Controversial Decision From Jorge Larrionda, But It's Change Nothing.

The incident occurred at minute 40, when England left behind 1-2. At that time, Lampard strike hit the crossbar, bounced and passed the goal line. Actually, the Chelsea midfielder and Fabio Capello celebrate 'that' goal. However, the referee did not consider it a goal. Though from a replay, it became clear that the ball is already through the goal line.

Events in Bloemfontein must be remembered by footbal; fans around the world especially for England. They would say, "If that goal, anything can be happened". But I admit that Germany deserve to get a victory because they play better than England.

Football always breeds controversy.

The End of England Golden Generation in World Cup 2010.

I'm so depressed after England defeat against Germany yesterday. I don't know why they didn't show their class. England is totally outclassed by Germany side. Great play from Thomas Mueller makes the real humiliation for England backfour.

In those games, Germans played very impressive. "The Three Lions", who have big ambitions just torn apart.

Miroslav Klose who opened a victory party before doubled by Lukas Podolski. England could uncover hope to pursue, through Matthew Upson goal. But in the second round, Panzer team getting hotter all the raid was successful stem the "Three Lions", and subsequently conducted a counter-attack which led to two goals within three minutes from the foot of Thomas Mueller. Final score 4-1 for Germany.

England performance in South Africa was very far from the predictions and expectations. With the dominance of the Premier League, Fabio Capello's caliber, and the results in qualifying and friendly game, pundits tips England to reach high levels in this year's World Cup. However, from the three group stage matches in England only won once in the last game against Slovenia. They detained the United States 0-0 and Algeria 1-1. The defeat of Germany was very soundly.

Jabulani Makes The Goalkeeper Looney.

I think I agree with Julio Cesar statement to Jabulani. The ball is mentioned as 'Supermarket ball' by Brazilian number 1 goalkeeper. Iker Casillas and Gigi Buffon are also complaining the ball quality. Now, until 2nd matchday I see 3 blunders from the goalkeeper. and I make an assumption that the blunder is caused by Jabulani bad movements.

1. Of course Robert Green's blunder against USA. Low strike from Clint Dempsey couldn't be held By Green. And make the score 1-1. If you watch Green carefully he keeps his eye on the ball, does not look away. He hands are below the ball, he doesn't move them prematurely. But he's not CENTERED, he's off to the side of the ball's path. The ball takes a somewhat eccentric bounce, hits the glove at the wrist, and bounces to the side away.

2. Faouzi Chaouchi's blunder against Slovenia. The Algerian Goalkeeper couldn't hold Robert Koren's strike well. And it gives a win for Slovenia. Chaouchi terribly misread the shot, diving to his left but failing to extend his arms. The ball skipped past him into the net. Koren, who plays in England for West Brom, appeared as shocked as anyone that his effort found net. Chaouchi's blunder was not as bad as Robert Green's gaffe.

nb: England and Algeria are in the same group. Oh my gosh!

3. Eiji Kawashima's goalkeeping blunder gifted Holland their second victory. Great strike from Wes Sneijder, but actually Kawashima could stop the ball, but the deflection brought the ball tho the wrong way. Yes, I mean to the Japan goal. Very very unlucky.

Good Performance From Argentina and Mexico.

Superb Argentina performance against Korea Republic. They dictated the game very well I think. Gonzalo Higuain was the hattrick hero for Argentina after goalless in first match against Nigeria. Some good combination between Lionel mesii and Kun Aguero made an easy opportunity for Higuain to scored hattrick. Korea Republic losed for ball possesion and Park Ji Sung couldn't show his best.

I was impressed by Mexico performance. two goals from Javier Hernandez and Chautemoc Blanco almost buried France's chance to qualified to the next stage. in the last match France will be challenged by South Africa and Mexico will play against Uruguay (I hope it will be a good match).

But everything is 'unclear' in football. Just wait and see for what will be happened for Argentina, Mexico, France and Korea Republic in the next match.

The Excellent Spain.

The best team in Europe. I talk about Spain. They played well in Euro 2008 and won the title. They have a lot of talented players in every sector in the pitch.

Let's talk about goalkeeper first. Iker Casillas, Victor Valdes, and Pepe Reina are recognized as the best quality keeper in the world, so Spain has a hard rock wall in their goal and it's very difficult for the opponents to score the goal.

In the backfour,Carles Puyol leads the defence, with Gerard Pique who's his soulmate in Barcelona defence biside him. Sergio Ramos and Joan Capdevilla can play overlap in both sides.

In the middle, there a many famous names like Cesc Fabregas, Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Xabi Alonso and David Silva. There are very very creative midfielder. High skills and high quality pass. So it can make easy job for the attacker to score the goal.

Fernando Torres and David Silva. A great great combination from duo deadly strikers in the world can hurts the opponent's goal. Don't forget the pacey striker like Juan Mata, Pedro Rodriguez, or Jesus Navas.

And don't forget about Vincent Del Bosque who has a lot of great experience and has won a lot of title with Real Madrid. I know this old man is the best tactician in this World Cup.

So, undoubtly Spain is the strongest team in the world, at least for me. they will play their first match against Switzerlandtoday in World Cup 2010. So let's see The Spaniards performance in that match.

Looking For World Class Goalkeeper.

I think my blog title is directed to England national team. Indeed, you know they have a solid squad from the backfour until the foward. But there's a contradiction for the shot stopper position. Unfortunately for them because they ever had the best goalkeeper like Peter Shilton or Gordon Banks. Spain number one , Iker Casillas claims, the goalkeeper position is the weakest point of the current England team proved too. In the latest match, Robert Green failed to catch Clint Dempsey's shot. I think it was easy ball came to Green, but his mistake changed the result. I have two opinions about Robert Green's blunder. First, based from Casillas, Buffon, and Julio Cesar complaints for Jabulani ,I think Green coulndn't catch the ball well because the ball bad movement. And my second opinion is about Robert Green mentality in the big tournament. In this World Cup, Robert Green makes his first appearance for England. So i think it could be the big pressure for him. Nevertheless, I belive Robert green is a quality goalkeeper. He just need to play more in the big tournament for England. How about that Don Fabio?

England v USA Preview (FIFA World Cup 2010)

This match is the match that I'm waiting for. England will be challenged by USA. They shouldn't underestimate USA because this 'new era' USA can produce the high quality football. But, still England has a better opportunity to win this match. Rio Ferdinand's absence can be a disadvantage for England, especially to the back four. I think Ledley King or Jamie Carragher will be a perfect replacement for the skipper. And they will work together with John Terry to stop Landon Donovan who's the star man as a playmaker. In midfield Steven Gerrard will be a dynamo for England. The new skipper will work together with Frank Lampard to stop the ball supply to Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore. Dempsey and Altidore plays for Fulham and Hull City in England, so they know England play style, It can be the USA advantage to face England. I predict hat England will use two attackers, one place is definetely for Wayne Rooney and the last place for Emile Heskey. They will face Jay DeMerit and Oguchi Onyewu as the USA center back. The huge problem for England is the GK position, because England doesn't have a very very good goalie. But I hope Don Fabio will select David James as goalie, because of his experience to play in a big tournament.



Line Up:
England (4-4-2): David James; Glen johnson, Jamie Carragher, John Terry, Ashley Cole; Aaron Lennon, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Joe Cole; Wayne Rooney; Emile Heskey.
USA (4-4-2): Tim Howard; Jonathan Spector, Oguchi Onyewu, Jay DeMerit, Carlos Bocanegra; Landon Donovan, Maurice Edu, Michael Bradley, Stuart Holden; Jozy Altidore, Clint Dempsey.

History:
England 2-0 United States 28-05-2008
United States 1-2 England 28-05-2005
England 2-0 United States 07-09-1994
England 2-0 USA 09-06-1993
England 0-5 USA 16-06-1985
England 00-10 USA 27-05-1964
England 1-8 USA 28-05-1959
United States 3-6 England 08-06-1953
England 0-1 United States 29-06-1950 (World Cup)

Friday Matches Preview (FIFA World Cup 2010)

South Korea v Greece

Well, I think South Korea is the best team in Asia. They will challenge Euro 2004 winner, Greece in the first match in Group B. Both sides has a memorable history. South Korea went through the semifinal in WC 2002 after clawed 'European Giant' Italy that famous with their 'catenaccio' tactic in the quarter final. But they couldn't defeat Germany with Oliver Kahn as a hard rock in the Germany goal. Very very unlucky, but I know that South korea has a strong spirit and strong character to shows us a good display in the pitch. Lee Won Jae & Park Ji Sung are the key player for them. Greece is the 'unexpected' winner in Euro 2004 Portugal. but they have a collective play style. I think that's the key. Simple tactic with deadly effect. Giorgos Karagounis, Fanis Gekas, and Sotiris Kyrgiakos are the indispensable players for them in the Friday Clash.


Argentina v Nigeria

Lionel Messi, no doubt about it, he is still the best player in the world. He can produces a moment of magic for Argentina. But Argentina is not just Messi, there are Juan Veron with his experience, Angel Di Maria the new starlet, or Carlos Tevez the excellent poacher (I love this guy to be honest, despite I'm Man Utd fan). Argentina is one of WC 2010 winner candidate, so they have some pressures. But I believe this team has a strong mentality and Maradona has taught them his experience to handle the pressures. Nigeria without John Obi Mikel. It's difficult for them to stop Carlos Tevez or Lionel Messi with a 'big hole' in defensive midfielder post. John Obi Mikel has proved his quality in Chelsea. No one doubt about it. but nigeria can play all out with no more pressures. So i hope I'll see a good display from both sides in the pitch.

World Cup 2010-Kick Off

Dances and drum thumper colouring Soccer City Stadium. This action riveting ten thousands attendaces that watch the World Cup 2010.

The names of classmates R Kelly and Shakira also African artists will perform before the opening match South Africa vs. Mexico. Shakira will appear and "shake up" the audience with the song 'Howard Johnson, Howard Johnson This Time for Africa' which is the official song of World Cup South Africa.

While the Grammy Award-winning, R Kelly, accompanied by the choir of Africa Soweto Spiritual Singers will bring 'Sign Of A Victory' which became Anthem 2010 FIFA World Cup. In addition, African artists also was asked to fill this event, including Amadou, Hugh Masekela and many more.

However, this opening ceremony isn't attended by Nelson Mandela. Mandela was grieving over the death of Zenani Mandela who is a great-grandson of the Nobel Peace Prize.

After 30 minutes, this opening ceremony was over. The event then continued with the opening match between hosts South Africa vs Mexico. Nothing can cover up this festive.

World Cup 2010 Is Getting Closer.

World Cup 2010 is coming!

South Africa will play in their own ground against Mexico in the first match. Well I don't really familiar with the both sides but I know Mexico has a lot of talents. Youngsters like Carlos Vela (Arsenal), Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez (Man Utd), and Giovanni Dos Santos (Tottenham Hotspurs) could make a moment of magic with their amazing flair. South Africa will get their chance to get a victory with play in front of their supporters. i think it could be an advantage for them. Let's hope they show a good display for us.

France will play against Uruguay. I think I'll see the world class players like Diego Forlan, Luiz Suarez, Yoann Gourcuff, and Thierry Henry shows their best tricks in the pitch. I think France has the quality player in each post but they shouldn't underestimate Uruguay. Because I know their duo striker quality. So just wait and see for the kick off.

See you tomorrow in World Cup 2010.

Overcoming Difficult People

Everywhere I turn lately, I find information to help deal with difficult people. My biggest reaction to all of it is this, why just deal with them when you can completely overcome them? Why just learn to tolerate being around those you can't stand, when you have the option to either change them or get them out of your life completely!

There are two basic strategies for overcoming a difficult person. One is passive and the other is active. The passive strategy is one that has been taught by great motivational leaders throughout history. Gandhi taught the path of no resistance.

With many personalities, if you don't fight back, then they realize that they cannot "get a rise" out of you and move on to someone they can intimidate. This works best when the difficult person is being difficult as a means of 'proving' that they are strong and powerful. And this is usually the case when you have someone who feels very insecure about his or her own identity.

In our lives, we usually don't pursue the conflict long enough for it to escalate into an all-out war. When you find yourself in this kind of situation, you need to take an active approach to overcoming the difficult person.

The active approach has a few aspects that may be applied during the course of the encounter. The first aspect, which must be applied right from the start, and all through the encounter, is to communicate to the difficult person that they are fighting a losing battle. No matter what they try to say or do, they will not convince you to become any different than you are. Now this will not be something you say outright. If you do, then you are throwing out a challenge, and difficult people always love challenges. Don't make the situation any more difficult than it is already. Instead, you will implement the second aspect of the active approach.

The second aspect is to engage the difficult person as though the two of you are on the same side, and not adversaries at all. Find common ground, and make sure that everything you say relates to that common ground the two of you share. Battles of all kinds are all based on differences, not on similarities and commonalities. Salespeople (if they are any good) all know that stressing the things you have in common with the other person makes that person like you more. Part of the active approach to overcoming difficult people is to turn that enemy into a friend. How often do you fight with your friends?

The third aspect of this approach is the most difficult, and requires an intimate knowledge of the other person's viewpoint. And even if you know for a fact that you know the other person's viewpoint inside and out, ask that difficult person to explain what they are thinking. This will do a couple of things for you. One, it will give this person an outlet for their energy. The more they talk, the less energy they have to fight with. It also makes them feel as if they have accomplished something. They've gotten their point across.

It will also give you the information you need to bring this person around to your way of thinking. There is a great truth that the only way to lead a horse to water is one step at a time. You have to start where the horse is! The same is true when persuading anyone to do anything. Whether you are trying to persuade your boss to give you a raise, your lover to go along with your plans, your kids to behave as you wish they would, or a difficult person to leave you alone, you always have to start where they are.

There's one more thing that letting the difficult person talk could do for you. There is always the possibility that you could learn something new. Maybe you had never seen things the way this person sees them. Maybe from another perspective, the world could be seen as flat, or the sun revolves around the Earth, or your religion could become more effective in reaching its followers.

Benjamin Franklin, who has been acknowledged as a very wise man by many, learned that there were many times when he was mistaken about certain facts, and that he didn't know everything. If you're honest with yourself, you will find that you are not always right about everything either, right? Of course, this doesn't mean that you have to put up with a difficult person, but it gives you the next aspect of the active process to overcome them.

Placing a seed of doubt into the mind of your difficult person is the first step to moving them from where they are now to where you want them to be. They have to admit that they don't know everything, and that they could be mistaken about just about anything. Even if you get no further than this, you can usually convince the difficult person to not be so difficult. You want them to start to think that they could be wrong, and that you could be right. Unfortunately, you can't just say this to them, but you need to ask questions that will lead them to this thought.

If you find that you've gotten this far with your difficult person, then you could continue to ask questions (they lead thoughts so much better than flat statements, don't you agree?) that will cause their mind to take one step at a time over to your way of thinking. Just remember that small steps work much better than giant leaps. Any small step that leads them closer to you is good. And also remember that most people resist any change; so don't expect a complete reversal within minutes.

The only other thing I can say here in this short article is that those in the Keys To Power system learn even more methods which help change other people's thinking and behavior. And they learn methods of keeping difficult people out of their lives completely, so they never have to overcome them in the first place.

I hope that I have given you some new tools to use in making your life easier. Use them with joy, and with Power!

Corporate Team Building— Developing a Team in a Strategic Way

Team building plays a crucial role in the development of various plans and challenges. In an organization, you might notice that there are various challenges that you have to face and understand specific stages. It is important for the leaders to carry on with these challenges in order to develop a mighty team.

To begin with, you have to set up a meeting where you can discover the talented members of your team. Once you shortlist the members, you can assign tasks depending upon their skills. It is leaders' responsibilities that they coach and guide the members of the team as to how to carry forward their tasks and reach certain goals. Introduction is one of the major factors that leaders have to focus on since it gives an ultimate assistance in determining the strength of each member. Team building is not a difficult task; however, it is an intelligent task. Team leaders often encourage their team members to stay together and work with unity without any misunderstanding.

Team members then make commitment to a specific goal set by them or their leaders. When tasks are accomplished flawlessly, the strategic ways are developed.To begin with, you have to set up a meeting where you can discover the talented members of your team. Once you shortlist the members, you can assign tasks depending upon their skills. It is leaders' responsibilities that they coach and guide the members of the team as to how to carry forward their tasks and reach certain goals. Introduction is one of the major factors that leaders have to focus on since it gives an ultimate assistance in determining the strength of each member. Team building is not a difficult task; however, it is an intelligent task. Team leaders often encourage their team members to stay together and work with unity without any misunderstanding.When the team functions smoothly and rhythmically, there is no need for new team members. The company enjoys the fruits of team members and this is why team building is required in most of the companies.

From Failures to Success - How a Leader Thinks and Behaves

As humans, we often allow ourselves to be defeated to easily. When I was younger, I often allowed my failures to dictate who I was. However, I have learned that "A man is not defeated by his opponents but by himself." (Christian Smuts Prime Minister of South Africa)

Now that some people have began to look towards me for leadership, I have gained a new understanding about leadership that can have a lasting positive affect on others and this is why this article is titled From Failure to Success; How a leader thinks and behaves.

From my own experience, I will first try to explain the barriers that prohibited me from first succeeding and perhaps you can learn from my experience.

There is an inherent self-sabotaging behavior which some of use have adapted into our lives. I would often begin a project with the expectation of failing. I realized what you think you are; you will become.

Therefore, I decided to think just the opposite of what I was thinking. Emerson, the poet wrote: "What lies before us and what lies behind us are tiny matters compared to what lies with us."

We must cultivate that we are special, wonderfully and intricately made to do good work. We must see there is a different between failing and being a failure. We all will miss the mark at some point in our lives, but we must remember what Eric Hoffer said: "It is often the failure who is the pioneer in new lands, new undertakings, and new forms of expression."

Another self-sabotaging behavior is afraid to take risks. Life is about risk and if you are afraid to take risks, you will not experience what life has to offer you.

How a leader perceives failures and how a Leader thinks and behaves:

If you want to think like a leader, you must change the attitude that is preventing you from being the best version of you. Success is not about whom you are but how you appear to your self.

A leader believes in his mind that he is victorious. Visualize yourself as though you have completed the task successfully. For example, Mario Andretti, the 15-time Indianapolis 500 formula 1 racer, would visualize every turn every pass before every race. He would see himself taking the checker flag.

Do not become lazy. Robert Half said it best: "Laziness is the secret ingredient that goes into failure."

Meditate on what you want to accomplish for the day and cross it off your list when completed. Keep a journal of all your accomplishments and referred back to it whenever you feel you are about to revert into that self-sabotaging behavior.

Change your speech. The same old vocabulary that we use and cling to is sabotaging our lives. It is said when interviewing top industry leaders, never once did anyone say the word failure. Leaders use positive words. For example, replace the word failed or failure with the phrase learned experiences.

If we are to learn from our experiences, we must change how we think of ourselves and believe we are winners. We must keep track of our success. Moreover, we should take more risk. We must used positive vocabulary and replace the word failure with missed opportunity. Let the missed opportunity point you to success. Use the missed opportunities as stepping-stones to your dream life.

Remember failures or miss opportunities are part of the productive part of being successful. It provides the roads you do not have to travel again, the mountains you do not have to climb again and the valleys you do not have to cross again.

How to Develop Leadership Skills

Developing leadership skills is an assumption about you "in charge" or "does not make one in leadership positions." Dramatically to become a leader means that you change. Some of these are steps to help develop leadership skills.

1. Practice these behaviours before you are in a leadership position. If you do not do it, you never achieve that level of leadership, and if you think you to these qualities in the role will not last without the benefit will find themselves in a leadership role.

2. A leader Think of what you would want. Maybe even write a few things to mention and that to save the list, after which it at least a partial guide to model your own behaviour can serve as on.

3. Keep your personal profit last. First and foremost you who follow what they most interested in profit? Even if you had no choice to follow them, would you ever except when you are forced to because they feel inspired to help? There are people in leadership positions, but they need strong support of followers that does not have a good and selfless leader. As a leader in supporting those who are that he or she is motivated to follow enlisted as strong.

4. If you do not speak, but the other person a choice of reviewers, it is creative and individual as you are discussing in the room. Sometimes people do not like everything you say about them, but unless you're always maybe will respect, you are not violating their trust. Also, see if others see you about someone else that you are talking in a respectful way, they know only their own lack of respect towards them you are practicing. Remember that backstabbing and insulting comments are a sign of poor leadership.

5. This attitude helps you to broaden your view and consider many different perspectives. Their initial reactions to things count for something, but any decisions based on initial response can not. Ask lots of questions and carefully assemble the full picture until the record comes into focus.

6. Lead by example. Act how you act with others, want to keep your word about everything as good as you, and your job can make other people the way you want them is not. Do not think that politicians can not fault. About whether or not you treat others the same way as you treat them or handle yourself as you do not worry yourself over. These concerns are certainly, but they do not care. Others to take some time to come to surround yourself coming (if ever, maybe in some cases). Between the facts that regardless of how others act, if you promise to keep, meet obligations, to acknowledge their errors and try to learn from them consider, respect others will not trust you to be responsible. Without those features, you guys may not. If people can see those things for you, you are more of a leader.

7. Promote confidence and encourage others. This is when someone just to feel good about yourself to lead, because they think they feel better about themselves if the people around them will feel small. Many strong leaders to benefit the power are out. They doing everything by themselves do not try to impress anyone. You believe in encouraging them to take advantage of the power better than others can. Remember, your job to motivate the people around you to worship you guys do not do!

8. Be patient and do not expect results immediately or very soon. It is your own habits and behaviour, a situation, and particularly applies to people around you. Big picture thinking is part of recognizing that change and development occurs very slowly, and that it must start somewhere. Introducing yourself stronger, more productive relationships with others and do not expect but with the goal of developing a high standard results hold immediately bear their mutual efforts. People need time to see that their efforts a "Flash" pan or are not motivated by ulterior motives. Keep in mind that many people have their crushed hopes and their trust is often violated. They themselves are afraid to make you weak. When you guys to make initial gestures, is willing to give them hope, our assessment indicates that they actually mean in the beginning stages of it are. They always match that can take months of practice are not ready, and some heartbreaking cases, you may never get any exchange. With each individual to develop leadership skills in small steps is building great relationships. If others decide to give myself, that is one thing, but always you're best to remain consistent in their behaviour.

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/leadership-articles/how-to-develop-leadership-skills-2561004.html

Change Your Point of View,Enjoy Your Life

If you've placed second in a writing contest, will you jump for joy and push for better results the next time or will you be discouraged and find an excuse not to join again? In life, you are always filled with choices. You may opt to have a pessimist's view and live a self-defeated life or you may decide to take the optimist's route,enjoy life and make it challenging and fulfilling.

So why nurture an optimist's point of view? And why now?

Well, optimism has been linked to positive mood and good morale; to academic, athletic, military, occupational and political success; to popularity; to good health and even to long life and freedom from trauma.

On the other hand, the rates of depression and pessimism have never been higher. It affects middle-aged adults the same way it hits younger people. The mean age of onset has gone from 30 to 15. It is no longer a middle-aged housewife's disorder but also a teen-ager's disorder as well.

Here's how optimists are in action and researches that back up why it really pays to be an optimist:

Optimists expect the best

The defining characteristic of pessimists is that they tend to believe bad events, which will last a long time and undermine everything they do, are their own fault.

The truth is optimists are confronted with the same hard knocks of this world. What differs is the way they explain their misfortune---it's the opposite way. They tend to believe defeat is just a temporary setback, that its causes are confined to this one case.

Optimists tend to focus on and plan for the 'problem' at hand. They use 'positive reinterpretation.' In other words, they most likely reinterpret a negative experience in a way that helps them learn and grow. Such people are unfazed by bad situation, they perceive it is a challenge and try harder.

They won't say "things will never get better," "If I failed once, it will happen again" and "If I experience misfortune in one part of my life, then it will happen in my whole life."

Positive expectancies of optimists also predict better reactions during transitions to new environments, sudden tragedies and unlikely turn of events. If they fall, they will stand up. They see opportunities instead of obstacles.

People respond positively to optimists

Optimists are proactive and less dependent on others for their happiness. They find no need to control or manipulate people. They usually draw people towards them. Their optimistic view of the world can be contagious and influence those they are with.

Optimism seems a socially desirable trait in all communities. Those who share optimism are generally accepted while those who spread gloom, panic and hysteria are treated unfavorably.

In life, these people often win elections; get voted most congenial and sought for advice.

When the going gets tough, optimists get tougher

Optimists typically maintain higher levels of subjective well-being during times of stress than do people who are less optimistic. In contrast, pessimists are likely to react to stressful events by denying that they exist or by avoiding dealing with problems. Pessimists are more likely to quit trying when difficulties arise.

They persevere. They just don't give up easily, they are also known for their patience. Inching their way a step closer to that goal or elusive dream.

Optimists are healthier and live longer

Medical research has justified that simple pleasures and a positive outlook can cause a measurable increase in the body's ability to fight disease.

Optimists' health is unusually good. They age well, much freer than most people from the usual physical ills of middle age. And they get to outlive those prone to negative thoughts.

So why not be an optimist today? And think positively towards a more fulfilled life.

Why not look forward to success and enjoy life in all your endeavors? Why not be resilient? Like everybody else you are bound to hit lows sometimes but don't just stay there. Carry yourself out of the mud and improve your chances of getting back on the right track. And why not inspire others to remove their dark-colored glasses and see life in the bright side?

Living with an Attitude of Gratitude

Creating an attitude of gratitude is one of the easiest steps we can take to improve our lives. The happiness that we create for ourselves by showing our appreciation has far-reaching effects, both for ourselves and for those we come into contact with. The potential for gratitude to spread beyond those people also increases significantly – it can be highly contagious. There are so many different ways that we can express an attitude of gratitude. Here are just a few:

Say “thank you”. This is the most basic and well-known way to show appreciation to others. Saying “thank you” is a great way to express your gratitude and can be done in several different forms. You can say it in person, over the phone, in a note, or in an email. Using this when it’s least expected can have significant results in lifting someone’s spirits. For example, a quick note to your child’s teacher thanking her for her hard work and patience might give her the boost of energy that she needs right when she needs it most. You may never know what effect this has had on her, but it will have an effect.

Stop complaining about your life. Even as tough as life can be sometimes, remember that there is always someone that has things worse than you do. Constant complaining about what is wrong in your life will keep you focused on that. The opposite is true as well – focusing on what is right in your life will keep you focused on that. Focusing on the negative will bring you down while focusing on the positive will lift you up.

Focus on what you have, not what you don’t have. This is very closely related to not complaining about your life. Being grateful for what you do have keeps you in a positive place, whereas focusing on what you don’t have keeps you in a negative place. Focusing on what you do have, regardless of how little or how much that may be, is a great expression of gratitude.

Model your attitude. Modeling your attitude of gratitude is a great way to spread it to others. We’ve all heard the Golden Rule to “treat others the way you want to be treated”. Showing your appreciation to others shows them that you like to be treated this way too. An attitude of gratitude can be quite infectious!

Be satisfied with simple things and be mindful of little things. Being grateful for the little things in our lives is just as important (if not, more so) than being grateful for the big things. Our lives are filled with little things every day that we can be grateful for. What about that front row parking spot you found when you were running late? Or the beautiful weather outside? How about the store clerk that went out of her way to help you? This may take a little practice, but there are many little things throughout the day that we can be grateful for if we take the time to notice them.

Give to someone else. This is the best way to spread your gratitude of attitude. There are so many different ways to give to someone else. You could volunteer your time to help those less fortunate or give you time to children by mentoring them. The possibilities are endless but could make a huge difference in someone’s life without you evening knowing it. If they in turn give to someone else, the cycle could continue without end.

Keep a gratitude journal. Let’s just be honest here: there are some days when it is hard to find anything to be grateful for. Keeping a gratitude journal can help with that. There are preprinted journals so you can just fill in the blanks or you can make your own. The important thing is to find at least 5 things each day to be grateful for, no matter how big or small those things are. A gratitude journal can serve two purposes: it will help you stop and remember what you are grateful for or it can serve as inspiration on days when you find it difficult to find anything to be grateful for by reading over past days.

Practice random acts of kindness. This can be one of the most fun and rewarding ways to live a life of gratitude, especially when it’s done anonymously. Surprise someone with something unexpected. You may never know what it meant to them but it will likely make their day. Try putting a note in your child’s lunch or bringing treats to the office to share. Even a small gesture can mean so much to someone.

Living a life of gratitude is one of the easiest ways to live a happier life. It takes very little effort to show someone you appreciate them but will mean so much to them. There are so many ways to make gratitude a part of our life and to spread that attitude to others. Make today the day you start living a life of gratitude and spread your light to the rest of the world!

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