20 Warning Signs that You May Have Serious Health Problems

When you are fit and healthy you are alert and energetic. You sleep well at night and your appetite is good. There are no aches and pains. However, it is wise to seek consultation if you have the following warning signs. According to medical experts, it could be one of the critical illnesses.

1.       Getting  tired easily

2.       Out of breath easily when climbing stairs

3.       Obese with a protruding stomach

4.       Lethargic  and move around slowly

5.       Always thirsty

6.       Headaches

7.       Sudden chest pain

8.       Dizziness

9.       Unusual bleeding

10.   A sore that does not heal

11.   Persistent cough

12.   Lump in breast

13.   Blurred vision

14.   Difficulty in swallowing

15.   Vomiting

16.   Losing weight when you are not trying to

17.   Memory loss

18.   Excessive urination

19.   Decreased appetite

20.   Sudden body numbness

The 4 causes of illness,  according to   Kevin Trudeau (Known as the Ralph Nader of the natural health arena) are:

·         Nutritional deficiencies

·         Toxins and poisons that are in your system

·         Exposure to electromagnetic chaos 

·         Mental and emotional stress, negative thinking

Are you having such warning signs?

Top 30 All-Time Personal Finance Posts (Part 1)

1.  7 Effective Ways to Avoid Poverty

According to the Census Bureau, one in every six Americans is living in poverty. The population of Malaysia is more than 27 million but there are 47.8 million people struggling in America. How do you deal with poverty effectively?


2.  22 Things Money Can and Can’t Buy (Second of a two-part series in the list)

1. Money can buy you an expensive house,

Money can’t buy your home sweet home.

2. Money can buy you a comfortable bed,

Money can’t buy you a good night’s sleep.

3.  7 Effective Ways to Manage Your Debt and Boost Your Credit Worthiness

A man in debt is so far a slave. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson


Standard and Poor's has downgraded the U.S. credit rating for the first time ever from AAA to AA+. S and P said it lowered the rating because the deficit reduction plan Congress passed on Tuesday did not go far enough to stabilize the country's debt situation.


On a personal level, how do you manage your debt and avoid erosion of your credit rating? Here are 7 simple ways to do:


4.  10 Effective Ways to Establish Your Credit Worthiness

Now that America is out of the AAA list, there are only 15 countries in the world with AAA rating from S and P. Singapore is the only Asian nation with such a prestigious rating. China is only rated AA-. How do you establish a personal rating as good as triple-A? Here are the 10 ways to get it:


5.   7 Effective Ways to Avoid Bankruptcy

According to the president of Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca), Datuk N. Marimuthu, half of those declared bankrupt because of credit card debts are below the age of 30. How do you avoid being declared as a bankrupt?


6. 10 Essential Things About Money

Money is a scarce resource; you need to manage it wisely to enjoy financial freedom. These are the ten things to look into to achieve financial independence:  


7. 10 Things You Can’t Buy With Money

Money can satisfy your want for material wealth, but there are a lot of other things that you can’t buy. Here is a  list of ten things that you can get them only with your personal effort and energy and most of all, you have to earn it.


8.  10 Tips to Avoid Getting Into Debt

Debt is a dangerous thing because it can destroy your reputation, career, family, make you a bankrupt and ruin your whole life. Here are 10 ways to avoid getting into debt:


9. 7 Reasons to Buy Gold

Gold has reached its all-time high of 1600/oz in July 2011. Do you own gold? Is gold part of an overall portfolio? There are 7 good reasons to buy and keep gold:


10. 12 Easy Ways to Reduce Your Expenses

The output of agricultural products is affected by weird weather and it is costing more just to get the basic items such as wheat, rice and chilli. There is, all the more, a need to trim your household expenses.  Look closely into your spending pattern and adjust your lifestyle to shield the impact of the rising cost of living.

5 Effective Ways to Start Monday

On a Monday do you drag your feet and dread going to work? You are not alone because there are many others who find it hard to get into the mood to work on a Monday morning. Here are the things that you can do to start Monday on the right note:

1.       Live in the moment:  According to Richard Carlson, the author of Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, there are people who belong to the Thank God It’s Friday club or Thank God It’s Monday club. These people are in the wrong clubs because TGIF club members like only two days in a week and on Sunday they are not too happy because they have to go to work the next day. The members of TGIM are workaholics.  These people are working under stress and on Friday they are not too happy because they cannot go to work for the next two days. Richard is asking you to be a member of Thank God It’s Today. It does not matter what day of the week it is, every day is a nice day. The take-home message is that you should focus on living one day at a time and be happy every day.  

2.       Plan for it: The best way to live life is to plan ahead and live orderly. It is more productive and less stressful. Do it every Sunday so that you can look ahead with peace of mind as you have organized the following week in advance.    

3.       Sufficient sleep on Sunday night: Avoid staying up late on Sunday to avoid getting up late on Monday morning. It is to avoid having to rush about to get to work. It is a sure way to ruin your Monday.  

4.       Look forward to it: Positive anticipation is the right attitude to kick start Monday. Get up early and be excited to get things done. Remember you have already planned ahead? Dress your best and feel good about yourself. Walk with your head up and greet people you meet with a broad smile.

5.       Focus: For members of TGIF and TGIM clubs don’t think of the weekend for good or for bad. Pay attention to what you do so that you are immersed in your work and before you know Monday is almost over and work gets done.

How do you get to work on a Monday morning?

Are You Managing Your Personal Finance Effectively?

According to a worldwide survey conducted by HSBC in Malaysia:

·         49 % of those between the age group of 30 to 39 are without any short term savings

It means they do not have emergency funds to cope with unemployment or meet unexpected cash outlay such as major medical expenses. It is essential to save for a rainy day so that you can carry on living without hardship.

·         48% of parents are without insurance

These parents are not prepared to meet uncertainties in life. In the event of an accident or a critical illness, you are disabled and cannot go on working, who on earth is going to compensate you for the loss of your potential earning power? Be adequately covered by insurance so that you and your family are protected financially when you are temporarily or permanently disabled.

·         28% of those between the ages of 50 to 59 are without a retirement fund

Retirement means you stop working and there will be no recurring income every month. You have to rely on what you have saved throughout your working life. If such a fund is not available, who is going to support you? There is no guarantee that your children are able to adequately support you financially during your old age. In the survey, 19% of the respondents want to live with their children and family when they retire. Among the 17 countries surveyed India top the list with 32% and Malaysia is in 5^th place and the UK is at the end of the list with 3%.

·         85% of those who have retired are without wills

To live effectively is to prepare and plan ahead. Likewise, it is also necessary to prepare for your departure from this world. To draw up a will is to allocate your wealth according to your wishes to those you love dearly. It is a hassle-free way to allow those close to you to inherit your fortune.

Are you one of them? Manage your personal finance wisely to avoid getting into debt and financial difficulties.

10 Satisfying Ways to Live With Life

 

Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact.

William James

A wonderful life will not just happen to you. You have to create and work for it to live the life you want.  Here are the things that you can do to design your life:

1.      Live your dreams: Discover your passion and get to know what you want in life.  More often than not life is fulfilling and worthwhile only when you can do good for others.  A meaningful life requires great effort to produce value.

The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams. 
 Oprah Winfrey 

2.      Plan: Wishing and hoping will get you nowhere. Like building your dream house, you make choices and plan.  You decide what and how you want to do to live your life. There is a direction in life and life becomes hopeful.    

Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire and begin at once, whether you are ready or not, to put this plan into action.

Napoleon Hill

3.      Just do it: Once you have made up your mind, do not hesitate but go ahead. Life is about taking risks and going beyond your comfort zone. To fail is not a problem, not trying is. In a way, you will not regret later in things that you have not done. You can’t create your life if you don’t take action.

All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

4.      Move on: Life is about doing what you like every day; however, you have to monitor your progress from time to time. Making changes is essential to move forward and get better in life.

Life belongs to the living and he who lives must be prepared for changes. 
 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 

5.      Focus:  Keep your goals in sight. Do not allow setbacks and failures to discourage you. Deal with challenges in life positively to build your confidence and carry on in life.  

One reason so few of us achieve what we truly want is that we never direct our focus; we never concentrate our power. Most people dabble their way through life, never deciding to master anything in particular.
Tony Robbins

 

6.      Be lighthearted: One of the purposes in life is to be happy. Get up early and feel good about yourself. Fill your heart with kindness, forgiveness, and love. Be grateful, contented, and satisfied with what you have in life.

The most important thing is to enjoy your life—to be happy—it's all that matters. 
 Audrey Hepburn

7.      Be present: Life is to live one day at a time. When you live, go slow. Observe and admire every single little thing in life like you are only given sight for just one day. Always start a new day afresh and don’t let the past tie you down or the future worry you. Live every day like going on a holiday; be excited, energetic, and enthusiastic.

Life is a great and wondrous mystery, and the only thing we know that we have for sure is what is right here right now. Don't miss it.
Leo Buscaglia

8.      Keep learning:  Be curious about things in life like a child. Learning stimulates the mind, broadens your horizon. Read every day to gain insights and be knowledgeable.

To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life. 
W. Somerset Maugham 

9.      Be free:  Be free from debt. A carefree life is about financial independence. Always do the right thing so that you are free from guilt feelings.  In the end, you get peace of mind.

If we wish to free ourselves from enslavement, we must choose freedom and the responsibility this entails.
Leo Buscaglia

 

10.  Be connected: Life is about talking to your partner sharing the ups and downs in life. Life is also about telling jokes and laughing out loud with your friends. To be connected is to share and care for each other. Life needs mutual support to carry on living.

The world is not a pleasant place to be without someone to hold and be held by. 
Nikki Giovanni 

Have you found your life yet? Create and go for it. 

Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself. 
George Bernard Shaw 

10 Powerful Words to Inspire You at Work

Do you want to get motivated at work? Here are 10 magical words that spell success in your career. Be inspired and be ahead at work with these encouraging words:

1.      Adaptable: Are you flexible and willing to accept changes for the better? Can you accept constructive criticism? Be ready to embrace changes to stay ahead or you will be forced to change.

It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change. ~Evers Charles

2.      Confident.:   Believe that you will be able to face challenges successfully and get things done.

Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers, you cannot be successful or happy.  ~Norman Vincent Peale

3.      Energetic: To be energetic, you have to be healthy and fit. Exercise daily to promote robust energy. You will  work with a drive to influence others positively

The world belongs to the energetic. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

4.      Organized: To plan ahead and work according to your plan is the least stressful way to get a day’s job done.

No business can succeed in any great degree without being properly organized.
~James Cash Penney

5.      Passionate: When you are passionate about the work you are committed, enthusiastic, excited, and motivated. You enjoy what you do and it gives you satisfaction and happiness.

If you're passionate about your work, it makes the people around you want to be involved too. ~Wanda Sykes

6.      Positive: Focus on your goals and get things done.  Do not allow negative thoughts or fear to enter your mind.

"People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking that they can do things. When they believe in themselves they have the first secret of success."~ Norman Vincent Peale

7.      Productive: To be productive is to avoid complication and work a simple way which is efficient and effective. This is the way to do less but get more done in less time. At the end of the day, it is your performance that counts.

The least productive people are usually the ones who are most in favor of holding meetings. ~Thomas Sowell

8.      Responsible: You are a responsible person when you care about your reputation at work. You take pride in what you do and you are determined to do your best.

Accept responsibility for your life. Know that it is you who will get you where you want to go, no one else. ~Les Brown

9.      Skillful: You are employed for your skills. Sharpen your skills to be more valued at work. The most important thing is to learn continuously.

Learning how to learn is life's most important skill. ~Tony Buzan

10.  Trusted: Trust is an important issue at work. Building trust takes time and it can be destroyed instantly. Keeping your promises and meeting deadlines are all part of upholding the trust of others in you.

Anyone who doesn't take truth seriously in small matters cannot be trusted in large ones either. ~Albert Einstein

Wish you success at work.

7 Goodness about Chinese New Year

Yes, Chinese New Year is about giving 红包 (hong bao) or red packets to those who are not married and it does not matter how old you are, you will continue to receive as long as you stay single. Hong Bao only brings joy and happiness to children; I am talking about more serious and meaningful issues:

1.       Family value: it is the old tradition of Chinese people all over the world to treasure reunion with the family on the eve of Chinese New Year. The three Chinese characters 团圆饭 (Tuan yuan fan) mean togetherness for the first word,   round or perfect for the second character, and rice for the last character. It is a good thing to do not only once a year but more often if possible to meet and express your affection to your loved ones at home when you are living far away. It is necessary to do so because you never know how soon is too late.

2.       Start afresh: The Lunar New Year ushers a fresh beginning for the Chinese. I think it is good thinking because you don’t want the past to hold you back. So you start anew with confidence and determination.

3.       Bright outlook: You see only bright colors during Chinese New Year. The most outstanding color is red. It signifies a bright future and an optimistic outlook. It is an excellent attitude to look at life positively and go forward boldly.

4.       Best wishes: I am not talking about words relating to money though these are common words used to greet others when you meet during Chinese New Year like 恭喜发财(gong xi fa cai). I find the following wishes more motivating and meaningful:

·         新年快乐(xin nian kuai le):    It means happiness for the New Year. Happiness is one of the important aims of life.  However, it is not good for those working in the stockbroking firms because it sounds like 新年快落 (xin nian kuai luo) - going down quickly during the New Year.

·         心想事成(xin xiang shi cheng):  It is similar in meaning to what your mind can conceive you can achieve.

·         步步高升(bu bu gao sheng):    It is especially good for those who are employed. It means you go higher up for each step you take.  Such encouraging words!

·         龙马精神(long ma jing shen):   Literally it is the spirit of dragon and horse. The true meaning is to wish you an alert and energetic New Year.   

5.       A clutter-free home: It is spring cleaning time before Chinese New Year. The house is spick and span. It is also more spacious. While it is good to tidy the house, the Chinese people believe that a clutter-free home will encourage a positive flow of energy. 

6.       Things to avoid: During Chinese New Year, you have to avoid breakage especially china and glassware. It brings bad luck but more importantly, it is a good lesson in life to be careful in what you do particularly while you are on the road. The other point is that you don’t start a quarrel or fight on such auspicious days. The take-home message is that in life you exercise restraint, patient, and seek understanding. 

7.       Gratitude:  To usher in Chinese New Year, the Chinese people express remembrance, thankfulness, and appreciation to those living far away by sending them greeting cards. Now you can send messages quickly and more often in this technology age. When you touch another person’s heart, you bring joy and happiness to yourself too.  

And so I wish you:

新年快乐( xin nian  kuai le)

心想事成 (xin xiang shi cheng)

步步高升 ( bu bu gao sheng)

龙马精神 (long ma jing shen)

Related articles:

Chinese New Year and Road Safety - 5 Safety Tips  

The reunion dinner of the Chinese people

10 Things to avoid on the First Day of Chinese New Year

7 Effective Ways to De-Clutter the house Before Chinese New Year

7 Characteristics of Success

Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other. ~Abraham Lincoln

  Do you want to do the right things and breed success? Develop the following characteristics of successful people:

1.     Passion: Find something that you love to do because getting success is passionate about what you want to do. There is a fire burning in you so that you are self-driven and motivated to get things done.

Don't aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally.  ~David Frost

2.     A clear goal: Know what you want in life. Be very sure it is your heart’s desire. It is something you enjoy doing; it’s good for you and beneficial to others. Decide wisely, and plan ahead.  The most important thing is to write it down. Look at it every day and stay focused.

Success is the progressive realization of predetermined, worthwhile, personal goals. ~Paul J. Meyer

3.     Lifelong learning:  The thirst for new information and the urge to learn new things are the ways to go forward in life. Read a lot and mix around with intellectual people to update your knowledge. When you learn you grow and be more resourceful.

4.     Persistence: Do you have the determination to follow your dream? Do not be discouraged by defeats and failures. Get up and move on. Be brave and creative to make changes when things do not work out as planned.

Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success. ~Dale Carnegie

5.     Moral values: Do what is right, do not cheat, and cause harm to others. Provide real value and avoid cutting corners. Be honest and give your best to protect your reputation.

Success is simple. Do what's right, the right way, at the right time.
Arnold H. Glasow

6.     Hard working: It is not because it is the beginning of a New Year things will just turn out in your favor. Nothing is going to happen until you take concrete action and work hard for the things that you want out of life. It’s not just working hard once in a while it is your daily effort that counts. Overnight success is only the exception and not the rule.

Success is dependent on effort.  Sophocles

7.     Belief: Be confident that you will gain success in your endeavor. Free yourself from the past and be positive about what you can do. Think more about your achievements to boost your self-esteem.

Develop these 7 characteristics of success and be successful in life.