Tips for Confident Decision Making

    Are you a good decision maker? Do you sit on the fence?{#blank#}1{#/blank#}If you'd like to be more content and confident with your decision making, then these four tips are just the things you need.

    Do your “homework”

    Make choices based on what is the most important to you.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}You may even want to speak to someone else who has been through this before. Then when you are ready, just decide.

    You are in charge.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}By blaming others you give your power away. Just believe you have made the right choice and take responsibility for the result. This will be a real encouragement to your self-confidence.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    It's great to stick with your decisions. There are times however when you need to change your mind. Don't worry about making a wrong choice. The good thing about being wrong is that you will know where to correct yourself and when to take action.

    You're going to make it.

    Sometimes it is going to be hard to be persistent(坚持不懈). You know you are doing the right thing and it's just taking so much time, effort, money and energy. After making bold choice, remember you have a reason why.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Say to yourself out loud “No matter how hard it is, I'm going to make it.”

    Decision making takes courage and there are many things you can do to decide more confidently. So don't delay, you can start right now by deciding to make this new habit.

A. The more confident, the better decision.

B. This will mean you have to do a research and look at all theavailable options.

C. Whatever result you get, you can't blame others.

D. Confident decision making is of great significance.

E. Or are you constantly changing your mind?

F. It's OK to change your mind.

G. Remember you are taking yourself to the next level.

    I grew up on a farm in the small rural (乡下的) community of Catawissa, Missouri, as the sixth of seven children{#blank#}1{#/blank#} In the fall of 1970, he was working on a house when the ladder broke. His back was broken.

    He stayed in the hospital for three weeks. When Dad returned home, he was still in a back brace(支架) and unable to work{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    One night we heard a car coming up{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Rose was at the door, holding an envelope filled with money. She told my dad she had collected money and was there to deliver it

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} I can still hear her saying, “Archie, whenever someone's baler (干草打包机) is broken, you bale their hay. Someone passes away, Altha is cooking. It's our turn.”

    That evening, this 6-year-old understood what being a good neighbor was, and that because her parents were good neighbors, their kindness would be returned. I learned later my mom's sisters all “adopted” one of us kids to help with Christmas, and we received gift baskets from more than one organization.

My parents were used to being the givers and not the receivers of such generosity (慷慨{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. He tried to protest but Rose would have none of it.

B. Besides running the farm, Dad was also a carpenter.

C. Apart from a carpenter, Dad was also running a farm.

D. We kids were always curious about who was visiting.

E. I was too young to realize our family had no money coming in as Christmas approached.

F. It was comforting to be helped when in trouble, but what was important was to help others in return.

G. They had a bit of pride to swallow, but continued all of their lives to show us kids the value of kindness.

    Nothing succeeding lacks(缺乏) confidence. When you are truly confident, it attracts success to you. It's important to believe in yourself. Believe that you can do it under any circumstance(情况), because if you believe you can, then you really will. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Some people say confidence is just an attitude. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} It comes from knowing exactly where you are going and exactly how you are going to get there. It comes from acting with confidence. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} It comes from a strong commitment(承诺) to take responsibility, rather than just letting life happen.

    One way to develop self-confidence is to do the thing you fear and to get a record of successful experiences behind you.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Confidence is knowing you can do it. Know that you are able to accomplish(完成) anything you want, and live your life with confidence.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} If your life is not what you want it to be, you have the power to change it, and you must make the changes on a moment by moment basis. Live with your goals and your plans of action. Act with your own purposes, and you will have the life you want.

A. Actually, it is more than an attitude.

B. It comes from a strong sense of purpose.

C. Confidence is not just believing you can do it.

D. The belief keeps you searching for answers.

E. Confidence is understanding and comes from strength.

F. Live each moment with your plans in mind.

G. Anything can be achieved through self-confidence.

    How long could you stand on Antarctic ice before your bare feet froze solid? A minute. Maybe two? If you're an emperor penguin, you can do it for two months in cruel winds at as low as-75 degrees Fahrenheit{#blank#}1{#/blank#}, but their special circulation acts as a kind of antifreeze to keep them warm enough.

    Penguin legs and feet have evolved to lose as little heat as possible. Penguin feet preserve heat by restricting blood flow in really cold weather, keeping foot temperature just above freezing{#blank#}2{#/blank#}.

    Blood vessels to and from the feet are very narrow and woven closely together, cooling the blood from the body on the way to the feet and heating the blood as it returns to the body.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

    This special ability is part of how penguins keep their eggs warm until they hatch. Each penguin egg's father balances it on his feet and covers it with his very warm layer of feathered skin to keep it cozy while females are out feeding at sea.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}. If females haven't returned with food by time the chicks hatch, male penguins feed their babies for a few days on a kind of "milk" made from special cells inside their throats.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Your hands get whiter during freezing weather because there's less blood in them which has been redirected to the central part of your body to make sure vital organs stay warm.

A. Penguin legs work like a heat exchange system

B. Those naked bird feet may look extremely cold

C. Therefore, the male penguins must stay together in groups

D. However, parenting doesn't stop there for these devoted fathers

E. Emperor penguins also have the ability to 'recycle' their own body heat

F. Feet get cool blood so there's less heat to lose, while the body stays warm and comfortable

G. In fact. humans have the ability to restrict blood flow to their hands and feet in cold weather too

    Everyone is aware that taking good care of our bodies can prevent many medical problems from occurring later. However, we often have less awareness of preventative actions we should take to help with mental health problems. While our mental health may be fine right now, many of us will struggle at some point. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} It's impossible to get through life without challenges, but our mental health prevention habits can help us get through difficult times. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Keep active. The more active you physically, mentally and socially are, the higher the level of your mental wellness is likely to be. So go for walks and learn something new. There are many other ways to be active. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Be connected. Regular involvement in social activities with supportive friends and family improves your ability to handle disappointments, and everything else life throws at you. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} But you can be involved in any manner; even volunteering for an organization can help you be more social.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} The nature of these activities varies widely from person to person. The key is to identify what gives your life meaning. Volunteering, coaching, teaching, etc. all can contribute to increasing your sense of confidence and satisfaction with life. Many activities can address more than one. The key is to make a plan and stick with it. If you are already struggling, begin to practice these ways to help your recovery.

A. Here are three practical steps.

B. However, good mental health is important.

C. Stresses, disappointments and disasters happen.

D. Overcome life's challenges before they happen.

E. Be committed to activities that give life meaning.

F. The key is to find what keeps you motivated and interested.

G. This can be difficult when you move to a new town or as you get older.

    When you see cockroaches (蟑螂) in your house, your first thought might be to use a bottle of insecticide (杀虫剂). However, not only would your family be affected by harmful chemicals, but also it might not do much good. So researchers say that besides using chemical treatments, you can also use other methods like traps. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. So, how do you do it?

    As with most insects, prevention is more important. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. That means never leaving dirty dishes in the kitchen and sweeping the floor before you go to bed.

{#blank#}3{#/blank#}, so it's necessary to seal (密封) the entries into your home. This may take time, but in the end, it's worth the effort, especially if you live in an apartment and have neighbors who don't reach the same standards of cleanliness as you do.

    Keep your space as cool as possible. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. They increase their activity level and even spread their wings and fly. With more heat they have more strength.

    You can also try turning to a natural insect control company. My insect control company uses diatomaceous earth, a kind of special soil, in the walls of my home.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}, it's not harmful for you and your family. Best of all, it works well.

A. Cockroaches can't go very long without water

B. Cockroaches can move through even the smallest spaces

C. Or you can give up chemicals and try just natural methods

D. When temperatures rise, many of these insects become active

E. Because the earth can cause an insect to die without the use of chemicals

F. You have cockroaches in the house, but you don't want to use insecticide

G. Make sure your house is clean, because food remains are attractive to cockroaches