Q: Everyone's spiritual journey, whether in response to difficult challenges or uplifting opportunities, is unique. Despite this, many spiritual journeys will use similar tools or go down similar paths. Remember that, though advice from others can be helpful, nobody can tell you how your journey should be going, or what direction it should be going in. You are ultimately responsible for the direction of your journey. If one of the steps in this guide produce stress or harm for you, skip it for the time being and find an alternative that helps you contemplate your life. No religion has a monopoly on truth. If a religion or its followers begin to control or scare you, consider backing up and consulting a different source. Though this may seem like pre-planning, your journey begins now. Take inventory of your thoughts, feelings, fears, and expectations. Record your thoughts about daily life and your long-term thoughts. Every week, read over your entries and contemplate your accomplishments and challenges for the week. Use this as a grounding exercise to understand your worries, hopes, and ambitions in context. Such practice is often referred to as keeping a "mindfulness journal." Its purpose is to reveal to you the thought patterns that govern your life, possibly negatively, so that you may focus on transforming them. The mindfulness journal can help in organizing your thoughts in regards to goal-setting. Spiritual journeys can help those who want to be calmer and less angry, who are anxious about death, who want to enlarge their sense of wonder about the world, or who are struggling to leave behind an old belief system. As this is your journey, it will help you heal or change whatever it is you decide to focus on. Prioritize what interests you intellectually as well as emotionally; think about what you are curious about, as well as what you might change to live a healthier life. Spiritual journeys can incorporate both intellectual and emotional aspects of your life. Remember that spiritual goals may take a lifetime to accomplish, and often change along the way. Avoid setting deadlines for your goals, or allowing them to stress you out. Do you have a single challenge you need assistance with? Or are you looking for long-lasting personal transformation? Are you simply looking for a meditative practice to add to your routine, or are you having a heavy crisis of faith? Understand beforehand how sweeping your journey may be; like therapy, a spiritual journey may require all your focus in changing your relationship to the world, or it may only need a small amount of your time and attention. Many spiritual journeys are lifelong affairs that constantly build upon themselves. Spirituality is a crucial part of life, and is hardly ever separate from it. Allow your scope to change as is necessary.
A: Understand that your journey is yours alone. Keep a journal of your thoughts and feelings. Make a set of goals and prioritize them. Decide on the scope of your journey.

Q: Make sure to have all of your materials at hand: beads, beading thread, wire cutter, crimp beads, super glue, and closures to properly finish your necklace. The best kinds of wire are flexible beading wire and beading thread. All of these materials are easily available at your local craft store (Michael's or Joanne's, for example). When considering which style of necklace you'd like to create, think about factors such as length. If you like shorter necklaces you might consider making a collar or choker. If you like longer necklaces, you might want a lariat length (longer, usually down to your chest) necklace. You can also make up your own style and length. These are simple suggestions to give you a rough idea. Note that the finished length of your beaded necklace includes the beads you've used and the length of the jewelry clasp of your choice. The choker is the shortest necklace and amounts to roughly 13 inches total length. The collar is a little longer, and goes down to about 14 to 16 inches. A Lariat is the longest, coming in at about and over 45 inches. As mentioned above, you can also choose your own length and style. Take your tape measure, and loop it around your neck while looking at yourself in the mirror. Try small and big loops to see what you prefer. This will give you an idea of what your necklace might look like on your neck.
A: Gather your beading materials. Determine your necklace style. Select a length. Measure your neck, and then decide on a length.

Q: You might want to ask the seller or salesperson questions like, "Does this car have any issues you know about?" If you're dealing with a private seller, you might ask, "Why are you selling the car?" The answers may help you learn more about the car and what you can expect if you buy it. Sites like Carfax and AutoCheck are useful for searching vehicle history reports. Just enter the vehicle identification number to find information regarding a specific car. This information can help you piece together a more comprehensive picture of the car's history, including who the previous owners were and whether the vehicle has any liens against it. Check the car's odometer, too. Vehicle history reports should show an odometer reading that is less than its current reading. There are a number of elements that you should check before buying a used car with cash. For instance, pop the hood and look for leaky or oil-splattered engine parts. Check the tires. If they're bald, express your concern and ask the seller if they would consider fitting the car with new tires before you purchase it. If the seller disallows such an inspection, it is likely because the car has some hidden problem. If your independent mechanic finds a problem with the vehicle, bring it to the attention of the seller. If they say they didn't know about it (and if the issue is not a deal breaker for you), use the issue in your negotiations later to obtain a lower price for the vehicle. If the car is a certified pre-owned vehicle, it has already been inspected and has a warranty, so there is no reason to take it to a mechanic. Giving the used car a test drive is the best way to determine if it really is the car for you. During your test drive, evaluate the car's performance. Ensure that the seats are comfortable and easily adjustable. Test the heat, air conditioning, headlights, and blinkers. Determine the ease of driving. The brakes and steering wheel should be responsive. Look for warning lights on the dash panel. Check for blind spots by adjusting the rear-view mirror and side mirrors appropriately. If your test drive doesn't go well, consider refocusing your energies on buying a different car on your list. Vehicle service records will show when the car was last serviced, and when it ought to be serviced again. If the car has missed a tire rotation or oil change, insist on that the seller provide one before you purchase the vehicle. Private sellers probably won't have vehicle service records on hand. Get the car looked over by a mechanic to ensure that it is in good condition.
A:
Ask the seller questions about the car's performance and history. Check vehicle history reports to learn more about the car. Look the car over. Have the vehicle inspected by an independent mechanic. Test-drive the car. Ask to see service records.