Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

Improve Your Listening Immediately!

We are good at talking, but we have trouble listening. One sage said, “The only reason we listen is because we know we get to talk next.” Here are some tips that can change your listening behavior now.Names! First, repeat a person’s name when you first meet him or her. This will make you listen first and talk second. You want to have a mental set to become a better listener, and repeating . . .

Ethics in Speaking: A Practical Point of View

Often managers have to deliver presentations with unpleasant content. The vice president has to announce that there is a hiring freeze or a downsizing. The human resource director speaks to the employees about a benefits package with fewer benefits. Because executives are often speaking in difficult situations, the more credibility they can develop, the more the content will be considered and a. . .

Seven Aspects of a Making Brilliant Decisions: The Relati...

Work\werk\n: an opportunity for discovering and shaping; the place where the self meets the world. Regardless of what business we are in, what projects we are working on or what interests we have in the world – we are all in the business of relationship building. In business we are always cultivating relationships with employees, with prospective clients, with colleagues. In our personal lives . . .

Name That Tune

Direct Answers - Column for the week of July 26, 2004I have been married to a wonderfully grounded woman for nine years, and we have two young children. The problem? My mother-in-law lives from crisis to crisis. She claims to have a "plan," but it is always the wrong plan and my wife and I are constantly picking up the pieces. A one year experiment of her living with us turned into a stressf. . .

Humble Riches

"We come equipped with everything we need to experience a powerful life full of joy, incredible passion, and profound peace. The difficult part is giving ourselves permission to live it." – Deborah Rosado Shaw Summer is a great time to practice slowing down and re-connecting with what you enjoy most in life -- spending time appreciating nature, barbequing with old friends, or expressing yoursel. . .

Big Wave Mindfulness: Surfing For A Connectiton

Surfing is mindfulness in action. Riding the biggest waves is an all-out, fully-present-or-die-trying proposition. Thanks to a persistent case of aquaphobia, I've never tried surfing. However, I've done my share of snowboarding, and I am trying to imagine what it would be like to carve the slopes with several tons of avalanche chasing me down the mountain. First of all, I would have to hike to . . .

Savoring Moments Through Mindful Eating

We all eat. But how mindful are we of every bite we take? Your mother always told you to slow down and taste your food. That’s great advice, especially when we find ourselves grabbing a quick snack on the run or eating a meal while driving. How we eat says as much about us as what we choose to eat. We can learn a great deal by paying attention to our eating habits. Our appetites change dependin. . .

Gaining Muscle Mass

This article will discuss how to gain weight naturally muscle building. Gaining weight naturally is about muscle building and using a mass building diet daily. The question of how to gain weight is a common one, however the answer lies in your diet. Below we will give an example of a mass building diet for one day of the week. You can look at the example and use something similar for the rest o. . .

Awakening The Giant In You

Deep within man dwells some vast slumbering powers and abilities that he never dreamt of possessing. Forces that would revolutionize his life if aroused and put into action. I mean deep on the inside of you are resident immeasurable, unfathomable and unlimited powers. These powers are the seeds of greatness also referred to as the sleeping giant. Oh! There is a sleeping giant within you, snorin. . .

This Just Ain’t Good!

“Nope, this just ain’t good!” How many times in our lives have we had those or similar words bouncing around inside our skulls? Yeah, I’ve lost count, too! There are usually only a few reasons these annoying words show up. Occasionally, it’ll be when we just run smack-dab into an “Oh Sh--! situation. You know what I mean. Accidents, diseases and a whole bunch of other stuff that seem to h. . .

Peruvian Artist Shares Why Preservation of Culture and Ri...

My artistic endeavor have led me towards a personal sense of mission, because the visual arts are more than a passive representation of the life style and culture of the Incas, Aztecs, Mayas and Chinese of the Asian-pacific.Through my work, I seek to preserve and stimulate an alternative vision to the modern industrialized twenty-first Century. Western culture has moved away from the serene lif. . .

Career Education Options For Working Adults

Ask yourself this question: “Do I like what I do for a living?” If you answered “no”, what are you doing about it? Maybe you have a “good” job, but it’s not very rewarding to you personally. Maybe you have job with good pay, but bad hours or worse – a job with good hours, but bad pay. Perhaps you’ve just done your job for too many years, or are excited to work in some of the new careers th. . .

Think Positive: Using Affirmations to Create Health, Weal...

You’ve heard the buzzwords: Attitude is everything! Change your perspective! Have a positive outlook! But, can these words really change our future? And if so, how? In my childhood and adolescence, I was skeptical. If my brother was born without being able to walk – how could my attitude or outlook change anything? As I got older I continued to reflect on a youth seemingly filled with disappoi. . .

What is Success?

Everyone wants success. People talk about setting goals and positive thinking and getting to the top. However, most of these same people never really define what success means to them. Instead they think only in terms of the next big promotion or the next raise or climbing the corporate ladder, but few ever stop to really look at where these goals are taking them.World-renown motivational speak. . .

The Red Ribbon

Everyone wants a blue ribbon. Blue. First place. The best. Even kindergarteners want that blue ribbon. In sports, I was never a blue-ribbon person. In a race I was always last. In baseball I was as likely to get hit on the head as to drop the ball. In basketball I was fine as long as there weren’t nine other players on the court with me. Where I got my horrible sports ability, I don’t . . .

Mirrors

Mirrors, mirrors all around Why don’t I hear the joyful soundOf myself clapping as I stroll by?Is it you or is it I?Aarghhh! My sincere apologies to the real poets of the world! The things I do to amuse myself…Mirrors lie. All those pieces of glass with the reflective coating on the back – lie. You know they do. They never, never give us a true picture of ourselves. First of all of course. . .

Conflict In Faith

Direct Answers - Column for the week of July 19, 2004My husband is Jewish, and I am Catholic. That wasn't a problem when we were dating, because he isn't religious. He married a Catholic before, and their daughter was raised Catholic. A reformed rabbi married us. I sacrificed being married in church by a priest, but we shared our traditions. My husband broke the glass, and we lit our candl. . .

Performance Anxiety

Beverly had suffered from anxiety most of her life. As a child, she slept poorly and often had nightmares. She bit her nails and would chew on the skin around her nails until they were raw and bleeding.Beverly had tried many forms of therapy, meditation and medication before consulting with me. She had a strong belief in God and prayed daily. Yet she was still anxious and could not understand t. . .

Making Changes in Your Personal Life

Making changes in your personal life can be a tough process. Change starts with a thought. It cannot begin without one. However, what we think and dream is not always what those around us choose to envision for us. Why do I bring this up? Because I know first hand that when people try to make changes there are often nay-sayers hanging around. There will always be people expressing their ne. . .

Electromagnetism, the Universe, and You

An electric current produces a magnetic field. This is the principle of the electric motor - varying electric currents moving along wires make magnets with drive shafts spin around in circles. A moving magnet makes an electric current flow in a nearby conductor. This is the principle behind the dynamo - magnets being whirled around mechanically on one end of a drive shaft make electric currents. . .

Man: The Hyper-Inquisitve Animal

Everyone at one point ponders "Who am I?" and "Why am I here?" I took a course on the paranormal at UNLV under Dr. Raymond Moody who struck a good point with me, as a magician. He stated that the paranormal, and magic, are pastimes. Very few magical moments or wondrous paranormal experiences happen to you while you're, say, rushing to work late, or enjoying a good game of Pictionary. These eter. . .

It’s Good to be Goofy

To paraphrase a saying my mother liked to use occasionally, “The whole world is goofy – except you and me. And sometimes I’m not too sure about you!”Rest assured that no matter who we are or what we do, there is at least a handful of people somewhere in this world who are convinced that we’re not rowing with both oars in the water. If you’ve been following along with some of the other blogs, . . .

What If I Fall Flat On My Face?

I hope you do. Sounds awful, I know. But I really think the best thing that can happen to you is for you to take a timid little leap and fall flat on your face. Then, I want to see you get back up, evaluate what you did wrong, and jump again. Keep on taking that leap of faith and learning from each and every mistake until you become used to jumping and used to falling. Then, you'll get ove. . .

10 Ideas to Jump Start Your Self-Confidence

To begin feeling that first spark of self-confidence within you, try as many of these as you like. It's important to enjoy yourself along the way. Have fun!1. Correctly do 25 pushups, 50 sit-ups, or 1 cartwheel.2. Learn all of the words to a fun new song on the radio and sing it aloud while driving down the road.3. Open up your cookbook to a completely new recipe and learn to cook it well.4. . . .

Run Towards Fear: A Prescription For Success

Fear, or negative anxiety, is the modern day bubonic plague, infecting millions upon millions of people. It spreads with viral effect, and leaves behind consequences of mediocrity and regret. This “plague” is partly due to societal influences (particularly in a post-9/11 era) and partly due to individual issues (the tendency to avoid confrontation of that which we fear). However, whatever the c. . .

“Is Your Career Your Calling or Just a 9 to 5?”

Do you remember your parents asking you what you want to be when you grow up? By the time I was in the 9th grade, my mother started asking me that same question until I graduated from high school. At that time I wasn’t 100% sure what career path I would take, but I had several ideas.Your calling is that passion that you have deep inside – the career that defines your purpose in life. Someone . . .

How To Write A Successful Personal Ad

No one would know how good you are if you would not let them know about it. Whether you are promoting yourself for a job or for a date, you have to advertise yourself well.You have written your own personal ad. Unfortunately, no one seems to be paying attention on your ad. You are a little apprehensive that you do not possess the skills you need to write a successful ad. You are thinking that p. . .

5 Steps to Make Stress Your Best Friend

You probably think I'm wacko, but it's true - stress can be your best friend! Stress is actually a positive experience to be channeled to improve your life.For instance, let me tell you about a small moment of stress I faced a few minutes ago. Just before I boarded my flight from Phoenix to Seattle, I was talking to my husband Wade on my cell phone. Toward the end of our conversation, he told. . .

Angel to Angel

Years ago, my minister spoke to us about how you could solicit the help of your guardian angels to help with conflict resolution. She told us stories about how she and others had successfully asked their guardian angels to speak to the enemy's guardian angel. The idea being that when you find yourself in an argumentative situation with someone, that you could request that your guardian angel . . .

Compassion – A Powerful Doorway to Personal Growth

The following article is offered for free use in your ezine, print publication or on your web site, so long as the author resource box at the end is included, with hyperlinks. Notification of publication would be appreciated.For other articles which you are free to use, see http://www.innerbonding.comWhat if there was one choice you could make that would change everything in your life for the b. . .

Advance Your Enthusiasm and Determination for Success

Imagine being firmly committed to your deepest ambitions. Imagine feeling energetic and enthusiastic about your relationships, career, and all the things you want. Envision a future as bright and promising as any you have ever imagined.Is this your typical day-to-day outlook? Do you adjust easily to unexpected obstacles and handle stressful situations resiliently? Do you thrive on challenges, o. . .

Are Millionaires and PhDs Really Smarter? The answer may ...

I’ve had a vast array of job experiences. While in high school, I worked as maid for a local motel. While attending college, I worked as an office worker in the Sociology Department and Museum of Fine Arts. After college, I was a social worker for six years. Following a career change, I spent the next several years working as an editor and technical writer in various publishing and software com. . .

Play a BIGGER Role in Life!

Did you ever think that you are not playing the role which you should play in your life?Don’t you think that you are born to play a leading role, a much bigger role in the real drama of your life? What is holding you back then? Your own short sightedness! In order to play a bigger role in life you need to visualize a bigger picture of yourself. Once you have that picture before you, it will b. . .

Who Controls YOUR Happiness?

Where does happiness fit on a scale of 1 to 10 in your life?Is that a silly question? Who’s in control of your happiness?? Well, if you want to maintain continued happiness in light of difficult moments then start by identifying your thinking. Often this means that some of the way you think about certain things may need to change.Change is difficult for many people, especially when it involve. . .

Ten healthcare fields that can't wait to hire you.

Healthcare is one of the hottest career fields in America today. The aging and retiring of the largest population segment in the country, known as “baby boomers”, has left the healthcare industry racing to find enough employees to fill the void. Advances in medical technology and treatment are causing people to live longer as well. Add the fact many universities and colleges don’t have enough t. . .

When Should You Update Your Job Skills?

With the U.S. economy still slumping and unemployment numbers barely moving forward, many workers may be considering what their employment future could be like if they were to lose their job. If you’re in a healthcare field, or possess computer skills, you don’t have much to worry about, except explaining why you left your last job. On the other hand, if you’re employed in production or manufac. . .

After the Storm......

Have you ever wondered why is it that after we go through a bad phase in life we seem to come out better for it? It use to puzzle me too until recently after I stared down a gunman’s nozzle I realized why. If you have ever been in a situation like I did and survived to tell the tale you would be more than grateful for everything. And the worst part is that my family home was invaded by gunmen . . .

Ten Great Careers That Don’t Require A Four Year Degree.

One of the great myths associated with the “American Dream” is that you need to have a four-year college degree to be successful. As the economy has shifted to the information age, with a greater reliance on technology and services, this belief applies less and less. The new economy relies on technology more than any time in the past. In fact 70% of existing jobs require specific technical know. . .

Balance Your Life

Writing is a solitary task. Writing needs concentration and quiet. Writing requires absolute commitment.Are all there scary statements true?What is more, is it possible to balance your writing career and family without turning yourself into a zombie?Everything is feasible; I am the living example of it.There is only one secret: TIME PLAN.This is step one for the aspiring writer's success. Wi. . .

Ridding Your Home of Geopathic Stress

Just as there are solar magnetic stresses that come from the sun and the galactic “soup” that supports the universe, there are geomagnetic stresses that come from within the earth. The field of geobiology, or geopathology, is a science that has its roots in Europe and has slowly gained popularity in the United States over the past 25 years.Research and proven modalities of detecting internal e. . .

What is Vastu Shastra?

Vastu is the oldest and most complete system of architecture in the world. The reason for its recent interest in the U.S. is that Americans are demanding a better quality of life. There’s a greater awareness now that our physical environment does affect the quality of our life. The effect of our environment can make us feel peaceful or stressful. There is a great deal of stress and pressure on . . .

How to Make Your Pets Healthier and Happier

Pets are family members and should be treated as such. The design of your home has a dramatic affect on their health and well-being. When your environment is in harmony with nature, it will have a positive influence. If not, behavior al and health problems will show up in your animals in subtle and not so subtle ways. By applying the environmental science of Vastu Shastra, you can create harmon. . .

Improve Your Relationships Through Vastu

Do you want be in a relationship that brings you deep fulfillment and love? Or perhaps you want a more satisfying connection with that one person already in your life? Would you like to have a deeply rewarding relationship with yourself?From a Vastu perspective, if your home is not in proper balance, those things that you desire most in life can elude you causing sadness, disappointment, and lo. . .

Instant Willpower

We’ve all heard people say “I have a system”. Ever since I was a little girl and watched my mother put together a grocery list, I’ve known -- and used -- the power of systems. Systems help take the frustration out of daily living. They help you do what you WANT to do in an easier, more consistent way. A system practically does the work for you. You don’t have to over-think it, you don’t . . .

You Are So Unreal

Mankind's ability to give life to lifeless objects, gives rise to much of the grief and frustration that he brings upon himself. He animates, or humanizes all sorts of things and other creatures, then believes in his mind that they are human.This is all part of his creative power and clearly demonstrates his ability to create his own reality. In his own life he believes the illusion of his own . . .

5 Steps to Greater Workplace Productivity

Step 1 – Learn a powerful key to increase financial successYantras are a visual representation of a mantra. A mantra is a sound that resonates in the atmosphere and creates a specific effect. A yantra is similar to a radio being turned to a specific station that, in this case, represents prosperity. The Shree Lakshmi Yantra is the yantra for financial success. It attracts abundance, prosperity,. . .

Balance- what does it really mean?

Balance- what a popular topic these days! Finding a work-life balance, being balanced in body, mind and soul, eating a balanced meal, balancing work, play and learning. But what does it really mean? When I ask my clients what balance means to them, most have no idea initially, and find it a good exercise to reflect on. For some it means spending more time with family and/or fun and less time on. . .

Daily Systems Keep You Organized

Ever wonder how they do it? How a short-order cook prepares tasty meals in a hectic, rush-rush environment, and does it all with a smile? The answer is simple: A system. The next time you are in a little diner for lunch purposefully sit in a place where you can see the short-order cook preparing the food. It is like poetry in motion. What you will see is a system where food orders are delivered. . .

Glass Half Full

YES MY GLASS IS ALWAYS HALF FULL AND YOURS CAN BE TOO! Clients, friends and colleagues often comment on the fact that I am a walking and talking field of positive energy. They wonder, often in amazement, how I keep a balance of calm and joy on a day to day basis. I ingest is intention, the intention of appreciation, gratitude and joy every moment, every day and in every way that I can. When I g. . .

7 Things Happy People Know How To Do

Ever notice how some people just seem to be able to be content and bounce back no matter what the circumstances? Research shows that this isn’t a gift or a talent – it’s a skill that they have developed. Surprised? Well, the real surprise is that you too can put to work their techniques and make your life happier too. 1. Happy people cooperate with life. Each person has a destiny to fulf. . .