Don't Worry!

A man hated his wife's cat and he decided to get rid of it. He drove 20 blocks away from home and dropped the cat there. The cat was already walking up the driveway when he approached his home.

The next day, he decided to drop the cat 40 blocks away but the same thing happened. He kept increasing the number of blocks but the cat kept coming home before him.

At last he decided to drive a few miles away, turn right, then left, past the bridge, then right again and another right and so on until he reached what he thought was a perfect spot and dropped the cat there.

An hour later.... The man calls his wife at home and asked her, "Jen is the cat there?" "Yes, why do you ask?" answered the wife.

Frustrated the man said," Put that damn cat on the phone, I am lost and I need directions to reach home!!!



Moral:

" How much ever we dislike somebody, someday we will need their assistance. So never worry how many people dislike you... "

Each moment in a day...

Each moment in a day has its own value
Morning brings Hope...
Afternoon brings Faith...
Evening brings Love....
And
Night brings Rest...
Wish you find them all today.

Overcoming Social Anxiety and Shyness - 6 Facts You Need to Know

Overcoming social anxiety and shyness is often made far easier when you learn as much as you can about the condition itself. To help get you started, here are 6 facts about social anxiety.

1. Did you know that social anxiety is the most common of all the various forms of anxiety disorder? Social anxiety disorder affects more than 10 million Americans at any one time, putting it ahead of generalized anxiety disorder, which ranks second.

2. It's now firmly accepted by most experts that social anxiety is hereditary, and runs in families. There are also other factors that can contribute to the developing of social anxiety (environmental factors, upbringing, life experiences), but heredity is by far the most common shared cause.

3. Social anxiety disorder is sometimes referred to by its other name, social phobia. Social anxiety disorder and social phobia are characterized by intense fear of being in social situations, or even simply thinking about being in social situations. There is also almost always a fear of being scrutinized or of some form of negative evaluation.

4. Specific situations that are likely to produce the fear reaction in people with social anxiety are: starting or maintaining conversations with strangers, speaking in public, taking part in meetings or group conversations, and dating.

5. Most people with social anxiety disorder are diagnosed in their mid-teens. The condition, if not addressed early on, typically worsens with age, and in some cases becomes a lifelong condition.

6. When someone with social anxiety disorder experiences fear because of their condition there are several common symptoms they'll often experience: sweating, nausea, blushing, palpitations, trembling. In some situations these symptoms may progress to a full-blown panic attack.

One of the best things you can do for yourself if you suffer from social anxiety disorder is to learn all you can about it. Sometimes, this alone is enough to get you back on the path to recovery. In fact, educating yourself on your conditions is one of the most beneficial steps you can take to overcoming your social anxiety and shyness in the quickest time possible.

Since overcoming a lifelong battle with anxiety and panic disorder in 2007, Alex Taylor now devotes his time to helping others recover. He achieves this via his highly-acclaimed online course, "Beat Panic Today." You can experience the same results that many others have experienced by accessing the course right now, free of charge, by going to Alex's website: http://www.PreventYourPanic.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alex_Taylor

Online Counseling - Is it Right For You?

In an age where we are doing almost everything online (buy clothes, watch movies, meet people) we are seeing an increase of Online Counseling options. There are many reasons to opt for Online Counseling. You may be too busy to set up and travel to see your Counselor. You may not have access to your Counselor due to transportation, or perhaps there are limited Counselors in your area. You may prefer asynchronous services where you are not communicating in real-time with your Counselor, but according to your schedule.

Clearly there are plenty of good reasons to want to utilize Online Counseling. That being said, it is important to determine whether or not Online Counseling is appropriate to fit your needs. A general rule of thumb is that Online Counseling services are not appropriate if you are dealing with a serious, chronic mental illness, or if safety is an issue. Certainly, serious issues can be addressed quite well with the right Online Counselor but not at times when the face-to-face relationship is required to ensure your or others' safety or your ongoing health and well-being in light of serious illness.

Perhaps you are looking for a place to vent about your kids, your job, or your partner. Perhaps you need to talk through your options regarding your career. Maybe you are looking for stress management strategies or ways to manage your anxiety and panic. Perhaps you are out of the country experiencing some difficulties and you would like to talk to someone who shares your cultural background. Maybe you have lost something or someone dear to you and you would like to work through your feelings and plan for your future. Those are all good examples of issues that might be well served with Online Counseling.

The biggest key to successful Online Counseling is finding a Mental Health Professional who can first help determine if Online Counseling is appropriate for your needs. S/he can then work with your to develop a plan of action that will help you reach your goals for counseling. Make sure the online therapist you choose is a Licensed or Certified Mental Health Professional. Many of the Online Counseling sites out there are run by business people who are web-savvy and who would like to help. Unfortunately they are not trained to provide counseling services nor are they trained to make recommendations for you when you are in need of a different or higher level of care than they can provide.

Once you have found the Professional with whom you would like to work, determine whether s/he offers the modality of treatment that works best for you. Email, instant messaging, web cam, and phone options are out there but not offered by everyone. Realize that security (confidentiality) is limited by the online environment. Even the best Counselor cannot guarantee security above and beyond the limitations inherent on the web.

So... take the time to find the right Counselor and the right mode of service, then check out Online Counseling for yourself and enjoy the benefits of moving into the age of cyberspace for your mental health counseling needs.

There are many reasons you may not be able to take advantage of face to face counseling sessions.

Discover the alternative that can suit any of your counseling needs at: http://www.counselorscorner.net

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Deborah_Legge

How to Manage Stress in Your Work Life

Stress is a result of a series of complex reactions that occur in response to certain events and situations in your life. There are many ways of defining Stress. Some researchers categorize it either as Eustress or Distress depending on whether something changes for the better or worse respectively. It is also defined as being in a situation which is very difficult to cope with.

If you are going through a lot of stress in your career which makes it tough going, you've come to the right page. This piece will help you cope with stress.

Since there are multiple causes of stress, understandably, there are many ways to deal with it. Being aware of it isn't enough; you should also know how to manage stress. This requires a change in the way you react to it and so on. Let's see how to go about that.

Beware of stressors: Determine the causes of stress and don't ignore them. Observe the events that bring stress to your work life. Try to figure out the meaning of such events. Also, analyze your reaction towards such circumstances; do you get panicky or physically upset?

Take heed of your reactions: If you really want to know how to manage stress, you'll have to take cognizance of those reactions we talked about earlier. Stress is generated by your perception of danger, either physical or emotional. Take an objective look at the cause as well as your response to it. Recognizing the situation for what it's worth will reduce the intensity of your reactions.

Be reasonable:
• Don't take a difficult situation and make a disaster out of it.
• Bear in mind that it's impossible to please everyone; hence don't make an effort to do so.
• Never exaggerate and view things as extremely critical. Remember, it is not necessary for you to succeed in every situation.
• Keep the analytical quotient high and the emotional quotient low at work. Keep sentiment at bay.
• Think of stress as something you can handle rather than something that overpowers you.
• Maintain a positive outlook and steer clear of "What Ifs".

Maintain both reserves: We are talking about physical as well as emotional reserves. Intersperse some free time with your work. Don't make your work monotonous, and take reasonable breaks wherever possible. Learn to like your work, failing which, find work in a field that is to your liking. Also, developing a friendly attitude towards co-workers will generate a self of well-being.

While undesirable stress has a weakening effect on your body and emotions, "good" stress can be harnessed to improve efficiency. Stress can influence you positively by inducing you to exploit your strengths and achieve goals. Stress can also exhort you to enhance your knowledge and perception at work. But as a negative influence, it will result in feelings of doubt, refusal, anger and depression. These will ultimately have an impact on you and your work.

While you should know how to manage stress, remember, there is no way you can totally eliminate it. Too much of it will butcher you. At the same time, a complete absence of stress can be totally de-motivating. Hence, you need to find the optimal level of stress which can spur you on, not drag you down. Modules like "The Stress Management Masterclass" can teach you how to manage stress at work. You could also download the Stress Management Training program.

Hi, I'm Akhil Shahani, a serial entrepreneur who wants to help you succeed. If you like to work smart, check out http://www.SmartEntrepreneur.net It's full of articles and resources to help you start and grow your business successfully. Please visit us & download our special "Freebie of The Month" at http://www.smartentrepreneur.net/freebie-of-the-month.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Akhil_Shahani

Creative Thinking - Food For Thought!

Most of us would brush aside creativity as a special talent, a gift possessed by a chosen few. Whether it's the field of advertising, art, music or any other, those who "have it" get paid handsomely by those who don't. But if you can't show 'em the money, what do you do? Simple, do it yourself! Sounds hard? We assure you it's far from that! We all think everyday; our minds are working every second; we just need to improve the technique. With a little help from us you could be churning out ideas in no time!

The so called "inherent inability to be creative" is often nothing more than a mind block which can be overcome with a small twist in the way you think. Take a look at the following:

Brainstorming: Pretty much everyone has heard of this creative thinking technique. Brainstorming works best with a fairly large group of people; larger the group, bigger the number of ideas thrown around. Be willing to entertain any idea, even the most absurd. Improvise on the seemingly impossible ideas to see if they can be turned into realistic solutions. Try and get everyone to think outside the box and you will be surprised at what comes out of it!

Just do it (with apologies to Nike): Another tried and tested mechanism is to experiment with possibilities. If you have a new idea that seems impractical, don't stop there. Go on and try it out!! Failures are the stepping stones to success; who knows... your mistake might prove to be your best idea. Edison came up with the electric lamp only after making his own share of expensive mistakes!

Digging into the past: Improvising on an existing setup could benefit from an analysis of the past. Get to the bottom of things to figure out what changes are required. For example, ask yourself what the original purpose was, how it came about, its current significance and reputation. Creative thinking becomes easier when you have a clear perspective on how things are and why they need to be amended.

Playing detective: Asking questions like who, when, where, why, what and how can help you get a clear direction of what you need to do. Coming up with a new product or application could be simplified considerably if one follows this simple rule. Jot your response to each down, so you can draw inferences later. Following this pattern will help you narrow the focus of your creativity.

Dealing with your demons: A mental block, preconceived notions, narrow mindedness; the list of threats to creative thinking is never ending. Solving them, however, requires no more than a willingness to adapt. Let go of inhibitions; don't let 'reality' tie you down. Think freely; work with even near to impossible ideas. Once in the right frame of mind, you will be able to channel your thoughts whichever way you desire. "Boost Your Creativity: Exercises and Advice for Great Creative Thinking", by Robert Allen, available at amazon.com suggests some interesting exercises to overcome your creative thinking challenges.

"Thinkertoys: A Handbook of Creative Thinking Techniques" by Michael Michalko, also contains ideas on ways to boost your creative thinking abilities. You could also visit mindtools.com to learn more about creative thinking tools. Challenge conventions a lot more; if something bothers you, learn to question it rather than accept it as a norm. Isaac Newton questioned something insignificant to discover gravity. Try not to complicate things; the best ideas are often the simplest. So put your thinking caps on and get to work!



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Akhil_Shahani

Motivate Yourself With One Great Word Or One Great Sentence

Words have the power to motivate humans to take action. Sometimes just one word or one sentence can be enough to inspire massive action. Such words are worth thinking about every single day and can make a huge difference to our lives. This article takes a look at one such word.

In the Australian soap opera, 'Neighbors', a young man in a wheelchair talks to a teenage girl who is unable to walk after being hit by a car. She is feeling very sorry for herself and is not even attempting to help herself recover. He tells her:

"I know I will never get out of this wheel chair but you can get back to normal."

"Maybe!"

"'Maybe' should be enough!"

'Maybe' is a magic word that is worth thinking about in connection with all our goals. 'Maybe' suggests the possibility of success. Just the possibility should be enough to motivate us to try with all our energy, enthusiasm and determination.

Maybe we will be able to walk again if we do the exercises designed to help us to rebuild our walking muscles. Maybe we will lose weight if we eat less sugar. Maybe we will become stronger if we do ten or more push ups every day.

Maybe we won't be able to walk; maybe we won't lose weight; maybe we will remain physically weak. However, if we really try hard there is a good chance that we will achieve our goals. The possibility of success should be enough.

Even if we fail in everything we try, we will, at the very least, become mentally strong. By carrying out our plans we will already have achieved the most important kind of success whatever the results.

The word 'maybe' can inspire us to think of all the great possibilities that face all humans while they are still alive. Maybe we could help those around us to live much happier lives if, like King Arthur's knights, we do at least one good deed a day.

Maybe we could bring peace to the world by using persuasive words rather than violence. Einstein once said:

"Nothing that I can do will change the structure of the universe. But maybe, by raising my voice, I can help the greatest of all causes - goodwill among men and peace on earth."

Maybe we could make a million if we follow the advice of those who have already made a million. Many millionaires are simply ordinary people who believed that they might be able to reach a million. They followed their 'maybe' and achieved their goal.

Milton Berle, the great American comedian, knew the value of the word 'maybe':

"I'd rather be a could-be if I cannot be an are; because a could-be is a maybe who is reaching for a star. I'd rather be a has-been than a might-have-been, by far; for a might have-been has never been, but a has was once an are."

We could all be 'maybes' reaching for a star. Maybe we will reach our goals and achieve our dreams and maybe we won't but the possibility of reaching our goals should be enough to make us try.

In the words of the Australian man in 'Neighbors': "Maybe should be enough!"

Motivation should not have to come from the certainty of success. The possibility of success should be enough. 'Maybe' should be enough!

If you are not working at something because you think you will fail, give it a go anyway. Maybe you will succeed and 'maybe' should be enough. Maybe you will write a book that will entertain or educate many people. Maybe you will benefit greatly from attending that seminar or reading that book.

'Maybe', then, can be a magic lamp that will bring us the results we long for. The sentence: "Maybe should be enough" can be the magic carpet that will fly us to the land of our dreams.

The girl in the soap opera took the advice given her by the young man and gradually recovered the ability to walk.

Today is the fifth day of the first cricket test match in 2008 between England and South Africa. England dominated the first three days but South Africa fought back magnificently on the fourth day. Maybe the South Africans will survive one day in the field and force a draw. Maybe England will get an early wicket and force a win. Ian Botham, the great England all rounder, used the 'maybe' word in describing the situation this morning.

Maybe South Africa will perform a great escape and draw the match. Maybe England will win. However, you can be sure that the chance of a draw or a win will be enough to make both teams play their hearts out during the day. If interested, you will be able to read about the result on the net tonight. Just Google "England v South Africa Test Match."

If you are not already the kind of successful person you want to be, decide today to be a 'maybe who is reaching for a star!' There is a good chance you will reach the star. Even if you don't, you may reach the moon on the way. You will certainly reach a higher level of self-esteem and competence.

Maybe you will find that reading the '36 Laws' by John Watson will help you to achieve your dreams. The book is full of quotations, stories and acronyms that could inspire you to make the most of your own huge potential. Check it out at http://www.motivationtoday.com/36_laws.php

Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine or on your site but please include the resource box above.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Watson