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Thursday, August 28, 2014

16 Reasons You’re Succeeding in Life (Even If You Don’t Feel You Are)

16 Reasons You’re Succeeding in Life (Even If You Don’t Feel You Are)

successBy: Marc Chernoff / Source: Marc and Angel Hack Life

At times we all feel less than successful.  We feel like we’re running in place, struggling to make even the slightest bit of progress.  And while this is a perfectly normal feeling, you have to ultimately break free from it and see yourself and your life in a more positive light.
The key is to pay attention to the small things.  Just because you’re not where you want to be, doesn’t mean you’re a failure.  In fact, quite the opposite is true.  To be truly happy and successful today doesn’t mean you don’t desire more in the future, it means you are sincerely thankful for what you have already accomplished and patient for everything yet to come.
Every morning when you wake up, think of three things that are going well in your life at the moment.  As you fall asleep every night, fill your mind with an appreciation for all the small things that went well during the day.  Examine your daily successes.
Give the power of your thinking to the positive influences in your life, and they will grow stronger and more influential every day.  Remind yourself of what works well and why, and you’ll naturally find ways to make lots of other things work well too.  The most efficient way to enjoy more success in life is not to obsess yourself with what hasn’t worked, but instead to extend and expand upon the success you already know.
Here are some much-needed reminders – sixteen good reasons you’re already succeeding in life:
1. You are walking your own path, not anyone else’s. – One of the most foundational sources of both success and happiness is simply being comfortable with who you really are.  Not trading your reality for a role or your truth for an act.
Not giving up your freedom of thought.  Not putting on a mask.  So never let anyone’s ignorance, hate, drama or negativity stop you.  If you desire to make a difference in the world, you must continue to be different from the world.  Don’t be scared to walk alone on your own path, and don’t be scared to like it.
2. You are gradually working through your fears. – As you know, running from fear is a race you’ll never win.  In fact, what you’re afraid of dealing with is often precisely what will set you free.  So keep doing what you’ve been doing – take another step forward today.  Don’t let your fear decide your future.
Don’t let it shut you down.  Instead, let it wake you up!  Take chances and indulge in the excitement.  Tell yourself that the fear of suffering is far worse than the suffering itself.  Convince yourself that everything you want is on the other side of fear.  Because it is.  (Read Start.)
3. You have not let failure stop you. – Every success has a trail of failures behind it, and every failure is leading toward success.  Oftentimes our greatest insight comes from our failure, not from our accomplishments.
It’s a matter of taking each lesson and stepping forward with it.  At the end of the day, whether you choose to go with it, flow with it, resist it, change it, or hide from it, life goes on.  If what you did today didn’t turn out as you hoped, tomorrow is a new opportunity try again, or to do something totally different.  What’s important is to realize that you have a choice.
4. You learn something new and grow stronger every day. – To find the best path forward we must occasionally stray from it.  There are no wrong turns; only paths we didn’t know we were meant to walk.  In the end, to be a success you don’t have to be perfect, you just have to remain perfectly capable of improving.
Keep letting your mistakes strengthen you.  Life is a series of little journeys.  Allow each step to be a teachable moment.  And don’t confuse your path with your destination.  Just because it’s stormy sometimes, doesn’t mean you aren’t headed for sunshine.
5. You have overcome some considerable obstacles. – Nothing is ever as bad as it seems.  Nothing!  There is a benefit and a blessing hidden in the folds of every experience and every outcome.  Consider the possibility that the little obstacles in your life’s path are not obstacles at all, but stepping-stones to amazing places.
6. You do your best to love what is. – A big part of success and happiness is not getting everything you want, but mindfully wanting what you get.  After all, stress is resistance to what is.  Continue to accept what comes to you totally and completely, so you can appreciate it, learn from it and then let it go.
Sometimes the best possible response is simply allowing yourself to be at peace with what is, rather than wishing for, and bemoaning, what is not.  It’s about doing the best you can with the hand you’ve been dealt.
7. You try to be as present as possible. – We all have two lives.  And the second one starts now, when we realize that we only have one.  Really, nothing is worth more than today.  Because you can’t change yesterday or accurately predict tomorrow, but you can ruin today – your real life – by worrying about those two illusory eternities.
So stay present and focus on what you can create today.  Tomorrow will reveal itself exactly as it should, just as yesterday already has.  (Read The Power of Now.)
8. You love yourself first, instead of loving the idea of everyone else loving you. – Putting yourself first does not mean being “selfish.”  It means being self-aware.  It means never forgetting to love yourself, too.
9. You don’t judge people. – People are sometimes too quick to judge, but slow to correct themselves.  You know this and you graciously do the opposite.  It’s impressive, really.  Because it’s much easier to judge people than it is to understand them.  Understanding takes extra kindness and patience, and this “extra” is worth it.  This “extra” makes a big difference in the end.
10. You are the reason some people smile. – Do not miss a chance – not one single, tiny opportunity – to tell someone how wonderful they are and how beautiful they are, inside and out.
11. You have incredible people in your life. – Your capacity to be both effective and happy is directly related to the quality of people whom most closely surround you every single day.  Having just one or two of these people a phone call away is truly a priceless blessing.  These relationships are worth celebrating.
12. You have been selfless in your closest relationships. – Almost every immoral action ever committed can be traced back to a selfish motive.  It is a trait we hate in other people but often justify in ourselves.
The fact that you have made sacrifices for people you love is remarkable in every way.  I know it’s not easy.  It’s one of the very hardest parts of loving someone – you have to give things up for them.  And sometimes, you even have to give them up, selflessly.
13. You have given up doing things for others out of guilt. – Sometimes we give in to our loved one’s requests out of guilt.  But we need to stop feeling guilty for not giving the people we care about everything they want.
It’s sometimes a hard pill to swallow, but we foster the attitude of entitlement in our lives and relationships when we are ruled by a guilty conscience.  It’s OK to say “no” to friends and family sometimes.  You know this, so just keep doing what you know is right, and never let false guilt get the best of you.
14. You aren’t overspending to impress or satisfy others. – I think it’s good for our friends and family to hear us say, “I can’t afford that” or “We will have to save for it.”  Because that’s real life.  We don’t have all the money in the world to buy everything we could ever want.
If you think about it, I bet you’ve known families before who are working multiple jobs to drive luxury cars and keep their kids in expensive extracurricular activities, when honestly, everyone would be happier and better off with more family and friendship time and less financial stress.
15. You respect yourself enough to never let anyone walk all over you. – A simple reminder, but so very important:  Never, ever submit your self-worth or moral values to a relationship.  True love and friendship can flower only under the sun of mutual respect.
Some people may try to trample your garden and walk all over you, but you don’t have to sit there and take it.  Period.  (Angel and I discuss this in detail in the “Self-Love” chapter of 1,000 Little Things Happy, Successful People Do Differently.)
16. You know you can’t please everyone, and you don’t try. – That’s right.  Keep standing strong.  Don’t let the negative opinions of others derail you.  Ultimately, there are two kinds of people – those who are a drain on your energy and creative force, and those who give you energy and support your growth.
Avoid the first kind.  May the bridges you burn light your way.  Just be happy, be honest and be true to yourself every day.  If others don’t like it, let them be.  Success in life isn’t about pleasing everyone.

Afterthoughts

If you can’t check-off every point from this list, no big deal.  This list is just a rough guideline.  We all need our own time to travel our own distance, our own way.  But keep in mind, the principle still applies:
Success is not a skill; it’s a persistent attitude.  It’s not a place you arrive at; it’s a process you live through.  It’s what you do every day.  It’s what you are doing now…
You are succeeding in life.  You just have to believe it.

The floor is yours…

What would you add to the list?  What’s one successful, positive part of your life that you often overlook?  Please leave a comment below and let us know.






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Wednesday, August 20, 2014

12 Happy Thoughts for Troubled Times


12 Happy Thoughts for Troubled Times

imagesBy: Marc / Source: Marc And Angel Hack Life
People and circumstances will occasionally break you down.  But if you keep your mind focused, your heart open to possibility, and continue to put one foot in front of the other, you will be able to quickly recover the pieces, rebuild, and come back much stronger than you ever would have been otherwise.
Here are a few happy thoughts to ponder on those days when the whole world seems like it’s crashing down around you.
  1. Down days are completely normal, and not something you should feel guilty about having.  Happiness is never constant.  Surrendering to your sadness, or whatever negative emotion is trying to come to the surface, does not make you a bad person.  But remember, if you aren’t sincerely thankful for every smile, don’t be totally shocked by every tear.  Keep things in perspective.  Read Happiness Is a Serious Problem.
  1. When you are at your lowest point, you are open to the greatest positive change.  Happiness is not the absence of problems, but the strength to deal with them.  Strength doesn’t come from what you can do; it comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t do.
  1. There is a huge difference between giving up and moving on.  Moving on doesn’t mean giving up, but rather accepting that there are some things that cannot be.  Moving on can mean that you’re making a choice to be happy rather than hurt.  For some folks, good situations last a lifetime, but for many, not knowing when to move on can hold them back forever.
  1. Life rarely turns out exactly the way you want it to, but you still have an opportunity to make it great.  You have to do what you can, with what you have, exactly where you are.  It won’t always be easy, but it will be worth it in the end.  Remember that there is no perfect life, just perfect moments.  And it’s these moments you must cherish; it’s these moments that make the whole journey worthwhile.
  1. Most people ask for happiness on condition, but long-term happiness can only be felt if you don’t set conditions.  Accept life unconditionally. Realize that life balances itself between the ideal and the disappointing.  And the disappointments are just life’s way of saying, “I’ve got something better for you right around the corner.”  So be patient, live life, accept what is, and have a little faith.
  1. Too often, we carry around things from our past that hurt us – regrets, shame, anger, pain, etc.  Don’t let these negative points from the past rob your present happiness.  You had to live though these things in the past, and although unfortunate, they can’t be changed.  But if the only place they live today is in your mind, then let go, move on, and be happy. Read Change Your Thoughts – Change Your Life.
  1. You can choose to view things differently.  Pick one part of your life that you are unhappy with and look at it from a different point of view.  See the rain as nourishment for future growth.  Consider being alone for awhile to create the solitude you need to hear your inner voice.  Think of your lack of funds as an opportunity to experience the simple things in life.  Right now, you can choose to allow the light to shine in your life.  It is a choice.  Why not allow it?
  1. Once you embrace unpleasant news, not as a negative but as evidence of a need for positive change, you’re learning from it and growing.  Whatever life throws at you, even if it hurts, be strong and fight through it.  Remember, strong walls shake but never collapse.  Life always offers you another chance – it’s called tomorrow.
  1. When your flaws are stitched together with good intentions, your flaws make you beautiful.  It’s better to be true to yourself and risk being ridiculed by others, than to be false, and miss out on the beauty of being YOU.  Never be bullied into silence.  Never let someone else tell you who you are.  Accept no one’s definition of your life, except your own.
  1. You have the ability to heal yourself.  Just like lava flowing slowly out of a volcano, you must create a healthy outlet for your pain and anger.  It’s important after you’ve been hurt to take some time to think about your pain, and address it calmly and consciously, so you can thwart the possibility of more pain brewing from your own negativity.
  1. There’s a lot of life left to be lived.  The real tragedy in life is not death, but the passion we let die inside of us while we still live.  Remember, troubles from the past cannot define you, destroy you, or defeat you all by themselves.  As long as you keep pushing forward, they can only strengthen you.  Read You Can Heal Your Life.
  1. You are a work in progress; which means you get there a little at a time, not all at once.  Today is a brand new day – a fresh start.  Replace negativity with positivity.  Think happy thoughts.  Exercise.  Drink lots of water.  Fill your body with fuel.  Healthy is happy.  Inspire yourself.  Create.  Laugh.  Play.  Love.  Learn.  Give someone a compliment.  Perform a random act of kindness.  Take a chance on an idea you believe in.  You have the opportunity to do these things every single day – to make the necessary changes and slowly become the person you want to be.  You just have to decide to do it.  Decide that today is the day.  Say it: “This is going to be my day!”

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Saturday, August 16, 2014

.: Robin Williams should make us reflect

.: Robin Williams should make us reflect: When a very famous individual, who has everything that most in this world think would make them happy, takes his own life, the question ...

Friday, August 8, 2014

5 Scientifically Proven Ways to Work Smarter, Not Harder

5 Scientifically Proven Ways to Work Smarter, Not Harder

smartBy: Jeff Haden / Source:Time

You work really hard. In fact, you might not be able to work any harder. But you can still work smarter.
Here are five ways anyone can work smarter from Belle Beth Cooper, content crafter at Buffer, the social media management tool that lets you schedule, automate, and analyze social-media updates. (She’s also co-founder of Exist.)
Here’s Beth:
One of the things I love about the culture at Buffer is the emphasis on working smarter, not harder. Our team is all about getting plenty of sleep, exercise, and recreation time, so our time spent working is as productive as it can be.
Working harder can be an easy habit to slip into, though. Sometimes it’s hard to switch off at the end of the day or take time out on the weekend and stop thinking about work. With a startup of my own to run, I find this even harder to manage. Whenever I’m not working on Buffer I’m working on Exist, and it’s easy to fall into a pattern of “always working” rather than working smart.
Here are five ways to avoid that trap:
1. Take more breaks. In one of my favorite books, Stephen Covey tells a story about a woodcutter whose saw gets more blunt as time passes and he continues cutting down trees. If the woodcutter were to stop sawing, sharpen his saw, and go back to cutting the tree with a sharp blade, he would actually save time and effort in the long run.
The analogy is an easy one to remember but harder to put into practice. Here’s what Covey says about sharpening the saw in our lives:
Sharpen the Saw means preserving and enhancing the greatest asset you have–you. It means having a balanced program for self-renewal in the four areas of your life: physical, social/emotional, mental, and spiritual.
Sharpening the saw is a great habit to get into in all areas of our lives, but I think it can be especially beneficial when it comes to work and helping us avoid burnout.
On average our brains are only able to remain focused for 90 minutes; then we need at least 15 minutes rest. (The phenomenon is based on ultradian rhythms.) By taking period breaks roughly every 90 minutes you allow your mind and body to renew–and be ready to fire off another 90-minute period of high activity.
For some people, 15 to 20 minute breaks might be tough to pull off, but taking short breaks throughout the day can still help you to refresh your mind andreset your attention span.
2. Take naps. Research shows naps lead to improvement in cognitive function, creative thinking, and memory performance. In particular, napping benefits the learning process by helping us take in and retain information better.
The improved learning process comes from naps actually helping our brain to solidify memories. According to Max Read, “Research indicates that when memory is first recorded in the brain–in the hippocampus, to be specific–it’s still ‘fragile’ and easily forgotten, especially if the brain is asked to memorize more things. Napping, it seems, pushes memories to the neocortex, the brain’s ‘more permanent storage,’ preventing them from being ‘overwritten.’”
One study into memory found that participants did remarkably better on a test following a nap than those who didn’t sleep at all.
Not only are naps beneficial for consolidating memories and helping us remember new information (handy if your job includes a lot of research during the day!), they’re also useful in helping us to avoid burnout, since research shows burnout is a signal that says you can’t take in more information in this part of your brain until you’ve had a chance to sleep.
3. Spend time in nature. Daniel Goleman, author of Focus: The Hidden Power of Excellence, suggests spending time in nature to help us reset our attention span and relax our minds.
One experiment he mentions tested how relaxed people were when taking a walk down a city street versus in a quiet park. The study found that the level of attention needed to navigate a busy city street is high enough that the walk doesn’t let the brain relax enough to reset our focus levels:
Unlike natural environments, urban environments are filled with stimulation that captures attention dramatically and additionally requires directed attention (e.g., to avoid being hit by a car), making them less restorative.
Spending time in nature, however, allows your mind to fully relax and unwind and helps you focus longer when you return to work. Plus, other research has found that for students, motivation to learn is higher when they are outside instead of in a classroom.
4. Move and work in blocks. I recently read a blog post by Joel Runyonabout a method he calls “workstation popcorn” (which is basically what our back-end developer Colin does.)
The idea is that you set up at various cafés, workspaces, or, as in Colin’s case, pubs to get chunks of work done throughout the day. Workstation popcorn starts with a clear, thought out to-do list: you create a plan for what you will accomplish at each location so you can immediately jump into those tasks.
Joel breaks up his to-do list into sections–one per café that he plans to visit–and each section into three clear tasks. Once he gets through the group of tasks he has set, he moves on to the next café on his list.
Of course, you can sort out your task list however suits you best, but the important part to note is having a clear finishing point based on your task listrather than the time you will move to a new location. And when you move, cycling or walking is a good way to go, according to Joel:
Use this time to practice your Zen, take a break from your screen, and get some movement into your day. Keep your phone in your pocket, and move. Take a break away from work for at least thirty minutes.
I know Colin often finds this break period helpful for thinking through what he’s working on or what he will do next. Joel also noted in his post that he has been more productive, more active during the day, and is working fewer hours since he started this process.
5. Check your email first thing. This one is fairly counterintuitive; basically everyone says not to check email right away, but I do and find it extremely useful. Here are some ways checking email first helps me to be more productive during the day.
If you work in a remote team like we do at Buffer, a business trend that isincreasingly more common, you’ll know what it’s like to have half of your team (or more) working while you’re asleep. If you need to work closely with others, it’s important to check in before you start your workday and make sure you’re on the same page as everyone else.
Since I started working at Buffer, I’ve woken up to emails saying I had typos to fix, a new blog post published, and even that Buffer had been hacked. Dealing with important issues first thing helps me make quick decisions about whether my day needs to be adjusted to fit in with what everyone else is doing or whether I can proceed with the tasks I already had planned.
What tips do you have for working smarter?


Related Weblink:  Chris Cain-Steal These Secrets Yet?



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Saturday, August 2, 2014

7 Helpful Pointers To Activate The Flow Of Abundance

7 Helpful Pointers To Activate The Flow Of Abundance

 

7 Helpful Pointers To Activate The Flow Of Abundance

Source: Norah Sands (How To Align With The Universe To Win The Lotto)

We all want abundance in some form or another, whether it is wealth in the monetary sense to being richly blessed with meaningful relationships or even to achieve self-mastery — the wealth of spirit.  In this past decade, and, even prior to that, we have been introduced to the idea of the Law of Attraction with popular books such as The Secret and the Jerry and fEsther Hicks series, just to name a few.
So Why Is It Still Hard To Manifest Our Desires?

We hear catch phrases like ‘ Be in the Flow’ but what does that practically mean to you?  How can you step into this flow and apply it to your situation or reality?  Wishful thinking just isn’t cutting it for some.  Here are some fundamental reasons why it may not be working for you:

1. PATIENCE

I have to get this one out of the way first because it is a simple yet integral principle when you are applying deliberate manifestation.  You need to learn the art of patience.  Think of a seed — it gets planted but it still needs time, rich nutrient and mineral-based soil, sunshine and water to blossom into its full growth potential.  Any hint of doubt (or drought, in the case of our seed) will hamper its chances of reaching the surface and begin its graceful climb towards fruition.

2. ACTION

Once you have ascertained what you do want to create in your life, have you taken the necessary steps to get the wheel in motion?  If you think that ‘couch manifesting’ is going to take care of everything, let me tell you now — it isn’t.  You need to actively participate in bringing about your desire.  Set yourself realistic goals and hold yourself accountable to them.

3. MINDSET

The world is full of abundance and opportunity, but far too many people come to the fountain of life with a sieve instead of a tank car… a teaspoon instead of a steam shovel. They expect little and as a result they get little. ~ Ben Sweetland
if you are having thoughts of lack about what you want to see in your life then that is what you are calling into existence.  This is like wanting to lose weight but only concentrating on all the most fattening foodstuffs — this kind of thought-stream is counter-productive.  Instead of thinking the worst, think about the way you will feel when it does come into your life.  How will it change your life?  Does it feel good when you are in that space of living out your fantasy?  If the answer is yes, then that is the emotion or feeling that you need to fertilize, in your mind, whenever you are practicing co-creation.

4. VIBRATION

As I addressed in the last point, when you truly allow yourself to feel the desired outcome emotion, it enhances your power to manifest tenfold.  Think of ‘ the thought’ as the key in your ignition; ‘ The action’ is the spark that ignites the engine and ‘ the feeling’ or emotion behind the thought is the gas that gets it all going — the driving force.

5. ALIGNMENT

Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune into. ~ Wayne Dyer
You need to regularly align to what it is you want.  Set yourself that weekly goal and check in with yourself.  Has this week seen you get any closer to what you want?  If not, why not — what could you have done differently?  Sometimes we have to assess that what we are trying to manifest is still truly what we want.  If you change your mind then that is fine, just don’t kid yourself.  If you change midstream to another outcome it is better than plodding along with a manifestation that you are now uncertain about.  Your emotional potency will also be lacking if it is not what you want anymore, so, as the old adage goes, it will be like breaking wind against thunder (slightly euphemized for this blog).
What Can I Do To Bring Abundance Into My Life Now?
Well, now that the blockages have been outlined, let’s take a look at what you can do in this moment and in the near future to bring about the expediency of your manifest will.
The energy behind any deed needs to be from your genuine source.  Any fake or compromised gestures will be meaningless in the pursuit of true abundant living.
Metaphorically this is like taking a flat battery and expecting it to work in your camera.  What goes around comes around, the intent you put out into the universe will come back to you, so, if you are handing out ‘empty’ words or actions, your boomerang effect will be just as hollow and meaningless.  Acting with true integrity is the key to manifesting the life of your dreams.

6. TOKENS OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

Life in abundance comes only through great love. ~ Elbert Hubbard
When you visit someone or just bump into them, bestow a gift upon them.  This could be a silent blessing, well-wish, compliment (make sure it is genuine), a heart-felt hug, a flower or a small gift.  With this action you are giving freely.  Do not expect anything in return, that will be taken care of energetically in a way that you may only come to realize when it happens.

7. GRATITUDE

Whatever we are waiting for – peace of mind, contentment, grace, the inner awareness of simple abundance – it will surely come to us, but only when we are ready to receive it with an open and grateful heart. ~ Sarah Ban Breathnach
List all the things that you have in your life now that you are most thankful for.  This could be from the smallest thing to the largest thing.  For example, you may feel immense joy sitting in your garden — give thanks for that.  You may have a pantry full of food and a roof over your head — give thanks for that, and so the gratitude ball starts rolling and we start to have a clear insight as to how much abundance already exists in the present.  When you start this exercise, you will find more and more things that you can be grateful for from the air that you freely breathe to the limbs that operate at your will.  It is a truly eye-opening experience for those who think they are lacking in some way or another.
But Why Should This Work?

The reason why this does work is because the more elated you feel about your current situation, the more joy you are injecting into your energetic field.  This doesn’t just get lost in space, it is a frequency that you are emitting outwards and it is going to be matched.
This is how our lives really work in the subtle field of energy.  Your energetic signature or emotional frequency is what you are setting yourself up to attract.  You are like a magnet, attracting that to you which you are putting out via your emotions or feelings.  This is why it is imperative that your thoughts are steered towards being more positive, which will then allow your feelings to be in alignment with what you do want.
You cannot bring into your experience joy if all you are feeling is sadness.  You cannot be wealthy if all you feel is lack.  These are basic principles that, unfortunately, too often get overlooked when we try to view our own lives and how they are turning out.  It is often hard to face the truth that what you put in, you get out.  But if you are to make any headway in this life, you need to face the core truth of what you are creating consciously or even subconsciously.  This is actually good news!
Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life
Life isn’t going to just randomly happen to you anymore — you are always in full control of your life and can guide it in any direction you choose.  You always have a choice, never forget that — our freewill is our greatest asset.
This isn’t to say that your life is going to be all cotton-socks and pink roses — you may very well have your fair share of everyday mishaps.  What will change is how you perceive these obstacles and what you choose to do with them.  The world isn’t going to change, it is how you view it that will make the change you desire.
Put into this world what you wish to get out and you will be in the flow.  You will be in the driver’s seat steering your life into abundance.

Source: Chris Cain-Steal These Secrets Yet?
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