The Success Chain

Domestic Violence and Drug and Alcohol Addiction

George — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Drug and alcohol addiction occurs in all fields as well as all demographics and backgrounds. No one has guaranteed immunity from the potential for addiction, and no one has an absolute destiny for it. Of course there are certain biological as well as lifestyle and background elements that can indicate a stronger propensity for it, that doesn’t mean that anyone cannot get caught in this chronically destructive disease. Meanwhile, there are certain life circumstances that will frequently entice substance abuse, and can also be part of developing a chronic addiction struggle. Unfortunately, domestic violence, while it is not due to nor does it directly cause substance abuse, is a tragic life circumstance that frequently includes substance use. You can search a recovery forum for more information on dv and substance abuse.

One of the reasons why many victims of domestic violence begin using a alcohol or drugs, and many times for the first time in this extreme manner, because they are common form of self medication. It’s much easier to tolerate ongoing verbal, emotional and even physical assaults when one has a few drinks in their system. And while this might seem like an immediate relief from circumstances, and a seemingly effective one at that, an ongoing domestic violence relationship can be a major factor in light alcohol use spiraling into a chronic addiction.

There is still a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding about the dynamics of an abusive relationship, and while it’s important to accept that substance abuse does not directly cause, or automatically correlate to an abusive relationship, it is frequently part of one. And if there is an initial propensity for addiction, this is certainly one of the life circumstances that can help propel the addiction further and push someone into greater pits of despair and substance use. An easy way of understanding this is to consider the amount of people who have a drink in the evening or after work to help let go of the day’s tension and reduce stress . When that is compounded by assaults in your own home, and no end to the stress it brings, it makes perfect sense that a person would have a drink or two in order to try and ease some of the pain and anxiety that goes with it. And this is the reason it is so easy for this self-medication practice to escalate into full blown addiction. If you’re a victim of domestic violence, there are resources, shelters and support for you. If you’re struggling with addiction, there are also some excellent resources to support your recovery. Every city, such as the drug rehab Atlanta , and state has their own referral programs. Consult yours, it’s not too late.

Domestic Violence and Drug and Alcohol Addiction is a post from: The Success Chain

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Metaphors of the Self: Roads and Wheels

George — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 04:25:49 +0000

When the rubber meets the road, everything is put to the test. This is the metaphor that speaks most poetically to the testing of the mettle, and it’s one that is entirely useful in making one’s own plans for a successful future. Metaphors are very much like positive affirmations, but there’s a difference. With positive affirmations, their effectiveness is based on simplicity and repetition. They are usually statements that reveal a powerful truth in a new way, and can still carry their power of meaning even when they are repeated numerous times throughout any given day. With metaphors, there is a complexity to them that is rather hidden. They begin like affirmations, with a simplicity that is attractive, but they are also juicy enough that more can be understood from them with deeper contemplations. The road metaphor can take on something as general as the open highway, or as specific as kmc wheels and still encourage and strengthen one’s inner convictions.

In many cases, the metaphors that work the best are also the ones that are the most familiar. One experience can serve to bring wisdom to another experience. Life as a journey, as an adventure, or as a temporary trip is a metaphor that seems to run across time and culture, revealing a common thread of experience in the human story that speaks to the notion of the road. West African proverbs often speak of the road, and it serves as a very rich metaphor that stands for many kinds of experiences in the world. In the North American myths of the road, there are stories of expansion, discovery, loss, and coming of age. Although these can be seen as very specific to the literatures from here, the same stories do tend to repeat all over the world. There are some connotations to road and travel metaphors that are particular, like linking runflat tires to notions of power and performance, but even these sentiments do translate across rivers and oceans. The power of a metaphor, then, is one that can cover enormous distances, and their usefulness is really proven only by the test of time. In terms of finding useful metaphors for self-improvement, the road is one of the more useful ones. It is common across time and space, but it is also part of most people’s daily experience, suggesting that even the every day is more mythical than we might imagine.

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Sitting Still as a Way of Moving Forward

George — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 04:00:00 +0000

One of the more difficult things to reconcile on any spiritual path is that distinction between self and other. There are times when a certain kind of rugged individualism seems to be the key to unlock the secrets of success, but there are more instances where the opposite is true. It’s not very easy to build any kind of spiritual life where there isn’t a central notion that everything is connected, and there is no such thing as an individual.

This is probably best represented by that very common but useful metaphor of sitting. Sitting still is impossible for a busy mind, but it is always possible, so it is almost always necessary to still the mind. The best way to do this is to sit still. These circles of logic make no sense on the surface, but come to work very well when they are put into practice. The notion of being still, or set , has roots in Sanskrit. It most likely comes from the word satjana , which has both connotations of stillness as well as of nobility. Here already there are things that seem to uproot a sense of success, where there are older notions of the same thing that are not based upon individual achievement, but on the collective.

The notion of the collective is not always one where the individual gets lost, absorbed into the crowd. It is much more likely, and much more useful, to consider it as a way of seeing oneself in relation to a larger whole. It is like being part of a cloth. The cloth metaphor is one that does tend to repeat across cultures and across time. There is sometimes an emphasis on one’s own line in relation to spiritual action. The line or lineage is not limited to spiritual practices in the east, or the west, or in any of the earth religions. It occurs and recurs everywhere, because one is, in essence, the living culmination of the teachings of the ones who taught before us.

The word itself, line, comes from linen , which is also the root for the flax seed. The flax is popular now for its immense nutritional value, but it is also the source of cloth. The line, then, is that very thing that connects us in many ways, and to be part of a cloth is a useful metaphor for what are very real connections in many spiritual teachings. Here one can start to catch a glimmer of that thing that makes personal motivation become a necessity, and even an inevitability, because there are forces at work to help make it into a reality, because it is a birthright.

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Finding a New Apartment Doesn’t Have to Be Stressful

George — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:44:46 +0000

Study after study has found that moving is one of the most stressful events in life. This is due, in large part, to the fact that humans don’t really like change. People may say that they thrive on change, but there is an evolutionary resistance to new environments — places that are unfamiliar mean that it is harder to assess threats, find food and water, and feel safe. So, even those who like change will probably experience a bit of disorientation and stress when the move actually happens.

For many, the stress starts as soon as a decision is made to move. Having to find a new place to live, whether by choice or do to external factors such as a career change, marriage, or foreclosure, involves a lot of choices and choice equals stress.

There are some ways to make the process of looking for a new apartment or rental home easier. Real estate websites are a good place to start. For example, Daniel Drimmer created Starlight Apartments to bring together rental apartments in cities across Canada in one place. There are actually a number of property management and apartment rental companies that pool multiple listings in one site. They make it very easy for a prospective renter to search for available units by location, size, price and amenities. The best sites offer virtual tours to view properties online. This allows individuals to weed out listings that don’t meet their need, leaving a few good prospects to check out in person.

Another option is to work directly with a realtor. Many realtors handle rental properties as well as sales. They may do double-duty as property managers or simply list rentals that are owned by their clients. Identifying property or apartment management companies is another way to narrow the field. Agents will sit down with couples or families to identify the type of apartment that best suits their needs and then the agent will do the work of sorting through all the listings.

The best way to go about finding an apartment is the same as with any big purchase or investment: Identify the absolute needs, such as price range, number of bedrooms, access to transportation or schools, etc. Then list amenities that are preferred, but not necessary, like a heated swimming pool or exercise room. Make sure that deal breakers are clearly identified and then prioritize the remaining items. Use that list when talking with agents, searching websites, or even when looking through traditional classified ads. Keep to the list and the resulting decision will be much easier to make.

Finding a New Apartment Doesn’t Have to Be Stressful is a post from: The Success Chain

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Learning a Second Language as an Adult

George — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 04:00:00 +0000

Learning a second language is a challenging project, especially if you’re a monolingual adult. In addition, this is typically the time when most people begin their intellectual expansion and it proves to be quite difficult. However, it is also true that it serves as a great benefit for children to come from multilingual families and backgrounds, as learning more than one language in childhood, particularly as your language skills are developing, greatly enhances ones intellectual abilities, abstract thought capacities and cultural understanding . This might sound like an amazing amount of personal evolution resulting from the simple act of learning more than one language, but then, have you tried to achieve this as an adult. There are numerous classes for adults that are focused on the basic skills of a new language, as well as those that are geared for specific fields and needs. Englsh as a second language is one of the commonly found class options for people in the United States as well as numerous other countries. In addition to the in-class support there are numerous esl activities available.

Another popular reason why many adults choose to study a second language is that they plan to travel to country that speaks it. For instance, there are some great immersion classes available in French and Spanish, as two examples though there are plenty of others, that provide the student with enough of a grasp of that language to function while on vacation. And even if you plan to use your native language the majority of the time you’re on vacation, which most people do, it is still a good idea to study the primary language of a country before visiting. This not only adds to your overall traveling experience, but contributes to your understanding of the local culture and customs.

In addition to the numerous support or contextually oriented language classes, there are multiple others that are intended for those who wish to become entirely bi-lingual and fluent in another language. One of the complementary aspects with cultural and language development is the study of the associated geography. If you are studying a second language for any reason, a geography quiz of the area can contribute to your vocabulary as well as overall understanding. This is a great way to expand your horizons, literally and figuratively, and requires little time and expense investment. And it can be very personally rewarding to read novels-http://www.modernlibrary.com/top-100/100-best-novels/ and other literature genres in the writer’s native voice and original words. That’s just one of the great benefits of learning a new language, there are numerous others.

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Managing Conflict Takes Training

Being Your Own Boss

George — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 01:00:47 +0000

Having the freedom to make your own hours is the great appeal for so many entrepreneurs. Although there is definitely something seductive about the idea of sleeping in every morning, it’s far more likely that one will inevitably work more hours than they ever did before. That’s not a bad thing. The hours spent putting one’s own venture to the test, and letting it blossom into its own organism is worth all the time and energy. If there is any disappointment about the long hours, it’s very much balanced out by the pleasures of being your own boss.

There is always a great attraction toward living according to one’s own principles, and working for yourself means walking in a well-tread path. It might seem revolutionary at first, leaving behind the pressures of a nine hour workday in an environment you didn’t create yourself, but it doesn’t take a lot of work to discover that people have been pursuing this dream for a very long time. One can find traces of it in books like, Do What You Love, the Money Will Follow or even Joseph Campbells dictum to “Follow your bliss.” The idea is old, and it’s always come as a revelation that one can actually do what they like and still make a living.

In trying economic times, it is perhaps more challenging, but it doesn’t need to be terrifying. When times are lean and jobs are scarce, it does make sense to keep what one has, and maintain as much equilibrium as possible. But it’s no coincidence that so many are drawn to trying new things, and creating new businesses, when the current opportunities have gone. In today’s high-tech world, more things are possible, and, with a facebook profile and an idea, one can start finding ways of generating income streams and networking without even leaving the house.

Like anything worth doing, there are risks. And like most ways of making a living, there is always a certain uncertainty. It’s always possible to reduce risks by approaching things with a little bit of business acumen and some street savvy. Having liquid assets in reserve is always helpful, some credit is necessary, and knowledge of resources like Money Mutual can be invaluable. There are always ways of increasing one’s chances for success. Initially, the rewards may come only in abstracts, such as the freedom to make one’s own hours and decisions, but these abstracts, with a little luck and a lot of planning, can turn into material wealth.

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Interior and Inner Decorating

George — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 18:50:58 +0000

Becoming inspired to take an active role in one’s own destiny can be a challenge. In the initial stages, it takes more work than one could have ever imagined, or so it seems. But in almost no time at all, everything changes, and hindsight always reveals that the small things necessary to make a motivated life possible were very minimal, and the rewards are always extraordinary.

For some, it’s really a question of attitude shifting. On some level, of course, it’s always about attitude shifting, and this can be entirely difficult or enormously simple every time it’s necessary to shift. Deciding to be productive can lead to one action that can lead to a chain of reactions, and the rewards here are all to clear. For others, however, it’s an ongoing process, one that needs small adjustments to keep everything in balance. Here, some initial work is more necessary.

Making the home ready for a change is very much like working on one’s own personality. It can become an amazing meditative tool that has real repercussions on how one perceives the world. It’s easy here, then, to see how new blinds for windows can create changes very suddenly. A shift in perspective can come from metaphorical as well as literal actions, and changing the way one looks out the window of their home doesn’t only have results in the mundane world.

New paint, a new mirror, small touches here and there can also have remarkable results, and often equal to factory direct blinds or other cosmetic shifts in the daily landscape. With so many people working from home now, the rewards of a pleasant surrounding are very apparent. For those who only get to spend time in their own quarters now and then, there is an equal draw toward making them more accommodating and welcoming.

At the end of the day, it does come back to attitude. A shift in the way one wakes up to look at the world can indeed spark a revolution of activity, leading to a life that is both effective and internally fulfilling. The way these actions tend to reward the person doing the acting is something that can only be felt when falling into an easy sleep when the day is done. Internally and externally, then, these small and large shifts work together to make a life that is interesting, rewarding, and also beautiful, in every sense of the word.

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Rental Properties

George — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:07:34 +0000

Owning and operating a rental property such as an apartment complex can be an overwhelming and daunting task, but it can also be extremely awarding as well. It is always important to know what you are getting yourself into when making an investment. A rental property has many needs and it is crucial to understand what the time, the financial and physical commitment is going to be.

A rental property requires you to cater to the needs of the tenants and to come up with a strategy or plan to acquire more tenants. Some of the other things that are required of a rental property are collecting rent payments, making property repairs, answering complaints, marketing the property and handling disputes.

Usually, managing a rental property is too much responsibility for one land lord. Most people who invest in a rental property will hire a property management company such as TransGlobe Property Management which is a leading Canadian property management company. A property management company will take care of all the needs of the property and will handle all of the responsibilities. They will collect rent, update the property, handle repairs and market the property to make sure they always have tenants. Some landlords do not believe they need to hire a property management service to run their property, but the amount of money spent on these types of services is totally worth it. While it does cost money to hire a company to handle the property management, the amount of time it will save you is worth every penny.

Acquiring a rental property is a large investment and it is important to make sure that you look at every detail before investing. While these types of investments take a lot of time and money, there are services available which will take care of the responsibilities and will help make your property lucrative.

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Life in the Backyard

George — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 04:00:00 +0000

In the digital age many kids are more likely to be found sitting in their homes rather than playing outside. They meet their friends online or in multi-player games on their Xbox or Wii. They text on their cellphones and chat on their computers. A few are even old school enough to sit watching television or videos. While some of these activities may be channeled into educational options, they still can’t compare with time spent out in the sun and fresh air.

Children should spend at least a part of their day engaged in active play. This will not only help prevent childhood obesity . It will establish lifelong habits of activity and will help kids develop an appreciation for being outside.

Having a swing set and swing set accessories likes slides and monkey bars are a great incentive to outdoor play. Purchasing bicycles and skates are also good options. Some kids may ask for sports equipment so that they can play baseball, football, or soccer in their backyard. A family swimming pool, even a small above ground pool will also draw kids outside. A treehouse, playhouse, or even a tent can encourage kids to spend outside instead of in — parents just need to make sure that they aren’t taking their portable video games and cell phones with them.

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Utility and Menu Covers

George — Fri, 27 May 2011 04:00:00 +0000

Menu covers can be an afterthought in many new restaurants. The food, location, and service are usually the priorities that get all the attention. Many small neighborhood restaurants open with a few booths, basic table settings, and menus printed out on a home computer. However, even a bootstrap eatery should think about investing in menu covers because they serve several important functions.

The most basic menu covers are clear plastic holders that protect the menu. Imagine a pizza or barbecue place that had simple paper menus. How long would it take for the sauce to stain the menus and make them unreadable? How often would new menus have to be printed? It makes much more sense to buy some menu covers and extend the life to each menu. The same goes for any restaurant that will have lots of kids and busy families. Protecting the menu from damage is the priority.

Now, in nicer restaurants the menus still need to be protected, but not to the same degree. In these cases the menu may be placed in a display folder. The face of the menu is exposed, but the leather or vinyl cover is what diners hold. An occasional stain may find it’s way onto the paper, but the menu is safe from tears and fingerprints. More importantly, the cover is appropriate for restaurant’s design, as a plastic cover would look out of place in an upscale eatery.

While utility is obviously important in the bottom line of a restaurant , being able to combine function with aesthetics is why menu covers are worth the investment.

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