7 Ways to Use Mindfulness to Attack Worry

Dealing with worry can lead you to all types of coping strategies, including substances. This can spiral out of hand in a big hurry. 
 
There’s another way of dealing, and GenuLines has a list of pointers for your consideration 

7 Ways To Use Mindfulness To Attack Worry

You freeze when it happens. You don’t know what to do or how to move forward.
 
Your thoughts circle like vultures, waiting for your inevitable demise.
 
picture suggests mindfulness
 
It’s only a matter of time. Worry has a way of derailing everything in your day.
Using mindfulness, though, is a quick, easy way to get things back on track.

Stay in the Moment

Take a step back to examine the worrying thought. Start with the acceptance of the thought itself.
 
This is the heart of mindfulness.
 
Trying to ignore the worry only makes it worse. By giving the thought your attention, and then placing a label on it, you take power away from it.
 
For example, let’s say you have money worries. You might start by telling yourself, “Yes, I am worried about paying the bills this month.”

Find the Emotions

Once you’ve labeled your worries, identify the emotion accompanying it. Once you’ve got this, be honest with yourself.
 
What do these emotions make you feel like doing?

Kill the Worry with Normalcy

Instead of avoiding the worry, pay mindful attention to it. Remind yourself that this worry is normal.
 
Do this every time it comes up. In time it’ll seem less threatening.

Look for Patterns

Do these worries creep up at certain times? Using mindfulness means you’re paying attention to your thoughts in the moment.
 
Understanding what sets you off is a great way to keep the worrying thought from happening at all. You’ll find yourself catching those damaging thoughts much faster.
 
And you’ll be able to shut them down that much faster.

Redirect

With mindfulness, you’re very much aware of the worries the moment they begin. You’re capable of taking control of them.
 
And you can switch them something else immediately, putting your attention there instead.

Allow the Emotion to Play Out

Worry comes with a slew of negative emotions. Mindfulness means you’re aware of what you’re feeling right now.
 
If you find yourself falling into the fears and anxiety coupled with worry, let them play out. Imagine watching them from a distance, rather than suppressing them.
 
This will let them dissipate in a natural way rather than escalate.

Flip it Around

Worried about trying something new? Rather than avoid it, try it anyway.
 
Handle the worries you know are irrational with action. More often than not, you’ll find you had nothing to worry about in the first place.
 
But keep this in mind. Sometimes worry is there for a good reason. Be careful which worries you challenge.
 
Remember, the whole point of mindfulness. You want to be in the moment and pay very close attention to what’s going on both inside and out.
 
Worry doesn’t bear up under such close scrutiny. If all you do is pay attention you’ll change the game in a big way. .
 
JohnK 2-13-2023
 
stick man hears about worryOverheard: “You probably wouldn’t worry about what people think of you if you could know how seldom they do.”
                         ~ Olin Miller
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for worry
 

What Innovation Can Do For Your Life

Innovation is a word we often connect to companies and their products. We’re told those innovations will improve our lives.

But GenuLines wants you to know that you can put your own innovation to work in your life, 

What Innovation Can Do For Your Life

It’s a talent that we all have. Yet many of us don’t believe it.

That talent is the power of innovation.
 
Did you ever admire somebody’s creative prowess? Guess what, you can create and innovate too. It takes some time.
 
But we can all show our creative side.

 

a wish for good life

 

You know how long it took to learn to ride a bike or drive or to never commit the same mistake again? A while, right?
 
It’s the same with innovation. Today GenuLines shows you a few ways to help your innovation come to life.
 
1. Don’t listen to what other people say about how to live your life
Follow the beat of your own drum. Allowing for the input of other people will only bring cacophony to the music you are trying to make.
 
If you have an original idea, don’t waste your time and effort trying to make people understand. They won’t.
 
And the ‘help’ that comes your way often comes in the form of negative feedback. If all the geniuses of the past had listened to their peers, we might still be living in the middle ages.

2. Spend time on it
I put a lot of emphasis on this, but please don’t think I mean you should quit your day job. I don’t. With conscious time management and a little discipline you’ll be able to squeeze both in.
 
3. Exercise
Take a walk. Run a mile or two.
 
Send all those endorphins coursing through your veins. Exercising clears and relaxes your mind and helps you handle anything that pops up. 

 
4. Record your dreams

Some might be wild things that your conscious mind would never have thought of. If you’ve had this kind of dream, it shows you the untapped innovative power you have within.
 
So make notes. Those dreams may create an innovative spark in you.

5. Find your own style

You can always tell a Van Gogh from a Matisse. You’ll know Hemingway wrote something by the choice of words on the paper.
 
So it is the same with you. People will appreciate your innovation more because it’s yours alone.
 
6. Don’t hide behind gadgets or tools
You don’t need the most expensive set of paints to produce a masterpiece. So what if you’ve got an expensive SLR camera if you’re a crappy photographer?
 
Who cares if you’ve got a blinging laptop if you can’t write at all?
 
The artist actually reduces the number of tools he has as he gets better at his craft. He knows what works and what doesn’t.
 
7. Nothing will work without passion
What wakes you up in the mornings? What keeps the flame burning?

What’s the one thing that you must do? Sometimes people with talent are overtaken by the people who want it more.
 
Think the hare and the tortoise.
 
Sometimes you just want something so bad you become almost unstoppable. And that is passion.
 
Passion will keep you going.
 
8. Don’t worry about inspiration
You can’t force it; inspiration hits when you least expect it to. Don’t let these unpredictable yet inevitable moments slip away.
 
Carry a notebook and pen.
 
I hope this article helps you bring more innovation into your life. Keep in mind that you’re doing these things for your own satisfaction and no one else’s.
 
In time others may notice the changes in your life. Expect those changes to snowball from there.
 
JohnK 2-6-2023
chiforyourself.com

 
stick man hears about lifeOverheard: “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated”
                                           ~ Confucius
 
 
 
Article photo by Kyle Glenn on Unsplash
 
 
 
disclaimer for life

5 Questions To Determine If A Change Is A Good Idea

Something needs to change in your life. But you’re not sure if it’s a smart thing to do. 

Use these GenuLines questions to help you make the wisest decision. 

5 Questions To Determine If A Change Is A Good Idea

Change is synonymous with living. It may come into your life out of the blue and take you by surprise.
 
Other times you know it’s coming and you rush to prepare.
 
sign symbolizes change
 
 
Yet even though change may be your choice, it still may feel scary and overwhelming. You may find yourself wondering: should I make the change or not?
 
To help you, GenuLines offers 5 questions to determine if a situation is something you can change. The idea here is to make you feel more in control of your life.
 
These questions can help you decide which situations you should change, and which aren’t worth your time or effort.
 
Let’s get started.
 
 
1. Will it Make Me Happy?
Before you commit to any change ask yourself: will it give my life meaning? Will it make me feel happy?
 
To answer that question, you have to know what it is you want from life.
 
One way to do that is to consider your beliefs and your core values. Include those dreams you had for your life when you were younger but forgot about when you got older.
 
2. Can it Help Me Reach My Goals?
Now that you know what makes you happy, it’s time to take a look at your life goals. Start by making a list of all the realistic goals you want to achieve in life.
 
Then, divide them into three categories: short-term, medium, and long-term goals.
 
The final step is to take action. This may force you to step out of your comfort zone, but if that’s what it takes to make a change for the better, why not?
 
It takes a positive attitude, a bit of patience, and a whole lot of self-love.
Also, remember that your goals themselves may change.
 
So, it’s important to stay flexible, especially when you’re setting new goals.
 
3. Is This Something I Want?
We’re programmed to try and always please as many people as we can. It can be exhausting.
 
You spend time wondering if people like what you’re doing or if they’re satisfied with your work. If you’re going to change any aspect of your life, make sure it’s for you and not to please other people.
 
After all, it’s your life. No one is going to live it for you.
 
Another thing to remember is that the only person you should compare yourself to is you. There’ll always be someone who’s better than you or is more successful than you.
 
The best thing to do is to focus on your progress. Be proud of how much you’ve achieved and concentrate your energy on where you’re going next.
4. Will It Improve My Life?
You might be thinking of moving to a smaller house or changing your job. Change can also come on a smaller scale.
 
You could be thinking of upgrading your security system, Or planting a garden,
 
Whatever it is, think about all the ways it can improve the quality of your life. Any type of change you pursue must make your life easier, less stressful, and a lot more fun.
5. Am I Letting Fear Hold Me Back?
Being afraid is natural, but letting fear control you isn’t. We’re all afraid of failing, of uncertainty, and a whole bunch of other stuff.
 
Yet, there’s one thing that successful people don’t do; they don’t let their fears take over their lives.
 
They learn how to face whatever it is that’s putting those butterflies in their stomachs. Then, they take a deep breath and jump in.
 
Whether it’s fear of public speaking or fear of heights, you have to muster some courage. Then power through the fear, no matter what the outcome is.
 
You’ll come out the other side a stronger, more experienced individual.
Conclusion
Everyone goes through a wide array of changes in their lifetime. You can either join in and embrace all the good that change has to offer, or you can stay behind.
 
If you choose to stay, you’ll always be standing on the sidelines of life. Living with discontent, never fulfilled.
 
So, draw a deep breath and take the plunge. Who knows?
 
You might even come to enjoy the ride!
 
JohnK 1-30-2023
 
stick man hears about changeOverheard: “The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do”
                                        ~ Steve Jobs
 
 
 
 
Article image by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
 
 
disclaimer for change
 

Energy Management vs. Time Management

Busy days can send your energy gauge to near zero. You concentrate on how you spend your time, and the push and pull your create is exhausting.

You can “balance the books” with this GenuLines look at both sides of the equation. 

Energy Management vs. Time Management

You’ve likely heard the old adage, “Life is a marathon, not a sprint.” You manage your time without paying attention to your energy management.
 
child with energy
 
 
And now you’re running a sprint rather than pacing like a marathoner.
 
Research tells us that productivity and success have more to do with how you manage your energy. And they have less to do with time management.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
At Work
In your work life you often try to do the things that give you more time.
Eating healthy, staying fit, spending time with your children and connecting with others all can suffer..
 
These take time and you do have to schedule some of your pursuits.
 
Have you considered whether you have the energy for those pursuits?
Trying to adhere to certain times to manage everything can leave you exhausted.
 
You’re not able to relax and enjoy yourself when you’ve “scheduled the time” for it.

Be The “Boss”

The alternative to managing your time is good energy management. This works when you take time to recover from those lengthy sprints.
 
You’re able to finish the marathon with ease rather than anguish.
Here are some tips for effective energy management.

Write It Down 

Make a list of what makes you feel refreshed, more creative and lifts your mood. It’ll help remind you about the benefits of these uplifting activities.
 
For example, watching a great series or show you’re following on television. Or sipping a cup of tea and listening to music.
 
These can ramp up your energy levels.
 
Do your best to take longer breaks. Don’t stick to a time table when it comes to stepping up your energy level.
 
Have fun with whatever you’re doing. And reward yourself for every goal reached.
 
Pressed For Time
Do you have lots of projects and it seems you’ll never finish them to be able to relax and enjoy yourself? Break those projects down into parts.
 
Reward yourself after you complete each one. This beats waiting until you finish the entire project.

Recovery Stops 

While you’re on a long sprint, you may feel the need to stop and renew your spirits and your energy. Do it!
 
You’ll feel so much more like completing the marathon and you’ll be happier at the finish. Managing your energy is a much more effective way to move through life.
 
Your inner energy thermostat doesn’t pay any attention to the time table you’ve created. Know this and, make it the most important factor in the marathon called life.
 
JohnK 1-16-2023
 
stick figure hears about energyOverheard: “Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous energy merely to be normal”
                              ~ Albert Camus
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for enrgy
 
 

6 Tips To Make Fear Your Friend

In life it seems that fear takes time outs yet never really leaves the game. But you can put fear on your team. 
 
This GenuLines game plan aims to do just that. 

6 Tips To Make Fear Your Friend

What makes you afraid? Is it losing someone close to you? A trip to the dentist?
 
Thunder and lightning?
 
hiding in fear
 
Whatever it is, keep in mind that fear is normal. It’s how our body warns us of dangerous situations and that we should be careful.
 
Yet, sometimes, our fears can become so great that they hold us back from living up to our full potential. We’re stressed and anxious over the smallest things.
 
Then again fear, in its positive form, can actually be good for us. It can inspire innovative ideas and motivate us to reach new heights.
 
Today GenuLines helps you make fear your friend. Follow the six tips below, and you’ll know how to turn what was once your foe into an ally.
 
Let’s get started.
 
1. Identify the Source
This could be the hardest step, though it’s very much worth it. But first, you need to come to terms with the source of your fear.
 
Being aware of the root cause will be difficult in the beginning, but it’ll make you stronger. You’ll no longer live in the shadow of that big, insurmountable fear.

2. Own It

You’ve come face-to-face with your fear. Now, it’s time to own it.
 
But before you do that, you have to actually admit that such-and-such scares you. There are several ways to do this.
 
First, you can either say it out loud. Do this with someone else in a comfortable setting.
 
You can also write it down in a journal or diary. The point is to get it out of your head and into a way to deal with it.
 
That’s when your fear loses its control over you.
 
It also feels better to get it off your chest and share it with the world. It might surprise you to know that many other people are as afraid as you are.

3. Think Rationally

Fear makes us panic, and panic makes us do stupid things. In fact, studies show that when we panic, our prefrontal cortex shuts down.
 
This is the region of our brain responsible for rational thinking.
 
Learn how to think rationally despite your worries and panic. Make fear your friend, and you’ll be able to go a lot farther in life.
 
4. Take Stock
People deal with fear, stress, and anxiety in different ways. Some people like challenges and the pressure they bring.
 
Others find it better to work at their own pace without any tight deadlines looming overhead.
 
Whichever way you prefer, the important thing is not to let fear get the better of you. For example, say you’re afraid to speak in public.
 
A colleague gets sick and asks you to take over their presentation. In this scenario, you have to pick whether you’ll let your fear overpower you or whether you’ll rise to the challenge.
 
The latter won’t be easy, but it’ll definitely be worth it in the long run. Tell yourself that others have held presentations before and have lived to tell about it.
 
So, what’s the big deal?
 
Remember, your mind tends to blow things out of proportion. So, find a way to deal with the stress and take stock.
 
It’s the only way you’ll be able to harness your fear and get the job done.

5. Find Support

No one ever failed by having a strong support system. Surround yourself with people who encourage you to do better.
 
These are the people who listen to you when you’re venting about your fears and anxiety.
 
There’s research to back the benefits of having a support system. This helps your coping skills. your self-esteem. and your well-being.
 
Moreover, a sound support system can lower stress, anxiety, and depression rates. 
 
6. Be Positive
Whenever you’re afraid, you’ll tend to focus on negative thoughts and emotions. But then, they fester in your mind and transform into this big, ugly thing that you can no longer control.
 
Why not try some positivity for a change? Remember, the mind is quite powerful; it only needs a small push in the right direction.
 
Stay in this mindset and expect things to fall into place.
 
JohnK 1-16-2023
Stick figure hears about fearOverheard: “Fears are educated into us, and can, if we wish, be educated out”
                                   ~Karl Augustus Menninger
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for fear
 

Improve Your Physical Health by Being Optimistic

Optimistic people seem to draw good things into their lives. But did you know that this includes better health, too? 

This check-up from GenuLines will show you how that happens.

Improve Your Physical Health by Being Optimistic

letters spell optimisticIt’s no surprise that being optimistic has mindset benefits. But did you know there are physical health benefits to being more optimistic?
 
Do you believe that some people are born with it and others aren’t that lucky? Yes, some come into the world with a cheery disposition.
 
But others including you can learn how to be optimistic. Even better news is that being optimistic can improve your general physical health. 

 

 

The Benefits of Optimism on Your Physical Health

Keep a belief system of “I think I can, and I know I will.” Your goals can come to fruition with hard work and dedication.
 
Your workouts, exercise routines, and high intensity interval training will improve, too.
 
Once you develop an optimistic mindset and apply it to those routines, the benefits will include:
 
A more enjoyable workout
An increased capacity for a sustained commitment to your workout routine
The learned skill of creating momentum and reaching your fitness goals
An enhanced self-confidence helps you succeed in other areas of your life
Reaching goals with more ease with optimistic thinking
A willingness to take on other challenges in life
Experiencing satisfying results of optimistic thinking and affirming your success
A healthier mind and body Improved sleep
Building your self-esteem
 
Focusing on how hard your workout is or how much you dislike doing it keeps your mind focused on what does’t work. This will only your take you in the opposite direction of optimal physical health.

The Mind, Body Connection of Optimism

Think about the mind, body connection. Have you ever felt disappointment?
 
What does that feel like? It no doubt feels like a sinking in the pit of your stomach while your shoulders begin to sag.
 
Your emotions, thoughts, and feelings are all stored in your body somewhere. Nervousness can show up as butterflies or an upset stomach.
 
Anxiety can cause sweaty palms and trembling. And embarrassment leaves its own visible discomfort.
 
If you want a better body and a better workout don’t add more hours to your workout routine. Instead try taking on learned optimism.
 
If you think you can and know you will, your body and mind will begin to show the results. With more effort and less time, you may begin to see better results.
 
Your mind and body will thank you.
 
JohnK 1-9-2023
 
stick figure being optimisticOverheard: “I always like to look on the optimistic side of life, but I am realistic enough to know that life is a complex matter”
                                  ~ Walt Disney
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for optimistic mindset
 
 

How Changing Your Mindset Can Improve Your Life

Is it time to re-consider your mindset? The beginning of the year is a good time to give it some thought. 

While you think it over keep these GenuLines tips close at hand.

How Changing Your Mindset Can Improve Your Life

“See yourself living in abundance and you will attract it. It always works, it works every time, with every person.” – Bob Proctor
 
I’m guessing that you don’t often think about how your mindset affects your life. You’ve always thought this way.
 
Either because of your upbringing or other circumstances.
 
This in fact does affect your life. By changing how you think you can improve your life.
 
boy changes his mindset
 
 
Abundance mindset, scarcity mindset, fear mindset, fixed mindset, growth mindset, and confident mindset. These of some of the different types of mindsets we have.
 
Each unconscious and conscious belief affects our lives every moment.

Self Improvement

Here are some ways changing your mindset to an abundance or growth mindset can improve your life.
 
You aren’t afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Changing to a growth mindset allows you to see the many paths available to you in whatever you’re seeking.
 
These can include job advancement, creative outlets or something more personal. This allows you to move forward rather than being stuck in the same place.
 
When you make these changes, you see there are plenty of resources to go around. Now, there will be competition, but you’ll see the opportunities in every aspect of your life.
 
You become comfortable sharing ideas without feeling threatened or intimidated. This leads to better choices, environments and relationships.
 
You aren’t afraid of being a part of a team and participating in group situations.

Relationships

Setting your sights on growth helps you build better personal and romantic relationships. You realize people will always have differences.
 
You find that a relationship involves learning about and from each other. And you grow together and develop skills to work well together.
 
You’ll begin to judge yourself and others less. You won’t have time to waste on judging what others are saying or doing. Instead you’ll be focusing on making progress in your life.
 
The growth mindset has you accepting constructive criticism for what it is and using it for growth. It helps you be more confident because you won’t need validation to reassure you that you’re doing it right.

You Can Change 

And it will improve your life. You can cultivate, learn, practice and grow new skills.
 
You no longer worry about what will happen. Instead you’ll commit to the process of doing, finishing and learning along the way.
 
Your growth will help you become a better person. Your skills will grow and you’ll build relationships.
 
You’ll step out of your comfort zone to go after what you want and believe you’ll get it.
 
JohnK 1-2-2023
 
stick man hears about mindsetOverheard: “The best thing to hold onto in life is each other”
                                  ~Audrey Hepburn
 
 
 
 
 
 

disclaimer for mindset

What Is Peace Of Mind And Why Do You Need It?

Peace of mind is in short supply today. We’d love to have it but many of us wonder if we’ll ever get to that point.

But you can have it as GenuLines shows you today. 

What Is Peace Of Mind And Why Do You Need It?

The words “peace of mind” often take on an ambiguous meaning. They can range from the serenity of a Buddhist monk to being able to sleep at night without a racing mind.
 
The phrase “peace of mind” has become watered down over time.
 
But there’s actually a valid reason for the various definitions of these words. We’re unique individuals navigating through life with a lot of perspectives and experiences.
 
So achieving peace of mind must also differ in its definition.
 
picture brings peace of mind
 
Your path to this state requires you to be your own trailblazer.
Whatever approach you take to reach piece of mind, it’s only important that you do.

Having It All

You can have all the drive, motivation, and intelligence in the world. But if you lack focus the road in front of you will always appear blurry.
 
We’ve already looked at the fact that peace of mind varies from person to person. But there’s one definition that encapsulates it.
 
– Peace of mind is the ability to appreciate and respect the person you are, realize that you are not perfect and that mistakes are inevitable. And you want to keep a limit on the regret and second-guessing you leave behind.

Looks Are Deceiving

There are many examples around us of people who, from the outside looking in, seem to have it all. They’re dominating the game of life.
 
Unfortunately, a lot of these people feel anything but successful in their own minds.
 
Sure, they may look like they’ve raced down the path of success. While this may be true; they’ve arrived at the finish line with a lot of extra baggage.
 
It could be that they made some unethical business decisions to accumulate a fortune. On the way they neglected those closest to them in pursuit of personal goals.
 
The point I’m getting at is that peace of mind is not a destination you reach.
 
In reality, it’s the WAY you reach this destination. As the ancients might say, “it’s not the destination, it’s the journey.” 

Going For Broke

As you go through life, make sure to never fall into the “succeed at all costs” way of thinking. This may get you many of the material things of value the world has to offer.
 
But the enjoyment will fade out at some point. Another way of saying this is do things the right way.
 
Most of us have some form of moral compass. This could be our religious beliefs, cultural values, or personal code of ethics.
 
These things serve to speak to the person we are and the person we are to become. In your pursuit of success in this life, never jeopardize what is right to get ahead.
 
Make a habit of staying true to yourself. You’ll sleep well with a clarity of consciousness.
 
And that comes from knowing you did things the RIGHT way.
 
JohnK 12-26-2022
 
stick figure hears about peace of mindOverheard: When you’ve seen beyond yourself, then you may find, peace of mind is waiting there”
                          ~ George Harrison
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for peace of mind
 

A Closed Mind Versus An Open Mind

We’re told to keep an open mind, but it this really necessary? I mean, there are plenty of closed minded people in society, and they seem to do okay.

Here’s a GenuLines look at both sides of the question.

A Closed Mind Versus An Open Mind

There are two different mindsets that pretty much determine how you look at life. They’re at the root of belief systems, opinions, and thought processes..
 
sign symbolizes open mind
We’re talking about open-minded and close-minded approaches.
 
People under almost the same circumstances can have differing attitudes about a situation. One person can feel devastated and sorry for themselves.
 
The other can see the problem as a learning opportunity. And they may use it to improve themselves in some way.
 
Or, something that seems positive can leave a person ungrateful or unsatisfied.
 
 
Living life with an open mind is the better way of navigating through life’s ups and downs. This mindset put you in a better position to enjoy the good times and to cope with the bad.
 
Today we look at common examples of how keeping an open mind is the better choice.
 
Conflict
We experience conflict in the workplace and at home. It touches our relationships with friends and family alike.
 
During their interactions people bring differing opinions and perspectives to the table. Let’s say a group wants to reach an agreement.
 
The closed-minded individual tends to see things from their own viewpoint only.
 
This way of thinking ends in a stalemate. Not only does progress stop, but there’s damage to relationships.
 
But, the individual with an open mind can empathize with others in a way that moves everyone to a middle ground. Having an open mind is an important approach when working through disagreements.

Struggle Sessions

How often do we see people struggling with the same issues over and over? Yet they never seem to resolve them.
 
There are plenty of examples of this.
 
The person who gets into and out of relationships on a regular basis. The coworker who fails to progress in a company after years of grinding it out at the same position.
 
Or the person who falls off the wagon despite the same new year’s resolution made every year. Usually this failure pattern results from approaching these situations with a closed mind.
 
Closed minders find it tough to change their tactics to deal with the issue. They make the same mistakes over and over again, failing to learn from them.

Taking Responsibility

Maintaining an open mind helps you to own up to your mistakes. This helps you adapt to similar situations moving forward. An open mind powers your progress in any situation.
 
These are far from all the examples that show the superiority of an open-mind. But the message is loud and clear.
 
The neutrality of your circumstances is open to your interpretation. Having an open mind enables you to find the silver lining that the closed mind doesn’t see.
 
JohnK 12-19-2022
 
Stick figure hears about open mindsOverheard: The world is full of people who have never, since childhood, met an open doorway with an open mind.
                                   ~E.B. White
 
 
 
 
Article image by Steven Cordes on Unsplash
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for open minds
 
 

Failure Is Your Friend

The idea of failure can send a shiver up your spine. But it’s time to give it a second look.

This GenuLines look at failure flips the script in your favor. . 

Failure Is Your Friend

There’s no shortage of content about success. A quick search about any business-related subject will show you a slew of stuff.
 
Search Amazon using the word “success”. What are your search results going to be?
 
Hundreds and hundreds of books whose subject revolves around being successful at something.
 
man feeling failure
 
 
Now, this is not actually a bad thing. Everyone wants to be successful at whatever it is they’re doing.
 
This is especially true in a business environment.

Good Business

In business, success means a satisfied and happy customer base. It means demand for your product or service exceeds supply.
 
It means having a lean and flexible organization. Most of all, it means a comfortable profit margin.
 
The thing is, success isn’t all about success. Let me put that another way.
 
When all you do is concentrate on the positive end results of being successful, you miss the point. You see, it’s ironic, but real success isn’t about succeeding.
 
Instead, it’s about failure.

Hush Hush

No one wants to talk about failure. People tend to avoid both the word and the concept.
 
Listen to talk about failure and you find it’s treated as a moral lesson. The person who failed becomes an example of how not to do things.
 
Could some internal personal flaw have caused the failure? This kind of thinking can be damaging.
 
It perpetuates the myth of winners who succeed with almost no effort. That their win was due to some sort of superior moral compass.
 
The truth is that you must fail to succeed.
 
Oscar Wilde said that experience is the name that we give our mistakes. Nothing could be truer.

Learn From Your Mistakes

Failing teaches you the lessons that you need to learn on your way to your goals. The most successful people understand this.
 
They have internalized the lessons of their own failures. They have used these lessons to get where they are today.
 
Real success isn’t a game. It’s not a reality show.
 
It doesn’t fall upon the shoulders of the chosen few.
 
Real success comes from failing, often more than once. It’s in these moments of failure that you learn how to avoid future mistakes.
 
And in time reach your goals.
 
JohnK 12-12-2022
 
stick figure hears about failureOverheard: “Those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly.”
                             ~John F. Kennedy
 
 
 
 

 

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