<![CDATA[LT Copywriting - Mind and Body]]>

<![CDATA[LT Copywriting - Mind and Body]]>Thu, 22 Aug 2024 13:52:09 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Top 11 words in the English Language]]>Thu, 01 May 2014 19:08:05 GMThttp://ltanswers.com/mind-and-body/top-11-words-in-the-english-language

Growing up in a small town in Pennsylvania. There was never much to do.

In this abyss, I found my love of reading.

If you found me, I would be reading two books at the same time. One thick book that was way above my reading range, and two, a dictionary to figure out all the new words I didn’t understand.

Delving deep into the words to find their true meanings led me to what I do today.

In fact, I have always enjoyed words and really enjoy bringing new words into my repertoire.

But in my travels, there are certain words that just feel right. Words that after you hear them for the first time, tickle your funny-bone and ring in your ears. Like they were meant for you.

Of the many words I have fallen in love with over the years, these are my TOP 11.

11. Doggedness - strength of purpose, tirelessness, resolve, patience, and stubbornness.

This word has always had a deep meaning to me. It would be one of the prime words I would use to describe myself. The meaning as well as the word itself just sits right with me.

Having the fire in your belly, the spark in your soul, the drive to move forward over all adversity. Meeting the costs, and enabling yourself to sacrifice.

That man has doggedness.

10. Opaque – murky, non-transparent, and cannot be seen through

This word is here for more its artistic sound rather than its meaning. It is a unique word, and its sound is a rarity in and of itself.

This word reminds me of the future, an abyss, and the fog of war. The future is clear as mud, an abyss is so vast you can’t see anything, and the fog of war is the known unknown.

Opaque describes these situations perfectly. The future is opaque and is just unpredictable. The abyss is opaque because they overpower the ability of my sight. The fog of war is opaque because I know what could be out there, but what truly is, is a mystery.

9.   Hewn / Strewn – to chop / to scatter disorderly around

These words hit me the same because of the way they unfurl. With a strong beginning and ending in a humble “ewn”.

While I say or think of the word hewn, I can’t help but just imagine an axe chopping into a tree. Strewn is very much the same as it immediately brings to mind of things being thrown about all willy-nilly. These words are imagery words, and easily draws the image inside your imagination.

These words are always my favorite in their ability to describe in detail.

8. Epiphany – a sudden moment of eureka, an insight into the reality of something

That moment of truth where the lines go on fire and everything connects. You know exactly what is going on, what you’re going to do, and how you need to make it work.

I have epiphanies all of time as the proverbial apple falls from the tree. It has a special place in my heart for being some of the most important but fleeting moments of my life. While mulling over things and it finally comes to you. It feels like rejuvenation of the mind and soul.

7. Chaos – compete disorder and confusion

Chaos has made the list due to its sound and position as the entity we combat every day.

Not only is it a very melodic word, it represents the disorder we experience in our daily lives. The confusion we have as feet get ahead of our head and vice versa. And the battle we take every day to try to comprehend and bring order and understanding to chaos.

6. Gumption – shrewd, resourceful, and has guts

I have always enjoyed this word as it relates to one of my favorite turns of phrase.

“They got GUTS.”

“Nerves of Steel.”

“Will-Power for days.”

            And…

“Cunning like a Fox.”

“Shrewd like a Shrew.”

“Vulpine like a Vulture.”

“They could escape Alcatraz with a spoon and shoe string.”

Gumption represents my three favorite personality traits of acumen (being strategic), resourcefulness (success with less), and mettle (intestinal fortitude).

5. Pragmatic – pertaining to a practical point of view and due diligence

This word is as genuine as it is enigmatic.

Emphasizing a logical viewpoint with a healthy dose of skepticism.

Using this mindset to develop due diligence and ensure the soundness of plans, actions, and YOUR life.

4. Ravenous – extremely hungry; famished; voracious: intensely eager for gratification or satisfaction.

Ravenous has always been my favorite because of it represents the temptations and the hunger everyone gets in living and surviving.

It is the most exemplifying of the words in describing the spectrum of human emotions.

3. Blithe – joyous, merry, or glad; cheerful: and without thought or regard; carefree; heedless

Blithe is my favorite word for describing frolicking in the Elysian Fields. I always preferred it compared with bliss.

It is simply the sound it makes is divine. It is a sound you rarely get to make in the English language.

2. Industrious - working energetically and devotedly; hard-working; diligent

Having always been a hard worker, with the pride of the calluses I have developed over the years on my hands and feet. This word illustrates perfectly the toil of work. From the back-breaking to the mind-numbing sedentary.

It is the one of the three words I would use to describe myself along with doggedness and gumption.

1. Paradox –

a. A statement, person, thing, or situation that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.

b. An opinion or statement contrary to commonly accepted opinion.

This is by far my favorite word ever uttered.

I have had a strange fascination with this word from a very young age and have only fallen more and more for it from then.

To me, it’s a word that emphasizes the epitome of life. A life full of contradictions, gray areas, and cognitive dissonance.

This word highlights those parts of our lives where we make life-defining choices that express who we really are and what we really hold dear.

Closing

And there you have it, my top 11 favorite words in the English language.

Many are epic.

But I chose them as they describe the epitomes of life in the most beautiful way. The most elegant way.

Born in a world of chaos with many things we don't understand.
Strewn with temptations and the ravenous hunger driving us.
A world of paradox that leaves us in the gray, opaque.

However. Lightning strikes. An epiphany occurs.
Turning the tide with the strength of our doggedness, a pragmatic mind, and a little gumption.
Living and breathing industriously to make for the better.
All the while, living blithely.

What are your Favorite Words?

The THREE Epic Words you would use to describe yourself?

And Don't Forget to Share!

]]><![CDATA[1 College Tip to Rule Them ALL]]>Thu, 13 Mar 2014 18:29:01 GMThttp://ltanswers.com/mind-and-body/1-college-tip-to-rule-them-allOf all the things I wish I would have known before leaving for college…

There is only ONE, I wish I would have had figured out before I got there.

What I wanted to do with my life.

It wasn't until AFTER flunking out of art college did I understand what I wanted.

For my tip, write down a list of the ten things you want to do with your life, and rank them. Once you establish your top 3, just eliminate the rest.

Once you know exactly what you want to do, research the job market for current jobs, but more importantly growing jobs that will allow you to accomplish the top 3 things on your list.

This will allow you to identify what you want to do, and the jobs to look for to get you there.

My top 3 were:

1.       Start a Business (Ended up with a Business Degree and am now a Proud Owner of a Small Business)

2.       Travel (I studied abroad, am going to Taiwan to learn Chinese, and grow my business contacts.)

3.       Become an International Businessman. (See 1 And 2)

Having realized what I wanted was so helpful in building my college career around it.

Prioritizing your Inner Ambitions

In fact, this concept of prioritizing is useful in boiling down what you truly think and feel.

The ability to identify what you want allows you to have an anchor to build your life plans around.

Because once you find what you want, everything else begins to get trapped in the gravity of your desire and passion.

So next time you want to narrow down your decisions and thoughts. Just list what you truly want and rank them down until you know exactly.

Two techniques:

1.       Word Descriptions - Write the words or themes that describe what you want represented…

a.       Great for Branding – 5 Words to describe your brand

                                                                i.      Simple

                                                               ii.      Elegant

                                                             iii.      Eye-Catching

                                                             iv.      Substance

                                                              v.      Real

b.      With these words, it will be easy to build your marketing message and brand

2.       Ranking List - Write the top things that will help accomplish your goal…

a.       Great to find out what is useful in getting things done – Top 4 skills I need to be successful

i.      Unwavering Mindset fueled by High Self Esteem

ii.      Public Speaking

iii.      Social Skills

iv.      Technical Skills you can sell (WordPress, Writing, etc.)

Have your own tip you wish you would have known before going to college?

Then share with us!

]]><![CDATA[Top 3 Benefits to the New Frontier of Exercise?]]>Thu, 27 Feb 2014 18:13:15 GMThttp://ltanswers.com/mind-and-body/top-3-benefits-to-the-new-frontier-of-exercise

Yoga: The new frontier.

Yoga is the new light exercise regimen replacing those workouts of old with their box steps ups and karate kicks. Growing rapidly with women as well as with men, due to its many health benefits, the relaxed social environment, and the fact nearly everyone can do it. Of the health benefits, the most notable are an overall improvement in fitness, management of chronic conditions, and stress reduction.

Yoga improves your fitness as well as keeps your body in working order by adjusting your posture, improving the way you sit and walk. It develops your strength and flexibility making you faster, stronger, and more structurally sound. It supports your joints and bones by extending them through their full range of motion. Limbering you up for your daily activity.

Yoga allows you to manage chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, disease, and pain. It promotes blood circulation allowing nutrients to reach every part of your body. This reduces soreness after workouts and long days at work. For dieses prevention it activates your immune system inhibiting illness and disease. For pain, yoga works the nervous system to eliminate aches.

Yoga reduces stress, keeping your mind strong by alleviating depression, chronic stress, and providing an overall sense of well-being. It reduces stress by resettles your mind through deep breathing and meditation, giving you that break you need to refocus. It activates your own body’s natural chemicals and reactions to prevent depression and balance your mind for a sense of well-being.

The best part is that you will feel more and more of these health benefit the longer you do yoga. Even if you are a casual exerciser or a trained athlete, you can benefit from yoga, as it is sure-fire way to maintain your body and mind. Thus, Yoga is the new frontier to promote a healthier and happier life.

What do you do to stay healthy?

]]><![CDATA[1 way to workout anywhere....]]>Thu, 13 Feb 2014 22:50:55 GMThttp://ltanswers.com/mind-and-body/one-way-to-workout-anywhereQuestion.

Have you found yourself at the gym with your favorite machines broken or with a lineup of people extending from it?

Have you been unable to make it to your gym, was stuck with a lighter gym with less equipment than you’re used to, or even worse no gym?

This has happened to me more than I care to say with all the traveling I do and my hectic schedule.

In facing this problem of not having access to the equipment I want, I found a system to get the workout I need from anywhere including the office, at home, while on travel, and even in places with no equipment at all like nature.

What exactly do I do to maintain my fitness anywhere?

It’s quite simple really. Rather than revolving my workouts around a set type of exercises. I revolve my entire workout around the upper or lower body and the muscle groups in those sections.

For example, in the upper body, you have your abdominals, chest, shoulders, biceps, triceps, lower back, and upper back. And in the lower body, you have your calves, gluteus, hamstrings, abdominals, quadriceps, and hips.

The Muscle Groups

By knowing these muscles groups intimately and having the right order to work them in. You can easily find the machines in a new gym to work those muscle groups. And if you think you’re up to it, you can work out anywhere by simply knowing a few bodyweight exercises for those muscle groups.

And when you become advanced enough, you can even move the order of the muscle groups to get the best workout for you, but for starters take it easy, follow the pattern, and don’t do too much. Because the pattern is designed for continuous exercising and has no break by working opposite muscle groups of the body to refrain from causing yourself injury.

The System

Using the system below you can work out no matter you where go. On the left side you have the individual muscle groups that you need to work out for a full upper and lower body workout. Going along the top of the table is the bodyweight, dumbbell/kettlebell, and cable/machine exercises you can do to work that muscle group.

Workout Example

For example, once you’re done with shoulders by doing 3 sets of kettlebell sumo press, you can go into the machine preacher curl to work your biceps. Once you’re done with biceps, you work into your chest with chest dips, and so on and so forth until you go through the entire table.

Once you’re done, you can repeat the table with a new exercise until you feel you have reached your max, which is usually reached within .5 to 2 hours depending your your current fitness level.

Conclusion

And an anywhere, anytime workout program, simply follow the body-weight only exercises, and use dumbbell-type items, available to you to do the DB/KB exercises. For even more options, you can bring bands with you.

Now, you can print this and follow the examples, or simply remember the pattern Shoulders, Biceps, Chest, Lower back, Triceps, Abdominals, and Upper back for an upper body workout. And Calves, Gluteus, Hamstrings, Abdominals, Quadriceps, and Hips for your lower body workouts.

This will allow you to maintain your fitness wherever you go.

]]><![CDATA[Are you being defeated by distractions?]]>Wed, 18 Dec 2013 23:03:53 GMThttp://ltanswers.com/mind-and-body/are-you-being-defeated-by-distractions

Have you ever been working on an assignment when… *BAM*… you find yourself on Facebook whittling away the few hours you had to write it?

Yes?

Of course you have, even the President] has found himself distracted by the entertaining things in life.

The real question is: How do you avoid it? How do you keep yourself from watching that twentieth video on YouTube? From playing video games with your best friends?

What do you need to keep the distractions at bay?

You need a plan and a strategy

Thinking ahead is a good place to start in finding not only what distracts you, but why. Understanding why is important. Learning to spot out when you’re being distracted and understanding why, makes it easy to find your distractions, plan for them, and implement a strategy to defeat them.

Why do you respond to texts, calls, and Facebook while you study?

Because the phone beeps every time I get a message, and Facebook is always open in my browser.

Limiting your technology. To defeat those nagging blinks and bloops by turning your cell phone off, shutting the internet down on your computer, and closing all unnecessary programs. Keeping them out for good.

Why do you end up hanging out with friends when trying to research for a project?

Because their always coming over to see what I am doing.

Managing your space and time. Keep your friends and family from barging in every ten minutes by telling them that you are taking a few hours today to finish your work. There will be plenty of time later to hang out. And put on the finishing touches with a closed to signify you are busy and need time to work.

Why do I play video games while I try to study in my room?

Because they are visible from where I sit, enticing me to play when I am bored.

Simply finding a place away from distractions with peace and quiet is the sometimes the best thing you can do. A place perfect for setting the work atmosphere and away from it all. Stopping those pesky video games from staring you down from across the room. Here’s looking at you Xbox One…

Why do you avoid studying in the first place?

Because there are irritating parts I just don’t want to do and keep putting off.

Doing the irritating things first to get them out of the way or doing the easy things first to get you motivated for the hard parts. By spotting what irritates you and outlining what you need to do, can smooth out the rough patches to make the assignment easy and painless. Making avoiding your studies into defeating your studies.

But what do with all that pent up tension after completing your assignment and keeping your distractions at bay?

You indulge yourself of course. You use those distractions as the best reward you ever received because you got your work done and you deserve it.

]]><![CDATA[Need to Remember?]]>Sun, 15 Dec 2013 20:19:52 GMThttp://ltanswers.com/mind-and-body/need-to-rememberTrying to remember terms for your class or job?

Then do I have the study hack for you.

This hack works in a systematic way to guarantee you remember your terms, but also cut down on time by eliminating terms you have already mastered.

To start, make 3-4 piles for your flash cards depending on how long you need them for. Each pile is given a time dimension of Daily, Weekly, Monthly, and Yearly (Used for Foreign Language).

Have all flash cards in the daily pile until you begin to cement them into your memory. Once you hit the point where you remember the flash card without even needing to check the back, you move them to the weekly pile where you look them over only once a week. Once they are cemented into your mind from the weekly pile, you move them to the monthly pile where you only look them over once a month. And you continue this until they are embedded in your memory for forever.

This is an effective strategy to know what you need to know in the most efficient and productive way possible.

]]><![CDATA[Ask for $100’s and $50’s]]>Sun, 15 Dec 2013 20:18:42 GMThttp://ltanswers.com/mind-and-body/ask-for-100s-and-50sWhen you cash your check or take money out of the bank or ATM. Try to get $50’s or $100 dollar bills. This is because psychologically, people do not like to break bills higher than $20.

This comes from the fact that most people either don’t like the extra bills or they see a higher value in a hundred dollar bill and find it harder to give it up.

The credit and debit card version of this is to keep your accounts low or have a cap that you can’t exceed per day. This will make it seem like too much work to constantly transfer.

Using these techniques and making it into a habit will help curb those compulsive buys and help you save a little change in the process. ]]><![CDATA[Things You Might Be Doing Wrong]]>Fri, 15 Nov 2013 03:51:00 GMThttp://ltanswers.com/mind-and-body/things-you-might-be-doing-wrongHave you ever felt like you don’t understand the things you do? Felt like if you stopped doing certain things and started doing certain other things, you’d be so much happier?

If your unsure, here is an easy-to-use, Self Development tool for understanding just that. With it, you will know exactly what you do and be able to figure out if it’s worth doing.

This simple tool is known as an Actions Audit. It’s a simple list of the actions you take in your life on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis with the positives and negatives that action has on your life.

Here is a template that goes into detail of how it works:

Actions Audit

1. Put the name of the act here

Pros – put the positives of doing the act
Cons – put the negatives of doing the act
Improves – Put if it’s worth continuing the act or how to improve on the cons of the act

Here are a few examples:

1. Exercise

Pros- Improve Fitness, Health, and Body
Cons – Excessive time consumption
Improves – Find ways to exercise at home to decrease time consumption

2. Going out on the weekends

Pros- socialize with my friends, meet new people, and feel good
Cons- spend too much money on over-priced food and drinks, never hear from the people I meet again, break my diet and training habits, and feel terrible the next morning
Improves – Stop drinking and focus on finding other ways to meet new people and hangout with my friends

3. Academics

Pros – Increase Career Potential, Improve Mind
Cons – Time Consumption
Improves – Invest in new study methods to cut study time down

By just writing down these three things I do on a weekly basis, I have found that I can maintain my academics and exercise as they supplement my life goals. On the other hand, I found that going out to party on the weekends is not helping me and is detrimental to the very things I want to accomplish.

With this simple tool, you can easily do the same by refocusing your perspective on the things you do, and understand yourself and your life a lot better.

]]><![CDATA[How to form, maintain, and maximize your habits for Success.]]>Mon, 11 Nov 2013 22:07:59 GMThttp://ltanswers.com/mind-and-body/how-to-form-maintain-and-maximize-your-habits-for-success

You are your habits. Everything in your life from success to happiness is a summation of your habits. Therefore, to be successful is to have successful habits.

When looking at how habits form, they follow a three stage pattern, called the Bliss, the Struggle, and the Acknowledgement.

Stage 1: THE BLISS

This stage is known for the bliss you feel when you’re motivated to change your life. This is the most important stage as your motivation is highest to prepare the foundation to change.

The most important part of this phase is setting Reminders to trigger your new behavior. This can be alarms on your phone that go off when you want to do your new habit or combining your old habits with a new habit (For example, by putting your razor on top of your tooth brush will remind you to shave every morning). To institute this changes, you must schedule your reminders into you’re planner to make it a part of your routine.

Reminder (the trigger that initiates the behavior) – A good reminder such as an alarm clock on your phone, a posted note on wallet, or a timer app that keeps you moving (Timers4me Application)

Routine (the behavior itself; the action you take) – institute the reminders into a written schedule or phone schedule

Stage 2: THE STRUGGLE

This phase is where most people quit their new habit due to having a poor foundation, missing their triggers, and having a fall-out of motivation.

A few techniques to help you in this stage are Recognition, Self-Talk, and the Reward.

Recognition – Recognizing that you are struggling to uphold your habit and need to stay on track by using self-talk and rewards.

Self-Talk – Telling yourself to stay motivated by using positive criticism (I can do this), creating a rival (I can do better than them), or having a goal (If I do this, I will be successful and accomplish my dreams.)

Reward – Giving yourself a reward when you maintain your habit (I ate healthy all week and I deserve one piece of chocolate cake.)

Reward (the benefit you gain from doing the behavior) – start small and build gradually instilling small victories along the way to that ultimate victory

Stage 3: THE ACKNOWLEDEMENT

In this stage, you acknowledge your habit as second nature. However, problems can overrun your new habit causing a relapse.

What to look out for:

DISCOURAGEMENT: Moments of weakness where you feel the habit isn’t working or isn’t delivering the results you want.

DISTRACTIONS: Detracts your focus from forming the habits you want by taking you out of your routine. (Emails, Texts, Social Media, etc.)

SATISFACTION: Being satisfied can stop you from maximizing your habits potential as you stop focusing on the things that made you successful in the first place.

Tips for Habit Formation:

Forming new habits is easiest when you are in a new setting such as a new apartment or while on vacation because all your old triggers to your old habits are gone. This lets you start fresh and build new habits that you can carry on into your daily life.

The best way I know to discover a good reminder for your new habit is to write down two lists. In the first list, write down your habits chronologically that you do every day that you can combine new habits with.

1.       Wake up

2.       Weigh Yourself

3.       Make coffee

4.       Make Breakfast

5.       Brush teeth

6.       Drive your car

7.       Check the mail

In the second list, write down things that happen to you each day that can be used as triggers for a new habit.

1.       A commercial comes on

2.       Getting a text message

3.       Getting an email

4.       A song ends

5.       Stopping at a red-light

This gives you a wide range of things that you already do and already respond to each day that are perfect reminders for new habits.

Works Cited

Duhigg, Charles. The Power of Habit Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business. New York.: Random House, 2012. PDF.

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