Everyone has an image to take care of. Whether you like it or not, people will often scrutinize your looks. If you want to create your image, decide now! You can stand by and improve your own image or be a shadow of someone else. Many people shy away because they are so conscious of their appearance. Here are just five simple steps on how to enhance your image and to build the must have self confidence.

1. Feel good about yourself. Positive thinking is a good enhancer of personality. Nothing compares to an aura of self contentment and serenity. Shyness is developed by negative thoughts that others are far better than you. Stop that nonsense and start appreciating yourself. Look at the mirror every morning and say to yourself “You are a beautiful creation of God!”

2. Positive image starts in you. A good character is admirable and gives you credibility. Live harmoniously and be at peace with everyone. How can you project a positive image if your real life doesn’t say so? You can really feel shameful if you have criminal records. The real idea of an enhanced image is brought about by living decently.

3. Appearance.  Good looking and fashionable people are the ones who get more attention from the audience. Being shy can also be a product of not so being confident on how you look in front of people. To enhance your image, you may want to consider these points relative to your appearance:

•    Clean body that comes with clothes. Be sure that you are clean from head to toe. Hygiene and proper grooming are important aspects in image enhancement. Putting on that clean apparel from top to bottom can give you an edge in any occasions. Making sure that your body and what you’re wearing are neat will help you feel secure about yourself and your appearance.

•    Proper color coordination. Be careful on what you wear as this can be a mirror of your personality. Combination of colors should be perfect. Neck ties should be matched with your inner shirt; belts and shoes should have the same color.

•    Put on the right make up. Woman should always be conscious about her make up. Any color will do for fair skinned while light shades of purple and pink goes with dark skinned women. Choosing the right lipstick should also be a priority.

•    Clean cut hair. You wouldn’t want to look like a rock star over a corporate meeting. Make sure that your hair is well trimmed and that it doesn’t cover your face.

4. Gaining a positive image will also be incorporated in your movements and ease in front of a crowd. You should develop eye contact and facial expressions appropriate to certain circumstances. Smiling is one sure way of gaining some people’s trust. This can also involve the proper actuations in a social gathering. Etiquette is necessary to develop your presence in any events.

5.  Seek the help of a professional image enhancer. There are also certain books which will help you with the information on how to develop your image and do away with shyness. You can invest on these things to make sure that you are properly guided.

Enhancing your image is one good way of overcoming your shyness. It can boost your self confidence knowing that you appear respectable and neat in front of anyone. Positive image can spell success thus it should always be cultivated.

Popularity: 1% [?]

I know of a young man coming from a middle class family - tall, lanky, very ordinary looking, and can easily blend in a crowd. The first time I met him up close, I immediately noticed the young man’s eyes. I was drawn into the sparkle of his eyes.

Wait till he opens his mouth and speak. Other teenagers are drawn to him, crowd around him, and listen to each and every word he says. People from all walks of life immediately feel at ease in his company. Older relatives, friends more senior his age, and associates of his parents enjoy conversing with him, for he has an inquisitive and curious mind. They listen to this lanky teenager as he speaks his mind. His friends flock around him. He is everybody’s best friend.

Whenever I am around this young person, I know I am in the presence of a very powerful force, a living proof of a compelling personality, and an actual personification of a charismatic person!

Now, what is the secret of this young person? Why do people flock around him?

The charismatic young teenager draws people near, for he makes them feel great about themselves. He has the capacity to make them feel at ease and comfortable. More importantly, he makes other people experience total acceptance.

I observed that young person as he grew up. Little by little, I was able to discover his secrets for having a charismatic personality. Take a look at his traits:

At an early age, he has a genuine love for life. He accepts life as it is — as an exciting journey, with every twists and turns as opportunities to savor the adventure. He imagines himself like a virus that infects other people to have fun in this incredible journey.

This genuine love for life is very much evident in his enthusiastic and vibrant personality. He can never be described as reserved. He breathes enthusiasm in all his actions. His fast-paced walk, colorful word expressions, and active hand gestures convey excitement. All of these communicate one message: “I love life!”

His larger than life persona spills over his genuine interest in people. He is forever curious about other people’s ideas, concerns, perceptions, feelings, and experiences.

Whenever he meets people, he takes conscious effort to encourage them to talk about themselves and their passions in life. He always steers the conversation towards the person and never about himself. He has big ears for his friends’ dreams and aspirations.

This simple act of listening makes people feel at ease and accepted in his presence. In a conversation, he listens intently, nods, and looks at the person straight into his eyes. He validates the opinions and ideas of his friends. Emphatic listening makes him engaging to people.

Amidst all the admiration from people, the young lad keeps his feet on the ground exuding humility. This last trait endears the young man to his friends and acquaintances. His humility makes him approachable, accessible, and likeable. More importantly, the same trait earned him their respect.

Add up all these three traits and you’ve got charisma. For the young man in the story, charisma is never exclusively about himself. On the contrary, charisma is all about making people feel great and at ease about themselves!

Popularity: 2% [?]

Parents are usually the first people that their children would go up to when there is a problem. Sadly, most teens don’t think this is a good idea because they feel that mom or dad will not understand what they are going through. For that, parents should learn how to be a good communicator, especially when their child is already a teen.

The first thing you should do, as a parent, is to know how to empathize with what your teen is going through. It wasn’t long that you were once a teen and also faced these problems. Put yourself in their shoes and offer the best advice you can give.

If the problem your teen has is something that you have never experienced before, try to be flexible and open-minded. If there is something you don’t understand, ask questions so they know you are interested in whatever they have to say.

Another reason why teens don’t approach their parents if there is a problem is that they are not available or accessible. They are too busy with work or have some other “important” things to do. As a parent, you have to be responsible enough to find time for them by talking and being with them any chance you get.

If the teen asks you something, give a good answer. If possible, explain and justify it. Doing so will teach them good values they may also pass down to their children. The only trick to that is being consistent because some rules could be bended; if you do that, be careful because this could lay precedence to other things in the future.

The parent should also be able to discipline the teen if they have done something bad. Rather than saying something you might regret in the future, count to 10 or walk it off for a while so you will be able to say something objective.

Should the teen ask permission about going out and you don’t feel like saying “yes”, tell them that you will think about if for a while before you give an answer. This will more or less give the teen a sign of what you will tell them later on.

The most effective way of being a good communicator with a teen is knowing when to admit you are wrong and say you’re sorry. Parents also make mistakes. The point is, we all make mistakes and learning to admit them shows that pride does not get in the way of knowing what is right and wrong.

The only way to be a good communicator with your teen is practice. Things get more challenging as they grow older and this will always be the case no matter how old they get.

Popularity: 3% [?]

If you know of a relative or a friend undergoing the crisis of being substance dependent, then you will need to be aware of certain considerations you might have to take to help him/her get through the process of withdrawal and recovery.

Getting over a substance can prove to be yet the most challenging experience for him or her. It’s best that you are there to provide the utmost support he/she needs. Below are some suggestions…

1. Stay with the person. You don’t really have to say or do anything. Sometimes your mere presence is enough for reassurance. Being there counts.

2. While the person is experiencing withdrawal, always comfort him/her by reminding that the symptoms are only temporary. Gradually they will disappear.

3. Be aware that safety is the most important goal towards recovery. Substance abusers usually resort to taking in these things because they think it gives them relief from their problems. Without these substances, the person is faced with a situation he/she cannot escape from. At this point, suicides are highly probable.

4. Be conscious of your own response. The person may have bouts of irritability or anger. Its best that you keep your own judgment objective. Don’t respond in anger or irritability also. What that person needs is understanding.

5. If the person is hallucinating (seeing or hearing things that are not really there), be sure to present reality. Never ask them to talk about these hallucinations. It would be the same as acknowledging that these hallucinations are real when they’re not.

6. Let the person express his/her feelings or concerns. Don’t interrupt or give advice. Simply listen. By doing so you might come to understand why he/she resulted to using a substance to cope with the stress he/she is going through.

Although a lot of the recovery depends on the person, it would mean a lot if he/she has significant others involved in the goal of overcoming substance dependence. You just might prove to be a vital instrument in making someone’s life better.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Want to double your net profits? Think value creation!

Businessmen become successful once they have mastered the idea of value creation.

Great businesses are built on ideas that add value for their customers. One example is the laundry shop, which is a standard feature on every block of a busy city. One businessman thought of offering a pick-up and delivery service for his busy customers. Now he is enjoying brisk business.

Think in terms of value creation. Your persuasive and business skills can be honed to its full potential by concentrating on how to add value to the product or service you are promoting. As a start, think of its salient features and how it can make the lives of your customers easier.

Focus on the product’s qualities that appeal to the consumers. You have to put yourself in your customer’s shoes. What do they look for in a product?

Some businessmen have successfully used the angle of patriotism in pushing their products. So how does it fit into the arena of value creation?

If citizens of a particular country are patriotic, you advertise your product with 100% of its ingredients grown in native soil. Another way is to market it as a product with 100% ownership by citizens of a particular country.

In the Philippines, a hamburger brand promotes itself as purely Filipino-owned. During its early years, it conjures images of David and Goliath, where the Filipino brand overcomes a giant foreign hamburger brand.

Majority of the citizens continues to patronize the product up to this date. Of course, patriotism alone did not make the product successful. The product is also known for its reliable quality. Filipino consumers are proud to be part of the success of the product.

Add more fuel to the fire and you are likely to become an overnight success. As a second salvo to your promotional effort, you can emphasize your product’s role in the economy of the nation in the form of job creation. With more consumers patronizing your product, more jobs are being created.

Bring the sales pitch of your product one step further by advertising your role in generating more taxes brought about by increased sales. Groups will commend your efforts.

Expanding your horizons will lead your product to be introduced and known in the international market, thereby bringing prestige to your country. Remember the hamburger brand from the Philippines? Its owner was named “Entrepreneur of the Year” and brought recognition of the brand in the international market.

There is another side of the consumer circle that you may find valuable. Consumers like the feel of fairness in a deal or sale. It is guiltless patronage of a product. If you can make an impression that the consumers are getting a bargain whenever they patronize your product, hurrah! You just hit the magic button. Consumers always keep their eyes open for bargains or values, which they perceive to be worth more than their hard-earned money.

These are just some of the tips that can help create more value for your product. One way is by emphasizing patriotism. It makes your customers feel proud that they are part of your success!

Popularity: 2% [?]

Although karma is a word that is mostly associated with Hindi and Buddhist beliefs, religion is not an obstacle to hinder one from believing in karma. Languages and semantics may cause the laws of karma, from one religion to another, to appear differently; but the bottom line is the same:

The laws of karma are also the laws of cause and effect.

Karma can be found in the very heart of Christian teachings: “Do not do unto others what you do not wish them to do unto you”. Karma has even touched the world of science. “For every action, there is always an equal reaction”. A modern proverb succinctly explains karma by simply saying, “What comes around goes around”. Karma obviously has the power to encompass all aspects of life and even the Universe; it is because of this that the laws of Karma are also known as the Laws of all Laws.

Karma is a living law. It has the power to do good and bad and it has the ability to grow. It is crucial for people to understand, value, and adhere to the laws of karma if they wish to enjoy a more peaceful and prosperous life.

There is nothing complex about the laws of karma. At the risk of being redundant, karma is simply finding the relationship between causes and effects, actions and reactions, and taking responsibility for not only our actions and words, but our thoughts as well. The succeeding paragraphs shall briefly but concisely explain the simple laws of karma and the best way to practice them in life.

ACTIONS PRODUCE PARALLEL RESULTS.

Simply put, if you do something good, expect a positive result to happen because of it. Consequently, any negative action shall always harvest negative results. Remember, then, that positive actions will always lead to happiness and harmony while negative actions will lead to nowhere but misery and pain.

ONCE AN ACTION HAS BEEN COMPLETED, THE RESULT IS NEVER LOST.

Even the result of the smallest of actions is never lost in the order of life. Once you’ve done something or once an action has been completed, there is no going back. Furthermore, every action you make has a corresponding result which will come back to haunt (or bless) you in its own good time.

The nice thing about karma, however, is that it somehow allows individuals a second chance. Let’s say you did something bad today. If you feel regret for what you’ve done and you did your best to atone for it, the power of karma may just be prevented from delivering justice. At the same time, remember that any positive result from karma can also be prevented from actualizing if you do something to harm yourself or others.

THINGS HAPPEN FOR A REASON.

While the first law discussed in this article warns us about our future actions, this law reminds us about the present and forthcoming karma resulting from our past actions.

Hence, if something untoward happens now, you can rest assured that it is a consequence of something we did in the past. Similarly, any blessing that we receive today is a result of a positive action completed in the past.

KARMA GROWS.

The ability of karma to expand or grow is one of its manifestations as a living law. Sometimes, it takes karma only a second to produce a result. In other instances, years pass by for karma to take full effect; and by then, one simple act of theft in your childhood can easily cause you to lose millions’ worth of possession in the future.

Among other things, this law also reminds us the futility of trying to predict when we’re going to be hit by karma.

Popularity: 2% [?]

You are out in the club and this beautiful woman walks past by you. She touches her hair, smiles a little, and looks around. You were looking at her all this time and you think you will never get to ask her out; and if you ever did, she’ll surely reject you.

Well, you are so wrong.

If you have been observing her body language well enough, you should have noticed that she was actually checking you out and that she’s giving out hints for you to make the move. Now, don’t let another opportunity like this pass you by. You seriously need to study a woman’s body language. Here’s a helpful guide for you so you wouldn’t have to spend your weekends alone anymore.

First things first. You need to understand that there are just two kinds of body language – open gestures and closed gestures. Open gestures mean that a woman is interested while close gestures tell you that she’d rather be alone. Let us go through these two one by one.

Open Gestures

If a woman flips her hair and immediately afterwards glances your way, then that’s a clear sign that she is interested in you and that she is trying to catch your attention by catching your eye.

How she reacts to eye contact is also an important body reaction to observe. Try to establish eye contact. If she looks away, then she’s not that into you. If she does something to show that she has obviously become nervous because you’re looking at her (playing with her jewelry, suddenly looking at her phone, or adjusting her clothes), then that means that she’s interested and she’s in fact a little attracted to you.

When you approach her to start a conversation and she leans forward, then it’s her way of saying that she’s yours for the taking. If she exposes her wrists and the palm of her hands, then that is her subconscious saying that she’s willing to submit to you. It’s really the subtlest way of saying that if you want her, you can have her. You know you’ve gotten it all right when she begins touching you and laughing at almost everything that you’re saying. Yes, it’s probably the alcohol but it’s also her mind’s way of showing that it’s comfortable with you and she’s definitely attracted to you.

Closed Gestures

A woman crossing her arms is clearly telling you that she’d rather be alone. It’s not that she doesn’t like you. It could be because she’s agitated, uncomfortable, or just isn’t interested in meeting men in general at that moment.

When you start making your move and she likewise starts to roll her eyes, then that’s not just a sign that you are making her nervous. She’s actually embarrassed with what you are doing and she doesn’t want anyone to see it. You have practically zero chances with a woman who does this. More so, if she leans back while you are about to approach her, then she is obviously giving you a signal to move away.

Based on studies, a woman’s body language expresses more than half of what she means – even more than words. Therefore, it really helps to understand it; but it’s not fool proof. If you really like someone, then go ahead and talk to her even if her body’s already screaming for you to leave. The worse thing that could happen is that she’ll just tell you point blank that she doesn’t like you. There’s really nothing here to lose. Take hints from the way her body talks but it’s really up to you to decide on how to act on it.

Popularity: 2% [?]

The Importance of Self-Esteem and Confidence

Amazing how we are bound to each other. Our daily activities with the people in our lives affect our outlook on our own individuality. In the beginning, we already have a sense-of-self, of what we are capable of and what we can do. As we progress with this knowledge, our relations with other people tend to affect our self-esteem.

Self-esteem is based on our self-evaluation. Our decisions depend on the choices we make and this is affected by our judgment. All these add up on how we perceive ourselves. We critique and regard ourselves to a certain extent until we come to a concept of who we are. This is self-esteem. This is how we know ourselves.

Psychologist Nathaniel Branden said that self-esteem includes two components: self-confidence and self-respect.

No man is an island. Whenever he goes out of his home, he deals with others. A person’s confidence is affected by his society. Those who are confident know who they are, even among a number of strangers. However, there are those who easily become insecure when they compare themselves to others. A person must learn how to stand on his own and stand tall at the same time. As long as he is not doing anybody harm, then there is no reason for him to feel inferior to his fellows. Dealing with society cannot be generalized because people have all their own ways of handling confidence and insecurity.

It is important that parents teach confidence to their children at a young age. Take note that it must be the right amount of confidence. Too much can mold arrogant children who think they are superior to everyone. Too little can result to children who are bullied. It is the parent’s task to instill in their children’s mind that confidence comes from within and is an attitude to others. It is the perfect mix of not letting yourself get stepped on and at the same time not stepping on other people as well.

When self-confidence is achieved, self-esteem follows. The person then figures out that he is a worthy human person and will not bend for others to let them have it their way. He knows when to compromise and when to fight for what he thinks is right. With a confidence based on the solid belief, self-esteem is pumped up.

Do not mistake self-esteem by the approval of others. Insecure individuals have to be commended by their friends in order for them to know who they are. This is not self-esteem but a sign of weakness. Self-esteem, like self-confidence, must also come from within.

Too much self-esteem is also a problem because the person will be narcissistic and self-centered. He will insist to always have his way. Again, a balance must be achieved. One must know his worth simultaneously as he knows the other’s worth. In philosophy, this is depicted by the Self and the Other. The Self is in constant relation with the Other and their actions affect one another. Self-esteem is good for the Self because it helps him to become a confident individual who is ready to face life’s challenges. However, if he is too much into himself, then he will hurt the Other.

We need self-esteem because it impacts various aspects of our lives. Our emotions, desires, values, choices and goals are rooted on our self-esteem. People who have low self-esteem tend to have psychological problems.

Popularity: 2% [?]

For you to think positively, you have to change your mental and emotional approach towards every aspect of yourself. There are steps that you may apply to enhance your positive thinking towards people and different kinds of situations.

You have to learn on how to think positively by deciding on things that are more superior to your attitude. In this way, you will eliminate all negative things that can affect your decision-making.

You have to always react on things that you think will affect your life, instead of allowing other people to decide what you will do in life. You may also interact with people who can help you learn and value things that are beneficial for your development. Always avoid those people who discourage you to act on your goals. You should mingle with people who can motivate you in any goals you would like to achieve.

Saying positive things about you is an effective way to enhance positive thinking. This is called positive self-talk. The way you communicate to yourself influences your thinking and your emotional approaches to people and things. You may read about people that have overcome different struggles, fought fear, and succeeded in life. In this way, you will be able to gain knowledge and it will help you understand new ideas. You will also have a positive outlook n life.

Be motivated in accomplishing your goals no matter how hard they may seem to you. Always take time to work on your goals. Learn to be busy with your goals. You will be surprised that you were able to finish one task. You may find yourself inspired on doing the things with a lot of fun while you are self-confident. Make a positive view on how you see things. You can a make a positive picture of yourself with the environment.

You may start changing those old internal discouraging pictures with positive images that you would like to experience. You may also start questioning yourself about your attitude and behavior. Then, you can make an action plan on how you can be able to resist and produce those attitudes you like and dislike. You may have a moment when you see yourself on circumstances that will bring negativity and doubt on your capabilities.

The truth is, you cannot control all things that could happen in your life. However, you can decide on things and you may choose to think and make a feel about the positive things. In a way, you may have the option to choose on what you think would be beneficial in increasing your self-esteem.

Positive self-talk is a powerful tool that can influence your attitude and behavior. When you say positive things about yourself, you will be able to respond and react internally on what you would like to happen in your life. It determines your personal feelings, thoughts and your reactions. When you practice self-talk, you may start asserting control in every aspect that can affect or change the way you see life.

Your self-talk allows you to see the majority of your emotional side. Every word that you will use should attribute to the things that are happening now. The reactions that are created whenever you experience happiness or boredom will have an impact to the emotional aspects of your thinking.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Fred just got hired as a consultant for a financial services company. This new position is different from the previous job since this will require a lot of traveling. There will be a lot of changes, and getting organized is the best thing to do before doing anything.The first that needs to be done is to organize the office. Some things are needed more frequently on the desk while others need only to be used once in a while. The person can organize this by frequency.

The table can have the computer with the telephone nearby to receive calls. If the printer doesn’t fit on the desk, perhaps putting this somewhere nearby will suffice, since the cords of this machine are not that long. Some pen and paper, which can be used to write a small memo, can be stored in the top drawer.

A box of calling cards should also be ordered since the job will entail meeting a lot of potential clients. Giving calling cards away will make it easier for potential clients to get in touch with the company.

The person should also have an inbox-outbox counter on the table. This will make it easier for the person to know which of the documents are done and which of them still require some action.

Being in meetings and traveling around a lot, the person will probably be better off by carrying an organizer around. There are the primitive ones that use pen and paper while there are those that are electronic.

Some of these high tech models also serve as mobile phones, which are light, easy to carry, and fit in the breast pocket.

The office where the company operates has probably been in that building for a long time. The person can sift through some of the old documents that are not needed anymore and have these thrown out. This will make the office clutter-free and will make it easier to find things when these are needed.

There is a lot of responsibility in being a top executive. Important documents should not be left lying around. These should be locked up in a safe (if there is one in the room) or in a drawer when not in use.

Some executives can organize activities for the week in advance using an organizer. Those that can’t will probably need the help of an assistant.

The person can plan everything to be done on a single day. This means writing everything down, and then crossing out things once they are done. Other pending tasks that are not yet close to the deadline can be put off so that these can be finished the following day.

An efficient employee is someone who is always ready. He is aware where everything is and makes sure the office is organized.

Popularity: 3% [?]