Every parent knows the struggle of putting children to sleep, most especially when they aren’t tired. Youngsters seem to have this unlimited reservoir of energy within them, that it almost seems impossible to calm them down. But if you are able to implement strict bedtime hours for your […]
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Morgan Freeman has a long list of titles to his name – esteemed American actor, philanthropist, a narrator, film director, and most recently – beekeeper. The Shawshank Redemption star has converted his 124-acre Mississipi ranch into a bee sanctuary, with a mission to help counter the decreasing population […]
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Is your partner always ‘too busy’?
“If he’s not calling you, it’s because you are not on his mind. If he creates expectations for you, and then doesn’t follow through on little things, he will do same for big things. Be aware of this and realize that he’s okay with disappointing you…” – Greg Behrendt, He’s Just Not That Into You
We now live in a world where every minute of every hour of every day is occupied with tasks, mundane or not. On top of that, people are not just doing one thing at a time – we’re multi-tasking.
Instead of just working, we’re also checking our phones, posting on Facebook, eating snacks, and laughing at a colleague’s joke.
No wonder we’re so stressed!
On Being columnist, Omid Safi, calls our need to always be preoccupied as the “disease of being busy”. Even with eight-hour work schedules and convenient planning apps at our fingertips, many of us can’t seem to find time for ourselves or for our loved ones.
While several instances are understandable (after all, we need to reach for our goals!), if it becomes a habit, you should rethink if you’re really a part of the other party’s future.
When was the last time you did something enjoyable together? Did date nights become bland living room sessions? Don’t let a busy schedule destroy your relationship – NOT just with your significant other, but also your connection with yourself.
Here’s why you shouldn’t settle for someone who always uses that too busy excuse:
Some jobs are more demanding than others. Entrepreneurs, healthcare professionals, and retail workers have some of the most stressful and busy schedules among us.
It’s surprising that they could still find the energy to raise a family and even develop productive hobbies. This brings us to our first point: no matter how busy a person gets, they will find time for people who matter to them.
Remember: you’re busy, too! Even business owner Nicole Smartt recommends that active entrepreneurs like her continue spending quality time with loved ones to avoid work burnout and feelings of isolation.
Even if it’s just a short phone call, an email, or a quick lunch date, your partner should carve hours in a day necessary to cultivate the relationship. If you’re not seeing any effort on their part, perhaps it’s time to sit down and TALK.
Your partner may have a good excuse for not contacting you for days if he’s on a top secret field mission OR if he’s phone got stolen. However, if he’s been “too busy” again, remind him of the thousands of apps available on both Android and iOS phones.
If he doesn’t have credits but is eating out at a bistro with WiFi connection, he can send you an SMS through Skype or WhatsApp. Then there’s Facebook, Twitter, and Viber. Aside from our smartphones, we have other gadgets at our disposal to communicate with anyone across the globe in a fraction of a second.
There are tablets, personal desktop computers, and even smart watches. So unless your significant other is doing volunteer work somewhere where technology is unheard of, “being too busy” is simply not an excuse.
We don’t live in an ideal world.
Even my boyfriend and I argue over our misaligned schedules and our inability to follow-through on a few planned events. However, as we are in a long distance relationship, we follow one simple rule: we ALWAYS communicate daily.
No matter how challenging it is, no matter how tired we are, and even if we’re flying off to another country. A simple SMS, a quick phone call, or even just a private message on social media – anything that would let the other party know that they are in your thoughts.
Today, it’s perfectly normal that your partner may choose a job over you (for the meantime, at least). However, this doesn’t mean that they should ignore you. We can chase after our careers while still nurturing our present relationships – but we would need to be completely honest with our partners.
Want to pursue medical school? Be clear about what they should expect. Do you need to travel all the time to promote your business? Explain your situation.
People who truly love you will understand and would NOT make you choose. In return, find time in your busy schedule to make them feel like they’re still a part of your life.
“Don’t be with someone who doesn’t do what they say they’re going to do. If he’s choosing not to make a simple effort that would put you at ease and bring harmony to a recurring fight, then he doesn’t respect your feelings and needs.”
Know when to break up something that’s no longer working out. People change. You may be important to them today, but who knows? Perhaps somewhere down the line, they forget and will simply delegate you to the backburner.
NEVER think that you deserve to be treated this way! Time is the most precious commodity that we have on earth. So give it to people who will value it just as much as you do.
The post Why you should not accept the “too busy” excuse from your partner appeared first on Everyday Power.
Discover some simple ways to overcome challenges and obstacles in your life so you can realize your dreams.
Challenges are part of life and something we can all expect to encounter at one point or another during our lifetime.
Be they are of a professional or personal nature, some challenges can be extremely intimidating leaving us feeling completely powerless as they are enough to make us question both our sanity and ability to overcome them.
Challenges possess the ability to make or break us depending on how we react to them and choose to handle them.
They can help build character, strengthen our fortitude and often shine down a light on what we are truly made of when it is all said and done.
We all handle challenges differently; some of us choose to embrace and face them head on while others cower at their presence. Whatever our positions, we all wish to conquer them and eradicate them from our lives altogether.
The following are simple methods and strategies I believe we can all employ to overcome challenges more effectively:
Nike couldn’t have said it any better with their slogan, “just do it!” Some challenges require us to do just that; grab the bull by its horns, stare it dead in the face, and have courage in the presence of fear in our attempt to conquer them no matter how unsure of ourselves we might feel.
Depending on their significance and urgency, some challenges require our immediate action and attention, leaving us with very little time to dilly dally or waste in our attempt to try to figure things out.
Challenges have the potential to throw curve balls our way that can leave us feeling vulnerable and“paralyzed” in life.
People who have experienced similar challenges have the ability to offer us sage advice and different perspectives or insights we may not have overlooked and would never have considered that can prove beneficial in helping us overcome challenges.
The reason some issues prove to be challenges for us might well be because we aren’t well versed in them thereby limiting our ability and knowledge on how to conquer them.
The internet, books, forums, etc. offer platforms through which we can research and learn about topics that relate to the challenges we experience and discover solutions to them. Knowledge is definitely power and essential in conquering anything.
Insanity is defined as doing the same thing over and over while expecting to get a different result. When it comes to conquering some challenges, we have to be flexible and not allow ourselves to be one track-minded or bent on doing what we have always done in the past.
We need to be open to trying different approaches, methods and suggestions that can help us achieve the desired result we seek and offer a new way of conquering the challenge in question.
Bulldog tenacity is required to accomplish anything and more so when it comes to overcoming challenges.
No matter how difficult our challenges might prove to be, we have to be willing to push through and try again and again until we achieve victory over them.
Giving up should never be an option because in doing so, we allow our challenges to conquer us instead of vice versa.
We need to develop a “whatever it takes attitude” when it comes to conquering our challenges otherwise the probably of giving up at the onset of resistance or when things don’t go according to plan exists.
Being dedicated and committed to conquering our challenges allows us to maintain both direction and focus and helps us stay on course even when throwing in the towel and our hands up in the air seems like the most sensible thing to do.
Some challenges can be overwhelming and seem insurmountable due to their magnitude. Breaking up challenges into sizeable, manageable bits and developing a step by step plan that allows us to tackle each segment makes it easier to overcome challenges as it makes them appear less daunting.
Let go of the need to achieve instant results and allow your victories to build upon each other. Conquering one challenge gives you the confidence that you can conquer the rest.
There are times when we can’t go it alone and require the help of others to help us conquer whatever challenges we face. It is said that two heads are better than one and that there is strength in numbers.
Networking with like-minded individuals who can not only offer us support, solutions and suggestions but have some expertise in the matter as well is instrumental in helping us overcome challenges.
Although some challenges might make us feel backed into a corner and anxious, they also leave us with no option but to wait for a more opportune time to present itself that would better allow us to tackle and conquer them.
There may be instances when we need to wait for certain variables such as people, circumstances and situations to better align themselves with what we seek to accomplish thereby making factors more favorable to our success. Being still is at times called for as forging forward prematurely would be detrimental to our success.
Letting go by no means calls for us to wave the white flag but rather to surrender our need to control the outcome and instead place our trust in the process while believing that everything happens for a reason and that things will pan out as they should.
Less resistance allows for natural flow and ease. Things sometimes have a way of working themselves out when we surrender to something greater than ourselves.
Often times in letting go, we are able to receive guidance on how to conquer our challenges that we may not have been initially open to or able to receive in our “busy-ness” of trying to fix things.
No matter what challenges we encounter, we can rest assured that with determination and the right attitude we can not only conquer them but overcome them as well.
The post 10 Ways to Conquer Challenges appeared first on Everyday Power.
Looking for Dwayne Johnson quotes about living your best life? Here is our latest collection of Dwayne Johnson quotes that will inspire and motivate you.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is one the most recognizable figures of Hollywood nowadays. But before making it big, The Rock had to overcome many challenges in his life. He was born into a poor family, endured hardship from an early age, and battled with depression after his parents separated when he was 14.
Despite all the challenges, Dwayne Johnson is now one of the most successful actors in the world with his very own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
A person who overcame obstacles and achieved his dreams through extreme hard work and willpower, The Rock is someone who has clearly managed to tap into his Everyday Power. He inspires us to become the best versions of ourselves.
In that respect, below you’ll find our collection of inspiration, wise, and motivational Dwayne Johnson quotes and sayings, collected from a variety of sources over the years.
1.) “All success begin with Self-Discipline. It starts with you.” – Dwayne Johnson
2.) “Don’t be afraid to be ambitious about your goals. Hard work never stops. Neither should your dreams.” – Dwayne Johnson
3.) “Grind Hard, Shine Hard.” – Dwayne Johnson
4.) “I like to use the hard times of the past to motivate me today.” – Dwayne Johnson
5.) “Not only do I think being nice and kind is easy, but being kind, in my opinion is important.” – Dwayne Johnson
6.) “One of the most important things you can accomplish is just being yourself.” – Dwayne Johnson
7.) “The first step to achieving your goal, is to take a moment to respect your goal. Know what it means to you to achieve it.” – Dwayne Johnson
8.) “The wall! Your success is on the other side. Can’t jump over it or go around it. You know what to do.” – Dwayne Johnson
9.) “There is no substitute for hard work. Always be humble and hungry.” – Dwayne Johnson
10.) “Wake up determined. Go to bed satisfied.” – Dwayne Johnson
11.) “We do today what they won’t, so tomorrow we accomplish what they can’t.” – Dwayne Johnson
12.) “When life puts you in tough situations, don’t say “Why Me?” Just say “Try Me.”” – Dwayne Johnson
13.) “When you walk up to opportunities door, don’t knock it… Kick that b!tch in, smile and introduce yourself.” – Dwayne Johnson
14.) “With drive and a bit of talent, you can move mountains.” – Dwayne Johnson
15.) “You don’t need directions, just point yourself to the top and go!” – Dwayne Johnson
16.) “Be the person that when your feet touch the floor in the morning the devil says, “awe s***.. they’re up”. – Dwayne Johnson
17.) “If something stands between you and your success – move it. Never be denied.” – Dwayne Johnson
18.) “In 1995 I had $7 bucks in my pocket and knew two things: I’m broke as hell and one day I won’t be.” – Dwayne Johnson
19.) “Success at anything will always come down to this: focus & effort. And we control both.” – Dwayne Johnson
20.) “Success isn’t always about ‘Greatness’, it’s about consistency. Consistent, hard work gains success. Greatness will come.” – Dwayne Johnson
21.) “Success isn’t overnight. It’s when everyday you get a little better than the day before. It all adds up.” – Dwayne Johnson
22.) “Think back 5 yrs ago. Think of where you’re at today. Think ahead 5 yrs and what you want to accomplish. Be Unstoppable.” – Dwayne Johnson
23.) “I grew up in a musical family; the majority of my growing up was done in Hawaii. It’s what we do. You sing, you dance, you play ukulele and you drink.” – Dwayne Johnson
24.) “The men I idolized built their bodies and became somebody – like Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger – and I thought, ‘That can be me.’ So I started working out. The funny thing is I didn’t realize back then that I was having a defining moment.” – Dwayne Johnson
25.) “Football changed my life and it gave me a platform to get out my aggression and it gave me a sense of value.” – Dwayne Johnson
26.) “I like the idea of working in different genres and transcending genres and hopefully finding success, and ultimately make movies people like.” – Dwayne Johnson
27.) “When he speaks to you he speaks with an earnest vibe and an earnest energy.” – Dwayne Johnson
28.) “Wrestling was like stand-up comedy for me.” – Dwayne Johnson
29.) The one thing I couldn’t identify with was the blue cowboy outfit he put on.I was a bit challenged when I was younger to stay on the right path. – Dwayne Johnson
30.) “I want someone who can trust that my big hands are going to take care of them.” – Dwayne Johnson
31.) “I’m very low-key. I don’t really blend in, so it’s difficult to go out in public. I like to do things that are kind of quiet, whether it’s a dinner at my house or a restaurant, or a movie night at home.” – Dwayne Johnson
32.) “My philosophy is, it’s always very rewarding when you can make an audience laugh. I don’t mind making fun of myself. I like self-deprecating comedy. But I’d like you to laugh with me occasionally, too.” – Dwayne Johnson
33.) “I like the idea of making a big, fun, adventure type of movie.” – Dwayne Johnson
34.) “When I was a kid at four years old, that’s when I started amateur wrestling with my dad and family. And when that’s instilled in you, it never goes away.” – Dwayne Johnson
35.) “You don’t sign up for a divorce when you get married. It’s very painful. But it’s taught me a great deal about myself.” – Dwayne Johnson
36.) “WWE is a space where I thrived, and I loved, and I still do. I love connecting with an audience; that is the greatest thing about going back to WWE.” – Dwayne Johnson
37.) “I’ve always loved the showmanship of professional wrestling. While I love making movies, I love that platform, too.” – Dwayne Johnson
The Rock has inspired many people to become the best versions of themselves. Despite coming from humble beginnings, he has reached greater success than most could ever imagine.
Everything that The Rock does, he puts his all into it; be it wrestling or acting. We hope these Dwayne Johnson quotes have motivated you to work hard for your dreams.
Which quote from The Rock was your favorite? What other Dwayne Johnson quotes would you add to the list? Let us know in the comment section below.
The post Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Quotes On Success and Life To Inspire You appeared first on Everyday Power.
Our latest collection of choice quotes about life and decisions. These quotes about choices will help you make the right decisions in your daily life.
Many of us don’t understand the importance of the choices that we make, or the power that we have over them.
Too often, people attribute what is good to external causes, and what is bad to internal ones. By this I mean, we feel like the good things happen to us, and the bad things are our fault. What we need to realize is that each and every day, we make numerous choices that influence the outcome of all areas of our lives.
We can learn from our missteps, and we can build on our strengths. To remind you on the importance of making decisions, here are some inspirational, wise, and thought-provoking choice quotes, choice sayings, and choice proverbs.
1.) “Life presents many choices, the choices we make determine our future.” – Catherine Pulsifer
2.) “The hardest decisions in life are not between good and bad or right and wrong, but between two goods or two rights.” – Joe Andrew
3.) “Choose your life’s mate carefully. From this one decision will come 90 percent of all your happiness or misery.” – H. Jackson Brown Jr.
4.) “When we find inspiration, we need to take action for ourselves and for our communities. Even if it means making a hard choice, or cutting out something and leaving it in your past.” – Aron Ralston
5.) “Any decision I make is the biggest decision of my life.” – Carmelo Anthony
6.) When bad things happen to you, focus on what you can learn from it. If you focus on the bad, you’re doomed to repeat it. – Mel Robbins
7.) “The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward.” – Amelia Earhart
8.) “And we have complete control over our own attitude. We are the ones we decide how we feel, how we look at things, how we react.” – Catherine Pulsifer
9.) “This is as true in everyday life as it is in battle: we are given one life and the decision is ours whether to wait for circumstances to make up our mind, or whether to act, and in acting, to live.” – Omar Bradley
10.) “Each person has a choice; the choice to do as one may wish and as one wants remains with the individual. If a person sees no benefit to change, they will not change.” – Byron Pulsifer
11.) “We are the creative force of our life, and through our own decisions rather than our conditions, if we carefully learn to do certain things, we can accomplish those goals.” – Stephen Covey
12.) “Did you know that to worry about a situation you are making a conscious choice to do so?” – Mike C. Adams
13.) “We all need to decide whether to “play it safe” in life and worry about the downside, or instead take a chance, by being who we really are and living the life our heart desires. Which choice are you making?” – Charlie Badenhop
14.) “Your life changes the moment you make a new, congruent, and committed decision.” – Anthony Robbins
15.) “There are a lot of things going on with my life right now that don’t just have to do with career. So I have a hard time making decisions about work. That’s really a luxury problem.” – Philip Seymour Hoffman
16.) “You came empty on earth, why overloaded now, were all your choices absolutely correct, it is never too late to reconsider them?” – William Ngwako Maphoto
17.) “You always do what you want to do. This is true with every act. You may say that you had to do something, or that you were forced to, but actually, whatever you do, you do by choice. Only you have the power to choose for yourself.” – W. Clement Stone
18.) “The choices that we make in our life, indeed determine the kind of results that we experience and the quality of the life that we live.” – Sumeet Jain
19.) “The choices we make every minute of every day can contribute to making someone’s life a little bit better or worse even without intending to.” – Chikamso Efobi
20.) “In every single thing you do, you are choosing a direction. Your life is a product of choices.” – Dr. Kathleen Hall
21.) “May your choices reflect your hopes not your fears.” – Nelson Mandela
22.) “Big changes don’t have to be hard, but they do have to start with a choice. This is where real change begins; this is where you start taking control of your life and how you choose to live it; this is where it all starts.” – Nathalie Thompson
23.) “In my experience working with a variety of people over several decades, far too many individuals choose to be anonymous members of the pack, therefore suffering from the inner remorse that makes them feel like failures, filled with conflict and resentment and wondering what the meaning of life is.”- Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
24.) “By knowing that you can fail and making the choice to take the risk you will be setting yourself up for success and not failure.” – Jennifer N. Smith
25.) “Addicts cannot change the abuse suffered in childhood. They cannot undo the choices they have made or the hurt they have caused. But they can change the future – through the power they have in the present moment.” – Ryan Holiday, Stephen Hanselman
26.) “Most of the choices we make each day may feel like the products of well-considered decision making, but they’re not. They’re habits. And though each habit means relatively little on its own, over time, the meals we order, what we say to our kids each night, whether we save or spend, how often we exercise, and the way we organize our thoughts and work routines have enormous impacts on our health, productivity, financial security, and happiness.” – Charles Duhigg
27.) “Expanding our capacity to talk, particularly when we face critical choices, is a life-enhancing skill. I believe that there is no faster way for us to evolve than through the process of interacting with one another.” – Sarah Rozenthuler
28.) “In this new era, you have two choices: become a temp staffer (not a horrible choice) or become an artist-entrepreneur. Choose to commoditize your labor or choose yourself to be a creator, an innovator, an artist, an investor, a marketer, and an entrepreneur.” – James Altucher
Realizing and acknowledging the choices that we make is empowering, whether the outcome is good or bad.
It is also important, as it helps us evaluate what we do and do not have control over. This is an important distinction to make, as we can let go of what we will never have a choice – or control over – and focus our time and energy on what we do.
I hope these choice quotes helped you realize the power you possess regarding life’s decisions.
Did you enjoy these choice quotes? Which of the quotes resonated with you best? Let us know in the comment section below.
The post 28 Inspirational Choice Quotes about Life and Decisions appeared first on Everyday Power.
Our latest collection of running quotes that will keep you fueled. These quotes about running will help you keep moving forward.
Thinking about becoming a runner but wondering why you should start? There are many reasons why you should fall in love with running.
Running is one of the best ways to boost both your physical and mental health. It helps just about all aspects of your health, provides an outlet for stress relief and improves your mood and overall happiness.
Besides being good for your health, running is also a great physical activity that provides a bridge to make some new friends and build strong relationships.
Running is also a great way to set a goal and then crush it. If you need some purpose in your life, now’s the time to lace up and work towards your goal.
What’s more, running is free. You can run anywhere, and it’s one of those exercises that don’t need any special equipment or a gym to get started.
So what are you waiting for? Here are some inspirational, energizing, and motivating running quotes, running sayings, and running proverbs to get you moving.
1.) “The miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.” – John Bingham
2.) “You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”— Eleanor Roosevelt
3.) “Don’t dream of winning, train for it!” — Mo Farah
4.) “Running allows me to set my mind free. Nothing seems impossible. Nothing unattainable.” — Kara Goucher
5.) “I don’t run to add days to my life, I run to add life to my days.” – Ronald Rook
6.) “I’ll be happy if running and I can grow old together.” – Haruki Murakami
7.) “I run because if I didn’t, I’d be sluggish and glum and spend too much time on the couch. I run to breathe the fresh air. I run to explore. I run to escape the ordinary. I run…to savor the trip along the way. Life becomes a little more vibrant, a little more intense. I like that.” ― Dean Karnazes
8.) “The pain of running relieves the pain of living.” – Jacqueline Simon Gunn
9.) “If you run, you are a runner. It doesn’t matter how fast or how far. It doesn’t matter if today is your first day or if you’ve been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run.” – John Bingham
10.) “I run because long after my footprints fade away, maybe I will have inspired a few to reject the easy path, hit the trails, put one foot in front of the other, and come to the same conclusion I did: I run because it always takes me where I want to go.” – Dean Karnazes
11.) “Running is the greatest metaphor for life, because you get out of it what you put into it.”— Oprah Winfrey
12.) “If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you.” – Fred DeVito
13.) “If you don’t have answers to your problems after a four-hour run, you ain’t getting them.” – Christopher McDougall
14.) “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” – Confucius
15.) “Never underestimate the power that one good workout can have on your mind. Keeping the dream alive is half the battle.” – Kara Goucher
16.) “After all, if you run far enough, no one can catch you.” ― V.E. Schwab
17.) “Life equals running and when we stop running maybe that’s how we’ll know life is finally finished.” – Patrick Ness
18.) “Ask yourself: “Can I give more?” The answer is usually: “Yes.” – Paul Tergat
19.) “Running is about finding your inner peace, and so is a life well lived.” ― Dean Karnazes
20.) “Someone who is busier than you is running right now.” – Nike
21.) “Only those who risk going too far, can possibly find out how far one can go.”— T.S. Elliot
22.) “Running is alone time that lets my brain unspool the tangles that build up over days…I run, pound it out on the pavement, channel that energy into my legs, and when I’m done with my run, I’m done with it.” — Rob Haneisen
23.) “Running is real and relatively simple… but it ain’t easy.” – Mark Will-Weber
24.) “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Aristotle
25.) “Running is my private time, my therapy, my religion.” – Gail W. Kislevitz
26.) “Long distance running is 90 percent mental and the other half is physical.” – Rich Davis
27.) “Don’t fear moving slowly forward…fear standing still.” – Kathleen Harris
28.) “There is something magical about running; after a certain distance, it transcends the body. Then a bit further, it transcends the mind. A bit further yet, and what you have before you, laid bare, is the soul.” – Kristin Armstrong
29.) “I hated every minute of training, but I said, ”Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.” – Muhammad Ali
30.) “As every runner knows, running is about more than just putting one foot in front of the other; it is about our lifestyle and who we are.” – Joan Benoit Samuelson
31.) “We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort.”— Jesse Owens
32.) “Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up.” – Dean Karnazes
33.) “Run often. Run long. But never outrun your joy of running.” —Julie Isphording
34.) “There’s not one body type that equates to success. Accept the body you have and be the best you can be with it.” – Mary Cullen
35.) “Get going … walk if you have to, but finish the damned race.” – Ron Hill
36.) “I’m not telling you it’s going to be easy… I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it.” – Art Williams
37.) “We run when we’re scared, we run when we’re ecstatic, we run away from our problems and run around for a good time.” ― Christopher McDougall
38.) “The freedom of Cross Country is so primitive. It’s woman vs. nature.” ― Lynn Jennings
39.) “Good things come slow, especially in distance running.” – Bill Dellinger
40.) “It’s at the borders of pain and suffering that the men are separated from the boys.” – Emil Zatopek
41.) “The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare.”— Juma Ikangaa
42.) “A good laugh and a long run are the two best cures for anything.” —Unknown
43.) “If you are losing faith in human nature, go out and watch a marathon.” – Kathrine Switzer
44.) “You would run much slower if you were dragging something behind you, like a knapsack or a sheriff.” ― Lemony Snicket
45.) “The reason we race isn’t so much to beat each other,… but to be with each other.” – Christopher McDougall
46.) “Run in the morning … before your brain figures out what your body is doing!” – Anonymous
47.) “Run like hell and get the agony over with.” – Clarence DeMar
48.) “The marathon can humble you.” – Bill Rodgers
49.) “Some people train knowing they’re not working as hard as other people. I can’t fathom how they think.” – Alberto Salazar
50.) “The obsession with running is really an obsession with the potential for more and more life.” – George Sheehan
Running is one of the most beneficial physical activities you could undertake. Besides making us healthier, running is a great social activity that can help you build a stronger and more meaningful network of friends.
If you’re not a natural born runner, there’s no need to worry at all. We hope these running quotes have reminded you that you don’t have to start out running like a marathoner. Just a few minutes of daily running will significantly boost your happiness and make you live longer.
Did you enjoy these running quotes? Which of the quotes was your favorite? We would love to hear all about it in the comment section below.
The post 50 Running Quotes to Motivate You to Stay Active appeared first on Everyday Power.
Our latest collection of Richard Branson quotes to inspire success. These Richard Branson quotes will help you grow to become the person you always wanted to be.
Who is Richard Branson?
Richard Branson is one of the most successful entrepreneurs of our time. He has created a multi-billion-dollar empire, numerous charitable organizations, and written best-selling books. He did all this while retaining his bohemian style of thinking and living life his way. Everyone can learn something from Richard Branson quotes.
Richard Branson did poorly in school. Most people thought that he would be a complete failure, but he believed in himself. He started a magazine called Students.
The magazine quickly became successful. Branson even interviewed huge stars such as Mick Jagger from the Rolling Stones. Branson decide to start another business after the success of his magazine. He started multiple successful record stores.
Soon after, Branson launched a new business called Virgin Records. He used the name “Virgin” because he and his associates were new to the music publishing business. Virgin Records went on to be one of the most successful record companies in the entire world.
The record company was known for signing controversial bands and artists that other record companies were too afraid to touch. For instance, they signed The Sex Pistols. As a result, Virgin Records was respected by music fans.
Most people would have been satisfied with two successful businesses, but Richard Branson is an ambitious, hard working man. His ambition, work ethic, and creativity made him one of the richest men in the world.
Branson created many companies under the “Virgin” label including Virgin Atlantic Airlines, Virgin Blue, and Virgin Mobile. These companies span multiple industries, but all of them are successful. Branson knew that the industry didn’t matter as long as he ran the company well.
Richard Branson sold Virgin Records in order to fund Virgin Atlantic Airlines when the company was taking a loss. He sold Virgin Records for over $500 million.
Richard Branson is active in a number of other pursuits besides business. For instance, he set up an environmental prize called the Virgin Earth Challenge that provides millions of dollars to anyone or any group that can provide a product that safely removes toxic green gasses from the atmosphere.
Richard Branson has broken multiple boating world records. In addition, he’s appeared in numerous television shows and movies. For instance, he appeared in the James Bond movie, Casino Royale.
Unsurprisingly, Branson has helped out with and even started philanthropic organizations. He also remains active in politics and even fasted for three days to protest the oppressive Sudanese government.
Richard Branson leads an incredible life. He helps others and succeed in nearly every area imaginable. Everyone can learn something from Richard Branson quotes.
Below is our collection of inspirational, wise, and intelligent Richard Branson quotes and sayings, collected from a variety of sources over the years.
1.) “You get the idea. Every business, like a painting, operates according to its own rules. There are many ways to run a successful company. What works once may never work again. What everyone tells you never to do may just work, once. There are no rules. You don’t learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing, and by falling over, and it’s because you fall over that you learn to save yourself from falling over. It’s the greatest thrill in the world and it runs away screaming at the first sight of bullet points.” – Richard Branson
2.) You don’t learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing, and by falling over. – Richard Branson
3.) Do not be embarrassed by your failures, learn from them and start again. – Richard Branson
4.) Well, the odds must be against anybody being able to fly around the world in a balloon on the first attempt. All of us who are attempting to go around the world in balloons are effectively flying in experimental craft because these craft cannot be tested. – Richard Branson
5.) A business has to be involving, it has to be fun, and it has to exercise your creative instincts. – Richard Branson
6.) For a successful entrepreneur it can mean extreme wealth. But with extreme wealth comes extreme responsibility. And the responsibility for me is to invest in creating new businesses, create jobs, employ people, and to put money aside to tackle issues where we can make a difference. – Richard Branson
7.) The balloons only have one life and the only way of finding out whether they work is to attempt to fly around the world. – Richard Branson
8.) My general attitude to life is to enjoy every minute of every day. I never do anything with a feeling of, ‘Oh God, I’ve got to do this today.’ – Richard Branson
9.) One thing is certain in business. You and everyone around you will make mistakes. – Richard Branson
10.) I never get the accountants in before I start up a business. It’s done on gut feeling, especially if I can see that they are taking the mickey out of the consumer. – Richard Branson
11.) If you want to be a Millionaire, start with a billion dollars and launch a new airline. – Richard Branson
12.) Business opportunities are like buses, there’s always another one coming. – Richard Branson
13.) Through the right people focusing on the right things, we can, in time, get on top of a lot if not most of the problems of this world. And that’s what a number of us are trying to do. – Richard Branson
14.) Well, I think that there’s a very thin dividing line between success and failure. And I think if you start a business without financial backing, you’re likely to go the wrong side of that dividing line. – Richard Branson
15.) Right now I’m just delighted to be alive and to have had a nice long bath. – Richard Branson
16.) The jet stream is a very strong force and pushing a balloon into it is like pushing up against a brick wall, but once we got into it, we found that, remarkably, the balloon went whatever speed the wind went. – Richard Branson
17.) So I’ve seen life as one long learning process. And if I see – you know, if I fly on somebody else’s airline and find the experience is not a pleasant one, which it wasn’t in – 21 years ago, then I’d think, well, you know, maybe I can create the kind of airline that I’d like to fly on. – Richard Branson
18.) My mother was determined to make us independent. When I was four years old, she stopped the car a few miles from our house and made me find my own way home across the fields. I got hopelessly lost. – Richard Branson
19.) To me, business isn’t about wearing suits or pleasing stockholders. It’s about being true to yourself, your ideas and focusing on the essentials. – Richard Branson
20.) ‘Although my spelling is still sometimes poor, I have managed to overcome the worst of my difficulties through training myself to concentrate.’ – Richard Branson
21.) I believe in benevolent dictatorship provided I am the dictator. – Richard Branson
“What we are trying to do at Virgin is not to have one enormous company in one sector under one banner, but to have two hundred or even three hundred separate companies. Each company can stand on its own feet and, in that way, although we’ve got a brand that links them, if we were to have another tragedy such as that of 11 September – which hurt the airline industry – it would not bring the whole group crashing down.” – Richard Branson
22.) My philosophy is that if I have any money I invest it in new ventures and not have it sitting around. – Richard Branson
23.) I was dyslexic, I had no understanding of schoolwork whatsoever. I certainly would have failed IQ tests. And it was one of the reasons I left school when I was 15 years old. And if I – if I’m not interested in something, I don’t grasp it. – Richard Branson
24.) I wanted to be an editor or a journalist, I wasn’t really interested in being an entrepreneur, but I soon found I had to become an entrepreneur in order to keep my magazine going. – Richard Branson
25.) You never know with these things when you’re trying something new what can happen. This is all experimental. – Richard Branson
26.) I cannot remember a moment in my life when I have not felt the love of my family. We were a family that would have killed for each other – and we still are. – Richard Branson
Richard Branson became known for his ambitious, sometimes risky or unique business ideas and ventures. The risks that he made paid off.
We all can learn something from Richard Branson’s words. Hopefully, the above quotes have given you the courage to go for what you believe in.
Did you enjoy these Richard Branson quotes? Which of the quotes was your favorite? Tell us in the comment section below. We would love to hear all about it.
The post 26 Richard Branson Quotes On Leadership and Opportunity appeared first on Everyday Power.
Our latest collection of optimistic quotes to help you see the bright side. These quotes about optimism will help you live a positive life.
Do you consider yourself optimistic? Is it easy for you to stay positive?
We decided to search the web and find some of our favorite optimistic quotes that can lift your spirits and elevate your perspective.
We believe that being optimistic is imperative for happiness and essential for a high quality of life. No matter how tough the day is, no matter how frustrated or stressed out we are, keeping an optimistic state of mind is a non-negotiable.
Below you’ll find our collection of inspirational, wise, and optimistic quotes, optimistic sayings, and optimistic proverbs, collected from a variety of sources over the years. Enjoy!
1.) “And imagine acquiring a new language and only learning the words to describe a wonderful world, refusing to know the words for a bleak one and in doing so linguistically shaping the world that you inhabit.” ― Rosamund Lupton
2.) “A pessimist is a man who thinks everybody is as nasty as himself, and hates them for it.”― George Bernard Shaw
3.) “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”― Winston S. Churchill
4.) “Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.”― Arundhati Roy
5.) “Be fanatically positive and militantly optimistic. If something is not to your liking, change your liking.”― Rick Steves
6.) “TO BE HOPEFUL in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness.
What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places—and there are so many—where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction.
And if we do act, in however small a way, we don’t have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.” ― Howard Zinn
7.) “Choose to be optimistic, it feels better.”― Dalai Lama XIV
8.) “Expect the best, prepare for the worst.”― Muhammad Ali Jinnah
9.) “For myself I am an optimist – it does not seem to be much use to be anything else.” ― Winston S. Churchill
10.) “I am so far from being a pessimist…on the contrary, in spite of my scars, I am tickled to death at life.”― Eugene O’Neill
11.) “Write it on your heart
that every day is the best day in the year.
He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day
who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety.
Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could.
Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt crept in.
Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day;
begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit
to be cumbered with your old nonsense.
This new day is too dear,
with its hopes and invitations,
to waste a moment on the yesterdays.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
12.) “Another way to be prepared is to think negatively. Yes, I’m a great optimist. but, when trying to make a decision, I often think of the worst case scenario. I call it ‘the eaten by wolves factor.’ If I do something, what’s the most terrible thing that could happen? Would I be eaten by wolves? One thing that makes it possible to be an optimist, is if you have a contingency plan for when all hell breaks loose. There are a lot of things I don’t worry about, because I have a plan in place if they do.”
― Randy Pausch
13.) “I meant to write about death, only life came breaking in as usual”― Virginia Woolf
14.) “Perpetual Optimism is a Force Multiplier.”
― Colin Powell
15.) “If you think this Universe is bad, you should see some of the others.”― Philip K. Dick
16.) “I’m a pessimist because of intelligence, but an optimist because of will.”― Antonio Gramsci
17.) “The optimist lives on the peninsula of infinite possibilities; the pessimist is stranded on the island of perpetual indecision.” ― William Arthur Ward
18.) “In this hour, I do not believe that any darkness will endure.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien
19.) “Pessimism never won any battle.” ― Dwight D. Eisenhower
20.) “Life has no remote….get up and change it yourself!”― Mark A. Cooper
21.) “My optimism wears heavy boots and is loud.”― Henry Rollins
22.) “One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn’t pay to get discouraged. Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself.”― Lucille Ball
23.) “Optimism is a strategy for making a better future. Because unless you believe that the future can be better, you are unlikely to step up and take responsibility for making it so.”― Noam Chomsky
24.) “Optimism,” said Cacambo, “What is that?” “Alas!” replied Candide, “It is the obstinacy of maintaining that everything is best when it is worst.”― Voltaire
25.) “Pessimists are usually right and optimists are usually wrong but all the great changes have been accomplished by optimists.”― Thomas L. Friedman
26.) “Some people grumble that roses have thorns; I am grateful that thorns have roses.”― Alphonse Karr
27.) “The longest way must have its close – the gloomiest night will wear on to a morning.”― Harriet Beecher Stowe
28.) “The man who is a pessimist before 48 knows too much; if he is an optimist after it he knows too little.” ― Mark Twain
29.) “There is some good in this world, and it’s worth fighting for.”― J.R.R. Tolkien
30.) “there’s no harm in hoping for the best as long as you’re prepared for the worst.”― Stephen King
31.) “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson
32.) “You have this ability to find beauty in weird places.”― Kamila Shamsie
33.) “For myself I am an optimist – it does not seem to be much use to be anything else.”– Winston Churchill
33.) “What is hope but a feeling of optimism, a thought that says things will improve, it won’t always be bleak [and] there’s a way to rise above the present circumstances.” ―Wayne W. Dyer
34.) “Optimism doesn’t wait on facts. It deals with prospects.” ―Norman Cousins
35.) “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” ― Oscar Wilde
36.) “Optimism is the madness of insisting that all is well when we are miserable.”– Voltaire
37.) “It is the hopeful, buoyant, cheerful attitude of mind that wins. Optimism is a success builder; pessimism an achievement killer.” – Orison Swett Marden
38.) “I am an optimist. Anyone interested in the future has to be otherwise he would simply shoot himself.”– Arthur C. Clarke
39.) “When you have vision it affects your attitude. Your attitude is optimistic rather than pessimistic.”– Charles R. Swindoll
40.) “Optimism means better than reality; pessimism means worse than reality. I’m a realist.” – Margaret Atwood
41.) “”When you are asked if you can do a job, tell ’em, ‘Certainly I can!’ Then get busy and find out how to do it.”
– Theodore Roosevelt
42.) “Success is not how high you have climbed, but how you make a positive difference to the world.” ― Roy T. Bennett
43.) “Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” ―Martin Luther
44.) “Optimism is the foundation of courage.” – Nicholas M. Butler
45.) “I try to think about optimism. I try to look at the beautiful things in life.” – Dolores O’Riordan
46.) “Sometimes when you’re in a dark place you think you’ve been buried, but you’ve actually been planted.” – Christine Caine
47.) “The optimist looks at the horizon and sees an opportunity; the pessimist peers into the distance and fears a problem.” – William Arthur Ward
48.) “I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” – Jimmy Dean
49.) “Be more optimistic. Pessimism is a kind of behavior that you learn . Hoping for the best and believing that everything is going to be fine in the end helps to reduce stress.” – David Brown
50.) “To the question whether I am a pessimist or an optimist, I answer that my knowledge is pessimistic, but my willing and hoping are optimistic.” – Albert Schweitzer
Becoming more optimistic can help you change your life and achieve your goals. Optimism can empower you to overcome your challenges and strive for success and happiness.
Due to the ups and downs of life, it can be tough to remain positive at certain times. During such times, a reminder that things will get better might be all you need. So hopefully, these quotes about optimism have elevated your state of mind and encouraged you to always hope for the best in life; regardless of circumstance.
Did you enjoy these optimistic quotes? Which of the quotes was your favorite? Tell us in the comment section below. Also, take a second to Like and Share!
The post 50 Optimistic Quotes To Crush Negativity appeared first on Everyday Power.
Why do I procrastinate, especially, when I know better?
Why do I feel an urge to do something else whenever I start doing something important?
What steps can I take to move forward?
If this sounds like you, keep reading!
We are asking the wrong question, and I’m as guilty as anyone. It’s not, “Why do I put off the things I really want or need to do?” The real question we have to ask ourselves is, “What’s the pay-off I enjoy by avoiding doing what I say is important?”
Our answers may vary but see if any (or all!) of these apply:
Let’s look at the reasons why we procrastinate.
Are we ignoring the nudge to take an important step, and instead, holding on to what’s familiar? Pruning is a metaphor I write about often because it’s just that powerful.
We are often so afraid of letting go—of something, someone, maybe some job that isn’t working—that we will cling to the dying branches.
The thought of the void seems so much worse than the death itself. Invariably though, when we let go of what’s not working and what is draining our energy and resources, we make room for new growth. Usually it’s so much better than we could’ve imagined!
Maybe we’re afraid of failing so we never try? Sometimes the only way to know what we are capable of is to push our limits. We will either delight in accomplishing what we set out to do, or we will find out what our best is on any given day.
If we fall short of our expectations, we can celebrate that we did our best. As we continue to push our limits, we may fall short of the goal, but we will continue to grow in the process.
I would rather overestimate myself and find my limits than underestimate myself and never reach my full potential. Les Brown says, “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”
Don Ward says, “If you are going to doubt something, doubt your limits.” If you think you can, you might be right. If you think you can’t and never try, you are definitely right!
Why does an ostrich stick its head in the sand? I don’t know, but why humans do it is a little easier to figure out. We may want something so much, but we don’t go after it because if we fail, we’ll lose our dream.
We would rather stay comfortable on our cozy couches, dreaming, hoping, praying, wishing and asking ourselves, “Wonder what it would be like to do that?” Instead, we could be asking ourselves, “How will I actually do that?”
Maybe that dream is all we have? Maybe our identity is so tightly wound up in that dream that we can’t afford to lose it? Maybe we keep our heads in the sand about a job or relationship because we know deep down, it’s not right, but we don’t want to admit it, much less do anything about it.
We disconnect from the part of us that knows the truth, so we don’t have to get out of our comfort zones and take action. Once we have awareness, it’s very difficult to go back to blissful ignorance.
Awareness may lead to fear but the cure for fear is always action! “I’m afraid!” Do it anyway. “I may fail!” Do it anyway, because either way, you will grow. “What if it doesn’t work?” It definitely won’t work if you don’t try, but what if it does?
“Who will I be if my dream doesn’t work out?” I don’t know, but who are you now, with an unsung song in your heart?” Personally, I would rather have my head in the clouds trying different things, than buried in sand, trying nothing.
How many times have you said, “Tomorrow, I’m finally going to start that big project,” but then tomorrow arrives and you act against your best intentions?
All these unintentional choices can leave us filled with disappointment in ourselves, short on hope that we will ever act in a way that reflects our true desires.
How can we allow the greatness we have inside us to be fully expressed while the dark clouds of anxiety and shame are constantly hovering over a corner of our lives? Ahh, but maybe that’s the point?
By avoiding what’s really important, we can regularly sabotage our lives and continue to feel pretty crappy about ourselves. I hope some of you are wondering, “And how is that a pay-off, exactly?” It’s crazy, I know, but sometimes feeling good actually feels bad to some of us. So we do things that feel bad to feel better. Huh?
If we came from a background of chaos, calm can seem scary. By keeping anxiousness and unhappiness steadily flowing into our lives, we can have a leg up on anything else that might hurt us. In other words, we may feel we can control sabotage easier than success.
And this becomes a means of self-protection against fear of the unknown (good or bad). Nothing and no one can ruin our day if we’re doing a good job of that on our own! If this describes you, maybe it’s time to take a risk and try something different?
I’ve ventured out of my chaos-comfort zone a few times now and the sky hasn’t fallen. I’m learning it’s okay to feel good and that vulnerability can actually pay off nicely. Exercise one (below) is critical.
Perfectionism. The very word even sounds rigid and binding. Some of us may prolong taking any important action until we have the whole script written and we have everything worked out to the last detail.
While it’s possible life could happen the way we plan, more often than not, we will have to take action without knowing how it’s all going to turn out.
One way I’m learning that perfectionism is controlling me is by watching my vocabulary when I’m talking to myself. Should’s, and ought-to’s are a good sign that I’m trying to force a particular outcome or make myself do something I don’t really want to do.
Sometimes the should voice gets so loud, it drowns out all my authentic wants and needs. I feel paralyzed in overwhelm, wrestling with what I ought to do versus what I might like to do, so I stay frozen and do nothing.
Either that or I trick myself into thinking I’m taking action when I’m really just busying myself with other “important” tasks like cleaning out my inbox or getting lost in social media for hours.
I’m making progress in learning to trade in the “I should’s” and instead, ask myself, “In this moment, what do I really want to do?” I usually have an answer immediately. When I can mediate a balance between my wants and needs, and discern if there is any validity in the “should” voice, I can tap into my own natural flow and take action, without hesitation.
We’ve all heard the phrase, “We are never given more than we can handle.” I’ve always applied that to difficult situations and tough times, but I recently heard the idea that it’s also true for our talents, our potential, and thus, our destinies.
Fear of success is just as real as fear of failure. This may be the reason some of us constantly avoid taking important next steps.
In Nelson Mandela‘s famous inaugural speech, he quoted Marianne Williamson by saying, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
The biggest role we will ever play on the stage of life is ourselves! We must not be afraid to trust and follow the mysterious greatness inside us, no matter how unknown, unpredictable, or scary it may seem.
Change will happen at a speed we can handle. Me being all of ME, you being all of YOU, inherently came with the equipping we would each need to be that person in full. Being all that we are meant to become, letting all of ourselves float to the surface for the world to see is never a mistake.
It’s who we were born to be and it’s our role in the symphony of life. While this doesn’t happen overnight, we can all take a step in the right direction today by being honest and asking ourselves if we are hiding behind avoidance.
Moving forward is a choice. However, understanding why we procrastinate leads to greater self-empathy, which helps us discover what we need before real progress can occur. Only then will we give ourselves permission to take action on our goals and dreams.
EXERCISE #1
Make a list of everything you’re avoiding or procrastinating about. Congratulations! Awareness and acknowledgment are the first steps. Now draw a line down your paper and for each one, write all the possible fears of taking a step in the direction of what you really want.
Then ask yourself, “What is the underlying belief holding me back?” Maybe it’s, “If I act on a dream and it doesn’t work out, I will look foolish.” Or, “If I succeed, I won’t be able to manage the pace of success.”
There’s no right or wrong answers, this is just you getting to know the real you—your fears, hopes, dreams and inherent beliefs. In a third column, write down the worst thing that could happen if you move forward in that area, and rate how likely that is to come true on a scale of 1-10. In a fourth column, jot down one tiny step you are willing to take and the name of someone you can use for accountability and support.
Strangely enough, one right action can give us just enough of a self-esteem boost to make another right decision. With each small, seemingly insignificant choice, self-trust and self-respect begin to return.
We’re motivated to continue. All the while, we remind ourselves what we really want and why we’re doing this in the first place. Our “why” must stay in the forefront, fueling our efforts.
TIP
Another trick is to focus on the journey rather than just the ultimate outcome. If we look for the gift—the reward solely in today’s small action—we may be more likely to jump in and do it.
If we slow down and enjoy the activity, we are more likely to find the willingness to take the next right step. Most of our lives are spent on the way anyway. Let’s have fun getting there!
Remember, good things take time. Living in a microwave, fast-food society, our inherent desire to pull up to the drive-thru window and have it our way is so much more appealing than taking small steps toward a meaningful accomplishment.
But we have a choice. We can dismiss the urges, desires, dreams, and goals that are going to take longer than one day, or we can do one small thing today (and the next, and the next) to get us closer to the goal.
EXERCISE #2
Visualize how nice it will feel to just do it (whatever “it” is). Imagine being free of the mounting pressure hanging over your head. See the goal achieved. Allow yourself to bask in the glow of accomplishment, self-pride, and the fruits of your actions. Doesn’t that feel great?
When the payoff for avoidance and staying comfortable
becomes overshadowed by the payoff for getting it done, the scales will tip and suddenly we will have more motivation to be unstuck than stuck. We will do what is necessary to feel better and improve our situation. We will enjoy a sense of accomplishment for finally taking action.
BOTTOM LINE
No one can tell us when it’s time to move forward. We have to stay stuck until we’re good and ready to get unstuck. When we’re done playing around with a problem, we’ll solve it.
We already know what we need to do. In the meantime, we can accept we’re right where we’re supposed to be, getting the lesson and building up the necessary drive to take action.
Pretty soon we’ll do it and wonder why we waited so long! Usually, it’s not as big of an issue as we made it out to be in our minds … and in our procrastination. Cheers to your perfect timing!
The post Why Do I Procrastinate and How Can I Beat It appeared first on Everyday Power.
Discover how to ditch the victim mentality and start creating your life.
My past involved a lot of chaos and trauma. However, I’ve come to realize that my suffering isn’t that much different than anyone else’s. We all have obstacles to overcome and we all know people who have been hurt more than us.
At times I wanted to believe my pain was greater, but I’ve been challenged to embrace the notion that suffering is ordinary. Still, I frequently find myself facing a choice between victim mentality versus empowered thinking. How I choose to see my life carries far greater weight than reality itself.
“We could spend weeks, months, even years … trying to change our attitudes and behaviors and not even begin to approach the phenomenon of change that occurs spontaneously when we see things differently.” —Stephen R. Covey, “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”
It might be easier if perspective and reality were the same thing but they’re not. One situation can be viewed multiple ways by multiple people, as well as by the same person.
Perception dominates reality every time. I think when the consequences of feeling like a victim are negative enough, we’re forced to adopt a different mindset.
Do you see the trend? They’re all perceptions. I choose to feel hurt. I allow myself to feel abandoned and neglected. Someone may reject me, but I decide to feel rejected and maybe even unloved and unlovable. I might take on a feeling of shame.
If I indulge the bad emotions long enough, I may even progress to feeling hopeless. In victim mentality, I believe the world will never be a safe place to let down my guard. Rarely do I feel happy, because there’s no room for happiness under the umbrella of victim mentality.
It’s time for a huge disclaimer. I am not saying don’t feel your feelings. We must feel our feelings or we will have to work very hard to keep them buried and repressed with substance and process addictions, or other means of escape.
We need to honor our feelings and acknowledge the wounded parts of ourselves. The tricky part is not allowing our feelings to overshadow our reality and dominate all our thoughts.
Bad things happen. Horrendous things happen. I understand and have walked through my share of them. Still, I decide what story to replay in my head about the negative things in life.
I can choose to stay stuck in a bad story, or I can choose to accept and forgive. I can even explore how to be grateful for what I’ve learned in tough situations and foster appreciation for the person each of those encounters has allowed me to become.
With acceptance, forgiveness and gratitude, I can decide to move on so the person, place or situation doesn’t hold me captive any longer.
When I decide to see myself as an overcomer, I am choosing to stand on several powerful truths:
Ouch that last one hurts, but it’s true. Arrogance doesn’t just mean I think I’m better than other people. It simply suggests inflated self-importance, such as making up in my head that “this” happened and “they” did it to me on purpose.
I might embellish the story even further and say it happened because I wasn’t good enough or because I said the wrong thing. To me, these thoughts are the essence of victim mentality. It’s warping everything that happens around me to make it about me. Again and again and again.
Victim mentality is an addiction to feeling bad about my life and about myself.
The opposite is choosing to walk through my life moment by moment, knowing everyone is doing the best they can—including me. If I choose to stay in victim mentality today, so be it.
Maybe that’s the best I can do today. Perhaps I need another day of experiencing what it’s like to live as a victim. It takes what it takes and when I’ve had enough, I’ll gain the willingness to make other choices.
Empowering beliefs when we’re ready to move on …
For today,
Today I choose to see myself as a competent adult—an equal in the world of adults. I surrender the feeling of being a child who continues to experience terrible things. I must be willing to grow up and step into my adult shoes, while nurturing those wounded, childlike parts of me.
Too often we set ourselves up for circumstances in our present lives that resemble how we were hurt in the past. Life has a funny way of showing us reruns.
The names and places may be different but the obstacles seem to have the same theme. The same troublesome boss, coworker or neighbor seems to be everywhere we go.
Life is handing us a gift! It’s giving us the opportunity to make different choices or to view what’s happening from a different perspective. When we finally get the lesson, that particular rerun stops playing and we progress to the next opportunity for growth.
If I want to stop victim mentality, I must gain willingness to end my addiction to feeling bad. Instead, I become willing to love myself and validate my wounds, yet with my adult voice, speak the truth into my life and into my mind.
Our subconscious minds believe whatever we tell them. If you doubt that’s true, try an experiment. Say a few of these declarations out loud. I like to call them powerful truths:
How did that feel? My subconscious likes powerful truths a whole lot better than the other chatter that too often runs on autopilot in my mind—chatter that only beats me down and makes me think I’m constantly swimming upstream.
Not living like a victim is a choice, one we get to make one day or one moment at a time. Hopefully more days than not, we will surrender our need to feel bad.
This only perpetuates how we felt about ourselves and our lives as a result of circumstances in the past. Those situations are long gone. We are the only ones keeping ourselves down, continuing to suffer.
When we can embrace that suffering is ordinary, and that no matter what we’ve been through, there are people who have been through that and worse, then we can be free.
If we have built our identities around trauma and pain, that’s all we know. Of course it only makes sense we want to hang onto them—until life becomes too miserable.
Ask yourself, “Am I ready to move on? Am I ready to embrace a life of wholeness and wellness?” The choice is mine. The choice is yours. For today, let’s choose to be free and let some joy in.
Let’s focus on how we can be a blessing to others. When I’m so focused on what people are doing to me, how can I focus on being kind and loving to others? Once again, arrogance is playing the same old tune: it’s all about me. I think we need a new song!
Please join me in letting go of victim mentality today. Let’s do a random act of kindness for someone else and enjoy how nice that feels. Let’s feed our subconscious minds several powerful truths, allowing hope and joy to seep into the hurt places.
Let’s take one behavior that seems to perpetuate feeling bad and today, try something new. Let’s choose to see ourselves as survivors instead of victims. Survivors are very strong, empowered people. Let’s embrace our true identities today—they’ve been buried long enough.
Hopefully, the above suggestions will help you break out from them victim mentality and take charge of your life.
The post How to Stop Feeling Like a Victim appeared first on Everyday Power.
