Life Quotes to Revolutionize Your Life - Top 10 Ways Quotes Will Improve You

A few well chosen words can completely change your life for the better. Life Quotes are hugely popular today, because people are searching for answers and meaning to modern living. Not only do they bring you the wisdom of the ages and sages, but they can revolutionize your whole perspective on life.

Here are the Top 10 ways that reading Life Quotes will benefit you:

1 - Motivate and Energize - Do you have personal or professional goals you want to reach? Then you need something to inspire you. Life quotations can help awaken the sleeping giant inside and speed you to your destination.

2 - Your Child's True Potential - Inspire your child to reach their true potential by sharing great quotes with them. They can teach skills that make their journey to adulthood smoother and more rewarding.

3 - Relieve Stress - Stress is one of the top killers today. It can seriously damage your mental and physical health. Avoid it, get your priorities right and practise the wisdom of the greatest life sayings.

4 - Improve Conversation - Spice up your communication and conversation skills. Never be lost for words. Sound intelligent and interesting, with a few powerful quotes.

5 - Create a Smile - Become one of the most popular people in your group by bringing a smile to people's faces. Brighten up someone's day with a funny quote from life.

6 - The Meaning of Life - What's life really all about? Insightful quotations can help us understand the true meaning of life, so that we can appreciate and enjoy it all the more.

7 - Improve Grades - If you are a student looking to better your grades, why not consider using some good quotes in your next essay or assignment. It shows good research, and adds impact.

8 - Ease Depression - An inspirational quote a day is a great prescription for beating the blues.

9 - Impress Colleagues - The ability to use a brilliant quote will make you an instant hit with friends, and colleagues at the next office party.

10 - Improve Relationships - When you are away from someone you care about, why not send them a good quote. You can email, text or write it in a letter. They will appreciate you for it.

7 Secrets of Success in a Recession

I call them secrets only because of what I see all around me. Everywhere I go people are talking about how bad things are and how terrible the economy is and on and on; so clearly they must be secrets. To me these "secrets" are simply principles that can be applied in any economy, recession or no recession, to achieve success. The only difference is in the mechanical how-to's during trying times such as these. You may have to change the WAY you do things, but not what you do. Admittedly, times are tough. But who are we to cower away in the face of adversity?

1. Stop Worrying! I mean it, stop thinking about how bad things are, stop obsessing over how much value your property has lost, or what the stock market is doing, or whatever it is you're worrying about right now. Worry is destroying you in more ways than you know. It does a fantastic job at eliminating any creativity that you may have. It robs you of precious sleep. It causes a loss of appetite and hence poor nutrition to fuel your body. And it puts you into a destructive frame of mind. None of these things will help you. I will drive this point home with a part of the inaugural speech given by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933:

"This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself-nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory."

This is eerily relevant today. In fact, it almost sounds as if it were written for the conditions we are facing today. But it was not. It was written during the Great Depression. And we all know; that story has a happy ending. So Stop Worrying!

2. Turn Off the News. Every time I happen to be in a room where the T.V. is tuned in to a news station, I am assaulted by terrible stories about death, murder, robbery, arson, plummeting stock markets and housing prices, banks shutting down, and on and on. Listen. I rarely watch the news and I know what is going on around me. I'm not missing anything terribly important because there is always someone who is constantly watching the news to let me know if I am. News is big business. The purpose of a business is to attract and keep a customer. Stories of puppy dogs and ice cream don't sell, but drama does. Scandal sells. Sex sells. And since this is what keeps the attention of the masses, this is what they report. It's doing nothing but reminding you that you should be worried. Turn it off and leave it off.

3. Study the Past. It has been said that to know where we are going, we must first know where we have been. There are stories of success in times of far greater adversity than we face now. The revolutionary war is an excellent example. Look at Hewlett Packard, Proctor & Gamble, and Chevrolet during the late 1920's and early 1930's when the Great Depression was at its worst. These are stories of success, increased market share, and creating an empire at times when others drifted off into oblivion as a result of fear paralysis. The unfortunate thing about the failures of these time periods was that it really was the mindset that the majority had which caused them to fail. Those who decided to act in spite of the fear made millions, created a new nation, and outsold their competitors. Study the past for stories of success during adversity. This will give you the inspiration to believe it is possible for you to create your success in today's trying times. Study the past.

4. Ask the Question: How Can I? If you just did this one thing over and over, you would be amazed at what you could create. Successful people look at problems and ask themselves how they can solve them, unsuccessful people look at problems and say, I can't do this, or I can't afford that or, we'll never be able to go there and so on. By asking how can I, you open up your mind to the creativity we all have within us to do incredible things. Like Henry Ford said "Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right." Focus on how you can give more, be more, create more, and serve more. In the words of John F. Kennedy, "Ask not what your country can do for you, rather what can you do for your country." Ask How Can I?

5. Focus On Your Circle of Influence. There are things we can control and things we cannot. Your job is to focus your energy only on the things you can control, your circle of influence. To worry about and focus on all the negativity and bad news of the recession is distracting you from focusing on what you can actually do something about. The serenity prayer comes to mind: Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Focus!

6. Stop Waiting. Don't wait for the timing to be right, for the economy to get better, for the value of your home to go back up, for the kids to get through school, for the weather to warm back up, and on and on. Someone close to me just told me how he wants to open his own business. He tells me that if he had done it 3 years ago when he had the opportunity, he would be close to financial independence. He decided at the time to wait until the timing was "just right." Now with the economy the way it is, there's just no way he can do it. He said he would have to wait until the economy improved and when that happens, he will make his move. I was speechless... This quote perfectly sums it up:

"For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin-real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be got through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. At last it dawned on me that those obstacles were my life....

"This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So, treasure every moment that you have. And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time with. And remember that time waits for no one."
Father Alfred D'souza (Australian, died 2004)

Whatever it is you want to do, Do it now!

7. Make a Commitment. Commit to yourself that you are going to do what you know you should to turn your life around. Success is a process defined simply as the deliberate pursuit of a worthwhile goal. Success is not the destination at the end of a long journey, it is the journey. There is no failure except for the acceptance of it. Commit to taking control of your life instead of being controlled by it. And when I say commit to it, I mean to give yourself no other option. Burn the bridges that lead back to mediocrity and refuse to look back. When you stumble or you don't get what you set out to get, realize that the result is simply feedback and not something that defines or labels you as a failure. We live in a world of cause and effect. If the effect you elicit isn't the effect you wanted, congratulations! You found a way not to do it. Try again. Failure to achieve what you want to achieve is simply your internal GPS telling you that you made a wrong turn. If this happened on a road trip and your Garmin told you that you made a wrong turn, would you turn off your engine, put your head in your hands and give up? Of course not, you would regroup and start again. Life is no different. Focus on the end result. Commit to getting there. Don't quit no matter what happens. And take action now!

Health Insurance Providers and Pre Existing Conditions

Health insurance providers and pre existing conditions are a volatile combination. Pre existing conditions are health issues that were known of prior to seeking a health insurance policy, such as diabetes, cancer, pregnancy, depression, obesity and more. Having such a condition means that you may be refused coverage. Disclosure of these conditions enables providers to limit the risks they take on. However, if you have an issue in your medical history, you have no choice but to disclose it, as companies do their research too and non-disclosure could result in cancellation of a policy. However, there are ways to get coverage despite having a pre existing condition.

Insurance providers often take on individuals with known medical conditions but put a waiting period in place before they start paying for medical expenses associated with the disease or situation. This allows the person who would otherwise by refused coverage to get coverage. Individuals with health conditions should expect to pay higher rates than healthy individuals, unless they belong to a group plan.

The easiest and most guaranteed way to secure coverage if you have a previous condition is to get group coverage through an employer. Members of the group must be accepted regardless of pre existing conditions, although a short waiting period may be put in place for claims arising from it. Of course, this does penalize the healthiest member of such groups by making the cost higher for everyone.

If you are HIPAA eligible, meaning you have been on group insurance for more than 19 months, have exhausted COBRA benefits and cannot get Medicaid or Medicare, you can get an individual health insurance policy with no exclusion period. Insurers must offer you a health insurance policy that does not limit your pre existing condition if you meet the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act guidelines.

Being Childless - The Road To Happiness

I'm childless. There, that's out of the way. I'm not able to have children, not by
choice but by circumstance.

In my late teens and early twenties I desperately wanted children. I'd grown up
emotionally abused, and I thought that having a child would give me something that
I could love that was all mine. I wanted a football team!

When we are insecure within ourselves we look to outside sources to 'complete' us
such as relationships, children, work, or even volunteer commitments.

When women/couples cannot have children they can feel invalidated as a
relationship, and often marriages will fail because of the lack of children. If two
people cannot commit to each other without children, then there's usually not much
hope for a long-term relationship.

When a woman cannot have a child, such as myself, you can feel such overwhelming
grief at the time that it can be all consuming. You'll usually go through all sorts of
tests, procedures, invasions of intimate and personal space in order to try and have
a child.

There are many processes for the infertile. There is IVF, adoption, foster care,
permanent care placements or even surrogacy in some countries.

What do you do though, if, despite this overwhelming grief, sense of loss, and
desire to have a child, you start to ask if it is all worth it?

What do you do if you realise that you don't have that driving desperation to have a
child? You still have the hurt, the pain and loss, but you feel as if you should be
feeling more 'desperation?'

There isn't any magic answer. Each woman is unique in her determination to have a
child of her own. I've met many women who have gone through immense personal
sacrifice to have a child and they've had either the most tragic or joyous outcomes.

Women who are infertile and cannot have a child have to at some point in their life
become comfortable with this. There is no defining moment, no set point at which
this happens, but it must happen for a woman to start to heal her pain and move on
with her life, for there is life without children, and it can be a great life.

Life without children is not the scary movie scenario that women think it is. It's not
when they turn into hags and become the scary old lady down the street.

Life without children means not being tied down to schedules, not being tied down
to school holidays, car pooling for sports, extra curricular activities and the like.
You are free to pursue your own life, work and leisure activities.

You get to be the favourite Aunt.

You have time to do the things you want, when you want.

You get to hog all the easter eggs if you want. You get to eat that block of
chocolate all by yourself. You don't have to structure your working life around
school timetables. You don't have to volunteer for canteen duty. You can take an
arts class, do yoga, go to university, travel and do any damn thing you want to.

Yes, being childless has it's advantages. Many would say also that it's lonely, you
grow old alone and your name doesn't get passed on through the generations.

Big deal.

It took me about ten years to understand that not having children was a blessing. I
saw so many of my friends complain about their lives. I've seen so much abuse of
children around me by parents who didn't really stop to think about what a child
needed, or why they had the child in the first place. If I had the opportunity, I
probably would not have a child now, knowing what I know now, I know that my life
is richer and freer for not having children, and that I am a more well rounded,
developed and secure individual for it.

It doesn't take the hurt, pain and sense of loss away, which may sound like a
contradiction, but for women out there who have lived with their infertility and
childlessness for years, they'll understand where it comes from.

Enjoy being childless. Don't wallow in self-pity. Go out there and make something
of your life. You've been given an opportunity to be a free spirit without the
constraints of the school bell.

Your life is an open book and only you know how many pages there are to turn.
Each page brings new challenges and chapters in your life to explore and being
childless needn't be the end, but only the beginning of your voyage of self-
discovery. Who knows, you might actually like discovering who YOU are.

Boost Self-Esteem, Banish Depression

Do you know someone who is always pessimistic and negative? Always looking at the glass as half empty? Maybe it's you. It's time to think about turning those negative thoughts into positive thoughts, because one's thoughts are the basic building blocks that over time create one's attitude-and the more negative your attitude, the more numerous will be the negative things that you will attract-which will only reinforce your negative attitude. But, fortunately, the opposite is also true: the more positive you are, the more positive your life will be.

Do you ever find that if you start the day with something frustrating happening, the rest of your day turns out badly? That's because you held on to the negative nature of whatever happened. The way you hold on to it is by speaking of it to others or keeping it in your thoughts. By saying things like, "It's been one of those mornings," your mind is set in a direction which will-if not corrected-ensure that you do have "one of those days," when in fact it was just a few bad moments.

The longer you hold on to a negative thought, the more nasty relatives it gathers to set up shop in your mind. It's like the proverbial snowball that keeps getting bigger and bigger. Or a weed which seeds the ground with more weeds.

Are you telling yourself that you are just not talented enough to make your dreams come true? Banish those thoughts immediately and begin to tell a new story: think thoughts that are empowering, uplifting, and energizing. Believe in yourself and believe in your dreams. Go for it and give it everything you got because you CAN make it happen!

Frank Lloyd Wright said it well: "The thing always happens that you really believe in: and the belief in a thing makes it happen." You must believe you can do it, or you will not, and you must see it happening in your mind, or you will not see it happen in your life.

Don't let thoughts of destruction enter your mind. If you let thoughts of doubt and fear in, they will plant more seeds of an undesirable nature which will end up tearing you down. You must not let this happen!

At all times picture yourself healthy, speak of yourself as strong, refer to yourself as capable. Believe in yourself. Have faith in your ability. You really can achieve anything you set out to do. Go forward with a 'can do' attitude. Picture yourself succeeding and get fired up! Get excited about your future! There are great things in store for you if you believe.

When negative thoughts come into your mind, shoot them down by canceling them out. Think of something positive as quickly as possible and don't carry on in the direction of where the previous thought was trying to take you. Do not allow negativity to dwell in your mind. These thoughts are, quite simply, not welcome.

Stay focused on your goal and do not lose sight of it. Every step you take in the right direction will cause the level of belief you have within yourself to surge. Re-program your mind by talking to yourself using kind words. The truth is, you are talented and bright, and you DO have what it takes to succeed in anything, and everything that you undertake.

So go for it. Start believing in yourself and don't let anything hold you back: especially not yourself. I believe in you...do you?

Depression and Changing Your Mind-Set

What we need to bear in mind is that the conscious mind uses the information stored in the subconscious mind. We will use beliefs as an example. If you wish to change your beliefs then you need to re-educate your subconscious mind.

"If you always think what you've always thought, you will always get what you've always got". You need to fill your mind with all the good things that you wish to happen in your life. Living a full and satisfying life means that you have to fill your subconscious mind with thoughts of the kind of life you desire.

Affirmation.

Affirmation is a way to repeat simple and straight forward positive sayings and statement. We repeat affirmations over and over again so that our subconscious mind will begin to believe it's true. It then moulds your actions to suit your thoughts which in turn, move you closer to the life of your desires.

Creative Visualization.

This is probably the most powerful life changing tool. All you need to do is simply visualize or see in your mind's eye the kind of life you wish to have. Your mind will then mould your actions to suit your mind. Do this over and over again to speed up the process.

Hypnosis.

This is another way of bypassing the conscious mind and changing your life for the better. The good thing is that you do not even need a hypnotist as there are many CD's available on most subjects.

Self Esteem.

To succeed at anything you need to have high self-esteem. If you have low self-esteem one of the easiest ways to build your self-esteem is to say "I like myself" over and over and over again. While you are repeating the statement you are not allowing any negative thoughts to enter your head. More you say this statement, the more your subconscious mind will build your self-esteem thus making you feel good about yourself

It is important to remain positive and motivated during this process of self-development. To assist you read inspirational quotes from famous and successful individuals. This will help your mind to achieve it's goal and keep you uplifted.

As Earl Nightingale said "we become what we think about".

Self Help and Dealing with depression

Some of the things that depression does are drain your energy, enthusiasm for life and makes it difficult to for you to do what it takes to make yourself feel better.

There is no quick fix to finding a solution to being depressed.

The trick is to start small and deal with it in increments.

Recovering from depression will require action. Taking action when you are depressed is hard. Even thinking about taking those first steps can be exhausting within itself.

It really is a catch 22 situation as the things that help the most are the most difficult to do, even going for a walk or spending time with friends.

Small Steps

Start with small steps such as going for a short walk around the block or even ringing a close friend. You can then build on these small steps as your energy levels come back.

Takes things one day at a time and remember to reward yourself for each accomplishment. Although the steps are small they will soon add up. As you persevere with these small steps you will begin to feel better and your energy levels will increase.

Try to stay focused on the end result as this will get you through the times when you may feel like giving up.

Remember, small steps are the key as it's not a quick fix to the road of recovery.

The Art of Positive Thinking When You're Feeling Negative

Experts say that being a positive-minded person can help make your life easier, healthier, and longer. People who are optimistic are generally believed to be stronger than pessimists, both in psychological and physical terms. They are also known to be better equipped to cope during periods of stress. The Mayo Clinic says people with a negative outlook are more inclined to suffer from depression, more susceptible to catching colds and more likely to die of cardiovascular disease.

Psychologists estimate that we think between 60,000 - 80,000 thoughts per day and approximately 80% of those thoughts are generally negative. They also say that most of these negative thoughts are the same negative thoughts we had yesterday, last year, and 10 years ago. These negative thoughts have been developing in our subconscious for years, often stemming from childhood issues. As we age, we tend to repeat the negative thoughts we heard in our childhood and eventually replace our parents' voices with our own. Becoming more aware of your thoughts gives you the freedom needed to alter negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones.

Don't blame yourself for having negative thoughts. We live in an anxiety-provoking world filled with stories of natural disasters, wars and illness. As a result, we are constantly being bombarded with negative and fear-inducing information. It is no wonder we tend to think negatively and are worrying so much of the time.

That being said, thinking these thoughts will not make us feel better, maybe more in the majority, but no happier. By being more conscious and vigilant of our thoughts, we can learn to catch ourselves earlier on and prevent going off on a rampage of indignation. This can be achieved by stopping and asking ourselves, 'how are these thoughts going to help me lead a happier life?'

Everyone has their dark moments and many more feel this way as the holiday approaches. This period of the year may culminate in feelings of loneliness, disappointment, sadness or being let down that the holidays won't be giving you whatever it is you feel your truly want, need, or deserve. While that may be very true, how about focusing about some of the positives in your life right now, so that you can start feeling better right now.

Here are some things you can do to bring yourself closer to positive thinking:

Change your negative self-talk:One way to do this is once you have identified a negative thought try to replace it with more realistic thinking rather than pessimistic thoughts. For example, instead of saying to yourself, "why does this always happen to me?" try to remember a time in your past when you had other challenges and then remember how you managed to overcome those challenges. You will feel much different if instead of saying, "Why does this always happen to me?" you replace the thought with, "Okay, it seems I have hit another bump in the road, but I know I have had worse and I am still here, so I know I can find a way to succeed with this as well." This method of focusing on the solution rather than the problem will lead you to feel empowered, rather than overwhelmed or victimized. This works for all situations, whether it is a health, financial or relationship issue.

Feeling more positive means you have a healthier self-esteem. This is not just about slapping on a "happy face" sticker whenever you are really feeing angry or hurt.

It is about having a more positive attitude about life, giving everyone the benefit of the doubt and looking for reasons to celebrate rather than reasons to complain. It is a mental shift of attitudes and choosing a different perception with which to interpret people's actions and behaviours.

Most negative thoughts aren't about the truth. They are just thoughts that you have acquired over time which are habitual. Often these negative thoughts aren't necessarily true. They are just habits you probably picked up in your childhood, maybe heard you parents say and you replaced their dialogue with yours over the years. The good news is that habits can be changed and you can change these negative thoughts and attitudes.

Affirmations:Are another way to use positive statements. You need to repeat them many times, either out loud or in your mind. An affirmation should be constructed in the present tense, and should be said often. Write your affirmations on index cards or post-it notes and stick them on your keyboard, computer monitor, refrigerator, mirrors, and/or car-anywhere and everywhere you can. The more you see them, the more you'll say them to yourself and the more they will become ingrained in your mind. You also may choose to think a positive thought about yourself and repeat it when negative thoughts enter you mind. You will find a list of affirmations in the handouts.

Certain examples include:

"I will have a good day today"

"Circumstances are what they are, but I can choose my attitude toward them."

"I love and accept myself just the way I am"

"It's never too late to change. I am improving one step at a time."

"It's ok to make mistakes. I am willing to learn from them."

Read a positive poem:An example could be the happiness poem

Sing a song: Humming or singing a happy song goes a long way to improving your mood

Exercise: Has a positive effect on your mood and has been known to lessen depression. The exercise triggers the release of endorphins, which are the hormones that regulate your mood. These endorphins create a feeling of euphoria in the given person, increasing positive affect. This process can be achieved by walking or doing low impact exercises. Exercise can also raise your self-confidence and give you a general feeling of well-being.

Laughter: Humor makes life richer and healthier. Laughter increases creativity, reduces pain, and speeds healing. Keep a kit containing funny videotapes, jokes, CDs, cartoons and photographs to improve your levels of laughter.

Positive Friends: Are vital to good health and a positive attitude. Close social ties help you recover quicker from illness and reduces your risk of developing diseases ranging from arthritis to depression. They also help improve your mood and remind you that you're not alone and that there is someone there for you when you need them.

Pets: Can be very therapeutic. They give unconditional love, make you feel needed, and loved you not matter how you look, or what mood you're in. They're great company, don't complain and don't leave their dirty underwear on the floor

Nature:Going for walks in nature or driving in the car and noticing the beautiful scenery is very relaxing and helps you feel more in tune as well as raises you mood.

Uplifting quotes: Reading uplifting and inspirations material will help as well.

Absorbing positive words and reciting encouraging affirmation can be highly supportive emotional ammunition during challenging situations.

Reconnect: With people you have lost contact with. A shared history can bring back positive memories and instill an overall sense of well-being and fullness.

Forgiveness: When we forgive someone for something hurtful they have said or done.

We are really doing it for ourselves. Carrying around anger and resentment only hurts our happiness and ability to stay positive. Someone once said, resentment is like swallowing poison expecting the other person to die.

Lists: Make a list of the things you appreciate in your life right now.

• I am happy I have a nice, comfortable home


• I love my bed ?


• I am happy that my bills are all paid


• I am happy that my son/daughter called me this week


• I am happy that I have good doctors who take good care of me

In conclusion, using these tools consistently will improve your overall mood. Just like anything else, altering your mood takes practice, commitment and determination. This is your life; making it a happy one is up to you. While you can't control what other people say and do, you can control how you choose to react, what you tell yourself and how long you choose to hold onto those negative thoughts. Start the New Year with a new attitude.

Happy New Year,
Rhonda Rabow, M.A.

Powerful James Allen As A Man Thinketh Quotes

Some As A Man Thinketh quotes by James Allen can save you money and suffering. Many of his quotes are deceptively simple but have a powerful effect when put into practice. There is one that comes to mind every time I see an ad for antidepressants "There is no physician like cheerful thought for dissipation the ills of the body." What a silly idea you may say but it is true.

The fact that drug companies are willing to place high dollar full page ads in newspapers and spots on TV indicate many people are not following James Allen's sage advice. What fascinates is that many people are willing to suffer maladies caused by drugs taken to cure depression when they already possess the remedy.

A drug vendor stated in an ad that their antidepressant medicine's most common side effects include disturbance in speech, fatigue, dizziness, constipation, dry mouth, drowsiness, stuffy nose, upset stomach, weight gain and increased appetite. In addition to those common side effects the reader was cautioned to be on the lookout for high fever, stiff muscles, confusion, sweating, changes in pulse, heart rate or blood pressure, muscle pain, weakness and even death. Readers were also cautioned not to forget the risk of suicidal tendencies and loss of control of the face, tongue or other body parts. And last but not least caution was advised before operating machinery or driving after taking the medicine.

It is a shame that many people will spend money and suffer the harsh side effects of drugs to cure depression when they have the remedy right there in their own minds.

If a person could wipe out the negatives from their mind and only allow positive thoughts of happiness, success and motivation to come in a positive change in attitude followed by a favorable change in circumstances would result. The analogy of the farmer reaping the harvest of whatever seeds he planted in his fields applies to the mind. Whatever ideas are planted in the mind will produce like fruit in thought, actions and results.

Constantly thinking doom and gloom will cause depression. If you sit around and think of things like I am probably going to lose my job, I may go bankrupt, I'm getting sick, my 401k plan is going in the tank, I'm gaining weight and my children are going to use drugs you will be depressed. These are the seeds of negativity that will cause havoc in your mind and bring wretchedness to life whether rich or poor.

Each person is the doorkeeper of their mind and control what thoughts are allowed to enter. It is very easy to let negative thoughts come in. They are everywhere because negativity sells. We are bombarded with bad news from every direction, the news on TV, negative people and institutions to name a few.

With a little practice it becomes easy to lock out the negative thoughts and only allow positive thoughts into your mind. Doing this will help you live a better life and save money by not having to buy antidepressant drugs.

Business Marketing Strategies-Your Guide To Creative Ideas and Implementation

Today, most of the world is struggling. The economy is struggling, people are struggling, small businesses are struggling, congress is struggling, and just about everyone else is struggling. These times are probably making you doubt whether or not you can survive in today's world.

Not too long ago, you were able to run to the bank and take out a loan for any unexpected costs, or to help pay for expansion or new marketing ideas. But not in today's world. There have been small businesses that have taken out loans before, and paid it off earlier than expected, and have been denied today, because all of a sudden they are a "high risk loan." How that works, I'm not sure. When people are scared, we do irrational things that can actually make things work while we think we're looking out for our best interest.

One of my favorite quotes is by Harry Vardon: "There are two types of people-those who keep there nose up while in despair and win championships-and those who do not."

So you want to be one of the small businesses that, against the odds, still comes up with creative ideas, implements effective strategies, and will be one of the businesses people look up too.

I believe that if one person, or business, so can any other business. All we have to do is look at how companies during the Great Depression survived. And you'll see companies that didn't sit back and wait for things to get better. They increased their marketing efforts and took their fate into their own hands.

Another thing is to look at successful marketing campaigns and see why there are successful and try to modify that to your product or service.

For example, these are some of the things you should try to implement into your marketing campaign and show your potential customers:

1. Incorporating cool, on-point technology helps you stand out in a crowded market and woo tech-savvy consumers.


2. If you add value to customers' lives with real content and helpful, fun services, they won't soon forget you.


3. Demonstrate the value of your product by bringing it directly to where consumers happen to be. You'll be that much closer to making a sale.


4. Give customers an experience they'll want to brag about to their friends (aka your future customers).

These are just a couple of values you should keep in mind while creating your marketing campaign.

How to Deal and Cope With a Loved One When They Are Sick Or Feeling Down

To see those you love in pain whether it is emotional or physical can be difficult. It often begins to start affecting you. Fear of loss can increase as well as a sense of hopelessness.Those are the moments when
you need to take some space to get yourself together.

These feelings combined transform into a catastrophic mindset.The key is to prevent that from occurring. When the person who you view as a pillar of strength is now fighting for their life let alone strength can leave an uneasy feeling; thought as well as position.

Life has a consistency of change. We must learn to adapt and fight for the sake of the small hope we have inside of us. You must learn how to switch into the roll of a leader.

Take some space to relax, think and most importantly build yourself up. In order to deal with any situation you must be mentally prepared.

You do this by encouraging yourself. You can begin by working out and eating right. Read positive messages and quotes. Constantly remind yourself that you are more then able to succeed if you begin to look deep in yourself and discover your strength.

It is important to encourage those who are feeling down and sick. When someone is ill creating a positive mindset changes everything.

Often times a person who is sick weather they are suffering from depression or cancer will become
mentally drained. These people need to hear empowering words so their bodies can properly fight their symptoms. As well as recharge their mind and sooth their soul.

Being there for a loved one can be tough because of the love or relationship you share. Simply remember
that you must build yourself up so you in return can be able to build up your friend or loved one back to their happy state with encouraging words.

Drinking Too Much Alcohol Affects Your Life Insurance Rate

Does the amount of alcohol you drink affect your life insurance rates? While insurance companies may not be primarily concerned with how much alcohol you drink, they are definitely concerned about any adverse effects your drinking may have on your health. Heavy drinking as a lifestyle may lead to chronic health concerns such as heart disease, stroke, depression, dementia, liver and gastrointestinal problems.

Because the amount of alcohol you consume may have bearing on your health and longevity, life insurance companies are interested in this aspect of your life. Most companies would not hesitate to increase your insurance rates if you are a heavy drinker. In fact, according to the underwriting practices of some insurance companies, drinking two drinks a day may disqualify you from the "preferred" category. Drinking four or more drinks a day may disqualify you from "standard" insurance rates.

If you already have a history of alcohol abuse, and you have attended Alcoholic Anonymous meetings or have had a DUI on your driving record, this could lead to much higher life insurance rates. Depending on how severe your alcohol condition is, some insurance underwriters may decline your application for life insurance or put you in a class which is very expensive.

Most insurance companies require you to undergo a life insurance medical exam. Your blood and urine tests will reveal whether you are a heavy drinker or a moderate drinker. Carbohydrate Deficient Transferrin (CDT) is a test that checks liver functions. Elevated liver enzymes can indicate that you are a heavy drinker even if alcohol use is not noted on your medical history or on your application. Abnormal liver functions are normally assumed by insurance companies to be related to excessive alcohol consumption. If doubts exist, an insurance company may ask you to do an "alcohol marker" test to verify your liver abnormalities are alcohol-related. But even if it is not alcohol-related, you may still be put into an expensive life insurance rate category because abnormal liver functions are considered a health risk.

If you have ever received a DUI, you can expect a heavy insurance rate if you apply within the first three years after you have been charged. After that, depending on your medical history and current health condition, you may be charged standard rates. If you have complied with drug rehabilitation programs ordered by the court, your chances for better insurance rates may start looking good only after you've completed the drug program. Multiple alcohol or drug-related traffic violations could put you under the "non-insurable" category.

The bottom line? If you have any history of a drinking problem, mention this on your application. Any kind of misinformation on your application is considered to be fraud and may render your policy null and void.

There are several life insurance companies whose underwriters look upon alcohol-related conditions in a much better light. Screening hundreds of insurance companies to find one that suits your needs would take time, effort and a lot of comparative study. Using online life insurance providers who have access to hundreds of reliable insurance companies may be your best option for finding the best insurance rates, whether you do or do not have a drinking problem.

Read Motivational Life Quotes to Improve Your Life

Great Motivational Life Quotes are sure to motivate you when going gets tough. They motivate you to take action towards the goal you have decided for yourself and inspire you to live life with full enthusiasm. These Quotes takes you to an entire new world and lighten the road of success for you.

Reading them on a regular basis can change your whole life for the better. If you read Inspirational Quotes on Life on morning before starting your work and in the night before going to bed, then after some days your thoughts and beliefs towards life will change. You will become a person with positive attitude and sharp mind who can tackle any difficulties and problems.

Here are some ways how reading motivational life quotes and applying them into your life can change your life.

1- Inspirational Life Quotes gives you quick boost in your motivation to achieve your life goals and thus helps you becoming a successful person. A good life quote gives you instant motivation and makes you feel happier and relaxed. This, in turn, fills you with energy and motivation which drives you forward towards achieving your goals. 

2- Motivational Quotes about Life are one of the best ways to get rid of depression. They help you tide over your mood and help you recover happiness. As the name suggests, Motivational Life Quotes are created to motivate you, to help you understand the true meaning of life and lighten up your mood when things are not going your way. And the best thing is you need not to spend any money. Isn't it great you are getting so many benefits free of cost? So next time whenever problems overwhelm you read some motivational quotes about life to get back to life.

3- These Quotes helps you in get rid of the habit of procrastination which is one of the biggest obstacles in your way of success. It is not an easy thing to beat procrastination, but reading motivational life quotes can do wonders in beating this enemy of your success. You can get rid of it only by having a heavy dose of inspiring and motivating messages which motivates you take action and thus stop procrastination. And nothing can motivate you the way that Motivational Life Quotations do.

4- There are roughly endless numbers of life quotes available for you. You can choose whichever quote you like. In other words, you never run out of original, motivational life quotes that will help give you motivation and strength to succeed in life.

It won't hurt you to print off some great motivational Life Quotes on poster and hang them in your room wall for maximum effect. My suggestion is to read them regularly in order to experience a stark difference in the way you think, act and behave. 

The Power of How by Tom Stone - A Businessman's Review

Pure Awareness.  GAP meditation.  AGAPE techniques.  Not commonly heard or used words in the business world.  But is it possible that a book like Tom Stone's "The Power of How" can actually be a powerful business book?  In this short book review, I'll review The Power of How from a purely business owners viewpoint and will discuss the business applications of this Tom Stone work.

Tom Stone is not your typical business book writer.  Though I've never met him, I imagine that he isn't even aware that he is a business book writer.  There are few "motivational quotes," and even fewer "business case applications" referenced in his books.  His most recent book, The Power of How, is no exception.  My first reading was from a purely "personal development" concern.  Like many, I believe that if I am not growing, I am dying.  The Power of How is a wonderful and powerful personal development book, that introduces some ancient but very timely techniques to live in a state of "Pure Awareness."  A state where your actions/thoughts/decisions are made from a place of awareness, not from past, possibly flawed conditioning.  Stone makes a powerful analogy that we humans have internal software that acts as our operating system.  Like computers, this software can be full of "bugs," "viruses," or simply be outdated.  Updating and cleaning out your software allows you to live a life of awareness.  Getting rid of these "bugs," is the main focus of this book.

My second reading was from the viewpoint of a business owner.  Like many business professionals, I am thirsty for information/strategies that will allow me to improve my effectiveness.  In short, I want to serve my customers better and make more money!  When in this mode, I don't have time for words like "pure awareness" nor time for meditation.  I want hard and fast tips for immediate improvement that I can implement right away and realize immediate benefits.   And though there are no obvious business improvement tips, this book is full of self-improvement, or rather, self-upgrade ideas, that, once fully integrated, will show positive results in my business life.  Understanding that our different life areas are all connected is key to realizing that The Power of How is a business book.

You could say that the Personal Development side of me is in conflict with the Business Owner side.  One strives for knowledge while the other for achievement.  However, regardless of which "mode" I am in, there is one irrefutable truth:  If the models on which I base my decisions on are flawed, my outcomes are likely to be flawed as well.  I take the same "mind" with me when I am negotiating a deal and when I am watching my son play baseball.  The same brain that designs effective marketing programs for my clients is also the same brain that makes decisions about where my family and I will vacation.  And if my mind or brain has some "bugs," then my decisions and/or designs will be flawed as well.  Perhaps they will be effective, but not as effective as they could be if my operating system was running at full speed.

Tom Stone's The Power Of How will most likely never see a boardroom, but is certain to find its way on several executive's desks.  Anyone who wants to improve their effectiveness should begin with improving themselves.  I strongly suggest to those that work for me that they read this book; telling them that it is imperative that they keep an open mind and realize that to improve their business effectiveness they first need to improve themselves!

As for me, I have experienced incredible results using this book, and have also seen unexpected improvements in my business as a result.  Removing the flawed programming and "updating my operating system," (two great analogies) has been one of the most dramatic life improvements I have made during my fifteen years of personal development.  Bravo, Mr. Stone!!!  Job, very well done

The Bullying Spouse - What to Do? Some Tips

A bullying spouse puts down their partner in order to feel better about themselves.
~Janvrin & Selleck.

This quote is self-explanatory and is personally relevant to every person in a spousal-type relationship, for bullying is not a label so much as a behaviour we get into when we're ruled by fear.

So many resist the term "bully" as it's stigmatised.

Yet a bully is characterised not by the personality trait of bullying but by the behaviour of bullying.

For the person who's partaking in the bullying behaviour and making life hell for their partner, there must be a way to identify the source of fear and strive past it, feeling hopeful and "safe" again--perhaps even for the first time. (This is one reason why God is great.) Fear and aggression are intrinsically linked; as is often with them (though not always), symptoms of depression.

This spouse, if they're not normally characterised by this behaviour, may just need to be gently but firmly reminded that this behaviour will not be tolerated.

For the person who's on the receiving end of the bullying, perhaps it's time to do some thinking. Is your partner characterised by bullying behaviour? Do they bully others too or just you? Is it only certain times or periods that they bully? One thing for certain, they must be engaged in an adult "boundary" conversation when they've cooled off. Try not to delay this.

Staying "adult,"[1] strong and emotion-free is critical. Obviously relationship counselling is advised. The problem needs to be addressed.

Finally, to the person who's doing the bullying--and we've all "bullied" people, without exception--find the source of your unhappiness and lack of self-worth. It will be entirely worth the search, personally and interpersonally. Safety and peace will be yours (and theirs).

穢 2010 S. J. Wickham.

[1] Recalling adult behaviour is rational, responsible, reasonable, reliable, realistic and logical. In other words, it's emotion-free.

Japanese Lacquer Ware Tells An Ancient Love Story

There is a fascinating story to be discovered through a piece in Jacqueline Avant's fine art works collection. This has involved a vintage collection of mostly pre-modern Japanese lacquer wares on display in southern California not very long ago. The images which have been engraved on several beautiful pieces in the Avant Collection include references to the literature of the courts. Interpretations of poems appear on lacquer regularly from the 13th century to the present time. The Six Immortals (872-945 AD) in the preface to the "Kokinshu" anthology form the basis for early literary quotes in lacquer. By the 18th century, images from poetry about the seasons of romance, themes from court fiction, or images from noh drama held an important presence among lacquer designs. When the Avant Ono no Komachi "suzuribako" was produced, layers of reference had accumulated around a theme like Komachi's. Therefore, the sad story of Ono no Komachi is indeed an interesting one to reflect upon.

Komachi lived a life that became a legend in her own time and has grown since in popular fascination. She was a stunning beauty of a young woman. A number of interested young men attempted to gain her favor. However, Komachi was not interested in any of the men who tried to pursue her. According to the mythology which surrounded her, she informed one suitor that if he came to visit her one hundred times only then would she allow him his earnest wish. This man was madly in love with Komachi, so he agreed to the arrangement. After many visits, he began to feel confident about his chance of success in the end. Then there came a night when one of his parents died. He was summoned away for a time of mourning, so he could not visit Komachi on that occasion. When he returned to her, she promptly rejected him. Later, this man also died in a great soul-wrenching depression which was caused by the cruel way his lover had treated him. Consequently, Komachi spent the rest of her life alone. She lived beyond the age of one hundred as a destitute, old hag. Despite the enormous legend, there is very little in Ono no Komachi's original poetry to give details about her biography. There are poetic subjects of the spurning of a lover and the lifelong regrets about her fading beauty. In the end, her beauty was lost forever.

The design on one suzuribako- a container of brushes, ink stone, and ink stick -illustrates the famous Ono no Komachi at age one hundred in a Japanses play called "Komachi at the Gateway Temple." On the night of Tanabata, a celebration of the meeting of two constellations on the seventh night of the seventh lunar month, a priest from the temple Sekidera and his servant come near a hut near the mountains. The aged woman, known as "the ruin of Komachi," is supposed to reside there. This priest brings along children who are interested in the study of classic poetry. Their purpose is to request the interpretation of two of her very famous poems. One poem goes like this: "This abandoned house, shining in the mountain village. How many night has autumn spent there? Seeing the moonlight, spilling down through the trees, My heart fills to the brim with autumn." (Translation by Jane Hirshfield and Mariko Aratami).

On the elegant lid of this container, Komachi smiles and reveals her rotted teeth. She is seated upon a straw raincoat and watching the moon over the faraway mountains. Her kimono is wrapped around her body in a loose way. The wardrobe also bears dragon roundels over a diaper pattern. All of these aspects make up a formal design that dates back to her noteworthy past in the imperial court of Japan. However, those glorious days are long gone in this sad portrait of an old woman with little comfort left in life. On this box her hut is situated before a brushwood fence with young pine trees in the front and a bamboo grove in the back. Both of these types of plants are symbolic in Japan of endurance through adversity. On the outer face of the box lid, the moon and clustered chrysanthemums are springing from a basket to Komachi's side. There are indicators of an early autumn which is in harmony with the seventh lunar month. It is interesting to remember that chrysanthemums likewise are symbolic of long life. This engraved portrait is a powerful reminder of the famous story of this once beautiful, young woman.... and her tragic, bitter fate.

Japanese lacquer collections are worth the time to study thoroughly, and then to reflect upon. In addition to their timeless beauty, they create a profoundly Asian atmosphere simply because of their historical reference. The Avant Collection is something only for the serious, wealthy collector to be sure. However, there are likely many fine replicated pieces which would suit your home or office very well. Take some time to learn what is available. You may be happily surprised!

Conservative Quote - Tough Times Never Last, Tough People Do

"Tough times never last; tough people do." Robert Schuller hit things on the head with this conservative quote. In a few weeks time, the bottom has fallen out of our economy and people are mad as blazes and scared to death. We feel hard times descended on us like a rampaging tornado. Our IRAs and pensions have been cut, then cut more, and cut yet again. The value of our houses has fallen, foreclosures are on the increase, and major American industries and banks are failing. Unemployment is up each month, with more and more jobs being threatened daily. All this before Christmas and, for many, Christmas looks pretty bleak. Young or old, our lives have been affected. And we have no knowledge of when this financial free-fall will end, which scares us even more. Just blind fear is ruling our lives!

Many pundits are comparing today's world with the 1930s when the Great Depression raged. Bad as things are now, believe me, things were much worse in Depression times. Our unemployment now is 6.5%; in 1932, 56% of black Americans and 40% of white Americans did not have jobs. Those who still had jobs had their incomes drop as much as fifty percent and their work week cut from six days to perhaps three.

Behind the depression, there was untold human suffering and degradation. Families split up, children dropped out of school, and people waited in food lines for hours to get a little bit of weak cabbage soup. Families were evicted from their homes unable to pay their rent or mortgages. Others ended up doubling or even tripling the number of people living in one apartment. Some crowded three or four families into one-room shacks living on dandelions and wild weed roots. Many starved to death and others died from related illnesses.

Yet through it all, Americans stayed tough, just as we must today. They still believed that America was the best country in the world, that there was a better tomorrow, and faith was the bedrock of their lives. We, too, must stand tough, just as Robert Schuller's conservative quote suggests. Let us today still have the patriotism, the faith, and the belief that there is a better tomorrow, just our grandparents did. Don't let your life be ruled by fear and rage. Stay tough and pray. We Americans will make it through this terrible time.

Do You Have Trouble Keeping Your Mouth Shut When You're Angry?

"Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret." If you answered yes to the title question I am sure you have realized the truth in this quote by Ambrose Bierce. In order to gain control over your tongue you must be determined to see things differently. People who lose their temper tend to view life in a negative and judgmental way. You have the ability to direct your mind away from angry and upset feelings. You need to realize that you can have peace of mind instead of conflict.

This article will cover a variety of mindsets and behaviors that will teach you how to keep your mouth shut when you are angry.

1) Be quick to listen and slow to speak. Remember that you have two ears and only one mouth. Use them in this proportion. It's better to be a good listener than to be a good speaker. Listen carefully to what the other person has to say. Take your time before giving them an answer.

2) Don't be double minded. You can't have peace of mind and conflict at the same time. Be clearly focused on the outcome that you want. (Example: "I want to go to bed tonight feeling close to my partner.").

3) You can't be right and be married. You have to decide "Do you want to be right or do you want to be married?" Trying to be right will destroy the connection between you. Instead, strive to do the right thing.

4) Don't jump to conclusions. Slow down and think through the situation.

5) Don't say the first thing that comes into your head. I often hear people say, "I cannot keep from saying the thoughts I have." You can and you must.

6) As I was writing this, my daughter reminded me of Thumper's quote in the movie, "Bambi". "If you can't say something nice...don't say nothing at all." This is always good advice.

7) Don't overreact to criticism. Beneath the criticism is an underlying message. Criticism is a smoke screen for deeper feelings. I compare criticism to cheese on a mousetrap. What happens when the mouse takes the cheese? He gets his tail caught in the trap. That's what happens when you take the bait of criticism. Don't take the bait. Listen for the underlying message.

8) Stay away from negative thoughts and statements like, "I hate this!" "This is driving me crazy!" "I can't stand this!" These types of statements are like throwing gasoline on a fire. You are making it much more intense. Replace these with positive declarations such as "I can handle this." "This is not that big of a deal." "I have unshakeable peace of mind." "Nothing bothers me." Your thoughts will direct your emotions. Choose positive thoughts that help you keep your peace.

9) If someone uses absolute terms like "always", "never", "everybody", and "nobody"; don't take them literally. These are emotional terms. If your wife says "You never take me anywhere." and you know that's not true; don't take it as a personal attack. Try and hear her underlying request that she needs to know she is special and she wants to spend some time with you.

10) Don't overreact and don't give advice too quickly. This only trains people not to be open with you.

11) Don't try to get in the last word. It's not worth the damage you could do by trying to win or be heard.

12) If you are angry repeat this scripture based verse in your head, "In all things be self controlled." Say it over and over so that you don't get derailed into an argument
.
13) There is life and death in the spoken word. Make sure your words build people up versus tearing them down.

14) Remember to breathe. Stick with the basics. When you are upset, take a few deep breaths.

15) Strive to use an approach that promotes honor and respect. This can make the difference between a twenty minute argument and a 3 day war.

16) Realize that your anger most likely is not going to help solve the problem and may actually make the matter worse.

17) Calmness will help you get to the heart of the matter. This leads to conflict resolution. Trying to be right or show your might will lead to conflict.

18) Staying connected is more important than making your point.

The only one who is responsible for the way your life works out is you. You cannot change the past, but you can take responsibility for your future. All it takes is a decision. Decide to live a life of discipline rather than one of regret. Remember that discipline weighs ounces and regret weighs tons. Develop the power of a tamed tongue.

Genius Is Eternal Patience

Thomas Edison said, Genius is 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration. In other words, work must accompany inspiration.

"Genius is Eternal Patience." This is one of Michelangelo's famous quotes.

I have in mind a very talented six year old pianist, Hannah Lee, who is a student of a friend of mine, Marlita Weiss. When I heard her perform at World Piano Cup in Cincinnati, Ohio, I was amazed by her technique and her abilities at the piano. I later found out that she has been practicing the piano for an hour a day since the age of four!

Years ago, I heard famous pianist Ruth Slynzinska perform all the Chopin Preludes in Chicago, Illinois. Someone complimented her on her natural technique. She graciously smiled and talked about the six hours a day she practices to develop it.

Bill Gates and his friend spent five to six hours daily after school in a computer lab working with computer programming and developing a business plan.

Both Ms. Slynzinska and Mr. Gates no doubt patiently put their ten thousand hours of work into developing their natural talents.

Genius is indeed eternal patience. We can dream all we want. to make those dreams come true, we have to work.

In a study written up in the Jul/Aug issue of the Journal of College Student Development, success in college can be attained by involvement in extracurricular activities, positive connections with friends, and persistent application of study habits. Students who achieve are spurred on to further success with each academic success. In other, words, hard work breeds success which breeds more success.

Dear readers, please feel free to share your experiences with hard work and accomplishments. Dreams can never be achieved without work.

Sad Love Quotes Will Help Your Heartbreak

People all over the world are living with heartbreak after the love has ended. You might feel very sad and lonely in this situation. However this is no reason to get in to a clinical depression, heartbreak quotes will help you to understand and deal with your recent problems.

As you might guess by now, sad love quotes imply that they are very morbid, however this is not the case in most of those quotes, in fact they can really lift up your mood and after a time might also help you to be more optimistic in life. Being optimistic is very important when we are in a heartbreak situation, while it is not always easy to be happy and positive when our feelings go bad it can be done. Take a little step every day to try to change your mind for positive thinking.

Heartbreak quotes are the little steps that might help you in being more positive. Let's take a look at this sad love quote: "The hardest thing to do is watch the one you love, love someone else." Although this quote is about love that can not be fulfilling because it is not mutual for one side of the relationship, it is possible to the other person. Therefore you should look at this on a brighter light: you will have the chance to find your special person even if this relationship is not working.

Life is all about opportunities; some times people are stuck because they just use to keep doing the same thing over and over again. This is what keeps them away to find new adventure on life. It is really hard to change your past and then trying to change your personality, but once you achieved it, even on a small scale it will help you to get the life you want. So the next time your love has turned sad, try to be more optimistic by reading heartbreak quotes.

Declined For Life Insurance? Not A Bad Place To Start!

I won't pretend that being declined for insurance doesn't carry a sting. A common thought that comes with the decline is, "Do they think I'm about to die, or what?"

Some perspective might help and maybe a little insight into how life insurance companies decide what will drive approvals and declines. It's important to know that not all companies work from the same guidelines. What drives one company screaming into the dark is exactly what another company is looking for to balance out their risk pool. A case that doesn't even get to the underwriter's desk at one company because, for instance, bipolar disorder was mentioned on the application, will not even slow down at another company as they work diligently toward approval.

A decline is not so much a statement about your health or mortality as it is a statement about that particular company's marketing philosophy and their personal risk tolerance. Before your application every came through the door, and the agent you're using should know this, the company they chose may well have a policy of automatically declining things like type 1 diabetes or a history of breast cancer.

I've said it many times, but it bears repeating....the wrong agent taking your business to the wrong company will end with bad results almost every time. Which begs the question, how do you know if you are partnering with the wrong agent and how do you know if they are steering you to the wrong company? The task of making sure you're in the right hands, while it seems daunting because you're not in the business, is really pretty easy.

You understand your medical or mental situation from having talked to the doctor, sometimes for years. When you talk to an agent you should get the feeling that they also understand the variables of your impairment. The questions they ask should seem relevant and if they ask a question that you don't know the answer to, they should be able to fully explain why the question is important and why the answer plays a key role in underwriting. First clue that you've run into the wrong agent is if they don't ask enough questions. They have to know what will drive an underwriter's decision. It's their job.

Beware the agent that shoots from the hip with quotes on serious impairments. Most agents can get away with that on less significant history such as hypertension, high cholesterol or family history, but if you have a more serious history of say, heart disease, cancer, diabetes or depression, the agent shouldn't provide quotes until they have presented, informally, all of your information to their underwriter (if they work for only one company) or all of the underwriters they work with if they are independent agents.

A sample email that I send out to multiple companies might go something like this. "Proposed insured born 3/14/53, 5'10, 175, non smoker. Diagnosed 10 years ago with type 2 diabetes. Has full blood workups quarterly. Most recent labs showed A1c 5.6 and all kidney functions normal. There are no collateral health issues. Good family history. Takes Janumet and Actose and preventably takes Propanolol and Simvastatin. Last blood pressure was 117/76 and most recent cholesterol was 142 with HDL 50. Looking for $500,000 term."

I will generally send that email to the companies that I know have the best underwriting philosophy on type 2 diabetes. On average I will get 10 to 15 answers back telling me what rate class to expect on approval if all the facts are accurate. I provide quotes to the client from the best 1 or 2 companies. I always double check the email with the client before sending it to make sure it is accurate and nothing has been left out. When an application goes in the email from the underwriter is attached to the application. This ensures that it will get back to the same underwriter that previewed it and also makes it virtually impossible for them to change their minds unless they find some important information that wasn't divulged to me and therefore wasn't provided on the quote request.

Your agent should be willing to shop your case in this fashion, willing to show you the outgoing email and also the responses from underwriters and be able to explain why they picked the company they did. With that process in play you can be comfortable that you have an agent that has been there, done that and has every intention of winning your business by providing the best possible outcome.

Bottom line. Almost every client we serve has been declined. That's why they come to us. Occasionally a decline is legitimate, but I don't drop that bomb and just leave them. I let them know why it isn't currently insurable and what it will take for them to be insurable and I set a followup to check in with them and see if they have done what it takes to warrant another look at it. Sometimes we will simply shop it every 6 months to a year just to see if an underwriter has changed their stance or possible a company has hired a new underwriter that will open some doors. Don't give up!