Daniel Isenberg of the Harvard Business School studied 25 of the most successful executives in the United States to find out what they did to make them successful. He did this by being with each one of them for one week and observing their behaviors, judgments. He found that these persons had to important qualities in common:
Source: Susan Smith Jones, Choose to Live Each Day Fully, Celestial Arts Publishing, P.O. Box 7123, Berkeley, CA 94707, U.S.A.
Psychologist Alfred Adler says: "It is the individual who is not interested in his fellow men who has the greatest difficulties in life and provides the greatest injury to others. It is from among such individuals that all human failures spring."
If you are habitually hostile, suspicious or cynical, the research of John Barefoot of Duke University should be of interest to you. He and his colleagues found that people who are highly suspicious of others were more likely to die when compared to others of the same age, sex, functional health, and lifestyle patterns. This trend appeared in a study of 500 older men and women during a period of 15 years.
This research result "add to the growing evidence that hostile or cynical attitudes undermine health."
In an earlier 25-year study of physicians conducted by Barefoot, the people who showed high levels of hostility had premature death rate 6.4 times higher than those with low scores.
If you are interested in better health and longer life, consider trusting relationship and friendliness as an alternative way of life.
Source: Marilyn Ferguson, Book of PragMagic, Pocket Books, Simon & Schuster Inc. 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, N& 10020, U.S.A.
Take equal parts of faith and courage, mix well with a sense of humor, sprinkle with a few tears, and add a helping of kindness for others. Bake in a good-natured oven, and dust with laughter.
Scrape away any self-indulgence that is apparent, and serve with generous helpings.
Source: Ohio State Grange Monthly, quoted in The Speaker's Handbook, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, U.S.A.
When you are leading a group, the success of the group depends upon esprit de corps or team spirit. Here are some techniques suggested by Alan Loy McGinnis on how to enhance it:
Source: Alan Loy McGinnis, Bringing Out the Best in People, Kadena Press, U.P. P.O. Box 4, Quezon City 1101, Philippines
At nineteen years of age, doctors told Terry Fox that he had cancer, and his leg had to be amputated to save his life. Two years later, with an artificial leg, Terry Fox decided to run across Canada in order to raise funds for cancer research and to raise people's awareness about cancer. After running 5,373 kilometers in 144 days, Terry had to stop because cancer already reached his lungs.
Although he never finished his run, Terry Fox became a legend not only in Canada but throughout the world. Every year, in over twenty countries, millions participate in the Terry Fox Run that help raise money for cancer research. In Canada, there is a mountain in the Rockies that has been named after him, Mount Fox.
Here was a young man who did not allow himself to be defeated by an incurable disease. Instead, he tried to do something that will help others. And he made a difference.
Source: Haydn Sargent, Power to Choose. Heinemann Asia, 37 Jalan Pemimpin #07-04/05 Block B, Union Industrial Building, Singapore 2057.
The University of California in Los Angeles made a study on longevity and found that women who followed the seven practices mentioned below are expected to live an average of eight years longer than those who don't. These are:
Source: Susan Smith Jones, Choose to Live Each Day Fully, Celestial Arts Publishing, P.O. Box 7123, Berkeley, CA 94707, U.S.A.
In the light of recent continuation of testing of nuclear weapons, we need to remind ourselves about the folly of using nuclear bombs as weapons of war. Here is what happens when a bomb falls, as described by Dr. Helen Caldicott, a physician who has written Nuclear Madness: What You Can Do:
So we're talking about the death of the planet. At the time when the U.S. and Russia were racing to build up nuclear arms, Dr. Caldicott wrote:
"Ninety-two percent of the people of the world don't live in Russia or American and don't care about the petty arguments about how many bombs each side has. It really is up to us to take the toys away from the boys. They behave like little boys in a sandbox with arrested emotional development. And we have to see that they grow up, mature or get rid of them and put in people who are mature adults. It really is up to everyone of us to save this planet. We can't just blame the president. We/I have to take the world on our shoulders like Atlas and say, 'I am totally responsible for this planet and my children and the children of the world.'"
Source: Call to Action: Handbook for Ecology, Peace and Justice, edited by Brad Erickson. Sierra Club Books, 730 Polk St., San Francisco, CA 94109, U.S.A.
I'm not really sure who is ahead in the arms race and I don't
think it really matters. I mean it doesn't make me happy to think
that we're ahead, or sad to think that maybe the Russians are
ahead. We both have enough bombs to kill each other, and if
someone
drops the bomb, no matter who, we all suffer, I would only feel
secure if the U.S. got rid of its nuclear bombs. -- DEBRA
BRITT,
age 15
Dear Astronaut,
Please take the nuclear bombs to the moon on your next space flight and leave them there. your friend, -- RACHEL L.. age 9
I worry too much about nuclear war and I'm too young to worry. -- BILLY C.., age 7
If everybody in the world says that they want peace how can we still have nuclear bombs? Somebody in the world must be lying. -- JOAN G. age 10
Since I learned about the bomb, I don't smile so much anymore. --
JUDITH K., age 7
Little children and animals don't want war. Only grownups
and crocodiles. -- ANTHONY R., age 10
Source: Seeds of Peace compiled by Jeanne Larson and Madge Micheels-Cyrus. New Society Publishers, 4722 Baltimore Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19143, U.S.A.
Consumers are ultimately responsible for the irresponsible killing of endangered species around the world. If you wish to be part of the solution, here are some suggestions:
Source: The Earthworks Group, 50 Simple Things You Can Do to Save the Earth. Hodder and Stoughton Ltd., Mill Road, Dunton Green Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 2YA, U.K.
. . . here are some thoughts from the famous yogi, Paramahansa Yogananda:
"Jealousy comes from an inferiority complex, and expresses itself through suspicion and fear. It signifies that a person is afraid he cannot hold his own in his relationships with others, be they conjugal, filial, social. If you feel you have cause to be jealous of someone -- for example, if you are afraid that the one you love is transferring his or her attention to another -- first strive to understand if there is something lacking within yourself. Improve yourself; develop yourself. The only way to hold on to the affection or respect of another is to apply the law of love and to merit that recognition by self-improvement. Fulfillment lies in constantly improving yourself so that instead of your seeking others, others will seek you."
Source: Paramahansa Yogananda, Where There is Light. Self-Realization Fellowship, 3880 San Rafael Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90065, U.S.A.
Persons who have a compulsion to do everything perfectly are candidate for stress. They find it hard to delegate work, and, as a result, they become overburdened not only with tasks but also with worries. If you are one of these pressured people, here are some steps you do, as suggested by Medical Book of Health Hints and Tips:
Source: Medical Book of Health Hints and Tips, by the Editors of Consumer Guide. Publications International, Ltd., 7373 North Cicero Avenue, Lincolnwood, Illinois 60646, U.S.A.
Have you ever tested your intuition when making decisions? Here is a simple way to experiment with it, as suggested by authors Michael Ray and Rochelle Myers in Creativity in Business. It's using the "yes/no" technique.
When confronted with alternatives, we normally have to weigh many factors. For example, a girl is trying out a dress in department store and says: "Should I buy this dress? It's in my color, I like the fabric, and it's on special sale." But when her sister asked, "Is it a yes or a no?" she immediately replied, "It's a no."
After weighing many factors rationally, intuition makes the final judgment, and that's the bottom line. At the time the decision was made, the reasons may not have been clear. But if it was intuitive, the wisdom of the judgment will become apparent in time.
"The secret of creative decision-making," says the authors, is in deciding from your Essence, particularly from your intuition. The Essence knows, even when the ego strives and frets and procrastinates and endlessly weighs the pros and cons."
By forcing yourself to answer with a yes or no, you allow the Essence to make the decision.
Source: Michael Ray and Rochelle Myers, Creativity in Business. Doubleday, 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10103, U.S.A.
Here are five ideas for developing a better self-image, according to Australian radio commentator and author, Haydn Sargent:
Source: Haydn Sargent, Power to Choose. Heinemann Asia, 37 Jalan Pemimpin #07-04/05 Block B, Union Industrial Building, Singapore 2057.
If you wish to campaign against the destruction of the environment, forest lands, marine resources, etc., here are some tips from Friends of the Earth Handbook:
Source: Friends of the Earth Handbook, edited by Jonathon Porritt. MacDonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd., Orbit House, 1 New Fetter Lane, London EC4A 1AR, U.K.
Source: Promod Batra, Management Thoughts. Golden Books Centre Sdn. Bhd., 14, 1st floor, Lorong Bunus Enam, Off Jalan Masjid India, 50100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Here are several organizations of professionals that working towards peace and global understanding:
Physicians for Social Responsibility, 639 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge MA 02139, U.S.A. Tel. (617) 491-2754. Publishes quarterly National PSR Newsletter ($30.00/year)
Psychologists for Social Responsibility. 1841 Columbia Road NW #207, Washington DC 20009, U.S.A. Tel. (202) 745-7084. Membership includes quarterly newsletter.
Educators for Social Responsibility. 23 Garden St., Cambridge MA 02138, U.S.A. Tel. (617)492-1764. Publishes bi-monthly magazine, Nuclear Times; ESR Journal, and Forum
When it comes to public issues and causes, many people tend to be indifferent. They do not wish to contribute or be involved.
Here are some causes of indifference:
Here then are some steps you can do to overcome indifference if you are trying to promote a causes, whether environmental or other issues. It comes from Sierra Club's guide to community to community organizing, entitled How to Save Your Neighborhood, City, or Town:
Source: Maritza Pick, How to Save Your Neighborhood, City, or Town. Sierra Club Books, 730 Poll St., San Francisco, CA 94109, U.S.A.
The media -- newspapers, radio, television -- have long been recognized as a potent tool for either worsening conflicts or helping in resolving conflicts:
Here are four key moves that media as mediators can make:
Much of our potential for growth and development may be suppressed simply because we hold narrow views or are afraid. We must be willing to review our attitudes and maintain openness in order to enter the door to greater things. This is illustrated in the following story from The Speaker's Sourcebook by Glenn Van Ekeren:
In 1870, a shortsighted bishop expressed to the president of a small college his firm biblical conviction that nothing new could be invented. The educator responded in disagreement and believed there was much yet to be discovered.
"Why, I believe it may even be possible for men in the future to fly through the air like birds," the college president said.
The bishop was taken aback. "Flying is reserved for the angels," he insisted. "I beg you not to mention that again lest you be guilty of blasphemy!"
That mistaken bishop was none other than Milton Wright, the father of Orville and Wilbur. Only thirty-three years later, his two sons made their first flight in heavier-than-air machine, which was the forerunner of the airplane. How wrong you were, Mr. Wright!
Source: Glenn Van Ekeren, The Speaker's Sourcebook, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey 07632, U.S.A.
Lots of cuddling during children helps make individuals become more social balanced and accomplished, says a 40-year study conducted by Carol Franz of the University of California at Berkeley's Institute of Human Development. Children raised by warm and affectionate parents were more likely to sustain enduring and happy marriages, raise children and be involved with friends and recreational activities later in life. The study involved 379 persons who were observed since their kindergarten years in the Boston area.
Source: Your Health, Feb. 7, 1995. 5401 N.W. Broken Sound Blvd., Boca Raton, Fla. 33487, U.S.A.
If you have high cholesterol level, here is good news.
Research shows that using soy as a substitute for animal protein can significantly reduce cholesterol, according to New England Journal of Medicine. This was the finding after researchers conducted 38 studies involving 730 people.
Dr. James Anderson of the University of Kentucky says that even adding soy to a regular diet without eliminating animal fat, might do some good.
Volunteers in these studies took an average of 47 grams of soy protein a day, such as:
Other soy products used were burgers and baked goods.
Source: USA Today
Self-confidence gives you the freedom . . .
. . . to make mistakes and cope with failure without feeling that
your world has come to an end or that you are a worthless person.
HAYDN SARGENT
Kindness Always Pays . . .
. . . but it pays most when you do not do it for pay.
WILLIAM P. BARKER
Compassion Will Cure More Sins . . .
. . . than condemnation.
HENRY WARD BEECHER
We have no right . . .
. . . to ask when a sorrow comes, "Why did this happen
to me?" unless we ask the same question for every joy that
comes
our way.
PHILIP F. BERNSTEIN
Action May Not Always Bring Happiness . .
.
. . . but there is no happiness without action.
BENJAMIN DISRAELI
Our Achievements of Today . . .
. . .are but the sum total of our thoughts of yesterday. You
are
today where the thoughts of yesterday have brought you and you
will be tomorrow where the thoughts of today take you.
BLAISE PASCAL
It is the individual . . .
. . . who is not interested in his fellow men who
has the greatest difficulties in life and provides the greatest
injury to others. It is from among such individuals that all
human failures spring.
ALFRED ADLER
Every great man . . .
. . . every successful, no matter what the field of endeavor,
has
known the magic that lies in these words: Every adversity has
the
seed of an equivalent or greater benefit.
W. CLEMENT STONE
Fear . . .
. . . makes the wolf bigger than he is.
GERMAN
PROVERB
The entire issue of Peace Ideas is now in Internet's World Wide Web, a global network that enables computer users to read articles and view illustrations right at their computer desks.
Articles are linked by hypertext, which means that when you click on a title in the table of contents, the article will immediately appear on the screen for you to read.
Read it by accessing http://www.sequel.net/peace. You may also contact the Peace Center by email by reaching: tspeace@info.com.ph.
If you are in the Philippines, you can now listen to more peace ideas on radio. A one-hour weekly program entitled "Mga Gintong Aral ng Buhay" or "Golden Lessons in Living" have been launched last July 1, 1995 by the Peace Center of the Theosophical Society in the Philippines. It can be heard at DZRM 1278 KHZ in the AM band, every Saturday, from 7-8 o'clock in the evening. It features discussions on such topics as:
Each week, the program issues a two-page outline of the topic discussed which can be requested for free by calling or writing the Peace Center, Theosophical Society, 1 Iba St., Quezon City, Philippines. Tel. No. 741-57-40; fax no. (632)740-3751.
The program is hosted by Dr. Arle Imperio, Vic Hao Chin, Jr. and Romeo Velarde. and assisted by Dr. Roselmo Doval Santos, Pat Munoz and Shirie Villanueva, who co-host some of the topics discussed.
Foreign readers of Peace Ideas may also request for copies of "Peace Idea for the Week."