The NEW "Real World"

All my life, I have grown up under the impression that I would one day be slapped quite forcefully across the face by “the real world.” And no, I’m not talking about that absolutely ridiculous; yet strangely fascinating MTV show…I’m talking about the alleged cold, hard reality that is life.

I say alleged because I truly believe that our lives or our “world” is only as real as we make it. Sure- there are things like taxes, bills and jobs that often seem to add a kick of reality to our day…but you have to learn to manage your time in a way that permits you maximize your personal comfort and happiness.

Do you realize that we spend 1/3 of our lives sleeping?! … just let that settle in a bit- 1/3 of your life! Another 1/3 generally goes right out the window on “company time,” spent at your job. So, if you do the math- that sure doesn’t leave a whole hell of a lot of time for fun or enjoying the simple pleasures in life! Now- if by some fortune, you have no need for sleep and a money tree that permits you to never work, then these proportions might not worry you much. But this is obviously not the typical case, and most of us simply have to work and sleep; they are both essential. This is why you MUST do what you love. If you can find a job where you are doing what you love to do- then you never have to work a day in your life!

While this advice is certainly not original, I am amazed at how few people implement it. I think what happens in our society; unfortunately, is that in a rush to start paying off college loans, we tend to settle in a position that might not be our first choice. After rooting down with benefits and life-sentencing retirement plans, we feel that it is simply too late to change. I think many of us can relate to these circumstances and one day I would like to start an organization that aims to help those who are in this very dilemma- who’s with me?

Take a Breather

Choose some music, set a time frame and relax!

Relaxation is so important in our lives as it helps to keep our stress levels down, and consequently improves our health. Too much work and not enough time out for ourselves can result in mental health problems, memory failure and even heart attack. So, it's important everybody takes at least 10 minutes a day to wind down.

~H o w t o R e l a x~
Many people find it difficult to actually relax. Whether it's not having the time to, or finding your mind wanders when trying to relax, it can be difficult, especially if you're a generally busy person. Here are a few suggestions to help you:

1) Indulge in a Hot Bath
Warm water loosens up muscles, so its a great way to feel pampered without really doing alot. It will also deepen respiration and take any tension away from your body, pushing those stresses and strains straight down the plughole! Just a 30 minute soak in a warm bubble bath will help you feel relax and lighten your mind. A hot bath (preferably no hotter than 37° C) can ease tension and make you feel relaxed before going to bed.

2) Relax with some music
Music is a great way of helping you to relax, relieve stress and any anxieties you may have. It also helps you function mentally and physically, which is why music is a great therapy. It's regularly used for meditation and Tai Chi, and as an aid for sleep disorders. Music that has a tempo of 60 beats/minute works in syncrony with the human heartbeat, and therefore creates a relaxing effect. It slows down the heart rate, breathing rate and thinking rate, and lets you relax into deep levels of rest. Studies have suggested that slow, gentle, soothing music can improve learning, creativity and memory. Music can have such an impact on people that it's used in many hospitals, clinics, schools, nursing homes, and psychiatric hospitals to calm the inner body and revitalise both life and spirit.

3) Try a Relaxation Exercise
You only need 10 minutes, and you should feel the benefits of this session for the rest of the day.
At the beginning of each session:-
Loosen your clothing and remove your shoes. Lie down with a pillow under your head.
Go as limp as you can, and let your shoulder blades go slightly flat.
Gently shake your feet, then legs, then arms, and roll your head back and forth.

Legs - Lift your left leg 8 inches off the floor to flex your muscles, and point your toes slightly up. Hold this position for about 10 seconds until your muscles begin to tremble.Let your leg drop, then rest it for another 10 seconds. Repeat the whole exercise for that leg, then repeat exactly the same with the right leg.

Buttocks and Thighs - Tighten the muscles as tightly as you can. Hold for about 10 seconds, then release them. Rest for 10 seconds and focus on the relaxed feeling in those muscles, and feel the tension flowing out. Repeat the exercise.

Stomach - Do the same exercise as for the Buttocks and Thighs with your abdominal muscles.

Back and Neck - While lying on the floor, arch your spine so that it is tightened from your tailbone to your neck. Hold and release, then repeat.

Arms and Shoulders - Raise your hands above your chest (palms up), and grab an imaginary bar thats suspended above you. Clench your fists around it as hard as possible. Hunch your shoulders up tightly, and hold in that position for as long as possible, then release. Rest for 10 seconds, letting the tension flow, and repeat.

Jaw - Clamp down on your back teeth to tighten your jaw muscles. Repeat a couple of times.

Face - Scrunch up your face, feeling all of the muscles tighten. Rest and repeat.

Eyes - Focus on a point on the ceiling and then slowly move your eyes from the right and to the left then back to the centre. Cover your eyes with your hands (hold them together to make them warm beforehand), and rest, feeling the warmth.

Body - Clench your feet and hands, pull your shoulders up, tighten your face and jaw, then flex your entire body, arching yourself as much as you can. When your body begins to tremble, just let it all go. You should feel the tension drain away.

Once you feel loosened up, it's time to focus on your breathing (stay lying down). This should be alot easier now that you're not feeling any tension.

Breathing - Inhale slowly and deeply, couting 4 seconds in your mind. Hold your breath for another 4 seconds, then exhale slowly. Feel yourself relaxing as you do this. Feel your shoulders and back sink into the floor as you exhale. Repeat this exercise 10 times. After this, breathe normally, but focus on relaxing phrases. Repeat the concentrated breathing exercise another 10 times, then breathe normally again. This time focus on pleasurable feelings in your body. Repeat the whole procedure, alternating the inhale-hold-exhale exercise 10 times with mental encouragement.

Better Perspective

Take a look at this video!

I assure you that you will find it interesting.

Now- from the video, you can see that we are literally ants or cosmic specks of dust comparatively. With this in mind, I ask: why is it that we are so oblivious to the simplicities of life? In this modern era, we tend to fall into a mundane 9 to 5 routine, driven by anxiety and complacentness, which generally benefits others more than it does ourselves. The majority of our country is too bus working paycheck to paycheck, stressing about mortgages and college loans. With all that on your plate, there isn't much time to take a breath.

I recommend that you analyze all the troubles in your life and really ask yourself; is this really as big of a deal as I am making it out to be? In fact, look back and think about every difficulty you have ever overcome...it always works out in the end! Sure, sometimes you learn the hard way, but it only makes you stronger. The first step to coping with any stress is to simply relax and take a deep breath. Nothing, and I repeat: nothing that you fear will defeat you. Only you can do that, and you will if you don't enjoy the simple pleasures in life. Ferris Bueller put it best... "Life goes by pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Stephen Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People outlines a simple set of rules for life - inter-related and synergistic, and yet each one powerful and worthy of adopting and following in its own right. For many people, reading Covey's work, or listening to him speak, literally changes their lives. This is powerful stuff and highly recommended!

Habit 1 - Be Proactive
This is the ability to control one's environment, rather than have it control you, as is so often the case. Self determination, choice, and the power to decide response to stimulus, conditions and circumstances.

Habit 2 - Begin with the End in Mind
Covey calls this the habit of personal leadership - leading oneself that is, towards what you consider your aims. By developing the habit of concentrating on relevant activities you will build a platform to avoid distractions and become more productive and successful.

Habit 3 - Put First Things First
Covey calls this the habit of personal management. This is about organising and implementing activities in line with the aims established in habit 2. Covey says that habit 2 is the first, or mental creation; habit 3 is the second, or physical creation.

Habit 4 - Think Win-Win
Covey calls this the habit of interpersonal leadership, necessary because achievements are largely dependent on co-operative efforts with others. He says that win-win is based on the assumption that there is plenty for everyone, and that success follows a co-operative approach more naturally than the confrontation of win-or-lose.

Habit 5 - Seek First to Understand then to be Understood
One of the great maxims of the modern age. This is Covey's habit of communication, and it's extremely powerful. Covey helps to explain this in his simple analogy 'diagnose before you prescribe'. Simple and effective, and essential for developing and maintaining positive relationships in all aspects of life.

Habit 6 - Synergize
Covey says this is the habit of creative co-operation - the principle that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, which implicitly lays down the challenge to see the good and potential in the other person's contribution.

Habit 7 - Sharpen the Saw
This is the habit of self renewal, says Covey, and it necessarily surrounds all the other habits, enabling and encouraging them to happen and grow. Covey interprets the self into four parts: the spiritual, mental, physical and the social/emotional, which all need feeding and developing.