February 17, 2017
In This Issue
3 Golden Laws of Life
By Chuck Gallozzi
2
Your Health is Your Business, Indeed
By Jahiel Yasha Kamhi
13
12 Little Laws of Life
By J.D. Meier
15
12 Laws of Life That Are Actually True Even If You Don’t Believe Them
By Bright Side
17
20 Laws of Life That Everyone Should Bear In Mind
By Bright Side
19
Natalia Grace’s 12 laws of life
By Bright Side
22
9 Comebacks for Dealing with Rude People
By The Power of Positivity Team
24
Poetry Corner
By Gordon Stitt
27
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Personal-Development.Com Newsletter – February 17, 2017
By Chuck Gallozzi
1. We Reap what We Sow
You have heard people say, “What goes around comes around.” But have you given that saying
much thought? It is actually a modern way to express ancient wisdom. The Old Testament stated it
this way “. . . they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.” (Job 4:8). At least 50
years before the birth of Christ, the Roman statesman, philosopher, and orator, Marcus T. Cicero,
said, “As you have sown so shall you reap.” And in the New Testament we find, “…whatsoever a man
soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)
The idea that we reap what we sow is more than a cute saying or worthwhile principle. It is an
immutable law of nature with as much force as the law of gravity. We ignore this law at our own
risk. In ancient times, most people had a clear understanding of the law because of their agrarian
experience. By observation they learned the following facts.
1. If you sow wheat, you will reap wheat. If you sow corn, you will reap corn. If you raise cattle, you
will reap cattle. If you breed pigs, you will reap pigs. This is the law of like begets like. Pigs do
not beget chickens, nor does corn bring forth potatoes.
2. If you sow today, you cannot reap tomorrow. It takes time for your labor to bear fruit.
3. If you sow hundreds of seeds, you will harvest thousands. Your yield will be far greater than
what you have sown. However, . . .
4. The harvest depends on the soil, or as Christ said, “Behold, a sower went forth to sow. And
when he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside, and the fowls came and devoured them up.
Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up,
because they had no deepness of earth. And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and
because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns
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sprung up, and choked them. But others fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some a
hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.” (Matthew 13:3 – 13-8)
It should be clear from the first fact (like begets like) that if you sow kindness, you will reap kindness,
but if you sow anger, you will reap anger, not understanding. Similarly, sowing hatred will reap hatred,
not compassion. This powerful law can help you receive whatever you wish. Do you want to be
loved? Obviously, you must first love others. When you do so, they will return love to you. Do you
want to make more money? If so, you must first make more money for someone else. It’s only
common sense, isn’t it? After all, if you make your employer rich, you will be well rewarded. If not, you
can always change jobs and move to a
company that will recognize and reward you.
By applying the law of “As Ye Sow, So Shall
Ye Reap,” we can gain control of our lives.
That is exciting news. But why are so many
of us blind to this important law? The reason
may be fact #2 (the time delay between
sowing and reaping). Because of the gap in
time, we fail to see how our actions and their
results are connected. When you make a
conscious decision to plant a garden in your
backyard, the connection between the care
you give to the plants and the results you
receive is obvious. However, we make
countless unconscious decisions every day.
For example, when a driver cuts you off on
the highway, you may immediately become
angry. You didn’t plan to get angry. It just
happened (because of lack of reflection and
lack of self-discipline). Nevertheless,
whether you are aware of it or not, you are sowing anger. And the connection of this moment to the
anger of others that you will reap in the future is not immediately obvious. For this reason, we need to
be aware of our actions and sow only what we wish to reap.
Fact #3 is magical. It states that we will reap more than we sow. Imagine tossing a pebble into the
center of a small pond. After the splash, you will see ripples radiating to the edges of the pond. Our
actions are like that. When you perform an act of kindness, you do more than make one person
happy because invariably, the person you helped will be inspired to help another, who in turn will help
still another, and so on. In this way, your act of kindness is multiplied. Similarly, the kindness you reap
will be multiplied.
As pointed out in fact #4, the size of our harvest also depends on the soil. Let’s say I’m treating 83year-old Aunt Millie kindly. But I’m doing so because she is about to die and I want to be included in
her will. Although I’m acting kindly, the soil (my intention) is bad. So, instead of reaping kindness, I
will become the victim of someone’s greed (just like Aunt Millie). Another example: I may love some
people and dislike others. I am, therefore, sowing mixed seeds. Therefore, what I reap will be equally
mixed, blessings and suffering.
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Did you ever stop in front of a shop window to look at your reflection and check your appearance?
Well, the world is a mirror, reflecting every act we sow. If you like what you see, congratulations, for
you are making valuable contributions to the world. If you don’t like what you see, it simply means
there are some changes you have to make. Let’s say I’m finding it impossible to gain the cooperation
of the team members at work. I cajoled, begged, threatened, even threw a tantrum, all to no avail.
However, after reflecting on the law of sowing and reaping, I realized that I have been sowing
negativity and reaping a bountiful harvest of the same. So, it’s time to change. That is, change myself.
Since I am seeking the cooperation of others, I decide to focus on how I can cooperate with them,
rather than vice versa. What is it that they wish to receive from me? How would they like me to
contribute to the team? How can I help? After arriving at some answers, I start helping out without
asking for, much less demanding, their support. Lo and behold! Slowly, the team project effortlessly
falls into place. Today, we not only work together, but we enjoy doing so! So, now you realize that
despite our shirts and ties or fancy dresses, we are farmers, sowing and reaping daily. If we remain
aware of what we sow, we won’t be reaping thorns instead of tomatoes, contempt instead of
compassion, or pain instead of peace. My final remark is taken from The Koran (Quran), “Have you
considered what you sow?” [The Event
56.63]
2. We Get what We Expect
What kind of day will you have today? How
about this week? Will it be filled with
excitement or tedium, problems or
adventure, happiness or misery? I’m not a
psychic, but I can predict your future by the
answers you give to these questions. That’s
because we create what happens to us with
our expectations. In other words, our
expectations are self-fulfilling prophesies.
What exactly is an expectation? It is a type
of belief. We have two types of beliefs, core
and moment-to-moment. Our moment-tomoment, or daily, beliefs flow from our core
beliefs. For example, Tom believes the
world is a hostile place, no one can be
trusted, and suffering is inevitable. In other
words, Tom is a pessimist. His belief that the
world is unfriendly is an example of a core (foundational) belief.
Today, Tom has a job interview. But because of his pessimism he doesn’t think he will get the job.
This is an example of his moment-to-moment belief, or what he believes will happen today. He
EXPECTS to fail the interview. Most likely, he will because the interviewer will detect Tom’s negativity
and consider him to be a liability for the company. Even if Tom were to get the job, he will later live up
to his expectation of failing because his suspicion of others will make it impossible for him to become
a team player.
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So, our expectations, or moment-to-moment beliefs, forecast our future. But isn’t it possible that we
can fail despite a positive attitude? Yes, of course, because there will always be things beyond our
control. But such failures will occur in the short term only, for positive expectations always lead to
success.
Let’s look at an example. Mary is skillful, knowledgeable, and cheerful. She goes for a job interview
and fails. How come? Well, we live in an imperfect world (not a hostile one, yet imperfect), and the job
interviewer is prejudiced. The interviewer doesn’t like Mary’s gender, color, and religion, so Mary
doesn’t get the job. Mary may not experience immediate success, but she isn’t alarmed by her
temporary setback because of her core beliefs that she can do anything, that she deserves success,
and that she has a valuable contribution to make. As a result, Mary remains unruffled and keeps
going to interviews, which eventually leads to success.
Think of our expectations as a switch. Not an on-off switch, but a positive-negative switch. You see,
the switch is always on, but it is set to either positive or negative expectations. When the switch is set
to positive expectations, we experience, enthusiasm, excitement, passion, meaning, purpose,
serenity, friendship, empowerment, confidence, happiness, and good health. Yet, when it is set to
negative expectations, we experience fear, worry, anxiety, depression, unhappiness, failure,
powerlessness, anger, resentment, loneliness, stress, and poor health.
Because we will always live up or down to
our expectations, it is critical for our
success and happiness that we keep the
switch set to Positive. But you may have
had to sail through stormy seas or been
battered about by crushing circumstances
and now find yourself with the switch stuck
in the Negative position. If so, it is time to
start cultivating positive expectations, and
here are some steps you can take to do so.
1. Engage in positive talk. That is, say
something positive to everyone you meet.
There are three reasons to do so. First, it forces you to look for the good, and when you look for it,
you will find it. And as you regularly find it, you will become positive. Second, EVERYTHING YOU
SAY TO OTHERS, YOU’RE ALSO SAYING TO YOURSELF. So, whenever you speak to others, you
are programming yourself to become more or less successful; therefore, watch what you say! Third,
when you deal with everyone in a positive way, they will treat you likewise, and their behavior will
then reinforce yours, making you even more positive.
2. Awaken to your true nature. Understand that you are a seed meant to grow and flourish. The same
energy that radiates throughout the universe flows through your veins. You are meant to be
magnificent. But it is not about you or your ego. Rather it is about YOUR NATURE. Your nature is to
adorn life. You are here not merely to experience life, but to add to it.
Paradoxically, when you think about how great you wish to become, you create a block, preventing
your greatness from appearing. Why is that? Because we only wish for what we think we do not have.
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So, if you want to be great, you are denying what you already have, and, therefore, cannot use it. It is
only when you unclench your teeth, loosen your grip, let go of your desires and allow your nature to
shine through that you will discover your powers.
It’s okay to dream. In fact, I encourage you to do so. But once you create a dream, don’t thwart it by
trying too hard. Once you make a plan and take whatever steps you feel are proper, let go of the reins
and allow life to take you there.
3. So far, I haven’t completely revealed the Expectation Switch to you. I’ve only told you about two
positions on the switch: POSITIVE and NEGATIVE. But there is a third position, the most powerful of
all, and it goes beyond Positive Expectations. The third position is called Infinite Possibility. We can
use this position only after awakening to our true nature, which is one of unlimited potential, creativity,
and power.
If we act from our sense of self or ego, we will
see ourselves as puny. No wonder we will be
filled with self-doubt and incapable of greatness.
But after awakening to our true nature and
sensing our power, we will finally dare to dream.
At this time we will become a visionary, one who
goes beyond positive expectations to search out
new possibilities. The Japanese poet
Ryunosuke Satoro is speaking about the third
position when he says, “Let your dreams outgrow the shoes of your expectations.”
Dottie Walters asked, “Anyone can cut an apple open and count the number of seeds. But, who can
look at a single seed and count the trees and apples?” The answer to Dottie’s question is those who
are working from the third position, the position of Infinite Possibility, can. They can see and count the
number of trees and apples in each seed because they are visionaries; they can see beyond what is
to what can be. Join them.
4. Feed yourself positive thoughts. If we eat a healthy diet we become healthy. Similarly, if we feed on
positive thoughts, we grow positive. One powerful way to nurture yourself with positive thoughts is by
watching inspirational videos. Since you are already sitting in front of a computer, why don’t you try
one now? Just click here; pick a video, enjoy, grow positive, and discover what’s possible.
5. Don’t accept a life of mediocrity. Did you find Step 3 (Awaken to your true nature) difficult? Most
people do. They find it hard to believe that we are so powerful. That’s why Step 4 is so important. You
can easily become immersed in a video that has a mesmerizing melody and moving message. As
you watch one video after another, some will resonate with you, pulling at your heart strings and
awaken you to your true nature. You will suddenly realize that the acts of greatness that others are
performing show what you, too, can do, be, or have.
So, don’t believe you were meant to lead a mediocre life. Paul’s story will help explain what I mean.
Paul, like many of us, found it difficult to awaken to his true nature. He was totally lacking in
confidence, so he sought the help of a life coach. Shortly before meeting his coach, Paul bought a
new car. Later in the same day he regretted his purchase and realized that he was talked into buying
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the car by an aggressive salesman. Even though the auto dealer gave a 60-day satisfaction
guarantee, Paul was too timid to return the car and ask for his money back.
When his life coach heard about what happened, he explained to Paul that unless we are in control of
our lives, we cannot consider ourselves to be successful. He then went on to ask Paul, “Who do you
want to be in charge of YOUR happiness, that auto salesman or yourself?” He persuaded Paul to
return the car and ask for his money back. He joined Paul to provide moral support, but didn’t say a
word. Before leaving for the auto dealer, however, the life coached explained to Paul that the car
dealership was contractually legally bound to return his money if he asked for it. This buoyed Paul’s
confidence, so he asked for his money back.
When the aggressive salesman couldn’t
intimidate Paul into changing his mind, he
excused himself and brought over the
Sales Manager, who was equally
unsuccessful. Finally, the Owner was
called, but Paul stuck to his guns and
refused to accept any offer other than the
complete return of his money. The
disgruntled Owner finally relented and
agreed. They made Paul wait a week for
his check, but he got what he wanted,
thanks to the advice and encouragement
of his life coach. After a couple of more
sessions, Paul stopped seeing the coach.
A year later, they met by accident in the supermarket. After warmly greeting him, the coach said,
“Well, Paul, after that episode at the car dealership you must be well in control of your life. I’m sure
you don’t let others take advantage of you any longer.” Paul looked sheepish, and lowering his head
said in a barely audible voice, “Well, I’m uncomfortable speaking up. It’s not my nature to speak up.
That wasn’t really me at the car dealer. I’m not aggressive and I think it is important to be authentic. I
don’t want to pretend be someone I am not.”
The life coach shot back, “It was not you at the car dealer? Who was it that received his money back
a week later? Wasn’t that YOU? It is not your NATURE to allow others to take advantage of you, it is
your WEAKNESS. And weaknesses can be overcome with practice. It is not your nature, but your
fears that allow others to walk all over you, and you can learn how to be courageous. It is not your
nature, but your lack of experience, and you can gain experience, as you did at the car dealer. Once
you gain a successful experience, you have to keep repeating it until it becomes a new habit. You
see, it is not your nature to be weak, but your nature to act out of habit. So, if your habit is working
against you, change it. Once you develop the habit of standing up for yourself, that will become your
‘nature’. And your new nature will then be aligned with your TRUE nature, which is one of unlimited
potential and power.”
6. If you always do your best, you’ll always expect the best. It is only by raising our expectations and
doing our best that we can tap into our true nature.
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7. To avoid feeling overwhelmed, take baby steps. As each step brings you closer to your goal,
enthusiasm, confidence, and high expectations develop. One success creates appreciation, many
successes create positive expectations.
8. Expect the unexpected. Not only expect it, but welcome it because it is only by facing an
unexpected turn of events that we can hone our skills and cultivate flexibility. In a rapidly evolving
world, flexibility is a key to success.
9. Don’t allow your present problems to get you frozen in time. Look forward to future solutions. Or, as
Wayne Gretzky said, “I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it is.” Focus on where you’re
headed, not where you are.
10. Take advantage of the power of commitment. Don’t merely think about your goals, commit to
them! To tap into this power, reach down, deep within yourself, within your true nature.
Managing Our Expectations
1. Not everyone sets high standards for themselves,
so don’t lower your expectations to those of others.
Also, you are not here to live up to the expectations of
others. Neither are they here to live up to your
expectations. Rather, we are all responsible for
running our lives in the best way we can.
2. We should never lower our expectations, unless
there is no other choice. When problems arise, such
as a downturn in the economy, it is better to rely on
flexibility than it is to rely on lower expectations. That
is, when problems appear, rather than expecting less,
expect to find solutions and alternative ways of
reaching your goals. Because our expectations are
almost always self-fulfilling prophecies, it is better to
overreach than expect less. When in doubt, it is best
to err on overreaching and correct later, if needed, than to set an overly modest goal.
3. Part of expecting the unexpected is expecting the worse. Not because you are pessimistic, but
because you want to be prepared just in case things go awry.
4. Dare to dream big because we can’t succeed beyond our wildest expectations unless we start with
a wild expectation.
5. Be patient. Don’t give up so quickly. As May Sarton wrote, “What is destructive is impatience,
haste, expecting too much too fast.”
6. Expect to and be willing to work for your success.
7. Remain optimistic. Remember, an optimist expects his dreams to come true, but a pessimist
expects his nightmares to come true.
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Personal-Development.Com Newsletter – February 17, 2017
George Bernard Shaw told the following story, “A
Native American elder once described his own
inner struggles in this manner: Inside of me there
are two dogs. One of the dogs is mean and evil.
The other dog is good. The mean dog fights the
good dog all the time. When asked which dog wins,
he reflected for a moment and replied, ‘The one I
feed the most’”
Which dog do you feed the most, your negative or
positive expectations? Where do you choose to set
your Expectation Switch, to Positive, Negative, or
Infinite Possibility?
You can read more about expectations here
I’ll end by calling on three gentlemen to share their
wisdom: “If you expect nothing, you’re apt to be
surprised. You’ll get it.” (Malcolm S. Forbes).
“There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so
great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of
something better tomorrow.” (Orison Swett Marden)
“You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must
plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win.” (Zig Ziglar)
3. We Have to Pay for what We Want
When I say We have to Pay for what We Want, I’m referring to the Law of Compensation. I first need
to explain the meaning of COMPENSATION. I’m not using it to mean ‘salary’ or ‘benefit package,’ but
to mean ‘what constitutes, or is regarded as, an equivalent; what makes good the lack or variation of
something else; what COMPENSATES for loss or privation; that is, amends or recompense.
This is how the English Metaphysical poet Francis Quarles describes compensation: “As there is no
worldly gain without some loss, so there is no worldly loss without some gain. If thou hast lost thy
wealth, thou hast lost some trouble with it. If thou art degraded from thy honor, thou art likewise freed
from the stroke of envy. If sickness hast blurred thy beauty, it hath delivered thee from pride. Set the
allowance against the loss and thou shalt find no loss great.”
In modern terms, we could say one man is rich but bored and another is poor, yet happy. One woman
achieves great success but dies young; another is less successful but lives longer. Or, a rich man can
afford steak and lobster but finds it hard to digest while a poor man has a hearty appetite and good
health. Or, someone else may have a large salary, but little time to spend with their family.
Ralph Waldo Emerson explains compensation in clear terms: “For everything you have missed, you
have gained something else; and for everything you gain, you lose something else.” Again, in his
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journal dated January 8, 1826, he writes, “The whole of what we know is a system of compensations.
Every defect in one manner is made up in another. Every suffering is rewarded; every sacrifice is
made up; every debt is paid.”
The title of this section, then, means there is no
exemption, no exception, or no escape from this
law of life. We cannot have successes without
failures or hardships without gains. For every gain,
there is a loss. We lose the wood to gain fire and
heat. We lose the heat to cook the food. We lose
the food to nourish our body, and so it goes. This
law of nature is about balance, harmony, and
equilibrium. It is similar to the Law of Conservation
of Energy in science. (Energy may neither be
created nor destroyed and the sum of all energy
remains constant.)
Another aspect of the Law of Compensation is we
will reap what we sow. Isn’t it true that if I plant
tomatoes, I’ll reap tomatoes, and if I plant weeds,
I’ll reap weeds? So, it should come as no surprise
that if I plant seeds of love, I will be loved, and if I
plant acts of kindness, others will treat me kindly.
But if all I sow is anger, all I reap will be hostility. When we practice the Golden Rule by treating our
neighbors as we wish to be treated, we live in harmony with this principle and will reap its benefits.
Or, as Ralph Waldo Emerson put it, “It is one of the most beautiful compensations in life that no man
can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.”
Another term to describe reaping what we sow is ‘karma.’ In Sanskrit, karma means action or deed. In
the spiritual sense, it means both our actions and the consequences that flow from them. Those who
believe in karma believe that their fate is governed by the choices they make. The happiness they
experience or the suffering they undergo is a result of how they use their free will. So, it’s just another
way to describe how we reap what we sow.
Yet another term used to describe the same thing is The Law of Action and Reaction. That is, for
every force, there is a counter force. The greater we stretch a rubber band, the greater its snapback.
The more I scowl at you, the angrier you will become; the more you smile at me, the more pleased I
become. We could also express this idea by calling it the Law of Cause and Effect, or just by saying
that virtue is its own reward and wrongdoing causes suffering.
The Law of Compensation, or sowing what we reap, is not about God punishing the wicked and
rewarding the holy, but simply Life’s law of natural consequences. If we fall into a fire, we are burned
not because we’re evil, but because of the heat of the flames. So, it is wise to become familiar with
the laws of life and nature to avoid unnecessary pain and unhappiness.
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Once we understand for every gain
there is a loss, we can free
ourselves from envy and live
contentedly. Blessed are the
contented, for they are never poor.
Woe unto the discontented, for they
are never rich. Blessed is she who
has little and wants less, for she is
richer than he who has much and
wants more. Blessed, too, is he who
realizes that a little is a great deal
when it is enough. And, as Socrates
taught, “He is the richest who is
content with the least.”
There is a time for contentment and
a time for discontentment. When we
use discontent to raise ourselves to
a higher level, we are living in line
with the Law of Compensation. For
at such a time, we realize that there
is no gain without loss, or no gain
without pain. We understand that
our success depends not on what
we take up, but what we give up.
So, we willingly sacrifice time and
comfort to reach our goal. And if we
experience a temporary setback,
we’re not discouraged because we
understand that hidden in our
problems are blessings waiting to
be discovered. In the same way,
when we are pounded by adversity,
we find solace in the Law of
Compensation, looking forward to
the benefits that await us.
Also, we don’t make the mistake of
comparing our lives with those of
others. For although their gains are
clearly visible, their loses are hidden
from view. Neither do we allow our
imagination to exaggerate the
extent of our losses or others’ gains.
We also keep our balance by
remembering that all is relative.
After all, bad is never good, until worse happens.
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Personal-Development.Com Newsletter – February 17, 2017
References
BOOKS
Worldwide Laws Of Life: 200 Eternal Spiritual Principles by John Marks Templeton
Discovering the Laws of Life by John Marks Templeton
The Supreme Philosophy Of Man: The Laws of Life by Alfred Armand Montapert
Expectation Hangover: Free Yourself from Your Past, Change Your Present and Get What You
Really Want by Christine Hassler
The Law of Divine Compensation: On Work, Money, and Miracles by Marianne Williamson
Mind Over Mind: The Surprising Power of Expectations by Chris Berdik
VIDEOS
The 14 Universal Laws That Govern Life On Earth!
Alvin Law: Alvin’s Laws of Life...5 Steps to Successfully Overcome Anything
Chuck Gallozzi
email
Photography
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Personal-Development.Com Newsletter – February 17, 2017
Your Health is Your Business, Indeed
By Jahiel Yasha Kamhi
Do you agree with this statement, or do you believe that your health is your doctor’s business?
You might say, “I’m not an MD—how can I be more knowledgeable about my health than my doctor,
who has studied medicine for many years?”
Well, let me tell you something: When it comes to your own body and your own health, you’re more
knowledgeable and more powerful than you can imagine.
You even have the potential to make your own diagnosis because you, more than anyone else, know
what’s missing in your life. And you may be surprised to learn that whatever it is that’s missing is your
prescription for healing.
It’s been well documented that our jobs, relationships, loneliness, stress and worry can be the cause
of physical illnesses, including heart problems, back pain and diabetes. These individual health
problems combine to adversely affect our overall quality of life and well-being.
But there’s plenty you can do:
• Learn as much as you can about your health problem(s) and your options for dealing with them, and
then make smart decisions about which steps to take in order to manage, or even reverse, the
problems.
• Do your homework: Learn about the incredible power of the human mind. Take time to examine
your thoughts, feelings and beliefs. You may want to also investigate the power of the placebo effect
and its “evil twin,” the nocebo effect, at (http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2011/08/21/the-otherside-of-the-placebo-effect/).
• Be an active partner with your medical professionals in order to determine the best way to heal your
illness. You need to understand your medical problem inside and out if you really want to help
yourself.
• Try to stay positive, optimistic and open-minded during the process of healing. A negative attitude
may have a negative impact on your recovery, especially if you don’t pay enough intention to your
“inner talk” and the message it’s trying to get through to you.
• Learn to trust in yourself as a healer and in your practitioners, who are with you as you travel the
path to full recovery.
• Don’t ignore or overlook any potential benefit to your health or healing.
Your health is always your business, and it starts when you are healthy. Paying attention to your
health only when you get sick reduces your options for healing and will likely affect your outcomes.
Are you paying enough intention to your diet, weight, exercise, relationships, and stress level?
Do you feel good about yourself? If you don’t, think about what action you need to take in order to
change that, and then do it.
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Are the social and family aspects of your life enjoyable, or are they causing you stress?
If you want to take a holistic approach to your overall health issue, think about your personal life as a
source of your strength; however, keep in mind that it can also be the cause of your health problems.
Whatever you do influences your health in one way or another.
I’m surprised to see how many people go about living their lives without doing enough to protect their
health. They know that they’re hurting themselves, but they don’t care!
I have no explanation as to why so many people are so negligent about their lives. Each of us has a
responsibility to take care of ourselves. If we don’t, who’s going to do it for us?
Just to clarify something here: I’m not at all blaming sick people for their sickness. I’m just trying to
remind everyone about how powerful they are and about all the many options they have for protecting
themselves from illness.
Unfortunately, illness and tragedy do happen, but our duty is to do whatever we can to prevent them
from happening.
Jahiel Yasha Kamhi is a motivational and popular science freelance writer holding a degree,
specialist in medical biochemistry, and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. He is passionate about
writing articles that help people live more empowered lives, with knowledge, passion and purpose.
Jahiel is a contributing writer to many magazines. He also delivers presentations that inspire others to
find more meaning and balance in their lives. Yasha can be contacted at [email protected].
This article cannot be re-published without permission.
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Personal-Development.Com Newsletter – February 17, 2017
12 Little Laws of Life
By J.D. Meier
A friend of mine sent me an email titled “Twelve Little Laws of Life.” The laws were short and sweet
and I was impressed. I hunted down the original author Tom Hoobyar. Tom said I was free to
republish the laws. Here are the 12 laws of life, followed by my take on them.
Here are Tom’s 12 little laws of life:
1. Self-Management and People Skills Are the Keys to Your Success and Happiness.
2. You Are at the Center of Your Universe. Stay There!
3. What You Think about Most Is What You Get.
4. You Make Your Habits and Then Your Habits Make You.
5. Guilt Enslaves You. Responsibility Liberates You.
6. “Obligations” Are a Fraud.
7. Expect Less from Others and More from Yourself.
8. Nobody Wakes up in the Morning Choosing to Be the Villain.
9. There Is No “Happily Ever After” in the Real World.
10. There Is a Hell, and It Starts Early.
11. You Can Create Paradise on Earth. Many People Do.
12. It’s Never too Late to Change.
My Take on the 12 Little Laws of Life
To me, the laws seem robust and succinctly capture the heart of a lot of lessons that people have
learned the hard way, myself included. I like the fact that the laws are consistent with some of the
best insights from Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP.) Here’s what the laws mean to me:
Law # 1: Self-Management and People Skills Are the Keys to Your Success and Happiness.
Self-management includes what you say, think and do. I think how you run your brain is one of the
most important skills for life. At the end of the day, it’s not what happens in your life but what you
make of it that matters. I’m also a fan of getting people on your side. People can open doors or close
them. They can drag their feet or they can lift you up when you fall down.
Law #2: You Are at the Center of Your Universe. Stay There!
To me, this means drive your life from the inside out. This echoes Covey’s lessons on using your
internal compass. This is about living your values and being true to you. Don’t let other people make
you something you’re not and don’t let an unstable world knock you off your rocker. Create your firm
foundation internally.
Law #3: What You Think about Most Is What You Get.
When you get a new car, suddenly you see it everywhere. You get what you focus on. if you want to
find what’s wrong with things, you always can. If you want to find what’s right with things, you can do
that too. If you want lead a life of magic, than focus on magic. If you want a life of tragedy, then
focus on tragedy. You’re the director of your life, so ultimately you need to figure out what to point
your camera at.
Law #4: You Make Your Habits and Then Your Habits Make You.
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So true! Any habit has inertia in the beginning. You might bootstrap yourself with motivation.
Maybe a Rocky movie or Karate Kid. Eventually though, your motivation wears thin or wears off
entirely. Your self-discipline though keeps you going. Self-discipline is how you control your behavior
for a longer-term benefit. Eventually, your habit is burned into your body. It’s a part of you. It
supports you. What you say, think and do is a sum of your habits. Your habits are either by design
or by default. You’re the architect of your life. If you want a new design, start with your habits.
Law #5: Guilt Enslaves You. Responsibility Liberates You.
Own it. Taking responsibility liberates you from the guilt. When you don’t take responsibility, guilt is a
obvious response.
Law #6: “Obligations” Are a Fraud.
An obligation is a requirement to take some course of action. Be flexible in your approach. Turn your
“have tos” into “choose tos.” You know the saying, “The only thing certain is death and taxes,” by
Benjamin Franklin. You also know the saying, “rules are made to be broken.” Don’t limit yourself by
limiting your thinking.
Law #7: Expect Less from Others and More from Yourself.
Don’t hold others to the bar you set for yourself. Set a bar that makes sense for you. Challenge
yourself. Surprise yourself. Continuously raise the bar and stretch yourself.
Law #8: Nobody Wakes up in the Morning Choosing to Be the Villain.
People do the best they can with the resources they’ve got. Forgive and forget. Don’t take things
personally. People aren’t out to get you. Assume people have the best intentions, you just might not
agree with their approach.
Law #9: There Is No “Happily Ever After” in the Real World.
Happiness isn’t something you work towards and then achieve and then enjoy the rest of your life.
Life’s not static. When you stop climbing, you start sliding. You also can’t put happiness out of your
reach. if only you get this job, or if only you get that house, or if only you get this or that. Happiness
is from the inside out. You make it a part of your daily existence.
Law #10: There Is a Hell, and It Starts Early.
You can create your own Hell on earth. Many people do it every day. It’s the choices they make in
terms of what they say, think, and do. You can be a slave to your own thinking, or your thinking can
unleash your best self, and your best life.
13. Law #11: You Can Create Paradise on Earth. Many People Do.
Decide to be happy. Find the joy in your life. There’s a lot of people in worse scenarios than you that
found happiness. There’s lots of examples of people with better scenarios than you that make
themselves miserable every day.
Law #12 – It’s Never too Late to Change.
Each moment is a new moment of choices. Each moment is a new moment to start from scratch.
Imagine each moment is a fresh start. Baggage wears you down. Don’t bring any baggage with you.
Instead, carry forward lessons learned.
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12 Laws of Life That Are Actually True Even If You Don’t Believe Them
Source: Bright Side
Newton’s third law reads as follows: “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” But
this concerns not only physical phenomena. In fact, the same thing occurs in our everyday lives.
When we think, say, or carry out an action, we bring into action a force that will answer us in exactly
the same way.
Bright Side would like to share with you 12 laws of life that can help you become happier and more
confident in yourself.
1. The Law of Causes and Consequences
Whatever we create in this universe, it will always bring it back to us. So if we want to know love, real
friendship, and happiness, then first of all we have to love those close to us, be a good friend, and
strive to make others happy.
2. The Law of Creation
The key to a harmonious internal life is to be independent from the outside world. To achieve this, you
need to be yourself, as well as surround yourself with those people and things that you love and want
to see in your life.
3. The Law of Submission
We cannot change a situation until we accept it. And if all we see in someone is an enemy, then that
means that we aren’t yet orientated toward accepting a more elevated mode of existence.
4. The Law of Growth
The main task for us in this world is to change and grow as individuals, and not necessarily to focus
on the multitudes of people we’ll encounter but never really know in this life, or to obsess over the
place where we live and the technology we use. The life and time that is given to us is all that we
have.
5. The Law of Responsibility
Life is like a mirror. When something goes wrong, that means there’s something wrong internally
within ourselves as well. We should, therefore, take responsibility for it and not search for guilt among
others.
6. The Law of Connection
Even if what we do seems to be of no consequence, it’s actually important that we do it because
everything in this world is interconnected. The first step cannot be more important than the last, and
vice versa, because they’re both crucial to completing a task.
7. The Law of Concentration
You can’t think about two things at the same time. If you’re searching for something important, then
there won’t be any space left inside you for anger or greed.
8. The Law of Acceptance
We truly understand and accept only that which we have comprehended in practice. If we believe
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something to be true, but we aren’t ready to prove it, that means that we have only an opinion, not
knowledge.
9. The Law of “Here and Now”
Unearthing the past and obtrusive dreams about the future distract us from what’s happening in the
present. Old models of behavior, as well as old dreams, can impede our path toward something new.
10. The Law of Change
History will repeat itself until we extract lessons from it that can change our path. One cannot repeat
the same actions and expect different results.
11. The Law of Patience and Reward
Any reward demands the input of a great deal of effort, and true joy in life comes from laboring
persistently in the knowledge that sooner or later we’ll achieve our goals.
12. The Law of Meaning and Inspiration
We receive only that which we deserve. The true value of something is equal to the energy and
strength which we expend trying to obtain it. But only he who loves to give to others is capable of
receiving something inspirational.
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20 Laws of Life That Everyone Should Bear In Mind
Source: Bright Side
There are rules and laws in life, so true and correct, that enable us to understand the meaning of our
actions or handle difficult and seemingly hopeless situations. We at Bright Side invite you to think
about these 20 life laws and make use of them this year.
1. The law of similarity
There are no random meetings in our lives. We unconsciously attract to ourselves only those people
who are just like us.
2. The law of the balance beam
When you crave something but can’t get it, try to find another interest that is equal in its power to the
first one.
3. The Bob law
When Bob has a problem with everybody, Bob is usually the problem.
4. The law of suppression
The thoughts or actions you’re trying to suppress or deny in your mind may come out at the most
inappropriate time. It’s important to accept your inner self and not to keep your feelings and emotions
buried deep inside you.
5. The law of the barrier
You should always take a decision to overcome a barrier as a conditional obstacle so as not to miss
your once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. After that inner decision, you will be ready to take on new
challenges and opportunities.
6. The law of payment
You have to pay for everything: for your actions and inaction. You decide what will cost more! And
note that avoiding failures doesn’t make you happy.
7. The law of doors
Our life consists of various and endless numbers of choices. You always have a choice. Our choice
can be not to make any choice at all. It’s not always easy to make the right decision. By entering one
door we miss another door. However, losses may also bring you an acquisition.
8. The law of attraction
We usually attract to ourselves the things that are in our central focused consciousness — what we
constantly think about, fear, or like. Life gives us what we unconsciously expect to get from it, not
what we want.
9. The law of narrowness #1
It’s impossible to foresee everything. There are accidents that happen against our will. They cannot
be predicted, and we cannot be responsible for them.
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10. The law of narrowness #2
You can’t have everything. You’ll constantly be in need of something. The secret of happiness lies in
the ability to be content with what you have.
11. The law of regularity
A thing that happens once can be considered an accident. If it happens twice, it is a coincidence. But
when it happens for the third time, it is regularity.
12. The law of changes
If you want changes in your life, you should take control over the circumstances in your hands. You
can’t change your life by waiting passively for fate to do the work you could be doing yourself. That
won’t happen! If you don’t set off, you will never arrive at your destination point.
13. The law of taxis
The farther you are taken by the taxi driver, the more you’ll have to pay. If you haven’t ordered the
route, you may arrive anywhere. The more you go in the wrong direction, the more difficult it will be to
come back.
14. The law of thinking
Our outer world is the embodiment of our inner thoughts. You shouldn’t look for reasons for failures in
the outer world — just try looking inside.
15. The law of halfway
In a relationship with another person, your zone is halfway. If you go further and the other person
won’t even make a move, it means he doesn’t really care about his personal development. So what’s
the point in making him change?!
16. The law of harmony
Humans look for harmony everywhere. You can achieve absolute harmony with the world only when
you are in harmony with yourself. A good attitude to yourself and self-acceptance are the keys to
harmony with the world as a whole.
17. The law of mirrors
If something annoys you in others, it means you have it in yourself. The things that you don’t want to
hear from others are the most important things on that particular stage of life. The other person can
serve as a mirror for you to show something that you don’t see or don’t want to notice about yourself.
18. The law of chain reactions
If you let your negative feelings and moods take control over you, one unpleasant feeling will follow
another. If you live constantly dreaming about something, the real world will be replaced by the world
of fantasy. It’s often hard to stop the flow of our negative or unproductive thoughts, so we develop a
habit of worrying, suffering, and dreaming. This can become a habit of escaping from problemsolving.
19. The law of your personality evaluation
Others almost always evaluate you just as you evaluate yourself. So it’s pointless to try to be perfect
and win the admiration of everyone if you don’t even appreciate yourself.
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20. The law of the meaning of life
We come from nowhere, try to learn the meaning of life, and then we go nowhere again. Each
person has his own meaning of life that changes at different stages of life. And if it constantly
changes due to time and ongoing events, maybe we should state that the most important meaning of
life is life itself?!
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Natalia Grace’s 12 laws of life
Natalia Grace is a psychologist and the author of a famous book, ‘‘The Laws of Grace,’’ in which she
tried to collect and present all of her life observations. Her conclusions can help us become a bit
wiser and save our strength for the things that really matter.
Bright Side publishes 12 of her ‘‘laws of life’’ that may come in handy throughout your life.
1. The law of significant details
The way a person behaves in relation to the everyday details of life shows who he or she really is. For
instance, you can be incredibly generous once a year, but your petty nature manifests itself every day
in the everyday details of life. That’s why trivialities are far more significant.
2. The law of the inevitability of loss
In everything a human does, he or she makes mistakes. That’s why losses are inevitable. Losses are
inevitable, ladies and gentlemen! Knowing this, you shouldn’t let yourself feel sorrow too much. We
can influence a lots of things, but not all of them. There are general laws of the universe. We can’t be
perfect, and neither can our actions. Accept the inevitability of losses with humility. It may be the
only thing you can do.
3. Better under- than overIt affects absolutely everything. For example, if you speak, finish before people get bored. Goethe
said: “The mystery of boring lies in attempts to say everything.” Went on a date? Say goodbye a
moment before your partner does. If you’re on a visit, leave before the owners of the house are sick
for solitude. Remember: better under- than over-...
4. The law of the harness
Two horses in a harness can move 15 tons, but each one on its own can only move three tons. Don’t
try to struggle on your own; work with someone else, and you’ll be more efficient at carrying
the burdens of this life. ‘‘A three-string cord isn’t easily broken’’.
5. The law of precise time
The setting of a deadline for any business increases its chances of happening. It’s one thing to say:
‘‘talk to you later,’’ and another to say, ‘‘I’ll call you tomorrow at 10 a.m.’’ In the second case, you’re
very likely to call.
6. The law of reset
The brain must be reset. If you came home scarcely able to stand, but there are only 14 of 28 things
done on your to-do list, don’t blame yourself for inefficiency if you sat down and stared off into space.
The brain cannot run all your orders continuously. It needs to take care of itself. It has to sort
out all the information you have been stuffing it full of during the day. In order to do that, it should be
cut off from any extraneous information coming from the outside. That’s the way it resets. Even the
soil loses its productivity having yielded crops seven years in a row; it becomes barren. Long live the
reset!
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7. The law of the illusion of perfect conditions
Things in your life will never be perfect, and there will never be a perfect time to do something. At the
same time, it’s silly to deny the existence of favorable conditions, although it’s rare that someone is
wise enough to benefit from them. This is partly because the chances are hidden under the guise of
problems that should be solved.
8. The law of compensation
It doesn’t happen all at once. Can you imagine someone being able to have perfect looks every day,
making the perfect dinner for you, having passion in bed, caring for the children perfectly, being a
perfect singer or musician, being in perfect health, having the best mood, always wearing a smile,
being successful at work and being the perfect friend — all at once?
It doesn’t happen all at once, that’s why Napoleon was afraid of cats, Tchaikovsky cried up to 10
times a day, Schiller put — seriously! — rotten apples in the drawer to call his Muse, and Bach threw
his wig at his organist when he played out of tune.
If a person has reached significant success in something, he or she usually fails at something else.
But it’s not the absence of drawbacks and deficiencies that matters, but the presence of virtues and
achievements.
9. The law of influence
People who surround you influence you on who you will become. There’s such a thing in medicine as
a norm of reaction. Someone is surely destined to be thinner, someone else stouter. But even within
this concept, you can either be cute and stout or flabby and fat. That’s what the norm of reaction is.
Even if a person isn’t the brightest crayon in the box, he or she will become smart (even relatively, it
doesn’t matter); in another case, they will remain somehow primitive. One’s surroundings are a big
influence, if not the biggest. We turn into those who stand by our side, and we influence those around
us much less.
10. The law of opposing reactions to talent
Talented people always cause opposite reactions: either admiration or hatred. They cannot be
perceived with indifference. They cannot be ignored. They cannot just be forgotten. We remember
them, love them, think of them, hate them, and even envy them. That’s why, if you’re talented, don’t
dream of total admiration and acceptance. You’ll have enemies just because you have talent.
11. The law of common memories
Most people share common memories of events. A devotion, as well as a calm, continuing love, is
mostly based on common memories. Thus, memories create a bond between people. Want to be
good in somebody’s eyes? Create good memories with this person.
12. ‘‘Not your people’’
If they’re not ‘‘your kind of people,” one day they’ll leave.
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9 Comebacks for Dealing with Rude People
By The Power of Positivity Team
“When someone is rude, keep a smile on your face. When you stay on the
high road and keep your joy, you take away their power.” – Joel Osteen
People can tend to have a love/hate relationship with their families, bosses, friends, and even
spouses. They can be the sweetest people with loving intentions one second, and the next, say
something so offensive that makes you want to call them every name under the sun and react
negatively. Questions like “When did you gain so much weight?” or “When will you ever get another
boyfriend?” or “Why haven’t you found a job yet?” can really hit below the belt and really set off your
temper, if you allow it. People don’t often think about what they say before they say it, which can lead
to disaster if the person they are speaking to (you) becomes offended.
You have a right to defend yourself and speak your mind, but you can come up with a retort that
allows you to express yourself while still being positive and polite.
Finding the right comeback to deal with rude people isn’t always easy, especially if that person signs
your paychecks. If you have been wondering how to handle your mother-in-law who can’t seem to
keep her mouth shut about your weight, or your boss who shows no remorse when he gives you extra
work to do, consider these comebacks the next time you encounter rudeness.
1. Thank You.
A simple “thank you” speaks volumes when you encounter rudeness. Not only does it show the other
person that you didn’t let their words affect you, it reflects maturity on your part. You chose not to
ignore the person or get angry, but met both of those tactics somewhere in the middle. A “thank you”
usually implies that you acknowledge someone’s thoughtfulness and are responding to that.
However, in this case, your “thank you” will mean that you acknowledge the person’s rudeness and
you choose not to let it affect you. That will shut the other person down quickly when he or she
realizes that the comments didn’t phase you.
You choose how to react in any given situation, so choose happiness. It will keep your thoughts and
actions positive, and show others that their rude words simply cannot take your power from you.
2. I Appreciate Your Perspective.
Not only does is this an intelligent approach, it will show the person that you only wish to
communicate in an adult manner, and not stoop to their level. Any rude comments reflect the other
person’s shaky perception of themselves, so remember that when someone blurts out something
tactless. They may want to bring you down, but you don’t have to let them. Show them that you will
only continue the conversation with dignity and respect. They may actually respect you more by
reacting in such a considerate way. If this doesn’t happen, shift your focus with this next tip.
3. This Conversation Is Now over.
If you find yourself too angry to respond to someone in a civil way, simply end the conversation. You
don’t want to cause permanent damage to a relationship by losing your cool, but you also don’t want
to disrespect yourself by pretending like the person’s comments or questions are acceptable.
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Choose to take the high road and not allow the conversation to carry on, and you will be able to keep
your dignity while skipping a potential all-out brawl or heated argument.
4. Why Do You Feel that Was Necessary, and Do You Really Expect Me to Answer?
Especially in group settings, this will likely put the other person in check very quickly. Instead of
getting the expected irate response out of you, they will meet a calm, cool and collected you, ready to
talk things over sensibly and decently. Also, it will give them a chance to redeem themselves, and
apologize to you in front of your friends, family or co-workers.
Other people do need to know that you do not tolerate rude or uncalled for questions and comments,
and that you will call attention to their uncouth behavior. If they say “yes” to the second part of your
question, you can simply reply with “Well, it looks like this isn’t your lucky day,” and be done with the
conversation.
5. That Almost Hurt My Feelings.
While a little on the sarcastic side, it tells the other person that you choose not to absorb their
negativity. It also deals with rude people in a mature way, and will probably discourage the other
person from making any other remarks once they realize you aren’t affected by them.
6. You’re Right.
While most people have a hard time saying these two words, it will benefit you to make the other
person believe they were in the right in what they said, and will likely cause the conversation to be cut
short. What more can they say after this comeback? You admit their rightness, and then disengage
from the conversation. While you might not get as much satisfaction by using this tactic, it will put a
damper on the other person’s enjoyment since they won’t get a rise out of you, which is what they
were after in the first place.
7. You Always Have Something Negative to Say, Don’t You?
This takes the attention off of you and back onto them, making them think twice about their choice of
conversation topics. Not only will you, rightfully so, draw their focus onto their own words, but also
force them to reconsider what they say in the future.
Speaking your mind when a person repeats behavior that offends you is never wrong or uncalled for;
if you feel you need to draw attention to someone’s behavior, then listen to your gut. The person’s
negativity likely affects other people besides you, so making them aware of their own toxic behavior
will actually benefit you and others in future situations with this person.
8. I Love Myself, and I Love You, too.
This may only apply in certain situations with friends, family, and your spouse. If you say it to your
boss, you might either get a strange look or get your named removed from the payroll, so use it at
your discretion. However, this comeback had to make an appearance on the list because of its
effectiveness at shutting down rude people. Kindness always prevails over negativity; darkness
cannot thrive where light is present. When you express to the other person just how much you love
life and others, their comments become irrelevant and lose power quickly. Their sour mood and bleak
outlook on themselves, you, and life will not be a match for your extreme happiness and zest for life.
People also aren’t used to such raw emotion from others, and will probably be too surprised to
formulate a proper response.
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Your words have the ability to boost the entire energy of a room and promote more positive
conversation. You can’t go wrong with that!
9. LAUGH
This reaction will definitely catch the offender off-guard and make a rude person feel embarrassed for
even making the comment in the first place. For instance, if your aunt brings up your recent job loss
at dinner again, just laugh. It will make the present moment seem a little less serious, and will send a
message that you don’t let other people’s rude comments affect your mood or outlook on life.
Bottom line: You choose how to react in any given situation, so choose happiness!
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Personal-Development.Com Newsletter – February 17, 2017
The Good Business Man
“He’s a good business man”, what does that mean
It’s a phrase that’s abused, misused, I’m not keen
To be called a good business man means you don’t care
About your workers, your products, it isn’t fair
That some awful people receive this so called accolade
They treat people like dirt, their life should be stayed
They contribute nothing but greed to this world
In front of their building, a banner unfurled
Should read that this company is run by a man
Who takes what he wants, steals what he can
Lies through his teeth, has raped his date
Badly misunderstood or the devil incarnate
So when you hear the phase “He’s a good business man‟
Turn right around and run as fast as you can.
Gordon Stitt
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