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Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Experiences at a Company during the OJT


First day high!I can’t believe "company" opened its doors to Ralph and I. I’m very excited what kind of training will be waiting for us. Also, I’m looking forward to meet some of the talents and get pictures with them.
The day was “High”, as in high pressure because at the very first day the atmosphere was very demanding. Demanding, because we worked as if we know already what to do and how to operate things. Multi-tasking is a necessity since were only two interns attending the five sub-departments in the Human Resources. We learned things along the way so committing mistakes are inevitable. With these, I can’t believe I’ll grow anxious about committing mistakes and dealing with our supervisors. But I can’t deny that how patient and understanding Ma’am Jade, Ma’am Jenny, and Ma’am Wena dealing with us newbies. I felt I was stretched out from a calm disposition at the clinical setting. Adjustment period it is.
Today, we learned a lot of things like receive, pick-up and transfer calls, how to use paper shredders, fax and to operate a Xerox machine. Whew! I felt I so dumb today! We sorted slips of overtime, whereabouts, and changes of schedule of departments Administration, Engineering and Merchandizing. Ralph and I route letters, stamped and receive copies, and encoded job descriptions.
Still same as when we were at NCMH, Ralph and I aspired to be the “EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR”. I just hope to finish my internship at the right time with the schedule given to me…

Experiences at NCMH during the OJT

My experiences in the National Center for Mental Health had been filled me great memories to remember. My practicum in the clinical setting taught me many things that will surely of great help in the near future.
Part of my duty as an intern in the Pavilion 2 – Out Patient Service, under Mrs. Victoria Pagkanlungan, is the infinite and diverse tasks those exist; part of my challenge is being not only prepared but flexible for that diversity. My typical day as an intern would begin, 7am, early with smiles for the guards, nursing attendants and other interns, especially to my clinical instructor Ma’am Vicky. Unfinished jobs from yesterday are given attention like general observation (GO as we call it), scoring of WAIS-R or MMPI, outpatients that need to be scheduled, and etc.
At 7:15 – 7:30am and even beyond, clients go straight into the Psychological Section - OPS for scheduling and testing. During free times, small discussions on working diagnosis or impression, strategic meetings, concerns and even comical/personal question were post with our clinical instructors (C.I.). A bit of attention from our co-intern and C.I. brings open smiles and can set me off to positive day. A very important role for me is to make the client understand the nature of the psychological service while presenting an objective and cooperative yet calm atmosphere to them.
First thing in the morning, I would regularly log my time-in at pavilion 1 then to pavilion 2, where we usually stay. About nine (9) clients were entrusted to me by Ma’am Vicky for IQ and projective tests.
Headed by Ma’am Vicky, we had this Social Skills Training (SST) with the geriatric in-patients done at pavilion 30 (Chinese pavilion) for research purpose. It’s quite big opportunity for me…another fruitful learning endeavor that caters my passion for this helping profession. The program runs from reading of the “Layunin”, “Mga Hakbang Pangkasanayan”, by the clients; modeling from the interns doing the “Mga Tagpo na Gagamitin sa Pagsasadula”; imitation of the clients themselves; integration by Ma’am Vicky thru the “Mga Tanong at Takdang Aralin”; and lastly, the most favorite part, the snacks! Often times, we offer the stage for a song and/ or dance number from the clients. For more than two months, I have almost memorized their names, gestures, mannerisms and even the way they speak. In turn, these clients were conditioned to the flow of our training, especially the food portion. They would not even need further instigation compared from our previous SST. It is good to know that when doing this two week Social Skills Training they would greet or recognize us and would call our name while waving their hand to say hello. Moreover, seeing marked or even little improvements open feelings of gratitude.
We, the interns, were given opportunities to experience first-hand test administration with real-life mentally-ill clients. Psychological cases ranges from mild to chronic, functional to disturbed, profound to superficial predispositions, and etc. On occasion, referrals for SSS/GSIS loan, adoption, return for work, and the like.
Upon having this test administration and evaluation, I felt amazement for the hypothetical terms from books gradually came into real life. “Is for real?!” I feel like saying. Theoretical training from books and lectures brought a lot of help in every test administration and evaluation I embark on. With these, I’m able to understand the clients’ immediate need and present predicaments which led me in dealing with them effectively and offering an intellectual input to my work. Provided I’m just a neophyte in this kind of noble career, my testing sessions would not be as successful as it is without the supervision, expertise, untiring effort, and valuable suggestions from Ma’am Nimia, Ma’am Rea, and most especially from Ma’am Vicky.
I learned strategic way of administering battery of tests and furnishing a more comprehensive and time bound psychological report. One difficulty that I have encountered during the training is the very long and strenuous jo urney from our residence to Mandaluyong City. I just hope my efforts will be rewarded a grade of 1.0…
In every end of the day, even though I’m feeling so exhausted and drained, I had to prepare myself for another new day!

November 9, 2009 (Monday)
General Orientation Day! The first day of our Internship…
We arrived in the Pavilion 1 at 8am in the morning to attend our general orientation. Mrs. Nimia Hermilia C. De Guzman (Psycholgist II) oriented ten NEU senior psychology students and me, together with the interns from PUP and UDM. A short history of the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) was shared. After which, we were asked thought-provoking questions and our expectations about the institution. We were given safety tips and the dos and don’ts: No promises to the client; No Feeding; Use pseudonyms and other personal information when asked by the client; Settle problem with your Clinical Instructor first; Be snappy; Always close the gates; Always wear the white uniform (if not, white shirt) and etc. Ma’am Nimia told us that patients see people in white as an authority figure. The time-ins and out was also emphasized. Ma’am Nimia generously shared her personal experiences working in the different pavilions (especially Pavilion 4), the cases she handled, standing in court trials, and to the previous interns’ deviant behaviors.
We learned that there are 35 Pavilions in all. There are also wards (observation, open, semi-open, and restricted), cottages within pavilions and an administrative office. Ma’am Nimia told us the process in admitting patients in the inastution. We were taught the sequence of the battery of test: (1) Interview, (2) BVMGT, (3) DAPT, (4) WAIS-R, (5) SSCT. According to them, this sequence will lessen the boredom and fatigue of the client. The formulas for prorated scoring and the applicable situations in using it were shared. Also, the formula in computing the premorbid I.Q. was taught.
Before the general orientation was ended, we were designated to different pavilions. We met our respective clinical instructors and paid our bill. Jake, Ralph, and I were assigned in Pavilions 2, 5, and 30. Carlo was assigned to Pavilion 4. Hazel, Carina, Ema, Janine, Eileen, Joie were assigned to Pavilions 12 and 13. Diamitsu and Rhea were assigned to Pavilion 2. We were dismissed before 5pm.
We still have our worries but very excited…we shared our plans on what to do especially time budgeting. At the end of the day we aspired and agreed to be “THE EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR!”
Though we had several misfortunes before reaching this point, we were glad we made it still alive and kicking!

November 10, 2009 (Tuesday)
Ralph, Jake and I arrived at NCMH around 7:30am, 30minutes before our usual time-in. We attended Ma’am Nimia’s short lecture on WAIS-R, and doing their way of psychological report. After which, she distributed our ordered psych-testing kit, daily time record (DTR), and our internship I.D. At that lecture, we met our co-interns from PUP. Ma’am Nimia also taught us making our working diagnosis.
We met our Clinical Instructor Mrs. Victoria Pagkanlungan and oriented us her rules and regulations. We negotiated about the days of duty, time-ins and out and the required protocols were asked. For now, we were only required to submit the general observation (G.O.) inclusive of Physical Appearance/Description, History of Present Illness, Substance History, Family History, Mental Status Examination, and Behavioral Report. We learned her way of administering the batteries of test that was discussed yesterday. From now on we will be staying at Pavilion 2 where our C.I. stays. While we were waiting our call to Pavilions 5, and 30, we will be doing out-patient service such assisting client in scheduling, administering psychological test (projective and I.Q.) and etc.. After our clinical instructor’s orientation, a scheduled client named Romeo came. He’s our first client! Ralph, Jake and I was immediately deployed in administering battery of tests to the said client. Good thing we learned it before, we know something how to administer the WAIS and it pleased our C.I.

November 11, 2009 (Wednesday)
OUR First Assignment!
I arrived at NCMH around 7:15am…I saw a crowd of Nursing students everywhere. I went straight to Pavilion 1 to log-in at NEU log book. We were told from our orientation to log-in first at Pavilion 1 before going to the assigned pavilion, then, log-in at our DTR kept by out C.I. Same as doing our time-out.
Frances (PUP), Jake and I team up to do an interview and administer BVMGT, DAPT, WAIS-R, and SSCT to Mrs. Leonora. Frances does a behavioral observation all throughout while Jake and I alternately administering the tests. When it is Jake’s turn to administer, I assist Ralph and Angelica (PUP) in administering the said tests to Mrs. Marichu in the nearby table. After long hours of test administration, we helped each other in scoring and verifying the test scores.
Funny thing about this day is that our clients call us “Dok!”
Ma’am Nimia taught us about the Lie Score Scale of MMPI.


November 13, 2009 (Friday)
Writing our First G.O.!
Ralph, Jake and I finished the general observation of Mr. Romeo(Mr. Crispy Pata), Mrs. Leonora(Balik-bayan) and Mrs. Marichu(Engineer). It took us the whole day.
Ma’am Nimia invited us to observe in her test administration of RIBT (Rorschach) to a client. Because of this, we have an idea how to administer the RIBT.I assisted our co-interns from PUP in scoring the WAIS-R. While walking along the corridor, I saw a disturbed client on a wheel chair shouting. It is my first time seeing one.

November 16, 2009 (Monday)
Only 1 client came…
For the whole day, I’m with a client named Mr. Rex (Paa); from interviewing to assisting in administering the WAIS-R. It took us really long hours to finish all the tests since he’s slow and easily fatigue.
Ma’am Vicky invited us to observe in her test administration of RIBT (Rorschach) to a client and do her separate interview with Rex and his mother.
After taking our lunch and while waiting for the office to open, Ralph, Carlo, Jake and I play the “Ice Breaker.” It is composed 130 cards with challenging, surprising, probing, enlightening, engaging, enlivening, interesting, and revealing questions. Thru these cards, we get to know each other deeper still. Ralph, Jake and I started playing it November 11. Later on, Carlo joined us, then our co-interns from PUP. We do this every after lunch while waiting.
We met an intern from Adamson University, Manuel Yang. He came to complete his requirements to Ma’am Vicky. He is nice so we did not have a hard time inviting him to join the “Ice Breaker.”

November 17, 2009 (Tuesday)
The UST interns came.
Since last week, there were UST students inquiring for internship and today is their orientation. While an orientation was going on, we were busy with our clients. I assisted in scoring the WAIS-R of Mr. Raul, client of a PUP intern. After the orientation, NEU, UST and PUP interns under the OPS Psychologists were toured at the Pavilions 5 and 8. It is a privilege being there because it is another learning experience.
I understand with what I saw…the place is quite OK except the smell.
Ma’am Vicky informed us that we will start preparing materials for the Social Skills Training at Pavilion 30 tomorrow. Actually, Ralph, Jake and I were informed about conducting such training before (Nov11) and were really excited about it. Ma’am Vicky gave us a fund and were asked to buy manila papers and markers as part of our preparation.

November 18, 2009 (Wednesday)
Jake’s Birthday!
I brought the manila papers and markers. While waiting for my group mates, I assisted again the PUP interns in scoring the WAIS-R. Around 8am, Ralph and Jake came and we started folding the manila papers. For the rest of the day, we wrote each session on the manila papers. For this day we finished sessions 1-5.

November 20, 2009 (Friday)
We continued writing to manila papers…we finished sessions 6-12. After, Ma’am Nimia sent Mai (UST), Jeremy (PUP), Ralph and I to Pavilion 35 to deliver testing materials. From there, Ma’am Rea asked us to assist the UST interns in administering the WAIS-R among the clients there. Mai and I team up to administer WAIS-R to Mrs. Belinda.
The place is good and no bad smell is present.
At 4pm, Jeremy and Ralph went back to Pavilion 2. We, the UST interns and I, finished by 4:30pm…the rest of the interns went home before we came at Pavilion 2. This is my first time to go home by myself since the first day of our internship.

November 23, 2009 (Monday)
Ralph, Carlo, and Jake absent themselves this day to attend the CAS Week Volleyball game. In addition, the PUP interns have class every Monday.
I am alone until the RTU interns came. I arranged the materials for the Social Skills training and retraced the left pencil markings by colored markers as requested by Ma’am Vicky. After that, the RTU interns asked me to assist them in administering the WAIS-R and MMPI to a client. Since were done before lunch and the only client scheduled is done, Ma’am Vicky sent us home early.

November 24, 2009 (Tuesday)
Carlo and I interviewed Ms. Virginia and administered BVMGT, DAPT, WAIS-R, and SSCT. We finished it before lunch and the Rorschach test is left for our clinical instructor to do. Ma’am Vicky sent us home early.
NEU, PUP, and RTU decided to socialize while having our lunch at Mauway Gym nearby, before going home.

November 25, 2009 (Wednesday)
Carlo and I finished our general observation (Physical Appearance/Description, History of Present Illness, Substance History, Family History, Mental Status Examination, Behavioral Report) of Ms. Virginia and hand it over to Ma’am Vicky.
Before going home, NEU, PUP, and RTU planned for a small socialization to the resident clients at Pavilion 8 as requested by Ma’am Nimia. We came up with a small program for them that will commence this coming Friday. We have designated task to everyone and canvassed the prices of the things we needed on the said date.

November 27, 2009 (Friday)
PAPJA day!
Eight of the psychology students, Dr. Ryan B. Coroña and I, attended the 23rd PAPJA Convention at the University of Sto. Tomas. Denisse, Krisha and I represented the New Era University Psychology Program at the Quiz-bee challenge of the said event. Hence, I was not able to attend today's internship. Good thing I was able to ask permission before from Ma'am Vicky prior to the said activity. Next, the scheduled socialization with the in-patients at the Pavilion 8 pursued without me. But there's nothing to be fret about because I was able to inform my groupmates. Also, I have given my contribution.
We won the 10th place! - Out of 36 schools all-over the Philippines that joined this year.

November 28, 2009 (Saturday)
The last day of PAPJA…
We attended parallel workshops and seminars at Miriam College. The said workshops catered array of interesting psychological topics and presentations – about 30 topics. Mini-kits and certificate were given. Though drained from a long-day, we have to gather ourselves together to attend our Filipino Psychology subject this afternoon.

November 30, 2009 (Monday)
The start of our Social Skills Training for the in-patients at Pavilion 30 and 5 was postponed because the request letter made by our clinical instructor was not yet approve.

December 1, 2009 (Tuesday)
CAS WEEK Opening Ceremonies!
All of us in our practicum class absent ourselves to attend the opening of the CAS WEEK that started-off with the “Pamamahayag at Tanging Pagtitipon”. This was due to the request of our practicum professor, Dr. Ryan B. Coroña. We are able to inform our clinical instructor about it and for the interns under Ma'am Vicky, it was permitted.

December 2, 2009 (Wednesday)
Ma'am Nimia asked me to score the MMPI of Mr. Serrano. Although this task was the only task assigned to me and was able to accomplish this day, it put me to a test of patience, endurance, and visual acuity. Only two patient came and were assigned to the UST interns since they just started their internship.
Since only two patients came, Ma'am Vicky sent us (her interns) to a half-day. Before I went home, I passed my handmade clipper to Ma'am Vicky as part of our preparation for the upcoming Social Skills Training for the in-patients.

December 4, 2009 (Friday)
The social skills’ training was approved!
Finally! That’s one of the good news, so far, I ever heard since we started our internship. We did not have much to do today, no clients came, just waiting for a call from our clinical instructors on what to do, and most of the time asks things they want us to do so as get busy, not to get bored and sleepy.
After lunch came, ma’am Vicky sent us on a half-day duty and reminded us to prepare ourselves for our first social skills training with the in-patients on Monday.

December 7, 2009 (Monday)
First Social Skills Training.
This morning, Ma’am Vicky led a short planning conference with us, her interns (RTU and NEU). Since we were informed that the clients that we will meet this afternoon are geriatric in-patients from Pavilion 30 (Chinese Pavilion), we made such considerations. We talked about the refreshments to be served after the SST, the arrangement and proximity of the seats, the do’s and don’ts, the roles that are expected us to play and etc. For this day I played the role of a director in the role playing activity of the SST.
With the budget from ma’am Vicky, we bought plastic bags, “graciosa” (bread from Julie’s Bakeshop), and zesto juice drinks for the refreshments. We walked with ma’am Vicky from Pavilion 2 to Pavilion 30. There are two roads to get there: the long uphill and the short downhill. We tried the long uphill one. On the way, we pass by the Pavilion 5 and we heard sounding screams from patients. We saw some patients on the second floor near the barred window: some quietly looking somewhere, others wave their hands, a few shout, while others dance in nude.
The patients were drawn by a lottery method. We arranged the seats in U-formation, a white board in the front where our visual aids were placed and some interns monitor the patients. We made nametags for us and for the participants. Around 2pm we started the first session with the title ”Pag-uumpisa ng Usapan sa Bagong Kakilala”.
The first session brought us a good learning experience from the preparation to the culmination. Also, enjoyment. Why? Because of the way the patients operate and feedback throughout the session. Not to mention their funny antics that they never knew they have done that brought us bursts of laughter as we recall the whole session while walking back to Pavilion 2. Mang Grendo is the most memorable one because of he’s active participation all throughout the session.

December 8, 2009 (Tuesday)
We, the NEU Interns, were off-duty today!
A week ago, we informed our clinical instructors that we would have a field trip and today it was pursued. We went to Cavite Center for Mental Health and a Drug Rehabilitation in Tagaytay. I was assigned at bus #4 (first year) with Jean Denolo, Prof. Felida Tucker-Rustia and Prof. Nanette Espina Calaor. Though given a short time for each venue, over-all, the field trip was so much enjoyed.
At NCMH, the second SST: “Pagpapanatili ng Usapan” was done with the other interns (RTU and PUP) while we, the NEU interns, were at the educational field trip.

December 9, 2009 (Wednesday)
The third SST!
This morning ma’am Nimia assigned me to finish scoring the MMPI of Mr. Cablao.
At the afternoon, again, we prepared the refreshments and the program for the third SST: “Pagtatapos ng Usapan”. Today, the session was prepared by the NEU, RTU, and PUP. Again, I served as the director of the scenes while ma’am Vicky gave the instructions.
As requested last meeting by the participants, we prepared the juice that can be drink in a cup and today we serve fruit cakes. What was new today? It is the patients want to sing for the whole group. We were surprised by this, so we accommodate the stage for each of them. Though they sung unfamiliar old songs and we can not relate, it’s still good because of their enthusiasm to participate and how they do it.
Compared from our first session, the participants were more active; the quiet and shy ones now speak and participate more. Ma’am Vicky and us were happy about that!
Before we went home, we saw a “taong-grasa” brought inside the Pavilion 2. We learned that he was from Las Piñas. He was old man, dressed with overlapping clothes and still single. Morbid it was, seeing his right hand and left feet in gangrene. Despair may be the right word to describe when the clothes that wrapped the gangrene was removed. I commend the attendant, the lady nurse, and the two male “barangay tanod” attending the poor man, for despite the gruesome situation they were able to do their job.

December 11, 2009 (Friday)
Ms. Rizabel was supposed to be my first client today but I have to leave half of the work to Ivy (RTU) because a call from pavilion 4 needing extra male interns was made.
Ralph, Carlo, Jake and I went to the said pavilion. It’s my first time to be at Pavilion 4 – Forensic Psychiatry. There I met Mr. Matt , a detainee from Marikina, which has murder case. Being there is really a challenge because the patients there are really dangerous. Thus, we have to be at extra care and modify our approach in the testing session. We were able to finish before lunch.
After lunch, we pursued to the 5th SST: “Paghingi ng Paumanhin” at the Chinese pavilion.

December 12, 2009 (Saturday)
The hospital was silent this day…an unusual day.
I thought I would fail to attend our 6th SST: “Pagpapahayag ng Positibong Damdamin”, but luckily I was able to appear before it ended. Filling up of the jeepney made the delay.

December 14, 2009 (Monday)
I administered WAIS-R and SSCT to Mr. Darius . An interview followed. He’s my first client referred for SSS loan…unlike to my previous ones that needed for treatment.
7th and 8th SST: “Pagbibigay at Pagtanggap ng Papuri”
Ralph and I worked together for an interview and the WAIS-R of Mr. Garcia.
As we go on thru the SST, the attendance of our group mates decline…

December 15, 2009 (Tuesday)
A new referral came in the name of Mr. Sherwin. He was referred for his competency to cater an open house charity for the inmates of the Nayon ng Kabataan this coming Christmas. He was with the PUP interns.
At the Chinese pavilion, the Regional Trial Court attorney catered an early Christmas gift giving program. The patients’ happiness seem cannot be contained…
I hope the participants in the SST can still accommodate our brought refreshment for the 9th SST: “Paghahanap ng Makakatulad na Hilig”.


December 18, 2009 (Friday)
We have no SST today because according to Ma’am Vicky, it’s the patients Christmas party…
The arrival of Mr. Jeben for IQ and Projective test sends to a whole day work. His case is interesting…a good subject for a psychological report so I asked permission to Ma’am Vicky, Jeben, and his mother for my proposal to pursue. He’s thrift in speech making it hard for me to collect information. He has to be frequently instigated to respond and seems he needs to be deliberate in his tasks.
He’s my last client…I can’t believe it. I’m half-way thru with my internship…I’ll surely miss it.

December 19, 2009 (Saturday)
Our last SST: “Paghiling”,”Pagtanggap at Pagtanggi sa Kahilingan ng Iba”…
The whole session seem so fast…
We catered porridge for our participants this time, as requested beforehand for our final session. They seem so happy with their new snack with us. They have just informed today that it’s our last session with them. It sends us to awe hearing words what they learned all thru out the session. I’ll never forget Mang Jose’s quietness, Mang Godofredo’s requests and childish antics, Mang Grendo’s songs and cooperation, Mang Agutin’s packed things in his shirt, Mang Graciano’s and Mang Nemencio’s shakes, Mang Rogelio’s smile and everyone. Every session with them awakes the humor in me. Our co-interns from Adamson College, UST, PUP, RTU, the staffs, the clients, Ma’am Nimia, Ma’am Rhea, Ma’am Vicky, psych test manuals and kits, the smell, tables and chairs, lunchtimes, ice breaker sessions, everything…Surely, I’ll miss them.

Social Orientation and Community Involvement at Bagong Silangan Quezon City

It was the 21st of November 2009 when the New Era University College of Arts and Sciences offered an outreach, seminar and workshop at the Barangay Bagong Silangan covered court, Quezon City. Thru the initiative of the CAS faculty and staff and the help of Bgy. Captain, Engr. Armando E. Indaya, the said event was made possible. The event was attended by a number of residents who were victims of the past typhoon Ondoy. The programs Psychology, Biology, Political Science, Foreign Service, and Mass Communication offered diverse services with assisting community to be self-reliant as one of the objectives.
The program started by an opening prayer, which was led by Ms. Jean Marie Denolo, President of the NEUPsychology Society. This was followed by the opening remarks of Dr. Ryan Coroña, the Psychology Program Coordinator. Next, the informative lecture on Disaster Preparedness Program was catered by Mr. Christian Español, a psychology professor. A duet intermission number coming from the Mass Communication students followed. The second lecture was pursued by the Political Science Program on the topic Barangay Justice System with Prof. Belinda Marzan and Prof. Irwin Blanco. A dance number was performed. Parallel workshops like Arts and Crafts rendered by the Foreign Service Program and Acting workshop by the Mass Communication Program proceeded. The Biology Program gave free services on body mass index, urine screening and blood pressure monitoring. Prof, Noe Pobadora, the Foreign Service Coordinator, delivered the closing remarks and Prof. Michael Flores, the Biology Program, led the closing prayer. Lastly, the participants of the said program lined up for the distribution of Gift Packs with the help of the CAS students, CAS staffs, Prof. Adoliam Castor, and Bro. Ferdinand Monterde.

by George C. Bernardo

BEING A RATIONAL STUDENT AT THE PSYCHOLOGY LABORATORY

House Rules in short!

On the amygdala side:
1. Read directions!
2. Wear your smile. It’s contagious! … Life salutes you when you make others happy.
3. Bring at least two jokes and share!
4. Be true, be you!
5. Treat everyone as your family – your secure ground.
6. Be a team player…except on taking exams. Don’t be conditioned to be a parasite.
7. Don’t forget to say some compliments to someone…don’t lie.
Don’t be shy to say “Thanks” after.
8. Leave your worries outside the lab…because that’s where they pick up the garbage.
9. Don’t pretend to be numb. Without pain you’ll do the same mistake.
10. Don’t hesitate to share ideas or else you’re frontal lobe will shrink.
11. Keep your cellphone/s off or in silent mode. Don’t be histrionic.
12. Don’t do vandalism anywhere, you’re not an artist. If you are, do it on the papers.
13. Deep Vein Thrombosis, a disorder caused by being in a fixed position for a long time…one
way of telling us how important “MOVING ON”is.
14. Stop propagating a unicameral form of idiosyncrasy that occurs malevolently in meritorious
piece of clasterubial brain…wag daw tumunganga! Wake up and participate!
15. It’s ok to be abnormal in an abnormal situation – Sir Ryan.
16. Maintain the orderliness and cleanliness of the lab. Don’t leave alone the OCDs
cleaning…you never can tell what will happen next.
17. Consider the “VALIDITY” of the psych-paraphernalia and the facility inside the lab…the lab is
not a place to hang-out, a canteen, a marketplace and the like. It is a place to conduct
psychological undertakings!
18. Notify your professor immediately if any unexpected circumstances happened.
19. Do a good turn daily.
20. Take nothing but pictures leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time.
21. Once a psych, always a psych!

On the frontal lobe area:
1. Read directions carefully.
2. Ask for assistance.
3. Eating and drinking inside the laboratory is strictly prohibited.
4. Keep your cellphone/s off or in silent mode.
5. Vandalism is not a tolerable misbehavior.
6. Handle the psych-paraphernalia with care.
7. Should you borrow materials, request to the Psychology Program Coordinator by means of
a formal letter and log in the psychology logbook.
8. Maintain the orderliness and cleanliness of the lab.
9. Use the facility with respect and rationality.
10. Notify your professor immediately if any unexpected circumstances happened.

by George C. Bernardo

PROFILING the "Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom"

MORRIE SCHWARTZ

"Once you learn how to die, you learn how to live."
This statement reveals Morrie’s previous and early acquaintance to bereavement from his biological mother’s illness and to his father’s tragic death. Also to the death of his friend Norman. These heartbreaking moments really made an impact to Morrie’s life as he reiterate this quote frequently throughout the chapter to emphasize how vital and useful to accept death, and what a benefit it would be to living to what's left of our lives. It also serves as a self reminder to him how fool he and his father was before…if only they have realized it sooner, they would have much time to be warm and caring to each other. As a friend, he would not want Mitch to be like him in realizing too late the importance of living fully without regrets. Also, he serves as an example to Mitch as he wants the latter to perceive how he is able to appreciate the smaller, more genuine things in life.

"If you don't have the support and love and caring and concern that you get from a family, you don't have much at all. Love is so supremely important."
This passage proves that Morrie is a fan of Auden in saying, “Love each other or perish”. Also, this shares how Morrie pays great importance to family. In addition, with the help of his family and friends – “the spiritual security”, Morrie accepted and did not become ashamed of his disabilities. He embraces this and enjoys feeling like an infant or a child. Since he was so deprived of love in his childhood, he now thrives on the affection and love of others, which is usually the case when we are all infants who are solely dependent on our family. It’s as if he has returned to his childhood and is finally getting the love and compassion he so longed for as a young boy. The security and safety that he feels from his family makes him to think that the love among family members goes hand and hand with letting someone know that there will always be someone watching over them.



"So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning."
The quote above acknowledges the idea of Morrie to the importance of investing in people and relating to others which will lead in a meaningful life. It is likely that this insight of Morrie developed during his teenage years at the fur factory when the sight and experience of the environment made him dislike those who exploit people for their own sake. These leads Morrie to think that they were hungry for love, that they were accepting substitutes, and were embracing material things and expecting a sort of hug back. Thus, he chooses to be a teacher who serves to others and to the community rather than a lawyer. The quote is served as a wake up call or likened to a stone thrown to Mitch’s consciousness because he’s guilty with this lifestyle: busy, career and success oriented, chased money and materialistic mentality.


MITCHELL “MITCH” ALBOM

“I was wrapped up in the siren song of my own life. I was busy”.

The passage reveals Mitch’s life before: disheartened and devoted to money and success. He was able to reassess his values thru meetings with Morrie. It also proves how Mitch was brainwashed by the culture he and the society made.


“I felt time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not move quickly enough. No more playing music at half-empty night clubs. No more writing songs in my apartment, songs that no one would hear…”

The excerpt above signified how Morrie was affected by the death of his uncle. This leads him to think that the world was not all that interested and to give up his dream of becoming a musician for materialistic things. This statement from Mitch marked his self-burying in accomplishments. Because of the belief of inevitable death (his natural fate) similar to his uncle, he started to accept as true that accomplishments could help him control things – squeezing in every last piece of happiness before he got sick and die.


“I was ripped with guilt for what I felt I should be doing for him (Peter) and fueled with anger for his denying us the right to do it”.

The statement above uttered by Mitch shows his affect towards Peter (his brother). It can be said that Mitch was guilty, angry and hurt because Peter’s detachment from him and to their family. Also, it shows how Mitch was hurt not being with his brother who is having difficult times battling cancer by himself. Mitch missed his special times with his brother, and then he no longer have what he had with his brother…it is as if he never wanted those special times to stop.

His meetings with Morrie identifies with his father and brother which somehow gave him sense of guilt. On the other hand, he was glad that Morrie allowed him to be close while he (Morrie) was sick unlike his brother.

Because of the situation regarding the relationship between Morrie and Peter, the former learned a lesson about relationship thru the help of Morrie saying “There is no formula to relationships. They have to be negotiated in loving ways, with room for both parties, what they want and what they need, what they can do and what their life is like. In business, people negotiate to win. They negotiate to get what they want. Maybe you’re too used to that. Love is different. Love is when you are as concerned about someone else’s situation as you are about your own”.

HOMEWORK!

Is your homework a chore or a reflection of you? Do you beat deadlines? Or break yourself to it? Racing the sun or waiting for another wave to come?
Homework is one of the necessary evils of being a student (Lunsford and Collins, 2003). Assigning homework is one of the ways that an instructor uses to measure students’ progress in the course and to test one’s knowledge of the information that is taught or will be taught in the class. Some instructors seem to use it as an assurance that they have “taught” the information to the students. Many students who are aware of these ideas about homework, tend to treat it as a chore-putting little or no effort into it. However, the way students treat or do it not only reflects how they operate as a student but also as an individual. When a potential employer has to decide whether to hire you or not, your ability to complete the demands will always be one to be considered. The way a student handle homework in college often indicates the way homework is handled on the job. For instance, your grade in class is determined by the quality of homework that you do and can be a significant part of your final grade for the course. Actually, many students can prove to an experience where the grade from homework made a difference in their final course grade then later into the final GPA for the student’s major. Those final GPA shows up on resumes and job applications and this would suggest to the potential employers how homework is done in school as a key factor in determining if the student will do his “homework” on the job when hired.
When a quality homework is done, the next thing to do is to pass it on time.
Learning to pass your homework on time is one of the helpful skills that college students can take with them into the world of work. In traditional sense, although the workforce does not assign homework to its workers, many jobs that need to be completed or warrant attention necessitate that they should work with deadlines. Though deadlines encountered by students at school may be different from the deadlines of the workforce, the importance of meeting those deadlines is the same. In addition, failure to meet deadlines on the said worlds can subject oneself to reprimand. To illustrate, students form a contract with the teacher and the university when they enroll in class. The said contract requires that student should complete the requirements set by their instructor in an exact deadline to receive credits for the course. Likewise as a student risk termination in classroom if deadlines are not met, so does in the workforce. When student fails those deadlines, the student breaks the contract with the instructor and the university and objectives of the course. With this, instructors are left with no option but to fail the student and leave the university to terminate student’s credit for the course. This goes to show that developing good habits of passing your homework in time will aid good performance and position as future participants in the world of work.
So get your homeworks done with heart and bounded by deadlines.

by George C. Bernardo

SENTIMENTAL OBJECT

My first gold medal has a sentimental value. I got it when I was in my 5th grade for I became the first honor of our batch. The coming of this award was beyond my dreams, my expectations and my prayers…I never thought that I can achieve such award during that time because I never had one before. Thus, it’s my first chance to have a medal. It is the first time that I reap a fruit from my hardships in studying ever since.
I was in awe while papa and mama award my medal. I saw how blissful they were standing in front of the stage awarding me a medal. Although my parents keep on instilling to us the importance of education and being a professional, they never pushed us to achieve something that is beyond our limits. In fact, they were surprised for my achievement. This moment proved to me that even though we lack a wealthy living and I’m not that intelligent, I can succeed relying with my hard work, patience, perseverance, and faith in God. On the other side, it gave me a sense of worthiness from feelings of self-pity after a heart-breaking moment when I was sent out of the house by papa.
The coming of this medal actually started my drive to at least achieve something for me and my family. It is not that I’m reward driven but because I realized the along the way a sense of fulfillment comes with learning; that I have a potential for these things; that the world is not only for intelligent people but for everyone; and that success is like getting a coin from your coconut bank…your fingers ache but it’s nothing for you are happy having a coin to buy your cherry balls – it tastes a lot sweeter than the usual.

by George C. Bernardo

KUDOS to PSYCH!

Following the success of the 5th NEU Psychology Congress last November 21, 2008 which was attended by the different schools within Manila, there’s another reason to celebrate for students in psychology!
In the recently concluded 22nd Psychological Association of the Philippines-Junior Affiliates (PAPJA) Annual Convention held at the De La Salle University in Taft Avenue Manila, four (4) of the most outstanding students in the Psychology Program grabbed the 9th place in the 5th Inter-School Psychology Quiz Challenge. The said event was participated by a total number of 42 schools from different parts of the country. Further, the NEU Psych Team includes Aireen Lopez, Genelyn Cortez, Rochelle Tiosen (4th year) and George Bernardo (3rd year).
Trained by Professors Edwin Padilla and Ryan Coroña, the NEU Psych Team was able to qualify in the final round wherein 11 schools left standing. After several attempts to break the tie, UST concludes the quiz challenge by first place.
This year’s theme, “Facing Emerging Issues and Building Better Futures: A Call to Psychologists”, challenges both present and future psychologists to look at the contemporary issues of our time such as leadership, identity and indigenization and the environment. It gave an opportunity to meet undergraduate students in psychology from different parts of the country to discuss for two (2) days these issues that we are currently facing. Consequently, the students of psychology not only enjoyed but also heed the call thru joining one (1) of the thirty (30) parallel sessions that were offered, plenary sessions and many more.
The Convention ended with Job Fairs and Career Talks as they are hoped to bring improvements, not only in terms of cognitive in-put, but also in building-up friends.
Fully aware that psychological well-being is one of the vital keys to achieve personal fulfillment and comprehensive flourishing, the NEU Psychology Society attests, “We are proud to be part of this another year of auspicious gathering aimed at promoting the highest standards of practice in professional psychology in the Philippines!”

By George C. Bernardo

Creative Problem Solving in a Group

Creative problem solving is the mental process of creating a solution to a problem. It is a special form of problem solving in which the solution is independently created rather than learned with assistance.

To qualify as creative problem solving the solution must either have value, clearly solve the stated problem, or be appreciated by someone for whom the situation improves.
The situation prior to the solution does not need to be labeled as a problem. Alternate labels include a challenge, an opportunity, an improvable situation, or a situation in which there is room for improvement.

Inventing is a special kind of creative problem solving in which the created solution qualifies as an invention because it is a useful new object, substance, process, software, or other kind of marketable entity.
Steps in Problem Solving

1. All problems have solutions. The first step to improving your creative problem solving skills is to recognize that there are solutions to ALL problems. This step is essential in opening up your mind to the possibilities available to you as you proceed into the realm of finding a solution.


2. Allow yourself space to think. All of us function better when we allow ourselves a special place in time and space where we can think. Create a place in your home, garden, workplace or some other location where you can go to think. This should be a place that promotes creative thinking and brainstorming. Go there not only when you need a problem solved, but also when you need to be energized before a stressful project.


3. How would a genius solve this problem? For some, putting on the creative thinking cap means putting themselves in someone else’s shoes. Asking how would Einstein solve this problem (or some other genius)? allows them to tap into a higher self where the answers are always ready to be accessed. It allows them to think outside the box and reach new methods for solving age old problems.

4. Free association and open-mind thinking. A great way to improve your creative problem solving skills is to begin a series of free association word patterns related to the problem at hand. This allows you to be open-minded to a variety of different channels within and outside of yourself for reaching a rational, yet creative solution.

5. Weighing in on the options. Begin making mental or written notes with a list of potential creative solutions. Select one solution at a time and look at the pros and cons of each. After carefully analyzing each choice, decide which method or option is best. Apply it. When it comes to creativity, remember not to block yourself or allow yourself to “feel stupid” at some of the ideas that might burst forth. If you are in a group situation, you might feel extra pressure and embarrassment and not want to share your thoughts and ideas freely, but each person in the group must be assured that ALL ideas are welcome, no matter how silly they may seem. Many great ideas and solutions have come from these types of brainstorming sessions. Sometimes they emerge as crazy, but sometimes crazy is just what you need to gain the attention of a certain target group. Think like the advertisers do.
Methods and Processes
TRIZ, which is also known as Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TIPS), was developed by Genrich Altshuller and his colleagues based on examining more than 200,000 patents. This method is designed to foster the creation and development of patentable inventions, but is also useful for creating non-product solutions.

Mind mapping is a creativity technique that both reframes the situation and fosters creativity.


Brainstorming is a group activity designed to increase the quantity of fresh ideas. Getting other people involved can help increase knowledge and understanding of the problem and help participants reframe the problem. However, brainstorming seldom yields major innovations.

Edward de Bono has published numerous books that promote an approach to creative problem solving and creative thinking called lateral thinking.


Seven Steps in Creative Problem Solving In a Group

1. Fact Finding and Problem Finding

a.) Assign roles to team members

b.) Brainstorm/ List high priority issues

c.) Restate issues in “In what ways might we…” format, addressing clear, smaller issues first



2. Idea Finding

a.) On a chart, record ideas related to an issue (“We could ....”)

i.) implement rules for brainstorming

ii.) change roles, i.e., one discipline takes on the role of another discipline through 2 more minutes of brainstorming

iii.) discover idea clusters / interrelated ideas

iv.) paraphrase each group of interrelated ideas



3. Rules/Ideas for Brainstorming

a.) Defer judgment (no commenting)

b.) Rapid responding – Try for 10-20 or more ideas

c.) Limit brainstorming to 5 – 10 minutes



4. Criterion-Finding

a.) On a chart, record criteria which defines team criteria to evaluate ideas generated in Step 2

b.) Use one of the following starter phrases when generating criteria:

i.) “A good idea is one that....”

ii.) “Will the idea ....?”

5. Solution-Finding:

a.) Select the “best” solutions/ideas using the developed criteria from Step 3 to select or combine ideas from Step 2

b.) choices in strategies you might try:

i.) Informal Consensus

ii.) Each team member comments on potential solutions/ideas using the starter phrases: “I like solution/idea # __ because it meets ___criteria.” OR “I don’t think solution/idea # __ is a good choice because is goes against ____criteria.”


6. Acceptance Finding

a.) Make plans to overcome barriers to promising solutions/ideas; discuss & record strategies to manage these challenges (review Steps 1 & 3)

b.) Discuss & answer who, what , when, where & how questions--considering both assistance & resistance

7. Action Planning

a.) Take your solution/idea & identify the steps needed to carry it out & evaluate

b.) Plan should include the following:

1) Activities to be completed in chronological order
2) Success criteria for each activity
3) Person responsible for each activity
4) Start date for each activity
5) Actual outcomes


Creative problem solving skills are a tremendous asset in a fast-paced world. Some people, because of lack of time and creative skill, choose the first solution that comes up, though it may not be the best. There are creative alternatives, and this is where the creative individual comes in. Using the five ideas above, the creative problem solver will emerge on top, with his or her imagination and ingenuity as guides. The creative solution selected will satisfy not only the problem at hand, but other potential problems that might occur in the future.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
Bernardo, George C.
Madriaga, Ramon Florante
Denolo, Jean
Andes, Olivia
Nunag, Richell Ann
Marcelo, Rhina

THE 2nd Psychology Day

The 2nd Psychology Day: another successful gathering of the psychology people was concluded last August 28, 2009 at the University Gym from 7:00am to 5:00pm with the theme Psychologists in Synergy: Celebrating the Beauty of Human in Society.
Parade and flying of balloons formally opened the Psychology Day. After which an energetic aerobic exercise was shared by the psychology people and was lead by Prof. Poquiz. The said event was attended by the psychology professors and psychology students from the freshmen to the seniors: the Blue Narcissists (1st year); the Green Paranoids (2nd year); the Pink Catatonics (3rd year); and the Yellow Schizoids (4th year). The said event was further enjoyed by the psychology people with the prepared series of interactive games such as Group Yehey, Psych-Smile, Pinoy-Sayk Henyo, You’ve got a Look a Like, Tunog Hayop, Form the Pisi, Talentadong Sayk and Amazing Race. Also, there were song and dance intermission numbers prepared by the respective year students and most especially the crowd favorite-the band performances of “Rico Bicolano”, “Shockwave” and “Libidistas”. The whole program was facilitated by the NEUPS officers with the energetic masters of ceremony: Krisha Elemedorial, David Llonora, Mary Grace Baniqued, and Rhina Marcelo.
They had “Sabayang Pagkain” as their socializing event and the M.Y.T.H. (Make Your Teacher Happy) as the Big Finale where the psychology people gave tributes and gifts to their respective year advisers. Smiles, pictures, cheers, great memories the Psychology Day had imparted and will linger.

THEME: Psychologists in Synergy: Celebrating the Beauty of Human in Society
VENUE: University Gym Emcees: Krisha Ria Elmedorial David Llonora
DATE & TIME: August 28, 2009 7am-5pm Mary Grace Baniqued Rina Marcelo
1. Parade from NEU main gate-around the 3rd floor to NEU Gym
2. Registration and Thumb printing
a. First year: Blue Narcissist
b. Second year: Green Paranoids
c. Third year: Pink Catatonic
d. Fourth year: Yellow Schizoids
3. Opening Prayer – Bro. Geronimo Arandia
4. National Anthem, NEU Loyalty Hymn
5. Opening Remarks – Dr. Lita S. Sagun
6. Aerobics with NEUPsychSoc Officers, Psych People, Psych Faculty thru the leadership of Professor Pokis
7. Group Yehey – Cheering and Banner Making
8. Opening Ceremony of the Psych O’ lympics – flying of colored balloons (yellow, pink, green, blue) with cheers and banners
9. Psych-Smile
10. Pinoy-Sayk Henyo - winner: Yellow Schizoids
11. You’ve got a look a like – winner: Carl Gerez (2nd year) and Dr. Ryan B. Coroña
12. Tunog Hayop – wiiner: Yellow Schizoids
13. Intermission number: 1st and 3rd year
14. Form the Pisi – winner: 2nd year
15. Talentadong Sayk – winner: Jean Nuñez (2nd year)
16. Intermission number: 2nd year
17. “Sayabang Pagkain” of packed lunch
18. PSYCHBands: Shockwave, Rico Bicolano, Acoustic Chums
19. Amazing Race: winner: 4th year
20. Intermission number: 4th year – Sky Garden Dancers and Psych4A Dancers
21. While the “Girl Friends” sang, the Psych people are making MYTH (Make Your Teacher Happy) by giving surprise gifts for their respective year advisers.
22. Big Finale performance from 3rd year while the Psych People play around the Gym and sing along.
23. Closing Remarks – Dr. Ryan B. Coroña
24. Closing Prayer- Sarah Modesta Sepillo

How to Read an Article

OK, so you’ve found your article. Now what? There is a method for reading an article critically. You are now going to work through an online tutorial that will make this method explicit.

Go to: http://www.psych.ualberta.ca/~varn/Kenrick/Reading.htm.

In order to complete this assignment, you’ll need to look at the original article, which was listed above as the target article. You may be able to access this article by getting a hard copy of it through our library.

Untalan, J. H. C., Mordeno, I. G., & Decatoria, J. B. (2008). Exploring the dark triad of personality in Filipino culture: Preliminary findings. Philippine Journal of Psychology, 41(2), 33-54.

Closure

Here are some point to consider as you read about a study. Some of these questions may require more knowledge than you have at this point, and you will not be able to answer them. They are included here just to let you know that they are important considerations.

Introduction

Who wrote the article and in which journal was it published?
What was the research question or hypothesis (some studies will have more than one)?
What background information was cited that led to the formation of this question?
Does the research address an important issue?

Method

Who were the participants, and how were they recruited? Are they appropriate for this particular research question?
What design was used for the study? Is the design appropriate to address the research question?
What measures were used? How were they operationalized? Do they measure what the author really wants to measure (in other words, are they valid?)
What ethical issues apply to this study? Were they addressed?
Were any extraneous variables identified? How were they controlled?

Results

What were the main findings of the study?
Do these results address the research question?
Were appropriate statistical analyses performed?

Discussion

What conclusions did the author draw from the results? Are the conclusions justified based on the results?
How do these findings relate to the literature (e.g., do they confirm earlier studies? Contradict? Raise new questions?)?
To what extent can the findings be generalized?

Helping Families Cope with Schizophrenia

The anguish and confusion of family members who learn that a loved one has been diagnosed with schizophrenia can be huge. Before their eyes, a son, daughter, or sibling who once was full of hope and plans for the future has disintegrated into a being that they may hardly recognize. The opportunities for blame are many – blaming each other for causing the disorder, blaming the afflicted family member for his or her symptoms, blaming mental health professionals for not being able to cure the disorder, and blaming themselves. On top of this, family are now being asked to bear the brunt of the care for their schizophrenic members, acting as psychotherapist, medication specialist, caretaker, rehabilitator, intermediary with the mental health system, and unconditional emotional support system. It is no wonder that burnout and despair are common among this family.
One advocate on behalf of these families is E. Fuller Torrey. A very personal and painful experience brought Torrey to psychiatry and the study of schizophrenia. While Torrey was an under graduate, his sister, the 17, was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Torrey accompanied his mother and sister to a treatment facility and was appalled at the explanation and treatments offered for her illness. As he pursued a career in medicine, Torrey dedicated himself to finding better explanation and treatments for schizophrenia than those that had been offered to his sister, as well as to improving the treatment of people with serious mental disorder.
One of Torrey book, surviving schizophrenia assist the families of people with schizophrenia in understanding the disorder and finding appropriate treatment for their afflicted family members. This book educates family members on what schizophrenia is and is not, and it includes many specific tips on how to live with the schizophrenic family members and cope with the disorder. The key surviving schizophrenia, according to Torrey, is having a safe attitude, sense of humor, acceptance of illness, family balance, and expectation that are realistic.

Sense of Humor

It may seem strange to think the family members can approach schizophrenia with a sense of humor, but Torrey argues that families was successful at managing schizophrenia have maintained a sense of humor and an appreciation for the absurd. Family members cannot laugh at the person with schizophrenia, but they can laugh with him or her. For example, one family in which the son typically relapsed in the autumn and required hospitalization had a standing family joke that the son always carved his pumpkins in the hospital.

Acceptance of the illness

Acceptance of the illness thus not mean giving up but, rather, accepting the reality that the disorder will not go away, is likely to place limitation on the family members, and will need active management by the family. Unfortunately, it is more common to families to be angry at themselves, at the afflicted family member, at God, and so on. This anger can be overtly expressed, or it can seethe the quietly until a trigger causes a family to explode. Educating family members about the illness and what they can reasonably expect is one of the most important jobs of mental health professionals, because it can be the foundation of acceptance.

Family Balance

Caring for schizophrenic family member can be overwhelming. Some families put the needs of their schizophrenic members before those of all the rest. Such families are prone to burnout, and neglected family members can become resentful and hostile. Families must achieve a balance of concern for their schizophrenic member and appreciation for the needs of the other family members. This may require caregivers to get away occasionally and to find resources, so that they are not providing round-the-clock care and ignoring their own needs.

Expectation that are Realistic

It can be especially difficult for families to have realistic expectation of their schizophrenic member if that person had a particularly promising future before the illness struck. Pressure can be put on the schizophrenic family member that helps to trigger new episode of acute symptoms. Lowering expectation to help family members appreciate the schizophrenic members for who he or she is now, rather than focusing on what they wish were true:

Several relatives mentioned that giving up hope had paradoxically been the turning point for them incoming to terms with their unhappiness. “Once you give up hope,’’ One mother said, you start to perk up. Once you realize he will never be cured you start to relax. These relatives had lowered their expectation and aspiration for the patient, and had found that doing this had been the first step in cutting the problem down to manageable size.

Clearly, family members should not abandon all expectations of the person with schizophrenia. What is important is having realistic expectation. Again, educating the family about the disease is critical to creating such expectation.
Some family members find that becoming politically active on behalf of people with schizophrenia helps they cope. The National Alliance for the Mentally III (NAMI) is the largest national organization focusing on serious mental disorder, including schizophrenia. NAMI was created and is run by consumers (people with disorder) and their families to advocate for more research, better health care and access to health care and, and public education. Many communities’ have local chapters of NAMI, which can usually be found in the phonebook.

SOURCE: Abnormal Psychology by Carson

ONE FLAW IN WOMEN

One day a Computer Engineering student, so drained from a hard day studying and preparing for an examination, gradually slept and dreamt seeing how God created woman…

By the time the Lord made woman, he was into his sixth day of working overtime.
An angel appeared and said, "Why are you spending so much time on this one?"
And the Lord answered, "Have you seen my spec sheet on her? She has to be completely washable, but not plastic, have over 200 movable parts, all replaceable and able to run on diet coke and leftovers, have a lap that can hold four children at one time, have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart - and she will do everything with only two hands."
The angel was astounded at the requirements. "Only two hands!? No way!
And that's just on the standard model? That's too much work for one day. Wait until tomorrow to finish."
But I won't," the Lord protested. "I am so close to finishing this creation that is so close to my own heart. She already heals herself when she is sick AND can work 18 hour days."
The angel moved closer and touched the woman. "But you have made her so soft, Lord."
"She is soft," the Lord agreed, "but I have also made her tough.
You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish."
"Will she be able to think?” asked the angel.
The Lord replied, "Not only will she be able to think, she will be able to reason and negotiate."
The angel then noticed something, and reaching out, touched the woman's cheek. "Oops, it looks like you have a leak in this model. I told you that you were trying to put too much into this one."
"That's not a leak," the Lord corrected, "that's a tear!"
"What's the tear for?" the angel asked.
The Lord said, "The tear is her way of expressing her joy, her sorrow, her pain, her disappointment, her love, her loneliness, her grief and her pride.
The angel was impressed. "You are a genius, Lord. You thought of everything! Woman is truly amazing."
And she is! Women have strengths that amaze men. They bear hardships and they carry burdens, but they hold happiness, love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream. They sing when they want to cry. They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in. They stand up to injustice. They don't take "no" for an answer when they believe there is a better solution.
They go without so their family can have. They go to the doctor with a frightened friend. They love unconditionally. They cry when their children excel and cheer when their friends get awards. They are happy when they hear about a birth or a wedding. Their hearts break when a friend dies. They grieve at the loss of a family member, yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left. They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart.
Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors. They’ll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show how much they care about you. The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning. They bring joy, hope and love. They have compassion and ideals. They give moral support to their family and friends. Women have vital things to say and everything to give.

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN, IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

He woke up astounded by the content of his dream, and thought for a while how he’s mother been doing since the day he became conscious to the world around him. After that night, he expressed his appreciation more often to his girlfriend, his mother and his grandmother, and every woman around him.

SOURCE: Anonymous

The Power of Intention

"If you intend something to happen, it happens, if you intend it to happen. Verbalization* is not the intention. The intention is the carrier wave which takes the verbalization along with it." -- L. Ron Hubbard (*verbalization: expressing oneself in words.)

When you use the correct level of intention in your communication, people pay attention to you.

People can feel your intention and you can feel theirs.

For example, have you ever noticed how you can tell someone is looking at you behind your back? Do you ever think of a person just before they call? You are feeling their intention.

People respond differently to you, based on your intention.

For example, you are in a busy clothing store and need a clerk's help. With poor intention, you might wait all day. But with strong intention, you look at the clerk, his head whips around and he asks if he can help you.

When you add firm intention to your communication, you get better results.

For example, if you tell your children to clean up their rooms with weak intention, they continue to play around. If you tell them to clean their rooms with strong intention, they can tell that you mean it and their rooms get cleaned up.

Intention at Work

Your job is easier when you use the correct amount of intention.

For example, a coworker named Chris likes to complain to you. Chris says, "I hate this crappy chair.” "This weather is horrible." "Oh no, here comes Mr. Big again."

Tolerating or avoiding Chris resolves nothing. Your workplace remains stressful.

Yet if you look Chris in the eye and say, "Chris, stop complaining," you enjoy some wonderful results--if your intention is strong enough. It does not matter how loudly or softly you speak as verbalization has nothing to do with it. Your intention powers your statement.

A salesperson, with a strong intention to sell, gets more sales. A service representative, with a strong intention to make customers happy, helps the company thrive. A job applicant, with a strong intention to land the job, gets the job.

A manager with poor intention gets little cooperation and eventually fails. However, a manager with strong intention, finds that his or her employees usually do what they were hired to do.

Exercise Suggestions

1. Write down 3-5 things that are difficult for you to get people to do.

For example, Joe always forgets to bring back your stapler.

2. With a coach or friend, or by yourself to an object, say the first thing on your list with little or no intention. Really be wimpy.

For example, you say, “Joe, return my stapler when you are done with it,” but you are thinking, “well, if you don't mind could you please try to remember to return my stapler if you have nothing else to do please?”

3. Now practice saying the first thing on your list with too much intention. Be much stronger than necessary.

For example, you still verbally say, “Joe, return my stapler when you are done with it,” but your intention is “JOE, BRING BACK MY STAPLER!”

4. Next, say the first thing from the list with the right amount of intention. The correct amount of intention gets the job done. Repeat a few times until it is comfortable for you.

For example, you still say, “Joe, return my stapler when you are done with it,” and your intention is very clear: “Joe, return my stapler when you are done with it.”

5. Repeat with each item on your list until you are ready to say each with the correct amount of intention.

Use clear intention in all of your communication and notice the results!

Provided by TipsForSuccess.org as a public service to introduce the technology of L. Ron Hubbard to you.

Improve Your Health and Happiness

You may have heard that to succeed, you need to adjust yourself to the world around you. Examples:

"You'd better get used to it as that's the way it is." "To be happy, you must compromise." "Don't make waves!"

Yet, to succeed, you must take a different approach.

"Man succeeds because he adjusts his environment to him, not by adjusting himself to the environment." -- L. Ron Hubbard

You decide what you want and how you want it. You take an active role. You change the world around you.

Think of the most successful people you know. Do they mold themselves to fit in? Or do they change the world around them?

As well as determining your success, your ability to adjust your environment also determines your health and happiness.

"So long as an individual maintains his own belief in his ability to handle the physical universe and organisms about him and to control them if necessary or to work in harmony with them, and to make himself competent over and among the physical universe of his environment, he remains healthy, stable and balanced and cheerful."-- L. Ron Hubbard

Jack and Jill

Jack tries to get along and not cause trouble. His neighbor plays loud rock-and-roll music all night long, so Jack buys ear plugs. Jack hates leaving his apartment as the building lobby is full of boxes and junk; he just steps around the mess. His co-worker makes Jack pick him up for work each day with no compensation, ". . . since you drive near my house anyway." Each year, he develops some kind of illness or needs an operation. After 25 years at the same company, Jack is only making $22 per hour, but he does not mind as his company gives him good health insurance. At the age of 51, Jack gets cancer and dies.

Jill moves into Jack's vacant apartment and can't sleep because of the loud music. She calls the neighbor and works out an agreement so the neighbor plays music all day while she works, but won't at night. Jill convinces this neighbor and a few of the other tenants to spend a few hours cleaning up the lobby and the entry; they even wash the sidewalk and plant some flowers. Although Jill has earned several management promotions and pay increases at her company, she decides to start her own business and makes it successful. She soon buys the apartment building and takes over the top floor for herself. Jill is never ill and at the age of 78, still spends a few hours each week working at her company.

Obviously, Jack adjusts himself to the environment while Jill adjusts the environment to herself. Are you more like Jack or Jill?

Recommendations

1. Decide to take over your world and adjust your world to your needs and wants.

2. Make a list of everything around you that you would like to change.

Examples

Clean the house
Change my car oil
Tear out all the weeds in my garden
Exercise daily and lose 10 pounds
Reorganize my desk
Make people stop dropping in to chat while I'm working
Call the city to fix the broken street light

3. Select the easiest items on your list and go change them. Then change the next easiest items and so on.

4. Constantly change and improve the world around you. Never settle back, give up or "accept reality." Make steady progress while maintaining your control of the parts you have already conquered.

If you continue to increase your control of the elements in your environment, you become healthier, happier and more successful.

Provided by TipsForSuccess.org as a public service to introduce the technology of L. Ron Hubbard to you.

Discovering Your Life's Work

A sprout grows damp under the earth. It pokes through weak mud, following the light, gently leaning toward nourishment. The sprout unfurls. With its flesh, it creates stalks, leaves, flowers and fruits. It flourishes through a growing season and withers with the frost. With each moment, the growth of this plant unfolds, following innate design.

Likewise, each of us contains a blueprint for the continual discovery of our true nature and purpose. Our innate signature talents are the tools we can use to accomplish our life purpose. Part of us already knows the secret of our life blueprint but it remains unclear for most of us. However, if we allow our blueprint to unfold in its way, carefully encouraging its movements, time and nourishment, we will foster the development of an exceptional life.

What's Important to You?

At certain times in life, people take stock of where they are and where they want to go. Deciding what is important to us in our life's journey, including where we may be stuck, is the way to begin this life planning. The gift of knowing who you are and your life's work gives you the energy to transform your life.

You Get What You Tolerate

"I'll be happy when...." is the way many people think they are living their lives. Yet, happiness is not something that happens to you. Happiness is inside you now. You are motivated from within. You only have to allow happiness to surface.

Happiness = K (knowing who you are) X D (discovering your life's work) X L (learning not to tolerate what's not important).

That's the formula for happiness--know yourself, your true calling and that you get what you tolerate.

Only when you know who you are (your signature talents, your values, assumptions/beliefs, guiding principles, vision and passions) are you able to bring your true self to your professional and personal lives. Your life signature is the tracing of the talents we are given and how we express them in our lives.

In medicine you look at how "well tolerated" a drug will be related to its side effects. At work and at home, many people evaluate new opportunities related to what can be well tolerated. Yet after life, most people don't want their tombstone to read, "He tolerated stuff for other people because they paid him." Especially, when we realize that we can make more money and have more fun doing work that engages our passions. Life is too short for doing work you don't enjoy for people you don't respect.

Why not decide today, to live your life to its fullest?
http://home.att.net/~CoachingTip/self_coaching/index.html

Simple Memory Improvement facts you need to know!

1. You cannot improve your memory:
a. By reading a book on memory improvement.
b. By listening to memory improvement CDs or audio tapes.
c. By watching memory improvement videos.
d. By attending a seminar on memory improvement.
e. By taking memory improvement pills or medication.
The whole idea that you can improve your memory by using the above methods is as ridiculous as using them to get in physical shape and build muscles.
Can you lose weight and become a bodybuilder just by reading a book about bodybuilders? Or by watching some videos about them? Or maybe you can become a great dancer by reading a book on dancing?
The only way to lo lose weight and get in physical shape is going to the gym and working out.
The only way to form any practical skill is going though the practical training.
It’s as simple as that; there are no other ways. There are no magic pills; no shortcuts. If you have been told otherwise, you should know that it’s just marketing and lies.
Memory Improvement is no different. It should be based on practical training and mental workout.

Powerful Memory requires a healthy brain and right nutrition.
The brain uses tremendous amounts of energy and is the most metabolically active organ in the body; it never completely rests. As a result, it has one of the highest rates of free radical production. These free radicals begin to destroy the structure of the brain, its connections and the cells. Unless you replace those damaged parts with nutrients, the brain function starts to fall off more and more.
For example Omega-3 fatty acids are replaced extremely rapidly. If you are deficient in this nutrient your brain begins to change its structure very quickly and soon loses its ability to properly function because one of its vital components is missing. It takes only two weeks of deficiency to produce that.
Americans consume an average of 129 pounds of sugar a year. 57% of it comes from processed foods. For example, teenagers are drinking an equivalent of 54 teaspoons of sugar a day just from soda.
Sugar consumption dramatically increases free radical generation in the brain. It produces cross linking of the proteins in all cells which dramatically increases the damaging effect of these free radicals, making every cell in your body age much, much faster, particularly brain cells. In some extreme cases, it can even result in permanent brain damage.
Research at the University of Connecticut in 1986 by Dr. Jane Goldman showed that sugar, equal to one Coke, produces a significant decline in mental performance. (Students were making twice as many mistakes on tests.)
Lack of Vitamin B-1 in the diet causes memory failure and depression. Consumption of a lot of carbohydrates depletes Vitamin B-1.
Vitamins C, D, E, K, A, B and carotenoids are all associated with brain function.
A study of 260 adults over the age of 60 found links between vitamins C, B-2, B-12, B-9 and concept learning.
Studies found that animal fat impairs ability to learn and remember, but healthy fats, such as Omega-3, improve depression, memory retention and thinking. This is because the brain uses an enormous amount of fatty acids for its membranes.
Aspartame, MSG, pesticides, and herbicides in food; aluminum in deodorants; fluoride in the water; and mercury in vaccines play a major role in brain toxicity and brain function decline. Excessive toxicity destroys brain cells.
What I am trying to show you is that it is almost impossible to get any significant and serious memory improvement when you don’t know what fundamental nutrients your memory and brain need and how these nutrients are related to overall health and foods. Memory Training without this knowledge is pretty much useless.
What memory is and how it works?
If you cut open your brain, you won’t be able to find phone numbers there.
• So what is memory and how it works?
• What is happening in the brain when you memorize a phone number?
• Why do we forget or can’t recall something?
• What are the main factors of the memorization speed and quality of recall?
• How long can we store information in the brain and what does it depend on?
Significant memory improvement is virtually impossible if memory mechanisms are not known. We need to know EXACTLY what is happening in the brain on the cell level when we memorize in order to develop an effective and optimal training program.
Unfortunately, memory mechanisms are not known anywhere in the world outside of our school. You cannot find information on how memory really works in medical institutions, universities, psychology and any other fields, or websites. That’s the bottom line.
The only existing memory model that can explain and prove memory mechanisms is the GMS Memory Model created by a Russian scientist. His name is Vladimir Kozarenko. After more than 10 years of scientific research, he managed to fully understand and, for the first time, explain, how memory really works. Now his model is the core of our Phenomenal Memory Course and training.
“Secrets of Phenomenal Memory” E-book, explaining all the memory mechanisms, used to be available to students of the School of Phenomenal Memory only, but now I have decided to make it completely public and free to everyone interested.
If you are interested in real memory improvement you won’t find information more valuable anywhere else. The book consists of 163 pages of real information. This is not a cheap marketing report or short ebook full of BS and nonsense.
Get it while you can because I cannot guarantee that it will be available here tomorrow.
Mnemonics and other memorization techniques do not work!
Memory is not just a process in the brain. It’s a result of the entire brain’s work. So to dramatically develop our memory we have to dramatically develop the entire brain. We need to have a super powerful attention, dramatically improved thinking speed, and a strong ability to visualize. You cannot memorize huge volumes of information if you can hardly focus for 15 seconds or have ADHD -- even if you know exactly how to do it.
You can learn some dancing moves, but, if you are out of shape, you won’t be able to use them. Dancing is not about isolated techniques or moves. It is about being in great physical shape; it is about feeling the music and dance WITHOUT thinking about moves and techniques. Memorization should be based on the same principles.
Let’s imagine for a second that you have the necessary mental shape to use specific techniques, but there is more to it than that – mnemonics, memorization techniques, and other tricks are useless for real life memorization!
Most of them are out-of-date tricks that require enormous amounts of time and effort to learn, and they still cannot be applied to real life information.
We don’t need to memorize random digits, random words, or playing cards!
• What we need is to have the ability to memorize entire books, new languages, and other massive volumes of complicated types of information.
• We need to have a powerful memory to enhance dramatically our ability to learn, retain, and understand information. Then we can enjoy learning and not suffer every time we open a book!
• We need to have ability to keep information we have memorized for as long as we want, so we never experience the frustration of reading something and forgetting it in just a few days or even hours.
• Memorization should happen as natural as breathing WITHOUT thinking about techniques or process itself. When we read something we don’t think about techniques; we just receive information into our head. When we memorize, we should just save information into our brain and enjoy the process.
• In any way, shape or form, it should not be a struggle, enormous work, frustration or pain!

Obviously memorization tricks and gimmicks fundamentally cannot provide that.

SOURCE: Forgotten

Your Golden Goose

Do you think your most valuable asset is a possession? Your home, your car, your stereo or your savings? No, none of these things are your most valuable asset.

Even if you have millions of dollars. Your money is not your most valuable asset. In fact, it might become a liability if you get obsessed about keeping it and protecting it. Your life can become controlled by your cash.

No, the most valuable financial asset you own is not a possession, but your personal golden goose.

The Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs

The Greek slave Aesop told this story 2500 years ago. A man and his wife owned a goose that laid a golden egg every day. They decided they were not getting rich fast enough. They believed the bird must be full of gold and so decided to kill it.

When they cut open their golden goose, they found it was just like any other goose. They not only failed to get rich all at once as they had hoped, they no longer enjoyed the daily golden eggs.

Because you have probably heard this story, you would never think of cutting a goose that laid golden eggs for you. You would take special care of that goose. You would buy it the best goose feed, build it the most comfortable goose nest and give it the nicest goose pond available, right?

The truth is, you own a golden goose.

Conditions of Success

“The conditions of success are few and easily stated.

“The ability to hold a job depends, in the main, upon ability.

“One's intelligence is directly related to his ability. There is no such thing as being too smart. But there is such a thing as being too stupid.” -- L. Ron Hubbard from The Problems of Work

Your ability to work and produce something valuable is the goose that lays golden eggs for you. The more ability you have, the more golden eggs you can earn.

The Best Investment in the World

Professional investors are constantly searching for investments (golden geese) with three qualities:

1. The investment must be safe and secure.

2. It must produce above-average income.

3. Opportunities to buy the investment must be everywhere.

Your ability to make money, fits all three qualities.

1. Your ability to earn money is safe. Some idiot might try to kill your goose with criticism, attacks or backstabbing. Yet once you bounce back, your skills start to produce golden eggs again. Your skills do not easily disappear.

2. By investing in your golden goose, you can earn a huge income.

For example, a doctor spends $90,000 on education and then earns $180,000 per year. He or she earns twice the education cost every year. How many other types of investments can do that?

As another example, you decide to take a sales class. You pay $5,000 for the class and travel costs. You come back to your business and increase your sales by $1,000 per month or $12,000 per year. By investing $5,000, you get back $12,000 the first year. This is a return of 240% which any investor will tell you is an incredible return.

You can expect an excellent return on your investment by obtaining any skill: people skills, computer skills, speaking skills and so on. Even better is improving your personal power base -- your ability to deal with difficult situations, to make correct decisions, to work harder, to accomplish more, to do tough jobs.

3. Skill-enhancement opportunities are all around you. Professional investors spend most of their time looking for golden geese. They are happy if 60% of their investments make money. By investing in your personal abilities, you can expect 90-100% of these investments will help you succeed. Because you get some improvement from everything you learn, you have no real risk.

Recommendations

1. Make a list of all the abilities you have that make you money. For example, “My ability to handle customer's complaints.” “My ability to lead great workshops.” “My ability to build garages.”

2. Next to each item on your list, write down how you can improve each of these abilities. For example, “As well has handle complaints, I'd like to know how to make people happy.” “As well as leading great workshops, I'd like to give them business consulting.” “As well as building garages, I'd like to learn how to build houses.”

3. Next to each of these new abilities, write down what you can do to obtain them. Examples: “Read every book I can find on helping people.” “Take classes in my spare time on business consulting.” “Find a successful construction company owner who is willing to train me.”

4. Take action. Invest all your spare time into yourself.

If you do one thing every day, to improve your golden goose, you will soon have all the golden eggs you need!

Provided by TipsForSuccess.org as a public service to introduce the technology of L. Ron Hubbard to you.

Succeed with Speed

How long do you wait for a haircut? For a table at a restaurant? For your car to be repaired?

How long does it take before you get irritated?

On the other hand, how do you feel when you receive instant service?

"You need your car fixed? We can do it in five minutes."

"Hello, you're right on time! Dr. Smith will see you now."

"You need a new driver's license? Okay, stand here for your photo. Here's your license. Have a nice day."

One of the fastest ways to hurt your business is to make people wait. After five minutes they become uncomfortable. In ten minutes they are unhappy. In fifteen they are irritable. After twenty, they decide to leave.

There is no benefit in making people wait. They do not think, "Boy, these guys are really important, really busy, really in demand!" Instead, they think, "These idiots aren't very organized." "Maybe they don't think I'm very important."

"To prosper, service must be as close to instant as possible."

"Anything which stops or delays the flows of a business or delays or puts a customer or product on WAIT is an enemy of that business." -- L. Ron Hubbard

Businesses that provide fast service or fast products take over their industries. For example, McDonalds gives you hot food in one minute, Jiffy Lube changes your car oil in ten minutes and Lenscrafters makes your glasses in an hour. All three companies have made their owners and executives wealthy because they provide fast service.

The same principle works for you. Each time you make a customer wait, your boss wait or even a coworker wait, you are hurting your income.

For example, a lazy waiter makes a hungry customer wait for ten minutes before taking his order and gets a $1 tip. The same customer gives a $5 tip to a waitress who takes his order within thirty seconds. With 40 customers per day, the fast waitress earns $800 more in tips each week because she gives fast service. The restaurant also makes more money as customers use a table for 45 minutes instead of 60 minutes; more meals are sold.

If you own a small business, you can use this principle to beat the big boys. For example, you open a small print shop, but cannot get enough work to pay your bills. You advertise, "We will finish any print job in 24 hours." Within a week, you have ten new jobs. Even though you work 15 hours per day for a week, you steal a few of your competitors' big customers and make a small fortune.

As another example, your boss asks you and two of your co-workers to gather your production numbers for the past six months. You bring it to your boss in an hour. One of your co-workers brings his numbers at the end of the week. The other co-worker forgets all about it. If you are consistently fast, who will the boss want to give more responsibility and pay? Who might get laid off?

If you wish to succeed and prosper, you must be fast!

Action Plan #1

1. How do you make money? List every step of the process you use.

2. Look for every delay. Where do things slow down?

3. How can you speed up these points? How can you provide nearly-instant service or a nearly-instant product?

Action Plan #2

1. Who waits for you?

2. Of these people, who has influence over your success?

3. How can you break all speed records and give these people what they need instantly?

Write down your plans and act!

Provided by TipsForSuccess.org as a public service to introduce the technology of L. Ron Hubbard to you.

Hard Work

Highly-successful people love to work. Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods practiced for 12-15 hours per day to reach their skill level. Bill Gates worked 20-hour days for years. Thomas Edison, who wanted to work at night, built thousands of unworkable light bulbs before discovering one that worked.

Hard-working employees have better job security than lazy employees. Hard work helps professionals rise to the top of their professions. Businesses that beat their competitors are run by people who work the hardest.

When you have no problem working hard, you can accomplish great things. You reach your goals. You have self-respect and pride.

Ten Excuses for Not Working Hard

1. "No one can succeed in this economy."

2. "Everyone else is taking it easy."

3. "I have a medical condition."

4. "I'm a boss and bosses don't have to work hard."

5. "It takes up my valuable energy."

6. "I don't get paid enough."

7. "I don't have the time for it right now."

8. "Once the boss sees you can work hard, you have to do it all the time."

9. "I'll work hard when I feel like it."

10. "Hard work leads to workaholism."

"Be Industrious"

"Work is not always pleasant.

"But few are unhappier than those who lead a purposeless, idle and bored existence . . ."

"Sorrow itself can be eased by simply getting busy at something."

"Morale is boosted to high highs by accomplishment. In fact, it can be demonstrated that production is the basis of morale." -- L. Ron Hubbard from The Way to Happiness

In this day and age, hardly anyone dies of hard work. Instead, hard work makes you feel better about yourself. If you are feeling depressed, sad or afraid, getting industrious will make you feel much better.

All successful people work hard. They ignore their minor pains and mental barriers. They complete projects as fast as possible and dive into their next project.

Hard work is vital to your morale, superior accomplishment and high pay. It's the engine in your rocket to your goals. No one succeeds without it.

Ten Tips for Becoming More Industrious

1. Think of a project that requires you to work hard. Imagine how you will feel after you complete it.

2. Tell a few people you are going to complete a hard job. It can be more difficult to admit you failed than to just do the job.

3. Break big projects into smaller and smaller tasks until you feel comfortable about doing the first tiny task. Do it now.

4. Work very hard for just five minutes to see how you feel. Then work another five minutes and so on.

5. Set deadlines for yourself and then beat them.

6. Before beginning some difficult work, completely prepare yourself. Organize your supplies and material, put on the proper clothing and so on.

7. Consider how much better the future will be if during the next few months, you work harder than ever before.

8. Force yourself to get started. Once you have some momentum going, the work will be easier.

9. Do the entire task in your mind before starting it. Imagine a fast, successful completion.

10. Arrange for a reward for your extra hard work. For example, "As soon as I finish all these reports, I'll have a delicious dinner." "I won't be going to the movies until I clean out the garage."

Provided by TipsForSuccess.org as a public service to introduce the technology of L. Ron Hubbard to you.

Grow Yourself First To Be Wealthy

To be wealthy you need to grow your character, mindset and habit.. You must be a solutions maker and add value to the lives of millions of people.. - Coach Ryan Vergara


HOW TO SPOT A LOSER

"Tomorrow only exists in the minds of LOSERS. Winners always say NOW, losers say NEXT TIME"

- Robert Kiyosaki



Losers are people who don’t get ahead in life. It is not because they lack the potential or talent to be successful. It is because they have certain beliefs, attitudes, habitual language and ways of thinking and doing that pull them back from getting ahead. There’s no problem if these losers just keep their being losers to themselves. The problem lies in the fact that being a loser is contagious. I wrote this article to help the reader see these losers so he/she can avoid them or try to help them improve themselves.

A loser is a person that:

With regards to commitments

- Cancels an appointment because “something came up” or suddenly he/she becomes sick

They are losers because they don't honor their commitment. This “something came up” excuse is said by people that suddenly became lazy to come to a meeting, or feels inconvenient to attend to his/her commitment.

- Comes VERY late in an appointment and blames the traffic

If the meeting is held at a place that is new to the person, then the “traffic” excuse is excusable. BUT, normally people who say this excuse the second time are people who are not taking the appointment seriously. Why? If the meeting was, let’s say 8am, he/she should already put into mind the possible delaying factors (that include traffic) and manage his/her time such that he/she shall still arrive on the meeting place at the appointment time, and not an hour later.

- Always says “I will try” or “I will see”

This loser is afraid to commit. This person uses as excuse that he/she does not control events and by promising something he/she shall be put in a compromising situation (“if I promise you I will be there then I won’t then you will be mad at me so I would rather just say I’ll see” instead so you won’t expect”). This person has a disease, and it's called SELF-DOUBT; he/she doubts if she can make things happen that is why he/she will just "see" or "try".

- Always says “I will check my schedule”

The context for losers of this statement is that they are not courageous enough to decline an invitation. That's why they would rather say “I will check my schedule” instead of simply saying “No, I cannot be there on that day”. Now while it may be true to some people that they need to see their schedule to check for any conflicts, losers NEVER really check their schedule.

With regards to relating to other people

- Can't say no to his/her boss

They are losers because they have a false respect for their superior at work. Bosses were just given positions at work but not power over one's life. These losers are too afraid to displease their boss that they cannot refuse any additional request beyond what their work requires. Sometimes these are the losers who have commitments at 5:30pm (out of the office commitment) then suddenly boss calls him/her for a meeting or requests for a report exactly at 5pm. He/she does not have the power to tell his/her boss that she can't do what this boss requests because of that commitment.

- When these losers flock together they often talk about problems and complain together.

Losers always complain and complain. They never stop. The reason their “issues” persist is that they can’t stop talking about it. Winners recognize problems but instead of complaining about them, in conversations, they talk about solutions.


With regards to money

- Always says “I don't have money”


This loser has a scarcity mentality. For him/her money is life or death. The losers who always say this never becomes wealthy because he/she has the habitual language of a poor person.

- Has no money to buy books or attend workshops that can help him/her grow but has lots of money for watching movies, night-outs, luxury items (such as the latest gadgets, etc).

This person has no direction in life. For this person, money is meant to be enjoyed (that he/she worked hard for) and it’s a waste of money to buy books or attend workshops/seminars that he/she “is not interested about”. To this person, a mere four hundred bucks is very expensive for a workshop but four thousand is a small price for a new iPod.


With regards to spending time

- Always says “I am busy with work” and seems to have no time to do things other than work

More often than not, the thing this loser is busy with, even if it's requested by their employer, is not aligned with their dreams and aspirations in life. But they are just too caught up with being a good employee that they cannot do the things that lead to their success. They believe their diligence at work shall bring them success.

- Feels entitled to rest during weekends when invited for an educational activity but CANNOT say no to the boss when requested to report for work during the weekend

It is not a bad thing to want to rest during weekends after a tiring week. However, this loser can’t decline sudden requests from the “boss” to go to the office for a project meeting or to do a report at home to be submitted on Monday. Now when there’s a chance to do an activity that can enrich his/her life (such as attending a workshop or a community activity) he drops the “it’s my rest day/family day” excuse.

- Spends his/her free time reading showbiz/sports magazines and watching TV but spends no time reading success books.


With regards to opportunities

- Complains about not having enough opportunities in life but when opportunities come along he/she says “it's too good to be true” or always says “What's the catch?”

Prudence in making decisions is important so you won’t be scammed, BUT there’s a thin line between being prudent and playing it safe. The loser only sees the bad side on a deal or an opportunity before seeing the good side.

-Is too afraid of the price associated to reaching his/her goals

This loser sees a goal, says he/she is committed to achieve it but when he/she learns what he/she needs to give up or what he/she has to do to reach this goal (assuming what is needed is not immoral or unethical) he/she thinks twice. This loser does only things that are convenient and what impresses other people and him/herself. This loser fails to understand that discomfort and sacrifices are key ingredients to success.


With regards to being in business

- Claims he/she is in a business when he/she is only a self-employed person

This loser believes that just because he/she is his/her own boss he/she is already in business. For instance, a highly paid freelance consultant, he/she will say that "I'm in the consultancy business". But what do you know? He/she is still an employee of himself! And the boss is – HIM/HERSELF

- Believes that to start a business you should consider first how much money he/she has in her pocket and in the bank

Real entrepreneurs look first at how much profit he/she wants to make before making any business plan. A loser who wants to be in business first looks at how much money he/she has. Then when he/she has deemed there isn’t enough capital for his/her “dream business” he/she either works harder to get more salary or just give up starting a business.

- Starts a business on the basis of what is impressive to him/herself or to other people

This loser believes that the business that he/she should be in must be related to his/her profession or work experience. Another basis of this loser for choosing which business is what his/her friends suggest.


With regards to creating wealth

- Is a highly paid employee (a high level manager, a Vice President or even the CEO) and he/she believes he/she is wealthy

Wealth is not measured with the amount of money that you have. It is measured in time – How much time can your money support you even if you don’t have to work? This loser does not realize that while he/she has a lot of money from his/her salary, he/she does not have much time freedom (or it doesn’t even exist for him/her). The higher one’s position in the corporate ladder is, the more demanding work becomes. That’s why in the employment world it is said that the more successful you become, the more imprisoned you become.

- Believes that buying stocks in the stockmarket and putting money in mutual funds is investing

REAL investors look primarily for one thing when they invest – CASHFLOW. Now losers believe that the primary reason to invest is VALUE APPRECIATION. So they buy stocks or mutual funds and pray that the market rallies. They even introduce themselves as investors when they know not a single thing about what investing really is.


ACTION EXERCISES:

If you are still a loser here are some things you can do NOW so you can slowly be a winner:

1. Write down the common excuses you say to avoid commitments. Write at least ten ways you can improve your integrity to other people.
2. Practice negotiating with your boss. Your boss is just another employee in the company whether he is a Vice President or even the CEO. His words are not absolute power. He does not have control over your time after office hours even if your job description says "Any task from time to time the superior gives".
3. Practice saying "I have abundance of money" instead of "I don't have any money". "To See Is To Believe" is another language pattern of losers. Winners believe first before they see.
4. Read books that teach you to become a REAL INVESTOR and not mediocre investors who believe that you should invest and wait for your money to grow. Read Rich Dad's Guide To Investing and Rich Dad's Who Took My Money? (both by Robert Kiyosaki) for you to understand how you can be like Warren Buffet.
5. When you have an appointment practice arriving at the venue thirty minutes earlier.

(www.ca2020.net)