10 Tips for a Simple and Peaceful Life

A simple and peaceful life starts with a peaceful mind. A turbulent mind disturbs your peace of mind; there is a sense of urgency in trying to get something beyond your reach. The way to live is to allow your mind to be at peace or rather let your mind be “empty” but focus and enjoy what you do at the moment. Here are 10 ways to enjoy a simple and peaceful life:


1. Daily exercise: I enjoy jogging and I get into a state of serenity and quietness in my mind. In addition, I can concentrate and I feel the energy in me

2. A daily peaceful moment for your mind: These daily moments can be achieved by doing Tai Chi or yoga. I do Tai Chi every morning to start a new day right. This is a form of meditation in motion. It relaxes your mind while you are doing the exercise and you think of nothing else but just the smooth and graceful movements. The result is a peaceful and energetic mind and a feeling of tranquility in you.

3. Mindful: Think not of worries and regrets but just live the moment. Pay attention to what you do and enjoy it. Train your mind to pay attention even in simple tasks like taking a shower, shaving and dressing up. Happiness is living the moment.

4. Resist the urge to have more: Don’t fill your mind with your wants for more material things. Don’t let it disturb your peace of mind. Learn to enjoy and find contentment in what you have.

5. Less paper work: One useful way is to automate your monthly payments for utility and other recurring bills. Make arrangement with your bank or credit card company to issue just one cheque to make payment for all.

6. Do only what is meaningful and important to you: Prioritize your to-do list and do only a few important tasks for the day. Avoid trying to do more is to avoid getting yourself under stress.

7. One task at a time: Don’t complicate the mind. Let it concentrate on one task at a time. Doing too many things at the same time is taxing the mind and applying pressure on yourself. Take breaks between tasks to clear clutter in your mind

8. Go slow: There is no need to rush about, just plan your work and work your plan. Reduce your speed when you are driving. Eat slowly and enjoy your food. Take your time to appreciate and marvel nature.

9. Positive emotions: The best way to have peace of mind is to think of positive thoughts such as kindness, love, forgiveness, appreciation, and thankfulness instead of anger, resentment and bitterness.

10. Sleep well: This is one powerful way to enjoy peace of mind. A good night’s sleep allows your mind to be at ease, relaxed and be zestful.


You get a feeling of well-being from a simple and peaceful life

7 Tips to Develop your Mental Concentration

When you are able to concentrate on what you do you get things done easily with fewer mistakes. You also remember things vividly when you are mindful of what you do, like studying. When you concentrate you are also observant and you can solve difficult problems squarely and meticulously. How do you develop the faculty of mental concentration? Here are the suggestions:


1. Tai Chi: It consists of 108 (the long-form) soothing, relaxing, and continuous movements. When you are doing it you have to be mindful with full concentration or else when your mind is somewhere else you will miss the next movement and you have to start all over again, Tai Chi is not only good for your health it is an effective way of training for mental concentration

2. Exercise: Exercise increases the intake of oxygen into your brain and raises dopamine levels which are essential for concentration. Regular exercise not only improves your mood but also increases the ability of your brain to concentrate

3. Do things that you are interested in: Naturally, when you are interested in something, there is no problem to concentrate. Nevertheless, it is good to have hobbies so as to maintain your concentration levels.

4. Train and discipline yourself to do tasks you dislike: Look at it positively. Challenge yourself to concentrate and accomplish the job. It is an excellent form of training to fortify your ability to concentrate.

5. Good working habits: Do take breaks between tasks to clear the clutter in your mind. Do one task at a time and work in an environment conducive to work with concentration. In your daily life be mindful no matter what you do such as combing your hair, shaving, and dressing up. This is to avoid doing things mechanically and allow your mind to wonder

6. Relax your mind: Listen to music, practice yoga, or go for a massage are some of the ways to relax and unwind. When you are relaxed your energy is restored and you get a better concentration

7. Sleep well: When you have insufficient sleep the functioning of your mind is at a discount. You are less alert, take a longer time to react and of course, your power of concentration is curtailed. In the end, your work efficiency is reduced


Improving your mental concentration will bring success and joy in your life.

7 Tips for Self Development

As a writer, I have to read widely to know what other people are writing about, their style of writing, and the way they express themselves. This is one way to learn and improve myself. With the explosion of knowledge, how do you update and develop yourself? Here are some suggestions:


1. Start a blog: A blog is for you to write articles and to showcase your area of expertise and attract like-minded people to connect with you. When you write you do research and you get to learn and know more from others

2. Further training: It is important to identify and acquire the skills and knowledge needed at your workplace so that you can move ahead. It is also important to participate in conferences, seminars, and courses to keep you up-to-date.

3. Read widely: Get to know more about your field of work by extensive reading. Read journals, articles, and magazines not relating to your trade. Learn from industries outside your area of expertise. Find out their working mechanism, the problems they face, and how they solve the problems.

4. Be Connected: Join associations relating to your profession. This is the best chance to be associated with people in the same trade and industry and exchange ideas. Join social networking sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn to connect with people with similar interests.

5. Do a SWOT analysis: Find out your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Fortify your strengths and reduce your weaknesses to boost your chances of success and watch out and prepare for the unfavorable changing situations.

6. A creative mind: Be resourceful and think of better methods of getting things done. Think: There must be a better way of getting things done.

7. A learning attitude: Learn from other departments and see how their work fits in with yours. Be curious about new knowledge and a thirst to know more. Be a well-informed person. Keep abreast of development in your field and learn new ways of doing things to increase efficiency and productivity.


According to Talmud, he who does not increase his knowledge diminishes it.

3 Areas & 15 points to Manage Your Career

To manage your career well is to manage these three important components.The three components are self care, work and working relationships with others.


Manage yourself

1. Look after your health: Health is everything. Do not take health for granted and cut short your sleep, eat junk food, smoke and drink in excess. You will pay for it later in life.

2. Hone your expertise: Keep your area of expertise up-to-date and find out what additional education, skills and training you need in order to move ahead. Do research and gather information to keep yourself well-informed.

3. Positive attitude: Appreciate your self worth. Be confident of yourself. Love yourself as what you are including your strengths and weaknesses.

4. Packaging: Dress appropriately and smartly. Give a good impression of yourself to others. Always wear a smile

5. Character building: Uphold moral values such as honesty, truthfulness and trustworthiness



Manage your work

1. Plan your work and work your plan: Always carry with you a to-day list for the day and act on a few of those tasks which are of top priorities. Do not work from task to task. Take breaks in between to clear clutter in your mind. This is to work smart and manage stress effectively. Be mindful at work and keep your personal problems at home

2. Promise to deliver and deliver as promised: Build your trusted brand at the workplace. Be under promised and over delivered.

3. Creative and resourceful: Always think of better ways of doing your work more efficiently and effectively. Be resourceful in problem solving.

4. Ability to see beyond your own department: Work in the best interest of the company and not just your own department. Corporate with other heads of department to achieve the goals of the company.

5. Responsible and accountable: Do not blame others for your mistakes. Accept a mistake gracefully and avoid repeating it.




Manage your relationships


1. Network: Identify those people you can count on in order to get things done. Build a network of influence to help you reach your goals.

2. Do the way as expected by your boss: Find out what pleases your boss and do it.

3. Communication skills: Develop yourself to express clearly, fully and precisely in writing and verbally. Cultivate the ability to understand fully and clearly messages from others.

4. Sharpen your interpersonal skills: Be tactful in your approach and understand the mood of others and act accordingly. Know when to approach and when to back off.

5. Friendly and be likeable: Be responsive to other people’s needs. Acknowledge the presence of others and listen attentively while someone is talking to you. Be empathetic and try to understand other people’s point of view.


Out of the three, the most important one is your business relationships with others. We have often heard who you know is more important than what you know. The thing is that if you carry yourself well and you are doing a good job, you add a feather in your cap by having a reliable and useful network

To be successful in life develop an impeccable self-image. .

Best Self

Once upon a time in China, Two ambassadors were sent from country A to country B. The king was pleased with their names. However, when he met up with the two ambassadors he was mad because they were short, ugly and their voices were harsh. The king from country B said,” Why can’t they send better people to my country? They must have sent these two fellows to humiliate me. I must conquer this country. “Sure enough county B sent troops to conquer and captured country A in no time. The king from country B has over-reacted but the king from country A has overlooked the importance of image.

It is important to dress well in order to please the eyes. The way you talk must be accepted by others. You must act the way others are happy to be treated.

As you know there are more and more beauty contests taking place. It is more than a beauty contest. It is about your mannerism and how well you can express yourself and how intelligent you can converse. There is a report from America saying that a person with a better image is able to attract more opportunities in high paying jobs. The income of these people is better than those with normal appearance.

You dress not only to please yourself, but it is also a way to show respect to others. When you don’t care about your self-image, how do you expect others to care and take note of you?

An experiment was carried out among some interviewees. Their appearance and ability were not much different. But there were differences in the way they dress. The experiment was to ask the opinion of a few strangers as they were passersby. Those who dressed smartly were more favored by strangers.

According to the psychologist, the first thing people notice is your appearance. When you dress smartly you are more approachable by others. In addition, a person who projects a good image is perceived to be capable in other areas as well.

Appearance is an important issue in our social life. To be successful in life develop an impeccable self-image.

Integrity in the Workplace – 7 Truthful Facts

Integrity in the Workplace

According to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. To put in simple words integrity means doing the right thing, even if nobody is watching. Why honesty is still the best policy in the workplace?

1. Truth is a truth: You can’t change a fact about something. Everyone is aware of it and you just can’t hide it.

2. Remember your lies: Telling lies is not only unethical it is cumbersome because you need to remember what you have said so that you will be consistent with your lies.

3. More lies: After telling a lie you need to tell more lies to cover the first one. The situation will get from bad to worse.

4. Trusted brand: How can you be a trusted brand when you are not honest with yourself? You may make a mistake but you can always explain it clearly and people will understand. Trying to cover up a mistake is a no-no.

5. Clear conscience: Can you sleep soundly at night because you have violated moral principles? Do you think you can conceal your wrongdoings for forever?

6. Wrong decisions not based on facts: When you are asked to give your opinion, do not tell what the boss likes to hear but disclose the hard facts so that a wise decision can be taken.


7. Nothing but the truth: In every accounting report directors are to make a statement to the effect that the financial statements are drawn up in accordance with applicable approved accounting standards so as to give a true and fair of the state of affairs of the company. And the auditors also need to state in the same report that the financial statements have been properly drawn up in accordance with the provisions of the company acts and applicable approved accounting standards so as to give a true and fair view…. The only accepted code of conduct in business is that you are, to tell the truth, and nothing but the truth.


Mark Twain says,” Truth is the most valuable thing we have, so I try to conserve it.”

Getting Will Power

Will power defeats all powers

According to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary will power is the ability to control your thoughts and actions in order to achieve what you want to do.

How do you go about developing your will power? I have the following suggestions:


1. Decide what you want to do: To be a writer, to start a blog, or to enter into the business of your own? It is better to do something that you can do and you are interested and passionate about it. Think of it as goal setting so that you can direct your energy and focus on just one thing.

2. Think of the benefits: You get fame and fortune when you are successful as a writer, blogger, or in business. You also get satisfaction and contentment out of your achievement. Benefits serve as an impetus to motivate you and fortify your will power.

3. An action plan: The next thing to do is to come up with an action plan about the steps to be taken to be a writer, blogger, or business. You have planned for the next few years and there are yearly, monthly, weekly and daily tasks to reach your goals.

4. Just do it: Do the daily tasks that are required of you every day. It is hard work, but nothing comes easy. It is also necessary to work persistently and consistently to realize your objectives.

5. Exercise daily: Your physical fitness will get rid of your inertia and direct your energy to act and carry on. Physical fitness strengthens your will power and resolves to overcome problems squarely.

6. Review: Give yourself a pat on your back for getting the daily tasks done successfully. Reviewing your accomplishment will also strengthen your will power further.


You can build a strong character by developing your will power. Once you have decided to do something you will take action right away and work on it until it is accomplished. You will concentrate on the task at hand without being distracted. You work hard every day and you make sure you are doing better than the day before. This is the beauty of will power.

Developing a Healthy Eating Habit in Your Child – 7 Things to Avoid

Nutrients are essential for energy, organ function, food utilization, and growth of cells. The six main nutrients are carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals, vitamins, and fibers. Eating the wrong kind of food and eating the wrong way will jeopardize the intake of nutrients. Here are the 7 things to avoid and to achieve an effective intake of nutrients by your child.


1. Avoid artificial coloring and preservatives: Scientists suggested that they could be causing fidgeting and a lack of attention seen in many children. Children who were given drinks with colors and preservatives, parents noted a clear increase in hyperactivity.

2. Avoid refined and processed foods: Refined foods cause us to overeat, more calories are absorbed and it is more likely to store as fat

3. Avoid junk food: Junk foods are low in nutrition and they are unhealthy. They are more likely to contain fat, sugar, and sodium. These foods will interfere with your child’s ability to eat balanced meals. Furthermore, junk foods are addictive. Scientists at Scripps Research Institute in Jupiter, Florida, studied rats fed on cheesecake, bacon, and sausages. Soon after the experiments began the animals began to bulk up and show signs of addiction.

4. Avoid soft drinks: Use unsweetened, fresh fruit instead of soft drinks. The consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks is associated with obesity, type2 diabetes, dental cavities, and low nutrient level

5. Avoid using food as a reward: You eat food when you are hungry but not as a habit. Extra calorie intake by a child will lead to obesity

6. Avoid wolfing down your food: Eating too quickly will not obtain the full nutritional value as the digestive process begins with the saliva in the mouth. Eat slowly and chew each mouthful.

7. Avoid picking on food: Your child may miss out on vital nutrients and become listless and may easily fall sick. Eating a variety of food is the key to maximize the intake of nutrients.


For your child to be in better health and become a better learner it is necessary to provide all the necessary nutrients to support healthy growth in your child.

10 C’s in Self Development for Success

Self Development

These are the key areas to develop yourself and propel you to greater height in life.


1. Create: You have to stand out in the crowd. You need to imagine and create an original identity. As an example, almost all the topics are covered on the internet. How do you write an article about an old subject? Write in an original and unique way to give an old idea a refreshing new image.

2. Connect: You may be an expert in a specific field, but it is not enough. You have to know the right people to help you along the way to success. Synergize and collaborate with relevant people to work your way to the top.

3. Communicate: A good writer knows how to put the messages across effectively in writing. To be effective, it is also equally important to express yourself clearly, precisely, and fully in spoken words. On the other hand, it is also necessary to pay full attention to understand messages from others clearly and fully.

4. Character building: It is about your reputation. It is about building yourself into a trusted brand. When you promise to deliver, you deliver as promised.

5. Courageous: Get out of the comfort zone. Try new ways of doing things. Seek further improvement. When you have expanded yourself you have also enlarged your comfort zone.

6. Charisma: Dress smartly and wear a smile. Acknowledge people you meet and be friendly. Create a style of your own that is likable.

7. Competent: Be good at what you do. You are expected to perform as expected by others

8. Curious: The thirst to know more and the urge to learn are ingredients to keep yourself up-to-date. Learn more about the latest technology so that work can be done more efficiently and effectively.

9. Compassionate: Find out what you can do for others. When you care about others, they will notice it and in turn, they will pay attention to you and find out more about what you do. Like a bank account when there is no deposit there is no withdrawal.

10. Committed: Commitment is about perseverance. Keep going on while others are giving up. There is no instant success in life. Do what you have to do constantly and consistently every day.


Can you add more C’s into this list?

Developing a Strong Business Relationship – 7 Tops Tips

As we have often been told it is not what you know is important but who you know. Specialized knowledge is important but getting to know the right people is the ticket to success. Because of our constant connection with people a network of contacts has been formed. How do you go about developing and nurturing relationships? Here are the top tips:


1. Choose the right people: Look for people who are relating to your life and work. These people are relevant to your needs. They share with you a common interest.

2. The right number: Having too many people in your network is overwhelming Get the right number which is manageable. According to experts around 10 people is just about right because you need to connect at least once a month with each person.

3. Look for quality: Identify those influential people. What these people do and say carry weight. It is good to synergize and collaborate with them to support your goals and objectives.

4. The rule of 80/20: There are only a handful of people in your group who are consistently beneficial to your needs. Find out those who are more important to you and focus your attention on these few people.

5. Constant contact: Like a knife you need to sharpen it every now and them. You don’t’ do it only when you need to. It will be too late. Just call to say hello to stay in touch.
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6. Emotional deposits: Write an email on their birthdays. Send a congratulatory message to someone who has achieved something and console the person when you know he needs it. When you go outstation remember to visit those members in your network

7. Improve your image: Be humble and friendly. Dress smartly to create a good impression. Learn more and know more because other people will be more willing to be connected with someone who is an expert.


According to Dale Carnegie, your professional knowledge accounts for only 15% of your success; the other 85% is your skill in human relationships.

How to look after your liver

One of your vital organs in your body is liver and the one major function is detoxification. Until now there is no way to replace the functioning of your liver.

According to Chinese physicians, the detoxification function of the liver is between eleven and one o’clock while you are sound asleep at night. When you go to bed late the toxins accumulated in a day will remain in the body. Now you know why it is important to sleep early.

It is also documented in old Chinese medical records that regular consumption of lingzhi or ganoderma lucidum is a good way to promote and maintain the proper functioning of your liver. According to experts in China lingzhi is able to fortify your immune system in your body

On the other hand, herbalists highly recommend milk thistle for the treatment of liver disorders. It cleanses and detoxifies an overworked liver. This herb contains silybin which exerts antioxidant and liver-protective properties. More importantly, milk thistle is able to stimulate protein synthesis to increase the production of new liver cells to replace damaged old ones.

Regular bowel movements are also important to detoxify the body and improve intestinal and liver health. You can achieve this by increasing the intake of fruits and vegetables.

A healthy lifestyle is another crucial factor to ensure good liver health. Exercise regularly, give up smoking, drink moderately, and manage your stress well.

How to Play Your Role in Life

The world is a stage and each and everyone is playing a role. You can decide the role to play. Your role is your purpose in life. It is your aspiration, your goals, and your objectives. A meaningful role is beneficial to others. It means you are contributing and serving a purpose for others

Your role is motivated by your passion for doing things you are interested in.
When you aim high you will play a bigger role. It does not matter which role you are in, it is up to you to make an impact on stage. Your role may be insignificant but it all depends on how you look at the role you play. You may be a waiter in a hotel but when you see the importance of the role you play you will look at your job enthusiastically, respectfully, and be creative to see how you can serve the guests to their fullest satisfaction. Do you think this person will be a waiter forever? He will be noticed and be given a bigger role in the hotel. One fine day he will be the manager of the hotel where he has started as a waiter. It is your attitude that determines how you look at your role. The most important thing is to play a positive role so that others will remember you and appreciate of what you have done.

With a purpose, there is hope, great expectations, and something to look forward to in life. You wake up in the morning with zest, energy, and eager to play an active role.

Life is full of happiness and fulfilling when you believe your role to be important and to serve a purpose in life.

How to Be Appreciative – 5 Top Tips

When I have a bad day and I am feeling blue, I will turn around in a thankful and appreciative way to bounce back quickly. Here are some of the things that you can think of to bring back your cheerfulness and happiness instantly. The secret is to be thankful and appreciative.


1. Health: As reported in the newspaper recently there is a diabetic man with both legs amputated. He is also suffering from kidney and chronic eye problems. Be thankful that you have perfect limbs with no illnesses. There is nothing in this world more precious than your health. When there is no health there is no job. When there is no job there is no money. Where there is no money there is no hope and no future.

2. Job: Holding a job gives you very high self-esteem. Respect your job and be appreciative that you are wanted in an organization, no matter how minor your role is in the company.

3. Relationships: There is nothing more blessed than a family living happily and harmoniously together. What is more, you can ask for from life? It is home sweet home after a hard day’s work to be with your spouse and children. Think also of your friends and relatives who have helped you in one way or another.

4. Money: You may not be wealthy but I am sure you have enough to feed the family and there is savings for a raining day no matter how small the sum of money you have got in the bank. The most important thing is that you are debt-free.

5. What have you got: Just think of all the material things in life that you are enjoying now – a roof above your head, a car, credit cards, a PC with an internet connection, regular shopping, going on a holiday once in a while… Think of someone who is homeless and sleeping on the pavement and you should be thankful to God.


When you add up all that you have got out of life you know you are living in abundance and there is nothing to be unhappy about.



This article is dedicated to Grampa Ken for change because he has inspired me to write this article.

7 Tips to Motivate Yourself

How do you keep yourself always in top gear, full of energy, and highly charged? Here are the top 7 tips:


1. Self-appreciation: Appreciate your talents and capabilities. Be confident of yourself and value your self-worth. Self-motivation starts with self-love.

2. Positive mindset: Fill your mind with positive thoughts. Think and behave cheerfully, calmly, and mindfully. Feel the energy in you.

3. Written goals: With goals, you have a sense of direction. As an example, I have a SMART goal in blogging. I want my blog to have a Traffic Rank of <1,000,000 by the end of the year. It is Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-specific. Without meaningful goals, you drift aimlessness. There is no hope, challenges, or motivation in whatever you do. When there is an objective in life there is an expectation and there is something to look forward to in life, you are excited and motivated.

4. Monitor your progress: Remember to check and review at regular intervals. As an example, I check my Traffic Rank regularly to gauge my progress. I am thrilled and motivated when my Traffic Rank goes up. You are motivated when you meet successes along the way.

5. Daily effort: In blogging, I write and post an article every day. It is about consistency and persistence. You are motivated to do the daily tasks because you get closer to your ultimate goals day by day.

6. Mix with positive thinking people: They encourage and motivate you because they are positive-minded people. Learn from their secrets of success and spur yourself to a greater height.

7. Build yourself into a trusted brand: Be good in what you do and always deliver as promised. How do you feel when you know you are trusted by others? Naturally, you are delighted and motivated to uphold your brand.


Motivate yourself before you motivate others.

ACTION- the Way to Succeed

Action means just do it. All the plans and goals in the world are useless unless you take the first step. Here are the things that you can do to take ACTION:


• Activate: To activate is to start doing something. Carry out the tasks in your to-do list of the day. Deliver what you have promised.

• Create: It means to make something happen or exist. What you can imagine, you can conceive and create. Do not postpone or procrastinate, do it now.

• Try: Make the first move, do not hesitate. If you do it you may be successful. If you don’t do it you don’t stand a chance. Try.

• Initiate: Like activate, to initiate is to begin something. You have to start somewhere to realize your goals or make an idea a reality.

• Ongoing: Once you have started, do not stop. Do not allow setbacks and problems to interrupt your progress. The most important thing is to be creative to solve problems that you encounter along the way. Ensure that your projects are ongoing so as to meet your objectives.

• Nurture: To nurture is to help something to develop and be successful. You do what you need to do every day to get closer and closer to your goals. Your persistent and consistent action is the only way to be successful.


Take action and just do it now. This is the most powerful and effective habit to achieve what you want in life.

How to Enjoy Life – 25 Delightful Tips

First of all, you don’t have to be rich and wealthy to enjoy life. Furthermore, you don’t have to go to far away places to enjoy life. If it were so there would be so many people in this world who couldn’t enjoy life.

Enjoyment is a state of mind and a positive attitude. To really enjoy life you have to slow down to live. Enjoyment is now. It is not in the past or the future, that is why it is called present. It is indeed a gift to be alive and kicking today. Here are ways to enjoy life now instead of waiting for the right time to enjoy in the future. By the way, when will it be?


1. Be happy as the way you like it: Dress the way you find yourself comfortable, Drive the car you like. Live the life that you find enjoyable. In short, do as you please as long as it is not offensive to others.

2. Learning new things: It is a delight to learn something new and useful especially it makes your life easier.

3. Keep fit and be healthy: Life is full of joy and enjoyment when you are in robust health. Everything that you do is a pleasure.

4. Have a nutritious breakfast and enjoy your meals: Eat slowly, savor each mouthful. Smell the food, taste it and feel it in your moth

5. Take a nap: To some people it is a luxury or a waste of time. To me it is not. It is one of the best things in life to enjoy a siesta in the afternoon especially on a Sunday.

6. Deep breathing: Breathe slowly and deeply to cleanse your lymphatic system. This is one way to be calm and peaceful.

7. Listen to classical music: Classical music will sooth your mind. It is the food for the mind. Let your mind be in a state of tranquility

8. Listen to old pop songs: Popular oldies will trigger your thoughts about the good time in the past. It relishes the wonderful memory about the time when you were much younger.

9. Watch your favorite stars on movie: It is yet another marvelous way to relax and enjoy life.

10. Meditate: Enjoy physical and mental well-being by doing Tai Chi or yoga.

11. Indulge: Go for a shopping spree, have a massage, immerse yourself in a warm bathtub.

12. Think happy thoughts: A good habit to follow so that you are always cheerful

13. Follow your dreams: These are your goals and your objectives. Go for it. It is a source of satisfaction and contentment in life.

14. Enjoy your favorite food and beverage; I enjoy my cup of coffee in the morning to go with a hearty breakfast. I like green tea and I enjoy eating fresh fruits. What about you?

15. Do nothing: Just be alone in a quiet place: Enjoy the peace and quietness. Sit still, think of nothing and listen.

16. Marvel nature: Watch the cloud and admire the full moon. Get up early to witness dawn and the rising sun. Observe and appreciate the blooming flowers in your garden or the pot of plants on your desk. Take a walk along the river bank and look at the fishing boats passing by.

17. Just to be at home among family members: Feel the warmth and togetherness of a harmonious life at home

18. Read an uplifting book: Read a motivational book to reinforce your positive mental attitude so that you will always look at the bright side of things

19. Celebrate your successes: At the end of a day, just look back at the things that you have accomplished. It has been a successful day. Be happy about it.

20. Be appreciative: An attitude of appreciation is a joy in itself. You appreciate what you are and what you have. You are thankful to your family, friends and co-workers

21. Happy at work: You are at the workplace almost every day. If you do not enjoy your work, you are missing a lot in life.

22. A good night’s sleep: Do you sleep well and enjoy your sleep at night? I do.

23. Don’t hold grudges: Forgive and forget. Don’t fill your mind with bitterness, anger and resentment. Life is more enjoyable when you are at peace with yourself.

24. Keep it clean and tidy: Avoid clutter at home and at the workplace. Don’t allow an untidy environment to disturb your peace of mind.

25. Take a joy ride with your family: Take a slow ride to the beach or to the countryside. On the way just enjoy the music and the passing scenery.


Be mindful and live fully today and every day. Don’t let past regrets and future worries to clutter your mind. Enjoyment and happiness are now or never.

10 Advantages of Written Goals

Goals are a wonderful tool in our life. It is the manifestation of our dreams, passion, and interests. Written goals are even more powerful because they are precise, specific, measurable, and manageable with a deadline for each task. Here are the advantages to put your goals in writing:


1. Direction: It is like a road map to follow in the journey of life. You know exactly what you have to do at each stage of your life. It is written clearly and fully to be followed and the reasons to do it.

2. Measure progress: Like a budget, you can measure variances between actual performance and planned activities. From there you will take the step to cover shortfalls and accelerate your progress in areas where you have done well

3. Hopes and expectations: You welcome each new day with zest. There are high hopes and great expectations in you. The written goals tell you that you are on the right track and nearer to your destination.

4. Meaning in life: Written goals give you a purpose in life. There is no more drifting aimlessly in life. Every day you stay focus to carry out your tasks.

5. Time table: You can see clearly your daily, weekly, and monthly tasks and the yearly plans. It is well-scheduled and well-organized to be executed smoothly.

6. Review: At regular interviews, you will examine your goals in the light of the prevailing situation and adjust accordingly.

7. Self-confidence: Getting things done at each stage of your life boosts your self-worth and self-esteem. You are very sure of yourself to tackle the tasks that lie ahead

8. Stay focus: Written goals are kept in view every day. It is a reminder of what needs to be done daily.

9. A source of motivation: I think the best thing about written goals is that you are motivated to do better and better with each passing day by looking at what you have achieved.

10. Inspiration: You are inspired to develop new goals upon successfully achieving existing goals


You get satisfaction and happiness just by looking at your written goals.

4 Pillars of Health

Apart from the air that we breathe in, the most precious thing you can have is your health. Your state of health will shape your lifestyle, your energy and your mood. The four pillars are:

• Exercise
• Balanced diet
• Sleep
• Positive emotions

Exercise

You body is like a car it is meant for movement. The more you move about the better it is. However, our modern lifestyle is geared towards convenience, automation which required little energy. It is necessary to exercise every day to maintain the flexibility, suppleness and stamina of your body. Exercise stimulate intake of fresh air and promote blood circulation. You perspire when you exercise and it purifies your system.

Balanced diet

Your body requires nutrients to strengthen your immune system and also provide the necessary energy to face the challenge of everyday life. The wrong kinds of food will weaken your immune system and you will be succumbed to sickness and disease.


Sleep

Around 8 hours of sleep is required to recharge your battery. Lack of sleep is linked to depression. An inability to concentrate, impaired decision-making and lack of motivation are some of other negative effects with insufficient sleep. Not only sleep is essential but a nap from time to time is also beneficial. New research has found that young adults who slept for 90 minutes after lunch raised their learning power, their memory apparently primed to absorb new facts.


Positive emotions

Happiness is a wonderful and delightful positive emotion you can have. In fact health and happiness go hand in hand. There is no true health without happiness. The thing is that when you are healthy you are happy and when you are happy you promote good health. There are many other positive emotions that can strengthen your health such as feeling good about yourself, appreciative of your life and contented with what you have in life. Think positively for better health.


Your health determines the quality of your life whether you are young or old. Cherish good health by observing the 4 pillar of well-being.

Getting Things Done Today – 7 Top Tips

I have the habit of cleaning my car every evening. I find that doing it on a daily basis is easier to maintain the paintwork and the interior. There is no stubborn stain because it will not stay for more than 24 hours. It only takes me about 15 minutes and the car is sparkling clean.

What I am trying to drive home a point is that when you can get something done today, don’t postpone it. The reasons are not hard to find:


1. Doing less: You are not overwhelmed by doing your work every day, instead of, say, once a week. There is less to do and things are always up- to-date.

2. While the memory is still fresh: In case you need to clarify your work with some one you get an instant and clear reply because the subject matter is only one day old and the event still can be recalled vividly.

3. When you can do it today: There is no certainty that what will befall in the following day. You may have other urgent and important issues to attend and the thing is left undone or worse still, it is forgotten.

4. There is always another day: This is a bad attitude and the fact that people are always getting thing done like paying dues at the very last day. . The result is a waste of time waiting in a long queue for your turn. It also ruins your day because other things never get done. You will be frustrated.

5. Today is the only day: You cannot do anything about yesterday and you are not sure what is going to happen tomorrow. But one thing is clear you are here and now. You have all the power in the world to get thing done. So, just do it. Go for the jog, say sorry to your friend, get the fused bulb change. Read the book you bought a month ago. Write the appreciation letter and take your children to the bookstore that you have promised long ago.

6. Be happy and enjoy today: Dale Carnegie says” One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today.” Today is the only day to be happy, not yesterday or tomorrow. Be happy at work and at home. Enjoy your meals and be delighted to be with you family.

7. Today for tomorrow: According to William Osler,” The future is today.” It echoes well with. “The future starts today, not tomorrow” as mentions by Pope John Paul II. Today is the most important day in your life.

When you live fully today it will be the yesterday that you cherish tomorrow.

How to Live a Fuller Life

When you live a purposeful life, you lead a fuller life. How do you live each day fully? Consider the following suggestions:



1. Be an early riser: Wake up early to experience the quietness and the cool air at dawn. If you have not planned for the day, it is the best time to do it. Getting up early means you have more time at your disposal and you don’t have to do things in a hurry to get yourself into a stressful situation.

2. Enjoy your breakfast: You need to regain your energy after fasting for a night. Take a nutritious breakfast to provide the energy you need to start a new day.

3. Smile: Smile at yourself in the mirror and everyone you meet. You make others and yourself happy. Happiness is from the heart. Bring happiness to others and yourself.

4. Be mindful: Just concentrate on doing what you need to do, be the focus. Don’t allow your mind to be cluttered with past regrets and future worries.

5. Work less: Prioritize your to-do list and do just a few important tasks for the day, Work smart by taking breaks and don’t work back-to-back from one task to another.

6. Self-esteem: Appreciate yourself and love yourself as what you are. Accept your strengths and weaknesses. Be happy with yourself every day.

7. Meditate: Do Yoga or Tai Chi to relax and unwind. Know how to handle stress is essential for your well-being.

8. Go slow: When you have planned your day you work accordingly and there is no need to rush about. When you eat, eat slowly to chew each mouthful to savor the food. Admire nature by looking, observing, and appreciating the blooming flowers in your garden or the pot of greenery on your desk. Let your pet cat purr away on your lap.

9. Exercise: Daily physical exercise keeps your mind fresh and alert. You feel energetic and you are ready to act.

10. Chit-chat with your family members: Catch up with your children about their activities in schools. Share your thoughts with your spouse. Talk about anything under the sun.

11. Learn something new: Be curious, be inquisitive, and behave like a child and learn something new every day to enrich your life.

12. Don’t hold grudges: Be calm, collected, and be in peace of mind. Don’t hurt yourself with bitterness, anger, and resentment. Just forgive and forget.

13. Positive emotions: One way to live with fewer regrets is to fill your mind with positive thoughts. Be cheerful, feel energetic, and work zealously.

14. Keep your promises: Every day you do your best at work and deliver what you have committed. At home, you do what you have promised your children and you also do your daily task relating to your goals. When you go to bed you know it has been a great day.

15. Pamper yourself: It has been a hard day at work. It’s time to do your favorite things. Listen to classical music to delight your mind, have a cup of ice-cream, go for a massage, or just be alone doing nothing.


Life is a journey. Make the journey a joyful and interesting one by living each day fully.

Developing High EQ in Your Child – 5 Effective Tips

According to Daniel Goleman, the author of Emotional Intelligence, who mentions in his article, What Makes a Leader? the five components of emotional intelligence at work are self-awareness, self- regulation, motivation, empathy and social skill. How do you develop emotional intelligence in your child? Here are the 5 tips:


1. The emotions of the parents: Parents are the role model for their children. When you are able to manage your emotions and display only positive moods, your children will be able to notice, follow and act accordingly. When you are moody and always using foul languages they will do the same to their friends thinking that it is the right behavior.

2. Making friends: Children are encouraged to start from young to develop relationships. Your children may face setbacks while getting along with others. He or she may be ignored; it is the duty of parents to explain to the children that when they were young they did face the same problems. This is to assure your children that it is very normal thing to happen when making connection with others.

3. Teach your child to recognize his or her emotions: When your child is between 1 to 3 years old and when he is crying, ask” Are you sad? Why are you sad?” When your child is angry ask him why. This is to directly help your child to know his mood and emotions at that particular moment. Making the child understands his own emotions will also making him understand the emotions of others. When he is among friends and he spots someone who is sad he is able to console his friend. Thus, he is developing his emotional intelligence. When your child is around three to six years old it is time to help him to manage emotions. When you child has broken something do not scold, but ask your child “What shall you do?” It is to teach your child to face a problem squarely but not emotionally.

4. Do not treat your child emotionally: When you are angry do not let it out on your child. You are sending a wrong signal to your child that when you are angry you can pick on someone smaller to release your tension. It means your child is made to understand that he can hit the cat or kick the dog at home when he is angry. Punish your child for wrong doing only.

5. Let your child feel your love: Most of the time when your child is sad just listen attentively to what he has to say. All he needs is just a little attention from you.


Parents play a very important role to shape the positive development of their child’s emotional intelligence. Promote positive emotions such as happiness and cheerfulness at home to cultivate a healthy growth emotionally in your child

5 Tips to Build Your Reputation at the Workplace

According to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, reputation is the opinion that people have about what somebody is like, based on what has happened in the past.

Reputation is about building your character so that people can trust and rely on you. How do you establish your reputation? Here are some suggestions:


1. Core values: What is important to you? I think such values like integrity, honesty, courage, fairness, reliability, empathy, responsiveness, and initiative are essential for your reputation. Your thoughts and actions are guided by your core values and in turn, it leads to who you are.

2. Distinguish between right and wrong: Do not think that it is OK to do something wrong and not getting caught. Do not ruin your characters like Chua Soi Lek or Tiger Woods.

3. Promises: Do you keep your promises to your children? It does not matter how trivial it is because you are going to form a habit and it leads to building your character and reputation. Your habit of honoring your promises will augur well at the workplace. You keep your words so that people can count on you.

4. Responsibility: Do you accept responsibility when something goes wrong or you blame others for the mistake? Reputation is about how you resolve a situation to the satisfaction of everyone.

5. Trust: This is the pillar of reputation and character building. Trust is for the long haul. It is about honoring your delivery for the first time and every time. Fulfill what is required from you without fail.


Stephen R. Covey, author of the best-seller, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, says, “While skill is certainly needed for success, it can never guarantee happiness and fulfillment. These come from developing character.”

7 Qualities of a Valued Employee

Employers are looking for people with skills and certain personality traits. Check out the following to see how you measure up:


1. Expertise: You are hired by what you do best in your area of expertise such as marketing, finance, information technology, and human resources. The boss is counting on you to deliver what is expected of you. Be good at what you do.

2. Customer-conscious: Business is about taking good care of customers. Providing the best customer services is the No.1 priority in any business. As an employee be sensitive to the needs of customers and go all the way to meet their requirements.

3. Communications skills: A vital skill in any business. The ability to express yourself clearly, precisely, and fully to your co-workers and customers is a plus point. On the other hand, can you listen carefully so that you understand the messages fully and take the necessary action accordingly?

4. Enthusiasm: The dividing line is between a couldn’t-careless attitude and taking an interest to go the extra mile to get the job done, especially to exceed the demands of your customers.

5. Teamwork: Business is an organized activity. It takes teamwork to operate seamlessly. Get to know how the work of each and every department is coordinating the business as a whole.

6. Multi-lingual: Are you proficient in more than one language? When you can speak the languages of your customers, they find you interesting and they are more inclined to deal with you.

7. Trust: Trust can only be earned and the only way to get it is to keep your promises and deliver the first time and every time. Build the trust in you by your employer and the customers,


Have you got what it takes to be a valuable employee?

Pension and Retirement

In Malaysia, The Social Security Organisation (SOCSO)’s plan to introduce pension schemes for its contributors and the self-employed has been applauded by older working adults and for those who should be enjoying the golden years instead of working. These people are forced to work because they are unable to make ends meet and they have to support their children for their higher education.

How do you look at work in relation to retirement?


Work and retirement

Nobody should retire. If you do you will be bored to death. You can’t be doing nothing to pass the time. You still can find something interesting to do and at the same time create an income stream to supplement your retirement fund. If you are still working, just carry on. If it is something that you are interested in it is even better because it is not work anymore. The most important thing is to fill your time with useful activities even if you are no longer working.


Financial review
It is also necessary to review your financial situation in order to adjust your spending pattern according to available funds. Consider sending your children to higher education locally instead of overseas. You can also sell the bigger house and live in a smaller one if your children have a family of their own and they no longer live with you. Save the extra cash for future living expenses. Trim your budget to stay financially independent


Pension fund
Invest or save pension money when it is materialized. You can also accumulate the pension fund for an annual holiday. It can also be used to supplement your monthly spending should your monthly budget be overstretched. The best thing is to treat the pension as a bonus when it comes.

10 Happiness Tips – An Appreciation of What You Have Got Out of Life

Appreciation

To be happy just take a moment to find out all that you have got out of life and you will be able to appreciate your abundance.


1. Health: Your health is your wealth. You are active and full of energy. Your mind is fresh, sharp, and focus. Thanks for your robust health.

2. Possessions: You may not be able to have all that you want in life, but you are happy to enjoy what you have – a house, a car, and other finer things in life.

3. Family: Be proud of yourself that you are a husband/wife and a father/mother living together harmoniously under one roof

4. Work: Thank God that you are keeping a job and you are passionate about what you do. You enjoy your work and you do your best

5. Self-worth: Appreciate your talents and your capabilities. Be proud of yourself that you are one of the valued employees in the company.

6. Freedom: You are debt-free and nobody is after you for money. You don’t have to run away from anyone and you enjoy the freedom of movement

7. Positive emotions: Think of gratefulness instead of hatred, cheerfulness instead of anger, zest instead of listlessness, forgiveness instead of resentment. Happiness is in your mind. Happy thoughts lead to more positive emotions

8. Relationships: Be appreciative of your friends who go through thick and thin with you. You share your ups and downs in life with them and you count on them when you needed them.

9. Environment: Be happy to live in a land, such as Malaysia, which is pollution-free, the air is clean and it is far away from natural disasters. Though it is a cosmopolitan country with different races living together. The people are tolerant of each other and live in harmony.

10. Just to be alive: Thank God that you are alive and kicking. You can live a new day the way you want to be and you can be adventurous and try out new things. There is hope to cherish. You laugh and enjoy the moment. Life is at your disposal.


Happiness is counting all your blessings and adopting an attitude of gratitude.

Image source: https://scottwesterman.com/?p=3825

10 Tips to Build Your Self-Esteem at the Workplace

According to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, self-esteem is a feeling of being happy with your own character and abilities. How do you develop self-esteem at the workplace so that you can be happy at work? Consider the following points:


1. Self-love: How do you love yourself? The simplest way is to appreciate yourself Appreciate your capabilities and talents. Loving yourself also means to accept your strengths and weaknesses. You love yourself as what you are and you value your self-worth. You don’t care a damn of what others think of you.

2. Self-confidence: Be optimistic of yourself in getting things done. Build competency in you and face challenges in life squarely

3. Appearance: It is so easy to build your self-esteem just by dressing smartly. When you look at yourself in the mirror you will feel good about yourself. Packaging yourself neatly and appropriately is to signal to others that you like and care about yourself. People will admire you.

4. Exercise and meditate: Your self-esteem can be affected by how well you handle stress. Exercise daily to boost your energy and vitality and relax by doing meditation in a quiet place.

5. A trusted brand: Promote yourself to be one of the valued staff in the company. Keep your promises and always deliver in a timely fashion. Take initiative to get things done without being told

6. Be connected: As a trusted brand, people believe in you. They accept, appreciate and respect you. At the same time you also take the trouble to identify and appreciate the contributions of the people around you. You take a keen interest in what they do.

7. Positive emotions: You act according to what you think. Positive thoughts lead to positive mental attitude and it impacts your self-esteem positively.

8. Meaningful goals. An important area to boost your self-esteem is goal setting. With goals, especially written ones, you have a sense of direction. There is a road map to follow in life. Life is fulfilling with hope, expectations and there is always something to look forward to. As you move along in life your self-confidence is boosted when you achieve successes.

9. Take action: The habit to do it now will beat inertia, inaction and avoid procrastination. The energy in you to act promptly will propel your self-esteem to the next level.

10. A balanced life: Developing self- esteem at the workplace does not mean to be a workaholic and spending more time in the office. Effectiveness in time management is to devote time equally at work and at home. The ability to take care of your career and your family demonstrates positively your competency, your self-worth and your self-esteem.


Self-esteem is a state of mind and a mental attitude that comes from within. Positive thoughts and positive actions will elevate your level of self-esteem