What do a power cut and a Sudanese mountain have in common? Silence, sweet Silence! They can get you back to your source.

The Power (Cut) and the Beauty!

This evening, just as I was about to put my daughter’s favourite meal – home made vegetable lasagne – into the oven, the lights went off. A power cut had us standing slightly helpless in the dark.

Luckily, the house is full of candles and my solar powered torch always works, so we fumbled our way to the fuse box and then to the door to find the street lights were off and everyone around us was in darkness too. This was a first for us and I liked it.

My daughter was a little disappointed at having to replace lasagne with bread and cheese, but there we sat by candle light and made plans of what to do if this lasted for days. We felt a little adventurous and talked about what it would have been like to live without electricity, how people who have long power cuts in freezing conditions cope…

And then, we noticed the silence – no buzz from the PC, no music, no tv. My cell phone battery was flat, so I was unreachable. How strangely liberating that was!

We went for a walk to find out how many houses or streets were affected. Despite the October drizzle and the unusual darkness, the sky seemed brighter than usual. But it was the silence that felt best.

In our civilised world it is virtually impossible to experience true silence. There is almost always the buzz of ‘something’ around. Some years ago I had my most profound experience of total stillness.

The Stillness of the Desert

Whilst in the deserts of Sudan, I left the little group I was travelling with for a while to climb up a solitary mountain (well, a rather high hill, really). Once I sat up there, I felt ‘on top of the world’. But what struck me most was the total and complete stillness that surrounded me.

Not a car, no voices, no breeze, not even birds singing. I sat and stared and thought and after a while my thoughts turned into silence as well. No-thing became everything. It was one of the most beautiful experiences in my life. Ever since, I have loved the sound of silence.

Many people find silence unbearable. They need a background ‘noise’. Have you ever thought about why? Simple really, it stops your inner voice from coming through. As long as there is chatter, whether external or internal, you don’t have to face ‘you’. Whatever memories or fears may be lurking in the depths of the subconscious mind can’t be heard against the deafening din of ‘civilised’ life.

Silence Heals

The downside is, you also can’t heal your Self. You suppress all the undigested ‘junk food’ of your life and keep it in your system. Not a nice thought.

If you want progress, you have to get comfortable with silence at some point – the sooner the better. But how? Let’s face it – to sit on a mountain, alone in the middle of nowhere where you simply can’t help but understand the true depth of just ‘being’, is not something you get to do every day.

Apart from turning off radios, phones, TV’s, buzzing PC’s – how can you turn off your buzzing mind?

Here’s How!

By doing what my Alexander Technique teacher showed us last week…

Lie on your back , your knees raised and your feet flat on the floor (or mattress). Rest your hands on your tummy and stretch your arms a little (creating a V-shape at the side of your body) to create room in your chest to breathe. Rest your head on nothing but a flat book and feel the blanket or mattress beneath you support your spine.

We did that during our lesson and it was wonderful. Lying in silence, doing nothing, our bodies supported by the floor (or bed, if you prefer). Normally, I meditate sitting up – this was almost better, as I could totally relax my spine and let my mind float in silence on the waves of my breath.

When the Lights Came Back Up

Now the power at home has returned, I felt I had to share my thoughts on silence before the noise of the world rushes back in. Perhaps one day I’ll stand with my daughter on a mountaintop in Sudan – but until then, I’ll use every opportunity to teach her – and myself – the power of silence.

Annett Tate helps people find their inner silence through her “Subtle Energy” seminars. Her website is a treasure trove of information on stress management, relaxation, meditation, self-hypnosis, and much more.

stress2bliss.com/ stress2bliss.com

I think I’ve finally turned the corner with downhill skiing! In the past few years have improved both my technique and my confidence with an upgrade to new boots and shape skis along with some instruction. I find I now begin runs with anticipation rather than apprehension. It’s taken a while, but I’m finally developing a sense of rhythm, and occasionally even joining my family on the more difficult, black diamond, trails. Growing up in the South, I wasn‘t exposed to skiing until I moved to the Boston area in my late twenties. In contrast to my husband who’s been skiing since he was five years old, I had a lot of catching up to do. As I review what I’ve learned so far on the slopes, I realize that many of these principles apply to other areas of life. I share these lessons with you in hopes that they’ll help you smoothly navigate the varied terrain of your life–curving slopes, fresh powder, icy patches, moguls, and all!

FIND YOUR WAY We all make our way independently and often in very different manners. Some, like my daredevil sons, hurl themselves down the mountain at breakneck speed, enjoying the rush, skiing as close to the trees, if not in the woods, to add to the challenge. Others, like me, meander more slowly, stopping occasionally to admire the scenery, carving large looping S’s that give trees and other obstacles a wide berth. Find the pace and style that works for you.

CHOOSE WISELY The #1 rule in skiing is to ski in control. This is to protect yourself and others. Know yourself and ski within your limits, pushing them occasionally to expand them. You get to select which trails to follow, when to let the skies run, when to carve a turn, and, most importantly, when to call it a day. Most ski injuries occur on the last run of the day, when the light is flat and legs are tired. Given the law of gravity, you are going to come down one way or the other, but your choices often determine whether you come down on your skis, on your behind, or on a ski patrol sled.

PAY ATTENTION While skiing, you have to be aware of what’s ahead so you can make adjustments to avoid icy patches or to catch some air on a jump. You also want to celebrate spectacular runs. To get the most out of the experience, however, your attention needs to be, not in the future or the past, but in the here and now. On the chair lift, my mind and eyes wander, as I take in the mountain scenery and watch brightly outfitted skiers and snowboarders make their way down the mountain. When it’s my turn on the trails, however, my focus is completely on the snow, my skis, my body and the skiers right around me. Moments like this are mindfulness meditation in motion.

BE WELL EQUIPPED For years I put up with boots that felt like vise grips. Getting in and out of them was torturous. While skiing, I always badly bruised my big toenails which later would turn purplish-black and would inevitably fall off at the beginning of sandal season. Yuck! When I was fitted for new boots, I recall the sales person commenting that my old boots were good ones, but were ideal for those with narrow feet-not wide ones like mine. Technology can make things easier or create more of a struggle-make sure you have the proper equipment and know how to use it.

BE RESILIENT One of the very first things they teach beginners is how to get back up from a fall. Falls are inevitable, though they become fewer and far between the more accomplished you become. What’s important is that you are able to right yourself, and brush-the snow and your wounded pride-off and head back down the trail. Perseverance pays off.

LEARN FROM OTHERS You can improve your technique by observing how it’s done, imitating, and eventually improvising, as you begin to synthesize and develop your own style. Watch the pros on TV, take lessons, and observe other skiers as you ride the chair lift. Mimic accomplished skiers, perhaps following someone down the trail, turning when they do. Eventually you’ll develop your own natural rhythm and style.

ENJOY YOURSELF Skiing, like life, is meant to be enjoyed. If you find you are miserable-the light snow has turned to driving rain or pelting sleet, or temperatures drop and frostbite threatens–it’s time for a change. Take a break by the fireplace in the lodge or move on to the après ski experience. As you stretch your legs, warm up with a hot drink, and share the day’s highlights with friends and family, there’s a satisfying glow in your cheeks and a heavy tiredness in your legs. With all of the exertion and fresh air, you’ll sleep well tonight, and that’s a good thing, because tomorrow, you’ll have a chance to do it all over again.

Grace Durfee, PCC, is an ICF certified coach, trainer, speaker, and writer who helps busy professionals, small business owners and career changers achieve professional success while enjoying more balanced lives. You can read her blog and subscribe to her newsletter at

Firstly I would like to discuss the difference between attention and retention. Many in the past have deemed that attention is requisite to acquiring information. For without attention a profound impression cannot be made.

In the medium of retention there is an objective at the outset. That motive is to retain information. In the realm of attention that purpose may not be present but that does not mean that you are being inattentive. Let’s look at the denotation of the word attention. “Concentration of the mental powers upon an object; a close or careful observing or listening. The ability or power to concentrate mentally. Observant consideration; notice:”

Now if we look at concentration we get the following.
“The act or process of concentrating, especially the fixing of close, undivided attention. The condition of being concentrated. Something that has been concentrated. Chemistry. The amount of a specified substance in a unit amount of another substance.” Then concentrated would mean this. “To direct or draw toward a common center; focus. Then focus means to close or narrow attention; concentration.” By now you may be seeing something interesting here. That is, many words are cross referencing themselves

So attention is far broader than either concentration or focus. Attention if it has a motive will narrow down to its specific purpose. Therefore it becomes focus, or concentration or the acquisition of information known as retention. Attention is far more significant than any of the above.

Attention is observation and listening without specific aim but for the joy of exploring. Attention encompasses concentration, retention and focus yet it is not limited by any of them. This broadens the mind and goes beyond the ties of conditioning.

The principal difficulty in all this lies in the fact of understanding, which requires some active earnest thinking, and the majority of people are too lazy to indulge in such mental activity, yet without exercising this, I am not sure if you will ever live life to its fullest extent..

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You want to exercise, you want to relieve stress and tension, but you don’t have anytime to leave the office. What’s a busy professional to do? Lucky for you there’s an easy solution. There are many yoga-based exercises you can do anywhere, anytime, whether you’re in your office, at the grocery store or even in bed.

Workplace stress has increased dramatically over the last 10 years. Stress rates in the workplace have grown significantly in the past few years. The American Institute for Stress has implicated stress as the cause of nearly 90% of doctor visits in the U.S. The total annual costs of stress to the average employer are staggering.

This increase in stress has, for many companies, resulted in: 1) reduced productivity and morale, 2) increased injury (including Carpal Tunnel Syndrome), 3) higher costs for health benefits, and 4) greater turnover. Yoga can help. Yoga offers definitive results such as: reduced tension in the body and mind, increased energy, improved concentration and increased strength and flexibility for greater stress resistance and fewer workplace injuries. Yoga exercises are simple and can be modified for different skill levels and abilities – perfect for the office environment.

The popularity of workplace yoga is spreading, as companies nationwide (including IBM, Microsoft, Nike, Intel, AT&T, GE to name a few) are embracing the practice as a low cost method of stress reduction that is extremely easy to implement. But, what if your company doesn’t offer an on-site yoga program or you work from home or with a small group? No problem. There are a number of simple ways to bring the benefits of yoga into your daily life right now.

To feel your best at work:

1) Take a few minutes to focus on your breath.

When we’re anxious and stressed our breath becomes shallow. Notice the quality of your breath and improve the quality by using the following techniques:

• Breathe through your nose. This slows your breath, lowers your heart rate, filters out allergens and relieves tension.

• Breathe slowly and smoothly to relax your mind and body.

• Relax your belly as you breathe, so your belly gently rises as you inhale and falls as you exhale. This allows for proper movement of your diaphragm, relaxes your muscles and brings oxygen to the lower part of your lungs where oxygen exchange is most efficient, increasing your energy.

• Focus on your breath. Just a few minutes of focusing on your breath keeps you in the present moment and thereby relieves the anxiety and mental chatter around past and future events.

2) Take a few minutes every hour to do some simple stretches.

Stretching throughout the day will:

• Reduce muscle tension.
• Improve circulation.
• Reduce anxiety, stress and fatigue.
• Improve mental alertness.
• Tune your mind into your body.

Here is a simple stretch you can try right now.

Crescent Stretch

• Stand with your feet parallel, about hip width apart.
• Raise arms overhead interlacing fingers (chest open, shoulders back)
• Exhale, reaching your hands to the right.
• Take 3 long slow breaths (while reaching to the right)
• Inhale, reaching your hands up, back to center.
• Exhale, reaching hands to left (3 breaths)
• Inhale, back to center
• Repeat 4-5 times
• Release arms and shake them out.

Benefits:

• Improves circulation and increases energy
• Tones, stretches and relieves tension in muscles in your arms, shoulders, chest, back and abdomen
• Limbers your spine
• Trims your waistline

Give yourself five minutes a day to practice simple yoga-based breathing and stretching exercises. Don’t be surprised when, within a few weeks, you feel more energy and less stress on the job.

Nancy Wile is a long-time yoga teacher and the founder of Yoga To Go. She has a doctorate in education and has spent many years teaching people about their health and wellness. She created the popular “Work is a Stretch” program, which people can watch from their computer, while doing the exercises from their desks. To view additional free yoga exercises that are quick, simple and effective, please visit => YogaTG.com YogaTG.com or workisastretch.com workisastretch.com

Is there something that you are so passionate about that you would do it no matter what? If so, have you ever thought about making it your life work?

I want to share with you a quote from a great Australian talent, Rolf Harris. Here is what he said:

“Someone once said to me – first identify your obsession, then make it your profession and you will never do another day’s work.”

So, let me ask you again – have you ever considered making your passion your life work? Can you make the transition? You don’t have to make a “clean cut” from what you are doing now. Do it in stages – a little bit at a time. Set some goals for yourself.

I have known people who have quit their boring day jobs because they have been earning so much money “part-time” pursuing a passion. But they didn’t do it through luck or by being idle. Nobody gets rich between 9.00am and 5.00pm.

Identify the thing that you would do even if you would never get paid for it. That is your passion. Next, take some of that useless and unproductive “TV time” and work on that passion. You will find a way to make a profit from it if you put the time in and come up with an “angle.” When passion steps in procrastination, laziness, excuses and all the other negative traits walk out the door.

Millions of people earn money from their passion. Not co-incidentally they are also the happiest and wealthiest people on the planet. Why not join their ranks? Remember, the old cliche that “Rome was not built in a day.” Conversely, “inch by inch, it’s a cinch.”

Turn your passion into a profession and you will never have to “work” again.

[If you like this article and would like to use it on your own website or ezine you may do so ONLY if the article is not changed in any way and the final paragraph: "About the author", with all links intact, is included.]

About the author: Gary Simpson is the author of eight books covering a diverse range of subjects such as self esteem, affirmations, self defense, finance and much more. His articles appear all over the web. Gary’s email address is mailto:budo@iinet.net.au budo@iinet.net.au. Click here to go to his
motivationselfesteem.com/zenspiration.html Motivation & Self Esteem for Success website where you can receive his “Zenspirational Thoughts” plus an immediate FREE copy of his highly acclaimed, life-changing e-book “The Power of Choice.”

When the things in your home start crowding in around you and you’re short on cash, it’s time to come up with some creative storage solutions. Don’t be afraid to think “out of the box”. You’re the only one who has to know where everything is stored.

- A cedar chest can be used for blanket storage. I don’t have enough cupboard space for blankets, and they all fit nicely in the chest. The chest also doubles as a coffee table in the living room. The blankets are easily accessible and can easily be folded up and put away at a moment’s notice.

- My daughter and I found an old apple crate (fruit labels still attached) with a shelf built into it at a yard sale for about $5. The crate is a great storage area for books and doubles as a nightstand.

- An old china cupboard displays dishes I didn’t want to hide away in the kitchen cupboards and also provides extra storage space for linens and silverware. This cabinet was found neglected in grandma’s basement and was brought back to life with a little sanding and new paint. It is now a beautiful addition to our dining room.

- Large plastic containers are great for organizing kids’ rooms. My daughter had a lot of “stuff” stashed all over her room, and we gathered it all up and put all her arts and crafts supplies in one big container, and her writing materials in another. Homework is organized in a plastic container set up as a file organizer, organized by subject.

- Look outside for creative storage ideas. We had to clean out our spare bedroom and had no idea where to put our camping equipment. We don’t have a garage or a shed, so an old camper shell turned out to be the perfect solution. All our camping gear fit into it with room to spare, freeing up more room in the house.

- Organize seasonal decorations in large plastic containers. Plastic wears better than cardboard and if you buy similarly sized containers, they will stack easily and be easy to store.

- A long flat underbed-type plastic storage container is great for organizing holiday gift wrap. With the wrapping paper I store scissors, tape, gift bags, ribbon, bows, and extra cards. This container fits perfectly under one of our living room couches and all my gift-giving supplies are together in one place!

- Shop for furniture that doubles as extra storage space. We bought a cabinet for my husband’s 55 gallon aquarium and the entire bottom part of the cabinet is open for approximately six feet of additional storage space.

Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom of four. For more
inspirational articles and tips for everyday living, visit her
web site at creativehomemaking.com creativehomemaking.com.

Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA) is an society of recovered and recovering methamphetamine addicts. that meet in local groups of varying sizes in order to stay clean and help others recover from methamphetamine addiction. CMA is a 12-step program of complete abstinance from methamphetamine, and all mind altering substances.

CMA uses the 24 hour Just for today I can stay clean regarding what life throw at me attitude..

Founded in West Hollywood, California, CMA now has Groups all over the world.

Their preamble

Crystal Meth Anonymous is a 12 step fellowship for those in recovery from addiction to crystal meth. There are no dues or fees for membership. Membership in crystal meth anonymous is open to anyone with a desire to stop using crystal meth.

Meetings & Fellowship
CMA’s experience has shown that one of the most effective tools to stay clean is attendance of 12 Step meetings. There is strong message of surround yourself with recovering addicts in order to stay clean.

We admitted that we were powerless over crystal meth and our lives had become unmanageable.
Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of a God of our understanding.
Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings.
Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with a God of our understanding praying only for the knowledge of God’s will for us, and the power to carry that out.
Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to crystal meth addicts, and to practice these principles in all of our affairs.

the12steps.com the12steps.com

Soldier Billy is the name I am known by in the 12 step fellowships I belong to. I am a recovering alcoholic and addict. I owe my life to the 12 step recovery program. I have been through some very tough times of late and I have not relapsed back into addiction thanks to the help of the 12 steps and some great members of the fellowships I belong to!
I have lived a tough life amd know heartache. The 12 steps has helped me to rebuild my life and find peace of mind.
see the12steps.com the12steps.com

Are you afraid to open your closet door because something may fall on your head? Is your closet so full of stuff that you can’t find what you need or worse yet, you have no idea what’s even in the closet? If so, it is definitely time to clean out your closet and get it organized.

Make sure you allow yourself enough time to complete the task. Once you get started, you don’t want to stop. Don’t let anything distract you from your task of getting the closed organized.

Now let’s get started. Take everything out of the closet one item at a time. As you take it out decide if you are going to keep it, give it away or donate it, or trash it. A good rule that I use is if I haven’t used the item in the last six months then it has to go. Keep your piles separated so that you don’t get mixed up.

Once everything is out of the closet then you can some storage units into your closet to add some space and help to keep things organized. If your closet only has a shelf and one rod to hang closes on, then it is a good idea to remove the shelf and rod and go out to your local home improvement store and buy one of those inexpensive closet storage systems. One this is installed; you will have doubled your closet space.

Now that the closet is ready, let’s get the items that you are keeping back into it. If you are using the two-shelf system now you may want to put all of your shirts on the top shelf and the pants on the bottom. I also group my items into different categories like: everyday clothes, eveningwear, and business attire.

Once you have everything inside the closet, step back and take a look at your handy work. Don’t forget to call someone to come and get the items that you are giving away or donating. And also make sure the stuff that is going into the trash actually makes it to the trash. DO NOT put it back into the closet! Enjoy your new organized closet you have earned it.

About the Author

Amy Barrett is the creator of the website: closetsystemsonline.com closetsystemsonline.com the website is a great resource for all of your storage needs and closet organization solutions. Make sure you check out the website for great tips and techniques to keep your closet organized.

Life Is Simpler Than We Think—”Yeah Right! My responsibilities at work and home are huge and there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel anytime soon,” you lament. If you think life is difficult—then it is.

Your thoughts are powerful forces in the creation of your experiences in life. “Every choice we make, every thought and feeling we have, is an act of power that has biological, environmental, social, personal and global consequences.” –Caroline Myss

You can monitor your thoughts and hear yourself in the middle of investing your energy. Are you investing energy on self-limiting thoughts? Or are you focusing your thoughts on the infinite possibilities of the present. Taking a deep breath will help you center your thoughts on being in the moment right now. Regular meditation allows you to gain mastery over your mind so that you can still your thoughts to focus on the richness of being. If you dwell on the past or the future, you will miss the experience of living in the present moment. Setting and visualizing goals is wonderful, but you can bring your thoughts into your current experience by taking steps to create them now.

Life is simple when we remember to focus our thoughts on possibilities instead of impossibilities and systematically manage tasks by approaching them one step at a time. Even the most difficult and challenging tasks are composed of numerous components, which can be easily compartmentalized and tackled one step at a time.

As you systematically focus on each step to reach a goal, you will recognize your detail-oriented capabilities have many benefits. The effort you put into your endeavors can energize you in ways you had not noticed before—this reward will prompt you to recognize your goal achievement process is truly easier than you think.

When you accept life is simpler than you think, you can move forward in confidence, prepared to face the challenges that lie ahead because you understand that a misstep or a mistake will not have a tremendously adverse effect on your progress. The thoroughness and patience you embody serve as a constant reminder that you are well prepared to walk the path before you.

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, Life Coach, Hypnotherapist, Author, “101 Great Ways To Improve Your Life.” Dr. Dorothy has the unique gift of connecting people with a broad range of profound principles that resonate in the deepest part of their being. She brings awareness to concepts not typically obvious to one’s daily thoughts and feelings. drdorothy.net drdorothy.net

Communication has less to do with actual words and more to do with preparation, follow up and body language. Physical communication (person to person in the flesh) includes many different things to consider. Voice communication is different from physical communication for obvious reasons. Written communication has certain advantages for the writer, as he/she can really think through what they are trying to convey to the reader. But preparation, follow up and body language are very much related to all of the above types of communicating.

Obviously, the more one is prepared for something, like a meeting, the more it is likely they will know what to say and when to say it. If I try to give a seminar on commercial real estate to a local real estate investors club, I could easily be asked a question and not have the answer. However, if I do not prepare at all for it, the likelihood that this will happen increases very much. Being prepared means knowing or at least attempting to know what to expect. I was never a boy scout, but I know their motto is “Be prepared.” This makes perfect sense. The more prepared you are, the more confidence you demonstrate to others.

Follow up. Follow up. Follow up! In life, the better you are at following up on things, the easier things seem. It’s funny how you can expect things to just go your way or happen as planned. Make no mistake, follow up is an important part of communication. Think about the follow up call a guy gives a girl (or vise versa), on a Tuesday, after getting the number on that past Saturday night. Sure, there is that “mandatory” waiting period, but the follow up is key to extending further communication. Without it, communication breakdown begins and before you know it, a month has passed and when you go to call the person, they don’t [or don’t want] to remember your name!

If you’re closing on a piece of real estate, you depend on many different parties to get things done. The lender, title and insurance company, inspectors, appraisers and the like, must come together to help you close the deal. Follow up is so important on your part! Making calls and sending emails to the various parties involved will only better your chances of a smooth closing. You must follow up.

Body language involves the eyes, head, body and general appearance of a person. A very intense look consists of eye contact and possibly some nodding of the head accompanied by leaning forward. Compare this to a person leaning back in their chair and yawning as you speak. Different body “tones” send different messages to the receiver. Making a point to make eye contact can go a long way in developing rapport with people. By conveying positive body language, you’re showing the receiver you are a person with motivation, confidence, and strength.

These are three basic communication tips, but they’ll go a long way toward improving your overall effectiveness. Effective communication does depend on the confidence you show but you build confidence if you develop these basic skills. Being prepared cannot be stressed enough! The more you prepare for a speech, conversation, or networking/social gathering, the more confident you will be. That is a fact!

noobdogs.com Noobdogs.com offers a place for fellow new investors in real estate to ask questions and get good, sound information they can understand. Noobdogs.com is owned and operated by AmeriCountry Realty Group LLC. Founded in 2006 by Tom McGiveron, a Behavior Specialist and entrepreneur, noobdogs.com noobdogs.com is becoming the premier site for new investors to achieve success in personal development and real estate investment.

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