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By learning about yourself and renewing yourself everyday you can improve your financial life.

  • How Juneteenth can be an inspiration to improve your personal finances.

    How Juneteenth can be an inspiration to improve your personal finances.

    Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, is a holiday celebrated on June 19th to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States. This day holds a significant historical and cultural importance for the African American community, and it can also serve as an inspiration for individuals to improve their finances.

    One of the main reasons Juneteenth can be an inspiration to improve finances is that it symbolizes the idea of freedom. Financial freedom is the ability to have control over your money, and to have enough money to live the life you want without being constrained by debt or lack of funds. This can be achieved by having a clear financial plan, setting goals, and being disciplined in managing your money.

    One way to improve your finances is to start by creating a budget. A budget is a plan for how you will spend your money, and it is an essential tool for achieving financial freedom. When creating a budget, it is important to prioritize your expenses and to make sure that you are spending your money on things that are important to you. This means cutting out unnecessary expenses, and putting more money towards savings and investments.

    Another way to improve your finances is to start saving money. Saving money is an important part of achieving financial freedom, and it can help you to prepare for unexpected expenses or to achieve your financial goals. Setting a savings goal, and automating your savings can be a great way to ensure that you are putting money away regularly.

    Investing can also be an important part of achieving financial freedom. Investing your money can help you to grow your wealth over time, and it can also provide you with financial security in the long term. There are many different types of investment options available, such as stocks, bonds, real estate, and mutual funds. It’s important to do your research and understand the risks and rewards of different investment options.

    Another way to improve your finances is to educate yourself about financial literacy. Understanding the basics of personal finance can help you to make better financial decisions and to achieve your financial goals. There are many resources available online, such as books, podcasts, and online courses, that can help you to learn more about personal finance.

    In conclusion, Juneteenth can serve as an inspiration for individuals to improve their finances. The idea of freedom that it symbolizes can be applied to financial freedom, which can be achieved by creating a budget, saving money, investing, and educating yourself about financial literacy. By taking control of your money and planning for your financial future, you can celebrate your own personal freedom and independence.

  • Celebrating Washington’s Birthday

    Celebrating Washington’s Birthday

    Washington’s Birthday, also known as Presidents’ Day, is a federal holiday that is celebrated on the third Monday of February each year in honor of George Washington, the first President of the United States. It is a day to remember and honor the legacy of one of the most important figures in American history, and it can also serve as an inspiration for people to improve their lives.

    One of the most notable characteristics of George Washington was his leadership. He played a crucial role in leading the Continental Army to victory during the American Revolution and later served as the first President of the United States. He was a great leader who inspired others to follow him, and his example can be used as inspiration for people to become better leaders in their own lives. Whether it’s leading a team at work, volunteering in your community, or mentoring someone, taking on leadership roles can help you to develop important skills and make a positive impact on the lives of others.

    Another aspect of George Washington’s legacy that can serve as inspiration is his sense of duty. Throughout his life, he was dedicated to serving his country and its people. He put the interests of the nation above his own, and he was willing to make sacrifices for the greater good. This sense of duty and selflessness can serve as an inspiration for people to be more engaged in their communities and to make a positive impact on the world.

    Additionally, George Washington was a man of integrity. He was known for his honesty, and he held himself to the highest ethical standards. He was respected by his peers and the public, and he always did what he believed was right. His example can be used to inspire people to be more honest and to hold themselves to high ethical standards in their own lives.

    George Washington was also a man of great discipline and perseverance. As a military leader, he led his troops through many difficult battles and challenges, and he never gave up. He taught his troops to be disciplined and to never give up, even in the face of adversity. This example of discipline and perseverance can be used as inspiration for people to work hard and to never give up on their own goals and aspirations.

    Finally, George Washington’s legacy can serve as inspiration for people to be more patriotic. He was a true patriot who loved his country and its people, and he dedicated his life to serving them. His example can be used to inspire people to be more involved in their communities, to vote in elections, and to be more engaged in the political process.

    In conclusion, Washington’s Birthday is a day to remember and honor the legacy of one of the most important figures in American history. George Washington’s leadership, sense of duty, integrity, discipline, perseverance and patriotic spirit can serve as inspiration for people to improve their lives. Whether it’s becoming a better leader, being more engaged in their communities, or working hard towards their own goals and aspirations, there are many ways that people can be inspired by the example of George Washington to make a positive impact on the world.

  • What is identity theft?

    What is identity theft?

    El robo de identidad es un delito, que ocurre cuando una persona utiliza la información personal de otra para cometer un fraude, de ahí la importancia de proteger el número de seguro social o número de la tarjeta de crédito, claves de acceso o cualquier información relacionada a su nombre personal.

    ¿Qué sucede cuando ha sido victima de robo de identidad?

      • Hacen compras con su tarjeta de crédito o débito.
      • Pueden alquilar inmuebles a su nombre.
      • Pueden abrir cuentas a su nombre.
      • Pueden solicitar créditos por altas sumas de dinero bajo su nombre.
      • Alguien más puede recibir un tratamiento médico que estaba destinado para usted.
    Es común que la victima se entere que su identidad ha sido robada cuando es demasiado tarde, frecuentemente, recibe una llamada de un cobrador por una deuda que desconoce o simplemente por un reporte crediticio negativo.

    Los robos de identidad han crecido de una forma acelerada, con frecuencia se comenten fraudes a través de nuevas estrategias que están usando los delincuentes para hurtar los datos personales. Estos fraudes traen como consecuencia el daño del buen nombre, del historial crediticio, la pérdida de tiempo al tratar de solucionar los daños y hasta altas sumas de dinero.

    Una de las consecuencias de la pandemia fue el incremento de robos de identidad, la Comisión Federal de Comercio de los Estados Unidos recibió 1.4 millones de denuncias por robo de identidad en año 2020.

    ¿Cuáles son los medios más comunes que usan los delincuentes para robar su identidad?

    Con frecuencia surgen nuevas tendencias gracias a la agilidad de los delincuentes que conocen a profundidad las debilidades, estas son algunas de las más omunes:

      • Filtración de datos: Ocurre cuando se filtra información confidencial (personal o financiera) desde una locación segura a un entorno no confiable. Puede ocurrir que los datos sean robados desde su computadora personal o a una compañía que tenga su información personal.
      • Programa malicioso o “malware”: Es un software peligroso diseñado para dañar computadoras y sistemas informáticos.
      • “Phishing” o “spoofing”: Es cuando hacen envíos de correos electrónicos falsos, mensajes de texto o crean un sitio web de imitación para intentar robar su información personal o su identidad con el único objetivo de robar sus números de tarjetas de crédito, de cuentas bancarias, pines de tarjetas de débito y contraseñas.
      • Fraude en subastas por internet: Implica la tergiversación de un producto anunciado en un sitio de subastas por Internet o la no entrega de mercancía.
      • Llamadas telefónicas: Se hacen pasar por entidades para robar su identidad a través de engaños e información falsa.

    Son innumerables los métodos que usan los delincuentes para robar la identidad, incluso los ciberdelincuentes también utilizaron el robo de identidad como un medio para obtener acceso a los pagos de estímulo federal emitidos por el Servicio de Impuestos Internos de los Estados Unidos (IRS, por sus siglas en inglés) y que son elegibles para los residentes de Estados Unidos. Estos casos fueron denunciados a la FTC como incidentes de robo de identidad fiscal. La cantidad de denuncias en 2020 triplicaron en comparación con las de 2019, con la FTC recibiendo 89.390 reportes en 2020 y 27.450 el año anterior.

  • Yoga: Source of Equilibrium

    Yoga: Source of Equilibrium

    If you are a yoga practitioner, you have probably noticed all benefits that yoga gives you. Maybe, after practicing yoga you sleep better, feel happier, and are more focused in your goals. Those changes are caused by yoga. With just 30 to 90 minutes practice, you and your body will feel better and relax.

    At Premier Consumer, we believe that personal well-being is the first step towards a fulfilled life, for that we recommend you the Yoga practice; which has help many people improve their mental and physical condition

    Modern yoga is characterized by some asanas (postures) and the sequence of these postures connected by movements known as “breathing system”; the connection of breaths and movement. The five basic principles of modern yoga were created by Swami Sivananda, these are: proper exercise, proper breathing, proper diet, positive thinking and meditation.

    “Yoga is more than reaching many postures and improvement of flexibility; yoga is a source of physical, mental and spiritual equilibrium”.

    We should be conscious that yoga is more than reaching many postures and improvement of flexibility; yoga is a source of physical, mental and spiritual equilibrium very important to those who practice it. This ancient activity teaches us to control our minds and senses as it transforms our lifestyles.

    Read Also: Fight Stress

    Can yoga help us discover our bodies?

    Yes, yoga allows you to get to know your body and your capacities better. At the beginning, yoga can be hard for a person of course, but after some months or years you will get to do most yoga poses. The word ‘yoga’ itself means ‘union’ and ‘union with the divine’. For that reason, Shiva said that yoga is “When the individual soul and the cosmic soul come together, the unity between our heart and the cosmic heart, the unity between oneself and the other”. This also includes the unity with your body because there are asanas which work specific parts of your body.

    There are poses to work a determinate part of your body such as: poses for your abs and core, your ankles, your back, brain, chakras, heart, neck, spine, etc. Moreover, in yoga exists poses that relieve aches and pains because each pose has a determine objective.

    The impact of yoga on personal and professional life

    Most of us do not take care about the real importance of the breathing, maybe because people think that it is automatic, right? Yes, but a proper breathing is very important to our body and organism. Our body is composed of cells, each ones requires the energy created by the proper breathing.

    Yoga teachers explain in their classes the importance of proper breathing in our life. Thanks to breathing exercises we can control nervousness and anxiety. It also has other benefits such as: improves the blood flow, rejuvenates the skin, improves the health of the nervous system, relaxes our minds, bodies and more.

    Read Also: Five Keys to Happiness

    As mentioned earlier, the proper breathing is your first key to practice yoga. Yoga also provides other benefits such as:

    Increases your self-esteem.

    Yoga practices allow you to know your body and find new capacities that you did not know about you and even develop new ones. This fact increases your self-esteem giving you the opportunity to accept yourself as you are. Yoga also supplies new ways to appreciate the world and create positive energy for positive changes into your life.

    Improves your memory

    According to atlhotyoga, “Studies have found that regular yoga practice improves coordination, reaction time, memory, and even IQ scores”. By reducing mental stress and physical tension people can have better control about their thoughts and responsibilities.

    Also, Gary – Kraftsow, director of the American Viniyoga Institute and author of Yoga for Wellness says “When you integrate breath and movement and other exercises, such as chanting, the mind becomes more focused and clear, the emotions become more balanced, and neuromuscular functioning is improved.”

    Makes you sleep better.  If you learn to live a better lifestyle, you will be more successful in every aspect of life, including the financial one. This will make you feel more serene and peaceful as well as you will get a deeper sleep because you will feel better thanks to the powers of yoga and meditation. Additionally, when your mind is quiet, your body will be in peace too. Some of practices to control insomnia are: restorative asana, yoga nidra (a form of guided relaxation), Savasana, pranayama (breathing exercises), and meditation encourage pratyahara.

    Yoga motivates people to work harder. Yoga has important benefits for life. For that reason people have been suggesting to adapt the yoga practice as a corporate benefit. Actually, lots of major companies do have yoga lessons for their members, and the people who took the classes were proved to be more productive, calmed and motivated. Besides, relaxation inspires creativity; leading to good ideas and better decisions.

    In conclusion, the yoga practice is an excellent activity for a lot of people. Thishelps to achieve a more positive outlook. In fact, a positive attitude can change your whole day. Yoga can give you the equilibrium and energy that you need in your life. For that reason, people should practice yoga and take advantages about all benefits that yoga gives them.

    You cannot always control what goes on outside. But you can always control what goes on inside.  
  • What Are Charity Frauds And How To Avoid Them

    What Are Charity Frauds And How To Avoid Them

    There are times in which generosity takes over you and makes you want to give something to those in need. All around the world you can find thousands of organizations, programs, foundations, among many others that will very gladly accept different types of donations. Some might want (or need) clothes, food, and the most common: money. This money will be used to satisfy whatever need they could have (whether it is related to alimentation, infrastructure, and so on). The problem now arises when people, pretending to be representatives from an organization, try to steal that money that was intended to go to a good cause. These are called “charity frauds” or “charity scams”.

    Fraudsters will contact you and ask for a donation (relying on your goodwill) allegedly to help people in need. They will assure they represent an organization or foundation, or they will claim to be a hired fundraiser. Often, they could be misusing the name of a well-known organization, or using a name that closely resembles one. This is when you have to be more cautious.

    “All around the world you can find thousands of organizations, programs, foundations, among many others that will very gladly accept different types of donations. Some might want (or need) clothes, food, and the most common: money”

    Fraudsters will also usually take advantage of delicate situations such as natural or man-made disasters to ask for donations. Since they cause shock, people might be prone to help without realizing it is a trap. Be cautious if they start to collect donations right after the event occurred, because real organizations will take their time to arrange everything so they can manage donations accordingly.

    Read also: Identity Theft: Damage Control

    Another common way fraudsters have used to perform their scams is by sending email in which there is a letter saying that the sender chose you and wants you to take money out of his or her bank accounts abroad, in order to give it away to foundations (usually medical, since they claim to have a disease or terminal condition). They will try to convince you by saying that you will get a percentage of that money as a form of saying “thank you” for doing the favor.

    Therefore, if you think you are being scammed by a fake foundation, there are many resources you can check to be safe. Confirm if the charity is trustworthy by contacting the Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator and Charity Watch, or GuideStar. All of them will help you clarify any doubt you may have. And if you are already a victim, you can make an official complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).

    Always Be Attentive

    What can you do to avoid charity frauds?

    • First of all, ask the representatives for their identification card so you can be sure (to a certain extent) that they are legit.
    • Ask for information about the charity: name, address, telephone number, webpage, etc.
    • Ask to what organization, department or program is the donation going.
    • It is not advisable to donate in cash for security and tax purposes; once cash is gone, it is virtually impossible to get it back. Better do it by check — made payable to the charity — or by credit card.
    • Ask your local agency if they are actually asking for donations in case you receive a request that claims to help police or firefighters departments.
    • Avoid fundraisers that use high-pressure tactics to get you to donate at the moment.
    • Ask if the contribution is tax deductible and/or tax exempt.
    • Be skeptical if you are asked for your credit card number, bank account number or any other personal information.
    • Do not click on suspicious links sent in a spam email.
    • Go directly to the organization and donate there to avoid any fraud.

    Read also: Top 12 Strategies to Avoid Identity Theft

  • The Six Laws of Self-Fulfillment

    The Six Laws of Self-Fulfillment

    There are rules that can help build character. Once those rules are obeyed, anyone can feel the joy of  accomplishment and a life free from worry and filled with value and meaning.

    The Rule of Learning

    Life always presents problems as well as opportunity. It’s the only way anyone can grow. The ability to learn from books and from mistakes is what develops character. Looking for the easy way and the  quick fixes do not teach any core values. The first step is to realize that something must be learned from every encounter, every problem and every success. The willingness to learn is what leads to growth and self-fulfillment.

    The Law of Practice

    Nothing worthwhile ever comes easy. It requires a great deal of practice. It takes time to build a character that people trust and admire. Practice is necessary to honing any skill in life, whether that is playing the piano or getting a college education.

    The Law of Sacrifice

    Any endeavor requires some sacrifice. Something must always be given up if achievement is to be assured. The questions is how important is the goal that requires sacrifice? Many people are not willing to give up ease and comfort to take up a challenge that can lead them to a far better and more prosperous future.

    The Law of Time

    Any achievement of a goal requires a good deal of time to accomplish. The purpose of living is to learn. And everyone has 24 hours in a day to use it effectively to advance their careers. There are no overnight successes. Many famous names we hear about in the media took many years to establish themselves through a great deal of time and effort. For as long as anyone draws breath, they have the time to develop self discipline and self-fulfillment.

    The Law of Talents and Abilities

    Everyone possesses talents and abilities that no one else possesses in the same level. If those skills are not mastered, life is wasted. Developing talents is not totally selfish as they are meant to be used to enhance the life of others. Talents are there to be developed.

    The Law of Excellence

    Successful people demand a high level of performance from themselves. Striving for excellence is something few people are prepared to do today. They prefer a life of ease and comfort. A lavish lifestyle can never be appreciated unless it took a great deal of effort to reach it.

    There is no better joy in knowing that what was accomplished was well worth the effort to reach it. There is no better feeling than knowing that the effort has helped others realize their dreams. And those qualities are so desperately needed in today’s society.

    Read also Five Tips for Enjoying Everyday Life

  • The Meaning of Veteran’s Day

    The Meaning of Veteran’s Day

    Every year on November the eleventh the United States of America celebrates a day to honor those that served their country by being a part of the United States Armed Forces. The origin of this holiday come from World War I when hostilities were formally ended on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918. Before 1954 the holiday was called Armistice Day.

    Veterans Day is not to be confused with Memorial Day. While the former is a day to honor those who served in the U.S. Military Forces the latter is meant to honor those who died while doing so.

    Veterans Day is a federal holiday, meaning that most workers and students will have the day off. While Veterans Day is observed on the eleventh of November if said date should fall on a Saturday the holiday will be observed the previous Friday. And if it falls on a Sunday it will be observed the next Monday.

    If a person has to work during Veterans Day they will probably get paid holiday pay in addition to their wages. During this holiday most non-essential government offices are closed such as the post office.

    Given the nature of America’s culture there are a few things that usually happen during Veterans Day. The most common thing is that stores and businesses will offer special treatments and discounts for veterans during this day. A few examples of this are restaurants serving veterans for free, free haircuts, free oil changes for their cars, and lots of other special offers.

    All of these special treatments and discounts for veterans are part of the Thank a Veteran Movement. The idea is to thank veterans for their service to their countries and ensuring its freedom and prosperity. The movement has spread to countless businesses throughout the country.

    7 Simple Advices To Organize Your Time for Success

    Other businesses try to exploit the fact that people don’t have to work during this day and will put out special holiday promotions during this time, especially if the holiday falls on a Saturday or a Sunday because of the long weekend.

    Veterans Day is a federal holiday, meaning that most workers and students will have the day off. While Veterans Day is observed on the eleventh of November if said date should fall on a Saturday the holiday will be observed the previous Friday. And if it falls on a Sunday it will be observed the next Monday.

    While Veterans Day is meant to celebrate and thank the heroes of the nation, it should also be to get to know the problems most veterans suffer when they come out of service. While they were serving their country life also went by and the civilian world is very different from life in military service.

    Many veterans lack the basic financial knowledge they need once they get out of service. Both high schools and colleges aim to teach skills that lead to a degree instead of basic life skills. When veterans come out of service they lack the basic skills needed to handle themselves financially and they also have to deal with their complicated payment and benefits systems.

    Even before leaving the service managing their money can be difficult. Many privates face great difficulties managing their money when deployed and many of them have families back at home that they must support. Think of paying mortgages, bills, managing investments, and saving from a combat zone overseas.

    No Financial Freedom Means No Freedom At All

    The worst part of this is that very few people realize that this is a problem many veterans have to face and so there’s little help for them out there. There are some programs that have begun to see the needs of veterans and are trying to change things so they can manage their money more easily and are able to come out of service and live their lives without struggling with money.

    So next time you’re thanking a veteran think of all the things they have gone through and the problems they still face even after they have completed their service for the country. Honor and thank heroes by making their lives easier. 

  • The Meaning of Thanksgiving Day.

    The Meaning of Thanksgiving Day.

    Just behind the 4th of July, Thanksgiving might just be the most American holiday there is. At least culturally, it’s known all around the world as the day when American families come together and have a feast, traditionally starring a turkey. The fact of the matter is that Thanksgiving is the only non-political holiday that is observed by all Americans regardless of their religion.

    The Meaning of Veteran’s Day

    The origins of Thanksgiving day can be traced back to the 16th century, even before the first European settlers made their way to the new world. It is believed by historians that modern-day Thanksgiving started out as a religious celebration. Back in the day people would have feasts whenever they experienced something extremely good that seemed like a benevolent act of God.

    So when the first settlers came they brought with them their customs from the old continent and began to celebrate yearly harvests when they were good and plentiful. As time passed by, the yearly tradition of celebrating the harvest with a feast began to settle into the lives of people and eventually it would be decided that a day to give thanks for all the good things that happened during the year would be set on the fourth Thursday of November.

    Whether the story of the pilgrims sharing a feast with Native Americans is true or not remains debatable. The fact is that the holiday stuck on and it is still celebrated to this day. Modern agricultural technologies have made it easier to have good harvests so that is not what most people are explicitly celebrating. Instead, the holiday has become an occasion to give thanks for all the good things in life regardless of what historical facts may lay behind it. And what started out as a strictly religious holiday has now become a federal one.

    Thanksgiving is now celebrated not only in the United States but also in many other countries around the world. From Canada to the Netherlands, and even Japan, all these countries observe a similar holiday. Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October, orthodox protestant Dutch celebrate it on the first Wednesday of November, and the Japanese do it on November 23th. Their traditions and how they do it may vary but the essence of the holiday remains the same.

    The idea and true meaning of modern-day Thanksgiving is just that, to be thankful for what we have. It doesn’t matter on what part of the country you live, the color of your skin, what you believe in, or your social status, we all have something to be grateful for.

    Enjoying Everyday Life

    The United States just witnessed an unprecedented presidential election with an outcome that many thought impossible. The only time Americans have been more divided than they are now was back during the civil war. While some people see the results of the presidential race as something to be grateful for, there are others that would disagree and see the new president of the United States as something terrible. But even if that is your case, there are things that you should still give thanks for.

    Even if some of them don’t like the new president very much, Americans still have many reasons to be thankful for. We are now living in a historically unprecedented time of peace in the world. Even with conflicts rising up in the Middle East and Isis still on the loose, the truth is that the vast majority of the countries of the world are at peace with each other and that is definitely something good and worth being thankful for.

    Modern medicine is something to be grateful for. The fact that doctors were able to control and hold back and outbreak of Ebola is quite amazing. A decease that could have caused a pandemic and killed hundreds of thousands of people was contained and cured. Research for better cancer treatments are on the rise and deceases that were considered lethal like AIDS are now treatable with a cure just around the corner. Medicine has taken amazing leaps forward during the first years of the twenty first century, imagine what is yet to come.

    Food is available to the majority of the population of the world. Surely there are still people who are hungry out there but the number of famished population has decreased significantly thanks to worldwide efforts. People are caring more and more about those who are less fortunate and are doing more things to help them.

    cSocial issues have also taken an amazing leap forward these past years. While some of these ideas are still met with some resistance, more and more people are beginning to support social equality for women, ethnic minorities, LGBT people, and other groups that seemed to be at some kind of disadvantage before.

    Modern technology is something to be grateful for. The fact that you can communicate with someone halfway across the globe in an instant is simply amazing. The world and its people are now more interconnected than ever before and this connection is not slowing down, it’s actually getting faster and faster by the minute.

    Even if things seem bad and the future looks gray and bleak, remember that you can still be grateful for many things. Things that most people take for granted such as family, friends, their jobs, their pets, their loved ones, the small things that make life pleasurable and worth living. Morning coffees, ice cream, cakes, movies, music, concerts, laughing with friends, a shoulder to cry on, vacations, traveling, staying at home, days off, and lots of more stuff.

    So this year make sure that you spend Thanksgiving with those who are most important to you, those you hold dearest for they are the reason you should be thankful for. Go ahead and celebrate that you’re alive and that you are a part of this wonderful world and enjoying every minute of it. Say thanks.

  • Reflection on Self Improvement

    Reflection on Self Improvement

    Why do some societies place such a high value on self-improvement? Some believe that bettering yourself is part of the human condition. Working toward a goal and achieving it provides your life a sense of purpose. Instead of living a random life, you can work toward the fulfillment of your goals and dreams.

    In some historical views of self-improvement, people equated the concept of bettering yourself with the accumulation of material wealth. Abraham Lincoln was a prominent example of the self-made man concept during the United States in the nineteenth century.

    In one quotation, Abraham Lincoln expressed clearly how the concept of enterprise could help a person to improve in economic status:

    “That some should be rich shows that others may become rich, and hence is just encouragement to industry and enterprise. Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another; but let him labor diligently and build one for himself, thus by example assuring that his own shall be safe from violence when built.”

    In the twenty-first century, people are able to recognize the idea that owning material wealth may provide some form of contentment. After all, living in a house with four walls is better than living in a cardboard box in the city park. People may also realize that human life provides the opportunity to obtain a greater knowledge of the self.

    You can perform inner work and improve yourself. The results of your inner work cannot be quantified or observed by fellow human beings in the way that people can express awe at your huge house or abundance of material wealth.

    If you are ready to improve yourself from the inside out, you can try the following suggestions. While you can appreciate the convenience and comfort of material wealth, you can take internal wealth with you through eternity.

    1. Healing bad relationships. Just like a step in the twelve-step program is to make amends, you need to heal the broken parts of your inner self. By making amends in broken relationships, you can free yourself from the past. Let go of your emotional baggage so that you can move forward without regrets.

    2. Forgiving yourself. Another aspect of repairing yourself is to make peace with bad choices you’ve made, from hurting your family to engaging in self-destructive behavior. It is a great feeling to look at your image in the mirror with all your warts and scars and experience no shame.

    3. Finding wholeness. The quest for self-improvement means exploring all aspects of self. You can become whole on the inside by working through problems from the past, enjoying life in the present, and discovering parts of your inner being you’ve never explored.

    4. Seeking solitude. Another aspect of the human condition is to seek happiness and security in human relationships. While you need human contact, you also need time alone. Finding solitude on a regular basis forces you to make time for inner work. The toughest challenges of inner work are not problems for which other people can provide assistance.

    Just as you can improve your inner being, you can redefine your understanding of self-improvement. This concept changes with society. What was self-improvement in Lincoln’s time is understood differently today.

    Do you ever wonder what Abraham Lincoln would think of the self-made person in our globalized world? He might look around and be glad that we’ve moved a long way toward racial harmony, but we’ve also developed an increasingly selfish worldview.

    How to Make Effective and Better Decisions

    Although you are a member of a society, you are also a community of one. You can change your worldview. You can create harmony among the parts of your inner being. Be happy, derive more joy out of life experiences, and sleep better. Although your physical surroundings might not be grand, your inner realm can be a magnificent castle.

  • Overcoming Obstacles Through Commitment and Persistence

    Overcoming Obstacles Through Commitment and Persistence

    To get anything worthwhile, a good deal of commitment is necessary. Even marriages today are flimsy,  with half ending in divorce. Few people are prepared to make a long lasting commitment to a marital relationship for fear of becoming the biggest loser. Unfortunately, that hesitancy dooms any marriage before the vows are taken at the altar. No marriage can survive long when suspicion and fear are uppermost on the minds of both partners.

    What many people don’t comprehend is that life always presents obstacles and it is the effort taken to overcome those obstacles that gives life meaning. Quick fix solutions only mask the problem but don’t eliminate it. Unfortunately, for many, if a solution can’t be found easily, they abandon hope of resolving the problem and sweep it away from their minds until the problem returns larger than before. The inability to cope is what drives many people to find solace in alcohol, food and drugs.

    It’s those who have learned to discipline themselves to expect problems who cope better. Despite the economic climate, they continue to prosper. Commitment and persistence are two keys successful people use to overcome problems and thrive by them. They don’t see obstacles, they see opportunity within the obstacle. They see ways to turn problems to their advantage.

    No problem is so difficult that a solution cannot be found. If you find yourself faced with a difficult choice there are ways to find a way through, over or around them. While a sickness or accident can’t be resolved, there is something good that can come from it. It’s procrastination and ignoring the problem that makes it more painful than it should be.

    It’s taking action that prevents fear, worry and anxiety from overwhelming you. Commitment to a goal or anything worthwhile is the purpose of life. But to be able to cope you need to realize several things:

    First, you must understand your own value and accept yourself for who you are. Dreaming about a future and worrying about the past will never solve today’s problems. You are just as important as anyone else on the planet, whether rich or poor and you have something to contribute to the world.

    Everyone has an idea of who they want to be and where they want to go with their lives. Drifting is a sure sign that living has stopped. Catching a vision and realizing that it can be achieved is the next step to an happier and more fulfilling life.

    We all have skills and abilities that are unique to us. No one else has them in the same level of magnitude. Using them to achieve a worthwhile goal is what makes life exciting. Languishing with negative thoughts won’t make reaching for any goal possible.

    No one ever lives alone. Commitment and persistence, while important, will only take you so far. For success to happen, it must be reached through the combined efforts of many other people who supplement and add to the skills you don’t possess. It adds to your self-worth as a human being. In the same way, your energy and talents enforces and supports those areas where the people you associate with are weak in.

    Once the groundwork has been established and you see clearly what it takes to reach your objective, life becomes easier. The fire of enthusiasm translates into the joy of achievement with commitment and persistence riding along.

    There simply is no better feeling that the knowledge that any problem, any obstacle can be conquered and that life itself has value to the one who approaches it with the right kind of commitment.