Money and Mindfulness on The Next Chi For Yourself

April 24, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments

Is it possible to be a conscientious citizen of the world and save more money? Our next scheduled Chi For Yourself guest says yes you can.

Jonathan K DeYoe is a Buddhist and a financial planner. He’ll talk about a unique financial plan that’s guided by your deepest beliefs, and how to save, invest, pay off debt, and fund your retirement and dreams by building a lifetime income stream. 

man who talks about money

      Jonathan K. DeYoe

 

Jonathan K. DeYoe is the author of Mindful Money: Simple Practices for Reaching Your Financial Goals and Increasing Your Happiness Dividend.

Join us on Thursday,  April 25th at 4 pm Eastern, 1 pm Pacific time at chiforyourself.com

 

JohnK 4-24-2019

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Do You Know Your Optimal Routine Zone?

April 23, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments
Do you have a favorite time of day to do your work? Not everyone’s a “rise and shine” thinking dynamo.
 
Today GenuLines looks at different peak productivity times. Let’s see where you might fit into one of them.
 
banner helps find zone
 

Do You Know Your Optimal Routine Zone?

People have certain times of the day when they do their best work. They get more done and are more focused.
 
Some do better in the mornings. Others in the afternoons.
 
 
relaxing in the zoneThen there are the night owls, who can produce the most during the later hours. These are their optimal routine zones.
 
What is your optimal routine zone? Are you a morning person or do you cringe at the thought of getting up early?
 
 
 
Do you have vampire blood that lets you do your best work at night?
 
Match up with the zone
Whatever you find to be your optimal routine zone, set your tasks to work during these times. Do as much of your work as possible during this optimal zone.
 
Structure your day around it.
 
Working during your optimal time doesn’t mean you do nothing when you’re outside of those zones. Your boss will likely not take too kindly if you slack off.
 
Instead, you should use this time for activities that are not as taxing. These include making phone calls and other non-stressful activities.
 
Sometimes, you’ll have no choice but to do more of the heavy lifting during your “off times.” If this happens, you’ll have to make the best of it.
 
Zone out
Another problem is that you may be working in a job that does not coincide with your optimal zones. That’s a tough one. 
 
You may want to adjust or to move on to opportunities where you can work during your optimal times.
 
If your job involves being creative, this concept of optimal zones is going to work in your favor. For instance, if you are a writer, try to do most of your writing during these times.
 
You can use the other times to answer emails, post on social media, or check out forums related to your writing. If you’re writing for a blog, try writing several posts in your zone. 
 
Schedule them as if you’ve written one per day, etc.
 
Increasing your productivity is knowing your advantages. Find your optimal work zones and use them effectively. 
 
This way you’ll increase your productivity. Your manager will notice this, and it could help you when asking for a raise or getting a promotion.
 
It will also give you the satisfaction of a more fulfilling job.
 
JohnK 4-23-2019
 
 
stick figure hears about zoneOverheard: “It’s a hard thing to leave any deeply routine life, even if you hate it.”
 
                                          ~John Steinbeck, East of Eden
 
 
 
 
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Learn How to Make Mistakes

April 16, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments
So you’re afraid to make mistakes. And that’s cutting into your self-trust.
 
GenuLines realizes that this could be standing in the way of your success. When you learn how to make mistakes, you’ll be ready to start trusting yourself.
 

banner helps mistakes

Learn How to Make Mistakes

I think you’ll agree that nobody is perfect. I make mistakes and you do, too..
 
When you make mistakes, you learn from them. That’s what makes them so valuable.
 
warning for mistakes
 
Of course, if you don’t learn from them, you can expect to make the same mistakes again and again. That’s why you have to do a post mortem of your actions and take stock of where you made your mistakes.

Mistakes will happen

If you try too hard to avoid mistakes, you end up making more of them. You can’t avoid mistakes and you shouldn’t try. Sometimes, your mistakes will make people angry with you.
 
It’s a part of life.
 
If this happens, you first have to determine if your mistakes truly affected those people. If it didn’t, they have no right to call you out on them.
 
If it turns out that your actions did affect them, do what you can to rectify the situation. A simple apology may be all that’s needed.
 
Be forgiving of people who make mistakes. You would want them to do the same if you slipped up.
 
It’s okay to get angry at someone in certain situations. But, open your heart and let them make amends.
 
Once you give in to making mistakes, you’ll find it a freeing experience. You will no longer need to put too much pressure on yourself to avoid them.

Sticky situations

Meanwhile, mistakes can lead to positive, unintended circumstances. Take Sticky Notes by 3M.
 
Researchers at the company set out to create a strong adhesive. Management was not impressed, but the idea was used to create a different product.
 
There have been many instances of mistakes that lead to alternative solutions. These wouldn’t have happened by way of mistake avoidance.
 
Let yourself make mistakes. They’ll help you trust yourself.
 
JohnK 4-16-2019
 
 
 
stick figure hears mistakesOverheard: “You make mistakes. Mistakes don’t make you.”
                              ~Maxwell Maltz
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for mistakes
 
 
 
 

Complainers Can Learn to Appreciate Small Things

April 2, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments
Complainers complain. It’s what they do. Are you dealing with such a person? If you are, consider the points in this GenuLines post and apply them to your situation.
 
banner helps complainers
 

Complainers Can Learn to Appreciate Small Things

 
woman complainingDo you know a chronic complainer? Someone who never seems to be happy about anything.
 
They find everything wrong with what others do. If there’s a new idea, they’ll knock it down.
 
They’re also the type of person who will interrupt others to make their point. They’ll do that because they know best.
 
 
 
But at some point, people start to ignore them. And they’re high on the list if cutbacks should ever hit the company, too.
 
Complainers have forgotten how to appreciate the small things in life.
 
They don’t realize that it’s difficult to get a new job and it takes much more time than it used to.
 
They don’t appreciate that they have a job.
 
Sometimes, chronic complaining can be a result of complacency. Since no one is listening to what the person says, it’s just easier to complain.
 
No company or situation is perfect, and sometimes it’s best when problems are out in the open. But there is a time and place for complaints and a correct way to air them.
 
If you have to complain offer up several solutions to the problem. That’s a productive use of complaining energy.
 
Call it problem recognition with applicable solutions.
 
There’s a critical difference between you and a chronic complainer. You appreciate your job or your situation.
Help the complainer
If you want to help a chronic complainer, point out the problem using a subtle approach. Instead of telling the person they complain too much, show them how to be grateful for the little things in life.
 
Remind them that you feel appreciative of the fact you have a job, etc.
 
Relate a story- may be about how your last job search was difficult. It took you months, and it made you realize that jobs are not easy to find.
 
Also, talk about how you appreciate your home life and your family and what it means to you. That’s a subtle approach.
 
The person may start to understand there is much to appreciate in everyday life. You can show that complaining is ineffective and may lead to problems down the road.
 
Aim to get friends and colleagues to relate to the same gratitude for work and family.
 
The chronic complainer may start to see it pays to be appreciative.
 
JohnK 4-2-2019
 
 
stick figure hears complainersOverheard: “Instead of complaining that the rosebush is full of thorns, be happy that the thorn bush has roses.”
                               ~Proverb
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for complainers
 
 
 
 

Dealing With Mistakes That Other People Make

March 26, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments
Have you ever made a mistake? Most of us (if not all) make them. And we’ll continue to make them.
 
In this post, GenuLines looks at ways to react to other people’s mistakes.
 
banner about mistakes
 

Dealing With Mistakes That Other People Make 

 
eraser for mistakesSometimes people make mistakes that will put you in a tough spot. Let’s say, for instance, you own a company.
 
One of your workers mistakenly misrepresented the company and you’re getting blamed. Your first reaction may be to fire the person.
 
In some cases, that would be the right move.
 
 
 
But did the person have the necessary knowledge to keep from misinforming others? If not, you need to bake that into the situation.
 
If the misstep was deliberate, that’s different.
 
In this case, you’re within your rights to let them go. But be sure the action was malicious.
 
There are no easy answers when people make major mistakes. They may not be able to make it right, either.
 
You’ll be left to deal with the consequences.
 
It’s easy to lash out at the person responsible. Of course, you should give them the opportunity to rectify it if they can.
 
One way to deal with other people’s mistakes is to reflect on your own mistakes. This way, you can empathize with them.
 
Empathy makes you less likely to lash out and make the wrong decisions.
 
Then there are situations where people make the same mistakes again and again. The errors keep showing up even when you give guidance on how not to make them.
 
This is a tough one.
 
The actions are not malicious but there’s no capacity to change. In these situations, you need to decide whether the mistakes are having a serious impact.
 
Repeated errors add up. But remember, forgiving mistakes can breed appreciation. 
 
It can help people grow.
 
And you’ll feel good knowing they’ve used the situation to their advantage.
 
JohnK 3-26-2019
 
 
stick figure talks mistakesOverheard: “We must not say every mistake is a foolish one”
~Cicero (106 BC – 43 BC)
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for mistakes

Your Routine: Good, Bad, or In Need of a Tuneup?

March 19, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments
We’re talking routine today. If yours is working for you, way to go!
 
If not, GenuLines is here to help you power up your routine 
 
 
call for a routine
 

Your Routine: Good, Bad, or In Need of a Tuneup?

Routines are neither good nor bad. It all depends on the context by which you apply them.
 
symbol for routineIf your routines are making you crazy, or have you in a rut, it may be time for you to break away from them, at least temporarily. Then again, if you don’t have some structure in your life, routines may be what you need.
 
If you’re feeling like you’re in a rut, consider going on a vacation. This can be a great way to reset the ordinary.
 
 
It can also lead to meeting new people or opening up opportunities. How many stories have you heard of people going on vacation and falling in love with the place they visited?
 
But keep in mind that making the new place your home can result in still more routine. Another way to shake things up is to join a club that you wouldn’t otherwise join.
 
For instance, if you never tried a certain type of craft, join a local club where you can learn all about that craft. Or, join a group that plays music together.
 
You may have to learn an instrument or try out with the group as the singer. No matter what the activity, try doing it in a different way.
 
If your life is a bit unstructured, and this isn’t working for you, try to introduce some routine into your days. This could be as simple as creating a to-do list.
 
And you might want to find someone who can hold you accountable to the routine. People form accountability partnerships for this purpose.
 
You can hold your partner accountable for reaching their outcomes.
 
Many people find having a mix of routine and spontaneity works best for them. Doing something spontaneous helps to break up the routine before the people get into a rut.
 
Getting back to those routines after taking a break will restore order in their lives. This isn’t necessarily the way everyone will work best, though it’s worth a try.
 
Make sure you give yourself some time before writing this off.
 
Only you can decide whether you need to incorporate a routine or if you have too much routine in your life.
 
Remember, you’re the only one who can determine if you need to do a mix of routine and spontaneous action.
 
JohnK 3-19-2019
 
 
 
stick figure shows routineOverheard: “It’s a hard thing to leave any deeply routine life, even if you hate it”
                                 ~John Steinbeck
 

 

 

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Action Steps For When You Don’t Trust Yourself

March 12, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments
 
Many people don’t trust themselves for one reason or another. If you include yourself in this group ask yourself why.
 
Today GenuLines helps you break the issue down and begin to change. Once you discover the problem, you will be well on your way to learning how to trust yourself.
 
Call to trust yourself
 

Action Steps For When You Don’t Trust Yourself

 
Start with your childhood. No, this doesn’t mean you have to spill your guts to a shrink while lying on a couch.
 
Baby learns to trustThose early years can give you some clues into why you don’t trust yourself. Could be your parents were distrustful of themselves.
 
Siblings or other relatives might play a part. The purpose isn’t to blame them.
 
 
Recognize that it happened and use it to move forward.
 
Not trusting others can be habitual. It isn’t too much of a stretch for that mode to extend to you.
 
Start putting trust in other people and they’ll likely appreciate you for it.
 
Are you an overly sensitive person? If so, this could cause you to be mistrustful of yourself.
 
A sensitive nature can cause you to take others’ remarks out of context.
 
It’s not wrong to be sensitive. You only have to realize that it can cause you to misread what others are saying or feeling.
 
When trust doesn’t work
Putting your trust in others is going to backfire sometimes. Some people aren’t trustworthy.
 
They may even put on a front that they are. You should accept this as a part of life, and try not to project experiences from a few onto other people.
 
Otherwise, you are going to continue to maintain your wall.
This wall will make it difficult for you to trust others as well as yourself.
 
Another reason for not trusting yourself is that others don’t trust you. If you are not trustworthy, how can you expect to trust yourself?
 
You may not even realize this is happening.
 
You may think you are doing right by others when in fact, you aren’t. Ask friends and family to assess whether you’re trustworthy.
 
That can be a hard pill to swallow, but you’ll get great insight. Try not to get upset if people tell you that you aren’t trustworthy.
 
It’s a learning experience.
 
JohnK 3-12-2019
 
 
stick figure shows trustOverheard: ” Seize the day, and put the least possible trust in tomorrow”
~Horace
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Self-Doubt And What You Can Do About It

March 5, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments
Have you ever wrestled with self-doubt? That might seem like a silly question.
 
Most people doubt themselves at some point in their lives. Scroll down for some good words from GenuLines on dealing with self-doubt.
 
Call to self-doubt action
 

Self-Doubt And What You Can Do About It

 
Why do people engage in self-doubt? The reason is that it’s easier to doubt yourself than it is to believe that something is possible.
 
ape with self-doubtYou may believe in your concept, but it’s something that hasn’t materialized yet. It’s unfamiliar territory for you.
 
Our protection mechanisms tell us to reach for something that’s familiar. We use this as a reason to quit.
 
The unknown also helps us to come up with excuses. It’s easy to say it won’t work because, and then insert whatever reason can set your mind at ease.
 
 
You can even find help from others in coming up with excuses. They have plenty of them for you to choose from.
 
If they didn’t, they would be succeeding at their goals.
 
A survival mechanism
Sometimes self-doubt can help us survive. For instance, someone tells you that you can jump off a cliff and survive.
 
Your self-doubt probably jumps in and tells you this is a bad idea. Self-doubt can sometimes keep you from making bad financial decisions.
 
This might be an opportunity that sounds too good to be true.
 
In most cases, self-doubt is not something that will advance your life. It will hold you back, and you need always to be aware of that.
 
Don’t take the easy way out. Do prepare yourself as much as possible for unfamiliar situations.
 
But, go forward with a strong belief that you can complete what you set out to do.
 
Try to structure your life so that you have more positive than negative energy. Flush out as much negative energy as possible.
 
Use affirmations, support groups, or whatever works for you.
 
Negative energy is what self-doubt is all about. Two forces are opposing each other.
 
If you have 100% negative energy that means you have 0% positive energy. Try to tip the scale toward as much positivity as possible and push away the negativity.
 
No shortage of negative energy
It’s unlikely that you can ever have 100% positive energy. But, you can work towards exposing yourself to positive energy.
 
You can stop listening to or reading the news, and you can reduce your exposure to negative people. Positive people do exist.
 
You just need to find them.
 
JohnK 3-5-2019
 
 
 
stickman with self-doubtOverheard: “Every time I start a picture I feel the same fear, the same self-doubts, and I have only one source on which I can draw. Because it comes from within me”
                                                  ~ Federico Fellini
 
 
 
Photo by Paolo Nicolello on Unsplash
 
 
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Appreciate The Small Things and Find Contentment

February 26, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments

Appreciate the small stuff and you’ll be happy. You hear it enough.

But what is happiness anyway?

Today GenuLines looks at appreciation and its “kissin’ cousin”, contentment.

 

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Appreciate The Small Things and Find Contentment

smile to appreciateMost emotions are transitional, meaning you’re never in one state for long periods. People who are considered upbeat will have moments of sadness or depression.

Even depressed people aren’t depressed all the time. They have moments of happiness, too.

 

Think about a major event such as a war. When two countries are fighting, both sides lose lives.

It’s bloody, and it can last for years. But, when the war is over, the countries are euphoric.

There will be no more bloodshed because of the war, and people can return to their homes. But, nothing that has changed in the world except that the war has ended.

In other words, the sun still sets each day. People still have to manage their lives.

The euphoria from the war ending doesn’t last long. Months later, the war is still over, but the euphoria has died down.

Same goes for sickness

The same is true in a smaller way when you have a bad sickness. For instance, suppose you have a stomach bug that leaves you uncomfortable and in pain.

When the bug passes you feel fine. But you don’t feel any better than you did when you weren’t experiencing the bug.

It’s relative to the bad feelings. That’s how emotional states work.

They go from one to the other on a constant basis.

Appreciating the small things in life may lead to happiness. But, it’s likely you’re content more than you are happy.

Contentment can almost be thought of as a neutral state, leaning toward the happy side. There’s nothing wrong when you’re content.

But, there also isn’t anything that is making you overly happy.

Striving for happiness can be stressful. You might want to shoot for contentment instead.

Contentment is likely to find you when you appreciate small aspects of your life.

And it comes without the hassle of working hard toward happiness.

If you spend most of your life being content you’re doing something right. Think about all the people you love and what you have, such as your health and a good job, etc.

If you try to imagine life without them, you will truly appreciate your contentment. That thought may even make you happy for a short period.

JohnK 2-26-2019
chiforyourself.com home

 

stick figure shows can appreciateOverheard: “My crown is called content, a crown that seldom kings enjoy”
                         ~William Shakespeare

 

 

 

disclaimer for appreciate

 

Photo by Belinda Fewings on Unsplash

Successful People And Their Lessons In Adversity

February 19, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments

Successful people deal with adversity. It’s true.

fish being successfulRead the stories or profiles of most successful people. You’ll be surprised at just how adverse many of their situations were.

They often tell the stories for others to learn and to use to overcome adversity. I read those types of stories to help me with GenuLines posts.

Here are some suggestions for you to do the same.

 

 

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Profiles of successful people

These contain gems of information and can act as a resource for everyone else. The story is one aspect of reading about them.

But how they dealt with their situations is often a source of inspiration. When you become inspired, you increase your chances of effective problem-solving.

Inspiration doesn’t last forever, unfortunately. You need to reinforce the message.

If you can, try to set aside time to read one story of a successful person every month. This will help you feel inspired.

And it will give you ideas on how to use the stories to make your life better.

Some people’s stories are dated
But their techniques may be timeless. A perfect example of this is Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People.

The stories themselves describe people and occupations of days long gone. But, his techniques are as valid today as they were back then.

You can read all about the stories of successful people and get inspired. But, if you don’t take action, it will be of little help to you.

At that point, you become nothing more than a dreamer. Having dreams is good, but you need to make sure you take action on those dreams.

Common ground
Reading the stories of successful people often shows that they’re just like the rest of us. There isn’t anything superhuman about them that led them to their successes.

You’ll find a common theme among those facing adversity. They had persistence and kept a positive attitude.

Those two attributes will take you far when facing any situation.

Finding successful
You can choose to read stories online or find material in your local library. You can also choose to find stories on the internet.

Be careful of the resources you find online. Anyone can publish whatever they like while sounding convincing and authoritative.

Check the resources. And keep a critical eye out for people who don’t present qualified information.

Get into the habit of reading about successful people. You’ll shift to a successful mindset yourself.

And you’ll have a memory bank of stories to draw inspiration.

JohnK 2-18-2019
chiforyourself.com home

 

stick figure shows successOverheard: “A minute’s success pays the failure of years”
                               ~Robert Browning

 

 

 

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