Renew Enthusiasm For A Long-Standing Job

No matter how much you love your job, you’ll likely feel occasional bouts of boredom. Feeling bored at work can color your days gray and ultimately derail your career goals. That feeling is uncomfortable and can lead you to question whether you’re in the right role. It might even cause you to consider if you chose the wrong career altogether. But ultimately, that feeling of boredom can be a gift.

Boredom that’s temporary in nature can push you to look for fresh challenges and update your skills. Instead of finding yourself in the same position years down the road without a solid plan, boredom can drive you to make changes that lead to a robust and exciting career.

When you’re excited about your job, your work time flies by more quickly, and you’re also more likely to stand out to your employer or clients as a professional they want to promote, rehire, or refer.

Boredom is actually a fascinating way for your brain to communicate with you. It’s distinctly different than relaxing downtime. Dr. Erin C. Westgate, Social Psychologist at the University of Florida, shares that boredom is a signal that your brain wants to be engaged. So, if you’re struggling with boredom at work, that’s a great sign that your brain wants to reengage with your work.

Does your company support volunteering? If not, consider projects that you can complete virtually. When you use your skills to help others, you might discover a renewed interest in your knowledge and abilities. Plus, volunteering can be a fantastic boost to your resume, bringing you closer to a new job or career change if you decide it’s time to make a move.

Maybe instead of donating time, you could share your knowledge. There are certainly others who would benefit from what you know. A small business owner, perhaps, or a local high school with a mentorship program.

Could you create a Skillshare class or add tutorials on YouTube? Sharing your knowledge with others can reignite your passion for your own work. As a bonus, teaching can help you stand out to hiring managers, especially if you want to land a leadership role.

If you don’t already know, read through your employee handbook to discover if your company offers paid time off for volunteer pursuits. If not, look at your schedule and be realistic about how many hours you can commit weekly or monthly to a volunteer project. Then, reach out to local organizations or explore sites to find a volunteer project that blends your passions and skill set.

Your mind might be unable to focus because it’s cluttered with other thoughts. If you generally find enjoyment in your job, consider other ways to free up mental space for better focus. One of the most accessible options is to start a journal or writing habit. You can use prompts or simply let yourself write whatever comes to mind.

Schedule dedicated writing time first thing in the morning or in the evenings before bed. You may find that you need to start with shorter periods and build up your writing muscles.

Whether you work from home or not, your office may be last on your list of priorities when it comes to decorating. But if your space is drab and doesn’t inspire creative thinking, it’ll be more challenging to push through your routine tasks.

Updating your office space doesn’t have to cost a small fortune either. It might be as simple as rearranging your furniture to utilize natural lighting better. Add a new throw rug, a few plants, and maybe a piece of artwork or two to create a more inviting workspace.

Start with a clear understanding of how much you can change. If you’re renting, for example, are you allowed to paint and hang pictures? Once you understand your options, spend a bit of time browsing Pinterest or online decorating sites to get inspiration. Set a budget and make a plan. A few pops of color and a more personalized workspace might be all it takes to kick boredom to the curb.

Having a strong social network is one of the key indicators of happiness (and overall success). It’s easy to feel detached and despise your job when your co-workers are strangers. Turn that around by making an active effort to get to know them. If you fall into the trap of avoiding people in the hall, taking lunch breaks alone or just simply disengaging from your workplace, you may wind up exacerbating your career unhappiness in the short and long term.

We’re all busy. Most of the time we barely have time to “socialize” at work. Perhaps you relocate to a new position where you don’t know anyone. You might attend orientation with a co-worker and you hit it off, but they are now working in a different department and you rarely bump into that person. You’ll likely need to make an effort to call them and schedule a time to connect, perhaps during lunch time.

Don’t become a stranger in your own work setting. You might look back and realize you’ve been there for months and still barely know anyone. Break the silence from the beginning and learn about your co-workers. Kick off a casual conversation or just give them a genuine greeting the next time you pass each other. I’m sure that some of them are the most amazing people you could know.

Have you lost the ability to find passion in your job? What does that even mean, being passionate about your work? Are you supposed to feel unbridled excitement for every task?

Let’s be honest, that’s unrealistic. No matter how much you embrace a role, there will always be tasks that you find more tedious than others. Instead of unbridled delight, Forbes magazine describes passion in the workplace as a “positive and driving energy,” which is one of the most straightforward definitions of a complicated subject.

When you’re passionate about work, you don’t dread Mondays. People will enjoy being around you because your enthusiasm is often contagious. Your mission aligns with the company, and you feel valued. So, what do you do when your passion is ebbing? The answer is—it depends.

Take some time to assess why you’ve fallen out of love with your job. Were you passionate about work before? Do the company values and mission match yours? Is it possible that you need a new challenge? If so, then it might be time to reenergize your current role.

Discover and Develop Your Gifts and Talents

At some point in life it is highly likely that you’ll be asked by someone (you might even be the one asking yourself), what you’re good at. This is a relatively common question, but for some, it can cause distress. If you do not have an immediate answer to such a question – and it’s understandable that you might not, you may well come to the conclusion that you are not good at anything. Unfortunately, this way of thinking is harmful and unproductive.

Many coaching experts and psychologists believe that it takes a minimum of 10,000 hours of practice to master a skill. That's right. 10,000 hours! The theoretical “gift" of being naturally good at something is merely a myth, because what really develops talent is practice. Now, when was the last time you put ten thousand hours of practice into mastering a new skill? The answer may be a clue to the answer you are looking for.

Reflecting on your skills, talents, competencies, and personal characteristics is a great place to start in helping you to discover yourself and improve them. Begin with self-belief, promoting your strengths and neutralising your weaknesses. Do this on your resume, at work, in your social life and with your short-term goals. With time, depending on your goals, look at the weaknesses holding you back and the subsequent skills you need to develop.

Talent is the abilities that we are born with, which lead to a satisfactory performance both in learning and in the execution of skills. For example, the talent to negotiate, invent or communicate. There is a difference between possessing a skill and having the talent to perform that skill. A person with talent for a profession can learn to execute that profession far more easily. Talent can also be associated with vocation.

Competence is the total sum of talent with a skill. This association leads to superior results than those obtained by people who have only the talent or skill separately. For example, a Formula One racer is a person who adds the ability to drive cars with the natural talent to compete. It implies that the more skill and talent together, the greater the chances of success.

This depends on the set of values, beliefs, paradigms, physical and psychogenic characteristics, and the influence of the external environment. This can be transformed by adding new experiences and is dependant on each person's way of life. An example here would be diet and fitness level in sport.

Why do you do what you do? I’ve listened to countless coaches, lectures and motivational speakers explaining this concept, and each give it their own meaning. But what it comes down to is simply knowing your Purpose. Why do you sing? Why do you act? Why do you write? Why do you make people laugh? Taking time to answer this question for yourself and giving it the right formulation, will lay solid ground for you to build on in your pursue of growth and improvement. The tricky part is that some of us look at external factors to answer this question for ourselves, while it should be all about discovering and celebrating your personal identity. What you need to look for is your intrinsic motivation. When you have clearly defined your WHY for yourself, it will help you focus on what’s most important. It will boost your determination and give you the kind of resilience you need to continue when you experience setbacks or obstacles. Because trust me; the obstacles are right there waiting for you to make your move and you’ll need your purpose to help you face them. So be sure of your WHY.

Figure out what you need to learn in order to take your natural talent to the next level. What are the techniques required that will enable you to improve your performance? Do some research about your craft. Are there other variations or forms? What are the studies that have been done regarding your discipline? Let’s say you’re a talented dancer. Find out the basics. What are the genres? Evaluate your skills. What category do you qualify for? What is your dance style called? What other forms would you like to learn? This is how you create common ground for being able to collaborate with others, and it’s also a way to protect your abilities. I know very talented singers with the most beautiful voices who end up with a sore throat or lose their voice after every performance, because they haven’t invested time in learning the ‘right way’ to sing. So taking time to know and master techniques is of utmost importance. Also keep in mind that this is not a one-time thing. The more you learn, the more you’ll find room for improvement, but only when you know the possibilities will you reach for more. So find out what you should be able to do.

You’re probably familiar with the saying ‘Hard work beats talent’. I could say that the phrase is often used by untalented people who try to compensate for their lack of what naturally comes to those they admire, but that could be perceived as me throwing shade. And I’m not here to throw shade in any way, shape, or form. I actually agree with the statement.

Hard work will beat talent every time. Especially if that talent is not developed to its full potential, and equipped with the right techniques that can take an individual from amateur to professional. That is, if the individual in question would like to elevate their raw talent and cultivate their craft to the next level. I have a lot of respect for those autodidactic people who have managed to successfully amplify their natural gifts without any guidance, but I also think we can agree that autodidacticism is a gift by itself. For most common folks like myself, having pure and raw talent is not enough. You have to invest in your growth, and seek to learn from those who have walked a similar path to the one you pursue. Any talent you possess, has been around for centuries before you got here and previous generations have had the time to study it and figure out techniques to do it effectively. There is a ‘right way’ to do things, though some may disagree. Fact is: there really is nothing new under the sun. So if you’re a talented person, no matter what your talents are, if you feel there is something more to what you can already do, it’s probably because there is.

Students’ Time Management Strategies

One of the most valuable things to any student is time.

The struggle to find a balance between getting good grades, joining extra-curricular activities, staying active, holding a part-time job, having a social life, and still having time left over to enjoy personal pleasures such as social media or Netflix can seem impossible.

We all wish we could fit in just one more thing, just one more person. Sadly, we’re usually unable to do so, either due to lack of time or simply mismanaging our schedules.

That’s why time management is extremely important for students — not only will you be successful and happy in the pursuit of your goals, but you’ll keep your sanity too!

Effective time management is all about achieving the right balance between your homework, university/college life, and your free time. As a student, organizing your days will eliminate stress and ensure that you are productive. The general time management tips for students, such as sleeping well, scheduling, and prioritizing, are some important tips that can help students in the long run. A more strategic approach is required to optimize the time a student has in a day.

Time management for students (and everyone else) is about making your day purposeful. It is about taking control of the time you have and optimizing it for focus, productivity, and above all, balance. Before we list out the time management tips for students, it is crucial for students to understand why time management is important.

All of us should make the most of the limited amount of time we have in a day. It is very easy to get wrapped up in a fury of various activities and accomplish less. Managing time effectively enables students to become more confident, and organized, and learn more efficiently. Effective time management skills are particularly essential for high school students, as they have to deal with more subjects, tests, assignments, and extracurriculars. Time management techniques can help students be on track and cope with the stress of added responsibilities.

Seminars, classes, and workshops may take up a chunk of your day, but how one schedules their own time makes all the difference. It is essential to master your schedule.

A daily schedule template helps you manage and control your time each day. It will enable you to stay organized and focus on what matters most and even help you overcome procrastination. The method that most successful people from Elon Musk to Bill Gates use is “time blocking”. Time blocking is creating a template for how you intend to spend every minute of your day. Students should therefore follow this method to manage their time more fruitfully.

Between social media, cell phones, and friends, there are so many activities that can distract students from their school work. When it is time to get down to doing school work, students need to turn off their cell phones and sign out of social media accounts. Any amount of time that is devoted to school work must be television and cell phone free!

It may be tempting for students to feel that they can multitask when their schedule is jam-packed. But the more one tries to do it at once, the longer each thing takes. Instead, studies have found that deeply focusing on one task at a time can be around 500% more productive.

Take more breaks to manage your productivity over time. But when exactly is the right time to take a break? Sleep researcher Nathaniel Kleitman states, “our minds naturally crave breaks after every 90 minutes of intense work. Even if you do not have a timer going, your body will let you know that you need a break by turning sleepy, fidgeting, hungry, or losing focus”. When you begin to feel this way, you know it is time to take a break.

Remote learning gives you the flexibility to choose where and when you study. This flexibility can be a great time-saving advantage, reducing commute times and social interruptions, but staying focused and productive at home can also be a challenge.

To improve your time management skills when learning remotely, make sure that you create an encouraging study environment at home. This means finding a quiet place where you can focus without any distractions.

Many universities offer resources to help students save time and learn at their own pace, such as online lectures, tutorials, and discussion forums. Utilise these tools which often provide step-by-step instructions on how to complete tasks, which can save you from having to figure things out on your own.

Students must master how to effectively manage their time, especially in today’s fast world.

However, this isn’t always the case, as most students procrastinate and use most of their time doing other tasks and distracting activities.

This eventually leads to them scrambling when their school work deadline is due.

The good news is that time management can be learned just like any other skill.

To successfully manage your time as a student, you need to balance your school work, school life, personal life, and free time. Besides, time management and organization go hand in hand, as you have to organize your day to manage your time effectively.

Ways to Improve Your Time Management Skills

In school, work, and daily life, we may encounter people who seem to have it all together. They are productive, stress-free, high achievers. But chances are, they were not born that way. Managing, organizing, and distributing time are skills that we can learn. Doing so can help you control your time and promote overall satisfaction.

Time management is planning how to efficiently use and deliberately control the time you spend to maximize productivity. In short, get more done in less time. Other upsides include:

• Better work quality
• Less stress
• More time to work on strategic or creative projects
• Less procrastination
• More self-confidence

Time management is the process of consciously planning and controlling time spent on specific tasks to increase how efficient you are. You may be familiar with setting deadlines, writing to-do lists, and giving yourself small rewards for accomplishing certain activities.

Motivating ourselves is a core part of time management—and it takes a bit of effort not only to motivate yourself but to cultivate good habits to work and live more efficiently.

To develop good routines and habits, you can start by knowing what strategies and best practices are out there. You can experiment with them in your own life to see what works for you.

For most of us, multitasking is generally less efficient than focusing on one task at a time. In fact, one study found that only 2.5 percent of people are able to multitask effectively. Doing too many things at once can impact your cognitive ability, making you feel unproductive or dissatisfied with your progress. Arranging your time so that you complete one task before starting another can boost your confidence.

Further, it may be helpful to compartmentalize tasks. If you are a writer, for example, you might dedicate Monday to research, Tuesday through Thursday to writing, and Friday to editing.

Consider your lifestyle, whether you are a student or a working professional (or both), whether you have a family or aspire to become a digital nomad (or both!). Think of your long- and short-term goals for your career and personal development. Make sure the goals are SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely. What will it take to achieve them? How can you manage your time to maximize your productivity?

Once you have established your goals, prioritize them in order of importance. It may be helpful to use Post-its or pen and paper to visualize them.

Parkinson’s law states that, “Work expands to fill the time allotted to complete it.”

If you have a full day to complete two tasks that should take only three hours, you’ll probably still spend the whole day on those two tasks. If you give yourself a smaller window, chances are you’ll still meet the earlier deadline.

Anything that distracts you – emails, texts, social media – can make you lose focus and become less productive. Eliminate these distractions and take control of your time so you can get more work done.

Stress can affect our productivity. We often feel stressed when we take on more work than we can accomplish. It’s crucial to identify what works for you when it comes to managing stress response. Find effective ways to deal with stress, including taking a short break, exercising, meditating, practicing a hobby, calling up a friend, or listening to music.

We’ve all experienced the woes of time management at work. You wake up hopeful and optimistic—not only will you meet all your deadlines, but you’ll hit the gym and make a healthy home-cooked meal, too.

Then life happens. You leave late, you hit traffic, and you arrive at your desk already frustrated with the world. Sitting down to finally knock out that project you’ve been procrastinating for weeks, you realize you’ve got back-to-back meetings until noon—and yes, you’re already late for the first one. You finally walk out of the last meeting, and you start wading through emails when you get pulled into a meeting with the VP. He has a last-minute request for you. “It should only take an hour,” he says. Try three.

The good news is that there are ways to reclaim those seemingly elusive lost hours of the day. It’s all about personal time management—manage your time instead of letting it manage you.

Spotlight: Build Character Each And Every Day

Have you ever tried something that you really did not want to do (such as speaking in public, skydiving, or trying out a new food) because someone described the experience as “character-building”? Looking back, perhaps these experiences did indeed contribute to the person you are today. The word “character” derives from the Greek which means “I engrave”. Character is something that is “etched into” us by the experiences that we have as we go through life. Maybe, instead of making new years’ resolutions, we should do things to build our character each day.

Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing. - ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

 

Character. We know it when we see it. Maybe more importantly, we know it when it is missing.

Headlines fill us in with the individuals lacking character. The headlines feature more than the common criminals. Politicians and business leaders make the front page with many counts of bad character. Bad character knows no boundaries.

The good news is good character knows no boundaries, too. Good character is exemplified every day and too often goes unnoticed. Media attention gets attracted to the obvious places too often.

But character is more than visual. Character is engraved within us. The engraving isn’t always planned and clean. The word “character” comes from the Greek kharakter that means “engraved mark.” The character trace goes back to another definition of “to scrape or scratch.” For me, the combination of engrave, scrape, and scratch fit well with what character really means. Here are my thoughts on why:

• Engrave – An active art of determining what builds our character – honesty, courage, and the like.
• Scrape – Learning from the challenges that come our way (or those we create) and then proving what we learned by doing much better than before.
• Scratch – The act of working our way back when we fall down and gaining strength of integrity from what we experience.

Character is all the good traits we think it is. However, character is much more. Character is a verb, demonstrated in what we do, how we do it, and why we do it. Character is also how we recover.

Character builds over time. Character is additive. We cannot waste our youth pursuing things that neuter or subtract from our character. Equally true, we cannot spend our older years tearing down the character we built. In both cases, we are wasting time and, most importantly, damaging relationships. Legacy and trust carry a high lifetime value.

Each choice and action we take adds or detracts from our character. Any given day, we should have more positive character choices and actions than negative ones. Getting character right is not a balance exercise. Not even close. We should build character through our good choices and actions as often as we can. We are imperfect. How we respond in our imperfect choices and actions can add to or subtract from our character. This is the choice of our character.

No matter our age, we should never dig a big hole in our character in which we spend a lifetime trying to recover. The younger we are, the longer the lifetime of recovering. And this is why trying to make the best choices possible and take the most appropriate actions as often as possible early in our lives can make a very big difference in the quality of our overall life.

Work hard to build, create, survive, and excel (in purpose).

Laziness achieves nothing. Work for work’s sake creates little. Whatever our responsibilities, we need to do the work. Whatever our purpose, we need to do our important work. Getting our tempo right will take time. Through doing the work, our time will rise up, and our character will show its strength in purpose. Keep focused on your purpose horizon and do the work.

Always get up, no matter what, to create something better than the day before.

We will get knocked down and stepped on. Two things to remember. First, there is an old political adage that says “what goes around, comes around.” If someone is stepping on us, holding us back, or ignoring us, nature has a way of dealing with this, so focus on what you can do and do so with a strong sense of character. Second, keep getting up and creating what you are meant to do. After all, this is the only way your purpose will take root and begin to bloom.

No task is too small and no person is too ordinary or extraordinary to extend a hand and help.

Never think or do things that make others feel small. Always pitch in no matter the task. Our hands are meant to be extended in a helpful way; it is why we have arms and elbows! We are designed to do the work, hug each other, and extend a helpful hand.

Do you know anyone who has a strong character and isn’t easily shaken when things start to go wrong?

Developing strong character helps you stay true to yourself in any circumstance and makes sure that you can lay your head down at night with a clear conscience. And when you develop a strong character, you will start to feel more like yourself than you ever have before because you know exactly who you are and what you stand for.

How to Express Yourself Better

Meeting new people can be intimidating. You may be concerned about making a good first impression, or you may feel overwhelmed by the thought of excessive small talk.

While it can be normal to feel shy on occasion, the feeling can sometimes impair your ability to function normally in social situations. If you are bothered by your shyness, there are steps you can take to overcome it. After all—you deserve to feel comfortable, happy and healthy in each of your relationships.

Understanding the root of your shyness can be one of the first steps to tackling it. You may ask yourself: Do you have problems with your self-image? Is your inner voice typically negative? While some people are able to self-evaluate and do this diagnostic step alone, others might need the assistance of a professional. Either experience can be equally valid.

Another step that may help you overcome your shyness is to accept that being shy may just be part of who you are. There’s generally nothing wrong with being shy, and it can be a common trait to encounter in one’s social sphere.

While you may not completely overcome your shyness, you can find ways to alleviate it in many situations. An online therapist can work with you to identify supportive strategies that suit your needs.

Even little steps in your progress can be beneficial. You could introduce yourself to one new person a day, call a friend you haven't spoken with for years or make small talk with the cashier at the local supermarket.

It may also help to play the part of an actor and pretend to be someone else. You might think of an outgoing individual and then act in the ways you imagine they would. Perhaps they walk into a room and greet everyone warmly. Maybe they curiously ask other people questions about themselves or jump into a conversation to tell a joke or idea.

These actions may feel daunting at first, but over time, you may get used to them— and by default become more comfortable and confident in your interactions with others. You may realize that an outgoing person is no longer a role to play, but rather a new aspect of who you are.

Have you ever wanted to take up knitting or join a sports team? Are you interested in trying your hand at painting? If so, you might choose to take a class or join a club based on something that interests you. A hobby itself can open up an easy door for communication. Instead of racking your brain about what to say in conversation, you can discuss the sport you're playing or the project you're working on with those who might have the same interests.

When you're talking to someone, you may try to speak with confidence. This can look different for everyone, and can include elements like your posture, your eye contact and your enunciation. The more you practice speaking with confidence, the easier it might become. Plus, acting like you're already confident can help trick your brain into believing you feel more confident.

Sometimes you may feel as if you need to get your thoughts out on paper. You can write down what makes you happy, what your goals are, and what you believe in. Then, you can consider taking it a step further— writing down why those things make you happy, why you have those goals, and why you believe in those things. The more you understand yourself, the easier it might be to know how to express yourself to others.

To express yourself effectively, it’s essential to start by listening actively. Active listening involves giving your full attention to the speaker, asking clarifying questions, and demonstrating empathy. When you actively listen, you gain a better understanding of the conversation, which, in turn, makes your responses more informed and relevant.

A rich vocabulary is a powerful tool for self-expression. The more words you have at your disposal, the more precisely you can convey your thoughts and emotions. Reading, exploring new words, and engaging in conversations with diverse individuals are excellent ways to expand your vocabulary.

Storytelling is an effective way to communicate your thoughts and experiences. Weaving a narrative around your message makes it more engaging and relatable to your audience. Practice the art of storytelling to make your expressions more compelling.

If you struggle with public speaking or expressing yourself confidently in front of a group, consider taking public speaking classes. These courses provide practical techniques and strategies to overcome anxiety and improve your communication skills.

​In a world where communication is key, the ability to express oneself is a fundamental skill. Whether it’s in personal relationships, professional settings, or self-reflection, effective self-expression can be a powerful tool for personal growth and self-improvement. When you can articulate your thoughts, feelings, and ideas clearly and confidently, you open doors to better understanding, improved relationships, and enhanced self-awareness.

Why Low Self-Esteem Is Ruining Your Life

Self-esteem is your opinion of yourself. People with healthy self-esteem like themselves and value their achievements. While everyone lacks confidence occasionally, people with low self-esteem feel unhappy or unsatisfied with themselves most of the time. This can be remedied but it takes attention and daily practise to boost self-esteem.

See your doctor for information, advice and referral if you’re having trouble improving your self-esteem or if low self-esteem is causing problems such as depression.

Low self-esteem often begins in childhood. Our teachers, friends, siblings, parents, and even the media send us positive and negative messages about ourselves.

For some reason, the message that you are not good enough is the one that stays with you.

Perhaps you found it difficult to live up to other people's expectations of you, or to your own expectations.

Stress and difficult life events, such as serious illness or a bereavement, can have a negative effect on self-esteem.

Personality can also play a part. Some people are just more prone to negative thinking, while others set impossibly high standards for themselves.

If you have low self-esteem or confidence, you may hide yourself away from social situations, stop trying new things, and avoid things you find challenging.

In the short term, avoiding challenging and difficult situations might make you feel safe.

In the longer term, this can backfire because it reinforces your underlying doubts and fears. It teaches you the unhelpful rule that the only way to cope is by avoiding things.

Living with low self-esteem can harm your mental health and lead to problems such as depression and anxiety.

You may also develop unhelpful habits, such as smoking and drinking too much, as a way of coping. 

 

“You are limitless.”

Accept.

Self acceptance is the beginning of self esteem. If you feel like you may have low self esteem the first thing you must do is accept where you are. This is going to be uncomfortable. Do it anyway.

Breathe into the truth that there is a part of your soul that needs to heal. Ask your higher self to guide you in letting go of the sadness. Allow yourself to see all the ways that your low self esteem has affected you.

Be brave. Look around, see your life, and notice what you have created from this place. Hard as it may be, it is crucial for you to do this so you can move forward.

Decide.

Your life is made up of your decisions. Decide right now that you do not live in low self esteem any more. Affirm: I am powerful beyond measure. I only accept what is in alignment with my soul’s highest good.

Practice.

Improving your self esteem is a practice, like going to the gym, meditating or anything else that requires discipline. Give yourself the space to grow and expand on what you are learning. Make mistakes but keep trying.

Your efforts to grow your self esteem will be rewarded in every aspect of your life.

Before long you will find a new sense of power you never knew existed. You will start to attract people and experiences into your life that match your divine nature, instead of attracting those that match your old beliefs of deserving very little.

Upgrading your self esteem is one of life’s great challenges, but truly holds with it one of the greatest treasures: True and unbridled self love.

The Value in Finding and Using Your Strengths

'What are your strengths?'.

I'm sure you've heard this question over and over again. It's an important question to answer when it comes to personal development and career success. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses can help you make positive changes in your life, allowing you to identify areas for improvement and capitalise on the skills that come naturally to you.

Identifying our strengths and weaknesses is not always easy; however, there are a few methods that can help you gain insight into your unique qualities.

Personal strengths are skills or personality traits that benefit an individual throughout their life, whether it be in private relationships or formal settings like work.

All people have strengths, but they often go unused. When this occurs, you miss out on an opportunity to succeed. Strengths allow individuals to be more efficient, productive, empathetic, artistic, or so on.

They bring out the best qualities in us. So, they allow us to achieve more and become more satisfied. If you choose not to use your strengths, your career and personal life suffer in a multitude of ways.

If you have a professional strength like communication and it is not utilized, your team can become confused and chaotic. Remember that strengths reach beyond the workplace. At home, your relationship may suffer.

Emotional stability is crucial to maintain a healthy relationship with a romantic partner, and the dissatisfaction you feel from understanding your unfulfilled potential could cause emotional issues.

Without putting the emphasis on strengths, weakness can also overcome you. Take public speaking: you are told to present a project to a group.

However, you did not work to your full potential since your skills were not utilized correctly. So, fearing embarrassment, you become nervous and panic.

Here, your weakness or lack of emotional control is shown. This would not have occurred if you used all of your strengths during the project.

Reflecting on past experiences can help you identify the areas where you excel and those that could use improvement. Think about school, work, hobbies, and other activities where you've seen success or encountered challenges.

Make note of your accomplishments as well as any setbacks, then ask yourself what strengths allowed you to succeed in those situations and what weaknesses hindered you.

Speaking to others, especially individuals you love and trust, can be truly helpful when trying to see your own personal strength.

Ask them about major moments in your life and analyze which strengths help you overcome challenges as a group. Write down what they say to not forget any major points.

Keep in mind that they will likely tell you about your external strengths which are more visible to them.

Your internal strengths, which help you overcome internal/personal issues, can be better identified by you.

It sounds counterintuitive: how does searching for weaknesses help me find about about strengths?

By understanding weaknesses, you can find ways that you overcome them with certain tactics.

Ask yourself which personality traits help you overcome your weaknesses.

During your day, pay attention to when you are most productive. When using your strengths, you will feel like time is passing quickly.

This is because we generally enjoy using our strengths. Consider creating a list of times where your productivity soars, and relate the activities done during that time to your key strengths.

People you surround yourself with influence your personality factors, attitude, outlook in life, and strengths.

They should bring out the best in you and have a positive attitude toward life. Choose to surround yourself with those who have different kinds of strengths, but who are all supportive.

They should truly root for you when you succeed and help you when you are feeling down.

How aware of your strengths are you? When’s the last time you took a moment to reflect on your unique skills and abilities, and how they can help you achieve your goals? Research shows that people who know their strengths and utilize them are happier, more productive, and more successful in reaching their objectives.

These are our favourite two simple, effective ways to help you recognise and use your strengths, especially with your mentoring partner. Whilst there are more complex applications of finding and utilising strengths, those methods are best left to coaching or psychological professionals.

By taking time to explore and utilize your unique skills, you can unlock greater happiness, productivity, and success in your personal and professional life. So, what are you waiting for? Start exploring your strengths today.

It’s important to remember that everyone has different strengths, and what works for one person may not work for another. It’s also important to be open to discovering new strengths and developing existing ones. By regularly reflecting on your strengths and how you can use them, you can continue to grow and improve in all areas of your life.

How to Build a Journaling Habit that Lasts

Even though keeping a journal is a proven way to foster deeper self-reflection and introspection, starting a new journaling habit can be difficult. Whether you’re looking to document your daily thoughts and experiences, or set and track goals, a regular journaling habit can have a profound impact on your mental and emotional well-being.

Whether you’re a seasoned writer or a complete novice to journaling, it can be hard to know where to begin. The good news is that building a journal habit doesn’t have to be complicated, although it does take some time and effort. With a few simple tips and tricks, you can make journaling a regular part of your daily routine and start reaping the benefits of the self-discovery and self-awareness that journaling provides.

A journaling habit is the practice of regularly writing down thoughts, feelings, and observations in a journal. Journaling can be considered a self-reflection practice that allows you to process your emotions and thoughts, reflect on your experiences, and gain insight into yourself and your life.

Journaling can be done in different forms, such as free-form writing, using journal prompts or questions, or using a specific journaling method like gratitude journaling or bullet journaling.

A journaling habit may mean writing a new journal entry every day or a few times a week. Some people journal for a few minutes a day, while others write for longer periods of time. The key is to make journaling a regular part of your daily or weekly routine by setting aside time for journaling on a regular basis.

So, what do you write? There are different approaches to writing, each of which can allow you to process your thoughts.

• Free writing: Open your journal and begin to write down whatever is on your mind. It can be something that happened, how you are feeling or any thought on your mind.
• Lists: This can be a list of goals, things you enjoy, budgets, affirmations. Writing lists can allow you to organize thoughts.
• Art journal: If you are an artistic person, you may find that drawing or painting will allow you to get in touch with your creativity and sense of expression. You could also draw art and write in the same journal.
• Bullet journaling: If you feel that you have a lot of different unrelated thoughts, you could write them out in bullet points. These can be ideas, errands, reminders and other thoughts that pop into your head and you do not want to forget.
• Reflection journal: If you had an experience that you keep thinking about, writing about it may help you process it and understand how you feel about it.
• Gratitude journal: Write down things you are grateful for.
• Worst-case scenario journaling: Write down what worries you and how that could lead to a worst-case scenario. Although this may look like a pessimistic approach, it may help you realize your fears and anxieties are irrational.

Working to be mindful of our thoughts and worries allows us to have more control over what thoughts we choose to pay mind to. While we can’t shut our brains off, we can learn to quiet the thoughts that aren’t helpful to us.

Through journaling, we are able to arrive at solutions that benefit our mental health and help us cope with the various problems we face in our day to day lives. Journaling invites a chance to organize the many thoughts that bounce around our minds, helping us to find solutions that may not have been previously evident.

Journaling also helps us practice and identify the coping skills that work best for us. By keeping track of the trials you face, how you chose to cope with them, and whether or not that skill benefitted you, you can quickly identify methods of coping that are (or aren’t) conducive to bettering your mental health. For example, if reminding yourself that practicing deep breathing worked to calm your anxiety earlier in the day, journaling about that experience and how it specifically helped may reinforce that practice for future use. Journaling allows you to gather research into your own mental health, helping you learn the best ways to calm yourself for different situations.

For many, journaling can be painful and boring. But it doesn’t have to be. You can look forward to your journaling practice and even complete it in as little as 15 minutes a day by incorporating these tips. When our days are filled with one thing after another clamoring for our attention, journaling helps us slow down and reconnect with ourselves. The harvest we reap is an awareness of ourselves and our circumstances, clarity of thought, and gratitude for life.

Which tip do you need to implement today to cultivate a journaling habit?

Find More Things to be Thankful For

Gratitude isn’t just the feeling people get after something good happens to them. It’s a way of thinking that takes practice and hard work to make it part of their everyday behavior. It’s often easy to forget many of the little things we have to be grateful for in our lives, but it’s important not to take anything for granted.

“We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.” ~Cynthia Ozick

How often do you pause to appreciate what you have in life?

When I was young, I took things for granted. I believe many other kids did so, as well. After all, we were young and we didn’t know what life could be like on the other side.

One thing we took for granted was education. In my country, it’s compulsory for all kids to go to school, so it was a given. We never thought about how lucky we were to be educated.

We also took our teachers for granted. We never thought about how lucky we were to have teachers who cared for our growth so much, and poured their heart and soul into their lessons.

Then slowly as I grew up, I began to appreciate things around me more. As I saw more and more of the world out there, I realized all the things I’d been given are not rights, but privileges.

I realized that being literate is a not a right, but a gift. I realized there is a lot of war and violence in the world, and I’m lucky to live in a country where it’s safe and peaceful. I realized there are people out there who don’t have their five senses, and to have mine is a gift.

I realized the world is so beautiful, and we’re lucky to live in such an amazing world.

Sometimes it’s easy to feel bad because you’re going through a tough time in life. However, remember that no matter how bad your situation may seem, there are tens of thousands of things to be grateful for in life.

One of the prime reasons behind people’s constant discontent with life is not appreciating what you already possess. There are millions of things to be thankful for, and you will find them once to dig a little deeper into your life.

Millions are still deprived of necessities for survival. These people have to fight a constant battle each day to meet both ends, and even then, they find deep things to be thankful for.

The sad fact is that even though people struggling daily are right in front of us, we become oblivious towards them. Why? Because somewhere deep down, we don’t want to relate or compare to them. The truth is that such people help us identify some of the most unique things to be thankful for.

Being thankful for all those things that we don’t have to fight for is extremely important so that you learn to treasure what you have. The path to happiness and well-being would only begin from gratitude.

Good health doesn’t necessarily mean the absence of any ailment.

Even when you have certain health issues, you should remember that things could worsen. If you don’t believe it, then make a quick visit to the nearest hospital’s ICU unit, and you will realize how blessed you are. Be thankful that your predicament is nothing compared to them.

If you have something in your bank account, you are richer than many others burdened with debt and cash crisis.

Even when you have less buck than others, always remember that some people struggle to earn what you do. Be thankful that you have been blessed more than numerous others.

In your life, if you managed to build a strong foundation of friendship with a few, then you are blessed.

One of the great things you can be grateful for today is that you have friends who will stand by you in difficult times.

People often complain about their parents, but they don’t realize that fact at least they have them.

No family is perfect, and the effort that one makes to keep each other happy counts. If you cannot find it in your heart, be thankful that your parents gave you life.

You might be wondering what’s so good about weekends since everyone gets one? We would say you haven’t seen the world with open eyes yet!

Check out the lives of people living in poverty. They don’t get proper rest during the weekdays since they have to work double shifts or overtime to feed their loved ones.

Free weekend might seem as a minor advantage, but it’s definitely one of the things to be grateful for.

Having shelter over the head is a luxury.

It does not matter whether the house is small, big, rented, or owned. The fact that you have a place to reside and rest is one of the biggest things to be grateful for in life.

Technology has blessed us with various things, and one such thing that makes our lives easier and more comfortable is cars.

Imagine the amount of time it would take to get work done without cars?

You get to connect with your loved ones using cell phones anywhere and anytime.

Rewind 100 years, and people were not blessed with such a luxury. One can easily find in their heart to be thankful for the cell phones that make life so much better.

But, be careful, one can easily start over using it, and forget the real life communication and friends.

About 187 million people across globe were unemployed in 2019 and the number is expected to rise to about 205 million in 2024.

But you have a place to work and provide for your family through employment. What if it was not available? You will no more be able to have a routine that helps you feed your loved ones. Be grateful that you have employment.

In times when we have nothing, it can be hard to find something to be thankful for. I mean, if you’ve lost your loved ones, your job, your home, what’s there to be thankful for?

Apparently, there are a lot of things to be grateful for, even when the universe seems to conspire against us. We just need to look past our troubles and see the glass as half full rather than half-empty.

That’s easier said than done, you may say. Yes, finding something positive out of all this chaos is not easy. But if we make gratitude a habit, then it’s definitely possible.

Build Your Physical Well-Being

If you’ve been feeling tired and sluggish and gained unwanted kilograms, it might be time to take control of your health.

Physical activity is the secret sauce to maintaining and improving your overall health.

Engaging in regular exercise can work wonders, from burning calories to enhancing your mood, and boosting brain function.

It contributes to improved heart health, better sleep, increased energy levels, and decreased risk for chronic diseases.

The beauty of exercise is that it doesn’t need to be overly complex or intense.

Start with simple activities.

Aim for 15 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a few times a week.

Start with something simple like walking.

As you build stamina, gradually incorporate more rigorous activities such as weight lifting, high-intensity interval training, or sports.

Dabble in different fitness activities – from yoga classes to hiking trails – to discover what you enjoy.

The key is to make exercise enjoyable, turning it into a regular habit rather than a chore. Consistency is vital in reaping the benefits of physical activity.

Feeding your body with the right nutrients is essential for good health.

A balanced diet ensures that your body gets a variety of nutrients it needs to function optimally.

Eating a range of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats can reduce your risk of chronic diseases, improve longevity, and enhance your mood and energy levels.

Begin with educating yourself about different food groups and their nutritional value.

Aim to balance your meals by including portions from each food group.

Contrary to popular belief, a balanced diet doesn’t mean completely eliminating ‘bad’ foods.

It’s about practicing moderation. Indulge in your favourite treats occasionally, but make sure that most of your dietary choices are nutrient-dense.

Meal planning and preparation can go a long way in maintaining a balanced diet.

It allows you to control ingredients, portion sizes, and ensures you always have a healthy meal on hand.

Adequate, quality sleep is a cornerstone of health that’s as important as nutritious food and regular exercise.

Good sleep enhances mood, boosts the immune system, sharpens brain function, and can even help control weight.

Chronic lack of sleep can lead to serious health conditions like heart disease, obesity, and diabetes, and negatively impact mental health.

Prioritise sleep by setting a regular sleep schedule, aiming for 7-9 hours each night, and try to stick to it, even on weekends.

Ensure your sleeping environment is conducive to good sleep: dark, quiet, and cool.

Establish relaxing bedtime routines like reading a book, listening to calming music, or taking a warm bath.

Limit exposure to screens before bedtime as the blue light emitted can interfere with your sleep cycle.

If you struggle with sleep, consider seeking professional advice.

Regular health check-ups are key to preventing diseases and catching potential issues early.

They can provide a comprehensive overview of your current health status and help you make informed decisions.

Schedule regular visits with your primary care physician.

This should include standard blood tests, blood pressure monitoring, and other preventative screenings as recommended based on your age, sex, and family history.

Proactive engagement with your health is far better than reactive healthcare.

Complete wellbeing is about improving your physical health as much as it is your mental health. From movement to mindfulness.

The quest for a healthier body isn’t just about being faster or stronger. Our physical health affects how we feel, think, and react. Imagine waking up in the morning feeling energized and with the mental clarity to tackle whatever the day throws at you. Sounds pretty good, right? Well it all starts with taking care of our bodies.