Good Reasons To Join The Chess Institute

By Deanne Shepard

The brain is undoubtedly one of the most important parts of the entire anatomy. It is the command system of the body, meaning all parts only work when the brain tell them to do so. It is in charge of overseeing even the tiniest operations and ensure that everything is working just fine. The brain, with all its important tasks and functions, cannot even afford to take a rest.

Since it is in function most of the time, it is important that one constantly keeps his mind sharp. After all, the society of today favors intelligence above everything else, so a sharp wit is needed for everything. Dull mental faculties only pose loads of problems, which is why most people engage in the chess institute nyc to keep it sharp and alert.

Traditionally, this board game is called the kings game. This is named as such for good reason, because this is played by the monarchs in the olden times. Rulers of vast empires used this to hone their strategy skills and to test how they should best advance to challengers, especially other rulers, if it is already absolutely necessary.

This is ultimately played on a special board. The chess board, as it is called, is composed of sixty four squares in an eight by eight grid. The squares are alternately colored black and white, along with sets of chess pieces also with corresponding black and white colors. It is also believe to be the most played game all over the globe.

It is often perceived as a game for nerds because it favors the brain over anything else. Unlike the other contact sports that rely on endurance, stamina, and over all physical capacity, this game does not care about your height, your body structure, and does not even require special clothing. It only requires that you beat your opponent in a clash of wits.

Muscles have to be subjected to constant exercise for them to be maintained. In like manner, the brain has to be continuously stimulated so that it will not lose luster. When this happens, one will be more prone to mental ailments such as dementia and Alzheimers. Playing the board game prevents the onset of such diseases.

It also allows you to improve on your memory skills. A good memory is a very valuable asset that one can have, and it can be achieved by playing the said game. After all, the game requires you to vividly remember all the moves your opponent ha done so that you will know what to do next.

It also helps in improving focus and concentration. Each player has to train his eyes and his mind at the play at hand, so that he could follow the move of the other. Looking away, even just for a single moment, can be a cause for losing because the opponent will not tell you his move. This ability to focus will be transferred to other activities and tasks, resulting to higher productivity.

It also pushes you to be creative and imaginative. You will be required to devise moves and combinations of your own in order to successfully beat an opponent. The game teaches independence as well, because one has to make important decisions on his own and face its consequences.

About the Author:

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How Calming Ocean Sounds Alleviate Stress And Sooth The Spirit

By Linda Ruiz

In today's frenetic world, increasing numbers of people are looking for ways to add greater peace and tranquillity to their lives. One of the easiest ways they can do this is by listening to the sounds of nature on CD or mp3. Calming ocean sounds and other natural ambiance have a tremendously relaxing effect on the psyche and are ideal for those who are stressed and overloaded.

One common use for these recordings is as a background to practices like yoga and meditation. These activities are becoming massively popular as people are looking for ways to re-gain some peace of mind. Many people are also discovering how much nature's sounds can aid their practice.

With meditation for example, practitioners aim to train their minds such that there is a slowing down of thought and a reduction in 'mind chatter'. This can prove extremely difficult as the stresses of the day churn up one's emotions and mental space. Natural sounds help one to relax and thus reach a calm state of mind that much more easily.

It's a similar story with yoga. Stress and emotional anguish disrupt one's ability to focus and perform each pose to a high standard. Relaxed practitioners are able to have an experience that is significantly richer and deeper. Over the long-term, they are better able to reap lasting benefits in terms of skill, satisfaction and peace of mind.

These effects come as no surprise to scientists who have researched the effects of nature's sounds. Studies have shown that they can help people recover from stress more quickly and easily. Even the non-scientists among us know at an intuitive level that these sounds can have a calming, restorative effect. We all have a primal response to the natural environment, and it's effect on us can be profound.

This is perhaps seen most markedly in its effects on small children. There's something about the sounds of the natural world that connects with children at a very deep level. Babies can often be calmed beautifully by natural sounds when everything else has failed. A child put to bed in a room with birdsong or similar playing softly in the background will often drift off to sleep quickly and easily.

Many adults also make use of these sounds as an aid to sleep. They have discovered that having a recording of this kind playing in the background can be quite an effective 'tranquillizer'. Some also use them to create a more restful home environment. Sounds of summertime for example can help dispel the gloom for those living in colder climes and create a more cheerful atmosphere.

A tranquil environment can also be of tremendous help for students of all ages. When the time comes to concentrate, having nature's music playing in the background can be a boon to focus and clear thinking. Many studies have shown that a relaxed brain is far better primed to learn than one that is not. Relaxed, focused students learn more effectively, and are also able to retain what they learn better than those who are not.

About the Author:

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What Is Self-Awareness

In a PhD focused on this very topic I sought to answer this ubiquitous question. I explored the plethora of literature on the subject, and pulled together, collated and reviewed all the models and definitions that existed on self-awareness. This knowledge was used to devise a model, definition and measure of self-awareness. I found some very interesting things about self-awareness. Despite the word 'self-awareness' implying that it is about the "self", self-awareness is just as much about others as it is about the self. Without other, there is no way to know who we are. Other is a very important feature in coming to know ourselves.

My model highlights six processes involved in self-awareness and each of these are very important for becoming increasingly more self-aware.
• internal awareness and understanding;
• being able to stay in the present moment;
• not being too critical of oneself;
• being able to see what is happening for other people;
• being aware of how other people see you;
• the ability to connect with yourself.

I developed a definition in an attempt encapsulate all these different features of self-awareness. "Self-awareness is a process that involves becoming sensitive to, and responsive to, the many forms of feedback produced by both the self-system and the externally oriented systems within which one is embedded." Although a very academic definition, this definition highlights some very important features of self-awareness. Firstly, that self-awareness is a process - that is, it is ongoing, we are never completely self-aware, it is something we need to want to improve, we need to be open to it and we need to work on it. Secondly, it highlights that a balance is required between oneself and the environment and this includes other people - not too self focused, not too other focused. This balance also includes being balanced with oneself - not too hard, not too soft. It is these very balances that people often struggle with.

Based on this model and definition of self-awareness, I went on to develop a way to measure self-awareness as part of my PhD. After many studies involving thousands of people, I developed, refined and validated this new measure. It consists of 60 questions that can be answered on a seven-point scale from 'almost always' to 'almost never'. It is the first globally valid measure of self-awareness. This is the first step in the process of becoming more aware and identifying strengths and gaps or blind spots.


Curious to know more...

Follow this Link:
http://www.thetestingroom.com.au/SelfAwarenessTool.aspx

Despina Sfakinos, PhD,
Academic and Coaching Psychologist

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Despina_Sfakinos

Developing Your Psychic Abilities

The above-mentioned abilities are just a few examples of psychic abilities. 

 

Using your gifts correctly may help you improve your life and the lives of those around you. Just like a piano teacher, a psychic reader can listen to, expand upon, and help clarify your situation and individual issues. These abilities may be developed in order to help you control your psychic potential. 

The ability to relax and use your imagination while being consciously alert should enable you to discover and reach your psychic potential. It is always nice to have support and/or confirmation while developing your abilities as you navigate life's interesting journey. It makes more sense if you compare psychic ability to musical ability. 

Some examples follow: Empathic ability is the ability to feel what another person feels. Enhancing your life through the expansion of your psychic abilities may assist you on many levels. These abilities allow us to reach into our inner knowledge.

Treatment For Depression And Anxiety

Patients with depression need the time to heal, and someone to talk to but they also need a creative outlet to express themselves, and distract them from the dark and depressive feelings their illness can cause. 

Individuals who are suffering from anxiety or depression will need specialist treatment from a qualified psychiatrist, counsellor or therapist who is an expert at treating emotional and psychological problems. They form the building bricks for patients to heal from traumas, cope with symptoms of depression and address problems so they can get back on track and enjoy a happier and healthier life. 
For some people, there is a need for medication which will alleviate the serious symptoms of depression and help them to heal. Just like any illness, there are highly effective medicines that will help patients to get better and help to restore health. 

For this reason, people suffering from depression should get the help they need as quickly as possible. While there is no doubt that it is a life threatening and debilitating disease, there is hope and for millions of people, healing takes place and they can return to a happy, emotionally balanced life once more. 

Art therapy, swimming, other form of exercise, horse riding, gardening and other healthy, active and creative pastimes have been found to be extremely therapeutic for depression sufferers and individuals with mental disorders. 

People who have depression will be given a combination of some or all of these treatments. It can have long lasting effects on physical health as well as every aspect of an individual's life.

How To Improve Your Concentration

Focus on your breathing, the flow of the breath through you nostrils to your lungs Count your breaths, counting one on the in breath, two on the outbreath and so on until you get to ten. 

The wandering mind is the resistance against which your focus has to work in order to develop. Just as developing a muscle requires frequent, focused use of that muscle, the mind also needs to be taken to the "gym" for a focussed workout. 

When your mind wanders (as it will) catch it in the act and then return your focus to your breathing. By adding more time to the exercise you increase the "weight" of the resistance your mind has to overcome, and the more resistance you overcome, the greater your powers of focused concentration become.

 Through practice, however, you will become better at recognising when your thought have run off, and you will improve your ability to return your thoughts to the object of your focus. It is to become aware of your thoughts and strengthen your ability to stay with the object you have chosen to focus on (in this case your breathing. Think of the wandering of your mind as you would the weight on the barbell in the gym. 

Don't become despondent when your mind wanders during the exercise. Keep your mind on counting your breaths.

How to Motivate Yourself

The more challenging task can sometimes be How to Motivate Yourself help you with that, try the following:

Create a Recognition Program: People are generally motivated by the acknowledgement of their efforts.

Assist your team with their individual goals: Finding out what people want to accomplish professionally within the firm and helping them achieve it, can go a long way in motivating your team.

Create a positive work environment: Creating a positive work environment is one of the best ways to motivate people to look forward to returning to work day after day.

Although many senior-level professionals have mastered the art of self motivation, the challenge still lies in motivating their 'team.' For those of you that have not mastered the art of self motivation, that is the first key to motivating your team.

If a member of your team is caught in a rut because they are no longer challenged by the job, providing them with new and varied opportunities can move them out of their comfort zone, hence jump starting their motivation.

A question that I use regularly to motivate myself is "What is something that I have done successfully in the past?" When you have answered that question, then ask yourself "What process did I go through to complete it successfully?" Once you have answered that question, simply use a similar road map to assist you in getting started.

Take the time before you go home at night or first thing in the morning to create a detailed plan for the day ahead. What you'll find more often than not, is that you'll work for more than five minutes and you will build the momentum to keep you going.
Despite whatever current pressures you may be under, taking the time to be present and greet your staff day after day with a smile can work wonders.
Any time you feel a lag in your day, you can always refer back to the plan to keep you on track.
Create opportunities for your team: People tend to be more motivated when they are challenged.

Use your break time to take a walk: Taking a walk clears your mind. Take a 5-10 minute walk when you find that procrastination or non-productive activities are interrupting your day.

Start small: The trick to action sometimes is simply just getting started.
Without a detailed plan, you can find yourself with a lot of non-productive activity.
Then ask yourself, what is another small step I can take... Try some of these techniques when procrastination sets in or your motivation wanes.

At times, one of the biggest challenges we face in the workplace is motivating ourselves or the people around us. Use Questions: An effective way to motivate yourself to action is to use questions to change your state of mind.

Dealing With Stress at Work

With the instability in the commercial center it is not difficult to perceive how you could start to feel the staggering yoke of pushed at work. For all you know whenever you see your foreman or office administrator strolling the floor he/she could be coming to lay you off. For specialists pretty much all over this economy is sufficient to make you ocean wiped out. Also the additional trouble of the work of the individuals who were laid off or blaze and the abbreviate dead lines. 

At that point there's the business sector and what's left of our retirement and funds. One day the business sectors up, and the one day from now its down this vulnerability just adds to the effectively building anxiety, however until further notice that's simply the way it is. We need to figure out how to manage stretch in the work put in all its structures. 

A certain measure of anxiety at work is ordinary, yet unnecessary anxiety meddles with generation and could be unsafe to your wellbeing. So its unmistakably essential to discover approaches to manage stress at work. 

The key is knowing when and what to do to oversee and decrease stress. Since work environment anxiety develops when the economy is down, its extremely imperative to learn new and frequently better methods for managing the anxiety, on the grounds that the capability to oversee push on the ob could be the contrast in the middle of disappointment and achievement. 

Essentially put when anxiety at work starts to keep you up during the evening, and is starting to meddle with your work and also your individual life something's going to need to be carried out. 

Here are a couple of the tips I utilize when I'm managing push at work. The principal thing is to assume liability for your prosperity and recollect that you are in control and things are just going to get as awful as you give them a chance to get. At that point attempt and dodge knee jerk responses when something surprising happens at work. Attempt and recall that things are not more often than not as terrible as they show up right away, so attempt and take a minute on the off chance that you can before you respond.

Tips To Manage Your Depression Long Island

By Paulette Mason

For those who go through a period of sadness in response to a particular life event, it is perfectly normal, but can become dysfunctional when these effects begin to take over your life. Many of the symptoms that are linked to the psychological condition include sadness, loss of energy, improper sleep, and a lack of interest in activities that has previously proved pleasurable. When it comes to the most suitable way of dealing with depression Long Island sufferers are advised on a series of health tips.

Depression has been regarded a commonly reported condition in which individuals experience ongoing symptoms of a sad mood that affects everyday functionality and can continue for 2 weeks or more. It is categorized as a psychological disorder that will have a negative impact on social, occupational, and even physical aspects of life. One will find that performing even the simplest of tasks can become difficult if not impossible to engage.

Depression can be categorized in terms of its symptom grouping. Major depressive disorder involves feelings of persistent sadness, loss of interest in daily activities, fatigue, insomnia, hypersomnia, thoughts of inadequacy, guilt, and improper physical function. Such symptoms cannot be linked to prescription or other drugs including organic diseases to be considered a psychological disturbance.

Individuals who experience a considerable slide in their daily lives, it is necessary to find the strength to seek the right type of help. The first essential step is to access resources on this disorder and to learn more about the manner in which symptoms present and how it can affect your daily life. One can contact a telephone based counseling service to tend to your concerns and steer you in the right direction.

Feelings of depressive symptoms can be associated with a particular life event; however, it can soon spill over into other spheres of function that require professional assessments. With the advice provided by a Long Island, NY therapist it is best to have the right type of support advised for your needs. An assessment of function serve to reveal the underlying causes for dysfunction.

It may be easy for people to tell you to just get over it, but the reality is that coping with depression is an ongoing journey. On days where you are better able to cope, consider hobbies and activities that relieve your stress and assist in taking the focus away from your feelings of desperation. When you are ready, taking the time to engage in actions that bring relaxation, peace, and pleasure can make a significant difference in daily life.

Modifications to the daily diet will have to be made incorporating regular exercise. If you happen to fail, one should take the time to learn methods that will aid in effectively coping with ongoing disturbances. The continuous measures that are put in place can aid in supporting your progress even if you do not feel strong enough on certain days.

Rather than have the condition consume your life, seek an experienced psychologist or practitioner who can develop individualized counseling and medication. An evaluation of all all spheres of function will be completed and specific plans created to tend to individual needs. Managing depression does not happen overnight, but a period of time with support.

About the Author:

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