You’re reading 5 Weekly Habits for a Meaningful Life, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

With self-improvement, it’s easy to intellectually obsess over ideas. But practical information that can be easily absorbed and applied is essential you’re going to improve your quality of life. So lately I’ve been asking myself if what everyone is reading is translating into some positive change. To that end, I’ve also been wondering if what I’m writing is helping others.

If an article or book fails to stimulate the reader, such that they’re not able to connect the dots in their life in a new way, then either it’s not relevant (in which case, they shouldn’t have been reading it in the first place) or the author hasn’t crafted the content well enough.

It’s worth doing a filter test with anything you read by first asking yourself: Does this book or article seem like it can help me improve my life?

(Each book or article can only ever improve the quality of your life by 1-5%. But when you read and apply information from dozens of books and articles, those little blocks of 1-5% can create powerful, lasting changes in your productivity and happiness.)

I hope this article provides you with just at least a 1% improvement in your quality-of-life.

“Absorb what is useful, discard what is useless and add what is specifically your own” – Bruce Lee.

1)  Spend more time reading Books and Articles that lead to Positive change

I could easily spend hours reading books on the history of the world. But while I do appreciate the lessons the past has to offer us, I realize that the amount of potential benefit I’ll be getting in this category of books (concerning how my behaviours change for the better) is limited.

So, from that perspective, it’s more helpful to read books and articles related to Psychology, Habit change, Time Management, Health, Spirituality etc. That’s because the level of knowledge I have in these areas affects the way I lead my life more profoundly.

For instance, if I’m aware of what daily habits will improve my mood and apply them, I’ll be a happier person. If I know and consume the foods that go well with my metabolic type, then I’m likely to feel and perform better in all my activities. If I know certain spiritual truths, then I’ll approach trivialities with greater openness and acceptance.

Nowadays, instead of just reading what’s on the front page of a website, I will click on the categories in self-improvement that I’m most fascinated by. I then carefully pick articles based on the title and the introduction. Doing this means I only spend time reading the best articles, for me, in the current season of my life. I also use Feedly to quickly scan for great articles.

Takeaway: Look into particular categories of books and articles where you feel your knowledge is weak and where it’s directly translatable to a change in your habits. For example, when I felt my time management skills needed improving, I started focusing more of my reading in that area.

Knowledge is only potential power. It becomes power only when, and if, it is organized into definite plans of action, and directed to a definite end.” – Napoleon Hill. Potential value for your week if applied: 1%  (52% Improvement in your ‘Knowledge’ in a year)

2) Switch your phone off one day per week

I put my phone on flight mode every night and make sure it’s left outside the bedroom. After my morning routine, I disable flight mode and get that nice dopamine rush from those ushering notifications. To be honest, I’m not that popular so I don’t get that many.

But I only unlock my phone so to speak, once my habits, such as Meditation, Stretching, and Reading have been taken care off. So I don’t start each day with the varying pings and requests that inevitably come flying in.

Since Monday sets the tone for the week, I find that it’s important that I do whatever I can to prioritize all my attention to what’s most important in my work-life on this day. So after a quick check in the morning, I keep my phone off for the rest of the day, each Monday. Replies by WhatsApp missed calls, and texts can wait.

More often that not, I don’t end up missing anything urgent. Plus, I tend to be less attached to my phone for the rest of the week. I’ve taken this further by installing TimeUsed on Android (Moment – alternative for iPhone), which shows me how much time I’ve spent looking my screen on any given day.

This forces me to only use the apps and speak to the people that give me the most happiness.

Takeaway: Consider keeping your phone off one day per week.

“Life is what’s happening when you’re looking at your smartphone.” – Anonymous. Potential value to your week if applied: 1% (52% Improvement in your ‘Peace of Mind’ in a year)

3) Eat the same Breakfast or Lunch every day

Every day we make hundreds of little decisions, but perhaps the one we antagonise over the most is what we’re going to eat. All that mental energy could be spent elsewhere. Certain foods can affect the way we feel and think and in profound ways.

Just try eating two croissants with butter and jam before your workout and see how you feel. Or maybe have a certain brand of cereal that you’ve never tried and go to work. Likely, you won’t be pleased with the way you feel in either scenario.

By automating one of your meals, you reduce the chance of eating foods that just don’t vibe with your unique biochemistry by a 1/3 (if you eat 3 meals a day). You’ll also end up experiencing less decision fatigue and stress. The counter-argument might be “Well eating the same food for a meal daily is annoying as heck”.

But I think that if you pick a group of foods that you love for one of your daily meals, you’ll never get bored of it until at least three months (at which point you can then change it up again for variety).

Takeaway: What are the healthy foods do you absolutely love that you can consume daily?

“A solid routine fosters a well-worn groove for one’s mental energies and helps stave off the tyranny of moods” – Mason Currey. Potential value to your week if applied: 1% (52% Improvement in your Health in a year)

4)  Every Morning or Early Afternoon (Mon-Fri), write Two Fun Things you Plan on doing that Evening

Work can make us serious and cerebral if we don’t make sure to smile along the way. Having something to look forward to (not in an escapist way) means that no matter what comes up, you have those two end of the day celebrations that you know will be there waiting for you.

It could be playing with your pet, watching a TV show with your loved one, or going to an event, or meeting with friends. Whatever it may be, set an intention for it in advance so that you have something to at least look forward to.

I’ve noticed that whenever I go to bed without enjoying those small rewards, I don’t get that great of sleep and I wake up less happy and a little more grumpy. I’ve also noticed the same with other people. So it’s important that we do something fun that stimulates us each day.

Takeaway: Introduce a little anarchy in your evenings.

“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” – Proverb.  Potential value to your week if applied: 1%. (52% Improvement in your ‘Fun’ in a year)

5) Write down your mistakes and worries on a little Note

It’s funny how much we beat ourselves up over the little problems and mistakes that creep up in a day. And they creep up every single day no doubt, and usually, we get frustrated with ourselves as a result. Then we get into a mental game of Street fighter where we KO ourselves round after round. This cycle can start one day, continue the next, and so forth. Before we know it, we’re feeling unhappy with life on a whole.

This partly stems from a perfectionist mind-set. No absurdities, worries, or mistakes can creep up. We can’t feel bad and have it be okay. No everything needs to be AMAZING every single day. And because we don’t end up living up to standard, we get depressed when all we need to do is the accept the feelings that are coming in.

So I’ve got a little note in Google Keep that I call ‘Worries and Mistakes box’. Every time I notice a little weed prodding in my mind I write it down in this Keep note. Just giving it that attention seems to calm the gremlin noises in my head down. So for instance, as of writing this, I ate some bad food last night, and as a result, I didn’t sleep that great. I could either let that mistake from yesterday derail my present day, or I could acknowledge it by writing it down.

Takeaway: Dissolve the power your negative thoughts have over you by writing them down.

“Labeling our thoughts helps us break the self-identification with the thought.” – Karla Helbert. Potential value to your week if applied: 1%. (52% ‘Stress Reduction’ in a year)

So that’s it! Those are the five unique ideas you’ll want to implement if you want to lead a more powerful and meaningful life. If you’re a creative and you’re interested in learning more about what you can do to increase your odds of living more meaningfully each week, I’m going to give you a Free Bonus to help.

In the meantime, which of the five habits will you use consistently to improve the quality of your life?

About the Author: Samy Felice is a writer who is passionate about unique ideas related to living a meaningful life. His Free Book explores ways people can make success easier.

You’ve read 5 Weekly Habits for a Meaningful Life, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

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You’re reading 4 Ways to Boost Productivity and Enter Flow States Consistently, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

Can you recall a time when your work felt effortless?

Nothing distracts you. There’s no internal resistance. You are focused, energized, and immersed in the task at hand. You make connections seamlessly. Your creative output soars. Time stops. Your enjoyment in the moment rises.

Psychologist Abraham Maslow called this a peak experience. Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi continued Maslow’s initial findings to develop the science of flow.

Flow is a mental and physical state of being. Everyone has access to flow states, but some people access them with greater frequency.

To access a state of flow more often, try the following

1) Play to Your Natural Strengths

Another psychologist, Martin Seligman, demonstrates that when people do the things they are naturally good at in their work, they are generally happier and experience more flow.

To determine your natural strengths, take a free scientifically validated survey to determine your top strengths on the VIA Institute on Character website.

Then, determine at least three to five ways you can access these strengths in your work.   

2) Reduce External Distraction

Distraction is the primary culprit that steals our attention. Each time you are interrupted from a flow state, research suggests that it takes an average of 10 to 15 minutes to return to it.

Consider how often you get distracted in a given hour (for the average executive, it’s over eight times) and you can appreciate why flow can seem so rare.

When you’re working on a specific task, eliminate anything that can make noise and draw your attention. Close your email program. Put your phone on “airport mode.” Silence all notifications. Shut your door.

Establish a predetermined time parameter to work uninterrupted on a project that’s meaningful to you. You can’t eliminate distraction indefinitely, but everyone can go offline for an hour to focus on something important.

3) Find Your Center

Once you deal with external distraction, you’re still left with the biggest distraction of all: your own mind. When you’re in a state of flow, you can access more of your brain’s potential. You can focus because your mind isn’t ruminating in the past or projecting into the future; it is absorbed in whatever you are doing. You are fully present.

There are many centering exercises. Mindfulness meditation is a popular way of quieting your mind by observing your thoughts with nonjudgmental awareness.

One of my favorite methods is to put your attention on the bottom of your feet. Simply put your complete awareness on your feet for about 20 seconds. Observe any sensations you might feel. Notice if you feel more calm and focused.

Keeping both of your feet firmly on the ground as you work will help you maintain your focus for extended periods of time.

4) Adopt an Attitude of Open Readiness

Rigid thoughts and beliefs block our creativity; they stifle flow. Adopt what the Zen Buddhists call a Beginner’s Mind. Let go of preconceived notions. Surrender the need to control the next moment. Drop the false notion that you need to know all of the answers.

Then, stay ready and alert. Creating is an active art. Those who enter flow states on a frequent basis earn it by staying devote to their work.

Finally, don’t expect to enter a state of flow. Expectation and anticipation will only create resistance and frustration. Maintain a playful attitude. Experiment without expecting an outcome.

Flow happens at the intersection of effort and allowing. You’re in charge, but only to a degree. Embrace this ambiguity. And go create something great.

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Scott Jeffrey writes at ScottJeffrey.com about productivity, creativity, energy, and how to create your best work. To get effective methods for enhancing your mental performance, join his free newsletter.

You’ve read 4 Ways to Boost Productivity and Enter Flow States Consistently, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

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You’re reading 7 Stunning Books To Read If You Are An Aspiring Writer, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

Every person who has made up their mind on becoming a writer realizes that – just as with any other occupation – there are a lot of catches and tiny things to be aware of. Therefore, they seek advice from the more renowned and established authors on how to create a great piece. Also how to unleash the inner writer, how to avoid writer’s block, etc. The best way to look for such advice is, obviously, just to google it. True, there are a lot of articles on the topic to be found all over the Internet. But while many of such articles are relevant and comprehensive, it is quite naive to assume that such a massive topic can be covered by just one or two articles – regardless of how well-written and to-the-point they may be.

If you want some substantial and complete recommendations, then you need something more than just a few articles. So, today we are bringing you 7 book for young and aspiring authors to read (in no particular order) to improve your writing skills. Mind that this article may contain spoilers to some of the mentioned titles.

1. Becoming a Writer by Dorothea Brande

First published in 1934, this book has aged well. It dives into every aspect of the creative process and recaptures the atmosphere of creative writing classes. From some of the best professors that the author herself had taken back in the 1920s. Book speculates on the very process of writing and the writer’s attitude towards their work, investigating what it takes to become a writer.

It is not a technical manual. But it’s rather a guide from a friendly tutor figure that is willing to explain how to be an author, how to discipline oneself to always get the work done, etc.

Dorothea Brande believes that everybody is born with a certain amount of talent, and it only takes some effort and determination to develop it, if you really want to become a writer.

2. On Writing: A Memoir Of The Craft by Stephen King

This autobiography / masterclass was published in 2000, just one year after the author’s near-death experience. The book is brilliantly structured and flows smoothly from the author’s personal experiences to how they influence his writing. One of the world’s most celebrated writers of today.He uses his own example to give you a masterclass on how deeply personal issues can be dealt with by means of writing, and help you to share what you have to say in a way that the world will listen.

Apart from that, King investigates how his devotion to writing helped him to overcome his near-death experience, which makes this work also a great source of inspiration.

3. Runaway by Alice Munro

This pick is actually not a manual or a guide, but a fiction. First published in 2004, this book was awarded the Giller Prize that year.

This is a slow-paced prose. It flows simply and quietly, but one cannot but notice the enormous attention that the author has for the detail. This makes the book a true finding for an author who struggles to get and idea for a story. Illustrating how a single brief glance at something you see every day can give rise to an engaging story. This book can be viewed as a workshop on how to squeeze a good read from the most mundane things. Once you learn how the smallest and least noticeable detail can be immortalized in writing, you will inevitably feel guided on how to have your own masterpiece done.

4. Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason Currey

Creative people are known to have some foibles. Sometimes writers reflect upon themselves and their peculiar habits, and ask themselves: “Is everything alright with me? Am I becoming some kind of a weirdo?” Not exactly a great thought for an artist to think.

In this book, Mason Currey collect the daily habits and quirks from 161 recognized writers. As well as some comments upon how these rituals were supposed to aid them in their creative process. After you read about someone who stands on their head for an hour or so and assures that it helps to overcome their writer’s block, your own peculiarities don’t seem so out-of-line anymore. In fact, your habits become quite innocent, if not mundane.

5. On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction by William Zinsser

Despite the title, this book is well worth reading even if you are a fiction writer. It gives you an insight into the mechanics of the language. The advice is always sound, to-the-point, and conveyed in a warm and friendly tone.

Though the book was originally published in 1976, it stands the test of time well. It can be found useful by writers of all kinds: fiction and non-fiction, journalists and bloggers, even students who work on their school essays, or someone who has to write emails in their job.

Besides, William Zissner’s own writing is easy and inspiring – the kind of narration you might want to consider integrating into your own writing.

6. As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner

Another piece of fiction on this list. This seminal work by the celebrated Nobel Prize winner William Faulkner shudders the conventions of the writing of its time. It was originally published in 1930. The story of a poor family in a small town in the South on a quest to arrange their matriarch’s burial.

Not only is the story being told from not one, not two, but 15 different points of view. All these points of view look nothing like how a normal writer would write them down. They are as if they come directly from the character’s mind. A stream of consciousness was not a widely used technique at the time, let alone applying it to 15 different characters in one book.

William Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying is your perfect example of breaking the rules done right.

7. Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass

Suppose you have a good story already, but now you want it to get published and become a hit. This is the perfect guide on how to shape your story into a bestseller. Donald Maass is not only a successful novelist but also a top publishing agent. He is willing to share some insightful advice on how to get your writings skyrocketing to the tops of the charts.

You’ve read 7 Stunning Books To Read If You Are An Aspiring Writer, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

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You’re reading 5 Things You Must Do In The First Hour Of Your Day, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

Believe it or not, how you spend the first hour of your day can have significant effect on your mood, motivation, mental energy and health. In all cultures, it is dictated that the day must be started with a mild stretch, a walk, a bath and praying. This inculcates a good metabolism, mood and clarity of mind. There is a reason this protocol has been followed over centuries and after scientific analysis and research we are back to square one. Let us elaborate on the activities a day must start with and why:

1. Mild Exercise and Stretches: The body acts in a way where you need to stretch. This is due to the reason that stretching improves circulation, relieves tension and increases flexibility that the body needs before doing any activity.

Lying in the same position for an elongated period of time causes the body to develop stiffness, hence it must be ‘warmed up’ before you start a task. Similarly, this also translates to joint flexibility. Stretching makes the blood move faster and bring circulation to the extremities. Try doing the stretches for 30 seconds to relieve any mental or physical stress carried forward from the previous day.

You can start by a normal arms stretch, slight back twist, stretching upwards and toe touching. For a proper stretching routine try the yoga asana Suryanamaskar.

2. Avoid any tech contact: Stop making your phone the first point of contact in your life. Research suggests checking your phone first thing in the morning has a negative effect on your mental health as notifications from the previous day make you feel like you have cloud over your head, leaving you hesitant to get up.

According to Sid Savara, an expert in time management and personal development, says that the minute you check your email in the morning, “you risk doing what someone else wants you to do.”

If it’s the alarm clock you worry about, buy a traditional one as a bedside object and it will work wonders for you. The rays from electronic display can make you in fact more lazy and put your right back towards oversleeping.

3. Freshen yourself up:

Drink a small glass of water to get your system running and avoiding any dehydration from the previous night.

A splash of cold water on your face improves mood, brings blood circulation to the face and relieves any tension you might have stocked up. Taking care of personal hygiene gives a sense of freshness and optimism.

Now the most significant part – a cold shower. A cold shower (you can adjust the temperature a little bit in winters but not too much) provides immune-friendly changes and increases your body’s lymphatic, circulatory and digestive systems to initiate a healthy effect on your body.

It can also help decrease symptoms of depression so you know it is a feel good activity. If nothing else, it will activate you and what’s as good as a little screaming in the morning?

4. Do your chores and make your bed – These are not to increase the quality of your life but make you avoid stress in the morning and clear your mind.

Cleaning up, organizing, packing yourself lunch, brewing coffee, disposing your dirty clothes from the previous day are some activities. Also, you will have a small sense of achievement right in the morning and come back to a tidy environment after a stressful day as well. It surely does not mean the ones who make their bed are any less busy but instead most of the times, are productive.

71 percent of bed makers consider themselves happy; while 62 percent of non-bed-makers admit to being unhappy. Bed makers are also more likely to like their jobs, own a home, exercise regularly, and feel well rested, whereas non-bed-makers hate their jobs, rent apartments, avoid the gym, and wake up tired [source: psychologytoday.com]

5. Visualize & plan your day ahead: There is strength in the power of visualization. When you see yourself doing something, you will have the will to go ahead and do them as well.

This does not mean checking your email and start working. These are the goals you have set for yourself and want to achieve. Think about them, plan how you will go about them and add a few things in your weekly planner or todo list if anything pops in your head.

You will be one step ahead already. Before doing anything, you have started to achieve your goals.

Essentially, you have to avoid a stressful motivation of something left incomplete or something you need to complete. Do not confuse accomplishment with negativity towards tasks you do not want to think about, but do them instead.

Keeping your head clear for the first hour of your day will increase your overall productivity throughout the day.

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Aymeric Gaurat-Apellii is a software consultant, programmer, blogger and the Founder of Weekplan, a weekly planner web application. Read more by him here.

(image source: pexels.com)

You’ve read 5 Things You Must Do In The First Hour Of Your Day, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

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You’re reading The 7 Best Blog Posts on Motivation, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

What will you do with the time you have? Go to work, stay in bed, hang out with family, spend your savings on a round the world trip, stay in a relationship, take a hike? Some of that will depend on circumstances and external factors of course, but when it comes to making choices in life- we are in the driver’s seat. The psychology behind a decision or a choice is often lead by some internal process or impulse that we call motivation. It gives reason to action and desires and stimulates our interest toward a particular goal. What if motivation did not exist? The truth is it always will exist. All motivation is a result of the interaction between our conscious and subconscious mind and there are several types to note, intrinsic (desire for internal fulfillment such as learning), extrinsic (arises from outside pressure) and self –motivation (ability to get what is needed done without influence). Here are some blogs that hone in on how to harness our motivation to achieve our desires:

1.This blog aims to put the onus on ourselves to get motivated. The idea that we can spend hours surfing the web for videos and blogs on motivation seems ironic because if we motivate ourselves to do this task, we can certainly inspire to do another. It includes a Ted Talk by Meg Jay in which she speaks of her young therapy client, she talks of adding value to who you are with ‘identity capital’. Exploration is not the same as procrastination, make the work count.

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2. Through the steps of a recovering addict, the idea of motivation seems insurmountable at times, this blog helps one stay on a path toward fulfillment of your goals and applies to all across the board, not just those who are sober. He posits that each day gives us an opportunity to celebrate and motivate.

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3. Research suggests that 65% of people fail to continue with a desired resolution, so this blog gives us ways to stay on track. Simple and easy tips that can be applied immediately, such as writing down a thought, doing research and doing it right now!

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4. Most of us get out of bed (or linger in bed…) and lack the motivation we so eagerly anticipated we would have the night before. Research suggests there are clever ways to circumvent this behavior that trick the mind into productivity and success. The tips in this blog are doable and small, yet powerful.

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5. “Mistakes are portals of discovery.” James Joyce. This blog is essential for anyone that has been held back by anxieties and self-doubt. Using the fear to achieve success, if you can think of the worst thing that can happen in each case, you will loosen its grip on the outcome. Therefore allowing a free flow of creativity and productivity needed to attain your goal.

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6. Abraham Lincoln once said, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” This quote, used in his blog, perfectly embodies what it is to drag our feet. Perhaps the most damaging obstacle to motivation is in fact, procrastination. But the good news it is completely avoidable. There is a routine of rituals to follow in this blog that work to help one stay on track.

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7. This blog is full of informative and inspiring videos to help with motivation. One that is particularly essential is the one on ‘beating the odds’. The idea that our very existence is beating the odds and what is against you is negativity, insecurities, fear and self-doubt.

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Intention and desire set the course for many goals that will take a long time to achieve, and motivation will keep us engaged and moving forward. If we approach life with a ‘what is the point?’ mind set it clearly makes motivation an uphill battle with such a self-defeating attitude. Discovering what it is that motivates us all individually is the very first key in unlocking our personal power and potential. Beyond that motivation is necessary to see our tasks to completion and it is essential to adopt tips and tricks to remain on that path.

Do you read a great blog about motivation that’s not on the list? Leave a comment on FB!

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 Larissa Gomes is a breast cancer survivor and single mom to her spirited baby boy! Originally from Toronto turned Angeleno, she has worked in roles from writer, actor and producer for well over a decade. In that time, she’s developed concepts, film and television screenplays, short stories, along with freelance articles, blogging and editing work.

You’ve read The 7 Best Blog Posts on Motivation, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

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You’re reading Is It The Right Time To Pack Your Bags And Move?, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

Moving is a daunting task. It won’t only exhaust you physically with all the packings and the utilities to consider but it can also be emotionally and mentally draining. No wonder there is only 12% movers’ rate from the total population in the past years. Let’s face it, nobody wants to uproot from the place he spends half of his life in and transfer to another place he is unfamiliar of.

But when times get tough and you need new ways to survive and prosper, don’t you think it is about time to start a new chapter of your life? Don’t you think it is about time to start a new beginning in a new place?

Relocating from one place to another may not seem to be a practical thing to do but it could be your next best move.  Perhaps it is a better way to chase your dreams. Keep on reading and find out the few reasons why you need to relocate.

Because Moving Can Change Your Career Path

Have you ever felt that you are not satisfied with what you are doing anymore? Have you ever felt that you just don’t belong and going to a new place will make you feel more fulfilled? Yes? Then maybe, it is just the right time for you to relocate and pursue your passion elsewhere.

There is definitely a new city out there where you can fully explore your passion and put it into work. If you need to quit your job to follow your passion, then perhaps it is the right thing to do. We know how it feels… to get stuck in one place doing the same job over and over again. You feel empty and lifeless. So go somewhere else where you will feel more alive… where you are free to unleash your inner passion.

Because Opportunities Knock And You Have To Open The Door

Nothing can bring you closer to opportunities than you coming after them. Give yourself a chance to grow. There are some cities in the country that are more suited for your skills. For example, tech-savvy people can test and harness their skills more in San Francisco as compared to other cities.

As they say, the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. But you will never know unless you try. You can’t be in the same place all your life without knowing what life could be on the other side of that fence.

Because You Want To Build A New Connection

Building connections is a part of growing up. With your networks and connections around, you have your support system. When you move from one city to another, you are building new connections. These connections will not only help you to be more productive but, they will help you to become more confident about yourself.

You need other people to help you grow.  Moving to a new city will help you find new people to build a new circle. These people will help you progress in business, careers and other significant aspects of your life. Though, it can be challenging at first, building new connection will make you feel more secure about yourself and once you get used to it, it can really be lots of fun.

Because You Need To Know Yourself Better

At some point in your life, you become confuse of who you really are and what you really want to do. It is not impossible that your decisions are influenced by the series of events that is happening in your environment.

There is no better way to come up with decisions that are solely your own than to go somewhere you are not so familiar with and reflect. Moving to a new city will give you a fresh start. People couldn’t care less about who you are and what you were doing before, you have a chance to start a new life and build a new identity that you want people to see in you.

Because There Is No Reason To Stay

YOLO! Cliché as it is but true. Why would you let your life get stuck in one place when there is nothing to hold on to? Life goes by too fast and before you know it, you might have missed the chance to enjoy life. So, when it seems that there is no reason for you to stay, why won’t you explore other cities and have a chance to live independently?  Who knows, maybe you’ll meet the one who will inspire and persuade you to chase your dreams and be who you want to be.

The physical stress of relocating is nothing compared to what you may likely to gain when you move. Besides, there are checklists you can follow for a stress-free transition.

Moving is a life-changing experience. There is no guarantee of a better life when you move, but when your dreams and your life goals are elsewhere, will you stay and wait for them or will you chase your dreams?

It is up to you to decide.

You’ve read Is It The Right Time To Pack Your Bags And Move?, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

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You’re reading Why Your ‘I Am Good Enough’ Affirmations May Not Work, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

You have a distinct feeling of discomfort within yourself and it’s having a negative impact on your life. You’ve used affirmations daily for weeks or even months to change the way you feel.

You’ve said them quietly and you’ve said them out loud. You’ve heard about others who’ve used them with great success—even healing themselves of ailments in certain cases. You’ve written your affirmations down and even plastered them all over your home so you can see them everyday.

Do you find yourself nodding to the above? Maybe you’ve experienced positive changes in your life as a result of using affirmations. If so, then you’re most definitely on the right track—good for you.

On the other hand, you might be feeling completely fed up and disillusioned instead. The problem is, despite doing it all, things haven’t changed for you.  Your attempts at using affirmations has had the opposite effect and you feel worse about yourself more than ever. If so, there’s likely to be a reason.

Why your affirmations may not be working

When it comes to affirmations, it’s very much about emotions as well—there needs to be some kind of agreement between what you say and how you feel when you say it. If you say your affirmation without backing that statement up with the right internal feeling, there is discord. When you have discord between what you say and the way you feel, the chances of that affirmation having any beneficial effect on you and your life decreases greatly.

Think about it for a moment, you want to feel good about yourself and let’s say, more comfortable in social settings. Most of the time you feel awkward, which leads to feelings of embarrassment.

You decide that you’re going to use affirmations to help you relax and get comfortable with who you are so you can be yourself. The problem is that if, when you state your chosen affirmation(s), you continue to feel bad, that affirmation is going to be absolutely useless to you.

Why? Because whilst you’re stating ‘I feel good about myself’ and ‘I’m comfortable being myself’ (or any other statement you choose to use), deep down you may be thinking something along the lines of ‘but, I don’t’, therefore, creating conflict.

You can try to deny that you’re affirmation  isn’t working in the hopes that it eventually will at some point, but it won’t make any difference. If you get a ‘yeah right’ or ‘I wish’ feeling, you’ll hardly be excited, inspired and moved enough to want to make changes that will get you the result you want.

If, however, you were to focus on how being at ease within yourself would make you feel and make up an affirmation based on that, then the chance of feeling any internal resistance is reduced to nothing.

The difference between ‘I feel good about myself’ and ‘the thought of feeling good about myself everyday makes me feel so ‘fill-in-the-blank’’ is huge. You’ll know it’s the right one for you if you feel some kind of sensation in your body.

If you are one of those people wanting to feel more comfortable within yourself, which one of those statements do you think you would be happier stating? When you say the second affirmation, it gives you an idea of how you would feel once you’re ‘there’.

In other words, it puts you in the right frame of mind and gets you more excited about what you need to do to feel more of what you’ve just felt. That way, when you start on your journey to feeling good in your own skin , obstacles won’t feel so much like Mount Everest and they will eventually be trampled on by the visions and thoughts you hold inside your head of how you want things to be.

When you use the right affirmation for your situation, it should cause feelings of excitement, joy and happiness and even make you smile. It should make you want to take action. So, the next time you use an affirmation, check for how comfortable – or uncomfortable – you feel. If it doesn’t make you feel good, don’t use it!

Using them in the right way will see you moving steadily towards your goal.

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Read more from the Confidence Haven on her blog!

You’ve read Why Your ‘I Am Good Enough’ Affirmations May Not Work, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

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You’re reading 7 Motivation Principles to Help You Change Your Life, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

The secret of motivation is that it begins between your ears. Motivation is like a puzzle and you have to see how the pieces fit together before you can get the full picture. How you view the world, beginning with your mind and attitude, will hinder or help you on the path to getting and staying motivated.

I can’t say this enough. Motivation does not come from external sources. On the contrary, it’s all driven from your internal resources. In my experience, some of the pieces to this puzzle can be found in the following life principles:

1. Change Your Attitude: Attitude is at the foundation of motivation. Success and even how you deal with failure and challenges will depend very much on your attitude, first and foremost. Everything that happens to you has to be viewed through a certain lens. That lens is either positive or negative attitude and motivation. A friend of mine was told years ago that he had less than a year to live. He spent the rest of his days focusing on the 10 percent chance the doctors had given him. His final days were positive.

2. Take Ownership: You own your life. No one else does. Your boss, your spouse, your job, etc. are not the owners of your life. No one can “make” you feel happy, sad, overwhelmed, motivated or whatever else. Only you can make yourself do that. It is you who wholly owns your life. You are where you are because of your own actions or inactions. When you assume ownership, it empowers you and gives you control. And, that control helps provide you motivation.

3. Erase “I Can’t” and the Excuses: When my daughter was young, I taught her early that she should not use the word “can’t.” To be motivated, you have to believe in your potential and opportunity. Saying, “I can’t make money,” or, “I can’t find a new job,” is defeatist. All you’re doing to yourself mentally is providing excuses. To recharge your motivation, erase the “I can’t” and dispose of the excuses. Life is not easy. We all have challenges, but your chances of success increase exponentially if you get out of your own way.

4. Get Off the Couch: Newton’s First Law of Motion is absolutely correct: An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion. Motivation comes when you are moving forward. If you’re looking to get and stay motivated, you have to move. One of the easiest things you can do for yourself to help you nurture your motivation is to get out and connect with nature. Move. Exercise. If you live in a concrete jungle, then join a group and connect with others. But, whatever you do, don’t sit on the couch and watch the world pass by.

5. Commit: Motivation comes by committing to something. In other words, making a decision. And, when you’ve made the decision and the challenges arise, stay committed to what you decided to do. Anything worth having will become a challenge, which is always an opportunity to reaffirm your commitment. This is how we all grow as human beings. Commit to a decision, stay the course and you will see your motivation increase. 

6. Do the Work: Sustained motivation takes consistency and the only way to place fuel on the fire is to do the work. Big goals take time to achieve. It’s important to spend a little bit of time each and every day working on it–even if it’s only 15 minutes. A friend of mine is looking to begin his own business; however, he has to work at a job and cannot afford at this time to work on his own. He wakes up 2 hours before so he can work on his products and then when he returns from work at night he makes phone calls and has networking meetings. He does this every business day. 

7. Accept the Consequences: Finally, accepting responsibility for consequences is actually an opportunity to stay empowered and motivated. Again, you are the owner of your life and you have control. Take responsibilities for mistakes you’ve made along the way. This is an opportunity to learn and master your goals, with the mistakes that will occur along the way. And once you accept the consequences and learn from them, move on.

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Wayne Elsey is the founder and CEO of Elsey Enterprises (EE). Among his various independent brands, he is also the founder and CEO of Funds2Orgs, which is a social enterprise that enables nonprofits, individuals and organizations to raise funds while helping to support micro-enterprise opportunities in developing nations.

 

You’ve read 7 Motivation Principles to Help You Change Your Life, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

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You’re reading How to Stop being Scared of Success, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

Wherever you live in the world, you’re in a pursuit. Some of your pursuits are dear to you. Long-term hopes and fantasies that make you dream with starry eyes.

“Functionally, a man is somewhat like a bicycle. A bicycle maintains its poise and equilibrium only so long as it’s moving forward toward something.” – Maxwell Maltz.

But maybe the prospect of achieving your goals, also makes you feel slightly uncertain. Other desires you have are a little emptier, perhaps more materialistic. They’re easier to have in the immediate future. Think of the new Macbook, the designer handbag or the new Fitbit.

Are you focusing on these items more than you need to (at the exclusion of your real goals)?

The visions that make you uncertain take the most work. But they’re also the ones worth most going for. They require some level of sacrifice that’s not just financial.

Examples include:
• Writing that book you’ve been dreaming about for years
• Participating in that talent show
• Getting out there and meeting the love of your life
• Finally getting that PhD
• Travelling the World

(Note: We can lose sight of our big picture goals easily. So, I have a special bonus. Read all the way to the end to get it.)

• The Obstacle you will Face

If you choose to step into your grandest ideas, you’re going to face your fear. It will snatch you from the bottom of your soul, and throw you into a cascading series of emotions. It will test you to see if you’re deserving of what you’re going after. You’re going to feel like you’re about to lose something.

It may be pride, ego money, or hope – or all of it. Some of us will undoubtedly run away at first sight of fear. Some of us will hide. Some of us might have to warm up to it before it warms up to us.

Fear is psychological pain, and it is that which makes it so irresistible to refute. It can make us freeze, or shake in our knees. It can make us shiver and cry… Fear, since the dawn of humanity, has been responsible for deterring some of the noblest dreams.

But it’s only by facing it, that we’re able to overcome it.

• What is Success?

Success has been connoted as anything from having a nice house to being content with living a minimal life. But the underlying similarity that lies between all definitions of success is: growth and contentment. Two seemingly paradoxical ideas. But they can work together.

If you’re not growing, in some way, you’re dying a little. If you’re not content, in some way, then you’ll feel unfulfilled.

Your success might make someone feel bad. The fact that you shine, might shine leave them to inspect their faults more closely. On the other side, thousands of people might be inspired by your light. If you experience growth, then by definition, you are successful. Success does not need to be this glittery self-aggrandizing event that makes others see how “special” you are.

The word ‘success’ is probably what made you click on this click-bait headline. And I’m glad it did, because you might now finally get closer to what you should be really pursuing.

Let me explain.

If you start to see your own sense of self-worth through the eyes of others, then you’ve fallen into a fake mirage of “success”. One that will paradoxically take you away from ‘self-contentment and growth’ – the two qualities are intrinsic to being successful.

You need to stop believing in this idea of becoming successful – it implies a destination. But being successful implies that you always have the choice each day. Do you choose to push yourself a little more in your craft? Do you focus your attention on what matters most? Do you prioritize your work?

Success means living true to yourself. Sure, you might receive the glittery things that come with serving the world with your gift i.e. the house, the fancy car, the trips. But realize that the new possessions you may have, the higher income, the new relationships – are not success.

They are the consequence of choosing to be successful, which means focusing on being true to yourself, and serving the world in the best way you can with that in mind.

• Ask yourself: How Would you Live if you only had Six months Left to Live?

Asking yourself this question puts your excuses to the side, till they no longer fit into your view. With no awareness of our death, your vision can become hazy – uncertainty creeps in. Facing it however, all your potential choices are more carefully inspected.
Your wishes and possibilities are examined under the stethoscope of life.

Clarity starts to seep into the edges of our reality until every right choice becomes more self-evident. Your feelings become secondary. You observe them with the awareness that like anything, they will pass with time. But let’s be real. Taking the risks needed to achieve your desires might not work out. You might get rejected; you might fall flat on our face, repeatedly

But the self-confidence you experience, due to having made a choice to step out of your comfort-zone, is what matters.

So ask yourself, what choices would you make, if you were going to die in the six months from this very date? Would you take the chance and move abroad? Even if you’re not too sure if it’s going to work out?

Would you take that trip you’ve been dreaming about? Even though you don’t know how it will pass?

You need to be okay with a little uncertainty. In fact, you should embrace it. Because if everything was predictable, then the magic of life would be lost.

I’m not saying you don’t need to do some thinking before making a leap. But asking yourself how you would live if you only had six months to live, might be the only way that you can avoid paralysis by analysis.

It might be the only way you’ll stop making excuses and thinking too much. The more often you’re able to stand on the edge of that cliff of uncertainty, and take that leap of faith, the more you will live your adulthood life to its fullest.

Takeaway: Accepting your uncertainties is paradoxically the only way you’ll become sure in your life.

• Inspect this thought: Who am I to deserve this success?

Our childhood has a profound impact on the way we see ourselves. Many of us have had poor upbringings, removing the glow of our inherent, positive self-image. So, as a consequence, some of us see ourselves as of lower value to other human beings. I know I used to at least, and I still suffer from this to a certain degree.

In the light of low self-confidence, any potential success feels misaligned. It goes against years of conditioning. And even the mere idea of it naturally makes us feel like impostors. Even me writing this article, it’s easy for me to tell myself… “who am I to write this?” But really, the question I should be asking is… “who I am to NOT write this article?”.

We all have the same intrinsic worth. No one is better than you, and you are not better than anyone. You are simply what you make of yourself. I am what I make of myself. While people do have different abilities, and virtues, at everyone’s base level, we all have the same human worth.

Recognizing that someone’s intrinsic value is interdependent of their career, status, or fame paradoxically frees us to attach our self-worth to what’s deep inside us, not what’s seen as “valuable” by the world.

So whenever you envision what you want to achieve, and you crackle under the thought of… am I good enough? Can do I do it? Realize that what you’re really asking yourself, is if you deserve this success. Whenever you notice the slightest inkling of self-doubt creep into your mind, change your thought pattern to something that serves you.

Takeaway: You deserve going after what you want.

“You can get everything you want in life, if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” – Zig Ziglar.

So that’s it! Those are some of the important mindsets you need to instill if you want to slowly break away from the fear of success (change never happens instantaneously). If you’re interested in learning more about what you can do to increase your odds of growing and increasing your contentment levels, I’m going to give you a Free Bonus to help.

• First, I’ve put together a list of the best morning routines, so that you can feel at ease each day, so you’ll approach your work already feeling productive.
• Second, I’ve included a methodology on how to split up your day into 4 chunks, so you’ll know exactly when to indulge yourself guilt-free.
• Third, I’ll show you how to consistently celebrate your small wins, so that you feel more creative and enthusiastic about work.

If you’d like to learn how to implement all of my strategies, click below to access my eBook (9 mins read). I’ll show you the behind the scenes to every detail of the system you need to be insanely productive. (Access here).

About the Author: Samy Felice is a writer who is passionate about ideas related to living a meaningful life. His Free Book explores ways people can make success easier.

You’ve read How to Stop being Scared of Success, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

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You’re reading 5 Ways to Navigate Stressful Situations This Holiday Season, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

The holidays can really usher in emotions and feelings that we find much easier to suppress throughout the rest of the year. We may find that we lose patience with the long lines at the shopping mall, and our email inboxes seem to be completely taken over with advertisements for our favorite restaurants, discounts on air travel and holiday party invitations. It’s definitely “the most wonderful time of the year,” but it can also absolutely be the most stressful.

So, rather than hiding in the supply closet during the office party, there are some ways to make it through the season with your dignity still intact. Let’s explore a few!

1. Beware of Taking on Too Much

Some people are under the impression that the holidays are a time to relax and to take a step back from the worries of day-to-day life. Apparently those with this opinion have never had to host a dinner, plan a toy drive or shop for picky relatives. When you find yourself volunteering to head up committees or offering to cook the honey-baked ham at your house this year, be sure to know your limitations, and be wary of taking on any unnecessary stress. This isn’t the time to be an overachiever. When you are leading the brigade, don’t be afraid to delegate and lean on others to help get the job done or achieve a goal. Remember, you’re all in this together.

2. Don’t Be Afraid to Have an Exit Strategy

Sometimes it is impossible to skip the holiday invitations that will place you in the same room with people that you could definitely wait another year to see. However, don’t deprive yourself of the joy of having a good meal with loved ones or watching children tear into their perfectly wrapped gifts with a frenzy. Instead, have a plan in mind to extricate yourself quickly and easily from a bad situation, should it arise, side-stepping the attached stress and anxiety. Walk outside to place a phone call or even run back home to retrieve a “forgotten” present. Sometimes there’s nothing more freeing than the possibility of a well-executed escape plan!

3. Set a Budget and Stick to It

When it comes to the nearly overwhelming power of the bewitching wiles of holiday retail, filling up the shopping cart before you even get to number six on your gift list can easily become your reality, creating months of stress when the credit bills start rolling in. Trying to keep to a budget can be difficult, especially when families continue to grow, and prices never seem to go down. But creating a list with gift ideas, including estimated pricing, can go a long way. Also be sure to keep your eyes open for special deals and discounts, especially online, and even if it involves looking up promo codes and clipping coupons. Plus, you can sign up for email notifications a few weeks ahead for your favorite stores, ensuring you won’t miss that big sale.

4. Don’t Skip the Exercise

If you are already on a strict workout regimen, regularly practice yoga or simply take a brisk walk around the block after dinner, don’t use the holidays as an excuse to turn back into a couch potato. While you can definitely take a step back, and maybe even skip that cardio on Christmas Eve, be sure to remember to keep active. Now, this is isn’t just to keep your ideal weight or fit into those new jeans, but exercise can definitely attribute to your overall well-being, greatly reducing stress. Many embrace physical activity as a way to clear the mind and unplug, so be sure not to skip it when you may need it the most!

5. Be Open to Change

Things may not always go according to plan, especially during the holidays, when schedules change and workloads may pile up during time off. The best way to face these impending adjustments is with an open mind, ready to roll with the punches and embrace change. Dinner may be held at a different time this year, or your flight might be unexpectedly rescheduled. But don’t see these incidents as negative, but be understanding of the fact that the holidays can sometimes create circumstances that interfere with normal daily activities or cause scheduling conflicts. You may just find yourself welcoming in a new holiday tradition or discovering that you aren’t as set in your ways as you once thought that you were.

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Angela is a professional article writer and editor, specializing in self improvement and health topics. She is also the Content Manager for Mentegram, a mental heaththcare company that has helped over 200 therapists provide better care to over 1,500 patients.

You’ve read 5 Ways to Navigate Stressful Situations This Holiday Season, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

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