Remember to show love
Remember to show love |
- Remember to show love
- Early Morning Stress Reduction Inspiration - 9/18/2012
- Seven Procrastination-Busting Tips to Use Today
- Seven Procrastination-Busting Tips to Use Today
- Seven Procrastination-Busting Tips to Use Today
- Is it reasonable to believe in rebirth?
- Radha Soami Satsang Beas loses another believer
- US Kids Eat As Much Salt As Adults, Study Finds
- Sleep Is Important to Weight Loss, Research Suggests
- Self-Harm Linked to Earlier Natural Death
- Life comes to us as water falls on a landscape
- How to Define a Bulletproof Work-at-Home Mindset
| Posted: 18 Sep 2012 11:00 AM PDT In several places in the Pali canon, the Buddha praised loving families. For example:
And this:
A recent article in the Wall Street Journal emphasizes the importance of affection in relationships, and the advice comes, poignantly, from people who have undergone divorce, as related in psychologist Terri Orbuch's book, Finding Love Again: 6 Simple Steps to a New and Happy Relationship. In particular there are four components of affection that divorced people said were important:
The first of these, "showing love" includes "compliments, cuddling and kissing, hand-holding, saying 'I love you,' and emotional support." It's the last three that are perhaps least obvious. It's not hard to remember that a kiss or a hug communicates love, but helping someone feel good about the person they are is a very special and beautiful thing. And it's something we might be inclined to forget. One word of caution: when we see lists like this one of the first things we often do is to measure our significant other up against the criteria. This is not only unhelpful, it's potentially disastrous. We need to focus on ourselves first. How do we measure up? What do we need to do more of, in order to be a more affectionate partner? Read More @ Source
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| Early Morning Stress Reduction Inspiration - 9/18/2012 Posted: 18 Sep 2012 10:01 AM PDT  "When a tree has been transplanted, thought fierce winds it may blow, it will not topple if it has a firm stake to hold it up. But even a tree that has grown up in place may fall over if its roots are weak. Even a feeble person will not stumble if those supporting him are strong, but a person of considerable strength, when alone, may fall down on an uneven path." ~The Buddha       Read More @ Source 
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| Seven Procrastination-Busting Tips to Use Today Posted: 18 Sep 2012 10:00 AM PDT  It's human nature to avoid hard work if we can – and it's no surprise that many people find themselves chatting on social networks, or tackling "easy" work rather than getting on with important projects. If you struggle with procrastination, though, there's plenty you can do to make it easier to get on with the task at hand. Try at least one of these tips today: #1: Achieve Quick Wins at the Start of the Day One of the best ways to beat procrastination is by taking action – straight away. If you tend to start your day by staring at your inbox, or chatting to colleagues, look for a few quick (5 – 10 minute) tasks that you can complete, so you get a sense of instant achievement. These might be:
#2: Tell Yourself "I'll Just Open the Document…" It's very easy to feel daunted by big projects – especially if you've been putting them off for a while. This tip might seem a bit silly, but it really does work to overcome inertia. Let's say you've got a major report to work on, and just thinking about it gives you a sinking sensation in your stomach. Instead of telling yourself "I really must do a couple of hours on that today," tell yourself, "I'll just open the docum! ent." Opening a document is so very easy that there's no room for procrastination to creep in … yet once the document is open, you might well find that you can tell yourself "I'll just do five minutes on this section." Before you know it, those two hours will have sped by. #3: Write a To-Do List for the Day If you don't already use a to-do list, get into the habit of writing one at the start of each day. Your to-do list doesn't have to be complex – it could be a few tasks jotted down on a Post-it note. The act of writing a list helps you to focus, especially if your job involves lots of different tasks and responsibilities. It lets you prioritize different tasks (you might want to put "1" against the most important, "2" against the next, and so on). Your to-do list will also keep you on track during the day. Instead of finishing one task and wondering what to do next, you'll be able to move straight on. #4: Use Your Energy Peaks Wisely Are you at your best in the morning, or in the afternoon? You'll almost certainly have particular times of the day when you can focus well – and times when you struggle to get anything done. Once you've identified your energy peaks, you can use these times of day for your most important work – anything that requires a lot of concentration, or that you tend to put off doing. Use your energy slumps as a chance to catch up on less intense work, like answering emails. You might even want to adjust your working hours to take your energy peaks into account (if your boss will allow that). For instance, if you know you're at your best between 7.30am and 9.30am, you could try getting into the office earlier. #5: Make ! a Plan �! � then Make a Start It's very easy to procrastinate when you haven't quite pinned down what you're supposed to be doing. By writing a plan, you have a roadmap to take you step-by-step through a particular project. Your plan doesn't need to be complicated, but it should break things down enough that it's easy for you to get going, and so that you always know what the next step is. It's useful to make your plan on a computer rather than write it on paper: that way, you can easily move steps around, or add in extra ones. Once you've got a plan, make a start! Even if you can only tackle one step right now, it's worth doing it so you get a sense of achievement and progress. #6: Look Forward to Something Fun Later Some projects are intrinsically motivating: you enjoy doing them (once you get going, at least) and you get a real sense of satisfaction from completing them. Most of us, though, have to tackle at least some tasks that are a bit tedious. If you're facing a lot of boring work, try motivating yourself with the promise of a reward. You might decide to go out for lunch, or to watch a movie after work, or simply to treat yourself to your favorite coffee – whatever works for you. This can also be a good way to stay motivated in a group, if you're all working on a task or project together: you could decide on something that you all enjoy, and agree to do it once you've finished (or reached a certain point). #7: Finish in the Middle of a Task If you struggle to get going at the start of the day, try to complete your workday when you're in the middle of a task – not when you've just finished something. That way, it's easy to pick up where you left off the follo! wing morn! ing. If you're worried that you'll forget what you were supposed to do next, jot down a few notes before you leave for the day. This also works during the day – for instance, if you know you tend to procrastinate after a coffee break or after lunch, try leaving a task half-finished that you can pick back up. Once you're into "work mode" again, you'll find it easy to keep going. If you've successfully beaten procrastination (or if you're in the process of beating it!), do you have any tips to add? Let us know in the comments.
Do you have a bucket list? Here are 101 things to do before you die. Includes a tutorial on how you can create your bucket list too!          Read More @ Source 
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| Seven Procrastination-Busting Tips to Use Today Posted: 18 Sep 2012 09:02 AM PDT It's human nature to avoid hard work if we can – and it's no surprise that many people find themselves chatting on social networks, or tackling "easy" work rather than getting on with important projects. If you struggle with procrastination, though, there's plenty you can do to make it easier to get on with the task at hand. Try at least one of these tips today: #1: Achieve Quick Wins at the Start of the Day One of the best ways to beat procrastination is by taking action – straight away. If you tend to start your day by staring at your inbox, or chatting to colleagues, look for a few quick (5 – 10 minute) tasks that you can complete, so you get a sense of instant achievement. These might be:
#2: Tell Yourself "I'll Just Open the Document…" It's very easy to feel daunted by big projects – especially if you've been putting them off for a while. This tip might seem a bit silly, but it really does work to overcome inertia. Let's say you've got a major report to work on, and just thinking about it gives you a sinking sensation in your stomach. Instead of telling yourself "I really must do a couple of hours on that today," tell yourself, "I'll just open the docum! ent." Opening a document is so very easy that there's no room for procrastination to creep in … yet once the document is open, you might well find that you can tell yourself "I'll just do five minutes on this section." Before you know it, those two hours will have sped by. #3: Write a To-Do List for the Day If you don't already use a to-do list, get into the habit of writing one at the start of each day. Your to-do list doesn't have to be complex – it could be a few tasks jotted down on a Post-it note. The act of writing a list helps you to focus, especially if your job involves lots of different tasks and responsibilities. It lets you prioritize different tasks (you might want to put "1" against the most important, "2" against the next, and so on). Your to-do list will also keep you on track during the day. Instead of finishing one task and wondering what to do next, you'll be able to move straight on. #4: Use Your Energy Peaks Wisely Are you at your best in the morning, or in the afternoon? You'll almost certainly have particular times of the day when you can focus well – and times when you struggle to get anything done. Once you've identified your energy peaks, you can use these times of day for your most important work – anything that requires a lot of concentration, or that you tend to put off doing. Use your energy slumps as a chance to catch up on less intense work, like answering emails. You might even want to adjust your working hours to take your energy peaks into account (if your boss will allow that). For instance, if you know you're at your best between 7.30am and 9.30am, you could try getting into the office earlier. #5: Make ! a Plan �! � then Make a Start It's very easy to procrastinate when you haven't quite pinned down what you're supposed to be doing. By writing a plan, you have a roadmap to take you step-by-step through a particular project. Your plan doesn't need to be complicated, but it should break things down enough that it's easy for you to get going, and so that you always know what the next step is. It's useful to make your plan on a computer rather than write it on paper: that way, you can easily move steps around, or add in extra ones. Once you've got a plan, make a start! Even if you can only tackle one step right now, it's worth doing it so you get a sense of achievement and progress. #6: Look Forward to Something Fun Later Some projects are intrinsically motivating: you enjoy doing them (once you get going, at least) and you get a real sense of satisfaction from completing them. Most of us, though, have to tackle at least some tasks that are a bit tedious. If you're facing a lot of boring work, try motivating yourself with the promise of a reward. You might decide to go out for lunch, or to watch a movie after work, or simply to treat yourself to your favorite coffee – whatever works for you. This can also be a good way to stay motivated in a group, if you're all working on a task or project together: you could decide on something that you all enjoy, and agree to do it once you've finished (or reached a certain point). #7: Finish in the Middle of a Task If you struggle to get going at the start of the day, try to complete your workday when you're in the middle of a task – not when you've just finished something. That way, it's easy to pick up where you left off the follo! wing morn! ing. If you're worried that you'll forget what you were supposed to do next, jot down a few notes before you leave for the day. This also works during the day – for instance, if you know you tend to procrastinate after a coffee break or after lunch, try leaving a task half-finished that you can pick back up. Once you're into "work mode" again, you'll find it easy to keep going. If you've successfully beaten procrastination (or if you're in the process of beating it!), do you have any tips to add? Let us know in the comments.
Do you have a bucket list? Here are 101 things to do before you die. Includes a tutorial on how you can create your bucket list too! Read More @ Source 
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| Seven Procrastination-Busting Tips to Use Today Posted: 18 Sep 2012 09:00 AM PDT It's human nature to avoid hard work if we can – and it's no surprise that many people find themselves chatting on social networks, or tackling "easy" work rather than getting on with important projects. If you struggle with procrastination, though, there's plenty you can do to make it easier to get on with the task at hand. Try at least one of these tips today: #1: Achieve Quick Wins at the Start of the Day One of the best ways to beat procrastination is by taking action – straight away. If you tend to start your day by staring at your inbox, or chatting to colleagues, look for a few quick (5 – 10 minute) tasks that you can complete, so you get a sense of instant achievement. These might be:
#2: Tell Yourself "I'll Just Open the Document…" It's very easy to feel daunted by big projects – especially if you've been putting them off for a while. This tip might seem a bit silly, but it really does work to overcome inertia. Let's say you've got a major report to work on, and just thinking about it gives you a sinking sensation in your stomach. Instead of telling yourself "I really must do a couple of hours on that today," tell yourself, "I'll just open the docum! ent." Opening a document is so very easy that there's no room for procrastination to creep in … yet once the document is open, you might well find that you can tell yourself "I'll just do five minutes on this section." Before you know it, those two hours will have sped by. #3: Write a To-Do List for the Day If you don't already use a to-do list, get into the habit of writing one at the start of each day. Your to-do list doesn't have to be complex – it could be a few tasks jotted down on a Post-it note. The act of writing a list helps you to focus, especially if your job involves lots of different tasks and responsibilities. It lets you prioritize different tasks (you might want to put "1" against the most important, "2" against the next, and so on). Your to-do list will also keep you on track during the day. Instead of finishing one task and wondering what to do next, you'll be able to move straight on. #4: Use Your Energy Peaks Wisely Are you at your best in the morning, or in the afternoon? You'll almost certainly have particular times of the day when you can focus well – and times when you struggle to get anything done. Once you've identified your energy peaks, you can use these times of day for your most important work – anything that requires a lot of concentration, or that you tend to put off doing. Use your energy slumps as a chance to catch up on less intense work, like answering emails. You might even want to adjust your working hours to take your energy peaks into account (if your boss will allow that). For instance, if you know you're at your best between 7.30am and 9.30am, you could try getting into the office earlier. #5: Make ! a Plan �! � then Make a Start It's very easy to procrastinate when you haven't quite pinned down what you're supposed to be doing. By writing a plan, you have a roadmap to take you step-by-step through a particular project. Your plan doesn't need to be complicated, but it should break things down enough that it's easy for you to get going, and so that you always know what the next step is. It's useful to make your plan on a computer rather than write it on paper: that way, you can easily move steps around, or add in extra ones. Once you've got a plan, make a start! Even if you can only tackle one step right now, it's worth doing it so you get a sense of achievement and progress. #6: Look Forward to Something Fun Later Some projects are intrinsically motivating: you enjoy doing them (once you get going, at least) and you get a real sense of satisfaction from completing them. Most of us, though, have to tackle at least some tasks that are a bit tedious. If you're facing a lot of boring work, try motivating yourself with the promise of a reward. You might decide to go out for lunch, or to watch a movie after work, or simply to treat yourself to your favorite coffee – whatever works for you. This can also be a good way to stay motivated in a group, if you're all working on a task or project together: you could decide on something that you all enjoy, and agree to do it once you've finished (or reached a certain point). #7: Finish in the Middle of a Task If you struggle to get going at the start of the day, try to complete your workday when you're in the middle of a task – not when you've just finished something. That way, it's easy to pick up where you left off the follo! wing morn! ing. If you're worried that you'll forget what you were supposed to do next, jot down a few notes before you leave for the day. This also works during the day – for instance, if you know you tend to procrastinate after a coffee break or after lunch, try leaving a task half-finished that you can pick back up. Once you're into "work mode" again, you'll find it easy to keep going. If you've successfully beaten procrastination (or if you're in the process of beating it!), do you have any tips to add? Let us know in the comments.
Do you have a bucket list? Here are 101 things to do before you die. Includes a tutorial on how you can create your bucket list too! Read More @ Source 
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| Is it reasonable to believe in rebirth? Posted: 18 Sep 2012 06:00 AM PDT An inconvenient truth in Buddhism, the Buddha did not reject reincarnation/rebirth. Despite this, Western Buddhists want evidence for rebirth. In other words, they want an empirical case to be made. So what would be an empirical case? Believe it or not we have one such case. It is to be found in the work of the late psychiatrist Ian Stevenson of the University of Virginia who studied cases of children which strongly suggested reincarnation (one famous book of his is Children Who Remember Past Lives). While he has never claimed to have proven reincarnation beyond a shadow of a doubt, he does show that it is reasonable to believe in it. This is something I would guess that probably irritates rebirth deniers who count themselves to be the holy friars of scientism. Another irritation, is the book Death and Personal Survival: The Evidence for Life After Death by Robert Almeder that, incidentally, Buddhist rebirth deniers most likely know little or nothing about. Professor Almeder is well qualified to judge just what is credible in making an empirical case for reincarnation. He has laid out eight conditions any one of which strongly suggests reincarnation. One condition is the supposed reincarnate has to demonstrate a complicated skill such as a foreign language that could not have been acquired in this life. By no means are the eight conditions conclusive proof. By the same token, fulfilling some of the conditions, reincarnation is not improbable which means it is reasonable to believe in reincarnation from an empirical standpoint.
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| Radha Soami Satsang Beas loses another believer Posted: 17 Sep 2012 11:00 PM PDT l like hearing deconversion stories. Deconversion, as I've noted, is as natural as conversion. Here's a tale that came to me in an email message. Jesse was pleased to let me share it with others. Thanks, Jesse. I've added a few explanations of unfamiliar terms [in brackets]. Hi Brian, Since your blog is the go-to place for anti-Radha Soami Satsang Beas stuff I thought I'd share this with you, you fuckadilly pigfuck. (I'm kidding. That's an insulting and hilarious line directed at you from a hater who left a comment on your I Hate Church of the Churchless site.) Anyway, I'm not sure how to articulate this but I'll try. Earlier today a friend and I went to the local Radha Soami Satsang Beas (RSSB) meeting in Minnesota. I'd decided to donate two boxes of RSSB books which I had already read. I never thought anything about donating the books since I'd been collecting free books and magazines for years. Though I hadn't attended satsang [meeting of RSSB devotees] in a long time, I thought this practice was still kosher and encouraged since giving free shit to people -- ESPECIALLY free RSSB propaganda -- couldn't be wrong. Or could it? Needless to say I was mistaken. With arms full of boxes of books I approached the local RSSB chapter secretary and asked where I could put the books. She as well as another local satsangi [RSSB initiate] simultaneously replied "Donating books has become a big problem. A really big problem." I asked "Why? I've been getting free books for years." "Well, we have to ship them back to Fayetteville (or some other town?), and also since the books are already so cheap we can't just give them away." This sent me into severe aggravation for whatever reason. I said, "So the Guru needs more money?" I think they are so used to everyone agreeing with them about everything that my taunting actually shocked them. Both the secretary and the other guy started rattling off more excuses as to why giving away free books was not halal [permissible] and they advised that I "give them to Half Price Books (local used book store) but.." This was my favorite part. "Don't accept any money for them because it sort of goes against the vows you've taken." Interesting. RSSB vows as I remember: Meditation, clean moral life, no drugs or alcohol, no meat, do seva [volunteer work], give charity (which was code for giving to the Guru). Can someone explain how selling a book that is unclean for redistribution in a sacred RSSB hotel satsang is against the vows? I think you could imagine the faces and tones that were projecting from these people was all the more convincing of their complete brainwashing, but no words could describe it. As I was leaving I told them that I didn't believe in those vows. One of them sort of rolled his eyes in that "Let's not waste our energy on this non-believer" way that they do so well. I left and decided that, unless I'm going with a friend or something, there will be no more satsangs and maybe I'll take Baba Ji's [the Guru's] advice that has been passed around recently and I'll burn the books. It could be the great cleansing ritual that I've needed for a long time. I've been straddling the line for years and that pushed me over the edge. It's a strange feeling to admit that I was part of a weird cult and it's slightly scary to think of how I will fill the gaps that blind faith had been filling. Maybe the metaphor would read like I've grown out of my Guru will save me security blanket. Thanks for keeping the Church of the Churchless going for all these years. I've come back to it many times for inspiration and to open my eyes. I think you and some of your frequent contributers like Tara and more recently the articles by Waking Now have been a lifesaver. That may be literal. Somehow I suspect that this fear and guilt I've felt for so long is rooted in Radha Soami Satsang Beas. We'll see how I do without it. Take Care, Jesse I'm confident you'll do just fine, Jesse. Absolutely fine. Truth, meaning, well-being, happiness -- these don't reside within the confines of any organized religion, spiritual faith, or mystic practice. The dogmatic boundaries people put around reality aren't real. 
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| US Kids Eat As Much Salt As Adults, Study Finds Posted: 17 Sep 2012 10:00 PM PDT
The average U.S. child consumes as much salt as an adult, a new study finds. In the study, children ages 8 to 18 consumed about 3,400 milligrams of sodium per day between 2003 and 2008. That's about the same amount of sodium consumed by U.S. adults during that time period, the researchers say. Moreover, the higher the children's sodium intake, the greater their blood pressure was. Children who consumed the most sodium were about twice as likely to have high blood pressure, or borderline high blood pressure, compared with children who consumed the least amount of salt. Among overweight children and obese children, the increased risk of high blood pressure from a high sodium diet was even greater. According to U.S. dietary guidelines, children should consume no more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day. Reducing sodium intake can be difficult, the researchers said, adding that more than 75 percent of sodium in the diet comes from processed or restaurant food. Still, children and adults can control their sodium intake and weight by keeping an eye on portion sizes, checking sodium levels on nutrition labels and minimizing the amount of processed foods they eat, the researchers said. ['Low Sodium' or 'Lightly Salted'? Sodium Labels Explained (Infographic)] Interventions that reduce sodium intake, increase physical activity and help kids maintain a healthy weight may decrease the percentage of kids with high blood pressure, the researchers said. The researchers analyzed information from 6,235 children who answered questions about the food they ate over the last day. Thirty-seven percent of participants were overweight or obese, and 15 percent had high blood pressure or borderline high blood pressure. The average systolic blood pressure was 106.2 mm Hg among the children who consumed the least amount of sodium, and 108.8 mm Hg among those that consumed the most sodium. Overweight and obese children who consumed the most sodium were 3.5 times more likely to have high blood pressure or borderline high blood pressure, compared with those that consumed the least sodium. Obesity and sodium intake appeared to interact to increase high blood pressure risk. For every 1,000 mg increase in sodium intake, the risk of high blood pressure increased 74 percent among kids who were overweight or obese, but only 6 percent among normal weight children. Because of this interaction, "reducing sodium intake or weight reduction among children and adolescents in the United States may lead to a greater than expected reduction in [high blood pressure]," the researchers said. The researchers noted that children in the study reported their own dietary intake, which may not be entirely accurate. The study is published today (Sept. 17) in the journal Pediatrics. Pass it on: In children, high salt intake increases the risk of high blood pressure, especially for kids who are overweight or obese. Follow MyHealthNewsDaily on Twitter @MyHealth_MHND. We're also on Facebook & Google+.  Read More @ Source 
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| Sleep Is Important to Weight Loss, Research Suggests Posted: 17 Sep 2012 09:00 PM PDT
In common weight-loss advice, "get more sleep," should figure just as prominently as "eat less" and "move more," two researchers in Canada argue. There is strong evidence that lack of sleep is contributing to the obesity epidemic, they said, and factors that contribute to obesity that have been given less attention than diet and exercise may at least partly explain why weight-loss efforts fail, according to the researchers. "Among the behavioural factors that have been shown to impede weight loss, insufficient sleep is gaining attention and recognition," the researchers write in their editorial published today (Sept. 17) in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. The researchers pointed to a 2010 study in which participants were randomly assigned to sleep either 5.5 hours or 8.5 hours every night for 14 days. They all cut their daily calorie intake by 680 calories, and slept in a lab. Participants who slept for 5.5 hours lost 55 percent less body fat, and 60 percent more of their lean body mass than those who slept for longer. In other words, the sleep-deprived people held onto their fat tissue, and instead lost muscle. In another study, published in July, researchers looked at 245 women in a six-month weight loss program and found that those who slept more than seven hours a night, and those who reported better quality sleep, were 33 percent more likely to succeed in their weight-loss efforts. In a large analysis of the link, researchers looked at 36 studies, including 635,000 people around the world, and found that adults who didn't get enough sleep were 50 percent more likely to be obese, an children who didn't get enough sleep were 90 percent more likely to be obese, compared with those who got more sleep. People's success in weight-loss programs varies greatly, and including advice about sleep in weight-loss programs could improve success rates, the researchers said. While the exact way that losing sleep may contribute to obesity is not understood, studies have shown that lack of sleep affects the parts of the brain that control pleasure eating. It's also been shown that levels of the hormones leptin, ghrelin, cortisol and orexin — all of which are involved in appetite or eating — are affected by lack of sleep, the researchers said. Health care providers might be better able to help their overweight and obese patients by screening for sleep disorders, according to researchers Jean-Philippe Chaput, of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, and Angelo Tremblay, of Laval University in Quebec. Future research should look at ways that people could get more sleep — for example, by decreasing the amount of time they spend on other activities such as watching TV in the evening — and see whether getting more sleeps affects weight-loss efforts. "Successful weight management is complicated, and a good understanding of the root causes of weight gain and barriers to weight management is essential to success," the researchers said. While getting more sleep is not the solution for everyone who is struggling to lose weight, "an accumulating body of evidence suggests that sleeping habits should not be overlooked when prescribing a weight-reduction program to a patient with obesity." Pass it on: Getting more sleep may figure prominently in weight loss, new research suggests. FollowMyHealthNewsDaily on Twitter @MyHealth_MHND. We're also on Facebook & Google+. Read More @ Source 
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| Self-Harm Linked to Earlier Natural Death Posted: 17 Sep 2012 08:00 PM PDT
People who intentionally hurt themselves are known to be at an increased risk of committing suicide, but a new study finds they are also more likely to die young from natural causes. Researchers analyzed information from more than 30,000 people living in the United Kingdom who visited emergency departments for self-poisoning or self-injury between 2000 and 2007, and were followed for an average of six years afterward. Among these patients, the number of deaths was three times greater than would be expected based on death rates in the general population. Deaths rates from natural causes were between two and 7.5 times higher than those of the general population, depending on the particular cause of death. For instance, deaths from circulatory system diseases were 2.3 times higher, while deaths from digestive diseases were 7.5 times higher. The findings confirm earlier research showing that, in addition to problems with mental health, people who self-harm suffer from poorer physical health, the researchrs said. This reason for the increases in early death could be that patients with psychiatric problems are less likely to receive appropriate medical care for their physical health issues. "There is likely to be a focus on either mental health or on physical disorders, whichever is seen to predominate, and less of a focus on all healthcare needs in the individual patient," said study researcher Keith Hawton, director of the Centre for Suicide Research at Warneford Hospital in the United Kingdom. A doctor's focus may reflect his or her interests or specialty, Hawton said. About 6 percent of patients died during the study period, and the deaths occurred an average of 30 years sooner than expected. Health risks from alcohol and drug use also play a role in premature death in people who self-harm, the researchers said. Alcohol abuse is known to increase the risk of digestive system disorders. The new findings emphasize "the need for close attention to physical health disorders in the care of people who self-harm," the researchers write in the Sept. 18 issue of the journal The Lancet. "The relation between physical and mental health is complex, and neither should be assessed or treated in isolation." In addition, those with low income levels were more likely to die early from natural causes. Those who are disadvantaged would benefit from government and health care planners doing more to address inequalities in access to care and preventive medicine, Hawton said. It is not known whether patients' original visits to emergency departments were because of suicide attempts, but it is known that their self-harm was intentional, the researchers noted. Pass it on: In addition to poor mental health, those who self-harm have compromised physical health as well. Follow Rachael Rettner on Twitter @RachaelRettner, orMyHealthNewsDaily @MyHealth_MHND. We're also on Facebook & Google+. Read More @ Source 
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| Life comes to us as water falls on a landscape Posted: 17 Sep 2012 07:00 PM PDT There's a lot of beautiful writing, thoughts, and inspiration in Iain McGilchrist's scholarly yet engrossing book, "The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World." (I've blogged about the book here, here, here, and here.) I loved these passages. Deeply moving. If it resonates with you also, great. It sure did with me. The feeling we have of experience happening -- that even if we stop doing something and just sit and stare, time is still passing, our bodies are changing, our senses are picking up sights and sounds, smells, and tactile sensations, and so on -- is an expression of the fact that life comes to us. Whatever it is out there that exists apart from us comes into contact with us as the water falls on a particular landscape. The water falls and the landscape resists. One can see a river as restlessly searching out its path across the landscape, but in fact no activity is taking place in the sense that there is no will involved. One can see the landscape as blocking the path of the water so that it has to turn another way, but again the water just falls in the way that water has to, and the landscape resists its path, in the way it has to. The result of the amorphous water and the form of the landscape is a river. The river is not only passing across the landscape, but entering into it and changing it too, as the landscape has 'changed' and yet not changed the water. The landscape cannot make the river. It does not try to put a river together. It does not even say 'yes' to the river. It merely says 'no' to the water -- or does not say 'no' to the water, and, by its not saying 'no' to the water, wherever it is that it does so, it allows the river to come into being. The river does not exist before the encounter. Only water exists before the encounter, and the river actually comes into being in the process of encountering the landscape, with its power to say 'no' or not say 'no.' Similarly there is 'whatever it is that exists apart from ourselves,' but 'whatever it is that exists' only comes to be as what it is as it finds out in the encounter with ourselves what it is, and we only find out and make ourselves what we are in our encounter with 'whatever it is that exists.' ...In creation we are not actively putting together something we already know, but finding something which is coming into being through our knowing, at the same time that our knowing depends on it coming into being; as Pushkin says of Evgeny Onegin, in the middle of the work itself, that he did not know where it was going, it was an unfinished path, a journey, an exploration, of whatever it was that was coming into being between himself and the imaginative world. That's life. An unfinished path, a journey, an exploration. Continually coming into being. We all are rivers formed by rain falling on a mysteriously unknown landscape.
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| How to Define a Bulletproof Work-at-Home Mindset Posted: 17 Sep 2012 02:00 PM PDT
Then the reality struck. You didn't realize how much different the work-from-home experience would be and in fact, you don't think that you can handle it any longer: procrastination is now your "friend" and the environment full of distraction is not motivating you to do your work either. All these things make you disappointed and frustrated, sometimes even angry, because working from home was completely different than what you thought it would be. Collision between dreams and reality When you experience symptoms like this, it is a clear sign of misunderstanding about what working from home is really like: it's real work and without any effort, you are not going to get any results. The discipline is on a different level than in a regular job. Since there isn't anyone telling you what to do, nor is there anyone looking over your shoulder, you are accountable towards yourself. If the self-accountability is missing, then there is a high risk for procrastination. And, as we all know, procrastination is a "killer" when it comes to your home office career. There is also the planning aspect - or especially the lack of ! it. If you don't set any goals and you haven't defined a structure for your day (what you do and when you do it); then clearly, you are just wandering around and then you are not going to be very effective in what you are doing. Eventually you get frustrated because of the lack of progress and you keep doing a lot of unnecessary work which burns you out. Finally, working from home provides flexibility, but it also means that you should be flexible too. Especially if you are working from home with a family, then this aspect plays a big role in how successful you are or aren't. For instance, you may have to change your working plans because of the family matters, sometimes even in the middle of the day. How you handle these unexpected changes is really up-to-you, but one thing is certain: if you aren't flexible in these situations, the more stress it'll generate. Are you making things harder than what they need to be? You shouldn't jump ahead and start working from home without any additional research. This research refers to the fact that you should know in advance what it is like to work from home and whether or not you are suitable for working in an environment like this in the first place. Without any preparation, you are not giving your mind enough time to prepare for the change in your working conditions, thus the reality could be much rockier than what you had believed. Also, failing to understand what working from home is really like, that it is another job, is another point for confusion. Sure, there is the flexibility part that working like this provides, but still, working from home is like any other job and if you aren't slacking in a "regular" day job, so why are you slacking now? Without any work, there isn't going to be any cash flow in your business and if you fail to understand this, then you should apply for a "regular" job again. It's time to become bulletproof To fix the issues I have talked earlier, I'll introduce the Work-at-Home Bulletproof Mindset. This mindset consists of different areas, which address the different aspects of working from home:
Conclusion As you can now understand, working from home is much more than working in your pajamas an hour here or an hour there. It's real work and the same principles apply to it as to any other work. However, as soon you develop a bulletproof work at home mindset, you working days become easier and more productive. In fact, you enjoy your daily work even more this way. Over to you: Do you think that working from home requires a certain mindset? What things make your working from home successful?
Do you have a bucket list? Here are 101 things to do before you die. Includes a tutorial on how you can create your bucket list too!      Read More @ Source 
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