MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'days'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:56:31 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181896&cid=t_132696_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F09%2F01%2Fcan-a-hurricane-make-you-happy%2F I was in London at Heathrow Airport when I learned that my flight back to Newark, New Jersey was canceled.  More than that, they explained that Newark and all the surrounding airports in the New York City area had been closed because of Hurricane Irene, and that there was no possibility of getting a trans-Atlantic flight for a couple of days. Bummer. To make matters worse, the hotels in London were filled because of an annual carnival in the city.  There were no rooms. Double bummer. The airport staff was stressed because, well, weary travelers were stressed, which made for some unpleasant encounters.  A woman was spewing at the counter in front of me. “I must leave today, leaving tonight or tomorrow isn’t an option.” “I am sorry, the airports are closed tonight and tomorrow. ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181896 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:55:55 +0100 5181896 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182177&cid=t_132696_133_f&fid=39137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.advanceweb.com%2Fblogs%2Fot_9%2Farchive%2F2011%2F09%2F01%2Fso-far-so-good.aspx I almost hate to post anything, because as sure as I do, I might jinx it all, but -- A. has been doing amazingly well in middle school so far. It's weird, because I completely anticipated that my daughter would completely fall to pieces after the first...(read more) (Source: From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism) From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182177 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:35:00 +0100 5182177 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159587&cid=t_132696_133_f&fid=39137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.advanceweb.com%2Fblogs%2Fot_9%2Farchive%2F2011%2F08%2F25%2Ffamily-visits-to-the-lake.aspx A couple of weekends ago, we had a very nice visit with my extended family at the lake. Family visitations are not always easy events for A. They usually involve me placing her in a foreign environment with completely different rules and a sketchy schedule...(read more) (Source: From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism) From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159587 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 21:51:00 +0100 5159587 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159588&cid=t_132696_133_f&fid=39137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.advanceweb.com%2Fblogs%2Fot_9%2Farchive%2F2011%2F08%2F24%2Fmiddle-school-begins.aspx A. has started Middle School, and so far everything has been going extremely well for her. I'm trying not to get too excited, to be perfectly honest. Whenever things change for A., there's always a "honeymoon period" where things go really well for a...(read more) (Source: From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism) From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159588 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:34:00 +0100 5159588 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5140125&cid=t_132696_133_f&fid=39137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.advanceweb.com%2Fblogs%2Fot_9%2Farchive%2F2011%2F08%2F16%2Fi-hate-to-brag-but.aspx One of the things that A. has been doing lately is starting out her sentences with, "I don't mean to brag, but..." or finishing up her statements with, "I'm sorry that I was bragging about that." I suppose that all of our hard work on the positive self-talk...(read more) (Source: From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism) From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5140125 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 10:35:00 +0100 5140125 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069723&cid=t_132696_133_f&fid=39137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.advanceweb.com%2Fblogs%2Fot_9%2Farchive%2F2011%2F07%2F25%2Fteacher-visits-and-sweet-gestures.aspx Yesterday, we arranged for a "playdate" for A., and invited her special education teacher from last year over to the house for a visit. A. had already given Ms. B. a tentative invite before school had ended -- she'd wanted to show her the house, her projects,...(read more) (Source: From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism) From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069723 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 23:53:00 +0100 5069723 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050716&cid=t_132696_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F20%2Fthe-psychology-of-a-heat-wave%2F As the U.S. and Canada enter into a heat wave, I get a lot of questions about how heat impacts human behavior and our moods. So three years ago, I wrote a blog entry that reviews the research about weather affects our moods and behavior. It’s still a good overview of the research in this area and worth the read. But it’s nice to highlight a few points from that article, as well as other research, that demonstrates how the weather — and especially hot weather, in this case — can impact our mood. Does a heat wave lead to more violence? Do we have more or less energy during high humidity? What about depression and anxiety? Read on for the answers. Heat waves come and go nearly every year in some part of the world. What makes them especially difficult for indigenous po... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050716 Wed, 20 Jul 2011 18:32:10 +0100 5050716 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028914&cid=t_132696_133_f&fid=39137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.advanceweb.com%2Fblogs%2Fot_9%2Farchive%2F2011%2F07%2F14%2Fcan-i-speak-to-you-in-private.aspx It's amazing to me how A. always tends to plateau with her development -- she'll go a few months without any real tangible milestones at all, and sometimes she'll even regress a little -- but then she'll just explode out of the blue with a new skill that...(read more) (Source: From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism) From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028914 Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:01:00 +0100 5028914 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968629&cid=t_132696_113_f&fid=22291&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FMedgadget%2F%7E3%2FJOI7iDez7lE%2Fwhen-nih-began-h-stood-for-hygiene.html NIH, the source of so much knowledge and red-tape, had to start somewhere. The Scientist magazine recently published an article on where the organization was in its early days. Think of it like preliminary data for the NIH’s application to exist. As epidemics swept across the United States in the 19th century, the US government recognized the pressing need for a national lab dedicated to the study of infectious disease. In 1887, the government set its sights on a small lab located in the Marine Hospital on Staten Island, New York. Its sole member, 27-year-old Joseph James Kinyoun, belonged to a new generation of scientists and hysicians who were beginning to understand how microscopic organisms underlay the terrible killers of their day, such as smallpox, yellow ever, and Asiatic cho... Medgadget blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968629 Thu, 23 Jun 2011 15:26:21 +0100 4968629 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4953035&cid=t_132696_113_f&fid=22291&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FMedgadget%2F%7E3%2FALPid2D34Q4%2Fhealth-for-sale-exhibit-takes-a-look-at-miracle-cures-from-the-past.html Every day, we’re inundated with ads for the newest devices and pills that claim to improve our well-being. Often times we laugh and scoff at such remedies, but once in a while we’re irresistibly drawn to an ad that creates a picture of a happier you, thanks to a certain product (and only four payments of $9.99). Advertisements for health products is nothing new, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art has an exhibit that showcases posters for health remedies from around the world going as far back as the mid-1800′s that were collected by William H. Helfand. Some have more medical backing than others, but all present an interesting look into medical history. Here’s a description of the exhibit and its collector: In the mid 1950s, William H. Helfand began to collect prints... Medgadget blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4953035 Tue, 21 Jun 2011 16:42:43 +0100 4953035 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952985&cid=t_132696_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F21%2F6-tips-to-help-summer-depression%2F The kids are out of school. Your neighbors are whistling on their way to work, greeting you with an enthusiasm peculiar to warm weather. And if you hear one more person ask you about your summer vacation plans, you will throw a US map and atlas at them. You don’t mean to be grumpy. But darn it, you are miserable in the oppressive heat, your kids are home for 90 consecutive days, and you are don’t have the stamina to pretend you are giddy that summer has arrived. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. After publishing a piece recently about the trigger of Memorial Day for me — reminding me that most of my relapses have happened in the summer months — I’ve heard from so many readers that fear this time of year for the same reason: summer depression. Ian A. Cook, MD, the direc... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952985 Tue, 21 Jun 2011 14:39:48 +0100 4952985 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893556&cid=t_132696_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F03%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-june-3-2011%2F It’s easy to slip into the “coulda, woulda, shouldas” of our lives. There’s the trip you didn’t take. The relationship you might have ended too soon. The career that sits, still waiting to be pursued. And though it maybe difficult to admit, it’s not the boss that held you back or the friend that slighted you. In fact, there’s probably some true to the saying that “you are your own worst enemy.” It’s the weekend again. It’s June. Summer is upon us. Why not take the time to reflect on why you’re holding yourself back? A few days ago, I asked our Facebook friends what’s the best decision they ever made. It was one of our most popular topics and we received responses on everything from living to accepting their life.... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893556 Fri, 03 Jun 2011 11:16:55 +0100 4893556 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4876382&cid=t_132696_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmood-scores-which-day-of-the-week-has-the-lowest-rating%2F2011.05.29 You know that 1979 Boomtown Rats song, “I Don’t Like Mondays.” (This Youtube music video features a very young-looking Bob Geldof.)  The song is about the 1979 shooting spree on a Monday morning at a San Diego elementary school. The shooter’s only state reason for doing it was that she didn’t like Mondays. The silicon chip inside her head Gets switched to overload And nobody’s gonna go to school today She’s gonna make them stay at home It turns out that — contrary to popular impression that Mondays are the worst day of the week — Tuesdays are the worst day of the week.  According to a piece by Chris Hall (@hallicious) on HealthCentral, Tuesdays are the worst day of the week (moodwise) while Sundays are the best. This is based on mood rating s... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4876382 Sun, 29 May 2011 14:00:00 +0100 4876382 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4872346&cid=t_132696_133_f&fid=39137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.advanceweb.com%2Fblogs%2Fot_9%2Farchive%2F2011%2F05%2F27%2Fawards-day.aspx I have a confession to make -- I can actually be a pretty horrible parent sometimes. The annual Awards Day ceremonies at A.'s schools have always been one area where I have completely failed. As a working mother, it's not always been easy for me to take...(read more) (Source: From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism) From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4872346 Fri, 27 May 2011 09:01:00 +0100 4872346 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862632&cid=t_132696_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F24%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-may-24-2011%2F Saturday’s end of the world scare probably didn’t send you in a panic. Or maybe it did. Just a little? I know it wasn’t on my mind until two baristas decided to turn a boring day into an exciting one by counting down the last ten seconds to the end of the world. I started to think about how sad it would be if it were to all end here… before I had the chance to write that book I’ve always wanted to write, travel the world or own a home. A few days later, I began to think about the people in my life that I was unintentionally taking for granted (including me!). It turned a false alarm into an opportunity to revisit my priorities and rethink the way I was treating loved ones in my life. This week’s top posts reminded me of that. I think you will find new co... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862632 Tue, 24 May 2011 10:42:40 +0100 4862632 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862813&cid=t_132696_133_f&fid=39137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.advanceweb.com%2Fblogs%2Fot_9%2Farchive%2F2011%2F05%2F24%2Fthe-silliest-things-make-you-cry-sometimes.aspx When you're the parent of an autistic child, the silliest things make you cry sometimes. Sometimes these are sad cries, like whenever A. was about three years old and she was kicked out of a dance class with the instructor talking down her nose at me,...(read more) (Source: From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism) From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862813 Tue, 24 May 2011 08:42:00 +0100 4862813 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4848004&cid=t_132696_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F20%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-may-20-2011%2F You probably noticed by now, but we’re all excited that it’s not only Mental Health Awareness Month, but a few days ago on May 18, our bloggers participated in blogging for mental health. It’s been a wonderful week spreading information about mental health and busting stigma that still exists on mental illness. Why is spreading mental health awareness and fighting prejudice so important? About ten years ago, I was talking to a college classmate about depression. He was just 20 years old and I was a few years older and several years ahead of him in terms of my experience with mental illness. I had witnessed the impact depression had on my grandfather when I was 16. When the topic of mental illness and depression came up, he passionately voiced his opinions to me. He felt t... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4848004 Fri, 20 May 2011 10:24:20 +0100 4848004 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4797875&cid=t_132696_133_f&fid=39137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.advanceweb.com%2Fblogs%2Fot_9%2Farchive%2F2011%2F05%2F07%2Fbusy-weekends-good-and-bad.aspx It was a very, very busy weekend last weekend, but overall a very, very good one. I knew that the weekend was going to be rather hectic and full of out-of-routine situations for A., so I sat down with her on Friday night to explain everything that was...(read more) (Source: From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism) From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4797875 Sat, 07 May 2011 21:52:00 +0100 4797875 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4794898&cid=t_132696_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F06%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-may-6-2011%2F I took a few days off last week basking in the glow of a rare and beautiful sunny sky in Portland, Oregon. It felt like heaven. I almost forgot what it felt like to really live, to have the kind of day I think Leonardo da Vinci is talking about when he said, “As a well-spent day brings happy sleep, so life well used brings happy death.” And it didn’t take much to make me feel that way. Just a bike ride near the water, dinner with friends, a trip to the zoo with my nephew. But in comparison to the daily grind, the to-do lists that never get finished, the endless amount of tasks that pile one atop the other, the feeling of just being for the sake of being was pure bliss. I realized that what was so sublime about the experience was that I was completely living in the moment.... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4794898 Fri, 06 May 2011 10:45:55 +0100 4794898 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4771207&cid=t_132696_109_f&fid=34706&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrdeborahserani.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F05%2Fmay-is-mental-health-awareness-month.html . Mental Health Month was created more than 50 years ago by Mental Health America to raise awareness about mental health conditions and the importance of mental wellness and promoting good mental health for all.During Mental Health Awareness Month professionals, organizations, schools, communities, hospitals and even media outlets will join together in an effort to raise the awareness about mental health and attempt to decrease the stigma that prevents people from getting the help they need.If you have a mental illness or love someone who does, reach out to the many community resources and planned events this month. Link here for state and local MHA affiliates.Remember, there is no shame living with a mental illness. (Source: Dr. Deborah Serani) Dr. Deborah Serani blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4771207 Sun, 01 May 2011 11:08:00 +0100 4771207 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4758916&cid=t_132696_133_f&fid=39137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.advanceweb.com%2Fblogs%2Fot_9%2Farchive%2F2011%2F04%2F27%2Fwhen-tornadoes-chase-us.aspx It's been a stressful and exhausting day. Everything has been out of sync and not according to routine. From picking A. up from school early due to the threatening weather, to spending great chunks of time in the downstairs bathroom and closets when it...(read more) (Source: From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism) From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4758916 Thu, 28 Apr 2011 02:00:00 +0100 4758916 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4742596&cid=t_132696_133_f&fid=39137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.advanceweb.com%2Fblogs%2Fot_9%2Farchive%2F2011%2F04%2F21%2Fshe-s-my-shining-superstar.aspx Yesterday, I went to A.'s school to have lunch with her. I sat with A. and her classmates, and they all quoted different Pokemon YouTube videos at each other and told silly jokes and talked about how much fun they had at A.'s slumber party a few months...(read more) (Source: From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism) From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4742596 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 23:27:00 +0100 4742596 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4724268&cid=t_132696_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fresolve-to-be-thyself%2F Resolve to be thyself; and know that who finds himself, loses his misery.–Matthew ArnoldIn recovery from alcoholism, addiction and ACOA our need for approval compels us to try to look good – no matter what’s going on. We imagine that somehow everything will be okay as long as it looks okay. Our hearts may be breaking from fear, disillusionment, and rejection, real or imagined, but we keep smiling so that no one will guess. Why do we do this to ourselves? Is it so hard to turn to a friend and say, “Hey, I’m hurting. I’ve been having a bad time and I need help”? Would the earth tremble if we said it right out, just like that?We’re not likely to get what we don’t ask for.  Instead of denying that our knees are shaking, our hands are sweat... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4724268 Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:21:00 +0100 4724268 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4714825&cid=t_132696_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F15%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-april-15-2011%2F When I reflect back on my life, when I recall the really hard times, I think about how I was mere moments away from a breakthrough. If I was worried about a lack of work, I would get an assignment a few days later. If I was feeling upset and lonely, a friend would call that I needed to talk to. Sometimes ambiguity and uncertainty were hours away from answers. I just needed the patience and faith to wait those difficult times through. Although it’s a struggle to see hope in the midst of heartache, sorrow and pain, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. In fact, I am certain you already walked through that door before. This week take some time and reflect on your darkest moments and then think about how you were able to get through it. Maybe the memory of your past struggles and ho... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4714825 Fri, 15 Apr 2011 09:57:11 +0100 4714825 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4636604&cid=t_132696_133_f&fid=39137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.advanceweb.com%2Fblogs%2Fot_9%2Farchive%2F2011%2F03%2F25%2Fbest-day-ever-part-two-sword-fighting-social-skills.aspx Last week, I posted about an especially good day during Spring Break, where not only did A. come to work with me and do a fantastic job of being my office-mate for half a day, but she also went with me to a local volunteer shelter to help serve lunch...(read more) (Source: From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism) From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4636604 Fri, 25 Mar 2011 14:33:00 +0100 4636604 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4610944&cid=t_132696_133_f&fid=39137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.advanceweb.com%2Fblogs%2Fot_9%2Farchive%2F2011%2F03%2F18%2Fbest-day-ever-part-one-unexpected-pre-vocational-skills.aspx Before heading to bed last night, A. took a minute to tell me that yesterday was the Best Day Ever. It goes without saying, of course, that Little Miss Drama Queen has a tendency to label every other day the Best Day Ever or Worst Day Ever, but I had...(read more) (Source: From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism) From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4610944 Fri, 18 Mar 2011 13:20:00 +0100 4610944 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4592719&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38607&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fsuccessbeginstoday%2FBHWQ%2F%7E3%2FFfcrzzTIkKg%2F I went in to my local Barnes & Noble the other day and found that things had changed considerably. The first thing I noticed when I walked in the front door was a huge display for their Nook book reader. It was a large exhibit which blocked your entrance to the rest of the store. The Nook’s were available with different options and a huge array of covers and accessories. As I walked past the display, the rest of the store came into focus. Instead of books, I was greeted with all sorts of games, kits, and flashy marketing. I felt like I was in a toy store. The visual stimulation was almost overwhelming. It was like a blog post in ALL CAPS… Everything was shouting at me. I went to the business book section and found it had been ignored. Most of the books were in the shelf so... Success Begins Today blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4592719 Mon, 14 Mar 2011 13:15:04 +0100 4592719 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4560499&cid=t_132696_133_f&fid=39137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.advanceweb.com%2Fblogs%2Fot_9%2Farchive%2F2011%2F03%2F07%2Fthe-silver-lining.aspx This past Sunday, I was teaching my 4th & 5th Grade Classroom about Resiliency as a tool from the Unitarian Universalist Toolbox of Faith , and I led them through an exercise on resiliency that I actually found on the Fishful Thinking website about...(read more) (Source: From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism) From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4560499 Tue, 08 Mar 2011 00:47:00 +0100 4560499 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4532252&cid=t_132696_109_f&fid=34706&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrdeborahserani.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F03%2Fmarch-1st-is-self-injury-awareness-day.html Self-injury (SI) is any deliberate, non-suicidal behavior that inflicts physical harm on one's body to relieve emotional distress.Self-injury does not involve a conscious intent to commit suicide, though many believe that people who harm themselves are suicidal.People who SI are often trying to:* Distract emotional pain* End feelings of numbness* Calm overwhelming feelings* Maintaining control* Self-punish* Express thoughts that cannot be put into words* Express feelings for which there are no wordsWho engages in self-injury?There is no simple portrait of a person who intentionally self-injures. This behavior is not limited by gender, race, education, age, sexual orientation, socio-economics, or religion. However, there are some commonly seen factors:* Self-injury more commonly occurs in a... Dr. Deborah Serani blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4532252 Tue, 01 Mar 2011 13:37:00 +0100 4532252 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4477816&cid=t_132696_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F02%2F14%2Fmaking-lemonade-from-lemons-on-valentines-day-a-romantic-tale%2F In order to move beyond their dark days, most people with depression master the lesson on how to make lemonade from lemons. For Valentine’s Day, here’s a romantic tale on just that: how a friend of mine turned an embarrassing situation into the best thing that ever happened to her… Back when I began my writing career drafting instructions on how to bury St. Joseph (he’s known to make real estate sell) as part of the “St. Joseph’s Home Sales Kit” for Roman, Inc., a religious giftware company in the suburbs of Chicago, I befriended a woman who worked in the IT department. Aneta, a spritely Polish babe, handled the technological emergencies of computer-challenged folks such as myself who might, say, send an off-color joke to the entire company by acci... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4477816 Mon, 14 Feb 2011 17:42:46 +0100 4477816 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4470508&cid=t_132696_133_f&fid=39137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.advanceweb.com%2Fblogs%2Fot_9%2Farchive%2F2011%2F02%2F12%2Fincredible-progress.aspx On Friday, I brought A. her favorite McDonald's lunch, and sat and had lunch with her in the school cafeteria. This was a long-planned reward for her continued work on memorizing her multiplication tables -- at the end of her quiz periods, she'd have...(read more) (Source: From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism) From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4470508 Sun, 13 Feb 2011 00:25:00 +0100 4470508 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4460006&cid=t_132696_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F02%2F10%2Fintroducing-adventures-of-a-bipolar-mom%2F I’m pleased to welcome you to Adventures of a Bipolar Mom with Beth Vandagriff. Beth is a 30-year-old wife and mother of 4 beautiful children. She was recently diagnosed with Ultra-Rapid Cycling Bipolar, Borderline Personality Disorder, PTSD, Anxiety and Paranoia. She joins us here to share her experiences with bipolar disorder and parenting — how it is to juggle all the demands of motherhood along with the demands of living with a combination of mental health concerns. Bipolar disorder, also known by its older name “manic depression,” is a mental disorder that is characterized by constantly changing moods. A person with bipolar disorder experiences alternating highs (what clinicians call “mania“) and lows (also known as depression). Both the manic and depressive periods can be... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4460006 Thu, 10 Feb 2011 17:11:04 +0100 4460006 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4450460&cid=t_132696_133_f&fid=39137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.advanceweb.com%2Fblogs%2Fot_9%2Farchive%2F2011%2F02%2F07%2Fthe-other-side-of-the-mirror.aspx My mother always told me I was a very emotional girl. She told me this, however, from the lens of someone who had spent her entire life feeling ashamed of emotions, in general. Generations of women in my family have seen blatant expressions of emotion...(read more) (Source: From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism) From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4450460 Tue, 08 Feb 2011 04:00:00 +0100 4450460 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4450534&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FOo0HBa8R_h0%2F Do you ever have days where it feels as though the whole world’s against you? Is it getting to the point where it seems you’ll never have an ultimate relationship or career, much less an amazing life? Does it seem as if you have a “type” regarding relationships and you continue meeting people who don’t get, love or respect you? You are not alone. Everyone has a bad day, or has experienced more than one crappy relationship.  But if you find yourself in Ground Hog Day deja vu, with the same feeling surfacing no matter what situation you’re in, you must look at the common denominator—you. If you want to gain control of your life and build the confidence you need, have the life you deserve by getting YOU out of YOUR way. Your Perception Is Your Reality When drama flares up and p... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4450534 Sun, 06 Feb 2011 21:00:09 +0100 4450534 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4424276&cid=t_132696_109_f&fid=34706&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrdeborahserani.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F02%2Ffebruary-is-eating-disorder-awareness.html Each year, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States assign February as Eating Disorders Awareness month. Eating disorders occur as a result of biological, psychological, familial and societal influences. Despite research showing that genetics sets the stage for body size, bone structure and shape, eating disorders are more prevalent than ever before. Below is a short description of the types of eating disorders.Anorexia Nervosa: Essentially self-starvation, this disorder involves a refusal to maintain a minimally normal body weight.Bulimia Nervosa: This involves repeated episodes of binge eating, followed by ways of trying to purge the food from the body or prevent expected weight gain. People can have this condition and be of normal weight.Binge-eating Disorder: This is characteri... Dr. Deborah Serani blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4424276 Tue, 01 Feb 2011 14:08:00 +0100 4424276 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4419358&cid=t_132696_133_f&fid=39137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.advanceweb.com%2Fblogs%2Fot_9%2Farchive%2F2011%2F01%2F31%2Fit-s-not-a-bribe.aspx Every night, when I tuck my daughter into bed, I always ask her if she's had a good day. Occasionally, I'll even ask her what her favorite thing was about the day, especially if she seems to be having a difficult time finding something good about the...(read more) (Source: From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism) From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4419358 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 05:09:00 +0100 4419358 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4450535&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FGm8euk6UBAA%2F “Mom, my brother called me a baby!” This scene plays out in my house a dozen times a day; inevitably I’ll get exasperated and say “Ignore him, if he called you a kangaroo, would you grow a pouch and start hopping?” It sounds like child’s play, but if we think about it, how many of us are struggling because we allow other people to define us? When you realize that you have the ability and right to define yourself, amazing things start to happen in your life. You realize that you have the power to make decisions that are right for you and with that comes the confidence to go for what you want. So who am I? Defining yourself comes from a combination of articulating your values and acknowledging your strengths. Knowing these things will give you a clear picture of where you want to... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4450535 Sun, 30 Jan 2011 19:14:49 +0100 4450535 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4386298&cid=t_132696_109_f&fid=34706&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrdeborahserani.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F01%2Fjanuary-25th-thank-your-mentor-day.html There are few relationships in life more influential than one between a mentor and a young person. Sometimes these people breeze in and out of your life without much fanfare, but you know they've transformed you. Others take on the mentor role in a more obvious way, actively supporting and guiding you. The Harvard Mentoring Project is joining with National Mentoring Month to mark January 25th as Thank Your Mentor Day™. I like this campaign because it highlights the positive aspects of relationships and the importance of looking out for others.I've had a lot of traumatic things happen in my life - but I've also been lucky to have several people mentor me along the way. Mary O'Connor: As a little girl, my next door neighbor showed me the importance of poise and self-care. This southern wom... Dr. Deborah Serani blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4386298 Sat, 22 Jan 2011 15:07:00 +0100 4386298 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4382966&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2F5r6N2eThVX4%2F Putting aside money today is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. It’s impossible to guarantee a life free of bumps and bruises, but having a healthy savings account can prevent a little owwie from turning into a huge, festering wound. Starting a nest egg is not just sound financial planning, it’s also a way to show love to yourself and to re-examine your relationship with money and material things. As you look for ways to cut expenses and boost your savings, it’s likely you’ll learn a lot about what you value and what you fear. Don’t put off savings until you’re earning more money. Even putting aside as little as five dollars a week will help you become more disciplined and give you enough to handle little emergencies. As your financial situation improves, you’ll be ... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4382966 Fri, 21 Jan 2011 16:05:01 +0100 4382966 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4372199&cid=t_132696_133_f&fid=39137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.advanceweb.com%2Fblogs%2Fot_9%2Farchive%2F2011%2F01%2F19%2Famendment-the-mother-i-never-was.aspx Sometimes, it takes something like reacting quite unprofessionally to an inflammatory blog post to help one put things into perspective. I often couch this blog that I write with a lot of disclaimers: "I'm not a professional," or "This is just my humble...(read more) (Source: From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism) From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4372199 Thu, 20 Jan 2011 00:48:00 +0100 4372199 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4372268&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FN0O8WGQEaGQ%2F I saw Secretariat last night. Believe it or not, the movie saved my life. It could save yours too, but only if you keep reading. The love of my life, my horse Payday, physically broke me more than once in 2006, with one accident so severe it left me nearly paralyzed. Though we’d taken Ohio by storm the prior year, placing third in the state with a rookie rider and a horse that was new to the area, most people would’ve sold him without a second thought. I still thank him every single day. My divorce made 2006 one of the darkest years of my life. Riding Payday fueled the illusion that I was happy.  If he hadn’t broken me physically, I would’ve no doubt lost what was left of me emotionally. I’m reduced to tears every time I think of Payday’s emotional burden as he grounded me an ... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4372268 Wed, 19 Jan 2011 16:07:16 +0100 4372268 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4361340&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FMgUhDfIrS-Y%2F We all know somebody who seems bound and determined to be miserable. Everyone has times when they are unhappy, but there is a difference between experiencing sadness because of circumstances, and living an unhappy life. Even if you are basically a happy person, take a look at these lies that unhappy people love to tell and see if any of them are keeping you from experiencing the greatest amount of happiness in your life. 1.  Happiness has to wait until everything is perfect. Happy people understand that life has ups and downs and that the key to feeling at peace is accepting our circumstances for what they are and making the choice to find joy in imperfect times. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try to change your situation for the better. However, learning to be happy in the mids... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4361340 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 16:49:58 +0100 4361340 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4361342&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FBP0uyzGqg0s%2F Do you like to be in control? Do you hate being in unfamiliar positions? Do your friends laugh at you and say you’re too uptight? Or are you too intense to have friends? Don’t worry, you’re not alone – I used to be that guy. I had to be in control of my situation at all times. I didn’t try new things. I never stepped out of my comfort level. And things had to be done in a very specific way. Then I realized how miserable I was. And I examined why I was so inflexible. And it always came back to the same thing – fear. Fear of doing something new, fear of making a mistake, fear of the unpredictable, and fear of the unknown. Fear should never hold that much sway over your life. Fear is death to growth, ideas, and change. Fear keeps you in a box, in a rut, and oftenti... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4361342 Mon, 17 Jan 2011 16:46:41 +0100 4361342 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4355917&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FNGz0nquuHQA%2F How well do you know yourself? We all have this idea of who were are, but like all things which pass through our filter, it’s highly subjective to our inner dialogue, history, and prejudices. In other words, the idea we have of ourselves may not be who we really are. Or at least how the world sees us. I used to see myself as this creative, nice, selfless, awesome dad who dotes on his three year old son. I was patient with him and not going to make any of the mistakes I see other parents making by being short-tempered, impatient, or talking down to my child. Then, one day the veil was lifted and I saw myself for who I really am. I was going over old videos I’d shot on my camera and came across one where I’d left the camera on, or maybe my wife was filming, but in any event... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4355917 Sun, 16 Jan 2011 19:39:36 +0100 4355917 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4352871&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FzkadpHbs5W0%2F Have you ever met anyone who seemed to live with Lady Luck? This person had the Midas Touch, with everything in their path turning to brilliant gold beneath their feet. Even if they knew they were lucky, they probably admitted so with the caveat that, “they made their own luck.” And you thought, “Yeah, right, how am I supposed to do that?” Truth is, there are plenty of things you can do to give yourself more luck, and none of them involve rabbit’s feet or voodoo. Learn to incorporate the following things in your life and you might find that luck becomes as natural as breath. You Need a Network Isolated, few opportunities will fall your way. New jobs, fresh fortune and random strokes of great luck are often the simple result of being plugged into the right network at the right tim... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4352871 Sat, 15 Jan 2011 16:57:02 +0100 4352871 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4349714&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FzKzYedYU8_c%2F Why do we believe the things we believe? From the time we’re born, our beliefs are formed with each new experience. Whether it’s events which shape us or words people tell us, each piece of data works its way into our brains and becomes part of our overall programming. Unfortunately, when we’re younger, we don’t have the wisdom to process the information in a way that makes the most of good data and deletes the useless. So, you get what you have now – millions of people walking around with conflicting beliefs which serve no purpose other than to make our lives more difficult. It’s time to take a leap of faith and take a chance on yourself by getting rid of the bad code in your brain and rewrite your own programming. Below are some of the common lies we&#8217... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4349714 Fri, 14 Jan 2011 07:08:37 +0100 4349714 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4343363&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FbCwucABdBQk%2F In most cases, having a Plan B is a good thing. It’s the fallback option for when your plans fall apart. They are life’s little safety nets and can be great to have. It’s one thing to have a Plan B for an outdoor party when it might rain. But a lot of people have their eyes on a Plan B for their lives and careers. They tell themselves that if the thing they planned to do doesn’t work out, it’s okay, they have another option. But how often does that safety net do more harm than good? How often does Plan B mean you’re not committing fully to your Plan A? Planning to fail? Some people see having a Plan B as planning for your Plan A to fail. And there very well could be some truth to this – for some people. They thrive under pressure and do a much better j... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4343363 Thu, 13 Jan 2011 16:30:20 +0100 4343363 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4338298&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FYG1rl4clS18%2F Mom might not have known everything, but there were several areas where her advice was spot on. It’s natural for young people to go through a period of doubting what their parents say and to lack the perspective to see the truth in the things they told us. But as we mature and grow older, we can look back on what our mothers (and other elders) told us and appreciate how right they were. 1. If all your friends jumped off a bridge, would you? I can still hear myself protesting “But mom, that’s just stupid.” The truth is, I did a lot of stupid things in my teens and early twenties because it’s what everyone else was doing – or worse, what I thought everyone else was doing. Learning to do things because they are the right choice for me has been a key to leading a calm, contented li... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4338298 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 07:20:53 +0100 4338298 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4338299&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FUa4op6kW-Ec%2F Do you ever look at those who seem to have to have it all and wonder how you can make it happen for you? Here’s the good news – you can get what you really want out of life. The bad news is that it usually takes work and dedication. The key is to learn how to maintain focus on your goals and not let yourself become distracted with things which aren’t serving them. If we were sitting down together watching figure skating and I asked you how the skaters got to be so good, you probably wouldn’t hesitate before telling me that they practiced their tushes off. The exact same principle holds true for making your dreams come true: You have to work consistently towards your goals and keep your focus on doing what it takes to make them a reality. Avoid distraction It’s distressing... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4338299 Tue, 11 Jan 2011 21:03:37 +0100 4338299 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4338300&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2F8C75ouxXp7g%2F Imagine that you’re on vacation. This couple told you about an awesome little spot. While they give you a general idea of where it is, the directions are vague and you’re completely unfamiliar with the area. How likely is it that you’d be able to find the place without a map of some kind? Probably not very. Yet many of us erroneously feel that we should be able to achieve our goals without making a plan or “map” of some sort to keep us on track. Trying to achieve goals without writing them down is a sure way to get lost along the way, or worse, never getting to where we need to be. Identify your destination & map your route When you’re looking at a map, you look first at where you want to go, right? Then you chart your course from your current location. The same... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4338300 Tue, 11 Jan 2011 16:15:33 +0100 4338300 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4331277&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FGm8euk6UBAA%2F “Mom, my brother called me a baby!” This scene plays out in my house a dozen times a day; inevitably I’ll get exasperated and say “Ignore him, if he called you a kangaroo, would you grow a pouch and start hopping?” It sounds like child’s play, but if we think about it, how many of us are struggling because we allow other people to define us? When you realize that you have the ability and right to define yourself, amazing things start to happen in your life. You realize that you have the power to make decisions that are right for you and with that comes the confidence to go for what you want. So who am I? Defining yourself comes from a combination of articulating your values and acknowledging your strengths. Knowing these things will give you a clear picture of where you want to... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4331277 Mon, 10 Jan 2011 16:14:49 +0100 4331277 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4327079&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2Fcvg3OctOxZw%2F “To listen well, is as powerful a means of influence as to talk well, and it is as essential to all true conversation.” ~ Chinese Proverb Listening is the most important part of a true connection in conversation. When we listen, we gain knowledge and understanding about people and circumstances. Everyone wants to feel heard, but most times people prefer to talk rather than listen. Active listening requires empathy, affirmation and the ability to process and respond without taking over a conversation. When you listen to the world you will know more, build trust and increase your popularity with friends. Slave To The Cell Phone. How many times have you put a person on hold so that you could answer your cell phone or text a message during a conversation? Not only is this blatantly rude, b... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4327079 Sun, 09 Jan 2011 02:14:18 +0100 4327079 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4318560&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2Fzn0b3An2QP4%2F THE “ACCIDENT” Theoretically, Halloween 2006 was the worst day of my life. During a dressage lesson, my beloved horse tripped, fell down, panicked, jumped up and launched me into a wall all in a matter of seconds.  I hit the wall so hard that when I landed, my lungs collapsed. As I floated outside of my body, I remember thinking, “Well this isn’t a bad way to go…” And then the universe dumped a cold bucket of reality on me with the horrifying thought of my kids living alone with my still-alcoholic-ex-husband. Thankfully, that’s all it took to yank me back into my pain-ridden body as my mind (and likely my mouth) screamed for morphine. HINDSIGHT IS 20/20 I can remember as clear as day how I wanted to cancel my lesson that morning. I was too tired and KNEW I should skip it.  ... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4318560 Thu, 06 Jan 2011 16:08:44 +0100 4318560 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4314234&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2F4Ma6JX62mtM%2F What are you afraid of? What keeps you rooted to your comfort zone? What keeps you from taking chances? What keeps you from living the life you want? I’ve lived much of my life afraid. Afraid to take chances – what if I fail? Afraid to stand out – what if someone laughs at me? Afraid to reach out to others – what if they reject me? My fears weren’t unfounded. I had a hard time making friends as a kid. I DID stick out. I was goofy, geeky, and was into comic books, Dungeons & Dragons, and reading horror and sci-fi books, when other kids were playing sports, partying, and doing whatever it was that cool kids did. So I set up barriers. I found a menial job which was unfulfilling but safe. I ate for comfort, turning my body into a barrier. And aside from a few good friends... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4314234 Wed, 05 Jan 2011 16:35:46 +0100 4314234 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4309880&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2F7dtnfG4qjvk%2F How often do you run into a situation in life and think to yourself, “Nobody ever prepared me for this?” The truth is, there is absolutely no way to prep anybody on how to explicitly deal with every possible life event that could conceivably happen. Instead, the trick is to come to an understanding that everything works out in the end and there is nothing that could happen to you that you can’t find a way to deal with. Here’s some ways to help prepare for whatever life throws at you. Learn to love yourself The strongest foundation that I know for life is true love for oneself. When we love ourselves, we have the strength to act in accordance with our values and interests. It’s almost impossible to be filled with positivity and productive optimism without loving yourself. Afte... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4309880 Tue, 04 Jan 2011 16:48:06 +0100 4309880 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4309796&cid=t_132696_133_f&fid=39137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.advanceweb.com%2Fblogs%2Fot_9%2Farchive%2F2011%2F01%2F03%2Ftake-my-daughter-to-work-day.aspx A. and I don't really agree as far as our opinions of her day care center establishment are concerned. I see them as extremely organized, amazing individuals, willing to work on the hard issues that matter with A. on a daily basis -- in short, I love...(read more) (Source: From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism) From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4309796 Tue, 04 Jan 2011 04:12:00 +0100 4309796 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4305133&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FE-sqos_55S8%2F Have you ever heard the common saying, “You have to give respect to get it?” It’s true, but not necessarily in the way you might think. While it IS important to respect others, it’s not the number one way to ensure that they respect you. When it comes to respect, it starts at home – with you. If you don’t respect yourself, nobody else will either. Why self-respect is important Self-respect is the foundation for leading a life of integrity and honor. If you do not truly love yourself and respect yourself as a person, how will you find the courage to stand up for your own beliefs or have the backbone to enforce healthy boundaries? The predators in life have a sixth sense for those who lack a healthy sense of self-respect and do everything in their power to exploit such w... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4305133 Mon, 03 Jan 2011 16:43:00 +0100 4305133 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4305135&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2Fc_evH8F9qQQ%2F Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is allow yourself to rest. Unfortunately, this isn’t always as easy or natural as it seems. Even babies will sometimes fight getting the sleep they desperately need. As adults, we constantly ignore our body’s signals to slow down, but then we wonder why we can’t focus or get more done. Use the following strategies to teach yourself to wind down so you can finally get the rest your body’s been needing. Work When it’s Work Time, Rest When it’s Rest Time Technology is great, but it’s also led to many of us never establishing a consistent time to quit work for the day. The first step in getting the rest we need is making a firm commitment to stop working at a certain point each day and enjoy our down time. You might be losing hours ... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4305135 Sun, 02 Jan 2011 19:57:45 +0100 4305135 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4302981&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2F1qS2DwWra0Q%2F Do you spend your day buried in your social network, email, or text messages? Do you have a better relationship with your technology than you do with yourself? Does your pulse race with every looming to-do item in your face? If you’re like me, you have become addicted to overdrive, struggling to maintain the quiet space in your life, running from it, believing you have too much to do to just “be.” #1 What Does Downtime Mean To You? Do you consider going to the gym your downtime?  The answer is NO if you’ve tied it to any outcome, even positive ones, such as staying healthy, fit, or losing weight. Anything with a goal attached is still task orientated.  If you’re someone who exercises “just to clear your mind”, and have not associated it with something you check off ... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4302981 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 16:36:16 +0100 4302981 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4302309&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2Fj3TzA1Cbppw%2F There was a time in my life when I didn’t have friends. None. Zero. Zilch. I was that kid sitting by himself at lunch. Socially awkward, painfully shy, a bit of a nerd, and overweight. Not a great combination when you’re in middle school and trying to fit in. Turns out, I would never fit in. But that didn’t mean I’d never make friends. It took several years, lots of trial and error, and a bit of finding myself, but I eventually figured out how to make friends. First, I had to unlearn the habits, actions, and beliefs which had been holding me back. I’ve compiled a list of some of my own missteps, along with negative traits I’ve seen in other people. If you’re still eating lunch alone, make sure you aren’t doing any of these 6 things: 1. Be needy. People aren&... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4302309 Fri, 31 Dec 2010 16:52:32 +0100 4302309 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4300728&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2F9iN63DS0JfI%2F What did you want to be as a kid? If you’re like most kids, you probably had some vague concept of what you wanted to be, based on role models, or characters you’d seen in books or on TV. Perhaps you wanted to be a cowboy, astronaut, superhero, rock star, or maybe a princess. Maybe even all of the above. Unrealistic or fantastical as these ideas may seem now, they were our first dreams. Very few people aspire to be the mid-regional assistant to the assistant manager of some company, pushing papers in the prime of our lives – yet a lot of us find ourselves in exactly that place as adults. The world’s a different place when you’re older. Dreams of being a superhero are crushed by reality. Other dreams are sapped by daily responsibilities. But there’s that litt... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4300728 Thu, 30 Dec 2010 16:39:21 +0100 4300728 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4298831&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FpphKNhOEEq0%2F Do you avoid the camera like some celebrities dodge the paparazzi? Are you about as photogenic as a plate full of Brussels Sprouts? Is the thought of sending out a Holiday Greeting Photo Card about as appealing as burying yourself naked in a pile full of dirty snow? If so, don’t despair. While this post might not turn you into the next super model, it will help you make the most of what you have and hopefully shift your focus to capturing as many magical moments as you can. Remember – only wine and cheese get better with age, so what you hate in your 30’s, might actually look good to you when you are in your 80’s. 1.  Avoid The Dreaded Double Chin Camera position is key.  The lens must be at your eye level or higher. Bend your knees if you are taller than the photographer. Or t... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4298831 Wed, 29 Dec 2010 16:21:11 +0100 4298831 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4294901&cid=t_132696_133_f&fid=39137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.advanceweb.com%2Fblogs%2Fot_9%2Farchive%2F2010%2F12%2F28%2Fsnow-days-are-tricky.aspx I know that my last entry may have made December sound as if it's all been sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows. Believe me -- despite the fact that much progress has been made, we've also had several rocky days in the middle of all of this, as well. Specifically,...(read more) (Source: From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism) From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4294901 Wed, 29 Dec 2010 04:54:00 +0100 4294901 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4295031&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FdAnmrtQZZ7g%2F “The secret of genius is to carry the spirit of childhood into maturity.” ~T.H. Huxley Was your childhood tragic enough to murder your inner child? Unfortunately, as an adult survivor, you may have blocked bad memories enough to deny your inner child their opportunity to thrive. Your inner child has been hiding for too long. Accept the fact that you were once a child, then give the inner YOU that’s been longing to come out permission to play. Here Are 10 Ways To Find Your Inner Child: 1.    Expand your 5 senses. Look at all the beauty that surrounds you. Take time to observe sunrises, sunsets, stars, moonlight, and nature. Listen to bird calls, children playing, trees rustling, happy music, and people laughing. Smell the aroma of food, flowers, and bubble baths. Touch finger paint... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4295031 Tue, 28 Dec 2010 18:07:54 +0100 4295031 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4294902&cid=t_132696_133_f&fid=39137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.advanceweb.com%2Fblogs%2Fot_9%2Farchive%2F2010%2F12%2F27%2Fit-s-been-a-long-december.aspx This is probably the longest break I've taken in the history of writing this blog, so my most humble apologies. This has not been due to the fact that December has been a boring and uneventful month -- quite far from it, in fact. Rather, life, work, weather,...(read more) (Source: From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism) From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4294902 Tue, 28 Dec 2010 03:01:00 +0100 4294902 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4295033&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FSTkEaNk-Z-E%2F Anyone who knows me knows that I have the greatest respect for my life coach, Tim Brownson. He helped me make the transition from a stay-at-home mom of five boys to becoming a successful writer and content manager. I could go on for pages about his qualifications and training and techniques, but none of that would have done me a bit of good had I not done one simple thing: listened to him. If you’re reading this post and the 90 Days series, it’s because you want something. You want to become more confident, to experience more happiness, and to achieve more success. These are all things that are imminently achievable by each and every one of us and the first step is to listen to those who are there to coach us through it. Sounds simple enough, but it doesn’t always come naturally. Whi... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4295033 Mon, 27 Dec 2010 16:55:02 +0100 4295033 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4295035&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FZQPE6SiW51U%2F Let’s be clear, spending isn’t necessarily the enemy of financial security. When we learn to use our money to purchase things that make our lives richer, healthier and to improve the world around us we are ensuring that our future will be full of happiness. The problem comes when we spend out of habit, insecurity, or without purpose. When we spend thoughtlessly, we are doing nothing to improve our future and reinforce negative ideas about money in our minds. The key to safeguarding our financial futures is becoming aware of exactly how we spend out money – and how we waste it. Learn to spend with a purpose and you’ll find that it’s easier to save money for the future and feel more at ease with our finances. 1. Give yourself a waiting period before making unnecessary purchases... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4295035 Sun, 26 Dec 2010 16:05:53 +0100 4295035 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4288671&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2F48Bg9jO_0Rk%2F What do people say about you when you’re not around? A couple of years ago, when I first started blogging, I met this guy, David Fowler. He had started a parenting blog shortly after I did and we struck up a friendship. He’s a talented writer with a razor-sharp wit. Sure we teased each other back and forth, as guys tend to do, but I’ll say this about Dave, he’s one of the most honest, and genuine people I know. And the funny thing is, that’s pretty much the opinion of anyone I run into who has “met” him (online). Why is that? Well, for one, Dave’s the kind of guy who offers to help you without being asked. He promotes your stuff when there’s nothing in it for him, and who is always there when you need someone to talk to. And he’s funny an... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4288671 Sat, 25 Dec 2010 16:44:20 +0100 4288671 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4287598&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2F50ckVVLeuAk%2F Imagine that you’re dead. There you are, in the coffin, or in an urn, your body reduced to a husk of meant-to-be’s. Everything you hoped and dreamed, all gone. Over. Pretty grim, eh? Now think about how you spent your time on Earth. Did you live life to its fullest or did you die before you really had a chance to live? Many of us die before we’re ready. We spend hours, months, years, engaged in activities which bleed life from us one miserable moment at a time Looking down at your corpse, think about all the things you spent your time on – the silly grievances you couldn’t let go of, tilting at windmills you had no power over, trying to be something you weren’t to impress people who didn’t even matter. All those hours wasted – just like your life. Im... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4287598 Fri, 24 Dec 2010 16:11:36 +0100 4287598 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4287416&cid=t_132696_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-twelve-days-of-healthcare-reform%2F2010.12.24 Today’s blog will be my last for 2010, as I will be taking a break to spend the Christmas and New Year’s holidays with family and friends. In keeping with a tradition I started two years ago, I again have taken the liberty of mangling a beloved holiday song, story, or rhyme to give a humorous (I hope!) perspective on current politics. In December, 2008, I adapted “Twas the Night Before Christmas” to convey President-elect Obama as being a not-so-jolly old elf besieged by lobbyists demanding stimulus gifts. Last year, I depicted the GOP as the Grinch trying to stop “ObamaCare” from coming. Today, I’ve re-written the “Twelve Days of Christmas” carol so that it is the government bestowing “gifts” (based on actual provisions of the Affordable Care Act) that the new Co... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4287416 Fri, 24 Dec 2010 14:00:00 +0100 4287416 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4285367&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2F8ofFaVVeeH8%2F How much are you worth? Who gets incredible value from being a part of your life? How much does it cost for you to keep them in yours? These might sound like harsh questions, but why treat a business plan better than you treat your life? If you were standing in a group with your closest friends and family, what is the one thing you could stand up and say you do better than anyone, creating a wave of nodding heads to say “yep – that’s what makes you and why we love you”? I pride myself on my generosity and loyalty but I carry it around quietly. No more would I have to state, “I have blonde hair” than I would have to tell a friend, “I am generous and loyal”- it’s who I am….always. I am also impatient, not present and say yes to more things than I can possibly do -dragging... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4285367 Thu, 23 Dec 2010 16:29:18 +0100 4285367 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4281564&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FJQQjNcpJzfw%2F How hard can it be to ask a simple question? Believe it or not, the ability to ask clear, incisive questions is a learned skill and one that most people haven’t mastered. Don’t believe me? Think about what you’d ask the President if you got the chance to interview him. If you can’t get much farther than “What’s your favorite color,” you’ll appreciate how much skill goes into crafting quality questions.The good news is, everyone can learn to ask better questions. It only takes practice and a slight change in perspective. Asking clear questions can help you become the confident person you’ve always wanted to be. Here are six mistakes people often make when asking questions (and how you can easily correct them). 1. Being indirect or talking around the question. While there i... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4281564 Wed, 22 Dec 2010 16:21:59 +0100 4281564 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4277966&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FMgFauMclWKo%2F Be yourself, think for yourself and while your conclusions may not be infallible they will be nearer right than conclusions forced upon you.” ~ Elbert Hubbard Does your inner voice nag you? You are a mature adult, yet you live each day by the rules of your inner voice. You are the one empowering the voice of your inner child, dictating criticisms and put-downs at every opportunity, then directing them at yourself. On a cognitive level you know this, yet on an emotional level, you hold onto this voice, allowing your inner critic to win nearly every time. This voice tears at your self confidence and passes judgment on your every move. Yet you keep allowing it to happen. Here Are 7 Things Your Inner-Critic Needs To Hear You Say 1. Stop repeating yourself. A tsunami of repetitive, negative m... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4277966 Tue, 21 Dec 2010 16:22:15 +0100 4277966 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4277967&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FifBTSJQ98Cc%2F “When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” – Lao Tzu. Who do you want to be? Most of us have an idealized version of us – the us that is a bestselling novelist, an executive with a corner office, the top salesperson of our company, a successful entrepreneur, or perhaps, a version of us that in great shape and lives an active lifestyle. Oftentimes, this Idealized Self is a far cry from the Actual Self. The main reason for this disparity between our imaginations and reality, is that we don’t do the things we need to do to be that ideal person. We imagine all the great things that come with success, but don’t take into account the work necessary to get there. And let’s face it, change is hard! Habits are hard to break. We allow our past failu... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4277967 Mon, 20 Dec 2010 22:03:19 +0100 4277967 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4272675&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FIP04biOKDHU%2F You’ve been looking for ways to have more time and energy, right? Eating like a minimalist is a simple way of eating for a low maintenance life style. This choice will help you find balance, energy, and a new joy when preparing your food. Here are 8 ways to eat like a minimalist. Eliminate prep time. Identifying those ingredients that save you time and energy doesn’t mean using prepackaged foods or processed drive-thru. The fewer the ingredients the better. Finding recipes that requires three to four ingredients will help you spend less money and eat healthier (as long as you choose the right three ingredients). Go for simple presentation. Eliminate the hassle of a sink filled with dirty dishes. The simplicity of your food will minimize the time and energy required to wash dishes. ... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4272675 Sat, 18 Dec 2010 19:50:34 +0100 4272675 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4266322&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FfTtMboY9oZI%2F Between email, cell phones, and seemingly unending work days, we’ve never been more enslaved to our many masters. And the worst part is, we allow it to happen. But we feel there’s nothing we can do to break free. We’d love to unplug from the circuitry which tethers us to endless obligations, but we feel that if we do, somehow the world will stop spinning. That our families, bosses, or friends won’t be able to go on without having instant access to us at all times. Nonsense. These people all got on before they met you, right? They can make do without you for a little bit each day. You need to stand your ground, though, and carve out a space for you to unplug and disconnect from the world of noise and connect to your inner world. When we’re always on the go, ov... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4266322 Fri, 17 Dec 2010 16:36:27 +0100 4266322 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4266324&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FLjVjoZTqJ_M%2F The fabric of your relationships is fragile. The words you use either sew the stitches tighter together, or loosen the seams until the fraying threads can barely hold themselves together. The wrong words can rip people apart and make them wonder if they ever had anything in common at all, the right ones can draw people closer and make them wonder how they ever lived apart. Your words are potent; used well, they can prove your argument, make others look up to you, and help you get what you want most from life. Used in anger or malice, they can cause more long term damage than a physical beating. Even the blackest bruises one day fade; a scarred soul is torn forever. Being able to control the language you use, regardless of setting, is a guaranteed way to become a more powerful, more con... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4266324 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 16:37:48 +0100 4266324 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4266326&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FkEXQtoNcgsE%2F Why is it so hard to say the words we so desperately want to hear? Many times we turn the simple task of saying, “I’m sorry” into a chicken and egg game. Or worse, we use it to guilt others, or withhold it to hurt. Do you find yourself actually taking the gift of an apology, whether given or received, as your opportunity to “win”? (If the word “but” is anywhere near the words “I’m sorry”, you aren’t apologizing, you’re trying to be right.) Why?  Because you are missing two fundamental components of the foundation you need to build for a heartfelt apology that can be felt by the other person and by you! Part #1:  Accepting Responsibility If you’re like most people, your perception of the situation is clouded by the hurt you’re feeling when someone y... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4266326 Wed, 15 Dec 2010 16:09:02 +0100 4266326 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4253474&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FpsVkbmLEpe0%2F “I celebrate myself, and sing myself” ~ Walt Whitman, Song of Myself Do you celebrate life or do you hide in the shadows? Too many people hide their feelings, afraid to live out loud, afraid to stand out, and afraid to really enjoy life. Meanwhile, others seem to be a party unto themselves, unabashedly unafraid! If you find it hard to enjoy yourself, or step out of your comfort zone, read on… You deserve happiness. You deserve to have your accomplishments and unique personality recognized. You deserve to celebrate yourself! Don’t worry about becoming a raging egomaniac or blind to your faults; the beauty of being able to celebrate and love yourself is that it allows you to deal with your shortcomings in a productive way. Secure, happy people are also confident; able to ... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4253474 Mon, 13 Dec 2010 16:16:01 +0100 4253474 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4253477&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FEfFMnG5zjwM%2F Are you guilty of letting other people’s moods directly impact how YOU feel? Are the rules you live by your own? When do you feel best about yourself? What makes you feel loved or happy? Does it take a sunny vacation day on the beach for you to feel great? Take control of your life. Have confidence you will drum your own beat, hum to the tune of life playing in your head, and stop waiting for someone else to set the tone for your life. By identifying a few ways to tie positive emotions to your actions, you will super charge your happiness, transform your life, and take matters into your own hands. #1 Define Your Marketing Message Treat yourself like a fortune 50 brand!  Create a mission statement and a USP—your unique selling position. What is the purpose of YOUR life?  And why would... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4253477 Sun, 12 Dec 2010 16:20:26 +0100 4253477 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4251278&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FwGhwd0TCcNk%2F How many hours of sleep did you get last night? Chances are, if you’re like most people, you probably didn’t get enough. In our efforts to do it all and have it all, combined with our ever-increasing responsibilities, most of us aren’t taking care of ourselves. Not only are we not getting enough sleep, but we’re also short-changing ourselves in other areas in our lives. Below is a list of things your body needs right now and tips on how to get them. Sleep We all know a person who brags about how little sleep they got last night. Are these people (and you might even be one of them) hyper-performers or martyrs looking for the glory of a life devoted to work? Lack of sleep can lead to serious, life-threatening health problems. And while you think you might be doing yo... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4251278 Sat, 11 Dec 2010 16:35:07 +0100 4251278 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4249269&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2F3SaA-z7EYS8%2F Why should people remember you? What makes you stand out in a crowd? What makes you different from other people in your field? How can others relate to you? If you can’t answer those questions, perhaps it’s time to think about how you brand yourself. Branding is the process of attributing a characteristic, quality, or image to something in order to associate an item with those qualities. For instance, think of Disney, and you think wholesome, family entertainment, right? It’s what the company is known for. This is not an accident, but rather, by design. Branding isn’t just for companies like Nike, McDonald’s, and Disney anymore, though. Today’s entrepreneur realizes that if you want to stand out, you need to brand yourself. Branding is what separates Gar... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4249269 Fri, 10 Dec 2010 16:24:49 +0100 4249269 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4249190&cid=t_132696_133_f&fid=39137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.advanceweb.com%2Fblogs%2Fot_9%2Farchive%2F2010%2F12%2F09%2Fbeing-a-social-experiment-in-the-unavailability-of-cereal.aspx Thomas and I are both convinced that A. attends the Best Elementary School ever. This is because A. attends an elementary school that is willing to perform experiments on her. A week or so ago, A.'s CDC teacher informed me that she was wanting to perform...(read more) (Source: From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism) From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4249190 Fri, 10 Dec 2010 04:43:00 +0100 4249190 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4245629&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2F2pIxrAgQjkE%2F Too tired for sex? Make it a date night and see what happens. Spending quality alone time with your spouse will give your relationship the nutrients it needs to thrive. Unfortunately, intimacy is often the first thing to get cast aside and set on the back burner. When managing work, household chores, and parenting, one-on-one time is all too easy to ignore. Yet making alone time for your partner each day can help to make life glisten for both you and your partner. Here are 8 simple ways to make every day a date night. 1.  Making Out With A Movie Night. Choose a movie and cuddle on the couch (distraction free). Leave your laptop on the desk and your phone on the charger. Pop some popcorn and curl up under your favorite blanket for a relaxing night of bonding with the stars. (Don’t forget... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4245629 Thu, 09 Dec 2010 16:55:40 +0100 4245629 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4241977&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FnuISEeZmuVc%2F It’s easy to forget to share. Not that we’re selfish people, but life gets so hectic and it can seem awkward or unnatural to reach out to another and share. This is a shame, because sharing is one of the methods of forging bonds with other people and keeping us feeling connected to our families, communities and humanity as a whole. By taking as many opportunities to share as you can, you’ll uplift your own spirit and bring joy to those around you. Like I said, it can be easy to get so wrapped up in the day to day business of life that we miss these opportunities to share, so here are seven steps to make sharing a habit. 1. Make a point of finding one thing a day to share; anything from simple things to offering a piece of gum to the guy sitting next to you on the train, to offering t... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4241977 Wed, 08 Dec 2010 16:37:40 +0100 4241977 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4238172&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2F_5pZGboUON8%2F “You’re not the boss of me!” My sister stared in my eyes and spit those words when she was two. I’ve said it to several people in my life. You probably have, too; probably with passion. It’s true, they aren’t the boss of you. You are. Making sure you stay the boss will keep you cool, confident and more capable of living the life you deserve to live. You can establish strong expectations for who you want to be by providing your life with guidelines and sticking to the parameters you set. Your Life, Your Rules Once you’ve set rules for yourself that are clear with intention and structured enough to be easily followed, you will be one giant step closer to living a life of built by your design, rather than the a life inherited through habit or accident. If you’re the early to b... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4238172 Tue, 07 Dec 2010 16:03:49 +0100 4238172 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4233446&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FEkfD9n-PrE0%2F Hooky Verb1.play hooky – play truant from work or school; “The boy often plays hooky”  source: The Free Dictionary Ferris Bueller was right, we all need a break every now and then. Whether we’re catching up on needed rest, recharging our batteries with some alone time, or sneaking off to enjoy a Bueller-ish day of fun-filled activities, sometimes we’ve gotta blow off work. But lots of us have a hard time asking for a day off. We feel weak, or perhaps ungrateful, or maybe we’re just scared we’ll lose our jobs, if we say we need a mental health day. So, sometimes, the best policy might be to lie. In other words, play hooky. Now for the morally pure among you, you might be thinking, I shouldn’t lie to my boss. You think it’s wrong. Well... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4233446 Mon, 06 Dec 2010 16:56:31 +0100 4233446 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4230327&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FbF46ooENm3M%2F Though it might just make the world a better place a paragraph at a time, the art of letter writing is dying. The nails in the coffin are hammered an email at a time as the ink that once amplified human thought moves closer to memory (while the pixels multiply to replace them). But YOU know better. You know that in just a few minutes, you could give a boost to your inner confidence and improve the personal world of someone you love. The same communication that once required long weeks of anticipation is now available at the speed of a click, and often from your palm or pocket. The euphoria that once came with a fresh delivery of mail is in danger of disappearing forever. The art of writing letters to people we care about, including our friends, family, spouse, children and even ourselves, ... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4230327 Sun, 05 Dec 2010 18:19:46 +0100 4230327 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4230329&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FOo0HBa8R_h0%2F Do you ever have days where it feels as though the whole world’s against you? Is it getting to the point where it seems you’ll never have an ultimate relationship or career, much less an amazing life? Does it seem as if you have a “type” regarding relationships and you continue meeting people who don’t get, love or respect you? You are not alone. Everyone has a bad day, or has experienced more than one crappy relationship.  But if you find yourself in Ground Hog Day deja vu, with the same feeling surfacing no matter what situation you’re in, you must look at the common denominator—you. If you want to gain control of your life and build the confidence you need, have the life you deserve by getting YOU out of YOUR way. Your Perception Is Your Reality When drama flares up and p... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4230329 Sat, 04 Dec 2010 16:00:09 +0100 4230329 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4225715&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FZU95LC3cGTA%2F Goals can be dirty little cockroaches; scurrying to the depths of darkness at the first sign of your surrender. Fortunately, there is an easier way. You will manage your goals and move closer to the more capable, confident person you know you’re ready to be by breaking your bigger goals into smaller, more easily attainable mini-goals. Any goal can be broken into its base components, with baby steps that mean fewer obstacles along the way, and a clearer view of your progress. Smashing Obstacles Will Strengthen Your Confidence By taking a biggest goal and chunking it into smaller, bite-sized pieces, you immediately removed your largest obstacle. Many goals end up in the graveyard of intentions because they quickly become daunting and overwhelming. Once overwhelmed, it’s all too easy to t... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4225715 Fri, 03 Dec 2010 16:20:05 +0100 4225715 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4225717&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FsK9Dcy9u-KY%2F While most of us might not threaten the top 2% of the population that can meet the admission requirements of Mensa, there are a few things you can do today that will lead to a smarter YOU tomorrow. A more buoyant brain will lead to a more capable, confident you. Here are 8 things you can do to strengthen your mind and keep your confidence in tip-top shape. Play With Puzzles: Studies clearly show, people who consistently work on puzzles, word challenges and other mind games, are actually raising their IQ. Not only can you make yourself smarter with daily crosswords or other mind challenging puzzles, you can also help to stave off Alzheimer’s and other mind-debilitating diseases. Talk to People: Yes, simple discussion can boost your brain power. But you must learn to steer clear of sm... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4225717 Thu, 02 Dec 2010 16:44:19 +0100 4225717 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4219786&cid=t_132696_109_f&fid=34706&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrdeborahserani.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F12%2Fanniversary-effect.html "Anniversary Effect", sometimes called Anniversary Reaction, is defined as a unique set of unsettling feelings, thoughts or memories that occur on the anniversary of a significant experience.Sometimes you can trace the reason why you're feeling sad, irritable or anxious. One look at the calendar and you connect the dots from your current emotional state to the traumatic event. For example, the birthday of someone who's no longer alive, the date of an accident, a natural disaster or the date of the death of a loved one, just to name a few.Sometimes finding the Anniversary Effect isn't as easy to trace because the event doesn't have a time-specific relationship. It may be more of a seasonal experience. For example, Autumn reminds you of when your child left for college, or a hot humid day re... Dr. Deborah Serani blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4219786 Thu, 02 Dec 2010 02:59:00 +0100 4219786 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4220478&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FlkkbiaL-uxU%2F Being an adult means maintaining a healthy lifestyle, being financially responsible and managing your life so it feels significant, purposeful, and fulfilling. However, sometimes with the tornado of to-do’s in a day, we lose our ground and need to reboot. If you’re not feeling your best, then you’re not feeling your most confident. Here Are 10 Ways To Stay Smart In A World Of Grown-Ups. Sharing is caring. Feeling ownership over your accomplishments and station in life will feel even better once you share your talent. Displaying selflessness towards others by being supportive and volunteering your time is a virtue. A place for everything and everything in its place. Clutter is stressful and let’s face it, rather disgusting. If you have a closet, desk or a room with stuff you never ... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4220478 Wed, 01 Dec 2010 16:37:16 +0100 4220478 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4214381&cid=t_132696_133_f&fid=39137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.advanceweb.com%2Fblogs%2Fot_9%2Farchive%2F2010%2F11%2F30%2Fnovember-s-been-a-good-month.aspx A. brought her mid-term report card home last week. She's making all B's and C's, and she's actually making an A in Work Habits. It's really amazing the progress that A. has been making in school ever since she moved to the CDC classroom. There have been...(read more) (Source: From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism) From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4214381 Wed, 01 Dec 2010 02:35:00 +0100 4214381 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4225718&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2F1e4lNhDtfY4%2F You’ve seen it before and you didn’t like it. A mom lobbing verbal grenades at her obnoxious children, a husband making his point with syllables of flaming anger, or an irate customer beating a clerk into submission with the subtlety of a tsunami. When your voice erupts in a detonation of decibels, you’ve lost control. The person on the receiving end of your ill temper (and manners) must either match your fury with their own fire or quench it with a cold shoulder. Volume doesn’t equal confidence. In fact, when someone is using an overly amplified voice to make their point, it’s an indication they’re teetering at the edge of uncertainty. Speak softly, with an even measure of clarity and confidence, and you will demolish defensive barriers and more easily invite the attention of ... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4225718 Wed, 01 Dec 2010 00:27:43 +0100 4225718 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4214538&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FAxRAvdMlQv8%2F What is the single biggest roadblock to your dreams? Fear. Is fear of the unknown, fear of losing control, or fear of making the wrong decision keeping you from the life you’ve been longing to live? Is your confidence being sucked dry by your fears? I have the perfect antidote – gratitude. The power of gratitude is unrivaled by any other emotion, even love. In gratitude there can be no fear. If you don’t believe me, the next time you are afraid or worrying about the future, stop and be grateful for anything, then notice what happens. Just by thinking the words “I’m grateful for…” can change your entire outlook on life in that moment. Do you allow your fears to overcome you, forcing you into the fetal position, distracting you from the power of truth that lies deep within... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4214538 Tue, 30 Nov 2010 16:32:16 +0100 4214538 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4207526&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2Fozg65lRJOqk%2F “There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction.” ~ Winston Churchill When was the last time you changed things in your world? Taking the time to evaluate where you are in the hustle and bustle of life can help you gain the perspective you need to make the small adjustments that will improve your quality of life and enhance your confidence. When you make a plan and set a goal for 30 days, you will be manufacturing a means to find a much more capable, confident you by the end of the month. 1. Choose a hobby. There is no shortage of hobbies to choose from. Rock climbing, jogging, pottery, cooking, photography. Any activity that engages your mind and holds your attention is well worth your minutes. Hobbies are an investment of time and usually require a certain skill.... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4207526 Sun, 28 Nov 2010 16:40:55 +0100 4207526 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4207527&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FzVdH8iBjZoo%2F The objective is to keep your space without falling down. Twister is loads of fun, with lots of laughter a near guarantee. 4. Tetris. This highly addictive digital puzzle game is one of the most popular games in the world (and it can be downloaded online for free!). Tetris starts with colored blocks in assorted geometric shapes, falling at a slow pace. The objective is to drop the pieces, fitting them together until there are four rows of neatly lined blocks. When done, the screen will clear and you can continue. As the blocks start dropping faster, it’s up to the player to think quicker. Tetris will show you exactly how fast your mind and fingers can work together. 5. Oregon Trail. This educational computer game is a classic! Oregon Trail is a role playing game where you assume the role... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4207527 Sun, 28 Nov 2010 01:40:32 +0100 4207527 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4203328&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FyD7lqAyYKU8%2F Are people telling you that you look tired, run-down, or you’re aging like a President in the White House? Or maybe nobody has noticed yet, but you have. You’re routine is just that, routine, day-in-day-out work, responsibilities, sleep (if you’re lucky) and some days you feel like Danny Glover in Lethal Weapon, you’re “too old for this s*&#!” Want to feel better and look younger? Change your routine! Get outside and get some exercise. Whether you walk, jog, play tennis, basketball, or golf, outdoor activities provide us with physical and mental exercises which can help us feel better and younger. Here’s some reasons that opening your door and stepping outside might be the best thing you can do for yourself today. Be a kid again. Remember when you couldn’t wait to go ou... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4203328 Fri, 26 Nov 2010 18:56:16 +0100 4203328 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4200754&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FiTyMeyin0GY%2F Remember that telephone game we played as children? We all sat in a circle and the first person whispered a simple statement such as, “She is a girl” into a person’s ear. By the time the phrase was whispered to everyone in the circle it would turn into “She is a nice gorilla.” It was funny at the time, but now when our friends say, “Did you hear about ____” our ears perk up and an audience is born. Gossip hurts people, but most of us love to hear it anyway. Tabloids make a mint writing about celebrities and people getting their hearts smashed to smithereens. Gossip tends to hold a bottomless well of interest, yet when you are talking about someone when they are not around, ask yourself if you would feel comfortable sharing the same information if they were standing right in f... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4200754 Thu, 25 Nov 2010 16:01:27 +0100 4200754 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4197140&cid=t_132696_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F11%2F24%2Fchange-is-hard-but-not-impossible%2F A lot of “Health 2.0″ tools seek to help people change their behaviors to lead more healthy, productive lives. This is an admirable goal, and one I wholeheartedly endorse. Some of the tools are really “gee-whiz” neat! However, many people involved with building Health 2.0 tools have little or no formal background in human behavior. How do you expect to build tools that seek to change human behavior, with no human behavior experts — you know, psychologists — consulting with you or on your staff? That’s like trying to write a piece of software without a programmer. In reply to a query on this topic, and how people change their behavior, I wrote the following over at the Society for Participatory Medicine’s e-patients.net blog. I think it enca... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4197140 Wed, 24 Nov 2010 16:57:57 +0100 4197140 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4197402&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FlNlE8vF1XSA%2F Is retiring early one of your life’s dreams? Do you long to be able to take off a few years while you are still young and healthy and travel, spend time on your hobbies or doing something else you love? Do you want to feel the confidence that comes when you’re not sweating the balance in your account? Despite the bad economy, it can be possible to retire at 55, if you’re willing to sacrifice and put in some work now. The trick is to make optimizing your finances part of your daily routine, just like brushing your teeth or loading the dishwasher. Small, consistent actions often have a more powerful long term effect than one or two large ones. By spending the equivalent of just ten minutes a day to focus on your finances, you can save hundreds or thousands of dollars a year towards you... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4197402 Wed, 24 Nov 2010 16:00:09 +0100 4197402 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4197404&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FR4tmW4s7pGU%2F No matter who you are, there’s one person who never cuts you any slack, who is with you 24/7, who believes you can always do better, and somehow finds a way to make you feel bad about yourself – no matter how hard you try. It’s no wonder your confidence is so low, with the daily butt spanking and beat down you endure minute by minute by this uncaring, demanding, perfection driven person… YOU. It’s true! Is there anyone else in your life who talks worse to you than you? Don’t get me wrong, there are other voices knocking you around as well, but yours is the loudest…and the meanest. How you were treated as a child by your parents and peers is directly related to how you talk to yourself today. While I’m a firm believer most parents do the best they can with the resour... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4197404 Tue, 23 Nov 2010 16:21:18 +0100 4197404 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4190559&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FtRbnJeOuoos%2F According to Harvard Business Review: “Playing the blame game never works. A deep set of research shows that people who blame others for their mistakes lose status, learn less, and perform worse relative to those who own up to their mistakes. Blaming is contagious.” The bottom line is simple. When you blame others for how you feel, you give them your power.  No one can make you feel anything.  No one is more in charge of your destiny.  Believe this and watch your confidence soar. It’s an illusion if you believe, “If they’d be like that, I’d be like this.” You give away your power by believing your state is dependent on others.  By playing the blame game, you shout to the world: I have no control over my life—I’m a victim Other people in my life are more powerful than... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4190559 Mon, 22 Nov 2010 21:49:35 +0100 4190559 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4190561&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2Fq9nvnDfUUug%2F If changing who you are is easy, we’d all be doing it, right? So, when a problem arises, why is our first reaction to focus on how the person involved needs to change? If you find yourself trying to solve problems by focusing on changing people, you have your first clue as to why it’s not working. Bad communication styles are the root of most problems.  Closing the gap on what people said is the first step to transforming a bad situation into a positive one. See each problem as an opportunity to improve and transform; your business, your relationship…your life! #1 Email is NOT your friend Email is a communication tool for tactical instructions.  It’s great for next steps, follow up and task lists.  It is not a good problem solving medium.  Pick up the phone or set up time to wo... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4190561 Sun, 21 Nov 2010 16:49:13 +0100 4190561 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4179357&cid=t_132696_109_f&fid=34706&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrdeborahserani.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F11%2Fsuicide-survivor-awareness-day-1120.html Every year on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention sponsors National Survivors of Suicide Day - reaching out to thousands of people who have lost a loved one to suicide. This Saturday, November 20, 2010, is their 12th year of raising awareness and providing support.Over 230 simultaneous conferences for survivors of suicide loss will take place throughout the U.S. and across the world. An amazing network of healing conferences is available for those who have survived the tragedy of suicide loss. Connecting on this day allows survivors to know that they are not alone in this experience. And perhaps more important than anything else, research has shown that survivors of suicide contribute significantly in better understanding suicide and its prevent... Dr. Deborah Serani blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4179357 Thu, 18 Nov 2010 18:38:00 +0100 4179357 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4190562&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FbvRD_SnXRLk%2F Your brain is gee whiz wowzers amazing. It’s faster than any computer and gets you to eat when you’re hungry and say sorry when you don’t want to sleep on the couch. Yet, despite amazing advances in neurological studies, many questions as to how and why the brain functions and what it might be capable of are still a mystery. But one thing is clear: Your brain must be fed, and well, if you expect to grow as a person. Water The Garden, Flowers Will Grow Studies show – one of the earliest signs of dehydration is mental confusion. Even going without water for a few hours can result in slowed thinking, headaches, blurred vision, and feeling a mental fog. Proper hydration allows your brain to perform at its peak capability. Drink a minimum of 8 to 11 eight-ounce glasses of water thro... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4190562 Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:59:56 +0100 4190562 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4179546&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FbvRD_SnXRLk%2F Your brain is gee whiz wowzers amazing. It’s faster than any computer and gets you to eat when you’re hungry and say sorry when you don’t want to sleep on the couch. Yet, despite amazing advances in neurological studies, many questions as to how and why the brain functions and what it might be capable of are still a mystery. But one thing is clear: Your brain must be fed, and well, if you expect to grow as a person. Water The Garden, Flowers Will Grow Studies show – one of the earliest signs of dehydration is mental confusion. Even going without water for a few hours can result in slowed thinking, headaches, blurred vision, and feeling a mental fog. Proper hydration allows your brain to perform at its peak capability. Drink a minimum of 8 to 11 eight-ounce glasses of water thro... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4179546 Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:59:56 +0100 4179546 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4179452&cid=t_132696_133_f&fid=39137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.advanceweb.com%2Fblogs%2Fot_9%2Farchive%2F2010%2F11%2F17%2Fthere-is-no-life-i-know-to-compare-with-pure-imagination.aspx Occasionally, I am absolutely floored by A.'s developing sense of self-awareness. A. has had a really good day today. Actually, she's had a really good week. As we climb higher and higher on this leg of the roller-coaster, I keep bracing for the inevitable...(read more) (Source: From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism) From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4179452 Thu, 18 Nov 2010 03:23:00 +0100 4179452 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4190563&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FdP4_6xuqwYE%2F Are you a BIG giant phony? Are you walking around acting out a role someone else cast you in? Perhaps someone told you “respectable people don’t do that.” Maybe you ignore your calling because you’re afraid what a loved one will think of your choices. Or perhaps, you live behind a carefully-constructed veil, never letting anyone see the real you. Because, if they can’t see the real you, then they can’t dislike the real you. Right? If that’s you, I have only one question – whose life are you living? I love to sing. Ever since I was a little kid singing to 45 records in my bedroom, I imagined myself up on a stage. Unfortunately, I never had the talent to be a “real” singer or the confidence to sing in front of anyone. Which is why I’ve always adm... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4190563 Thu, 18 Nov 2010 02:19:27 +0100 4190563 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4190564&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FSlxnW-35LiE%2F You have a gift you’re probably not aware of. Even if your own life isn’t perfect (and whose is?) you have the ability to help others overcome their obstacles. We all know people who struggle with issues of self worth, are making efforts to change, or who allow life to beat them into submission. Though change has to come from within, you can help light their fire, and more importantly, give them the support they need to face their challenges. Helping friends and family is just a friendly thing to do. Helping co-workers recognize their greatness can be a bit trickier (as you don’t want to cross lines of professionalism), but if done right, can turn a mediocre (but talented) worker into a stellar team leader. Everyone has issues, but you have an advantage your issue-afflicted-f... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4190564 Wed, 17 Nov 2010 16:25:13 +0100 4190564 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4176000&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FSlxnW-35LiE%2F You have a gift you’re probably not aware of. Even if your own life isn’t perfect (and whose is?) you have the ability to help others overcome their obstacles. We all know people who struggle with issues of self worth, are making efforts to change, or who allow life to beat them into submission. Though change has to come from within, you can help light their fire, and more importantly, give them the support they need to face their challenges. Helping friends and family is just a friendly thing to do. Helping co-workers recognize their greatness can be a bit trickier (as you don’t want to cross lines of professionalism), but if done right, can turn a mediocre (but talented) worker into a stellar team leader. Everyone has issues, but you have an advantage your issue-afflicted-f... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4176000 Wed, 17 Nov 2010 16:25:13 +0100 4176000 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4172351&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FIuLea_OF2YY%2F You probably already know how to work to bring in money, but you only have half the equation unless you’re taking these steps to make your money work for you. You don’t have to be a Wall Street wiz kid – all it takes is being mindful of when you spend your money, why you’re spending it, and what your true goals really are. 1. Have specific, tangible goals for your money. Take time to really think about what being financially secure means to you and how you want to spend your retirement. If you have a partner, be sure to talk it over with them, so you are both on the same page. It’s much easier to work for a goal when you can visualize it rather than thinking “Oh, I really should be saving money” simply because that seems like something you should do. It becomes much easie... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4172351 Tue, 16 Nov 2010 16:15:31 +0100 4172351 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4183591&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FWFpYcVGssp4%2F Asking for help can be hard, especially if you’re used to doing things on your own. But inevitably life’s gonna hand you a situation that leaves you asking for help. We need others to live a rich, full life- and that includes asking others for help from time to time. If you want to build a better you, then the best thing to do is get a few others in on the job. Why Asking For Help Is The SMART Thing To Do Humans are relational beings, hard-wired for community and better together. Solitary confinement is the roughest sentence an inmate can get, yet many free, law-abiding citizens sentence themselves to solitary confinement daily by choosing isolation over living in community with others. Intimacy is essential for a full life. In isolation, we can never meet our full potential, so we mis... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4183591 Mon, 15 Nov 2010 16:44:25 +0100 4183591 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4168235&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FWFpYcVGssp4%2F Asking for help can be hard, especially if you’re used to doing things on your own. But inevitably life’s gonna hand you a situation that leaves you asking for help. We need others to live a rich, full life- and that includes asking others for help from time to time. If you want to build a better you, then the best thing to do is get a few others in on the job. Why Asking For Help Is The SMART Thing To Do Humans are relational beings, hard-wired for community and better together. Solitary confinement is the roughest sentence an inmate can get, yet many free, law-abiding citizens sentence themselves to solitary confinement daily by choosing isolation over living in community with others. Intimacy is essential for a full life. In isolation, we can never meet our full potential, so we mis... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4168235 Mon, 15 Nov 2010 16:44:25 +0100 4168235 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4183592&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FS8h4gBcmaSY%2F Ever have one of those days when NOTHING seems to be going right? The bills are piling up, your boss is on your case, a co-worker won’t shut up about her lousy daughter-in-law, the kids are driving you nuts, and instead of helping, your spouse is also driving you nuts. You’ve had enough. Here’s an awesome trick to change your mood. Get up and get out. A change of scenery can instantly boost your mood. Sometimes our homes or offices just seem to press in all around us, suffocating us with a feeling of hopelessness. It’s all too easy to stay in a foul mood if you’re stuck. So get out. Take a walk – exercise releases endorphins, which make you feel better. Not the walking type? Go for a drive. Getting out of your routine (and out of your home or office) will he... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4183592 Sun, 14 Nov 2010 23:30:09 +0100 4183592 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4164730&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FAPGdWzmMpNI%2F Great week of posts for our 90 Days program! Lots of inspiration, plus a little bit of humor has made for a great learning experience. In case you missed them, here are some highlights: You’re Making Yourself Fat, not Happy: Here’s How To Dump Your Artificial Lover: The title says it all, Lori Taylor’s humorous post about how to take back control of your bad habits, nails it! Can’t Keep Up? 10 Reasons To Take a Well Deserved Time Out: Cindy Platt’s piece on the importance of taking time for yourself in order to increase productivity and joy, is a great refresher on a subject that is so easy to forget. Do This and People Will LOVE You, Even If They’re Suspicious!: There is no such thing as an act of kindness that is too small. In fact most acts of kindnes... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4164730 Sun, 14 Nov 2010 20:03:32 +0100 4164730 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4168237&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FbNX71IxAVO4%2F I admit, I swiped this trick from a friend of mine, writer Alisa Bowman. One day, she wrote about how much it helped her to re-read positive emails from friends when she was feeling down and discouraged. I was a bit skeptical and felt sheepish the first time I tried, but soon that all melted away as I searched for and read some of the nicer things people have ever said about me. It’s easy to forget how much we really do matter in this world. In fact, it’s almost painful to type it out, as decades of social conditioning have taught me that I should disregard those feelings and instead focus on my shortcomings. The thing is, paying attention to the good things we have done and how much people like us for our unique personalities empowers us to continue to make good choices. I want you to... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4168237 Sun, 14 Nov 2010 19:44:43 +0100 4168237 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4164731&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FbNX71IxAVO4%2F I admit, I swiped this trick from a friend of mine, writer Alisa Bowman. One day, she wrote about how much it helped her to re-read positive emails from friends when she was feeling down and discouraged. I was a bit skeptical and felt sheepish the first time I tried, but soon that all melted away as I searched for and read some of the nicer things people have ever said about me. It’s easy to forget how much we really do matter in this world. In fact, it’s almost painful to type it out, as decades of social conditioning have taught me that I should disregard those feelings and instead focus on my shortcomings. The thing is, paying attention to the good things we have done and how much people like us for our unique personalities empowers us to continue to make good choices. I want you to... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4164731 Sun, 14 Nov 2010 19:44:43 +0100 4164731 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4164641&cid=t_132696_133_f&fid=39137&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.advanceweb.com%2Fblogs%2Fot_9%2Farchive%2F2010%2F11%2F13%2Fin-celebration-of-the-good-days.aspx While I was at work Friday afternoon, I received a phone call from A.'s teacher. Initially, I was concerned -- perhaps she'd fallen sick, perhaps she'd had another uncontrollable meltdown, perhaps there was some other crisis that would require my intervention...(read more) (Source: From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism) From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4164641 Sun, 14 Nov 2010 01:54:00 +0100 4164641 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4168238&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FRzIumAQuNS0%2F One of the fondest memories I have of an old friend of mine is how she would bring me the funniest little things just because they reminded him of me. Nothing huge or expensive, just a little something to brighten my day like a funny postcard she found at a flea market or some homemade cookies. She did this for everyone and we all loved her to pieces, not because of the value of the stuff she gave, but because it showed she thought of us, knew our personalities well, and wanted to brighten our days. Doing small kindnesses for others is always a win-win. Whoever said it’s better to give than receive was right in more ways that one. We get a sort of high from doing nice things for others, even if some cynics say it means we aren’t really being very nice and it’s all just selfishness. P... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4168238 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 16:44:44 +0100 4168238 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4159537&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FRzIumAQuNS0%2F One of the fondest memories I have of an old friend of mine is how she would bring me the funniest little things just because they reminded him of me. Nothing huge or expensive, just a little something to brighten my day like a funny postcard she found at a flea market or some homemade cookies. She did this for everyone and we all loved her to pieces, not because of the value of the stuff she gave, but because it showed she thought of us, knew our personalities well, and wanted to brighten our days. Doing small kindnesses for others is always a win-win. Whoever said it’s better to give than receive was right in more ways that one. We get a sort of high from doing nice things for others, even if some cynics say it means we aren’t really being very nice and it’s all just selfishness. P... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4159537 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 16:44:44 +0100 4159537 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4168239&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2Fr3sszGPqmg4%2F How much does it cost to keep your friends and family happy? Do you find yourself with one foot out the door when things don’t go your way? What is your exit strategy for an unhappy relationship? Brian Tracey tells sales people and business owners, “If the grass is always greener, then you must not be fertilizing your own grass enough.” It ALWAYS costs more to get a new customer than it does to keep one. Why would this be different in our personal lives? The common denominator is usually the problem. In this case, the common denominator is YOU. Tony Robbins says, “The quality of your life is in direct proportion to the quality of your relationships.”  Is this statement true? Are the most important “clients” (people) in your life those you have invested with  through time, e... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4168239 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 05:25:29 +0100 4168239 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4159538&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2Fr3sszGPqmg4%2F How much does it cost to keep your friends and family happy? Do you find yourself with one foot out the door when things don’t go your way? What is your exit strategy for an unhappy relationship? Brian Tracey tells sales people and business owners, “If the grass is always greener, then you must not be fertilizing your own grass enough.” It ALWAYS costs more to get a new customer than it does to keep one. Why would this be different in our personal lives? The common denominator is usually the problem. In this case, the common denominator is YOU. Tony Robbins says, “The quality of your life is in direct proportion to the quality of your relationships.”  Is this statement true? Are the most important “clients” (people) in your life those you have invested with  through time, e... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4159538 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 05:25:29 +0100 4159538 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4168240&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2F3sOOY_dyoic%2F Are you feeling like your wheels are spinning out of control and going nowhere? If your work time is tipping the scales toward WAY TOO MUCH!, it’s time to take a time- out and find a meaningful way to balance your energy. 1.  You’re running on empty. Sleep is an essential part of life. Accept it. The only time your body will restore itself is while you are sleeping. Most adults need between six and eight hours of sleep to feel refreshed. You’ve been depriving yourself, now it’s time to recover. 2.  You’re spinning out of control. Work related stress, insomnia, guilt, and over scheduling yourself, are all part of the perfect recipe for mounting insanity. If you expect to get grounded, you must take stock in your actions and eliminate unrealistic expectations, negativity, and bus... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4168240 Thu, 11 Nov 2010 16:58:17 +0100 4168240 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4159539&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2F3sOOY_dyoic%2F Are you feeling like your wheels are spinning out of control and going nowhere? If your work time is tipping the scales toward WAY TOO MUCH!, it’s time to take a time- out and find a meaningful way to balance your energy. 1.  You’re running on empty. Sleep is an essential part of life. Accept it. The only time your body will restore itself is while you are sleeping. Most adults need between six and eight hours of sleep to feel refreshed. You’ve been depriving yourself, now it’s time to recover. 2.  You’re spinning out of control. Work related stress, insomnia, guilt, and over scheduling yourself, are all part of the perfect recipe for mounting insanity. If you expect to get grounded, you must take stock in your actions and eliminate unrealistic expectations, negativity, and bus... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4159539 Thu, 11 Nov 2010 16:58:17 +0100 4159539 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4168241&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FUSIWvgrx3uc%2F “Focusing on the the act of breathing clears the mind of all daily distractions and clears our energy enabling us to better connect with the Spirit within.” ~Author Unknown Inhaling and exhaling goes hand in hand with the beating of our hearts. We do it 20,000 times a day, but if you don’t do it right you are affecting your health and happiness in a negative way. Without breath, there is no life. Are you living without life? Here are ways to ensure you are breathing well and living right: 1.  Getting Oxygen. Without it, you die in minutes. Filling your daily life with different forms of aerobic exercise gives your body endurance, builds healthy muscles, and is energizing. Finding simple ways to nurture you mind and body through activities like walking, swimming, jogging, or dancing... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4168241 Wed, 10 Nov 2010 16:52:09 +0100 4168241 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4152327&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FUSIWvgrx3uc%2F “Focusing on the the act of breathing clears the mind of all daily distractions and clears our energy enabling us to better connect with the Spirit within.” ~Author Unknown Inhaling and exhaling goes hand in hand with the beating of our hearts. We do it 20,000 times a day, but if you don’t do it right you are affecting your health and happiness in a negative way. Without breath, there is no life. Are you living without life? Here are ways to ensure you are breathing well and living right: 1.  Getting Oxygen. Without it, you die in minutes. Filling your daily life with different forms of aerobic exercise gives your body endurance, builds healthy muscles, and is energizing. Finding simple ways to nurture you mind and body through activities like walking, swimming, jogging, or dancing... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4152327 Wed, 10 Nov 2010 16:52:09 +0100 4152327 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4152329&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2Fl9PBELrUeZE%2F Do you know what’s best about a salty bowl of chips, queso and a yummy margarita? They never tell you no, they won’t leave you and, honestly, they don’t care if you’re fat. But what do THEY do for YOU? Do you rise the next morning patting yourself on the back, celebrating your great decision to signal the waitress for the 3rd time you are running low on chips?  I doubt it.  And if you do, this post probably isn’t for you.  But, if you’ve ever eaten any food and thought, “This is better than sex,” I’m talking directly to you. If you want to love yourself more than you love your next French fry, start treating your physical self the way you would treat a Ferrari.  Your body is a gift, no matter how big or how small, and it’s yours to have for as long as you take care... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4152329 Tue, 09 Nov 2010 16:09:35 +0100 4152329 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4143044&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FB-9mThZCkZc%2F Good Sunday everyone! A couple of weeks ago, we did a ‘soft launch’ of a new program we have been working really hard on, called 90 Days to a Better You (see new tab in nav ’90 Days’). After reviewing everybody’s survey responses a couple of months ago, a handful of key answers were repeated over and over, and so we thought it might be a good idea to try and put together a complimentary program that addresses these points of interest. Before launching outright, we wanted to get a feel if there would be any interest/traction. Less than two weeks in and the response so far has been outstanding…overwhelming even. Reader feedback has been terrific and it seems as though we’re already making a big difference for our audience – which makes me proud... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4143044 Sun, 07 Nov 2010 22:09:12 +0100 4143044 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4143045&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FkNk6upkpzlI%2F Are you someone who works best under pressure or thrives in a stressful situation? Do you take pride in your great multi-tasking abilities? Do you find yourself surrounded with drama queens or people just like you who run full throttle until they puke? Most important, are you someone who avoids pain or disappointment by “getting busy?” If you find yourself rushing around with a packed schedule, glued to your phone or email (or both!), filling empty time slots with activities to keep you constantly moving, then not only do your fit the bill of a modern day urgency junkie, you are slowly killing your soul, draining your creative potential and taking years off your life. Humans need variety, but if you crave excitement yet struggle to be present with the people in your life unless there�... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4143045 Sun, 07 Nov 2010 21:20:14 +0100 4143045 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4143047&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FxqwQWNX8RAY%2F You know the feeling all too well… That sinking sinking sensation that starts to swallow you whole, the second after you’ve agreed to do something you really didn’t want to do. You know you need to leave the yes-habit behind forever, but where do you start? The first thing to remember is to never beat yourself up. You are not spineless, a pushover or insecure, you’re a human being. For hundreds of thousands of years, humans have relied on cooperation and trading favors to keep themselves sheltered and fed. Our ancestors saw that those who weren’t willing to lend a hand found themselves without friends to help them out, sometimes to the detriment of their survival. These days our friendships, family, workplaces and communities are also dependent on people helping one another t... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4143047 Sat, 06 Nov 2010 16:07:37 +0100 4143047 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4139508&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2Fyv-8TYh_jFE%2F Would you be happy if you won the lottery? How about if George Clooney or Monica Belluci asked you to spend the night? What if you were taller, thinner, faster, smarter or simply better at every thing you did? Truth is, many people wait for happiness to happen to them, and end up squandering all the millions of seconds they could be using to make themselves truly happy, inside and out. Most people don’t believe that we have the power to actively change their state from miserable and morose to happy and satisfied. And the kicker is, it doesn’t too much effort to change states naturally. The real challenge is having the faith to try. 1. You’re putting off doing things that would make you feel better until you feel better. It’s a vicious circle – you don’t like the way you loo... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4139508 Fri, 05 Nov 2010 16:22:44 +0100 4139508 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4139290&cid=t_132696_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F11%2F05%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-november-5-2010%2F Only a few days ago, it felt like summer and now the holidays are fast approaching. As the warm days sheds its last ray of summer sunlight, I can’t help but reflect on the past. It seems as though somewhere between childhood and today, there was a time when life seemed a lot simpler, and so much more magical. Instead of fear, worry and disappointment, there was excitement, joy and hope. And even though being an adult often mean less presents and more shopping during the holidays, I still believe in the possibilities of the end of an old year and what the beginning of a new one brings. Maybe it’s all in our attitude. If we can learn how to bring gifts to ourselves and those we love through appreciation and recognition for the things done well, then maybe we can forgo the need fo... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4139290 Fri, 05 Nov 2010 12:27:10 +0100 4139290 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4134312&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FZ4IoFXhO0C4%2F Would you like to live a more vibrant life? Your life can get better, both physically and emotionally. And best of all, it’s easier to get there than you probably think! Stand up and volunteer. Right now you have countless opportunities to give your time and talents to others. Volunteering will give you a chance to change lives whether you are tutoring, contributing to a local charity or assisting the homeless. People who volunteer feel happier, have a sense of purpose, and experience the rich rewards that come with giving time. Being generous with your time and effort can lead to improved physical and mental health for yourself and others. Here Are 7 (Simple) Ways To Volunteer And Give To Your Community: 1.  Link Up With Local Community Outreach. There are many ways to reach people in ... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4134312 Thu, 04 Nov 2010 15:55:29 +0100 4134312 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4134313&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FCv6MunBVyj8%2F Forget the roses and moonlight serenades, the secret to winning a place in a woman’s (or man’s) heart is a great big belly laugh. Laughter not only makes us feel good, it can also be the cement that seals the relationship. Laughter builds trust Laughing out loud releases endorphins and oxytocin, naturally occurring chemicals that help to relieve stress and increase feelings of well being and belonging. Oxytocin facilitates a greater sense of trust, which is important when establishing new relationships. When you are able to make the object of your interest laugh heartily, it floods his or her body with these feel good chemicals, making it easier for them to open up to you and start building a foundation of trust and intimacy. Better yet, laughter is contagious which explains why many o... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4134313 Wed, 03 Nov 2010 14:10:05 +0100 4134313 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4134315&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FQmpFx4E-JP4%2F “This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in.” ~Theadore Roosevelt Feeling better is easier than you think. If you are looking for ways to restore balance, peace and order to your days, while helping your loved ones live a better life, the solution is simple. Being a caregiver for seniors is a labor of love that can help build fulfilling relationships and make a difference in how you feel about yourself. Being a caregiver is a job that comes with responsibilities and problem solving, followed by the singular joy that comes with making a difference. When you care for a senior citizen you are likely to find many moments of inspiration, and interaction. Do it well and you’ll be having so much fun it will bar... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4134315 Tue, 02 Nov 2010 16:17:00 +0100 4134315 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4134316&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2F8JiEx60n0FA%2F Have you ever fallen to sleep at night wondering if you’ve made any difference to the world around you? Have you ever risen in the morning wondering if you even matter at all? The key to living a happy, healthy and productive life is feeling purpose, passion and genuine joy for the way you spend your days. Without purpose, passion is merely a silent suggestion. Yet when you know your actions truly make a difference, joy and productivity follow as naturally as sunset after sunrise. Use any of these 8 ideas to evaporate your indifference once and for all. 1)  Travel. Few things can fuel your inner fire like discovering fresh people, adventure, and experience. The sights, scents and sounds of a new spot on the map can help you see your old world with fresh eyes. Whether you’re heading t... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4134316 Tue, 02 Nov 2010 04:00:55 +0100 4134316 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4125311&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FLuoAmrE82lU%2F Our bodies weren’t designed for our modern lifestyle. We were never meant to sit behind desks for half our waking hours, nor were we intended to spend more time in a car than on our feet. Most of us don’t get enough fresh air, sunshine and exercise and it’s having a profound impact on our moods, energy levels and health. Worse, it’s a self perpetuating problem. The less you move, the less energy you have to get going. Even if you know from experience that a bit of exercise will make you feel immeasurably better, you probably have a difficult time managing that first step. If you can find a way to incorporate as little as 10 minutes of active movement into your morning routine, you’ll find your days will run smoother and be less stressful. Plus, you’ll have more energy and a mor... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4125311 Mon, 01 Nov 2010 17:00:26 +0100 4125311 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4122109&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FibG7nDMitCs%2F Multitasking is the art of distracting yourself from things you don’t really want to do by doing many of them at once. If you’re like most people, you think you’re getting a lot more done when you juggle a ton of to-do’s. You’re not. At best, you’re doing slightly less than you would if you kept your eyes set on a single task. At worst, you’re stuck running around the hamster wheel, and will be for a while. Learn to stop multitasking and you will be able to do far more with the same amount of minutes, while maintaining the steady, gradual steps that will inch you closer to the life you really want to live. 8 Ways to Stop Multitasking Starting Today: 1) Batch your work. Start by grouping similar tasks together, such as “paperwork,” “correspondence,” or “planning.”... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4122109 Sun, 31 Oct 2010 19:00:03 +0100 4122109 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4122110&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FnROxluWnEBQ%2F Do you ever feel like you’re living in a bubble, surrounded by people but never touched? We live in such a busy, crowded world, yet it’s so easy for many of us to go days, even weeks or months without touching or being touched by others. While you might not notice the effects of not being touched right away, it can negatively affect your mood and health. We are only beginning to understand the holistic way our bodies work and the relationship between our emotional well being and our physical health. Here are 6 reasons why you need to be touched on a regular basis. 1. Feel connected to others. We are social beings, and although we all fall in different places on the introversion – extroversion scale, we all need to have that sense of connection to other members of our tribe. While... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4122110 Sun, 31 Oct 2010 06:33:49 +0100 4122110 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4122111&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FBFRijD_G7u8%2F Do you ever want to throw your hands up in despair while looking around at your workspace? While many people think that creativity thrives in chaos, the truth is that most of us work our best in an orderly environment that is free of distractions. Too much visual clutter makes it difficult for most people to concentrate. It’s also almost impossible to maintain focus when you constantly have to root around to find what you need instead of being able to lay your hands on it immediately. A streamlined work environment is your best bet for being able to think clearly and creatively and maintain your flow. Here are 6 simple ways to streamline your environment: 1.      Be ruthless with clutter. If you don’t need it, toss it out. If you do need it, but not now, immediately put it away or... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4122111 Sun, 31 Oct 2010 01:49:42 +0100 4122111 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4119787&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FbNVImus_xQo%2F Did you know you can instantly feel a lot better about your body simply by choosing clothes that fit and flatter you now, rather than putting it off until you reach some ideal weight? Or that the best way to exude sexuality and confidence is not by squeezing into skin tight clothes but finding outfits that work with your body? Perhaps you feel like it would be shallow or frivolous to worry too much about the way clothes look on your body. There are no laws insisting you have to care much about clothing to be happy and confident. However, most of us do feel better if we spend just a little time on our appearance. Many people find themselves stuck in a perpetually low cycle of self esteem. When we don’t feel good about ourselves, we either: ●            Buy clothes that comple... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4119787 Sat, 30 Oct 2010 02:49:46 +0100 4119787 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4119789&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FesaYtGj3a1o%2F Feeling grouchy? Lethargic? Annoyed or irritable? Bad moods happen to the best of us, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything you can do about them. The fact is, most of us feel like we’re at the mercy of our moods and try to push through or wait it out instead of taking positive action to improve our state of mind. Many people don’t even believe that it’s possible to change their mood and instead make themselves and everyone around them miserable. There are some tricks you can use to boost your mood, but the most important thing is making that leap of faith and trusting that there are actions that you can take to make yourself feel better. With that in mind, I’d love for you to try this trick that works for me 9 times out of 10 (the other time I’ve got a sinus headache an... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4119789 Wed, 27 Oct 2010 18:03:05 +0100 4119789 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4106104&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FgfT0NQvFL8c%2F My three-year-old seems to have an endless supply of energy. He is ready to go the minute the sun peeks over the horizon. And by ready to go, I mean, he’s ready to play, dance, and run laps around the house … in the morning. As adults, we tend to burn the candle at both ends, thinking we’re three years old, with an endless supply of energy. We stay up late, work hard, go to bed at irregular hours, and eat on the run. And then we wonder why we can barely crawl out of bed most mornings, let alone hit the ground running. While we can’t turn back the hands of time, we can get some of that zip back in our step. Here’s how to lose that lethargic feeling once and for all! Sleep Interestingly, one of the most important things you can do to energize your body is to give it... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4106104 Mon, 25 Oct 2010 19:00:41 +0100 4106104 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4106105&cid=t_132696_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FYJpAkaFkgIg%2F My 11-year-old daughter gets furious with her older brother at least 67 times a day. It’s always the same: “Well he did ______ , so that’s why I’m ________.” Sound familiar? It should. I guarantee you’ve had the same conversation with yourself at least once this week. Life sets you on the wrong side of injustice (probably more than you’d like), but you should never allow another person’s issue or mood to affect your own. Change Your Focus: Time spent wondering what you did to deserve their negative reaction is time spent neglecting yourself. See life as a play, and all the people, good and bad, who step on the stage of YOUR life are actors in YOUR story. A few years back, I divorced my college sweetheart after an 18-year-relationship.  We did our best, but it was much hard... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4106105 Sun, 24 Oct 2010 19:04:11 +0100 4106105 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4055774&cid=t_132696_109_f&fid=34706&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrdeborahserani.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F10%2Foctober-is-international-rett-syndrome.html Rett Syndrome (RTT) is a developmental disorder that affects 1 out of 10,000 children worldwide. Generally found in girls, symptoms begin in infancy or early childhood. Often misdiagnosed as Autism, Cerebral Palsy or Angleman's Syndrome, RTT is linked to a mutation on the MECP2 gene on the X chromosome. First described in 1966 by Austrian physician, Andreas Rett, RTT is a challenging syndrome that includes the following symptoms:* Loss of purposeful hand movements* Loss of speech* Balance and coordination problems* Inability to walk* Hand wringing* Breathing problems* Anxiety and social-behavioral problems* Intellectual and developmental disabilities For more on Rett Syndrome link here (Source: Dr. Deborah Serani) Dr. Deborah Serani blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4055774 Mon, 11 Oct 2010 13:57:00 +0100 4055774 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4040611&cid=t_132696_109_f&fid=34706&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrdeborahserani.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F10%2Fnational-depression-screening-day-107.html National Depression Screening Day is today, October 7th. Each year, more than half a million children and adults are screened for depression with this campaign.Depression affects more than 120 million people worldwide and is the one of the leading causes of disability across the globe.To find a free, anonymous screening site in your area, link here. If you can't find a way to go in person, take an online screening at PsychCentral, Mental Health America or Screening for Mental Health.It seems fitting that on National Depression Screening Day that I announce that I've been offered a book deal for my nonfiction depression book. I'm happy to report that "Living with Depression: Why Biology and Biology Matter Along the Path to Hope and Healing" will be published in 2011 by Rowman & Littlefi... Dr. Deborah Serani blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4040611 Thu, 07 Oct 2010 11:22:00 +0100 4040611 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4036606&cid=t_132696_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Ftweeting-in-sick-to-work-yes-or-no%2F Check out this post from Stephanie Jo Klein at Lemondrop. photo: Thinkstock Poor baby, you’re sick! You worked yourself to the bone, caught a cold, and you just cannot bear the thought of staring at a bright screen all day while blowing your nose repeatedly. The old standard was that the next steps would be phoning the office to say you can’t come in. Then email became acceptable as an alternate method. But now, what’s that we hear? In your weakened state, you’ve been considering tweeting it in?? Lemondrop asked a few experts if using Twitter to call in sick to work is ever OK — and the response was mixed. “If you have a close relationship with your manager that involves a lot of communication on Twitter, or if you work in a Twitter-heavy environment th... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4036606 Wed, 06 Oct 2010 16:00:53 +0100 4036606 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4022954&cid=t_132696_109_f&fid=34706&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrdeborahserani.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F10%2Fmental-health-awareness-week-10-3-thru.html For the last 20 years, the first week in October has been designated as Mental Health Awareness Week. The campaign, which begins October 3rd and runs through the 9th, is focusing on the theme "Changing Attitudes, Changing Lives."The truth is that negative stereotypes and improper understanding of mental illness keep many children and adults from getting the help they need.If you or someone you love has a undiagnosed or untreated mental disorder, you can find local and national support in Australia , Canada and the USAFor me, every day is an awareness day. But I like how campaigns like this shine a light on mental health. (Source: Dr. Deborah Serani) Dr. Deborah Serani blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4022954 Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:34:00 +0100 4022954