Self Improvement

The winter months are often a terribly depressing time for Canadians. The lack of sunshine alone can lead to decreased energy levels, a loss of interest in daily activities and the need for additional sleep.

But what if you're still feeling depressed once spring arrives and the warm weather and sunshine beckons you outdoors?

Although we may casually refer to "feeling depressed" during a momentary unhappy time in our life, individuals who suffer from prolonged depression feel sad and empty to the point that their feelings impair their day-to-day activities and interactions with other people.

In 2002, Statistics Canada reported that approximately 8% of adult Canadians experience a major depression at some point in their lives. Depression and anxiety continues to be Canada's fastest-rising diagnosis. From 1994 to 2004, the number of visits made by Canadians to office-based doctors for depression and anxiety almost doubled-a staggering 11.6 million people in 2003.

And while medication may be necessary in cases of clinical depression, it needn't be your first line of defense if your altered mood is a result of a variety of negative experiences you've suffered in your day-to-day life and you find yourself in a downward spiral.

Sure, if you're looking for a quick fix, antidepressants may work in the short term. But if you'd like to make a significant long-lasting change in your life, you have to be willing to make a significant long-lasting change in you the way you think- changing negative thought patterns into positive ones.

It's been my observation that depression and low self-esteem go hand-in-hand. People with high self esteem feel confident about themselves and have positive thought patterns; whereas those who suffer from low self esteem often experience feelings of shame, guilt or self-doubt-negative thought patterns.

Most of my clients come to me at a time of depression. They've felt lost, lonely, abandoned and neglected for most of their life. As a life coach, I believe in self-awareness and emotional intelligence. What does this have to do with depression? Well, before you can change your negative thought patterns, you need to learn who you are. To do this, I work with each of my clients and explore their behaviours-both positive and negative. Through this process we learn who they are: their values, strengths, weaknesses, likes and dislikes. And then we use that information to set goals.

One depression-fighting strategy I encourage my clients to adopt is a regular exercise routine. Medically proven to boost your mood and lower rates of depression, exercise removes the buildup of stress hormones in the body, allowing you to sleep and concentrate better. When you exercise, your body produces endorphins, or feel-good chemicals, and leaves you feeling happier even after you've stopped. And with more oxygen flowing through your red blood cells, you become more receptive to new ideas and ready to take on more challenges.

In addition, maintaining a regular exercise routine provides a structure and focus in your life as you set and meet new goals. The accomplishment of these goals-no matter how big or how small-leads to a sense of achievement and improved self-confidence and self-esteem.

Using exercise as a way to combat depression is not a new strategy, nor is it the only method you'll need to employ in your journey to better mental health. But making exercise a priority in your life will bring you one step closer to the ultimate goal of a healthy mind, body and soul.

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Learn to overcome negative thought patterns using exercise. Visit Bruno LoGreco master life coach author and motivational speaker today to start feeling better tomorrow.

Your life is a holographic reflection of your experiences from our first breath to the present. Many people believe we are a holographic reflection of experiences beginning from the source until the present.

When you examine your feelings about something you might notice that the feeling you have is based on family patterns. If you trace your feelings back to its source, you might find that one of your parents reacted/responded with the feeling that you are exhibiting. For example, your mother or father might have had an intense fear of lack of money, stemming from their life experiences. If that fear was not resolved, chances are you carried it into your life. Meanwhile, you may have no actual experience of lacking money, so being fearful does not make sense, and now the fear of lacking money blocks you from doing certain things that you want to do.

Keep in mind that your parents managed their lives and yours to the best of their ability. There was no intent to pass negative beliefs about money. Yet, that is what transpired. However, you can change it when you discover you have carried fear of lacking money into your life.

You can not resolve anyone's fear for them, but you can decide to let go of it on your behalf. Whether your parents are alive or not, it is best to complete a symbolic 'letting go' of any fears that belong to them.

An easy 'letting go,' exercise is simple. Visualize inviting your parents to sit across from you in a room and share your desire to move on from the fear. Tell them that you know that they did their best with no intent to instill fear or harm you in any way. Then, forgive them from your heart. You might be surprised at how easy this exercise is.

Doing deep inner work with your fears will serve you well for yourself and for your children; if you currently have children or when you have children. If you have already seen the effects of your fears within your children, remember any changes you make now will be passed down to them. Either way, the effects will be felt, because once you break your ties of fears from the past, your children's ties to those fears are greatly weakened. It is important to remember that is it never too late to have a new beginning.

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Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, Metaphysician - Certified Hypnosis Practitioner, Author and Speaker. Dr. Dorothy facilitates clearing blocks, fears and limiting beliefs. You can live the life you desire. She brings awareness to concepts not typically obvious to one's thoughts and feelings. http://www.drdorothy.net

Can One Person Make a Difference?

Do you know how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly? The process of changes from crawling creature to graceful wonder is an excellent metaphor to reflect upon. The answer is simple, and yet profound: caterpillars become butterflies through the effort of but a handful of determined cells.

Here's how it happens: when the time for metamorphosis arrives, caterpillars develop what are called "imaginal cells." Imaginal cells represent the more advanced version of the caterpillars body -- that of a butterfly's. I guess you can say that the imaginal cells are those with the dream; the cells that want something more for the caterpillar, something better. However, in the beginning, the caterpillars immune system would consider the imaginal cells as the enemy -- foreign bodies -- and will attempt to destroy them. Some of the imaginal cells will die,but others will survive. And those that survive will transform the old caterpillar cells one by one, until they develop a critical mass and become so strong, the caterpillar's body will have to give in! And he'll be glad he did!

Amazing, isn't it? So, can one person make a difference? The answer is a resounding "yes!"

Transforming the world seems like an impossible task at first. It's far easier to say there's nothing we can do, that age-old systems are way stronger, that the battle is lost even before it's begun. But what we need to do, when reflecting on the question "can one person make a difference?" is think like the caterpillar's imaginal cells. When we aim for progress, we'll lose some battles and we'll win others. But if we're persistent enough, we'll attract like-minded individuals, and become powerful enough to make an impact in the world.

Everything can start with one voice, right?

Would you like to start making a difference in the world today? You don't need to solve third world hunger or jumpstart world peace overnight. In effortless ways you can show the world how it's done. The following are 7 simple ways you can change the world from where you sit:

Appreciate one person a day. You'll be surprised how much a sincere compliment can transform another person's day! Your little boy might be nursing a rejection from his crush, but a kind word from you may encourage him to try again. Your favorite waitress may be ready to buckle from life's pressures, but a "thank you" may just make her hang on. Appreciation is cheap; you won't even have to take out your wallet to give one!

Never drink and drive. Do you know that around 60,000 people a year die from alcohol-related motor accidents? While it takes pride to admit that you're too drunk to take the wheel, your insight can save another person's life and another family's grief. Can one person make a difference by not driving when intoxicated? YES. By being conscientious with the simple choices that we make, we can cut down the tragedies that happen to people on a daily basis.

Bring a bag when you shop. We only have one earth, and it's time we take care of it! So instead of adding in to the tons of plastic garbage that will take millions of years to degrade, do your bit for the environment. Bring a recyclable bag whenever you get groceries. And if you can convince your neighbors to do the same, the Mother Nature will surely be grateful.

Donate your excess to a homeless shelter. Do you have extra clothing just gathering dust in your closet? Or perhaps you overstocked on goods and food products? It's a crime to hoard when so many people are doing without. Take time to give of what you can to charity. What may be clutter to you is a lifeline to others.

Deal with clients ethically.When the economy is headed south, it's tempting to engage in shaky business tactics. You may water down your products to cut cost, circumvent safety regulations that you need to follow,or use dishonest methods to sell that used car. Don't! It's when budgets are tight that we need more people who create value without selling out! What goes around comes around. Businessmen when asked "can one person make a difference?" know that an ounce of ethics can go a long, long way.

Share a story of resilience. The world needs more people who can teach about life -- something even the internet can't teach! If you know someone in bad need of quality advice -- say, a rebellious teen in your neighborhood or a co-worker in the throes of depression, take time to share what you know. Don't worry too much about saying the right thing -- if you're sincere in our desire to help, it will come across.

Tell an enemy that you forgive them. Lastly, if you want to make a difference in another person's life, do what you can to give them closure. We may be victims of an offense or abuse, but it doesn't mean we can't be generous and offer our victimizers the opportunity to move on. They may not appreciate it at first, but who knows: your forgiveness may be just what they're waiting for so that they can get on with their life.

In conclusion, can one person make a difference? Yes. Through one determined effort at a time!

Becoming Successful Is Easy and Making Money is Even Easier. Click Here Now to find out more.

Tandelyn A. Weaver is the president of The Power of Positive Action, LLC. A certified life coach, Tandelyn provides free advice on the "7 Strategies Women Entrepreneurs Must Have for Success, Wealth and Personal Freedom" through her website http://www.PersonalFreedomForWomen.com. Discover more of Tandelyn's insights about business and life by visiting today.

Strippers, exotic dancers, whatever you call them have often been the subject of ridicule and sarcasm. Despite the fact that our society has become more liberal in many ways, most people's views about strippers and the adult entertainment industry have never changed. The assumption that "women taking off their clothes for money are cheap and don't deserve respect" has never changed through the years.

As with other types of businesses, there are good and bad clubs. Bad clubs are those that allow prostitution and the use of drugs among the girls and customers. Good kinds of clubs are secure. The safety of the girls is ensured. There are lots of security personnel to make sure that the dancers are not harassed and that rules of the clubs are followed. If you are planning to become a stripper, look for these kinds of clubs. Ask around or make an online research about the club you want to work at.

Before making a hasty decision, you must know your motivation on becoming a stripper. Most stripping job pays well. It can help you with any long-term plan you have in mind. It pays the bills. It can support a college education. Whatever reason you have, never forget that stripping is something that you're doing for a good cause. If you know your motivation and focus on this, you will never go astray.

Never give the customers any reason to harass you. Believe it or not, most customers going to nightclubs have the same mindset about strippers - that all they care about is money that is why they take off their clothes and flirt with customers. Show your customers that you deserve their respect. Never get drunk while entertaining customers. Never do drugs. When you feel that your customer is already taking advantage of you, call the attention of the bouncers or any security personnel in the club.

Always remember that stripping is a job and not a way of life. Earning money from stripping should not make you less of a person who deserves to be respected. Hold on to your values no matter how challenging your job is.

Becoming Successful Is Easy and Making Money is Even Easier. Click Here Now to find out more.

Liza A. works as Marketing Assistant for Busama Group which owns and operates a FREE service for Exotic Dancer and Hostess jobs. We post industry talk on http://busamagroup.wordpress.com/author/busamagroup/

Bookings are provided for girls into clubs all over the world and the company is always looking to expand their network of friends and business partners. http://www.Busama.com

This year is the year for making decisions and sticking to them. What decisions will you make for yourself and your family? Have a happy year full of action!

Welcome to 2011! I can't believe how fast the time goes and how many moments and experiences we have encountered with the twins. Every day there is something new to see or learn or do.

This year I have decided to make new year's decisions instead of resolutions. The phrase New Years Resolution sounds great but for some reason never lasts. After a couple days or weeks, they are long forgotten and we are back to our old ways and habits. I am not interested in the short term idea, I am ready to make some hard core decisions that will not only be positive but last for years to come.

I have decided this is the year I am going to finally lose the extra unwanted weight I have. And I have also decided to help and serve you by sharing my everyday life experiences with the twins. WOW! That seems like two big decisions! But what is a decision anyway?

http://www.dictionary.com defines decision as the act of or need for making up one's mind. Which is exactly what I am doing, making up my mind and taking action to see it through.

When we decided to start our family, it wasn't an easy process. We spent several months hoping it would all work out and after disappointment and unsuccessful tries, we decided a different plan of attack was needed. We decided to see a fertility specialist and seek an experts help in our family planning. We knew we wanted a family so we did something about it - we acted on it and didn't just hope we could do it on our own. I will say it wasn't a bed of roses either but, we took action and were able to say we did everything we could to make it happen - and it ultimately did.

So, ask yourself, what are your 2011 New Years decisions? What actions are you going to take to get there? Do you want to lose weight? Make more money? Go on a family vacation? Whatever they are, you can absolutely achieve them by taking action and doing something about it.

Whatever your New Years Decisions are, we want you to succeed. We want you to have the best year yet.

Happy New Year!

Becoming Successful Is Easy and Making Money is Even Easier. Click Here Now to find out more.

Kristen is a stay at home mom with three year old twins. Prior to having her twins, she was a kindergarten teacher and knows the importance of making learning fun. She is sharing her everyday life of raising twins with the twin community. Lets connect at http://www.thedoublescoop.com

Are you running on empty? Going through day after day of what feels like meaningless activities that take up all your time and energy? Everywhere you look there is a fire that needs to be put out? One demand after another from others? Do you feel that you have lost the real you? Is your life full of "should" and "have tos"?

Check out yourself talk and your underlying belief system. If something goes wrong, do you automatically tell yourself you are to blame? Do you tell yourself you are homely, stupid, fat, or whatever negative description comes into your mind at the moment? Do you believe you are not smart enough, deserving enough or good enough for the "good things" in life? Do you tell yourself and others how tired you are, how nothing is working out, how everyone treats you badly, how life is not fair, how stressed you are? If you do make a mistake, do you brood on how awful you were? Do you assume the worse from any circumstance?

Do you frequently compare yourself to others and always come out lacking?
Look carefully at your relationships or lack of relationships. Do you have family and friends you supply you with unconditional respect and love? Or do you live your life fearing disapproval from those close to you? Are you lonely and believe that you are never going to find that "soul mate" that will make your life happy? Do you believe that you need someone or something else to make you happy? Are you a people pleaser or are you able to be who you truly are?

Is your home environment cluttered and messy instead of orderly and serene? Does your "To Do" list have so many unfinished projects on it that you'll never complete them all even if you live to be 150? Or do you operate without a "To Do" list and have commitments stored in your brain where they are often forgotten which causes even more stress for you? Are you plagued by financial problems?

OK. Enough of this doom and gloom! It is time to take personal responsibility for your life at this minute. Your choices and the resulting actions you have made in the past have created your life the way it is today. Only by changing your choices and actions can you create a different life tomorrow. You do HAVE THE POWER to create the life of your dreams- just plan your choices instead of continuing to follow the path of least resistance. Stop reacting to life and proactively go after the life of YOUR dreams. Decide today that you are going to start using your time in more meaningful ways that make a difference in your life. Decide that you will stop blaming outside influences and take 100% responsibility for how you are living your life.

To begin creating a LIFE REINVENTION or LIFE MAKEOVER: do some self discovery exercises and determine what your most important values are. Family, career, a passion for art, having security in the form of lots of money, being given the respect of others, being honest and caring- what are your personal values? You can find lists of 100s of potential values to choose from by browsing on the web. Daydream about what activities would create your ideal day. Just remember that you cannot design your dream life until you understand what you truly value and what is most important to you in life.

Do a life inventory in the areas of self, family, friends, career, hobbies, finances, spiritual activities, health, entertainment, and your home/environment. Feel free to add other areas of your life to this inventory list. In your life inventory determine all the things that are right with your life (you are able to walk and talk, right) and what things need change or improvement. The amount of change and improvement you can achieve is directly related to the amount of effort and commitment (maybe even some sacrifice) you are willing to put forth. Accept that there are no shortcuts, no magic pill or "secret" to achieving your dreams.

Make a list of what you need for your dream life. Do you need to improve current relationships or find new relationships? Are you looking for a specific type of person that would be your "soul mate"? Will you need to change careers or improve where you are in your current career. Do you need to learn better financial management? Are their new skills you need to learn? Do you need to pay off debts? Do you want to look for your dream house? Along with each thing on your list for your dream life, determine what you need to achieve it. To attract a certain type of person you need to become the kind of a person they would be attracted to. To improve your current relationships you might need to read some books on relationships, see a marriage counselor or other therapist or a life or relationship coach. For a different career you might need more education. For your dream house you might need to save some money for a down payment. You get the idea.

You MUST write all this out. Trying to keep it all in your head will not work. If you're not willing to take the time to write your plan out, you must not want it very badly. You cannot change everything at once. So choose one area that you feel will make the biggest difference in your life and start with that. Start with the final result and write that as your goal. For instance- I will climb the corporate ladder from stock boy to assistant manager in one year. Then make a list of the steps that will take you from where you are now to your goal. You may have to do some research or get some help to determine exactly what you need to know. You may have to learn some new skills along the way. Keep your plan open to revision, most goal setting plans need to be revised one you start your action plan. As you move along your plan make note of what seems to be working and what is now so that you can do more of what IS working and less of what IS NOT working. You must write all this down for it to make sense. When we write something down, both our intuitive and creative right brain along with our logical Dr. Spock left brain.

As you begin working your plan, you may find obstacles in the form of negative reactions from other people or even from your own fears. You must work on controlling negative self talk, emotions and thoughts. The Law of Attraction says that whatever you believe and think about will happen. So think positive thoughts and turn off the negative thoughts. Find someone, maybe a friend or a life coach, to help keep your motivation high. When obstacles occur, tell yourself they are temporary and ask yourself what lessons you can learn from them. Understand that you will never be finished with your life makeover because each time you successfully make one change to improve your life it will be time to begin making another change.

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WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEBSITE? You are welcome to reprint my article on your web site, your newsletter or a message board. Just please include this information-?2010 Sharon Ball, Life and Wellness Coach. Get your free report Begin Reinventing Yourself Today at: http://www.reinventingyourselftoday.com