Prophecies for the Year 2012 AD: Truth is the Essence of True Prophecy

Addressing the question of prophecies for the year 2012 AD is not easy. Looking at the coming year, one might wonder what the year 2012 AD will hold for individuals, families, communities and countries around the world.

"The last New Year’s Day in human history is here," suggests an article in the washingtonpost.com.

The date on this article is December 21, 2012. Shall we believe that the world will come to an end on that date, because Mayan priests predict that will happen?  

Is 2012 the end of the world as we know it?

To respond to this question, look at the nature of prophecy.

According to the “New Advent" prophecy is “the foreknowledge of future events”. 

How can one have foreknowledge about the year 2012 AD?

What is foreknowledge?

“It is a Divine light by which God reveals things concerning the unknown future and by which these things are in some way represented to the mind of the prophet, whose duty it is to manifest them to others.”

Note that this is a Christian understanding of prophecy. Not all prophets are Christians or true Christians, even though they claim to be. There are prophets who are not believers in “the love of God and fellow man” as taught by Jesus Christ, in the Bible.

Be aware that while there are true prophets, there are also pseudo-prophets or false prophets. The words spoken by a true prophet convey the Word of God, through His chosen messenger to His people and they come true. The words of a false prophet who claims to be a prophet or a messenger, but in reality is not, do not come true.

Truth is the essence of true prophecy. The love of God in accordance with His divine will is manifest to His people through prophetic words and visions.  

“The gift of prophecy is an extraordinary grace bestowed by God.”

Everyone does not necessarily receive the gift of prophecy.

Addressing the question of prophecies for the year 2012 AD, one must suggest that there are those who have the gift of prophecy, as that has not changed over the course of history. One must also be cautious with respect to which prophecies or prophets one chooses to believe for the year 2012 AD.

At times, people act upon the prophetic words of those who claim to be prophets, but in reality are using fear to control them or to gain power, money or other assets from them. There are prophets who are doomsday prophets, naysayers and fear mongers who are preaching hell fire and damnation, instead of the love of God.

Which prophecies will come true in the year 2012 AD?

Perhaps it is wise to wait and see which people will actually prove to be true prophets bringing forth God’s Word.

If you are a person approached by someone who is a self-proclaimed prophet, it may be a good idea to check his or her credentials, as well as his or her record of previous prophecies. How many prophecies has he or she made over the years that have actually come true?

In other words, in the year 2012 AD, look to God and His Holy Spirit for true prophecies, as they will come true. Ignore false prophecies from pseudo-prophets.       

Health Tips for Teens: Are You a Teenager Living on Your Own?

Teens who strike out on their own often have a difficult time staying healthy. Many times, they are in college or university and have to live on a minimal income, at least until they are able to obtain appropriate employment. Even then, just starting out, they receive a minimum wage and the cost of rent, heat, hydro, etc. is high. Be aware that taking care of your health is not something that you can postpone until later. 

“Now is the time to take charge of your health,” suggests an article entitled “Teen health". This is also vital with respect to the prevention of disease, in later life.   

Consider the following tips about how you as a teen, can stay healthy.

Create a healthy budget.

How you learn to manage your money is one aspect of your new, independent lifestyle, as well as important with respect to maintaining your health status. Creating a realistic budget will ensure you have a roof over your head and that your fixed expenses are covered. With regard to variable expenses, you should have sufficient money to cover the cost of food, tuition, books, transportation, as well as what you may need to stay healthy, including medication, vitamins and supplements.

Purchase basic healthy foods, first.

Food is one of the most important things for teens who want to stay healthy. When you go into a grocery store, shop around the outside aisle of the store first. You will find bread, meat, dairy products, fruit and vegetables that will help to keep you healthy. Avoid shopping in the center aisles, as the produce located there will likely be less healthy for you and more costly.

Plan to have three healthy meals a day.

In order to stay healthy, you need to feed your body regularly. Plan to eat three meals a day. You may enjoy a snack or two in between meals, but limit your snacks to healthy foods. Avoid buying any kind of snack food with a high sugar and caloric content. Purchase snack foods that are healthy for you and satisfy your cravings, like nuts, cheese, yogurt, etc. instead.       

Get sufficient healthy exercise.

Plan your exercise program so that you have a minimum of an hour of active exercise daily. Ideally, this should be outdoor exercise, as it stimulates your breathing and circulation. It is easier to control your weight and regulate your body functions properly, if you exercise. You will feel better about yourself. Even your skin will appear healthier. 

Develop a habit of good hygiene.

Good hygiene is important for you as a teen, particularly when you are on their own without anyone to remind you to wash and comb your hair, bathe and brush your teeth on a regular basis. Get an easy to manage hair cut. Wear appropriate clothing that is clean, at all times. While this takes extra time and effort on your part, you will feel better if you do. Washing your face well, several times a day can prevent skin problems.

Avoid over-indulging.

While over indulging on food, pop or alcohol may seem to be fun, be aware that it can lead to addiction and other, more serious, health-related or social problems. The same is true for nicotine and substance abuse. Avoid drinking excessive amounts of soft drinks because of their high sugar content. Enjoy chocolate and candy, chips, etc. occasionally, but do not overindulge. Moderation is the key to good health.

Make certain you have sufficient rest.

Getting at least eight to ten hours of sleep each night may appear to be difficult because as a teen there are many demands on your time, including academic, employment and social ones. You will be happier and healthier if you have sufficient rest. At times, it may be a good idea to take a nap when you are tired, as it will refresh you.     

Maintain a positive, healthy attitude towards life.

Be a positive, constructive and independent teen. It is important to have a healthy attitude towards yourself and your life in general. At times, you may feel overburdened by homework, your part time or full time job, your finances or other things. You may feel despondent, lonely and unhappy, but staying active with your family and friends, as well as being part of your community is a healthy way to live.

Seek health counseling and guidance when necessary.

There are many different kinds of teen counselors able to offer appropriate advice to teenagers about staying healthy. You may be able to talk to your parents or other adults who can advise you about different aspects of your life, like teenage sexual relationships. Any time you are aware of health-related problems of any kind, consult your family doctor immediately. College and university student counselors will also be able to assist you.     

As a teen, you can stay healthy simply by taking care of yourself properly.

  

How New Words Come Into Being: You Can Create New Words

Have you heard any new words lately? New words come into being in many different ways, often quite unexpectedly.

Life happens. Suddenly, there may not be just the right word that states what has just happened. A new word may be spoken, accidentally. At times, that new word is appropriate, even perfect for what is happening. 

For example, ‘earthquake’ becomes ‘earthquiver’, a combination of two words.

At other times, a new word is not appropriate and it disappears, as quickly as it comes into being. Anyone can coin a new word or try to do so. Sometimes, words come into being purely by accident. They can be coined intentionally when someone is writing.

Not every new word is necessarily accepted or approved. Many words never go into dictionaries, much less into online dictionaries. Some new words are never re-used. At other times, the same new word can have different meanings to different people or in different parts of the world. New words come about when people do not understand other languages, but try to explain something in terms of concepts.

Children often contribute to words that families use. You hear young children talking to one another in what appears to be some kind of babble. They use words that may not make sense to you, but the children seem to understand each other. Some of these words, their parents and other family members understand, but not always. Families may continue to use these words indefinitely, with respect to their children. 

Words continually evolve and devolve, often coming into a language and then disappearing from that language again, over time. For example, consider the words, thee and thou. We still understand these words today, but words like these are disappearing under the guise of being obsolete.

“Old words don’t die; they just wait to be rescued. Dictionary-makers should know better than to say that words ever become extinct.”

Perhaps the most recent and largest influx of new words has come about through the advent of the Internet and the use of computer e-mail. Now, innovative smart phones are instrumental in the introduction of new words that only people who are text messaging, at that moment in time, create and understand.

At times, words begin as short-forms, like biz for business or are abbreviated forms of a collection of words like biz fax for business fax. These are new words created in an attempt to convey some kind of meaning.

New words may originate from the first letters of the words in a statement. On the Internet, the expression OMG is an e-mail expression or a text message meaning, “Oh my God”. OMG, what is happening to our words!

Then, there is the discourse element that allows for the introduction of new words into political realms.

“SOPA, PIPA Opponents Celebrate, but Say Work Isn’t Done”, a recent article on “CSO Data Protection” has new words that might be of interest to those who like collecting them. The words, “SOPA” or “Stop Online Piracy Protection Act” and “PIPA” or “Protect Intellectual Property Act” have recently appeared on the horizon in conjunction with data protection on the Internet.

Here is a new word, from learn-english-today.com, this time one created from the combination of two different words.

“Affluenza” is a “a blend of ‘affluence’ and ‘influenza’: A social disease resulting from extreme materialism and excessive consumerism: earning more money and consuming more, which can lead to overwork, debt, waste, stress, anxiety, etc.”

Many of the newly created words appear to be appropriate in certain circles. 

For example,

For Internet users, “weblish” is “a form of English that is used on the web (use of abbreviatons, small letters, absence of punctuation and hyphens, etc.) … webspeak, netspeak, internetese.”

Here is another new one for Internet users. “Wordle,” is “words of a piece of text arranged into a sort of graphic. The more frequent a particular word appears in the text, the bigger its size in the wordle. (Also called word cloud or text cloud."

Those two expressions are not entirely new.   

While it is not possible to stay in tune with all of the continual changes in words, it is interesting and fun to learn a new word every day, or if you have the gift of creative ingenuity, begin to coin some new words of your own.

Peculiar People With Peculiar Ideas Over the Years: What Does Peculiar Mean?

What do peculiar people with peculiar ideas have in common? A better question might be how they differ.

What is unique about them? Is being peculiar something that is new and innovative, or is there more to it?

Peculiar appears to be a word that originated in the 15th century, from the Middle English word ‘peculier’ or Latin word ‘peculiaris’ according to the merriam-webster.com dictionary.

The word peculiar has several different meanings. The first refers to “the characteristic of only one person, group, or thing” that makes the person or thing “distinctive”. The second suggests that it is “different from the usual or normal” or is “special, particular, odd, curious, eccentric or queer.”

What do the following people have in common? 

Consider the following quotes about each one of them

William Shakespeare:

“In his poems and plays, Shakespeare invented thousands of words, often combining or contorting Latin, French and native roots. His impressive expansion of the English language according to the Oxford English Dictionary, includes such words as: arch-villain, birthplace, bloodsucking, courtship, dewdrop, downstairs, fanged, heartsore, hunchbacked, leapfrog, misquote, pageantry, radiance, schoolboy, stillborn, watchdog, and zany.”

Thomas Edison:

“Thomas Edison was more responsible than any one else for creating the modern world ....  No one did more to shape the physical/cultural makeup of present day civilization.... Accordingly, he was the most influential figure of the millennium...." 

Samuel Hahnemann:

“Homeopathy by today’s standards is not a science since it is a medicine that does not seek to create a science. It remains an art and the attempt to create a scientific basis for it will most likely be fruitless.”

Martin Luther King:

“In the new nation and the new creed of which the King holiday serves as a symbol, all institutions, values, heroes, and symbols that violate the dogma of equality are dethroned and must be eradicated.”

Amelia Earhart:

“How would you like to be the first woman to fly across the Atlantic?”

These five names were picked at random for no specific reason other than the fact that at some time during the course of history, each one represented a contemporary figure ahead of his or her time.

A box-maker who only makes boxes and markets them successfully, will probably get rich, at some time. 

Not one of these contemporary figures appears to have gotten rich. Instead, they all seem to have been visionaries of some kind, unique individuals with voices. They were innovative brave souls, heroes and doers. Each one exceeded the boundaries of their day by taking a leapfrog kind of jump over everyone else and heading into the darkness only present in the realm of the unknown.

Indeed, they are peculiar people with peculiar ideas. Such is the nature of contemporary thinkers.

Think outside the box is an open invitation to contemporary thinkers of today who might be regarded as bold, innovative and creative, but definitely thinking outside the boundaries of traditional thinkers. In that regard, they may be geniuses by nature, definitely distinctive and peculiar.

  

What is the Ripple Effect: The Phenomenon Known as the Ripple Effect

The phenomenon known as the ripple effect may surprise you. It seems that even the expression ripple effect has rippled over a number of centuries and probably will continue to ripple further, as time goes on. 

The Freedictionary.com refers to ripples as undulations or waves in water or solids, as well as movement in terms of sound waves. As well, there is a comb-like instrument referred to as a ripple.

The expression ripple effect appears later on the horizon as “a gradually spreading effect or influence”, that is applicable to all of us, in one way or another.

Consider the following example of a ripple.

To the man standing beside by a still pond, a quiet peace reigns. The water is undisturbed except for the ripple effect created by a small fish moving about.

Here is another example.

A ripple of muffled laughter resonates around the room, as a speaker makes a comment that only a few comprehend.

The Random House Dictionary suggests the ripple effect implies “a spreading effect or series of consequences caused by a single action or event.”

The Collins English Dictionary expands its meaning further by stating it is “the repercussions of an event or situation experienced far beyond its immediate location.”

Where do we experience the ripple effect in our era?

Taking a modern day example, like a random act of kindness, proves interesting. Because of one act of kindness, many acts of kindness may follow. Each initiates other acts of kindness in a growing response to the initial act.

Using another, modern day example, this time as cyber bullying, helps to put the ripple effect into perspective but this time, it is in an adverse or negative light.

Why is the ripple effect of concern for the future of the world?

When one examines today’s world in the light of the phenomenon of the ripple effect, it becomes apparent that every act, positive or negative, has a potential ripple effect in one way or another. That also implies that there are definite repercussions that may be positive and negative.

Going back to the image of the man beside the pond for a moment, one sees the movement of the fish increasing the oxygenation of the water. This is a good phenomenon.

Using the example of the muffled laughter, it can resonate around the world thereby mocking, destroying and even eradicating acts of kindness.

The ripple when used with flax seed combs out or removes the vestiges of anything that might harm good seed.

Undulations or earth quivers occur after an earthquake. Shock waves resound around the world when there is a phenomenon happening like SOPA or PIPA.

Perhaps what one must suggest that the ripple effect of virtually anything that is negative may go unrecognized. When it is too late to do anything, it acts like a destructive tsunami.

When the ripple effect works in a positive direction, the good that results may spread around the globe. Such is the power of the positive in terms of the good.

Motivational Therapy: The Imp in Impossibility

Who or what is that 'imp'? To be motivated by possibility or to be non-motivated by impossibility are thoughts that can linger in your mind, at one time or another. 

Did you ever wonder if it is the imp in impossibility that makes the difference between being motivated and not being motivated? Figuratively speaking, imp is akin to personifying whatever it is that keeps you from being motivated, when you could or should be.

Motivation entails positive thinking. In other words, when you allow negative thought processes to enter into motivational thought patterns, they change from motivational to non-motivational thoughts.

Imp personified, implies a mischievous character of some sort at work

Thinkexist.com uses the following definition in the personification of the word imp suggesting “a young or inferior devil; a little, malignant spirit; a puny demon; a contemptible evil worker.”

Taking this further and putting the letter p back into possible, what remains are the two letters i and m.

Look at it this way. I...m...possible removes the impossibility from the word possible and brings the word possible home to the first person I and reinforces personal motivation.

Interestingly, in different contexts, the word imp is not in a negative context, at all. Here, the word imp does not have personification either. 

Thinkexist.com suggests imp implies “something added to, or united with another, to lengthen it out or repair it, - as, an addition to a beehive; a feather inserted in a broken wing of a bird; a length of twisted hair in a fishing line.” 

Perhaps you might chuckle when you see the imp in impossibility, realizing that unless you personify the word imp, it could still have a motivational meaning. In other words, you do not necessarily have the word imp as a negative aspect of your thinking process.

Word play is fun and contextually, words can have different meanings. How you tend to interpret them or use them would appear to have an individual perceptual factor. The meaning of words can change over time.

You act on your perceptions, as does everyone else and they vary from person to person.

In another definition of imp there is a personification without the mischievous, negative implications. Note the transition of definition in thinkexist.com to “an offspring; progeny; child; scion”.

Dictionary.com suggests that scion is “a young shoot or twig of a plant, esp. one cut for grafting or rooting, or a descendant of a notable family.”

How you interpret words becomes a matter of choice.

Even with the word scion there is what appears to be a severing of relationship in one context, but a totally viable, as well as positive, familial relationship in the other context.

In other words, you choose whether to become motivated with possibility, or not to be motivated with impossibility, depending upon how you interpret or understand the word imp.  

Have you ever considered the fact that the imp in impossibility might be you?

  

How to Make the Law of Attraction Work For You: Let Your Imagination Work For You

Who or what are you attracted to in our life? If you are attracted to someone or something, with a little bit of ingenuity and a concerted effort on your part, you can make the dynamics inherent in the law of attraction work for you.

Albert Einstein (1879-1955) wrote, “Your imagination is your preview of life's coming attractions.”

The law of attraction is a natural law grounded in the attraction of opposites to each other. For example, consider the concepts of empty and full. What you lack, you instinctively need or desire. Dynamically attracted to it, knowingly or unknowingly, you strive towards it. For example, when your stomach is empty, you seek to fill it with water or food.

That principle works the other way, as well. For example, reverse the concepts of full and empty. You dispose of what you have in excess because it becomes a burden to you. The empty state becomes preferable to the state of fullness. Consider the merit of a void when your mind is too busy to relax.    

To give an example of how the law of attraction works in nature, look at the example of how bees are attracted to nectar and create honey. Bees are an excellent example of the law of the law of attraction because they are inherently industrious and hardworking in terms of their natural work ethics. 

Consider the dynamics of imaging the world or the universe, a century from now. What you can imagine, you can strive to achieve, as you begin to fathom and create what you see in your mind’s eye. You are in a state of emptiness in that regard and seek to fill that void.

You are attracted to what you perceive. For example, if you have a lack of knowledge, you strive towards it because knowledge is a more desirable state. Your mind’s eye sees and comprehends its merit. Knowledge is attractive to you. Lack of knowledge is not.

In terms of inter-personal relationships, you instinctively seek to find love, as to love and be loved appears to be an emotional state preferable to not loving, or not being loved.

The law of attraction causes man to seek and find the wonders of the world, to gaze at the stars with the expectation of finding a better world and even to pray for miracles. It is the law of attraction that intrigues the creative spirit to turn a state of hopelessness into one that radiates hope. 

Let the law of attraction begin to work for you by recognizing its reality in your life and your world. Employ positive and constructive measures to achieve your goals in life and to build relationships that accurately fill and reflect your truths and values.

Set your standards as high as you can possibly imagine and maintain them on that level. Strive towards what you imagine, but always work towards it in a good way, as what is not good is inherently subject to destruction.

Become a thinker, a writer or a builder, because you know that the law of attraction does work and it can work for you. Einstein was correct and saw what few others did, or did not understand.

Can an Employer Fire You Without Telling You Why: Employees Do Have Rights

“You are fired!” As you wend your way homeward, you feel devastated, but suddenly realize your employer did not tell you why. You know that dismissal from any job can affect your entire future, as well as your life in an adverse manner. “Why did your employer fire you?” you wonder.

You see your role on the job as having been exemplary, above the level of an employee reprimand or reproach. Dismissal seems ludicrous, at least to you. You are right. In this instance, it is just that. What adds to the injustice is the reality that you received no warning and your employer did not reveal why dismissal was necessary.

“In some work environments, an employee can be fired quickly with no explanation for supposed dereliction of duty. Other companies may have the policy of submitting warnings prior to dismissal. Certain offenses could merit a suspension from work.”

According to employeegalaxy.net, employees still have rights.

“Even during an investigation into an alleged wrongdoing, the suspected employee has rights. First, the employee has the right to full disclosure of the allegations and any evidence regarding them. Prior to the suspension, the employee should have the ability to know the offense for which they are being accused and have the right to defend themselves in front of their superiors.”

One of the advantages to being an employer, instead of an employee, is that you can fire anyone, at any time, without telling him or her why.

There are times when being fired is an injustice. For instance these may include when employers play the role of dictators, act godlike in some way or are controllers who take pleasure in hurting employees, especially those who are the most vulnerable. That does not make it right or fair much less make it any easier to accept dismissal graciously.

Injustices happen.

Dismissal can be for many reasons that are not employee performance related. At times, dismissal may be the result of sudden, company cutbacks due to financial concerns, loss of employment contracts, union issues or other company concerns.

Regardless of the reason, dismissal can come as a shock and be difficult to comprehend or understand. For example, a company accepts a new union contract, stipulating the sole reason for dismissal is based upon seniority, which results in the firing of three, young, professional women. They all appear to be highly specialized, well-motivated, aspiring, proactive employees with excellent work ethics and unlimited potential.

Three, older women recently fired, take over their positions immediately. One of the older women is a known alcoholic, the second an elderly woman was caught sleeping on the job and the third is an older, former dress store owner, a flashy dresser and a veritable fashion plate who dresses inappropriately for her job.    

The three young women, not given any explanation, receive a dismissal letter and an apology from the employer, but no explanation other than lack of seniority. To them, this does not appear to be a just cause for dismissal. It is not. A professional, management team member resigns his position because of the employment dismissal injustice. His resignation is accepted.

Because this is a union contract, originally drawn up in an attempt to protect senior workers, there is no feasible route of appeal for the young women. Is legal action the appropriate route for them to take?

Interestingly, in this particular scenario, it is several months later that the young professional women learn the reason for their dismissal ie. a seniority clause. By the end of the union contract, the three elderly women are no longer with the company.

The new union contract, now revised, does not allow employment injustice of this kind.       

Perhaps the major injustice in this case, lies in the inappropriate communication in the initial, employer-employee relationship.

One must suggest that in any similar situation, employees’ right to know or to be informed is vital. Letters of reference may help the dismissed employees, but having to explain to another potential employer, the reason for dismissal without a proper explanation may not appear credible.

“No one fires employees based on seniority alone,” says a potential employer. “Who are you trying to kid?”

Life happens and yes, an employer can fire you without telling you why, but should not do so, particularly in this era.

Wrongful dismissal litigation can be expensive and may not be worth pursuing, in some situations. On the other hand, personal entitlement to lost income may be worth pursuing. Seeking advice for an unemployment office is advisable in terms of wrongful dismissal.

Critical Thinking Skills and How They Can Be Learned: Understanding the Building Blocks of Critical Thinking

Critical thinking skills come naturally to some people, but not to every student. Often learning critical thinking skills is necessary in order to succeed academically. How does one learn them?

First, what are the benefits of learning critical thinking skills? Why are they so important?

“Critical thinking skills enable people to evaluate, compare, analyse, critique and synthesize information.”

In the academic world, as well as the rest of the world, there are numerous critical thinkers, but many of them appear to have closed minds. They are seldom open to new thoughts, ideas or theories. In fact, many students, as well as others, believe critical thinking implies only adverse or negative criticism. Some feel that they know everything and it is all in a negative critical light. Theirs is the final word, on whatever.

The reason a student needs to learn critical thinking skills has to do with a transition of his or her attitude towards more appropriate, critical thinking. In other words, a change in attitude may be necessary for a student to be open to learn other things. Learning new, critical thinking skills is vital in order to get beyond the basic apprehension, fears and antagonistic, pessimistic negativity that is part of a closed mind set.

Critical thinking requires ongoing, proactive, well-motivated thought processes that lead towards the discovery of truth and reality.     

“Critical thinking is based upon reflective thinking that is focused on interpreting, analyzing, and evaluating information, arguments and experiences with a set of reflective attitudes, skills and abilities to guide thoughts, beliefs and actions.” (Ruggiero, 1989) 

How to learn critical thinking skills may differ from one person to another. For some, critical thinking comes easily. It is as if there is immediate openness, understanding and understanding with respect to new thoughts and ideas.  

For example, a new theory in a science course totally refutes a previous one. One student understands the theory and accepts it, while the rest of the class demonstrates a pessimistic attitude. To them, it is impossible.  

The student demonstrating true, critical thinking skills has spent time reflecting upon the new theory. He or she has interpreted it initially in accordance with his or her analysis of previous data. This appears to refute the new theory, but he or she suggests that there seems to be a missing link.

Further research carried out on the Internet, using current information, leads the student to suspect that the original theory is incorrect. The student’s final analysis and evaluation reveals not only the likelihood of the validity of the new theory, but confirms it, beyond the shadow of a doubt.           

Note that the most important aspects of critical thinking involve reflection, research, analysis and evaluation. Initially, there may be a questionable building block rendering the entire theory suspect. When subjected to inquiry, it may be proven or dis-proven.

Perhaps the key to true critical thinking lies in a student’s ability to question. Finding a suitable question may lead to an appropriate solution to the critical thinking dilemma. Students with questions seek answers and often find them, much to the amazement of other, negative critical thinkers.

How to Switch the Polarity of Your Thoughts: Increasing the Love, Laughter and Light in your Life

Do you know how to switch the polarity of your thoughts? It is possible to do so with a consistent, concerted effort on your part. Switching the polarity of your thoughts is something you can learn to do, but you may not be aware of the advantages of doing that with respect to how you think. It is possible to increase the love, laughter and light in your life.      

What is polarity of thought?

Dictionary.com suggests that polarity with respect to thinking is “the state of having or expressing two directly opposite tendencies, opinions, etc.”  In other words, your thought processes can demonstrate polar opposites of words, phrases and sentences that are positive or negative in character.

Each person has an innate ability to think in terms of the positive or negative. This is a good thing, as it allows discernment, differentiation and decision-making in accordance with value judgments that in turn can affect words, deeds or behavior.

For example, a truck parks behind a parked car. Immediately, a negative thought may result in an adverse response that in turn, triggers an outburst of anger. “That man is blocking my car.” A more positive thought based on observation might be, “The man in the truck parked behind my car is unloading his furniture." Taking it further, a more positive thought might be “He will move his truck in a moment.” 

Becoming proactive, he decides, “I must go and meet my new neighbor.”

Switching polarity of thoughts from negative to positive appears to be easy for some, but not necessarily for everyone. To a large degree, it entails making a personal choice in terms of thought processes. Switching polarity of thinking is an important factor in mental health.     

Many different, conditioned responses repeatedly surface in human thought processes. Some of them demonstrate distinct and dramatic polarity of thought. In other words, a few may be very positive while others are exactly the opposite, extremely negative. Then, there are neutral thoughts that are not positive or negative. Neutral thoughts do not usually cause problems, nor do the positive ones. Extremely negative thoughts based upon fear can result in outward expression of paranoia, or outbursts of anger.

Discovering a new way to think is a challenge that you can take on personally. Simply begin to think about something specific and then consider the number of other, different and possibly better ways you can think about it. There are no limits.

If you are prone to think negative thoughts consistently, it may be part of your upbringing. Perhaps it has to do with the perception of your parents, grandparents and others. You do not have to think that way.

Challenge yourself everyday to think strong, positive, constructive and highly motivational thoughts, instead of the kinds of thoughts that tend to be mentally and emotionally debilitating, disturbing or destructive.  

Switching polarity of thought is like turning a light switch on or off. Remember that there is a time and place for negative thoughts, but transitioning them into powerful positive thoughts can bring so much more love, laughter and light into your life.     

Symptoms of Social Networking Addiction: Is Your Teenager Addicted to Social Networking?

Do you have a teenager who spends every possible moment of his or her day on a social network? Are you having serious problems communicating with him or her? Perhaps he or she is excluding family and friends. Is your teenager acting secretive, fighting or screaming at everyone?

Does your teenager walk away from everything, even homework or other things that are extremely important and hide in his or her room with a computer or smart phone? Perhaps the problem has become such that you cannot converse without having an argument or winding up with him or her in a veil of tears. Are you wringing your hands and reduced to tears, as well?     

Your teenager may be addicted to social networking.

The socialmediaexaminer.com asks, “Are you addicted to Facebook or Twitter? As social media continues to grow, details are starting to surface about people’s behaviors and consumption of information in the social space.”

Communication with others is normally a good thing. Knowing how to use a social networking device and social networking site properly appear appropriate, as well as effective. This type of communication seems almost vital to human inter-action and survival in our era, but the tendency towards social network addiction is growing. That may not be a good thing.  

Much like teenage problems related to the introduction of the telephone years ago, teenage addiction to social networking creates friction between teenagers and parents. Do you recall arguing with your parents about how much time you could spend on the telephone? The advent of the computer resulted in the same kinds of problems; so did the introduction of cell phones.        

Who would have thought that grandparents, parents, teens, children and others would now become addicted to social networking?

Maybe you are a person who is hooked on social networking, too.

Try walking away from your smart phone and social network system for a few days and see if you feel a sense of loss, miss the contact with others or have social network cravings. Do you feel lost and lonely, frustrated or angry, when you do not have access to your social media website or smart phone? How do you feel when your Internet connection goes down and you cannot do social networking that day? Are you totally devastated when you cannot access family or friends on your social network?  

Does panic set it?

Perhaps you are like many others. You have grown accustomed to being able to communicate electronically with your friends and family, at any time, from almost any place. You have access to an exciting new tool and you are becoming addicted to using it.

The bottom line becomes that of still being able to function without it. Are you addicted to social networking?   

Globally, social network addiction is a growing problem. For almost anyone, there is a tremendous degree of fascination with social networking because it works. It is relatively new and unique. The cost of social networking is relatively low and it is affordable.

Even children quickly become addicted to social networking. Parents, in an effort to teach their children everything they possibly can, open the new horizons of possibility for them, not realizing that without setting some limitations, social networking may become a priority to them. Social networking becomes the new fix, the high of the day and the topic of conversation.

One might ask how communication devices like smart phones or a computer-based system like social networking could affect communication so adversely.

Identifying the symptoms and being aware of social networking addiction can help resolve the communication problem and restore peace in your home. Remember that computers and smart phones are only tools. How they are used is important. Social networking etiquette is vital.