Why Stress Is Terrible For Problem Solving

July 31, 2023 John Uncategorized No comments

You know that stress can be bad for your health. And it can make a big problem even bigger

Start downsizing that problem with a GenuLines look at how this happens.

Why Stress Is Terrible For Problem-Solving

Got a challenging problem that’s stressing you out? Is it preventing you from working to the best of your abilities?

Man feeling stress

 

Then take a lie down!

Lying down on the job might sound like the worst thing you could do when you have a problem. But it’s one of the very best options of all.

Let’s take a look at why…

 

 

Neurochemistry And Problem-Solving

Your brain reaches a different state when necessary. And it uses different neurochemistry to get there.

When we’re stressed, our body assumes that we are in immediate danger. It responds by putting us in the ‘fight or flight’ mode.

This means you’re flooded with norepinephrine, dopamine, and cortisol – stress hormones.

They have many effects on the body. From contracting our muscles to clotting our blood (helps us survive injury). to taking blood and energy away from digestion and immune functions.

And these give you intense focus.

You get ‘tunnel vision’ so that you can escape from the threat you’re facing. This is very useful if you need to keep your eye on the terrain while a leopard chases you.

But it’s not very helpful when facing the kinds of problems you encounter in the office.

Creativity and Problem-Solving

To be specific you have to be able to think outside the box and to make connections between disparate ideas. That’s why you’re actually at your most creative in a relaxed state – even when you’re close to sleep.

The hypnagogic brain produces many creative works and scientific breakthroughs. And, by definition, this happens right before dozing off..

In fact, studies show that sitting in a more supine position increases creative thinking.

Likewise, the color green alone is enough to help us increase creativity. That’s because we associate it with being in natural environments.

Even alcohol can help increase creativity in some circumstances. It’s a depressant that puts us in a subdued state (though GenuLines is not recommending that you do this.)

Next time you’re faced with a difficult problem, remember this. Your stress will only make it tougher to find the answer.

So relax, take a breather, and come back to it when you feel calmer!

JohnK 7-31-2023

chiforyourself.com

 

stick figure hears about stressOverheard: “Adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into a positive one.”

– Hans Selye

 

 

disclaimer for stress

 

Why Do We Avoid Certain Tasks?

July 24, 2023 John Uncategorized 2 comments

You can avoid some tasks but they don’t go away. It’s like a child covering it’s eyes and thinking that will make something go away.

With that in mind GenuLines opens your eyes so you can get things done.

Why Do We Avoid Certain Tasks?

Do you find yourself dreading a particular task in your life every time you must complete it? Do you often wonder why you avoid it?
There are several reasons we avoid completing specific tasks. And the reason why this is can vary from individual to individual.
list of tasks

You Don’t Think You’ll Have Fun

You may not believe you’ll have fun completing it when you think about that task. Or it could be you’ve performed the task before and didn’t have fun.
Humans generally want to avoid doing things that lead to unhappiness. This is especially true when they are especially difficult or complex.

Fatigue

When you’re tired, you will generally avoid certain tasks. Even if they are tasks, you usually have fun doing.
This is because you’re tired and need to get some rest.
If you avoid a task because you feel exhausted, then it’s time to get some rest and try to approach it again later. It’s tough to focus when you’re fatigued.
And that could lead you to become distracted as an avoidance tactic for certain tasks.

You Don’t Think You’ll Do Well

Fear of failure can leave you feeling afraid of embarrassment or looking bad. This fear is quite common and one of the easier ones to overcome.
Usually you can remedy it working on self-confidence and self-acceptance.

Medical Conditions

When everything else fails there may be a medical problem behind your procrastination. If so, get treatment and you see an uptick in your motivation.
The reasons on this list may be separate, but they all boil down to a lack of motivation. If so, you need to own up to it.
Once you realize this, you can find the cause to motivate yourself in the future better.
JohnK 7-25-2023
stick man hears about tasksOverheard: “There is nothing so fatal to character as half finished tasks.
                                     ~David Lloyd George
disclaimer for tasks

Fear Setting – How to Remove Your Fear of Failure

July 17, 2023 John Uncategorized No comments

Your fear of failure could be holding you back. So what should you do?

Today GenuLines offers some ideas that turn the tables on fear and make it serve you.

Fear Setting – How to Remove Your Fear of Failure

Many of us have an innate fear of failure. We say that if we let things go wrong, we won’t have the means to carry on.

But real success actually requires failure.

And that’s why the world’s most successful people are actually not at all afraid of failing. They’re quite happy to put themselves out on a limb taking regular risks.

 

So how do you remove a fear of failure?

What is Fear Setting?

One option is to try fear setting. This is a technique that was first popularized by Tim Ferris in his book The Four Hour Workweek.

The general idea is to ‘set’ your fears in the same way that you would ‘set’ your goals.

This way you turn those abstract and vague fears into things that are more concrete and real. To do this, make a list of those fears and contingencies.

Planning on trying something new? Then write down everything that could go wrong and why you’re afraid of it.

Next, write down all the ways you might deal with those things going wrong. And write down how likely each of those things is to go wrong in the first place.

On the face of it, that might sound like it would make matters worse but in fact the opposite is true. That’s because, writing down your fears and making them ‘real’ often robs them of their power.

More so when you have a plan in place for how you would deal with them. And you realize that they’re actually quite unlikely to be a problem in the first place.

An Example

If you were thinking of finding a new job you might have the following fears:

You will:

*lose your current job and end up with no money
*not enjoy your new job
*end up leaving your family without a steady income

But how likely are each of these things and how could you make them less of a problem? For instance, could you not survive on savings for a little while?

Would you not be able to get help from parents if it came down to it? Couldn’t you look for work without leaving your current job?

And isn’t it quite likely that you’d actually be able to get work back with your old employer if things went wrong?

The fears tend to be somewhat unfounded. Fear setting allows us to see that and as a result makes things a lot less scary.

JohnK 7-17-2023
chiforyourself.com

stick man hears about fearOverheard: “There are very few monsters who warrant the fear we have of them”

~Andre Gide

 

 

disclaimer for fear

3 Easy Ways To Cut Back On Sugar Consumption

July 10, 2023 John Uncategorized No comments

It’s tough to avoid sugar. It seems to be an ingredient in most everything.

But you can be more aware of the sweet stuff, and GenuLines can show you how.

3 Easy Ways To Cut Back On Sugar Consumption

You’re no doubt aware of the explosion of processed foods and the sugary drinks and snacks in society. Especially refined sugar.
 
And there are potential health problems associated with excessive sugar consumption.
 
Things like increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. It’s important that you read nutrition labels and be mindful of how much sugar you’re taking in daily.
sugar cubes
Think of the damage this causes. It rots our teeth.
 
It gives us Type II Diabetes. And it contributes to the obesity epidemic in the western world.
 
What’s more, added sugar has found its way into all sorts of foods we consume on a daily basis. And it isn’t only the sugary breakfast cereal or the ice cream that is the culprit.
 
There’s sugar in our salad dressings, our frozen dinners, and pasta sauce to give you a few examples.
 
What can we do to cut back on the amount of sugar we consume on a daily basis? Let’s start by cutting out some of the big offenders.

Cut The Soda and Other Sugary Drinks

Let’s start with something easy that will also have a huge impact. Stop drinking soda and other sugary drinks.
 
This includes what seem like innocent things.
 
It could be the sweet tea you’re enjoying. Or the fancy coffee drink.
 
But, it could also be your favorite juice beverage. Look at the labels and figure out how many teaspoons of sugar you’re drinking each day.
 
Then cut them out.
Stick to water, black coffee and herbal tea for a few days. It’s not an easy transition, but it will be well worth it in the end.

Stop Indulging In Sugar Laden Treats

Next it’s time to give up your favorite sugary treats. Enjoy a bowl of oatmeal or scramble up some eggs instead of pouring a bowl of sweet cereal.
 
Skip the muffin, cake, cookies and candy. Instead reach for a piece of fruit or cut up some fresh veggies.
 
Find sugar free or low-sugar replacements for your favorite treats. Fix a sandwich if you’re hungry in the afternoon instead of raiding the cookie jar.
 
Or grab some cheese and crackers. Do your best to train your brain and taste buds to not crave sweet treats all day long.

Stick To Real Food

Finally, work on reducing the added sugars. They sneak into your diet via all sorts of convenience foods.
 
Anything that’s labeled low fat, fat free or gluten free is worth avoiding. The fat in these items is usually replaced by lots of sugar and salt to make them palatable.
 
Your best bet is to stick to real food. Stick with single ingredients and cook your meals from scratch. This allows you to control what’s going into the food you eat – including the sugar.
 
JohnK 7-10-2023
 
stick man hears about sugar dangersOverheard: “An overdose of praise is like 10 lumps of sugar in coffee: only a very few people can swallow it”
                                                        ~Emily Post
 
 
disclaimer for sugar

What is Self-Reliance?

July 3, 2023 John Uncategorized No comments

You might see self-reliance as your natural state of being. But is it really?

Use this GenuLines check list to change your state if necessary.

What is Self-Reliance?

The idea of self-reliance is a broad one and one that covers many different concepts. Everyone has a different idea of what makes up self-reliance.

And there are many different types of self-reliance for different situations.

You can be self-reliant in that you don’t need the accolades of other people. You can be self-reliant in that you are able to do things on your own without becoming lonely or bored.

And you can be self-reliant in as much as you’re able to solve problems without help.
Self-reliance is none of these things and all these things.

And as such, none of us are self-reliant though most of us strive to be more-so in various areas of life.

sign says self-reliance

Read on and we’ll look at some of the different ways in which you can be self-reliant and some of the forms it takes.

Independence

Independence is being able to do things on your own. You don’t need the encouragement or the company of others.

This is a valuable trait. Your options aren’t limited by what other people are willing to do with you.

Many people struggle with independence. They think they need to be with friends or to spend all their time with a partner.

If you do this too much you can end up losing your own identity.

Resourcefulness

This is a form of self-reliance in as much as it helps you to cope in situations where the chips are down. This means being able to draw on a limited pool of options and still come up with a satisfactory solution.

Financial Independence

You don’t rely on an employer or anyone else for your income. Most of us are dependent to at least some degree.

But having savings and the ability to gain alternative income makes you much freer.

Self-Starting

Entrepreneurs are the perfect examples of self-starters. They motivate themselves to work without needing a boss.

You have the ability to forge your own path. You’re self-motivated and able to drive yourself to achieve what you want.

Capable

Being self-reliant means being able to fix your car engine or take out the trash. What’s more, it means not relying on someone else to do everything for you.

Thus you’re ready for almost any situation.

JohnK 7-3-2023
chiforyourself.com

stick man hears about self relianceOverheard: “Discontent is want of self-reliance: it is infirmity of will”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Article image Jon Tyson on Unsplash 

 

disclaimer for self-reliance

 

Happiness vs. Reality: The Hedonic Treadmill

June 27, 2023 John Uncategorized No comments

Happiness is something we say we want. But can we have it all the time, and then again should we?

We’ll take this question apart as GenuLines looks at The Hedonic Treadmill.

Happiness vs. Reality: The Hedonic Treadmill

The ‘hedonic treadmill’ is a term that describes one aspect of the human condition. It paints a portrait of what many of us think is the ‘default state’ of happiness.
 
That default state meanwhile summed up as being ‘never quite happy’.
 
The hedonic treadmill is what keeps driving us forward. At the same time it keeps us from giving up.
 
It’s the fine line that most of us walk. Somewhere between being content and a bit uncomfortable.
word happy written out
Proponents of the idea say that we’ll never quite reach perfect happiness. But at the same time we’ll likely never be completely distraught either.

Evidence for the Hedonic Treadmill

So, does the hedonic treadmill actually exist? Right now your gut may be giving you an answer.
 
Do you feel as though you’re never quite content? If you won the lottery tomorrow, would you be completely happy then?
 
According to some studies we do indeed have a kind of ‘baseline’ happiness that we fall back on. One study tested happiness levels before and after life changing events.
 
Some participants would lose a limb and others would win the lottery. After two years both groups were at happiness levels much like their pre-event levels.
 
Let’s look at it from an evolutionary perspective. It’s easy to see why something like the hedonic treadmill might exist.
 
If we were to become completely miserable it might lead us to give up completely.
 
But if we were completely content we would have no motivation to keep striving to make life better. So in this case being in a state of ‘slight discontent’ can be effective.
 
Of course there are also criticisms of the theory. Not everyone is at the same level of happiness. And most of us will experience considerable fluctuation throughout our lives.
 
So the jury is still out on whether such a thing exists. And it’s easy to see that you might never actually want to be ‘100-per-cent happy’.
 
Whether you find that comforting or not is likely to depend very much on your point of view…
JohnK 6-26-2023
Stick figure hears about happinessOverheard: “Our happiness depends on wisdom all the way”
                            ~Sophocles
disclaimer for happiness
 

5 Benefits of Conflict (Yes, Benefits!)

June 19, 2023 John Uncategorized No comments

The thought of conflict can make you tighten up, ready to deal with trouble. That’s a natural reaction.

But there’s a good side to conflict and today GenuLines shows you how that’s natural, too.

5 Benefits of Conflict (Yes, Benefits!)

When you experience a violent storm, it’s easy to rail against the weather. The wind and the rain can seem terrifying.

Especially when coupled with the thunder and lightning.

picture of conflict

 

But ask any farmer, and they’ll tell you that even storms have their benefits. Of course the rain is necessary for their crops.

But lightning hitting the ground, puts nitrogen into the soil that’s so needed for things to grow.

Likewise, conflict in the workplace has certain benefits. But we don’t always see them right away.

 

 

 

Keep reading to find several of them you might not have considered before now.

1.  Conflicts make us aware of new ways to do things

The very fact that there’s a conflict tells you that someone else has a different point of view from your own. By exploring those conflicts, you’re likewise invited to explore the idea from a new angle.

This might bring out a new solution that wouldn’t have occurred before.

2. Conflicts enable us to verbalize better what we want

It’s through conflict that we decide what’s important to us, and how to put those feelings into words.

3. Conflict drives flexibility

When we’re in conflict, we’re hoping for others to see our point of view. But also in dealing with conflict, we’re forced to see the point of view of those around us.

That’s where we learn how to become flexible, to acknowledge that we’re not always right.

So the conflict teaches you two very important traits.  Being open-minded, and understanding humility.

4. Conflict forces us to listen

The only way to resolve conflict is to listen to the other person. Through listening, we gain wisdom and learn to make better decisions.

5.  Conflict drives solutions

When you deal with conflict, you’re likewise dealing with a problem that needs a solution. Resolving that conflict means finding those solutions, usually in new and innovative ways.

So conflict forces us to solve our problems in a creative way.

At first you might shy away from the idea of conflict, but it’s good to remember these benefits. Without conflict, we stagnate.

In time you’ll be able to see how much you’ve grown and benefitted by that conflict.

JohnK 6-19-2023
chiforyourself.com

stick man hears about conflictOverheard:  “The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph”                                                                  ~Thomas Paine

 

 

disclaimer for conflict

Fixed vs. Growth Mindset- Which One Describes You?

June 12, 2023 John Uncategorized No comments

Mindset matters. Is yours standing still or all about forward motion.

Let GenuLines take the brakes off of your mindset and point you toward success.

Fixed vs. Growth Mindset- Which One Describes You?

There are two mindsets that go a long way toward determining your personality. A fixe mindset assumes that your character, creative ability and intelligence are unchangeable.
 
It insists hat your basic abilities are those you’re born with.
 
train brain for mindset
People with a fixed mindset often want to appear intelligent. But they don’t believe they can change their intelligence.
 
They’re afraid of looking dumb and that they’ll always look that way.
 

 

 

 

 

 

Common fixed mindset thoughts:

Either I’m good at something, or I’m not.
I can’t learn now; it’s too late.
There’s no point in trying if I’m going to fail.
I always struggle with…
I’m a procrastinator.
I’m not creative.
It’s hard for me to lose weight.
 
Growth mindset goes in a different direction. It’s the belief that abilities and intelligence can grow with time and experience.
 
That you can become smarter. that your efforts effect your success and with persistence you can learn.
 
A growth mindset sees basic ability as only the starting point for true potential. It creates a passion for learning rather than a constant need for approval.
 

Some common growth mindset thoughts:

I can always become better at something through practice.
I can learn whatever I want or need to, exactly when I need to learn it.
I see failures as opportunities to learn, to reassess, and to do better next time.
I can always do better at something if I want to, but it will take effort.
Determination and effort are the measures of my outcomes
I enjoy learning and growing, and learning is a lifetime pursuit for me.
 
There are key differences between a fixed and growth mindset. Challenge is one of them.
 
A person with a fixed mindset will shy away from a challenge, often from fear of failure. They may go into hiding to avoid responsibilities.
 
Challenge excites the growth mindset person.
 
They find valuable takeaways from their experiences. And they master the challenge and move to greater accomplishments.
 

Another key difference

A person with a fixed mindset sees mistakes as embarrassing.
They blame others or become defensive when criticized.
 
The growth mindset person sees mistakes as a lesson learned. They are less likely to take criticism personally.
 
They’re open to criticism, believing it helps improve their ability to do better next time.
 
If you find you have a fixed mindset but you want to change, you can. It’ll take practice, determination, and being more aware of your thoughts.
 
Then you’ll be able to expect that the reactions to situations you want you’re likely to have. With these efforts, you benefit by having a more open, growth mindset.
 
And an open path to success in every area of your life.
 
JohnK 6-12-2023
 
Stick figure hears about mindsetOverheard: “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
                                   ~Earl Nightingale
disclaimer for mindset

How Defining Your Problem Can Often Help You to Solve It

May 29, 2023 John Uncategorized No comments
problem solving tool

You have a problem. You’re struggling with it and it seems things are getting out of hand.

Get the upper hand today as GenuLines looks at problem solving.

How Defining Your Problem Can Often Help You to Solve It

For many of us, the initial reaction to any problem that seams unsurmountable is to panic. Car won’t start when you’re stuck in the middle of nowhere?

Now you have tons of problems and issues running through your head.

You’re going to be late, or you’re going to starve. You might be without your phone, or you’re cold, or you’re scared.

These are valid issues but they’re not the main problem. And in some cases they can distract you from the matter at hand.

What you need to do then is to take a breather, get a grip and define your problem.

Defining the Problem

This lets you cut through the issues and narrow things down to the one thing that’s getting you into trouble. In this case, the problem is that your car won’t start.

Forget the rest and instead focus on that one central challenge.

You might also have ‘other’ problems. But for this exercise the most effective thing to do is to pick one to focus on first.

Finding the Root

When defining your problem it’s also important to make sure that you’re at the root of it. The problem ‘you are going to be late’ is harder to solve because it’s more ‘high level’.

If the root of your problem is ‘your car won’t start’ then that’s a better place to begin.

Then again you might further simplify this and say ‘you’ve run out of petrol’. Now the solution becomes clearer because you’ve broken it down.

Rewording the Problem

If this hasn’t immediately helped, then you might want to try rewording the problem.

In this case you can think of your problem almost as an equation. You’re flipping it around while keeping the meaning the same.

you can often start seeing answers.

Your car won’t start

Your car is broken

You have no mode of transport

You have no way of getting home

These last two ‘rephrases’ in some cases might start to offer up solutions. A solution to not being able to get home is to call a friend

– or you might stay in a local hotel for the night. By rephrasing the question you can view it from different angles and this can end with a solution.

This all comes down to ‘knowing your ‘enemy’. Once you’ve done this you’ll have a target you can aim for and a solution will be much more likely.

JohnK 5-29-2023

chiforyourself.com

Making Your Dreams Come True

May 15, 2023 John Uncategorized No comments

Dreams do come true, for some of us. And you want to be among those who realize their dreams. 

Start with this GenuLines look at how your dreams can become reality.

Making Your Dreams Come True

Do you dream of being somebody special, somebody big? Do you fantasize about hitting the game-winning home run?
 
the word dream
 
Do you dream of being the homecoming queen? And how many times have you dreamed of being rich, or successful, or happy with your relationships?
 
Often, we dream big dreams and have great aspirations. Unfortunately, our dreams are only that – dreams.
 
 
 
 
And our aspirations collect dust.
 
We want to move toward self actualization. But we get caught up in the humdrum of living from day-to-day.
 
Mere existence becomes our reality. But life could be so much better, if only we learned to aim higher.

The words get in the way

The most common problem with setting goals are the words ‘can’t’ and ‘impossible’.
 
Most people get hung up thinking ‘I can’t do this,’ or ‘It’s not possible.’ Now, if everyone thought that way, there would be no inventions.
 
No innovations. And no breakthroughs in human accomplishment.
 
Remember that scientists drew a blank when they studied the bumblebee. They said that in theory it was impossible for the bumblebee to fly.
 
But, the bumblebee doesn’t know that. So fly it does.
 
But some people dream very possible dreams and then don’t act on them. The result?
 
Broken dreams, and tattered aspirations.

Try this exercise

Take a piece of paper and write down some goals in your life. Under one header, list things you ‘know you can do’.
 
Under another header, write the things you ‘might be able to do.’ And under one more, list the things that are ‘impossible to do.’
 
Now look at all the headers and strive every day to finish things you ‘know you can do’. Check them when you’re able to do them.
 
Then move to the goals you ‘might be able to do.’ Finally, tackle the goals you labeled ‘impossible to do.’
 
As you work through this process you’ll find that the ‘impossible’ begins to seem possible.
 
The intention here is not to limit your imagination. It’s to aim high, and start working towards that goal little by little.
 
But keep it realistic so you don’t end up disappointed and disillusioned.
 
Thomas Edison said that genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. Nothing could be truer.
 
To reach your dreams be ready to call on hard work and discipline. Any gym rat will tell you that there can be no gains unless you’re out of your comfort zone.
 
So dream on! Don’t get caught up in your perceived limitations.
 
As you progress, you’ll find that the ‘impossible’ is feeling a bit more possible.
 
JohnK 5-15-2023
 
stick man hears about dreamsOverheard: “Keep true to the dreams of your youth”
                           ~ Friedrich Schiller
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for dreams
 
 
 
 
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