Self Improvement Newsletter- Issue # 493

Self Improvement Newsletter
Issue # 493, February 19-20, 2008

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Issue # 493, Week of February 19-20, 2008 Publisher: David Riklan - http://www.SelfGrowth.com In this issue: -- Quotes of the Week -- Personal Growth Products and Services -- Article: Being Happy is a Decision: 11 Ways to Change Your Life NOW! - By Larry Crane -- Article: Anger Management Using the Compliment Sandwich - By Dr. Lyle Becourtney -- Book Review: The Self-Hypnosis Diet: Use the Power of Your Mind to Reach Your Perfect Weight - By Steven Gurgevich, Ph.D. & Joy Gurgevich -- How to Subscribe and Unsubscribe from this Newsletter Current Subscribers - 264,636 subscribers

Removal instructions are listed at the end of the newsletter. ------------------------------------------------------------ *** Quotes of the Week *** ------------------------------------------------------------ Kindness is the golden chain by which society is bound together. - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832, German Poet/Dramatist/Novelist It's amazing what ordinary people can do if they set out without preconceived notions. - Charles F. Kettering, 1876-1958, American Engineer and Inventor What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us. - Helen Keller, 1880-1968, American Blind/Deaf Author and Lecturer ------------------------------------------------------------ *** Personal Growth Products and Services *** ------------------------------------------------------------ * $2,700 Law of Attraction Expert Coaching by Eva Gregory - NOW $39/month! * LIVE interactive plus convenient pre-recorded. Supportive social network, video chat, your own profile with blog. Special guest experts. Practical application of LOA to buy a house, start a business, find a spouse, more joy, peace of mind, design your life, a whole new you. http://www.LeadingEdgeCoaching.com/SUCCESSclub * Give the gift of inspiration, joy, love, laughter, and harmony! * Magnetize your possibilities utilizing the unique Transformation Toolkit from Divinexpression.com. It includes a deck of 56 "I AM" Affirmation cards (either Creating with Grace and Ease or Financial Prosperity), a handmade paper journal, and 20 sticks of sacred incense blessed by monks. (free shipping SG1001). http://www.divinexpression.com * Get PowerPoint Templates for Better Presentations * 3,000 outstanding top-quality eye-catching PowerPoint Templates & Backgrounds for WOW presentations. Instant downloads. 28 presentation themes. Daily updates. Free samples. http://www.poweredtemplates.com * What's the biggest secret known to the coaching industry? * ... Coaching is more than a lucrative profession; it's a way of life, which is why entrepreneurs, sales professionals and even teachers and parents are now taking coaching courses -- not necessarily to become coaches, but to acquire fundamental, powerful skills for change and success. Sign up for an info session to learn more about iPEC's new Life Potentials Training at http://www.selfgrowth.com/products/lifepotentials.html or call 1-866-72COACH today! * The Divinity of the Mind: Writings for Inspirations and Empowerment * Feeling stuck? Take yourself to a new level of Personal Empowerment. Receive an expanded understanding of where your power lies Consciously use the power of your unlimited mind and thoughts. * Read this book. * Be inspired. * Be empowered. Download your copy now! http://unlimitedmindunlimitedpower.com/books/ "SEEKING LOVE AND BALANCE IN YOUR LIFE?" Experience the wonderful journey of life with new alternative ways to discover your success in life. If you are looking for ways to emancipate yourself or how to enhance your practical skills; you must visit loveandbalance.com to book Chidi Asika-Enahoro to present at your special events and to get copies of her three joyful books from amazon.com or directly from her. http://www.loveandbalance.com * You Can Break The Paralyzing Grip Of SOCIAL ANXIETY Forever * Conquering Social Anxiety Now! is a learning program that helps permanently abolish thoughts & beliefs that create shyness, self-consciousness, embarrassment & panic without drugs or therapy. It works like nothing you've ever tried. Easy. Safe. Effective. Continue => http://www.thinkrightnow.com/r/si-121007-soc-anx.asp How often do your hear yourself saying? - "No I haven't done it Yet, I've been meaning to..." Free report Reveals: * 10-second focus technique * The Ultimate Productivity Formula * 4 words that are crushing your efficiency * Simple Tricks to eliminate overwhelm and skyrocket productivity * Crush your critical voice in 2 steps Grab It Now! Click Below... http://www.gettingthingsdonenow.com/freemindreport * The F.A.S.T. Diet, Families Always Succeed Together * How did a group of more than 100 random volunteers lose 4000 lbs in one year? What was the common thread that bound them together and created an environment where so many people with so many different obstacles could all succeed at once? The Dean Family has found the formula to successful weight loss and now you can be the next success story. Find out more at http://www.deanfast.com * Breakthrough Prostate Research from Dr. Al Sears * My name is Dr. Al Sears and I specialize in diseases of the prostate and testosterone replacement therapy. And I want you to know you can face this phase in your life and come out a winner! Click on the link below and learn how you can reverse your prostate problems and prevent risk of disease with this easy plan... http://www.alsearsmd.com/signup/Prostate/Prostate-SG.html ** How to Add a Description of Your Website Here ** If you want to share information about your website, your business or your book in our newsletter, please go to the following webpage and fill out the form. Visit our website at http://www.selfgrowth.com/form-ad-newsletter.html ---------------------------------------------------- *** Article: Being Happy is a Decision: 11 Ways to Change Your Life NOW! - By Larry Crane *** ---------------------------------------------------- Almost everyone has heard the hit single "Don't Worry, Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin. The song has a very catchy way of conveying its message of being happy to everyone. Bobby Mcferrin's simple message surely made a lot of people focus on happiness by simply telling them not to worry or fear, and just BE happy. Living a happy, resilient, and optimistic life is wonderful, and is also good for your health. Being happy actually protects you from the stresses of life. Stress (anxiety and fear) is linked to top causes of death such as heart disease, cancer, and stroke. It is also what is keeping you from having total abundance on every level. One of the better things ever said is "The only thing in life that doesn't change is change," and in our life we have the power to make the necessary changes if we want to. Even if we find ourselves in an unbearable situation, we can always find solace in the knowledge that it too invariably must and will change. Social networks or relationships are essential to happiness. People are different. The key is accepting people for who or what they are, avoiding clashes and constant arguments, and LETTING GO of all of your resentments, fears, and negative habits that are holding you back. To be happy is relatively easy; it begins with a decision. Simply decide to be a happy person. Abraham Lincoln observed that most people for most of the time can choose how happy or stressed, how relaxed or troubled, how bright or dull their outlook to be. The choice is simple really; choose to be happy. There are several ways by which you can do this: 11. Being grateful is a great attitude. We have so much to be thankful for. Thank the taxi driver for bringing you home safely, thank the cook for a wonderful dinner, and thank the guy who cleans your windows. Also thank the mailman for bringing you your mail, thank the police officer for making your place safe, and thank God for being alive. Whatever you can find to be grateful for, find it. 10. News is stressful. Get less of it. Some people just can't start their day without their daily dose of news. Try and think about it -- 99% of the news we hear or read is bad news. Starting the day with bad, fearful news does not seem to be a sensible thing to do, does it? 9. A religious or spiritual connection is also recommended. Being part of a spiritual or religious group with its singing, sacraments, chanting, prayers, and meditations foster inner peace. 8. Manage your time. Time is invaluable and too important to waste. Time management can be viewed as a list of rules that involves scheduling, setting goals, planning, creating lists of things to do, and prioritizing. These are the core basics of time management that should be understood to develop an efficient personal time management skill. These basic skills can be fine-tuned further to include the finer points of each skill that can give you that extra reserve to make the results you desire. 7. Laugh and laugh heartily every day. Heard a good joke? Tell your friends or family about it. As they also say, "Laughter is the best medicine." 6. Express your feelings, affections, friendship, and passion in healthy ways to people around you. They will most likely reciprocate your actions. Let go of pent-up anger and frustrations, as this is bad for your health. Instead find ways of expressing them in a way that will not cause more injury or hurt to anyone. 5. Working smart instead of hard brings tremendous personal satisfaction. It gives us a feeling of being competent in finishing our tasks. Accomplishments are necessary for all of us; they give us a sense of value. Work on things that you feel are worthy of your time. And don't forget to celebrate them once they are completed! 4. Learning is a joyful experience. Try and learn something new every day. Learning also makes us expand and broaden our horizons...and could also give us more opportunities in the future. 3. Physical exercise. Run, jog, walk, and do other things that your body was made for. Feel alive. 2. Positive attracts positive. Avoid exposure to negative elements like loud noises, toxins, and hazardous places. And the Number One Way to be Happy: 1. LET GO, LET GO, LET GO! Letting go of the layers and layers of negative emotions, feelings, and habits is the number one critical key to being happy all the time. There is no way around this. Fortunately, there is a simple, all-natural way to do just that, quicker than you ever dreamed. It's called the Abundance Course, and you can find out more at the link below. These are the few simple things you can do every day to be happy. And always remember Abraham Lincoln's wise words: "Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." Decide to let go and be happy all the time right now. You can do it! About the Author: Larry Crane has been teaching The ReleaseR Technique to executives of Fortune 500 companies for years. He has personally trained businesspeople, psychiatrists, psychologists, sports and entertainment celebrities, salespeople, managers, and housewives in the art of letting go of problems, emotions, stress, and subconscious blocks that are holding people back from having total abundance and joy in their lives. Discover for yourself your own ticket to happiness and freedom: http://www.releasetechnique.com Check out the Experts page for Larry Crane, the Official SelfGrowth.com Guide to Overcoming Fear: http://www.selfgrowth.com/experts/larry_crane.html ---------------------------------------------------- *** Article: Anger Management Using the Compliment Sandwich - By Dr. Lyle Becourtney *** ---------------------------------------------------- Do you ever find yourself getting more and more angry and frustrated while trying to explain what is bothering you? Perhaps you feel like others are not really listening to you or trying to understand things from your perspective. In such circumstances, you may end up raising your voice or becoming verbally or even physically abusive. Unfortunately, responding in this manner usually decreases your chances of being listened to with empathy and compassion. Another maladaptive way of handling your feelings, perhaps out of fear of losing control, is to work extra hard at keeping everything bottled up inside. What happens here is similar to what happens when a balloon keeps filling up with more and more air. The balloon will expand as far as it can and then eventually pop. However, if the balloon periodically releases some of its air, the likelihood is it will never reach that point of popping. Similarly, a person who uses assertive communication will be much less likely to become explosive. As one of the eight core anger control tools, assertive communication involves honestly and effectively communicating your feelings while doing so in a non-hostile fashion. Perhaps most challenging when using assertive communication is to express your feelings without the other person becoming angry or defensive. What makes this so difficult is that people, for the most part, do not like to be criticized. Telling somebody what they did wrong, what you do not like about their behavior, or how they hurt your feelings can very easily trigger a negative reaction. One of the most effective ways of using assertive communication is by using a technique known as the Compliment Sandwich. The meat of the sandwich (your complaint, criticism, or concern) is surrounded by two pieces of bread (compliments or positive feedback). In order to minimize defensiveness, you would begin with a compliment (the first piece of bread), then present the main message that you are trying to communicate (the meat), and then finish with another compliment (the second piece of bread). To help illustrate, here is an example of the Compliment Sandwich: * I have always considered you to be one of my best friends (first compliment/positive feedback). * So when I heard that you were talking behind my back, I felt really hurt. What I need is for you to talk to me directly and not get others involved (critical feedback). * You have always been there for me in the past, and I know I can still count on you (second compliment/positive feedback). As you can see in the aforementioned example, the Compliment Sandwich made it possible for an important communication to be made in a non-hostile manner. By opening and closing with positive feedback, a friendly tone was set and an important message was able to be conveyed. Rather than aggressively attack the other person and risk making matters worse or bottle things up and become potentially explosive, this type of communication allows one to get things off his or her chest without putting the other person on the defensive. There are, however, a few key suggestions for using the Compliment Sandwich effectively. First, it is essential that your praise be genuine. As challenging as it may seem with some of the more difficult people in your life, you should be able to think of at least two things to say that are both complimentary and sincere. It may take some extra thought on your part, but there is almost always something positive that you can say. It is also important to avoid overuse of this technique so that your words do not appear to be contrived. Finally, your compliments should in some way be related to the critical message that you are trying to convey. This is necessary in order for the conversation to flow smoothly and to feel genuine. Thus, the example provided earlier would lose its effectiveness if the compliments seemed to be out of left field (e.g., "I have always admired your dancing ability." and "You are such a terrific football player."). These compliments may be genuine, but have absolutely nothing to do with your friend talking behind your back. By properly using anger management techniques such as the Compliment Sandwich, one can minimize the potential cost of anger. Health problems, impaired self-esteem, damaged relationships, emotional scarring of one's children, and a drop in productivity at work are all potential outcomes of uncontrolled anger. On the other hand, when channeled properly, anger can have many benefits. So the next time someone hurts your feelings or offends you, instead of bottling things up or exploding, why not try something new and give a Compliment Sandwich? You might be pleasantly surprised by the results. About the Author: Dr. Lyle Becourtney, a New York State Licensed Psychologist and Certified Anger Management Professional, has a private office in Blauvelt, NY in Rockland County. His anger management program provides an excellent opportunity for teens and adults to learn new anger management skills and techniques: http://www.angermanagementgroups.com/Skills.html In addition to weekly anger management groups and individual counseling programs, Dr. Becourtney trains other mental health professionals and parents on how to implement a proven discipline program in the home. Copyright C 2007 Dr. Lyle Becourtney, http://www.AngerManagementGroups.com, All Rights Reserved. Check out the Experts page for Dr. Lyle Becourtney: http://www.selfgrowth.com/experts/dr_lyle_becourtney.html ------------------------------------------------------------ *** Book Review: The Self-Hypnosis Diet: Use the Power of Your Mind to Reach Your Perfect Weight - By Steven Gurgevich, Ph.D. & Joy Gurgevich *** ------------------------------------------------------------ Renowned hypnosis and health experts Steven and Joy Gurgevich reveal the most powerful tool available for sustainable weight loss -- our subconscious minds. With "The Self-Hypnosis Diet," readers can reach their perfect weight with proven, successful techniques designed to utilize and understand the subconscious mind-body connection. In this instructive book and companion CD of guided self-hypnosis trancework sessions, readers will discover: * How to determine, reach, and maintain their ideal weight based on their own needs. * How to increase willpower, change unhealthy eating patterns, and create new and lasting behaviors. * How to still have an enjoyable, fulfilling love affair with food. As members of Dr. Andrew Weil's Integrative Medicine program, Steven and Joy Gurgevich have taught thousands how to use hypnosis to overcome the innate challenges of dieting. With "The Self-Hypnosis Diet," they provide readers with the "missing ingredient" to any plan for achieving a healthy diet and lifestyle -- and change that lasts for a lifetime. **** The Gurgeviches want to help you start using the power of self-hypnosis to achieve your ideal healthy lifestyle. That's why they're offering 10 valuable FREE gifts when you order "The Self-Hypnosis Diet" within the next 48 hours. Learn more at http://www.selfgrowth.com/products/gurgevich.html The list price of this book is $21.95. To purchase it from Amazon.com for $14.93, a 32% discount, go directly to http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=1591794757/selfimprovemeonlA/ ------------------------------------------------------------ *** Brief News of the World *** ------------------------------------------------------------ Positive: * Vacation leads exec to life-changing vocation: Ex-Microsoft official leaves business world to found Room to Read charity * On a rare vacation in Nepal in 1998, a chance encounter between Microsoft executive John Wood and a Nepalese teacher changed the businessman's life. The teacher introduced Wood to a world where books are a hot commodity, taking him to a school where books were considered so valuable that the teachers wouldn't even allow the students to touch them without the protection of plastic sheets. The revelation led Wood to make a promise to the children: One day he would return with books. (Click here for complete news story) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23188283/ * "Green" Helping Job Seekers, Companies: Environmentally-Friendly Products Boosting Bottom Lines, Creating Positions * Recession worries? What recession worries? The growing focus on protecting the environment has been paying off in ways beyond helping Mother Earth, according to Early Show environmental lifestyle contributor Danny Seo as the show began a series it's calling "Early Goes Green." He says going green has contributed to bulking up corporate bottom lines -- and job rolls -- resulting in the emergence of positions unthinkable in years-gone-by. (Click here for complete news story) http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/18/earlyshow/contributors/dannyseo/main3842366.shtml * Little Lakshmi Takes First Steps: Lakshmi Tata Who Was Born With Two Sets of Limbs Can Now Walk After Operation * Just three months after marathon surgery successfully removed her four extra arms and legs, little Lakshmi Tatma has taken her first steps. "She's now moving with a walker, holding onto objects -- a table, a chair -- and moving a little bit," said Sharan Patil, chief orthopedic surgeon and chairman of Sparsh Hospital in Bangalore where the surgery was performed. (Click here for complete news story) http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=4305864&page=1 ** For more positive news, please visit http://www.selfgrowth.com/news.html Other: * Tips from Washington's self-help manual * Every action in company ought to be done with some sign of respect to those that are present." With that mild but firm assertion begins a little book of self-improvement that George Washington copied down as a teenager. There followed 109 rules, and by the time Washington had written them all into his notebook -- in what was probably the equivalent of a homework assignment -- he had taken them to heart, and he attempted to follow them for the rest of his life. (Click here for complete news story) http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/02/18/washington.advice/index.html * Winners, Losers in Digital TV Transition: Cable, Satellite Operators Could Gain Subscribers As Analog TV Signals Stop in 1 Year * TV's big switch from analog to digital broadcasts will be complete in just one year, on Feb. 17, 2009, and many consumers are puzzling over how the shift will affect them: Do they need a new converter box, a new TV, a better antenna? But it's pretty clear which business interests stand to gain. Cable and satellite TV companies could see a wave of new subscribers as people with older TVs pass on hooking up converter boxes to older televisions or buying new sets. ... (Click here for complete news story) http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/GadgetGuide/wireStory?id=4303472 * 301 pennies auctioned off for $10.7M * A penny saved is not necessarily just a penny earned: One man's collection of rare American cents has turned into a $10.7 million auction windfall. The collection of 301 cents featured some of the rarest and earliest examples of the American penny, including a cent that was minted for two weeks in 1793 but was abandoned because Congress thought Lady Liberty looked frightened. (Click here for complete news story) http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080217/ap_on_fe_st/odd_penny_auction;_ylt=Amq_4M4bCqO3l30F0lE1s9es0NUE

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