Tag Archive for motivation

Why Do We Avoid Certain Tasks?

July 24, 2023 John Uncategorized 2 comments

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

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

Why Do We Avoid Certain Tasks?

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

You Don’t Think You’ll Have Fun

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

Fatigue

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

You Don’t Think You’ll Do Well

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

Medical Conditions

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

Find the Source of Your Motivation

February 1, 2021 John Uncategorized No comments

Lack of motivation can throw cold water on the best of plans. So let GenuLines help keep you on the path toward realizing exactly what you want in life. 

(Listen to this article by clicking here)

Find the Source of Your Motivation

You get your work assignment. You know what you have to do.
 
You’ve got to get started – but somehow, you lack the motivation to get off square one.
 
Success won’t be had without motivation.

Where’s the source of your motivation?

man thinking about motivationWhere can you turn for the inspiration that will propel you forward? We’re all different and we’re all motivated by different things.
 
You may get motivated by visualizing completion of the task and reaching the goal. There may be a job promotion in it for you and a bigger paycheck.
 
 
Or you want to finish another chapter in the book you’re writing, or you look to lose five pounds by the end of the week. Seeing the goal in your mind could motivate you toward success.

Visualize completion

Never lose sight of your ultimate goal. Know you’re going to get what you deserve and push forward with renewed motivation.
 
You know that success is not only an option but is a real fact. Keep this in mind and motivation comes easier.
 
Preparation 
Motivation without the skills to achieve your goals is not enough. If you know you’re lacking something to move forward motivation is hard to summon.
 
Knowledge fuels motivation, and to a lesser extent, so does persistence.
 
Change your environment
New surroundings often give you a renewed outlook on your life. It can be something simple.
 
Put a new plant in your home or office, hang a new picture or open the curtains and let in the light.
 
This also includes surrounding yourself with positive people. When you’re around positive and successful friends their attitude rubs off on you.
 
You absorb their energy. But you’ll also absorb the energy of negative people or depressing surroundings.
 
Other methods
Find the source of your motivation and re-evaluate your tasks. Brainstorm and look for new information.
 
You can do this by taking a break. Go for a walk, exercise, work in the yard or relax with an inspirational book.
 
Using your brain in different ways will stimulate it. And stimulation leads to motivation.
 
Do something for others
When we do for others we find motivation within ourselves. Many times the way to achieve your goal is to assist others in reaching theirs.
 
Seek to serve and you’ll become energized and motivated when people rely on you. Disappoint them and you disappoint yourself – and you’re not going to let that happen, are you?
 
Listen
Some find a motivational source by talking or reading aloud to themselves. Keep an inspirational book handy at all times.
 
When you actually hear the positive affirmations they become more effective.
 
Motivation comes from many different sources. Look within and find what works for you.
 
Believe in yourself. Look forward to the good that will come into your life.
 
Do these things and expect motivation to come your way..
 
JohnK 2-1-2021
 
Stick figure hears about motivationOverheard: “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great”
                                    ~Zig Ziglar
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for talking about motivation
 

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, 
 
How Meditation Can Benefit Your Motivation

meditation momentThe 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
 
stick figure man hears about meditationOverheard: “When you own your breath, nobody can steal your peace”
                                               ~Unknown
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for meditation

6 Hacks to Keep Your Motivation Going Strong

August 31, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments

Motivation is great- when you have it. But sometimes it slips away like the proverbial thief in the night. 

Just ahead you’ll find some GenuLines tips to bring the motivation back where it belongs.

(To listen to the article click HERE)

6 Hacks to Keep Your Motivation Going Strong

robot needing motivationSo you got motivated recently. Maybe you saw an awesome speaker or got a stinging dose of honesty from a friend or family member.
 
But initial motivation often fades…so here are a few ways to keep it going strong.
 
 
 
1. Remember the pain points
In sales lingo, pain points are problems that come about when the solution offered is not taken. Try to keep in mind all the things that could or will happen if you don’t stay the course.
 
For example, if you were once motivated to go running three times a week. Think about what will happen if you don’t give your heart the exercise it needs.
 
2. Don’t play leapfrog
Feelings of motivation can sometimes slip into the category of finding the next high. Don’t bounce from goal to goal.
 
Instead finish what you start before getting motivated about something else. Let’s say you enjoy language and made a goal for yourself to learn French.
 
Learn it before you switch to learning German, and then Italian, or whatever else.
 
3. Know Thyself
When you try to reach goals that other people set for you, your motivation can wane. Take a look at those goals.
 
Make sure they’re yours…not goals that other people want you to achieve. If they’re not, you may want to set them aside and reassess where you’re going.
 
4. Visualize
Picturing realizing your goal is a big help in motivating you to succeed. And it has some awesome side effects.
 
The positive energy you give that imagery will affect you at a subconscious level. The mental affirmation that you can achieve it will do loads for your self confidence.
 
This will also also help you stay the course.
 
5. Let go of stuff beyond your control
When it comes to motivation, it can be easy to give up because things don’t’ go according to plan. Learn to let go of things beyond your control. If you don’t they’ll reduce your motivation to succeed.
 
6. Get organized
If you want to stay motivated, you need to work a little bit to keep the motivation alive. If you don’t it’ll slip under the radar.
 
Motivation will be just another feeling unless you crystalize it. Put your goals on the calendar and make an action plan.
 
JohnK 8-31-2020
 
stick figure man hears about motivationOverheard: “People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing–that’s why we recommend it daily.” 
                                                       ~ Zig Ziglar
 
 
 
 
 
 
Article image by Dmitry Abramov from Pixabay 
 
disclaimer for motivation

Handle Adversity: Consider Opposing Viewpoints

September 17, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments
Adversity can bring you opportunity- an opportunity to do your homework! GenuLines helps you get an edge by looking at all sides of an issue.
 

call to action for adversity

Handle Adversity: Consider Opposing Viewpoints

Adversity often grows out of misinformation about a situation. You know the information might not be true but you act on it as if it was.
 
A good way to counter this situation is to take the other end of an argument or the opposing viewpoint.
 
 
two men showing antagonismFirst, consider the people you have an issue with and learn more about them. Do you disagree with their political views?
 
Or do you have some other bias against them? For instance, religion can bring out different standpoints and beliefs.
 
 
 
 
For the sake of discussion, we’ll call your opposition adversaries. You’ll need to find out more about them.
 
The internet is a good place to start. If you get stuck go old school. Visit your local library and ask the reference librarian.
 
They specialize in research and they can help you.
 
Get A Read on Things
Read material that you normally would not. Do this even if you’re not facing an adversarial situation.
 
It gets you in the mindset of accepting differences in others. You can look for magazines and books, or you can view blogs and forums related to the topic you want to learn.
 
You aren’t required to agree with adversarial topics. You only want to learn more about them so that you have information on your side.
 
Back your arguments with information. This will make it tougher to challenge you because you can cite your sources.
 
Play devil’s advocate when approaching any subject. Try to pose questions that your adversaries would pose. See if you can understand why they would pose those questions.
 
It may get you to rethink your own beliefs.

What were they thinking?

It’s also important to understand the motivations of your adversaries. Here’s an example. Fundraisers sometimes use a lot of hype to get you to buy into their message.
 
When this happens, knowing the facts will help you make your decision.
 
Try to stay away from name-calling since this never solves the problem. You’ll come off as petty.
 
And you might strengthen your adversary’s position.
 
It’s okay to argue with people when you have the facts on your side. But, some people won’t accept those facts no matter how hard you try to get them to consider them.
 
When this happens, there isn’t much you can do but walk away.
 
JohnK 9-17-2017
 
 
stick figure hearing about adversityOverheard: “Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortune, but great minds rise above them”
                                ~ Washington Irving
 
 
 
get quotes about adversity
 
animated man talks adversity
 
 
Banner to combat adversity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer concerning adversity

Pain: A Different Perspective on Dealing With It

July 25, 2018 John Uncategorized No comments

 

woman in painOur next scheduled guest on Chi For Yourself has lived with chronic pain since 2007.

Sarah Anne Schockley offers fellow pain sufferers a compassionate and supportive guide for living with pain that can be used alongside their ongoing medical or therapeutic healing programs.

 

 

Sarah Anne Shockley is the author of The Pain Companion: Everyday Wisdom for Living With and Moving Beyond Chronic Pain.

Be with us for Chi For Yourself on Thursday, July 26th at 4 pm Eastern, 1 pm Pacific time at chiforyourself.com

JohnK 7-25-2019

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7 Ways to Differentiate Memory Changes as You Age

July 19, 2018 John Uncategorized No comments
Memory is a sometimes a touchy subject. The degree to which it bothers you may be a tipoff that something’s wrong.
 
Today we’ll look at how forgetfulness can be an annoyance or a sign of something more serious.
 
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ARTICLE:

 
memory reminderAs you age you may see that your memory is not as good as it used to be. This could affect your ability to learn and remember new things.
 
Some of these changes in memory can be due to lack of attention. For example, if you’re a working parent you may be on overwhelm.
 
 
 
You’re trying to remember who needs to go where and when. This is considered a normal memory problem.
 
There are biological reasons for memory loss, too. Over the years the brain changes.
 
 
memory helperThe ability to process information and to react to it slows, as does the ability to multi-task. You can curb the process with a little more effort to learn and remember new things.
 
 
 
 
There are differences in normal and abnormal cognitive and biological changes. Abnormal changes can be the effects of dementia or Alzheimer’s.
 
Here are some ways to tell normal forgetfulness from abnormal forgetfulness:
 
1. The passage of time –
 
The passing of time is often to blame for decreased memory in normal aging. If you don’t think about particular memories often, you might forget them.
 
A less important event might mean more chance of forgetting the details. This isn’t unusual.
 
The memories that you call upon more often tend to stay front of mind. Bottom line: if you don’t use those memories, you lose them.
 
Abnormal forgetfulness is the inability to recall recent events. Things like what you ate for breakfast or who visited you that day.
 
2. Stressful events –
 
If you’re trying to remember events from a time of stress in your life, it’s likely due to normal memory lapses. During times of stress, your brain has a harder time storing information.
 
3. Repetition –
 
If you tell your kids the same story over a couple of weeks it’s called simple forgetfulness. But if you tell them the same story during a short visit it may be more serious.
 
4. Date –
 
You might forget exact dates, but you have a general idea of the time of the month. This is common.
 
You would likely have the presence of mind to, say, check a newspaper for your answer. It’s a different story if you don’t even know what year it is.
 
5. Self-care abilities –
 
You may experience some forgetfulness now and then. But you still remember to wash and dress yourself.
 
You eat at your usual times. You go to the grocery store.
 
And you take your medications. You may need to use a pill box as a personal reminder but your memory is likely still within range for your age.
 
It’s a different story if you don’t remember how to do these tasks or even that they need to get done.
 
6. Familiarity –
 
Sometimes you get lost in unfamiliar locations, such as when you’re visiting a new area of your city. Usually not a big deal.
 
It’s another matter when you get lost in your neighborhood. Or if you don’t remember your own family members.
 
7. Frustration levels –
 
Talking about forgetfulness is not likely a trigger for anger. But a memory problem can cause angry outbursts to someone faced with questions.
 
They don’t want to be tested about dates, places, and more. They may even accuse you of stealing something that they lost and cannot locate.
 
JohnK 7-19-2018
 
 
 
 
Image for memoryOverheard: “As you get older three things happen. The first is your memory goes, and I can’t remember the other two.”
                                  ~ British comedian Sir Norman Wisdom
 
 
 

The Benefits of Meditation for Motivation

July 12, 2018 John Uncategorized No comments
The next scheduled Chi For Yourself is set for a couple of weeks from today. I won’t go into details. But, if you’re someone who suffers from constant pain you’ll want to listen in. 
 
You’ll get the details in an upcoming GenuLines blog post. You can get those sent to you if you subscribe.
 
Put your email address in the box at the top of the page and get the updates. 
 
Today we’ll look at motivation. If you’re not doing well in this department you might benefit from a shot of mindfulness. 
 
Read on to learn more:
 
picture of meditation
 
 

ARTICLE:

 
Do you struggle with low motivation? The stress and strain of a busy life can overwhelm you.
 
The most basic tasks seem difficult.
 
The downward spiral of low motivation can seem like an impossible cycle to break. Productivity and accomplishment look like unattainable goals when you lose your spark.
 
There’s a simple tool you may not have considered before that can get you back on track, and that’s meditation. You can gain a lot of good things through your practice.
 
Let’s look at some of the benefits of meditation for motivation.
 
Strengthened Focus and Concentration
 
Focus and concentration are essential elements of motivation. If you can’t get your mind to center on the things you need to do, your motivation will also go out the window.
 
Meditation involves focus and concentration. You’ll be engaging in focusing your attention in some way.
 
 
 
Increased Happiness
 
We all get down now and again. But staying in the “happy zone” pays dividends.
 
Happy people tend to have more energy and higher self-confidence. Motivation increases happiness by stimulating the release of the brain’s “happiness hormones.”
 
When you’re feeling more positive, you’re likely to have more internal desire to get things done.
 
Less Stress
 
Meditation allows the brain to slow down as it receives sensory input. This leads to a more relaxed feeling
 
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.
 
Pessimism can come from many sources. These include depression, poor habits or general life difficulties.
 
Meditation “rewires” brain patterns to naturally trigger more positive ones. The result is the “reset” you need to be more motivated.
 
Clarified Goals and Purpose
 
Taking time each day for meditation gives you loads of personal insight. This self-reflection can be the fuel for reassessing what’s really 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.
 
You feel a greater urgency to take the steps necessary on the path to your dreams.
 
The benefits of meditation for increased motivation are many. And there are many different types of meditation.
 
You can begin to research on your own or find a skilled teacher who can help you develop a practice that works for you. What’s most important is that you get started.
 
And be consistent in your meditation practice. You’ll see more effective results.
 
The energy uptick will help you tackle your to-do list and go after the life goals that matter.
 
JohnK 7-12-2018
 
 
 
 
meditation manOverheard:   “I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took any excuse.”
                             ~ Florence Nightingale
 
 
 
 
 
 
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