10 Things You Can Do To Increase Your Mental Power

BY MICHAEL LIGUORI
Source: http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/10-things-you-can-increase-your-mental-power.html

So you want to be mentally tough like the Spartan Warriors from the movie 300?

Yes, the legend of the Spartan Warriors is a prime example of being persevering despite the obstacles. Having their mental strength is a trait few have obtained through years of practice and pushing through boundaries.

Chances are, you won’t be a Spartan Warrior anytime soon. But if you want to think and increase your mental power like one, here are 10 things you can do to get started.

1. Have A Positive Mindset

When the going gets tough, the tough get going (think 80′s star Billy Ocean).

Difficult times are a chance to find out what we are truly made of. To start developing strong mental power, write down your goals and what you set to accomplish. Focus on obtaining these goals and believe they can be achieved. Having a positive mindset will give you the confidence needed to overcome any challenges you may face and get what you want in life. (Read:12 Toxic Thoughts You Need To Drop For A Better Life...)

2. Focus on What You Can Do, Not What Others Can Do.

There will be people in life who will do whatever they can to hold you back. They are envious of you and want what you have. If you spend your time on what they say or do, it takes away your focus on achieving your goals. That’s what they want. Ignore their opinions and stay on track by being present. Observe what is happening right now. The past is the past and the future is unknown. By staying present, you can focus on yourself and whats important now. (Read:  10 Things You Need To Drop To Stay Motivated)

3. Develop Short Term Memory Loss

So there is no mind eraser tool from Men In Black that can magically erase every defeat we have suffered.

Practicing short term memory loss though is beneficial to better mental power. In football, a great defensive player has to develop a case of “amnesia.” Players often get beat by their opponents and in order to play at a high level, they must shake off defeat and move on to the next play. This takes practice but can be a huge advantage for you. When you get beat, forget about it. Pick yourself up, dust off and move on to the next play. There is always another play.

4. Sit in Silence

In today’s world, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with work and life. When feeling overwhelmed, a great sign of strong mental power is the ability to tune out the noise and sit in silence. It will help you view things differently with less emotion and ego. Create a space where you can sit in silence for 5 minutes a day. Turn off the electronics, sit comfortably, and focus on your breathing. You will find yourself feeling calm and relaxed during the session. As you continue to practice, work up to 30 minutes a day as you will gain more clarity and insight into your life.

Read more about the additional benefits of sitting in silence.

5. Practice Patience

They say patience is a virtue and boy it sure is. Today, we are so used to having things right now that we forget what it means to have patience and let things develop. So if you are in the middle of a project, in the beginning of dating someone, or starting a new workout program, trust the process. It’ll make it worthwhile because all good things come to those who wait.

6. Learn from Failures

We tend to see failure as the worst thing possible. But those with strong mental power see failure as a learning experience. Failure brings clarity to situations. We learn the most when we are not successful. If you have experienced failure, think about what you would have done differently and apply it to the next project.

If nothing else, everybody loves somebody who can do the worm.

7. Visualize the Win

Successful people with strong mental power are always looking to improve. They see failures as temporary setbacks, not career ending events. It starts with visualizing success. Imagine whatever you are doing whether its presenting a powerpoint deck or writing a novel and see that it will be successful. Envision giving a killer presentation or the book you wrote will be a best seller. It will boost your confidence and help you strive to achieve anything and everything you want in life.

8. Always Strive to Finish

We all have been here. We are at the gym and set the treadmill for 30 minutes but we end up jumping off halfway through because we don’t feel like finishing. We think completing half a workout is better than not doing anything at all.

Yes, it’s better to do something than nothing at all but if you want to increase mental power, you can not stop halfway through. It may not seem like a big deal but if you are finishing half way through a workout, what else are you stopping short of in other areas of your life? Next time you are headed to the gym or to work, set a goal that is obtainable. Jump on the treadmill and no matter how tired you are, finish the 30 minute session. A trademark of mentally strong people is that they never quit and finish no matter what. Always strive to finish.

9. Do Something Outside of Your Comfort Zone

We all have that one friend who is always looking for the next adventure. They suggest skydiving over the coastline, quitting your job to go backpacking in South America, or anything that brings on a rush.

And usually, we respond with this:

I don’t blame you for saying no but think about how many times you have said no to something new. While you don’t have to do something crazy like jumping out of a plane, its great for your personal growth to do something that makes you uncomfortable. A big part of increasing your mental power is pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone. Living comfortably can keep you from progressing as an individual and living the life you want to live.

So the next time your friend suggest a new adventure, say yes instead of no. You never know what may happen or who you will meet.

10. Enjoy the Ride

It is not about the destination but the journey. All things come to an end. What we will remember most are the hours we put into a new business idea, the time spent with friends that created memories and the struggles faced that have us sitting on top of the world.

Enjoy the ride folks. You only get to do it once.

Top 10 Most Intelligent People Of The World

Source: http://www.wonderslist.com/10-most-intelligent-people/

The brain is the most mysterious part of the human body. It is the most essential parts of our system, but what is really with the brain that make other people seem to be so smart? some call them abnormalities but others take it as a gift.
There are a lot of intelligent people all around the world. We are only left amazed and interested to find out who the smartest people in the world are and what they have accomplished. Let us take a look at the people with the highest IQ ever recorded – The 10 most intelligent people of the world listed below.

10. Stephen Hawking

He is considered to be a man of Science, theoretically physicist, a cosmologist has never failed to astonish everybody with his inspiring IQ level of 160. He was born in Oxford, England. He has proved himself as the most intelligent person many times. He is at present experiencing paralyses. His noteworthy IQ level has made him go higher than his paralysis. Moreover, his Science and Cosmology contribution is unmatched as he has effectively used quantum mechanics and the famous theory of relativity in making an introduction of cosmology to people all around the world.

9. Andrew Wiles

Sir Andre John Wiles is one of the most intelligent people. He is a British mathematician and a Royal Society Research Professor at Oxford University, specializing in number theory. He is most notable for proving Fermat’s Last Theorem. He got the IQ level of 170. He is one the most successful person in the world.

8. Paul Gardner Allen

Paul Gardner Allen is an American business magnate, investor and philanthropist, best known as the co-founder, with Bill Gates, of Microsoft Corporation. As of March 2013, he was estimated to be the 53rd-richest person in the world, with an estimated wealth of $15 billion. He got an IQ level of 170. He is considered to be the most influential person in his field and known to be a good decision maker.

7. Judit Polgar

Born in Hungary in 1976, Judit Polgár is a chess grandmaster. She is by far the strongest female chess player in history. In 1991, Polgár achieved the title of Grandmaster at the age of 15 years and 4 months, the youngest person to do so until then. Polgar is not only a chess master but a certified brainiac with a recorded IQ of 170. She lived a childhood filled with extensive chess training from her father. The fact that she defeated nine former and current world champions including Garry Kasparov, Boris Spassky, and Anatoly Karpov.

6. Garry Kasparov

Garry Kasparov has totally amazed the world with his extra outstanding IQ level of more than 190. He is a Russian chess Grandmaster, former World Chess Champion, writer, and political activist, considered by many to be the greatest chess player of all time. From 1986 until his retirement in 2005, Kasparov was ranked world No. 1 for 225 out of 228 months. At the age of 22, Kasparov became the youngest ever undisputed World Chess Champion in 1985 by defeating then-champion Anatoly Karpov.

5. Rick Rosner

Gifted with an amazing IQ 192, Richard Rosner is an American television producer best known for creating the television show CHiPs. Rosner later developed a portable satellite television in partnership with DirecTV.

4. Kim Ung-Yong

With a verified IQ of 210, Korean civil engineer Ung Yong is considered the master in child prodigy. At the age of 6 months he was able to speak and understand Korean and other languages. At the age of 14, he was already able to resolve calculus complex problems as exposed live on Japanese television. He also got world record of Guinness book of World Record. 

3. Christopher Hirata

Christopher Hirata carries IQ level of around 225 which is phenomenal. He was genius from his childhood. At the age of 16, he was working with NASA in its mission of conquering Mars. At the age of 22, he obtained his Ph.D at the Princeton University. Hirata is an authorized child genius and currently he is teaching astrophysics in the CIT California Institute of Technology.

2. Marilyn vos Savant

Marilyn Vos Savant is said to have an outstanding IQ of 228. She is an American magazine columnist, author, lecturer, and playwright who rose to fame through her former listing in the Guinness Book of World Records under “Highest IQ.” Since 1986 she has written “Ask Marilyn,” a Parade magazine Sunday column where she solves puzzles and answers questions on various subjects.

1. Terence Tao

Terence Tao is an Australian mathematician working in harmonic analysis, partial differential equations, additive combinatorics, ergodic Ramsey theory, random matrix theory, and analytic number theory. Tao carries an outstanding Intelligence quotient level of 230. He has truly astonished people with his childhood days. He has received inspiring awards like the 2003 clay research award, the Bôcher Memorial Prize in 2002 and Salem Prize in 2000 are just few of them. He is also the youngest professor of UCLA.

12 Toxic Thoughts You Need To Drop For A Better Life

Source: http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/12-toxic-thoughts-you-need-drop-for-better-life.html

BY CAROL MORGAN

One of my mottoes is “Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life!” I’m a big believer that our thoughts and emotions shape our experiences. The problem is that most people aren’t even aware of their negative thoughts. It’s almost like they have just become a habit, so it seems normal to them. Here are 12 common toxic thoughts that you need to drop in order to have a better life:

1. Thinking that you are a victim.

You’re not a victim. So stop blaming other people or your circumstances for your problems. Just because you don’t like where you are now doesn’t mean that you can’t take personal responsibility to change it for the better. So get rid of that victim-mentality because it doesn’t help anything. In fact, it acts as an obstacle to success. Realize that you, andonly you, are responsible for your destiny.

2. Thinking that you can change other people.

You can’t. I had to learn this the hard way. There was a time in my life when I thought I could “motivate” and “inspire” people to be their best selves. It took me a while to realize that the only thing that can change other people is themselves. If they don’t want to change—or don’t know how—then all of your efforts will be wasted. So don’t worry about other people. If you don’t like them “as is,” then you have the choice to not hang out with them anymore. But you don’t have the right to change them.

3. Thoughts that constantly resist “What Is.”

Some things you can change. In fact, a LOT of things you can change. You can lose weight. You can find a better job. You can go back to school. You can work on your marriage. But there are some things you can’t change. Those things are simply “what is.” You can’t change that your boss is a jerk. You can change jobs, but you can’t change your boss. You can’t change the fact that you have to pay rent or your mortgage. But you can stop resisting it. Resisting the unchangeable does nothing more than frustrate you and make you miserable. So change what you can, and accept what you can’t.

4. Thinking that “The Grass is Always Greener on the Other Side.”

“If only I was as pretty as that girl, then I’d be happy.”  Or “If only I was as rich as that guy, then I’d be happy.” Those kinds of thoughts aren’t true. Just because you think someone else has it better than you doesn’t mean they do. Maybe the pretty girl came from an abusive home and can’t get her life in order. And maybe the rich guy spends so much time at work that he never gets to see his family. The grass is not greener on the other side. So appreciate the grass you have. It’s your grass. So love it.

5. Having expectations of other people.

Expectations can be deadly to happiness, even if you think your expectation is reasonable, such as having your roommate or spouse do his/her share of the chores around the house. Just because you expect it doesn’t mean they will do it. Realize that your expectations come from your personal experiences and biases. They are not necessarily other people’s priority. You probably don’t like being expected to do things that you don’t want to do, so don’t impose your expectations on others. If you don’t like their behavior, either accept it, or move on.

6. Thinking that having a significant other will complete you.

If you are not a whole person already, then having a romantic partner will not make you whole. Plus, it puts a lot of pressure on the other person to “make you happy.” You need to be happy with yourself with or without someone. Having a significant other doesn’t make you happier. Only youcan make yourself happy.

7. Feeling that you always need to prove that you are right.

I always wonder why people will fight to the death to prove they are “right.” What’s the point? I think it’s because they don’t want to look weak. Or vulnerable. Or stupid. But I think admitting you are wrong is a much more noble and mature thing to do. Besides, everyone has a different opinion. So why not have yours and let them have theirs?

8. Worrying about what other people think.

Why do you care? Do you think they are judging you? I’m going to let you in on a little secret. No one is judging you as much as you are judging yourself. Other people are too busy judging themselves just like you that they probably don’t even give you a second thought! So do what makesyou happy. And if others are judging you, then it’s their problem, not yours. Ignore them and be happy anyway. (Read:

• 15 Signs You’re Sabotaging Your Happiness

)

9. Thinking there is only ONE right and ONE wrong.

We live in a world where we like to think there is an objective reality. But guess what? Objective reality is an illusion. It doesn’t exist. Only subjective realities do. What one person thinks is the “truth” is not the truth for someone else. For example—who’s right? The Republicans or the Democrats? Well, it depends on who you ask, right? Everyone thinks something is right because it fits their life and the way they look at the world. And that’s it. Period. End of story.

10. Worrying about the future because you feel unprepared.

I love this saying: “Worrying is like praying for what you don’t want.” And if you believe in the power of prayer, then you know that sending out thoughts and emotions into the Universe/God (whatever your belief system) works much of the time. So instead, be here in the NOW. Now is all you have. So be present and stop worrying about the future because you can only control it to a certain extent.

11. Thinking that money equals happiness.

We live in a capitalistic culture that values money and achievement. We think that people who have a lot of money are somehow better than those who don’t. But that’s simply not true. I’m sure there are plenty of happy monks in the world who probably don’t hold a dollar to their names. Or someone working at McDonald’s may be really happy while some billionaires aren’t. So don’t fall into the trap of thinking you have to be rich to be happy. It simply isn’t true. Money is nice, but it doesn’t make you happy. Only you can do that. (Read: 10 Things You Need To Drop To Stay Motivated)

12. Believing that the past determines your future.

Just because you came from a poor family, or made mistakes in the past does not mean that you can’t make your future better. If you have labeled yourself as a “failure” because of your past, then you will only continue your “failure” attitude into the future. And if you’ve heard of the self-fulfilling prophecy phenomenon, then you know that what you think, you become. So like I said in the opening paragraph: “Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life!”

I hope that this article has made you think long and hard about the toxic thoughts that probably go through your mind every day. And I bet you didn’t even know it! So start paying attention to what you think, and when you catch your negative thoughts, hit the “cancel” and “delete” buttons—FAST!

15 Signs You’re Sabotaging Your Happiness

 BY AMITA PATEL

Source: http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/15-signs-youre-sabotaging-your-happiness.html

Most of our goals are aimed at finding some version of happiness. Whether it’s getting a kick-ass job, finding a loving partner, or making the perfect frittata, the end goal of every endeavor is happiness. The problem is that our best efforts to find it simply dig us deeper into the ditch.

When it comes to happiness, most of us self-sabotage. In fact, it’s part of our everyday lives. Are you ready to get out of your own way?

1. You listen to your inner critic

Your inner critic is that little nay-saying nag that lives in your head whose sole purpose is to convince you that you suck. If you’ve tried to ignore it, you probably know that it’s easier said than done. The truth is that your inner critic is a strength that’s dialed up too high. It existed at one point to help you feel safe, but as an adult, it no longer serves you. If you try to push it down, it will eventually rear its ugly head in an equally ugly way.

The Solution: Instead of rejecting your inner critic, get curious and listen to what it’s really trying to tell you. What fear is it projecting onto the situation? What do other parts of you have to say in response? No decision is one-sided, so why not go from monologue to dialogue? Allow each voice in your head to have a turn to speak: the angel, the devil, and everything in between.

2. You choose the certainty of where you are over the fear of the unknown

It’s easier to choose a painful certainty than risk the unknown. If you’re unhappy in your current situation, no amount of gratitude or affirmations will help if you don’t actively choose to make it better. And if you’re rationalizing not following your dreams as “being practical” or if you’re still thinking “things really aren’t that bad,” just remember most people only take action when the pain of their current situation becomes greater than their fear of the unknown.

The Solution: You can wait to hit rock-bottom, or you can cut to the part where you embrace change. If you aren’t happy, it’s not sustainable. Eventually, something will have to change. Why not make it on your timeline?

3. You procrastinate

After pulling an all-nighter, a friend in college said to me “Procrastination is a lot like masturbation, it’s great until you realize you’re f***ing yourself.” Though crass, she had a good point.

The Solution: Identify the limiting belief that’s preventing you from taking action. Then, act “as if”. Ask yourself “What would someone who isn’t afraid do?” Acknowledge your discomfort and act anyway. Building a track record will help to dispel the fear, making it easier to take action toward what you truly want.

4. You’re afraid of failure

The fear of failure is nothing more than a desire to feel safe. The problem is that it also keeps us stagnant. We tend to forget that making a mistake doesn’t make you a “failure”. Seen differently, it’s nothing more than a helpful, albeit unpleasant, learning experience.

The Solution: Ask yourself, “What did I learn? What worked? How can I fine-tune things next time?” And if you feel like you’re the only one who’s ever failed, look at every artist, entrepreneur, or virgin, and you’ll be in great company. Christopher Columbus “failed” and he got a holiday named after him. Not too shabby if you ask me.

5. You can’t forgive your past screw-ups

Sure, you’ve made mistakes. Lots of them. Hopefully, you learned from them. But if you’re still holding onto the pain and guilt instead of surrendering and forgiving yourself, it may be time to develop compassion. It can be painful and challenging, but it’s the first step to letting go of your old story and writing a new one.

The Solution: Release it. Beating yourself up simply ensures you’ll never move forward. Since you can’t go back in time, focus on who you want to be and what you want to create in the future.

6. You try to control everything

I used to jokingly say, “I’m not manipulative, I’m an outcome engineer.” While that deep need for control kept me safe, it also kept me stuck. Surrendering an outcome taught me that letting go of what I think I want (whether that be a guy or a job title) creates the space for bigger and better things to flow into my life. If you’re trying to control your partner rather than realizing it’s time to end things, you may be preventing yourself from meeting someone who’s right for you.

The Solution: Trying to control things blocks you from growth and acceptance. Change what you can, surrender what you can’t, and know the difference.

7. You’re codependent

If you rely on others for happiness, you’re blocking your ability to give it to yourself. Your relationships with others should mirror the happiness and love you have for yourself. Prioritizing yourself isn’t selfish. If you’ve ever put others first and then resented them for it, you only have yourself to blame. Sounds harsh, but sometimes setting a boundary is the best way to avoid an emotional hangover.

The Solution: Quit waiting to be saved; it’s time to save yourself. What steps can you take to empower yourself? Maybe it’s time to earn more money, find more friends, or take care of your own needs. And if you’re new to setting boundaries: compromise on little things, not on your values. You can repeat old patterns or choose what’s right for you. To do this, imagine fast-forwarding to the point when you’ll say “hindsight is 20/20.” Think about how you’ll feel an hour, a day, a year from now.

8. You’re exhausted from doing things you don’t want to do

If your social life is more exhausting than exciting, it may be time to re-evaluate your “obligations”. Sure, it may seem like you need to stop by your second cousin’s Christmas party, but if you aren’t making time for yourself, you’re likely to burn out faster than it takes you to down the eggnog. If you’re spending time with people you don’t really like, you may be settling for companionship rather than true friendship. An hour with a negative person is more physically and emotionally exhausting than an hour on the treadmill.

The Solution: Choose where to invest your energy. Still feel the pull of an obligation? Ask yourself, what would someone with self-compassion do in this situation? Sometimes we need to act “as if” until we build the “I deserve greatness” muscle.

9. You blame others

If there’s one thing I learned from my first 10 years in therapy, it’s that everything I blamed someone else for was my fault and everything I blamed myself for was someone else’s fault. Bluntly put, but accurate. This taught me two things:

• Culpability doesn’t change a situation
• No matter who’s at fault or who takes responsibility, you have the ability to change your situation

It’s easy to get caught in the “I wish things were different” cycle, but all that does is keep you stuck.

The Solution:Take responsibility, not simply for what happened, but for what you want to create. Self-awareness gives you the courage and humility to take personal responsibility. 

10. You try to fix people

Even if you could change others, you still wouldn’t be happy. Why? Because it’s less about fixing and more about feeling safe. Accept others for who they are, not who you’d like them to be.

The Solution: Change what you can control: You. That means to adjust your expectations or let them go.

11. You’re a perfectionist

It’s great to do your best, but if your happiness is dependent on the outcome, you’ll set yourself up for disappointment. Nothing is perfect. This symptom of “black and white thinking” is often what holds us back from taking that initial step or being happy with the end result.

The Solution: Ask yourself “Why?” Sure, you want to conquer the world, but if you’re killing yourself in the process you may be achieving in order to feel validated and worthy. What can you do to give that to yourself instead?

12. You compare yourself to others

They often say “Comparison is the thief of joy.” In actuality, it’s an act of violence. You may choose to believe that you are in lack and that others are living amazingly abundant, kick-ass lives. But the truth is that you have no clue what’s going on behind their trendy Facebook check-ins and perfectly put-together outfits. The jealousy you feel is less about what the other person has and more about what you perceive you do not have.

The Solution: Realize that the comparison is not about the other person, but a tool to tell you what you want in life. Inspiration is the healthy byproduct of jealousy. If you’re hyper-focused on what you don’t have, you’ll never notice all the great things you do have. And if you still need to compare, do it with yourself. Aim to get happier, healthier, and stronger than you were the day before.

13. You worry too much about what others think

Most people determine how they’re doing by consciously or unconsciously soliciting other people’s opinions. And since you’re hardwired to try to impress people, you’re usually trying to please those who can’t be moved.

The Solution: Other people’s views are not more relevant than your own. It doesn’t matter if they are older, more successful, or better educated. Their opinion is simply that: an opinion, nothing more. Decide what’s right for you no matter who disagrees.

14. You’re afraid to ask for help

Nobody knows everything. Most people simply fake it. In a world that encourages self-sufficiency, most of us avoid being vulnerable at all costs. It’s a manifestation of fear, whether it’s a desire to seem perfect, a fear of abandonment, or the need to be liked.

The Solution: There’s no weakness in asking for help. Just be sure to ask the right people. Ask the person who has what you want. Your partner, friends, and parents, though convenient, aren’t necessarily the best sources.

15. You don’t savor the good stuff

It’s easy to focus on problems, what’s going wrong, and the crazy shit other people do. In fact, we overwhelm ourselves with it, making it nearly impossible to see the good stuff.

The Solution: Next time something good happens, stop and actually appreciate it. Slow down and savor it. Notice the nuances: the sights, sounds, and smells that make the moment amazing. You see what you look for. Practice savoring and you’ll be conditioned to notice the things that make you happy and not just the crap that brings you down.

The Takeaway:

Self-sabotage isn’t a one-time act. It’s a process. No one is happy all the time. But if you’re sabotaging your best efforts by judging yourself, avoiding responsibility, or controlling others, you’re ensuring that you’ll stay in this state forever. Ultimately, happiness isn’t just a mood. It’s a lifestyle and a choice.

10 Things You Need To Drop To Stay Motivated

1. You will need to drop the sense of entitlement

You are not entitled to anything in this world. We all have “started from the bottom.” Work hard to accomplish your goals. You got this.

2. You will need to drop stress

Stop stressing yourself out over things you can’t control. Reduce stress by keeping your mind, body and soul active. Exercise, play sports, get yourself a companion (animal), write, etc. We all have to deal with stress in our life. The key is how you deal with it. Learn how to ignore things that stress you out. (Read: 10 Powerful  Ways to Handle Stress)

3. You will need to drop negativity

Focus on the positive and drop negativity. Dropping negativity means that you distance yourself from negative people and negative influences. Distance yourself from people that do not care about your dream. Learn how to combat negative self-talk with positive affirmations.(Read: 12 Toxic Thoughts You Need To Drop For A Better Life..)

4. You will need to drop comparisons

“When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everybody will respect you.” – Lao Tzu

Stop comparing yourself to other people. Focus on your life. Live your life. Comparisons can make you envious and jealous of others.

5. You will need to drop time management issues

“Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.” – Sam Levenson

A lot of people struggle with time management and blame this for the lack of motivation. Drop the time management issues and learn how to manage your time better. Check out this awesome list of one-minute time hacks.

6. You will need to drop impatience

Impatient people usually do not follow through with their plans. Do not become this person. Understand that it takes time, effort and energy to stay motivated. Visualize success on a daily basis.

7. You will need to drop the lazy attitude

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” – Mark Twain

Drop the lazy attitude and focus on your work ethic. Give 100% day in and day out. Become the person that people enjoy being around. Remind yourself that you are destined for greatness. Get up earlier. Do the harder tasks first. 

8. You will need to drop the ungrateful mindset

“An ungrateful man is like a hog under a tree eating acorns, but never looking up to see where they come from.” – Timothy Decker

Drop the ungrateful attitude and be thankful for the life that you are living. Be thankful for where you are and where you will be in the future. (Read: 15 Signs You’re Sabotaging Your Happiness
)

9. You will need to drop the serious mentality

Put a smile on your face. Laugh a little bit. Okay, so you have dealt with a few things in your life. But still, please stop being serious and live life. Enjoy the presence of others. Spend time with your family. Progress towards a bigger goal by making smaller, realistic goals.

10. You will need to drop the excuses

Drop the excuses. Nobody wants to hear them. Stop looking for people to blame. Stop pointing a finger at others and start pointing a finger at yourself. Look at the person in the mirror and address what is holding you back.

We hope you enjoyed this motivational boost. If you find this information helpful please share it with your friends and family.

What motivational drainers have you dropped during the month of July? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

BY PATRICK MCNEASE

Source: http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/10-things-you-need-drop-stay-motivated.html

10 Powerful Ways to Handle Stress

By JOHN D. MOORE, PHD

Have you ever wondered how highly successful people are able to remain calm during periods of high stress? Are you curious about why some individuals seem to have a “chip” that allows them to keep cool during times of crisis? Is there a part of you that wishes you could borrow their gadgetry for insertion into your own life?

Well, maybe you can – at least in theory. I have been doing some research on the topic of how highly successful people handle stress during this past year and have made some amazing discoveries. I would like to share those with you here.

Are you ready? Let’s jump right in!

1. They don’t “awefulize”

Awfulizing is a 25-cent term from the world of cognitive behavioral therapy. To awefulize is to immediately jump to the worst possible conclusion about a given situation. Successful people do not engage in this kind of thinking. Instead, they logically examine the situation they are in and explore possibilities. They consciously decide howthey will respond and weigh options. “What if I responded this way” is a key question these individuals reflect upon.

What if you started to change how you thought about a problem and focused on all possible options and not just the worst one? (Read: 15 Signs you're Sabotaging Your Happiness)

2. They take deep breaths

Highly successful people have learned that one of the most effective ways to remain calm occurs through active breathing. This means they are aware of the physical process of inhaling and exhaling and do so with intent. Successful people know breathing deeply helps to regulate the flight or fight response and offers physiological and psychological benefits.

What would it be like the next time you are working through intense stress to stop a moment and take 10 deep breaths, focusing on each inhale and exhale? What if you visualized stress leaving your body as you breathed out?

3. They engage in mindfulness

People who are highly successful live in the here and now. They do not dwell on mistakes made in the past. They also don’t worry about the future. Instead, they mindfully remain present in the moment and strategize about making dreams come true for tomorrow. Mindfulness allows successful people to not hold on to past hurts or worrisome thoughts about what might come. Finally under this point, they have learned that laughter is important and that living in the moment often contains many elements of humor.

What if you tried living in the here and now and created realistic strategies for reaching your life goals? What if you found something humorous – just one thing – that happened during your day?

4. They focus on what’s going right

Remaining calm during periods of stress is no easy task. One way highly successful people are able to do this is by focusing on real positives. This means not making self-defeating statements like, “Nothing is going right” or “I’m screwed!” Instead, successful people have found that it helps to focus on what’s going right. An example might be a person who makes a mistake and is able to say, “I got this part of the problem wrong but I got this aspect right!”

What if the next time you encountered a difficult challenge you identified what was going right? What if you used strength based approach create positive change?

5. They set boundaries

One of the most difficult things most all of us face is setting healthy boundaries around work and other responsibility areas. Making matters worse is the reality of our 24/7, non-stop electronic world. Successful people have learned that in order for them to handle high periods of stress, they need to limit exposure to low levels of stress. This means they have set boundaries around how available they will be to others. They have discovered that by blocking off periods of time to disconnect, they are better able to regulate their mood and respond calmly should the need arise.

What would it be like if you set boundaries around how much time you made yourself available to others? What if you made the conscious choice to turn off that smart-phone or power down that tablet during certain times of your day?

6. They are mindful about diet

This one is absolutely easier said than done however, you do not have to engage in all or nothing thinking to be mindful about diet. Successful people have learned that by making small adjustments to their eating, focusing on high protein foods, they are able to remain calm for longer periods of time. This also means they are aware of how much sugar they take in and how much caffeine they ingest. Engaging in regular physical activity is combined with diet mindfulness for maximum results.

What would it be like if you were to create small changes around your diet each day, replacing high fat foods with low carb, high protein meals? What if you replaced just 1 cup of coffee a day with a glass of water?

7. They make sleep a priority

Scientists have long known about the direct relationship sleep has on working through stress. For folks who are highly successful, there exists a strong recognition that meaningful and restorative sleep is an essential element to wellness. In short, they have learned that in order to not remain in a place of suspended anxiety, regular sleep needs to be part of their reality. These folks have come to know theircircadian rhythm and pay attention when their bodies tell them to rest.

What would it be like to be more mindful of your circadian rhythm? What if you decided not to watch just “one more show” tonight and instead, opt for shut-eye?

8. They engage in gratitude

People who are deemed highly successful are able to focus on what they have as opposed to what they do not. They recognize that focusing on the positive helps to minimize the negative and empowers calmness. Gratitude also allows these individuals to appreciate the good times better when facing adversity.

What would it be like if you identified one or two things to be grateful for each day? What if you wrote a few of these down and then added to that list during the week?

9. The do not partake in learned helplessness

This is a term that is bandied about often – but what does it really mean? Learned helplessness basically means that you believe you cannot change your situation because it is totally beyond your power. People who are highly successful find this kind of thinking anathemas to their very being. The words, “I can’t” just aren’t part of their vernacular.

What if you made a choice right now that you can create change in your situation and believe (meaning truly believe) that you have the power to live the life that you want? What if you listed out 3-5 steps right now to get the ball rolling?

10. They lean into their circle of support

Folks who have reached a place of success in life recognize their status was not achieved through singular acts. In other words, these individuals have learned that a rising tide lifts all boats and that part of moving upward means experiencing stress. Highly successful people lean into their circle of support when the going gets tough and they have made themselves available to others for the same purpose. Finally, they recognize that having a silent witness along the away allows them to be vulnerable, which connects them to their greater humanity.

What would it be like to not feel like you have to carry all of that stress on your own? What if you leaned into your circle of support and shared some of what you are feeling? How might making yourself available to others help you better manage stress?

Summing Things Up

Highly successful really don’t have a “chip”. Instead, they have learned to better manage their approach to different problems and place a premium on self-care.

I am including a book below for more tips on reducing stress in your life entitled: Thinking for a Change: 11 Ways Highly Successful People Approach Life and Work by John Maxwell. Inside you will find page after page of helpful information and tips on how to better approach various areas of stress and create positive change.