You are worth far more than you can ever imagine, so imagine the very best and bring it to life.

Here are 7 ways to achieve your goals and aspirations. By following these guidelines, you can surpass even your highest aspirations.

"Everyone has a purpose in life... a unique gift or special talent to give to others. And when we blend this unique talent with service to others, we experience the ecstasy and exultation of our own spirit, which is the ultimate goal of all goals." - Deepak Chopra.

Positive thinking is not a new age concept that only optimistic people practice. It’s a necessity for people who want to live happy and successful lives. Behavioral and psychology studies have proven that individuals who think positive thoughts are happier, more resilient and achieve goals more ...

I have been a little overwhelmed with work, duties, and obligations lately. I was trying to prioritize what to take action on, trying a little self-motivation. So, I just randomly said "carpe diem" to myself, hoping for some action to get out of planning mode and into action mode. After all, the phrase seems to work for so many others...

Here's the thing - sometimes a seemingly very good thing can actually be a very bad thing if you're not careful. Case in point - the issue of multi-tasking. Everyone I know who claims to be a heavy multi-tasker is overwhelmingly proud of the fact, and for good reason.

I have many wonderful opportunities to meet with people from all walks of life. I meet some top executives during my corporate consultancy work with major organisations and, I meet many individuals, from diverse backgrounds, during my seminars and clinic sessions.

Greetings, Abundant Ones, How lush is your world? Are you able to see all the Abundance that is around you? When you look at a challenging situation, do you see it with the eyes of defeat, or with the eyes of Infinite Possibility? I promise you this: THERE IS NO SITUATION THAT IS LARGER THAN YOU ...

The earliest history of using a perpetual motion machine dates as far back as during the Middle Ages. However, many doubted the possibility as to whether this particular device was indeed something that the human race could use and benefit from, especially since thermodynamics indicated otherwise.

A positive mental attitude gives you numerous advantages and offers many benefits if you care to look closely. Employing the power of positive thinking make everything easier and even helps to get you better results. Read more to see 5 undeniable benefits you can experience by maintaining a positive attitude.

I recently read a quote that really fits in with my ethos, "Life is like a grindstone, it can grind you down or polish you up". Why? Because I believe the same wind blows on all of us, and it's the difference in the difference that really makes the difference. What is the key to being "polished up"? What is the one thing that separates "I wish" to successes?

Live with richness, with great fulfillment and joy and substance. Do what matters, what really matters, and delight in being the unique, beautiful person you are.

If you were to ask the average person what they want most, nine times out of ten the answer would be more money. It seems that our culture has been brainwashed into believing that having more – a new car, a new house, new TV - more ‘stuff’ brings happiness. There’s nothing wrong with ...

"The New Psychology of Success" book is useful for people who want to change their mindset and reach better lifestyle.

Learning how to motivate yourself is a valuable asset that will help you reach goals that may have seem impossible in the past. Having self motivation is important since you can not always depend upon others to be there to motivate you. Read further to discover 5 simple techniques you can use when you need that extra 'burst' of motivation to get the job done.

US President Barack Obama is planning "dramatic reductions" in the country's nuclear arsenal, a senior US administration official has said.

Ever wonder how Michael Dell came up with the idea to create his own computer company? Or how Pierre Omidyar dreamed up the online marketplace eBay? Or how Jeff Bezos came up with the bold moves needed to develop Amazon.com into one of America's most successful companies? "I always thought creativity was genetic -- that some people have it, some people don't," Jeff Dyer said. But that was before he did six years of research at BYU. Now, he thinks otherwise. One key characteristic among the visionaries? The tendency to ask questions -- a lot of them -- and to challenge the status quo -- plenty.

HSBC boss Michael Geoghegan has confirmed that he will hand over 6 million dollars of his bonus money Read more... (http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/business/general/bank-ceo-gives-bonus-to-charity.html)

The United States called Wednesday for a ban on the international trade in Atlantic bluefin tuna to save the species from extinction, challenging Japan ahead of a major global meeting.

A species of frog thought to have been extinct for 30 years has been Read more... (http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/earth/general/yelow-spotted-frog-rediscovered.html)

The crowd, straining every muscle to get a brief touch of his robe, was violently thrown back by Indian police as the Dalai Lama passed. It was unlike anything I had experienced before or have since: such extreme fervor of religious devotion for a single man. How, I wondered, could this gentle, mild-mannered monk support such a high level of expectation? "I've never seen anything like this in my life. How do you deal with it?" I ask. He thinks for a few moments, apparently oblivious to the small riot developing from this brief delay (and much to the aggravation of the Indian police and a wandering cow). "I'm carrying Buddha's message," he finally replies. "People have affinity for Buddha, and therefore they have affinity for me." The humility was characteristically disarming.

A year or two ago, it looked like instant messaging and other forms of online chat had reached their full potential as a business tool. Millions of people were using IM to interact with corporate colleagues. Live chat had also become a fixture on websites, giving customers a way to inquire about products and receive answers in real time.

With a click of a mouse, cyclists can get the quickest, and flattest, route between Point A and Point B.

Are you a budding amateur photographer who gets a kick out of taking photos and friend's weddings, friend's christening or portraits of your partner and kids outside? Have you ever thought about turning this hobby into a paid hobby?! Read on to learn more...

Hey internet entrepreneurs, celebrities are encroaching on your market. Thanks to flexible technology and an abundance of developers, web start-ups are practically the new must-have accessory for Hollywood types, reports Business Insider. Check out their list of the 10 companies to watch. There are the A-listers like Ashton Kutcher's Katalyst Media and Will Ferrell's FunnyOrDie. But did you know that Ludacris and Will.i.am have social networks? Or that Peter Gabriel came up with a Pandora-killer and Kim Kardashian launched the Netflix of footwear? Big numbers from Tumblr. We've periodically sung the praises of blogging start-up Tumblr, which boasts slick technology and an entrepreneurial prodigy of a founder. Today, via Mashable, Tumblr announced some serious traffic growth: 1 billion pageviews and 15,000 new users joining everyday. Meanwhile, Mashable reports that Tumblr, which has operated thus far without a business model, "plans to launch a two revenue generating features next month." Advice for first time CEOs. Bijan Sabet deals with a lot of neophytes but he doesn't mind (via peHUB). "In consumer Internet companies, first time CEOs are the norm - perhaps even encouraged and preferred," says the general partner at Spark Capital. He has two nuggets of advice for greenhorn CEOs: 1) Share bad news with your board and investors early and 2) always be planning for contingencies. "The 'what if' exercise is incredibly valuable and tells me that a CEO is thinking extremely strategically and not afraid to admit that things sometimes do take longer." Another acquisition for giant vacation rental company. When HomeAway raised an astounding $250 million in a single venture funding round back in 2008, CEO Brian Sharples told Inc.: "There are going to be some great opportunities [for acquisitions] the next couple of years." Now, TechCrunch reports that HomeAway has bought the publisher of AlugueTemporada.com.br, Brazil's best known vacation rental site. This is at least the third acquisition the company has made since its last funding round and the first outside of North America and Europe. How not to kill your start-up. ReadWriteWeb has put together a list of core principles entrepreneurs should internalize in order to keep their start-ups from biting the big one. One thing the post says to dodge is the tendency to become caught up in the allure of modern technology. "Consider other sources of competitive power than just technological sophistication, such as superior customer experience or service, exclusive distribution partnerships, or other market-based advantages." The most provocative, and perhaps, pertinent piece of advice? "Remember that sometimes start-ups need to be killed, for their own good -- or yours, at least." Apps for TV have yet to catch on It is estimated that by the end of 2010, Americans will own more than two million Web-connected TVs. And in 2009, Yahoo! announced that Samsung, Sony, LG, and Vizio televisions would come with its Connected TV software, which is open to all developers. However, unlike the Apple App store, which had more than 3,000 programs just two months after its debut and more than 140,000 by 2010, apps for TV haven't taken off. Only 35 full-featured apps are available on the Yahoo! service. BusinessWeek reports one reason apps for TV have yet to take off is that the approval process for television apps is more difficult than for their online counterparts. After Yahoo! approves the App, each individual TV maker must also approve the app. Some TVs cannot run certain types of code, and TV makers are reluctant to take on the risk of being blamed for an app that disappoints. Selling your business? A lawyer can help. Over at the New York Times' You're the Boss blog, lawyer Harry Styron offers pointers on selling a business and when to get a lawyer involved (hint: not until the decision has been made to sell, ideally not out of necessity). Especially for family run businesses, Styron says, "if the decision to sell is a result of a key family member having died or become ill or if the prospect of selling the business means some family member is going to lose a good job or a good income, the decision to sell was made too late." Now all you need to know is whether your lawyer should specialize in entrepreneurship. How to cope with changes at the workplace. From budget cuts, to massive layoffs, to new management techniques, there are plenty of reasons why changes at the office can stress out employees. A recent survey conducted by Right Management, a career management consulting firm, shows that 31 percent of employees have trouble adapting to changes in the workplace, Boston.com reports. The Boston.com team has also come up with five tips on how to deal with change in the workplace, which include taking time to get to know a new boss in order to develop a good working relationship, staying on top of the latest skills that employers expect when seeking out job candidates in your field, and having an open flow of communication with your manager if you feel too bogged down by your workload. More from Inc. Magazine: Get this delivered to your inbox. Or get it on the Kindle Follow us on Twitter or Tumblr. Friend us on Facebook. Apply now for the 2010 Inc. 500|5000.

You can't go far wrong in a truck equipped with an Astrata box. The device, half the size of a cigarette pack, can be wired into anything that moves - truck, car, shipping container - to head off nearly every conceivable type of disaster.

The Nasdaq begins its spectacular collapse, signaling the end of the dot-com boom.

Entrepreneurs stay ahead of information. It takes to see what other people did not see to be an entrepreneur.

This week, Olmstead Williams Communications, a public relations agency in Los Angeles, launched a new division that charges a flat monthly fee for a full range of PR services. PRTechConnect is geared toward tech start-ups with limited marketing and PR budgets. The News Release Package, which costs $999 a month, includes services such as the creation and maintenance of a master list of media contacts, customized news release templates with tips for making announcements stand-out, targeted media pitching for 20 news release per year, and basic wire service distribution to Google News, Internet search engines, and RSS feeds. Companies must commit to at least three months; a $1,500 set-up fee will be waived if you commit to six months. A pricier Industry Expert Package, which costs $1,999 a month, includes extras such as filtered email delivery of journalist queries, custom pitches, and follow ups with reporters. There is a minimum three-month commitment; a $500 set-up fee is waived if you commit to six months. If you decide you need additional services, the firm will bill at regular hourly rates.

Make sure your Facebook strategy is the one that works best for your business.

Work at home mums who take their job or business seriously will generate more positive results for themselves while being in control of their work-life balance. These mums set and measure their goals, have a work schedule, form effective habits, complete their tasks, are resourceful, and are determinedand devoted to achieving greater results.

First added to Ordinarysunshine's list

First added to encorepayment's list

First added to thinkworth's list

First added to venhamaillar's list

First added to ndozzy's list

First added to Purple_Vanilla's list

First added to abhijeetkolhe's list

First added to coffeeholic's list

First added to lil_loo's list

When you are looking at a problem solving technique you should look at Using Mind Mapping to Achieve Your Goals. Mind Mapping has become more and more popular and there are many more people starting to see how by using Mind Mapping it improves there everyday life.

I believe a person can't deliver on their commitment to themselves unless they learn discipline. Discipline has to be part of a person's strategy towards their goal. It is the missing link between goals and results.

Many people are not able to articulate what they really want in life in clear and concise language. Oddly enough, people are generally pretty good at articulating what they don’t want. So it’s no wonder that a large percentage of the population go through life getting what they don’t want and ...

With goal setting your mindset determines whether you experience failure or defeat. Here are three keys which will help you to succeed with goal setting.

As my friend re-filled his water bottle, he took a marble from one container and placed it into another. I asked what he was doing and he explained to me it was a part of the 'Counting Principle'. For every goal you can make quantifiable - you will be naturally driven to improve. I realized ...

I took a poll the other day when I was teaching my class at a local community college. I asked the students what they thought in regards to the “act of forgiveness.” Since we are reading the book Tuesdays with Morrie, one of the main themes in this life lesson memoir is “forgive everybody ...

A 7th century Arabian genius once said, "Success is the result of foresight and resolution, foresight depends upon deep thinking and planning, and the most important factor of planning is to keep your secrets to yourself". The name of this genius was Ali Ibn Abi Thalib, one of the most illustrious, noblest and

In order to gain something we must first let go of something. This is a law of life. To lose weight for example, we must first let go of what is making us fat or out of shape. To be debt free we must cut back on the things that put us into debt in the first place. We must change our ways. All of ...

Are you Hungry? Here's an interesting idea - I was reading a great blog...ironically, this blog was ABOUT blogging [http://www.fridaytrafficreport.com], and came across an interesting post on what makes us, collectively, more likely to "rise to the occasion" and churn out our best work. The ...

Everyday it seems like a new book comes out about the law of attraction. Its one of the most popular topics today. But how successful are people who apply the law of attraction, unfortunately, not very by most accounts. So why is the subject so popular and yet so many people fail at applying it? The reason it is so popular is that people everywhere want to better their lives. They read a book like The Secret and think that all they have to do is wish for something to come true and it m

With all the health benefits to gain from giving up the smokes, the decision to quit is an easy one, but the follow-through can certainly be a challenge. Cravings brought on by nicotine withdrawal can be intense and one way distract yourself from the desire to light up is to eat, eat, and eat some more. That of course can lead to weight gain, so here are some tips on how to ditch the cancer sticks without busting out of your pants. First and foremost, focus on quitting and don't worry so much about gaining weight. Smoking is much more of a risk than gaining a few extra pounds, so once you ditch the cigs for good, then worry about how you're going to lose the extra fluff. To find out how to avoid gaining a hefty amount of weight, read more. When you quit, you may miss having something in your mouth, which is why many people end up reaching for food to munch on instead. This is a great way to keep your hands and lips busy, just be sure to choose wisely. Crunchy carrot and celery sticks, frozen grapes, cubes of cheese, air-popped popcorn, and even gum will give your mouth something to do without packing in too many calories. You can also go for calorie-free options. Sucking on a straw or toothpick may also satiate that need to have something in your mouth. Instead of sticking to the three-meals-a-day plan, opt for smaller more frequent meals. This will keep hunger at bay, which will make you less likely to reach for unhealthy snacks or overeat. Food choices matter too, and ones that are high in protein and fiber will keep you feeling full longer. Also try to avoid alcohol. Cocktails, beer, and wine tend to be high in calories, and for some people, they trigger the urge to light up. Keep busy with exercise. Smoking breaks take up a lot of time, so replace them with walks around the block or short strength-training sessions including push-ups, squats, and crunches. As little as five minutes of exercise has been shown curb nicotine cravings. Exercise also helps to naturally suppress your appetite, so the more you make exercise a part of your regular schedule, the less hungry you'll feel and the more calories you'll burn. You may also benefit from an alternative therapy when it comes to quitting. Hypnosis, acupuncture, and meditation may be effective tools that help you quit faster. If you have any other tips on how to quit smoking without going up a jeans size, share them in the comment section below.

After posting my blog entry regarding hierarchical workouts I went to the gym and did one. I was in and out in no time and felt great leaving and for the whole day after. There really is nothing more productive and the research is just now beginning to document what is evident (to me at least) from the physiology and the evolutionary record. But, you must see the Essay for more on that. And, yes I do the db rows alternating sides; one set on one side and then one on the other. As for the question about GH I will say that GH is known to be a protein conserving hormone that shifts metabolism away from protein to other sources of energy. Thus, with my work outs and rest and deep sleep favoring GH release I am able to fast (a fast releases GH also) and still retain or even build muscle mass. For my work out today here is what I did. (I can't believe how good I feel even now from this work out and all I did today beyond it). !. I did 30 leg presses to warm up and went straight into the 15, 8, 4 protocol. I ran out of weight on the leg press machine, but stayed with it anyway. I had to peg the machine on the last set and could have done far more than 4, but went to a slight burn anyway. Then I pressed up with both legs and lowered with one for 4 more negative. 2. I did standing leg curls in the same manner. 15, 8, 4 with increasing weight and speed with each set. 3. I did incline bb presses on the Smith machine in the same manner, but with no negative. Just 15, 8, and 4 to a good burn in each set. 4. I did the same protocol in the bent over deltoid raise through the legs that I have described in other posts. 5. Then I did a drop set of Arnold presses for the deltoids; as many as I could with a heavy weight (only 40 pounds by that stage), then a lighter weight for as many reps as I could, then a still lighter weight to slight failure. 6. I finished with a few curls on a machine, one set only and some crunches in the correct way and some bird dog poses on the bench press bench. Then a nice walk in my neighborhood after a short drive home from the gym. It was so easy, yet hard for a moment. This kind of work out gives you a toughness that makes life seem so easy. Every set hurt a bit and then came a harder one. But, when you move to the next exercise the pain goes away and you are ready for another hit. I love it.

45% fewer calories • 64% less fat • 94% more vitamin A than the original recipe—see the comparison. Holy guacamole! The healthified version of this fiesta favorite has a garlicky kick. Olé! From eatbetteramerica

Yoga is a great way to be able to stretch, relax, focus, meditate, and do exercise all at the same time. It is an ancient practice that is extremely popular today.

I was browsing through the aisles of my local supermarket, looking for nothing in particular, when I spotted Back to Nature Poppy Thyme Crackers with a $0.99 price tag. What?! It was not a sale price or anything, so it...

Despite growing insight into neuroscience and the physical limitations of our consciousness, we have the tendency to ascribe a limitlessness to our minds. We readily accept the existence of certain boundaries in the material world, like fences, social stations, rules, laws (of physics and of states), or physical characteristics (”You must be this tall to [...] Related posts:Social Wellness, or Why Friendship Should Be a Health PriorityThe Primal Blueprint For Busy People – Part 2: Social and Naturalistic WellnessDid Humans Evolve to Be Long-Distance Runners?

I just came off two weeks of severe sickness. I’ve worn a indent into the couch in the living room and every garbage bin in the house is filled with tissues and empty Mucinex bottles. I’m still coughing and stuffy, but now I’m finally able to stand without dizziness and I have enough energy to [...]

Marathon season is officially under way, woo-hoo! I have to admit I love hearing that so many of you are in training or have completed a race. It motivates me to lace up and hit the pavement even more. Heck, even some of my own friends  have finished running in their first long-distance races this year. Kudos! Since so many of you wrote that running in longer races was one of your fitness goals in our Get Fit For 2010 community group and contest, I'm wondering how many of you signed up to compete. I'm hoping that you're all taking the leap and that your training is going well. I especially hope that you're staying injury-free. If this is your first race and your nerves are starting to set in, don't worry - you will be able to tackle your first marathon with ease, I know it. If you're still looking for a race, head on over to Active.com; they have a complete listing of all kinds of events. Tell me . . . Are You Running in a Race This Year? Yes - I'm running a marathon. Yes - I'm running a half-marathon. Yes - I'm running a 10K. Yes - I'm running a 5K. No long races for me this season.

The work out I always come back to and the very best for all round strength and muscularity, not to mention leanness is the hierarchical work out. Briefly described, it is done in a hierarchy of movements and weights. Its objective is to ascend the fiber hierarchy from ST to FTa and FTb and then finish with an eccentric movement or explosive movement. A long discussion of this type of work out may be found in my Essay under the Research link at the top of this page. The rest interval is nil, just long enough to change the weight on the bar, cable or machine. New research now confirms that this style of work out is best for muscle mass and for strength. It is equally effective in comparison to other routines for power. Of course, the researchers did not add the finishing touch that I do and I suspect they would have also found that my routine gives an edge for power as well. Read the essay for a discussion of the theory behind the hierarchical work out. The essence is to promote a maximal anabolic hormone response and to shut off the stress hormone response through its brevity and relatively low volume. You begin with a target of about 15 reps with a weight that is challenging, but do not go to failure. Just use the "burn" to know when to move on. Lower the weight more slowly than you raise it and increase the pace of the movement as you progress through the reps. Then, with no rest, increase the weight and aim for about 8 reps with the same protocol. Then increase the weight again and aim for 4 reps in excellent form. Then do a couple of negatives if you can do so safely in that particular lift (few meet this standard, but some do). Then do an explosive move similar to the exercise or do drops. My favorite way to do this was with squats, but there is no way to do negatives with squats and, for safety, you should not descend to full depth on the last set. If you alter the depth, progressing to less depth with the heavier weight, you will hit all the fibers in the hips and quads and at many angles and extensions. Hitting all the mass is the only way you will get a fullness and completeness to your musculature. An example where this is quite safe is to do leg presses on a seated machine. Not one where you may get trapped under the weights. Do 15 presses, increase the weight and do 8, increase the weight and do 4. Then increase the weight or with the same weight press out with both legs and lower with just one leg. Do only 2 negatives this way. Then do some leaps either dropping off a bench to a rubber floor or holding a squat bar, placed on the rack, leap up as far as you can while holding the bar. Do as many as you can. Alternately, find a high bar you can leap up to and grab. Drop off and do it again, as many times as you are able. You can do a similar protocol with a cable row or one-armed db rows. With the db rows, I do the first three sets, the ascending 15, 8, 4 and then just go down the rack doing one rep. Go right down the rack to the heaviest db you can do in excellent form. Don't try this until you have prepared with light weights. You will get so sore you might stay in bed a few days, not worth it. Perfect form always, stop as soon as form begins to break down. Here is a recent abstract on short rest intervals. I am trying to obtain the other article I came across that further documents brief rest intervals for strength and mass gains. I am heading for the gym to begin my new sessions of hierarchical work outs. I am not recommending them for you; you must make that choice yourself. I used to work my 78 year old mother out this way. It is safe if you plan and take care. And the results are unbelievable. Keep it brief and do only 3 such movements in a single work out and get out of the gym. If you leave tired, you over did it. You should feel fresh and alive.

Did you know that the morning could be the most successful time of day to exercise? Experts say this is because people who exercise early in the day are more likely to stick with it—we tend to get sidetracked by other commitments as the day goes on.

Question: I am 44 years old and been struggling to leave the marriage. I chose to accept an arranged marriage after a failed relationship due to religion and from encouragement from my family. Since the start of the relationship I had trouble connecting with my spouse and we have been struggling since. I am aware that I contributed heavily to the relationship not being successful since we never had an opportunity to really create a bond in marriage even after having a child. I feel extremely guilty for ruining her life and causing so much pain, and I am very critical of myself and have been trying my best to get her to see that this is not in her best interest as well. I have been to therapist without success since they don’t seem to understand the complexities of the Indian cultural and the complexities in the marriage. It has been about 12 years and our daughter is 8 years old. I have made attempts to leave and she is not willing to accept it and doesn’t allow me to leave because she fears that she will not have a good life after a divorce. She blames me for the failure of the relationship and is not willing to accept that she also contributed to the failure. She sees herself a victim and having been having high blood pressure, which is cause of fear for me to leave her in that situation. It is essential for me to have her accept that is not the victim and she also contributed to the failure of the marriage. We have been fighting a lot about this and it is extremely painful for me to be in this situation, I feel like my life is slipping away however I feel I cannot compromise and leave without making her understand, this would be very damaging for me to deal with. It is important for me to have her see it is not in her best interest to continue with the relationship and make a choice to end it. I feel I cannot leave until she accepts that and not victimizes herself. Please provide me with some suggestions on what and how I can get her to accept that this is not good for her to be in this unhealthy marriage. Answer: Accept that you cannot make your wife accept part of the blame for the failure of your marriage. Furthermore, if she deeply feels that she is the victim here, you will not be able to change her mind about that either. That is her choice, and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it until she wants to. So don’t pin your happiness upon someone else changing or else you are making yourself a victim as well. I understand that you feel extremely guilty about the marriage and would like her to ease some of your guilt by accepting her share of the responsibility, but she doesn’t want you to leave, and admitting her guilt would only make it easier for you to leave. The same applies to accepting that divorce is in her best interests too. In evaluating her options as a hypertensive single mother of 40, she clearly doesn’t agree and adding in the cultural stigma, I would think you could understand. So if you insist on divorce, you are going to have to do it without her making you feel less guilty about yourself. And if you still think this is an issue you cannot compromise over, then you may want to reevaluate your ideas of what marriage means to you and whether you owe it to yourself and everyone involved to continue working on making the marriage you have better. Love, Deepakdeepakchopra.comFollow Deepak on Twitter

Most of the passengers on my flight to Port-au-Prince are Haitians, and as they look out the windows longingly, they all have tears in their eyes. We first see the beautiful mountains and for a moment are a bit awed by them. But then the tent cities come into view, literally lining the runways one after another.  The airport is complete chaos. After almost an hour we find our boxes, huge duffels, and suitcases – each bulging with tents, sleeping bags, water, and food.  Outside the airport, the crowd is thick, and the scene gives new meaning to the word gridlock.  At one point we find ourselves behind a small water tanker bearing the name UNICEF. We stop and speak with the young driver, who tells us what an honor it is to bring water to children and families who so desperately need it.    Along the road we pass lots where houses, schools, and churches have been reduced to rubble. There are few signs of cranes, dumpsters, or even much in the way of tools – just teams of people working in excruciating heat to remove one stone at a time.  Every clear space is now a tent city, since even families whose homes are still standing are sleeping outdoors because they fear aftershocks may topple their homes.      As we cross the gate to the temporary UN compound, there are soldiers everywhere, their uniforms ablaze with the names of countries from around the world. We pitch our tents alongside those of UNICEF staff, many of them aid workers I had met before in my travels to Darfur, Vietnam and Mozambique, and who greet me as if I am a long lost friend. On our first morning in Port-au-Prince, we visit children in an orphanage, who thank us for the food, water and other supplies UNICEF is providing them. Their school building is completely destroyed, they're living in tents, and food is in short supply.  Yet they're still kids, and despite our language barrier, they are all smiles, laughter, and affection as I teach them to play "Duck, Duck, Goose" and "Simon Says."  Then, with the help of an interpreter, the children tell me how they held onto one another and prayed as they watched their school crumble in front of them. They're so hungry to resume their classes, even if they’re held under a tree instead of in a building.  When I ask if they have a message for children in America, one little girl asks me to tell our children to stay in school – that you really do not know how good it is until it is gone.  We spent the rest of the day at five huge UNICEF tents filled with medical, rescue, nutritional, education, and recreational supplies, which stay in the warehouse barely long enough to be counted before moving out the door and providing a lifeline to children and  families throughout the region. It was here that I found the last 50 of the child protection kit boxes that we had packed up a few weeks ago – 1,959 have already been distributed! The following day, we head to the tent city in Port-au-Prince's huge soccer stadium, where thousands of families are forced to call tightly packed tents home.  We spend some time surveying the water and sanitation options, which are so overburdened that a stench pervades the air, and then visit the UNICEF Baby Tents, where newborns and their mothers receive counseling, nutrition checks, lactation assistance, and other natal care.  Despite the considerable challenges they are facing, these young women all clearly see their babies as signs of hope – and of possibilities for a brighter future in Haiti.  As I end my visit, my mind is spinning with a few over-arching impressions. 1.      The tenacity of the human spirit is endless. The ability of the Haitian people to trust that they can rebuild, to maintain hope, and to believe in tomorrow, in the face of what they’ve experienced and the horrible conditions in which they are now living, is nothing short of astonishing. I am awed by it. 2.      Children are children wherever you go – even in disaster areas. They need to be held; they need to be comforted; they need to be protected; and they need to learn, grow and play. They still have dreams for their future, even if an earthquake has destroyed their pasts or closed roads to those dreams.  3.      UNICEF knows what it is doing. It is with great pride that I wear our blue T-shirt and that I am identified as a member of this incredible organization. I have always believed that UNICEF is special and unique, but seeing the heroism of our staff up close gives me renewed faith in the importance of the work. UNICEF does whatever it takes – and does it well!

Routines are human nature. Why not create some that will mint Gold? — Hafiz, fourteenth-century Persian poet  Someone once asked His Holiness the Dalai Lama, “If you only had one word to describe the secret of happiness, and of living a fulfilling and meaningful life, what would that word be?” Without hesitating the Dalai Lama replied, “Routines.”  A routine is something that we do regularly, without questioning or planning. Once established, routines require little effort, tracking, or decision making; by definition they become a consistent part of our lives. Routines are ways of doing that don’t require much conscious “doing.” This is what makes routines such powerful levers for supporting behaviors, whether positive or negative. Our routines can help us or impede us, increase our focus and effectiveness or increase our distractedness. The best routines include those positive distractions we’ve already discussed — meditation, mindfulness, stress breaks, and so on. Positive routines also include all the other things we can do to balance our lives: exercise to refresh our bodies, talking with those we love, reading, going on retreats. These are activities that refresh and energize. Positive routines are built to exclude severe distractions — the overstimulation and overexertion, without respite or relief, that can lead to anxiety, sleeplessness, depression, and a real lack of focus. Why is this? Why would the Dalai Lama answer “routines” as an essential element on the path toward happiness and meaning? In what way do routines reduce “drag” and “resistance” and create ease, meaning, and a deeper sense of accomplishment? Several answers come to mind, which we will examine in more depth: We all have routines; why not create positive ones? Routines are the way of nature (and we are part of nature . . .). Routines connect us to something larger than ourselves. Paradoxically, through the structures provided by routines, we can develop flexibility because our minds are so much clearer and our bodies more refreshed. Routines can support personal growth and the transformation of old, unwanted patterns. We All Have Routines, So Make Positive Ones We all have routines, so why not have positive ones? Do you brush your teeth each morning and evening? Do you bathe or shower; prepare regular meals? Do you read or meditate every day, once a week, or not at all? Do you exercise three days a week, five days a week, or no days per week? Do you eat healthy or unhealthy food? Do you get up at the same time each morning, watch the same television shows, use many of the same phrases and expressions?  Since there is no avoiding routines, why not create routines that are supportive, healthy, and lead toward what you want to accomplish in your life. Routines are the ways in which we take care of ourselves. The three basic routines that I prescribe to nearly all of my coaching clients include the following: Practice Meditation Daily I often suggest that people spend fifteen to thirty minutes at the beginning of each day meditating — just sitting, just being alive, just being with their breath. This is a basic “sharpening the saw” activity, in which we are the saw. Meditation practice is a way to slow down, look deeply, and reveal ourselves to ourselves.  Exercise Three Days Per Week Regular exercise is essential to maintaining our health and taking care of our bodies and minds. By exercise, I mean getting a good solid aerobic workout for at least thirty minutes — such as walking, running, or using an exercise machine at the gym. I recognize that not everyone can exercise in this way, but within your physical abilities, you can still make exercise part of your routine.  Write Every Day in a Journal Writing seems to access a different part of our brains than thinking or speaking. We can learn and grow by developing a regular writing practice. Each morning, or each night before you go to sleep, spend ten to fifteen minutes recording your thoughts, plans, fears, highlights of the day, or aspirations. Experiment with just writing without editing. Doing so is both cathartic and revealing. See if you can approach writing as an exploration, without quite knowing what you will find. Journaling helps build self-awareness by highlighting recurring problems and negative patterns that otherwise may continue without our noticing. After a week or month, go back and read what you’ve journaled. Do you see patterns or insights that surprise or disappoint you, or make you feel better about yourself? 

If you approach life as a student matriculating through levels of spiritual growth, what most people call ruts are more like semester breaks. Or, to switch metaphors, if you’re on an ever-ascending spiritual path, the ruts are plateaus. In my own life, and when working with people who feel spiritually stagnant, I find that the feeling of a rut comes with a sense that something is missing. Therefore, the usual question—“Should I stop doing what feels like a rut?”—is incomplete without also asking, “What else can I do?” We are fortunate nowadays to have a vast curriculum to choose from—although the number of choices can be paralyzing in itself. In that context, I find it helpful to think in terms of the four classical yogas, or pathways. 1. Jnana yoga, the path of the mind. Generally speaking, this is the road traveled by those inclined to study sacred texts and contemplate spiritual concepts. In its purest form, however, it trains the aspirant to distinguish the real from the unreal, the eternal from the perishable, the Self from the non-Self, the Truth from illusion. The ultimate goal is to transport the mind beyond itself, to the realm of absolute spirit. The approach of learning, however, can serve the interim purpose of giving us insight and fresh understanding. 2. Bhakti yoga, the path of the heart. Worship, devotion and love are the hallmarks of this road. It is favored by those who are driven more by feeling than by thought. The object of worship might be a god-like incarnation such as Jesus or Krishna, a revered figure from religious history such as Buddha or the prophet Muhammad, or a living personage such as a guru or a revered cleric—any of whom might be adored as a representative of the ultimate Reality. For some, the focal point of devotion is a spouse, a child or the unspoiled natural world. 3. Karma yoga, the path of action. Favored by individuals who are drawn to the pursuit of worthy goals, this approach demands ego-free detachment from the fruits of one’s efforts. One works selflessly, with no thought of personal gain and with complete absorption, as if every action were an offering to the Divine. 4. Raja yoga, psycho-physiological path. This pragmatic path emphasizes the disciplined use of mental and physical practices. Meditation, prayer, yoga postures, chanting, breathing exercises and the like are systematically used to open the mind to the Sacred and to cultivate within the nervous system the capacity to sustain higher states of awareness. Those are the four broad pathways, and aspirants will favor one of them over the course of their lives, according to their personalities and preferences. But few of us confine our path to only one. We incorporate elements of all four, because they complement one another, and the proportions shift as our developmental needs change. That’s why the perspective is useful when ruts/semester breaks/plateaus come along. It can help you sort out the possibilities when you ask yourself, “What do I need at this stage of development?” Maybe what you need to move into the next phase is something for your mind. Do you need to gather information? Learn something new? Find out what wise ones have to say about something that perplexes you? Or do you need some bhakti? Maybe you’ve been in your head too much, and what seems like a rut is your heart calling out for some nourishment. What would crack open the love? Worship? Chanting? A silent walk in nature? Spending time with children? Maybe the rut-like feeling comes from thinking about your problems too much. If so, maybe you need a dose of karma yoga. Serve a cause. Volunteer. Do something entirely selfless for someone. Or maybe you need to shake up your nervous system with a new practice of some kind. A different type of yoga? A new form of meditation? A fast, or a different diet? You get the picture. The point is, instead of focusing on what feels boring or dull—the rut itself—shift to what might be missing and how to fill the void. I looked up the origin of the word rut. It shares a common ancestor with route and roar. Somehow, I find that inspiring. A rut is on the route to higher being, and we can burst through it with a roar.

I am thrilled to announce that today we reached a milestone. 50,000 intents posted on www.intent.com! Ritika Bajaj posted: My Intent is live the purest way I know, with honest intentions, good deeds and no expectation of reward. What a perfect intent to celebrate!  Please support Ritika. So celebrate with us by posting an intent, and spread the word about www.intent.com to your friends and loved ones. I feel so honored to be part of a community that is living a life of love, grace, giving back and genuine good intentions. THANK YOU!