We now move into an area that is far too neglected by mainstream health and fitness professionals, the mind. Most books or courses concentrate on the physical side of weight gain and completely neglect the mental side of things.
Visualization can play an important part in gaining weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Gaining weight can be difficult for many people who don’t use their minds to help in the process.
Visualization is a powerful technique that can help you make lasting lifestyle changes. Just by "day dreaming", you can significantly improve your chances in achieving your goals.
Visualization is a great weight gain tool and its as simple as visualizing your body as you want your body to look like. This mental image of yourself is then transferred to your subconscious mind, which in turn starts to work on your body, shaping it in accordance with your mental image.
This means that if you program your subconscious with a mental image of yourself as a more muscular person, through persistence your mind will accept this and aid your body to conform to this mental image.
Once your mind is programmed with the proper mental images, it will start to work in assisting you to gain weight. I can't stress enough how important it is for you to believe in your visualization goals. You have to let go of your past failures and refuse to entertain any negative images that come into your mind.
If you can visualize your body at its perfect proportions, the subconscious mind will work to make it become a reality. It will then begin to positively reinforce your body into aiding the metabolism and eating habits.
Programming your mind into believing that you can gain weight, and to visualize yourself with your perfect proportions is of the greatest importance.
Try to think of a different image of yourself, then let your subconscious do the work for you. If you think of your body as being out of shape all the time, then the subconscious mind will find ways to make it so.
The sub-conscious looks after all of all your vital functions, it is the cause of all your good and bad habits, and also regulates the muscles of the body (The muscles are controlled by the sub-conscious) and body-fat composition on the body.
Try to visualize your body as lean and as muscular as you would like, and your mind will work on that image. The mind can be a great partner in gaining weight.
Relaxation
Relaxation the best way to reach the sub-conscious and will slow down the mind, turn off the exterior world so as to tune in to one's inner self. The best times for these sessions are in the morning and late at night right, just before going to sleep.
Perform two sessions, one in the afternoon (Primary) and the other before going to sleep (Secondary) but once a day is quite sufficient. Sessions usually last 20 minutes, which isn't time consuming especially when taking in the benefits received.
It has been stated that one of these sessions is equivalent to 2 hours of deep sleep and upon waking you will feel revitalized and full of energy. Believe me instead of worrying about time constraints; you will be looking forward to the next session.
When you begin your relaxation sessions, make sure you won't be disturbed - lock the door, take the phone off the hook and loosen all clothing. Now find a comfortable position, whether it is lying down or sitting in a comfortable chair.
Sitting may be preferable as you may fall asleep if you become too comfortable. You want to be conscious and not asleep in order to tap into your sub-conscious mind.
Try to exhale all the air from your lungs completely and then breathing in through the nose. Take ten seconds to fill the lungs with air (not to capacity, but comfortable) hold for ten seconds and then exhale slowly through the nose for another ten seconds.
Each one of these breathing cycles should last for 30 seconds, complete five cycles and after each cycle you will be feeling more and more relaxed.
Having reaching this calm relaxed state, start your visualizations. Put together images that power your emotions. Make them alive and colourful. Make the scenes as real as possible and imagine yourself as muscular and toned as possible.
Picture yourself ten weeks from now on the beach, walking briskly and confidently to your favourite spot, your breathing is normal and relaxed. You smile to yourself; you could keep walking like this for miles without feeling fatigued.
You lay your towel out and begin to take your clothes off revealing a muscular, toned, well conditioned body. You have just bought a brand new swimming suit which just weeks before would have been lying in your closet waiting to be used.
Glancing around you notice the beach is busy, you catch the eye of someone of the opposite sex, they smile at you and you smile back. You walk confidently to the water and swim a couple of hundred yards with no problem or fatigue.
Or try this:
Visualize your family and friends complimenting you about how good your body looks. Try to view the scene as it is happening this instant - in the present, not in the future.
Using these visualizations you can construct in your mind any scene that desire. See yourself exercising, socializing, in the company of friends. Try and hear people complimenting you about your new muscular body, and watch their admiring glances. Make the mental image as real as possible.
Remember set a goal for your ideal weight
You must want to gain weight
Visualize yourself at your ideal weight
Use positive images at every opportunity
Practice these sessions on a daily basis and over a period of ten weeks you’ll be on your way to become more fulfilled, happier and muscular.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
How The Best Cappuccino Makers Work
Cappuccino makers are preferred over standard coffee makers among the most serious coffee lovers. With these products, you can brew your favourite café style coffee drink in the privacy of your own home. You may be unsure at first, but with practice, you will be making restaurant quality drinks at home.
These coffee machines work by heating the water and then forcing the heated water through the ground coffee. As the heated water moves through the grinds, the water extracts the flavor. The coffee used is ground finer than for regular coffee. Steam is also used to froth milk for cappuccino or lattes.
Types of Cappuccino Makers
There are two basic types of machines for brewing specialty coffee drinks: steam and pump models. Pump machines are the best rated for heating water to the optimal level quickly. The most expensive models all work with an electric pump. They make a great cup of espresso with good crema. Crema is the foamy layer on top of a cup of espresso and is considered an important feature that coffee lovers look for.
Steam models are less expensive and are capable of brewing a good cup of espresso. Steam models have less pressure and less power. They are more affordable and make a good first machine. These products are definitely a step up from standard drip coffee makers.
A variety of coffee types are available for making espresso at home. The grinds are finer than standard coffee. Individual pods are available to fit most models. Pods are pre filled filter packets with the ground coffee measured and sealed inside. Some people love the convenience of pods and swear by them. Other people feel the quality of the drink is much lower when pods are used. The finished drink can be weak or bitter, depending on the brand of coffee and how it is prepared.
Super automatics are the top of the line in home cappuccino making. Super automatics can make all specialty coffees including espresso, cappuccino, lattes and mochas. An automatic milk frothing system prepares the milk according to your taste.
Super automatics are grind and brew devices that do everything for you. They grind the beans, tamp the grinds, measure the water, brew the coffee and froth the milk. Used grinds are dumped into a waste box, which you empty to dispose of the used beans. You program it according to the strength, quantity, and temperature desired in the finished drink. You can brew two mugs at once with super automatics.
Burr grinders are used in most super automatics. You can set the grinder for the consistency you want in the ground beans. Super automatics measure the beans for you, depending on the number of cups you will be brewing.
Cleaning a Cappuccino Machine
Proper cleaning is important to keep your machine working well and making great tasting drinks. Follow the manufacturer's directions for proper cleaning. The components vary from product to product, so following the directions is important.
The machine should be cleaned inside and out to keep it working well. How you will clean it depends in part on the material used in construction. Stainless steel is the easiest to clean and maintain. Follow the directions included to keep it working well.
You will need to descale and decalcify the machine regularly. This is necessary to remove build up caused by particles in your drinking water. Over time, these particles can clog the machine and interfere with the operation. How often you will need to do this depends on the quality of your water and how often you use the coffee maker. One way to avoid this build up is to use distilled water.
The brew group will need to be cleaned about once each weak. A removable brew group is easier in terms of cleaning. You slide the brew group out through the service door and rinse it regularly. This removes coffee residue and grinds and results in a better tasting drink.
A non removable brew group should be cleaned with the automatic cleaning cycle. You program this feature and it cleans the brew group for you. Cleaning tablets are sold for non removable brew groups. Follow the directions on the package for proper use.
These coffee machines work by heating the water and then forcing the heated water through the ground coffee. As the heated water moves through the grinds, the water extracts the flavor. The coffee used is ground finer than for regular coffee. Steam is also used to froth milk for cappuccino or lattes.
Types of Cappuccino Makers
There are two basic types of machines for brewing specialty coffee drinks: steam and pump models. Pump machines are the best rated for heating water to the optimal level quickly. The most expensive models all work with an electric pump. They make a great cup of espresso with good crema. Crema is the foamy layer on top of a cup of espresso and is considered an important feature that coffee lovers look for.
Steam models are less expensive and are capable of brewing a good cup of espresso. Steam models have less pressure and less power. They are more affordable and make a good first machine. These products are definitely a step up from standard drip coffee makers.
A variety of coffee types are available for making espresso at home. The grinds are finer than standard coffee. Individual pods are available to fit most models. Pods are pre filled filter packets with the ground coffee measured and sealed inside. Some people love the convenience of pods and swear by them. Other people feel the quality of the drink is much lower when pods are used. The finished drink can be weak or bitter, depending on the brand of coffee and how it is prepared.
Super automatics are the top of the line in home cappuccino making. Super automatics can make all specialty coffees including espresso, cappuccino, lattes and mochas. An automatic milk frothing system prepares the milk according to your taste.
Super automatics are grind and brew devices that do everything for you. They grind the beans, tamp the grinds, measure the water, brew the coffee and froth the milk. Used grinds are dumped into a waste box, which you empty to dispose of the used beans. You program it according to the strength, quantity, and temperature desired in the finished drink. You can brew two mugs at once with super automatics.
Burr grinders are used in most super automatics. You can set the grinder for the consistency you want in the ground beans. Super automatics measure the beans for you, depending on the number of cups you will be brewing.
Cleaning a Cappuccino Machine
Proper cleaning is important to keep your machine working well and making great tasting drinks. Follow the manufacturer's directions for proper cleaning. The components vary from product to product, so following the directions is important.
The machine should be cleaned inside and out to keep it working well. How you will clean it depends in part on the material used in construction. Stainless steel is the easiest to clean and maintain. Follow the directions included to keep it working well.
You will need to descale and decalcify the machine regularly. This is necessary to remove build up caused by particles in your drinking water. Over time, these particles can clog the machine and interfere with the operation. How often you will need to do this depends on the quality of your water and how often you use the coffee maker. One way to avoid this build up is to use distilled water.
The brew group will need to be cleaned about once each weak. A removable brew group is easier in terms of cleaning. You slide the brew group out through the service door and rinse it regularly. This removes coffee residue and grinds and results in a better tasting drink.
A non removable brew group should be cleaned with the automatic cleaning cycle. You program this feature and it cleans the brew group for you. Cleaning tablets are sold for non removable brew groups. Follow the directions on the package for proper use.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Exercise And Sleeping Better
The amount of physical exercise that you exert during the day is one of the key ingredients to helping you get a good sleep at night. The more active your body is during the day, the more likely you are to relax at night and fall asleep faster.
With regular exercise you'll notice that your quality of sleep is improved and the transition between the cycles and phases of sleep will become smoother and more regular. By keeping up your physical activity during the day, you may find it easier to deal with the stress and worries of your life.
Research and studies indicate that there is a direct correlation between how much we exercise and how we feel afterwards.
You should try and increase your physical activity during the day. The goal here is to give your body enough stimulation during the day so that you aren't full of energy at night.
Your body requires a certain amount of physical activity in order to keep functioning in a healthy manner. It is also important to note that you should not be exercising three or four hours before you go to bed.
The ideal exercise time is in the late afternoon or early evening. You want to make sure you expend your physical energy long before it is time for your body to rest and ready itself for sleep.
You should attempt to exercise at least three or four times a week for a period of 30 minutes or so. You can include walking or something simple. If you prefer, you can include strenuous activities such as running as well.
The goal here is to increase your heart rate and strengthen the capacity of your lungs. By adding a regular exercise activity to your daily schedule will help you to improve your overall health and help you emotionally as well.
Along with running and walking there are several other physical activities that you can add to your daily life to increase your level of physical activity. If you are battling not sleeping, you'll find aerobic exercise to be the best.
Your goal with exercise is to increase the amount of oxygen that reaches your blood stream. Overall, there are many types of aerobic exercise for you to choose from. The activities include running, biking, using a treadmill, dancing, and jumping rope.
There are some non aerobic exercises that you may find beneficial to help you solve your amnesia problem.
Yoga Yoga is an exercise that has a stimulatory effect on your nervous system, especially the brain. Yoga utilizes breathing techniques and yoga postures to increase the blood circulation to the brain, promoting regular and restful sleeping patterns. The regular practice of yoga will help you to relax as well as relieve tension and stress.
Tai Chi Tai Chi is an ancient art of breathing and movement that was developed by the Chinese monks. The movements involved are slow and precise, which is ideal if you have joint pains or you are unable to participate in high aerobic exercises. Research has shown that Tai Chi can help with insomnia by promoting relaxation.
If you discover that you don't have any time to exercise on a regular basis, you should try to sneak moments of activity into your schedule. Whenever possible, you should take the stairs instead of the elevator, as little things like that will do wonders for your body.
You should also park your car around the corner and walk that extra block or two to get to your destination. As you may know, there are many small things you can add to increase the activity in your life. Your overall goal here is to have a healthy and well balanced life - with plenty of sleep.
With regular exercise you'll notice that your quality of sleep is improved and the transition between the cycles and phases of sleep will become smoother and more regular. By keeping up your physical activity during the day, you may find it easier to deal with the stress and worries of your life.
Research and studies indicate that there is a direct correlation between how much we exercise and how we feel afterwards.
You should try and increase your physical activity during the day. The goal here is to give your body enough stimulation during the day so that you aren't full of energy at night.
Your body requires a certain amount of physical activity in order to keep functioning in a healthy manner. It is also important to note that you should not be exercising three or four hours before you go to bed.
The ideal exercise time is in the late afternoon or early evening. You want to make sure you expend your physical energy long before it is time for your body to rest and ready itself for sleep.
You should attempt to exercise at least three or four times a week for a period of 30 minutes or so. You can include walking or something simple. If you prefer, you can include strenuous activities such as running as well.
The goal here is to increase your heart rate and strengthen the capacity of your lungs. By adding a regular exercise activity to your daily schedule will help you to improve your overall health and help you emotionally as well.
Along with running and walking there are several other physical activities that you can add to your daily life to increase your level of physical activity. If you are battling not sleeping, you'll find aerobic exercise to be the best.
Your goal with exercise is to increase the amount of oxygen that reaches your blood stream. Overall, there are many types of aerobic exercise for you to choose from. The activities include running, biking, using a treadmill, dancing, and jumping rope.
There are some non aerobic exercises that you may find beneficial to help you solve your amnesia problem.
Yoga Yoga is an exercise that has a stimulatory effect on your nervous system, especially the brain. Yoga utilizes breathing techniques and yoga postures to increase the blood circulation to the brain, promoting regular and restful sleeping patterns. The regular practice of yoga will help you to relax as well as relieve tension and stress.
Tai Chi Tai Chi is an ancient art of breathing and movement that was developed by the Chinese monks. The movements involved are slow and precise, which is ideal if you have joint pains or you are unable to participate in high aerobic exercises. Research has shown that Tai Chi can help with insomnia by promoting relaxation.
If you discover that you don't have any time to exercise on a regular basis, you should try to sneak moments of activity into your schedule. Whenever possible, you should take the stairs instead of the elevator, as little things like that will do wonders for your body.
You should also park your car around the corner and walk that extra block or two to get to your destination. As you may know, there are many small things you can add to increase the activity in your life. Your overall goal here is to have a healthy and well balanced life - with plenty of sleep.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans?
If you have heard of chocolate covered espresso beans, you may have decided to try them for your espresso coffee maker or you may have decided to give them a try or get them as a gift for that certain someone who has everything. You may have considered just going to a gourmet shop, but if you want to get a deal, the best thing is to buy them wholesale on the Internet. How do you go about buying them wholesale safely? You don't want to risk giving your credit card numbers to a site that is not legitimate, and possibly risk identity theft by doing so. We all know stories about people who put their credit card number on a site that was not protected, and the next thing they knew, they had tons of bills and maybe even their bank account was debited. If you not careful about shopping on line, it can happen.
But it does not have to be dangerous to shop for chocolate covered espresso beans (or any other product, for that matter) on line. Make sure you know how to take the right precautions.
The first thing you have to do is make sure you are going to get the product you want. If a site doesn't have illustrations, you may end up ordering a product you did not want. You also have to be sure to read any warnings or any of the fine print that may allow substitutions, etc. And you always have to be careful of offers that seem way too cheap. You know what the value should be, and if it too cheap, something has to be wrong with the product, or maybe you are not going to be getting the right product.
Next, be a savvy Internet shopper. Make sure you do not give out any information that is not directly related to the purchase. Be very wary of any site that asks for your social security number, your driver's license or any bank account information. All they should need is the delivery address and the card you are charging to.
Once you have made a purchase on line, make sure you have a record of it. This way if the product you think you ordered is not what you received, you have some proof. Make sure you have the name of the vendor, the name of the website, a copy of the confirmed order with quantity, price, delivery address and estimated delivery date. If there are any problems down the line, you want to have all of this information at your fingertips.
If, even after this advice, you are leery of shopping Olin, you can go to the site of the wholesaler and just get the 800 number listed there. This way, you can have a catalog sent to you, and you can order the old fashioned way by sending in an order form or calling in an order.
But it does not have to be dangerous to shop for chocolate covered espresso beans (or any other product, for that matter) on line. Make sure you know how to take the right precautions.
The first thing you have to do is make sure you are going to get the product you want. If a site doesn't have illustrations, you may end up ordering a product you did not want. You also have to be sure to read any warnings or any of the fine print that may allow substitutions, etc. And you always have to be careful of offers that seem way too cheap. You know what the value should be, and if it too cheap, something has to be wrong with the product, or maybe you are not going to be getting the right product.
Next, be a savvy Internet shopper. Make sure you do not give out any information that is not directly related to the purchase. Be very wary of any site that asks for your social security number, your driver's license or any bank account information. All they should need is the delivery address and the card you are charging to.
Once you have made a purchase on line, make sure you have a record of it. This way if the product you think you ordered is not what you received, you have some proof. Make sure you have the name of the vendor, the name of the website, a copy of the confirmed order with quantity, price, delivery address and estimated delivery date. If there are any problems down the line, you want to have all of this information at your fingertips.
If, even after this advice, you are leery of shopping Olin, you can go to the site of the wholesaler and just get the 800 number listed there. This way, you can have a catalog sent to you, and you can order the old fashioned way by sending in an order form or calling in an order.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Natural Aging Skin Care Products
It is said that ‘beauty’ is skin deep and as such the skin care assumes much significance in today’s beauty conscious world. One may wonder whether any special care is needed for skin alone for a normal person. The answers may vary but the truth remains that, all are not normal skinned, and people with not so normal skin need give the desired care for their skin to look natural and feel good.
The natural ageing process, exposure to sun light, regular smoking etc. may contribute for the lesser production of collagen and elastin, two fibers that hold the skin together and make the skin look young and smooth.
Skin care products that contain Argireline derived from Amino acids helps relax facial tension. Extract obtained from edelweiss is another substance that acts as an anti oxidant and prevents the ultra violet light penetrating into the skin besides cleaning up of the free radicals getting damaged by metabolism and pollutants. Yet another natural product is shea butter a natural moisturizer that prevents dryness of the skin.
The face is the first and the best part of the body that gets attention from others. Naturally one would like to present a good facial appearance for that first impression. There is no dearth for skin care or rather facial care products in today’ s market, with each product claiming to be better than that of the other. However the fact remains that, the best skin care product varies from individual to individual depending upon the type of skin one possess, the region where one lives, the food habits one follow among many other relevant factors.
This article is to be used for informational purposes only. The information contained herein is not intended to be used in place of, or in conjunction with, professional medical advice regarding skin care treatments. Prior to beginning any treatment regimen, the patient must consult a licensed medical doctor or dermatologist for advice and/or to determine the best course of action for his/her individual situation.
The natural ageing process, exposure to sun light, regular smoking etc. may contribute for the lesser production of collagen and elastin, two fibers that hold the skin together and make the skin look young and smooth.
Skin care products that contain Argireline derived from Amino acids helps relax facial tension. Extract obtained from edelweiss is another substance that acts as an anti oxidant and prevents the ultra violet light penetrating into the skin besides cleaning up of the free radicals getting damaged by metabolism and pollutants. Yet another natural product is shea butter a natural moisturizer that prevents dryness of the skin.
The face is the first and the best part of the body that gets attention from others. Naturally one would like to present a good facial appearance for that first impression. There is no dearth for skin care or rather facial care products in today’ s market, with each product claiming to be better than that of the other. However the fact remains that, the best skin care product varies from individual to individual depending upon the type of skin one possess, the region where one lives, the food habits one follow among many other relevant factors.
This article is to be used for informational purposes only. The information contained herein is not intended to be used in place of, or in conjunction with, professional medical advice regarding skin care treatments. Prior to beginning any treatment regimen, the patient must consult a licensed medical doctor or dermatologist for advice and/or to determine the best course of action for his/her individual situation.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Lifestyle Changes For Coping With Diabetes
Diabetes information is essential in patients who have either type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes. When diagnosed with diabetes, the health implications can be devastating but understanding what the disease is and what changes you can implement to assist in leading a healthy life is important in controlling any ill effects. Making a few lifestyle changes and ensuring you have regular doctor checkups to monitor your progress is important in maintaining a healthy life. With a few simple changes you can enhance the quality as well as the length of life.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes that is diagnosed in people today. Many older people, past the age of thirty, are diagnosed with this condition. It is much rarer to see this in children and teens, though it does occur. The condition is based on the body not producing enough insulin or rejecting the insulin that is produced. Type 2 diabetes and health is a somewhat complicated course to navigate but a healthy diabetes diet and continual monitoring from your physician, you can decrease your risks of additional complications. Learning to live with this disease is tantamount in upholding your overall health and well being. Complications from type 2 diabetes include increasing your chances of heart disease and kidney disease, complications involving your eye sight, foot and skin problems and increased risk of stroke. These risks can be reduced, though.
Type 1 diabetes mellitus is generally diagnosed in children and young adults and is not as prevalent in older people. The term also used to be known as juvenile diabetes. This is where insulin is not produced in the body. Metabolism in diabetes mellitus plays a large part. However, there are lifestyle changes that can occur, including diet, that will help better control the effects and lessen the risk of more serious complications. Complications and additional health risks are similar to those of type 2 diabetes and include heart, nerve, muscular, skin and eye problems.
Exercise is one of the important lifestyle changes that should occur if you are diagnosed with diabetes. Exercise should be a regular activity in everyone’s life and there is no denying the benefits that can be gained from it. With diabetes, though, it is especially important to remain active. First, exercise will promote weight loss and will also kick start the metabolism. Both will allow your body to be more sensitive to the insulin that is produced in the body. Ensuring you start an exercise program if you do not yet have one is very important. Check with your doctor before embarking on anything, though, to ensure your activities match your fitness level. Walking, swimming and using a trampoline are good, low impact exercises that can help.
You will need to become educated about the different food groups and which foods have various characteristics. Your physician or a nutrition specialist will be able to assist you with this and give you lists of which types of foods are in each category. Eating foods that digest slower will help you reduce the after meal spike that sometimes occurs. Carbohydrates are a key element in the diabetes diet and will help control the after-meal spikes that occur in diabetics. Adjusting the amount of fatty foods you consume is also an important aspect of maintaining a healthy diabetes diet. It not only will help reduce calories, thus allowing you to lose weight but will also help you process the insulin produced in your body.
It often helps diabetics to eat more often as opposed to eating breakfast, lunch and dinner. Eating smaller portions of food more frequently can often give a more even feeling and keep insulin levels steadier throughout the day. If you are prescribed medications, either oral medications or insulin shots, it is important to take them per the physician’s directions. Do not skip or delay medications. Also, if you are supposed to test, always test daily, as your physician recommends or anytime you are feeling a bit low.
Getting all the diabetes information available on what it is and how to control it with a diabetes diet and exercise is important in ensuring you lead a happy, healthy life. People with diabetes can lead very good, long lasting lives with some simply changes in lifestyle and diet. After changes become habit, there will be no sense of deprivation. You will feel better, lose weight and be more active. Your risks of more severe complications will decrease significantly and your chances of living longer will increase.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes that is diagnosed in people today. Many older people, past the age of thirty, are diagnosed with this condition. It is much rarer to see this in children and teens, though it does occur. The condition is based on the body not producing enough insulin or rejecting the insulin that is produced. Type 2 diabetes and health is a somewhat complicated course to navigate but a healthy diabetes diet and continual monitoring from your physician, you can decrease your risks of additional complications. Learning to live with this disease is tantamount in upholding your overall health and well being. Complications from type 2 diabetes include increasing your chances of heart disease and kidney disease, complications involving your eye sight, foot and skin problems and increased risk of stroke. These risks can be reduced, though.
Type 1 diabetes mellitus is generally diagnosed in children and young adults and is not as prevalent in older people. The term also used to be known as juvenile diabetes. This is where insulin is not produced in the body. Metabolism in diabetes mellitus plays a large part. However, there are lifestyle changes that can occur, including diet, that will help better control the effects and lessen the risk of more serious complications. Complications and additional health risks are similar to those of type 2 diabetes and include heart, nerve, muscular, skin and eye problems.
Exercise is one of the important lifestyle changes that should occur if you are diagnosed with diabetes. Exercise should be a regular activity in everyone’s life and there is no denying the benefits that can be gained from it. With diabetes, though, it is especially important to remain active. First, exercise will promote weight loss and will also kick start the metabolism. Both will allow your body to be more sensitive to the insulin that is produced in the body. Ensuring you start an exercise program if you do not yet have one is very important. Check with your doctor before embarking on anything, though, to ensure your activities match your fitness level. Walking, swimming and using a trampoline are good, low impact exercises that can help.
You will need to become educated about the different food groups and which foods have various characteristics. Your physician or a nutrition specialist will be able to assist you with this and give you lists of which types of foods are in each category. Eating foods that digest slower will help you reduce the after meal spike that sometimes occurs. Carbohydrates are a key element in the diabetes diet and will help control the after-meal spikes that occur in diabetics. Adjusting the amount of fatty foods you consume is also an important aspect of maintaining a healthy diabetes diet. It not only will help reduce calories, thus allowing you to lose weight but will also help you process the insulin produced in your body.
It often helps diabetics to eat more often as opposed to eating breakfast, lunch and dinner. Eating smaller portions of food more frequently can often give a more even feeling and keep insulin levels steadier throughout the day. If you are prescribed medications, either oral medications or insulin shots, it is important to take them per the physician’s directions. Do not skip or delay medications. Also, if you are supposed to test, always test daily, as your physician recommends or anytime you are feeling a bit low.
Getting all the diabetes information available on what it is and how to control it with a diabetes diet and exercise is important in ensuring you lead a happy, healthy life. People with diabetes can lead very good, long lasting lives with some simply changes in lifestyle and diet. After changes become habit, there will be no sense of deprivation. You will feel better, lose weight and be more active. Your risks of more severe complications will decrease significantly and your chances of living longer will increase.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Vinegar Remedies - Colonizing Mars and Helping Debased Taste Buds?
I was reviewing an ebook on vinegar remedies and uses recently, and came across some surprising assertions. Despite the ebook author claiming that vinegar was not a cure all, the list of complaints vinegar supposedly fixed was astounding. Almost as astounding as the rationale behind using vinegar to fix said complaints.
Apart from the evils of satisfying one's 'debased' taste buds over nourishing the body - which is apparently the cause of all of modern man's ills. The author suggest we start looking to 'natural resources' that have been used in the days before Christ. Apparently that was a bit of a turning point nutritionally.
Anyway, sunshine, water and air aside, its all herbs, honey, and homebrews. These are the antidote to the 'unnatural chemical compounds' that are plaguing us. Hmmm - that must be why we our ancestors lived about double the life span that we do. Oh, I'm sorry, its we who live on average twice as long as our ancestors...
It would be lovely if we could explain away the plethora of chronic and acute illnesses that affect so many people. There is no doubt that in some cases nutritional choice has played a causative or aggravating factor in a person's ill health. But people who follow very healthy, natural diets also get sick. People who exercise still have heart attacks. The answer is not always simple, nor is it always to be found by glorifying folk remedies or taking complex Oriental classification systems and treatments out of context. Which is not to say there is not some value, for certain things, in either traditional medicine, or folk remedies.
But giving herbal treatments, or folk remedies, the veneer of pseudo science, does not help anyone.
The author of this ebook stated that 'a number of outstanding authorities' have proven the 'therapeutic' value of using apple cider vinegar for complaints ranging from obesity to arthritis - without naming said authorities. And the chief rationale behind apple cider vinegar's supposed wide ranging value is that, like apples, it contains Phosphorous, Chlorine, Potassium, Sodium, Magnesium, Calcium, Sulfur, Iron, Fluorine, Silicon, plus many trace elements. And, Potassium.
Now, apple cider vinegar may in fact contain all of these things. It certainly does contain potassium, but only very small amounts - about 15mg per tablespoon as compared to 159mg per apple, or 288mg for 10 rings of dried apple. Cider vinegar has no sodium, no magnesium, and about 1mg of calcium and phosphorus. Hardly noteworthy. But that doesn't stop the book promoting apple cider vinegar as encouraging the health of veins and capillaries, and therefore heart health and blood pressure. And whilst we're at it, it helps the blood clot better, though there is no explanation as to this mechanism. By this rationale, tomorrow it will help colonize mars. Presumably in the same mysterious way as it stores the fiber this ebook attributes cider vinegar as having.
But just as apple cider vinegar in fact has no fiber - unlike apples - so cider vinegar is not nearly as miraculous or mysterious as the ebook's logic. Vinegar may in fact have promise in cleaning without having to resort to harsh chemicals. And in may also be beneficial for some health purposes. But it does not do nearly as much as is claimed. And by creatively linking it to every ailment imaginable, it serves to turn herbal remedies into a bad joke. Mars anyone?
Apart from the evils of satisfying one's 'debased' taste buds over nourishing the body - which is apparently the cause of all of modern man's ills. The author suggest we start looking to 'natural resources' that have been used in the days before Christ. Apparently that was a bit of a turning point nutritionally.
Anyway, sunshine, water and air aside, its all herbs, honey, and homebrews. These are the antidote to the 'unnatural chemical compounds' that are plaguing us. Hmmm - that must be why we our ancestors lived about double the life span that we do. Oh, I'm sorry, its we who live on average twice as long as our ancestors...
It would be lovely if we could explain away the plethora of chronic and acute illnesses that affect so many people. There is no doubt that in some cases nutritional choice has played a causative or aggravating factor in a person's ill health. But people who follow very healthy, natural diets also get sick. People who exercise still have heart attacks. The answer is not always simple, nor is it always to be found by glorifying folk remedies or taking complex Oriental classification systems and treatments out of context. Which is not to say there is not some value, for certain things, in either traditional medicine, or folk remedies.
But giving herbal treatments, or folk remedies, the veneer of pseudo science, does not help anyone.
The author of this ebook stated that 'a number of outstanding authorities' have proven the 'therapeutic' value of using apple cider vinegar for complaints ranging from obesity to arthritis - without naming said authorities. And the chief rationale behind apple cider vinegar's supposed wide ranging value is that, like apples, it contains Phosphorous, Chlorine, Potassium, Sodium, Magnesium, Calcium, Sulfur, Iron, Fluorine, Silicon, plus many trace elements. And, Potassium.
Now, apple cider vinegar may in fact contain all of these things. It certainly does contain potassium, but only very small amounts - about 15mg per tablespoon as compared to 159mg per apple, or 288mg for 10 rings of dried apple. Cider vinegar has no sodium, no magnesium, and about 1mg of calcium and phosphorus. Hardly noteworthy. But that doesn't stop the book promoting apple cider vinegar as encouraging the health of veins and capillaries, and therefore heart health and blood pressure. And whilst we're at it, it helps the blood clot better, though there is no explanation as to this mechanism. By this rationale, tomorrow it will help colonize mars. Presumably in the same mysterious way as it stores the fiber this ebook attributes cider vinegar as having.
But just as apple cider vinegar in fact has no fiber - unlike apples - so cider vinegar is not nearly as miraculous or mysterious as the ebook's logic. Vinegar may in fact have promise in cleaning without having to resort to harsh chemicals. And in may also be beneficial for some health purposes. But it does not do nearly as much as is claimed. And by creatively linking it to every ailment imaginable, it serves to turn herbal remedies into a bad joke. Mars anyone?
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Skin Health Secrets: How to apply skin care products
It is pretty well known that different people get different results with the same skin care products. This can be caused by variations in body chemistry, but more often than not it’s because everyone applies skin care products differently.
DO YOU HAVE SENSITIVE SKIN?
Of course, if a particular product doesn’t give you the results you expect, it doesn’t always mean you are applying the product incorrectly. Unfortunately, many products just don't work as advertised, no matter what you do! To top that off, some products may work for some people but not for others even when used properly. Nevertheless, when a product doesn’t work, it may often be due to incorrect application.
Products like skin creams, gels. or lotions are a mixture of chemicals that have a biological action, applied topically to the skin. So the effectiveness depends on whether the active ingredients work, and whether they are absorbed properly into your skin. Your skin’s temperature, hydration, environment and other factors will influence your skin's ability to absorb the active ingredients in a product. To be sure that you get optimal effectiveness of you skin care products:
- Cleanse skin before applying any products. The best time to apply is right after you come out of a warm shower or bath because not only is your skin clean, but it is also moist and warm, so it will absorb whatever you apply much better. Do not wash with hot water because excessive heat accelerates aging. Water should be comfortably warm but not hot. However, if you plan to apply anything oily that blocks the pores, splash cool water on yourself to close pores. Just pat dry with a towel. Also, use a charcoal shower filter to prevent exposure to the chlorine in the water. You probably drink bottled or filtered water - but you can absorb more chlorine through your skin during a shower than you would get from an 8 oz. glass of water!
- When cleansing your skin, don't use regular soap or shampoo, they’re much too drying. Use a good moisturizing soap, a skin cleanser, or plain warm (not hot) water.
- The top layer of skin is mostly made from dry, dead cells. When this layer becomes too thick, either from aging or poor skin care skin, the active ingredients of a skin care product have trouble penetrating. Professional microdermabrasion safely removes that top layer of skin, revealing the healthier, younger-looking skin underneath and allowing skin care products to be better absorbed for greater effectiveness. In addition, microdermabrasion done regularly strengthens the skin by stimulating elastin and collagen production, which helps diminish wrinkles, fine lines, acne scars and many other blemishes.
- Use short, firm strokes to apply skin care products. Do not stretch the skin. Do not rub. After applying, gently massage the products into your skin by tapping the area with your fingers for 30 seconds or so.
- When using a professional microdermabrasion product at home, it is important to read the directions and follow them very carefully. Remember, professional microdermabrasion is usually applied with expensive machines and medically-trained professionals. You can save a lot by doing it yourself, but don’t be over-eager to get that 10-years-younger look. Apply the sponges gently the first time - let your skin adjust to the application. Add a little more time and pressure each application, about 2 weeks apart, up to a maximum of 3-5 minutes (depending on the sensitivity of your skin).
- If you have sensitive skin or allergies, always test the products you want to use first on a small patch of skin on your underarm (the soft skin on the bottom of your forearm).
DO YOU HAVE SENSITIVE SKIN?
Did you know sensitive skin is very common? More than 40% of people say they have it. Its causes include age, heredity, gender, and racial differences. These questions below can help you find out if your skin may be sensitive. Of course, a trip to your dermatologist is the best way to find out!
- Does your skin get extra dry after you wash it with soap?
- Does your skin get extra oily and break out after you use particular types of moisturizers?
If you answered Yes to one or both of these questions, you may have sensitive skin.
- Does your skin get red, itch, burn, or feel "tight" after coming into direct or indirect contact with perfumes and/or particular shampoos, shaving creams, detergents, dish soaps, hair sprays, cleaning products, or deodorants?
Irritants to sensitive skin include many household and personal products. The fragrances and dyes in just about every household product, and many personal care products, can cause irritation either from direct contact or even from deposits left on your clothes, towels, or bedding. If you have any of the classic signs and symptoms of sensitive skin in Question 3, try to use hypoallergenic products without ingredients known to cause skin reactions.
- Does your skin get red, itch, burn, or feel "tight" after extended exposure to sun, wind, heat, or cold?
Sensitive skin often reacts to extreme weather conditions. In fact, anything in the environment that damages your skin's natural protective barrier against water evaporation -- called sebum -- can irritate sensitive skin.
- Do you have acne or psoriasis?
People with acne, psoriasis, or skin conditions like eczema often have sensitive skin. These conditions impair immune system functioning and/or destroy the skin's protective barrier. If you have of these conditions, you may have sensitive skin.
Spanish Food Recipe
One common detox diet is the combination of nothing but fruits and water for a given period. The promotion of chemicals being matabilized by our bodies can be helped with certain vitamins, herbs and supplements. Some supplements will help the mobilization of toxin's in our fat and other toxin deposit's located throughout the body.
Whilst on your travels in Spain and pausing to take a breath from site-seeing, you have surely experimented with "tapas" at a welcoming bar.
If this is the case, it is more than likely that you have come across the small, tasty filleted fish, preserved in olive oil, sliced garlic and chopped parsley, and highly popular throughout Spain. This delectable dish is usually known as "boquerones" but, depending on the area, can also be called "anchoas".
Boquerones are small, fresh anchovies. Accompanied by crisp, fresh Spanish bread, a glass of ruby-red wine or refreshing Asturian cider, they are a delight to eat. Moreover - as with many traditional Spanish dishes which comprise the renowned Mediterranean Diet - they are extremely healthy.
Like its friend the sardine, the anchovy is an oily fish, packed full of proteins and minerals, protecting against heart disease, and "good" for cholesterol. What´s more, in many areas of Spain - in particular the Mediterranean coast - fresh anchovies are extremely cheap. On first coming to Spain, I happily enjoyed many tapas of boquerones, completely unaware of one fact ... all those little anchovies I had eaten were not cooked! For a moment, I deeply regretted asking my Spanish neighbor, Carmen, how to make them!
Fortunately, Carmen went into immediate action and saved the day! She frog-marched me to the local fishmongers, bought a kilo of the little fish, took me home and showed me "her way" of preparing them. They were so delicious that I quickly recovered my passion for boquerones and have been enjoying them ever since!
Methods for preparing boquerones tend to vary slightly from family to family. However, the basic principles are always the same. You first have to clean and fillet the fish, which is simple enough, but rather tedious until you get the hang of it.
If you suffer with acne, or if your skin is dull, rough or blotchy, a detox could be exactly what you need. Other symptoms of toxic overload can be lethargy and frequent headaches or simply feeling below par. Detoxing will not only help your skin but the other major elimination organ, the liver. In fact your whole system will benefit!
Next, you soak the fillets, either in white wine vinegar or a mixture of half vinegar and half water. The vinegar will clean and bleach the fish and also soften any remaining little bones. Some people sprinkle the fish with salt; others (myself included) feel that the fish is salty enough already. The fish has to be left for a good few hours soaking in the vinegar. Again, this tends to vary, with some Spaniards leaving them overnight in the fridge and others just waiting a couple of hours. Also, some families change the vinegar/water-and-vinegar mixture once during this process, whilst others don´t bother.
Once you have thrown away the vinegar, the bleached fillets are covered with a good quality virgin olive oil, which will preserve them. You can add as much, or as little, sliced garlic as you wish, plus freshly chopped parsley.
So ... here is the actual recipe.
BOQUERONES
Ingredients:
* 1 kilo fresh anchovies.
* White wine vinegar.
* Virgin olive oil.
* Garlic.
* Parsley.
* Salt (optional).
Method:
1. Top and tail anchovies.
2. Slit along underside and discard innards.
3. Open out fish.
4. Remove central bone by lifting from tail end upwards.
5. Rinse well.
6. Place a layer of anchovy fillets in a shallow dish.
7. Sprinkle with salt (optional) and pour on plenty of vinegar.
8. Repeat with another layer, changing direction.
9. Leave to soak in vinegar for a few hours or overnight.
10. Pour off vinegar.
11. Very gently rinse fillets.
12. Cover fillets in virgin olive oil.
13. Add slices of garlic and chopped parsley.As one of the most common causes of lethargy is constipation, learn more about colon detox today
It is so pleasant to find something in life that is a delight to the senses, affordable, healthy and does nobody any harm (apologies to any vegetarians out there and, also, the little anchovies ...). So ... do make the most of fresh anchovies whilst you are in Spain and enjoy!
The human body is like one big process of input and output. Some things we intake such as food and water which the body requires diffuse into the body; we then pass the by-products which are of no use, or surplus to the body's requirements. Drugs, on the other hand, diffuse almost entirely into the body as this is what they are designed to do.
Whilst on your travels in Spain and pausing to take a breath from site-seeing, you have surely experimented with "tapas" at a welcoming bar.
If this is the case, it is more than likely that you have come across the small, tasty filleted fish, preserved in olive oil, sliced garlic and chopped parsley, and highly popular throughout Spain. This delectable dish is usually known as "boquerones" but, depending on the area, can also be called "anchoas".
Boquerones are small, fresh anchovies. Accompanied by crisp, fresh Spanish bread, a glass of ruby-red wine or refreshing Asturian cider, they are a delight to eat. Moreover - as with many traditional Spanish dishes which comprise the renowned Mediterranean Diet - they are extremely healthy.
Like its friend the sardine, the anchovy is an oily fish, packed full of proteins and minerals, protecting against heart disease, and "good" for cholesterol. What´s more, in many areas of Spain - in particular the Mediterranean coast - fresh anchovies are extremely cheap. On first coming to Spain, I happily enjoyed many tapas of boquerones, completely unaware of one fact ... all those little anchovies I had eaten were not cooked! For a moment, I deeply regretted asking my Spanish neighbor, Carmen, how to make them!
Fortunately, Carmen went into immediate action and saved the day! She frog-marched me to the local fishmongers, bought a kilo of the little fish, took me home and showed me "her way" of preparing them. They were so delicious that I quickly recovered my passion for boquerones and have been enjoying them ever since!
Methods for preparing boquerones tend to vary slightly from family to family. However, the basic principles are always the same. You first have to clean and fillet the fish, which is simple enough, but rather tedious until you get the hang of it.
If you suffer with acne, or if your skin is dull, rough or blotchy, a detox could be exactly what you need. Other symptoms of toxic overload can be lethargy and frequent headaches or simply feeling below par. Detoxing will not only help your skin but the other major elimination organ, the liver. In fact your whole system will benefit!
Next, you soak the fillets, either in white wine vinegar or a mixture of half vinegar and half water. The vinegar will clean and bleach the fish and also soften any remaining little bones. Some people sprinkle the fish with salt; others (myself included) feel that the fish is salty enough already. The fish has to be left for a good few hours soaking in the vinegar. Again, this tends to vary, with some Spaniards leaving them overnight in the fridge and others just waiting a couple of hours. Also, some families change the vinegar/water-and-vinegar mixture once during this process, whilst others don´t bother.
Once you have thrown away the vinegar, the bleached fillets are covered with a good quality virgin olive oil, which will preserve them. You can add as much, or as little, sliced garlic as you wish, plus freshly chopped parsley.
So ... here is the actual recipe.
BOQUERONES
Ingredients:
* 1 kilo fresh anchovies.
* White wine vinegar.
* Virgin olive oil.
* Garlic.
* Parsley.
* Salt (optional).
Method:
1. Top and tail anchovies.
2. Slit along underside and discard innards.
3. Open out fish.
4. Remove central bone by lifting from tail end upwards.
5. Rinse well.
6. Place a layer of anchovy fillets in a shallow dish.
7. Sprinkle with salt (optional) and pour on plenty of vinegar.
8. Repeat with another layer, changing direction.
9. Leave to soak in vinegar for a few hours or overnight.
10. Pour off vinegar.
11. Very gently rinse fillets.
12. Cover fillets in virgin olive oil.
13. Add slices of garlic and chopped parsley.As one of the most common causes of lethargy is constipation, learn more about colon detox today
It is so pleasant to find something in life that is a delight to the senses, affordable, healthy and does nobody any harm (apologies to any vegetarians out there and, also, the little anchovies ...). So ... do make the most of fresh anchovies whilst you are in Spain and enjoy!
The human body is like one big process of input and output. Some things we intake such as food and water which the body requires diffuse into the body; we then pass the by-products which are of no use, or surplus to the body's requirements. Drugs, on the other hand, diffuse almost entirely into the body as this is what they are designed to do.
Monday, April 19, 2010
YES! You Can be a Food Gourmet and a Skilled Gourmet Cook Too
Yes, even you can cook up wonderful meals and impress your loved ones!
Ever thought that gourmet cooking is not for you, or that you do not cook well? Then it’s time to totally change your mindset from today . . .
Anyone and everyone can easily pick up cooking skills; younger or older, ladies and even the guys. It doesn’t matter what your skill level is today; you can do much better and make great dishes like the chefs at your favorite restaurants. And what’s more, the meals you cook will be done to perfection – your kind of perfection. And you know what the best part is? You already have the most important ingredient . . . you know what great food is!
Let's show you the way . . . Xperimental Cooking is putting YOU in charge – you’re the boss of the kitchen! You choose the ingredients you like and whip up meals to suit your specific tastes. Forget about strictly following recipes that are complicated . . . that requires you to buy special ingredients you will only use once then store till they expire . . . that calls for you to measure out precise amounts of each ingredient. All that is required is for you to have fun and Xperiment with blending ingredients that you like. Let your imagination rule . . . pick the items and create your masterpiece; from types of meats and vegetables, to how they are cooked, to what beautiful arrangement on your dinner plate. Xperimental Cooking is also about you and the people you are preparing a meal for. You know that each person has their unique preferences, so Xperimental Cooking is about helping you fulfill those preferences. Sounds complicated, you may think? But actually, it is rather simple; especially after you develop the basics that will forever change your mindset on cooking and open up a whole new dimension of creativity you never knew you already had within yourself.
Now let us share with you the little secrets of Xperimental Cooking . . . the A, B, Cs if you will . . .
A. INGREDIENTS – The first key is for you to build on your knowledge of ingredients, as they are the basic building blocks for a good meal. You already know of many ingredients, now go and take a closer look; experience each ingredient individually and Xperiment with it. Everything edible can be an ingredient in your creation, so you need to know and understand each ingredient; from how it looks and tastes, to its texture, to how it behaves when cooked in different ways, to which other ingredients it is compatible with, to what happens if you add more or less of it to your food, etc. Since individuals experience things differently, you are your own expert; find out what you like and what you can do without. As you have your meals each day, take the opportunity to study the ingredients. Involve your family & friends and make it fun as you experience & Xperiment. At restaurants, and when you travel, question the chefs if you have a chance and gain perspectives into new ingredients you come across. For the computer savvy, you can also surf the web and quickly gain insight; there is tons of information online. Try typing the ingredient you’re interested in on your favorite search engine and discover a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips. As you get to know about more ingredients and become more aware of the characteristics of each ingredient, you will be able to expertly combine them to expand the number of new dishes in your cooking repertoire. There are endless combinations, so keep Xperimenting; you will discover many winners to surprise your guests. Have fun building up your own database of ingredients.
B. QUALITY – When you begin with great quality ingredients, you are certain to produce top quality meals; if you start with poor quality ingredients, it won’t come as a surprise that the results will naturally be disappointing. Quality can easily be determined when you use all your senses . . . Use your sense of Sight to look carefully at the ingredients. Check the color to see if it is bright or dull, consistent or has blemishes. Is the shape evenly symmetrical or distorted. Look also at the texture of the items. Your sense of Sight is the first sense that you will usually use when checking anything; and it is a powerful tool in determining the Quality of any ingredient. Practice and see if you can tell what the Quality of an item is, just by looking at it. You will quickly be able to use your Sight to initially screen ingredients to determine if they are worth a closer inspection or to move on. Use your sense of Hearing to listen to the tone when gently tapping or shaking an item. Does it sound hollow or solid, is there a rattling sound? Hearing is not frequently used, but can be helpful in a closer inspection of certain fruits, nuts and vegetables. Use your sense of Smell to sniff out fragrant fruits and the aroma of fresh herbs. You can also detect items to avoid when they emit off smelling odors. Train up your nose and your sense of Smell will come in handy when you search for Quality foods. If you have the opportunity, sample the items before making your decision. Besides checking that the Taste is what it should be, also observe the texture or feel it has in your mouth, when you chew on it, and when it slides down your throat. This is also your chance to confirm that you really like the Taste of the ingredient before buying. Your sense of Taste will be your most important tool when it comes to blending ingredients. With a well developed sense of Taste, you will be able to determine what ingredients, and in what quantities, will go well together. Finally is your sense of Touch. Go ahead, pick up and handle the ingredients you are inspecting. How does it feel in your hands? Is it heavy or light, hard or soft, firm or supple, smooth or rough, dry or moist? You can tell a good deal about the Quality of an ingredient by how it feels; you just need a little practice to fine tune and “get the feel” of things. Practice using all your senses to fully examine ingredients and learn how to pick Top Quality items for your specific needs. It is now time for you to exercise your senses whenever you go shopping for food. Have a good time tuning up your skills in search of Quality at the markets and stores.
C. DESIGNING – Now comes the fun part of Designing your meals. The first consideration is who you are cooking for and what are their likes and dislikes. Do take some time to ask your family, friends, or guests about their eating preferences, especially if they require special diets for health reasons, or are allergic to certain foods. From this mini survey, you can plan a meal that will delight everyone. You can now begin to narrow down your choices; consider if you want to do appetizers and/or soup, what are the best choice for your main courses, and if you wish to make desert? Design a simple meal or an elaborate feast: it's all up to you. Use your knowledge of ingredients to decide on what blend of ingredients will achieve the unique flavors you want. Also consider how the ingredients will look together, and how you can make your dishes visually appealing. At the beginning, you may feel more comfortable sticking to traditional flavors and cooking tried and tested recipes. But as you gain confidence after Xperimenting with traditional foods by altering their taste to suit your preferences better, then its time to be bold and creative; try to design something totally new once in a while. It is also fairly easy for you to design meals to take into account differing preferences among your guests; simply separate your ingredients and add or withhold them into individual portions of your dishes. In the Design phase, you may wish to consider the cooking style as well, since the way food is cooked will make a difference in the outcome in terms of taste and texture.
D. COOKING STYLES – Mastering many Cooking Styles is another way to increase the diversity of your meals. Brush up on your cooking skills by not only practicing the various Styles of Cooking, but also by paying close attention to the details of the cooking process, what each Cooking Style does to your food and the resulting appearance, taste & texture. Xperiment with variations to the standard method (different temperature, time, sequence, combinations, etc.) and observe the results. Learn new Styles as you come across them, and also try your hand at inventing new ways to cook. There are many methods of cooking your food; some more conventional like Baking, Barbecuing, Braising, Roasting, Stewing and Steaming. Some are more exotic like cooking meat on a slab of hot stone. So do try out the various cooking styles on your favorite foods and discover which are to your liking. Also Xperiment with combinations; for example you can first steam a lobster, then cut it open and put some cheese in before grilling for a short while to melt and brown the cheese sauce. Think of new ways to cook, after all its just applying heat to food. You can also broaden your knowledge and skills by observing how people of various lands cook their meals in special ways when you travel.
E. PRESENTATION – The final element is how you serve up the feast that you have prepared. Food Presentation is the art of making your meals visually appealing. Since the objective is to serve up something that will look good, Xperiment with what you think will look nice when assembled together. If you want to keep it simple, just focus on the dish and what is to be put on it. If you want to pull out all the stops, then go with a theme of your choice and dress up everything, including the dining room. Let’s run through some ideas to move you along . . . On the simple end of the scale, all you need to do is select a suitable bowl or plate and arrange your food on it, then add something to garnish. The easiest is to place all your food onto serving plates for your guest to help themselves. Select large enough bowls and plates, matching if desired, that can hold the amount of food you have prepared. You can fill a serving bowl with soup and sprinkle some chopped spring onions on top to garnish. Fish can be served on an oval plate, or one of those fish shaped dishes, and you can arrange some lettuce and round slices of lemon to decorate. For prawns, try arranging them in a circle on a round plate, and put sauce for dipping right in the center. You can be more creative when you do individual servings. For the main course, you can simply lay out the meat, potatoes and vegetables on different sectors of the plate in a traditional manner; just remember to include ingredients with nice colors and arrange them in your chosen pattern. Try using carrots or tomatoes to add bright orange or red to your dish. Use corn, pasta or potatoes for a dose of yellow. How about tri-color pasta to really mix up the colors? Appetizers and deserts are my favorites as you can really let your imagination go . . . and come up with really delightful creations. Try using a Burgundy wine glass for your shrimp cocktail, then plant a stick of celery with the leafy end up on one side and garnish the lip of the glass with a circular slice of lemon for a lovely presentation of this favorite appetizer. Now go forth and create visual masterpieces to serve your guests; they will surely be astonished at your work of art. If you need more ideas, you can always look at how the chefs at your local restaurants present their dishes, or you can flip thru food magazines, or surf the internet for tons of ideas to get you on your way.
Now that you know the Secrets to Xperimental Cooking, all you need to do is to start cooking; after all, as the saying goes . . . “Practice Makes Perfect”.
Ever thought that gourmet cooking is not for you, or that you do not cook well? Then it’s time to totally change your mindset from today . . .
Anyone and everyone can easily pick up cooking skills; younger or older, ladies and even the guys. It doesn’t matter what your skill level is today; you can do much better and make great dishes like the chefs at your favorite restaurants. And what’s more, the meals you cook will be done to perfection – your kind of perfection. And you know what the best part is? You already have the most important ingredient . . . you know what great food is!
Let's show you the way . . . Xperimental Cooking is putting YOU in charge – you’re the boss of the kitchen! You choose the ingredients you like and whip up meals to suit your specific tastes. Forget about strictly following recipes that are complicated . . . that requires you to buy special ingredients you will only use once then store till they expire . . . that calls for you to measure out precise amounts of each ingredient. All that is required is for you to have fun and Xperiment with blending ingredients that you like. Let your imagination rule . . . pick the items and create your masterpiece; from types of meats and vegetables, to how they are cooked, to what beautiful arrangement on your dinner plate. Xperimental Cooking is also about you and the people you are preparing a meal for. You know that each person has their unique preferences, so Xperimental Cooking is about helping you fulfill those preferences. Sounds complicated, you may think? But actually, it is rather simple; especially after you develop the basics that will forever change your mindset on cooking and open up a whole new dimension of creativity you never knew you already had within yourself.
Now let us share with you the little secrets of Xperimental Cooking . . . the A, B, Cs if you will . . .
A. INGREDIENTS – The first key is for you to build on your knowledge of ingredients, as they are the basic building blocks for a good meal. You already know of many ingredients, now go and take a closer look; experience each ingredient individually and Xperiment with it. Everything edible can be an ingredient in your creation, so you need to know and understand each ingredient; from how it looks and tastes, to its texture, to how it behaves when cooked in different ways, to which other ingredients it is compatible with, to what happens if you add more or less of it to your food, etc. Since individuals experience things differently, you are your own expert; find out what you like and what you can do without. As you have your meals each day, take the opportunity to study the ingredients. Involve your family & friends and make it fun as you experience & Xperiment. At restaurants, and when you travel, question the chefs if you have a chance and gain perspectives into new ingredients you come across. For the computer savvy, you can also surf the web and quickly gain insight; there is tons of information online. Try typing the ingredient you’re interested in on your favorite search engine and discover a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips. As you get to know about more ingredients and become more aware of the characteristics of each ingredient, you will be able to expertly combine them to expand the number of new dishes in your cooking repertoire. There are endless combinations, so keep Xperimenting; you will discover many winners to surprise your guests. Have fun building up your own database of ingredients.
B. QUALITY – When you begin with great quality ingredients, you are certain to produce top quality meals; if you start with poor quality ingredients, it won’t come as a surprise that the results will naturally be disappointing. Quality can easily be determined when you use all your senses . . . Use your sense of Sight to look carefully at the ingredients. Check the color to see if it is bright or dull, consistent or has blemishes. Is the shape evenly symmetrical or distorted. Look also at the texture of the items. Your sense of Sight is the first sense that you will usually use when checking anything; and it is a powerful tool in determining the Quality of any ingredient. Practice and see if you can tell what the Quality of an item is, just by looking at it. You will quickly be able to use your Sight to initially screen ingredients to determine if they are worth a closer inspection or to move on. Use your sense of Hearing to listen to the tone when gently tapping or shaking an item. Does it sound hollow or solid, is there a rattling sound? Hearing is not frequently used, but can be helpful in a closer inspection of certain fruits, nuts and vegetables. Use your sense of Smell to sniff out fragrant fruits and the aroma of fresh herbs. You can also detect items to avoid when they emit off smelling odors. Train up your nose and your sense of Smell will come in handy when you search for Quality foods. If you have the opportunity, sample the items before making your decision. Besides checking that the Taste is what it should be, also observe the texture or feel it has in your mouth, when you chew on it, and when it slides down your throat. This is also your chance to confirm that you really like the Taste of the ingredient before buying. Your sense of Taste will be your most important tool when it comes to blending ingredients. With a well developed sense of Taste, you will be able to determine what ingredients, and in what quantities, will go well together. Finally is your sense of Touch. Go ahead, pick up and handle the ingredients you are inspecting. How does it feel in your hands? Is it heavy or light, hard or soft, firm or supple, smooth or rough, dry or moist? You can tell a good deal about the Quality of an ingredient by how it feels; you just need a little practice to fine tune and “get the feel” of things. Practice using all your senses to fully examine ingredients and learn how to pick Top Quality items for your specific needs. It is now time for you to exercise your senses whenever you go shopping for food. Have a good time tuning up your skills in search of Quality at the markets and stores.
C. DESIGNING – Now comes the fun part of Designing your meals. The first consideration is who you are cooking for and what are their likes and dislikes. Do take some time to ask your family, friends, or guests about their eating preferences, especially if they require special diets for health reasons, or are allergic to certain foods. From this mini survey, you can plan a meal that will delight everyone. You can now begin to narrow down your choices; consider if you want to do appetizers and/or soup, what are the best choice for your main courses, and if you wish to make desert? Design a simple meal or an elaborate feast: it's all up to you. Use your knowledge of ingredients to decide on what blend of ingredients will achieve the unique flavors you want. Also consider how the ingredients will look together, and how you can make your dishes visually appealing. At the beginning, you may feel more comfortable sticking to traditional flavors and cooking tried and tested recipes. But as you gain confidence after Xperimenting with traditional foods by altering their taste to suit your preferences better, then its time to be bold and creative; try to design something totally new once in a while. It is also fairly easy for you to design meals to take into account differing preferences among your guests; simply separate your ingredients and add or withhold them into individual portions of your dishes. In the Design phase, you may wish to consider the cooking style as well, since the way food is cooked will make a difference in the outcome in terms of taste and texture.
D. COOKING STYLES – Mastering many Cooking Styles is another way to increase the diversity of your meals. Brush up on your cooking skills by not only practicing the various Styles of Cooking, but also by paying close attention to the details of the cooking process, what each Cooking Style does to your food and the resulting appearance, taste & texture. Xperiment with variations to the standard method (different temperature, time, sequence, combinations, etc.) and observe the results. Learn new Styles as you come across them, and also try your hand at inventing new ways to cook. There are many methods of cooking your food; some more conventional like Baking, Barbecuing, Braising, Roasting, Stewing and Steaming. Some are more exotic like cooking meat on a slab of hot stone. So do try out the various cooking styles on your favorite foods and discover which are to your liking. Also Xperiment with combinations; for example you can first steam a lobster, then cut it open and put some cheese in before grilling for a short while to melt and brown the cheese sauce. Think of new ways to cook, after all its just applying heat to food. You can also broaden your knowledge and skills by observing how people of various lands cook their meals in special ways when you travel.
E. PRESENTATION – The final element is how you serve up the feast that you have prepared. Food Presentation is the art of making your meals visually appealing. Since the objective is to serve up something that will look good, Xperiment with what you think will look nice when assembled together. If you want to keep it simple, just focus on the dish and what is to be put on it. If you want to pull out all the stops, then go with a theme of your choice and dress up everything, including the dining room. Let’s run through some ideas to move you along . . . On the simple end of the scale, all you need to do is select a suitable bowl or plate and arrange your food on it, then add something to garnish. The easiest is to place all your food onto serving plates for your guest to help themselves. Select large enough bowls and plates, matching if desired, that can hold the amount of food you have prepared. You can fill a serving bowl with soup and sprinkle some chopped spring onions on top to garnish. Fish can be served on an oval plate, or one of those fish shaped dishes, and you can arrange some lettuce and round slices of lemon to decorate. For prawns, try arranging them in a circle on a round plate, and put sauce for dipping right in the center. You can be more creative when you do individual servings. For the main course, you can simply lay out the meat, potatoes and vegetables on different sectors of the plate in a traditional manner; just remember to include ingredients with nice colors and arrange them in your chosen pattern. Try using carrots or tomatoes to add bright orange or red to your dish. Use corn, pasta or potatoes for a dose of yellow. How about tri-color pasta to really mix up the colors? Appetizers and deserts are my favorites as you can really let your imagination go . . . and come up with really delightful creations. Try using a Burgundy wine glass for your shrimp cocktail, then plant a stick of celery with the leafy end up on one side and garnish the lip of the glass with a circular slice of lemon for a lovely presentation of this favorite appetizer. Now go forth and create visual masterpieces to serve your guests; they will surely be astonished at your work of art. If you need more ideas, you can always look at how the chefs at your local restaurants present their dishes, or you can flip thru food magazines, or surf the internet for tons of ideas to get you on your way.
Now that you know the Secrets to Xperimental Cooking, all you need to do is to start cooking; after all, as the saying goes . . . “Practice Makes Perfect”.
Why cheesecakes make the perfect gift
Cheesecake makes a perfect gift. There are guidelines that should be followed when choosing the perfect gift. For one thing, the gift should be chosen specifically for a certain individual whose tastes are known to you. If you are not well acquainted with the recipient, you must give a general-type of gift that will not offend. Another guideline for choosing the perfect gift is that the gift must fit, and most important, if the recipient doesn't like the gift, it must be passed on to someone else.
Do you know anyone who doesn't like cheesecake and wouldn't consider it the perfect gift? For gift-giving occasions the ultimate gift is one that is adored and can be shared with others, and this makes cheesecake the perfect gift. Even if the recipient is on a low fat, no fat, no sugar or no
carb diet, cheesecake is the perfect gift because it can be made to adhere to almost any diet by carefully choosing the ingredients. In today's society there is almost no limit to the availability and variety of ingredients that go into a cheesecake.
Can you imagine the pleasure on the face of that special someone on whom you have bestowed a freshly made cheesecake? Add a few different toppings such as a variety of fruit toppings and streusels to adorn the cheesecake and you have created the perfect cheesecake gift. There are different varieties of cheesecakes such as the original New
York Cheesecake, which is probably the most well known of all the varieties.
Create a cheesecake in your own kitchen and present it in a special dish to a special person. When you see the pleasure on their face, you'll know that cheesecake makes the perfect gift.
Do you know anyone who doesn't like cheesecake and wouldn't consider it the perfect gift? For gift-giving occasions the ultimate gift is one that is adored and can be shared with others, and this makes cheesecake the perfect gift. Even if the recipient is on a low fat, no fat, no sugar or no
carb diet, cheesecake is the perfect gift because it can be made to adhere to almost any diet by carefully choosing the ingredients. In today's society there is almost no limit to the availability and variety of ingredients that go into a cheesecake.
Can you imagine the pleasure on the face of that special someone on whom you have bestowed a freshly made cheesecake? Add a few different toppings such as a variety of fruit toppings and streusels to adorn the cheesecake and you have created the perfect cheesecake gift. There are different varieties of cheesecakes such as the original New
York Cheesecake, which is probably the most well known of all the varieties.
Create a cheesecake in your own kitchen and present it in a special dish to a special person. When you see the pleasure on their face, you'll know that cheesecake makes the perfect gift.
Send a Cheesecake to someone special today.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
The Whole Truth About Fading Acne Scars
Unsightly scars that appear on the face are usually the result of severe acne. Cystic acne or common acne that has ruptured are the main causes. It is a common problem that most people desire to have corrected as soon as their acne finally clears up. There is the option to have a procedure done in a doctor's office to fade acne scars, as well as things you can do yourself at home.
Some people would be pleased with the appearance of their face if only they could just find a way to fade their acne scars. These are usually attention-drawing red or purple and are hard to cover up. Since scars are permanent, it is desirable to find a way to lessen their appearance. There are over-the-counter creams that can gradually fade acne scars. Mederma is available without prescription and even offers a money-back guarantee. It doesn't claim to completely rid your face of scars, but it will visibly fade them. Mederma is expensive but one tube can go a long way. And if the scar fades then repeated usage is not necessary. If the scar is indented, the appearance of the scar is mainly caused by the shadow. The way this is treated it through basic collagen injections.
There are skin resurfacing treatments available that can reduce the visibility of acne scars. They usually require more than one visit and could become expensive. The common procedures done to fade acne scars are dermabrasion and laser treatment. The long-term safety of laser treatment is uncertain so there has been controversy and debate surrounding this procedure. Dermabrasion is safe but you will have to endure recovery afterwards.
Daily exfoliation and application of Vitamin E oil is an effective way to fade acne scars cheaply at home. Most people do not want to spend a lot of money on something cosmetic and this is a very safe way. The longer the scar has been present, the more difficult it will be to alter its appearance. It may be possible to fade acne scars at home if they are mild. Lemon juice has been a success in fading scars for many people. The citric acid that it contains help to remove dead skin cells, increase skin elasticity, and help new cell growth. It could be irritating for people with sensitive skin but it will most likely fade the scars. Aloe Vera is also known for its healing ability and could also help to fade scars. The best aloe to use is determined by how much of it is combined with inactive ingredients that can dilute the healing properties.
An exfoliating serum that you can purchase is the Bliss Sleeping Pill Serum. It uses amino acids to exfoliate you skin and lighten dark scars. Another over-the-counter way to fade acne scars is with a product called Advance Complex Fade Gel. It is used for treatment of dark spots, such as scars, and is specially formulated for people with dark skin. It also contains sunscreen to keep the dark spots from ever coming back.
Resource guide for natural acne treatment.
eClass on total acne treatment.
Some people would be pleased with the appearance of their face if only they could just find a way to fade their acne scars. These are usually attention-drawing red or purple and are hard to cover up. Since scars are permanent, it is desirable to find a way to lessen their appearance. There are over-the-counter creams that can gradually fade acne scars. Mederma is available without prescription and even offers a money-back guarantee. It doesn't claim to completely rid your face of scars, but it will visibly fade them. Mederma is expensive but one tube can go a long way. And if the scar fades then repeated usage is not necessary. If the scar is indented, the appearance of the scar is mainly caused by the shadow. The way this is treated it through basic collagen injections.
There are skin resurfacing treatments available that can reduce the visibility of acne scars. They usually require more than one visit and could become expensive. The common procedures done to fade acne scars are dermabrasion and laser treatment. The long-term safety of laser treatment is uncertain so there has been controversy and debate surrounding this procedure. Dermabrasion is safe but you will have to endure recovery afterwards.
Daily exfoliation and application of Vitamin E oil is an effective way to fade acne scars cheaply at home. Most people do not want to spend a lot of money on something cosmetic and this is a very safe way. The longer the scar has been present, the more difficult it will be to alter its appearance. It may be possible to fade acne scars at home if they are mild. Lemon juice has been a success in fading scars for many people. The citric acid that it contains help to remove dead skin cells, increase skin elasticity, and help new cell growth. It could be irritating for people with sensitive skin but it will most likely fade the scars. Aloe Vera is also known for its healing ability and could also help to fade scars. The best aloe to use is determined by how much of it is combined with inactive ingredients that can dilute the healing properties.
An exfoliating serum that you can purchase is the Bliss Sleeping Pill Serum. It uses amino acids to exfoliate you skin and lighten dark scars. Another over-the-counter way to fade acne scars is with a product called Advance Complex Fade Gel. It is used for treatment of dark spots, such as scars, and is specially formulated for people with dark skin. It also contains sunscreen to keep the dark spots from ever coming back.
Resource guide for natural acne treatment.
eClass on total acne treatment.
The Whole Truth About Acne Home Remedies
A lot of people suffer from acne. Anyone with acne has one goal in mind: to get rid of it. The severity of the condition will vary between people, as will the effectiveness of certain treatments. You shouldn't have to deal with the embarrassment of blemishes on your face. The prescription and over-the-counter medications vary in price and effectiveness toward your skin. But why not try a few acne home remedies first? You may find something that works for you from your very own bathroom or kitchen.
The main purpose of an acne medication is to unclog your pores and calm inflammation. Acne home remedies are usually not for extreme cases, but more aimed at the mild to occasional blemishes. Some acne home remedies sound a little silly, and are not tested or proven by a real dermatologist. Some home remedies may worsen your condition or not effect it at all. You should be aware of this possibility before you try any of these. Common acne home remedies include: salt water, toothpaste, egg whites, ice, apple cider vinegar, steam, or wheat germ.
Washing your face with warm, mild salt water dries up excess acne-inducing oils. The advantage to using this instead of a normal soap to wash your face is that it is less likely to aggravate the acne or your skin.
Applying a bit of toothpaste on a visible pimple before you go to sleep helps reduce swelling. It also keeps the area free of oils that could make the spot worse. Be sure to use an actual paste because a gel will not have the same effect. This is the most common of all the acne home remedies.
Dab egg whites on a pimple that is already on the surface. If you leave it on overnight, it is said to draw out the infection and speed up the healing process.
Holding a cube of ice on acne before bed should visibly decrease the inflammation and swelling. It may also reduce the chances of scarring after your skin has cleared up.
Placing a cotton ball into apple cider Vinegar and then applying it to your infected area will almost instantly reduce swelling. This works especially well for large inflamed spots.
You are always advised not to squeeze any pimples, however, blackheads will not go away on their own. Opening your pores using steam to can assist you when you are cleaning your face. Take a hot shower or put your head over the vapors of a boiling pot of water.
Wheat germ, which can be found in most stores, is one of the only acne home remedies taken internally. Taking wheat germ with one meal a day can clear your acne and leave your skin softer than it was before because it is rich in helpful vitamins.
The most commonly effective acne home remedies are found in most homes. The benefit of experimenting with these on your blemishes is that you don't have to go out and buy anything. If it doesn't work, you didn't waste any money in the process. If it does help the condition of your acne, then you have a great, cheap solution to your problem.
The main purpose of an acne medication is to unclog your pores and calm inflammation. Acne home remedies are usually not for extreme cases, but more aimed at the mild to occasional blemishes. Some acne home remedies sound a little silly, and are not tested or proven by a real dermatologist. Some home remedies may worsen your condition or not effect it at all. You should be aware of this possibility before you try any of these. Common acne home remedies include: salt water, toothpaste, egg whites, ice, apple cider vinegar, steam, or wheat germ.
Washing your face with warm, mild salt water dries up excess acne-inducing oils. The advantage to using this instead of a normal soap to wash your face is that it is less likely to aggravate the acne or your skin.
Applying a bit of toothpaste on a visible pimple before you go to sleep helps reduce swelling. It also keeps the area free of oils that could make the spot worse. Be sure to use an actual paste because a gel will not have the same effect. This is the most common of all the acne home remedies.
Dab egg whites on a pimple that is already on the surface. If you leave it on overnight, it is said to draw out the infection and speed up the healing process.
Holding a cube of ice on acne before bed should visibly decrease the inflammation and swelling. It may also reduce the chances of scarring after your skin has cleared up.
Placing a cotton ball into apple cider Vinegar and then applying it to your infected area will almost instantly reduce swelling. This works especially well for large inflamed spots.
You are always advised not to squeeze any pimples, however, blackheads will not go away on their own. Opening your pores using steam to can assist you when you are cleaning your face. Take a hot shower or put your head over the vapors of a boiling pot of water.
Wheat germ, which can be found in most stores, is one of the only acne home remedies taken internally. Taking wheat germ with one meal a day can clear your acne and leave your skin softer than it was before because it is rich in helpful vitamins.
The most commonly effective acne home remedies are found in most homes. The benefit of experimenting with these on your blemishes is that you don't have to go out and buy anything. If it doesn't work, you didn't waste any money in the process. If it does help the condition of your acne, then you have a great, cheap solution to your problem.
Friday, April 16, 2010
The Holosync Solution. Does It Even Work?
The benefits of practising deep meditation are enormous. Apart from reducing stress and anxiety it can produce amazing effects in the body and eliminate negativity from the mind. However it usually takes a lifetime to perfect through hours of daily pratise.
What if you could gain access to a new technology that would put you into such a deep meditative state within minutes, would you be interested?
I am about to introduce you to a relatively new technology that uses Binaural Beats. This technology is cutting-edge and can bring you all the benefits that would otherwise take you 30 years to acquire! I am talking about a meditation program by Centerpointe Research Institute called Holosync. You are about to discover the origins and workings of this technology as well as the benefits and pitfalls it offers.
Unlike other binaural beats recordings Holosync is a course and not a single recording. It is possible to purchase binaural beat recordings designed for a single purpose. They come in the form of CD and each one is designed to produce just one specific state. However Holosync is very different. The major affect that Holosync promises to produce is the elimination of past negative programing such as traumas, strong and slight emotional issues, negative memories and negative beliefs of all kinds.
Does it work?
To get a comprehensive answer to this question we are required to delve a little deeper into the technology itself and look at the foundation upon which Holosync is built. The technology behind this is Binuaral Beats audio recordings.
It was in 1839 that Binaural Beats were first discovered by a man named Heinrich Wilhelm Dove. However it was much later, in 1973, when Gerald Oster released a paper called "Auditory Beats in the Brain", that their use in cognitive and neurological research was discovered. These beats are in fact different specific frequencies giving to the left and right ear. The audio produced by using binaural beats can send anyone into a deep meditative state in just a few short minutes. These states are Alpha (light trance), Theta (deep trance) and Delta (dreamless sleep).
Binaural Beats are created by an audio mixing technique that sends different frequency tones to each ear separately. They are designed to alter the listener's brain wave activity and they do this very effectively. You merely put on some stereo headphones, sit or lie in a comfortable position, close your eyes and allow the sounds to do their work. You don't even have to force yourself to relax.
Scientists have long known that when brainwave patterns change they affect the body. Chemical reactions take place as a direct result of these chnaging brainwave patterns. Such reactions in the body's chemistry usually results in profound positive changes throughout the whole physical system. In essence binaural beats appear to have the same impact and benefits of very deep meditation. It has been shown that this technology produces exactly the same brainwave patterns as those practising deep meditation. This is fantastic news because without the aid of this audio technology it usually takes a lifetime to perfect transcendental meditation. In fact entering even light states of trance can take years to learn and perfect.
The enormous benefits of transcendental meditation been documented by scientists across the world. It can stimulate the creation of certain hormones needed by the body and reduce things like blood pressure and it is even said to slow down and reverse effects of the aging process. So the benefits of entering a deep meditative state are apparent as are the benefits of using binaural beat technology to do it.
As far as Holosync goes the other major benefit, as if we needed one more, is that the state produced by the Centerpointe recordings allow you to directly access the subconscious mind.
Beacuse of this you can use Centerpointe's Holosync Solution along with any other self improvement tool. Your old subliminal resordings or hypnosis CDs can have a greater impact than ever before. You can even use the sound technology to increase your visualization skills. Using this type of 21st Century technology means you can therefore alter limiting or negative beliefs, heal emotional issues or create new positive behaviours in a fraction of the time it would take you using conventional means and with a much higher success rate.
Here are some of the benefits of transcendental meditation:
1. Creates a deep relaxing feeling throughout the body which stays with you for hours afterwards.
2. Boosts your creativity.
3. Slows aging.
4. Removes emotional blocks, old traumas and creates profound emotional changes at an extremely deep level.
5. Eliminates Stress & anxiety.
Now with all the benefits that transcendental meditation brings, and the fact that Holosync produces the same internal states as this meditation, it would be extremely prudent to try it. The real power of the binaural beats behind the Holosync recordings is that they can be used to induce a meditative state and thus create these changes with no effort whatsoever. All that you need to do is wear stereo headphones, sit or lie down in a relaxing position, close your eyes and allow the audio to do all the work. You only need the discipline to listen to the recordings everyday!
The Binaural Beat market is filling up with manufacturer's who offer some great titles. It is also possible to create your own with the proper software. However, this is where the danger lies! You need an in-depth knowledge of brainwave patterns and their effect on the mind and body in order to create the correct frequencies. There are several forum postings that state the improper use of binaural beat technologies has created negative and even damaging results on some people. This is why it is imperative to seek out professionals who know what they are doing and are properly qualified.
The CEnterpointe Research Institute, and the Holosync Solution which it produces, are the brainchild of Bill Harris. He created Holosync in 1989, is trained in hypnosis and as well as being a qualified trainer of NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming). He has studied contemporary psychology, quantum mechanical physics, the evolution of non-linear systems and the effects of a wide range of neuro-technologies on human behavioural change, evolution and healing. There are many personal development and self improvement coaches who endorse and personally use the Holosync Solution. You may recognise two of them - James Ray from the movie The Secret and Jack Canfield, author of Chicken Soup for the Soul.
The downside of the Holosync technology is that you need to listen to it everyday to get maximum benefit and it also comes in stages as a course. However, Bill Harris insists that you do not need to continue using it and can stop after each stage of the course is complete while permanently retaining all the changes you've made. It is possible, and advisable, to continue through all the stages of the course to reach a place of imperturbabilty. The Holosync solution, by Centerpointe, does create deep states akin to meditation and it does remove emotional traumas that are hidden deep in the subconscious mind. In fact it does exactly what it says it will do.
What if you could gain access to a new technology that would put you into such a deep meditative state within minutes, would you be interested?
I am about to introduce you to a relatively new technology that uses Binaural Beats. This technology is cutting-edge and can bring you all the benefits that would otherwise take you 30 years to acquire! I am talking about a meditation program by Centerpointe Research Institute called Holosync. You are about to discover the origins and workings of this technology as well as the benefits and pitfalls it offers.
Unlike other binaural beats recordings Holosync is a course and not a single recording. It is possible to purchase binaural beat recordings designed for a single purpose. They come in the form of CD and each one is designed to produce just one specific state. However Holosync is very different. The major affect that Holosync promises to produce is the elimination of past negative programing such as traumas, strong and slight emotional issues, negative memories and negative beliefs of all kinds.
Does it work?
To get a comprehensive answer to this question we are required to delve a little deeper into the technology itself and look at the foundation upon which Holosync is built. The technology behind this is Binuaral Beats audio recordings.
It was in 1839 that Binaural Beats were first discovered by a man named Heinrich Wilhelm Dove. However it was much later, in 1973, when Gerald Oster released a paper called "Auditory Beats in the Brain", that their use in cognitive and neurological research was discovered. These beats are in fact different specific frequencies giving to the left and right ear. The audio produced by using binaural beats can send anyone into a deep meditative state in just a few short minutes. These states are Alpha (light trance), Theta (deep trance) and Delta (dreamless sleep).
Binaural Beats are created by an audio mixing technique that sends different frequency tones to each ear separately. They are designed to alter the listener's brain wave activity and they do this very effectively. You merely put on some stereo headphones, sit or lie in a comfortable position, close your eyes and allow the sounds to do their work. You don't even have to force yourself to relax.
Scientists have long known that when brainwave patterns change they affect the body. Chemical reactions take place as a direct result of these chnaging brainwave patterns. Such reactions in the body's chemistry usually results in profound positive changes throughout the whole physical system. In essence binaural beats appear to have the same impact and benefits of very deep meditation. It has been shown that this technology produces exactly the same brainwave patterns as those practising deep meditation. This is fantastic news because without the aid of this audio technology it usually takes a lifetime to perfect transcendental meditation. In fact entering even light states of trance can take years to learn and perfect.
The enormous benefits of transcendental meditation been documented by scientists across the world. It can stimulate the creation of certain hormones needed by the body and reduce things like blood pressure and it is even said to slow down and reverse effects of the aging process. So the benefits of entering a deep meditative state are apparent as are the benefits of using binaural beat technology to do it.
As far as Holosync goes the other major benefit, as if we needed one more, is that the state produced by the Centerpointe recordings allow you to directly access the subconscious mind.
Beacuse of this you can use Centerpointe's Holosync Solution along with any other self improvement tool. Your old subliminal resordings or hypnosis CDs can have a greater impact than ever before. You can even use the sound technology to increase your visualization skills. Using this type of 21st Century technology means you can therefore alter limiting or negative beliefs, heal emotional issues or create new positive behaviours in a fraction of the time it would take you using conventional means and with a much higher success rate.
Here are some of the benefits of transcendental meditation:
1. Creates a deep relaxing feeling throughout the body which stays with you for hours afterwards.
2. Boosts your creativity.
3. Slows aging.
4. Removes emotional blocks, old traumas and creates profound emotional changes at an extremely deep level.
5. Eliminates Stress & anxiety.
Now with all the benefits that transcendental meditation brings, and the fact that Holosync produces the same internal states as this meditation, it would be extremely prudent to try it. The real power of the binaural beats behind the Holosync recordings is that they can be used to induce a meditative state and thus create these changes with no effort whatsoever. All that you need to do is wear stereo headphones, sit or lie down in a relaxing position, close your eyes and allow the audio to do all the work. You only need the discipline to listen to the recordings everyday!
The Binaural Beat market is filling up with manufacturer's who offer some great titles. It is also possible to create your own with the proper software. However, this is where the danger lies! You need an in-depth knowledge of brainwave patterns and their effect on the mind and body in order to create the correct frequencies. There are several forum postings that state the improper use of binaural beat technologies has created negative and even damaging results on some people. This is why it is imperative to seek out professionals who know what they are doing and are properly qualified.
The CEnterpointe Research Institute, and the Holosync Solution which it produces, are the brainchild of Bill Harris. He created Holosync in 1989, is trained in hypnosis and as well as being a qualified trainer of NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming). He has studied contemporary psychology, quantum mechanical physics, the evolution of non-linear systems and the effects of a wide range of neuro-technologies on human behavioural change, evolution and healing. There are many personal development and self improvement coaches who endorse and personally use the Holosync Solution. You may recognise two of them - James Ray from the movie The Secret and Jack Canfield, author of Chicken Soup for the Soul.
The downside of the Holosync technology is that you need to listen to it everyday to get maximum benefit and it also comes in stages as a course. However, Bill Harris insists that you do not need to continue using it and can stop after each stage of the course is complete while permanently retaining all the changes you've made. It is possible, and advisable, to continue through all the stages of the course to reach a place of imperturbabilty. The Holosync solution, by Centerpointe, does create deep states akin to meditation and it does remove emotional traumas that are hidden deep in the subconscious mind. In fact it does exactly what it says it will do.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
BUILDING A FISH POND FOR YOUR OWN BACKYARD GARDEN
DIYs
Building the perfect pond for your backyard garden can
be a do-it yourself activity or you can hire a
professional to do it for you. It's really not that
hard but does require some research and certain
knowledge about landscaping in order to get it right.
You need to get a good book and read up on it or ask
some friends and professionals about the idea of
building a pond in your garden. For now, here is a
brief discussion on how to build that pond that you’ve
always wanted in your garden.
Situate the Pond
Basically the first step to building a pond is to find
a suitable spot to dig a hole in your garden. The size
and depth of the pond should be proportional to size
of your garden. A liner will also be needed for the
pond. You can buy and place a prefabricated fiberglass
piece or have the choice free forming your pond with
rubber roofing material or similar to it. In any case,
a liner is a must for ponds to keep the water from
draining.
If you are planning to breed fishes in the pond, you
need to consider the depth. You have to make sure that
the pond is deep enough for the fishes. In colder
climates, the pond should be deeper than the frost
line and making sure that the fishes have still enough
room to go to.
Ponds should not be placed near trees, shaded, or low
areas. Plant life, especially lilies, and fishes need
the warmth of the sun. Falling leaves can also
accumulate fast and cause a cleaning nightmare. Low
areas cause large volume of rainwater runoff to enter
the pond. Rainwater runoff may contain chemicals
coming from pesticides and fertilizers which can be
harmful to pond plants and fishes.
Filtration
Building a pond also requires the owners to put some
thought on how to filter off the waste that
accumulates in it. A good thing to remember is that
the bigger the water area the better it can handle the
waste coming from the fishes. Keep in mind that you
will need to put some kind of substrate or gravel so
that a bacteria bed can build up and help maintain the
water in good quality. You can buy good filters and
gravel in your local pet stores.
If you are building a pond to keep a school of gold
fish or other kinds of fishes, wait until you have
covered the bottom with gravel and placed a good
filtering machine. Like an aquarium or a fish tank,
you should introduce a fish to the pond one at a time.
Allow some time for the environment of the pond to
adjust with the population. If you dump all of the
fish you intend to place in the pond, they probably
would not survive the environment because the natural
filtering of the bacteria will not be able to handle
the waste of the fishes and their food.
Filters can also help to ensure that your pond doesn’t
become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Mosquitoes
lay their eggs on still waters, so anything that
agitates the eggs will help prevent the pond to become
a breeding ground. Filters help maintain the waters
clean but regular cleaning is still needed to maintain
the quality of the pond.
Building the perfect pond for your backyard garden can
be a do-it yourself activity or you can hire a
professional to do it for you. It's really not that
hard but does require some research and certain
knowledge about landscaping in order to get it right.
You need to get a good book and read up on it or ask
some friends and professionals about the idea of
building a pond in your garden. For now, here is a
brief discussion on how to build that pond that you’ve
always wanted in your garden.
Situate the Pond
Basically the first step to building a pond is to find
a suitable spot to dig a hole in your garden. The size
and depth of the pond should be proportional to size
of your garden. A liner will also be needed for the
pond. You can buy and place a prefabricated fiberglass
piece or have the choice free forming your pond with
rubber roofing material or similar to it. In any case,
a liner is a must for ponds to keep the water from
draining.
If you are planning to breed fishes in the pond, you
need to consider the depth. You have to make sure that
the pond is deep enough for the fishes. In colder
climates, the pond should be deeper than the frost
line and making sure that the fishes have still enough
room to go to.
Ponds should not be placed near trees, shaded, or low
areas. Plant life, especially lilies, and fishes need
the warmth of the sun. Falling leaves can also
accumulate fast and cause a cleaning nightmare. Low
areas cause large volume of rainwater runoff to enter
the pond. Rainwater runoff may contain chemicals
coming from pesticides and fertilizers which can be
harmful to pond plants and fishes.
Filtration
Building a pond also requires the owners to put some
thought on how to filter off the waste that
accumulates in it. A good thing to remember is that
the bigger the water area the better it can handle the
waste coming from the fishes. Keep in mind that you
will need to put some kind of substrate or gravel so
that a bacteria bed can build up and help maintain the
water in good quality. You can buy good filters and
gravel in your local pet stores.
If you are building a pond to keep a school of gold
fish or other kinds of fishes, wait until you have
covered the bottom with gravel and placed a good
filtering machine. Like an aquarium or a fish tank,
you should introduce a fish to the pond one at a time.
Allow some time for the environment of the pond to
adjust with the population. If you dump all of the
fish you intend to place in the pond, they probably
would not survive the environment because the natural
filtering of the bacteria will not be able to handle
the waste of the fishes and their food.
Filters can also help to ensure that your pond doesn’t
become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Mosquitoes
lay their eggs on still waters, so anything that
agitates the eggs will help prevent the pond to become
a breeding ground. Filters help maintain the waters
clean but regular cleaning is still needed to maintain
the quality of the pond.
BACKYARD FISH PONDS: A HOW TO
Aesthetics
Recently, one of the most popular backyard designs is
adding a water pond or a fish pond to the yard. These
projects, however, can only be achieved in sprawling
and huge yards that has walkways and large areas.
But if you are really certain to have your own fish
pond and yet you do not have a large back yard, there
are design ideas that can be incorporated to hopefully
place your pond in it without having to take up too
much space and dominate your yard.
Let your pond serve as the focal point of your back
yard. Place it in the middle or in one corner of the
yard if you have a small space. Make it appealing to
the people walking around the house.
Location
If you wish to place it in the corner part of the
yard, raise the pond a little higher so that the fish
will seem as a surprise to the visitors. But if you
want to place it in the center, it is best if you
place the pond at ground level or a little above it.
Fish Types
Make sure that the fish you put inside are colorful
and lively to attract attention. Watching the fishes
swim around everyday can also serve to be therapeutic.
But if you want to maintain a small pond, do not place
large fishes such as the Japanese Koi. They may not
live long in this kind of environment and they are
also extremely expensive. Goldfish are compatible with
the size of your pond, however, their longevity might
not be a guaranteed in an outdoor pond.
Maintenance
Think how much you really want an outdoor pond and how
you can maintain and build it depending on your
preferences. You might find that maintaining an indoor
aquarium is difficult enough, how much more an outdoor
pond.
Consider the climate of your place. Water ponds and
fish ponds are most applicable in tropical weather
because of the advantage of the sun all year round.
Some aquatic plants need to be exposed to the sun to
grow. The plants and fishes may die if you let them
stay in the pond during winter time. it is best to
transfer them to an indoor tank if the weather is not
applicable.
A fish pond in your own backyard only tells an
individual how much energy, time, and money you are
willing to devote to the beautification of your
backyard. It does not matter how large or how small it
is, it just goes to show that you appreciate beautiful
things. You will not only impress a lot of people but
yourself as well. A back yard fish pond brings a
luxurious and relaxing feeling to the place.
In order to make your fish pond more appealing,
decorate its surroundings. Landscaping the place will
attract frogs and birds which can add to the overall
natural feeling. If you cannot afford landscaping
projects, hanging plants and flowering bushes will do.
This will produce a great ambiance to your visitors
and guests.
Having a fish pond is not a go-get-it-and-have-it
project. You have to maintain and preserve its beauty
time and again. Make sure to add water to it
periodically. It is also important that you get rid of
fallen leaves as this will cause decay and unpleasant
appearance.
Lastly, consult your local pond professionals before
building a pond yourself. Do not hesitate to ask
questions as this will benefit the inhabitants of the
pond.
Recently, one of the most popular backyard designs is
adding a water pond or a fish pond to the yard. These
projects, however, can only be achieved in sprawling
and huge yards that has walkways and large areas.
But if you are really certain to have your own fish
pond and yet you do not have a large back yard, there
are design ideas that can be incorporated to hopefully
place your pond in it without having to take up too
much space and dominate your yard.
Let your pond serve as the focal point of your back
yard. Place it in the middle or in one corner of the
yard if you have a small space. Make it appealing to
the people walking around the house.
Location
If you wish to place it in the corner part of the
yard, raise the pond a little higher so that the fish
will seem as a surprise to the visitors. But if you
want to place it in the center, it is best if you
place the pond at ground level or a little above it.
Fish Types
Make sure that the fish you put inside are colorful
and lively to attract attention. Watching the fishes
swim around everyday can also serve to be therapeutic.
But if you want to maintain a small pond, do not place
large fishes such as the Japanese Koi. They may not
live long in this kind of environment and they are
also extremely expensive. Goldfish are compatible with
the size of your pond, however, their longevity might
not be a guaranteed in an outdoor pond.
Maintenance
Think how much you really want an outdoor pond and how
you can maintain and build it depending on your
preferences. You might find that maintaining an indoor
aquarium is difficult enough, how much more an outdoor
pond.
Consider the climate of your place. Water ponds and
fish ponds are most applicable in tropical weather
because of the advantage of the sun all year round.
Some aquatic plants need to be exposed to the sun to
grow. The plants and fishes may die if you let them
stay in the pond during winter time. it is best to
transfer them to an indoor tank if the weather is not
applicable.
A fish pond in your own backyard only tells an
individual how much energy, time, and money you are
willing to devote to the beautification of your
backyard. It does not matter how large or how small it
is, it just goes to show that you appreciate beautiful
things. You will not only impress a lot of people but
yourself as well. A back yard fish pond brings a
luxurious and relaxing feeling to the place.
In order to make your fish pond more appealing,
decorate its surroundings. Landscaping the place will
attract frogs and birds which can add to the overall
natural feeling. If you cannot afford landscaping
projects, hanging plants and flowering bushes will do.
This will produce a great ambiance to your visitors
and guests.
Having a fish pond is not a go-get-it-and-have-it
project. You have to maintain and preserve its beauty
time and again. Make sure to add water to it
periodically. It is also important that you get rid of
fallen leaves as this will cause decay and unpleasant
appearance.
Lastly, consult your local pond professionals before
building a pond yourself. Do not hesitate to ask
questions as this will benefit the inhabitants of the
pond.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Robotic Lawn Mowers Keep Burglars Away
Most motor home owners are concerned about what they are coming home to, or rather what they might not be coming home to, after a long trip. We notify the neighbors, plug-in the timers on the lights and set the alarm system as we walk out the door. Our biggest concern was not our landscaper, but the people he hired to help.
Let’s face it, most landscapers are not going to do a thorough criminal background check on their help. It was probably the weakest link in our home protection scheme, after all it is obvious when nobody’s home. A few times seeing the RV and occupants missing is an invitation to the less scrupulous.
We saw an advertisement for a robotic lawn mower on the internet and figured we’d give it a try. It worked out better than we expected. In fact, it worked out so well I decided to start selling them. Like 80% of robotic lawn mower owners, we gave it a name, Moe.
We have the best neighbors anyone can ask for, okay the nosiest neighbors any can stand to live near. Now not only do they watch the house while we are gone, they watch Moe while we are home.
It has been more than six months since we set Moe loose in the yard and I still get almost daily reports of where it went and what it bumped into and the, “I thought for sure it was going to..” If Nielsen started rating Moe it’d probably rank above the Braves games in our neighborhood. Woe be the neighbor who missed a Moe outing!
Moe doesn’t trim hedges and doesn’t weed eat or edge, but it does a very good job keeping the yard cut. When we are going to be gone for any length of time we have a neighbor kid come over and weed eat. The hedges only need to be taken care of twice a year, so we do that ourselves.
We hadn’t missed the money we were paying the lawn service, but we noticed it when we stopped. It was like a nice little tax-free pay raise. It was so pleasurable that next year we are going to stop paying the mortgage.
We also hadn’t noticed until recently, it is kind of nice when some one else is taking care of the yard, but there is a bit of stress as well. When strangers are in and around the house- whether we are home or not- just makes both of us a little bit nervous.
This way we have the best of both worlds, the yard is professionally being taking care of and you can hardly call Moe a stranger.
Now if we can only get our neighbors to get one!
Let’s face it, most landscapers are not going to do a thorough criminal background check on their help. It was probably the weakest link in our home protection scheme, after all it is obvious when nobody’s home. A few times seeing the RV and occupants missing is an invitation to the less scrupulous.
We saw an advertisement for a robotic lawn mower on the internet and figured we’d give it a try. It worked out better than we expected. In fact, it worked out so well I decided to start selling them. Like 80% of robotic lawn mower owners, we gave it a name, Moe.
We have the best neighbors anyone can ask for, okay the nosiest neighbors any can stand to live near. Now not only do they watch the house while we are gone, they watch Moe while we are home.
It has been more than six months since we set Moe loose in the yard and I still get almost daily reports of where it went and what it bumped into and the, “I thought for sure it was going to..” If Nielsen started rating Moe it’d probably rank above the Braves games in our neighborhood. Woe be the neighbor who missed a Moe outing!
Moe doesn’t trim hedges and doesn’t weed eat or edge, but it does a very good job keeping the yard cut. When we are going to be gone for any length of time we have a neighbor kid come over and weed eat. The hedges only need to be taken care of twice a year, so we do that ourselves.
We hadn’t missed the money we were paying the lawn service, but we noticed it when we stopped. It was like a nice little tax-free pay raise. It was so pleasurable that next year we are going to stop paying the mortgage.
We also hadn’t noticed until recently, it is kind of nice when some one else is taking care of the yard, but there is a bit of stress as well. When strangers are in and around the house- whether we are home or not- just makes both of us a little bit nervous.
This way we have the best of both worlds, the yard is professionally being taking care of and you can hardly call Moe a stranger.
Now if we can only get our neighbors to get one!
How To Prevent Divorce
The failure of marriage may be the cause of inconsistency among couples in communicating and interacting with one another both physically and emotionally. Couples tend to hate each other when they do not compromise each other’s mistakes. This often leads to unhappy marriages and even result to divorce.
Adultery is one reason why a marriage can lead to a divorce. Records show that the involvement of the spouse in an adulterous affair could trigger the separation and the spouse has the legal chance to file for divorce cases. Some people may think that adultery has little impact on divorce. Some believe that it is a symptom for a divorce. Adultery is an act of abuse, damaging both the emotional and physical aspect of the relationship.
The crud could be one reason why a couple resorts to divorce. There are times that even when the couple lives together, both could no longer feel the presence of each other in terms of the emotional aspect of their relationship. The lack of love and affection triggers a couple in grueling conflicts and physical abuse, which leads to divorce. Here are some tips on how husbands and wives can prevent divorce.
1. A couple must deal on all conflicting issues. It could be better for a couple to talk about their problems and be open to one another’s opinion. In this way, the couple may find ways on how they will resolve the problem.
2. Make some value on mutual interests. Couples who want to prevent divorce may find ways to have some moments where they can spend time and evaluate their emotions. They should make some effort to make it up for some lost time together.
3. A person always has the option to choose the person that could be right for him. It could be better if the person has the same perspectives and beliefs. This could lessen any irreconcilable differences that would lead to divorce.
4. Make the relationship work as the best of friends instead of just being partners. If there is friendship established within the marriage, there is a strong indication that the marriage can get stronger and even last forever.
5. Learn how to accept any disappointments and failures in the relationship. It can sometimes help when the couple knows all their limitations and imperfections in the marriage. Expressing anger is only normal but they need to make sure that it would only take a little time to release that kind of emotion.
6. It is important to take care of ones physical appearance. Staying beautiful and handsome can spice up the relationship most of the time. However, couples should stay healthy even when there is dieting involved in maintaining a perfect body.
7. Couples should be faithful and honest to one another. To make a long lasting marriage there must be fidelity and honesty in the relationship. They should not tell lies and should be courageous enough n bringing up any problems that may arise.
Always remember that couples are bound together because of love. Divorce may be prevented if couples will always put in mind that their marriage will last long enough and live up to the expectations that they promised to one another when the they exchanged vows. Those who do not agree on divorce are couples who believe that staying together gives them enough reason that marriage is very important as a family.
Adultery is one reason why a marriage can lead to a divorce. Records show that the involvement of the spouse in an adulterous affair could trigger the separation and the spouse has the legal chance to file for divorce cases. Some people may think that adultery has little impact on divorce. Some believe that it is a symptom for a divorce. Adultery is an act of abuse, damaging both the emotional and physical aspect of the relationship.
The crud could be one reason why a couple resorts to divorce. There are times that even when the couple lives together, both could no longer feel the presence of each other in terms of the emotional aspect of their relationship. The lack of love and affection triggers a couple in grueling conflicts and physical abuse, which leads to divorce. Here are some tips on how husbands and wives can prevent divorce.
1. A couple must deal on all conflicting issues. It could be better for a couple to talk about their problems and be open to one another’s opinion. In this way, the couple may find ways on how they will resolve the problem.
2. Make some value on mutual interests. Couples who want to prevent divorce may find ways to have some moments where they can spend time and evaluate their emotions. They should make some effort to make it up for some lost time together.
3. A person always has the option to choose the person that could be right for him. It could be better if the person has the same perspectives and beliefs. This could lessen any irreconcilable differences that would lead to divorce.
4. Make the relationship work as the best of friends instead of just being partners. If there is friendship established within the marriage, there is a strong indication that the marriage can get stronger and even last forever.
5. Learn how to accept any disappointments and failures in the relationship. It can sometimes help when the couple knows all their limitations and imperfections in the marriage. Expressing anger is only normal but they need to make sure that it would only take a little time to release that kind of emotion.
6. It is important to take care of ones physical appearance. Staying beautiful and handsome can spice up the relationship most of the time. However, couples should stay healthy even when there is dieting involved in maintaining a perfect body.
7. Couples should be faithful and honest to one another. To make a long lasting marriage there must be fidelity and honesty in the relationship. They should not tell lies and should be courageous enough n bringing up any problems that may arise.
Always remember that couples are bound together because of love. Divorce may be prevented if couples will always put in mind that their marriage will last long enough and live up to the expectations that they promised to one another when the they exchanged vows. Those who do not agree on divorce are couples who believe that staying together gives them enough reason that marriage is very important as a family.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Improving Yourself Through Self-Hypnosis
Most people are familiar with the term hypnosis, and for many it elicits negative feelings because of how Hollywood projects it through B-rated films. The hypnotist portrayed as a pocket watch waving practitioner assuming complete control over their subject has been a common portrayal that’s still ingrained in the minds of many.
With movies showing people being ‘put under’ and often doing questionable things outside their control, it’s no wonder that many are skeptical, or fearful, of its power to change their lives for the better.
The term hypnosis comes from the Greek word ‘ypnos’, meaning sleep, and this has caused a misconception that when you are hypnotized you are asleep and unconscious. This is simply not the case. When you are under hypnosis, you enter a deeply relaxed state, but you are in fact awake and aware of everything around you.
It is true that when you are in a hypnotic state that you become more susceptible to suggestions, and this where autosuggestion comes to work. Autosuggestion, also known as autogenic training, is a means by which you can train your subconscious mind to focus on and be open to what is being heard. When trying to improve one’s self, this is a good way to get past the mental barriers and doubts that can hold us back from accomplishing our goals.
Those concerned about being hypnotized and made to do something they don’t want to do need not worry, while you may be more susceptible to suggestions being made while in a hypnotic state, you won’t lose the critical defenses and standards you normally have.
If you choose to utilize self hypnosis techniques, here are some things to bear in mind to help you get optimal results from your efforts:
Determine your objectives first.
It’s usually better if you concentrate on one main objective at a time, since this helps you put more focus on it, and thereby increases the probability of success. Do you want to lose a bad habit? Or do you want to excel in a particular field of your academics?
Discipline yourself.
Any self help development program calls for your time and attention. Create a regular schedule for your sessions and find a place where you can be relaxed without disruptions.
The present is what counts.
You should always use the present tense when verbally or mentally affirming your desired goals. Affirmations should start with ‘I am’ and not ‘I will’. Positive affirmations are aimed at making positive changes in your life right now, as in today and right at this moment; therefore they should speak of and in the present.
Practice makes perfect.
While every individual session helps, most self hypnosis techniques take repeated sessions before the affirmations fully ingrain themselves in the listeners subconscious. Depending on your particular program, you may need to continue with a self hypnosis program as long as 30 days in order for the autogenic training to be fully accepted.
Hypnotherapy sessions are powerful ways to train your mind to help you achieve your goals, and despite what the movies might have you believe, are not something that need to be feared.
With movies showing people being ‘put under’ and often doing questionable things outside their control, it’s no wonder that many are skeptical, or fearful, of its power to change their lives for the better.
The term hypnosis comes from the Greek word ‘ypnos’, meaning sleep, and this has caused a misconception that when you are hypnotized you are asleep and unconscious. This is simply not the case. When you are under hypnosis, you enter a deeply relaxed state, but you are in fact awake and aware of everything around you.
It is true that when you are in a hypnotic state that you become more susceptible to suggestions, and this where autosuggestion comes to work. Autosuggestion, also known as autogenic training, is a means by which you can train your subconscious mind to focus on and be open to what is being heard. When trying to improve one’s self, this is a good way to get past the mental barriers and doubts that can hold us back from accomplishing our goals.
Those concerned about being hypnotized and made to do something they don’t want to do need not worry, while you may be more susceptible to suggestions being made while in a hypnotic state, you won’t lose the critical defenses and standards you normally have.
If you choose to utilize self hypnosis techniques, here are some things to bear in mind to help you get optimal results from your efforts:
Determine your objectives first.
It’s usually better if you concentrate on one main objective at a time, since this helps you put more focus on it, and thereby increases the probability of success. Do you want to lose a bad habit? Or do you want to excel in a particular field of your academics?
Discipline yourself.
Any self help development program calls for your time and attention. Create a regular schedule for your sessions and find a place where you can be relaxed without disruptions.
The present is what counts.
You should always use the present tense when verbally or mentally affirming your desired goals. Affirmations should start with ‘I am’ and not ‘I will’. Positive affirmations are aimed at making positive changes in your life right now, as in today and right at this moment; therefore they should speak of and in the present.
Practice makes perfect.
While every individual session helps, most self hypnosis techniques take repeated sessions before the affirmations fully ingrain themselves in the listeners subconscious. Depending on your particular program, you may need to continue with a self hypnosis program as long as 30 days in order for the autogenic training to be fully accepted.
Hypnotherapy sessions are powerful ways to train your mind to help you achieve your goals, and despite what the movies might have you believe, are not something that need to be feared.
On Empathy
The Encyclopaedia Britannica (1999 edition) defines empathy as:
"The ability to imagine oneself in anther's place and understand the other's feelings, desires, ideas, and actions. It is a term coined in the early 20th century, equivalent to the German Einfühlung and modelled on "sympathy." The term is used with special (but not exclusive) reference to aesthetic experience. The most obvious example, perhaps, is that of the actor or singer who genuinely feels the part he is performing. With other works of art, a spectator may, by a kind of introjection, feel himself involved in what he observes or contemplates. The use of empathy is an important part of the counselling technique developed by the American psychologist Carl Rogers."
Empathy is predicated upon and must, therefore, incorporate the following elements:
Imagination which is dependent on the ability to imagine;
The existence of an accessible Self (self-awareness or self-consciousness);
The existence of an available other (other-awareness, recognizing the outside world);
The existence of accessible feelings, desires, ideas and representations of actions or their outcomes both in the empathizing Self ("Empathor") and in the Other, the object of empathy ("Empathee");
The availability of an aesthetic frame of reference;
The availability of a moral frame of reference.
While (a) is presumed to be universally available to all agents (though in varying degrees) - the existence of the other components of empathy should not be taken for granted.
Conditions (b) and (c), for instance, are not satisfied by people who suffer from personality disorders, such as the Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Condition (d) is not met in autistic people (e.g., those who suffer from the Asperger syndrome). Conditions (e) is so totally dependent on the specifics of the culture, period and society in which it exists - that it is rather meaningless and ambiguous as a yardstick. Condition (f) suffer from both afflictions: it is both culture-dependent AND is not satisfied in many people (such as those who suffer from the Antisocial Personality Disorder and who are devoid of any conscience or moral sense).
Thus, the very existence of empathy should be questioned. It is often confused with inter-subjectivity. The latter is defined thus by "The Oxford Companion to Philosophy, 1995":
"This term refers to the status of being somehow accessible to at least two (usually all, in principle) minds or 'subjectivities'. It thus implies that there is some sort of communication between those minds; which in turn implies that each communicating minds aware not only of the existence of the other but also of its intention to convey information to the other. The idea, for theorists, is that if subjective processes can be brought into agreement, then perhaps that is as good as the (unattainable?) status of being objective - completely independent of subjectivity. The question facing such theorists is whether intersubjectivity is definable without presupposing an objective environment in which communication takes place (the 'wiring' from subject A to subject B). At a less fundamental level, however, the need for intersubjective verification of scientific hypotheses has been long recognized". (page 414).
On the face of it, the difference between intersubjectivity and empathy is double:
Intersubjectivity requires an EXPLICIT, communicated agreement between at least two subjects.
It involves EXTERNAL things (so called "objective" entities).
These "differences" are artificial. This how empathy is defined in "Psychology - An Introduction (Ninth Edition) by Charles G. Morris, Prentice Hall, 1996":
"Closely related to the ability to read other people's emotions is empathy - the arousal of an emotion in an observer that is a vicarious response to the other person's situation... Empathy depends not only on one's ability to identify someone else's emotions but also on one's capacity to put oneself in the other person's place and to experience an appropriate emotional response. Just as sensitivity to non-verbal cues increases with age, so does empathy: The cognitive and perceptual abilities required for empathy develop only as a child matures... (page 442)
In empathy training, for example, each member of the couple is taught to share inner feelings and to listen to and understand the partner's feelings before responding to them. The empathy technique focuses the couple's attention on feelings and requires that they spend more time listening and less time in rebuttal." (page 576).
Thus empathy does require the communication of feelings AND an agreement on the appropriate outcome of the communicated emotions (=affective agreement). In the absence of such agreement, we are faced with inappropriate affect (laughing at a funeral, for instance).
Moreover, empathy does relate to external objects and is provoked by them. There is no empathy in the absence of an empathee. Granted, intersubjectivity is intuitively applied to the inanimate while empathy is applied to the living (animals, humans, even plants). But this is a difference in human preferences - not in definition.
Empathy can, thus, be re-defined as a form of intersubjectivity which involves living things as "objects" to which the communicated intersubjective agreement relates. It is wrong to limit empathy to the communication of emotion. It is the intersubjective, concomitant experience of BEING. The empathor empathizes not only with the empathee's emotions but also with his physical state and other parameters of existence (pain, hunger, thirst, suffocation, sexual pleasure etc.).
This leads to the important (and perhaps intractable) psychophysical question.
Intersubjectivity relates to external objects but the subjects communicate and reach an agreement regarding the way THEY have been affected by the objects.
Empathy relates to external objects (the Others) but the subjects communicate and reach an agreement regarding the way THEY would have felt had they BEEN the object.
This is no minor difference, if it, indeed, exists. But does it really exist?
What is it that we feel in empathy? Is it OUR emotions/sensations merely provoked by an external trigger (classic intersubjectivity) or is it a TRANSFER of the object's feelings/sensations to us?
Such a transfer being physically impossible (as far as we know) - we are forced to adopt the former model. Empathy is the set of reactions - emotional and cognitive - to triggering by an external object (the other). It is the equivalent of resonance in the physical sciences. But we have NO WAY to ascertain the "wavelength" of such resonance is identical in both subjects. In other words, we have no way to verify that the feelings or sensation invoked in the two (or more) subjects are one and the same. What I call "sadness" may not be what you call "sadness". Colours have unique, uniform, independently measurable properties (like energy). Still, no one can prove that what I see as "red" is what another calls "red" (as is the case with Daltonists). If this is true where "objective", measurable, phenomena are concerned - it is infinitely true in the case of emotions or feelings.
We are, therefore, forced to refine our definition:
Empathy is a form of intersubjectivity which involves living things as "objects" to which the communicated intersubjective agreement relates. It is the intersubjective, concomitant experience of BEING. The empathor empathizes not only with the empathee's emotions but also with his physical state and other parameters of existence (pain, hunger, thirst, suffocation, sexual pleasure etc.).
BUT
The meaning attributed to the words used by the parties to the intersubjective agreement known as empathy is totally dependent upon each party. The same words are used, the same denotates - but it cannot be proven that the same connotates, the same experiences, emotions and sensations are being discussed or communicated.
Language (and, by extension, art and culture) serve to introduce us to other points of view ("what is it like to be someone else" to paraphrase Thomas Nagle). By providing a bridge between the subjective (inner experience) and the objective (words, images, sounds) -language facilitates social exchange and interaction. It is a dictionary which translates one's subjective private language to the coin of the public medium. Knowledge and language are, thus, the ultimate social glue, though both are based on approximations and guesses (see George Steiner's "After Babel").
But, whereas the intersubjective agreement regarding measurements and observations concerning external objects IS verifiable or falsifiable using INDEPENDENT tools (e.g., lab experiments) - the intersubjective agreement which concerns itself with the emotions, sensations and experiences of subjects as communicated by them IS NOT verifiable or falsifiable using INDEPENDENT tools. The interpretation of this second kind of agreement is dependent upon introspection and an assumption that identical words used by different subjects still possess identical meaning. This assumption is not falsifiable (or verifiable). It is neither true nor false. It is a probabilistic statement with no probabilities attached. It is, in short, a meaningless statement. As a result, empathy itself is meaningless.
In human-speak, if you say that you are said and I empathize with you it means that we have an agreement. I regard you as my object. You communicate to me a property of yours ("sadness"). This triggers in me a recollection of "what is sadness" or "what is to be sad". I say that I know what you mean, I have been sad before, I know what it is like to be sad. I empathize with you. We agree about being sad. We have an intersubjective agreement.
Alas, such an agreement is meaningless. We cannot (yet) measure sadness, quantify it, crystallize it, access it in any way from the outside. We are totally and absolutely reliant on your introspection and my introspection. There is no way anyone can prove that my "sadness" is even remotely similar to your sadness. I may be feeling or experiencing something that you might find hilarious and not sad at all. Still, I call it "sadness" and I empathize with you.
This would not have been that grave if empathy hadn't been the cornerstone of morality.
The Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1999 Edition:
"Empathy and other forms of social awareness are important in the development of a moral sense. Morality embraces a person's beliefs about the appropriateness or goodness of what he does, thinks, or feels... Childhood is ... the time at which moral standards begin to develop in a process that often extends well into adulthood. The American psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg hypothesized that people's development of moral standards passes through stages that can be grouped into three moral levels...
At the third level, that of postconventional moral reasoning, the adult bases his moral standards on principles that he himself has evaluated and that he accepts as inherently valid, regardless of society's opinion. He is aware of the arbitrary, subjective nature of social standards and rules, which he regards as relative rather than absolute in authority.
Thus the bases for justifying moral standards pass from avoidance of punishment to avoidance of adult disapproval and rejection to avoidance of internal guilt and self-recrimination. The person's moral reasoning also moves toward increasingly greater social scope (i.e., including more people and institutions) and greater abstraction (i.e., from reasoning about physical events such as pain or pleasure to reasoning about values, rights, and implicit contracts)."
But, if moral reasoning is based on introspection and empathy - it is, indeed, dangerously relative and not objective in any known sense of the word. Empathy is a unique agreement on the emotional and experiential content of two or more introspective processes in two or more subjective. Such an agreement can never have any meaning, even as far as the parties to it are concerned. They can never be sure that they are discussing the same emotions or experiences. There is no way to compare, measure, observe, falsify or verify (prove) that the "same" emotion is experienced identically by the parties to the empathy agreement. Empathy is meaningless and introspection involves a private language despite what Wittgenstein had to say. Morality is thus reduced to a set of meaningless private languages.
The Encyclopaedia Britannica:
"... Others have argued that because even rather young children are capable of showing empathy with the pain of others, the inhibition of aggressive behaviour arises from this moral affect rather than from the mere anticipation of punishment. Some scientists have found that children differ in their individual capacity for empathy, and, therefore, some children are more sensitive to moral prohibitions than others.
Young children's growing awareness of their own emotional states, characteristics, and abilities leads to empathy--i.e., the ability to appreciate the feelings and perspectives of others. Empathy and other forms of social awareness are in turn important in the development of a moral sense... Another important aspect of children's emotional development is the formation of their self-concept, or identity--i.e., their sense of who they are and what their relation to other people is.
According to Lipps's concept of empathy, a person appreciates another person's reaction by a projection of the self into the other. In his Ästhetik, 2 vol. (1903-06; 'Aesthetics'), he made all appreciation of art dependent upon a similar self-projection into the object."
This may well be the key. Empathy has little to do with the other person (the empathee). It is simply the result of conditioning and socialization. In other words, when we hurt someone - we don't experience his pain. We experience OUR pain. Hurting somebody - hurts US. The reaction of pain is provoked in US by OUR own actions. We have been taught a learned response of feeling pain when we inflict it upon another. But we have also been taught to feel responsible for our fellow beings (guilt). So, we experience pain whenever another person claims to experience it as well. We feel guilty.
In sum:
To use the example of pain, we experience it in tandem with another person because we feel guilty or somehow responsible for his condition. A learned reaction is activated and we experience (our kind of) pain as well. We communicate it to the other person and an agreement of empathy is struck between us.
We attribute feelings, sensations and experiences to the object of our actions. It is the psychological defence mechanism of projection. Unable to conceive of inflicting pain upon ourselves - we displace the source. It is the other's pain that we are feeling, we keep telling ourselves, not our own.
The Encyclopaedia Britannica:
"Perhaps the most important aspect of children's emotional development is a growing awareness of their own emotional states and the ability to discern and interpret the emotions of others. The last half of the second year is a time when children start becoming aware of their own emotional states, characteristics, abilities, and potential for action; this phenomenon is called self-awareness... (coupled with strong narcissistic behaviours and traits - SV)...
This growing awareness of and ability to recall one's own emotional states leads to empathy, or the ability to appreciate the feelings and perceptions of others. Young children's dawning awareness of their own potential for action inspires them to try to direct (or otherwise affect) the behaviour of others...
...With age, children acquire the ability to understand the perspective, or point of view, of other people, a development that is closely linked with the empathic sharing of others' emotions...
One major factor underlying these changes is the child's increasing cognitive sophistication. For example, in order to feel the emotion of guilt, a child must appreciate the fact that he could have inhibited a particular action of his that violated a moral standard. The awareness that one can impose a restraint on one's own behaviour requires a certain level of cognitive maturation, and, therefore, the emotion of guilt cannot appear until that competence is attained."
That empathy is a REACTION to external stimuli that is fully contained within the empathor and then projected onto the empathee - is clearly demonstrated by "inborn empathy". It is the ability to exhibit empathy and altruistic behaviour in response to facial expressions. Newborns react this way to their mother's facial expression of sadness or distress.
This serves to prove that empathy has very little to do with the feelings, experiences or sensations of the other (the empathee). Surely, the infant has no idea what it is like to feel sad and definitely not what it is like for his mother to feel sad. In this case, it is a complex reflexive reaction. Later on, empathy is still rather reflexive, the result of conditioning.
The Encyclopaedia Britannica quotes fascinating research which dramatically proves the object-independent nature of empathy. Empathy is an internal reaction, an internal process, triggered by external cue provided by animate objects. It is communicated to the empathee-other by the empathor but the communication and the resulting agreement ("I know how you feel therefore we agree on how you feel") is rendered meaningless by the absence of a monovalent, unambiguous dictionary.
"An extensive series of studies indicated that positive emotion feelings enhance empathy and altruism. It was shown by the American psychologist Alice M. Isen that relatively small favours or bits of good luck (like finding money in a coin telephone or getting an unexpected gift) induced positive emotion in people and that such emotion regularly increased the subjects' inclination to sympathize or provide help.
Several studies have demonstrated that positive emotion facilitates creative problem solving. One of these studies showed that positive emotion enabled subjects to name more uses for common objects. Another showed that positive emotion enhanced creative problem solving by enabling subjects to see relations among objects (and other people - SV) that would otherwise go unnoticed. A number of studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of positive emotion on thinking, memory, and action in pre-school and older children."
If empathy increases with positive emotion (a result of good luck, for instance) - then it has little to do with its objects and a lot to do with the person in whom it is provoked.
ADDENDUM - Interview granted to the National Post, Toronto, Canada, July 2003
Q. How important is empathy to proper psychological functioning?
A. Empathy is more important socially than it is psychologically. The absence of empathy - for instance in the Narcissistic and Antisocial personality disorders - predisposes people to exploit and abuse others. Empathy is the bedrock of our sense of morality. Arguably, aggressive behavior is as inhibited by empathy at least as much as it is by anticipated punishment.
But the existence of empathy in a person is also a sign of self-awareness, a healthy identity, a well-regulated sense of self-worth, and self-love (in the positive sense). Its absence denotes emotional and cognitive immaturity, an inability to love, to truly relate to others, to respect their boundaries and accept their needs, feelings, hopes, fears, choices, and preferences as autonomous entities.
Q. How is empathy developed?
A. It may be innate. Even toddlers seem to empathize with the pain - or happiness - of others (such as their caregivers). Empathy increases as the child forms a self-concept (identity). The more aware the infant is of his or her emotional states, the more he explores his limitations and capabilities - the more prone he is to projecting this new found knowledge unto others. By attributing to people around him his new gained insights about himself, the child develop a moral sense and inhibits his anti-social impulses. The development of empathy is, therefore, a part of the process of socialization.
But, as the American psychologist Carl Rogers taught us, empathy is also learned and inculcated. We are coached to feel guilt and pain when we inflict suffering on another person. Empathy is an attempt to avoid our own self-imposed agony by projecting it onto another.
Q. Is there an increasing dearth of empathy in society today? Why do you think so?
A. The social institutions that reified, propagated and administered empathy have imploded. The nuclear family, the closely-knit extended clan, the village, the neighborhood, the Church- have all unraveled. Society is atomized and anomic. The resulting alienation fostered a wave of antisocial behavior, both criminal and "legitimate". The survival value of empathy is on the decline. It is far wiser to be cunning, to cut corners, to deceive, and to abuse - than to be empathic. Empathy has largely dropped from the contemporary curriculum of socialization.
In a desperate attempt to cope with these inexorable processes, behaviors predicated on a lack of empathy have been pathologized and "medicalized". The sad truth is that narcissistic or antisocial conduct is both normative and rational. No amount of "diagnosis", "treatment", and medication can hide or reverse this fact. Ours is a cultural malaise which permeates every single cell and strand of the social fabric.
Q. Is there any empirical evidence we can point to of a decline in empathy?
Empathy cannot be measured directly - but only through proxies such as criminality, terrorism, charity, violence, antisocial behavior, related mental health disorders, or abuse.
Moreover, it is extremely difficult to separate the effects of deterrence from the effects of empathy.
If I don't batter my wife, torture animals, or steal - is it because I am empathetic or because I don't want to go to jail?
Rising litigiousness, zero tolerance, and skyrocketing rates of incarceration - as well as the ageing of the population - have sliced intimate partner violence and other forms of crime across the United States in the last decade. But this benevolent decline had nothing to do with increasing empathy.
The statistics are open to interpretation but it would be safe to say that the last century has been the most violent and least empathetic in human history. Wars and terrorism are on the rise, charity giving on the wane (measured as percentage of national wealth), welfare policies are being abolished, Darwininan models of capitalism are spreading. In the last two decades, mental health disorders were added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association whose hallmark is the lack of empathy. The violence is reflected in our popular culture: movies, video games, and the media.
Empathy - supposedly a spontaneous reaction to the plight of our fellow humans - is now channeled through self-interested and bloated non-government organizations or multilateral outfits. The vibrant world of private empathy has been replaced by faceless state largesse. Pity, mercy, the elation of giving are tax-deductible. It is a sorry sight.
"The ability to imagine oneself in anther's place and understand the other's feelings, desires, ideas, and actions. It is a term coined in the early 20th century, equivalent to the German Einfühlung and modelled on "sympathy." The term is used with special (but not exclusive) reference to aesthetic experience. The most obvious example, perhaps, is that of the actor or singer who genuinely feels the part he is performing. With other works of art, a spectator may, by a kind of introjection, feel himself involved in what he observes or contemplates. The use of empathy is an important part of the counselling technique developed by the American psychologist Carl Rogers."
Empathy is predicated upon and must, therefore, incorporate the following elements:
Imagination which is dependent on the ability to imagine;
The existence of an accessible Self (self-awareness or self-consciousness);
The existence of an available other (other-awareness, recognizing the outside world);
The existence of accessible feelings, desires, ideas and representations of actions or their outcomes both in the empathizing Self ("Empathor") and in the Other, the object of empathy ("Empathee");
The availability of an aesthetic frame of reference;
The availability of a moral frame of reference.
While (a) is presumed to be universally available to all agents (though in varying degrees) - the existence of the other components of empathy should not be taken for granted.
Conditions (b) and (c), for instance, are not satisfied by people who suffer from personality disorders, such as the Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Condition (d) is not met in autistic people (e.g., those who suffer from the Asperger syndrome). Conditions (e) is so totally dependent on the specifics of the culture, period and society in which it exists - that it is rather meaningless and ambiguous as a yardstick. Condition (f) suffer from both afflictions: it is both culture-dependent AND is not satisfied in many people (such as those who suffer from the Antisocial Personality Disorder and who are devoid of any conscience or moral sense).
Thus, the very existence of empathy should be questioned. It is often confused with inter-subjectivity. The latter is defined thus by "The Oxford Companion to Philosophy, 1995":
"This term refers to the status of being somehow accessible to at least two (usually all, in principle) minds or 'subjectivities'. It thus implies that there is some sort of communication between those minds; which in turn implies that each communicating minds aware not only of the existence of the other but also of its intention to convey information to the other. The idea, for theorists, is that if subjective processes can be brought into agreement, then perhaps that is as good as the (unattainable?) status of being objective - completely independent of subjectivity. The question facing such theorists is whether intersubjectivity is definable without presupposing an objective environment in which communication takes place (the 'wiring' from subject A to subject B). At a less fundamental level, however, the need for intersubjective verification of scientific hypotheses has been long recognized". (page 414).
On the face of it, the difference between intersubjectivity and empathy is double:
Intersubjectivity requires an EXPLICIT, communicated agreement between at least two subjects.
It involves EXTERNAL things (so called "objective" entities).
These "differences" are artificial. This how empathy is defined in "Psychology - An Introduction (Ninth Edition) by Charles G. Morris, Prentice Hall, 1996":
"Closely related to the ability to read other people's emotions is empathy - the arousal of an emotion in an observer that is a vicarious response to the other person's situation... Empathy depends not only on one's ability to identify someone else's emotions but also on one's capacity to put oneself in the other person's place and to experience an appropriate emotional response. Just as sensitivity to non-verbal cues increases with age, so does empathy: The cognitive and perceptual abilities required for empathy develop only as a child matures... (page 442)
In empathy training, for example, each member of the couple is taught to share inner feelings and to listen to and understand the partner's feelings before responding to them. The empathy technique focuses the couple's attention on feelings and requires that they spend more time listening and less time in rebuttal." (page 576).
Thus empathy does require the communication of feelings AND an agreement on the appropriate outcome of the communicated emotions (=affective agreement). In the absence of such agreement, we are faced with inappropriate affect (laughing at a funeral, for instance).
Moreover, empathy does relate to external objects and is provoked by them. There is no empathy in the absence of an empathee. Granted, intersubjectivity is intuitively applied to the inanimate while empathy is applied to the living (animals, humans, even plants). But this is a difference in human preferences - not in definition.
Empathy can, thus, be re-defined as a form of intersubjectivity which involves living things as "objects" to which the communicated intersubjective agreement relates. It is wrong to limit empathy to the communication of emotion. It is the intersubjective, concomitant experience of BEING. The empathor empathizes not only with the empathee's emotions but also with his physical state and other parameters of existence (pain, hunger, thirst, suffocation, sexual pleasure etc.).
This leads to the important (and perhaps intractable) psychophysical question.
Intersubjectivity relates to external objects but the subjects communicate and reach an agreement regarding the way THEY have been affected by the objects.
Empathy relates to external objects (the Others) but the subjects communicate and reach an agreement regarding the way THEY would have felt had they BEEN the object.
This is no minor difference, if it, indeed, exists. But does it really exist?
What is it that we feel in empathy? Is it OUR emotions/sensations merely provoked by an external trigger (classic intersubjectivity) or is it a TRANSFER of the object's feelings/sensations to us?
Such a transfer being physically impossible (as far as we know) - we are forced to adopt the former model. Empathy is the set of reactions - emotional and cognitive - to triggering by an external object (the other). It is the equivalent of resonance in the physical sciences. But we have NO WAY to ascertain the "wavelength" of such resonance is identical in both subjects. In other words, we have no way to verify that the feelings or sensation invoked in the two (or more) subjects are one and the same. What I call "sadness" may not be what you call "sadness". Colours have unique, uniform, independently measurable properties (like energy). Still, no one can prove that what I see as "red" is what another calls "red" (as is the case with Daltonists). If this is true where "objective", measurable, phenomena are concerned - it is infinitely true in the case of emotions or feelings.
We are, therefore, forced to refine our definition:
Empathy is a form of intersubjectivity which involves living things as "objects" to which the communicated intersubjective agreement relates. It is the intersubjective, concomitant experience of BEING. The empathor empathizes not only with the empathee's emotions but also with his physical state and other parameters of existence (pain, hunger, thirst, suffocation, sexual pleasure etc.).
BUT
The meaning attributed to the words used by the parties to the intersubjective agreement known as empathy is totally dependent upon each party. The same words are used, the same denotates - but it cannot be proven that the same connotates, the same experiences, emotions and sensations are being discussed or communicated.
Language (and, by extension, art and culture) serve to introduce us to other points of view ("what is it like to be someone else" to paraphrase Thomas Nagle). By providing a bridge between the subjective (inner experience) and the objective (words, images, sounds) -language facilitates social exchange and interaction. It is a dictionary which translates one's subjective private language to the coin of the public medium. Knowledge and language are, thus, the ultimate social glue, though both are based on approximations and guesses (see George Steiner's "After Babel").
But, whereas the intersubjective agreement regarding measurements and observations concerning external objects IS verifiable or falsifiable using INDEPENDENT tools (e.g., lab experiments) - the intersubjective agreement which concerns itself with the emotions, sensations and experiences of subjects as communicated by them IS NOT verifiable or falsifiable using INDEPENDENT tools. The interpretation of this second kind of agreement is dependent upon introspection and an assumption that identical words used by different subjects still possess identical meaning. This assumption is not falsifiable (or verifiable). It is neither true nor false. It is a probabilistic statement with no probabilities attached. It is, in short, a meaningless statement. As a result, empathy itself is meaningless.
In human-speak, if you say that you are said and I empathize with you it means that we have an agreement. I regard you as my object. You communicate to me a property of yours ("sadness"). This triggers in me a recollection of "what is sadness" or "what is to be sad". I say that I know what you mean, I have been sad before, I know what it is like to be sad. I empathize with you. We agree about being sad. We have an intersubjective agreement.
Alas, such an agreement is meaningless. We cannot (yet) measure sadness, quantify it, crystallize it, access it in any way from the outside. We are totally and absolutely reliant on your introspection and my introspection. There is no way anyone can prove that my "sadness" is even remotely similar to your sadness. I may be feeling or experiencing something that you might find hilarious and not sad at all. Still, I call it "sadness" and I empathize with you.
This would not have been that grave if empathy hadn't been the cornerstone of morality.
The Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1999 Edition:
"Empathy and other forms of social awareness are important in the development of a moral sense. Morality embraces a person's beliefs about the appropriateness or goodness of what he does, thinks, or feels... Childhood is ... the time at which moral standards begin to develop in a process that often extends well into adulthood. The American psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg hypothesized that people's development of moral standards passes through stages that can be grouped into three moral levels...
At the third level, that of postconventional moral reasoning, the adult bases his moral standards on principles that he himself has evaluated and that he accepts as inherently valid, regardless of society's opinion. He is aware of the arbitrary, subjective nature of social standards and rules, which he regards as relative rather than absolute in authority.
Thus the bases for justifying moral standards pass from avoidance of punishment to avoidance of adult disapproval and rejection to avoidance of internal guilt and self-recrimination. The person's moral reasoning also moves toward increasingly greater social scope (i.e., including more people and institutions) and greater abstraction (i.e., from reasoning about physical events such as pain or pleasure to reasoning about values, rights, and implicit contracts)."
But, if moral reasoning is based on introspection and empathy - it is, indeed, dangerously relative and not objective in any known sense of the word. Empathy is a unique agreement on the emotional and experiential content of two or more introspective processes in two or more subjective. Such an agreement can never have any meaning, even as far as the parties to it are concerned. They can never be sure that they are discussing the same emotions or experiences. There is no way to compare, measure, observe, falsify or verify (prove) that the "same" emotion is experienced identically by the parties to the empathy agreement. Empathy is meaningless and introspection involves a private language despite what Wittgenstein had to say. Morality is thus reduced to a set of meaningless private languages.
The Encyclopaedia Britannica:
"... Others have argued that because even rather young children are capable of showing empathy with the pain of others, the inhibition of aggressive behaviour arises from this moral affect rather than from the mere anticipation of punishment. Some scientists have found that children differ in their individual capacity for empathy, and, therefore, some children are more sensitive to moral prohibitions than others.
Young children's growing awareness of their own emotional states, characteristics, and abilities leads to empathy--i.e., the ability to appreciate the feelings and perspectives of others. Empathy and other forms of social awareness are in turn important in the development of a moral sense... Another important aspect of children's emotional development is the formation of their self-concept, or identity--i.e., their sense of who they are and what their relation to other people is.
According to Lipps's concept of empathy, a person appreciates another person's reaction by a projection of the self into the other. In his Ästhetik, 2 vol. (1903-06; 'Aesthetics'), he made all appreciation of art dependent upon a similar self-projection into the object."
This may well be the key. Empathy has little to do with the other person (the empathee). It is simply the result of conditioning and socialization. In other words, when we hurt someone - we don't experience his pain. We experience OUR pain. Hurting somebody - hurts US. The reaction of pain is provoked in US by OUR own actions. We have been taught a learned response of feeling pain when we inflict it upon another. But we have also been taught to feel responsible for our fellow beings (guilt). So, we experience pain whenever another person claims to experience it as well. We feel guilty.
In sum:
To use the example of pain, we experience it in tandem with another person because we feel guilty or somehow responsible for his condition. A learned reaction is activated and we experience (our kind of) pain as well. We communicate it to the other person and an agreement of empathy is struck between us.
We attribute feelings, sensations and experiences to the object of our actions. It is the psychological defence mechanism of projection. Unable to conceive of inflicting pain upon ourselves - we displace the source. It is the other's pain that we are feeling, we keep telling ourselves, not our own.
The Encyclopaedia Britannica:
"Perhaps the most important aspect of children's emotional development is a growing awareness of their own emotional states and the ability to discern and interpret the emotions of others. The last half of the second year is a time when children start becoming aware of their own emotional states, characteristics, abilities, and potential for action; this phenomenon is called self-awareness... (coupled with strong narcissistic behaviours and traits - SV)...
This growing awareness of and ability to recall one's own emotional states leads to empathy, or the ability to appreciate the feelings and perceptions of others. Young children's dawning awareness of their own potential for action inspires them to try to direct (or otherwise affect) the behaviour of others...
...With age, children acquire the ability to understand the perspective, or point of view, of other people, a development that is closely linked with the empathic sharing of others' emotions...
One major factor underlying these changes is the child's increasing cognitive sophistication. For example, in order to feel the emotion of guilt, a child must appreciate the fact that he could have inhibited a particular action of his that violated a moral standard. The awareness that one can impose a restraint on one's own behaviour requires a certain level of cognitive maturation, and, therefore, the emotion of guilt cannot appear until that competence is attained."
That empathy is a REACTION to external stimuli that is fully contained within the empathor and then projected onto the empathee - is clearly demonstrated by "inborn empathy". It is the ability to exhibit empathy and altruistic behaviour in response to facial expressions. Newborns react this way to their mother's facial expression of sadness or distress.
This serves to prove that empathy has very little to do with the feelings, experiences or sensations of the other (the empathee). Surely, the infant has no idea what it is like to feel sad and definitely not what it is like for his mother to feel sad. In this case, it is a complex reflexive reaction. Later on, empathy is still rather reflexive, the result of conditioning.
The Encyclopaedia Britannica quotes fascinating research which dramatically proves the object-independent nature of empathy. Empathy is an internal reaction, an internal process, triggered by external cue provided by animate objects. It is communicated to the empathee-other by the empathor but the communication and the resulting agreement ("I know how you feel therefore we agree on how you feel") is rendered meaningless by the absence of a monovalent, unambiguous dictionary.
"An extensive series of studies indicated that positive emotion feelings enhance empathy and altruism. It was shown by the American psychologist Alice M. Isen that relatively small favours or bits of good luck (like finding money in a coin telephone or getting an unexpected gift) induced positive emotion in people and that such emotion regularly increased the subjects' inclination to sympathize or provide help.
Several studies have demonstrated that positive emotion facilitates creative problem solving. One of these studies showed that positive emotion enabled subjects to name more uses for common objects. Another showed that positive emotion enhanced creative problem solving by enabling subjects to see relations among objects (and other people - SV) that would otherwise go unnoticed. A number of studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of positive emotion on thinking, memory, and action in pre-school and older children."
If empathy increases with positive emotion (a result of good luck, for instance) - then it has little to do with its objects and a lot to do with the person in whom it is provoked.
ADDENDUM - Interview granted to the National Post, Toronto, Canada, July 2003
Q. How important is empathy to proper psychological functioning?
A. Empathy is more important socially than it is psychologically. The absence of empathy - for instance in the Narcissistic and Antisocial personality disorders - predisposes people to exploit and abuse others. Empathy is the bedrock of our sense of morality. Arguably, aggressive behavior is as inhibited by empathy at least as much as it is by anticipated punishment.
But the existence of empathy in a person is also a sign of self-awareness, a healthy identity, a well-regulated sense of self-worth, and self-love (in the positive sense). Its absence denotes emotional and cognitive immaturity, an inability to love, to truly relate to others, to respect their boundaries and accept their needs, feelings, hopes, fears, choices, and preferences as autonomous entities.
Q. How is empathy developed?
A. It may be innate. Even toddlers seem to empathize with the pain - or happiness - of others (such as their caregivers). Empathy increases as the child forms a self-concept (identity). The more aware the infant is of his or her emotional states, the more he explores his limitations and capabilities - the more prone he is to projecting this new found knowledge unto others. By attributing to people around him his new gained insights about himself, the child develop a moral sense and inhibits his anti-social impulses. The development of empathy is, therefore, a part of the process of socialization.
But, as the American psychologist Carl Rogers taught us, empathy is also learned and inculcated. We are coached to feel guilt and pain when we inflict suffering on another person. Empathy is an attempt to avoid our own self-imposed agony by projecting it onto another.
Q. Is there an increasing dearth of empathy in society today? Why do you think so?
A. The social institutions that reified, propagated and administered empathy have imploded. The nuclear family, the closely-knit extended clan, the village, the neighborhood, the Church- have all unraveled. Society is atomized and anomic. The resulting alienation fostered a wave of antisocial behavior, both criminal and "legitimate". The survival value of empathy is on the decline. It is far wiser to be cunning, to cut corners, to deceive, and to abuse - than to be empathic. Empathy has largely dropped from the contemporary curriculum of socialization.
In a desperate attempt to cope with these inexorable processes, behaviors predicated on a lack of empathy have been pathologized and "medicalized". The sad truth is that narcissistic or antisocial conduct is both normative and rational. No amount of "diagnosis", "treatment", and medication can hide or reverse this fact. Ours is a cultural malaise which permeates every single cell and strand of the social fabric.
Q. Is there any empirical evidence we can point to of a decline in empathy?
Empathy cannot be measured directly - but only through proxies such as criminality, terrorism, charity, violence, antisocial behavior, related mental health disorders, or abuse.
Moreover, it is extremely difficult to separate the effects of deterrence from the effects of empathy.
If I don't batter my wife, torture animals, or steal - is it because I am empathetic or because I don't want to go to jail?
Rising litigiousness, zero tolerance, and skyrocketing rates of incarceration - as well as the ageing of the population - have sliced intimate partner violence and other forms of crime across the United States in the last decade. But this benevolent decline had nothing to do with increasing empathy.
The statistics are open to interpretation but it would be safe to say that the last century has been the most violent and least empathetic in human history. Wars and terrorism are on the rise, charity giving on the wane (measured as percentage of national wealth), welfare policies are being abolished, Darwininan models of capitalism are spreading. In the last two decades, mental health disorders were added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association whose hallmark is the lack of empathy. The violence is reflected in our popular culture: movies, video games, and the media.
Empathy - supposedly a spontaneous reaction to the plight of our fellow humans - is now channeled through self-interested and bloated non-government organizations or multilateral outfits. The vibrant world of private empathy has been replaced by faceless state largesse. Pity, mercy, the elation of giving are tax-deductible. It is a sorry sight.
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