Monday, January 30

Effective Communication and Relationships



Communication is a two-way process, which involves talking,listening, and understanding. To communicate effectively, we need to be openand honest, to say clearly, what we mean, while respecting our partner’sfeelings and rights.

Communication occurs at more than one level. How our bodies‘speak’, or the so-called body language is also very important. It seems wetend to trust body language rather than words. Once we understand the body’smessage, we are able to interpret the way in which words are said. We listen towhether a person’s sounds angry or sad, happy or exited, and we look to seewhether their body is relaxed, tense, or defensive. If the person’s words andbody language contradict each other, we are unable to trust their words, andcommunication becomes much more difficult. Unless you and your partnerunderstand how each other communicate – both body language and words – you willbe unable to understand each other. Communication can get even more difficultif we are not sure of our exact feelings and say the first thing that comes tomind in an argument, rather than think it over.

Part of communicating is negotiating. This means giving ourpoint of view and listening to our partner’s point of view, coming up with allthe possible options, and then finding solutions that will satisfy both. Thiscan be stimulating, rewarding, and even fun. It involves thinking and listeningclosely to our partners.

Good communication can help you and your partner to becomecloser and build a stronger, more satisfying relationship. It is also anessential tool for sorting out problems in your relationship.


Love and relationships



Love is like friendship, but the emotions are far moreintense than those we feel for friends. Believing that your partner isextremely important to you, caring and feeling warmth, affection and desire forhim or her are all part of loving someone.

Love means taking risks. There is always a danger of beingrejected when we grow closer to another person and share our deepest feelings,making ourselves vulnerable. When we need to move forward in our relationships,it might be necessary to try new things or to do things differently. For mostof us, this can quite be scary. Although risks do not always work out, they arewell worth taking if our relationships are to grow and thrive.

We must encourage our partners to share their feelings andthoughts with us. Love means learning to accept the differences between eachother, and respecting each other’s ideas, feelings, and attitudes. There willbe times when couples will disagree – this is normal. You will not alwaysadmire and approve of what your partner does or say, and you may not alwaysunderstand him or her.

Love means to allow each other to grow as individuals. Youwill not always be able to or want to do everything together and should keepsome separate interests. Some couples seem to merge into one another, but atrisk of losing their individual identities.

Too many are too keen to give in to their partners, just tokeep their love! However, unhappiness results when one partner gives too muchand is always the one making sacrifices. It is essential to keep a balancebetween giving and receiving.

Our ability to love and be loved depends on our sense ofself-worth and self-esteem. We can only truly love someone else if we love,respect and accept ourselves. If we can strengthen ourselves, we are able tostrengthen our relationship with someone.

Sunday, January 29

Love and relationships



Love is like friendship, but the emotions are far moreintense than those we feel for friends. Believing that your partner isextremely important to you, caring and feeling warmth, affection and desire forhim or her are all part of loving someone.

Love means taking risks. There is always a danger of beingrejected when we grow closer to another person and share our deepest feelings,making ourselves vulnerable. When we need to move forward in our relationships,it might be necessary to try new things or to do things differently. For mostof us, this can quite be scary. Although risks do not always work out, they arewell worth taking if our relationships are to grow and thrive.

We must encourage our partners to share their feelings andthoughts with us. Love means learning to accept the differences between eachother, and respecting each other’s ideas, feelings, and attitudes. There willbe times when couples will disagree – this is normal. You will not alwaysadmire and approve of what your partner does or say, and you may not alwaysunderstand him or her.

Love means to allow each other to grow as individuals. You willnot always be able to or want to do everything together and should keep some separateinterests. Some couples seem to merge into one another, but at risk of losingtheir individual identities.

Too many are too keen to give in to their partners, just tokeep their love! However, unhappiness results when one partner gives too muchand is always the one making sacrifices. It is essential to keep a balancebetween giving and receiving.

Our ability to love and be loved depends on our sense ofself-worth and self-esteem. We can only truly love someone else if we love,respect and accept ourselves. If we can strengthen ourselves, we are able to strengthenour relationship with someone.

Friday, January 27

Intimacy and relationships



A basic expectation of a relationship is that therelationship must provide us with closeness or intimacy.
However, what does intimacy means? It means to know mypartner very well, be able to communicate on a deeper level, feeling safe andto share secrets. It also means that we can be open with the ones we lovewithout fearing of rejection. Trust is part of intimacy – we must trust eachother; even with our lives!

Unfortunately, the need for intimacy is also a source ofconflict within the relationship as men and women have different opinions andviews of what intimacy indeed is. We all want love and intimacy but we do notsee these two things in the same light.

 It is a fact that menand women are from ‘different planets’:

- Men view intimacy in a relationship in terms of power andbring this into the relationship. Money is power for them and therefore theymay show their love through loyalty and providing financially for theirpartners. To be wealthy, is a way of expressing their commitment and caring ina relationship. That is why they are not always able to communicate theirdeepest, intimate feelings to their partners.

- On the other hand, women, often need that personal touch – thoselittle intimate gestures of attention, love, and affection that make them feelspecial and close to their partners. Women are more inclined to demonstratetheir love by means of being warm and affectionate and by expressing theiremotions.

Due to these differences between men and women, inunderstanding intimacy and the different ways in showing it, we need to talk toeach other. If we do not, misunderstandings, which could lead todissatisfaction and anger, are likely to sour any relationship.

What do you expect from a relationship?



All of us have some pre-set expectations when we enter arelationship. It is just human to expect any relationship to work. It is fairto expect companionship from our partners; we expect them to be there for us,talk to us, and listen when we talk. We expect to have fun together andmaintain the friendship we have. We want our partners to accept us for who weare and for how we look. It is fair to expect our relationships to provide asafe haven where we do not feel judged or rejected. It is a basic human need toexperience closeness to someone, to have a sense of belonging to someone else.To be loved!

Unfortunately, both parties in a relationship come into arelationship with their own set of expectations and these expectations aremostly based on their social background and even past experiences ofrelationships. It is obvious that problems and even conflict may arise whenthese expectations clash.

It is therefore imperative to communicate and discuss ourexpectations with our partners and to sort out which are reasonable and which arebased on personal issues. Communication can help us to compromise in order tomove forward with our relationships.

If we are not able to talk about different expectations,resentment and tension are sure to build up which may eventual ruin a beautifulrelationship.

Thursday, January 26

How To Rekindle Your Relationship



Have your relationship with your partnerreach a dead end where everything became automated?

It often happens in any relationship - oneday you just realise you are spending less and less time with your partner andthat your romantic gestures have been reduced to a half-wave as you pass thecoffee in the morning. There is no need for worry, but it is indeed time torekindle the intimacy in your relationship.

First things first -  couples need quality time together and thatbegins with setting aside time for each other that isn’t about work, bills,household chores or the children.

Start with a date night. It can even be athome where the two of you have a romantic evening together without any of thedaily routine present. Do not worry about the dishes, the laundry, and the workthat you brought home from the office – those four or five hours are for thetwo of you alone. Turn off the phone; let your friends and family know thatthis is a 'don’t show up' night. If it is possible, break away from home forthe date night. Be adventurous – go to a motel and rent a room, although youwill not spend the night. Let your imagination run wild.

Remember love tokens – those little giftsof affection that you used to give each other? Do that again. If you both workall week, take turns giving the other one a morning to sleep in and breakfastin bed on the weekends. If you like to write love notes, leave them for eachother to find. The most important thing to rekindle romance in yourrelationship is to remember – you love this person and their smile is what youare working for. So, pick up a single carnation or a box of their favouritecandies or even just a movie that you will enjoy – be thoughtful, be creativeand most of all, remember to be in love.

Life is very short. Make the best of eachprecious moment. Tomorrow can be too late.

Tuesday, January 24

Tips for Healthier feet



In between pedicures you can encourage healthy feet, anklesand toes by following these six steps to healthier feet:

·        Switch heel heights during the day to give thefeet and calves a break. If you wear high heels during the day, slip into apair of pumps in the evening.
·        Invest in a corrugated foot roller to give thefeet a reflexology-style workout during the day. Simply move the feet along theroller to stimulate the nerve endings on the soles of the feet.
·        Use a rich moisture cream on your feet at nightand wake up to softer toes.
·        Always wear well-fitting shoes and have yourfeet professionally measured from time to time when choosing a new pair, incase of change.
·        Apply a daily dab of Cuticle Cream or almond oilto the toenails to keep cuticles soft and well-conditioned.
·        Always trim toenails straight across, never downat the sides, to prevent in-growing toenails. 

How to Have a Pedicure at Home



You will need:

·        Nail polish remover
·        Cotton wool pads
·        Footbath or washing-up bowl
·        Stiff nail brush
·        Soap
·        Small towel
·        Nail scissors
·        Emery board of nail file
·        Cuticle cream (follow link)
·        Rubber hoof stick
·        Cuticle clippers
·        Orange blossom massage cream (follow link)
·        Talcum powder

Aimto give your feet a pedicure at least once a month to keep calluses, corns, andbunions at bay.

Method

·        Begin by removing any nail polish from thetoenails with remover and cotton wool pads.
·        Half-fill the footbath or washing-up bowl withwarm water and soak the feet for at least 5 minutes to allow the skin to warmand soften
·        Gently scrub the feet and toes with a stiff nailbrushand soap.
·        Dry the feet and toes thoroughly and trim longnails by cutting straight across with a small pair of nail scissors.
·        Smooth any rough edges of the nails with anemery board or non-metal nail file.
·        Apply a small amount of Cuticle Cream to eachtoenail and massage into the cuticles.
·        Use a rubber hoof stick to gently encourage thecuticles away from the nail bed, but be careful not to jab or poke toovigorously as this can pierce the skin and lead to infections. Use a sharp pairof cuticle clippers to cut away any small pieces of dead cuticle, but take carenot to snip any living tissue.
·        Spend the next 10 minutes massaging the feet witha generous helping of Orange Blossom Cream - you will be rewarded for yourefforts afterwards when your feet feel as though they are walking on air.
·        Finely, dust in between the toes with talcumpowder (you can make your own by mixing equal quantities of arrowroot and cornflour, scented with small pieces of chopped orange and lemon peel.)

Monday, January 23

How to Have a Manicure at Home



You will need:

·        Nail polish remover
·        Cotton wool pads
·        Nail scissors
·        Emery board or nail file
·        Cuticle Cream (follow link)
·        Rubber hoof stick
·        Orange sticks
·        Orange blossom massage cream (follow link)

Regular manicures are one of the easiest beauty salontreatments to carry out at home and will make all the difference to thelong-term state of our hands and mails. Aim to give the hands a weeklymanicure.

Method

·        Wash hands and nails in warm, soapy water anddry thoroughly.
·        Remove any nail polish with remover on cottonwool pads.
·        Trim long nails with nail scissors and file intoa smooth oval shape, using an emery board or non-metal nail file. Avoid‘sawing’ backwards and forwards as this weakens the nail. The best way to file thenails is in one direction only.
·         Afterfiling, rinse the fingertips in warm water and pat dry.
·        Apply a small amount of Cuticle Cream aroundeach nail and massage into the cuticle and base of the nail. Leave tor a fewminutes for the cream to penetrate and soften the skin.
·        Next, take the rubber hoof stick and gently pushback the cuticle from around each nail. Never force the skin back and avoidcutting or poking the cuticle as this can pierce the skin and lead to infections.When you have been around each cuticle, take an orange stick and wipe aroundthe base of each nail to remove traces of cuticle cream.
·        Apply a generous dollop of Orange BlossomMassage Cream and work into the fingers, palms, and wrists.

Each hand contains twenty-eight small bones and a complexnetwork of muscles and tendons, so spend at least 10 minutes giving the hands agentle massage. This not only release tension and loosens up stiff joints butalso increases blood circulation and keeps the skin feeling supple and smooth.

Sunday, January 22

Recipe for Orange blossom Massage Cream



You will need:

·        5 ml (1 tsp.) lecithin capsules
·        25 ml (1 fl. oz.) rosewater
·        25 ml (1 fl. oz.) almond oil
·        50 ml (2 fl. oz.) olive or avocado oil
·        10 g (¼ oz.) beeswax pieces
·        20 drops neroli or petit grain essential oil

Pureneroli essential oil gives this cream its luxurious orange blossom scent, butless expensive alternatives include petit grain, bergamot or  ylang ylang oils. This moisturising mixturealso makes a good massage balm and skin salve.

Method

·        Put the lecithin granules of the contents of thecapsules to soak in the rosewater for several hours, preferably overnight. Putthe almond oil, olive or avocado oil, and beeswax pieces in a heatproof bowland place in a  saucepan half–filled withwater,
·        Gently heat until the beeswax has meltedcompletely. Add the lecithin and rosewater, and beat vigorously before removingfrom the heat. Add the essential oil of your choice to fragrance the cream.
·        Allow to cool slightly before pouring into ashallow tub or screw-top jar (scraping the cream from the sides of the mixingbowl before it sets).
 To use, massageliberally into rough, chapped skin on the hands, elbows, and feet.

Friday, January 20

Top Three Remedies for Hands and Feet



The top three remedies for hands and feet are easy to makeand are well worth including in your regular beauty routine. Not only do theymake the hands and feet look more attractive, but they also help prevent moreserious disorders from developing in the future.

1. Lavender BarrierCream

·        10 g (14 oz.) beeswax pieces
·        25 g (1 oz.) cocoa butter
·        600 m (4 tbsp.) almond oil
·        15 ml 1 (tbsp. )castor oil
·        15 drops lavender essential  oil

Method

This waterproof hand cream will protect the hands fromenvironmental abuse and is perfect to use before chores such as gardening andwashing-up. Keep a tub handy in the kitchen for regular use. Instead of usinglavender essential oil, the cream may also be scented with lemon or sandalwoodoils for more macho aroma.  

·        Put the beeswax pieces and cocoa butter in a heatproofbowl and place in a saucepan half-filled with water. Gently heat until thebeeswax and cocoa have melted together. Remove from the heat and stir in thealmond oil and castor oil.
·        Allow cooling and beat in the lavender. Pour themixture into tubs of shallow screw-top jars and rub into the hands whenever aprotective barrier cream is needed.

2. Cuticle Cream

·        10 g (¼ oz.) beeswax pieces
·        60 ml. (4 tbsp.) almond oil
·        5 drops lavender essential oil
·        10 drops tea tree essential oil

Method

This nourishing cream also contains essential oils to healminor skin irritations and the inclusion of the tea tree essential oil willhelp prevent common fungal nail infections.

·        Put the beeswax pieces and almond oil together ina heatproof bowl and place in a saucepan half-filled with water. Gently heatuntil the beeswax has completely melted into the oil. Stir thoroughly, removefrom the heat, and allow cooling slightly. Then stir in the essential oils.
·        Pour the mixture into a small screw-top jar anduse to massage daily around the nails to soften cuticles and prevent them fromsplitting and peeling.

3. Hot oil Smoother

·        50 ml.(2 fl. oz.) almond oil
·        20 ml. (4 tsp.) wheat germ oil
·        10 drops lavender essential oil
·        Pair of old cotton socks
·        Pair of cotton gloves

Method

This is an excellent overnight intensive treatment forre-moisturising hard skin on the hands and feet. The hot oil rapidly soaks intothe upper layers of skin and is sealed in with cotton socks and gloves. Thisencourages our natural body heat to boost penetration of the oil even further(cotton manicure gloves are available from major department stores and somechemists).

·        Warm the almond oil in a small saucepan. Add thewheat germ oil and lavender essential oil and remove from the heat.
·        Apply liberally to clean feet and hands,massaging well into the skin before covering with cotton socks and gloves.Leave overnight and in the morning the skin will feel fabulously soft andsmooth.



How to Take Care of Your Hands and Feet



Hands and feet are our hard-working slaves and deservepampering with a little extra care and attention. The skin that covers ourhands and feet is much thicker than elsewhere on the body. This provides themwith important protection during their demanding daily tasks, but can sometimesresult in a build-up of rough, chapped skin that looks unsightly and is oftenpainful. Our hands especially are always out on constant show and arecontinually exposed to the elements. Strong sunshine encourages brown ‘age’spots on the backs of the hands, cold weather leaves them dry and chapped,while washing in soapy water strips away their natural oils, leaving them roughand wrinkled.

Our feet come under a different kind of pressure as theycarry our weight around all day, often squeezed into tightly fitted boots andshoes. During the winter months, the skin on our feet may go for months withoutbeing allowed to breathe properly, as feet are cocooned in constant layers ofthick tights, woolly socks, and warm bedclothes. It is said that the expressionon your face is due to the comfort of your feet and it is certainly true thatcorns, chilblains and bunions cause a great deal of misery. Therefore, it is hardly surprising that pedicures havebecome one of the most popular beauty treatments - a small amount of time spentlooking after the feet can put a smile on the face all year round. Fingernailsand toenails also require regular care to keep them trim and attractive.

Giving yourself a weekly manicure and pedicure is a simplebeauty treatment that keeps nails tidy and prevents problems such as splitting,flaking and painful in-growing toenails. Follow this 7 point plan in betweenmanicures and pedicures:

·        Always wear a pair of gloves or use a barriercream when outside or doing chores such as gardening or the washing-up.
·        Avoid plunging the hands into too-hot orfreezing – cold water as this encourages dehydration and leads to skinchapping.
·        Always use a sunblock when out in sunny weatherto prevent the formation of brown ‘age’ spots on the backs of the hands.
·        Get into the habit of using a rich hand creamlast thing at night.
·        Include vegetable oils in your daily diet, suchas olive or sunflower oils for cooking, or food supplements such as cod liveroil or evening primrose oil to help strengthen weak, brittle nails.
·        Always trim hangnails to prevent them tearing orsplitting.
·        Avoid opening the mail, cans, jars, etc. withthe nails as this weakens the structure and encourages them to break off.

Thursday, January 19

Top Tips for a Successful Relationship



1. Ensure that you spend quality time together – make timefor at least 30 minutes a day to be together alone. Once a month, break out fora cosy, intimate evening together. Without quality time, your relationship willnot survive.

2. Money is the number one cause conflict in anyrelationship. For a relationship to be healthy, you must address your financesand work according to a a budget.

3. In any relationship, there will always be conflict andarguments – it is part of life. However, it is how you deal with these conflictor arguments that will make or break any relationship. Learn how to argue welland how to resolve conflict.

4. Healthy communication is necessary. Listen to each otherand talk things out. Never let something crop up – spit it out immediately.When he or she talks, show interest. Communication is not only there to addressthe negative things, but also to share the good and intimate things in life.

5. Show appreciation for each other. It is also the littlethings can make a big difference. Just a ‘thank you’ will do wonders. Givecompliments when compliments are due – do not take things for granted.

6. Mutual trust is important. Trust him when he goes out ona fishing trip with his friends. The same, let she go out and have tea with herfriends. Mistrust and suspicion are like cancer, devouring one from the inside.

7. Share equal responsibility for the household chores andchildren. One person alone cannot cope with all the household chores andresponsibilities of raising children. We must assist in alleviating the burden.

8. A good relationship thrives on intimacy. Make time for qualityintimacy. Seduce each other, be lovers, irrespective of how old therelationship is. Be naughty sometimes!

9. Be the shoulder for your partner to cry on. When he orshe had a dad day at the office, let they pack out, although you may not beable to solve the problem. Let they unwind otherwise all these things will justcrop up.

10. Hug each at least once a day and whisper those magicwords into each other’s ears ‘I love you’!

Tuesday, January 17

Safe Cold Remedies for Pregnant Women



Pregnancy is a wonderful and unique time in the life of anywoman. It is a very emotional time – from scary and worried to total ecstasyand joy. All in all, it is a life-changing period in any woman’s life.

But it is also a time of unaccountable questions - whetherthe mother-to-be and the child will be healthy and how to deal with anysickness or illness, especially viruses. One of the questions is whether themother is prone to the common cold or not? What to do when getting the cold? Duringthis time in a woman’s life be careful about taking over-the-counter-medicines asmany of cold medicines, for instance cough syrups and decongestants containalcohol which can be very bad for the foetus. It may also contain aspirin,which is also not good for the baby. For any pregnant woman a good nasal sprayis a gift from heaven when her nose is congested – but try to avoid using it.Usually it works by tightening the small blood vessels of the nasal passagesbut unfortunately it may also tighten the arteries leading to the uterus.

The good news is that there are many natural and safe cold remedies a pregnant woman can use before reaching for the medicine bottle:

Follow a diet that is rich in immune-enhancing foods. Fruits,vegetables, whole-grain breads and cereals; beans and legumes are the best.Yogurt and other fermented foods also contribute to a healthy immune system.Also ensure the intake of the so-called ‘good fats’ – essential fatty acids,for instance the omega-3 fatty acids are just as important for proper immune functioning.

The importance of plenty of sleep cannot be overemphasized.It also plays an integral part in proper immune system function. Get some deepsleep; at least six to eight hours a night.

Drink plenty of fluids - water, clear soups and herbaldrinks. This will combat dehydration and makes the mucous thin. Hot drinkscombine with sweating is also very beneficial to ease the symptoms of a cold:mix a pinch of cayenne pepper, the juice of one lemon, a minced clove of garlicand a gram of vitamin C in a cup of hot water and sip it slowly.

Add six to eight drops of cinnamon oil to a warm bath andafterwards rub the oil undiluted to the temples and chest. Or fill the bathwith hot water and add two handfuls of Epsom salts to the water. Soak in thewater as long as possible. Warning: be careful not to over-heat the bath wateras it may be harmful to the baby. For steam inhalation, mix a few drops ofcinnamon oil to a bowl of hot water, cover the head with a towel, bow over thebowl and inhale and exhale for a few minutes.

Some herbs and spices are known to relieve cold symptoms forinstance garlic, ginger, basil, etc. However, always seek medical advice beforeembarking on any home remedies containing herbs and spices to ensure the healthof the baby or mother is not jeopardized.

Vitamins and minerals are also good natural remedies fordealing with the nasty symptoms of a cold and to build up the immune system.But, once again seek medical advice because pregnant women should not takemegadoses of vitamins and minerals as it may be potentially harmful to an unbornchild.

Whatever natural or home-remedy is followed, always consultwith your health professional. Sometimes herbs can be riskier than medicationsprescribed or bought off the shelf. The reason is that herbs are ‘drugs’ andmany of them are not tested and labelled for use during pregnancy.

Remember, take thetime to laugh, relax, and enjoy social interactions because in spite of themiserable feeling, it is still the most wondrous time in any woman’s life!



Women and Their Mental Health



Even if we are eating well, exercising, getting enough rest,and avoiding substance abuse, we still need to consider our mental healthneeds. This is one aspect of healthy living that is often ignored moremisunderstood.

We can touch our bodies and see and feel when something iswrong with them. When we know how they work, we can even imagine what is goingon inside them. However, our emotions, thoughts and beliefs - the things thatshape our mental thoughts and beliefs – are more difficult to pin down. Inaddition, because some mentally ill people are unpredictable and dangerous, we areafraid of people are mentally ill. It seems safer to shut them away and toforget about them. The last thing we want to consider is that we too might beat risk of mental illness. However, mental health and mental illness are partof everyday life.

We need the love of our parents or a stable, availablecaregiver to grow into healthy human beings. Love teaches us to trust and totry new things so that we can acquire new skills for growth. When we are loved,we can also love in return and help others grow. We need our family, friends,and the community to give us support, to tell us that we are okay. Only when wehave support can we grow into happy, healthy, productive adults.

Mental health is not possible without physical health. You needto eat well, be active, and sleep well to enjoy good mental health. You alsoneed to feel loved and worthwhile, and in control of your life. On top of allthis, most women already have problems with confidence and self-esteem   because we are not valued as much as men are.Fortunately many of us are loved and supported by our parents, our  caregivers and our families. This gives us agood start and helps us deal with difficulties.


Monday, January 16

Old wives’ tale?



The old wives’ tale that chicken soup is good for yourhealth really works!

Not only is it high in protein and rich in vitamins andminerals, it ‘warms’ up the nose and mouth. This kills off viruses andincreases the flow of nasal mucus – the first line of defence in clearing germsfrom your system.

But, most importantly, chicken soup is also very good forthe heart. So, feed your hubby with lots of chicken soup! Back in 2010, I publisheda healthy chicken soup recipe – follow this link to access this recipe.

Sunday, January 15

What is a Beautiful Woman?



Whatis a beautiful woman? Every woman is beautiful!

Everywoman wants to look beautiful. She wants to the magic words “you arebeautiful”. However, the beauty of a woman is far from her looks or figure.Physical beauty is only one aspect. A beautiful charming personality is acomplete blend of many fine characteristics such as good manners, etiquette,behavior, smile, intelligence, sense of humor, social and family values etc., allthese characteristics make a woman look beautiful and attractive.

Abeautiful woman is like an elegant hand-knotted Persian carpet. Each silky,colorful thread of her character, nicely woven into her personality, gives awoman an everlasting beauty and attraction.
Looksare very important indeed but the characteristics of a person are much moreimportant. Besides taking care of your physical beauty, why also take care ofyour inner beauty. 

Saturday, January 14

The power of a positive body and mind



Perfect   health depends upon a balance of the trinityruling a body - physical, mental, emotional. You cannot run a healthy mind whenyou have a physical deficit. The mind governs, but the condition of the bodyalso affects the mind.

You must recognize that harmful thought patterns – fear,hatred, anxiety, over sensitivity - originate in brain-cell starvation andbodily fatigue. Positive thinking is utterly impossible in a mind physicallyunder par to a serious extent. If you think that food does not influence yourhusband’s frame of mind, try showing him that new dress before dinner! Now thatyou have learned your bitter lesson about food and disposition, you had bettershow him that next new hat after dinner.

Alternatively, take the husband, whom the doctor has puton a reducing diet. Feed him a low-calorie salad-and-fruit dinner, and a fewhours later he will throw caution to the wind in favour of a Dagwood sandwichdripping with calories. A clean steak, liver, or lamb chop or other proteinfoods will keep your dieting husband from raiding the icebox much more than anynagging on your part.

By making certain that you eat a diet to maintain the properchemical balance in your body, you restore your functional balance and checkthe effects of stress upon your system. Often, by relieving some of thephysical tensions caused by hidden hunger, you can soften the inner climate inwhich you must do your thinking. It is much easier to enlist your conscious ifit is not preoccupied with being hungry.

Stomachs constantly harassed with inferior, inadequate, andindigestible meals become touchy. So does a brain that is constantlyundernourished. The brain in a tired, undernourished, and ill-cared-for body ismost assuredly going to be the brain with the greatest amount of irritability.

An abused, undernourished, harassed body generally houses amind incapable of optimum thinking and reasoning power. As the central powerstation of the body, the brain must be kept in top physical condition throughnatural means so its mental activities can be controlled. Unhealthy thoughthabits have a pretty hard time dwelling in a contented body.

One of the reasons that man has advanced so much furtherthan animals is that there is very little thinking brain in animals. The basisfor their nervous control is undoubtedly autonomic or automatic. Animalsbreathe, digest food, perform muscular movements without thinking, and showbasic emotional responses - including rage. Like humans, the animal wants todestroy anything threatening his security. The thinking portion of your brainis your cerebrum. As in animals, the basic human emotion is fear. However,pragmatic man learns to overcome this with correct   diet and positive thinking.

Hate, anxiety, and guilt are the emotions causing physicalillness if the thinking brain is not allowed to keep the house in order.Positive thinking restores the criteria of normalcy out of neurotictendencies-freeing you of physical symptoms, letting you progress unhampered bymental conflict, and giving you a satisfactory working capacity.

The positive thinker is able to love someone besideshimself.  Do not confuse love with sex.Sex is love which loves to be loved, and is a subject which desires to possessthe from anything which would hurt itself. It becomes incapable ofunderstanding sacrifice; Pride and sex are psychologically inseparable.

Love can be shown in all relationships - man and wife,father and daughter, mother and son. It is self-surrender because of thenobility of the person loved. Love and humility are inseparable.

The most important factor in your personal health,happiness, and effectiveness depends on whether you can love and are loved morethan you hate. When you love, you give. But when you hate, you can only deprivesomeone of happiness. In addition, happiness is the only thing you can givewithout having.

We must learn to love. We must learn it repeatedly and overagain each day. In addition, we must teach it every day- in everything we do,in every contact with our fellow man .The destroying power of hate, which noone meant to teach us, comes of itself. It is true that if we say “I love you,”It may be received with doubt, for there are times when it is hard to believe.

However, say “I hate you,” and the one spoken to believes itinstantly finally. A thousand times afterward you can say ”I love you” to thatperson – and mean it every time- but it still does not change the fact thatonce you said ”I hate you, ”and meant that, too. Hate can leave a mark on thesurface that love had worn so smooth with its eternal caresses. Love must belearned, and learned repeatedly; there is no end to it. 

Because of it healingeffects on your mind. In addition, body, it must be learned and relearned. Hateneeds no instruction but waits only to be provoked - and, when it is provoked,rips you apart. Do you want that? Is hating worth the price you must pay?

I think not – or do you, really. Hatred expressed hurtsthose about you; hatred repressed creates nervousness and symptoms that cansimulate almost any physical disease.

Did you ever realize how much of your conversation – andyour thinking –is taken up with harrowing tales about your annoyances, yourrelatives’ annoyances and tragedies, and all the annoyances that go with livingwith living with an average husband or wife, or having in a  cleaning woman, or going to work, or doingyour shopping, or what not?

Many persons get themselves more and more neurotic byconstantly indulging in what is often called “post –mortems”; long detaileddescriptions, many times retold, of unpleasantness,  family rows, slights, and sorrows. How muchbetter it would be for all of us if we would always “talk happy, “and so far aspossible avoid unpleasant topics. What good does it do to keep constantly goingback over the stories of unhappiness?

Drain your mind of the worries, the resentments, irritations,guilt reactions, and annoyances that have collected during the day just asthoroughly as you pull the stopper in the sink.

Then you can refill it with refreshing thoughts of emotionalmaturity such as these: You are going to free yourself from fears, anxieties,and tensions.

You find greater satisfaction in giving than in receiving. Youwill contribute to the improvement of your home, your community, your nation, andyour world. You seek give-and-take relationships to form. You profit from yourmistakes and successes. You use your leisure time creatively.

Recognize hate for the destructive emotional force that itis. Love is the constructive psychological force of a positive mind. Loveresurrects people who have lost life while they live. It is the force thatgives new hope, joy, vitality, and invincibility. Those of you who truly want apowerful new lease on life will find it possible through love and a positivemind.

Friday, January 13

Stress – the hidden workplace danger



Although women in different jobs face different physical andhealth dangers, stress is a major problem for most working women. Stress atwork is defined as anything that causes too much strain or pressure on aperson, and it is increasingly being linked to various health problems. Medicalresearch has shown that stress can cause changes in blood pressure, heartbeat,stomach juices and other body functions. Perhaps even more serious are theemotional and psychological problems caused by stress. These include anxiety,depression, and lack of motivation and loss of enthusiasm.

Employers have come to accept that stress cause illness,absenteeism and reduced productivity. However, not enough is done to createless stressful work environments. Stress is still often seen as work-relatedproblem.

More can still be done by employers and workers to reduceworkplace stress. Here are some ideas to implement:

·        Change the thinking that stress is a personalweakness and that the individual alone needs to be treated. Start looking atthe worker in relation to the workplace and identify how this contributes tothe stress. Identify ways of changing the workplace to minimise stress.
·        Also, develop workplace policies, which preventdiscrimination on the grounds of race, sex, age, religion, sexual orientation,or disability.
·        Make sure that the job, tools, and equipment aresuited to the worker and her skills.
·        Give individuals and groups of workers mortindependence and a greater role in decision-making.
·        Ensure that health care services at work canhelp workers cope with stress.

Remember, stress is a common threat to everybody!

Thursday, January 12

How to create and sustain a romantic fire that will endure the test of time itself



 Love is just a simple, enjoyable, andromantic process that not only will your mate enjoy, but you will also.

Remember to focus on the words simple,enjoyable, and romantic. In a romantic relationship, the small things are theones that truly count. Keep it simple and sexy, otherwise known as KISS. Whatgood is spending hours looking for the right dress, matching shoes and purse,and getting the newest hairstyle, when a simple, sexy nightie will create thedesired effect so much better? A back massage definitely feels good, but gentlyrunning your fingertips along the back of his neck will send a message that isloud and clear.

Love is there to enjoy. After all, if heenjoys it, he will be back for more. The amount of time invested is not what isimportant, but rather the amount of enjoyment derived from the experience. Whybother spending fifteen minutes listening to his long tirade about his daywhile waiting for your turn to talk, when a simple manoeuvre of slowly liftingyour fork to your mouth, while looking straight at him with a glint in youreye, will get his attention and appreciation so much more quickly?

Romance is in the eye of the beholder.True, you would probably appreciate a single rose and a love note placedsecretly upon your pillow, but it can be guaranteed that he would prefer to seea pair of sporting event tickets strategically placed upon his. In realitythough, everyone wants to know that they are loved and appreciated, so by allmeans, place that little love note in his lunch bag or briefcase.

Whatever you do, add something daily tokeep the fire burning and you will be sure to stay warm at night!


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