Tag Archive for genuine living

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
 
 
 
 

 

disclaimer for faolure

 

 

 

What Am I Doing with My Life? Tips for Figuring Things Out

You’re in charge of your life, but it doesn’t exactly come with an instruction book! Feels like a Rubik’s Cube sometimes. 

It’s a puzzle that GenuLines will do it’s best to help you figure out. 

What Am I Doing with My Life? Tips for Figuring Things Out

Do you often find yourself wondering what you are doing in life? Many people reach a point where they feel they lack direction in their lives.
 
footprints of life
 
 
 
Instead of living life to the fullest, they only go through the motions.
 
If this sounds like you, there are things you can do to help you get out of the rut you’re in. Below, you’ll discover some useful  tips for figuring out what it is you want from life.
 
 
 
 
Consider Your Passions
If you want to know what direction to go in, it’s helpful to think about the things you’re passionate about. The things that motivate and inspire you will change on a frequent basis.
 
For example, what you want today may look very different to what you wanted a few months ago. You change and adapt over time according to your experiences.
 
You want to keep assessing what it is you want.
 
Figuring out the things you’re passionate about will help you to understand where to go next. And what you need to do to get there.
 
Address Your Fears
Even if you know what it is you want to do, you might be stuck in fear. It’s one of our most powerful emotions.
 
Fear can stop you from going after the things you want in life.
 
So, if you’re going to move forward and figure out what it is you’re doing in life, you’re going to need to address your fears.
 
Figure out where the fear is coming from. Then, be willing to work through them so you can stop them controlling your life.
 
Assess Your Current Goals
Do you have any goals you’re working on right now? Chances are, if you aren’t sure what you’re doing in your life, you won’t have any goals to work towards.
 
This can contribute to the problem.
 
You need to set goals to keep motivated and positive. When you have things to work for, it gives you a purpose each day.
 
As you see yourself progressing you’re more motivated to get where you need to be, Make sure you set small, specific goals that are easy to achieve.
 
You Don’t Need To Have It All Figured Out
There will always be doubts and things you want to do better. You don’t have to have it all figured out all the time.
 
In fact, going with the flow can open you to a lot of opportunities you would otherwise miss.
 
Feeling like you don’t know what you’re doing in life can be lonely and frustrating. The above are only some of the things you can do to figure out what it is you want..
 
JohnK 12-5-2022
 
stick man hears about lifeOverheard: “What I do today is important because I am exchanging a day of my life for it”
                                       ~Hugh Mulligan
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for life

10 Signs You’re On The Road To Success

You’re serious about making your life a success. But is all that effort really paying off?

Today GenuLines looks at some indicators that help you answer that question. 

10 Signs You’re On The Road To Success

The meaning of success can be a bit tricky because it’s so subjective. Rarely do two people share the same exact experiences.
 
But there are certain milestones that are general enough to help give us a sense of direction.
 
success sign with purpose
 
 
These milestones help pick us up when times are hard, lift our morale. They serve as a reminder of how far we’ve gotten and how much we’ve accomplished.
 
They also act as a beacon to help guide us if ever we stray from our goals and objectives.
 
Here are 10 of the most common signs you’re on the road to success:

1. You have plans and you’re passionate about them

Most people think success is all about the goals. And while that’s true, the bigger part of success is having a framework.
 
Something that will help navigate you until you reach those goals. You don’t want to let others’ definition of success influence your vision.

2. You learn from your mistakes

Acknowledging your shortcomings can be tough. But looking at things from a wider angle will give you mental clarity.
 
You’ll be able to try things in a different way next time around. Plus, being able to adapt means you’ll find more creative ways and insights to achieve your goals.
 
And learning from others’ mistakes make gives you valuable knowledge from their experiences.

3. You strive for more

Having constant goals that you’re trying to reach is a sign that you’re motivated and excited about life. Seeing the future before it plays out is an important trait of successful people.
 
They know what they want and make plans to get it. And they treat obstacles as learning experiences.

4. You welcome feedback

Criticism can be harsh, especially as you get started. But you need to see it as helpful advice, instead of personalizing it. Use it as a guide to help improve yourself.

5. You spend your time wisely

Planning your schedule in an efficient manner helps you get as many things done as possible. You don’t often get sidetracked.
 
You’re focused and punctual. If you’re an early riser you get excited about what the day has in store for you.

6. You have initiative

You aren’t afraid to get your hands dirty, and work outside your comfort zone. You’re aware that no one will turn your dream into a reality except you.
 
So be willing to roll up your sleeves and jump right in. Always look for better and newer ways to achieve your goals.

7. You’re excited about learning new things

Be curious about everything. You’ll gain a little bit of knowledge that you didn’t have yesterday.

8. You work well with others

When you work well with others and play on each other’s strengths, you all come out winners. And best of all, you reach your goal faster and with better results.
 
One negative aspect of working with others is that it’s easy to assign blame. But confident people step up, take responsibility.
 
They work hard at finding an alternative solution. And they’re happy when others are successful

9. You know your weaknesses and strengths

Working to improve your weaknesses and polish your strengths is itself a sign of success. You exude confidence and a sense of inner stability.
 
And who wouldn’t want to work with someone like that?

10. You’re tenacious and not quick to give up

Even when things aren’t going your way, you don’t see giving up as an option. You have goals in mind, and plans to follow to reach those goals and nothing can stand in your way.
 
You stay positive in the face of adversity, and you don’t settle for less.
 
JohnK 11-28-2022
 
Ostick man hears about successverheard: “Success is dependent on effort”
                            ~Sophocles
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for success
 
 
 

How Your Mental Attitude Helps You Prosper

Keeping a good attitude helps you stay on the road to realizing your dreams. Kinda hard to argue with that. 

Today GenuLines examines how your mental attitude can take some of the bumps out of that road. 

How Your Mental Attitude Helps You Prosper

You’ve heard the one about ‘The Power Of Positivity’ right? Yes, it’s a famous book that made someone famous.
 
And it’s become even more famous because other famous people agree with this famous saying. And they live by it, or at least that’s what they tell everyone that they do.
 
Let’s find out for ourselves.

Being Positive Helps You To Be More Positive

cat with attitude
 
Positivity has a wonderful characteristic. It’s a feedback loop of positivity.
 
When you’re more positive you feel better about yourself and your life. And that positivity builds on itself.
 
 
 
 
Unfortunately, negativity works in exactly the same way. But that’s for miserable people and we’re not going to be like them, are we?
 
To some, this will make complete sense immediately. But I can already hear some ‘Negative Nellies.’ They’re saying, “How can I be positive about my life when it’s so bad?” There’s a simple answer. It’s loved by children, and it’s called ‘Let’s Pretend’.

The Prosperity Of ‘Let’s Pretend’

Your brain doesn’t know the difference between what’s happening to you and what’s imagined. Think about spending all day imagining that everything was great.
 
You felt happy about yourself and your life. You would think that everything was great and that you were happy about yourself and your life.
 
Isn’t that great, and a positive thing to know?
 
But if things aren’t particularly great you can pretend and make your brain think that they actually are. But how does this apply to prosperity?
 
If you feel and think you’re prosperous, who on earth is there to say that you’re not. You might not have the biggest house or newest car.
 
Yet if you don’t need those things to be happy and peaceful in your life, then what do they have to do with true prosperity? If you’re in an internal state of happiness and peace, then you are more likely to be open to opportunities.
 
Your internal state influences your external state. Have a go at making yourself more prosperous by being more positive.
 
JohnK 11-21-2022
 
Stick figure hears about attitudeOverheard: “Two things define you: Your patience when you have nothing and your attitude when you have everything.”
                              ~George Bernard Shaw
 
 
 
disclaimer for attitude
 

Do You Need Mentors?

Mentors can help you find your way through life. But how do you go about finding the mentor?

Use these directional guides from GenuLines to better get your bearings.

Do You Need Mentors?

You can’t know everything there is to know about how to get where you want to be in life. While it’s possible to learn the needed skills, this will take time and likely a lot of money.
 
Instead, what if you had someone (or a group of people) who can help guide you to success?
 
A mentor in action
 
 
A mentor is someone who right now is where you want to be. The relationship you have with a mentor can be an official one.
 
Or it can be informal such as following in the footsteps of someone you admire.
 
Mentors have experience and have gone through the growing pains towards success. They will know what kinds of training you may need or skills to develop.

Feedback

Best of all, mentors can provide feedback. They’ll let you know what you’re doing right and wrong during your development.
 
This kind of advice is invaluable.
 
You don’t want a mentor who will hold back. Make sure you give them full permission to be completely honest with you.
 
Most worthwhile mentors will have no problems doing this for you. It may be a hard pill to swallow, but you’ll be better off than having mentors who sugarcoat your progress.
 
That won’t help you in any way.

Matching up

The mentors you choose should have the experience or skills you desire to learn. Be sure to ask lots of questions about what they expect from you and ask what you can expect from them.
 
This expectation is important.
 
Otherwise, you won’t know whether the mentoring relationship is working. Someone you’re considering to mentor you may take issue with these questions.
 
If so, this is a sign they may not be right for you. It can also be more difficult to sever the relationship once it’s begun.

Should you pay for mentors?

It depends on what you currently have available at your disposal. And what you intend to receive from this kind of arrangement.
 
If mentorship is available free of charge then consider going ahead with it. Then again, paying for someone to help you lets you hold them accountable.
 
This is a crucial aspect of mentoring.
 
Without it, you could be spinning your wheels, going nowhere. You don’t want to waste time.
 
The whole reason to take on a mentor is to save time and get you further in your development.
 
JohnK 11-14-2022
 
 
stick man hears about mentorsOverheard: If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants
                                   ~Isaac Newton
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for mentors
 
 
 
 

6 Effective Ways To Change Your Attitude Towards The Positive

It’s tough to feel positive these days. A lot of us need what I call an “atti-tune-up.” Today GenuLines takes a look under the hood to help you run on all cylinders. 

6 Effective Ways To Change Your Attitude Towards The Positive

Your attitude reveals how you live your life, how you treat others, how others treat you, and a whole lot more.
 
man feeling positive
 
 
It can help you be successful at home and work.
 
At the same, you’ll enjoy a sense of inner peace and confidence.
 
 
If you’re looking for ways to boost your optimism, these six effective ways can help you.
 
 
Have the Desire to Change
Change may be scary. But if you want a more positive attitude, you have to embrace change.
 
You’ll find you become a calmer, more accepting person. Your self-confidence will also get a nice boost because fewer things bother you.
 
Personal growth is a slow and steady process. Yet, it goes hand-in-hand with change and all the good that can come of it.
Find a New Vantage Point
Life shows us both a good side and a bad. They’re always there, co-existing. Which one you see depends on your perspective.
 
The next time something happens, try to look at it from more than one angle. If there are other people involved, try to picture it from their point of view.
 
Being aware of other people’s vantage points gives clarity and puts things in their right place. It also helps you see both the good and bad in everything.
 
To develop a more positive attitude, direct more of your energy to the good.
Develop Good Habits
Negative thoughts and beliefs lead to negative habits. A habit is a learned behavior that, over time, becomes reflexive. Start doing more of the good habits.
 
Develop one good habit at a time. For example, start with taking a 10-minute walk during your lunchtime.
 
Add 10 minutes each week. You may even find yourself waiting in anticipation for your daily walks.
 
Other good habits to try could be: Getting quality sleep each night. Cutting back on processed food, alcohol, or smoking
 
And being a more effective manager of your money.
 
Take some time to re-energize and de-stress. Give back to your community.
 
Practice self-reflection through meditation, journaling, or prayer. Find a hobby that indulges your creative side
Spend Time with Positive People
Positive people seem to find a way to see the silver lining in a situation. Their presence will lift your mood.
 
Their can-do attitude will remind you of your accomplishments and life lessons.
 
Hanging out with people who have a positive attitude can help you see things in a brighter light. It’s a scientific fact that, after a while, you’ll start to think and act like them.
 
You’ll start to be more optimistic and self-assured.
Focus on Solutions
Rather than spending so much time and energy focusing on the problem, try to focus more on the solution. Brainstorm one, or ten, ways to solve a certain prickly situation.
 
It could get difficult in the beginning. But soon, finding solutions will become an automatic response.
Live in the Present
The past contains all life lessons that have helped shape the person you’ve become. In the future your goals and dreams are lying in wait.
 
While they’re important, they’re both out of your control.
 
The only thing you can control is the present moment. You can either make it the best it can be or you can let it pass you by, causing you to spend the rest of your life feeling regret.
 
One great way you can live in the present is to practice mindfulness. Sit somewhere quiet for a couple of minutes.
 
Let your eyes wander to absorb everything going on around you. Whatever it is you’re seeing, take a few seconds to look at every detail.
 
Mindfulness meditation doesn’t only reduce stress by allowing you to live in the moment. It also teaches you gratitude for all you have and all you’ve accomplished.
 
JohnK 11-7-2022
 
stick man hears about positiveOverheard: Satisfaction consists in freedom from pain, which is the positive element of life.
                                    ~Arthur Schopenhauer
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for positive

Put Your Savings On Autopilot

You want your savings to last. But you don’t want to spend your days and nights worrying about whether they will. 

Here’s a GenuLines look at money management that will let you sleep at night. 

Put Your Savings On Autopilot

picture of savings
 
Putting a little money away for a rainy day isn’t always easy. You may have some good intentions, but at the end of the day, there isn’t any money left.
 
Somehow whatever you make is spend before you get it to the next paycheck.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Start by making a personal budget. Take a look at what you bring in each month. Next, write down your fixed expenses.
 
These are things like rent, car payments, utilities etc..
 
Figure out how much you need each month for groceries and other essentials. This is your bare bones budget.
 
It’s good to know what you need each month to get by.

Do the math

Next it’s time for a little bit of math. Start with what you bring in each month and subtract all your core expenses.
 
What you’re left with is your discretionary income.
 
This will pay for entertainment, clothes, and other things. And from this point on, part of that income will go into a savings account.
 
Pick a number you’re comfortable with. It could be a mere $20 per month, Or $500.
 
Put it in your budget and treat it like any other bill.
 
It won’t take you long to get into the habit of setting aside that money for savings.

Bank on it

To make it even more hands-off, talk to your bank about opening a separate savings account. Set up an auto-deposit to have the savings transferred to the new account.
 
This will happen as soon as your pay check comes in. If you don’t see it, you’ll never miss it and your savings will run on autopilot.
 
Don’t forget to audit your nest egg from time to time. Take a second look at your budget.
 
Can you increase your savings a little more?
 
Another savings booster involves things like birthday cash, tax returns, and bonuses. You’ll put those straight into the savings account
 
Again, you won’t even miss the money, but it will give you a quick savings buildup.

Don’t lose interest

Make sure your savings are sitting in an interest bearing account. Since you won’t be touching this money unless it’s a dire emergency, you should be able to earn at least a little interest.
 
Talk to your banker about your best options and start putting your savings on autopilot.
 
One last tip: Talk to your employer about matching 401K funds. Their contribution can help you reach your goal even faster.
 
JohnK 10-31-2022
 
stick man hears about savingsOverheard: “A man who both spends and saves money is the happiest man, because he has both enjoyments”
                                         ~Samuel Johnson
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for savings