HYDROPONICS

Greenhouse Hydroponics

https://www.facebook.com/edutopia/videos/10153598085024917/

http://www.thepennyhoarder.com/5-ridiculous-but-effective-ways-to-save-on-your-groceries/

5 Ridiculous (but effective) Ways to Save On Your Groceries

Listen, even if you’re not one of those crazy coupon ladies that you see on TLC, you should still be saving a lot more on your groceries than you already are.

I’m not saying you need to hoard 455 rolls of toilet paper or that you need to spend hours comparing sales ads, but there are a few weird (and easy) things you can do to save some money on your grocery bill.

Here are 5 ridiculous ways to save on your groceries…

1. Take a Picture of Your Receipts

Yeah, did you know that you can get cash-back on your groceries just for taking a picture of your receipt? The very popular website and mobile app, Ibotta will pay you to do just that. Here’s how it works….

1. Sign up for Ibotta here (you just need a name/email address to start).

2. Browse through the cash-back offers in your area and take note the next time you go to the grocery store (the offers change every week). For example, in my area Ibotta will give me .50 if I take a picture of a receipt showing that I bought a gallon of milk and a $1.00 if I take a picture showing that I bought graham crackers. Pretty cool, right?

3. So, obviously you don’t want to buy a bunch of crap you weren’t already going to buy. But, this can be an easy way to get a little cash-back for doing something you were already going to do. Also, you can still use coupons on the items you’re buying, so this can be a nifty way to “stack” your savings and in some cases, you might be able to get the item for free.

4. Once you’ve reached $5 earnings or more, you can request payment via Paypal or Venmo.

5. If you like doing this kind of thing, I’d also check out Checkout51 as it’s very similar (although you don’t have to have a smartphone to use them). Heck, sign up for both and you might be able to get cash-back on your receipt twice. 

2. Scan The Groceries When You Get Home

Did you know that the Nielsen company will pay you to scan your groceries each week? Crazy, right?

Once you sign up to become a Nielsen Consumer Panel family, the company will send you a free scanner (like the one pictured to the left) or you can use your smartphone. Every time you go shopping, you simply scan the barcodes on the back of each product and send your data off to NCP. Pretty easy, huh?

If you want to give it a try, you can fill out an application here.

As an active participant, you earn gift points which you can redeem for different types of merchandise.  You can choose electronics, jewelry, household items, and even toys for the kids. The longer you stay on the panel, the more opportunity you have to earn points towards prizes.

You also receive entries for the panel’s many sweepstakes.  Prizes include money, vacations, and brand new vehicles.  This is a great way to make your consumer voice count and be rewarded handsomely for recording your purchases.  You’re already going to the grocery store anyway, right?

3. Get Paid Extra to Use Your Coupons

The company, InboxDollars will actually pay you to print and use the coupons they offer on their website. Here’s how it works…

1. Sign up for a free account with InboxDollars (just need a name & email address). Plus, they give you $5 free since I referred you.

2. Navigate to the “Coupons” section. There you will find dozens of high-value coupons for everyday items like cereal and toilet paper. Select the ones you want, print them out, and use them in your store like a regular coupon. But here’s the kicker —- InboxDollars will pay you ten cents for every coupon you use.

Now, that might not sound like a lot of money, but I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Most of the coupons that you can print on their site are the same coupons you find in your Sunday newspaper or on Coupons.com. They’re actually put out by the same people.  So, it’s free cash for coupons you’re probably already clipping. And all those dimes start to add up after awhile…

4. Stop Paying for a Costco/BJ’s/Sam’s Club Membership

At around $50/year, a saving’s club membership can be a pricey way to buy groceries in bulk. Instead of schlepping down to the store, try buying your bulk items online on Amazon Grocery. Not only will you save $50/year in membership fees, but Amazon will ship most things to you for free.

Also, do you know about these Amazon-only coupons that are posted each week? For example, this week there are coupons on formula, granola bars, K-cups, and more. Just click the coupons you want and Amazon will automatically deduct them from your bill before you checkout.

5. Get 2% Back on All of Your Grocery Store Purchases

If you’re not using a rewards card for your grocery purchases, you’re really just leaving free money on the table. One of my favorite reward cards is the Barclaycard® Rewards MasterCard® – Average Credit. They give you a whopping 2 points for every dollar worth of groceries, gas and utilities you put on the card each month!

Plus, they give you 1 point for every other dollar you spend. And there’s no annual fee with this card, meaning if you paying off it in full each month, it really will cost you nothing to have this card. And the points can be converted to cash (1000 points = $10)

Consider this – the average family spends $1024.70/month on groceries, $368/month on gasoline and $163/month on utilities. If you can commit to just putting those purchases on your card, you could pocket an extra $31.11 every month.

Also, this is a pretty easy card to qualify for (it’s marked as average credit).

Your Turn: Would you use any of these unusual ways to save a little extra on your groceries?

Good luck Penny Hoarders!

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https://tomsmiley.wordpress.com/2015/08/14/here-i-stand/

Here I Stand

Asking God to sanctify sin by blessing what he condemns is irresponsible, irreverent, and blasphemous. It is completely unacceptable as church policy. I will not do it.

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In 2002, the synod of the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster authorized its bishop to produce a service for blessing same-sex unions, to be used in any parish of the diocese that requests it. 

A number of synod members walked out to protest the decision. J. I. Packer was one of those who walked out.

When asked why he walked out, he answered, “Because this decision, taken in its context, falsifies the gospel of Christ, abandons the authority of Scripture, jeopardizes the salvation of fellow human beings, and betrays the church in its God-appointed role as the bastion and bulwark of divine truth.”

Nearly 14 years ago, this biblical scholar demonstrated a respect and confidence in the functional, life-directing authority of Scripture rather than in the subjective opinions of man.

I have attempted to describe my heart and spirit as I enter this “public” debate relative to God’s Word.  I have often pointed to men like Paul, Peter, John, and Jude who were unashamed of standing on the Truth of God’s Word and pointed out error.

I found Jude’s word in his New Testament letter (verses 3-4),  to be the summation of my convictions and the reason for my standing for God’s Word.

I have decided, regardless of what personal preferences other pastors may hold and irrespective of the cultural trends in play, I will affirm the Bible as the ethical standard by which to judge my life and my responsibility.

Regardless of the opinions of the pseudo-intellects of our day, many who stand in pulpits that once stood upon Biblical Truth, there are only two ways to exegete Paul’s thought in 1 Corinthians 6:9–11 and other similar biblical passages.

One is to embrace an artificial interpretation of the text in which Paul is conceived as speaking of something other than same-sex union.

The second approach, as J.I. Packer notes, “is to let experience judge the Bible.”

……..Experience suggests that homosexual behavior is fulfilling to some; therefore, the Bible’s prohibition of it is wrong. But the appropriate response is that “the Bible is meant to judge our experience rather than the other way around,” and “feelings of sexual arousal and attraction, generating a sense of huge significance and need for release in action as    they do, cannot be trusted as either a path to wise living or a guide to biblical interpretation.”

J.I. Packer helps even the most timid among us understand “WHAT IS REALLY at stake” in today’s discussion; it is the nature of the Bible itself. Packer writes,

……Either the historic Christian belief that through the prophets, the incarnate Son, the apostles, and the writers of canonical Scripture as a body, God has used human language to tell us definitively and trans-culturally about his ways, his works, his will, and his worship. Furthermore, this revealed truth is grasped by letting the Bible interpret itself to us from within, in the knowledge that the way into God’s mind is through that of the writers. Through them, the Holy Spirit who inspired them teaches the church. Finally, one mark of sound biblical insights is that they do not run counter to anything else in the canon. . .[scripture]. . .

The second view applies to Christianity

. . .the Enlightenment’s trust in human reason, along with the fashionable evolutionary assumption that the present is wiser than the past. It concludes that the world has the wisdom, and the church must play intellectual catch-up in each generation in order to survive. From this standpoint, everything in the Bible becomes relative to the church’s evolving insights, which themselves are relative to society’s continuing development (nothing stands still), and the Holy Spirit’s teaching ministry is to help the faithful see where Bible doctrine shows the cultural limitations of the ancient world and needs adjustment in light of latter-day experience (encounters, interactions, perplexities, states of mind and emotion, and so on). Same-sex unions are one example. This view is scarcely 50 years old, though its antecedents go back much further.

Please understand there is more than an intellectual battle going on today or a fight among the preachers……..to bless homosexual behavior is an explicit deviation from the biblical gospel and the historic Christian creed.

The doctrines of creation, sin, regeneration, and sanctification are necessarily distorted in the effort to justify same-sex intimacy. Not to mention that the Apostle Paul writes that the eternal welfare of the individual is at stake.

We must not allow the forces of political correctness or a desire to be “liked” to trump the compelling factor that the love of Christ causes us to tell the truth.

Martin Luther, the Reformer, said in 1521:

Unless you prove to me by Scripture and plain reason that I am wrong, I cannot and will not recant. My conscience is captive to the Word of God. To go against conscience is neither right nor safe [it endangers the soul]. Here I stand. There is nothing else I can do. God help me. Amen.

To be clear, I summarize…

My prayer and effort will be to “be Christ Like” In discussion and dialogue. I will seek HIS strength to “speak the Truth in Love”. I will be fair and clear in my words and expressions.

However, I am reminded that Jesus Loved Perfectly as he taught, lived and engaged His Culture; and they still Killed Him.

Second, this is NOT PERSONAL. Nearly every family has as a friend, uncle, aunt, son, daughter, colleague who is “caught up in some sin”. I want to speak Truth so our friends and family will come to the Truth and be assured of Eternal Life with the Father.

Finally, the belief that what God has revealed in the written Word is binding on the consciences of all Christians and gives shape to their behavior on every issue, not merely same-sex marriage, will be my approach to living the Christian life and the guide for exercising the calling God has placed on my life.

Dr. Tom Smiley is a pastor, author, speaker, blogger, husband, grand dad, and Christ-follower.  He is a regional radio talk show host with WDUN Jacobs Media.  He is the founder of Life with Smiles Ministry and Church Well Solutions, a ministry consulting work.  His Sunday messages are broadcast on WDUN 550, and his “blog” entries and thoughts on God, Christian faith, current events, politics and Islam are available at https://tomsmiley.wordpress.com/

His books: Runaway Lives: Overcoming Emotional Undercurrents, Angels all Around, and Uncommon Common Sense can be ordered at his Life with Smiles website (www.lifewithsmiles.com).  Dr. Smiley is available for speaking engagements and discussion forums and can be contacted at tsmiley@lakewoodlife.org or by calling 770.532.6307 or email at tsmiley@lakewoodlife.org

I found content and and facts from from Packer on the Christian Life: Knowing God in Christ, Walking by the Spirit by Sam Storms, which is part of the Theologians on the Christian Life series, To be very helpful in writing this BLOG. I recommend your review.

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The Accountable Person’s Bill of 39 Rights

http://qbq.com/the-accountable-persons-bill-of-39-rights/

The Accountable Person’s Bill of 39 Rights

Join us on our Facebook page for positive QBQ! Accountability images & messages!

If you know what we do here at QBQ, Inc., it’s no surprise to you that we think about PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY—a lot.

What does personal accountability mean? How is it manifested in a person’s life? What does practicing it do for us? What is the “why” behind living accountably? How do we make it a core value inside organizations? 

All good questions, along with this one:

If John G. Miller was to make a public ‘declaration of accountability’—what would it look like?

So began the creation of a list—a “bill of rights,” if you will—for me. Not for you. However, as you peruse them, if you believe any are worth incorporating into your life, go right ahead! 

The Accountable Person’s Bill of 39 Rights

1. I reserve the right to choose my words carefully, taking responsibility for each of them.
2. I reserve the right to worry less about how others live and more about how I live my life.
3. I reserve the right to share my opinions without fear my character will be attacked.
4. I reserve the right to not call people names when they disagree with me.
5. I reserve the right to not be easily offended.
6. I reserve the right to not live a life of griping and grievances.
7. I reserve the right to not rejoice when others stumble.
8. I reserve the right to remember that my actions always speak louder than my words.
9. I reserve the right to not hide behind the Internet to lash out at people.
10. I reserve the right to not start or engage in purposeless arguments on Facebook.
11. I reserve the right to disagree.
12. I reserve the right to not scream and yell at those who disagree with me.
13. I reserve the right to use social media in a positive, uplifting manner.
14. I reserve the right to say “I don’t know” when I don’t know.
15. I reserve the right to admit when I am wrong.
16. I reserve the right to work for all I have and not become entitled.
17. I reserve the right to change the one person that I can—me.
18. I reserve the right to not speak of things I know nothing about.
19. I reserve the right to dismiss Hollywood stars who have decided they’re experts in all matters.
20. I reserve the right to not put any celebrity—including politicians—on pedestals.
21. I reserve the right to treat all human beings with respect.
22. I reserve the right to honor my country by honoring its laws as written.
23. I reserve the right to believe the U.S.A is the greatest nation on Earth.
24. I reserve the right to vote for politicians based on their competence, experience, and principles—and no other factors.
25. I reserve the right to not form an opinion until all facts are known.
26. I reserve the right to makes decisions based on my values, not expediency.
27. I reserve the right to be more concerned about my integrity than another’s.
28. I reserve the right to share my blessings with the needy and not judge those who don’t.
29. I reserve the right to turn off television shows that are counter to my family’s values.
30. I reserve the right to ignore all talking heads on all television networks.
31. I reserve the right to tune out any journalist who goes beyond reporting the news.
32. I reserve the right to object to teachers using my kid’s classroom to share their politics. (Note to 1st – 12th grade teachers: Please stick to teaching reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic!)
33. I reserve the right to not get caught up in fads, including the latest “diet” plan.
34. I reserve the right to think before I speak.
35. I reserve the right to resist marketer’s pitches for shiny new things and spend less than I earn.
36. I reserve the right to engage in strong, confident, and loving parenting.
37. I reserve the right to break from group thinking and reason for myself.
38. I reserve the right to own my decisions and not blame the lousy ones on someone else.
39. I reserve the right to take personal accountability for my life and make NO EXCUSES!

And that’s my list. Hope you enjoyed it! Three questions:

Of these 39 “rights,” which are most meaningful to you?

Which one(s) will you put into practice today?

Can you add to our list?

If you are not subscribed, please do so here.

John Miller

John G. Miller is the author of QBQ! The Question Behind the Question, Flipping the Switch: Unleash the Power of Personal Accountability, Outstanding! 47 Ways to Make Your Organization Exceptional and co-author of Parenting the QBQ Way. He is founder of QBQ, Inc., an organizational development firm dedicated to “Helping Organizations Make Personal Accountability a Core Value.” A 1980 graduate of Cornell University, John has been involved in the training and speaking industry since 1986. He lives in Denver, Colorado, with his wife, Karen. The Millers have 7 children and 5 grandchildren. Reach John by email at John@QBQ.com.

https://www.onekingslane.com/live-love-home/marie-kondo-book-declutter/?kwp_0=21845&utm_source=keywee&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=marie-kondo-book-declutter&kwp_4=142532&kwp_1=160825

8 Lessons Our Editor Learned from the Decluttering Bible

I’d heard about Marie Kondo, a Japanese organizing consultant, from friends who spoke evangelically about her methods and how they’d transformed their lives. In case you haven’t, here’s the gist: with her little turquoise book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, Kondo set off a decluttering craze across the globe.

Kondo’s services command a waiting list a mile long in Japan, but for the rest of us, her book breaks down her radical, two-pronged approach to tidying. First, put your hands on everything you own, ask yourself if it sparks joy, and if it doesn’t, thank it for its service and get rid of it. Second, once only your most joy-giving belongings remain, put every item in a place where it’s visible, accessible, and easy to grab and then put back. Only then, Kondo says, will you have reached the nirvana of housekeeping, and never have to clean again.

All of this sounded wonderful. But as a working mother I can barely keep up with the demands of daily life (laundry! groceries! deadlines!). But once I read Kondo’s book, I got totally sucked in. It turns out, tidying really may be the way to bliss. Here’s what I learned.

 

I might have been too lazy to declutter, but I was down for some reading—the book is surprisingly addictive.

Lesson #1: Tackle Categories, Not Rooms

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I’d always tackled clutter by room—take on the office first, the bedroom next. Instead, Kondo’s first rule is to tidy by category—deal with every single one of your books at once, for example, otherwise they’ll continue to creep from room to room, and you’ll never rein in the clutter. She advises beginning with clothing, since it’s the least emotionally loaded of one’s things (books come next, old photographs are much later), so as soon as I found a free afternoon, that’s exactly what I did.

Lesson #2: Respect Your Belongings

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With my eyes now open, I realized my closets had hit rock bottom. Everything had succumbed to a mixed-up messiness. Kondo asks that you consider your clothing’s feelings: Are they happy being squashed in a corner shelf or crowded onto hangers? Are your hardworking socks really thrilled to be balled up? It had sounded out there when I read it, but suddenly my clothes looked totally miserable.

 

Getting nostalgic over old letters or distracted by sweet toddlers might be a temporary high, but it won’t get you anywhere fast.

Lesson #3: Nostalgia Is Not Your Friend

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As I started emptying the closets, I opened boxes filled with letters and old photographs. Serious mistake. Kondo knows what she’s talking about when she insists you put blinders on and focus only on the category of stuff at hand. Read one old letter, and suddenly you’re down a rabbit hole of nostalgia.

To be honest, I was probably procrastinating. In theory, I was sold on the idea of living exclusively with clothing that gives me joy, but I still had hang-ups: What will I be left with? Will I have anything to wear to work? Will I have to sacrifice beloved things, all for the sake of decluttering?

Then my 18-month-old son, Henry, wandered in, and there’s nothing he loves more than recluttering. The afternoon was basically lost. If you do this, don’t waste time like I did (and maybe book a babysitter for this project).

 

Kondo warns that you shouldn’t show your family the discard bags, since they’ll want to stop you from getting rid of so much. Case in point: Henry tried to nab an old hat.

Lesson #4: Purging Feels SO Good

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From then on, I followed Kondo’s advice to a T. I gathered every piece of my clothing and put it in one giant pile. While I normally tidy my clothes only when I’m on a long phone call—distracted from the task at hand—today I wasn’t even supposed to listen to music. Channeling Kondo, who says a prayer upon entering a client’s home, I lit a candle, said a little prayer, and started digging through the mountain of clothes.

Once I got to work, it was so much easier and more fun than I’d thought. This question of joy gives you permission to let go of off-color shirts bought on sale, dresses past their prime, skirts that always clung uncomfortably. I realized I had many things that seemed great in theory but weren’t actually my style—they’d be better on someone else’s body or in someone else’s life (examples: an überpreppy skirt or a corporate-looking jacket).

Six hours later, I’d filled 12 bags with non-joy-giving clothes. Instead of panic, I felt relief—12 times lighter. It also felt like good karma: The best stuff went to a consignment shop, and the decent stuff went to a charity thrift store, off to see a new, hopefully better life.

 

While she doesn’t go for the classic storage pieces, Kondo loves a good shoebox (or any pretty box you have tucked away) for its all-purpose organizing power.

Lesson #5: Fold, Don’t Hang

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Once you’ve sorted out the things to discard—and only then—you can decide where the remaining things should go. Rather than folded in a cubby or hanging in a closet, Kondo thinks a lot of our clothing would be better off (or as she’d say, happier) folded in a dresser.

I hadn’t been using a dresser at all before, but now, having begun with four overflowing closets, I was down to enough clothing to fill one closet and one dresser. Pulling from the tops, pants, and scarves now destined for the dresser, I started folding using Kondo’s special technique.

 

Here’s the basic KonMari vertical fold, which can be applied to everything from T-shirts to stockings. First, make a long rectangle, and then fold from the bottom up into a little package.

Lesson #6: THE Fold!

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Kondo’s vertical folding technique makes everything easy to spot and hard to mess up (you aren’t jostling a whole pile every time you take something out or put something back). Folded this way, clothing looks like fabric origami, ready to line your drawers in neat rows.

To keep these little folded packages standing at attention in the dresser, Kondo suggests using shoeboxes as drawer dividers. A smaller box is perfect for square scarves, a deep one can go on a bottom drawer for sweaters.

 

The dresser install, using a few shoeboxes. I even folded some of my husband’s striped shirts (on the left), just to inspire him to try this in his own drawers.

 S/2 Shelf Divider & Organizers SHOP NOW

 Polynesian 6-Drawer Dresser SHOP NOW

Kondo advises hanging clothes so that the line along the bottom slopes upward—it adds an optimistic zing.

Lesson #7: Fall in Love with Your Closet

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This is why people become evangelical about the KonMari method. Once you’ve cleared away the clutter and put things away, your dresses and skirts—the fun stuff, let’s be honest—can see the light of day. There’s breathing room between pieces, so you no longer have to do that awkward arm wrestle with the racks. All of which means you get a hit of joy—even hope!—just opening your closet, whether you’re getting ready in the morning or planning a party ensemble.

 

My bag in its proper resting place, alongside a little damask-covered box that holds a few clutches, making them visible and easy to grab when running out the door.

Three dresses that bring lots of joy—a vintage Mexican dress, an architectural silk number, and a swirling polka-dot piece from a nutty great-aunt.

Lesson #8: Rediscover Your Style

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For years, I’ve worn the same rotation of easy-to-grab, reliable pieces without dipping into all the color in my closets. And there’s a lot of it—maybe because I grew up near the ocean, I have a weakness for turquoise and pink and love a color mash-up and summertime prints. I’d almost forgotten about these colors in the daily race to get out the door.

My Six Favorite Results, A Month Later

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#1 Getting dressed is no longer a chore. Digging through an overstuffed closet was painful. Now my closet feels richer, loaded up with good things that I’ll get a little thrill from wearing, whether it’s while riding the subway or dancing at a wedding.

#2 I’ve identified the true holes in my wardrobe. It turns out that I own only one pair of sandals that I love, and have no really joy-giving jeans (who does? any suggestions?). Now, instead of shopping vaguely and coming home with something I already have, I really know what to hunt for.

#3 I’m collecting things I really love. This process has made me pickier, and by not frittering away cash on so-so things, I’ve been able to make more-thrilling purchases: a bold floor-length dress, a yummy Matteo quilt I’d eyed forever, an opalescent abalone shell to hold my favorite earrings.

#4 Treating your things with respect makes them look better. And to coin a new Kondo-ism, sometimes respecting something means letting it go. My son’s babysitter took a few scarves that had been clumped in a sad pile and ties them into beautiful headscarves. The look punches up the dreariest Monday morning.

#5 Cleaning is so much easier. Yes, I still have to tidy—I’m guessing only the most devout, extreme practicers of the KonMari method will “never have to clean again.” But now that everything flows into order, the cleanups are much fewer and farther between.

#6 All sorts of decisions are falling into place. This might be the best payoff of all: Once you’ve looked at hundreds of things and asked yourself if they give you joy, decision-making gets a lot easier: which book to read, which projects to pursue, what to make for dinner, whether to say yes or no to the many optional obligations that come our way.

I can’t wait to tackle category two: the books. Just waiting for another spare afternoon.

 

I love having books everywhere—reading is my favorite way to Zen out and get happily lost. But I’ll be glad to make room for good new reads.

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http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-20364/5-no-fail-ways-to-get-and-stay-happier.html

5 No-Fail Ways To Get (And Stay) Happier

Do you ever wonder why some people are happier than others? As a life-coach and author, I discovered that despite our vast differences, we are more similar than we realize. We all want love, acceptance, and appreciation. It's our strategies for achieving these things that vary. In general, people see the world in one of two ways: full of possibilities or full of obstacles. Your interpretation of the world creates your reality.

If you're trying to reach a new goal, you have to do what you have not done before.

Here are five ways to shift your perspective that can make a huge difference in the success of your life's pursuits. 

1. Stop focusing on problems that don’t exist.

Problems are an inevitable part of life. But how we approach them depends on our worldview. An excuse-oriented person falls back on reasons it can’t be done. Maybe it’s been done before, or it will take too much time or money, so they throw their hands up in the air and say, “why bother?” 

Solution-oriented people look for answers in the unknown territory of life. They are the trendsetters, inspirational leaders, authors you love, or creative types tackling problems head on. They are the people who, instead of saying it can’t be done, say, “Watch me.” 

2. Visualize results. 

People fall into one of two buckets when it comes to making their dreams come true. They will focus on all the reasons it can’t be done or the results they want to see. If you are trying to reach a new goal, you have to do what you haven’t done before. That requires you to focus on the possibilities. Results-driven people often make their dreams come true faster, and they are happier, healthier, and wealthier. 

3. Assume it can be done. 

Last week I proposed a problem for my students to solve. One student raised her hand and politely said, "It can’t be done." I smiled and replied, "With that mindset, you’re right. But if you assume it can be solved, you will be able to solve it." The students who thought they could solve it did. Those who said it couldn't be done stayed stuck. 

The results we see in life are based on what we think. What you think, you become. If you want new results, look for new ways to approach old problems. 

4. Know when to break the rules. 

Steve Jobs, Pablo Picasso, Ghandi: all visionaries praised for their innovation. Without breaking rules, they wouldn't have made the same impact or contributions that they did. That doesn't mean all rules were meant to be broken. They exist to keep order in place. 

But breaking rules with a purpose — relinquishing limiting perspectives to come up with creative solutions — is a necessary part of the creative process. Give yourself permission to break rules when you feel limited by them, as long as your actions won't negatively impact others. 

5. Believe the world is a kind, loving place.

We attract what we believe. If you look at the world in a negative light and see hate, sadness, and pain, you will feel more of that in your life. But when you focus on small acts of kindness, on love, on opportunity, and on hope, joy will be yours for the taking. 

Life is what you make of it. Make it something great. 

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

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http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-20168/a-nighttime-ritual-for-deep-restful-sleep.html

A Nighttime Ritual For Deep, Restful Sleep

The secret to waking up happier and well-rested? A smarter nighttime routine. What we choose to do with our evening hours directly impacts our quality of sleep, significantly influencing our mood and energy levels the next day. Truth is, most of us spend our nights binge-watching TV shows, texting and late night snacking — none of which are great for catching quality zzz’s. The good news: Revamping your bedtime routine can be easy — and fun. Here, we teamed up with our pals at 21 drops to create a new nighttime ritual that will help you get that precious shut-eye you crave. Stick to this sleep-priming plan each night and we promise you’ll be counting fewer sheep and feeling fresh come morning. 

Prep Your Space

1. Plan ahead.

If you tend to be a night owl, try working with your natural body clock. Use those evening hours, when you feel most energized, to get yourself organized for the next day. Plan your outfit, lay out gym clothes, file papers, pack your office bag, prepare lunches or prep an easy on-the-go breakfast to stash in the fridge overnight. Just a little prep work (say, 15 to 30 minutes) will help ease the morning rush. 

2. Power down.

Declare the hour before bedtime a digital-free zone. Not only does the bright blue glow of tech toys disrupt your body clock, but that one last look at Facebook can easily turn into an hour of mindless web surfing that could be spent doing something more enjoyable in the morning — like savoring your AM cup of coffee. 

3. Tidy up.

Fact: Mess causes stress. Princeton University researchers found that visual clutter (think: piles of mail, clothes, etc.) inhibits our ability to focus, leaving us feeling frazzled. Before you hit the hay, do the dishes, take out the trash, hang up your clothes, sort the mail and stash TV remotes and magazines. Putting things back in their rightful place will have a calming effect, too. 

4. Lights out.

Exposure to too much electrical light before bed can significantly suppress levels of melatonin, the hormone that helps make us feel sleepy, a study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology finds. Dim the lights or turn off all unnecessary lighting after dusk to help you ease into sleep naturally. 

5. Cool off.

Cool evenings may make you want to crank up the heat, but you’ll snooze better if you don’t. The optimal sleeping temperature is somewhere between 60 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Temps in this range cause a drop in your core body temperature that initiates sleepiness, say sleep experts. Worried you’ll be too cold to crawl out of the covers come morning? Treat yourself to a new pair of cozy slippers or a warm, fluffy robe and leave them at the foot of the bed. 

Prep Your Body & Mind

1. Sip Tea.

Decaffeinated herbal teas like chamomile and passion fruit have a calming and sedative effect on the body. Plus, there’s something comforting about having a hot beverage before bed. Just creating the habit of pouring a cup may help signal your body that it’s time for sleep, helping you relax and unwind. 

2. Curb late night snacking.

Sugar in sweets we often crave at night wake us up right when we’re trying to wind down. What’s more, late night eaters are prone to overeating, increasing the risk of unwanted weight gain. If your tummy is really grumbling before bed, reach for a healthier snack like whole grain crackers and cheese, walnuts or almonds—all of which contain sleep-inducing tryptophan.

3. Stretch it out.

Feeling restless? A little restorative yoga and deep breathing exercises can help put your mind at ease and steady your breath, making it easier to nod off at night. 

4. Write on.

Mental to-do lists and concerns about work, relationships and finances can make it tough to turn our brains off at night. To calm racing thoughts, keep a small notebook or notepad on your nightstand. Just thought of something you need to do? Jot it down. Have a worry that’s leaving you tossing and turning? Write about it. Studies show putting our thoughts to paper help us problem solve, clear our heads, reduce stress, and make us feel happier. 

5. Smell something nice.

Inhaling serene scents is a great way to ensure a restful and relaxing night’s sleep. Evidence suggests certain aromas may actually reduce blood pressure and heart rate, creating a calming effect in the body. Mist this sedating scent around your room, over your pillow and even on your body for a soothing bedtime ritual: 

• ½ ounce of Rose Hydrosol
• ½ ounce distilled water
• 4 drops Ylang Ylang essential oil
• 4 drops Patchouli essential oil
• 8 drops Sandalwood essential oil

Combine the ingredients into a 1 oz misting bottle. Shake gently before misting. 

Sweet dreams! 

Photo Credit: Stocksy

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