Research over the years has revealed that human beings are avoidance machines! We are genetically coded to avoid pain and to seek comfort. Our brains are designed to recognize the highest level of perceived pain and then we are compelled both physiologically and psychologically to avoid that pain.

How can we use this avoidance mechanism to our advantage? There is a system of performance that taps into this behavioral coding called behavioral contracting. Behavioral contracting begins with the following questions:

1. What do I want?
2. What do I need to do to have what I want?
3. What do I need to do this week to have what I want?
4. What will I do this week?

Once you have identified the answer to question 4 (what you will do this week), you enter those actions into the behavioral contract. This is the first part of the contract - specific declarations about what you will do. The second part of the contract consists of accountability. Accountability has two parts. The first part is the check in (did you do what you said you would do?) and the second part is an enforceable consequence for non-performance.

In order for the behavioral contract to work, there must be a consequence for non-performance that your brain perceives to be more painful than the activity you are committing to do, and that consequence must be enforced. For example, you could commit to making 100 cold calls this week, or you will take a one hundred dollar bill and burn it. It is very likely that this consequence will compel you to do what you need to do to bring you closer to what you want.

Remember, you are an avoidance machine, avoiding the highest level of perceived pain. How do you avoid the painful consequences? By doing what you said you would do!

If you apply this to one small activity over the next seven days you will see great things happening, great habits being developed and great results. One small action each week will add up. One small activity that you otherwise would not have taken will make a world of difference by the end of the year. This is referred to as the Law of Accumulation and the Law of Cause and Effect.

It’s the small changes, the small actions that produce the significant results. Hall of fame football coach Vince Lombardi said, “Inches make a champion.”

Thomas Edison, the American inventor who lived from 1847-1931 said, “Many of life's failures are men who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

My challenge to you is to make one small commitment this week that you give your word you will accomplish by next Sunday. Tell someone else. Give them a negative consequence that you will honor if you don't do what you said you would do.

Watch what happens as human nature compels you to avoid the consequence and complete the action.

Most power outages are minor, lasting a few minutes or hours. But for those that are longer, taking some simple steps ahead of time will keep food fresh and your family safe.

Skip the candles.
It's too easy to drop them if you bump into things walking from room to room. Instead, experts say have one flashlight on hand for each family member, along with extra batteries.

Turn down the temperature.
If you hear that a big storm is coming, turn your refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings. If you turn the temperature way down, you can keep food fresh longer if the power stays out for a while.

Stock up on ice.
It helps maintain cold temperatures in your freezer. Just fill plastic bags with ice and keep in the freezer. And, if the ice melts, you can drink the water.

Keep fridge and freezer doors closed.
This will ensure that food stays fresher longer during a power outage.

Pull the plug.
Gadgets and appliances that you were using when the power went out must have the plug pulled so that you will not have a power surge when the service is restored. Leave one lamp on so you'll know when the power is back, and reconnect appliances one at a time.

Keep your cell phone charged.
If phone lines go out, you'll still be able to make calls. A charged cell phone will last for days if you are not making or receiving a lot of calls or text messages.

Did you know?
If you live in a town with lots of trees and telephone poles, your are twice as likely as other areas to lose power during a storm.

Put the Best in Eye View. Stack magazines and books in the living room and put the nicest book on top. Hide sofa lint by covering it with a quilt or other decorative blankets. Make it Smell Clean. Cleanser scented with pine or lemon will leave a “just-cleaned” smell. Use it in a room like the bathroom or kitchen. Guests will think its even clean if you only had time to wipe down the sink or the countertops. Close Doors and Drawers. Your home looks orderly if doors are closed – even if what's behind them is messy. There’s no point in cleaning spots that guests won’t see, so shut the doors to bedrooms, closets and cabinets. Hide Dirty Dishes. Load dirty dishes in the dishwasher, if possible. In a pinch you can even stash them inside your oven, then put out a clean dish towel to freshen up the whole room. Light it right. If its daytime, open the curtains slightly so just a small amount of sunlight comes in. For evening hours, dim the lights, everything looks better in mood lighting, and the shadows will hide any dust.

Paint brushes come in handy for much more than sprucing up the walls. For difficult places to clean paint brushes can lend a helping hand. No Fuss No Muss. Use a new brush to dust houseplants that are too large to haul to the sink. Bite the Dust. Clean hard-to-reach places – like the space between stereo knobs or the top of the mantle – with a small paintbrush. Clean Sweep. Sweep spilled flour from your kitchen counter with a big flat paint brush. Magnetic Attraction. Mist a paintbrush with dusting spray and make short work of shining up bookcases and shelves. Clean your Oven. After your spray-on oven cleaner has done its work, use a paintbrush to remove residue from corners.

Molds (at times interchangeable with “mildew”) are found virtually everywhere in our environment and are a subgroup of the fungi family. Molds are simple microscopic organisms containing enzymes (responsible for digesting and decomposing) and spores (in charge of reproduction). Their mission is to digest the organic world around them.

For mold to grow it needs

• Moisture or any type of water intrusion (standing water, dampness, condensation, high humidity)
• Building materials containing cellulose (wood, drywall, insulation, carpets, etc.)
• Limited ventilation or sunlight
• Suitable temperature (mold grows at temperatures above 0ºF [-18ºC])

Given optimal conditions, mold spores will germinate within 24 to 48 hours. Optimal conditions for spore germination include saturated building materials, humidity above 40% temperatures between 68º F to 90º F (20ºC to 32ºC) and little or lack of light or air circulation. One square foot of moldy drywall can harbor more than 300 million mold spores. Mold growths can be detected by a musty smell and be seen in the form of discoloration ranging from white to orange and from green to black.

Types of Mold:
Allergenic molds – are common molds that we normally find in the air we breathe. They become a problem when the concentration of mold spores in a home becomes significantly greater than the mold spores we commonly find outdoors.

Toxic molds - such as black mold stachybotrys (stack-ee-bot-ris) produce toxins called mycotocins used to inhibit or prevent the growth of other organisms. Over 27% of homes tested nationally, where mold was present, revealed the presence of stachybotrys.

If you think you may have stachybotrys and/or extensive mold growth (over 2 square feet) seek professional advice before proceeding with removal. Persons with respiratory health problem should NOT perform any clean up.

What makes you such a strong and self assured person?

Your Family and Friends When life gets rocky, what could be better than having your very own cheering section? With a network of supporters on your side you can approach any situation with ease and determination–and feel good about yourself no matter what. Your Life Experience You know there's nothing you can’t handle...because you’ve weathered it all before. A true lifelong learner you believe that every challenge is a chance to discover new qualities in yourself and deepen your self-confidence. Your Independence Your unwillingness to follow the crowd is what makes you you, and the faith you have in yourself gives you a self-assured cool that will stand the test of time.

Three out of four people don’t get enough sleep. Your bedroom atmosphere may be inhibiting a good night’s rest.

Use the Right Colors.
Soft shades of pale green, watery blue and warm beige ease your body into its relaxation mode, helping you fall asleep more peacefully.

Pick the Perfect Pillow.
Side sleepers should opt for extra-firm pillows; medium-to-firm density is best for people who sleep on their backs; and stomach sleepers sleep more soundly with medium-to-soft pillows.

Turn out the lights.
Blackout curtains or shades are a must to induce deep sleep.

Cool off.
Your bedroom’s temperature should be kept at about 65ºF for the best night’s sleep.

Keep it quiet.
Background noise can alter sleep patterns and cause you to wake up exhausted.

Look for visible mold growth – mold often appears as discoloration, spotted staining or fuzzy growth Search areas with an earthy or musty odor Look for signs of excessive moisture or water damage Look for signs of discoloration on ceilings and walls Search behind and beneath materials (refrigerators, sink cabinets, carpet, vinyl flooring) Be familiar with the symptoms of mold-related illness Sometimes, mold growth is hidden behind walls and may be difficult to locate. In such cases, a combination of air (outdoor and indoor) and bulk (material) samples may help determine the extent of contamination and the type of treatment that is needed. Consult a specialist.

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