How to Get Inspired Online When Everybody Is Criticizing You

In a world full of bashers and trolls, it's quite easy to succumb to negativity. The internet is creative for people who seek a thriving environment but it can also be destructive to those who are subjected to public shaming.

Staying positive online can be challenging but here are a few thoughts to inspire you:

• Everyone has imperfections.

The term "Facebook envy" is true for the majority who think highly of others because of what they see and read on social media like Facebook. Some individuals belittle themselves because their lives are not as good as what others portray online.

However, according to experts, people tend to always show their best side, so whatever posts or pictures we see is only the nice aspects of their lives. Everybody has deep dark secrets too so when someone criticizes you online, just remember that they also have unpleasant realities.

• Most have fake identities.

A lot of those who are online are crass because they can easily hide their identity. They aren't worried about real-life repercussions so they can be rude to their heart's content. When someone online confronts you, remember that these are mere virtual components who only muster courage from word war. Maintain your decorum and ignore them.

• You are worth the attention.

Negative criticism stems from the personal emotions of the person giving it. Bullies hate being topped by others that's why they bring people down. When you are criticized, just remember that these people are interested about your life or personality and bullying is a means to get close to you. They won't waste their time on someone not worth it.

• People criticize because they don't understand.

Closed-minded people cannot accept changes, thus they tend to oppose people who are open to it. When you receive criticism from them, just think that they are only manifesting their fears and it has nothing to do with your actions.

• You are better than them.

Most of those who criticize people online are bored individuals with no accomplishments so they get envious of those who are much better than them. Look at the bright side and tell yourself that they hate you because they hate themselves.

• Staying Positive

There are simple ways to boost your enthusiasm and optimism despite being surrounded by negative energy so read on.

• Do what makes you happy.

Keep doing the things you love and feed your passion. Inspiration comes from personal fulfillment.

• Think of inner kindness.

Think that everyone possesses innate kindness. Despite their insensitivity, people are always receptive of goodness.

• Be grateful.

Always express your gratitude for the little things. Be thankful for even the bad experiences because these teach you valuable life lessons.

• Rewards Yourself.

Give yourself a good massage or buy something you like. An incentive for working hard makes you feel valued.

• Spend time outdoors.

The influx of technology declined people's longing for soulful connection. Break the habit and take a vacation to rest your mind. Go on a short trip to rejuvenate and disconnect from your gadgets. Regular breaks prevent burnouts and improve mental health.

The online world can be cruel and overwhelming at times and it can be hard to manage your emotions if you tend to dwell on them. Success online can be achieved by detaching yourself from feelings and expressing your individuality.

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Get-Inspired-Online-When-Everybody-Is-Criticizing-You&id=9605868

Ten Ways to Free Up the Time You Need To Do More Things You Want

1. Start tomorrow by preparing today

Make a "to-do" list every day. You'll save time by having the tasks you need to do in front of you first thing in the morning so that you can get right to work. Once this habit is in place, you'll find you accomplish more in less time than you did before.

2. Get organized

Don't spend time spinning your wheels searching for things you need. Have a place for everything and everything it its place. Ask for help to get organized if you have limited space, or need to learn how to organize a new area- like a home office.

3. Know your priorities

It's easy to get caught up in low priority tasks that won't help you achieve your goals. (Like a fun new app on your phone). Make the decision about these things early and stick to your plan.

4. Learn to make quick and smarter decisions

Agonizing over things stalls your progress. You'll need to have all the facts first but, once you do, make the decision.

5. Employ snippets of time

Many things can be done in short periods of time. Use a timer or alarm to signal your time to stop so that you don't have to watch the clock.

6. Get off lists

Junk mail is easy to deal with--just toss it. The same is true with junk email and texts. Learn to recognize junk and just toss it. Ask to be removed from lists so that you don't even have to take the time to delete the messages. Ask all telemarketers to put you on the "Do Not Call" list and you'll see a significant reduction of phone interruptions in a very short time. This has worked well for me.

7. Enlist your family and friends

Your family can help you get more time by doing a few more chores for you. Use this extra time wisely or you'll kill the willingness. Offer rewards for thank-yous and incentives. Maybe swap favors with a friend. This will create more time for the family to have more fun together too!

8. Put some stuff on hold or just say no

Learn to say no to requests for your time or, at least, try to postpone the task to a later date. Not only does this free up your time, it also clears your mind to concentrate on your goals. Make sure you say it politely: "I would like to help you, but I'm not available to do that right now."

9. Limit your Internet use

The Internet is an incredible tool but limit your surfing to the sites that will help you achieve specific goals. If you just can't live without random surfing, use that kitchen timer to set some limits. It's OK to play games and use social media- just use wise limits.

10. Turn off the TV more

Eliminating just a few shows a week can hand you several hours that you can use to build your dreams. Make a viewing schedule of your favorites and stick to it and never watch anything that really doesn't hold your attention. Same goes for gaming. Do the things you love; just be mindful of the time you are using.

So there you go- now what are you going to do with your new free time? Family Time? Fun? Hobbies? Home business? Whatever you choose- have fun doing it!

http://ezinearticles.com/?Ten-Ways-to-Free-Up-the-Time-You-Need-To-Do-More-Things-You-Want&id=9543691

The Ticket to a Simpler Life

Do you dream of leading a simpler life? Are you worn out, frustrated, or unhappy with where you live or what you do? I've talked about living in paradise before, but I wanted to share a few more thoughts on the subject.

There isn't anything wrong with having a "paradise dream" (dreams are encouraged!), but if we live our lives waiting until we can move on to greener pastures, we'll miss out on what life has to offer right now.

We all have ideas on what we think a simpler life means. Some of us think retiring and moving to the woods is the ticket. Others want to move to somewhere tropical. Most of the time retiring and moving are key components for what we think is a happier, stress-reduced life.

Oh, the error of our ways...

The thing is, simplifying life doesn't have to mean moving to the middle of nowhere. Oftentimes, doing just that actually complicates things a bit. Just think about all the things you have to do to survive if you take off and move into the woods. If you don't have electricity, you have to get firewood (even if you live in the south - doesn't it get chilly there, too?). If you don't have a job or a ton of money in savings, you can't just buy the wood. That means you have to gather and cut the wood yourself. What it takes to live off the land and survive is a lot more than one would expect. And in many cases, it's a full-time job.

Our ideas of a simpler life aren't always accurate. We think if we can just move into the woods, life will be simpler. Or we think if we can just quit our jobs, life will be simpler. Sometimes it really is simpler, especially if there is drama in the workplace, but what are we going to do after that? How are we going to pay the bills?

Even if we live off the grid and grow our own food, we still have expenses. Whether we like it or not, we still need an income or a major reserve of funds to get by. It isn't as easy as one might think.

Also, in our world today, we have become spoiled with technology. We can whip out our smartphones and find out just about any information we need or want. We can order products, even food, online and have it delivered to our front door. We can watch movies online and dial a phone number simply by speaking a few words into the phone.

Many of us aren't ready to say goodbye to the internet. And if we want high-speed internet (trust me, satellite internet doesn't cut it), well, we'll need to be in a location where the service is available.

See, we have these grand ideas that if we take off into the woods, life will get easier. But the issue comes when our true calling doesn't actually support our dreams of living in the woods. In that case, moving to the woods makes our lives much harder. Internet will be slower, if it works at all, and getting supplies will take longer.

What I'm trying to get across is this: it doesn't matter where we live. We can still find ways to simplify our lives without taking off and saying goodbye to the world.

Many of us think if we just move to somewhere tropical, life will be easy. But does it align with our calling? If it does, great! If not, moving to that paradise location will make our lives miserable. We can have the best view in the world, but if it makes doing our work more difficult, we may find ourselves frustrated.

So, what are some ways we can make the most of where we are right now?

• Remember our goals. 
• Remember our purpose (we weren't meant to be hermits). 
• Work toward our dreams. 
• Focus on positive things and limit the complaints. 
• Recognize the blessings. 
• Learn from all experiences. 
• Remember that life is a journey. 
• Find an activity to enjoy. 
• Believe that paradise can be achieved right now. 
• Listen to the things that God is placing on our hearts.

The grass on our side can be just as green as it appears on the other side. It just takes a little work to see things clearly. It isn't about the location or the work; it's about the journey and what we can learn each step of the way.

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Ticket-to-a-Simpler-Life&id=9409292

10 things you can learn in 10 minutes that will change your life

You're probably short on time reading this, and I don't blame you. Life moves fast. It seems impossible to keep up with hundreds of tasks being thrown your way every day, especially at the office.

In fact, more than two-thirds of employees reported being overloaded at work according to Cornerstone's 2014 State Of Workplace Productivity Report. And 84% think the overload won't be letting up anytime soon — it's increasing.

In light of this reality, you're probably searching for the best productivity hacks the internet has to offer, but you don't have a lot of time to apply them.

So, here's a solution: Learn one of these 10 things in the next 10 minutes, and you'll be more productive for the rest of your life.

1. The Pomodoro Technique

Time management is huge for productivity. I've found the Pomodoro technique to be one of the most effective ones. It requires you to design your daily tasks in 25-minute intervals, forcing you to be extremely focused. — Syed Balkhi, OptinMonster

2. How to Improve Your Average

Take five minutes to look up Dr. Stan Beecham's philosophy on elite minds, then take the remaining five minutes to commit to improving your average. We tend to focus all our time on improving our peak performance while improving our average performance can have a much more dramatic impact on overall progress. — Douglas Hutchings, Picasolar

3. How to Plan Ahead

I learned this recently from the Stagen Leadership Academy. Weekly planning and setting appointments with myself for the following week (and then keeping those appointments) ensures I give my priorities the appropriate amount of attention. It's so easy to get distracted by what everybody else needs. This methodology ensures I stay on target with my own projects. — Corey Blake, Round Table Companies

4. How to Meditate

In 10 short minutes you could easily learn a meditation practice that you can take with you the rest of your life. Meditation helps calm your mind, ease stress and bring clarity to your everyday life. My productivity increases whenever I meditate consistently and noticeably declines when I fall out of my routine. Watch a YouTube video or read a quick blog post on how to meditate. It's easy. — Andrew Thomas, SkyBell Video Doorbell

Adrees Latif/Reuters

Quiet your mind.

5. Memorization Techniques

If you think of your brain as a set of computer folders, then you can see that forgetting is not really possible. If you forget something, it's either it wasn't saved to begin with or you put it somewhere hard to retrieve. Concentration and recall are what makes memories. Focus in order to concentrate, and test yourself in order to recall. "Backspace" new info by using a pencil and eraser. — Cody McLain, SupportNinja

6. How to Triple Your Reading Speed

I read at least one book per week while driving, and I have a really short commute. How? Audiobook apps (like Audible's) often have a feature where you can listen to a book at three times the normal speed. It only takes about 10 minutes for your brain to adjust, and then you're good. — Jesse Lear, V.I.P. Waste Services, LLC

7. How to Take Responsibility

Too often people try to come up with reasons why they can't get something done, why a project is over budget, how an accident happened, etc. Learning to take responsibility for your actions will make doing business much smoother. It's easier to solve a problem when you aren't spending a ton of time getting to the root of it. Take responsibility and move forward. — Drew Gurley, Redbird Advisors

8. How to Organize Critical vs. Important Tasks

Piling things on your to-do lists feels productive. Eventually though, the list gets too massive and all the tasks suffer, since you don't have enough time and energy to allocate to each. While you can delegate, it's easier to divide the mix of critical tasks (tasks that you need to do now to improve the business) and important tasks (tasks that you can do whenever to improve the business.) — Kenny Nguyen, Big Fish Presentations

Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Loosen up.

9. Shoulder, Wrist, and Arm Stretches

Putting in long hours typing at your desk is bound to lead to health problems if you don't learn easy, quick stretches to counteract the strain. Simple exercises to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome and back pain take less than 10 minutes to learn, but save you hundreds of hours you might have lost otherwise. Just five to 10 minutes a day is a good start to protecting your health and productivity. — Dave Nevogt, Hubstaff.com

10. How to Delegate Time Blocks

It is so easy to fall into the daily distractions, forcing you to play catch-up the next day. Time blocking is such a huge part of my day that keeps me on track. I schedule a time frame where I am responding to emails, and then I block the next hour for meetings. I would recommend everyone break time into segments. — Jayna Cooke, EVENTup

http://www.businessinsider.com/things-you-can-learn-in-10-minutes-2015-8

The 3 Ways People React to Change

Are you non-active, reactive or proactive? Plus, we tell you how to take charge of inevitable change.

I can still remember sitting around the dinner table at 15, hearing my mother say, “What do you think about moving?” as she casually passed me the mashed potatoes.

What do I think? I think it’s a horrible, terrible, unbearable idea. I love this house, my friends, my school, and the thought of moving again just three years after the last time makes me want to burst into tears! “Because we’ve bought a new house and will be relocating in a couple of weeks!” she continued, dribbling gravy over her plate.

Even as adults, most of us don’t choose change. We get comfortable with our routines, our lives, our friends, our cocktail of choice, even our routes to work, and any detour can be a source of frustration, fear and stress—we prefer the security of what we know. But change is unavoidable, and how we react to it determines the outcome, good or bad.

For example, let’s say you have a 30-year-old shake shingle roof on your home, and during a home inspection you are told your roof has a slim to none chance of holding up through the winter rain. (Why am I using this example? Because I just wrote a big fat check to the roofing company!) What would you do?

There are usually three ways that people react to change:

• Be non-active.

These are the type of homeowners who find out they have a leaky roof but just sit back, singing the song, “It Never Rains in Southern California,” hoping that will make it so. Basically, they resist the change and choose to remain in denial. If I don’t address the issue, it’s not really there. It won’t happen to me, so I’m just going to continue to go about my business. Or they cop an attitude and say, It’s not fair. Why me? Either way, they don’t move forward and stay stuck. They are choosing the pay later versus now, approach—and pay they will.

• Be reactive.

The home owner frantically starts calling the local roofers and feels the pressure to make a fast decision. They don’t have all the necessary facts but make a decision anyway to eliminate their immediate stress and worry. It’s a knee-jerk reaction. It’s the individual who finds out they may lose their job, freaks out, visits 30 placement agencies, and the following Monday they have a new job—but not really one that fits their skill set or talent.

• Be proactive and positive.

A few months back, the home owners accepted how old the original roof was and started to do their homework. They asked all their friends and neighbors for recommendations, did research on the Internet about roof materials during their spare time and started interviewing roofers suggested by others. They prepared a budget and started saving for the new roof, which is scheduled to be put on before the rainy season begins. They put their focus on what they could do, focused on the positive outcomes and took action.

Obviously, the ideal way to deal with change is to be is proactive because you feel more in control. And the more we feel we have control over the situation, the less stress and frustration we feel. It doesn’t matter if it’s a roof, a divorce, a career restructuring or a diet—when we take charge of change, the journey feels more comfortable and ends up more rewarding.

Easy to say, but how do you choose to be proactive when it’s so easy to freak out or hide under the covers?

• Acknowledge that change is part of life. Nothing would exist without change. It’s inevitable. We wouldn’t even be born if our parents hadn’t changed (or grown up).

• Accept your emotions. Tell the truth on yourself to allow all your feelings. Cry the crocodile tears and release the energy as it comes up. Be patient, as it takes time to sort through all your emotions and adjust to change. Too often we skip over this step, shove our emotions down and that ends up slowing us down.

• Reframe the situation to see the positive. After I processed my sadness about having to relocate, I started to dream about the possibilities ahead. I could meet exciting new people, have updated décor in my bedroom and no one would know about that stupid thing I did in the 4th grade!

• Action is required because decisions, not conditions, determine your path. By deciding to move forward and trust the process, we put our focus on what is available. I took steps to learn all I could about the neighborhood, activities and school. By taking positive action, I was able to let go of my fears and move forward believing that everything will work out for the best.

And since change is constant, I recently had the opportunity to explore the steps once more when my husband and I decided to divorce. I chose to be proactive, cry my river of tears, focus on the positive benefits that come from speaking the truth and took the steps to move forward trusting that all our lives will eventually change for the better. And they have. It required I move again, but today, my world is spinning with wonderful possibilities.

Remember, every pot needs to be replanted now and again if it’s going to grow. Embrace change and continue to become the person you were always meant to be.

http://www.success.com/article/the-3-ways-people-react-to-change

Yes, You Can Manifest Money By Following Your Passion. Here's How

Make money and not loathe your job? That's dreamin' big, am I right? When I was younger, I thought people who went to work and actually enjoyed it were harboring some kind of secret. How was it possible to love what you do and making a living from it? I truly believed only the athletes, the movie stars, and the very lucky were able to accomplish such a feat.

After years of soul-searching, failing, struggling, and — finally — accomplishing, I now am one of those “lucky” people who turned a passion into a career path.

What’s the secret? How can you crack the code or reveal the hidden formula for making money doing what you love?

The truth is that it won’t happen overnight, but it also doesn’t require a handbook. Here are four simple ways to start moving toward your own passion-based business and manifest the life you’ve always dreamed of:

1. Make “free” your motto.

If you’re just starting out, accept the fact that you’ll have to provide free “samples” of your services or products in order to attract attention to your business. For example, before I became a paid copywriter, I spent a long time writing free and low-cost content for various websites to build my portfolio.

Make every effort to give people a taste of what you have to offer so they are enticed to ask for more. The law of reciprocity will ensure you get back what you deserve, as many of your “free” customers will likely turn into paying clients.

2. Network — at least a little.

Truth be told, I’m not a huge fan of in-person networking events. (Who is, really?) More often than not, they feel forced and stressful.

But putting yourself out there and showcasing your talent to the right people is the only way your dream customers will find you. Whether your business is home-made crafts or health coaching, utilize sites like MeetUp.com to connect with people who share your interests or goals.

And remember that, in the beginning, marketing and growing your business will be entirely on your shoulders. Don’t be shy, because word of mouth is one of the most powerful ways to start gaining traction.

3. Build an online presence.

If you want to turn your passion into a career path, you’ll ultimately need a website and social media presence to grow your brand. This is where a lot of people cringe, but you don’t have to be fake, stuffy, pushy, or “salesy” to accomplish this.

Some type of online presence is necessary, since the Internet is often the first place people go to find the types of services or products you may be offering. Showcase some type of online identity where people can easily find you and retrieve information about your brand.

4. Invest in yourself.

One of the biggest things that will hold you back from making money from your passion is an unwillingness to invest in the process. While there are many free resources available for aspiring entrepreneurs, hiring help is often necessary in the beginning. So whether you need a business coach, or someone to design your website, spend the money and don’t think twice about it.

It’s absolutely true that you have to spend money to make money, so use the talents you have to grow your business and let others help you in the areas you aren’t so strong.

Lastly, don’t expect instant success. People who make wild claims about making large sums of money because they followed “System XYZ” or “Formula 1-2-3” are likely withholding critical information from the story (like the fact that they struggled for years to make ends meet before they struck it rich).

Don’t ditch your dream, but understand that like all things worth waiting for, manifesting money will take some time. Be patient and, above all, trust yourself.

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-20437/yes-you-can-manifest-money-by-following-your-passion-heres-how.html

11 Ways to Avoid Distractions and Stay Focused

Sometimes it seems that for as many hours there are in the day, there are three times as many interruptions that take you away from work that needs to get done.  So what can you do to get a little more clarity and get rid of those distractions? Give some of these suggestions a try.

1. Turn off the background noise.

What you thought was "white noise" from the TV or radio could be a bigger distraction than you realize.

2. Have a calming mantra. 

Post a sign or post-it near your workspace that says something along the lines of “quiet mind.” That will be your signal to take a deep breath and try to relax.

3. Clean up.

Make sure your office or desk is orderly, comfortable and well lit, so you are in the optimal space to be productive.

4. Take it one thing at a time. 

If you feel yourself getting pulled in different directions, just stop and focus on one task until it’s completed.

5. Switch off your cell phone.

Or if you can’t turn off your ringer for whatever reason, shut off the tweet/text/e-mail alerts, especially if you know you jump every time you hear it.

6. Take a break.

Go through your to-do list and prioritize. Ask yourself, does this really need to get done today or can I do it tomorrow?

7. Use the Internet sparingly.

If you know you’ll only need it for a specific bit of research, get it out of the way and then unplug while you do the rest of your work. This will help you avoid the urge to go down a browsing rabbit hole.

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/240176