Liar! Liar!

Why do we lie? We all do it in various forms, most of which consist of either “white lies” or “omissions of the truth.” What leads a normally humane friend, colleague, or family member to cross the line into the “lie zone?” We’ve all been burned by lies and liars; we know the pain, anger, and hollow feeling that is left when the veil of a lie is lifted. Often it is those very lessons that teach us not to lie. Yet, we can’t stop others from lying.

Common sense guides us to think that lies stem from the liar’s desire to look better, avoid punishment, gain something, or protect him/herself. From either personal experience or observation of others, we’ve all seen the result of perpetual lies: they worsen over time; they snowball into more lies. While we can’t do much to make others stop lying, we can sometimes identify tell-tale signs of a lie in the making. Here are some tips from Dr. Gail Saltz: www.drgailsaltz.com.

Avoidance of eye contact: Usually someone makes eye contact at least half the time they are talking to you. If you notice them avoiding eye contact or looking down during a specific part of a conversation, they may well be lying.

Change of voice: A variation in pitch of voice or rate of speech can be a sign of lying - so can lots of “um” and “ah.”

Body language: Turning her/his body away, covering the face or mouth, a lot of fidgeting of hands or legs can indicate deception.

Contradicting oneself: Making statements that just don’t hold together are cause for suspicion.

What do YOU think?

Self Sabotaging Behavior: Do you shoot yourself in the foot?

Fear of success is not always recognizable to the person who is afraid. Often times, however, it is quite noticeable to the observer - who may be a friend, family member, mentor, or instructor - to name a few examples.

No one is immune to fear of success. It impacts all ages, races, nationalities, classes, and genders. Like a parasite, it sneaks into its host and cripples him/her.

Often, fear of success stems from success equating to change. Change is scary to many folks. We ask ourselves: Am I good enough? Am I smart enough? Do I have what it takes? Will I keep my same friends? What will my family think? Will I be able to sustain my success?

Recognizing fear of success is the first step to conquering it. What are you doing to recognize your fears and conquer them? What are you doing to help others?

Go to this link for the source of my content and for MUCH more information: http://psychology.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_fear_of_success_works

Time Management: High School vs. College

High school and college differ from one another in a number of ways. One example includes time management. In high school students follow the routine of the school and home; teachers and parents manage (guide) students' time. However, in college students wear their own conductor's hat and must manage their own time. Comparatively, little time is actually spent in class. Students must learn to study beyond class and manage their time in ways that allow for productive study habits.

How is this working for you? How would you grade yourself in your ability to balance your time? What time management regrets and successes do you have? What time management tokens of wisdom would you like to share with others?