self-worth – Personal Growth Cafe

April 19, 2019March 13, 2018

Boosting Your Self-Worth

What is self-worth, anyway?

To find out, answer this question: How much would you say you’re worth?

The answer is your self-worth, or the value you place on yourself.

Just like anything of value, the self can fluctuate up and down in worth for any number of reasons!

Even though you have your ups and downs, there are ways you can increase your self-worth each and every day.

We all have value, whether we believe it or not.

This value comes from our very existence, as well as our own set of skills, talents, ideas and strengths.

If we think of worth in terms of financial worth, we can get a good idea of how we can increase our own self-worth.

With money, the way to increase worth is to make more money.

We make more money by taking specific actions in our workplace or within our businesses.

Sounds obvious, right?

Well it is! Self-worth works the same way.

We increase our self-worth by focusing on the things that make up our worth.

Here are some things you can begin doing right now to increase your self-worth:

1. Enjoy a new hobby. Your skill set is a big determination of your self-worth.

The more you can do – and do well – the better you feel about yourself.

That’s why you’ll want to consider adding to your list of hobbies or recreational activities.

The more you enjoy what you do in your life, the more you’ll also enjoy who you are as a person.

2. Take a class. As with hobbies, learning something new is a great way to add to your self-worth.

It’s like a deposit into your knowledge bank.

There are plenty of options for this choice:

Take a class at a local community college.
Register for an online seminar.
Look in the local newspaper for free classes in your area.
Call your local school district. They offer inexpensive continuing education classes in almost every subject imaginable, including hobbies!

3. Read more. Reading is a wonderful way to stimulate the mind.

When you spark your imagination, new ideas emerge from the depths.

Nothing builds self-worth like learning more about the world you live in!

Maybe you’ve always wanted to be an inventor.

If so, you can generate some ideas by researching and reading information about your ideas.

4. Learn a language. There are a huge number of tools available that can assist you in mastering a new language.

Learning new languages builds self-worth because it allows you to communicate on a completely different level with others.

5. Do something out of the ordinary. Take a chance, conquer a challenge, and step out of your comfort zone.

These kinds of activities stretch you as an individual.

Doing something you never imagined gives you a glimpse of your true potential.

Anything that boosts your self-confidence will also increase your self-worth, since they’re directly related.

On the other hand, our self-worth becomes stagnant if we become arrogant and believe that we’ve accomplished all we can in life.

Start each day by making the commitment to your success.

After all, you are worthy of great things!

Even if you have a hard time believing this, take action anyway because where action is, emotions will follow.

Try something new, pick one of the topics from above, give it a shot and see for yourself how much of a difference it makes.

Just remember the great words of Henry Ford: “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.”

How often do you appreciate yourself?

When was the last time you took time off for yourself?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Also, as your gift for taking this to heart – and this is profoundly important… to us ALL – go to UnitingPlanetEarth.com/ignition/ and do the Uniting Planet Earth 7-Day Quick-Start Ignition Program… and Allow it to Transform Your Life.

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!

July 16, 2012

Spiritual Growth: the Spiritual Challenge of Modern Times

To grow spiritually in a world defined by power, money, and influence is a Herculean task. Modern conveniences such as electronic equipments, gadgets, and tools as well as entertainment through television, magazines, and the web have predisposed us to confine our attention mostly to physical needs and wants. As a result, our concepts of self-worth and self-meaning are muddled. How can we strike a balance between the material and spiritual aspects of our lives?

To grow spiritually is to look inward.

Introspection goes beyond recalling the things that happened in a day, week, or month. You need to look closely and reflect on your thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and motivations. Periodically examining your experiences, the decisions you make, the relationships you have, and the things you engage in provide useful insights on your life goals, on the good traits you must sustain and the bad traits you have to discard. Moreover, it gives you clues on how to act, react, and conduct yourself in the midst of any situation. Like any skill, introspection can be learned; all it takes is the courage and willingness to seek the truths that lie within you. Here are some pointers when you introspect: be objective, be forgiving of yourself, and focus on your areas for improvement.

To grow spiritually is to develop your potentials.

Religion and science have differing views on matters of the human spirit. Religion views people as spiritual beings temporarily living on Earth, while science views the spirit as just one dimension of an individual. Mastery of the self is a recurring theme in both Christian (Western) and Islamic (Eastern) teachings. The needs of the body are recognized but placed under the needs of the spirit. Beliefs, values, morality, rules, experiences, and good works provide the blueprint to ensure the growth of the spiritual being. In Psychology, realizing one’s full potential is to self-actualize. Maslow identified several human needs: physiological, security, belongingness, esteem, cognitive, aesthetic, self-actualization, and self-transcendence. James earlier categorized these needs into three: material, emotional, and spiritual. When you have satisfied the basic physiological and emotional needs, spiritual or existential needs come next. Achieving each need leads to the total development of the individual. Perhaps the difference between these two religions and psychology is the end of self-development: Christianity and Islam see that self-development is a means toward serving God, while psychology view that self-development is an end by itself.

To grow spiritually is to search for meaning.

Religions that believe in the existence of God such as Christianism, Judaism, and Islam suppose that the purpose of the human life is to serve the Creator of all things. Several theories in psychology propose that we ultimately give meaning to our lives. Whether we believe that life’s meaning is pre-determined or self-directed, to grow in spirit is to realize that we do not merely exist. We do not know the meaning of our lives at birth; but we gain knowledge and wisdom from our interactions with people and from our actions and reactions to the situations we are in. As we discover this meaning, there are certain beliefs and values that we reject and affirm. Our lives have purpose. This purpose puts all our physical, emotional, and intellectual potentials into use; sustains us during trying times; and gives us something to look forward to—a goal to achieve, a destination to reach. A person without purpose or meaning is like a drifting ship at sea.

To grow spiritually is to recognize interconnections.

Religions stress the concept of our relatedness to all creation, live and inanimate. Thus we call other people “brothers and sisters” even if there are no direct blood relations. Moreover, deity-centered religions such as Christianity and Islam speak of the relationship between humans and a higher being. On the other hand, science expounds on our link to other living things through the evolution theory. This relatedness is clearly seen in the concept of ecology, the interaction between living and non-living things. In psychology, connectedness is a characteristic of self-transcendence, the highest human need according to Maslow. Recognizing your connection to all things makes you more humble and respectful of people, animals, plants, and things in nature. It makes you appreciate everything around you. It moves you to go beyond your comfort zone and reach out to other people, and become stewards of all other things around you.

Growth is a process thus to grow in spirit is a day-to-day encounter. We win some, we lose some, but the important thing is that we learn, and from this knowledge, further spiritual growth is made possible.

July 15, 2012

“What Really Makes You Tick?” 10 questions you should ask to yourself: a preparation to self-improvement

Be all you can be, but it’s not always in the Army. I often see myself as somewhat contented with my life the way things are, but of course it’s hard to think of anything else when where are real issues to be discussed.

Still I aspire for something deeper and more meaningful.

So we’re all pelted with problems. Honestly it shouldn’t even bother or even hinder us to becoming all we ought to be. Aspirations as kids should continue to live within us, even though it would be short-lived or as long as we could hold on to the dream. They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks… or can they?

1. What do I really want?
The question of the ages. So many things you want to do with your life and so little time to even go about during the day.

Find something that you are good at can help realize that small step towards improvement. Diligence is the key to know that it is worth it.

2. Should I really change?
Today’s generation has taken another level of redefining ‘self’, or at least that’s what the kids are saying. Having an army of teenage nieces and nephews has taught me that there are far worse things that they could have had than acne or maybe even promiscuity. So how does that fit into your lifestyle?

If history has taught us one thing, it’s the life that we have gone through. Try to see if partying Seventies style wouldn’t appeal to the younger generation, but dancing is part of partying. Watch them applaud after showing them how to really dance than break their bones in break-dancing.

3. What’s the bright side in all of this?
With so much is happening around us there seem to be no room for even considering that light at the end of the tunnel. We can still see it as something positive without undergoing so much scrutiny. And if it’s a train at the end of the tunnel, take it for a ride and see what makes the world go round!

4. Am I comfortable with what I’m doing?
There’s always the easy way and the right way when it comes to deciding what goes with which shoes, or purse, shirt and whatnot. It doesn’t take a genius to see yourself as someone unique, or else we’ll all be equally the same in everything we do. Variety brings in very interesting and exciting questions to be experimented.

5. Have I done enough for myself?
Have you, or is there something more you want to do? Discontentment in every aspect can be dangerous in large doses, but in small amounts you’ll be able to see and do stuff you could never imagine doing.

6. Am I happy at where I am today?
It’s an unfair question so let it be an answer! You love being a good and loving mom or dad to your kids, then take it up a notch! Your kids will love you forever. The same goes with everyday life!

7. Am I appealing to the opposite sex?
So maybe I don’t have an answer to that, but that doesn’t mean I can’t try it, though. Whether you shape-up, change the way you wear your clothes or hair, or even your attitude towards people, you should always remember it will always be for your own benefit.

8. How much could I have?
I suppose in this case there is no such things on having things too much or too little, but it’s more on how badly you really need it. I’d like to have lots of money, no denying that, but the question is that how much are you willing to work for it?

9. What motivates me?
What motivates you? It’s an answer you have to find out for yourself. There are so many things that can make everyone happy, but to choose one of the may be the hardest part. It’s not like you can’t have one serving of your favorite food in a buffet and that’s it. Just try it piece by piece.

10. What Really Makes You Tick?
So? What really makes you tick? You can be just about anything you always wanted to be, but to realize that attaining something that may seem very difficult is already giving up before you even start that journey. Always remember, that self-improvement is not just about the physical or philosophical change you have to undergo, but it’s something that you really want.

July 15, 2012July 15, 2012

How do you know which direction to go in your life? You follow your bliss!

A 21-year-old recently asked me how she can know which direction to take with her life.

It’s an important question – for people of all ages, because too many people have settled for much less than what they truly desire and that limits their happiness, how successful they are, how joy-filled their lives are… and often leaves them with regret, and unmet dreams.

All of these things often lead to greater stress, anxiety, disillusionment, depression…. and poor health. So do take this issue seriously yourself – and choose to go in the direction you’re meant to take!

First of all, fundamental to this issue is your understanding of The First Covenant of The Affluent Class.

“The First Covenant” is just how everything works. In fact, it’s the operating principle in our lives, or I refer to it as the operating system of the universe.

Quite simply, “The First Covenant” reminds us of the fact that “what you give your attention to and empower with strong feelings, you create more of”.

Related to this issue about which direction people should take with their lives, “The First Covenant” means that whichever path you take, that becomes a dominant part of your life.

And how you feel about that path, that line of work for example, creates more experiences of a similar feeling quality.

For example if someone takes the first job out of college in something not related to what he or she is truly passionate about, that job probably will not be very rewarding. And it may be stressful, unfulfilling or even make that person miserable.

Notice how “what you give your attention to and empower with strong feelings, you create more of”. So in the context of an unfulfilling job, that person would be creating more things that show up in his or her relationships, likely, poor health, the finances – also which cause misery and leave our friend unfulfilled in these areas, too.

You see how that works?

So how do you turn this dynamic that doesn’t serve people very well around? (At least when they’re in jobs that do not give them joy, causing them “lack of joy” in other areas too.)

Well, you give your attention to “what gives you joy, inspires you and moves you closer to your goals, desires and dreams”.

Because with that focus, *that* becomes what you’re giving your attention to and empowering with strong feelings, and that also becomes what you’re creating more of.

I’m not suggesting you walk into the bosses office and say “I quit, take this job and shove it” or anything drastic like that.

Not at all, because we also know that “everything that happens is for my betterment” so there are many positive benefits from your current position, if you don’t love it each day.

Although, as an example, if you’re not really satisfied by your current work and you dream about working for yourself, doing what you love…. then start tonight educating yourself on how to start your own business, the right way, how to market effectively, how to set up an order-pulling website…

Give yourself the training you need to begin doing what you love, outside of your day-job hours.

And because you’ve taken the time to do that effectively, from the get-go, you’re likely to succeed with that, and eventually make more than the day job pays, and you reach the point where you know you would be doing what you love – all the time – and making more money than you would where you’re an employee… and then – as long as it feels joyful to you – it may be the right time to exit that “direction” and change paths to being self-employed.

It can happen at a pace that feels right and appropriate for you.

And notice how the new direction still demonstrates “The First Covenant of The Affluent Class” because working for yourself is what you’re giving your attention to and empowering with strong feelings, and you’re manifesting that new life, in what I refer to as “in style and ease and grace and comfort and joy and expedience”.

Therefore, that’s exactly what you’re creating more of!

Which career path will you now focus on – the right way – and empower with strong feelings… knowing that’s what you’re then manifesting more of?

Begin doing that at once!

How can you begin living “The First Covenant”… starting today? Go to https://www.PersonalGrowthCafe.com and begin doing the “Crash Course on Creating Your Ideal Life”, the $197 video training I created to make sure you’re mastering this power we’re all meant to be using effectively, each moment. Also, if working for yourself is your dream, then you will love “Your First Million Online”, which can be free when you give yourself “The First Covenant 30-Day Immersion”

((link that to: http://www.personalgrowthcafe.com/5DayPersonalGrowthFoundationFundraiser.html

June 27, 2012July 3, 2012

Speed Reading for the Rest of Us

Wouldn’t you love to dramatically increase the speed at which you read and comprehend? Imagine how many more books you could get through or how much time you could save!

Speed-reading isn’t some magical process. Instead, it’s largely good habits coupled with effort. Nearly everyone can increase his reading speed to over 1,000 words per minute when reading content of average difficulty.

If you want to learn to read faster, you’re in the right place. But before you get started, you should measure your current reading speed. You can only assess your improvement if you know where you started.

Grab a book that’s of average difficulty for you, set a timer for 5 minutes and read. When the timer goes off, count the number of words you read and divide by 5. That’s how many words per minute you read currently.

Techniques for Speed-Reading

1. Cultivate chunking.Chunking is the idea of reading more than one word at a time. Slower readers tend to read one word at a time, while fast readers can read 5 or more words per glance. So someone reading 5+ words per glance is only looking at 2 or 3 spots per line of text.

• Obviously, this is much faster than reading a single word, moving your eyes, reading another word, moving your eyes, and so on.

• How do you get better at chunking?Start with two words at once, then move up to three words, and continue in this manner. This technique is more of a habit than anything else. With a little practice, you’ll be reading several words at a glance.

2. Avoid sub-vocalization: This occurs when you say to yourself the word that you’re reading. It can be silent (in your head), or you may actually move your lips as if you’re saying the word very quietly. This is very slow, and interferes with speed-reading; the average person can process words in their mind much more quickly than they can speak.

3. Keep an eye on yourself.Slower readers tend to have undisciplined eye movements. They are all over the page:they backtrack and re-read the same words, and they tend to lose their spot. This is simply bad habits and poor concentration. Good reading speed requires intent and focus. Force yourself to concentrate and keep moving forward.

4. Set your intention.One of the best ways to learn to speed read is to simply read faster. Even though at first you’ll be reading slightly beyond your ability to comprehend the reading material, pushing yourself trains your eyes and brain to work at a higher rate.

• If you’re pushing yourself to 1,000 words per minute regularly, when you fall back to 800 words per minute, you’ll feel like reading is a piece of cake! Just keep pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone.

5. Regularly measure yourself.Once a week, measure yourself to see where you stand. Keep in mind that some books are tougher to read than others. Be sure you’re comparing apples to apples.

Speed-reading is really just a collection of good reading habits, intention, and concentration. Anyone can dramatically improve the rate at which they read. Start practicing today and you’ll read faster in no time.

June 25, 2012July 3, 2012

Virtues of Living Simply

Have you ever been so overwhelmed by your life that you wish you could just chuck it all and live a simpler existence?

What’s fascinating is there are so many ways you can alter your life to make it easier for you and your family to enjoy everything that life has to offer. Living simply encompasses many positive qualities.

Whether you quit your job as an accountant and buy your own little bed and breakfast inn or move closer to the office, sell your car and walk to work, the possibilities are endless in terms of how you can live a simpler life.

Here are some ways that living simply can benefit you:

1. You’ll save money. When you restructure your life to live more simply, it usually involves spending less money. The impact of saving money is great if you’ve got children who’ll be going to college. Also, the money you don’t spend due to living simply can be banked for your own retirement.

2. You’ll spend more quality time at home. When you make an effort to simplify, you clear away the chaff. Eliminate activities from your schedule that don’t benefit you. Your spare time increases when you live a simpler life.

3. The things you truly enjoy will be at your fingertips. There are certain items you love and others you can clearly do without. Get rid of the items you no longer have a use for.

• For example, maybe you love your iPad, books, and drawing utensils, but you no longer need your fishing poles, the trampoline, and a closet full of outdated files.

• Living simply gives you quick and easy access to the things you love without having the clutter and mental baggage around you of the things that no longer benefit you. Plus, it will leave more space for the items and activities that bring you pleasure.

4. Your surroundings will be more comfortable. As you adapt a minimalist lifestyle, you’ll find yourself rearranging your home exactly the way you’ve always wanted. You’ll focus on comfort. A good reading light, a cushion behind your back, and a long afternoon to spend in your beloved home may be exactly what you seek to feel the comfort you’ve been lacking.

5. You’ll experience more serenity in your life. After all, when you have fewer personal belongings, there’s less to worry about, clean, and take care of. Tranquility is the end result.

6. Your children will grow up to be less focused on material goods. When you live minimally and raise your children in the same ways, they’ll learn about living a simpler lifestyle. You’ll introduce them to an easier, less frivolous way to live, grow, and prosper.

7. It’s less important to follow the crowd or keep up with the Joneses. As you disconnect from the hustle and bustle of going through the motions just because others do, you’ll eventually arrive at what’s actually the main elements of life for you and your family.

8. Your health will likely improve. If you simplify by buying more locally grown produce and fewer processed foods, your family’s health will improve. More fruits and vegetables and fewer canned and boxed items will reduce unwanted sodium and chemicals in your nutritional diet.

• Remember, there’ll be more time for exercise when you step away from the rat race a well.

9. Your life will revolve around your priorities. What’s important to you? When you simplify, you’ll surround yourself with things that matter to you and participate in activities that have meaning to you.

The virtues of living simply are countless. Depending on how you decide to simplify, you’ll begin to experience more joy and serenity.

Cutting out the extra junk in your life will pave the way for you to live exactly the way you want, with a life that’s brimming with activities and things you love. Discover the deeper meaning and purpose of a life lived simply.

June 25, 2012July 4, 2012

Love Your Home: Creating Your Own Paradise

Do you have fantasies about where you’d like to live someday? Maybe it’s a beautiful little seaside town in the south of France or a log home in the mountains of Denver. Fortunately, you can have a bit of your dream right now, where you live today, without uprooting your life!

Although it’s important to strive toward making your dreams a reality, you’ll live a happier existence in the meantime if you work to create your own paradise wherever you live.

Try some of these tips to ensure you’re living your best life in the here-and-now:

1. Accept where you’re living. Whether you’re in a one-bedroom apartment or your great aunt’s condo downtown, for now, you’re calling it home. This is your own bit of paradise for today. Tell yourself that you’re okay living where you live because it’s simply a stepping stone that will lead you to the place you want to eventually be.

2. Set the mood. Do you wish to lift your spirits and energy level when you walk in the door? If so, decorate with brighter colored textiles in furniture, upholstery, and curtains. Have splashes of vivid art on the walls.

• If you prefer to set a calm and tranquil tone in your own little heaven, use calmer colors like sage greens, beige, and mocha to present a more serene picture when you enter the room.

• No matter where you live, you can set the mood you want most by painting your walls and using evocative colors.

3. Consider options for your comfort. Do you want different furniture pieces to make your space fit you better or be more comfortable? Maybe you need a more efficient desk to sit at when you’re working at home. Perhaps different lighting fixtures would help.

• The key to creating your sanctuary is to set up each room exactly how you want it. This can be done on a budget, too. You don’t have to invest a fortune to create the look and feel that you desire. Consignment shops and thrift stores can be great sources for inexpensive items for your new look.

4. Learn to love the home you have. Find specific aspects of your space that bring you joy and contentment. Maybe it’s the way the sun streams in the east window of the kitchen in the mornings. Or perhaps you enjoy the open layout between the kitchen, dining, and living room areas. Notice and take full advantage of what you do like about your home.

5. Check out design websites, apps, and books for décor ideas. Look for inspiration such as furniture arrangement, carefully placed treasures, wall colors, and use of textiles to obtain the look and feel you want. Recognize that regardless of the size and location of your home, there are countless ways to alter it to suit your tastes and introduce the qualities you want.

Show some love to yourself and your home by creating a sanctuary right where you live now. With just a few simple changes and a fresh perspective, you can have your own paradise no matter where you live!

June 25, 2012July 4, 2012

It’s Okay to Cry

You might remember back when you were a kid how your mom always told you to stop crying. You’ve probably heard a parent at some time in your life tell his kids, “Stop that crying, it doesn’t do any good” or “Stop crying or else I’ll give you something to cry about!”

Seriously, if a child is crying, it’s a clue he’s already got something to cry about. Depending on the era you grew up, your parents might have handled kids crying in some pretty creative ways. Frankly, crying is really no big deal. In fact, many experts believe crying has some usefulness to our lives.

Did you know that crying has a scientific name? It’s called “lacrimation.” Most people haven’t heard it. Even so, every person on earth has shed tears at some time in his life. Crying is one experience that every human being has shared.

Why People Cry

Crying really doesn’t hurt or damage a situation or people. Crying is a healthy expression of emotions. Particularly for children, experiencing feelings you don’t understand can be pretty confusing. And those feelings of confusion and frustration can quite easily be expressed by crying.

Some people cry when they’re sad or melancholy. Others cry when they’re frustrated or angry. Still, there are those who cry when they’re afraid. Whatever the reason, emotionally healthy people do feel the need to cry occasionally.

Do You Allow Yourself to Cry?

If you’ve ever experienced feeling like you want to cry yet holding in your tears, you know how uncomfortable it can be. What were you experiencing at those times? It practically makes a person feel physically ill to withhold crying even though the emotions and body are sending signals that it’s time to cry.

Interestingly, contrary to what many people think, when a person cries, it tends to last for just a few short minutes. Once the initial troubling feelings are expressed, they’re released.

The act of crying has a calming effect on the body as one’s breathing often slows down. After shedding tears, you’re then free to go on with your day.

Crying and the Grief Process

It’s natural to experience sad and lonely feelings related to a loss of someone or something important. During grieving, you might cry periodically over a few days, weeks, or months. Between crying episodes, you might feel fine. However, the grief eventually returns.

Grief has a way of washing over you in waves. But then, minutes later, you’re feeling better. When grieving, sometimes a good cry is all you need to release troubling emotions for the moment. Over time, you’ll feel less and less like crying.

Research on Crying

Recent research reported on the Science Daily website indicates that two-thirds of people studied reported feeling a boost in their moods after crying. The study also deduced that people who have diagnosed mental health conditions of anxiety or other mood disorders might not feel better after crying. In summary, healthy people who cry feel better when they’re finished crying.

Consider crying a normal part of life that will occasionally happen. Let go of your fears regarding crying. However, in the event you or a person you know is crying practically daily for several hours each day or not feeling any better after a “good cry,” it’s probably time to check with your doctor to ensure you nip in the bud any conditions requiring attention.

Go ahead and let yourself cry if you feel like it – you’ll feel calmer afterward and be ready to confront your day with a renewed passion and motivation.

June 24, 2012July 4, 2012

Enjoy Lifelong Learning on a Shoestring Budget

Lifelong learning enables you to enrich your mind and expand your career opportunities even if you completed your formal education a long time ago. If you’re on a limited budget, there are still many ways, both in your community and online, to build your knowledge and skills.

Educational Opportunities in Your Community

1. Visit your local library. Borrowing books is a good enough reason to make a trip to your local library, but they now offer much more. Search the downloadable media for audio books and test-preparation guides for graduate school exams and civil service tests. Browse the event calendar for free lectures and courses.

2. Give yourself a museum membership. Museum memberships are a great bargain compared to the ticket prices for sporting events or movies. Being a member will usually give you access to special events and classes for the whole family.

3. Take advantage of education benefits at work. Check your employee manual for tuition discounts and other benefits your employer may offer. Ask if you can organize a lunchtime speaker series. Many local professionals will welcome the opportunity to share their expertise on financial management or vegetarian cooking.

4. Do an internship. In a tough job market, internships are one way to get the training you need to succeed. Target organizations where you can make a contribution while learning new skills.

5. Volunteer your services. Volunteer work goes far beyond stuffing envelopes. Sign up to assist with a project outside your usual line of work. Most communities have nonprofit clearinghouses with a wide variety of choices or contact a favorite charity you already support.

6. Let your kids instruct you. Ask your kids to teach you what they’re learning in school. It’s a great way to help them master their coursework while you pick up a new language or review geometry.

7. Teach a class. Try teaching a class on a subject where you have some expertise at your local church or community center. Preparing for classes and interacting with students is an effective way to deepen your own knowledge.

8. Retire to a university town. University towns are becoming increasingly attractive to those who are retiring with smaller savings than they expected. You get access to all kinds of educational resources with a lower cost of living than many major cities.

9. Search for financial aid. If your goals require that you go back to school, there are options for defraying the costs. Talk with the financial aid office at the university you select about scholarships, loans, grants, and veteran benefits that may be available to you.

Educational Opportunities In The Digital World

1. Take free university courses. Hundreds of respected universities and colleges offer free online courses. You can download audio and video courses from Oxford or Ivy League schools on every subject imaginable, from poetry to physics.

2. Switch to smarter YouTube channels. Tear yourself away from the videos of kittens petting puppies to visit organizations like the Aspen Institute that airs nonpartisan seminars on critical world issues or the Nobel Prize where past and current Nobel Laureates talk about cultural and scientific advances.

3. Turn on the subtitles. Foreign movies are a fun way to help you learn a new language or brush up if you’re getting rusty. Use the subtitles while you watch to learn correct pronunciation and expand your vocabulary. Some television stations also air subtitled foreign news programs where you can learn about world events while you improve your language skills.

Enjoy the thrills of new discoveries and the satisfaction of improving your mind. Many educational opportunities cost little or nothing, so all you need is a commitment to lifelong learning.

June 13, 2012June 18, 2012

Advantages of Being Assertive

In an average day, you probably have a number of opportunities to openly express yourself.

Stating your preferences in simple, honest terms can help you build the life you seek.

Enjoy these benefits by building your assertiveness skills and putting them into practice:

Cultivate contentment with life. The more you ask for what you desire, the more likely you are to get it. When you regularly obtain what you want, you’ll find more satisfaction in your life.
Have freedom to ask for what you want. In being assertive, you can feel free to share your emotions with others in appropriate ways, without hurtingtheir feelings.
Enjoy more stable relationships. One of the wonderful side effects of demonstrating effective assertiveness skills is that you’ll experience more stable relationships with less conflict.

Although you most likely understand what being assertive involves, you may be thinking that sometimes responding passively is best. After all, you’re an easy-going person and you don’t expect to be satisfied all the time. But when you act passively, you run the risk of holding in your feelings and becoming dissatisfied because of it.

Keeping emotions inside can take a toll on relationships.Trying to dismiss your emotions instead of discussing them can result in speaking inappropriately later when you finally let out your frustrations. This type of response can be damaging to any relationship.

You have a right to be open and honest about how you feel in your interactions with others. And if you express yourself assertively, chances are good the other person will not be hurt or offended. Most likely, they’ll listen and respond to your needs, which can only improve your emotional connection.

Others see you as honest.When you habitually communicate assertively, people know you aren’t going to pull any punches. They believe you’re going to honestly say how you feeland they don’t have to worry about what’s going on with you.
Manifest greater self-confidence. Interestingly, the more you express your own wants and needs, the more your confidence will grow. Those who assert themselves regularly in the course of their daily lives tend to believe they’ll be successful in whatever they do.

When you state what it is you’re after, people are often willing to accommodate you. How’s that for a confidence-builder?

Attune yourself with your self-worth. Can you imagine doing anything that will make you feel more worthy than simply and honestly asserting yourself? After all, nothing else says, “I know that I’m a worthwhile person” better than being forthcoming about what’s on your mind.
Set the example. As you freely and appropriately express yourself, those around you see the enriched life you lead and are encouraged togo after those same rewards. They’ll emulate the confidence you demonstrate with your assertiveness skills.

The more you speak up for your desires, the better your life becomes. Practice assertiveness daily. When you do, you’ll inspire those around you and ignite your own passion for life.

Make sure you’re effectively using your power to manifest everything you want. Do the “Crash Course on Creating Your Ideal Life” video training for free at the Personal Growth Cafe.