Open Your Mind to Prosperity

I just attend a course on speed reading which I would like to share with you.

Put a tick for the following if you

__ have a stack of unread newspaper.
__ have a stack of unread magazines.
__ have books lying on your bookshelf unread.
__ have a pile of mails unread.
__ have business reports/ info / letters unread.
__ have boxes of unread materials.
__ have lots of unread emails.

Do you have 3 or more ticks? If yes, speed reading is for you.

Speed Reading allows you to gather maximum information in the shortest possible time. This is an essential skill in any environment where you have to acquire large volumes of information quickly. For example you can use speed reading to browse through the book before you decided whether you want to explore the book. You will get the greatest time savings from speed reading by learning to skim excessively detailed documents, although the techniques you’ll learn will help you improve the speed of all the reading you do.

Even when you know how to ignore irrelevant detail, there are other technical improvements you can make to your reading style which will increase your reading speed.
Most people learn to read the way young children read – word-by-word. As an adult, this is probably not the way you read now: Just think about how your eye muscles are moving as you read this. You will probably find that you are fixing your eyes on one block of words, then moving your eyes to the next block of words, and so on. You are reading blocks of words at a time, not individual words one-by-one. You may also notice that you do not always go from one block to the next: sometimes you may move back to a previous block if you are unsure about something. This is known as backskipping.

A skilled reader can read many words in each block. He or she will only pause on each block for an instant and move on. Only rarely will the reader’s eyes skip back to a previous block of words. This reduces the amount of work that the reader’s eyes have to do. It also increases the volume of information that can be assimilated in a given period of time.
A poor reader will become bogged down, spending a lot of time reading small blocks of words. He or she will skip back often, losing the flow and structure of the text, and confusing his or her overall understanding of the subject. This irregular eye movement makes reading tiring. Poor readers tend to dislike reading, and they may find it harder to concentrate, and understand written information.

Speed reading aims to improve reading skills by:
1. Increasing the number of words read in each block.
This needs a conscious effort. Try to expand the number of words that you read at a time: With practice, you’ll find you read faster. You may also find that you can increase the number of words in each block by holding the text a little further from your eyes. The more words you can read in each block, the faster you will read!

2. Reducing the length of time spent reading each block.
The minimum length of time needed to read each block is probably only a quarter of a second. By pushing yourself to reduce the time you take, you will get better at picking up information quickly. Again, this is a matter of practice and confidence.

3. And reducing the number of times your eyes skip back to a previous sentence.
To reduce the number of times that your eyes skip back to a previous sentence, run a pointer along the line as you read. This could be a finger, or a pen or pencil. Your eyes will follow the tip of your pointer, smoothing the flow of your reading. The speed at which you read using this method will largely depend on the speed at which you move the pointer.

4. Wandering
Your mind may wander from time to time. You can concentrate or focus by focusing you eye on the page that you are reading.

You will be able to increase your reading speed a certain amount on your own by applying these speed reading techniques. What you don’t get out of self-study is the use of specialist reading machines and the confidence gained from successful speed-reading – this is where a good one-day course can revolutionize your reading skills.

Key points:
By speed reading you can read information more quickly. You may also get a better understanding of it, as you will hold more of it in short term memory.
To improve the speed of your reading, read more words in each block and reduce the length of time spent reading each block. Use a pointer to smooth the way your eyes move and reduce skip-back.

You can get books from amazon or your local bookstore if you want to know more.

Wishing all of you a Happy Chinese New Year!

You are embarking on a journey to realize a dream. You probably know about Zeng Zi’s saying. Every day, he examines himself many times. What does he examines? There are several things. First, in work, is he devoted to his duty? Is he loyal to his job or superior? Second, in socializing with friends, is he sincere and does he keep his promises? Thirdly, things that he has learnt, has he reviewed them? This is a standard on learning. As a person, have you become better today? In self-cultivation/self improvement, have you achieved any new enlightenment? Have you lifted yourself to a higher level of attainment?
These are the standards for a superior man to reflect on every day.

“Jun Zi’ (superior man) is the term that appears most frequently in Lun Yu. The principle behind this term is always simple and harmonious. It does not exist only in the sages’ books more than 2000 years ago. It actually exists now in the options before us.

In a 15th century religious reformist’s book, there is this little story that happened when he was young. This story changed his entire life.

One day, under a scorching sun, he passed by a huge worksite. The workers were moving bricks with sweat streaming down their backs. He did not know why they were doing it. He asked the first worker: “What are you doing?” The worker said gruffly: “Can’t you see? I am doing hard labour moving bricks.”

The young man still could not understand, so he asked the second worker: What are you doing?” This worker was milder and friendlier than the first one. He arranged the bricks in his hands and took a look and said: “I am putting up a wall.”

The young man went to ask the third worker: “What are you doing?” This worker’s face radiating with gentleness looked up, wiped away his sweat and told him proudly: “You are asking me? I am building a church!” We can see that the three workers were doing exactly the same job. But they had three levels of interpretation of their job.

The first level, he is a pessimist. In everything he does, he finds a reason to say this is hard labour that life gives me. He is right in a way. We need to work. We can see that work is tough. This is a reality.

The attitude of the second worker is a “professionalism” attitude. You know you are putting up a wall which is part of a product. This is your salary, your job function, your job title. You know that you have a duty to fulfill in your job. So you won’t perform below the baseline of your professionalism. But you don’t aspire to things at a higher level of attainment. What is this level? This is the level that Confucius describes as ‘qi” (implement). If you exist as an implement, you are qualified.

The third level is the level of idealist. You know that every brick, every drop of sweat now will eventually lead to a church. You know you have a final dream. You are embarking on this journey to realize this dream. Every step you take has a value. What you give will eventually be rewarded. When you are on such journey, whatever you do will never make you a mere implement. It is a simple principle. But it has a deeper meaning. After satisfying the requirements of a superior man at the various levels mentioned before, when you come to the stage of actual applications, do not be content with what you are doing, delve into the interpretation of the job at hand. See how it relates to your life, to your dream. See whether you, at your present position in society, will be able to build up a church. Perhaps your personal effort helps in building a church or perhaps having the dream of building a church helps you succeed as an individual.

The superior man is Confucius idea of what a man of good moral character should be. In Lun Yu, which contains only 20,000 words, the term jun zi (superior man) appears more than 100 times. Even today, people still aspire to the standard of the superior man.

How can we become a superior man?

In Bible, there are three things that are irretrievable. They are: an arrow that has been shot out, words that have been uttered and opportunities that have been missed.

Like water splashed, words uttered are difficult to recover. You can’t take them back. So a truly superior man would rather get something done first. This is the standard set by Confucius. “A superior man is ashamed of talking more than doing.” This has since become the Chinese idiom yan guo qi xing (more talk than action). If a man talks more than he does, a superior man would regard it as a shame.

So a superior man is always harmonious easy to get along with and respectful. Under this premise, he finishes calmly what he intends to do. The strength of a superior man is always the strength of his action and not the strength of his words. A truly superior man after understanding something thoroughly aspires to achieve on even higher standard. He does not tie himself down to a fixed job or a minor role. He is flexible. He progresses with times. He constantly adjusts himself according to major changes in society. Because he improves constantly, he enjoys a good position. This is what Confucius says: “A superior man is unlike an implement.” A superior man does not exist in this world merely as an implement. What is meant by being an implement? This means, as a qualified man, you just follow the rules and do a good job in your given position. In other words, idealism is a higher level of attainment than professionalism. For a superior man, what he does is not as important as the motive behind what he does. Man is a strange animal. We let thinking decide our action. In other words, attitude decides everything. Day in day out, we do more or less the same things. But reasons differ as to why we do certain things.

Free Report on Attraction Accelerator

It is often said that at homes, we rely on parents; outside, we rely on friends. In society, friends are very important. Birds of a feather flock together. Your friends can serve as a mirror in which you see your own image. Lun Yu contains clear standards on making friends.

There are three types of good friends and three types of bad friends. What are the standards for good friends? In what ways can they help us in our life and career? Who are the three bad friends? What impact do they have on our life? How can we distinguish between good and bad friends?

What Lun Yu teaches us about the way to make friends? In life, the kind of friends that we have is a direct reflection of the kind of person we are. A good friend is like a book. It can open up a whole world for you. Birds of a feather flock together. To know someone, you need only to observe his social circle. Observation of his external environment can shed light on his values. What kind of friends does Lun Yu encourages us to make? Very simple, Confucius says, in this world, there are three types of good friends and three types of bad friends.

First, we will talk about the three types of good friends. The so called three types of good friends are the upright, the forgiving and the well informed. First, friends are upright, magnanimous and principled. A good man should not flatter. He must have a sound moral character and be able to stand stall in society. This is a kind of good friends. He can make you decisive when you are hesitant. Being tolerant and forgiving is a virtue. When a careless mistake is made or an injury is caused by others, the impact of harsh reproach and criticism. We feel worse during our repentance.

Two woodcutters went to the same mountain daily to chop woods. The first one set off very early in morning and came back in the night time. The second woodcutter set off in the afternoon after he finished his lunch and came back before night time.

The first woodcutter managed to chop less than a basket of wood. The second woodcutter managed to chop baskets of wood.

One of their fellow villagers was very puzzled, he followed the first woodcutter and found that he was working very hard in chopping the tree and did not idle around. The next day this fellow villager went to see the second woodcutter and found that he was working very hard in sharpening his axe. On the third day afternoon, the fellow villagers went to see them chop the trees. He saw the first woodcutter chopped the tree four times but the tree did not fell down whereas the second woodcutter chops the tree once and the tree fell down immediately.

When we are working, are we using the correct method to do our work or are we like the first woodcutter; working very hard but less result? It is important to review our work flow and remember to sharpen our tools.

Year 2008 is for us to start afresh to enjoy, grow and face new challenges.

Wish Everyone a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

SECRET SANTA
by Kathleene S. Baker

The man had just filled his car with gas; he was cold, wet, and ready to head for home. He opened his car door and bent down to climb inside.

“Sir, sir.”

He glanced in the direction of the frail voice to find a well-dressed, elderly lady attempting to get his attention.

He closed the car door and walked towards her. “Can I help you, ma’am?”

The older woman explained that the gas pump was not working properly, and asked if he knew what she was doing wrong.

“These are new pumps and very touchy-even for me. I’ve found the easiest thing to do is forget locking them while I fill; they keep shutting off for some reason.”

“Oh my! I can’t keep pressure on that handle until my tank is full. My hands don’t have much strength in them anymore.” She cast her blue eyes to the ground in frustration.

“I’d be honored to fill your tank for you!” The man’s Texas accent was gentle and he gave her a little wink. “By the way, I love your British accent.”

“Yes, a British accent in Texas.people always notice!” She smiled. “We just came to the States a few years ago. That’s my husband in the car.” She paused for a moment, “He has Alzheimer’s now.”

“I’m so very sorry.for both of you.” After a slight lull the gentleman continued. “Why don’t you get back in the car while I do this; the snow is picking up and you’re going to get wet.”

She was a lovely woman with snowy-white hair; her attire was prim and proper as one would expect from a Brit. “I’d rather visit if you don’t mind. Our son is out of town for Christmas; he’s with his wife’s family this year and I’m feeling a bit blue.”

A knot formed in the Texan’s throat and he hoped to change the subject. “Just what are the two of you doing out in this weather? I hope your drive home is a short one. You know these Texas drivers aren’t the best when it comes to snow and sleet,” he teased.

“We’re on our way home from a Christmas party. The medical center has one each year for the Alzheimer patients. They are rather like children’s parties-and they have Santa visit. Oftentimes patients will have moments they recall things from their past. Some sing along to Christmas carols when they haven’t carried on an actual conversation in quite a long while.”

“Did anyone recognize Santa today?”

“Oh, yes, my husband recognized Santa and tried to steal his hat! He even said, ‘Ho, ho, ho-Merry Christmas.’ His recollection was rather brief but it was the highlight of my day.” She grinned.

The gas pump clicked off, the woman swiped her credit card to make payment, and turned to thank the man who had been willing to help her. The two were saying their farewells when the squeal of brakes, a thud, and breaking glass at the intersection caught their attention.

“Oh, my!” The lady whimpered with a distressed expression. “It’s getting so slick. I’ve got to hurry and get home.”

“Ma’am, I’d be honored to follow you in case you have problems.”

She hesitated momentarily and then appeared relieved, “Oh, I’d be so grateful. I can’t thank you enough. And by the way, my name is Margaret.” She reached out to shake hands with her new friend.

“Margaret, I’m pleased to make your acquaintance. My name is Ray.” He patted her hand gently before they released their grasp. “You just drive slowly; I’ll be right behind you.”

When Margaret pulled into her garage Ray stopped curbside. “I just want to be sure you get inside safely,” he shouted.

Margaret waved and asked him to wait for a moment-then nodded and spoke to her neighbor hanging Christmas lights. She guided John into the house, quickly reappeared in the garage, and motioned for Ray to pull into the driveway.

She thanked Ray again and soon mentioned this being the first Christmas she and her husband had ever spent alone. Ray, always a soft touch for older folks, was happy to listen. She spoke fondly of traditions her family adhered to when she was a child in England and revealed an interesting glimpse into her past.plus a taste of her cherished memories from across the pond.

“You know mistletoe is very traditional in England. My first “real” kiss was under the mistletoe when I was a teenager. Oh, what memories I have.” For a split second, Margaret looked like a young girl again.

Several minutes passed before Margaret began to shiver and they were forced to say farewell.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Christmas morn found Margaret peeking out her front door just as the sun crested the horizon. She stepped outside, instantly clasped her hands like a small child, and peered up and down the street. With not a soul in sight she began to examine the items discovered on her porch.each one dredged up memories of years gone by in Merry Old England.

Just above her head hung an arrangement of mistletoe adorned with elegant lace; she touched it gently. Bedecked with Victorian ornaments, a small, lighted Christmas tree sat in the corner-beneath it a homemade mincemeat pie wrapped securely and tied with golden ribbon. The card attached said only, “From: Santa.” Hanging from the doorknob a brilliant red Santa Claus hat with tag, “To: John.”

Margaret called to John; he slowly made his way and stepped outside. Nothing on the porch sparked his interest until Margaret placed the Santa hat in his hands. After staring at it and stroking the velvety softness, he plopped it onto his head. It sat askew but John’s face beamed as his voice rang out across the neighborhood, “Ho, ho, ho! Ho, ho, ho!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Parked several houses away, a Secret Texas Santa sniffed and wiped at a lone tear… a happy tear. “Merry Christmas and God Bless.” He smiled and drove towards home.

©2007Kathleene S. Baker
Lnstrlady@aol.com
www.txyellowrose.com

Yes, animals are more deluded because of their capacity of their physical body, but occasionally some of them might be able show us the love that we have forgotten on our ‘busy road’. Just like this story.

this is real touching…

Hey, wake up! wake up!

A dog was knocked down by a car and died on the middle of the road. Later, another dog is seen beside the corpse of the dog, he tried to wake his friend up using his leg.

Let’s move to the safer side of the road…i will move you to the safer side!

When his attempts to wake his friend failed, he tried to push his friend to the side of the road. But the weight of his friend was proven too heavy for him.

Anyone help, tell me what to do.

Though the traffic is busy and dangerous, he just will not go away from his friend. Just stand beside his friend howling and crying.

A lot of people saw this incident and feel very touched. Even a dog can show his loyalty and love to his friend. How about us, do we show loyalty to our firends?