John C. Maxwell: Are You Stretching toward Your Goals or Just Coasting?

Swimmer Michael Phelps is arguably the greatest American Olympian and one of the greatest competitors of all time. In the 2008 Beijing summer games, Phelps won eight medals—all gold—to break the record for the most hardware ever captured in a single Olympiad and become the most decorated Olympian in history.

But it is the race that almost blew his winning streak that captivates me the most. It was his seventh contest, the 100-meter butterfly, and Phelps trailed for literally 99.9 meters of it. In the last fraction of a second, Phelps thrust his arms into one final, mighty stroke. Meanwhile, his Serbian competitor, Milorad ˇCavi´c, coasted the final few inches. Almost implausibly, Phelps tapped the wall first, beating ˇCavi´c by a mere one-hundredth of a second.

Most of us won’t experience such a heart-pounding, dramatic moment in our lifetimes, but we do make daily choices to either stretch or coast toward the finish lines we create for ourselves through personal goals. They’re often small decisions—routine things we don’t think about a lot—but they have the power to determine much of our success.

Reaching a finish line can be as simple as completing an “almost done” project or initiating a long-delayed and difficult conversation. Unfinished business can be disastrous. It drains your mental energy. It derails your goals. It impacts how you feel about yourself. And, critically, it can undermine your reliability in the minds of others.

Simply put: Procrastination is the enemy of progress.

Life is full of moments that require one more stretch to achieve success. If you don’t have the discipline to persevere, well, you’re going to end up like Phelps’ competitors—looking up at the winner from a lower podium (or worse). In the words of economist Thomas Sowell, “Doing 90 percent of what is required is one of the biggest wastes, because you have nothing to show for all your efforts.” Instead you must develop the habit of staying committed and finishing strong.

Here are some suggestions to help you do that:

Engage in brick-by-brick thinking.

I confess: I  have very little patience. I tend to want instant results. Still, I understand success requires daily progress. How do I solve this dilemma? With daily disciplines. I practice what might be called “brick-by-brick thinking.” My friend Henry Cloud, Ph.D., says, “All success is built and sustained just like a building is built, one brick at a time.” I practice regular disciplines every day, and these small, incremental actions turn into tangible steps toward success.

Amplify the reward.

When you don’t feel like doing what you should, then focus on why finishing is important. The why can keep you motivated even when you lack desire. Motivation is fickle. You can’t depend on your emotions to keep you committed to your goals. So envision your end result and keep it in the forefront of your mind. How will you feel when you accomplish your goal? Why is it important to you? By focusing on the answers, you’ll stand a much better chance of reaching your goals.

Build structure and systems around your goals.

Great intentions don’t get me very far. I need systems. They make it easier for me to stay disciplined. I have an insatiable hunger to learn, so I read every day. I want to stay fresh, so I file great quotes and illustrations every day. I had a heart attack in my 50s, so I exercise by swimming every day. (Phelps’ Olympic records are safe, by the way.) My life is filled with systems that move me forward and push me to reach my wall.

Surround yourself with support.

Over the years I  have found that I am most successful when I tap into a network of people who support me and encourage me in my goals. When I need business advice, I talk to my brother Larry and my company’s key businesspeople. When I want to launch a new venture, I talk to my CEO, Mark Cole, and members of my inner circle. When I am ready to write a book, I meet with my creative team to brainstorm and vet ideas.

If you want to succeed, surround yourself with people who will help you, encourage you and, when necessary, hold your feet to the fire. Remember to choose wisely—your success largely depends on the company you keep.

Quitting isn’t an option.

A great start is important, because all’s well that begins well. But it takes much more to reach your goals. I tend to think of it like farming: You can prepare the land immaculately and plant the seeds just right, but if you don’t water, fertilize and cultivate as you go, then you wasted your time by planting the crop. Remember the reward that awaits you—the fruit you will harvest—and it will help get you through the times of hard work in the “summer.”

When I was a kid, my father always told me, “When you made the choice to start, you made the choice to finish. It isn’t two choices… It’s one.” He taught me early that if you aren’t careful, quitting can become a habit. The good news is that finishing can also become a habit when you practice diligence in all that you do.

There’s an old saying, “The fortune is at the finish line.” It’s absolutely true. Why did Michael Phelps aggressively reach for the wall at that critical moment? Because he had practiced finishing strong every day of his life. And that made the difference between gold and silver.

Let’s learn from his lesson. And let’s remember that, oftentimes, the only thing separating us from success is a few inches. So don’t let up, and reach for the finish line!

Source: John C. Maxwell / http://www.success.com/article/john-c-maxwell-are-you-stretching-toward-your-goals-or-just-coasting

Great Hair, Weight Loss With Okra

By Ruth Mercado (The Freeman) Updated July 25, 2011 12:00 AM

CEBU, Philippines - There is a practical way to have great hair, weight loss and low-calorie meal without having to go to the parlor, gym or restaurant. Have all these with okra.

Also known as lady finger, the green edible pod vegetable is usually grown in tropical and warm temperate regions of the world. This pod with its slimy fibers isn’t exactly popular for its benefits especially for hair and weight loss. It is said that one of the unique health benefits of okra is that it can add bounce and volume to the hair. All that one has to do is slice the okra horizontally, boil these, add drops of lemon, then let it cool. Before applying the mixture, wash the hair thoroughly first, apply the mixture all over the hair then rinse with water. Much like running lady’s fingers through the hair, so will the shine and volume be with okra.

Because okra is less on calories and does not contain cholesterol or saturated fat, okra is great for those who are on weight-loss diets. One half cup of okra contains 25 calories and has the recommended amount of fiber.

Okra’s high fiber content reduces constipation and facilitates the smooth elimination of wastes from the body without causing injury to the intestinal tract. Its slimy nature washes out the toxins in bile thrown into the intestines by the liver and flushes out excess cholesterol. This cleansing asset prevents health problems related to toxicity and obesity. With its good fiber content, okra feeds the good bacteria or probiotics adding good health to the intestinal tract while regulating body absorption rate in the small intestines.

The mucilage of okra or the thick, gluey substance that the plant produces helps maintain blood sugar levels. Okra’s soluble fiber helps to lower serum cholesterol, lowering the risk of heart disease. While the insoluble fiber of okra helps to keep the intestinal tract in good shape, decreasing risks of colon cancer.

Botanists believe okra was grown thousands of years ago in Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Sudan. The plant spread to India, Arabia and Europe and became an ingredient for local cuisines, including in Cebu kitchens.

In addition to its high fiber content, okra contains vitamin A required for healthy mucus membranes for skin and vision. It is rich in antioxidants like beta-carotene, xanthin and lutein that helps in the protection against lung and oral cavity cancers. Its rich vitamin C content helps in developing immunities and protects against infections like attacks from common cold and flu.

Because it also contains large amounts of calcium, zinc, riboflavin, folic acid, and iron, okra helps in clotting of blood and strengthening of bones.

As old as the plant is, the seeds of ripe okra pods are used instead of coffee. Studies have revealed that African slaves in 1800s used ripe okra seeds grounded to powder as a coffee substitute.

It escapes reason why many people are so fond of buying expensive vitamin supplements and hair products when these can have chemical side effects on the body. It escapes reason why many people like to dine in restaurants and fastfood with cholesterol-laden cuisines when these are downright unhealthy. Nothing compares to the rich simplicity of the lowly okra for hair care, skin care and well-being right in Cebuano homes.

The Secret of the Healing Fruit

By Deneb R. Batucan (The Freeman) Updated July 25, 2011 12:00 AM

CEBU, Philippines - The guyabano (or sour sop) has been around for forever yet not a lot of people know its wonders. Even in a published book by the University of the Philippines, Plants of the Philippines, the Guyabano fruit was just mentioned in passing. In the 550-page book, all you can gather about this fruit is “a relative to atis”. That’s how anonymous and unimportant the guyabano was.

But lately, the guyabano has been, gradually, rising to fame. It has been a subject to a lot of blogs all over the internet, as well as newspaper articles. People have slowly collected relevant information about the fruit that heals all kinds of wounds—internally and externally.

According to the US National Academy of Sciences (NAS), the guyabano is one of the fruits that deserve attention. With cancer as the most deadly disease of today, patients suffering from it would be happy to know that the guyabano fruit not only cures all kinds of cancers, it is 10,000 times stronger than chemotherapy. The great thing about it is that it selectively hunts down and kills only cancer cells. It attacks cancer safely in an all-natural therapy without the hair loss, extreme nausea and weight loss. It effectively cures 12 types of cancer including, colon, breast, lung, prostate and pancreatic cancer.

Aside from that, the heart-shaped guyabano fruit has so much to offer the world. Here are some of its medicinal benefits:

• The sap of young guyabano leaves can be applied directly on pimples to induce suppuration.

• The leaves and roots of the guyabano tree, when steamed, give a small amount of essential oil. This can cure colic and convulsions.

• For fevers, a decoction of leaves can be taken for faster healing.

• Crushed fresh leaves can be applied on the skin to ease rheumatism and skin infections like eczema. It can also be applied on skin eruptions. This can emit skin scars when applied during the healing process.

• The seed oil of the guyabano can kill head lice.

• The guyabano fruit protects the immune system and wards off deadly infections.

A word of warning though: the guyabano seeds are toxic and should be removed. But for the other parts of the guyabano tree, feel free to search for more health benefits. The important thing, though, is to stay safe and always have a legitimate source for information when it comes to herbal medicines. It is, after all, better to be safe than sorry.

With all the problems and crisis we face each day, it is all the more reason to stay healthy. Our body is just one body; we cannot replace it with another. So live healthy and stay healthy! Go guyabano!

Health Tips_Before You Flush - take a look at your "Materpiece"

This may seem like a "brown" forward, but it's good for our health.

... it can reveal surprising facts about your health! Kids are proud to show off their poop—but most adults rarely glance inside the toilet bowl. But the truth is......Examining your poop is one of the best ways to find out what's really going on in your body. So take this quick quiz to get the inside scoop on your poop! Question #1: How long does it take you to have a bowel movement? [ ]Less than 60 seconds [ ]More than two minutes Answer: Healthy bowel movements happen within 60 seconds of sitting on the toilet. The stool should easily come out without straining, grunting or any discomfort. It should have the consistency of toothpaste. If you have time to read a newspaper while sitting on the toilet—you probably have a problem with constipation or poor bowel health. Question #2:What is the shape of your stool? [ ]Long like a banana [ ]round, hard pellets [ ]thin, pencil-shaped Answer: Healthy stool averages about four to six inches long and are shaped like a banana or a torpedo. Very narrow, pencil-shaped stool is a sign your colon walls are impacted or you have polyps or growths on the inside of your colon or rectum. This causes the stool to squeeze to get through. Stress can also create narrow stool. Hard, round or pellet-shaped stool is a possible sign of poor liver function, lack of exercise, dehydration or constipation. Question #3: Is your stool accompanied by foul odor? [ ]Yes [ ]No Answer: Gas or odor is a sign of a bacterial imbalance in your intestinal flora. The "bad" bacteria release foul-smelling gases and toxins that can cramp your colon and create embarrassing odors. You can eliminate this odor by removing debris and encrusted feces from the walls of your intestines and restoring the balance in your intestinal flora. Question #4: What color is your stool? [ ]Yellow [ ]Green [ ]Brown [ ]Gray [ ]Black [ ]Bright red Answer: According to Mayo Clinic research, all shades of brown and even green are considered normal stool colors. And the foods you eat can affect the color of your stool. For example, beets, tomato juice, blueberries, popsicles and green leafy vegetables can affect your stool color. However, a distinct change in stool color can be a warning sign for health problems. Yellow-colored stool indicates your food is moving too quickly through your digestive tract—as in the case of diarrhea. If stool is greasy or foul-smelling, it may indicate excess fat caused by malabsorption of nutrients. Green-colored stool means your food isn't properly being processed through your intestines. As a result, bile isn't broken down—and gives your stool that green color. Green stool can also mean you're eating too much sugar, fruits and vegetables and not enough grains or salt. Gray or ashy colored stool indicates undigested fats or heavy use of prescription or over-the-counter drugs that contain aluminum hydroxide. It can also indicate a lack of bile in the stool that may be caused by a bile duct obstruction. Black stool is a serious warning sign for bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract—possibly the stomach. Bright red stool may indicate bleeding in the lower intestinal tract—possibly the large intestine or rectum. Hemorrhoids may also be the source of the bleeding. Question #5: Do you pass gas while you're having a bowel movement or have you noticed air or bubbles in your stool? [ ]Yes [ ]No Answer: Air or bubbles in stool can indicate an intestinal imbalance. Gas producing bacteria may be overgrowing and competing with the healthier flora in your gut. Please know this: A normal bowel movement happens within 60 seconds of sitting on the toilet. There should be no straining, pain, bleeding or foul odor accompanied with your bowel movements. And wiping afterwards should be easy and simple—using just one or two pieces of toilet paper! If that's not your experience in the bathroom—then you need to give your intestines a thorough internal cleaning! When your colon is in danger—it will do anything and everything to send out an S.O.S. for health! That means giving you "dragon breath" and "B.O."! If you notice strong body odor—especially under your armpits... ...Or if your friends shy away and frequently offer you breath mints— LISTEN to your colon—it's screaming for help! And INTESTINAL parasites can also trigger: Painful gas and bloating Insomnia Irritable bowels Poor immune system Runny stool or diarrhea Muscle pain and joint soreness Allergies Skin outbreaks