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Chapter 5: The Dilemma With Today's Healthcare Provider

Synopsis

The growing fame of therapeutic touch is of a result of great concern to the healthcare community.

The Battle

On the one hand, it's economically beneficial for hospitals to include therapeutic touch in their facilities; else patients wanting such services might go elsewhere.

It's likewise crucial to include therapeutic touch in the hospital so that the 2 might be unified in the brains of the public, therefore removing either-or equation that happens occasionally between medical science and therapeutic touch.

On the other hand, therapeutic touch doesn't have absolute scientific support, and consequently its inclusion in the hospital will give it the appearance of legitimate procedure which it might not merit.

If therapeutic touch is considered to have the implicit backing of the scientific community, then for much of the populace the question of its efficacy is basically laid to rest.

Executives are consequently rightfully wary of lending their backing to therapeutic touch, for fear of patients turning away from demonstrated practice in favor of this fresh, simpler treatment. How many individuals would really decide to engage in the demanding regimen of chemotherapy if they trusted that touch may cure their cancer?

While there are miracle stories related to a happy ending, one may easily imagine a much, much blacker scenario in which a patient gives up conventional therapy in favor of the simpler therapeutic touch and dies for their hassle.

Presently, many hospitals are still erring on the side of carefulness, however as therapeutic touch continues to grow they'll have to make a hard choice.

Hospitals might decide to include therapeutic touch in the hopes that heedful regulation of its utilization will make up for the prestige they give it by including it, or they might not decide not to include it so that it may remain in the category of "New Age Mysticism" and never acquire official acceptance.

Chapter 6: Alternatives For Cancer Treatment

Synopsis

There are several "out of the norm" treatments in this area including therapeutic touch. Let's look at them.

Some Treatments

Acupuncture is a staple in traditional the Chinese practice of medicine. For 1000s of years, acupuncture was developed as a curative to restore the body's critical energy during moments of weakness.

It's believed that, if the energy distribution is amiss, an acupuncture treatment will regenerate vital energy and provide the body the tools to battle infections.

The treatment itself calls for puncturing the body at particular points with really thin (and painless) needles. From there, the systema nervosum is energized and the body goes into action through brain activity, protein and hormone discharge, and a bang of endorphins.

In a cancer setting, acupuncture won't heal the disease; however it will provide a marked difference in alleviating additional symptoms. Modernistic acupuncture may use addons like electrically charged needles or vitamin shots to expand the body's reaction to the procedure.

For cancer patients, the treatment may provide a bolstered immune system, alleviation from fatigue and pain, and a lessening in physical ailments like chest pains or cough.

Thanks to acupuncture, a few patients have even reported that they may stop taking a few of their anticancer medication. Acupuncture likewise provides psychological advantages like relief from depressive disorder.

The theme of therapeutic touch and the body's energy fields may be spotted in early hieroglyphs, however its modern credit goes to Delores Krieger, who formulated it in the 70s.

Most modern men of science discount its medical advantages, but funnily enough, there are over 50,000 health workers doing it. In the cancer world, this intriguing practice still has its place.

Therapeutic touch is based on the thought that humans reside energy fields that may suffer disturbances and imbalances with times of infection. A healer may discover these disturbances by moving their hands on the body (without really touching it) and afterward stabilize the body's energy.

On the surface, therapeutic touch is surely "out there," however cancer patients who may look past the thought of mystical cures and are cognizant of the situation's scientific reality may still acquire additional advantages.

This treatment provides calm and reassurance in presurgery situations and may reduce tension in a way that doesn't regard medication or hypnosis. On a pure relaxation level, a few individuals may discover comfort from therapeutic touch's caring nature and its minimum complications.

A recent Canadian study by the Fraser Institute discovered that more than 70% of Canadians are looking for additional means of medicine, besides the established MD and hospital variety.

Holistic medicine is no more a little-known choice. A lifechanging cancer diagnosis may bring a lot of questions and a lot of hard days, however it likewise brings a renewed desire to truly get the most out of life. While all of the holistic treatments that we have talked about here are not going to cure cancer, they may no doubt bring a detectable betterment in one's quality of life.

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Chapter 8: Create Another Income Stream

Synopsis

Produce another income stream, even a little one. Perhaps you take a second job for a month to pay off a credit card or perhaps you sell your baseball cards on EBay or perhaps you find another way to begin a small business on the side.

A Little Extra

As the economic system moves closer and closer to a worse situation, we've seen many layoffs happening. How do you protect yourself and make sure you have a little extra coming in?

Companies aren't hiring, have started process improvement efforts and are viewing ways to cut costs by delaying equipment and software upgrades.

Getting laid off in a beneficial economy isn't as big of a deal as when the economy is in a recession. Occasionally it even pays to get off the ship before it sinks. If you've a good chance of getting laid off in the next year, you may prefer to consider finding another job while you still have a job. That way, you are able to move to the next job with minimum income loss.

The most beneficial way to avoid a layoff is to have your own clients. The one thing that I disfavor the most about working for somebody else is that when you leave - they keep the clients. The clients are the gems of any company, furnishing the revenue to pay the expenses and the employees. When push comes to shove, employees are let go, but the owners keep the clients that the employees have worked hard to acquire. Business owners don't get fired, although they may go bankrupt if they get too far in debt.

I'm not advising you give up your day job and begin a business - at any rate not before you've done your homework. Beginning a business takes a lot of work, patience, money and a rare amount of ambition. Most individuals only succeed after bombing several times.

What I am advising is that you consider setting up the basis of a small side business. You may begin your business as a hobby and slowly begin adding clients. If you get fired, you'd have the basis all setup and a small client base already in place. This gives you the choice of either returning to find a different job or centering on your small business for income. A small business may be your insurance - reducing your risk of a fiscal hardship.

Drastic changes in the economic system will push a lot of businesses into bankruptcy and fresh products and services will be needed that weren't needed a short time ago. For instance, the need for foreclosure info and counselors has skyrockets in just the last six months. A lot of individuals will be seeking fresh ways to live with the changes all around them. If you're seeking business ideas, I'd look at the needs of a recession economy. Your most beneficial protection from a layoff is to get your own clients.

Chapter 9: Consider Your Home

Synopsis

Your mortgage payment is probably your biggest monthly bill. Reduce your mortgage with one of the many options including downsizing, doubling up, renting, refinancing or even foreclosing.

Consider Options

Assuming you can't sell your home... here are some ideas

If you purchased your home with 0% down and it's worth less than your real estate loan, then your most beneficial option is to just foreclose. You've nothing to lose but your credit - which will be repaired with time anyhow. But, if you've a significant sum of money in your home, then foreclosing is a much more difficult choice - and in this case you need to consider your long term financial outlook. If you're likely to lose your job in the following few years, then you ought to think about foreclosure now instead of sometime in the future. There are lots of houses for rent and the cost of renting is really low because of the many houses that are not selling, so you'll find another place to live. If you're planning to foreclose, call your lender after a couple of months of missing payments and ask for a nonrecourse foreclosure, which entails the bank accepting the house as full payment and provides up their right to try to get any more money from you in the time to come. (You should refer to a licensed pro before making any of these conclusions)

If you wait it out, all mortgage lenders are sooner or later going to be in very hard positions. Sooner or later your lender will be forced to do whatever they may to keep you from foreclosing, even if it means forgiving 50% of your loan worth. Life isn't fair, and it's not going to be fair when the cat next to you gets his mortgage cut in half while you yielded full price. If your lender won't shift, then ask to refinance at a lower fixed rate. If your lender still won't shift, as most lenders are only talking terms with delinquent borrowers, try not paying your mortgage for a couple of months and then ask again.

If the home is your primary residence, think about renting a room to a university student. If there's a college in your area, just put up circulars on the college bulletin boards advertising your room for rent - accenting the many rewards of living in a house vs. a dormitory.

How about a college exchange student? Telephone your local college and ask about their exchange student plan. College exchange students are students from other nations that visit the US by attending a US college. You are able to likewise try finding a niece or nephew in your family tree that would like to try living on their own. This idea is particularly enticing if you live in a distant place from your niece or nephew for of the added adventure of traveling to a new place and experiencing new things.

You are able to also market the advantages of living in a house to apartment renters, by placing flyers on apartments in your area. You are able to offer advantages like, a garage, a yard with a nearby park, an individual entry or allowing pets. There are a lot of individuals in apartments that would love to enjoy some of the advantages of home owners.

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Chapter 5: Privacy features of Google Voice

Like any new application available in the market, the Google Voice application has its benefits and also its downside.

Let us start with the benefits.

Routing - this eliminates the use of having multiple numbers for multiple purposes. After signing up and have a Google Voice number, you can tag all your numbers, mobile, office, home onto this Google number. Then when you get a call, all your phones or any specific phone will ring if you choose. This setting can be managed by the Google router.

Screening - you can choose certain options to do after picking up the call and while the caller still hears the phone ringing. The caller’s name will be shown and you can either answer the call, send it to voicemail, send it to voicemail and listen live or answer and record the call.

Voicemail - You can listen to messages in voicemail live as they are being recorded and pick up call in mid-message. Text transcription of recordings are available.

SMS - All texts sent or received are archived.

Some of its downside.

Privacy - every call and text message is kept in Google servers. Some may be personal and intimate in nature and is now considered public property. Are you comfortable with this knowledge?

Reliability - All technology is fallible. In some of Google’s service outages, there have been failed call recordings as well as unable to receive emails and RSS feeds and call routing to wrong numbers. These are important factors when considering committing to a new system.

Caller-ID - regular calls from your cell phone will show up as your old number. This can be confusing as the number you called from is different from the number you gave out. This can be detrimental especially in cases where businesses are established through Google Voice and there is confusion in communications resulting in lost deals.

Chapter 6: Costs and the final word

You are able to sign up for Google Voice and utilize many of the features for free including making calls to the US and Canada. Here we will look at utilizing Google Voice on your cellular phone might impact your cell phone bill.

Using domestic calls

If you utilize Google Voice on your cell phone, domestic calls will utilize the standard minutes from your cellular phone plan.

Every time you place a call, rather than dialing the number you wish to reach, Google Voice dials a US-based direct access number. The Google Voice server then sends on your call to the actual destination number. This lets faster call setup happen and the power to place calls without a data connection. These direct access numbers might show in your calls log, or on your phone bill.

A unique direct access number is assigned to every person that you call. The direct access numbers are stacked away in the Google Voice application, not in your Contacts. They may be chucked from your phone at any time by signing out of the Google Voice app.

Direct access numbers are delegated randomly, and might include numbers that are out of your local calling area, or even out of state. If you don't have a countrywide calling plan, you might be charged long distance rates by your carrier.

Using international calls

If you utilize Google Voice on your mobile phone, international calls utilize the standard minutes from your cellular phone plan and are charged against your Google Voice credit, at Google Voice international rates. International calls are likewise placed through direct access numbers, as described previously.

For international calls, you ought to hear a cost prompt, which lets you know that the call is going through Google Voice. You ought to hear the prompt for each international call. If you don't hear the prompt, your calling isn't being routed through Google Voice, and might be subject to charges from your provider.

When you have a US based telephone number, and try to place calls via Google Voice while you're in another country, you'll be charged the Google Voice international rates, and might likewise be subject to added roaming fees from your carrier.

Sending and getting text messages

If you utilize Google Voice on your cell phone, text messages are sent with your data plan, as opposed to your text-messaging plan, so there won't be any text messaging charges for messages that you send out to numbers in the U.S.A. or Canada.

Note: when you have your mobile phone listed as one of your forwarding telephones in your Google Voice account, responses will come to the Google Voice app, however will likewise be duplicated in the Android Messaging app. Depending upon your carrier, you might be charged for your received text messages. To disable this and simply have messages sent to the Google Voice app, sign in at voice.google.com, and then go to Settings > Voice settings > Phones > (your mobile number) > Edit > Receive text messages on this phone > Uncheck and Save. Google voice is an awesome tool. Make sure you learn as much as you can and use this as much as you can!

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Chapter 6: Using Mac at work

Mac is a rather popular tool to be used within the work environment as it creates a conducive work platform that help to increase productivity levels without the addition of aggravation and stress.

The simple explanation of being able to get more things done without the intrusions of viruses, spam, crashes and constant need for support, reboots, upgrades, defrags and maintenance are probably the most alluring elements to choose to use Mac.

One of the reasons why Mac has become an increasingly popular choice for work is the element of speed it possesses. A lot more work is done right from the startup mode as there is very little need to wait around for all the relevant applications to be booted and ready for application use.

This is very beneficial to the user who is often pressed for time and unable to wait around for the applications to synchronize and crate the necessary avenues for the work process needed at the time. Another feature is the Mac is able to function almost upon opening the iBook and this is far from possible with other platforms and tools where waiting for all the various downloads is essential.

There is also the easy color calibration and has cause quite a stir when it comes to eye catching displays. This causes everything to look great

and almost lifelike and this is even more beneficial for those engaging in Photoshop exercises.

Getting a wireless connection easily is also another attractive reason why Mac is so popular for work. It would seem that the configuration is not really needed as the Mac is always ready to be logged on anywhere and anytime. These connections with the internet are made easily and instantaneously, and without all the time consuming need for configurations to be incorporated or updated periodically.

Chapter 7: How to print & fax using Mac

Though considered a rather old method of getting information to another corresponding party, these actions are still carried out a lot of the time everywhere around the world. Thus the need to explore the possibility of having this particular formats available by using Mac.

Some would consider faxing a rather tedious task which is slow and provides lower quality exchange mode of information, but it is possible to be able to do so with the use of the Mac.

The Mac OS X makes this process easy to and receiving and sending of faxes from anywhere is possible with the simple use of the Mac with a modem connected to a telephone line suing a standard phone cord.

Once the proper configurations in come the Mac can receive taxes unattended and this can be done even when the system in not logged in at the time.

All that needs to be done would be to ensure the Mac is turned on, awake and connected to the phone line that isn’t linked to be used for voice or data call. There are some steps that should be executed in order to be able to receive the faxes without any glitch.

When it comes to printing, there may not be a need to install further printer software even if it is included in the printer’s makeup. This is due to the fact that many printers allow the recognition process when linked to the Mac OS X without any supporting applications needed.

The user would need to connect the USB port or FireWire port using the appropriate cable. The user would also have to ensure the documentation that came with the printer is in place and in the turned on mode, if this is not in place the user may have to download the latest drivers from the manufacturer’s site.

Chapter 8: Managing music with iTunes

Mac can also be successfully used to manage iTunes and this is a feature that does contribute to the popularity of Mac. However the user should be aware that there are quite a few different applications that can be used by Mac for the iTunes managing process.

The following are some of these as depicted according to its popularity and accompanying features:

The desk top controller resides in the OS X menu bar and offers the user a quick and easy way to maneuver between and rate the tracks on the system used. The user would simply have to click on the menu display and all the current information, along with several menus for selecting artists, playlists and recently played music will be depicted clearly for viewing. The feature is usually offered for free and the developer is You Software and requires the use of Mac OS 10.4 or 10.5 platforms.

Sizzling keys is also another place on the list that allow the selecting of songs to be played to be much easier. This can be done while providing a pleasant visual feedback of what the user is listening to at any given time. There is usually a nominal charge of just under $5 and the developer is the Yellow Mug which uses the Mac OS X 10.4 or iTunes 8.1.x

CoverSutra offers a decent range of features too. Some of which are iTunes control with a stunning interface and integrates will with the

Last.fm system. However this particular element can be quite expensive for such simple performance extensions but it is will considered interesting enough to merit some consideration. It usually comes with a price tag of about $20 and the developer is Sophistication and requires the use of Mac OS x Leopard.

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Chapter 6: The importance of the grips

The general rule of thumb to go by would be to find a grip that is most suitable for the individual as it is not a one size fit all kind of concept. The grip will not only determine the quality of play that the player eventually displays but can also affect the body conditions negatively.

Basically it would be better to start with a smaller grip size and then make adjustments until the grip size is both comfortable and safe for the user. If the grip used is unsuitable, there would be some twisting of the hand to, execute the stoke each time it is executed, thus contributing to the tennis elbow syndrome. This is a rather painful condition and would almost always require the attention of a medical professional.

The ideal grip size is usually found anywhere between the standard measurements of 4” to 4 and 5/8” and are at about 1/8” in intervals. The grip is often calculated by referring to the circumference of the grip the individual makes when holding the racquet. In order to get an estimation of the most appropriate grip size, a ruler should be placed at the bottom of the horizontal crease in the palm of the hand that is going to be holding the racquet. The measurement is taken from this point to the tip of the ring finger. This will indicate the ideal grip size for the individual. However if there is a need, and additional over grip can the added on which is about 1/16” in size to make the feel more comfortable.

Another method for measuring the grip would be to observe the amount of space between the fleshy part of the pal, and fingertips. Being able to “plug” this gap with the index finger of the other hand comfortably without any looseness or tightness (that doesn’t allow the finger in), would then give the player a good idea of the suitability of the grip chosen.

Chapter 7: Working on the perfect swing

There are a few set motions to follow in order to be able to execute the perfect tennis swing. By following these motions as closely as possible the individual will be able to master the swing well enough to break the opponent percentage of the ball possession, thus improving the chances of scoring points.

The following are some tips on how to go about perfecting the tennis swing:

Getting ready to receive and return the hit would require the player to keep the racquet in a back position all the time. One the ball is hit by the opponent, the player should immediately react and move to a position that would be ideal to receive and return the ball with a quick and fluid motion.

While establishing the balance in the stance, the player should be aware of allowing the stoke to be played while letting of with the non dominant hand while keeping the racquet pointed away from the intended target at a waist high position. Maintaining enough space between the body and the ball when in the final position to return the shot is important. Always ensuring the ball is hit from a waist high stroke will help to keep the balance and the return stroke accurately placed.

Making contact with ball when the racquet head is positioned at the same height as the hand is important and this should be done while remembering not to bend or straighten the arm. Moving the wrists to accommodate the stroke is also not encouraged as it will change the direction of the contact on the return stroke. Instead the player should be accustomed to rotating the shoulder while keeping an eye on the ball at all times to calculate the ideal return stroke.

Chapter 8: Practice the right spin

Being able to execute varied strokes effectively and efficiently will allow the player to serve better and more competitive strokes and will be present a challenge to the opponent. This will also create the opportunities for the player to score points and win the game easily.

The two main spin techniques would be the topspin and the backspin and being able to execute either one of these with a suitable force, will create ideal circumstances for the possibility of the opponent not being able to take and return the stroke successfully.

A top spin shot is shown when the ball is hit by sliding the racquet up and over the ball as it is being hit. The friction between the racquet’s strings and the ball will cause enough momentum to make the ball spin forward towards the opponent.

This kind of shot will bounce at a lower angle to the ground as the shot dips down after impact. The natural friction caused by the bounce angle will create the topspin as the ball moves towards the opponent’s side of the court.

The backspin shot is executed in an almost opposite manner, where the sliding of the racquet under the ball is positioned just before the return contact is made. Requiring only half the racquet head speed it will cause the ball to generate the ideal backspin or slice that is needed for the return stroke.

In this instance, the player is not required to change the direction of the already spinning ball. If the oncoming ball is already in a topspin motion the, the returning stroke will effectively create the slice hot as the rotation is maintained through the stroke. The direction of the shot can be changes but the ball will continue to spin from top to bottom as it moves away from the player towards the opponent side of the court.

Chapter 9: Mastering forehand and backhand

These two strokes are essentially what make up the game of tennis, and once mastered adequately, the player will be able to initiate a fairly competitive and enjoyable game play.

The tennis forehand is the most basic and most used stroke for any tennis player. It is also the money making stroke for the professional player in the tennis circuit.

Not necessarily being the easiest of all strokes, it is however the among the more effectively ones that can earn the player a good amount of points.

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Chapter 6: Record Skype conversation & videos

Skype does not have a built-in feature to save or record calls or video calls. The use of third party software, add-on or plugin is required if recording is needed.

There are many in the market. The popular ones are:

Vodburner - this software has a trial offer. So you can download it and try it out during the trial period. If it is good then go ahead and buy it. If not then try other software. This software has a 3 of 5 star rating.

Supertintin Recorder - this software has a trial offer. This software is recommended for Windows users. It is rated as the best for Skype in the Windows category with a 4 of 5 star rating. The software is lightweight, reliable and produces good consistent recording quality. eCamm - this software is recommended for Mac users. The feedback from users of this software is good and is highly recommended. Easy to use and not complicated.

Evaer video recorder - this software has a trial offer. This high quality, easy to use software has excellent Skype video and audio features and is very affordable compared to others.

Pamela - this is a freeware with options to upgrade. The freeware has limitations like 15 minutes recording only.

IMCapture - this software has a trial offer. This software is recommended for businesses also as the recorded file can be converted to most of the popular file formats for audio and video.

It is best to experiment with some of the software applications for Skype. You can do this during the trial periods and see which one suits you best. Some of them may lack the features you require. Some may be very complicated to use. Some may have extra features not found in others. Once you are satisfied which one is best for you, then make the purchase.

Chapter 7: Skypefor business

With features like online chatting, monthly low rates for long distance calls and group video calling, it is no surprise that Skype has more than 500 million registered users. Eventhough individuals make up more than 95% of Skype users, there is a huge user base on Skype that is made up of businesses.

Many businesses have found it extremely beneficial to have Skype as part of their communication highway between themselves and customers. Some businesses have reported communication savings up to 80% which can mean savings between $100 to $10,000 depending on monthly communication expenses.

Online chatting has replaced the old way of calling up a customer to give status on production, delivery or payments. Many companies have stand alone servers with Skype as the default application and this is used to communicate with all their suppliers and customers.

That means no additional expenses for faxes, landline calls, long distance calls etc. Close communication with customers and suppliers ensures good and lasting business relationships. And with the use of group video calling, the savings could be even more substantial.

The expenses incurred by a project team of 3 to 4 persons can cost a company $5,000 to $20,000 depending on the destination. This cost will include accommodation, flight and daily allowances. If the project team makes 6 trips a year, that could amount to $120,000. This amount is huge and much of it can be saved by using group video calling. By using group video calling, 80% of the project work can be done through Skype.

Savings on long distance calls can also be a substantial amount. Some companies with many international clients have monthly landline bills running into the thousands. With Skype, this expense can be lowered by 70% to 80% which is a lot if based on thousands.

Chapter 8: Your virtual office with Skype

Having Skype on your computer and mobile phone will create a virtual office for you and that means not having to be stuck in the office waiting for emails and SMSs. But you must remember to have WiFi connectivity to log onto your Skype account. You must get a basic plan that will allow you unlimited access and downloads from the internet.

When you are not bogged down, you will find that you can do a lot more on a daily basis. With the introduction of Voip as well as the emergence of social networks like facebook and twitter, many individuals have found a new way of life that is more social and mobile.

Many freelance professionals have virtual offices and do not have a permanent office base. Many actually work fom home and prefer this way of life. They say that they have no overheads and are more flexible with time as they are always in touch with associates, friends and family.

Travelling is also easier as they can plan their routines when they are at home and while they are out and not have to worry about returning to an office.

With Skype you can do all your professional work from where you are. You can even have a conference call right in the middle of town while you are on a lunch break or tea break. It also gives your customers confidence that they are able to contact you anytime. Many business relationships are built on trust, confidence and reliability. When your customers know that they can rely on you to deliver as promised, they will remain loyal customers.

And with Skype special low rate offers for long distance calls, expanding your business boundaries becomes a reality. Small price to pay for huge potential rewards.

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Chapter 10 Make a Plan for Change

If you can’t accept what you have in your life and be happy with it, then you need to make a plan for a change. There can be plenty of types of changes that occur to make you happier. Take an inventory of what you need in order to reach true happiness.

Maybe you need to improve relationships with your family and friends. Maybe you need more time for yourself and for your hobbies. Less stress about money can help you to be happier. Accepting yourself and being positive can also be part of the plan for change.

Time

One of the biggest barriers for change is time. People feel that they just don’t have enough of it. By saying no as talked about in a previous chapter, you can open up time. Start to carve out those period of down time on your monthly calendar before you fill it up with everything else.

In order for change to occur, you have to be willing to embrace it. Change isn’t going to come easy, and it can take time and patience. You need a plan of action to help you get there. For example, if you want to become more active, develop a plan that allows you to exercise 30 minutes a day. If the day tends to get away from you, carve out time first thing in the morning. If you are sluggish in the morning though the afternoon may be a better option.

Enjoyable

Next, find activities that you enjoy so that you won’t try to get out of it. Exercise needs to be something you look forward to rather than trying to avoid. When it comes to change, you won’t always get to take part in activities you like. That is where discipline comes into the picture.

When that is the case, think about how enjoyable it is going to be when you do make those changes. Visualize the level of happiness it will give you to stop smoking or to complete your degree. That will help you to be motivated and to move forward with the necessary tasks.

Support

Get encouragement and support from family and friends. Let them know what you want to change and why. If you are surrounding yourself with good people, they will encourage you and be proud of your efforts. This support also holds you to a higher level of accountability than before.

You may find that you get a buddy to help you make the change with too. For example, your spouse may decide they will stop smoking or they will make diet and exercise changes along with you. It sure is easier to do something like that with someone than on your own!

Rewards

Finally, have a way to track your progress and reward your efforts. If you are consistently working out day after day, treat yourself to something such as a new CD or a night at the movies.

You want the rewards to be consistent with what you have in place for your ultimate goal. For example, if you are planning to complete a four year degree, a reward at the end of each completed semester is a good idea. However, you should have a very large reward waiting for yourself come graduation day!

Resources

Keep in mind that you don’t have to take care of everything on your own. There are resources out there to help you with your plans for change. If you want to feel better, talk with your doctor. If you want to eat better, sit down with a dietician. A financial planner can help you with budgeting and with retirement. Use the resources that make it easier for you to have a clear path to your goals.

Write it Down

Your plan of action for change and a happier you should be written down. This makes it more concrete. Have a start date and an end date for reaching your ultimate goal. If the goal is large and long term, break it down so you have mini steps to achieve along the way. Being able to celebrate that success will keep you motivated.

Evaluate

At regular intervals, evaluate your plan of action for change. Are you happier? Do you feel the plan is still working for you? If not, revamp it. You may find that tweaking certain elements of your plan allow you to get beyond any pitfalls that you didn’t foresee in your path.

Chapter 11 Take Care of your Mind and Body

If you want to be happy in life, you need to take care of your mind and your body. The mind and body work in sync with each other so they should be able to offer you the very best. When they aren’t in sync though you have to make an effort to get them back to that point.

Chemicals in the Brain

In order to experience happiness, there are certain chemicals in the brain that must be present. The chemical balance of the brain is very complex. Taking part in exercise will help to release feel good chemicals. Some individuals don’t have the right combination of chemicals that they need.

If that may be the case, medications may be necessary to help regulation them. Many people suffer from mental health concerns including depression that prevent them from being as happy as they would like to be. Talk to a professional about the possibility and see if they can help you to be happier than you thought possible. If all your efforts alone don’t raise that level, this may be the next step to explore.

Lifestyle Habits

The mind needs to rest just like the body does. Getting enough sleep each night is good for the mind and the body. It will provide you with more energy and allow you to be alert. When the mind is sharp, you get more accomplished in less time. You can also be more creative.

Avoid bad habits including drinking excessively, using illegal drugs, and smoking. They can all contribute to serious health problems. It can be hard to stop using such products due to the physical and mental addiction to them. However, there are resources out there that can help offer solutions so you don’t have to feel alone with your efforts.