Life – Page 103 – Personal Growth Cafe

Making decisions in our lives – whether it’s what to eat for lunch or where to find your next job – can seem overwhelming.

Each decision carries with it a result and a chain of events that may dictate the course of our lives.

For those of us who consider every decision as life or death, day-to-day decisions can seem impossible!

To help you discover the finer points of decision-making, here are some valuable tips on how you can make decisions that you can live with every day:

Map out your decision. Start by evaluating the decision to be made.

What are the details?

By mapping out exactly what your decision will entail as far as consequences and results, you’ll be on your way to making an informed decision that you can live with.

Weigh pros and cons. This process is tried and true.

Make a list and evaluate the pros in one column against the cons in another.

Include short and long term consequences as well as positives and negatives.

Seeing the pros and cons before you on paper will make the matter at hand seem all the more evident as far as how you should make your decision.

In your evaluation, give more weight to the pros and cons that carry more weight in your life.

The quantity of pros or cons does not equal the quality.

For example, if one of your main priorities in life is to make more money, listing “make more money” on your pros column should count for more than one of the cons in the other column.

Become informed. Find out all of the related information you need to make your decision.

Being better informed through research or talking to others will help you make a decision you can live with.

Consider your motives.

While evaluating your list of pros and cons, consider what motives may be contributing to the points you added in both columns.

Revise or weigh accordingly.

For example, can the con on your list be attributed to your lifelong fear or is it merely situational?

In the case of fears, perhaps facing your fears should be part of the decision.

Facing the fear may be a pro as opposed to the fear being a con.

Give yourself a deadline.

When faced with an important decision, we tend to delay making the ultimate choice.

By giving yourself a deadline, you will have no other choice than to decide one way or another.

Look at the decision as part of the bigger picture.

Is this a small or large decision in the course of your life?

Decide which and evaluate accordingly.

If it’s small, perhaps you’re spending too much time and consideration on it.

If it’s larger, how will it fit in with the rest of your life goals?

By examining the decision for what it is in the short and long-term, you will better understand how the decision affects the bigger picture.

Recognize the relativity.

Many tough decisions can carry with them irrevocable consequences, but more often than not, there is always more time and more opportunity to make the decision again.

Worrying needlessly about one decision is futile.

Most decisions only determine your short-term circumstances in the relative present.

In most cases your decision can be altered in the future when circumstances are different or you’re in a different stage of your life.

Following these tips can transform decision-making from a stressful process into a process that gives you more confidence and control in your life.

Embrace decisions as the good thing that it is, and the result will be a happier, more confident you!

How could you take a more proactive approach to reach your goals?

How can you keep organized so you can eliminate procrastination in your life?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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January 13, 2018January 5, 2018

How to Jump Start Your Day During Your Commute

Whether you drive to work, take the subway, or hop on a bus, there are many different things you can do to get things moving in your day.

Commutes often take up quite a bit of time, especially during rush hour.

You may as well take full advantage of the time you have in order to ensure that your day is optimized for success.

There are many ways to jump-start your day while commuting to work.

Here are some activities you can do while you travel to get a great start to your day:

1. Listen to self-improvement audios.

If you’re traveling to work in your car, invest in some good self-improvement CDs, audio books, or MP3 downloads.

As you travel, listen to these CDs and learn how to unlock your potential, organize your day, prioritize, increase your self-esteem, or other key personal growth strategies.

iPods or MP3 players are perfect for those who carpool or ride a bus or subway to work.

Indulge yourself by listening to your favorite podcasts with your iPod, either entertainment, self-improvement or business-oriented.

2. Plan your day. If you commute by way of a bus or subway, or even in a car pool, you can take advantage of the time by planning your day or detailing project plans.

Write down notes about your various projects, prioritize your daily tasks by creating a to-do list, or schedule meetings by using your laptop or phone.

Be wary of talking on your cell phone while commuting.

Loud conversations can annoy other travelers and your reception might be spotty at times.

3. Take care of emails.

Email is a common time trap during the day.

If you have access to the internet during your commute, it may be an ideal time to check your email for any important information or to reply to those emails that have long been awaiting your response.

Taking care of administrative or simple email tasks on the way to work can help ease the load when you get to the office.

Organizing your inbox with filters and folders can make checking email a quick task.

Set limits about checking email once you reach the office to assure you’re working most efficiently.

4. Relax with hobbies or learn new things.

Use your commuting time to do something fun for yourself, such as studying a new language or learning about a topic that draws your interest.

You can keep your mind sharp and discover new things by taking the time you have during your commute to experience something different.

What have you always wanted to do but never find the time for?

Sit down with your favorite crossword puzzle or magazine, or watch a favorite television show on your laptop or phone.

Enjoy your time before work begins!

5. Eat breakfast.

If you’re running out of the house to catch a train or bus, take a minute to grab a healthy breakfast to eat on your way to work.

Many commuter stations have breakfast carts available so grab something to eat alongside your morning tea or coffee.

Not only will breakfast jump start your metabolism but you’ll also have increased energy by the time you reach the office.

These are just a few different ways to jump-start your day during your morning commute.

While you may only have a limited amount of time in the morning, you can really make the best of it!

What need have you been neglecting lately?

What will you do, today, to fulfill this need?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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January 13, 2018January 5, 2018

The obstacles of your past can become the gateways that lead to new beginnings. – Ralph Blum

January 12, 2018January 5, 2018

Because of my realistic expectations, there is no such thing as disappointment in my life.

January 11, 2018January 5, 2018

My expectations come with its own eraser, so I can always make changes at will.

January 10, 2018January 5, 2018

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

January 9, 2018January 5, 2018

I minimize time wasting.

January 9, 2018January 5, 2018

Overcoming Procrastination: Five Simple Ways to Get Up and Go

Procrastination: it’s something a good number of us tend to do, no matter what the task.

We know that putting something off doesn’t help us and it only makes things worse by adding stress to our lives, but knowing this only makes us procrastinate more.

How can you stop this vicious cycle, use your time more effectively, and get your tasks done sooner?

Here are 5 simple ways to get up and go and stop putting off things that must be done for the sake of bittersweet procrastination:

1. Determine why you delay working on your task.

Is it a specific task that you’re putting off, or do you procrastinate everything on your plate?

What is it about this task that stops you from doing it?

Are you scared of failing?

Do you fear that you’ll fall short of what’s expected of you?

Are you just lazy?

Are you resentful of whoever put this obligation upon you?

By evaluating the task, you can better understand what’s holding you back so you can complete the task more efficiently.

2. Make a plan.

When you make a step-by-step plan, you are setting a specific schedule and timeline to complete the task.

Write this plan down on paper.

Writing this list will help you better organize your thoughts and determine the small steps you need to take to accomplish your goals.

Give yourself attainable tasks on a daily, weekly or hourly timetable, as it applies to your situation.

You are less likely to be overwhelmed when you’re faced with small, manageable steps.

3. Be Realistic.

Be realistic about what you can achieve in your plan.

Doing so makes each step clearly attainable and you’ll be less likely to put it off.

Knowing your limits will make your goals seem easier and less of a mountain to climb.

4. Just Begin.

It sounds simple enough, but few heed this simple tip.

Most procrastinators find themselves prone to delaying the start of the task because it seems too overwhelming.

Instead, they stress and worry during the final moments before it’s due.

No matter how large or insurmountable the task may seem, beginning with even a small action will build momentum.

Simply beginning also tends to put the task into perspective and makes it seem more possible than ever.

5. Take Breaks.

Taking scheduled breaks while working on your task refreshes your body and mind.

If you go for a 10-minute walk or work on a Sudoku puzzle, you’ll feel re-energize and you’ll be in a better frame of mind to forge on.

Breaks, while refreshing, should be taken in moderation; you certainly don’t want to use breaks as an excuse to lapse back into procrastination.

Procrastinating is an ugly habit that many of us fall into.

Luckily, this bad habit can be overcome and if you are prone to procrastination you can become more proactive and productive.

Follow these 5 tips, practice them frequently, and with some time and patience you’ll find yourself getting more done, more often.

What can you do today to position yourself toward wealth?

What can you do today to begin the process of getting organized?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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January 8, 2018January 5, 2018

Making Lifestyle Changes Easier

At least 90 out of 100 people would tell you that they do not enjoy change.

Change is not easy because humans are creatures of habit.

You want to continue living in a certain routine once you have conditioned your body and mind to function in that way.

This makes you feel comfortable with your surroundings and decisions.

Even if you don’t like change, there are ways to make healthy lifestyle changes easier.

There are also tools you can use to welcome change into your life, even when you’re entering new uncharted territory.

Here are 3 ways to make lifestyle changes easier for you:

1. Determine Pros and Cons.

If you know you need to make changes in your life and you aren’t looking forward to doing so, you can do a simple exercise that will make the change easier to handle.

Take a sheet of paper, and on one side write “Pros,” and on the other write, “Cons.”

On the corresponding side you will write the pros and the cons of the change so you can see what the benefits and drawbacks might be.

You may realize as you complete this exercise that the very thing holding you back is the fear of change itself.

Seeing the pros and cons will help you realize how it will benefit you to make the change.

This allows you to warm up to the thought that change actually might actually be a good idea!

2. Incorporate the Change Gradually.

Another way to make lifestyle changes easier is to work up to them.

For instance, if the healthy lifestyle changes that you need to make center around ceasing your habit of smoking and drinking you may not want to quit cold turkey; instead you can work up to it.

Stop drinking every night with dinner, and then stop drinking for a few days at a time.

You can do the same thing with smoking so that you aren’t fighting the lifestyle change.

Preparing yourself both physically and mentally helps you to ease the change into your daily routine.

3. Use Affirmations.

Another way to help make lifestyle changes easier is to use positive affirmations.

Positive affirmations are statements that encapsulate the way you would ideally think or behave.

You can either create your own affirmations or look for statements that others have created.

The key is that you find an affirmation that speaks to you.

Words are powerful and, when you repeat the same words over time, they continue to resonate through your mind.

When the words are positive you’ll find that you can tap into the positive thought anytime or anywhere.

If you’re worried about making a healthy lifestyle change, you don’t have to be. Instead, you can remind yourself why you want to change by saying something like, “Change is healthy.

I do not get stuck in the same routines.”

When you repeat this often enough, it becomes your response to the anxiety you feel.

This makes changes easier for you to handle.

Some lifestyle changes are harder than others to become accustomed to even when we desire to make the changes.

Many times just one of these tips will help you to implement the change, while other times you may need to use a variety of methods to feel at ease about the change.

Use the “pro and con” method to see the benefits.

Then bring the change in gradually while you accept it through your affirmations.

These techniques will help you feel confident so you can enjoy the benefits of your new lifestyle.

How do you prepare for change?

What changes do you want to make in your life?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Before you leave…

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

Category: Life

In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity. – Albert Einstein

The Art of Decision Making: Tips on Making Decisions You Can Live With

How to Jump Start Your Day During Your Commute

The obstacles of your past can become the gateways that lead to new beginnings. – Ralph Blum

Because of my realistic expectations, there is no such thing as disappointment in my life.

My expectations come with its own eraser, so I can always make changes at will.

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

I minimize time wasting.

Overcoming Procrastination: Five Simple Ways to Get Up and Go

Making Lifestyle Changes Easier