Lionel Messi - I don't compare myself to Ronaldo

Barcelona star Lionel Messi has reiterated that he does not care about comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo or any other players as he is only focused on his own performances.
The Argentina international's achievements are often contrasted to those of the Real Madrid star, but Messi remains unperturbed by such talk and says he is only thinking about helping his team to success.
"The press is always looking for comparisons and those kinds of things," the 28-year-old told MBC. "The only thing I care about is helping my team and to keep on improving each season.

7 Foods That Can Help You Sleep Better at Night

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Nutrition can affect everything from energy levels to disease prevention to stress relief. Food choices also have the power to encourage or discourage a good night’s sleep. Unfortunately, numerous studies have shown people who are sleep-deprived are more likely to eat unhealthy, high-calorie foods. To break this vicious cycle, you’ll need to rethink your eating habits from morning until night. Several small meals throughout the day, for example, will help you sleep better. Eating a large meal late at night, however, can disrupt your body’s sleep cycle.

Lionel Messi: "I Would Be Proud to Meet Barack Obama"

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The Argentine star wants to meet the American president, who had earlier said he was in favor of a meeting.
 

Lionel Messi has responded to comments from Barack Obama saying the president and his two daughters would like to meet the FC Barcelona and Argentina star.

"Obviously, I was surprised that Obama said that, but on the contrary, for me it would be completely the opposite," Messi stated. "For me it would be a source of great pride to be able to meet him and his daughters, but obviously I know it would be complicated."

5 Ways to Lower Your Stress Levels Nikelle Murphy More Articles

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Whether you’d like to admit it or not, stress is probably playing some sort of role in your life. It’s a six-letter word that can deprive you of sleep, make you less productive at work, and cause tension in your family. Stress can pop up in so many areas of life that it’s difficult to name them all — from financial woes to the death of a loved one to troubles at work, varying levels of anxiety can be present at almost every turn. The trick is to recognize stress and figure out ways to manage it, so that you can move on quickly and not let it become like quicksand.
It’s important to recognize stress triggers, as men and women tend to react differently to various situations. Men are much more likely to view work as a stressor, for example, but aren’t quite as likely to get worked up about financial problems or the economy, according to the American Psychological Association. Women tend to share their stress with others, and become more vocally social about what’s got them worried. Men, on the other hand, tend to withdraw a little more and remain quiet about what’s bothering them. If a couple is stressed out about the same or varying things, it can cause a strain on the relationship.

Stress science

Scientifically speaking, there’s a reason the sexes handle stress differently. No matter the gender, stress causes a spike in epinephrine and cortisol, which together raise blood pressure. (Cortisol also lowers the effectiveness of the immune system, which is why you’re more susceptible to getting sick when you’re extremely stressed.) Both men and women’s brains release the hormone oxytocin, which works to counteract the stress-inducing hormones and tries to create a more relaxed feeling in the body. But women’s brains release more oxytocin, so men are often left feeling more stressed. Because of this, men often biologically resort to the traditional “fight or flight” responses — they choose to bottle up the stressors, or fight back.
There’s a psychological explanation for why men tend to become more stressed about work objectives than women, psychologist Dr. Carl Pickhardt told WebMD. Male self-esteem is often built around performance measures, so they become more stressed when that is in question. (Women, for what it’s worth, tend to become more stressed about relationship tensions.) “Men tend to let their rival’s efforts or their employer’s agenda set the level of their demand, losing focus on the self to preoccupation with winning or attaining an extrinsic objective,” Pickhardt said. “Achieving a winning performance at all costs is how many men enter stress.”
Knowing what causes stress can be the first step to handling it. But if you’re dating or married to a woman who handles stress differently than you, her suggestions might not be all that helpful even if she has the best of intentions. Take a look at some ways to handle stress that are specific to men — for the sake of yourself and those you care about.

1. Have a routine for planned stress

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No matter your best efforts, there’s likely to be stressors in your life that you know will pop up. You have a scheduled presentation for your supervisors at work each week, you know there’s a time of month when finances get tight, or your family schedules a vacation that means a little more stress than R&R. Having a process for dealing with these expected stresses will limit their negative effects.

It’s much like how Detroit Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups handles free throws in high-stakes games, he told Men’s Health. “I know it’s a big shot, but I don’t even think about the moment. If I put more pressure on it, then it becomes a mental thing. I treat it the same as a free throw in the first quarter by doing the same routine every single time. I focus on the rim. I take four dribbles, spin the ball, and get up under it. My routine puts me into a calm state. It’s just me and the rim.”
You might not have a game to tie, but if you treat the big meeting like any other one  — prepare, and not put any extra mental emphasis on it — you’ll be able to move forward instead of being paralyzed by extra pressure.

2. Get moving

Exercise isn’t just good for weight loss and heart health — it’s also good for relieving stress. Harvard Health Publications explains that exercise not only reduces stress hormones like cortisol (mentioned above), but it also increases endorphins that naturally improve your mood.

7 Habits for a Healthier, Happier Life

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Life can feel like an uphill battle at times. You may feel frustrated and stifled as you trudge through the motions. The good news is that humans have the capacity for self-empowerment and change, which means you have the ability to alter your state of mind and reprogram your habits to find a healthier, happier life than you thought possible. Isn’t this is what life is all about? Forget about making six figures or buying your dream home, if you can manage to find and maintain health and happiness, you’re one step above the rest. Read on for tips to create your best life.

4 Toughest Job Interview Questions (and How to Answer Them)

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You’ve toiled for months, sending dozens of resumes and cover letters, and your hard work has finally paid off. You got the job interview and now it’s time to prepare for your big day. You have a killer suit picked out, your hair is perfect, and you know everything there is to know about the company. There’s some good news and bad news. The good news: you’re going to look really good and sound knowledgeable. The bad news: it’s not enough to look good and be able to recite company facts. Your interviewer is likely preparing some difficult interview questions in an effort to weed out the best from the worst.
Career counselor Thomas J. Denham advises being prepared by practicing some common questions and answers beforehand. “The purpose of an interviewer asking you questions is to evaluate: 1) How prepared and motivated are you for this job with this company? and 2) How would you fit in with this company/department? Prepare a brief statement about yourself and say it over and over, so you get used to talking about your strengths in a succinct way. However, memorizing your answers will sound too “canned,” said Denham. How can you demonstrate you’re the right person for the job? Here are some of the toughest interview questions you’ll face and tips for how to best answer them.

1. What is your greatest weakness?

This is an interviewer favorite because your answer can help uncover flaws that may help the interviewer come to the conclusion you’re not the right person for the job. Career coach Mike Simpson refers to this as an “onion question” partly due to the question’s layers of complexity and the variety of ways it can be answered. “An onion question is a question with multiple layers…just like, well…an onion! And like an onion it can make you cry, but only if you tackle it unprepared. First off, this isn’t a simple question you can rattle off a quick answer to or parrot back some easy-to-memorize statistics or facts and move on. It’s a question meant to make you think, and think hard,” said Simpson.
Simpson advises resisting the urge to deny you have any weaknesses. He says this is a slick way to avoid answering the question, and interviewers will see right through this tactic. Instead, Simpson recommends mentioning a real weakness that you’ve learned to overcome and are working toward overcoming. However, make sure the weakness is minor enough not to raise red flags and that it’s a problem that actually has a solution.

2. Why should we hire you?

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This question will likely catch you off guard. The key is to know exactly why you’re the best pick. Answering this question will require a delicate balance. The goal is to communicate confidence without sounding conceited. You also don’t want to appear to be begging for the job. “Every organization has a specific set of qualities that the potential hire needs to have in order to be successful in the position.

Did Jesus' Crucifixion Actually Involve Nails? Here's the Truth About the Easter Story

When it comes to the life and times of one Jesus Christ, how much do we really know? Although Christian iconography widely depicts Jesus as having been nailed to the cross, historians claim there's actually not much evidence that crucifixions actually involved a hammer and nails. 

As Dr. Meredith J. C. (coincidence?) Warren of the University of Sheffield explains for Discovery News, Romans weren't always keen on piercing the hands and feet of those with a cross to bear; often, they chose to affix them to the wooden posts with ropes tied around their wrists (less messy, you know?). In fact, some scholars have argued the original Biblical texts never actually mention crucifixion, let alone nails, in relation to Jesus' death, according to the Telegraph. 

Christ on the Cross between the Virgin and Saint John (Canon Crucifixion)

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According to Warren, though, the other components of crucifixion were exactly the nightmare you've always pictured: painful and drawn-out, with victims eventually succumbing to asphyxiation or exhaustion. Usually reserved for only the lowest of status, it was also a punishment meant to publicly humiliate those who suffered it.

The Goal-Setting Process Warren Buffett Uses To Say ‘No’ And Achieve More

 
Top achievers’ thought processes are often the same. I was recently reminded of this when a friend shared a story about how he’s been able to achieve consistent double-digit growth every year for the last decade.
It all began when I asked him, “What’s your secret to your consistently amazing growth every year?”
After all, he has generated annual revenue growth of 15% to 20% every single year, which is an incredible achievement.
His answer surprised me. He said, “I’ve said no more than any other time in my career.”
At first, I didn’t quite understand what he was saying, so he continued. “In the past, I was the guy chasing shiny objects, so I’d be the guinea pig and test a handful of them each year in my practice. I would try three, four, five or more new ideas every year. Maybe one of them would pan out and lead to modest results, but the others were usually flops.”