sabato 29 ottobre 2011

Mentally Better: Your Brain should Get Exercise Too

Common in our society today are the brain exercises designed to give our mental faculties the boost they need. There are games, activities and all other cranial calisthenics that claim to be helpful in maintaining our brains functioning superbly. You should know that these things are not just for those who have mental problems, these activities and exercises are also good for everyone – everyone who seeks to keep your minds healthy; to better your brains. From senior citizens to the younger generations, these activities should be helpful enough to keep them all mentally fit.
Although some scientists may not fully believe in the benefits of brain exercises, a lot of researchers and professionals hold on to the numerous studies showing that the brain really does need an exercise just like the body does. Studies have showed that people who have tried to perform brain exercises regularly have improved memory as well as focus. See, with simple brain exercises the functioning of both hemispheres of the brain are made better; your brain becomes healthier.

Cross Crawls
Cross crawls is a type of exercise that is based on the principle that our nervous system works homolaterally. This means that the left portion of our brain controls the movement of the right portion of our body, and so on for the other half. The principles of kinesiology are also applied in this exercise wherein rhythmic movements are suggested so that the brain’s lateralization can be improved further. You can do this simply by touching your right hand or elbow to your left knee. Do this for several times, and after one side, you may proceed with the other side, doing the same steps.
This exercise, when performed by babies, are believed to realign the brain circuits in order for the left half of the brain to be able to connect with the left part of the body, and vice versa. For the adults, on the other hand, when this exercise is done there is an integration of the different functions and tasks of the brain. This is the reason why this exercise is mostly recommended for people suffering from dyslexia. Aside from this, this exercise is also good for strengthening your immune system’s responses.
Lazy Eights
Another exercise which can benefit both the left and right hemispheres of the brain is the “lazy eights.” This is done by drawing the number “8” on a piece of paper using your right hand for two minutes. After the right hand, you may proceed to draw the same sign using your left hand. This should be done daily, and the result is that you will have better concentration and your hand-and-eye coordination will improve. Aside from these, another benefit is that you would feel a reduction of stress and an enhancement of your mood.
You may also do the “Rhythmic Eights” wherein instead of using paper and pencil, you can just create an imaginary eight in the air with your hands. This should be sufficient to coordinate the two sides of your brain as well.
Try Different Exercises for A Change
Since there are already a lot of exercises designed to improve your mental functioning, it would be a better idea if you would alter your exercises so that your brain will not get used to just one routine. By varying your brain work out, you are also able to exercise as many parts of your brain as possible. There are puzzles, crosswords and other brain games available; you just have to look for those which best fits you. Exercise your brain, better your brain’s performance.

lunedì 24 ottobre 2011

Christian Dating Websites Not Just Typical Dating Sites

Who would have ever imagined that a great number of Christian dating websites would come to the internet in great numbers? Even more astounding; is the fact that they are still proliferating in great numbers.
Main stream society often, incorrectly,thinks of Christians as people who are focused on religion and have little or no interest in dating.However, Christians are human too.  If you are Christian, you know the stereotypes you have to face on a daily basis.  You also know the challenges involved in trying to find someone special to date.
Christian dating websites are plentiful. Therefore, it is easier than ever for you to find someone who has the same beliefs, practices, and religious affiliations as you do.  If you are Christian and single and would like to meet a special someone with the characteristics mentioned above, then you should seriously consider looking into some Christian dating websites.
When it comes to being Christian and dating, it is much easier to be in a relationship with someone who shares the same devotion to God as you have.  You'll also find that most Christian dating websites will not only help you to find a potential romantic interest, they will also allow you to make some terrific friends and contacts.  Christian dating websites can act as a gateway to find other Christians to network and communicate with.
Nonetheless, it is still necessary that you choose the right Christian dating site with members that are true Christians. There are a lot of Christian dating websites on the net that are misleading, whether intentional or accidental. That being said, you need to determine which ones are genuine and which ones will give you the right kind of information, privacy, and security.
What factors should you consider when evaluating Christian dating websites? Here are a few suggestions:
-A good Christian dating site should have a declaration of Faith. Since the site is supposed to be dedicated to help Christians find other Christians for a possible date, a pronouncement of faith ensures the site will live up to that purpose. 
-A good Christian dating site has privacy guidelines. This ensures that your  personal information is kept in confidential and private.
-A good Christian dating site has an outlook of what a true Christian is. Even if the concept in its entirety is all about dating, the values and morals thought as a true Christian should always serve as a guiding principle for the benefit of the members and the overall look and reputation of the site.
As a final point, Christian dating websites are created and designed for Christians, who want to get acquainted with their fellow brothers and sisters. And hopefully, by becoming a member, find that someone special to share their faith and life with.

venerdì 14 ottobre 2011

Intellectually Better: Your Brain’s Physical Exercise

As you may have known, your brain works in a complicated manner. The left portion of your brain controls the actions and movement of the right part of your body while the right portion of your brain controls that movement of the left part of your body. Thus, it may be possible that the side of your brain which controls you dominant hand is more used than the other side. So, if you use your non-dominant hand into doing some of your daily activities, would it better your brain’s performance?

If you are a right handed person, then most of the time you are stimulating the left part of your brain. Now, if you use your left hand in doing certain tasks, then you are able to stimulate the right side of your brain as well. By doing so, you are awakening the part of your mental faculties that is intuitive and creative. On the other hand, if you are a left handed person, and you use you right hand in doing simple tasks, then you are stimulating the side of your brain that is rational and organized.

This idea is supported by Tony Buzan, the author of a book entitled Using Both Sides of the Brain. According to him, doing simple exercises or cross-trainings like this bring in additional features to one’s mental functioning, and at the same time there will be a total improvement in one’s brain power. By doing so continuously, a person may stay mentally young and fresh.

Other activities which can stimulate the other side of your brain may be done without really straining yourself. You can just simply walk around your room with your eyes shut close, or you can get dressed and strip of them with closed eyes. You can also revisit your childhood games; the game when you rub your stomach with one hand while your other hand is tapping your head is also a good brain exercise. Simple tasks like these already constitute physical exercise for your brain, and they can already bring good effects to your brain, no matter how trivial they may be.

So, you may start to wonder regarding the mental condition of those people who are blessed to be able to use both their hands for complicated tasks such as writing, or simply put the ambidextrous. You may think that since they are stimulating both sides of their brain that they are more intelligent than others. This is a misconception; there are no studies or researches which can attest to this idea.

There are people who are able to teach and train themselves to use both their dominant and non-dominant hands to do tasks, and sports like the cricket players. But their training does not necessarily turn them into academic geniuses; so perhaps, this is just too much to ask for.

So, whether or not these simple exercises may make you a little bit more intelligent, these physical exercises are still believed to have good effects on your brain. Academically, the results may just be minor, or even unnoticed, but there can be other aspects which are affected, such as your creativity, organization and other features. One thing worth noting is that by doing these exercises, you are stimulating the part of your brain which is not used as often as the other part. Don’t you think it is always best to keep them balanced? If you want to better your brain’s performance, you might as well try to stimulate you whole brain, and not just a single portion.

martedì 11 ottobre 2011

Can I Get My Ex Back If

“Can I get my ex back if . . . ?”

Whether the break up is very recent or it happened a long time ago, you probably ask yourself that question a lot.  Sometimes you have to recognize that it’s simply time to move on.  But if you’re determined get your ex back, there are some things you can do.

Can I get my ex back if I play hard to get?

And there are some things you should probably not do, like pretend you really don’t want your ex. Playing hard to get is a popular ploy, but very often it only discourages the person who wants you from trying to get you.  If you play hard to get with your ex, it might just be easier for them to let you go and move on to someone who’s easier to catch!

Let your ex know that you’re available and ready to fix the relationship.  Let your ex know that you’re willing to do what it takes to make it work this time.  That approach will probably give you a better chance of getting back together than playing hard to get and playing games.

Can I get my ex back if I try to pressure him or her?

Trying to get someone to do something they don’t want to is a sure way to upset them.  Whether you’re trying to get someone to do a chore or to remember to pick something up after work, too much reminding can become nagging.

Pressuring your ex to take you back will quickly sound like nagging, too.  Your ex might decide that since you do little but complain and nag about the break up, it’s easier not to be around you.  So you might drive your ex farther away by trying too hard to fix things.

Try the opposite approach.

Stop asking your ex to come back.  Once you’ve made it clear that you want to get back together, they know it.  Let it go and focus on being a good friend to your ex, with no expectations.

This might be difficult, especially at first, but if your ex sees that you’re really a pleasant person to be around and not a nag, they’ll want to spend more time around you.  And that could lead to you making up and getting back together. At least, you have a better chance at it than if your ex dreads seeing you and hearing you harp on them about coming back.

Can I get my ex back if I make them jealous?

You know your ex best.  If jealousy worked in the past, it might again.  But it might make them so jealous they become angry and decide that since you’ve moved on, so will they.

Can I get my ex back if they’re dating someone else?

It’s possible, but it’s the most difficult situation.  Concentrate on being fun and enjoyable to be around, and give them a chance to miss your good qualities.  Then see what happens.

sabato 8 ottobre 2011

If your Outlook is Better, Your Brain Performs Better

How good do you really think of yourself mentally? If you ask yourself if you are intelligent, do you answer with a nod and a smile, or with an ashamed “maybe”? In answering this question, you should know that there are a lot of things to consider, and your IQ score is just one of those. The reality is that if you think of yourself as better, your brain will perform better.
Your outlook and perspective on things like this will definitely influence the performance of your brain. If you really believe that you are good enough, then your brain may just start performing to level with your expectation. Some may say that basic intelligence would never change after the childhood stage of your life, but then there are still some who believe that psychology has an influence in this.
The Influential Psychology in Brain Function
You may have heard of stories wherein the protagonist, who never even stepped into high school, was able to work his way from rags to riches. He just used his guts and determination as he climbs his way to the top. His childhood may have shown him that he can be as rich as his friends if he would only work hard for it. Because of this, he followed what he knew, and because he knew that he too can be rich, he did work hard for it. His outlook was that he can do if others were able to do it.
He never received any money from his rich friends, and he never received any assistance as he worked his way. But what he got from his friends was his expectation. If he never met his rich friends, if he never knew that it is possible to be rich, he would not have worked hard to be where he is right now. He had a goal when he met them, and all he had to do was to just work hard to reach that goal – and so he did.
See, expectations of yourself can play a big role in your life. It serves as your motivation. It makes you feel that you are on to something possible, something that is just within your reach if you just work hard enough. This is the influence of psychology. Don’t you think that it is possible that by just thinking that you can think harder and learn faster, your brain might just do the same thing for you?
Experiential and Evidential Learning
After you have viewed yourself with better perspective, then it is time for you to be more attentive to the things around you which can serve as an evidence that you are about to reach your goal. After you have done all the affirmations, you need hard proof. Take note of your progress regardless of whether they are too small or too big. Focus on these developments. You will soon realize that the more you appreciate your small developments, more of them would soon follow.
So, in applying to your brain development, if you think hard enough that you can improve your brain performance, and then your brain would soon perform better. The improvements may not be as drastic as you expect, but there will surely be some changes. Take note of these changes, and soon you will realize that the cumulative effect of these small changes will amount to a big alteration to your brain functioning. Think of yourself as better, your brain will soon live up to your expectations.

mercoledì 5 ottobre 2011

Can I Get My Ex Back

It’s a question you’ve probably asked yourself, and maybe you’ve even asked friends or family members:  Can I get my ex back?  No one can answer that question with any certainty.  The reason you broke up, how friendly you’ve stayed and other things all have a lot do with whether or not it’s possible to get back together.

If you’ve stayed friendly and you haven’t insulted each other, the chances of you getting back together are better than if things had gotten ugly.  But even if the breakup was bad, people can forgive and set aside those hurt feelings if they try hard enough.

When you’ve asked your friends, “Can I get my ex back?” some of them probably told you that maybe you could.  Some might have shouted “No way!” And some probably said they didn’t know.

Your closest friends probably know a lot about your break up situation, so their thoughts on the matter are important to you.  But unless they’ve broken up with someone and gotten them back, they really don’t know the keys to getting someone back.

They might think you’re foolish when you ask them, “Can I get my ex back?”  But maybe they think you shouldn’t want your ex back in the first place.  It’s hard for them to be supportive if you do want your ex back, if they never liked him or her to start with.

Take all the advice you can get, but remember that not all of it is good advice.  Beware of any extreme advice, like people telling you that you should just date several people or start another relationship to make your ex jealous. Jealousy could lead to your ex deciding to let you go, since you give the appearance that you’re already moving on.

When you ask some people, “Can I get my ex back?” they might encourage you to have many casual relationships and to forget about your ex.  The decision is yours, but your goal is to not do anything to drive your ex farther away.  Your ex finding out that you’ve slept with one or more people while you’ve been trying to get them back isn’t going to help your case.
The only truly honest answer to the question, “Can I get my ex back?” is maybe. To give yourself the best chance of getting back together with your ex, you need to make them miss you.  You don’t have to date other people or make them jealous to do that.

Just be the best “you” you can be when you’re around them. We all like to be around pleasant, happy and friendly people.  Be a good friend, be positive and helpful.  Once you’ve made it clear you want another chance, trust that your ex knows that and has it on their mind.

Be the best person you can be when you’re around your ex, even if it’s hard.  This will help them remember the reasons they fell in love with you in the first place.

domenica 2 ottobre 2011

If You Feel Better, Your Brain Performs Better

It has been said that through meditation, you are able to calm not only your body but your mind as well. It may sound too difficult to try, however, there are ways to make meditation as simple as possible. This article for those who are hesitant to meditate because of the perception that meditation is a difficult process. It may be true that in order to perfect your meditation skills you need to practice it for years, however, you can still begin with the simplest relaxation techniques. This will surely make you feel better, your brain relaxed a little and your whole being is rejuvenated.
Meditation is a good way to reduce stress; and as you all know, we can think better if we are not stressed. As many researches have pointed out, you can suffer from brain damage if you are exposed to constant stress. Now, isn’t meditation just the right boost to your brain power?
Through mediation, your concentration will be strengthened, thus you can fully focus on any mental activity that you are working on. So you should learn to control your mind and use it efficiently for your own goals, do this by starting with breath techniques moving further to simple meditation.
Breath Watching
Find a spot where you can sit and relax comfortably. There, give close attention to your breathing for a few seconds. Basically, you just have to clear your mind for a moment and have a quiet time on your own. Here are a few tips to assist you.
1) Find your spot
Since you are only a beginner, you may want to find a quiet place where you can meditate. As you become more expert in meditation, you will notice that you can already meditate anywhere you want to. For the mean time, find a spot where you can feel at peace.
2) Be comfortable
Look for your position which will keep you at ease but not asleep. For most people, crossing their legs is their meditation position. If you are the kind of person who can lie down without falling asleep, you may also try lying down for this may be your most comfortable position. Just keep yourself perfectly still and comfortable but not asleep – this should be your meditation position.
3) Let Go of the Tension
Observe which part of your body is most tensed. You should learn how to tense up those parts and then release the tension in such part. You may experience the release as your body begins to be drained from all the tension. If you repeat the process, you will later on learn how to relax easily.
4) Breathe properly
Breathe properly through your nose. In doing so, the air can easily pass through your lungs. You may notice that your diaphragm, abdomen and chest expand more when you breathe through your nose. This is how you should breathe.
5) Pay attention
There may be instances when your mind may be disturbed by other thoughts, but you should always remind yourself to go back into paying special attention to your breathing. With constant reminder, the thoughts that may disturb you will soon fade away.
You may want to perform this meditation for at least five minutes. And then as you practice it more and more each day, you may want to perform it for a longer time. You should then be able to realize that these meditations can really help you clear your mind and increase your focus. By feeling better, your brain also performs better.