Recommended Books

We are so obsessed with our dreams that we have forgotten how to obtain them. This exciting new e-book will show you how. "Here's my question to you: If you could find a resource that offered everything you ever wanted to know, on how and what you had to do to become happy and wealthy would you be interested? Well you have found it. If you're really interested in making a better life for yourself and your willing to learn and practice these simple principals then you have found what you are looking for. My method for obtaining the happiness and wealth you want can work for you." Mark Claridge's book is simply a "must have" for those who are serious about achieving their full potential. Everyone can benefit from using the techniques in this book. And, as a bonus, Mark also includes some very useful and relevant books for free. Click here to read more

Self Improvement By Association

It was John Dunne who first wrote; No man is an island. Never was there a truer observation of man's condition. No one forms beliefs, ideas, emotions, opinions in isolation. The search of self improvement is no different. We can only find our inner self through others.

One only needs to look toward other great thinkers, visionaries and philosophers to see the truth about associating with like minded people. Great men and women including Aristotle, Manet, Shakespeare, Yeats, Virginia Wolf and Einstein formed their ideas and vision by expressing their ideas and hopes with others around them. Aristotle sort out Socrates; Edouard Manet came from a bourgeoisie Parisian family but had the courage to leave his comfortable assured future, to seek out fellow artists on the Left Bank; Shakespeare left wife and family in his native rural surroundings and traveled to London to seek his true destiny; Yeats formed Ireland's famous Abbey Theatre and gathered around him some of the 20th century's greatest writers; Virginia Woolf the great feminist, essayist and novelist was part of the famous Bloomsbury group; Einstein did not formulate his idea of relativity whilst working in a patent office or in some university, his theory was given birth by his after-work meetings with other 'dreamers' in Zurich's coffee houses.

Ideas and dreams die without being fed by discourse with your piers. It is the feedback you get from other like minded people that acts as a yardstick to your ideas and dreams. Sometimes your ideas may not always measure up but by listening to what those about you say you can begin to reformulate them into something stronger. Only the insane believe their ideas are worth anything when everyone else around them says different.

This brings us to the next point; you must associate with people with the same vision. It's no good bouncing your ideas off people who don't empathize with you. You must seek out those who will nurture your inner self. It can sometimes take tremendous courage to do this. You may have to forsake those from your past. You may think you have found people that can help you only to find out that this is not so. But what if you can't find these people? Let them find you. Advertise yourself. Let others know your inner self; don't hold back. Use whatever means you can to do this; write a blog on the internet, form a self help group and advertise meetings in your local newspaper; post notices in your local library. This does takes courage but what is the alternative? To remain unfulfilled?

Another thing to ensure is that you both give and take in these associations. Many people book themselves into a self development seminar and then sit and listen to someone else talk about improving one's life. This is fine. But remember, that these are just pep-talks; sitting down and listening is the first step but talking and expressing your own ideas is the next and most important step. It is only when you have discussed and had feedback can you really begin take action on your thoughts.

No one can expect to develop when they remain alone. Human beings need the company of those around them to develop fully. Our ideas, dreams and aspirations are born from within us and so, also require the company of other's. Take courage and bring them out. Of course there is always the chance of failure if you do this but one thing is certain; keeping them shut away will inevitably lead to failure. Bring your true, inner self out into the public arena; your real self will withstand the scrutiny and will almost certainly flourish when you associate with others of the same vision as yourself.

• Happiness from helping
  
  Re: "Happiness: Not a goal, a journey," News, Oct. 15. Recently there was an article regarding happiness in your newspaper. I would like to add an example of a recent very personally satisfying experience.
  


• 10 Steps To Happiness At Work
  
  It's not about finding the ''perfect'' job.
  


• Finding Interest, Again, in the Pride March
  
  I never knew June was Pride Month until I moved to New York in July of 2004 (from New Orleans, where I lived the life of a sheltered military brat).
  


• Local woman sees disaster as new opportunity
  
  Lynnette McKendell has had a long love affair with tea and after surviving hurricane Katrina, finding her mate and having a child, is now returning to her roots and becoming the areas tea guru.
  


• Loneliness can be lethal
  
  People who lack friends and relationships are just as likely to risk an early death as heavy drinkers and smokers.
  


• Finding a different type of happiness
  
  Humans tend to remember what they've done but tend to forget why exactly they did it.
  


• Camera showing boy who drowned found
  
  Camera that carried final images of boy with his family found downstream from accident.
  


• Summer Rerun: Is Thinking Going Out of Fashion?
  
  This post first appeared on May 11, 2007 I am beginning to suspect that many are reacting to the overstimulation of the modern world the accelerating pace of change, data overload, time pressure, work and relationship instability by turning off their brains. The rise of fundamentalism and the family values push, both efforts to [...]
  


• Today's youth want modest lifestyle: study
  
  They've got lucrative technological tools at their fingertips, but today's youth appear to crave a more modest existence, according to results of a new Canadian survey.
  


• Hospice Care of the Lowcountry provides end-of-life services
  
  All the nurses at Hospice Care of the Lowcountry hold the highest certification in end-of-life care. The staff provides custom services to patients and their families. Unlike many other hospices which are operated by private companies, it doesnt ask for donations and no one is turned away because of an inability to pay.