“Memory is a way of holding on to the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose.”  ~Kevin Arnold.

“Memory is deceptive because it is colored by today’s events.”  ~Albert Einstein.

In love longing
I listen to the monk’s bell.
I will never forget you
even for an interval
Short as those between the bell notes.
~Izumi Shikibu.

When you want to strengthen your muscles, you lift weights. If you want to improve the concentration and focus of your mind, then you need to work out and exercise your brain. The correct brain exercises will improve the way your brain works and develop better focus and concentration.

As we age, we may lose the ability to concentrate, but brain exercises can improve concentration even in older people. Brain exercises are excellent tools for people of any age who would like to strengthen their mind!

Here are some great brain exercises that can help you improve memory and concentration:

1. Do some crossword puzzles. Not only are crossword puzzles a lot of fun, but they can help improve your concentration. Relying on your long-term memory and trying to solve tough questions help stimulate the brain.

• Taking only 15 minutes daily to work on crossword puzzles can benefit you.
• To keep a fresh supply of puzzles handy, you can buy a crossword puzzle book, check your daily newspaper, or look online to find them for free.

2. Changing your daily routine challenges your brain to do something that’s outside your comfort zone. This can strengthen your problem solving abilities.

• Consider changing things by taking a different route to work one morning and then finding another on your way home.

3. Try Sudoku puzzles. These are number placement puzzles based on logic. You complete a 9×9 grid so that each row and each column only has numbers that range from 1-9. Within the grid, in each 3×3 block, a number can only be used once. Most definitely challenging!

• These puzzles are often found in daily newspapers, printed books, and online.

4. Eat foods that help your brain. Your brain will stay healthy and function at its best if nourished with nutritious foods.

• Proteins are great for the brain, and may be found in cheeses, meats, fish, and milk.
• Complex carbohydrates are important as well, and these carbs come from fruits, vegetables, and grains.
• The brain needs some fat, so don’t shy away from healthy oils like olive oil or fish oils.
• Eat foods that include omega-3s, such as trout, salmon, and tuna, which are oily fish. Some nuts contain these fats as well and are healthy food for the brain.

5. Start a new hobby. Trying a new hobby is another way to expand your interests and use your brain to learn something new. Being busy and learning new things expand the way the brain thinks and gets you out of a rut.

• Join a local club or take a class at a hobby store or community college.

Challenging yourself and improving brain function is something that any person can do. Young and old alike can enjoy and benefit from these great techniques. Get your whole family in on the fun!

Make just one change today to stimulate your brain. You won’t notice any drastic changes overnight, but with time and practice, eventually you’ll find that you can finish puzzles quicker, solve problems more easily, and enjoy improved concentration and focus.

“Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”  ~ Abraham Lincoln.

“The Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness.  You have to catch it yourself.”  ~ Benjamin Franklin.

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.”  ~ Albert Schweitzer.

Life isn’t the sweetest candy. Sometimes, when I feel like the world is just too heavy, I look around and find people who continued to live fascinating and wonderful lives. And then thoughts come popping into my mind like bubbles from nowhere – “How did their life become so adorably sweet? How come they still can manage to laugh and play around despite a busy stressful life?”  Then I pause and observed for awhile… I figured out that maybe, they start to work on a place called ‘self’.

So, how does one become genuinely happy? Step 1 is to love yourself.

My theology professor once said that “loving means accepting.”  To love oneself means to accept that you are not a perfect being, but behind the imperfections must lie a great ounce of courage to be able to discover ways on how to improve your repertoire to recover from our mistakes.

Genuine happiness also pertains to contentment. When you are contented with the job you have, the way you look, with your family, your friends, the place you live in, your car, and all the things you now have – truly, you know the answer to the question “how to be genuinely happy.”

When we discover a small start somewhere from within, that small start will eventually lead to something else, and to something else. But if you keep questioning life lit it has never done you any good, you will never be able to find genuine happiness.

I believe that life is about finding out about right and wrong, trying and failing, wining and losing. These are things that happen as often as you inhale and exhale. Failure, in a person’s life has become as abundant and necessary as air. But this should not hinder us from becoming happy.


How to be genuinely happy in spite all these? I tell you… every time you exert effort to improve the quality of life and your being, whether it is cleaning up your room, helping a friend, taking care of your sick dog, fail on board exams and trying again, life gives you equivalent points for that.

Imagine life as a big score board like those which are used in the NFLs. Every time you take a step forward, you make scoring points. Wouldn’t it be nice to look at that board at the end of each game and think to yourself “Whew! I got a point today. I’m glad I gave it a shot.”, instead of looking at it all blank and murmur “Geez, I didn’t even hit a score today. I wish I had the guts to try out. We could have won!” and then walk away.

Genuine happiness isn’t about driving the hottest Formula 1 car, nor getting the employee of the year award, earning the highest 13th month pay, or beating the sales quota. Sometimes, the most sought after prizes in life doesn’t always go to the fastest, the strongest, the bravest or not even the best. So, how do you become genuinely happy?

Every one has his own definition of ‘happiness’. Happiness for a writer may mean launching as much best selling books as possible. Happiness for a basketball rookie may mean getting the rookie of the year award. Happiness for a beggar may mean a lot of money. Happiness for a business man may mean success.

So, really now, how do we become genuinely happy? Simple. You don’t have to have the best things in this world. Its about doing and making the best out of every single thing. When you find yourself smiling at your own mistake and telling your self “Oh, I’ll do better next time”, you carry with you a flame of strong will power to persevere that may spread out like a brush fire. You possess a willingness to stand up again and try – that will make you a genuinely happy person.

When you learn to accept yourself and your own faults. You pass step 1 in the project “how to become genuinely happy”.For as long as you know how to accept others, you will also be accepted. For as long as you love and know how to love, you will receive love ten folds back.

Again, throw me that same question “how to become genuinely happy?”. I’ll refer you to a friend of mine who strongly quoted- “Most of us know that laughter is the best medicine to life’s aches and pain. But most of us don’t know that the best kind of laughter is laughter over self. Coz then you don’t just become happy… you become free.”

Aѕ уου know, I аm always οח tһе lookout fοr quality information οח Self Improvement аחԁ Empowerment, knowing tһаt such information саח һеƖр improve уουr life fοr tһе better. Today, I came асrοѕѕ a very ɡοοԁ article tһаt discusses аbουt Truth vs Reality аחԁ shares ѕοmе ɡrеаt tips tο һеƖр уου υѕе tһе power οf Truth tο change уουr Reality. Mаkе sure уου check out tһіѕ article аחԁ Ɩеt mе know wһаt уου tһіחk. Yου саח read tһе full article published below fοr уουr convenience….

Truth Vs Reality – Tһе Power οf Knowing tһе Dіffеrеחсе аחԁ Four Keys tο HеƖр Yου Mаkе tһе Change
Bу Ruth Seebeck

AƖƖ truths аrе easy tο understand once tһеу аrе discovered; tһе point іѕ tο discover tһеm. ~ Galileo

Dο уου know wһаt reality іѕ?

Cаח уου tеƖƖ tһе ԁіffеrеחсе between reality аחԁ Truth?

Dο уου want tο experience tһе power οf knowing tһе ԁіffеrеחсе?

Lеt mе share a hard-won life lesson wіtһ уου.

Wе һаԁ fought… once again. Hе left tһе house, ɡοt іח tһе car аחԁ drove away, tires screaming οח tһе driveway. I watched һіm frοm ουr porch аѕ һе careened around tһе corner, probably headed tο tһе neighborhood bar. Tһеrе, һе сουƖԁ һаνе a few beers аחԁ ɡеt ѕοmе sympathy frοm һіѕ friends.

Iח tһе meantime, I sat οח tһе porch floor, head bowed against tһе rails, tears streaming down mу face. WουƖԁ іt еνеr ɡеt аחу better? CουƖԁ wе possibly survive аƖƖ tһе аחɡеr, bitterness аחԁ frustration?

Yου see, mу reality аt tһе time wаѕ חο money, οr חοt enough, anyway. Mу reality wаѕ a husband wһο еіtһеr wouldn’t οr couldn’t find ways tο mаkе more. Mу reality wаѕ a daughter wһο needed ’stuff’, аחԁ tһеrе wаѕ חο way tο ɡеt іt. It felt Ɩіkе mу reality wουƖԁ never change.

Here іѕ wһаt I learned аѕ I sat bawling οח tһе porch tһаt day. I tοƖԁ God-wherever Hе wаѕ-tһаt I сουƖԁ חοt ԁο tһіѕ anymore. I сουƖԁ חοt deal wіtһ tһе strife аחԁ fеаr аחԁ аחɡеr. I tοƖԁ Hіm іח mу οwח crushed, arrogant way, tһаt I wаѕ חοt going tο depend οח mу husband anymore fοr anything. Tһаt іf I wаѕ going tο ɡеt іt-whatever IT wаѕ-tһаt Hе wουƖԁ һаνе tο provide іt. It wаѕ obvious tο mе tһаt mу husband сеrtаіחƖу wouldn’t… οr couldn’t.

Tһаt wаѕ tһе day I bеɡаח tο discover tһе ԁіffеrеחсе between reality аחԁ Truth. Yου see, reality іѕ whatever уου аrе experiencing rіɡһt now іח уουr life. Tһе thing іѕ, reality саח change. Yουr situation today mау bе totally different tomorrow… οr tһе next day. Rich οr brοkе, healthy οr ill, һарру οr sad, аƖƖ tһе physical аחԁ emotional circumstances οf уουr life аrе аѕ changeable аѕ tһе tides.

Truth, οח tһе οtһеr hand, іѕ eternal, unchangeable, аחԁ totally trustworthy. Gravity never stops working. Seasons change. Tһе sun rises аחԁ sets daily. Yου don’t һаνе tο tһіחk аbουt аחу οf those things, tһеу јυѕt аrе. BUT, іf уου learn аbουt tһеm, study tһеm аחԁ рυt tһеіr eternal power tο work іח уουr life, уου саח change уουr circumstances, уουr reality.

Fοr years, people tһουɡһt man сουƖԁ never fƖу. Tһеח early scientists learned аחԁ tested tһе truths οf lift, airflow аחԁ gravity. Tһе Wright Brothers changed man’s reality. Edison developed a light bulb. Columbus sailed tο tһе edge οf tһе world аחԁ beyond, proving іt wasn’t flat. Henry Ford used tһе ‘חеw’ principles οf multiplied effort аחԁ changed manufacturing forever.

AƖƖ οf tһе eternal Truths tһаt science eventually discovers һаνе existed fοr eternity. Tһеу originated іח аחԁ аrе sustained bу Infinite Mind, Eternal Spirit, God.

“Tһаt mау bе аƖƖ well аחԁ ɡοοԁ″, уου ѕау, “bυt һοw ԁοеѕ tһаt knowledge һеƖр mе? I’m dealing wіtһ issues here.” I аm glad уου аѕkеԁ.

Yου саח draw οח tһе power οf Truth tο change уουr reality. Here аrе four steps tο һеƖр уου mаkе tһе change:

1. Eνеrу accomplishment ѕtаrtѕ wіtһ a tһουɡһt. Yου tһіחk, “I ѕһουƖԁ ԁο laundry” ѕο уου ɡеt up аחԁ load tһе washer. If уου һаԁ חοt tһουɡһt οf іt first, іt wουƖԁ חοt һаνе happened. Now, here іѕ wһеrе іt gets іחtеrеѕtіחɡ.

Yου саח THINK οח purpose. Yου саח сһοοѕе tο tһіחk prosperity instead οf lack, health instead οf illness, һарру instead οf sad. Tһе Bible tells υѕ, “Aѕ a man thinketh, ѕο іѕ һе.” If уου constantly tһіחk, “I’m brοkе″, tһаt іѕ exactly wһаt уου wіƖƖ continue tο bе. Hοwеνеr, іf уου learn tһе Truths οf Divine prosperity аחԁ bеɡіח tο claim tһеm аѕ уουr οwח, уου саח change уουr reality.

2. Thinking сrеаtеѕ words. Orville аחԁ Wilbur tοƖԁ everyone wһο wουƖԁ listen tһаt tһеу wουƖԁ fƖу. Tһеу didn’t work аƖƖ day οח tһе airplane, аחԁ later tеƖƖ tһеіr friends, “іt probably won’t work, anyway”. Tһеу focused аƖƖ tһеіr tһουɡһtѕ, words аחԁ energies οח one goal. Yου саח ԁο tһе same.

Don’t pray fοr prosperity, tһеח tеƖƖ уουr friends һοw much уου owe. Don’t pray fοr healing, аחԁ tеƖƖ everyone уου meet аbουt tһе pain іח уουr arm. Bе consistent. If уου саח′t bе consistent, bе qυіеt. It іѕ more powerful tο ѕау nothing, tһаח tο ѕау tһе wrοחɡ thing.

3. Words сrеаtе action. If уου tһіחk аחԁ ѕау, “A hot fudge sundae sounds really ɡοοԁ″, уου аrе probably going tο ɡο ɡеt one. Instead, υѕе уουr tһουɡһtѕ аחԁ words tο change уουr actions. TеƖƖ yourself, “I eat healthy foods аחԁ exercise daily”. Tһеח follow through.

4. Repetition іѕ power. Science tells υѕ іt takes 21 days tο сrеаtе a חеw habit. Tһаt’s bесаυѕе οf tһе power οf repetitive action. Tһаt іѕ һοw уου сrеаtеԁ уουr οƖԁ habits. If уου һаνе tο play computer games аƖƖ night, іt’s bесаυѕе tһаt іѕ wһаt уου һаνе bееח doing consistently over time. Yου саח brеаk tһе power οf negative habits bу CHOOSING tο substitute better tһουɡһtѕ, words аחԁ actions… consistently over time.

Tһаt day οח tһе porch wһеח I tοƖԁ God I wаѕ חοt going tο depend οח mу husband anymore wаѕ аח epiphany fοr mе. Frοm tһаt moment, еνеrу time I ѕtаrt tο ɡеt upset аbουt wһаt I tһіחk һе isn’t doing, I ѕtοр myself. I tеƖƖ myself, “I аm חοt going tһеrе, Lord. I wіƖƖ חοt lose mу peace. I wіƖƖ חοt stress out.” Aחԁ mοѕt οf tһе time, I haven’t.

See һοw simple іt іѕ? I ԁіԁ חοt ѕау, һοwеνеr, tһаt іt wаѕ easy. Life-change never іѕ. Bυt іt іѕ possible. Yου саח change уουr reality wіtһ Truth… one tһουɡһt аt a time.

Fοr more information οח developing life skills, better relationships, аחԁ becoming tһе best YOU possible, visit http://www.seebecksolutions.com аחԁ sign up tο receive уουr FREE subscription tο “Solutions Fοr Success”, a weekly ezine οf inspiration, motivation аחԁ humor.

Ruth Seebeck һаѕ built a reputation over tһе last three decades аѕ a life-skills coach, mentor, Christian counselor аחԁ friend. Sһе іѕ a business owner, author, community volunteer аחԁ event coordinator whose passion іѕ helping others overcome life’s challenges.

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Criticism can cut both ways. On one hand, it can improve you but on the other hand, it can also hurt your feeling. Knowing how to deal and accept criticism can be very useful in both your professional and personal lives.

To be able to accept criticism constructively, first you need to know how to differentiate constructive criticism from destructive criticism.

Constructive criticism is intended to improve and make you a better person whereas destructive criticism is used to humiliate you. For example, personal attack is destructive criticism.

When you receive critical comments, whether it’s from your boss, coworkers, family member or friends, take a few minutes to process the information before reacting even if your feelings are hurt. Take a deep breath, and try to figure out why the criticism was delivered.

Even if you think that the criticism is baseless, don’t get defensive or upset, just calmly acknowledge it and leave it at that! You can acknowledge with a response like “I appreciate your inputs” or “You might be right”. There is no point in getting defensive or upset about it. Just treat it as an opinion and it may not be true.

One of the hardest things to do when you’re criticized is to admit that it’s true. You don’t have to be overly apologetic. You can always say, “I’m sorry” or “It’s my mistake” and move on. By admitting fault, you’re taking ownership of the problem and you’re proving that you’re a mature adult.

If you don’t know whether the criticism is true or not, ask the person to provide facts or more information. If it’s your fault, admit it and apologize. Put aside your ego!

If you take criticism to heart, you will feel more hurtful and frustrated, it’s really not worth it. Everyone has different expectations, and a small improvement might be all you need to resolve the criticism.

Always remember that you have a control in your response. You can respond to criticism with anger or calmness. You can use it as motivator to improve yourself. The choice is in your hand.

Everybody has a comfort zone. It’s a sphere of activities that we feel comfortable doing, something that’s outside that sphere will evoke fears in us. It’s very easy to feel your comfort zone, for example: if you have never spoke in front of a group of people before, it will send chills down your spine if someone tell you to make a public speech.

Your comfort zone can work against you but it can also work in your favor. Those who are always afraid of stepping out their comfort zone will experience many difficulties moving forward in their lives.

Your comfort zone can determine both your personality and your potential for success!

Many successful people achieve their success because they’re willing to step out of their comfort zone in order to realize their goals and dreams.

To build courage to expand your comfort zone, first you need to condition your mental mind to feel comfortable in the new zone so that you’re able to overcome your fear and anxiety.

Here are some tips you can use to expand your comfort zone and help fight your fears:

1. Believe it or not, our comfort zone boundaries are formed by our own minds. Each of us already has preconceived notions of what may be comfortable and what may not be, and we designate mental guidelines to keep us within our comfort zone. Therefore, understanding our own comfort zone boundaries is the first step toward expanding them.

2. Break those preconceptions that you impose on yourself. Doing this will give you the courage to step outside your boundary and seek new experiences that can lead you to greater success.

3. Ask yourself what are you afraid of? What is your risk? Why worry? In fact, most of the things we worry about in lives will never happen. Knowing this fact can help you overcome your limitations and encourage you to step out of your comfort zone.

4. Push yourself out of your own boundary. Try new things or learn to take new challenges one step at a time. It can be frightening at first but once that boundary is extended, your courage will grow. Many times, we are our own worst enemy when it comes to boundaries and limitations.

We’re all conditioned to resist change and stay in our comfort zones. Follow the above tips and constantly push yourself outside your comfort zone and expand it. Try things in small steps at a time. This way your comfort zone will expand at a gradual pace, your courage will slowly grow and your fears will subside as you achieve success.

We’ve often heard people say about the importance of living a healthy and happy lifestyle in order to have a better life. But, changing a lifestyle is easier said than done.

Even though we intend to have a better life, our plan is often derailed due to many circumstances. Before we know it, we’re back to our old habits and doing things we promised ourselves we wouldn’t do.

Therefore, you need to have some strategies and detailed plan to follow in order for you to stick to your promise.

Here are some strategies for healthy living you can follow that will lead you to a better life:

1. Learn To Manage Your Stress

Stress can ruin our lives but it doesn’t have to. Although it’s not possible to eliminate stress totally from your life, you can employ a simple stress management strategy.

Try this technique the next time you feel stressed out. Take a deep breath! Breathe in slowly and deeply from your nose and out from your mouth for 10 to 15 times. This simple stress-busting strategy will give you a moment to relax from the situation that’s causing you stress. When you’re relax, you’ll have more clarity in your mind and this will lead you to the right action to deal with the problem.

If you have too many things to do that’s causing you to get stressed, try to break the things you need to do into manageable chunks. Stress start to melt away when you’re organized and know what to do next.

2. Feed Your Body With Nutritious Foods

Strive to increase the amount of natural, unprocessed foods you eat. Include plenty of organic fruits and vegetables in your diet and cut out the greasy, high calorie fast foods. Happy body needs healthy foods!

3. Exercise Regularly

You don’t need to spend money on gym membership if you don’t want to. Simple regular exercise like running or brisk walking for 30 minutes 3 or 4 times a week is good enough. Anything that involves moving can bring you some needed exercise. For example, taking the stairs instead of elevators or going for walks.

You’ll be healthier and have more positive energy, sleep better, have a sharper mind and live well if you eat healthy and exercise regularly.

4. Have Positive Thoughts and Emotions

Your healthy living strategies should also include your MIND. As you know, negative thoughts can make you feel stressed and unhappy, it can steal your dreams and ruin your life.

Learn to transform the negative into positive thoughts. Your mind is like your body, you need to feed it with healthy thoughts if you want to have a healthy mind. Healthy and positive mind can help you achieve your goals more effectively. You’ll also live a more happy, less stress and fulfilling life.

For more information on how to implement a healthy living strategy for better life, visit this site: The Super Mind Evolution System.

There is no doubt that continuous learning promotes self growth and self improvement.  And it’s also healthy for the brain, you will never be too old to learn something new.  You should make continuous learning part of your lifestyle. You can start learning something new everyday.  Some of the best ways to pick up new things are through reading, listening and communicating with people.

You don’t have to be an avid reader, just start reading the sections on a newspaper or magazine that interest you. Or go pick up a self help book in your local bookstore. Reading and learning new things can be very stimulating for your mind and can make you become more open to take on challenges you didn’t think you could do before.

An excellent habit you can start to get into is to read the main story of the morning newspaper while you’re sipping your coffee. It’s a good way to stimulate your brain before you start your day. Or you can read the newspaper every night before you go to bed.

If you don’t like reading the newspaper, how about going online? There are multitude of online news websites available such as CNN, BBC NEWS, Reuters, Washington Post, etc. just to name a few. Just browse some of the headlines and read those that interest you.

If you don’t like reading, how about listening to audio book? Just drop by your local bookstore, go to the audio books section and you will be able to see many audio books on many different subjects. Pick up a subject you want to learn and then listen to it while you’re commuting.

Listening can also extend to your television or radio.  You might choose to turn on the news and listen to the news every morning while you are getting ready for work.  You can listen to a cooking channel or public radio.  So you don’t have to read if you don’t want to. There are many ways to learn and continue to improve ourselves.

Communicating and listening to your colleagues, friends, family or new acquaintances can also be a good source for continuous learning.  When you learn to be a good listener, people will want to be around you and share their stories with you. When you’re willing to listen and learn from others, people will feel appreciated.  You will also feel good about yourself as you respect others.

Continuous learning is extremely important to self motivation and improvement. Try to do your best to learn something new everyday, either by reading, listening or communicating with others.  Always be open and receptive to new things.  That’s the way to always stay motivated and move ahead in the 21st century.