life experience

Nov

2021

You Only Live Once So Make It Count

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Do you often use the phrase “You only live once!” or YOLO? The phrase “You only live once!” is often used in association with trying or doing something risky. In the positive sense, it means to enjoy the present moment and to live life to the fullest. On the other hand, some people use the same phrase to mean embracing risky behavior or even dangerous behavior.

YOLO is a popular expression among the younger generation and it is quite overused and misused. It has applied to petty decisions instead of to major, life-changing decisions. Some people use the phrase mostly as an expression of their willingness to try out something new and fun. What does this phrase mean for you?

YOLO, you only live once
The battle cry of a generation
This life is a precious gift
So don’t get too crazy
It’s not worth the risk
Yeah
Lonely Island feat. Adam Levine and Kendrick Lamarr – YOLO

The phrase is close in meaning to “carpe diem”, a Latin phrase meaning “seize the day.” It means to grab opportunities when they come because it may not come again. It also implies that opportunities are fleeting and that life is ever changing; so you should take whatever opportunities are presented to you each day. In this context, it implies that one should have the courage to try something out, to take some risks, because it is there for you to take. However, this does not mean that you should take risks just because the chance presented itself. You should never take risks without considering the consequences.

Is it worth the risk?

A prerequisite of taking chances or risks; is to first validate that they are opportunities worth grabbing or risks worth taking. This will of course depend on what your mindset and outlook in life is. Needless to say, you should grab only the opportunities and take the risks that could be beneficial to you at this time or at some point in time. This may seem like a selfish approach, but it is also a safer method.

Some of the risks you take may be because you want to try something new; or because you want to overcome your fear. On a serious note; you might choose to take a risk in order to change your current circumstances. Each person has their own decision-making process; their own considerations to weigh. However, everyone who decides to take a risk must has the courage to take the challenge.

You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.
Mae West

Do you have the courage?

Rewards are not always guaranteed when you take risks. Thus, those who take risks should be brave enough to suffer the consequences of failure and learn the lesson. All of us are willing to take risks not just for ourselves but for our loved ones too. Some risks become fun memories or inspiring stories when we look back at them, even if we ended up failing. While others put their everything on the line and end up enjoying the rewards of their risks. Whatever type of risk you take; you should have the courage to see it through to the end, whether you end up failing or victorious.

Do you understand the risk?

We often think: you only live once so take the chance and luck may smile at you. Those who get rewarded for taking risks are not always the lucky ones. Most of them worked hard in different areas of their lives. They continued to learn and practice what they needed to and they maintained good relationships with their colleagues. They made a habit of honing their skills and kept kept believing in themselves and their goals. As a result, they were well-informed and ready to make the best choice when it came to making the risky decision. If it’s clear to you what you can lose and what you can gain; then you know whether to take the risk or not.

Feature Image: Original Photo by nine koepfer on Unsplash.

Nov

2021

No Need to Follow Fashion Trends

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Are you someone who always wants to be with the “in” crowd? Are you always on the look out for what’s new in fashion? Do you fear being left out-of-style? The desire to be always in style with the people around you can be bad for you if it has become an unhealthy obsession. Being in-style maybe a sign that you are trying to keep up with what is considered beautiful. Fortunately, our concept of what is beautiful has transcended just physical appearance. Fashion concepts have also been influenced by this development. Here are some reasons why there is no need to follow fashion trends.

Trends Come and Go

Fashion trends always come and go. Most trends are short-lived. Some may even serve merely as a marketing tool so they have a definite duration. Some fashion pieces are produced as limited edition items. So if you and your friends keep following every fashion trend out there, pretty soon you will have accumulated a lot of clothes and accessories that you can’t use. In the end, you might have to spend more time decluttering your wardrobe than wearing anything in it. Having a fashion classic, such as a little black dress in your closet, is a better option than a whole closet of quick fashion pieces.

Major Money Leak

Having to purchase whatever is fashionable also means that you are creating a major money leak for yourself. With the number of fashion trends cropping up each month; no one will ever be able to buy all of them. You will also not have enough occasions to wear them to. You will just end up living beyond your means. Unless you are a celebrity, wearing an item only once is quite a waste of money. Chasing after fashion trends will not only ruin your budget but maybe your work and social schedules too. If you want to look chic and elegant; there are ways to look expensive on a budget.

You Lose Your Self

Being on-trend means that you don’t develop your own sense of style. Everyone has a fashion sense; whether it be comfy, utilitarian or you just love statement shirts or flower patterns. Maybe you have a collection of vintage belts or scarves that you haven’t worn yet because they are not in style. These are valuable items not just because they are classic fashion pieces but also because of their sentimental value. When you keep following fashion trends; you lose your own personal style.

Don’t be a slave to fashion. Chasing fashion trends is like trying to keep up with the Joneses. Yes, you only live once so go ahead and experiment for fun; but do so in a sensible way. Fashion should be an extension of your self expression. You should develop your own personal style. Your own style not only allows you to express your sense of fashion; it also makes you more memorable to the people you engage with. Remember that when you dress different, you think different. Having your own sense of style also means you can use the clothes you are comfortable wearing. If you have a closetful of vintage items that you would love to use; then create your own style and wear it proudly. Start with some basic closet must-haves and then work your way from there.

Feature Image: Original Photo by Tamara Bellis on Unsplash.

Nov

2021

What is Considered Beautiful?

Reading Time: 3 minutes

What is considered beautiful? There is no, one answer to this. Different cultures have different concepts and standards of beauty. In terms of personal beauty; the definition has changed with time. The good news is, we have accepted beauty beyond what we see on magazine covers and the models they use in these photos. Despite our differences, we do have a universal concept of what is beautiful all around us.

Nature’s Beauty

The beauty of nature is undeniable. We all know the pleasure of just watching the waves come and go on the shore; the pleasant warmth of the sun rise as we welcome the day; the nostalgic vibe of a sunset; and the alluring mystery of watching the night sky with its numerous stars. We always watch in awe at these wonders.

Artists have depicted nature’s beauty in its different phases. The coldness and tranquility of winter; the refreshing growth of spring; the warm and busy summer; and the calm, nostalgic autumn. We even have different ways to celebrate the coming and going of these phases. This is also why we are sometimes compelled to stop and smell the flowers, or take pictures.

In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.
– Aristotle

The Beauty of Life

Just like the coming and going of nature’s phases, we also recognize beauty in the different phases of our life’s journey. We celebrate both birth and death. We have our own rituals to recognize victory and defeat. Those we recognize as leaders and heroes, we confer with recognition; and the losers are given encouragement or are punished, accordingly. We know the beauty of having and maintaining good relationships. Although we become sad during tragedies; we also see the beauty of the human spirit to help others, to survive despite the odds, and to move on despite the setback.

The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.
– Helen Keller

The Beauty of Things

Material things also have their own allure. We usually consider shiny and cute things as beautiful to look at but also to have for ourselves. That is why we are in awe of fluffy toys and cute pets, pretty accessories and trinkets, just as much as we are of a shiny, new car. We collect things because we find them beautiful and attractive in some way. We are also attracted by limited edition or rare items. Owning one gives a feeling of being successful and special yourself. What things do you consider beautiful?

Inner Beauty

Today, we recognize that beauty is not just external but also internal. We know that beyond physical beauty; the beauty of a person’s personality, their character, quirks, traits and uniqueness are what’s more important. We recognize that not all beautiful souls reside in a beautiful or pretty face. It is the glow from within that makes one more beautiful in our eyes. Doesn’t a genuine smile from a stranger move you as much as watching a sun set?

Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.
– Khalil Gibran

As we observe all the beauty around us, we often forget to appreciate the beauty in ourselves. When you look in the mirror, do you see the beauty of your own smile? There is also beauty in the process of self-acceptance. How we look at the world is influenced by how we feel about ourselves. If we do not recognize our own beauty; then the world will look bleak and gray to us. If we know and feel that we are beautiful just by being who we are; then the world will be a more colorful and vibrant place.

Feature Image: Original Photo by Amy Treasure on Unsplash.

Nov

2021

Taking the Risk: Just Go For It

Reading Time: 3 minutes

All of us have experienced pain and challenges in life. Most of us have lost the attitude of “just go for it”. We’ve all learned the lesson of how to avoid pain and how not to take unnecessary risks. For some of us, our past experiences may have been too traumatic. As a result, we transformed from a flower ready to bloom into a shrinking flower unwilling to open our petals. However, taking risks does have its rewards. The trick is to be more in tune with yourself so you know when and what risks you can take. Sometimes, there is fun and satisfaction on the other side of fear.

Young people are admirable for their courage to take risks. They just go for it and do it. Although adults usually see their behavior as foolish; they are actually enjoying their experiences. They also recover quickly from any setbacks. Their actions may seem brash and irresponsible but older people envy them for being able to enjoy each moment of their life. When they want to do something; they just do it. We sometimes wish that we had their energy and enthusiasm for life. Most young people live by the motto: “You Only Live Once”, so do what you want to do. When we think of spontaneous adventures; we usually associate this experience with young people.

While we often describe young people as impulsive decision makers; they are actually more in tune with their self. They make spur-of-the-moment decisions based on their feelings at the moment even if it may make them seem fickle-minded. For most young people, the main reason for doing something is just for the fun of it. There may be negative consequences afterwards; but they had fun together while doing it. It also deepens their friendship.

Grown-ups can also do what they want to do, when they want to do it, with the people they like. In fact, we should be able to make better decisions on what risks to take because we have more life experience. In short, we are able to make informed and even planned risks. We can also be better prepared for the consequences if we fail.

We can’t go back to our teenage years but we can bring back our youthful enthusiasm for life and hone our risk-taking instincts. The first step is to practice taking small risks. With practice, we can be more confident in making major, risky life decisions when needed. Try being mindful about your own behavior and reactions. Just doing something different each day is a good start. The thrill of doing something for the first time, or after a long time, is always a good way to boost your enthusiasm.

Have the urge to appreciate some flowers? Just go for it. Stop and take time to smell the flowers. Take a moment to appreciate the smell of your morning coffee before diving into work. Is your commute getting boring? Maybe take a different route to go to work or back home and see how it makes you feel. A cute shirt caught your eye? Just go for it! Buy the shirt and observe the bounce in your step afterwards. Go on that sudden road trip you were invited to. Do you feel excited again? Say yes to the invite.

Making unusual decisions or risky decisions can feel scary and thrilling at the same time. You can call it gut instinct, intuition or a message from the Universe. The point is to follow the more pleasant feeling of excitement and thrill and see where it takes you. You might find even more wonderful experiences waiting for you on that different route to the office. This is also practicing how to be honest with yourself. It is an opportunity to choose what you really want instead of going with your usual reaction or behavior. While you are doing this experiment, it helps to do it with people you know and care about. They will be the first ones to notice if you have changed. They will also provide added guidance to ensure that you are not recklessly making your decisions.

Feature Image: Original Photo by Taylor Smith on Unsplash.

Oct

2021

The Best Investment You Can Make

Reading Time: 2 minutes

When we think about investment, we usually think about money. Having a lot of money can make life more comfortable and convenient. But there are some things in life that money can’t buy. These are the things you need to invest in so that you can enjoy life even if you lose your job or you lack money.

Your Health

We’ve all heard the saying “health is wealth”. Ensuring that you are in your best health is the most basic and the best investment you can make for your self. With good health, you will have the energy to do the things you want and need to do. This means that you can maximize your time in all your activities. Having good health also puts you into a more positive mindset. A healthy person is never too tired to give a smile, for example. So make sure to look after your health so you can be the best you, every day.

Personal Development

One of the best investment you can make is your own growth. Work on improving who you are. Strive to expand your knowledge and understanding in the different areas of your life. Be it through books, audiobooks, seminars or taking classes; put aside time to nurture your own personal development. Not only will this enhance your self-confidence; it will also allow you to be able to help and guide others. It will open up more opportunities for you in your career and social interactions. Investing in your personal development provides you with the resources and opportunities to reach your goals.

Your Dreams

Everyone has a dream. It is what motivates us to get up and work each day. Our dreams drive us to do what is needed so that we can enjoy what we want. As long as we have a dream; we always have hope for a brighter future. So invest in your dreams. Whether it starts with making time for a hobby; making that first call to enquire about a class or workshop, or to practice your basic skills so you can hone them. All dreams start with that one small step. So don’t hold yourself back. Unleash the genius in you little by little. Take that first step and keep moving forward.

Good Relationships

No man is an island. Everyone needs a good friend, a shoulder to cry on or a good listener to tell their dreams and fears to. This is why cultivating good relationships is one of the best investments you can make. When you have a good relationship with your family members; you are assured that you will always have a safe place to go home to. Whether you fail or succeed in your goals; there are always people who will love your for who you are. Being surrounded by supportive friends, gives you the courage to go after your dreams because you know someone always has your back. Good relationships gives us a sense of security.

Having money in the bank and good financial investments is always an advantage. But if you can’t enjoy your life because of bad health, feeling worthless or aimless, or not having friends; then you are a poor soul indeed.

Feature Image: Original Photo by Aleksandra Sapozhnikova on Unsplash.

Oct

2021

Who is The Best Person to Ask for Advice?

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Who is the best person to ask for advice? We always have things that we want to learn more about. Who to ask from will depend on what information you want to learn and your goals for asking. Doing your research can help you find the right people. Here are some ways to help you figure out who to ask and in what situations.

Discrete Advice

Discrete advice is what you need for personal matters or family-issues. Emotional issues can result in heated arguments and may strain family relationships. Get the opinion of family members who are not directly involved in the issue. They may also be able to help mediate the situation. You can also ask a trusted friend who can take a more objective perspective of the whole situation. This can also apply when you need to make personal decisions that involve going in favor of or going against specific options.

Counsel

If you need guidance on how to go about a difficult or unfamiliar situation, then you need someone to give you their counsel. Someone with a lot of experience or who has gone under the same situation before is who you should be looking for. This can be older family members, senior colleagues at work, or a friend of a friend who is working in the same industry as you. You can also utilize online forums and groups related to your industry or line of work to get advice on your specific issue.

Coaching

You will need a coach if your goal is to enhance yourself in a specific area of your life. For example, you will want to consult with a training coach if you want to develop a fitter body. you might need a swimming coach if you want to improve your swimming skills. An executive coach may be training you to improve your work skills. There are different kinds of coaches for different personal development needs.

Mentoring

People who want closer guidance to reach their goals will usually go into a mentoring program. A mentor will help guide you to your goals with information that will affect many different areas of your life. Your mentor may even aid in your career success by providing your opportunities to practice what you have learned. A good mentor may also help get you started on your project.

The best person to ask for advice will be different for every need. One person may be able to provide you different kinds of advice as well. For example, if you are having anxiety issues, then a doctor can provide you discrete advice while also serving as your counsel and coach to improve your health. Asking a professional or expert for advice is a good step but always try to get a second opinion so you can have a wider perspective on things.

The most important thing to remember is to be honest about what you need. Use your network of friends to find the right people to get information from. Be courteous when asking for help. Be open to the types of advice you get. Remember though that some people may be biased. The best approach is to ask a number of people and review all the information you received. Then make the best decision you can at the present situation.

Feature Image: Original Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash.

Oct

2021

Signs That You Need Professional Help For Your Anxiety

Reading Time: 2 minutes

All of us have our anxieties but it should not interrupt our daily life. If your worries and fears are bothering you too much; then see if you are exhibiting signs that you need professional help for your anxiety.

Anxiety and anxiety disorders can manifest in different ways. People with generalized anxiety disorder worry about a lot of concerns such as their health, finances, career, family situation, etc.. They keep worrying that something bad is going to happen to them at some point in time.

Cognitive Symptoms

Your mental health is where your anxiety usually manifests its initial effects. If you’re having memory issues, have a hard time concentrating, can’t fall asleep or developed insomnia; then you may need professional help for your anxiety. Forgetting things from time to time is normal. If you are forgetting things that happened just recently, then that is a cause for concern. Similarly, if you can’t focus while reading a book, watching a movie or writing something; then your anxiety is disrupting your life. One of these happening more frequently than usual, or a combination of these happening at the same time means that you should look into your anxieties more seriously.

Emotional Symptoms

Do you always feel overwhelmed? Do you burst out of rage, anger or resentment at the smallest things? Some people even have a constant feeling of hopelessness, dread, or even apathy. They end up procrastinating or withdrawing from social interactions altogether. If you already feel emotionally overwhelmed or find that you can’t control your feelings; then you might need professional help for your anxiety. Having hope is always a reassuring feeling. However, other people will suddenly feel sad and can’t help but cry for no reason. They may feel hopelessness for themselves or even for the world. Emotional issues from anxiety are hard to detect so observation and self-awareness is important.

Physical Symptoms

If you feel like a caveman being chased by a wild animal every time you are in a particular situation; then your anxiety has become unhealthy. Symptoms include your heart rate going up, sweating, headache, trouble breathing or you freeze from nervousness. Another sign is if you are constantly feeling fatigued even when you were able to rest physically.

When anxieties get worse, people can experience panic attacks. Symptoms include sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, a pounding headache, increased heart rate, feeling like one is choking, and just having a feeling of dread. Phobias and certain social conditions can trigger panic attacks. Before this happens, you should seek professional help.

Prevention is always better than cure. A professional’s help will not cure your anxiety immediately. It takes time and constant effort to achieve any goal, including healing yourself from any illness. Keeping a positive attitude is always helpful. Most importantly, do not be ashamed to seek a professional’s advise. Going to an expert instead of dealing with things on your own is not a sign of weakness. Rather, it shows that you are aware and acknowledge your own limitations. It shows that you are mature and courageous enough to take steps to improve yourself.

Feature Image: Original Photo by Uday Mittal on Unsplash.

Oct

2021

5 Ways to Improve Your Financial Literacy

Reading Time: 5 minutes

There are many ways to improve your financial literacy. Money is involved in almost everything we do in our daily lives. We work at our 9-to-5 jobs to earn money because we have so many things to spend it on. Most of us barely get by on our monthly income, making it seem like we are working for money instead of making money work for us.

This is why financial literacy is important. Learning about money and understanding how you can make it work for you, instead of the other way around, will help you reach your financial goals quicker.

Learning about your finances can only start with the right mindset. Most people are afraid to tackle money issues because it is a sensitive subject that is tied up with their personal habits. If you want to save money, you need to accept the fact that you have to sacrifice some personal conveniences and luxuries to start saving.

Instead of treating your finances as a boring subject or a scary one, try to look at it with an attitude of curiosity. This is the only way you can start learning. Don’t be judgmental; just be curious about yourself, your money habits, and the possible ways you can make your money work for you.

Here are 5 ways you can start learning to improve your financial literacy.

1. Learn and Talk About Your Money

The first thing you need to do to learn about money is to become aware of how you spend your own money. Track your daily expenses in a notebook, a spreadsheet, your mobile phone; whichever way is convenient for you. Do this for a whole month and before the month ends, you will already see a pattern on what you spend your money on. These are your spending habits. Based on these habits, you can start learning ways on how you can better spend your money.

Tracking your spending also helps you identify your attitude towards money. Do you have a poverty mindset or do you have a wealthy mindset like rich people? Most people have a poverty mindset. Learning about your finances and having a plan of action will help you develop a wealth mindset.

Another habit you can develop is to be comfortable talking about money. Talk to other people about how they spend their money. Do they follow a budget? Has their budget worked for them so far? You might even find a buddy who you can learn from or who can help you stick to your money goals.

2. Make A Budget and Follow It

Once you’ve identified your spending habits, it’s time to make an evaluation. Look at the items you are spending money on and categorize them. Identify which are your major expenses. From there, identify which are the most important ones; the ones you need and can’t live without and which ones you can do without. Those items you can do without are your “money leaks”. You are spending money on these items unconsciously and these may be bigger items than just your cup of coffee from your favorite cafe each morning.

Based on this general category of your needs and your money leaks, create a budget. Your budget should help you plan out how much money you must allot for the important items on your list and how much you can spend on your money leaks (if there is extra money for them in your current monthly income). This way, you don’t feel deprived but you can control how much you can indulge in your favorite luxuries – not every day but maybe once or twice a week will allow you to save money.

Try to follow your budget for at least 3 months and adjust it accordingly until you create a budget that works just right for you. Then follow it each month while keeping track of your spending and your savings. This will help you discipline yourself so you can manage your money better. A budget will be a big help to improve your financial literacy.

3. Create Long-Term Money Goals

After learning and adjusting your spending habits, it’s time to create long-term financial goals. How do you plan to spend your money a year, 3 years from now? Having extra money tucked away in our savings account often inspires us to take up our buried dreams that we’ve kept in the back burner because we needed to earn thru a day job. This is the starting point of how you can make money work for you.

Write down how you want to spend your money in the next 3 years and even 5 years. Are you going on a travel adventure? Do you plan to put up your own business? Do you want to buy your own apartment? Are you thinking of studying again? Do you want take up that course you really wanted to take in college but had to give up to follow your parents’ advise?

Write down your dreams and do your research to figure out how much money you will actually need to make that dream a reality. Once you have the figures, then you can start learning new ways to not only save more money but to make your money grow.

If one of your major goals is to get out of credit card debt, write it down and see how you can adjust your spending to pay it off as quickly as possible.

4. Learn and Start Investing

Now that you have a clear idea of how much money you have, how much you are spending and saving and how much money you need for your financial goals; it’s time to start learning about investing. Unfortunately, money lessons are in most school curriculums so most people have to learn it on their own.

Investing is not only saving more money, it means creating wealth. One of the most convenient way to start growing your money is to enroll in your bank’s investment program. Be sure to ask your bank about it and learn how your money can earn from their program.

You can also consult a professional financial adviser who can help you decide on the best investment tool suited to your current situation and financial goals. This way, you are already growing your money while you are looking for other ways to earn more. In the meantime, stick your budget and keep saving. The desire to learn is your first step to further improve your financial literacy.

5. Keep Learning On How to Make Money Work For You

There are tons of resources about investing online and there are many books that you can read too. We have compiled some of the basics for you in these articles:

You can get more financial wisdom from these articles but be sure to read books too:

There are many resources that you can easily access to improve your financial literacy. As you learn more and enhance your personal money management skills, you will eventually get the opportunity to learn about financial instruments that you can use to increase your wealth.

You can read books, watch online videos and listen to podcasts about financial management or about investing tools that you are interested in. You can also take courses to help you learn about finances. Just keep on learning as much as you can so you have a better understanding of what works for you.

Updated. First published on Pinoy Smart Living on 2019.09.20.
Feature Image: Original Photo by Mathieu Stern on Unsplash.

Sep

2021

Grow Your Small Business with Helpful Apps

Reading Time: 3 minutes

You can grow your small business with some helpful apps. Apps or applications are useful software that you can use on your computer and mobile phone. They can help you in different ways depending on your needs. Here are a few of them that you can consider to help you in planning, managing and growing your small business.

Canva

Create beautiful posters, calling cards, invitations, or social media posts using Canva. There are hundreds of templates to choose from which you can customize to suit your needs. Different fonts and designs are available so you can have fun and be as creative as you want. You can also design graphs and charts, logos and flyers, as well as presentations. This is a good application to start with if you don’t have the budget to pay for graphic design software or to hire a graphic designer. This is one of the most popular apps used by many small business owners.

Evernote

In taking down notes and in planning; Evernote has been a useful tool for students and business people too. With this app, you can categorize your notes into different notebooks and tag them for easy searching. This means that you can keep all your meeting notes with clients or customer orders as well as have a place for jotting down any new business ideas you have. All you need is your email address to register for an account and you can download it on your desktop, mobile phone or it on a browser. The FREE version allows you to use it one device. Use it on the device that you use most often.

Google Apps

If you have Gmail, then you have access to Google Apps. Here you can use Google Docs for documentation; Google Sheets for recording a database and Google Slides for your marketing presentations. You can also use Google Meet to schedule and conduct meetings and Google Calendar to track your schedules. Since everything is stored in the cloud, you don’t have to bring the documents with you. You only need to be online to be able to access all these applications for free.

Paypal

All businesses need a way to send and receive payments and PayPal is the most popular application for online transactions supported by over 10 million online stores and 200 markets worldwide. It has partnered with major banks and credit card companies. You can link your credit or debit cards to be able to send and receive payments for your orders and deliveries and other transactions. It has 24/7 transaction monitoring and anti-fraud technologies for your safety and protection.

Trello

Need a space to work with your team for a project? You can write down tasks and assign them to your team mates, as well as indicate deadlines on Trello. You can use it on your computer or mobile phone’s browser. It works like a kanban board where you can move tasks around to indicate whether they in progress, pending or completed. Or you can move tasks from one department to another if that applies to your business. Tasks can also be broken down into checkboxes or lists and can include links or files. You can also tag team mates in your messages.

Most of these apps are free but they do have options for upgrading to a paid subscription later on if your business needs it. Once you get to know your way around these applications, it will become easier for your to identify the specific things you need for your particular business. This will make it more convenient for you to decide whether to upgrade your app or look for another one that suits your business more. Being accessible online is now the norm so it helps to learn about these apps to digitize your business.

Feature Image: Original Photo by Nikita Khandelwal from Pexels.

Sep

2021

Understanding Positive and Negative Energy in Life

Reading Time: 4 minutes

We are all born with a basic understanding of positive and negative energy in life. However, as we grow older, we tend to ignore this ability and suppress it instead. Most of us go through life unaware that we are able to sense energy around us as well as within us. In fact, it is a useful skill that can guide us through many challenges in our daily life.

You Are Made of Energy

As adults, most of us are running on autopilot. We plan our day according to a schedule, not minding the different emotions we feel at different moments. You must have heard of the concept that everything around us is energy. In fact, our bodies can be considered living energy fields. Energy is not something we can see but it is something we can definitely feel. It influences a lot of our decisions and actions in our daily life. Have you ever felt suddenly “down” or experienced a “high” from an activity or experience? These are examples of how energy affected your mood and thoughts. Think of other experiences where you were able to feel these different energies and how you acted according to them.

Energy Can Be Sensed

As a living energy field yourself, you are constantly projecting energy towards your environment and other people. In return, you are also able to sense other people’s energies. A simple way to “sense” energy is to rub your hands together until they feel warm. Then hold your hands parallel to each other with some space in between. Don’t you feel a warmth in between your palms that is not the same energy as outside of your palms? Have someone else do this and feel the energy in between their palms yourself. Another example is the feeling you get before heavy rain comes and after the rain. Aren’t the energies in your environment completely different? Do you feel positive or negative energy when it rains? How about after a rain?

Energy is Useful

Have you meet people that made you feel like they’re giving off “bad vibes”? Do you have a friend whom you are always magnetized to because you feel good whenever you’re around them? These people are giving off different kinds of energy and you are reacting to them based on your own energy too. This feeling that you get every time you meet someone or go somewhere is your intuition. It’s an invisible way to guide you in your actions. You know that there is a mind-body connection. Sometimes, how you act is a reaction to how you feel. It can also be a reaction to how others feel even when they don’t tell you about it.

Good Vibes vs Bad Vibes

We are all energy antennas, broadcasting and receiving energy all the time. It is useful to learn when we are interacting with positive or negative energy. People with negative energy usually make us feel tired, exhausted, sad or even angry. If they are constantly projecting this kind of energy, they may even become toxic people that others avoid. If your energy is the same, then you may actually like being around them. After all, misery wants company. On the other hand, people with positive energy tend to attract other people with the same energy. They make each other feel good, calm, safe and relaxed, even joyful. They also generally have a positive outlook in life and are able to treat others with generosity and kindness.

Managing Your Energy

Energy is constantly flowing through us and around us. So if you are always having negative thoughts, this does not mean your are stuck being a negative person for life. Even people with positive energy can have their moments of negativity sometimes. Your energy is affected by your past life experiences, your mindset and your general perception of the world. The good news is, you can always shift your energy at any time. No matter your history, all you need is to focus in the moment to shift your energy and the type of energy that flows towards you and from you. Ask yourself: What kind of energy do I want to be right now?

Increase Your Positive Energy

There are many ways to increase your positive energy. Calming your mind through meditation is a good start. This will help you control which thoughts to pay attention to more. So you should focus on your positive thoughts. Try being mindful of small the moments and spend time appreciating them. This will lead you into developing personal gratitude, which makes it easier for you to feel grateful towards others too. In turn, you will develop a more positive mindset and outlook in life which will also attract towards you more people who have similar attitudes.

Your Energy Matters

Being aware of your energy and the energy around you allows you to be more in control of your life. Instead of being a slave to your usual thoughts and emotions; you can control your reactions so that it benefits you. For example, if you are already feeling “bad vibes” from someone inviting to join them for a night out; then it would be wiser to just decline so you don’t get influenced by their negative energy. You can also increase the chances of someone agreeing with you on a difficult issue if you approach them with the positive energy of understanding instead of a combative attitude. There are many things that can affect your energy but being aware of it is the first step to managing it. Be sure to schedule more fun into your activities and develop better habits to help improve your good mood.

Feature Image: Original Image by Peace,love,happiness from Pixabay.