Did you know that the Japanese life expectancy is one the highest in the world, if not the highest with 74.8 years old? Their food intake has a lot to do with it. The Japanese people consume less meat, dairy products and sugar. The Japanese diet consists mostly of fish, seafood, soybean and green tea. While diet plays a huge role in their life expectancy, the Japanese people believe that it has a lot to do with Ikigai, finding your life’s purpose.
What is Ikigai?
The concept originated in Okinawa, Japan, the place where people have the longest life expectancy in the world. If you would like to meet a lot of people who are centenarians, go to Naha or in Ogimi in Okinawa. So, what’s their secret? Ikigai.
Source: City Population
Ikigai is an ancient philosophy that the Japanese people embraced in their lives. So, what does it mean? In Japan “iki” means life while “gai” means value or worth. In short, ikigai is your life purpose. It is what gives you happiness and contentment in life. It is your reason for being. Ikigai is what makes you wake up in the morning excited about life. For them, retirement does not exist if you find your lifelong purpose. Even at an old age, they still feel a sense of purpose. Thus, if you can find your Ikigai, you will have bliss in your life.
Finding Your Ikigai
Each one of us is born for a reason. We are not here simply to make a living. We are born to fulfill our life’s purpose. That’s part of our spiritual wellness. However, finding our life’s purpose is easier said than done. Not everyone is able to unleash the genius within them. Thus, more and more people live a stressful life and do not find peace and true happiness in their existence.
There are four questions to ask yourself in order to find your Ikigai or life purpose.
1.What Are You Good At?
There are multiple intelligences. Just because you have bad grades in your academics does not necessarily mean that you are no longer smart. The key is to find the things that you are good at. Know and recognize your strengths. Ask yourself, what are you good at? Are you one of the best in that field? Do people ask you for advice regarding that?
2. What Do You Love Doing?
What is one thing that you love doing? Do you have a hobby or skill that you can’t get enough of? You love it so much that you are willing to do it even without getting paid. Also, when you are doing it, you seem to be in the flow so you can easily forget the time. Think about what brings you joy? If you are still unsure, think about your childhood. What did you enjoy the most when you were a child?
3. What Does The World Need?
If you are currently working, find out if there is high demand for what you are doing now. How about in the next 5, 10 or 15 years from now? Do you think it will still be valuable? What can you do that can contribute to and help solve a social, economic, physical, mental or environmental problem in the world? If you are not working yet, ask the same questions about your craft, hobby or skill. In short, how can you contribute to society?
4. What Can You Be Paid For?
Thinking about how you can contribute to society using your innate talent is good and noble. However, let’s face it. Unless you are born with a silver spoon, we all need money to survive and pay for our basic needs. Thus, doing something that you are going to get paid for is something that should be considered. Ask yourself, are there people getting paid doing what you are doing? Can you make a career out of your hobby or craft? Is it something that you can make a good living of?
Your ikigai lies in the intersection of all four areas: your mission, vocation, profession and passion.
Good luck in finding your ikigai!
Feature Image by Posted by A.L. Jonas in Spiritual, 0 comments
The Spring Clearing Challenge is an annual practice in many households all around the world. Different cultures have different names for it. It is also practiced at different times of the year, usually during holidays or when the weather changes. Of course, not everyone views it as a challenge. But isn’t it challenging work to clean out stuff in our homes and in our lives, whatever season it may be? There are many stages in our lives where we practice “spring clearing” to rid ourselves of past negative energies that are weighing us down. The end of the month is as good a time as any to do some spring clearing. For this challenge, instead of just cleaning out our space physically; we will do a clearing up of negative energies. Remember that our mind and body are connected. Our thoughts, emotions and physical health influence each other. So clearing up one aspect will help improve the others. Find a spot at home to sit awhile for a meditation. Make yourself as comfortable as possible and try to calm your mind and relax your body. If you are just starting out, focusing on your inhales and exhales is the only thing you need to do so you don’t get distracted. Ask yourself, “Where would I want to be to feel completely relaxed and refreshed?” Allow your imagination to take you to that place. Picture yourself relaxing there and try to enjoy all aspects of that moment with all of your senses. Taking the time to relax your senses helps you feel lighter so you can better focus on what needs to be done. In this way, you can slowly clear up the things that are piling up around you, mentally, physically or emotionally. By doing this spring clearing challenge; you can prepare yourself for a fresh start on your goals. Can’t sit still enough or can’t find the time for a meditation? Then start practicing mindfulness. Try to be aware of the little things in your daily life; the small actions that you do throughout your day. Are you eating your favorite dessert? Savor the taste. Are you enjoying the smell of a new book? Tune your senses to that moment. Ask yourself, “What makes this activity so pleasant or pleasurable?” Finding the answer to this question helps you get to know yourself better. It helps you better understand what things make you happy and allows you to plan for more moments like this. By understanding what motivates and triggers you; you can better take control of your own actions and reactions to negative circumstances. Reacting mindlessly to negative situations is one of the biggest ways to waste our time and drain our energy. So being able to manage yourself in these situations allows you to focus on what you should be working on. It also helps you figure out how to deal with toxic people and not become a toxic person yourself. So you can focus your attention on the people you love and cherish instead. You may be carrying a lot of emotional stress because of past traumatic experiences, like losing a loved one. You may have regrets about not being able to apologize to someone. Or you maybe struggling to forgive someone. Instead of bottling everything up, why not let it all go? Ask yourself, “How do I really feel about the situation/person?”. Crying is not weakness. It is a necessary process to start your healing process. Many of us go through our daily lives like zombies because we refuse to deal with our feelings and confront them. We end up becoming numb to other emotional experiences as well. Find the time to be alone and cry if you have to. If you need to write down your thoughts and feelings while you’re crying, then do so. Maybe you want to watch sad kdramas or movies while eating ice cream; go ahead. You need to feel what you feel and acknowledge it. Of course, you will feel bad at first, but that is the only way you can release all those burdens in order for you to start feeling better about it. Clearing out your life should be for a purpose. It is natural for us to strive for a goal in order to have a direction in life. Otherwise, you will just be living your life on auto-pilot and never feel fulfilled with anything that you do even if you accomplish much. Ask yourself, “How do I want my life to look like in 3 years, 5 years, 10 years from now?”. Make plans for yourself so you can start acting on something you truly want. This is your signal to the Universe so that you can be guided in the right direction. Create a vision board, write down a bucket list of how you want your life to be. Don’t be afraid to go big and be ambitious. Of course, you have to be prepared to work for these goals so make sure they are SMART goals. Many people don’t want to start working on their goals because they are afraid to fail. Remember that failure is part of the process to success. Unless you fail, you will never learn which means you will be stuck doing the same thing over and over again without moving forward. Treat failure as a learning process instead of an end result. Welcome the challenges into your experience; like this spring clearing challenge. They are good experiences to help you grow. Do you start the day with a smile? Maybe you still feel groggy from a lack of sleep. But try to face the mirror with a smile and see how it lifts up your mood. Try to smile back at people too and express your gratitude so you can lift up their mood. You never know how your small gesture can make another person’s day brighter and more pleasant. A genuine smile can completely change a person’s negative outlook in life and even make them feel more hopeful. Ask yourself, “What can I do today to make things more fun (for me or for someone else)?” Having fun on your own may sound boring for you. Doing it with somebody else can make the goal even more worthwhile. Taking life too seriously is one of the major causes of stress in our daily lives. Worrying endlessly about the what-ifs exhausts us mentally and emotionally. By focusing on the positive aspects of any situation; you can feel less stressed about it and enjoy the whole experience instead. These are just some of the things that you can do to start spring clearing your mind, your emotions and your physical environment. This spring clearing challenge is not just for spring though. You can do this anytime you feel the need to clear out negative energy from your self or in your environment. Try to start spring clearing today and see how much better you will feel afterwards. Feature Image: Original Photo by Allef Vinicius on Unsplash. What is your dream life? How will you describe your perfect spring day? If you want to have a better life, you must always start with defining your goals and dreams. Once you have figured out what you want, then you are now ready to pursue your dreams. However, pursuing dreams and goals is never easy. You need to focus. You also need to persevere. It helps if you have passion for what you are doing. To have a clear idea on what it takes to achieve your goals, take inspiration in these some Korean dramas about pursuing dreams. Dream high is about a group of young talented kids who entered the toughest art school in the country in order to achieve their dreams. It is a story of growing up, friendships and competitions among peers. It is about dedication and passion for the arts. Most importantly, it is about the desire to be successful in their chosen fields. Unlike the rest of the dramas where people had to start from the bottom to achieve their dreams, the dramas Dr. Romantics 1 and 2 are different in the sense that the leads are already doctors. However, something happened in their lives that got them reassigned to a small unknown hospital in the countryside. There, they met Dr. Kim, a genius surgeon who became their mentor. Dr. Kim helped them achieve their dreams of becoming better doctors. In addition, they also become better persons in the process. Pursuing dreams is always a challenge. More so, if you have to start at the bottom. If you love stories about underdogs, then Itaewon class is for you. An ex-convict, sociopath, transgender, gangster, illegitimate son and a foreigner teams up together to open a bar in Itaewon. These misfits were able to overcome challenges together and rose to become the biggest in the food industry in the country. It shows the importance of a dream team in achieving success in life. The Last Empress is a fictional drama set in a premise of a modern-day South Korea under a constitutional Korea. It is about a man who wants to find out the reason for his mother’s death and vows to take down the corrupt monarchy. Although the goal of revenge is something that should not be advocated, the drama shows how a weak person can rise to become a palace bodyguard who will be responsible in bringing about justice to a lot of people. This drama is about the lives of young individuals struggling in the world of entertainment. Known as the most cutthroat industry, it is notoriously hard to break and become a success in the entertainment industry. Find out how three ambitious young people from different social classes navigate their way in the industry to pursue their dreams. Although it is a sad story that shows the dark and corrupt side of the law, Remember: War of the Son is a story of a 22-year old man whose main goal is to prove the innocence of his father. He becomes a lawyer in order to achieve his goal. It is a courtroom suspense drama that will bring tears and some laughter in your eyes. Revolutionary love is the story of a prodigal son who was able to rise above his sheltered and privileged life to become an advocate for workers’ rights in their own company. Although he started not knowing what he wants in life, he was able to find love and purpose in the story. Start-up is drama about the challenges and struggles in putting up a start-up company. It shows how young individuals work together in order to achieve their dreams. The drama also shares business lessons for young entrepreneurs who are starting their businesses. The Entertainer is about a man who is already on top of his field as a music producer and talent manager who gave it all up to start his own business only to end up losing everything. It is a story of how he was able to get back right up on his feet and restart pursuing his dreams again. You will also see the character development of the main protagonist from an arrogant jerk to a respectable and kind-hearted person. The drama depicted how every adversity can make a person change for the better. WWW is all about girl power. The three female leads have very strong characters. They are focused, strong-willed and successful in their own careers. It is not so much about romance but rather the advancement and job security of women in their professions. it is all about women empowerment in the workforce.The drama is a realistic portrayal of women trying to pursue their dreams in their professional lives in a male-dominated society. Do you know of any other Korean drama titles about pursuing dreams? Photo by Nadi Lindsay from Pexels Special thanks to Lyrie , Sher and Isabel, certified Kdrama fanatics, for recommending some of the titles. Water is essential in life. All living things need drinking water to survive. Aside from that, we also use water in many things such as cooking, taking a bath, washing our clothes and keeping our surroundings clean. It is hard to even imagine a day without water. Unfortunately, in some areas of the world, water shortage has become a serious issue. With more and more places around the world struggling for clean water, water conservation is now more important than ever. That is why we all need to do our part in water conservation. Here are some ways to conserve water at home. It sounds so simple and logical yet many people leave the tap running especially while brushing their teeth, washing their hands, washing dishes and taking a shower. By simply turning off the tap while not in use, you are already helping in the conservation of water. Did you know that a single drop of water per second adds up to 5 gallons a day? That is approximately 3,000 gallons or 11,356 liters in a year. Imagine all that water and money wasted because of a faucet leaking! Stop the leaks! Check and fix all your broken faucets. Native plants are plants indigenous to a certain area. These plants adapt well to the specific climate and physical conditions of a particular place. Taking care of native plants requires less water. If you live in a tropical place, use tropical plants for your garden such as ferns, bromeliads and orchids. If you live in the desert, use desert plants like cactus. For cold climates, use plants that can survive winter. A small act of reusing towels in your home can help conserve water. Practice this also even outside your home such as in hotels. Apply the same habit to your clothing especially if you have worn it only once and it is still clean. Jeans for example can be re-used a couple of times before washing. However, do this with caution. We also need to adjust to the new normal rules. Our safety should always be a priority. If you have a washing machine or dishwasher at home, make sure that you run them only on full load. Even if you choose the small load settings, you are still using the same amount of water to run a full cycle. So, save water by running them only on full load. This is also one way to save on electricity in your home. A good way to save water is to take shorter showers. It is also a good way to conserve energy. It adds a few more minutes to your sleep time and it also a way to prevent your skin from becoming dry. The best time to water the plants is in the morning. The cool weather will help the water reach the roots more efficiently without losing too much water due to evaporation. You may also opt to water the plants using the traditional watering pail instead of a hose. Remember to plant your meals ahead. Remove the meat that you are going to cook from the freezer and defrost it in the refrigerator the night before. The meat remains safe and of good quality when you are ready to cook it the next day. A dual flush toilet uses two buttons to operate the flush, one for the solid waste and the other one for the urine. It helps save water because the flush for the urine uses less water compared to the other one. The Dual Flush toilet uses 45% less water compared to an ordinary toilet. Also, flush toilets only when necessary. A toilet bowl cleaner tablet will help keep your toilet clean and helps prevent tough stains. Any item in your home from your clothes, paper, computers, furniture and appliances consumes water during the manufacturing process. If you can reuse and recycle items as much as you can then you are helping the global community save tons of water. To be able to make a difference, it needs more than your solo effort. Ask your family, friends and co-workers to join you. Spread the word. Share this article. And together, let’s do our part in conserving water. Image by Mystic Art Design from Pixabay Sure we cannot travel yet because we are still in the middle of the pandemic but one day, we will be able too. In the meantime, why not visualize yourself on that perfect spring day in your dream destination? Here is a list of some most beautiful places to travel in spring. One of the largest lakes in Western, Europe, Lake Geneva is lined with flowers in full bloom during spring. You will see a picture-postcard scenery with the Swiss Alps and some medieval castles in the backdrop. No wonder it is considered one of Europe’s top destinations. With the highest elevation in Europe, you can enjoy a range of activities from sightseeing to even some winter sports that the Alps has to offer even in Spring. Tulips are large brightly colored flowers usually in red, pink, yellow and white. They are the most colorful of all spring flowers. And the Netherlands soil and environment is the perfect country to grow these tulip bulbs. That’s why there are acres and acres of tulip fields found all over the country but the most number of tulip fields can be found in Holland. The tulips are in full bloom from mid-March to mid-May. You can go to the Keukenhof to see the world’s biggest flower exhibition or at the FloraHolland to see the world’s biggest flower auction. Or you can just simply drive around the country to discover a vast sea of flowers everywhere. Spring is the most coveted time of the year in Japan, especially in Kyoto. Have you heard of the Sakura festival? Officially called the Hanami Festival, it actually pertains to the Cherry Blossom Festival. It is because it is in this time of the year where the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. And Kyoto is the historical and cultural center of Japan. Once the capital of Japan for over a thousand years, there are about 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites in Kyoto. Imagine exploring the historical heart of the country amidst the cherry blossoms, it is truly going to be one wonderful experience. Looking for a city to visit? Then New York is the best place to go. You can stand in awe at the skyscrapers, watch a Broadway show, visit world-class museums or simply eat delicious foods from around the world. Known as America’s melting pot with more than a third of its population coming from different countries, New York has something to offer to every nationality. Although New York can be quite expensive, there are ways to enjoy NYC even on a budget. Spring is the perfect time to visit the city because the temperature is just perfect to walk around and explore what the city has to offer. if you are looking for art, culture, food, history, shopping and wine; then Tuscany is the best place to go to. With its dramatic scenery and the historic cities of Siena and Florence, you can just simply relax and enjoy the breathtaking landscapes or admire the beautiful medieval art. You can even shop for leather, wine, cheese, truffle oil, ceramics and even luxury designer brands. Spring is the perfect place to visit Tuscany as the weather is perfect to go around and the days are longer. Going around in Tuscany in Spring is a magical experience. What are you waiting for? Start planning now. Feature Image by Kohji Asakawa from Pixabay What are the signs that you are falling in love? When you watch romantic scenes in movies or dramas; you know exactly when the main characters have fallen in love with each other. But if you were one of the main characters, how would you know that you are falling in love? What are the signs? Here are some signs that might signal that you are falling in love. Remember that not everything may work with everyone. Each person reacts differently to various emotional experiences after all. So check the list and see what applies to you. If you are falling in love with someone; you will find that you can’t stop staring at that person. You just can’t help it. Observe how a mother looks lovingly at their baby. That is how someone looks at the person they are falling in love with. After all, when you are looking at the object of your affection or admiration; staring at them is a natural impulse. Try to control yourself though. Your constant staring might make the other person feel shy or scared even. So consider the other person’s feelings too. If you can’t constantly stare at them; they’re always on your mind anyway. Most of the time you are wondering what they are doing at the moment. Are they busy at work? Have they eaten? Are they also thinking of you? These concerns may cross your mind several times a day. At other times, you may be thinking where to take them on a date; or what to wear to impress them when they see you next time. You may end up with sleepless nights or unproductive work days from day dreaming about the person you’re falling in love with. Try to stay focused on what you need to do so you don’t end up getting reprimanded at work or losing sleep. Falling in love brings about a lot of pleasant feelings and you want to spend more time with the person you are falling in love with. You’re constantly thinking of an excuse to spend more time with them, even if it’s just talking to them. You take the time and energy to plan how you can spend more time with them whether at work or outside of work. In fact, you will find a lot of reasons, or excuses, to be constantly around them. You can’t help but show your care for them whether it be getting them food when you go for a snack or sitting with them during a break. Just be sure you’re not bothering the person at work by your constant attention. Because you want to spend more time together with the person you are falling in love with; you might find yourself becoming more open to trying new things. Even if you are a little scared or intimidated; you somehow gather the courage to do something you’ve never done before. Like asking them out for example. If you are already dating the person, then you find yourself suggesting date ideas that are unique and interesting just because you want your time together to be a special memory. Trying new things is always a thrill but make sure you don’t try something that you don’t feel good doing. If you thought at first that you can handle riding a roller coaster but find that you are too scared to even get on it; don’t force yourself. You don’t want to pretend to be brave then end up ruing the rest of the day because you felt sick. However, don’t prevent the other person from enjoying the experience without you. You can always do something else that both of you can enjoy. Most of us idealize the person we admire in our minds. However, when we see them doing something unattractive; we usually lose our admiration. When you are falling in love; you usually end up not minding or not noticing the things that may be unattractive about the person. For example, they might usually look cool in the office but when you see them out of work; they wear clothes that you won’t think of wearing out of the house. When you are falling in love with a person, you usually don’t notice the small imperfections. You just want to dwell on the pleasant feelings you get when you are with them. This can be both good and bad. It’s good if the other person’s unattractive aspects are indeed minor or just a cute personality quirk. However, if you notice a negative behavior pattern for example; then it’s a red flag that you should take a deeper look at things. One of the signs that you are falling in love with someone is when you become just a tad bit jealous that they’re focusing their attention on other people rather than on you. Yes, this is childish and bratty. But anyone who is falling in love wants to monopolize the attention of the person they admire, if they can. It will be normal to feel jealous of their attention towards others and even of other’s attention towards them; but don’t get ahead of yourself. Try to be realistic about the situation or consult a friend who can give you a rational observation so you can calm your jealous heart. A sure sign that you are indeed falling in love is when you truly wish for the other person to be happy. This is also why you want to spend more time with them and are always thinking about them. You want to be the one to do things with them and for them that will make them happy. Most importantly, you want them to feel happy when they are with you, just as you feel happy spending time with them. That’s why you also want to find out what makes them feel happy and loved. You may find yourself making some sacrifices in an effort to make the other person feel happy. For example, you might make the effort to make lunch for them every day or surprise them with flowers just because. You might even find yourself taking time out from your busy schedule to help them accomplish a task at work. Just be sure that you’re show of concern is not being abused and you end up sacrificing what makes you happy instead. These are just some of the signs that you might be falling in love. What other signs can you think of, or you have experienced, when falling in love? Feature Image: Original Photo by Alan Quirvan on Unsplash. Here are 5 habits to adapt for better beauty. These will help to usher you on your way to better beauty and even better health. Try to adapt one habit at a time each week so you don’t feel overwhelmed. Once you’ve integrated all these habits into your daily routine; you will feel better and your face and body will show it too. In our pursuit of “getting things done” in our daily lives; we often forget ourselves. We have established a certain routine that enables us to accomplish all our tasks for the day. However, we often forget to take care of our personal needs. Then, one day we look in the mirror and we are surprised at the person looking back at us. Our daily routine mostly consists of waking up, working on our jobs and clocking out from work. After work, we might watch some TV at home, or browse through our social media accounts on our phones. Finally, we go to sleep. Most of us really don’t schedule “alone time” or “me time” during our waking hours. In the morning, take the time to enjoy your “alone time”. Freshen up to greet the rest of the day. Invest in a facial cleanser and moisturizer that you can use daily. Don’t start the day looking and feeling tired, even if you didn’t get much sleep the night before. This is one of the easiest habits that you can adapt for better beauty. Pressed for time? Splash water on your face to wake up and look fresh. It’s better than facing the day with an oily or sweaty face. Start the day with some personal care to show yourself some love. All of us have low-energy times during the day. This is when we are least productive at work or when tiredness hits us; and we just want to sit or lay down and do nothing. That’s what 15-minute breaks at work are for. Use this time to really give yourself a period of rest. Try to take a power nap. You can do this in your chair if it allows you to be in a comfortable position to do so. Or use your desk space. Use a small pillow to support your back or neck for taking a nap in a sitting position. Use an alarm to make sure you wake up after your break time. Can’t take a nap? Then at least rest your eyes. Just sit in your chair. Put your feet up if possible, lean back and close your eyes for the duration of your break time. Ask your office mates not to disturb you while you’re resting your eyes. Integrate these habits throughout your working day so you can get a rest in between intense work. It will revitalize you so you can be more productive and you will reduce eye fatigue. If you have other mini-pampering routines that takes you 15 minutes or less to do; then try them out as well. The night time is a natural signal for the body to slow down and rest. So take the time to prep your face and body for sleeping. Clean your face and moisturize and do the same for your body. While you are hurrying out the door in the morning, do the opposite at night. Take the time to massage your face as you clean and moisturize. Take the time to massage your body too and imagine washing away the day’s stress as you scrub away. This is one of the leisurely habits that you will definitely enjoy in your beauty routine. If you like scents, then spray your room or use a diffuser with your favorite calming scent such as lavender. This gives your space the ambiance of a spa and can really help you slow down. You will really feel that your beauty routine is a treat. One of the best ways to be able to stick to a routine is to keep it simple. “Cleanse and moisturize” is the basic routine for maintaining clean and healthy skin. Similarly, stick to products with simple ingredients so you detoxify your skin as you apply your products. Keeping things simple ensures that you will be able to integrate these habits more easily into your beauty routine. Check the labels and opt for natural products with as few ingredients as possible. Stay away from products that have a long list of ingredients especially the ones with ingredients you can’t even pronounce. Remember that not all products labeled “natural” or “organic” are actually natural or organic; so make it a habit to read the label. Now, not all products with few ingredients maybe effective for you or to your liking. So take the time to try out the products. This way, you can find the one that suits you and your skin type the most. This is one way to show your skin and body some love. When you’re young, you have the energy to not sleep for a couple of days. You are still able to show up bright and alert the next morning. However, sleepless nights take a toll on your skin and body. In the long run, the damage will show up in your face too. You can’t escape it but good sleeping habits can help delay aging. So be sure to prioritize taking care of your health and get enough sleep. Going for a late night out once or twice a week maybe acceptable. More than that will definitely affect your immune system and your productivity at work. If you’re a party animal, rein in some of that energy. Focus it on pampering yourself at night so you can enjoy a good sleep. Then maybe go out once a week to let the party animal in you have some fun. The key here is moderation. Listen to your body. If the party animal in you is eager to enjoy another night out but your body wants some sleep; then take a rain check on that invitation and fulfill your sleep requirements instead. Your body will thank you for it. Adapt these 5 beauty habits and in time; you’ll find yourself smiling each time you look at yourself in the mirror. You may even receive compliments about your skin and having a pretty glow to your face. But remember to keep everything in moderation, even the number of times you look at yourself in the mirror. Updated. First Published on Pinoy Smart Living on 10.07.2018. The lessons from “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill has inspired many other publications that expand on the many principles laid out in the book. First published in 1937, the book distills the principles of how to think and grow rich compiled from interviews of 500 successful people over 20 years. All ideas that succeeded started from a thought. All inventions started in the mind of its creator. Similar to what we eat influencing our health; what we feed our mind also influences how we think. Your mind is a powerful tool that can also influence your actions. Only you can control your mind. A positive mindset is important for success. If you want to grow and be rich, then control your thoughts so you can think and grow rich. Guide your thoughts to the things that will make you productive and bring you closer to achieving your goals. Instead of reading negative newspaper headlines for example, start reading books on wealth and success. The Universe responds to your strong intentions so it is important to attach a burning desire to the outcome that you want. How do you prove your burning desire for something? By doing the actions that will bring you closer to the result. If you really want something; you will work hard for it and do everything you can to succeed. Just as you bring your best self when going out on a date with someone you like; do everything you need to do to show the Universe that you truly want something. Most importantly, have faith that you will succeed and believe in your own abilities to change your life for the better. You will notice that you will start attracting the resources that you need to help you succeed. In order to start doing any kind of action; you need an organized plan. What does success mean for you? Take the time to plan out your vision and the things you need to do to achieve them. Break down major goals into smaller ones and work on those first. Specify your goals and what steps you need to take to succeed. Put a definite date on when you should have completed your goal and start working on your first steps right away. Remember that in order to change your life; you need to change your habits and replace old ones. Be consistent and persistent in your actions. Keep showing up daily until your new habits become automatic to you. One of the things that can keep us or delay us from success are distractions. These are the small things in our daily lives that stimulate us strongly so that we end up using most of our time on these things instead of being focused working on our goals. Napoleon Hill identifies the 5 major stimulants known to man which you should manage wisely so it helps you in your goals instead of distracting you from them. This is why you need to be smart about who you spend most of your time with. Be wise in choosing your friends. Surround yourself with people who share your vision and who support you in your goals. Spend more time with people who are also actively working on their goals and who will hold you accountable for your own goals. These are the people who will help keep you on track and focused towards success. General knowledge is what we learn in the classroom. We decide what field to specialize in when we get to college. In many fields, generalists usually have lower incomes than specialists. If you want to grow rich, then specializing in a specific field will guarantee a higher income. The more specific but more in-demand the field of specialization is; the higher your potential income will be. Focus on one area of specialization and learn as much as you can and be good, or even the best at it. Maybe you can specialize in something related to what you are passionate about. Once you have succeeded in becoming a specialist in one field; then you can try your hand at learning more about your other interests. Most people who succeed in one field find that they don’t really need to specialize in anything else. Just because you didn’t get a college education doesn’t mean you can’t succeed. How many high school and college dropouts have already achieved success in their chosen fields? What you can’t learn in the classroom, you can make up for by learning on your own. There are tons of free online resources from which you can learn from. A better way is to learn from more experienced people. The only way to do this is to get yourself a mentor or mentors; whether by knowing them personally or following them on their online channels, or reading their books and/or blogs. By learning from those who have already failed and succeeded; you reduce your own failures and shorten your time to completing your goals. Most of our fears only exist in our mind and we can control our mind. Worrying constantly will only bog down our thoughts and decrease our motivation to work towards our dreams. There are 6 fears that plague most of our daily thoughts. Conquering these fears will enable us to move forward in the direction of our dream life. Feature Image: Original Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash. Don’t have the budget for a date? No worries! Here are some refreshing date ideas for cheap or for free that you can try. Staying indoors is always an option with these staycation ideas. Watching movies? Spend on some popcorn and drinks or on other snacks of your choice. One of you got cable? Netflix and chill is definitely a fun option. A “cheap date” doesn’t have to be a boring or even a negative experience. No one wants to end up just sitting opposite each other (also called the dinner date) trying to talk. No one wants a date where you end up just sitting beside each other (the inevitable movie date after the dinner). It’s definitely time to try something new. Observing proper etiquette for the new normal when going out for your date is always a must. Exploring places near your area is a good way to spend a date without spending too much. Your local park is a good place to start and there are many things you can do. Be sure to check first the park’s opening and closing hours or if they are open at all. Being surrounded by nature is always a good way to loosen up and get more bonding moments together. Here are some things you can do to get closer to nature and to each other. Time in nature is one of the often taken for granted date ideas that’s cheap or even free. Are you both sporty or just want to flex your muscles? Try out some non-contact indoor sports or check out your local listings for some free classes or fund-raising events where participants can join for free. Or, check out your neighborhood for convenient locations where you can indulge in sports activities and learn more about each other. People watching is the cheapest adventure of all. All you need is someone to talk to as you watch people and the world go by. Been there and done that? Try out these other cheap thrills. The weather not permitting you to go out for a date? These are date ideas that you can enjoy indoors for cheap or even for free. Going out has restrictions at this time. Luckily, a virtual date can be fun. There are many online services offering virtual tours and other fun activities that you and your date can enjoy. Be sure to prepare to look your best for this virtual event. These are just some refreshing date ideas that you can enjoy for cheap or even for free. Whatever your date plans are, be sure that you both have fun. Updated. First published on Pinoy Smart Living on 24.10.2018. In Physics we learned that everything around us is matter. Matter is anything that occupies space and has weight whether it be solid, liquid or gas. We also learned that matter is energy. Therefore, everything around us is energy. Energy vibrates at different frequencies. It can either be positive or negative. Have you noticed that sometimes, bad things happen in bundles? In fact, there is this saying that bad things come in threes. If that happens to you, it is a sign that you are in the negative frequency, that’s why you are attracting negative things to happen in your life. The good news is that you can actually use these vibrations to your advantage. You can attract success, health, happiness and even wealth through the Law of Attraction. So, how to attract wealth through the Law of Attraction? Everything is energy and that’s all there is to it. Match the frequency of the reality you want and you cannot help but get that reality. It can be no other way. This is not philosophy. This is Physics. The Law of Attraction states that you attract what you focus on. It is a belief that your experiences in life are a direct result of your thoughts. Positive thoughts attract positive experiences. On the other hand, negative thoughts attract negative experiences. In a way, our thoughts are like magnets. Every second of our existence, we are attracting things based on our thoughts, feelings and emotions. This philosophy is not new. It has been practiced for hundreds of years. It was said that it was first introduced to mankind by Buddha. Buddhism teaches that human suffering can be overcome by making the right choices in life. People have the power within them to create their own realities. Just take a look at the following teachings from Buddha: What you think, you become. What you feel you attract. And what you imagine you create. Every human being is the author of his own health or disease. We are shaped by our thoughts, we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like. a shadow that never leaves. It is wrong to think that misfortunes comes from the east or from the west; they originate within one’s mind. Therefore, it is foolish to guard against misfortunes from the external world and leave the inner mind uncontrolled. And it is not just Buddha. Other famous successful also believed and applied the Law of Attraction in their lives. Imagination is everything; it is the preview of life’s coming attractions. Thoughts become things. If you see it in your mind, you will hold it in your hand. I believe you can speak things into existence. The law of attraction states that whatever you focus on, think about, read about, and talk about intensely, you’re going to attract more into your life. So, if your goal is financial abundance, you can easily turn yourself into a money magnet by changing your thoughts. However, this is easier said than done. Our belief system or our personal sense of reality is a product of our experiences. How we were brought up and the environment that we belong to play a crucial role in the development of our belief system. So, changing the way we look at things should only be possible with deliberate effort on our part. The good thing about it is that there are positive money habits that we can develop slowly to make it possible to attract wealth. Your mindset will play a crucial role in manifesting money into your life. A poverty mindset can block all blessings from coming in. So first and foremost you need to figure out what kind of mindset you have. Do you have a poverty mindset or an abundance mindset? If you have a limiting belief about money, you need to change your mindset. People who practice gratitude experience more happiness and positive things into their lives. A grateful heart focuses on the blessings rather than the problems in life. By being grateful, you are shifting your focus from the negative to the positive. This in turn will allow you to attract more positive things including money. Tithing is giving a portion, normally ten percent (10%) of income to others. The ten percent serves as an offering and an acknowledgement to a divine being that you are grateful for all your talents and blessings and that you are sharing these blessings to others. Tithing brings about more blessings. The more you give, the more you will receive. An affirmation is a positive statement that you say over and over again until you begin to believe it to be true. Affirmations are there to challenge your current reality. They also make you feel better about yourself. Money affirmations are positive statements about money that prepares the mind to receive the money. Through the affirmations, you are starting to believe that you are capable of producing wealth and this will in turn bring you to the correct vibration in attracting money. Examples of money affirmations include: Visualization is a very powerful tool in achieving the life that you desire. Visualize the life that you want. How will you describe your ideal life? What is your spring day? How much money do you want in your bank account? The clearer your dreams are, the more chances that it will come true. Every single second is an opportunity to change your life because at any moment, you can change the way you feel.
Spring Clearing Challenge
Spring Clearing Challenge
Take Time to Meditate
Practice Mindfulness
Let Your Feelings Go
Envision a New You
Don’t Forget to Have Fun
Korean Dramas About Pursuing Dreams
1. Dream High
2. Dr. Romantic 1 & 2
3. Itaewon Class
4. Last Empress
5. Record of Youth
6. Remember: War of the Son
7. Revolutionary Love
8. Start-Up
9. The Entertainer
10. WWW
Ways to Conserve Water at Home
1. Close the Tap When Not in Use
2. Fix Leaks
3. Plant Native Plants
4. Re-use Towels or Clothes
5. Run your Washing Machine / Dishwasher Only on Full Load
6. Take Shorter Showers
7. Water Plants in the Morning
8. Avoid Thawing Meat Using Water
9. Convert your Toilet to a Dual Flush
10. Recycle and Reuse Whenever Possible
Most Beautiful Places to Travel in Spring
1. Geneva, Switzerland
2. Holland, Netherlands
3. Kyoto, Japan
4. New York, USA
5. Tuscany, Italy
Signs That You Are Falling in Love
1. You can’t stop staring
2. They’re always on your mind
3. You want to spend more time with them
4. You become open to trying new things
5. You don’t mind when they do something unattractive
6. You become a little bit jealous
7. You want them to be happy
5 Habits to Adapt for Better Beauty
1. Start your morning fresh.
2. Treat yourself to a mini-pampering session.
3. Slow down at night.
4. Keep things simple.
5. Prioritize sleep.
Feature Image: Original Photo by Noah Buscher on Unsplash.
Lessons from “Think and Grow Rich”
1. Control Your Mind
2. Have A Strong Commitment
3. Have An Organized Plan
4. Use Your Energy Smartly
5. Be A Specialist
6. Learn from Masterminds
7. Conquer Your Fears
A symptom of this is indifference to money or a lack of ambition. To conquer it, tell yourself that what you have is enough and that getting more is easy. Turn your poverty mindset around so you can start putting action into getting out from your poor circumstances.
It is normal for people to be nervous in the presence of others. This is usually because we worry about what other people will say about us. This attitude freezes you and destroys your initiative to take action. Instead, stop worrying about what others will say and focus on your own improvement.
The fear of getting sick can us lazy because we put ourselves in an unhealthy state of mind and body. Focus on maintaining your healthy habits instead. If you feel something wrong, don’t go online and check out what symptom it is. Stop looking for the symptoms and control your thoughts and see how you can start feeling better. Trust your intuition whether you need to see a doctor or you just need to rest for a day from vigorous exercise.
Some of us don’t want to get into a relationship or are tied to an unhappy one because we fear losing a person’s love for us. Instead of dwelling on being single, try appreciate living by yourself. Learn to love yourself first. Once you’ve learned to have a good relationship with yourself; everything beyond that is a bonus which you will appreciate even more.
Accept that growing old is inevitable and think of it as a blessing instead. Getting old makes us much wiser and we are able to make smarter decisions. Our experience and wisdom also enables us to help more people younger than us by sharing with them our own experiences and life lessons.
Just like aging, death is inescapable. So the only way to cure this fear is to live your life to the fullest. Do the things that make you happy. Spend time with the people you love. Go out and experience different things that will become great memories later on. Learn to enjoy each moment and learn to rest when necessary.
Refreshing Date Ideas for Cheap or For Free!
Date at the Park
Photo by Alan Quirvan on UnsplashSpend Time with Nature
Photo by Tirachard Kumtanom from PexelsBe Sporty Together
Go on A Cheap Adventure
Photo by picjumbo.com from PexelsDate at Home
Photo by Mẫnn Quang from Pexels
Feature Image: Original Photo by Jonathan J. Castellon on Unsplash.
How to Attract Wealth Through the Law of Attraction
The Law of Attraction
Origin
Famous People Who Used the Law of Attraction
How to Attract Wealth Through The Law of Attraction
1. Ensure that You Have the Correct Mindset
2. Practice Gratitude
3. Tithe
4. Use Money Affirmations
5. Visualize
