The Illusion Of Value

Imagine you're on a game show, and you can choose between two prizes: a diamond or bottle of water! It's an easy choice. The diamonds are clearly more valuable. Now imagine being given the same choice again, only this time, you're not on a game show, but dehydrated in the desert after wandering for days. Do you choose differently? Why? Aren't diamonds still more valuable?

This is the paradox of value, famously described by pioneering economist Adam Smith. And what it tells us is that defining value is not simple as it seems.

On the game show, you were thinking about each item's exchange value, what you could obtain for them at a later time, but in emergency, like the desert scenario, what matters far more is their use value, how helpful they are in your current situation. And because we only get to choose one of the options, we also have to consider its opportunity cost, or what we lose by giving up the other choice. After all, it doesn't matter how much you could get from selling the diamond if you never make it out of the desert.

Most modern economists ideal with the paradox of value by attempting to unify these considerations under the concept of utility, how well something satisfies a person's wants or needs.

The utility can apply to anything from the basic need for food to the pleasure of hearing a favorite song, and will naturally vary for different people and circumstances.

A market economy provides us with an easy way to track utility. Put simply, the utility something has to you is reflected by how much you'd be willing to pay for it.

Now imagine yourself back in the desert, only this time, you get offered a new diamond or a fresh bottle of water every five minutes. If you're like most people, you'll first choose enough water to last the trip, and then as many diamonds as you can carry. This is because of something called the marginal utility, and it means that when you choose between diamonds and water, you compare utility obtained from every additional bottle of water to every additional diamond. And you do this each time an offer is made.

The first bottle of water is worth more to you than any amount of diamonds, but eventually, you have all water you need. After a while, every additional bottle becomes a burden. That's when you begin to choose diamonds over water.

And it's not just necessities like water. When it comes to most things, the more of it you acquire, the less useful or enjoyable every additional bit becomes. This is the law of diminishing marginal utility.

You might gladly buy two or three helpings of your favorite food, but the fourth would make you nauseated, and the hundredth would spoil before you could even get to it. Or you could pay to see the same movie over and over until you got bored of it or spent all of your money. Either way, you'd eventually reach a point where the marginal utility of buying another movie ticket became zero.

Utility applies not just to buy things, but to all our decisions. And the intuitive way to maximize it and avoid diminishing returns is to vary the way we spend our time and resources. After our basic needs are met, we'd theoretically decide to invest in choices only to the point they're useful or enjoyable.

Of course, how effectively any of us manage to maximize utility in real life is another matter. But it helps to remember that the ultimate source of value comes from us, the needs we share, the things we enjoy, and the choices we make

https://ezinearticles.com/?The-Illusion-Of-Value&id=9867265

The Power of Uplifting Stories | Marisa Peer & Ione Butler

Synchronicity and Consciousness? What's Your Perception

We are all connected as humans, to the earth and the universe therefore we will often communicate and given guidance. This is all central to one, some might identify it as God, Source, Divine or nothing at all depending on your personal belief. I believe we are not solitary in this world (and by world I mean the whole universe, and mind you we are only a speck in the milky way). If you think about it, what we have on earth, the minerals, water and gases - we have components of these and we do need them in order to maintain our health. What we have on earth is replicated under the sea.

The body has electric charges - look at the function of the heart, it has electric charging taking place for it to continue beating, that is one but not all examples. If we have that capability this means we have energy, and what is energy when we relate it to a human being, would you call it your soul. Is that what makes you who you are? So if you think of all the components that makes us as humans plus the soul and energy we produce and possess then it sounds right that we are connected to each other and the universe.

A lot of signs come to us sometimes we just don't notice it especially when we are closed off and we are not conscious or in other terms widely known ''present''. Many a times we are living in auto pilot mode where we are not aware of the beauty around us. The world is such an amazing place and at times we lose focus and we lack gratitude of this experience. Our world is full of it's own energy which we can draw from, it's energy is abundant and infinite and we can use this to ground us when we are feeling unbalanced/unsettled. This is a free resource you do not need to pay a subscription fee its there for the taking! So why are only a few people are aware of this, why are there only a few with the ''awakened consciousness''? We lead busy hectic lives that leave us no time to reflect and have time to communicate with our soul, continuously doing this as a human race has resulted in a closed unconscious soul. We have lost our connection with ''our Source'' therefore we are blind to the signs and guidance that is given to us.

Synchronicity and law of attraction are connected, that is my opinion. The reason I think they are is ''we attract what we desire'' and by so doing the frequency of which we begin to notice this brings about the synchronicity. I will reiterate, it is my personal opinion and I look forward to hearing other's opinions. Here is an example that happened on 4th July, small as it might sound. I had been reading about putting thoughts into action and had made a Instagram ''as you think so shall you be'', what we think becomes reality if we put emotion, whether positive or negative. I embarked on my train journey to work and whilst standing in the rush hour packed train a girl had with a black tote bag with the words '' Dream your desires to come true'' that made me smile as it resonated with what I'd been reading earlier and for me I thought that is the universe telling me that it's listening and it will be bring those thoughts towards me. It made me smile even if it might not be significant. It also made me realize that I had had a wave of consciousness, of awareness which I need to be consciously aware and work at it until it becomes part of my lifestyle without purposely practicing it. I am working towards it becoming a part of me not something I have to remember to do.

The past couple of weeks I had to review my attitude towards my children, work colleagues, friends and strangers around me. Firstly I had to stop passing judgement, practice patients (especially behind the wheel) and to realize that we are all connected and everyone deserves love. It has been really exciting and an eye opener to put into place these steps. What good is it, to preach goodness and consciousness when it is not resonated in your life. To be conscious here are a few pointers to head in the right direction

• be in the moment, be present in your surroundings, absorb and articulate the detail around you
• be healthy - a healthy mind needs a healthy body, when you eat healthily you become aware of the goodness of nourishing foods that feed your body, mind, and soul
• having a sense of purpose, we were created to serve on this earth, each and everyone of us has a purpose. When you become mindful and aware of who you are you will find your purpose.
• conscious awareness - become unbiased towards everyone and everything around you. I have noticed my patience when I'm driving has improved my view of people, and have become to accept that everyone is where there are supposed to be at that time, whether they are driving at snail pace.
• you will start resonating and connecting with like minded people who are on the same path as you

https://ezinearticles.com/?Synchronicity-and-Consciousness?-Whats-Your-Perception&id=9972466

Abraham Hicks 2022 ~ It's Already Done ✅ You Are Already There 💜

The Purpose of Gratitude in Mental Wellness (By Steve Wickham)

God spoke again recently, saying, 'Think grateful thoughts, and search for ways to be thankful, and that will busy your mind enough that it will not wander into dark places.'

I said, 'Wow!' Suddenly such a revelation; to know I've thought both ways enough to know the truth.

It is the Lord's discipline, that we capture each thought and make it obedient to Him (2 Corinthians 10:5). But, equally, the Lord knows just how difficult it is for us to do that with consistency.

The mind flits from this thing to that thing to another thing, always falling foul of itself.

Capable of great accomplishments that match and better the body, the mind is also weak, tempted by the heart to abscond.

But the mind is also a powerhouse of strength - when we take our thoughts and make them captive to obey Christ.

Gratitude is living in the light, acknowledging the truth in that light, as that light shines into our lives - lives touched by grace - and outward into others' lives.

The more I have filled my mind with little things to be utterly grateful about, the less my mind has wandered into what isn't worthy to be thought about.

The issue is simple. Leave our minds to themselves they conjure up all sorts of fantasies - good at times, but some dark, and the rest positively evil.

Mindfulness steeped in gratitude is thinking indwelt with worthiness. To use the apostle Paul's words, it is thinking in honourable, just, pure, pleasing, commendable, and excellent ways (Philippians 4:8). Gratitude is something wholly worthy for our thoughts to engage. It is a safe and positive way to think.

https://ezinearticles.com/?The-Purpose-of-Gratitude-in-Mental-Wellness&id=9896143

Message From the Universe: Simplicity of Life

"Fact of the matter is everything is a non-issue, until someone decides otherwise.

Which means you can now officially chill.

Blue,

The Universe"

You can decide the way you want to live your life, either in happiness or sadness. If you choose to be happy, then make sure to surround yourself with happy people and not feel obliged to be the person needing to save everyone else. However, if you choose to be sad, surround yourself with miserable people as misery certainly attracts misery. It is a pretty simple concept to follow and adhere to depending on how you choose to live your life. Most are familiar with drama queens or kings where they make mountains out of molehills at every occasion they get. They bring issues to every situation they get involved in. If you want to keep your sanity, stay AWAY from drama queens or kings.

You decide how everything should get filtered in your mind and what information to keep or get rid of. You will be the one who will decide the best way to live a life filled with love, gratefulness, appreciation and positivity. If you want to live a long life, stress free, start by embracing the good and bad changes that will enter your life and depends on what you make out of every situation you face, you can decide how to move forward. Some things you can't control and you should be OK with that. You decide what will raise an issue that should get resolved immediately and what can wait for you to figure out. No matter what happens, you should keep calm, chill, breath and figure out the best solution.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Message-From-the-Universe:-Simplicity-of-Life&id=9979654

15 minutes of Wayne Dyer to Ease Your Mind and Soul

Your Thoughts Determine Your Life

There is clearly a universal law which states that your thoughts determine your life and it is evident that you cannot escape it. It is as real as the gravity which pulls you. Your past choices create your life. Most people often live as if this phenomenon does not exist, while others know it to be true.

What is this universal law? Why would your thoughts have an impact on your life? Why is it so important to understand?

What you think often comes out in the form of words and to other people around you. You may not realize it, but your words have an impact on how you feel about yourself. They can also influence how others may feel or think.

You may like it or not; thoughts are ideas that transform into words, convey actions and determine your life. In short, you have to watch your thoughts because they become words which often create impulsive or unwanted actions that create the life you have.

What I mean is that you share your joy, your love and your dreams with your words but your doubts, your sorrow, and your fears as well. The key to a life of wealth, success, and happiness is to cultivate an internal image of what you want, which only comes by way of constructive and optimistic thinking.

Have you ever come across someone who had an average or poverty mentality? Have you ever known somebody that says one thing but think another?

The Average or Poverty Mentality

There are countless of people out there thinking in such a way. Their thinking and actions are a prime example of how thoughts govern their lives. They have a view attitude that never imagines anything above and beyond their current reality. You can often tell by the words such a person uses.

Individuals with such a mindset are often blaming and complaining but somehow are content, and have enough with whatever life gives them, even if it apparently destroys their lives. Their words, attitude, outlook, doubts, and choices reveal a way of thinking that does not trust the Universe or their abilities. As a result, they keep experiencing poverty or average in many parts of their lives.

Thoughts determine the life we live. Average or poverty involves lack, and I will point out that this lack is not only limited to finances. You can be poor when it comes to relationships. You can also be lacking good health. This mentality is designed to touch all aspects of a human being.

Thinking Life Is Unfair

A lot of people believe that life is unfair. Well, let's take the idea of quitting your job, selling your house, take the money and invest it in a business, so you can be your boss and create a better life. That is a difficult idea, isn't it? And yes, it would scare the daylight out of most people. Why?

Beliefs Controls Results

It is because of your thoughts controlling your life which are not in harmony with your unconscious beliefs or paradigms as Bob Proctor so well put it. But you should know that these ideas, beliefs, and standards are what control your results. That is why you can have people who have all kinds of degrees, are intellectually brilliant, and yet the results do not match.

While there are other people, with no formal education and business experience, and yet the results show that they are earning millions of dollars. What is the reason? It is their thoughts and paradigms. In one of his videos, Bob Proctor explains well by saying "Change your habits, change your life".

Thoughts Turn into Habits

Not only do your thoughts determine your future but it turns into a habit when repeated frequently and over time. A habit is an action you regularly do, often without even thinking about it. If you like thinking or doing something, then you often repeat it over and over until done unconsciously.

Habits can be both beneficial and harmful. It can be called a benefit or addiction. Your every day is full of these little habits that you do subconsciously. These are your usual ways of doing. Therefore, your thoughts which lead to your habits made you who you are, and create your personality.

Begin Changing Your Beliefs

Now, what you can do is learn how to modify this set of thought beliefs of yours. You must think thoughts that support what you want and desire. Remember that your thoughts govern your life, and your habits determine your character. So you should only think of what you do want and not about what you do not want.

Be Mindful of Your Thoughts

"Be careful of your thoughts, for your thoughts become your words. Be careful of your words, for your words become your actions. Be careful of your actions, for your actions become your habits. Be careful of your habits, for your habits become your character. Be careful of your character, for your character becomes your destiny." - Chinese proverb, author unknown.

These are beautiful words that are as relevant today as they were in the past. They deserve to be written here. If you examine these words, you discover that you are given the cure to change or redirect your life and future.

Transform Negative Thinking

So, the thoughts, beliefs, and actions you have or do each day control your destiny. Therefore, if you have negative thoughts and if you are judging yourself and others negatively, your actions will follow your thoughts, and it is what you will focus on.

You have to begin thinking positive thoughts if you want your world to transform. Learn that if you do not like to be judged, then you should not judge others. You might find yourself feeling lonely and mistreated. These thoughts make your future appear miserable.

Your Thoughts Determine Your Life

Your thoughts create words which create action, which in turn determines your life. Your thoughts can create closeness or separation, motivate you, calm you or stimulate you. They can even change your entire belief system. So be cautious about what you think. Be fully aware of your thoughts before they become words, and be wary the actions that follow your words.

There are a few more important reasons as to why your thoughts determine your life. I would encourage you to start paying a little more attention in your life.

Your Past Choices

Your habits and thoughts determine your future. It is called the law of sowing and reaping, the law of attraction. The "you" you are today is a package deal of your past choices in life.

It is painful for anyone to admit that it is their responsibility and the fault lies with them. Instead, people often blame or point to their situation, bad luck, or how they are a victim of the circumstances when negative things happen in their life. So, accept responsibility and make a change.

Creature of Habits

It does not matter if you admit it or not, you govern your life through thoughts and practices. In fact, all experts agree that 90% of our daily actions are based on subconscious habits.

You have habits for everything such as your everyday routine, commuting, going to work, paying your bills and spending your free time. So, you have to begin identifying your habits, surely the ones that are not taking you where you want to go.

Your Thoughts Control Your Existence

There is a powerful principle on why your thoughts control your existence if they do not connect with actions. You can have all the intention in the world when you want to achieve something, but if your day-to-day actions are going the opposite way, you will never end up where you want.

If you are in Canada and decide to drive to the United States, you do not go north. It does not mean a thing if you are well prepared, packed the necessary stuff, how great is your plan or map because going north won't get you there.

Your intentions in life mean nothing if they are not backed up by actions. Your thoughts, habits, and actions determine your destination.

Where Your Focus is so Will You Be

Now, do you understand why it is so critical to match your thoughts with your words and actions? You have to draw a clear picture of where you want to go in life and focus on it. You need to review it weekly. Along with your journey, you might have to adjust your sails, re-align your thoughts, actions, and habits to meet your life's objectives finally.

You have to think the right thoughts at all time and take the right actions toward your goals. Yes, you might fall and get a few bruises along the way, but if your habit is not to give up, but to get up and try once more, then your future will be a success.

Therefore, you have to focus by holding positive thoughts and taking action, and you will determine a life destined for accomplishment. You may think you have no actual goals in your life, but let me remind you that if you are working for someone else, he has created them for you. No matter what you believe, you are going in the direction of your thoughts because they determine your life.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Your-Thoughts-Determine-Your-Life&id=9764361

7 Alcohol Rehab Success Tips For Faster Recovery

According to the World Health Organization, the consumption of alcohol is responsible for many common diseases, disabilities and deaths in the world. If you binge on alcohol and want to get rid of this addiction, you may want to enter a rehab. This will help you stay clean and sober. Let's know more.

1. Be Honest

You don't need to make a promise with your family, friends or loved ones before you enter a rehab. All you need to do is be honest about what you want to do. First of all, you need to ask yourself a few question to find out if you really drink too much of alcohol. If you do, you need help.

2. Get rid of the Stigma

In 1956, the American Medical Association (AMA) stated that alcoholism is a disease. Aside from this, the WHO considers that alcoholism is one of the biggest health issues in the here and now. So, it's safe to say that this addiction is a disease.

You need to keep in mind that if you drink too much doesn't mean you are a bad person. You just need to get help. No matter how worse your problem is, you can benefit from the right type of treatment.

3. Participate

If you want your alcohol rehab to work for you, make sure you give it a go first. What you need to do is take part in your own recovery in addition to go to a rehab. You have to get involved in order to make it work. You have to get involved if you want to create a solid base for your recovery.

4. Build the Base for Success

No two people are same from all aspects. The success of alcohol rehab depends upon a treatment plan that can help you for a long term. If you have trained professionals to help you, you can put together a plan that can help you stay healthy after a successful treatment at a rehab.

5. Make A Treatment Team

Again, the treatment professionals and counselors at the rehab clinic will help you achieve success. It's also a good idea to make friends with meeting attendees and other patients. However, you should not take it too fast.

6. Don't develop wrong relationships

During your rehab period, we suggest that you don't make new relationships, especially ones that are dramatic and intense. It's not a good idea to think about romantic ideas and elation. As a matter of fact, elation can be beneficial. However, you will find it hard to stay clean and sober if you start a relationship with the wrong person. But there is no harm in starting a positive relationship.

7. Adopt Healthy Activities

You also need to make a list of some healthy activities. For instance, you can read a book, take a walk, listen to music or watch movies. As a matter of fact, drug rehab provides you with a safe environment to try out new things to get pleasure. Drug rehab also gives you a place so you can resolve your other problems.

Hopefully, these alcohol rehab success tips will help you recover fast.

https://ezinearticles.com/?7-Alcohol-Rehab-Success-Tips-For-Faster-Recovery&id=9813384

Cooking As Therapy - How Cooking Can Help De-Stress

The simple act of cooking a meal for yourself or a group of people can have incredible restorative powers. It has long been said by people who enjoy rustling up a dish that they feel soothed by the nature of the cooking process. So what is it about cooking that can ease the mind and help someone feel less anxious?

Firstly, there is a lot to be said for taking a few moments to clear your mind when stressed. Cooking provides the perfect time for some well needed head space. In these busy times we can often find ourselves swept off our feet and can face daily stresses become overwhelming. Cooking provides an ideal stretch of time where you can focus on a task which is removed from whatever you may be worrying about.

The actual process of preparing vegetables, meats and other ingredients utilises a methodical part of your brain and allows you to detach from your worries in aid of completing a simple task. By spending time on a straightforward and uncomplicated project, such as cooking a meal, the brain can unwind. That is why many people find cooking a meal at the end of each day an excellent way to loosen up after a restless work day.

It can also be very rewarding to cook and create a meal for yourself and especially for others. It is well known that some individuals feel a sense of achievement and warmth when providing for others. By catering for family members, or just one's partner, the individual can gleam a huge sense of self-worth and happiness. Self-worth is invaluable as a means of therapy for stress. After a stressful day, being able to feel that it was worth waking up for that day is incredibly important. The self-worth one can feel from providing for others and also fulfilling them is imperative to why a lot of happy cooks enjoy the art of creating a meal. This sense of reward is another way to point to the sense of therapy that cooking can bring.

In addition, the act of successfully creating something at the end of a hard day can be very rewarding. To easily and honestly create a meal is one of the simplest rewards our lifestyle can warrant. If a person has had a very stressful day and feels that they have not achieved a lot at work, being able to come home and pull together a meal can feel like a great accomplishment.

Overall, the simple ability to take some head space and put your mind to creating a meal at the end of the day can soothe the stresses of the day. It allows for us to step back and provide something of worth when you may have felt that your day was wasted.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Cooking-As-Therapy---How-Cooking-Can-Help-De-Stress&id=9625353

We All Love To Win, But, Who Loves To Train? (Down Time, Up Time, Between Times)

We all love when the action is going well, and we are genuinely doing something productive. When things are not so active and we have to train for the next time we are in the action and get to when the action is going well, What then?

That is what this article addresses.

In reality, there are the conditions of up, down and sideways or in-between backward or forward. In short, there are all directions. If we really want to gain something out of reality, we must love the training process as well as the fulfilling end or it means nothing except empty effort like a job we hate, yet make a living at.

So, think for a moment in an awake way: What do I want to do in life that I love the process and end of?

Recently, I thought this way about my life and had the chance to think about it all deeply. Especially in this "Corona Virus time of semi-enforced isolation and social distancing", I have had the chance to do some deep work on myself. Also, I do not look on being generally alone at times as a negative thing. This time of "lockdown" has actually been very positive. This time has even enriched and bettered my understanding of myself. When done right, though, is that not what all training and preparation that is proper does though? Is that not a reality for all who love the process as well as the results?

Personally to the last two questions, I can genuinely say yes. Although most people who make livings at jobs they do not like or even care for except for the paycheck and "getting by" say an unconscious "no" with a depressed and subliminal shrug that does not seem to care about what happens with their goals, realities or genuine desires. Indeed, though, everyone knows the reality of the situation whatever the answer, some admit it deeply, some want to do the "forget it" in a shallow way, but, all have to admit: Without the work, without the things we have to do, we do not get what we want even in a small way. Those who are more conscious want to enjoy the process of the work as well as getting what is wanted, and the fully conscious want it all to be desirable, enjoyable and meaningful to themselves understanding that when reality works, it works at all levels harmoniously in down time, up time, and between times. Consciousness is a choice to take a road in reality mostly, not a given static condition in any way. Indeed, the blessing of consciousness is the choice to take a desirable action instead of taking what is given or doled out "naturally" or "taking what is given without your desire or control."

After all, in the senses I am mentioning, determining for yourself what you desire and what action to take is the essence of freedom and success, nothing else is better in that sense.

https://ezinearticles.com/?We-All-Love-To-Win,-But,-Who-Loves-To-Train?-(Down-Time,-Up-Time,-Between-Times)&id=10277230

The 6 Most Important Skills for the Rest of Your Life | Marisa Peer

Peace Begins at Home (By Tina Tessina)

While it's easy to talk about, teaching peace isn't so easy to do. The prerequisite is learning to wage peace in our own lives. "We teach best what we most need to learn," writes Richard Bach in Illusions. That's because we are subconsciously focused on what gives us trouble; and motivated to learn about it. For example, if lack of peace-anxiety, rage, addiction or relationship hassles-is a problem, your life will constantly face you with the need to learn to be more calm. Anyone who does not meet your expectations can trigger agitation of one sort or another, and internal agitation evokes a negative reaction.

In my counseling office, I'm constantly reminded of how hard it seems to be for most people to sustain peacefulness-what the twelve-step (AA) programs call "serenity." We are all easily bumped off-center. I also see how powerful it is to maintain a peaceful (or serene) emotional climate in the middle of an upsetting circumstance. The calmest person is also the most clear-thinking, and therefore can control what's happening. People in high-pressure situations, such as medical and military personnel, police, firefighters, and rescue workers are trained in maintaining a calm demeanor. It makes them more effective.

Internal peace is the key to keeping all relationships on track. In my life, I've found that keeping my inner balance not only prevents me from making things worse in bad situations, it also influences others to be calmer.

Every day I am reminded of the importance of inner peace, a peaceful relationship with myself, and keeping peace in my private universe. Without this inner serenity, I am not very powerful to create peace in my surrounding environment. I find that whenever I'm agitated, especially when the turmoil seems to be caused by an event or another person, the effective solution begins with establishing peace within myself. Here is the idea I use to help myself and my clients do that:

I have my own sphere of influence, my own private "universe" which I can picture as a invisible, protective membrane surrounding me; rather like the invisible glass box mimes often create around themselves. All other people and events are outside this boundary, but visible and accessible through it. I can "send messages" in the form of words and deeds, subtle body movements and facial expressions, through the boundary, and other people can send theirs in to me. I have little control over what people choose to send toward me, and total control over what I choose to send out. However, I do have control over how I receive what other people choose to send me.

For example, if my husband, Richard sends out some crabbiness, I have very little control over what he says or does. Perhaps he's annoyed about something that happened in his business, or concerned about someone he cares about, and he feels safe letting his frustration out around me. There is little to be gained from trying to read his mind, or change his attitude. However, if I remember that I am the Highest Power in my own sphere, I have many options.

• I can choose to believe that his crabbiness is something I deserve, and feel hurt.

• I can choose to believe that he sent it because he's a bad person, and shut down my love for him.

• I can choose to believe that he sent it because of a separate event in his private world, and check to see what's happening with him, and if I can help.

• I can choose to care for myself, and put some distance between us, until things calm down.

• I can just react without thinking, and not make any choices at all.

Through experience, I soon learn which options give me the results I want. Once I know that, I can choose to repeat successful options at will. Richard has, and often uses, the same options.

The operative word here is choice. As long as I know my response to stimulus is a choice, I can create peace. Once I decide that the atmosphere I most want in my own world is one of peace, then I create the power to insure that.

The question I need to answer is: "What is peace to me?" It is easy, given our social environment, to think that creating peace with others means waging war with myself. For example, I can believe that, to create peace with Richard, I need to deny my own wants and feelings. That sets up an internal fight, which inevitably surfaces externally. Sooner or later I will get angry enough at the (self-imposed) limits to want to get even with him. Or, I will further increase my stress to keep the "peace" and begin to create illness.

Experience has taught me that the only peace that can be safely sustained is peace that begins at home-within the boundaries of my own inner self. Once I have created peace within myself by listening to all sides of the internal struggle, and acknowledging my right to feel all those ways at once, and finding a solution that calms me down, I know what I need to do with the situation that upset me. Then, I'm secure enough to begin to negotiate with who- or whatever my struggle was about. Peace with the other person may take a little effort to achieve, especially if I have a point of view of my own, but it will be lasting, and begins to build the trust necessary to a compatible relationship.

Paradoxically, this is often the easiest way to work toward peace in some ways, and the most difficult in other ways. It's easy because it requires nothing beyond myself; only mental/emotional work. Difficult because there are many ingrained attitudes, prejudices, and assumptions I must challenge and overcome on the way to internal peace.

The path to peace, inner and outer, is not a direct line with specific steps. It is full of trial and error, wrong turns and delightful discoveries. Sometimes talking with myself is all I need, sometimes it helps to talk it out with a friend, or even a therapist. Sometimes the words of a great teacher help. I like "My religion is simple. My religion is kindness"-Dalai Lama. Or "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever."-Psalm 23. Usually my heart knows, better than my head, where the peaceful path lies.

I have chosen to follow a path of peace, internally and externally. This choice shapes all of my subsequent choices, and commits me to a process of self-awareness. To the best of my ability, I make my choices, and check the results with my mind and my heart. I get it wrong often, but I also get it right enough times to make my life much more peaceful; and I am happy, more often that not. When something makes me unhappy, I can find the path to peace more quickly than I used to.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Peace-Begins-at-Home&id=10276759

Decide to Choose Clarity

Becky lived in an apartment with a couple of roommates, and she wanted a space of her own. Faced with all the options available to her, she kept saying, "I'm so confused." She was afraid she was going to make the wrong decision, get trapped somewhere she didn't want to be, or miss out on something better. The confusion left her paralyzed. So she didn't choose anything different and even when her roommates changed, she stayed where she was.

Clarity is vitally important for you to know what you want. Once you are clear on your goal, you can focus on it and move in that direction. Clarity is necessary for you to have success in any area of your life. If you don't know what you want, you'll just drift along and receive the results of the average of your thoughts.

Without clarity, you're in a perpetual state of confusion. This causes insecurity and stress, which simply creates more turmoil. You run around in circles and don't get anywhere. You might look at one option after another, and all the possibilities you face produces more chaos for you.

But the only person who is generating your confusion is you. By affirming that you're in this state, refusing to commit to a path, or allowing yourself to get overwhelmed by choices, you're contributing to the challenge. You're giving your subconscious mind the message to keep you scattered. The underlying issue may be that you're trying to avoid responsibility, afraid you'll make a mistake, get stuck in a situation, or fail.

Believe it or not, uncertainty is a choice. It's a decision not to decide. Once you whittle down your choices, and choose a direction, it clears away the mental fog. It may become evident that you don't want to go that route. That's fine. You can stay open to other possibilities and change your mind. But don't change it too much, or you'll find yourself back in the mists that clouded your mind in the first place.

When you pick a track and determine to continue on it, the haze clears away, and you can see a little way ahead. Take one step, then another. At this point, you don't need to know where you're going to end up. It's enough that you've chosen to move in a direction. Because when you're moving, your subconscious can guide you.

Initially, any direction is better than being stalled. So even if you're not certain about what you want, choose a path. As you're moving, you'll discover what you want and don't want. Write down your goals or intentions. This prompts you to be more specific in what you desire. Then read them every day. Ask yourself, "What can I do today that will move me in their direction?"

Once you've made a decision, don't second guess yourself. If new information comes your way, or circumstances change, then you can reevaluate your choice. But don't be distracted by a shiny, new idea or opportunity that leads you in a different direction without some reason. The diversion is a mirage and simply an old habit trying to prevent change. If you become uncomfortable, it's just the old habit of confusion trying to lure you back into its lair. Stay on track, and confusion will fade away.

As you build your commitment to your decisions, you'll gain confidence that you can make wise ones. Your inner self will guide you to make ones that take you on your optimal path. Trust yourself, because you do have the knowledge within to make the right choices for your greatest good.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Decide-to-Choose-Clarity&id=9938503

How Helping Others Helps You (By Jim Symcox)

There's no doubt that helping people has been my life for many years. Right from the time when I was a programmer at British Aerospace and used to help my friends debug their programs to my business working with Chet Holmes and Tony Robbins as their business coach across the world.

The Huffington Post even reports on research that shows you're happier when you're helping people at work! More research also shows you live longer by contributing to others.

Of course, when I set out on my career I didn't know this research! I just loved to help people, which unfortunately when I started my own business meant I did a lot of work for nothing.

I learned my lesson - no food on the table - pretty quickly. However, that's never stopped me from helping people anyway.

The most exciting thing I found when I'm in the middle of something with other people is when they realize they can do more than they thought. A really lovely factor in coaching.

However, ultimately I realized I was only helping a small fraction of the number of people who could benefit from the knowledge and tools I had. So I wrote a short book (called Leap Ahead of Your Competitors) that was intended to help all the smaller companies with marketing and running a business. Because I wanted the maximum number of people to benefit I used to hand it out for free to those who couldn't afford my coaching but I knew would benefit from its contents.

Then I thought, part of the journey for any entrepreneur or business person is personal growth. A topic that is unseen but makes a huge difference to people, their families and people they know. So I decided to create a Facebook group called Personal Growth Tips to help people with their personal growth. If you'd like to take a peek it's at

Again, I didn't want to charge because my intention is to help as many people as possible to improve their current situations, but more than that I wanted their kids to benefit too. At the same time I know I'm not the fount of all personal growth knowledge! So I wanted to create a community that would help each other and grow together.

So, like I say the group is free to join and I'm looking at everyone who knows me to see who wants to grow and helps others do the same.

https://ezinearticles.com/?How-Helping-Others-Helps-You&id=10069220

Why Compatibility in a Relationship is Not About Sameness

When We Are Easily Offended, We Close The Door To True Understanding

Is Being Offended Serving You?

How do you react when someone offends you, whether it be intentionally or otherwise? Do you allow it to get the better of you? I don't wish to embellish this article by advising whether we should react to criticism or not. However, I wish to highlight how we can better deal with criticism instead of being offended. With the rise of readily accessible news and social media nowadays, more and more people are easily offended. While I'm not suggesting the world is lined with good intentions, being easily offended has become the hallmark for activism and social standing. You no doubt value your personal growth and improving your life because you are drawn to this message. Considering this, I want you to examine whether being offended is serving you? Ask yourself whether it enhances your life? Do you feel you belong to something like an important cause?

This is not about making you feel guilty but examining whether being offended is serving you. Could taking offence be a cover up for something else lying beneath the surface? I don't know and neither will you unless you sit with your thoughts and examine them. For example, I stopped being offended many years ago. It took a great deal of self-examination, but I realised it was not serving me anymore. In fact, it was retarding my growth because I was offended by those whom I didn't know and whose values and opinions differed to mine. These were people I had never met, yet I was offended by a comment someone wrote in response to an article. It became clear one day when I realised: "Why am I allowing this person's comment to hurt me?" What followed was a silent voice that responded: "Because you have the seed of that offence within you." My core self was telling me this individual was mirroring my deepest thoughts about myself. It wasn't until I healed and transformed these thoughts, I overcame my hurt with others.

Silence The Monkey Mind

How about you? Think of a time where you took offence to something, whether recently or in the past? Undoubtedly, family and friends can push our pain buttons because they know our weakest points. They are great teachers insofar as they expose the truthfulness of our thoughts. I use the word teachers because we can learn to overcome our shortcomings through the experiences our family and friends expose us to. What I'm saying is: there are other ways we can respond that doesn't involve being offended. For example, silence and introspection are ways in which we get to the heart of what is taking place within our psyche. We might journal our thoughts and reactions to see whether they are serving us. There may be a sense of belonging that comes with being offended or aligning our values with moral causes. Whatever you decide, it requires choosing empowering responses aligned with your integrity and authentic self.

As mentioned earlier, being easily offended became a learned response for me. When I looked within me, I discovered the emotions underlying my experiencing were not what I wanted to experience, so I changed my response. It's about finding peace and maintaining equanimity rather than having our emotional wellbeing hijacked. In these times, there's a great deal to be offended about and the world will pull us in every direction not of our choosing. Suddenly, we find ourselves caring about issues that really don't matter to us but seem justified. We need to be purposeful where we direct our attention and not make it an automatic reaction. We ought to examine our thoughts to see whether being offended is serving our personal evolution. As alluded to earlier, silence and self-enquiry are foundational elements to help us deal with the strain of everyday living. We learn to silence the monkey mind which retaliates and responds in anger instead of allowing the emotion to move through us.

With this in mind, is it possible to suspend your judgement the next time you are offended? Instead of reacting, could you allow yourself to interact with what is taking place in your mind-body and allow the emotions to move through you instead of identifying with them? The only way is to try. There may be instances where being offended serves us, however I have yet to come across someone or something who has offended me to the degree I have been angry for hours or days. The more we know ourselves, the more we accept that others aren't that different to us and we needn't be offended but turn within to examine the seed of the insult within us. Your call to action in the coming weeks is to look within when you feel offended and examine whether it is serving you? Ask yourself what being offended brings to your life that peace and harmony cannot offer? Journal your thoughts and allow yourself to see through the fog of separation that says they are wrong and you are right. Ultimately, when we're easily offended, we not only close the door to true understanding but we limit our capacity to evolve in the space of oneness.

https://ezinearticles.com/?When-We-Are-Easily-Offended,-We-Close-The-Door-To-True-Understanding&id=10100730

How to Create Lemonade When Given Lemons

In this day, there are many ways life could knock you off and pull you down. In every case, it is possible to make lemonade when given sour lemons. In other words, in every way, the bitterness of life could be converted to a coveted sweetness. Only you have power over your life's lemons.

Here are a few alternative ways you could use that power over your life:

1. Create a comedy out of every adverse situation and laugh

Play a comedy out of every bitter situation several times in your mind until it makes you laugh. When you laugh, do so wholeheartedly. It is the perfect lemonade for your life's lemons.

      2. Change your thought quickly

Think and focus on something else sitting where you are. Your mind is a great asset to give you solutions to life's challenges any time you like. But you have to stop pondering about the problem in hand and change and direct your thoughts to pleasant things before you are ready to take on the challenge.

      3.  Focus on doing something else

Instead of the problem looking big to you, avoid concentrating on it and force yourself to do something more enjoyable and relaxing so that after you have made lemonade, the lemons no longer taste sour to you.

      4. Surrender yourself to a bigger cause

Dedicate your life to something bigger by first starting to volunteer in your community, for instance to something bigger by saving your community or even your nation by learning karate or getting trained in the army, for instance.

      5. Switch to the problem solving mode of your creative mind

When faced with a problem, think of possibilities in creative ways. For instance, if you are in a massive debt, instead of despairing, come up with possibilities thinking creatively. Ask your parents for help. Ask your friends if they would lend a little. Think of your savings - could you use a little portion? Think of knocking online on that millionaire friend of yours and asking for a few tips. The ideal creative solution would be to help yourself by working on a side income and paying off your debts in little amounts while looking for a full-time satisfying job.

Summing up, the above are a few ways you could make lemonade out of toxic lemons and make your life much better to live, bringing in prolonged joy, mojo and vitality of life.

https://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Create-Lemonade-When-Given-Lemons&id=10177153

Abraham Hicks 2022 ~ A New & Better Way of Releasing Resistance! Try It NOW

Hard Work And A Little Faith Can Break Any Mountain, If You're Willing To Venture Into The Unknown

Become A Greater Version Of Yourself

Let's get straight to the point as I want to speak from the heart.

Sometimes, a goal or dream may seem insurmountable from where you stand.

I know what it's like.

Whilst people may consider you successful from the outside, there's a lot hidden out of sight they're unaware of.

Success is subjective because no two people share the same outlook. One must find their own measure of success and live by that ideal, instead of believing they are a failure.

For example, if I consider myself unsuccessful compared to an internationally bestselling author with millions of followers like Tony Robbins, I am likely to feel like a failure.

By this measure, comparing my success to others is not a correct representation because no two paths are the same.

The point is to create your own definition of success because it helps you know whether you are on track.

You must think with the end in mind since you are likely to achieve your goals and commit to the hard work. Moreover, you may not consider it hard work if you are passionate and committed to the journey.

Hard work requires a focused commitment to your talents, gifts and greatest strengths. It involves becoming a greater version of yourself in pursuit of your goals.

Success is the reward of a concerted effort.

It is the prize for harnessing your potential and directing it towards your goals and dreams.

Don't think it's impossible to achieve your goals from where you are now since you may be starting out or midway through the journey. Therefore, your perception is incomplete based on your assessment.

Have Faith The Finish Line Is Within Sight

I've used this metaphor in earlier articles, however it warrants being repeated.

Believing you're unable to achieve a goal or dream is comparable to building a new home and visiting the construction site midway through the project. You might conclude from your observation the house isn't finished because it is still being constructed.

In a related vein, it was a mentor who once offered a similar example by way of swimming across a channel.

He said: when you're halfway between your starting point and destination, it may look as though you will not complete the swim. However, if you continue to swim towards the finish line, you will get there eventually.

Being unable to see the finish line frightens you most. Trust the finish line is within sight and continue swimming towards it, he would often say.

This is the key to succeeding at your goals and dreams. Develop the discipline to commit to the daily tasks that move you toward your ambitions.

To abandon ship midway can be disheartening because you invest much of your time and energy to get to this point.

Giving up may not be the right call. There could be other avenues to explore before you make that choice.

The toughest decisions are those when you venture into the unknown. Contained within the uncertainty lies the greatest hope your goal will be achieved.

Faith, determination and a tenacious will are vital to achieving any goal or ambition.

Goals and dreams are meaningless were it not for the person you become.

Life Can Change At The Drop Of A Hat

Ask those who've achieved success about the lessons gained during their journey. They will tell you of the difficult times when quitting was a decision away.

I equate it to my years of long distance road cycling and hitting the wall frequently.

This is a term used to describe when an athlete runs out of energy stores in their body. The physiological effects are frightening since the individual can experience: trembling, hallucinations, shivering, slurred speech, fainting and dizziness to name a few.

When you are many miles away from home and run out of food, with no convenience stores in sight, the only thing to do is focus on small landmarks to get you to your destination.

You might focus on riding to the next lamppost or the next tree. To even contemplate the finish line is overwhelming, especially when you consider how far you have to go.

The lessons gained from these experiences are: I needn't know whether I will make it to my destination because that is not helpful at the time.

My task is to keep moving and focus on what's ahead of me.

Similarly, your undertaking is to keep moving, irrespective of the challenges and obstacles you face.

Faith requires believing in the unfolding narrative of your journey. It won't reveal itself until you take the next step.

Circumstances can change unexpectedly and that's why you should continue to move towards your goals and dreams little by little.

If you act on faith alone, you will eventually get there and gain the wisdom and personal growth along the way.

You can overcome any challenge as long as you keep moving.

Rest if you must.

Take time out if needed.

But don't give up because you can never regain what is lost if you surrender.

Sometimes, what appears as your bleakest hour can turn around and set you on the path to victory.

Work hard and savour the challenges.

Plough ahead knowing success is attainable even if it doesn't look that way.

Commit to the path, regardless of the journey getting there.

Not all roads are lined with roses, but with sometimes with thorns, roadblocks and dead ends.

If you are willing to venture into the unknown, you will eventually break that mountain that once looked formidable from a distance.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Hard-Work-And-A-Little-Faith-Can-Break-Any-Mountain,-If-Youre-Willing-To-Venture-Into-The-Unknown&id=9949939

How To Develop the MILLIONAIRE MINDSET | Marisa Peer

Social Contagion - You Become The Company You Keep

During the 2020 Coronavirus lockdown we have all gone to great lengths to avoid this highly contagious virus and have experienced varying levels of state enforced social distancing.

With the phased lifting of the lockdown, and the resumption of social contact we are now increasingly exposed to another threat, another form of contagion.

This renewed threat is known as emotional contagion, which is the effect and impact of other people's emotions on our own dominant emotional state. This matters, as many of our life experiences are created or attracted by our dominant emotional state.

Because the means of transmission is via renewed and increasing social contact I reframe this as social contagion.

The Tidal Swirl Of Other People's Emotional Turbulence

In her highly regarded book "An Abbreviated Life - A Memoir" former Sunday Times journalist Ariel Leve paints a painful, poignant portrait of our vulnerability to the tidal swirl of other people's emotional turbulence.

This is especially true when we are children. Leve recounts how as a child she desperately attempted to ride the emotional waves emanating from her mother, whom she describes as volatile and narcissistic.

"I had no choice but to exist in the sea that she swam in. It was a fragile ecosystem where the temperature changed without warning. My natural shape was dissolved and I became shapeless."

Leve explains:

"When somebody's mood can shift quickly, you're always on your toes and you're always on guard, which means you can never really relax. And as a consequence, as an adult, I find that I absorb the mood and energy of other people very intensely, so I need a lot of time alone to decompress."

Her experience resonates with me.

Is this OK for Dad?

I recall as a child accompanying my father on his rounds as a grocery delivery man. Each time we visited a new location, I would immediately tune in to my highly sensitised "vibe antennae" and take the emotional and psychic temperature of the site to see if it felt "OK for Dad", was it somewhere that he would like and that would make him happy.

At the time I didn't know why I did this. But it was a habitual thing and developed into a form of hyper-vigilance where I was constantly taking the emotional and psychic temperature of new situations and places.

Church bells and overwhelming feelings of misery

It was a beautiful sunny afternoon and I was sitting on a bench in the churchyard of an old English parish church. The sun was shining, birds were singing, butterflies were fluttering, my mood was mellow and I basked in the warmth of the late summer sun.

The church bells started ringing... and within seconds my mood changed and I was overwhelmed with feelings of sadness, melancholy and misery.

Reflecting on that experience in early adulthood I realised that the sound of church bells always had that effect on me since my childhood.

Following some forensic trawling through childhood memories supported by corroboration from my elderly mother I came to understand that as very small child my family had lived next to a church in a small country village. My mother told me that she was very unhappy at that time and frequently overwhelmed with feelings of misery and despair.

Her powerful feelings had infected me and become associated with the sound of church bells ringing.

How a leader's emotions infect an organisation

In 2001 Daniel Goleman introduced the concept of what he termed "Primal leadership" and outlined research that he and his team conducted in a study of 3,871 executives and their direct reports and it showed that the leader's style determines about 70% of the emotional climate which in turns drives 20-30% of business performance.

In an interview (with Stephen Bernhut in "Leaders Edge", Ivey Business Journal May/June 2002) Daniel Goleman said:

"Emotions are contagious, and they are most contagious from the top down, from leader to followers."

"When Likes Aren't Enough" - how social media negatively affects mental health

In "When Likes Aren't Enough: A Crash Course in the Science of Happiness" Professor Tim Bono tackles the ever-popular subject of happiness and well-being, but reframes it for a younger reader struggling with Instagram envy.

The Nursing Times have recently published a study "How use of social media and social comparison affect mental health"

The Centre For Mental Health recently published: "How use of social media and social comparison affect mental health"

In June 2014 PNAS published the results of a massive study on Facebook users: "Experimental evidence of massive-scale emotional contagion through social networks"

Clearly there are so many ways that we are affected by other people's emotions. We are emotional and thus energetic beings, and we live in an energetic universe that responds to our dominant energetic state in the experiences that we create and attract.

Two important questions arise from this:

(1) How are we so susceptible to other peoples' emotions?

(2) What steps can we take to protect others and ourselves?

How Are We So Susceptible To Other Peoples' Emotions?

Elaine Hatfield Professor of Psychology (University of Hawaii), and co-author of a pioneering academic book "Emotional Contagion" defines "primitive" emotional contagion as the:

"... tendency to automatically mimic and synchronize facial expressions, vocalizations, postures, and movements with those of another person and, consequently, to converge emotionally... "

The contagion occurs in three stages:

1. Mimicry
2. Feedback
3. Contagion.

Social contagion is a hardwired reflex that is a basic building block of human interaction. It has an evolutionary purpose in that is helps us coordinate and synchronize with others, empathize with them, and read their minds. All of these are critical survival skills.

What Steps Can We Take To Protect Ourselves & Others?

Here are 4 key steps:

(1) Quarantine yourself until you have figured how not to contaminate others with your bad mood. So, bless them with your absence!

(2) Inoculate yourself with mindfulness practice

(3) Drop the story and find the feeling by meditating with emotions

(4) Share compassion - and become a bodhisattva-warrior - with a vow to care of one another

I leave you with this sobering thought from Jack Canfield:

"You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with."

https://ezinearticles.com/?Social-Contagion---You-Become-The-Company-You-Keep&id=10391840

Learn How to Cultivate Self-Discipline As a Success Mindset

Do you understand the connection between what you think and the success you experience, or do not experience, in your job or career? If you could learn to discipline your thoughts towards an attitude of success, do you believe it is possible you could in turn become successful?

There is a well-known phrase that talks about the importance of working smarter and while there are many interpretations of what it can mean, overall it is meant to emphasize the benefits of being focused, disciplined, and working hard. Hard work is the backbone of any career but over time, and when routine work habits are established and set in, the effort that a person exerts may become conditionally based. It could be due to a person's perception of a "bad" boss, poor working conditions, not receiving a pay increase or recognition for their effort, and the list continues. While there may certainly be merit to these feelings, it serves no real purpose to make working hard a conditional characteristic of your job performance.

If you care about your career development then working hard needs to be a top priority every day. However, hard work may seem unjustified if a person's expectations are not being met and that is where self-discipline comes into play. It is a matter of always being in control of your performance and responsible for the quality of your work. It also involves making a commitment to yourself and your career, one that is not dependent upon circumstances or influenced by circumstance no matter how challenging it may seem at the time. This will allow you to become disciplined and know that your best performance depends upon consistent effort, which establishes a mindset of career success.

Why Self-Discipline Matters

The development of a disciplined mindset allows you and your job performance to shine; whereas, the lack of intentional discipline sets you up for failure. Self-discipline is based upon a logical and rational perspective, is focused on being in control, and prompts the use of productive work habits. It is proactive with regards to job duties and career development, and it requires concentrated effort rather than striving to achieve absolute perfection.

Without self-discipline a person is more likely to be impulsive and unfocused, act based upon emotional responses, and be reactive to circumstances. It is easy to begin to work on becoming self-disciplined, whether or not it is a habit now, if you start by establishing an intention and make it a goal to perform your best at all times. It does not require prolonged struggle, only career goals. You can make choices based upon what is best for your job and/or career. Self-discipline involves maintaining control over your attitude, mindset, emotions, and thoughts at all times.

Discipline and Doing Your Best

Your job has a specific description, or at least an expectation of what it is you are supposed to accomplish. Over time, and as you become familiar with the daily tasks, you can determine what the minimum amount of effort is needed to complete the required duties and that may be enough for you to feel good when the workday ends. Then there are circumstances that influence the amount of effort you put in. There may be too much work, an upcoming deadline, or person in authority who is pressuring you to take on more work. You may willingly or grudgingly do more as requested; however, when you stop to consider this job do you realize it is your career at stake?

The attitude you develop about your job will also influence the attitude you have about your career development and progress. If your job performance involves putting in the minimal effort it is usually accompanied by feelings of job dissatisfaction and that may create a negative mindset about your career. It means you view your effort from the perspective of what you get from the job rather than what you can gain from it in the long term. When you are disciplined you maintain behaviors and an attitude that bolsters your daily productivity, which also provides you with the confidence needed to excel even when circumstances are less than perfect.

Learn to Develop Purposeful Intent

How do you feel good about a job and maintain that attitude, even when circumstances cause you to dislike it? You cannot force yourself to feel positive emotions when there are events or people who prompt negativity or feelings of frustration. What you can do is to change your perspective and that is where self-discipline matters. You can decide that you are going to feel good about yourself as a professional or as an employee despite the current conditions and anchor it to a position statement that is focused on your career goals. This allows you to create a disciplined mindset with purposeful intent and focus.

Your career is a series of steps and progress will occur over time and for some it will be accomplished through more than one position or job. At the heart of this is you as a person, and it is you who has an ability to learn and grow. With purposeful intent you can view each job as a stepping stone, which provides skills, knowledge, and direction. If one job does not meet your expectations or provides difficult conditions to work in, itemize what you have gained from it, list this information on your resume, and decide upon your next step. But no matter what, always make certain you have a disciplined focus or you will venture off course in your job and career plans.

Consider How an Employer Views Your Disposition

Consider for a moment that you are a hiring manager. What is the type of candidate you would consider hiring, if you were looking at more than the job description? Is it someone whose tone displays obvious frustration and does not seem to have much to say that is positive about their current employer or existing job? That is not a likely candidate for an employer based upon their attitude alone.

Now consider a candidate who comes along and has a professional presence, demonstrates a clear understanding of their career path or goals, and can articulate what they have gained from each of the jobs they've held throughout their career. That is a candidate who will likely gain your interest, even if they are not considered for the position, because they have demonstrated a disciplined mindset.

The point of reviewing these scenarios is to show the contrast between someone who possesses an underlying feeling of career helplessness or career control, which also demonstrates the difference between a disciplined and undisciplined mindset. If would like to be the candidate who is likely to get hired, establish a goal to be highly disciplined and productive.

Your disposition will carry over into the tone you convey when you speak with potential employers, along with your overall attitude about career development. As a professional resume writer I can spot a person's disposition through their choice of words and how they describe their jobs when I talk to them. Someone who is disciplined and views all jobs as a learning experience has self-confidence about who they are and the talents they possess, regardless of job conditions or circumstances.

How to Develop Self-Discipline and Focus

Career Planning: You can begin to develop a hard-working, self-disciplined mindset right now by first examining your career plans. If you cannot articulate the specifics of your career, now is the time to get started. At the very least, decide upon a short-term and a long-term career goal. This will give you a sense of direction, one that can help you find what can be learned instead of focusing on existing working conditions.

The purpose of developing a career plan is to provide you with an ability to create purposeful intent. When you walk into the workplace each day you can remind yourself you are able to learn from any situation, even if what you learn is that you are no longer growing or moving forward in your career.

Learning and Growth: An important component of a disciplined mindset is maximizing your learning and growth potential. If you have developed a productive working relationship with your supervisor or manager, ask them if there is more that you can do. For example, perhaps you can take on an extra project that is based upon a departmental or business need. To some people this may seem to be counter-intuitive and an attempt to become the "teacher's pet" - or some other type of negative phrasing.

If you are asking from a perspective of having a genuine interest and seeking professional development, and the need is recognized, this will create a feeling of accomplishment within you. As you continue to work hard you may even extend the timeline that you work for this particular employer. You will also likely be viewed as valuable employee, although the ability to remain disciplined will matter most in the long term for your career.

Self-Discipline as a Success Mindset

Becoming disciplined can have a variety of descriptions, including working hard, attaining maximum productivity, or maintaining a focus on what must be accomplished every day. The most meaningful correlation between a focused mindset and effort is the development of peak performance. This working definition speaks to the heart of what working to the very best of your abilities should mean. It is striving to maximize your performance with your current skills and abilities while being open to learning and development, and putting in more than the minimum effort required.

There are going to be times when you aren't at the top of your game and that is certainly understandable. There will be some days that you find yourself working to the very best of your abilities and other days that find you putting in the best effort possible. The importance of being disciplined means that you do not allow job conditions be the reason why you are not functioning at peak productivity; whether there are new policies to adapt to, additional demands made of your job, or other circumstances.

You can always be in control of your actions and strive for peak performance as a matter of your career development. Learn to develop self-discipline as a mindset and attitude about how you work every day and watch your career continue to evolve as this sense of self is reflected in the outcomes you experience, both personally and professionally. The most effective way to be in control of your career and establish a pattern of success is to control how you think and how you work. Self-discipline is a productive state of mind and focused attitude that you can implement starting now. When your attitude is honed on performing your best, you will find yourself mentally resistant to adverse conditions and ready for new career opportunities. You are mentally disciplined and both you and your career are transformed.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Learn-How-to-Cultivate-Self-Discipline-As-a-Success-Mindset&id=10134381