Looking for Inspiration? Check Out These 10 Uplifting Films

April 11, 2013 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

Films hold a power over us—sad films make us cry, comedies make us laugh.

So, why not seek out films that inspire us to greater heights? This article looks at 10 uplifting films to select when looking for the best Blu ray movies to inspire you and your family.

“Bend It Like Beckham” (2002)

This soccer-themed comedy drama features Parminder Nagra and Kiera Knightly as two teenage would-be athletes. Nagra’s character, Jess, is forbidden from playing the sport by her conservative Sikh family, but she manages to attend matches and win accolades without their knowledge — for a time. The girls battle social pressure and the fallout from a love triangle to reach their dreams of playing soccer at university.

“The Shawshank Redemption” (1994)

A story of hope blossoming in unlikely places, “The Shawshank Redemption” follows convicted murderer and former banker Andy (played by Tim Robbins) through his double life sentences and longtime friendship with fellow convict Red (Morgan Freeman). Andy wins the trust of the warden, who wants him to help launder money. The friends hatch a plan to use the ill-gotten money for better purposes.

“Singing in the Rain” (1952)

Musical comedies can’t help but be inspirational, and “Singing in the Rain” is one of the best of its time. Part love story, part tale of personal ambition, this light-hearted look at the transition from silent film to “talkies” is a feel-good classic.

“The Wizard of Oz” (1939)

In order to reach her dream Dorothy has to go on a terrifying journey and kill a wicked witch. It all seems like too much for a little girl from Kansas, but with help from her friends she — and they — triumph. Watch this musical with tissues and the mantra, “there’s no place like home.”

“Schindler’s List” (1993)

The Spielberg tour-de-force film based on the book by Aussie novelist Thomas Keneally illustrates in black, white and a splash of red just how deeply one man can touch the lives of many others. Schindler, played by Liam Neeson, is a Nazi Party member who uses his factory to keep Jews away from concentration camps. Based on a true story, “Schindler’s List” is an affirmation of human decency worth watching time and again.

“August Rush” (2007)

August Rush, played by Freddie Highmore, is an orphan — or so he was told. But, born with the ability to hear music everywhere, August believes he will one day be reunited with his family. He never loses hope, even after falling in with a conniving racketeer played by Robin Williams. By the time August meets up with his mum and dad, viewers feel like they’ve had a family reunion of their own. [Read more…]

Does Spirituality Affect Your Body?

April 11, 2013 by Featured Author Leave a Comment

“Your body is; what your soul believes.”

It’s all within you. You are the master reining over your body and everything your body experiences. Your ‘spirit’ is the key to creating a balance in your body and your life.

You would not consider spiritualism playing a role in your health?

It goes without saying that you do so much to keep the body fit and fine. You see a doctor on regular intervals, practice medication, therapies and what not. There is nothing wrong in it. But, while doing all this, you forget about your spiritual and mental well being. You don’t think about doing something for your spirits, your emotional health, and spiritual emptiness. Being spiritually fit could help you unravel many health complications including weight issues.

Let’s see how: [Read more…]

Three 10-Minute Steps To An Amazing Lunch Break

April 9, 2013 by MikeTremba Leave a Comment

Your daily lunch break: Is it rushed? Inconvenient? More stressful than relaxing?

Do you even take a lunch break, or do you gulp down an energy drink at your desk and keep working ‘til it’s time to commute home?

If that sounds like you, you’re not alone. Most Americans don’t capitalize on the opportunities a workplace break offers to them. Winding down for a half hour in the middle of the day is a healthy habit for mind and body, but a lot of people feel like it’s more of a hassle than a health benefit. In fact, most Americans work straight through what should be a midday reprieve from workplace stress because, for many of us, stepping away from our desks can mean losing momentum and fighting to keep focus for the rest of the afternoon.

If walking away from your desk for a half hour halfway through the day is stressful, you need to reorganize your workday. Lunch breaks are meant to revive your brain and gear you up for the rest of the day. If you’re not taking one, you’re not getting the most out of your professional capacities.

Making the most of your midday break takes preparation; however, in three hassle-free steps, I can take you from noontime stress to 12 p.m. rejuvenation.

All you need is ten minutes.

7 a.m.: Take 10 Minutes To Schedule Your Day

Nothing worth having ever comes without a good deal of planning ahead. Eating well, for instance—any worthwhile regime’s success is heftily contingent on making a game plan and sticking it out. The Truth About Abs reviews, (from one particular eating plan), describe many testaments from folks who’ve only found success losing weight and increasing health through some thorough strategizing. This success is equally applicable to succeeding in the workplace.

So, every morning before you dive head first into the pile of work on your desk, take ten minutes to prioritize tasks and carve blocks of dedicated time out of your workday. Be realistic about your work blocks and give yourself enough time to account for unforeseen distractions, like urgent orders from your boss or a coworker’s request for some last-minute help.

Knowing what’s ahead of you for the day will create a mental map of where your focus needs to be and when, gearing your brain up for when to be on task and when to wind down.

11:30 a.m.: 10 Minutes To Assess Progress And Wind Down

Retrospection is crucial to successful forward movement. Mid-morning, take a look back at what you’ve accomplished.

Not only will this help you plan out the remainder of your afternoon, it will give you a sense of satisfaction. Rehashing your small victories of the morning—maybe you finally turned in a big project to your boss, or were able to deescalate a disagreement with a coworker without issue—will change your brain’s gears from “work, work, and work” to “reward, reward, and reward.”

After recounting the morning’s workload to yourself, spend the hour between your mid-morning check-in and your lunch break tying up loose ends and preparing your work for the afternoon. Don’t start anything too intensive, but don’t let yourself lose focus, either.

Instead, ride on the high of your morning’s victories and create a blueprint for an equally successful afternoon.

12:30 p.m.: 10 Beautiful Minutes Of YOU

Remember: it’s lunch, but it’s also a break. A break for breathing, restoring your energy, and appreciating yourself.

Take your healthy brown-bag lunch on a walk and find a quiet spot in a nearby park, or treat yourself to a health-conscious meal at a restaurant close to where you work. Sit quietly with every bite of your meal and focus on yourself.

Acknowledge any worries or stresses present in the front of your mind, but appreciate foremost the time you’re devoting in this moment to take care of yourself. Being healthy isn’t just about eating lots of veggies and running a mile every day; it’s about loving yourself and wanting the best for you.

If you take a look at, you’ll get an overload of information on the importance of putting a love for yourself ahead of any other goal when it comes to getting healthy.

No matter how you approach it, do yourself—and your health — a favor, and make time for a valuable, reflective lunch break.

About the Author: Dr. Mike Tremba loves lunch breaks, or any chance he gets to appreciate how great life is. He loves sharing his uncommon weight loss tips through his website at http://www.naturalweightlosstruth.com. In his free time, he constantly looks for new activities to stir his imagination, while spending time with his wife and best friend, Shari

Learning to Love Instead of Judge

April 4, 2013 by Featured Author Leave a Comment

Looking for the road to happiness can seem like a non-stop trek through the jungle.

As I learned on my journey through life, seeking happiness can take time and the short time before problems or unexpected events occur can seem as fleeting as a wave on the beach. The emotion that is often associated with happiness can wash up and then slide away into negative judgments, harsh beliefs and a jaded point of view.

Facing the Past

Learning to avoid judgment was a problem I faced from the time I was very young. Although I did have moments of contentment during my teen years, my early childhood was a time of constant stress, fear and worry. As a result of a traumatic childhood, I am still unable to recall anything that happened before my teen years.

Although the memories were lost, I often felt anxious when I was talking to adults and I was very aware of differences between people. I found myself judging people based on the most insignificant details, often wondering if that time spent laughing with my friend meant that I would lose that connection. I worried constantly and I was always nervous around those I didn’t know.

As I grew older and realized that I couldn’t remember much, I began withdrawing into myself and judging people more freely. I assumed that others had negative intentions and treated them with a frigid courtesy that barely passed for polite.

It was only after I met a friend at work who was openly friendly and constantly smiling that I learned what I was missing. That feeling of happiness I longed for was within reach and I ultimately asked her for advice on how I could obtain the same cheer and joy.

Her advice helped me reach real happiness, though it took me time to learn how to stop judging others.

Let Go of the Past and Future

Learning to love everyone and give a whole heart is challenging when holding onto a future goal or a past hurt. In my experience, holding onto past prejudice and the hurts caused by others is a fruitless endeavor that ultimately leads to a path of sorrow and anger. The best advice I was given to reach for happiness is to forgive the past and move into the present.

It’s the same for those living for a future goal. While it’s important to set goals, it’s also important to focus on the current situation. The future isn’t here yet, so it’s not possible to enjoy that moment. It’s called the present because it’s a gift, so it’s time to focus on that gift and live in the now.

Release Judgmental Thoughts

Letting go of judgmental thoughts is a hard lesson to learn, but it’s ultimately a key part of happiness. I learned to stop judging others when I began volunteering at the Chickasaw Nation Boys and Girls Club Teamwork Camp. It was there that I learned how similar every individual actually is because we are all imperfect creatures. The Chickasaw teamwork and spirit of togetherness inspired me to move past my own insecurities enough to love everyone around me. Trying to apply the spiritual lessons might seem hard, but it is ultimately about learning to love even the mistakes.

Everyone makes mistakes and judging others for their missteps, accidents or misunderstandings will only make the situation worse. Take a deep breath and let go of the negative thoughts that come from the actions of others. Forgive them for their mistakes and happiness will ultimately follow.

Life is too short to keep judging others.

By letting go of the judgment, focusing on the present and offering forgiveness for hurts, it’s possible to live a happy life.

How to Deal with Everyday Stress

April 2, 2013 by Featured Author Leave a Comment

Even though we live in a society where more things are automated than ever before, it seems that the amount of responsibility that most people feel is weighing them down is only increasing. If you are stressed out, if you that stress is taking over your life, there is a good chance that you are not making the best possible decisions.

While there is a thin line between a moderate amount of stress (which can provide you with great results) and an oppressive and unproductive level of stress, it is important to balance the line for yourself. The best way to avoid this ‘consuming’ form of stress is by keeping your stress at a manageable level. If you want to learn how to manage your daily stress level, just follow these four steps. [Read more…]

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