http://www.improvingmylife.com A collection of tips for a better life. Improve your life. en-us Thu, 09 Sep 2010 05:33:12 CDT Thu, 09 Sep 2010 05:33:12 CDT http://www.improvingmylife.com/ A collection of tips for a better life. Improve your life. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 05:33:12 CDT http://www.improvingmylife.com/articles/113573/Find-the-Spark... One day, I looked at a friend of mine and realized what was wrong. She was bitter. She was constantly fighting with her husband. She was watching TV for hours, not even knowing what she was watching anymore.Now, I'm not saying depression isn't real. I'm just saying we can usually do something about it. When I looked at my friend, I didn't see ... 2010-09-05 http://www.improvingmylife.com/articles/110563/Is-Everything-For-the-Best?... I'm trying to figure out the idea that everything is for the best.Because, well, obviously not everything is for the best. You lose your job, for example. Then you don't have the money for the mortgage. You lose your house. You lose your dreams for a comfortable future. And then you meet someone who smiles and tells you it's all for the best.... 2010-08-03 http://www.improvingmylife.com/articles/102473/If-you-don't-have-anything-good-to-say,-don't-say-anything-at-all... That old If you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all. If I can manage that... If I can manage to look at another person and tolerate, even love that imperfect human... unconditionally... A fault is just another human trait, after all. A person's fault (physical fault, bad taste in music, anything reall... 2010-07-14 http://www.improvingmylife.com/articles/90474/Financial-Stability-and-HBO... The idea of financial stability often reminds me of watching the news, when a victim of a crime or of some kind of natural tragedy says he's always thought things like that only happen to other people. At least part of the problem is with living beyond our means. The recession contributes to the problem, and necessities for the kids an... 2010-06-25 http://www.improvingmylife.com/articles/77811/Depression-Could-Mean-a-Potential-For-Life-Improving-Decisions... A few years ago, I found myself depressed for the first time. All of a sudden, it wasn't a myth--depression was real. The inability to get up in the morning was directed by my brain, but it was as real as any physical pain and hardship. I just couldn't do it. I couldn't take it. Then, I made a list of things I needed to do to ... 2010-06-03 http://www.improvingmylife.com/articles/70667/How-to-Repair-a-Zipper... So I have a crazy dog. Not my fault. Not his fault. It's just that he's never met a couch cushion he didn't want to destroy. This means two cushions with broken zippers are waiting for me to be able to afford to get them fixed. But isn't that what's it all about? The idea that I'm not a finished product? And after all, if the ... 2010-05-11 http://www.improvingmylife.com/articles/63424/Internet-Rumors:-Lights-Off-For-Gang-Initiation... One day, this guy at work put up a paper he had just proudly printed off the internet. It said we were all supposed to be very careful. Whatever we did, if we saw a car driving at night we had to avoid flashing our headlights at them to signal their lights were off, because that was apparently the way the would-be gang members chose ... 2010-04-24 http://www.improvingmylife.com/articles/60965/Improving-My-Life-by-Clearing-My-Desk... It's been too long. CDs can stay. Cup with scissors, two pens, and a sharpie can stay. Wallet, keys, phone charger. Even the stapler I never use can stay. Just in case. Now. Bag with Halloween chocolates that has only the Reese's left can go in the trash. They're still in the bag for a reason. And my old pho... 2010-04-16 http://www.improvingmylife.com/articles/59649/Improve-My-Life-by-Not-Hurting-Others... I'll tell you the truth, I don't know what is your purpose in the world. Maybe you'll be rich, maybe you'll end up making someone else rich. Maybe you'll find peace, maybe you'll bring peace. Maybe you'll be happy every single moment, maybe you'll just be content. But your purpose in the world today, and this I do know, is not to ma... 2010-04-06 http://www.improvingmylife.com/articles/57340/Improving-My-Life-by-Eating-a-Healthy-Breakfast... Living the easy life has been taking its toll on my health. Why, for example, should I bother making breakfast when I hardly have the energy to get out of bed? It took me a while to figure out this cycle. I was too tired to exercise because I didn't exercise. And I was too tired to put an egg in the pan because I didn't eat breakfast. ... 2010-03-22 http://www.improvingmylife.com/articles/56099/Read-a-Magazine.-Have-a-Cup-of-Coffee.... This is just my own personal journey, but I do hope things that have helped me could help others. Now, I don't think subscribing to Harper's magazine could help you get a great new job or help you find The One or understand humanity. But it could be a first small step in your quest to find that relaxing time of the day. For me, right now,... 2010-03-14 http://www.improvingmylife.com/articles/55321/Make-Someone-Happy... Now. Or when you finish reading this. If it's early and you just woke up, know this is your task for the day. If it's late and you don't have any more opportunities for interaction today, go make someone online happy. Make a new online friend. Look at all these new blogs coming out all the time. Most of them will not make it past the ... 2010-03-07 http://www.improvingmylife.com/articles/54775/Improving-My-Life-by-Rediscovering-Song-Lyrics... Remember your teenage years, sitting in class, writing the lyrics to your favorite song in your notebook? Why did we forget our love of song lyrics? For me, some of it might be just getting older and thinking young musicians can't know what I'm going through. As a teenager, musicians understood me and prepared me for a future of broken... 2010-03-01 http://www.improvingmylife.com/articles/53137/Improve-Your-Life-by-Knowing-Your-Limitations... A walk in Manhattan on Trash Day will reveal a sad image. On nearly every corner, a sad treadmill awaits pickup, bringing to mind the image of yet another broken promise for self-improvement. But what can someone do, when the prospect of running in one place just doesn't seem like fun anymore? Hundreds of deserted treadmills, just like ... 2010-02-17 http://www.improvingmylife.com/articles/52319/Improving-My-Life-by-Avoiding-Distractions... It's everywhere, and you know you want it. Just once, just once before you do that one project. Just to get you in the mood. So what if you dream about it? So what if you close your eyes in the shower and relive it? But you have to be strong. No more Sudoku. No more Solitaire. No more Freecell. No more Minesweeper. And def... 2010-02-09 http://www.improvingmylife.com/articles/51258/Improving-My-Life-by-Meditating... Yes, the meditations on this site open in Real Player. And yes, the meditations that have New written beside them have had that button there for years And yes, the design seems archaic compared to all the Web2.0 and the sophisticated stuff out there. But I doubt you'll find a better place to relax for a few minutes, w... 2010-01-31 http://www.improvingmylife.com/articles/49479/Improve-Your-Life-by-Not-Biting-Your-Nails... So, how do you stop biting your nails?There are a few ideas about how to do this.You can put special polish on your nails. Hundreds of websites offer polish, each more disgusting than the other, guaranteed to turn you away from your nails. Problem is, you get used to the taste after a while. It's not like nails taste so good in the first place...... 2010-01-16 http://www.improvingmylife.com/articles/48920/Improve-Your-Life-by-Not-Hating-Anyone... It could be your boss, who continuously overlooks your accomplishments. It could be your best friend, who has finally reveled his true face. It could be your husband, who has been seeing someone else. Your hatred neither helps yourself nor hurts that other person. In other words, just as you have chosen hatred, you can choose lov... 2010-01-09 http://www.improvingmylife.com/articles/48427/Improving-My-Life-by-Spending-Time-With-a-Child... We're smarter than children, no doubt about that. We've been to places. We've experimented. We've pushed our boundaries and those of the world around us. So what does sitting with children do to us? How can an hour with a human being under the age of four help us in any way? Again, you might need to trust me on this one, but that's too ... 2010-01-03 http://www.improvingmylife.com/articles/47653/A-Moment-of-Peace... Don't try to meditate. Not now, anyway. No TV, no iPod, no telephone. Just sit there and relax for a while. I'm not promising enlightenment, and I'm not promising achieving a higher state of being. But you will be surprised by how refreshed you feel later and you'll be proud of your... 2009-12-28 http://www.improvingmylife.com/articles/46908/Improve-your-life-by-caring-about-what-YOU-think,-not-what-your-guests-think... I know this guy who has a very neat house. As you enter, you notice everything is neatly organized. Even the DVDs are alphabetized. You continue to the kitchen, and notice everything there is also neat, with pots hanging on the wall according to their size. The tables are empty. No clutter. Just don't go to the bathroom on the se... 2009-12-21 http://www.improvingmylife.com/articles/46081/A-Walk-to-Nowhere-Could-Be-the-Solution... You know how sometimes nothing makes sense? You know how the walls close in on you? You know how sometimes you wish you could just leave it all behind you? Just open the door and leave? And then just walk, finally free... Well, it sounds good in theory, but in reality we all have some great things that keep us connected to our cu... 2009-12-14 http://www.improvingmylife.com/articles/45489/Thoughts-about-Earth-Hour... Remember Earth Hour? Remember thinking how it would feel to cut off electricity for an hour? Remember how you felt when it was 8pm?I was scared at 8.I was shaking at 8:05.I was cursing at 8:10.I put some candles on the table and started reading a book. I rested my legs on one of my dogs (It's a win-win. As long as I move my foot every onc... 2009-12-07 http://www.improvingmylife.com/articles/44799/List-of-101-Goals... For now, a very partial list of modest goals, some shamelessly stolen from others. It will be updated.1. Bungee jump. Okay. I finally told my wife about it, which shocked her a bit, but that's okay. It's a step forward.2. Run 5 miles (in public). 4/9/09: 4.4 miles (looks like it's actually going to happen...) 7/21/09: ran 5 miles at home,... 2009-11-30 http://www.improvingmylife.com/articles/44062/Improving-My-Life-By-Being-Myself... First thing, be yourself. Happiness cannot be found if you play a role. Be yourself, and the rest will follow. Whether you believe your nature was given to you by God or by nature, you have to know it was given to you for a reason, and that you have within you the capacity and the tools to overcome anything that stands in your wa... 2009-11-23 http://www.improvingmylife.com/headlines/news/self improvement self improvement News Headline :A collection of tips for a better life. Improve your life. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 05:33:12 CDT http://www.improvingmylife.com/resources/partners Other Resources :A collection of tips for a better life. Improve your life. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 05:33:12 CDT http://www.improvingmylife.com/information/contact Contact us :A collection of tips for a better life. Improve your life. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 05:33:12 CDT http://www.improvingmylife.com/news/569716/-No-Quick-Fix-Self-Help-Books-This-Year-(The-Huffington-Post)... Whats Your Reaction? Perhaps because of Benjamin Franklin and his Poor Richard aphorisms, many Americans believe they are one self-help book away from perfection.... Mon, 28 Dec 2009 22:45:59 GMT http://www.improvingmylife.com/news/569717/-Improve-your-self-esteem-with-journaling-(The-Cincinnati-Enquirer)... If you have trouble complimenting yourself throughout the day on jobs well done, perhaps a journal will help turn your self-doubt into self-determination.... Mon, 28 Dec 2009 10:58:11 GMT http://www.improvingmylife.com/news/569718/-Californias-legislators-should-resolve-to...-(Los-Angeles-Times)... ... really work to remedy some of the states problems. Here are some suggested resolutions to get them started. At the very least, the exercise in self-examination might do some good. Everyone should make a New Years resolution or two. Theyre vital to the self-improvement process, even if soon discarded.... Mon, 28 Dec 2009 02:59:24 GMT http://www.improvingmylife.com/news/569719/-Dieters:-Focus-makes-New-Year’s-resolutions-stick-(The-Advertiser-News)... When the calendar turns to Jan. 1, 2010, many will choose goals for the new year. Patricia M. Amborn, M.S.M., educator, wellness author, and expert for TOPS Club, Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), says New Year’s resolutions offer a fresh start for those with self-improvement intentions.... Mon, 28 Dec 2009 07:44:58 GMT http://www.improvingmylife.com/news/569720/-Inside-Politics:-Officials-make-New-Years-resolutions,-too-(The-Fayetteville-Observer)... A new year often ushers in resolutions of self-improvement, such as losing weight or giving up cigarettes. We wondered what sort of New Years resolutions our elected officials have for 2010, which starts Friday.... Mon, 28 Dec 2009 02:20:09 GMT http://www.improvingmylife.com/news/569721/-Shed-unhealthy-habits-(Pittsburgh-Tribune-Review)... With New Years comes resolutions and for many of us, those promises of self-improvement involve dieting and exercise; some professionals tell us how to go about it to achieve success.... Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:16:32 GMT http://www.improvingmylife.com/news/569722/-Tell-Us-Your-New-Year’s-Resolution-Plans-(The-Polk-County-Democrat)... With New Year’s right around the corner, our thoughts turn to self-improvement.... Mon, 28 Dec 2009 00:10:23 GMT http://www.improvingmylife.com/news/569723/-Self-priming-paints-are-sure-to-please-(Pittsburgh-Post-Gazette)... Everyone wants to make home improvement easier, quicker and safer. Consumers want fashionable colors and to open their front door and see the pages of House Beautiful laid before them.... Sat, 26 Dec 2009 05:34:00 GMT http://www.improvingmylife.com/news/569724/-Shankersinh-supports-mandatory-voting-in-polls-(The-Times-of-India)... His party may have opposed the compulsory voting in local self-government elections, but senior Congress leader and former Union minister Shankersinh Vaghela said he fully supports mandatory voting measures.... Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:41:14 GMT http://www.improvingmylife.com/news/569725/-Kwanzaa-Kicks-Off-With-A-Night-Of-Unity-(WFMY-News-2-Greensboro)... It focuses on the values of family, community responsibility, commerce and self-improvement.... Sun, 27 Dec 2009 05:06:27 GMT