Common Barriers to Personal Growth and Development

/ / Inspiration, Self Esteem, Self Talk

Do you find yourself striving to move forward, but getting nowhere? You likely have barriers to personal growth and development that you may not even be aware of. Many people have barriers to personal growth and development that hold them back from achieving their personal or career goals in life. However, regardless of the nature of your barriers to personal growth and development, you can overcome the obstacles and achieve your goals with a few lifestyle and mindset adjustments.

The most common barrier to personal growth and development is your own imagination. How much a person can accomplish is only limited by the vision and determination of the person. If you think that you cannot accomplish something, then you will fail. If you think that you can accomplish something, and you put in the effort, you will succeed. Often, personal growth and development is often that simple.

Another common barrier to personal growth and development is past failures or events. Often our past failures or bad events in our lives get in the way of personal growth and development. It is natural for our minds to dwell on such events, but only by moving past them can we truly grow as people and in our careers. These incidents must be put aside so that we can accomplish our goals.

Another common barrier to personal growth and development is our support systems, or lack of support. Negative messages from family, friends, and co-workers will only serve to bring us down, not lift us up. Surrounding yourself with people who are like minded and striving for success in their careers and their life will help you to do the same. Whether you get support from an organized group, your friends, or your family makes no difference. The support that you get, the motivational pep talks and the shoulder to cry on when things go wrong, will help you to realize all of your goals and overcome your barriers to personal growth and development.

One of the less common barriers to personal growth and development is the basic lack of planning. Many people go through life taking what is handed to them, without ever setting down goals and striving to exceed expectations. Setting goals, figuring out how to reach those goals, and making a timeline for success is a vitally important and often ignored barrier to personal growth and development.

Remember, whatever your personal barriers to personal growth and development, you can overcome your obstacles. Any person who sets goals, creates a timeline for success, has adequate support, and strives for excellence can overcome these barriers to personal growth and development and achieve the success that all people deserve.

If you need further assistance in personal growth and development, you can find a lot of information on the internet or in books through your local library or your favorite online book store. Personal development coaches, career development profiles, and other personal growth and development tools can also help you to overcome obstacles and achieve what seemed like the impossible.

100 Weight Loss Tips

/ / Aging, Exercise and Weight Loss

 

  1. Make a plan – If you want to lose weight, you need to make a plan for it. Planning involves setting your goals both short term and long term ones. With proper planning, you would be able to have an effective guide on the steps that you want to take, towards losing pounds of weight. Aside from that, it would also keep you motivated.
  2. Watch sports – When you watch people playing sports, whether you are going to do it by visiting stadiums or simply watching them on television, you would see how fit the athletes are. Because of that, you would be inspired more in hitting your fitness goals. Aside from that, you might even be motivated in getting involved with certain types of sports.
  3. Maintain proper posture – When you stand or sit down properly, you would not just ensure that you would be able to practice proper breathing techniques. It would also help you look thinner, aside from the fact that it can develop the core muscles of your body. Standing straight would keep your abdominal muscles tightened, which can develop the strength of your stomach and make you lose weight.
  4. Make a list of the disadvantages of gaining more weight – One of the things that can provide you the motivation to lose weight is to make a list of the disadvantages of gaining more. When you gain more weight, you may find it harder to fit into your clothes. Aside from that, it can also put you at risk to certain diseases. Other disadvantages would include easily becoming fatigue, not being able to perform certain physical activities, and many more.
  5. Get yourself a pet dog – When you go and visit the park, take a look around you, and you will see people with their pets. One of the things that you can observe is that, most pet owners are not fat. This is because their pets can increase their daily physical activities, when they walk them around the neighborhood each day. Aside from that, if you have a pet, you can play with him all day, without realizing that you are already burning calories.
  6. Warm up before starting your workout routine – Warming up prior to starting your workout routine would give you lots of benefits. Aside from preventing certain injuries, it can also ensure that your muscles are loosened up properly. Because of that, you would be able to perform the routines the right way, and benefit from them.
  7. Motivate yourself – Without the right motivation, you may not be able to reach your weight loss goals. Thus, it is best if you come up with ways to get motivated. One of the ways to do it is to imagine yourself when you have already lost weight. Aside from that, you can also list down the advantages that you can enjoy with it.
  8. Inform your friends and family of your plans – Prior to taking the steps in losing weight, it is best to inform your friends and family about it. This is because, they can provide you with the support you need. They can provide you encouragement, and they can also help in preventing you from eating foods that are unhealthy.
  9. Dream about losing weight – Before you sleep at nights, you should dream about what you would look like when you lose weight. You should picture yourself and the other things that you would enjoy when you already lost some pounds. This would help you get motivated just before sleeping, which would help you start your day the following morning, thinking about the things to do to lose weight.
  10. Take a picture of yourself prior to taking the initial steps in losing weight – One of the best ways to monitor your progress is to take a picture of yourself just before you start. By doing this, you can compare it with a new image after weeks of doing certain things, which can help you lose weight. Thus, it is also best if you take pictures each time you lose a certain amount of weight.
  11. Chew your food thoroughly – When you chew your food thoroughly, you would not just enjoy your food better, but it can also help you lose weight. This is because doing that would prolong your time of eating, which would provide your body a chance to distinguish being full. In short, when you eat slower, you would be consuming lesser amounts of foods, than eating faster.
  12. Avoid sitting down for long periods of time – Sitting down for long periods of time can develop back or neck pain. Aside from that, it can also prevent you from losing weight. However, if you cannot avoid it, you can still help yourself lose weight by walking around the hallways from time to time. You can also walk around the building during lunch and break times.
  13. Make use of your feet instead of your hands – It is always better to stand and make use of your feet instead of your hands, so that you would lose weight. An example for this is when you need to communicate something to your colleague, who is just a few meters away from you. Walk towards him instead of using your email, so that you can burn some calories in the process.
  14. Use the stairs instead of the elevator – When you are on your way to your office, which is located at a certain floor inside the building, make it a point to use the stairs instead of the elevator. This would help you burn more calories and lose weight. Do this everyday, so that you can achieve your goals soon.
  15. Park your car a few blocks away from your destination – Whether you are going to a grocery store or to your office, parking it a few blocks away from your destination would help you lose weight. Doing this would let you get some exercise, by walking a few meters to get to your destination. Aside from that, it would also help you in saving some gasoline.
  16. Play with your kids more – Losing weight can be fun, especially if you have kids who are longing to spend more time with you. Schedule a playtime with them each day, such as after your work or during your lunch time if you go home. When you play with your kids, since it is fun, you won’t even notice that you are already burning more fats and calories.
  17. Become a do-it-yourself person – Doing lots of things by yourself can help you lose weight. Thus, becoming a DIY person would help you in achieving your goals. What you can do is to take a look around your place, and see if there are things that need to be repaired, and do it yourself. Aside from that, you can also think of certain projects for you home, and do it from scratch, or check for DIY kits in the market.
  18. Wash your car – Your car needs washing on a regular basis to keep in clean. To lose weight, instead of taking it to car washing stations, you should wash it yourself, so that you can get more exercise. Make sure to do it properly, so that you can lose weight and have a shiny vehicle as well.
  19. Clean the house – Cleaning the house yourself, won’t just help in making it more beautiful, but it can also help you lose weight. Make this a regular activity, in which you can do it every weekend or so. When you do it on a regular basis, you can eventually set a routine that you can follow easily.
  20. Organize the things inside your house – Organizing the things inside your house can help you lose weight. This could involve activities like arranging your books, appliances, as well as your furniture. Do it yourself, so that you would also be able to apply your own artistic sense. With that, you won’t just be losing weight, but also improve the ambiance of your place.
  21. Water the plants with the use of pail and dipper – Whether you like to care for plants or not, you should water them everyday. Doing that will not just make the plants grow faster, but it can also help you lose weight. Make use of a pail and a dipper instead of a water sprinkler, so that you can do it while getting some exercise.
  22. Eat oatmeal – Eating oatmeal can greatly help you in losing weight, especially if you do it in the morning. Oats are actually loaded with dietary fiber, which can naturally suppress your appetite. Aside from that, due to its high fiber content, it can also make your body burn more calories in processing it.
  23. Become more conscious of portion size – The more you eat, the more you could actually gain weight. Therefore, you could still gain weight, even if you workout and eat healthy foods, if you are still providing your body with more calories than it needs. Therefore, you need to control your daily portion, so that you can lose weight.
  24. Eat an apple before dinner – Eating an apple just a few minutes to eating dinner can help you lose weight, since it can suppress your appetite effectively. You can also do it during snacks. It is better to include the skin, as long as the apple has been grown organically, since it contains lots of essential nutrients.
  25. Eat banana when you wake up in the morning – When you eat a piece of banana when you wake up, it would provide your body with the energy that it needs to jumpstart your day. Aside from that, it is also loaded with nutrients, which can help you maintain good health. More importantly, it can also help in suppressing your appetite naturally.
  26. Drink water minutes before eating breakfast – Drinking water in the morning, especially before eating breakfast, can give you the feeling of being full. Thus, it can suppress your appetite to some extent. Aside from that, it can also help you cleanse your system more effectively by flushing out toxins.
  27. Eat at home – When you eat outside, such as in coffee shops, restaurants, and fast food outlets, there is always a tendency for you to eat foods that can encourage weight gain. Aside from that, you are also not sure about how much oil they cook it with, and what ingredients were added. Thus, it is always better to eat at home, when it comes to losing weight, and keeping your body healthy.
  28. Cook your own meals – When you cook your own meals, you can ensure that you are adding ingredients that are not fattening. Aside from that, you can also monitor the amount of salt you would be adding. Focus more on healthy recipes though, so that you can follow a diet that is healthy and not fattening.
  29. Pack food for snack – When you work, you may want to eat a sandwich or something, whenever it is your break time. Packing food for your snack can help you ensure that you are eating healthier types of foods. Aside from that, you can also save more money along the way, since eating out for snacks can become expensive.
  30. Make sure that your goals are achievable – It is very important to set goals in starting your weight loss program. However, make sure that they are achievable in a certain period of time. By doing that, you would provide yourself with more encouragement and motivation, each time you are able to reach them.
  31. Buy a heart rate monitor – Monitoring your heart rate is essential in losing weight. Having a heart rate monitor with you whenever you walk, run, jog, or ride a bike, would help you ensure that you are doing your exercise routines at a pace, which can facilitate losing weight. Thus, it is best if you have this kind of device on hand very soon.
  32. Do some stretching before working out – Doing some stretching routines prior to working out can help you in losing weight, since it can prevent injuries. Always keep in mind that one of the main priorities in losing weight is to become healthier. If you get injured due to lack of stretching, you will need to put a stop to your activities and postpone it.
  33. Stay as flexible as possible – Staying as flexible as possible can help you maintain your sights on your goals. Keep in mind that in your work, or with your family, there are certain things that may happen, which can change your daily schedule. By being flexible, it would allow you to adjust with certain changes, and still be able to get the exercise that you need.
  34. Make losing weight a competition – Losing weight can become more effective and fun if you make it a competition. Thus, it is best if you can convince someone to do it together with you. You can have your friend or your spouse as your competitor when it comes to this. After some time, check which of you is able to lose more pounds, and set a certain prize for it.
  35. Get your family involved with it – Get your family involved with the activities that you need to follow to lose weight. By doing this, you would be encouraging all your love ones to attain better health. Aside from that, you can also all work together in achieving your goals, by cooking healthy meals, doing exercises together, and such.
  36. Start with simpler workout routines – If you do not want to get discouraged in working out, it is best if you start with the basic routines first. Keep in mind that, since your goal is to lose weight, then basic routines can help you as much as the complex ones. Thus, stay away from the complicated routines at first, so that you can start at the right path.
  37. Start at a slower pace – If you have not been exercising for quite some time, then it is best to start at a slower pace first. This would provide your body the time that it needs to adjust to the increase in physical activities. Thus, start at a slower pace first, and gradually increase it, to make it more effective.
  38. Consider the needs of your body – When you workout, you should consider that your body would need some time to repair its worn out tissues. Thus, it is that you get enough rest by sleeping for at least 8 hours each night. Aside from that, your body would also need more protein, so that it can effectively build newer muscle tissues.
  39. Try different things to make it more interesting – To prevent boredom, when it comes to working out, you should try different things. Try different equipments and activities, so that you would enjoy exercising more. Just make sure that you stay on certain routines for certain amounts of time, to provide it the chance to take effect.
  40. Build the strength of your core – There are certain exercise routines, like squats, which can strengthen your core. Your core actually consists of your oblique, stomach, and back muscles; and, if you strengthen them, you would be allowing your body to become more effective in performing other routines. Aside from that, it can also prevent injuries to happen.
  41. Add some pepper into your daily recipes – When you eat spicy foods, you would notice that it can make you sweat. This is because it can boost up your body’s metabolic rate. This will make them taste better, and help you to lose weight. This is actually one of the reasons why people who love spices are leaner and healthier.
  42. It is always better to have fresh fruits than fruit juices – Although fruit juices in most cases contain the nutrients that fresh fruits have, they are usually stripped down of the natural fibers. Fiber can actually provide you with lots of benefits in terms of losing weight, especially when it comes to appetite suppression. Aside from that, some companies may also add sugar to their fruit juices.
  43. Cut down your consumption of alcohol – Several alcoholic beverages actually contain lots of calories and actually make you feel hungrier. Because of that, alcohol consumption should be cut out or at least be kept to a minimum level. Also it can affect your activities the next day making you feel sluggish and want to postpone your exercise.
  44. Avoid mayonnaise as much as possible – Mayonnaise contains lots of calories and fats; and, they are usually added on different types of foods that people love to eat. Lots of sandwiches are filled with mayo, as well as other foods items. Ask for no mayonnaise or dressing on the side when ordering foods in restaurants.
  45. Put a stop to visiting a coffee shop after work – Lots of people today make it a habit to drop by the coffee shop after a long day of work. This habit can actually prevent you from losing weight since they contain lots of fats and calories. Aside from that, the caffeine may keep you up at night and the pastries may be tempting.
  46. Sign up for a race – If you like running, then one of the best ways to speed up your progress in losing weight is to sign up for a race. This would provide you with more motivation in increasing your pace. Aside from that, since you don’t want to be the last person to cross the finish line, you would certainly see yourself training for it.
  47. Make use of skimmed milk – When you compare skimmed milk and whole milk, they are actually the same, except for the fact that the former contains less fats and calories than the latter. In other words, skimmed milk still has the necessary nutrients that one needs from milk such as vitamins and minerals.
  48. Monitor your weight – Monitoring your weight is one of the things that you can do in order to motivate yourself. It’s best to weigh every morning at the same time or once in a week. This way you can monitor how your doing and adjust your diet.
  49. If you are following a certain workout program, start with the routines you don’t like best – To get the most from the program, perform the routines you don’t like at the start. You don’t want to do them at the last part, since you may already feel tired, and may have a tendency to skip them.
  50. Reward yourself each time you lose a number of pounds – When you are able to reach your short term goals, it is a good idea to reward yourself each time. Although losing a number of pounds can already be rewarding, treating yourself for your favorite meal, going out with your friends, or buying something new, can provide you with more motivation to continue doing the things that helped you lose weight.
  51. Put a lists on the door of your refrigerator about the negative effects of obesity – Some of the negative effects of obesity would include increasing your chances of getting affected with certain types of diseases, making you move slower, making you feel tired sooner, and so on. This would help you think twice in eating more food, each time you try to open it. .
  52. Avoid eating junk foods – Junk foods are usually filled with lots of salt and calories that can make you gain weight. Aside from that, they also usually contain very little nutritional value. Keep in mind that junk foods are not just chips you eat in front of the TV. They can also include burgers, candy, fries, and such.
  53. Hit the grocery store only after eating – When you visit the grocery store, you would have a tendency to purchase lots of food items if you are feeling hungry. It can even tempt you to buy foods that are loaded with fats and calories, when you give in to your cravings. So prior to visiting the grocery store, have a snack so that you can avoid the temptation of purchasing more than what you need.
  54. Make a plan for your vacation – If you are going on a vacation with your family, there is going to be a tendency that it can make you break your usual workout routine. For example, book a hotel that has a workout gym inside it, or at least located near it, so that you can still have a chance to get some exercise.
  55. Remove the skin from the chicken meat before cooking – Chicken is actually a good source of quality protein, since it is not loaded with fats. Chicken skin is loaded with fats and calories, which is not good when it comes to losing weight.
  56. Hydrate yourself by drinking lots of water – When you go through exercise routines, it is best to drink lots of water, so that you won’t get dehydrated. Aside from that, it can also suppress your appetite to some extent. In times when you feel hunger, try to drink a glass of water first, since you could have mistaken hunger for being thirsty.
  57. Eat more protein – When you go through certain exercise routines to lose weight, you need to load up on protein, since it can help your body in repairing worn out tissues. Protein will actually make you feel full longer, which can help in controlling your appetite.
  58. Avoid salt as much as you can – Eating foods that are high in salt content is not a good idea if you want to lose weight. This is because salt can facilitate water retention in your body, as well as bloating. In addition, it can also put you at risk to high blood pressure and certain heart diseases.
  59. Eat more whole grains for your source of carbohydrates – You need to eat foods that contain carbohydrates to have the energy you need. Whole grains contain lots of fiber, which can prolong the digestion process and suppress your appetite. Fiber can also bring down your blood cholesterol levels.
  60. Cut down your consumption of soda. Sodas contain no essential nutrients, just hundreds of calories that can make you gain weight in no time. It’s best to choose water when you are thirsty.
  61. Choose methods of cooking that use lesser amounts of oil. For example steaming, which also retains more of the vitamins, minerals from your food.
  62. Choose your protein sources well – keep in mind that lots of foods that have high protein content, are also high in fat and calories. Foods you should consider are eggs, fish, lean meat, turkey, chicken without its skin.
  63. Eat healthy snacks in between meals. Aside from boosting your metabolism, this can help control your appetite during main meals.
  64. If you can’t avoid drinking beverages, choose those that contain less sugar. Also put lots of ice cubes into the drinks, so that they are diluted with water.
  65. Eat raw foods such as raw vegetables, which provide you with necessary  vitamins and minerals that your body needs. Additionally, raw vegetables make your body work harder, in order to process them.
  66. Focus on your meal when eating – Don’t watch TV or use your computer during meals, when you do that, your body does not read the signals that it is full. This can lead to overeating.
  67. Do things moderation- Don’t be too hard on yourself. It is perfectly fine to eat something that is no included in your eating plan, as long as you keep to small amounts. This will help you feel less deprived, and can even help you stick to your program.
  68. Never starve yourself to lose weight – It’s not a good idea to follow diet programs that are too restrictive. They can prompt your body to go into survival mode, in which it saves all fats it has stored, and lowers your metabolism.
  69. Find a partner – When it comes to losing weight through dieting and working out, it is a good idea to find a partner. With a partner, whether he or she is your spouse or friend, you can both motivate each other. Aside from that, you can even compete with each other, so that you would make it more interesting.
  70. Set short term goals – It is always better to have short term goals as well, rather than sticking only to long term ones. This is because, long term goals can become quite overwhelming. With short term goals, you can ensure that you are having progress. It can provide you an easier way to achieve results and keep you motivated enough to keep on going.
  71. Become more conscious of your calorie intake – When it comes to losing weight, your body needs to burn more calories than it takes in. Check the labels on products that you buy from the store and research other items: Some foods that are thought to be healthy have a lot of calories from hidden sugars or fats.
  72. Drink green tea to lose weight – it can boost your body’s metabolic rate and therefore burn more calories. It may also help suppress your appetite and avoid unhealthy snacks.
  73. Eat a hearty breakfast – it’s actually the most important meal, since it can jumpstart your metabolism and determine the kind of energy you have throughout the day.
  74. Listen to stimulating music while working out – aside from making sure that you have eaten a healthy meal hours before working out, turn up the volume for your MP3 player. This will boost your energy and help you fight fatigue.
  75. Take a good multivitamin supplement – remember that when you workout your body also has an increased need for certain nutrients. Although you are following a healthy diet, there is still a chance that it won’t provide you with sufficient amounts of some key nutrients.
  76. Take your workout outdoors from time to time- to keep your routine interesting vary the kinds of exercise that you do and your environment. Walking or running outdoors gives you a chance to breathe some fresh air and prevents you from getting bored. Meet a friend at the park and walk with them.
  77. Be conscious of the negative effects of staying up late at night – Not getting adequate sleep can lower your energy level, not just in the morning but for the whole day. When you feel tired, you feel lazy and are more likely to skip your workout.
  78. Visit your doctor prior to beginning an exercise regimen – whether you aware of a medical condition or not, it is best to ensure that you are healthy enough to begin a fitness program. Your doctor may even provide you with a suggestions for loosing weight in a healthy way.
  79. Read stories about people who were able to lose weight successfully – it’s a great way to motivate yourself. Seeing that others have been able to achieve their goals can make yours seem more attainable. Aside from that, lots of these stories are truly inspiring.
  80. Avoid processed foods – they are usually filled with salt or sugar, fat and empty calories. They also contain lots of preservatives, artificial color and a host of other unhealthy ingredients.
  81. Eat foods that have higher fiber content – including vegetables, fruits, grains and beans. Providing your body with lots of fiber can help you to feel full longer, thereby suppressing your appetite naturally.
  82. Build more muscle – If you want to achieve weight loss faster, include some weight training in your routine. You don’t have to workout like a professional bodybuilder, simple light lifting with dumbbells can do the trick.
  83. Give your muscles a break – When you workout, whether you lifting weights or doing cardiovascular activities, you should give your muscles a break between workouts. Working different areas of the body on different days is a good idea.
  84. Never skip meals – this can actually make you gain weight, since it can signal your body to slow your metabolism. Aside from that, it can trigger binge eating because when you ear, you are so hungry that you will probably overeat.
  85. Losing weight should be done in a healthy way – you should always keep in mind that you are loosing weight to become healthier. When you choose a diet, make sure that it can provide you with the nutrients your body needs. Doing anything to extremes can cause a negative outcome.
  86. Explore other forms of exercise – after doing the same workout routines for a certain period of time, it can become boring to you. Try some new exercise videos or classes at the gym or take up a new sport.
  87. Eat more times in a day – contrary to what people think, eating around 5 to 6 times in a day can actually help in losing weight. Of course the meals should be smaller in and include all the necessary nutrients, protein and carbohydrates to provide the energy that your body needs.
  88. Eat healthy snacks – eating in between meals is actually a good idea, since it can suppress your appetite effectively. However, you should still be conscious on the types of foods you are snacking on. Choose those that are filled with dietary fiber, so that you can extend your feeling of fullness.
  89. Watch TV only when you are done with all the things you need to do including your work out! – Getting hooked on watching TV can become a hindrance in achieving your weight loss goals. Tape your favorite shows so that you can view them at the end of the day – this can become your way to relax after a hard day’s work.
  90. Use non stick cookware – this will allow you to cook with less, or even no added oil. Some foods have enough natural oils but if you do need to use additional oil, select a healthy, natural, organic oil. Choose good quality cookware and always discard them if the surface becomes damaged.
  91. Avoid people in the gym who are too talkative – There are times when you may want to chat to pass the time, but at other times you want to focus on your workout and don’t need distractions..
  92. Avoid fad diets, especially those that have unrealistic promises – If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Many diets are very restrictive and although they seem to be helping you loose weight at first, they are too extreme to be sustained – you should not feel like you are suffering. You want to change your eating habits. This way you achieve long term results.
  93. Buy clothes that are smaller – for people who like a challenge, this can provide motivation to loose weight. Make sure though,  that what you are trying to do is achievable, so that you won’t get discouraged. When you do fit into that outfit it will all seem worth it!
  94. Eat in restaurants wisely – if you eat out on a regular basis you should do your research beforehand, so that you know what you can order and maintain your weight loss goals. It’s obvious that you should not order anything deep-fried, but even some salads in restaurants can pack a huge amount of calories. If ordering salad get the dressing on the side. Dip you fork in the dressing with a bite of salad. This will save some calories.
  95. Get enough sleep – When you deprive your body of its needed rest, you could actually be lowering your metabolic rate. You will feel tired the next day, find it hard to concentrate and have no energy for your workout.
  96. Relieve stress – by finding some time to relax: Meditate, practice yoga, listen to music; whatever you need to unwind. Stress can be an enemy to your weight loss goals; when you are stressed you may break from your routine and try to comfort yourself with unhealthy foods and beverages.
  97. Check out exercise videos on the web – If you don’t have time to go to a gym to workout, keep in mind that there are exercise videos available on the internet today and many of them are free. They are also very convenient; you can view them at any time, there is no schedule to follow. It’s also a great way to try something new in the comfort of your own home.
  98. Limit your coffee intake – If you use cream and sugar, or prefer whipped or blended coffee drinks. Coffee itself does not cause you to gain weight, it can actually boost your energy. But some coffee drinks are more like a desert and have as many calories.
  99. Exercise control when attending parties-there is usually an abundance of goof food and drinks on display, to tempt you to stray from your goals. Be as active as you can, dance or just mingle with friends to distract yourself from the goodies!
  100. Gather as much information about losing weight as you can – knowledge is one of your best weapons in the weight loss battle. Today there is so much to be learned on the internet, of course be sure that the sources are reliable, there is also a lot of misinformation.
  101. Get your body fat percentage tested!- this can help you to gauge your success. – It’s not something you need to do on a weekly basis. Maybe once a month, or even every couple of months. Some gyms offer this service at a reasonable price.

What is Personal Development?

/ / Inspiration, Life-Force, Self Esteem, Self Talk

There are many people in our society today that are very unhappy with their lives for one reason or another. Whatever reason they have for being unhappy, there is undoubtedly a way to change it. Sometimes it requires a change in career, or situation. Other times it is simply a change in the way that people think. Sometimes, it is both. This is what personal development is all about.

Personal development is a path that you take to better your family situation, career, spirituality, emotional health, and every other aspect of your life. Essentially, personal development is about making conscious decisions about everything that you do, the way that you think, and the way that you react to situations. Personal development can help you obtain everything that you always dreamed of, and more, with the simple application of a few simple mind sets and tools.

One of the biggest steps toward personal development is a change of mind set. If you think that you can do better, you will. If you think that you are stuck in a dead end job, without family or friends to support you, and no prospects of a better future, you will ultimately be very unhappy. When you change your mind set to positive thinking, you will find that you put forth more effort into everything that you do, and you will have much better results.

Another one of the important steps toward personal development is to set obtainable goals. This is not to say that your dream is not obtainable. But if you constantly think about the goal of being a millionaire with a successful family, you will feel pretty hopeless as that goal seems so far out of reach. Setting obtainable goals simply means that you set goals that lead to the ultimate goal.

It is really about taking steps. When you decide that you need food in your refrigerator, it does not automatically appear. You must make a grocery list, go to the grocery store, shop for items, purchase them, bring them home, and put them in the fridge. Obtaining a large goal is much the same way. You will not get there overnight. It takes going through a series of steps, or smaller goals, to find your way.

Smaller goals also help you to see the bigger picture. Instead of thinking that you are never going to reach your final goal, you will see the progress that you are making as you complete each smaller, more obtainable goal. This will give you a sense of accomplishment, as well as help you to change your thinking to a more positive mind set.

For some, personal development is also a matter of moving beyond past failures and misfortune to see what is possible in the future. Often the negative comments made by friends and family over a life time can be difficult to overcome. Past failures, or just the feeling that one is a failure, are another major obstacle. There are ways to move beyond these obstacles.

Personal development is really about making changes. Finding resources to make changes, move past obstacles, set goals, and find happiness is not always easy. But with all of the personal development books, articles, websites, and other resources available, personal development and happiness can be obtained. For those who need additional help moving past obstacles and making those changes, a counselor or personal development coach can also be of great worth.

Healing Yourself

/ / Emotional Healing, Energy Healing

The most frequently asked questions of the FAQ’s is “who needs you?” Or, in more simple terms, “why can’t I heal myself without EMC²’s help? Frankly, I’d be amazed if anyone didn’t think about that question.

The most short and obvious answer is, you don’t need us, all you need is you. In fact, the only person you can heal is you. That has been the rule ever since healing first occurred, which was, roughly, when life first occurred.

Here is the contradiction. No one can heal you but you, and, at the same time, no one is more important to us than healers.

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What healers do is elevate your Consciousness. Healing is the removing of lower levels of Consciousness. Because it falls within that definition, prayer is both a healing and spiritual technology. The Sacrament of Energetic Balancing is a Spiritual Technology because it guides you to focus on your energetic imbalances with an insisting and unremitting heightened level of Consciousness. In fact, your focus is perpetual.

Now let’s return to the first question, who needs the Sacrament of Energetic Balancing? I do, because healing myself the old fashioned way is a full time job. I can’t take off weekends or holidays. I would have to abandon all else, my research, public speaking engagements, the ministry at EMC² and not to mention my social life, which would be non-existent.

I received a letter from a woman who did just that, she healed herself the old fashioned way. Her name is Emily and in 2002 she was very ill. She took a year off of work and spent her time meditating, resting, practicing yoga, eating a strict diet and spending many hours in prayer. I believe she elevated her Consciousness to save her own life. She was not aware of energetic balancing in 2002 and simply had no other choice but to take this path. Today, Emily is on our program and continues to heal herself everyday, with plenty of time for work, and an active social calendar with family and friends.

We know that some of our greatest spiritual leaders have spent years alone in the desert or mountain elevating their Consciousness. Their heightened states of Consciousness are a magnificent reflection of their dedication. Perhaps that would be the wiser choice, but I am not guided to take that direction. Therefore, I shall take advantage of the Spiritual Technology of the Sacrament of Energetic Balancing, in the hope that I can have my cake and eat it too.

Should you choose to raise your consciousness and heal yourself as Emily did, you have our admiration, our respect and our best wishes. But it is a full time job and a formidable task.

If, on the other hand, you find you are unable to make that old fashioned commitment to self-healing, we will gladly make room for you on the trays which provide the Sacrament of Energetic Balancing, should you be so guided.

Written by Stephen Lewis, 2006 Founder Articles, www.aimprogram.com for original text.

When You’re Alone at Work

/ / Self Talk

When you’re all alone at work, while driving, or even winding down your day at home, what are you saying to yourself?

Chinese Sheep Graze

  Your brain is always talking to you, but is is uplifting you or putting you down?

In an article from NPR.org, Laura Starecheski explores how self-talk impact our lives. She starts off with the following:

  From the self-affirmations of Stuart Smalley on Saturday Night Live to countless videos on YouTube, saying nice things to your      reflection in the mirror is a self-help trope that’s been around for decades, and seems most often aimed at women. The practice,    we’re told, can help us like ourselves and our bodies more, and even make us more successful — allow us to chase our dreams!

Impressed, but skeptical, I took this self-talk idea to one of the country’s leading researchers on body image to see if it’s actually part of clinical practice.

David Sarwer is a psychologist and clinical director at the Center for Weight and Eating Disorders at the University of Pennsylvania. He says that, in fact, a mirror is one of the first tools he uses with some new patients. He stands them in front of a mirror and coaches them to use gentler, more neutral language as they evaluate their bodies.

Are you aware of your self-talk? Sometimes we just need someone to help us understand how we speak to ourselves. Reach out to a trusted friend or family member and help each other pay attention to ow you both talk to yourselves.

Relax to Strengthen You Life Force

/ / Relaxation Techniques

Sometimes it isn’t what you do that helps you achieve your maximum potential, it’s what you don’t do.

Learning to relax, meaning something as simple as taking a nap to something that may be a little more challenging, like taking a deep breathe in the middle of an emotional crisis, can accelerate the body’s ability to heal itself.

You increase your Life Force by relaxing and letting your energy catch up to your mind, body, and spirit.

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Life Force 100

/ / Energy Healing, Inspiration

Life Force may refer to:

  • Energy (esotericism), a concept in spirituality and alternative medicine
  • Qi, an active principle forming part of any living thing (translated as “natural energy”, “life force”, or “energy flow”)
  • Ideas for categories we will be covering:
  1. Inner Peace
  2. Emotional Healing Exercises
  3. Energy Healing Techniques
  4. Meditation for Beginners
  5. How to Forgive
  6. Dealing with Anxiety
  7. Self Talk
  8. Low Self Esteem
  9. Easy Relaxation Techniques
  10. Inspiring Words

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