Saturday, June 30, 2018
Dying man’s online post ‘My Last Tie’ offers powerful life advice
Friday, June 29, 2018
The original Gerber baby and the NEW Gerber baby joined forces in cutest photo ever
7 kinds of ‘She Shed’ ideas to transform your shed into a sanctuary of peace and personal style
10 Ways to deal with being a perfectionist
To understand how to manage perfectionism, you first need to know what drives it. Usually, we wind up as a perfectionist when this behavior is modeled regularly by our parents or loved ones; when they consistently push us to be perfect.
It’s important to recognize that, in most cases, they wanted us to do well because they love us. Most likely, had no idea that trying to shape us into flawless beings could possibly do us any harm.
How to deal with being a perfectionist
Here are some steps to take to recognize and deal with being a perfectionist:
1.) Observe this tendency in yourself.
Carefully observe your behavior. You’ll need to do this for a while in various situations to get a full picture of the extent of your perfectionism. Check your conduct at work, at home, with your children, or in any setting where you think you might be setting too high standards.
If you pay close attention, you’ll note an inner sense that you need to keep doing something to get it right. You feel as if you can’t stop if you don’t. You might also notice that you keep driving yourself in the hopes of getting approval.
If this happens a lot, you likely have strong perfectionist tendencies. If you go for gold in only one or two areas of your life, you might have things just right. This may mean that you’re selective about when you put your time and effort. Plus, most perfectionists are already aware that they have this trait.
2.) Understand how you developed this trait.
Think back to your childhood and ask yourself some questions: Were either of my parents – or anyone else who played a major part in my upbringing – a perfectionist? What was the overall atmosphere of my childhood in reference to doing things right? Was there a competitive feeling in the family? Was success highly regarded than other qualities?
Here are more questions to ask yourself: What happened when I didn’t do things perfectly? Of course, perfection translates into what your parents thought was perfect or acceptable. When you didn’t do something just so, did your parents express grave disappointment or anger at you?
Were you pushed beyond your natural abilities or compared to others? Were you punished, shamed, teased, or humiliated? Did your parents withdraw love when you did anything in less than a stellar way? Did you feel chronically not good enough?
3.) Evaluate your childhood experience whenever you felt bad or wrong.
Many people become perfectionists because anything less makes them feel as if they’re bad or wrong. As a child, especially if your parents were intolerant of mistakes or failure, that feeling was just about the worst thing that could happen to you (particularly if it happened regularly). Perfectionism is a learned trait that we’re conditioned to pursue for adaptive reasons.
Maybe you kept trying to hit a home run, ace geometry, play the piano, ski down the black diamond trails, or take first place in spelling contests because you didn’t want to fail. As children, it’s normal to be desperate for praise and approval. That desperation often becomes an ingrained habit that morphs into perfectionism.
Ask yourself what the opposite of achieving perfection is. People usually say failure, accompanied by shame or humiliation. In most cases, being afraid of making mistakes and letting others down is what leads to being a perfectionist.
4.) Identify your beliefs about mistakes and failure.
To manage your perfectionist mindset, make a list of stuff you believe about mistakes and failure, such as:
- I shouldn’t make mistakes.
- Mistakes can be avoided if I try hard enough.
- Failure is a terrible thing, to be avoided at all cost.
- If I’m not perfect, I’m a failure.
- I always need to try my hardest or give it my best shot.
- I must be perfect to be lovable and loved.
Would you be surprised to learn that none of the above statements are true? No one can live without making mistakes and failing occasionally. They are a normal part of life. Accepting this truth will go a long way toward reframing your attitude towards perfection.
5.) Re-frame wrong beliefs.
Here are some beliefs about mistakes and failure. Notice how you feel as you read through them:
- Everyone makes mistakes and I’m no different.
- The world won’t fall apart if I make a mistake or fail; I just need to try my hardest.
- Failure is normal and cannot be avoided.
- I can do something imperfectly without failing at it.
- I don’t need to excel at everything; I can choose when and where if I wanted to.
- I’m lovable and deserve to be loved as a flawed human being.
Did any of these statements sound wrong to you? If so, you may have been wrongly indoctrinated on the subject of making mistakes. That’s maybe one of the reasons why you’re a perfectionist today.
6.) Forget about always doing your best.
My father brought me up according to the adage, “Good, better, best, never let it rest, ‘til the good is better and the better is the best”. I spent half a lifetime shedding that unhelpful piece of advice (though I have absolutely no doubt that my loving father meant well). My guess is that, he was raised with similar expectations. As a highly competent, successful man, he never questioned it.
You don’t need to be perfect at anything or everything. Why not start from the premise that you’re going to do some things well in your life and some things poorly? That you have strengths and weaknesses just like the rest of us. That your success or failure has absolutely nothing to do with your value as a human being.
In this regard, you won’t misinterpret what ‘doing poorly’ means. Of course, you might still wish to shine in some aspects. But doing poorly shouldn’t define your worth, or affect your self-esteem.
7.) Stop measuring yourself against perfection.
If we measure every aspect of ourselves against some perfect ideal, we’ll be pretty bummed out nearly all the time. Considering that humans are imperfect beings and that we can’t control the universe, how can we insist that whatever we’re engaged in—parenting a child, giving a speech, or taking a vacation—must be a complete success?
Whenever humans are involved, we need to toss out the concept of ‘flawless’ and get real. ‘Real’ means having flaws, faults, frailties, and defects. It means ‘good enough’ – and often, only the best we can do at any given time.
8.) Decide how well you wish to do at certain activities.
When you try to do everything well, you’re setting yourself up for stress and exhaustion. We’ll soon run out of steam if we try to do our best at everything. But who says that we need to?
Mental and physical energy are not infinite. They can get depleted when we try too hard. When that happens, we look for quick fixes in food or alcohol. We may become irritable with others. Or in frustration, we could chuck whatever we’re trying to do and give up.
Consider this: What if you didn’t try to do everything perfectly? The advantage of this mindset, to which I wholly subscribe, is that you would then have enough energy to do the important things with excellence.
Try this: divide tasks into categories of Excellent, Good, Fair, or Poor. When I work with perfectionist clients on reducing their all-or-nothing mindset, I suggest they imagine baskets with these labels on them. After which, they should determine which tasks go in which basket.
For example: my ‘Excellent’ basket contains doing my best as a wife, friend, and being a good therapist to my clients. I want to do a ‘Good’ job as a writer, and with being politically active in my community. I’m content to be a ‘Fair’ housekeeper, cook, and bookkeeper for my private practice. Lastly, I’m okay with being a ‘Poor’ gardener.
The point is that, I don’t strive to be my best at everything I do. I don’t care if guests enter my house and compliment me on my spotless domain, or leave my house raving about my cooking. I’ve settled with the fact that I’m merely adequate at bookkeeping. There are much better writers than I am, but I’m satisfied with being a ‘good’ rather than a ‘great’ one.
To be honest, I’m a big fan of being ‘good enough’ at most things, period. I’d rather put time and effort into doing what I enjoy and excel in – not so much what I don’t value, or simply don’t have the smarts, talent, or inclination for.
9.) Recognize when perfection is important.
There are times when you will wish for, and seek, perfection. If you’re a surgeon for example, you’ll want to do a perfect job. It’s vital for you and your patients. Ditto, if you’re a nurse dispensing medication, or a lawyer arguing a death penalty case.
In fact, if you work in any profession where safety is a focus, you’ll want NO mistakes. Shooting for perfect also makes sense when you’re applying for a job, trying to make the team, or are going for Olympic gold. There are just situations where striving for perfection is de rigueur.
Think of saving perfection for things that truly matter. That does not include making the world’s juiciest, most tender Thanksgiving turkey, folding towels, or shoveling snow.
10.) Learn to enjoy your imperfection.
Practice laughing at your mistakes. Share your bloopers with friends. Own up to your own failures before someone else points them out. Allow yourself to be average at some things. Give up trying to make things work out right all the time. Instead, ride the tide and try going with the flow. Go for broke on being flawed.
I once wrote a newspaper article on “The Art of Mediocrity”, which extolled the benefits of striving to be an ordinary skier because I doubted I’d have enough fun if I forced myself to focus strictly on perfect form. I feel the same way as a lifelong tap dancer who’s also an advanced beginner. In fact, I challenge anyone to say they have a better time in tap class than I do.
Being a perfectionist is a kind of slavery; whereas imperfection can feel like glorious freedom. Throw off the shackles of having to do your best in every endeavor. Start deciding exactly where you want to put 100 percent of your effort in.
When you do, you’ll find that you have oodles of energy for things you really wish to do well in. Suddenly, life becomes more satisfying and enjoyable. As a bonus, people will probably find you more relaxed, and a good deal more pleasant to be around.
‘Good enough’ might actually feel perfect, after all.
The post 10 Ways to deal with being a perfectionist appeared first on Everyday Power Blog.
Thursday, June 28, 2018
Why You Should Visit Kuwait
Kuwait, to the outsider, contains little significance to its own region – a region also less commonly known as a tourist destination. However, as any seasoned traveler will tell you, every country has something unique and interesting about it; every country, especially countries near the Middle East, have a deep and ingratiating history that still pervades in the lives of the people there today.
From a traveler’s perspective, this is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, an entirely new cultural experience awaits them. On the other hand, challenges lay ahead for some to be able to adapt to the social norms there, if even on a marginal, passable level. Adhering to the cultural guidelines while in Kuwait may dissuade some, but for others, an opportunity to explore one of the oldest countries in the world lies in store.
Visiting Kuwait on a Tourist Visa
Kuwait eVisa forms take only ten minutes to complete. The results of the application deliver roughly 5 days after the application has been filled, but may take longer, so it’s better not to wait until the last minute. Responses are sent to the applicant by email, and from there, immigration should be painless, provided you are obeying by their country’s laws.
Tips for Women’s Clothes
The official Kuwait government travel embassy suggests dress codes for both men and women, giving a fair amount of leeway to expatriates and tourists. However, the tone of the recommendations suggests that certain revealing clothing could attract negative attention. The rule of the thumb in these cases becomes, for both men and women, the more skin covered by clothing, the better. As a welcoming gesture, the official site reads, “you definitely need not cover your hair or your face.”
But other sections possess a kind of crass tone: “As a woman, if you want to earn respect, you shouldn’t show cleavage, or have bare shoulders, or wear skirts or shorts that are above the knee level.” Adhering to these would be wise if only to avoid confrontation. Otherwise, as seen in videos in an around Kuwait and Kuwait City, citizens dress in limited Westernized clothing on a regular basis. Don’t feel obligated, or even compelled, to wear a full burqa. Just don’t show too much skin, either.
Kuwait City
Kuwait City is actually a fairly modern, industrial, and culturally progressive in certain areas. Just like any other tourist attraction, the city has its fair share of art galleries, museums, and memorials. It also contains a striking number of mosques, build with centuries-old Islamic architectural style. The nightlife has a wide selection of clubs, even though the whole country does not sell alcohol, due to its strongly held religious beliefs. These clubs are centered around music, dancing, eating, smoking shisha, and shopping. This alone provides a unique experience. In a nation entirely without alcohol, rest assured the residents find other ways to blow off steam.
It’s a common sight to see luxuriously sports cars drag racing on a regular street when walking around Kuwait City at night at night; they seem to have no apparent authorization to do so. Meanwhile, more official races at places akin to an arcade are also a common fixture. Nightlife locations go above and beyond with innovative party themes, atypical designs; of course, many still bump the loud electronic music. If the travel from Kuwait City is possible, a twenty-kilometer drive to ‘Entertainment City,’ is highly recommended. It is exactly what the name suggests. Known as “Arab World,”, “Future World,” and “International World,” Entertainment City is a nightlife megacomplex combining elements of a very high-end nightclub, a private pool, and a theme park.
It’s endlessly interesting to witness the convergence of two worlds and the remixes that emerge from everything accommodating to its differences, all within one small peaceful Middle Eastern country.
The post Why You Should Visit Kuwait appeared first on Everyday Power Blog.
Psychology in Practice: Why a Working Knowledge of Character and Attitude is Essential
There’s a reason that so many human resource managers have a background in psychology. Whether it’s from simple awareness of human traits, experience, or a formal education; psychology separates traditional management from human resources management. The direct care and interest that human resources management should take in the personnel of the company demands a working knowledge of the principles of psychology.
In the span of an employee’s time at a company, there are three times in particular that this practical knowledge of psychology will be put to the test:
1) Critical Analysis and Selection
The human resource manager plays an integral part in the hiring process. From identifying the need to knowing what steps are involved in the recruitment process, the competent HR manager relies on a good judgment of applicants and their future in the company. Europe’s Journal of Psychology (EJOP) notes that in the selection of personnel, “management and psychology most closely intertwine among themselves.” The psychological aspect of hiring requires recognition of necessary characteristics and qualities for a good job performance and integration into company culture; while from a manager’s perspective, hiring is a search for personnel who meet the requirements needed for the completion of the professional work.
The manager without the psychologist can be as disastrous as the psychologist without the manager. One may land the company with a competent worker but one who disrupts the culture of the workplace; while the other may harm the company by a good willed incompetence.
The EJOP further notes that for strategic hiring, a character assessment is more important than ever. Depending on the competitive strategy of a company, a flexible workforce might be targeted rather than an experienced yet rigid workforce. Or yet again, the selection process may look out for experience and know how rather than innovation. Whether these decisions are based on a textbook psychology or an awareness of human behavior, a working knowledge of psychology is essential to the hiring process.
2) Conflict Resolution
As business psychologist Simon Kilpatrick succinctly puts it: “Never assume that two people can never ever get along with each other.” Conflict resolution is really more about conflict prevention. Good HR managers know their team and how they interact with each other. Spotting the beginning of a conflict is an opportunity to solve it, yet awareness of character and personality dynamics are as important as rare.
Awareness is only a first step. Simon Kilpatrick says the next step is to address the issue. Hoping that it will blow over gives the problem a chance to magnify. Yet making a move does not have to be bold or brash event. Subtle cues or private conversations are effective in mediation, and only when these are ineffective, a more structured form of resolution may be necessary.
“The worst thing you can do,” says Kilpatrick, “is reflect the negative behavior. If you meet conflict with conflict, you’re only adding fuel to the fire.”
3) Career Development
Another area of business in which the psychologist and manager both are essential is in career development. This is similar to the character analysis needed in the hiring process, yet now the strengths and weaknesses have been noticed and analyzed; which assets they can bring, and which will grow with exposure and use; what they want from the job, and what they are willing to do to get it. This selection requires the business savvy of a manager, yet also the character knowledge of a psychologist.
The human resources managers are the mediators between companies and employees; they negotiate for the company and for the employee. Good negotiations leave both parties satisfied, yet these require knowledge of what each wants, and how much each can sacrifice to get it. For this, it is necessary to know what the employee wants and what the company needs.
Here are a few negotiating tips to help you walk this fine line:
A degree in psychology is not needed for savvy negotiation skills. But it is crucial to know the people you work with. Whether this comes from awareness, experience, or a formal training, learning how people think and why they act is invaluable.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists five important qualities for human resources managers:
What separates these from the skills of a traditional manager is the element of interpersonal expertise. Where traditional management would focus on basic administration and labor relations issues, human resources management focuses on recruitment, selection, and the ongoing motivation and development of their hires. Where traditional management would solve the problems of the present, human resources management is dedicated to creating an environment that is supportive and conducive to successful career and production. Where traditional management looks at employees where they are, human resources management looks at where they would be with training and development. For these tasks, an understanding of people based on psychological principles is a must have; an active and practical application of these principles will define the career you forge.
The post Psychology in Practice: Why a Working Knowledge of Character and Attitude is Essential appeared first on Everyday Power Blog.
5 signs it’s time to cut toxic family members out of your life
Wednesday, June 27, 2018
10 Important methods for managing through traumatic injury
It was the longest night of my life — that night while I was trying to recover from injury. I lay in the hospital bed, incapacitated, motionless, and sweating profusely. It was five nights after a terrible road cycling accident rendered me a quadriplegic.
My mind was jumbled with orbiting thoughts of despair, anxiety, sadness, and anger. I knew my life was at a crossroads. Which way was I going to go? Surrender and give in? Or fight the good fight and give it everything I had?
Here’s how I was able to manage and recover through traumatic injury.
Methods for managing through traumatic injury
1.) Make a choice.
Nobody chooses to suffer a catastrophic injury. Nobody chooses to be afflicted with some terrible illness or disease. But we can choose how we respond to such unexpected events. You can make the choice to aspire, persevere, and prevail. Do not look at the rear view mirror and second-guess your choice, or wonder if you should turn around.
Make the choice to fight the good fight and do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes. Without choice, there is no way forward. You are simply going in circles. You can choose – but choice without action will leave you in the same place — stalled.
2.) Apply effort.
It will not be easy. Whatever may be ailing you will require action on your part. You have to want it — whatever that choice is — and be willing to push through the forces that will try to hold you back. Be unwavering. Commit to working on it every day with faith that you’ll achieve success after all your effort.
I remember in those early days post injury, I had a brief conversation with my physician. He said to me, “Jamie, get independent.” Those are two simple yet incredibly powerful words: get independent.
3.) Find your focus.
For the last decade since the injury, those words have guided every step of my recovery. I made it a point to do everything in my power not to be enabled by anyone or anything. I made it my focus to attempt to do things on my own, as frustrating and painstakingly slow as it was.
People always wanted to offer help, but I would just thank them and say that I need to figure out how to do things on my own. I was maniacal in those initial months post-injury to do everything possible with medical interventions of one kind or another.
There were many times I would do six, 10, sometimes 12 appointments a week. This included physical and occupational therapy, pool therapy, acupuncture, reflexology, massage, and so much more. I was under the wrong notion that the bulk of recovery occurs in the first six months post-injury and tapers after 1-2 years. I felt this tremendous sense of urgency and didn’t allow myself to rest.
4.) Pace yourself.
My occupational therapist had said to me early on that there were four things I need to remember if I want to recover from traumatic injury: plan, prepare, prioritize, and pace myself. The most important of them was pacing. I didn’t listen, at least not initially. My body was screaming at me to rest, especially in the first year when I was still in a state of spinal shock.
My failure to pace and rest when needed caused a serious “second” crash. I learned a hard lesson. Going through trauma of this magnitude turned my life upside down. Everything was shattered from a professional, familial, marital, relational, financial, recreational, and spiritual perspective.
My life crumbled. I thought I had the mental fortitude to deal with everything on my plate. But I quickly learned after the “second” crash that I desperately need mental health counseling.
5.) Seek mental health intervention.
It took me a year post-injury before I finally did, which, in retrospect, was a monumental mistake. It nearly cost me my life. I could have easily committed suicide. Once I did engage with a skilled therapist, I continued with her for the next five years.
Initially reluctant and impatient, I slowly adjusted to the process. I can say that I have been able to successfully process feelings and emotions deep down in my psyche. I used to think this was a sign of weakness – but it’s not. In fact, it’s a sign of strength; a tacit acknowledgment that it’s best not to go through the process alone.
From the early days when I was in the hospital, I remember just trying to get my forefinger to touch my thumb. Seems pretty pedestrian – except when you are neurologically impaired. My level of injury from the spinal cord injury was C7, which meant that the paralysis started at my mid abdomen and extended all the way down to my toes. It affected all of my fingers.
Working tirelessly just to get the two to touch took weeks. Frustratingly slow, but, eventually, I was able to do it. That little benign, innocuous goal became a little victory. This put in motion a parade of little goals, which turned into little victories. Over time, the goals and victories became cumulative. They grew into bigger goals and victories.
6.) Have goals, constantly.
The goals can be of any shape and size you want, but start off modestly. Keep working on them until you can check the boxes and move on to your next set of goals. Think ahead of what you want to set yourself for. Do whatever it takes to accomplish them.
The victories will come. They will give you the confidence to take on your next targets. In time, you will be amazed at what you are able to do. I had heard of the words ‘mindfulness’ and ‘visualization’, but didn’t understand what they meant or what they could do for me. Through friends and books, I gained a better understanding of them, especially visualization.
I would often visualize, for example, this beam of light emanating from the heavens, shining brightly and aimed at the lesion in my central cord. I pictured it like a laser beam, dissipating the damage like the morning sun burning off morning clouds.
A decade later, I still hold on to this vision – particularly in my quiet moments, or when I’m stretching after exercise.
7.) Visualize.
I’ve used visualization coupled with mindfulness to make internal movies of things I want to accomplish. I think of myself as a moviemaker, the author, scriptwriter, editor, and publisher of my own movies.
Back then, I would visualize what accomplishing those goals would look like. I’d choreograph them in great detail and play them over and over in my mind until the movie could play itself without any conscious prompting. It’s been vital in allowing me to make the extraordinary recovery I have achieved since 2007.
I got dealt a bad hand in this traumatic injury – and I knew I wasn’t alone. Most people are either dealing with something themselves or know someone who is. I don’t have monopoly on misery. I am not a victim. I don’t feel sorry for myself that something bad happened.
This doesn’t mean there aren’t many more good hands to play. Nobody ever promised life would be fair. For most of us, that has been the case.
8.) Make the best of it.
It would be easy to think about all the things I can’t do anymore. So many things used to bring me joy, fulfillment, and identity. I have struggled for years trying to figure out my new purpose. Why am I still here? What am I supposed to do?
I understand now what my mother-in-law, Muriel, would often say after she was faced with the consequences of an auto accident that caused a traumatic brain injury to her second husband. She would frequently tell me, “Jamie, I make the best of it.” I understand now what she meant.
I’m dedicating myself to doing something I did very little of in my early and mid-adult years. That is to give back. I remember many years ago when I was seeing a mental health therapist unrelated to this injury. She asked me a number of deeply personal questions. My answers kept skirting around her questions and she finally quipped, “Jamie, you’re like a greased pig. I can’t seem to nudge you to speak from your heart.”
She then asked me, “Do you know what it’s like to be vulnerable?” I didn’t even know what the word meant. Or I had built up such an external armor that wouldn’t allow me to feel that way.
9.) Be vulnerable.
When faced with any kind of traumatic injury, it can be easy to want to hide from others. Being infirmed can be shameful and embarrassing. It can even make us to want to be reclusive. I believe that if we can shed that veneer and allow ourselves to be real, raw, authentic and even vulnerable, we can draw people closer to us.
Being engaged and connected with others can be as important as taking medicines, doing therapies, or following doctors’ orders. After I suffered that terrible “second” crash, I became fearful. I was afraid of doing too much that might, in any way, set myself back and negate all that hard-fought progress.
I was cautious about everything – working, driving, and exercising. Fear is helpful up to a point. It can guard us against doing things that could be too risky or harmful. Beyond that, fear can also become an impediment: a roadblock that can get in the way of making meaningful progress.
10.) Trust yourself.
After three years of intensive physical, occupational, and pool therapy, it was suggested that I join a gym and continue rehab on my own. I did join a club I belonged to years before and was reacquainted with a friend who was also very knowledgeable about the weight room.
He took me under his wing and trained with me. In the early days of working out together, I said to him: “Sam, when I tell you enough is enough, enough is enough!” He replied, “Jamie, you need to learn to trust yourself!” He was right. Fear was in the way of me making further progress in my recovery. His words helped removed that significant barrier.
The work that Sam and I did together in the ensuing years changed everything about my recovery. It helped defy the odds in spinal cord injury recovery. After several years, I have been able to ride a road bicycle and get on skis again – all without assistance.
Incorporating these 10 methods can help you recover from traumatic injury and get your life back together. You just have to realize that it starts with a choice.
The post 10 Important methods for managing through traumatic injury appeared first on Everyday Power Blog.
Tuesday, June 26, 2018
He was sent to a Nazi concentration camp at 13, today he’s inspiring others to choose tolerance
Mom and son set up ‘blessing box’ outside their home to help neighbors in need
Monday, June 25, 2018
50 Monday motivation quotes to start your week on the right note
Each week, we are caught in the cycle of lamenting the end of a brief interruption of chaos: the weekend. Before we know it, we are confronted with another five days full of work and reality. Although dreaded and draining, Mondays can be crucial moments of reflection and preparation in order to set the stage for a productive week.
Looking for Monday motivation quotes?
Even if you may be on the brink of exhaustion, remember to re-assess the situations you find yourself in and take control. Need an extra jolt? Try these Monday motivation quotes to get you pumped up!
Inspirational Monday motivation quotes to start your week right
1.) “Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” – Napoleon Hill
2.) “Life offers you so many doors, it is up to you which to open and which one to close.” – Unknown
3.) “The tragedy in life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach.” – Benjamin Mays
4.) “The man who has confidence in himself gains the confidence of others.” – Hasidic Proverb
5.) “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan
6.) “Life offers so many great choices, all you have to do is to see them.” – Unknown
7.) “Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” – Albert Einstein
8.) “Everything you want is on the other side of fear.” – Jack Canfield
9.) “If not us, who? If not now, when?” – John F. Kennedy
10.) “The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment in which you first find yourself.” – Mark Caine
Monday motivation quotes to boost your spirits
11.) “Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” – Aristotle
12.) “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs
13.) “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” – Maya Angelou
14.) “If you’re offered a seat on a rocket ship, don’t ask what seat! Just get on.” – Sheryl Sandberg
15.) “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” – Milton Berle
16.) “The more you talk about negative things in your life, the more you call them in. Speak victory not defeat.” – Joel Osteen
17.) “I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear.” – Rosa Parks
18.) “The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.” – Ayn Rand
19.) “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
20.) “Work to become, not to acquire.” – Elbert Hubbard
Quotes about Monday motivation for a happy workday
21.) “The future depends on what you do today.” – Mahatma Gandhi
22.) “Every day we have plenty of opportunities to get angry, stressed or offended. But what you’re doing when you indulge these negative emotions is giving something outside yourself power over your happiness. You can choose to not let little things upset you.” – Joel Osteen
23.) “Opportunities don’t happen, you create them.” – Chris Grosser
24.) “As long as you’re going to be thinking anyway, think big.” – Donald Trump
25.) “The road to success is always under construction” – Lily Tomlin
26.) “Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn.” – Gore Vidal
27.) “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” – Anne Frank
28.) “Build your own dreams, or someone else will hire you to build theirs.” – Farrah Gray
29.) “Do you want to know who you are? Don’t ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you.” – Thomas Jefferson
30.) “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” – Walt Disney
The best Monday motivation quotes and sayings
31.) “Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” – Francis of Assisi
32.) “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
33.) “If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude.” – Charles R. Swindoll
34.) “Nothing will work unless you do.” – Maya Angelou
35.) “I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do.” – Leonardo da Vinci
36.) “I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.” – Pablo Picasso
37.) “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Abraham Lincoln
38.) “Your only limit is you.” – Unknown
39.) “Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.” – Benjamin Franklin
40.) “The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.” …so remember: great achievements take time, there is no overnight success.” – Leo Tolstoy
More Monday motivation quotes to get you through the week
41.) “It is never too late to be what you might have been.” – George Eliot
42.) “A mind troubled by doubt cannot focus on the course to victory.” – Arthur Golden
43.) “There is a winner in you. You were created to be successful, to accomplish your goals, to leave your mark on this generation. You have greatness in you. The key is to get it out.” – Joel Osteen
44.) “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” – Lao Tzu
45.) “Knowing trees, I understand the meaning of patience. Knowing grass, I can appreciate persistence.” – Hal Borland
46.) “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples.” – Mother Teresa
47.) “When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.” – Helen Keller
48.) “It’s not the days in your life, but the life in your days that counts.” – Brian White
49.) “Let no feeling of discouragement prey upon you, and in the end you are sure to succeed.” – Abraham Lincoln
50.) “You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do.” – Henry Ford
What do you think about these Monday motivation quotes?
Let’s face it—there are days when it feels like you are close to giving up. Despite the progress you may have made, you will come to a point of burnout. When a long week has left you discouraged, try not to be too stressed.
There is always time to re-center yourself and find inspiration to initiate a constructive and energetic mentality. Use these Monday motivation quotes to prepare you for greatness that lies ahead. Make it a happy Monday!
The post 50 Monday motivation quotes to start your week on the right note appeared first on Everyday Power Blog.
Friday, June 22, 2018
50 Fake friends quotes and sayings to help you cherish the real ones
Humans possess the inherent ability to network and seek out their tribe. Whether it’s through work, school, or just every day activities, friendships are bound to develop. Although friends are usually the ones who we grow with and add joy to our lives, through time, friendships can dissolve because of underlying unfavorable qualities or differences.
Looking for fake friends quotes and sayings?
If you find yourself in this situation, use these fake friends quotes to restore faith in yourself and your ability to attract positive relationships.
Fake friends quotes to help you cherish the real ones
1.) “Learn to use the criticism as fuel and you will never run out of energy.” – Orrin Woodward
2.) “The only thing more frustrating than slanderers is those foolish enough to listen to them.” – Chris Jammi
3.) “Someone who smiles too much with you can sometimes frown too much with you at your back.” – Michael Bassey Johnson
4.) “Fake friends are like shadows: always near you at your brightest moments, but nowhere to be seen at your darkest hour. True friends are like stars, you don’t always see them but they are always there.” – Habeeb Akande
5.) “Fear of something is at the root of hate for others, and hate within will eventually destroy the hater.” George Washington Carver
6.) “Hatred imprisons the haters; love opens doors.” – Debasish Mridha
7.) “Controllers, abusers, and manipulative people don’t question themselves. They don’t ask themselves if the problem is them…they always say the problem is someone else.” – Darlene Quimet
8.) “Friendship is delicate as a glass, once broken it can be fixed but there will always be cracks.” – Waqar Ahmed
9.) “Knowledge planted in truth grows in truth. Strength born of peace loses nothing to hate.” – Aberjhani
10.) “The strong-minded rise to the challenge of their goals and dreams. The weak-minded become haters.” – Steve Maraboli
Quotes about fake friends and moving on
11.) “Friends ask you questions; enemies question you.” – Criss Jami
12.) “Buy a gift for a dog and you will be amazed at the way it will dance and swerve its tail, but if you don’t have anything to offer it, it won’t even recognize your arrival; such are the attributes of fake friends.” – Michael Bassey Johnson
13.) “Letting go of toxic people in your life is a big step in loving yourself.” – Hussein Nishah
14.) “People only throw shade on what’s shining.” ― Genereux Philip
15.) “Mindset matters…always. The difference found between the victorious and the envious, the successful and the haters; is mindset.” ― Steve Maraboli
16.) “You create more space in your life when you turn your excess baggage to garbage.” – Chinonye J. Chudolue
17.) “A true friend never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down.” – Arnold H. Glasow
18.) “Most people want to see you do better, but not doing better than them.” – London Mond
19.) “Just as the unwanted pregnancy, there are unwanted people in your life you should strive to abort, and such abortion is not sin, nor harm, but the eradication of a destructive foetus.” ― Michael Bassey Johnson
20.) “Some people think that the truth can be hidden with a little cover-up and decoration. But as time goes by, what is true is revealed, and what is fake fades away.” – Ismail Haniyeh
Quotes on how to deal with fake friends
21.) “False friendship, like the ivy, decays and ruins the walls it embraces; but true friendship gives new life and animation to the object it supports.” – Richard Burton
22.) “We never lose friends. We simply learn who the real ones are.” – Unknown
23.) “An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.” – Buddha
24.) “Before you count your friends, make sure you can count on them. Some friends are only around when they want something from you but are never there when you need something from them.” – Rashida Rowe
25.) “A friend who stands with you in pressure is more valuable than a hundred ones who stand with you in pleasure.” – Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton
26.) “Time passes and you begin to see, people for who they really are and not who they pretend to be.” – Scarlet Koop
27.) “There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature.” ― Jane Austen
28.) “Not all toxic people are cruel and uncaring. Some of them love us dearly. Many of them have good intentions. Most are toxic to our being simply because…they aren’t inherently bad people, but they aren’t the right people for us. And as hard as it is, we have to let them go.” – Daniell Koepke
29.) “It makes no sense to try to extend a friendship that was only meant to be a season into a lifetime.” – Mandy Hale
30.) “Fake friends are like shadows. They follow you in the sun but leave you in the dark.”
Fake friends quotes for those who betrayed you
31.) “If it comes, let it come. If it goes, it’s ok, let it go. Let things come and go. Stay calm, don’t let anything disturb your peace, and carry on.” ― Germany Kent
32.) “Stay true to yourself. An original is worth more than a copy.” – Suzy Kassem
33.) “A lot of problems in the world would disappear if we talk to each other instead of about each other.” – Unknown
34.) “Better an honest enemy than a false friend.” – German Proverb
35.) “Some people aren’t loyal to you. They are loyal to their need of you. Once their needs change, so does their loyalty.” – Unknown
36.) “Trolls and haters are only distractions from your greater purpose. When you achieve your goals and success, not only will the trolls and haters be forgotten, but they will definitely be looked upon as the biggest fools.” – Kaitlin Gow
37.) “You got nothing to lose. You don’t lose when you lose fake friends.” – Joan Jett
38.) “If people are hating on you it’s often because they are: 1. Threatened by you, 2. Jealous of you or 3. Feeling like you’re above them so they put you down to feel better about themselves. The greatest people have haters for a reason, so take it as a compliment.” ― Jeanette Coron
39.) “Sometimes it’s not the person who changes, it’s the mask that falls off.” – Mhaj Porras
40.) “True friendship can afford true knowledge. It does not depend on darkness and ignorance.” – Henry David Thoreau
More relevant fake friends quotes and sayings
41.) “A friendship that can cease has never been real.” – St. Jerome
42.) “I got my own back.” – Maya Angelou
43.) “Some people are going to leave, but that’s not the end your story. That’s the end of their part in your story.” – Unknown
44.) “We teach people how to treat us.” – Dr. Phil
45.) “Fire false friends as early as possible. Do it before they dig out the dream seeds you’ve planted. The earlier, the better; the quicker, the safer.” – Israelmore Ayivor
46.) “Fake friends believe in rumors. Real friends believe in you.” – Unknown
47.) “Lovers have a right to betray you, friends don’t.” – Judy Holliday
48.) “One of the biggest flaws of people is pretending to be blind to their own mistakes, but do not pretend deaf towards the mistakes of others.” – Unknown
49.) “At some point you have to realize that some people can stay in your heart but not in your life.” – Sandi Lynn
50.) “No person is your friend who demands your silence, or denies your right to grow.” – Alice Walker
Were you able to relate to these fake friends quotes and sayings?
No matter if you’re currently dealing with toxic friendships, a fake friend, or even acknowledging natural pruning of social relationships, don’t dwell on the negatives.
Take the time to focus on your own strengths. Do what brings you joy. Live your life with a positive outlook and cherish the true friends who have stayed with you through hard times.
The post 50 Fake friends quotes and sayings to help you cherish the real ones appeared first on Everyday Power Blog.
Wednesday, June 20, 2018
Stray dog stealing pizza slice fortuitously led rescuers to her starving puppies
7 Strategies for overcoming procrastination and start being more productive
Everyone procrastinates at some point. You know the importance of having a to-do list and what tasks you need to get done to move forward. However, you just can’t seem to find the motivation to do them. Or maybe you settle down to work, only to find plenty of distractions that keep you from making any progress.
What are the most effective ways for overcoming procrastination?
Procrastination happens to all of us. The good news is that you can learn how to handle it so that you can become more productive. While most people understand that this habit stops them from getting things done, many are not aware that it can also affect their health.
Research has discovered that procrastination can increase stress, bring health problems, and lower performance. Getting used to delaying your tasks can also lead to lower self-esteem and self-confidence. Overcoming procrastination isn’t easy – but it’s something we must work hard to conquer.
Strategies for overcoming procrastination to be more productive
Here are seven strategies for overcoming procrastination so you can start being more productive right away.
1.) Encourage more progress through rewards.
One of the common reasons people procrastinate is because they don’t receive any pleasure in doing the work. When people associate pain with effort, they choose to procrastinate.
For example: when people first join the gym, they are all fired up to workout. They enjoy the thought of hitting the gym. They feel good that they are making progress and moving towards their goals. However, the majority of them fail to maintain their level of motivation. Their drive will eventually fade, and they will associate pain with going to the gym.
They tell themselves that they have to get up early, drive for an hour, get changed, workout hard, take a bath, then drive back home. They start seeing the pain rather than the reward.
Counteract this effect by rewarding your progress. As long as you are taking action and moving forward, you should reward yourself to feel good and help yourself stay on track. This is how you can keep your current momentum even though it’s difficult.
2.) Focus on taking just one small step at time.
Another common reason people procrastinate is because they feel overwhelmed by progress. They try to look at things as a whole rather than focusing on small details they can tackle right away.
For instance: if you want to hit the gym but don’t feel like doing it, just focus on the one step you can immediately accomplish: which is to change into work-out clothes. Trust me, when you change your attire, your mood will transform as well. You already built up the momentum.
The same goes for writing. If you want to write an article of 2,000 words but don’t have the motivation to do so, just tell yourself that all you need to write is only 100 words. Once you’re done, you will have the drive to continue and finish the entire thing.
Focusing on taking just one small step at a time greatly lowers your resistance to taking action. It makes the task seem easy. Once you’re doing it, you put yourself in a loop of action that makes you unstoppable!
3.) Find an accountability partner and leverage on eustress.
Sometimes, a little stress can be good. Scientists refer to positive stress as “eustress”. But this isn’t just ‘good stressors’ – it’s also reacting positively to stressors that would normally overwhelm most people.
But it’s not easy to be optimistic about challenges all the time. A way to combat this is to make a public commitment with a friend or trusted loved one. This creates a source of ‘good stress’ because someone is there to check on your progress.
This is how you can leverage on eustress for overcoming procrastination. So if you want to achieve or do something, share your idea with folks who would be ready to support you. When you do, you are creating a promise you’re more likely to keep because someone is there to keep you accountable.
4.) Minimize distractions.
We all know that distractions are one of the most common factors that stop us from taking action. Imagine when you want to focus on a certain task, but all of a sudden, your friend asks you to check out a funny video that has gone viral on Facebook. What do you do?
If you choose to check out the video, you delay your work. This is why it’s important to get rid of distractions as much as possible. A great method to handle distractions and make sure you get work done is through time-blocking.
Simply create time blocks or slots within your day to complete certain tasks. During the given time, you should do nothing else except focus solely on the work in front of you until it’s done. According to experts, this is a more efficient way to increase productivity.
5.) Manage your self-talk.
Do you know that procrastination often starts from your mind? Believe it or not, it’s YOU who usually talks yourself out of doing something. It is what you tell yourself that stops you from moving forward.
You tell yourself that it’s raining out there, so it’s better to stay indoors. You convince yourself that building a website is difficult. You justify that you’re already tired, so you need to take plenty of rest. As you can see, you are your own enemy.
Overcoming procrastination involves learning how to overcome your own negative self-talk. Rather than thinking about all the excuses that stop you from taking action, ask yourself this question (from the best-selling author of The One Thing):
“What’s the one thing I can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?”
This question can help you identify the one small and important task that you can do right away. When you change the way you talk to yourself, you change your life.
6.) Always think about your “why”.
When you lose your sense of purpose, you will procrastinate. People do things for a certain reason. Whatever the reason is, when we lose it, we also lose our motivation and willpower to do important stuff.
This is why you must always remind yourself of WHY you do what you do. Why do you think most people fail to achieve their goals? It’s because they don’t have a clear and specific reason why they want to accomplish the tasks that will get them there.
When your purpose isn’t strong, your motivation will falter. You’d rather choose to do something more pleasurable than take action and work on your goals. So understand why you do what you do. Whenever you feel like procrastinating on your task, always go back to your purpose.
7.) Optimize your environment.
The environment that we are in has the power to shape our lives. Noisy and negative surroundings will never make you productive. On your quest towards overcoming procrastination, build an encouraging environment that will motivate you to do your best.
For example: if you have to work on the laptop for hours, get yourself a good table and a comfortable ergonomic chair. Make sure you are exposed to enough natural light. Check that the room temperature is just right for optimum performance.
A messy and disorganized workstation can be distracting. The moment you see the big pile of papers and messy table, the scattered pens, books, and files everywhere – you may lose your drive to work because you already feel stressed.
Transform your workstation. Create a great place to work in and you will procrastinate less.
Did you find these strategies helpful for overcoming procrastination?
Why or why? Share your thoughts with us on the comments section!
The post 7 Strategies for overcoming procrastination and start being more productive appeared first on Everyday Power Blog.
Tuesday, June 19, 2018
Watch: Injured shark asks diver for help by repeatedly nudging up against him
Monday, June 18, 2018
Garbage man makes barely $10 a day, supports daughter who graduates with a college degree
Garbage man earns barely $10 a day; daughter graduates with a college education
50 Wise George Carlin quotes to make you laugh, then think
There are few who are as influential as the great George Carlin. What he has contributed to American culture, and humanity itself, goes beyond any earthly limitations. Although his work sparked controversy, Carlin presented witty and thought-provoking perspectives on our society that continue to echo throughout the world.
Looking for the best George Carlin quotes?
A true light like Carlin’s is never snuffed. It survived through satirical words and the craftsmanship of evoking laughter, while sharing his wisdom with those around him.
These next 50 George Carlin quotes embody his infectious personality and whimsical outlook, offering a much needed dose of laughter, irony, and reassurance in this crazy and disorderly life.
Funny George Carlin quotes about life and love
1.) “The planet is fine. The people are fucked.” – George Carlin
2.) “Don’t sweat the petty things and don’t pet the sweaty things.” – George Carlin
3.) “Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.” – George Carlin
4.) “Conservatives say if you don’t give the rich more money, they will lose their incentive to invest. As for the poor, they tell us they’ve lost all incentive because we’ve given them too much money.” – George Carlin
5.) “Electricity is really just organized lightning.” – George Carlin
6.) “May the forces of evil become confused on the way to your house.” – George Carlin
7.) “Fighting for peace is like screwing for virginity.” – George Carlin
8.) “Just ‘cause you got the monkey off your back doesn’t mean that the circus has left town.” – George Carlin
9.) “We have multiplied our possessions but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We’ve learned how to make a living but not a life. We’ve added years to life, not life to years.” – George Carlin
10.) “Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.” – George Carlin
The best George Carlin quotes for a good laugh
11.) “Frisbeetarianism is the belief that when you die, your soul goes up on the roof and gets stuck.” – George Carlin
12.) “That’s why they call it the American Dream, because you have to be asleep to believe it.” – George Carlin
13.) “Don’t just teach your children to read…teach them to question everything that they read…teach them to question everything.” – George Carlin
14.) “We’ve added years to life, not life to years.” – George Carlin
15.) “Trying to be happy by accumulating possessions is like trying to satisfy hunger by taping sandwiches all over your body.” – George Carlin
16.) “Those who dance are considered insane by those who cannot hear the music.” – George Carlin
17.) “In America, anyone can become president. That’s the problem.” – George Carlin
18.) “When fascism comes to America, it will not be in brown and black shirts. It will not be with jack-boots. It will be Nike sneakers and Smiley shirts.” – George Carlin
19.) “The reason I talk to myself is because I’m the only one whose answers I accept.” – George Carlin
20.) “If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?” – George Carlin
Quotes from George Carlin about politics and work
21.) “I like it when a flower or a little tuft of grass grows through a crack in the concrete. It’s so fuckin’ heroic.” – George Carlin
22.) “Most people work just hard enough not to get fired and get paid just enough not to quit.” – George Carlin
23.) “Bipartisan usually means that a larger-than-usual deception is being carried out.” – George Carlin
24.) “If you have selfish, ignorant citizens, you’re going to have selfish, ignorant leaders.” – George Carlin
25.) “There’s no present. There’s only the immediate future and the recent past.” – George Carlin
26.) “By and large, language is a tool for concealing the truth.” – George Carlin
27.) “Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?” – George Carlin
28.) “When you are born, you get a ticket to the freak show. When you are born in America, you get a front row seat.” – George Carlin
29.) “’Meow’ means ‘woof’ in cat.” – George Carlin
30.) “Religion is like a pair of shoes…Find one that fits for you, but don’t make me wear your shoes.” – George Carlin
George Carlin quotes and other funny stuff
31.) “If you can’t beat them, arrange to have them beaten.” – George Carlin
32.) “I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, ‘Where’s the self-help section?’ She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.” – George Carlin
33.) “Men are from Earth, women are from Earth. Deal with it.” – George Carlin
34.) “Think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize that half of them are stupider than that.” – George Carlin
35.) “One can never know for sure what a deserted area can look like.” – George Carlin
36.) “A house is just a place to keep your stuff while you go out and get more stuff.” – George Carlin
37.) “I don’t have pet peeves – I have major psychotic fucking hatreds.” – George Carlin
38.) “Some people see the glass half full, others see it half empty. I see a glass that’s twice as big as it needs to be.” – George Carlin
39.) “Death is caused by swallowing small amounts of saliva over a long period of time.” – George Carlin
40.) “Careful, if you think too much, they’ll take you away.” – George Carlin
More amazing George Carlin quotes for all time
41.) “I think people should be allowed to do what they want. We haven’t tried that for a while. Maybe this time it’ll work.” – George Carlin
42.) “If it requires a uniform, it’s a worthless endeavor.” – George Carlin
43.) “Atheism is a non-prophet organization.” – George Carlin
44.) “How is it possible to have a civil war?” – George Carlin
45.) “When you step on the brakes, your life is in your foot’s hands.” – George Carlin
46.) “Think off-center.” – George Carlin
47.) “I often warn people: ‘Somewhere along the way, someone is going to tell you, ‘There is no ‘I’ in team.’ What you should tell them is, ‘Maybe not. But there is an ‘I’ in independence, individuality, and integrity.” – George Carlin
48.) “If it’s true that our species is alone in the universe, then I’d have to say the universe aimed rather low and settled for very little.” – George Carlin
49.) “The caterpillar does all the work, but the butterfly gets all the publicity.” – George Carlin
50.) “Inside every cynical person, there is a disappointed idealist.” – George Carlin
Which of these George Carlin quotes made you smile?
Everyone is allowed to take a moment and laugh at life’s varying complications. We need those chances to let loose, find our grounding, and flush out our trivial worries. Let the words of George Carlin inspire you to live a life full of love, courage, and happiness.
Use these excerpts as a reminder not to take things so seriously. The next time you find yourself needing an escape from reality, read these George Carlin quotes and chuckle to yourself, knowing everything is going to be okay.
The post 50 Wise George Carlin quotes to make you laugh, then think appeared first on Everyday Power Blog.