content marketing that can help take your “great” content to new (and higher) levels of return.

    # 5 :: Never forget to study what the “big” brands are doing.

    They employ some of the best in the business and their strategies for content and engagement are worth noticing. Check out this break-down of Coca-Colas strategy... More...

    How to Turn a Setback into a Blessing

    By Erin Pavlina

    How do you react to setbacks in your life? Do you get upset and angry? Rant about the unfairness of fate? Plot revenge against those wronged you? Do you curl up in a ball and mope? Does depression and a sense of defeat overwhelm you? Do you shut down, completely unable to move on?

    What if what we think are major setbacks in our lives are actually blessings in disguise? What if these personal disasters are not disasters at all? What if a setback is the only way to untangle a knot and move you forward on your path? What if problems, personal disasters, and setbacks are mechanisms used to get you off of one path and onto another?

    Years ago my boyfriend broke his leg. I took him to the hospital where they x-rayed his leg and found he’d broken his ankle. Big bummer... More...

    Ramit Sethi Exposed: How He Earns Millions Blogging

    By Darren Rowse

    This guest post is by Michael Alexis of WriterViews.

    In this post, I’m going to show you the exact steps one blogger used to earn over $1 million.

    Not long ago, I interviewed Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich. If you’re serious about making money blogging, then you need to read this interview.

    But a heads-up: this post is long and extremely detailed. It took me over 20 hours to write. It will take you about 15 minutes to read. If you like, you can download a PDF of the entire article here.

    I know you may be skeptical about the $1 million, so let’s start by looking at the facts.

    Ramit Sethi and I Will Teach You To Be Rich

    Ramit’s advice on money has been featured on CNN, Wall Street Journal, ABC News, FOX Business, PBS, The New... More...

    Beyond the Guest Post: 7 Subscriber-Building Alternatives

    By Barrie Davenport

    Do you ever find yourself exhausted with guest posting to build traffic on your blog?

    It’s hard enough to keep cranking out useful content for your own blog, but then you have to come up with more unique ideas and articles to pitch to other blogs. I often have trouble letting go of a good guest post I’ve written. I want to share it with my own readers rather than giving it away!

    And even when I do offer up a post to another blogger, there’s no guarantee that it will get accepted. (Although I do try to pitch a concept to another blogger before I write the post. If they accept, then I write the post. This also forces me to let it go!)

    Guest posting is the... More...

    150 Bold Tips About Life, People, and Wisdom

    By Tess Marshall

    Offer others your wisdom. Don't give unasked for advice. Accept that everyone isn't on your path. Pay for your dates dinner. Plant a tree. Learn to love yourself. Stop whining. Change what you complain about. Let the rest go. Get involved in something you believe in. Believe in yourself.  Enjoy your journey. Learn how to deal with anger, yours, and others. Use music to change your mood. Compliment others often. Never leave kind words unsaid. Don't save your good stuff for later. Affection isn't earned, it's freely given. Live with less of everything…except love. Visit Alaska. Have a “Yes” so big it allows you to say “No.” Learn how to say, “No, that’s not going to work for me.” ... More...

    The Habits That Crush Us

    By Leo Babauta

    ‘Don’t panic.’ ~Douglas Adams

    Why is it that we cannot break the bad habits that stand in our way, crushing our desires to live a healthy life, be fit, simplify, be happier?

    How is it that our best intentions are nearly always beaten? We want to be focused and productive, exercise and eat healthy foods, stop smoking and learn to get rid of debt and clutter, but we just can’t.

    The answer lies in something extremely simple, but something most people aren’t aware of:

    We don’t know how to cope with stress and boredom in a healthy way.

    The bad habits we’ve formed are often useful to us, in dealing with stress and boredom. Consider the bad habits that fit this bill:

    Smoking Internet procrastination Eating... More...

    Mind-Mapping Your Way to Freedom

    By Christine Louise Hohlbaum

    Many thanks to Psychology Today reader Kallin, who pointed me to this mind map, courtesy of LearningFundamentals.com.au. It beautifully illustrates how we can regain control of the things we do in the time that we have.

    Happy Monday Morning, All!

    Simple Ways to Slow - Courtesy of LearningFundamentals.com.au
    Filed under: energy, Health, management, procrastination, productivity, slow food, Slow Living, Stress, technology, Work, workplace Tagged: just say no, mindmap, power of slow, task management, technology, time management, work-life balance, workflow ... More...

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