Archive for September, 2007

by Dave Richards
A sober living home provides a drug and alcohol free living environment. Many people find that once they have beaten their drug addiction problem they have nowhere to go. They hesitate to return to their old lives, full of the people and situations that are associated with their former drug addiction problem. They do not need an inpatient drug rehab situation, nor do they need the complete structure of a transitional living or halfway house environment. However, they do need a place where they can feel safe and secure, away from the negative influences in their lives. In this case, a sober living home might be the best choice.

In a sober living home, a group of people who are in a similar situation live together. The exact rules and level of structure vary between individual homes, but every sober living home follows, at minimum, one basic rule: no drugs or alcohol are permitted. Many sober living environments are modeled on a twelve step approach, allowing new housemates to arrive at any point in their sobriety and giving those who are further along in the program the chance to become peer counselors. This combination approach provides some of the benefits of inpatient drug rehab or transitional living, while allowing much more freedom.

Proponents of sober living homes point to the safety and security that comes with living in a monitored environment. Relapse is much more difficult when drugs and alcohol are forbidden in the home. Additionally, the sober living house provides a sort of continuation of inpatient drug rehab therapy. The 24 hour a day access to others who share your difficulties can be the support you need to transition back into the struggles of daily living.

The cost is a familiar roadblock when it comes to sober living environments. The cost of a lot of drug treatment is covered by insurance companies, but those insurance companies rarely want to pay for any sort of longer term treatment option. Sober living homes and full-on rehab facilities tend to not be covered by insurance companies, who would rather spring for a simple detox and force the patient back out into the cycle.

Some people do not need or want a sober living home. If you have friends or family with whom you can live, who do not use alcohol or drugs, you may prefer to live in a familiar environment. If you have a good income, you could also consider living alone. If you make that decision, however, be sure to plan out coping mechanisms for the times that you are lonely, bored or upset. It is easy to relapse during stressful situations, but much easier to fight the cravings if you already have a plan.

Making the most of the time spent in a sober living home is important. Many people choose to focus on finding new jobs, getting new friends and learning new skills. Continuing drug treatment is also a part of living in such a place. Many people are fully capable of returning to their lives with the strength to “just say no” after living in a sober living home.

David Richards is a publisher of facts about alcoholism. You can go to alcoholism treatments for more.

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by David Peters
Alcohol Anonymous, more commonly known as AA is the world’s largest self help group for people who want to kick their alcohol addiction. Alcohol Anonymous is a group of men and women who have suffered from or are themselves suffering from alcoholism, and who turn towards each other in order to help themselves get rid of their addictions. If you think that you are an alcoholic or are “addicted to alcohol”, then you can seek help from your local AA chapter. Free For All: Alcohol Anonymous membership is free for all. The organization does not solicit members but all are free to come and go as they please. There are no attendance or membership records. However, the organization does have a buddy system, where one person is codependent on the other and vice versa, and each one tries to prevent their partner from getting a relapse. Thus it is extremely easy to join Alcohol Anonymous and the group therapy that takes place at Alcohol Anonymous meetings is advised by experts for all those who want to get rid of their dependence on alcohol. You can also check out the organization’s local branch by attending a couple of meetings.

Double Fist Your Drinks: If you are drinking an alcoholic beverage it is a great idea to have a glass of water there as well and drink the two together. Drinking the water in between sips of your alcohol can help to keep the concentration of the alcohol down in your blood stream. You are also less likely to have a hangover the next day if you keep hydrated as well. Designate a Driver: If you are going out and plan on drinking, always make sure that someone is designated to drive and that they have no alcohol whatsoever. If there is no designated driver, you should be the responsible one and abstain from drinking. Remember that driving under the influence, no matter how little, can kill. Having responsible drinking habits is very important if you are planning to consume alcohol. Being responsible while drinking can keep you healthy, keep you out of embarrassing situations, and most important of all - it can save your life.

Alcoholism is an illness marked by drinking alcoholic beverages at a level that interferes with physical health, mental health, and social, family, or occupational responsibilities. Alcoholism is divided into 2 categories: dependence and abuse. People with alcohol dependence, the most severe alcohol disorder, usually experience tolerance and withdrawal. Tolerance is a need for markedly increased amounts of alcohol to achieve intoxication or the desired effect. Withdrawal occurs when alcohol is discontinued or intake is decreased. Alcohol dependents spend a great deal of time drinking alcohol, and obtaining it. People who are dependent on or abuse alcohol continue to drink it despite evidence of physical or psychological problems. Those with dependence have more severe problems and a greater compulsion to drink.

Set a positive tone. When your teen is ready to drive, let him know that you think he will be a great driver. At the same time, grant privileges slowly so you can add more as your son or daughter demonstrates they are ready for them instead of having to take privileges away when your trust is violated. Teenagers love to test their parents and in fact it is their job to do so. It is the parents’ job to set clear rules and to hold teenagers responsible when they are violated. Consider rewarding your teen if he or she is accident-free for a certain period of time and remove restrictions when you find they are no longer necessary.Sign a Contract. The best way to lay out the rules you expect your new driver to follow is to put them in a contract you both will sign. The contract should cover such things as the number of friends who can be in the car with the new driver (most likely one), what time the driver must be home on school nights and weekends, responsibilities for gas, insurance and car maintenance and the mandatory use of seat belts for all passengers.

Alcohol is often mentioned in one breath with drugs, especially when the subject is abuse or addiction. More often, alcohol is referred to as a separate substance and in fact, its abuse is often discussed separately from that of drugs. But can alcohol be considered a drug? Drug defined: If a textbook definition is used, a drug may be defined as a substance that has an effect on living cells and their function and is also used for medical purposes for the diagnosis, prevention and cure of disorders and diseases. As such, alcohol may not be considered as a drug since it is not used directly to effect a cure. However, it is also a substance that can have similar effects to drugs to disinfect, act as an analgesic, a tranquilizer or rarely, a stimulant. The link between alcohol and drugs: Alcohol is said to possibly be a contributor to health as some are some drugs, but alcohol, like some drugs can be addictive. When used in moderate amounts, alcohol has been said to improve cardiovascular health. However, health experts discourage non-drinkers to start drinking alcohol for the sole reason of benefiting the heart. They recommend that other methods such as exercising and eating a good diet, should be considered as the first line of defense.

Studies also show that most of these alcoholics are living with spouses in well-founded homes and have established jobs. A high percentage of people suffering from alcoholism hold jobs involving special responsibilities and or skills. Economic factors greatly affect a person’s drinking patterns. High profiled businessmen drink at their exclusive men’s club. Suburban dwellers drink at home parties with friends, family and neighbors. There are those who drink at local taverns. Even culture affects a person’s predisposition to alcoholism. Studies show that the Irish and the Poles are among the cultural group with the highest incidence rate of alcoholism in the United States. The Italians, Greeks and Jews on the other hand show the least number of alcoholics despite their heavy alcohol consumption. People in specific work groups have also shown high incidences of alcoholism.

If you just crave the occasional glass of wine or beer, make sure you are aware of the craving and make a conscious choice to have a glass, or skip it. Don’t let your cravings or emotions make the decision for you. If you find yourself addicted to alcohol and are unable to not give in to the cravings, please seek professional help. Alcohol addiction is very serious and the earlier you seek treatment, the easier it will be to kick the habit and take control over your alcohol cravings.

Smooth your life out and start working on stopping drinking , Receiving free info just got better,look over an report on alcohol detox start the process today.

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by Tony Gilpin
The first thing you have know is what is the definition of a habit. A habit is a complusive behaviour pattern, that is carried out by aperson,without even considering the behaviour.

Is a bad habit an addiction ? . Compared to other addictions , it has many of the aspects of addictive behaviour. Bad Habits can be harmful to others and the individual themselves. In fact a bad habit could be classed as harmful to social integration.

What is the cause of addiction? Addictions are rooted to unhappy occurrences encountered during childhood. Research shows that children who are prone to addiction are those who have undergone physical maltreatment, embarrassment, degradation or were neglected.

Some of the bad habits which people are addicted to, are things like excess alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex, smoking and even over indulgence. In fact thinking about you may be more motivated to get rid of the addiction to overeat. You have 2 types of addictions. Number one is something you really find difficult to get rid of and number 2 something you are regularly used to doing.

Some people believe that bad habits or cravings force people to live with something that is not liked and that it can take over your life. People are also saying that cravings can lead to dreadful and distressing behaviour, which is taking over society today.

Habits are like fishing hooks , that grab you and stick with you and in time are very difficult to eliminate.The mind is constantly thinking about these habits and plotting ways to use them.

Do you believe in these erroneous beliefs? Even if it says that it is irresistible, the truth is you can resist it. If you can do something else for as little as 21 days, you can change it and continue resisting it. The habit resisted will eventually pass into memory.

Generally speaking willpower , distraction and dedication and a little effort will help you overcome them. Addictions to drugs, alcohol and smoking will need qualified help . Belief that you are able to overpower your urges gives you the confidence to do so in most cases

Drinking alcohol, you can drink occasionally, but if drinking in excess and every day can be detrimental. Not all habits are considered harmful , anything in excess is not beneficial

Rehabilitation centers abound, however, you may not want to subject yourself to rehab just to run away from bad habits. Last time I checked, there wasn’t a rehab for excessive nail biting, but it’s still a very bad habit. The best thing to do is just don’t let your urges overpower you. In simple terms, don’t let them lead you to addiction or excess.

These are some of the ways of getting rid of bad habits.

You have to have the frame of mind in your strength to overcome and resist your urges. Thinking your are too weak to resist your urges is not an option. Use the faith you have in yourself to fight them. Follow these steps :

When you feel an urge or craving , slow down, sit back and relax. Urges come and go and do not last long. Slowing down and thinking of other things will help you resist. Find something else to do until the urge goes away. Move around if you have to. Take a long walk, you can even watch TV. Just get your mind on something else.

Resisting overeating can be avoided by staying away from the temptation of bakeries and food shops. avoid these places if you can. If you have to go the supermarkets, eat a sensible meal before going, so you can resist temptation to buy things you know are not good for you.

Mix with the people you admire for their good habits, slim people who are more likely to eat healthy meals, non- smokers who visit places where smokers aren’t. Why put yourself is temptations way, when you can take these simple steps.

Finding alternatives to your craving is a good way of reducing temptation. Crave for a candy bar ; eat a granola bar. Tempted for a cool beer; try a coffee or tea. In many ways you do the same for a child , by distracting them from something harmful.

Exercise also cuts down on eating and smoking urges. Working out in a gym would best replace your urge for sex if that’s a problem. Take a walk round the block or go for a jog.

If you have weight problem, think of ways to motivate yourself to change. Have a look at yourself naked in the mirror, also create images in your mind of how you want to look like and feel. All these types of actions will help you fight your cravings.

If none of this works, and your cravings and addiction is severe, seek an expert - your doctor or rehabilitation might be called for to get you started. In any case, take some action to break the habit you are struggling with. You are a winner as long as you continuously take action to change the habit.

Tony Gilpin - Personal Development Expert http://www.objectiveselfimprovement.com Self improvement membership ste Self Improvement and Self improvement membership ste

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by Peter J Granger
Guilt is an emotion that few of us like to feel or even admit that we carry — but it is the single most damaging emotion that we have. It destroys our relationships and our success as well as robbing us of our happiness in life. We must understand and let go of our guilt if we are to reach our full potential in life.

As a baby or infant we are totally dependent on our parents for our needs - sustenance, security and very importantly, love. If we have any sense that these needs are not met, perhaps due to our parents emotional, health or own relationship problems, then we will feel that something is lacking. We can summarise this as the amount of bonding we experience in our early formative years - the lower the quality of bonding in our original family, the more likely we are to believe that love is scarce and even more critically that we lack love. The heartbreak and traumas around unmet needs in our original families can cause us to draw two very damaging conclusions:

1) My parents failed me

It is fairly easy to see that if our needs have not been met, we will feel let down. We end up feeling resentful towards our parents and may then blame them for their shortcomings and our problems in life.

2) I failed my parents

This second conclusion is much more surprising and destructive because it is the source of huge amounts of guilt. The amount that we feel we have been let down in our relationship with our parents is balanced by the amount we believe we have failed them. This is one of the most important things we can ever learn about relationships. Even as children we take on a great responsibility for the quality of our relationships, particularly with our parents and siblings. If anything is going wrong in the family we will tend to blame ourselves.

Both these conclusions, usually held subconsciously create guilt and this can become accentuated later in life as we blame ourselves for letting other people down, say in romantic relationships or work situations. Not only do we fell guilty for not being good enough, but we also take on all our family’s emotional pain and guilt that they have not been able to deal with in their lives. You can see that guilt comes from a horrible tangle of misunderstanding about relationships!

The famous psychoanalyst Freud provided us with another concept - Oedipal guilt. Based on the Greek myth of Oedipus, where a son killed his father, and married his mother. Although such relationships are difficult to accept, given their societal taboos, most people are familiar with cases where a child is very closely attached to the parent of the opposite sex. When this happens the other parent feels excluded and that they have lost the love of their partner. This sets up a competitive triangle in which all parties have deep, suppressed guilt. This is felt strongly (for instance) where a son is guilty for having stolen his father from his mother. The same thing can happen between fathers and daughters. Many psychologists believe that the experience of being part of a triangle as children is replayed in our adult relationships in the form of affairs.

With such a potentially huge amount of guilt, it is not surprising that we move out into our world with low self-esteem - feeling we have been bad and don’t deserve to receive life’s riches - particularly love. These are very unpleasant sensations so we typically behave in ways that deny them and later we may hide them entirely from our conscious awareness. Unfortunately the low self-worth and guilt is still present in our unconscious memory and can easily sabotage our lives.

Although we made these choices about our self-worth many years ago, guilt acts as a backdrop to our adult lives. Guilt really is a terrible trap and one that most people are unaware they have. It manifests itself through a variety of thoughts, attitudes and negative behaviours that all try to compensate for the guilty feelings inside - essentially smokescreens to hide our guilt from the people around us and even ourselves. You will know you have layers of guilt, if your life is not full of success, loving relationships and a sense of peace and fulfilment.

The key to healing guilt and low self-esteem is to understand what was happening in your original family, accept that you made mistaken choices about your self-worth and guilt. To do this, try to accept that your parents were doing their very best for you given their own circumstances. They loved you dearly but there may have been times when they struggled to express this adequately or when life’s challenges made things difficult for them. Above all you must find a way of forgiving yourself and the people around you for what happened all those years ago. As you forgive and rediscover your innocence you will learn to love yourself - then your life will take great leaps forward!

Peter Granger is an acclaimed relationship counsellor and life coach. He runs relationship and self-development workshops in the UK. He has recently launched a book called True Love - The Amazing Truth About Love, Relationships & Life. For more free relationship advice and information about his book, go to http://www.iloveyouloveme.com/

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by DavidMcCarthy
Often when we struggle to understand something a tutor will say: “Look at the bigger picture.” The Universe is the bigger picture of our world and looking at it is the best way to put our world in perspective. Especially now that Google Sky is up and running and free for each of us to use whenever we feel the need to seek perspective.

Too often we find people that are hemmed into their local town and give little thought to events in other parts of their state. Others are interested in their state above their nation. Some have no time, or interest, in what happens beyond the borders of their own nation in the misguided belief that it cannot affect them. We only have to look at the problems of the Middle East and understand how they affect taxpayers in the nations of the allied coalition to dispel the myth that what happens outside of your national borders does not affect you. We all share this tiny planet and if a new strain of influenza occurs in a remote nation it is a worldwide problem within 24 hours.

Many years ago a friend advised that I start looking at the universe to gain perspective of the world and I count this advice as the best I ever received from any source.

Planet Earth is part of the Milky Way Galaxy and that is just one galaxy among many thousands of others. Often, on a clear night, I sit on my porch and look up at the vastness of the Milky Way and find myself meditating about how small Planet Earth really is and how insignificant it is in the overall structure of eternity. It is a fact that a massive meteorite could wipe out the planet at any time and the galaxy will still continue with negligible adjustment. My next thought is that there are so many other galaxies and they would not even have to adjust.

It was not until I started accepting the Universe that I was able to see the World in its true perspective and in life I started becoming more positive and less judgemental. To see my planet in an overall perspective proved a catalyst for me to start achieving what I was capable of achieving and I am happily shocked at the result. The main thing is that I now know that less than 5% of the human race live to achieve what they are capable of. We all have the same equipment; it is just that some use it better than others.

Copyright © JEM Trust 2007. This article may be reproduced in its entirety with a link to http://www.ayecasher.com/self-knowledge
The author: David McCarthy operates a website designed to help people to help themselves in achieving all that they are capable of achieving in life. You are invited to visit the site and join our regular achievers.

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by Mike Robbins
Have you ever had something taken away from you only to realize how much you appreciated it after it was gone?

I ask this question every time I start one of my speeches and seminars on appreciation. As I pause and wait for people to respond, many hands go up.

Most of us have taken someone or something for granted. We only truly realized how much that person or situation meant to us after the fact.

For example, at the age of 23 my professional baseball career ended abruptly when I blew out my pitching arm. I was in my third season in the minor leagues with the Kansas City Royals, and just like that my childhood dream was over.

I realized looking back on my 18 years in competitive baseball that I had only one major regret. I pushed myself so hard that I’d forgotten to enjoy the game. I was so focused on “making it” and on overcoming my weaknesses, I had not taken much time to appreciate what I was doing along the way.

We often waste way too much of our time and energy focusing on what we don’t like, what we’re worried about, or what we think needs to be fixed, changed, or enhanced. We live in a culture obsessed with “bad stuff.” Just turn on the news, listen to the conversations and negative attitudes of the people around you, or pay attention to the thoughts in your own head.

the Power of Appreciation on Your Life

What if we stopped this negative obsession and started paying attention to what and whom we appreciate, right now?

Imagine how this simple but profound shift in focus could transform our lives, our families, our relationships, our careers, our work groups, and more. Our life experiences are functions of what we pay attention to. Each and every moment we have a choice to where we place our attention.

I am not advocating that we deny, avoid, or run from the challenges, issues, or even the pain in our lives or around us. It is important that we are able to confront, face, and deal with these difficulties. However, we don’t have to obsess about the bad stuff and let it run our lives. We each can consciously choose to focus on the good stuff in our lives, with others, and most importantly towards ourselves.

There are great things happening in your life and around you all the time. You interact with amazing people each and every day. And, this is only “true” if you choose to recognize it, acknowledge it, and live it through your thoughts, words, and actions.

Here Are My Top 5 Principles to Living a Life Filled With Appreciation and Enjoyment:

1) Be Grateful - Focus on the many blessings in your life and all that you have to be thankful for.

2) Choose Positive Thoughts and Feelings - Make a conscious decision to transform your negative thoughts and feelings intoones that empower you

3) Use Positive Words - Pay attention to the words you use with others, about things, and in speaking about yourself. Speak with the most positive words possible. Our words have the power to create, not just describe

4) Acknowledge Others - Focus on what you appreciate about the people around you and let them know. Be genuine and let others know the positive impact they have on you and your life.

5) Appreciate yourself - Celebrate who you are, what you do, and the many gifts and talents you have. Self-appreciation is not arrogance. It’s an awareness of your own power and it’s the key to self-confidence, success, and fulfillment.

There’s a saying, “argue for your limitations and they’re yours.” Instead of that, what if we celebrated the good stuff around us, in others, and in ourselves? When we focus on this good stuff, our world transforms and we are able to see and experience the GREAT FULLNESS of our lives.

We don’t have to wait until everything is handled. We don’t have to wait until we get it all perfect. And, we don’t have to wait for people to do things exactly as we want them to. We can start appreciating life, others, and ourselves exactly as we are, right now.

Don’t wait ’til it’s too late!

About Author :
Personal Growth Expert Mike Robbins empowers individuals, organizations and Fortune 500 companies to appreciate themselves and each other - thus leading to greater success, improved relationships, and increased fulfillment. Experience the positive impact of appreciation on yourself and those around you with this FREE SNEAK PREVIEW of Mike’s new book, Focus on the Good Stuff. Click Here Now: http://www.focusonthegoodstuff.com/preview

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by Mike Robbins
Have you ever had something taken away from you only to realize how much you appreciated it after it was gone?

I ask this question every time I start one of my appreciation speeches and seminars for Fortune 500 companies. As I pause and wait for people to respond, many hands go up.

Most of us have taken someone or something for granted. We only truly realized how much that person or situation meant to us after the fact.

For example, at the age of 23 my professional baseball career ended abruptly when I blew out my pitching arm. I was in my third season in the minor leagues with the Kansas City Royals, and just like that my childhood dream was over.

I realized looking back on my 18 years in competitive baseball that I had only one major regret. I pushed myself so hard that I’d forgotten to enjoy the game. I was so focused on “making it” and on overcoming my weaknesses, I had not taken much time to appreciate what I was doing along the way.

We often waste way too much of our time and energy focusing on what we don’t like, what we’re worried about, or what we think needs to be fixed, changed, or enhanced. We live in a culture obsessed with “bad stuff.” Just turn on the news, listen to the conversations and negative attitudes of the people around you at work, or pay attention to the thoughts in your own head.

The Power of Appreciation on Your Life

What if we stopped this negative obsession and started paying attention to what and whom we appreciate, right now?

Imagine how this simple but profound shift in focus could transform our lives, our careers, our work groups, and more. Our life experiences are functions of what we pay attention to. Each and every moment we have a choice to where we place our attention.

I am not advocating that we deny, avoid, or run from the challenges, issues, or even the pain in our careers or businesses. It is important that we are able to confront, face, and deal with these difficulties. However, we don’t have to obsess about the bad stuff and let it run our lives. We each can consciously choose to focus on the good stuff in our lives, with others, and most importantly towards ourselves.

There are great things happening in your company all the time. At work you interact with amazing people each and every day. And, this is only “true” if you choose to recognize it, acknowledge it, and live it through your thoughts, words, and actions.

Here Are My Top 5 Principles to Discovering Everyday Gratitude at Work & Living a Life Filled With Appreciation and Enjoyment:

1) Be Grateful - Focus on the many blessings in your life and all that you have to be thankful for.

2) Choose Positive Thoughts and Feelings - Make a conscious decision to transform your negative thoughts and feelings into ones that empower you. Your negative thoughts will hold you back from growing your business or advancing your career

3) Use Positive Words - Pay attention to the words you use with others, about things, and in speaking about yourself. Speak with the most positive words possible. Our words have the power to create, not just describe

4) Acknowledge Others - Focus on what you appreciate about the people around you at work and let them know. Be genuine and let others know the positive impact they have on you and your life.

5) Appreciate Yourself - Celebrate who you are, what you do, and the many gifts and talents you bring to the company. Self-appreciation is not arrogance. It’s an awareness of your own power and it’s the key to self-confidence, success, and fulfillment.

There’s a saying, “argue for your limitations and they’re yours.” Instead of that, what if we celebrated the good stuff around us, in others, and in ourselves? When we focus on this good stuff, our world transforms and we are able to see and experience the GREAT FULLNESS of our lives.

We don’t have to wait until everything is handled. We don’t have to wait until we get it all perfect. And, we don’t have to wait for people to do things exactly as we want them to. We can start appreciating life, others, and ourselves exactly as we are, right now.

Don’t wait ’til it’s too late! The power of appreciation will help you grow your business or advance your career.

About the Author:
Personal Growth Expert Mike Robbins empowers individuals, organizations and Fortune 500 companies to appreciate themselves and each other - thus leading to greater success and increased fulfillment. Experience the positive impact of appreciation on yourself and those around you with this FREE SNEAK PREVIEW of Mike’s new book, Focus on the Good Stuff. Click Here Now: http://www.focusonthegoodstuff.com/preview

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by Dave Richards
If you’ve seen the negative effects of alcoholism from someone you love, or if you’ve learned about the dangers of drinking alcohol from parents, work, or school, you know that consuming too much alcohol at any time is a bad idea. If you want to make sure that you can avoid alcoholism altogether, there are many things you can do to make sure that your life is both healthy and happy.

One of the first things you should do is to make sure that you are in an environment where alcohol is not a temptation on a regular basis. So keep alcohol out of your house and try not to go to any restaurants that are known for serving alcohol in a bar setting. Many people keep wine or liquor bottles in their homes as decoration, or even as a sign of social affluence, but if you know that you will be tempted to drink — especially if the alcohol is very accessible — make sure that your surroundings are alcohol-free.

It is also important to check your family history if you are trying to avoid alcoholism. While alcoholism is not exactly hereditary, there are certain traits that you may have inherited from parents, grandparents, or even aunts and uncles that can lead to alcoholism. If you know that some people in your family have had bouts with alcoholism, the chance of your dependency may be greater. Or if you’ve seen people in your home drinking on a regular basis, this may seem like normal behavior to you, which means you are more likely to make drinking a habit yourself. While family traits do have something to do with how alcohol will affect you, remember that everybody is different–while some people in your family do not seem sick, depressed, or overly angry when consuming alcohol, this doesn’t mean you will react the same way.

Next, you should figure out: what makes you want to drink? Do you feel glamorous or socially superior when you’re drinking? Do you think that alcohol makes you more outgoing than ususal? Do you drink to overcome bouts of depression or stress? Or do you just like the look of having a drink in your hand? Whatever the case, you should find out what void you are attempting to fill with alcohol. This way, you can use positive activities in place of alcohol to enrich your life. If you’re an entertainer, you can make non-alcoholic drinks at home with the same types of colors and decorations if you like the look of some alcoholic drinks. Also, planning more social gatherings to spend time with friends and meet new people will help you feel more confident about your social life without using alcohol.

Finally, the way to make sure that you stay away from alcohol and avoid drinking too much is to surround yourself with people who feel the same way. Support from friends and loved ones is essential as you make the effort to avoid alcoholism. You may also give someone else the courage to stay away from alcohol as well.

David Richards is a publisher of facts about alcoholism. You can go to alcoholism treatments for more.

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by Craig Harper
When it comes to excuses, I’ve heard them all.

And made up a few of my own too.

In fact, I am a fully-qualified Excuse-ologist.

Excuse-ology (the study of excuse making) is a fascinating but little-known science.

Okay, I developed it.

And graduated in it from the University of Harper.

I keep that qualification low-key and don’t put it on my business card for reasons which will become apparent.

In the course of my work, I have spent time with more excuse-makers than most and I have studied them closely.

They are a curious breed.

They are usually members of the ‘I’m-continually-not-doing-stuff-for-a-very-legitimate-sounding-reason’ fraternity.

If there’s a way to delay something, avoid responsibility or to ignore an important issue altogether, they’ll find it.

And while they typically like the sound of their own voice, they don’t want to be studied too closely.

Or contradicted.

Or questioned.

However, I have had little choice but to study them, as they have constantly made their way into my laboratory.

Interestingly, many of them have their own PhD.

In bullshit.

And numerous under-grad degrees in anger, delusion, blame, denial, pessimism and procrastination.

They are also often graduates of the “but you don’t understand my life” School of Self-Pity.

When they’re not speaking they can be hard to identify in a crowd… because outwardly they look like any regular member of the species; two arms, a couple of legs, a head and some hair.

Seemingly normal.

It’s only when they open their mouth that they identify themselves and bring themselves undone.

They have what’s known clinically as ‘excuse-itis’.

And colloquially as linguistic diarrhoea.

If you are unlucky enough to spend any length of time with individuals suffering from the condition (excuse-itis) you would be well advised to either
(1) carry a shovel or (2) stand well back when conversing… lest you drown in the constant stream of crap that is most likely to come out of their mouth.

Unlike sufferers of other conditions, many people with excuse-itis won’t even acknowledge that they have it as they often also suffer from another interesting but lesser known social disease: head-up-my-own-butt-itis… (H.U.M.O.B).

HUMOB renders sufferers incapable of taking advice, direction or constructive feedback.

And is most prevalent amongst politicians.

Even though a very effective treatment (a topical cream to be rubbed on the head of patients) was developed in the late seventies, unfortunately it proved to make little impact as:

1) Most sufferers wouldn’t acknowledge that they needed treatment and

2) They always found an excuse to avoid using the medication.

The cream (Excusinator 4000) was subsequently withdrawn from the market in the early eighties and tragically, the condition continued to proliferate.

However, there has been some anecdotal evidence to suggest that Excusinator 4000 is still available today on the black market and numerous stories of frustrated wives smearing it on their excuse-making husbands as they sleep, abound.

Today excuse-itis is one of the largest threats and most debilitating conditions to not only global health, but humanity as a whole.

It affects:

Our health… “both my parents are big-boned also; it’s genetic..”… “It’s the healthiest thing I could find…”

Our fitness… “I’m pretty sure it’s a hamstring strain… I’ll need a few weeks off”

Friendships… “I would have helped you out but I honestly didn’t have the time..”

Families… “I would play with the kids but I think I’m still contagious ….”

Careers… “I would have been here on time but I got robbed in the car park..”

International relations… “They fired at us first…”

Well , there you have it; a quick overview of a very debilitating condition.

Excuse-itis…. it’s insidious, it’s rampant, it’s ruining lives an it may even be contagious, so be careful who you mix with.

And if by some chance you do contract it.. get yerself some of that black market Excusinator 4000 and apply liberally…

Craig Harper (B.Ex.Sci.) is the #1 ranked Motivational Speaker by Google. He is a qualified exercise scientist, author, columnist, radio presenter, television host and owner of one of the largest personal training centres in the world.Motivational Speaker - Craig Harper

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by Lendmeadime
Not this article, nor many articles, not a book, nor many books can promise you positive thinking without one key requirement. You must bring to the table an open mind to weigh and qualify the information. You say your mind is open so let’s begin.

The information I am about to offer is not new. It has all been written elsewhere. But it has not been put together in this same fashion. It’s offered so that you might think about becoming a positive thinker. I’ll tell you how positive thinking works as well as why. At least in my opinion.

More than 40 years ago I was in a reading mode, strictly fact and not fiction. One book that I came across was “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill. He was commissioned, in the early 1920s, by Andrew Carnegie, the steel magnate, to investigate the success of hundreds of American entrepreneurs. Hill’s conclusion, they all believed strongly in what they were doing. In short they were positive thinkers.

From his investigation he has given the world some writings. One that got me started, and I’m paraphrasing, was something like, “your ship will not come in until you set sail.” Until I read his book I always thought that when my ship came in I would be at the airport. However the one writing that stuck in my mind from then until this day and is what you should dwell on, and again paraphrasing, is, “whatever you can think of and believe in, you shall accomplish.”

The operative word is ‘believe’. You must believe as in the word believe. You can not pray, you can not hope, you cannot dream that something favorable will happen, you must believe it will happen. You will not be cursed. Therefore from now until the end of time you must believe.

Hill interviewed the major business leaders of his time. The “Bill Gates” and “Warren Buffets” that we know today. They believed in grandiose undertakings but positive thinking applies on any scale, even to us the worker bees. When we see ourselves buying the new car, negotiating the purchase of a house, an employment promotion or any other important undertaking we must believe that we will be successful and positive thinking will work.

I have always applied positive thinking personally but I had the opportunity to road test the principle with another person and it was in 1970. My partner and I had a car rental business and I handled the Fort Lauderdale location. One day I looked out the back window and saw a man, hired by the manager, washing cars, a $2.00 an hour job in those days. He didn’t fit the description of a car washer. I introduced myself and in discussions I learned that he had been an insurance adjuster and he had quit because he wasn’t cut out to hustle the claimants.

One morning I asked him to have coffee and I took him to a restaurant that was next door to what would be our new location. It was being built at the time. I asked him what he wanted in life. To my surprise he wanted an 8 to 5 job with a nice office. He didn’t want a 5 bedroom home or a $100,000 salary. I asked him to describe the office that he had in mind. He wasn’t too specific, just that the office had to be blue.

I told him that the building across the drive and under construction would be our Intergalactic Headquarters. That we would have an extra 10 x 10 foot office and that the office could be his. We could panel the office with white wood brushed with blue, that he could have a blue leather chair with a desk having a blue vanity panel, same leather as the chair. There would be blue shag carpeting. Could he see himself sitting in the chair doing his office work in between sales calls? He was thrilled for lack of a better word.

Now why was the offer made? We had about 20 vehicles, replacement cars, on rent with insurance companies. These cars were paid for by the insurance companies and driven by claimants whose cars had been damaged by the companies’ clients. His job, he was an ex-insurance adjuster and knew other adjusters, was to obtain additional car replacement business. The one condition I insisted upon, and he agreed to, was he had to, at least 4 or 5 times a day, visualize himself sitting in the office I described. And he must believe, not hope, not pray, but believe. Going back to Hill, my salesman thought of the blue office, he believed he would have the blue office and he got the job done. Within a month we had over 100 replacement cars on rent and he had his office.

I knew how positive thinking worked but I didn’t know why. I few years later I came across Psycho-Cybernetics written by Malcolm Maltz. I skimmed through the book and came away with an understanding. The act of thinking positive was bio feedback. Your conscious mind with positive thoughts fed your sub-conscious mind. Then instinctively your sub-conscious mind will generate conscious thoughts that are positive for the situation. There is no negativity. Adversity becomes opportunity. There are people who scientifically can explain how the mind works but I am not one of them. All that mattered was now I knew why positive thinking works.

Thinking back over the past 40 plus years I can think of dozens of times positive thinking worked for me. I can also provide documentation. Please read an article I recently published in Ezine Articles, Start A Major Car Rental Business Accidentally. The resource is listed below. Without positive thinking, from start to finish, the article could not have been written.

And it works in all situations. Your relations with your peers, your boss, asking for business, buying a car or whatever. You are only restricted by what you conceive so long as you believe. Your reply is automatically instinctive. Positive thinking does work and again, you must believe. Do not hope, do not pray, do not dream, just believe. You will not be cursed.

http://www.allvacation.info

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