Recently, a small black mole appeared on my ankle. I had a sinking feeling when I saw it. A biopsy and a personal call from the doctor confirmed that the spot was indeed cause for concern and I would need surgery to remove a larger section of the surrounding tissue. I got the news the day before I left to lead a weeklong yoga retreat in Maui. I wouldn’t be able to practice yoga for at least three weeks after the procedure, so the doc told me to enjoy my vacation and we would schedule surgery when I got back....

It’s the way you feel and think about yourself, including your expectations and beliefs about what is possible to you, greatly determines everything that happens to you. It all starts with your thoughts. When you change your thoughts, you transform the quality of your life. Below is a list of the best motivational quotes to inspire you to start your day with a blast: Quotes for Self-Assurance Don’t downgrade your dream just to fit your reality, upgrade your conviction to match your destiny....

Some of these traditions are crazier than others, but in a good way. You might even find that you’ll want to incorporate some of these ideas in your 2016 New Year’s celebrations (the one about wearing red underwear in Italy definitely sounds like a fun idea to me)! Did any of these New Year’s traditions surprise you? Do they make you want to visit that country, and experience these unique celebrations first hand?...

Don’t step back. Don’t look away. Don’t move on the last word. Don’t raise your hands. Don’t rush to collect your papers. Never blackball yourself If you avoid those, you should able to show more confidences in front of the audience, and they will receive a deep impact from your presentation. Read Bert’s post for more details on each point. 6 Don’ts for the End of Your Presentation – [Create Your Communications Experience]

My goal for this article is to encourage moms who breastfeed. Before I continue, I would like to be clear on this: I do NOT intend to bash moms who choose to use formula. My wife breastfeeds our children and the other mothers in my family breastfeed their children, so this is what I am familiar with. Breastfeeding, as you know, is an excellent source of nutrition for babies. I am very grateful my wife has been able to breastfeed our kids, but there have still been some ups and downs....

Well, my dear internet reader, art can be whatever you want it to be – it can be as simple as writing a love letter, or as complicated as creating a zen garden. It is about the experience that involves both your motor skills and focused thinking that can totally occupy the brain and push out other stressors through the window, at least temporarily. It can be an excellent healing process for anyone, especially those who have their days filled with anxiety, negative emotions, or simply too much work....

1. Give the Gift of Time When I was a kid, I always made my mom coupons for Mother’s Day: she could cash them in on a couple of hours of babysitting for my little sisters, some help around the house — that sort of thing. And I still give her the gift of my time: right now, I’m working on teaching her how to run a blog. Offering up some of your time to help your mother complete pet projects can be an ideal way to give her something she’ll actually be able to use....

Instead, if you have a number of people who you can turn to for support, depending on the particular issue you’re struggling with, you can stay the course and see the results you’re after. Let’s walk you through the various people you should have in place before you begin so you can better guarantee your chances of seeing the success you’re after. 1. The Personal Trainer The first person you’ll want to have on your list is a personal trainer....

Primitive transportation systems included just a few animals and wheeled carts. As civilization advanced, we came up with many new vehicles, ranging from trains to motorcars to ships to airplanes; and still our quest for even faster and more reliable transport system continues. In this article, we will be looking at 6 potential transportation systems of the future. 1. Personal Air Vehicle As per NASA, any flying vehicle can be classified as a PAV if it has seat capacity of less than 5 passengers, a speed of 150-200 mph and a range of about 800 miles....

1. Beachfront Cocktail Shaker (Photo by Rug & Home) There’s nothing better than a refreshing cocktail, especially one that comes from a beach-inspired shaker. Whether you’re outside in the sun or relaxing indoors, this piece will help you to feel like you’re being served in paradise. Fill it with a mojito, piña colada, margarita, or another drink of your choice, then sit back and enjoy! 2. Artificial Palm Trees (Photo by Silk Plants Direct) Artificial palm trees don’t have real coconuts growing on them, but they’re just as nice to look at....

For purposes of this article, we’re speaking about personal receipts for managing your household. Businesses should keep all receipts and should definitely use financial management software like QuickBooks or Peachtree to track and report on the information. Most personal expenses, however, are routine and irrelevant, and keeping all receipts would be a waste of time and energy. Do you really need a receipt to prove that you bought some gum along with your gasoline?...

1. Relax If your decision to learn a new language is motivated by needing it for your job or preparing for a fast-approaching trip, the whole enterprise can become very stressful. As the days tick away and you move at a snail’s pace through the material for your new language you might become overwhelmed and frustrated. None of this will help you. Research from the Journal of Neuroscience has shown that relaxation is a key component in your ability to learn anything, languages in particular....

What if you could convert that anxiety into focus, which then led to highly productive results? Once I learned the elements to do this, it was a major component in my success equation. You must covet success at the deepest level You must have a passionate desire to obtain your goal. If the fire isn’t in your belly, this isn’t going to work for you. You must be working towards something you really want....

Here are some specific things that make employees happy (and how you can leverage them to your advantage). 1. Flexible Work Scheduling While you may assume that higher pay and better titles are the keys to making employees happy, the reality is that the average employee simply wants better work-life balance. One simple way you can help them achieve this is through flexible work scheduling. Here are a few tips:...

1. Emotions Even the party that wants the divorce usually finds themselves sad and depressed throughout the process. This is true, especially in the immediate aftermath. It’s completely normal and comes with the anxiety of starting over and not knowing what your future holds. There are always some old feelings that still exist, both parties feel it and usually feel regret for whatever rash actions were taken. 2. Consider your kids Everyone getting divorced is obviously thinking of their kids in the process....

1. Incorporate nature Today we spend most of our time indoors, surrounded by the soft glow of laptops with the dulcet tones of Pandora drifting around us. We don’t often venture outside, at least, not nearly as much as we used to, and that’s a shame. Research has shown that nature has a direct effect on a person’s sense of wellness. Sunlight, in particular, is beneficial. It releases serotonin, a delightful chemical that helps us to wake up in the morning when the sun rises, as well as acting as a deterrent for work dissatisfaction, inefficiency, and depression....

1. Your dog keeps your doctor’s bills down. You might not realize it, but your pooch’s needs encourage you to have all kinds of healthy habits, from keeping a regular sleep schedule to getting outdoors every day. All those walks add up! The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute of Health (NIH) have both conducted studies that found that pet owners had lower levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as lower blood pressure, than non-pet owners....

While being young and single can mean one has more time to focus on their dreams or career goals, it can also mean that certain life lessons haven’t been learned yet. The fact is, with my last company I became more successful after I got married and had kids. Now, some may say my success could have just been luck or that the timing of how it all worked out was merely a coincidence....

We all experience anxiety at times. Occasional anxiety is natural and manageable. Unfortunately, the busy pace of modern life leaves seven out of ten adults experiencing stress and anxiety on a daily basis. Sadly, chronic worry and anxiety can rob you of your happiness. When anxiety starts to interfere with your ability to be happy and have a functional life it’s time to take action. There have been times in my life that I’ve let anxiety get the best of me, but with years of study and a little trial and error I’ve found the following methods to effectively conquer anxiety....

I’m guessing you’ve experienced this before, maybe more often than you would like to admit. You feel like you’re “working” all the time but you never actually get anything done. It’s not because you’re a lazy person or don’t want to achieve your goals. It’s all because of your mindset. Your mindset is everything. It is the foundation for every success and achievement in your life. What you need is to develop the right mindset....