Friday, June 26, 2009

Rely on Your Inner Strength For Stress Reduction

We all have to deal with stress. As you work your way towards success, there will always be hindrances. When problems arise, retreating is not always the answer. Giving up is the coward’s way out, and people ruled with fear will never achieve anything or amount to much. Stress is a part of life, and when you allow things to get out of control, you only make the situation worse. When you leave things be and focus your attention elsewhere, you are allowing the situation to win. Your life will be about avoiding issues, and nothing will ever get better. You have to sooner or later deal with it, and when you put off your responsibilities, you may one day find yourself overburdened with problems that are too tough to handle.

Do you want to spend half your life running away from things you fear? If you do this, then you are not living your life to the fullest. You are merely surviving. You will deny yourself from the true pleasures of life simply because you are trying to avoid trials. You won’t go anywhere and instead stagnate. Then you see the people around you living their dreams, while you are still at the bottom of the ladder. When you experience difficult days, you turn your back away and see that the problems have never actually disappeared. In fact, you merely threw a cloak over it and hid it for awhile. But things will always have a way of coming out, and when this happens, you will no longer have a chance to run away from it. You may then try to deal with it, but has already blown way out of proportion that there is no way of getting around it.

You now really need to find an immediate solution to controlling the situation and improving your circumstances. Do it now before it controls you. Although many of you regard stress as the enemy, there are ways to making it your friend. Quiet time is, without exception, the best way to clear up your head. You also have to trust in your abilities. When you find yourself in a predicament, you have to see it as a chance to strategize and prove to yourself and the people around you that you are more than capable of many things. Your experiences also play a big part in how you believe in your talents and capabilities.

We all have this inner critic that never changes. This stops us from seeing our true strengths and abilities. The key to moving forward and overcoming insecurities is to bring awareness to what you want and what you have achieved at present. Reclaim your self esteem and courage. Harness enough energy so that you can live through day to day experiences with a new zest for life. There is nothing you can’t achieve if you simply put your mind to it. You simply have to get up every time you fall. You may find yourself bruised and battered, but if you strive forth, you’ll be able to conquer any trial and win over it with a mind filled with wisdom.

One of life’s goals is to teach you a lesson, let you learn as you go through each and every experience. Gain more knowledge from it and apply what you’ve learned. Practice makes perfect, and if you keep at it, you’ll see that it gets easier along the way.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Changing Rules - Make New Rules Work for You

With today’s ever-changing trends, doing what’s conventional no longer works. You are no longer faced with the same kind of situations. The main cause for this change is the development of new technology that leads to a faster paced lifestyle. The person of the 21st century knows that there are new rules to follow. If you refuse to adjust to these changes, then you may as well get used to swallowing the dust of other people that pass you up and leave you behind with the stragglers.

Whereas family used to be the most important thing in a person’s life, today’s world demands that you prioritize other things as well. Yes, your family may be important, but so is your job. Moreover, not everyone is lucky enough to be surrounded with a nurturing and loving clan. If you feel alone, you should go out of your way and establish your own surrogate family. This different and new version of a unit is comprised of friends that love each other unconditionally. It is now common for people to have acrimonious relationships with their parents and siblings. As sad as this may sound, some of them have actually been able to establish family-like bonds with the people around them. Instead of sulking, you have to embrace what you have and see things as a gift. This is a classic case of ‘when life gives you lemons you make lemonade.’

Gone too are the days when mixing business with pleasure was a taboo. Companies have realized that great personal relationships within the office can increase work satisfaction amongst the employees. When you get to know your colleagues you also get to learn their strengths and weaknesses. It is much easier to work in unity when you know the people around you. Make your coworkers your friends and see how smoothly things start running. It is also a great way to earn the respect of people that matter.

Another big difference between life now and life before is the fact that more and more people have learned the value of enjoying their youth. When women in their thirties and forties weren’t married then, they were considered spinsters. That is far from being true nowadays. In fact, many claim that 40 is the new 30. What this means is that people are now allowed to fully enjoy their lives before they even think about settling down and starting a family. The world just offers so many opportunities, and by settling down early, you can somewhat feel that you are missing out on life. Travel while you can, live while you can. There are opportunities available everywhere, and it is your right to open the door every time you are given the chance to make something for yourself.

When you feel that you haven’t achieved much, don’t pressure yourself too much. You shouldn’t be in a hurry to grow up. What matters most is that you savor every experience and learn from it. The idea of maturity has changed significantly. You no longer have to be at the top of the corporate ladder and an owner of a new luxurious home. A mature person is now someone who is able to adjust to the changes and is willing to make life work for him or her. The rules have changed, and so should you!

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Gaining Self-Confidence

Some believe that in order to get everything that you desire most in life, you need money.

Though a lot of things in this world can be acquired with the help of some cash, there are other ways for you to achieve your dreams. Money is not the means to an end, it is merely a reward when you have self-confidence. If you have all the material possessions but don’t believe in your abilities, these things will be useless and worthless. Self confidence comes from knowing that you have the skills needed to achieve any goal you want. Even the most capable mind won’t amount to much without the self-confidence. It forms a base on which every structure rests, it is what keeps the things around you upright, and more importantly, it is what gives you the energy to move forward and pursue your dreams.

The good thing about self confidence is that it can get passed to the people you’ll encounter. A person who knows that he can do anything that he wants gets the respect of everyone around. He will also be the inspiration for others to follow in his footsteps because it seems as if the universe itself decided to shine on that man’s fate. In today's competitive world, self confidence is a basis of survival. In turn, that man draws more energy from his surroundings. This energy makes you a better person. This is an upward spiral that only gets better by the moment!

One can never predict what happens in their future, and in order to overcome unexpected hurdles, you need to develop confidence in yourself. You should always see life as a chance to know what you need to work on so that you can become a better person. This takes a lot of practice. After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day. To become a more confident person, you need to keep practicing the following:

1. Stop worrying about the opinions of other people. Never allow others to make you feel like the lesser person. The opinion you should value the most is your own. Just keep your eye on your destination and hold your head up high as you see yourself slowly climbing up the ladder of success.

2. Learn from your mistakes and use life’s lessons as your weapon. You need to take responsibility for the choices that you’ve made and never fail to strategize based on your experience.

3. Have faith. This keeps you determined to keep on and put all your energy into achieving what you want most from life simply because you know that it will happen if you just never give up.

We all have our own strengths and weaknesses. We can all excel by sticking to our principles. We also have to know that we can’t always win in every game we play, but this shouldn’t stop us from our mission. The secret to success is to be brave enough to face the unknown. Trust in yourself and know that with self-confidence, you can overcome problems and go further than you’ve ever expected.

Monday, June 15, 2009

The Art Of Argument: How to Win Arguments

The art of argument: How to Win Arguments

Arguments will always be a part of human relationships. The difference in upbringing and beliefs make each person unique. Often times, people view a disagreement in a negative light. While getting into a squabble with another person can be stressful, it has its upside as well. When you argue, you open doors to change. As with any other person, we all need to adjust and learn the value of meeting half way.

People argue differently. Some shout while others sulk in the corner. The key to winning a fight is to identify the person’s tactical maneuvers. You need to learn the art of disarming your opponents with ploys of your own.

Some people like to shout when they bicker. These people get upset even with the most trifle issues. Their screams set alarms off and their offenses ring forever in your ears. People who shout lack control of their emotions. By telling them to put a lid on it will only make matters worse. It’s always about power and aggression. In cases like these, you should not fight fire with fire. They will only shut you out and refuse to listen to what you have to say. What you can do is back off and give that other person a chance to cool down. Then, you need to approach them calmly and tactfully. Make them aware of their unhealthy way of venting out emotions and tell them that you won’t engage when they are in that mode. If their outburst persists, leave. People like them have anger management issues that can only be resolved with the help of an expert.

If, on the other hand, they like to remain quiet and stoic when they are upset, you have to stop the confrontation. The more you force it out of them, the more difficult they become. They will often leave you frustrated and helpless because they won’t respond to self-defense. This may be their defense mechanism at work, and this may be their way of feeling safe during times of stress. Try writing what you feel because while they can tune you out, they won’t be able to tune out the written argument. If they are your friend, they will read your letter. Never suppress important issues. What you need to do is broach the subject calmly. Try to lighten their mood and brighten their spirits by being humble and objective.

There are also people that simply like to sulk when they get upset. They slam doors and mutter a lot, and when you do ask them what is wrong, they keep their answers abrupt and vague. While shouters are difficult to deal with, these people can be just as destructive. The secret is to deal with them on neutral ground. Give them time and find ways to come to an agreement.

Whatever type of argument you find yourself in, it always helps to be the bigger person. Never blow your fuse and try to be rational about the situation. People are likely to respect those who see things as they are. Never sugarcoat your opinions, but you also have to be diplomatic about it. After all, the best way to earn their respect is to show them that you value their thoughts and emotions as well.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Overcoming the Fear Failure

How To Overcome Fear of Failure?

Wouldn’t it be great if we were all mentally tough and that we could take whatever life throws our way? Fear of the unknown is what usually holds us back from doing anything remotely interesting and different. Usually though, this only takes the backseat to an even bigger fear, and that is fear of failure! Sure we want to discover something so innovative that we leave people in awe, but we also continually ask ourselves ‘what if,’ and that stops us immediately in our tracks.

Life is a game wherein we all take a gamble every so often, but what sets us apart from the winners is our attitude when we get into the game. We simply become too afraid and will settle for mediocrity simply because we do not want to be humiliated. We accept defeat and convince ourselves that the skill is just not in us. We should keep in mind that while negative thoughts create gloom, the energy radiated by having a positive attitude is reflected in our actions.

The same goes to our professional lives. Some of us go to work, do our job, and basically do everything as a routine of habit. We are far from being satisfied with our careers but we carry on nonetheless. Why? Because that’s what we do and are familiar with. We have other dreams but keep them on the back burner because we don’t know if we have the right abilities and talents. If we do decide to pursue our dreams and do what we are most passionate about, we fear that we aren’t good enough and that we might humiliate ourselves in the end. Our life can become a sham with this attitude, and we definitely have to pursue our innermost desires to have a chance at happiness.

Overcoming the Fear Failure

If you have a fear of failure, know that this is not unique to only you. Many other people dread the thought of losing. However, it is important to note that this fear can do more than keep us from being successful. It holds us back from living the kind of life we deserve. Often times, this form of terror develops over a period of time, often triggered by memories of sadness. Because we did fail in the past, we know how it felt when people laughed at us when we fell and couldn’t get up.

The truth is, we are good enough. We may not be talented in some areas, but surely there is something we are excellent at. We need to improve our self esteem and realize that life is all about experimenting. If we fail, then maybe we should look at the process and see what went wrong. Every good scientist knows that they have to come up with a good hypothesis before they test it.

We all have to be that scientist who willingly tries out every theory. The road to success is ridden with bumps, and it is only in trying will we realize which ones should be avoided. If there’s one thing I can assure you, it is the fact that people who keep trying despite their hundreds of failures will triumph a lot sooner than those who don’t give any effort at all.

So, how exactly can we all overcome fear? Just take baby steps but be brave enough to give everything a shot. Those who cop out will be those who will live their lives with great regret.

Here's another great post about The Power of Failure

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

How to Play It Smart During Tough Times

It’s easy to feel like you’re hanging by your fingernails during turbulent and tough times. As the economy goes from bad to worse, your ideal future looks bleaker by the day. That’s why, you need to find ways wherein you can budget your earnings and save more despite the rising prices. In fact, you need to know now more than ever where your money goes. What you need is a plan to protect your money, health, and well-being.

If you are worried about where the economy’s headed, then count yourself as one of the lucky few. People who live their lives free of worries may one day find themselves knee-deep in debts and problems. Know what your expenses are. If you need to write them down, then do so. Make sure that you can account for every single cent. A list gives you a view of the entire picture. It’ll also give you an idea where your dollar goes. By tracking your daily costs in a diary, you will be able to see where you can cut back. You don’t have to buy something every time you feel stress. In fact, showing some willpower will give you a sense of control. If you are a member of a club or the gym, check out the deals they have for their cash-strapped clients. Get a discount when you can, and avoid unnecessary spending.

Nowadays, you also need to know that you can always have a job to fall back on. Especially with the recent economic difficulties, companies are now trying to downsize their manpower. Work hard and make the upper management know that you are an integral and indispensible part of the company. For starters, try to hand in your projects before the deadline. Make sure that you are getting the attention that you deserve. You can be the most industrious employee, but if your boss doesn’t know it, then you have nothing to gain from all your efforts. This, of course, does not mean that you become one of those people who like to brag a lot. You just have to document everything that you’ve done and regularly update your supervisor just so they’ll know where you are with work.

Just remember that in times of stress, you must never take your health for granted. Make sure that you have a way to release tension. Exercise is said to be the most helpful solution. When you work out, your body releases hormones that help you become more relaxed. Spend some time in the gym, or go for a walk. Whatever it is, just make sure that you sweat it out. Many people have sworn to the effectiveness of a workout. Just make sure that you have an outlet your anxiety. Keeping your issues bottled up can be very harmful to the various aspects of your life.

Lastly, enjoy the company of friends. It helps to know that you have a great support system by your side during your most difficult days. Even casually discussing your dreams to your friends and loved ones can be motivation enough for you to go into a quest to achieve them. The world can either be your ally or your enemy during these tough times. Make things work for you and ensure that you make plans for your future.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Being a Great Team Player

Some people make great leaders, and while they can manage the team seamlessly, some have a hard time bequeathing this role to someone else. Could that person be you? Do you play well with others or would you rather do things alone if you can’t lead? Being a team player requires a very different mentality, a dissimilar state of mind.

Good social skills are a plus in a leader, but not a necessity. People have to follow you because you are considered an authority in your field. Though you may not be well-liked by the people on your team, they still have to follow you out of duty or respect. But to be a great team player is altogether another issue. You need to work well with the others on your team and complement your skill with theirs. It’s all about getting along professionally and personally. You have to be able to manage your emotions and then be able to communicate to your fellow team members effectively. Adapt and have an intuitive sense of others in order to become understanding of everyone around you. You will to learn to take into account everyone’s viewpoints in order to make the good of the collective stronger and more effective.

The skill set for the Captain is pivotal to the success of any team, but more than that are the individual attributes of the players who do all the manual labor, so to speak. The members of the team are usually the people known for coordination and hard work. In a way, there has to be a leader in every person. It has to be in them to go further than what they are required to do and make sure that the ones that surround them also get the credit for the effort they put in. There should be no thirst for power with any member and they must have the ability to pick up the slack that others leave behind.

Sometimes, your goals will differ from the goals of others. You must make sure to keep the team's goals on your priority list. You also should have the initiative to learn more about the dynamics of the team and what it takes to accomplish the desired end-state. Try to think about reaching that goal as the absolute destination, and not just a possibility.

Each player must recognize his or her individual strengths so that he knows what to provide the team with and which skills are most useful. You must establish your strength from the very beginning so that the leader is in a better position to put you in a task where you excel and are most comfortable in.

Lastly, be helpful. There may be occasions wherein a team member will become so engulfed in their own tasks that they fail to realize the others who are struggling. The ‘to each his own’ attitude simply doesn’t work here. After all, the team is only as strong as its weakest member. By being more aware of the things around you, you completely eliminate any kind of weakness and actually become a force to be reckoned with.