You Are What You Think  by Cynthia Bischoff Your attitude toward life reflects the way you interpret your world.  Your experience is impacted not so much by what life brings you, but by the way your mind interprets what happens.

If you don't like something that happens and you cannot change it, at least change the way you think about it!

Triggers that cause negative thinking:

• Overgeneralizing:  assuming that because it happened once, it will happen again.
•  Catastrophizing:  predicting and expecting the worst outcome.
•  Mind-reading:  believing that you know what others are thinking.
•  Exaggerating:  giving negative events more importance than they deserve.
•  Personalizing:  taking things very personally without evidence to support it.
•  Blaming yourself:  accepting blame--"it's all my fault."
•  Extremes:  using extremist words, like "always," "never," "nobody," and so on.

People take you at your own estimation of yourself, so it is important that you behave "as if" you can do something well or that life is good.  Remember that "like attracts like," so if you put out negative thoughts, you are likely to attract more negativity to yourself. Be your own best advocate!

Cynthia Bischoff | February 22, 2014 at 1:00 am | URL: http://wp.me/p2Eg6X-11b

What is forgiveness? Why does one forgive? For those of us who have been pained by another person, particularly a person of a past relationship, to forgive may feel impossible. It may feel that the act of forgiveness would be a way of saying that the painful event or relationship did not occur. It is important to understand that forgiving does not erase the reality of the incidents that occurred. The act of forgiving simply opens up a space in the forgiver from which to live more fully. The beauty of forgiving or being forgiven is that we are the ones who heal as we forgive. In the words of Oscar Wilde, “. . . it is the confession, not the priest, that gives us absolution.”

When we do not forgive a person, we are financing the ill feelings or the lack of forgiveness with our energy. Lack of forgiveness then can lead to illness in the person who is unable to forgive. It becomes like a sword with a curved blade. Or in some cases, you may choose not to forgive because there is a feeling of power and control. This form of power is NOT true power. There is no power in holding a victim stance.

So how do you forgive?

At some point you have to retell the story in a more empowered way and be willing to let it go. Instead of holding yourself to be a victim, you must be able to witness a “bigger picture” than what you believe occurred. What did you learn from this experience? How did this event contribute to your overall growth and development?

Forgiving is about letting go of the past and deciding that you are now the hero and author of your life story. Forgiving is about comfort, kindness, and gentleness to your own soul. Above all, it about liberating yourself!

Cynthia Bischoff | February 15, 2014 at 1:00 am | URL: http://wp.me/p2Eg6X-10F

In these challenging times of crisis, complexity and competition, we need to remember that most great people have suffered through failure, often many times before they have reached their potential.

Yet most people do not achieve a fraction of what they are capable of achieving because they are afraid they will fail. Successful people look at mistakes as outcomes or results, not as failures. On the other hand unsuccessful people look at mistakes as permanent and personal.

Some people who seem to have been born to lose turn out to be the most inspiring examples of the triumph of the human spirit. 
 from: GetMyInspiration4Life.com     YouTube

Researchers recently found more evidence fish oil can improve your brainpower and possibly fight the onset of Alzheimer's disease. A study indicates that people who have higher blood levels of the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil (DHA and EPA) have larger brain volumes than people with lower levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their blood. Smaller brain volumes are a sign of normal aging, but also Alzheimer's disease.

The study looked at blood tests and brain scans from more than 11,000 women and the findings were consistent. What's important, however, is that the hippocampus area of the brain-responsible for memory-increased in volume when higher levels of omega-3 were found. This is notable because the hippocampus begins to shrink long before the symptoms of Alzheimer's ever appear. If fish oil increases the volume of this area of the brain, it's possible it can reduce the risk of Alzheimer's and delay its onset.

So how much fish oil should you take every day? More than the recommended daily intake and more than the suggested serving listed on the bottle. You can elect to purchase capsules or liquid oil, and the servings vary. I choose the liquid version.

The data indicates an effective therapeutic dose of fish oil is 1,000 mg to 1,500 mg. Depending on the content of your liquid, it's about two teaspoons. With pills, the serving size is a little more dicey. A typical one gram pill, for example, will only have about 300 mg, or 30%, of an effective daily dose, meaning you'll have to take five pills to experience the real benefits.

Therefore, make sure you read the label to know how much you're getting, how much you need to take, and the value of the brand you select. At the end of the day, fish oil has almost too many benefits to list. If you haven't tried it yet, make sure you do-and that you take an effective dose!

You'd think that doctors and nurses, of all people, would know the importance of keeping their hands clean -- especially when they're at work.

You'd think that... but sadly, you'd be wrong.

Healthcare workers are as dirty as everyone else, maybe even dirtier -- and new research shows that many of them are walking around with some of the nastiest germs of all on their hands.

It's Clostridium difficile, of C. diff, a bacteria that causes diarrhea so severe you could die from it -- and as it becomes resistant to antibiotics, it's getting extremely difficult to defeat.

It's been spreading like wildfire in hospitals and other care facilities, and the new study out of Europe shows why: many doctors are nurses are actually passing it around with every touch.

Overall, 25 percent of hospital workers have C. diff spores on their hands -- including 42 percent of nursing assistants, 23 percent of physicians and 19 percent of nurses.

It's inexcusable. But on the other hand, it's hardly surprising. As I said, other studies have also shown that doctors are nurses are often walking around with dirty hands -- and many not only don't wash between patients, but they also don't wash after using the bathroom.

Hospitals are putting up more "wash your hands" signs, and some are even testing devices that buzz and beep to remind healthcare workers that it's time to suds up.

Personally, I don't think any adult should have to be reminded to wash his or her hands, especially doctors and nurses -- and especially doctors and nurses about to put those same hands onto their patients in a critical care setting.

And that means if you want to protect yourself, you have to take matters into your own hands.

If you're in a healthcare facility -- from your doctor's office to the hospital -- and you don't see the doctor or nurse wash his or her hands before approaching you, ask.

Don't be shy about this. Your health -- and maybe even your life -- is on your line.

And if you've been in a hospital or care facility or any other place where you may have been exposed to C. diff, I recommend increasing your probiotics so your stomach has what it needs to fight back.
Comments by Dr. Mark Stengler