Graviola Usefulness

man's touch

When a man touches a woman's body, he is not just touching her body. It goes MUCH DEEPER than that for a woman but unknown to the man. He is touching parts of her soul-parts as diverse as how she feels about being a mother and a grandmother some day, to what is her favourite ice cream and styles, to how much she loves her pet, and to her opinion of how she will  govern her home, make the best out of her husband plus children. The man wants a sexual encounter and love is far from his mind; she desires romance, affection, permanence, commitment, safety, and security. 

Working as a Team

Working together in harmony with your colleagues promotes balance, consistency, orderliness and safety. Teamwork increases performance and productivity which enables your company (personal or cooperate) to complete contract obligations and get paid on time. An old proverb states, “Many hands make the work-load light.” This has always been true. Two workers united in a task can accomplish nearly three times as much as a lone workman. Looking out for each other and collaborating on a project speeds up the process.

Teamwork means cooperation among all members of the company, and then by extension, all affiliated contractors on the project. In order to promote a safe, efficient and smooth-running project, the concept of teamwork should begin with top management and trickle down the ranks. If the basic principle of good communication, consideration and courtesy are established at every level of the project, the spirit of cooperation will prevail.

Thank You.

YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE

Every person determines their own fortune, and that fortune, good or bad, depends on the individual’s acceptance of personal responsibility.

At a young age, we are taught to assume responsibilities. (“Look before you cross the street… playing with matches is dangerous… be home before dark…”). Even today, as adults, we still learn and decide whether to accept certain obligations. Young or old, we make individual choices.

When responsibilities are shunned or rejected, someone must cope with the results. Police officers, judges, juvenile officers and social workers respond to most of these rejections in our society. In safety, doctors, nurses and funeral directors deal with the consequences of rejected responsibilities.

By accepting and practicing safety responsibility, you ensure your future both at home and on the job. You do the same for your fellow worker as well, because socially and morally you are responsible for preventing accidents to others as well.

If you see an unsafe act, do something about it. Point it out so others are aware and can avoid future mistakes. Point out to other employees when safety is not being practiced. After all, it is their responsibility to prevent an accident to you as well.

Use good work habits. Don’t be impulsive, and remember that hurrying can hurt. Develop the attitude that “if I do something wrong, I’m taking the chance of getting hurt,” then do the job the right way.

If you are a supervisor, help new employees learn that safety is the rule and not the exception. Teach them proper safety responsibility before you turn them loose.

Practice leaving personal problems and emotional stress away from the job. Remember, that accidents do not just happen, they are caused. Correct little mistakes before they grow into permanent bad habits. Safety responsibility is up to you.

Nutritional Guidelines

Here is a set of common dietary guidelines offered by six national health organizations* as protection against the major chronic diseases:

• Eat a variety of foods.
• Choose most of what you eat from plant sources.
• Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day.
• Eat at least 6 servings of whole-grain foods each day.
• Minimize the high-fat foods you eat, especially those from animal sources.
• Choose low-fat, low-cholesterol foods.
• Limit the amount of simple sugars in your diet.

Remember—your healthcare professional can help you determine the daily calorie intake that is right for you.

*The American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, the American Dietetic Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Institutes of Health, and the American Society for Clinical Nutrition

How to Cut the Fat?

1. Decrease portion sizes, especially of high-fat foods.
2. Eat more whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
3. Use leaner cuts of meats (white meat of poultry without skin; fish; round or loin cuts of beef; loin cut of pork).
4. Use non-meat sources of protein (beans, peas and lentils).
5. Choose low-fat (1%) or nonfat dairy products.
6. Cut down on the use of added fats (butter, margarine, mayonnaise, salad dressing) or use low-fat alternatives.

Do you know what your Body Mass Index (BMI) is? Your Body Mass Index is a measure of weight that takes height into account. Higher BMIs are often associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and heart disease. Calculate yours right now.

Know your body

“Be Thankful for what your body tells you.”

Every day you get up and out of bed you take a little inventory. Whether you realize it or not, every morning you do a little check-list of your body…..legs (no cramping or wobbling), back (no pinches or strains), shoulders (no pain or soreness), neck (no tweaks or twinges), mouth (I need to brush my teeth)….all of this is a normal, natural process that really takes place between your bed and the bathroom.

What about the more subtle things with your body?

What if you wake up and your vision is a little more blurry than normal? Would you toss that up to an extra ‘sleepy ball’ in the eye or something more serious? Your vision is a key indicator of a stroke.

What if you are a little short of breath on the way to the bathroom? Could that be from the weather or a larger concern? Shortness of breath is a symptom of many serious conditions.

The point is you know your body. What a good day feels like, what a bad day feels like and just about every other day that you have had some experience with. But, if you wake up tomorrow and it feels different, there is a reason for that, and you may not have long to figure it out. The finer point is, don’t ignore it, do something about it.

For example, 40 years old Nigerian citizen had a Sudden Cardiac Arrest. He happened to be in the right place at the right time so I thankfully fell in to the 5-8% who survives an Out-of-Hospital SCA. But he reported, had I listened to my body and what it was telling me, it never would have happened. Many months before my event I was feeling more sluggish in my work-outs, sweating more and taking longer to recover. As a fairly fit 40 year old, you tend to think you are closer to 30 than 50, so it was difficult for me to hear what my body was obviously telling me. Had I listened, there were definitely signs of something going wrong. Work-outs continued to get slower, recovery time got longer, but I still could not fathom that I could be on the brink of disaster. I must just be getting older and this is what it feels like. Until finally one day, I went down in full SCA-Heart in v-fib, statistically very little chance to survive. I got very lucky.

My favourite cliché now is, “Hind sight is 20-20”. The thing that was so hard to see in front of me was crystal clear looking back. The signs were obvious and I was not seeing it because I was ignoring what my body was telling me.

Your body could be telling you the same thing right now. Take inventory and take action. You know what is normal and what is not. You have been living with your body a long time now. All the kinks are worked out and you have got a good routine together. If there is something wrong, it will tell you, you have to listen.

When it comes to safety of your body, you are the CEO. No one else will look out for your body better than you. No one else can diagnose an issue quicker or more effectively than you. No one else will bring the proper actions or precautions to bear. Be Thankful for what your body reports to you, now, take action.

The 10 Secrets for Personal Leadership Effectiveness in Achieving Success

1. Take charge and make a difference. Avoid having a victim mentality and take responsibility for developing disciplines and new habits that lead to being proactive and positive.

2. Live life with a sense of significance. Develop a healthy self-concept, recognize your uniqueness and realize you can make a difference. Look for opportunities to grow.

3. Embrace problems as positive opportunities. It is CRITICAL to have a positive attitude. Embracing a negative situation causes stress that can demoralize your individual performance and your overall productivity.

4. Build and sustain a values-based lifestyle. Learn to build a values system around foundational “character-based principles”.

5. Define your vision, mission and purpose. Live with a sense of destiny, excitement and meaning.

6. Gain balance in all aspects of your life. When a person is out of control and loses balance, they become highly susceptible to distress, anger, fear, depression and even burnout. It is critical to build balance into your life if you are to maximize your personal leadership efficiency.

7. Resolve personal challenges and conflicts. Learn the importance of listening, how to confront people properly and to know when to empathize at the right time.

8. Cultivate your individual character. Your character will determine ultimately the quality of your relationships, your contribution at work, in your community… and in society at large.

9. Keep adjusting to obstacles. You must learn to make mid-course corrections and how to deal with constant change. History is filled with success stories, whereby individuals overcame enormous challenges and barriers in their life to press on and accomplish great things.

10. Never give up or quit on the things you choose are important. Those who succeed at healthy, dynamic whole lives fail often, but they fail forward. They learn how to stick with it and persist…they simply do not quit.

Your Health

7 Ways To Be Happier At Work

Have you felt that your job is becoming increasingly boring or frustrating lately? Are you tired of doing the same tasks over and over, and do you feel that all the joy of your work has slowly started to fade away? The last thing you want is to feel sad or stressed about leaving your house each morning to go to work. Fortunately, there are quite a few things you can do to be happier at your workplace – things that will not only improve your mood but will also increase your productivity. 

Here are seven ways to be happier at work:

1. Everything Starts With the Right Mindset

The first, and perhaps most important, thing you can do to be happy at work is to simply choose to be happy, since happiness is often a matter of choice rather than luck. If you know how to cherish the small yet positive and beautiful things life throws at you, you will be a happier and more cheerful person. There is something positive to be found in nearly every job, and the secret is to simply think positively about your work and not let the negative things interfere with you, your attitude or your personal lifestyle. Surround yourself with positive and optimistic people at work – people you have fun with and who make you feel good about yourself and your job.

2. Steer Clear of Negativity

We all have coworkers who are notorious pessimists, who always complain about even the small things. Being surrounded by people like this can drain your own positivity and energy, so it is very important to steer clear of this negativity whenever possible. You do not need to cope with the negative conversations, the office gossips or the unhappy people who try to ‘poison’ your attitude with their own problems. Even the most convinced optimists can have their psyche and their overall mood affected by those who are notoriously negative, and that is the last thing you want at work.

3. Be Thankful!

You must never underestimate the power of being thankful and grateful to people – thanking your boss or your coworker for every opportunity is not only a matter of respect and etiquette, but also a matter of mental health and overall well-being. When you are kind to people, everything comes back to you, and you will feel happier. Some people are great to have around, and never be afraid of openly appreciating or complimenting your coworkers, since this will certainly strengthen your relationships with them. Besides this, being complimentary and thankful for every small thing they do for you will certainly make them feel a lot more appreciative towards you – and this will make you happy!

4. Know Your Boiling Point

Another essential issue that you must be aware of if you are trying to be happier at work is simply knowing your ‘boiling point.’ Even the most calm and optimistic people have their own bottom line, which you should not hit unless you want to bring out the worst in them. When you know your own bottom line, you understand your flaws better, and you can prevent your job from getting frustrating. Never let your job take control of you and push you to your personal limit or it will negatively affect both your overall mood and your productivity at work.

5. Be Kind to Your Boss

There is a big difference between being genuinely kind and respectful to your boss and trying to flatter your superior in order to get what you want. It is important to rise to the expectations of your boss and to always give your best effort – not only can this result in a salary raise or bonus, but your boss is also more likely to promote you to a management position, if that is what you are looking for. Overall, be natural, work hard and always keep your eyes on the prize. This approach will make you feel more fulfilled and happy, and when you make your boss feel appreciated and respected, he will very likely return the favor in the long run. Even the most difficult bosses have a sensitive side, and nobody is immune to genuine kindness and interest.

6. Start Your Work Day With the Task You Hate the Most

Everybody has tasks they like and tasks they avoid, or even hate – if this is the case for you, then one of the most important things you can do to be happier at work is to simply start your day by completing that dreaded task first. The reason for this is simple: when you need to do something you truly dislike, there is a natural tendency to postpone that project for as long as you can. But by postponing it, you will know that it is waiting and must be dealt with sooner or later – you will constantly return to the thought of having to deal with the dreaded task, a thought that can haunt you from 9 to 5, every day. By addressing that task first and by prioritizing your goals, you will have more enjoyment later on. Your favorite tasks will be like a dessert after eating your vegetables!

7. Surround Yourself With Things That Make You Smile

Laughter is a cheap but powerful medicine, and a day without laughter is a lost day – so it is extremely important to surround yourself with people and things that make you smile, which will improve your mood even when you are down. It could be a picture of a loved one, a good joke or anything else that is meaningful and brings out the best in you. These people and things will make you happier, like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day. Never let your professional problems affect your personal state of mind, because when you do, your job has already taken control over your life.

The bottom line is that laughter counteracts irritation, anger and frustration, which are three of the most common problems one has to deal with in the workplace. Even the happiest and most appealing jobs have their downsides, and it is important to know how to cope with them.

These seven approaches can help boost your mood and your vibe!

Seven Reasons We Don’t Take Care of Ourselves

I meet a lot of people in the course of my ministry. Sadly, I see too many who are not taking care of themselves. Many of them clearly feel terrible. Anyone can see this in the way they look and the way they carry themselves. You simply cannot look really great if you don’t feel great. How you feel will show up somewhere; in your body language, the dull look in your eyes, or even the color of your skin.

It is in our nature to take care of ourselves, so why don’t we? I thought about the ways that this can go wrong, and I came up with these reasons:

1.        We don’t know how to take care of our physical bodies. Decades of bad diets, misinformation, and easy access to fast food and prepackaged food have left people amazingly confused about what a wholesome diet is and how they should eat.

2.        We have a skewed body image planted in our minds by media and advertising. On one side we are inundated with unattainable ideals of beauty, while on the other, obesity is so prevalent that it’s almost considered the norm. We need to reset our internal picture of what a healthy person should look like.

3.        We have lost touch with exercise. For virtually all of human existence, exercise was an integral part of our daily existence. Now we've invented enough conveniences that we often live completely divorced from exercise. However, it turns out a good deal of our well-being is dependent on exercise.

4.        We have let ourselves slip into unworkable lives. With the incredible pressures of juggling career and parenthood, paying steep loans and increased fuel prices and burning the proverbial candle at both ends and everywhere in between, it is oh-so-easy to put the workout off, grab a cheeseburger on the run, cheat our sleep time in order to catch up on paperwork and let the tail wag the dog until we’ve cut everything out of our lives that once gave us pleasure or kept us sane. This is bad enough, because life is a gift and is meant to be joyful. It should be pleasurable and sane.

5.        We have become pathologically selfless. Selflessness can be addictive. It feels so good to do for others and it makes us feel important. Yes, it is a good thing to help others and should be a major part of our life, but in my line of work, I often see people who routinely ignore their basic needs. The only thing that gives them meaning is doing things for others. This is admirable, but it can easily cross the line into mistaking suffering for virtue. Martyrs usually end up bitter. And once the body breaks down and life is no longer joyful, it becomes increasingly hard to serve anyone. Volunteers in a soup kitchen don’t let their pots fall apart while they ladle out one more bowl of soup. They take the time to care for the equipment they need to do their calling. And you should do the same with your most important piece of equipment—your body.

I am not suggesting that we be selfish because that renders us very unhappy and is not how God teaches us to live. We are to live sacrificially and be involved in doing good works, but we must not ignore our own basic needs in the process. Everything in life must be balanced or something breaks down and quite often it is us.

6.        We have lost our support. When we don’t have a good social network or a godly foundation to keep our spirits high, it becomes easy to slip into boredom, loneliness, and depression. If we aren't able to somehow fill that void, the devil will. You may have heard the saying “Nature abhors a vacuum.” Well, let me tell you, the devil loves one! He’ll put lots of bad food within easy reach and let you mistake spiritual or emotional hunger for physical hunger. Maintaining a good support network is a terrific way to prevent the formation of bad habits.

We need to have right people around us who will speak if they see us getting out of balance. We need to spend regular time in fellowship with God and learning His principles. His Holy Spirit who works through His Word convicts us of wrongdoing and gives us the chance to make positive changes before we break down or become ill.

7.     We have forgotten our own value. This is the biggest reason we don’t take care of ourselves. If you don’t understand your own importance in the Big Plan, taking care of yourself seems pointless. Reminding you of your place in God’s plan is my first and most important task.

If you’re not sure of your value in God’s eyes, then I invite you to read this article. There’s a crucial link between our spirits and our bodies that we all need to understand.

God has a great future planned for you and you need to be ready for it! You need to look great and feel great, ready to do whatever God asks of you.