Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

9 Ways to Motivate Yourself When You Just Don't Feel Like It

Achieving the really big goals and dreams always involves breaking it down into do-able little steps. Assuming that you've picked a goal or dream that you really love working at, then most of the steps are a delight to take. No matter how much you love your dream and no matter how much you love your work, there are going to be tasks along the way that you really don't want to do. Those piece. . .

Putting Our Faith in Wishes or Prayers?

If you could make one wish, what would it be?For me, several things come to mind: I wish I could lose weight. I wish I could keep my car clean. I wish Ford would stop singing the Superman song 24-hours a day.Think of all the places humans have designed to ask for and (hopefully) receive wishes: When we blow out the candles on our birthday; when we toss a coin in a fountain; when we blow an eyel. . .

Making Yourself More Relevant To The New Workplace

Being a current job seeker can be quite a challenging prospect as there are many changes in the workplace. Life-long employment is no longer the norm and workers must also learn to adapt with the complementary expertise of foreign talents. We are very much living in a global village.Here are some tips to stay relevant to the expectations of the workplace:Interview PhobiaYou must view the interv. . .

The Freedom to Fall

So you want a soulmate do you? Okay not necessarily something that big and cosmic but 'happily ever after' would suffice just fine. Maybe you have somewhat of an idea the type of person you're looking for and you want to place your order with the cosmos - 'one true love meant for only me, please and thank you.' Let me ask you this - are you ready? Are you worthy? Do you have the freedom to. . .

Come Alive!

As many of you know I have a passion for helping people identify their dreams and go after them. What you may not know is that (much to my surprise) I have uncovered a spiritual aspect to my work. I use a 3 stage process to help people find the kind of work that will make them happy for the long haul. We start by taking a 3 hour test which objectively measures your natural talents. Then, we do. . .

Importance Of Your Job Search

So that you can decide just how critical your job hunt is in your total life scheme, let's put a kind of frame around the importance of the effort ahead. Reflect on it.A job is not just a job. Half of you waking hours are devoted to it. Its quality ramifies through all other aspects of your life. It determines your productivity and how far you will go in achieving full self-realization. It gove. . .

Sometimes Our Children's Questions Answer Our Own

I was changing Ford’s diaper the other day when he asked, “Mom, will we always have Tanner?”Tanner is the family dog, and at twelve-years old, her health is quickly deteriorating. “No, Ford,” I said gently, “we won’t always have Tanner. She is old, and she won’t always be with us.”“But if she’s not with us,” he asked, “who will have her?”Ever since I became a mother 4 years ago, I’ve been prepa. . .

Extracting the Most from Your Time

As we all know time is supposed to be the most precious resource in business. To help you be the most productive person you can be try the following tips to help squeeze out every last drop of your time.1. The last thing you should do each work day is write down everything you need to do the next day. You'll go home thinking of the next days challenges and return to work refreshed and ready . . .

The Joy of Meaningful Work

The search for meaning in life and in work has been a very powerful, enduring theme in every culture. Many of us have reflected on our work and the meaning it has in our lives. Developing a rewarding career is closely linked to enjoying a more meaningful life. A poll taken by the Gallup Organization in 2001 indicated that less than 30 percent of people are fully engaged at work. Until recently,. . .

Argue With Yourself and Improve Your Health

Even as a child, James was described by teachers and his parents as a happy optimist. As the story goes, one day his parents decided to play a joke on him and test his attitude by requiring him to spend an afternoon cleaning deserted stables at what had been a local racetrack.Returning after two hours, James’ parents observed him singing while happily shoveling manure. Astounded, they walked cl. . .

Doing Less in More Time

Over the years, the compelling challenge of time, priorities, and life balance has been a frequently mentioned concern of individuals. Our lives have sped up so much that we often feel that we are losing track of who we are. And, in our rush to achieve ‘more’ in less time, the things that really are most important to us seem to always drop to the bottom of the priority list. We often approach o. . .

Creating Sacred Space in Your Home Office or Garden

The environments we surround ourselves with contribute to our sense of well-being as well as to our creativity and productivity. There is a direct link between inner peace and the spaces in which we live and spend our time. It is possible to create harmony and abundance by enhancing home and workplace energies. The idea of sacred space is as old as humanity itself. The ancient oriental art of f. . .

Wireless Meditation: Top Five Tips for Wherever-Whenever ...

The problem with meditation is attachment. We get in the habit of needing our altar, favorite cushion, incense, CD, certain time of day, necessary length of time, or particular style of sitting. If we can’t do it the “right” way, we tend to skip it altogether. We get so attached to the trappings that we get a little testy if we don’t have everything just so. This is funny when you think about . . .

Trust the “System” – It Works!

The “System” – the overall structure and organization of this great creation that we’re a part of… including our ability to personally interact with (and benefit from) the spiritual aspects of this creation (universal consciousness, God, whatever you’d like to call it).Here’s the story behind our recent move.It all started with a single comment as we merged onto the 101 and pointed the van west. . .

Are You Doing What You Love Each and Every Day?

It is easy to get caught up in the day-to-day stress of everyday life: deadlines to meet, schedules to keep, unexpected expenses, conflicts to resolve, illness of loved ones, to name a few. Amidst all this, it is easy to for me to lose sight of why I do what I do - my purpose for being. I discovered my passion and my purpose over seven years ago. It was the catalyst for starting my business, Th. . .

Our Worst Enemy

Who do you consider as your worst enemy? The criminals roaming the dark streets? Your boss who's killing you mentally and emotionally with stress and harsh words? The people in office who are engaging in graft and corruption, instead of helping those in need? We have many implications of who our enemies are; but we have one common foe who is the main cause of our failures and misfortunes, a. . .

Work Attitude Ethics For Progress

This "fruit for thought" article is for all human beings, who somehow find themselves in the role of breadwinner and striving to improve their living standards.The heading of this article could just as well have been "How to position yourself for promotion" or "How to position yourself for career advancement" or "How to climb the success ladder" or something similar.The answer on how to cultiva. . .

Hard to Change?

How many times in the past have you tried to change something about you? Have you read an article discussing the benefits of time management and made a promise to your Self to follow the steps? Or, maybe the last seminar or teleclass you attended had some great ideas for changing your financial standing. Writing a book? Losing some weight? Self improvement?How far did you get?Don't worry, you a. . .

Where is the Time and Money?

An informal survey (by me) over the last two weeks has revealed an interesting statistic. I asked almost everybody I spoke to (even strangers) if they had enough time. If they had enough time I asked if they had enough money. Most said they had neither enough time nor money. A few (very few) had time but no money. Even fewer had enough money. Then I asked if they knew anyone who had enough time. . .

Ready? Go! Tweak.

Let's set the scene. You're in a packed stadium. It's the Olympics and you're watching the 100-metre sprint. You're up in the nosebleed section and you see what resembles little "ants" stretching on the field as they prepare for their 10-second mad dash to the finish line. As the race is about to begin, the official hollers: "Ready? Set. Go!" And off they go, as fast as the wind, with the hopes. . .

Are You Faking It?

I am beginning to wonder how many people are faking it?How many if given the chance would change careers, partners, domiciles, and friends? What percentage are living a life by rote? It takes not a lot of thought for these people, everything just is. Get up by an alarm because you have to. Get dressed in a certain type of clothes you might not otherwise wear, because that is what is called for . . .

The Balance of Balance

Life is about maintaining a balance of all aspects. At times some areas might receive more focus than others, but remember we're always undergoing constant change. It takes 3 weeks to develop a habit, so develop these habits with balance in your life, you won't regret it.You should have a feeling of accomplishment when the day is over and you're heading to bed for the night. The same positive m. . .

Running Tips

It’s a good idea to consult your doctor before beginning any physical activity. The information in this article is not meant to be technical, it’s just a guideline. Use the information as you like.With that said, let’s talk about running and its benefits.The wonderful thing about running/jogging is that I can be done just about anywhere in the world. All you really need is a good pair of shoes . . .

The Boss Didn’t Understand Why His Staff Wasn’t Reading H...

Many people believe that everyone sees the world exactly the same way as they do. This is never true and was the source of much turmoil in Dr. Jacob’s office. When the Job Isn’t Getting Done“They never seem to get any work done on time, but they complain that they're being underutilized.” Dr. Jacob, a chiropractor, was talking about his office staff. “I have to do so many things myself that t. . .

I Am…

…you are, he is, she is, they are… But you knew that already, didn’t you? Or have you really stopped to think about it recently – or ever for that matter?Huh?I guess we need a little clarification on this. So…do this. Touch yourself. That’s right, go ahead and touch yourself. So, what did you feel? Skin? Of course. Maybe some hair? OK. How about warmth? Sure, unless you’re standing n. . .

Is She Cheating? - Many Unsuspecting Husbands Find Out To...

Couples therapists report a 50% increase in female infidelity. The cover story in the current issue of Newsweek magazine is all about cheating wives: “The New Infidelity – From Office Affairs to Internet Hook-Ups, More Wives Are Cheating Too.” Yet, as widespread as female infidelity has become, many unsuspecting husbands have no idea their wives are having an affair. They often find themsel. . .

Posture Yourself for a Promotion

Sit up straight! You may recall hearing those words as a child. Perhaps a teacher or a parent would utter those words to you on a regular basis. It was so much easier to slouch and perhaps it still is. Your new image, however, begins with how you feel about yourself. Studies have shown there is a direct correlation between your posture and how you think and feel about yourself and your environm. . .

Stinky Animals

Oops, I meant to title this “Animal Instincts”. Oh, well – maybe that was one of those Freudian slip-ups. I dunno…We all are animals, right? Mammals? Sure we are. We all have fur, a self-regulating body temperature – and our females have mammary glands (that’s boobs for those of you who don’t normally think in more precise anatomical terms). Besides, if we aren’t plants – with a few excep. . .

3 Keys to Fulfill Your Wildest Dreams

If you’d like to fulfill your long-held dreams, try a radical approach. Radical people create their own breakthroughs for getting the job, love and health they really want. Nonconformists open to options for achieving “extraordinary” goals that others don’t see.Take Christopher Columbus for example. Columbus played outside the box. When conventional wisdom proclaimed as . . .

How To Answer Your Call In Mid-Life

Hank Bochenski’s story proves it is never too late to walk away from a life you feel trapped in and do something that you really love. Hank spent 30 years in demanding senior positions at large high-tech companies. By the time he went home each day, he felt like all the blood had been drained out of him. Hank’s real passion was his collection of more than 1,000 movies. He had recently spent hou. . .

The 10 Realities of Change

I've seen several articles that begin with lines like "the only constant today is change." I assert that change that is constant can't really be called change. It's simply a new reality. It's time that we accept that things simply don't stay the same and speed to change is the new reality of business. Like any other new reality it requires new responses. There is not more change than there was . . .

Improve Your Mind With Some Simple Math Games

Mathematics has long been recognized for it's mental benefits. Working with numbers improves your concentration, memory, focus, problem solving skills, and general clarity of thought. To enjoy these benefits, you don't have to indulge in any complicated formulas. All you need is a few minutes daily practice playing some simple math games. And before you rush out to buy the latest Xbox console . . .

Your Hidden Portal to Peace

Want more peace and joy in your life? Daily stress getting to you? With terrorism, layoffs and pollution, can you feel safe and happy? Yes, you can—by tapping into a little known, and less-used, doorway to internal security. This entry is not really hidden as much as misplaced. As a culture, we’ve lost the use of this innate inner compass.We each have our own personal portal to peac. . .

Encourage Personality Testing

I was asked the other day : "Kate, is personality testing novelty, frivolity, or common sense?"The answer is: It depends on whether or not you utilize them properly.I highly recommend them for anyone who is in a relationship of any kind: business, friendships, family, etc. (so all of us) Personality tests enhance our perspective. The best way to utilize a personality test result is by loo. . .

Reduce The Stress!

First, let’s make a distinction between pressure and stress. We all have sources of pressure in our lives - sometimes a little, sometimes a lot. These pressures have a multitude of sources such as family, job, lack of job, finances, health or lack of time.Stress is our internal, personal response or reaction to these pressures. Stress is how well we handle - or don’t handle pressures. Too m. . .

Helping Others When You Need Help

[Excerpted from the e-book The Heart and Soul of Being Therapeutic: Seven Keys for Getting Thru to Your Clients in Healing Environments by Phillip Mountrose and Jane Mountrose, http://www.gettingthru.org/btherapy.htm]For those of us who do help others, an uncomfortable question inevitably arises: how can I help someone else when I'm messed up myself? If I'm overweight, have bad habits, relation. . .

Frustration, Isolation, Overwhelm

Whether you’ve been in business for yourself for a day or a decade, you remember that sweet feeling of freedom when you first thought, “I’m going to do this on my own. I’m going to go into business for myself.”The heady exhilaration of that moment was followed by other, not necessarily good, feelings. After the initial dream, you found out you had to learn about . . .

Rugged Individualism vs Human Nature

"Rugged individualism" is actually a euphemism for Thomas Hobbes' baseless concept of man's natural condition as a war of everyone against everyone else. Even different species of wild animals (each of which has its own group soul, as opposed to humans, which have individual souls) cooperate with one another for their mutual benefit, so Hobbes would have had us believe that mankind is inherentl. . .

Do Your Goals Match Your Passions?

Making sure our goals are properly aligned with our passions only makes sense. If you have the wish to move up the corporate ladder, start your own business, or just about any other worthwhile endeavor you're going to make things a lot easier on yourself if you're working on things that get you personally excited and make you feel alive when you're working on them (i.e. following your passions). . .

Success: A Holistic Perspective to Business and Life...

The world has always been mixed with the rich, the poor and the middle ground. Should we assume that if you make more and more money, that you are more and more successful? Perhaps not.....looking at ourselves and life that way just keeps us trapped in our animal/primate history. You see in the animal/primate world, the big male controls all the sex and resources, he's the successful one and th. . .

Stone Deaf

Direct Answers - Column for the week of July 12, 2004I have been married a dozen years, but my marriage has been purely platonic for the last four. We are good friends, nothing more. Recently I contacted a pen pal I've been writing since the age of 13. The two of us lost contact 16 years ago, but back then we had very strong feelings, and you could say we were in love. He lived in the USA, I. . .

Become a Babe Magnet without Surgery or Drugs!

"I'd like to find a partner who dances. Do you?" my profile on Match.com asked. My now-husband Drew emailed that he was willing to take lessons, and that was enough for me. Non-dancer Drew’s courage to put himself out on the dance floor and to show in lesson after lesson his amateur status was truly impressive. We took private dance instruction for a year before our wedding, and as a result, go. . .

Clear Mind, Empty Head?: A Leak In "Mind Like Water"

There's a lot of talk in meditation circles about emptying the mind. This is a roadblock for many people. Why? Because it's counterintuitive.After all, we spend most of our waking hours filling up our minds. We go to school, we get trained, we read, we learn, we absorb information from all around us. Then someone comes along and tells us that the best thing we can do is EMPTY our mind? Why woul. . .

Painless Presentations

Did the "Painless" part of the title get your attention? Speaking in front of a group ranks with death of a family member and loosing a job when it comes to the emotional toll it takes on some people. If you are one of those folks who look for any excuse not to give a presentation in a meeting, social club or your church take heart. You can learn to present with confidence and style. All it tak. . .

The Choice

“Cheers! To all of us for making this day happen! Today all three of us have reached a stage where we can write our own Destiny” - Tushar spoke in his usual confident tone raising his glass to the other two fresh Law graduates who were quietly listening to him.“Indeed! Now on we will never have to look back.” – Nakul shared his thoughts, though less confidently. After a pause he added, “Isn’t i. . .

RECIPE FOR ENCHANTMENT - THE THREE R's: Remembering the B...

In today's world there are so many wonderful and inspirational books. There are books filled with stories of Divine intervention, miracles happening, special positive moments never to be forgotten and stories of incredible coincidences. They help make us feel in harmony with the universe. They help us fall asleep and have pleasant dreams. They often bring tears to our eyes, reinforcing an inne. . .

17 Extraordinary Human Capacities

People have a tremendous capacity for outstanding achievement. There are also many extraordinary capacities that allow them to become high achievers.Here are seventeen extraordinary capacities that make human beings remarkable. When we recognize and use these capacities, the quality of our lives can become more joyful than ever before.1. Helping someone in their time of tragedy or need shows th. . .

The Myths of Career Change

Chances are you already have many ideas about what it takes to successfully transition into a new career, even if you have never done it before. Some of those ideas might be useful – most probably are not. In this article I would like to expose The Myths of Career Change, which might actually be holding you back.MYTH #1: PASSION AND WORK ARE NOT COMPATIBLEIn fact, research shows the opposite. . .

Organized For Life

Questions come my way all the time regarding my God-given nature to be organized. It has been said that I stayed under the proverbial “organized spout” too long when I was being created. In fact, at one point in my career I had the unofficial title, “Minister of Organization.” However, when a person takes the time to ask me about organization I take their question seriously. If a person is aski. . .

Practical Steps of Enchantment

Let us sit back and review the Seven Gateways to Enchantment and seminal ideas that led me there. It will give us an opportunity to ponder over what The Enchanted Self is all about. This might mean returning to some material already shared with you once before, but it is still 100% pertinent. For those who are new to the Seven Gateways may please find them at http://www.enchantedself.com/elette. . .