Many biographers working on a long project complain that their subject has eaten up their life. Did that happen to you?
Robert Caro: No. Because I don’t really regard my books as biographies. I’ve never had the slightest interest in writing a book to tell the life of a great man. I started The Power Broker because I realized that there was this man, Robert Moses, who had all this power and he had shaped New York for forty-four years. I regarded the book as a study of power in cities. After I finished that, I wanted to do national power. I felt I could learn about how power worked on a national level by studying Lyndon Johnson. I regard these books as studies in political power, not biography.
We live in a world where it is normal to settle for a lot less than we are capable of. And when you are the weird one that decides to set your mind on a vision so big you are too scared to say it out loud, then you definitely need these 7 things.
1. Selective Hearing
There will be those who feel the need to tell you what they think, even though you did not ask for it. Choose not to hear them. there is a story of Vincent van Gogh being asked how he could expect to create great art when he only had one ear and he simply said – “I cannot hear you”. That may be the stance to take when people choose to tell you why they believe that your dream is too big and too crazy.
2. A ready smile as you walk away
And if they are particularly persistent (usually family and friends), then you must have a ready smile as you graciously take yourself out of the room. I belong to a family who definitely feel the need to give me opinions when I do not want them and I used to get very annoyed about it but now, I simply smile, say something inane like ‘That is interesting’ and I change the topic or walk away.
3. Intimate Connection to Source
Marrying my husband was one of those things that my family and some friends frowned heavily upon and at the time, I was 21, feeling overwhelmed with all the chaos that seemed to arise when I announced the fact that my husband of 16 years and I intended to be married. the only thing that kept me sane in that time, was my connection to Source and my desire to follow the intuitive nudges in my hear.
I did almost break it off with him until I knew for sure what my higher power wanted because of every voice that was yelling in my head at the time, that was the only voice I cared about.
And to this day, I depend on this voice before taking any action. This is my guiding light and for any spiritual person determined to win, you must cultivate a spiritual practice that enables you know when you are being guided divinely to the right path for you.
4. A Tough Mind
Many may have opinions but the one that will have the most impact is yours. If you have a big vision, then you can be sure that you will have a certain amount of self doubt and fear inside of you. You must train your mind to stay focused on the vision. You must practice shifting negative thoughts and limiting beliefs out of your mind if you are to win.
If you struggle to remain positive about your chances of success, you must daily train your mind for success. Write out that vision daily and keep it at the top of mind by rehearsing how you will feel when you finally reach your goals. Refuse to accommodate or indulge doubts for long. Catch them as soon as you can and replace them with something more edifying.
5. Resilience & Tenacity
There will be many setbacks. I hate to say it quite so bluntly but there will be. You will need to keep getting back up again and again and again. The only way you will do this is by having a huge reason why. Whenever I work with any of my clients, I check to see what their ‘why’ is because without a solid reason to do the tense work of building out a huge vision, they will not stay the course. Everyone starts with optimism, the only ones who remain have tenacity and…
6. Relentlessness
I love this word! One version of the dictionary defines it as ‘showing or promising no abatement of severity, intensity, strength, or pace’ Another one said ‘Steady and persistent; unremitting:’. It sounds harsh, unforgiving and in some ways, it is.
Sometimes, being a spiritual person can seem weak. It can seem as though you have to turn the other cheek and submit all the time. And for some, that is exactly what it means to them. But for those committed to designing a life they adore, you must be relentless. You must keep pushing forward and yes, you must hustle ( a hated word in some spiritual circles).
The great thing for you is that you have divine guidance to support you, if you will listen, trust and act. BUT YOU MUST ACT!
7. Tunnel Vision
Needless to say, you need to focus. There will be many distractions, many reasons to quit, many had days and many great days and you will finally realise that you are a lot more powerful than you ever imagined.
Which of these 7 do you need to implement?
Rosemary Nonny Knight teaches spiritual people how to intuitively and deliberately design a life of fulfilment, freedom and abundance in all areas. Download her book, PRAY. AFFIRM. RECEIVE – How to get clear, stay clear and take action to get what you want out of life, for free at http://ift.tt/2zLMVR6
Running a marathon is no small feat. It takes months of dedication and hours of literally pounding the pavement, often alone. In warmer weather, a runner is likely to be on the road so early that people are still heading home from the wild night before. But, for those that complete the grueling 26.2 miles, it’s hard to beat the sense of accomplishment they feel. Photographer Eddie Cohen shares a glimpse of this in his series Pain and Glory, in which he snapped pictures of NYC marathon runners before and after their race.
“I was interested in capturing that simultaneous state of exhaustion and euphoria,” Cohen tells My Modern Met in an email, “and showing what running 26.2 miles does to the physiology and psychology of a person!” His striking black and white images—the result of him sneaking into the race—feature men and women who are both tired and proud. Drenched in sweat with their hair a mess, they look as though they put their bodies through the ringer—but in the end, they get the finisher’s medal to wear around their necks and memories to last a lifetime.
While many of Cohen’s subjects look happy and relieved, others are overcome with emotion after their finish—reminding us that the distance is as much mental as it is physical. Runner Dylan Petrich had tears in his eyes after finishing the NYC marathon in an impressive three hours and 30 minutes. (The median marathon time for men is four hours and 20 minutes.) “I spotted him crying right when he finished the race,” Cohen recalls. “I ran over to give him a hug, picked him up and put him in front of the makeshift studio I created by the finish line. The expression is real.”
Photographer Eddie Cohen captured NYC Marathon runners before they started their race and after they finished.
Some fared better than others, but each looks happy to have finished.
In addition to those revealing portraits, Cohen also snapped NYC Marathon photos of finishers.
To mark today’s celebration of the life and work of Martin Luther King, Jr., the B&N Podcast is featuring recent episodes which explore and celebrate African-American history and America’s struggles for equality.
Ta-Nehisi Coates on We Were Eight Years in Power
Ta-Nehisi Coates talks with us about his new book, We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy. Knitting together some of the most vital essays the author has published over the past decade — including a profile of President Barack Obama, a searing indictment of destruction of the black family via the justice system, and Coates’s landmark “The Case for Reparations,” We Were Eight Years in Power takes readers along with Coates into a deep consideration of nothing less urgent than the fate of the nation.
In this in-depth conversation, Colson Whitehead talks with Miwa Messer about his dedication to writing from the point of view of “outsiders” and how his award-winning bestseller — and 2016 Oprah’s Book Club pick — The Underground Railroad went from idea to the page.
Yaa Gyasi’s sweeping novel Homegoing begins with the divergent fates of two half-sisters in 18th Century Ghana, and weaves in the stories of their descendants across eight generations and three hundred years of history. The author talks with Miwa Messer about how a visit to a slave-trading castle on the West African coast inspired her ambitious and critically acclaimed debut.
For the novelist Imbolo Mbue, a scene glimpsed as she strolled through a bustling New York City neighborhood offered the inspiration for her first novel. Six years later, her novel Behold the Dreamers was tapped as the latest Oprah’s Book Club pick. In this episode the Cameroonian-American author talks with Bill Tipper about how her moving, timely tale of two very different families was born.
Jesmyn Ward’s writing marries a devastating realism with a unique sensitivity to the long echoes of violence and trauma.Her 2017 National Book Award-winning Sing, Unburied, Sing nods to William Faulkner and Toni Morrison with a tale of addiction, imprisonment, love and struggle — told by the living, the dying and by ghosts. Miwa Messer talks with Jesmyn Ward about her electric fiction and the lived experience behind it.
Instagram offers a wealth of possibilities when it comes to reaching your customers and effectively distributing your content. It is a convenient platform for brands since it’s where your audience already engage with other brands and users.
As you look ahead to 2018 and begin planning your social media strategy, it is essential to monitor trends. With that, here are 8 Instagram trends you need to watch out for this year.
Rise of Instagram Stories
Via TechCrunch
Instagram Stories were a big deal in 2017. This trend isn’t likely to go anywhere in the coming 12 months.
The introduction of Instagram stories was the most noticeable change in the Instagram user interface. It has enormous marketing implications.
Accounts with over 10,000 followers can now add a link within the feature. This is a significant development as it has the potential to multiply buying or inquiry opportunities.
In just one year after launch, Instagram stories surpassed Snapchat in terms of daily viewers.
Improved Visual Search
The ability to search using image content is an extremely useful feature. Facebook has already started developing an advanced image recognition AI. This feature will be even more valuable on Instagram since its primary focus is image and video posts.
The search feature on Instagram is continually being upgraded. This means that we can look forward to more improvements in 2018. We can expect to see better search capabilities, including images.
This is especially beneficial for brands since they will be searchable both by image content and hashtag. Customers will also be able to find and identify products easily.
A Boost in User-Generated Content
In the coming year, we can expect to see more brands making use of user-generated content. Various companies are already focusing on content created by fans. Most of the time, it’s through community-driven hashtags and campaigns.
Brands are now working on implementing systems that will make it easier to share user-generated content. As a result of this, social media managers will be able to access more trusted, high-quality content.
Expansion of Shopping Tags
In 2018, we’re likely to witness Instagram putting more of a focus on growing their business options. They need to remain competitive with other business platforms that are witnessing substantial growth. As a result, we are likely to see the expansion of their shopping tag. Through that, businesses can add descriptions and prices to their product images.
They have been trying this out since November 2016 and have recently partnered with Shopify. As expected, tons of brands are looking forward to this feature and Instagram is likely to do a more extensive roll out in the next few months.
Video Will Have a More Significant Role to Play
Video content is extremely popular and, therefore, increasingly important for brands. Videos play a huge role in building an audience and generating engagement. They generally get more likes, shares, and comments than any other types of content.
Brands can now create videos and share them immediately with their followers, thanks to the Instagram Stories feature. Having the ability to create and promote video content will be critical for brands in the upcoming year.
More Robust Social Analytics Tools
When someone interacts with a brand on Instagram, they will be immediately put off if they come across something that is irrelevant or doesn’t add value. If they are constantly bombarded with this type of content, they will get frustrated and may even unfollow the brand.
This is the reason why content personalization for audiences is a major trend in content marketing. Marketers will be better equipped to do this with better social analytics tools available. In 2018, social analytics tools are likely to become more detailed and valuable to marketers.
Focus on Generation Z
According to a recent study, marketers on Instagram must shift their focus from Millennials to Generation Z. People in this generation are in their early twenties and are just beginning to enter the workforce. This gives them newly increased buying powers that many organizations are looking to tap into.
As more and more brands start to recognize this, they are shifting their social media strategies accordingly. Instagram is a platform Gen Z love and is likely to bring in new features to cater to this group.
Instagram-based Influencer Marketing Will Be on The Rise
An increasing number of brands are adding influencer marketing to their social media strategies. Influencer marketing is an effective way to connect with new followers and build engagement with your existing audience.
Brands that don’t evolve with the times and only opt for traditional advertising strategies will find it difficult to connect with social media users. In 2018, more brands will use social media influencers as a way to improve reach and engagement.
In the next twelve months, we can expect to see numerous developments on Instagram. Marketers will focus on consistently putting out more personalized, high-quality content for their audiences. There will be cutting-edge analytics tools and improved selling options to help them.
These Instagram trends have enormous implications for users and marketers and are set to change the way we use the platform.
As we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we remember his message of unity and service. One of the most influential people in our history, Dr. King’s legacy continues to inspire. At the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial on the National Mall and Memorial Parks in Washington, D.C., 14 quotes focusing on justice, democracy, hope and love surround the statue of him. Located a short walk from the Lincoln Memorial where Dr. King gave his famous “I Have A Dream” speech, it’s a powerful and enlightening place. Photo by Jim Evangelista (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).
Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts, as United States Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan was fond of saying. But it is not merely facts that are under assault in the polarized politics of the US, the UK, and other nations twisting in the winds of populism. There is also a troubling assault on reason. Authoritarian tendencies know that warping the facts is only a start. Warping reason and logic and clarity of thought is the holy grail.
You may have a gorgeous website design and a blog full of insightful content that your audience would love. Unfortunately, that’s not enough.
If you want to know how to increase google ranking, your content needs to impress search engines as much as it does humans.
Most consumers won’t search beyond the first couple of pages on a search engine, especially if your competition is on the first page and offers the products or services they need.
Google has certain algorithms that prioritize certain web pages over others. Using those algorithms to boost your web page is called Search Engine Optimization (SEO). It involves tweaking your content to make search engines recognize it as a particularly relevant content.
This may sound like a complicated task that needs a digital marketing analyst and possibly a coding expert, but it’s actually much simpler than that. Often, it’s just a case of word choice and simple formatting.
Here are some simple SEO tweaks you can use to bump your web page to page one on Google and drive responses.
Keywords
Keywords are the simplest and most common form of SEO.
Think of it like this:
Your target audience doesn’t know you exist and they won’t know how to search for your company name. So, they’ll search for the services they need. They may also include the name of their city if they’re looking for products or services within their area.
These words they use to search are called “keywords”. The more prominently these keywords appear in your content, the more relevant search engines will consider your content.
You should have at least one or two focus keywords (for example: “car repair” or “mariachi band” and the city in which you operate). These keywords should be featured in your title and in the first paragraph. They should also be sprinkled at least 4 to 5 times throughout the content.
You can also include other relevant keywords 1 to 2 times to further boost your page. These keywords should be sprinkled into the post as naturally as possible. Content that’s stuffed with keywords appears unappealing to readers.
Meta Description
We’ve discussed that the title, whether it be the title of your web page or the title of a blog post, should include your focus keyword. For example, if you are a graphic designer, your website should have the title “Your Name/Business Name – Graphic Designer.” If you write a blog post about commercial web design, “Commercial Web Design” should be in the title.
Making sure your title is relevant is important. Making sure your meta description is relevant is just as important, if not more.
Your meta description is the description that appears on Google when your web page comes up in the search. By default, it’s the first 300 characters of content on the page.
You can change your meta description to summarize the content on the page. You should stuff it with keywords, particularly your focus keyword. In this case, it’s less important that the wording feels natural. An SEO meta description is a great way to catch Google’s attention.
Content Length
Google and other search engines favor in-depth, well-researched articles over short articles. Longer content also means you have more opportunity to make use of keywords.
In fact, in a recent survey, 2,500-word content pages seemed to do best when it came to SEO.
With content this long, make sure it’s also engaging and original so that your audience doesn’t lose interest. Content length is also key when it comes to titles and meta descriptions.
An optimized title should be between 50 to 60 characters and meta descriptions should be about 160 characters.
There are two types of links that you can include in your content: internal links and external links.
Internal links link one page on your website to another. For instance, on your homepage, you may have text that says “see my portfolio for more on my skills and experience” with a hyperlink leading to your portfolio. At the bottom of the page, you may include a link that says “contact me” leading to your contact page.
External links lead to relevant content that can be found outside of your website. External links are a way to credit the information you share and show your content to be well-researched.
Both external and internal links attract the attention of search engines and boost your SEO.
Conclusion
Using these simple SEO tweaks can help catch Google’s attention and bump your website to the first page. This means more people will see it and more people will contact you.
However, the best SEO practice is having engaging, original content. If you provide information that’s difficult to find elsewhere in a way that’s engaging and interesting, Google will take notice…and so will your customers.
As scientists prove the many benefits of daily mindfulness practice, more Westerners are getting interested in meditation. A recent study found that 8 percent of Americans meditate on a regular basis. Although meditation is one of the most popular mindfulness practices, any exercise that forces a person to pay attention to the present moment could be considered mindfulness – other popular mindfulness techniques include yoga, journaling, and even long walks in nature. The benefits of all mindfulness exercises are the same: better sleep, increased vitality, reduced stress, and, believe it or not, less physical pain.
Mindfulness: A Cure For Chronic Pain?
That’s right, many chronic pain patients have found relief from years of suffering by practicing mindfulness on a consistent basis. It might seem odd that consciously sitting with our pain could reduce it over time, but hundreds of studies now prove daily mindfulness practice changes how the brain perceives pain.
If you’re suffering from a chronic pain condition, you should consider practicing some form of mindfulness every day. Need more convincing? Well then, read the five reasons mindfulness can help relieve physical pain listed below. By the end of this article, you should be thoroughly convinced of the healing power of mindfulness.
1. Learn To Change Your Mind
One way mindfulness benefits people with chronic pain is by helping them see their pain from a new perspective. As you become more aware of your thoughts and feelings, you’ll be able to notice a negative thought pattern and change it quickly. With years of mindfulness practice, you’ll start to notice your subconscious mind actually starts generating positive thoughts and emotions.
You could also consider supplementing your meditation practice with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT practitioners work with you to recognize unbeneficial thoughts and emotions, analyze why they arise, and, eventually, change them.
2. Easing your Anxiety With Mindfulness
Let’s face it, chronic pain can be stressful. It’s no wonder a majority of chronic pain patients also suffer from mental disorders like anxiety and depression. Thankfully, mindfulness meditation has been shown to help people cope with the stresses chronic pain puts on their lives. By sitting with your anxiety and accepting it without judgment, you’ll find that your mental worries slowly melt away. MRI scans have shown that meditators have less pronounced “fight or flight” centers in their brains. As you decrease your anxiety, you’ll find that it’s far easier for you to manage daily tasks.
3. Mindfulness Strengthens Your Intuition
Repressed emotions can manifest as physical pain symptoms. One of the best ways to release these deep emotions is by consistently practicing mindfulness. In addition to watching your thoughts during meditation, journaling and/or talk therapy are great ways to get at the root of what’s causing your pain. People who practice journaling on a regular basis have been shown to have stronger immune systems, less depression, and increased emotional intuition. Whatever form of mindfulness you practice, you’re sure to gain a better understanding of how your subconscious mind is contributing to your physical pain symptoms.
4. Mindfulness Brings You To The Present Moment
Researchers at UC Davis believe one of the main reasons meditators have lower stress levels and their experience of pain is because mindfulness meditation removes two of the main triggers of anxiety: dwelling on the past and worrying about the future. It’s true that mindfulness practice brings us into the “timeless present.” Most people believe they’re in the present moment, but oftentimes our minds are somewhere in the future or the past…or even on the moon!
Try it for yourself: follow your breath and see just how many subconscious thoughts rise to the surface. This is what Buddhist monks call the “monkey mind.” With dedicated practice, however, you’ll find it easier to let yourself relax in present moment awareness.
5. Less Reactivity Improves The Quality Of Relationships
Unfortunately, one major source of stress in the modern world comes from relationships. Instead of providing emotional support in difficult times, relationships with family, friends, and romantic partners tend to add anxiety to our lives. Luckily, mindfulness practice can teach us valuable listening skills necessary for healthy relationships. Since mindfulness practice stresses the importance of non-judgmental acceptance of the present moment, you will naturally develop more patience and become a better listener. With a heightened sense of your inner life, it will become easier for you to read the emotions of others from a non-judgmental viewpoint. This will make you far better at forgiving others for their faults and resolving conflicts.
And believe it or not, numerous studies suggest that there’s a huge correlation between a person’s ability to forgive and his/her pain symptoms. By learning how to be more open to others through mindfulness practice, you’ll easily reduce interpersonal stress with all those around you.
Tips To Get The Most Out Of Mindfulness
Before embarking on your mindfulness journey, you should know that the best way to accrue benefits from mindfulness is to practice it every day. It’s far better to practice for 15 minutes every day than to practice all-day sessions only on the weekends. It’s a great idea to set a time and prepare a quiet space for daily practice.
Thankfully, there are numerous apps you can download that will remind you to practice. A few great mindfulness apps available for free include Calm, MINDBODY, Smiling Mind, and Insight Timer.
People with chronic pain might want to consider purchasing the Curable app. This app uses mindbody therapy techniques, including guided mindfulness meditations, to help address your chronic pain symptoms.
Also, chronic pain sufferers should incorporate other mindfulness practices in addition to meditation for better results. A few other easy mindfulness techniques include going for a relaxing walk every day or listening to soothing music. If your psychosomatic symptoms are debilitating, you might want to consider seeing a psychologist who specializes in chronic pain.
Incorporate Mindfulness Into Your Life Today
Nobody who commits to mindfulness practice regrets it. There’s no doubt that mindfulness has incredible healing potential for people with a wide variety of psychological and physical symptoms. Within a few months of daily practice, you’ll be amazed to see the change in your mood and sense of well-being.
Sig Nordal 