Memory

Memory exercises increase brain power because in your conscious mind you can only work with what you can remember. Intelligence without memory is like a builder without tools. What could he build?
The simplest memory exercise is to start telling yourself to remember. If you just learned a person's name, for example, tell yourself, "remember that". This signals the unconscious mind to rank this input higher in importance.Other good memory exercises involve telling yourself why you want to remember something, and how you will remember it. If you just learned a person's name, think about how that person will be important to you in the future, where you are likely to see them next, and anything you notice about them. Clearly seeing the importance of remembering will motivate the brain to retain the name, and the additional associations in the brain (where you expect to see the person next, for example) fix the name even more firmly in your memory.

--- web extract

What Is Motivation?

In essence, motivation is the internal impulse to take action. It is the feeling triggered within that compels you to do something. From brushing your teeth in the morning to following through on your lifelong goals and dreams, motivation is at the root of every action you take.Without motivation, the progress of the world would come to a grinding stop. Nothing could improve for every individual capable of working toward change would lack the motivation to move forward with their plans.On a more personal note, progress within your own life would be impossible without the motivation to do something about what you wanted. Your health, career, money, relationships...nothing would move forward without an internal drive.Why Master Motivation?However, you do make progress in these areas. You do take actions each day. The reason is motivation. But there's just one problem. The motivation that is making you take actions isn't being used to its potential. It's running on autopilot and therefore can't begin to offer the life-changing rewards and benefits locked within.By learning how to control your internal drive, you can launch every area of your life to levels never before imagined. When you know which steps to take - and which to avoid - you can literally tap into a power that compels you to do whatever it takes to create the life you've always wanted to live.All of this is possible by learning the secrets of motivation.

extracted from a web page

Think...!

A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having fought in Vietnam. He called his parents from San Francisco. "Mom and Dad, I'm coming home, but I've a favor to ask. I have a friend I'd like to bring home with me." "Sure," they replied, "we'd love to meet him." "There's something you should know the son continued, "he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mind and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us." "I'm sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live." "No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us."

"Son," said the father, "you don't know what you're asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can't let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He'll find a way to live on his own." At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him.

A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide. The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn't know, their son had only one arm and one leg. The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to love those who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don't like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away from people who aren't as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are. Thankfully, there's someone who won't treat us that way. Someone who loves us with an unconditional love that welcomes us into the forever family, regardless of how messed up we are.

Tonight, before you tuck yourself in for the night, say a little prayer that God will give you the strength you need to accept people as they are, and to help us all be more understanding of those who are different from us!!!

Building your own house

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business to live a more leisurely life with his wife and enjoy his extended family. He would miss the paycheck each week, but he wanted to retire. They could get by. The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go & asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor.

The carpenter said yes, but over time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career. When the carpenter finished his work, his employer came to inspect the house. Then he handed the front-door key to the carpenter and said, "This is your house... my gift to you."The carpenter was shocked! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.

So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then, with a shock, we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we would do it much differently.But, you cannot go back. You are the carpenter, and every day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Someone once said, "Life is a do-it-yourself project." Your attitude, and the choices you make today, help build the "house" you will live in tomorrow. Therefore, Build wisely

A true story

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door! He slammed on the brakes and drove the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown. The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car, shouting, "What was that all about and who are you?Just what the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money.Why did you do it?"The young boy was apologetic. "Please mister ... please, I'm sorry... I didn't know what else to do," he pleaded."I threw the brick because no one else would stop..."With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car."It's my brother," he said."He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up." Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out his fancy handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay. "Thank you and may God bless you," the grateful child told the stranger.Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the little boy push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home. It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message: Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention! .

Quotable quotes

A decision is made with the brain.

A commitment is made with the heart.

Therefore, a commitment is much deeper

and more binding than a decision. - Nido Qubein

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.

Live the life you have imagined.- Henry David Thoreau

Personality can open doors,

but only character can keep them open. - Elmer G. Letterman

Can you sleep when the wind blows?

Years ago, a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the Awful storms that raged across the Atlantic,Wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops.As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals. Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer. "Are you a good farm hand?" the farmer asked him. "Well, I can sleep when the wind blows," answered the little man.Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, Hired him. The little man worked well around the farm, busy from Dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man's work. Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore.Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushedNext door to the hired hand's sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, "Get up! A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!"The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, "No Sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows." Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. to his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins.the cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down.Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep while the wind blew.

When you're prepared, spiritually, mentally, and physically,You have nothing to fear. Can you sleep when the Wind blows through your life?The hired hand in the story was able to sleep because he had secured the farm against the storm.We secure ourselves against the storms of life by grounding ourselves in the Word of God.We don't need to understand, we just need to hold his hand to have peace in the middle of storms.

Can you sleep when the wind blows?

Years ago, a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the Awful storms that raged across the Atlantic,Wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops.As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals. Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer. "Are you a good farm hand?" the farmer asked him. "Well, I can sleep when the wind blows," answered the little man.Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, Hired him. The little man worked well around the farm, busy from Dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man's work. Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore.Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushedNext door to the hired hand's sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, "Get up! A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!"The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, "No Sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows." Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. to his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins.the cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down.Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep while the wind blew.

When you're prepared, spiritually, mentally, and physically,You have nothing to fear. Can you sleep when the Wind blows through your life?The hired hand in the story was able to sleep because he had secured the farm against the storm.We secure ourselves against the storms of life by grounding ourselves in the Word of God.We don't need to understand, we just need to hold his hand to have peace in the middle of storms.

The Shipwreck - the story

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements and to store his few possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger. "God, how could you do this to me!" he cried. Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

It is easy to get discouraged when things are going badly. But we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering. Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground--it just may be a smoke signal that summons The Grace of God.

Poem

When I Asked God for Strength
He Gave Me Difficult Situations to Face

When I Asked God for Brain & Brown
He Gave Me Puzzles in Life to Solve

When I Asked God for Happiness
He Showed Me Some Unhappy People

When I Asked God for Wealth
He Showed Me How to Work Hard

When I Asked God for Favors
He Showed Me Opportunities to Work Hard

When I Asked God for Peace
He Showed Me How to Help Others

God Gave Me Nothing I Wanted
He Gave Me Everything I Needed

Be Strong

Be Strong .......by Maltbie Davenport Babcock; 1858 - 1901

We are not here to play, to dream, to drift;

We have hard work to do, and loads to lift;

Shun not the struggle—face it;

'Its God's gift. Be strong!

Say not, "The days are evil. Who's to blame?"

And fold the hands and acquiesce—oh shame!

Stand up, speak out, and bravely, in God's name. Be strong!

It matters not how deep intrenched the wrong,

How hard the battle goes, the day how long;

Faint not—fight on! To-morrow comes the song.

Thought for the day

Whether you're a musician, a writer,
an athlete or a businessman;
There is no getting around it.

The only way -You are going to get anywhere in life,
is by working hard to achieve your dreams.
If you do, you'll win;
If you don't you won't.

Its story time

A psychology professor at the University of Miami knew his students expected a terrifyingly long final exam. To play with their minds a little (what do you expect from a psychology professor?) he only put ONE question on the final exam.He watched the reactions of the students as they all opened the exams and saw the one question. Initially they all looked relieved, but as the difficulty of the question began to sink in, those relieved faces sagged to confusion and consternation. All, that is, except for one student. He read the question, tapped his pencil into his palm a few times, then jotted something down on the test paper. He walked up to the professor, handed him the final, and walked out. The professor blinked in surprise, looked at what the student wrote, and smiled. The professor wrote "100%" on the top of that student's test.
The question: What is courage?
The student's answer: This is.

Swamiji's speech

In one of his lectures in California, Swami Vivekananda described about his condition during wandering days as follows:

"Many times I have been in the jaws of death, starving, footsore, and weary; for days and days I had no food, and often could walk no farther; I would sink down under a tree, and life would seem to be ebbing away. I could not speak, I could scarcely think, but at last the mind reverted to the idea:
"I have no fear nor death; never was I born, never did I die; I never hunger or thirst. I am It! I am It! The whole of nature cannot crush me; it is my servant.
Assert thy strength, thou Lord of lords and God of gods!
Regain thy lost empire!
Arise and walk and stop not!"
And I would rise up, reinvigorated; and here I am today, living! Thus, whenever darkness comes, assert the reality and everything adverse must vanish. For after all, it is but a dream. Mountain-high though the difficulties appear, terrible and gloomy though all things seem, they are but Maya. Fear not, and it is banished. Crush it, and it vanishes. Stamp upon it, and it dies."

Black and Gold Boxes - Author unknown

I have in my hands two boxes
Which God gave me to hold
He said, "Put all your sorrows in the black,
And all your joys in the gold."

I heeded his words, and in the two boxes
Both my joys and sorrows I store
But though the gold became heavier each day
The black was as light as before.

With curiosity, I opened the black
I wanted to find out why
And I saw, in the base of the box, a hole
Which my sorrows had fallen out by.

I showed the hole to God, and mused aloud,
"I wonder where my sorrows could be."
He smiled a gentle smile at me.
"My child, they're all here with me."

I asked, "God, why give me the boxes,
"Why the gold, and the black with the hole?"
"My child, the gold is for you to count your blessings,
the black is for you to let go."

Some Quotes

Life holds a specific purpose for you..;and the most important thing you CAN DO this... Find it first.....!!! -Will Edwards.

In the middle of every difficulty lies Oppourtunity....-Albert Einstein.

Dare to be Remarkable.-Jane Gentry.

Every mistake you make, Every failure, Every disappointment,To keep going on this journey of life is Sometimes the hardest thing...But remember, Every great person, Who has beaten adversity, Whether from within or without themselves, Has fallen and stumbled a thousand times. But they pick themselves up, Dust themselves down And carry on......-Dylon Jacobs.

You have to believe in yourself,that's the secret. Even when I was in the Orphanage, when I was roaming the street, trying to find enough to eat,even then I thought of myself as the Greatest actor in the world.-Charlie Chaplin.

Some More Quotes

Use your gifts to your best ability. Talent that's wasted has no value. Talent that's used will bring unexpected rewards.

Value the friends and family members who've supported and encouraged you, and be there for them as well.

Work hard every day to be the best person you can be, but never feel guilty if you fall short of your goals. Every sunrise offers a second chance.

Look deep inside the hearts of those around you and you'll see the goodness and beauty within.

Yield to commitment. If you stay on track and remain dedicated, you'll find success at the end of the road.

Zoom to a happy place when bad memories or sorrow rears its ugly head. Let nothing interfere with your goals. Instead, focus on your abilities, your dreams, and a brighter tomorrow.

Book Review

The Little Black Book of Positive Thoughts:Simple Concepts of Life's Jopurneys.

Jarvis Clark sets out to share some of the many learning experiences which were very helpful to him through life. He does it with candor and wit. Often, in our pre-packaged world where so many thing some as a "wrap," we are given a pap instead of the whole grain product. Clark's book is the Whole Grain without the soft sell of slick packaging. His straight forward approach to life is refreshing. Many of us, under the influence of mass media forget to take a look at the personal learning experiences some have to offer. I suggest you give Jaarvis Clarke his chance to share with you real human thoughts. Gene Reynolds, author of Let-Go, Let-God Awareness

--- extracts from a web page

Valuable Thoughts

Know that no matter how bad things seem, they'll always get better. The warmth of spring always follows the harshest winter.

Let love fill your heart instead of hate. When hate is in your heart, there's room for nothing else, but when love is in your heart, there's room for endless happiness.

Manage your time and your expenses wisely, and you'll suffer less stress and worry. Then you'll be able to focus on the important things in life.

Never ignore the poor, infirm, helpless, weak, or suffering. Offer your assistance when possible, and always your kindness and understanding.

Open your eyes and take in all the beauty around you. Even during the worst of times, there's still much to be thankful for.

Never forget to have fun along the way. Success means nothing without happiness.

Ask many questions, because you're here to learn.

Refuse to let worry and stress rule your life, and remember that things always have a way of working out in the end.

Share your talent, skills, knowledge, and time with others. Everything that you invest in others will return to you many times over.

Even when your dreams seem impossible to reach, try anyway. You'll be amazed by what you can accomplish.

Happiness Mantra

Accept others for who they are and for the choices they've made even if you have difficulty understanding their beliefs, motives, or actions.

Break away from everything that stands in the way of what you hope to accomplish with your life.

Create a family of friends whom you can share your hopes, dreams, sorrows, and happiness with.

Decide that you'll be successful and happy come what may, and good things will find you. The roadblocks are only minor obstacles along the way.

Explore and experiment. The world has much to offer, and you have much to give. And every time you try something new, you'll learn more about yourself.

Forgive and forget. Grudges only weigh you down and inspire unhappiness and grief. Soar above it, and remember that everyone makes mistakes.

Grow- Leave the childhood monsters behind. They can no longer hurt you or stand in your way.

Hope for the best and never forget that anything is possible as long as you remain dedicated to the task.

Ignore the negative voice inside your head. Focus instead on your goals and remember your accomplishments. Your past success is only a small inkling of what the future holds.

Journey to new worlds, new possibilities, by remaining open-minded. Try to learn something new every day, and you'll grow.