When was the last time you questioned your own beliefs? If you’re like most people, the answer is likely never. Most of us naturally hesitate at the very idea of rethinking our religion, political positions, or favorite sports teams. It’s difficult to grapple with new views, and even harder to part with old ones. Often […]
Make This One Change
If you want to change your situation, you must first change yourself. Are you a proactive person or a reactive person? The answer might dictate how much you accomplish in life. Proactivity is the first and most basic habit of a highly effective person. Proactivity means being responsible for your own life and frequently taking the […]
Expand Your Circle of Influence
Want to be a better communicator? Here are three principles you need to keep in mind. 1. Never criticize, condemn, or complain. Using criticism to win an argument, make a point, or incite change will not achieve good results. When your words threaten someone’s pride, they’ll feel compelled to defend themselves by rejecting whatever you’re saying. […]
Every Song Tells a Story
Over the course of her career, country music icon Dolly Parton has written some 3,000 songs. With over 60 years’ experience as a lyricist and singer, she’s told a lot of stories with her music. Dolly started writing songs when she was just a kid. She received her first guitar as a gift at the […]
Forgive Your Haters
Don’t do it for them. Do it for yourself. It’s normal to feel anger and resentment towards the people who wrong us. But when those negative emotions haunt our thoughts and influence our behavior, it means we’re only operating through the pain they caused. You can break the chain by offering forgiveness instead of wasting […]
Don’t Blow Your Budget
Budgeting isn’t guesswork. To create a working budget, you need to figure out how much money you have, and then decide what to spend it on. Your plan should be based on the reality of your known expenses—not what-ifs or maybes. First identify your obligations. These are the things you have to spend money on, […]
The Dark Side of Meditation
The path to enlightenment isn’t always easy. Enthusiasts often focus on the inspirational side of meditation. But here’s a dirty little secret: there will be times when meditation will make you feel afraid, almost as though you’re going to fall off the edge of the world. Fear is a natural part of life. The purpose […]
Be Your Best Self
Habits should be no-brainers. This goes for habits we’d like to form and the ones we’d like to break. The easier you make it to put the new behavior on repeat, the more success you’ll have. The only problem is that getting started can be difficult and overwhelming. That’s why success coach Jen Sincero boils […]
Does the Punishment Fit the Crime?
Life would be easier if there were a set script for us to follow. But parenting is an improvisational art. Each child is unique, and more than that, each situation is different. What may work for one child or one set of circumstances may or may not work in a different situation. To find a […]
Schedule Your Free Time
We live in an age of constant distraction. One way of dealing with the demands on your time and attention is to plan every minute of the day—even your free time. Go ahead and spend half an hour watching viral videos, as long as you intended to spend your time that way. It doesn’t matter so […]