Merry~~~

Photo credit to Cheril! Gosh I can't resist his cuteness, he is the cutest kids I've ever seen!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Hope you guys enjoy this season of love with your friends and family!

See you soon!

X

Just do it!

“Hope,” Beethoven cried, “you forge the heart into steel.” 

Hope is confidence. 
Hope is determination. 
Hope is courage. 

And faith is the ultimate expression of hope. Belief fortifies the heart.

Don't worry too much about how your future will be. Get your things done now! Enjoy every single moment now! It's good to have faith and hope, do your best no matter what realities are. I believe the best will come to you eventually!

GOOD LUCK!

gift

A gift consists not in what is done or given, but in the intention of the giver or doer.

So much birthdays and parties yeah! Still soaking in the honeymoon and I need to spend my time wisely!

Ohh lala, i can smell Xmas noww!

Till then :)

Believe

“It’s amazing how far you are willing to go when someone believes in you.” - Katie Kacvinsky, First Comes Love

You know, I had never heard this quote until today, I don’t think I ever realized how much I owe my successes to others. I was so lucky to be born to such amazing parents and siblings that ALWAYS believed in me, to have mentors that reminded me daily of their belief and to be surrounded by the most amazing friends throughout my life. It’s one thing to believe in yourself but knowing that you have others that believe in you just as much as you believe in yourself, and especially when maybe you have days that you don’t believe in yourself, that is truly special.

To all of you that have believed and me and still believe in me, thank you for helping me to succeed and to continue to chase my dreams. I wouldn’t be anywhere I am in my life today without you and I need you to know that I am aware of this. 

Dance

Everyday brings a chance for you to draw in a breath, kick off your shoes, and dance.

"You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching,

Love like you'll never be hurt,

Sing like there's nobody listening.

and Live like it's heaven on earth"

William Purkey

legal attachment and chambering at KL?

I am sure most of you guys (who are not from KL) will be struggling to choose for a suitable firm for your legal attachment or chambering at KL!

First of all, it is important to know what is your interest in any specific area of law at the first place. There are three main limbs in the law practice namely corporate, litigation, and conveyancing. Of course there are different other specification such as Intellectual Property, Banking etc. I did some research before and make a list of law firms that you may want to go:-

Corporate

1. Skrine (BF)
2. Shearn Delamore & Co (BF) 
3. ZICOlaw (BF)
4. Kadir Andri and Partners (MBF)
5. Zul Rafique and; Partners (MBF)
6. Wong & Partners (MBF)
7. Albar & Partners (MF)
8. Adnan Sundra & Law (MF)
9. Rahmat Lim & Partners (MF)
10. Raslan Loong (MF)
11. Jeff Leong Poon & Wong (MF)
12. Cheang & Ariff (MF)

BF: big firm

MBF: medium big firm

MF: medium firm

What is corporate work all about? Based on my three months legal attachment experiences in a corporate firm. You will be most likely be assigned to do Due Diligence, opinion writing, drafting agreements, attend company AGM/EGM, scheme of arrangement course papers preparation, takeover and mergers agreements, prepare some due diligence planning memorandum, drafting the proposal based on the Bursa Listing Requirements and any other relevant policy and law. I love corporate so much because you are exposed to many new area that is totally unrelated to law. Say if we are preparing the documents of a theme park, you have to study the animals characteristics. You have to read about the astronomy, technology, hello kitty and everything else you can think off! :D

Litigation

1. Lee Hishammudin Allen Glendhill (BF)
2. Shook Lin and Bok (BF)
3. Shearn Delamore & Co (BF)
4. ZICO law (BF)
5. Skrine (BF)
6. Zul Rafique (MBF)
7. Kadir Andri and Partners (MBF) 
8. Malik Imtiaz Sarwar 
9. Thomas Phillip
10. Tommy Thomas 
11. Messers Wong Kian Kheong 
12. Karpal Singh and Co

I've never really experience the real litigation. But I saw my friends are doing research and transcribing. There are some review of Skrine and Lee Hisammudin  (LHAG) based on Elyse experience when she had a summer break from Cambridge. She spent 3 weeks in LHAG and Skrine. She did not have much legal knowledge at that time and doing some research or transcribing or reading case files.

Also, there are other concerns that might take into your considerations.

Transportation:

• If you are opting to take LRT instead of driving, then you may concern some firms that located nearby the LRT station such as Shearn, LHAG, Kadir Andir etc
• If you are driving, then you can go wherever you want!
• For the non-KL person, it is highly recommended to buy a GPS/Garmin/Papago to survive in KL. I still don't understand why can I sesat in KL with all the latest electronic gadgets ftw.

Accommodation

• Okay, I have not much advice on this because I was lucky to stay with my relatives throughout my attachment programme, remember to find some place with many many food! ;d

Money

• If you are going for attachment programme, normally big firms doesn't pay much or even zero pay. That's why I became so kiamsiap after my attachment!!
• If you are going for chambering, and if money is your concern-then you may concern Wong & Partners, Thomas Phillip, Rahmat Lim, KAAP etc (But I think you need not to concern too much since we are still learning)

Friends

• Medium big or big firms have normally more attachment and chambering students. And the after work lifestyle is really happening.
• But medium firms and small firms have another close relationship between each other like a family! It has less company politics i think?

Conclusion

The experiences are differs from person to person, the most important thing in your attachment and chambering programme is your own attitude and initiation. Also, pray hard to have a gooood master and mentor who are willing to teach you and guide you :)

Please refer to interview tips.

GOOD LUCK!

found.

"...Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us, or we find it not. The best of beauty is a finer charm than skill in surfaces, in outlines, or rules of art can ever teach, namely, a radiation from the work   of art of human character, — a wonderful expression through stone, or canvas, or musical sound, of the deepest and simplest attributes of our nature, and therefore most intelligible at last to those souls which have these attributes. In the sculptures of the Greeks, in the masonry of the Romans, and in the pictures of the Tuscan and Venetian masters, the highest charm is the universal language they speak. A confession of moral nature, of purity, love, and hope, breathes   from them all. That which we carry to them, the same we bring back more fairly illustrated in the memory…”

From: Emerson’s Essay 12 “Art”

世界请为我祈祷

付出最最最多努力的科目换来...?

让我冷静，重拾自信去面对明天后天还有下个星期的考试！

给我个拥抱，世界请为我祈祷，让我有勇气走下去！

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.

The New iPhone 5!!!

Apple have finally launched the long-waited new iPhone 5 a few hours ago! Everyone is excited about the new products! iPhone 5 has maintain the traditional candybar design which is awesome. Let's have some review on the new iPhone 5.

The new iPhone 5 has a bigger screen as compared to iPhone 4s and iPhone 4 with the Retina display.

Also, iPhone has upgraded the processor to the new A6 chip that ensure a faster experience.

The new iPhone 5 also equipped with the new charger that is smaller! Oh no, iPhone 5 user couldn't easily get the charger or sharing withe other iPhone anymore. But I guess the coming apple products will definitely standardize the charger.

The features of the new iPhone 5 will be the camera which has a 8 megapixel sensor and f/2.4 aperture. The photo quality is definitely impressive!

iPhone 5 will launch in UK and US on 21 September 2012. I hope that will launch in Asia in the end of September and any time sooner.

The price is $399 for 64G which is crazy :D

For more information, please refer to the iPhone official video website!

photo credit to apple.com

M

Hello Maple!

I've been struggling to focus in my revision although I haven't date with most of my books. No fear, no stress, still happy like mid term break, something wrong with me?

This sem has been a tough one for me, too many personal problems that distracted me. But come on problems, will double and triple kill you before I finish this semester.

I Had a great talk with great friend! and I finally found my motivation to study! 

Have a look of the movie below. What is your purpose of studying/working/living?

Hold on

Unshakeable Faith 

Happiness

Kosen Rufu!

Throw yourself

“The only way that we can live, is if we grow. The only way that we can grow is if we change. The only way that we can change is if we learn. The only way we can learn is if we are exposed. And the only way that we can become exposed is if we throw ourselves out into the open. Do it. Throw yourself.” ― C. JoyBell C.

Sultan Azlan Shah Law Lecture 2012

I came across the existence of Sultan Azlan Shah Law Lecture in the news posted in our bulletin board. The topic of the year is "Scandalizing judiciary: Criticism of judges and the law of contempt." It was definitely an interesting topic that I've learnt in my professional practice before, thus I would definitely delighted to explore more about the lecture. After I settled all my assignments and submissions, I finally made it to attend the lecture which was held in Mandarin Oriental Hotel on 9th Sept 2012.

The speaker of the 26th Sultan Azlan Shah Law Lecture was conducted by Lord David Pannick QC (Queen's Councel). According to the news published in the Star Newspaper, he is one of the most prominent QC in the Commonwealth country and he is famous for human rights cases. 

The lecture started with the lovely orchestra. Unfortunately Sultan Azlan Shah couldn't attend the talk for this year. The gist of the lecture is that the necessity to strike a balance between the law of contempt and the freedom of speech. Lord Pannick had cited numerous cases in different countries to illustrate the consequence of criticism of judges and the law of contempt. Lord Pannick suggests that the law of contempt for criticism of the judges should be abolished. In my opinion, there will be no improvements without criticism. It is good for the public to comment and criticize the judgment made by the court. The law of contempt must be exercised fairly and with due care to avoid injustice.

The highlight of the day is definitely the food! I love the salmon sushi, satay, nasi berani, cheese cakes, macarons, puddings and fruits provided after the lecture :d No wonder my UM friends reminded me to grab food over there, hahahaha!

It was really great to see Izzat, Aroma, Adam, JR, Rohan, Yingle, Gobith, Joanne, Janice, Joshua, Chin Yong, Zain, Clinton, LeeLian etc etc from KAAP and TP! Also, I am happy to see the other "cute" side of our lecturers throughout the excursion! I can't believe they loves taking photographs too, we are taking photographs everywhere even in the middle of the road, hehe!

I shall continue my preparation for final exams now, good luck!

Visa One Stop Centre

Are you facing the same Visa application problem with me if you are a travelholic? The cumbersome and complicated Visa application can really kill my mood to travel abroad. Sometimes the embassy website did not clearly state the correct procedure to apply for it especially when you are going for a foreign country which you have no idea about their language.

The online visa application one stop centre: www.evisaasia.com is really awesome! It helps me to obtain my visa within a second in front of my laptop/iPhone without undergoing the hassle to the Embassy! :D

Check it out! It will definitely solve your problems in visa application to different countries in the world!

wanted.

MMU law juniors wanted.

I've a sudden thought of creating a buddy system! 

I am really grateful for some awesome seniors that have given me countless advice in my studies before. It's time to repay their greatness to "torture" some juniors hahaha! Maybe due to my inactivity in law school, I do not know much of my juniors in law school. I will start looking for some cute juniors to be my successor yay!

A buddy system is a form of family, where a senior (like me) act as guides for junior or new students. I think it is necessary to create an informal pastoral care system where juniors can seek advice for how to approach reading law, most importantly gossips about law lecturers, giving advice on what books are essential for studies, offering to help prepare examination, sharing my previous notes and tutorial answers, legal attachment, subjects selection, and sharing any problems without having access to lecturer whom may not be as friendly as me LMAO! *syiok sendiri* It will be great for the juniors and seniors to mix together by organising different social events for buddy families too!

Let's hope for the formation of my buddy family :D

Best Quotes of Olympic

"Skills win you medals, but attitude wins hearts"

But I felt that the real capabilities as well illustrated in Usain Bolts will win both medal and heart!

The true power! The King!

See you Brazil 2016!

I can't wait to witness the first ever gold medal from Malaysia!

xx

羡慕

有这么一则寓言：猪说假如让我再活一次，我要做一头牛，工作虽然累点，但名声好，让人爱怜；牛说假如让我再活一次，我要做一头猪，吃罢睡，睡罢吃，不出力，不流汗，活得赛神仙；鹰说假如让我再活一次，我要做一只鸡，渴有水，饿有米，住有房，还受人保护；鸡说假如让我再活一次，我要做一只鹰，可以翱翔天空，云游四海，任意捕兔杀鸡。这是挺有意思的一种现象，可谓风景在别处。

我们总是不自有自主地会去羡慕别人所拥有的东西，羡慕别人的学业，美貌，家境，男友，出国留学，等等，唯独忽视了一点，我们自己也是别人所羡慕的对象。

其实人总是在这样互相羡慕的。有的人常常幻想有一天一觉醒来，自己就会成为某某一样的人。可能是因为我们深知自己人生的缺憾，所以就会拿那些我们认为比较完美的人生来作比较，当做人生的坐标。其实这个世界上并不存在十全十美，那些我们所羡慕的人同时也在承受着他们的不如意。所谓家家有本难念的经，人虚荣的本性使他们原把自己风光的一面展示给人，又有谁能真正看到别人风光背后呢？很多时候，得到的就是所承但的，每件事都像硬币一样有两面，有正面就有负面。

人，尤其是女人往往喜欢拿自己和别人作比较，结果是“人比人气死人”，其实不妨和自己比比，看看自己是否越来越好了，是否离自己期望的目标越来越接近了。时不时给自己鼓励，你会做得更好。说不定在你羡慕别人的同时，别人也正在羡慕你呢。当然，有的人的确值得我们羡慕，不完全是因为他们得到的多，而是因为他们善于经营

羡慕别人是因为我们期待完美，期望可以活得更好。可是我们却忽视了一点，每个人的处境都不同，别人永远无法模仿。不过我们可以通过观察别人的长处来修正自己的短处，与其仰望别人的幸福，不如注意别人经营幸福的方法；与其羡慕别人的好运气，不如借鉴别人努力的过程。

不要再去羡慕别人如何如何，好好算算上天给你的恩典，你会发现你所拥有的绝对比没有的要多出许多。而缺失的那一部分，虽不可爱，却也是你生命的一部分，接受它且善待它，你的人生会快乐豁达许多。

所以，真的不必去羡慕别人。守住自己所拥有的，想清楚自己真正想要的，我们才会真正地快乐！

How to impress examiners

I find this article quite useful especially for law students :)

Reflecting On The Law
By Shad Saleem Faruqi

The semester examination has just ended at my university. Working late till the wee hours of many mornings, I completed the evaluation of several thick bundles of examination scripts. As always, a fair number of answers were illegible, incomprehensible and terribly disorganised.

FOR all of us in the teaching profession, the periodic ordeal of marking examination scripts arouses suicidal as well as homicidal instincts!

Many students fail to exhibit basic knowledge of the subject and, understandably, fail the examination. Others have undoubted ability but not the technique or methodology of writing effective answers. It is to the latter group of law students that I wish to address today’s column.

Let me begin by saying that law is “reasoned argument”. To perform satisfactorily in the field, some special skills and techniques need to be cultivated.

Language: A law student should understand that oral and written communication skills are absolutely indispensable for the effective practice of the law. Law students should seek constantly to improve their command of the language by reading newspapers, law books and law journals.

Original sources: A good law student buys her own textbooks and statutes and does not rely entirely on class handouts. She constantly supplements class handouts with self-study from textbooks and adds to the “bank account” of knowledge opened by the lecturer for the students.

Art of reading: Reading is an art. Unless we have a smart strategy, it is entirely possible to get lost in the undergrowth. In reading a book or article, the student must avoid beginning at the beginning and plodding to the end. She must first look at the headings and sub-headings to get a broad feel or outline of what the chapter contains.

She must proceed from the general to the particular; from the woods to the trees. If an easy book or handout is available, she must read that first to get a background.

Self-study: Her study techniques must have three aims. First, to understand the basic principles of the law. Second, to recall basic ideas. To achieve this she must summarise the main principles or ideas in simple diagrams, charts, “magic words” or acronyms. These “scaffoldings” or outlines must be committed to memory. A third aim must be to evaluate existing materials and to highlight the flaws in the laws.

Attending tutorials: Successful students go prepared to class bubbling with queries. During the class or tutorial, they don’t just hear, they listen. They jot down prolific notes. They ask questions orally or by e-mail or in other written form. They participate.

Study groups: Successful law students form informal groups for study and revision. They try to be in a group of hard workers and independent thinkers. They encourage differences rather than conformity. They expose their understanding to scrutiny by others.

Summarising notes: Organising, systematising and summarising knowledge is the best way to master it. In preparation for the examination, a good student summarises each topic on one A4 page or on index cards or uses flow charts or diagrams to organise the vast amount of material collected.

For example, the whole topic of constitutional supremacy in constitutional law can be summed up in six points:

> Article 4(1) and 162(6) on supremacy of the Constitution

> Fundamental rights

> Federal-state division of powers

> Judicial review

> Amendment process

> Darurat (emergency).

These six points can, in turn, be summed up in one magic acronym AFFJAD to help you to recall the broad contours of the topic effortlessly.

Likewise, important cases could be summed up in half a page with a few lines each on three important parts of each case: the facts, the issues, and the court’s decision on each issue.

Past years’ examination papers: Familiarity with existing patterns of evaluation helps greatly in preparation. A successful student obtains and analyses past years’ examination questions. She prepares charts to discover the examiners’ preferences or patterns. She is, however, aware that examiners change from year to year and are not bound by patterns or precedents.

Practising written answers: A good student solves some past years’ questions and submits them to her lecturer for evaluation. This way she seeks to learn by simulation. She submits her knowledge as well as her methodology to sympathetic scrutiny.

Effective presentation: Examinations are like life. Substance is important but so is show! An organised, easy-to-read presentation always secures higher marks than one that is all jumbled up, disconnected and disorganised.

In writing her answers in the examination hall, a wise student does not start writing the moment she is allowed to do so. She spends five minutes organising her answer; drawing up the scaffolding or the outline on the left page of the answer book.

ATACR formula: For each essay or problem question, a wise student follows the ATACR formula.

 “A” stands for analysis or breakdown of the question or problem into its constituent parts. The more issues the student spots, the higher her marks are likely to be.

“T” refers to theory or the law relating to each issue identified above. The theory and the law are found in statutes, decided cases and juristic works.

The next “A” stands for application of theory or law to the facts of the case or question at hand.

“C” refers to conclusion on the point being discussed and “R” signifies the remedy or course of action to be recommended.

Exam fever is coming again! Good luck!

public prosecutor

Latest updates: I was the new victim of the cyber crimes and being cheated in my recent online transactions. I am in the midst of investigation and collecting evidence. However, most of the evidence I have collected is too vague and work against me. I'll be going to police station this wednesday to assist the police for further investigation. Say IF I can solve this cyber crime case successfully (the successful rate is only 1%), then I may consider to serve the public by being a public prosecutor next time. 

Lessons learnt: BE 200% CAREFUL when you are buying things online especially Expensive stuff. DO NOT EVER TRUST ANYONE ONLINE BECAUSE EVERYTHING CAN BE FAKE! I'll share the stories soon. 

Forget about this thing for a while, it's time to prepare for my Evidence Law exam tomorrow, good luck to me!

便毒为药

Metamorphosis

Ever since a year ago, I have learning to be following my heart, do the things I like and ignore the things that I dislike. At home, I try not to rely dad and mum too much as before and I try not to rely on friends much in campus too! All the things I am trying have a common intention: I am trying to be independent.

Some people may ask me: "Hi Mei, what are you so antisocial and not following your friends in tutorial class?" I gave them the best answer by smiling :) Just because we are different classes sometimes doesn't mean that I care less about them than I did before; Just because of the less phone calls with bf doesn't mean that I don't love him as before; Just because we seldom meet doesn't mean that I don't miss you as before! I always think true friendship isn't being inseparable, it's being separated and nothing changes. In human relationships distance is not measured in miles but in affection. 

As we grow up, we realize it becomes less important to have more friends and more important to have real ones. Remember, life is like a party. You invite many people, some leave early, some stay all night, some laugh with you, some laugh at you, and some show up really late. But in the end, after the fun, there are a few who stay to help you clean up the mess. And most of the time, they aren't even the ones who made the mess. These people are your real friends in life. They are the ones who matter the most.

Sometimes we overcare about what other people think about us. We are not born to impress everyone. It's right, well Shakespeare was, nothing is really good or bad, it is what it is. It is the thinking that makes us label things. We make positive or negative by how are we interpret them. Be yourself and have conviction in what you are doing!

前进

一眨眼2012已经过半，

七月也悄悄的来临

试想想过去半年做了什么呢？

好啦还剩下半年多就要毕业了

超超超快的！

大学最后一年不只要Epsilon 4.0

而且还希望我在语文有突破

多参加创价学会活动

最重要的是很希望能把球打飞，有机会下场打

虽然离目标还有一段距离，但请别放弃继续前进！

昨天去了趟Aspire Graduan KLCC，

又遇见不同的人，分享了梦想和想法，

每每这些贵人都能让我有不同的体验的看法，

要勇敢追梦，坚持下去！

昨天去了个非常特别的面试，

让我们发现到底我们有什么特别的长处，

这真是很有挑战性！

其实我们每个人有一样，但就是那想法很不一样

而建立独特的思考能力不是一朝一夕，加油哦！

最开心的是能和Laura交流不少，

很强的人都很谦虚，我很敬佩！

还有我放下了不改执着的事，

对大家都很好的事，

很希望你们是我的nakamada！

很棒很棒的nakamada！

一起加油！

Love

True love should be transformative; a process that amplifies our capacity to cherish not just one person but all people. It can make us stronger, lift us higher and deepen us as individuals. Only to the extent that we polish ourselves now can we hope to develop wonderful bonds of the heart in the future. If you are neglecting things you should be doing, forgetting your purpose in life because of the relationship you’re in, then you’re on the wrong path. A healthy relationship is one in which two people encourage each other to reach their respective goals while sharing each other’s hopes and dreams. A relationship should be a source of inspiration, invigoration and hope.

-Daisaku Ikeda

Freedom

If you summon your courage to challenge something, you’ll never be left with regret. How sad it is to spend your life wishing, “If only I’d had a little more courage.” Whatever the outcome may be, the important thing is to step forward on the path that you believe is right. - Daisaku Ikeda

22

Super Early Celebrations with family :D

Eve with KAAPians

Big day at Soul Out, KL (boss belanja hahaha!)

First time ever at Zouk! 

very touched ;') 

thanks for coming all the way to KL :D

Garden's parteyy!

I am 22 now! Full of excitements and dreams in my 22.

2+2=4

Self identity-Determination-Sports-Sharing

很感恩我所拥有的一切

谢谢你们

1Y2S

1Y2S

1 Year 2 Semesters

See you after 2 Semesters!

I will definitely improving myself before I go to the new world!!!

I Love Me!

We are all constantly learning new skills everyday - cooking, languages, sports and so on. But I realize the skill of learning to be loving yourself is one of the most important skill that we should learn!

I love me! It sounds too simple, mushy and new-agey! If you are not happy with yourself, your body, your soul, then you will become insecure or soul-less. Most of us think we are not good enough. For instance, if you think you are too fat (99.99% of girls will think the same zz), your stomach has no six pact, your hips too wide and the list will goes to infinity. With your dissatisfaction, you will be losing confidence and unhappy in your work & school and many bad consequences.

If you do not love yourself, how do you expect other people to love you? That's why learning to love yourself is one of the important skill that you Must master! How do we get started to love ourselves?

The answer is simple - "Practice makes perfect". Self-image wasn't formed overnight so it's ok to learn loving ourselves. I always believe the beautiful heart will reflect on their appearance. It is important to learn how to be appreciating and loving ourselves. There is no complete guide to learn how to love yourself but there are some tips taken from zenhabits.net for trying out:

Old movie

Remember the "T.G.I.F" MV by Katy Perry? Imagine an old movie about the old self where you have: a flabby stomach, fat, aren't lovable, weird braces etc. Realise that this person it is not true and the reality can be changed.

New Movie

The new movie will replace the old movie where you are a gorgeous lead actor (that's you!) whith great visual effects and many excitement! Then you are passionate, gorgeous, smart, friendly, kind and loving! When negative image come into play (my boobs are too small!), cut them off and put better image in your play!

Consciously and sub-consciously play the new movie

Put the new movie in the projector and play it! Practice is just like your new religion and you will get better with constant practice!

Learn mental judo

There will be certainty things coming all around to attack your new movie. When the hurtling words come to you, learn to lean to one side and let them whiz by.

‘You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.’ ~Buddha

You are already perfect, you just need to realize it and no need to do anything to solve this problem! I LOVE ME! I hope you love yourself too! 

xx

Words of Wisdom

When you devote yourself to achieving your goal, you will not be bothered by shallow criticism. Nothing important can be accomplished if you allow yourself to be swayed by some trifling matter, always looking over your shoulder and wondering what others are saying or thinking. The key to achievement is to move forward along your chosen path with firm determination.


Anyone can hit a wall. The anguish felt then is proof of one’s desire to move forward. But all is for naught if you falter at that moment. Action—that is the key to breaking through an impasse.
People do not grow when their environment is too comfortable, when they are not challenged. It is in the midst of suffering and hardship that strength of character is formed.


The deeper the dark, the closer the dawn. However profound the suffering that envelops you, never forget the inner spark of hope and courage. Never lose the capacity to wait with patient enduring.


-Daisaku Ikeda

Promise

Keep every promise you make and only make promises you can keep

- Anthony Hitt

49 Life Secrets!!!

Truly inspiring words by Highexistence! 

1. Memorize something everyday.Not only will this leave your brain sharp and your memory functioning, you will also have a huge library of quotes to bust out at any moment. Poetry, sayings and philosophies are your best options.
2. Constantly try to reduce your attachment to possessions.Those who are heavy-set with material desires will have a lot of trouble when their things are taken away from them or lost. Possessions do end up owning you, not the other way around. Become a person of minimal needs and you will be much more content.
3. Develop an endless curiosity about this world.Become an explorer and view the world as your jungle. Stop and observe all of the little things as completely unique events. Try new things. Get out of your comfort zone and try to experience as many different environments and sensations as possible. This world has so much to offer, so why not take advantage of it?
4. Remember people’s namesso that they feel appreciated and for your own future benefit when you want something from that person. To do this, say their name back to them when they introduce themselves. Then repeat the name in your head a number of times until you are sure you have it. Continue to use their name in conversation as much as possible to remove any chance of forgetting it. If you’re still having trouble, make up a rhyme about their name: “Dan the Man” or “Natalie flatters me.”
5. Get fit!It’s ridiculous to think that we have one body, one sole means of functioning, and people are too lazy to take care of themselves. Fit bodies lead to better health, confidence and more success with romantic endeavors. I’d say those are 3 very good reasons to get in shape.
6. Learn to focus only on the present.The past is unchangeable so it is futile to reflect on it unless you are making sure you do not repeat past mistakes. The future is but a result of your actions today. So learn from the past to do better in the present so that you can succeed in the future.
7. Even more specifically, live in THIS moment.Even 10 minutes ago is the past. If you live purely in this moment you will always be happy because there is nothing wrong in this split-second.
8. Smile more often.Whenever you get a grin on your face, your brain is releasing serotonin, the happy hormone. Smiling is the natural way to force yourself to be happy. Many people even smile for five minutes straight in the morning to get themselves in a great mood for the day. It is a very powerful tool that is utilized less and less as we grow older and need happiness more than ever. Just remember that while happiness leads to smiles, smiles also lead to happiness.
9. Drink water.Hydration is tremendously important for overall health. Soda has absolutely ZERO nutritional content; it’s like pouring a punch of sugar and syrup into your cup. Instead, fill it with life-replenishing water. It may taste plain at first if you’re coming off of a heavy soda-drinking streak, but you’ll soon find yourself addicted to it. 10 glasses per day is optimal, how many have you been getting lately?
10. Don’t take life so seriously!Learn to laugh at the little things and this whole “existence” thing will be a whole lot easier. Be amused by your mistakes and failures and be thankful that you learned your lesson and won’t mess up like that again. And most importantly do things that you enjoy! Life is not strictly business, it can be mixed with pleasure.
11. Think positive thoughts.When you find yourself thinking a negative thought, stop it immediately by any means necessary. Slap yourself in the face, yell something positive at the top of your lungs or jump up and down. Do whatever it takes to get back to a positive mindset as such is essential for continual happiness and success.
12. Read books.No explanation needed.
13. Get in the sun.Superman was completely re-energized when he flew out to space and soaked in some rays and you can do the same right outside your front door (if you live in a constantly dreary place, my apologies). The sun feels amazing: your entire body will be coursing with warmth and life.
14. Help others.I’ll just give you a plethora of reasons why this is a MUST
    • Helping people has a ripple effect. If you help someone they will feel more obliged to help someone else, and so on. Pay it forward
    • You grow by giving and helping others. It can change you in ways you never expected
    • Your relationship with that person will become stronger
    • It’s the most fulfilling thing you can do on this planet. It not only feels amazing physically, you also feel like a good person
    • You might be able to call in a favor later when you need some help
    • Karma (if you believe in it)
    • Because there are more people in this world than just you 
15. Set aside a specific time to worry each day.Ponder all of your problems and anxieties during that time so that they will not distract you during work or moments of pleasure. This way you can be extremely efficient with your time and avoid focusing on negative things as much as possible. If you get all of your worry out of the way and have the mental fortitude to keep from reverting back to them, you will be much happier on the daily.
16. Be honest at all times.Lies lead to nothing but trouble. Being known as trustworthy is an excellent trait to maintain and essential to having integrity.
17. Figure out what your goals and dreams are.So many people wander aimlessly through life simply go for whatever small thing they want moment by moment. Instead, decide what your perfect life consists of and begin to put the steps in motion to reach that place. The most satisfying thing in the world (yes, better than sex, much better) is overcoming a challenge and reaching a goal. We are the happiest when we are growing and working towards something better.
18. Start your day off right.Wake up and set aside an hour for personal development activities (meditation, self-introspection, observing nature, etc.) Do the things that make you feel blissful, optimistic and empowered so that you can set a positive tone for your day. I guarantee that once you start doing this, your days will be more enjoyable and fulfilling. Today is going to be the best day of your life. Duh.
19. Utilize ‘The Burning Method.’Whenever a fear or worry or complaint comes to mind, close your eyes and imagine writing down the thought on a piece of paper. Then proceed to light the paper and fire and watch it disintegrate. Even better, actually write it down and burn it. You won’t have any problem ridding your mind of the thought after doing this.
20. Travel.
    Anyone who has ever gone anywhere will tell you that traveling is one of the most exciting and life-changing activities that you can do. Observing a different culture will expand your mind while making you further appreciate the life you already live. This goes back to becoming an explorer: this world is your jungle so go explore! Who knows, maybe you’ll find a place you love so much that you decide to move. Imagine the positive repercussions a new environment could have on your life.
21. The Rubber Band MethodThis is the third and final way to rid yourself of negative thoughts (hopefully by now you have figured out that this is very important!). Place a rubber band around your wrist and snap it against your skin anytime a negative thought finds its way into your head. This operant conditioning technique associates a slight pain with negative thoughts like Pavlov associated food/salivation with the sound of a bell. Sounds a bit cruel at first but it only stings for a second, I promise. Plus the outcome, having only positive thoughts, far outweighs a little slap on the wrist here and there.
22. Learn to be unaffected by the words of others.Most people get very upset when they are called negative names by others, but there is a simple trick to overcoming this. Here it is: If I went up to you and called you a fire hydrant, would you be upset? Of course not. Obviously you are not a fire hydrant, you are a human being. The same concept applies to when someone calls you something that you know you are not. They are foolish for saying such things, so why would you react with such anger? The only exception is when someone calls you something that is true! In this case, you should thank them for alerting you to a weakness, one that you can now work on changing.
23. Develop the ability to forgive.Forgiveness is something that most people fail miserably at even thought it’s so simple. Grudges only bring more misery to those who hold them and prevent good relations with the target. YOU makes mistakes all of the time so why not have mercy when other do? Remaining angry feels horrible while forgiving someone brings a refreshing sensation to the mind and healing to the relationship.
24. Be the person that makes others feel special.Be known for your kindness and sympathy.
25. Visualize daily.It has been said and proven time and time again that what you focus on is what you get. If you complain all of the time, you will run into more of the things you complain about. The same goes for good things like health, wealth and happiness. So spend some time in the morning imagining yourself achieving whatever it is that you currently desire. Focus is key in this exercise, so choose a quiet environment where you won’t be disturbed. If you’re having trouble focusing and continually find that your mind has wandered to something else, read about meditation in the following life tip. 
26. Meditate everyday for at least 20 minutes.In this modern world where everyone is so connected to everything else via cell phones, TV and internet, most people rarely enjoy the beauty of silence. The ability to quiet your mind and relax your body is an art and skill that everyone should develop. Simply sit somewhere, preferably in nature, and focus on your breathing or try to think about nothing. This is going to be extremely hard at first! You might find it boring or just plain impossible to think of nothing, but you will get better and you will learn to love it. Post-meditation, you will feel extremely clear-headed and.. well, just plain wonderful. The only way to really understand this sensation is to try it.
27. Learn to control your mind.What kind of skilled human are you if you cannot even control your own thoughts? While the human mind is described as being a stream of consciousness, that does not mean you can’t decide where your stream flows. Techniques like meditation and the 3 ways to flush out negative thoughts will aid you immensely in learning to control your mind.
28. Learn to control your emotions.The only person that can make you unhappy is you! You are the one that decides to be affected by the words and actions of others. Realize this so that the next time you experience a negative emotion, you can find the strength within yourself to overcome it.
29. Take a class in speed reading.Books are full of information that can enhance your knowledge-base, vocabulary and yourself as a person. Speed reading is an easy way to get at this info faster so that you can have more time for other endeavors.
30. Relax!This one is for you workaholics out there (myself included). Yes, work is very important and productive but you need to take some time to chill out everyday or you are going to burn out faster than a candle with no oxygen. Additionally, you need to reward yourself for a job well done. What’s the use of doing all of that work if you can’t have a little fun from time to time anyways?
31. Work on making good first impressions.Practice a strong, firm handshake and the small talk that generally goes along with meeting someone for the first time. People won’t know what to think of you if you have nothing more to say beyond “My name is _______, nice to meet you.” Also make sure you remember names, as mentioned previously. Who knows, you may be going into business with or marrying this person you’re meeting for the first time if you make a good impression. Be sure and make an excellent one.
32. Learn to use your eyes to their full potential:
    • Make constant eye contact when in conversation. Looking away (especially down) is a sign of inferiority and uncertainty. Instead, look at your conversation partner dead in the eyes and keep them locked on
    • Master the piercing stare. You know when someone looks at you and it feels like they can see into your soul? Well that’s not a hereditary characteristic, it just takes practice. Work on sharpening your gaze in the mirror. You’ll know you have it when it’s intimidating to continue looking at yourself
    • Master the one-eyebrow raise. This one isn’t necessary by any means, but hey, why not? Pick a brow to learn with and go look in a mirror. Raise both of your eyebrows but use your hand to hold down the brow that you want to stay down. This will probably feel very stupid at first but if you keep trying, you will eventually pin down the muscle you need to flex to get that one brow up
33. Be mysterious.Don’t let off everything about you and definitely leave out some major details. There is something both alluring and mesmerizing about someone who no one knows fully about. I’m not saying to confide in no one or to alienate yourself. Just think James Bond.
34. Come up with a life mantra.You know, like “Carpe Diem” or “Live life to the fullest,” but not as cliché. Make it something that really hits home with you so that you will actually stick to it. Make sure it’ not so specific that it rarely applies but also not so general that it’s not personal.
35. Get good at something.Call it a hobby or a passion, whatever it is, just get damn good at it. Your occupation does not count! Make it something that you can practice often enough to excel at. Examples: Magic tricks, surfing, ping-pong, creating short films, and unicycling. It can be anything but I would recommend choosing something that: 1) You are passionate about 2) You can bust out at any moment to display your skills for any discerning crowd. My mind goes immediately to aerobatics and break dancing, but that’s just me.
36. Keep your brain sharp.The majority of people are stuck in ruts. They go to the same job everyday, hang out with the same friends and eat at the same places. While that may feel safe, it’s not the most stimulating lifestyle for your brain. Those synapses have been built up enough, so try something that you do NOT know how to do! Buy a model car kit, master the art of sudoku or crosswords, or go pick up another major at your nearest college. The point is you need to be learning new things to keep your brain honest. Form new synapses by forcing your mind to work in ways it has not worked before. Just like physical workouts, doing too much of the same exercise will eventually give no results. Switch it up!
37. Read something inspirational right before bed and after waking.This will set get you in a great mood for sleep and for the day. Read anything from a famous speech to your favorite self-improvement book. Try to read something that get’s you really excited in the morning especially so that you’ll leave your house beaming with energy and wonder.
38. Do what you love.
    There is a huge difference between making a life and making a living; which one are you making right now? So many spend their entire lives trying to make as much money as possible so that they can afford to do what they really want later. It makes no sense to settle in life until you’re 65 so that you can retire and do what you want when you’re already WAY past your prime. We only live life once so why wouldn’t you want to spend it pursuing your bliss? To do anything else would be a tragic waste of the freedom you are allowed if you are reading this right now. Follow your bliss and you will be a thousand times more happy than your retirement date and 40+ years younger.
39. Choose your friends wisely.You are affected far more than you think by the people you spend your time with. Do your friends share your values? Do they encourage you when you speak of your goals and dreams or do they scoff? Make sure the people around you are conducive to the lifestyle you want to lead or you will find yourself being dragged again and again into behavior that distances you from your desires. Friends with a habit of producing negative thoughts will especially hinder you. This can be a hard task to follow through with if you realize you good friend is one of these saboteurs, but you must be firm! Don’t let anyone get in the way of you being all that you can be.
40. Don’t burn bridges.By that I mean maintain your relationships with people even if you think you are never going to see them again. For example, if you are quitting your job, don’t chew out your boss before leaving! You might run into him/her again later and life and wish you had never severed ties so harshly. You never know when you might need the help of someone you knew in the past. Plus there is already too much hatred in this world, why add more towards the people you interact with?
41. Keep a journal/diary.It sounds like a very monotonous habit at first, but when you get into it, that little book will become a great way to organize your thoughts and track your growth over the years. Most of us already stay awake in bed at night pondering the events of the day anyways so why not document those thoughts in an organized fashion? That will allow you to look back and observe how your way of thinking has changed over time.
42. Learn to use and trust your subconscious/intuition.When you spend time in silence everyday, listen not for words but for a feeling that tells you to do something. Do not mistake your own reasoning and thoughts for those of your subconscious. If you can track where the thought came from, (this thought led to that thought which led to this thought, etc.) then it was not from your subconscious. Learning to accurately discern between the two will allow you to tap into knowledge that you don’t consciously have.
43. Develop a charismatic personality.You know, the kind of personality that is surrounded by people constantly and is the life of the party. Start visualizing yourself as THAT person. Maybe take a short course on dynamic speaking and learn some jokes. Take the time to learn some party tricks and sleight of hand. Most importantly, believe that you already are charismatic even if you fail at being the center point of the next party. Lie to yourself constantly and tell yourself that you are more warm and gregarious than Ronald Regan. Belief is the first step! Reality will come soon after.
44. Love is all there is.If you truly want to be a master of life, let love be in your every action. Love your friends, family and enemies alike. This is the most difficult thing to do out of this entire list, which is why it is listed at #50. But if you accomplish this, you will be seen as a leader among everyone that allows hate, envy, disgust and all other negative emotions into their lives. Think Gandhi. Love is so rare in this world when compared to the massive presence of hate that by exuding love, you will immediately see yourself and the people around you change. Love. Love. Love.45. Limit your time-wasting online activitiesDo you ever find yourself deep in someone’s Facebook photos and wonder how you got there? The internet is an awesome tool but some sites can suck you in and waste tons of time that could be spent doing something productive. For those who can’t help themselves, there are extensions for Chrome  that allow you to specify a certain amount of time to allow to spend on time-waster websites per day. Every minute you spend on the sites you specify is tracked, and when you reach the limit those sites are no longer able to be accessed.46. Practice energy developmentWhether or not you believe chakras exist, you can develop the ability to feel, move around and store energy in your body. These sensations range from mild tingling to violent vibrations. Start off by lying down and putting all of your focus on your left foot. Focus on and feel that foot until it beings to warm up and tingle, then move on up the body in small increments. Eventually you can get your entire body to be vibrating (seriously, it’s almost scary). Developing these abilities helps with focus for meditation, astral projection and supposedly boosts your clairvoyance.47. Do pushups (100 of them!) --> Esp for my Fat FatPushups are the easiest way to get into an exercise routine and the most complete upper body workout available without weights. Doing 3 sets of pushups until fail every other day is a simple way to tone up your chest, arms, back and abs. If you want to step it up a notch, this website promises to get anyone to be able to complete 100 pushups within 6 weeks!48. “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind”Revenge is sweet but forgiveness is sweeter. Until that’s a no brainer for you, try faking forgiveness and knowing that nothing will piss off an enemy more than you not reacting to their provocations. Eg. If you punched someone in the face in anger and then they just smiled back at you happily, wouldn’t that annoy you?49. Don’t compare yourself to othersEveryone is born with different strengths and weakness. Otherwise we wouldn’t be individuals and how much fun would that be? Consequently don’t hold yourself to the standards of others; you’ll never measure up to everyone. But you can always use the success of others as motivation to continue growing and learning. The highlighted points has truly inspired me!!! Any points written above has inspired you?

    

    Dare to Dream :)

    
    

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