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Category Archives: Ego

A Foolproof Formula for Doubling Your Confidence

Posted on December 2, 2020 - 10:43 am by
A Foolproof Formula for Doubling Your Confidence

Confidence is a state of mind, and it’s something that you can build up if you feel like your supply is running low. When you believe in yourself, you feel more secure, and you enjoy greater success.

Most of us have times in our life when fears and doubts undermine our faith in ourselves. You may experience setbacks that leave you feeling helpless. It’s also natural for confidence to fluctuate from day to day or vary from one area of your life to another.

There are concrete actions you can take to empower yourself. Study these tips to put together a foolproof formula for doubling your confidence.

Practice Self-Care:

  1. Eat healthy. Nourish your body and maintain your energy by choosing nutritious whole foods. Limit your consumption of sugar and salt. Eat more vegetables, legumes, and nuts.
  2. Exercise regularly. Physical activity strengthens your body and mind, enhances your body image, and boosts your mood. Find a variety of activities suitable for your fitness level. Find a workout buddy to join you.
  3. Sleep well. Most adults need 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night to function well. Establish a regular bedtime and stick to it as closely as possible even on weekends and holidays.
  4. Dress up. Do you like what you see in the mirror? Select clothing that flatters your figure. Try a new hairstyle or visit a makeup counter for suggestions.
  5. Clean house. Your surroundings can affect your confidence. Fight anxiety by clearing away clutter and maintaining a tidy home.
  6. Seek support. Self-confidence comes from within, but you can surround yourself with family and friends who reinforce your positivity. Confide in loved ones who give you constructive feedback and encouragement.
  7. Manage stress. You look more confident when you’re calm. Spend time each day engaging in relaxation practices like meditation or listening to music.
  8. Have fun. Do things you enjoy. It will help you to discover your strengths and express your creativity. Play with your children or take up a new sport.

Add to Your Achievements:

  1. Set goals. Create meaningful goals that give you something to strive for. Make them specific and realistic for you. Write them down and post them some place where you can see them.
  2. Give back. Cultivating a sense of gratitude will motivate you to contribute to your community. As you share your blessings, the world will seem safer and friendlier.
  3. Stop procrastinating. Do you have a project that you’ve been putting off? Break it down into smaller stages and take a first step. You’ll start building momentum and accelerate your progress.
  4. Change a habit. Pick one thing you want to change. You could start by correcting your posture or drinking more water.
  5. Study and practice. Increasing your competence can make your confidence soar. Commit yourself to lifelong learning. Read books and take courses online. Become a member of your local museum. Practice an enriching hobby like playing the piano or growing organic vegetables.
  6. Learn from experience. Disappointments are inevitable, but they don’t have to shake your faith in yourself. Take pride in putting forth effort and having the courage to go beyond your comfort zone.
  7. Think positive. Notice the happy events in your life and look on the bright side of difficult situations. Focus on solutions when you run into trouble. Talk to yourself like a cherished friend with messages that comfort and inspire you.

Healthy confidence is about trusting your ability to handle what comes your way. Take control of your life by making your wellbeing a top priority and working consistently toward your goals.

Free Yourself From Fears With Healthy Alternatives

Posted on November 25, 2020 - 10:55 am by
Free Yourself From Fears With Healthy Alternatives

 

Having fears is a natural part of life. However, when you allow a fear to alter the way that you live your life or the relationships you have with others, the fear becomes an unhealthy burden.

Below are two examples of common fears and scenarios of healthy and unhealthy reactions.

Fear #1: The Straying Partner

You fear that your partner is cheating on you. Even though you have no proof, you’re convinced because you’ve gained a considerable amount of weight.

Facing your fear:

In this example, you can overcome your fear by understanding that the fear is really a byproduct of your personal insecurities, rather than your partner’s disloyalty.

  1. Healthy reaction: Rather than accusing your partner of straying, ask them whether they’re unhappy with your weight gain. Communicate that you’re feeling self-conscious about your looks. Enroll in a weight loss program to boost your self-esteem.
  • This is a healthy reaction because you’re addressing the true issue, which is your newfound insecurity. Nothing in your partner’s behavior has changed; the only change in your relationship might be your self-esteem.
  1. Unhealthy reaction: You start riffling through your partner’s belongings and spying on their cell phone call logs, emails, and Facebook interactions. You discreetly drive by their workplace at lunchtime. Even after finding nothing, you continue to invade their space because you’re sure they’ll eventually slip up.
  • Clearly, this reaction is unhealthy because you’re allowing your insecurities to take over your life. You feel badly about your body image, and you’re subconsciously sabotaging your relationship by wrongfully accusing your partner.
  • If you wrongfully accuse your partner of straying, they’ll likely become upset that you’re giving your insecurities the power to tarnish their character. This wrongful accusation may lead to distance in your relationship and potentially irreparable damage.

Fear #2: The Concerned Parent

You fear losing your children. You love your children so much and shudder at the thought of your life without them. Thoughts of tragedy cross your mind from time to time.

Facing your fear:

In this example, you can face your fears head on by realizing that it’s impossible to shield your children from the world. Rather than stopping them from enjoying life, you can do everything within your power to ensure safe enjoyment.

  1. Healthy reaction. Ensure that your children know standard safety precautions, such as crossing the street with an adult and never talking to strangers. Have an extensive chat with other parents before allowing your children to spend the night at a friend’s home.
  • Every parent is concerned with his or her children’s safety. However, it’s important to understand that you can’t shield your children from the world. So, rather than tucking them away for yourself, allow them to experience life and do your best to ensure their safety.
  1. Unhealthy reaction: You choose to protect your children by refusing to trust anyone with their safety. You ensure that the only friends your children keep are cousins, family friends, and neighbors that you know closely. You limit your children’s experiences of the outside world because you fear that something bad will happen to them.
  • Keeping your children from making friends can cause social and emotional damage. Limiting their experiences also limits their ability to experience the successes that can grow their self-esteem.

Everyday fears have the ability to affect how you live your life. By conquering your fears rationally and maturely, you increase your quality of life. Face your fears in productive ways that move you closer to the happiness you deserve.

Tap Into Your Imagination and Release Your Creative Genius

Posted on November 18, 2020 - 12:57 pm by
Tap Into Your Imagination and Release Your Creative Genius

 

You have a powerful imagination even if you don’t realize it. Your brain is able to generate some great ideas.

While your imagination is always available, it’s not always at its best. It’s important to use it and feed it to keep it sharp. With a little work, your imagination will serve you well.

Who couldn’t use a great idea or two?

Try these techniques to release your creative genius:

  1. Spend more time alone. The most creative people also tend to be those who spend the most time alone. Your imagination can run free when you’re alone. People are distracting.
  2. Set aside time to be creative. Creativity and your imagination go hand in hand. Set aside some time each day to be creative. Your imagination will benefit, too.
  • The more you grow your creativity, the more your imagination will grow, and vice-versa.
  1. Set aside time to visualize. Practice visualizing each day. Visualize things you know. Visualize things that don’t exist. Really stretch your ability to see things in your mind. Here are two exercises to get you started:
  • Close your eyes and imagine a piece of fruit in your hand. Describe in detail what it looks like, how it feels in your hand, and how it smells. Now, take a bite and describe the taste.
  • Visualize yourself in a pleasant environment, perhaps the beach. Fully experience being in that place. What do you see, hear, smell, and feel? How real does it feel to you?
  1. Allow yourself to daydream every day. Allow your creativity to run wild. Daydream for at least a few minutes each day. Just see where your imagination takes you.
  • Avoid the temptation to steer your daydream in a particular direction.
  1. Create something from your imagination. Use your imagination to build something.
  • Suppose you wanted to build a birdhouse. Imagine every aspect of it in your mind. Decide on the dimensions without using a ruler. Plan out every aspect of it and then actually build it. Use only your memory and the necessary tools when it comes time to build. Evaluate how you did.
  1. Explore various creative avenues. If you love to draw, draw. But you’ll become better at drawing if you try your hand at painting, sculpture, or music. Branch out a little bit and your ability to imagine new things will grow.
  2. Withhold judgement. Judgment blocks creativity. If you fear being judged, your ability to imagine and create is greatly stifled. The surest way to worry about other people judging you is to be judgmental of others.
  • Also, avoid judging the ideas of your imagination. Allow them to take their final form before you critique them.
  1. Travel. New places lead to new thoughts and creations. The number and quality of ideas you generate is limited if you spend all of your time in the same 50-mile radius. Expand your horizons and get out of town, or better yet, out of the country.
  2. Spend time with new people. The same goes for spending time with a wide variety of people. Meeting new people will lead to new thoughts and ideas.

Provide your imagination with the fuel it needs to expand. Give it a workout each day. These two simple ideas are all you need to get a lot more from your imagination. New people, places, and creative experiences will give your imagination more to work with.

Using your imagination regularly will improve its performance and ability to communicate with you. Your imagination is a tool that’s too powerful to waste. Start using it today!

15 Tips for Beating Laziness

Posted on November 17, 2020 - 11:29 am by
15 Tips for Beating Laziness

 

Beating laziness is a necessary part of getting things done. Laziness can have a variety of causes. In most cases, the task that needs to be completed isn’t enjoyable. Or you lack inspiration. Mowing the grass when it’s 90 degrees outside is a good example of both.

Dealing with laziness is an important self-management skill. Getting things done when you don’t feel like doing them is practically a superpower. You’re unstoppable.

Beat laziness and accomplish more each day:

  1. Take frequent, short breaks. Tell yourself that you’ll work for 25 minutes and then take a quick break. Focus with all your might for those 25 minutes, and then relax for five.
  2. Be tough with yourself. Getting started requires the most willpower. Once you’ve gotten started, it’s easy to keep going. Grind your way through the first few minutes and then use the momentum to your advantage.
  3. Stand up straight. Slouching and laziness go together. Stand up tall and straight. You’ll feel better and more motivated.
  4. Monitor your inner dialog. Say positive things about the task at hand. Negative talk will stall your progress.
  5. Stop thinking about it. When you think about doing an undesirable task, you feel uncomfortable. That’s the reason you won’t do it. So, don’t think about it. Keep your mind on something else and get started.
  6. Keep it short and intense. Change your physiology, and your thoughts will change, too.
  7. Use a timer. See how long it takes you to complete the task. Make a game out of it. Another option is to set a timer for five minutes and see if you can perform the task for those five minutes without having even one negative thought. Timers are great for increasing focus.
  8. Get rid of the distractions. Get away from the TV and lock your cell phone in your desk.
  9. Keep your mind on a single task. Ironically, when you have a lot to do, it can be hard to do anything at all. Keep your mind on one task and forget about the rest. When this task is complete, the others will still be there.
  10. Think about how great you’ll feel when you’re done. Thinking about how dreadful the task will be is the best way to ensure that you won’t do it anytime soon.
  11. Be proud of getting your tasks completed. Most of us hate performing a task, and then feel neutral about getting it done. Get excited about completing these annoying tasks. Give yourself a pat on the back when they’re completed.
  12. Start with something easy. When faced with several things you don’t want to do, start with the quickest and easiest. The sense of accomplishment will keep you going.
  13. Make a to-do list. Cross the items off as they’re completed and enjoy the progress you’re making. There’s something satisfying about marking items off a list.
  14. Consider the benefits of the task. Will you get to keep your job? Get a date? Have a freshly manicured lawn? Consider the benefits of the activity. Focus on these benefits and get started before your attention drifts.
  15. Plan a reward at the end of the day. If you get everything completed, do something enjoyable. Meet a friend for dinner or rent a movie.

Laziness is a common dilemma. It occurs when the motivation to do a task is insufficient. There are several causes for this, but the cause isn’t important. Choose a few workable strategies to get you going and put them into action. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at your results.

This is how mental illness can be beaten. You must have displine in your life.

Do You Really Want to Change? Do You?…

Posted on October 27, 2020 - 12:00 am by
Do You Really Want to Change

 

Believe it or not, it is not only possible, but quite common for someone to consciously convince themselves that they want change in their life, but subconsciously put all their effort into keeping everything exactly the same as it is right now.

They even go through all the motions of starting a new project, enlist help, buying software, having a website built, creating all kinds of marketing text and tools, only to consistently find some insurmountable challenge when it gets close to a start date that prevents them from following through.

Why would anyone do that?

Fear

Fear is the prime reason that most people don’t follow through.

Fear of what?

  • Fear of success
  • Fear of failure
  • Fear of what others might think, say, or do
  • Or all of the above

They are unhappy, unmotivated, and unfulfilled. They know exactly what they need to do, but never manage to get it done. They are often solitary individuals who have lots of friends and contacts, but, in reality, they live their life almost entirely in their own heads.

This vicious circle of starting and then stopping, over and over again, can cause them to have low confidence, low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression, which reinforces their overwhelming desire to keep everything the same, no matter how good a new future might look.

Does this scenario describe you? If so, what can you do about it?

Is There a Solution?

One of the best ways to break this pattern is to help someone less fortunate than yourself. Perhaps try charitable work or something similar, where people depend on your help, energy, and support, and you know it.

In this charitable work, consider how you have a responsibility to others where you cannot possibly let down those who depend on you. That way, you are not working for your own personal rewards, but for someone who cannot possibly fulfill their ambitions on their own.

The feeling you get from helping others is so strong, so compelling, that your personal anxiety diminishes and your self-esteem rises in direct proportion to each other.

You’ll enjoy strong feelings of accomplishment and, in turn, fulfillment. You’ll find yourself in a place of happiness that you’ve never experienced before, and you really like it.

Make a Decision and Take Action

Through practical experience, you’ll come to realize that when you make a decision and take action, you move forward. You’ll recognize that you only have one life, and you can live it best and most fully by making decisions and taking action.

You’ll also acknowledge that doing things for someone else allows you to fully engage your talents in a way that you could never have experienced while just working for yourself.

When you find purpose in all that you do, you will also realize that the fear evaporated long ago, and now you can actually feel a sense of pride in your work that was never there before.

Through helping others, you’ll come to understand that it doesn’t even matter if you make a wrong decision or take a wrong action. You can always make another decision and take another action and correct it.

The most important thing is that you keep making decisions and taking action. It’s the only way to effect change in anything.

The biggest changes will be the ones you experience yourself, but it may still take others to point them out. You are so talented, and you have no idea how gifted you really are, until you see other peoples’ lives improved because of your actions.

That’s when you’ll get to see your true, authentic self show up in your smile as you look forward to finally being able to start creating the future you desire.

Your Ego – What’s Fear Got to Do With It

Posted on October 25, 2020 - 11:20 am by
Your Ego – What’s Fear Got to Do With It

 

Are you aware that your ego loves fear? In fact, it thrives on fear, stress, and anxiety. However, holding on to fear prevents you from growing as a person and finding true happiness.

But it’s not your ego’s fault. It’s just trying to protect you!

So what’s a person to do?

Learn more about this surprising revelation:

1. What is the ego? The ego is part of your being. It reacts to the outside world and shapes how you see it. Your ego controls how you view yourself in relation to others. However, it’s important to note that you can master this.

2. Notice the ego self-talk. The self-talk can be both positive and negative.

  • * You may see the ego come through in statements such as I’m not good enough or smart enough. On the other hand, you may see it in thoughts such as I’m perfect, capable, or beautiful.
  • The ego uses “I” and “me” in these self-talk conversations.

3. Pay attention to fear. Since the ego is connected to the outside world and how you view yourself, fear is a prominent part. You may be afraid to look foolish. You may be scared to do something new. You may fear talking to others.

  • Your ego is fragile, so it can get hurt easily. For example, someone may say something that hurts your feelings. You immediately shut down and don’t want to talk to this person again. This is your ego in action. You’re hurt and scared of hearing them say something negative again.
  • It’s beneficial to recognize the fear, learn to adjust it, and work through it.

4. Understand psychological fear. In some situations, fear is necessary and can preserve you. However, the fear that comes from your ego is psychological and not necessary.

  • Fear of the unknown or being in a dark alley is normal. This is your gut trying to save you from a dangerous situation.
  • On the other hand, fear of talking to a safe crowd at a conference is your ego talking. Psychological fear can be damaging, intrusive, and distracting. It can lead to anger and resentment.

5. Recognize fear and worry. Fear and worry often appear together. Fear can lead you to anxiety. The two are linked, so it’s hard to separate them.

* However, if you recognize that worry is the real issue, then fear won’t have a chance to take over. You can control how much you worry, so fear doesn’t have a chance to stop you.

6. Learn to be present. By learning to be present and observing your fear from a distance, you can control it. Awareness is the key to conquering fear created by the ego. Once you’re aware of how your ego is creating fear and anxiety, then you can observe it and learn to shape it.

  • You have the power to stop the fear in your mind. It’s important to remember that all the negative scenarios in your head don’t have to happen in real life. They can stay as imaginary issues. They may never materialize or cause you heartache.

Fear doesn’t have to take over your life. You can learn to master it and be happy.