12 step how to live Simple and peaceful

1. Decide what is important. Take a step back and think about what’s important to you. What do you really want to be doing, who do you want to spend your time with, what do you want to accomplish with your work? Make a short list of 4-5 things for your life, 4-5 people you want to spend time with, 4-5 things you’d like to accomplish at work.
2. Examine your commitments. A big part of the problem is that our lives are way too full. We can’t possibly do everything we have committed to doing, and we certainly can’t enjoy it if we’re trying to do everything. Accept that you can’t do everything, know that you want to do what’s important to you, and try to eliminate the commitments that aren’t as important.
3. Leave space between tasks or appointments. Another mistake is trying to schedule things back-to-back. This leaves no cushion in case things take longer than we planned (which they always do), and it also gives us a feeling of being rushed and stressed throughout the day. Instead, leave a good-sized gap between your appointments or tasks, allowing you to focus more on each one, and have a transition time between them.
4. Eliminate as much as possible from your to-do list. You can’t do everything on your to-do list. Even if you could, more things will come up. As much as you can, simplify your to-do list down to the essentials. This allows you to rush less and focus more on what’s important.
5. Slow down and enjoy every task. This is the most important tip in this article. Read it twice. Whatever you’re doing, whether it’s a work task, eating, brushing your teeth, cooking dinner, driving to work: slow down. Try to enjoy whatever you’re doing. Try to pay attention, instead of thinking about other things. Be in the moment. This isn’t easy, as you will often forget. But find a way to remind yourself. Unless the task involves actual pain, there isn’t anything that can’t be enjoyable if you give it the proper attention.
   
   
   • Eat slowly. This is just a more specific application of taking things more slowly but it’s something we do every day, so it deserves special attention.
   • Drive more slowly. Another application of the same principle, driving is something we do that’s often mindless and rushed. Instead, slow down and enjoy the journey. See How to Practice Zen Driving.
6. Single-task. This is an important point. Do one thing at a time, and do it well; see How to Avoid Multi Tasking.
7. Eliminate stress. Find the stressors in your life, and find ways to eliminate them. See How to Relieve Stress.
8. Create time for solitude. In addition to slowing down and enjoying the tasks we do, and doing less of them, it’s also important to just have some time to yourself.
9. Do nothing. Sometimes, it’s good to forget about doing things, and do nothing.
10. Sprinkle simple pleasures throughout your day. Knowing what your simple pleasures are, and putting a few of them in each day, can go a long way to making life more enjoyable.
11. Practice being present. You can practice being in the moment at any time during the day. The key methods of being present include paying attention instead of daydreaming, observing what is going on around you, breathing attentively and meditating.
12. Live in the Moment. Instead of delayed gratification, try enjoying life right now.

How To Think Positive

Don't always think negative, but try to be always positive. Good things will come to you eventually. Don't always think bad thoughts, such as: I can't do this. Yet in actuality, you can. You can because you've got the power to do it Also try to avoid thoughts such as, "I don't think I will ever learn anything". If you think that, then you will not ever learn anything. Also avoids thoughts such as, "I can't solve my own problems and deal with bullying". You can if you put your mind to it. You are smart, you are powerful. You are not some kind of loser, and you can do anything if you try, by thinking positively. We can develop positive thinking through meditation. Insight meditation is a method of self-inquiry in order to acquire insgiht into karma or whatever other aspect of Buddhism we want to understand deeply. Through meditating, we begin to realize that, however long we think positively about something like karma and inquire into its nature, Sometimes we must accept that we have only a limited understanding. Eventually we reach a point where, however much positive thinking and meditation of karma we simply do not know. Not everything can be known or understood. Sometimes, as we continue meditating we begin to understand more of the insights that arise from positive thinking and inquiry. But at other times positive thinking means the courage to accept that we simply do not know everything. Meditation can lead to an intuitive experiential understanding of whatever subject on which we are meditating. This facilitates a shift in perception that allows us to see more clearly how things really are. This is no longer an intellectual process because we go beyond the intellect in meditation to access deeper levels of the mind. In this way, meditation helps the mind find the spaces between thoughts. This spaciousness of mind helps to cultivate positive thinking. Through applying positive thinking and observing our expierences moment to moment in meditation, we begin to see how suffering and dissatisfaction permeate our exisetence, and we realize that things are impermeanent. When we meditate on karma, our understanding of intentional actions and their results deepens, and an understanding of how karma operates slowly begins to arise within us. We start to know for ourselves the truth of karma. This understanding arises from our direct personal expierence, not from something we read in a book. Each time we meditate we can also use positive thinking to develop an understanding of Buddhist concepts like karma and emptiness. In Buddhism, emptiness means self and phenomena lack inherent existence, that they exist only in dependence on their consituent parts, causes, and conditions. This is a difficult concept to understand without thinking haqrd and long about it, but when we examine things closely we realize they do not exist as we usually imagine.

step :
1. Make a decision to do your own thinking and have control over your attitude. That means deciding to conquer the negativity that is going on around you. Think of what you can do today and how you will react that will make a difference to your life instead of allowing people and situations to dictate.
2. Associate or mix around with people who can provide something of value. Avoid those who sap your energy and motivation. If you can't avoid them, or don't want to, learn how not to let them get you down.
3. Start saying positive things especially about yourself. How you communicate to yourself affects your thinking and your emotions, as well as your self-esteem.
4. Try new things. Experiencing a wide variety of life in a positive light will do wonders. Something as simple as trying the mussels in a restaurant can lead to new tastes and different sensations
5. Read more. Read about how those people who fought fear with courage and succeeded in life. Through reading, you will gain new knowledge and understanding and it will help you clear whatever is blocking your thinking and create more ideas.
6. Set goals no matter how impossible it may seem at the moment. Keep yourself busy working on them. Once you reach one, you will get inspired. With each goals achieved no matter how small, you will gain confidence and your self-esteem will increase.
7. Change your mental pictures. What and how you see yourself and your surroundings make a difference to your thinking. You are visualizing or imagining something at every waking hour. Start to change your old internal dis-empowering pictures with images of something that you wish to experience.
8. Start questioning yourself on your behavior and attitude. Ask yourself why you are resisting or producing the habits or attitudes that you dislike. Stop each time you catch yourself in a circumstance that brings about negativity and doubts.

English Tips

Tips #1 : Start
If you don't start, you'll never finish.
The longer you put it off, the more likely you are to give up. So start. Now.
Find an English class.
Find some English learning software or books.
Join an English learning forum.
Begin learning the English alphabet (ABC) and numbers (123).
Learn the vocabulary for your hobbies or interests.
Do something. Do anything.
Once you've started - don't stop.
Tips #2 : Practice Makes Perfect
OK - so you've started. Now what?

Now you have to practice - a lot.
Have you ever worked out how many years it took you to gain your current level in your native language?

Don't forget you had exposure to that language 24 hours a day seven days a week. Now work out how many hours that was.

So, if you think you can learn all the English you need in an hour and a half a week - think again. Don't get me wrong, it's fine if you only want to learn certain phrases for travelling or fun: "Two beers please", or "Hello my name is ...", but if you want to become truly proficient, you've got a long way to go.

You can do a lot by yourself, you can rehearse conversations and explanations you might need to use in real life, but then you have to get out into that real life. Luckily with the internet you can do a lot online. Find a friendly native speaker who would like to learn your language, or learn about your culture, if you can't do that you can do a lot by finding a language buddy, someone who is learning English and is on a similar level to you. Finding someone who is better than you certainly helps, and once you are more proficient find someone who needs your help too.

Just remember, English is a living language, you need to live it.

Tips #3 : take Responsibility
It's easy to expect your teacher to teach you English, but that's not how language acquisition works. The teacher is there to present English to you, but you have to learn it.

After all, you wouldn't expect a waiter to eat your dinner for you, or a barman to drink your beer for you.

I was always very clear with my students. In the first lesson I would tell them I wasn't there to teach them English, I was there to help them learn it. There is a difference. So, once you've been presented with new English words or vocabulary, it's up to you to use it, review it, even play with it. It's the only way you'll get it to stick in your brain and start to make sense.

tips #4 : The most commonly used word in written English
1. The
2. Of
3. And
4. A
5. To
6. In
7. Is
8. You
9. That
10. It
11. He
12. For

These might be the most common words, but they're also the ones that will probably give you the most trouble, knowing them is one thing, knowing how to use them quite another. Size can be deceptive. Tongue out

tips #5 : talk to yourself
Talking to yourself is no longer the first sign of madness - it's the first sign of excellence.

"Self-talk" can help you to become more fluent. And the great thing is - you can do it anywhere: in the bath, in the car, while you're taking the dog for a walk.

Try to put a regular time aside every day when you can talk to yourself in English. Talk about what you did yesterday, what you are doing, about interesting things which have happened to you and the things you're planning to do in the future.

tips #6 : reflect on what you are learning
Try to recall what you have learn as you are taking a class as well as after wards. Try different ways of studying the material. Think about applying these new concepts to your work situation. From time to time, review the classes you have completed as a refresher. Do some of the exercises you did a few months ago, and see if you've improved your score.

tips #7 : learn words in context
Research shows that the vast majority of words are learned from context. To improve your vocabulary pay close attention to how words are used. Doing a search on a word using Google or DejaNews (for searching newsgroups) will give you many examples of how that word is used in context.

tips #8 : Learn From Your Mistakes
We all make mistakes, so we need to learn to accept them as a fact of life. Making a genuine mistake does not make you any less of a person.
If anyone gives you an unnecessarily stressful time about making a mistake, remember they will have made just as many mistakes as you, if not more. The question 'May I congratulate you on never having made a mistake in your life?' is a useful answer here (just not to your teacher)!
Never making a mistake means never living life to the full.
More useful lessons are learnt from mistakes than from successes.
Children learn to walk because they get up when they fall, not because they stay down.
Repeat each morning that to risk failure is to court success.

Improve Your English

How To Improve Your English Skills

My most important piece of advice is: "Do something (anything). If you don't do anything, you won't get anywhere. Make it your hobby, not a chore, but above all have fun!" Don't be in too much of a hurry. You're setting off on a long journey and there'll be delays and frustrations along the way. Sometimes you'll be in the fast lane and other times you'll be stuck in traffic, but there will also be lots of interesting things and interesting people along the way. Take your time to really enjoy the experience. There are many ways to improve your level of English, but only you can find the right way for you. Here are a few tips that might help:
Improve Your Learning Skills

Learning is a skill and it can be improved.
Your path to learning effectively is through knowing:
* yourself
* your capacity to learn
* processes you have successfully used in the past
* your interest, and knowledge of what you wish to learn

Motivate yourself

If you are not motivated to learn English you will become frustrated and give up. Ask yourself the following questions, and be honest:
* Why do you need to learn/improve English?
* Where will you need to use English?
* What skills do you need to learn/improve? (Reading/Writing/Listening/Speaking)
* How soon do you need to see results?
* How much time can you afford to devote to learning English.
* How much money can you afford to devote to learning English.
* Do you have a plan or learning strategy?

Set yourself achievable goals

You know how much time you can dedicate to learning English, but a short time each day will produce better, longer-term results than a full day on the weekend and then nothing for two weeks.

Joining a short intensive course could produce better results than joining a course that takes place once a week for six months.

Here are some goals you could set yourself:
* Join an English course (and attend regularly).
* Do your homework.
* Read a book a month.
* Learn a new word every day.
* Visit an English speaking forum every day.
* Read a news article on the net every day.
* Do 10 minutes listening practice every day.
* Watch an English film at least once a month.
* Follow a soap, comedy or radio or TV drama.

A good way to meet your goals is to establish a system of rewards and punishments.

Decide on a reward you will give yourself for fulfilling your goals for a month.
* A bottle of your favourite drink
* A meal out / or a nice meal at home
* A new outfit
* A manicure or massage

Understanding how you learn best may also help you.

There are different ways to learn. Find out what kind of learner you are in order to better understand how to learn more effectively.

Other English Learning Tips

Travel to an English speaking country and take an English speaking tour or activity holiday.

Spend your time on things that interest you. If you like cooking then buy an English-language cookbook or find recipes on the net and practise following the recipes. You'll soon know if you have made a mistake!

Keep something English on you (book, newspaper or magazine, CD or cassette, set of flashcards) all day and every day, you never know when you might have 5 spare minutes.

If you are too tired to actively practice just relax and listen to an English pop song or talk radio station

Don't be a greedy, distinguih between investment and speculation

We do not get a stuck with the wrong investment, by Benjamin Graham (teacher warren buffet) investment is :

"an operation which, upon thorough analysis, promises safety of principal and an adequate return. Operations not meeting these requirements are speculative".

indonesia : "sebuah operasi, dimana melalui analisa yang mendalam, menjanjikan keamanan modal pokok dan tingkat keuntungan yang pantas/layak. Operasi yang tidak memenuhi persyaratan ini adalah spekulatif"

so i think investment has 3 element :
1. we must in depth analysis investment
2. maintaining stability capital
3. we must try to achieve rates of profit "WORTH" instead of "INCREDIBLE"

there is one more important note that must be remembered, this does not mean all bad speculation. As Benjamin Graham said :

"Just as there is intelligent investing, there's also intelligent speculation. But there are many ways in which speculation may be unintelligent. Of these, the foremost are : (1) speculating when you think you are investing; (2) speculating seriously instead of as a pastime, when you lack the proper knowledge and skill for it"; and (3) risking more money in speculation than you can afford to lose"

indonesian : "Sama halnya bahwa ada Investasi dengan cerdik, ada juga Spekulasi dengan cerdik. Tetapi ada beberapa kondisi dimana spekulasi mungkin tidaklah cerdik, terutama : (1) Berspekulasi sambil menganggap bahwa anda itu berinvestasi (2) Berspekulasi secara serius (dan bukan utk bermain-main), padahal tidak mempunyai pengetahuan maupun keahlian utk itu; dan (3) Mempertaruhkan uang di spekulasi dalam jumlah yg terlalu besar".

happy investing.....

Hidup Sederhana

Dalam karakter, sikap, gaya, dalam segala hal, kesederhanaan adalah hal yang terindah."
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow~
Hidup sederhana sangat menyenangkan. Terlebih dalam kehidupan modern dimana kita tak pernah dapat lepas dari banyak sekali pilihan dan jalan sekaligus kesulitan. Berusaha hidup sesederhana mungkin akan sangat membantu kita menemukan banyak keuntungan dan hidup lebih baik meskipun kita harus dihadapkan pada kondisi krisis ekonomi global seperti saat ini.
Selain itu, hidup sederhana akan membuat kita lebih menikmati apa yang ada saat ini, karena tidak terlalu khawatir akan masa depan atau opini negatif orang lain. Sebagaimana Sir Chinmoy mengatakan, "Simplicity is our natural or conscious awareness of reality. - Kesederhanaan adalah kesadaran alamiah akan kenyataan diri kita sendiri."
Kesadaran tersebut akan membantu kita lebih fokus pada potensi diri sendiri dan semangat untuk lebih giat berusaha, tak hanya berangan-angan atau meratapi kegagalan masa lalu. Dengan demikian, kita dapat meraih harapan lebih cepat dan lebih banyak dari yang diinginkan.
Kesederhanaan dalam hidup semua berawal dari pikiran. Hidup sederhana sama artinya dengan terus belajar menjernihkan pikiran dan tidak membiarkan diri kita dikuasai oleh pemikiran-pemikiran negatif. Dengan kata lain, kesederhanaan membuat kita menemukan ketenangan pikiran.
Kemauan untuk selalu hidup sesederhana mungkin dapat menumbuhkan kreatifitas. Cobalah bertanya kepada diri sendiri tentang apa yang dapat Anda lakukan dengan apa yang Anda miliki? Pertanyaan tersebut akan mendorong Anda untuk memutar otak guna memecahkan suatu masalah dengan memanfaatkan apa yang sudah Anda miliki, daripada mencoba untuk 'membeli' solusi yang berarti pengeluaran uang lagi.
Keuntungan lain dari hidup sederhana lainnya adalah tidak menimbulkan kecemburuan sosial, kesibukan yang berkurang, sehingga lebih banyak waktu untuk istirahat, mengembangkan diri, berbagi dengan orang lain dan lain sebagainya. Keuntungan yang terpenting adalah kita menjadi lebih bahagia dengan apapun yang kita miliki. Sementara keuntungan selalu ada dari hidup sederhana adalah biaya hidup menjadi lebih ekonomis.
Harus dipahami bahwa hidup sederhana bukan kehidupan kaum miskin. Sebab banyak milyuner kelas dunia hidup sangat hemat dan sederhana atau jauh dari kemewahan. Kita coba perhatikan Warren Buffet yang disebut majalah Forbes edisi bulan Agustus 2008 sebagai pria terkaya di dunia dengan total kekayaan senilai 62 milyar USD. Keseharian hidup pria yang mendapat gelar Sage of Omaha atau Oracle of Omaha karena kehebatan pikirannya tersebut sangat dekat dengan prinsip hidup hemat dan mungkin dapat kita jadikan pedoman.
Ketika diwawancara televisi CNBC beberapa waktu yang lalu, Warren Buffet menyatakan bahwa ia masih tinggal di rumah sederhana berkamar 3 di kota Ohama. Rumah itu sudah ia tempati bersama keluarga sejak menikah tahun 1959. Walaupun rumah itu jauh dari kesan mewah, tetapi ia mengatakan, "Saya memiliki segalanya di rumah ini."