If you asked most people to make a list of the things that they dread, many of them would put “going to the dentist” up near the top. Though dentists actually do work that relieves pain and makes a person healthier, they are some of the most feared and loathed workers on the planet. People simply hate everything about going to the dentist. This fear is quite common, though. Because dentist’s offices are probably places where people have had bad experiences in youth, they are locations where we don’t want to go as adults. This deep seated fear goes way back and in order for it to stop, the issues behind the fear must be addressed.

Maybe you broke a tooth as a child and you had a very painful experience at the dentist. Maybe you were like most people who ate too much candy and you suffered many cavities that required painful drilling. Many people hate going to the dentist because they associate the smells and sounds with pain. This is completely normal. As a hypnotherapist, I have seen clients come to me who get a chill up their spine when talking about their fear of going to the dentist. In the end, it is a fear that must be conquered, though. You will eventually have to go to the dentist for some reason and you won’t be able to squirm around in your chair like you did as a child.

Hypnotherapy is not just something you see mocked in the movies. Though it is true that Las Vegas magic shows use hypnosis in some of their tricks, it isn’t simply a magic trick. Hypnosis is a real solution to very real problems. People are often treated for things like smoking, slimming, and stress related issues with hypnotherapy treatment. People who suffer from fear of the dentist can be treated using hypnosis, as well.

If you are a person who just can’t stand that dentist’s chair, then you should read up on hypnotherapy and figure out if it is right for you. A complete change in mindset could be what you need in order to fight your problem. I have seen people make a complete turn around on their fears when they come in for hypnotherapy treatment. It really is a solution that could impact your life positively from this day forward. Grab information on a self-hypnosis kit or read up on hypnotherapy. This will allow you to make permanent changes in your life.

If you’ve been struggling with your excess fat, the prospect of the upcoming holidays may well fill you with dread.

You barely fit in your clothes as is. If things go the way they usually go during the holidays, you may have to join the post-holiday shopping crowds out of necessity! You won’t have a thing to wear – because nothing will fit anymore.

I don’t know about you, but that prospect always makes me cringe. I’ve been there, and I’d rather not repeat it.

Which is why I have occasionally approached the holiday season in a rather contrarian spirit when it comes to my intake of food. And I’m planning to do it again this year.

How’s that? Easy.

There are two major weight loss facts that work in my favor here:

Every pound I lose between Thanksgiving and early January counts twice!

It’s a matter of simple math!

As you know, those of us already struggling with extra weight can easily add 10 pounds or more during a few weeks of reckless ingestion of cookies and eggnog. I’ve done it before, and I don’t care to repeat that particular feat.

Now imagine this: Instead of adding 10 pounds, how would you feel if you were to lose 10 pounds instead. Or even “just” 5 pounds. You’d be way ahead of the game, wouldn’t you.

Sure, it’ll be a bit of a hassle. Maybe even a big hassle. But just for a few weeks. Meanwhile, if you keep the pay-off in mind, it will feel so worth it.

But it wouldn’t be half as good an idea if it weren’t for fat loss secret number two:

Most people’s bodies seem to respond very nicely to alternating high and low calorie intake days.

There are several diets that feature this technique, including renegade versions of traditional ones. Just check out the Wendie Plan, Wendie’s version of Weight Watchers, where she distributes the 35 extra “points” over just 3 to 4 of the 7 days, thereby creating quite some ups and downs.

The weight though will just go down, down, and down some more because that kind of “weight cycling” prevents our bodies from turning into metabolic slugs.

Imagine the potential of this little trick. You could work its magic by simply planning some diet days alternating with some less restrictive days – carefully scheduling the more generous allotments for the days with office parties, family Christmas celebrations, and so on.

That’s exactly what I’m going to do.

Yes, I know! It’s going to be hard with all the seasonal goodies around.

So let’s review the benefits:

If you DO lose weight NOW, it will count DOUBLE!

Instead of gaining 10 pounds, you could LOSE 10 pounds!

Net loss: 20 pounds, maybe even more!

Wouldn’t THAT be worth a little awkwardness around the punch bowl? Imagine being that much slimmer come New Year’s Eve! Imagine the dress you’d be able to wear — the one that hasn’t fit you in ages! Imagine all your friends having piled on the pounds in the meantime, wondering how the heck you managed to actually get thinner!

Go ahead. You deserve to look and feel great! Make that new and improved body your own personal Christmas present.

Yesterday was a fine day, a really great day, at least, the start of it. As is my usual routine, I started the morning writing, then making phone calls. Next, I checked email. There were many– several from readers of my books. Some took the time to express thanks and wanted to know what other books I had written. They spoke of life-changing insights; they thanked me for providing them the opportunity to read my works. They wanted more. I felt good, really good.

It got better. By lunchtime, there were a number of orders for my “PowerPause” system. The ordering system worked perfectly; I was hearing from excited affiliates who were excited. The positive feedback on my products was encouraging and rewarding. I leaned back in my chair and smiled. Yes, things were working; life was good.

And then it happened. I checked my email once more before quitting for the day. There, buried among all the wonderful notes was a short email from someone who had purchased a “PowerPause” kit the week before. It said something to the effect that he wanted a refund and wanted it right away. “Your ‘PowerPause’ is not for me,” he continued. “It did nothing for me. I know all the things you talked about. I’ve read them before and am way beyond such simple stuff. Just give me back my money.”

I stared in disbelief at the email on the monitor. I printed it out and read it again. A sad feeling came over me. All kinds of thoughts flowed through my mind. For a moment, I thought, how could he NOT like my product? After all, thousands of people have benefited from it. Why couldn’t he understand? Did he need to be so insulting? Look what he did; just look what he did to me.

Had this been a few years ago, the next few hours would have been quite unpleasant. I would have just focused on this one, unfortunate event. I would have ruined my entire evening by allowing thoughts of rejection to possess me. Rejection, at any level, is unpleasant.

But I have learned over the years that events of this nature were not a rejection of who I am and what I do. That customer really didn’t do anything to me. He just did what he did because it was his nature to do so. He had every right to do what he did. Didn’t I offer an unconditional guarantee? Didn’t I specifically state, on my website, that if someone didn’t find the “PowerPause” useful, I’d refund the money, no questions asked? Why should I be upset if one person took advantage of my offer?

In business, as in other areas of our lives, we oftentimes face rejection. It becomes much easier to deal with if we remember that we are not rejected because of who we are but because of who the other person is. If we understand this, and if we do not personalize it, life would be much calmer, more peaceful and certainly more productive.

Author, Richard Bach had already written a number of books when he sent his new manuscript to a major publisher. It was promptly rejected with a note attached as to its quality. But he kept on keeping on, and seventeen or eighteen rejections later, his manuscript was finally accepted by Macmillan. It was Richard’s positive way of looking at life that made him keep on. I am sure that rejection bothered him a bit. But the publication of “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” resulted in Richard Bach gracing the cover of Time magazine. And from what I’ve heard, his meaningful books have touched the hearts of millions of readers.

Yes, rejection is tough. It doesn’t matter whether the rejection comes from a customer, a business associate, a friend, husband, wife, lover, customer or a total stranger, it still hurts. If we possess any sensitivity at all. it’s natural for us to feel bad. The trick is not to mind too much, not to focus all our energy and time on saying, “Look what they did, just look what they did to me.”

Just remember, there’s no one else on earth with your talents and your abilities. No one else can do what you do. You are unique, a special person– someone whose hopes and dreams span eternity itself. Don’t let rejection bring you down. Just interpret it slightly differently from the way you’re accustomed to and you’ll find that your journey through life becomes much more pleasant.