Are you embarrassed to recite in class because you might give the wrong answer? Are you ashamed to share your ideas in a group？If you find yourself being shy about a lot of things, you need to understand that being shy is a very big obstacle(障碍) to one's success.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    First of all, you need to discover and understand the causes of your shyness.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} One of the biggest reasons why people are shy is that they were branded as a shy person. Because you heard it over and over, you believed it and thought it is true. If this is the cause, you need to stop this in your mind.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    One way to stop your shyness in your mind is to focus less on your weakness.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}We all have our own unique strength. So if speaking in front of many people isn't your strength, that's okay. Maybe the strength you're given is in writing. And if you think there still a lot for you to improve on your strengths and talents, that's okay too.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. All you need to do is spending time training yourself to be a master in your strengths.

B. You need to dig deep and get to the roots of your shyness.

C. Then try to replace it with positive things in your life.

D. When you doubt yourself, others will doubt you.

E. The good thing is that you can overcome it.

F. Stay fearless in everything you will have to do.

G. Instead, focus more on your strength.

    Four Habits to Help you Succeed

    We all want to succeed, whether it's in losing weight or learning the guitar. For those who have tried and failed, success seems difficult to understand. Why does one person succeed while another person fails?{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    ⒈ Identify your core values.

    Finding your core values is in line with (符合) creating inner motivation.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Pick a handful of things and actually write them down. Remind yourself of your values every day, and reflect on whether you are honoring those values through your work.

    ⒉ Pick a goal and focus on it.

    Choose one goal to start something large enough that will give you a sense of accomplishment, while adjusting well to your core values. Focus is key here.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}If you perform many tasks at a time, you might never complete your projects because they will take far too long.

    ⒊ Set a deadline for success.

    Set a date for success. Identify when you hope to achieve your goal.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} By setting a time limit, you are making the process more real.

    ⒋ {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Failure can't be avoided when you take risks. By its very definition, the desire to succeed means you are risking failure. Many people tend to give up far too early. Don't fail into this trap! Remember your mindset earlier. Know it will happen. A failure is only you working out the details, and learning what works and what doesn't. Use failure. Treat it as a good thing, and march on!

A. Stick to your goal.

B. Make the right decision.

C. Sit and reflect on what you value most.

D. Keep it realistic, while not giving you too much time.

E. I've made a list of four habits to help you set goals and achieve them.

F. The more focused you are on one goal, the higher chance you have of success.

G. Push yourself to be courageous, and take that next step.

How to Recognize a True Friend

Sometimes it can be hard to recognize a true friend. Hopefully this article will help you recognize which friends are the keepers.

Be able to trust your friends. You should be able to trust true friends and they should return this trust. Do your friends tell you secrets that no one else knows? Ask you for advice? {#blank#}1{#/blank#} However, if your friends hide things from you and act secretly, then this is a sign that they may not trust you.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Think about it. How comfortable are your friends when they are around you? Are they being themselves around you? Are they acting fake or perhaps hiding something? True friendships can take a while to develop, but if your friends are true they should feel comfortable around you, and vice versa (You with them)

Think about loyalty(忠诚). {#blank#}3{#/blank#} If you are in need of a helping hand, your true friends should be there to offer it to you. True friends don't try to get one another into trouble. A true friend will always be loyal to you and will not reveal secrets.

    Think about nicknames. A lot of true friends love to give each other nicknames！ If your friend is giving you nicknames, then this is a great sign. Think of the nickname your friend has given you, does it suit you well? {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

Look at how you fight. Nearly all best friends fight. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} True friends will find their way through a fight, no matter what the size is. True friends will remain “faithful” to each other even during a fight. They will not tell each others' secrets, and they still care about each other.

A. Consider comfort.

B. Choose your friends carefully.

C. True friends are always there for one another.

D. Both are sure signs that your friend trusts you.

E. If so, this shows your friend must know you quite well.

F. So if you and your friend have a little argument, don't worry!

G. An inside joke shows that you share a special connection with your friend.

    Now let's discuss something about people's habits.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Some of them are good ones, but some of them may be bad ones. Can you remember any of the bad habits you used to have when you were very young? {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Of course, you do not do that anymore, but you can surely remember your mother's efforts to train you. The good habits you now have in such matters as personal cleanliness were part of this early training.

    We may not suck our thumbs any more, but as we get older we get other bad habits. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Anyone who has tried to give up smoking knows this very well! {#blank#}4{#/blank#} In babyhood, it's thumbsucking, In childhood, it's nail-biting. In our teens, it's smoking, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} And if anyone tells you that he has no bad habits, you can be sure that he must have the worst habit of all. Isn't that true?

A. We can't give them up easily, either.

B Each period brings its own problems.

C. Generally speaking, a boy likes biting nails.

D. Everyone has his or her own habits.

E. We benefit from our friends, kind help.

F. In middle-age, it's over-eating, and so on.

G. Perhaps, as a baby, you used to suck your thumb (拇指).

    How to Find Something You Like to Do

    Finding something you enjoy doing can improve the quality of your life and reduce your stress levels.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} It can also help you make friends or even provide a purpose in your life. Then how can you find something you like to do?

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Some hobbies, such as albums and gardening, can take up a lot of time. Other hobbies, such as video games or reading, can be done at your own pace and do not require any extended time.

    Research the hobby or activity you would like to get involved in. Find out how much time and money you will need to devote to starting and continuing the activity. For example, some sports—related interests might require special equipment. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Your local library or phone book should also have information on hobbies and activities in your area.

    Talk with other people who are involved in some of the activities you are interested in.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Ask if you could tag along(跟随) to a meeting or spend some time with this person while he is involved in his hobby to see if it is something you would enjoy.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Challenge yourself to try a new activity you are interested in for a week or so. Allow yourself to learn about the hobby and determine whether you will enjoy the activity or not.

A.Think about how a hobby benefits you.

B.A hobby can connect you with other people.

C.Take a chance on a hobby and see how it turns out.

D.Think about how much free time you can devote to a hobby.

E.You can find information about hobbies and interests on Find My Hobby's website.

F.You can get first—hand knowledge by interviewing someone about a particular hobby.

G.It takes a long time and energy to decide whether a particular hobby is right for you.

The power of work stress

    Many experts believe that stress can strengthen you or tear you down. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} The followings are suggested to perform better under pressure.

Give stress a good name.

    Why hate work stress—it's a sign that our career is advancing. Think of a heavy work load as an exciting opportunity to push yourself. Don't complain about it. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} 

Alternate(交替) tasks.

    Spending an entire day or week on a single project increases your anxiety without improving your productivity. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} You need to create your working patterns to recharge. Every 60 to 90 minutes, take a break from your primary activity and do something different for 15 minutes.

Refuel.

    Tend to skip meals and pull late nights when you feel the heat at work? {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Get six to eight hours of sleep, and go to bed at the same hour every night. Avoid big meals but have high-carbon, low-fat snacks every few hours.

Overcome your fears.

   {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Often, your stress comes from worrying rather than from the work assignment or problems you're dealing with. Write down the fears in detail and methodically address each one.

A. Both could lead to burnout.

B. In fact, you may lose focus.

C. Instead, greet it with optimism.

D. In most cases, you can choose.

E. Or rather, it is the basis of success.

F. Keep work and rest in a proper balance.

G. Pressure doesn't get you down, but fear does.