book recommendation

Dec

2021

Lessons from The Slight Edge: Your First Step Toward Success

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Are you in the midst of a crisis right now? If you are having problems, you know deep inside that you cannot stay in that state forever. Life goes on and it will not stop and wait until you are ready. Many people were able to rise above the storm. You believe deep inside that you too have what it takes to do the same. You are just not sure on where to begin. The lessons from The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson might just be your first step toward success and happiness.

There are things that you need to do in order to overcome the problem you are facing right now. First, you have to embrace your pain and take control of your emotions. Only by doing this will you be able to begin to take responsibility for your life. It would help if you have set some goals to define where you want to be in the future. Your goals need to be S.M.A.R.T in order to succeed. Remember that success always starts with a vision.

Once you have a clear idea on where you want to be and what you hope to achieve, you are now ready to take your first step. However, the road towards the attainment of your goals is not as easy as it sounds. Goals and dreams can be overwhelming. Most of the time, people get discouraged just by merely thinking about them. If you already have a clear vision, yet are still confused on how to go about it, then the book The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson is for you. The book has powerful lessons that you can use as your first step towards success.

The Slight Edge Philosophy talks about how simple everyday choices can lead to massive success and happiness. It is not about the big decisions but rather the small ones that create powerful results in all areas in life. This is the reason why diets don’t work. This is also the reason why many famous movie stars and athletes and lottery winners go broke after some time despite receiving millions of dollars.

Lessons From The Slight Edge

Here are some excerpts from the The Slight Edge that contain powerful lessons that you can use on you journey towards success:

1. You have complete control over the direction that the rest of your life takes.

You are a product of your decisions. Where you are and who you are right now is a result of all the decisions that you have made in the past. Your success is all because of you. In the same way, you are also miserable not because of anyone else but because of you. It is not the fault of your parents, partner, boss, government nor anyone else for that matter. Thus, you need to take control of your life. Your future happiness and success all depends on you alone.

2. Your philosophy creates your attitudes, which create your actions, which create your results, which create your life.

Your philosophy is how you look at life. The decisions that you make everyday are largely influenced by the way you look at things. And soon, this will manifest itself in your life. If you think the world is beautiful, then your life will also be beautiful. If you look at life negatively, then your life will be miserable. In short, what you focus on expands. So, what do you focus on?

3. Simple daily disciplines – little productive actions, repeated consistently over time – add up to the difference between failure and success.

Our success or failure is the result of simple everyday choices that seem harmless, but taken together over time will lead to failure or success in the future. For example, you go to a restaurant and you order soda instead of water. It is harmless, right? But if you do this each time you go out and you have been doing it for decades, soon you will have health problems. You don’t get sick just by drinking a can of soda, it is the accumulation of all those cans of sodas that you have been drinking for decades that made you sick. This is true not just with health but also in relationships, career, money and all other aspects in life.

4. People don’t consistently do those simple things for three reasons:

a) While they are easy to do, they are also easy not to do;

b) You don’t see any results at first;

c) They seem insignificant, like they don’t matter. But they do.

All of us are capable of doing little things to become successful but the problem is we don’t do it. It is not because it is hard but because it is easy not to do. All our daily, hourly and even minute choices, no matter how small, will all lead to our success or failure in that particular aspect in life.

So if you want to do good in one aspect of your life, think about the little things that you can do each day towards the attainment of that goal. For example, if you want your marriage to last; ask yourself, what small thing can you do for your spouse each day? It can be a kiss, a hug, a text message, help in the household chores, etc. The point is it needs to be consistent every day.

5. No genuine success in life is instant. Life is not a clickable link.

Success takes time. In this day and age, people are used to getting what they want in an instant that patience is no longer a virtue that everyone has. That is the reason why many people fall prey to ‘get-rich-quick scams’. True success involves consistent daily actions repeated over time. First you plant, then cultivate and then you harvest. That is the natural progression of things.

6. Success does not lead to happiness, it’s the other way around: more happiness creates more success.

Have you heard people saying “I’ll be happy once I’m rich” or “I’ll be happy once I’m married to that person”? What these people failed to understand is that happiness comes first. If you cannot be happy with the blessings that you have right now, you can’t be happy once you have more in the future. Why do you think many famous, powerful and rich individuals died of overdose from drugs and alcohol or committed suicide despite the fact of having it all? Happiness is not something that you chase. It is a state of mind and sense of well-being. It is the feeling of being grateful for the moment.

7. Greater success also creates a greater responsibility to share that success to others.

Your success is not just for you alone. It is for you to share your blessings with others. The more you share, the more blessings will come your way. Think about it, if you can help one person, you are sending a positive signal to the world. The person that you helped will be inspired to help another one too. This is what you call the ripple effect.

8. Greatness is not something predetermined, predestined or carved into your fate by forces beyond your control. Greatness is always in the moment of decision.

You have what it takes to succeed. All the great people out there are not great because they are destined to be great. They are great because they choose to be great. You are no exception. Make the decision to be great.

Are you ready for your metamorphosis? Read the book if you want to learn more practical lessons from the Slight Edge Philosophy, your first step towards success and happiness.

First published in Pinoy Smart Living 10.05.2019

Feb

2021

100 Must Have Pieces Every Woman Should Own

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Have you heard of the saying that ‘a girl can never have enough clothes and shoes’? Yes, it’s true. There are women who have many clothes yet still complain of having nothing to wear. Well, there is nothing wrong with having too many especially if one can afford it. After all, every woman deserves to feel beautiful. If you are on a budget, you can actually do well with just a few basic must-have items. But if you have money to spare; fashion journalist Nina Garcia, editor-in-chief of Elle Fashion Magazine and judge of TV show Project Runway released a book entitled The One Hundred. It is the ultimate guide book that lists 100 must have pieces every woman should own.

Here is Nina Garcia’s fashion must have list.

Accessories

Aviators
Belts
Brooches
Fishnets
Gentleman’s Hat
Gloves
Nail Polish
Perfume
Red Lipstick
Silk Scarf
Sunhat
Vintage
Watches
Wayfarers

Bags

Clutch Bag
Exotic Skin Bag
Hobo Bag
Investment Bag
Luggage
Tote Bag

Clothing

A-Line Dress
Animal print (can either be a full outfit or accessories)
Bkini
Black Opaque Tights
Evening Gown
Fur
Jeans
Kaftan
Khakis
Leather Trousers
Lingerie
Little Black Dress
Little White Dress
Man’s White Shirt
Knit
Old Concert T-shirt
One-piece Swimsuit
Pyjamas
Pencil Skirt
Perfect White T-shirt
Polo Shirt
Pucci
Push-up Bra
Robe
Sarong
Spanx
Striped Sailor Shirt
Suit
Underwear
Wide-leg Trousers
Wrap Dresses

Coats/Jackets

Blazer
Boyfriend Cardigan (can be stolen from a man’s closet)
Cable-Knit Sweater
Camel Coat
Cape
Cashmere Sweater
Denim Jacket
Motorcycle Jacket
Pea Coat
Safari Jacket
Trenchcoat
Tuxedo Jacket
Zip-front Hoodies

Footwear

Ankle Boots
Ballet Flats
Converse Trainers
Cowboy Boots
Driving Shoes
Espadrilles
Harness Boots
Havianas
Slippers
Knee-high Boots
Mary Janes
Moccasins
Sandals
Stilettos
Vans
Wellington Boots

Jewelries

Bangles
Charm Bracelet
Cocktail Ring
Cuff Jewelry
Diamond Studs
Hoop Earrings
Pearl Necklace
Signet Ring
Statement Necklace
Turquoise and Coral Jewelry

Other Items

Cellphone (originally listed as Blackberry when it was published in 2008)
Champagne (ok so this is not a fashion item. but she suggested to always have a bottle ready in case of a celebration)
Cosmetics Bag
Ipod
Jewelry pouch
Mad money (spare notes kept in a secret pocket)
Monogrammed Stationary
Umbrella
Valid Passport
Yoga Gear

How many do you own? Do you agree with her list?

Feature Image by Image by Mary Black from Pixabay.

Nov

2020

Books That Will Change The Way You Look at Things

Reading Time: 6 minutes

When was the last time you ever read a book? Did you know that books are good for your mental health? It strengthens the brain, improves your memory and makes you smarter. Books also reduces stress and alleviates depression. They can take you to a world of adventure and imagination. They can also contribute to your success and wealth. But most importantly, books can shift your entire perspective in life. The ability to look at things from another person’s point of view is an important life skill that we need in order to live life to the fullest. Here is a list of books that will help change the way you look at things.

Books That Will Change the Way You Look at Things:

1. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

If you find yourself lost in life, then you should read this book. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is a novel about a shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from one place to the other in search of a treasure. Although it is just a simple story, The Alchemist is full of valuable lessons that can be applied in real life. Rather than following the dictates of society, the book focuses on the individual. It is all about following your dreams and passion and listening to the signs of the universe. When you truly want something, the universe will send you people, things and circumstances that can help you achieve your goals. You just need to be conscious and aware of all the signs that the universe is sending your way.

When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.
-Paolo Coelho

The book will change the way you look at things in a way that you will have the courage to pursue the things that you want. You will also learn to open yourself up to signs that the universe is sending you. You will learn to listen to your intuition. You will also learn to appreciate the little things in life.

2. The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines into Massive Success and Happiness by Jeff Olson

Do you want to be successful but you don’t know what to do or where to start? Then, The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson is for you. Jeff Olson talks about the way to massive success and happiness. Contrary to popular belief, the path to success is not some rocket science. Neither it is one big leap or one successful deal or breakthrough. Rather, the key to success lies on all the little things that you do daily.

Simple daily disciplines – little productive action, repeated consistently over time – add up to the difference between failure and success.
– Jeff Olson

Through lessons learned in The Slight Edge, you will begin to become aware of all the minor decisions that you do in life. For example, you want to drink a can of soda. It is harmless, right? But you will now be aware that by doing this on a daily basis, you are putting your health at risk. So, you will begin to question your choice of drink, and maybe opt for something healthier like water, perhaps. That’s the Slight Edge philosophy. It will change you in a way that you will become conscious of all the little things that you do daily.

lessons from The Slight Edge: Your First Step Towards Success

3. Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Are you searching for happiness? Where can you find happiness? Most people search for happiness in wealth, success, fame, fortune or in other people only to find out it is not there. According to psychology professor Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, happiness can be found in the total absorption or optimal experience in the present moment. For him, happiness is not a destination or an end goal. Rather, happiness is a state of joy and creativity. You are so absorbed in the moment that all the problems and worries disappear in that particular experience. The author calls this state the “flow”. The good thing about it is that we don’t need to wait for that certain moment to happen, we have the power to actually make it happen. Thus, it is possible to turn even the mundane everyday activities such as doing chores into a “flow”.

The happiest people spend much time in a state of flow – the state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter; the experience itself is so enjoyable that people will do it even at great cost, for the sheer sake of doing it.
– Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Through Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, you will learn that you can be happy anytime. You don’t need to wait for big things to happen in your life to be happy. You can be happy right now wherever you are in your life. You will also learn that happiness cannot be found outside, rather it is within you.

4. Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

Another book that will change the way you look at things is Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. Have you ever wondered why you seemed to be stuck in your financial life despite having worked hard all your life? in this book, Kiyosaki talks about his two dads, his rich dad and his poor dad and how the two dads shaped his thoughts about money. Kiyosaki emphasized that difference between the rich mindset and the poor mindset. Wealth is not about how high your education is or the type of work that you do. Neither it is all about the amount of income that you earn. Rather, wealth is about how you manage your money. It all about what you do with the money that you earn.

Rich people acquire assets. The poor and middle class acquire liabilities that they think are assets.
-Robert Kiyosaki

This book will teach you the importance of financial literacy. Your perspective about money will totally change. You will understand that having a high-paying job is not enough. You also need to have a clear understanding on the difference between an asset and liability in order become wealthy. If not, you will find yourself struggling for money all your life despite your hard work.

5. Awaken the Giant Within – Tony Robbins

Are you overwhelmed by your problems right now? Do you focus on your problems rather than the solutions to your problems? Do you blame others for all the bad things that happened your way? If you want to change all these negative traits, then Awaken the Giant Within from Tony Robbins is the perfect book for you. This book will force you to wake up and take control of your life once and for all. The change should start with the mind, your values, belief system and standards.

It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.
– Tony Robbins

Rather than focusing on problems and all the negative feelings surrounding that problem, Robbins encouraged the readers to focus on the goals instead. By shifting the focus, it is easier to make decisions that will create the results that you desire. Destiny is a result of all the decisions that you have made. Through this book, you will realize that you are the author of your life. You are where you are right now because of all the decisions that you made in the past. You have the power to create your own destiny.

There are many other books that will change the way you look at things. The question is, are you ready to take on the challenge? Discover a whole new world by reading some books that will change the way you look at things.

How about you? What book or books have your read that changed the way you look at things?

Feature Image by Nino Care from Pixabay Images.

Jul

2020

Valuable Life Lessons from The Alchemist

Reading Time: 7 minutes

Feeling lost in life? Then, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is for you. One of the best-selling books of all time, the Alchemist is about the story of a young shepherd boy, Santiago and his quest to find treasures in the pyramids. The story is more than just your typical fiction stories. It is a philosophical book that will give you a better understanding of what life truly is all about. It is about listening to your heart, chasing your dreams and pursuing your destiny. There are so many powerful and valuable life lessons from The Alchemist that every person should read this book at least once in their life.

Here are 10 Valuable Life Lessons I’ve learned The Alchemist.

1. Life is Continuous Learning

Life is a continuous learning process. We can only grow us a person if we broaden our horizon and discover new things. Santiago knew this. Although a shepherd boy, Santiago loves to read books. He was able to dream of faraway places because he read about them.

Santiago also listens and seeks advice from people who are smarter than him. Throughout his journey, he met people along the way that served as his mentors – the king, the merchant, the Englishman and the alchemist.

Sadly, many people stopped learning after school. That is the reason why they got stuck in life. Others are too proud to ask advice from others. They think they know everything. The moment you think that you know everything is the start of your downfall.

The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
– Socrates

Santiago also learns from experience. His quest for the treasure was not smooth sailing. He made mistakes along the way but he learned from them.

There are so many valuable lessons to be learned throughout your life’s journey. Master the lesson. If you think that you have the same problem over and over again, that is because you have not learned the lesson yet. This applies in all aspects of your life whether it be your finances, career, health and even your relationships. Learn the lesson from past events, apply it and move on.

2. Always Look at the Bright Side

Santiago always find the good things in a bad situation no matter how big or small it is. Instead of complaining about how he had to carry the weight of his jacket in the heat of the sun, he remembered how that jacket kept him warm during winter nights. Likewise, he could have wallowed in self-pity when he lost everything in Africa; but he chose to change his perspective. Instead of looking at himself as a victim, he looked at himself as an adventurer in a foreign country.

In both cases, notice that both situations can be viewed negatively. But Santiago chose to look at them differently. Instead of of the negative, he looked for the positive. It is all about the mindset.

3. Follow your Dreams

Ever since Santiago was a child, he wanted to travel the world. His parents wanted him to become a priest. Rather than adhering to his parents’ wishes, he summoned enough courage to talk to his dad to tell him that he wants to do something else in life. Instead of becoming a priest, Santiago decided to become a shepherd so he can travel.

That’s the problem with most of us. We become victims of other people’s definition of success. We follow a different path because that is what our family and society expected from us. As a result, we lost track of our destiny. What used to be very clear when we were young seems to be impossible when we grow up.

The thing is no matter how successful we become with our chosen path, there will always be a feeling of emptiness. You will never be truly happy if you are not doing your purpose in life. Destiny is what you always want to accomplish. If you feel that something is lacking despite having everything, that is life’s way of telling you that you are not doing what you were born to do.

Follow your passion. Wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure. Pursue your destiny if you don’t want to spend the rest of your life with regret.

4. Give 10 Percent

Giving a tenth of your income to others is a form of gratitude to God for all the blessings that we have received. We have an obligation to share a portion of what we have. The only way for us to receive more blessings is when we learn to give first. Don’t promise to give what you don’t have yet. If it is hard for you to give when you have little, it will be harder to share when you have more. Give 10% of what you have right now.

5. The Simplest Things in Life are the Most Extraordinary

The secret to happiness is to be able to appreciate the beauty of your day to day life. It is seeing the wonders of the world and the beauty of the little things that we normally take for granted like the flowers, the scenery and the people around us.

Happiness is never about the destination but rather it is about enjoying the journey. Each day matters. Every second counts. Learn to love everyday. Show the people around you how much you care. It’s all about mindfulness.

Towards the end of our life, the simple things like the time we spend with our family is what truly matters. True happiness boils down to the quality of our relationship with others. It is best that you cherish every moment while you still can.

6. Negative Things Happen in Life Because They Prepare our Spirit and our Will

Bad things happen to everyone, even to good people. These things happen not because we are being punished but because they are necessary for our growth. The pain that we experience in our lives actually prepares our spirit and our will in realising our destiny.

The road to the fulfilment of our dreams is never easy. There will be bumps along the way. Sometimes, we will be forced to make detours. We need to make some adjustments but the destination remains the same. The important thing is to keep on going forward. Once we have succeeded in overcoming life’s challenges, we become better persons.

You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever.
– Steve Jobs

The roadblocks that we will encounter are all part of a master plan. They all happened for a reason. It is difficult to understand at the moment but everything will make sense once you have found your treasure.

7. When you Want Something, All the Universe Conspires in Helping you Achieve it

Have you heard of The Secret? The Secret is actually the Law of Attraction. It states that if you really want something and you focus your thoughts on that, the universe will give it to you.

This belief system has been mentioned several times throughout the book, that there is a force out there that guides us. Whether you call it God, the Universe or the Soul of the World; that force is always nearby especially to those who wants to realise their destinies.

We should learn to recognise the omens or the signs and follow them. Sometimes, it appears as a solution or an idea. Sometimes, it presents itself as a direct message from somebody whom you are having a conversation with. Remember, there is no such thing as coincidence. There is a reason why you bumped into an old friend or why you are reading this article right now. We have to listen to what the universe is telling us. We also need to listen inward to our intuition.

In the same way, that if you think that the world is out there to get you, negative things will start happening your way. Thus, you have to be careful of what you think and what you say. In the story, when the monk told the alchemist that his payment goes well beyond his generosity; the alchemist quickly told the monk not to say it because life is listening. What the alchemist meant was that the universe responds to thoughts; thus, the monk might receive less next time.

8. Persistence is the Key

The road to our destinies is never easy. Only those who are persistent will be successful.

There were numerous times when Santiago could have just given up, when he lost everything in Africa, when he had enough money to go back to Andalusia after working for the merchant or when he met Fatima in the desert oasis; but still he persevered.

Your treasure can only be uncovered after a series of tests. The closer you get to your dreams, the harder it will become. It takes a lot of courage, patience and persistence to finally be able to achieve your destiny.

9. Success Happens Outside your Comfort Zone

Santiago was already traveling as a shepherd boy but he sold his flock of sheep to go to Africa. After a year in Africa, he already earned enough money to either stay there or to go back to Andalusia but he chose to go to the desert. While in the desert oasis, Santiago had met the love of his life and earned the respect of the community but still, he opted to continue his quest for the treasure.

In all three scenarios, Santiago was already successful and comfortable with his life but he gave them all up to continue his journey and pursue his destiny. Just what do you think would have happened in the story if he decided to stay in his comfort zone. Do you think, he would have found his treasure?

In reality, many people don’t like change or are scared of change. As much as we want to pursue our dreams, we are more scared of disappointment. We are scared that we might lose everything that we have worked for if we are going to start anew. We would rather stay in our comfort zone. This is the reason why people get stuck in life whether it is a bad relationship or a job that they don’t like. Fear is one of the biggest obstacles that is keeping us from achieving our dreams.

10. Everyone has His Own Destiny

If a person is successful in one area, it does not mean that you too will be successful in that same area. It is because each person has his own destiny to fulfil. His way is not the same as yours. So, don’t compare yourself with others.

No matter who we are, everyone has a central role to play in the history of the world. Each one of us is unique. Embrace your uniqueness. As the Englishman said, we all can’t become alchemist, otherwise, gold will lose its value.

Good luck on your journey and I hope you find your treasure!

First published in Pinoy Smart Living on 08.24.2018

Feature Image from Free Image and mbll from Pixabay Images.