The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

Have you heard of The Secret by Rhonda Byrne? The is an inspiring video that reveals The Secret behind successful people like Plato, Newton, Carnegie, Beethoven, Shakespeare, Einstein. This Secret has been passed throughout the ages, traveling through centuries… This is The Secret to everything – the secret to unlimited joy, health, money, relationships, love, youth: everything you have ever wanted. All the resources you will ever need to understand and live The Secret. The world’s leading scientists, authors, and philosophers will reveal The Secret that utterly transformed the lives of every person who ever knew it…

Watch this 2o minutes video on The Secret and be empowered with unlimited positive energy from the Universe. Although this is not the full version, I truly believe that you will be benefited from it too. I will highly recommend you to watch it if you have not seen The Secret yet. I wish for Goodness in all aspects of your life and that you will have nothing to fear.

Get The Secret DVD at Amazon

Yahoo! Personals

How To Have A Better Relationship With Your Children

I got a very long email today on “How to have a better relationship with your Children.” This email is about 2000 words or more. The author had broken the process of building the relationship with children into 4 parts namely communication, listening, taking action and showing praise and love. What was written in the email is not only useful for building a better relationship with children but can also be applied in any relationships.

Communication is very important in any relationships. It is not simply conversing but also understanding the point of view of the other person. This brings me to an email which I read before. In that email about a father and his son, the son was planting an acorn seed with his father. On seeing the worried look on the face of his son, the father told the son not to worry as by summer, the acorn’s seedling will grow up to knee length height. The son asked his father, “your knee height or my knee height?”

Listening is in fact another crucial part of communication as most people tend to speak more than they listen. Instead we should be listening more to what people are saying rather than speaking. And that is probably why we have a pair of ears and only one mouth.

By Nicholl McGuire

You have come to a realization that you simply don’t have a close relationship with your children. It seems as if just yesterday they were newborns and now they have become children who have deep heartfelt feelings that they can only describe in their most eloquent way. They may have told you that they don’t like their dad, grandma is weird, the babysitter is not cool, you are mean or in some cases went so far as to say, “I hate you!” Why has your once “little ity bity baby boo boo” who couldn’t seem to get enough of you, has reached a point that they rather not see or talk to you? There is more to it then just a phase. They are experiencing real feelings of hurt underneath all the anger and/or jealousy. The suggestions given in this article will at least start a process of understanding and communicating with your child.

Begin to examine when things went from good to bad in your relationship with your children. You may not be able to exactly pinpoint when or name a specific event, but try to think of all the negative things that have happened around them that you may or may not have been involved. For example, if you have separated or divorced from your spouse and initially it seemed your children had no hard feelings about it, now they seem to grow distant from you, it could mean they are now realizing they miss you and don’t know how to express it. Of course, there are also those situations where mom or dad may do or say something to make them not look upon you too favorable, but it is up to you to make your best impression when you are around them. Feeding into the negativity will not get you what you want.

Remember your goal is to have a better relationship with them. Buying them everything they want is just a temporary fix and always seems to backfire. Later, when you can’t afford to buy that most coveted toy, they will go back to resenting you. The best approaches to building a relationship with children are as follows: communication, listening, taking action and most of all showing praise and love. Anyone can use these simple tips from the ‘stepmother’ to the ‘mean’ babysitter. These seem simple enough, but some caretakers don’t take them seriously. We will explore all of these.

Communication. When you communicate with your child you must plan on what you will say before you say it, this is especially true for parents who haven’t seen their children in months and controlling parents. Watch your tone of voice is it gentle and kind or firm and direct? How can you ask questions regarding the things they care most about when you don’t know what it is that they care about? Find out who are their best friends and what they like to do at the playground, besides asking the ever-popular question of “How was school today?” Your child will most likely answer, “good.”

What did the teacher say or do that made you laugh? Did you raise your hand today? Know something to say about their favorite television show, rock band or book. Do you know what they like to read? Do you know how the books they read make them feel? For example, a teenager talked about wild thoughts he had after reading several books during his childhood about ghosts, witches, goblins and other scary characters. When he became older, he said he gave his parents trouble, because he couldn’t get the thoughts out of his head. The television news show had interviewed his saddened father and he had admitted he didn’t know what was in those books.

Express concern over things they care about and ask to know more. A small token that says, “I care about you or I pay attention to you” would be a nice compliment to a good conversation. Talk with the other parent, teacher, babysitter or relative about their progress in school, how they are doing at home, and ask to see some of the things they have done. You will need some prior knowledge about the latest happenings so that they can see you care. Praise them for their work. Share good and bad stories and how you were rewarded or scolded about the things you did in school, how you grew up, places you visited, things you bought, etc. Remind them how intelligent they are and explain to them what you like most about them. Above all, tell them specific reasons as to why you love them. The statement “I love you” without specifics has no sincerity (more on this later.)

Be careful of what you say to your children. If you say things that are often critical and demanding, then be prepared for what goes around to come back around. You are raising a child that will be that way not only to others, but to you too! Parenting when done in love is a beautiful thing, but parenting done in a military style of dos and don’ts with no explanations given is only leading your child down a path to secretly hating you. Eventually they will become an adult, move far away and won’t care too much about you or the family.

Holidays will come and go with or without them. If you were raised in a strict household, consider the ‘secret’ relationship you had with your parents? You most likely didn’t like them too much. Now you may or may not understand why they were strict, but it doesn’t justify how you may be negatively reacting to your children. “Don’t do this, don’t do that, because I said so!” Children will most likely gravitate to the parent who is less strict and be more open with he or she. There is no need to become jealous or overly critical with the other parent, you need to make some changes in your personality to build that bond. It isn’t up to your child or your mate to fix what you are doing wrong.

Listen. When your child seems to open up, be prepared to listen. Avoid the temptation to interrupt no matter how positive your comment. Children aren’t like adults they are not going to give you too much eye contact and may want to continue to play with their doll’s hair, drive a toy truck or play on the computer while talking with you. Let them be. As long as they are talking and you are listening, that is all you should be concerned about.

Now there will come that time when they will share information you rather not hear. It is best not to react with a negative expression or comment. If they reveal something about mom or dad, a relative or someone they have been exposed to that was negative, be ready to tell them, “Thank you for sharing.” They may not want you to mention anything about what they said to that person. You will want to encourage them to talk with whoever is their caregiver if it is a situation that you can’t control. Tell them that if you hear that the problem has not been solved within a certain amount of days you will have to talk with whomever they referenced. However, if it is something that isn’t serious such as they saw mom kiss her boyfriend or dad had a lady in the car and both of you are separated or divorced, don’t bother mentioning it to the former mate. Ask your child how did it make he or she feel?

Then move on to another conversation. The key here is to not make a big deal about little things. If you find that your mate (or boss) is cheating, then document it and save it for the mediator when you (or they) are ready to get a divorce. The lesson to be learned here is don’t get children involved in adult mess. They don’t need to be on the witness stand. You also don’t want to violate their trust or put them in a possible mentally, physically or sexually abusive situation when you aren’t around for tattle tailing. Serious matters are for the police, children and youth services and/or court to handle. You don’t want to ever have any regrets for not reporting mentally, physically or sexually abusive events.

Take action. Children need adults to say what they mean and mean what they say. Too often parents will make promises they can’t keep. For instance, your child wants you to take them to a park, arcade, theater or some place else. You tell them, “Sure, I’ll take you on XYZ date.” Unfortunately, the date has come and gone. You never mention it. The child remembers what you said you will do, but doesn’t bother saying anything because they have heard your excuses before, “You know I don’t have the money. I was so busy with work. I just didn’t have the time. Maybe next time.” Children remember what you say and if you can’t do something, it is better to say you can’t, then later surprise them rather then the other way around. Take action. No parent can always be physically present for their child when they need them; therefore, be honest and always follow through on your promises.

Praise and Love. Children want to hear you say how much you ‘specifically’ love and appreciate them. They want to know that the drawing they made was a masterpiece to be hung up on a wall or taken with you on a business trip. They need to know that you find them handsome, strong, intelligent or pretty. A hug says, “I care.” A kiss says, “I think of you.” A reward or gift says, “You are great!” Be creative! Use what you know and research for what you don’t know to strengthen the bond between the two of you. There are so many parents who don’t really bother to understand their children’s world. They don’t read a book, or watch a program to help them become better parents. They simply don’t value wisdom. They rather complain, manipulate and control their children into doing what they want when they want. Children should be viewed as an opportunity to help us become better people; instead many see them as headaches that cost a lot of money and time.

As for the parents who may have been ill for quite some time and are just now getting back into the swing of things. Take your time. Don’t feel rushed or rush your child into building a better relationship with you. Make yourself available to communicate, listen, go places, etc. Don’t wait for your child to approach you with a conversation. You need to open up to them. They were not ill and out of your life for a time, you were. They watched you go through a traumatic illness and were told about it from others. Take the time to speak for yourself. Share with them what you went through and then move on. Don’t dwell on the past for empathy. You are better and now! It is time to build a better relationship with your child that isn’t about you anymore. Avoid the temptation to throw a pity party, guilt trip or any other burden on your child. Don’t you think
they have experienced enough?

Parents and caretakers, you can build a better relationship with children if you are sincerely willing to do some things in your own life differently that will enhance how you relate to them. Part of that learning process is to come outside of your world of dos and don’ts and go inside of a child’s world of “I can and I will.” You can learn a lot from children. Remember, children are given to parents and caretakers divinely to help them become better people before they die. For what you have been richly given from society, you can now give back.

About the Author: Nicholl McGuire, Freelance Writer and Mother of Four Visit her new blog: http://wanttohavechildren.blogspot.com for reference materials and more insightful writings about parenting.

Richard Branson: Life at 30,000 feet

I chanced upon the interview this morning. Truly an inspiring Entrepreneur!

Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson (born 18 July 1950) is an English entrepreneur, best known for his Virgin brand of over 360 companies.

Branson’s first successful business venture was at age 15, when he published a magazine called Student. He then set up a record mail-order business in 1970. In 1971, he opened a chain of record stores, Virgin Records, later known as Virgin Megastores and re-branded as zavvi in late 2007.

With his flamboyant and competitive style, Branson’s Virgin brand grew rapidly during the 1980s – as he set up Virgin Atlantic Airways and expanded the Virgin Records music label.

Today, his net worth is estimated at over £4 billion (US$7.8 billion) according to The Sunday Times Rich List 2006, or US$3.8 billion according to Forbes magazine.

When Richard Branson was at school, his headmaster predicted he would wind up either a millionaire or in jail. Since then, he done both. Here he talks to TED’s Chris Anderson about the ups and the downs of his career, from his multibillionaire success to his multiple near-death experiences, from Virgin’s line of spacecraft to the failure of the Virgin condom. He also reveals some of his (very surprising) motivations.

www.onlinetefl.com

Fresh Lemongrass Fields in Israel for Cancer Patients

I received this email from a friend regarding lemon grass and cancer and found that it is very interesting. The first thing to come to my mind was to verify if the information is true. I googled for more information and found a number of sources pointing to similar outcome – that lemon grass may help in preventing certain form of cancers. Not only that, I also chanced upon the original article. I have placed the name of the author and a link to the original article at the end of this article. Please note that the contents are for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice or substitute for professional care. However, it will be good information for people who are looking for alternatives to cancer prevention. I wish everyone great health and happiness!

A drink with as little as one gram of lemon grass contains enough citral to prompt cancer cells to commit suicide in the test tube.

At first, Benny Zabidov, an Israeli agriculturalist who grows greenhouses full of lush spices on a pastoral farm in Kfar Yedidya in the Sharon region, couldn’t understand why so many cancer patients from around the country were showing up on his doorstep asking for fresh lemon grass.

It turned out that their doctors had sent them.

“They had been told to drink eight glasses of hot water with fresh lemon grass steeped in it on the days that they went for their radiation and chemotherapy treatments,” Zabidov told ISRAEL21c. “And this is the place you go to in Israel for fresh lemon grass.”

It all began when researchers at Ben Gurion University of the Negev discovered last year that the lemon aroma in herbs like lemon grass kills cancer cells in vitro, while leaving healthy cells unharmed.

The research team was led by Dr. Rivka Ofir and Prof. Yakov Weinstein, incumbent of the Albert Katz Chair in Cell-Differentiation and Malignant Diseases, from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at BGU.

Citral is the key component that gives the lemony aroma and taste in several herbal plants such as lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus), melissa (Melissa officinalis) and verbena (Verbena officinalis).

According to Ofir, the study found that citral causes cancer cells to “commit suicide: using apoptosis, a mechanism called programmed cell death.” A drink with as little as one gram of lemon grass contains enough citral to prompt the cancer cells to commit suicide in the test tube.

The BGU investigators checked the influence of the citral on cancerous cells by adding them to both cancerous cells and normal cells that were grown in a petri dish. The quantity added in the concentrate was equivalent to the amount contained in a cup of regular tea using one gram of lemon herbs in hot water. While the citral killed the cancerous cells, the normal cells remained unharmed.

The findings were published in the scientific journal Planta Medica, which highlights research on alternative and herbal remedies. Shortly afterwards, the discovery was featured in the popular Israeli press.

Why does it work? Nobody knows for certain, but the BGU scientists have a theory.

“In each cell in our body, there is a genetic program which causes programmed cell death. When something goes wrong, the cells divide with no control and become cancer cells. In normal cells, when the cell discovers that the control system is not operating correctly – for example, when it recognizes that a cell contains faulty genetic material following cell division – it triggers cell death,” explains Weinstein. “This research may explain the medical benefit of these herbs.”

The success of their research led them to the conclusion that herbs containing citral may be consumed as a preventative measure against certain cancerous cells.

As they learned of the BGU findings in the press, many physicians in Israel began to believe that while the research certainly needed to be explored further, in the meantime it would be advisable for their patients, who were looking for any possible tool to fight their condition, to try to harness the cancer-destroying properties of citral.

That’s why Zabidov’s farm – the only major grower of fresh lemon grass in Israel – has become a pilgrimage destination for these patients. Luckily, they found themselves in sympathetic hands. Zabidov greets visitors with a large kettle of aromatic lemon grass tea, a plate of cookies, and a supportive attitude.

“My father died of cancer, and my wife’s sister died young because of cancer,” said Zabidov. “So I understand what they are dealing with. And I may not know anything about medicine, but I’m a good listener. And so they tell me about their expensive painful treatments and what they’ve been through. I would never tell them to stop being treated, but it’s great that they are exploring alternatives and drinking the lemon grass tea as well.”

Zabidov knew from a young age that agriculture was his calling. At age 14, he enrolled in the Kfar Hayarok Agricultural high school. After his army service, he joined an idealistic group which headed south, in the Arava desert region, to found a new moshav (agricultural settlement) called Tsofar.

“We were very successful; we raised fruits and vegetables, and,” he notes with a smile, “We raised some very nice children.”

On a trip to Europe in the mid-80s, he began to become interested in herbs. Israel, at the time, was nothing like the trend-conscious cuisine-oriented country it is today, and the only spices being grown commercially were basics like parsley, dill, and coriander.

Wandering in the Paris market, looking at the variety of herbs and spices, Zabidov realized that there was a great export potential in this niche. He brought samples back home with him, “which was technically illegal,” he says with a guilty smile, to see how they would grow in his desert greenhouses. Soon, he was growing basil, oregano, tarragon, chives, sage, marjoram and melissa, and mint just to name a few.

His business began to outgrow his desert facilities, and so he decided to move north, settling in the moshav of Kfar Yedidya, an hour and a half north of Tel Aviv. He is now selling “several hundred kilos” of lemon grass per week, and has signed with a distributor to package and put it in health food stores.

Zabidov has taken it upon himself to learn more about the properties of citral, and help his customers learn more, and has invited medical experts to his farm to give lectures about how the citral works and why.

He also felt a responsibility to know what to tell his customers about its use. “When I realized what was happening, I picked up the phone and called Dr. Weinstein at Ben-Gurion University, because these people were asking me exactly the best way to consume the citral. He said to put the loose grass in hot water, and drink about eight glasses each day.”

Zabidov is pleased by the findings, not simply because it means business for his farm, but because it might influence his own health.

Even before the news of its benefits were demonstrated, he and his family had been drinking lemon grass in hot water for years, “just because it tastes good.”

By Allison Kaplan Sommer: Go to author’s website.

Yahoo! Personals 7 Day FREE Trial offer

10 Tips for Approaching Women by David Wygant

What do you do when you see a woman you are attracted to? Do you run and hide? Do you use some canned line that you read on the Internet? Do you stand there in fear trying to think of the right thing to say? What is the right thing to do?

When approaching a woman, most guys make the mistake of thinking too much about what to say. They believe there’s one magic line that will work in all situations. They rehearse this magic line, and when they deliver it, they hope the woman will become instantly attracted to them.
Unfortunately, rarely does this approach work — because most of what you say is irrelevant. To catch a woman’s attention, it is all about the confidence you display when approaching her.

Here are 10 surefire ways to intrigue her every time:

1. Observe something. Make a comment about something you observe in the environment. This is especially effective at the grocery store. For example, if she is ordering a turkey sandwich, ask her if the turkey is good here. Make your comment immediate to the situation and it will seem perfectly natural. No matter where you are, there is always something interesting to comment on.

2. Smile. This shows her that you are friendly and confident. A genuine smile not only feels good to you, but will put her at ease while creating openness in the interaction — a requirement for building rapport.

3. Do not hesitate. If you hesitate in your approach, this tells her that you are not feeling confident — an immediate turn-off. When you see her, walk over to her within a short period of time (the three-second rule). Show her you are a man who knows what he wants and goes after it.

4. Positive body language. If you approach hunched over with your head down, you are sending negative information about yourself, which makes you dead in the water before you begin. Stand up straight, with shoulders back and chest out, and use a firm yet relaxed walk.

5. Not too fast. If you walk over too fast, you could likely trigger her internal alarm. A calm, casual approach is usually the best way to make her feel at ease with you.

6. Keep eye contact. Never be the first to break eye contact when you approach. If you do, this sends the message that you are not feeling good about approaching. When you use strong eye contact, she will feel more drawn to you. With practice, you can master this.

7. Listen up. Make sure you pay careful attention to what she says. Do not have your response pre-thought out. Women love a man who pays attention to the details of what she says. If you start throwing out random words, she will lose interest fast.

8. Do not fidget. Fidgeting after you approach is distracting and shows you are uncomfortable. If you communicate that you are uncomfortable, she will feel uncomfortable, too, and will close up. Practice being aware of your movements. Pay attention to those movements, or lack of movements, that communicate comfort and confidence.

9. Lighten your tone of voice. The tone of your voice is a very powerful tool. Approaching her in a light and playful tone is one of the best ways to start. You could also begin in a serious tone, accusing her of something like “I hope you saved some turkey for me,” followed by a quick smile to let her know you are joking. Practice playing with your vocal tone with your friends — notice the different reactions you get when you say the exact same thing using varied tones and fluctuations.

10. Lean away from her. A man who leans in too far when he talks often makes a woman feel crowded. A better approach is to lean away from her slightly. This lets her know that you respect her space, boundaries, and are comfortable with yourself.

The key to making these tips work for you is putting them into practice! Practice these tips and see the reaction you get. When you put them all together, you will be surprised at their power.

Dating Coach, Blogger and Author David Wygant has been featured on more than 2,000 radio and television shows including Dateline, CBS Good Morning, and MTV. Get more sex and dating tips on David’s interactive blog at davidwygant.com

Yahoo! Personals 7 Day FREE Trial offer

Try a free sample Personal Astrology Profile from Astrology.com!

Perfectmatch.com Special TV Offer – 2 Months Free

Top 7 New Years Resolutions

It is that time of the year again whereby you will tend to sit down and make new plan for the new year and set new resolutions. Have you gotten down to doing it yet? If you have not, then you might want to take a look at what others are having for their New Year Resolutions.

If you’re not sure what you should be putting on your New Years Resolutions list, here are the top 7 resolutions other people have used:

1. Spend More Time With Friends and Family

It’s easy to get so busy with work that you neglect your friends and family. Before you know it, your friends have found new people to spend time with and your family have grown up. Plan to meet up with your friends on a regular basis, whether it’s for a meal or a movie. And make time to spend quality time with your family. You’ll thank yourself for it.

2. Get fit

Face it, most people aren’t as fit as they were in their younger days. Getting fit doesn’t necessarily mean going to the gym 5 times a week. It could be as simple as parking further away in the parking lot, taking the stairs rather than the elevator and generally being less of a couch potato. You don’t need Arnold Schwarzenegger’s biceps to be fit…

3. Lose weight

This often goes hand in hand with getting fit. Choose an eating plan (notice I didn’t say diet) that fits with your lifestyle. Then take the time to notice your food when you eat it rather than wolfing it down and paying no attention. Notice when you are full and stop eating, even if there’s still food left on your plate. Start listening to your whole body rather than just eating "because".

4. Quit smoking

A lot of people vow to quit smoking at the start of the New Year. Often they’re the same people you’ll see gasping for a cigarette a couple days later. Plan your quitting. Treat yourself to a hypnosis session or CD/book combination. Buy this for yourself as a Christmas present if you’re that organized. Then follow the program. It’s cheaper and more effective than patches or gum and doesn’t feed your body more nicotine.

5. Quit drinking

In the same way as smoking, a lot of people decide to quit drinking when the New Year arrives. The thought of hangover-free days and a healthier liver is good. Again, there are plenty of self-help programs that will assist with your quest to give up alcohol. Search around and you’ll find one that works with you.

6. Get a better job

Many people use the New Year as an excuse to change their jobs. Make sure you don’t leap from the frying pan into the fire by doing research on the  new place you’re planning to work for. Read up on resume and CV writing to make sure that your application stands out from the crowd. Maybe use a hypnosis or subliminal program to boost your confidence and presentation skills.

7. Help other people

This is a very popular New Years resolution. There are plenty of voluntary organizations that would appreciate some extra help and volunteering is easy. Check locally for a list of different charities and choose one that fits with your personal goals and aims. If you can’t commit regularly, don’t be afraid to say so. It’s better to say "I can only help once a month" than to say you’ll help every day or week and then not attend.

About the Author: For more help with your New Years resolutions check out the ideas and assistance at
http://hypnosisabc.com/2007/12/08/using-hypnosis-to-help-your-new-years-resolutions

Special Free Week offer to either the Print or Online editions of The Wall Street Journal!!!

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don’t know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you’re tired and weary,
because it means you’ve made a difference.

It’s easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles, and they can become your blessings.

~~Author Unknown.~~

Buy 2, Get 2 Free at Perfectmatch.com