Melody's Self Improvement Articles

WHAT'S YOUR EMOTIONAL I.Q.?

By Melody Jensen

The Secret of Success

For decades we have focused on an individual’s academic IQ for judging one’s success or failure in life. According to Daniel Goldman, the author of Emotional Intelligence, the 90’s have shifted the paradigm to focus on five basic elements of high E.Q.

1. Self-esteem, self awareness
2. Mood management
3. Staying self-motivated and optimistic, despite setbacks
4. Empathy for others
5. People skills and social skills

 

Leading corporations are now looking for employees with a high emotional intelligence because they realize that their time is money and they can’t afford to have employees that have a poor E.Q. The lack of a high Emotional E.Q. in a company can make or break its success.

            Consider that nothing happens in the business world today until a product is sold. It has been estimated that 50% of a sale is determined by whether the client or customer likes you. Your E.Q. can make the difference in whether you’re going to be successful on the job or in dealing with your close personal relationships.

            Everyone is looking for success, happiness and prosperity. It’s your responsibility to create your experiences of prosperity. I was recently giving a seminar for Pfeizer Corporation in Albuquerque at a Senior Health Fair. I met an 81-year old gentlemen who was exuberantly healthy, wealthy, and wise. I asked him what he thought was the secret of success. He said it was three things:
1. Attitude
2. Attitude
3. Attitude
 

It’s been said that life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. In today’s world with its high crime and divorce rate, numerous corporate takeovers and hostile relationships, we need people with true character and a high E.Q. more than ever before. The good news is that it’s never too late to improve these skills. Here are some suggestions for improving your E.Q.:

-Always try to be conscious of the other person you’re dealing with their thoughts,   feelings & mood.
-Believe and trust in others. Display loyalty to your friends and family.
-Greet people with a smile and confidence.
-Assume that people like you. Don’t fault-find or pre-judge others.
-Admit your liabilities.
-Sincerely compliment others.
-Love someone or something intensely.
-Associate with positive people.

It’s been said that life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.  In today’s world with its high crime and divorce rate numerous corporate takeovers and hostile relationships; we need people with true character and a high E.Q. more than ever before.

The Language of Dress and Color By Melody Jensen

What Are Your Clothes Saying?

You’ve probably seen them yourself-those men and women who have everyone’s attention the moment they walk into a room. The ability to make a strong impression quickly is important for any women today.

Money is not the main issue. You can purchase the most expensive clothes and still have a presentation that does not work. What makes the difference is knowledge-knowledge of the basic criteria of a planned wardrobe that projects the story you want to tell about yourself.
In my 25 years of coaching executives on image building, I have discovered the language of dress and color. Within the first 15 seconds, your clothing and grooming can communicate success, prosperity, friendliness, reliability, creativity, innocence, and femininity.
You are marketing yourself every day to project what you want people to think about you. The color, fit and style of your clothes can all work for you to project a successful, prosperous image if you learn these tips. Clothes don’t make the women-but they sure can help! Studies have shown that people will remember what color a person is wearing six times more often than anything else about them.
The psychological effort of color and dress is used daily on television to project what they want you to believe. For example, have you noticed how President Clinton’s hair has suddenly gone whiter? Hilary Clinton’s Peter Pan collars and President Clinton’s whiter hair project innocence and trustworthiness, which is part of their appeal.

If you want "Just a little respect"

If you find you need more power and authority on the job, select the following:

  • Wear (black, navy) dark colors and reds.
  • Wear high-neck white blouses
  • Dress in solids and stay away from a lot of details like prints, plaids and checks. Jewelry should be classic with just a touch of drama or glitz. Earrings, rings and watches should look expensive. Necklaces draw attention to the neck and add weight. After age 40, a women’s neck and jaw line thicken. Unless you have a slender neck and are under 40, be careful with your use of necklines, they can pull the face down and add weight.
  • Accessories such as shoes, belts, and purses in eel skin and reptile project prosperity.
  • Hair should be pulled up in an up do or short, no longer than shoulder length.
  • Pump shoes give more power and authority than shoes with straps and detail.
  • Always wear a jacket.What are you trying to say?

IF YOU WANT TO:

  • Be taken seriously in a male-dominated workplace: Try a gray-skirted suit. To exhibit professionalism, wear clothes in black, white, navy, gray, burgundy, and camel tones.
  • Attract the opposite sex: Wear red nails and red lipstick, and try a form-fitting red dress. Red is a sexy color that attracts attention from men.
  • Be perceived as trustworthy: Use white as a solid color in high-necked outfits.
  • Look prosperous: Try a touch of gold in accessories or in your clothes. Use gold and black or red and black combinations in a skirted suite.
  • Be seen as friendly: Wear bright colors, especially blue, yellow, and red. Navy, burgundy, and white portray reliability.
  • Exude femininity: Wear pastel pink, blue or peach dresses. The softer the color, the more feminine you appear.
  • Be viewed as comfortable and approachable: Wear earth tones and soft colors.

COLORS FOR FEAST AND FAMINE

Also, if you want to lose weight, remember this tip the next time you’re in the mood to redecorate your house: You’ll tend to eat more in a red kitchen. (Why do you think McDonald’s uses so many red tones?) Change it to be, with a blue light in your refrigerator. Eat on a blue plate with blue spaghetti. You won’t eat so much!
P.S. And be careful where the man in your life sports his red tie, because he’ll attract more women when he’s wearing it!

Melody Jensen is CEO of MJEnterprises, MJ Signature Collection and MJ Productions. She is a leader in the field of total appearance and personal development.

About Jay Cooper

Greetings!
My name is Jay Cooper. I am the Director of the wellness program at the renowned Green Valley Spa. I have a Masters Degree in Nutrition and a lifelong passion for the study of weight loss and wellness.
magazinesThe Body Code Program has been featured in many national publications including The New York Times, USA Today, The Chicago Tribune, Time Magazine, Healthy Living, Walking Magazine, Fit, Elle, Fitness, Conde Naste Traveler, and many many more.

My own personal battle with obesity combined with 21 years of industry experience have given me a burning desire to help others be well and see the fallacies of all those “one-size-fits-all” diet and exercise programs. Literally tens of thousands of clients (mostly middle aged overweight ladies) have succeeded by following The Body Code program.

My message for you is time tested, and conceptually quite basic; there is no such thing as one diet or exercise plan that is idea for all human types! Furthermore, there are actually only four different possible human types and you are one of those four.

Understanding which genetic type you are enables you to work with your genetic design, a process we call unlocking your body code. Honoring the principles that govern your type helps decrease food cravings, increase the exercise high and generates the bustling energy from having vibrant health.

The following is an overview of my background and other qualifications:

bulletOwner of Jay Cooper Wellness Consulting
bulletGeneral Manager of National Institute of Fitness (weight loss institution)
bulletFormer Certified Personal Trainer
bulletFounder of World of Wellness (Fitness Center)
bulletFormer General Manager of Nautilus Fitness Center
bulletMarathon Runner (24 and counting)
bulletEndurance Cyclist (50 mile race distance)
bulletFormer Body Builder and Triathlete
bulletFormer Scout Leader (B.S.A.)
bulletFormer fat boy (maxed out at 242 lbs. college days)
bulletCancer survivor (1990 bout with testicular carcinoma)
bulletNative American Indian (Registered member – Cherokee Nation)
bulletFather of two teenagers (McCall, 19 and Katlin, 14)
bulletHusband to my wife, Barbie (23 years)

These pages are © 1999 Jay Cooper Wellness Co. All Rights Reserved.
Your comments and suggestions are welcome. Please send email to: jaycooper55@hotmail.com

INTRODUCTION TO EXERCISE ESSENTIALS

My, how things have changed! We Americans are no longer the highly active people we once were. As we have become more involved in the information age we have also become far less physically active. And yet research has re-confirmed that we humans really do need at least some physical activity. Research also suggests that while some of us must have consistent amounts of physical activity almost daily, to have vibrant health, others thrive with very little. Wouldn’t it be great to know exactly how much and what kind of physical activity you need to become physically and psychologically addicted to the exercise high? Well…get ready, because you are about to learn this and more! Before we get into the specific details about exercise for each of the image orientation types, let’s review some of the fundamentals. Most time-tested exercise experts agree that an effective fitness program should contain these three essential components, cardiovascular (aerobic) conditioning, strength training and flexibility enhancement. Cardiovascular conditioning is generally considered to be any activity that causes the heart, lungs and vascular system to work together (at an elevated rate-60 to 85% of maximum capacity) to deliver oxygen to working muscles, for a sustained period of time (20 to 60 minutes). Common examples include; walking, pace-walking, walk-jogging, cycling, roller-blading, lap swimming, classes in dance, aerobic, jazz, Tai Bo, swim exercise, body shaping or sculpting, and/or also using cardiovascular equipment like the treadmill, life-cycle, elliptical or Nordic track. Strength training includes all types of toning, firming, calisthenics and/or weight training type activities that are designed to enhance the size, strength or function of a muscle or muscle group. Common examples include; weight training with free weights or machines, pilates, resistance bands and/or muscle toning type classes or activities. Flexibility enhancement includes all types stretching-lengthening activities designed to increase the elasticity (stretching capacity) or range of motion of any muscle, ligament or tendon. Common examples include stretching, yoga, pilates, tai chi or sunrise salutations. Note that any and all types of physical activity are potentially good and do count toward meeting your body motion needs, even those mundane activities involved in daily life. Now let’s proceed to the nitty-gritty details for each of the IMAGE PROFILE types. Follow these specific guidelines for maximum benefits and to get the exercise high from your workouts!

By Jay Cooper

Do You Need Food Supplements? By Melody Jensen for Today’s Dallas Woman

Test Yourself!

If someone offered you one million dollars for your health, would you accept? Would you take kerosene and put it in your car and expect it to run well? Of course not, yet most Americans today do just that when they eat on the run, try fad diets, and skip meals. Ideally, everyone would get all of the nutrients they need from fresh foods. But unfortunately, that’s not always possible in today’s stress-filled, fast-paced world. Cooking and processing destroys a lot of nutrients that are naturally present in food. To obtain the optimal amount of many nutrients, it’s often necessary to take them in supplemental form.


I first became interested in nutrition about 20 years ago when my mother was told she had three years to live because of a serious illness. With the help of lifestyle changes that included good nutrition and the use of supplements, today she’s still alive, well, and happy. The type and amount of vitamins you take should be based upon your body’s specific requirements. Ask your doctor for advice on how to prepare an effective supplement program. It’s the cheapest form of health insurance that money can buy! Here is a 12-question test that can help you determine if you need vitamins:

Supplement Self-Test

On A Typical Day…
1. If you work behind a desk, add 2 points.
2. Do you get easily angered, aggressive and intense? Add 2 points.
3. Do you smoke or drink alcoholic beverages? Count one point per cigarette and 2 points per ounce of alcohol.
4. Do you use caffeinated coffee, tea or cola drinks? Count one point per glass.
5. Do you take drugs- (prescription or over-the-counter), on a daily basis? Count 2 points for each daily dose.
6. How would you describe your stress level? Minimal -1 point., Average- 3 pts. Heavy- 5 pts. Very Heavy -7pts.
7. How many colds or infections have you had in the past year? None-0, One-2pts, Two-4pts. (More than two, add two points for each cold.
8. For your body build, is your weight just tight? Add 1 point. For 5 pounds over or under, add 3 points. Add 2 points for each additional Five pounds you are overweight or underweight.
9. What is your energy level? If you’re super-charged, add 1 point. If you’re above average, add 3 points; Average–5pts. Easily fatigued-7pts.
10. Is your health excellent? Add 1 point. Good-3pts., Fair-5 pts. Poor-7pts.
11. Is your diet 50% fresh or raw- add 1 point.; 25% processed- 3 pts.; 5096 Processed- 5 pts.; 100% processed- 9 pts.
12. Are you extremely active? Add 5 points. For moderate activity, add 3 points.

TOTAL YOUR POINTS

5-15 pts: You probably don’t need vitamins.
16-25 pts: You need a nutritional insurance program for prevention.
26-40 pts: You need a supplement program.
More than 40 pts: You are gunning your motor, and adding kerosene won’t work. You may wish to consult your doctor for an extensive supplement program.