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	<title>Inspirational blog &#187; mind</title>
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		<title>Inspiration &#8211; Suggestion</title>
		<link>http://www.inspirationstationva.com/2009/01/inspiration-suggestion/</link>
		<comments>http://www.inspirationstationva.com/2009/01/inspiration-suggestion/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2009 07:04:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Inspiration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[experience]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[matter]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.inspirationstationva.com/?p=278</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[No matter what business you are in, you don’t want to close your mind to suggestions and comments. Forums are nice because you can create a forum within just for this.
But even if you have a website, product or service that is regularly used by people and someone has a suggestion, think about it.
Not everyone [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>No matter what business you are in, you don’t want to close your mind to suggestions and comments. Forums are nice because you can create a forum within just for this.<br />
But even if you have a website, product or service that is regularly used by people and someone has a suggestion, think about it.</p>
<p>Not everyone thinks the same AND some people might see something a little different than you do from their experience with your product or whatever… AND it could boost your conversions or image…<br />
Don’t get tunnel vision… especially online. Always be playing with new ideas, testing and reworking things… that’s how you will grow and succeed long term.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Adventures in Creative Thinking</title>
		<link>http://www.inspirationstationva.com/2008/11/adventures-in-creative-thinking/</link>
		<comments>http://www.inspirationstationva.com/2008/11/adventures-in-creative-thinking/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 08 Nov 2008 03:55:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Inspiration]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.inspirationstationva.com/?p=238</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[How many times have you caught yourself saying that there could be no other solution to a problem – and that that problem leads to a dead end? How many times have you felt stumped knowing that the problem laying before you is one you cannot solve. No leads.  No options.  No solutions. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>How many times have you caught yourself saying that there could be no other solution to a problem – and that that problem leads to a dead end? How many times have you felt stumped knowing that the problem laying before you is one you cannot solve. No leads.  No options.  No solutions.  </p>
<p>Did it feel like you had exhausted all possible options and yet are still before the mountain – large, unconquerable, and impregnable? When encountering such enormous problems, you may feel like you&#8217;re hammering against a steel mountain. The pressure of having to solve such a problem may be overwhelming.</p>
<p>But rejoice! There might be some hope yet!</p>
<p>With some creative problem-solving techniques you may be able to look at your problem in a different light. And that light might just be the end of the tunnel that leads to possible solutions.</p>
<p>First of all, in the light of creative problem-solving, you must be open-minded to the fact that there may be more than just one solution to the problem. And, you must be open to the fact that there may be solutions to problems you thought were unsolvable.</p>
<p>Now, with this optimistic mindset, we can try to be a little bit more creative in solving our problems.</p>
<p>Number one; maybe the reason we cannot solve our problems is that we have not really taken a hard look at what the problem is. Here, trying to understanding the problem and having a concrete understanding of its workings is integral solving the problem. If you know how it works, what the problem is, then you have a better foundation towards solving the problem.</p>
<p>Not trying to make the simple statement of what problem is. Try to identify the participating entities and what their relationships with one another are. Take note of the things you stand to gain any stand to lose from the current problem. Now you have a simple statement of what the problem is.</p>
<p>Number two; try to take note of all of the constraints and assumptions you have the words of problem. Sometimes it is these assumptions that obstruct our view of possible solutions. You have to identify which assumptions are valid, in which assumptions need to be addressed.</p>
<p>Number three; try to solve the problem by parts. Solve it going from general view towards the more detailed parts of the problem. This is called the top-down approach. Write down the question, and then come up with a one-sentence solution to that from them. The solution should be a general statement of what will solve the problem. From here you can develop the solution further, and increase its complexity little by little.</p>
<p>Number four; although it helps to have critical thinking aboard as you solve a problem, you must also keep a creative, analytical voice at the back of your head. When someone comes up with a prospective solution, tried to think how you could make that solution work. Try to be creative. At the same time, look for chinks in the armor of that solution.</p>
<p>Number five; it pays to remember that there may be more than just one solution being developed at one time. Try to keep track of all the solutions and their developments. Remember, there may be more than just one solution to the problem.</p>
<p>Number six; remember that old adage,&#8221; two heads are better than one.&#8221; That one is truer than it sounds. Always be open to new ideas. You can only benefit from listening to all the ideas each person has. This is especially true when the person you&#8217;re talking to has had experience solving problems similar to yours.</p>
<p>You don&#8217;t have to be a gung-ho, solo hero to solve the problem. If you can organize collective thought on the subject, it would be much better.</p>
<p>Number seven; be patient. As long as you persevere, there is always a chance that a solution will present itself. Remember that no one was able to create an invention the first time around.</p>
<p>Creative thinking exercises can also help you in your quest be a more creative problems solver. </p>
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		<title>Boxing Training for Fitness</title>
		<link>http://www.inspirationstationva.com/2008/09/boxing-training-for-fitness/</link>
		<comments>http://www.inspirationstationva.com/2008/09/boxing-training-for-fitness/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 18 Sep 2008 07:47:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[aerobics]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://inspirationstationva.com/?p=94</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You may improve your health and have a physically fit body by getting into boxing training fitness programs. This is the best way for you to have a stronger body and gain confidence. Boxing workouts can help you to be at your best fighting form as well. 
Many people see positive results from boxing trainings. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://inspirationstationva.com/wp-content/uploads/thundergloves_girl_small-221x300.jpg" alt="" align="right" title="thundergloves_girl_small" width="221" height="300" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-95" />You may improve your health and have a physically fit body by getting into boxing training fitness programs. This is the best way for you to have a stronger body and gain confidence. Boxing workouts can help you to be at your best fighting form as well. </p>
<p>Many people see positive results from boxing trainings. You may build stronger and more defined arms and legs. These programs and classes also help you to gain a sense of inner strength and emotional balance. </p>
<p>Boxing training classes got across to the mainstream of physical fitness training a few years back. They have seen the benefits on the cardiovascular and toning of the muscles by these boxing training workouts. Tae bo work out videos also popularized these boxing and kickboxing exercises. </p>
<p>Cardio boxing training classes and the innovative variations of the sparring jabs, power punches, defense, and fitness has all blends of aerobics exercises. You will learn the proper execution of the punch and kick combinations for a more intensive workout that can help you become stronger and more confident.</p>
<p>The combinations you perform on the blocks, jabs, and kicks are executed to an imagined opponent. You may see classes where participants throw punches and kicks on the air. You will also find training camps that have quality equipment such as punching bags and you may also have the option of getting a partner that has padded hands. </p>
<p>You may also enjoy more benefits aside from the physical aspects of boxing trainings. Cardio kick boxing workouts allow you to burn out 350 to 500 calories in just an hour. It also helps maintaining the heart rate at 75 percent to 85 percent regular beat. This has been proven to be good and is the recommended range if you are exercising or into training. </p>
<p>Moreover, these boxing training classes improve your speed, resistance, and strength. Flexibility and the reflexes of the muscles are also enhanced. Repetitive motion on arms by sparring and jogging while you punch helps your arms and legs gain strength and power. </p>
<p>These workouts also enable your joint movements to build very efficient fitness results.<br />
These movements require you to develop balance and coordination that enables your body to be stable and maintain a good form. </p>
<p>These physical benefits you gain from boxing and kickboxing are just few of the many benefits that they can provide. You will be able to learn more about defense mechanism skills, which you may use in case of unwanted instances. You will also feel the satisfaction when you punch or kick. Relaxation and self-motivation is also developed. </p>
<p>You will feel a sigh of relief and feel that you are released from stressed. It also helps you to get rid of that anger that is inside of you. Once these things are releases, you may feel lightness into your body and peace of mind as well. </p>
<p>Many aerobic and fitness experts recommend boxing training lessons for beginners. It allows you to workout on your desired pace and body condition. Boxing classes let you to push yourself to the limit as long as you are safe and well conditioned. </p>
<p>Positive results await you with boxing training. You will enjoy a physically fit body and will keep you in better shape. You have the option working out and exercising at your preferred level and skill. Enjoy the fun of these boxing training programs.</p>
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		<title>What Innovation Can Do to Your Life?</title>
		<link>http://www.inspirationstationva.com/2008/09/what-innovation-can-do-to-your-life/</link>
		<comments>http://www.inspirationstationva.com/2008/09/what-innovation-can-do-to-your-life/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:33:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Inspiration]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Harry Potter]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://inspirationstationva.com/?p=30</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s a talent that everyone has, yet they think they don&#8217;t. The power of innovation. If you&#8217;ve ever marvelled at somebody&#8217;s creative progess, guess what, you can create and innovate too. It just takes time. Everyone is born creative. The box of crayons in kindergarten were not limited to those who possessed potential; because the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://inspirationstationva.com/wp-content/uploads/inovation_bulb.jpg" alt="" title="inovation_bulb" width="300" height="300" align="right" class="alignright size-full wp-image-31" />It&#8217;s a talent that everyone has, yet they think they don&#8217;t. The power of innovation. If you&#8217;ve ever marvelled at somebody&#8217;s creative progess, guess what, you can create and innovate too. It just takes time. Everyone is born creative. The box of crayons in kindergarten were not limited to those who possessed potential; because the truth is, everybody has potential.</p>
<p>You know how long it took to learn to ride a bike or drive or to never commit the same mistake again? It&#8217;s the same with innovation. It takes a  bit of practice and a lot of time before this mind function comes easily  when called. This article will teach you a few tips on how to bring innovation into your life.</p>
<p>Don&#8217;t listen to what other people say. Follow the beat of your own drum. Allowing for the input of other people will only bring cacophony to the music you are trying to make. If you have an original idea, don&#8217;t waste your time and effort trying to make people understand. They won&#8217;t. And the help you will probably get comes in the form of negative feedback. If all those geniuses listened to their peers, we would probably still be living in the middle ages.</p>
<p>Spend time on it. I cannot stress that enough, although, please do not mistake this tip to tell you to quit your day job entirely. Do not. This involves some tricky time management but with a little discipline you&#8217;ll be able to squeeze both in. </p>
<p>Exercise. Take a walk. Run a mile or two. Send all those endorphins coursing through your veins. Exercising certainly clears and relaxes your mind and allows for anything to pop up. </p>
<p>Record your dreams. Aren&#8217;t some of them just the craziest things that your conscious mind would never have thought of? If you&#8217;ve had these dreams before, and I&#8217;m sure have, this only shows you the untapped innovative power you have lying within. So jot down those notes. Those dreams may just create an innovative spark in you.</p>
<p>Find your own style. You can always tell a Van Gogh from a Matisse. You&#8217;ll know Hemingway wrote something by the choice of words on the paper. So it is the same with you. People will appreciate your innovation more because it is uniquely yours and that no one else would have thought of what you were thinking. That will let people see how valuable an asset you are. </p>
<p>Don&#8217;t hide behind nifty gadgets or tools. You don&#8217;t need the most expensive set of paints to produce a masterpiece. The same way with writing. You don&#8217;t need some expensive fountain pen and really smooth paper for a bestseller. In fact, J.K. Rowling wrote the first book of the Harry Potter Series on bits of tissue. So what if you&#8217;ve got an expensive SLR camera if you&#8217;re a crappy photographer? Who cares if you&#8217;ve got a blinging laptop if you can&#8217;t write at all? The artist actually reduces the number of tools he has as he gets better at his craft: he knows what works and what doesn&#8217;t. </p>
<p>Nothing will work without passion. What wakes you up in the mornings? What keeps the flame burning? What is the one thing that you&#8217;ll die if you don&#8217;t do? Sometimes people with talent are overtaken by the people who want it more. Think the hare and the tortoise. Ellen Degeneres once said that if you&#8217;re not doing something that you want to do, then you don&#8217;t really want to do it. And that&#8217;s true. Sometimes you just want something so bad you become a virtual unstoppable. And that is passion. Passion will keep you going. </p>
<p>Don&#8217;t worry about inspiration. You can&#8217;t force it; inspiration hits when you least expect it to, for those unpredictable yet inevitable moments you should prepare. An idea could strike you on the subway, yet alas, you poor unfortunate soul; you have no sheet of paper to scribble down a thought that could change the world. Avoid these disasters. Have a pen and paper within your arm&#8217;s reach at all times.</p>
<p>I hope this article has helped you bring more innovation into your life. Keep in mind that you&#8217;re doing these things for your own satisfaction and not anybody else&#8217;s. But soon enough they will notice, and everything should snowball from there.</p>
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		<title>Meditation Techniques</title>
		<link>http://www.inspirationstationva.com/2008/09/meditation-techniques/</link>
		<comments>http://www.inspirationstationva.com/2008/09/meditation-techniques/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Sep 2008 06:51:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://inspirationstationva.com/?p=160</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Meditation refers to a state where your body and mind are consciously relaxed and focused.  Practitioners of this art report increased awareness, focus, and concentration, as well as a more positive outlook in life.
Meditation is most commonly associated with monks, mystics and other spiritual disciplines.  However, you don’t have to be a monk [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://inspirationstationva.com/wp-content/uploads/meditation.jpg" align="right" alt="" title="meditation" width="300" height="357" class="alignright size-full wp-image-161" />Meditation refers to a state where your body and mind are consciously relaxed and focused.  Practitioners of this art report increased awareness, focus, and concentration, as well as a more positive outlook in life.</p>
<p>Meditation is most commonly associated with monks, mystics and other spiritual disciplines.  However, you don’t have to be a monk or mystic to enjoy its benefits.  And you don’t even have to be in a special place to practice it.  You could even try it in your own living room!</p>
<p>Although there are many different approaches to meditation, the fundamental principles remain the same.  The most important among these principles is that of removing obstructive, negative, and wandering thoughts and fantasies, and calming the mind with a deep sense of focus.  This clears the mind of debris and prepares it for a higher quality of activity.</p>
<p>The negative thoughts you have – those of noisy neighbors, bossy officemates, that parking ticket you got, and unwanted spam– are said to contribute to the ‘polluting’ of the mind, and shutting them out is allows for the ‘cleansing’ of the mind so that it may focus on deeper, more meaningful thoughts.</p>
<p>Some practitioners even shut out all sensory input – no sights, no sounds, and nothing to touch – and try to detach themselves from the commotion around them.  You may now focus on a deep, profound thought if this is your goal.  It may seem deafening at first, since we are all too accustomed to constantly hearing and seeing things, but as you continue this exercise you will find yourself becoming more aware of everything around you.</p>
<p>If you find the meditating positions you see on television threatening – those with impossibly arched backs, and painful-looking contortions – you need not worry.  The principle here is to be in a comfortable position conducive to concentration.  This may be while sitting cross-legged, standing, lying down, and even walking.</p>
<p>If the position allows you to relax and focus, then that would be a good starting point.  While sitting or standing, the back should be straight, but not tense or tight.  In other positions, the only no-no is slouching and falling asleep.</p>
<p>Loose, comfortable clothes help a lot in the process since tight fitting clothes have a tendency to choke you up and make you feel tense.</p>
<p>The place you perform meditation should have a soothing atmosphere.  It may be in your living room, or bedroom, or any place that you feel comfortable in.  You might want an exercise mat if you plan to take on the more challenging positions (if you feel more focused doing so, and if the contortionist in you is screaming for release).  You may want to have the place arranged so that it is soothing to your senses.</p>
<p>Silence helps most people relax and meditate, so you may want a quiet, isolated area far from the ringing of the phone or the humming of the washing machine.  Pleasing scents also help in that regard, so stocking up on aromatic candles isn’t such a bad idea either.</p>
<p>The monks you see on television making those monotonous sounds are actually performing their mantra.  This, in simple terms, is a short creed, a simple sound which, for these practitioners, holds a mystic value.</p>
<p>You do not need to perform such; however, it would pay to note that focusing on repeated actions such as breathing, and humming help the practitioner enter a higher state of consciousness.</p>
<p>The principle here is focus.  You could also try focusing on a certain object or thought, or even, while keeping your eyes open, focus on a single sight.</p>
<p>One sample routine would be to – while in a meditative state – silently name every part of you body and focusing your consciousness on that part. While doing this you should be aware of any tension on any part of your body.  Mentally visualize releasing this tension.  It works wonders.</p>
<p>In all, meditation is a relatively risk-free practice and its benefits are well worth the effort (or non-effort – remember we’re relaxing).</p>
<p>Studies have shown that meditation does bring about beneficial physiologic effects to the body.  And there has been a growing consensus in the medical community to further study the effects of such.  So in the near future, who knows, that mystical, esoteric thing we call meditation might become a science itself!</p>
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