Sunday, October 11, 2009
The Key to a Better Life
Some people view time management as a list of rules that involves scheduling of appointments, goal settings, thorough planning, creating things to do lists and prioritizing. These are the core basics of time management that should be understood to develop an efficient personal time management skill. These basic skills can be fine tuned further to include the finer points of each skill that can give you that extra reserve to make the results you desire.
But there is more skills involved in time management than the core basics. Skills such as decision making, inherent abilities such as emotional intelligence and critical thinking are also essential to your personal growth.
Personal time management involves everything you do. No matter how big and no matter how small, everything counts. Each new knowledge you acquire, each new advice you consider, each new skill you develop should be taken into consideration.
Having a balanced life-style should be the key result in having personal time management. This is the main aspect that many practitioners of personal time management fail to grasp.
Time management is about getting results, not about being busy.
The six areas that personal time management seeks to improve in anyone's life are physical, intellectual, social, career, emotional and spiritual.
The physical aspect involves having a healthy body, less stress and fatigue.
The intellectual aspect involves learning and other mental growth activities.
The social aspect involves developing personal or intimate relations and being an active contributor to society.
The career aspect involves school and work.
The emotional aspect involves appropriate feelings and desires and manifesting them.
The spiritual aspect involves a personal quest for meaning.
Thoroughly planning and having a set of things to do list for each of the key areas may not be very practical, but determining which area in your life is not being giving enough attention is part of time management. Each area creates the whole you, if you are ignoring one area then you are ignoring an important part of yourself.
Personal time management should not be so daunting a task. It is a very sensible and reasonable approach in solving problems big or small.
A great way of learning time management and improving your personal life is to follow several basic activities.
One of them is to review your goals whether it be immediate or long-term goals often.
A way to do this is to keep a list that is always accessible to you.
Always determine which task is necessary or not necessary in achieving your goals and which activities are helping you maintain a balanced life style.
Each and everyone of us has a peek time and a time when we slow down, these are our natural cycles. We should be able to tell when to do the difficult tasks when we are the sharpest.
Learning to say "No". You actually see this advice often. Heed it even if it involves saying the word to family or friends.
Pat yourself at the back or just reward yourself in any manner for an effective time management result.
Try and get the cooperation from people around you who are actually benefiting from your efforts of time management.
Don't procrastinate. Attend to necessary things immediately.
Have a positive attitude and set yourself up for success. But be realistic in your approach in achieving your goals.
Have a record or journal of all your activities. This will help you get things in their proper perspective.
These are the few steps you initially take in becoming a well rounded individual.
As the say personal time management is the art and science of building a better life.
From the moment you integrate into your life time management skills, you have opened several options that can provide a broad spectrum of solutions to your personal growth. It also creates more doors for opportunities to knock on.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Enjoy Your Life: Change Your Point of View
If you’ve placed second in a writing contest, will you jump for joy and push for better results the next time or will you be discouraged and find an excuse not to join again?
In life, you are always filled with choices. You may opt to have a pessimist’s view and live a self-defeated life or you may decide to take the optimist’s route and take a challenging and fulfilling life.
So why nurture an optimist’s point of view? And why now?
Well, optimism has been linked to positive mood and good morale; to academic, athletic, military, occupational and political success; to popularity; to good health and even to long life and freedom from trauma.
On the other hand, the rates of depression and pessimism have never been higher. It affects middle-aged adults the same way it hits younger people. The mean age of onset has gone from 30 to 15. It is no longer a middle-aged housewife’s disorder but also a teen-ager’s disorder’ as well.
Here’s how optimists are in action and researches that back up why it really pays to be an optimist:
Optimists expect the best
The defining characteristic of pessimists is that they tend to believe bad events, which will last a long time and undermine everything they do, are their own fault.
The truth is optimists are confronted with the same hard knocks of this world. What differs is the way they explain their misfortune---it’s the opposite way. They tend to believe defeat is just a temporary setback, that its causes are confined to this one case.
Optimists tend to focus on and plan for the 'problem' at hand. They use 'positive reinterpretation.' In other words, they most likely reinterpret a negative experience in a way that helps them learn and grow. Such people are unfazed by bad situation, they perceive it is a challenge and try harder.
They won’t say “things will never get better,” “If I failed once, it will happen again” and “If I experience misfortune in one part of my life, then it will happen in my whole life.”
Positive expectancies of optimists also predict better reactions during transitions to new environments, sudden tragedies and unlikely turn of events. If they fall, they will stand up. They see opportunities instead of obstacles.
People respond positively to optimists
Optimists are proactive and less dependent on others for their happiness. They find no need to control or manipulate people. They usually draw people towards them. Their optimistic view of the world can be contagious and influence those they are with.
Optimism seems a socially desirable trait in all communities. Those who share optimism are generally accepted while those who spread gloom, panic and hysteria are treated unfavourably.
In life, these people often win elections; get voted most congenial and sought for advice.
When the going gets tough, optimists get tougher
Optimists typically maintain higher levels of subjective well-being during times of stress than do people who are less optimistic. In contrast, pessimists are likely to react to stressful events by denying that they exist or by avoiding dealing with problems. Pessimists are more likely to quit trying when difficulties arise.
They persevere. They just don’t give up easily, they are also known for their patience. Inching their way a step closer to that goal or elusive dream.
Optimists are healthier and live longer
Medical research has justified that simple pleasures and a positive outlook can cause a measurable increase in the body's ability to fight disease.
Optimists’ health is unusually good. They age well, much freer than most people from the usual physical ills of middle age. And they get to outlive those prone to negative thoughts.
So why not be an optimist today? And think positively towards a more fulfilled life.
Why not look forward to success in all your endeavours? Why not be resilient? Like everybody else you are bound to hit lows sometimes but don’t just stay there. Carry yourself out of the mud and improve your chances of getting back on the right track. And why not inspire others to remove their dark-coloured glasses and see life in the bright side?
Len
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Impossible is Just a Word
Often, we dream big dreams and have great aspirations. Unfortunately, our dreams remain just that – dreams. And our aspirations easily collect dust in our attic.
This is a sad turn of events in our life. Instead of experiencing exciting adventures in self actualization, we get caught up in the humdrum of living from day-to-day just barely existing.
But you know what? Life could be so much better, if only we learned to aim higher.
The most common problem to setting goals is the word impossible. Most people get hung up thinking I can't do this. It's too hard. It's too impossible. No one can do this.
However, if everyone thought that, there would be no inventions, no innovations, and no breakthroughs in human accomplishment.
Remember that scientists were baffled when they took a look at the humble bumblebee. Theoretically, they said, it was impossible for the bumblebee to fly. Unfortunately for the bumble, bee no one has told it so. So fly it does.
On the other hand, some people suffer from dreaming totally outrageous dreams and not acting on them. The result? Broken dreams, and tattered aspirations.
If you limit yourself with self-doubt, and self-limiting assumptions, you will never be able to break past what you deem impossible. If you reach too far out into the sky without working towards your goal, you will find yourself clinging on to the impossible dream.
Try this exercise. Take a piece of paper and write down some goals in your life. Under one header, list down things ‘you know you can do’. Under another header, write the things ‘you might be able to do.’ And under one more, list the things that that are ‘impossible for you to do.’
Now look at all the headers strive every day to accomplish the goals that are under things ‘you know you can do’. Check them when you are able to accomplish them. As you slowly are able to check all of your goals under that heading, try accomplishing the goals under the other header-the one that reads ‘you might be able to do.’
As of the items you wrote under things I could do are accomplished, you can move the goals that are under things that are ‘impossible for you to do’ to the list of things ‘you might be able to do.’
As you iterate through this process, you will find out that the goals you thought were impossible become easier to accomplish. And the impossible begin to seem possible after all.
You see, the technique here is not to limit your imagination. It is to aim high, and start working towards that goal little by little. However, it also is unwise to set a goal that is truly unrealistic.
Those who just dream towards a goal without working hard end up disappointed and disillusioned.
On the other hand, if you told someone a hundred years ago that it was possible for man to be on the moon, they would laugh at you. If you had told them that you could send mail from here to the other side of the world in a few seconds, they would say you were out of your mind. But, through sheer desire and perseverance, these impossible dreams are now realities.
Thomas Edison once said that genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. Nothing could be truer. For a person to accomplish his or her dreams, there has to be had work and discipline. But take note that that 1% has to be a think-big dream, and not some easily accomplished one.
Ask any gym rat and he or she will tell you that there can be no gains unless you are put out of your comfort zone. Remember the saying, “No pain, no gain”? That is as true as it can be.
So dream on! Don’t get caught up with your perceived limitations. Think big and work hard to attain those dreams. As you step up the ladder of progress, you will just about find out that the impossible has just become a little bit more possible.
Keep Smiling
Len
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Happy as You Want to Be?
Living a happy, resilient and optimistic life is wonderful, and is also good for your health. Being happy actually protects you from the stresses of life. Stress is linked to top causes of death such as heart disease, cancer and stroke.
One of the better things ever said is - 'The only thing in life that will always remain the same is change', and in our life we have the power to make the necessary changes if we want to. Even if we find ourselves in an unbearable situation we can always find solace in the knowledge that it too would change.
Social networks or relationships are essential to happiness. People are different, accept people for who or what they are, avoid clashes, constant arguments, and let go of all kinds of resentments. If arguments seem unavoidable still try and make an effort to understand the situation and you might just get along with well
Happiness is actually found in everyone, increasing it is a way to make a life more wonderful and also more healthy.
To be happy is relatively easy, just decide to be a happy person. Abraham Lincoln observed that most people for most of the time can choose how happy or stressed, how relaxed or troubled, how bright or dull their outlook to be. The choice is simple really, choose to be happy.
There are several ways by which you can do this.
Being grateful is a great attitude. We have so much to be thankful for. Thank the taxi driver for bringing you home safely, thank the cook for a wonderful dinner and thank the guy who cleans your windows. Also thank the postman for bringing you your mails, thank the policeman for making your place safe and thank God for being alive.
News is stressful. Get less of it. Some people just can't start their day without their daily dose of news. Try and think about it, 99% of the news we hear or read is bad news. Starting the day with bad news does not seem to be a sensible thing to do.
Laugh and laugh heartily everyday. Heard a good joke? Tell your friends or family about it. As they also say -'Laughter is the best medicine'.
Express your feelings, affections, friendship and passion to people around you. They will most likely reciprocate your actions. Try not to keep pent up anger of frustrations, this is bad for your health. Instead find ways of expressing them in a way that will not cause more injury or hurt to anyone.
Working hard brings tremendous personal satisfaction. It gives a feeling of being competent in finishing our tasks. Accomplishments are necessary for all of us, they give us a sense of value. Work on things that you feel worthy of your time.
Learning is a joyful exercise. Try and learn something new everyday. Learning also makes us expand and broaden our horizons. And could also give us more opportunities in the future.
Run, jog, walk and do other things that your body was made for. Feel alive.
Avoid exposure to negative elements like loud noises, toxins and hazardous places.
These are the few simple things you can do everyday to be happy.
And always remember the quote from Abraham Lincoln, he says that, "Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."
Thursday, August 20, 2009
What do I have to sacrifice to succeed?
There are a lot of people making money online. But there is a common factor with all these people. And you will never know what it is reading a sales page! Let me repeat that. You will never no what makes people successful online by reading a Sales Page!
You must understand if you read a sales page and it suggests that you can become rich by sending them some money, don't be fooled. The sales page may even outline how people have taken advantage of this system and it worked for them! They made millions applying these Secret Techniques...
They will even give you fancy testimonials. Never let testimonials be the deciding factor if you're going to pursue an opportunity. They are easily fabricated. Many times marketers will promote each others products not because they believe or care about them, but because it's good for their business.
"So what does that mean? You still haven't told me what I need to sacrifice!"
You must sacrifice your approach. Don't believe everything you read. Learn to research, ask questions, and find the answers. Don't jump into anything without weighing the risk.
Now some of you might have unlimited funds. Many of you may not. It doesn't matter. Time translates into money. Remember time is money!
I challenge you to decide what you are worth today. Is your time worth $10 per hour? Or is it worth $25? Don't forget to factor in your living expenses and overhead...
Approach everything like your survival depends on it. A decision you make today may allow you to survive a few months but crush you in 6. Everything has a long term effect.
If you pursue something that costs $250 and you're worth $10 per hour, you have to work 50 hours to make that up.... why? Because you might have spent 25 hours figuring it out and implementing it.
You can see how it can be devastating if it turns out it doesn't work... Change your approach.
One more thing, the people that are successful online aren't selling their success secrets. It's all hype. The people that are selling success secrets are most likely successful only because people buy into their bogus program
Len
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Expect Success, But Know Your Path...
Everyone reading this can succeed online! I can say that with 100% confidence. There is room for everyone online.
So expect to Win. Expect to Succeed. Why? Because you will. There is nothing standing in your way...
You say, "Well how can you say that. Look at my financial situation." Or, "I don't have the education so I'll never be able to compete." Or, "I don't have the time!"
Well I'm here to tell you none of those hold water. They are temporary problems. They can be overcome. And giving up is a permanent solution to those temporary problems.
If you commit yourself 100%, burn your bridges, and put all of your energy to task, YOU WILL SUCCEED! There's no question...
There are a few things you need to get through your head.
- You can't put a time limit on it.
- You have to expect to fail before you succeed.
- You have to create a Burning Desire.
- You must walk before your run... Get educated.
- You must have complete focus on your goal.
- You need a defined purpose.
- You have to find YOUR opportunity.
- You have to employ patience.
- You have enjoy what you are doing and believe in it...
- And You Must Learn From Others...
Your commitment to Online Success is the key to finding it. Commit to enjoying the journey. Someday in hindsight you will realize the journey itself produced your life's dreams. The ups and downs are just brush strokes on your life's work.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
You Have The Power To Make Your Own Reality
The power of your thought can enable reality, and all realities. This reality however at times will often have you accept otherwise. Believing that your fate lies in other people’s hands and to things beyond your control, then you looses the power, which is the very power or capability to create.
Loosing this power, then makes it easier for other people to change and manipulate your world into that which others want it to be, instead of transforming it yourself into what you really want it to be. Bear in mind, you and only you have that right and that power to make your world.
Creating your own reality will never imply being a success in the financial aspect of success. Being poor or rich is not the requirement of this state; however, maintaining a positive and healthy attitude very much is.
Remember that every successes stems or results from your own capability to attract the positive character. You must recognize that every incident in you life is intentionally created.
Although you may have been disappointed on previous successions, illusion constantly builds up like prison gates simply because you was unsuccessful to retrieve the life force of happiness. So you must concentrate on certain things that guarantee a positive concept of success. The powerful reason for this is that inside a negative energy containment, it sustains and encourages only negative energy.
Just as fire needs fuel negative energy will not live without something assisting in its formation. Note that fire will wipe out everything provided that there is still energy feeding it. The moment that fires sustenance is gone, the fire should, by law of nature, distinguish itself.
It is this exact law that exists in every person’s thoughts. The energy you produce will feed on the equivalent energy that is in existent in that certain thought. Negative thoughts feeds on negative energy, in the same manner that positive thoughts attract and feed on positive energy.
The more negative thought that you have, the more they creates negative energy all around. This negative energy in time will build up enormously.
That explains why some people have negative incidents attached to them. Certain facets go on haunting some people for years to such point that these individuals feel that they are born unlucky or that they are cursed. When in fact, they have created this negative energy and have accumulated so much, that it’s feeding off its self.
You have the power to rewrite this reality, this negative energy that you have nourished. Defeat it with pleasant, positive and inspiring thoughts, all the time, every time. Continuously doing so will distinguish the negative fire within.
Here are simple ways to rewrite your thoughts and your reality:
1. There is a need and a must to change your beliefs and attitude concerning your present reality. Shift your attention and focus in the direction that you believe can bring you more success and peace. Turn negative thoughts into positive ones; whenever a negative thought enters your mind, block it off instantly with a positive thought.
2. Create an image or think of the new and positive reality that you want to achieve and focus on it constantly; If there is a need for you to decide on a certain aspect in your life, refer to that image in a positive way, to help you in your decision making.
3. Heal all your negative thoughts. Look inside you and determine what needs to be done and what you want to do. Keep on focusing to that reality that you want to achieve and never be afraid to take the steps towards it. Remember, fear is negative.
Wanting to succeed above every circumstance in your life, means using the power of your thoughts to make the reality that you want. Focus your attention to the thoughts and images that you want to project, that you want to achieve; this, combined with that passionate feeling deep inside you, your thoughts will be able to bring forward what you truly desire.
