Personal Development and Self-Help – Page 8

September 11, 2017September 26, 2017

Breaking the Procrastination Habit with Positive Self-Talk

Are you a reluctant procrastinator? Do you always wait until the last moment to get things done? Do you find you are always putting things off until you can’t put them off any longer? Are your friends, family members, and co-workers frustrated with the way you tackle projects of any size? If so, you aren’t alone. Procrastination is something many people deal with. Although it can be hard to change overnight, positive self-talk is a great way to stop procrastinating and change your life. Positive self-talk can help turn you from a procrastinator into a doer.

Using Positive Self-Talk to Stop Procrastinating

Positive self-talk is a great way to stop procrastinating because you can talk yourself out of procrastinating the minute you start! The problem for most of us who procrastinate is that it is just the way we do things. We don’t even necessarily think about why we procrastinate. It’s our normal approach to life, and it’s hard to stop something we have been doing for so long. Positive self-talk is a great approach to stopping procrastination as it starts because the self-talk occurs in the moment!

Positive self-talk is the practice of responding to your mind’s thoughts as they happen. If you know you have a big project you need to start working on today and you think it can wait until tomorrow, for example, you can stop and remind yourself that it needs to be started today. During those moments when you want to wait until tomorrow, you can use positive self-talk to make sure you don’t put off until tomorrow what needs to be done today. Positive self-talk can stop the negative internal dialogue before it gets to the point of being overwhelming.

Many people use affirmations to help with positive self-talk. Affirmations are positive statements you can use to help you steer clear of procrastination. You should repeat these affirmations when you feel the urge to procrastinate.

An example of an affirmation that may help you with procrastination may be: “I feel no need to create obstacles for myself. I move forward, stronger than ever,” or, “By keeping organized and using my time wisely, procrastination melts away.” These are concise statements that can be memorized so no matter where you are when you begin to procrastinate, you can repeat these positive statements to yourself. Doing this helps you to talk yourself out of procrastination mode.

As you can see, positive self-talk is a great way to combat procrastination. You can reprogram the way you think when you use your affirmations. If you stop procrastination in its tracks each and every time, soon the habit of doing things when they need to be done will replace the habit of procrastination.

Once you repeat the process of positive self-talk many times, you’ll be able to combat procrastination, lead a much less hectic life, and the people in your life will thank you for the change in the way you deal with things! When used effectively, positive self-talk can change your life for the better. So stop procrastinating and start talking to yourself!

Where do you tend to procrastinate?

How will positive self talk help you beat procrastination?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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September 9, 2017September 26, 2017

Myths About Confidence You Want to Stop Believing

Did you know there are multiple myths about confidence that can affect you? If you want to strengthen your self-esteem, then it’s important to eliminate these misconceptions and focus on reality.

Learn more about these myths:

Myth 1: Success is necessary for confidence. Although success can give your confidence a boost, it’s not a requirement to have it.

You can have confidence without great success.

It’s important to take note of small accomplishments. Even simple things like making your bed every day or listening to a friend’s troubles have value.

In fact, experts share that in order for you reach the highest levels of success, you need to have confidence first. You can start small and watch it grow over time with new goals being reached.

Myth 2: Only extroverts can be confident. You can be an introvert and still have high confidence levels.

There are extroverts who aren’t confident.

Being an extrovert or an introvert isn’t the reason why you have or lack confidence. There are other factors involved.

It’s not necessary to be an extrovert to have confidence. You don’t have to be the center of attention or attend every party to get noticed. Confidence is internal and depends on your thoughts.

Myth 3: You have to be confident all the time. The truth is that confidence levels can go up and down.

You don’t have to be confident every hour of every day.

Your self-esteem will change and fluctuate over time. According to experts, this is normal and not something to be concerned about.

You may have fears that cripple your confidence on occasion. The key is to work through them and keep going. Feelings of uncertainty and insecurity will happen.

Myth 4: You have to love being the center of attention. You don’t have to be at the heart of all conversations and activities to have confidence.

It’s normal for confident people to want to avoid the spotlight sometimes.

In addition, many confident people still hate public speaking and large parties. Confidence isn’t directly linked to being the center of attention.

Myth 5: You must be born with confidence. Although some people seem to naturally have more confidence, you don’t have to be born with it.

Confidence isn’t built into your DNA like eye color or hair color.

Instead, it can be learned and acquired over time. For example, you’re not born with a natural ability to write or read. You learn these skills as you get older, and the same concept can be applied to confidence.

It’s possible to develop more confidence. It’s also possible to conquer the fears that are holding you back.

Myth 6: Comparing yourself to others will increase confidence. Whether you compare yourself to people who are ahead of you or those who are behind you, this is not the way to increase self-esteem and confidence.

Research shows that comparing yourself to others actually hurts your confidence levels.

If you’re focused on others and their success, then you’re not growing yourself. You’re not working on your own issues and challenges to reach higher.

By looking at other lives and contrasting them with yours, you’re feeding your insecurities. It’s also important to remember that you rarely know the full details of another person’s existence.

Confidence myths can inhibit your progress and hurt your self-esteem. You don’t have to believe these myths anymore. Leave them behind and start building greater confidence today!

What makes you feel confident in your abilities?

How can being confident impact your life now?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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September 7, 2017September 26, 2017

9 Actions That Will Enhance Your Personal Efficiency

Do you ever reach the end of the day, feel exhausted, but feel like you accomplished very little? Meanwhile, your coworker seems happy and relaxed and managed to accomplish a lot? Everyone has a different level of efficiency. Luckily, you can get more done and feel better at the end of the day than you do right now. You can be more efficient in all areas of your life.

Soon, everyone will be wondering how you manage to get so much done!

Accomplish more and set a new standard for personal efficiency with these strategies:

Take regular breaks. Avoid working for longer than an hour without a break. A short 5-minute break each hour can result in getting a lot more accomplished over the course of a day. You’ll stay fresher and enjoy your day more, too.
Many hands make the work go faster. Be willing to delegate when possible and appropriate. You can get a lot more done if you get a little help. Whether you’re at work or at home, get the help you need. Don’t be shy about asking for assistance.
Get enough sleep. Study after study has shown that everyone requires at least seven hours of sleep to be at their best. That includes those people that swear they only need five. Your performance improves in every way if you sleep at least seven hours. It’s okay to use a nap to reach that total.
Make a list of things to do. You’ll never wonder what to do next if you have a list prepared ahead of time. The best time to make your list is the night before. Make a list before you turn out the light.
Assess your progress throughout the day. When you measure yourself, your behavior changes. Just the act of checking your progress will change your focus. See how well you’re doing at regular intervals. If you have tasks that must be done each day, this can be a convenient way to measure yourself.
Note the gap between activities. Perhaps you’ve been working hard, but once you complete a task, you might find that you take quite a while to start the next task. The process of stopping and starting can be a big time-waster. You might want to use a timer to keep yourself honest. Give yourself a set amount of time before returning to work.
Use small amounts of free time wisely. Maintain a list of small tasks that you can complete in just a minute or two. When you have small chunks of time, you can pull out your list and knock those items out. Your list might include things like:

Checking email
Checking voicemail
Cleaning your desk
Making a phone call

Do one task at a time. Let go of the idea of multitasking. You’ll get more done and avoid wearing yourself out if you focus on one task at a time. Focus all your resources on a single task.
Stay organized. A messy workspace kills efficiency. You can’t find what you need quickly. You lose papers. The clutter is mentally fatiguing. It takes a lot of effort for some people to stay organized, but it’s worth the time and energy.

You can improve your standing at work and at home by increasing your efficiency. It can be as simple as planning your day, getting enough sleep, and taking regular breaks. You can get more done, in less time, with a few simple adjustments.

How do you plan to use your time efficiently?

What things would you consider changing in your daily life after reading this post?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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September 6, 2017September 26, 2017

Discover the Power of Self-Care to Fight Stress

Chronic stress and anxiety can wear you out. However, self-care can be a powerful remedy that restores your mind and body.

Try these self-care techniques to find relief for your stress:

1. Make your health a priority.

You may have stress coming from multiple directions such as work, school, family, kids, neighbors, or others.

However, it’s important to establish your health as a top consideration. Find a balance between taking care of others and taking care of yourself.

2. Understand the fundamentals of self-care.

Self-care is a conscious effort to put yourself first. It requires you to take time for activities that nourish and sustain your body, mind, and spirit.

* When you make it a priority to take care of yourself, you build a lifestyle that focuses on healthy choices. Build self-care into your daily habits, such as eating a healthy breakfast and exercising.

3. Start with one healthy habit a day.

If self-care isn’t a normal part of your life, it may be difficult to get used to it. However, you can start with one small habit and you’ll see positive changes.

* By implementing one healthy habit each day, you’ll begin your journey of taking better care of yourself.

* The habit can be a tiny change, such as eating oatmeal for breakfast or having a salad for lunch. The key is to pick something small that is easy to do. Then, you can build from this foundation and add other habits.

* If you try too many activities at once, you’re likely to get overwhelmed or discouraged.

4. Find your own path.

It’s easy to get caught up in the self-care practices that others use. However, it’s more effective to find your own path to wellness.

* Find the tips and habits that work best for your lifestyle. You may not have time to eat a healthy lunch or exercise every day. There are other ways to take care of yourself.

Be willing to experiment with different ideas to figure out which self-care practices work well for you.

5. Continue growing.

It’s not enough to add one self-care habit and move on. Stress will continue to be a factor as long as you’re on this planet. It’s important to discover new self-care habits to alleviate your stress.

* Over time, the stress may come from different directions. For example, if your job is going well, you may suddenly discover issues at home. If your family life is fine, you may be worried about getting laid off.

* You may feel overwhelmed at times and as if you’re taking steps back. Nevertheless, continue forward and make self-care a top priority.

* As your life changes, your self-care habits will also change. You might find that oatmeal for breakfast starts causing stomachaches, or injuries prevent you from exercising every day.

Self-care can come from multiple channels. You can change things up and still find success. Self-care has an important role in the battle against stress. It’s a vital part of staying healthy and maintaining wellness.

What causes your stress?

How can you go about your daily life while caring for yourself?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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September 6, 2017September 26, 2017

I am comfortable with my skin

September 5, 2017September 26, 2017

I nourish my spirit

August 30, 2017September 26, 2017

Discover Simple Tricks to Stop Overthinking and Find Mental Peace

Are you overthinking to the point of paralysis and fear? Is your mind filled with so many thoughts that you don’t know what to do next or how to handle it?

If overthinking is causing you to struggle, you’ll be glad to know that it’s possible to find mental peace again.

You can learn to calm your mind, achieve greater focus, and find the direction that is right for you!

Use these techniques to help quiet your mind and experience greater peace:

1. Avoid obsessing about completely silencing the mind.

You may wish that you could stop your thoughts altogether. However, this isn’t the best tactic for dealing with overthinking.

* The more you try to stop thinking, the more your thoughts will flow. The opposite of what you want actually starts to happen.

2. Understand that you’ll always have thoughts.

All human beings have thoughts. Recognize this is a normal process. Although you can learn to silence your mind in certain situations, you can achieve great peace by learning to take control of what you think, instead.

3. Avoid judging your thoughts.

It’s tempting to get upset if you have negative thoughts or emotions. You may be quick to judge and try to squash them.

* Instead of judging and criticizing your thoughts, accept them for normal human emotions. Acknowledge them and then move on. Learn to love your mind. This will help your mind calm down because you won’t be fighting internally.

* Remember, you wouldn’t be able to appreciate the positive thoughts if you never had negative ones.

4. Try to stay present.

Overthinking often comes because you’re worried about the future or regret something that has already happened. You allow stress and anxiety to take over. You start imagining different outcomes, with most of them being negative, and you start living in fear.

* If you stay in the present moment, then fear can’t take over, and overthinking isn’t an issue. You’re able to focus on what you have to do each day to survive and thrive.

5. Be okay with the world.

The word okay doesn’t mean perfection. It also doesn’t mean awful. It’s the balance between positive and negative. It’s the thin line between them that allows you to find mental peace.

* Being okay also means that you learn to accept what is happening in your life.

* Being okay may mean that you learn to love where you’re at and what you’re doing right now. You learn to appreciate what you have and the people around you. It’s important to find gratitude in the little things.

* You don’t have to pretend that negative things don’t exist, but you can avoid focusing on them. Center your attention on appreciating life.

Your thoughts can save you, but they can also destroy you. Your mind can be a busy place, so it’s important to learn ways to deal effectively with some of the thoughts. Strategies like these can help you deal with your overthinking so you can find peace.

When do you feel you overthink?

How important is peace of mind in your life?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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August 30, 2017September 26, 2017

My life is full of motivation and purpose

I am able to motivate myself easily. Because I know my purpose, motivation comes to me naturally.

Motivation is the key to accomplishing things with enthusiasm. I can do anything if I am enthusiastic.

Regardless of the task, I have plenty of motivation to carry me through to the end.

Motivation is a renewable resource. It must be replenished regularly.

My attitude is another great advantage I have.

My motivation determines what I do, but it is my attitude that ensures that I do things well. I avoid mediocrity and live life at a high level.

My purpose is clear to me. Whenever I am feeling lost, I remind myself of my purpose.

My purpose guides me each day. I consider my purpose before making any big decisions. Knowing my purpose makes my life easier because I remain grounded and certain.

I receive comfort and peace from knowing what I need to do. Knowing my purpose is the starting point of my achievements.

Being consistent in my purpose is the secret of my success. I know who I am and what I want.

Today, my life is full of motivation and purpose. I remind myself that spending time on my purpose increases the level of motivation I experience. My purpose is clear to me.

What is your source of motivation?

How do you motivate yourself?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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August 30, 2017September 26, 2017

Five Strategies to Stop Doubting Yourself and Pursue Your Dreams

Whether you feel that achieving your dreams are a long way off or just a few moments away, it’s essential that you feel confident that you can reach them.

The key to getting your dreams to become a reality is to believe in yourself and your abilities. Only you can make them come true. Only you can stop the doubts.

If you’ve doubted whether you can reach your dreams, try these strategies to regain your confidence:

1. Learn to recognize self-doubt.

Are you aware of how much doubt is affecting your dreams? The first step is to recognize the power that self-doubt has over you.

* You may have a dream, but are you actively pursuing it? Doubt can paralyze you and stop you from going after your dreams. It can creep in slowly and destroy them. You may not even notice how much it’s hurting your dreams.

2. Avoid letting your struggles stop you.

Struggles can increase your doubt about your abilities to achieve your goals. They can cause you to give up and walk away – if you let them.

* Struggles and challenges are a natural part of the journey toward your dreams.

* Rather than pretending that the issues don’t exist or that you can avoid them, face them head on. Know that you can find a solution and continue moving forward toward your dreams. It might be a different path than what you originally planned, but consider that it might be even better, too.

3. Recognize excuses.

If you don’t believe in yourself, then you can create many excuses to stop going after your dreams. You may tell yourself that you’re not worthy of your dreams or that they’re foolish. You may convince yourself that you don’t deserve success, happiness, or other good things. Doubt can make you stay in a comfortable place that isn’t fulfilling.

* Your excuses might include that you don’t have enough time or resources to achieve your dreams. You may also blame your family, background, or other features of your life.

* Recognize that you’re using these reasons for excuses. For better results, think of them as simply challenges that you can find a solution to, and get busy!

4. Act with confidence.

Even if you’re scared to step forward, it’s important to act with confidence. The old cliche of “faking it till you make it” can apply here. You must go after your dreams with passion and confidence even when you’re scared and uncertain.

* Practice by doing things that take a little (not a lot of) courage. Not only will you get some things done, but you’ll also have more self-esteem because you’re doing things that scare you. You can build up your confidence over time with little steps.

5. View your challenges in a new way.

Life is filled with teachable moments that can help you get to your dreams. Usually, they take the form of challenges.

Challenges can shape and transform you. Instead of thinking of your challenges as failures, look at them as learning opportunities, or results that can show you a new, more effective approach.

* Each challenge gives you the chance to experience something new and learn from it.

* They’re a sign that you’re growing as a person and making progress. They mean that you’re getting closer to your goals. They’re the stones in your path that act as markers for the final destination of your dreams.

Self-doubt can destroy any dream. It can make you feel like you’re worthless. It can make you think that your dreams aren’t possible and will never happen.

But this isn’t true! You can defeat this negative thought process with strategies like these. Regain your self-confidence and go after your dreams!

How can doubting impact your life?

How can doubts hinder you from fulfilling your dreams?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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August 30, 2017September 26, 2017

Seven Habits – Seven Days: Boost Your Self-Confidence in One Week

The benefits of a healthy amount of self-confidence are many. When you’re self-assured, it’s easier to achieve your goals, others are naturally drawn toward your charisma, and you feel more comfortable in any situation.

Life is easier with self-confidence. Do you wish you had greater self-confidence?

Luckily, increased self-confidence is just a week away!

Add these easy habits to your daily routines and feel the difference:

1. Be a sharp dresser.

Wearing torn, old, or faded clothes negatively affects your confidence. Research shows that dressing well can boost your self-esteem.

* You don’t have to spend an enormous amount of money on expensive designer outfits. When shopping, be frugal but buy nice clothes. You’ll have fewer items of clothing, but the ones you have will bring you confidence each time you leave the house. The key is how you feel in an outfit.

2. Think positive.

Each time you notice a negative thought about yourself, switch your focus to something more positive. Negative thoughts drain your self-confidence.

* For example, if you have a thought about not accomplishing all of your goals, you can counter it with what you have accomplished. Have ready answers for any negativity.

3. Speak slower.

This may seem like a strange way to increase your confidence, but research shows that those who have higher self-esteem talk slower. Learn to speak slower and pause more often. Your words matter and you don’t have to rush them to express yourself.

* People who are not confident in their words or themselves tend to speak very fast.

4. Volunteer more often.

Volunteering can raise your confidence levels in multiple ways:

* Volunteering can increase your skills.

* It can show you that others value your work and ideas.

* It can also help you understand your strengths and weaknesses.

* It gives you the ability to give back and earn gratitude from others. You’ll feel better and appreciate life more.

5. Start a healthy habit.

A healthy habit such as exercising on the weekends or eating a fruit at breakfast is an excellent way to boost your self-esteem. You’ll be able to feel confident that you’re following through with your goals.

6. Focus on your body language.

Are you scared to raise your head and look people in the eye? Are you frightened to stand up straight and walk with confidence? Your body language shows the world your confidence – or lack of it.

* Mimic strong body language even if you’re not feeling confident. By looking more confident, you’ll start to feel this way.

7. Make lists.

There are several types of lists you can make to increase confidence:

* The first is a list of your accomplishments. Dig deep and include all of the rewards, ribbons, and other prizes you’ve won. Include things from both the past and present on this list.

* The second list is the things that you’re grateful for right now. This list will show you that you have many things in your life that matter and make you happy.

* Post your lists in a prominent place in your home so you can see them on a consistent basis. If you incorporate these habits into your daily routines, you’ll enjoy increased self-confidence very quickly. The longer you follow these strategies, the greater your new-found confidence will grow.

How does self confidence help in your life?

How can these habits be useful in your life?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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