6 Hacks to Keep Your Motivation Going Strong

August 31, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments

Motivation is great- when you have it. But sometimes it slips away like the proverbial thief in the night. 

Just ahead you’ll find some GenuLines tips to bring the motivation back where it belongs.

(To listen to the article click HERE)

6 Hacks to Keep Your Motivation Going Strong

robot needing motivationSo you got motivated recently. Maybe you saw an awesome speaker or got a stinging dose of honesty from a friend or family member.
 
But initial motivation often fades…so here are a few ways to keep it going strong.
 
 
 
1. Remember the pain points
In sales lingo, pain points are problems that come about when the solution offered is not taken. Try to keep in mind all the things that could or will happen if you don’t stay the course.
 
For example, if you were once motivated to go running three times a week. Think about what will happen if you don’t give your heart the exercise it needs.
 
2. Don’t play leapfrog
Feelings of motivation can sometimes slip into the category of finding the next high. Don’t bounce from goal to goal.
 
Instead finish what you start before getting motivated about something else. Let’s say you enjoy language and made a goal for yourself to learn French.
 
Learn it before you switch to learning German, and then Italian, or whatever else.
 
3. Know Thyself
When you try to reach goals that other people set for you, your motivation can wane. Take a look at those goals.
 
Make sure they’re yours…not goals that other people want you to achieve. If they’re not, you may want to set them aside and reassess where you’re going.
 
4. Visualize
Picturing realizing your goal is a big help in motivating you to succeed. And it has some awesome side effects.
 
The positive energy you give that imagery will affect you at a subconscious level. The mental affirmation that you can achieve it will do loads for your self confidence.
 
This will also also help you stay the course.
 
5. Let go of stuff beyond your control
When it comes to motivation, it can be easy to give up because things don’t’ go according to plan. Learn to let go of things beyond your control. If you don’t they’ll reduce your motivation to succeed.
 
6. Get organized
If you want to stay motivated, you need to work a little bit to keep the motivation alive. If you don’t it’ll slip under the radar.
 
Motivation will be just another feeling unless you crystalize it. Put your goals on the calendar and make an action plan.
 
JohnK 8-31-2020
 
stick figure man hears about motivationOverheard: “People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing–that’s why we recommend it daily.” 
                                                       ~ Zig Ziglar
 
 
 
 
 
 
Article image by Dmitry Abramov from Pixabay 
 
disclaimer for motivation

Make Sure Your Priorities Are What Matter Most to You

August 24, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments

Think about your priorities. I’ll bet it took you some time to remember what they are. Today GenuLines nudges you toward putting what matters most to you at the top of your list. 

microphone for stating priorities

 

 

 

 

Make Sure Your Priorities Are What Matter Most to You

Your success can hinge on focusing on your priorities. It’s easy to get caught up in unimportant things such as social media and life’s little dramas.
 
Forgetting this will hinder your progress.
 
checklist for priorities
 
Let’s say you had a dream to own your own business. But you held off on taking action because of job and family priorities.
 
You can find a healthy balance between those duties and pursuing your dreams.
 
Having your priorities out of whack can be very mentally draining, too. Focusing on stuff that holds you back from your goals can stress you out.
 
 
 
 
 
And you may not even be aware of it.
 
You get tired of doing a lot of work for no gain, like helping everyone else with their projects. You can put plenty of hours into helping your coworkers and friends.
 
But that doesn’t mean you’re going to get much out of it besides a thank you.
 
This is unfulfilling work, and you shouldn’t let it hold you back from accomplishing your dreams. There’s also an emotional benefit to having your priorities in order.
 
It comes from the self-satisfaction of knowing you achieved or moved closer to you goal.
 

Sleep on it

You don’t want to go to sleep each night knowing you didn’t make any forward progress. Doing things to their completion puts a positive light on your week, month or even year.
 
This forward motion will give you more of a sense of well-being.
 
To get your priorities on track, you first have to identify the main cause of stress or displeasure in your life. For example, you might have a job that you can’t stand go to.
 
You wake up every day dreading the trip to work.
 
This should be your starting point for change – spend your time searching for other jobs. Make it your primary focus.
 
Once you have your job sorted out you might take on other issues. Are your car troubles stressing you out?
 
That can be your next priority – getting the car repaired or selling it to buy a new one. Always focus on the primary cause of your stress in the moment.
 
You’ll be more likely to live a happier, stress-free life. 
 
JohnK 8-24-2020
 
stick figure man hears about prioritiesOverheard: To succeed today, you have to set priorities, decide what you stand for
                                            ~Lee Iacocca
 
 
 
 
 
Article image by Mary Pahlke from Pixabay 
 
 
disclaimer for priorities
 
 

Change Your Beliefs – AND Your Behaviors, Too

August 17, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments
sign that changes belief

Your beliefs can and sometimes do change. The process of living has a way of forcing us to see things with new eyes. 

If so, remember to consider these GenuLines points to bring your behavior in line with your beliefs. 

 

microphone for stating beliefs

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change Your Beliefs – AND Your Behaviors, Too

A powerful enough event can change even your closest held beliefs. It could have been something traumatizing.
 
Or something minor, like reading a blog post.
 
But a change in thinking doesn’t mean you’ll change your behaviors to match your beliefs. For example, you read how successful entrepreneurs master time management.
 
It sounds great, but you don’t act to change your disorganized behavior.
 
Or you might find a new way of dieting, and you start noticing the many unhealthy things people eat. Then again, you might not actually be eating the healthiest yourself.
 
And you might want better treatment, while still being a bit unpleasant to those around you.This kind of behavior can hurt your relationships with your friends and family.
 
And it can kick up your stress, too.
 
sign that changes belief
 
Practice what you preach or those around you will see you as a hypocrite. They’ll only accept your beliefs if you reflect them in an accurate way.
 
It can be difficult, though, to make these changes. When you realize that you’re not behaving as you believe you should be, it can be hard to change your actual behavior.
 
Spend time every day thinking about what changes you want to make. Then dedicate time to following through with those changes.
 
It won’t happen right away – it’ll take a few weeks for you to get used to changing your behavior.
 
In the meantime, ask a friend or family member to help you focus on this change and keep you on track.
 
When you start acting as you believe you should, you’ll find that you’re happier with who you are as a person. You’ll feel better about the quality of your personality.
 
And your social life will improve.
 
The accurate display of your beliefs will make you seem more trustworthy. Folks then show you more respect.
 
You did the hard yards. And now you’re actually following through on what you say.
 
JohnK 8-17-2020
 
stick figure man hears about beliefsOverheard: “Man is made by his belief. As he believes, so he is”
                                    ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Article image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay 
 
 
disclaimer for beliefs

Choose Your Reaction to What Life Sends Your Way

August 10, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments

Life has a way of knocking you to your knees. And tough times just seem to keep the bad stuff coming.

But GenuLines wants you to remember that a thought-out response can protect you from action you’ll regret.

microphone for speaking about life

 

 

 

 

 

 

Choose Your Reaction to What Life Sends Your Way

Whether life slams you or only throws you a curve you might tend to react without thinking. But making rational thought your first reaction puts you in control.
 
life ringKnee-jerk reactions rarely work to your advantage.
 
Here’s an example. A customer says your product is horrible and wants a refund.
 
You’re on the defensive but your calm response takes away the person’s power.
 
 
 
Now your life isn’t dictated by things happening around you. You control your emotions.
 
Taking the “reins” in this way keeps your emotions under control. And making this a habit can contribute to a happier and more satisfying life.
 
Reactions that aren’t thought out tend to be irrational. And this can get you into a lot of trouble.
 
Highway tailgaters might seem like your enemy. You get upset and you try to get away from them.
 
Or, you try to get back at them.
 
This can cause a crash or an altercation Think about simple solutions to solving the problem at hand.
 

There are times when an immediate reaction is appropriate, such as the loss of someone close to you. You’re not going to make a situation like that positive.

For the emotions that follow, such as grief, choose how you’ll handle having these feelings.
 
Talk things out with a grief counselor. Don’t put it on the back burner.
 
It’s important to recognize situations in which instant reactions are acceptable. Don’t confuse them with situations that call for well thought out, controlled responses.
 
JohnK 8-10-2020
 
Stick figure hears about lifeOverheard: “In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on”
                                                         ~Robert Frost
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for life
 
 

 

Find Your Authenticity by Embracing Your Inner Self

August 3, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments
With all the madness we’re seeing in society it’s easy to lose connection with our authenticity. Who can be blamed for feeling a little like part of the “herd mentality?” 
 
GenuLines understands that feeling and offers this bit of support for staying connected to your “genuine self.”
 

microphone for speaking about authenticity

 

 

 

 

 

 

Find Your Authenticity by Embracing Your Inner Self

Human beings have an inherent tendency to avoid standing out from the crowd. From the very beginning, our survival relied on safety in numbers. 
 
And that habit stays a part of our nature despite any real need for in today’s world. This reality flies in the face of a society that lives on social media.
 
Every day there’s pressure to mask your authentic self. It could be at work, with friends, or on social media.
 
In this article, we look at a few of the many reasons that embracing your inner self benefits you. And how it can benefit most everyone around you.
 
banner to boost authenticity
 
 
One of the best traits of human beings is that each of us is unique. We differ in our individual talents, abilities, perspectives, and so on.
 
But we often mask these differences to avoid standing out. This deprives us and others of the benefits of our self-expression.
 
Think about history’s greatest inventions and discoveries. These came from people willing to be different and to resist the status quo.
 
We do want to accept ourselves. But this can clash with the need to fit in.
 
When you’re able to embrace your inner self and go against the grain, you invite others to do the same.
 
When people around you notice your self-acceptance they’re more likely to follow suit! It’s a ripple effect.
 
The others gain from the fellowship of collective talent and abilities.
 
It’s ironic that you burn more energy blending in than by being your genuine self.
Going with the crowd involves a conscious effort to act and behave a certain way at all times.
 
It wastes mental resources you can use in much better ways. Going your own way can bring impressive results.

No Regrets

One of the most painful feelings we can experience is that of regret. You don’t need a reminder to know that life is short.
 
If you squander your gifts the sad day will eventually come when you’re aware of what you did.
 
Often the most monumental chances in life come and go in the blink of an eye. And when those chances are gone they’re gone.
 
By embracing your inner self, you can mitigate so much regret down the road.
 
Standing out from the crowd will feel odd at first.
But, you’ll find that the benefits to you and those around you are more than worth it!
 
JohnK 8-3-2020
 
Stick figure hears about authenticityOverheard: “To find yourself, think for yourself”
                                 ~Seneca
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for authenticity

Are You Wasting Your Energy on Meaningless Things?

July 27, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments

Challenging times demand that you maintain a state of peak energy. But that peak condition can wear down in ways you’re not aware of.  

Today GenuLines looks at ways you might be squandering your energy.

 

microphone for speaking about energy

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are You Wasting Your Energy on Meaningless Things?

When you get too caught up in the things you don’t like, it’s easy to lose sight of your goals and the path to achieving them. When you begin to indulge in your anger, you feel worse each day.
 
You end up fueling all the wrong emotions.
 
light bulb uses energyLet’s say you wake up in the morning angry and disheartened over things you don’t like. You’ll live much of your life in a negative energy mindset.
 
And that’s bad for your mental and physical health.
 
 
 
Staying in a constant state of anger or sadness is bad for your health in many ways. You might find yourself experiencing more frequent headaches, fatigue, and stomach problems.
 
These are all side effects of stress, which goes hand in hand with negative emotions.
 
Mentally, you’ll be more irritable and upset, which can affect your loved ones, too.
What’s more, you won’t have the focus you need to work on your dreams.
 
If you dread seeing a certain coworker each day change your thinking. Be grateful that you have a stable job.
 
Focus on the things that you love and the things that you need to do.
 
Complaining about your coworkers is useless, and it only causes you issues, not them. Instead of complaining about things that’ are wrong, focus your efforts on fixing what you can fix.
Energy Re-direction
Put your attention on the things that you enjoy. Spending your energy working on things that you want and enjoy cuts into your stress.
 
You wake up feeling energized and excited to start your day.
 
Doesn’t that beat dreading another useless day of getting nothing done?
 
Get on a good sleep schedule if you’re not already on one so that you can spend more time doing the things that you love. You’ll find that your mind is more at ease and you feel much healthier.
 
You’ll gain a sense of satisfaction by knowing that you’re taking control of your path. And that you’re living life on your terms,
 
JohnK 6-28-2020
 
stick man hears about energyOverheard: “The energy of the mind is the essence of life”
                                               ~Aristotle
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
disclaimer for energy

Food And Drink And Your Anxiety

July 21, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments
Anxiety is something we connect to the conditions around us. The bad stuff is always “out there.”
 
But GenuLines looks at how the things around you are impacted by what goes inside you. 
 
microphone for speaking about anxiety

 

 

 

 

 

Food And Drink And Your Anxiety

If you’re feeling anxiety you might tend to blame your environment. But what you eat and drink can have a big effect on your body’s chemistry.
 
Some foods and drinks may actually worsen your anxiety. Here are some of the culprits.
 
picture of anxiety
 
 
Drinks

-Coffee

As you might have expected, the caffeine in coffee can make anxiety worse. It causes constriction of blood vessels and that feeling of the “jitters.”
 
It can also cause or worsen insomnia. And it inhibits the absorption of Vitamin C, a key nutrient for optimal mind and body function.

-Soft Drinks and Colas

Even caffeine-free, sugar-free soft drinks, can worsen your anxiety. The high-acid content of dark colas produces an acidic environment in the body.
 
This process sets off a reaction that leaches calcium and magnesium from your bones. Both of these minerals are crucial to proper brain and muscle function.
 
In fact, reduced calcium and magnesium impedes muscle relaxation.
 
That increases muscle tension.
 
So if you choose a clear, caffeine-free, sugar-free soft drink, it won’t worsen your anxiety, right? Wrong!
 
The artificial sweetener in these drinks, aspartame, may have significant cognitive effects. It may actually worsen the psychological aspect of anxiety.
 

-Alcohol

Alcohol seems like a good option for anxiety sufferers. But over-consumption can worsen depression and inhibit the absorption of key nutrients.
 

Foods

-Chocolate
Chocolate is often called the “feel-good” food. But it contains significant caffeine and large amounts of sugar. Next, we’ll take a look at sugar.
 

-Excessive Sugar

By “excessive,” some nutritionists mean anything over 5 tablespoons of refined sugar daily. While you may think that would be easy, it’s not.
 
Sugar is in almost everything, and 5 tablespoons is a bit more than 1/4 cup. If you drink several large glasses of sweet iced tea, you can take in close to 1/4 cup of sugar.
 
And that doesn’t take into account the sugar in your food. This sugar is either hidden (such as in frozen foods) or obvious (such as “frosted” cereals).
 
So why is sugar a problem? For one thing, the body uses Vitamin B6.
 
It’s crucial to mood and proper hormone function and metabolizing sugar. But sugar depletes your body of this and other important nutrients.
 
It can also create high and low moods, and bring on a post-sugar “crash,” or low blood sugar.

-Refined Flour

Refined flour acts much like sugar in the body. And it has none of the essential fatty acids, fiber, and other nutrients that whole grains do.
 

-Processed Foods

Many processed foods are full of preservatives, artificial flavors, and artificial colors. Some of these can pass through the blood-brain barrier, affecting cognitive function.
 
Then there’s yellow #5. This is often found in candy, gum, margarine, and other processed foods.
 
It can disrupt the hormone balance in the body.
 
Think about what you put into your body. It can go a long way toward keeping you calm. 
 
JohnK 7-21-2020
 
Stick figure hears about anxietyOverheard: “Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength.”
                                             ~Charles Spurgeon
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for anxiety
 

Better Thinking With Brain Power Boosting (Adds player)

July 14, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments

Your brain works hard. And in tough times it works even harder.

When it bogs down you can turn to these simple GenuLines tips to power up your “gray matter.”

 

microphone for speaking about the brain

 

 

 

 

 

Better Thinking With Brain Power Boosting

Muddled thinking seems like a virus in itself. From negative news to personal challenges it can affect your well being.
 
One way to counter this mind fog is through a brainpower boost. So, here are some steps to help you keep your brain working in tip-top condition.
 

Regular Exercise

Simple exercise like a walk or jog might not be intense. But it’ll get you started.
 
You can work on the intensity as you go along.
 
Simple work-outs may trigger the release of neuro-chemicals known as endorphins. These chemicals are responsible for making us feel happy.
 
Feeling happier translates into a positive effect on the brain.
 

the brain

 

Supplement your Diet

Natural supplements can help keep both mind and body healthy. You can find supplements anywhere from health food stores to sites on the internet.
 

Use it or lose it

It’s great to exercise your body. But you should exercise your brain too.
 
It’s a muscle that needs to keep fit – think and learn. You can read, talk with other people or even play educational games.
 
Experiment with activities that can keep your brain working well.

Play Games

Choose games that will have a good effect on your brain. Stay away from games that are “no-brainers.”
 
Computer games can exercise your brain. Be sure to make good game choices.
 
Gaming consoles are also following the fad into increasing brain function. So, do your part in boosting your brain power by playing games that will increase it.

Enjoy an Educational Hobby

Choose a hobby that will teach you something. Just be sure to do things that aren’t monotonous.
 
Your hobby should be something that will help you learn new things every time you perform it. This way, you’ll be able to use parts of your brain you didn’t use before.
 

Sleep Well

Sleeping helps your body rebuild and recharge. Many professionals believe that you should sleep for at least six to eight hours a day.
 
Aside from these hours, you should also try to take ten-minute power naps. These naps will leave your refreshed.
 
And they’ll give you the energy that will fuel what you do for the rest of the day.
 
Relax
Society’s complexity will tax your brain as much as your body.
So take time to relax and cleanse your mind of worries that can overwhelm your thoughts.
 
You can visit a spa or meditate to give your mind a break.
 
When you relax you’ll feel that you’re prepared to take on whatever your day throws at you!
 
JohnK 6-14-2020
 
stick figure man hears about the brainOverheard: “The human brain, then, is the most complicated organization of matter than we know”
                                                  ~Isaac Asimov
 
 
 
 

 

Article image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay 

 

disclaimer for the brain

Better Thinking With Brain Power Boosting

July 14, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments

 

Your brain works hard. And in tough times it works even harder.

When it bogs down you can turn to these simple GenuLines tips to power up your “gray matter.”

 

microphone for speaking about the brain

 

 

 

 

 

Better Thinking With Brain Power Boosting

Muddled thinking seems like a virus in itself. From negative news to personal challenges it can affect your well being.
 
One way to counter this mind fog is through a brainpower boost. So, here are some steps to help you keep your brain working in tip-top condition.
 

Regular Exercise

Simple exercise like a walk or jog might not be intense. But it’ll get you started.
 
You can work on the intensity as you go along.
 
Simple work-outs may trigger the release of neuro-chemicals known as endorphins. These chemicals are responsible for making us feel happy.
 
Feeling happier translates into a positive effect on the brain.
 

the brain

 

Supplement your Diet

Natural supplements can help keep both mind and body healthy. You can find supplements anywhere from health food stores to sites on the internet.
 

Use it or lose it

It’s great to exercise your body. But you should exercise your brain too.
 
It’s a muscle that needs to keep fit – think and learn. You can read, talk with other people or even play educational games.
 
Experiment with activities that can keep your brain working well.

Play Games

Choose games that will have a good effect on your brain. Stay away from games that are “no-brainers.”
 
Computer games can exercise your brain. Be sure to make good game choices.
 
Gaming consoles are also following the fad into increasing brain function. So, do your part in boosting your brain power by playing games that will increase it.

Enjoy an Educational Hobby

Choose a hobby that will teach you something. Just be sure to do things that aren’t monotonous.
 
Your hobby should be something that will help you learn new things every time you perform it. This way, you’ll be able to use parts of your brain you didn’t use before.
 

Sleep Well

Sleeping helps your body rebuild and recharge. Many professionals believe that you should sleep for at least six to eight hours a day.
 
Aside from these hours, you should also try to take ten-minute power naps. These naps will leave your refreshed.
 
And they’ll give you the energy that will fuel what you do for the rest of the day.
 
Relax
Society’s complexity will tax your brain as much as your body.
So take time to relax and cleanse your mind of worries that can overwhelm your thoughts.
 
You can visit a spa or meditate to give your mind a break.
 
When you relax you’ll feel that you’re prepared to take on whatever your day throws at you!
 
JohnK 6-14-2020
 
stick figure man hears about the brainOverheard: “The human brain, then, is the most complicated organization of matter than we know”
                                                  ~Isaac Asimov
 
 
 
 

 

Article image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay 

 

disclaimer for the brain

Are You Making Your Life Hard?

July 7, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments

When life is hard we tend to look outside ourselves for reasons. We don’t want to think the cause is a lot closer to home. 

As always, GenuLines helps re-direct you back to your “self” as a start toward getting your bearings. 

 

microphone for speaking about life

 

 

 

 

Are You Making Your Life Hard?

life training pictureEvery day brings us a million things to take care of and it’s easy to fall behind. But sometimes life is hard because we’re making it that way.

One reason we make it harder is that we want to feel like we have some control. Let’s look at some ways you might be getting in your own way.

 

 

 

You Assume Malicious Intent

Most of the time people don’t mean to inconvenience you or make your life harder. Could be the person who cut you off in traffic was in a hurry.

Your significant other was quiet this morning. It may have been due to fatigue rather than anything you did.

If we decide the world is out to get us, we make life harder than it has to be. Be very slow to assume malicious intent.

It usually leaves you angry and unpleasant. The truth behind someone’s intentions is usually far from malicious.

And often not personal at all.

You Maintain Unreasonable Expectations

One thing we can control about life is our expectations. That doesn’t mean that we should go through life expecting and getting nothing.

Instead don’t expect the glass to be half full, half empty, or even a little full. Be grateful that it contains any wine at all!

You’re Afraid of Risks

Avoiding risk is part of human nature. We don’t want to run into danger unless we know we can get out of it.

But our bubble of comfort can often become a prison. Risking social rejection, loss of money, and loss of time is a trade-off for making our lives better.

When we spend most of our time avoiding risks, we make life harder.

Make sure you take smart risks! Think of an area in your life you’d like to expand upon and set some short terms goals.

Once you’ve challenged yourself and become comfortable again, set some higher goals!

You Compare Yourself to Others

One negative feature about social media is that it enables us to compare ourselves to others. Even worse, we compare ourselves to others in only their best moments.

Your friends may not have it as good as they’d like you to think. There will always be someone with more money, more friends, or whatever else than you.

The only person you should compare yourself to is the version of you from the past.

In short, we need to worry less about others, less about risks, and maintain our expectations. Don’t spend your life trying to be other people.

Or thinking the world is out to get you. Or afraid to take a chance.

Don’t expect things to get better without changing your actions. That sets you up for failure.

Stop making life harder!

JohnK 6-7-2020
chiforyourself.com home

Stick figure hears about lifeOverheard: “The greatest pleasure of life is love.
                             ~Euripides

 

 

 

Article image by David Mark from Pixabay

 

 

disclaimer for life

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