Are you a confident person? Do you know how to build self-confidence? How can you tell?

Is it because you value and love yourself? Is it because you make sure you have all your ducks in a row all the time so you know what to expect?

Back in the day, if you had asked me, I would have said “Hell, yes! I’m smart. I know my worth and I know I’m an awesome person so yep… I’m confident.”

But, like most folks, I would have been confusing self-esteem with self-confidence.

See, self-esteem is your evaluation of yourself and your worth. I knew who I was, and I didn’t allow any man, woman or child to treat me any less than I deserved. So, self-esteem? Yep, I had tons of that.

But, self-confidence is a whole different story.

It’s not bravado or cockiness as those relate more to insecurity. It’s not throwing your weight around or talking over everyone in a ‘look at me, look at me!’ type attitude.

Confidence is quiet and more subtle than that. It’s that trust in yourself and your abilities that move you to action.

And I didn’t realize I was missing that until I punked out on a chance to be the registered badass expert during a system outage at my job. All the big wigs and my peers were trying to solve the problem and I had a possible solution.

But, I froze.

“What if they think it’s stupid?”

“What if they think I’M stupid?”

“Better to have no opinion than having a wrong one and look like a fool, right?”

I’m wishing I could tell you that I stood up and spoke my idea, but you already know how that ended.

I kept my mouth shut because I was scared to be wrong. I doubted myself,  knowledge and abilities. And I felt like a jackass for being scared to open my mouth- like I’d die if I did.

Maybe this has happened to you, too, and you can relate to the missed opportunity of greatness because of self-doubt. Or maybe you already know that your confidence can use a boost.

Wherever you are, know that this doesn’t have to be you. It doesn’t take much to stop doubting yourself. In fact, it just takes a few tips and constant practice so you can get to the place where you can let your badassery fly and just trust yourself and your ability to blow the mind off those around you.

Here’s how to build confidence.

Get Physical

1. Spend a day being decisive

Try spending one day where everything you say is prefaced with a decisive tone.
For that one day, banish unsure phrases, like ‘I’m not sure’, ‘I think’ and ‘Maybe’ from your vocabulary.

Removing such wishful tones from your speech is incredibly powerful, positive and affirming. It forces you to be sure of your decisions, opinions, and choices. Even if you aren’t totally convinced, saying something out loud with a commanding tone helps convince you of your own ideas.

This isn’t some fake-it-until-you-make-it trick. It’s removing your fear of what others may think- a common cause of self-doubt.

You already know what you want and what you think. Sometimes, we just need a cheerleader to tell us that our idea isn’t too crazy. This exercise will teach you to become more decisive and your own personal cheerleader.

2. Take care of your body

When you work out, feed your body well and get good sleep, your body gets flooded with endorphins. You know, those feelings of accomplishment that flood over you when you do something kickass and your body is feeling happy, relaxed and unstoppable.

When your body is running at its optimal level, you are more productive, able to absorb more experiences around you and more capable of proving to yourself that your body can accomplish more today than it did yesterday. And that’s what builds confidence – collecting successful experiences and believing you can do more than you did yesterday.

3. Rock a Gangster Lean

Did you know that certain poses, like standing with a wider stance, are argued to increase testosterone, lower cortisol and make you feel more powerful and confident?

Sometimes you just need a little nudge. Just like speaking with power and decisiveness, you just need to ‘deliver’ with boldness so you can stop worrying about the impression you’re making on others.

And there is real science behind it. Harvard Psychologist, Amy Cuddy, teaches that power poses can help liberate us from fear in high-pressure moments. They can help us perform at our best and connect with and empower others to do the same.

So, try smiling, standing up straight with your shoulders back and chin up and with a more open relaxed pose to help put on more confidence.

Change Your Motivations

4. Aim to fail every day

Most of the time, we never try anything because we are afraid that we’ll fail. We worry what people will think and what they’ll say. We fear that we’ll be ridiculed.

But, here is a little secret.

No one is watching you or waiting to see if you are going to fail. No one is waiting to laugh at you.

Why?

Because people are worried about the exact same thing! They are too busy worrying about themselves, chasing their own fears and running their own insecurities in their mind.

So, what would you try if you knew that no one would be watching you? The best way to overcome that fear is to aim to fail every day. Aim to fail at least once every day because failure is the real evidence that you’ve tried something new.

Order that Tai Latte from Starbucks you’ve been wondering about. Wear heels to the office or call about that house you’ve been eyeing. Walking around with little fragile hearts avoiding failures means we are avoiding action and life in general.

Failure and mistakes are needed and expected if you want to move on with life. They are lessons that can teach us to look inward, refine our goals and affirm our desires.

5. Reach your bliss point

Ever notice that when you are in a good mood, everything seems to fall into place? It’s not that suddenly the universe opens and people want to give you good things.

When you’re happy, your perspective changes. You become more positive and, instead of seeing difficulties in opportunities, you see opportunities in difficulties.

Your boss asks you to work on a project outside of your given skill set? While others see that as a frustration, you see it as an opportunity to learn.

Think about your bliss point and try to reach it. It’s your sensory profile where you optimize your ‘feel good’ vibes.

The way to do that is to give yourself little pleasures. Stop waiting for the weekend, your success or retirement and start giving yourself a taste of what’s to come.

Whatever you like that can change your perspective, do it.

De-clutter your space, add a fresh coat of paint to your walls, rearrange your furniture, wear a new scarf, get your hair done- whatever blows your skirt up and makes you happy, do it.

The sillier or more frivolous, the better. Happy people are hopeful people. Hopeful people are fearless people.

6. Build your competence

If you want to stop doubting yourself, then you need to have a reference to draw your knowledge from. You can’t speak on what you don’t know. And if you aren’t sure, you are less likely to speak anyway.

So, if you want to build your confidence and improve the delivery of your message when you interact with others, then you must have competence. Go deep spending time studying your craft and go broad when improving yourself.

Whether it’s parasailing, candle making or outdoor hiking, develop new interests and skills that can improve your life and make you interesting.

We are not binary individuals that have natural strengths and weaknesses. We can grow and improve in anything at any stage of our lives.

If you are uncomfortable with public speaking, then read a book, take a class or join a club. Continue working on improving yourself and that’s one of the best ways you can start learning how to build self-confidence.

Mold Your Mind

7. Disappoint your parents

If you are wondering when you turned from fearless to fearful, then look at your childhood. Try to recall how your parents or guardians responded when you did something great or when you failed at something.

Seriously, you can totally pull the ‘blame your parents’ card for this one.

In their effort to protect us from sadness and disappointments, they taught us what they knew and how the world works by their standards. It is usually to lower your expectations and avoid risks.

Years later, you probably noticed that little voice in your head, giving you all the reasons/excuses why you can’t do or try what you want. That is a clone of your parents.

But, don’t be fooled! Your beliefs are incredibly powerful!

If you always wanted to be a writer and the people around you all told you that you can’t write books because you were too young or too dumb, then you might believe that and never even try to write the book of your dreams.

But, what if you hear the stories of J.K. Rowling, Oprah and Les Brown who are wildly successful despite facing difficulties, you might start changing your own beliefs and exploring new experiences.

Think of all the reasons why you ‘can’t’ do what you want and reflect on whether it’s true or not. If it’s not true, then choose to change your thinking and create a new narrative. If it is true, then determine what you need to do to change that.

So, how about we plan to disappoint our parents by dumping many of their teachings to form our own beliefs? Don’t worry, you have my permission.

8. Be child-like

When you were a kid, anything was possible.

Chocolate milk comes from brown cows. The moon is made of cheese and if you climb a ladder high enough, you can get there and see for yourself.

Get that mindset again and adopt the attitude of “why not”.

What’s the worst that can happen if you give it a try? I mean, really?

Most of the things we imagine won’t happen and, if they do, it won’t be as bad as we think.

So, take the pressure off. You don’t know and can’t control what anyone might think, so why not just see how far you can get? Instead of spending your energy thinking of why something won’t work, focus on gaining experiences.

You literally cannot go wrong, because, no matter what the outcome is, you are on the right path to where you need to be.

See Also: Why We Should Look at the World as a Child Again

9. Ride the rainbow

When you succeed, bask in the awesomeness that has occurred from your hard work.
Smile, think about it and remember how hard it was to get here. Post it on Facebook or just tell your friends. Whatever you do, don’t underestimate your success or shrug it off as luck or chance.

Like Spencer Johnson says in Who Moved My Cheese, “Smell the cheese and celebrate the cheese often!”

Each victory helps you to win another and is a testimony you can use to renew your spirit when doubt creeps back in. It also provides evidence that you can achieve if you stay persistent.

10. Renew your mind daily

Confidence isn’t built in a one-time activity. That’s because doubts and fears are likely to creep in all the time. They are like weeds you must pluck every day.

So, bear this in mind:

Continuously taking risks, learning from failures and reaping rewards is how confidence is made.

Get Ready for Awesome

Just imagine not being shy about voicing your ideas – even if it’s not fully formed. Imagine never feeling fearful of what people think and doing what you want because you want it. Imagine waking up tomorrow morning feeling empowered as your feet touch the ground, looking forward to the day ahead and not dreading it.

Sound impossible? No, they’re not.

These simple tips on how to build self-confidence have dramatic effects on your belief in yourself. Do the work, try a new tip every day and flush out the stories that say you are any less than awesome.

You’ve got your road map. Now, all you need to do is follow it. Your new life of being a badass awaits.

The post 10 Mind Exercises That Will Teach You How To Build Self Confidence appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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The rise of technology, use of mobile devices and the significant growth of social media have empowered customers in a new way. With the touch of a few buttons, customers can have all the information they want at their fingertips.

With this, they also have the ability to leave scathing reviews or comments that can negatively impact any business. This goes particularly true with smaller businesses who tend to have fewer reviews.

With these ever-changing and fast-moving platforms, businesses and their marketers have to think how they’re going to get the attention of their customers. Most importantly, they need to know how they’re going to keep them interested, make a purchase or sign up.

So, what can you do to increase the number of customers engaging with you and your company? Here are some of the most effective customer engagement tips you can try.

Utilize Social Media As A Customer Engagement Tool

Too many businesses use their social media accounts to simply create an online presence. In reality, however, there is so much more potential in Twitter, Facebook and Instagram than reposting content, making comments and announcing and promoting a product or service.

See Also: Finding Out The Best Time For Posting On Social Media Sites

It’s important to connect, share, research influencers and experts and, most importantly, create a conversation with all your followers. You need to create exciting and engaging contents that you can post on all your channels.

These posts should be something that people can react to, provide comment on or get involved with. Ask for feedback on your current products or services to see if there is anything that your customers are demanding.

Create a Twitter poll, for example, so customers can vote on what they’d like to see you offer next. You could also use a poll as a way for your customers to be a part of creating a new product, like voting on names or colors.

Improve Customer Support

As previously mentioned, use of social media has grown significantly and you need to keep this in mind when you’re offering support to your customers.

Is your company offering help through your social media channels? If the answer is no, why?

You should integrate all the channels you use to provide support. Phone, SMS, email and all social media channels can be streamlined into one multichannel solution.This way, if a customer contacts you through multiple platforms, you’ll be able to view all interactions in one place.

This multichannel solution allows for anyone to contact or respond to a customer on the customer’s desired channel with all the previous details on hand. This gives you the opportunity to offer a completely informative and personalized service.

Great customer service is essential these days. One bad experience and everyone will know about it.

It’s human nature to want to express our frustrations about a negative interaction we’ve had. There are so many platforms on which we can let so many people know about it instantly.

Poor customer service can potentially cripple a business, particularly smaller businesses that don’t have many reviews and heavily rely on good reviews to maintain their reputation.

By providing good customer service, you’ll gain a lot of trust from your customers. They’ll think you care and really take pride in looking after them.

Get Personal

Exert effort in knowing your customers, but make sure not to overdo it. Some customers don’t like it when they feel like they’re being watched and followed around the internet.

Something as simple as sending out a discount on their birthday can create a little bit of excitement when they receive it. Offer deals and discounts on what your customers are specifically interested in. There is no point in handing out discounts for products they don’t want or are not interested in.

A personalized marketing approach will make them feel like you’re actually taking notice of them as an individual and not just as another customer.

Data Analysation

It is so important to keep on top of and track the trends your customers are following and creating. Implementing a business intelligence tool will ultimately enable you to unearth information that is useful in improving your customers’ experience.

Something as simple as Google Analytics will allow you to study the behavior of your customers. You’ll be able to understand how much time they spend on your website and on what pages.

The post 4 Surprisingly Easy Tips To Improve Customer Engagement appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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Threats to online privacy seem to grow every day so make sure you know how to protect yourself. There are a lot of things you can do to stay safe online. Unfortunately, not all of them are guaranteed to work.

Clearing your browser history, for example, can’t really do anything. Installing an ad blocker won’t get the job done, too. If you really want to protect your online privacy, here are the things you need to do.

Use secure passwords and usernames

It seems so convenient to just use the same usernames and passwords for every site. That way, you can remember them even without writing things down.

But, consider this:

If you use an easy-to-guess password for your social media and use the same one to log in to your bank, you’ve just made it super easy for someone to gain access to your bank account.

To protect yourself, choose passwords that are at least eight characters long and make sure they contain different types of characters. Use numbers, capital letters, lower-case letters, and symbols. Change your password for every site you frequent, too.

Use a password manager

The next step in password protection is to use a password manager. It’s an app that can generate crazy-long passwords that you couldn’t possibly remember. It encrypts not only your password but also your security questions and their answers, your credit card numbers and their PINs and other vital security information.

Now, all you have to remember is the password to your password manager.

Don’t click on the link

You know better, right? So, why do you click on those links you get on your email?

Usually, it’s because the email came from someone you trust. However, what if your friend clicked on a malicious link? Your friend’s entire address list could have been hacked and that includes you.

As much as possible, don’t click on suspicious links, even if they came from people you trust.

Lock down your social networks

Sure, those warnings that pop up on Facebook every month or so about how the platform is going to steal all your data are indeed trollish. But, even though they’re fake news, they actually have a point.

You need to lock down your social media privacy settings which are often defaulted to Public. This setting means everyone can see everything on your wall.

For your online privacy, change your settings to Friends. If you should unlock a single post to Public, make sure you haven’t inadvertently opened up your whole account to the world.

The bonuses here? Real life bad guys can’t see when you’re away from home to break in and steal your non-virtual stuff and your bosses and ex can’t see what you did on the weekend.

Look for a secure connection

When you’re about to log on to a site, take a look at the URL. Does it say “http” or “https”?

That “s” stands for “secure” and it means that your data (including your username and password) are being encrypted as they travel back and forth across the web. This is particularly vital when you’re making online purchases or handling other financial transactions.

Often, you’ll see a padlock icon next to the URL to confirm the secure connection. While you’re at it, secure your own devices by setting and actually using the lock screens on each device.

Block cookies

It’s so cute when a brand you’ve shopped with sends you just the perfect ad, isn’t it? Except, it’s not so cute after all.

That brand or advertiser found you by attaching cookies to your browser and now they’re following you — and not in a good way. In some cases, they can even follow you from all your devices to keep track of your online behavior.

Block those third-party cookies. The advertisers will still be able to track the pages you visit, but they’ll have to work a whole lot harder to do it.

Use a VPN

A VPN or Virtual Private Network is probably one of the best and simplest ways to protect your online privacy. With a VPN, your data is encrypted so your internet service provider can’t see your internet usage — and neither can anyone else. VPNs provide protection against hackers and they keep your surfing safe when you’re using Wi-Fi.

Use Tor

Head to Tor to anonymize your IP address automatically. With Tor, your browsing experience becomes private — well, as private as you can be, given that you’re still on the internet. It can hide your information from hackers who want your identity, corporations that want your money and data and government that wants who even knows what.

There are a lot of dodgy people on the internet. Don’t let them into your virtual home. Take these basic steps today to protect and maintain your online privacy.

The post How To Maintain Your Privacy Online appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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Integrity is probably at the center of my core values.

If I’m not being generous, I’m out of integrity. If I’m not being honest, I’m out of integrity. When I’m not showing compassion, I’m out of integrity.

Another way to look at it is if I’m out of integrity, I’m not in alignment with what’s important to me. And to be perfectly honest, I simply can’t function when my integrity is out. My life just doesn’t work.

Now, whether my integrity is out or not is entirely subjective. Logic doesn’t come into it and I can’t talk or justify my way out of feeling out of integrity. If I’m out of integrity, I KNOW I’m out of integrity and no amount of sophistry, understanding, justification or reasoning is going to change that.

It sounds like I’m being really harsh on myself, but that’s not how it is at all. By working on getting myself back in integrity, I’m constantly moving further into alignment.

Things don’t flow when I’m out of integrity. Stuff doesn’t work and I feel blocked. It’s unpleasant when I’m that way. It feels like I’m wading through quicksand.

Why life feels like hard work

Half the time, it’s not obvious that I’m being out of integrity and that’s where problems happen. Because my integrity so intrinsically links with everything else, all I know is I feel out of sorts and things feel just not quite right.

I’ve felt like that for a few days now and it’s been getting more and more difficult to achieve or complete anything. Even writing has been difficult and, trust me, I usually have no problems in writing something.

Then I realized: I’m out of integrity.

I gave my word to do something and it hasn’t happened. The reasons for it not happening are completely out of my control, but it’s still my responsibility.

My word, my responsibility. No one’s fault, just my responsibility.

I told someone I’d do something and it hasn’t happened. I’ve communicated with the person and reset the event date 4 times now. It’s still not going to happen and I’m not willing to reset the date again. My integrity is out, not just on sticking to my word but also on another of my core values: fairness.

Even though the reasons are completely out of my control, I don’t feel like I’m being fair to the other person for constantly changing the plan. And I’m feeling awful about it.

I’m feeling awful because my integrity is out and I can’t do anything about it. The other person was very understanding, but it isn’t my fault and I’m not the only one to blame.

But, that’s not the point.

The point is that it’s MY integrity that’s out, therefore, it’s MY integrity that needs mending.

I want to feel good about myself, so I MUST take responsibility. The reason is simple.

I’m taking responsibility, regardless of the fact that not all things and people are under my control because I gave MY word that I’d do something.

Living with knowing that I can’t stand by my word is unacceptable.

I could go down the path of justification, reasonableness, and blame. After all, it’s not entirely my fault.

But, if I do that, then it’s like giving the power over whether I’m true to myself and my core values to someone or something else.

I’m giving the power about how I feel about myself to someone else. It’s like letting someone else have control over my life. And no one should have that power over anyone else.

Only WE know whether we’re being true to ourselves or not.

If you feel that something’s “off”, that life is hard work or just a bit icky, take a long, hard look at yourself. Find out where you’re not being responsible. No matter how ridiculous it seems or no matter how much things are completely out of your control, TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.

Take responsibility for knowing that you’re being true to yourself. Don’t leave it for years like I’ve done in the past. Look at it NOW.

See Also: Taking Ownership: Are You Taking Full Responsibility For Your Life?

Where are YOU out of integrity?

I can pretty much guarantee that if life is feeling like hard work for you, it’s because you’re out of integrity SOMEWHERE.

It might be around your values or because you feel like your job isn’t the one for you. You might have given up on a dream, eating poorly or not exercising. You might be in a relationship that you know is not right for you. It might be due to all the things you’re saying in your own head.

So, have a close look and find out where you are running out of integrity.

Don’t waste any more time not feeling completely in the flow. Do something about it NOW.

See Also: Flow: Discovering The Secret to High Performance and Happiness

The post How Lack Of Integrity Can Affect Your Life appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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“Many people are alive but don’t touch the miracle of being alive.”
— Thich Nhat Hanh, The Miracle of Mindfulness

In between work, family and social media, we take few precious moments to reflect upon our lives and realize the importance of mindfulness.

Perhaps, you purposely avoided looking at your life because, if you’re totally honest, it can be brutal. Just think about the tsunami of judgmental thoughts that swamped your mind and caused you a great deal of stress and anxiety.

Not surprisingly, a lot of worries are just byproducts of our society. However, our greater personal dissatisfactions are actually the result of our own internal turmoil driven by confusion.

Are you feeling confused?

You’re not the only one. Notice how confusion is self-evident all over the world.

Research scientist Kathryn Tristan suggests in her book Why Worry that at some time in our lives, half of us in the U.S. will suffer from anxiety, depression or addiction—the very opposite of an authentic life.

But, then something miraculous happens.

On your way home from work or a rushed meal out, the dusk’s rising luminous moon captivates you and you experience a moment of ecstasy and utter peace.

All is right with the world and you weren’t thinking about a thing. You were just alive and brilliantly so!

From mundane to miraculous

What was the shift?

The clouds of confusion lifted. For a moment, you were in perfect balance, consciously mindful of the miracle of life that involves you.

Here’s the big picture:

You were being your best, most authentic self instead of listening to habitual, self-limiting thought patterns.

Authenticity emerges when you live not just from mind and body, but from the heart which is your natural state. Done consciously, it is mindful living. It is the mastery of life.

A life lived without a heart and soul is a life filled with confusions. This can manifest as problems in your personal life.

“If quality of life is important to you, mindful living trades confusion for life’s magical moments—every single day.”

In his book, Living from the Heart, Nirmala said, “What you are seeing, smelling, hearing, sensing, and pondering is limited by and filtered through your thoughts. Your thoughts mediate between you and reality and interfere with seeing it more fully and purely.”

According to neuroscience, what thoughts are and what gives rise to them is still a mystery.

Think of thoughts as one of the many useful tools the brain uses to navigate our physical world. By themselves, thoughts are two-dimensional mind fences.

An expanded awareness that includes the heart means a far richer life that is fulfilling, regardless of the circumstances or what you are doing.

Shocking to some, you don’t have to do anything at all to experience an authentic life.

But, ask yourself this:

Would you rather run through a meadow at sunset with fences? Or the meadow of your life unhindered as far as the eye can see or even beyond?

When we live from the more inclusive reality of our mind, body, and spirit (heart), we open our lives to the miraculous on a daily basis.

How to enjoy the miracle of your authentic life

Slow life down each day

Although you’re not fully aware of the importance of mindfulness, you’ve been actually practicing it intermittently throughout your life without realizing it. Immersing yourself in nature, going for a walk and even hand-washing dishes are forms of mindfulness.

Recall how you felt a sense of calm and well-being within your body. Notice how balanced your world became. Now, do these things consciously and with your heart. Add yoga and meditation.

Life gets immensely satisfying when we let go of our mental expectations and enter the “Zen” or the flow.

Mind the gap for miracles

“When you allow your thoughts to breathe by paying attention to the gap in between, you move out of reactive-ness to being response-able.”

Thought devoid of the heart and soul is a form of insanity. No wonder so many people are confused.

You have the ability to tap into your highest wisdom and determine whether the glass is half empty or half full.

Minding the gap is how you go from continually making lateral moves in life to sky-high vertical limitlessness.

Whenever there’s a challenge, rather than carelessly and spontaneously reacting, surprise everyone by saying you’ll give it some thought. This means giving your initial thoughts some space to breathe.

Silence without judgment is extremely powerful and contains miracles. It shifts, even breaks, habitual destructive patterns.

Give up planning for 90 days

In Western culture, planning is thought to be one of our greatest assets. Google the power of planning and you’ll be inundated with reasons why a plan is paramount to reaching your goals.

Are you willing to open the door to the even higher power of synthesis the Harvard Business Review calls “strategic thinking?”

Strategic thinking lets go of planning initially, integrating intuition and creativity to allow spontaneity to appear naturally.

Albert Einstein said, “The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.”

Rather than projecting different possible scenarios, be a blank slate by asking, “What’s next?”

Leaving infinite possibility open is to create a vacuum that life must fill. It’s more powerful than projecting imagined preferred scenarios which contain limits.

Say “I don’t know” often

At least to yourself!

Emptiness is very challenging when you are pressured by society to fill every nook and cranny with busyness. Your brain will be sure to scream it to you every chance it gets.

Emptiness removes all barriers, including you getting out of your own way.

I can tell you, based on my experience as a writer, that the muse is within. Any artist or creative person will agree to that. All inspiration arises from the void of emptiness.

Get comfortable with emptiness and learn to play with unlimited possibilities.

I personally prefer being a blank slate every chance I get. Like the unofficial Buddhist mantra goes, “Empty, empty. Happy, happy.”

I can easily put myself into a state of emptiness by watching trees blow in the breeze.

Open yourself to higher consciousness

In Practicing the Power of Now, spiritual teacher and author, Eckhart Tolle, extols the value of mindfulness by acting as witness to your thoughts. To quote, “So when you listen to a thought, you are aware not only of the thought but also of yourself as the witness of the thought. A new dimension of consciousness has come in.”

Have you tried being a witness to your own thoughts? It’s life transforming.

The beauty of learning to be mindful at any age is that it allows you to express your thoughts at your personal level of truth and authenticity while enabling you to dig for deeper understanding.

Don’t stop there. Yes, keep going. There is always more inclusive wisdom to discover.

“Let us honor one another where we stand, knowing we each travel
a unique journey toward higher consciousness.”

Be bigger than your body

Ask any Zen Master or Yogi and she or he will tell you that your identity is not wrapped up in your thoughts. Yet, it’s one of the causes of human existential crisis.

As you climb Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs toward self-actualization, you will come to realize that you are much more than your body. Only in the complete synthesis of mind, body and spirit can you see beyond basic survivalism so that you finally begin to thrive!

Know you are enough

Mind, body and spirit realization is fulfillment in and of itself!

There is no greater authenticity than to know who you really are as part of the infinite. Greater is the gift of YOU, boundaries removed.

As a guiding light, you now offer others, by example, the same freedom and opportunity. No longer confused, doing good naturally follows as you move from a place of selfishness to one of service to humanity.

Are your choices today filled with love?

Your authentic life

As part of evolution, aided by the tools of technology, human consciousness is expanding faster than ever. Living multidimensionally in mind, body and spirit will be your brilliant future.

Embodying consciousness, your new, authentic life will change everything for you. Your mojo is now working for you, instead of the other way around.

You will wake up energized in the morning, excited to be alive because you’re expressing yourself authentically. You will feel empowered like never before as things you despise begin to disappear. Freedom and prosperity will flow more abundantly in your life.

The importance of mindfulness is now completely clear to you. You will see the world and the Universe supporting you every step of the way.

It got you here, didn’t it?

The post 7 Ways Mindfulness Can Unlock The Door To Your Authentic Life appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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Emotions stir inside every human each day and their silent pull ends up dictating life.

At times, we bottle up feelings and set them aside because we can’t say what we really want to in the current situation. In certain instances, we think our emotional reaction is abnormal and that no one will understand.

We forget all about our emotions and just plan to come back to them at some point. We ignore them for as long as possible — or until our neglect leads to a total meltdown.

Research has proven that suppression tends to cause more harm than good. Negative emotions can drag you down, especially when helplessness kicks in.

It leads to depression, anxiety, anger, loneliness and a slew of new problems to deal with.
Your risks of serious mental and physical problems are drastically increased, the longer you bottle up your emotions.

It’s a destructive habit. But, like all habits, it can be broken.

Here are a few steps to guide you on how to release pent up emotions and how you can live a more positive, healthy and happy life.

Step 1: Check in

Figure out how you feel, why that rude comment from your coworker upset you or why driving in rush hour makes you feel annoyed, and get to know what makes you tick.

Accepting and understanding your emotion will allow you to truly know yourself. This, in essence, will help you live happier and healthier.

Admit that you have emotions and that how you feel matters, rather than setting your emotions on the back burner. You may think that showing your emotions can make you look weak. In reality, however, it’s denying you have emotions that does.

Vulnerability isn’t a curse. It allows you to connect with others, to love and to experience what it really means to be alive. Allow yourself to open up and you will notice changes.

Try this: Take the time you need to think. Recognize your emotion for what it is, then choose how to react to it.

See Also: 5 Happiness Hacks That You Need To Try Today

Step 2: Prioritize

You don’t want to care about what other people think.  You probably even told yourself that you don’t have an inkling of concern about their thoughts.

It’s simply not true. Everyone cares about what others think.

The trick is to prioritize what you care about and, most importantly, whose opinion matters.

Brene Brown, the author of Daring Greatly and Rising Strong, said it best: “When you don’t care at all what anyone thinks, you lose the capacity to connect. If you are defined by what people say, you lose the courage to be vulnerable.”

If you reach one extreme or the other, you’ll notice a total shut down. You’ll produce little, motivation will slip and you will wind up minimizing your impact.

Try this: Write down the names of a handful or people that matter to you. You can arrange the names in descending order or you can just list the people that matter the most and equally divvy your attention between them. Either way, what’s important is that you know whose opinions matter.

Do you really care what the grocery store clerk or your mailman think? What about your mother? Husband or wife? Children? Friends? Coworkers? How about your boss?

Make your list and ignore what everyone excluded from the list thinks.

Step 3: Know how to release pent-up emotions and take action

Express your emotions in calculated reactions by doing something. This is not the time for procrastination or excuses.

In step 1, you should have decided how you would like to react to specific situations or scenarios. For example, by keeping your cool or expressing your emotions in positive and proactive ways.

Although it’s easier said than done, letting your frustrations out in beneficial methods can actually help keep you from hitting your breaking point.

Doing is achieving. You can do all the planning in the world but you have to back it up with action. The time is now.

Try this: Let out your emotions with a hobby. Write, listen to or create music. You can pray or even meditate. All of these activities have countless studies that prove how valuable they are, especially in dealing with emotions.

You can also practice gratitude. It can help build better relationships, networks, career prospects and even belongingness.

Hundreds of studies have demonstrated how expressing gratitude can change lives. Its benefits include getting better sleep, having more energy and being happier, healthier and more resilient days when something unexpected pops up.

Step 4: Speak up

There will be times when you’ll feel something is out of your control, but keep in mind that you’re never helpless.

Speaking your thoughts will allow you to feel like you —your ideas, dreams, goals, challenges and accomplishments — matter to other people.

Ever wonder why a dream vacation is more exciting when you’re telling your best friend about your plans? Or why you feel more proud about winning first place in the 4k-mile run when you celebrate your accomplishment with loved ones?

The answer is simple. We need someone to care.

Try this: Talk to your friends, family or even pets. If there’s something bothering you, get it out of your chest. Knowing how to release pent-up emotions isn’t that hard. You just got to know how to voice your concerns, desires, and emotions. If you’re not sure why you feel so crappy, talking things out can help you figure out the real issue.

Talk to nature if there’s no ear available to listen or, for some reason, you’re too embarrassed to tell a real human. Just drop that emotional burden and move on.

Step 5: Never stop learning

Increasing your emotional competence doesn’t happen overnight. You must learn and work daily to better yourself and improve your life. Keep in mind that there’s always room for improvement.

Never stop learning how to grow and better yourself. The moment you do, it’s when you stop truly living.

Life is a magical mystery and it should be enjoyed with a smile on your face.

Emotional competency doesn’t mean you must only feel positive emotions. It also involves understanding how to better manage your emotions and why it’s a never-ending process. You must learn to make your life easier despite it being ever-changing.

Try this: Read constantly. Keep up with your favorite self-improvement sites, authors and publications. Find writers you can relate to- perhaps with the same struggles even- and learn from them.

Humans love to share what they’ve learned, so be open to listening to those around you. Even if you don’t entirely admire their opinions, you’ll still learn.

Finally, remember that it’s okay to feel your emotions, that some days you don’t have to be happy and that you can take control of your life. But, don’t take things too far to the point that you won’t go out of bed or shower for a week.

Don’t let your emotions take over or linger. As much as possible, don’t dwell on your problems. Address them right away and do something constructive to make the situation better before you react.

You have the power.

See Also: 9 Baby Steps To Happiness For The Naturally Gloomy

The post 5 Steps To Release Bottled Emotions And Live Happier appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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Every success story is riddled with trials and tragedy. Our ability to overcome these obstacles is what makes them so appealing. From small startups disrupting industry giants to a small platoon battling a massive army, there are moments that test our character and build our resolve.

When it seems like there’s nowhere to go is when the fiercest battles take place in our mind, body, and spirit. The ones who triumph are forever remembered and depicted as heroes while those who fail are often forgotten.

So, what’s the difference between these people?

Well, it’s not their position, stature or even wealth. The determining factor that separates the great and the not-so-great is their grit and determination. In one word, it’s perseverance.

This is the quality that keeps us moving forward in a sea of adversity. It’s what pushes us to keep fighting against the current and overcome tidal waves of doubt. We batten down the hatches and weather the storm knowing that it will soon pass and we’ll be better after it.

It’s sticking to the plan when most have walked away — working alone, without pay, and without recognition. It’s this quality that makes us bend, but not break. We face our fears in defiance of the odds, shattering the barriers of reality, pushing the limits of what’s possible and reaching new horizons.

Either placed in these situations by choice or by circumstance, this is when we shine the brightest. This ability to hold ourselves to a different standard and not settling for mediocrity is what makes us stronger. Forever striving for success, we know that failure is not a permanent condition, but just a temporary inconvenience.

Our ability to recognize that nothing worth having comes easy is what encourages us to take a risk. It is what forces us to show up and perform every single day without any loss of enthusiasm.

A Tale Of Turning Trials Into Triumphs

The crew of the Essex knows this quality all too well. When placed between a rock and a hard place, they chose to rise to the occasion. This incredible true story of perseverance and fighting spirit is the inspiration for Herman Melville’s Moby Dick.

The Essex was a whaling ship from Nantucket, Massachusetts piloted by Captain Pollard and his 20 men in the 1800’s. During their whaling expedition, the ship was rammed by a whale which caused it to sink.

This left Captain Pollard and the crew fending for their lives on three small rescue boats, hundreds of miles away from civilization with no land in sight. With little provisions, much of the Essex crew did what they could to fight off starvation and dehydration. Sadly, much of the crew perished due to these abysmal conditions. Despite this, the survivors did not lose hope.

In such a dire situation, most would succumb to the circumstances. Captain Pollard, however, kept his resolve and encouraged his men. After weeks at sea, the remaining survivors eventually resorted to cannibalism and doing everything necessary to fight off death.

Surviving long enough for a passing ship to rescue them, the survivors were found delirious, starved and a shadow of their former selves. Eventually, the surviving crew members were able to return to Nantucket, where they tried to forget the horrors of the ocean.

Fighting seemingly insurmountable odds is why the Essex survivors will forever be remembered. Their courage and ability to endure the agony of hopelessness are qualities that are admirable and something we should all strive for.

Conclusion

Luckily, we rarely face life and death circumstances. But, many times we are too easily discouraged at the first sign of resistance- unable to say no, stand up, and do what is necessary for the face of adversity. We must learn to channel our inner survivor and fight off these obstacles with the tenacity of a prize fighter.

To do otherwise would be selling ourselves short and conforming to the reality that society has placed on us. Rather than living on our knees, let’s die on our feet knowing that, at the end of the day, we gave life everything we had. Leaving no stone unturned, forever pushing past our comfort zones.

We must realize that life is a bold adventure and to take advantage of it, we must keep moving forward. Let’s make the commitment to strengthen our resolve because if we never quit, there’s no way we’ll fail. And that is exactly how you start turning trials into triumph.

See Also: How To Conquer The Fear Of Success (Or Failure)

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Drones, the modern age RC helicopters of the era, are a fantastic tool for numerous applications. These flying pieces of electronics could do a lot of things, from spying on someone to delivering goods and remote monitoring. There are various military applications, too, but let’s not go into that domain.

Some of us might have some really creative ideas when we talk about drones. But, for this particular article, let’s focus on the productive perspective of using drones for your kids.

These ideas will definitely compel you to look for the best drones for kids and add them to their learning years.

1. Science And Math

Drones are complex pieces of electronics that require a thorough understanding of science and math concepts. Some of the significant terms are propulsion, load capacity, coordination, radio frequency and whatnot.

You can enroll your kids in a program where they can learn how to design and make their own aerial robots, code them to perform some tasks and put their creations to the test. With activities like these, students can enhance their technical skills with hands-on experience and exposure to new technologies.

2. Filmmaking

For children who seem to have a liking for recording and video films, filmmaking and photography might be the right activities for them. Drones with cameras have been an attractive part of aerial videography. They can help your kids explore a whole new domain and learn lots of new things about it.

3. Social Learning

Drones offer an amazing way to look at the world from a different perspective. A drone can expose the kids to their surrounding as well as help them explore new things. Kids could take up exploration trips with friends and family to discover new places. They could go on camping trips, a hiking expedition or maybe just a drive to a nearby area.

4. Land Survey

Drones have been used by farmers for land surveys and wildlife monitoring. Your kids could do the same in your backyard.

The kids could explore the type of vegetation in the area or the kinds of trees that grow in the neighborhood. You could teach them about the seasons and their effect on a time lapse video recorded using a drone. When going on an education expedition, equip the drone with a camera to explore the terrain and learn more about it up close.

5. Programming Lessons

Once you have got your kids all excited and involved in a drone, it’s time to teach them new things. You could enroll them in a programming class where they could learn new ways to program their drones and make them more functional.

6. Physical Education

Drones can be a valuable part of your kids’ physical education course.

A camera rigged to a drone could record the performance of the kids and help the instructor plan a routine for them. Furthermore, it can also be used in various sports activities to encourage participation and make them more fun. Workouts, like sprints, hurdles and hide–and–seek, could be coupled with a drone to make them more exciting.

7. Motor Skills

Motor skills and hand-eye coordination are essential parts of a child’s physical and mental development. These skills enable one to perform various tasks on a daily basis.

Flying a drone requires an excellent combination of hand-eye coordination complemented with sharp thinking abilities. So, when teaching a child to fly a drone, you are practically helping him develop those skills in a fun way.

Analyzing paths and flying through a constrained airspace allow them to think intellectually and make quick decisions. These things can enhance radical thinking.

See Also: The Health Benefits Of A Drone Hobby

These are just a few applications of the best drones for kids. Look out as you may find a lot more ideas to help them learn and develop new skills flying by.

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When you were a kid, your parents probably enrolled you in a sport or two. They probably figured it’d help you keep in shape and make some new friends. Plus, it’d get you out of their hair for a little while. A win-win, right?

A lot of time has passed since those childhood games and you’ve already grown up and moved on. Have you ever thought about embracing your inner child again?

Because if you haven’t, I think you should. It might be time to consider getting back into intramurals.

But, how can you find the time?

You’ve got a committed career now. You’re a productive member of society with duties to your family and co-workers. You need to pay your bills and taxes. You need to manage your savings and start planning for retirement.

And really, why bother with social sports, anyway? They take so much time and effort. Aren’t there better ways you could be occupying yourself?

Honestly, not really.

The experience is more than worth it and with the following benefits of intramural sports, you’ll surely be convinced to get back into it right away.

They’ll Help You Feel Like A Kid Again

You’ve no doubt heard the phrase ‘young at heart.’ How would you like to embody it?

By putting some time and effort into intramural sports, you’ll be healthier, happier, and more energetic. And, as an added bonus, you’ll even be more productive at work.

The benefits of intramural sports offer more than just health benefits. By maintaining a healthy body, you’ll also ensure you’ve got a sharper mind. You’ll be more alert, more energetic and, ultimately, more efficient.

Plus, there’s ample evidence that suggests how regular exercise can reduce the risk of developing certain types of illness and disease. I’m talking about more than just the common cold here. Getting fit also means you’re less likely to develop Type 2 Diabetes, hypertension, obesity or heart disease.

See Also: 10 Habits That Can Prevent Heart Disease

They’re A Great Way To Meet New People

Making friends as an adult is hard, isn’t it? Outside of your co-workers, who do you really interact with on a regular basis? How often do you get off work for the day and decide to go over to a friend’s place or go out to a party?

Chances are, the longer you’ve been an adult, the less you go out. Joining a sports league not only gets you out of the house more by giving you an excuse to be somewhere, it can be a great way to meet new people, too. And, as an added bonus, you’ll automatically have a common ground with those people – a shared passion for the sport you’re playing.  

And here’s the thing: most people, even introverts, crave social interaction in one way or another. It’s something that’s wired into our very biology, as basic as our need for food, shelter, and sleep. Intramural sports provide you with an easy, stress-free means of meeting that need.  

They’re Perfect For Team Building

Last but certainly not least, if you get your co-workers involved, intramural sports can greatly improve workplace relationships. By learning to work with your colleagues outside the office and doing it while you’re enjoying, you’ll learn to work better with them inside the office.

“Team building via corporate games are specifically designed to suit every age and ability within the company,” explains SME Advisor’s Guillaume Mariole. “They are designed to bring out the best in all participants and help to include rather than exclude. This enables high levels of trust to be built within teams, which is a sure-fire way to improve the way teams work together.

You might pass Kevin from accounting in the hallway every now and then. Maybe you exchange the odd nicety, but you don’t really know him all that well. Once you find out he’s got a knack for goaltending in floor hockey, you’ll probably have a lot more to talk about and you’ll both work better together as a result.

See Also: What Managers Should Know About Motivating Their Team

Closing Thoughts

Intramural sports aren’t just for kids. They can make you happier and healthier. They can help you meet new people and even make your workplace life considerably better.

Trust me, give them a try. You won’t regret it in the least.

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