* "A Better You" Your 7 days program to self-improvement By Titus Maduwa

 I seem to lost count on how many times I've read and heard of celebrity marriages failing almost left and right. Not that I care (and personally I don't), it seems strange that we often see movie and TV stars as flawless people, living the fairy tale life of riches and glamour. I suppose we all have to stop sticking our heads in the clouds and face reality.

There are many ways to lose your sense of self-esteem despite of how trivial it could get. But whatever happens, we should all try not to lose our own sense of self.

So what does it take to be a cut above the rest? Here are some of the things you can think and improve on that should be enough for a week.

1. Know your purpose 

Are you wandering through life with little direction - hoping that you'll find happiness, health and prosperity? Identify your life purpose or mission statement and you will have your own unique compass that will lead you to your truth north every time.

This may seem tricky at first when you see yourself to be in a tight or even dead end. But there's always that little loophole to turn things around and you can make a big difference to yourself.

2. Know your values 

What do you value most? Make a list of your top 5 values. Some examples are security, freedom, family, spiritual development, learning. As you set your goals for 2005 - check your goals against your values. If the goal doesn't align with any of your top five values - you may want to reconsider it or revise it.

The number shouldn't discourage you, instead it should motivate you to do more than you can ever dreamed of.

3. Know your needs 

Unmet needs can keep you from living authentically. Take care of yourself. Do you have a need to be acknowledged, to be right, to be in control, to be loved? There are so many people who lived their lives without realizing their dreams and most of them end up being stressed or even depressed for that matter. List your top four needs and get them met before it's too late!

4. Know your passions 

You know who you are and what you truly enjoy in life. Obstacles like doubt and lack of enthusiasm will only hinder you, but will not derail your chance to become the person you ought to be. Express yourself and honor the people who has inspired you to become the very person you wanted to be.

5. Live from the inside out 

Increase your awareness of your inner wisdom by regularly reflecting in silence. Commune with nature. Breathe deeply to quiet your distracted mind. For most of us city slickers it's hard to even find the peace and quiet we want even in our own home. In my case I often just sit in a dimly lit room and play some classical music. There's sound, yes, but music does soothe the savage beast.

6. Honor your strengths 

What are your positive traits? What special talents do you have? List three - if you get stuck, ask those closest to you to help identify these. Are you imaginative, witty, good with your hands? Find ways to express your authentic self through your strengths. You can increase your self-confidence when you can share what you know to others.

7. Serve others 

When you live authentically, you may find that you develop an interconnected sense of being. When you are true to who you are, living your purpose and giving of your talents to the world around you, you give back in service what you came to share with others -your spirit - your essence. The rewards for sharing your gift with those close to you is indeed rewarding, much more if it were to be the eyes of a stranger who can appreciate what you have done to them.

Self-improvement is indeed one type of work that is worth it. It shouldn't always be within the confines of an office building, or maybe in the four corners of your own room. The difference lies within ourselves and how much we want to change for the better.

>>Learn More Here<<

# 1 International Author Titus Maduwa

* Your 5 minutes daily program to Stress management By Titus Maduwa

We all have this favorite expression when it comes to being stressed out, and I wouldn't bother naming all of them since it may also vary in different languages. But when it comes down to it, I think that it is how we work or even relax, for that matter that triggers stress. Ever been stressed even when you're well relaxed and bored? I know I have.

Since Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. is unavoidable in life, it is important to find ways to decrease and prevent stressful incidents and decrease negative reactions to stress. Here are some of the things that can be done by just remembering it, since life is basically a routine to follow like brushing your teeth or eating breakfast. You can do a few of them in a longer span of time, but as they say-- every minute counts.

Managing time

Time management skills can allow you more time with your family and friends and possibly increase your performance and productivity. This will help reduce your stress.

To improve your time management:

· Save time by focusing and concentrating, delegating, and scheduling time for yourself. 

· Keep a record of how you spend your time, including work, family, and leisure time. 

· Prioritize your time by rating tasks by importance and urgency. Redirect your time to those activities that are important and meaningful to you. 

· Manage your commitments by not over- or under-committing. Don't commit to what is not important to you. 

· Deal with procrastination by using a day planner, breaking large projects into smaller ones, and setting short-term deadlines. 

· Examine your beliefs to reduce conflict between what you believe and what your life is like. 

Build healthy coping strategies

It is important that you identify your coping strategies. One way to do this is by recording the stressful event, your reaction, and how you cope in a stress journal. With this information, you can work to change unhealthy coping strategies into healthy ones-those that help you focus on the positive and what you can change or control in your life.

Lifestyle

Some behaviors and lifestyle choices affect your stress level. They may not cause stress directly, but they can interfere with the ways your body seeks relief from stress. Try to:

· Balance personal, work, and family needs and obligations. 

· Have a sense of purpose in life. 

· Get enough sleep, since your body recovers from the stresses of the day while you are sleeping. 

· Eat a balanced diet for a nutritional defense against stress. 

· Get moderate exercise throughout the week. 

· Limit your consumption of alcohol. 

· Don't smoke. 

Social support

Social support is a major factor in how we experience stress. Social support is the positive support you receive from family, friends, and the community. It is the knowledge that you are cared for, loved, esteemed, and valued. More and more research indicates a strong relationship between social support and better mental and physical health.

Changing thinking

When an event triggers negative thoughts, you may experience fear, insecurity, anxiety, depression, rage, guilt, and a sense of worthlessness or powerlessness. These emotions trigger the body's stress, just as an actual threat does. Dealing with your negative thoughts and how you see things can help reduce stress.

· Thought-stopping helps you stop a negative thought to help eliminate stress. 

· Disproving irrational thoughts helps you to avoid exaggerating the negative thought, anticipating the worst, and interpreting an event incorrectly. 

· Problem solving helps you identify all aspects of a stressful event and find ways to deal with it. 

· Changing your communication style helps you communicate in a way that makes your views known without making others feel put down, hostile, or intimidated. This reduces the stress that comes from poor communication. Use the assertiveness ladder to improve your communication style. 

Even writers like me can get stressed even though we're just using our hands to do the talking, but having to sit for 7 or 8 hours is already stressful enough and have our own way to relieve stress. Whether you're the mail guy, the CEO, or probably the average working parent, stress is one unwanted visitor you would love to boot out of your homes, especially your life.

>>Learn More Here<<

# 1 International Author Titus Maduwa

*Only 5 Tips on How to Save Money on Your Bills by Titus Maduwa

I used to love going to the supermarket. But nowadays, I make my trips short and sweet. I have a list and stick to it. My trips to the supermarket made me realize that it’s getting harder and harder to stretch that dollar. With all those bills that you have to pay in a month, you really can’t do anything about it but to save.

I read once that it’s not how much you earn that ensures a comfortable and happy future, but it’s how much you save and keep saved that matters. That is why it is really essential to save money, especially when it comes to your monthly bills.

Some people do not just realize it but saving on their monthly bills can provide the best money-saving opportunity for them.

Here’s how:

1. Turn off appliances and lights when not in use

The logic is basically simple. Why would you leave something turned on when nobody is going to use it? That’s definitely a bad habit. 

Hence, if you really want to cut back some on your electricity bill, always turn off the lights and your appliances when not in use.

2. Use energy-saving lights

Nowadays, saving on your electricity bill is not impossible because you can opt for energy-saving devices such as lights. Using these energy-saving lights such as fluorescent lights consumes lower amounts of energy but can still give a suitable amount of illumination.

3. Always check for the leaks

Water bills can create a mountain load of a pile on your monthly dues if you do not check on the things that might cause your water bill to rise higher. You can prevent this by ensuring that every pipe is free from any leaks. 

Some people do not just realize that single drops from leaking pipes could mean additional costs on your water bill.

4. Be more tech-savvy

Cut your phone bill to almost half by simply being tech-savvy. That is, opt for the emails and chatting services of the Internet instead of using your phone to call long distance to your relatives and friends.

5. Try to insulate your home

Insulating your home is a definite energy-saver, money-saver scheme. You will never know how much money you can save on your electricity bill when you start to insulate your home.

Indeed, cutting some of your bills can definitely allow you to save more money. You just have to be wise in your home and everything that you have in it.

>>Learn more here<<

# 1 International Author Titus Maduwa

I am captivated by my life-by Titus Maduwa

Because I recognize that life is fleeting, I focus on making each minute count. I work hard to create the most fascinating, fun, and educational life I can make for myself. I look for ways to be enthralled with my daily activities. I am captivated by my life.

Living an entrancing life means I am never bored. Even when I rest, I engage in activities that bring me joy. Simple pleasures such as reading the news or watching an old episode of a beloved comedy show brings quiet satisfaction.

Listening to music captures and holds my attention. I am interested in the stories behind the songs. Everything I do enriches my life. Each of my activities delights me.

When I get to spend time with my family members or friends, I am entranced by the whole experience.

Being surrounded by people I love, who also love me, is fulfilling and brings feelings of deep satisfaction. In these situations, I am once again captivated by my own life.

 

A continuing goal for me is to experience contentment, delight and sheer pleasure each day. I embrace everything positive that comes my way as I release everything else. Doing this helps me to love my life.

Today, I reflect on my life and appreciate how it continually brings me joy and delight, captivating me with its thrills.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. Am I enamored of my life?
2. What parts of my life bring joy, fascination and delight? What aspects of my life bring me down?
3. How can I ensure I consistently live a captivating life?

Author-Titus Maduwa

https://www.amazon.com/author/titusmaduwa