How To Select A Book To Read

Whether you read often or only occasionally, when you go to read a book you first have the problem of choosing a book to read. Even the most avid reader could only read a tiny fraction of all the books that come out. At any given time, a book store probably contains many more books then you could read in your entire lifetime. How do you choose which books to read? Let me suggest a few ways to select a book.

       Ask Friends - Ask friends, family members, and other people you know for recommendations. Friends work especially well for getting book recommendations, because they usually share the same interests as you. Also, friends know your personality well, so they can better guess what books you personally would like. Asking your friends for book recommendations will probably help your friendship also, because your friends will feel complimented that you want their opinion.

       Authors You Like - Out of the books you have already read, try to think of your favorites. You can look at other books by the authors of your favorite books.

        Bestseller List - Many newspapers publish lists of the currently best-selling books. If your newspaper does not have a bestseller list, you can also find bestseller lists on the internet or you can ask a book store clerk to see best-selling books.

        Join A Book Club - Book clubs usually simply consist of a group of people who get together to choose a new book to read and discuss the book they previously chose to read. Most commonly, book clubs read one book per month. They usually do not cost anything, but the members may all put in some money for food and refreshments. Usually, the members of the book club take turns hosting. You can probably find a local book club by going on craigslist. Also, many public libraries have public book clubs.

        Amazon - Amazon usually has ratings for books based on users who rate the book. It also has customer reviews of many books. When you view a book, it will show other books that you may like if you liked that book. That means you can get recommendations on Amazon by first finding some of your personal favorite books.

You can probably find other ways to help you select a book to read. If you want to try a certain book, you can avoiding losing money by simply borrowing the book from a library. If you do not like the book, you can stop reading it and return it.

Whatever you do, good luck and have fun!

Improving Your Knowledge On a Daily Basis

In this era of times, I think we all can agree that no one could ever receive too much education. We all can benefit by improving ourselves and expanding our knowledge. The best way for self-improvement is by reading books. Books have a world of knowledge, and you can learn something new with each page you read.

Did you know that we actually can hurt ourselves by not having the proper knowledge? Without adequate learning skills, we could actually miss a promotion at work, or lose your position to someone more knowledgeable and qualified. You may not be accepted into college due to test scores, or you waste money on repairs you can actually do yourself, if you took the time to read up on it.

Most people will look for information to help increase their knowledge, by either reading books, doing research on the internet, or going to an expert. You can become an encyclopedia of knowledge by just doing research. You could be the person everyone will go to if you increase your knowledge and technical skills. You may find you gained the knowledge yourself, or you may know exactly where to find what someone is looking for. You may even know someone who can help someone else with a project. Sometimes you could be surprised because knowledge can actually find you.

If you want to increase your knowledge skills, use some of these tips to help:

• Bring a book when you have appointments or have to wait for things to be done.
• Turn on your TV and watch the how to programs, you would be surprised how much you learn from these new TV shows.
• It is a good idea to make friends with people who different skills that you are interested in and they can teach you.
• Go to your library and use cd's and listen to them in the car, when you clean the house, exercise or walk.
• Take some time everyday no matter how little, to learn something each and everyday.

We all have the opportunity to learn new things and expand our knowledge by just asking questions. So do not overlook the simple and easy ways to increase your skills. You can learn something from pretty much everything.

Remember, you are never too old to learn something new, not one person will know everything on one subject, so education should be a part of our daily lives.

I have learned....

I have learned....
That life is tough, but I'm tougher.


I've learned....
That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

I've learned....
That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.

I've learned....
That I should keep my words both soft and tender, because tomorrow I may have to eat them.

I've learned....
That I can't choose how I feel, but I can choose what I do about it.

I've learned....
That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

I've learned....
That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.

I've learned....
That money doesn't buy class.

I've learned....
That it's the small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

I've learned....
That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

I've learned....
That the Lord didn't do it all in one day. What makes me think I can?

I've learned....
That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

I've learned....
That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.

I've learned....
That opportunities are never lost; someone will take theones you miss.

I've learned....
That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

I've learned....
That when your newly born child holds your little finger in his little fist, you're hooked for life.

I've learned....
That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occur while you're climbing it.

I've learned....
That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done

A Better You

I seem to lost count on how many times I've read and heard of celebrity marriages failing almost left and right. Not that I care (and personally I don't), it seems strange that we often see movie and TV stars as flawless people, living the fairytale life of riches and glamour. I suppose we all have to stop sticking our heads in the clouds and face reality.
There are many ways to lose your sense of self-esteem despite of how trivial it could get. But whatever happens, we should all try not to lose our own sense of self.
So what does it take to be a cut above the rest? Here are some of the things you can think and improve on that should be enough for a week.

KNOW YOUR PURPOSE

Are you wandering through life with little direction - hoping that you'll find happiness, health and prosperity? Identify your life purpose or mission statement and you will have your own unique compass that will lead you to your truth north every time.
This may seem tricky at first when you see yourself to be in a tight or even dead end. But there's always that little loophole to turn things around and you can make a big difference to yourself.

KNOW YOUR VALUES

What do you value most? Make a list of your top 5 values. Some examples are security, freedom, family, spiritual development, learning. As you set your goals for 2005 - check your goals against your values. If the goal doesn't align with any of your top five values - you may want to reconsider it or revise it.
The number shouldn't discourage you, instead it should motivate you to do more than you can ever dreamed of.

KNOW YOUR NEEDS

Unmet needs can keep you from living authentically. Take care of yourself. Do you have a need to be acknowledged, to be right, to be in control, to be loved? There are so many people who lived their lives without realizing their dreams and most of them end up being stressed or even depressed for that matter. List your top four needs and get them met before it's too late!

KNOW YOUR PASSION

You know who you are and what you truly enjoy in life. Obstacles like doubt and lack of enthusiasm will only hinder you, but will not derail your chance to become the person you ought to be. Express yourself and honor the people who has inspired you to become the very person you wanted to be.

 LIVE FROM THE INSIDE OUT


Increase your awareness of your inner wisdom by regularly reflecting in silence. Commune with nature. Breathe deeply to quiet your distracted mind. For most of us city slickers it's hard to even find the peace and quiet we want even in our own home. In my case I often just sit in a dimly lit room and play some classical music. There's sound, yes, but music does soothe the savage beast.

 HONOR YOUR STRENGTH


What are your positive traits? What special talents do you have? List three - if you get stuck, ask those closest to you to help identify these. Are you imaginative, witty, good with your hands? Find ways to express your authentic self through your strengths. You can increase your self-confidence when you can share what you know to others.

 SERVE OTHERS


When you live authentically, you may find that you develop an interconnected sense of being. When you are true to who you are, living your purpose and giving of your talents to the world around you, you give back in service what you came to share with others -your spirit - your essence. The rewards for sharing your gift with those close to you is indeed rewarding, much more if it were to be the eyes of a stranger who can appreciate what you have done to them.

Self-improvement is indeed one type of work that is worth it. It shouldn't always be within the confines of an office building, or maybe in the four corners of your own room. The difference lies within ourselves and how much we want to change for the better.

The "You" That "They" Don't Want You To Know

Every reality you have ever experienced began in your mind.
Believe for a moment, that everything you believe is what you see. You might want to take a moment to pause and think about that statement.

I am not the only one who believes this. In fact, most people who are abundantly successful in life, at will, will assert that this is more than a hypothesis, that it is the truth. Think about it. Have you ever noticed famous athletes in commercials, or other stars on TV carrying the notion similar to, "If you can dream, you can achieve". It's not all the hype that it seems to be. The problem is, how often do you see this? Not often. It is as if it is a secret that is only slipped out on rare occasion, and if you blink your eye, you'll miss it. In fact, I can't honestly remember the last time I have seen a billboard or a celebrity on TV motivating others to "Just Believe". There is far more negativity beaming through the TV everyday. However, my curiosity has driven me to find a positive truth to how we as humans live. You see, the last thing the media or society wants to do is pay all their money towards things like motivating others to dream and become rich and successful, or, in other words to become independent of their own thoughts and not to be controlled by things such as negative influences and subliminal messages, which have a lot to do with "puppeting" consumer actions, of course. Nevertheless, it is up to individuals like myself and you to discover the truth on our own, and spread the word.

The general media puts it in our head that it is actually hard to break out of this mindset that most of us have. We are reminded every day, consumed by the negativity that blares through the messages that are being sent to us through media and outside forces. It is the way people have been conditioned to be, and it seems to be all that most people know. Many people even feel obligated to watch the news everyday and read the papers that are filled with negativity. They are conditioned to do so and has become habitual. Taking risks, and doing, or thinking "different" is fearful for most, and they would rather not do it. They would rather ignore their fears of life and continue on in the conditions that they are in, and thus, continue thinking the way that they are thinking, even if it means that they will not be able to reach something such as a "dream".

Take for example, the world of consumerism. It depends on the financial ignorance of the public to a certain extent. People who are not educated on economics and who do not seek to lean this topic are surely victims of timeless sales tactics and manipulation of their hard earned money. Now, take the Standard American Diet also known as the SAD diet, for an example. This is a diet that is depriving many of their life, energy, and true vitality as a human being. The more you think about it, the more absurd it seems. Not only do unhealthy diets contribute to a vast amount of diseases, but little do people know, the right kind of diet can have the power to heal. These are just a couple of examples of the type of "system" that we are in. It's obviously a system that is fueled by confusion, ignorance, and fear. This formulated condition leaves little room for people to become aware or awakened, and is why so many are not living a higher quality of life.

With that being said, it is each individuals' responsibility to learn outside of their condition, become more in tune with their innate self, and seek truth and new habits.

It's the End of the World - Oh Wait Never Mind!

May 21st 6pm CST came and went and guess what, the world didn't end, the rapture didn't happen and there was no giant earthquake that consumed the earth. Although some were completely surprised to still be here on earth, the vast majority of the world isn't and is laughing at those people. However Harold Camping and his believers may have inspired something great and that is to live everyday like the world is going to end!

         While most of us continue to waste our evenings and weekends away by watching TV, lounging on the couch, shopping at the mall and watching sports the more successful sector is reading books, networking, working on their business and learning. Don't get me wrong we all need that down time to relax and unwind and there is nothing wrong with catching a football game or watching that new episode of your favorite tv show in moderation. The keyword there is moderation, do the math if you get home from work (not to mention weekends) and just watch a few hours of TV or sports before bed in a weeks time you will have wasted 15 hours of productive time. In a year 32.5 days (780 hours) and that is less than the average (4 hours a day!) Now think about it this way if you were to just cut that time in half (so you still get some unwinding time) you can add 16 days of productivity back into your life.

            Imagine if you spent an extra 16 days a year learning a skill or gaining a better understanding of your career you could easily learn enough that could earn a raise or a promotion in one years time! Or even better (what I would strongly recommend) is start a side business. You have many different options if you do a simple Google search for work from home you will find over 369 million results there are tons of businesses you can work on the side and grow slowly and eventually make enough to allow you to quit your J.O.B. (just over broke). You can also start a simple blog talking about what you love or what your interested in and by consistently adding content you can grow it into a profitable business. (Side note: please don't fall into the hype online there is no magic bullet or special trick to making money online there are lots of people out there that would have you believe if you buy their course you will get rich overnight online that is simply not true, the only way to make a steady income online is through consistently posting new content that people want to read period.) Some people even get a part time job, wouldn't you rather say 'I made an extra $150 this week' instead of saying 'I watched the reruns of my favorite shows?' Especially if you just save the money away in a year you would have enough to travel to almost anywhere in the world for a week!

         The point is to live each day as if it were your last even if you don't need the extra income then spend the time with your family, friends or volunteer and help those less fortunate. You will never be on your deathbed saying 'I wish I had just watched more prime time TV I wasted my life!'

But You Have To!

How Perceived Obligations Get in the Way
We tend to get fussy when we think that someone owes us something and then doesn't come through. We feel cheated, hardly-done-by, perhaps even hurt. Often, though, these kinds of "obligations" are internal; that is, they weren't agreed to or even discussed with the other person. We just, well, created them ourselves.
A husband expects his wife to take on certain responsibilities. But she doesn't. He becomes upset when the "thing," whatever it is, isn't done. The problem is, he hasn't discussed it with her, hasn't asked her what she thinks. Maybe the "thing" he expects isn't something she wants to do, or maybe she simply doesn't see it as something that must be done. Either way, he's upset, annoyed. Tension builds between them.
What's the source of his irritation? An internal deal or contract he created, all by himself. How often do we imagine that someone owes us something only to be upset or stressed out when they don't come through?
The Source of a Lot of Trouble
The truth is, people usually don't owe us anything (unless you have a contract that all parties involved understand and agree to). Parents don't owe their children Disney World or a car (new or used) or a particular vacation or set of clothes... the list goes on. Parents can give their children those extras, but out of love and grace, not obligation.
The person at the grocery store doesn't owe us a "cut-in" because we have 2 items and they have 20. They can let us jump ahead out of kindness, but they're not obliged to do it. Adult children don't owe their parents a phone call each week, but if the kids choose to call, it's out of grace (who wants someone to talk to them strictly out of guilt or obligation, anyway).
A Caring and Free Life
We're not talking about neglecting to love others or living a selfish life. But we are saying that one of the most difficult lessons in character formation is to realize that no one owes us anything.
When we get this, we increase our peace. We don't get fussy with people or live with inner stress because someone "should have" done this or that for us. Instead, when the kids call or when someone does something nice for us, we realize that they didn't have to do it-and we're grateful. If they don't do it, that's OK too. They didn't owes us to begin with.
Gratitude
A grateful heart is a heart at peace with God, itself, and others.
Can you think of a time when you became angry or upset because someone didn't come through? Were they really obligated to do what you wanted, or was it something you created in your own mind?
What are your thoughts on obligations?