The benefits of keeping a journal (日志)

    If you want to grow, one important thing you should do is keeping a journal. It may seem simple, but it can make a big difference in your life. I have been keeping journals for years. Writing all the lessons I learn and all the ideas I get has become a habit for me.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Here are some benefits you will get by keeping a journal.

    It prevents you from losing an idea. Have you ever gotten an idea only to lose it later because you didn't write it down?{#blank#}2{#/blank#}But then I developed the habit of writing down every idea that came into my mind as soon as possible. If I'm away from my computer, I usually write it down on a piece of paper that I bring wherever I go. I will then transfer the idea to the journal in my computer.

    It helps you review all the lessons you've learned. By reviewing your journal, you can quickly see the lessons you've learned and the ideas you've gotten.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}You can use the ideas to propel (鞭策) yourself forward.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}After keeping a journal for years, you can look back at it and see how far you've gone. Things that were big problems in the past might seem small today. The raw ideas you had in the past might have been realized today.

    It helps you expand（扩展） your ideas. When you try to come up with a sentence to express an idea, you are thinking actively about it.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}In the end, you will expand your ideas.

A. I often experienced that myself.

B. It trains you to express your thoughts.

C. It allows you to see your progress over time.

D. Just use whatever tool you feel comfortable with.

E. Thinking actively helps you connect your idea to another idea.

F. And to be honest, I can't imagine what my life would be like without it.

G. Then you can do whatever necessary to avoid repeating the same mistakes.

    Worry problems are everywhere in our daily life. How to solve them? The answer is that we must equip ourselves to handle different kinds of worries by learning the three basic steps of problem analysis. The three steps are：

    Get the facts

    Why is it so important to get the facts? Unless you have the facts, you can't possibly attempt to solve your problem intelligently. Without the facts, all you can do is wondering around in confusion. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} When you are worried, your emotions are riding high. But here are two ideas that can help you see the facts in a clear and objective way.

    When trying to get the facts, you can pretend that you are collecting this information not for yourself but for some other person. This will help you to take a cold and fair view of the evidence. You can also pretend that you are a lawyer preparing to agree.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} You will generally find the truth lies somewhere in between.

    Analyze the facts

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} And write out all the various steps you could take and then the probable consequences (后果) of each step. For example, what am I worrying about? What can I do about it? Here is what I'm going to do about it. After carefully weighing all the facts, you can calmly come to a decision.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Unless you take your action, all you face—finding and analysing—is a waste of energy. How can you break the worry habit before it breaks you? Move worry out of your mind by keeping busy.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Accept what can't be avoided. If you know a situation is beyond your power, say to yourself: "It is so; it can't be otherwise." Don't permit little things to ruin your happiness. Try to develop a mental attitude that will bring you peace and happiness.

A. Act on that decision.

B. It is not an easy job to get facts.

C. Decide how much anxiety a thing may be worth.

D. Plenty of action is one of the best ways to cure worry.

E. There comes a time when you must decide and never look back.

F. Try to get all the facts both on your side and the other side of the case.

G. Whenever you are worried, write down the questions that make you worry.

    Leonardo da Vinci is often thought of mainly as an artist, with world-famous works like The Last Supper and the Mona Lisa. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} But his notebooks, filled with his strange writing, show that his main interests were in engineering and technology.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} If his pioneering work on anatomy (解剖学) is also taken into consideration, it is not hard to see why Leonardo is considered to be one of the greatest geniuses (天才) of all time.

    Born in 1452 to a Florentine lawyer and a local village girl, Leonardo was given only a very basic education. After ten years in the workshop of the artist Verrocchio, he began to work for himself. The work he did shows an unbelievable combination of technical skill and very careful observation.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    At the age of thirty, he left his hometown and moved to Milan, where he spent seventeen years working for the Duke of Milan. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} In fact, his painting was increasingly influenced by his interest in mathematics. During this period, he painted The Last Supper and developed his ideas for chemical weapons (化学武器).

    In 1506 he returned to Milan and became increasingly interested in science. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} He also studied many other animals, comparing their bodies to the human body. From then on, Leonardo spent the rest of his life mainly on his scientific studies.

A. Before long, he returned to his painting.

B. Of course, his place in art history is certain.

C. It also shows his great interest in technology.

D. The notebooks are full of drawings for all kinds of inventions.

E. He began to study human bodies and the movement of the blood.

F. Here he continued to combine his scientific work with his painting.

G. It was a good chance to make some money with his new inventions.

    Thanksgiving Day is special holiday in the United States and Canada. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Thanksgiving Day is really a harvest festival. This is why it is celebrated in late fall, after the crops are in. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} On December 4, 1619, the Pilgrims from England landed near what is now Charles City, Virginia. They knelt down and thanked God for their safe journey across the Atlantic.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} The Pilgrims landed at what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1620. They had a difficult time and the first winter was cruel. Many of the Pilgrims died. But the next year, they had a good harvest. So Governor Bradford declared a three-day feast (盛宴). {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Everyone brought food.

    In time, other colonies (殖民地) began to celebrate a day of thanksgiving. But it took years before there was a national Thanksgiving Day. During the Civil War, Sarah Josepha Hale persuaded Abraham Lincoln to do something about it. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Today, Americans celebrate this happy harvest festival on the fourth Thursday in November. Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving Day in much the same way as their American neighbours. But the Canadian thanks-giving Day falls on the second Monday in October.

A. But one of the first thanksgivings in America had nothing to do with a good harvest.

B. He declared the last Thursday of November 1863 as a day of thanksgiving.

C. The Pilgrims were those who celebrated the first Thanksgiving Day.

D. Families and friends gather to eat and give thanks for their blessing.

E. The Pilgrims invited Indian friends to join them for their special feast.

F. This is why he decided to make it a national holiday throughout the U.S.

G. The first New England Thanksgiving did celebrate a rich harvest.

How to Cultivate Confidence?

    When faced with a big challenge where potential failure seems to appear at every corner maybe you'll hear this advice: "Be more confident." {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Take the belief that you are valuable, worthwhile, and capable, also known as self-esteem. Confidence turns thoughts into action. It comes from the genes you are born with, the way people get used to treating you as well as the choices you make. While it isn't possible to completely separate these three factors, the personal choices we make obviously play a major role in confidence development. As a result, by keeping in mind certain practical tips, we do actually have the power to cultivate our own confidence.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} If you're looking for a long-term change, consider the way you think about your abilities and talents. Do you think they are fixed at birth, or that they can be developed? These beliefs mater because they can influence how you act in the face of setbacks, if you have a fixed mindset, meaning that your talents are locked in pace, you might give up, assuming you've discovered something you're not good at. But if you have a growth mindset, and think your abilities can improve, a challenge will become an opportunity to learn and grow. Neuroscience(神经学)supports the Jatter. The connections in your brain do get stronger and grow with study and practice.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Practicing failure is a must. Failure happens.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} J.K. Rowling was rejected by twelve different publishers before one picked up Harry Potter. The Wright Brothers built on history's failed attempts at flight before designing a successful airplane. Studies show that those who fail regularly and keep trying anyway are better equipped to respond to challenges in a constructive way. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}So, think of a challenge you want to take on, realize it's not going to be easy, accept that you'll make mistakes, and be kind to yourself when you do. You'll feel the excitement, knowing that whatever the result, you'll have gained greater knowledge and understanding.

A. But what is confidence?

B. So can confidence be easily cultivated?

C. Everyone is possible to encounter failure.

D. Being a talented person is quite necessary.

E. They learn to try different strategies and persevere.

F. Believing in your abilities to improve is the first step.

G. It also turns out that people with a growth mindset are better at dealing with challenges.

True happiness in life starts with being happy with ourselves and who we are. That starts from having high self-confidence. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} You need to work at it by confirming yourself that you're a great person, capable of great things. If you think you could benefit from this, follow these suggestions in order to improve your self-confidence.

{#blank#}2{#/blank#} While you don't need to shout it out loud, it is important to pat yourself on the back once in a while. Think of all you've achieved or learned and you'll realize that you've come a long way. Reminding yourself of all your abilities and accomplishments will definitely improve your self-confidence.

Find something you're good at. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} And sometimes all this takes is a few minutes doing something that you are an expert in. The small rewards and praise you get from doing this task will do wonders to improve your self -confidence. It could be something as simple as organizing a messy closet, or challenging a friend to chess.

Accept yourself. Regardless of how successful you may be, there will always be someone more successful than you. See the difference between being the best and being great. Learn to appreciate who you are and what you have to offer and don't let anyone else's success play on your self-confidence. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

Keep learning. If you feel like you aren't knowledgeable about something, it may bring down your self-confidence. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} It's great for your brain, but also great for conversation. Your friends will be amazed with your knowledge and their praise will improve your self-confidence.

A. Praise yourself.

B. Keep putting pressure on yourself.

C. Good self-confidence doesn't happen by chance.

D. Those who aim for perfection are nearly always disappointed.

E. It's good to remind yourself of your skills, talents and abilities.

F. You can overcome this by continuously teaching yourself new things.

G. Focus on what you have earned and your self-confidence will increase.