U.S. Gross National Debt exceeds $34 trillion.
The federal government’s gross national debt has surpassed $34 trillion, a record high that foreshadows the coming political and economic challenges to improve America’s financial balance sheet in the coming years and decades.
The U.S. Gross National Debt is on an unsustainable path of growth, interest costs are exploding, and the Social Security and Medicare trust funds are approaching insolvency.
Positive thinking means approaching life’s daily opportunities and challenges with a positive mindset.
Research has found that positive thinking aids in stress management and can play an important role in your overall health and well-being.
People with a family history of heart disease who also had a positive outlook were one-third less likely to have a heart attack or other cardiovascular event within five to 25 years than those with a more negative outlook.[2]
That’s according to the findings from Johns Hopkins expert Lisa R. Yanek, M.P.H., and her colleagues. The finding held even in people with family history who had the most risk factors for coronary artery disease.
Positive thinking is about looking at things from a positive point of view. It is a type of thinking that focuses on maintaining a positive, optimistic attitude.
Positive thinking does not mean avoiding challenges or difficult situations. Instead, positive thinking means making the most of potential obstacles, trying to see the best in other people, and viewing yourself and being confident about your abilities.
Positive thinking is linked to a wide range of health benefits, including:
Positive thinking has been shown to help people live healthier, happier lives. When you have a positive outlook, you are more likely to engage in healthy behaviors such as exercising, eating healthy, and getting plenty of rest.
How to Cultivate Positive Thinking
Practicing mindfulness can be a way to build self-awareness and become more conscious of how your positive or negative thoughts affect your mood and behavior.
As you become better at identifying your thought patterns, you can then take steps to shift into a more positive mindset. Actively replacing negative thoughts with positive ones can help you eventually learn to embrace a more positive mindset.
References:
“Great things happen to those who don’t stop believing, trying, learning, and being grateful.” ― Roy T. Bennett
“Optimism is a huge asset. We can always use more of it. But optimism isn’t a belief that things will automatically get better; it’s a conviction that we can make things better.” — Melinda French Gates
“Confidence isn’t optimism or pessimism, and it’s not a character attribute. It’s the expectation of a positive outcome.” — Rosabeth Moss Kanter
“The most important step a man (or woman) can take. It’s not the first one, is it? It’s the next one. Always the next step.” ― Brandon Sanderson
“The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.” — Omar Khayyam
You can live a happier, healthier, more joyful, and successful life in the New Year by embracing positive thinking and thoughts!😀😀😀
Positivity refers to your tendency to be optimistic in life and believe that tomorrow will better than today. When have have positivity, you think positive, have positive emotions, and do positive things.
Studies have shown that being optimistic can affect your health and well-being. Positive thinking and optimism are effective and proven ways to manage stress. And effective stress management has many health benefits.
References:
Embracing gratitude on New Year’s Day is a wonderful way to start your year with a positive mindset.
Here are some thoughtful ways to express gratitude and reflect on the blessings in your life:
1. **Journaling**: Write down the things you’re grateful for, including the experiences, people, and moments that brought you joy in the past year.
2. **Thank-You Notes**: Send a heartfelt note or message to someone who made a difference in your life. It could be a family member, friend, colleague, or even a mentor.
3. **Reflect and Meditate**: Take some quiet time to reflect on the past year. Meditating on gratitude can help you appreciate the small and big blessings in your life.
4. **Acts of Kindness**: Perform a random act of kindness. It could be as simple as helping a neighbor, donating to a charity, or volunteering your time.
5. **Celebrate with Loved Ones**: Share a meal or a special moment with those you care about. Expressing your gratitude to them in person can strengthen your relationships.
Starting the New Year with a heart full of gratitude can set a positive tone for the days and year ahead.
Wishing you a joyful and blessed year ahead! 🌟
“We need a business plan that should include being the most efficient. We’re not at war with ourselves, we’re at war with China and Russia. Their governments are subsidizing everything,” says John Hope Bryant, founder of the non-profit Operation HOPE, Inc. “We’re shooting at each other when we should be better together.”
"We need a business plan that should include being the most efficient. We're not at war with ourselves, we're at war with China and Russia. Their governments are subsidizing everything," says @johnhopebryant. "We're shooting at each other when we should be better together." pic.twitter.com/phNjGwOBSx
— Squawk Box (@SquawkCNBC) November 7, 2022
Many think that we should have gridlock in Washington and “…should have a divided government, what we have is a divided people,” states Bryant.
Political free agents
When solving problems is the goal, and not simply picking winners and losers, talking with folks that you may not have a natural affinity to or agreement with almost always makes more sense than not.
Frankly, Bryant just want people to learn to think for themselves, to further realize that they are in the driver’s seat in their respective lives, to expect more from themselves, and to demand more from those who call themselves their leaders and representatives; whether it be in community, national or in the world of politics.
Blacks should all be political free agents from time to time, making both Democrats and Republicans “work” for our vote. We should all remember that FedEx made the U.S. Postal Service a better 2-Day mail service carrier, almost over night.
Now, when Bryant say things like this, people often wonder whether he is a Republican for some reason. Well, the answer is no. But respectfully, he has problems with both my Republican and Democratic friends, so no one should get a pass here. African Americans need results in their community these days, and that is why I am down with what I call the “Get It Done Party.” I just want folks to “get it done.”
I remember when in 2002, Operation HOPE became the only non-profit organization to host two U.S. Presidents in one week; former President Clinton in Harlem (arguably our “first Black President” – smile), who co-taught a Banking on our Future financial literacy course with me, launching our Harlem Partnership together, and thereafter President George W. Bush in South Central Los Angeles, on the 10th anniversary of the revitalization of community following the 1992 Rodney King Riots.
Now, no one in the political establishment said a word about President Clinton and HOPE and me. But when we brought President Bush to South Los Angeles and to First A.M.E. Church, led at that time by my spiritual father Reverend Dr. Cecil “Chip” Murray, our co-host for the event, you would thought the world had come to an end. I was derided by some at the time for hosting the President, mildly threatened with reprisals, and my “real black man” credentials were no doubt called into question — but we persisted, and we moved forward. And everything worked out just fine. And when I am asked why we hosted the President of the United States, my response is simple and immediate — because he’s the PRESIDENT, that’s why.
References:
For small caps, the key investing question is whether they can grow into successful large cap companies and then sustain that success. Remember, Amazon and Microsoft began life as a small cap company.
To address these questions, long-term investors should focus on three key elements throughout their investment research:
The stock prices of small cap companies tend to be more sensitive to economic and market changes. Thus, looking at the long-term prospects is essential to the investment process.
Small Cap Companies
Developing an approach and commitment to investing in small caps can be a driver for your investment success. An investment process of extensive research and evaluation can give you an edge over passive products,.
The equity universe is vast, and only a small fraction of the stocks in it are large companies. This leaves plenty of choice for small cap investors, but few investors are skilled enough to successfully navigate through the thousands of choices and identify the best opportunities. As long as there is innovation and disruption, there will be attractive small businesses that have the potential to become larger and successful.
You should always seek and research these investment opportunities.
References:
Russell 2000® Growth Index measures the performance of small-sized U.S. companies that are classified as growth.
Risks: All investments are subject to risk and may lose value. Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses of the investment carefully before investing. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate; an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost
Essentialism is a disciplined way of thinking and acting that allows you to discern the vital few from the trivial many. It’s about learning to do less but better so that you can make the highest possible contribution.
Say no to the good so you can say yes to the great.
It’s only possible to do some things, so being selective about what you say yes to is important. Focus on the essential things that will have the biggest impact. Take a close look at your life and identify the things that are not essential. Once you know what they are, eliminate them from your life so that you can focus on the things that are truly important.
It’s okay to say no to requests, even if they come from people you care about. If something is not essential, don’t be afraid to say no so that you can focus on the things that are.
Protect your time since it is your most valuable resource, so please keep it carefully. Don’t let other people steal your time or pressure you into doing things that are not essential.
And it would be best if you took care of yourself. Ensure you get enough sleep, eat healthy foods, maintain close relationships, and exercise regularly. When you take care of yourself, you’re better able to focus on the things that are essential.
Essentialism is a powerful way to live a more meaningful and fulfilling life. It can help you learn to focus on the truly essential things and make the biggest impact.
Once you achieve success selling, “You recognize opportunities everywhere because you believe in yourself.” ~ Fredrik Eklund, author of The Sell
Knowing how to sell a product or service is an important skill. Learning more about how to sell regardless of the customer can help you improve your skills and develop strategies for success.
In this article, here are six tips for how to sell anything to anyone.
First, it’s essential that you research your customer. It’s important to know who you’re selling to because it helps you communicate effectively to your them, which can then lead to more sales.
Learning more about the customer’s needs, wants, lifestyle, motivations and perspective. From there, you can adapt your sales pitch accordingly. For example, if you know that a customer is interested in convenience, you can focus on the aspects of a product that make it easy to use.
1. Don’t just sell products and services. Sell results and solutions.
Don’t talk about what your product can do. Take time to list the benefits of your products and services and how they might improve your customers’ lives. Talk about what the product can do for your customers.
You don’t sell a camera by saying it can shoot video at 25,600 ISO. You sell it by telling people it can shoot video in the moonlight.
2. Get into your customer’s world.
Talk about what they care about…their problems, fears, and desires. Then start discussing ways they can solve them with your product or service. They’re likely to give an immediate “Yes!”
3. We are emotional creatures, not logical.
Sell towards emotions and feelings. For instance, if you want to sell a family business, you can discuss your family’s problems and explain how you feel about their situation.
Additionally, selling yourself is important because it helps you communicate your own value and can create a personal connection. When customers can envision your value, they may be more likely to trust you and feel comfortable enough to buy from you.
4. Be Specific.
Don’t say, “Lose weight fast.” Instead, say: “Lose 10 pounds in 3 weeks without diet and exercise!”
5. Take advantage of FOMO (fear of missing out)
Set a hard deadline when the sale ends and create a sense of urgency.
– Show social proof
– Use countdown timers
– Highlight limited availability
– Use language that creates urgency
6. Don’t make it boring.
Be entertaining, exciting and exotic. Don’t sound like a generic company. Put jokes in your text. Be different.
Finally,
References:
“Autophagy, literally translated as ‘self-eating,’ promises clear skin, more energy, and weight loss. Autophagy is triggered at around the 17-hour mark and peaks at 72 hours.”
To trigger something called autophagy, which means ‘eating itself,’ through this process, old cells are broken down and recycled to form new cells.
It has been hailed as the answer to everything from reducing the symptoms of long-term COVID-19 to nixing tiredness to losing stubborn fat. Its proponents talk about its vast effect on the body and how it offers a spring clean of sorts.
Michelle McKenzie, a nutritionist who designed a fasting-mimicking diet, says, “Autophagy means self-eating, and it’s like a recycling plant, taking the waste and damaged cells which aren’t functioning as well, then using them to make new cells and proteins.”
Dr Valter Longo devised a fasting-mimicking protocol, a way to eat thrice daily while your body still thinks it’s only getting water. With the food being minimal and portions minuscule, rations are measured to make sure they come under the threshold to keep the body in fasting mode. But, still, better than just water, I tell myself. And, besides, I want all those touted benefits.
References:
https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/autophagy-fasting-benefits-what-is-it-how-to-b1111484.html