The surprising truth about what motivates us

- this is a very interesting video by RSA Animate regarding Drive - 

New 5 Cs that will actually make you a happy Singaporean

1. Compare less 

The more we compare ourselves with others, the unhappier we become. There will always be someone who is: Smarter than you Richer than you Luckier than you Better-looking than you More popular than you More charismatic than you More accomplished than you You don’t benefit from comparing yourself with these people. The only person you should compare yourself with is you. Are you wiser than you were a year ago? Kinder? More generous? More courageous? If your answer is “no”, then it’s time to reflect and to commit to making real changes in your life. 

2. Cherish what you have 

Every expert on happiness will tell you that grateful people are happy people. Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, in her book The How of Happiness, describes from a scientific perspective why counting your blessings makes you happier. Following Dr. Lyubomirsky’s advice, we should write down at least one thing we’re grateful for every day. That’s sure to make us happier. By expressing gratitude, we’re not denying that some things in life aren’t ideal. We’re simply acknowledging that, in many ways, we’re blessed. We can all become happier by making a conscious effort to cherish what we have: family, friends, religious freedom, food to eat, a safe country to live in. 

3. Choose your attitude 

I’ve heard a saying that goes, “Your attitude determines your altitude.” Cheesy but true? I think so. You can’t always choose your circumstances, but you can always choose your attitude. Your boss gave you a difficult assignment? You can either see it as a problem or as a challenging opportunity. Your project didn’t get off to a good start? You can either see it as a stumbling block or as a stepping-stone to future success. Attitude is a choice, just like happiness is a choice. 

4. Complain less 

Complain—it’s something we all do. But whenever we complain, without also proposing an alternative, we’re being irresponsible. Some people believe that it’s the citizens’ job to complain and the government’s job to provide solutions. But this isn’t the right attitude. As a responsible citizen, if we oppose government policy, then we should also take the initiative to suggest a viable solution. When we’re whining, nobody’s winning. So let’s complain less. 

5. Change your circumstances and yourself 

When things don’t go your way, it’s easy to feel frustrated, helpless or confused. Any time you feel this way, ask yourself: “What is one thing I can do right now to improve the situation?” This is an empowering question, because it makes you realize that there’s always something productive you can do. Always. You just need to focus on the one action you can take immediately. If you’re unhappy about your relationship with your boss, schedule a conversation with him or her. If you’re unhappy about your salary, improve your skills, enroll in a course, find a mentor, or negotiate a pay increase. You could even start a business on the side. There’s an endless list of things you could do to make your life better. If you’re not willing to do anything on that list, then you shouldn’t complain. Instead of complaining, take action. 

In closing… 

Happiness isn’t just an emotion. It’s a choice—a daily one. Finding real happiness takes dedication and determination, so it’s not for the fainthearted. It’s time to embrace the new 5 Cs. It’s time to build a happier life and a happier Singapore. It’s time to get to work.

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adapted from yahoo.com, by D*aniel W*ong, see article here.

The Goose Story

When you see geese flying along in “V” formation, you might consider what science has discovered as to why they fly that way. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in “V” formation, the whole flock adds at least 71 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own. People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going more quickly and easily because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone — and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front. If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those people who are headed the same way we are.

When the head goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point. It is sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs, whether with people or with geese flying south. Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

What messages do we give when we honk from behind? Finally — and this is important — when a goose gets sick or is wounded by gunshot, and falls out of formation, two other geese fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection. They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly or until it dies, and only then do they launch out on their own, or with another formation to catch up with their group.

If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other like that.

~Author Unknown

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我们是否也在团体生活中呢？有没有一些时候是我们需要替补其他人的？也许是因为对方有些懈怠了，也有可能是因为对方发生了一些事情，所以，需要我们顶替上。但无论如何，馆主都认为大家既然有缘来到了这个世界，而在那么多的人里认识了某些人，一定有其因缘。所以，一定要互相扶持，才能精进、不放弃。

加油！

^_^g

Face Difficulties Positively

This parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into the farmer’s well. The farmer heard the mule praying or whatever mules do when they fall into wells. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving. Instead, he called his neighbors together, told them what had happened, and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.

Initially the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back, a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back, HE WOULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP!

This he did, blow after blow. “Shake it off and step up…shake it off and step up…shake it off and step up!” He repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or how distressing the situation seemed, the old mule fought panic and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP!

It wasn’t long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the wall of that well! What seemed like it would bury him actually helped him . . . all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity.

THAT’S LIFE! If we face our problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity.

~Author Unknown

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我们是否也是这样呢？遇到难题或困境时，都会想要放弃。可是，自怜是不会让我们度过难关的。惟有自己自强才能变得更好。

在学习馆五岁的这一天，馆主祝福大家会时时学习，变得更坚强、更棒的人！大家加油！

^_^g

Believe in Yourself

There may be days when you get up in the morning and things aren’t the way you had hoped they would be.

That’s when you have to tell yourself that things will get better. There are times when people disappoint you and let you down.

But those are the times when you must remind yourself to trust your own judgments and opinions, to keep your life focused on believing in yourself.

There will be challenges to face and changes to make in your life, and it is up to you to accept them.

Constantly keep yourself headed in the right direction for you. It may not be easy at times, but in those times of struggle you will find a stronger sense of who you are.

So when the days come that are filled with frustration and unexpected responsibilities, remember to believe in yourself and all you want your life to be.

Because the challenges and changes will only help you to find the goals that you know are meant to come true for you.

Keep Believing in Yourself!

CONVERSATION WITH GOD

God: Hello… Did you call me?

Me: Called you? No, who is this?

God: This is GOD. I heard your prayers. So I thought I will chat.

Me: I do pray. Just makes me feel good. I am actually busy now. I am in the midst of something.

God: What are you busy at? Ants are busy too.

Me: Don’t know. But I can’t find free time. Life has become very hectic. It’s rush hour all the time.

God: Sure. Activity gets you busy. But productivity gets you results. Activity consumes time. Productivity frees it.

Me: I understand. But I still can’t figure it out. By the way, I was not expecting YOU to buzz me on instant messaging chat.

God: Well. I wanted to resolve your fight for time, by giving you some clarity. In this net era, I wanted to reach you through the medium you are comfortable with.

Me: Tell me, why has life become complicated now?

God: Stop analyzing life. Just live it. Analysis is what makes it complicated.

Me: Why are we then constantly unhappy?

God: Your today is the tomorrow that you worried about yesterday. You are worrying because you are analyzing. Worrying has become your habit. That’s why you are not happy.

Me: But how can we not worry when there is so much uncertainty?

God: Uncertainty is inevitable, but worrying is optional.

Me: But then, there is so much pain due to uncertainty.

God: Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.

Me: If suffering is optional, why do good people always suffer?

God: Diamond cannot be polished without friction. Gold cannot be purified without fire. Good people go through trials, but don’t suffer. With that experience, their life becomes better, not bitter.

Me: You mean to say such experience is useful?

God: Yes. In every term. Experience is a hard teacher. She gives the test first and the lessons afterwards.

Me: But still, why should we go through such tests? Why can’t we be free from problems?

God: Problems are Purposeful Roadblocks Offering Beneficial Lessons (to) Enhance Mental Strength. Inner strength comes from struggle and endurance, not when you are free from problems.

Me: Frankly, in the midst of so many problems, we don’t know where we are heading.

God: If you look outside you will not know where you are heading. Look inside. Looking outside, you dream. Looking inside you awaken. Eyes provide sight, heart provides insight.

Me: Sometimes not succeeding fast seems to hurt more than moving in the right direction. What should I do?

God: Success is a measure as decided by others. Satisfaction is a measure as decided by you. Knowing the road ahead is more satisfying than knowing you rode ahead. You work with the compass. Let others work with the clock. 

Me: In tough time, how do you stay motivated?

God: Always look at how far you have come rather than how far you have to go. Always count your blessings, not what you are missing.

Me: What surprises you about people?

God: When they suffer they ask, “Why me?” When they prosper, they never ask. “Why me?” Everyone wishes to have truth on their side, but few want to be on the side of the truth.

Me: Sometimes I ask, “Who am I? Why am I here?” I can’t get the answer.

God: Seek not to find who you are, but to determine who you want to be. Stop looking for a purpose as to why you are here. Create it. Life is not a process of discovery but a process of creation. 

Me: How can I get the best out of life?

God: Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear. 

Me: One last question. Sometimes I feel my prayers are not answered. 

God: There are no unanswered prayers. At times the answer is NO.

Me: Thank you for this wonderful chat. I am so happy to start the New Day with a new sense of inspiration.

God: Well... Keep the faith and drop the fear. Don’t believe your doubts and doubt your beliefs. Life is a mystery to solve, not a problem to resolve.

-Anonymous-

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我们可曾期望可以亲自问上帝一些我们不明白的东西吗？是否有时也会觉得上帝祂怎么都不理睬我们呀？其实，馆主相信上帝无时无刻都在我们的身边，只不过祂是以不同的形象出现。无论我们是快乐还是悲伤的，上帝的温暖从未离开过我们。只要相信，就一定能关关难过，关关过。

加油！^_^g

What You See Is …

"Why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, 'Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye?"

You may have read about the young couple who moved into a new neighborhood and, the next morning while they were eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hanging washed clothes on the clothesline. "That laundry is not very clean," she said, "she doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap." 

Her husband looked on, but remained silent. However, every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments. 

About a month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice, clean wash on the line and said to her husband: "Look, she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her how." 

The husband said, "I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows." 

And so it is with life: what we see when watching others depends on the purity of the window through which we look. The reality is that we see things not the way they are, but the way we are. Furthermore, to the degree that we are in denial, we will see only what we want to see; will hear only what we want to hear; will expose ourselves only to what we want to be exposed to, and will twist what we see to make it match our distorted perception of reality. Only the truth—brutal self-honesty—will set us free from this self-deception.

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是呀，我们是否用着自己的想法去看待身边的一切事物而扭曲了事实？一定要谨慎面对一切哦！

加油！^_^g

Never Quit

One day I decided to quit... 
I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality... I wanted to quit my life. 

I went to the woods to have one last talk with God. 

"God", I said. "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?" 
His answer surprised me... 
"Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?" 
"Yes", I replied. 

"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them.. 
I gave them light. I gave them water. 

The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor.
Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. 

In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo." He said. 

"In the third year, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. 

In the fourth year, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. "I would not quit." He said. 

"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. 

Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant. .. But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. 

It had spent the five years growing roots. 

Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle." 

He said to me. "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots." 

"I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you. " Don't compare yourself to others .." He said. "The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern ... Yet, they both make the forest beautiful." 

I left the forest and bring back this story. 

I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you. 

He will never give up on you. 

Never regret a day in your life. 
Good days give you happiness 
Bad days give you experiences; 
Both are essential to life. 

A happy and meaningful life requires our continuous input and creativity. It does not happen by chance. It happens because of our choices and actions. And each day we are given new opportunities to choose and act and, in doing so, we create our own unique journey." Keep going...

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的确，上天绝不会放弃我们，而我们呢？我们是否轻易地就向困难投降、屈服了？有很多时候，其实我们并不一定能在实行新方案时得到立竿见影的成效，但那不应该是击退我们的啊，我们越是遇到挫折就更应该更勇往直前。当然，说得容易但做起来可能没那么容易。但馆主觉得，有些时候，我们需要自我挑战，努力突破自己，就万事都有无限可能！

加油！

^_^g

Dream-Stealer

There was once a young girl who was very fond of dancing. Her skill in dancing was extraordinary and surpassed her dancing friends that she often appeared as the champion in many competition held. She thought, with what she possess at that time, one day later when she grew up, she would want to be a world class dancer. She imagined herself dancing in Russia, China, America, Japan, being watched by thousands of people giving applause to her on salutation.

One day, the city she resided in was visited by a dancing expert proffessional who came from abroad. This dancing expert was very fascinating, from his hands have been born out world class dancers. The young girl desired very much to dance and exhibit her prowess in front of the teacher, or even if possible, to be one of his pupil. Finally the opportunity came at last. The young girl managed to meet with the teacher behind the screen after his performance was over. The young girl asked "Sir, i really want to be a wold-class dancer. Can you give me a moment of your time, to judge my dancing skill? I want to know what you think of my dance." "Fine, dance then for 10 minutes", the expert responded.

Not even 10 minutes have passed, the teacher stood up from his chair, and left the place without saying any word to the young girl. How broken heart the young girl was upon that. The girl immediately ran out, reaching her home, she cried and cried. She began hating herself. Afterall, the dance that she had been proud of all those years were nothing at all for the teacher. She then get hold of her dancing shoes and threw it in the garbage. Since then, she swore not ever to dance anymore.

Several decades have passed, now the young girl have became a mother with three children. Her husband had passed away. And to feed her family, she had to work as waitress in a restaurant at the corner of a street. One day, there was a dance exhibition being held in the city. The same expert could be seen behind the young dancers behind the platform. The expert looked much older, with his hair whitening. The mother with her children went to see the dance show. After the show, the mother brought her three children into the back, looking for the teacher, and introduced him to her three children. The old teacher still recognize her, and so they converse with each other enjoyfully.

The mother asked, "Sir, i still have one thing that still bothers me. It was about me performing in front of you many many years ago. Was my perfomance that bad that you leave straight away?" "Oh yes, i remembered it. Frankly speaking, i never have ever seen in my life such beautiful dance that you showed me at that time. I was even sure that you would surely become a world-class dancer, but i was dumbfounded how you suddenly stopped from the world of dancing", answered the teacher.

The young mother was extremely shocked hearing it. "This is not fair!", she exclaimed. "Your attitude had stolen all my dreams! If it was true that my dance was good, why did you just leave me that way when i had just only danced for several minutes? You should have praised me, not ignoring me like that. I am supposed to be a world-class dancer right now, not just a waitress!"

The teacher answered calmly with his wisdom, "No...No, i think i have done what i thought was right. YOU DONT NEED TO DRINK A BARREL OF WINE TO KNOW THAT THE WINE IS GOOD. The same goes with me. I didnt need to watch you for 10 minutes to prove that your dance was good. That night i was also very exhausted after the show. So i was thinking to leave you for a moment, to get you my name card, and hoped that you would contact me again the next day. 

But then you were not there anymore when i returned. And another thing that i have to remind you, that YOU SHOULD FOCUS ON YOUR DREAM, NOT ON WHAT I SAY OR WHAT I DO OR WHAT THE WORLD SAY! Then applause? So you expected praise and applause? Ah, maybe at that time you were still growing, young lady. 

PRAISE IS LIKE A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD. AT SOME TIMES IT WILL MOTIVATE YOU, AT OTHER TIMES IT WILL WEAKEN YOU. And the fact is that i had observed that most of the PRAISE GIVEN TO A GROWING CHILD, WILL JUST MAKE HIM/HER FEEL SATISFIED OF THE CURRENT PROGRESS AND HINDERS FURTHER GROWTH. I EVEN PREFER TO IGNORE YOU, AS IT SUPPOSEDLY CAN ROCKET YOUR PROGRESS. 

Besides, praise is something that should come from myself, NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU SHOULD ASK FOR." 

"You see, this was actually only a small matter. If only at that time you didnt ignore what happened and kept on dancing, you would have became a very great world-class dancer. 

YOU MIGHT FELT HURT AT THAT TIME, BUT IT WILL DISSIPATE QUICKLY ONCE YOU KEEP ON PRACTISING AGAIN. BUT THE HURT EMERGED FROM THIS REGRET TODAY WILL NEVER DISAPPEAR FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE..."

感谢月莉小姐的分享！真的很有意思，对吧？=)

大家一定要为自己的梦想奋斗、努力哦！不要只因他人的言语而轻易地放弃梦想！

加油！^_^g

The Story of a Blind Girl

There was a blind girl who hated herself just because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She said that if she could only see the world, she would marry her boyfriend. 


One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her and then she could see everything, including her boyfriend. Her boyfriend asked her, “now that you can see the world, will you marry me?” The girl was shocked when she saw that her boyfriend was blind too, and refused to marry him. Her boyfriend walked away in tears, and later wrote a letter to her saying: “Just take care of my eyes dear.” 


This is how human brain changes when the status changed. Only few remember what life was before, and who’s always been there even in the most painful situations. 


Life Is A Gift 


Today before you think of saying an unkind word– think of someone who can’t speak. 
Before you complain about the taste of your food– think of someone who has nothing to eat. 
Before you complain about your husband or wife– think of someone who is crying out to God for a companion. 
Today before you complain about life– think of someone who went too early to heaven. 
Before you complain about your children– think of someone who desires children but they’re barren. 
Before you argue about your dirty house, someone didn’t clean or sweep– think of the people who are living in the streets. 
Before whining about the distance you drive– think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet. 
And when you are tired and complain about your job– think of the unemployed, the disabled and those who wished they had your job. 
But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another– remember that not one of us are without sin and we all answer to one maker. 
And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down– put a smile on your face and thank God you’re alive and still around. 


Life is a gift – Live it, Enjoy it, Celebrate it, and Fulfill it. 
~unknown~

Tips To Become A Stronger Person

Everyone wants to be a strong person in life. We always want to succeed, and stand tall in the face of adversity. 

What does being a ‘strong person’ really mean though? Is it physical strength?Is it mental strength? Or is it a balanced combination of the two? What are the characteristic traits we need to develop to become a strong person? Read on to find out more. 

1. Identify 

To one person, being a strong person may be equivalent to having the courage to stand up to others, while to another it may be the ability to make decisions without hesitating and dallying too much over it. What we need to do is identify what we consider as a weakness which comes in the way of our growth as a person. We then need to work on that specific aspect to get rid of it. As we can see, the definition of a ‘strong person’ varies from person to person. 

2. Decide 

The first step lies in deciding for ourselves that we want to make a conscious effort to improve as a person. No matter what our shortcomings may be, there is nothing that cannot be achieved with proper focus and belief. We should remind ourselves every morning that the new day is going to be better than the previous one, because we’re not going to let anything affect us negatively. 

3. Believe 

Self-belief is one of the most potent ‘medicines’ in the world, if we may call it that. We must have belief in our abilities to turn things around and get them right. Belief in our emotional strength will enable us to act stronger on a conscious basis. If we don’t believe in ourselves, then self doubt will nag away at us from within, making us all the weaker for the worse. Also expect more retaliation from the outside world for our changes, but remain steadfast in your decision to improve. 

4. Act! 

Belief without action is a futile exercise. Acting on our decisions is what helps us improve and move one step ahead. Confronting our fears and shortcomings as they come is of essence. Start with the small things and gradually move up towards the bigger problems. Don’t fear the unknown. If we are afraid, how will we win?! 

5. Expect the unexpected 

We’ll have to practice moving out of our comfort zones. This is the only way we’ll be able to get rid of those irritants which have plagued us for so long. It is not going to be an easy task, not at all. For every new problem we face, we might need a solution we do not know or have. However this should not be a deterrent in our path. Above all, we must be prepared to battle our own mind, as it may try to find escape routes in order to avoid facing adversity. 

It would be very unfair to say that these are the only tips that we need in order to become a stronger person in life. However, the basics always remain the same. Our belief system is what matters the most – and it is the defining factor that can make or break a person in life. We have to discipline ourselves to work hard towards this end.

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馆主相信大家也希望可以变成更强的人。那么，也许我们都可以参考这些建议哦！

加油！

^_^g

The Amazing Transformation of a Guy Who Didn't Give Up!

你是否也曾经想过要放弃呢？你知道吗，人真的是有无限的可能，只要你相信！

信念真的很重要，它的神奇是我们可能无法想像的。。加油！

^_^g

7 ways to beat your worries

Can't stop worrying? Try out the seven ways to beat the bother and boost your happiness. Whilst worrying is necessary for spurring us on to achieve our goals, chronic worrying can disrupt the balance in our nervous system and be detrimental to our health. Here are seven ways to wash away your worries:

# 1: Forget the things you can’t change
If you’re worrying about something that’s happened in the past, you need to stop. The power of your mind isn’t strong enough to solve problems through panic, so it’s important to beat your worries by thinking logically and tackling them head-on. Bad memories from the past are toxic to our health and highly counterproductive so you must bury the burdens of your past and move on.

# 2: Write a worry list
Write down everything you’re worried about; the bills, your job, the car MOT – everything. Then rate them on a scale of one to 10, with 10 being the things that are concerning you most. You can then turn your worry list into an action list. Take action on the worries that you rated the highest first, and then work through the rest of the list. You will feel a sense of relief each time you tick a worry off, and this is a sure-fire way to boost your happiness and relieve your worries.

# 3: Discipline your thoughts
If you’re a chronic worrier, you need to learn to take control of your thoughts rather than letting them take control of you. To do this, every time you think a negative thought, you must turn it into a positive. Every time you worry, think “is this really helpful?” If the answer is no, turn the thought into a positive or forget it completely. Whilst this may seem difficult at first, it will eventually become second nature and you will find that turning a negative into a positive is a much more constructive way of dealing with your thoughts.

# 4: Distract yourself through relaxation
When we’re worried – particularly about a number of things at once – our brains don’t tend to find a logical solution to our problems. In order to think logically, we must take the time to relax and unwind. Breathe in through your nose, and out through your mouth. After a couple of minutes of relaxation, the tension will leave your body and you will be in a better position to tackle the problem from a fresh perspective.Woman relaxing in bath with candles

# 5: Talk to friends and family
A problem shared is a problem halved. Talk to your family, your friends, or a doctor if you have a good relationship with them. Sometimes saying your problems out loud can get your thoughts straight in your head and if you’re worrying about something useless, saying it out loud can make you realise that it’s just not worth the worry. With those close to you, you can laugh, cry, and moan as much as you like without being judged and this is a healthy way to relieve stress.

# 6: Confront the problem head-on
Some worries can’t be tamed through talking to others or relaxation. A problem that won’t go away until you physically do something about it needs to be confronted head-on. Sometimes, we have so much on our mind that we don’t know what to deal with first. Make a decision on which problem you want to solve and how you will go about it, and then stick to it. You will probably find that once you resolve the problem, you’ll wish you’d done something about it sooner.

# 7: Put things into perspective
Don’t be overwhelmed by small things; try and see the bigger picture. Is your problem really as bad as you’re making it out to be? The chances are there will be many people worse off than you. Instead of zoning in on certain things and panicking about them, put everything into perspective. Does this problem affect your entire life? Will you still be panicking about this in a few weeks or months time? If the answer is no, then it’s really not worth the worry.

Top 5 tips To Clear Your Head

Sometimes you can have days or even weeks when you have so much on your mind that you're never quite able to get focused. It's at times like these that you'll need to do some serious decluttering!

Decluttering your mind is about clearing your head so you can focus more on the important things. Aside from making a list and trying to get organized, here are tips to help you clear your mind of any 'excess baggage', so that you will be able to focus more on the things that are of the greatest importance.

1. Let go of negativity
It's you and you alone who is in charge of what goes through your mind—but somehow many of us allow ourselves to become bogged down with negative thoughts. If you go around thinking negatively all the time, then you're never going to be in a particularly good mood—so it's best to let go of negative thoughts whenever possible, as it will relieve your mind of excessive stress. After all, if something has made you mad, what good is there in stewing over it all day?

2. Learn to say 'no'
Some people just can't say no, and always say 'yes' when they have been asked to do favours for others or have been offered an invitation. If you've already got enough on your plate then don't be tempted to add to it. So, if a work colleague asks you to do something, always think about whether or not it's practical for you to take the task on board. And there will surely be one or two things that you can say 'no' to in other areas as well. Sometimes if you just keep saying yes to something, it becomes a habit, and you very often get stuck with doing it — so train yourself to say 'no' when you need to.

3. Avoid interruptions
If your head is swimming with things to be done and you're getting interrupted frequently, you'll probably be getting nowhere and feel like your mind is in overload. Interruptions can cause your productivity to plummet, so try to avoid them whenever possible. For example, if you've got something particularly important to do for work, then consider working from home if you're allowed to do so, as you'll be able to avoid the majority of interruptions that may usually occur in your workplace. Simple things such as closing your office door—a sign to people that you don't want to be disturbed—will also help you to avoid interruptions.

4. Just do it!
One of the worst things for cluttering up your mind is putting off tasks that you have to do. They just sit there in your head and niggle away so you can never quite concentrate on another task that you are doing at the time. So, our advice is to just do whatever it is you need to do as soon as possible—so you can get it out of your mind and focus on the next task. If you don't do this, you'll often put more energy into thinking about doing something than actually doing it! And remember: it's amazing how quickly you can do something once you finally commit yourself to doing it.

5. Take a break
Some people just seem unable to give themselves a break — and by doing so they become more and more bogged down, so that eventually they can't think straight and end up making mistakes. Taking a few minutes away from your current task or activity will help you to clear your thoughts and then come back more refreshed and with a greater clarity of thinking. A short break between tasks will make you far more productive than if you just attempt to wade through one consecutive task after another.

Taking control of your mind
If you follow some of these tips then you'll soon find yourself back in control of your own mind, and your head will no longer be full of extraneous clutter and excessive information. By writing things down as they come up, and by taking action as soon as you can, you can successfully declutter your mind — and you'll then have more opportunities to think more productive thoughts!

Adapted from yahoo!specialprojects

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很有意思的文章。希望大家都不会有困扰哦。

^_^g

世界上沒有意外

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大家是否认为这就是件坏的事、或坏的结果呢？还是说，这不一定是坏事哟。

希望大家都能珍惜与感恩每样上天的安排哦！

加油！

Practising Gratitude for Daily Miracles

If there's one skill we all undoubtedly effortlessly excel at... it's taking things for granted.

Think about the daily miracles happening all around us... the air we're breathing, the clean water we're drinking, the technologies connecting us to our loved ones, or even that you're listening or reading this right now.

It's a cliche but only because we are so easily bored with what we have. It sounds mawkish and sentimental only because it's so easily available. But what if we didn't have them? Would we still think that being grateful for them was so trivial?

And it's not just the seemingly simple and common things in life... even things we initially find precious and thrilling lose their lustre after a time. This happens to everything from our cars to our partners. How quickly we grow weary of our blessings and start looking for other pleasures!

This tendency to tire of and find fault with what we already have is what keeps us discontented and unhappy. We're inclined to focus on our problems and ignore our blessings. But the very fact that you are walking, talking, breathing, tasting, and touching is a miracle in itself! We live in a world bursting with possibility and here we are complaining!

Life was meant to be savoured. Life was meant to be simple. Sure, it has its fair share of problems, but these are mitigated by its pleasures and joys. The reason why you are feeling all this pain and misery is that you have magnified the complexity of things.

External forces act on us now and then to test our faith and will. Would you really want to give in to confusion, chaos, and complexity... when all you need to do to be happy, is to see things simply, and revel in everything that's being revealed to you?

Most people are so busy waiting for miracles to happen that they fail to notice the ones occurring right under their noses. It's a bit like people who spend their lives hunting desperately for the partner of their dreams, while ignoring the ones who would gladly share their lives with them.

If we open up our hearts, minds and eyes, we'll be touched by the many miracles that occur everyday. Appreciate these daily events as the miracles that they are and they will increase the depth of your life.

Adapted from A Slice of Life by Eugene Loh

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是啊，很多时候，幸福和奇迹就在我们的身边，但是，我们都没有发现。多多欣赏和珍惜眼前的一切，你就会发现世界有多美好。

加油！

^_^g

Ten Commandments for Getting Along With People

1. Speak to people. There is nothing as nice as a cheerful word of greeting.

2. Smile at people. It takes seventy-two muscles to frown and only fourteen to smile.

3. Call people by name. The sweetest music to anyone's ears is the sound of his or her name.

4. Be friendly and helpful. If you would have friends, be friendly.

5. Be cordial. Speak and act as if everything you do is a genuine pleasure [make sure that it is].

6. Be genuinely interested in people. You can find something interesting about every person.

7. Be generous with praise … and cautious with criticism.

8. Be considerate of the feelings of others. It will be appreciated.

9. Be thoughtful of the opinion of others. There are three sides to a conversation/argument: yours, the other person's, and the right one!

10. Be alert to give service. What you do for others is important.

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馆主刚巧看到了这个，感觉我们大家应该学习如何与他人交往。

加油哦！

^_^g

Forgetting to Be Happy

We live in an era where information is power. People who have the ability to quickly assimilate data and knowledge are able to manipulate people and events to their own ends.

As a result, we are obsessed with the procurement and hoarding of information. Devices like the smartphone and computer are indispensable in helping us retain information. We delight in our efficient storage of daily reminders, phone numbers, addresses, progress reports, meeting minutes, discussion agendas, schedules, birthdates, anniversaries, appointments, and other data, but most people still find their lives empty.

Why?

Well, perhaps they've forgotten to store the most important reminder of all --- to be happy.

Hmmm? Forgetting to he happy?

"How is that possible?" some may ask. "One is happy when one is happy. Happiness doesn't need reminding. I know I'm happy when... when I'm not unhappy!"

Too many things in life can make us unhappy --- missing the bus, getting our expensive leather shoes wet in the rain, falling ill during a vacation, losing our phone, paying too much for something, or our date stands us up. There is no sense in putting off happiness until we've eliminated all the things that make us unhappy.

Happiness is a choice, an emotion we can consciously activate regardless of how miserable and frustrating the day may seem. Reminding yourself to be happy may not solve your problems, but it sure makes you feel a whole lot better! A heart full of joy will probably find life's downs easier to bear and to rise from.

So remind yourself constantly to find joy in little things --- smile often, be generous with your compliments, share jokes, help a colleague, pet an animal, treat someone to a meal, laugh heartily, and be thankful for your capacity to appreciate life and all its gifts.

Adapted from 'A Slice of Life' by Eugene Loh

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你是否也忘记提醒自己要快乐生活着？

要常常保持快乐的身心灵哦！

加油！^_^g

Letting Go of Your Emotional Burdens

Many of us carry around unnecessary weight. These burdens we cannot see or touch, but they weigh us down just the same, preventing our hearts and minds from finding greater joy and peace of mind.

These emotional burdens mainly consist of regrets over what we wanted to happen but didn't, agony over past events that we wished never happened, resentment for people we feel have done us wrong, who didn't show us the respect we expected, or didn't love us the way we wanted them to.

These things are like invisible claws that keep our spirits anchored to the ground. We find that we cannot be happy or peaceful for very long because they keep returning to haunt us.

Regret and resentment are the biggest adversaries of our happiness. They have so much power over us because we cannot bring ourselves to forgive the people we begrudge, because we cannot forgive ourselves, because we cannot let go of the past. We continue to hold regret and resentment towards others because, bizarrely, we feel that in this way, we can somehow make them suffer. But it's no skin off their noses. In the meantime, our own bitterness persists. It's cruel irony that in trying to get back at others, we only end up hurting ourselves.

The only way you can reduce or get rid of regret and resentment is to forgive. Forgive the ones whom you feel have trespassed against you. Forgive yourself for the things you did, for the things you didn't do. Forgive the circumstances, events and conditions you thought led to your situation. Remember that bearing grudges hurts no one but you.

Besides, it's never clear-cut if someone or something is completely responsible for our situation. It's often a combination of factors. We judge harshly because we do not see the mitigating reasons. And whether we know it or not, we ourselves have hurt or let others down before. If we can so clearly see the misdeeds others have perpetrated against us, surely others can just as vividly see the offences in us. Which one of us can claim to have no flaws, to have never acted selfishly or in a fit of anger?

Purge your soul of the toxins of regret and resentment and embrace greater joy.

Adapted from 'A Slice of Life' by Eugene Loh

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馆主觉得每个人可能都会紧紧地握着过去，但是有时候，放手让过去真正的过去，才可以走向未来。

加油哦！

^_^g

Chasing Your Dreams

He is inspiring, not because he is handicapped, but because he lives life to the fullest and appreciate all the love that was showered onto him... War is a terribly scary thing, that torn families apart, damaged lives and hurt innocent people...



“我们的环境常常会让我们觉得很疲惫，但是，请永远不要放弃自己，不要轻易地被现实打败，不要淡忘了对生活的热情，也不要失去拥抱世界的勇气。。”
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馆主看了好几遍，每次看都不免落泪。。在馆主看来，他真的是个勇敢的战士。感动了很多人，也是带给他人希望、勇气去追逐梦想。歌词也太适合了。

感动是短暂的，大家要将感动变成行动哦！

加油！

^_^g