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What have you been reading lately?
When was the last time you read a book?
Do you read daily?

In a gathering, you can tell who the wide readers are. Wide readers think and speak well. They win the admiration, respect, and good opinion of others.

Reading expands the mind. In fact, many people consider it as one of the more satisfying pleasures of humans, for it involves physical as well as mental activities.

Reading is primarily a mental activity. After all, you read with your mind and use your imagination to paint the setting of the detective thriller you are reading. You use you mind to imagine the pain that the main character experiences as the story unfolds. You bring into play the different arguments and ideas brought up by the author in that self-help book you are holding.

To read effectively, reading helps you develop a wide vocabulary through extensive reading. A skillful reader has a wide recognition vocabulary. He may not know exactly what every word means, but he will have a good general idea of the meaning of the sentence.

Reading makes you alert and curious about new words. Other readers develop the dictionary habit. Every time they come across a strange word, they try to figure out what it can possibly mean by the context. If they cannot do this, they refer to the dictionary.

Likewise, reading develops intellectual curiosity by exposing you to a variety of materials. You learn to read by reading books of increasing difficulty and variety. As in other forms of activity, you learn by actually doing.

Reading trains you to have an active and open mind. Merely grasping the writer’s idea is not enough. You must make a positive response to what you read. Be an active, not a passive, reader. Develop the habit of drawing your own conclusions, the habit of active thinking, of agreeing or disagreeing with the author. Keep your mind open; understand and weigh the ideas that you read. A practical part of active reading is the drawing of conclusions.

Allow me to share four basic rules for effective reading and better comprehension:

1) Try to read more and more. Remember the saying that practice makes perfect. Practicing in the correct way makes perfect.

2) Develop the habit of reading for main ideas. Look for the subject and predicate. Do not waste time on details or little words.

3) Learn to read with focus and concentration. Think of what you are reading. Do not let your attention wander somewhere else. Good readers read with understanding.

4) Learn to budget your time. Experiment with your reading time. Try purposely to read faster. Give yourself a time limit on specific material that you read.

Reading is a stimulating mental activity. It expands your reality and capability. You have so much to gain in discovering the joys of reading. Go ahead; grab a book right now!

J Stromsteen has many years expertise in the finance, real estate, and insurance industry. She contributes to the website http://first-time-home-buyer-s.com where you can find detailed information on a multitude of resources for first time home buyers.

Are you old enough to remember the cartoon series featuring Wily Coyote and the Roadrunner?

“Fast” brings back the image of the Roadrunner zooming past the obstacles laid out by Wily Coyote.

Speed may allow you to arrive at your intended destination; but along the way, were you able to take note of the things that you may have missed while speeding along the fast lane? As in driving, zooming in fast does not give enough opportunity to see and enjoy the view. The same can be said about learning.

Much of what you learn can be acquired through reading. The simple activity of getting in a comfortable position and start reading a book of your choice opens a new world for you. Reading enables you to tap into the minds of great people.

The more you read, the more you know. In the hope of reading more books, some attempt fast track reading. It is believed that the faster you read, the more you cover.

Fast track reading may involve reading by phrases and concepts compared with the word-for-word method. Fast track reading enables you to cover more pages with the same rate. However, one limitation of this method of learning is that you tend to remember only a small portion of the main idea. There is danger that you might miss the important details in the book.

There is a solution for this. Few people are aware of this seldom-talked about technique in fast learning. This is based on the principle that the mind thinks in pictures.

Learning is accelerated when you “see” the whole idea of the write-up or book. Seeing “live pictures” of ideas and thoughts of the writer makes reading experiential and unforgettable. When you see nothing while reading, you learn nothing. Fast reading becomes useless.

This technique is called visualization. Visualization is vital to quick learning. Visualization in reading is like constructing a jigsaw puzzle where pieces are put together to form the whole picture. The whole thing not only “appears,” but actually “comes alive” before you. All of these happen in the realm of the mind.

Just going through the motions of fast reading can give you a hazy picture of the subject matter. But like a mist, this picture often quickly evaporates into thin air. Fast reading without visual pictures often informs but very seldom impresses.

Impressions last while information changes with time. Past information is easily forgotten in favor of new ones. Impressions change you, and these are stored permanently in the mind.

For learning to become effective, it requires brief pauses to be able to visualize and reflect. Effective learning is not about how fast you can finish reading a book. It is more on how you effectively comprehend the ideas brought forth by the writer.

Visual pictures provide lasting impressions. Go after ideas and how it will enrich people’s existence. Go for lasting impressions and insights that will mold you into a better, more successful person.

J Stromsteen has many years expertise in the finance, real estate, and insurance industry. She contributes to the website http://first-time-home-buyer-s.com where you can find detailed information on a multitude of resources for first time home buyers.

In life, its hard to stay tough specially when things and people around you keep pulling you down. When we get to the battle field, we should choose the right luggage to bring and armors to use, and pick those that are bullet proof. Along the battle, we will get hit and bruised. And wearing a bullet proof armor ideally means a self change - the kind of change which comes from within. Voluntarily. Armor or Self Change changes 3 things: our attitude, our behavior and our way of thinking.

Building self esteem will eventually lead to self improvement if we start to become responsible for who we are, what we have and what we do. Its like a flame that should gradually spread like a brush fire from inside and out. When we develop self esteem, we take control of our mission, values and discipline. Self esteem brings about self improvement, true assessment, and determination. So how do you start putting up the building blocks of self esteem? Be positive. Be contented and happy. Be appreciative. Never miss an opportunity to compliment. A positive way of living will help you build self esteem, your starter guide to self improvement.

So how do you stay calm, composed and maintain self esteem in a tough environment? Here are some tips you may to consider as a starter guide to self improvement.

Imagine yourself as a Dart Board. Everything and everyone else around you may become Dart Pins, at one point or another. These dart pins will destroy your self esteem and pull you down in ways you would not even remember. Do not let them destroy you, or get the best of you. So which dart pins should you avoid?

Dart Pin #1 : Negative Work Environment
Beware of dog eat dog theory where everyone else is fighting just to get ahead. This is where non-appreciative people usually thrive. No one will appreciate your contributions even if you miss lunch and dinner, and stay up late. Most of the time you get to work too much without getting help from people concerned. Stay out of this, it will ruin your self esteem. Competition is at stake anywhere. Be healthy enough to compete, but in a healthy competition that is.

Dart Pin #2: Other People’s Behavior
Bulldozers, brown nosers, gossipmongers, whiners, backstabbers, snipers, people walking wounded, controllers, naggers, complainers, exploders, patronizers, sluffers all these kinds of people will pose bad vibes for your self esteem, as well as to your self improvement scheme.

Dart Pin #3: Changing Environment
You cannnot be a green bug on a brown field. Changes challenge our paradigms. It tests our flexibility, adaptability and alters the way we think. Changes will make life difficult for awhile, it may cause stress but it will help us find ways to improve our selves. Change will be there forever, we must be susceptible to it.

Dart Pin #4: Past Experience
It is okay to cry and say ouch! when we experience pain. But do not let pain transform itself into fear. It might grab you by the tail and swing you around. Treat each failure and mistake as a lesson.

Dart Pin #5: Negative World View
Look at what you are looking at. Do not wrap yourself up with all the negativities of the world. In building self esteem, we must learn how to make the best out of worst situations.

Dart Pin #6: Determination Theory
The way you are and your behavioral traits is said to be a mixed end product of your inherited traits (genetics), your upbringing (psychic), and your environmental surroundings such as your spouse, the company, the economy or your circle of friends. You have your own identity. If your father is a failure, it does not mean you have to be a failure too. Learn from other people’s experience, so you will never have to encounter the same mistakes.

Dart Pin #7 : Negative Behavior
Sometimes, you may want to wonder if some people are born leaders or positive thinkers. NO. Being positive, and staying positive is a choice. Building self esteem and drawing lines for self improvement is a choice, not a rule or a talent. God would not come down from heaven and tell you, “George, you may now have the permission to build self esteem and improve your self.”

Paul Hata is active in various social and community programs aimed at providing education,health and jobs to all communities.Paul has over 10 years experience managing successful multi-million advertising and publishing company.Paul can be reached at http://www.tradeplanets.com

There is no denying in the truth of the old saying, “Time is money.”

You never seem to get enough of time. Even if given thirty hours in a day, most people still won’t be able to get enough of it. Somehow, some things will come up and you will end up wanting more time. Time is a precious commodity. Once it’s gone, it cannot be recovered.

The fact is: when you are busy, time flies swiftly. But when you are not, time seems to be at a stand still. This is true when you are killing time because there is nothing else to do under the circumstances.

How do you maximize the use of your time? It would be worth your time to consider the following strategies:

1. Check your schedule at the start of the day. Review it in its entirety. You may notice that portions of your day may be hectic, while some may not be too frenzied. Distribute your activities evenly throughout the day.

Keep note pads handy so you can keep track of your schedule. It also helps to remind you of your tasks and commitments. Note pads and schedule notebooks help you avoid overlapping of activities. In case of overlaps, determine which one is priority.

After spreading your schedule for the day and you still feel overwhelmed by the number of tasks to be accomplished, you may have to forego some of them. Re-schedule other tasks for another day.

What you are actually doing is very much like cleaning a closet. When your closet is in order, you avoid being accidentally hit on the head by falling objects upon opening its door. Also, if it is in order, you will likely find spare spaces available.

2. Request for a re-schedule in advance. This is especially true when another person will be affected. Show courtesy by doing this is advance. This leaves time for the person to adjust to the new schedule. Who knows? You may be doing the other parties a favor. They may be in the same predicament as you are, and they will not be aware unless you make it known to them.

3. Be creative. Time is an element when simple creativity can be put to practice. For example, you need to do the laundry but at the same time, you also have to rush and buy some groceries. Perhaps, what you can do is to set your washing machine to do the laundry while you step out to the grocers. Manage your time in the grocery and back home, just in time when the laundry is done.

You can even do the cooking at the same time by using a slow cooker. It cooks food by itself. You can even pick up the kids from school after shopping. Four tasks are combined to one. All it takes is scheduling and a little creativity.

4. When you have to do a certain task for the first time, it is natural for mistakes to happen. However, a first time task doesn’t have to be a blunder. If there is no clear direction on how things should be done, take time to plan it out before you take action. This saves time, energy, and money.

5. Visualize the possible outcome of your objective. Seek out alternatives. Choose the better of two or more alternatives. If there is only one option, do it just the same. Some tasks may appear difficult when you think about it, but not necessarily when put into action. The same thing is true the other way around.

Time is something you could never have enough of. You become wise when you choose to maximize it.

J Stromsteen has many years expertise in the finance, real estate, and insurance industry. She contributes to the website http://first-time-home-buyer-s.com where you can find detailed information on a multitude of resources for first time home buyers.

Anger management techniques are put in place to encourage individuals to work on their anger. Anger management programs are generally educational in nature and help the victim to take control of their emotions. The truth of the matter is that when you get angry, you give your emotions charge over you.

You have to remember that anger ups your blood pressure levels. You can actually suffer a stroke if you persist in getting angry most of the time. If you will not control your anger for the sake of the people around you, at least control it for the sake of your health. I do not want you to commit murder– against yourself!

Anger management has been tagged as a psycho education program because of its educational and psychological values combined. As opposed to what most people think, anger management programs are not for mentally unbalanced individuals. The truth is, only individuals who are bold enough to face the fact that they have a problem with anger are qualified to join an anger management program.

An effective method of helping employee at work deal anger issues is to enroll them in anger management classes. Employees who learn how to express their anger will eventually become a great asset to the corporate entity. If you are a business owner, you should never underestimate the effect an anger management program can have on your employees.

You can easily take control over your anger by implementing a philosophical outlook in life. When you are tempted to get angry, ask yourself, does this situation requires me to be angry? Try and be logical and philosophical about your reaction to anything that you have to deal with. That away you will be able to rein in any unnecessary outburst of anger.

Do you usually yell and scream when something makes you angry? If you do then I hate to tell you but the truth is that you have anger management issues. If you tend to hit or batter people around you, then you need to seek anger management advice right away before you end up in jail. There is no shame in asking for help to manage your anger. It’s better to get help and be a better person than to remain resolute and end up destroying your life and career.

Controlling your anger is an act of will just as losing it can also be an act of will. Contrary to popular belief, anger does not take over you unless you let it. Anger management programs basically help you to deal with any matter of uncurbed anger problems.

Anger can be manifested in several ways. When your anger is managed, you can learn how to express it in the right way. Anger can be expressed in the right way or in the wrong way.

For more info,http://www.angermanagement101.info/

The journey from where we are to where we want to be does not have to be arduous or riddled with stress. In fact it can be a gentle expansion into more of everything we want for ourselves and even more that we have not even thought about yet.

Are you ready to move rapidly forward in your life? Are you ready to reach for your dreams with conviction and commitment so that they really happen for you? Are you ready to be, do and have those things you have always hoped for but often wondered if they were really possible for you?

We all talk a good game. Many of us take actions that we believe will indeed move us closer to what we say we want. But I have noticed something interesting in my own life and in the lives of my clients. When moving closer to our most heartfelt dreams requires us to stretch beyond our comfort zone or make a significant change in our own attitudes we are not so quick to persist.

If you have read this far and you are still here, you probably recognize yourself and your tendency to gravitate toward what feels comfortable and safe even when you know change is required for reaching your dreams. Here are a few tips I use to strengthen my creative muscles. They help me remember how to steer my course toward the manifestation of my real dreams.

First:
Tell yourself the truth. What do you really, really, REALLY, want?
There is no sense focusing your energy and attention toward those things that do not really matter. Creating a life that works does require energy and so we might as well use our energy for our real passions and desires.

Next:
Choose one thing to focus upon. Why only one? Choose one topic because it takes singular focus to get the job done. Most of us attempt to take on too many things at once. It does not mean our other dreams get lost. It just means that for a certain period of time - an hour, week or month one primary focus gets our full attention. Manifesting big dreams requires that from us.

Most likely what you want, if you really tell yourself the truth, will fall into one of the following three areas of life:

To improve the quality of your relationships

To establish financial freedom

To attain ongoing vibrant health

Now:
Maintain your focus, manage your own thoughts and feelings so that they are positive and hopeful and enjoy your life. This sounds easy, and yet it can be the most difficult part. They key here is to know that the creative process happens in the invisible world before it becomes visible. Consider a seed planted in the ground. Before it ever breaks the surface of the soil and shows its first leaves much has happened to move it in the direction of its potential. Our dreams are similar. Much happens in our own hearts and minds before the outward manifestation of our dreams is visible. Staying the course requires us to tend to our own inner attitudes and to trust the process of creation is naturally at work within us.

Let it be easy. Know what you want, choose your dreams fully and clearly, maintain your focus with enthusiasm and then relax and enjoy your life.

Peri is the Founder of Creators Choice - Online School for Whole Life Fulfillment and supports clients worldwide to experience freedom in love and to claim their own power. Visit http://www.creatorschoice.com for free gifts to enjoy right now.

Here are 7 steps of communication, if applied, will allow you to develop your communication skills that can make you a master communicator.

Communication can be likened to a step by step process of checking if you really understand another person from your point of view.

First, you need to listen and observe for the level of importance of this topic to the person you are speaking to and calibrate to that person’s level of interest.

Calibration is so important when communicating, that if you are unable to calibrate or identify whether or not that person is interested, you might just lose that person straight away.

Second, check congruence in communication. What do I mean by congruence? It means that if he says, “Yes” verbally, he should not be shaking his head, “No”.

That is incongruence.

Number three is to identify incongruence in communication. We need to clarify meanings and terminologies used. This is for a simple fact that we need to understand what the other person means exactly.

Number four, we need to confirm those meanings. So, if someone said, “Oh! When you look at me, you appear to be extremely angry”. What you need to do is to confirm, Oh! How exactly do I look at you that mean that I am angry?” The confirmation actually gets you the common understanding that both of you need that will propel your communication to the next level.

Number five, explore alternative meanings. What you are doing here is eliciting a series of counter examples, to see whether these meanings fit in with the person’s model of the world.

Number six, offers possibilities. If there are no alternate meanings, what you might want to do is explore possibilities where one thing could mean something else. This is also known as reframing.

Number seven, summarize your personal experience in communicating with this other person, by starting off and saying, “My experience of you is and so on”. This way, both of you understand each other, and nothing is hidden from each other. It is perfectly honest and direct.

We say that communication is a two way process. This means that communication requires clarity to both parties. Until you understand what I am saying, or until I construct my communication in a way that makes you understand me, we need to ask questions even more effectively to reach our win-win outcome.

These 7 steps are useful and can be applied anytime we are communicating with another person.

Adam Khoo is an entrepreneur, best-selling author and a self-made millionaire by the age of 26. Discover his million dollar secrets and claim your FREE bonus report ‘Ultimate Success Formula’ at http://www.Patterns-Of-Excellence.com