Contentment - The Essence of Happiness

Are you content with your life? Are you happy with the way things are? Now I know there are always improvements that can be made, and I am not talking about that, but what I am asking is, if nothing was to ever change in your life again, would you be content with your life?
We live in a world where no one is content or happy with anything in their life. They want the next and best car, phone, computer, or big screen TV. The marketing machines that move, are always compelling us and pushing us toward the next and better one. You can't live without this one. You have to have it. What is everyone going to think of you?
Now I'm all in favor of the free enterprise system. It's the best system on the planet. It keeps our economy strong, and the competition always makes for good solid products. But the one thing that can bring it all down is greed, and we sure have plenty of that to go around these days, not only in both the corporate and government sectors, but also each and every one of us. Yes we Americans are greedy and we show it for the entire world to see.
We are entering into one of the biggest greed showing seasons...Christmas. Now I know that Christmas is pretty much a worldwide event, and there are plenty of other countries that get into the shopping, spending, and buying of Christmas mode, but I'm concentrating my thoughts on us who live in the U.S.
Our lack of contentment is what drives our economy. Companies play on this and get us to try and out buy each other. Every year we have to have the new thing that just came out. We buy it with money that we don't have. We finance it from credit cards that charge us exorbitant rates, and we end up paying ten times more for it than it really is worth.
If you're discontent, then, you my friend are not happy, and if you aren't happy, what makes you think that a new gadget, that's going to put you in debt, will make you happy? It might deliver a false happiness that might last for a while, but when you see those bills coming in, it will vanish just as fast as it came, and will be replaced with anguish and despair.
I think this struggling economy will and should all help us to see that, things and gadgets don't bring happiness and contentment, people do. Maybe it's good that we can't buy all that stuff. Lets learn to do things for each other instead of buying each other.
I remember my parents and my grand-parents used to tell me about the great depression, "everybody was in the same boat, they would say."We were all poor and struggling and we had to depend on each other to survive." Maybe we all could use a little bit of that kind of humility today, and a warm strong hand to hold out to others.
I look at my grand kids and I remember when I was young. We didn't worry about our next meal. My dad provided a roof over our heads, food to eat, and a warm bed to sleep in at night. It wasn't till I was married and had a family of my own that I realized all that he and my mom did and sacrificed for all of us. How ungrateful we were back then.
I see that ungratefulness in our world today. We live in the, "give me" society, where we have our hands out to take, and never out to lend a helping hand and give.
There is a program that is on TV, it's called, "What would you do?" They run different scenes that they set up with actors and see what and how the public will respond. Kind of like Candid Camera did years ago.
One was a man who pretends to have passed out on the street. He lays there for twenty minutes before a homeless person comes to his aide. A homeless person, who has no real means to help, but gives what she has to help another human being who has a need.
When the scene was over, the actor who played the fallen man was visibly shaken as he embraced this homeless person for coming to his side to help. A simple act of kindness can be a very effective Christmas present this time of year. It's the gift that touches deep into the heart of someone, and keeps on giving and giving. It might just change you also.
You can't take anything with you when you leave this world. There are no U-Hauls behind any casket. But there is one thing that you will take when you exit this world...that's your relationships with people.
If you believe that there is a life after here, than why not start investing into those people right now. Put your money where it will do the best good. Help someone out, if you can. Hold a door open, say good morning with a nice smile on your face, or call a person by their name. Show people that you do care. These things won't cost you a penny and they are things that we all can do right now.
If taking and spending has never brought you happiness or contentment, try giving, and not just things....but give yourself. It's the best time of the year to start learning how to do that, and I promise you, you will find happiness and you will find contentment. It will change you.
It's what we celebrate at Christmas, when God gave Himself for you. "For God so loved you, that He gave His one and only Son. That who so ever would believe in Him, would not ever perish, but have life everlasting." John 3:16
Merry Christmas everyone.

Brian Gosur is an entrepreneur and internet marketing coach. After thirty five successful years with Ford Motor Company, he decided to start his own business. To find out more about Brian Gosur take a look at his website; http://www.bgosur.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Gosur

Learn About This Natural Way To Tighten Skin Around The Eyes

If you don't know exactly what you are looking for when it comes to a natural way to tighten skin around the eyes, then you could have serious problems when it comes to finding a safe and effective formula. A lot of products that are advertised as all natural formulas really contain hardly anything natural at all, and many of these contain ingredients that are potentially harmful to you.
If you are not careful about what it is you are buying when shopping for skin care products you could end up with one of the thousands of formulas out there that contain toxic and carcinogenic chemicals in them. Many people buy skin care products assuming that there couldn't possibly be anything potentially harmful inside of them. It is not a good thing to assume when you are talking about the cosmetics industry.
The chemical agents in a product that is falsely advertised as a natural way to tighten skin around the eyes could end up accumulating in your soft tissue. Long term use of such products could eventually lead to you developing an illness of some kind, and Heaven forbid maybe even cancer.
You have to thoroughly examine the ingredients in any product that you are going to apply to your skin.
You have to be careful about some of the anti aging eye serums that are all natural as well, and research the active ingredients in them. There are some formulas out there that are promised to reduce the wrinkles around your eyes, lines at the corners of the mouth, and forehead lines. The active ingredients in these products are potentially damaging, and these products should be avoided as well.
This type of natural way to tighten skin around the eyes does so by temporarily paralyzing the muscles underneath the skin, so that they sag and pull the skin taut. This doesn't do anything to truly resolve your problems with wrinkles and bags, and these formulas can potentially cause you to lose full or partial use of the effected facial muscles over time. It is obviously better to stay away from these formulas.
The safest and most effective formula for eliminating wrinkles and bags is an anti aging eye serum from a company based in New Zealand. They have combined to groups of enzymes to create Eyeliss and Haloxyl, which will help you significantly reduce bags and dark circles by improving fluid and hemoglobin removal, repairing fragile capillaries, increasing skin firmness and elasticity, and thickening the skin underneath the eye.
This wonderfully effective natural way to tighten skin around the eyes also features two potent all natural compounds clinically proven to improve collagen and elastin production.
Cynergy TK and Nano-Lipobelle H-EQ10 will increase your supply of collagen and elastin dramatically, and will eliminate the majority of your wrinkles.
An alga based compound called Homeo Age which further reduces wrinkles by stimulating cellular growth, and rejuvenating your skin cells.
This is the natural way to tighten skin around the eyes that everyone should be using.

Gordon Hall is fervent about enabling you and everyone to live a healthy lifestyle, and is an ardent reviewer of Anti aging Skin Care and Cosmetic products: Visit his web site now at Healthy-Natural-Skin-Site.com to discover which Anti aging skin care products Gordon recommends after far ranging and extensive research.

5 Ways to Deal With Conflicts

If you have a short temper, dealing with conflict graciously can be a daunting challenge. The way you treat people affects your friendships, romantic relationships, career contacts, and even job security.
To deal with conflict gracefully, be willing to accept change. Follow these tips the next time you face confrontation:
1.     Step out of your own shoes.
Analyze the situation objectively as it will allow you to truly see both sides of the story. Why is the other person upset? What could you possibly have done to offend them or make them feel as if they were wronged or attacked? Is there any merit to their sentiment?
Remember, most people rarely lash out without a feeling of justification. Find the reason why you're being approached so hastily so you can figure out how to diffuse the situation.
2.     Be understanding.
Sometimes, all someone needs in order to calm down is to feel as if they're being understood. Say something that will make them feel as if they have the right to feel as they do without completely throwing yourself under the bus.
Say something that shows you care about what they have to say. Before you launch into your side of the story, seek to understand their point of view first. Find common ground and work from there to ensure a solution that you both will be happy with.
Offer to talk about their feelings. Ask why they feel this way and truly listen without judging. It may be tempting to lash out if the other person is accusing you of doing something you clearly didn't do. However, wait until they're done saying their piece before you chime in with your defense.
3.     Keep your fingers to yourself.
When dealing with conflict, the coward's way to liberation is simply pointing the finger at the other person. But remember, it takes two to tango.
Take the high road by refraining from playing the childish blame game and focus on finding a solution, rather than harboring bitterness about the issue.
4.     Keep your cool.
The easiest way to blow a situation out of proportion is to act angrily. Keep your voice low and under control. Keep your arms at your side. Attack the problem from the perspective of a teammate rather than placing blame.
Dealing with conflict gracefully is about being proud of the way you react. If you feel that you'll be embarrassed by your reaction later, it's best to choose a different, calmer approach to communication.
5.     Everyone is a winner.
The most gracious thing you can possibly do to solve conflict is seek an amicable outcome for everyone involved. Take a step back; analyze the situation with fresh eyes and figure out exactly what it is that all parties involved are after.
Dealing with conflict graciously is a skill that takes practice to develop, but the effort is worth it. You can diffuse conflict with a gracious demeanor, compassion for others, and a focus on the solution that makes everyone involved feel like a winner.

5 Ways Improve Brain Function Through Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture

Are you constantly online, texting or twittering? Worried about the long term impact of increased computer and gaming time on the brain? Many people believe the technological age will have a negative impact on memory, concentration and general brain function over time. Below are 5 simple ways to improve your brain function.

1. Acupuncture is a great way to reduce stress, improve sleep and allow the body to enter deep relaxation which will enhance rejuvenation. There are even certain acupuncture points which can impact the brain directly, as well as scalp acupuncture which targets specific areas of the brain. From a traditional Chinese medicine perspective enhancing brain function involves strengthening Kidney Essence, nourishing Heart Blood and tonifying Marrow, which is the spinal cord, brain, bones and bone marrow.
2. Chinese herbs can be used to promote cognitive function or help balance organ systems which may contribute to declining brain function later in life. Common herbs used to prevent mental decline are gingko biloba, ling zhi, ginseng, gou ji berries and others used more in traditional Chinese medicine formulas to strengthen the Kidney essence such as he shou wu, rou cong rong and wu wei zi.
3. Diet plays an important role in overall health including brain health. The nutrient luteolin which is found in vegetables and herbs such as carrots, peppers, celery, rosemary, peppermint and olive oil has been found to decrease inflammation in the brain which can be responsible for decreased memory and cognitive function. Whereas a Finnish study found that seniors with higher levels of B12 in the body had a lower risk of developing Alzheimer's. Certain foods are also considered to be brain tonics, such as walnuts, blueberries, kiwi, kidney beans and supplements like vitamin D and omega 3 fatty acids which can be found in salmon, tuna, halibut as well as some nuts and plant sources.
4. Lifestyle is also an important factor in maintaining brain function, getting regular restful sleep, managing stress and finding time for relaxation will give the brain a chance to recharge. Activities such as yoga, meditation, tai chi and breathing exercises are all beneficial. If you prefer active sports like biking, skiing, skating and contact sports definitely protect your head as trauma to the head has shown to increase the chance of developing Alzheimer's later in life.
5. Learn a new skill to create neural pathways in the brain which will keep it healthy over time. Language and dance are often touted as good activities for the brain and recent research on bilingual children confirms it. Multilingual children were found to adapt to changes easier and focus better in confusing environments. In one study bilingualism helped to slow the onset of dementia, including Alzheimer's by about 4 years.