Personal Growth Cafe

June 9, 2019March 23, 2018

Achieving Balance in Your Life

Finding balance in your life can be difficult to do, especially during these stressful days.

There’s family and work obligations, plus extra-curricular activities for your kids and unexpected situations.

It’s no wonder that you’re feeling out of balance and overwhelmed!

There are things you can do to achieve balance in your life.

Below are great starting points to get you on the road to a well-balanced life.

1. Start using a central calendar for every member of your family.

This calendar can be a shared calendar online using Google Calendar, or it can be a paper calendar stuck on the fridge.

Either way, have each family member write their activities on the calendar and be sure to include the time, location and mode of transportation.

This way nothing gets missed and you can plan your schedule accordingly.

If there are conflicting activities, this is a good time to teach your family about compromises and the give and take in relationships.

There are ways to work things out and a little lesson in selflessness never hurt anyone.

2. Take a look at your daily routine. Are there activities you can cut out to make your life more balanced?

In this society of rush-rush, convenience, and got-to-have-it-all or do-it-all, you may be feeling overwhelmed by all the extracurricular activities you’re involved in.

As you look at each activity, ask yourself:

Is this activity necessary for my well being?

Can I live without being involved in this activity?

Is this improving my life or is this overwhelming me?

Is this helping others or is it purely for self-gratification?

Is this going to help me achieve my career, family, and personal goals?

The answers to these questions will help you clean up your schedule and continue to enjoy the things that are really important to you and your family.

3. Establish a daily routine.

Routines help us stay on task and get things done without procrastination.

Without a daily routine, you tend to wander aimlessly, instead of engaging in tasks that take you down the right path toward your goals.

If you work from home, it’s easy to wander away from your daily routine because you can set your own schedule, so it’s especially important to have a routine and work diligently at sticking to it.

Whether you work out of the home or you’re a stay at home mom or dad, a daily schedule is vital.

Following an agenda will help you achieve your daily, monthly, and yearly goals.

4. Set goals for yourself, your family and your career.

Without goals, you have nothing to work for and you’ll feel lost without purpose.

Talk about making things feel out of balance! Some worthwhile goals to reach for might be:

Losing weight
Starting your own business
A new house
A new car
Establishing a budget and sticking to it
A pay raise
A promotion
Learning a new skill or trade
Writing a book

Those are just a few ideas to get you started thinking about all the possibilities available to help you achieve more balance in your life.

Balance in life is something that requires constant attention and resilience.

Don’t let the busyness of life get in the way of living your life to the fullest.

You can accomplish it when you work at it.

Keep trying and you’ll be amazed at the stability that comes your way.

How often do you spend time for yourself, your friends and family?

What activities do you do to strengthen the relationships you have?

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.

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June 8, 2019March 23, 2018

My dreams are within reach.

June 8, 2019March 23, 2018

Becoming Your Own Number 1 Fan

If you’re looking to lead a happier life, believing in yourself is an absolute necessity.

If you don’t believe in yourself, how can you expect others to believe in you?

You may have gone through some rough times in your life making it difficult to be the happy person you want to be.

Maybe you even suffer from a lack of self-confidence because of past conflicts and pains.

No matter what you’ve been through, you can choose to overcome these obstacles.

It’s time to be your own Number 1 fan and there’s no better time to start than right now!

1. Gain more confidence in yourself by facing your fears.

Fear of failure may have caused you to ignore your dreams, desires or goals.

Don’t let fear stop you from getting what you want and achieving your goals.

If Thomas Edison had been afraid of failure, we wouldn’t have the luxury of indoor lighting today.

He never gave up trying to find the right way to make a light bulb and he experienced over 10,000 ways of how not to make a light bulb.

Just because you don’t reach your goals or dreams the first time, don’t give up. Keep trying until you succeed.

Fear of being alone may stop you from going away to school or moving to a new city where you can pursue your dreams.

Realize that you will make new friends and that you’re current friends will always be there.

Now with the Internet, staying in touch with your friends and family is easier and more convenient than ever.

Once you begin facing your fears, you’ll discover that what you feared may not be such a big deal after all.

But, you’ll never know until you start.

2. Self-talk can also determine whether you believe in yourself or not.

Do you often say negative things like, “I’m an idiot,” or “That was a dumb thing to do,” or “I’m ugly?”

How you perceive yourself comes out in what you say.

However, what you say to yourself can also change how you see yourself.

Start speaking positively to yourself, about yourself.

When you’re getting ready for the day, while looking in the mirror, point out positive characteristics about yourself and say them out loud.

Phrases such as:

“I am an attractive person.”

“I am a good parent.”

“I am a hard worker.”

“I love myself.”

“I like how I look in these clothes.”

“I am brilliant.”

Even if you don’t believe it, say it! You’ll soon realize these things really are true.

You can also post positive quotes or scriptures where you would see them several times a day to keep your spirits high.

3. Insecurity can be a source of disbelief.

Learning to be more secure in certain areas of your life will help you believe in yourself more, plus others will begin to believe in you as well.

There may be certain areas in your life that you feel you need to work on, so work on them!

Are you bad at financial management?

Take a class to help you learn how to budget so you can be in control of your money, instead of your money controlling you.

Are you a slow reader?

Take a speed-reading class or get a tutor to help you build speed.

Do you find it challenging to speak in public?

Take a public speaking course or become an intern for an organization where you must speak in public.

Is your weight stopping you from believing yourself?

First of all, remember that today’s society has a skewed view of beauty.

Don’t allow the media to determine your worth!

However, if your weight is at an unhealthy level, learn how to eat healthy and get regular exercise to take some weight off.

No matter what’s stopping you from believing in yourself, there’s a way to overcome it.

You’ll first need to figure out what’s causing your self-doubt.

Is it fear, insecurity, mental attitudes, or something else?

Only then can you face the obstacle and overcome it.

When was the last time you appreciated yourself?

What skills do you need to develop to become better than what you are now?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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June 7, 2019March 23, 2018

I contribute to the lives of others each day.

June 7, 2019March 23, 2018

Building Rock-Solid Friendships

Friendships are one of the most important relationships we have as human beings.

Without friends, we would feel lonely, rejected, and left out.

Even in a marriage, we need friends outside of the relationship to fulfill our social needs or help us through difficult situations.

Building rock-solid friendships takes loyalty, trust, and honesty and it can’t happen overnight.

Most people have rock-solid friendships with only a couple of people or a handful at the most.

The truth is a friendship is about quality, not quantity.

Yes, you can have several friends, but most are merely casual friendships and don’t have that deep inner connection.

A good example of this is Jesus.

He had 12 disciples, but only three were considered as his closest companions, Peter, James, and John.

Jesus had companionship with all 12, but only three were truly close to him, like a best friend.

The Friendly Sacrifice

Being a true friend also requires sacrifice. In a rock-solid friendship, we may be asked to give up our desires for our friend’s needs.

Our friend may need us when it’s not so convenient for us, like in the middle of the night.

In a rock-solid friendship, this would involve sacrificing the comfort of a good night’s sleep in a nice, warm bed in order to be there for our friend.

But that’s what friends do!

Give and Take

In a rock-solid friendship, there is both give and take. There are mutual feelings between the parties and it’s never one-sided.

That doesn’t mean that there won’t be conflicts because we’re human, after all.

However, when there is a conflict between two very close friends, the struggles usually don’t last long because there is forgiveness, understanding, and communication.

Forgiveness means that you let go of any malice or grudges and you move forward at peace with one another.

Understanding comes from knowing your friend inside and out – knowing where they’re coming from and knowing what they’re going through.

Communication means that you connect with your friend with an overall understanding of his or her relating style.

When a friendship is truly rock-solid, the parties are real with each other; there are no facades, no masks and no secrets.

There is trust, honesty, sincerity and loyalty, however, and this comes only as a friendship grows.

How to Connect With a New Friend

You may have stumbled upon someone new by chance or through friends and if there is enough common interest, you may decide to meet again.

Sounds pretty obvious, right?

With each encounter you have, your relationship grows and strengthens.

Then as you continue to get to know one another, the communication gets easier and you become more comfortable with each other.

The key here is that it can’t happen overnight.

If you try to force it, you may make the other person feel uncomfortable and threatened, so go at a smooth and steady pace.

Showing Your True Colors

As the friendship continues to blossom, casual friends build trust and loyalty through both the peaks and valleys of life.

However, it’s in the difficult times that a person’s true colors are revealed.

When you’re going through a tragedy, a personal crisis, or simply a rough patch, it is the rock-solid friends that are there to help lift you back up.

Friends Help Friends Grow

True friends help each other grow mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.

A true friendship requires both unconditional love as well as tough love.

Building a rock-solid friendship takes time to achieve, but once you’re in a rock-solid friendship with someone, you will know who you can trust.

Neither distance, nor hard times can spoil a truly rock-solid friendship.

How important is friendship to you?

How are you showing your friends that you value them and all that they have done for you?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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June 6, 2019March 23, 2018

Coping with Stressful Changes in Your Life

Life is constantly changing around us, in us, through us, and about us.

It’s inevitable that there are going to be changes throughout life.

Some will be good, some bad, and some indifferent.

Some you like, some you hate, and some just don’t matter.

Obviously the changes you like are easy to deal with and you might even look forward to it!

What about the changes in life that aren’t so peachy? How do you handle those?

Let’s explore some of these common changes and the best ways to cope with them.

1. Job Loss

Job loss is on the forefront of almost every American’s mind right now as the economy declines more and more each day.

This type of change can be very stressful, if you allow it to be.

However, by looking at the situation differently, job loss doesn’t have to be stressful.

When you’re faced with job loss, try to think of it as a new opportunity to try something new or something you’ve always wanted to do.

Some ideas are:

Take some evening classes to learn a new skill or trade.

Make arts, crafts, or jewelry and sell it online or at craft fairs.

Teach others what you know through tutoring or consulting.

Start an online business.

The point is to take a step out of your comfort zone and see the many opportunities that lie before you.

Stepping out of your comfort zone isn’t easy though, is it?

It does take effort and courage.

When you’re stuck in your comfort zone, well, you’re just that – stuck.

Who wants to be stuck?

I don’t and I would venture to say that neither do you!

To get unstuck, take a step out of your comfort zone and look at other possibilities, instead of stressing over the changes that lie ahead.

2. Moving

How about moving or transferring to another area?

That can be a pretty big change that could cause a lot of stress.

The best way to cope with this situation is to look at it as a time to refresh and renew.

I know this can be difficult sometimes, especially when you love the area you live in now.

And, of course, you’ll miss all your friends, family, and familiar sites.

Moving away from people you love can be very stressful and difficult, but it doesn’t have to be!

You can look at the big move as an opportunity to stretch your horizons and meet new people.

Your friends and family will still be there, and you’ll still be able to keep in touch with them on a regular basis.

But you’ll also grow roots in other places, and you just might build even stronger friendships and relationships than you’ve ever imagined!

Focus on the New Opportunities

There are always positive ways to look at things and when you train your minds to look at change as opportunity, instead of stressing out about it, you’ll be happier and healthier.

Here are a couple of other common life changes that tend to be stressful, but can be seen as an exciting, new opportunity:

3. Unexpected Pregnancy – An unexpected pregnancy obviously can cause stress financially, emotionally, physically and mentally.

However, it’s a wonderful opportunity!

An opportunity to love a child and to give life.

A new opportunity to make some lifestyle changes or to give life to someone who can’t have children of their own through adoption, and so much more!

4. Children Growing Up – A child going off to college or moving away from home is a huge change that many find difficult to deal with.

Once again, look at the opportunities available not only to you, but for your son or daughter as well.

Maybe you’ll be able to downsize your home, saving you hundreds of dollars each month.

Or perhaps your bond with your partner and friends will grow and strengthen during this time.

Not to mention the growth and experience your child is going to gain as they grow and mature out in the world on their own.

How you choose to handle a situation will determine how much stress you’re going to allow on yourself.

You can either look at it as a new opportunity or a dreadful scenario. The choice is yours.

But the sooner you begin to look at life changes as new opportunities, the sooner you’ll enjoy a less-stressed life!

What recent change in your life has caused you stress?

How are you coping with this challenge?

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!

June 6, 2019March 23, 2018

Developing a positive attitude results in positive experiences.

June 5, 2019March 23, 2018

I make time for fun.

June 5, 2019March 23, 2018

Discovering Happiness in Your Life

Happiness is a choice. It’s true.

You can choose to let life’s circumstances get you down or you can choose to be happy no matter what challenges life brings.

Happiness is already within each of us and we are born to be naturally happy!

For example, have you ever noticed how infectious a baby’s giggle is?

So why is it that, as we get older, we forget where to find happiness within ourselves and, instead, allow outside forces to determine our happiness?

You can determine your own happiness by following these simple strategies:

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

Cliché, I know, however it’s so true.

You don’t have to let life’s troubles and problems get you down.

Yes, there will always be troubles because no one is perfect, but you can choose your reaction to situations.

Look at the positive side of things and work hard to see the good in people and circumstances.

Find something you love to do and do it.

Do you have a lifelong dream or desire?

If so, start working toward it. Taking baby steps towards a dream or goal will help you feel like you’re accomplishing something.

You’ll find drive and determination to reach that goal when it’s something you love to do.

Do you have a gift or talent you’re not using?

One reason so many people are unhappy is that they’re not doing what they’re called to do with their God-given talents.

Each and every one of us has a purpose in life.

You have natural gifts and talents to help you achieve your purpose, so use your gifts effectively!

When you’re feeling down, don’t wallow in your sorrows alone; do something about it.

Call a friend who you know is positive and cheerful.

Talk about your feelings and listen to their advice.

So often, people allow themselves to go deeper and deeper into self-pity or depression because they think it has to be that way.

The truth is, you don’t have to be sad and you shouldn’t be.

You can decide to be happy. You just have to make up your minds to do so.

Think about all the things you have to be thankful for.

Often you get so caught up in what’s wrong with your life that you forget to look at what’s right and good.

Take a step back and reflect on your life.

How far have you come from, say, six months ago?

Do you have children or family to be thankful for?

Yes, they may not be everything we’d like them to be, but imagine life without them.

Now, be thankful that you have them in your life.

Do you have a job?

Maybe it’s not your dream job, but in today’s economy, those of us who have a job should be thankful for it.

When you’re feeling down, journal your thoughts and feelings.

Often you’ll find that just getting your feelings down on paper will allow you to work through them, helping you to feel better about yourself and your beautiful life!

If you’ve been prone to look at life negatively, then you’ll have to put more effort into seeing and choosing happiness.

But don’t let that stop you from being happy!

You, too, can learn to be happy.

Practice the steps above and train your mind to focus intensely on the positives.

When you feel a negative thought coming on, or your mind gravitates toward the negative, learn to recognize it, stop it in its tracks, and then start thinking happier thoughts.

Starting from this moment onward, make the conscious choice to be happy!

How can choosing to be happy help you become a better person?

How can you bring happiness in your life today?

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!

June 4, 2019March 22, 2018

Posts

Achieving Balance in Your Life

My dreams are within reach.

Becoming Your Own Number 1 Fan

I contribute to the lives of others each day.

Building Rock-Solid Friendships

Coping with Stressful Changes in Your Life

Developing a positive attitude results in positive experiences.

I make time for fun.

Discovering Happiness in Your Life

My habits support my vision.