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10 Valuable Lessons You Can Learn Only Outside Your Comfort Zone

10 Valuable Lessons You Can Learn Only Outside Your Comfort Zone

The comfort zone. What a beautiful place to be in. But have you ever stepped out of your comfort zone? Have you ever thought of venturing outside to see what lies in the great beyond? Have you ever wondered what lessons about life you can learn outside your comfort zone? One thing’s for sure: you’ll be surprised by what you find at the edge of your comfort zone.

“Comfort zones are plush lined coffins. When you stay in your plush lined coffins, you die.” – Stan Dale

Don’t get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with staying in the comfort zone. Most people spend their entire lives existing right in the middle of their comfort zone. But that’s the thing. They just EXIST. They never live. They never find out what it feels like to live a life beyond the mediocrity of the daily grind. The comfort zone quite comfortably kills your potential to achieve greatness and live an amazing life. Venturing outside your comfort zone is exceptionally challenging but it’s exactly where you will grow mentally, psychologically and spiritually. This is what will empower you to create an extraordinary life for yourself.

 

But what exactly is a comfort zone? 

“Comfort is the enemy of progress.” – P.T. Barnum

It’s a metaphorical place where life feels comfortable. It’s a place where everything seems familiar to you. Comfort Zone is a place where you never learn any valuable lessons about life. It’s a place where there are no challenges or obstacles. Or at least the challenges seem familiar to you. You know how to overcome them. It’s a place where you know you’ll be okay and you’re happy with what you have.

As I said before, there is nothing wrong with that. All of us want to feel comfortable in life. No one wants to struggle their entire life. Comfortable makes us feel good. Comfortable makes us happy. We feel great being comfortable in our lives. Then why would anyone want to move out of it? The thing is, life happens. Life takes some drastic twists and turns when you least expect it. Life hits hard. And you will fall flat on your face wondering what the hell just happened? And this is where the problem lies. Staying in the comfort zone makes you complacent. It makes you mentally weak. It takes away the warrior spirit from you. So when you fall down, you don’t have the will power or the mental strength to get back up.

 

Welcome to the ‘Uncomfort’ Zone

“A dream is your creative vision for your life in the future. You must break out of your current comfort zone and become comfortable with the unfamiliar and the unknown.” – Denis Waitley

Did you know there is a word for the death of self-development? It’s spelled C.O.M.F.O.R.T. By purposely getting out of your comfort zone, you force yourself to face challenges you’ve never faced before, you learn skills that you never thought you were capable of doing. You reach new heights that you never thought existed. You become a whole new person that you never knew was trapped inside. Stepping out of your comfort zone prepares you to face life and stand tall regardless of what challenges life throws at you. 

The “uncomfort” zone is where you grow as a person. It’s where you experience how exciting and enthralling life can be. This is where you experience the true essence of life. Where nothing feels familiar, yet everything seems exciting, this is the place you were meant to be in. This is where you were meant to live, not just exist.

Here are some life lessons you can learn outside your comfort zone.

Lessons about life to learn outside your comfort zone

“The only thing that is stopping you from where you are to where you want to go is your comfort zone.” – Dhaval Gaudier

Are you planning to take a small step out of your own comfort zone? Do you find to find out what greatness awaits you in the realms of the unknown? Well, here are a few lessons about life that you will learn outside your comfort zone which will help you realize it’s the best decision of your life.

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5 Ways To Eliminate Sadness From Your Life

5 Ways To Eliminate Sadness From Your Life

How to Stop Being Sad and Start Feeling Happy. 5 Ways to eliminate sadness from your life.

Do you want to feel happy? But instead all you can feel is a sinking sadness? As we cannot always control life, several unpleasant events and experiences affect the way we feel and think. However, if you allow the circumstances of your life to dictate your emotions, then you will never be able to experience true happiness. You need to shift your mindset and your focus and try to find the silver lining even in the worst situation.

“Sadness is a choice – sadness does not exist.” – Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Eliminate sadness, Be Positive

We live in a society where it is important to fit in. Leading a positive and happy life is highly valued and feeling sad or “blue” about life is not so valued. As a result, we are constantly trying to always be positive and happy. In our minds, there is no room for sadness.

This is not a realistic way to live life.

Telling yourself to be positive is no help to you because your sadness when it hits you has a life of its own. Keeping up an impression of positivity and happiness when you are feeling sad is draining and hard work. If anything this charade will intensify your feelings of sadness, and you will struggle to find the pathway that will lead you to live a happy, resilient life.

I believe that sadness is a baseline feeling that feeds into all of our other feelings such as anger, frustration, and fear. The deeper we bury the feeling of sadness the harder it is to feel happy.

“Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word happy would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness. It is far better to take things as they come along with patience and equanimity.”
– Carl Jung

 

5 Ways To Eliminate Sadness From Your Life

The 5 key strategies below are practical ways for you to successfully manage sadness in your life so you that can have a life that flows with happiness.

 

1. Recognize Your Type of Sadness

There are 3 types of sadness that most of us fall into:

a) Short-Term Sadness

This is a passing mood that may last anything from a day to a week. Sometimes there is a reason for this feeling but sometimes there is not.

Generally, lack of sleep, no physical activity, and excess stress are associated with this sadness.

The best approach to dealing with this sadness is to lower your stress level by having a few nights of great sleep, getting active by doing some exercise and looking at ways to break up your routine.

Pampering your self, going for a massage, reducing alcohol intake and eating healthy food are effective ways to manage short-term sadness.

 

b) Trigger Sadness

This feeling of sadness has been activated as a result of a traumatic event that has happened to you, such as the death of someone close to you, losing your job, divorce or financial ruin.

This feeling of sadness can make you feel helpless and vulnerable and it does not go away overnight. The key to managing trigger sadness is looking for ways to support you to process these feelings and not bury them.

One way for you to manage these deep feelings of sadness is to talk about and share your feelings with someone who can console you, support you and counsel you. Having a supportive network of family and friends is key to you managing your feelings of sadness.

It is also wise to get professional support such as a counselor or therapist to guide you through practical steps to processing your feelings of sadness.

Along with these key actions and actively working on reducing the general stress levels in your life, you will find that after a period of 3 to 6 months, you will be back at a baseline feeling of happiness. This is where you start to rebuild and strengthen your foundations in life – your physical, spiritual and emotional wellbeing.

 

c) Depression

If you feel sad, hopeless, helpless, unable to eat or sleep and have no energy for a period of time of more than one month or two, then you are likely to feel depressed.

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6 Challenges You Need To Face To Get Better At Life

6 Challenges You Need To Face To Get Better At Life

“Our ability to handle life’s challenges is a measure of our strength of character.”
– Les Brown

It’s no surprise that life is full of challenges. But you know that already. However, some of us tend to have a hard time facing the challenges of life while others can overcome them with confidence. Overcoming obstacles head-on can be very fulfilling and give a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. Facing challenges enables us to learn and grow from the experience, regardless of whether you succeed or fail. Perhaps this is the reason why all of us seek challenges subconsciously.

As the creator of your own life and reality, you have the inherent strength to overcome any and all challenges. This allows you to give a new direction to your life journey with a renewed sense of awareness and responsibility. As you develop a higher level of consciousness, you realize that challenges are nothing but opportunities that are designed to help you reach the next level of your life and unlock your higher self.

“Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory.” – George S. Patton

Life is an uncertain roller coaster. You can choose to embrace it and enjoy the ride, joyfully learning from your experiences along the way; or you can choose to rebel against all of life’s challenges, resenting every moment of your journey. The latter robs you of any growth or development, while the former gives you the opportunity to learn from those challenges and become a better person for having experienced them.

While “better” may be relative, one thing is certain – “better” means improved. No matter where you find yourself, there is always room for improvement. Even a monk strives daily to improve himself, striving always to become a better person.

Challenges in life are a given, and they can be used to your advantage. Each one is an opportunity for personal growth and self-improvement. Ultimately, the goal is to use what you learn as you grow to become the best version of yourself.

 

Here are 6 common challenges in life you must overcome on your road to becoming a better person:

 

1. Loss

Whether you lose your job, an opportunity, or a relationship – loss is an inevitable part of life.

Regardless of how it happens, the loss is one of life’s biggest challenges. It can feel abrupt and disruptive. However, loss gives you the opportunity to reflect on what is truly important so that you to keep moving forward.

Losing something that you had, or really wanted, can be a welcome wake up call. Loss forces you to ask yourself, “What about what I lost was valuable to me?” and “What am I willing to do to get what I want?”

Choosing to examine your loss through the lens of these questions causes you to assess the true value of what you lost, as well as why you value it. Having a clear understanding of what you value and why you value it, is key to becoming a better person because it gives your words & actions integrity.

 

2. Failure

There is not a single person alive who hasn’t experienced failure. To grow, you must fail. Failure offers a natural checkpoint on your journey, one that allows you to evaluate your recent behavioral choices so that you can make improvements. When you fail, you get the chance to review your decisions and behaviors, like an athlete reviews the taped footage between games.

Reviewing the decisions and actions that lead you to fail is an invaluable exercise. Understanding how the decisions you made led to certain behaviors and actions can prevent you from making the same mistakes again. Such a review can also reveal important details you missed the first time that would allow you to take a better and more informed approach the next time.

The experience of failure causes you to develop compassion, empathy, and sympathy. Your experience gives you a point of commonality with anyone who has had a similar experience. Those three emotions are essential tools on your journey to becoming a better person because they allow others to feel safe and seen around you.

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How To Boost Your Self-Esteem Quickly: 12 Simple Tips

How To Boost Your Self-Esteem Quickly: 12 Simple Tips

Nothing is worse than having a low self-esteem. How you feel about and what you think about yourself determines how you live your life. Low self-esteem makes you feel absolute worst about yourself which affects your will and motivation to do anything worthwhile in life. You can easily spiral down in the dark pit of negative thinking restricted by your damaging and limiting beliefs. This is why it is crucial to build self-esteem and have a high opinion about who you are and what you are capable of.

“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” – Buddha

High self-esteem generates from a genuine love for yourself. When you love yourself, you not only feel great about yourself but it also gives you the confidence to overcome the challenges of life. Building your self-esteem gives you inner stability and you find peace and happiness within yourself.

If you think you are suffering from low self self-esteem, then there are countless things you can do to build your self-esteem in no time.

 

Realizing your hidden potential

Self-esteem is a driving force behind our confidence, how we see and feel about ourselves, and encompasses our sense of value, significance, and self-worth.

Research has shown that over 80% of people struggle with varying levels of low self-esteem. Yet, having a solid sense of self-esteem has the chance to positively impact and powerfully transform every area of your life – from your relationships to your career, from your health and well-being to your fulfillment and levels of success.

A deep feeling of self-esteem is something that needs to grow and be nurtured over time. In this article, I will show you the things you can do right now to improve your self-esteem. Then, you will realize your hidden potential and your self-worth.

 

Understanding self-esteem

“Self-esteem is as important to our well-being as legs are to a table. It is essential for physical and mental health and for happiness.” – Louise Hart

While the dictionary defines it as “confidence in one’s own worth or abilities; self-respect”, put simply, self-esteem is the overall sense or feeling you have about your own self-worth or self-value.

Self-confidence, on the other hand, is more about how you feel about your abilities and will vary from situation to situation. You can have great self-esteem (feeling good about yourself overall) but low self-confidence about a particular situation or event (e.g. public speaking). Or, maybe you’ve got great self-confidence in an area (e.g. a sport that you play) but low self-esteem overall.

A strong and solid sense of self-esteem comes from deep within. From a belief in your importance, your value and your worthiness.

 

Root causes of low self-esteem 

Low self-esteem can stem from many areas. It is largely influenced by how other people see and treat us, and our relationships, which is why the influence of our parents has the most significant impact on our self-esteem.

1. An unhappy childhood –

Those who grew up with critical, abusive or neglectful parents are more likely to face challenges with their own self-worth; while those who experienced acceptance, approval, and affection are more likely to have a higher sense of self-value.

2. Traumatic experiences –

Lower levels of self-esteem can also stem from bad experiences or traumatic events, such as something someone said to you or something someone did. Essentially, it can stem from anything that has brought up feelings of shame, guilt or lack of worth.

3. Experiences of failure –

For some, lower self-esteem is connected to their success and accomplishments or lack thereof – including experiences of failure, not achieving goals or expectations.

4. Negative self-talk –

Many ‘cases’ of low self-esteem are perpetuated by negative self-talk. This could be a story that you have created yourself or that someone else created for you long ago that you continue to believe.

Maybe for you, like for many others, low self-esteem is rooted in your feelings about your appearance or body image. It’s not just about how you look, it’s about how you feel about how you look. We are bombarded with messages from an early age about being too fat, too thin, too short, too tall, too much of anything really, or not enough of something else.

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Love and Pain: Why I Love Pain and What It Has Taught Me About Life

What Pain Has Taught Me About Life pin

What are the life lessons one can learn from pain? 

“I can bear any pain as long as it has meaning.” – Haruki Murakam

“Why don’t you like romcoms?” My friend asked me the other night.

I smiled at her, refraining myself from telling the truth.

What was I supposed to say? That it’s not my reality? That I can’t relate with these foolishly happy characters so full of optimism, luck and love? That’s not real life. Life is not a romcom. It’s a slow mundane drama with it’s fair share of twists and turns and an undetermined ending that’s open to interpretation. The reality is, there are numerous life lessons to learn which change and shape us constantly.

I know I sound like a sad and depressed guy but I am not. Really. Well, maybe I used to be. But not anymore. Now I just happen to be in love with pain. No…I am not talking about self-harm or physical pain or the kind of kinky pleasurable pain some of you may be thinking about.

I am talking about the pain that hits you the hardest. The pain you feel inside your heart and your soul. I am talking about emotional pain. The pain that makes you feel useless. The pain that makes you want to give up and just drop dead. The pain that makes you realize what life is actually about. The pain that makes you realize how beautiful you are inside. I am talking about the pain that we have all felt at some point in time in our lives or may be feeling right now. There are a lot of life lessons to learn from pain. And I am in love with that pain. Why? Let me try to explain.

 

This is how I met pain

“Pain is a part of growing up. It’s how we learn.” – Dan Brown

What is the easiest way to teach someone what pain feels like? Break their hearts. It’s that simple. That’s all it takes to feel a numbing sensation inside that makes you feel your entire existence is crashing down. Nothing is more painful than a broken heart. Heartbreak can come from anything…anything that matters to you, anything that has emotional value to you.

The first time I met pain was when I was a child. When my parents decided to move to a new city and I had to leave everything behind. That was the first time I felt this pain inside me. I had to leave the home I grew up in. I had to leave my friends. The girl I liked. And my loving pets ended up with my grandparents. Everything I knew, everything I loved, everything I had in my life, everything that made me…me was gone. Yes, I hated my parents for doing this to me for a really long time. But for me, there were a lot of life lessons to learn from this pain at that young age. And I did. The next time we moved, it hurt a little less. I had grown up a bit by then and I was used to this pain now. I was used to losing all that mattered to me. 

Did it make me a pessimist? 

Was I depressed? 

Maybe. 

But it still hurt. 

And I tried desperately not to go through this feeling again. 

I grew up to be a loner trying hard not to make any attachments. To people. To things. To places. But that wasn’t going to work. I was simply not the person I was trying so desperately to be. I was a highly sensitive, loving and caring person. And I hated that. For so long I tried to change who I was. Because when you love someone, the pain soon follows. That’s the sad truth.

”You may have had unfair things happen to you, but the depth of your pain is an indication of the height of your future.” – Joel Osteen

I got my heartbroken by the girl I fell in love with the first time. I lost some of my pets who meant the world to me. My first girlfriend cheated on me after a 7 year-long relationship. Friends backstabbed. Coworkers conspired. Family mistreated. In short, life happened. This was nothing unusual. Everyone has to go through these experiences. Right? But from my perspective, it seemed I was the only one who was being targeted. As if God was deliberately taking time out to play with me. I cried. I screamed. I holed up in my room. I felt alone. I felt a rush of mixed emotions and no one was there with me to tell me everything was going to be okay. I was stuck in a dark foggy pit and no matter how hard I tried I just couldn’t escape. I just couldn’t end this pain.

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Why Letting Go of a Past Love Is Important for Future Happiness

Why Letting Go of a Past Love Is Important for Future Happiness

Are you really struggling with letting go of a past love? Are you sure that your ex was the only person for you and that you could never possibly be happy again?

I get it! The pain that you are in now is pain that is intense and feels like it will never end.

But it can! If you want it to.

If you are determined and ready to take the next steps and work on letting go of a past love, you will give yourself a chance at true love and happiness.

 

Is that hard to imagine that it’s possible? Let me tell you why.

1 – You will know what you want.

For many of us, the time after we have broken up with someone we loved is a time of real reflection.

Whether we did the breaking up or were broken up with, one way to manage pain is to take a good hard look at what happened and what we really want.

What have you learned from your past love?

Over the course of my post-divorce dating years, I fell in love many times. None of them lasted, for a variety of reasons. And while I was at times broken-hearted, with every break up I learned more and more about what I wanted.

I wanted someone who could make me feel special, who was smart and funny and honest, who had a great relationship with this family and who knew who he was. As I let go of each of these men, I was able to take another step towards knowing myself and what I wanted in the world – and thereby find true happiness.

 

2 – You can focus on what’s in front of you.

Have you tried dating since your break up? Has it been an unmitigated disaster because you can’t help but think about your ex and everything that you have lost?

Are you given great new career opportunities or the chance to travel and you don’t take them because you are too focused on your broken heart and maybe getting your lover back?

Are your friends there to go dancing but you can’t join them because you are wallowing?

Letting go of a past love, in spite of the pain and the lost hopes will allow you to lift your head and focus on the opportunities for happiness that are put in front of you.

If you don’t, you will be destined to be miserable. And life is too short to be miserable.

 

3 – You will stop comparing.

When we are in a new relationship and we have not yet been able to let go of an old one, it is very difficult to stop yourself from comparing the two.

If your new guy isn’t as funny as your old, you will hold that against him, even if he is funny in his own way. If the sex isn’t as good, you could shut down instead of giving it a chance to improve, as sex lives often do. If he doesn’t make as much money as your old guy you might think he isn’t good enough for you, completely ignoring that he knows who he is because he does work that feels good.

Another thing that happens with people who struggle with letting go of a past love is that we hold on to our ‘issues.’ Our ‘baggage.’

If we were lied to by our ex, we are always worried that our new person will lie to us. If your old guy ignored you when you were at parties, you will stress out if your new person leaves your side even for a minute.

Letting go of a past love allows us to also let go of the damage that they did to us. And if we can do so, we will have a much better chance of future happiness, both in love and life!

 

4 – You will no longer suffer.

Imagine if you no longer suffered from the pain that you are suffering from right now.

Imagine how good it would feel to get up in the morning and not get that stab of pain when you remember that you are alone.

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    5 Powerful Ways To Stop Worrying and Start Controlling Your Life

    5 Powerful Ways To Stop Worrying & Start Controlling Your Life

    Do you worry? We all do. But when it starts to control your life and you start losing grip on your thoughts, then it starts to become an issue. Here are 5 easy ways that will help you to stop worrying too much.

    Taking control of your worry is the first step to combating the comments.

    We all face worry and anxiety and if you’re a worrier, chances are the most important people in your life have suggested, pleaded, or even demanded that you stop worrying.

    As much as they mean to be helpful, they really don’t understand what to do when you’re too worried and anxious. And, the truth is that most of us who are prone to worry don’t instinctively know what to do about it either.

    But, we do want to know how to stop worrying and how to calm anxiety so we can take back control.

    It’s common to believe that the way to curb distressing angst and worries is simply to catch anxious thoughts when they appear and then choose to just stop thinking them.

    Worriers and non-worriers alike use phrases like:

    • You’ll get over it.
    • Just forget about it.
    • Calm down.
    • Go with the flow.
    • Just chill out.
    • You’re making yourself sick.
    • Let it go.
    • Relax.
    • Stop worrying about it.
    • Don’t worry.
    • It will be OK.

    These are said in attempts to stop worry and anxiety. But, using phrases like these don’t actually help nor do anything for anxiety relief.

    Anxious fretting isn’t just about an unwanted thought — it’s also a physiological response.

    When we worry, our bodies are often involved in addition to our minds. We may experience increased blood pressure, “butterflies” in the stomach, a lump in the throat, sweaty palms, trembling, dizziness, or a rapid heartbeat.

    This experience is something that each of us might define a little differently, and yet something we know when we feel it.

    In practice, I think of anxious fretting as the experience that arises from conflict about future unavoidable pain as well as the perceived threat to something or someone we care about.

    It is also that sense that something isn’t quite right, that we’ve neglected something important, and even sometimes a sense of dread. We conjure up a scary image in our mind, think a threatening thought, or recall a painful situation.

    With all this brain activity, our bodies respond. We’re not just dealing with anxiety and our thoughts, but we’re also dealing with the automatic responses of our bodies.

    It’s this simple fact that makes all the well-meaning sentiments listed above virtually useless if you’re someone who struggles with this experience.

    Rather than attempting to stop worry, it is always more effective to work with it once it is engaged. One of the best ways to do this is to change our thinking about this experience in general.

    Worry isn’t our enemy. It has a powerful purpose in helping us achieve our goals. It does this by making sure we stay focused on the things that matter, helping us prioritize, and reminding us when we are off track.

    For worry to do its job, we need to learn how to deal with anxiety and keep our worries at manageable and actionable levels.

     

    Here are 5 steps to take to calm your worry and anxiety so you can take back control of your life.

    1. Recognize your worry

    Understanding when and how your worry is happening is the first step to being able to harness it for productive action.

     

    2. Identify what your feelings are really about

    Being able to hear what your feelings are really signaling takes practice and sometimes support from a therapist.

    Yet, once you can reliably interpret the message your worry is giving you, you’ll immediately feel less at its mercy and have a clearer sense of what’s most important to you.

     

    3. Sort through your worry

    Identifying what you want and what to do to get there comes next.

    You are ready to sort through the messages your feelings are signaling and identify the actions that can solve it.

     

    4. Determine what action you’ll take

    This step varies tremendously by individual and while determining worry’s message is different for everyone, so is identifying smart action. The trick is to focus on solutions that will best solve the drivers of your worry.

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    How to Keep Moving on When You’re Feeling Depressed

    How to Keep Moving on When You're Feeling Depressed

    Has your life gotten to that place where you’re feeling depressed all the time?

    Are you feeling hopeless and full of dread and worried about what the future will hold?

    If you are, I am so sorry. Being depressed and hopeless is a horrible place to be!

     

    Fortunately, there are things you can do to keep moving on when you’re feeling depressed and like you always will be.

    #1 – Assess the situation.

    There are two kinds of depression, situational and chemical. They have similar symptoms but different causes. Knowing what kind of depression you have is the first step to dealing with it.

    Situational depression is caused by something that happens in your life. When something big happens that makes you sad, like the death of a parent or a divorce or the loss of a job, you can become situationally depressed. This kind of depression usually has a beginning, caused by a specific event, and an end, and is often treated differently from chemical depression.

    Chemical depression is the result of your brain chemistry being off in such a way that leads to depression. You are most often born with chemical depression but it can also be caused by a traumatic life event.

    Chemical depression can happen to you even if your life is going great.

    So, ask yourself some questions about what your life looks like these days to help you figure out what kind of depression you might have.

    If you think you have situational depression, read on.

    #2 – Do things that make you feel good.

    If you’re feeling depressed all of the time, our inclination is to collapse into our life. We stay in bed, we don’t shower or eat well and cut off contact with those we love.

    Let me tell you: if you are feeling depressed, collapsing is absolutely the worst thing that you can do. Instead, it is important to do things that make you feel good.

    For me, I keep a list of things to do when I am feeling depressed. First off: take a long, hard walk (the endorphins are great for my depression). Also, do yoga. Watch The Walking Dead. Take a bath. Go to the movies. Have sex. Eat Pad Thai. When I am depressed I do one, or all, of those things and my depression is often lifted.

    So, what makes you happy? Write out a list, when you aren’t depressed, of what makes you happy so that when you are depressed you are ready.

    #3 – Keep your mind active.

    Unfortunately, when you’re feeling depressed, our worst enemy is that brain of ours.

    While we are lying on the couch feeling sorry for ourselves, our brain is actively buying into it all.

    You are a loser, it says. You have no friends. You aren’t good at anything. You will never find love.  You suck at your job. And on and on.

    And, chances are, that none of those things are true. That you are not a loser, you have plenty of friends, you are talented, love is out there and your boss thinks you are doing great. But your brain, when you are depressed, just doesn’t go there.

    It is really important when you’re feeling depressed, to keep your brain busy.  Yoga is a really good way to do this – you are so busy trying to figure out the damn pose that you don’t have a chance to think about anything. It also has the side benefit of toning your body and making you feel strong, which can be helpful.

    Other options for keeping your mind quiet are reading, going to a movie, hanging out with friends, working. Meditation is also an option but I just get more depressed when I try and fail, to meditate. If you can do it, go for it!

    What do you like to do that will help you quiet that mind of yours, the mind that is feeding into those feelings that are bringing you down? Figure it out and do it!

    #4 – Choose your playmates carefully.

    One of the most important things to manage when you’re feeling depressed is your environment. Your bed and your pjs might feel like the right thing to do but you know now they are not.

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      8 Tips To Stop Being Taken For Granted

      Here are 8 tips to deal with a feeling of being taken for granted. 

      Someone once said, “Never take someone for granted, hold every person close to your heart because you might wake up one day and realize that you have lost a true diamond while you were too busy collecting stones“.

      Every once in a while we all are taken for granted. We might not notice and we might not care, especially when it is done by people close to us: family, friends. But when it happens on a regular basis it hurts badly.

      Can you change it? Yes, you can.

      Do you want to change it? That’s up to you.

      Sometimes it is wise to let people take you for granted. Sometimes it is what you want or what you need. Sometimes it is even what you love. But then sometimes things you love turn into things that hurt you. Then a moment comes when you have to act.

      How to know when you are being taken for granted?

      • You always are there to offer your help, yet when last time you were the one in need everyone you called up was busy.
      • Your friends won’t return any favor.
      • You listen to people’s problems but there is nobody to listen to yours.
      • Your efforts don’t get even a simple thanks.
      • No matter how much you contribute people always want you to do more. Extra pay? Some appreciation? You are funny, really!
      • You feel not cared enough for, not loved enough, ignored, neglected.
      • People assume you will always be there and each time you are not is taken as a personal offense.
      • You notice that people forget to tell you things that matter.
      • People don’t care what you do unless they need you to do something for them.

      Did you say YES to more than 3 points in the list? That’s a warning sign. Maybe you should think about making yourself noticed and listened to.

      What you can do about being taken for granted?

      1. Do not panic and do not make assumptions

      It might all have a very logical explanation. If you freak out and get mad for no reason it will make things only worse.

       

      2. Talk about it

      Don’t hold it in. But don’t sound accusing or blaming. Just talk. The relationships begin to die when we stop talking about things that matter.

       

      3. Stop being nice all the time

      You are human. You have emotions. You can get mad, you can be sad, you can be upset. If people know how you feel they won’t take it for granted.

       

      4. Learn to say ‘no’

      As hard as it seems it is still possible. Give it a try. Start with smaller things. People will take you for granted only as long as you let them. Saying ‘no’ is the first step on the road of not letting them do it.

       

      5. Do not compromise with your self-respect

      You are better than this.

       

      6. Question your motives

      Don’t expect praise and appreciation. You do things for yourself because you like helping people out, not because you want them to help you later. Or don’t you?

       

      7. Treat people as you want to be treated

      Old cliché, maybe, but it does work. Before blaming someone for taking you for granted, see if you do it the same way.

       

      8. Stand your ground and draw boundaries

      You are a good person. You are a good friend. You know that. They know that. Now it’s time to be strong for yourself.

       

      When you say ‘no’ to someone the world won’t turn upside down. It will be at the exact same place. You should realize that whatever is meant to happen will happen. Good or bad.

      You can’t run around giving people second and third chances. You can’t let them take advantage of you. You can’t be there for them always even when they let you down all the time.

      Relationships are always worth fighting for but sometimes you can’t be the only one fighting. Sometimes, people need to fight for you.

      You may also like:

      8 Tips To Stop Being Taken For Granted
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        30 Minute Exercise Workout Routine Especially for Chest

        30 Minute Exercise Workout Routine Especially for Chest

        Try this 30-minute exercise workout routine to get rid of chest problems.

        Encourage your breast brain fibers in growth with this Chest Workout routine.

        If you want to see some muscle growth stimulation in your chest muscles, I have a 30-minute chest exercise routine that guarantees to set the chest on the chest!

        I have used this workout routine with good results and I can guarantee that you are in some serious pain after this 30-minute workout for Chest.

        This workout pads fast and it involves the use of tri sets and supersets. A triset is performed one after the other without any rest between the three exercises.

        After the third exercise, you will only get rest in a certain period of time.

        It is important to understand that this routine is for the more advanced bodybuilders who have at least one solid year on this website and half their training under their belt. If you are a beginner, you are well served by the routines presented in my bodybuilding essay.

        Without further ado, here’s my specialization cutout for my book for the literary soul that wants to create some new growth.

        • Incline Dumbbell Press Set of 4 to 4 reps (no rest)
        • Incline Dumbbell Flight Set of 4-10 8 reps (no rest)
        • Incline Dumbbell Press 4 sets as many reps as possible (1 minute left)

         

        Note: Use the same dumbbells you used for Flyes. You may need to lose weight to stay within the recommended recurrence range for 2nd, 3rd and 4th treat.

        (Superset)

        • Dumbbell Bench Press Set of 3 to 4 reps (no rest)
        • Weighted chest dips 3 sets 10-12 range (1 minute rest)
        • Dumble Flood 3 sets of 12-15 reps (no rest)
        • Push-ups set of 3 to 15-18 ranges (1 minute rest)

        Note: If you are still unable to drip due to lack of energy, try the Gravitron machine. If your gym doesn’t have a gravitron machine and no dip machine, replace the dips with the pushups.

        Follow these calories with protein hectares, which include carbs or 6 ounces of chicken breast (3 ounces if you are female), vegetables, and a carb like baked potato or rice to maximize recovery and begin the muscle growth process.

        Use

        For these types of workouts, I like to use one body part per day to split training. One body part training division is designed in such a way that only one muscle group is aimed at each bodybuilding workout. This is a great way to train highly advanced bodybuilders who are significantly stronger and can create such a high level of intensity at every turn that training will allow for less frequent good results and recovery.

        There are two benefits to this workout split:

        1. This advanced anatomy allows the hand to concentrate the body part of the hand and work it from all possible angles. In advanced stages, the goal is not to build new muscle mass but to modify any of its balance and achieve perfect equilibrium (or similarity between body parts).

        2. It allows the muscle to recover better from the high volume and intensity required from this advanced level of training.

        Below you will find good examples of how I will set up one muscle group per training session to prioritize my chest.

        • Monday: Chest / Knitting
        • Tuesday: Hamstrings / Abs
        • Wednesday: Weapons
        • Thursday: Shoulders / Knitting
        • Friday: Quadrilateral / Abbas
        • Saturday: Back / Abs
        • Sunday: Rest

         

        The Conclusion

        Try this in four weeks and change the order of exercise to change the order of exercise each week to keep things separate for your body.

        You may also like:

        30 Minute Exercise Workout Routine Especially for Chest
        30 Minute Exercise Workout Routine Especially for Chest
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          What is Minimalism and How It Can Make You Happier

          What is Minimalism and How It Can Make You Happier

          When Less Is More: What is Minimalism & How Being a Minimalist Can Help You Live Happier

           

          Ahh…stuff! The shinier and trendier, the better.

          We all love buying new and cool stuff. From the latest gadgets to the trendiest clothes. Buying stuff makes us feel better about ourselves. No wonder shopping therapy is a thing.

          We all want more stuff. More gadgets, more upgrades, clothes, more food, more sex, more travel, more internet, more social media, more selfies, more addictions, more alcohol, more drugs, more entertainment, more parties, more news, and more negativity.

          This ‘more’ mindset is making us hungrier and hungrier for…well…MORE. So we want to earn more, spend more and buy more. This makes us feel happier, more fulfilled and more successful.

          But if buying and owning ‘more’ stuff actually made us feel better, wouldn’t all of us be happy in life?

          Now I am not saying you’re unhappy. But don’t you feel you could be happier? Don’t you feel you could experience a little more inner peace? I know I do.

          “The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.” —Socrates

          If the latest gadgets and a closet full of new clothes led us to happiness, the world would have been completely different place. Buying and possessing stuff makes us feel heavy, psychologically and realistically.

          The more stuff you have, the more crammed your place is. The more you need to worry about them. And the more you need to get.

          Minimalism is a concept that sets you free from all these shackles. Minimalism helps you live a life full of freedom, finding true peace and happiness and enjoy life. 

          What do you think will make you feel better in the long run? 

          A closet full of clothes or a shelf full of books? 

          Regardless of what your answer is, it’s time for you to get introduced to minimalism.

           

          Living with intentionality

          “Simplicity, clarity, singleness: These are the attributes that give our lives power and vividness and joy as they are also the marks of great art.” – Richard Holloway

          Can being a minimalist make you happier? In short, yes. The philosophy of minimalism has become a trend recently, but has been practiced by thousands of people for centuries. Minimalism means living intentionally with only those “stuff” that you need to survive. Sounds simple, right? Well, it is. Minimalism doesn’t mean you have to own less than 50 things or you can’t own a home or a car or have a career. It doesn’t mean you have to give up all modern conveniences and go live in a cabin in the woods. Neither does it mean you can’t have a normal life.

          Minimalism means living with fewer material possessions.

          Whatever that means for you. If that means you don’t want to buy a house or own a car, then that’s your decision to make. But it’s not a rule. There are no obligations or restrictions.

           

          Minimalism sets you free

          Too many people spend money they haven’t earned, to buy things they don’t want, to impress people they don’t like.” – Will Rogers

          Minimalism is an effective tool that allows us to experience freedom from depression, anxiety, fear and guilt. Freedom from the consumer culture that we have been forced into. Freedom from the belief that you need to own certain ‘things’ to be considered successful in life. I am not saying owning material possessions is wrong or anything. What I am trying to say is:

          we need to assign less value to stuff and more value to ourselves, our lives, our relationships, our dreams and passions, our self-development and our desire to help our community and the world.

          If you wish to buy a new house, have a successful career and raise a family, then you should. Minimalism simply empowers you to live this life in a deliberate, conscious and intentional manner.

           

          What minimalism actually is 

          “It is preoccupation with possession, more than anything else, that prevents men from living freely and nobly.” – Bertrand Russell

          Minimalism is the process of knowing what holds value in your life and eliminating what is unimportant. The mantra is less is more. Minimalism means you buy and own things that you need instead of owning whatever you want.

          It is not about buying the cheapest items. It is about getting things that you value and need, irrespective of the price. The level of minimalism you want to adopt in you life depends on you. You can simply start by getting rid of things in your home that you don’t need anymore. It’s like having a glorified garage sale. With time, you can figure out what other things you wish to cut down and how much of a minimalist you want to be.

          When you live with less, you have less stress, less anxiety, less financial burdens, less unnecessary expenses, and less depression.

          Minimalism helps us make more time for things that matter – our family and friends, health, passions and hobbies, and the simple things in life like taking a walk in nature. Minimalism helps you to detox from the physical, mental and digital clutter that makes us feel overwhelmed.

          The core essence of minimalism is living your life intentionally. It’s like being mindful of how you live.

          You take enough time and space and decide what you deliberately want to get rid of from the life that distracts you from what truly matters. Hence, you will end up investing your time and space only on the most important things that align with your beliefs and values.

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          How to Understand your Emotions Better and Be More in Touch with Them

          How to Understand your Emotions Better and Become More in Touch with Them

          Your emotions are a part of you, and they shouldn’t be ignored. How to turn on the light inside by Understanding your emotions better and be more in touch with them

          So much is written about emotions — how to understand them, how to control them, or how they can help or hinder you. Just look at the self-help section of a bookstore or the cover of the multitude of grab mags at the checkout counter of your frequented food store. All can be helpful, but they are not always the truth and are not personalized for you.

          So, what are emotions, really, and why do we have them in the first place? Emotions can best be viewed as essential reactions to being human and a clue of what you experience from the inside out. Emotions are really energy in motion.

          If you ignore or suppress a challenging emotion like sadness or anger or guilt (and all the associated reactions), you actually feed the dragon. It is crucial to recognize a feeling, take a moment to assess where it came from, and in a safe place, really notice and feel those feelings.

          Don’t deny them. If ignored or suppressed, they grow. If attended to and expressed, they shift in energy and you can become emotionally numb.

          Culturally and historically, the importance of emotions has often been overlooked. Humans have been focused on logic, reason, and thinking. For a long time, I believed that this is where answers are to be found.

          Human beings are now realizing the importance of emotions in thinking, reasoning, decision-making, leadership, and relationships. Indeed, like other human activities such as sleeping, eating, and breathing, emotions are non-discretionary.

          You may be able to choose to some degree when or how you react, but you do not get to choose if or when you experience them. They are a part of what makes us human.

          People are learning a great deal about emotions from various perspectives. Some insights come from psychology and others from neuroscience.

          If you’ve been attempting to prioritize logic while shutting out emotions, you may find yourself feeling numb, disconnected. But you can change your relationship with emotions to see them as a useful part of your makeup that you may not spend enough time cultivating.

           

          Here are a few ideas for how to grow to understand your emotions better and become more in touch with them.

          1. Learn that each emotion has a specific meaning or story to tell, that each emotion has a specific impulse or predisposition and each emotion exists for a purpose.

          In other words, emotions are not random and are actually quite logical. Each is very specific, and you need to listen to and understand them to think clearly, know yourself, act in accordance with your values, and understand the thinking and action of others. Learning this can make them a tool as powerful as reasoning, thinking, and conversation.

          Getting “emotionally naked” is about learning how to be open about your authentic self with the rest of the world (well, at least those you trust). It is about how being secretive about yourself can lead to physical, mental, and emotional sickness. Can we actually try to live healthier by being honest with our fellow humans about who we are and how we are?

           

          2. Try this exercise if you feel emotionally numb and overwhelmed with an emotional experience.

          As Sue Monk Kidd says in her book The Invention of Wings, “There is no pain on Earth that doesn’t crave a benevolent witness.”

           

          Here’s a process used for reclaiming parts of your authentic self that you may have left hidden in the shadows.

          Follow this template for naked-sharing slowly, using a journal, personal reflection time, and patience.

          Recall: Remember a belief or experience that causes you to keep it hidden.

          Reflect: Consider this memory. What happened? Who was there? How did it affect you?

          Reveal on paper: Write in a journal your memories, thoughts, feelings, actions, and emotional reactions. Just free flow, get it out and on paper. Then read it to yourself as if you were hearing about it from your younger self.

          Reveal to another: This is where you make a big step. Who can you share your story with? Who can you trust will listen to you with suspended judgment and full acceptance? True release from the chokehold of emotional angst is with a benevolent witness or committed listener.

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          8 Signs You Are A Mentally Strong Person

          8 Signs You Are A Mentally Strong Person

          What makes a person strong? What is his mental strength?

          Is it about how much they can lift? How hard they can punch? 

          Or is it about how confidently they can face challenges in life and come out victorious?

           There is a difference between acting tough and being mentally strong. Mental and emotional strength comes from our ability to do what we need to do and also from what we refrain from doing. Regardless of your physical appearance and even your attitude and persona, you can be psychologically and emotionally stronger than most people you know. It is about perceiving your reality as it is and doing your best to make the most out of it.

           

          What is mental strength?

          “Strength does not come from physical capacity, it comes from an indomitable will.” ―Mahatma Gandhi

          Being mentally strong is about your determination and grit. It is about being resilient and having a fighter spirit irrespective of how great the odds are. Unfortunately what most of us consider “tough” is merely an external appearance, a persona that some people exhibit about being strong. True strength is much different from toughness. Psychological and emotional strength is an inner quality that empowers you to pursue your dreams, overcome challenges, stay focused on your long-term goals and be honest with yourself. It comes from your ability to build your character and willingness to accept your mistakes. 

          “As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

          Mental strength is about acting on your values, not just acting tough. It’s not about ignoring your emotions or your weaknesses. A mentally strong person understands their emotions and works on their weaknesses. Being mentally strong requires you to have awareness about your thoughts, behaviors, and emotions and take positive action to build your life the way you want. It’s about refusing to become a victim of the circumstances.

           

          8 Signs you are a mentally strong person

          8 Signs You Are A Mentally Strong Person

          “Concentration and mental toughness are the margins of victory.” ―Bill Russell

          Are you mentally strong? Here are 8 subtle signs that indicate your mental strength.

           

          1. You are kind & compassionate

          Being compassionate and showing kindness takes a lot of confidence and courage, especially after you have been wronged. Although kindness is seen as a sign of weakness these days, a true mentally strong person acts with kindness but is not a people pleaser or a pushover. And with kindness, comes the strength to accept rejection and move forward.

           

          2. You are patient

          Patience is one of the most powerful traits of a person with mental strength. Patience does not mean being passive or surrendering. Patience is having the confidence, belief, and understanding of when to act. Being patient is an emotionally liberating experience that only the truly strong enjoy. Patience is not a lack of drive or being inactive. It is understanding that certain things take time and having faith in the process.

           

          3. You’re okay with failure

          “It’s when the discomfort strikes that they realize a strong mind is the most powerful weapon of all.” ―Chrissie Wellington

          Failure is a crucial part of life. If we don’t fail, we’ll never understand what it takes to succeed. And you understand that. Failure pushes you outside of your comfort zone and you are always ready to challenge yourself. Only the strong can move through failure and transform it into the secret of their success. 

           

          4. You’re mentally flexible

          Being mentally strong means having cognitive flexibility that allows you to easily switch between two ideas and consider multiple ideas simultaneously to choose the best outcome. You are always prepared to adapt your beliefs and behavior based on new verifiable information. It means you are a keen observer, a great listener, a talented thinker, and a problem solver.

           

          5. You understand your weaknesses

          Being strong doesn’t mean you refuse to acknowledge your weaknesses. Strong people never hide their weakness from the world or from themselves. In fact, they admit, accept and understand their weakness so that they can improve themselves. However, there is a difference between knowing your weakness and doubting yourself. Mentally strong people accept their shortcomings and take positive actions to work on their imperfections.

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          Why Your Own Opinion Is The Only One That Counts

          Why Your Opinion of Yourself Is The Only One That Counts
          Why does your own opinion matter? 

          The greatest fear in the world is of the opinions of others. And the moment you are unafraid of the crowd you are no longer a sheep, you become a lion. A great roar arises in your heart, the roar of freedom.― Osho

          As social beings, it often gets difficult for us to stay secluded on our own. All of us are in some ways or the other interconnected to the people around us. Our families, friends, colleagues, partners constantly influence our actions, the decisions we take and also our outlook towards the world. 

          In such a critically interrelated situation, retaining our uniqueness and claiming our own life is a bit difficult.

          People are always trying to “squeeze in” the societal norms. Because going along with the crowd is easier than swimming against the stream.

          To retain originality, one has to speak up for oneself, instead of suppressing one’s fullest and truest expression. 

          What often holds us back from going against the wishes of our close ones and following our heart is the strength individuality takes. No doubt, it is a wonderful feeling to have our dear ones help us take decisions in our life, show us direction when we feel lost but it is also necessary to know that your happiness is not dependent on any form of validation or approval of others. You can function on your own, just as you are. 

          The first step to owning your life is to start respecting your own opinion and knowing that it is the first and last thing that ACTUALLY matters.

          Here are the 4 reasons why there is nothing more significant than your own opinion:

          1. You rule your life.

          We often believe that letting others rule our life makes us more admirable and understood. What are you ultimately doing to yourself? You are giving control of your life to another person.

          Sometimes compromising one’s own utmost wishes, dreams and ambitions will help you bag a lot of appreciation. But does this get you to fulfill your dreams? No. 

          Ask yourself, which is your priority, your own happiness or their temporary appreciation? 

          Letting others turn the wheel of your life might leave your feeling secluded at some point in life when these very people will abandon you. Claim your life, your desires as you own and fight for it till the last breath. 

          Listen to your gut instincts while you decide for yourself. Your mind and body know what’s best for you, not others.

           

          2. Learning opportunity. 

          When does a failure hurt the most? When the path to your failure was decided by you. 

          Sticking to your own opinion teaches you the ability to take accountability for your own actions in life. It teaches you that, others are not responsible for whatever circumstances you put yourself in. You achieve and be successful, it is the result of your own efforts and your choice of direction. You fail and you have no option to blame others for your choices. 

          Learning to follow through your own opinions and ideas in life, help you attain individuality. It helps you be self-reliant. Others might influence you today with their thought process, but sooner or later, you will have to be confident enough to decide for yourself. 

          Opinions of others may temporarily influence your decisions. But you ought to follow your own inner voice.― Lailah Gifty Akita

          Once you act on your choices, you also acquire a clear idea about your potential, your shortcomings and invest time in improving yourself if you feel the need to.

          This way, the next time you won’t find yourself lost in the sea of other people’s opinions.

           

          3. You know yourself the best.

          There will be times when you will come across close people in your life who will claim that they know you better than you know yourself. 

          Don’t trust them.

          They partially do know you, but not as intricately as you do. 

          Others can’t always define your true identity. They see what they ‘want’ to see but beyond your mess, God sees the beauty He created and still thinks it’s good!― Chinonye J. Chidolue

          Accepting their opinion is the easiest gateway because you not only make them happy but also expend less energy on thinking yourself through. But, it is only preparing you for future disasters. You can only regret your choices in the future. You can in no way rectify the same.

          Think for yourself, do others know every single detail about you? 

          What your limits are, your boundaries are, your value system is, what pushes your buttons, what makes you uncomfortable is only known to you, not to others. 

          To enjoy the best outcomes of your decisions, you must always give importance to your own opinions.

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          How to Embrace Being a Lone Wolf and Walk Your OWN Path

          How to Embrace Being a Lone Wolf and Walk Your OWN Path

          Are you tired of trying to fit into social norms? Do you feel a higher calling that is asking you to walk your own path and find your true self? Then you need to stop seeking social interactions and start getting comfortable with being yourself. You don’t need to live your life like everyone else does. Choose your path and set out on your own adventure. Embrace being a lone wolf and the freedom you experience will be priceless.

          If there is any advice I would universally give to every person, regardless of who they are, it is this: walk your own path.

          Walk your own damn path.

          Don’t walk someone else’s path.
          Don’t walk the path your parents predestined for you just because you feel emotionally indebted to them.
          Don’t walk a path that appears to be yours, but it is actually society’s fabricated ideal of who you ‘should’ be.
          Don’t walk a path just because you fell into it and it’s “good enough.”
          Don’t walk a path that you feel a sense of enslaved duty towards because it’s what you “need to be” doing according to dominant socio-cultural standards.

          Walk your own path. That means CHOOSING your own path in a very conscious way.

          What is a Lone Wolf?

          A lone wolf is typically defined as a person (or animal) who prefers to spend time alone rather than being in a group.

          However, here lone wolf refers to a person who has listened to their calling and has left behind their old life, thus rendering them alone or alienated from others.

          We all possess an inner wolf that thirsts for freedom, truth, and authenticity. If we seek to live a meaningful life, if we want to fulfill our destiny, it’s our job to listen to that inner wolf and embrace our sacred wild nature.

           

           

          Why Most People Are Terrified of Walking Their Own Path

          Although choosing your own path may initially sound very empowering, there’s a reason why most people prefer to follow the herd.

          1. Firstly, walking your own path means that you might be REJECTED by others.

          You might be gossiped about, thought of in disparaging ways (e.g. as a “kook,” “oddball,” “idiot”), and outright alienated or estranged from other people. Sometimes those people who reject you are those closest to you. And what could be more painful than losing a family member, friend or even partner?

          As a species, we are biologically programmed to seek approval because acceptance equals survival. Inevitably, doing anything that may cause us to be rejected sets off those deep, primal alarm bells and raises the hairs on the back of our necks. I would go so far as saying that walking your own path guarantees that at some point someone will look down on you and say, “what on earth are you doing, you imbecile?”

           

          2. The second reason why most people avoid walking their own paths is that it’s a hell of a lotta work.

          No one is out there giving you a map, a set of rules, or instructions that tell you what to do. YOU have to be responsible for figuring it all out from scratch. It kind of feels like stumbling through the dark in a room full of sharp objects. You will make mistakes. You will fall flat and land smack bang on your face.

          You will feel embarrassed, overwhelmed, and a lot of other uncomfortable emotions that come with doing something completely radical. And on a mental and emotional level, most people see that. Most people understand, on some superficial level, the consequences and therefore prefer the cozy, comfortable, and bland mediocrity of society-prescribed living.

           

          3. The third reason why most people avoid walking their own paths is that it’s “too much” RESPONSIBILITY.

          When you take your path into your own hands, YOU are responsible. There’s no one to blame, point the finger at, whine about or feel victimized by.

          You are the worker, boss, innovator, and creator all-in-one. Instead of someone else holding all the cards, you hold all the cards, and it is ultimately your problem if you wind up feeling shitty with what you do. Most people can’t handle that.

          Most people like the comfy confines of their cages because it makes them feel justified about feeling like a “poor little” victim of life. Instead of taking self-responsibility, it’s much easier to dump the burden onto someone else’s shoulders and feel self-righteously empowered through blame.

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          30 Practices to Boost Well-Being

          30 Practices to Boost Well Being

          Practices to boost well-being and raise your happiness quotient.

          Linda: There is a strong element of choice in our level of happiness. Indeed we do decide to be happy, but that’s only for starters. Then we are challenged to CULTIVATE happiness by actively pursuing the practices that give rise to it. The very same practices that assist in the process of bringing our happiness level up are identical to those that improve our relationships. We can get started by rating our level of happiness on a scale of 0 to 10.

          If we want to bring our well-being quotient up, consider taking on the following practices:

          30 Practices to Boost Well-Being

          1. Gratitude:

          Cultivate the attitude of gratitude. At the end of each day, say aloud or write in your journal that for which you are grateful.

           

          2. Physical Exercise:

          Ride bike, walk, climb, swim or go to the weight room. They all lift the mood and prompt positive emotions. When you have enough endorphins they create euphoria. Runner’s high is real.

           

          3. Family:

          Spend time connecting with family.

           

          4. Friends:

          Cultivate a strong network of support. If your blood relatives are not available for whatever reasons, find your family of choice. Have many confidants. It is the best predictor of happiness.

           

          5. Support:

          In times of difficulty and challenge, reach out to ask for help and allow others to support you, rather than struggling on alone. Interdependence is a healthy dependency.

           

          6. Get Complete:

          Get complete with issues from the past that make you heavy and drag you down.

           

          7. Forgiveness:

          Heal all of your relationships. Let go of all grudges towards those who have hurt you and particularly for yourself. Notice how grudges make you heavy and unhappy when you hold on to these hurts. Forgive yourselves if you are not ready to forgive.

           

          8. Mindfulness Meditation:

          Be Here Now says Ram Dass, The Power of Now says, Ekart Tolle. Meditation centers and focuses the mind. It helps to be present at the moment, not the past or the future and to practice non-judgmental awareness. Journaling can be the written form of mindfulness. It is a powerful practice for focusing the mind.

           

          9. Needs:

          Know what your needs are and see to it that they get met.

           

          10. Play:

          Find fun playmates and play with them frequently, thereby reclaiming the magic and wonder of childhood. Re-own the innocence of the joyful child that lives in each of us results in looking at the world through childlike eyes, with awe and radical amazement.

           

          11. Generosity:

          It feels so good to give. Contribute in the form of volunteer work, good deeds, and random acts of kindness. Give gifts, acknowledgment, your undivided attention, and committed listening.

           

          12. Strengths:

          Develop your potential, by identifying your signature strengths. As you take pride in them, you will feel the self-esteem that accompanies them and in a way boosts well-being

           

          13. Risk:

          Taking risks allows you to grow in courage. Happy people do not settle for comfort and security. They are willing to experience disappointment, failure, disapproval, embarrassment and even humiliation to have big successes.

           

          14. Redefine success:

          Stay away from the prevailing view of money, status, power, and influence to one where real success is the number of in-depth, loving relationships.

           

          15. Self-care:

          Practice compassionate self-care, also known as healthy selfishness.

           

          16. Worry:

          Give up worry, both on the job and in your personal life. Worry is in the future. Those fearful things may never occur. Stay present at the moment, living with a deep trust that things will work out.

           

          17. Kindness:

          Practice kindness to others and yourself.

           

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          Add To Your Wisdom With These Quotes By Sadhguru

          Quotes By Sadhguru

          These quotes by Sadhguru will help you to discover your inner peace.

          Sadhguru is an Indian yogi, guru, and a best-selling author. Many people know his name and follow his teachings throughout the world. He is known for his wisdom and spirituality. Sadhguru is also known for the good things that he does for people and the advice and suggestions that he gives them. Many people believe in his teachings and many of them love reading his books. Quotes by Sadhguru have helped a lot of people to gain wisdom.

          His real name is Jaggi Vasudev and he is a 62-year-old man. At this age, he rides a bike and goes around spreading his thoughts and beliefs and he even interacts with people by answering their questions. It’s not a surprise that such a man inspires and motivates a lot of people to do better in life. Not only that, he’s responsible for the growing wisdom of a lot of people in this world.

          He doesn’t only motivate and inspire with the things he does, but he also does it with the things he says. And that’s one of the things that just make him great and inspirational. Hoping that you’ll also be inspired by the things he has said, I’m sharing some of them and their meanings with you.

          So, here are some inspirational quotes by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev that will add to your wisdom:

          1. “When your happiness is dependent upon what is happening outside of you, constantly you live as a slave to the external situation”

          Inner peace is very important in order to live a life without stress. We must never depend on the things that are happening externally (outside our body). The only thing that remains with you till your last breath is your soul and that’s what you must focus on.

          Our main goal must be to become a being that is in peace with itself and the things happening in its surroundings should not affect it. You will find true happiness when you realize and implement this in your life.

           

          2. “The fear is simply because you are not living with life, you are living in your mind”

          The moral of this quote is… don’t overthink. Overthinking is one of the biggest problems in youth nowadays because of the stressful and burdened lifestyle. If you keep taking stress about one thing over and over again, it’s natural that you’ll start to worry about it a lot. And eventually, you’ll be afraid of something unfortunate happening.

          Well, it’s life and there are a lot of things that require your attention and stressing over only one thing isn’t gonna work. It’ll exhaust you mentally. Just take a deep breath and work with your best ability without worrying a lot about things.

           

          3.“If you really pay attention to life, life will blossom within you. If you do not pay attention, you are somewhere else, and then life could go wrong”

          Pay attention to the small and important things in life and appreciate them from time to time. If you just ignore the little good things in life and focus mainly on the bad and unfortunate ones, it’ll be really hard for you to live a happy and peaceful life. Just appreciate and feel good about the small good things that happen around you and you’ll find the path to be truly happy. Do this for your happiness… do this for your mental health.

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            Some Jeff Bezos Quotes That Are Gospel For Every Entrepreneur

            Jeff Bezos Quotes

            Jeff Bezos is a retail entrepreneur and his quotes would act a gospel to every entrepreneur. 

            Jeff Bezos needs no introduction, but just for sake of it, here it is. Jeff Preston Bezos is the chief executive officer, president, and founder of Amazon.com. It’s not a surprise that Amazon is the biggest e-commerce website in the world. After all, the business helped Jeff Bezos in surpassing Bill Gates to become the richest person in the world. With a massive net worth of $113.1B, Jeff Bezos truly is an inspiration for every entrepreneur and entrepreneur in making.

            Jeff Bezos collected all of his life’s work and put it into one thing, his dream to make things available for everyone. Online shopping is a big thing nowadays and Jeff Bezos can easily be crowned the king and I believe that everyone will agree with this statement. The best part about him is that he isn’t stopping and I don’t think that he ever will. It’s one thing being the richest in the world, but if you surpass someone to become the richest, that’s on a whole other level.

            The chief executive officer of Amazon.com doesn’t only have the power to inspire his employees, he has the power to inspire the whole world with his legacy. The things he has done, is doing, and will do, will keep inspiring a lot of people. Not only his actions but even the things he says are filled with motivation and inspiration. So in order to inspire and wake up the entrepreneur in you, here are some quotes by Jeff Bezos that are gospel for entrepreneurs:

            1. “If you double the number of experiments you do per year you’re going to double your inventiveness”

            Always and I mean always aim to do greater than you did before. What Jeff says here makes a lot of sense when you think about it. The thing that builds your abilities as an inventer is experimenting. Keep finding new ways to make different things and keep experimenting with them. And if you make it a habit to experiment, you will notice your skills growing day by day. Just keep grinding till you reach the level when you will be able to consider yourself perfect.

             

            2. “Life’s too short to hang out with people who aren’t resourceful”

            We meet a lot of people every day and make a lot of friends in our life, however, if you really need to be successful, you must learn how to separate your professional life from your personal life. Everyone has all kinds of friends, the ones who are resourceful and the ones who aren’t. Just be careful which ones you hang around when you work or which ones you actually make a part of your work. The resourceful ones will help you in growing more than you’ve ever dreamed of and the non-resourceful ones will just keep you where you are and that can result in your growth becoming stagnant.

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              How To Learn And Master The Art Of ‘Taking It Easy’

              art of taking easy

              It is important to learn the art of ‘Taking It Easy’

              Just “take it easy”. 

              It’s a phrase that many people say, however, only a few understand the true essence of it. There was a time in my life where doing what I love to do the most proved to be a burden for me. That’s when I learned a valuable lesson, even your passion can prove to be a burden if it’s overdone.

              I started working for hours and this resulted in me losing the track of time, making myself unhealthy, and gaining a considerable amount of weight. Of course, none of these things are good for you and you must learn how to ‘take it easy’.

              While struggling with these issues, I understood that I need to do something to make my life better. It was all bearable until one day I just felt like giving up. It was a very hard time for me as I never thought that following my dreams with such dedication would harm me. Well, it did and I just wanted to change some things in my life. I knew it wouldn’t be an easy journey, but I did it.

              I created a proper routine for myself and made a habit of doing things other than work as well. I created time for myself to have a little bit of fun and it worked out. Instead of just paying attention to my work, I managed to take out some time to take care of my mental and physical health. I did this because your body is the only thing that will stay with you for the rest of your life and nothing or no one can replace or change this.

              Paying attention to yourself is very important in order to learn and master the art of ‘taking it easy’. The only person that can help you in this is you yourself. Just remember the things that make you feel happy and take out time from your busy life to do those things.

              Make time for your hobbies and if you don’t have any, develop some such as watching tv, playing video games, swimming, and so on. Just make sure you have time to rejuvenate and get back to work with a fresh and open mind.

              To help you in doing so, here are some things that helped me to learn and master the art of ‘taking it easy’:

              1. Keep Your Priorities Clear

              Work is not the only important thing in life. Your friends and family, basically your social life is a very important part of your life. Don’t ever keep work or anything else in this world above that. Having an interesting and happening social life is the key to living with a positive mindset.

              I still remember how I used to keep work above everything else and trust me, it’s not healthy at all. Just make sure that your social life and the people that you care about are on the top of your priority list.

               

              2. Learn How To Forgive Yourself

              If you are reading this then it means that you already have a busy and stressful life. Taking stress in itself is a very harmful thing for both your mental and physical health and if you keep feeling guilty about the mistakes you’ve made, you’ll end up being even more stressed.

              So, before going any further, you must learn how to realize and reflect on your mistakes. Then, you must forgive yourself before seeking forgiveness from others or even God.

               

              3. Acceptance Is The Key

              The way you are is perfect. Sure, improvement is important, however, overworking is not the way to make yourself better at something. In most cases (including mine), overworking harms your overall performance as you don’t give yourself the time to recover, take rest, and have fun.

              One of the most major aspects of living with a positive mindset is realizing and accepting the person you are. Never doubt your capabilities and you’ll be able to live the life that you want to. Nothing and nobody can stop you from achieving anything in life.

               

              4. Take Breaks

              Trust me, your work will still be there for you after your break. Just give yourself the time to recover by going on a vacation or something. Don’t stress yourself with a huge amount of work. It’s always better going ahead one step at a time. The most important thing in your life is your health. So, you must take good care of yourself in order to live with a positive attitude. This will help you to master the art of ‘Taking It Easy’

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                How To Be Extraordinary: Top 12 Traits of Successful People

                Traits of Highly Successful People

                What exactly do you need to be successful? Success means different things to different people. However, most people who achieve genuine success have some things in common. There are common certain traits which may appear simple and unremarkable to most, but these can help you achieve remarkable outcomes.

                How can you be successful?

                “I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have.” – Thomas Jefferson

                Contrary to popular belief, success is not a matter of luck. In fact, it is a combination of factors that drive you forward even after facing failure after failure. It is about investing yourself in your skills, your passion and your trade. It is about learning, applying your knowledge and adapting to changing circumstances.

                To the uninitiated, attaining success can be mysterious. But there is no secret to success. There are certain traits that you need to possess, develop and hone to cultivate yourself and taste the sweet flavor of success.

                These key qualities are commonly found in the most accomplished individuals across the world.

                Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur, an athlete, an artist, an academic or anyone who is trying to be more successful in life, developing, sustaining and utilizing these traits can empower you to achieve your goals. With the right set of skills, mindset and qualities, you will be able to strike hard and be successful when the opportunity comes.\

                 

                Traits of successful people

                If you wish to become wildly successful and achieve your life goals, then you need to give your best every single day. When you do that, life will give it’s best back to you. The most extraordinary and most successful individuals in any field have these qualities that drives them ahead.

                Take a look at the 12 most common traits of successful people and make sure you cultivate these if you haven’t already.

                1. Discipline

                “Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most.” – Abraham Lincoln

                Self-discipline is perhaps the most important quality that you need to cultivate. Discipline results in consistent action which in turn leads to success. When you create and follow an effective routine then it can lead to incredible results as you will be consistent in your efforts. If you wish to make your dreams come true then self-discipline is the best tool you can wish for.

                 

                2. Confidence

                “Always be yourself and have faith in yourself. Do not go out and look for a successful personality and try to duplicate it.” – Bruce Lee

                Confidence is not only one of the traits of successful people, but it’s one of the essential traits required to survive life. It makes you believe in yourself and your abilities. It encourages you to take action. When you trust yourself, you will be able to move past your fear of failure, accept criticism, and take a step closer towards success. Confidence is your secret weapon.

                 

                3. Resilience

                “You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.” – Margaret Thatcher

                Irrespective of how talented and passionate you are, unless you are resilient and persistent you will never taste victory. Life is full of setbacks and disappointments. Resilience enables you to turn failures into opportunities of self development and self-awareness. It helps you develop a positive attitude and persevere even through the biggest setbacks. As long as you don’t allow failure to hold you back, success is never far away.

                4. Creativity

                “Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, the just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while” – Steve Jobs

                Creativity is one of the most unique traits of successful people. As not everyone is born creative, you can still develop this particular quality through practice and dedication. You can be creative in many different ways. The important thing is that you are able to think outside the proverbial box. An eagerness to experiment coupled with creativity can take you a long way in attaining success.

                 

                5. Self-reliance

                “Self-reliance is the only road to true freedom, and being one’s own person is its ultimate reward.” – Patricia Sampson

                You rely on yourself to get things done. You know your skills and abilities and hence you are able to think clearly for yourself and plan the best course of action. You are more than capable of taking responsibilities, taking difficult decisions, standing up for your actions and even holding yourself accountable. You don’t seek permission from anyone to do what you need to neither you give permission to others to affect your actions.

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