Increase Your Productivity

It is a well-established fact that every 7 years our body changes completely. Every cell in our body will have been renewed and exchanged for another one that your body has produced. It is an amazing process, and science suggests that this gives us a unique opportunity to change for the better immediately. How? Through a focus on the food, we eat.

What we ingest daily can have a tremendous impact on our productivity.

The World Health Organization stated, “Adequate nutrition can raise your productivity levels by 20 percent on average.”

Studies have shown that glucose which is a simple sugar is an important energy source, it can be compared to gasoline that fuels your vehicle.

researcher Leigh Gibson found this to be optimal:

“The brain works best with about 25 grams of glucose circulating in the blood stream — about the amount found in a banana.”

If bananas are not your thing, try the following in moderation:

Cantaloupe, grapefruit, honeydew, melon, apple, and nectarines

Happy eating!

It Takes 21 Days

I will have to admit, that many times when I go into the kitchen, I must open the refrigerator to find myself two minutes later opening the refrigerator again to see whether there is anything new. Why do I do that? I have concluded, there is a conscious disconnect of my mind and my actions, it is much like a reflex, and this can be defined as a habit.

Fortunately, it is always stock with healthy things, otherwise, I do not think I would be admitting my personal proclivity. Would you like to know how to eliminate a bad habit? Habits that tend to impede your productivity professionally, relationships and other areas of life?

Habits are related to our brain patterns that become entrenched because of the "enjoyment" we derive from them, much like the pleasure of sugar, nicotine or procrastinating from addressing necessary unpleasantries, or anything that makes the brain secretes dopamine, a feel-good hormone.

On average it takes 21 days to rewire for more positive results in our behavior. why 21 days? Will share that on the next post.

However, it starts with our "awareness" of our behavior, and with repeated thoughts, urges, and our positive actionable behavior, it will pivot into better habits aster 21 days.

It is a matter of encouraging the feel-good hormone, dopamine, to correlate with the “end result” of your positive behavior change. for example, you know that you will feel better and "satisfied," if you stick with your exercise program, you know you will feel better and "satisfied," if you stick with your   diet, which incidentally, means "daily lifestyle" in Greek. And finally, you know you will feel better and "satisfied," if you get things done right away and not procrastinate. Will be sharing some tips in how we can get through those crucial 21 days in another post.

Learning From a Centenarian

A number of years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting a little lady by the name of Gladys that was approaching 100 years of age. What was so remarkable, her mental acuity was impressive, she was very engaging and sparkled with vivaciousness.

At the time I was in my 20s and I immediately knew that this was an opportunity to learn something, so, I proceeded to ask her, "Gladys, what would you say has contributed to your personal longevity?"

She asked me to sit down, and of course I did. "Mr. Ben" she says to me, "I come from the time of the horse and buggy, and I have seen the advancement of airplanes, automobiles, and technology, but you know what Mr. Ben? Nothing has changed to improve the human condition."

                To paraphrase what she recounted to me that was most important to her was a sense of acceptance, close relationships with family and friends, and a caring community, all of which is a fundamental human need.

She had a generous spirit and a contagious laugh, she knew that she still has an important role in life, her age notwithstanding. These principles can be applied professionally and otherwise, where you add value and feeling valued, rights and responsibilities, and about wellness and fairness. Let’s avoid the "me" culture, for many are paying a hefty price.      

Learning From Failure

Failure is not a bad thing; it only means that we have to adjust our approach that will get you to your goal or success.

It is a little unsettling to know that 9 out of 10 businesses fail. However, it’s often said that failure doesn't stop people, it's how people handle failure that stops them.

It also has been said that we need to learn from our mistakes, personally, with all due respect, I rather learn by observing the mistakes of others, thereby avoiding heartache altogether.

Therefore, my recommendation is for you to read at least 30 minutes per day on topics that will compel you to become a better parent, husband, wife, friend or improve your business acumen.

Note the following healthy perspective of failure,

Thomas Edison's associate, Walter S. Mallory, once said to him, "Isn't it a shame that with the tremendous amount of work you have done you haven't been able to get any results?”

Edison responded, with a smile, "Results! Why, man, I have gotten a lot of results! I know several thousand things that won't work."

Lifelong Learning

Have you ever found yourself looking up and down and all around for your reading glasses, to find out that they were on top of your head all along? Is this indicative that perhaps your memory is waning? Not necessarily.

However, as a preventive measure of mental atrophy, we want to continue to engage and challenge our mind, yes, "lifelong learning."

Our brain has the amazing ability to learn and grow as we get older, a process called "brain plasticity." This is where Learning and new experiences create new neural patterns, the end result, your mind becomes further fortified. And by the same token, your existing neuro patterns, if used infrequently, these patterns will dissipate and die.

So, what can we do to build and strengthen our brain plasticity?

Studies have suggested that regular physical exercise tends to improve our circulatory system of which it will improve our memory, promotes clarity of thinking for problem solving, and will ameliorate our attention to detail. Or select a new activity that challenges your brain, such as learning a new language, musical instrument, or anything with the element of complexity. If you are not up for something new, how about improving your existing skills professionally, by becoming certified as an expert, or enrolling in a class to improve your parenting or your communication skills? And never forget, practice makes permanent.

Meaningful Communication

We once had a terrier that would chase squirrels so high up the tree it could not get down on its own. What was so interesting, I always knew when it was in trouble by his bark which sounded more like help! help!

His pitch of desperation was so obvious, we did not even bother to investigate the issue, we went straight to retrieve the ladder.

Similarly, in communicating with others, the intonation, or the rise and fall of the voice is imperative if we are to understand one another, true thoughts and feelings which will lend itself to being successful in all interrelationships.

However, the trend for communicating has been exceedingly via text or email. Can you pick up on their intonation by these methods? Hardly.

Some may contend, “I get along with just the written word.” That may be true, if enough adjectives are used to convey your thoughts accurately. However, why take the risk of misunderstandings in a business transaction, or more importantly, with a loved one? A recipe for disaster!

Allow me to ask rhetorically, how do you communicate with other people for one day? Do you talk face to face with them? Do you text them? Facetime them? Email them? Studies indicate that 93% of communication is nonverbal, and that 38% is actually based on tone and tenor of the voice.

Personally, depending on the importance of what needs to be said, I always prefer communicating by phone or face to face, which lends itself to being intuitive enough to understand their reaction to our interchange. Even via phone, the intonation of their voice can tell you whether they are disinterested, frowning or have a smile in their voice.

The bottom line, people will remember much more how you made them “feel” than what you had to say, and this is only possible by the actual human voice.

Persuasion

When someone prepares your favorite meal, we do not have to be persuaded to sit down and enjoy it. Why? When we know that we must visit our doctor, sometimes there is a degree of persuasion, nevertheless, we make the appointment. Why?

There is a common unmistakable emotional component in the scenarios just mentioned. There is something to be gained, attained and an advantage that results to our personal "benefit."

However, some individuals do not realize the benefit of taking to heart what you have to say, in a business presentation, not to mention within family or in your circle of friends.

So, how do you approach someone to challenge their personal concepts, beliefs, or persuade them without any offense?

The answer is all over the place, in the form of testimonials on every website, in the form of personal reviews indicating how they have personally benefited and enjoyed a particular service or product.

This is a simple methodology, yes not too often considered. "You" are the answer, living and breathing example of benefiting and profiting from what you have to say, so say it, share it, personalize it! This approach will soften their countenance, doubt, their suspicion and may take what you have to say to heart without dominance, force, or fear.

The principle was well said by this statesman,

 “Don't raise your voice, improve your argument." By Desmond Tutu

Pursuit of Happiness

"Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" is a well-known phrase in the United States Declaration of Independence. The word (pursuit) is defined as the action of following something or someone. It is noteworthy that it does not suggest a guarantee you will capture happiness.

However, I am here to tell you that happiness does not have to be elusive, it is obtainable, and we do not have to pursue it much like a dog would chase its tail until it exhausts itself and then it flops down with resignation.

Happiness will come to you only if done with the right motive, you will realize it, we cannot afford to be selfishly committed.

The concept is quite simple, the key is "genuinely" giving of yourself professionally without obligation, in parenthood, marriage and otherwise, in other words, generosity begets generosity, and you will be fulfilled, a state of contentment.

A 19th century philosopher captured it beautifully,

"Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder" — Henry David Thoreau, born in 1817 in Massachusetts.

What is Holding You Back? Part Fifteen

Do you recall how kryptonite affected superman? All his energy would dissipate rapidly the more he was encumbered by it. This gives you an idea how I feel when I must wait, for instance, at a doctor's office. Of course, I am not a superhero by any stretch, and I am not saying that my time is more valuable than others, but that is how it affects me when I must wait.

So, what is the answer?

Admittedly, going to the doctor is essential for maintaining good health, so do not hold back. Therefore, those moments however, use your time wisely by occupying yourself by reading something inspirational, listening to a ted talk, an educational podcast, or anything that will reignite the fire within. Keep in mind the human brain is much like the hardware of your computer and the software is what you upload, so be selective in what you read or listen to.

Some of us are parents, entrepreneurs and to strike a balance is challenging. To oversee our time calls for awareness on our part, it is not only good practice, but it is productive and maintains organization.

I have said in the past that time is the most valuable commodity that we have. If we were to lose some money, you may have the opportunity to regain that loss. However, once you lose thirty-minutes, it is lost forever, you could never recapture that precious time.

Many of us are busy, but that does not mean that we are moving forward to the finish line. How discouraging that can be!

It is the unscheduled time that decimates productivity. It is most blatant in children; thus, parents often need to direct them to do their homework or to do their chores. Suppose your child has an important school exam the following morning, would you allow that child to go to the movies the night before? Prioritizing is the key!

  Organizational skills are learned and is not inherited from birth. However, as we grow up, we do adopt time management, but can we improve?

   As mentioned, our mind works like a computer, there is only so many applications we can run at a time before we get overloaded with things to do. To create innovative ideas, we need a clear mind we need space to gather our thoughts to define and implement our intensions. We do not want to store meaningless information about foregone trivial things, but we want to store the knowledge that will keep you moving forward.

The notion that if we want to get something done, "you have to do it yourself," falls more into egotism than being humble enough to understand our limitations. Learn to delegate for it is not essential for you to micromanage. It is interesting to me that time is what we want most, but it is the most disregarded.

What is Holding You Back? Part Fourteen

In the preceding post we discussed the 80-20 rule which means doing less to accomplish more. I know that it sounds paradoxical, but it works to minimize anxiety of which can have a repercussion on health.

A good example of using this concept is incontrovertible when considering a scientist can discover tremendous break through with limited resources or less knowledge of the subject matter. Are you still scratching your head?

Allow me to elucidate this further. Adopting the habit of a professional chefs by chopping up what is needed today thus providing multiple meals throughout the week is using less time to accomplish more. This concept can be utilized in all disciplines.

This demands for the chef to have some foresight, it is called planning, and we can do the same in whatever we do.

While writing this post I heard the chime of an email coming in, and I am tempted to open the message, however, I know that I will lose my train of thought if I do, so I resisted so that I could get this post done. My mind would have had to change gears to address the email and it would not been easy to get back, my momentum would have diminished. It is a matter of discipline and focusing on the task at hand without distractions, and you will discover that productivity will soar. You must have purpose or a reason in finishing each project, such as spending more time with family, furthering your education, exercise or what you value the most in life.

In the past we have discussed multi-tasking, and it is a myth for the reasons mentioned above.

   How about the idea of doing related tasks in blocks of time by grouping or chunking things together such answering emails, returning phone calls during only certain times of the day.

 I just received a text, and am I tempted to see who it is? Absolutely!!! Everything inside is screaming at me to find out who it is. We are always being bombarded by distractions; however, I am determined to finish this post before I move on to other things. Do you see how it works?

By selecting specific time to respond to extraneous tasks such as an email, a text or phone call that is not related to what you are doing in the moment will create simplicity, it creates pleasure, motivation, passion and defines your priority daily.

 Continue to ask yourself what it is you want out of life and put a master plan of action together to realize your goal. For instance, you have a desire to become an entrepreneur, so, instead of spending a massive of time in doing research, make a beeline to an individual that can give you the pros and cons of what you want to do, and they are easily found. Do you get it now? Doing mor by doing less!

What is Holding You Back? Part Thirteen

Did you know that 20% of farmers produce the world's 80% of food? The 80-20 rule is observed in many situations. This precept or rule was introduced in 1906 by an Italian economist, Vilfredo Pareto, famous for the concepts of efficiency.

The general idea is the supposition that 80% represents the outcome of the 20% of the input. Pareto first observed this when 20% of his garden was responsible for producing 80% of the vegetable. He further expanded the rule and extrapolated that 80% of Italy's wealth was owned by 20% of the population.

How does this apply personally?

When I think in terms that my TV channels represents 20% of my 80% viewing, and 20% of my vocabulary represents 80% of what is spoken most of the time, the Pareto principle tends to be validated.

Of course, this is a precept or a rule, and not a fixed rule, however, noteworthy. From a practical standpoint, this rule can help us to focus in areas where we can be more efficient personally and professionally.

For instance, you may have five things you must do today, which of the five items will have the most positive effect? When applied, it defines the most important task to undertake first for the most consequence. Therefore, you become efficient, increases productivity, and will save you the most valuable commodity, time.

Is the forgoing gobbledygook? Allow me to share some actual statistics.

20% of criminals commit 80% of crimes.

20% of drivers cause 80% of all traffic accidents.

80% of pollution originates from 20% of all factories.

20% of a company’s products represent 80% of sales.

20% of employees are responsible for 80% of the results.

Need I say more?

So, if something is imperative and extraordinary, you must do it first thing, if it is only important, assign it to someone, and if it does not have the elements mentioned here, take the day off!

I must say that the converse is also true, if we find that 80% is considered not to be working from our efforts that we are expending, it is time to change the paradigm that is being used. the Pareto principal rule, will assist to locate those essential areas, and identify those idiosyncrasies that are committing the 80% of the issues. This will make obvious where to make those adjustments. It is an ongoing process, however, if you commit to it, the result, more efficiency, and optimum productivity will be realized.

What is Holding You Back? Part Twelve

Many of us are wired to help others, we see it as a moral obligation, and it is commendable. However, many of us cannot say "no" no matter what it is we are being asked to do, much to our detriment personally and professionally. It is a habit of always being agreeable by default, to avoid conflict, confrontation and this inclination tends to hold us back from what we need to do ourselves.

Of course, if you have the wherewithal to help another, please do. What I am referring to, as an example, is the scenario of someone asking for monetary assistance, and you say, "yes or maybe," even though it puts you in a position where you cannot meet your own obligations.

Does this sound familiar to you?

What I found to work for me along the way as a default without being hasty or rash, when asked for a favor, I simply will say, "let me give that some thought and I will get back to you." I find this to be more diplomatic than running the risk of offending the person or being antagonistic. And allows me time to "honestly" find other alternatives to address the request.

If there are no other options, we must immediately explain why we cannot at this time, it is usually the case that we can deflect the blame away from ourselves and accuse a previous commitment or obligations as the culprit. This allows you to remain a nice person in the eyes of the petitioner.

Cultivating the ability to say "no" when it is beyond your threshold, what does this do for you?

It is often the case of prioritizing your time, what is important to you, and if you have the courage to say "no", it will increase your productivity and you will be much happier.

Not being able to say "no" does not mean you lack inner strength, but it often means you have a good heart, however, sometimes to a fault, and that is what compromises our priorities. It is a matter of getting comfortable to be able to use "no" as a tool to define our personal limitations and it also helps the other to understand the same.

We must cultivate this expression with the premise that we cannot please everyone, it is impossible! Unfortunately, if we do not modify our thinking, some individuals will conclude that you are agreeable to anything and will try to take advantage of your kind heart.

To decline a request that is pernicious to you will empower you to use your time more wisely, and clarifies what is important, and elucidate your focus to impel you to reach your endeavors. Allow me to excuse myself by the following.

"The oldest, shortest words – ‘yes’ and ‘no’ – are those which require the most thought." Pythagoras Ancient Philosopher    

What is Holding You Back? Part Eleven

There is the expression, tighty house tighty mine. In this post I am talking about how becoming organized can have positive effects. Did you know that on average, we spend 2.5 days per years looking for misplaced items?

Piles of things around you may seem harmless enough, but is it?

 There is something to be said about being organized in relation to our cognitive ability to function in an orderly fashion. otherwise, the effect of clutter is unequivocal, there is an increase of anxiety, lack of sleep, focus and productivity will wane. And research has revealed that clutter lends itself to coping strategies such as excessive snacking, TV viewing of others with more of a severe clutter issue, you guessed it, hoarders.

However, the pendulum can swing the other way, perfectionism.

Growing up, the mantra for us boys that my dad advocated relentlessly was "a lazy man works twice as hard." There for a while, this mantra was an enigma to me, a real head scratcher, but I learned quickly what it meant.

As a boy, I had lots of play in me, I was by no means lazy. I was more interested in jumping in the nearest water hole, playing baseball, or just conjuring up anything that was lots of fun. I remember it as it were yesterday. My dad gave me a chore to do, and I did it, however, hastily, more like just hiding all the clutter. Once I got back from a full day of play, my dad had me to redo the chore again, thus, the mantra, "a lazy man works twice as hard."

I will have to admit, this philosophy of being organized has affected me as an adult in positive ways. For instance, my rule of thumb is, if I am not utilizing whatever it is for more than two hours, I immediately put it back once I use it, and this gives me a sense of productivity and organization. I would encourage you to try it, coordinate the top of your desk, sort out your sock drawer or anything, and you will see and feel what I mean.

  The human brain is always looking for a balance of order, rationality, patterns of geometry that makes sense, it is indisputable. To provide you an example, take a walk outdoors, and as you look up at the billowing clouds, immediately your mind sees configurations of different things in the clouds such as a face or an animal. Or in a dark room, again your mind will search for patterns and shapes that are not even there, such as when a closet door is ajar, you could swear someone is standing there, but it is just your suit.

We may not know it consciously, but it does have a detrimental effect from a subconscious standpoint. So, what will it be? Pile it or file it?

What is Holding You Back? Part Ten

Albert Einstein once said, “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere." My question to you, what had happened to imagination? Simply imagine how much you could accomplish if you got up an hour earlier without compromising your sleep, and this is only one idea.

 Over the years, this is what I have done without disturbing anyone in the morning, of course, I am as quiet as an elephant can be. In fact, what you are reading was written before the rooster crowed. This is the time of the day that I cherish very much, it is quiet, my mind is clear and there is a sense of excitement of what the day may bring.

Often, no matter what it is, we tend to focus on the obstacles and not around or beyond those obstructions, making our goal obscure, so, we hold back.

Imagination is what furnishes the ability for the mind to be creative or resourceful. Imagination is what provided the vision for Bill Gates and Steve Jobs that made for the advancement of computer science. But some may contend that they could never be like them, and you are correct. However, similarly, they could never be like you either. There are seven billion people on this earth, and we are uniquely different in aptitude, different talents, and with different natural propensities.

Imagination is what enables an artist to conceive a masterpiece, it is what enables a custom builder to make it into reality, it is the key to innovation. However, when someone is struggling with a problem, and you tell them to use their imagination, they simply get embarrassed. I have news for you, we all have a youngster that hides within us, no matter our age, do not constrain that child that will help you unleash the many possibilities.

 The thinking that of what we envisage is somehow less than logical reasoning, somehow it destroys, represses, or smothers wonderful ideas of innovation. I have seen it over and over, where an individual employs "empathic imagination," meaning, taking to heart the unfortunate circumstances of others. Think about it, throughout history there have been those that accomplished outstanding achievements, because of empathic imagination. they had determination, a purpose, something that was bigger than themselves, it is what spurred them on, and it can do the same for you.

Reflect How different your life would be as a person and professionally if you were to implement the power of imagination? Make it a conscious effort to dream, especially, in connection with others since we are all inextricably linked.

What is Holding You Back? Part Nine

In connection to the preceding post, many will attest that frog legs are delicious, and they will tell you that it is much like chicken. If it is all the same to you, I will just stick to chicken.

What Mark Twain had in mind figuratively, was that eating the whole frog is not the most pleasant thing to do, so you eat the biggest frog first thing in the morning, for the sake of expediting the chore, and move on to other things. No question, these chores that need to get done waste an immense amount of time if we do not address them head on.

Why is this a good trick to employ?

To begin with, we tend to have the most amount of energy in the morning, therefore, we are most likely to get through those distasteful tasks without vacillating, and it will imbue you to accomplish other necessary duties without hesitation. In fact, it makes for more of an enjoyable day.

Did you know that you can get more done if you stop multitasking? And I am not talking about walking and chewing bubble gum at the same time.

We live in an age of so many distractions, we could be on an important conference call, then we hear the chime of an email coming in, we just cannot resist opening the email, while still on the phone.

Research has shown that excessive multitasking comes with horrible consequences on our mental and physical well-being. When we divide our focus, it creates unwanted anxiety and tends to exhaust or depletes thinking ability to focus. Also, it hinders our creativity, for the mind needs the room for inner thought to be able to hatch innovative ideas.

   Multitasking cannot help us to perform on the task before us 100%, it is a distraction, we will make mistakes, and our productivity will suffer.

. The mind's eye cannot focus on more than one thing no more than the human eye can, of course, the human eye can shift from one thing to another, however, that is a recipe for disaster.

A while back, I was at an intersection where the oncoming vehicle behind me was approaching faster than it should have and almost reared ended me. That driver was driving and texting, do you get my point?

 The human mind is not wired to multitask, simply put, you are just bouncing back and forth between your undertaking.

 . Hence, many will not even begin to perform a necessary job, because they know that it will result in fatigue and exhaustion, thus, they hold back. My point is, we live in the same third dimension and the same monthly 720-hour timeline let us use our time more wisely for the sake of productivity., 

What is Holding You Back? Part Eight

We all exist in the same linear timeline of 720 hours per month. Have you ever wondered why are some able to accomplish much more than others? Think about it, there are many influential and affluent individuals that have accomplished wonderful things. In this post this is one of three major elements of why we tend to hesitate to go forward.

Many will vociferously say "I do not have time for that!"

To encapsulate the enigma of time, it is our perspective of time, our expectation of what we need to conduct daily. So, what is your attitude or point of view of your limited time?

It starts with a conscious appreciation that our lives are finite, we have a limited span of existence. Therefore, "prioritizing" is the key to attaining your dream. However, with a word of caution, never compromise health, family and other activities that are nonnegotiable. And in that order, since without our health we cannot care for family and priorities.

I would compare budgeting time to getting on a diet that is rigid, one that deprives you from having a food that is not included, these diets never work, because we are constantly thinking of what we cannot have that, we acquiesce, we just give up.

What is the answer?

It is a matter of manipulating time, meaning, take control of your allotted time cleverly. Examine where you are wasting doing unnecessary activities for at least a week, having said that, there is time that is well-wasted that is essential for the purpose of revitalizing or reenergizing yourself to press on.

  Create a "to do list" with a realistic list of four or five must do. This is what I do, I email the list to myself a day before, and if I am not able to accomplish one because the other party was not available, that task would be included the next day, the list is ongoing and fluid.

Always be thinking ahead. The worse you can do is to wake up without a plan of action which will lead you to wasting time in trivial activity. In fact, this post was written three days in advance allowing time for refinement if necessary. The main thing to remember, do the best you can, for we are all imperfect. Will leave you with the following principle that we will discuss in our next post.

  "If it is your job to eat a frog, it's best to do it first thing in the morning. And if it is your job to eat two frogs, it's best to eat the biggest one first." Mark Twain

What is Holding You Back? Part Seven

Many of us must wear glasses for the sake of improving our vision. Likewise, in terms of our mind's eye, sometimes it is not as clear, it is blurry such as the expression mind fog would imply. Because of this, we have the proclivity to hesitate or hold back from realizing our goal. However, our mind's eye can also be improved, in fact, even a blind man will tell you he has vision, there is no excuse.

Obviously, to have mind fog suggests we are in a state of confusion. What may be causing this?

There is no question that our mind's eye needs to focus, and it is subject to distractions like the peripheral vision of the human eye of which can impede our concentration.

  There are several things that will obstruct the mind's eye from functioning as it should. But in this post, I will share one of the top culprits for not reaching our desired finish.

The lack of sleep!

In past posts we discussed "brain plasticity," which are new neuron connections that is due to learning new things. And science will tell you that sleep is necessary for optimum brain functionality. It is during sleep the neurons can reorganize, and the brain’s glymphatic (waste clearance) to be able to rid of toxins, brain wash. I am sure we can relate to how it feels when you have a good night sleep that is conducive to creativity,

“Decision making,”

focus and limpid concentration, not to mention emotional well-being.

I do not know about you, when it comes to inducing sleep, nutraceuticals would be my first choice.

I have tried Magnesium which is a nutrient, and it does calm the nervous system thus, helps the body relax. It contributes to your immune system; Magnesium also helps to regulate glucose or sugar levels for protein and energy production. This nutrient is found naturally in many foods, including:

Leafy green vegetables, such as spinach or Swiss chard

Nuts, legumes, and seeds, including cashews, almonds, peas, and beans

Yogurt and milk

Tofu, soy milk, and other soy products

Whole grains, like brown rice 

I have also taken "passionflower" in the form of hot tea, it works, native Americans have ingested it for centuries as a natural sedative. Check it out.

   I am yet to try GABA Gamma-aminobutyric acid, simply put, it is an amino acid, it is an active form of vitamin B6. Of course, I encourage you to do your research to determine what is best for you.

What is Holding You Back? Part Six

Have you ever said, or hear anyone say, "I have a gut feeling about this?" What does this expression mean? It is an idiom that has to do with an instinctive feeling, intuition, and without logical rational or fact. It is a certain malaise felt as a general discomfort in your gut triggered by your mind that is telling you that things are not right.

This feeling tends to induce "indecision" because you cannot put your finger on the issue, so, you hold back. This feeling is not mystical, but it is biological.

It works like this, the right hemisphere of your mind is always "surveying" subconsciously your immediate area, even while your conscious left hemisphere is alert and occupied with the moment. Your nervous system is registering what is happening in and around your environment while the conscious mind, or left hemisphere, remains unaware of what is going on. Once your right part of your brain suspects an irregularity, it triggers a gut feeling that things are not what they should be.

At this point, try if you can reconcile your right and left hemisphere to determine what is wrong.

Psychologists have recommended never to ignore those gut feelings we get from time to time, for it is often the case that it has prevented serious health situations. Whenever you get a sense that something is wrong physically, listen to it and address the matter immediately. The same is true in dealing with others in business and in social circumstances.

I can tell you from personal experience, if you learn to listen to your gut feeling, and "decide" accordingly, it will serve as a protection. Is it not true, in business you deal with all sorts of people? Fortunately, I was willing to listen to my instincts while doing extensive business with a group of individuals of which later I learned were under an FBI sting operation that could have implicated me as well. I remember thinking that things just did not add up with these people, I could not tell you why at the time, thus, I kept a safe business distance. After the FBI executed the operation, I had the same feeling that things were not over just yet, and I was right! It was about 3 or 4 in the morning; I received a call from one of the people in prison telling me to transfer his properties over to someone that would be coming over before government confiscation. Of course, I imagine            , the person that was coming over got a gut feeling that he better not. LOL!

What is Holding You Back? Part Five

Is it not interesting that we tend to gravitate to those that have similar opinions and preferences, such in music, art, and movies? Undoubtedly, there is an emotional content at work that brings comfort and an element of security.

It is often the case that likeminded people have the tendency to start adopting each other’s mannerisms, language, and other idiosyncrasies. I am reminded of what happened to me several years ago. I had met this gentleman from Boston Massachusetts, and I was so attuned in communicating with him, I began to sound like I was also from Boston. To this day I find it to be a real knee slapper since I am of Italian and Spanish descent, but this underscores how contagious others can be.

 There is no question about it, there is a caveat, sometimes their ideology or behavior comes with a negative effect, such as being prone to "indecisiveness," and this will not serve you well overall.

Am I saying to dismiss these certain individuals altogether? Not at all, that is your decision.

But I will say whether we want to admit it or not, the company we keep can have a positive or negative impact on our desires and goals.

if you are constantly surrounded by individuals who compel you to doubt yourself, this can clearly have a chain reaction to your decision-making process. If you continue to hobnob with such individuals that can break your long-term objectives, it only follows that indecisiveness will have a consequence that does not fit in your life, thus, we will become stagnated. And it lends itself for you not to trust your intuition that is based on facts. Therefore, my recommendations to you, assess yourself whether you find frequently second guessing yourself, questioning yourself or you find yourself stuck in a quandary. The time has come for you to ask yourself whether those around you have the propensity of doing the same. And if so, you cannot afford to hem and haw, you have a "decision" to make.

What is Holding You Back? Part Four

Have you ever known anyone that has a fear of flying, strangers, or any kind of animal? I am referring to phobias of which can have a definite deterrent in you moving forward in business or enjoying life.

  I am not a psychotherapist by any stretch; however, I will share my observation and personal experience that can help. These phobias have their inception while we were children, for one reason or another, but sometimes we acquire some of these fears as adults.

I have personally known people that have a debilitating fear of flying, and you can well imagine how this would jeopardize their job if they refused to fly when required in their employment description. Is there anything we can do to mitigate or eliminate this fear?

I can share with you what has been done as a self-help strategy short of therapy. To overcome the irrational fears is to face them head on in small increments without being overwhelmed. The first step, expose yourself by seeing pictures of airplanes, and progressively move to watching movies. Additionally, you can drive to the airport and back home, just to get a feeling of where you are emotionally. If it is manageable, how about packing a luggage and go to the airport as if you are taking a real trip. Incidentally, if you feel up to it, stay there for a while as you see going and incoming aircraft, and when you feel you have conquered each increment, take a noticeably short flight.

   The strategy can also be applied in meeting strangers in business. I would start by thinking in terms of so-called stranger as someone that have the same common concerns, the same struggles and if we go far back enough, we are all related, there is propinquity or kinship between us. And try to get to know that individual indirectly by consulting those that know him, furthermore, you can also drive to his office building, if your emotions allow it, go inside, and spend some time there. It is a matter of acclimating yourself progressively to the point that it alleviates the eventual face to face anxiety.

Another "irrational" fear is of animals, for the sake of our discussion, a dog. Of course, if it is a snarling rottweiler, I would be the first to high tail it out of there, but we are addressing unreasonable apprehension of a dog. A plan of action can be employed to overcome our fear by the above-mentioned strategy. Whatever, your fears may be, try this self-help approach, and there is nothing wrong to seek professional assistance if necessary. The main thing is, keep moving forward since time is linear.