A Chuckle A Day, More Than An Apple, Keeps The Doctor Away

Are You Laughing Enough?

When did you last have a really good laugh? How many times a day do you smile? How much fun do you get out of life?

It isn't much of an exaggeration to say that 'laughter is the best medicine'.

Laughter can help keep you healthy. And when you're ill, laughter can make you well again.

Take the case of Norman Cousins, for example.

He had been assured by his doctors that there was no cure for the inflammatory disease that was crippling him.

The doctors told him that they could do little to help him.

But Norman, an American magazine editor, wasn't prepared to give up.

He took himself out of hospital and moved into a hotel room. There he spent his days watching his favourite comedy films and reading books by his favourite funny writers.

Not only did Norman feel better. The doctors looking after him found scientific evidence to prove that laughter had helped to cue him!

Doctors still don't know how laughter can help to cure the human body.

We do know that it improves breathing, lower blood pressure and releases special healing hormones.

Even smiling can help.

There is evidence that when you smile, your whole body becomes calmer. Try it: next time you're feeling miserable, try putting a really cheerful smile on your face. You'll find it difficult to stay sad.

Try making your eyes sparkle with laughter and you'll feel jollier than ever!

To find out if you're getting enough laughs, answer the following ten questions:

1. How often do you have a really good laugh?

a) At least once most days

b) At least once a week

c) At least once a month

d) Not very often

2. If some one plays a (harmless) practical joke on you, do you:

a) See the funny side straight away

b) Usually see the funny side eventually

c) Usually fail to see the funny side.

3. When something amuses you, do you:

a) Smile inside

b) Laugh out loud but try to restrain yourself

c) Laugh out loud and let yourself go

d) Smile and chuckle quietly

4. You're making love. Your partner suddenly starts to giggle. Would you:

a) Be surprised, offended and hurt

b) Want to know what was so funny and then probably start laughing

c) Start laughing straight away - even if you didn't know why

5. How many books can you name that have made you laugh out loud?

a) None

b) 1 or 2

c) 3 or more

6. How many films can you name that have made you laugh out loud?

a) None

b) 1 or 2

c) 3 or more

7. How many comedians can you name who make you laugh?

a) None

b) 1 or 2

c) 3 or more

8. How many TV programmes can you name that have made you laugh out loud?

a) None

b) 1 or 2

c) 3 or more

9. You're at a party and a group of friends start to behave in a silly way. Would you:

a) Join in straight away

b) Maybe join in

c) Watch

d) Keep out of the way and leave as soon as possible

e) You don't have any friends who would behave like that

10. A street entertainer has gathered a huge crowd - most of the people are laughing. You're not in any hurry. Would you:

a) Stop and enjoy the show

b) Sneak a quick look but then carry on

c) Hurry by without looking

d) Hurry on and look for a policeman so that you can make a complaint about the noise

Now check your score!

a) 4; b) 3; c) 2; d) 1

a) 3; b) 2; c) 1

a) 1; b) 3; c) 4; d) 2

a) 1; b) 2; c) 3

a) 1; b) 2; c) 3

a) 1; b) 2; c) 3

a) 2; b) 2; c) 3

a) 1; b) 2; c) 3

a) 5; b) 4; c) 3; d) 2; e) 1

a) 4; b) 3; c) 2; d) 1

If you scored 25-35

You laugh a lot. You're undoubtedly fun to be with. You're a great tonic to friends - and strangers. And you're doing your health a lot of good!

If you scored 17-24

You have a fairly healthy attitude but you tend to hold back sometimes. Maybe you feel guilty about being seen to have a good time. Maybe you feel embarrassed if you are seen laughing. Maybe you feel that you're too old, or too important to be seen laughing. Stop worrying! Let your hair down, follow your natural instincts and don't let your fears about what other people will think interfere with your desire and ability to enjoy yourself.

If you scored 16 or less

You really do need to loosen up and take yourself less seriously. Are you, perhaps, a little pompous? Do you maybe take yourself too seriously? Let more laughter and fun into your life and loosen up a little and you'll probably enjoy life more, make more friends and be much healthier.

Quick ways to put more laughter into your life

1. Try to spend as much time as possible with cheerful people. If you spend all your time with people who have long faces and always look on the black side then you'll acquire a long face and gloomy outlook yourself. Depression is contagious. Bright and cheerful friends will help make you bright and cheerful.
2. Try not to take yourself too seriously. You don't have to be pompous to get the respect of other people.
3. Make a list now of your favourite funny films and books. Keep a library of your favourite funny videos and books. One businessman I know reads comics on the train - hidden inside his daily paper. He says they make him laugh and help him to relax.

WARNING

Not all types of humour will improve your health!

A professor of psychology at Central Michigan University in America claims that the type of humour you listen to determines how healthy you'll be.

James Carroll, says that:

• cynical comedy increases your chances of falling ill.
• humour that puts down authority figures can make men ill.
• self-deprecating jokes make women ill.

As a general rule, clown comics are good for you. Satirists are bad for you!

http://ezinearticles.com/?A-Chuckle-A-Day,-More-Than-An-Apple,-Keeps-The-Doctor-Away&id=9713706

Message From the Universe: Why Settle for Less?

"Has it occurred to you that you could ask for more?

Not just more than what you now have, but more than you're now asking for?

This is why I'm HOT,

The Universe"

The Universe is limitless, as far as the eyes or telescope can see or estimate. Beyond our Universe, we have other Universes, based on String Theory, and these parallel Universe are probably bigger and more vast than ours. Many planets in our solar system are 1000 times larger than Earth itself, which can allow to assume that the same applies to our galaxies or Universe. Our thoughts can control more than what you can imagine, so since this is the case, might as well ask for more than you can handle. What do you really have to lose? When you negotiate a contract, you always go for a high number and negotiate downward.

However, when asking for more in this case, you will aim for something bigger than you can grasp, which in return, will render the results that you would have never expected. Keep on dreaming big, keep on asking for more of the great things and whatever you get in return will always be more than what you ever dreamed of. If you are asking for a billion dollars but only get 100 000 000, it may only represent 10%, but it is still better if you allowed yourself to have limited expectations. You need to look at everything in your life with positive perspective, so even if the Universe negotiates with you at a lesser amount, it will still be spectacular.

Abundance is out there for all of us to grasp but it is up to us to know and believe what we deserve. There is a difference between being entitled and expect or wanting more. On the one hand, you feel entitled to have things that you didn't do much for it, expecting life to provide for you of the things that you believe should be given to you but not do much in return to show appreciation. On the other hand, wanting more is because you worked your butt off and learn to never settle for less, knowing for a fact that if you do not ask for more than what you are expecting, someone else will have that peace of the pie. There is enough for everyone, so just ask and never give up on asking the Universe for what you really want, and go above and beyond that at all times. You believe that your hard work and ethics deserve what's coming to you, and you want to be on the front row seat when you see your life change in the right direction.

It is said: "Be careful what you wish for", well my advice is DO NOT BE CAREFUL for what you wish for because this is a calculated step that you took to get to where you want to be in life. What do you need to be careful about abundance? Will you not be able to deal with a wealth of several hundred million dollars in your bank account? Are you afraid to drive a Lambo or Ferrari? Worrying about getting a 50 000 sq ft home instead of 25 000 and who will be maintaining it? Stop worrying and when you face this problem, if you can call this a problem, I am sure you will be happy enough to make a decision based on the wealth you possess. Keep on dreaming, and make sure your dreams are so big that they scare the hell out of you.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Message-From-the-Universe:-Why-Settle-for-Less?&id=9696927

Staying Motivated on the Job

From time to time, any worker can lose motivation on the job. It doesn't matter whether you work at a fast food restaurant or in one of the best law firms, a lack of motivation can happen any time and at any place. When you notice that you are lacking the motivation that you once had about your work, it is time to reflect and then take some actions to restore motivation and stay motivated.

Take Control Over What You Can

Take control over what you can in your work environment. Having a sense of control helps you to stay accountable and motivated. Even if you only have control over the most basic of things, take heart in it. Stop worrying about what you cannot control and focus on the positives. Seeing the good in your work environment will help you to stay motivated to come in and do your best.

Celebrate Your Accomplishments

No matter how small it is, celebrating an accomplishment is another excellent way to stay motivated. Did you get to work early every day for the past 30 days? Celebrate by stopping at your favorite coffee shop on your next day off. Did a customer tell your manager that you provided excellent service? Write down what the customer said and refer to it when you are feeling down. Even the smallest successes in the workplace will inspire you to achieve bigger ones.

Remind Yourself of Your Strengths

If you sense a loss of motivation, take a moment and reflect on your strengths. While most people are aware of their own weaknesses, it is better to think positively and focus on your strengths. Think of how to use your strengths to boost your motivation at work. Writing down a list of your strengths is helpful. From your ability to speak two languages fluently to your supreme organizational skills, write it all down. Then consider how you can use those strengths in the workplace.

Learn from Your Mistakes

Everyone makes mistakes. When you realize that you have erred, consider how you reached your conclusion. Think back to every decision and what you could have done differently. Don't dwell on the error. Learn from it. This will help you stay motivated to make better decisions in the future.

Consider Your Career Goals

Think of the work you are doing in your current job and how it will help you to achieve your career goals. Perhaps you are a cashier in a grocery store and your goal is to be the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. The skills that you are currently developing will help you to get there. For example, great people skills are always a plus. As a cashier, you interact with people all day. You assist customers with their purchases. Answer their questions. Explain store rules. All the while managing money and staying up-to-date with technology. Consider how those skills can be utilized as you advance to shift supervisor, department head, store manager and beyond.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Staying-Motivated-on-the-Job&id=9653880

Tips for Not Worrying About What Others Are Thinking About You

Do you worry a lot about what other people around you are thinking about you? Fear not; here are a few tips to overcome your discomfort. Read on.

· Focus on the long distance and carry your sight as much as your eyes would carry. See the lights, people, cars, shops and trees. It is a way to distract yourself from the mass of people you would worry what they are thinking about you. From time to time, bring your focus on this long distance when you are outside of your home and you won't be worrying at all about others - be it the outside people or someone inside your mind.

· Close your eyes and think of a past memory you would like to recall again and again. Bring this memory in front of you time and again when you want to stop worrying about anybody what they have in mind about you.

· Think of a child either in the past or present. It may be your own child who is little at present or was in your past. Think of the funny activities s/he did that make you smile now. Think how it felt to hold him/her, to see his/her first walk or to enjoy telling them bedtime stories. These little things will help you escape the heavy worry what people in your life are thinking about you.

· Be engrossed reading in a fantastic and interesting novel. That way your attention will hardly divert to the people in your life who you would otherwise worry what they are thinking about you.

· Go on a long drive with your family and enjoy quality time with them. You will be laughing, sharing jokes and enjoying the summer breeze and soft music. There is nothing to worry about what other less significant people in your life are thinking about you.

· Spend quality time being occupied by a hobby such as stamp collecting or coin collecting and lose yourself in it. Don't divert your attention from it for a good many minutes. You allow yourself to lose in it without concentrating your thoughts on the people in your life who you may be worried what they are thinking about you.

· Go to a nearby park and ride on a swing. Let your hair down and let it fly in the gentle breeze. Give yourself a few pushes on the swing and enjoy the ride. Lose yourself completely in the beauty and thrill of the moments. You don't allow yourself to focus on the people in your life who you may be worried what they may be thinking about you.

· How about visiting an art exhibition and letting yourself immerse in some art exhibits for a while? You will certainly like the mysteries as well as the revelations of these if you speculate for a while. As you watch on these, will you remember to care what people in your world are thinking about you? Certainly not.

Summing up, those are some of my great tips in overcoming worry about what other people are thinking about you. Always remember you are not a people pleaser and don't need to bother about others' thoughts about you. Stay calm and carry on with your life. That way you achieve great things - unimaginable yet very much worthy.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Tips-for-Not-Worrying-About-What-Others-Are-Thinking-About-You&id=9603648

Simple Strategies For Natural Stress And Anxiety Relief

Stress management is a term that can have many unsavory meanings. A lot of people are surprised by this idea, but the reality is that no one wants to actually manage their stress. They would far better prefer to find ways of alleviating it so that they can enjoy peaceful and content lifestyles and overall mood balance. Sadly, consumers often turn to pharmaceutical products in order to obtain this relief. These treatments do not resolve the underlying causes of chronic anxiety and stress and are instead, usually designed to mute the symptoms of these ailments only. Fortunately, there are a number of safe and effective ways to naturally improve your mindset and many of these strategies do not entail any uncomfortable side effects.

One of the best ways to limit stress and anxiety is to simply recognize that these emotions don't work for you. They actually compound your problems by preventing you from taking action when you really should. It is hard to make clear and focused decisions that are actually to your benefit. People tend to freeze up when they feel anxious and can only watch their problems become worse.

The best advice for those who suffer from anxiety is to take care of the things that require action and to stop worrying about the things that they can't change. Acceptance can make it easier to let things go or to simply be what they are. This mindset also allows people to learn from their mistakes so that they aren't putting themselves in the same stressful circumstances further down the road.

Believe it or not, many of the physical feelings of stress and anxiety that people experience are actually a matter of choice. You have the power to control much of your own physiology. Thus, if your heart is constantly racing and your stomach feels like it's in knots, these are things that you can consciously change.

Diaphragmatic breathing is a great practice for those who are living with an inordinate amount of stress. It is a simple, meditative practice that you can do anywhere. Simply sit back, close your eyes and place your hand on your abdomen. Breath in through your nose while using your diaphragm muscle, so that the intake of air causes your belly to push out. Hold your breath for ten seconds and then slowly exhale through your mouth as your abdomen deflates.

Practicing diaphragmatic breathing for just ten minutes has been shown to alter brain functioning and brain wave patterns. Not only will it make you feel calmer, but your body will respond in kind. Your heart rate will slow down and your stomach won't be in knots.

If you feel a lot of stress, you should also stay away from stimulants. Stop drinking coffee or other caffeinated beverages. Enter a smoking cessation program and limit your intake of refined sugars. Small changes like these really do make a difference.

Physical exercise is another great weapon in your arsenal against chronic anxiety and stress. Start taking daily walks or invest in a stationary bike. These activities will cause your body to release a flood of mood-boosting chemicals known as endorphins. You could also sign up for a yoga class. Yoga training fosters greater breath and body consciousness and will give you an increased ability to control and alleviate negative emotions.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Simple-Strategies-For-Natural-Stress-And-Anxiety-Relief&id=9441522

How to Stop Worrying About Money and Start Feeling Grateful for Abundance Now (Sarah Prout)

Listen up buttercup! Money can be such a touchy touchy subject, but it’s an important one to discuss. The beliefs we hold in our hearts around the theme of prosperity and abundance can either be empowering, or they can stunt your ability to hold onto the moolah when it manifests into your life. If you worry about money you’re definitely not alone. There are many awesome ways you can start to cultivate a feeling of abundance when you have next to nothing in your bank account. Your current reality is not an indication of your worth or your potential…

The key thing to remember is that the Universe responds to how you think and feel. So why not fill your heart with the energy of abundance?

Today marks the 6th anniversary of when I signed my first rental lease after leaving my 10-year marriage with literally nothing. I left with 2 suitcases and 2 kids. I didn’t even own a car. My rent was $310 per week and it was way above and beyond my weekly budget. I was getting peanuts from my fortnightly welfare check, and I was also getting a small child support payment at irregular intervals. I also had a whopping $30,000 worth of credit card debt to pay off. The banks were calling me almost hourly. I had bills up to my eyeballs and there were some days where I didn’t know how I was going to feed my children.

The stress was unbearable, but I took things one day at a time.

As I write these words, I have earned more TODAY (and it’s only 1:49pm) than I used to live on in an entire month only 6 short years ago. It’s incredibly humbling to have walked the talk from poverty to prosperity.

I think one thing that I did was rewire my thinking and my beliefs to be grateful for whatever I had in the present moment. So if you’re stressed about money (not having enough of it) then it’s time to start believing that anything is possible. I can’t promise it will be easy, but I can promise you that the energy you put into things will always return back to you.

Prosperity consciousness is something that grows and expands over time, but you have to be willing to get rid of the beliefs and patterns that no longer serve you. So here are 7 Important (and Spiritual) Reasons You Need to Stop Worrying About Money and Start Being Grateful for Abundance Now…

1. Fear attracts fear

You have to stop being afraid of what will happen if you don’t attract more money. Instead, try distracting yourself with other things like watching TV shows or going for walks etc. Do anything you can to shift your mindset from being fearful into being present.

2. You have so much to be grateful for

A vast majority of people that reside on this beautiful planet live in real poverty. They don’t have clean water, or education or health care. If you’re reading this article then I’m guessing that you are incredibly rich and wealthy enough to be able to read, to have access to electricity and to have excellent eye sight.

You have so much to be grateful for when you put our privilege into perspective.

3. Money is just energy

Manifesting money is all about the energy that you bring to the experience. The more playful and open you can be with the Universe, the more likely it is that your vibration is buzzing at an excellent frequency to welcome in the cash.

4. A ‘lack’ mentality doesn’t and will never serve you

If anything, feeling fearful or irritated by something you perceive you DON’T have (yet) is always an invitation from your soul to see beyond the illusion and do some stellar inner work.

“Spiritual” people often like to create a divide between themselves and others to make themselves feel more in control of their awakening and feel more superior…this totally misses the point. Quite frankly I see it as a load of bull-sheeto.

5. Your time is precious

The bottom line is that life is too short to worry about anything. Most of the things in life are beyond your control. However, you do have the ability to control how you perceive certain situations.

6. You are a magnet, a beautiful magnet

Abundance isn’t just about the dollars that are in your bank account. Abundance is all about how prosperous you feel and how present you can remain in the moment with a heart filled with gratitude. This will amplify and magnetize your manifesting powers.

7. The Universe always has your back

When you learn to trust that you are infinitely LOVED, cherished and protected then life becomes more powerful and super sweet. The fear will melt away.

Let go of the fear, the limiting beliefs, and most importantly the past and start to see that you are so worthy of abundance in every area of your life.

http://sarahprout.com/stop-worrying-about-money

Meaning of Concentration

Concentration is the ability of an individual to direct his entire attention to a particular task or object, without being affected by the numerous external forces trying to divert his attention. There is a belief that concentration isn't as much about paying attention to one thing, as it is about choosing to ignore everything else. It is more about the ability to give your undivided attention to a particular thing.

Our mind processes an approximate of 60,000-80,000 thoughts per day. That's near about 69.44 thoughts a minute. So when we talk about concentrating, we're not talking some silly number! We're actually talking about a good 70 thoughts a minute. Our mind actually processes and then picks one out of those thoughts and we deem it important enough to pay attention to, while ignoring the other 68 or 69 thoughts!

Exhausting, in my opinion. But for the brain, it's all in a day's work!

Where does concentration begin?

• As far as the brain is concerned, concentration is thought to begin in the frontal lobe of the brain. This process begins from infancy and continues till the day we die.

• Unlike focus, which involves being aware of something in general, concentration is all about isolating a particular task or situation or object and paying attention only towards it.

• Concentration involves paying attention, recognising the object of attention and understanding the object of attention as well. You don't simply look or think. It is a combined process of various cognitive functions coming together and in a way, dissecting the task or object at hand.

Concentration can be developed and paid at different levels. So there is scope for growth in the level of concentration. It's like peeling away the layers, to reach the core of something. It takes a little bit more concentration to peel away each additional layer, till we finally get to the very crux.

Let us now understand why there is a need to concentrate on something and what all other benefits it yields. In the end we shall take a look at some methods to build better concentration.

Need to Concentrate

• To get things done. To complete tasks. 

• To stay on track with our work. 

• To be able to understand every aspect of our work. 

• To complete our work to the best of our abilities

When we concentrate, we put our entire mental prowess into understanding something, which in turn helps us analyse and solve problems in a better way. That is why when we try to solve mathematical problems, we need a little more concentration than usual. Our mind has to work that little bit harder to analyse and solve the problem at hand.

We all have the ability to concentrate some of the time. But at other times our thoughts are scattered, and our minds race from one thing to another. To deal with such times, we need to learn and practice concentration skills and strategies.

To concentrate, we have to learn a skill, and as with any skill this means practice repeated day after day until we achieve enough improvement to feel that we can concentrate when we need to. If you remember, I once spoke of the mind and the thoughts. Explaining the mind as a rock and the thoughts as flowing water. The more the thoughts hit the mind, the deeper the lines that fall. With concentration, we are doing something like that. We are constantly hitting the mind with a single thought or a single stream of thoughts, which ultimately have a lasting impact.

When we concentrate, the brain tends to get exhausted and very soon, it is too tired to stay on track any more. At such times, we realise the importance of expanding our horizons and concentrating more.

Let us now look at some techniques to concentrate better.

1. Pause and Notice

Every time you try to concentrate on something, you inevitably find your mind wandering to various related aspects. This is not really productive. At that juncture you need to pause and take note. What did you start with? Are you still on the same subject? If you have swayed even a little bit, then come back to the real thing.

2. Set aside some worry time

When we concentrate, one of the chief problems we face is worry. We tend to worry. The worry may be random. It may have absolutely no relation to the point. But that will not stop your mind from worrying.

So, rip the issue out from the root. Just simply set aside a fixed amount of time for worrying. So if you are working 12 hours, keep an hour in between to take a break and plainly worry. Worry your heart out! 

And then stop worrying.

3. Have a fixed position of seating

As weird as this sounds, concentration has a whole lot to do with physical movement too. You keep moving around; you won't be able to concentrate. You will feel tired or sometimes your mind will begin wandering.

So you need to stop wandering and sit down when you are doing something.

4. Find a silent place

When the work is important, the place where you work becomes even more important. Find a place with the least amount of distractions. Ensure you don't have too many people around you who can snatch your attention away.

Libraries, empty rooms, classrooms, corner offices (we all want one!), work best for this.

5. Take a break

You need a break from concentrating too. The mind tires out and what happens after that is not concentration. It's a waste of time and energy. Whatever happens, don't try to force your mind to keep concentrating. Give it some break. Sleep a little or even just divert your attention for a while.

Concentrating is more about a choice. If you've committed to do it, just do it. So, first commit and you will find it happening.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Meaning-of-Concentration&id=9340242

Live a Happy Life: Tips on How to Stop Worrying and Stressing

Worrying and stressing comes around from various causes. However, it is important to note that many of these causes can be avoided plus, you will realize that a majority of the causes did not really exist. Whether you are worried about meeting your expectations or you feel like your progress is not matching up to the rest of your colleagues, you need to learn how to stop worrying and stressing.

Many may argue that one cannot help but wonder. This is not entirely true. Yes, stressful instances occur but the key difference is how you choose to handle the situation. Just thinking of the side effects of worrying and stressing will highlight why you should stop stressing. Not only will you start to age faster, it also increases high blood pressure, provokes acne, and deteriorates your overall health.

The following pointers will help you learn how to stop worrying and stressing or at least reduce it.

Take breaks/rest/ensure adequate sleep

Without rest, you tend to overwork yourself. This is a recipe for stress and worry because you lack time to rest. Resting gives you time to off load your worries and restore your body's strength. Taking a break is not the same as sleeping. Sleeping offers a complete shut down and your mind relaxes and has nothing to think of.

Take up on your hobby

Every individual has a hobby or something they love doing. By taking on a hobby, you will be able to relax no matter the situation. For example, for those who love singing, try to sing to your favorite tune when you feel like things are about to fall apart. Your mind will focus more on your hobby and your worry will no longer take first position in your life.

Focus on the positives

The one reason a worry will grow to stress you is if you keep focusing on the negative occurrences. Life is full of ups and downs but if you are looking to constantly address the downs, you will definitely worry and stress yourself. Identify the good in your life and place more focus on it.

Live in the present

While it is important to plan for the future, you must live the present first. Depression and anxiety are results of living in the past and the future. Living the present allows you to be at peace with yourself. This is because the past cannot change and no matter how much you think and stress over your past, nothing will change it and it is about time you let it go.

Address one thing at a time

Learn to address one thing at a time rather than worry about achieving several things all at the same time. You only have a limited number of body features and you should try to live within this capability. Trying to take on several things at the same time will led to confusion and the probability that you will not succeed is very high. This then leads to increasing your stress levels.

Worrying and stressing arises from thinking too much and hoping that things would work out or they would be different. The best piece of advice would be to think less and live more. The above will help you address how to stop worrying and stressing and lead a happier and healthier lifestyle.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Live-a-Happy-Life:-Tips-on-How-to-Stop-Worrying-and-Stressing&id=9315974