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5 Steps To Boost Your Motivation Skills

September 12, 2022 John Uncategorized No comments

Motivation is like a muscle, and it can get flabby over time. There are ways to deal with this.

Let these GenuLines pointers be your strength coach and motivator.

5 Steps To Boost Your Motivation Skills

Life can sometimes feel like nothing more than one struggle after another. This is especially true for anyone set on living a life of fulfillment and achievement.

Motivation is the one variable that allows you to push yourself when those around you give up.

Today’s post is worth your attention. Even if you’ve never thought of yourself as driven , but would like to change that.

We’ll look at 5 helpful steps, in no particular order, to help boost your motivation and drive.

Know Your Why

When you first set out toward a goal or achievement, your “why” for doing so tends to be pretty clear. But as you work toward your goal, the foundation can become obscured.

No matter what you pursue there WILL be days on which you feel less motivated than others. Stay aware of why you started in the first place.

It will serve as your second (or third, or fourth) wind to get back up and keep pushing.

Know Your Direction

Extreme motivation has a tendency to cause you to put your head down and work like a maniac. At times this mindset is beneficial.

You want to maintain some sense of direction.

Big goals rarely consist of point A and point B. Instead, it’s important to have a general outline in mind of each step toward your destination.

So yes, keep your nose to the grindstone.

But look up every now and then. Adjust and begin the next phase of your blueprint.

This is the way to continue heading in the right direction!

Allow Small Victories

Make sure you enjoy small successes in pursuit of the finish line. No matter how much (or little) motivation you have towards your goal.

You won’t run out of gas before you get there. Take some time to reward yourself when you do one of the (often many) small steps along the way.

And remember: You Versus You, not You Versus Them

Keep in mind that your goals are YOUR goals. Letting other people’s pursuits dictate what you strive for is counter-productive.

You won’t find the motivation to achieve great things without personal conviction. Whatever it is you want, the only comparison to consider is to the person you were the day before.

Controlled Tunnel Vision

Consider this: whatever you’re after most likely involves only one facet of your life. Career, athletic, personal and other areas won’t stop while you go after it.

Balance is always key. Don’t let the rest of your life fall to the wayside while you pursue your dream!

JohnK 9-12-2022

chiforyourself.com

Overheard: “Hold the vision, trust the process”

~Unknown

Why Personal Growth Matters

December 27, 2021 John Uncategorized No comments

Think of your personal growth as the measuring stick of your life. The quality of your progress can affect the quality of your years.

And GenuLines wants to make you aware of that quality and how you can improve it.

Why Personal Growth Matters

How much time have you dedicated to your personal development in the past year? Six months? Week?

Unfortunately, society trains us to put other things first, like education and careers. We’re not downplaying their value in life.

We only want to point out the importance of taking the time to invest in our self-improvement.

Today, we’re talking about all the reasons why personal growth matters. As you’ll find out below, it makes up a huge chunk of your life as a whole, no matter how old you are.

So, let’s get started.

What Is Personal Growth?

Working on accomplishing things in life, setting goals, and achieving them. This is personal growth.

It starts with the drive to do and be better.

Even before that, you have to start with a positive mindset. That helps boost your resilience and keeps you going, even when things don’t go your way.

The beauty of personal growth is that it’s subjective. It’s different for everyone, like success.

A Closer Look

Some people define being successful as having a happy, healthy family. Others define it as having a career, or more money than they know what to do with.

Even though personal growth is a bit more elusive, it’s all improving as an individual. This can be polishing up your education or refining your temperament. Whatever it is you’re seeking out of life, that’s your personal growth journey.

What’s In a Name?

Because it’s so diverse and covers so many aspects, it goes by several names, including:

*Self-improvement

*Personal development

*Self-growth

*Self-help

Why Does Personal Growth Matter?

Now that we understand what personal growth is, you can see how it can have a positive effect on someone. Then, without even trying, that person will motivate others to work harder and do better.

So, personal growth isn’t a solitary journey. Yes, you do the hard work. Yet, you reap so many rewards that soon you realize it was all worth it.

Working on developing as a person will help you in various aspects of your life. You’ll shine at work and you’ll notice people will start to praise your accomplishments.

You’ll also grow into a more compassionate and loving person. Listening and being attentive will become second nature. You’ll feel good about yourself, and you’ll make others feel good as well.

How to Start Your Personal Growth Journey

Empathy and positive thinking are two traits we seem to lose over the years. Personal growth can help you regain them.

Here are some of the things you can do to begin achieving personal growth.

Set Short-Term Goals

Aim to set and achieve short-term goals. When creating goals, keep the following in mind:

Make your goals realistic

Divide long-term goals into several short-term ones

Write each goal on a Post-It and hang it on your desk or bathroom mirror

Recognize and accept your strengths and weaknesses

Treat yourself to something nice every time you complete one of your goals

Keep Learning

We’re never too old to learn. Keep an open mind and take a step out of your comfort zone, and you’ll find fascinating things to learn about.

Ask any entrepreneur, and they’ll tell you they never stop learning. Their fascination with the world is what keeps them a step ahead of everyone else.

The trick is to find something that piques your interest. Nowadays everything is evolving so fast, there’s no shortage of that!

Find Your Purpose

What makes you happy? Find what makes you giddy with happiness, a.k.a. your purpose in life.

Each one of us has something that drives them and sets them apart from everyone else. Find what you want and go after it.

Even if you don’t know much about it, you can always learn. Thanks to modern-day technology, there are plenty of options to choose from.

Wake Up Early

Having healthy sleep patterns will regulate your physical, emotional, and mental states. You’ll feel more energized and ready to tackle the day that lies ahead.

Studies looked at people who make a habit of waking up early. They found those people to be healthier, happier, and more productive. It may take some time to get used to, but, once you do, you’ll never go back!

Many of us have given up on reading, thanks to our ever-present smartphones. You have to start the habit of reading each day, even if you read one blog a day.

Acquiring knowledge can be quite satisfying. You feel both competent and good. It’s an easy way to boost self-confidence and personal growth.

Personal Self-Acceptance

Knowing what your talents and skills are, is a vital part of self-acceptance. Likewise it’s important to recognize the areas where you’re not as strong.

Be confident in what you’ve accomplished and forgive yourself for any past mistakes. That’s the first step to accepting who you are and realizing your true worth.

We’re all here for a reason. Take the time to find out what yours is.

A Final Note

Understanding why personal growth matters is like understanding the secret of the universe. It can mean the difference between being happy, hopeful, and feeling dejected and lost.

Well, of course no one wakes up saying, “I want to be miserable.” It requires hard work and dedication.

You have to have a positive outlook and accept yourself for who you are. Only then can you unlock your true potential, which I have no doubt, will be amazing!

JohnK 12-27-2021

chiforyourself.com home

Overheard: “Don’t go through life, grow through life.”

~Eric Butterworth

How Meditation Can Benefit Your Motivation

November 16, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments

Meditation might not be your first thought when your motivation is on the wane. But GenuLines knows that it can be a go-to tool for those times when you lose your spark,

(You can listen to this article by clicking on here)

How Meditation Can Benefit Your Motivation

The downward spiral of low motivation can seem like an impossible cycle to break. During those times productivity and accomplishment can seem like unattainable goals.

There is one simple tool you may not have considered before that can get you back on track, and that’s meditation. It’s an exercise that goes well beyond providing relaxation.

Focus and Concentration

Focus and concentration are by-products of meditation. But don’t force the issue.

This could have a negative effect on your motivation.

Increased Happiness

More and more of us are being diagnosed with depression. It’s no surprise that happy people tend to have more energy and higher self-confidence.

And motivation raises happiness by helping release the brain’s “happiness hormones.” When you’re feeling more positive, you’re likely to have more desire to get things done.

Less Stress

Meditation leads to a more relaxed state. This is due to the way it allows the brain to slow down as it receives sensory input.

This relaxation and improved processing leads to reduced feelings of stress and overwhelm. With less stress comes a feeling of more control, which then fuels your motivation.

Positive Thinking

One of the biggest killers of motivation is negative thinking. A pessimistic view can come from many sources.

Think depression, poor habits, or general life difficulties.

The beauty of meditation is that it “rewires” brain patterns. This process encourages more positive thought patterns.

The result is a reset that helps you become more motivated.

Clarified Goals and Purpose

Taking time each day for meditation can give you a great deal of insight. This helps with reassessing what’s most important in your life.

When you have a better picture of your priorities, your goals and life’s purpose become clearer. Knowing where you want to go kicks your motivation into high gear.

And you’ll feel a greater urgency to take the necessary steps on the path to your dreams.

The benefits of meditation for increased motivation are many. There are various types of meditation.

You can begin to research on your own or find a teacher who can help you develop a practice that works for you. What’s most important is that you get started.

And maintain consistency in your meditation practice to get the most effective results. Soon you’ll be tackling your to-do list and pursuing the life goals that matter with renewed vigor.

JohnK 11-16-2020

chiforyourself.com home

Overheard: “When you own your breath, nobody can steal your peace”

~Unknown

5 Steps to Find Your Passion

February 19, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments

Your passion in life seems so elusive. Yet, the ancients told us you carry it with you at all times.

GenuLines breaks down the process of carving out a path toward your passion.

(listen to this article by clicking on the player below)

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5 Steps to Find Your Passion

If you want to live your best life, then you need to find your passion and follow it. Sounds easy, no?

Actually, it isn’t that hard, so it’s surprising that more of us don’t do it. Rather, we seem to choose existing over living a life of happiness and success.

To make a positive change in your life consider the following five steps.

Step 1: Dream Big

Everyone has big dreams. What have you done with yours?

Do you think about them, act on them or hide them away?

Help yourself find your passion and purpose, by dreaming big. List those big dreams you’ve had from childhood to today.

No matter how wild or funny, write them all down. Which of those dreams resonates most with you?

Which makes your heart sing and inspires you the most?

Now, if you’ve set your sights on being the first full-time resident of Mars, then double-check your list.

You may be coming from your ego rather than your Self.

Don’t expect your dream to be outrageous or huge. But expect that it will push you out of your comfort zone.

Be ready for the changes in your life that will help you achieve it. You’ve got to want it.

It needs to spark your inner passion and desire.

Step 2: Set Mile Markers (Goals)

I’ve always preferred the words “mile markers” to goals since goal has the sound of being finished.

Once you’ve fleshed out your ideal or dream you need to set your mile markers. They’ll lead you to your dream.

There will be other, smaller goals, that you will need to achieve along the way. You want to jot these down, too.

Step 3: Plan Your Way

Now that you know what you want and need to achieve, it’s time to plan what you need to do to get there. Think about several things.

The action you need to take. The resources you’ll need.

And anything or anyone that can provide help and support.

Step 4: Take Action

You know what you want, how you can achieve it and the steps to take. It’s time for action.

Remember you’re looking for a passionate life. One that fills you with excitement, joy, and success.

Step 5: Live Your Best Life

Once you’re taking action and seeing your direction you’ll find that your life starts to improve. Instead of dreading each day you’ll look forward to it with excitement and anticipation.

Your best life is the one that gives you achievement AND fulfillment. It’s the result of living your passion and your purpose.

You can get your desired result on your own. Or you can get the help of a coach or mentor.

Either way, your passion is waiting for you.

JohnK 2-18-2020

chiforyourself@gmail.com home

Overheard: “When you are born, your work is placed in your heart.”

~Khalil Gibran

How Much Exercise Do You Need Every Day To Lose Weight?

May 16, 2018 John Uncategorized No comments

Warmer weather seems to be more conducive to exercise. Maybe you’re looking to break a sweat and lose a few pounds in the process.

GenuLines always supports good health, and managing your weight is a big part of that.

Below are some things to keep in mind during your program. All the best!

Subscribe to GenuLines- get CHI FOR YOURSELF guest information and more!

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How Much Exercise Do You Need Every Day To Lose Weight?

Weight loss requires both a disciplined dietary approach and exercise. Other factors are important too. But, how much exercise do you need to do?

There’s no magic number of minutes, reps or hours needed to produce weight loss. Rather there are variables that you have to consider to reach the right numbers.

Here are some options to help you come up with an exercise time frame that works best for you.

Variable 1: Calories Consumed and Calorie Quality

The first principle of weight loss is that to lose weight you must reach a caloric deficit. This means burning more calories than you’re consuming.

So, to know the amount of exercise needed to lose weight, you need to know your daily caloric intake. Just as important are the sources of those calories.

For example, vegetables versus potato chips. If you function on a low-calorie diet you’ll need less exercise to lose weight.

You may be fine with a moderate 3-4 day a week training plan. If you eat large amounts of food you’ll need to up your exercise plan.

Variable 2: Exercise Type and Intensity

The second key variable is the type and intensity of exercise. 20 minutes on the elliptical has a far different energy output than 20 minutes of all-out sprinting.

This variable can also dovetail with our first variable. The greater the calorie consumption, the more energy for high-intensity exercise. Otherwise, you may not need to exercise for an especially long time or at a high intensity.

In general, aerobic-intensive exercise is different. It requires a longer time to see any sort of effective impact on weight loss.

Jogging, biking, the elliptical or other options eat up more time. This could consume hours over the course of a week before you see a meaningful impact.

Anaerobic activities will be more effective in a shorter amount of time. These include sprinting, resistance training or interval training methods.

But, their intensity level is much higher. So, you’ll need a certain level of fitness to get the full potential and results.

Variable 3: What is the Weight Loss Goal? How much time do we have to achieve it?

The third variable is arguably the most important. Think of your car ride or travel plans.

They’re determined by your destination. Your exercise plan and weight loss journey will be dictated by the goal we have set. If the goal is to lose 5 pounds in two months, that is a fairly modest and achievable goal for most.

If you’re a sedentary person you would only need to exercise 20-30 minutes a day for 3-4 days a week to achieve this goal.

Conversely, if your goal is to lose 30 pounds in two months, the equation is quite different. This would involve more hours every day at high intensity to achieve that same goal.

Putting it All Together: Finding the Right Number

We’ve examined the variables. Now we can consider how much exercise we need per day to lose weight.

Let’s say you have a low caloric intake, low-intensity aerobic exercise, and a modest goal.

You might be O.K. with 30-45 minutes of aerobic exercise a day. Not so if you love to eat, love to lift weights and also have an ambitious goal for weight loss.

You’re going to have to spend considerable time every day working out to reach those goals. Your best bet would be to assess your starting point as compared to your goal.

Look at how much time you have to reach that goal. Then make your plan to reach it.

This is a better bet than relying on a standard number or cookie-cutter approach.

JohnK 5-16-2018

chiforyourself.com home

Overheard: ”Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”

~ George Bernard Shaw

Breakup Rehab: This Week on CHI FOR YOURSELF

October 9, 2017 John Uncategorized No comments

How do you regain confidence and optimism about love following a breakup?

After her own relationship ended, Rebekah Freedom McClaskey developed and practiced a series of small, step-by-step actions that ultimately helped her heal her heart and live in harmony with her destiny.

Hear author and counselor Rebekah Freedom McClaskey on our next CHI FOR YOURSELF. Thursday, October 12th at 1 pm Pacific time, 4 pm on the East Coast at chiforyourself.com

Rebekah Freedom McClaskey is the author of Breakup Rehab: Creating the Love You Want.

JohnK 10-9-2017

chiforyourself.com home page

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Why It’s Good To Keep A Household Budget

September 25, 2017 John Uncategorized No comments

You work hard to earn a living. So it’s best to make wise decisions when you spend that money. That’s where a household budget comes in.

A budget has obvious advantages. Like seeing at a glance what we have coming in, what’s going out (and what that money is paying for). You also get an idea if there’s anything left at the end of the month to put into savings.

Before we dive into exactly what a budget can do for us, let’s consider a few points. What will happen if we’re not tracking income and expenses?

You may end up spending more than you’re making in a given month (or two, or three). Over time that can put you into some pretty hot financial water. You may also spend a lot more than you’d like to believe on things like eating out, going to the movies or new clothes.

Having a budget gives you more control over your true spending wishes. That could be dinner and a movie, or not. Wouldn’t it be nice to have an actual choice?

A Budget Tracks Where Your Money Is Going

A budget’s only job is to track your money. You record where the money comes from each month (your income) and then write out everything you spend it on.

Start with your regular monthly bills. These include your mortgage or rent, utility bills etc.

What’s left is your discretionary income.

A Budget Helps You Spot Wasted Money

Having it all in front of you in black and white helps you identify things you’re wasting your money on.

Budgeting forces you to reconsider if you want to spend well over $200 a month on Cable TV. Or $150 on your large cell phone plan. Or how about that yearly magazine subscription to something you no longer read? Go through your expenses and reevaluate if this is REALLY how you want to spend your paycheck.

A Budget Allows You To Be Proactive About Savings

Saving money without a budget is hard. We go in with the best of intentions at the beginning of the month. But somehow there isn’t anything left at the end of the month.

A budget gives you a chance to be a bit more proactive. Set aside some money for savings at the beginning of the month, even a small amount like $20.

Put it in the budget as a regular expense, much like you do with your other urgent bills. If you need to, open a separate savings account so you’re not tempted to spend it.

A Budget Ensures You’re Not Spending More Than You’re Making

Your budget will keep you on track and help you avoid overspending. And I don’t have to tell you that that’s pretty important for your financial well-being.

JohnK 9-25-2017
chiforyourself.com home page

Overheard: ““While money can’t buy happiness, it certainly lets you choose your own form of misery.”
~ Groucho Marx

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Do You Have A Financial Safety Net? (And How To Build One)

September 18, 2017 John Uncategorized No comments

Do you have a financial safety net? It’s something worth thinking about and setting up. What will happen to you and your loved ones if you lose your job for a few months?

What if you get into an accident that prevents you from earning a living? Or what if some unexpected expenses come up. Do you have anything in place to make sure the bills continue to get paid?

If not, now is the time to get started. But where do you actually start?

Three to six months’ worth of living expenses saved in an interest-bearing account is a good start. Figure out what your family needs to live on if all income stops. Then start saving as much money as you can until you have built up this safety net.

Trim expenses for eating out, going to the movies, buying the newest TV and Tech gadget and the like. Add these to your savings account until you’ve saved enough to have a comfortable cushion. To make this step go even faster, add any bonuses, tax refunds etc. as well.

But don’t stop there. Make it a goal to add to your safety cushion as you can and come back and revise your numbers from time to time. Your living expenses may go up or down over time. You can adjust the amount you need and set aside savings in an account where you can get at it with no hassle.

Life and disability insurance are another important part of your financial safety net. Do you have a plan in place to continue to cover your living expenses (or those of your family) when you can no longer work? Call your insurance agent and go over your current coverage. Make sure the insurance you’re paying for will pay out what you need and if not, make adjustments.

Next, consider investing any further savings into higher interest-bearing accounts. You may not be able to access money invested here right away. But the funds will come in handy when you’re dealing with a long-term financial emergency or are ready to retire. Plenty of investment vehicles have a higher yield than your bank savings account.

Talk to your financial adviser, Work out a plan that’s right for you, your family, and whatever the future may hold.

JohnK 9-18-2017

chiforyourself.com home page

Image for overheard for financial wisdom

Overheard: “All money is a matter of belief.”

~Adam Smith

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How To Plan For Unexpected Expenses

September 14, 2017 John Uncategorized No comments

It always seems to happen at the wrong time. The car’s transmission blows just as your daughter gets her braces. Or your washing machine decides to call it quits.

These unexpected expenses will pop up throughout life. You want to prepare as well as possible for those times when life throws you a financial curve ball.

Do your best to plan ahead for upcoming expenses. If you’re driving an older car, or your dishwasher has seen its better days, start saving up to replace the item. You may also want to start keeping an eye out for good deals on the replacement.

An even better strategy is to have an emergency savings fund. Set up a savings account and add to it monthly. Use it only for completely unexpected expenses.

Make sure you know what’s in the account. And once you have to take money out of it replace it as soon as possible.

This brings us to an important point. How to make a quick recovery after taking a hit to your wallet.

Go over your budget (you have one of those, right?) and see if you can cut back on some things for the time being.

Stop ordering pizza every Friday night and make your own at home. Skip a night out on the town and watch a couple of movies on Netflix instead of going to the theater.

Use the money you’re not spending over the next few months to refill your emergency fund. For an extra boost, you might work a few hours of overtime. Or do a few freelance projects. You might pick up a short-term part time job to get back on track fast.

But what do you do when the expense comes up before you had a chance to set up the emergency fund? Take a deep breath and assess the situation.

Can you make do without the item for a little while? At least long enough to scrape together the funds to repair or replace it?

If it’s the dishwasher, that’s easy. You can wash dishes by hand for a little while.

If it’s the fridge or the car you rely on to get you to work each day, that’s a different story.

If it’s your car decide if it would be better to repair than replace. Even if it isn’t the perfect solution, it may get you to work while you save up for the car you want.

Shuffle your money around and if there is no other option charge it to the credit card and get to work. Your one and only goal right now is to pay off that expense.

Sock away every available penny. Once you pay off your credit cards do what you can to get that emergency fund set up.

And be ready for any surprises down the road.

JohnK 9-12-2017

chiforyourself.com home page

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Chakra Wisdom with Tori Hartman: Today’s CHI FOR YOURSELF

September 7, 2017 John Uncategorized No comments

Quick reminder- Our guest on today’s CHI FOR YOURSELF is Tori Hartman, author of CHAKRA WISDOM ORACLE: How to Read the Cards for Yourself and Others.