How to Create Affirmations to Improve Your Self-Esteem

How to Create Affirmations to Improve Your Self-Esteem



These days, our self esteem can be compromised by almost anything. We are bombarded with unrealistic images of what we should look like, what we should have and how we should live. When our reality does not meet with the fantasy, we can begin to feel bad about ourselves and feel our self esteem plummet.

For some of us, low self-esteem has always been an issue. We have struggled with how we see and feel about ourselves. Sometimes this has been compounded by unpleasant events, failures, failed or toxic relationships etc.

If your self esteem is low or could use some improving, consider changing the way you see yourself. One way, to do this is to create personal affirmations that will help you work on that. Affirmations are positive declarations that can be used to change your self perception and habits for the better. Here are some tips to help you create your own affirmations that will help improve your self-esteem.









Tips & Warnings










Consider reading positive self-help books that offer affirmations or advice on ways to look at yourself in a positive light.








Add any affirmations that you find useful to your affirmation list.








Take anything not so good or that does not seem to be negative and turn it into a positive. You will be amazed at how the change in your perspective can change how you feel about the situation. This in turn, can change how you behave and what happens in your life.








This is a process that may not be complete in a few days. This is only the beginning in a process to delve deep and address issues that you are facing or dealing with. Continue to go through the process and add affirmations to your list until you find a change in the way you see and feel about yourself.








Affirmations are great to write, but you must actually say them aloud every day for them to be effective.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2160482_affirmations-improve-selfesteem.html

How to Create a Formula for Good Health

How to Create a Formula for Good Health



Chinese medicine is an ancient healing art going back at least 3,000 years. Traditional Chinese medicine doctors create personalized herbal formulas for optimal wellness. Creating your own simple formula for good health requires a basic understanding of the principles and a willingness to experiment with your own health. Take a chance on your body and learn how to get healthy. You deserve it.







Things You'll Need:





Vitamin C




Calcium supplement




Therapist









1


Learn about your body and what makes it tick. Read books on Chinese medicine and its origins to get an understanding of the material. Create a health formula from your reading that you can follow daily.





2


Start the morning off with a daily regimen of vitamins to improve your health. Take recommended doses of vitamin C and calcium to strengthen your immune system and bones. Drink a glass of orange juice instead of water with all of your daily medication. Take your pills daily to keep your body in sync. One missed pill puts your whole body out of balance.





3


Get your qi, your body's energy source, back to normal by keeping active. Take a morning bike ride or walk around your block. Focus your mind on the activity and give yourself time to wake up before starting your work day. Impulsive actions reflect poorly on you physically and mentally.





4


Create a yin and yang type diet by balancing meals with healthy foods and your favorites. Reduce the amount of fast food you eat. You can still eat your favorite food, but order it only once a week instead of three times. Cook at least two meals a day and create different food combinations to keep your diet interesting. For example, add some chicken to your spaghetti or your Caesar salad.





5


Deal with stressful situations by taking up yoga to relax and develop your flexibility. Talk with a therapist about any personal issues that hinder your life. Also schedule a massage to physically rub the tension out of your body. If the massage fails, have a glass of wine to calm your nerves.








Tips & Warnings










Give yourself some time to escape from your everyday problems. Erase another hectic work week by doing your favorite activities. For example, have a spa day or go camping with your friends. On this day, think about anything but your problems.








Explore alternative formulas to becoming healthy. See an alternative medicine doctor if conventional medicine has failed. Take the Chinese herb your mother recommended to help fight your cold. Keep an open mind about possible cures for what ails you.








Don't deprive yourself too much of your favorite bad habits (e.g., junk food or buying designer shoes). Give your schedule and diet some flexibility to keep yourself from giving up. Balance some pleasure with health and you'll enjoy life more.








Avoid getting too much or too little sleep because your qi gets run down and susceptible to illnesses. Develop a regular sleep schedule and stick to it. Put aside any remaining work for tomorrow--one day won't make a difference.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2318713_create-formula-good-health.html

How to Create a Cozy Meditation Area in a Bedroom

How to Create a Cozy Meditation Area in a Bedroom



It's important to introduce calm into our hectic lives as a way to reduce stress, tension and anxiety. One way to do this is to create a section in your home exclusively for meditating. The most practical place to put it would be in your bedroom since you're likely to remain undisturbed there. The following tips will help you create a cozy meditation area in your bedroom.









1


Figure out which corner of your bedroom you'd like to use for the meditation corner. It doesn't need to be large, but it should be big enough for you to sit comfortably and stretch out your legs.





2


Clean the area thoroughly. Remove all the clutter. Dust all services. Wash the walls and the floor.





3


Purchase a comfortable mat, blanket, cushion or chair for the meditation corner. Also place a small table in the corner of your room. Make sure the table has sturdy legs since you may want to put lit candles on it during your meditation session. If space is really limited, you can use a tray.





4


Separate the meditation corner with a screen or some other partition. If space is limited and money is tight, you can use the small table as a partition.





5


Beautify your corner. What you use will depend on your personal tastes. It can be flowers, candles, incense, an assortment of inspirational quotations, a picture of a relaxing scene or crystals.








Tips & Warnings










If noise is an issue in your home, you can drown most of it by creating some white noise with something like a fan. White noise tends to be unnoticeable and also blocks out other noises. Remember, for meditation to be as effective as possible, it's crucial that you have silence.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2238847_create-cozy-meditation-area-bedroom.html

How to Create a Beach at Home While Bathing

How to Create a Beach at Home While Bathing



The beach has long been a source of relaxation and stress relief. If you live away from the shores of the ocean, you can recreate the beach effectively in your home through a luxurious bath. Here are the steps to do so.







Things You'll Need:





Candles




Audio recording of the beach




Beach pictures




Bath tub




Beach drink




Bath oils









1


Use every one of your senses when creating a beach experience while taking a bath. Start with your sense of smell with a number of ocean mist candles. These candles can be found very inexpensively; the more the better. These candles will help you to really build the smell of the beach while you relax in your stress-busting bath.





2


Visualize the beach by hanging a few pictures of your favorite beach trip in the bathroom while you take your bath. This is particularly effective if you have some larger pictures. Anything that can help you relive the sights of the beach will do. Some seashells do the trick nicely if you spread them around the edges of the tub.





3


Pamper your skin and your sense of touch by using some bath oils or spritzers that have a beach smell. These oils will leave your skin feeling refreshed and will also aid your efforts to recreate the smell.





4


Play a audio tape or CD of the ocean waves crashing on the shore to take advantage of the sounds of the beach. This is absolutely vital to your beach bath experience.





5


Mix up your favorite beach drink to bring the ever popular tastes of the beach to your bath tub. A great blizzard or Mai Tai will liven up the party a bit.








Tips & Warnings










Do put plenty of time into the set up.








Do allow yourself to relax without being bothered.








Do turn off the phone.








Do not put any electrical devices near your bathtub to avoid electrocution.








Do not put the shells in your bathwater. While authentic it can lead to a very uncomfortable experience.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2289967_create-beach-home-bathing.html

How to Cope with Sacroiliac Joint Pain

How to Cope with Sacroiliac Joint Pain



Roughly speaking, the sacroiliac joint is the connection between your spine and hip. The sacroiliac joint (also called SI joint) acts as a shock absorber and has little movement. An injury to the joint, which could be caused by a fall, can result in long lasting lower back pain. These tips can help you cope with the back pain. Always follow your doctor's recommendations.







Things You'll Need:





Heating pad




Ice pack




Thin pillows or towels




Over-the-counter pain reliever




Foam bed pad




SI belt




Seat cushion









1


Sleeping. Lying in bed can be the most difficult time for someone suffering for sacroiliac joint pain. They can not lie on the sore side and in most cases, can not lie on their back or stomach because rising from a back or stomach position can send sharp pain to the sore hip. To make sleeping a little more comfortable, add a couple inches of foam to the bed. Sleeping on the uninjured side is a given. If remaining on your uninjured side is difficult, try sleeping on a couch where you can press your back against the back of the couch. You can also try placing a thin pillow or folded towels between your knees and down to your ankles to lift the injured side slightly, keeping it more aligned with your spine, to help reduce pain.





2


Medication. The use of over-the-counter NSAIDs, like ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve) can be extremely helpful. Read the labels; there are risks with taking NSAIDS, particularly over a long time. However, the benefits of using an NSAID to reduce pain and inflammation to give you more mobility is a very important consideration. For severe cases, your doctor may prescribe pain killers and muscle relaxants, or a stronger NSAID.

According to Dr. Ranit Mishori, a Washington, D.C. based doctor and writer for Parade Magazine, it's usually more effective to take medications "around the clock" (every few hours) than to wait for an episode of pain before the next dose.





3


Heat and cold therapy. Take advantage of heat and cold therapy. The type of pad that is filled with gel and can be kept in the freezer will be easier to use and is worth the investment. Buy two, one to keep in the freezer and one to be able to heat in the microwave. The gel pack also takes away concern of falling asleep with an electric heating pad since the gel pack will slowly return to room temperature. When the pain is at its worst, apply an ice pack to help reduce inflammation. Heat can be used to help relax muscles, and is a good thing to use at bedtime. Lie down on your side and lay the pack across the painful hip, leaving it on for up to 30 minutes. If possible, try to establish a routine of a mid-day lie-down break of at least 30 minutes, applying either heat or cold. If you have a small heat/cold pack, you can tuck it inside clothing whether or not you are lying down.





4


Physical Therapy. Learning what exercises are best for you to help tone back and abdominal muscles is quite beneficial. If you are unable to see a physical therapist, check out websites for back exercises directed toward low back pain. Just keep in mind that if the exercise hurts, do NOT continue doing it.





5


Joint restraint. Using a sacroiliac belt when performing household chores may help to reduce over-extending the joint. The belt can be worn under or over clothes.





6


Riding in the car. The jiggling of the car, and especially a sudden turn or hitting bumps can be excruciating. Use seat padding and if a passenger, use pillows on both sides of your body to help reduce and cushion movement. In addition, take along a heat or cold pack and don't forget pain medication.





7


Joint injection. A pain management specialist can inject a numbing solution and anti-inflammatory into the joint. Sounds painful, but it's actually a less painful experience than getting a shot in your arm. The results can be dramatic, leaving you completely or almost pain free. However, this is not a cure, nor will the affects last indefinitely.








Tips & Warnings










A pain management specialist can provide you medications to help you through your pain. It's critical that you also take care of yourself by not doing things that cause you pain. With time, your discomfort will ease.








An alternative to, or in addition to pain management, you might want to try a chiropractor or acupuncturist.








Consider adding supplements like Fish Oil that have been shown to help reduce inflammation.








Though some days you may be on the verge of tears from the pain, if you can practice restraint to allow the joint to heal, you will see an improvement in time.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2259414_cope-sacroiliac-joint-pain.html

How to Cope With a Stutter

How to Cope With a Stutter



Living with a stutter can be frustrating, no matter what your age. Although common in
children
with growing mouth muscles, stuttering is generally considered abnormal in adults and is usually treated as a psychological problem. It is unknown why people stutter, or if everyone stutters for a reason different from everyone else. This writer has had to deal with a stutter almost all of her life. This advice is geared more for the moderate stutterer.







Things You'll Need:





Doctor, dentist or pediatrician




Internet connection




Thesaurus




Library card (optional)




Cassette tape recorder or other recording device







That's Easy For You To Say




1


Go to your doctor, dentist or pediatrician to be sure there isn't any physical reason like a growth that may cause you to stutter. This is especially important if you are an adult who suddenly starts stammering for no reason. If you don't find a physical reason, your doctor may advise you to see a speech therapist or psychologist, suggesting that you have a fear of communication with others.





2


If you are sure that the diagnosis is wrong, record yourself speaking with a cassette tape recorder or other recording device. Record for a couple of hours so that you are sure to record yourself speaking when you don't feel so conscious of being recorded. You want to hear yourself as others hear you.





3


Make note of what sounds you have the most trouble pronouncing. When you are talking from now on, try to substitute other words for those words that give your trouble. Use a thesaurus to find other word options.





4


Read out loud when you can to your pets, toys, artwork or non-judgmental friends. Choose a story you can really get lost in, so you enjoy the exercise.





5


Sing and listen if you stutter. Record if if you think it will help. If you do not stutter when you sing, then pretend that you are singing in monotone or rapping whenever you are speaking.





6


Read as many books on stuttering as you can. Even if you don't agree with the authors, they can still give you some good tips. Check out the website for the Stuttering Foundation of America, too.








Tips & Warnings










Talking in an accent sometimes helps you to speak more clearly, because it is a bit like singing.








A good book to read about stuttering is "Trouble With Explosives" by Sally Kelly (Scholastic, 1976).








Remember, lots of celebrities stutter and are still successful. These celebrities include world-famous singer Carley Simon and the actor James Earl Jones.








Things get better!








Don't think about your stuttering all of the time. Be sure to live as busy and normal a life as possible.








Don't think you have done anything to "deserve" being a stutterer. These things just happen. You wouldn't blame yourself for getting a cold, would you?



http://www.ehow.com/how_4421162_cope-stutter.html

How to Make an Herbal Remedy

How to Make an Herbal Remedy



In this modern age, we have come to rely on synthetic pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter chemical concoctions, when the best and most effective remedies may already be sitting in our kitchens. If you are interested in exploring the use of herbal remedies and would like to begin a healthier, more natural lifestyle, it is easy to get started. Read on to learn how to make an herbal remedy.









1


Find a reputable book on herbal remedies or visit a trained specialist in your area. It is best to find a book that has been written by a naturopathic doctor or formally trained herbalist. There are many amateur "medicine men" out there, so do your research, to find a reputable source.





2


Look for remedies that uses the herbs, fruits and vegetables that grow naturally in your area. Humans adapt to their local environments, therefore locally grown ingredients will work best with your system.





3


Buy a guide book on local flora in your region that explains how to identify and utilize the vegetation that grows wild, where you live. These books can also help you to determine when various plant's growing seasons are and how to store them throughout the year.





4


Shop in natural food stores when you can't pick the plants yourself. The point of an herbal remedy is to avoid harmful chemicals and synthetics, so always buy natural, preferably organic, ingredients.





5


Follow the instructions for the herbal remedy preparation to the letter. The experts who have created these recipes have studied and investigated the best way to create the remedy, so trust them and don't alter their methods of preparation in any way.





6


Experiment. There is always more than one herbal remedy for every ailment, so if you try one remedy and it doesn't seem to be right for you, try something else.





7


Remember that herbal remedies are not limited to things you can grow in an
herb garden
, but also include fruits and vegetables, honey, flowers, tea, grains and just about anything Mother Nature has to offer.


http://www.ehow.com/how_2083061_make-herbal-remedy.html