He will have a hard time refuting it if you are talking about your own feelings.  ”I've never seen eyes that blue before.” “That piece you played on the piano made me feel so calm and serene.” “Your smile just made my day!” “I couldn't have finished this project without you. You really helped me out and I appreciate it.” People can spot a fake compliment a mile away and faking flattery will make you seem untrustworthy, which can sabotage a relationship. Think about your reasons for giving praise. It should be to make someone else feel good and valued, not for your own personal gain. Sometimes the most memorable compliments are the most specific ones, because it shows that you were paying attention.  “I liked how you handled the questions during your presentation today.  You really helped the group find a solution that benefits everyone.”  “Your shirt is such a pretty color. It perfectly matches the color of your eyes.” Be creative in how you give a compliment to make people feel good indirectly.  Ask for the recipe if you like what she cooked, or ask for advice. She will feel valued.  Mention that someone else said something nice about her or talk about how much other people care about her.  Do charitable work together so she will see herself as someone who helps others. If giving compliments is part of your character, you don't need to diminish that quality just because you get an unfavorable response from someone. If being complimentary part of who you are, go ahead and give out compliments.  In addition, even if the person struggles to accept your compliment, you may be activating the striatum region of his brain, which motivates him to perform better.  Compliments can also improve a person's self-esteem. Again, the person doesn't have to consciously "accept" the compliment for it to make an impact.

Summary: Reframe it so it's about you. Be genuine. Be specific. Sneak it in there. Give compliments if you want to.


There are a number of creative activities you can do to get in touch with your heart. The goal here is to open yourself to your heart, or your innermost desire. Styles of self-expression like those used in art therapy can help you become more open to yourself and your heart. Here are a few ideas for things you can do:  Music. Try joining a choir or taking guitar lessons. Art. Take a painting class or learn how to sculpt. Dance. Enroll in a salsa class or even exercise-dancing classes at the gym. Drama. See if there's any open theater groups around you that you can join. Acting is a great way to express your creativity. Life can cause your true desires and your daily routines to get crusted over with obligations and expectations. A practice like free-writing can help you access your heart and begin to develop a closer relationship with this essential part of yourself. Choose a topic and write it at the top of a piece of paper. The topic can be one word, like "travel," or it can be a short statement, like "what I think about traveling." Set a timer for 5 or 10 minutes and try to write about the topic without putting much thought into what you're doing. Don't plan ahead of time. The goal is to let your unconscious mind take over for you rather than letting the control center part of your brain hold the reins. There are two different ways you can live your life: being and doing. The "doing" mode is what many people find themselves stuck in a lot of the time. It's a necessary mode for our fast-paced, high-stress culture, and it's actually very useful for keeping up. However, the "doing" mode can make it hard to listen to your needs and slow down enough to enjoy life. Mindfulness meditation can help you strengthen the "being" mode of your life, which is the mode that will help you begin to follow your heart. Sit in a comfortable, upright position. Get used to this position for a few minutes. Begin to pay attention to what's going on in your experience. You will have a lot of stray thoughts, body sensations, and seemingly random emotional surges. Pay attention to all of these things and anything else that happens, doing your best to take a "curious" stance toward them, where you don't need to react to them. Pretend you're a scientist and you want to observe this experience without intervening. Once you've done this in a safe, quiet, sitting environment, you can try it in your daily life while you're doing other things. Based on your bucket list and overall life goals, decide to make a big move if necessary. This could be going back to school for more education, moving to another city with better opportunities or family close by, or quitting your job to do something that resonates more closely with your heart's desire. It may be a good idea to talk to your friends and family about the move before you start shifting gears, to see what they think and enlist their support. You don't necessarily have to make big changes to change your life and begin to follow your heart. See if there are little things you can do in your daily routine to feel more attuned to yourself and your desire. For instance, you may want to spend more time with your friends, or spend less time in front of the TV. Consult your bucket list to see if there are minor adjustments you can make to your life in order to achieve what you really want out of it.

Summary: Engage in expressive activities. Free-write. Practice mindfulness. Make a big move. Make small changes.


You can perform the half-moon from a climb or on the ground. Turn sideways and put your free foot directly in front of you so it pushes against one of the silks. Once you feel confident enough you can let go.

Summary: Begin with a single-foot tie-in. Separate the silks. Lean against the other silk and grip it above your head.


The washing must be done from the elbows to the fingertips and not vice versa. Pour water from a little above the elbow to ensure that the whole forearm is covered. Wash in such a way that the water penetrates the hair, if any, and reaches the skin.   A second such washing is recommended while subsequent washings are prohibited.
Summary: Using the left hand, pour water over the right arm from the elbow to the finger-tips. With the same hand, wipe the water over both sides of the arm to ensure that all parts are washed. Repeat for the left arm using the right hand. Washing your arms once as described is obligatory.