Positive Thinking Phrases - Affirmative Phrases to Boost Your Optimism

Lets face it. We all want a little credit, even just the tiniest bit of recognition for a new haircut, a fetching sartorial ensemble, or a job well done. But when compliments are lacking, or words of encouragement nonexistent, then positive thinking phrases are the next best thing. Use positive thinking phrases like the ones below and give yourself a friendly pat on the back.

Positive thinking phrases, or positive affirmations, are like mantras you repeat over and over to yourself. Hopefully, by some mystifying subliminal process, the power of these words will be able to condition you to positively influence your way of thinking and as a result, your way of living.

Here are some examples:

Phrase #1: Hey, Gorgeous!

Admit it. Getting complimented for your looks is a wondrous tonic for the ego. So get out of bed, face the mirror and give your ego a boost. Nothing beats a greeting like that first thing in the morning to get you revved up for the stress of the day ahead.

Dont worry about sounding a bit vain or conceited, as long as you do it in private and out of anyones earshot. And when you feel good inside, itll reflect on your outer person, making you even more attractive. It wont be long before others will notice and compliment you as well.

Phrase #2: Yes, I can!

Another variant of this is, Aint nothin to it but to do it, as mentioned in the show, Hey Arnold, on Nickelodeon. In order to accomplish something, you must first believe in your heart that you are fully capable of success.

Youll find that its usually the hardest part of any endeavormustering enough courage. Without this belief in yourself, you can get easily discouraged and prone to quitting. Have faith. Remember, the only thing that can stop you is yourself.

Phrase #3: Here I am, World, do your worst!

It may sound like youre inviting bad luck and catastrophe, but what this really means is that you are welcoming lifes challenges with open arms and are willing to bravely take them on.

Like a proud sentinel in a storm, you stand firm against anything flung at you. And no matter how muddied and besieged you emerge from the battle, you emerge nonetheless, ever ready to fight and live another day. Plus, its a really cool motto, dont you think?

Try these positive thinking phrases on for size and get yourself in the mood for life.

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Pay Attention To Your Intuition

Improving Memory Techniques - How to Study Subjects You Hate

Improving memory techniques are most needed for exams. This is especially the case, if you hate a subject or a topic but you still have to revise for it. School children or even adults struggle to tackle this problem. Here are some improving memory techniques which can help you improve your memory for subjects you don't like.

1. Self Affirmation

This is a very important thing to do before beginning to study a subject. You need to tell yourself that the subject is interesting and that you'll enjoy it. You need to believe in yourself that you'll be able to grasp this subject by its throat and pass with flying colors.

This may sound silly for those who have not done self affirmation before. But it works.

When you repeat statements to yourself and try to honestly believe in these statements, you'll find that your sub-conscious mind will actually believe it. It won't take long before you actually believe what you're saying to yourself.

By continuously repeating positive statements to yourself and believing in them, you'll find that you are more motivated and excited when you start to study the material. You'll have a whole new perspective on the subject and your memory will improve ten-folds using this technique.

2. Understanding The Subject

When you are reading the subject, start from the beginning and read right through it till the end. The point is not to memorize the facts in this reading. The point is to understand what the whole picture is of that particular chapter. You need to understand the material and how it works.

Once your brain understands the logic of the subject and it knows in general the topics covered, then you can start revising seriously by trying to memorize the facts. This memory improving technique is very powerful.

Since your brain understands how things work, remembering the details is so much easier. Whereas if you don't understand the subject and just try to remember the facts, the revision process will be painful and ineffective.

3. Use Short Breaks

This memory improving technique works hand in hand with the 2 techniques described above. When humans try to memorize facts, they often remember the beginning and the end most clearly. The bit in the middle is the part that is most easily forgotten.

The reason is that when we start revising, we have an interest in the subject so the beginning of the material can be easily recalled. The material which you have revised at the end is also more memorable, because you're happier since you're nearly finished revising and plus the material is most recent as it's the last thing you've read.

Now if you take short breaks such as a 10 minute rest between every 30 minutes of revision, you'll find that you can remember a lot more facts. You're fully utilizing the ability to remember the beginning and end of the material to a much greater advantage.

These 3 techniques are a start to help you improve your memory. You need to read more on improving your memory and with continuous practice of the techniques, you'll be saving a tremendous amount of time remembering important things.

Get the free report "5 Ways To Improve Your Memory And Amaze Your Friends". Download the report at improve your memory

For more "how-to" reports on other self help/personal development topics, visit http://www.revealhowto.com - Adrian Abel

Committed People To Success

Book Review of Limitless Living

From the moment I first leafed through Limitless Living, I knew that it would be thought-provoking and enlightening. This is a book about "encounters with the Mystery;" a travelogue through spiritual mysticism and the many ways in which humans can experience the sacred and the divine. The author, Reverend Prentice Kinser III, writes from the heart. He fills this book with stories, mostly from his own life, recording instances in which he has felt the presence of God, received "unconventional guidance," and glimpsed past lives.

Limitless Living is a beginner's guide to knowing oneself as a spiritual being having a human experience. Kinser, an Episcopalian Priest, hypnotherapist and pastoral counselor, provides exercises in which readers can identify their own encounters with "intuitive knowing" and trust that this guidance is not just wishful thinking. The author teaches strategies for accessing spiritual guidance and communication. He gives methods to "test the spirits" so that readers can determine whether the communication and revelations they receive are "of God" and true.

Kinser suggests several practices for finding one's own spiritual pathway: journaling, meditation, prayer, and Tai-Chi. He tells us that these methods can lead us to Love and Light, to an expanded knowledge of the true self, to an experience of God, and to a deepening and reaffirming of our life purpose and direction. He speaks of guardian angels and departed souls, mantras, chakras, mindfulness, mind-body healing, energy cleansing and near-death experiences. He tells of conversations with ascended masters and of past life recall. With respect to Native American traditions of shamanism, he relates his own vision quest, and the discovery of his power animal.

Kinser teaches from his own explorations as well as his extensive readings and studies in various spiritual disciplines. He impresses me as a sincere and learned individual. While he speaks of his own devotion to the teachings of Christ, he tells his readers that the material in the book is for people of all faiths, and even for seekers and skeptics. Each person can use the material in his or her own way.

I've read numerous books on channeling, psychic phenomena, past life regression, and angel communication. Sometimes these books have left me with the impression that such gifts belong only to the chosen few, or that these methods are a haphazard assemblage of self-help tools, with no core component, no relation to spirituality. It's refreshing to read a book that gets it right, and Limitless Living does. This is one of the few books that approach non-worldly subjects from a mainstream, Christian perspective blended with intellectual curiosity. This is one that a) offers readers simple tools to "test" the safety of efficacy of such experiences and b) cautions readers to approach such activities with spiritual shielding, and if one has a foundation of religious understanding, from that standpoint.

On a personal note, the beautifully-written book has helped me to validate a few unusual experiences in my own life-what I believe were spiritual events and encounters. I also feel encouraged to resume the journaling that I discarded many years ago. This book directs attention to the holy dimensions of events we often dismiss as mere coincidence, hallucination, or fluke. Limitless Living reminds us that there are many pathways to knowing the essence of life, the soul, and the infinite.

Judith E. Pearson, Ph.D. is a lpsychotherapist, counselor and life coach with a private practice, Motivational Strategies, Inc., in Springfield, Virginia. She specializes in solution-oriented therapies, Neuro-Linguistic Programming and Hypnotherapy. She is the executive director of the National Board for Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists (http://www.natboard.com). She recently published The Weight, Hypnotherapy, and You Weight Reduction Program: An NLP and Hypnotherapy Practitioner's Manual released by Crown House Ltd of Wales. Her web site is http://www.engagethepower.com

Time Off With Backyard Vacations

The Role of Worldview Assessment in Addiction Treatment Programs

Alcohol and other drug addiction is a complex, multifactorial disease encompassing biological, psychological, sociological, and spiritual elements. Addiction not only impacts the individual but also extends to and perpetuates itself within the context of the entire family system. Recognizing the complexity of the disease, a holistic approach is advocated that allows for individualization of treatment based upon the assessed needs of the individual and an appreciation of their uniqueness and individual worldview.

The Minnesota Model is a comprehensive, abstinence-oriented approach to the treatment of alcohol and drug addictions. The model denotes both a philosophy and a methodology of delivering care to individuals suffering from the disease of addiction. One of the characteristic features of the model is that it embraces the practice and philosophy of the Twelve Step approach of Alcoholics Anonymous as a foundation for therapeutic change. Having grown from the legacy of Alcoholics Anonymous, the Minnesota Model is inherently existential in nature and incorporates an individualized, client-centered approach to treatment. It is suggested that drug and alcohol addiction is primarily a spiritual disease from which the sufferer lacks subjective meaning in life. The Minnesota Model is therefore highly successful as it blends a philosophy and a transtheoretical treatment approach that address the core, fundamental existential issues of the disease of addiction.

The construct of worldviews offers a global and holistic perspective of individualized treatment. We all possess a worldview that affects how we perceive and evaluate situations and how we determine appropriate actions. The concept of worldviews encompasses one's total outlook on life and has been described as a 'filter' through which phenomena are perceived and comprehended. Implementing the assessment of worldviews offers the potential for serving as a unifying construct for enhancing the quality of recovery services provided to the clients addiction recovery centers. It is anticipated that the implementation of this suggestion will translate into an enhancement of the individualization of treatment and improved patient outcomes. This is consistent with Hazelden Foundation's vision to lead the way in the development of innovative products and services that help build recovery in the lives of those affected by addiction.

Hazelden's Minnesota Model blends a philosophy and a transtheoretical treatment approach that addresses the core, fundamental issues of the complex, multifactorial disease of addiction. Existential and spiritual issues are conceptualized as being at the root cause of addiction, formative in the development of client-centered therapy, and foundational to the principles of AA and the treatment philosophy of the Minnesota Model. The concept of worldviews is intimately linked to the core philosophy inherent in the model. The implementation of worldview assessments allows for the evolution of recovery programs and services so as to maximize opportunities to meet the changing needs of an increasingly diverse customer population.

John Derry, B.Sc.Phm., M.A.
Founder and Director,
A Home Away Retreat Inc.

Prayer Beads

Spiritual Growth - Dying to Self - Six Things You Must Get Rid Of

Get your 'self' out of the way so God can work!

He must increase, but I must decrease (John 3:30) John the Baptist was talking about Jesus. At first glance, you may think he is talking about their respective popularity or ministries. He may have. But it must also happen in our individual lives. Jesus must increase in our lives, and worldly thoughts that we've had since childhood must decrease. Our wants and desires as fleshly people are directly contrary to God's desires. In order for your spirit to grow, it must become unencumbered by your flesh and soul (Mind, will, emotions).

Note:

The following text assumes that you have accepted Jesus as Savior and been baptized (If you want any hope of growing spiritually, get baptized. Baptism will not save your soul, but do it. You will be very glad you did.)

Spiritual maturity will happen naturally as a result of removing the obstacles between you and God. Just like when you were a kid, no conscious effort could make you grow one inch. You eat right, get exercise, and growth happens. Same with your spirit.

With spiritual growth, as with a healthy body, there are things you need to eat. And there are things you must stop eating.

Things to do for spiritual growth

The spiritual things you need to 'eat' are many. The basic food groups are: study your Bible, fellowship with other Christians, and be helpful and charitable. In other words, live as godly a life as God give you the grace.

Major things to get rid of (with God's help and guidance. You cannot do it alone):

- Flesh must die: Dying to self is not physical death. You must consider yourself dead to your flesh. If you are thinking about fleshly things -- things of this world -- you are not thinking about God. Jesus said that in order to follow Him, we must deny our flesh, and take up your cross daily. (See Matthew 16:24)

- Rebellion or Disobedience: Follow your conscience. If you know something is wrong, don't do it.

- Deliberate Sin: This is the most commonly recognized block to God. (See Colossians 2:21) God cannot look upon sin. Don't worry, sin is forgivable if you are repentant (sorry for what you have done and turn from that activity). God's grace is not a license to sin, but a way out. Accept it and He will remove not only the sin, but even the very desire. It is awesome. An old sage once said, a clear conscience is the softest pillow.

- Resentments and Unforgiveness: A mind that is thinking about how badly they were treated is not thinking about God (God is very polite. He will not yell and scream in your face.) Forgive the wrongs others have done to you. Even if they are not sorry they did it. Resentments only do you harm. I've heard it said that unforgiveness is like taking poison hoping the other person will die. It's that important. How to forgive? Pray for the other person. Not just some generic prayer for their well-being -- but pray that they get all the good things that you wish for yourself. After a few weeks, or even month or so, you will begin to truly feel like you want good things to happen to them. It really works. Also, thinking upon all the things you have been forgiven for is a big help.

- Fear: The opposite of fear is not courage. Courage is doing what needs to be done even when you are afraid. The opposite of fear is faith. If you have faith in almighty God, what can there possibly be to be afraid of?

- Guilty Feelings: Confess your sins, and Jesus is just to forgive. (See 1 John 1:9) if you have confessed your sins and have turned form that sin, and still feel guilty, it is probably just the devil trying to steal your peace. Just keep reminding yourself (out loud is best) that you are forgiven by the blood of Jesus, and it will go away over time.

A.L. Howard is the founder of Modern Christian Issues: He is an amateur Bible scholar. He has been studying creation science and Bible prophecy since the early 1980s. Modernchristianissues.org is designed to be a resource for Biblical answers to tough questions that you do not have to be a scholar to understand. Visit the site to explore Creation Science (creationism), salvation, heaven and hell, the 12 steps and much more.

What The Bleep Do You Know

Latent Homosexuality: Paranoid Delusions Rage and Anxiety

The discussion on latent homosexuality found its way into the public arena when the July 26 edition of MSNBC hyped Ann Coulter's interview with host Donny Deutsch, which she said of former President Bill Clinton exhibts "some sort of latent homosexuality." When Coulter was asked by the host if she was indeed calling Clinton a "latent homosexual," Coulter replied, "Yeah." "The level of rampant promiscuity by Clinton does show some level of latent homosexuality." In support of her assessment, of Clinton, Coulter mentioned "passages" she had memorized from the Starr Report resulting from the investigation into the Monica Lewinsky controversy.

Latent homosexuality is an erotic tendency toward members of the same sex which is not consciously experienced or expressed in overt action. The term was originally proposed by Sigmund Freud. According to Freud, "latent" or "unconscious" homosexuality which derived from failure of the defense of repression and and sublimation permit or threaten emergence into consciousness of homosexual impulses, which give rise to conflict manifested in the appearance of symptoms. These symptoms include fear of being homosexual, dreams with manifest and "latent" homosexual content, conscious homosexual fantasies and impulses, homosexual panic, disturbance in heterosexual functioning, and passive-submissive responses to other males.

The Freudian position on latent homosexuality is summarized in this quotation by Karl Abraham: "In normal individuals the homosexual component of the sexual instinct undergoes sublimation. Between men, feelings of unity and friendship become divested of all sexuality. The man of normal feeling is repelled by any physical contact implying tenderness with another of his own sex. ...Alcohol suspends these feelings. When they are drinking, men will fall upon one another's necks and kiss each other ... when sober, the same men will term such conduct effeminate. ... The homosexual components which have been repressed and sublimated by the influences of education become unmistakably evident under the influence of alcohol."

In keeping with this train of thoughts, it is not unusual for individuals who exhibit characteristics of latent homosexuality often find themselves drawn to ultra-masculine professions, such as policeman and fireman; to name a few. Many professional sports also serve as a magnet for latent homosexuals, especially the more violent and aggressive sports. The two sports boxing and wresting latent homosexuality is quite evident. And where many of the features involved in the act of intercourse between two lovers are present in the ring. For example, in both boxing and wrestling the participant hug, embrace, stroke the opponent's sweaty and scantly-covered body like any couple engaged in sexual activities. Many psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapists postulate the theory that both the boxer and the wrestler experience profound rage and guilt for their exhibitionist conduct, and for giving in to their homosexual desires. Therefore, each participant is highly-motivated to punish each other, sometime ending in death, for gratifying the unconscious homosexual desire to embrace and make love to another man.

However, the term, latent homosexuality, as commonly used in clinical practice assumes psychological characteristics. It is important to stress that the term is not used in reference to overt homosexual who attempts to suppress his homosexuality and tries to lead a heterosexual life, it applies only to heterosexuals. Many writers and some researchers have questioned the validity of latent homosexuality on both theoretical and clinical grounds. Others have expressed the opinions that latent homosexuality has been a convenient psychopathological "catch-all" category in which many types pathology are assigned, often, with little or no relationship to homosexuality.

Many who questioned the term "latent homosexuality" were indeed skeptical of the "latency" concept. In an effort to put this concern to rest a group of scientific researchers headed by Irving Bieber published their conclusion in 1963 titled; Homosexuality. A Psychoanalytic Study: By Irving Bieber, et al. This study was very broad and extensive. Bieber and his associated proved beyond doubts that the "latency" concept was an appropriate criteria by which latent homosexuality is usually diagnosed.

However, more than four decades after the Bieber's study was published skeptism about the vilidity of latent homosexuality is generating lively discussions in the public arena. The gladiators at the Freudian gate should know that help is on the way. A modern day version of Bieber and associates in the form of three psychologist: H. E. Adams, L. W. Wright, Jr., and B. A. Lohr, who conducted an experiment to test Freud's hypothesis. The conclusion was published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology 105 (1996), under the title, "Is Homophobia Associates with Homosexual Arousal?" The finding of this study concluded that those who exhabited the most hostile and negative attitudes towards homosexuals demonstrated the hightest level of sexual arousal when exposed to homosexual pornography. In others words, their homophobia was a "reaction formation" designed to protect them from their own internal homosexual desires.

Paranoid Delusions Since the publication of Freud's analysis of the Schreber case in 1911 psychotherapists and psychoanalysts have accepted the theory that there is a strong connection between latent homosexuality and paranoid delusions. Freud provided a skillful exposition of the theory that paranoid delusions represent various means in which the paranoid individual denies his latent homosexual desires. Freud theory had been confirmed repeatedly in many clinical studies of every researcher who worked with paranoid clients. An intense homosexual conflict is always present in the male paranoiac and is clearly obvious in the individual's history and clinical material in the early stage of the illness.

Homophobia

Hostility and discrimination against homosexual individuals are well-documented facts. Too often these negative attitudes end in verbal and physical acts of violence against homosexual individuals. In fact, upward of 90% of homosexual men and lesbians report being the subject of verbal abuse and threats, and better than one-third are survivors of violent attacks related to their homosexuality. These attitudes and behaviors toward homosexuals are labeled homophobia. Homophobia is defined as terror of being in close quarters with homosexual men and women, and an irrational fear, hatred, and intolerance by heterosexual individuals of homosexual men and lesbians.

Psychoanalysts use the concept of repressed or latent homosexuality to explain the emotional malaise and irrational attitudes exhibited by individuals who feel guilty about their erotic interests and struggle to deny and repress homosexual impulses. In fact, when these individuals are placed in a situation that threatens to excite their own unwanted homosexual thoughts, they may overreact with panic, anger, or even murderous rage. To better understand this rage I direct the reader to what happened on Jenny Jones show. On March 06, 1995, Scott Amedure (who's openly gay) appeared with Jonathan Schmitz on Jenny Jones talk show. Amedure revealed that he had a secret affection for Schmitz. Schmitz was not flattered, rather, he felt embarrassed and humiliated; off camera Schmitz expressed anger and rage. Three days after the show Schmitz purchased a shotgun. He drove to Amedure's trailer and shot him twice through the heart, killing him.

It is commonly agreed among most researchers that anxiety about homosexuality typically does not occur in individuals who are same-sex oriented, but usually involves individuals who are ostensibly heterosexual and have difficulty coming to term with their homosexual feelings and impulses.

Adams, H.E., Wright, L.W., and Lohr, B.A., Is Homophobia Associated with Homosexual Arousal?" Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 105 (1996): 440-445.

Bieber, Irving, et al. Homosexuality: A Psychoanalytic Study: Psychoanalytic Quarterly, 32:111-114.

Dr. William Smith is a psychologist, personal coach, and consultant with over three decades of experience working with individuals. Dr. Smith is available for professional advise and/or consultation on any issue of a personal nature. For example, if you are in the process of making an important decision and wish to discuss the pros and cons with someone who is impartial and removed from the subject, Dr Smith is the person to call. Dr. Smith has the professional experiences to assist you through the mine field of uncertainty. Dr. Smith is available at:insightconsultant.com for a FREE consultation and to answer all your questions.

You Can Heal Your Life: Never before Seen Interviews

You Have To Watch This Video

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development. Check out one of his recommended books, You Can Heal Your Life Moving

If you want to read something funny and get your daily laugh in, you need to read this, it's funny Using Religion Responsibility. It's based on overindulgence.

My General Spiritual Beliefs
Power Of Positive Thinking