Positive Thinking: Polyanna Syndrome

Why do we have such a downer on Pollyanna? After all, she is just a little girl with a big dose of positive mental attitude. Instead of mocking, may we should learn something from her. Im not saying we have to turn into Pollyanna, but when you think about it, positive thinking is the only sensible way forward. Our thinking creates our reality, so isnt it just a bit daft to be creating our reality based on negative thinking? When we realise this, we understand we cannot afford the luxury of negative thinking.

As Einstein said, we are boxed in by the boundary conditions of our thinking. Mind management is essentially the key to life management, and we all have the power to choose what we think. It may take time and effort to break the habit of negative thinking, but that is just what it is, a habit. So the trick is to cultivate a new habit of looking for the positive. And the first step is to catch yourself when you are thinking negatively. It may shock you just how many of those 60,000 thoughts that run through your mind every day are of the negative variety. Perhaps when you catch yourself thinking negatively, you can turn it into a positive but. Whatever it is, look hard for something way to turn it around by seeing an advantage. Focus on the fact that your outer world reflects your inner world, so which way would you rather think? Create the habit of positive thinking.

A good tool for this is daily affirmations. These are sayings repeated on a daily basis to manifest a more positive reality. It is a way of harnessing the power of words for your benefit because your reality starts with a thought. Help the mind along a more positive path. Just remember the rule with affirmations is that they must be personal, present and positive, for example today I achieve everything I want effortlessly rather than today I will not have any problems. You can start with something simple like I choose happiness or I create my own reality. You can write them, say them, sing them, its up to you, but a minimum of six times a day is good.

As the saying goes, whether you tell yourself you can or tell yourself you cant do something, you are right. So what have you got to lose by thinking positive?

Frances Hall

After many years working in film and music, Frances changed career direction to find what for her is a more fulfilling way to live. Now an accredited life coach, massage therapist and writer, she is doing what shed rather be doing - helping people get the most out of their lives. Her intention is to Liberate, Inspire, Focus, Empower. Check out http://www.lifematters.gb.com

Ludwig Beethoven

How to Cool Off Your Attic with Radiant Barrier and Start Saving Money

It is starting to get cooler outside, so now is the perfect time to talk about making your attic cooler all year long. How would you like to lower your attic temperature by 20 degrees in the summertime? This could be 30 degrees in the southern U.S.

Whether youre building a new home or have an existing home, Im going to tell you the benefits of an attic radiant barrier.

Let me ask you three questions.

1. In the summer, what is the hottest part of your house?

2. Where is your ductwork located? Attic or crawlspace?

3. Why would you put it in the attic?? (For 90% of you its in the attic, right?)

When consulting on new home construction we advise people not to put the ductwork in the attic. You can lower your cooling loads by as much as 20% just by getting the ductwork out of the attic. Now I know that isnt always possible so we recommend placing the ductwork directly on the ceiling joists and covering it with cellulose insulation. This along with an attic radiant barrier makes for a pretty efficient heating and cooling system.

For existing home construction we advise using an attic radiant barrier that either staples to the bottom of rafters or covers your attic insulation like a blanket.

Using attic radiant barriers is not a new concept. It has been around since 1960. In 1999 Doug Rye decided to use TechShield radiant barrier roof decking on a model home. The builder has his doubts but Doug insisted on using TechShield. After it was installed, the builder was sold on it. It was summertime and he found that it was much cooler working inside the unfinished house once the radiant barrier was installed than it was outside.

Since then we have heard story after story of how radiant barrier lowers the temperature of a house during construction. Weve heard stories from framers where they would rather eat lunch inside the house because its cooler than outside. Even the framers working next door eat lunch with them because its cooler.

The radiant barrier roof decking product is made using a process that laminates a thin, yet durable, sheet of aluminum foil to the surface of OSB board. When the sun strikes a roof, the radiant energy from the sun heats the roof and that heat radiates into the attic.

50%-75% - Radiant Heat Loss

Radiant barrier prevents up to 97 percent of that radiant heat in the roof from radiating in to the attic. As a result, it can lower the attic temperature by 30 degrees. And in the southern U.S. where temperatures easily reach 95 degrees and above, thats a huge difference!

For years, weve been telling homeowners not to put the ductwork in the attic and thats still good advice. But if your ductwork is in the attic, I recommend installing an attic radiant barrier which is available at most home centers.

By reducing temperatures in the attic, you are taking a lot of heat off the ductwork, which means your air conditioner wont have to work as hard and youll save money on your electric bill. And, of course, you also need plenty of cellulose insulation in the attic to keep the heat from radiating into the living areas of the home. Ill cover cellulose insulation in a future issue.

The most common concern people have regarding attic radiant barrier has to do with the temperature of the shingles of the roof. They want to know if it will damage the roof shingles by allowing them to get too hot. Well, the answer is no.

Attic radiant barrier won't melt the shingles. A study in Florida measured the temperatures of roof shingles above radiant barriers and found that the peak temperatures are only 2 to 5 degrees higher than the temperature of shingles on roofs without radiant barriers.

For existing home construction a thin, light weight radiant barrier can be installed. This radiant barrier is either stapled to the underside of the rafters or is laid over the ceiling insulation. This radiant barrier is clean, easy to handle, and requires no special tools or clothing.

A radiant barrier is available at most home improvement centers for around 60 cents per square foot.

Until next month, be safe and God Bless!

Phillip Rye www.philliprye.com

Doug Rye is a nationally recognized energy consultant and licensed architect. Doug also host the "Home Remedies" radio talk show that is broadcast in 15 states.

Phillip Rye is a licensed engineer and has spent the past 15 years studying energy efficiency and energy conservation.

Discover how you can have lower utility bills guaranteed! Visit http://www.dougrye.com

House Mold Problems

Pitbulls For Sale

Selling pit bulls is becoming more difficult, given the current spate of bad press against the dogs' violent outbursts. Owners want to get rid of their pets. Add to that the fact that pit bull breeders and kennels report a surplus, and the supply of pit bulls continues to be greater than the demand.

Pit bull kennels have their own websites through which they make sales. People who wish to buy pit bulls register on these sites and get updates from time to time. Those wishing to sell their pit bulls advertise in classifieds online or in newspapers.

While placing an advertisement to sell a pit bull, it is necessary to mention size and build and color as well as specific physical details like patches on fur and color of nose and eyes.

Sellers also mention their pit bulls' temperaments. Usually words like sociable, child-friendly, people-friendly, aggressive are used. Pedigreed animals definitely find a mention of their lineages and even pictures of them if possible. Naturally, they demand much higher prices than mongrels. It is very essential to mention whether the dog has papers or not. Similarly, it is necessary to state whether the dog has had its shots.

The favorites appear to be blue-nosed pit bulls, as well as silver and merle-colored pit bulls. A blue nosed pit bull may fetch as much as $1000 or more. In fact, pit bull breeders sometimes breed pit bulls for their color or for other traits such as aggressiveness or width and girth. Such custom-bred pit bulls are sold for higher prices,

The average asking price for a normal pit bull is a couple of hundred dollars. Puppies are more expensive than adults as they are more in demand. People also breed their female dogs with hired studs from kennels and then sell the puppies in the market. This is called as backyard breeding. Some adult pit bulls are available for even as low as $50.

Pitbulls provides detailed information about pitbulls, pitbull breeders, pitbull kennels, pitbull puppies and more. Pitbulls is the sister site of Dog Fleas.

We become what we think about most of the time

Burj Dubai - World's Tallest Free Standing Structure

Burj Dubai, well-known as the worlds tallest building, developed by the Dubai-based property giant, Emaar Properties, has now surpassed the earlier record of CN Tower in Toronto, Canada as worlds tallest free-standing structure.

Burj Dubai has currently touched a height of 555.3m, with 150 livable levels, which is the largest number of storeys for any building in the world. The tower already holds the credit of being taller than Taipei 101 in Taiwan, which was the tallest building in the world, since its launch in 2004 at 508m.

The Chairman of Emaar Properties, Mohamed Ali Alabbar, said Burj Dubai is in the process of setting new world records in construction of skyscrapers. The accomplishment of being the tallest free-standing structure in the world is another defining moment for the team of over 5000 people, who are collectively using their intelligence towards construction of the iconic structure, which is a symbol of human achievement. This architectural and constructional master-piece is truly an inspirational human achievement that depicts the can do mindset of Dubai.

On completion, Burj Dubai is bound to be the tallest structure in the world based on all 4 criteria listed by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH). The council takes into consideration the measurement of height to the structural top, the highest occupied floor, the top of the roof and till the tip of pinnacle, spire, antenna, and flag pole.

Burj Dubai will be at the center of Downtown Burj Dubai real estate development, a 500-acre downtown development, worth $20 billion, known as the most prestigious square kilometer on earth comprising retail, commercial and residential components.

Dubai Real Estate Blog, UAE's complete website for real estate, homes for sale and freeholds. Search for Dubai property news and trends.

Arched Stucco Stairway Home Entry

How Can I Stop My Divorce? - 3 Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them!

With divorces at an all time high many couples will go through the pain and turmoil of marriage breakup. That also does not take into account the number of divorces that are stopped before they get too far! This means that even more will suffer the prospect of divorce.

So how can I stop my divorce and pull back from the brink, and more importantly how do they make the marriage last in love and happiness? While every marriage and divorce are not the same, with different people, values and circumstances there are some core mistakes that people tend to make when trying to win back their partner. There are also ways to stop these mistakes and create positive outcomes instead!

Here are a few common mistakes we have all probably made in a relationship at some point that can really accelerate a divorce and some ideas you can use to change things for the better!

Reassurance - "I have changed! I swear! It will get better!"

Have you ever used this kind of desperate line? Have you had it used on you before? Did you really believe your partner when they say this? I didn't think so, even if you mean it with all your heart things have probably become so bad in your marriage this will sound desperate and insincere. It will also sound weak and will build no confidence in your partner even if it is what you THINK they want to hear. What they say and you what say are not always what is meant or what either person wants to hear. You are heading for divorce here, last minute platitudes like this will not work

So what will work? What will reassure them? Not much you can say thats for sure. In that case why say anything? That is right; do not reassure them of your intentions. As much as you want to say something, actions speak louder than words. Be strong and positive in your dealings with your partner and do the things you need to do without paying lip service to your intentions.

Emotional blackmail - "I love you!"

As sincere as you may be with this line it is such an obvious fall back, to them it may seem like emotional blackmail. Especially if they do deeply love you and are just hiding the fact, it can push them further away because they think you are targeting their softest least defended emotional area which can make things worse. The words I love you are some of the most powerful in any language. However power applied incorrectly can cause disasters and the same can be said of this line in a fragile relationship.

So can you tell them you love them? While the urge to say I love you will often come up it is better NOT to use it while both your emotions are so raw. Save that for when it is mended and both parties can grasp those words and their meaning with a clear head.

Arguing Yea but you said

Trying to use logic or guilt to change your partners mind is possibly the worst thing you can do. The urge to defend yourself and your actions or to point out hypocrisy or inaction of your partner is counter productive. The more you argue the more they will argue back, if you become negative they will follow suit. If you feel a need to WIN, they will not want to LOSE. The need to win or be right can be poisonous. Trying to force change can be like digging a pit to remove a pothole!

So how can you save your relationship without discussion and arguments? Again like the first point, dont do it! Dont get drawn into an argument and defiantly do not start one! Arguments add more discord to a fragile situation. Dont solve the problem? Sounds like a logical fallacy right? Fix something by not fixing it? It can work! The trick is to agree with your partner no matter what you feel at the time. Do not defend yourself ... do not start a war; the other side will be reluctant to attack if you come out with the white flag. This disengages the hostility, and will often lead your spouse to defend you where they were once attacking you! Only once the hostility and defensiveness and urge to WIN is taken away can the root causes of these problems truly come to light. Only then can a solution work itself out .. Thats right work itself out! You dont have to try to fix it; both parties will soon start to change to solve the problems where before they would be stubborn and unwilling to move. Love will literally save the day, as corny as it sounds ... but you have to be willing to lay your ego aside so that they will do the same and let genuine love back into your relationship.

Are you still asking how can I stop my divorce? These are just a few ideas to help you patch up a marriage heading for divorce and the different circumstances of each case may require slightly different tactics but hopefully this can be of some help in your search for marital bliss!

Good luck!

Did you find this article useful?

Do you want to stop your divorce?

Do you want your partner back and to have a long lasting loving marriage?

If so please look at the 'Mastery Guide to Stopping Divorce'. This no-nonsense guide is written by experts and gets immediate results.

Northern Buddhism

What I Want To Say To My In-Laws

How are you getting along with your in-laws? Would you like to improve the relationship? Whether it is an issue with your daughter/son in-law or mother/father in-law, it is helpful for everyone concerned, including the children, to be able to feel good about each other and communicate constructively.

As a Marriage, Family Therapist, men and women often told me about the problems and hurt feelings they were having with their in-laws. Often, the unresolved issues also had a negative effect on their partnership or marriage.

One way I helped them was to offer them ways to improve their interactions. The following communication guidelines can assist you to have a better relationship with your in-laws. Put a check next to the statements that you want to express to them.

A) To My Mother/Father In-law

Please....

1. Understand that we both love and want the best for your son/daughter.

2. Open your heart to me and welcome me into the family.

3. Allow me to also love you.

4. Respect and accept me for who I am.

5. Appreciate all that I do.

6. See the ways I balance your son/daughter.

7. Speak directly to me if you have a problem and help me seek a win-win solution.

8. Help me encourage your son/daughter to be his/her unique, adult self.

9. Have our happiness in mind with all your words and actions.

10. Remember what you wanted from your in-laws and offer us the same.

11. Thank you for hearing me, and for parenting such a wonderful person.

12. I love you!

B) To My Daughter/Son In-law

Please....

1. Understand that I want to be close to you and my son/daughter.

2. Open your heart to me and let me welcome you into the family.

3. Be kind and patient with me.

4. Respect and accept me for who I am.

5. Appreciate all that I do.

6. Be open to my suggestions and then feel free to do what you want.

7. Speak directly to me if you have a problem and help me seek a win-win solution.

8. Help me encourage my son/daughter to be his/her unique, adult self.

9. Tell me in a loving way if you feel I am interfering.

10. Remember I love you both and I want you to be happy and healthy.

11. Thank you for hearing me, and being kind and loving to my son/daughter.

12. I love you!

Now that you are more aware of what you want to say to your in-laws, you may want to schedule a time when you can communicate in a loving voice.

Be patient, forgiving, and persevering. Also, focus in on what you can do differently to improve the relationship. Do your best to create a wonderful, loving family. You deserve it!

Copyright 2007 by Helene Rothschild, MS, MA, MFT, a Marriage, Family Therapist, intuitive counselor, speaker, and author. Her newest book is, "ALL YOU NEED IS HART! A Unique Guide to Holistic and Rapid Transformation. She offers phone sessions, books, e-books, MP3 audios, posters, cards, teleclasses, independent studies, and a free newsletter. http://www.lovetopeace.com , 1-888-639-6390.

Norse Paganism

Christian Love

Actually, loving does not take any great effort on our part because it is not something we must put forth great effort to achieve. When God enters our heart, soul, and mind, love is spontaneously produced because He is love. It is a spiritual attainment. It is the result of a cause and the cause is this: God loved us first (1 John 4:19).

This love is not produced by us. No one can love God until he knows that God loves him and we can only love God when we have perceived some reasons for doing so. Each person that has ever been saved never came to God as a lover of God, but as a sinner who had come to believe in Gods love for him or her. Our love is connected with this knowing.

When we realize Gods love for us, we become acutely aware of our unworthiness. The more we recognize our own helpless state, the more we understand Gods love for us; a love so great that it embraces poor sinner. We love because God first loved us.

God loves us. It is a fact affirmed and validated by the patriarchs, lawgivers, seers, prophets, apostles, teachers, deacons, evangelists. From Genesis to Revelation, a conglomeration of witnesses joined together to make this heavenly announcement: God loves us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died.

But, we cannot claim we love God if we do not love one another; for it is in loving God that we are enabled to love one another, and in loving one another, our love for God is strengthened. Human love is a response to Gods love. His love within us creates goodness and transforms the unlovable into the lovable. When this miracle occurs, we discover we love not only others, but ourselves.

No greater claim can any of us make than that we love. Love is a characteristic of those who love God. Love is the great bond of fellowship which binds believers to one another, and to our Lord. We love all meneven our enemies. Like John, we do not claim to love as deeply as we desire to love; we do not claim to love as much as we expect to as we progress in the faith, but we do claim to love. There is no guessing, no speculation, no assumptions, and no inferences.

We Christians stand side by side with John and thousands of others down through the generations to affirm what John declared. That somehow, even in this messed up world, even in times like these when mans inhumanity to man seem to have reached chaotic proportions, we love and we do it because God lives in us and God is love. This is Gods eminent challenge to man and one of mans greatest trials.

Rev. Saundra L. Washington, D.D., is an ordained clergywoman, social worker, and Founder of AMEN Ministries. http://www.clergyservices4u.org. She is also the author of two coffee table books: Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach and Negative Disturbances: Homilies that Teach. Her new book, Out of Deep Waters: My Grief Management Workbook, will be available soon.

Christopher Columbus