relationship

Jul

2020

5 Tips to Get Through Your Lowest Point in Life

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Life is made up of highs and lows and people of all ages experience it differently. When we are experiencing a “high” in some or several aspects of our life, we feel blessed, happy and fulfilled. We are compelled to celebrate our good luck and share our joy with those most important to us. When the opposite happens however, we tend to withdraw from everyone.

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When we’re sad, angry, frustrated, feeling hopeless or regretful, most of us would rather be alone. During this time, withdrawing from your social life can be helpful to your mental and emotional health. This is only if you do so for a short period of time. Here are some tips to help you get through your lowest point in life. These should help you feel better and to get back on your feet quicker.

1. Vent Out Your Emotions

If you’ve been holding on to some negative emotions for some time, now is the time to let them out. Give yourself a break. Venting out emotionally also benefits your mind and body. Cry out your sadness, write down your frustrations, eat a whole pint of ice cream while watching a drama, get angry, have a pity feast or do something creative. Just be sure not to do anything you will regret later. Give yourself a day or 2 to go through the process. Let your pent up emotions out but don’t dwell on them for too long.

Since you are emotionally vulnerable during this time, it is better to do this in a place familiar to you. Some people would rather get away to a new place to sort out their emotions. In both cases, it would be helpful to have a friend who understands what you’re going through. They can help you put a lid on things if you do get out of control. Remember though, your friend can only do so much. Only you can get yourself unstuck from your own emotions or mindset.

2. Get a Sense of Reality

When you have vented out your emotions, it’s time to take stock of the actual circumstances as they are. It’s time to “face the music” as the saying goes. Unless you accept the situation as it is, you won’t be able to move on. This is where an understanding friend is most helpful. This should be someone who knows you personally but is not necessarily involved in the situation.

It will be hard for most people to look at things without emotional attachment. A friend can serve as a more objective observer and can help you see things in a broader perspective. In this way, you can have a better understanding of the circumstances. Your friend can also help you see the point of view of the other people involved in the situation.

This is also the time to be grateful for the things that you have. Go over the lessons you have learned and the people who support you. With a better understanding of things, you can start getting clear, and get even more tips on how you can get through your lowest point in life.

3. Start a Plan

With a clearer perspective on things, it’s time to quit feeling sorry for yourself and start to move forward. Ask yourself: What’s the best approach to turn things around? What should be my first step to clarify things or to solve a major obstacle?

Think about the bigger picture and your goals both in the immediate future and for the long-term. What do I need to do to start my journey to my major goal? Are my previous or current plans aligned with my goals? Write down your goals and next steps.

Think carefully about what you should do each day, weekly, etc. to get closer to your goals. Don’t forget to integrate wellness practices into your daily schedule to keep yourself in the right mindset. You might even try to dress differently to make you feel better.

4. Put in The Work

Now that you have a plan, it’s time to put your plan into action. Plan your daily, weekly, monthly schedule. Organize your workspace to help you work more efficiently and be more productive. Make your environment more relaxing by removing clutter. Talk to the people you need to in order to start the ball rolling. Connect with the right people who can help you carry out your goals. Take each day as they come and keep doing what you need to do to move things forward.

While you are putting in the work by connecting with other people, make sure to invest in yourself as well. Take that online course or attend that training. Get the knowledge and skills you need for the next step in your plan.

As you enhance your knowledge and develop your own set of skills, you will also meet new people who will help you grow even more. As you renew your relationships, you will also encounter more tips and ways to get through your lowest point in life.

5. Be There for Someone Else

Moving forward is the only solution to not staying in the situation you don’t like. Sometimes, certain situations still trigger the negative emotions that we want to get out of our system. This makes it hard to focus on our goals and may hinder our progress. What’s the next best thing to do?

Instead of focusing on just your goals, try to reach out to others who need help too. Be there for them even if just to listen to their predicament. When you focus your attention on someone’s else’s problems, you can learn from their experience. You may find inspiration, or even the solution to your own predicament.

Even if you don’t, you will at least feel better knowing that you are not alone with your problems. You are able to make someone feel better just by being a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on. This will help you feel even more grateful for the things you have in your life. You will feel more gratitude for the people and circumstances that allowed you to start moving on from your own low point in life.

These tips are just some of the ways you get through your lowest point in life. If you have been feeling down recently, you should check your overall wellness. If you feel that you can’t handle things by yourself, you should consider getting professional help. A therapist or psychologist can help you so you don’t fall into depression.

Remember that it is normal to experience many low points in your life. But as long as you try to get back up, you will get stronger. The next time you hit a low point in your life; the lessons you learned from the previous experience should help you recover even better than before.

Updated. First published in Pinoy Smart Living on 2019.10.02.
Feature Image: Original Photo by Pixabay from Pexels.

Jul

2020

Dress Different, Think Different

Reading Time: 2 minutes

How we dress can affect our mood and our mood can affect our thoughts. Our mind and body are connected so our thoughts also affect how we act. If you dress different, you think different too. So if you want to feel good and think positive thoughts, try to dress for success even if you’re working from home. Dress in your favorite clothes or the clothes that make you look and feel your best.

Make sure that you are comfortable in what you’re wearing so you can maintain your positive mood and thoughts the whole day. Try to experiment which clothes make you feel good and give you good vibes. You’ll know your clothes are working for you if you feel comfortable in them and you get compliments from people when you’re wearing them.

Dressing yourself up and dressing differently can be hard to do if you don’t have the essential items. Not sure if your wardrobe has what you need? Check if you already have these closet must-haves. If you already have these items, then go ahead and see if you have these recommended items for a woman’s wardrobe or a man’s wardrobe. Having these closet staples will allow you to dress different, any way you want, for most occasions. You can start to “think different” about yourself as you experiment with new styles.

You can dress yourself up quicker if you have an organized wardrobe. It’s easy to see what style options you have when you open your closet. It also makes it easier to see what items you need to add and what items you can already toss out or give to someone else.

Don’t know how to start? First, get on with decluttering your home and your closet. Then, check out these tips on how to get a new wardrobe. It’s a long process but it’s worth the effort. Once you’ve done the work, you can have a happy time experimenting with new styles. See how your new style benefits your mood and improves your confidence. More importantly, observe how your interaction with people becomes better as you gain more confidence to present yourself to the world.

Updated. First published on Pinoy Smart Living 2018.11.05.
Feature Image: Original Image by StockSnap from Pixabay.

Jun

2020

The Moving On Challenge

Reading Time: 4 minutes

The phrase “moving on” is familiar to anyone who has ever experienced heartaches and hardships in life. You may need to move on from a romantic break-up, a job that didn’t work out, or a falling out with a friend. Any situation that requires you to let go of someone or something is hurtful. Moving on from the experience is a challenge.

We all have our own ways of moving on. Some of us bounce back quickly while others take longer to process their feelings and set themselves right again. Depending on the circumstances and the depth of the relationship between the individuals involved; moving on can shape our personalities and affect our outlook on life in a very profound way.

Example, whether it be good or bad, has a powerful influence.
— George Washington

We have relationships we have moved on from, are still moving on from, people who have moved on from us, and people we still keep with us. All have a huge impact in how we live our lives today. So it is important to look back and reflect on how these people contributed to our current outlook in life.

Challenge Yourself to Move On

Let us review our relationships. Reflect on the things we can learn from the persons who were around us back then and those who are still with us now.

Take a notebook or a sheet of paper, a pen and 2 highlighters with different colors. Make 3 columns on the page.
Label these columns as follows: Person, Negative and Positive.
In the Person column, write down at least 50 people who influenced your growth and development until now. These can include your parents and relatives, schoolmates, teachers, friends, mentors, etc. You can write more if necessary. They can include departed people as well.
On the next 2 columns, write down how each person influenced you in a negative and a positive way. There may be a relative or friend who acts selfish and complains a lot (negative). Their behavior also taught you how to be patient (positive) with others who act like them.
Using your highlighters, mark the persons you still keep in touch with until now in one color. Mark the persons you don’t want to keep in touch with anymore in another color. For the departed ones on the list; you can decide to skip them. Or you can include them if you feel that they still exert a major influence in your life until now.

In the process of making the list, think about why you chose the person. Try to remember the worst but also the best about each person. What has changed in your life for the better or for the worse after meeting them? Who did you have an easier time moving on from and who did you have a hard time letting go?

The Wind Beneath Your Wings

The people you choose to keep or let go, reflect the kind of life you have been living until now. The positive and negative traits they embody are also the same traits that you have been exhibiting and/or struggling with. They affect you mentally, emotionally, physically and greatly influence your overall quality of life.

There may be some past relationships that you have moved on from. You may realize that you are still carrying with you their negative influences. Your challenge then is to learn how to be grateful for the experience; be thankful for the lessons so you can finally let it go.

Not all relationships can be categorized as purely negative or positive. There are always shades of the other in each relationship. You may choose to stay in a relationship with a person who negatively influences you because it has positive results.

Attitude is greatly shaped by influence and association.
— Jim Rohn

For example, you may dislike your best friend’s nagging most of the time. However, you admire the fact that they are able to speak their mind openly. You appreciate that they always tell you the things that you need to hear. They don’t always agree with you when they think you’re wrong. You label them a “kill joy”. Most of the time, their actions help prevent you from doing something foolish that you may regret later on.

Or you may sometimes think of wanting to move far away from a friend who is socially awkward. It’s hard to be with them at a party. They don’t talk that much and you have to keep inserting them into the conversation. You have to keep talking to them so as not to make them feel left out. Their behavior frustrates you but you still keep in touch with them. They are always ready to lend a shoulder for you to cry on when you need it. They also listen to your woes and petty complaints without judgement. They’re also the friend who gives you the best advice.

Moving On and Moving Forward

You can consider these aspects of yourself and your relationships the wind beneath your wings. Each person is your wingman for different circumstances. Some of them help keep you afloat and rise up in tough times. Others may seem like they are dragging you down most of the time. Yet, they are still able to help you in different ways. How you balance these different aspects of your relationships with others and within yourself, will help sustain you through your life experiences.

The people you surround yourself with influence your behaviors, so choose friends who have healthy habits.
— Dan Buettner

Once you have identified these aspects that you wish to move on from and those you want to keep; then you can truly move on and move forward for the better. When you have clarity on the things you like or dislike and what you can tolerate; then you have identified the things that you value the most. This will make it easier for you to make decisions in life that are aligned with your values. This also makes it easier to choose which friends to keep.

Feature Image: Original Photo by Tim Marshall on Unsplash.

Jun

2020

5 Reasons to Go on A Road Trip

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Have you been feeling tired and stressed from your daily routine? Even for those stuck at home; a break in routine is still needed every once in a while. You long to go out and get away from it all. That’s just one of the reasons to go on a road trip.

Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under the trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.
— John Lubbock, The Use of Life

A road trip is an opportunity to give your mind and body a rest. It’s a quick getaway that gives back huge benefits for your overall wellness. Who doesn’t want to enjoy the relaxing sights and sounds of nature without being rushed for time? We’re sure you have friends and colleagues who feel the same way. So why not put your heads together and plan for a road trip?

Here are just some of the many good reasons why you should absolutely go on a road trip.

1. Take a Break

When you’re bored with your daily routine or too stressed out to work, you lower your productivity. So instead of risking burn out, why not burn calories having fun on a road trip instead? A break from your usual weekend routine will also change your mindset and energy. It may even inspire new ideas on how you can make work more fun and productive.

If you usually spend your weekends catching up on sleep and still feel groggy on Mondays; that’s one of the good reasons to go on a road trip. Travel can help change your usual sluggish pace. Spending time in nature is always a good way to recharge. Plan a quick swim on the nearest beach or go trekking or biking on a nature trail. Enjoy breathing in the fresh air and take a walk on the ground with bare feet to ground you again and feel the health benefits.

2. Explore a New Place

Pick a place near your area that can be travelled by car that you’ve never been to before. Local travel may not seem as attractive an experience as your dream travel destinations. But you won’t know what gems you’ll find in your own backyard if you don’t go to experience them yourself. Another one of the reasons to go on a road trip is to help businesses in your locality. Ask your colleagues and friends for suggestions.

Is there a tourist spot that some of you have heard of that you want to check out? Have you visited a historical place near your city? Never tried taking a trek on a forest trail? Have you always wanted to climb a mountain? Would you rather have a food trip at some local town?

Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.
— Dalai Lama

There are so many choices and possibilities. Just be sure not to put too much on your itinerary. A road trip should be a relaxing and fun experience. It should not be stressful; that’s what you’re trying to get away from.

3. Strengthen Relationships

There’s no question about it. Spending time together deepens the bond between people. That’s why you develop friendships in the workplace. You get to know each other’s personal quirks and preferences in the planning stage and you will learn even more about each other as you experience new things together during your travel.

On a road trip, you do not only get to bond with your friends, you also get to know new people. The stories you share with each other will help you understand each other more deeply than just casual work conversations. This is why people who travel together often go back to work with private jokes that only they understand. Some great friendships began with a road trip and some acquaintances become life long friendships because of a road trip. The people who you meet during your trip could become your very good friends later on too.

Stressed out from your love life or lack thereof? That’s another of the good reasons to go on road trip! It might just be the chance to meet “The One” that you’ve been waiting for.

4. Rediscover Yourself

Travel allows us to discover something new about ourselves. A new environment gives you the chance to reflect on yourself and be more aware of things you always took for granted. Sometimes, it even gives us the opportunity to change our own beliefs and habits and expand our minds to understand different points of views.

You may discover that you actually like listening to the songs of a local artist that a colleague likes to play on their mobile phone. It might just be the right song to accompany you on your road trip. It can even inspire the whole theme of your road trip or vice versa. You might find a new dish that you’ve never tasted before and it might inspire you to learn how to cook. Maybe you rediscover your creative side from encountering some local crafts or art.

You never know what you will learn about yourself once you get out of your comfort zone. What you discover may help improve your life or even drastically change it for the better. One of the best reasons to go on a road trip is that it might turn out to be the first step to your best life yet.

5. Create Lasting Memories

Time is something that you can never get back. You can always get a new job but never more time, so why not spend it making good memories?

Try to go on a road trip whenever you feel that you need to. Get together with the friends who want to experience new things with you too. Laugh together about the funny stories that you have from your childhood; cry together while reading a letter to your past, heartbroken self over a bonfire on the beach; sing along to your road trip play list; gaze at the stars on a clear night away from city lights and traffic; sleep to the sound of waves gently crashing on the beach; wake up to the sound of birds chirping.

There are so many things to appreciate and wonder at when you travel, and that’s just another one of the many good reasons to go on a road trip. Remember that the journey is the real adventure, the destination is not as important.

Enjoy the road trip with the wonder of a child and get back from the trip more grown up and hopefully, with a greater appreciation of yourself, your travel buddies, your country and the world in general. But don’t just take our word for it. Go on a road trip and experience it for yourself.

Updated. First published on Pinoy Smart Living 2019.07.16.
Featured Image: Original Photo by picjumbo.com from Pexels.

Jun

2020

Building Wealth and Success Through Leverage

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Many people dream of becoming wealthy. However, the road to wealth and success is long, hard and winding. This is the reason why only a few made it big. Most people gave up along the way. Unknown to many, there is a shorter way to success and that is through leverage. It is possible but very difficult to make it on your own. After all, we are all humans and we all have limitations. But building wealth and success through leverage will allow you to use resources that is beyond what you can offer making the journey a lot easier and faster.

What is Leverage?

The Cambridge dictionary defines leverage as to use something that you already have in order to achieve something new or better.

In short, leverage is using something to achieve something with less effort. Think of it as a lever. A lever is a bar that you use to make your work easier. It allows you to use less force to lift or move objects. Items such as scissors, nail clippers, hammer, staplers, bottle openers, brooms and gym equipments are all examples of levers. They are machines or equipments that you use on a daily basis to make your life easier.

A Lever is used to make things easier.
Image Credit: OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay Images

Just as you use leverage to make your life easier on a daily basis, you can also use leverage on your journey towards building wealth and success. Using leverage is the same as working smarter rather than harder.

The hours that ordinary people waste, extraordinary people leverage.
– Robin Sharma

What are the different forms of leverage?

There are many forms of leverage that you can use on your journey to wealth and success. Here are some of them:

1. Financial Leverage (Other People’s Money)

In finance / economics, leverage is defined as to use money to get more money. In short, it is using other people’s money to start a business, buy an asset or finance an investment. Examples are borrowing money from a bank to purchase real estate or looking for an investor to your business.

2. Time Leverage (Other People’s Time)

Did you know that the wealthy thinks that time is more valuable than money? Why? It is is simple you can use time to buy more money but you cannot use money to buy more time. Even if you lose all you money, you can still get it back but with time, you cannot do that. Whether you are rich or poor, successful or struggling, we all have 24 hours in a day, no more no less.

So, stop doing everything on your own. Delegate some of the work to others so that you can focus on doing the important tasks.

3. Talent Leverage (Other People’s Knowledge)

No one is a master in everything. Let’s face it, there are other people who are more talented than you. They have more experienced and have greater skills than you in a particular field. Why not use them to have an organizational advantage? Make them a member of your team and a part of your support group.

4. Network Leverage (Other People’s Connections)

Networking is important in our lives especially if you have a business or you are into sales. However, humans have limitations as far as connections and social relationships are concern. That’s why you need to tap into other people’s network to expand your own.

5. Marketing Leverage (Other People’s Audiences)

If you are a business owner, a blogger or a social media influencer, you know that it is hard to establish a brand especially if you are a start-up. Through marketing leverage, you utilize other people’s audiences through their magazines, newsletters, etc. to communicate your message and build awareness of your product or service.

In short, what matter your goals in life are or what industry you are in, leverage can multiply your efficiency. You can use just one form or you can use all at the same time. The point is, you accelerate your growth through leverage.

Remember, work smarter not harder.

Feature Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay Images

Jun

2020

People You Need in Your Life

Reading Time: 3 minutes

No man is an island. According to the longest study on happiness, we all need healthy and fulfilling relationships with other people in order to be truly happy. However, not all relationships are the same. There are varying degrees of closeness. There are people you need in your life, those who are really close to us. These people have significant influence in our lives while there are others who are mere acquaintances.

It is important to have a clear understanding of the different levels so that you will be able to discern your relationship with each individual. In this way, it is easy to set boundaries on the friendship. After all, not everyone can be your best friend.

The Dunbar Number

According to a theory formulated by Robin Dunbar, an anthropologist and psychologist from the University of Oxford, based on the size of the human brain; an average person can have 150 persons on his/her social group. This is the maximum number of persons that we can have a relationship with. More than that would just be mere acquaintances. Out of this 150, about 50 are considered as close friends. Close friends are those who you hang out with, go to parties or dinner with. You see them often but you don’t really confide in them. Out of this 150, about 15 are your confidants. You talk about each other’s lives and you confide in them. Out of this number, only 5 serve as your support group. To put it simply, out of all your facebook friends or instagram followers, you only have a genuine relationship with 150 of them.

Now, let’s go to your support group, your top 5. Who are your type 5? Your top five plays a very important part in your life. Have you heard that you are the average of the five persons you spend most of your time with? Yes, you are the average of your support group. They have a big influence on either your success or failure in life. That is why it is important to be choosy when it comes to your support group.

Your magic five can serve as your inspiration, balance, encouragement, challenge and supporter.

The Five People You Need in Your Life

1.The Cheerleader

A cheerleader by definition is someone who supports you. This person is your biggest fan. Your cheerleader can be your parent, sibling, spouse, best friend or boss. He/she is your greatest source of encouragement, someone who lifts you up when you are down and someone who stays behind when others have left.

2.The Mentor

Everyone wants to be successful in life. Unfortunately, the road to success is not easy. It is full of challenges and hardships. Success rewards only the bravest and those who are willing to persevere. A mentor is someone who has taken that same road before. He/she is someone who is already successful in that particular field. A mentor can provide you with knowledge and information that you need in order to shorten your journey to success.

3.The Brutally Honest

Let’s face it, there are certain circumstances in life wherein you are on the wrong path and no one around you is brave enough to tell you the harsh truth. Well, that’s the reason why you need someone who is brutally honest in your inner circle. You need somebody who will tell you that truth not just people who tells you what you want to hear. It is the only way for you to remain grounded and that to ensure that you are on the correct path.

4. The Energizer

Life is full of challenges. It can be draining at times. That is why it is important to have fun to keep yourself sane. This is the role of the energizer in your life. That person is your go to friend if you want to have fun. He/she picks you up when you are down and gives you strength and energy. The energizer is full or positivity and enthusiasm about life. There is never a dull moment with the energizer around.

5. The Like-Minded

The collaborator is somebody with similar interests. The two of you shares the same passion, hobbies, food, music and other activities together. He/she is someone that serves as your companion and partner in doing things that you enjoy. You are very compatible together.

Find these five people that you need in your life to help you live a successful and fulfilling life.

Feature Image by florentiabuckingham from Pixabay Images

Jun

2020

Things to Consider in Finding a Good Mentor

Reading Time: 3 minutes

You need a mentor to fast track your way to success. However, finding a good mentor is not that easy. You cannot just choose anybody that you like. There are some things that you need to consider first in finding a good mentor.

1. Define your Goals

First, ask yourself, what is it that you want? What do you want to achieve in life? Do you want to be successful in a specific field? Are you aiming for a healthy and sexy body? Do you want to be wealthy? What are your goals in life?

Your choice of mentor is highly dependent on what your goals are. Just because somebody is successful does not necessarily mean that that person is the best person to be your mentor. Your mentor’s achievements should be in line with what you want to achieve in life.

2. Be Specific

Once you have defined your goals, you should now look for someone who already achieved whatever it is that you want to achieve. Ask yourself, is there somebody whom you aspire to be like? Who is your role model?

You should not limit yourself to just one mentor. You can have as many as you deem necessary. For example, your wealth mentor may not necessarily be your health mentor. That’s why you need to be specific not just in identifying what you want but in identifying the people whom you think had achieved success in that particular aspect in their lives.

3. Look into Expertise

One of the things that you need to consider in finding a good mentor is his/her level of expertise on the subject. If you want to grow your finances, you need to look for people who know how to handle and grow their money. If you want to have a perfect body, you need to look for people who have perfect body themselves. You want to have a healthy relationship with your partner, you need to look for people who have been in a happy relationship for years. The point is, your mentor should be an expert in that particular field.

There are people who asked money advice from people who are in financial situations worst than them. In the same way, that there are people who asked relationship and marital advice from their single friends.

It is like this, if you want to learn how to play tennis, will you ask a person who doesn’t know how to play tennis to teach you? Of course not! You are going to look for a couch who is an expert in playing tennis. This should also be the case when it comes to finding mentors. Look for someone who has been that road before.

4. Build Authentic Relationships

The best place to look for a mentor is around you. Are there people around you whom you respect and admire? Are there people whom you look up to?

Once you have identified these people, make an effort to build authentic relationships with them. Attend social gatherings. Connect with these people. Keep in touch. These small interactions can help you build a genuine relationship with them. You cannot just simply approach a stranger to be your mentor. It is best that you establish a good personal relationship with them first.

5. Read

Although a personal relationship with a mentor is always better, books about and written by people whom you admire can also be a form of mentorship. Just like a real person, books also have the power to change your thinking and beliefs. Many people succeeded in changing the way they look at things simply by reading books. For instance, if you want to be successful and wealthy, read books about wealth and success.

This is especially useful if there are no people around you who are experts in that particular field that you want to excel to. There are tons of information available out there even in the internet about famous and successful people. Read about them. Learn from their stories and apply the lessons in your life.

If you are not the reading type of person, you can still watch videos of interviews or you can listen to podcasts. The point is the information is available out there.

Good luck in finding a good mentor!

Updated Version. First Published in Pinoy Smart Living in 06.28.2019.

Feature Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay Images.

May

2020

Why You Need to Have Fun To Be Successful

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Why do you need to. have fun to be successful?

The phrase “work hard, play harder” is familiar to us; but the “work hard” part is where we get stuck most of the time. We focus so much at doing well in our jobs or careers that we often forget to have fun. When we do allow ourselves to have some fun; it is usually to celebrate a major accomplishment in our lives, usually a milestone at work.

We think that having time for fun is a reward for working hard but the two can never come together. However, successful people tend to disagree. For them, work should be fun; the work should be the reward itself.

Fun is one of the most important — and underrated — ingredients in any successful venture… If you’re not having fun, then it’s probably time to call it quits and try something else.
— Richard Branson, The Virgin Way: Everything I Know About Leadership

Apparently, work and play can be experienced at the same time. We don’t need to focus on just one; because rewarding work should be fun to do and having fun at work is rewarding.

I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: ‘If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?’ And whenever the answer has been ‘No’ for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.
— Steve Jobs, Apple co-founder

There are many successful people who think it is important to have fun at work. Here are some reasons why:

Develops Creativity

A fun, work environment, encourages people to try out different ways to do things, so they can get their tasks done more efficiently and on time.

A fun environment also provides space for constructive criticism for failures instead of imposing strong penalties. Good effort, when rewarded positively, encourages individuals to become more open to trying out new things to become better at what they do. You won’t need to force yourself to stick to the usual methods even when it doesn’t suit your style.

Sustain Interest and Focus

Do you remember how time goes by so fast when you are engaged in your favorite hobby? How did 2-3 hours of dancing and shouting at a concert pass by? Also, you were on your feet the whole time, but you didn’t really feel tired at all.

With fun activities, we are able to sustain our interest and focus in the activity for long periods of time. We do not notice how much time and effort we are spending during the activity. We only become aware when the activity ends, or when our body tells us that we need to rest.

Produce Better Results

When you are having fun doing something; excitement comes with your efforts. You become more patient and put in more effort to see things through to the end.

This is especially true when a team is working together. A fun work environment encourages each member to give their best suggestion to solve a problem. They do not feel pressured to get things done perfectly. Whatever the challenge, they eventually get things done if they are having fun. They also produce even better results; with the same amount of effort or even less, and also with little to no stress.

Encourage Good Relationships

Having fun together also helps build deeper and stronger relationships. This is why team building trips and events have become an important part of many company calendars.

Recall the last time you attended a fun, company party. Didn’t you feel refreshed and more excited to go to work the next day? When the whole team comes into work in such a positive mood; didn’t the work day seem less stressful and the work hours shorter?

You will notice that you not only completed your work for the day, but you may have done more than you usually do. Your team mates may have done the same. It’s the feeling of camaraderie, the sharing together in a fun experience, that contributed greatly to the positive environment that helped everyone’s productivity.

Better Communication, Less Conflict

An open mind is a welcome trait in resolving issues. A fun, work environment encourages and fosters such a trait. Open minded people don’t shy away from discussing issues with colleagues than they would in a strict, office setup.

When playing, everyone follows the rules of the game; but if one fails to follow the rule, the reaction is usually one of laughter and not a strong reprimand.

When people can air out their concerns by telling jokes; less stress accumulates in the work place. In this environment, they are not pressured to prove that they are right and the other person is wrong. Open communication becomes a norm and stressful conflicts are less likely to occur.

Having fun at work is an important ingredient in your success. It makes your work life a more rewarding experience. Don’t wait to finish work to have fun. Start thinking up ways to make your work more fun.

With this kind of attitude, your team mates and clients will surely notice the positive change in you. You might even be able to influence your whole team’s mindset and build stronger relationships with your clients in the process. This is one good step towards success.

Feature Image: Original Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash

Mar

2020

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:

Remove clutter from your home for 15 minutes a day.
Organize your wardrobe one day at a time.
Make a 30-day plan on what outfits to wear to dress for success.

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:

Study financial literacy for 20 minutes a day.
Write down your expenses everyday.
Follow the money jar budgeting system.

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

Feb

2020

Fundamentals for Success from The Winners Manual

Reading Time: 6 minutes

Do you consider yourself a winner in life? If you’re not that confident to answer “Yes” to this question, then you may be struggling with some issues in different areas in your life. There is no one rule book that we can consult on how to succeed in life and this is because each person’s experience is different. However, there are some fundamentals for success that we can apply to get better in each area of our life, so that when we look back, we can say that we’ve had more wins than losses.

Jim Tressel is an Ohio State football coach and through the years he has learned a lot of life lessons from working with different people on the team, from the players to the staff. The nuggets of wisdom he gained from his experience is shared in the book The Winners Manual: For the Game of Life.

The book is given to everyone on the team and even if the lessons are gained mostly from his experience coaching a football team, the lessons are applicable even to regular 9-5 workers trying to be “adults” in dealing with life’s hurdles.

First, Jim wants everyone to focus on 2 major goal areas:

Your Purpose

This includes your personal/family, spiritual/moral and caring/giving aspects of your life.

Many people often grow up defining themselves by what they do (e.g., their job title) and in the process of pursuing success in their career, they end up forgetting who they are. If you cannot find or define your life’s purpose, then you will never find success or happiness, and never feel like a true winner in life even if you achieve your goals.

Your Goals

This includes matters pertaining to strength/fitness, family, academics/education and career.

Whatever your specific goals, you must view this in the context of your entire life and should be aligned with your life’s purpose. It is hard to get motivated if you don’t have a purpose.

Your purpose is your inspiration and your goals are your motivation. However, there is a huge difference between the two. While inspiration helps you think and create, motivation gets you moving to make things happen.

Spend some time to think about your purpose and goals. It helps to write things down and when you are ready, you can study how to apply Jim’s 10 fundamental for success to win at life.

1. Attitude

There are 3 types of people: 1) those who make things happen, 2) those who watch things happen, and 3) those who say: “What happened?”.

Attitude is a choice so you need to choose which one you are going to be each day. You can choose to live your life as a celebration or as a chore. An attitude of gratitude is one of the best attitudes to adapt as it is impossible to be grateful and unhappy at the same time.

If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies within yourself.
– Tecumseh

TIP: Keep a gratitude journal. Each day, write down at least 3 things that you are grateful for. Count your blessings daily and you will notice that you will have more things to be grateful for as each day passes.

2. Discipline

Discipline is often seen negatively – as punishment for bad behavior, when in reality, it is something that is helpful to us. Discipline prepares us and keeps us focused on our goals.

You can’t get much done in life if you only work on the days that you feel good.
– Jerry West

TIP: Remember that practice makes perfect. Do it right, do it hard and then do it again. When it’s time to practice, focus on the practice. You should be confident enough in your skills and be tough enough to follow through.

Whether you are practicing a sport or trying to write a novel, it’s the discipline to constantly show up and do the work that allows you to correct your mistakes, polish your moves so you can deliver and perform perfectly whenever you need to.

3. Excellence

Strive to deliver excellence each time. In competitive sports, it isn’t good to be good from time to time. You need to deliver a good performance every day in order to be considered great

If you listen to your fears, you will die not knowing what a great person you might have been.
– Robert H. Schuller

TIP: Consistency is the true test of greatness. It takes discipline (constant practice) to turn a violinist into a master, a student into an expert, you get the drift?

More importantly, our intentions have a great impact in determining how we reach our potential. So your intent to be excellent should be reflected in your performance. Your number one intention is to seek excellence in all phases of your life.

4. Faith and Belief

All champions believed in themselves even if no one else did and that’s how they motivated themselves to become great; and that’s how they ended up inspiring others in return.

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
– Eleanor Roosevelt

TIP: It helps to write down your dreams. Unless you write down your dream or vision, you can’t start planning how to achieve it.

So write down your dreams, describe it, make a collage out of it and make sure to consult it everyday as a constant reminder of why you are working hard each day. More importantly, don’t be the first one to doubt yourself when your plans don’t go the way you wanted to. Instead, focus on finding a solution.

5. Work

Work is a lifelong pursuit so you better do it passionately. Not everyone can love their work but with a good work ethic, you will increase your opportunities to gain success.

Everyone has a plan until they are hit.
– Evander Holyfield

TIP: Persistent effort is key to success. You only fail when you quit. Remember that failing is an event; failure is a temporary status and you can always turn it around as soon as you succeed. So don’t be put down by obstacles and see them as opportunities to better yourself instead.

6. Handling Adversity and Success

The road to greatness is never easy but if we face our struggles with an attitude of learning, then the adversity we experience can become our stepping stones to success.

Success is a lousy teacher. It makes smart people think they can’t lose.
– Bill Gates

TIP: Embrace the struggles as much as the successes. Your struggles should help you build strength of character, and this is what can elevate your good performance into greatness. Handle adversity as a learning experience and learn from your success as well. Both are opportunities to improve yourself and fine tune your plans to reach your goals.

7. Love

You won’t win in life thru talent alone. Just like in winning championships, you need love and discipline. If everyone in the team loves one another, then they will strive to not let one another down. This works in any relationship, be it you and your partner, your whole family, your friends and even work mates.

Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: what are you doing for others?
– Martin Luther King, Jr.

TIP: Do not hesitate to help others succeed. When you help someone else succeed, you get closer to your own success.

How you treat others who can do nothing for you is how you show your love towards your fellow man. In your own relationships, you can only survive tough times by being tough yourself and the only way to do that is to give and receive love from those around you.

8. Responsibility

There are different areas in your life where your individual conduct is not just attributed to your own self but reflects on a larger group of people such as your family or the organization that you work for. So take care to be responsible in all your actions as you may also affect the reputation of other people.

The reputation of a thousand years may be determined by the conduct of one hour.
– Japanese Proverb

TIP: Associate yourself with good people. By good people, we mean people who have a “do what’s right” mentality. These are the people who will help you conduct yourself responsibly in the different areas in your life. They will be the people who will push you to live a life with a clear conscience.

9. Team

Although your own life purpose and goals is yours alone, most of our life endeavors is a group journey. That’s why unselfishness and team work are important qualities to succeed in life.

There is no delight in owning anything unshared.
– Seneca

TIP: Be in service to others. Unselfishness is one of the greatest quality of great teams as this enables each person to work for the good of the greater whole. This means that each person is willing to listen to others and in this way each one is able to influence the others positively.

10. Hope

Have realistic hope both for your goals and for your team (family, friends, etc.). It is ok to indulge in wishful thinking once in a while but unless you put your faith to work, you will not achieve success.

There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something tomorrow.
– Orison Marden

TIP: Be a dealer of hope. When people around you are losing hope, they become susceptible to criticism and their own doubts. Lead by example and show them that hope is still alive. It may not be in the form you initially “hoped” for but it may take form in another opportunity disguised as an obstacle. When you keep hope alive, you will see good things happen in your life and in the people around you.

Do you think you can apply these rules to the different areas of your life? If you have been practicing some of them, or all of them, tell us how it has helped you achieve success in the different phases in your life.

Original Photo by Razvan Chisu on Unsplash