5 Year Personal Development Plan

By Susan Velez

Why not sit down for at least 10 minutes today and create a 5 year personal development plan for yourself. Where would you like to be in five years? What do you want to have accomplished?
Visualize yourself as successful and write down your passions of what it is you want to be do have in your life. Remember you can do anything the only limitations we have are the one's we place on ourselves. Most people realize that personal development is a positive step in the right direction of improving one's life in any area of your life. However many people do not take control of their lives and have no idea of what they would like to accomplish in the next five years.

A 5 year personal development plant will help you map out areas in your life that you would like to improve. What is it right now that you would like to change in any area whether it is a relationship, business, career. Are you stagnant in any of those areas and would like to see yourself somewhere different? You can sit down and make some long term goals of where you would like to be in five years. Your 5 year personal development plan will help you identify the the means to accomplish your long term goals. It will be like a map that you can keep in front of you at all times to constantly remind you of what you want to be do have, and will be a map for you to follow. It will map the steps you make along the way and you can evaluate the progress that you make.

Another thing that will help you keep track of your progress is a journal. When you take the time to set the goals you would like to achieve whether long term or short term; you should write down your progress in your journal. This will help you keep on track and stay motivated towards working towards what it is you desire. Plus when you reach your goals you can go back and read what it took you to reach your goals. You should always rewards yourself positively for sticking to your 5 year personal development plan and doing whatever it takes to reach them.

However when you reward yourself make sure your reward is not negative. If your goal is to lose weight and you have dropped the amount of weight you wanted to, do not sit down and eat a big piece of chocolate cake. This would hurt you in the long run; instead do something else that you would enjoy doing like going to a movie.

If you currently know what you would like to be do have in five years down the road, and have your goals written down then you are way ahead of the game. Most people do not know what they want to be do have and most of them are just content with their mediocre life. The complain about their life however they really do not know what they want to accomplish; if you do not know where you would like to be chances are you will not ever accomplish anything different.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_Velez

Should You Use a Personal Trainer?

By Jess Harley

Personal Trainers were a thing for the rich and famous. Nowadays you can get one at almost any gym. In fact most gyms and their high pressured sales people will probably try to convince you to add a trainer to your membership. The cost is not included in your membership and it can be very expensive. There are some things though you should look at before you decide who you are going to use as your personal trainer. A lot of people like to use them because the biggest pro to them is they motivate you and help you create a program that is right for you.

You do not have to belong to a gym to take advantage of a personal trainer. If you do belong to a gym, chances are you will be assigned a trainer and will have to assume that they have all the proper credentials. While it can save you the hassle of finding a trainer, the downside to being assigned a trainer is that you do not know if you mesh well together. If you do not belong to a gym or you do not belong to a gym that offers personal trainers, you can ask around for recommendations or you can look in your paper or even online. There are many types of trainers out there; some will come right to your home while others will ask you to come to them.
The most important thing though to look at is if they are certified and have a degree in the exercise/nutrition field. You also want to make sure your trainer has a CPR and First Aid certification too. Do not be afraid to ask them to see a copy of their cards so you can make sure they are current.

You should always meet with a trainer before you sign up with them. This way you can ask those questions such as what their experience is and their motivational techniques. Some trainers use a tough love motivation while others try to be a little more understanding. Finding out which one they use will help you decide which method will motivate you more. You can also ask them how they plan to help you reach your goals as far as a workout plan and a meal plan. You can also find out what kind of packages they offer and if they have payment plans. These questions are important to make sure you have a trainer who will work well for you. After all you are paying them a lot of money and you don't want to get a trainer who does nothing for you.

If you meet with a trainer who begins to talk about supplements or any sort of diet pills they would recommend for you, politely thank them for their time and leave. These trainers are earning a commission for products they sell and may not have your best interest at heart.
Using a personal trainer can be a great way to get you on the right track for your fitness and workout. They will show you the best way to work out and what the right form is for strength training. Some people may benefit from one or two sessions with a trainer, while others might need them every step of the way. The chose is yours and do not let anyone pressure you into using a trainer if you are not ready to.

Copyright (c) 2007 Jess Harley
We have released the official site for Women's Fitness revealing the hidden secrets to having that body you desire and want with the latest exercises and techniques available and you will see results right now. Get your FREE report at Womens Fitness Secrets.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jess_Harley

Healthy Selfish Is Good For Our Personal Budgets

By Alice March

Healthy selfishness is a good thing. The word selfish has gotten a bad rap in our culture. The dictionary says selfish is "concerned chiefly with oneself or excessive regard for one's personal advantage or interest." Stop to think what this really means and then ask yourself, "if we don't take care of ourselves, who will?" Giving ourselves healthy attention means that we have personal living codes that include getting proper nutrition, rest, exercise and whatever we need to be productive, creative and financially stable.

I think too many of us have relinquished our selves in our financial life; we let others look out for our financial interests, by either denying our responsibility or just letting someone else do it for us. As we begin to realize that our financial shape is really a reflection of how we feel about ourselves, we have to be more than conscious and selfish about choosing a team to give us direction and support. Most of us did not have role models who showed us how to invest in ourselves and in our future. This sort of thinking didn't exist. I do remember that my mother suggested to my father, when I was in high school, that they put me on a clothes allowance. My father said that he didn't see the need for that. I wish he had. I probably would have gone through many trials and errors earlier and become more fiscally aware and more skilled at budgeting expenses.

Healthy people find mentors who are fiscally well and successful. Put a team in place, a team to help you with the present and the future of your finances. Feeling vulnerable, admitting you need help, is actually a very powerful place, for it's a place of learning and acceptance. Ask yourself if you're getting the kind of attention that makes you feel safe, visible, supported. Or do you get the kind of attention that makes you feel dismissed, ignored, unequal?

Healthy living means reducing the stress in your life. One way to do this is to think carefully about the financial questions you ask and be sure you understand the answers you get. When you're selfish enough to give yourself the kind of attention that brings you the best of support, encouragement and knowledge, you'll decrease your stress level, sleep better at night and enjoy the end of your months more!!!

Alice Aspen March, Expert on Impact of Attention, TheAttentionFactor(R).
aa.march@verizon.net Speaker, Published Author, Workshop Leader, Exec. Dir. of Non-Profit, FACT: impact of TV on Children and Families; kept Fred Rogers Neighborhood on the air as Chair of KCET Community Advisory Board, Co-Produced Emmy-nominated, Latch-Key Kids, narrated by Christopher Reeve; appointed by Calif. State Senate to two State Commissions.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alice_March

Don't Take It Personally! Setting Personal Boundaries

By Geoffrey Farnsworth

As kids, we used to chant, “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but names will never hurt me!” Even when it was yelled on the playground, this mantra had some wisdom in it. If we said it as a retort to a verbal attack or to soothe ourselves afterwards, it was a reminder that we don’t have to give power to words flung at us in anger, needling us in mockery, or stabbing us in criticism.

The truth is, words can be hurtful, especially if they’re spoken by someone we care about. It might be an offhanded sarcastic remark from a spouse, a belittling statement from a parent, or a disrespectful answer from a teenager—any of these can push our buttons if we don’t establish some internal boundaries. But, believe it or not, we do have some control over how we let words affect us. Our responses don’t have to be automatic.

It’s good to remember that words are always more about the speaker than the one spoken to, even when the sentence begins with, “You…” People are often clumsy, even in their best efforts at communication, so listening with an ear to what’s beneath their words can help us to hear the unspoken truth—that this person is scared, insecure, hurt or in need of reassurance. Responding to this deeper truth can be more effective than defending ourselves or launching a counter-attack.

We may have someone in our lives who grumbles and complains or who speaks impatiently in an annoyed tone. Although there can be a time and a place to discuss this (maybe in therapy sessions!), we may realize that this is just “Dad being Dad” or “Sue being Sue.” We don’t have to take it personally.

Here are some visualization strategies that can help you to listen consciously without the knee-jerk reactions of hurt and anger. These can give you an image of words passing through you without getting stuck in your heart.

• See the contrast between light passing through a glass and a knife embedded in a tree.

• Imagine yourself as a porous collection of atoms with more space than matter, allowing harsh words to flow right through.

• Picture yourself as the sky, knowing that what’s thrown up at you will fall back down.

• Imagine yourself protected by an invisible shield that surrounds you on all sides. You can see and hear, but aren’t wounded by the words that come your way.

Protecting yourself from verbal attacks isn’t the same as not listening. It just helps neutralize those personal reactions so that you can judge the communication with more light and awareness.

I invite you to visit http://www.singletosoulmate.com for more valuable resources for healthy, happy relationships. Be sure to sign up for updates while you’re there.

To receive a free 5 session e-course on “Conscious Dating”, Send a blank email to 5dayforsingles@aweber.com

From Geoff Farnsworth – http://www.BestLifeTips.com & http://www.SingleToSoulMate.com

The Power of Words - How to Avoid Stomping on Personal and Customer Relationships

By Sandy Reed

The power of the word is real whether or not you are conscious of it.
Your own words are the bricks and mortar of the dreams you want to realize. Behind every word flows energy.

Sonia Choquette
One of the most profound powers we have, in our business or personal life, is the power of speech. The way we talk to people, and ourselves, shapes our relationships; and these relationships shape our world.

When you speak to someone in a gentle, loving tone of voice, you will most likely receive a gentle, loving response – and build a relationship of caring and trust. When you talk to someone in a condescending manner, being sarcastic, hateful, or just plain nasty, you will probably get back the same.

I had an experience recently with the latter situation. I'm in the process of setting up a new blog in WordPress for Inner Clarity. I chose a web hosting company based on a recommendation from another coach. This whole blog scenario and its set-up is new to me, so I've been getting a lot of mental exercise learning about cpanel, Fantastico, and MySQL, etc. Sounds like a foreign language, doesn't it?

I've been working my way through the steps of learning this new language, so I can create my blog, without much support except online documentation. When I had questions for my new web hosting company, I expected help – not ridicule. In the beginning they were somewhat helpful, but obviously irritated about my lack of experience. As time went on, and other issues came up, they became downright condescending in our email communications. Every day I dreaded having to contact them about any questions or concerns I might have encountered.

This whole situation came to a climactic end when I asked them to make a change in my domain name set-up. As a result of the change they made, I lost all the work I had already entered into WordPress. They didn't inform me at any time that this was a possibility. Nonetheless, they managed to make it appear that the loss of data was my own fault, and had nothing to do with the changes they made.

It seemed that the words they used and the tone of their emails were geared towards making me feel inadequate and ignorant - and they succeeded! While their evaluation of my skill level, at that point, may have been accurate, that is certainly not the way to keep customers – not to mention get referrals. It became crystal clear that this was not a company I wanted to deal with on an ongoing basis, so I cancelled my account with them. My only regret is that I didn't cancel it sooner…

What's the point of this story? If you want to build a successful business, be aware of the impact your words have on your customers and the people who support you. If you're trying to irritate your clients so they'll move on, then the condescending, sarcastic words and tone of voice may be appropriate. But if you want to have happy customers and support people, you probably want to take a different tactic.

Here are 3 tips for choosing the right words to fit your situation.

1. Use the "positivity sandwich". When you have a need to correct someone, express disappointment, or give feedback, use the "positivity sandwich". This is a term coined by Dale Carnegie; author of the classic "How to Win Friends and Influence People". This concept operates on the basic premise that you can tell anyone anything if you sandwich it between two positive statements.

When using the positivity sandwich, the ACT with Tact approach may be helpful. ACT is an acronym for Appreciate, Correct (or Communicate), and Thank. In the book by Linda Kavelin Popov, "A Pace of Grace", she writes about the ACT with Tact approach for giving feedback about sensitive situations. Here's an example.

My ex-web hosting company could have said something like, "I appreciate and understand you're trying to learn something new. Why don't you try doing it this way? We value your business". Can you imagine what a different relationship we would have had!

2. Use the "Would you be willing" approach. When there's something you want, but don't quite know how to get it without offending the other person and starting an argument, try asking them "would you be willing to…" This is an approach used by Marshall Rosenburg, in his enlightening work on Nonviolent Communication. When you use this gentle approach to a sensitive situation, it shows you are caring and considerate of the other person's feelings and whatever may be going on in their life. In this way, you can ask for what you want without criticizing, condemning, or complaining. Just be sure you're using a tone of voice that says you're being sincere in your request.

3. What do you say when you talk to yourself? You tend to show the world the feelings you have inside of you. If you're being critical and condemning yourself on a regular basis, it's tough to be in a state of graciousness to others. The solution to self-criticism is to catch yourself when that internal critic takes over, STOP it in its tracks, and instead look for things you have done right – things that you can appreciate about yourself. Elevate your negative self-talk to, "I know how to do this", or "I'm clear about the next logical step to take", or "I know I can figure out how to….", etc.

We all have our unique approaches to life. Just because your internal guidance led you to do something a particular way, and someone else did it differently, doesn't mean you were wrong. It just means you're different. We need different viewpoints and creations in this world. Be willing to give up the self-criticism and celebrate your uniqueness. Don't get hung up on the "good opinion of others". Here's a wonderful quote that expresses the beauty of diversity.
"You don't get harmony when everyone sings the same note." - Doug Floyd

The power of your words, whether external or internal, shapes your world and carries over into your physical and emotional state of being. Your internal critic may be replaying those critical and condemning words you heard as a child. These are the words you came to believe because other people were describing you to you, and we tend to believe other people more than we believe ourselves – especially as a small child. You can learn to replace these hurtful words with words of love and support for yourself.

If you're having a challenge in your life, whether it is health, finances, personal, or business; look to see if your words are supporting or hindering your progress towards your goals. You may find the answer to your challenges just by listening to what you say when you talk to yourself.

Sandy Reed, Certified Life Coach, ex-corporate manager, and small business owner, is the coach to call for support when you’re ready to break out of the corporate prison, and create a life of freedom and flexibility. Visit her website at http://www.innerclaritylifecoaching.com for more tools and information and to sign-up for her free mini-ecourse “7 Steps to Personal Power”.

Personal Loans in UK - Because Wishes can be Fulfilled

By Steve C Clark

In our life desires defines our destiny. A man has many desires throughout his life which he tries to manage within his or her limited resources. Many times situation arrives when he requires some external help in order to satisfy them. At such situations the best backup available is personal loans UK. It provides you with immediate money without caring in which regard you spent the money. In personal loans UK money can be put to any desired use.

Personal loans in UK: availability and eligibility
Loaning institutions is a major field of investment now. With the huge influx in the number of lenders it has been easy securing personal loans in UK. The only thing required to avail a best buy is a good pre-knowledge of things related with these loans. This helps one in negotiations to get the best bargain. Personal loans in UK are subjected to the UK adult, which is one with age 18 years onwards. A current account in any UK bank is desired so that swift transactions can be made. Credit history of the borrower is taken in account. One with good credit history is definitely benefited. The interest rates offered are convincing. Rates for personal loans in UK are variable depending on the loaned amount, the loaning period and the way you borrowed and will pay back. On an average the amount provided varies from £1000 to £ 25000. The lend amount depends on the repaying capability of individual. If a person wishes to secure any assets then he/she may get a higher loan amount.

Personal loans in UK: suggestions
Earlier, people used to visit different banks and lenders filling up various applications to go for a personal loan in UK. This required a lot of time and energy. Now this all hectic procedures are escaped by using online facilities. Online application is easy and straight forward. This also provides you a larger field to search for the best option. Application charges are saved as well. The loaning tenure is advised to be kept small so that money paid as interest would be less. Repayment schemes and schedules are supposed to be well understood and followed as any delay might cause your credit history to deform and rates to rise.

Steve Clark can tell you how to look better, live better and breathe better by giving you tips to improve your finances.He writes on loans. His ideas can help you rejuvenate your money.To know more visit http://www.ezpersonalloansuk.co.uk

Personal Loans - Make Your Desires Come True

By Steve C Clark

In the contemporary times every body wants to grow and move ahead of other in terms of living standard. But this can’t be done with one’s salary alone. If this is the case then personal loans are best alternatives. Personal loans can be availed to meet any and every of your needs. Personal loans provide you finance at easy terms and conditions.

Types of personal loans
Secured personal loans: If you are looking forward to avail large amount of money at low interest rate then secured personal loans are best for you. To avail secured personal loans you will have to place one of your properties as collateral with the lender. This helps you to avail personal loan at very low interest rate and with flexible repayment options. With secured personal loans you can easily avail an amount ranging from £5000-£75000. With a repayment duration that ranges from 5-25 years

Unsecured personal loans: - Unsecured personal loans are ideal for people who are in need of small amount of money for short term usage. The interest rate is a bit higher compared to secured personal loans but you don’t have to risk your property in order to avail unsecured personal loans. The loan amount that can be availed with unsecured personal loans ranges from £1000-£25000. This amount depends upon the monthly income and repayment ability of the borrower. The repayment duration of unsecured personal loan ranges from 1-10 years. Lenders charge slightly higher interest rate with unsecured personal loans because of the risk factor involved. Borrowers don’t need to go through credit checks in order to avail personal loans. A person suffering from bad credit status due to arrears, defaults, CCJ, IVA, bankruptcy etc can easily avail personal loans. Bad credit borrowers can increase their chances by placing collateral with the lender.

PERSONAL LOANS: USAGE
You can use personal loans for any purpose like paying bills, going for vacation, weeding, paying previous debts, buying new car and so on.

WHERE TO LOOK FOR PERSONAL LOANS
You can easily avail personal loans either by applying to physical lender or through online market. To apply you just need to fill up an online application for mentioning certain details like the type of loan, amount you want to avail and period to mention you want to avail the loan. Also you will have to mention your contact details like phone number, current address, e-mail address etc. Personal loan are the best way to avail good amount of money at competitive interest rate.

Steve Clark can tell you how to look better, live better and breathe better by giving you tips to improve your finances.He writes on loans. His ideas can help you rejuvenate your money.To know more visit http://www.ezpersonalloansuk.co.uk

Maintain Your Lifestyle with Personal Loans

By Samantha Bonsu

It’s almost impossible, especially for middle-class families to maintain their financial balance because of their fast growing demands to upgrade their living standards. Very often in such situations, we look around for financial assistance. Personal loans are getting very popular for such monetary requirements. However, one should save some money for bad days. Calculate the monthly expenses and spend accordingly.

It seems that adopting celebrity lifestyle is harming savings of UK citizens. Fidelity International has clearly stated that, people even with a modest income want to live life like famous people and splurge on expensive dinners, staying in luxury hotels or buying designer clothes. This habit could hit future savings and even harm your current monetary scenario. Beside our wish to maintain a healthy lifestyle, it’s also important to plan on our retirement savings.

Personal loans are financial assistance to overcome your urgent needs. The lender can provide you with a secured and unsecured personal loan; however you need to furnish some requirements for a particular loan deal. With secured loans you need to provide a guarantee in a form of property to the lender for which you may be offered a huge loan amount up to £250,000, a loan tenure stretching to 25 years and low interest rates. On the other hand, unsecured loans are collateral free and lenders offer an amount up to £25,000, with a loan period stretching to 10 years and a quick processing deal.

Unsecured personal loans are a better option for consumer's personal requirements. Firstly, it’s an acclaimed product in UK financial market and secondly, the exemption of the property repossession clause is a safe option for homeowners. Not only do you play safe but also get a quick approved loan deal. Even students and self-employed get a chance to apply for this loan, thus making it a truly all-purpose loan. But, always plan first on returning the loan amount rather waiting for some legal actions from lender. As you just need a good credit record to avail this loan, to safeguard your future financial proceedings don't spoil your credit record in the UK loan market.

The author is a business writer specializing in finance and credit products and has written authoritative articles on the finance industry. She has done her masters in Business Administration and is currently assisting Loans-Bazaar as a finance specialist. To find a Personal loans, bad credit loans, unsecured loan that best suits your needs visit www.loans-bazaar.co.uk

The Truth About Personal Self Defense Weapons

By SA Rubin

Sorry I haven’t written anything for a while folks, but these days it seems like there’s more on my to-do-list then there is time to do them. In fact, my daily travels are what inspired me to sit down and write this letter today.

It seems like everywhere I go these days, I get asked the same questions about self defense weapons. Are they legal? Should I carry one? Do they really work? (And assuming they really do work for self defense)… How do I know which one is really going to work for me?

The truth is, there really is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. It’s a personal question, which has a personal answer for each individual. So I’m going to do what I can to help clear some of the fog on this topic, and we’ll start with a simple definition for the term “self defense weapon”.

Self-defense: The act of defending one’s person or interests from harm by the use of physical force or argument.

Weapon: Any instrument or device used to inflict harm on another, either for attack or defense.

So for the purpose of this article, we’ll consider a self defense weapon to be any instrument or device used to defend yourself from physical harm or attack... Simple enough.

Personal defense weapons come in many shapes and sizes. In fact, just about anything you use to defend yourself could be considered a self defense weapon. So rather than creating a list of self defense weapons (which is practically endless), I’ll just go over some of the concepts that are common for all of these devices.

First let’s talk about what a self defense weapon is NOT…

A self defense weapon is NOT an animate object with a mind of its own. In other words, it doesn’t think for itself, and it doesn’t sit there coiled up, waiting for the opportunity to strike at someone. A self defense weapon is a tool, no more. And being a tool, what it does depends entirely on what you do with it. A weapon can be very useful for keeping you safe. However, you've got to remember a few certain things...

1. A SELF DEFENSE WEAPON IS NOT MAGIC. Once you have a weapon, it doesn’t mean you’re automatically safe. So, don’t go walking into a bad section of town, in the middle of the night, carrying a big handful of money. And don’t flip off the local gang leader just because you have a weapon in your pocket

2. YOU NEED TO LEARN HOW TO USE YOUR SELF DEFENSE WEAPON. And even more important, you need to have confidence in your ability to use it. Just having a weapon doesn't mean it'll be any help at all. This is actually a big problem among the uninformed; Military and law enforcement research confirms that people who lack confidence in a technique or device will not resort to it in a stressful situation.

Many people have been seriously hurt in violent encounters with a personal self defense weapon right in their hand. In the stress of the moment, they didn't think to use it or doubted its' ability to impact the situation. Perhaps they were afraid that it would only make matters worse.

So if you’re thinking of carrying a personal self defense weapon, make sure you’re prepared to learn how to use it. And practice to become skillful with it. You also need to be prepared to use the device aggressively on a predator, to protect yourself. Never carry a Personal Safety Weapon with the intent to "bluff" your assailant. This is one sure way to have your weapon taken away and used against you. So if you are not prepared to use it decisively, don't carry it!

3. WEAPONS DON’T WORK IF YOU AREN’T HOLDING THEM.You've got to keep your eyes open and pay attention, and you need to know how to carry and use your weapon of choice, cause if you don't, you may not get a chance to use it. A gun doesn't help if it's still in its holster, and a pepper spray or a stun gun isn't too useful if it's still in the bottom of your purse or in the kitchen drawer at home when you get attacked. So when you carry a weapon for self defense, make sure you can get to it quickly if the need arises.

People seldom leave their homes thinking, "Gee, I think I'll go out and fend off a mugger, or a rapist today!" What happens to most self defense weapons is the novelty wears off and they’re quickly forgotten, then they find their way to the bottom of a purse, the glove box of your car, or the back of a kitchen drawer. They won't do you much good there! So ask yourself, is the device you are considering something practical enough to carry with you all of the time.

4. NOTHING WORKS 100% OF THE TIME. Over-inflated claims and quick-fix promises are everywhere in the self-defense business. Many gadget salespeople and wannabe self-defense experts exaggerate the benefits and capabilities of their systems and products.

You need to understand, and acknowledge the limitations of a self defense weapon, and have a back-up plan. Keep in mind that nothing is ever 100% effective all the time. Even a gun is only 99% effective. Sometimes people get shot, but they still don’t go down. Yet, I don’t know anyone who would say a gun isn’t effective.

So knowing that nothing works 100% of the time means no matter what self defense weapon you decide to carry, you should still have a back up plan for defending yourself… just in case
5. THERE ARE LAWS ABOUT WEAPONS… Lots of laws. Starting primarily with laws about guns, the use of guns, carrying a gun, etc. but there are also laws about stun guns, pepper spray, knives, batons, etc. Mostly having to do with when weapons may be used, and under what circumstances.

Do what you can to learn the laws about weapons in your area, but more importantly, use a bit of common sense. Pulling a gun on a guy because he cut you off in traffic is a no-no, and shooting someone in the face with pepper spray because they took the last donut at the meeting is not using good judgment. So when learning to use your self defense weapon, also learn the laws regarding the weapon, and when you can and can't use it legally.

So there you have it, a few basic truths about self defense weapons. I could go on for another half hour about personal defense weapons, and never run out of things to say, but this article has already passed the one thousand-word mark, so I’ll end it here. The bottom line is, if you’re going to carry a weapon for self defense, make sure you know how to use it, and are prepared to use if the need arises.

Until next time, Stay safe and stay alive.

Steve / NASP

SA Rubin is the owner of North American Security Products, LLC. A company dedicated to providing you with the means to protect and defend yourself against crime. For more information on Self Defense Weapons visit www.naselfdefense.com where you'll find a complete line of self-defense weapons and Personal Security Products

Law of Attraction & Personal Freedom - Where Independence Truly Lies

By Jeannette Maw

The 4th of July annual celebration reminds us not to take our freedom for granted. We’re prompted to consciously acknowledge and appreciate the independence won years ago, and to support our government’s continuing efforts to maintain our citizen rights.

However, with a sector of Americans at odds with our leaders, feeling misrepresented, unheard and deceived, some feel anything but gratitude for our unperceived freedoms. Frustration and disempowerment are often more typical feelings for those who oppose the leadership of our government.

But true freedom isn’t dependent on outside conditions; it doesn’t require particular circumstances be in place for us to feel peace. In fact, if we require certain situations to exist before we acknowledge freedom, we are anything but free.

True freedom lies within. Until we tap into that truth we’re at the mercy of the world around us for our peace of mind, joy and any other emotions we attach to liberty.

What is Freedom?The word “freedom” itself invites the idea of being able to do as we please. The dictionary definition includes “being exempt from external control or interference,” “at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint,” and “the state of political or national independence.”

When we consider the nature of independence and liberty in our daily lives, many Americans – arguably the most privileged citizens to walk the planet - don’t feel strongly connected to these facets. We speak as if we’re slaves to a job or life responsibilities or even time. We believe that without an abundance of time, money or health, we aren’t free to live the lives we really want.
And with those thoughts we would be right; we are enslaved. Not by our job or position in life, but by our thoughts of such.

Our true freedom lies in our ability to deliberately choose our thoughts and feelings. When we practice choice of thought we no longer require things “out there” to be a certain way to feel peace “in here.” Our “feel good” comes from within. And it’s there waiting for us whenever we choose to entertain it.

Which means developing the discipline to choose how we think and feel is where we meet true freedom. When we realize we don’t have to have a certain amount of money in the bank, particular brand of government in office, health status, or whatever else we might condition our “feel good” on, we embrace authentic personal liberty.

How to Be FreeSince the foundation of freedom lies in our power to choose thoughts and feelings, we can embrace that power by developing a discipline of conscious choice. To resist the knee-jerk reactive thoughts that don’t feel good. And to find our way, one better-feeling thought after another, to more pleasant feelings.

As we practice conscious choice of thought, we no longer need the boss to acknowledge our contribution to feel good about our job. We don’t have to get an anniversary present to appreciate our spouse. We don’t require six months of living expenses saved up in order to sleep well.

The additional beauty of this practice is that once we regularly spend time with more pleasant thoughts, we attract a more pleasant life. One where bosses offer generous acknowledgements, spouses treat us like gold and money flows in abundance. Which just turns out to be icing on the cake, since we didn’t need any of that to enjoy life beforehand.

So next time you find yourself in a stressful conversation about the importance of patriotism, evils of terrorism, or whatever topic might inspire your negative feelings, remember your true freedom lies in your ability to choose your thoughts and how you feel. Instead of being stuck in anger or resentment, exercise your liberty to find your way to a better-feeling thought. Be picky about the thoughts you entertain.

Similarly, when you recognize you’re resisting a situation or circumstance in life, use it as an opportunity to come back to your personal freedom. Remember you are free to choose how you perceive it and how you feel. As you do so, you’ll find your sense of freedom increasing dramatically without anything else around you needing to change.

Our thoughts create our world. Until we consciously choose our thoughts, we are slaves to reality and are abandoning the freedom that is our human birthright. This holiday, celebrate your internal liberty to find your way to thoughts that create the world you want. Namaste.

Jeannette Maw is an Attraction Coach and founder of Good Vibe Coaching in Salt Lake City, Utah who helps clients get what they want using the Law of Attraction. She is co-author of "101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life, Vol. 3" and "Inspired Attraction," and speaks regularly on the topic of deliberate creation.

Free tips and strategies to use the Law of Attraction to make your wish list come true are yours by signing up for her fluff-free "Get What You Want" bi-monthly ezine at http://www.goodvibecoach.com

Law of Attraction in the Real World is the topic of her blog at http://www.loaplayground.blogspot.com