Life Is Like A Game Of Chess

I'm not a chess player but over the years I have watched many of my friends play the game. But I can play checkers - not that it matters. Recently as I was watching a couple of friends play the thought occurred to me that chess is a lot like life - it's uncertainty, it's adventure, it's exhilaration and yes, it's a disappointment. Watching caused me to consider three life areas;

-Why do we make the moves we do?

Every day we all make decisions - some small ones, some insignificant ones and often some major ones. Do we take this move now or wait? Do we let go of this or hold on?

Do we say yes or no to this opportunity? Do I take a new route or play it safe and take the one I always do? Do I share these thoughts or keep them to myself? Hundreds of not thousands of routine choices and decisions every day. Some easy and some more difficult but in the end, we have a choice - do it or don't, make it or don't, try it or don't, say it or don't.

Every choice, action, and decision we make has a consequence - some are potentially positive and some negative, some are short term and some may take a while to come to fruition and often a few can be either a disaster or amazing.

I'm not going to dig into the weeds in this article about the best decision approaches to take as I have written several articles dedicated to this topic - all I want to do with this one is to make sure that you grasp the concept of reality and relationship between what you want, what is and how the relationship between these two approaches ultimately determines the outcomes you end up with.

In chess, every move matters, and yes some can be more crucial than others depending on how your opponent (life) reacts or responds to your moves. We can't control how our opponent chooses to pay their next move, all we can do is try and react as best we can given our options based on their (life's - starting to see the relationship here) previous move.

If their (life's) move puts us in a corner limiting our options, well, do we cave in and just let them (life) win and just quit or do we keep looking for a different or better strategy or approach to try and regain our control of the game and its potential ending?

Life will never stop sending us challenges, opportunities, options, dead ends, problems and chances and for us to - change, grow, improve or mature or to default back to what is comfortable regardless of whether it works or not or improves things or not. Life is relentless and no matter what choices we make or challenges we overcome, there are always others waiting just around the corner to keep us focused on improving vs. settling or quitting.

-In hindsight do we wish we had made different movers?

Regardless of your knowledge, experience, education, and wisdom, you can never know what is waiting in the wings that will cross your path tomorrow whether you are ready or not or how the decisions, choices, and options you have today will turn out tomorrow. I can move my chess piece, but I have no idea how you will respond, I just have to wait and see and them move accordingly.

Trying to outsmart life is stupid - what it wants us to learn to do is make the best moves possible given our resources, faith, courage, and wisdom. Plans are great if you could control life. Knowing is great if things never changed. The future is within your understanding if it always performed according to history and rules. Your life would be easy if you always made the right decisions - the problem is that the right decision or choice made today could in the future turn out to have been a wrong decision in the past and why? It's called "life" folks.

-What do we learn regardless of whether we win or lose?

Learning is an interesting concept when you think about it.

You learn a new skill, hobby or process after spending time evaluating, practicing and repeating the tactics until they are mastered. A question - have you ever learned anything in your life in the past from (parents, schools, seminars, books or just plain experience) that for any reason is not still true or relevant today? If your answer is no - it's for one of two reasons - 1) you have been living in a cabin in the mountains with no human contact of any kind for your entire life or 2) you are the smartest person who has ever lived in the history of humanity.

So, the rest of us are given new learning options every day of our lives and we can choose to embrace these opportunities or resist or reject them. But, one thing life has taught me over the years is that when I refuse to learn a lesson it wants to teach me and it believes I need to learn, it will keep coming back again and again from - a different person, different source or different situation. It will be relentless.

In the end, learning is not the end of anything it is simply the willingness and ability to let go of conventional wisdom, existing attitudes or opinions and skills or approaches that are just no longer working, effective or useful.

Think about it - do you still sell, market, read, cook, travel, garden, communicate exercise etc. today the way you did last week, last year, ten years ago or even fifty years ago? If you are - Checkmate!

https://ezinearticles.com/?Life-Is-Like-A-Game-Of-Chess&id=10079764

SELF-ESTEEM Advice: How To BUILD YOUR SENSE OF PRIDE and Trust in Yourself | Marisa Peer

Destiny or Free Will?

On the surface, it does seem like we make decisions and choices out of our own free will. But when we dig deeper, we realize that given the circumstances we make the only choice we possibly can based on our programming. For instance, you need to choose between two jobs. The interviewer at the first one squinted unpleasantly and reminded you of your father who used to beat you up. You didn't even notice that consciously but your subconscious already made a decision to keep you away from this job. Now you are consciously stacking up pros and cos to have something tangible to justify your decision, all the way not even realizing that the decision has been made. In the end, of course you "choose" the second job after having experienced quite a bit of worry, fear of making a mistake and indecision. It looks like you made the choosing out of your own free will, but did you really? And if not, if you were always going to end up with the second job, were the sleepless nights prior worth it?

Granted, the above scenario is not the only way we make decisions. Here is another one. Consider a young man who is dating a few women and settles for the obviously "wrong" choice. "Is he blind?" asks everyone. "Why leave the sweet girl for that bitch?" But why not? What choice did he have really? Assuming we all come here with a script, there are certain things we not only cannot avoid but we must experience in order to learn, grow and evolve. So we "make choice" to support us on that journey. In reality, we don't have a say as to what is going to happen, especially when it comes to experiences that are going to challenge us to rise to higher levels of consciousness (whether we do or not is a different matter). It is as if we are watching a movie where we play the main part. The movie has already been shot but we are yet to extract the morale of the story. We can't change the script. But we can keep reminding ourselves that we are observers; we can step back, gain perspective and learn from our own experiences projected on the screen.

Thus, the young man is marrying the bitch not because he made the wrong decision. Their union was already in the movie and the only thing he is left with now is learn (to trust his intuition, to not judge, to be more patient, etc.). (Not) coincidentally, that bitch is most likely mirroring his own dark side and is helping him integrate his shadow and elevate his own game. So what should he do now? Get out of the marriage? If that's on the script, he will. But more importantly, the question here is not what to do but what to make out of it. What attitude is he going to have while watching his own movie? Is he going to watch it in fear, regret and bitterness, or is he going to stand in faith, trust, acceptance and unconditional love? He most certainly can't change the movie itself, but he can change his experience while he is watching it. And that's worth gold because the quality of our life is determined not by the events in it but by how we experience them.

So if you are struggling to change your script, stop. Work on your attitude instead in order to be able to experience a life of higher quality. After all, this is the very reason we came here for: to work on our attitude. It is not by chance that our script is full of obstacles. They offer opportunities to alter our attitude and thus elevate consciousness. Attitude is the key to "changing" life. Not that you can really change it. But by changing your attitude, life will look different and you are more likely to enjoy it.

Understand that change starts within. Don't wait for life and circumstances to change to your liking so you can be happy. Instead, become happy first and your circumstances won't bother you. They will seem like a blessing, an opportunity, a gift. Ask yourself: Are you acting out of greed or love? Are you acting out of resistance or acceptance? Are you acting out of vengeance or forgiveness? Are you being grateful? Your attitude determines your possibility for happiness. It won't change the number of fallen trees on your path. But it decides whether you will be happy or miserable. And it also determines the quality of your decision making process. When you focus on who you are being instead of what you are doing, you won't be as fearful of the results. Cultivate integrity, love, forgiveness, patience, faith, trust and acceptance. This is how you assume the right attitude which effectively changes your programming. And once you observe your movie from a higher program, the results (decisions, choices, etc.) will simply follow effortlessly and you won't be tormented in the process.

In conclusion, if you want a good life, you work on controlling life's circumstances (which will give you marginal satisfaction but will leave you exhausted and ultimately dissatisfied). If, however, you want a great life, you work on your attitude. This way you align yourself with destiny gracefully. You are not afraid of fate; the ever so tiring need to control life is simply not there. It is what it is, and you ask for no more and no less.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Destiny-or-Free-Will?&id=10232624

Stop Ruining Your Life With Worry

Here are 13 Tips To Reduce Worry

1. Recognize that worrying doesn't change anything and is unhelpful.

2. Learn to identify the thoughts, feelings, sensations, visions that trigger your worry. It's easier to control what you recognize and acknowledge than the things you don't.

3. Review what you're worried about and ask yourself these questions? Is worrying about this helpful or harmful? Will this matter in a week from now? A month from now? A year from now? And so on. Is there any evidence to suggest that by worrying about this problem or situation that I may somehow control, contain, and/or change this situation or problem. Excessive worry is often called rumination when it becomes out of control. Much like how a cow chews its cud over and over it's called rumination. People will also do what's also called "rumination" where they spending time thinking about things longer or "ruminating" longer prior to making a decision.

4. Next ask yourself if this situation or problem is something that you can change or resolve then plan what to do next.

5. Humor can also reduce the stress of a situation, if you take the time to slow yourself down. Try to see the problem or situation from a different angle and learn to let go of what no longer serves you. If it no longer serves you there is no point holding onto it. Don't waste excess energy and time on thinking about something that you don't have control over. If you do have control over the situation or problem than take steps to make a plan to change.

6. Try to see things as a learning experience. When you may help you to look at things in a more objective way, with an eye towards moving forward in your life. Another way to deal with what your worried about may be to go as far as to move yourself from the situation. By creating some space with this you may have a more constructive view on it which will assist you in making a more informed decision about it.

7. What would you suggest a friend or family member do in this situation. In doing this you may be softer, kinder and more supportive of yourself. Don't judge yourself if you did something wrong. Just learn from it and now that you know, you will always know not to make the same decision. If it should happen again, know that you just have more to learn and that's okay.

8. Accepting your situation the way it is, can be one of the most difficult things to do. If your not able to do that figure out if there is anything you can do to change, negotiate or compromise in the situation and if not maybe removing yourself from it is the only option left.

9. Utilize meditation or yoga to break the vicious cycle of rumination by doing something physical. Doing one thing at a time in the moment and becoming grounded/centred within yourself is called, "Mindfulness" which is essential for breaking this habit. Also, by focusing your attention on meditation or your breathing you can be more in your body and less in your head.

10. Remember: You are not your thoughts! They are not who you are nor do they need to define you. Your thoughts are not always true! Your thoughts will come and go if you don't hold onto them so tightly and let them come and go. Your thoughts can't hurt you unless, you let them. If you allow them to control you, and take over your mind, they will.

11. Schedule a period of time every day to spend time worrying and after that time is done know that you will have to wait till the following day to worry about it or other things. This way you don't have to continue to think about that worry right in that moment when you have it already built into your schedule. Maybe set a timer for 15-20mins and at the end of your time, set those worries aside for that day. If you can't do anything about things in that minute, it's okay to let it go till you find a better time to figure it out.

12. Make a choice to let the situation be because holding onto whatever worry, discomfort, or distress you are going through only becomes worse the more you think about it. The more energy you put towards something the longer you will hold it in your thoughts which is not helpful.

13. Know that too much worry or anxiety will not cause you to go crazy or kill you. It can feel extremely distressing and uncomfortable causing many different symptoms to appear in your body but it won't kill you. Remember that it's not good for your health to hold on to things that you can't do anything about. That held worry which may get pushed down and not processed in a healthy way can manifest inside yourself as illness, disease, mental health issues or many other health problems. So ask yourself if worrying about it, is worth it because you may be sacrificing your health... if it's not.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Stop-Ruining-Your-Life-With-Worry&id=9874081

Self-Trust and Intuition

High on its perch the bird watched the world go by, wondering what it would be like to fly into the sky. The door unlocked, the bird was offered the chance to explore.

"If I leave the cage what will be waiting for me? I do not want to be in this cage, but I know how it comforts me. I know no different, so I think I will stay. Maybe one day I will change."

We all want the courage to leave the cage and fly into the sky, but it takes trust to really let go and allow the freedom of living to flow. When we lack self-trust, it becomes difficult to make decisions and leads to second guessing ourselves.

Trust, creates the change needed to live the life we desire. If we do not trust ourselves to drive, then we would never get behind the steering wheel.

Just like the bird, our known experiences are comforting, they allow us to stay in our present circumstances even if we do not like them. The ego tells us that this is the best place to be while courage keeps it all in place. The illusion is that we believe life is meant to be this way.

Becoming in tune with intuition will naturally play on the relationship that you have with trust. Questioning every feeling, thought or happening. Is it my mind or is it intuition? This is the outcome of previous conditioning.

Intuition is not emotionally driven so be alert of the thoughts that surface because if emotions are attached then it is more than likely a bi product of past teachings manifesting as intuition. Emotions can create fear which will then cause trust issues.

The story of the bird highlights the power that emotions have on our thoughts and inability to trust ourselves. The bird sees the cage as a link to feeling safe. When the door is opened the bird feels uneasy. Taking a step towards freedom the held beliefs; "Don't do that. You don't know what's out there. You may be hurt or never come back" are so overwhelming that the bird is forced by fear to remain in the comfort it has become used to.

Our fears become reality when we fail to listen within. Luckily, human beings are wonderful at adapting to surroundings and changing our minds within a second.

Trust is often learned by listening to others, we become trusting because a link to feeling safe is established. When life is going well we trust that all is okay and often we attribute this to something outside ourselves whether that is God, the universe or a parent or teacher but when the trust is no longer there, we are let down and our mind holds onto the memory, stored away to be used as a validation of why we can't change.

The reality is we experience trust from within. To be able to comprehend that a decision is based on your ability to know what is best for you is an example of self-trust. Intuition and trust are intertwined, both are needed to receive the full power of what is possible.

Tips for Trusting Intuition

• Intuition does not have emotional attachment

• Trust is intertwined with intuition and cannot be separated

• Fears become reality when we fail to listen to the truth within

• Thoughts and emotions may be linked to the unconscious giving a false sense of security and preventing what may be a positive decision

This is an extract taken from the book, 'The Sentient Pathway. The #1 Guide to Developing Your Intuition, Giving You Power, Clarity and Confidence. By Kim and Ben Sowter

http://ezinearticles.com/?Self-Trust-and-Intuition&id=9921908

Turn Worry Into Welcome With One Simple Question - This Is Powerful

Finding time to savor your life becomes so much easier as you learn the skill of introducing simple attitude shifts to your day.

Very often, when you feel yourself slipping into a rut of fear, anxiety, or negativity, something as easy as pausing and asking yourself the right question will open your mind and move it into exploring a fresh, new approach. As you practice and get comfortable with this skill, I think you will be amazed at how quickly and significantly you can shift your own perspective.

Here's a great example: How do you act when an unfamiliar challenge pops up?

Do you automatically brace yourself! That's a very familiar response for many.

But did you know that tensing your body doesn't just affect your muscles? Indeed, it constricts your problem-solving abilities and inhibits your creativity, too.

Wondering how that works?

Well, just as fear freezes your body, it also calcifies your options. Likewise, anxiety creates a simplistic either/or scarcity mentality. That's definitely not the best mindset for creative thinking.

So you can see how, when fear takes the driver's seat, you find it that much more difficult to prioritize. It's also harder to solve problems and make decisions. And it's harder to keep to a healthy schedule.

But there's good news about all this.

You can swiftly overcome the natural tendency to tense with another natural impulse.

Curiosity

Curiosity is one of the most powerful antidotes to fear. And it provides the perfect climate for learning.

Mobilizing your curiosity also actually changes you for the better. That's because you stop focusing self-consciously on the you-who-doesn't-know, and shift into the you-who-is-eager-to-figure-it-out.

Give it a try.

Any time you notice yourself apprehensively thinking, "What if... ?" try replacing that with "I wonder what... ?"

It feels SO much better!

As you regain your inner balance with this simple question, you will find it much easier to ride the new wave of change with smart time choices. Try it and see. And let me know how it goes for you -- I'd love to hear!

http://ezinearticles.com/?Turn-Worry-Into-Welcome-With-One-Simple-Question---This-Is-Powerful&id=10051394

Turn Worry Into Welcome With One Simple Question - This Is Powerful

Finding time to savor your life becomes so much easier as you learn the skill of introducing simple attitude shifts to your day.

Very often, when you feel yourself slipping into a rut of fear, anxiety, or negativity, something as easy as pausing and asking yourself the right question will open your mind and move it into exploring a fresh, new approach. As you practice and get comfortable with this skill, I think you will be amazed at how quickly and significantly you can shift your own perspective.

Here's a great example: How do you act when an unfamiliar challenge pops up?

Do you automatically brace yourself! That's a very familiar response for many.

But did you know that tensing your body doesn't just affect your muscles? Indeed, it constricts your problem-solving abilities and inhibits your creativity, too.

Wondering how that works?

Well, just as fear freezes your body, it also calcifies your options. Likewise, anxiety creates a simplistic either/or scarcity mentality. That's definitely not the best mindset for creative thinking.

So you can see how, when fear takes the driver's seat, you find it that much more difficult to prioritize. It's also harder to solve problems and make decisions. And it's harder to keep to a healthy schedule.

But there's good news about all this.

You can swiftly overcome the natural tendency to tense with another natural impulse.

Curiosity

Curiosity is one of the most powerful antidotes to fear. And it provides the perfect climate for learning.

Mobilizing your curiosity also actually changes you for the better. That's because you stop focusing self-consciously on the you-who-doesn't-know, and shift into the you-who-is-eager-to-figure-it-out.

Give it a try.

Any time you notice yourself apprehensively thinking, "What if... ?" try replacing that with "I wonder what... ?"

It feels SO much better!

As you regain your inner balance with this simple question, you will find it much easier to ride the new wave of change with smart time choices. Try it and see. And let me know how it goes for you -- I'd love to hear!

http://ezinearticles.com/?Turn-Worry-Into-Welcome-With-One-Simple-Question---This-Is-Powerful&id=10051394

Seeking the approval of others

When we are deciding upon something, especially when it involves a serious issue, we occasionally seek the opinion of others. This is natural since there is wisdom in obtaining the advice of those close to us.

However, when we make decisions, they should be entirely our own. Relying constantly on other people to make decisions for us erodes our ability to think for ourselves. In spite of this, some would rather depend on others in making choices for them, possibly out of fear of making mistakes while at the same time having someone else to blame if these decisions turn out to be wrong.

Still others make choices merely to please the people around them. The approval and appreciation of family and friends become the paramount consideration. However, by doing this, an individual is only making other people happy. And what happens when different people desire different things for the person seeking their approval? Will this not create confusion?

We cannot please everybody. If our happiness depends upon making others happy, then what will happen if we fail to do so? We may never become happy because there will always be someone who does not approve of what we are doing. By being people-pleasers, we are placing our lives at the mercy of the opinions of others.

Our decisions should be geared towards our own fulfillment. Our choices should not depend on others. We can seek people’s counsel, but ultimately when we do decide, the responsibility should be ours alone. We are bound to make mistakes once in a while. But by making these mistakes, we can learn why they were wrong and avoid making them again in the future.

Confidence in our decision making skills is strengthened by trusting our own judgment. Our capacity to think critically and analytically is fostered by making our own choices. And when we use our freedom to choose, our one true goal in all our decisions should be our own happiness and fulfillment.

http://www.articlesfactory.com/articles/self-help/seeking-the-approval-of-others.html

Decide Now

DECIDE NOW AND STOP PROCRASTINATING

When I was at primary school one thing I was not able to do was to make decisions and not alter them. That haunted me for a couple of years I think for 4 or so years. I do not know what actually happened to change that because I was a kid back then. From that moment onwards I was able to make decisions and stick to that. My life changed for the better, friends began to come to me seeking for answers. That is the "power of decision."

Every time when you are confronted with a challenge or difficulty, the best way to overcome that challenge is to make a decision and stick to it. You should know inside you what you want and what you have to do, do not wait for tomorrow. The unfortunate thing is tomorrow might never come. It can be an opportunity that has arisen, be able to make a decision and be slow to reverse that decision. Yes, do not quickly reverse your decision.

Sometimes you have to go against the odds and be your own, stop listening to rumours and gossips that can make you decide basing on opinions. I tell you in that process of listening to opinions in a newspaper or from friends and family, you will make yourself a person of no value.Your value comes when you are able to make bold decisions in a matter of death or life situations. Your decision has to be a courageous one. You will lose your confidence when you grow a habit of listening to other people's opinions before making a decision.

If it was not for Henry Ford's decision to come up with a V8 engine, we would not be enjoying 8 cylinder vehicles now, if it was not for Thomas Edison who decided to create a bulb we would not be having bulbs now. It is not a matter of looking for someone to make a decision, the opposite of decision is procrastination. Procrastination in itself is the thief of time.

Do not be a procrastinator in all you do, the moment you procrastinate you already have lost time. Time lost is never gained. So be firm and bold to make decisions, it is your DECISION that can change your current situation. It is your decision that can change the situation of your nation or community.

"The choices we make lead up to actual experiences. It is one thing to decide to climb a mountain. It is quite another to be on top of it."~ Herbert A. Simon

"Procrastination is the bad habit of putting of until the day after tomorrow what should have been done the day before yesterday."~ Napoleon Hill

One more thing, when you make your decision, the best that you can do is to shut your mouth and pursue your goals. Open your eyes and ears, but your mouth should not open unless it is something pertaining to your goal. Why shut your mouth? Because deeds and not words are what counts most.

Even to decide to be a decision maker you have to do it now, if you had lagged behind or you had been procrastinating throw away procrastination. Your decision means a lot to your family, friends, community, country and even the world. "What you decide now can make a huge impact to the world."

http://ezinearticles.com/?Decide-Now&id=9731259

Humility Commands Respect

Humility Commands Respect, for it is often seen as a virtue, in contrast to other forms of pride and arrogance. Not everyone is humble for the fact that we all know. Humans tend to take pride in their worldly possessions by flaunting them when their wealth is the epitome of their glory. For those in power or authority, they will never hesitate to flex their muscles, in the face of opposition. Yet, how many of us are humble enough to make a stand and admit our mistakes when we are wrong? If for one moment, we can declare by means of actions, not words... that "I am humble," which in itself can command respect, even admiration from those around us.

When in the wrong, be humble and be the first to admit the mistake and apologize, so that any conflicts or tensions, can be resolved amicably. Now, that is the Power of Humility! Being arrogant can only cause problem or trouble which we must avoid at all costs. Good leaders typically exhibit good traits that include strength, wisdom, charisma, enthusiasm and vision. The opposite can be said of bad leaders who are selfish, self-centered, arrogant, conceited, corrupted and evil.

Leaders are more powerful when they are humble. Perhaps the world's most humble leader--humbly steps down after five years and he is Uruguay President Jose Mujica. Uruguayans call their outgoing president simply as "Pepe"! Though he is the head of state, he refuses to dress in pomp, ride in a limousine nor resides in a presidential palace. Such is his humility!

Ways that Humility can make us a better person or leader include:-

1. Be open to people's opinions - Managers who possess traits of humility, tend to seek input from their colleagues to ensure that they have all the facts, in order to make decisions that are in the best interests of their team. People would like to work for those who value their opinions, rather than ignore or dismiss them.
2. Tend to the needs of others - Caring about the environment in which you are living or your team is working, is to ensure that they have what they need to do a good job.
3. Admit mistakes - To err is human but to admit our mistakes, is to be humble. Not only do we admit our mistakes but we must be able to rectify them accordingly.
4. Accept ambiguity - Know when to take charge and when to let go. Try not to force anything to go your way and belittle others.
5. Focusing on the needs of others - Focus not on your needs, but also on others at home and at work. This will provide a better understanding and communication.

At times, it is vital to admit that you don't know the best answer and be humble to say that until you have the best information to make a decision or change, you will have to wait to find out. No one is infallible, except God.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Humility-Commands-Respect&id=9720051

How to Get More Done in a Day!

You wake up early with every intention to get loads done today. You have a to do list that you prepared the night before and you're positive that you're going to have a super productive day! Then before you know it you're half way through your day and you haven't gotten anything done. It's frustrating, isn't it? Where the hell did the time go? I'm going to give you a chance to break that frustrating cycle and give you 10 of the BEST ways to maximize your time and get way more done everyday.

1. Stop checking your social medial news feed. This is a great way to get distracted. Not only will it take your focus away from your immediate task, it can throw of the rest of your day by putting negative, distracting thoughts in your head. I'm not saying that social media is bad, there's just a lot of stuff that can be. If you want to get more done, why take the chance?

2. Take on your least favourite task first. Doing this will take a lot of stress off your shoulders and allow you to be in a better state of mind once that task is completed. Don't waste all your energy thinking about that task your dreading. If you do it first thing, you'll have a lot more energy to be able to complete everything else faster.

3. Don't over-commit. Thinking about everything that you might be able to get done today can sound really good to yourself before it comes time to doing it. Make sure you're not overloading yourself and don't be afraid to say no sometimes. It's better to get less done then it is to do a very poor job at getting lot's done.

4. Control distractions. Turn off the e-mail and social media notifications, beeps and ringtones. If you work in a noisy work environment a set of ear plugs may even be a great idea.

5. Make decisions and take action. Don't procrastinate. It never pays off and next thing you know you'll have more stuff to do then you can possibly take on. When you make a decision to do something, take action.

6. Change your environment. Not only can working in the same place everyday become boring, it can completely burn you out after a while. If you can try a change of location. Even if it's only once a week.

7. Deal with every e-mail right away. When you read an e-mail and take action on it immediately after opening it. Don't spend your day thinking about what to say.

8. Eat healthy snacks. When you eat well, your body and mind will be at it's best. Don't load up on sweets for a short term fix. Having an apple, protein bar and some nuts around will help you stay productive.

9. Do one thing at a time. Our brains are not meant to be thinking of more than one thing at a time. Stay focused on each task at hand and always do your best!

10. Recharge. Most business owners would stay open 24/7 if they could and some do. It's important for us to enjoy our hobbies and spend time with the people we love. Be sure to be doing both of these as often to more done in day.

Were these helpful? There are others out there that could use this advice, feel free to share around and drop me a comment if you found this helpful!

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Get-More-Done-in-a-Day!&id=9469745

How to Get More Done in a Day!

You wake up early with every intention to get loads done today. You have a to do list that you prepared the night before and you're positive that you're going to have a super productive day! Then before you know it you're half way through your day and you haven't gotten anything done. It's frustrating, isn't it? Where the hell did the time go? I'm going to give you a chance to break that frustrating cycle and give you 10 of the BEST ways to maximize your time and get way more done everyday.

1. Stop checking your social medial news feed. This is a great way to get distracted. Not only will it take your focus away from your immediate task, it can throw of the rest of your day by putting negative, distracting thoughts in your head. I'm not saying that social media is bad, there's just a lot of stuff that can be. If you want to get more done, why take the chance?

2. Take on your least favourite task first. Doing this will take a lot of stress off your shoulders and allow you to be in a better state of mind once that task is completed. Don't waste all your energy thinking about that task your dreading. If you do it first thing, you'll have a lot more energy to be able to complete everything else faster.

3. Don't over-commit. Thinking about everything that you might be able to get done today can sound really good to yourself before it comes time to doing it. Make sure you're not overloading yourself and don't be afraid to say no sometimes. It's better to get less done then it is to do a very poor job at getting lot's done.

4. Control distractions. Turn off the e-mail and social media notifications, beeps and ringtones. If you work in a noisy work environment a set of ear plugs may even be a great idea.

5. Make decisions and take action. Don't procrastinate. It never pays off and next thing you know you'll have more stuff to do than you can possibly take on. When you make a decision to do something, take action.

6. Change your environment. Not only can working in the same place everyday become boring, it can completely burn you out after a while. If you can try a change of location. Even if it's only once a week.

7. Deal with every e-mail right away. When you read an e-mail and take action on it immediately after opening it. Don't spend your day thinking about what to say.

8. Eat healthy snacks. When you eat well, your body and mind will be at it's best. Don't load up on sweets for a short term fix. Having an apple, protein bar and some nuts around will help you stay productive.

9. Do one thing at a time. Our brains are not meant to be thinking of more than one thing at a time. Stay focused on each task at hand and always do your best!

10. Recharge. Most business owners would stay open 24/7 if they could and some do. It's important for us to enjoy our hobbies and spend time with the people we love. Be sure to be doing both of these as often to more done in day.

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Get-More-Done-in-a-Day!&id=9469745

6 Things You Didn't Know About How Your Brain Works

We're hasty, sloppy, and biased, and that's just for starters

"I think therefore I am," Descartes said. While writing my book, Quitting, I analyzed how people think, process, and make decisions. While I fancied myself a thoughtful, detail-oriented, and thorough person, my research revealed the blind spots we all share when processing details to make smart choices.

If you are about to make a change or a decision, the quality of the choice depends on your ability to think through options. But are your thought processes dependable? The science says no. The degree to which our thinking is unconscious, automatic, influenced by external cues, and biased may come as a shock to you, as it certainly did to me. 

Following are 6 myths I believed about thinking, and the real story: 

1. I base my decisions on facts. 

We might not ponder our decisions as much as we think. According to Nobel Prize winners Daniel Kahneman and Amos Twersky, we rely on the "availability heuristic" most often when we make a choice or decision. This mental shortcut—highlighting the most recent, mentally available “facts"—gives our brain a break when making a decision. Quick “connect the dots” thinking was valuable in human evolutionary history when dangers and perils required fast response. In today's hyper-connected world, we are more susceptible to the “available” facts as they pop up.

2. I weigh the pros and cons carefully when considering options. 

Not really. Though we consider ourselves open to new opportunities and risk, more often we prioritize how much time, energy, and money we've already invested in a given path. The “sunk-cost fallacy” motivates us to stay in unsatisfying relationships, jobs, and everything else long past their expiration date. 

3. I think more logically than other people

You probably don't. Repeated studies show that Americans think of themselves as “above average” in almost every domain. A famous study in the 1970s conducted by the College Board showed that 70% of those surveyed thought they had better-than-average leadership skills. When asked to rate their ability to get along with others, 60% put themselves in the top 10%, and 25% ranked themselves as being in the first percentile. (So, where do all the difficult people come from?)

A paper by David Dunning, Chip Heath, and Jerry M. Suls suggests that almost everything we think about ourselves is colored by one bias or another. This includes our ability to forecast how generous we will be, how quickly we will complete a task, and how we will act or react in a future situation.

4. I am an objective thinker. 

Perhaps not. While we may notice other peoples' biases, researchers Emily Pronin, Daniel Lin, and Lee Ross found that most people have a “bias blind spot” toward themselves. When it comes to self-assessment, David Dunning and his colleagues report that, “in general, people’s self-views hold only a tenuous relationship with their actual behavior and performance.” 

5. I am good at anticipating my own reactions. 

According to Timothy Wilson and Daniel Gilbert, when we imagine a future scenario, we simplify it. The more complex a future situation turns out to be, then, the more unlikely that your prediction about how you will react will be accurate.

Julia Woodzicka and Marianne La France conducted an experiment in which they asked nearly 200 women how they would react if an older male asked them inappropriate questions during a job interview—such as, whether they had a boyfriend, whether men found them desirable, or whether they thought women should wear bras to work—and 62% of the women imagined that they’d be proactive, telling the guy off in some way, while 28% said they would simply bail and walk out; 65% said they’d refuse to answer at least one question.

Then the researchers had the participants go for what they believed was a real interview for a lab assistant position. Half of the women were asked the harassing questions by the male interviewer; the control group was asked odd, random questions which weren’t harassing. More than half of the women ignored the harassment. And while 36% asked why they were being asked these questions, four out of six of those participants only asked at the end of the interview. And no one walked out.

6. I pay close attention to detail. 

Your brain is bombarded by so many stimuli that it has to use shortcuts so that you can form a picture, filling in the blanks so that you achieve coherence. In their article, “Gorillas in Our Midst," Daniel Simons and Christopher Chabris show how limited our powers of perception are when we are concentrating. The experimenters asked participants watching a video of a basketball game to count either the number of passes or bounces among the players; seconds into the video, someone dressed in a gorilla costume walked into the middle of the players. More than half of the people missed the gorilla. 

The experiment exposed what is called “inattentional blindness,” which refers to our inability to notice or register the alteration of an important detail. Studies have shown that people fail to notice that heads on a photograph of two people have been switched; similarly, an experiment conducted by Daniel Simons revealed that change blindness actually took place in real-life situations. An experimenter posed as someone lost on a college campus, map in hand; he solicited the advice of passersby. But, as the experimenter and the pedestrian were talking, two men carrying a door passed between them, blocking the experimenter from view for a few moments. Another experimenter took the first experimenter’s place, also holding a map. Once again, only half of the pedestrians noticed the switch. 

www.psychologytoday.com/blog/tech-support/201401/6-things-you-didnt-know-about-how-your-brain-works