Do You Attract Angels or Devils?

January 15, 2010

For the most part, I have always been a positive person because I didn’t know enough to be pessimistic. My life had the usual ups and downs; but I also had blessings for which I am very grateful. Every day I thank God (because I have a strong belief in God) for my three children, my two grandchildren, the roof over my head, the food on my table, my car, clothes, furniture, and my many friends.

Do you believe that your thoughts are powerful? They are. Dr. Joe Vitale, author of The Attractor Factor and many more books to list here and Mike Dooley, author of Thoughts Become Things–Choose Them Wisely, say that whatever you think about, comes about. If you think negative thoughts, negative things come to you. That is why it is so important to think positively.

OK! I know exactly what you are thinking! You are saying to yourself, “What is this woman talking about? Does she truly believe that thinking positive thoughts will turn my life around?” Well I say to that, absolutely! Positive thoughts bring about positive actions.

Now I realize that if you grew up thinking that nothing good would happen to you and you still have those thoughts at 40 years old or however old or young you are, changing pessimistic thought patterns will not happen overnight. You will have to work at it. Also, you  have to want to change your thought patterns in order for change to happen in your life. If you don’t make a conscious effort to change your thought patterns, negative things will continue to happen.

Dr. Joe Vitale has a new book published that you can download free of charge, Attract Money Now. If you don’t have a computer, go to the library and use the computer to access the book in Adobe Acrobat. He provides a checklist for changing your thought patterns. If you have difficulties believing that your thoughts become your reality, just think about it. Has your life been happy? Have your pessimistic thoughts made life easier or better for you? Let me tell you about something that happened to me.

About 30 years ago, when I was in my late 20’s early 30’s, I wanted to be in the military. I filled out the application to get in the Navy and unfortunately was turned down. After that, I felt like life would never be the same; but, as the single mother with three children, I had to go on. I still wanted to be in the military. Why me! Why couldn’t things happen when I wanted them to? My thoughts about the military were put aside because I needed to care for my children; however, I kept dreaming about being an officer in the Army, Navy, or Air Force. How proud I would be!

In 1980, I became disabled and was on crutches for the next 10 years. Unable to practice nursing, the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation helped me practice my typing skills and got me a job at the local Air Force base in Tucson, Arizona. From 1982 to 1990, I went from a Clerk-Typist GS-03 to a Program Analyst, GS-09, making great money and earning a lot of respect. The eight years I spent as a disabled worker were the happiest of my life because my efforts were appreciated.

The turning point in this story happened as a result of the first Desert Storm. I wanted to be in the military to help my country; however, I was still on crutches and non-weight-bearing on my right leg. Being in the military was so important to me, I willed myself to be better. The odds were stacked high against my succeeding. My recruiter told me the incredible odds, but he was willing to help. Everything he asked for I produced. My physical went well, the package was ready to go. The nurse recruiter felt that because I had not practiced in eight years, I needed to go back to nursing and work in it for awhile and then they would consider me.

Not only did I work my 40 hour week, but I went to a company that provided nurses to hospitals on a day to day basis, passed their difficult exam, and started working 20 hours per week on the weekends at the hospitals in town. That was difficult because each of the 4 hospitals in town did things differently. Learning their shift routines was hard enough, but to learn their machines and medication cart procedures nearly drove me to quit. However, for three months I worked 60 hours, seven days a week with the thought that my dream would come true and I would be inducted into the military.

At the end of the third month, the Air Force sent down its verdict. They had voted in my favor. I was ecstatic! My dream had come true. I had jumped through every hoop tossed in my direction. If my dreams can come true, so can yours, but only if you believe.

Now, my dream is to begin a new career as a financial adviser. I’m going to pass the Series 65 licensing exam to be an Investment Adviser Representative (IAR) on January 29, 2010, the Life/Health Exam in February, and the Series 6 and 63 in March. I will be out of debt, financially independent by the end of this year; and, I have faith that my dreams will come true.

These things will happen in my life because I believe they will happen. Even though I know my dream will come true, I still find myself doubting all of my abilities, at times.  I know I’m doing what God wants me to do. Changing my thought patterns was not easy; however, as my dreams began coming true I realized that my positive thoughts created the  positive actions. Sometimes, I still find myself thinking and saying  things that I shouldn’t think and say; however, I’m catching the errors quicker and changing my self-think and -talk.

Changing your thoughts from pessimistic to optimistic requires action. If you want to change, you will and if you don’t you won’t. If you do want to change, you have to work on changing one thought and one action at a time. You can do it. I believe in every one of you. If you want to change your life for the better, you to believe. This is all it takes. The change won’t happen overnight, but if you start now, your thoughts and actions will be more positive and you will have successes instead of failures. Successes! You can have them whenever you want. Think about them, talk about them, and most of all experience them.

By Diane | Posted in An Attitude of Gratitude, Positive Attitude & Thoughts, Self Help Information, Setting and Attaining Goals, The Power of Positive Thinking | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Quit Smoking Article Continues

January 7, 2010

If you have decided to quit smoking for your health as one of your goals for 2010, I applaud you. I know how difficult it is because I used to smoke. Periodically throughout my life I smoked for a few months and then quit. Towards the end of 1993, I broke my neck. In order to keep from gaining too much weight in the halo jacket, I started smoking again. That time, I didn’t quit until January 2006. I had a difficult time quitting that time without the assistance of the nicotine patch, but I quit. There are times when I feel like having a cigarette, especially now that I have gained a few pounds during the holidays; however, this is the time that I need to be strong, so I don’t start smoking again.

Now it’s time to go back to Mayo Clinic and let the staff provide us with the tests and diagnosis, treatment and drugs, lifestyle and home remedies, coping and support, and last but not least prevention of nicotine dependence.

Tests and diagnosis

By Mayo Clinic staff

There are no physical tests to determine the exact degree to which you’re dependent on nicotine. Your doctor may assess the degree of your nicotine dependence by asking you questions or having you complete a questionnaire. The more cigarettes you smoke each day and the sooner you smoke after awakening, the more dependent you are. Knowing your degree of dependence can also help determine the correct dose of a nicotine replacement medication.

Treatments and drugs

If you’ve tried and failed to stop smoking on your own, you’re not alone. You’re more likely to succeed if you follow treatment that’s been shown to be successful in scientific studies. Medications and counseling both work. Combining these approaches is even more effective.

Although it may be tough to break your tobacco dependence, the benefits are well worth the effort. If you stop smoking before you’re 50, you can cut in half your risk of dying in the next 15 years, compared with those who continue smoking.

No matter what your age, your health will benefit if you stop smoking. Just 20 minutes after your last cigarette, your heart rate goes down. Twelve hours later, levels of carbon monoxide, a toxic gas, in your blood return to normal. Your lung function improves and your circulation starts to get better within three months. After a year, your risk of having a heart attack drops by half. And after five to 15 years, your stroke risk will be the same as that of a nonsmoker.

Medications
Several medications, including nicotine replacement therapy and non-nicotine medications, are effective in treating nicotine dependence. Any of these medications, combined with behavioral changes, can double your chances of quitting.

Using more than one medication — such as a nicotine patch along with a nicotine gum, lozenge, nasal spray or inhaler — may help you achieve better results than if you use a single medication.

If you’ve tried a medication on your own but haven’t been successful in quitting, talk to your health care provider. He or she can help you move in the right direction by adjusting the dose of your medication, recommending a different medication or using a combination of medications.

Most people who want to stop smoking can benefit from a medication. But if you’re pregnant or breast-feeding, you smoke fewer than 10 cigarettes a day or you’re under age 18, talk to your doctor before taking any over-the-counter nicotine replacement products.

Nicotine replacement therapy
Nicotine replacement therapy gives you nicotine without the other harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke. Many people mistakenly believe that nicotine causes cancer, but that’s not the case. Nicotine replacement medications, including patches, gums, lozenges, nasal sprays and inhalers, can help relieve difficult withdrawal symptoms and cravings. The best time to start using nicotine replacement is on the day you set to stop smoking.

Most nicotine replacement products are available over-the-counter:

  • Nicotine patch (NicoDerm CQ, Habitrol, others). The patch delivers nicotine through your skin and into your bloodstream. You wear a new patch each day. The treatment period usually lasts for eight weeks or longer. Don’t be in a hurry to stop using the patch, especially if you’ve stopped smoking or dramatically reduced your smoking. If you haven’t been able to stop smoking completely after the two weeks or so of treatment, ask your doctor for help in adjusting the dose of the patch or adding another medication.
  • Nicotine gum (Nicorette, Rite Aid). This is a gum-like resin that delivers nicotine to your blood through the lining of your mouth. It’s available in a 2-milligram (mg) dose for regular smokers and a 4-mg dose for heavy smokers. You can use up to 20 pieces a day as needed.  Nicotine gum is often recommended to curb cravings. To use the gum correctly, chew it a few times until you feel a mild tingling or peppery taste, then park the gum between your cheek and gumline for several minutes. This “chewing and parking” allows nicotine to be gradually absorbed in your bloodstream. Avoid drinking carbonated or acidic drinks, such as coffee or juice, before or while using nicotine gums or lozenges.
  • Nicotine lozenge (Commit). This is a tablet that dissolves in your mouth and, like nicotine gum, delivers nicotine through the lining of your mouth. The lozenges are available in 2- and 4-mg doses, for regular or heavier smokers. To use the lozenge, place it in your mouth between your gumline and cheek or under your tongue and allow it to dissolve. You’ll start with one lozenge every one to two hours and gradually increase the time between treatments. The most common side effects are headache, diarrhea, hiccups, heartburn and nausea.

These nicotine replacement products are available by prescription:

  • Nicotine nasal spray (Nicotrol NS). The nicotine in this product, sprayed directly into each nostril, is absorbed through your nasal membranes into your blood vessels. The nasal spray delivers nicotine a bit quicker than gum, lozenges or the patch but not as rapidly as smoking a cigarette. It’s usually prescribed for three-month periods for up to six months. Side effects may include nasal irritation.
  • Nicotine inhaler (Nicotrol Inhaler). This device is shaped something like a cigarette holder. You puff on it, and it delivers nicotine vapor in your mouth. You absorb the nicotine through the lining in your mouth, where it then enters your bloodstream. Common side effects are mouth or throat irritation and occasional coughing.

Non-nicotine medications
Medications that don’t contain nicotine include:

  • Antidepressants. The antidepressant drug bupropion (Zyban, Wellbutrin) increases levels of dopamine and norepinephrine, brain chemicals that are also boosted by nicotine. Bupropion may be prescribed along with a nicotine patch. Bupropion has the advantage of helping to minimize weight gain after you quit smoking. Side effects may include sleep disturbance and dry mouth. If you have a history of seizures or serious head trauma, such as a skull fracture, you shouldn’t take this drug. Another antidepressant that has been shown to help people stop smoking is nortriptyline (Pamelor).
  • Varenicline (Chantix). This medication acts on the brain’s nicotine receptors, decreasing withdrawal symptoms and reducing the feelings of pleasure you get from smoking. Potential side effects include nausea, headache, insomnia and strange dreams. Rarely, varenicline can cause serious psychiatric symptoms, such as depressed mood, agitation and suicidal thoughts.
  • Clonidine (Catapres). This drug is approved for use in treating high blood pressure, but may be used as a second line medication for tobacco dependence if other medications haven’t helped. Its usefulness is limited because of side effects such as drowsiness and sedation.
  • Medications in development. Several nicotine vaccines are under investigation in clinical trials.  The vaccines cause the immune system to develop antibodies to nicotine. These antibodies then bind to nicotine as it enters the bloodstream and prevent the nicotine from reaching the brain, effectively blocking the effects of nicotine. The nicotine vaccine holds promise for preventing relapse among smokers who quit.

Counseling, support groups and smoking cessation programs
Research shows that combining medications with behavioral counseling provides the best chance for long-term success in abstaining from tobacco. Medications help you cope with withdrawal symptoms, while behavioral treatments help you develop the skills you need to stay away from tobacco over the long run. The more time you spend with a counselor, the better your treatment results will be.

Several types of counseling and support can help with stopping smoking:

  • Telephone counseling. No matter where you live, you can take advantage of telephone counseling to help you give up tobacco. Two national help lines are the National Cancer Institute’s 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669) and the American Cancer Society’s Quitline at 800-ACS-2345 (800-227-2345).
  • Individual or group counseling program. Your doctor may recommend local support groups or a treatment program where counseling is provided by a tobacco treatment specialist. Counseling helps you learn techniques for quitting and provides support for the process. Many hospitals, health care plans, health care providers and employers offer treatment programs or have tobacco treatment specialists who are certified to provide treatment for tobacco dependence. Nicotine Anonymous groups provide support for people trying to quit.
  • Internet-based programs. Several Web sites offer support and strategies for people who are trying to stop smoking. Text messaging services, including personalized reminders about a quit smoking plan, also may prove helpful.

Remember, it’s common to “relapse.” But your goal is no smoking at all — even light or occasional smoking is dangerous. You can learn from past quitting experiences, and you’ll be stronger during your next attempt.

Lifestyle and home remedies

By Mayo Clinic staff

When you stop smoking, you’ll likely experience some unpleasant or stressful symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. Medications will markedly reduce the difficulty of withdrawal. Even so, it’s important to have a plan for managing withdrawal symptoms.

Withdrawal symptoms are usually the most intense during the first week after you stop smoking. They may continue for several weeks, with declining intensity. Although most nicotine withdrawal symptoms pass within a month, you may occasionally experience a strong urge to smoke months after stopping. Triggers or cues that were associated with your smoking can provoke these urges or cravings.

Here are some things you can do to manage withdrawal symptoms:

  • Exercise regularly. Regular physical activity has been found to help people stop smoking.  Exercise also helps offset potential weight gain following smoking cessation.
  • Wait out cravings. Cravings or urges usually last less than five minutes. Wash the dishes, go for a walk or have a healthy snack, such as carrots, an apple or sunflower seeds. Pursue a hobby that keeps your hands busy.
  • Identify rationalizations. If you find yourself thinking, “I’ll just smoke one to get through this tough time” or “Just one won’t hurt,” recognize it as a message that can derail your plan. Review your reasons for quitting, and replace that thought with something positive to support your stopping.
  • Talk to a support person if you’re feeling anxious or depressed or need encouragement to get through a difficult craving.
  • Avoid high-risk situations. Know your triggers, and stay away from people, places and situations that tempt you to smoke.
  • Be realistic about the energy and time it takes to stop smoking. Adjust your schedule to a lighter workload. Take time to do something fun or simply relax.
  • Eat regular meals, including plenty of fruits and vegetables, and drink more water.

Coping and support

How can you stay motivated to maintain abstinence from smoking? Start by thinking about the mixed feelings you may have about smoking. Then make a list of your reasons for quitting.

Stopping smoking is a positive change for many reasons. Think of short-term benefits, such as breathing easier, saving money and having better smelling clothes. Long-term benefits include a lower risk of disease, increased chances for a longer life and a healthier environment for your family. Use these reasons to build your motivation. Look at your list often, especially when you feel your motivation is lagging.

To stay smoke-free over the long haul, consider these tips:

  • Identify your major smoking triggers and challenges. This will help you solve problems and have a plan to deal with high-risk situations.
  • Seek support. Seek the social support you need to stay quit. Ask your family, friends and co-workers for support and encouragement. Let them know what you find most helpful.
  • Practice positive self-talk. Think of one or two phrases to use repeatedly for encouragement, such as “I am grateful to be smoke-free.”
  • Set smoke-free boundaries. If there’s another smoker in your household, set boundaries by making your home and car smoke-free.
  • Regularly review the benefits you’re getting from quitting. Look at your list again. Add up how much money you’ve saved. Ask your family members for their observations.
  • Avoid alcohol. Drinking is a high-risk situation. Avoid drinking situations until you are confident you can remain smoke-free.
  • Reward yourself. Buy a magazine, go to a park, meet a friend for lunch, take a class.

Prevention

By Mayo Clinic staff

The best way to prevent tobacco dependence is to not smoke in the first place. The best way to prevent your children from smoking is to not smoke yourself. If you’re a parent who smokes, the younger your children are when you quit, the less likely they are to become smokers themselves. Even if you don’t smoke, here are some things you might try as a parent:

  • Promote smoke-free environments. Support legislation to make all workplaces smoke-free. Encourage smoke-free public places, including restaurants or other places where your teen may work.
  • Support legislation to increase taxes on tobacco products. Higher prices discourage teens from starting to smoke. Higher prices on tobacco products, coupled with smoke-free workplace laws, are the most effective public health policies to reduce smoking in adults and prevent young people from ever starting.
  • Talk with your teenagers. Ask whether their friends smoke. Most teenagers smoke their first cigarette with a friend who already smokes.
  • Learn what your children think about smoking. Ask them to read this article so that you can discuss it together.
  • Help your children explore personal feelings. Use nonjudgmental questions and rehearse with them how they could handle tough situations regarding peer pressure and smoking.
  • Note the social repercussions. Remind your teenager that smoking gives you bad breath and makes your hair and clothes smell.
  • Work with your schools. Become active in community stop-smoking pro

The SurWay method stimulates a series of acupuncture points located primarily on the ear.  These points communicate the desired changes to the energy pathways in the body.  After these points are stimulated, you will see a reduced or completely eliminated physical connection to the addictive substances — as well as helping to bring the behavioral patterns or habits under your control.  SurWay uses low-level light technology, which is completely painless and non toxic!

Since 1986 this methodology has proven successful for over tens of thousands of people worldwide.
If you have tried to quit smoking, you know how hard it can be. Nicotine is one of the most addictive drugs out there, and usually people make many attempts before successfully quitting. Each time you try to quit smoking, you can learn what works for you and what situations are problematic.

Make this the time that you, or someone close to you, QUITS SMOKING
In 2004, 44.5 million adults (20.9 percent) in the United States were current smokers—23.4 percent of men and 18.5 percent of women. An estimated 70 percent of these smokers said they wanted to QUIT SMOKING!
An estimated 14.6 million (40.5 percent) adult everyday smokers in 2004 had stopped smoking for at least 1 day during the preceding 12 months because they were trying to quit.
Contact SurWay Today, To Make Every Day Smoke Free!

Using SurWay’s Auricular Therapy Will Help Make Your Dreams Of Quitting Smoking A Reality!

  • Non-Invasive
  • No Drugs
  • No Patches
  • No Gum
  • No Agonizing Cravings Minimizes or Eliminates Withdrawal Symptoms COMPLETELY
  • Results for the low cost of $299!  This includes 2 booster sessions*
    *can be extended at the discretion of the acupuncturist) within the first 60 days, as well as the  90 day and the 6 month follow up sessions!

Smoking 1 Pack Of Cigarettes A Day At The Price Of $4.00 A Pack Will Cost You $1456.00 A Year!

If you are interested in finding out more about this method, please call Doug at 414-281-7873.

  • grams.

I’m sure everyone has heard of patches and medications to stop smoking, but what about the side effects? If you are interested in a non-invasive method of laser acupuncture at SurWay of Milwaukee. You can find out more about this unique stop smoking method by going to www.surway1.com.

By Diane | Posted in Educational Opportunity, Quit Smoking For Your Life, Self Help Information, Setting and Attaining Goals, The Power of Education | Tagged , | Comment (1)

An Important Goal for 2010, Quit Smoking

January 6, 2010

I’m sure many of you who are reading my blog have created goals that you would like to accomplish for this new year. Everyone does it. Most goals identified by people as a result of a new year are generally forgotten by February 1st. One of the goals that I hope you have made for this year is to quit smoking. Many people out there have already quit for health reasons. I say to you, “I’m very proud of you!” If you would like to quit smoking, but need a nudge, let me give you some information about nicotine dependence. The first part of this series will come from my favorite Mayo Clinic website to educate you about the topic of nicotine and how easy it is to become dependent on this substance. The second part of the article will provide information about a unique way to quit smoking using laser acupuncture, which is available right here in the Milwaukee area at Surway – Laser Acupuncture, in Greenfield. Let’s start out with the definition of nicotine dependence, provided by the Mayo Clinic Staff.

Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

Nicotine dependence is an addiction to tobacco products caused by the drug nicotine. Smoke from cigarettes, cigars and pipes contains thousands of chemicals, including nicotine. Smokeless tobacco also contains nicotine. Nicotine dependence means you can’t stop using the substance, even though it’s causing you harm.

Nicotine produces physical and mood-altering effects in your brain that are temporarily pleasing. These effects spur your continued use of tobacco and lead to dependence. At the same time, quitting tobacco use causes withdrawal symptoms, including irritability and anxiety.

Nicotine dependence brings a host of health problems. While it’s the nicotine in tobacco that keeps you hooked, the toxic effects come mainly from other substances in tobacco. Smokers have significantly higher rates of heart disease, stroke and cancer. This is what nicotine dependence is. Let’s go on to the symptoms.

Symptoms

In some people, using any amount of tobacco can quickly lead to nicotine dependence. Symptoms that you may be addicted include:

  • You can’t stop smoking. You’ve made one or more serious, but unsuccessful, attempts to stop.
  • You experience withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop. Your attempts at stopping have caused physical and mood-related symptoms, such as strong cravings, anxiety, irritability, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, depressed mood, frustration or anger, increased hunger, insomnia, and constipation or diarrhea.
  • You keep smoking despite health problems. Even though you’ve developed problems with your lungs or your heart, you haven’t stopped or can’t stop.
  • You give up social or recreational activities in order to smoke. You may stop going to smoke-free restaurants or stop socializing with certain family members or friends because you can’t smoke in these situations.

When to see a doctor
If you’ve tried to stop smoking but haven’t succeeded, talk to your health care provider about medications to help you quit. Look for a stop-smoking counselor, who can help you create a treatment plan that works for you. Most people who try to stop on their own don’t succeed. You’re more likely to stop for good if you follow a treatment plan that addresses both the physical and the psychological aspects of tobacco dependence.

Causes

Nicotine is the chemical in tobacco that keeps you smoking. It can be as addictive as cocaine. It increases the release of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, which help regulate mood and behavior. One of these neurotransmitters is dopamine, which makes you feel good. Getting that dopamine boost is part of the addiction process.

Tobacco dependence involves psychological as well as physical factors. Behaviors and cues that you may associate with smoking include:

  • Certain times of the day, such as with morning coffee or during breaks at work
  • After a meal
  • Drinking alcohol
  • Certain places or friends
  • Talking on the phone
  • Stressful situations or when you’re feeling down
  • The smell of a cigarette
  • Driving your car

To overcome your dependence on tobacco, you need to deal with the behaviors and routines that you associate with smoking.

Risk factors

Anyone who smokes is at risk of becoming dependent on tobacco and nicotine. Most people begin smoking during childhood or adolescence.

The younger you begin smoking, the greater the chance that you’ll become a heavy smoker as an adult. Children with two parents who smoke are twice as likely to become smokers. Children with friends who smoke also are more likely to try cigarettes.

Other factors that influence nicotine dependence include:

  • Genetics. The genes you inherit play a role in some aspects of nicotine dependence. For example, the likelihood that you will start smoking and keep smoking may be partly inherited. Some people experiment with smoking and don’t experience pleasure, so they never become smokers. Other people develop dependence very quickly. Some “social smokers” can smoke just once in a while, and yet another group of smokers can stop smoking with no withdrawal symptoms. These differences can be explained by genetic factors that influence how receptors on the surface of your brain’s nerve cells respond to nicotine.
  • Depression, other mental illness and substance abuse. People who have depression, schizophrenia and other forms of mental illness are more likely to be smokers. Smoking may be a form of self-medication for these disorders. People who abuse alcohol and illicit drugs also are more likely to be smokers.

Complications

When you inhale tobacco smoke, you ingest numerous chemicals that reach most of your body’s vital organs. Tobacco smoke contains more than 60 known cancer-causing chemicals and more than 4,800 other harmful substances.

Smoking harms almost every organ of your body. More than half the people who keep smoking will die because of it. The negative health effects include:

  • Lung cancer and other lung diseases. Smoking causes nearly nine out 10 of lung cancer cases, as well as other lung diseases, such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Smoking also makes asthma worse.
  • Heart and circulatory system problems. Smoking increases your risk of dying of cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke. Smoking 15 cigarettes a day doubles your heart attack risk. Even smoking just one to four cigarettes daily increases your risk of heart disease. If you have cardiovascular illness or heart failure, smoking worsens your condition. However, stopping smoking reduces your risk of having a heart attack by 50 percent in the first year.
  • Other cancers. Smoking is a major cause of cancers of the esophagus, larynx, throat (pharynx) and mouth and also is related to cancer of the bladder, pancreas, kidney, cervix, stomach, and some leukemias.
  • Physical appearance. The chemicals in tobacco smoke can change the structure of your skin, causing premature aging and wrinkles. Smoking also yellows your teeth, fingers and fingernails.
  • Infertility and impotence. Smoking increases the risk of infertility in women and the chance of impotence in men.
  • Pregnancy and newborn complications. Mothers who smoke while pregnant face a higher risk of miscarriage, preterm delivery, decreased birth weight and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in their newborn. Low birth weight babies are more likely to die or have learning and physical problems.
  • Cold, flu and other illnesses. Smokers are more prone to respiratory infections, such as colds, flu and bronchitis, than are nonsmokers.
  • Diabetes. Smoking increases insulin resistance, which can set the stage for the development of type 2 diabetes. If you have diabetes, smoking can speed the progress of complications such as kidney disease.
  • Impaired senses. Smoking deadens your senses of taste and smell, so food isn’t as appetizing as it once was.
  • Risks to your family. Spouses and partners of smokers have a higher risk of lung cancer and heart disease, compared with people who don’t live with a smoker. If you smoke, your children will be more prone to sudden infant death syndrome, asthma, ear infections and colds.

This is tremendous information provided by the Mayo Clinic staff. Tomorrow’s article will encompass tests and diagnosis, treatment and drugs, lifestyle and home remedies, coping and support, and prevention as well as information about laser acupuncture to quit smoking. I hope you will come back tomorrow and read the rest of this important information. In the meantime, please comment on this article if the spirit moves you.

By Diane | Posted in Educational Opportunity, Quit Smoking For Your Life, Self Help Information, Setting and Attaining Goals, The Power of Education | Tagged , , , , | Comment (1)

Change Negative Thoughts to Positive Ones

January 2, 2010

Are you normally a positive person or a negative one? As you can probably guess, I’m a positive person for the most part. But after hanging around my mentor, Mike, I have to say that I’m more negative than I thought. That is probably the reason I’ve not done as well in my life as I would have liked. One of my problems is I’m happy if I don’t have to get out of my comfort zone. In other words, if I don’t have to call someone I don’t know on the phone I’m happy. How in the world am I going to succeed in my new business if I’m uncomfortable calling people on the phone?

The fact is I’m not going to have to make any cold calls. If I do, one of my goals for 2010 is to live out of my comfort zone. When I make a call, even if it is to someone I know, I will ask the person if I’m calling at a good time.  Another goal that will be achieved in 2010 is to have confidence in my abilities. I always tell my children that they can achieve whatever they set their mind to; therefore, I’m going to follow my own advice. My confidence is going to soar from now on.

Passing the Series 65 test to become an Investment Adviser Representative is the first goal of 2010 to achieve. After failing the first test, I know where I’m deficient. As a result, I’m focusing on the two areas that I scored in the lower 50’s percentile, however I should not forget the other two areas that I scored in the 75th percentile. A score of 63 is pretty close to 70, but I want to score higher than the new required passing score of 72. That means I will study the Investment Vehicles and Strategies from Testeachers much more carefully than I did the first time, and I will use another source to learn more information from a different point of view. My friends have offered to help me study and I’m going to take them up on their offers.

A very important part of changing your thought processes is to try to figure out why your thoughts are negative instead of positive. Do you feel like you never get a break in life? Is your view of yourself negative? When you look in the mirror, do you see the wrinkles on your face instead of your gorgeous brown eyes or beautiful clear skin? I won’t go any further because I think you get the picture. For one thing, you are not helping anyone by looking at yourself and seeing all your faults. You are hurting yourself. Don’t do it. You need to see your positive attributes because if you don’t see them, no one else will.

What I’m trying to say is, negative thoughts only hurt you. However, you can hurt your children if you teach them to think negatively. Children are very impressionable. If they hear their parent talk negatively about himself or herself, they can only think that there is something wrong with them. Don’t let this happen. If you need professional help to change the way you feel about yourself, please get it. Otherwise, work on changing your thoughts one at a time. Focus on your strengths and feel good about them. If there are things about your personality that you don’t like, work on changing one thing at a time. Reward yourself when you succeed. Changing a behavior or habit takes about three weeks according to the experts. You are never too old to change your behavior for the better.

If you change your thoughts from negative to positive, you will be a happier person and live longer. If your life is not what you want it to be, you are the only one that can change it. If your job makes you negative, think about a position that would make you feel happy and excited to go to work every day. Right now, while the economy is in a trough working toward expansion, think about a job that would make you happy. When the time is right, make the change. Making yourself miserable and coming home and making your family miserable is not the way to live. You might say, “If I change jobs now, I will lose my retirement.” If that is the reason you won’t change jobs, then you might think of transferring to a new division in your company. Perhaps the change in location, co-workers, and immediate supervisor will be enough to change your negative attitude to a positive one.

If you are unhappy or negative about anything in your life, think about what it would take for you to be happy and make the necessary changes. You are responsible for your life and whether you are happy or not. No one is to blame if you are not happy. You can blame your mother, father, brother, friends, boss, co-worker, etc., but in the long run, no one else is responsible for your happiness or sadness, except you.

We have just started a new year and decade, 2010. If you have the goal of changing your negative attitude, I give you as much encouragement as possible. This is a very important goal and in order to accomplish it, you must work on it every minute. You won’t fail if you continue to work on it. If you need help, get your family to help you. Everyone wants you to succeed because your happiness is important. When you start reaping the rewards from thinking positively, you will know you have succeeded. Changing your negative thoughts to positive ones can only help you to succeed personally as well as in business. Take care and keep up the good work.

By Diane | Posted in Breaking Bad Habits, Positive Attitude & Thoughts, Self Help Information, Setting and Attaining Goals, The Power of Positive Thinking | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Setting Daily Goals

December 20, 2009

Here it is Sunday! Yesterday was Saturday and the only thing I got done yesterday was an article for the blog and I read my email. Actually, I wanted to run the vacuum in the house, get my Christmas Cards addressed, put flannel sheets on the bed and wash the dirty ones, and go through the junk mail and either shred or block my name with the “Sharpie.” Last week, I was so busy studying for my test I didn’t get any of the work done when it was supposed to have gotten done.

Yesterday, I didn’t get any of the work done. All I could do was take a nap, read some Series 65 information online, and take care of Hank. This morning, I couldn’t wake up until 9:45 am. Usually, I set the alarm and get up at either 6:00 am or 7:00 am when I have so much to do, but I didn’t do it.

After breakfast, I really didn’t feel like doing the tasks that needed to be done, but I went to the closet and got the sheets anyway. Before breakfast, I took the TUMS 1000 (that means it has 1000 mg of Calcium) before eating anything. I didn’t realize the TUMS was going to upset my stomach like Calcium usually does. Well it does, which means I’m not going to take it until after breakfast. Sorry for the detour from the point. Anyway, that was the reason I didn’t really feel good.

Then, I got the red flannel sheets on the bed and put a microfiber blanket as well as a clean comforter. All the pillows that touch my skin have flannel on them. Hank’s towel is clean so we are all set for tonight. My first task has been crossed off the list.

The second task was vacuuming. I really didn’t feel like doing the vacuuming either. Mint! Mint can settle the stomach, and my Orbit gum is mint. I took two pieces of chewing gum and hoped the mint would work to settle my stomach. The vacuum was in the work closet, so I took it out along with the bare floor attachment and off I went to do that chore. My back, neck, and hips were very unhappy with me as I worked, so I had to stop a few times and rest until the pain went away. By 4:00 pm, the vacuuming was all finished. Hank was very happy because he was hungry.

The next task is getting the Christmas Cards written, addressed, and into the mail. That will take about an hour, maybe more to finish. I haven’t gotten that task done yet because I had to write this article for the blog. So, when I’m finished writing, the Christmas Cards are next in line. This task is going to be done today or I will know the reason why.

When I finish the Christmas Cards, I hope to get the mail taken care of. Don’t you hate it when you receive a lot of junk mail? I used to just throw it away in the trash; however, now with so much identity theft out there, I’ve been very careful not to let thieves find out my name, address, or personal information about my children and grandchildren. If I don’t get completely through the mail, I’ll finish it tomorrow; but, I will feel good about finishing the majority of the tasks I had set out to complete this weekend.

Identifying tasks and completing them on a daily basis is very important for all of us. That way, procrastination doesn’t get in the way as we work toward attaining our goals. Setting daily goals and accomplishing them can make us feel terrific, and give us the confidence to believe in ourselves. The goals have to be attainable and only set as many as you can accomplish in a day. Set new attainable goals each day.

Your goals can be personal or business related. Most people work outside of the home, so your goals will likely pertain to both work and personal. Set as many goals that you know you can complete in that day. If you set too many goals and don’t complete them too often, you will start losing confidence in your abilities, so don’t do it. Start with a few personal and a few work-type goals and accomplish all of them. If you get them all completed and you can take on more, do so, but be careful not to go hog wild.

Set your goals, accomplish them, and have confidence in your abilities. Those are the morals of today’s article. Don’t be afraid to add a comment or two if you have something to say about accomplishing goals. See you tomorrow!

By Diane | Posted in Feel Great!, Setting and Attaining Goals | Tagged , | Comment (1)