You’re reading Getting Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

What are our major gripes? For most people, our greatest fears never see daylight. The cataclysms, the darkest outcomes that we imagine, those things that keep us up at night usually never end up actually happening. What does happen, daily, are the trifling, petty, minor pains that ruffle our feathers and bring about moments of anxiety, fear, and shame. These are the papercut moments in life that are small pains but pack a big punch: The person cutting you off while driving, not getting acknowledged for the work you put into a project, or paying a bill when your low on cash. Although these moments are not the worst things that could happen, they are the more frequent pains we are met with daily and if not addressed, can lead to greater disharmony.

Nobody likes stress, nobody likes sadness, nobody likes to feel uncomfortable. However, on the flip side of this, is a world of possibility. How do you get comfortable with being uncomfortable? The first thing is to know that something is moving. When we are feeling any level of discomfort it is a sign that you have the potential to grow and that an event is pushing you out of your comfort zone. It is imperative that you see these gripes and sources of discomfort as opportunities rather than intended inflictions of hurt.

Once you realize this, stay aware. Think about how the situation can create growth in you. Maybe the circumstance is allowing you to practice forgiveness, maybe it’s understanding. Either way, if you stay heart-centered you will see the moment for what it really is. The key is that you don’t run from it or fight it but that you learn from it.

When we are feeling uncomfortable, we may try to dodge the feelings by masking it but rather than cover it, expose it by allowing yourself deeper understanding. Get to the bottom of why you feel the way you do. Usually what is causing you to feel uncomfortable has its roots in the past which is being called forth into the present to be healed and released.

Recently I’ve had my share of being uncomfortable because of a decision I needed to make. I had to decide whether to return for a second interview at a job that was lucrative, but wasn’t aligned with what I saw myself doing in the long run. The whole damn day I struggled with this decision, praying that I’d be given a sign, something to show me what decision I should make. I looked. I listened. I read inspiring words, I made a pros and cons list. I read my horoscope. Nothing came. To know me is to know that I work off of signs and going with my gut so when none came, I felt lost.

Eventually I decided to do what I felt was in alignment with my purpose. I wrote an email turning down the second interview. After doing this, I have to admit, I felt good about my decision but part of me still wondered if I made the right choice. Could I have worked at that job and still continued with the work I’m passionate about? Am I going to be financially stable? All of these are questions that ran through my mind.

As I got up from sending the email declining the offer, I looked to the side of me. I noticed two words written on a filing cabinet that was left behind by a former co-worker: commitment and legacy. How’s that for a sign!

There were many lessons that I felt my feelings of discomfort were trying to teach me. The lesson that I realized through this experience was to learn how to trust myself. I had to remind myself that the answers in life are always found internally first then validated externally. So, that sign I was looking for only appeared when I was able to be honest with myself concerning the direction I saw my life going.

In addition to this, the experience was providing me with deeper understanding of my purpose. Seeing the word commitment and legacy reminded me of the importance of prioritizing my purpose in order to feel a greater sense of joy and fulfillment.

Feelings of discomfort are not going to disappear. However, you can learn how to address them in the moment so that it does not wreak havoc on your life. It is just as important to know how to deal with the minor slights of life as it is the more traumatic moments. As you begin to practice looking for the deeper meaning behind life’s challenges, you will shift into a much more powerful way of living.

Kamaria G. Powell was born and raised in Boston, and received her bachelor’s degree in psychology at The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and went on to receive her master’s degree in education at The University of Massachusetts Boston. Following her postgraduate studies, she began teaching for Boston Public Schools.

You’ve read Getting Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

http://ift.tt/2raeK5e

You’re reading Getting Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

What are our major gripes? For most people, our greatest fears never see daylight. The cataclysms, the darkest outcomes that we imagine, those things that keep us up at night usually never end up actually happening. What does happen, daily, are the trifling, petty, minor pains that ruffle our feathers and bring about moments of anxiety, fear, and shame. These are the papercut moments in life that are small pains but pack a big punch: The person cutting you off while driving, not getting acknowledged for the work you put into a project, or paying a bill when your low on cash. Although these moments are not the worst things that could happen, they are the more frequent pains we are met with daily and if not addressed, can lead to greater disharmony.

Nobody likes stress, nobody likes sadness, nobody likes to feel uncomfortable. However, on the flip side of this, is a world of possibility. How do you get comfortable with being uncomfortable? The first thing is to know that something is moving. When we are feeling any level of discomfort it is a sign that you have the potential to grow and that an event is pushing you out of your comfort zone. It is imperative that you see these gripes and sources of discomfort as opportunities rather than intended inflictions of hurt.

Once you realize this, stay aware. Think about how the situation can create growth in you. Maybe the circumstance is allowing you to practice forgiveness, maybe it’s understanding. Either way, if you stay heart-centered you will see the moment for what it really is. The key is that you don’t run from it or fight it but that you learn from it.

When we are feeling uncomfortable, we may try to dodge the feelings by masking it but rather than cover it, expose it by allowing yourself deeper understanding. Get to the bottom of why you feel the way you do. Usually what is causing you to feel uncomfortable has its roots in the past which is being called forth into the present to be healed and released.

Recently I’ve had my share of being uncomfortable because of a decision I needed to make. I had to decide whether to return for a second interview at a job that was lucrative, but wasn’t aligned with what I saw myself doing in the long run. The whole damn day I struggled with this decision, praying that I’d be given a sign, something to show me what decision I should make. I looked. I listened. I read inspiring words, I made a pros and cons list. I read my horoscope. Nothing came. To know me is to know that I work off of signs and going with my gut so when none came, I felt lost.

Eventually I decided to do what I felt was in alignment with my purpose. I wrote an email turning down the second interview. After doing this, I have to admit, I felt good about my decision but part of me still wondered if I made the right choice. Could I have worked at that job and still continued with the work I’m passionate about? Am I going to be financially stable? All of these are questions that ran through my mind.

As I got up from sending the email declining the offer, I looked to the side of me. I noticed two words written on a filing cabinet that was left behind by a former co-worker: commitment and legacy. How’s that for a sign!

There were many lessons that I felt my feelings of discomfort were trying to teach me. The lesson that I realized through this experience was to learn how to trust myself. I had to remind myself that the answers in life are always found internally first then validated externally. So, that sign I was looking for only appeared when I was able to be honest with myself concerning the direction I saw my life going.

In addition to this, the experience was providing me with deeper understanding of my purpose. Seeing the word commitment and legacy reminded me of the importance of prioritizing my purpose in order to feel a greater sense of joy and fulfillment.

Feelings of discomfort are not going to disappear. However, you can learn how to address them in the moment so that it does not wreak havoc on your life. It is just as important to know how to deal with the minor slights of life as it is the more traumatic moments. As you begin to practice looking for the deeper meaning behind life’s challenges, you will shift into a much more powerful way of living.

Kamaria G. Powell was born and raised in Boston, and received her bachelor’s degree in psychology at The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and went on to receive her master’s degree in education at The University of Massachusetts Boston. Following her postgraduate studies, she began teaching for Boston Public Schools.

You’ve read Getting Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

http://ift.tt/2raeK5e

You’re reading Why a Successful Night’s Sleep is Crucial to Being Successful, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

When adults are busy adult-ing, sleep often becomes a mythic creature of bedtimes past. A successful life is linked to a successful night’s sleep, but in this crazy, busy world—that seems like a nice dream only fit for four-year-olds.

The truth is that, while you technically can get away with less sleep than a child, you still need the best quality of sleep to achieve your goals in daily life.

Sleep and Success Go Hand in Hand

When you think of the qualities that lead to success, you’re probably considering traits like ambition, hard work, determination and creativity, but the biggest key to business and life success is the quality of your sleep. You need a restful night’s sleep if you want to wake up refreshed to tackle your day, and that’s because:

• Good sleep affects long term and short term memory.
• Bad sleep shortens your fuse, making you prone to irritability and anger.
• Chronic bad sleep quality shortens your life span.
• When you’re sleep deficient, you’re basically drunk—only without your liver dealing with the aftermath of alcohol intake. Sleep deficiency leads to mental deficiency.

For the sake of your sanity, your health and your golden ticket to success, it’s time that you and sleep became good friends. Don’t rely on counting sheep to coerce sleep into your head. There are more productive tactics to get a good night’s sleep and dream your way to success:

1. Regulate Your Sleep

The quality of your sleep correlates to the consistency of your sleep schedule. Seven to nine hours of sleep is best for the adult body. When you’re waking up or going to bed at different times, including the weekends, your body will have a different quality of sleep each time.

It’s important to regulate your sleep schedule every day, so that you are going to bed and waking up at consistent intervals. If you have to nap during the day, limit those naps to 20 minutes, because the longer you snooze the more difficult it will be to go to sleep at night.

Even if you work late night shifts, staying on a consistent schedule is key. If you leave work late in the morning, sun glasses will limit your light exposure and help you get to sleep more easily.

Find a schedule that works for your body and your work-life balance. When you have regular and restful sleep, you’ll wake up refreshed to start each day anew.

2. Invest in Less Screen Time

Do you check email and social media right before going to bed? Are your straining eyes glued to the light of the TV? Nightly screen time up to one hour before bed impedes your ability to sleep well. 95 percent of people use an electronic device during the hour before bed, at least a few nights a week.

The light from the screen mimics daylight exposure, keeping your eyes open. Your body needs the transition of light fading to cue it into sleep mode. At least thirty minutes before bed, power down those devices.

However, technology can help you manage your sleep. There are sleep apps that track your sleep cycle or install a filter on your phone to adjust screen brightness. There’s even a light bulb called the Drift Light that works like any regular light, but when you activate the “midnight mode” it fades to dark slowly within 37 minutes, just like the sunset. Technology can hinder or help your quality of sleep.

3. You May Need a New Mattress

Waking up stiff and sore, more so than you were a year or two ago? If you’re in a relationship and your partner stretches out when sleeping, stress out less with a queen or a king mattress. A mattress may have normal wear and tear, but you need a new mattress when the old one is no longer comfortable.

Resolving your sleep issues may mean investing in a new mattress. If so, consider saving time, and money by avoiding sales pitches, by buying your mattress online. Focus on what you need and not getting bombarded with options by having a mattress shipped to you.

Confusion can lead to an expensive and uncomfortable mattress. At least you’ll have time to ask questions and do your research before you purchase a mattress.

4. Establish a bedtime routine

You know that you need a regular schedule to sleep and need to be as relaxed as possible to rest well for the night. However, what if you’re having trouble relaxing? Your body doesn’t seem to be picking up the cues that it’s bedtime.

Like your sleep schedule, your cues need to also be consistent. This is where establishing a bedtime routine is helpful to relaxing your body and your mind to prepare for a good night’s sleep. Bedtime routines are best done thirty minutes to an hour before bed. Your ritual may consist of yoga, reading a book, taking a bath or writing down your worries and joys in a journal.

A good night’s sleep is crucial to success in your daily life. Show up for your bed time routine. Sink into your comfortable mattress, and wake up refreshed and ready to conquer the day ahead.

You’ve read Why a Successful Night’s Sleep is Crucial to Being Successful, 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 3 Ways to Still Make 2017 your Standout Year, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

I think a lot about making this year better than the last.

But lately, something’s hit me. What about making the year better than – the next one, and the one after that, and so on? After all, if all we ever do is base our improvement on what’s already happened, then we’re severely limiting our perspective.

This year could be the year that changes your life forever. It could galvanize who you are in a way no other time has or will – in your lifetime.

Yet, none of that will happen if your perspective is based solely on improving on what you’ve already accomplished.

1. Start Comparing the Present to the Future

By comparing your year to what it was last year, it’s easy to make small changes. Instead of creating a revolution in the way you lead your life, you’re only likely to create a mere evolution.

Perhaps you:

–        Go to the gym a little more frequently
–        Pitch more clients and apply for more jobs to improve your salary
–        Spend more days out with your family

“If this was the best year of my life, what would have to happen?” ~ Brian Tracy.

Whatever the case may be, even if you decide to step things up by a huge amount, because you’re only using last year as your template for what this year could be, you’ll likely only improve by 5-50%.

But if you look beyond what you’ve already accomplished, you’ll be in a much more empowered position to reach your full potential.

Last year, for instance, I only wrote eleven articles on self-improvement. If i try to build on that, then I might only try to double that at most this year. But if I drop the model of linear growth, I can force myself to jump into a position that allows me to take a ‘quantum leap’.

Under this model, if I consider that I may be 10x as prolific in three years, there’s nothing stopping me from attempting it this year. And even if I don’t reach it, I’ll be better off by the end because I would have attempted to do more than I otherwise would have.

2. Combine Activities to Gain Momentum

I’ve found that I enjoy life more when it’s a little fast. At the same time, I don’t want to it to be going so fast that I lose my state of calm. But I want it to be just speedy enough – that I’m more naturally drawn to the present moment.

Ever notice how slow time goes when you’re bored and not progressing? It’s challenging to be immersed and joyful. On the opposite side, when you’re going fast, you’re pulled in like nothing else.  So, you enjoy life more, while moving faster towards what you want.

To gain momentum, look at the different little time blocks in the day where you can combine activities. Let’s say you usually plan your day in the morning on paper – perhaps you can skip that process and mentally plan your day out while you’re taking a shower. If you, for instance, take a commute, you can speed it up by listening to an entertaining and highly educational audiobook.

When you combine, you speed up life, and paradoxically you slow it down because you’re far more immersed in your daily activities.

3. Upgrade your Life with Technological Levers

Archimedes once said: “Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.”

With the aid of technology, you can accelerate you can make your goals easier to achieve. Whether it’s with a new laptop that allows you to accomplish your work faster, or something as simple as listening to the right music for your productivity.

The more you can introduce levers in your life, the easier building momentum will be.

You don’t always need to work harder to get more of what you want. Instead, consider and purchase the right physical and digital technologies -so that you move towards where you want to go, more easily.

Summary

Making progress based on what you’ve experienced last year is a step in the right direction. But looking at the past keeps you tunneled in. Looking into the future makes you think outside the box and act on outlandish possibilities.

Getting to where you want to go this year doesn’t have to be hard. Start making your present better than your vision of the future.

 Samy Felice is a writer who is passionate about unique ideas related to living a meaningful life. His Free Guide explores ways you can make weekly success easier.

You’ve read 3 Ways to Still Make 2017 your Standout Year, 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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