For Us ~ Pete Yorn

I finally got the album 'Nightcrawler' tonight, and love it! My fave tunes are ~ For Us, The Man, Broken Bottle & Ice Age. I cannot wait to go to one of his shows, his voice is just so oh, I cannot describe in words. Pete Yorn is the man.

Photos ~ http://flickr.com/photos/peteyorn/

Get your dose of happiness

Get your dose of happiness
Originally uploaded by Djibouti

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Quote of the day

”Optimism is the foundation of courage.”
~ Nicholas Murray Butler

Janice Dickinson

I am a fan indeed!! The video's on her myspace page are great!

Below is a link to her show on Oh! Oxygen, I like it...may have missed my calling being 5' 2'' & needing to lose a few lb's, but I'd accept her constructive criticism...she is funny & meeting her would be cool. On her show, the guys are flippin' hot and her work ethic & drive is intense...somewhat inspirational.

http://www.oxygen.com/janice/

NC0V5538f

NC0V5538f
Originally uploaded by paulandthefrog.

I really like so I thought I'd blog & share...with permission from the artist of course.

His work is fascinating!! If you go to www.pwilkes.com you can also experience the galleries of expressionism & his travels, enjoy :)

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Greek Isles

Greek Isles
Originally uploaded by StrudelMonkey.

Fascinating collage, I dig it!

confidence at work:

New responsibilities, difficult co-workers or a tough situation can trip up your self-esteem on the job just when you need to be at your best. Below are ways to build your confidence and help you take on your day with assurance:

1. Reframe Failure. Don't dwell on past failures or obsess over mistakes. After spending years trying to create an incandescent light bulb, Thomas Edison told a colleague, "I have not failed; I have discovered 1,200 materials that don't work." Know that setbacks are normal and reframe any failure as a learning experience.

2. Remember, It's Not All About You. According to Roger Elliott, who teaches courses and runs a web site dedicated to building self-confidence, low self-esteem is often accompanied by too much focus on the self. Conversely, individuals who are self-confident are seldom self-conscious. If you're making a presentation, you'll be much more effective if you concentrate on the audience and your message rather than on how you look or sound. Or, if you find yourself ruminating over an unpleasant encounter, you'll feel better and be infinitely more productive if you stop worrying and engage in an activity that absorbs you and holds your attention.

3. Fake It 'Til You Make It. Adopt the posture and body language of the self-assured. Walk tall, smile and make eye contact. Appear calm and in control. Replace any doubts or negative thoughts with the mantra: "I can do this." Convince yourself that you are self-assured, and you will start to adopt the behaviors and skills of a confident person. Before you know it, your self-image will catch up with your actions and you will no longer have to pretend.

4. Relax. One caution when it comes to step three: People who try to project confidence while still feeling tense, often come across as overly aggressive. Many people find it useful to practice yoga, however if that's not for you, you can also try deep breathing exercises, repeating affirmations such as: "I have strength, serenity and wisdom," or visualizing a peaceful scene or experience.

5. Celebrate Your Successes. If you don't give yourself credit, no one will. Taking time to savor your successes not only feels good, but will help you develop a handy mental list of self-esteem boosting memories to get you through your next confidence crisis.

show your wow

I like the photo of the clouds, a view from a plane. I've tried to get good shot, at least one but it never comes out that great...well, at least I know I'll get it at some point in my travels :)

happy new year!

working with you...

Working With You is Killing Me!
Free Yourself from Emotional Traps at Work, By Kate Lorenz

Has one of your co-workers made your life a living hell? Does your boss or employee make your blood boil or your stomach churn? Most people have experienced a negative, overbearing or downright hurtful co-worker, employee or boss at some point. Learning to work with all types, it seems, is a necessary requirement for success. In their book, "Working with You is Killing Me -- Freeing Yourself from Emotional Traps at Work," (Warner Business Books, 2006), Katherine Crowley and Kathi Elster offer advice on how to recognize a co-worker problem and provide tools for dealing with them professionally and effectively.

The first step, say Crowley and Elster, is acknowledging that there is a problem. Once you do, you can learn to manage your own reactions. When you are caught in an emotionally distressing situation at work, Crowley and Elster call it being "hooked." A person who is hooked will have a negative reaction to a co-worker either physically, mentally or emotionally. For example, physical reactions are feeling queasy, pains in your shoulders and butterflies in your stomach when you hear your "doomsday" boss calling for you. Emotional signs are feeling overwhelmed, inadequate and exhausted when you work with a certain employee or customer. If you daydream of ways to get revenge on a deceitful co-worker, this is a mental sign.The problem is that we often become desensitized to these warning signs -- even accepting them as normal. Ignoring them will take a toll on your emotional and physical well-being, as well as your career success. If you can tune in to how you are feeling, you can learn to take control.

Crowley and Elster offer a process called "unhooking" to help you manage and deal with harmful colleagues:

Unhook physically.
The first step is to calm down physically. Remove yourself from a situation by leaving the office for a few minutes. Blow off steam with a walk or relax by taking deep breaths. Think about something that makes you happy. The important thing is that you release any negative energy so you can look at the situation more clearly.Unhook mentally. Crowley and Elster call this the "internal version of talking yourself down off the ledge." This involves looking at the situation rationally and finding a fresh perspective.

Ask yourself these five questions:
1. What's happening here?
2. What are the facts of the situation?
3. What's their part?
4. What's my part?
5. What are my options?

Once you've sorted out the facts, you'll have a clearer view that will enable you to take the appropriate action.

Hellen, an inside sales manager, had an employee who incessantly asked questions and requested voluminous reports. Annoyed by the interruptions, Hellen often ignored the employee's request. When the woman told Hellen's boss that she wasn't getting what she needed to do her job, Hellen realized her strategy and attitude had backfired. Hellen took a closer look at the situation and her reactions. She's now more accommodating and the employee's requests have subsided.

Unhook verbally.
Crowley and Elster say that you need to "find the words (or sometimes the silence) to protect yourself and get out of a workplace trap." This might mean expressing your feelings to a co-worker who has been rude to you or speaking up for yourself at a meeting. Crowley and Elster warn that you must you take the "high road" approach to communicating. Avoid placing blame on another person or putting the person on the defensive. Communicate in a way that will be productive.Lou, a first-time manager, felt her boss second-guessed her and asked others about her decisions. She arranged a meeting with her boss to review her past decisions and the positive outcomes. At the conclusion, she explained calmly that she needed his vote of confidence and that his support would help her gain respect from her employees and peers. He enthusiastically agreed and within a year she received a promotion.

Unhook with a business tool.
It is important to protect yourself with the resources provided to you by your company. A business tool, say Crowley and Elster, "is any standard procedure or written document used in a business setting." For example, if you have had a confrontation with a co-worker, make sure the incident and the solution has been documented. From job descriptions and performance standards to company policies, look for tools that can be utilized to protect you in the future.The bottom line, every workplace has its demons. But, say Crowley and Elster, taking control of your own response to these personalities will leave you empowered and better able to handle most any interpersonal situation.