Personal Development Articles

As a once senior banker, I know all about inertia. Studies from various parts of the world show that the majority of bank customers are unhappy with the levels of service they receive. In addition, many bank customers are aware that, at various times in their “relationship” with their bank, they have been inappropriately treated or overcharged. However, when it comes to current or checking accounts, the rate of customer movement between banks is tiny in comparison to the amount of customer dissatisfaction – they’re simply not dissatisfied enough to bother to make the change and, as

No, I am not a clothing snob. Just because I nix flip-flops in the office and cargo shorts for Dress-dow Fridays does not mean my idea of sartorial splendour begins and ends with Savile Row.

Progress can not be stopped. We evolve as human beings and so does our technology and knowledge base. We are no longer able to avoid the onslaught of improvements in our communications and how we relate to each other. Personal Development, Self Growth and Self Improvement are also experiencing a ...

If you are facing Perioral Dermatitis, no matter how long you have been dealing with the condition, most likely you have wondered if anything will bring full healing? I wondered the same thing many times. You see, I was healed from Perioral Dermatitis (POD), and I am committed to declaring hope and offering practical solutions to others.

Trend-spotting off the Beaten Path Style-makers and trendsetters, even Hollywood celebrities, have long known the benefits of combing Goodwill Stores for hidden gems, but a funny thing happened on our way through the recession. Goodwill stores across North America noticed an increase in sales – the exact opposite of most retailers.

Have you ever had one of those experiences where you ask yourself ”Why have things gone so wrong for me? What have I done to deserve this?” I have had many of them over the years. When I was still a church goer, the standard sanctimonious answer was “Just suffer through it.

The world of self help, personal development, and self improvement is often challenged by people as it relates to psychology and psychiatry especially when it comes to depression. Some feel the boundaries of the various self help teachings stop short of encompassing individuals who suffer from serious or clinical depression. You might be one of those people but we believe that if you follow these simple, yet powerful ideas, you will understand why we believe this is not true.

Most people lead normal lives. Those lives are, generally speaking, repetitive - where anything spectacular rarely happens. Of course, the normal life is punctuated by the spectacular - falling in love, marriage, the birth of a child, the odd special holiday. But, generally speaking, normal lives plod along. Research tells us that at least 96% of us are normal and that normal people are rarely really engaged in or attentive to what they are doing in the here and now - research estimates that the normal person is only 1% engaged.

Change is as predicable as the sun rising in the East. Few things are as constant in life as the simple fact that things will change. With this known, why do we seem to have so much trouble dealing with change? Some have an easier time dealing with change than others. Some hang on to the notion that things need to remain just the way they are to the point that it is almost an addiction. Those that deal with change with a healthy and positive attitude are going to have a far less stressful environment than those that do not.

Do you ever feel uncomfortable, anxious or tense? Are there things that you worry about – things that sometimes even keep you awake at night? Are you ever nervous or apprehensive? Do you get hassled or lose your temper easily? Do you feel that you suffer from stress? If you perceive yourself to be suffering from any of these afflictions, it is just that – nothing more than a perception. Because none of these problems is real – no matter how real they might appear to you, they are nothing more than creations of your own mind. You are letting your mind play tricks on you.

Color is about more than interior design and fashion; it is used for marketing products from diapers to diet soda, from office supplies to electronics, from bargain buys to luxury investments, color sells. The key is to learn how to use color to your advantage as it is often a subliminal ...

Inspiration for the Day “The only thing even in this world are the number of hours in a day. The difference in winning or losing is what you do with those hours.” -Woody Hayes _____ Your self-concept is made up of three parts, each of which affects each of the others. Understanding these three parts enables you to put your hands on the keyboard of your own mental computer. When you learn to take charge of the development of a new and positive self-concept of selling, you can then control your sales destiny for the rest of your career. Determine Your Directionr

Self Improvement is especially about taking your life forward, making a major difference and impacting the lives of as many people as possible. Focus on your target and make the most of the one and only life you have. Winners have clear direction and know exactly what they want. Nothing will ...

Why is developing an effective personal philosophy so significant? Well, if your personal philosophy is not helping you succeed, that could be one good reason for developing a more effective personal philosophy. One of the major ideas I have picked up in studying self improvement, has been that in order to make a successful personal change, I had to start with my personal philosophy. Jim Rohn, one of the best, if not the best business philosopher of our time said that. It all starts with our personal philosophy, or as Mr. Rohn termed it, "the set of the sail".

How many times have you left a meeting simmering with fury over the colleague who interrupted you each time you spoke? Have you spent precious time imagining how good it would feel to tell your co-worker what you really thought of her? How many hours have you wasted bemoaning the fact that your boss doesn’t acknowledge your contributions or appreciate your hard work? Conflict in the workplace is the single largest contributor to job dissatisfaction.

Many people go through their lives without considering why they make the same mistakes, follow the same bad patterns, and exist in the same rut for years. They aren't happy with their current situation, but they seem to be unable to make any lasting changes. Are you perhaps one of these ...

I’ve been in the personal development business for nearly sixteen years and, to be quite honest, a get a little fed up when I see people, who are all over the place themselves, suddenly proclaiming themselves to be a life coach because they did a weekend course or get some online accreditation. Life coaching is a serious business. The life coach is in a position to play with people’s minds – and some of them do just that with terrible consequences. People ‘follow their heart’ – a phrase that I’ve heard more than once – or people ‘go with the flow’ – another choice phrase.

Why is it that we hold on to relationships long past their natural end? Think of a friendship that no longer exists. Do you still remember how your friend insulted or deserted you? You gained new friends, but you still feel that hurt. Remember that supervisor who made your life such hell that you left to get a new job? You smile every time you think what a sad sod that supervisor is, and how much better off you are now. Or you still resent the opportunity that you missed as a result of that person, even though you gained much more from the new job than from the old one.

As businesses increase their use of social media to attract new customers to their products and services, it seems as though special attention as been given to the Dos and Don’ts of networking online. But the truth is that etiquette is universal. So when it comes to social networking etiquette, the same rules you would use during a face to face encounter should also apply to networking done online.

Today’s common understanding of catastrophe —a sudden disaster—is not the word’s original meaning. It first meant “a reversal of what is expected,” something altogether more broad, more benign, and perhaps more useful (you can see the connection with words like apostrophe, the etymology of which means, in effect, a “turning point”). The extension of meaning to “a sudden disaster” was first recorded in 1748, some 200 years after the first use of the word.n

Probably the hardest part of setting goals is the first step of actually deciding to take action! The main hurdle that most people face is the incorrect assumption that goals are only for business or sales-minded people. The reality is everyone subconsciously sets goals throughout their day. There are always occasions where something has to be done at a particular time or place. Simple examples could be getting up at a certain time in order to be at work, or to meet with a friend for a leisure activity.

Over the years, I’ve discovered a relatively simple metaphor for understanding relationships and maintaining healthy relations. The metaphor is the lock and key, and you can learn a great deal about your interactions with others and how to make those interactions with others better contribute to ...

Too many people are going through their lives wishing, hoping, wanting or waiting for something to happen. “I wish I could just get that lucky break.” “I hope that tomorrow will be better.” “I want to win the Lottery!” Unfortunately, what most people don’t realize is that nothing “just happens” in life – you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do yourself to get the ball rolling.

Over the many years that I’ve been working with clients who want to better their lives I’ve come across the goal of “financial freedom” – people looking for an end to financial worry (over 905 of males claim that it is their greatest source of worry), people looking for “passive income” or people wanting to have “more than enough”. But, what is “more than enough”? In a comment once attributed to Rockefeller (I’ve really no idea whether he said it or not) he is reputed to have said that “Enough is just one more!” Enough, perhaps, is never enough.

Are you struggling with body image? Your body image determines how you feel about your overall confidence,and your personal worth. The media images make it that much harder to feel good about yourself, it's true. But you have to keep in mind that these media images are altered; these are not reality. You have to accept that while you might not look like a celebrity, you are fine just the way that you are! When you can accept this, you'll be a lot happier in the end. Put yourself first

When I got the news that I was being laid off, I reacted in such a nonchalant fashion that I’m sure most of my friends and colleagues thought I’d been dipping into the Zoloft bottle a little too often. Since this was the third round of layoffs at my company, I guess I was simply sick and ...

They say that you are what you eat. You are also what you think. Think positive, hope and wish for positive things and you are more likely to get them in your life. As an example of this; Imagine walking across a room with a cup of coffee full to the brim, someone says ‘be ...

I constantly tell my clients that meditation is like your life in miniature - in other words, everything you encounter during meditation mirrors your daily life. So, for example, during meditation, your conscious mind will distract you - with an average of 50,000 random thoughts whizzing through it, it's bound to!

Gee I loved being a kid. Living for the moment, laughing for the sheer joy of doing so, letting my imagination run wild, not trying to be someone I wasn't, saying "yes I can do that" to everything I wanted to try, even if I wasn’t any good at it. I didn’t have to worry about getting a job, a relationship, or pay off a mortgage.

The really happy person is the one who can enjoy the scenery even when on a detour. No matter how well we plan, from time to time life presents us with an unexpected detour. There are even times, despite the most thoughtful and considerate planning, that you may find yourself right back where you started. When this happens, there’s a simple formula for turning things around … remember, it’s not what happens to you, it’s what you do about it. Rather than a cause for despair, such times provide an opportunity for renewed determination, re-commitment and maybe a slight detour.

I looked at my father for the last time before he was finally laid to rest. And I said to myself, "I forgive you father". I have forgiven him but I have not forgotten the turmoil, terror and abuse that I went through. My father was working away most of the time when I was growing up. But when ...

My grandfather was one of the most positive influences in my life as a small child. I shared the most special times with him before he passed on before my eleventh birthday. He believed that Laughter is always the best medicine. My Grandfather was diagnosed with cancer and heart disease and spent his last few weeks in a small bedroom with an oxygen tank. Next to his bed on the floor, a stack as tall as me was issues of Readers Digest magazine.

The key to relating to others is first understanding yourself and your personality type. Which one of the 7 personality types are you? There are many combinations of facial and body types. They have been narrowed down to 7 basic personality categories that establish the backbone of your character. However there are variations of character traits within each type, some more dominant than others which is what uniquely defines your personality. Some people are combinations of several types and take on personality traits of each in varying degrees.

Can You Hypnotize Your Kids to Build their Self-Esteem? The answer seems to be, "YES!" So if you are a conce ed parent who truly understands the value of developing your child's self-esteem, this article will prove to be very valuable.

How can we become an optimistic person when we have fallen prey to negative thinking? It is so easy for us to become filled with negativity when our lives don’t go the way we expect them to. The biggest problem with negative thinking is that it has a snowball effect. One negative thought leads to another negative thought and then another. Before you realize what has happened, you are a victim of negativity and negative thinking becomes a way of life.

There I was, with only a week to go, and I was no closer to finishing the assignment, a final requirement for my coach training and certification. The assignment was to present to my peers a physical representation of the “voice” inside my head, otherwise known as my Gremlin. “Everyone has one,” they told me in class. The goal of the exercise was to disempower our Gremlins and transform them into supportive “new friends.” nnFor months the class was frenzied as we

Writing essays is an easy skill to master. Here is one specific way to quickly learn to write essays. There are five stages to writing an Essay. Each one is vitalnn 1. Planning the contentn 2. Planning the argumentn 3. Writing the contentn 4. Writing the conclusionn 5. Writing the ...

First of all, I understand that the title to this article is not new because many authors have previously expressed their view on this topic. What makes this article original is that what I am sharing below is based on my own experience as a trainer for more than 10 years. In compiling the Do's and Don'ts lists below, I would also like to acknowledge all my mentors for their generous sharing of experience and techniques used in their own training. Here is my Do's list:

What is the difference betweem talent and desire? I have posed this question to top level executives as well as some of the top coaches in the area and they answers vary from person to person. Some will say that you can't teach talent; others will say there is no replacing desire. Truth be told, I believe they are all right. You see, you can have the most talented player or executive in the world, but with no desire for their team to win or to make the people around them better it is a waste of time, money and energy.

There are so many people today in dramatic career and life transition, and also thousands of coaches and consultants offering help. I’ve discovered, however, that recommending simple, straightforward tactics and strategies does not work unless there has been a true breakthrough in the individual’s thinking and behavior that allows them to become unstuck, and to embrace new possibilities where constraints and limitations were seen before. What do you need to do to create your own breakthrough, and make your goals and visions in life and work a reality? Here are 6 essential steps to

Yesterday I was visiting Apple’s online store and upon leaving the website realized that it shared something in common with the Hotel Califo ia. “You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave!” After ten minutes of playing “Where’s Waldo?” in search of the logout button, I sought out the “Geek Squad” a.k.a. my husband, the “IT Professional”. “Honey,” I asked, “where is the logout button on the Apple store website?” He immediately shot me a look as if to say you have got to be kidding! “I’m not kidding,” I said. “I can’t find it anywhere.”

Here’s a question that you may have never seriously asked yourself. Are you happy with yourself and with your life? The chances are that there are things that you would like to change about both you and your life – I have rarely met anyone who is truly happy, they are few and far between. People often believe that if they improve themselves, lose weight, get fit, buy a new car, go on a great holiday, move house that, then, they will be happy. That kind of happiness, however, is fleeting and superficial. Happiness should be lasting and not dependant on having this or doing that.

- Have you craved to be strong and looked in awe at those who gain the respect of others easily? - Are you tired of getting ignored when hanging out with other people? - Are you speechless when someone talks down to you or pushes in the line in front of you? - If you can relate to these questions, it’s highly likely you desire to develop a strong personality. Most “strong” people wear a mask

We live in an abundant universe and we all deserve our share of that abundance. In order to receive that abundance, we must be prepared and ready to receive and accept the prosperity which is rightfully ours. However, at a subconscious level, many of us just do not believe that we deserve the prosperity that we are looking for. In order to attract prosperity, we must release all our negative beliefs about prosperity. Our exte al reality mirrors our internal beliefs and how we think the world is for us becomes our reality.

“If you build a network, you will have a bridge to wherever you want to go.” Those words are from Harvey Mackay, marketing guru and business person extraordinaire, and probably one of the world’s foremost authorities on networking. You know, I spend a LOT of time at networking events. That’s because I know that to achieve success, professionally as well as personally, you need to have a network.

It is hard to put into words how much the guidance that I received from Yogi Bhajan changed my life. It all seemed so very simple. He fixed me with those eyes, full of love, and said, “All you have to be is regally graceful.” nnI had no idea what that meant. Graceful—what was that? At the time my life looked pretty good from the outside: I had a great job, a wonderful husband, and a beautiful house. Something was missing, though, deep on the inside. And now, Yogi Bhajan

"The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight, but has no vision." - Helen Keller Do you have a clear purpose or vision in life? Have you thought about this question often enough to push you through, thinking deeply and seriously as to what is it that you want to do in life? Walt Disney's vision: "To make people happy." Dr. R. Buckminster Fuller's vision: "Humanity's comprehensive welfare on spaceship earth." Henry Ford's vision: "To mass produce, mass

Is a successful team a team that never faces difficulties or experiences disappointment? Of course not. The successful team is prepared for setbacks and disappointment, deals with the issue, stays focused and stays on track. Even when a team is performing well there are issues to contend ...

“First Impressions” Over the course of my life and career, I have heard the following statement countless times, “First impressions are everything.” What you wear to a job interview, office party or business meeting can have a lasting impact on how you are viewed by others. As a business professional, you need to use every opportunity to project yourself in a positive way. You never know when you will come across someone in a position to further your career. As we enter a new year, what a great time to take inventory of your current wardrobe.

In all areas of life, positive thought patterns can have a profound affect. Often, health problems can subside, money problems can disappear, relationships woes can go away, and many other issues can be resolved simply through the power of positive affirmation. Astral projection is also affected by positive affirmations. Along with many other techniques, this can induce astral projection with success. For many, these affirmations can help to overcome fear, relax the body, and