The expectations we have for ourselves contribute greatly to the degree of excellence we achieve. Through our expectations, we define the boundaries inside which we are willing to strive.

Excellence, however, is not a state of perfection; it is a personal vision and guiding principle to live with daily. By striving for excellence, we continue to learn and improve throughout our lives.

A vision of excellence, consistently kept in mind, builds resolve and deepens involvement in each task before us. It allows every small action, even the most routine ones, to glow with the creative joy needed to produce achievements of outstanding value.

Each individual will define excellence in a deeply personal way. Consider these five questions while envisioning the quality that you desire for your life and career:

What would your vision of excellence look like if it had no restrictions, and you knew that you could achieve it?

In what areas of your life are you tolerating and expecting less than the best that you desire?

What, if any, are the challenges that repeatedly block you from performing at your highest potential?

What resources could you mobilize to help create the most abundance for the future?

What must happen next for you to move closer to your personal vision of excellence?

Your answers will help to clarify and strengthen your vision and enthusiasm to achieve the excellence and fulfillment that you seek.

Grenville Kleiser (1868-1953) wrote, “Keep a definite goal of achievement constantly in view. Realize that work, well and worthily done, makes life truly worth living.”

May you achieve excellence and all of its rewards each and every day!

© Copyright 2005-2006 by Steve Brunkhorst. All rights reserved. Reprinted from Achieve! 60-Second Nuggets of Inspiration bringing great stories, motivational nuggets, and inspiring thoughts to help you achieve your top potential. Get the next issue by visiting http://www.AchieveEzine.com.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are working together in partnership to assess the impact of recession on different groups of people. The study being undertaken by the two organisations will be aimed at understanding whether the severity of impact is more in case of certain groups.

A spokesperson of the commission speaking about the objectives of the study said that thousands across sectors have already lost their jobs and those who retain their jobs are under constant threat. However, it is important to identify which groups are the worst affected. It is quite probable that women, ethnic minorities, old people, disabled and students will be facing much worse conditions than others are. Unless the difference in impact is properly understood, it is difficult to target relief at these groups.

The research aims at getting a clearer picture of the present state of affairs and developing a future course of action. For example if the analysis reveals that the employees of a particular sector or of a particular group are at a disadvantage compared to others, the government along with the employers could develop initiatives to assist those affected through a variety of means.

The DWP and the EHRC will also look at the existing government policies and will propose any changes if the analysis shows disproportionate effects of recession, which can be controlled through government intervention. This will also help the government target the correct group of people in the post-recession recovery program such as imparting training so that those people are able to find new jobs for themselves. Visit Workplace Law Training’s website for more about manual handling courses.

There is mounting opinion among those in the fashion and interior design industry that a good deal of the iconic styles which were synonymous with the Seventies have started to re-emerge in regards to carpet flooring. In terms of colour, on trend customers and interior designers have been asking for classic 70’s shades such as deep purple, tangerine orange, and forest green.

These colours have already started to appear as accents in exclusive interior products and accessories which are now also making an appearance on the high street.

It has been noted by one interior designer that people are searching for something that is a bit out of the ordinary and want to make their homes stand out whilst still remaining cutting edge.

A whole host of carpet manufacturers, distributors and retailers have joined forces to extol the benefits of carpet flooring through Fun on the Floor – an integrated marketing campaign developed to reinvigorate the nation’s interest in carpet.

Fun on the Floor is a national campaign that will highlight carpet as a flooring choice by bringing to life its versatility, practicality, affordability, and ability to transform a homestead!

The initial phase of the campaign took off July 31st with the opening of a unique house in central London designed and curated by Interior Designer and Sunday Times Style Columnist Danielle Proud.

What is being called the Fun on the Floor House will act as a showroom through a medley of creatively designed rooms featuring carpet in stunning, creative and unique ways based on whats popular in the interior design industry at the moment. The house will initially be open by invitation to trade, national, consumer, regional journalists as well as key influencers such as interior designers, production companies for a free shoot location up until December.

Following the opening of the Fun on the Floor House, an attention grabbing press and outdoor advertising campaign will kick off in the autumn 2008 and will cover billboards and vans nationwide. Showcasing carpets as something that is a little bit different and for people who want to make their homes stand out whilst still remaining contemporary.

It would be impossible to list all of the things people have considered crucial to success in life. Honesty, energy, bonding, modeling, control of fear…all are important. For my whole life, I’ve searched for the answers in this arena, and treasured the gems that have been revealed.

In July of 2005, I went back to Longview, Washington, where I’d lived for nine years, raising my daughter. When we left, we packed much of our house into two storage units, planning to return once we had our roots properly planted in Los Angeles. Going through the storage units was bittersweetmy wife and I didn’t have a huge amount of time to carefully examine every item in every box. But one book fell out of one box, almost as if it intended to jump into my hands, refusing to be junked. It was called MASTERY (now out of print), and its author was an old friend of mine, Tim Piering.

Tim was (and is) one of the best men I’ve ever known. A husband, a father, an engineer, a Marine officer, black belt in four martial arts, Tim is a gentle giant with a gift for teaching and coaching. During the 80’s, it was my honor to be part of a group with which he shared extremely high-level neurolinguistic and hypnotic patterns, advanced body-mind work that still, twenty years later, seems ahead of its time. Hands trembling, realizing how close I’d come to throwing away one of Tim’s few books, I opened it, and came to page 47. there, it said that if you only had two tools in the world to help you succeed, they would be:

1) Well defined WRITTEN goals.
2) The ability to take action despite the “Radio Voice” in your head.

And I was stunned. Never have I heard anyone, anywhere, state the secret to success more clearly, or succinctly. The impact of those earlier days flooded back to me in a moment, and I realized how much of my own accomplishment I owed to just this simple understanding.

Why are these so important, and what EXACTLY does it mean?

We all understand goal-setting, and most of us are aware that writing our goals down increases our odds of accomplishing them by at least 10X. There is a quiet magic in the act of writing goals, and anyone who has practiced this art will know exactly what I’m talking about. If you doubt it, just check around and find out how uncomfortable the average person is in performing this simple, basic act. They KNOW that a written goal, unlike a misty dream or hope, is a contract between your conscious and unconscious mind. A written goal is half-way between a thought and a reality, marking the way to the future.

But what is the Radio Voice? It is the voice in your mind that doubts you, that questions, that offers seductive alternatives to performing the daily tasks that make up our lives. You want to write a chapterit tells you that your work is crap. You want to exerciseit tells you that it is too late, that your body is beyond repair, why bother? You want to find a healthy relationship, and the voice tells you that all the good men, or women, are gone.

Don’t believe you have one? Just sit quietly for two minutes and listen. Go ahead, use a kitchen timer. Listen.

Did you hear that voice saying “what voice? I don’t hear a voice!”

That’s the voice.

It is imperative to become aware of it, aware of its power, aware that it lies. Aware that the voice in your head IS NOT YOU.

No. You are not the voice. YOU are the one LISTENING to the voice. And this is so important to understand that I cannot overstress it. Please go back and read that again. And again.

All over the world, there are literally thousands of meditation techniques designed to “turn off” or “turn down” the voice of failure. The voice, composed of the memories of teachers, parents, friends, and our own past selves, can make us doubt ourselves even in the midst of victory.

Whatever you do, whatever you desire in life, you MUST find a way to either quiet or ignore those voices, or your results will suffer.

One of the most powerful ways to turn the voices off is physical flow. This is the state reached in Tai Chi or Yoga when your mental and emotional commitment to the technique becomes intense. You can find it in jogging, when you reach “runner’s high.”

In meditation, you can observe a candle flame, the smell of incense, or even your own breathing or heartbeat for 15-30 minutes at a time, on a daily or thrice-weekly basis. When you try to do this, believe me the voices will freak out and try everything in their bag of tricks to get you to stop.

This mental/physical practice is directly applicable to any other activity in your life. To large degree, your chances to succeed in life will be in direct proportion to your capacity to maintain “flow”, or relaxed concentration, under mental or emotional stress. The depths of this trance state vary, but we’ve all heard stories of artists, inventers, writers and poets so absorbed in their work that they didn’t hear the phone ring, or even a tree fall through a window! THAT is concentration. THAT is the ability to shut up “the voices,” and that is the state you must approach to find your own greatest genius.

Thank you, Tim, for reminding me of that lesson.

NY Times bestselling author Steven Barnes has created Lifewriting, the first whole-mind performance system for writers and readers. Learn more at: www.lifewrite.com and www.lifewriting.biz

We all have drama kings and queens in our lives. You know who they are! These are the people that enjoy creating drama or chaos. They thrive on stirring up conflict, adding fuel to the fire. They are in our families, they are in our friendships and they are in our workplaces. These are people that seek excitement and attention by playing the lead role in drama or what I like to call ‘me-ism.’ Have you ever noticed how the drama king or queen is always the focal point, playing the victim? You did this to ME! This happened to ME! It is YOUR fault! Poor ME! You have seen this before. We all have. The man in the restaurant who doesn’t get the right order and proceeds to get so loud that the entire restaurant notices, or the lady at the check out counter who is impatient and rude to the clerk because he is a new employee learning to run the cash register and is having a slow day, or the lovely mother-in-law that blows everything out of proportion so that she has some adventure in her life. The list of drama tactics is literally endless! The good news is, we all have choice. We do not have to play their games, to be sucked into their drama, their ‘me-isms.’

After you have been working so hard to lessen the drama in your life by creating peacefulness and calm, drama is very noticeable. It actually becomes very uncomfortable to be in the same space with dramatic people. You have to make a choice on whether you want to participate in the drama that is being created or be the silent observer. Being the silent observer means simply that. Observe without attaching any emotion to the situation. This is very difficult especially if it is coming from family members or loved ones. It is even more difficult when you are the object of the drama! Remember the one creating the drama is really projecting “it is all about ME.” In order not to be involved in their drama, one must consciously remember to not add fuel to their fire. Let them talk, rant, rave, blame or whatever they are projecting onto you, as ‘their’ silent observer. Remember this is THEIR stage, this is their play. They will try their best to suck you in by blaming you, it’s YOUR fault etc. Stand tall, holding your ground and listen. Just listen. No words. Listen. They will bait you by saying something about you, it will feel like a personal attack. That is what they are looking for, for you to play their game, for you to jump onto their stage and attack back! When you listen without adding any comments, what you are really doing is putting water on their fire. You see if you don’t add the fuel, there is no longer a fire! They have nothing to create drama with because there are no players! Drama kings and queens need players. They need fellow actors and actresses in order to play their lead role. By you choosing not to participate, they will have nothing to continue creating drama with. They will in all likelihood stop the drama and move onto another topic. It may however, be gossiping about someone but we can’t expect two miracles in one day! Drama people also create drama by using the poor me pity me routine. Again, this is all ‘me-isms.’ They will draw you into their ’sad’ stories. They will not likely be attacking you, but they are looking for their fuel. They are looking for their fix. If you again simply listen with compassion as their silent observer, they will not get what they are looking for. One of two things will happen. They will look for someone else for their fix, or you will have empowered them to dig deep into the core of their own being for their own self-empowerment.

The Silent Observer…listens with compassion, changes the energy and brings peacefulness and calm into the situation. Are you a Peace Maker or a Me-ism? It’s only a choice, which do you choose?

Lisa Whatley is an Indigo/Crystal Adult, single mother of four Indigo/Crystal Children, an entrepreneur, writer and an Energy Facilitator. She has helped many people change their lives with the services she provides. She resides with her four children in Northern Ontario Canada. She can be reached through her personal website www.InfinityLightHealing.com

© Copyright 2004-5 Lisa Whatley and Infinity Light Healing. You may share this information in it’s entirety with others freely, provided that this notice is included.

I’m sure you have a bright idea hidden somewhere in the back of your mind that you just can’t wait to test out. Of course you’re not the only one with the bright idea. So what motivates you to churn those creative, or even inspiring juices to its utmost flavor?

It’s always best to set up a personal goal where you can accomplish the most in record time, maybe like mowing the lawn in an hour before the big game on TV. A correct and positive attitude in whatever you do will make things easier, and even enjoyable.

Here are some tips to make it through the week even if you’re just sitting in your favorite couch. An idea takes time to form in your head and is always at work while you are busy sitting.

Having a bit of positive thinking can help you realize things that are never thought possible. Thinking big is indeed the American Way and that what made our country prosperous.

1. Take passionate action towards living your life by design. Talk is cheap. Action = deposits in the bank of a passionately authentic future. Without it, passion is void.

This is a perfect example where dreams are made of where you start by tinkering with your mind, then with your hands. And if the idea weakens, you can always go back to it later until you finish it.

2. Commit to yourself as well as those you love to create powerfully a life you can love. Instead of reacting, commit to creating from your heart and soul, out of love rather than fear. The American Dream will always be there, but a dream will still be a dream without motion. Be amazed as the transformation begins.

3. Recognize and embrace the thought that each moment is perfect regardless of its outcome. Every time you hit on something that may appear too extreme, why not give it a shot and see if it will work. You will be surprised to see of there are other ways to get the task done in time. If you are not pleased with the outcome, decide to use that moment to learn from and make the appropriate shift.

4. Dwell completely in a place of gratitude. Learn to utilize what you have in your hands and make use of it in the most constructive way. Slipping into neediness will become less of a habit when you repeatedly shift towards gratitude, away from poverty consciousness.

5. Use a Passion Formula of Recognize/Reevaluate/Restore in place of the Shoulda/Woulda/Coulda whirlwind. The former is based in increased knowledge and abundance while the latter focuses on scarcity and lack. As you face people or tasks that may seem harder than scaling the summit of the Himalayas, allow yourself to realize that the task is just as important as giving out orders to your subordinates. You would rather be richly passionate!

6. Keep humor at the forefront of thought, laughing at and with yourself when possible. You may find yourself quite entertaining when you loosen up! I am yet to see a comedian ever go hungry even though his jokes are as ‘old as great-grandma’. Life has so much to offer to allow you to mope around in self pity. Humor is very attractive, very passionate: life-giving.

7. Believe that you are the architect of your destiny. No one can take your passionate future from you except for you! Create your life authentically. As long as there’s still breath in your body, there is no end to how much you can accomplish in a lifetime. The concept of thinking big is all about enjoying your work, which would lead to celebrate a discovery that is born within your hands. Watch everything flow into place with perfect, passionate precision.

It’s interesting how people get wallowed up by something trivial as learning to use a computer, when nowadays that top computer companies are manufacturing software that even the kids can do it. I don’t mean to be condescending, but that’s the idea of not having any positive thinking in your life-you’ll just end up as a dim bulb in a dark corner. So instead of subjecting yourself to what you will be doomed for, make your path by taking the first step with a positive attitude.

If you are interested in learning more, probably the best self improvement and positive thinking and habits information resource online today can be found at http://www.positive.thegreat.info.

Karin Mellart has years of experience in online business and marketing, writing, and varied activities. She is a partner of TRG Ad Campaings and www.ArticleFile.com – The Internet’s Article Resource.

There are many positive correlations between love, sex and health. Being so, it has produced many questions…..

Have you wondered if an active sex life can truly alleviate pain? Do sexually active people have fewer colds and bouts of flu? Is it true that married people live longer than single or divorced people? Can an active sex life help prevent disease and illnesses by strengthening our immune system?

I have these answers and more, read on….

An active sex life is both stimulating and rejuvenating to the glandular system. When we make love the pituitary gland, the thyroid gland, the adrenal glands, the prostate and testes in men, and the ovaries in women are thoroughly exercised. The net result is that people in love look and feel better about themselves.

Activation of the sex center in the brain has health effects on other brain centers. Every cell in the body gets this message and is strengthened by it. An active sex life strengthens our immune system. Scientists have compared the nerve endings of happy, loving and sexually-fulfilled people with unhappy and sexually-unfulfilled people.

Apparently, large numbers of immune-system cells were gathered near the nerve endings in the “happy” people. A similar microscopic exam of “unhappy” and depressed persons showed no such gathering of immune-system cells.

Scientists theorized that the nerve endings in the “happy” group were releasing neurotransmitters. These are chemicals, like adrenalin and acetylcholine, that facilitate the transmission of nerve messages.

Scientists concluded that these neurotransmitters could attract, feed, and strengthen the various immune-system cells. During sex, the heart beats twice as fast, pumping blood to the pelvis, breasts, nipples, and surface of the skin, helping get rid of toxins and bringing in nutrients.

We also breath twice as fast, bringing in more oxygen. Muscles are tensed and relaxed, alternatively. Of course, not much good is realized by those who rush through lovemaking in ten minutes or less.

But for those who spend a leisurely hour or two, the benefits can be considerable. You, and you alone can determine the success or failure of your sex and love life; your physical, mental and spiritual health; and almost every other aspect of your life.

Ruby Boyd’s website offers information how alternative medicine, diet-
nutrition prevents cancer and disease.

Visit www.a1-natural-health-and-beauty.com for information
on how to achieve health and beauty fitness goals naturally.

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Dating at any age can be scary, with wondering what to wear or if the other person will like you. For seniors it can be overwhelming, especially if they are getting back into the dating scene after a divorce or death of their spouse. Many seniors believe they don’t have the emotional energy it would seem to take to start dating again.

The purpose of any first date is to determine whether or not you both want a second one, and senior dating online is a great solution. The ability to meet other seniors online and chat with them for as long as you’d like before making plans to meet in person is a great way for seniors to start dating again, to get comfortable with someone before having to decide what to wear or even if they like you!

An online dating service will get you set up with a profile of your likes and dislikes, and the type of person you’d like to meet. Online personals and internet dating for seniors is seeing a climbing rate of members; some free online dating services will not charge you to join, or to answer an ad, or post your profile. A good service will block people from contacting you after you’ve chatted with them and determined that they are not your type, which is a great safety feature when you have a hard time saying no. The best online dating advice is to chat with the other person about the same things you’d talk about out on a date-likes and dislikes, etc., that way you can get a good idea of where to go on your first date out of cyber space.

You can choose single seniors online dating, or Christian online dating services, even narrow your search by age or other religion. There are over 100 free dating online sites to choose from, so get out your keyboard and get back out there, someone is waiting for you!

Erick Shipmon has been an online marketer since 1997. He currently is the President of www.eDatingPlanet.com which is quickly becoming the hottest online dating community on the planet. eDatingPlanet.com online dating services include: E-mail, Live Chat, Live Video Cam, and FREE VoIP calling.

When you use a debt settlement company to help fix your debt, lenders are more likely to get approved for future loans with low interest rates. This can help you if wanting a loan for an unforeseen incident that may come about. Using a debt settlement company can help you qualify for low interest rate loans within a year of using their help. While in this process you must be smart and dependable with your finances. The debt settlement company expects you to be making your payments on time and to be following the advice they provide you with. If you make a good effort and abide by the rules, you will be debt free in no time.

Having a debt settlement company mend poor credit for you has the ability to better numerous different areas in a persons life. A lot of these areas are not matters that would be readily thought of as being impacted by a bad credit report or low credit score. People that are determined to repair their credit should talk to a debt settlement company. As soon as the process has been initiated, it is really important that all of the steps are finished to restore their credit correctly. A debt settlement company can walk you along this procedure with ease.