Tag Archive for motivation

Can You Learn To Control Your Behavior?

June 30, 2025 John Uncategorized No comments

Can You Learn To Control Your Behavior?

You want to change and control your behavior. This is a big part of personal growth and development.

Or you might want to learn more self-control.

You want to better manage your time, lose weight, or manage your money. You can do any of these things when you change your behavior in some way.

But changing your behavior is harder than most people think. which is why so many people have a hard time sticking to New Year’s resolutions. So, what’s the best way to learn to control your behavior?

Let’s take a closer look at all the things that influence your behavior.

What Controls Behavior?

We know certain things are bad for us or not in our best interest, but we keep doing them anyway.

There’s not a person among us who doesn’t know that getting enough exercise is important for our health. Yet we’re currently facing an obesity epidemic.

So, knowing what you need to do is not enough in itself to change our behavior.

A Goal

Having a goal is an important component to changing behavior. Without a goal, there’s no clear destination to work toward.

A goal provides you with motivation and a clear path forward. Having a goal makes your behavior more important to you and helps it clarifies what you want to achieve.

Goals should be realistic and attainable. And you should set a time frame for achieving them.

A Plan

Now that you have a destination, which is your goal, it’s time to develop a route, which is your plan. To get to where you want to be, you need to determine the precise steps you’ll take.

Your goals dictate your eventual, final behavior change. And your plan includes all the incremental changes you’ll put into your life to form a daily routine.

This is the game plan toward changing your behavior.

The Right Mindset

A realistic and specific goal and a plan for achieving it are both necessary for behavior change. But without the right mindset, you’re not likely to reach permanent change.

You have to believe that you can change your behavior. Know that you have the power and will to make this change that you believe to be important.

Controlling Your Emotions

Your emotions also play a significant role in your behavior. When you’re upset, depressed, or stressed, you can neglect the behaviors you know are good for you.

You’ll lean toward the ones that make you feel better. We use our behavioral choices to help overcome negative emotions.

Learn to identify and then control your emotions. This is essential for controlling your behavior.

Otherwise, you’ll find your best efforts at behavioral change sabotaged by negative emotions.

Putting it All Together

So, if you want to change your behavior long-term and enact real change in your life, here’s what you want to focus on. First, you need a decisive, realistic goal about what you want to change.

Then you need a plan for a gradual working toward this behavioral change.

You need to track and adjust your attitude and mindset about this new behavior. Be sure to keep your thinking positive and goal oriented.

Also pay attention to your emotional state.

Learn to handle emotions in a productive way. Don’t let them get in the way of your efforts

Combine these points and move closer to making lasting behavior changes.

JohnK 6-30-2025
chiforyourself.com

Overheard: “To change a habit, make a conscious decision, then act out the new behavior”

~Maxwell Maltz

You CAN Break Bad Habits

June 16, 2025 John Uncategorized No comments

You CAN Break Bad Habits

Have you been trying to break a bad habit for a long time? You read about how to do it and give it a try.

But, time and again, you keep repeating the same bad habits.

Are you eating the wrong foods? Are you smoking and can’t seem to kick the habit.?

Before you start working on how to break your bad habits, GenuLines suggests you think back to how you started them.

What kind of mindset did you have at that point? Were you a teenager who wanted to fit in?

You could also be overeating because you’re stressed out about your job.

Once you’ve identified how your habits started, it’s time to determine how important they are in your life. The correct answer would be, “they’re not important.”

But, they are important, or you wouldn’t continue those habits.

Try to list why they’re important. In other words, why do you need to continue with your bad habits?

If you get to this point of clarity you’ve turned the corner on breaking the habit. The reasons are important but don’t dwell on them and beat yourself up.

You can’t do anything about the past. It’s best to move on and try to stop continuing the habits.

The Key to Change

Stop bad habits by replacing them them with good ones.

If you’re a smoker and you have a craving for a cigarette, go out for a jog. Jogging can work for bad diets as well by taking your mind off your cravings.

You can deal with poor eating habits by having accessible fruit and vegetables.. Ideally, you want to have these ready-to-eat, and place them right next to junk food.

Of course, getting rid of the junk food in the first place is a great way not to have it within reach.

The next step in breaking habits is to realign your mindset. You need to focus on what you’re gaining by not continuing the bad habit.

For instance, if you’re having a problem with alcohol, try to keep focused on the way you feel without alcohol. For most people, that’s better.

You can break bad habits. It does take some effort.

But, your life will change for the better, if you’re willing to put in the effort.

JohnK 6-16-2025
chiforyourself.com

Overheard: “Don’t let your sins turn into bad habits”

~Saint Teresa of Avila

Article image by Artem Podrez: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-holding-burger-smiling-4728880/

Taking Chances On Your New Career

April 21, 2025 John Uncategorized No comments

Taking Chances On Your New Career

When you were starting out, you might have believed you landed the right job. It seemed to match your goals, your interests—your idea of success.

But now, you’re starting to wonder if it was the right call.

You think about changing careers, and GenuLines knows that often means starting over. That’s a scary proposition.

Especially if you’ve been in a certain position for several years.

After all, you’re moving up the corporate ladder and earning a pretty decent salary. Starting over is sure to mean a cut in pay and that can be a negative for you and your family.

And there’s more to consider than the pay cut. It also means starting over as far as the pecking order or seniority you gained over the years.

But, I’m Too Old

Another factor for a career changer is age. Say you decide to switch in your forties or fifties.

You’ll have as little experience in your new career as someone starting out and younger.

It can be a tall challenge, but there are positives that you should consider too. The first is that money isn’t your only consideration.

Sometimes, getting out of a bad situation is enough to overcome a smaller paycheck.

You can make extra income, either by selling online or doing work for others. And It’s not necessary to work at a physical location to earn some cash.

If your new career is completely new for you it can be exciting as well as scary.

Think back to when you started your original career. Any new achievement made you feel like you could rule the world.

If you don’t have experience, remind yourself that you do have work and life experience to bring to the table. If you have any management experience that can carry over, too.

And you know how to handle adverse situations better than your younger colleagues.

Staying in a career that you’re tired of can make you bitter and take years off your life. While you think about switching, remember others have done it and they’ve made it work.

JohnK 4-21-2025
www.chiforyourself.com

Overheard: “It’s not too late to be what you might have been”

~George Eliot

Article image by JONATHAN PAGAOA: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-of-a-pair-of-dice-on-the-black-background-14997903/

Success Takes Longer Than You Think

April 7, 2025 John Uncategorized No comments

Success Takes Longer Than You Think

Big Goals. Large visions for your life.

Any major success you move toward. It’s no doubt going to take a lot longer than you think.

It’s part of life.

You get a good idea about something you want to be, do or have. And the idea captures your mind and emotions.

The honeymoon phase is awesome.

You daydream and brainstorm your exciting new idea and its world of possibilities. You’re energized and GenuLines is ready to help you take on the world.

But if you’re new to all this keep in mind that you have some work ahead of you. Scaling a mountain isn’t quick and easy.

Looks Are Deceiving

Sure, from a distance, the mountain may not look that big. It looks like pretty smooth terrain and a manageable grade when you stare at it from a distance.

So you sprint to your starting point.

That’s when the work begins. And reality starts to sink in.

MOST people don’t make it far enough up the mountain to put skin in the game.

They quit early enough that the pain of investment isn’t harsh enough. The sting of quitting isn’t harsh enough.

But if this goal is something that you REALLY want then your first step is the “investment phase”.

You have to put in enough effort to reach a point where quitting would be more painful than continuing.

Once you reach this point, you gain a whole new perspective. The struggle doesn’t go away, but it takes on a new form.

You find a sort of peace and “sense of knowing” during your struggle.

You know you’ll make it to your goal though you don’t know how long it’ll take. But it almost doesn’t matter because you no longer count the cost.

You’re only focused on the path.

This is an easy metaphor to understand. But it applies to anything in life.

Make it a point to nurture your dreams. Have big visions and give yourself permission to dream even bigger.

Then, make CERTAIN you stay with it. Get to the point where turning around is no longer an option.

Even though it’ll likely take far longer than you think to reach your peak.

JohnK. 4-7-2025
chiforyourself.com

Overheard: “Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out”

~Robert Collier

Article image by Andrea Piacquadio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/yelling-formal-man-watching-news-on-laptop-3760778/

Live a More Fulfilled Life- Choose to Accept Yourself

March 10, 2025 John Uncategorized No comments

Live a More Fulfilled Life- Choose to Accept Yourself

You want a fulfilled life. But do you wear a mask of perfection?

Beneath that facade lies a whirlwind of strengths and weaknesses. It’s the messy reality of being human.

Even the most benevolent among us can’t escape the occasional dark cloud; So, what happens when your best intentions get sidetracked by your demons?

How do you navigate those turbulent moments that test your genuine self? Today GenuLines will dive in to the topic.

The truth is, all of us are a mix of strong points and weak ones.

That’s to be expected. It’s part of the human condition.

Usually, it takes just one bad day for the demonic side of a person to show up. What do you do when those days come your way?

How do you deal with that?

My point is that your flaws are what give you character. They’re actually what make you special and unique.

If people wanted to date you based on your good looks you’re going to be in trouble. Why?

Looks fade. What happens when the wrinkles appear?

What gives you character is your weird laugh, your quirky sense of humor, your off-beat way of looking at situations. These are things that people hang on to.

Crazy High Standards

Unfortunately, if you keep on focusing on impossible standards, you become blind to the flaws that give you character. Now, a lot of people can accept this, but they would try to rework their flaws.

They would try to reshape their flaws.

You could try this. Flaws can be reshaped, but understand that they never go away.

This is all part of the territory. Learning to accept yourself is really the first step in learning to live in a flawed world.

That’s how things work. That’s how they are.

You’re actually tapping into a deep reservoir of personal power if you accept your flaws. This means you choose to stop running away from them, apologizing for them, justifying them, pointing the finger at others, or otherwise avoiding them.

Instead, you acknowledge them. Acknowledgment is the first step.

Next, you learn to live with them. Then you take ownership of them.

Eventually, you’ll get to the point you need to reach: making your flaws work for you instead of against you.

JohnK 3-10-2025
chiforyourself.com

Overheard: “To be what we are, and to become what we are capable of becoming, is the only end of life”

~Robert Louis Stevenson

Why You’re Not Happy (And How to Change This)

February 10, 2025 John Uncategorized No comments

Why You’re Not Happy (And How to Change This)

So you’re reading this while you grapple with feelings of discontent in certain areas of life. Especially when it comes to being happy.

I get it.

Quick fixes and hacks don’t deliver and don’t help your mood. The changes they bring don’t last.

Their temporary highs don’t give you genuine fulfilment. Enter GenuLines and our ways to point your life toward fulfillment.

The truth is, your life isn’t a circumstance beyond your control. Your happiness and fulfillment are not accidents or the result of external factors.

They/re a direct result of the choices you’ve made in the past.

The law of cause and effect is undeniable: every decision you’ve made has led to where you are today. Your thoughts, more than anything else, have shaped your life.

Your thought patterns and the way you choose to think have created the circumstances you’re in. And here’s the good news: you have the power to change your thoughts and, in turn, change your life.

As humans, we’re incredibly adaptable. We can thrive in most any environment, no matter how challenging.

But we often forget this power and allow our circumstances to define us.

We become victims of our own expectations and standards. We forget that we created those standards in the first place.

One key to happiness and fulfillment lies in recognizing that you have the power to choose. You can choose to focus on what you can control and scale up from there.

You don’t have to be held back by your current circumstances.

So, where do you start? Focus on the areas of your life where you’re doing reasonably well – the areas where you have control.

See if you can improve them, broaden them, or expand your area of control. From there, you can tackle the more challenging areas that may be holding you back.

Remember, your life isn’t a fixed landscape. It’s a dynamic, ever-changing environment that reflects your choices and decisions.

Choose to focus on what you can control and adapt to your circumstances and you can create a more fulfilling and happy life.

Don’t wait for external circumstances to change; change yourself by changing your mindset. You have the power to choose.

And with that power comes the ability to create a life that truly reflects genuine living.

JohnK 2-10-2025
chifoforyourself.com

Overheard: The habit of being happy enables one to be freed, or largely freed, from the domination of outward conditions”

~Robert Louis Stevenson

Article Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/yellow-cube-on-brown-pavement-208147/

5 Steps To Decide What To Do Next In Life

January 27, 2025 John Uncategorized No comments

5 Steps To Decide What To Do Next In Life

Are you feeling stuck in life and have no idea what to do next? Do you feel paralyzed with fear at the very mention of change?

First off, you can be proud of reaching this state. It means you sense that your life is shifting.

Yet, knowing where to begin or what to do can be overwhelming. So, if you’re facing this decision, these GenuLines points are for you.

Below are five steps to help you decide what to do next in your life.

Take a Step Back

When you’re looking at what to do next in life, it’s imperative to stop and take a step back. Take a look at the big picture to identify where you want to go and what you want to do.

Too often, we struggle with all the ways of how to get there without fully knowing where ‘there’ actually is. We don’t take the time to highlight what’s working in our lives and what’s not.

So when we reach a crossroads, we’re baffled and unable to move forward. This is when taking a step back can help you specify where you want to go as you move on in life.

Understand What Fulfills You

Get to know what makes you you. Dig deep and do some soul-searching to understand what motivates you.

Ask yourself these questions: What drives me and makes me excited? What are my values and beliefs?

And, what contributions do I want to make to my community?

What’s important to me? What are the skills and talents that I bring to the table?

Explore Your Passions

Make a list of all the things that you’re passionate about and explore those options in more detail. It’s important to analyze your options on emotional and intellectual levels.

To do this, try to imagine how each one impacts your thought processes and your emotions. Do this step without worrying about any of the whys, should-haves, and would-nots.

Instead, connect more with your subconscious. Find out what resonates with you and your core values.

For instance, let’s say you value innovation and technology. You might look for positions at industry-leading businesses.

If family culture suits you might be better off seeking a job at a small family-owned organization.

Learn New Skills

No matter how many great skills you already have, it’s always nice to learn something new. Whether it’s soft skills or hard, think about what you’d like to learn.

Look for places in your community or online where you can take classes.

For example, you want to learn more about graphic design. You may consider applying to an art program.

Or you could be interested in gardening. You can take a class in gardening and plants, then apply for a job at a garden center or arboretum.

Whatever ever you do remember to set short-term goals that follow the SMART plan. This framework ensures that your goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-based.

Let Go of What Could Be

Change is scary because you don’t know what to expect from your decisions. This fear keeps you in a state of inaction and apprehension.

But what if you could let go of all that worry just for a few minutes?

To do that, you need to trust yourself and maintain a positive mindset. Have faith that whatever comes along, you’ll find a way to handle it.

Stop thinking of change as something to be dreaded and feared. Instead, you can begin to think of it as something stimulating that adds a layer of excitement and intrigue to your life.

Be open to whatever life brings your way. It may surprise you with an even better outcome than the one you first imagined.

Final Thoughts

These five steps can help your personal and professional life short term and long. It’s a tough journey, but if you’re determined to make it, it can also be extremely rewarding.

Now, all that’s left to do is take that first step to discover your purpose and get back on your life’s path.

JohnK 1-27-2025
www.chiforyourself.com

Overheard: “The purpose of life is a life of purpose”

~Robert Byrne

Article image by Yan Krukau: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-in-gray-suit-sitting-on-black-chair-covering-his-face-7793987/

Is Your Money Mindset Setting You Up For Failure?

December 2, 2024 John Uncategorized No comments

Is Your Money Mindset Setting You Up For Failure?

Dreaming of getting rich? You can’t help but admire the extravagant lives of celebrities and influencers, right?

It’s easy to fantasize about living like them. But as you chase after riches, are you losing sight of the things that matter?

Today, GenuLines invites you to explore this crucial question.

It’s often said that if you do something you love, the money will follow. This worked for me and it provided me with a good life (story for another time)

And after all, common sense says that you’ll approach something you love with passion.

But what if?

What if making money is your driving force? You’ll chase the dollar from one job to the next or from one opportunity to the next.

You’ll get seduced by false offers of riches. Over time, you’ll look back and see that you didn’t actually get real fulfillment.

The quick buck

You may be successful in the short term. You get that extra dollar from a new job.

Or you squeeze a quick buck from your business. But, you’ll be searching for more and more money.

You could even put yourself into a position where you can’t handle the new job due to lack of experience.

In other words, you didn’t give your previous level enough time to develop a foundation. You jumped ahead, and now you’re unclear what to do.

It’s a concept known as the Peter Principle, named after the person who came up with the idea, Peter Drucker.

Money isn’t as important as many try to make it out to be. For instance, what good is having a high-paying job when you have to work 80-90 hours a week?

Regrets?

Many people who do this look back at their lives and wonder why they did it. While they may have a lot of money when they get older, they likely don’t have fulfillment.

Another possibility is the heavy workload needed to get that wealth also gets them to an early grave. The money they earned is useless to them.

If you’re happy with what you’re doing, money becomes a less urgent priority. You do need money to live, and you shouldn’t settle for work that pays less than you’re worth.

So reach a balance between your paycheck and doing something that you enjoy. It can bring a whole bunch of fulfillment into your life.

JohnK 12-2-2024
chiforyourself.com

Overheard: “Wealth is largely the result of habit”

~John Jacob Astor

Image photo by Photo By: Kaboompics.com: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-man-in-gray-long-sleeve-shirt-5717843/

Self Development And Your Success

November 4, 2024 John Uncategorized No comments

Self Development And Your Success

Life experiences come and go. But, how do they impact your life’s success?

Some of us insist that every event serves a purpose. Negative events can challenge you to see the positive in them.

A “looking with new eyes” mindset might open you up to more positivity. And GenuLines has some practical tips on guiding you on this journey.

Feeling as if you’re a failure

There are no failures in life – only people moving through different experiences. How can others accept you if YOU can’t accept yourself?

Comparing yourself to media figures

Don’t compare yourself to them. The same holds true for the real people you meet.

There is no need to obsess about your looks, financial situation or anything else. Self acceptance does not depend on those things, nor does the approval of others.

Down and out

When you see that other people are feeling down about themselves, give them a helping hand. But if you find that they’re determined to stay in their negativity, leave them to it. Nobody benefits when you’re both in a tailspin.

There are no mistakes – only lessons learned

Don’t feel stupid or doomed because you failed some kind of test. See failure as a step on the road to success.

Take things one at a time

It’s fine to have big goals but split them down into realistic, simple steps. Self development means working on habits that you have built up over years or decades. You will not turn everything around overnight.

At YOUR best

Understand that self development will help you to be the best YOU that you can be. It will not turn you into somebody else. Look for your own strengths and build on them, instead of comparing yourself with others.

Little things matter

Sometimes, we don’t realize that the little things that we do are like a pat on the back. Saying “hi” or “hello”, or passing little compliments can mean a huge amount to other people.

Be sensitive to other people’s plight. Help them to see the positive in their lives. This will come back to you in a positive way.

You’re willing to accept change

But it doesn’t mean that everyone else is. It may not be the right time for them, or the method you are using may not be what they need. So do everything you can to be successful with your self development, but don’t bore others with it.

There’s a profound quote that says that “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” We’re all here to learn our lessons.

Your parents, children, friends, colleagues, neighbors, even strangers. They all have the potential to be your teachers.

Open the door to self development. You can learn from every person and every situation that you encounter.

JohnK 11-4-2024
chiforyourself.com

Overheard: “Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day-in and day-out”

~Robert Collier

Article image by Zen Chung: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-pen-writing-on-a-notebook-5749155/

Why Do We Avoid Certain Tasks?

July 24, 2023 John Uncategorized 2 comments

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

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

Why Do We Avoid Certain Tasks?

Do you find yourself dreading a particular task in your life every time you must complete it? Do you often wonder why you avoid it?

There are several reasons we avoid completing specific tasks. And the reason why this is can vary from individual to individual.

You Don’t Think You’ll Have Fun

You may not believe you’ll have fun completing it when you think about that task. Or it could be you’ve performed the task before and didn’t have fun.

Humans generally want to avoid doing things that lead to unhappiness. This is especially true when they are especially difficult or complex.

Fatigue

When you’re tired, you will generally avoid certain tasks. Even if they are tasks, you usually have fun doing.

This is because you’re tired and need to get some rest.

If you avoid a task because you feel exhausted, then it’s time to get some rest and try to approach it again later. It’s tough to focus when you’re fatigued.

And that could lead you to become distracted as an avoidance tactic for certain tasks.

You Don’t Think You’ll Do Well

Fear of failure can leave you feeling afraid of embarrassment or looking bad. This fear is quite common and one of the easier ones to overcome.

Usually you can remedy it working on self-confidence and self-acceptance.

Medical Conditions

When everything else fails there may be a medical problem behind your procrastination. If so, get treatment and you see an uptick in your motivation.

The reasons on this list may be separate, but they all boil down to a lack of motivation. If so, you need to own up to it.

Once you realize this, you can find the cause to motivate yourself in the future better.

JohnK 7-25-2023

chiforyourself.com

Overheard: “There is nothing so fatal to character as half finished tasks.

~David Lloyd George

« Older Entries

Chi For Yourself

Raising Consciousness..Living Genuinely!

Tag Archive for motivation

Can You Learn To Control Your Behavior?

What Controls Behavior?

A Goal

A Plan

The Right Mindset

Controlling Your Emotions

Putting it All Together

Share this:

You CAN Break Bad Habits

The Key to Change

Share this:

Taking Chances On Your New Career

But, I’m Too Old

Share this:

Success Takes Longer Than You Think

Looks Are Deceiving

Share this:

Live a More Fulfilled Life- Choose to Accept Yourself

How do you deal with that?

Crazy High Standards

Share this:

Why You’re Not Happy (And How to Change This)

Share this:

5 Steps To Decide What To Do Next In Life

Take a Step Back

Understand What Fulfills You

Explore Your Passions

Learn New Skills

Let Go of What Could Be

Final Thoughts

Share this:

Is Your Money Mindset Setting You Up For Failure?

But what if?

The quick buck

Regrets?

Share this:

Self Development And Your Success

Feeling as if you’re a failure

Comparing yourself to media figures

Down and out

There are no mistakes – only lessons learned

Take things one at a time

At YOUR best

Little things matter

You’re willing to accept change

Share this:

Why Do We Avoid Certain Tasks?

You Don’t Think You’ll Have Fun

Fatigue

You Don’t Think You’ll Do Well

Medical Conditions

Share this:

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