Pusing Blogger : May 2018

Dealing With Difficult Dreams


By Rinita Sen

You are in a meadow, it is vast and green. There is a clear sky above your head. You are running towards someone or something, and suddenly you feel you are running away from something, the sky is overcast, heavy drops of rains drench you to your feet, you still have to run, because something terrible is following you, and with a jolt, you wake up, reaching for that glass of water.

The above is an example of a difficult dream. Many such dreams are frequently encountered by several of us, leaving us devastated in the middle of the night or even till the next morning. We ponder and think how to stop getting these dreams - well, there is really no one way, but some of these tips might help deal with such dreams.

Acceptance

The first step is to be able to accept that dreams are just that, dreams. They are nothing but manifestations of our subconscious mind in various ways. Some dreams do try to tell us things, and there are dream interpreters for that. However, running behind a notion that a dream might have clairvoyant properties might make your mind even weaker. Relenting to the dream is not an option, acceptance is the only key. In scenarios of repeatedly getting the same or similar dreams, a dream interpretation might be essential. However, this should be done at a logical rather than an emotional level. The goal here is to understand your subconscious mind, accept it, and not let it spill over to your conscious mind.

Calming of the mind

There are dreams that put us in a difficult position. For example, if we repeatedly dream of people who have left us, but see them in happier times, in a fun-filled atmosphere, we might almost want to go back to sleep the next night hoping that we would dream the exact same thing, not realizing that the next morning we would probably wake up feeling miserable that those happy times existed only in dreams and not in reality. Such situations might be averted by calming the mind through mind-body-medicine techniques such as meditation, yoga, and so on. When practising such calming methods, it is important to not just do them before bedtime, but also to keep a mindful habit of calming your mind throughout the day, and if practised right, you might get such sound sleep that you could wake up the next morning without having remembered any dreams at all.

Seek Help

As with every other thing that troubles us, it is essential to ask for help if troubled dreams begin to get out of control. Share dreams with your friends and family, chances are, you might find some dreams in common that might help you understand each other better. If that does not help, seek professional help. A good counsellor might be able to identify the root causes in your personality that are causing these dreams to reappear. Communication and guidance are key to a healthy mind.

A dreamless sleep is what we all desire, but if that sounds like an ideal condition, we still can make it near ideal by celebrating the coming and going of the dreams as just another part of the daily routine, without getting thoughtfully involved with them.

The Benefits And Pitfalls Of Paid Online Surveys


By Cacey Taylor

Are paid online surveys scams? This question has two parts. The first part being market research companies have been in business since the 1920's. When the internet came into existence in the 1990's it reshaped the industry into a more online presence.

Before the internet, companies would utilize marketing research companies to utilize surveys by going door to door, sending them out via postal mail, using the phone to conduct them, and in person groups.

Once the internet came along, it totally revamped the industry. Now, companies are able to deliver paid surveys right into an email inbox. This invention created even more companies that operates mostly online and added another element and job force to existing market research companies.

The online companies that were created are not scams. The existing companies that existed before the internet came along are not scams either. Market research companies are very generous and go beyond the scope of what exists on the internet today in regards to making money online. Most companies want to extract some sort of payment from people. The opposite is true with paid market research companies. They pay you for signing up and may even offer a sign on bonus just for joining. What appears to be a scam is actually a legitimate way to do business.

The second part to the question are paid online surveys scams is the actual websites that are scams and use the nature of free paid online surveys as a way to attract people into the scam.

People who are looking for survey websites to join or trying to earn some money online might run into a website that appears to be a real survey promising them some reward like gadgets or cash at the end.

The scam is for the people to end up paying some sort of price for a product or service. The unsuspecting party may also run into an endless loop of websites with ads on them. Another scam may try to have you enter an email so they can spam your email with ads and offers. Worst case scenario being they steal your credit information, mess up your credit, and steal money from you.

These are just some of the real scams that exist. The scammers utilize a paid surveys front because they are free to join. Anytime a program is free to join to make money it will attract visitors. Unfortunately scammers will utilize this great way to make money and turn it into a way to commit fraud to unsuspecting parties.

The best way to avoid scams is to check the about us pages. They might have a phone number and/or email on the contact us page so you can ask questions before joining. Also check with the Better Business Bureau to find out if they are registered and rated their. Another great way to find the legitimacy is to check to see if they have any accreditations on the site. Usually on the bottom of the website they will showcase a certified label such as TRUSTe Certified label.

For the most part the paid online surveys are real and legitimate. Market research companies have been in business over 60 years and now utilize the internet as a way to help people to earn money online without having to pay anything. Businesses spend billions on market research each year and you will find many companies pay out millions to its members as a reward for completing paid surveys with them. Unfortunately scams really do exist to bring harm to you or your computer.

Read more about avoiding scams at   Get Paid Surveys on my website   Surveysboy - A website that discusses paid surveys in greater detail and outlines a plan for people to earn extra income online or even start their own home business

How to Create an Employee Retention, Recognition & Reward Program (2018)


By Wayne Fonseca

THE INDUSTRY

1. $46 billion industry Incentives and other cash rewards which have doubled in the last 10 years. U.S. organization spent over $77 billion annually on them.

UNFORESEEN COST

2. Company Intangible Assets are knowledge, reputation and human talent.

3. The cost to replace employees is high and turnover rate has been increasing. Not to mention the time to hire due to the talent war has a huge impact on hiring.

4. Job satisfaction measured between 1987 to 2018 is at 61% meaning we are coming close to half of the employees that are unhappy at work.

"The average retention today, where employees spend is around 2 years 2 months in a company"

MIND THE GENERATION GAP

5. How to bring Millennials effectively into the workforce is a major question that many CEOs and business leaders have

Traditionalists or Silent Generation: Born 1945 and before

Baby Boomers: Born 1946 to 1964

Generation X: Born 1965 to 1976

Millennials or Gen Y: Born 1977 to 1995

Gen Z, iGen, or Centennials: Born 1996 and later

EMPLOYEE ARCHETYPES

6. 4 Human Drivers or archetypes in any organization.

The Hoarder: Collects resources and typically has the most incentives.

The Socialist: builds and fosters relationships.

The Contender: motivated to defend what is theirs.

The Seeker: desire to contribute to something bigger in creative ways.

EMPLOYEE RETENTION ROADMAP

7. Feedback Loop to listen, capture survey data to uncover insights and trends and take data-driven action and mentorship enabled.

8. Components of the survey should entail questions that tailored to the following parameters: empowerment, management, innovation, reward, collaboration, communication, purpose, leadership, culture and on-boarding experience.

"Gallup survey found 51% of the workforce is not engaged. What's more, 51% of workers are looking to leave their current jobs."

9. Reward points system based on the company goals and employee value proposition for innovation, patents, ideas for improvements or successful on-time & on-budget projects delivery.

10. One Technology Platform to help you gamify, manage On-boarding, Rewards, Incentives and Loyalty Programs seamlessly and fosters collaboration in the community.

11. Key Metrics to Measure:

Top Talent Referral

Employee Turnover

Retention

Absenteeism

Time to fill Open positions

Cost of Hire

12. Senior Management Team and HR has to be on the same page with a clear understanding on the key metrics that bridges the gap between talent management and business strategy by contextualizing employees' work ad reward around a company's vision and goals.

IS THIS ALL I KNOW?

I have only scratched the surface on what it takes to make a successful ecosystem within an organization, continuously seeking great methodology, systems, tools and platform that adds a strategic high-value proposition in the marketplace.

Wayne Fonseca a technologist enthusiast to constantly find the best practices, methodology, and systems to enhance and automate your life. If you are interested in finding out more, connect with me at   Connect with me on LinkedIn

Cold War Versus Civil War


By Kh. Atiar Rahman

As a Counter Part officer of FEEM (Finance for Economics and Economic Management) Course for Mid-level officers of Bangladesh Civil Service conducted by Financial Management Reform programme in collaboration with Financial Management Academy, I had an opportunity to visit Commonwealth War Cemetery of Comilla in 2006 in connection with a study tour. In my opinion, this cemetery inspires people to dedicate for the sake of truth, welfare and overall democratic hopes and aspiration.

Freedom is such a word with which a man can cherish to develop his lot in respect of cultivating mechanism of democratic institution as a faltering flow. If we look around the tomb, we will find the names of the world heroes of different castes and creed throughout the world. As a wordless bystander of world history, Commonwealth war cemetery is situated with its past magnificence at Mynamati of Comilla enthralling the ecstasy of loneliness under ever green natural beauties delimited by numerous plants, trees, grasslands and herbs. About uncountable attractions of the people, this memorial park has been engraved with respects and dignity. Even if, this world cemetery has added a new dimension of this glorified district towards heritage, culture and ritual of Bangladesh. Not only in Bangladesh, this historical cemetery has won the outstanding vision of the people all the way through out the whole world which whip the heart of the people in the sense that the heroes who had laid down their lives for the cause of egalitarianism and emancipation of the country are really the great men who have not well thought-out their self greediness rather they have dyed-in-the-wool their lives to run off with freedom from the despotic rulers.

Due to the gallant touch-wood of mammoth memories of World War II (1939-!945), the name of this historical cemetery has been spread far and near in due sense of honour and high esteem for such freedom fighter as they had dedicated their lives for the just cause of heroic deeds. They did not lag behind from the warfare thinking about their children, fathers and wives and their close kith and kin. They have never looked behind and never been deviated from their sacred duties to safeguard their mother land bedded on good faith, unity and trust with the creator. They have never made any breech of trust with the widespread people and their blood mixed with their reliance and philosophy of life. This memorial tomb is in times gone by momentous because the soldiers from different walks of life coupled together and fought in the battle turf. They died for the sake of freedom and success to establish democratic rights of the people. They are the symbols of national hero and the people from different countries of the world memorialize their painstaking life of war with acclamation bedded on praise and somber mood.

According to the accounts placed on the wall of the world cemetery, 736 soldiers have been buried here symbolizing their contribution in World War II for their courage, heroism and hardihood. The soldiers were from Russia, Japan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Burma and many other parts of the world. The carved names upon these necropolises are undoubtedly declaring their loyalties to establish equality and liberty of the people. We behold the tomb glittered with golden rays of the sun with cosmopolitan outlook and find unrestrained spiritual and eternal peace of life.

What Are the Various Benefits of the Public Cloud?


By Danish Malik

Whether private, public or hybrid - selecting a cloud deployment model depends on a number of factors, including technical expertise, costs involved and business needs. While every cloud platform has its own advantages, the public cloud is often regarded as a more popular model of cloud computing, especially for medium to large scale enterprises.

Public cloud services can help enterprises accelerate the growth of their business with minimal security threat. It allows enterprises to take maximum advantage of the centralization and virtualization that cloud computing services offer.

Let us now do a detailed analysis on the various benefits that this cloud platform offers:

Easy and Faster Setup

All enterprises need is an internet connection. Setting up the public cloud takes only a few hours, and it can be deployed and configured hassle-free through the service provider's website.

Zero Maintenance

With this cloud platform, enterprises do not have to worry about the maintenance of software, hardware and networks in the cloud - everything is managed by the cloud service provider. All aspects from security to upgrades are the responsibility of the service provider which helps enterprises in reducing their IT staff and lowering overall costs.

Agility

It offers enterprises better collaboration and delivery, simplified internal operations, improved data analysis ability and faster roll-outs of new business initiatives. This helps enterprises to become more dynamic and agile, and improves their business's productivity.

Higher Flexibility without Redundancy

Adopting the public cloud platform frees enterprises from the worries of data backup and excess costs. With the data being automatically reflected at data centers situated at other locations, enterprises can maintain business continuity at all times.

Zero Risk Failure

A guaranteed maximum uptime and zero risk failure is offered by all leading cloud service providers. In case a particular server fails, another server automatically takes over the workload ensuring enterprises of continuous business operations for all mission-critical applications.

Global Outreach

Leveraging a vast network of servers, IT resources and network bandwidth,    public cloud service providers allow for a robust computing environment that is easily accessible to SMEs worldwide. Enterprises can simply select one out of the many data centers around the world according to the needs of their business.

While the public cloud deployment model offers innumerable benefits to businesses, it is extremely important that enterprises opt for public cloud solutions only from the best cloud service providers having globally recognized certified consultants who have vast experience in implementing the technology. This will help them achieve maximum gain from their public cloud investment.

Why Abortion Is From God


By Norma Holt

Anything we do in life is pre-planned and this is known by the prophecies where it clearly states that the one God, the Spirit of the Universe, is in full control (Isaiah 45:4-8). It creates the evil and the good. It controls all minds and actions, otherwise the things laid down would never happen. The world is not in chaos but is continuing along the path set out from the beginning, which will bring about the end of the world as we know it.

Religious leaders are also led by the Spirit. They oppose common sense, and make normal behaviour into something whereby they can dominate thoughts and actions. They do this through overpopulation and the means to control sex and the birth of offspring is first and foremost a priority in their interests. Their goal is power and profit.

The more children people of 'faith' produce the stronger becomes the religion that guides them. Offspring are taught by parents to follow the same trends and that is part of the ways by which the Spirit leads us.

"The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure, into whose hand God bringeth abundantly" Job 12:5

We need only to look at the religious world and the ways in which people are controlled to see the plan of God. Abortion and the right of women to choose whether or not they remain pregnant is currently under debate in many places. Protesters influenced by religious indoctrination are out in force promoting the cause against such choice.

My experience of reincarnation taught me that; Firstly, all religions are man-made and they are wrong. They mostly promote an eternal life in either heaven or hell and that provides them with 2 enormous weapons. Secondly, all religious gods are false because they are manufactured on ancient thoughts and the reworking of past dreams. Thirdly, nothing happens unless God allows it.

"I am God and besides me there is no one else. I make the light and create darkness, I make peace and create evil. I God do all these things." Isaiah 45"4-8

When leaving my last body and between lives there was the pressing urgency to do this job. It is for this reason that the Spirit sent me into this life and has provided the tools to carry it out.

Nothing, however, will change the minds of the indoctrinated and whatever comes of my work is entirely in the hands of the Spirit. Those with ears to hear and eyes to see will benefit from it.

The New Testament is a false document based on the work of 666, who established the Catholic Church in 325 AD. It was the Vatican that banned reincarnation and promoted heaven and hell as destinies. It claims to hold the keys to heaven and the weak in spirit believe them. Its hold on the world is breaking and God is decreasing its power.

Norma Holt was commissioned to tear down the wall of churches and bring in the harvest. With memory of her reincarnation she knows that reincarnation is fact and that everyone who has lived is back. They are turning to the Mountain of God which is the Internet for answers.

Blog Commenting Benefits


By Deon Christie

Blog commenting benefits include high authority link building and gaining popularity. This in turn leads to getting recognised as a Professional in your Niche. Therefore it also comes highly recommended to focus blog commenting on secure sites. These are domains that have an SSL certificate registered and https protocol enabled. So if your own site is yet to be secured then you simply contact your hosting provider and request an SSL certificate registration.

But what is Link Building?

Link Building is part of your on-site SEO and crucial if you're going to leverage your blog commenting benefits. There are inbound and outbound links but as mentioned earlier, try focussing on the https URLs. Link building can increase your site popularity depending what kind of links they are. Which is why High Authority links are more preferable. In a nutshell, link building is the art of linking to relevant content to increase popularity and conversion.

Can I get Traffic to my Blog through Commenting?

Yes you can leverage your blog commenting benefits and attract more web traffic to your Blog. But that will largely depend on what you comment and to whom. Read other comments and note on what is being discussed, but more importantly what is asked. Read the post you're about to comment on (to the last word) and add value to the content in your comment.

To leverage blog commenting benefits for traffic your content must be as compelling as any other. The comment need to inspire curiosity through addressing a need. And also suggest a solution (Without Any Links) because you're building reputation not a bank account.

You need to be painfully specific with your targeting. Because random comments with promotional content is not commenting. That is nothing more than spam and No professional webmaster will ever approve your comment. Blog commenting is Not a way to get traffic to your affiliate links and offers. It is a way to get traffic to your own blog and blog posts.

What exactly is a Professional Comment?

A professional comment does not include any links, unless asked after by the Blog Owner. Or on blogs where the Comment Luv Plugin is enabled. But even then the plugin will only share the link to your latest post. The comment window will request the submission of your Name, Email Address and URL. This is where you share your own Blog URL or a URL to one of your Blog Posts.

When you effectively inspire curiosity then naturally the visitor will want to know more. Then they will visit your blog and most probably stay a while. And that is also the difference between a Hit and an actual Visitor staying on your Blog.

But what if the URL option is not provided?

If it is not present in the comment window then you do not include any links in the comment. Many of these comment sections may be linked to sites like Disquss. In which case you need to open your free account and register for ultimate blog commenting benefits in this manner.

With this method of commenting, all your comments will be recorded in your Disquss profile. Which in turn includes the URL to your Blog. So when inspired readers visit your profile they will also visit your Blog.

What is the difference between Inbound and Outbound links?

Inbound links are links to content with the same primary URL. These are both relevant posts and links to blog pages of the same blog. Each post should include at least one link to another blog page. A blog post link is considered an "Orphaned" link without a back link to a blog page. These are hyperlinks placed in post and page content.

Outbound links are links to blog posts and pages of a different URL than the Primary. These are also placed as hyperlinks within your own content relevant to the content contained in the shared link.

In Conclusion

Blog Commenting Benefits include boosting site popularity through content and presentation. Popular sites attracts more favour from search engines and will increase your blog ranking capability. But a blog comment is not a sales page, which is called Spam. Commenting on other Blogs must be leveraged for traffic to your own blog only. You cannot promote affiliate links and offers in a blog comment.

Success Means Going From Failure To Failure Without The Loss Of Enthusiasm -    https://easyinternetmoneyandjobs.com

How to Use Blogging As an Inbound Marketing Strategy


By Christopher Ugo Oseh

In the digital/online space, effective content is one that provides relevant and valuable information to individuals along the continuum of Visitors--Leads--Customers. This is what Inbound marketing captures.

What then is Inbound marketing?

According to Hubspot Academy, Inbound marketing is the process of attracting customers through relevant and helpful content which adds value to them. Online content can be in form of video marketing, social media marketing or blogging.

Blogging is one of the commonest methods of online content and can be used for all stages of Inbound marketing.

WHAT ARE THE STAGES OF INBOUND MARKETING?

The stages of inbound marketing are:

� Attract

� Convert

� Close

� Delight

HOW TO IMPLEMENT INBOUND MARKETING USING BLOGGING

ATTRACT

Your goal is to use a blog post to attract strangers to your website and transform them into your visitor on getting to your website. Your blog post should contain relevant keywords and information that answers your visitor's questions, meet their needs and provide insights into helping them achieve their goals.

CONVERT

After attracting your website visitors, you convert these visitors into leads using website email forms and chat messaging channels where your prospects can submit their contacts such as email address or phone number. This provides a communication channel to continuously provide relevant information, build rapport and credibility with your prospects.

CLOSE

This is the stage where you convert the leads into customers by getting them to make a buying decision or to take a profitable action.

This is achieved by using automated email sequences to send your prospects messages in order to build credibility and to identify their problems and goals.

Subsequently, you can send them specific information about the benefit of your products and how it will solve their problems. This is called PRESELLING. Preselling increases conversion rate and the odds of making sales.

NB- Prospects buy only from marketers they trust thus do not sell your products to a prospect immediately you get their contact. Build rapport first and get to know them.

DELIGHT

This is when a customer has been thoroughly satisfied with your product/service and becomes a loyal customer. Also, your customers may even go the extra mile to refer friends and families to you.

HOW TO INCREASE BLOG POST ENGAGEMENTS, CONVERSIONS, AND SALES

Identify your buyer's persona

You need to clearly identify your ideal buyer's demographics, interests, needs and goals. This helps you to attract the right customer and increase your conversion rate.

Consider your buyer's journey stage

The content of your blog post should be determined by whether your client has knowledge about what your product/service is or not. If your target reader has no knowledge about your product/service then you have to simplify your information and educate them until they can make a buying a decision.

Drive targeted traffic to your blog

Organic traffic methods often do not attract visitors/prospects that fit your buyer's persona.

In contrast, paid traffic enables you to target the specific persona of your ideal buyer while setting up the ads campaign. This method increases your conversion rate and online sales when properly implemented.

Finally, blogging is an effective inbound marketing strategy which can be used to drive traffic, increase conversions and sales online.

Life Is Like A Big Play: The Role You Resist Most Becomes The One You Are Called To Act In Next


By Tony Fahkry

Acting Out Unconscious Beliefs

Life is a big play with no rehearsals other than the main act in which you are the star attraction, director and producer.

This is to your benefit because you are given the opportunity to rewrite the next scene since nothing is set in stone.

Sometimes you will feel stuck and wonder how you arrived at this point in your life. If you look back, you'll see that every thought, decision and action led you to this point in time.

Life is an endless river flowing through you.

You cannot make a wrong decision because what you consider an undesirable outcome, contains the seed of opportunity and growth.

Author Jan Frazier states in The Freedom of Being: At Ease with What Is the need to step outside your thoughts and observe reality with openness and attentiveness, without being trapped in your judgements: "If you want to suffer less, omit no opportunity to step outside your mind and watch what it's doing with reality. As long as you're trapped in the world constructed of your thoughts about-something - as though they were actual objective truth - you will suffer."

You become stuck when you act out unresolved subconscious beliefs.

I appreciate it is difficult to know whether this describes you because the average person cannot tell apart a limiting belief, nor an unconscious thought.

Some would argue, unless you have an interest in personal development, the concepts are foreign to you. This is why people repeat the same mistakes over again.

I empathise with them because I was stuck in the same predicament many years ago. It took a major life event to awaken me to a greater potential within me and my life's purpose.

However, it is reassuring to know that "Mistakes are not a sign of stupidity. They are human ways of learning," as psychotherapist David Richo writes in The Five Things We Cannot Change: And the Happiness We Find by Embracing Them:

If you are attending to your personal growth, yet nothing is changing in your life, I invite you to look within to see what you're resisting.

Undertaking personal development is great, but it reminds me of my experience working in the health and fitness industry a decade ago.

When I began my career, I worked in a major health club in my city. I often saw the same people training three or four times a week, yet nothing changed regarding their body composition.

They would often exercise for thirty minutes or less on a cardio machine while listening to music or watching the overhead television screens.

They were not entirely engaged in a strenuous work out, but felt they were given they were dressed in fitness apparel and showed up to training.

It was when they trained with a fitness professional, they noticed they'd been training within their comfort zones.

I mention this because it parallels what transpires in people's lives.

They read personal development books and attend seminars, yet nothing changes because they are not applying the principles.

These same people are drawn to motivational Instagram quotes, yet their lives are less than inspiring because they don't do the heavy lifting called work.

Experiences Show Up In Different Forms

I often say to clients, you must embody the principles you learn at a cellular level. They must become a part of you, so there's a shift in consciousness and you cannot return to your former life.

If you wish for a life beyond your wildest dreams, you must do the things that align with that future.

It is what the late Dr. Stephen R. Covey who wrote the 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People calls: "Begin with the end in mind."

Many people, resist life because it doesn't correspond to what they hold in mind. They believe life is unfair and they shouldn't experience hardship.

These people attract the same situations, but in a different form, until they've gained the lessons.

To give you some examples:

It is the person who wishes for a romantic partner and complains there are no suitable people out there, yet attracts the wrong person every time.

It is the individual who gets passed up for job promotions because they haven't shown their value to their employer.

It is the person who is unhealthy or not at their ideal weight, yet is dictated by their emotions when it comes to food choices.

It is the person always broke when they receive their paycheque because they spend it on material objects to feel good about themselves.

These are ways in which people sabotage themselves unconsciously because they are unaware.

They are asleep at the wheel of life you could say.

Reading about personal growth without doing the work does not lead to a shift in awareness.

You are likely to keep attracting the same situations, in a different form until you've made peace within yourself.

As the Hermetic saying goes: "As within so without."

For example, you might try to avoid someone causing you pain and suffering, yet it becomes a game of cat and mouse. The energy devoted to stay away from them becomes stressful and tiresome.

That's because there's a lesson to learn within the experience. It won't be presented to you with a pink ribbon or smell of potpourri since you're less likely to take notice.

Life presents you with experiences to force you out of your comfort zone and draw upon your resilience.

You have one of two choices: cower in resignation or step up to the challenge.

If you choose the former, the experience will show up in a different form until you learn the lesson.

This may be apparent by attracting the wrong romantic partner until you reconciled your unconscious beliefs.

It will involve self-enquiry or working with a trained therapist. Either way, it may be best to avoid rushing into a new relationship until you've made peace with the past.

I don't know and neither will you until you heal your wounds.

Stop Carrying The Remnants Of The Past

Author Jan Frazier explains how the process of transformation begins in the place you are now: "Transformation is set in motion by seeing where you are now. By seeing how you keep it all going. Change happens entirely on its own."

The role you resist most will be the one you are called to act in next because there are vital lessons contained within those experiences.

There are two ways to look at life.

The first being: "Life sucks" because challenges are difficult, or.

"Life is constantly directing you to awaken your greatest potential."

The Zen Buddhist teacher and anthropologist Joan Halifax explains in Standing at the Edge: Finding Freedom Where Fear and Courage Meet how we can investigate our challenges with openness and courage instead of fear and blame: "If we willingly investigate our difficulties, we can fold them into a view of reality that is more courageous, inclusive, emergent, and wise-as have many others who have fallen over the edge."

Life is one big play that lasts eighty years or more if you're fortunate enough to live that long.

It makes sense to bide your time and without hoping everything will work out.

I assure you, most of the time it won't.

You must examine your motives and stop carrying the past into the present moment, otherwise it will be carried forward into the future.

You deserve more than that even if you don't know it.

It doesn't matter that I don't know you personally. I know if you're reading this now, you are lucky to have access to the technology to make a difference in your life.

It is not only the difference you make to your life, but the impact you have on those around you.

It is in your best interest to improve your life because you will awaken other people's greatest potential too.

Imagine how great it is to be the creator of your own journey and that of others?

To live a remarkable life, you must take consistent action in spite of your fears and doubts. Download a    FREE copy of my motivational eBook, NAVIGATE LIFE and embark upon your journey of greatness today!

How To Apply The Four Noble Truths For A Better Life


By Ada Porat

What are the Four Noble Truths? In short, they represent the Buddha's fundamental teaching that liberates humans from suffering. These four truths can be summarized as follows:

1. Life Inherently Contains Suffering And Struggle

Life involves struggle, frustration and suffering in both obvious and subtle forms. Even when things appear peaceful externally, we do not experience permanent satisfaction in anything but may feel an undercurrent of internal anxiety and uncertainty. This is the inherent problem of existence.

2. Craving Is The Cause Of Suffering

The cause of suffering is craving that stems from ignorance. We suffer because we tend to blame our difficulties on things outside ourselves. We resist the truth that life is impermanent and change is constant - instead, we grow frustrated when the world doesn't behave the way we think it should and life doesn't conform to our expectations. We try to push away some things while grasping for others. This process of attachment and resistance stems from our desire for life to be different from what it is and causes suffering.

3. Suffering Stops When Craving Ends

Since we are ultimately the ones that cause our own suffering by perpetuating the cycle of craving and resistance, we also have the power to end our suffering. Even when life is unpredictable and impermanent, we can change the way we respond to it. By awakening to the true nature of our timeless souls, we can end the chase after external satisfaction and permanence, and so end the suffering. In the awakened mind, it is not the suffering that ceases, but the craving.

4. There's A Path Out Of Suffering

By embracing the path of right living, we can awaken to our Higher nature. This path involves ethical living, developing wisdom and discernment, and adhering to a personal practice that supports our emerging consciousness. This personal journey of awakening frees us from suffering and ultimately leads to enlightenment.

Most of us struggle with the practical application of these Four Noble Truths. Our human tendency is to avoid all pain and suffering, which only perpetuates our struggle.

Instead, I suggest that we look at the Four Noble Truths as recommendations for right living; guidelines to help us navigate life's challenges more effectively. By presenting the Four Noble Truths as practical guidelines for living, they become powerful tools to guide our responses to life.

Practical Application with AREA

I propose using the acronym AREA to remember the structure of the Four Noble Truths in practical ways: Accept Life As Is, Release Reactivity, End Grasping, and Act Appropriately.

When we respond to these Four Noble Truths in appropriate ways, they will indeed expand our inner area of spaciousness and peace, and ultimately expand the area or scope of our True nature.

Accept Life As Is

When we allow conscious awareness to infuse everything we do, we become more tolerant. We no longer interpret everything that does not go our way as a personalized attack on our ego selves; instead, we recognize it for simply being a part of life. When we experience a setback, we can see it as an opportunity for learning and growth; not as something unfair to be judged or avoided.

The Course in Miracles teaches that it is the meaning or interpretation we give to things, that makes them appear as good or bad; in truth, it simply is a part of life. Embracing the very impermanence of life can foster in us a deeper appreciation for the fleeting and precious nature of each moment.

Release Reactivity

Human neurobiology makes it virtually impossible for us to constantly maintain a state of inner equilibrium without spiritual awareness. Our senses are continuously providing feedback through physical symptoms, emotions, thoughts and feelings. Equilibrium requires us to be with reactivity in a different way: learning how to respond instead of to react. We stop the cycle of reactivity by understanding that sensory feedback loops are valuable messages to respond to; not interference to react to, judge, resist or avoid.

When we experience physical symptoms or pain, our innate reactivity may prompt us to either resist the symptoms with medication or to grasp for some miracle cure outside of ourselves. Instead, perhaps it would be more meaningful to first dialogue with the symptoms for a deepened understanding of what they're trying to tell us; and once we understand the deeper message, we'll be able to respond appropriately so the messenger can be released. This process of responding instead of reacting allows us to create more inner space for growth in consciousness.

End Grasping

It is essential to learn how to respond to life's difficulties with an open mind, free from the conditioned behaviors of judgment, fear or craving. This inner attitude of non-attachment frees us from the endless cycles of attachment and aversion to offer us genuine freedom and inner peace instead. The Sedona Method puts it this way: "Embrace that which you resist, and surrender that to which you cling."

Relinquishing our positionalities rewards us with freedom from craving. Positionalities are in truth nothing other than learned behaviors and limiting beliefs, so relinquishing them truly opens up space for us to thrive.

Act Appropriately

In shamanic traditions, appropriate action is referred to as "right living." Appropriate action requires conscious awareness of our inner motives, beliefs and reactions. It nurtures the development of the observer/witness, or our Soul self. It is in aligning with this Higher aspect of being, that we are transformed to live from our full potential.

The more we fine-tune our responses to life appropriately reflect our Higher nature, the more inner freedom, peace and joy we experience. This is the core of all personal growth. Creating a path of appropriate action nourishes us at all levels and honors our true purpose in life - the embodiment of our Higher nature.

Using AREA can serve as a practical reminder to keep us aligned with the Four Noble Truths. The result is more inner peace, harmony and joy.

Ada Porat is a kinesiologist, life coach and energy healer with extensive international teaching and clinical experience. She uses proven mind-body-spirit tools to help clients navigate life transitions, overcome health challenges and find renewed meaning in life. Her free monthly newsletter, Soul Food, offers practical tools for abundant living.    https://www.AdaPorat.com

Joomla or WordPress? Tough Choices For Your Website


By Rob Stephen

Choosing a great content management system (CMS) is the toughest decision for website owners as wrongly chosen CMS can easily backfire later. WordPress and Joomla are undeniably the two most demanded frameworks in the market, but which of them is ahead in making a tailored solution is worth knowing. While both are obvious in their purpose, the choice depends on your business goals, purpose and obviously the budget. So, choosing any one of them need prior consideration and discretion. The following points compare WordPress and Joomla on the basis of technical qualities to help you understand which one reigns to be the best choice of framework for your next web project.

#1 Ease-of-use

WordPress is known for its straightforward approach and simple user interface. WordPress powered site can be used by anyone with minimal technical expertise. It is user-friendly with most menus, navigation options within a hand's reach. Similarly, there are no as such hard and fast rules of using Joomla. It features a comprehensive control panel that lets users or website owners to manage all modules from one place.

#2 Flexibility and customisation potential

When it comes to comparing WordPress plugins with that of Joomla's extensions, the latter is definitely a winner. While there are 12,000+ plugins available in WordPress, Joomla has a whopping number of 6000 extensions. Thus, Joomla offers better flexibility to when it is about customizing a site to meet up to the requirements of clients.

#3 Security

While both the softwares have high-end security and can assist the owners to respond to all vulnerabilities in the security, Joomla has more advanced extensions to offer for creating backups and supports only authorised access. It has dual options to force connections and over SSL and 2FA, on the dashboard and also has its own extensive extensions for security. Used by a huge number of big brand and companies, Joomla is no doubt a more reliable framework.

#4 SEO (Search Engine Optimisation)

In the aspect SEO, both the platforms are advanced capabilities. However, Joomla slightly outruns WordPress in this front too. It offers the option to the website owners or developers to set Meta descriptions as well as keywords. Joomla's Easy Frontend SEO (EFSEO) empowers them to carry out different SEO related tasks directly on the front-end like editing meta details.

User-friendly, beginner-friendly, extensive customisation, and massive online community, altogether make Joomla to triumph over WordPress and other popular CMSes known. Powering millions of websites, it is especially proven as the best CMS solution for complex, large-scale web applications and also intranets that needs people to interact on a local interface.

Rob Stephen is one of senior experienced Joomla developers in Australia who works for PHPProgrammers, a visionary web development company that offers dynamic web solutions using an array of PHP frameworks and languages, CMSes, and JavaScript. You can follow the    Facebook page to know more about their expertise services and stay updated with latest development trends.

Gandhi As A Human Ecologist


By Arijah Siddiqui

John S. Moolakkattu has briefly stated the well-known human ecological factors in his article. He has given an introduction and summarized the description of each of those factors that are contributing to the environment either it be negatively or positively. He then also mentioned the basic delineation caused by both western and eastern civilization. A connection through his writing is built between Gandhi and ecology plus environment. The written piece basically discusses how Gandhi's views on environment emerge from the outcomes of the basic economic structure of the third world countries. Along with this, Moolakkattu also elaborated Gandhi's vision and its importance with relevant ideologies and development stages of the humanitarian society. Depletion of natural resources and more strong propagandas of market liberals are in full swing whereas, Gandhi has a mentality in complete opposition to this that's why Moolakkattu do not consider Gandhi as a complete liberal approach personality.

In this article, John S. Moolakkattu has stressed upon several rhetorical devices to focus on Mahatma Gandhi views of this contemporary world, where he has indulged in the environment, development, and ecology. The article clearly shows how Gandhi had widely anticipated on most of the environmental issues that we are facing in today's world. If we look from today's perspective, Gandhi cannot be appropriately seen as a proper strong 'environmentalist'. Moolakkattu's analysis of Gandhi's ecology and environment contains a critical view of prognosis and alerts. He also contemplated needs that were centered on the limitations presented by Mahatma Gandhi on his views of environmentalism along with development. According to what Moolakkattu has stated as a descriptive scrutiny of Gandhi as an ecologist, he was forced to consider Gandhi's approach as a bio environmentalist with a little touch of institutionalist. Gandhi somehow opposes globalization and calls for the dismantling of global structures by encouraging the local community.

According to Gandhi, "A certain degree of physical harmony and comfort is necessary, but, above a certain level, it becomes a hindrance instead of help. Therefore, the idea of creating an unlimited number of wants and satisfying them seems to be a delusion and a snare." This statement of Gandhi filtered him from a market liberal worldview on the environment. John. S Moolakkattu believes that Gandhi does not agree to rapid economic growth, pursue short-term profits, and rise in economic standards of the society, contributing to a better environment. The author after analyzing the mentality of Gandhi, explains a better version of why Gandhi had a non-market liberal approach with undermining contexts and extracts related to him. Exemplified in the human ecological perspective, Moolakkattu also explains why Gandhi is also considered as an environmentalist critically. He explains that Gandhi always views all spheres of human life in an integrated approach that led to more focus and significance of human ecological systems.

John S. Moolakkattu views Gandhi on the basis of environmentalism in the Southern world, especially the developing countries and nations. Gandhi knew that his nation was going through an 'Empty-Belly' phenomenon, due to which he had to take his environmental values to a straight path. Moolakkattu used to appeal to emotion as a rhetorical tool where he declared a sense of relationship and emotions between Gandhi and his people's well-being. Gandhi believes that discrimination, the rural-urban ratio, globalization, access to natural resources without being called the producers, were the main causes of this decline in environmental development. This interconnection between environment, development, sustainability, survival, and peace is the real essence of Gandhian environmental approach as described by Moolakkattu. Industrialization, economic progress with the generation of profits, and exploitation of human lives were at odds for Gandhi.

Moolakkattu's explanation of Gandhi's ideology shows that Gandhi was a man against colonization and European lead along with British empowerment in the industrial and economic sector in South Asia. The ways through which the western region of the world is trying to persuade while spending billions of dollars by setting up industries and productivity houses in common areas of South Asia and in countries with low economy shows that Gandhi's prediction of this is somehow becoming a fact. Gandhi was greatly influenced by Buddhism and Jainism. The reason behind his influence was the representation of nature as a living entity. There were several western thinkers with anomalous philosophies about human and environment that frightened Gandhi and directed his moment of realization towards building a relationship between human and environment because, without humans, the environment might not exist in any form. An essence of romanticism and a bit of hatred for industrialization and creating urban structures is found in Gandhi's blacklisted factors contributing to environmental destruction.

Critically if analyzed, Gandhi possesses a moderate and neutral way of approach when considering the environment. This article clearly expresses Gandhi's views on environmentalism, however, a better image of Gandhi's perspective could have been demonstrated if more statistics and graphics were used. There should be proper in-text and out-text relevant citations and links to references that might help the reader and audience to develop a sense of harmonic balance between Gandhi's bio-environmentalist and institutionalist sides. The author should have taken this into consideration that Gandhi's non-market liberal approach could have been more effectively designed by using shreds of evidence from Gandhi's personal experiences of life to help in developing a clearer image of his opposition to globalization and urbanization. Gandhi has served as a political leader, the article could form better rhetoric and communication if links were made to contrast between his sides as a political leader and then as a common man so that the audience may learn how and what factors from a human side lead to sustainable environment and how does human life influence the changes in Earth's atmosphere and rise in temperature as well.

I am a Pakistani undergraduate student, currently enrolled in the program of Bachelors of Science in "Social Development and Policy from Habib University, the batch of the year 2020", I have authored several articles at Ezine Articles along with that I have my own blog named as "The Just In". I also write for "The Sindh Times" and http://www.Parhlo.com.

Frankenstein And Boule De Suif - Differences Between Romanticism And Realism As Aesthetic Movements


By Arijah Siddiqui

Romanticism and Frankenstein

Romanticism in Frankenstein is surely visible through the dominance of the plot where events with drama lay. There is an intrigued structure of unlike events that take place in this novel. Mary Shelley has narrated the story very beautifully through words and metaphoric comparison of happenings. The novel consists of metaphoric significance and exaggeration in expression.

Romanticism is imposed as a literary movement in this novel where the reader is forced to create images and visionary imaginations to feel the actual essence of the event taking place. Mary Shelley has captured sublime of moments and has represented them through words. When the audience read the text, they are able to create collective imagination in order to understand new ways of interpreting the world and humans of the society where they live in. The more personal are the experiences, the better is the representation. However, the story of Frankenstein was not the personal experience of the author but still, she was able to craft this piece of romantic text with initiating gothic elements to make it more fascinating and redefining the text.

The novel portrays a quest for something unusual i.e. Victor Frankenstein's quest for creating a living organism out of something raw. He reflects romanticism by making an effort for the creation of a human-like object. Victor Frankenstein wants to be God-like and creator of the unknown. Hence, it is strange and exotic for him to be a dreamer willing to control the world with unattainable idealization. Romanticism, however, in Frankenstein includes the strive against norms of the society, set of discourse for limitations and boundaries. As the way, Victor Frankenstein wants to cross all the limitations and boundaries, regardless of the duties assigned to him, in order to play a God-like character to accomplish the impossible which led him to imply methods full of frustration and overstepping. The novel explains the idea of imperfection and non-ideal availability of the solution to any social experiment taking place.

Romanticism suggests that nature and plot of a story are of high importance for better understanding of textual situation and establishment of the physical qualities of the characters in the novel and thus, same happens in Frankenstein. Characters in Frankenstein will unwrap as when the readers will proceed reading. Each time the reader will read a successive chapter, a new character will appear.

The plot and setting in Frankenstein symbolize the essentiality of relative themes in the novel. As a romantically gothic novel, the setting in Frankenstein is of Orkney. Orkney is an exotic setting with dark, barren, rough, and greyish environmental conditions. It is more of a dirty and dusty plot. In the novel, Victor Frankenstein and his family live in a beautiful world of harsh realities whereas, the monster is created in Orkney. The author uses imageries to create a contrast between the hills of Switzerland and Orkney to assist the art of appropriate pairing of characters and the setting plot.

Considering the main focus of the novel i.e. the monster, an object that lacks in speech, physical abilities, and faces rejections multiple times, tries very hard to develop a relationship with the humans of the society, the environment but then soon realizes the differences between himself and the rest.

The novel leads to no such happy ending but a powerful message that there is no such thing as accepting the unusual. It is completely impossible to fight against the set roles and norms of the society. The novel belongs to an exemplary form from the romantic tenure, stylized hugely with more fantasizing approach than realistic. The story is an allegory for original emotions and experiences of romantic writers with the possibility of two genres. It allows examining yourself, expression of desiring the toughest i.e. impossibility. Shelley does not philosophize her own experiences in the text, instead, she leaves questions to the readers about an ethical and moral quest.

Realism and Boule de Suif

Boule de Suif, also known as the ball of fat, is quite different from Frankenstein. In this story, there are more dominant characters with strong characterization and easy visualization. There is the presence of metonymic contiguity among the plot and the characters. Everything is completely defined.

Maupassant starts with developing a vision of the plot during the nineteenth century. It is the earliest moments of the Prussian invasion when troops of French citizens started escaping towards the coast. The author's strong tools of rhetoric I.e imagery and developing photographic memories enables him to present a power of emotions in this masterpiece. The author provides sense to the readers for visualization. Maupassant constructs a realistic social hierarchy inside the coach which was later outraged by the tension created. The hierarchy includes two nuns who are very less involved in any sort of scandal, a prostitute i.e. Boule de Suif who earns through immoral ethics and means, a democrat who follows a leftist ideology, and a few socially respectable elite individuals. But all of this social hierarchy is crashed when they are offered food and drinks by the selfless Boule de Suif and then everyone is on equal footing.

The character of Boule de Suif is symbolizing as portray of a very deep message throughout the story that is understood by her acts and not her words. Maupassant detailed an incisive depiction of her as a prostitute in his text. The author also unfolds numerous scandals faced by the people in the coach despite their societal value in the hierarchy. The elite people are seemed not to care for their respect and honour as they accept the offering of food from Boule de Suif and then they force her to commit immoral act as the only way to get rescue from the Prussian army. Maupassant explains the characteristic of greediness and selfishness among the people in the real world. This is the realistic view of human nature as corruptive and arrogant, not undertaking the high morality ground too. Boule de Suif's state of being promiscuous leads to a confusion as she confronts to possess moral codes of ethics. She has rules set for her and she stands for whatever she believes. Her profession on one side is to bring the pleasure of utilitarianism to a vast number of individuals but on the other hand, she refuses to sleep with an enemy and serve him to free herself and her companions. Over here, she seems to be morally troubled.

On many stages in this story, realism is expressed in terms of manipulation and emotional hazard. There is a comparison between acts of lowering morality and acts of increasing morality of all the social classes. Maupassant wants to alarm the readers to recognize the ostentation of the society by using convoluted realistic methodology. Maupassant uses language as a symbol of emotions, characterization, and piteousness.

Boule de Suif also goes through a great emotional damage when she fulfills the needs of the enemy by the pressurization of her companions but still gets nothing in return except shame and taunts for being immoral. She is the antihero of the story, the weakest and not at all powerful. The author coined her the name "Boule de Suif" for her being soft, fat, short, but a fringy prostitute.

I am a Pakistani undergraduate student, currently enrolled in the program of Bachelors of Science in "Social Development and Policy from Habib University, the batch of the year 2020", I am an author of several articles at Ezine Articles along with that I have my own blog named as "The Just In". I also write for "The Sindh Times" and http://www.Parhlo.com.

Delivery Route: A Desirable Small Business


By Rick Coomer

One desirable business that has become a gold mine in the franchising world is the delivery route. Delivery routes are profit generating investments which are very lucrative and industrious. They give you the opportunity to be your own boss. Most routes aren't sold with just an established book of business but also with all the equipment needed to do the work. This means that the route starts generating income the moment it's bought. In most cases, you get to adjust your delivery schedule to suit your needs. The delivery business allows you to write off many business expenses and gives you the chance to add stops to your routes so as to help it grow.

Types of Routes

We have two main types: protected and independent route

Protected: This type of route comes with the protection of the location and a single supplier. It includes protected stops and protected territory. A protected stop means that the owner does not have a specific territory but only a specific location. The owner has the assurance that no one who distributes the same product can enter or sell to your specific location while a protected territory gives its owner the guarantee that nobody distributing the same product can enter the territory or geographical area of the route. examples of protected routes that come with geographic territorial boundaries are Wised. Pepsi and FedEx which are usually household names.

Independent: An independent route comes with high flexibility. That can receive products from as many suppliers has it wants thus giving the route ability to provide a variety of products at the different prices. Their diversity of products guarantees the best prices. Generally, independent routes offer higher nets for lower profits. Independent routes include vending machine, bread, snacks, meat, cakes, and provisions routes.

Finding a Route

Investing in a delivery business starts with the purchase of a route. the process of finding the best route to invest on can be pretty demanding and time-consuming. There are some websites which create listings and also provides leads for different types of    business routes. However, if you have a particular route in mind, you can always purchase directly from the company.

Funding options for Routes

One major challenge which you might face when engaging in the business is funding. Once you have decided on the particular route you want to own, you will be faced with various funding options. You might decide to obtain a home equity loan, a personal loan, or a second mortgage. Another funding option is the use of the ROBS solution (Rollover as Business Startups). This solution does not only enable you to access your retirement funds but also tax-deferred and penalty free. The moment an established route shows profits, it's natural for owners to choose to expand to new territories. Thus, it's good to have funds readily available in other to be able to purchase new routes once they become available.

IDA serves all the needs of Independent Route Delivery Drivers. We offer up to 30% savings on Commercial Auto and General Liability Insurance. We offer fast & accurate Business Formation services for route delivery drivers who work with the bread and snack industry in USA.

Trust Invisible Braces To Straighten Your Teeth Without Brackets And Wires


By Alex Sharma

Misaligned teeth are bad for your oral health. They can ruin the smile and impact facial aesthetics in a significant manner. Unless they are fixed, your smile will continue to look compromised. Metal braces are although a popular way to straighten the teeth, they are not deemed cool and new-age. More importantly, they are quite visible and the wearer can feel a sense of discomfort out of that. On the other hand, children and teens want a type of brace that does not dilute the smile and neither does it impact facial glow. This is where the invisible system comes to help.

Such a system is developed for younger age group so that those belonging to it feel confident in wearing the braces. With this type of system, it's possible to straighten the teeth even without requiring any use of metal brackets and wires. In this type of aligners, clear and rigid plastic is used which keeps the stuff from being seen easily. They are created only after taking the impression of the teeth, so any chances of misfit don't arise at all. Plus, they are removable and one can take them out when there is a need to eat something.

Similarly, maintaining oral hygiene with such braces is easy as you can take them off and brush the teeth with confidence. However, your dentist would advise you to keep wearing these braces for longer hours to achieve the intended results and align the teeth in a timely manner. These aligners are designed in a way to exert pressure on the teeth and bring them into right position in a gradual manner over a period of time. In general, it takes around one and half year max in getting the teeth straightened with the use of aligners and restore their normal functionality.

With invisible braces, you can expect people to not make out easily that you're wearing them. You will additionally have the freedom to eat favorite foods as any risk to breaking brackets or bending wires is out of equation. You can remove them and enjoy whatever it feels like and then put them on again to continue with the life. Similarly, there will be absolutely no issue with brushing and flossing between brackets and wires. So, you can give right care to your teeth and maintain oral health easily. You will get more comfort out of the invisible braces compare to metal braces.

In the same way, those who go for invisible braces tend to have fewer dental visits as adjustments to metals and wires are not needed here. Plus, you can smile more confidently knowing well that no metal will be seen by others around. This is how invisible braces are seen as a source of confidence when someone has alignment concerns in their teeth. You can thus choose the right braces and get corrected your dental alignment problems and start spreading the sweetness of your smile. It will bring quality in life and your self-esteem will get a boost.

This article is written by Alex Sharma who is obsessed with Health and Food. He loves to read new article and enjoys spending time alone. He works with LoveNationalDental which is best Dentist    family dentist new york.

Why Leaders Need A BUDGET


By Richard Brody

One of the most challenging aspect, of, becoming a quality, relevant, effective, sustainable leader, is to realistically recognize, understand, and properly address, the specific financial needs, priorities, and challenges, of the specific organization, in a responsible manner! A key challenge and/ or obstacle to this, is being able to take raw data, and use it, in an orderly, relevant, manner, so the organization, will grow responsibly, and enjoy the best possible, foreseeable, sustainable future. In order to achieve this necessary objective, leaders must understand, as much about financial reality, and budgeting, as it relates to the group, and, thus, only when a true, realistic BUDGET, is created, and utilized, do groups benefit. With that in mind, this article will attempt to review and consider some of these ingredients, using the mnemonic approach.

1. Basis; basics; benefits: Will you understand, the necessary, basis of your budget, and whether, it realistically considers, and addresses, the needs, goals, objectives, and priorities, of the organization, in order to achieve the best possible results? Until you master the basics of doing so, your organization will be challenged, to enjoy the benefits, it should be receiving and distributing!

2. Useful; usable; urgent: Budgets must be useful to the group, in order to effectively plan, in the best way, for a relevant, sustainable future! How will your information be meaningful, and usable, prioritizing the most urgent matters, and focusing on making the organization, the best, it might possibly be?

3. Delve deeply; deliver: Go beyond simplistic, surface issues, and delve deeply, into doing what's best, rather than merely easiest, or the path - of - least resistance! Using and considering as many financial implications and potential ramifications, as possible, positions a leader, to under - promise, and consistently, over - deliver!

4. Generate goodwill; growth: When finances are handled properly, groups become capable of focusing on generating goodwill, and seeking the necessary degree of growth, which makes a difference, for the better! Far too often, pseudo - leaders pay too much attention to current obstacles, considering them urgent problems, rather than challenges, to overcome!

5. Empathy; emphasis; energies: There is often, a fine - line, between responsible financial behavior, and ignoring the needs, goals, priorities and perceptions, of constituents. When a leader commits to effectively listening, and learning from every conversation and experience, he proceeds with the degree of genuine empathy, which permits him, to create a budget, with the proper emphasis! This process tells a leader, where to place his energies.

6. Timeline; timely: When a leader creates a responsible, responsive timeline, focused on worthwhile objectives, he proceeds, in a well - considered, timely manner!

If you want to lead, understand how a BUDGET, might make you, a better leader! Will you commit to the process?

Richard has owned businesses, been a COO, CEO, Director of Development, consultant, professionally run events, consulted to thousands of leaders, and conducted personal development seminars, for 4 decades. Rich has written three books and thousands of articles. His company, PLAN2LEAD, LLC has an informative website http://plan2lead.net and Plan2lead can also be followed on Facebook http://facebook.com/Plan2lead

5 Financial Considerations For Better Event Planning


By Richard Brody

Nearly everyone should agree, making an event, a meaningful, significant, well - accepted, happening, is, often, quite challenging! Most organizations depend upon events, either for fundraising purposes, organizational ones, and/ or some combination of these. While some think of these, merely as things, smart leaders understand, and realize, the difference between successful ones, and the rest - of - the - pack, is how fully, and well - planned, they are! With that in mind, this article will attempt to consider, review, analyze, and discuss, how financial factors, impact the results, and, specifically, look at 5 specific considerations, when used effectively, will generally produce, far better, event planning, results.

1. Begin by creating priorities: Before you proceed, consider fully, and create priorities, based on what you seek to achieve, and why! How will you know, what makes your event, a successful one? Is the goal, raising revenues, attracting new members, inspiring and motivating existing ones, organizational/ structural, or some combination of these? If you don't begin this way, how will you possibly, achieve relevant objectives, and get, the most, bang - for - the - buck?

2. Negotiate accordingly: Based on your needs, priorities, and objectives, consider, create, and develop, a relevant, realistic budget. Under - estimate revenues, and think of expenditures, in terms of the worst - case scenario! Do this before considering the venue, specific format, etc, because, unless you plan properly, and prepare accordingly, from a financial perspective, you will end up, fixated on costs, and become unable, to, think outside - the - box! When you negotiate, never pre - select one venue, but, rather, create competitors, and use a properly prepared, Request for Proposal, or RFP, to clearly present your needs, and budgeting limitations, and get a responsible approach!

3. Win - win negotiating: Far too often, pseudo - leaders, or amateur negotiators, either reveal too much, or exaggerate what they offer to the venue. When there is a balance, each side pursues an empathetic, win - win approach, sharing the risks, costs, and savings, when they effectively work together, towards achieving a mutually successful event!

4. Under - promise/ over - deliver: Both, in terms of negotiating strategy, and the way you pre - communicate and market the event, the wisest strategy is to under - promise, and over - deliver! Although you might attract more attendees, by stretching - the - truth, relevant, sustainable results, require those who attend, to depart, feeling they have spent their time, energy, and resources, effectively!

5. Understand the bottom - line: Event planners must, realistically, understand and appreciate the bottom - line, including both, sources and amounts of probable revenues, as well as expenses/ expenditures. Unless the financial aspect of any event is sustainable, how might it possibly, be deemed a success?

Professional event planning begins with financial considerations, and a thorough understanding of the impacts and ramifications. If you want better, more relevant and sustainable events, follow this process.

Richard has owned businesses, been a COO, CEO, Director of Development, consultant, professionally run events, consulted to thousands of leaders, and conducted personal development seminars, for 4 decades. Rich has written three books and thousands of articles. His company, PLAN2LEAD, LLC has an informative website http://plan2lead.net and Plan2lead can also be followed on Facebook http://facebook.com/Plan2lead

How Leaders Develop PLANS


By Richard Brody

After more than four decades of involvement, in nearly every aspect of leadership, I have become convinced, nothing meaningful occurs, until/ unless, a specific leader, truly learns, and develops the essential skill, of quality, relevant, effective planning! However, while this may seem obvious, it is often challenging to find an individual, willing to spend the time, maintain the commitment, and persistence, to consider options and alternatives, as well as needs, goals and priorities, and develop PLANS, which will have the best opportunity, to make a difference, for the better. With that in mind, this article will attempt to briefly consider, evaluate, and discuss, using the mnemonic approach, some of what goes into, doing so, effectively, and relevantly.

1. Priorities; perceptions; process: Perhaps the most essential component of beginning this process, in a meaningful way, is taking the time, and making the effort, to discover the necessities and priorities, and pursue them, in the best interests of the organization, and constituents, rather than because of any personal agenda, and/ or, self - interest! It is important to be certain, your perceptions, align with those of the people, you serve and represent, and, you address these, in a proactive way.

2. Listen; learn; leadership: If you wish to demonstrate quality, meaningful leadership, it's important to have the willingness and discipline, to listen, far more than you speak, and learn, from every conversation, and experience! Only then, will others care about your plans, in a sufficient manner, to get more involved, and become committed, to a far greater degree!

3. Attention; aptitude; attitude; articulate: Many are challenged to pay sufficient attention, to options, alternatives, needs, priorities, and perceptions, before creating, developing, and implementing one's plans! The combination of a relevant, well - developed, aptitude, and skill - set, combined with a true, positive, can - do, attitude, often, makes a world of difference. One only gets others to buy - into his plans, when he effectively articulates his reasons, in a compelling, inspiring, motivating manner!

4. Needs: Until/ unless, planning is based on, the needs, goals, and priorities, of those you represent (and, hopefully, serve)! Why should anyone care about your approach, if you don't address, what they consider, priorities?

5. System; service; sustainable solutions: A leader's highest priority must be to be, of - service, to his constituents, and make his group, stronger and better! This means, effectively, planning, perceiving and conceiving of, creating, developing, and implementing, a system, with a strategic and action plan, focused on the finest, sustainable solutions!

It's not enough to claim, you have a plan, but rather, quality leaders perceive and conceive of, create, develop, and implement, PLANS, which focus on relevant, sustainable change, for the better! Will you be up to this task?

Richard has owned businesses, been a COO, CEO, Director of Development, consultant, professionally run events, consulted to thousands of leaders, and conducted personal development seminars, for 4 decades. Rich has written three books and thousands of articles. His company, PLAN2LEAD, LLC has an informative website http://plan2lead.net and Plan2lead can also be followed on Facebook http://facebook.com/Plan2lead

Snowball Planets


By Judith E Braffman-Miller

Today, Earth is located comfortably within the inner edge of our Star's habitable zone, where conditions are favorable for the emergence and evolution of life as we know it. However, this has not always been the case. Indeed, some astronomers propose that in the early days of our Solar System, our planet was an enormous "snowball". According to the Snowball Earth model, our planet's surface was entirely--or almost entirely--frozen over at least once, sometime earlier than 650 million years ago. In May 2018, a team of planetary scientists announced their new findings that the ancient Earth was probably not the only jumbo "snowball" to inhabit the Cosmos. This is because aspects of an otherwise Earth-like planet's tilt and orbital dynamics can have a very destructive influence on its potential habitability, even triggering abrupt "snowball" eras where oceans freeze over and surface life is impossible.

According to new research from astronomers at the University of Washington, Seattle, merely locating a planet in its parent-star's habitable zone is not sufficient to designate it as a potentially life-friendly world. The habitable zone surrounding a star, like our own Sun, is that "Goldilocks" region of space where temperatures are not too hot, not too cold, but just right to encourage the emergence of life.

In our own Solar System, the planet Venus is a case in point. Venus has traditionally been designated as Earth's "twin", but if Venus is our planet's twin, it is an evil one. Even though Venus is located within that swath of interplanetary space considered to be the habitable zone surrounding our Sun, it is an Earth-sized ball of hell. Venus, even though it is almost the same size as our own comfortable planet, as well as its near neighbor in interplanetary space, is the victim of a runaway greenhouse effect. Venus is much hotter than it should be--in fact, it has the hottest surface of any planet in our Sun's family. It is even hotter than the innermost major planet, Mercury, that is situated much closer to our Star. This horrific heat causes the rocks on the surface of Venus to glow with an eerie red hue, similar to that of toaster coils. In addition, Venus's heavy blanketing atmosphere causes the pressure on its surface to be so extreme and merciless that any unfortunate life-form there would be instantly crushed.

Of course, extreme cold can be just as destructive as extreme heat. Earth experienced several Proterozoic Snowball (glaciation) periods in its early history.

Fire And Ice

Our Solar System emerged from assorted fragments left over from the long-dead nuclear-fusing cores of previous generations of ancient stars. Our Star, the Sun was born within a particularly dense blob embedded within a giant, cold, and dark molecular cloud. These beautiful, ghostly clouds float around our Milky Way Galaxy in great numbers, and they serve as the bizarre cradles of newborn stars (protostars). Although it may seem counterintuitive, things have to get very cold in order for a protostar to be born. In the secretive depths of these swirling clouds, composed of gas and dust, slender and fragile threads of material merge and clump together slowly, growing for hundreds of thousands of years. Ultimately, crushed together relentlessly by the intense squeeze of gravity, hydrogen atoms existing within this dense blob rapidly, dramatically, and suddenly fuse. This lights the protostar's stellar flames, that will rage brilliantly, casting starlight into the Universe for as long as the new baby star lives.

Our Galaxy's stars, our own Sun included, were all born this way--as the end result of the gravitational collapse of a particularly dense blob embedded in the undulating folds of a giant, frigid, dark molecular cloud.

Today, our Sun is a middle-aged, main-sequence (hydrogen-burning) star on the Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram of Stellar Evolution. As stars go, it is rather ordinary. It was born about 4.56 billion years ago, as a glittering newborn member of a dense open star cluster--along with thousands of other sparkling sibling stars. Many astronomers propose that our Sun was either unceremoniously evicted from its natal cluster, or that it simply peacefully drifted away from its stellar siblings about 4.5 billion years ago--when it was a mere youngster. The long-lost solar siblings have by now drifted off to more remote areas of our Milky Way. Like other open star clusters, our Sun's natal cluster fell apart as time passed.

Stars, like people, do not live forever. In another 5 billion years, or so, our Sun's starlight will go out. A star of our Sun's mass "lives" for approximately 10 billion years. As our Sun perishes, it will first evolve into a gigantic red giant star, before it finally winds up as a form of very dense stellar corpse called a white dwarf. A white dwarf is the relic core of a once-"living" progenitor star, and these very dense objects are surrounded by a beautiful, multicolored, gleaming shroud composed of gases that were once part of the progenitor star's outer layers of gas. Indeed, these objects--called planetary nebulae--are so beautiful that they are frequently referred to as the "butterflies" of the Universe.

As our Sun evolves into a bloated red giant, it will incinerate some of its planetary offspring--first Mercury, then Venus, and then possibly Earth. As our angry red, dying Sun swells to monstrous proportions, the habitable zone surrounding it will move outward. In the end, our bloated Sun will have swollen to the point that it will convert the frozen inhabitants of the Kuiper Belt into tropical paradises. The Kuiper Belt is currently the home of a multitude of frozen comet nuclei and icy dwarf planets--such as Pluto and its large moon Charon--and it circles our Sun beyond the orbit of the outermost major planet, Neptune.

Those astronomers who propose that our Earth was once a giant "snowball" argue that this model best explains the existence of certain sedimentary deposits, that are generally thought to be of glacial origin, at what were palaeolatitudes--as well as some other unexplained features that exist in Earth's geological record. However, scientists who do not favor the Snowball Earth hypothesis think that the implications of the geological evidence for global glaciation, and the geophysical likelihood of an ice or slush-coated ancient ocean, are not very convincing. The opponents of the Snowball Earth model emphasize the difficulty a planet would confront as it attempts to escape from this all-frozen state. A number of mysteries remain to be solved, including whether the Earth was entirely a jumbo "snowball", or was instead a big ball of slush, sporting a slender equatorial band of open water.

The Snowball-Earth eras are thought to have occurred before the rapid spread of multicellular life-forms on our planet, termed the Cambrian explosion. The most recent Snowball era may have actually triggered the evolution of multicellular bioforms--but another, much more ancient and longer Snowball era--called the Huronian glaciation (which would have occurred between 2300 to 2100 million years ago) may have resulted from the first appearance of oxygen in our ancient planet's atmosphere. This is referred to as the Great Oxygenation Event.

Snowballs In Space

Dr. Russell Deitrick, a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Bern in Switzerland, explained in a May 14, 2018 University of Washington Press Release that he and his team had set out to learn, using supercomputer modeling, how two features--a planet's obliquity or its orbital eccentricity--might play a role in its potential for the emergence of life. The astronomers limited their investigation to planets orbiting within the habitable zones of G dwarf stars--which are those like our Sun. Dr. Deitrick, who did his work with the University of Washington, is lead author of a paper describing this new study to be published in the Astronomical Journal. Dr. Deitrick's co-authors--all of the University of Washington--are atmospheric sciences professor Dr. Cecillia Bitz, astronomy professors Dr. Rory Barnes, Dr. Victoria Meadows and Dr. Thomas Quinn and doctoral student David Fleming, with additional help from undergraduate researcher Caitlyn Wilhelm.

A planet's obliquity refers to its tilt relative to the orbital axis, which is what determines the planet's seasons. Orbital eccentricity refers to the shape, and how circular or elliptical (out of round, or oval) the planet's orbit is. With elliptical orbits, the distance to the parent-star alters as the planet travels closer to, and then further from, its stellar parent.

Our own Earth is the only planet that is actually known, at least at present, to host life successfully, as it orbits our Star at an axial tilt of approximately 23.5 degrees--altering only very little over the millennia. However, Dr. Deitrick and his team asked the important question in their new model: What if those tiny alterations were greater for an Earthlike planet in orbit around a star similar to our own Sun?

Earlier research studies suggested that a greater axial tilt, or a tilting orbit, for a planet circling in a Sunlike star's habitable zone (that also orbits its parent-star at the same distance Earth does our Sun) would make the world warmer. For this reason, Dr. Deitrick and his colleagues were surprised when they discovered, through their supercomputer modeling, that the opposite actually seems to be the case.

"We found that planets in the habitable zone could abruptly enter 'snowball' states if the eccentricity or the semi-major axis variations--changes in the distance between a planet and star over an orbit--were large or if the planet's obliquity increased beyond 35 degrees," Dr. Deitrick explained in a May 14, 2018 University of Washington Press Release.

The new research is important because it aids astronomers in sorting out conflicting scenarios that were proposed in the past. It also makes use of a sophisticated method of ice sheet growth and retreat in the planetary modeling. This provides a significant improvement over some earlier studies, co-author Dr. Rory Barnes commented in the same University of Washington Press Release.

"While past investigations found that high obliquity and obliquity variations tended to warm planets, using this new approach, the team finds that large obliquity variations are more likely to freeze the planetary surface. Only a fraction of the time can the obliquity cycles increase habitable planet temperatures," Dr. Barnes continued to explain.

Dr. Barnes added that Dr. Deitrick "has essentially shown that ice ages on exoplanets can be much more severe than on Earth, that orbital dynamics can be a major driver of habitability and that the habitable zone is insufficient to characterize a planet's habitability." He continued to note that the new research also suggests "that the Earth may be a relatively calm planet, climate-wise."

This new form of modeling can also serve the valuable function of helping astronomers decide which planets, that circle stars beyond our Sun, are the best targets for observation--worthy of taking up precious telescope time. "If we have a planet that looks like it might be Earth-like, for example, but modeling shows that its orbit and obliquity oscillate like crazy, another planet might be better for follow-up" with future telescopes, Dr. Deitrick explained in the May 14, 2018 University of Washington Press Release.

Dr. Deitrick added that the primary value of the research is that "We shouldn't neglect orbital dynamics in habitability studies."

Other co-authors of the study are Dr. Benjamin Charnay (LESIA Observatoire de Paris) and Dr. John Armstrong (Weber State University).

Judith E. Braffman-Miller is a writer and astronomer whose articles have been published since 1981 in various magazines, journals, and newspapers. Although she has written on a variety of topics, she particularly loves writing about astronomy because it gives her the opportunity to communicate to others some of the many wonders of her field. Her first book, "Wisps, Ashes, and Smoke," will be published soon.

What's the Point of Reliving My Pain?


By Steve Wickham

Talking about grief, trauma, devastating life events is hard; many people don't see the point. 'Just be happy', 'focus on the future', 'going back there doesn't serve any purpose', 'what's the point of reliving my pain?'

Many people over the past ten years have asked me, in a sort of perplexed way, 'why do you bang on so much about pain and the sad things in life? Shouldn't you focus on more positive things?'

So, why would I write so much on pain and much less on the joys of life?

***

It's because I know that it's only when we DEAL with our pain that true joy comes into view.

***

It's because I know we cannot be truly happy or free without being completely prepared to face our truth - including the very things that came against us to hurt and harm us.

Jesus says, 'The truth will set you free.' (John 8:32)

Many of these things that have come against us we never chose. But they happened. So, there's no point staying resentful or in denial as if we could wish these facts of our lives away by ignoring them.

When we begin to accept the things we cannot change, we're on a trajectory toward true freedom and joy.

It takes courage to live this life well. Little blessing and more ultimate pain is served up for those who meander through without processing their feelings, while much blessing and less ultimate pain is served to those who bravely traverse the truth that life dishes up. Little blessing comes from those who refuse to enter their pain, but much blessing comes from those who face with God what the Lord promises to heal. True servanthood comes out of humbly facing the hurts of life.

Facing the hurts of life is about resolving not to be paralysed anymore by fear. It's fear that stands in the way of freedom. But if we step beyond our fear, which I agree seems to be a massive risk, we stand to be rewarded.

If we cannot face the hurts of life, what happens? We continue along the road to disconnection and ultimately narcissism. Unresolved hurts in us propound our capacity to hurt others. The disconnection of emotional emptiness refuses to meet loved ones in ways they need from us. Without dealing with our pain we cannot empathise, we become more entitled, and we tend to exploit others through manipulation.

***

What's the point of reliving my pain? It is the step necessary to begin the process of healing it.

***

And even if we commence a journey of a thousand miles with a single step, all that's required of us is to keep stepping. That we can do. All the way out of our pain and into a reality of life that accepts pain come what may.

If we enter the process of healing our pain, we do so with the appropriate, wise support; knowledgeable, trustworthy people, listening with you to the Spirit of God, are the best guides.

Imagine, from there, living in a way that anticipates and even expects pain. As we step out of our homes and into the days of our lives, that's God's magnanimous invitation to us all; step bravely into the coming hurts and all will be okay, for the Lord is with us.

Imagine with me the possibility of God's pleasure beyond the pain by allowing pain its inevitable place.

True pleasure makes an acceptable place for pain. Indeed, if we can accept pain, nothing can really harm us.

For further reading, ponder Ecclesiastes 7:1-14.

Steve Wickham holds Degrees in Science, Divinity, and Counselling. Steve writes at: http://epitemnein-epitomic.blogspot.com.au/ and http://tribework.blogspot.com.au/