Because no-fear public speaking and successful
assertiveness relate to
self-esteem and self-confidence,

today I am
suggesting books closely related to those topics
by two of
my favorite authors:

Gayle and Hugh Prather

Morning Notes by Hugh Prather

The Little Book of Letting Go by Hugh Prather

Shining Through by Hugh Prather

Spiritual Notes to Myself by Hugh Prather

How to Live in the World and Still Be Happy

by Hugh Prather

I Will Never Leave You by Gayle and Hugh Prather

Spiritual Parenting by Gayle and Hugh Prather

Notes to Myself by Hugh Prather

Shakespeare Warned of B.O.:
Bad Odors of Comparisons


Shakespeare said approximately, comparisons are odious or odorus.
I say both.

Yet everyone does compare themselves to others, specially friends and acquaintaces, sometimes even more foolishly, celebrities and people in the news. Stop it.

You are your own unique self and you can't logically compare yourself to anyone else. Comparisons often are either negative self-talk to tear yourself down or inner bragging telling yourself your better than someone else.

Neither is useful. Use your time better and simply appreciate what and who you are. Spend that time working to be even more than you are today, and you will find even more success pouring into your life until your "cup" starts that delicious running over.

Comparing yourself to other is a self-defeating game. When you hear that inner negative talk, immediately turn it off and start counting your successes, the very good reasons you have for being more self-confident today and having more self-esteem.

You'll love how it looks on you.

This photo is Lake Louise in Banff Park
in the province of Alberta in Canada.


A Note on Photos

For all who asked about getting photos,
I use free ones from yotophoto, they're
great and then I use

google free pic organizer

PICASA...... you can get that free

by clicking on the link at bottom
of this blog.

good luck to all dave

Paint some happy trees!

Some really good news:

2 of my blogs were reviewed

on "Critique My Blog" this week,

and here's the review----

Paint some happy trees!

http://browniesforbreakfast.blogspot.com

http://waterfallsuplift.blogspot.com

Both blogs are about positive energy.
The posts are inspiring and thought
provoking and the goal is to help the
reader succeed in life. The photos in
the waterfall blog are great and make
me want to walk right through some
of them to feel the mist. Both blogs are
worth a look as the posts are well written
and helpful.

Book List

The Assertiveness Workbook:
How to Express Your Ideas and Stand Up for Yourself
at Work and in Relationships
Randy J. Paterson Ph.D.


Book Description
This self-directed program teaches readers to speak up and
say what they mean at work and at home. Written supportively,
it uses proven cognitive behavioral techniques to help individuals
build self-confidence, set boundaries, and
determine appropriate responses.



Complete Idiot's Guide to Assertiveness

by MBA, CMC, Jeff Davidson

Book Description
This book gives a boost to anyone who has has felt paralyzed
in the face of an opposing viewpoint or an imposing individual.
Individuals can at last express their ideas, stand up
for themselves in relationships (spouses, parents, in-laws, kids)
and at work (managers), and get attention in the business world.
Readers learn how to build self-confidence and find out
when its appropriateand often essentialto be assertive.

Jeff Davidson, MBA, CMC, is author of 18 books,
including The Complete Idiots Guide to Managing Stress
and The Complete Idiots Guide to Managing Your Time.
He lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Self-Assertion for Women

Pamela E. Butler

ANNOTATION Reissued with a new preface by the author, this bestselling guide offers practical advice with realistic dialogues and step-by-step exercises that show women how they can attain liberation, power, and respect without forsaking their femininity. Dr. Butler gets to the roots of self-esteem with principles that apply to all women and to any situation. Originally published in 1976. FROM THE PUBLISHER The bestselling assertiveness guide that shows women how to get what they want—reissued with a new preface by the author. Self-Assertion for Women offers practical advice with realistic sample dialogues and step-by-step exercises showing women how they can: learn to communicate clearly and effectively protect themselves from misread signals in public, as well as intimate, situations maintain professional authority without becoming aggressive deal appropriately with sexual harassment express positive and negative feelings without anxiety set boundaries and assert themselves freely while maintaining loving relationships identify "assertiveness blind spots" Butler's strategies can be applied by all women in any situation that requires direct, effective, and positive action. Real Solution Assertiveness Workbook by Richard H Pfeiffer Most people can be assertive in some situations, and yet not be effectual in others. The Real Solution Assertiveness Workbook expands the number of situations in which a person can choose to be assertive. When a person is passive, opportunities are lost and unpleasant situations are tolerated. In time, bad feelings can build to a point where one more event can trigger an explosion of resentment that in turn provokes criticism or rejection. Most people can be assertive in some situations, and yet not be effectual in others. The Real Solution Assertiveness Workbook expands the number of situations in which a person can choose to be assertive. When a person is passive, opportunities are lost and unpleasant situations are tolerated. In time, bad feelings can build to a point where one more event can trigger an explosion of resentment that in turn provokes criticism or rejection. Graduated homework assignments allow participants to apply their newly acquired skills. SKILLS AND CONCEPTS Learning to Identify your own behavior as Assertive, Aggressive, or Passive Learning to distinguish between the Three Modes of Communicating Defining criteria for measuring change in Assertive Behavior Identifying mistaken traditional assumptions and Countering them with Assertive Rights Broken Record Technique Confronting your fears about being Assertive Acknowledgement Clouding Probing Content-to-Process shift Time Out Slowing Down Assertive Position Statement Assertive Listening Assertive Position Statement - Expressing and Listening Workable Compromise Three Modes of Communicating Basic premises Underlying the Three Modes of Communicating Criticism as a Form of Manipulation GOALS To learn assertive communication skills used in a variety of settings to improve your relationships. To distinguish assertiveness from aggressive and passive communication. To distinguish assertive rights from myths about assertive behavior. To explore your fears about being assertive.

Quotes Worth Considering



Brevity is a great charm of eloquence.
Marcus Tullius Cicero

Brevity is the best recommendation of speech, whether in a senator or an orator.
Marcus Tullius Cicero

Confidence is that feeling by which the mind embarks in great and honorable courses with a sure hope and trust in itself.
Marcus Tullius Cicero

and don't miss a new blog:

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fly away with me in your imagination and see
some of the most beautiful places on earth
http://dreamy-destinations.blogspot.com
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Please leave a comment if you like,
and we hope you will find the articles
and ads to be of help and will come back often.

You can click on the photo below to see it in larger image.

5 Steps for Building Self-Confidence

by: Arina Nikitina



Self-confidence is an all important trait you need to acquire in today's fast-paced world. For one thing, you must have confidence in yourself first to earn the confidence and respect of others.

The following strategies may be useful to overcome such self-conquering thought habits. Consider these steps as the building blocks for greater confidence in any aspect of your life.

1. Concentrate on your strengths rather than on your weaknesses.

Confidence comes from within. You have to concentrate on the positive things about yourself. Remember the past is over; you can only change the future. Write down ten positive things about yourself.

Concentrate on your potentials. These are the reasons you should love yourself and have high self-confidence in yourself. Give yourself credit for every positive thing you have written about yourself. Remember, you're somebody special.

2. Remind yourself of past successes.

Confidence builds on past success. Because you had success before, you can (and will) have it once more. We strengthen our confidence in any interest when we remind or review ourselves of past successes.

If you are trying to develop confidence in a new aspect, past success can still be useful in strengthening our confidence. For instance, if you had success in doing something new in the past, recall those experiences when trying something else new – even if it is in a completely different part of your life.