Jacksonville Woman Develops RSD after Dog Bite

Posted On:
December 30, 2008 by Thomas & Lawrence



A Jacksonville woman developed reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) after being attacked by a dog on her own property. The dog bit deeply in her arm, but the wound itself was not severe enough to require stitches. After being initially seen by doctors she was sent home.

Within days she developed a serious infection of the wound site. The infection was followed by the onset of severe burning pain, color changes, a cooler temperature in the arm, and abnormal hair growth on the arm. Unfortunately, all of these are classic symptoms of RSD.

RSD, previously known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, is a serious, usually permanent neurological condition that is usually caused by an injury to an extremity.

This situation highlights the very serious nature of dog attacks. Every year, we hear of people seriously injured or killed by pet dogs in Jacksonville. Children are the most frequent victims of dog attacks, accounting for 70% of dog attack injuries. In the United States, there are almost 600,000 dog bite wounds that require medical care each year.




Source

Putting pain into perspective - breakthroughs, tips and trends

Everything you need to know about the latest research, the newest discoveries and the strangest science.

By John Naish
Times Online


THROW out those painkillers: the secret to salving physical aches may lie in using a pair of binoculars the wrong way round, claims research performed at Oxford University.

The study, published in Current Biology, reveals how powerfully pain and even swelling can be a product of our mental attitude.

Researchers asked ten people who suffered chronic pain in one arm to move the limb around while looking at it through a pair of binoculars that were either the right or wrong way round.

When they saw their arm magnified to double its size, the patients reported that their levels of pain increased, but when they exercised the arm while watching a minimized image of it through inverted binoculars, their pain levels were cut significantly.

But it was not only their perceived pain levels that changed, says the lead researcher, G. Lorimer Moseley. Their levels of physical swelling in the affected areas were also reduced through using the backwards-binocular trick.

Moseley says he is not sure how this phenomenon works in terms of specific neurons firing, but he believes that the brain changes its protective responses according to its perception of danger levels. "If it looks bigger, it looks sorer, therefore the brain acts to protect it," he explains.

Moseley hopes that the optical-trick discovery will lead to a practical method for lowering pain and trauma levels in hospitals.

In effect, the binocular trick offers a much simpler and cheaper version of a pain-lowering brain-scan method pioneered by American researchers. Scientists at Omneuron, a California-based company, are using a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) machine to treat chronic pain. Patients are placed in the scanner and asked to watch a computer-generated flame projected on the screen of virtual-reality goggles. The flame's intensity reflects the neural activity of regions of the brain involved in the perception of pain.

By concentrating on a variety of mental techniques - such as imagining that a painful area is being flooded with soothing chemicals or marching soldiers - most people can make the flame wane. As the image of the flame wanes, the patient starts to feel less pain.

A 2005 study of eight patients with recalcitrant pain felt their discomfort reduced by as much as 64 per cent by using Omneuron's technology. Christopher deCharms, the chief executive of Omneuron, says, "We believe that people will use real-time fMRI feedback to hone cognitive strategies that will increase activation of brain regions."

He adds that, with practice and repetition, this could lead to "long-term changes in the brain".

Alternatively, of course, pain patients could simply try playing around with an old pair of binoculars.

Wriggly gum

A SUPERGLUE secreted by sand worms may offer a rapid way to repair shattered bones in our faces and limbs, say investigators at Utah University.

They have created a synthetic version of the glue that sandcastle worms secrete in order to build sand and shell fragments into tube-shaped homes that can withstand strong tides.

The developers report, in Macromolecular Biosciences, that they hope the biological glue will be able to fix tricky bone breaks, such as those at the end of joints or in faces. that can't be wired or screwed together

The glue may also carry drugs such as antibiotics, growth enhancers and even stem cells to sites where bone fragments are glued.

Pip, pip, hooray

POMEGRANATE would be a far better superfood if it weren't for the pesky, offputting pith and pips. Now Spanish scientists have invented a high-tech computerised scanner system to separate all the seeds, pips and pulp.

A pomegranate holds 40per cent of our daily vitamin C requirement, and has three times the antioxidant power of red wine or green tea. A pilot study in the International Journal of Impotence Research even reports that pomegranate juice may have beneficial effects on erectile dysfunction.

Now a team of engineers from Valencia's Institute of Agrarian Research has made healthy living easier, using EU money to develop a special machine with computerised vision to distinguish and sort the different parts of this fruit, reports a study published online by the Journal of Food Engineering.

Pure thoughts

WASHING your hands over a problem may really make you less morally judgmental, says a Plymouth University study.

The study asked 40 students to watch a film, then to rate a series of moral dilemmas, such as eating a fellow plane-crash survivor or faking a CV. Half the students were asked to wash their hands after watching the film.

Simone Schnall, the lead researcher, says the students with clean hands made far less severe judgments. She reports in Psychological Science that being cleansed reduced their propensity to respond with disgust: "We think we're making conscious, rational decisions in moral judgments, but are influenced by how clean or pure we feel."

Herbal high

A BOUNTIFUL yet neglected source of MRSA-killing plants has been discovered in the Himalayan hills - fields of wild oregano that the locals call "useless grass".

Bristol-based researchers report that the Himalayan oregano plant is high in an essential compound called carvacol - a powerful antimicrobial that has proved more effective at killing MRSA than 18 antibiotics.

The scientists, from the University of the West of England, say the herb grows wild across Himachal Pradesh and can be harvested without damage. The locals don't eat it and nor do their cattle, but harvesting it could now be lucrative. The project, which has just won a United Nations award for sustainability, aims to use the oregano to make soaps and surface cleaners for use in British hospitals.

Radiator rage

DOES your car tell other road users if you are submissive or dominant? A Florida State University study of 40 drivers has found almost complete agreement over which cars look pushy or a pushover, based on whether their lights, radiators and bonnets are set in a smile or a frown.

The Human Nature report says the consensus reflects how our caveman brains see the road as a human jungle - and we may drive as if it is covered in roaming beasts.

Source

Riddle Me This....

I am about to share something with you all that is somewhat embarrassing, but is something I also find down right hilarious!!

On Christmas day my son, daughter in-law and 4 month old grand-daughter were here. We were all talking when we kept hearing this beeping, it sounded like a cell phone when it warns you the battery needs charging. Well, we searched this house trying to find out where that noise was coming from and was not having any luck. We could tell the sound was coming from the area by the tv, but there was nothing over there that would be making any kind of noise.
Even though we completely perplexed by this, it was time for us to go to my in-laws for lunch.

Now there are 9 of us sitting in the sunroom at my in-laws chit chatting, (not including the baby), when all of a sudden we hear that noise again! ER?? It was coming from where my husband was sitting, so myself, son, and daughter in-law all point at him and say, pretty much at the same time, "It's coming from YOU!!" This completely startled everyone else in the room who had no clue what we were talking about. OOPS! hahahahahaha.

Then we explain it to them and as if on cue, that noise sounded off again. Each and everyone of us began searching for where it could possibly be coming from. We kept saying, "What was in our house that is now in this house?" and there was absolutely nothing except us, and we didn't have anything on us that was causing it.

We were like a crew on a scavenger hunt, searching for an invisible sound. I tell ya, it was hilarious! Every time we would hear it, we would peak our ears, cock our heads, and begin to look where we thought it could have come from. YAY, Party Games!! hahahahaha

Finally, my husband noticed that it was coming from the tv itself. We had the same football game on at our house as they had on there. So now all we had to do is figure out what was causing that noise? Well, every time they put a message up on the screen it would make that noise to get your attention so you would know to read that darn message. Read the message?? It did get our attention though...hahahahaha.

My question to all of you out there that watch football on ESPN is this:

Did you know what that noise was the first time your heard it, and if not, did you go on a scavenger hunt to find it too?

We all felt like a bunch of idiots! But we sure did have a hardy belly laugh over it!!
hahahahahaha

Hope your day was filled with hardy belly laughs as well!

100 Illustrated Relaxation Exercises for Your Mind, Body, and Soul

Hello everyone!

With Christmas tomorrow and all the stress that day brings for many, I wanted to share with you all a website that offers 100 Illustrated Exercises for Your Mind, Body, and Soul so hopefully you will be able to take a few minutes for yourself and de-stress from all the activity of cooking that big dinner; having large amounts of people in your house; from running from one house to another to make sure you celebrate with all family members; from kids screaming, crying, running in and out, and being so full of never-ending energy! =)

There are links to all the illustrated relation exercises which makes it so nice for browsing through the list and finding that perfect one for you!

I encourage you all to go over and take a look at all the options offered, and give at least one a try....you never know, it just might be the answer you have been looking for!!

Wishing each and every one of you a VERY Special Christmas. One that will be remembered for years to come by all!!

~~God Bless!!~~

Click HERE

FDA: Antiepileptics Linked to Increased Risk of Suicidal Thoughts, Behaviour

ROCKVILLE, Maryland --
The US Food and Drug Administration has announced today that it will require the manufacturers of anti epileptic drugs to add to these products' prescribing information, or labeling, a warning that their use increases risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The action includes all anti epileptic drugs including those used to treat psychiatric disorders, migraine headaches, and other conditions, as well as epilepsy.

The FDA is also requiring that the manufacturers submit for each of these products a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy, including a Medication Guide for patients. The guides will contain FDA-approved information about the risks of suicidal thoughts and behaviors associated with the class of anti epileptic medications.

"Patients being treated with anti epileptic drugs for any indication should be monitored for the emergence or worsening of depression, suicidal thoughts or behavior, or any unusual changes in mood or behavior," said Russell Katz, MD, Division of Neurology Products, FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Rockville, Maryland. "Patients who are currently taking an anti epileptic medicine should not make any treatment changes without talking to their health care professional."

Healthcare professionals should notify patients, their families, and caregivers of the potential for an increase in the risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors so that patients may be closely observed.

The FDA's actions are based on the agency's review of 199 clinical trials of 11 anti epileptic drugs which showed that patients receiving anti epileptic drugs had almost twice the risk of suicidal behavior or thoughts (0.43%) compared with patients receiving a placebo (0.24%). This difference was about 1 additional case of suicidal thoughts or behaviors for every 500 patients treated with anti epileptic drugs instead of placebo.

Of the patients who were randomized to receive one of the anti epileptic drugs, 4 committed suicide, whereas none of the patients in the placebo group did.
Results were insufficient for any conclusion to be drawn about the drugs' effects on completed suicides.
The biological reasons for the increase in the risk for suicidal thoughts and behavior observed in patients being treated with anti epileptic drugs are unknown.

Acting under the authorities of the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007 (FDAAA), the FDA is requiring manufacturers of anti epileptic drugs to submit to the agency new labeling within 30 days, or provide a reason why they do not believe such labeling changes are necessary. In cases of non-compliance, FDAAA provides strict time lines for resolving the issue and allows the agency to initiate an enforcement action if necessary.

The following anti epileptic drugs are required to add warnings about the risk of suicidality:

carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Equetro, Tegretol, Tegretol XR); clonazepam (Klonopin); clorazepate (Tranxene); divalproex sodium (Depakote, Depakote ER, Depakene); ethosuximide (Zarontin); ethotoin (Peganone); felbamate (Felbatol); gabapentin (Neurontin); lamotrigine (Lamictal); lacosamide (Vimpat); levetiracetam (Keppra); mephenytoin (Mesantoin); methosuximide (Celontin); oxcarbazepine (Trileptal); phenytoin (Dilantin Suspension); pregabalin (Lyrica); primidone (Mysoline); tiagabine (Gabitril); topiramate (Topamax); trimethadione (Tridione); and zonisamide (Zonegran).
Some of these medications are also available as generics.

Health care professionals and consumers may report serious adverse events or product quality problems with the use of these products to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail, fax or phone.

-- Online : www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm

-- Regular Mail : use postage-paid FDA form 3500 available at: www.fda.gov/MedWatch/getforms.htm and mail to MedWatch, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787
-- Fax: (800) FDA-0178
-- Phone: (800) FDA-1088


SOURCE: US Food and Drug Administration

Suicide Prevention on my Rado Show Today!!

My guest today was Amy Kiel who shared her incredible story of Depression, Fibromyalgia and her own suicide attempt.

Amy still lives with Depression, Fibromyalgia, but she no longer wants to take her own life.
Instead, she is now an Advocate for Suicide Prevention!!



Are You Depressed? Do You Suffer with Chronic Pain or Illness? Have YOU thought about making it all go away..permanently?
Did you know, people with Depression and/or Chronic Pain or Illness are at more risk for suicide attempts and death by suicide?

Did you know:

In the United States alone;

*A person dies by suicide about every 16 minutes. An attempt is estimated to be made once every minute.

*Every day approximately 80 Americans take their own life, and 1,500 more attempt to do so.

*Over 32, 000 people in the US die by suicide every year.

*Over 60% of all people who die by suicide suffer from major depression.

*About 15% of the population will suffer from clinical depression at some time during their lifetime. 30% of all them will attempt suicide, and half of them will ultimately die by suicide.

I invite you all to listen to this inspirational and encouraging show with Important information for anyone who may be thinking there is nothing worth living for!!

Also, please make note of the following phone number and website either for yourself or someone you know and care about.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
www.AFSP.org 800-273-TALK that's 800-273-8255.

Please share this show with everyone you know and care about, because you never know what they may be going through and need to hear about someone else who has traveled the path they are thinking about traveling.

Meet -- "Team RSD" - Racing For Awareness And Research!

Not long ago I came across "Team RSD" because of a comment left on one of my posts. I have to tell you, as soon as I arrived at their website: http://teamrsd.blogspot.com , I was completely impressed!! Not just because of a person being diagnosed with RSD, but because of what that person is doing "DESPITE" of being diagnosed with RSD.

Meet this incredible man; His name is Brian Mehrbrodt and is Owner of "Team RSD".
Since his diagnosis in September 2008 he put together "Team RSD" from Corbin/Dean Racing. The "TEAM RSD" Mustang will be running in the April 2009 Drag Racing Season. "Team RSD" was formed to create awareness of 'RSD' or otherwise known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy.

With the support of his wife, family, friends and generous sponsors, "Team RSD" will be competing in NHRA, NMRA, and in the local drag racing events in 2009.
RSD awareness will be heightened by highly visible graphics on both the Dragsters and Race Trailers.
In addition, Informational Brochures will be distributed at each event. Magnetic Car Ribbons, and Red Bracelets will be available from any Corbin / Dean Racing Crew Member for a small donation. All donations will benefit RSD awareness and research.

At this time due to RSD, Brian will not be involved in the racing activities, but his son, Corbin Mehrbrodt, will be the driver.
Brian will be his son's #1 fan and attending as many races as possible.

As for myself, I know when "Team RSD" comes closer to my area, I will be there and would be so very honored to meet everyone.
I am so very proud of each and every member of this team, and wish them Many of God's Blessings!!

Please visit http://teamrsd.blogspot.com and show your support for all they are doing!!

Status of Stem Cell Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis

About Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Multiple Sclerosis, with an incidence of 100 in 100000 in the US and Europe, is by far the most frequent neurodegenerative disease (1). MS is a chronic, demyelinating disease of the brain and spinal cord -collectively the central nervous system (CNS). Demyelination is a process of gradual destruction of the myelin sheath, that surrounds many of the axons of nerve cells (neurons), leading to axonal injury or loss and consequently severely impaired nerve signals. The disease is named for the multiple scleroses (scars or plaques) that are created on the myelinated axons. A repair mechanism - remyelination of the axons by cells known as oligodendrocytes - takes place in the early phases of disease but the reformed myelin sheaths are thinner and less effective. Repeated attacks lead to fewer effective remyelinations until a scar is built up on the damaged axon. The central nervous system should be able to recruit oligodendrocyte stem cells but something would seem to inhibit stem cells in the affected areas.



Electronmicrograph showing branched oligodendrocytes with processes extending to several underlying axons

One oligodendrocyte wraps myelin around axons of several neurons




It is generally accepted that MS is an inflammatory autoimmune disease- whereby an individual’s own immune response attacks the nervous system. Certain viruses, bacteria, stress and genetics have been implicated in disease manifestations. MS causes a variety of symptoms depending on where in the CNS the multiple lesions occur. Also,neurological deficits are progressively accumulated. In any individual there may be several complicating factors affecting the unpredictable course of the disease - there may be times of dormancy or times when there is steady progression.

The disease is categorized by several subtypes:

Relapsing remitting MS: unpredictable relapses (attacks) followed by months to years of remission. Effects of attacks may either resolve or may be permanent.

Secondary progressive MS: characterized by neurologic decline between attacks without periods of remission. Most common type of MS and causes most disability.

Primary progressive MS: decline occurs continuously without clear attacks, no remission.

Progressive relapsing MS: steady neurologic decline from onset,patients suffer superimposed attacks. Least common.

While MS does not currently have a cure, there are several treatments available for moderating the symptoms and for managing the various consequences of attacks. The currently approved treatments are aimed at returning function after an attack and preventing disability.

MS Treatment Objectives - the way forward: A Role for Stem Cells

During multiple relapses in the course of MS, oligodendrocytes and their progenitors are lost(2) and the nervous system has only limited capacity to recover from this extensive neuronal or glial damage. This is partly due to the formation of barriers, known as "glial" scars,which are triggered by the body to protect the injured nerve tissue from further injury. This dense scar tissue throws up a blockade to foreign cells, including transplants meant to heal and regenerate(group at Harvard medical school). There is evidence, however, that the adult CNS retains populations of cells with stem cell-like properties that have extensive proliferative capacity (3).

The challenge for current medical therapies appears to be remyelinating chronically demyelinated axons. Two distinct approaches can be considered to promote myelin repair; in one the endogenous myelin repair processes are stimulated through the delivery of growth factors,and in the second the repair process are augmented through the delivery of exogenous cells with myelination potential. Also, the effective treatment of MS requires modulation of the immune system, since demyelination is associated with specific immunological activation (4).

Karussis and kassis (Sept 2007) described how different stem cells migrate to areas of white matter lesions (plaques) and have the potential to support local neurogenesis and rebuilding of the affected myelin – believed to be achieved by support of the resident CNS stem cells and by differentiation of the transplanted cells into neurons and myelin-producing oligodendrocytes. These stem cells were also shown to possess immunomodulating properties.

Several types of stem cells (discussed later in this article) having the capacity for promoting myelin repair, as well as modulating the immune response, are potential candidates for MS therapy.


Stem cell transplantation for treating MS: current developments (as at 2007)

Many inflammatory diseases are diffuse and widespread. However,intravenous injection has been demonstrated as an appropriate means of diffuse delivery of stem cells with the possibility of targeting; the problem for distribution to other tissues or organs still need sevaluation (1,5).

Neural stem cells: Many different cell types, including neural stem cells and precursors,have been suggested as candidate cells for therapy. There are however complexities in obtaining neural stem cells from the adult CNS. A group from the University of California, San Francisco published their findings in The Scientist (July 2007) cautioning against the notion that neural stem cells can generate any type of neuron. This group predict difficulties in using adult neural stem cells to treat neurological disease, although it remains possible that scientists could manipulate neural stem cells in vitro to make them more flexible.

Bone marrow stem cells: As early as the year 2000 adult bone marrow cells were shown to have the capacity to differentiate to oligodendroglial cells indicating their potential for treating demyelinating diseases (6). At the same time, a phase II trial using auto logous bone marrow stem cell transplantation to treat 85 patients for progressive MS was conducted in 20 European centers. Neurological improvement was seen in 21% of patients; confirmed progression-free survival was seen in 74% of patients at 3 years; disease progression occurred in 20%.

Additionally,it was reported that auto logous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation can regenerate a tolerant immune system and is a potentially effective rescue therapy in a subset of patients with aggressive forms of MS refractory to approved immunomodulatory and immuno suppressive agents (7). Cassiani-Ingoni and fellow investigators,suggest that bone marrow transplantation can suppress inflammatory disease in a majority of MS patients, but retards clinical progression only in patients treated in the early stages of the disease (8).

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs):[Mesenchymal cells are non-haematopoieic stem cells derived from marrow or umbilical cord, the more appropriate terminology is multipotentstromal cell yet MSC still persists in the literature] Emerging evidence suggests that mesenchymal stem cells may have the capacity to generate cells with the characteristics of neurons and glia and consequently promote repair in the injured CNS. How mesenchymal stem cells affect functional recovery in the damaged adult CNS is not well understood. Possibly the transplanted multipotent cells migrate to the injury sites, proliferate, and then differentiate into the appropriate neural cells that then effect repair. Although mesenchymal stem cell shave a high survival and migration potential, the proportion that can be directed towards a neural fate appears to be relatively small. It may be that MSCs, through the release of soluble signals in areas of injury, have a direct influence on the endogenous neural stem cells to promote repair through neuro- and oligodendrogenesis (3).

Mesenchymal cells can also exert immunomodulatory effects by inducing suppression of the autoimmune myelin-targeting lymphocytes. MSCs harvested from bone marrow can be obtained from the donor patient him/herself, thereby reducing the risk for developing malignancies. It has been mooted that these cells offer significant practical advantages over other types of stem cells(5,9).

CD34+ cells:CD34+ cells are multipotent haematopoietic stem cell found in bone marrow and umbilical cord blood. These stem cells are reportedly capable of transforming into neuro protective glia and myelin-producing oligodendrocytes (10). A proposed advantage of umbilical cord CD34+stem cell transplantation is that, when administered without additional medications and powerful immune suppressants, virtually no side effects are evident

(10). Stem Cell Therapy – cause for optimism:
Significant advances have been made in researching the therapeutic potential of stem cells for neuro degenerative diseases and there are already several facilities offering stem cell treatments! Transplanting cells into focal MS lesions may be the ultimate therapeutic approach,and clinical trials may be the way to determine whether exogenous stem cells are able to survive, differentiate and myelinate axons in plaques (2). While the current number of stem cell-based clinical trials for demyelinating diseases is limited, this is likely to increase significantly in the next few years (4).

References

1. Magnus, Rao et al. Neural stem cells in inflammatory CNS diseases:mechanisms and therapy J. Cell. Mol. Med. (2005) 9:2 303-319
2. Duncan I Replacing cells in multiple sclerosis J.Neurol.Sci. Jun 2007 (epub ahead of print)
3. Bai, Caplan, Lennon & Miller Human Mesenchymal Stem CellsSignals Regulate Neural Stem Cell Fate Neurochem Res (2007) 32:353–362
4. Miller & Bai. Cellular approaches for stimulating CNSremyelination Regenerative medicine 2007 Sept 2 (5) 817-829
5. Karussis, Kassis, Basan, Slavin. Immunomodulation andneuroprotection with mesenchymal bone marrow stem cells: a proposedtreatment for MS J.Neurol.Sci 2007 July (epub ahead of print)
6. Bonilla, Alarcon, Villaverde et al Eur J Neurosci 2002 15(3) 575-582.
7. Muraro, Bielekova Emerging therapies for MS,. Neurotherapeutics 2007 Oct 4(4) 676-692
8. Cassiani-Ingoni, Muraro, Magnus et al. Disease progression in amodel of MS J.Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2007 Jul 66(7);637-49
9. Karussis & Kassis. Use of stem cells for the treatment of MSExpert Review of eurotherapeutics 2007Sept: 7(9) 1189-1201
10. Steenblock, D - www.stemcelltherapies.org electron micrograph from http://neurophilosophy.wordpress.com

www.stemcells21.com/stem_cell_therapy_for_multiple_sclerosis.asp

Stop and Remember

When you are tempted to stray off track, stop and take a moment to consider where you're going. Remember why you originally began traveling the path you're on.

When the many distractions of life put you in danger of losing focus, stop and give yourself an opportunity to regain clarity. Remember the depth of passion with which you first started your journey.

When it seems that nothing is going your way, stop and make some time to adjust your perspective. Recall how far you've already come, and remind yourself that positive actions will indeed have positive, valuable results.

When you find that you've grown weary, stop and give yourself a real, refreshing, well-deserved break. Then you can jump back into the effort with a renewed vigor and sense of purpose.

When you feel that you've lost faith in the goodness of life, stop and look around you. Offer your genuine help to someone in need, and you'll find that your heart is soon being healed.

When you find yourself too caught up in the frustrations that surround you, stop and remember the treasures you value most deeply. And you'll reconnect to the incredible abundance that is your life.

Are YOU Staying In Control??

Compared to most endeavors, controlling yourself is relatively simple and easy. And when you're able to control your own thoughts, words and actions, there is no limit to what you can accomplish.

To control yourself requires no other person's permission, cooperation or assistance.
To control yourself requires no special knowledge, skill or equipment.

What it does require is a compelling reason. When the reason why is meaningful enough, you will have no trouble finding the will and the means to control your own life.

That's why it is so important to have a clear sense of where you intend to go and why. Connecting with your purpose will keep you in control, and staying in control will carry you to achievement.

There is a purpose within you that is stronger than the temptations and distractions. There is a solid, meaningful reason that will compel you to carefully and effectively control all that you do.

The more fully you know and express that purpose, the more surely and reliably you'll be in control. And the more completely you exercise control over yourself, the higher your life will rise.

This Powerful Moment....

There is enormous power in this moment. The more fully you experience what is here right now, the more that power is available to you.

Are you angry or bitter, disappointed or resentful about what has happened in the past? Then much of the power of this moment will be out of your reach.

Are you anxious and worried about something that may or may not happen in the future? Then you will miss out on the opportunity to create real and lasting value from this powerful moment you are in.

Imagine that everything you are, everything you know, everything you care about, is focused into this very moment. And feel the enormous power of what you can, right here and now, do with it all.

Rise above the murky fog of what could have been and what someday might or might not come to pass. Focus the whole of your being on what is, and on the overflowing abundant opportunities this moment presents to you.

There is great and wonderful power in this very moment, in who you are, in where you are right now. See it, be it, and let yourself live it fully.