Psychology has been around as a formal science for over 100 years. But it hasn’t escaped its original focus. Born in the laboratories of medicine, it has always been defined as the science of psychopathology, meaning what’s wrong with us. Perceived in this way, psychology has never been a major contributor to a general definition of human nature; we think about ourselves psychologically only when something’s gone amiss.Until about 100 years ago it was most common to think of ourselves as creatures of God; a God Who gave us a small but very powerful piece of Himself – His Spirit. We still call this piece our “soul”, meaning the spiritual core of us. Though we don’t easily think of ourselves as possessing – being in charge – of the spiritual entity from which it derives. We usually think of it as something that belongs to some universal Presence or process – which we must obey to become totally and safely in tune. Tyranny survived for centuries basing itself upon this fearful belief.Enter psychology, the secularizing science. What it’s doing subtly, which is not yet fully recognized by us, is one, to claim the soul as belonging to humans; and two, to discard the notion of “psychopathology”. This process emancipates psychological science from the laboratories of medicine and its emphasis upon illness. Though it still presumes to be the parent of psychology, medicine itself lacks a unified theory of how the body functions as an ecosystem. Best illustration: drugs, which produce almost as many problems as they solve. Medicine has potential pieces of this theory, but obviously not the whole. Thus this parent is fundamentally unqualified to define this new psychological aspect of our nature. It hasn’t even got its own understanding in order.In recent times the pathological aspect of psychology is being eliminated in an effort to render everything user-friendly, by discarding – disowning – the negative aspects of human nature. The usual method is to say everything is normal. Though we don’t entirely believe it because we still suffer. This strategy of erasing the bad parts of the equation by will power is too oversimplified, producing the usual solution to this contradictory dilemma: to make spirituality a function of the brain, as if that organ is the seat of the human soul. Our preference has become – fix, or medicate the brain and the problem is solved. Only a mob could have produced such highly oversimplified thinking.We have always tried to explain ourselves most fundamentally as a physical entity, in which all of our parts can be traced to some aspect of the body. What we avoid imagining most of all is that we might be what religion still insists upon for many – an otherworldly creature with a core nature that isn’t corporeal or tangible, but is instead what might legitimately be regarded as a transcendental spirit. Though the human spirit that will evolve in the new century will belong not to God, but entirely to us. Transcendental will not mean surviving death and rising into heaven. It will mean instead existing only in this life, but in the process rising above physical limitations to achieve a new secular dimension of human nature – our transcendental spirit – that is traditionally understood as a part of religion belonging to God.Indeed we are the only creature on this planet who transcends its physical life beyond a primitive self-awareness, by being consciously aware of itself and so much more on many different levels; thus able to produce all of our electronic marvels. It’s that spiritual life of the mind, heart, imagination, intuition, etc., referring here to our real soul – the human psyche – with all of its marvelous parts that enable us to understand, and to make use of, so much of what is happening around us.But there is a huge hurdle for us to circumvent before we achieve this goal. It is our passion for social experience founded upon our firm belief that two or more people together is better than one. When precisely the opposite is true. The genius of the human species is our individuality. All new original things come from one person at a time. Groups of any size only imitate that wisdom – but only after reducing it to its lowest common denominator. Groups dilute everything they touch. It’s both their virtue – giving us respite – and their principle vice – by reducing our genius to the dumb wisdom of a mob.Unlike traditional religion, which partakes of the spiritual as a social event, being individually inventive leaves us fearfully alone with this intangible spiritual power. This is probably why we have always perceived human understanding and its spiritual power to come from the group. When the truth is that the power of the human psyche comes entirely from being individual, though in our fear we like to pretend that it originates in groups of all kinds, cultural, workplace, etc… so we don’t have to experience being alone with it.When there is nothing that happens in our collective experience that isn’t simply an imitation of what we already know as individuals. That group-celebration can be encouraging, supportive and fun. Though in our terror at being so separate and alone as spiritual individuals, we desperately treat the social group as something much more powerful – a parental entity capable of guiding us to better places – the “moral majority”. When this entity is really a headless monster. We pretend to give it a head by providing it leadership; but that’s mostly pretense no matter how clever that person may be. The problem is that groups don’t think; they act. And leaders don’t change that; yet we treat them as if they, by their thinking efforts, can make groups think and produce change.Anything new is hatched only in individual minds. Altogether, we treat groups, including, and most particularly corporations, with far too much reverence; and individual people with far too much mistrust and abuse. When groups of all kinds may sometimes respect individuals, at least to some extent, but the next day they will devour them as they have done, for instance in economic depressions (Article: see an aristocracy of the “Rich Create Depressions”), and in war – both of which have happened for centuries.Groups produce group-talk, in essence all the various forms of social science that define us as a collective entity walking in the same footsteps, having the same motives and needs that can be implemented in the same political rhetoric or acts. In the meantime what’s really going on between the group and the individual is a relationship of mistrust. Groups regard individual differences, and the dissonances they produce as growing pains, as potentially criminal, if for no other reason than simply by being centered-in-self – “selfish” is the usual accusing term.Psychology is changing the way people are talked about. It is replacing the discussion of people and their problems in the aggregate, as a mob moving through time… with describing people as having internal conflicts that motivate their behaviors. So far these internal conflicts have been perceived pathologically, which strongly implies that contradictions within human character border upon some form of deviance or criminality, politely discussed as “illness”. Instead of being perceived in a larger view as legitimate aspects of the evolution of the human psyche… as our individual souls work out their growing pains – which include such symptoms as hallucination and dissociation (see the article “Is Hallucination Normal” and others). These internal contradictions have more individually personal parts, than they have parts in common with others – for centuries our usual way of talking about each other.The huge advantage of addressing human problems in the individual form is beyond comprehension. The most obvious boon of this altered way of coping with human suffering is the elimination of violence. It’s true even today that the extent to which people address their emotional experience internally, instead of inflicting it together, socially upon some issue or cause, measures the extent to which violence has already been partly defeated.Eventually we will realize that studying the self as an ecosystem, which contains both beneficial as well as contradictory parts, is the most important kind of education we will ever undertake or accomplish. This self-learning will no longer have the sting that “illness” attaches to it; thus it will no longer be called “psychotherapy”. Instead it will become the core of all education, funding every other kind of exploration with the wisdom of self-knowledge.So what will psychology become in the 21st century? It will attempt to define a new concept of human nature that is entirely secular; in which the answers to the problems of the world are to be found inside individual people; defined as contradictions of our individual natures, instead of conflicts with the world at large, whether that be our neighbor, or the country next door. Thereby making war irrelevant to the process of problem solving in human affairs. Lets stop trying to explain our problems with group-talk, and start treating whatever problems we struggle with as belonging intimately to each one of us. We can help each other, but only if we can accept and acknowledge responsibility for our own suffering. This new psychology perceives human dysfunction as an internal event, not an external one. That ancient group-perspective is what has always made us so violence-prone.

When you’re trying to pay down your debt sometimes going to the right high caliber outside agency will actually lower your debt and lower your monthly payments. Nowadays many people go to a credit counseling service for this help. A credit counseling agency can help you if you have a large amount of outstanding debts.But you must do a thorough check on any agency you are considering because unfortunately a lot of unscrupulous agencies have sprung up whose sole business purpose is to take advantage of people in need. There are a number of ways to find legitimate credit counseling agencies.The first thing would be to go on the Internet to the National Foundation For Credit. Pick one of their member agencies. They’re certified by the NFCC and they’re non-profit. Being a non-profit credit counseling agency does not necessarily guarantee that they are legitimate, but it’s a good place to begin. When you get in touch with a credit counseling agency they’ll make an appointment for you to bring in lists of your income (if any), assets, and expenses along with any letters you have from all the people you owe money to.The goal of a legitimate agency is to negotiate lower interest rates as well as lower you monthly payments. The goal of a bogus agency is to separate you from your money. Legitimate credit counseling agencies might be able to negotiate lump sum payoffs that are less than the total that you owe. Keep in mind that if you go this route it will be noted on your credit report – and that will lower your credit score.However, at this point in time your credit is probably challenged anyway. So doing this can make life easier for you and ultimately put you back on the road to a better credit rating.How It WorksYou’ll pay the credit counseling agency a small monthly setup fee and perhaps an additional fee for each account that you owe money to. In return they will contact your creditors and negotiate lower monthly payments. For example, if you’re paying off five bills and they charge $5 each, that comes to $25 per day. You would give a check to the agency and they will pay these creditors.The Advantages of Using A Credit Counseling AgencyYour major advantage is that they can often negotiate lower interest rates and lower fees than you’d be able to on your own. That doesn’t mean that you should blindly accept their advice. Look carefully at the plan they are proposing. See if it makes sense. If their plan doesn’t look like it will save you money or help you to pay off your debt sooner don’t feel pressured to do it.Also, because there are so many bogus credit counseling agencies, most people do considerably more research into a company’s background before they sign an agreement with the one they want to represent them.

So you’ve decided to start a home based business, but you are not sure if the network marketing company you want to join is right for you. Everything you have heard about them is “TOPS”. But you’re getting all of your information from the company’s independent associates and the up-line. Every time you get on a conference call, the information they provide sounds great. The presenter say everyone is making tons of money, going on trips all the time, driving expensive cars, and living in mansions. Who wouldn’t want to be part of all that success? They talk about the company, the product, and the opportunity. And then, it’s decision time. All of the excitement gets your adrenalin pumping and you’re ready to jump in. But you decide to be cautious, and do a little research on your own. After you arrive home, and its just you and the mirror, you have second thoughts. “Can I really do this business?”, you ask yourself. “What happens if I can’t get anyone to join?” “Is this one of the legitimate home based business opportunities? Or is this another MLM company that feeds off of people like me?” All of sudden, you are not confident as as you were on the opportunity call. Don’t feel bad because you’re not alone.Tens of thousands of North Americans decide to start a home based business every year. And many of them opt for a network marketing opportunity. But the facts remain the same, whether it is a traditional business venture, or an MLM opportunity, most new home based businesses aren’t successful. Why? Its a combination of poor or no research, bad business planning, and unrealistic income expectations.When a person enters the network marketing arena, it usually goes something like this. A friend invites them to an opportunity meeting or to listen in on a opportunity call. When they do so, They usually get caught up in all the hype, and before they can say “What am I getting myself into?”, they have brought into a business, and joined a company they really know nothing about. It happens all to frequently; from hotel conference rooms to private homes, to conference calls, thousands of people join business opportunities every week.Most of these new business owners never get their business off the ground. And if they do, most never turn a profit. Why? The main reason is that most people aren’t ready to start their own business. They weren’t looking to start a new business in the first place; usually someone else convinced them to do so.But there are some people who are ready, and are looking to get started with a business opportunity. And you may be one of them. If so, you probably already have the passion and the drive to make it happen.You probably have the investment money to get it started. And you probably have the money to sustain yourself and your family while you build your business. You are ready. You have researched a number of MLM and network marketing companies that peak your business interest. And now its time to put them to the test. Here are ten questions you must ask before going into business with a MLM or network marketing company:1. Is the company solid? Financially, and Ethically.A. How long have they been in business and what is their financial situation? There are hundreds, if not thousands of new business opportunities that have popped up in the last ten years. It is a good rule of thumb that if a business has been around for 5 years, they should be making a profit.B. Are there a lot of complaints with the BBB, or your State Attorney General’s office? If a company has more than a few complaints, that should trigger a yellow (caution) flag.2. Is there a real need in the marketplace for their service or products?A. What percentage of people need the product or service? If your product or service is only needed by a small percentage of people, then you will have a difficult time marketing it.B. What percentage of people want the product or service? If everyone wants it, or could use it, but very few know its available, then you might have a gold mine. Still, you will have to get the word out; and that’s where the company will be counting on you. There must be a balance between ‘needs’ and ‘wants’, or supply and demand, for a product to be successful in the marketplace.3. Does their product or service support itself without offering the business opportunity?A. In other words, is the product affordable or is it overpriced? Many companies offer inflated prices on their products or services, making it difficult to sell. Often times this leads the associates selling the business opportunity, instead of offering the products. Beware of companies that offer extremely low commissions when you make a sale on the product side, but give huge bonuses when you recruit someone into the business.B. Is the product or service exclusive to network marketing or can you get it anywhere? If a potential customer can get your product just about anywhere, it will be that much harder for you to make a profit and you will need to be able to convince your potential customer that what you have is better than the rest.4. Do they have a real internet presence?A. Can your prospects purchase the product from you online? This is a must in 21st century network marketing. Building a client base will still require human interaction, but when your customer is ready f to make another purchase, this is the easiest, and safest, way to provide them with immediate access to your product(s).B. Is the company new to the internet? Do they have a proven track record? This is important to your success when it comes time to make the sale, or recruit an associate. A good company will always have an IT department with web developers that keep the content current.5. Can you recruit online?A. Can you manage your down-line online? It is vital to your business to be able to track your sales to the penny. Many companies only provide BPV, or product volume, etc. But you want to have daily access to gauge your sales volume in dollars and cents. This also pertains to your down-line. You should have the potential to send broadcast messages and thing of this sort. It will be a very important for communication with your organization.6. After the initial investment, how much money can you expect to invest before you see a check? One of the advantages in going into business with a MLM or network marketing company is supposed to be the low initial investment. Combined with the potential for quick income, these to items are essential in building a successful business. Its called ROI (Return on Investment). The faster you receive it, the greater potential you have of growing you business. The bottom line is if you don’t see yourself drawing a commission within 90 days of starting you business, then another caution flag should go up.7. How fast and how often do they pay commissions?A. Are checks distributed once a month, once a week, or once a day? Many years ago, MLM companies only cut checks at the end of the month. Today, that’s hardly acceptable. Today, money moves a lot quicker then it use to. And it has to in network marketing. Getting your commissions to you as quickly as possible is vital so that you will have money to sustain your business.B. Are checks direct deposited? Point blank; this is a must.8. Is there a real potential for override income?A. If you are at least one level above your recruit, are you entitled to override income? Some companies expect you and your organization to produce a certain amount of volume, or meet certain monthly quotas, before you can receive override income from your downline. Generally, a good rule is to find a company that offers over-rides; if you recruit someone and they are at least one level below you, you should be entitled to overrides from them and their organization.9. Is there potential for real residual income?A. If your customer continues to buy the product or service, do you get monthly commissions? Residual income means you get paid, as long as the customer you introduced to the company, continues to purchase the service or products. This is a no-brainer and real way to build wealth in network marketing.10. Is there real training?A. When you join a MLM company, more than likely, they will encourage you to make your list by going after your warm market. Your warm market is your relatives, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. They will encourage you to have a home meeting, bring your guests to the weekly hotel meeting, or invite them on a conference call. That is all good for generating a quick return on your investment while you are learning the business. But what happens if and when the list drys up? What happens if the person who recruited you drops out of the business? Are your up-line folks accessible? Are there company sponsored training and events?B. Is there training that teaches you how to really tap into 21st century internet marketing? Today the internet is the engine that drives network marketing. Billions of dollars are earned in network marketing utilizing the world wide web. When you decide on your business, make sure that your recruiter has a plan that will position you so that you will be noticed on-line. Make sure that it includes training that will teach you how to target your market and drive traffic to your website. This is the single most important lesson that you will have to learn to ensure you are successful with your new business.So here you have it. The ten questions that must be asked to determine if the company your are interested in offers a legitimate home based business opportunity. You want a company that will assist you in laying the foundation for real success. If that company provides good, concrete answers to these questions, then it’s a good bet that going into business with them will be beneficial. Researching to find the right company and network marketing business to join could very well be the most rewarding time you will invest in your future.

If you needed to borrow money many years ago, you would go to the local bank where you had an account. You would fill out the loan application and hope that it would be approved. If it was declined because of your credit history, you did not have many other options.

The amount of lenders that you can turn to if you want to borrow money has grown. You are still at risk for being turned down if your credit history is not as good as the lenders want.

While the application process has not changed much other than having more places to try, the options you have if you are denied has improved. There are now many ways that you can get the credit you need despite having bad credit.

Dealing with Non Conforming Lenders

Non Conforming Lenders often specialize in dealing with people who have bad credit. They offer the loans that people need, but they do take some steps to minimize the risk of lending money to people who have not been wise with their credit in the past. There are some things that you should do if you are considering using a non conforming lender for bad credit to make the process easier.

Be prepared. The best thing that you can do is to learn how to check my credit score before you apply for credit. You are entitled to view your credit report once a year at no charge from the three credit reporting agencies. You can also find services that will allow you to view your credit more often. Familiarize yourself with how the credit report works and what the information on the credit report means.

Correct any mistakes. Thee credit reporting agencies are not perfect. Mistakes are actually common on credit reports. If you see any inaccurate information on your credit report, dispute it and have it removed. Your bad credit will not look so bad if you do this.

Take steps to improve your score. There are some things you can do to improve you credit score quickly. Paying down debt and closing extra accounts may help you raise your score and it can happen faster than you may think.

What to expect when working with Non Conforming Lenders

When you work with non conforming lenders for bad credit you need to know the rules that they will be following. They are going to charge you a higher interest rate for your loan. That is normal and is something that you need to expect. They may also require a risk fee to be paid and generally higher application fees.

Beware of scams with private lenders

Scam artists love to take advantage of people with bad credit. They figure that these people are more desperate and are easier to take advantage of. Before you work with private mortgage lenders take some time to check them out. It is also a good idea to look at forms of credit protection that may keep you from becoming a victim of fraud. There will be some people that say this is common sense, but if you are desperate to borrow money, you may not be as careful as you should.

If a private lender does not disclose all of the terms and fees of a loan without asking and if they are evasive about any questions that you have, turn to another lender. There are plenty of non conforming lenders out there. You will be able to find one that you can trust.