Personal Growth Cafe

April 26, 2019March 13, 2018

I am a better me today because I endured and overcame conflict.

I am a strong and more confident person because I can overcome conflict.

I make the conscious decision to discuss my difficulties, rather than run from them, and I can stand my ground.

I am who I am today because of everything that has occurred in my life.

My experiences have given me the opportunity to be stronger, braver, and look at things in a new light.

I choose to learn from difficulties and succeed.

Many people have conflict in their life, and I am no exception.

However, I refuse to be the victim, nor do I allow the conflict to have adverse effects on me.

I choose, instead, to conquer my conflicts.

I have the choice to let conflict win or to overcome conflict and be the victor.

I choose to overcome.

I can endure anything that life throws my way and I make the most of every opportunity.

I continue to apply what I have learned to make my life what I want it to be.

I lend my experience and my strength to others so that they, too, may be victors over their own conflicts.

Today, I will live life as a champion over my conflicts.

I will offer my strength to others and use my experiences to gain a brilliant wisdom.

How can you endure difficult situations?

How have you grown through your life experiences?

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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April 24, 2019March 13, 2018

How to Create Effective Goals

We all have things we want to accomplish in life and, for the most part, we do our best to achieve those goals.

Sometimes, however, we manage to set goals that aren’t effective or achievable and this can cause us a great deal of strife.

How do you know if your goals are effective and achievable?

The first thing to do is jot down the resources you’ll need to attain your goal, both physical resources and mental ones.

If there’s something you need to complete before you can make your goal a reality, prioritize the steps you must take to complete that task first.

Once your resources are in place, you’ve opened up the highway for achievement. Let’s see how to enter the on-ramp so you can be on your way!

Here are some strategies you can use to create effective goals you can achieve:

1. Make sure your goal is specific. Set a measurable goal so you can reach it and succeed.

Determine exact numbers and dates of whatever it is you want to accomplish.

Saying your goal is to be a faster runner or a better cook doesn’t work since there is no specific end target.

You won’t be able to judge if you’ve ever reached that goal because, no matter what, there’s always room to be better at something.

On the other hand, saying your goal is to “increase your running speed by shaving 10 seconds off the time it takes you to run your course” is specific and you can tell when you’ve reached it.

2. Your goal must also be attainable and realistic.

You wouldn’t set your goal to lose 30 pounds in the next 5 days, because it’s just not realistic.

Setting a goal to lose 30 pounds over the next 10-12 weeks is a real and attainable goal.

Unattainable goals are counterproductive.

Not only can you never complete an unattainable goal, but it can also prevent you from even trying.

By setting a goal you cannot possibly meet, you’re setting yourself up for failure.

3. Give yourself a time limit for your goal. Setting a deadline makes the goal a priority, keeps it in your mind, and makes it easier to achieve.

If you know you only have a specific time in which to achieve something, you tend to focus more time and energy on that task.

If you have a big goal, then divide it into smaller goals, or steps.

Smaller goals keep you focused on attaining the bigger goal as long as they’re related to each other.

For example, if your goal is to be promoted in six months, then establishing six one-month goals designed to improve your work performance will contribute to the overall goal.

4. Write down your goals. Most people have more than one goal at a time.

You can set goals in many different areas: family, work, health, education, hobbies, or any part of your life in which you’d like to make changes.

The question is how to handle all these goals at the same time.

Writing down each goal can help you organize them and better motivate you to work toward achieving them.

Once you have them written down, you may see ways they connect to each other and can devise ways to work on them at the same time.

For example, let’s say one goal you have is to get a job making more money and another is to continue your education.

Once you complete your education you should be able to land a better job.

See how one goal feeds another?

Perhaps one goal is to spend more time with your family and another one is to workout.

Well, if you exercised as a family once or twice a week, you’d accomplish both goals at the same time.

Using these goal-setting tips will make your goals more effective and achievable.

Once you’ve created your objectives, make a plan of action steps and stick with it.

In time, you’ll achieve these goals and you will have a system in place for any endeavor!

How important are goals in your life?

What are the short term goals you are working on right now?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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April 24, 2019March 13, 2018

Behold the turtle. He only makes progress when he sticks his neck out. – James Bryant Conant

April 23, 2019March 13, 2018

One problem in gazing too frequently into the past is that we may turn around to find the future has run out on us. – Michael Cibenko

April 23, 2019March 13, 2018

How to Break Out of a Bad Mood

Bad moods are the dumps.

No one likes bad moods and even more so, no one wants to be around someone who’s feeling sour.

A bad mood is a great way to bring you – and everyone around you – down a dwindling spiral.

So how do you shake off a bad mood?

It’s easy! Just try out one of these simple ideas to turn your frown upside down:

1. Get dressed. That’s right.

Get up, take a shower, put on some nice clothes and gussy yourself up to the nines.

Studies have shown that your mood has a lot to do with your self-image.

How different do you think your self-image is between a just-rolled-out-of-bed look and a ready-to-hit-the-ground-running look?

By getting dressed and doing what it takes to make yourself look good on the outside, you feel better on the inside.

When you feel better on the inside, your mood changes significantly and you’re ready to face the day.

2. Get moving. Exercise releases hormones that help alter your mood.

Cleaning your space gets you moving and makes you feel better about your surroundings.

It doesn’t really matter what you do; just get up, get out, and get moving.

Many times your bad mood can be amplified by your lack of movement.

Getting up and doing something, whether it’s exercising or even walking over to the nearest coffee shop, can give you a big mood boost.

3. Read a book.

Reading a book takes you to a different place and allows you to step into someone else’s shoes.

Why not pick up a book by your favorite author and let them transport you out of your bad mood for an hour or so?

3. Meditate.

Deep breathing exercises and a focused mind can break you out of any sour mood.

Remember back in grade school when you were taught to take deep breaths and count to 10 when you got angry?

It was actually for a very good reason.

When focusing on one thing and breathing deeply, our bodies tend to respond in a positive way by relaxing and releasing tension.

4. Hang out with friends.

What are friends for?

Be around any of your good friends for any length of time and you’ll be snapped out of that bad mood so fast you won’t even know what hit you.

5. Laugh. There’s no possible way that you can laugh and stay in a bad mood.

It’s proven that your emotions follow your actions, which is why many therapists recommend taking action to cure things like anxiety and stress.

Next time you’re in a bad mood, try laughing.

I guarantee that you can’t stay in your bad mood after more than 5 minutes of continuous laughter!

6. Treat yourself. Do something just for you. You deserve it anyway.

The key is to just go a little overboard and do something you wouldn’t ordinarily do.

Have fun with it and make it memorable.

Go shopping for one of your favorite articles of clothing and splurge a little if you can afford it.

Have a massage or spa treatment.

Similar to the meditation, this is a great tool to relax and break you out of whatever might be dragging you down.

If you’re short on funds, go dream shopping.

Go to one of the most expensive stores around and try on clothes or go test drive your dream car.

Give yourself a reason to get back into the swing of things and get rolling again.

Get a hot fudge sundae with extra hot fudge.

While there are many other ways to shake yourself out of a bad mood, these are a few great ways to start.

Try some of them next time you’re feeling down.

Better yet, see how many of them you can make it through before your bad mood has completely vanished.

My guess is you might only make it to the second tip, then you’re just doing it because it’s fun!

What can you do to get you back into the right mood?

How can having a good mood help you be happier despite the challenges you face?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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April 22, 2019March 13, 2018

How to Boost Your Teen’s Self-Esteem

Teens are stuck in an in-between world.

They’re neither children nor adults.

They’re adjusting to both physical and mental changes, including emotional extremes caused by additional activity in the part of the brain that regulates emotions.

Needless to say, for many teens, this is a confusing time!

Along with the normal confusion, teens often suffer from low self-esteem and peer pressure.

Females are more prone to self-esteem issues and often get more attention for the problem, but males are just as susceptible.

In fact, any teen is vulnerable to self-esteem challenges.

As parents and involved adults, it’s our responsibility to help teens foster a healthy self-esteem.

It’s an ongoing process and there are no shortcuts.

Teens need to be constantly reminded that they’re great kids and we’re proud of them.

Follow these strategies every day to boost your teen’s self-esteem:

1. Take the time to talk with your teen.

While your teen may not want to talk to you, make sure they know you’re available if they change their mind.

Sometimes just knowing you’re there for them makes a difference.

Part of talking with a teen is actively listening.

Teens with self-esteem issues often feel that no one listens to them or cares about what they have to say.

Show them you’re listening by letting them finish and then asking questions about what they said.

2. Encourage your teen to live a healthy lifestyle.

Many times problems can manifest when teens are couch potatoes or have unhealthy eating habits.

When a teen eats a well balanced diet and gets a regular amount of exercise, it’s easier for them to feel better about themselves.

Schedule your teen for a full check-up with your doctor.

Your primary health care provider can rule out any physical causes for your teen’s low self-esteem.

They may also recommend additional steps or counseling that can help.

3. Encourage your teen to get involved in an activity they enjoy.

It could be any activity, club, or organization.

Getting them involved in something will help them realize they’re more normal than they think!

Encourage their individuality and interests by letting them pick the activity.

Give them the freedom to express themselves by getting involved in their own interests and passions.

4. Set a positive example for your teen.

No matter how distant your teen may seem, they still model your behaviors closely.

If they see you have a self-esteem issue, they may mimic that. Set an example with a positive attitude towards yourself and others.

5. Help your teen set goals and celebrate when they reach them.

Start with small goals that they can achieve in a short period of time.

When they reach the goal, celebrate with them.

If it takes longer to reach their goal, keep encouraging them.

Show them that taking definitive action to achieve their goal is just as important as reaching the goal.

Let your teen know that it’s okay to change their goal along the way.

This is the way of life and an important skill teens need to learn.

When circumstances change, we may need to re-adjust our plans.

If your teen understands this, it will help build their confidence.

6. Let your teen know you’re proud of them.

When they score an A, tell them how great they did. If they got a C, it’s just as important that your teen knows you’re proud of that grade as well.

Encourage them to do their best and be proud of them when they do.

A teen’s self-esteem can be fragile.

All the time you spend building your teen’s self-esteem can be torn down in one afternoon.

7. Teach your teen that learning to deal with disappointment, criticism, and challenges is an important life skill.

Talk to your teen about how important it is to know they’re still a great person worthy of love and affection, no matter what life may throw their way.

As with anyone, teens will have good and bad days.

Never be discouraged or give up on them.

Follow these strategies and soon enough, you’ll know that you’re on the right path.

Your teen will go through mood swings, but with time and love, they’ll emerge as a strong and confident adult.

What activities can you and your teen do to help boost your teen’s self esteem?

How can sharing your own experiences help your teen think positively?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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April 22, 2019March 13, 2018

If you don’t like something, change it; if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it. – Mary Engelbreit

April 21, 2019March 13, 2018

How to Boost Your Income by Boosting Your Attitude

Far too often, we allow our actions to be ruled by our emotions.

It’s a fact: negative thoughts and feelings have a detrimental effect on every aspect of our lives, from family to our work and social lives.

What would things be like if we transformed negative thoughts into positive ones?

Changing how we feel about ourselves can truly change our direction in life!

Living in the present and having a positive outlook about our future can help us reach goals we once thought were impossible.

Having a brighter outlook on life can open our eyes to more possibilities and encourage us to move in new and exciting directions.

How can you attain a better outlook on life?

It all has to do with the way you see yourself.

Having a positive and outgoing attitude is the key to changing your self-concept, boosting your income, and improving your life.

Here are some techniques you can use to boost your attitude:

1. Get control. Figure out the things that make you unhappy and find ways to change them for the better.

A positive outlook can change everything in your life – you just need to believe in yourself first.

Loving yourself is the only way you’re going to allow others to see you in a positive light as well.

If you project negativity, you’ll be viewed as a negative person.

Realizing you can’t control how others think and feel about you is critical to getting control of yourself.

You have the power to work on ways to make yourself happy.

Avoid doing something for the sole purpose of making someone else happy.

It must be about you. This isn’t about being selfish; it’s about being true to you.

2. Change the way you think. Negative thoughts beget negative actions.

Make a conscious effort to change the way you react and deal with situations.

Look for the silver lining instead of focusing on the negative attributes of situations and people.

If you think positively, you’ll act positively.

Those positive thoughts and actions will keep many anxieties at bay.

Through positive thoughts and actions, anything can become a reality.

3. Be your own cheerleader. You’re your own best cheering section.

So many times in life, the things we do go unrecognized by others, whether it’s at home or work.

When this happens, step in and praise yourself!

Private affirmations can make you feel better about yourself when others fail to verbalize their gratitude.

By actively projecting a positive outlook of yourself, you will push yourself further to do better the next time.

Doing so will also bring you the confidence to explore more areas in life.

4. Dream it into reality. Misery loves company, and if you believe you’ll never achieve anything, you can create a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Dream big and dream often!

Figure out what you want in life, and set your dreams into motion.

Want a better job? Take the necessary steps to make it happen.

You’re the biggest obstacle holding you back.

A positive attitude can change your job situation, relationships, and life.

If you feel better about yourself, other people will feel the good vibrations you’re giving off.

You’ll appear more confident and have a better chance of taking on whatever life throws at you.

If you believe in yourself, you can continue to accomplish bigger and better things.

Whether you’re working to advance yourself in your present job or starting an entirely new career, your self-confidence and positive attitude will increase your income.

Your fresh outlook will energize your work and stimulate your creativity.

As you continue to boost your attitude on a daily basis, you’ll see that your optimism will soon lead you to bigger and better income opportunities as well!

How important is having a good attitude despite the things we encounter in life?

How can being positive help make you feel better during hardships?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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April 20, 2019March 13, 2018

Find Inner Peace in Chaos

Life can be truly hectic, even chaotic, if we don’t stop now and then to take a few minutes for ourselves.

With the invention of computers, our work lives were supposed to get easier, but it’s gotten busier than ever before!

The original mentality was that computers would allow us to get the same amount of work done in half the time.

That idea went out the window when we realized we could now get twice the work (or more) done in the same time.

Now our world has become so fast paced that it’s hard to keep up.

If you don’t stop the pandemonium, you can begin to feel as if your life is descending into a chaotic jumble.

Luckily, there are ways to deal with these overwhelming feelings and put some order back into your life.

Here are a few tips on how to turn your chaos around:

1. Take a break. Give yourself a chance to take in everything going on around you.

Even if your break is a nice hot bath instead of a shower, it can help.

Find a little time here and there to get some peace and quiet while you reflect on the events of the day.

2. Meditate. Meditation can be very helpful in bringing you peace.

Meditation doesn’t mean sitting uncomfortably and chanting like the monks in the movies.

Instead, it’s a very comfortable and soothing way to calm your mind and bring you the serenity you desire.

With a little practice, anyone can meditate. Just find a quiet, dark room and close your eyes.

Picture yourself on a bridge. Imagine you’re carrying chains with heavy weights at the end.

The weights represent your problems and the chaos around you.

Now imagine throwing those chains into the water and watching them disappear forever.

This imagery will help you settle into your meditation. Once you’ve cast away your burdens, you can imagine how peaceful your life can be.

3. Find the positive. No matter how chaotic things get, you can always try to find something good and positive in your situation.

Actively look for the silver lining. It could be something as simple as a favorite song, a picture, or the smile of another person that gives you some inner peace.

Look for these things and you will find them.

4. Slow down. While we have to multitask almost constantly these days, doing so tends to wear us down even faster.

Multi-tasking adds to the chaos around us.

Take one thing at a time and allow yourself to focus on that task alone.

While you may be able to handle three or more things at once, the quality won’t be nearly as good as if you focused on them one at a time.

5. Don’t let anyone drag you down. Be wary when considering the opinions of others.

Don’t ignore everyone, but don’t let yourself get bogged down with other people’s baggage and their issues, either.

Remove your personal chaos causers, even if one of the causes is other people.

6. Take out the drama. Eliminate the drama in your life, especially other people’s drama.

It’s not your concern, so stay out of it and don’t get caught up in it.

Focus on solving your concerns positively rather than enjoying pity parties. This will reduce the drama and turn your focus to something positive.

Everyone has some chaos in his or her life. It isn’t always a bad thing. Stress can be productive as well.

In fact, without stress and responsibilities, some people would never get out of bed!

Life will always have stress and problems, but how you react to them can dictate the level of chaos in your life.

The first step is realizing that you need to make some time for yourself. If you don’t, nothing you do will really make that much of a difference.

You can’t be there for everyone else if you aren’t taking care of yourself.

Use these tips every day to bring order to your life, and soon you’ll find peace instead of chaos.

How important is peace in your life?

How do you find inner peace during busy and tiring days?

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!

April 20, 2019March 13, 2018

Posts

I am a better me today because I endured and overcame conflict.

How to Create Effective Goals

Behold the turtle. He only makes progress when he sticks his neck out. – James Bryant Conant

One problem in gazing too frequently into the past is that we may turn around to find the future has run out on us. – Michael Cibenko

How to Break Out of a Bad Mood

How to Boost Your Teen’s Self-Esteem

If you don’t like something, change it; if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it. – Mary Engelbreit

How to Boost Your Income by Boosting Your Attitude

Find Inner Peace in Chaos

Let us not look back in anger or forward in fear, but around in awareness. – James Thurber