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Find your direction: A life without purpose can be painful. So the next time you have a totally free day, use it to really think about your direction in life. What do love doing? What gets you out of bed? Where does your sense of accomplishment come from? With a clear direction, you can build towards success in a linear fashion. Every day, every moment you move further in your direction, youll get a boost of happiness-producing dopamine. Good job, you! You know you feel happier and present a better side of yourself when you feel successful. Direction is where it all starts. Practice gratitude: Gratitude is a strange sensation. It comes from acknowledging someone has helped you and having the grace to thank them, both internally and externally. Understanding gratitude can help you in two ways. Youll get that others care about you, and youll form a bond with someone who has helped you. Both lead to a stronger sense of belonging. Gratitude is not to be confused with indebtedness, which can lead us to avoid those who love us. Its all about how you perceive the help you receive. Adopt more optimism: We all know a happy-go-lucky lifestyle can lead to problems. But with the right balance of optimism and responsibility, one can feel invincible going through the day. Understand that things wont always work out, and dont let negative results in one part of your life spill into other areas. Realize the road will be bumpy, and embrace the challenges ahead. Laugh at them. If your current strategy isnt working, find a new one. Dont dwell. Do, not, dwell. Consider religion: Im not a very religious person, though I will say a quick prayer before a flight or long bus ride. While Im 99% practical and scientific, I have known friends to find peace of mind through spiritual outlets. Plus, the recent work of Sonja Lyubomirsky suggests that religion helps people recover from aversive events and return to happiness. Reduce material wealth: Its tempting to spend heavily, especially if were wealthy or supported by someone else. But surrounding ourselves with new TVs, the latest Apple products, clothing well beyond our means, and a closet full of shoes will only cloud the path to happiness. In fact, reducing our material possessions can free up our sense of being and make us realize what actually makes us happy. Buying a new possession will bring short-term satisfaction but when that feeling vanishes youll be worse off than before. Put your health first: Your health should always be number 1. Yet in a world where that new bar is right around the corner and social pressure through fear-of-missing-out (FOMO) is everywhere, we often forget how much were stepping on our health. Try seeing how a weekend full of herbal tea, yoga, and extra sleep feels compared to a weekend full of late nights at the bar trying to impress your friends. Despite how strong and smart we think we are, much of our happiness begins with health.
Face stress head on: This is a BIG one. Were all bound to have bad days. People crap on our desks, dont thank us, and treat us like garbage. Moreover, we have to deal with ourselves. Doubtful, insecure, and depressed at times. At the end of the day were sometimes so drained even our favorite things look ugly. How we deal with these issues and release them from our minds is crucial. Drugs, alcohol, and other vices will worsen the problem. Healthier outlets like the gym will help. But most important of all is how we process our problems. Communicate often: As simple as it sounds, some of the happiest people are the ones who can stomach their pride and talk through problems. Communication, just like going to the gym or considering religion, is a positive coping mechanism that helps us find the source of unhappiness instead of burying it. Seek out family members: As we grow up and move to new parts of the world, its harder to stay in touch with family. But we all have email. If were lucky, our family members live in the same country. Making an effort to check in, listening to your sibling or parents problems, and actively helping them will actually generate more happiness in your own life. If all nine methods fail you, I have a final question you can ask yourself. Where do your strongest talents intersect with the worlds greatest needs? Find this point in life and youll surely have arrived at happiness.
People who continuously overlook your worth. You are not a back-up plan. You are worth more than someones second choice. You cant force yourself to stop loving someone, but you can tell yourself that you deserve better. Never settle for second best. Always look out for number one. Because you cant expect to be someone elses priority if you arent your own. Situations that force you to be someone youre not. In this crazy world thats trying to make you like everyone else, the toughest battle youll ever have to fight is the battle to be yourself. And as youre fighting back, not everyone will like you. Sometimes people will call you names because youre different. But thats okay. The things that make you different are the things that make YOU. A long-term situation or routine that you hate. Its better to be a failure at something you love than to succeed at doing something you hate. Dont let someone who gave up on their dreams talk you out of going after yours. The best thing you can do in life is follow your intuition. Take risks. Dont just make the safe and easy choices because youre afraid of what might happen. If you do, nothing will ever happen. The easy-street mentality. Most great things must be earned. There is no elevator to success; you must take the stairs. So forget how you feel and remember what you deserve. Right NOW is always the best time to break out of your shell and show the world who you really are and what youre really made of. Chances must be taken, mistakes must be made, and lessons must be learned. It might be an uphill climb, but when you reach that mountaintop it will be worth every ounce of blood, sweat and tears you put into it. Self-doubt. When you become your own best friend, life gets easier. There is nothing to hold you back except you. You are limited only by your imagination. Rest in the knowledge that you dont have to prove yourself to anyones heart but your own. Negativity. Sometimes life sucks. Sometimes life gets so hard that you dont want to get out of bed in the morning. Sometimes life is so stressful that all you want to do is cry. But sometimes life is beautiful. Sometimes life is so awesome that all you want to do is smile. Sometimes you just have to stay positive, and push through the hard times. Why? Because life is worth it. The good times are worth it. You are worth it.
Mudras Mudras are hand positions. There are hundreds of different ones. Each mudra allows energy to flow through you in a different way. Gyan mudra has become very popular in the West. It inspires expanded wisdom. Hold your hands palms up with the backs of your hands resting on your knees. Touch the tips of your first finger and thumb together, forming a circle. Your other three fingers should be extended, but relaxed. Relaxing mudra. This mudra allows tension and stress to drain away. Hold your hands palms down on your knees. All your digits should be extended but relaxed and pointing towards the ground. The ancient practice of silently chanting So Hum can be done anytime without anyone knowing youre doing it. This makes it ideal for quickly energizing yourself while relaxing. And, with daily practice, your consciousness grows and grows, expanding towards realization.
3. Shortcut a Long Nap with the Clattering Spoon Artist and napper Salvador Dali had an interesting nap technique, based on the idea that your body benefits from just getting to sleep as much as a couple of hours worth of shut-eye. He purportedly used a spoon to wake himself up just as he lost consciousness. Lie down or sit in comfy seat holding a spoon in your fingertips. you should be holding it in a way that - when you loose consciousness (sleep) you drop it the Clatter (put a big plate on the floor under your hand) will wake you. and you get woken JUST as you enter the best dreamy bit of your sleep. Alternatively, hold a bunch of keys: same effect. 2. Take a Caffeine Power Nap Need a turbo boost to beat the sleepy doldrums pinch? Try a cup of coffee followed by a quick 15-minute nap to reboot your brain and get you going again. 1. Teach Yourself to Lucid Dream Arrive at school naked in that terrible dream last night? Turn nightmares around by knowing youre dreaming while you do it. Lucid dreaming opens up all sorts of possibilities for controlling where and how your dreams go. Teach yourself to lucid dream by keeping a dream journal and learning reality checks and dream extending techniques.
If you want to pursue happiness through your work, dont look at a list of popular trades, pick one at random and dedicate your time to learning it. Rather, find something that truly interests you like writing, and indulge your mind in the infinite possibilities of fusing your thoughts with the written word. Or maybe for you its boating, in which case pursue a position in the maritime industry and allow yourself to long for the endless immensity of the sea. Or You get the idea. When you appreciate what you do for a living, happiness and success tag along. Read The 4Hour Workweek. 5. Focus on the way you want to feel. You will begin to become happier and more successful the minute you decide to be. Knowing how you actually want to feel is the most potent form of clarity that you can have. Generating these feelings is the most powerfully creative thing you can do with your life. Your thoughts create your reality: A positive context leads to positive actions, thoughts, and feelings, which gradually lead to positive results. This mindset is the magic ingredient that helps you persevere in the face of challenges, setbacks, pain, and even personal injury. 6. Maintain a flexible, constructive perspective. Forget all the reasons it wont work and figure out the one good reason it will. Its possible that you wont get the exact results you had anticipated, but thats OK its still progress as long as you learn from the results you do get. And perhaps with your newfound understanding youll discover a way to achieve even better results than you had originally thought possible. Your choice of perspective has the power to build or demolish. Your mind has the uninhibited ability to take any experience and create a meaning that deprives you or one that can literally make you jump for joy. Read Awaken the Giant Within. 7. Drop the comparisons. Sometimes the hardest part of the journey is simply understanding that youre OK just the way you are. Dont let the silly little dramas and dilemmas of each day get you down. There is no reason for you to feel sorry for yourself, and there is no point in acting in such a way that others feel sorry for you. Forget about where others are in their lives. You arent competing against them; you are supposed to be right where you are. Every life is unique. You were born to do things that have never been done, to understand things that have never been understood. And youre doing it. The aches and pains you feel are the side effects of personal growth. How would your life be different if you stopped making negative judgmental assumptions about your life and how you think it should be? Let today be the day you look at the positive aspects of this journey that is uniquely yours.
8. Help others smile. In your pursuit of happiness as unique as it may be to your own specific needs dont forget that youre a member of a world that is far greater than yourself. There are simple things you can do daily to lift the human spirits around you things that are effortless and free and related to your pursuit. And best of all, happiness begets happiness; when you do these things to help others, you dont just lift their spirits, you lift your own as well.
it for what its worth. In other words, dont wish all your time away by waiting for better times ahead. Smile, right now, because you can.
an increase in appetite We all know what that does! Make time in your day to unwind and reset. Take 5 minutes to sit quietly and practice deep breathing or go for a walk outside for a breath of fresh air. 8. Your World The environment around us can impact both our mental and physical health. There are some things that we cant always control - like the traffic or the construction down the street. But there are plenty of factors that are within our reach and can make a big difference in our lifestyle and mood. For example, make a clutter-free zone in your office or home or turn off the TV when you arent really watching.
If your 30-minute workout leaves you feeling like you just climbed Mt. Everest, you might be low on magnesium. When researchers at the U.S. Agricultural Research Service restricted intake of the mineral among 13 women ages 47 to 75 for 4 months, they found that those with magnesium deficiencies required more oxygen uptake during physical activity, used more energy, and therefore tired more easily. Snack on 1/4 cup of pumpkin seeds and youll take care of about half of your recommended daily allowance, 310 mg for women (320 mg for ages 31+) and 400 mg for men (420 mg for ages 31+). Yogurt The fatigue-fighter: Probiotics
A stomachache could spell sleepiness if youre among the more than 1 million people in the United States who suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Because research suggests that an imbalance in microorganisms in the digestive tract is partially to blame for CFS, Swedish researchers tested the effects of eating yogurt rich in probioticsgood bacteria that aids digestive healthon 15 CFS patients. After eating 2 deciliters (about 6.8 ounces) of yogurt twice daily for 4 weeks, 14 of 15 study subjects reported improvements in fatigue symptoms, physical health, or mental health. Wheat Bran Cereal The fatigue-fighter: Fibre
You know that fibre can help you fight fat, and it turns out the nutrient can also help you feel more awake. Researchers at the University of Cardiff in Wales found that people who ate high-fibre wheat bran cereal suffered less emotional distress, experienced fewer cognitive difficulties, and were less fatigued than their counterparts who did not eat as much fibre. Study participants reported a 10% increase in energy levels and reduced fatigue 2 weeks after increasing their fibre intake. The UK scientists credited these improvements to better digestive health. Whole Grains The fatigue-fighter: Complex carbohydrates
They might be a diet taboo, but carbs are essential to boosting energy. To stay out of a slump, pick complex carbohydrates such as whole grain crackers or a bowl of oatmeal over refined carbs, like foods made from white flour. The body digests and releases complex carbs slowly, keeping your blood sugar (and your mood) stable. Simple sugars, like those found in sweets and processed foods, on the other hand, provide a quick burst of energy, but cause your blood sugar to plummet just as quickly as it spiked. Walnuts The fatigue-fighter: Omega-3 fatty acids
Belgian researchers found that patients with CFS had low levels of omega-3 fatty acids, and those with the most severe fatigue symptoms exhibited the greatest deficiencies. Another study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that the alpha-linolenic acid, the omega-3 fatty acid found in walnuts, may help relieve depression symptoms, which commonly contribute to CFS. Up your omega-3 intake with a 1-ounce serving (1/4 cup, shelled) of walnuts for 190 calories. Dark Chocolate The fatigue-fighter: Polyphenols
If youre going to spring for sweets, be smart about your selection. Researchers at Hull York Medical School in the United Kingdom provided 10 CFS patients with 45 g of chocolate each day for 2 months. Study subjects received either dark chocolate or white chocolate that had been dyed brown. Those eating the dark chocolate reported significantly less fatigue. The scientists suggest that polyphenols in dark chocolate increase levels of the happiness-boosting brain chemical serotonin and thus reduce feelings of fatigue. Tea The fatigue-fighters: Caffeine and l-theanine
Coffee beats out tea when it comes to caffeine, but your cup of joe is missing an important fatigue-fighting ingredient: l-theanine. When paired with caffeine, the amino acid found naturally in tea improves cognition more effectively than caffeine alone, according to a study published in Biological Psychology. When study subjects consumed a combination of caffeine (150 mg) and l-theanine (250 mg), they reported a host of cognitive benefits, including improved alertness, memory, and reaction time as well as decreased mental fatigue. Watermelon The fatigue-fighter: Water
If youre feeling fatigued on a hot day or after a sweaty workout, the cause may be as simple as dehydration, and the fix as easy as enjoying a delicious slice of summer fruit. In a recent study of athletes, 92% reported feeling fatigued when they limited water-rich foods and fluids for 15 hours. They also reported memory lapses and difficulty concentrating. If you cant glug one more ounce of H2O, opt for leafy greens or melons. The bonus: Hydrating with water-dense foods wont pack on the pounds. Enjoy a 1-cup serving of watermelon for only 46 calories. Red Bell Pepper The fatigue-fighter: Vitamin C
Vitamin C is more than a cold fighterthe antioxidant also helps reduce oxidative stress, the result of too many free radicals in the body, another contributor to CFS. In a small study of 44 adults published in the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, those who received 6 g of vitamin C every day for 2 weeks felt less fatigued. Study participants also had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. To get your C fix, enjoy 1 cup of sliced red bell pepper for only 29 calories and youll squeeze in almost 200% of your daily recommended vitamin Cthats more than the amount in an entire orange.
the white flag thats quitting. Instead, it means youre willing to let go of who you think people should be and how you think things are supposed to be, so you can fall in love with who they truly are and how life really is. Worrying about what everyone else thinks. The minute you stop overwhelming your mind with caring about what everyone else thinks, and start doing what you feel in your heart is right, is the minute you will finally feel freedom. In fact, you can end half your troubles immediately by no longer permitting people to tell you what you want. You have to put your life in your own hands. Others may be able stop you temporarily, but only you can do it permanently. Wasting time on the wrong people. You cannot make someone respect you; all you can do is be someone who can be respected. The rest is up to them. No matter how much you care some people just wont care back. Its not the end of the world. At some point you have to realize the truth that they no longer care or never did, and that maybe youre wasting your time and missing out on someone else who does. Old wounds and grudges. You will never find peace until you learn to finally let go of the hatred and hurt that lives in your heart. In order to move on, you must know why you felt the way you did, and why you no longer need to feel that way. Its about accepting the past, letting it be, and pushing your spirit forward with good intentions. Because nothing empowers your ability to heal and grow as much as your love and forgiveness. Superficial judgments. We dont know most people half as well as we believe we do; and truly knowing someone is a big part of what makes them attractive. Every human being is beautiful; it just takes the right set of eyes to see it. The more you mature, the more you will be able to look beyond another persons appearance and see the beauty of who they really are. Letting small disagreements snowball out of control. Dont let a single poisonous moment of misunderstanding make you forget about the countless lovable moments you spent together. If youre angry at someone you love, hug them and mean it. You may not want to hug them, which is all the more reason to do so. Its hard to stay angry when someone shows that they love you, and thats precisely what happens when we hug each other. Showing a lack of self-respect. Decide this minute to never again beg anyone for the love, respect, and attention that you should be showing yourself. Be your own best friend. Trust your inner spirit and follow your instincts. Be the person you will be happy to live with for the duration of your life. Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of passion and possibility into a blaze of victories. Thinking that now is the wrong time. This isnt the wrong time and place, because you can make it the right time and place. Today is the first day of a new beginning the conception of a new life. The next nine months are all yours. You can do with them as you please. Make them count. Because a new person is born in nine months. The only question is: Who do you want that person to be?
Be patient. If you are serious about transforming your life to have it surround your passion, you need to be patient. It may not be able to happen overnight. It may take a year of hard work, perhaps a couple, or it may even take 5 or 10 years. It all depends on what you are willing to sacrifice and how much you want to integrate your passion into your everyday life. Work through your plan, stick to your goals and ensure you can start living your passion daily without compromising on other areas such as income or relationships. Let Your Passion Guide You When you experience the feelings of passion, let it guide you in your decision-making. Often people would wake up in the middle of the night and spend 2 to 3 hours trying to get back to sleep. If you wake up at 4am in the morning with your mind buzzing full of ideas, run with it! Dont just lie in bed trying to get back to sleep. Take action and let your passionate feelings flow. When youre feeling the buzz, that is the perfect time to take action. Kind of like me writing this article right now. Im running with it Im running with my thoughts and Im feeling the buzz. A rule I live by is to never give up an opportunity to live out your passion. If an opportunity presents itself and you have your body or mind telling you that you should or want to be doing something, go with the flow. Let it be your guide.
provides a better lather lifts the hairs for a closer shave exfoliates the skin
Apply the shaving cream with the shaving brush in a circular motion, ending with an upward stroke. When you are done applying, let the shaving cream set for about a minute before you begin shaving. The Razor While many people recommend a three-blade razor, some say you are just fine with a single blade, as long as it is sharp. The most important part of getting a close shave with no ingrown hairs or razor burn is to never use a dull razor. Try something like the Gillette Mach series, which gets very high ratings. Depending on how tough your facial hair his, you will need to replace your razor somewhere after three to ten shaves. Be sure to rinse your blade with hot water after every shave to remove all shaving cream and loose hairs, but dont wipe it down with a towel, which can dull the blade.
Shaving Technique Facial hair can be tricky and grow in crazy directions; so before you begin, use your hand to really study your beard and see how it grows on both your face and neck. Then, lather up and pull your skin taut, gently shaving with the grain of your facial hair without applying pressure. If you have shaved one or two passes and need to get a little closer, you can very gently do a last pass against the grain, being sure to add a little more shaving cream to avoid razor burn. Try not to shave the same area too many times to avoid irritation. Dont forget that while you are shaving off hair, you are also shaving off a couple of layers of your skin, too! Rinse and Dry When you are done shaving, rinse your face with cool to cold water to close your pores; and then pat it dry with a towel, but dont rub. Shave Balm When you are done shaving, skip the alcohol-filled aftershave, which can be painful to your now sensitive skin and will only dry it out further. Instead, apply a soothing shaving lotion or balm made just for men. It will leave your skin silky smooth and promote healing of the skin layers you just shaved off with that hair.
Let go of needless worries and old wounds. Every moment of your life you are either growing or dying and when you are physically healthy, its a choice, not fate. The art of living happily rests in the fine balancing act of holding on and letting go. Being hurt is something you sometimes cant avoid, but being continuously miserable is always a choice. Spend time with those who inspire you. Dont waste too much of your time with people who are not supportive of your goals and abilities. Surround yourself with those who believe in your potential. Anyone who inspires you to make your half-hearted attempts more whole-hearted through passion and love, is a precious friend and teacher. These people are out there. Find them and conquer the world together. Help others when youre able. Today will never come again. Be a blessing. Be a friend. Make a difference. Take time to care. Tell someone how special they are. Do something that encourages a smile and a brighter day. By doing so, you will not only help those around you, you will help yourself too. Because when you seek to inspire happiness in all people, you will not only find it, you will become it. Rest your ego and the meaningless comparisons. Remember to tame your ego and not to take yourself too seriously. Youll climb much higher in life when youre thoroughly enjoying the effort. If you think you are better than the rest, youd better take a rest. Why be better, worse, or equal to anyone else? Drop the meaningless comparisons and just do your best, leave the rest alone, and dont forget to take a rest when you need one.
Visualize your ideal path. Take a moment to close your eyes and imagine what your life looks like five years from now, and ten years from now, if you continue to live the way youre presently living? Look at your trajectory. Where does your current path lead? Notice how you feel. Does it give you a sense of happiness, excitement and peace? If yes, thats wonderful; feel the gratitude. If not, what small, yet significant changes can you begin making right away that will put you on a more fulfilling path? Visualize yourself joyfully and harmoniously making these changes. And begin. Invest your time in the things you love. The most important decision you will ever make is what you do with the time that is given to you. Trust me, before you know it youll be asking, How did it get so late so soon? So put your time to good use, and let yourself be drawn to the strange pull of what you love; it will not lead you astray. Above all, live your life so that when youre old, you never have to let the person you became fanaticize about the person you were capable of being.