Tuesday, August 27, 2024

Wise Reminders From Martin Luther King Jr

                                     

Martin Luther King, Jr., born January 15, 1929, died April 4, 1968, was the most visible American civil rights leader from 1955 until his assassination. He furthered civil rights through nonviolence, motivated by his Christian beliefs and the peaceful activism of Mahatma Gandhi. We suspect this wise soul incarnated to teach the world about race relations, and so much more, and are grateful for his wisdom. Below we share some of his quotes, which are good reminders for the present too.

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

"Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars."

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

"If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward."

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

"We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now."

"You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step."

"A man dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is right. A man dies when he refuses to stand up for justice. A man dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is true."

"Never, never be afraid to do what's right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society's punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way."

"It is always the right time to do the right thing."

"Violence as a way of achieving racial justice is both impractical and immoral. It is impractical because it is a descending spiral ending in destruction for all. It is immoral because it seeks to humiliate the opponent rather than win his understanding; it seeks to annihilate rather than to convert. Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love."

"Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly."

"We must learn that to expect God to do everything while we do nothing is not faith but superstition."

"Not everybody can be famous but everybody can be great, because greatness is determined by service."

"Use me, God. Show me how to take who I am, who I want to be, and what I can do, and use it for a purpose greater than myself."

"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools."

"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."

"Let's build bridges, not walls."

"This is the great new problem of mankind. We have inherited a large house, a great 'world house' in which we have to live together- black and white, Easterner and Westerner, Gentile and Jew, Catholic and Protestant, Muslim and Hindu- a family unduly separated in ideas, culture and interest, who, because we can never again live apart, must learn somehow to live with each other in peace."

"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education."

"If you can't be a sun, be a star. For it isn't by size that you win or fail. Be the best of whatever you are."

"I still believe that standing up for the truth of God is the greatest thing in the world. This is the end (purpose) of life. The end of life is not to be happy. The end of life is not to achieve pleasure and avoid pain. The end of life is to do the will of God, come what may."

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Scott Petullo and Stephen Petullo offer vital, 
yet sensible and practical
 spiritual guidance and tools, including their Spiritual Detox and Let Go MP3 meditation audios. Get their free report: 13 Spiritual and New Age Myths and 13 Other Spiritual Laws Besides the Law of Attraction. http://www.spiritualgrowthnow.com

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Tuesday, August 20, 2024

Habits That Lower Confidence

 

"Self-confidence is a super power. Once you start to believe in yourself, magic starts happening."

One must remember this quote whenever they find themselves in a situation that feels tougher than ever. The only person who can ever get you out of it is you and your belief in yourself.

Confidence is important in today's world more than ever because the competition is on an all-time high and the only person who is going to stand by you and get you through it is you.

However, what are some habits that keep you from being the best version of yourself? We all read enough about how to build confidence and how to motivate others. But, what are some traits that keep you from achieving your best potential?

Let's find out.

  1. Constant comparison with others: Nobody's journey is the same as yours and not everyone has the same personal or professional goals like you. Your only real parameter of growth is how far have you come at a personal level. As long as you strive to be a better and more aware version of yourself every day, you are on the right track.
  2. Taking failure to heart: If success was to come easy, it wouldn't feel like a victory. If everything was to be served on a platter, you wouldn't enjoy it, not every minute would feel like something you should cherish. Failures are important and they tell you that your life is yet to bring you the best of experiences and achievements. You can wake up every day wanting more opportunities to learn and challenges to face. Learn from your failures and do better.
  3. Surrounding yourself with superficial people: Keeping your circle small is okay. It's okay to keep to yourself and not have someone to go for Saturday night parties with. It's okay to not have every colleague invite you to all sorts of galas because not everyone in each room will want the best for you. Instead of surrounding yourself with people who will fill you up with negative vibrations and a sense of self-doubt, surround yourself with people who do not wish to compete with you or demotivate you. These are the people who will be cheering for you from the front row seat, showing off your every move and telling you how proud they are of you.
  4. Pitying yourself: Self-pity is one of the worst things you can put yourself through. Yes, people have it better and yes, some people have it worse. But your journey is different and no, bad things do not happen only to you. Create your reality and learn to believe in yourself. Make the best of every opportunity and if it doesn't work out, do not live the rest of your life doubting your every move. Instead, figure out what you could've done better and experiment more. Nothing lasts forever so you mustn't continue feeling like the hardships will never end for you.
  5. Constantly overthinking: Stop convincing yourself that your work is subpar and stop creating unreal scenarios in your head. You will not get fired for printing the wrong sheet or highlighting the word wrong. Even if you have messed up on a larger scale, a good mentor will always tell you it's alright and tell you what you could have done better. What's the worst that'll happen? You'll get fired. It's a tough world but it's also one with booming opportunities. You might not end up doing what you love immediately but with the right mindset and ambition, everything is achievable. That is all you need to convince your mind of. Everything else can be dealt with.

So now, put on that suit you bought and remind yourself that you are ready to take over the world. Quit the practices that make you feel less confident and take away the belief that you need to have in yourself. Communication Skills

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Tuesday, August 13, 2024

Get Good!

 

We all face a crossroads in life where it is put up or shut up and retire. I only have to start with this: If you are serious, get good!

I repeat: if you are serious, get good or get out of the game you are trying to play. For as Yoda in "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back" says: There is not "try", there is just "do". Reality comes down to what we actually do, not what we try or attempt.

When I think about reality, real living is more than a boast or an attempt. Real life is pure doing. In short getting good instead of consistent potential that never gets genuinely realized. In fact, consistent potential success without fulfillment of that potential is the ultimate mental and spiritual block in life. "I could have", "I would have", "I should have" is the epitaph of every loser. Every winner is, "I did it" and that is it. Why do you think or postulate in your consciousness those three sayings and realities of losers do not count, while that direct one response from a winner does count totally? It counts because it is fulfillment instead of unrealized potential sitting in a garage like a prized and beautiful car that never gets driven and just sits in a garage with great potential for speed or saved wealth that never gets enjoyed and goes ultimately to someone who does genuinely enjoy it and live with it.

"I would have", "I could have", "I should have" instead of the reality of "I did it". That is all it comes down to, and if you want to get to I did it, you or anyone must use their potential to get good genuinely.

I did it is the King Harvest, I would have, I could have, I should have is the eternally unrealized and wasted seed. I did it is cold, hard cash being spent in for your benefit by you. I would have, I could have, I should have is like the checks and Double Eagle thousand dollar coins that sit in the safe or deposit box and never get cashed or benefit anyone.

My only message in this article is get good, step up, work your dream into reality actively. Because the real bad is unused potential, not so much losing at your attempts to succeed. For, even if you miss there is another shot as long as you are alive, breathing and working with a chance! Get good as long as you can practice and attempt (Until you succeed or are satisfied personally with your efforts).

My name is Joshua Clayton, I am a freelance writer based in Inglewood, California. I also write under a few pen-names and aliases, but Joshua Clayton is my real name, and I write by that for the most part now. I am a philosophical writer and objective thinker and honest action taker. I also work at a senior center in Gardena, California as my day job, among other things, but primarily I am a writer.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10459012

Tuesday, August 6, 2024

How to Improve Your Memory Through the Best Brain Food

 

They say that you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but when it comes to the brain, scientists have discovered that this old adage simply isn't true. The human brain has an astonishing ability to adapt and change-even into old age. This ability is known as "neuroplasticity". With the right stimulation, your brain can form new neural pathways, alter existing connections, and adapt and react in ever-changing ways.

The brain's incredible ability to reshape itself holds true when it comes to learning and memory. You can harness the natural power of neuroplasticity to increase your cognitive abilities, enhance your ability to learn new information, and improve your memory at any age.

Just as the body needs fuel, so does the brain. You probably already know that a diet based on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, "healthy" fats (such as olive oil, nuts, fish) and lean protein will provide lots of health benefits, but such a diet can also improve memory. For brain health, though, it's not just what you eat-it's also what you don't eat. The following nutritional tips will help boost your brainpower and reduce your risk of dementia:

Get Your Omega-3s - Research shows that omega-3 fatty acids are particularly beneficial for brain health. Fish is a particularly rich source of omega-3, especially cold water "fatty fish" such as salmon, tuna, halibut, trout, mackerel, sardines, and herring.

If you're not a fan of seafood, consider non-fish sources of omega-3s such as walnuts, ground flaxseed, flaxseed oil, winter squash, kidney and pinto beans, spinach, broccoli, pumpkin seeds, and soybeans.

Limit Calories and Saturated Fat - Research shows that diets high in saturated fat (from sources such as red meat, whole milk, butter, cheese, cream, and ice cream) increase your risk of dementia and impair concentration and memory.

Eat More Fruit and Vegetables - Produce is packed with antioxidants, substances that protect your brain cells from damage. Colorful fruits and vegetables are particularly good antioxidant "superfood" sources.

Drink Green Tea - Green tea contains polyphenols, powerful antioxidants that protect against free radicals that can damage brain cells. Among many other benefits, regular consumption of green tea may enhance memory and mental alertness and slow brain aging.

Drink Wine (or grape juice) in Moderation - Keeping your alcohol consumption in check is key, since alcohol kills brain cells. But in moderation (around 1 glass a day for women; 2 for men), alcohol may actually improve memory and cognition. Red wine appears to be the best option, as it is rich in resveratrol, a flavonoid that boosts blood flow in the brain and reduces the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Other resveratrol-packed options include grape juice, cranberry juice, fresh grapes and berries, and peanuts.

For Mental Energy, Choose Complex Carbohydrates - Just as a racecar needs gas, your brain needs fuel to perform at its best. When you need to be at the top of your mental game, carbohydrates can keep you going. But the type of carbs you choose makes all the difference. Carbohydrates fuel your brain, but simple carbs (sugar, white bread, refined grains) give a quick boost followed by an equally rapid crash. There is also evidence to suggest that diets high in simple carbs can greatly increase the risk for cognitive impairment in older adults. For healthy energy that lasts, choose complex carbohydrates such as whole-wheat bread, brown rice, oatmeal, high-fiber cereal, lentils, and whole beans. Avoid processed foods and limit starches (potato, pasta, rice) to no more than one quarter of your plate.

When you think of food, you probably think of that dreaded four-letter word: DIET. Or maybe you think of fuel for your body... Or a source of happiness (or frustration!) in your life. What you probably don't think of is a powerful influence that affects your emotions, your personality, the quality and quantity of your memories, and even WHO you are as a person. But surprise: What you eat directly impacts all of the above. This may sound hard to believe, but it's true. Let me explain...

Your Brain: A Calorie Hungry Machine

Your brain represents only 2 - 4% of your total body mass, which is about 2 - 4 pounds for the average person. However, your brain also consumes about 20% of all the energy from your food. I'll say that again: Your brain consumes 20% of the food energy you consume. Plus, the type of fuel you give your brain through food and supplements has a critical influence on how you think, feel and experience life. You-and your entire human experience-actually ARE what you eat. As Dr. Fotuhi put it: "What you eat will re-shape your brain... for better or for worse". So, once again, we need to put our brains first when it comes to improving our health and happiness.

Which nutrients does my brain need... And how much? There are certain nutrients your brain absolutely needs, some you can consume in higher doses to increase performance... and some nutrients your body absolutely doesn't want. Let's start with what your brain absolutely needs each day: Fuel. To function properly and consistently repair cells, your brain needs the energy you get from food. This is a no-brainer (ha ha, pun intended). However, if you go on an extreme calorie restricting diet, not only are you restricting the fuel you're giving your body- you're also restricting the fuel you're giving your brain. Why is this dangerous? While your intentions may be in the right place, you may effectively be starving your brain, which leads to brain fog, mood swings, anxiety, slower and more difficult learning, feeling unmotivated, etc. And most dangerously, malnutrition over prolonged periods can even physically shrink your brain. Calorie restrictive diets are NOT the way to go.

Let's say you're on a strict calorie restrictive diet that limits you to 70% of the actual caloric fuel you (and your brain) need on an average day. This means you're not getting 30% of the vitamins, minerals and energy you need just to operate at baseline... which equates to about 6% direct malnutrition to your brain.

Starving your brain makes you angry, short tempered, dull and emotional. And frankly, it never gets you to your goal. Do you know where the willpower comes from to stick with a healthy practice? It comes from feeding your brain the right fuel in the right amounts to stay strong.

I want to focus for a moment on one particular killer that is extremely dangerous for your brain: Sugar. WebMD even asks the question: "Is sugar worse for you than say, cocaine?" When up to 80% of all foods we can buy in a grocery store contain sugar, it can feel like a losing battle.

Not only is sugar proven to be highly addictive-meaning the more you eat, the more you want to eat-we're finding that over time, sugar can contribute to the shrinking of your hippocampus (the memory sector of your brain), which is a hallmark symptom of memory problems.

How Does Sugar Affect Your Memory? Research out of the University of California, Los Angeles, suggests that sugar forms free radicals in the brain and compromises the nerve cells' ability to communicate. This can have serious repercussions in how well we remember instructions, process ideas, and manage our moods, says Fernando Gómez-Pinilla, Ph.D., author of the UCLA study. In the short term, you've probably seen how sugar can mess with your emotions and adrenaline surges, a.k.a.: the stress hormone. So something to consider: Your memory issues may NOT be age-related. It might be what you're eating. What happens when you eat sugar?

When you eat sugar, your insulin spikes, which briefly increases your dopamine levels. (Think of dopamine as the "happy chemical.") For a short period, you feel happy and energized... perhaps a little hyper.

But this high quickly wears off (i.e. NOT a stable source of energy), and eventually you come crashing down. This familiar "sugar crash" produces the stress chemical adrenaline, which can leave you feeling anxious, moody, exhausted and even depressed in the aftermath.

The USDA recommends staying under 10 teaspoons (40 grams) of added sugar a day. This is about the equivalent of a bagel or one cup of your typical non-fat yogurt-which has a tendency to be surprisingly high in sugar. (Check the label of the yogurt in your fridge and see what I mean.) Now don't worry: This daily sugar limit doesn't include natural fruit and vegetable sugars in their pure forms like an apple. But DO avoid those mocha lattes at all costs.

Personally, I think sugar is the real reason why gluten-free diets tend to work so well for many people in terms of improving overall body and brain health. It's not because they're removing the gluten. (Only 1% of the population has Celiac disease, in which case the body can't tolerate gluten). I believe it's because most foods that contain gluten also contain a lot of added sugar: Breads, baked goods, etc. Removing the sugars alone can have a massive impact on your mood, memory and clarity of thought.

We also know though countless studies that obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes can shrink the size and performance of your brain. So if you want to cut the risk of memory loss, the first and fastest thing you can do is educate yourself on brain-healthy foods vs brain-shrinking foods- and immediately remove the dangerous foods from your diet.

What are the WORST Foods For Your Memory and Cognition?

Salt can be a big culprit, mainly due to excess. Salt is an essential mineral we need to survive, however the USDA recommendation is just 1,500 mg a day. The average American eats 3,400 mg/day, primarily because our culture tends to consume a lot of processed and packaged foods. These are the worst when it comes to unknowingly consuming extremely unhealthy doses of salt-which by the way, also increases your risk of stroke.

Trans fats are also dangerous to brain health. Typical trans fats are often found in fried foods, margarine, shortening, non-dairy creamers, ice cream, cake mixes, microwave popcorn, ground beef, frozen dinners, cookies and crackers.

The BEST Foods For Your Brain

To boost your memory, mood and cognition, you want to focus on a "healthy brain" diet. This involves eating foods that support the growth of new brain cells, as well as taking a quality daily supplement with the right quantities of specific nutrients, to give your brain the building blocks it needs to stay sharp. One of these nutrients is called DHA, found in Omega 3 fatty acids, which helps reduce inflammation in the brain. Many researchers have found that people with behavioral problems, children with ADHD and people suffering from Alzheimer's disease have lower than normal DHA levels.

For example, in Gothenburg, Sweden, scientists conducted a study on over 9,000 students. They found that children who ate one serving of fish per week (a great source of DHA) did 15% better than students who ate less than one serving of fish per week. I recommend you aim for 1,000 mg of DHA each day through your food and/or supplementation.

Best Diets For Memory & Learning

As an overall eating style packed with healthy brain foods, most scientists recommend the Mediterranean diet as a great plan to give your body and brain the best quality foods, even if you're trying to lose weight. For more tips, I also highly recommend following trusted food gurus like Mike Geary, aka: "The Nutrition Watchdog." Need motivation? Here's a fun fact for you: Those who follow a healthy diet combined with exercise have a whopping 65% LOWER chance of getting Alzheimer's disease.

Here's a Good List of Delicious Brain-Healthy Foods: Olive Oil, Garlic, Peas, Blueberries, Green Tea, Kale, Nuts and Seeds, Fatty Fish like salmon, trout, mackerel, herring, sardines, Tomatoes, Pumpkin Seeds, Blackcurrants, Broccoli, Sage, Eggs.

All of these foods are great for children and adults; for studying, improving memory, and just feeling great all-around.

I am a Nutritionist specializing in Brain Health. I work with a company named "Simple Smart Science". Our mission is to identify areas where big leaps in performance in every area of your life can be achieved and then give you products that take you there.

We spend hundreds of hours researching different scientific case studies from around the world to discover the ingredients which we use. They have to be double blind, placebo-controlled clinical studies for us even to read them because these are the only methodologies accepted in the scientific community.

We only use dosages that are clinically proven to work at optimal results, use premium ingredients from trusted sources, use the top rated manufacturing facilities and use a third party testing facility to test our products over and over at every stage in the formation.

Every system in your body - from your nervous system to your digestive to your immune system - is controlled by your brain. Your overall health is controlled by your brain. This includes your emotional state as well. When your brain is healthy and performing your overall health is improved.

For more information about maximizing your brain's remarkable power, increasing memory, and improved energy and focus, please visit [http://www.brainfood.one]

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3 Major Differences Between New Year's Resolutions and Intentions

                                                    We have finally come to the end of another year, a year that disrupted our way of life r...