Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

Aging Gracefully Through Vastu Shastra

Aging is inevitable, but its most negative effects can be minimized and turned into a graceful progression. Exercise and proper diet are key factors. But, when your living or working environment is in harmony with nature, it has a positive influence on your well being, slowing the aging process. In nature, all five elements (earth, water, fire, air and space) are in perfect symmetry. As a build. . .

Five Ways to Expand Your Comfort Zone

Expanding your comfort zone isn't quite the same as building self-confidence. However, the two do fit together rather nicely. The one begets the other. So many people feel stuck in a rut... bored from a routine that is safe and comfortable but not very exciting. Fear of falling flat on your face or of looking foolish stops you from reaching out beyond that cozy little life you've created fo. . .

Conversational Negative Self-talk

Most people don't even know they're doing it. Throughout the course of normal conversation, they bombard themselves with negative self-talk. Even people who are aware of the power of their words seem to miss some of the most commonly used derogatory comments that are made towards ourselves in the course of normal conversation. While plotting out goals and dreams we remember to stop ourselves. . .

What Is Failing Forward?

What an absurd statement! Absurd or not, progress is not possible without failure. It is part of being an evolving and growing human being.Failing forward is about leveraging mistakes; making a realistic assessment of risks and the ability to live with the downside and experiment with new approaches. FAILING FORWARD is an investment in human success.Look at it this way:1. Failing forward is. . .

Spirits

Direct Answers - Column for the week of August 16, 2004I was looking for the miraculous "answer to my life," when I came across your column. I don't have anyone to ask for a neutral opinion so I am hoping you can give me some insight.I met my husband when I was 18 and started dating him when I was 21. In 1991, shortly after I moved in with him, he lost his license for drunk driving after a Chri. . .

How to Recognize Stress Before it Turns Into Anger

After a stressful day as a computer programmer, Jim pulled into his driveway. The children’s toys were scattered on the walkway to the house. He immediately began noticing slight tension in his muscles and apprehension in his stomach.Entering his house, his wife ignored him while she talked with her sister on the telephone. His heart started beating a little faster.Looking around, he noticed di. . .

Painting Philosophy of Peruvian Artist

Life I paint with an emphasis on expressing LIFE (the spirit and the soul) which is the expression of my love for the natural world and its creatures. From the heart of my Incan cultural comes my love and respect for nature. I honor my love of nature and man by painting with a balance of rhythm, harmony, and movement. This is the tradition of my people the Incans Indians of Peru, and the Chines. . .

Painting as a Spiritual Expression

Is a painting no more than a piece of paper with lines and color or is it more than that? In the hands of the master painter, who is painting in the spirit; the lifeless piece of paper with its lines and colors, is transformed into a creation that has life, just as the master creator gave life to his creation. The painter transmits the essence of his spirit to his creation, the “painting.”A pa. . .

7 Hot Tips for Improving Your Life

I won't be long-winded about this, I am going to lay down 7 simple steps to help you improve your life. It will only be a few pages long and will be a quick read. Whether you implement the steps I give you is your decision alone, they are merely suggestions you might say.#1 This tip will seem quite obvious and simple to you, but you'll be amazed how few actually take the effort to do it. Unle. . .

Trusting Yourself and Others

How come, as women, we always second-guess ourselves? Are we not confident to choose a mate that has the characteristics of what we yearn for or start and operate a business that we have a passion for? Who can you trust? For most of my teenage and adult years, I’d sit in front of my computer going over a ‘wish list’ of things to accomplish before growing old. Unfortunately, ot. . .

Alone But Not Lonely

In today’s faced paced society, we’ve become accustomed to filling the eeriness of silence with fluff. We turn to many distractions as a means of escaping feelings of idleness or boredom. But the main thing we wish to elude is loneliness. Solitude does not have to alienating or lonesome. In fact, solitude and loneliness are distinctly separate. The death of a loved one or the inability to fi. . .

Rebirth from the Ashes

The legend of the phoenix can actually be found in several belief systems. It can be traced back to ancient Egypt when it was then known as “Bennu” or Bynw”, a symbol of the sun god Osiris. Osiris was resurrected to life from serving as ruler of the underworld. Whether this mystical bird is attributed to the Chinese “Feng-huang”, the Jewish “Milcham” or even an emblem of Christ, the legend re. . .

A Turning Point

19 years ago, I was a young working mother at 28, independent and working for a prestigious company, until circumstances made me choose between family and career. After going through weighing my options, I chose to become a full-time Homemaker because I believed that family should come first if the situation would permit.However, I had a wake-up call four years ago. It happened on a lazy weekd. . .

It’s My Blankey and I’m Keeping It!

“Blankey” – as in Security Blankey. OK? All parents know what this is. Sometimes it’s an actual “blankey”, or it may be a pillow, a doll or some other favorite toy or scrap of material. It’s the “thing” that provides a measure of security to developing young minds in a sometimes scary new world. It’s the “thing” the little ones sleep with, eat with, and lug around until it becomes almost u. . .

Conjuring Up Sid Ceasar

Love focuses attention. When you really love something, you are naturally pouring your interest and appreciation toward the object of your love. The driving core of this concern and care, on an electro-magnetic level, is creative life force. As our love flows toward the object of our love, the object is filled with our vital energy, enthusiasm and joy. This energetic connection to the object ma. . .

Hot Rod Hundley: The Man with a Lot to Smile About!

One of the first things you notice about Hot Rod Hundley is his contagious smile. Anyone within eyeshot is quickly drawn to this former NBA All Star. Most folks know Rod Hundley as the announcer for the Utah Jazz games on radio and television. He has the distinction of being the only NBA player who is also an NBA announcer. With a unique style and familiar voice that have made him one of the mo. . .

The Healing Power of Water Gardens

If you experienced a day filled with running from one place to the next, one errand to the next, one meeting to the next, imagine a place where all your troubles can melt away. A place where the stressors of the day are nonexistent. A place where peace and tranquility are norm. Seem impossible? Incredibly, something such as this can exist right within your own home or office. It can be accompli. . .

“How do I date beautiful women, even celebrities?” my idi...

Are you a guy who’s interested not only in dating beautiful women, even celebrities, but would like to get beautiful women to approach YOU first? Can it really be done? The answer is an unqualified “yes” IF you know what to say and do, and what to avoid saying and doing.Most guys have no clue about the day to day life of stunningly beautiful women. They have no idea how many times a DAY thes. . .

Identity Theft

Direct Answers - Column for the week of August 30, 2004I've known my best friend for six years. Initially I thought she was a great person who was there for me in times of crisis. As time went by I noticed she was very competitive with others, and then I saw she was most competitive with me. She will ask what I am wearing, then wear something shorter or more low-cut. She sees me in something. . .

The New Morality

In a world where dynamism alters egos and principles in a man every second, where men divest in tenets that secure them from being devout to something natural, where humanity seeks reasons to be ignorant just to feel sly and intelligent – we’re confronted with issues of morality. We can no longer be satisfied with being truthful incessantly, we can no longer be happy for the sake of empathizing. . .

What's Stopping You?

We're all familiar with the cycle: We want new, but resist change. We want satisfaction, but procrastinate. We want control, but defer to circumstance.So, what’s stopping *you*? A belief? “I’m an incurable procrastinator, I’ll probably be late to my own funeral.” Beliefs like this dictate your thoughts, and your thoughts turn into action -- or in this case, *inaction*. Consciously tu. . .

Seducing with Hygiene

The world wide web is full of articles and stories on how to seduce women (and men). Often you would come across various products that will make women crazy about you, or vendors who would like to sell their books that repeat same things over and over again. But are women (or men) that difficult? First impressions are the impressions that last a long time, sometimes, even a lifetime. However, f. . .

Successful Change Starts With A Shift In Perspective

Like so many in corporate America today, Susan needed more balance in her life-but she did not know how to get it. Faced with a 60-hour work week and a lengthy daily commute, Susan was left with little time for outside interests. Her job was literally draining her of energy, and her attitude at work was changing, especially within her business unit. Who is Susan? Susan is a composite of thousan. . .

Psychic Angels

Are you looking for a way to improve your accuracy as a psychic? Maybe you're just thinking it would be kind of cool if you could 'know' things before they happen. Call on the spirits to help you. It's not important what label you use to wrap your head around the concept - guardian angels, fairies, or spirit guides. You could even call on God, Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed, or whomever it is that. . .

Who Is The Inner Critic?

The inner critic is that voice inside your head that tells you that you aren't good enough, smart enough, talented enough, pretty enough, or strong enough. It nags and natters at you to the point that your self confidence and sense of bravery is destroyed. You are convinced that the voice is correct and that you really don't have what it takes to live out your wildest dreams. As time goes on. . .

Balancing Your Work, Family and Social Life

Many of us have an image of personal balance as a set of scales in perfect balance every day. But that’s an unrealistic goal. You are in for a lot of frustration if you try to allocate within every day a predetermined portion of time for work, family and your social life. An illness may upset all your plans. A business project may demand peaks of intense work, followed by valleys of slow time.. . .

Tools for Constructing the Road to Success

Too many times in the pursuit of our dreams, we loose sight of the total picture and instead settle on a small piece of it. A job, any job, whether it is in the conventional job market or any one of a number of work from home ventures all require the same thing - people of vision.Vision sees the entire portrait, balanced, controlled, and proportionate while focus concentrates solely on one asp. . .

How to become a Dental Assistant

Becoming a dental assistant offers one of the fastest educational paths to entering the rapidly expanding healthcare field. Dental Assistant Job Description Dental assistants provide support functions for dentists including assisting with dental procedures, lab work and office functions. When helping with patient’s dental procedures, a dental assistant may be involved with: Preparing dental in. . .

What's Stopping You from Getting Your Next, Good Job?

This question comes up often when I'm working with someone to help them move forward in finding their next job. What is it that compels people to stay "stuck"? 1. I think it is often inertia. It's impossible to move forward, if you don't know what you want. 2. Knowing what you want is half the battle of leaving inertia behind, but how to know what one wants, really? 3. Defining oneself can . . .

Taking The Leap

Every four years, February gives us a whole 24 hours of bonus footage to add to our year. Many people take this opportunity to "do something special" with their extra day. But why wait for Leap Day? Why not celebrate the "leaps" and risks we take every day when we venture outside of our comfort zone or work to improve our lives?Of course change, especially life-altering change, is bone-shakingl. . .

Belly Dancing for the Midlife Soul Part 2

Isadora Duncan, the mother of modern dance, says, “The dancer of the future will be one whose body and soul have grown so harmoniously together that the natural language of that soul will have become the movement of the body. The dancer will not belong to a nation, but to all humanity.” In October 1989, while taking a brisk walk with my friend, Judy Cullins, I was given an idea that wou. . .

Success at Work : People Skills : Networking

Getting along with your co-workers is critical to your happiness and success at work. You may find yourself spending more time with your co-workers than with your spouse and family. Each individual in an organization is just a small cog in a big wheel. Without the assistance of co-workers, you will find your assignments much more difficult. The first step toward getting the assistance of your c. . .

Divine Authorship

What does the story of your life say about you? Does it speak of heroic journeys into new and exciting lands of achievement and growth? Or is it an angry and repetitive diatribe against the vagaries of a wantonly malicious universe? Does it sing with finely crafted phrasing and uplifting themes? Or is it plodding, dreary and full of errors, omissions and clichés?Some people feel their destiny t. . .

Number One Killer Of Could-Have-Been Success Stories

Fear.Everything in this world has its opposite. Good has bad. Optimism has pessimismPositive has negative.Success has failure. If fear of failure rears its ugly head now and then as you set up your business, what it’s doing is pausing your progress.Sure you might spend a day or two thinking, ‘what am I doing!’ but you get over it and continue. But that’s no good.This ongoing temporary fear of f. . .

There Is Room For Everyone At The Top

Do you believe that? Do you believe we can all become successful? Every single person on this earth old and young. Do you believe every single person can be successful? It sounds a bit far stretched doesn’t it?If you think it can’t be possible stop reading right now and analyze why you think like that. Is it because the world doesn’t have the resources? Is it because for the world to work there. . .

How to Get What You Want Every Time! - By Nelson D. Berry

You know that YOU are the creator of all that occurs in all of your life experience, right?You create your physical life experience through your thoughts. Literally, every thought that you think gives birth to a creation. EVERY thought has creative power. The subconscious accepts whatever you pretend is real and will use it to create your outer reality. The thoughts that you think, regarding th. . .

Measure Your Time Against Active Inactivity

We don’t realize many things we do until we draw our attention to them.Active inactivity doesn’t occur only now, it can occur later unless you catch yourself doing it.What is active inactivity?It’s when we do things that don’t progress our purpose. The only thing that will progress your purpose is doing things your business requires.Active inactivity stretches to all aspects of our lives.A busi. . .

7 Dynamic Strategies for Creating a Life that Works

Everyone wants a life that works effectively, whether that means harmonious relationships, a happy family life, a successful career, or the achievement of an important mission. People with successful lives take certain actions consistently.These seven strategies can bring more success and satisfaction to your life. There is a question after each strategy to bring insights that apply specificall. . .

What does Meditation music do to you?

Personally I belief that it is possible for anyone to live a life of happiness,inner peace, and outward success, no matter what their present or past circumstances. There are very real methods anyone can use to achieve these things-if they are willing to make the necessary changes in how they see themselves and their relationship to the rest of the world, and take the necessary actions. All t. . .

Do The Hardest Thing First And The Rest Will Be Easy

Have you ever noticed that in life we almost always choose the easy road, the path of least resistance when it comes to challenges in our way? I remember as a kid working in a warehouse, the foreman came up to me when I was complaining about the tough job I had ahead of me at the end of my shift, and said… “You want a secret that will help you not have to deal with that task at the end of the d. . .

The Mid-Life Challenge: Make a Plan to Re-ignite Vocation...

Nobody will stop you in the hallway at work to ask if your career provides meaning and personal fulfillment. Recognizing that something’s missing in your vocational life and taking the initiative to change must come from within.Serena Williamson found a way to turn her passion — helping writers hone their skills in order to get published — into the catalyst for a new, more fulfilling life. Sere. . .

Helping Mid-Life Employees Find Meaning

People work to live, but most also live to work. A study on the meaning of work conducted back in 1987 revealed a strong attachment to work as a way of life. The study found that 86 percent of people would continue working even if they had enough money never to work another day. There could be no better indication that work is not simply a matter of putting food on the table, but is core to the. . .

We Are Exactly Where We Choose to Be

The idea for this month's newsletter came from an unlikely encounter: I recently had lunch with a new friend named Rick Rockwell. You may remember him as the bachelor from the first-ever reality TV show, "Who Wants to Marry a Multimillionaire?" During our meeting, Rick described some of the knowledge he gained from doing the show, along with a few of past his experiences in business, ethics, an. . .

Seven Strategies You Need to Know About Strengthening You...

Did you know that your life’s success in all areas is directly related to having a healthy self-esteem? You’ve heard the cliché “You are what you eat.” Many would also argue that “You are what you think.” Nathaniel Brandon, one of the most notable psychologists on self-esteem put it nicely: “There is no value-judgment more important to man—no factor more decisive in his psychological devel. . .

Anchors Away!

If we want to fill our heads with the doom and gloom society seems to thrive on, all we need to do is turn on the local news at night. To make that quantum leap toward personal happiness and success in life, sometimes we just need to do what so many people seem to be talking about lately: “clean house” and take personal inventory of the people we associate with most. One of my favorite quotes o. . .

Wake Up to the Life You Love

While speaking at a San Diego university recently, I was fortunate that I was not asked to leave the stage. You see, I chose to share with the students in my audience some frightening statistics. I announced that, while many would receive their degrees, few – very few – would end up pursuing careers in their chosen field. At this point, the faculty began giving me dirty looks. I went on to say . . .

Does Your School Teach You How to Achieve Financial Freedom?

Study hard, get good grades and you will have a bright future! I am pretty sure many of you have been brainwashed by your teachers with this statement when you were students. And your perception of a bright future is most likely to become a lawyer, doctor, engineer, businessman. whatever that promises a high salary. Your school helped you to achieve your goal. It equipped you with the necessary. . .

Your Pot of Gold: Waiting for the Rainbow’s End

An old story tells of a country pastor who had created a very beautiful garden. He had removed the old decaying trees and replaced them with healthy young saplings. He had dug granite stones from the hillside and built steps and walkways throughout the garden.A clear stream ran through the garden and supplied a sparkling pool. There were bright red roses, colorful flowering trees, and lovely fo. . .

Prioritize with Two Questions

"Because there will always be something more to do, we need to consciously choose what we are doing."-- Helen KsypkaWhy is it such a challenge to prioritize? We have enough to-dos to last for a lifetime. We tend to view every to-do as an immediate "must" do. We've become desensitized to what's really important.The first thing we need to realize is that we will never "catch up." There will alwa. . .

Your Success

Success starts in your mind.    Positive Thinking creates the advantage.Success comes with a good mood.    Listen to your most preferred CD before an important meeting.Success is increased with a little attention.    Give others something maybe a nice gesture is enough.Success comes when your body is healthy.    Bo. . .