success mindset

5 Spiritual Practices to Redesign and Transform Your Life

5 Spiritual Practices to Redesign and Transform Your Life

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Do you follow a spiritual practice? Spirituality is a journey, not a destination. It is a lifelong process of learning and growing, of connecting with something larger than ourselves. Spiritual practices can help us to align with our design and purpose, and live more fulfilling and meaningful lives.

Here are 5 spiritual practices that you can do every day to redesign and transform your life:

Meditation

Meditation is a spiritual practice of focusing your attention on the present moment. It can help to reduce stress, improve focus, and increase self-awareness. It can help you get to know yourself better and develop mindfulness that allows you to gain a deeper understanding of those around you. Practicing meditation can also help you on your journey to find your inner peace. There are many different types of meditation, so find one that works for you and make time for it every day.

Prayer

Prayer is a way of communicating with a higher power. It can be a way to communicate with your inner child or inner self. You can look at it as “self talk” that allows you to practice self love. It can be a way to express gratitude, ask for help, or simply connect with something larger than yourself. You can pray for guidance or a blessing for your goals; for the health of you and your family, and for forgiveness for yourself as well as for others. There is no right or wrong way to pray, so find a way that feels comfortable for you and do it every day.

Gratitude

Gratitude is the spiritual practice of focusing on the good things in your life and sharing it too. It can help to improve your mood, increase your happiness, and make you more resilient. It can be as simple as giving back through tithing. Having a positive attitude and being grateful for the lesson is also a helpful way to manage your emotions especially during tough times. There are many different ways to practice gratitude, such as keeping a gratitude journal or simply taking a few moments each day to think about the things you are grateful for.

Service

Service is the act of helping others. It can be a way to connect with your community, make a difference in the world, and feel good about yourself. You can help your loved ones feel better just by learning their love language and expressing your care for them that way. Helping in times of crisis is one way to be of service to others and to deepen your relationships too. Many people will need our service in different ways just as we need different people in our lives to help us with our own journey. There are many different ways to serve, so find something that you are passionate about and do it every day.

Nature

Nature has a way of grounding us and helping us feel more stable and secure about ourselves. Spending time in nature can help to reduce stress, improve mood, and increase creativity. Make time for nature every day, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Wake up early and go out to enjoy the sunshine. At night, you can take a walk after your meal to gaze at the moon and stars or just to enjoy the cooler air.

These are just a few of the many spiritual practices that you can do every day. Find what works best for you and make it a part of your routine. Spiritual practices can help you to live a more fulfilling and meaningful life and has many benefits:

  • Reduce stress and anxiety
  • Improve sleep
  • Increase self-awareness
  • Boost creativity
  • Improve relationships
  • Increase overall happiness and well-being

These spiritual practices are simple, easy to do, and can have a profound impact on your overall wellness.

Redesign and Transform Your Life One Step at a Time

Redesigning and transforming your life takes time and effort, but it is possible. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

Start small. Don’t try to change everything all at once. Start with one small change and build from there.

Be consistent. The key to success is consistency. Make a commitment to do your spiritual practices every day, even if it’s just for a few minutes.

Be patient. Change takes time. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results immediately. Just keep at it and you will eventually see the changes you want.

Redesigning and transforming your life is a gradual, and sometimes painful, process. It is a process of learning and growing, of finding out your purpose and even dreaming of accomplishing things that are larger than yourself. Spiritual practices can help you on this journey and make the experience a more fulfilling and meaningful one. All you need to do is to do the best you can, one step at a time.


Featured Image: Original Photo by Warren Wong on Unsplash.

Posted by H.J. Rangas in Spiritual, 3 comments
Success Is A Decision You Make

Success Is A Decision You Make

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Success is a decision you make. You make the decision at some point in your life. It just suddenly clicks for some people. For others, it takes some time to get to that place. First, it starts with a vision. How do you define success? What does success look like to you? If you don’t know what you want; you won’t know how to act to get it.

Success is a process, not an event.”

– Gary Halbert

Plan

Make a plan. Start with the little things. It’s the small things you do everyday that matters the most. These accumulate into a more impactful result if done consistently. You may not be able to afford some of the things you want at the moment. By saving a little each time, you can come up with the amount you want. You can improve your health over time. Just be consistent in exercising a few minutes a day.

Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.

– Benjamin Franklin

Do what you can with your current resources and take bigger steps as you accomplish each goal. Don’t forget to celebrate each victory to motivate you to go forward.

Environment

Set up your space. Your environment may be hindering your success. If you really want to change your life; you must decide and commit yourself to finding ways to overcome your circumstances. Create a space for yourself to work on your goals and show up to that place each day.

When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.

– Alexander Den Heijer

Part of your environment are the people around you. Are these supportive people who share your enthusiasm for your goals?

Commitment

Stay committed. Success starts with the decision to change; to do whatever needs to be done to get you closer to your goal. Decide. Plan. Do. Stay committed to your decision. Challenges will definitely come your way. This isn’t a sign that you are a failure. Successful people think of failures as a sign of progress. If you don’t fail, you won’t learn as much or at all. Keep a positive mindset and focus on the goal.

Your positive action combined with positive thinking results in success.

– Shiv Khera

Remember that your success ultimately depends in how much you believe in your self. You won’t be able to even reach the decision to commit to your success if you don’t believe that you can. Believe that you can and you most definitely will succeed.


Watch the video and get the worksheet to get more insights.
Updated. First published on Pinoy Smart Living on 2018.07.20.
Feature Image: Original Photo by krakenimages on Unsplash.

Posted by H.J. Rangas in Occupational, 0 comments
How To Not Give Up Today

How To Not Give Up Today

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Do you ever have days when you feel like giving up? Sometimes, negative emotions can be quite overwhelming. Intense sadness, grief and pain can even lead to depression. When you feel like you are at the lowest point in your life, don’t give up just yet. At least, not today! Remember that tomorrow is a new day. You just have to wait until zero o’clock and it is already a promise of a new day. So, how to not give up today?

1. Listen to Music

The first thing that you need to do is to listen to music. Music has the power to relieve stress and relax the mind. It affects both your mind and body. However, not all music is created equal. To calm your mind, it is best to listen to slow, meditation, classical or piano music. You can also opt to listen to positive affirmations. The purpose is to help you calm down.

2. Breathe Properly

Once you have calmed down, the next thing to do is to concentrate on your breathing. Have you heard of the ‘fight or flight’ response of the body? It is a natural reaction of the body to confront or avoid danger and to survive. When we are stressed, our heart rate and blood pressure increases. Our pupils dilate. We are tense, trembling and are on edge. Our breathing becomes shallow. The best way to control this is by deep breathing.

Get yourself in a comfortable position. Then, begin by inhaling through your nose. Fill your abdomen with air, expanding the belly outward. Then, hold your breath for a few seconds. Now, release your breath slowly through your lips. Repeat until you feel relaxed.

3. Start a Gratitude Journal

Then grab a notebook and a pen. Start your gratitude journal. A gratitude journal is a diary of all the things that you are grateful for. Compared to an ordinary diary where you record the events of the day, regardless of whether they are happy or sad memories; a gratitude journal simply focuses on the positive things in your life. By reflecting on all the blessings that you have received in your life, you are shifting your focus from the negative to the positive. Remember, what you focus on expands. if you focus on the positive, good things will happen to you. In the same way that if you focus too much on the negative, bad things will continue to happen to you.

Focus on the positive things in your life and you’ll be shocked at how many more positive things stat happening.

– Sophia Amoruso

Note that a gratitude journal has the power to change your life. Make your life happier by making it into a habit.

4. Create / Update Your Bucket List

Do you have a bucket list? If you have, then update your bucket list. If you still don’t have one, then it is time to create a bucket list.

A bucket list is a list of things that you want to accomplish in your lifetime. While in the process of creating a bucket list, you will begin to dream of a brighter future. instead of focusing on the things that you lack now, you will become excited about the possibilities of a better tomorrow. The bucket list will give you something to look forward to. it will also give new direction to your life.

5. Love Yourself

At this point, you are now ready to redesign your life. But before you do, it is important that you believe in yourself first. Always remember that happiness is a choice. The same is true with success. Choose to be happy. Choose to be successful. Any you can only do this if you love yourself. Keep in mind that you are special. No one has the power to hurt you unless you let them.


Feature Photo by Brett Jordan from Pexels

Posted by A.L. Jonas in Spiritual, 0 comments
Benefits of Being an Underdog

Benefits of Being an Underdog

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The truly successful know the benefits of being an underdog because they maintain that mindset. People who continue succeeding are those who still maintain the habits that they practiced when they were still underdogs. This is especially useful when they face new or unplanned challenges.

If you are starting a new career, a new business or restarting your life in some way; then you can consider yourself as starting from scratch again. You are in a great position to take advantage of being the underdog.

1. Your Goals, Your Rules

As an underdog, you are not obligated or pressured to declare your goals to the world. You can work quietly and in peace to achieve success. Change your direction when you need to and correct mistakes as you go along. Only you will notice most of these things.

This doesn’t mean you have to do things alone. You can slowly build your own network of people , even find mentors, who can help you in different ways. One of the benefits of an underdog is that you can go about this in your own way and at your own pace. It’s your call who you choose to work with and why.

2. Stronger Motivation

Most underdogs are less pressured than those who are already successful because people around them have low expectations of them. However, this only serves to fuel their motivation to succeed. Underdogs are not afraid to fail because they know they can learn from the experience.

Since you’re just starting out, you don’t have the pressure of having to keep up with your own reputation or defend your title or position as top dog in your field. Because of this, you have a stronger urge to prove yourself and impress the top dogs. You can surpass your own and other’s expectations as long as you work diligently and consistently.

3. Very High Creativity

Underdogs don’t often have the resources and social network that top dogs have. What they do have plenty of is creativity. With limited resources, you must find creative solutions to overcome obstacles along the way. You learn to analyze and manage your limited resources to get the best possible outcome. You have the courage to try out new ways of doing things.

Since you need to do everything yourself; you learn to do what you can with what you have and delegate where you need to. One of the benefits being an underdog is you also learn to prioritize and allocate time, personnel and other resources more efficiently. These skills will come in handy when you progress on to bigger goals in the future.

4. Everyone is Rooting for You

Although underdogs are less pressured from high expectations; people who see them going after their goals empathize with them. After all, aren’t we all underdogs until we reach the top? That’s why underdogs usually enjoy a lot of empathy and support from many people.

Underdogs tend to help others and root for each other. They are a fan of each other’s talents and skills. It’s always fun to get together with other underdogs and celebrate your wins. With underdogs, small victories are always cherished moments.

As an underdog, you are a bundle of potential. You are only competing against yourself. You are only limited by your own imagination. Being an underdog means that you have every opportunity to surprise everyone with your success. So good luck! We’re rooting for you!


Feature Image: Original Photo by John Schnobrich on Unsplash.

Posted by H.J. Rangas in Social, 0 comments
Courage Counts the Most

Courage Counts the Most

Reading Time: 2 minutes

As human beings, we often forget that courage counts the most. We are always in pursuit of something new. When we achieve a goal, we go on to the next goal. This means that success is not a final destination. Success is a string of victories that we celebrate as some of the highest points in our lives.

On the other hand, people who have failed to achieve success are mostly those who are afraid to fail. The fear of failing leads people to just be content with what they have currently achieved; and not ask or want for anything more. The fear of failing discourages us to take risks that might lead to greater opportunities.

Life is not about how hard of a hit you can give… it’s about how many you can take and still keep moving forward.

– Sylvester Stallone, Rocky

Successful people know that failure is part of the journey to success. It is only when we look back that we are able to connect the dots. Then we see how one failure lead to an opportunity; which lead to the right path to get to the goal.

It is not how many times you get knocked down that counts, it’s how many times you get back up.

– George A. Custer

People who have achieved success know that when faced with failure; it is the courage to get up and continue pursuing their dreams that count the most. As long as you get up and stay determined to find a way through the obstacle to your success; you will still reach your goal.

Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.

– Confucius

Whether you failed because of a mistake or through unforeseen circumstances; don’t give up. Learn the lesson and try again. Learn to welcome challenges. If you have the courage to fail and stand up again; you are on the right path to success.


Updated. First published on Pinoy Smart Living on 2018.10.13.
Feature Image: Original Photo by Razvan Chisu on Unsplash.

Posted by H.J. Rangas in Emotional, 0 comments
How to Practice Self-Control

How to Practice Self-Control

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Do you know the Marshmallow Test? It is a study about self-control. In the study, results indicate that children who practiced self-control have better outcomes in life. Thus, the study proves that self-control is vital in the fulfillment of goals. Indeed, the ability to control our desires, emotions and impulses can ultimately lead to a happier, healthier and wealthier life. But the question now is how to practice self-control.

Here are some tips on how to improve your will power:

1.Believe in Willpower

Willpower is the ability to control one’s thoughts and actions. Believing that you can actually accomplish something gives you a strong determination to accomplish a difficult task. In other words, it is a belief that you have in yourself that you have in your hands the power to create success or failure.

If you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right.

– Henry Ford

Rather than thinking that you can’t do something, shift your thinking to “I will do it” or “I choose to do it.”

2. Exercise

A new study from the University of Kansas reveals that exercising is a simple way to increase our self-control. Physical activities affect our mood, and this can ultimately affect how people make decisions. The study shows how regular physical exercise altered and improved the decision-making of the controlled group in areas relating to self-discipline such as anger control, healthy eating, spending, studying habits and commitments. The study also reveals how exercise reduced unhealthy habits such as smoking and caffeine consumption.

3. Look at the Bigger Picture

When you look at the bigger picture, you are not just looking at satisfying your desire for now. Instead, you are focusing on your bigger goals and what you ultimately want to accomplish. In short, there is change in the perspective of things. It is easier to divert and refocus. In the end, you will be able to make decisions based on your true priorities.

For example, you have always wanted to have your own car. And your goal is to raise enough money for the downpayment of the car. But a new cellphone model has been released. And you want to purchase one. However, you are well aware that if you purchase that cellphone now, it means a step further away from having your own car. So, what do you do in this scenario? It is so easy to succumb to your immediate desire. But a person looking at the bigger picture will have a different decision.

4.Meditate

Meditation puts us in command of our emotions. Through mindfulness practice, we get to learn to observe our thoughts and feelings. As we begin to become aware and pay attention to the bodily sensations that accompany a specific emotion; we begin to master impulse and behavior control. Awareness and acceptance increase our capacity to inhibit such impulses.

5. Stay Away from Temptation

Assess yourself, are you the type of person who is simply not wired to have excellent self-control? If so, then the best thing to do is to stay away from temptation. Why subject yourself to torture and struggle when you can easily remove it.

For example, you love eating junk foods. Resisting them is a big challenge for you. Then, the best thing to do is not to purchase one. Don’t fill your pantry with junk food. Avoid that aisle in the grocery. If it is not readily available, then there is nothing to eat. In short, out of sight, out of mind. Period.


Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Posted by A.L. Jonas in Emotional, 0 comments
The Marshmallow Test: Now or Delayed Gratification?

The Marshmallow Test: Now or Delayed Gratification?

Reading Time: 6 minutes

The Marshmallow Test gave children the choice to eat now or choose delayed gratification for another marshmallow. The experiment studied how children exercise their self-control. Stanford professor Walter Mischel conducted this is experiment in the 1960s. This test was part of a series of psychological studies which followed the children’s performance until they had become adults. The results showed the power of choice and the benefits of choosing to delay gratification for better rewards.

The Marshmallow Experiment

The study was first conducted with children ages of 4 to 5. The researchers gave each child a marshmallow. The children had the choice to eat one marshmallow now or later. If they can wait without eating the first marshmallow, they will be given another marshmallow.

Some of the children ate their marshmallows right away as soon as the researcher left. Others struggled with themselves and finally succumbed to the temptation of the treat. Some children waited patiently choosing delayed gratification for a better reward of two marshmallows.

Other items used in the tests were stickers with the same conditions for each of the group of children.

As adult, those who waited for a second marshmallow generally performed well in most areas of their lives. These children scored higher grades in school and responded better to stressful situations. They also had low inclination for substance abuse and other addictive behavior and had better overall health. Their parents also reported these children as having good social skills.

Other Studies

The Marshmallow Test was just one of the tests during the experiment. In another test, a researcher gave a group of children a box of crayons. The researchers promised to give them a bigger box when they returned later but they didn’t return. One group got the promised bigger box of crayons.

The impact of this experiment is tremendous to the child’s psyche and is useful for parents. In this experiment, the first group who had unreliable experiences learned not to trust the researcher’s promise. The second group learned to view waiting as a positive experience. They also trained their minds to wait longer and be more patient. In short, the second group started learning self-control and viewed delayed gratification as a rewarding experience.

This test also showed that a child’s capacity for self-control and choosing to delay gratification was not an inherent trait. Their experiences with other adults and their environment influenced how they view this process.

The series of experiments lasted over 40 years until the children became adults. The performance of the adults showed that being able to delay gratification was a critical factor for success in life.

Mischel and his team have also conducted the test on different parts of the world and the results were universal. More recent studies included include even more variables such as parent’s education and economic status. These studies show that a child’s environment greatly affect their development of self-control. The presence and behavior of other adults around them also affected their mindset on delayed gratification.

Why Delay Gratification?

The Marshmallow Test shows us that even children are capable of self-control. They also show that our ability to make choices are strongly impacted by our environment and the people around us. There are many benefits of choosing to delay gratification for a better, future reward. However, children need to develop trust in the process. These factors are very important to help them develop their patience for delayed gratification.

Making & Keeping Promises

This is especially important for parents to learn that they are their children’s primary role models and simple behavior such as how they keep or break promises and how they react to the same situations can greatly impact their child’s perception of how to behave towards others and how to act in the same situations. Thus, it is important for parents to show their children how to deal better with negative situations early on in life.

Valuing Long-Term Results

This study shows that our capacity for self-control is only limited by how much we value the reward. The higher we see the value of the reward; the more inclined we are to delay immediate gratification. The lower the perceived value of the reward, the less work we put into it. Note that the perceived value of the rewards is also influenced by the person/s who promises to fulfill the reward.

Increasing Self Value

With accumulation of more positive experiences from constantly exercising self-control in stressful or decisive situations; we also learn to perceive ourselves as more capable of doing things to achieve our goals. We increase our perception of personal value and we gain more confidence in making even bigger decisions and handling larger responsibilities. In the process, we learn to value self-discipline as a means to achieve the results we want.

Learn How to Delay Gratification

Most of us adults pride ourselves in our capacity for being able to exercise our self-control and decision-making. But how in-control are we really? How often do we give in to impulse-buying because an item was on sale? How many days a week do we declare as our “cheat day” and we throw away our healthy eating plan outside the window because the pizza or steak was just too tempting or because a friend was treating us to dinner?

Most of us are guilty of just totally losing ourselves in stressful or tempting situations. The good news is, there are ways in which we can practice and enhance our capacity for self-control. We can improve our ability for choosing to delay immediate gratification or to choose whichever next action is most favorable for the end result we want. Just like exercise, we need to train our brain muscles for better self-control.

Start Small

The first step is always a baby step so when introducing a new habit into your lifestyle, start with small goals. If you want to be more productive during the morning, maybe wake up 30 minutes earlier the first week, then try getting up an hour earlier the next week. If you fail at the 30-minute mark, then start again and try for 15 minutes this time. But be sure to do the prep work too, so you better sleep earlier as well. This will also help you in transforming your morning habits.

Break It Down

If you have several goals, then break them down into small actionable steps. For example, if you want to be more productive in the morning, then you need to sleep early and wake up early in order to start work early. List down what you need to do to sleep early such as no watching TV after dinner, making the bedroom more conducive to sleep by getting fluffier pillows and dimming the lights, etc. Do your homework for each requirement and prepare.

Focus on The One

Focus on one thing at a time. Once you have your goals and tasks broken down, pick a task from each goal that you will incorporate into your routine daily. For example, set a time in the evening when you should be getting ready to sleep. If you want to be in bed by 10PM, then start preparing for sleep by 9PM; brush your teeth, wash your face and put on your moisturizer, change into your pajamas, play relaxing music while you do all these, dim the bedroom lights, etc. You can pick any of these to integrate into your routine. Keep adding another task until your prepping for sleep routine is complete.

Be Consistent

When incorporating a new habit, consistency is key to ensure that you adapt the habit seamlessly. So focus on one thing you need to do to achieve your goal each day for a week, then focus on it for another week and so on. Studies show that it takes at least 21 days to learn a new habit so be consistent for at least 3 weeks and by that time, the habit should be so much a part of your routine that you don’t even notice you’re doing it. By then it’s time to introduce the next item on your list.

Change Up & Set a Deadline

Of course, if one method doesn’t work for you, then feel free to change up your strategy until you arrive at one that works for you. It is important that you set a reasonable deadline. Measure your small steps towards your major goal so you can measure your progress which is also reassurance that your efforts are paying off.

Don’t be too hard on yourself though and celebrate each milestone, but don’t go overboard. Stay within your goals. Stay on budget if you have a budget goal! When you’re feeling down, review your goals and remind yourself why you are doing the things you do. Remember what Spiderman’s uncle said to him: “with great power comes great responsibility.”

You may not be out to save the world, but you can save yourself and other people from a lot of heartaches and stress by learning self-discipline and enhancing your capacity to choose to delay immediate gratification for even greater rewards.

The most successful people in the world have mastered the art of delayed gratification. Your ability to practice delayed gratification is a sign of a a high emotional quotient. Your EQ is a determining factor towards your journey to success.


Updated. First published on Pinoy Smart Living on 2018.07.04.
Feature Image: Original Image by studionone from Pixabay.

Posted by H.J. Rangas in Emotional, 0 comments
How to Look Expensive on a Budget

How to Look Expensive on a Budget

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Did you know that how you dress influences how you perform in life? Numerous studies show that how you dress affect your physical and mental well-being. If you look good, you feel good. If you dress well, you will exude confidence and this will simply affect how others perceive you. Whether you like it or not, appearances do matter. Thus, if you want to become successful, you need to dress the part. You need to learn how to dress for success. The good news is that you don’t need to actually wear expensive clothes to look expensive. Here are some secrets on how to look expensive even on a budget.

1.Wear Black

If you have been to Paris, London, Milan, New York  and other fashion capitals of the world, you will be surprised that most people in those cities prefer to wear black. Black has been the symbol of power, elegance, luxury, and fashion.

Black is a neutral color. It blends perfectly well with any other color of clothing or accessories because it is very versatile. It will look good on anybody regardless of skin color or body shape.

Black is the most slimming of all colors. It is the most flattering. You can wear black at any time. You can wear it at any age and you can wear it for almost any occasion.

– Christian Dior

Image Credit: Popsugar

Black is simple and modern. You can experiment on different fabrics and styles without hurting your budget. The black pieces that you purchased more than a decade ago can still look good until today. You can wear it 24 hours a day. It works perfectly in the morning as well as the evening. You can never go wrong with black.

2. Wear White

If black is not your thing, then wear white.  The color white is the color of perfection.  It is pure and it looks clean.  A white on white ensemble is simple yet it is chic.  You can wear it on the street or you can wear it on the beach. You can match it with any other color.  A white shirt or blouse paired with a pair of jeans still looks elegant despite its simplicity.  Just add any accessories and you are good to go but don’t forget to wear nude or white underwear.

Image Credit: US Magazine

3. Use a Structured Bag

A bag is very useful. It is not only functional, it also completes an outfit. If you can spare a few bucks and do your budgeting responsibly, a designer handbag can be a form of investment too as long as you stick to the classics. If you visit some designer outlets in some parts of the world, you might get lucky and find your investment bag in outlets at a discounted rate.

Image Credit: Vogue

On a budget? Fret not. It is possible to find a stylish bag that looks expensive without actually splurging. Forget about those knockoff designer handbags with big logos. Instead, opt for a structured bag. They are chic and timeless. The simple lines and hardware gives the added poise and polish that will complete your look. Use the structured top handle bag in the office and use the cross-body strap for a more casual look on the weekend.

4. Wear Pointed Shoes

Wearing pointed heels or shoes create an elongated effect. It instantly makes your legs longer making you look taller, slimmer and more graceful. They give a sleek, sophisticated and expensive look. It is also easier to dress it up or tone it down. A black pointed heel is a must have in every closet.

Image Credit: Splurgerina

Pointed shoes can be paired in almost everything. If you are a woman and you are not fond of wearing heels, fancy flat pointed shoes on formal occasions will do the trick. If you are wearing casual clothing and you want to dress it up a little, pointed shoes will also do the trick.

5.Wear Clothes That Fit You

Fit is the most important aspect of dressing. Well-fitting clothes will complement your body. If you wear something too tight, not only will it make you uncomfortable, it will also make you appear fatter. On the contrary, if you wear something too big or oversized, you tend to be more relaxed. Although it will cover your true body shape, you will end up exhibiting a poor posture. You will come off as sloppy.

Image Credit: Mens Fashion Magazine

Unfortunately, most people buy clothes that don’t fit them, especially if the clothes are on sale. If in case you end up buying one, make sure to visit the tailor first and have it adjusted to your size before you even consider wearing it.

6. Don’t Wear Wrinkled Clothes

Going out looking like you slept in your clothes is a big no, no. If you want to look nice and expensive, you have to make sure that your clothes are properly steamed or pressed. Wearing wrinkled, dirty and sloppy looking clothes gives the impression that you don’t care or you don’t put importance to people that you are meeting. Put it this way, it will turn off prospective clients, your boss or even your date.

Well ironed clothes make them look more expensive than they actually are. Pressing your clothes before going out makes a  lot of difference in your overall look.

7.Have a Signature Scent

Have you ever met someone that you are drawn to because they look so elegant and lovely because of their scent?  A signature scent is a fragrance of a person that lingers in your memory that it becomes a part of that person’s very essence.  Your task is to look for your very own signature scent.  The scent need not be expensive.  It can be a perfume, a cologne or an eau de toilette.  The important thing is that it has to be scent that suits you.  It has to be something that you like that will make you feel confident about yourself.

8.Choose the Right Materials

When it comes to clothing materials, choose the ones that are made of natural fabrics like cashmere, cotton, leather, linen, silk and suede.  Unfortunately, not all can afford these materials because most of them come with a price tag to match.  The good news is that there are some affordable clothing materials out there that look expensive.  All you need to do is to look for these fabrics the next time you shop.

9.Add a Statement Piece

A statement piece always works in improving an outfit.  You can use a scarf, a belt, necklaces, bracelets or other jewelries.  If you have extra cash invest on vintage accessories or a luxury watch.  Just choose something that will accentuate your outfit and bring it to life.  Just remember not to overdo it.

10. Pay Attention to Small Details

Little things do matter. It is the finishing touches of an outfit that help complete your look. Here are some small details that you should pay attention to that people normally overlook:

  • Lining should be invisible.
  • Zippers should not be exposed.
  • Clothes should be correctly buttoned.
  • No loose threads on hems.
  • Threads should be the same colour as fabric.


First Published in Pinoy Smart Living on 01.28.2019.

Feature Image by Pixabay Images

Posted by A.L. Jonas in Physical, 0 comments
Spring Clearing Challenge

Spring Clearing Challenge

Reading Time: 4 minutes

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.

Spring Clearing Challenge

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.

Take Time to Meditate

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.

Practice Mindfulness

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.

Let Your Feelings Go

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.

Envision a New You

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.

Don’t Forget to Have Fun

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.

Posted by H.J. Rangas in Spiritual, 0 comments
Lessons from “Think and Grow Rich”

Lessons from “Think and Grow Rich”

Reading Time: 5 minutes

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.

1. Control Your Mind

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.

2. Have A Strong Commitment

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.

3. Have An Organized Plan

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.

4. Use Your Energy Smartly

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.

  1. Sex (the most powerful)
  2. Love
  3. Music
  4. Money
  5. Friends

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.

5. Be A Specialist

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.

6. Learn from Masterminds

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.

7. Conquer Your Fears

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.

  1. Poverty
    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.
  2. Criticism
    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.
  3. Illness
    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.
  4. Loss of Love
    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.
  5. Old Age
    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.
  6. Death
    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.

Feature Image: Original Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash.

Posted by H.J. Rangas in Financial, 0 comments