Today I would like to discuss creative visualization and how it can help you to achieve your goals.

Setting and achieving goals is one of the keys to personal and professional success. Putting your goals down as a concrete statement of what you want and linking the achievement of those goals to a specific timeline, is essential to actually getting what you want. Other techniques, such as sharing the goals with others to enhance accountability and reading the goal aloud, are also excellent ways to reinforce goal achievement. However, a far higher degree of success with achieving goals is assured when "creative visualization" is applied to both goal setting and implementation.

There are numerous definitions for creative visualization, but our emphasis here is on using it as a tool to link your goals and the power of your imagination. By using creative visualization to formalize what we are doing subconsciously most of the time, we are generating a powerful tool to support our vision of success.

When we set a goal and capture it in writing, we have a rough outline of what an outcome will be when our efforts are finished and completed. If we use those words to create a mental image in our mind, we now can "see" within our brain what things look like when that goal has already been achieved. Creative visualization is simply seeing things, your work, your relationships, even yourself, the way you want them to be when your outcomes have been achieved.

By using this amazing tool, we can harness our emotions, our concentration, and our focus so we can point them at a brilliant, vivid mental picture to achieve what we have visualized. As we keep replaying these images in our mind, almost like a movie, we are using the art of creative visualization to move our actions in the direction of these powerful, positive thoughts.

Day after day, those acts and steps move us closer to the image of the completed outcome of our goals that we hold in our minds eye. When we do this, we stop allowing our unconscious or subconscious to take our thoughts and actions in the wrong direction. We are continuously and consciously using our thoughts as a powerful tool to achieve the things we truly want.

There are several resources covering the practice and implementation of creative visualization. Recently, a book shot to the top of the bestsellers list by promoting, among other practices, visualization as part of "the secret" to life's law of attraction. We suggest you do some online or library research to identify authors and other resources that can help you link creative visualization to the achievement of all of your goals.

Today I will share both the history and the benefits of the herb Echinacea.

Echinacea is a native herb of North America and was one of the most important herbs in the traditional medicine of the North American Indians. In the 19th century its use spread to the Western World, and it is now one of the most popular herbal remedies used in Europe.

There are two main types of Echinacea: Echinacea angustifolia (coneflower) and Echinacea purpurea (purple coneflower). Both varieties are members of the aster/daisy family. Echinacea is a very popular garden plant due to its beautiful flower, but it is mainly the roots that are used in herbal medicine. It should also be noted that the whole plant is used in some preparations.

The most important active compound in Echinacea is echinacoside. In addition, the plant contains phenolics, volatile oil and a range of other principles. It's the combination of all of these active compounds that make Echinacea such a wonderful herb to use. This herb is thought to promote healing through its antiviral, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and detoxifying effects.

Traditionally, Echinacea was used as a blood purifier and therefore it was classed as a cleansing herb. It was commonly used for skin complaints such as boils, eczema, acne, psoriasis and any eruptions of the skin, thereby utilizing its cleansing properties.

Recent research indicates that the herb has much greater effects than just as a cleanser, and that through maintaining the body's natural barriers it helps prevent the spread of infection. When taking Echinacea, the white cells (leukocytes) in the body are stimulated into action. These white cells are a vital part of the body's defense mechanism and when stimulated, help to destroy any infections.

When taken internally, it has proved to be a useful herb for improving the body's own resistance to infectious conditions, especially the common cold and influenza. Unfortunately, this use has been misunderstood by the vast majority of people and it has been found that some will take this herb for months, sometimes years, to try to stop catching colds or flu.

What should be remembered is that Echinacea stimulates the white blood cells and prolonged use can lead to over stimulation. As a result, when infection does strike the white cells can be ineffective. If Echinacea is to be used in the fight against colds and flu, then it should be taken only after exposure to the virus and then taken for two to three weeks until the danger of contamination has gone. If a cold or flu develops unexpectedly, then a small amount of Echinacea taken every couple of hours until it is gone can be quite effective.

It must be noted that the use of Echinacea is far greater than just a 'cure' for the common cold. Scientists working with a variety of viral diseases have found a protein in the body that had marked anti-viral properties (interferon). Interferon is non-specific in its action and is produced to overcome viral, bacterial or protozoa infections of the body. Plants like Echinacea can be used to stimulate the body into producing more interferon, which will help the body to fight infections. Most low-grade, minor infections are caused by viruses and this means that antibiotics are of no value in such cases.

It should also be remembered that antibiotics should always be used sparingly, and for severe bacterial infections only.

This very useful remedy can be used in conjunction with other herbs for infections anywhere in the body. If combined with Bearberyy (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) and Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) it can be effective in stopping cystitis.

For upper respiratory tract infections, it works well if combined with the Chinese herb Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus), which also increases the production of white blood cells.

Even though Echinacea is one of the most widely studied plants in herbal medicine, a lot of research is still needed in order to get the complete picture of the healing properties of this wonderful herb.

Please note that this report is for information only and should not be used in place of seeing a healthcare practitioner.

Today I will discuss the importance and benefits of colon cleansing.

Do you suffer from a pot belly? Are you constantly gassy, bloated or nauseous? Is diarrhea or constipation the norm for you? One of the keys to overall well-being is detoxifying your system. Colon cleansing can release pounds of toxic waste from your system, so that you look and feel lighter.

Doesn't our colon cleanse itself?

Our colon is designed to naturally expel waste. However, increasing toxins in our environment make it impossible for our bodies to process them quickly enough. As a result, waste builds up in the lining of your intestines.

This caked-on waste does not allow all of the essential nutrients from the foods that you eat to be absorbed by the body. Meanwhile, the toxins from this un-discharged waste build up in your system and are released into your bloodstream. The result is a pot belly, gas, bloating, water retention, constipation and diarrhea. More serious problems from ongoing toxins in your colon include immune deficiencies and certain types of cancers.

What is colon cleansing?

There are several ways to get rid of the waste built up in your colon including:

1. An old-fashioned enema such as “Fleet” can be inserted in the rectum to flush out bowel movements and cleanse the lower third of your colon.

2. For a quick release of bowel movements, you can flush your system by drinking prune juice.

3. Colon hydrotherapy is done in a medical setting and cleanses the entire colon by using tubes with water inserted in your rectum as the technician rubs your belly until you release your bowels.

4. Natural colon cleansing through OTC remedies with herbal ingredients such as cascara sagrada, aloe, garlic extract, flax seeds and bentonite clay.

What happens after colon cleansing?

When you move your bowels with a natural colon cleansing remedy, unusual stuff may come out of your body. Rubbery strings, green lumps, mucus and small worms are commonly found in bowel movements made after colon cleansing. Many people lose five to ten pounds after flushing out these toxins. Although it’s disgusting coming out, remember: it's far more hazardous inside your body.

How can I keep my colon clean?

A well-balanced lifestyle will help to keep your digestive system and colon working properly. Greens, vegetables, whole grains, fish, chicken and six to eight glasses of water are a colon-friendly diet. Avoid eating fried food, fatty snacks, sugar, alcohol, processed foods and red meat more than two or three times weekly. These foods are difficult to digest and remain in your system for days, decaying in your intestines.

Keeping you colon clean is a key to better health, fitness and well being.

Here are nine easy ways to turn your dreams into reality.

Believe

Believe in yourself and your abilities. You don't need to impress anyone. You don't even need to share your dreams at the beginning, you just need to allow yourself to dream. Even if you don't have a clue about how you will achieve your dream, believe. Relax, act and let it happen. It is the journey which is the achievement.

Find Your Compelling Moment

What's affecting your life today? Are you allowing yourself enough free time? Do you feel your life lacks meaning? Do you want to leave a legacy? You can be sure you're not alone. What have you seen, heard or read about lately which really grabbed your interest? Not necessarily the overwhelming "bad news", but something where you can make a difference. Something you would be proud to share with Oprah on her show, something important to you, something which makes you feel empowered.

Discover Your Passion

Whether you love painting, cooking, knitting, beading, jewelry making, scrap booking, woodworking, home decorating, gardening, sewing, writing or any of the other many arts, crafts, hobbies or pursuits, you can weave it into your lifestyle in some way. Perhaps you can make gifts for your family and friends. Your passion can be a solitary activity aimed at personal satisfaction, or something that you can share.

Learn From The Experts

While you don't want to copy anyone, and you need to express your own originality, you can get lots of ideas, techniques and motivation from others. Who are the experts in your passion? Google them. Read up on what they are doing, find out about the next big trend. Be inspired to adapt your skills to a hot new project.

Easy Research

Use the best research tool ever created: The internet. The volume of knowledge at your fingertips is astounding. Whole libraries, personal experiences, technical data, ideas, opinions, facts, instructions and misinformation. It's all there to be used as you see fit.

Can It Change Your Life (Or Someone Else’s)?

Many a small project has taken on a life of its own and grown into something the originator never dreamed was possible. Can you use your skills to develop a community project or your own small business? Remember that shared experiences grow exponentially.

Blend and Twist

No, this is not a knitting pattern. It's a way of thinking. Your experiences don't exist in isolation. Blend your life experiences, intertwine them through your actions. You may have an inspiration for a creative project, or have the desire to share your skills and knowledge with others, and in the process improve your own lifestyle as well as the lives of others.

Share Your Passion

Write about it or take a video to show how it's done. Start your own blog. In the process you will learn new skills which you can further share. It's a process without an end, but which is full of the satisfaction of achievement.

Decide, and Take Control

If things are moving too slowly for you, discuss your passion with someone close to you, someone supportive. Talking about it will make it real. Use life's challenges to advance yourself. Indecision and inaction are decisions in themselves, and that means that nothing changes. Decide and take action. Once you have done so, you have taken control over your dreams.

Jeff here from the Self Help Tips Blog.  Thank you for continuing to read my self-help tips!

For those of us who are getting older, I would like to share a few ways that we can maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Anyone over 50 can probably remember what "old" people were 30 or 40 years ago. Usually, they were people over 50! Most boomers no longer consider themselves old, which is quite possible with life expectancy going up year after year. But we need our health to assure us of a quality life into our sixties, seventies and beyond.

Here are some tips to consider in order to grow old slowly, gracefully and healthfully.

1. Keep away from smoking. This is the most important general tip. We have all heard the many reasons not to smoke and to stay away from others' smoke.

2. Keep the weight down. Leanness is high on the list because fat cells have several bad effects - weight, hardening of the arteries and a propensity to cause type 2 diabetes.

3. Take supplements. Particularly alpha-lipoic acid and acetyl-L-carnitine. These boost the energy output.

4. Skip a meal each day or fast a day each week. Eating less food appears to reduce tissue wear and tear from excess blood sugar, inflammation and free radicals. Drink plenty of water to replace the meal.

5. Get a pet. Pet owners tend to visit the doctor less, survive longer even after a heart attack, and suffer less from depression and high blood pressure.

6. Get medical help for chronic pain. If you are in pain, get it looked into. Chronic pain dampens the immune system, can cause depression and tends to elevate levels of the noxious stress hormone cortisol.

7. Start walking. Through age, blood vessel walls tend to harden and exercise keeps blood vessels pliable. Light exercise also reduces the likelihood of diabetes, cancer, depression, dementia and even aging of the skin.

8. Reduce arguments. Arguments and bickering increase the risk of clogged arteries. Rather than allow arguments to simmer, agree that it is okay to have differing points of view.

9. Live around plants. Having a garden or greenhouse to grow plants in is a wonderful way to decrease stress or recuperate from illness. Just being able to see plants in a room or through windows has been proven to be beneficial to bed-ridden patients.

10. Do some weight-training. Strength training is almost as important as cardio exercise to the aging body. This is because from the age of 40 on up the body can lose a quarter-pound of muscle each year, which is replaced with fat. Lifting weights 3 times a week for a half-hour can easily replace that lost through natural aging.

No one can improve your health except you.  Start today!

Today I would like to give you a brief introduction to natural herbal supplements and how they can improve your life. 

In the last few years there has been a surge in the use of herbal supplements. The industry is growing by leaps and bounds as people look for ways to improve their health in a more natural and holistic way.

Most of the herbal supplements available today contain many vital nutrients which can have a very positive effect on your overall health. Many people that use herbal supplements know that they not only enhance their way of life, but many herbal supplements also can increase your immunity to many diseases as well. Some of these diseases include insomnia, constipation, GERD, hormonal imbalances, and diabetes to name a few.

There about 100 million people in the United States that are currently taking herbal supplements. We can even go as far to say that many people who take herbal supplements know what they are taking and why they are taking them. For those of you who are looking at adding herbal supplements to your diets, there are some things that you need to know.

It is important to understand that there are no governmental regulations on herbal supplements, like there are on pharmaceutical drugs. You also need to know that many herbal supplements act in the same way as prescription drugs. So you need to talk to your doctor and let he or she know if you are talking any supplements, as that is the point: they are for a better quality of life , not to add more problems.

When purchasing herbal supplements, you need to make sure that the company that manufactures the product follows strict GMP manufacturing standards. There should be a certificate of analysis on file that talks about all of the ingredients in the supplement. Your herbal supplement should contain only herbal extracts that have been standardized and the company should control the manufacturing stages of the herbal supplement through the entire process.

Curious as to what some of the herbal supplements available can do for you? Here is a very partial list of what is available, and how they can help.

Billberry – has been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce clotting and lower blood sugar. The flavonoids provide numerous benefits in the treatment of diabetes.

Blach Cohosh – is used to treat menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, profuse sweating, insomnia and anxiety.

Ginkgo Biloba – a herbal extract that increases oxygen to the brain and other bodily tissues, increasing mental clarity, alertness and short-term memory.

Ginseng – a Chinese herbal supplement that can reduce the effects of stress, improve performance, boost energy levels, enhance memory and stimulate the immune system.

Red Clover - helps with menopausal symptoms and hot flashes. Also said to be very beneficial for chronic skin diseases, including eczema.

These are only some of the herbal supplements available on the market. As you can see, there are many benefits to adding an herbal supplement to your daily regimen.  Start today!

Today I will discuss the different aspects of panic attacks.

Let’s start with a scenario:

Standing in line at the grocery store, you start to feel your heart race. Within moments your hands are sweating, your breathing becomes short and rapid, you feel hot, dizzy and overwhelmed with a sense of fear.

What is this sensation? Where is it coming form? If you have experienced similar sensations in the past, especially if you have begun changing your life and routine in the fear of experiencing it again, you may be suffering from Panic Attacks.

What are panic attacks?

Panic is a physical reaction that is a response to stress. Often called the 'fight or flight' response, panic is a normal response to danger and is actually your body's cue to get out of harm's way. However, when panic sets in when there is no source of danger it can be linked to two causes – stress, or (possibly) a panic disorder.

The following symptoms are common during a panic attack:

- rapid heartbeat

- shortness of breath or inability to breathe

- dizziness or nausea

- sweating, shaking or trembling

- a sense of fear or dread

- tingling sensation in the fingers or toes

- chest pain

- hot flashes or chills

- thinking you are going to die or go crazy

What causes panic attacks?

Stress in our lives is not usually caused by a physical danger; in fact most stress is caused by completely normal daily activities and is not harmful to us. Too much stress, however, is dangerous to our body and in some cases it can cause panic attacks, particularly if we have experienced an additional trauma or burden such as the loss of a loved one, or a big change such as a new job or move. While normal stress can cause anxiety, when panic attacks become regular a panic disorder may be the cause.

Panic disorder may or may not be directly related to over-stress. Some researchers are linking the panic attacks caused by panic disorder to a physical cause. If this is the case, you need to seek professional help in dealing with the symptoms.

Sadly, most individuals suffering from panic disorder do not get properly diagnosed. Many begin to suffer the physical and psychological effects of changing their lives, their jobs and their recreational activities to accommodate their panic attacks before finding a physician that can properly diagnose their condition. The symptoms of panic attacks may also lead a person to believe they have a dangerous physical condition and seek treatment for various unrelated diseases and conditions.

Can panic disorder be treated?

If you think you have been experiencing panic attacks, you will need to be diagnosed by your physician or referred to a psychiatrist. While the physical symptoms may not be connected to a mental condition, often the fear of having panic attacks in public leads to phobias that may need to be treated as well.

A combination of medication and therapy may be used to combat the panic attacks and help a person to overcome related phobias.

The good news is that panic disorder responds very well to treatment and those who receive treatment can lead healthy, normal lives.

Today I would like to continue with our discussion about depression.

One of the sad facts of American life is that a lot of us see the world through its visible perception. We tend to look at the surface facts (the six o'clock news view) rather than the underlying truths around them. If we see somebody in a wheelchair, we presume that they have a serious illness. But if we see someone with two healthy arms and two healthy legs, we assume that they are perfectly healthy.

It is this perception that leads to many prejudices against people who have serious illnesses that may not show on the surface. “It is not seen on the surface, therefore it must not exist.” One such example is people who suffer from depression. While on the surface these people may seem completely whole and normal, inside their body and mind are going through complete turmoil. Furthermore, we assume that since people with depression have a "mental illness", they must be crazy and should be feared, scorned and otherwise shunned from society as dangerous freaks.

Depression, although classified as a mental illness, is as much a physical illness as it is a mental one. Scientists believe that one of the main causes of depression is a chemical imbalance between serotonin levels in the brain. Although mood changes and times of feeling sad are not uncommon and should not be feared, when it comes to a point where the person cannot control it and it last for long periods of time (more then two weeks), the help of a professional should be sought.

This imbalance can often be treated with medication and people who suffer from depression can find relief relatively quickly through this means. Also, counseling can give the sufferer of depression many tools to help understand what is happening to them. This will help the depressed person deal with their depression and may make medication less necessary or unnecessary altogether. Often, the two working together in balance with each other will give the depressed person a good deal of relief from the pain they are suffering from.

Usually, it will be a relatively brief period of time that the person will need both medication and or therapy. In more severe cases where the depressed person has probably been depressed for a long time and has not known it, it can take years of therapy and medication for them to be able to deal with their illness. It is helpful for one to understand that the depression is not only a mental illness, but a physical illness as well.

Depression hurts as much physically, as it does mentally. A pain that one cannot escape from, it can leave many depressed persons feeling severely vulnerable. Many depressed people feel very helpless, misunderstood, and very isolated. It is useful for somebody who has loved one that suffers from depression to help them feel that they are worthy, valued and an important part of their life.

It is also useful to remember that depression affects people on every level and every aspect of their lives. It is important to be compassionate, understanding, and extremely supportive. Understand that the depressed person is trying to seek a way out as much as you are for them, but they are in extreme pain and often their vision is clouded.

Do not come off as knowing all of the answers, as this often just insults their intelligence. It is most helpful to act as a guide to help the depressed person find the answers they need to find within themselves. It is not uncommon for a depressed person to have gone through a traumatic event that they cannot seem to come to terms with, that sets up a conflict in their subconscious and is to painful to face.

Never confuse lack of motivation, lack of seeming to care or outward signs of wise choices with lack of intelligence. Many depressed people are highly intelligent overachievers that are deeply passionate, caring people. It is often this strive for perfection that causes some of the depression, as the person begins to become frustrated with not reaching their lofty goals and begins to think that this is some personal weakness or flaw that they have inside themselves.

Mark Twain, one of our most beloved story tellers, suffered from severe depression.  It can happen to anyone.

Today I would like to share several tips that you can use to stay focused on today's tasks.

Nearly everyone can focus. Just watch anyone absorbed in a good movie, a good book, or a video game as they try to reach the next level. What we need to be concerned with is the ability to focus at will.

Concentration is a learned skill and the ability to focus at will requires practice. It's interesting to note that out of an estimated 60,000 thoughts you might think in any given day, 95% of them will be random thoughts you have had many times before.

The power then, lies not in the thoughts you have but in your ability to focus. Since attention is the seat of your power, the question that needs asking is: which thoughts are you giving your power to?

Actively learning to focus your attention on those things, thoughts and feelings you want, while letting go of the ones you don't want, could be the best thing you ever do to enhance your health, well being, and happiness.

Being enthusiastic about a project naturally enables you to focus. But what can be done about jobs you are less excited about? Boredom, anxiety and day-dreaming are usually the main culprits interfering with the ability to concentrate. While it is preferable to practice your ability to focus on those tasks you are enthusiastic about, there are ways to increase your focus level for those chores that simply must be done, whether you enjoy them or not.

The first thing to do when faced with an unpleasant task is change your point of view. Everything has a positive aspect to it, so spend a few moments and look for that silver lining. To make an unpleasant job a little more palatable, build in a few treats along the way. When you find your thoughts starting to drift, remind yourself of the final reward at the end of a job well done.

Distractions are inevitable; the goal is to develop your ability to cope with a distraction and get back on track. This naturally involves a certain amount of self-discipline. When you notice your thoughts start to drift or you are interrupted, order your mind to STOP; then gently bring your mind back to where it should be. The key word here is gently. Trying to force yourself to concentrate only increases resistance.

Allow specific times for your mind to wander or worry. With time set aside to worry or day-dream, stray thoughts are less likely to force themselves into your focus time. Making a note of worrisome thoughts will sometimes help. It is easier to put aside thoughts you know will not be forgotten.

Try to maintain focus on not “overdoing it”. Work for a reasonable amount of time and give yourself a break. This goes a long way toward keeping yourself fresh and on task. If forced to quit before you are finished, decide where you are and when you are going to pick your project back up again.

Keep in mind that all times of day are not created equal. By keeping track of the high and low points of your average day, you are better equipped to decide when to schedule your productive time and when to allow your mind to wander. Knowing this keeps your mind focused on being “in the now” and coping with the current assignment.

When trying to focus on an unpleasant task, forget about the past, don't fret about the future. Your ability to focus at will is determined by your ability to master living in the present.

Today we will discuss the process of setting realistic goals. 

The hardest part of a goal is the first step of actually deciding to take action! The main hurdle that most people face is the incorrect assumption that goals are only for business or sales-minded people. The reality is that everyone subconsciously sets goals throughout their day. There are always occasions where something has to be done at a particular time or place. Simple examples could be getting up at a certain time in order to be at work, or to meet with a friend for a leisure activity.

The beauty of having goals is the uniqueness of each one to the person setting the goal. They are very specific to them and their circumstances whether in the area of business, financial, personal or spiritual.

The most important part initially, is to write them down. Having the goals written down gives incredible power and focus to your efforts.

Aim for something that will stretch you whilst remaining achievable. If the goal is achieved too easily, it is not high enough to make any significant change in your life and needs to be adjusted. On the other hand, if you consistently miss the goal, re-evaluate and consider setting it a little lower as you will probably get discouraged and give up. The aim is to keep growing, and moving into a more satisfactory position for your circumstances.

The goal should be as specific as possible with a benefit of attaining it. Another good idea when writing down a goal is to also write the result of not reaching it. This will strengthen your resolve to take the necessary action.

As you obtain the levels that you have set for yourself, always include a small reward at each point. This will only need to be a small treat in the beginning, such as a meal out or a weekend vacation.

Remember that these changes will not take place overnight and there will be a period of time when nothing seems to be happening. This is why the goals need to be detailed and as specific as possible with a consequence and a benefit.

Allow some time on a daily basis to educate yourself on how to make the necessary adjustments in your life. This could include listening to a compact disk or reading a book on motivation. There is an enormous amount of resources available to anyone looking for help in this area.

A simple method to start with could be one goal in the main areas of life to be achieved in one month, six months, one year and five years. Break that down further into a daily, weekly and monthly plan.

To summarize: Write them down, be specific and allow time. Review and adjust on a regular basis. Stay focused and disciplined to achieve all that you desire.