The Ticket to a Simpler Life

Do you dream of leading a simpler life? Are you worn out, frustrated, or unhappy with where you live or what you do? I've talked about living in paradise before, but I wanted to share a few more thoughts on the subject.

There isn't anything wrong with having a "paradise dream" (dreams are encouraged!), but if we live our lives waiting until we can move on to greener pastures, we'll miss out on what life has to offer right now.

We all have ideas on what we think a simpler life means. Some of us think retiring and moving to the woods is the ticket. Others want to move to somewhere tropical. Most of the time retiring and moving are key components for what we think is a happier, stress-reduced life.

Oh, the error of our ways...

The thing is, simplifying life doesn't have to mean moving to the middle of nowhere. Oftentimes, doing just that actually complicates things a bit. Just think about all the things you have to do to survive if you take off and move into the woods. If you don't have electricity, you have to get firewood (even if you live in the south - doesn't it get chilly there, too?). If you don't have a job or a ton of money in savings, you can't just buy the wood. That means you have to gather and cut the wood yourself. What it takes to live off the land and survive is a lot more than one would expect. And in many cases, it's a full-time job.

Our ideas of a simpler life aren't always accurate. We think if we can just move into the woods, life will be simpler. Or we think if we can just quit our jobs, life will be simpler. Sometimes it really is simpler, especially if there is drama in the workplace, but what are we going to do after that? How are we going to pay the bills?

Even if we live off the grid and grow our own food, we still have expenses. Whether we like it or not, we still need an income or a major reserve of funds to get by. It isn't as easy as one might think.

Also, in our world today, we have become spoiled with technology. We can whip out our smartphones and find out just about any information we need or want. We can order products, even food, online and have it delivered to our front door. We can watch movies online and dial a phone number simply by speaking a few words into the phone.

Many of us aren't ready to say goodbye to the internet. And if we want high-speed internet (trust me, satellite internet doesn't cut it), well, we'll need to be in a location where the service is available.

See, we have these grand ideas that if we take off into the woods, life will get easier. But the issue comes when our true calling doesn't actually support our dreams of living in the woods. In that case, moving to the woods makes our lives much harder. Internet will be slower, if it works at all, and getting supplies will take longer.

What I'm trying to get across is this: it doesn't matter where we live. We can still find ways to simplify our lives without taking off and saying goodbye to the world.

Many of us think if we just move to somewhere tropical, life will be easy. But does it align with our calling? If it does, great! If not, moving to that paradise location will make our lives miserable. We can have the best view in the world, but if it makes doing our work more difficult, we may find ourselves frustrated.

So, what are some ways we can make the most of where we are right now?

Remember our goals. 

Remember our purpose (we weren't meant to be hermits). 

Work toward our dreams. 

Focus on positive things and limit the complaints. 

Recognize the blessings. 

Learn from all experiences. 

Remember that life is a journey. 

Find an activity to enjoy. 

Believe that paradise can be achieved right now. 

Listen to the things that God is placing on our hearts.

The grass on our side can be just as green as it appears on the other side. It just takes a little work to see things clearly. It isn't about the location or the work; it's about the journey and what we can learn each step of the way.

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5 Techniques To Build More Confidence

5 Techniques to be More Confident

Being confident in life not only enhances your personality, but makes sure you don't lose opportunities because of hesitation. Enough confidence in you can be the difference between success and failure. When you are striking a new business deal, giving an interview or asking someone on a date, you need to be confident.

The key to being more confident is how other people perceive you on the basis of your own self-perception. Basically, this means if you consider yourself to be capable and energetic, it will be reflected in your thoughts and actions. Thus, other people will also see you the same.

Although there are many factors beyond control, there are still certain things you can turn in your favor to make yourself more confident. In this post, we have talked about some simple tips, which can help you become more confident in life.

Visualization & Positive Affirmations

Contrary to the common notion, the concept of positive affirmations is neither complex nor complicated. Positive affirmations are simple sentences, which you can use to explain how you want to feel in life, what situations and circumstances you consider perfect, and other such expectations. You need to say positive affirmations out loud in a way that affirms what you're saying is true.

According to psychologists, positive affirmations help you build more confidence in life. With positive affirmations, you can change the way you feel about your personality, nature and characteristics. In addition to this, positive affirmations can change your basic perception about various circumstances surrounding yourself. It's worth mentioning that positive affirmations can lead you on a path toward success and achieving your goals. You can use positive affirmations like:

I'm Feeling Confident.

I Can Become More Confident.

I Will Live With More Determination.

I Will Be More Confident

When you start using positive affirmations on a regular basis, it isn't long before you start believing in them. They can boost your confidence, and help you become an outgoing person. You can also use visualizations to become more confident. As the name suggests, this practice requires you to visualize what you want to accomplish in life. In this case, you should visualize yourself confidently speaking in public or making a presentation in office.

Active Participation

At times, you may hide behind someone during an open discussion. It is important to actively participate in every discussion and event. In time, you will be able to overcome your hesitation. Your issues related to fear of public speaking or participation will not get resolved until you make efforts. Public speaking and active participation always contribute to gaining confidence.

Leave Your Comfort Zone

Almost every person prefers to live in his comfort zone. However, when you step outside the comfort zone, you're able to gain more exposure. When you stay within it, you start shrinking. You need to avoid getting trapped into the confines of your comfort zone, and constantly push yourself to do different things. This helps you become more confident.

Meditation

Meditation not only keeps you calm, but also helps you with composure. When you're calm and relaxed, you start making good decisions. This has a major impact on your confidence. Meditation also allows you to gain some insight about your personality, and mould yourself accordingly to overcome anxiety and shyness.

Practice Confidence

Just like everything else in your life, even confidence improves with regular practice. When you meet new people, it's a great opportunity to build confidence. When you shake someone's hand for the first time, you should introduce yourself, watch the other person's tone and learn more about his or her personality. Since a new person doesn't know anything about you, it's an opportunity to show the person your confident personality.

In addition to this, you should watch your tone and posture. Mumbling and hunching can make you look and feel less confident. Thus, you should speak clearly, slowly and stand straight. When people see your confidence, it gives you more reason to keep working on building confidence.

These were some effective tips to become more confident in life. Besides this, you also need to exercise regularly. It will help you get in good shape, keep your mind sharp and give you more energy. Confidence is the key to success in life. Thus, you need to make efforts to become more confident and focused.

With these simple techniques, you will be on your way to developing more self-confidence.

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These Mistakes Are Costing You Your Happiness in Life

I want you to ask yourself something: Are you genuinely happy? Take a moment to honestly think about that. Have you genuinely found happiness in life?

If your answer is no, or even maybe, let’s talk about the reasons why you aren’t happy, and the mistakes you might be making unknowingly that are costing you happiness.

1) You Haven’t Transformed Your Inner Critic into Your Inner Coach

The first mistake you might be making that is costing you your happiness is that you haven’t successfully transformed your inner critic into your inner coach.

Research indicates that, on average, people talk to themselves about 50,000 times a day. Unfortunately, most of that self-talk is about yourself, and according to the psychological researchers, it is about 80% negative.

Some examples of this might be:
“I shouldn’t have said that.”
“I don’t like the way my hair looks today.”
“I’ll never lose weight.”
“I can never seem to get organized.”

… and the list goes on.

We know from this research that these thoughts have a powerful effect on us. Our negative thoughts actually control our behavior.

The first thing you have to do if you want to find happiness in life, is put a muzzle on that inner critic and transform it into an encouraging, loving, and positive inner coach.

One of the most powerful exercises for retraining your inner critic is to teach it to tell you the total truth. Just like your parents disciplined you for your own good, your inner critic really has your best interests in mind when it is criticizing you. It wants you to get the benefit of the better behavior. The problem is that it tells you only part of the truth.

Whenever you hear a part of you judging yourself, simply reply,

“Thank you for caring. What is your fear? What specifically do you want me to do? How will this serve me? and Thank you.”

Do not let the seeming simplicity of this technique fool you. It is very powerful if you use it.

2) You’re Letting Your Limiting Beliefs Control You

Another mistake you might unknowingly be making and therefore sabotaging your own happiness is allowing yourself to be controlled by your limiting beliefs.

Many of us have beliefs that limit our success -- whether they are beliefs about our own capabilities, beliefs about what it takes to succeed, or even beliefs about how we should relate with other people.

Moving beyond your limiting beliefs is a critical step toward becoming happier and more successful.
Learn How to Find Happiness in Life in 4 Steps

To do this, you must first believe that you are capable of accomplishing your goals and that you are capable of being happy.

Here is a simple but powerful four-step process you can use to transform any limiting belief into an empowering belief:

Step 1: Identify a limiting belief that you want to change.

Step 2: Determine how that belief limits you.

Step 3: Decide how you would rather be, act, or feel. And…

Step 4: Create a turnaround statement that affirms or gives you permission to be, act, or feel this new way.

For example, a negative belief might be: “If I express my true feelings, people will think I’m weak and take advantage of me.”

The turnaround belief would then be:

“The more I express my true feelings, the more people love, respect, and support me.”

Once you have created a new belief, you will need to implant it into your subconscious mind through constant repetition for 2 or 3 minutes several times a day for a minimum of 30 days.

In conclusion, keeping these 2 possible mistakes in mind (listening to your inner critic without retraining it to be your inner coach and letting yourself be controlled by your unconscious limiting beliefs). Make a list of any beliefs that might be limiting you and follow the steps outlined above.

Activate The Law of Attraction & Achieve All of Your Goals
Discover how to master your thoughts and emotions to attract the life you truly want.
Experience more joy, peace, and abundance by living in harmony with the vibrations of the universe.
Learn strategies that will allow you to release negative feelings and emotions, and make room for positivity, success, and prosperity.

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How to Get over Your Fear of Public Speaking

At some point in your business career, you’re going to need to start presenting and selling to crowds. You’re going to need to learn how to influence groups of people.

Most importantly, you will need to communicate the value of what you’re offering in such a way that at the end, the crowd is pulling out their credit cards ready to buy.

It’s one of the most powerful skills you can possess as an entrepreneur, and it’s what separates the top earners from the masses. But for a lot of people, just the thought of speaking to an audience (let alone selling) terrifies them.


And you know what? I get it.

See, in high school and college, when the teacher said “Class, we’re going to do an oral assignment,” my heart immediately started pounding from anxiety. I was the guy who’d mysteriously be sick on the day it was due, unable to make it to class. Some years later, I got into internet marketing (late 2008) and I remember going to a live event in the suburbs of Perth with about 100 other strangers.

There were five different speakers who got up on stage and pitched their direct sales business, which I’d been looking at joining for a few weeks. I left that event feeling completely deflated: “If this is what it takes to be successful in this industry—getting up on stage and delivering live sales presentations—,” I thought, “then I have absolutely no hope!”

For years after I started my business, I avoided delivering live sales presentations at all costs. You couldn’t even get me to do a webinar, even though I’d be able to hide behind my computer.

Eventually, the loss in potential income that this avoidance was causing me began to outweigh my fear. So I forced myself to start doing public sales presentations. No matter how uncomfortable I felt, I’d consciously put myself in a position where I had no other choice but to deliver the presentation.

Since then, I’ve sold tens of millions of dollars worth of programs through public presentations.

Chances are that you will also need to sell to a live audience at some point. Here are the four most important lessons I’ve learned, which may help make it easier for you:
Don’t Write and Memorize a Script

What’s everyone’s greatest fear about speaking in front of others? It’s that when they get up there, they’ll forget what to say, that their brain will freeze and they’ll mumble and stumble and otherwise look like a fool.

So what do most people do? They write a script. If you write it down and memorize it, then you won’t have to be quick on your feet and your speech will become some sort of reflex or muscle memory. It’ll be as easy as hitting play on your iPod. Or so goes the theory.

I don’t recommend this approach for anyone because when you memorize a speech, your presentation ends up sounding stiff and rehearsed. It’s less likely to connect with your audience, which means you’re also less likely to make sales.
Use the “Table of Contents” Method

Think of your presentation as being a story you tell your audience. But instead of writing and memorizing an entire story, your notes will be more like a story’s table of contents—a couple of lines to remind you of what the entire “chapter” is about, so you don’t have to memorize a lot of material.

So, think of all the points you want to cover and then create a PowerPoint with just a line or two of notes on each slide.

Then, start practicing but instead of just reading off the slides, you should elaborate on each point and then fill in the talk off the top of your head. The first time around, you’ll find yourself starting and stopping, with a bunch of awkward pauses and do-overs. Don’t worry, take a break and go back to it. Try a few sessions throughout the day and let the ideas and different turns of phrases percolate a bit.

By the end of the day, you’ll find that you’ve more or less memorized the speech, but in a much more organic way than if you had memorized it word for word. It won’t necessarily be exactly the same each time you make the presentation, but that’s okay. You’ll know how to transition between each slide and you’ll give a more natural, authentic and truly live presentation.
Learn to Let Go

Whenever I feel uncomfortable about an upcoming talk, it’s often because there’s a particular point in it or a slide with something on it that I don’t feel 100% on board with. It may also be something that I’m trying to get a certain reaction from the crowd with. Sometimes it’s just the phrasing of something. For instance, a friend who listens to your talk may zero in on something they think the audience will misunderstand (though you know that only a fraction of the audience will likely be affected).

What should you do with these thoughts about how your talk will be interpreted? Forget ’em. Let go of the minutiae and share what you have. It’s about how you say it and not necessarily what you say. So don’t let the actual phrasing stress you out.
PowerPoint Doesn’t Give the Presentation

It may be a tempting “security blanket” to fill your PowerPoint slides with content and then read it word for word to your audience.

That will only be slightly less exciting for your audience as hearing a memorized speech. It’s annoying and also implies that they are not smart enough to read the slides for themselves.

Don’t do it.

Instead, put a little bit of info on each slide and make the font size large. Then focus on your delivery and engage your crowd directly.

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How To Make A Good First Impression That Everyone Remembers

Making a great first impression is imperative to building great relationships and success.

The ancient Greeks spent a lot of time thinking and writing about the effect of one personality on another.

They broke down the process of communication into three parts, which they called ethos, pathos, and logos.

The ethos of communication is defined as the ethical part. This revolves around the person you really are and, more important, the person you are perceived to be.

If you are in sales or business, the way you are perceived by someone, which will largely determine the influence you have over him or her, will be strongly affected by your level of credibility, your ethos.

In the area of personal credibility, the rule is that everything counts. Everything you do or don’t do either adds to or takes away from your credibility and your capability to influence someone.

Ethos is very important.
The Importance Of First Impressions

You’ve heard it said that you never get a second chance to make a good first impression.

The fact is that when you first meet a person, he makes a judgment about you in approximately four seconds, and his judgment is finalized largely within 30 seconds of the initial contact.

In a survey of the members of the American Personnel Consultants those men and women who are responsible for hiring people for large companies generally agreed that they made their decision to hire or not to hire a person within 30 seconds of the first meeting.Everything contributing to the way you look on the outside is important.

If it’s not helping you, it’s hurting you.

While you cannot control your physical features, you have total control over your dress and grooming. In fact, we generally assume that a person consciously and deliberately makes a personal statement about himself with every part of his appearance that he can affect in any way.

Your clothes are responsible for 95% of the first impression that you make on someone because, in most instances, your clothes cover 95% of your body.

Your grooming, your hair style and the other ways you can determine your appearance from the neck up also exert an inordinate influence on the way that you are perceived, on your ethos with someone. Your accessories all make a statement that will or will not help to put you in a position to influence someone.
How To Make A Great First Impression

Now, here are two things you can do immediately to put these ideas into action.

First, take complete control over every detail of your personal appearance and grooming. Resolve to look like a powerful, influential person in all your business activities.

Second, study fashion and proper dress so you know exactly what to wear and in what combination. Read a book, take a seminar or even hire an image consultant.

Small changes in your appearance can change your life.

Before we wrap up, I’d like to leave you with a thought to share with your friends and followers:

“Making a great first impression is imperative to becoming an influential leader.”

Now I’d love to hear from you. What other aspects do you feel help you make a good first impression?

Leave a comment below and I’ll be sure to follow up with you.

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The Difference Between Goal-Setters & Non-Goal-Setters

Goal-setting has been one of the major cornerstones to my own personal success journey.

The ability to set and achieve a goal through systematic focus and accomplishment is the most powerful way to turn your dreams and visions into reality.

As I always say, people with clear, written goals, accomplish far more in a shorter period of time than people without them could ever imagine.

Throughout my life, I have encountered a lot of people who fail to buy into the idea of goal-setting. They insist that by simply having an idea in their head of where they’d like to end up, that they’ll be able to get there without a problem.

To address those who doubt the power of goal-setting, I’m going to present a comparison of two people who both want the same thing. One of them is a goal-setter, the other one isn’t.
Goal-Setters VS Non-Goal-Setters

Imagine this scenario. There are 2 people who both want to take a vacation in the summertime to their dream destination.
The Goal-Setter Scenario

Our goal-setter, we’ll call him John, decides he wants to take a vacation. He sits down and writes: Take a vacation in June 2017.

He then writes down 20 ways he can cut back on spending to make this happen.

He Mindstorms different solutions such as cutting back on his coffee shop purchases, saving $50 from his paychecks, and reducing the number of times he purchases lunch at work to just 2 times per week.

By his calculations, John now knows that he will save an extra $300 per month. In order to take his vacation in the summer, John needs approximately $1,200. So he’ll have to do this for 4 months in order to save that amount, which is perfect timing for his June trip to a tropical island.

Happy with his results, John begins to execute his plan.
The Non-Goal-Setter Scenario

Now let’s take a look at our non-goal-setter. We’ll call him Michael. Michael, unlike John, doesn’t like to plan things. He has great ideas and big dreams but doesn’t feel he has the time to set an exact plan for how to achieve them. He too wants to take a vacation this summer.

Michael thinks about the places he wants to visit, makes a mental note in his head to cut back his spending in certain areas of his life, but mostly continues to live the same way he has for the next few months.
What Happens To Each Person

Let’s fast forward this story 4 months into the future. It’s the beginning of spring and John and Michael start to get serious about their vacation plans.

John takes a look at his savings and has just enough for a round-trip ticket, a 3-night stay at a resort, and enough extra cash for excursions and meals. Michael, on the other hand, has enough to cover a ticket, maybe 1 night at a hotel, and will have to choose very wisely between eating and participating in activities.

Now, I don’t have to tell you who seems to have a better vacation planned.

This story is a very clear example of people who set goals and people who don’t.
Why Goal-Setting Is Important

Those of us that set goals are able to make an exact plan for how to get from where we are to where we’d like to be. We can visualize our ideal situation and take action on how to make it happen. This makes achieving the things we want easier than we ever thought possible.

After taking the initial time to Mindstorm and plan, all we have to do is stick to that path and we’ll end up with the result we want or something better.

Unfortunately, for those of us who don’t take the time to create and set goals, plans never fully materialize and the path to success is windy, confusing, and difficult to stick to.

Now, I’d love to hear from you, so my question today is:

“What is one goal you plan to achieve this year, and what are 2 things you can take action on TODAY to get closer to that goal?”

Leave a comment below. 

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How to Find Your True Place In Life

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” – Oscar Wilde

I want you to repeat a word after me: dharma. Doesn’t it sound powerful?

It is a powerful concept, which signifies the order in the Universe. According to this teaching, we all have a specific role in this world, and one of the greatest purposes of living is to discover that our place in life. In English terms, dharma would be translated as life duty.

Oscar Wilde presented the concept from a slightly different point of view, with a bit of ego intertwined: you can only be yourself. There’s no need to imitate anyone else. But, how are you supposed to be yourself if you still don’t know who you are?

There’s only one solution to that struggle: you need to find your calling. That journey can be brutal, but it will make you feel more fulfilled than you ever were.


Motivation – the Inner Engine that Drives Us through Life

If you’re motivated enough, you can reach almost every goal you set in your life. Did you know that Clint Eastwood came from a very humble family and had many different jobs before he finally tried acting? He wasn’t very good in it, either.

His appearance was astonishing, but he used to get all stiff and unnatural when he acted. Countless acting classes and practice sessions later, he became what we know recognize as the most mysterious face ever to be seen on screen.


“I DON’T BELIEVE IN PESSIMISM. IF SOMETHING DOESN’T COME UP THE WAY YOU WANT, FORGE AHEAD. IF YOU THINK IT’S GOING TO RAIN, IT WILL.” – CLINT EASTWOOD

Take a moment to think about that quote. The act of quitting makes all our weaknesses and fears emerge on surface. It’s necessary only in extreme situations. Most of the time, you can motivate yourself to continue the journey towards your goals.
Hope – It’s What Keeps Your Head Up

When we think of hope, one name keeps coming to our minds: Anne Frank. From today’s perspective, this girl was in an utterly hopeless situation. She had so much hope that her words bring tears to our eyes.


“IT’S REALLY A WONDER THAT I HAVEN’T DROPPED ALL MY IDEALS, BECAUSE THEY SEEM SO ABSURD AND IMPOSSIBLE TO CARRY OUT. YET I KEEP THEM, BECAUSE IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING, I STILL BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE ARE REALLY GOOD AT HEART.”

That’s only one of the heartbreaking thoughts she wrote in her diary.

Anne was not an idealist. She was completely aware of the misery that surrounded her, but she chose to look at the bright side. She still hoped that this world had a chance to become a better place, and she was right.

Life gets hard sometimes. Don’t take it as a punishment; take it as a call for awakening. With enough hope and light in yourself, you’ll be closer to finding your place in life.

Hobbies – A Chance to Take Risks and Experiment

Did you know that Claude Monet was a passionate horticulturist? His hobby was an inspiration for many of his masterpieces, and you’ll recognize the love for nature in the stroke of his brush.

It doesn’t matter whether you’ve already chosen a life path or not; a hobby can only push you forward.


Tips for Action: How to Find Your Place in Life

The examples above were not useless. They can all help us to find and take our place in life. Here are some actionable tips that will lead you to personal fulfillment:

1. Believe in Yourself!

All famous people mentioned above had one thing in common: belief in their own capacity.

They knew they were special, and they realized they weren’t supposed to go through life without leaving traces. Belief is one of the most important factors for self-actualization.
If you doubt your abilities, remind yourself about every single talent you have.


2. Always Hope for the Better

You got a harsh slap from life? That happens. What about the future? Will it get better?

What can you do about it?

Hope is a feature of the brave. When your heart has courage to hope for a bright future, you’ll find the strength to get yourself out of the mess and work towards improvement. Through that journey, you’ll inevitably find the mission you were destined to accomplish.


3. Find Motivation in Everything that Surrounds You

Anne Frank found motivation in the smallest acts of kindness. She went through suffering we cannot even imagine, but she still saw the beauty of this world.

When you’re feeling low and unmotivated, open your eyes and look at the stars. The greatness of this universe is enough to inspire you to find your special place in it.


4. Never Forget Your Inner Strength

You are the main protagonist in the story of your life. You have valuable strengths and you need to become aware of them. Clint Eastwood has an important strength: persistence. That kept him going through the journey to fame.


5. Get a Hobby

Are you in a dull place? You find yourself being bored every single day?

Boredom is a vice.

It numbs you down and sooner or later, you start enjoying it. Instead of blaming yourself for wasting another day on the couch, you should do something to get out of that state. Do you know what the best solution is? A hobby! Pick one today and commit to it.

With Enough Motivation and Persistence, You’ll Find Your Life Duty

It doesn’t matter what problems you have and how low you hit on the amplitude of life. We all get in bad situations. The difference between strong and passive characters is in the motivation to carry on.

When you find the strength to keep going through the journey of life and you find your true calling, you’ll be able to create your own masterpieces.
Have you found your true place in life? Leave a comment below.

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5 Mistakes 90% of People Make When Searching For Motivation

“Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.” – Lou Holtz

What is motivation?

Is the word being overused just a tad?

Whenever we’re not feeling motivated; we get up in the morning and things just aren’t clicking, we aren’t feeling the day ahead. We turn to motivational videos, speeches, articles and music to inject ourselves with that daily shot of motivation.

Much like coffee tends to act as a daily shot of energy for most people.

Every time we do this, there’s an underlying issue that’s not being reviewed. Every time we just wake up and try to inject ourselves with motivation, we’re forgetting some of the core principles of what it means to “be motivated.”



5 Mistakes People Make Searching for Motivation

This article highlights several mistakes that the majority of people will make when searching for that illusive dosage of motivation:


1. Forgetting that Love & Passion Drives Motivation

Let’s not forget the core reason for anybody ever being motivated to do anything in life. Love and passion. The passion you have for what you do in life will be the biggest source of motivation you ever come across.

This is what gives people the ability to wake up without alarm clocks.

It’s what gives them the ability to start work early, and finish work late.

They love it.

There will always be days where we just aren’t feeling it, but if you’re not waking up 6 out of 7 days a week with an unbelievable excitement to start your day, lack of passion is the problem.



So it doesn’t matter how many videos you watch, or articles you read, passion is always the biggest natural form of motivation.

Are you doing what you love every day?


2. Leaving Out Future Visualisations & Goals

After raw passion, comes future goals…

If you don’t have goals and visualisations for your future, then you’re probably not going to be all that thrilled about moving toward it.

You HAVE to have some sort of future goals that moves you. That really drives you to keep moving forward and progressing in that direction.

There’s two parts to this step:
Discovering and writing down your future goals for separate milestones; 6 months’ time, 12 months’ time, 3 years’ time & 5 years’ time.
Visualising what it’s going to be like when you achieve them. Where are you going to be? What are you going to be doing? Who’s going to be in your life?

Painting a vivid picture for exactly what you want is not only a powerful step in motivating you, but the precise definition will help you get there.


“LACK OF DIRECTION, NOT LACK OF TIME, IS THE PROBLEM. WE ALL HAVE TWENTY-FOUR HOUR DAYS.” – ZIG ZIGLAR


3. Not Tasting Your Dream Life

Visualisation is a powerful motivator. It allows you to search into your mind and see a rough picture of what your life would be like if you were to achieve your goals.

However, there’s one thing that tops it…

Which is actually experiencing what it would be like.

Once I’d decided I was interested in becoming a nomad (travelling from country to country without really being permanently based in just one), I decided to spend some time solo travelling.

I was already operating my business whilst I was moving from country to country, it just wasn’t making me a lot of money at the time, and I was living off savings.
What did this allow me to do?

It allowed me to live precisely how I’d be living if I were to achieve some of my goals in the near future. I was still working. The only difference was the money was coming from my savings, and it was only able to last 7 months.

Being able to experience your visualisations in real life before you actually achieve your goals isn’t always possible.

But if there’s a way, you can’t afford not to take advantage of it.

I had the time of my life experiencing the life I could be living, and that’s a seriously powerful thing.


4. Letting the Past Paralyze You
Your past shouldn’t paralyze you.

Many of us have unfortunate pasts, and experiences always differ for people, but it’s important to not let the experiences of your past continue you keep you down.

They should make you realize how far you’ve come from being the person you once were.

You should also be motivated to keep on pushing yourself so that you make sure you never relive that past.

Motivation from past experiences will always be different from person to person, but if you’re someone who’s struggled in one way or another in the past, don’t let it paralyze you.

Let it motivate you!


5. Disregarding the Obvious Lifestyle/Health Rituals

Those who have a powerful mind, start with feeding their body.


You know that the food we eat and the level of exercise we get plays a huge part in healthy brain function, not just body function?

I think a lot of people disregard that fact.

We forget just how powerful these things can benefit the way we feel, as well as the obvious physical bodily health benefits.

So if you wanted to feel motivated, treat your mind with the respect it deserves.

In the words of Brendan Meyers;


“IF YOU EAT RIGHT, YOU FEEL RIGHT, AND IF YOU FEEL RIGHT… YOU LOOK RIGHT! AND IF YOU LOOK RIGHT, YOU DO RIGHT, YOU DIG?”


Summary

You can listen to all the videos you want, you can read all the articles you want, people can encourage you as much as possible. However, unless you solve the underlying issues, the motivation won’t be everlasting.

Far too many people think they can get their daily motivation from all these external sources, whilst completely forgetting about passion, visualisation and goal setting.

Here’s a quick recap on the sources of motivation you SHOULD have in your life:
Love & passion
Future visualisation & goals
Getting a taste for the dream life
Past experiences
Lifestyle/health rituals
Are you one of the few people not making these mistakes? Leave a comment below.

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10 Powerful Ways to Overcome Self-Doubt So You Can Move Forward in Life

“Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.”
William Shakespeare

Self-doubt can be a troubling and persuasive voice that holds you back.

It holds you back from seizing your opportunities.

It makes getting started or finishing things harder than they need to be.

Sure, it can sometimes be useful as it helps you to soberly see your current limitations or simply recognize a half-baked or bad idea. But mostly, it holds you back in life.

So how can you get around that, how can you overcome those times of self-doubt so that you can move forward once again?

In this article I’ll explore 10 tips and habits that have helped me to decrease that destructive inner voice.


1. Say stop.

First, when your inner doubts bubble up, be quick. Don’t let them spin out of control or grow from a whisper to a stream of discouraging sentences. Instead, talk back to that doubtful part of yourself.

In your mind, say or shout something like: No, no, no, we are not going down that road again.

By doing so you can disrupt the thought pattern and stop that inner self-doubter from taking over.

2. Look to the past and awash yourself in the memories.

Be real with yourself and ask yourself:

How many times when I doubted myself or feared something would happen did that negative thing come into reality after I still took action?

The answer for me – and probably for you too – is not very often at all.

Self-doubts are most often just monsters in your head that your mind may use to keep you from making changes and to keep you within the comfort zone.

If you look to the past and see how well things have gone many times despite those self-doubts then it become easier to let go of them or to ignore them and to focus on the more likely positive outcome and to take action.

3. Talk to someone about it.

When you keep your thoughts on the inside they can become distorted, exaggerated and not very much in line with reality or reasonable expectations.

This is very much true when it comes to self-doubting thoughts.

So let them out into the light. Talk to someone close to you about your self-doubts.

Just letting them out and saying them out loud can often help you to hear how exaggerated these thoughts have become. And by talking about those doubts with someone that is supportive you can get a change in perspective.

4. Start keeping a journal.

Keeping a journal can be a helpful habit for many reasons. When it comes to self-doubts it can help you to:
Keep a realistic record of your life. And help you to remember the positive things, the successes you have had and how you have overcome obstacles if you are prone to remembering things with a negative slant.
Gain clarity more easily. It is often easier to alleviate fears and doubts and to gain clarity if you have an issue laid out on paper or in a computer document rather than if you try to go through it all in your mind. By making lists of pros and cons, going through your thoughts and emotions and similar events from the past and by writing down different perspectives on the issue it becomes easier to find solutions and to see your challenge in a clearer and more level-headed way.

5. Remember: people don’t care that much about what you do or say.

When you worry about what others may think or say if do something then the self-doubt can quickly become stronger and you get stuck in inaction and in fear.

When that happens remind yourself that the truth is that people don’t really care that much about what you or do not do.

They have their hands full with thinking about themselves, their kids and pets, jobs and upcoming sports matches and with worrying about what people may think of them.

6. Get a boost of optimism.

Let someone else’s enthusiasm, motivation and constructive optimism flow over to you. Spend 20 minutes with a an audio book, a podcast or a book that gives you that. Tim Ferriss’ podcast has helped me with this recently and have over the years often listened to audio books by Brian Tracy to get this boost.

This quick 20 minute session can greatly help you to shift your self-doubts into optimism and into thinking constructively about your challenge.

7. See a setback as temporary.

When you have a setback then it is easy to start doubting yourself and what you do. To start seeing this current setback as something that will simply be your new normal.

This way of looking at things can trap you in thinking that there’s no point in continuing to take action.

So instead:
Remember: You are not a failure just because you failed. Setbacks happen to everyone who take chances. It is simply a part of living life fully. Sometimes things go well and sometimes they don’t. So don’t make a failure into this huge thing or into your identity.
Ask yourself: what is one thing I can learn from this setback? Use the mistake or failure to your advantage and to move forward once again in smarter way.

8. Sharpen your skills.

If you, for instance, often get self-doubt before a presentation in school or at work then sharpen your presentation skills. Read a few books about it and practice at home in front of a mirror or in front of a friend. Or join Toastmasters to get the experience or knowledge you need.

Then you’ll feel more confident, competent and relaxed in such situations.

9. Don’t beat yourself up about it.

A common way to handle self-doubt is to get angry at yourself and your lack of motion forward. To try to beat yourself up as a way to get yourself to move forward.

That does not – in my experience – help that much.

I have found that being kind and constructive when feeling self-doubt is a better choice. So I use kind and understanding words towards myself but I also ask myself:

What is one very small step I can take to move forward in this situation?

Then I take that very small step and start to step by step move towards where I want to go.

10. Remember: You can course-correct along the way.

Trying to plan every move you will make on a journey towards a goal or dream can become draining and lead to quite a bit of self-doubt. And it it usually don’t work that well anyway since the best laid plans often start to fall part a bit or need some change when they are confronted with reality.

So do a bit of rough planning and then start your journey.

And remember that you can always course-correct along the way towards what you want. Empowered by the new knowledge, experience and feedback you will get as you keep going on that path.

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9 Powerful Tips to Help You Turn a Bad Day Around

“To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts.”
Henry David Thoreau

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.”
Robert Louis Stevenson

Some days are great, better than you would have expected when you rolled out of the bed in the morning.

Quite a few days are just good and OK days.

And then we have the other ones. The days that just wind up being bad.

What do you do then? I used to let them drag me down and I often wound up having not just one but a couple of bad days because of whatever happened.

Nowadays I do things a bit differently. And this week I’d like to share how I do that.

This is 9 tips and habits that help me to turn a bad day around. Most of the time I use more than one of these habits to do that.

1. Breathe.

I usually start turning my day around with shaking things up by using my body in some way.

The first thing I almost always do is to just breathe. I breathe deeply through my nose by using my belly. I focus only on the air going in and out for 1-2 minutes.

This calms my body and mind.

2. Do a power pose.

Then I sometimes follow that up by striking what Amy Cuddy calls a power pose for about 2 minutes (check out her TED talk, it’s really good).

The simplest way to strike a power pose is to stand up confidently like Wonder Woman or Superman with your legs apart, head up and your hands on your hips.

It might sound odd but it can really change how you feel in a quick and positive way.

3. Work out.

Another habit I use several times a week to shake things up by using my body is to lift free weights in my home. I do this for about 30-40 minutes and it helps me to release tensions and worry.

And after I am done I feel more powerful, focused and energetic.

4. Hug.

Just by hugging someone quickly you can feel safer and more optimistic again. And an embrace that lasts 30 seconds or a minute or more can recharge your your batteries and release an unexpectedly large amount of stress and tensions.

5. Pet an animal.

If I don’t have anyone close by to hug during a bad day I usually just pet our cat for a few minutes. It has a very similar calming and stress reliving effect.

And it makes him very happy and that in turn boosts my mood.

6. Find a new viewpoint.

The body tips above often work well to change my perspective by altering my emotional state and energy level.

Sometimes something more is needed though.

So I start looking more actively for a better and more helpful viewpoint by asking myself a couple of questions.

Three of my most commonly used questions that help me with that are:
Will this matter 5 years from now?
Who cares?
What is one small action, one small and practical step I can take to start turning this day or situation around?

7. Go out into nature and enjoy the spring.

Leave your couch or workspace for a little while. Talk a walk and just soak in the spring sun and warmth. Enjoy the birds singing and the nature starting to blossom after the cold winter.

Just being out there in nature tends to make it easier to think optimistically again and to start looking for practical solutions or upsides. Or you can simply be there in the moment fully and let your thoughts about for example work rest for a while (and then later on you can return to that with fresh eyes and a calmer mind).

Another upside is that the sunshine and exercise during this 20-30 minute pause in my day also recharges my energy.

8. Accept what is.

One thing that sometimes work better than just about anything is simply to accept what is at this moment.

To not deny or try to push away negative feelings or thoughts that show up. Even though you may feel an impulse to do so.

Instead, just accept what is right now. The thoughts and feelings within you. And just be with them fully and observe them flowing through you.

By doing so you are not giving up.

No, because when you accept what is then you stop feeding the negative thoughts in your mind with more energy. And so they become weaker.

They start to lose their grip on you after a while and then they float away. And so you feel more open and are able to think more clearly again.

9. Remember: sometimes a bad day will just be a bad day.

Now, from time to time, even if you use several of the techniques above – one after the other – you won’t be able to turn a bad day around. That has been my experience at least.

Because no matter what habits you adopt, life will never be perfect, positive or awesome all the time.

And this website was never about living some kind of life that only exists in a perfect dream anyway.

This website is about replacing unhelpful habits with better ones. It is about raising the percentages of times where you can handle things in a better way. In your regular, everyday life. And when bigger things happen.

Because that will make a huge difference.

But still, life will have natural valleys.

And a bad day will sometimes just be a bad day. And that’s OK. That’s life.

But the interesting thing is this: if you accept that life is like this sometimes – and let go of the dream of perfection – then you’ll create less suffering for yourself and life will become lighter, simpler and happier.

So in the long run there is an upside even to a bad day that you may not be able to turn around.

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7 Common Habits of Unhappy People

“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.”
Marcus Aurelius

“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”
Marcel Proust

Circumstances can certainly make life unhappy. But a part – often a big part – of unhappiness comes from our own thinking, behaviour and habits.

In this article I’d like to share 7 of the most destructive daily habits that can create quite a bit of unhappiness within and in your own little world.

But I’ll also share what has worked, what has helped me to minimise or overcome these habits in my life.

1. Aiming for perfection.

Does life has to be perfect before you are happy?

Do you have to behave in a perfect way and get perfect results to be happy?

Then happiness will not be easy to find. Setting the bar for your performance at an inhuman level usually leads to low self-esteem and feeling like you are not good enough even though you may have had a lot of good or excellent results. You and what you do is never enough good enough except maybe once in a while when feels like something goes just perfect.

How to overcome this habit:

Three things that helped me to kick the perfectionism habit and become more relaxed:
Go for good enough. Aiming for perfection usually winds up in a project or something else never being finished. So go for good enough instead. Don’t use it as an excuse to slack off. But simply realise that there is something called good enough and when you are there then you are finished with whatever you are doing.
Have a deadline. I set deadlines every time that start with a new premium guide. Because about a year ago, when I was working on my second e-book, I realised that just working on it and releasing it when it was done would not work. Because I could always find stuff to add to it. So I had to set a deadline. Setting a deadline gave me a kick in the butt and it is generally good way to help you to let go of a need to polish things a bit too much.
Realise what it costs you when you buy into myths of perfection.This was a very powerful reason for me to let go of perfectionism and one I tell myself still if I find thoughts of perfection pop up in my mind. By watching too many movies, listening to too many songs and just taking in what the world is telling you it is very easy to be lulled into dreams of perfection. It sounds so good and wonderful and you want it.
But in real life it clashes with reality and tends to cause much suffering and stress within you and in the people around you. It can harm or possibly lead you to end relationships, jobs, projects etc. just because your expectations are out of this world. I find it very helpful to remind myself of this simple fact.

2. Living in a sea of negative voices.

No one is an island. Who we socialise with, what we read, watch and listen to has big effect on how we feel and think.

It becomes a lot harder to be happier if you let yourself be dragged down by negative voices. Voices that tell you that life will in large part always be unhappy, dangerous and filled with fear and limits. Voices that watch life from a negative perspective.

How to overcome this habit:

Replacing those negative voices with more positive influences is very powerful. It can be like a whole new world opening up.

So spend more time with positive people, inspiring music and books, movies and TV-shows that make you laugh and think about life in a new way.

You can start small. For example, try reading an uplifting blog or book or listen to an audio book while eating your breakfast one morning this week instead of reading the paper or watching the morning news on TV.

3. Getting stuck in the past and future too much.

Spending much of your time in the past and reliving old painful memories, conflicts, missed opportunities and so on can hurt whole lot. Spending much of your time in the future and imagining how things could go wrong at work, in your relationships and with your health can build into horrifying nightmare scenarios playing over and over in your head. Not being here right now in life as it happens can lead to missing out on a lot of wonderful experiences.

No good if you want to be happier.

How to overcome this habit:

It is pretty much impossible to not think about the past or the future. And it is of course important to plan for tomorrow and next year and to try to learn from your past.

But to dwell on those things rarely help.

So I try as best as I can to spend the rest of my time, the big part of my time each day, with living in the now. Just being here right now and being fully focused on these words I am writing and later as I cook and eat my lunch and work out be fully focused on doing that.

Whatever I am doing I try to be there fully and not drift off into the future or past.

If I do drift off then I focus only on my breathing for a few minutes or I sit still and take in what is all around me right now with all my senses for a short while. By doing either of those things I can realign myself with the present moment again.

4. Comparing yourself and your life to others and their lives.
One very common and destructive daily habit is to constantly compare your life and yourself to other people and their lives. You compare cars, houses, jobs, shoes, money, relationships, social popularity and so on. And at the end of the day you pummel your self-esteem to the ground and you create a lot of negative feelings.

How to overcome this habit:

Replace that destructive habit with two other habits.
Compare yourself to yourself. First, instead of comparing yourself to other people create the habit of comparing yourself to yourself. See how much you have grown, what you have achieved and what progress you have made towards your goals. This habit has the benefit of creating gratitude, appreciation and kindness towards yourself as you observe how far you have come, the obstacles you have overcome and the good stuff you have done.
You feel good about yourself without having to think less of other people.
Be kind. In my experience, the way you behave and think towards others seems to have a big, big effect on how you behave towards yourself and think about yourself. Judge and criticise people more and you tend to judge and criticise yourself more (often almost automatically). Be more kind to other people and help them and you tend to be more kind and helpful to yourself.
Focus on the positive things in yourself and in the people around you. Appreciate what is positive in yourself and others. This way you become more OK with yourself and the people in your world instead of ranking them and yourself and creating differences in your mind.

And remember, you can’t win if you keep comparing. Just consciously realising this can be helpful. No matter what you do you can pretty much always find someone else in the world that has more than you or are better than you at something.

5. Focusing on the negative details in life.

Seeing the negative aspects of whichever situation you are in and dwelling on those details is a sure way to make yourself unhappy. And to drag down the mood for everyone around you.

How to overcome this habit:

Overcoming this habit can be tricky. One thing that has worked for me is to kick the perfectionism habit. You accept that things and situations will have their upsides and downsides rather than thinking that all details have to positive and excellent. You accept things as they are. This way you can let go emotionally and mentally of what is negative instead of dwelling on it and making mountains out of molehills.

Another thing that works is simply to focus on being constructive. Instead of focusing on dwelling and whining about the negative detail. You can do so by asking better questions. Questions like:

How can I turn this negative thing into something helpful or positive?
How can I solve this problem?

If I am faced with what I start thinking is a problem I may use a third solution, I may ask myself: who cares? I most often then realise that this isn’t really a problem in the long run at all.

6. Limiting life because you believe the world revolves around you.

If you think that the world revolves around you and you hold yourself back because you are afraid what people may think or say if you do something that different or new then you are putting some big limits on your life. How?

Well, you can become less open to trying new things and growing.You can think that the criticism and negativity you encounter is about you or that it is your fault all the time (while it in reality could be about the other person having bad week or you thinking that you can read minds). I have also found that my own shyness used to come from me thinking that people cared a great deal about what I was about to say or do.

How to overcome this habit:

Realise people don’t care too much about what you do. They have their hands full with worrying about their own lives and what people may think of them instead. Yes, this might make you feel less important in your own head. But it also sets you free a bit more if you’d like that.
Focus outward. Instead of thinking about yourself and how people may perceive you all the time, focus outward on the people around you. Listen to them and help them. This will help you to raise your self-esteem and help you to reduce that self-centred focus.

7. Over complicating life.
Life can be pretty complicated. This can creates stress and unhappiness. But much of this is often created by us. Yes, the world may be becoming more complex but that doesn’t mean that we cannot create new habits that make your own lives a bit simpler.

How to overcome this habit:

Over complicating life can involve many habits but I’d like to suggest a few replacement habits to what have been a couple of my own most over complicating habits.
Splitting your focus and having your attention all over the place in everyday life. I replaced that complicating habit with just doing one thing at a time during my day, having a small to-do list with 2-3 very important items and writing down my most important goal on white board that I see each day.
Having too much stuff. I replaced that habit with regularly asking myself: have I used this in the past year? If not then I will give that thing away or throw it away.
Creating relationship problems of any kind in your mind. Reading minds is hard. So, instead ask questions and communicate. This will help you to minimise unnecessary conflicts, misunderstandings, negativity and waste or time and energy.
Getting lost in the in-box. I spend less time and energy on my email in-box by just checking it once a day and writing shorter emails (if possible not more than 5 sentences.)
Getting lost in stress and overwhelm. When stressed, lost in a problem or the past or future in your mind then, as I mentioned above, breathe with your belly for two minutes and just focus on the air going in and out. This will calm your body down and bring your mind back into the present moment again. Then you can start focusing on doing what is most important for you again.

If you found this article helpful, then please share it with someone else by using the buttons below. Thank you! =)

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The Power Of Positive Self Esteem

Individuals who believe in themselves and have confidence in their self worth are better equipped to rise to today's challenges.

Positive self esteem pushes you beyond your boundaries. It lets us to take pride in our achievements no matter how small. The stronger your self esteem, you are able to respond more appropriately to the opportunities and troubles in our personal lives and careers.

Self appraisals are critical to life. What we think about ourselves shapes our perspective of life. It determines:

The goals we set

The values we live by

The people we interact with

And, how we confront challenges.

The one and only way to meet these challenges is to have a high self esteem.

Believe in yourself

Positive self esteem is essential for healthy psychological development. In its absence, psychological and emotional growth remains stunted. When faced with difficulties, it is easy to breakdown. Positive self esteem provides mental strength and resilience. It provides the capacity for regeneration. Every time, you doubt yourself, remember a time in life when you were successful, and transform that doubt into confidence.

Be Ambitious

Survival is primary to us humans, but it is not the only thing. High self esteem allows you to see yourself in a better place; physically, intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, romantically and creatively. So, be ambitious and reach for goals that put you in a higher, finer and superior class. Expect more from life.

Competitive Goals

This is what positive self esteem does; it inspires you to achieve more than what you believe you can. People look for more demanding goals. They constantly challenge themselves, by breaking old records and setting new ones. Their achievements further boost their self esteem.

Transparent and Direct Communication

Having a high self esteem implies valuing yourself for the person you are - be it your physical appearance or the value and ideas you stand by. Such individuals are not afraid of making their thoughts known. They want to be understood and hence welcome clarity. Their communication is honest, direct and transparent. Along with speaking, they also make good listeners giving other's opinions equal value.

Love and Compassion

The goodness and positivity that exists within reflects on the outside. People with high self esteem are loving and compassionate towards others. This because they regard others in the same way they regard themselves. They prefer to have a few nourishing relationships than many toxic ones. They give up relationships that require them to pretend.

Attractiveness

It is not physical attractiveness, but a spiritual attractiveness. They reverberate with confidence. It is their expansiveness and vitality that draws others closer to them.

Forgiveness

We think of self esteem as respecting and admiring ourselves and having faith in our capabilities. But it is also about knowing one's limitations. It includes an acceptance and tolerance of other's weaknesses as well. For this, it is important to be forgiving.

Solid Value System

The self-assuredness in people with high self esteem comes from a solid foundation of values. It is the foundation of their lives. They stand up for it. These values are not governed by external circumstances and neither does it change according to the expectations of others. It becomes their identity and they refuse to compromise on them.

Optimism

There are two ways you can look at life - as a glass half full or a glass half empty. People with high self esteem choose the first. They don't mull over what's negative, but rather search for the positives even in the most distressing situations.

Self -Perfection

A self-confident person accepts the fact that they are not perfect. However, this realization does not turn out to be self-deprecating. Instead, it motivates them to work towards improvement. In this process of self improvement, they don't hesitate to ask other people for help if needed. They welcome all kinds of criticism.

Honest Self-Appraisals

What people with high self esteem are able to do best is conduct unbiased self appraisals. They probe into the positives and the negatives. Their judgment is not subjective, but very realistic.

Constant Success

It is impossible to be successful all the time. Even the most competent and talented individuals have to face failure at some point. However, those with high self esteem experience a constant sense of accomplishment. For them, even failures are opportunities to improve themselves.

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14 Ways To Procrastinate Productively

For too long I’ve sat idly by while the good name of procrastination is dragged through the muck. For the sake of getting things done we’re advised to banish, kill, and avoid procrastination without any acknowledgment of the good it’s done.

We owe procrastination. Big time. It’s responsible for our best ideas and busiest hours. Used effectively, procrastination is a powerful motivator and source of inspiration.

Structured Procrastination

Productive procrastination falls into two categories, structured and unstructured. With structured procrastination (via pmarca, via via 43F) you use the desire to avoid an important task as motivation to crank out dozens others. Anything to postpone what you really need to do, right?

Whenever I need to avoid something important, I turn to a few tasks that rarely get the attention they deserve.

• Get Organized – There’s no better way to feel productive while avoiding the inevitable than organizing your home or work space. Without procrastination my desk would be perpetually cluttered and the dishes would never get done.
• Network – Have a bunch of contacts you should really touch base with but don’t have the time? Procrastination is a great opportunity to politely reply to nonessential email. Taking the time to stay in touch with people pays dividends in the long-run.
• Plan Ahead – The only thing better than actually doing something is thinking/talking about doing something. Take the time to identify, record, and schedule all your tasks, obviously leaving the most important for last.
• Odds and Ends – Procrastination is the best time to find closure for everything that’s on your mind. Use it as an excuse to investigate and resolve issues that have been nagging you.
• Meetings – If you’re not going to be productive, you might as well take other people down with you.
• Errands – Need to schedule a dentist appointment? How about that oil change? Procrastination is capable of making the most tedious and trivial errands appealing.
• Get Up To Date – Have a bunch of dull reports and memos you should probably read? They’re starting to look a lot more interesting.
• Assist Others – If you’re not going to do your own work, you can at least deliver on the help you promised your colleague last week.

Unstructured Procrastination

Structured procrastination is a great way to keep busy, but sometimes that doesn’t cut it. When you’d rather not do anything work related, unstructured procrastination is the way to go. It might seem like laziness, but what’s wrong with that?

Unstructured procrastination is essential for recharging creative energy and allowing the unconscious mind to work on difficult problems. These are 6 productive ways to avoid work completely.

• Go to Lunch – You need to eat, might as well do it now so you can’t use it as an excuse later.
• Exercise – Same as lunch, with the added benefit of increased alertness.
• Take a Walk – A casual walk is a great way to unburden your mind and allow great ideas to come to you.
• Relax – If you feel a strong desire to procrastinate, there’s probably a reason behind it. Relax ation is important for a healthy productive lifestyle, why not do it now when you can’t get anything else done?
• Come Up With a Great Idea – This one can’t exactly be completed on demand, but studies have shown that entrepreneurs and other creative people tend to get their best ideas during down time.
• Read a Good Book – If you’d rather not think for yourself, you might as well absorb the great ideas someone else took the trouble to record.

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