The Power of Signs

There are moments in life when reason and intuition differ. Your head tells you one thing, very well supported by a solid list of reasons, and your heart points at the completely opposite direction, with no reasons at all. You feel lost, confused, and wandering what to do. Einstein had been studying and researching for several months, looking for a solution to his revolutionary relativity theory, without any success. The answer he wanted so badly came, however, during a conversation with a friend; far from the books and the equations. His mind was solving his problem, without him being fully aware of it; and once the answer was found it was sent to his consciousness. When you have a problem or can’t choose between different options, there is a very simple and useful method that can guarantee your success. It’s called Info-Sense (I.S.). The first stage is gathering information. Research on books, internet, newspapers, talk to people who know about the issue, and collect data from every source available. Then, just forget about your problem. Watch a film or, like Einstein, visit a friend. The best results will come when you relax. It may take a few minutes or several days, but you can be sure that the solution will come. If you can’t decide, for example, where to spend your holidays, make a list of your top favorites, and then research about each place (weather, landscape, entertainment, historical places, shopping, food, look at pictures, etc.). In the second stage imagine yourself in that place, walking through the streets, visiting the historical places, eating at a local restaurant, and doing everything else you’d like to do there. Make the image as vivid as possible; feel the smell of the flowers or the sea, the touch of the sand under your feet, the cool breeze from the mountains, the birds singing or the sound of the waterfalls. Don’t judge or think. Pay attention to your body and any emotions that arise. How do you feel? Are you happy, comfortable, annoyed, excited, tense, relaxed? The place that makes you feel great is the best choice for you. So, pack your bags and have fun! Call it heart, intuition, sixth sense or whatever you prefer. Although most people distrust it for its apparent lack of basis, it is in your subconscious where all information is absorbed and held; therefore, the best decisions are made; unlike consciousness, which has access to only a part of the information that surrounds you. Listen to yourself. “Everything you need to be happy is inside you.”

Let Your Dreams Come True

Everybody has a dream. Just thinking about it thrills you with excitement, your heart beats faster and you know happiness will be at least a bit closer if you make it real. Unfortunately, that’s when your mind lists hundreds of reasons why it’ll never come true. But what if I said that you can make it happen, and it’s completely up to you?At the beginning of the millennium, Kenzo launched a new perfume to celebrate the occasion. At the bottom of the flask there was a hole, with a rolled piece of paper inside. When you opened the small sheet of paper, you can see this powerful message written in several languages: “Let your dreams blossom. Tomorrow is beautiful.” That sentence made me remember a show I saw on TV when I was a child. After singing and dancing, DJ Bobo was asked to leave a message to the viewers. First, he spoke about his lifetime dream of becoming a singer, and how he believed in himself and his capacity to achieve his objective. “Let your dreams come true”, he said. It touched me so deeply, I ran to write it down on a paper napkin. I wanted to be a writer.The main obstacle that keeps you away from your dreams is the belief that you can’t make it. The simple fact of focusing on all the reasons against you is enough to sabotage your plans. Just think: how do you feel afterwards? You’ve probably lost any intentions of going further, absolutely certain of failure… The first step is to ask yourself what you need to fulfill your objectives. Maybe you need to learn a skill or polish an existing one; raise money, or talk to someone. Then, you focus on how you can do this (distance courses, talking to teachers, reading books, asking your friends to help, etc.). Make a plan, listing every step you’ll have to take, with full details (write a poem everyday, send them to contests, contact agents). After it’s done, start giving your best; work hard and put your heart and soul in it. Today is the best day to begin your path to success. Stop waiting! The sooner you start the sooner you’ll be living the life you deserve. H. G. Wells said “What people can do with their mind has no limits. There is no maximum age to begin. There is no obstacle that cannot be overcome with trust and tenacity.”

From Emotions to Wounds

Imagine an ordinary day. As soon as you wake up, an endless list of tasks takes control of your mind, which starts wandering whether you will be able to fulfill every task ?in the most perfect way. Yes, of course, because that's another daily pressure: doing things flawlessly. Between preparing the meals, taking the children to school, buying everything you need for the house, working and paying the bills, it is almost impossible to take care of yourself. The night arrives and you realize your head hurts, as well as your stomach and probably your neck and spine. That's stress. Stress is not just a very unpleasant condition; reinforced by a large number of unpleasant emotions (such as nauseas, headaches and so on), it is also very dangerous, as it steals your health and strength. An overwhelming 90 percent of the headaches and other muscular pains are caused by tension. Nowadays, it doesn't only attack adults, but also children. The continued exposure to stress can provoke ulcers and heart diseases. There are a few small changes you can make in your life that will help you avoid stress. Some require more time and dedication than others, but I recommend you not to be discouraged with this. Instead, choose only one of them today; the one you consider the easiest to put into practice. I am sure the results will please you. Make it a part of your routine for a week or two, and then choose another. Before you notice, you will become a happier person. 1. Listen to classical music. Hear some music while driving, working (as far as it is allowed) or doing anything at all. Let it be the soundtrack that relieves all tension and stress. Soon, your heartbeat will slow down, imitating that soothing rhythm. 2. Smell lavender. Wear this essence as a perfume; use it to refresh your car or your house. It stimulates your brain to release chemical substances that naturally make you feel calm. 3. Exercise. I know what you are thinking. This is not the first time you hear this advice, but there is something very important you must know. Physical exercise makes your muscles stronger, your bones thicker and increases your body's oxygenation. It also improves your immunological system, fills you with energy and wellbeing. But in order to truly benefit you it must be fun. It is proved that when it is done as an obligation and not enjoyed, it will, in fact, cause more stress. Try dancing, playing ping pong or taking a stroll in a beautiful place. Have fun with it!4. Breathe slowly and deeply. When you are anxious, nervous or worried, your breathing becomes short, fast and superficial, depriving your brain ?and your body in general- of the right amount of oxygen it needs to function efficiently. 5. Sleep between six to eight hours everyday. For some, it may seem as a waste of time, but the truth is that during your sleep your body cells regenerate and everything you have learned during the day is "saved" in your brain. This is useful for those who believe in staying overnight studying for a test or an exam: all the information will be erased (even if you rest during the day; it's not the same). Improving your life quality can bring amazing benefits, and every moment counts. When choosing fruits over sweets and vegetables over fried food, a good book over a horror movie, walking instead of driving, the stairs instead of using the elevator? you are choosing health over sickness.

Improve your Brain Power Today!

You are already familiar with the importance of doing physical exercise, and you also know there are many diseases you can prevent by simply dedicating a few minutes each day to working out your body.
But what about your brain? Just like every cell needs to be trained constantly, your brain cells aren’t the exception.
It’s a “use it or lose it” situation. Your brain needs stimulation to create new connections and strengthen the existing ones. Without this stimulation the connections become week, and your brain cells die.
If you find it hard to remember names and can’t tell where you put those important documents, have trouble learning new languages or still can’t understand how to use the latest gadget, you may seriously consider doing something about it right now.
There are several easy ways to keep your brain sharp and healthy, and they can all become a part of your daily life, enriching it and even making it more fun.
* Use your mouse, brush your teeth, comb your hair or write with the other hand.
* Have something different for breakfast. Try drinking yogurt instead of coffee, eating fruits instead of the usual toast and butter, or sweeten your drinks with honey instead of using sugar.
* Use all your senses. Pay attention to the sounds around you, the smells and the textures, not just the images. During a stroll allow yourself to perceive the touch of the sun and the breeze, the perfume of the flowers, the softness of the leaves?
* Do something new. Listen to a kind of music you never heard before, paint, go to an Italian restaurant, read some poetry, learn how to dance tango or play the flute. There is an exciting world full of adventures waiting for you!
* Create new associations. While driving to work, listen to classical music, or smell some violet potpourri.
* Invent new lyrics for your favorite songs, or sing them with a different rhythm. You can also do it as a game, with your friends.
* Find your way through the house with your eyes closed. Let your hands, nose and ears help you along your journey.
* When listening to music identify the instruments, or make your own music with unusual instruments (use cooking pans as drums or make a guitar with a box and some rubber bands).
* During the day you can look for familiar shapes on the clouds.
* At night, search for as many constellations as you possibly can (and why not draw and name some of your own?).
Use your imagination and invent more exercises. This kind of activities can also prevent Alzheimer and increase your creativity as well as your intelligence. It is never too late to begin taking care of yourself.