future

A Fresh Start

A Fresh Start

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New Year means a new beginning. It is the time to reflect on the previous year.  It is also the perfect time to start life anew.  Start the year by taking a few moments to recall the events of the previous year. Sit in a quiet place. Make yourself comfortable. As you look back, ask yourself the following questions:

  • What was the highlight of the year?
  • When were you the happiest?
  • What was your biggest struggle?
  • How were you able to overcome it?
  • What lessons did you learn from the experience?
  • Are you happy with where you are in your life right now?

New Year, New Beginning

After looking back, it is now time to look ahead. The past is the past. You can no longer change the events of the past but your future is still in your hands. The New Year is the perfect opportunity for you to do things differently. It is the time for a fresh start.  This year marks the beginning of a new decade. Set some goals in order to change or improve certain aspects of your life for the coming year and the years ahead.

Now, start visualizing. Success always starts with a vision. See yourself in the future.

  • What do you want to accomplish this year?
  • How do you see yourself in 5 years? How about in 10 years?
  • What would your ideal life look like?
  • What hobbies would you be pursuing?
  • Is there anything that you want to change or improve in your life? 
  • What do you need to achieve in order for you to consider yourself a success?

Start in redesigning the life that you want. Together, let’s recreate a better, happier, healthier and wealthier life.

Click here to get a copy of the A Fresh Start worksheet.

Click here to watch the video.


First published 01.03.2020

Posted by A.L. Jonas in Spiritual, 0 comments
Reset Your Life Challenge

Reset Your Life Challenge

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Are you happy and content about where you are in your life right now? What aspect of your life do you want to improve? What dimension of your overall wellness do you wish to become better? If you are having problems right now, the good news is that you can actually reset your life or just a specific aspect of your life but you must be willing to make some changes. It won’t be possible if you keep on doing the same things over and over again. So, are you willing to take the reset your life challenge?

The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.

– Albert Einstein

1. Assessment

To improve on any aspect of your life, the first step is assessment. Find out where you are right now in terms of your physical health, emotions, finances, relationships or any other aspect of your life. The only way to go forward is to honestly assess your current state.

2. Be responsible

You are where you are right now because of you alone. You are having problems with your physical health because you have not been taking care of your body. A healthy immune system can fight off any diseases or viruses. Your finances are in a mess because you have not been taking care of them. It is the same in every aspect of your life that is failing. It is not because of your parents, your boss, the government or anything. It is all a product of all the decisions you have made in the past. So, stop blaming others. Instead, be responsible for your life. Stop blaming others. The sooner you will accept responsibility for your life, the sooner you will be able to take control of your future.

You are what you are today because of the choices you made in the past.

– Jim Rohn

3. Visualization

The next step is to figure out where you want to go. How do you see yourself in the future? What is your ideal life? Visualize yourself living that ideal life. You don’t have to worry about whether it is possible or not. That is what dreams are for. In fact, the bigger the dream, the better. It helps to start by creating your own bucket list.

4. Creation of Goals

Now, it is time to create a bridge between your present life and your ideal life. The only way to do that is to make a connection between the past and the present through goal formation. Goals are supposed to be SMART. That’s the only way to achieve them.

5. Launch

Once you have concrete plans, the next thing to do is launch. The sooner you implement your plans, the sooner you can achieve that better life. What are you waiting for? Start now and look forward to a better tomorrow. When the clock strikes zero o’clock later, it is a promise of not just a new day but a new life.

6.Persevere

Once you start, learn to persevere. Perseverance means having the determination to continue despite all the obstacles and challenges that come your way. Don’t quit. Never give up.

Goodluck!


Feauture Photo by David Alberto Carmona Coto from Pexels

Posted by A.L. Jonas in Spiritual, 0 comments
Spring Day

Spring Day

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Spring is the season of new beginnings. It is in spring that flowers bloom, animals awake and birds start to chirp. No wonder spring has always been associated with hope. The signs of new life popping in every corner is proof that the dreary cold and winter days are finally over. In the same way that hope can actively transport an individual from darkness to light. Hope gives the promise that someday, circumstances will get better. That is why people look forward to that first spring day.

Passing by the edge of the cold winter, until the days of spring, until the days of flower blossoms. Please stay, please stay there a little longer.

– BTS, Spring Day

In times like this, when everything seems to be gloomy; more than ever we need to hold on to the power of hope in our lives. Don’t give up. Believe that one day, all this will be over. Soon, spring will come. Someday, we are all going to look back to this day and maybe understand why we had to go through such difficulty in our lives. Thus, is it important to learn the lessons and move on in life. Understand that life goes on. Hopefully, we can all come out of this as better, happier, healthier and wealthier human beings.

So, turn your focus from the negative to the positive. Visualize what your spring day is going to be like. What do you want your future to be like?

That is one good thing about this world…There are always sure to be more springs.

– L.M. Montgomery


Feature Image by Pixabay.

Posted by A.L. Jonas in Spiritual, 0 comments
Life Goes On

Life Goes On

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The year 2020 has been tough. But no matter how tough it has been, you were able to survive it all. So, congratulations! You made it at this point. It is now 2021. The New Year signifies new beginnings. Life cannot remain in a standstill. At some point, people need to move on and accept that life goes on.

Challenges are part of life. Even without this pandemic, every human being will go through challenges in their lives. What is important is how individuals will react to challenges that will come their way. It may sound cliche but everything happens for a reason. Learn the lesson and move on. That is the essence of life.

The COVID-19 pandemic literally caused the world to a standstill. the world which we are used to ceases to exist. Suddenly, we have no choice but to adapt to the new normal. It happened in the blink of an eye that no one was prepared for it. But now that it has been months since the start of the pandemic, people need to learn the lessons from COVID-19 and move on. There is no point resisting the new norm. It will only cause stress and more problems. Unfortunately for us, it will be difficult to go back to the world that we were used to. So, there is nothing left to do but to embrace change.

Life Goes On is a promise of a better tomorrow. We don’t know when it will come but it will come. One day, all these things will remain just a distant memory.

Close your eyes for a moment. Hold my hand to the future, let’s run away. Like an echo in the forest, the day will come back again as if nothing happened.

BTS, Life Goes On

New Beginnings

The New Year is the perfect time to redesign our life through a bucket list. The goals that we had before may no longer be applicable in the new normal. So, take this time to reflect on what it is that you really want in life. Visualize your ideal life. Unleash the genius within you. It is okay to start from scratch. Just believe in yourself. Believe that you have the power to create your reality. You can be happy, healthy and wealthy. It is all up to you. Listen to your heart.

No matter what happens, or how bad it seems today. life goes on, and it will be better tomorrow.

Maya Angelou

Let’s all work for a better 2021. Happy New Year!

Posted by A.L. Jonas in Spiritual, 0 comments
Fun Things You Can Do When You Are Stuck at Home

Fun Things You Can Do When You Are Stuck at Home

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Most countries around the world have implemented some form of lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Lockdown is the now the new normal. While some places are already beginning to ease restrictions, some are still extended while others are shut down again because of fear for a second wave. If you are one of those people who still do not have the liberty to go out of the house, here are some fun activities that you can do to keep your boredom at bay when you are stuck at home:

1.Binge-watch a TV Series

In normal times, binge-watching is bad because it is unhealthy and unproductive but during these extra-ordinary times, it can be good especially if you are watching shows that you can learn from or increase your emotional intelligence. You can also make it a family activity by watching a marathon of movies that you can enjoy with the kids.

2.Learn a New Language

Learning a new language does not only give you a competitive edge in your career, it is also beneficial to your mental health. It boosts brain power. It improves your memory. Learning a new language also sharpens your mind. It can also help boosts your confidence. In addition, it can help you understand movies or dramas without reading subtitles especially if you are a fan of foreign shows like Korean dramas.

3.Plan Your Next Vacation

In a study that was published in the journal Applied Research in Quality of Life, it shows that a great proportion of people’s happiness comes from planning the next vacation. It is largely due to the anticipation of relaxing, going on a holiday and travelling to a different place. 

So, what are you waiting for? List down your travel goals and start planning for your next vacation!

4.Play Board Games with your Family

While no one can argue with the benefits of technology, sometimes good old fashioned board games is a welcome change. Instead of individual family members holding their different gadgets, why not bond together as a family and enjoy quality time playing with your parents, children or siblings. For sure, it will be fun. It also encourages open communication among family members. You can play board games like Monopoly, Scrabble, Clue, Life, Pictionary, Battleship and Cranium.

5.Read Books

Reading books is good for you. It improves your brain function. Through reading, you will be able to increase your knowledge. and broaden your vocabulary. It makes you smarter, improves your memory and enhances your level of concentration. In addition, reading also reduces stress. It also keeps you entertained. The advantages are simply too many.

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.

Dr. Seuss

6.Redecorate your Home

The way your home looks have a great effect on your mood. A home that is clean, well-organized and has the right atmosphere can help get rid of anxiety and stress. You can start by decluttering and disposing things that you no longer need.

7.Sleep

In this modern world, a lot of people in the urban areas are caught with the hustle and bustle of city life that most are not getting the required hours of sleep that the body needs. Take this rare opportunity to get enough sleep. Remember that sleep is a vital factor in boosting your immune system. Your immune system is your best defence against diseases.

8.Start a Group Video Conference Call with your Friends

Social distancing does not necessarily mean breaking up friendships. While it may take a long time before you can party and go out with friends again, you can still connect with everyone through video chats. There are many free platforms that you can use like Facetime, Google Hang-out, Facebook Messenger, Skype, Viber, WhatsUp, Zoom and many others.

9.Start a New Hobby

Is there something that you really wanted to do when you were still a kid? Something that you have been putting off simply because you neither have the time nor money to do so. Now is the time to start doing that. There are many indoor hobbies that you can do. You can knit, weave, sew, paint, quilt, cross stitch, origami, make jewelries, write poetry, make a scrapbook, garden etc.   

A hobby helps you relax. It allows you to take a break from all the stress and just simply enjoy the moment. It is good for your mental and emotional health.

10. Visualize your Future

Success starts with a vision. When you visualize, you imagine things. You see yourself in the future in vivid details living the life that you want to live. The more specific your imagination will take you, the better it is. By doing so, you are already increasing the likelihood of success. 

Visualization is fun. It gives you something to look forward to. It also helps you rise above the storm and challenges in life because it helps focus your energy on the desired outcome rather than the problem. It is all about looking into the future rather than being depressed about the present.

If there is anything that you wish to add, please feel free to do so. Your inputs will help a lot of people go through these hard times.


Feature Image by Posted by A.L. Jonas in Intellectual, 0 comments

30-Day Just Do It Challenge

30-Day Just Do It Challenge

Reading Time: 3 minutes

If you want to change your life for the better, you need to start implementing some changes now. Don’t wait until tomorrow or next year to start making some adjustments. Success does not happen overnight. It is a product of all the little things that you do daily. The sooner you start making some changes. the sooner you will be able to achieve everything that your heart desires. Start now! Dare yourself to do the 30-Day Just Do It Challenge!

Before you begin, you need to figure out what it is that you want. Start by creating a bucket list. It is a list of all the things that you want to accomplish and do in life. From the list, identify your priorities through the 5/25 Rule Challenge.

Once you have identified your priorities, it is now time to create your very own 30-day challenge. All of us have different goals and priorities. Your 30-day challenge should focus on what is important to you and on what particular area of your life that you want to improve first. It could be about your health, your relationship, your spiritual life, your career, your finances, etc. It all depends on you.

You need to focus. You need to start on one specific area of your life first. It would be difficult if you are trying to accomplish so many things at once. Focus on a single goal. Do not be destructed by other things. You also need to do it for 30 consecutive days. As a general rule, it takes a minimum of 21 straight days for something to become a habit. However, not all individuals are the same. Other people may take longer.

Here are example 30-day challenges that you can apply in some areas of your life:

Health and Beauty

During this pandemic, we have learned that health is the most important thing in life. Thus, your priority should always be how to keep yourself healthy and follow the rules to combat diseases. Your 30-day challenge could be:

  • Get at least 8 hours of sleep a day
  • Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water each day
  • Do exercise for at least 30 minutes a day.
  • Eat a balanced diet.
  • Clean face and put moisturizer before going to sleep.

Home and Living

A clean and organized environment is a necessary component of your overall wellness. Now that you finally have the time to stay at home, take this opportunity to declutter and clean your surroundings. Your 30-day challenge can include:

Money

Maybe you want to save for an emergency fund or for your retirement fund.Whatever your money goal, now is the perfect time to start setting financial goals for a better tomorrow. Here are sample challenges for financial improvement:

People and Relationships

Your relationship with yourself is important. It is the basis of your relationship with others. Equally important is your relationship with other people. A happy and healthy relationship with oneself and others are vital to our mental and emotional well-being. Here are some things that you can do to improve this aspect of your life.

  • Start a gratitude journal.
  • Call a friend or family member that you have not been in touch for so long.
  • Say “I love you” to people who are dear to you, “thank you”to those who have always been there for you and “I am sorry” to people whom you have offended.

Your future begins today so act now.


Feature Image by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay Images

Posted by A.L. Jonas in Intellectual, 0 comments
Your Future Begins Today

Your Future Begins Today

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Your future begins today.

Who you are tomorrow begins with what you do today.

– Tim Fargo

Dreaming of a better tomorrow? Then, start doing things today. Don’t wait until tomorrow to get things done. Remember that every little thing you do today will affect your life in the future. If you are not doing something towards your goal, how do you expect to get there in the first place?

Success is the sum of all the little things that you do consistently daily.

It is so easy to procrastinate. However, each day you waste will only delay your success. So, stop wasting your days.

Start with a vision. You will not be able to get anywhere if you don’t have a clear idea on where you want to go in the first place. Once you are clear with what you want, write them down and create your own bucket list. Your list will serve as your daily guide. It will help you make better decisions in life. It will also help you stay on track towards achieving your goals.

Remember also that there is a season for everything. Don’t expect immediate results. You don’t plant seeds today and expect to harvest tomorrow. Everything takes time. You need patience and perseverance to get to your goals. 

          Success takes time. Keep Going. – Neil Patel

Join us this month as we guide you in redesigning your life for a better tomorrow starting today. 


Edited version. First published in Pinoy Smart Living on 11.30.2018

Feature Image by Siggy Nowak from Pixabay Images 

Posted by A.L. Jonas in Intellectual, 0 comments