Giving and Receiving: The Key to Personal Happiness and Success

Do you want more in life? Then you need to give more!

Giving takes many forms. Genuinely wishing for people to be happy is a form of giving. Allowing people to be themselves without wanting them to change and without controlling their behavior is also giving. It's called "giving someone space". Accepting people for who they are and acknowledging their merits rather than judging them, is giving too. You can give money, time, understanding, love and compassion. Give as much as you can, and you will receive 10 times more in the form of love, positive energy, material success, career, relationships and internal happiness! And remember: you are most likely to receive from different sources, not from the ones you give to.

Feeling lonely? You don't give enough!

Giving is the quickest way to disperse loneliness. Caring for another human being and expressing it by giving (your time, attention, love, or a blessing) is the best way to feel connected. If you feel isolated, not understood, not fitting in, then deep down you are probably a selfish person and you simply don't give enough. Shift your focus away from yourself and onto another human. Show them some care and compassion; help them out for the sake of doing something good! You are guaranteed to feel more connected and far less lonely.

Feeling sad and depressed? Giving is the cure!

The amount of satisfaction a human being gets from giving is the highest level of satisfaction you will ever get. Sadness and depression go hand in hand with a "victim" mentality. The "poor me" consciousness is a mental state of helplessness and disempowerment. Shift your attention away from your misery by focusing on solving someone else's problem. Give them care, love, attention, money, time, or anything else they may need. Volunteer your time somewhere! Consider charity work! Give something from your heart and watch sadness and depression disperse while happiness takes over.

Do you know how to give?

Giving has to be from the heart, anonymous, expecting nothing in return but the personal pleasure from giving itself. Those who feel depleted from too much giving don't know how to give. If giving is unconditional and from the heart, it should leave you feel satisfied, happy, energized, content, recharged. If you give in the right way, then you will receive 10 times more and you will be an infinite source of giving.

The balance between giving and receiving is a state of mind. You choose to feel rewarded. Or not! You choose to notice people's gifts. Or not! There is nothing objective about receiving. It is a matter of perception. And the more genuinely you give, the more open you are to noticing how much you do receive in life.

If giving depletes you, if you feel like you constantly give and never receive, then you don't give unconditionally. Giving that makes you resentful is not true giving. It is desire to control. "I will give you my love/money/time, etc. as long as... " You can fill in the gap with anything you like and it will all be coming from a desire to control and ultimately lead to resentment. Stop controlling the people around you with your gifts and the resentment will disappear.

Expect nothing in return and allow yourself to truly feel happy for the other person, no conditions and no expectations. What you will get in return is priceless: you will feel free, energized and overwhelmed with happiness. Positive energy will start streaming back to you and you will want to keep on giving forever. The more you give, the more you will receive. And the most you can give, is forgive!

Forgiving: The Highest Form of Giving!

A true giver knows how to forgive. Forgiveness is the highest form of giving and the very thing that holds the key to your own happiness. Forgive yourself first! Then forgive everyone else that you think has hurt you. The reality is, no one has the power to hurt you. You are the one who chooses to feel hurt and you choose to blame someone else for feeling that way. Let it go, forgive and forget! Stop drinking the poison waiting for someone else to die.

Forgiveness can be very easy! The only thing you need to do is give up the idea that you are right. Remind yourself that we are all human and we can all make mistakes, mostly unintentional. Forgive by sending out positive energy and love, and watch the positive energy and the love coming back to you many times over.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vyara_Bridgeman

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Happiness Is a Choice So Why Not Choose It?

Did you know that happiness is a choice? Be honest. It's okay if you didn't know. The majority of us are completely clueless about this critical little tidbit of information. And, it's not our fault. The important thing is that once you read this article, you will be aware of it and how it happened that you never knew it before now.

In fact, most people today still are not aware that happiness is a choice. Why? It all got started generations ago when the masses created beliefs according to the times in which they lived, and those beliefs were then passed down to future generations, including yours and mine. Most of us grew up with the mistaken belief that to be happy we had to earn it, work for it, inherit a fortune, find the perfect soul mate, behave in a certain way, and some of us were even told we have to sacrifice our own happiness for the sake of others. We were led to believe that we could only find happiness outside of ourselves.

Think back to your childhood at home and when you were in school and remember the things you heard from your parents and teachers or perhaps even society itself over and over again. Those very thoughts or behaviors became part of your belief system regardless of whether or not they were true simply because they were repeatedly presented to you in one form or another.

What happens when we're told something over and over again, especially by people we love or trust? It becomes a deep-seated belief! Incidentally, the definition of "deep-seated" is "situated far below the surface or ingrained." Our minds have a natural ability to absorb thoughts or information that we hear or think repeatedly, ultimately making that information or thought a belief. So, many of our personal beliefs were ingrained in us by our parents, teachers, and society. Again, this wasn't their fault, and they are not to be blamed. These beliefs were ingrained in them by the thoughts and ideas they heard repeatedly over their lifetimes.

What this means is you must simply be aware of the fact that you can make the choice to be happy. You can choose happiness. You can choose to create a positive mindset and live it out every day. And, when you consciously make that choice every day and repeatedly tell yourself happiness is a choice, over time it becomes part of your nature (an unconscious habit). Before long, if something upsets you or makes you mad or sad, you will quickly be reminded that you have the choice to be happy because it will have become a belief for you--just like all the old beliefs that were instilled in you by your parents, school, and society. And, when you live in a positive and optimistic mindset and choose happiness consistently, there will likely be a turn of events in your life that may seem somewhat miraculous to you.

I'm not saying choosing happiness is easy for everyone. It may take some effort on your part, especially if your life to date has lacked happiness or at least you believe it did. Old beliefs are surely powerful, but again, the important thing to remember is this: a belief is nothing more than a thought you've heard or think over and over again. Just knowing this can make it much easier to make up your mind your going to choose happiness by changing your thoughts and beliefs and adopting a positive and optimistic mindset. In other words, you choose happiness.

"Optimism is a happiness magnet. If you stay positive, good things and good people will be drawn to you." ~ Mary Lou Retton

Obviously there will be times when life hands you something that gets you down here and there. That's a normal part of life we all experience. What I'm saying is that happiness is an inherent part of our lives overall and in fact is our natural state. It stands to reason then that if we make the choice to consistently live life with optimism and a positive mindset-in other words we choose to be happy­-happiness will ultimately become our norm.

So start making the choice to be optimistic, to let go of negative thoughts and moods and replace them with positive thoughts and joy. And one more thing, and this is a biggie, being around negative people and their negative energy is a downer on every level. So choose to spend your time with people who are optimistic, positive, fun, and happy. Remember, happiness is a choice, and it's yours to make.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peggy_L_Nelson

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Can Happiness Be Cultivated?

What can we do to achieve more happiness? Dr. Martin Seligman the author of authentic happiness and researcher from the University of Pennsylvania says we can make changes that will develop our level of optimism and happiness. It may be that we have a "set point for happiness" and we tend to return to this set point when circumstances in our lives give us pleasure or bring us pain. It was once believed that it was not possible to change this set point and we were doomed to be miserable. The study of neuroplasticity also challenges this concept. We now know that our brains are flexible, adaptive, and capable of making changes by developing new neural pathways that impact our ability to learn and adjust to environmental conditions.

If it is possible for us to be happier or move our set point for happiness, than what do we need to do to bring about these changes in our lives? Most likely it is helpful to make a distinction between happiness and pleasure. Pleasure is an enjoyable experience that does not necessarily make us happy in the long term and may even make us more unhappy. Eating sweets excessively, drinking alcohol to excess, or being impulsive may well give us some instant gratification, but may only serve to make us more unhappy. Asserting conscious self-control, developing a sense of gentle self discipline, and authentically taking better care of ourselves may help us feel happier and improve our ability to relate constructively to the world around us.

Improving the way we relate to the world can have a major impact on our ability to reduce stress and help us feel we have some level of control in our lives. When I say control, I do not mean that which is uncontrollable. As Dr. Steven Covey says, "we can develop the ability to positively influence or control certain aspects of our lives." By relating more effectively to the world around us we are better able to meet our needs and approach life in a more relaxed and confident manner. Developing improved communication skills such as active listening and improving our ability to attend to others is a winning strategy.

Learning to slow down (my particular challenge), practicing meditation, mindfulness, being involved in activities that we love, developing compassion, and learning to be more patient require effort and practice. It may be difficult to develop these skills, however, it may be well worth the investment of our time and energy. When we are miserable and anxious it is particularly challenging to cultivate self-acceptance, a sense of self-appreciation, and a non-judgmental attitude with regards to our own emotions. These skills are not something that come to most of us easily and required sustained effort over time.

Don Recupido is the director of the Life Enrichment Center located in Woodbury, NJ. He is a licensed professional counselor who has been working with couples and families for more than 25 years. Don received his Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology from Temple University. The focus of his practice is to help individuals improve communications, reduce stress, and improve their behavior to address health related issues and prevent health related challenges. He is holistic in his approach to treatment and is committed to the belief that we must improve our physical health to develop our emotional potential and sustained happiness.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Donald_R_Recupido

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If It Ain't Broke, Break It!

Most artists discard work that they're not satisfied with. Even though someone less discerning might be prepared to buy the piece destined for the scrapheap, it's the producer who has the final say. That's where the term, 'break your own pottery' came from. You don't have to be a potter, of course, to break your own pots. Artists of all persuasions are usually their own biggest critics and are prepared to bin stuff they're not satisfied with. I remember that my editor would 'red ink' so much of my writing that it was often easier for me to call it quits and start again.

But breaking your own pottery need not apply to the world of art only. As we age, aspects of our lifestyles may have to be changed, too. Take for example food (diet). Food is one the 5Fs for adding years to your life and life to your years. (The others are Fitness, Future, Friendship, and Finances.) Too bad that you might like deep-fried food and that it's been prepared by the world's greatest chefs. It's unhealthy and shouldn't be a regular part of your diet.

Despite what others may say about your healthy lifestyle and your appearance, you may have to discard bits - deep-fried stuff, alcohol, sweets, or whatever. Only you, perhaps with the help of your medico, will know what parts of your pottery has to be tossed away. Living a longer, better life will inevitably necessitate breaking your own pottery.

Even if you're in perfect running order, the search for continuous improvement is ongoing. And sometimes to progress, you have to cast off bits 'n' pieces. Back when he was CEO of General Electric, Jack Welch used to make redundant the bottom 10% of his workforce and replace them with others who might be more suited to the GE way of doing things. A local accountant lets it be known that the bottom-third of his clients will be replaced each year with new clients who may help to grow his practice in the direction he wants it to go.

And so it is with us. The old cliche, 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it' misses the point: breaking your own pots is essential, if progress (living longer, better) is the order of the day.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr_Neil_Flanagan

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Happiness Must Be a Habit

It has been said that a man spends the first half of his life learning habits that shorten the other half. That needs to change. The physical perils of excessive smoking, eating foods with large amounts of saturated fats, and drinking heavily, has been well documented and many of us are taking heed.

Nevertheless, the impact of your emotional state on your physical health has also been documented, but much less. Some of us typically have a happy disposition; some of us typically have a gloomy disposition. Choose to have a happy disposition. It's better for your overall health. Again, it is a choice and you can acquire daily happy habits.

Here are 7 happy habits, you can acquire, develop, and maintain:

1. Do some type of exercise every day. It's easy to have a sedentary life style these days with all the labor saving devices and technology available to us.

2. Treat yourself regularly. When you accomplish a goal no matter how insignificant it may appear to someone else, treat yourself. Go to a new restaurant or try a dish that you haven't tried before, buy a new CD, or an item of clothing,

3. Engage in mentally stimulating activities. Decide to earn a new language, learn to write code, learn math shortcuts, learn to use a new computer application, research a topic on the internet, or read at least one nonfiction book a month. Start by reading at least fifteen minutes a day.

4. Take a pleasure break with a friend. Our friends can be busy and we can be also. Nevertheless, friends need to be kept and cultivated. I take the relationship with my friends very seriously and seek out opportunities to enjoy their company. We tend to have many acquaintances, but very few friends.

5. Recognize the spiritual aspect of your life and allow time for it. A few minutes of prayer or quiet meditation each day can be quite beneficial. Stress is a part of everyday life. You must welcome stress, but make it work in your behalf. Take a few minutes each day, visualize the future you are creating, pray for guidance and direction, or meditate on your strengths and ways to build on them.

6. Do a favor or a good deed for someone else. Take an opportunity to do something for someone else. Help someone load groceries into their car, give an elderly person a hand at getting up, or help your neighbor complete an odd job.

7. And, finally, congratulate yourself. Use positive self talk. Say, " Everyday and every way, I'm getting stronger, better, and more efficient." Love yourself. Treat yourself with kindness. Don't wait for someone to do this for you.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Will_Barnes

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Essential Steps for Happiness in Life

Each person has unique talents and potential to live a life filled with purpose and abundance. Nevertheless, very often we don't even try to look for our strengths throughout our whole existence. But the significant truth is that it's never late to make changes happen, it's never late to look at each circumstance from a brighter perspective. We are the captains of our wonderful journeys in life. Opportunities are all around us. We only have to seize them and be open for accepting the amazing gifts of life.

The steps below will help you go forward to your greatest dreams and feel the glory of true success.

Purpose is your guiding star in life

Find your mission in life. Reveal that unique sense of purpose within you, which will make you get up each morning with motivation and enthusiasm. Think about what are your inner values and aspirations, what are the things you are truly passionate about. Then start doing it. That is when you will suddenly feel the warming light shining within you. That is when you will experience the empowerment you were always searching for. When making decisions, think about whether they are in accordance with your beliefs and values. This is the key to inner harmony.

Miracles happen right outside the comfort zone

Sometimes we hesitate stepping out of our comfort zone, but the truth is that the significant miracles start to happen right outside it.

As soon as you have the courage to discover new horizons, you will see that challenges are a part of the wonderful journey of life, which is filled with value and happiness. Don't be afraid. Say yes to new chances, say yes to new peaks of mountains. You will see that you have incredible abilities you haven't even wondered about. You will see that so many things you thought were impossible will become your achievements as soon as you do one extra step forward. You are the one who shapes your reality. Make sure that it's full of adventures and excitement.

There is no such thing as failure- only opportunities and lessons learned.

Remember, the fear exists only in your mind. You can transform the fear into determination and aspiration for excellence. The only thing required from you is that the bold decision to do so. Obstacles are opportunities to grow and excel your own expectations. Nothing is impossible, if you have a strong desire, faith and persistence.

Don't be afraid of failing. Be afraid of never doing anything valuable in your life. You were born to try until it's done. Not everything in life is achieved easily. But your greatest goals are worth your hard work and persistence. Fight for your dreams and you will succeed. There is no other way.

Each choice opens a new door in life

You have the right to choose your reality. But you have to take full responsibility for creating your life. Don't depend on circumstances and opinion of others. Pursue your deepest desires and make choices based on your inner motives and values. You fully deserve to have prosperity, harmony and joy in life. Make the choice of feeding the positive thoughts in your mind. Make the choice of accepting the wonderful gifts of the universe. Make the choice of succeeding. Make the choice of being brilliant.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anush_Kostanyan

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The Road to Happiness

When I began my journey towards happiness, it seemed like an unattainable goal. The voice in my head kept torturing me and every time I took huge strides toward obtaining my goal that little voice would re-emerge saying things like; "it's not possible to be happy when nothing is going my way!" I have come to realize and accept that this inner voice is only there to torture us and create self-doubt 99.9% of the time.

As I became more self aware, I began to notice how comfortable and secure I felt playing the role of the victim. By doing this, I was taking the blame off of myself, meanwhile making other people accountable for things that were in my power to change. Essentially, I was making myself feel powerless over my life and diminishing my self-worth. This became a vicious cycle in my life and a habit that was very hard to break. I believe this is a common cycle most people experience in the society we live in...

Now, don't get down about this information. Information is good! Information helps us grow! AND to be completely honest, our destructive thought patterns are not our fault one bit - they are the side effect of our conditioning growing up. This conditioning has given us a unique, individual perspective on life AND it also acts as our conscious (that's a good thing!). Once we notice this, we can become aware that the problem is our perspective on life, NOT life itself. In Don Miguel Ruiz's book The Four Agreements, he talks about heaven vs. hell and how they are not concepts that can only be applied to an after realm but also can describe our perception of life here and now. He states;

"Every human has his or her own personal dream, and just like the society dream, it is often ruled by fear. We learn to dream hell in our own life, in our personal dream. The same fears manifest in different ways for each person, of course, but we experience anger, jealousy, hate envy and other negative emotions. Our personal dream can become an ongoing nightmare where we suffer and live in a state of fear. But we do not have to dream a nightmare. It is possible to enjoy a pleasant dream."

Idea: Instead of asking life "why is this happening to me?" and victimizing ourselves when things aren't going our way, lets embrace whatever is going on by staying totally present and open to whatever lesson life is trying to teach us. Let's begin to ask questions like; "what am I meant to learn from this situation?"

Now, I know this sounds easier said than done and you may be asking yourself "how do I know when I am ready to start this journey towards happiness?" The answer is simple. You will know. Listen to yourself. Learn to trust your intuition. When the time is right, you will know and you will quickly spring to action.

For those of you have already started on this journey, there may be times when we (naturally) feel stuck and completely uncompelled to take the next step forwards - that is okay too! Sometimes, as Melody Beattie writes in The Language of Letting Go, standing in once place without any direction is okay and exactly what we need for the time.

"It is okay to be temporarily without direction. Say "I don't know," and be comfortable with that. We do not have to try to force wisdom, knowledge, or clarity when there is none... Clarity will come. The next step will present itself. Indecision, inactivity, and lack of direction will not last forever"

For some of us, this period of indecisiveness is just the calm before the storm. Sometimes it is good to just sit with ourselves and enjoy this quiet downtime before we start to push ahead, set more goals and take another step along the road. You are merely giving yourself the necessary time to refuel before you hit the road again. Below detail the early stages of my personal journey and how I was compelled to head down this road:

First - I started to have thoughts about where I wanted my life to go and how I wanted my relationships to look. I was tired of playing the role of the victim... the weight was becoming too heavy! It was time to start looking at myself and questioning why I was constantly allowing myself to be victimized and the effect it was having on all my relationships. Of course, that inner-voice began to fight with me endlessly until I finally just gave up on the idea all together. Fear kicked in and I decided it was much easier to continue living the way I have been used to.

Then - For some reason, this road to happiness kept calling me but I would ignore the signs time and time again until one day I was walking passed a store with a huge Buddha out front and I felt compelled to walk in. That day, I was feeling particularly down in the dumps over a breakup, I was completely heartbroken. I see a table of healing crystals and I ask the sales associate if he could sell me a crystal that I could carry around with me and make me feel better 100% better. He walked over to the bookshelf, grabbed The Language of Letting Go off the shelf, handed it to me and told me to go home and read it. I opened the book up to a random page before purchasing the book and it was EXACTLY what I need to hear! The seed had been planted.

Next - I gathered data. Tons of it! I read books, blogs, watched YouTube videos and TED talks. I did just about everything I could to prepare myself for what to expect and map out the different roads I could take to obtain the life I desired. Hearing other people's success stories helped motivate me a lot! They made it seem like it was possible. Obviously this was my fear working its way out of me. As humans, we feel better about going into any situation when we know what to expect. Fear of the unknown can be crippling so we usually stick our toes in the water first instead of diving in headfirst.

FINALLY - I felt ready to take my first steps down the road and the best part was; I knew exactly what my first steps were going to be! The clarity had finally come!

Now granted, this may not be the same for everyone, but hopefully some of you can relate and I encourage everyone to share their own personal stories and blogs about how they were called to embark on this wonderful journey as well!

The most important part of this entire process, I have learned, is listening to yourself, knowing what your needs are and trusting yourself enough to know that you are the ONLY person who knows what is best for you. I love it when Beattie wrote in The Language of Letting Go:

"The most important trust issue we face is learning to trust ourselves. The most detrimental thing that's happened to us is that we came to believe we couldn't trust ourselves"

Start to connect with yourself once again. You will know when you are ready to embark on this journey. At first, the road may seem a bit foggy, but just focus on what is directly in front of you. Stay present. Trust yourself to know when the next step on your journey has presented itself and that you will know when you are ready to take it. For now, just cherish this moment.

Remember: When we step back and realize that if we loosen up the reigns a bit and allow life to take us where we are meant to go, we will stop trying to control the uncontrollable and we can finally begin taking the necessary steps towards living in a state of bliss, self love and happiness.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robyn_Brennan

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How To Fall In Love with Yourself!

“You always hurt the one you love.” A memorable line from a classic love song. The fact of the matter is, though, that it is probably true in more ways than one. Sometimes hurting another person is inevitable; however, often times we will actually hurt ourselves even more by not loving ourselves in the right way.

What does that mean? You have to take care of yourself first.

A relationship with another person is not going to make you happy if you aren’t already happy. If you get stressed easily or frustrated quickly over the simplest things, that means you have not developed the tools to cope well with uneven situations. So… if you can’t accomplish that when you are by yourself, how are you going to do itin conjunction with another person?

Take care of yourself first. Be happy with you. Maybe that means taking a class on stress management. It could mean seeing aprofessional to help you deal with those little frustrations that hold you back from enjoying your life.

Figure out you. Then consider joining up with a partner.

The truth is, people who exude self-confidence and seem happy are more attractive to others. To help you get to that place of self-love, here are some suggestions.

• Take care of your mind and body. Eat right. Food should be seen as a necessity, not a reward or punishment. Google “super foods” and find out about everyday foods that are good for your mind and body. For example, did you know carrots are great for your eyesight?

• Exercise, or at the minimum stay active. Again, it’s about fueling your mind and your body. Just 10 minutes of some kind of activityin the morning can get your blood flowing and get your day off to a good start. This is about you feeling good and feeling alive and ready to take on the world. And that joy will attract others, no doubt!

• Have some quiet time. Sometimes your body and brain need a moment to refuel. Smell the roses. Take a deep breath and suck in some good air and sunshine!

• Stay connected. Don’t neglect friends and family, especially those who tend to support you, listen to you when you need an ear and encourage you. You need that feeling of belonging and that knowledge that there are people who’ve got your back.

• Be thankful. Take the time to revel in the joy of an accomplishment, big or small. Give credit where credit is due. That can be so freeing… to acknowledge the little things as well as the big things. It will make you feel good!

• Don’t let negative thoughts or emotions linger. It’s OK to acknowledge them, but then you must let them go. You can do that by taking a walk, calling someone who always seems to make you laugh… in other words, flip the script.

• Finally, last but definitely not least: have fun. Sure you should work hard, but you also need to play hard. Treat yourself to a funny movie, sing in the shower… do things that make you smile and laugh. People will wonder, “Why is this person so happy all the time?” And guess what? People will want to be around you.

Exude positive energy. Love yourself! Indeed, happiness is contagious!

Article Source: farrahgray.com/fall-love

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Are You a Black Sheep?

Thank God I am a black sheep...

Have you ever been called a " black sheep?"

If you have, rejoice with me as you are most likely a liberator, a game changer whose life purpose is to break the chains of mental slavery that human kind gladly and unconsciously adopted... to this date most people are still "slaves" of their own minds and deeply sleeping through life like zombies...

If you have watched the matrix movies you will get the analogy of "thinking" that we are creating our own reality using our free will when in fact we are just following our programming, " a program" plugging in to the beliefs and the collective consciousness of "the matrix"/ "environment where we live ". When you wake up like Neo and take "the red pill"; you become aware of what is really going on in your life and you get to actually USE your free will.

History shows that all the "Heroes" who have made a positive difference in humanity were the ones who were non-conformists, the ones who thought outside the box, the "divergent ones "on whom the collective "programming" didn't work; the ones who were called "bad", rude, disobedient, the ones who dared to experience things that others didn't dare, the crazy ones who didn't follow the rules, the ones who were rejected by their people, the ones who refused to stay enslaved once they had a taste of the truth, a taste of true freedom... 
Even when we are "asleep", we keep asking for freedom because deep down we want to be liberated, we want to shine, live by choice and by design. Remember who we are and live as such...

What does this tell you? That it is OK to be different, to Be unique, not to fit,to follow your own heart, to be what you aspire to be besides the humiliation,prosecution, rejection and mockeries, it is OK for you to do what you want to do as long as you are taking away people's free will.

Jesus said on his crucification cross: "forgive them father for they do not know what they are doing". So true! When you are " enslaved " and "asleep", you do no realize what you are doing or being whether it is considered evil or good.

Some cultures and religions know how to scare us, how to control us because if we are "asleep", we need rules,guidance, we need to be told what to do, believe and who to be

The beauty of being awake is choosing to follow what your heart tells you to follow: this is what the black sheep do and this why they are harshly judged, sometimes rejected, feared. The true liberators are on the driver seat of their mind and soul; they chose to reclaim their power, to live by choice, to love unconditionally, to help others awaken, to be light workers, to allow God to use them as instruments for the greater good and they will not fit the description of society's' golden boy or girl.

Embrace being a black sheep if you are one, enjoy the ride and the journey, stand firmly in your power, lead and choose to live a free and magnificent life.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marieme_Faye 

 

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Stay at Home Mom's Have Choices

 Women all over the world struggle to balance family with a career and many give up on the dream of owning their own business once they have children. However, this doesn't have to be the case. Starting a home business can bring out the best qualities in a mother while allowing them ample time to take care of their children. Of course, doing so is not easy at first and requires quite a bit of preparation before hand.

What choices are available for a work at home mom?

More than you might imagine! Everything from selling on eBay to owning your own craft shop are viable options for women everywhere. No longer do you have to be tied to a desk 40 minutes from home to earn an income. The internet has opened up a vast array of methods to earn an income all without leaving the comfort of your own home. Developing a home business may not be easy but it certainly can be done.

It all start with a plan. Plan how many hours per day you will use to work your business. Schedule your time in between taking care of other needs of the family.

If you apply these simple principles, you will find success.

What are the Keys to Success?

Before you can really start your journey as a work at home mom you have to contemplate the skills necessary to be successful. Time management is one very important component to success. Obviously, if you don't have a set schedule things can become very hectic and prevent you from doing the work necessary to earn the income you want. Learning to balance family time with work will be difficult at first, but if you can develop a set timeframe for work you will find it much easier.

Another key to success is to find a job opportunity you enjoy. If you can't stand what you are doing then you won't be doing it for very long. It is stressful to quit a comfortable job you know you can count on to start working from home, especially if you aren't enjoying the work. Prevent this by creating a business or joining a business that stirs you into action. Motivation will kill any questions you might have regarding the business.

Transform the way you work and live by becoming a work at home mom who owns her own home business!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Larry_McCullough

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5 Tips to Remember in Building a List in Social Media

Learning how to build a list using social media will be one of the best decisions you will make in improving your presence in the Internet. After all, sites like Facebook and Twitter are popular across various Demographics it would be a bad idea to miss out on these opportunities. Social media is your best tool in communicating to existing and potential customers and can be your best friend in building lists. Here are 5 tips to help you get leads in the various social media sites out there:

1. The Right Platform Matters

Before you build a list, it is a must that you determine what kind of audiences your list will cater to. Are you building the list for businesses or direct consumers? What niche in the market does your audience belong to?

Always remember that different audiences will have different attitudes to social media and, thus, congregate on different channels. As a rule of thumb, always go to where your audience frequents. In this way, you can easily generate leads for your campaign.

2. Start as Soon as Possible

Ensuring that your social presence will yield in the highest return of investment will take time. This simply means that you need to develop your own social media strategy as soon as possible. Always remember that the Internet rewards those who are quick enough and can maintain their social presence. Always make it a point to keep your audience engaged so you can instantly build your brand and foster strong relationships with them.

3. Have a Call to Action

In learning how to build a list just using social tactics, it is important that you need to help your readers convert. A call to action (CTA) will make it easier for your audience to make the jump from your social media pages to your landing pages which will generate leads. However, you don't need to make your CTA as obvious as "click here and be part of your mailing list" as this can be intimidating to most internet users. Instead, be as discreet like adding the landing pages in your regular social media updates.

4. Improve on Your Content

Constantly adding new updates to your website or improving on existing ones is a must to keep your audience as interested as possible. One of your best tools in learning the process of building a list would be a blog where readers can get more details about your company and important news through regular updates. Also, you can send out newsletters provided that you they archived for future references.

5. Remain Active

How being social can be effective will depend on how often you post your updates. When you learn how to build a list using social media, you will realize that a constantly updated social media page will be more attractive than a static one. This will help your readers come back for more and, eventually, generate the leads you need. If constantly engaged and interested, you audience will reward your efforts by converting into your loyal customers.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Paul_Richards

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