The official blog of Mindful Solutions Clinic and Find Your Bliss Coaching.
Sandy Kiaizadeh, M.A., is a Toronto-area registered psychotherapist, life coach, mindfulness teacher, and energy healer. She is the Clinical Director of the Mindful Solutions Clinic and Find Your Bliss Coaching.
For more information about Sandy and her programs, please visit www.MindfulSolutionsClinic.com and www.FindYourBlissCoaching.com.
Now here’s something to chew on. Did you know that scientists have discovered a link between depression and the future onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD)?
It’s true. And much literature is available showing the increased risk of developing dementia if one also has experienced unipolar or bipolar affective disorders. Researchers have found an increased incidence of dementia in patients who had been diagnosed with major depression (MD) within 5 years before the onset of AD. These findings indicate that both MD and AD share a common neurobiological defect which causes similar cognitive decline in both illnesses. Studies also show a strong correlation between the onset of AD and an initial depressive episode occurring 25 years earlier. Twenty five years earlier.
So there you have it. Depression may be a risk factor to the eventual development of AD. Why am I sharing this unfortunate tidbit with you? Well, the good news is that there are certain lifestyle factors within our control that we can commit to now in order to avoid struggling with these illnesses.
Diet: Studies show that incorporating healthy nutritional habits – such as eating a vegetarian or Mediterranean diet rich in whole grains, fresh fruit, vegetables, fish, nuts, seeds, and olive oil – can slow the progression of mental function decline. Oral supplementation with Coenzyme Q, and other antioxidant-rich foods containing vitamins C and E, betacarotene, and Omega-3 may help restore brain molecules that have had oxidative damage. Foods rich in folic acid, and vitamins B6 and B12, help decrease homocysteine levels.
Exercise: Studies show that having an active lifestyle, including regular physical exercise and cognitive stimulation (Sudoku, reading, Crosswords, taking up a new instrument) may delay the onset of AD by preventing associated illnesses like depression, diabetes, strokes and heart disease. Such activities help normalize blood pressure, blood cholesterol and weight by improving cerebral blood flow and stimulating neuronal growth, factors which have been shown to delay the onset of disability. Exercise also regulates hormone cortisol levels; this stress hormone is responsible for hippocampal damage and weakened immune functioning in patients with AD. Cognitive exercises help preserve mental agility and executive function, delaying the onset of dementia.
What if you are currently struggling with a depressive episode? The simple answer is for you to seek professional help now to ensure you are receiving the appropriate treatment for your mood disorder. Visit your family doctor, get a referral to a psychiatrist, and seek psychological counselling now with a licensed therapist. Doing so can only help you – not only in the long run, but in the short run too. After all, it’s no fun struggling with the serious medical condition that is depression. In fact, it’s downright depressing.
Other Sources:
Carpenter, B., Strauss, M., & Kennedy, J. (1995). Personal history of depression and its appearance in Alzheimer’s disease. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 10(8), 669-678.
Green, R.C., Cupples, L.A., Kurz A., Auerbach,, S., Go, R., Sadovnick, D., et al. (2003). Depression as a risk factor for Alzheimer disease. Archives of Neurology, 60(5), 753–759.
Heun, R., Kockler, M., & Ptok, U. (2002). Depression in Alzheimer’s disease: is there a temporal relationship between the onset of depression and the onset of dementia?. European Psychiatry, 17(5), 254.
Kasahara, H., Tsumura, M., Ochiai, Y., Furukawa, H., Aoki, K., Ito, T., et al. (2006). Consideration of the relationship between depression and dementia. Psychogeriatrics, 6(3), 128-133.
Kessing, L.V., Nilsson, F.M. (2003). Increased risk of developing dementia in patients with major affective disorders compared to patients with other medical illnesses. Journal of Affective Disorders, 73(3), 261-269. Retrieved from http://www.jad-journal.com/article/S0165-0327%2802%2900004-6/pdf
Ownby, R.L., Crocco, E., Acevedo, A., John, V., & Loewenstein, D. (2006). Depression and risk for Alzheimer Disease: Systematic review, meta-analysis, and metaregression analysis. Archives of General Psychiatry, 63, 530-538. Retrieved from http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/63/5/530
Verkaik, R., Nuyen, J., Schellevis, F., & Francke, A. (2007). The relationship between severity of Alzheimer's disease and prevalence of comorbid depressive symptoms and depression: a systematic review. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 22(11), 1063-1086. doi:10.1002/gps.1809
The above information is for informational purposes only, and is not meant to be a substitute for seeking individual medical or psychological advice and treatment.
Earlier this year, I decided to bite the bullet and head back to school to pursue my Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology. So far, I have to say that I’m loving the program for the intellectual stimulation and the copious research I’m compiling into all things psychological.
Since I am learning so much (and since this blog is called “Finding My Bliss”!), I thought it might be a nice change of pace for me to share with you some of the great material that I’m acquiring. So there you have it, a new Bliss Blog segment is born. For future reference, I will tag all such postings under the label “Psychological Learnings”, and will try to include a corresponding reference list for those of you interested in further reading.
Nature is one of the greatest sources of happiness. In fact, humans have lived in the lap of nature for millions of years and their stay in modern cities is comparably very very short. Even today, many people still live in close proximity to nature.
Nature is all free! It is there for everybody to stand and stare and derive happiness and solace from. It does not distinguish between rich or poor, strong or weak, man or woman. The golden sun is free, as is the silvery moon. Cool breeze, warm seashore, imposing mountains, smooth flowing rivers, dark and inviting forests... Free, free, all are free! It is free, not because it is cheap, but it is rather priceless. How much would it cost to make only an artificial island with rivers, forests, mountains, and surrounding ocean? A million dollars? A billion? And if one can afford it, will he donate it to humanity, free for everyone to enjoy? Or will he charge an entrance fee?
When we see the moon, we see it in its entirety, no matter how many millions of people are seeing it at the same time. Similarly, the sky, the sun, the ocean, rain and sunshine - all are there for us to possess fully. Each can stare at the sky and claim all of it for his or her own happiness.
Nature understands our moods. If we are sad, it is also sad with us. But it does not make us sadder. It does not lead us to further despair. It applies gentle balm to our wounds. It sits besides us like a mother, spouse, sibling, or a friend and embraces us, talks to us, listens to us patiently, empathizes with us. Slowly it lifts our spirits, makes us see our woes, worries, and wounds in the right perspective of infinite time and space. Next thing you know, we are smiling, laughing, and are happy again!
Do you appreciate the infinite beauty that is lying around in the form of nature?
Changing our day-to-day behaviors may be easier than previously imagined. By meditating on and repeating motivational and inspirational quotes, we are better prepared to change our thought patterns, behaviors and in turn, change our lives.
Here's how it's done:
If we believe something to be easy, we find little, if any struggle in accomplishing it. However, if we imagine something to be difficult to accomplish, then our struggle becomes more apparent. In fact, if we imagine that it is difficult to change a specific behavior, then we will always find experiences that will justify that belief.
Take this for example. We wake up one morning and decide that:
"This is the day I start losing weight. When things get difficult, I will not reach for junk food, but instead I will focus on something else to keep my mind occupied. It'll be tough at first, but I'm going to give it a try."
If you continue with this thought pattern and belief, don't be surprised to find yourself struggling more often than not. Why?
If we look at this example closely we find a couple of thought patterns and beliefs already in place. We have determined to do something good for ourselves, but we do ourselves a disservice by choosing certain negative thought patterns, beliefs and words that go along with it.
We have said,
"When things get difficult...."
(This is already assuming that there will be difficult moments! Strike one!)
"It'll be tough at first..."
(This is already assuming it will be difficult at first! Strike two!)
"...but I'm going to give it a try."
(Remember the movie "The Karate Kid"..."There is no "try", there is only "do". Strike three!)
Now there are hundreds of products out there that will assist people in losing weight. Some, if not all of them, may work for various people at various stages of their goal. But for many people who have convinced themselves that losing weight is difficult, some products may fall short when our thought patterns are stronger than our desire to change.
Here is something that a client I worked with did to change a behavior she no longer desired. She recently lost 20lbs in about 12 weeks. She hadn’t liked the way she looked, felt or even thought for that matter. She needed to change and take some action towards it.
First, she realized that she had to change her way of thinking about losing weight. Her old thought patterns were no longer working for her. Her thoughts were like little tiny pictures that she projected in her mind of how heavy she was. She no longer wanted these pictures or thought patterns a part of her life. She had to choose a thought pattern and belief that would be easier to think about.
She chose this thought,
"Losing weight is easier than I thought."
Perhaps not the most ideal for everyone but it worked for her.
Secondly, she chose a word she wanted to focus on for that day, week or month to help her in accomplishing her goal (Start with just a day, or just an hour for that matter. Keep it simple.) The word she chose needed to be in relation to the change she wants to make. For example, she chose the word "FOCUS", as she felt that that's what she needed to think about most of time; focusing more on losing weight than gaining it. Choose any word as long as it relates to your situation. (Attitude, Energy, Action, Believe...)
Following that, she scoured the Internet for motivational and inspirational quotes that resonated within her that related to that specific word she chose - quotes that she could remember, especially ones that really spoke to what she wanted to accomplish.
But here's the most important part.
She needed quotes that were powerful enough to change her thought patterns the moment she read them. Quotes that REALLY spoke to her when her my eyes fell upon them. Quotes that forced her to pause and think for a moment. Quotes that had that extra "edge" where her mind said, "Yes. This is one."
These are all signs of a quote that held power for her. She "focused" in on the following quotes.
"All that we are is the result of what we have thought." ~ Buddha
"The only way to discover the limits of the possible, is to go beyond them into them impossible." ~ Arthur C. Clarke
"It's not what you achieve in the end that matters, it's who you become in the process." ~ Author Unknown
In fact, she found dozens of quotes that she resorted to from time to time, but these three she always came back to. They spoke of who she was, what she wanted to accomplish and who she wanted to become as she worked towards her goal.
She wrote them down. She carried these quotes with her constantly. She read them and meditated on them whenever she had the opportunity to. At work, home or at the gym (yup, she finally got myself to exercise, primarily by focusing on Arthur C. Clarke's quote!), she focused on these three powerful quotes to help her FOCUS on what she wanted.
Because she changed her thought patterns, over time, she can honestly say she is 20 lbs lighter and a whole lot happier. Yes, she will be the first to admit that accomplishing the goal involved more than just thinking but it all began with her thoughts. The thoughts then permeated into her actions. (Now she needs to FOCUS on maintaining that weight, so for her, a whole new thought pattern begins.)
Here are the three steps again:
1. Decide to change your way of thinking about a behavior, making it easier for you to think about it. Phrase it in a simple way.
2. Choose a word to focus on to change that behavior for a period of time.
3. Find a minimum of three motivational or inspirational quotes related to that specific word that are powerful enough to change your current thought patterns the moment you read them. Meditate on them and repeat them, silently or out loud, every chance you get.
Be patient. Stick with it. Give it some time.
Why do you think companies offer a 30-day money back guarantee? They know that if you do something for 30 days it becomes a habit and you no longer need to return it! (Learned something, huh?) Give it time.
The first step to what you want to accomplish is changing your mind and the thought patterns and beliefs associated with your behavior. Thoughts are the precursor to action, meaning that thoughts occur before any action takes place. That's what needs to be changed first - your thoughts.
It worked for my client and I hope this inspires and motivates you to achieve your goal.
Each day we make choices that influence our pace and quality of life, and often we are completely unaware of the choices we are making and how they affect our life balance. So often we are operating from habit, instinct or need.
While it’s a good thing that we don’t have to think about every little choice we make, when it comes to creating a balance between our work-related activities and the rest-of-our-life activities, it is critical to be conscious and deliberate about our decisions. Otherwise, you may find yourself feeling the negative effect of your unconscious choices by feeling overwhelmed, out of control, stressed, or even sick.
Start to become more aware of the many decisions you have to make in a day and their consequences by asking yourself these three questions:
Is this moving me toward or away from a balanced life?
Do I have a choice?
If I don’t have a choice, what can be a positive perspective around this decision?
These three questions can make a big difference in your personal and professional fulfillment.
Interviewing is a two-way street. Obviously, the organization is using the interview process to evaluate you and your credentials to determine if you are a solid fit for the company’s needs. But the interview is equally important for the opportunity it affords you to evaluate how well the company and the position match what you are seeking. Formulating a series of well-thought out questions in advance of the interview will not only help you draw out pertinent information from the interviewer, but also demonstrate your intelligence and sincere interest in the position at hand.
The best questions are those that arise from the initial research you will conduct of the organization while preparing for the interview. Whenever possible, questions should be tailored to the position and company.
The following questions will provide you with some ideas and get you thinking about potential interview questions you may want to consider asking employers during the interview.
Fit for the Position
* What are the most important skills and attributes a candidate needs to be successful in this position?
* What are the characteristics of a successful employee in your organization?
* Describe the work environment.
* What are the challenging facets of the job?
* What would be a typical work day in this position?
* What is your management style?
* What is your preferred method of communicating with your team?
* What is the next step in the interviewing process?
Company Culture
* How would you describe your company culture?
* What is the organization structure of your department?
* Who are the primary parties that you are responsible to support: shareholders, customers, employees, etc.? * How do you go about making decisions when the needs of these groups are at odds with each other?
Measures for Success
* What are your expectations for new employee hires within their first 90 days on the job? Within the first six months?
* How and when will my job performance be evaluated?
* What metrics are used to measure whether or not you are achieving your predetermined goals?
* How will my success in this position be measured?
* How is success measured in this department (or organization)?
The Future of the Organization
* What is your vision for the organization (or department) over the next two years? Next five years?
* What current major challenges are you facing as a manager?
* What is the organization’s biggest challenge currently?
* What is the organization’s competitive advantage in the marketplace?
Are you constantly bombarded by thoughts of negativity? Plagued by feelings of insecurity? Do you see everything in a negative manner?
The reason for this lies deep within your heart. You are what you mentally and spiritually eat. If a person drinks alcohol on a daily basis, odds are their body will be affected in some way. They may have liver issues, develop cancer or incur some other type of health problem directly related to the amount of alcohol they have consumed. In the same way, a person who constantly feeds themselves negative thoughts will simply turn into a negative person.
This is the time to go on a diet.
A diet of positive attitude food. You have to literally stop feeding your mind negative things. Ask yourself: is this thought negative or positive?
Well, they start with can't rather than can, no as opposed to yes, won't and not will . The problem in our society is that our thoughts have taken us captive. We have begun to let our thoughts control us.
A great way to know what we are negative about is to ask those people who are closest to us. You can ask your spouse or another person in your life who really knows you how they would rate your attitude on a scale of 1 to 10 -- 10 being very positive and 1 very negative. Ask this person to be totally honest with you. You will benefit from their honesty even if it causes you pain. Ask this person what it is that you specifically say that they perceive as negative. Write down what they say and look at the actual words. Now is the time to be honest with yourself. Those words are a reflection of what is inside you. They are who you are.
The great thing is that you can change.
It is as simple as making a choice to do so. You must decide to replace the thoughts of negativity with thoughts of positivity. Decide what negative words you will change your paper. Once you have done this, make an effort to insert new positive thoughts in your mind. You will begin to notice a positive change taking place in your life. Your family, friends and co-workers will all notice it too.
You can do it. You can and will have a positive attitude, if you simply take the steps outlined above. You do not have to be what you were in the past. You can be different in the future. The choice is yours. I know you will make a positive one.
There are times when simply thinking positively won’t move you past your fear and anxiety. There are times when simply plodding it out is the thing you must do.
If you’re afraid to do it, just DO IT AFRAID.
No one will blame you for being fearful—what you will be blamed for is letting that fear immobilize you. So no matter what it takes, keep moving.
Fear is much like a quagmire—it slurps at our feet and if we stand still long enough, it begins to suck us down. It’s hard to get out of, but it is possible.
If you’re stuck in fear as you shoot for success, there are several ways out:
Consider the source. Where did the fear come from? Have you been dwelling on the difficulties instead of the opportunities? Have you been listening to those who are cynics and pessimists, instead of coaching yourself with positive words and people? If so, MOVE ON. GET AWAY from people and situations that drag you down.
Take your checklist and note what you HAVE accomplished. Look at your list of goals and the baby steps you’re taking to get there, and on a separate sheet of paper (or a separate document in your computer), begin to list everything you have accomplished. This will begin to empower you to move on and leave the fear behind.
Take stock of your talents and skills. Fear often tells us that we “don’t have what it takes…” Show fear as the liar it is: list your skills, all your positive attributes. Then look at the problem again, after you have a new appreciation for your God-given talents and abilities.
Don’t underestimate the power of prayer. Regardless of your spiritual beliefs, there is an amazing power that comes from releasing your fear to a universe who loves you and is looking out for you. Don’t bottle the fear up—let it go. You don’t need it anyhow!
Finally, remember this acronym when facing fear:
F= False
E= Evidence
A=Appearing
R=Real
Because that’s really what fear is—it is an unrealistic look (false look) at something and attempting to make you believe it (appearing to be real).
Once you know these things, you’ll be able to move past your fear and on to the next step you need to be successful!
The 16th annual National Job Fair and Training Expo will be held in Toronto on March 24-25, 2010.
Top Canadian employers and employment agencies from various sectors will be there looking to fill positions for experienced job seekers, qualified professionals, people with technical skills, new graduates and even students.
So, those of you who are interested in finding a job, or are interested in a career change, this is a great place to meet with recruiters face to face and put your best foot forward. More that that though, this job fair will also be a great place for those people who are considering self-employment and are looking for small business support and resources.
This Toronto job fair will offer presentations and seminars with regards to preparing for an interview; marketing yourself to stand out from the crowd; and early-stage entrepreneurship information, guidance and advice.
The New Year has come, and with it, many people reassess their careers and decide that it's time to move on to new roles, as part of their new year's resolution. Whether you’re in the midst of a job search or are ready to look for your first job, it’s always important to take the steps necessary to make yourself hireable. This is something you can do even if you don’t have a lot of experience. So, if you’re ready to kick your job search into high gear, here are three quick tips to consider:
* Start Your Own Blog
One way to make yourself hireable in the eyes of recruiters is to start your own professional blog. Making this effort works in your favor in a number of ways. First, it helps you to boost your web presence, which you need nowadays to stand out from the crowd. Second, it helps show employers that you are a subject matter expert in the field you’re attempting to make ground in. Third, it offers prospective employers a wealth of resources to look for in the event that they ask for details about your background.
A web blog is the perfect way to not only showcase your knowledge, but build knowledge as well. It’s the perfect transition for those trying to switch careers or those entering the professional world for the first time. But the best part is that you can easily start one with no worry of overhead because they are free. I suggest using Blogger for ease of use. Other options are WordPress and LiveJournal.
Having a LinkedIn page ups your credibility in the eyes of hiring managers and recruiters. So it’s a good idea to build yours – just don’t forget to link to your blog.
Sometimes it’s not easy to think of ways to get your foot in the door when you don’t have a great deal of experience in the field you’re pursuing. But taking free or low-cost steps to build your presence beforehand could make you more hireable then you could ever imagine.
Today's blog is a guest post from Zen Habits blogger Leo Babauta.
It’s hard, from within the storm of every day life, to see things with real perspective, to know what’s important and what’s simply pressing on our consciousness right now, demanding attention. We have people emailing us for information and requesting action, we have phone calls and visitors and a long to-do list and a million chores and errands to run and all of the slings and arrows of our daily reality … and yet, what is important?
Ask yourself this: if you suddenly found out you only had 6 months to live (for whatever reason), would the thing in front of you matter to you?
Would those 20 emails waiting for a response matter? Would the paperwork waiting to be processed matter? Would the work you’re doing matter? Would the meetings you’re supposed to have matter? Would a big car and nice house and high-paying job and cool computer and mobile device and nice shoes and clothes matter? I’m not saying they wouldn’t matter … but it’s important to ask yourself if they would.
What would matter to you?
For many of us, it’s the loved ones in our lives. If we don’t have loved ones … maybe it’s time we started figuring out why, and addressing that. Maybe we haven’t made time for others, for getting out and meeting others and helping others and being compassionate and passionate about others. Maybe we have shut ourselves in somehow. Or maybe we do have loved ones in our lives, but we don’t seem to have the time we want to spend with them. When was the last time you told your loved ones you loved them? Spent good quality time with them, being in the moment?
For many of us, doing work that matters … would matter. That might mean helping others, or making a vital contribution to society, or creating something brilliant and inspiring, or expressing ourselves somehow. It’s not the money that matters, but the impact of the work. Are you doing work that matters?
For many of us, experiencing life would matter — really being in the moment, finding passion in our lives, seeing the world and traveling, or just seeing the world that’s around us right now, being with great people, doing amazing things, eating amazing food, playing.
These are just a few ideas … but what would matter to you?
I highly recommend that you spend at least a little time now, and regularly, thinking about this question … figuring out what really matters … and living a life that shows this. How do you live a life that puts a great emphasis on what matters? Start by figuring out what matters, and what doesn’t. Then eliminate as much as you can of the stuff that doesn’t matter, or at least minimize it to the extent possible. Make room for what does matter. Make the time for what does matter … today. Put it on your schedule, and don’t miss that appointment. Make those tough decisions — because choosing to live a life that is filled with the important stuff means making choices, and they’re not always easy choices. But it matters. Spend time with your significant other, show them how important they are. Take the time to cuddle with your child, to read with her, to play with her, to have good conversations with her, to take walks with her. Take time to be in nature, to appreciate the beauty of the world around us. Take time to savor the little pleasures in life.
Because while you might not have only 6 months to live, I’m here to break the news to you: you really do only have a short time to live. Whether that’s 6 months, 6 years or 60 … it’s but the blink of an eye. The life you have left is a gift. Cherish it. Enjoy it now, to the fullest. Do what matters, now.
Being successful is a great goal to have for anyone. We all want to have a good life; afterall, who wouldn't want happiness and success, right?
1. Persistance Pays: Being persistent is one trait that you need to have in order to achieve success. You need to make sure that you are getting ahead in life and doing all that you can for both yourself and for others. Persistence is going to pay off for you when you use it right. You want to be serious in any type of work that you do whether it is for your personal life or career. Working hard is a great trait to have, but you also need to be good at what you do in order to make your dreams and goals come true as you go through life.
2. Dependability Works: Being dependable is another good resource for you to have. You need to be sure that you are very reliable and dependable for anything that you do. If you are committing yourself to a project or event, you need to make sure that you see it through and make it happen so that you put yourself on the right path for success. Being dependable is an essential element in positioning yourself as promotable. So that this seriously if you want to get ahead in your life and career.
3. Challenges Breed Rewards: Take challenges when you can. If you want to strengthen your skills and limit your weaknesses, having a challenge or two in your life or career is going to help you learn and grow. You will end up much stronger for it. Once you master new skills, difficult projects will become easier, since you will be able to handle the new challenge with ease.
4. Know Thyself: Take inventory of your strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities. Is there something else that you could do to make your life easier and more promotable? If so, don't let this opportunity pass you by. Allowing yourself the right to be more successful is going to help you cruise through life better. You will be able to enjoy things so much more and be free to make choices that you had not previously thought of. Want your life to be more creative and exciting? Figure out what you want the most and take that challenge! Get ready for new things and do not concentrate too much on anything that you cannot have. And be prepared! Because in the end, this is what will help you succeed the most.
Take chances and go after the impossible. If you are looking for something to fulfill your life, look inward and examine whether you are doing everything you can to make it happen. It may be hard, but if you are determined, giving yourself the confidence that you need to make it happen will bring you the blessings you're seeking. Being a hard worker will surely pay off for you in the end and help you to achieve the promotable success that you are craving in life.
, we are better prepared to change our thought patterns, behaviors and in turn, change our lives. 
between our work-related activities
and the rest-of-our-life activities, it is critical to be conscious and deliberate about our decisions
. Otherwise, you may find yourself feeling the negative effect of your unconscious choices 
by feeling overwhelmed, out of control, stressed, or even sick.
you have to make in a day and their consequences by asking yourself these three questions: 
is a two-way street. Obviously, the organization is using the interview 
process to evaluate you and your credentials to determine if you are a solid fit for the company’s needs. But the interview is equally important for the opportunity it affords you to evaluate how well the company and the position match what you are seeking. Formulating a series of well-thought out questions in advance of the interview will not only help you draw out pertinent information from the interviewer, but also demonstrate your intelligence and sincere interest in the position at hand.
look like?
.
. Decide what negative words you will change your paper. Once you have done this, make an effort to insert new positive thoughts in your mind. You will begin to notice a positive change taking place in your life. Your family, friends and co-workers will all notice it too. 
, if you simply take the steps outlined above. You do not have to be what you were in the past. You can be different in the future. The choice is yours. I know you will make a positive one.
, an internationally renowned author and speaker in the field of self-development. 
.
Being successful is a great goal to have for anyone. We all want to have a good life; afterall, who wouldn't want happiness and success, right?
