My first of the Sidney Sheldon, ‘Bloodline’, has it all; passion, suspense, Intrigue; powerful enough, to make me wake up from sleep to know who the killer was?
Sam Roffe had just died, and at his death his daughter Elizabeth Roffe, had to obey his behest and take command of his mighty global empire. She possessed beauty, intelligence, youth, and now riches too. Their help in office who knew the all and all was Rhys Williams.
Her mother had died at the time of her birth, and there was nothing interesting in her growing up days, though she visited places, and lived a luxrious life. She happen to read of her great grandfather Samuel.
Samuel and his broken-down horse, Lottie, had created a dynasty. Roffee and Sons, a little less than half a century after it had been founded, was a multi-national behemoth that circled the globe. It all happened because of Samuels’s passion for Terenia Roffe, and medicine. To him, medicine was for healing and not for profit!
They had five sons-Abraham, Joseph, Anton, Jan and Pitor. Samuel had send each of his five sons, to different places on their 21st birthday to grow his business.
Abraham had gone to America, married an American, had first grandchild, Woodrow, who sired a son named Sam.
Joseph had married a German girl, who bore him a son and a daughter. The son had a daughter Anna who married a German, Walther Gassner. (Twin children killed)
In France, Anton had married a French girl, by whom he had two sons. One son committed suicide. The other married and had a daughter, Helene. She married several times but had no children. (The bold and capable)
Jan, in London had married an English girl. Their only daughter had married a baronet named Nichols and had a son whom they christened Alec. (Vivians: Red ribbion)
In Rome, Pitor had married an Italian girl. They had a son and daughter. When the son, in his turn, married, his wife gave him a daughter Simonetta, who fell in love with and married a young architect, Ivo Palazzi. (Wife, and another lady)
Someone, somewhere was determined that she must die, ....This become evident, after the death of Kate Erling, their secretary, in The special express lift.
Max Hornung, help them solve the puzzle. He had a single-track mind, and it was a very narrow-gauge track at that. All he needed was one loose thread, one tiny piece that did not fit into the rest of the fabric, and once he had that he would begin to unravel it, until somebody's brilliant, foolproof scheme fell apart at the seams. He had a photographic memory, and was very economical too.
There were so many troubles which Roffee and Sons, had to face as the days go by, that they needed to change the presided, and therefore she decided to marry Rhys Williams.
Though Samuel had believed; that one should ‘Never let a friendly fox into your hen-house. One day he’s going to get hungry.’ It happened that, over a period of time, someone from your own house would be hungrier than a fox!!
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Assessment!
At times life is so simple and beautiful, at other it is such a complex process. Life is a good teacher which alwayz teaches us better.
I often wonder whether the time spent in making something is more valuable than the results it produces. I often wonder if people have always enjoyed the process more than the end result and after? Isn’t end result indeed a mixed blessing? After, is the immense fear and anxiety of many things including, judgement. No one likes that. Whether it be in case of our work (job) or anything else. But that is what motivates us to the profession. I often wish if we could spend all our time on work and not have to face the wrath and unpredictability of result, what a wonderful life it would be.
There is such great joy in work, but also there is equally, such a great desire of distancing oneself from it when it is to be assessed. Assessment brings doubt and uncertainty. Would it not be wonderful if we were never to be assessed, and still share the benefit of its import. Ahhh … life asks and tempts one into taking always the easy way out. The brave keep going regardless, the weak succumb and sit by the shade of the tree, tired and prone to giving up! Am I getting tired? It is said that the best is to compete with self and not others, but then why comparisons? Indeed talents differ; all is well and wisely put. OK, first assessment, then why again counter assessments, and criticisms? Once done should be done!
Life goes on...you feel that happiest moment is your graduation, then getting a job, then it is your marriage, then the joy of having your child...when you feel, that tell then you had feeling, now it is that you have started facing reality. Then it is when you play with your grandchildren...Life goes on...until death, with assessments at everystage!!
Why be angry and lose the temper? How much of Self-control, control of the surroundings? Is it posible to be tolerant and fight for justice, both hand in hand? What is Just? Again an assessment!
For Hitler, it was just (right) to kill the Jews. The fall of Russia, Capture of Saddam Hussain and the fight in Iraq, The unrest of Libia and Gaddafi, Corruptions in the Politics, Politicians eating money?, Fight for different house/family/state/country. Rich and the powerful are they right to do anything? Spoil the love one has for sports, which needs to be played by way of sportsmanship, but which too is fixed these days? To add to the misunderstandings, riots, and nuclear disasters, there are natural calamities? Are they God's plan or ways to keep things intact or his wrath?
Why do each feel that they are right and the other is wrong. And then set out to garnish their own traits and tarnish that of others, when there is good and bad in everything?
Wonder if everybody is not entangled in the staccato painted on the broken walls?
Joy and woe are woven fine....as life goes by... You too your living, I too my death. Who alone is going through the right way is unknown to all except God! I pray: God give me the wisdom, to understand and do what is right; Keep my Control and set things right!
Love & Respect All Good! (Again an assessment! What is good?)
I often wonder whether the time spent in making something is more valuable than the results it produces. I often wonder if people have always enjoyed the process more than the end result and after? Isn’t end result indeed a mixed blessing? After, is the immense fear and anxiety of many things including, judgement. No one likes that. Whether it be in case of our work (job) or anything else. But that is what motivates us to the profession. I often wish if we could spend all our time on work and not have to face the wrath and unpredictability of result, what a wonderful life it would be.
There is such great joy in work, but also there is equally, such a great desire of distancing oneself from it when it is to be assessed. Assessment brings doubt and uncertainty. Would it not be wonderful if we were never to be assessed, and still share the benefit of its import. Ahhh … life asks and tempts one into taking always the easy way out. The brave keep going regardless, the weak succumb and sit by the shade of the tree, tired and prone to giving up! Am I getting tired? It is said that the best is to compete with self and not others, but then why comparisons? Indeed talents differ; all is well and wisely put. OK, first assessment, then why again counter assessments, and criticisms? Once done should be done!
Life goes on...you feel that happiest moment is your graduation, then getting a job, then it is your marriage, then the joy of having your child...when you feel, that tell then you had feeling, now it is that you have started facing reality. Then it is when you play with your grandchildren...Life goes on...until death, with assessments at everystage!!
Why be angry and lose the temper? How much of Self-control, control of the surroundings? Is it posible to be tolerant and fight for justice, both hand in hand? What is Just? Again an assessment!
For Hitler, it was just (right) to kill the Jews. The fall of Russia, Capture of Saddam Hussain and the fight in Iraq, The unrest of Libia and Gaddafi, Corruptions in the Politics, Politicians eating money?, Fight for different house/family/state/country. Rich and the powerful are they right to do anything? Spoil the love one has for sports, which needs to be played by way of sportsmanship, but which too is fixed these days? To add to the misunderstandings, riots, and nuclear disasters, there are natural calamities? Are they God's plan or ways to keep things intact or his wrath?
Why do each feel that they are right and the other is wrong. And then set out to garnish their own traits and tarnish that of others, when there is good and bad in everything?
Wonder if everybody is not entangled in the staccato painted on the broken walls?
Joy and woe are woven fine....as life goes by... You too your living, I too my death. Who alone is going through the right way is unknown to all except God! I pray: God give me the wisdom, to understand and do what is right; Keep my Control and set things right!
Love & Respect All Good! (Again an assessment! What is good?)
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Change....Who Moved my Cheese - Dr. Spencer Johnson
When things change in our life, often we have resistance to the change. But if you understand the structure of the Universe, life, and creation, then you will understand that life is change, and nothing ever stands still. Everything is energy, and energy is in continual motion and change. If energy stood still you would be gone, and there would be no life.
Change is always happening for the good of you and for everyone. It is the evolution of life.
Those who survive are not the intelligent or educated but those not resistent to change...I wonder if, the Politicians are the only ones who understand it the best and apply it!!
Glad that, I caught hold of two books as these thoughts were crossing my mind:
1. The Future Shock; which I had read before; but have started reading again.
2. Who Moved My Cheese by Dr. Spencer Johnson:Thanks to the lovely Birthday present from Suji.
Written for all ages, by Dr. Spencer Johnson, Who moved my cheese? Is a simple parable that reveals profound truths. It is the story of four characters who live in a maze and look for cheese to nourish them and make them happy.
Cheese being a metaphor for what you want to have in life - good job, loving relationship, money or a possession, health or spiritual peace of mind.
Maze is where you look for what you want - the organisation you work in, family or community you live in.
We need to deal with change, so that we suffer less stress and enjoy more success in work and life. It can be done by:
~ Anticipating change.
~ Adapting to change quickly.
~ Enjoying change.
~ Being ready to change quickly, again and again.
As 'The Secret' Message always ends: May the joy be with you.
Change is always happening for the good of you and for everyone. It is the evolution of life.
Those who survive are not the intelligent or educated but those not resistent to change...I wonder if, the Politicians are the only ones who understand it the best and apply it!!
Glad that, I caught hold of two books as these thoughts were crossing my mind:
1. The Future Shock; which I had read before; but have started reading again.
2. Who Moved My Cheese by Dr. Spencer Johnson:Thanks to the lovely Birthday present from Suji.
Written for all ages, by Dr. Spencer Johnson, Who moved my cheese? Is a simple parable that reveals profound truths. It is the story of four characters who live in a maze and look for cheese to nourish them and make them happy.
Cheese being a metaphor for what you want to have in life - good job, loving relationship, money or a possession, health or spiritual peace of mind.
Maze is where you look for what you want - the organisation you work in, family or community you live in.
We need to deal with change, so that we suffer less stress and enjoy more success in work and life. It can be done by:
~ Anticipating change.
~ Adapting to change quickly.
~ Enjoying change.
~ Being ready to change quickly, again and again.
As 'The Secret' Message always ends: May the joy be with you.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Books to read...
Books I am looking forward to read; so dears, you know what to gift me.
Dan Brown books are spine chilling. Are you into thrillers? Am NOT at all into it. But would want to read Da Vinci code. Havent read any of other books by Dan Brown.
Twilight Series are good read. Haven’t read it but have seen the movie series. I am not an avid lover of Twilight series as far as the story and its saga is concerned. But the movie takes you to a different world. The movie has a blue colour, whole through it. A different world – I must say. That’s what I like about it. And yea, the lead character – Bella & the actress who played the character – Kristenn Stewart! She’s soooo pretty J
Btw, don't know what made me to finally fall into this genre??!!
__
Dan Brown
Novels
• Digital Fortress,
• Angels & Demons,
• Deception Point,
• The Da Vinci Code,
• The Lost Symbol,
Stephenie Meyer novels: Twilight series.
Bernard Cornwell's books Sharp series.
Danielle Steels books: So many ha....
------
As recommended by Ian:
Millennium Trilogy by the Swedish author Stieg Larsson.
If you enjoy Scandinavian crime novels, you may also the Harry Hole detective series by the Norwegian author Jo Nesbo.
Need to read and enjoy the following books (shown in chronological order):
Redbreast
Nemesis
The Devil’s Star
The Redeemer
The Snowman
The Leopard
----
And yes 1Q84 (Guess name is right) in two or three volumes by Haruki Now? These are very much talked about. But I am yet to read them too. It is difficult to remember the names in The Chinese & Japanese books; but they are quite interesting.
Generation Gap and Raising Children!
Ever since the East have started adapting to the west, what happened yesterday in west, is happening here today!
My grandparents lived in a closed society, where marriages were within a community, or locality. There was no much competition. It was more of a Joint family concept, and there was love within family, where family was not just father, mother and children but included their siblings and their family too.
My parents’ generation started moving out and the society was becoming open, there was a move towards nuclear family.
Both my parents and grandparents generation, often stayed married to people they shouldn’t have married in the first place, and were miserable for years, sometimes an entire lifetime. They didn’t want to get divorced, and staying married for 50 years to someone they didn’t love became some kind of honorable goal.
And in reaction to that, my generation, I think, have become global. They move international, get divorced too easily and sometimes too often. If they were unhappy, they bailed.
And subsequent generations will look around them, see all the wreckage, remember the bad stories we told about divorce, alimony, custody battles, and they are the generation that would suffere for our mistakes, and many don’t want to get married at all.
I liked the recent ad. of a parent taking their child to doctor, because he would not study.
Doctor, as part of check up: asked if he knew of any war?
Child: My parents, have told me not to discuss what happens at home with outsiders!
Children, are each different distinct people from one other and from their parents. Having had to live with various kind, I think one of the greatest challenges as a parent is adjusting to who they are as people, and not expecting them to be just like you, or do what you want them to.
Again I am reminded of another Joke:
Father: At your age Abraham Lincolon did not have a decent place to study.
Child: At your age, He was the President of America!
Dont underestimate a child, even if he does not study!
Their visions are different, their dreams, their needs. They may never be anything like you, or they may turn out to be more like you one day than you think, or would even believe when they’re young. It is really, really hard to just let them be, and not nag them about what you want. Sometimes you see them heading straight for a wall and want to stop them, but you can’t always. They have to find their own way, and be who they are. One of my biggest lessons has been learning to respect that and back off.
It’s a lesson I’m still learning and working on.
But I will still love them forever, no matter how old they are, committed to helping them, worried for them, and concerned about the dangers, disappointments and risks they may face.
They may not understand that, I know...But that is how I am.
I like to have the growing up, in the phase of transition with me! They teach me many things and keep me going...Some come back to me, some dont! But that does not matter! I remember them, though may not be in touch with them often!
My grandparents lived in a closed society, where marriages were within a community, or locality. There was no much competition. It was more of a Joint family concept, and there was love within family, where family was not just father, mother and children but included their siblings and their family too.
My parents’ generation started moving out and the society was becoming open, there was a move towards nuclear family.
Both my parents and grandparents generation, often stayed married to people they shouldn’t have married in the first place, and were miserable for years, sometimes an entire lifetime. They didn’t want to get divorced, and staying married for 50 years to someone they didn’t love became some kind of honorable goal.
And in reaction to that, my generation, I think, have become global. They move international, get divorced too easily and sometimes too often. If they were unhappy, they bailed.
And subsequent generations will look around them, see all the wreckage, remember the bad stories we told about divorce, alimony, custody battles, and they are the generation that would suffere for our mistakes, and many don’t want to get married at all.
I liked the recent ad. of a parent taking their child to doctor, because he would not study.
Doctor, as part of check up: asked if he knew of any war?
Child: My parents, have told me not to discuss what happens at home with outsiders!
Children, are each different distinct people from one other and from their parents. Having had to live with various kind, I think one of the greatest challenges as a parent is adjusting to who they are as people, and not expecting them to be just like you, or do what you want them to.
Again I am reminded of another Joke:
Father: At your age Abraham Lincolon did not have a decent place to study.
Child: At your age, He was the President of America!
Dont underestimate a child, even if he does not study!
Their visions are different, their dreams, their needs. They may never be anything like you, or they may turn out to be more like you one day than you think, or would even believe when they’re young. It is really, really hard to just let them be, and not nag them about what you want. Sometimes you see them heading straight for a wall and want to stop them, but you can’t always. They have to find their own way, and be who they are. One of my biggest lessons has been learning to respect that and back off.
It’s a lesson I’m still learning and working on.
But I will still love them forever, no matter how old they are, committed to helping them, worried for them, and concerned about the dangers, disappointments and risks they may face.
They may not understand that, I know...But that is how I am.
I like to have the growing up, in the phase of transition with me! They teach me many things and keep me going...Some come back to me, some dont! But that does not matter! I remember them, though may not be in touch with them often!
Here & There
Ah spring! they say in the west,
Oh summer! we say in the east.
Daylight Savings, lesser clothes from this month,
We don’t need day light savings, it’s same all year.
Goodbye to snowdrifts, happy no more spine chilling winter,
Looking out for coolers, sweating, waiting for the monsoon shower,
On the same earth, who say everything is same everywhere?
When we are here, we want to be there & when we are there, we want to be here.
Here or there or wherever, there are something’s that we enjoy without fear,
Guess what? Yes, rising sun, changing moon, air, love, joy, laughter and cheer.
Oh summer! we say in the east.
Daylight Savings, lesser clothes from this month,
We don’t need day light savings, it’s same all year.
Goodbye to snowdrifts, happy no more spine chilling winter,
Looking out for coolers, sweating, waiting for the monsoon shower,
On the same earth, who say everything is same everywhere?
When we are here, we want to be there & when we are there, we want to be here.
Here or there or wherever, there are something’s that we enjoy without fear,
Guess what? Yes, rising sun, changing moon, air, love, joy, laughter and cheer.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Mixed Blessings....
Life is filled with Mixed Blessings...There is no gurantee to anything.....
Expecting to have a peaceful weekends...these days all are beginning with sad news..
- Fight for democracy or what? In Egypt and Middle East states?
- Bandra fire periphery!!:-( Intentional or unintentional?
- Japan affected by a huge earthquake followed by tsunami. Oil flowing in water, causing fire....Nuclear reactor explosion....Death....Following other countries?
- Kidnaps, murders in Delhi..and other places...
It is all so strange, you expect one thing and you get another, you pay a price for everything in life.....I guess....the good, the bad, the dreams, the nightmares....it all comes rolled up together...Sometimes it's hard to tell them apart, that's the hard part. Life is full of surprises....
Mixed Blessings by Danielle Steel written in 1985, it was made a television film in 1995 directed by Bethany Rooney. .....
The plot follows three different couples, who have no correlation to each other trying to make ethical decisions about modern day lives and family life.
After the wedding of Diana Goode and Andrew Douglas, Diana comments that they will make a baby on their honeymoon. However, after the honeymoon period is over, she is still not pregnant. After repeated attempts, the couple both have to question their willingness to have a baby. Because Andy always wanted to have a child as well, she thinks she is only preventing him from his dream and files for divorce.
Eventually, Andy convinces Diana that he only wants to be with her and together, they decide to adopt a child. They find Jane, a student who thinks a baby will destroy her promosing future and after giving birth to a girl, Hilary, allows Diana who is filled with joy to finally become a mother. Meanwhile, Diana turns out to be pregnant after all and in the end, she ends up with two children.
The second couple consists of Charlie Winwood, an orphan who, like Diana, always wanted to have children. He is married to Barbie, an aspiring actress who isn't too enthusiastic to become a mother. While she is on a vacation to Las Vegas, Charlie brings a visit to the doctor and finds out he is sterile. However, five weeks later, Barbie announces she is pregnant, which means she cheated on him. Charlie immediately leaves her and later meets Beth, another orphan who is now enjoying her life as a single mother. They fall in love with each other and soon marry. Not only does Charlie become the father figure of her child, but they also decide to adopt another child like him having astama.
The third couple is Pillar Graham, a prominent Santa Barbara attorney, who marries Judge Brad Coleman, who is nineteen years her senior and father of two grown children. They are happy with their comfortable life together, untill Pillar begins to wonder is she will someday regret not having a baby with Brad. Are they crazy to begin now - with Brad about to become a grandfather and Pillar, in her early forties, possibly putting herself at risk? After consulting doctor she first have a miscarriage, then she delivers twins, a boy Christin and a gril Grace. But Grace die soon after she is born. And soon after she is expecting a baby again...
Through the lives of these couples, Danielle Steel shows us the mixed blessings we face as we build our families and live our modern lives. She touches us with the triumphant people who prevail, their victories, their defeats, their tragedies and joys, their compormises, their lives.
With life becoming easier, faster, and much more to do...there are so many invited worries too...
Expecting to have a peaceful weekends...these days all are beginning with sad news..
- Fight for democracy or what? In Egypt and Middle East states?
- Bandra fire periphery!!:-( Intentional or unintentional?
- Japan affected by a huge earthquake followed by tsunami. Oil flowing in water, causing fire....Nuclear reactor explosion....Death....Following other countries?
- Kidnaps, murders in Delhi..and other places...
It is all so strange, you expect one thing and you get another, you pay a price for everything in life.....I guess....the good, the bad, the dreams, the nightmares....it all comes rolled up together...Sometimes it's hard to tell them apart, that's the hard part. Life is full of surprises....
Mixed Blessings by Danielle Steel written in 1985, it was made a television film in 1995 directed by Bethany Rooney. .....
The plot follows three different couples, who have no correlation to each other trying to make ethical decisions about modern day lives and family life.
After the wedding of Diana Goode and Andrew Douglas, Diana comments that they will make a baby on their honeymoon. However, after the honeymoon period is over, she is still not pregnant. After repeated attempts, the couple both have to question their willingness to have a baby. Because Andy always wanted to have a child as well, she thinks she is only preventing him from his dream and files for divorce.
Eventually, Andy convinces Diana that he only wants to be with her and together, they decide to adopt a child. They find Jane, a student who thinks a baby will destroy her promosing future and after giving birth to a girl, Hilary, allows Diana who is filled with joy to finally become a mother. Meanwhile, Diana turns out to be pregnant after all and in the end, she ends up with two children.
The second couple consists of Charlie Winwood, an orphan who, like Diana, always wanted to have children. He is married to Barbie, an aspiring actress who isn't too enthusiastic to become a mother. While she is on a vacation to Las Vegas, Charlie brings a visit to the doctor and finds out he is sterile. However, five weeks later, Barbie announces she is pregnant, which means she cheated on him. Charlie immediately leaves her and later meets Beth, another orphan who is now enjoying her life as a single mother. They fall in love with each other and soon marry. Not only does Charlie become the father figure of her child, but they also decide to adopt another child like him having astama.
The third couple is Pillar Graham, a prominent Santa Barbara attorney, who marries Judge Brad Coleman, who is nineteen years her senior and father of two grown children. They are happy with their comfortable life together, untill Pillar begins to wonder is she will someday regret not having a baby with Brad. Are they crazy to begin now - with Brad about to become a grandfather and Pillar, in her early forties, possibly putting herself at risk? After consulting doctor she first have a miscarriage, then she delivers twins, a boy Christin and a gril Grace. But Grace die soon after she is born. And soon after she is expecting a baby again...
Through the lives of these couples, Danielle Steel shows us the mixed blessings we face as we build our families and live our modern lives. She touches us with the triumphant people who prevail, their victories, their defeats, their tragedies and joys, their compormises, their lives.
With life becoming easier, faster, and much more to do...there are so many invited worries too...
Sunday, March 06, 2011
Ten Ways to Love Yourself...
In our everyday hectic and busy schedule, do we get time to love ourself? So just thought to share this small piece of information with you all.
Ten Ways to Love Yourself...
1. Act like you're wearing an invisible crown
According to Shana Kad, a Dubai-based NLP life coach, you project how you perceive yourself onto everyone around you - so you may as well be regal. "If you make a conscious effort to feel good about yourself, you will inevitably attract this same energy into your life from the people around you," she says.
"Simple acts - like waking a little earlier each morning and giving yourself the time to enjoy your breakfast while visualising the way you want your day to play out - work wonders," she explains. "Be conscious of your state at all times, as it determines your behaviour, which in turn determines your results."
2. Sleep well
Show yourself love by getting at least eight hours of sleep each night, including the two hours before midnight if possible as some research suggests these hours are particularly important. According to Patricia Hope, founder of the website Towards Happiness (www.towards-happiness.com), sleeping well is important for our sense of wellbeing. She explains, "When we haven't had enough sleep, we may get irritable and not be able to concentrate. This is unlikely to make us feel good about ourselves. However, when we are sufficiently rested we perform to our optimum potential. Now this is certainly a good way to show love and kindness to ourselves."
3. Get to know yourself
To know your ‘self' is to love yourself, explains Dr Saliha Afridi, clinical psychologist at The LightHouse Arabia (www.lighthousearabia.com). "It's important to know your ‘self' as ‘you' without the shell of your ego, fears and other defences you have developed over time," she says. To do this, she explains, you must separate the self from the ego, which entails being vulnerable, taking risks and loving others without reservation. This more often than not cannot be done without a psychologist, mentor or guide, who can point out your patterns and blind spots.
4. Meditate
Meditation is an act of self-love, as it trains you to be present with your own mind and your moment-to-moment experiences, explains Tom Von Deck, corporate meditation trainer and author of Oceanic Mind - The Deeper Meditation Training Course (Create Space). He advises taking some timeout every hour, even if it's just for30 seconds, to slip into an activity that accumulates a little bit of presence and peace. "This can be stretching, praying... deep breathing, gratitude and many other things," explains Von Deck. "It will really add up behind the scenes, especially when you add in regular meditation. Suddenly, everything will just click, and you'll be a lot calmer and present with yourself, your thoughts and your feelings," he says.
5. Write happy thoughts about your life
Daylle Deanna Schwartz, author of How Do I Love Me? (available from howdoiloveme.com/the-book) suggests writing happy thoughts about your life (things you love about yourself and things you've accomplished) on Post-its and sticking them up somewhere visible, such as your fridge, bathroom mirror or computer screen. "Change them around so you see different ones in different places every few days. Every time you read something positive you'll feel good, smile more, and be reminded that life is good," she says.
6. Forgive yourself
Before you can forgive others, you need to learn to forgive yourself, explains Rawan Albina, a certified life coach based in Dubai. She says that you should remember events that have happened in the past that have left you feeling less than good and check in with your emotions. "Are there any negative residues there? If there are, don't try to understand them; simply accept that they are there," says Albina. "Acknowledging these emotions is the first step towards dealing with them because you then become aware of them. The next step is to stand in front of a mirror and say the following from the heart, ‘I love everything about me. I forgive myself for all past mistakes and accept these as part of my learning and growth'," she says.
7. Do a five-minute recap every night
Each night, when you climb into bed, aim to write down one thing you did that day that was 100 per cent in alignment with what you love doing. If you have more than one, write them all down. "This is a great exercise for being in a state of gratitude," says John Strelecky, best-selling author of The Big Five for Life: Leadership's Greatest Secret (St Martin's Press). "Often we focus on the negative parts of the day. Ending your night with that focus sets you up for more negativity the next day." If you have nothing to write at the end of the day, Strelecky advises you pick up a book you've been meaning to read and read for five minutes. Then pick up your journal and write ‘read a book for five minutes.' He says, "Knowing that at the end of the day there is this little ‘accountability moment' helps you align more of your activities with who you know in your heart you are. What may start off as one item per night quickly grows into a lengthy list."
8. Schedule ‘me days'
You should regularly dedicate a whole day to doing what you truly enjoy, during which you do no chores or errands. "Plan your day ahead of time and think about what you'd like to do," says Daylle Deanna Schwartz. "Write it down and look forward to it, and remember this is your day to do what you please. Make plans with you as important as those you make with other people," she says.
9. Give back
Giving back to the community is a great way to boost your self-esteem. According to Dr .Afridi, due the cultural collapse, loss of communities and rise of social media websites such as Facebook, we have forgotten we exist in a world and have a responsibility to it. "Any act of giving or loving actually pays back manyfold," she says. "If you feel unloved, go show love to someone else, if you feel lonely, go be a friend to someone else, if you feel hurt, go be a part of someone else's healing," she suggests.
10. Simply smile
Research has found that smiling helps increase serotonin (also known as the happy hormone), and is a vital component in the regulation of sleep, appetite and mood. By smiling at other people, you're also doing them a favour; researchers at The British Dental Health Foundation found that after participants were shown pictures of smiling individuals, their heart and brain activity was equivalent to what it would have been had they eaten 2,000 chocolate bars.
Warm Regards,
:) happy "Keep Smiling..." :) happy
Ten Ways to Love Yourself...
1. Act like you're wearing an invisible crown
According to Shana Kad, a Dubai-based NLP life coach, you project how you perceive yourself onto everyone around you - so you may as well be regal. "If you make a conscious effort to feel good about yourself, you will inevitably attract this same energy into your life from the people around you," she says.
"Simple acts - like waking a little earlier each morning and giving yourself the time to enjoy your breakfast while visualising the way you want your day to play out - work wonders," she explains. "Be conscious of your state at all times, as it determines your behaviour, which in turn determines your results."
2. Sleep well
Show yourself love by getting at least eight hours of sleep each night, including the two hours before midnight if possible as some research suggests these hours are particularly important. According to Patricia Hope, founder of the website Towards Happiness (www.towards-happiness.com), sleeping well is important for our sense of wellbeing. She explains, "When we haven't had enough sleep, we may get irritable and not be able to concentrate. This is unlikely to make us feel good about ourselves. However, when we are sufficiently rested we perform to our optimum potential. Now this is certainly a good way to show love and kindness to ourselves."
3. Get to know yourself
To know your ‘self' is to love yourself, explains Dr Saliha Afridi, clinical psychologist at The LightHouse Arabia (www.lighthousearabia.com). "It's important to know your ‘self' as ‘you' without the shell of your ego, fears and other defences you have developed over time," she says. To do this, she explains, you must separate the self from the ego, which entails being vulnerable, taking risks and loving others without reservation. This more often than not cannot be done without a psychologist, mentor or guide, who can point out your patterns and blind spots.
4. Meditate
Meditation is an act of self-love, as it trains you to be present with your own mind and your moment-to-moment experiences, explains Tom Von Deck, corporate meditation trainer and author of Oceanic Mind - The Deeper Meditation Training Course (Create Space). He advises taking some timeout every hour, even if it's just for30 seconds, to slip into an activity that accumulates a little bit of presence and peace. "This can be stretching, praying... deep breathing, gratitude and many other things," explains Von Deck. "It will really add up behind the scenes, especially when you add in regular meditation. Suddenly, everything will just click, and you'll be a lot calmer and present with yourself, your thoughts and your feelings," he says.
5. Write happy thoughts about your life
Daylle Deanna Schwartz, author of How Do I Love Me? (available from howdoiloveme.com/the-book) suggests writing happy thoughts about your life (things you love about yourself and things you've accomplished) on Post-its and sticking them up somewhere visible, such as your fridge, bathroom mirror or computer screen. "Change them around so you see different ones in different places every few days. Every time you read something positive you'll feel good, smile more, and be reminded that life is good," she says.
6. Forgive yourself
Before you can forgive others, you need to learn to forgive yourself, explains Rawan Albina, a certified life coach based in Dubai. She says that you should remember events that have happened in the past that have left you feeling less than good and check in with your emotions. "Are there any negative residues there? If there are, don't try to understand them; simply accept that they are there," says Albina. "Acknowledging these emotions is the first step towards dealing with them because you then become aware of them. The next step is to stand in front of a mirror and say the following from the heart, ‘I love everything about me. I forgive myself for all past mistakes and accept these as part of my learning and growth'," she says.
7. Do a five-minute recap every night
Each night, when you climb into bed, aim to write down one thing you did that day that was 100 per cent in alignment with what you love doing. If you have more than one, write them all down. "This is a great exercise for being in a state of gratitude," says John Strelecky, best-selling author of The Big Five for Life: Leadership's Greatest Secret (St Martin's Press). "Often we focus on the negative parts of the day. Ending your night with that focus sets you up for more negativity the next day." If you have nothing to write at the end of the day, Strelecky advises you pick up a book you've been meaning to read and read for five minutes. Then pick up your journal and write ‘read a book for five minutes.' He says, "Knowing that at the end of the day there is this little ‘accountability moment' helps you align more of your activities with who you know in your heart you are. What may start off as one item per night quickly grows into a lengthy list."
8. Schedule ‘me days'
You should regularly dedicate a whole day to doing what you truly enjoy, during which you do no chores or errands. "Plan your day ahead of time and think about what you'd like to do," says Daylle Deanna Schwartz. "Write it down and look forward to it, and remember this is your day to do what you please. Make plans with you as important as those you make with other people," she says.
9. Give back
Giving back to the community is a great way to boost your self-esteem. According to Dr .Afridi, due the cultural collapse, loss of communities and rise of social media websites such as Facebook, we have forgotten we exist in a world and have a responsibility to it. "Any act of giving or loving actually pays back manyfold," she says. "If you feel unloved, go show love to someone else, if you feel lonely, go be a friend to someone else, if you feel hurt, go be a part of someone else's healing," she suggests.
10. Simply smile
Research has found that smiling helps increase serotonin (also known as the happy hormone), and is a vital component in the regulation of sleep, appetite and mood. By smiling at other people, you're also doing them a favour; researchers at The British Dental Health Foundation found that after participants were shown pictures of smiling individuals, their heart and brain activity was equivalent to what it would have been had they eaten 2,000 chocolate bars.
Warm Regards,
:) happy "Keep Smiling..." :) happy