In the year 1943 Dr.Abraham Maslow a prominent psychologist of the time, published his influential article “A Theory of Human Motivation” in the prestigious journal, Psychological Review. In his piece Maslow outlined his framework of human motivation which he developed after conducting extensive studies through use of clinical experiments. The core philosophy behind Maslow’s theory of motivation was that people are motivated by a drive to fulfill needs that are unsatisfied. There is a hierarchy of needs and a person cannot move up a rank in the hierarchy until a lower need is first satisfied.
So long as a person has a craving to satisfy the needs in his current level on the hierarchy he will be able to proceed to the next level as soon as those current needs are met. Conflict occurs when a person tries to jump the hierarchy before first satisfying the needs of his current level, and this is the root cause of depression and unhappiness. Most people get caught up in the love/belonging stage and that is why they cannot move up the pyramid. Having a positive relationship with your friends and family will give your self-esteem the boost it needs.
Let us take a closer look at this hierarchy. At the pinnacle is what he termed as “self actualization” and very few people in this world actually reach this level. Self actualization is only obtained when a person fulfills their potential in this world, and this can be achieved when a person has certain key motivational factors:
Truth
Justice
Wisdom
Meaning
People who are on the path to self actualization have a number of experiences which Maslow termed “Peak Experiences”, i.e. moments where they experience profound happiness and harmony. So the next time you find your self to be upset about life and find that you are lacking motivation, perform some introspection and find out what are your strengths. Then use your strengths to satisfy the needs of your current level so that you can move ahead in life.
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The word “jeans” originates from the French phrase bleu de Gênes which translates to “blue of Genoa” because the material hails from the town of Genoa. The fabric used to manufacture jeans was also historically produced in the French town of Nimes and that is why jeans are sometimes also called “denim”. As an interesting side note, dungarees (known as overalls in North America) which are also made of denim were originally worn by sailors hailing from the Indian town of Dhunga, hence the nomenclature. As you can clearly see the iconic blue jeans has enjoyed a truly universal international appeal as a fashion staple, but then why do so many men get it all wrong? In this article we are going to a take a closer look at jeans, and teach you how to select the perfect pair.
Shopping For Jeans
Writing a style guide about shopping for jeans is no easy feat because they come in a plethora of cuts and a multitude of colours which come in and out of fashion depending on the prevailing trends. The three classics colours that are here to stay are:
Original Blue/Raw
The original jeans were only available in these colour and hailed from the town of Chieri in Renaissance Italy. These pants were sold to sailors whose port of call was Genoa. The Genoese Navy of the time also issued pants of this type to their sailors because of their unique property of being extremely durable when either wet or dry. Members of the navy would wear these rugged pants while swabbing the decks of ships. It is estimated that presently 20 million tons of indigo dye annually (almost exclusively cultivated in modern day India's Bengal region) are used to colour jeans blue. In modern times the Original Blue Jean is the most adaptable of the three classics as it can be paired with almost any type of clothing.
Faded Blue
Slightly more casual than the Original Blue Jean this colour is sometimes paired with blazers to take the formality up a notch. But it is recommended to stick to Original Blue for the more formal affairs.
Dirty/Rust Faded till the blue turns to a more rust like colour similar to leaves in fall, these jeans are the most casual of the three classics, and often used by fashion designers to create more unique styles.
A factor that you must consider when purchasing your jeans is whether or not comfort is extremely important to you, or can you sacrifice a little comfort for more style? This is because you cannot have both. If for example the jeans are for lounging around the house you may opt for more comfort, however, if the trousers are for use at a workplace that requires semi-formal attire, you should opt in favour of style. So what consitutes style when it comes to jeans? The fashion industry is cyclical meaning a certain trend will be popular for a few years, until it is replaced by the opposing trend for another few years, only to be then replaced yet again by the original trend. "Flare" refers to the width of the bottom-most portion of the leg on the pants. The bottom will taper out slightly resembling a bell (hence the origin of the term "bell-bottom") in styles known as "boot cut", "skinny jeans" and "straight cut" styles there is a lack of this tapering.
Regardless of whether you choose to wear flared or non flared jeans you must ensure that you select a pair that will give you a proper fit. Key areas such as legs, crotch, and waist should not be excessively tight and restrictive. The rear of the pants should nicely package your backside. When making your purchase keep in mind that after the first few washes the jeans will shrink slightly even if it says "pre-shrunk". on the label. The best way to test fit is to bring with you to the store everything that you plan to carry with you when wearing your new jeans. Is the potential candidate able to accommodate your wallet? Car keys? Cell phone? These are some of the questions that you should be asking yourself. Also bring with you the belt that you wear most often because often times the loop holes in designer jeans can be too large or too small to ensure a good fit, so it is important to test this out beforehand. And finally, when shopping make sure to wear the shoes that you plan to wear with your new jeans and check out the pants in the mirror to see if you like how the pants fall over top of the shoes.
There are a large variety of cuts for jeans, but here are a few of the most popular:
Bootcut
A more rebellious old school style with a tighter fitting thigh and slightly flared bottom to allow for the wearing of boots.
Straight Cut
Always in style, these can be worn for semi-formal and casual occasions alike.
Slim/Skinny/Drain Pipe
Similar to the straight cut, but exceptionally narrow to provide a very trendy silhouette of the leg. Often the denim in these jeans is mixed with Lycra to give it a more stretchable property which helps the jeans mould to the contours of the wearer's leg.
Relaxed Fit
They are the widest of all the cuts, and in all parts of the world except North America they are exclusively worn by elderly men. President Obama was on one occasion ridiculed for donning a pair of these as the media dubbed it his "mom jeans". It is best to steer clear of this cut unless you are over the age of sixty and require the extra leg room.
Low Rise
Usually combined with another style such as "Low Rise Boot Cut" or "Low Rise Straight Cut" this term simply denotes that the hips are positioned lower on the trousers.
In terms of durability of the fabric opt for jeans that have rivets in strategic locations to reinforce the garment. Invented by the German-American, Levis Strauss these are metal pieces applied to points of strain to prevent tearing of the trousers.
Caring For Your Jeans
There are only a handful of simple instructons that need to be followed in order to ensure that your jeans will be maintained in that crisp and fashionable state even after multiple wears. The very first time that you wash your jeans make sure to wash them inside out and alone as there might be some dye transfer to other garments, and in order to minimize this transfer for the first washing you can add a cup of vinegar to help with dye retention. For all subsequent washes the jeans should be washed inside out with like colours. Never dry your jeans in the dryer as this will ruin the structure of the garment, rather the best way to dry is by hanging the jeans outside on a clothes line or over your bathtub.
Things To Avoid
There are a few things that if avoided like the plague will ensure that your style sense will not be penalized by a visit from the fashion police. Factory manufactured distressing and holes like in the picture below are unsightly, rather let normal wear and tear create a more natural look.
Pay attention to how the jeans hug your backside unless you want to look like the character pictured below.
Steer clear of bad washes like the one worn by the person in the picture below.
So you’ve decided to upgrade your Timex Ironman that you had since grade ten, but aren’t sure how to select a watch that is more grown up. This article is going to teach you everything you need to know in order to get that perfect timepiece.
The first step in purchasing a decent watch is to acquaint yourself with some of the terminology that is used in the business.
Complication
This term refers to anything that your watch is capable of doing above and beyond the simple task of time keeping. Examples are a chronograph feature, stopwatch, calendar, laser beam (yes those do exist).
Movement
The little tiny gears and cogs that make your watch tick. Swiss movements are the best, followed by Japanese in second place.
Quartz
Quartz is a type of crystal, and some watches keep time by measuring the oscillations of the quartz crystal inside the watch.
Self-Winding
Also known as kinetic or automatic, this refers to a type of mechanical watch that is powered by the normal movements of the wearer’s wrist.
Water-Resistant
Pretty self explanatory, but please do not confuse this to mean that your watch is “water proof” so it is advisable to remove your watch when taking a shower or swimming, unless your watch is rated 5Bar or water resistant to one hundred meters.
Collectible watches are those that were made between 1935 and 1985, anything older than that is a vintage. A few years back a vintage watch sold for $11 million dollars. If you are one of the fortunate few who are able to get their hands on a true vintage watch make sure to ask for original documentation to back up the dealer’s claims about the authenticity of the timepiece. This paperwork will have a serial number that has to match with what is imprinted on the body of the watch. It doesn’t matter if you are purchasing a $100 watch by Fossil, or a $65000 masterpiece by Patek Philippe your watch is a valuable instrument and that is why it is important to make this investment at a reputable seller that can provide certificates of authenticity. Spending money on a counterfeit can prove to be a costly affair if the knock off is unable to accurately track time. And a true watch connoisseur will easily be able to expose your fake.
The strap on the watch can be made of various materials such as rubber, leather, or metal. The order of value for the metal from highest to lowest is as follows:
Platinum
White gold
Pink gold
Yellow gold
Steel (however this is more valuable than platinum if the watch was made during the steel shortages of World War Two).
Metal straps are considered bold, and leather more elegant. A gentleman invited to a tuxedo mandatory party will always wear a watch with a black leather strap. A watch with a metal strap pairs well with jeans, however, if it is a sleek and strong design it can go well with a suit for the office. Watches with rubber straps are ideally suited for athletic activities as they have the ability to sustain the trauma that can be unintentionally thrown at them.
In terms of value a watch that is fully mechanical is of more value than one that has a quartz movement, and that is why these watches also command a higher price. So if purchasing a time piece that is to become a family heirloom select one that is mechanical. You may also choose to opt for a watch that has a chronograph function (stop watch and distance measuring features), and these watches are typically large and will get much attention from people because of its muscular stance on the wearer’s wrist. However if you purchase a fine time piece it is imperative to maintain your complex piece of machinery by having it oiled and cleaned every three to five years because the internal oils will have started to break down by this time. Find a reputable watch repair centre to perform this type of work, and usually you can find qualified professionals that are trained to work on your particular model if you carefully read the service manual that came with your watch. Depending on the quality of your watch the average repair can cost anywhere from $400 to half a million dollars. If you own a Swiss watch it can take up to a period of four months to overhaul your watch and re-lubricate the internal components because the entire watch is carefully taken apart, and then lovingly put back together.
So what exactly is the difference between a $100 and a $30000 watch? Well as a rule of thumb any watch that is above $2500 is entirely hand-made and is not mass produced. Each year the company will produce say 500 units of that particular model for the entire world. It is like owning a little piece of coveted art on your wrist. A cheap “Made in China” watch will keep track of the time no doubt, however, a genuine Swiss watch is skilfully crafted by the hands of a man in a tiny workshop in Geneva, and his family would have been making watches for generations. This man’s bloodline has been lovingly making watches for Kings, Queens and heads of State for centuries. You are buying into a piece of history, a piece of tradition, and that is why you are paying the premium. Just to give you an idea of the value of Swiss watches, "Chopard" a company based in Switzerland recently released the world's most valuable watch, costing a cool $25 million dollars.
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From the moment that he walks into the room he siezes command as the leader, and all the other males look to him for approval. The articles found here will help you improve your confidence and become the man that all the women want to be with and all the boys want to be, the alpha male.
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